I’ve never written a review before. I’m one of those lazy ones who has read hundreds of Amazon & Yelp reviews to help me make purchasing/ dining decisions but I’ve never taken the time to actually write my own review. Well Oak & Coal deserves the exception! I’ve just been absolutely mind blown by the quality and freshness of the food (please try the Salmon Crudo…it’s straight butter ?) , by the creative and delicious cocktails (the Tokyo gimlet is so refreshing and fragrant..absolute perfection!) but really the reason I’m writing this is that, even though I would have returned here for the food alone, the staff went absolutely ABOVE & BEYOND for me this evening. I’m dealing with elderly sick parents at the moment who are in hospital and Hailey (sp?) was so incredibly kind, thoughtful, generous and supportive…literally made me cry! And I don’t cry easily. Incredibly moved by how strangers (the staff) decided to show up and give me a bit of hope in humanity this evening. Thank you for running an amazing business! I’ll be back ?
We ordered take out today. 6 different dishes1.Steamed Chicken lemongrass dumplings 9/10The noodle around was so delicious. I loved the texture and flavor. The lemongrass chicken was well seasoned and also really good.2. Bao Buns 10/10These came with a twist. I somehow thought of Bao, round, steamed dumpling. But these were more like little Tacos , except the shell was a Bao Bun.Flavor was amazing. The little sprouts added a little tinge of spice , the ginger was pickled and sweet and a little sour. The pork belly tasted smokey and juicy. Overall perfect!3. Kurobuta Pork Belly Skewers 12/10Omg!!! This! Coming from germany I am used to grilling pork belly. We call it either "belly-rag" - "Baulappen" or a "grill-torch" - "Grillfackel" (name explains itself, since they love to light on fire due to the high fat consent.The smoky flavor and seasoning was on point. I loved that they weren't dried out. Just pure deliciousness .4. Plain Garlic Noodles 8/10The noodles were ok , overall really greasy and sloppy. The flavor was good , but I wouldn't order them again, others loved them.5. Blistered Brussle Sprouts 8/10Generally really good , crispy and a mild spiciness. What we noticed was that a lot of the dishes included lemon flavor. I liked it but others commented that it was generally too much6. Chicken Karaage 6/10We somehow expected something totally different. The thighs were jucy , but not as crispy as we thought they would be. The batter reminded me of calamari and my brain tricked me and said - that's calamari! It somehow weirded me out and I didn't want to finish the chicken. But this is my own opinion someone else's brain might not play mind games.The ordering happened over the homepage and was super easy. We didn't even wait 30minutes.The food was hot and fresh. This was definitely not our last time. Thank you for making dinner for us ❤️
Food and service was great, will go back again!
My wife heard about this place and suggested it for our family Dad(me Father's Day) and College Grad(Son) celebration dinner. EVERYTHING was awesome and there service was impeccable! My pick was the NY Strip steak which was everyone's favorite dish! It is awesome! Here is what we ordered in order of which I liked the best but they were ALL excellent!ponzu prime ny stripsalted caramel gelatobroccoliniyellowtail and salmon pokeseared hamachibao bunscharred elote
Hands down my favorite restaurant, I've been coming for over a year now. Unique takes on dishes, great seasoning, and when doing takeout they make sure to make your drinks fresh and cold when you arrive. The staff is all super nice people, which really makes the atmosphere.
This hidden gem is a must try! We ordered the entire menu... JK I wish I could have because the food was so yummy.We had:- Pork Belly Skewers- Shrimp Skewers- Tuna Yukke- Seafood Garlic NoodzEvery single thing that came out was delicious. I love that I've found another great place to go to for Japanese inspired tapas. My favorite was the Tuna Yukke... I could've easily ordered another one to have for myself. The garlic noodles was a very generous portion and not too garlicky where you will sweat and smell like garlic if you hit the gym the next day. Some restaurants overdo it and it's too much. We had enough scallops and shrimp in it and it was very tasty.Only reason why they didn't get 5 stars was because the service was great but because so many people were helping us our orders were confused and we were constantly being asked questions while trying to enjoy our meal. I know it's weird to say that they were too attentive but in a way when there are too many diff servers asking you things and taking your order things either get missed or confused.I do recommend this place 100% and would come back again.
Great food & awesome staff, worth every penny!
First, just wow.My significant and I were initially planning to go to a restaurant in the same parking lot, but when we got there they were pretty exorbitant. The parking was tight, so we had parked in front of Oak & Coal and decided to try it. BEST decision today. No exaggeration.The atmosphere is sleek, modern, and intimate. They have an open kitchen and bar, and it’s a pleasure to watch the chefs at work from your table. I can’t praise the food enough. It’s pretty pricey considering the portions, BUT the quality is more than worth it, and the customer service is absolutely prime. I told my partner that I’d be sad if any of the staff quit before we came back because they were so on point.Overall, this restaurant was a exceptional surprise. One of the highlights of our Valentine’s Day. Thank you sincerely for a wonderful evening. Will definitely be recommending this place to my hotel guests going to Costa Mesa.
Servers were really attentive and on top of it. Delicious tapas food and a variety of things. I got the wagyu skewers which were fire. Pork chops were cooked medium rare which was delicious. Go here.
Been here many times and it's so good every single time. Staff is super cool, good vibe, haven't had anything that isn't delicious. Can't leave without having the pork belly.