It was a bit of a journey here since for some reason the location my GPS took me to the was the opposite end of the plaza of where the restaurant actually was haha. When we arrived we were promptly seated. There are SO many options of the menu so we were indecisive. For sure knew we all wanted soba though! We each got: Soba with duck dipping sauce- the duck/sauce had a nice smoky flavor~ there was only like 2-3 piece of duck though Japanese hamburg set with cold soba- loved the tangy sauce to dip the meat in, so goood. Dipping soba was solid with no complaints. The wasabi in the salad dressing was bit too strong though~ definitely cleared the nostrils Pork katsu with cold soba- 3 soba portions and it was the perf amount

So happy this Hidden Gem is in LakeForest area. Amazing Japanese Izakaya. Their house-made soba is next level--you can taste the difference. The noodles have that perfect chew and soak up the broth beautifully.Plus, the staff will kindly check in to see if you'd like a second round of noodles (yes, please!). Me and my bf have been here 2 times, and both times were good experiences Recommed: try their soba combo with tempura, chicken karaage, grilled squid. Takoyaki was not bad but probably I was getting too full from other dishes. I would love to try their Curry next time. Staffs: friendly, attentive, they wear traditional Kimonos which is rare to see ( I only saw staffs wearing traditional clothes at Matsu in Hb )

A cozy restaurant for authentic Japanese soba and udon! I tried the saba mackerel set with hot udon, and it was delicious. The mackerel was moist but had a crispy skin, and the udon was the perfect texture. I also loved the side of tofu that's given. The set meals are a little expensive, but you get a variety of dishes and it was very satisfying. My friend tried the cold soba, and the portions were huge and they even let you get an additional portion of soba if you want. It was quite busy on a Saturday evening, so our food understandably took a little longer, but our server was so attentive and friendly.

If you're looking for a solid spot for soba noodles, Soba Izakaya MINAMI is a great choice. We ordered the vegetable tempura cold soba and the gyudon combo set, which came with a beef rice bowl and hot soba (can choose between cold/hot soba/udon). While the hot soba broth was flavorful, I'd recommend going for the cold soba--the fresh noodles retain their chew and don't risk becoming overly soft in the hot broth. One unique feature here is the portion size selection. You can choose anywhere from 1 to 3 portions of noodles (with 2 being the standard). The best part? You can start with 1-2 portions and add more later (up to 3 total), which is perfect if you're unsure of how much you can eat or want to enjoy fresh noodles throughout your meal. One thing to note: no sharing is allowed, so plan accordingly if you're dining with a group. Overall, this is a great spot for soba lovers looking for quality noodles and a flexible dining experience. Would definitely come back!

We came to the restaurant to celebrate Valentines Day as a family. We had made reservations with the restaurant, but the restaurant, though busy, wasn't fully packed. We had previously ordered takeout with the restaurant and we liked the food, we wanted to try it in-restaurant. We were seated promptly and the service from the beginning was prompt and friendly. We ordered a assortment of foods and the highlights were the Duck Dipping Soba, Agedashi Tofu, Fried Oysters, and Katsu Don w/Soba. The disappointing dishes were the Dragon Balls (tempura hard boiled eggs) and the beef soba. The Dragon Balls we're friend well and the hard oiled egg was not overcooked, but the overall flavor was bland. For the beef soba, the beef was tender and soba well cooked, but overall it was a boring dish. Overall though, we will be returning to try their other dishes.

I've had this spot bookmarked for a little over 6 years, however long they've been open. I finally had the chance to do lunch here with my husband yesterday (1/18/2025). We came right at opening and sat at the long counter in front of the kitchen. Wanted to check out the action! The menu has expanded from one page to six which is really exciting. They have great portions, prices, and options from appetizers, dessert, array of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, rice bowls, udon, soba, katsu, combination sets, and now sushi (only served on the weekends). My husband was impressed and quite satisfied with his Nagoya Pork Katsu & Soba (cold) set. Our server Divine recommended the 2-portion over the 3-portion of soba. She was right that 3-portion is ALOT! Pork katsu was perfectly breaded and fried. Crispy and juicy at the same time. His set was like having two meals for the price of one. Delicious and very filling. My Agedashi tofu was so flavorful, with a thick broth. I especially enjoyed the hint of ginger with the shredded white radish topping. My order of curry udon came piping hot with plenty of noodles and sliced beef topping. I appreciated our server also providing optional chili powder topping on the side too. Our small pot of genmaicha was just what we needed to round out the rich lunch. I didn't get a chance to try out dessert or their drinks, so maybe next time! Clean establishment, wonderful menu choices, and professional staff. We will definitely be back to try more! PS - I encourage dining at the long counter. It was so cool to watch chef make the yakitori and add all the finishing touches to every dish. It was almost like watching Top Chef right in front of you. All her kitchen staff moved as one team despite their dedicated stations.

After two years of regular (religious) visits, I can safely say I've found my #1 favorite go-to spot for Japanese cuisine in SoCal. Can't believe it took me this long to write this overdue but well-deserved review since this place has become our benchmark for Japanese food. When we can't decide what to eat, Minami will always likely end up as a top final contender. You want soba? Boom, it's their namesake. Oh you want udon? The doneness and soup is perfect. My gf will always remind me that it's better than anything she's had in Japan. You can also have the noodles hot or cold to dip! Lately, I've been on a cold dipping noodle phase even in the cold because the wasabi with scallions mixed into the cold broth to dip into is just way too good. Outside of the noodles, the fried comfort foods are also second to none. The agedashi tofu and the lightness of their tempura are perfect appetizers, I recommend the onion rings tempura for starters. When I'm feeling down their katsudon picks me up. When it's scorching hot out, and I feel restless, their katsu curry with cold soba combo knocks me out cold into a food coma. Make sure you pair it with their ice cold crispy yuzu beer too, you won't regret it! The warm atmosphere and consistently great service from all the hardworking staff there, makes every visit enjoyable and worthwhile. Sometimes their may be a short wait, especially during peak times/days, but with ample parking and a welcoming vibe, it's become our favorite place to bring friends for authentic Japanese food. Always highly recommend this place to anyone and everyone!

Chef's kiss to this restaurant! Our servers were so kind. We celebrated my husband's bday there, and they offered to take the cake and light the candles for us, then turned off the lights in the resto while everyone sang happy birthday! Fortunately other patrons weren't annoyed. And the food. THE FOOD!!!! The minute I walked in the door and smelled all the good smells, I knew it was going to be a good experience. Our group shared the family style chicken karage and mixed tempura. I cant recall what everyone else got as I was so absorbed by my own combo meal of warm soba and pork katsu curry plate. We all ate happily in silence for like, the first 10 minutes, it was THAT GOOD!!!! Will we be regulars? Why yes, yes we will.