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Newport Beach, CA

North America

United States

# Oak & Coal – Modern Japanese Izakaya in Newport Beach, CA

Oak & Coal is a modern Japanese izakaya located in Newport Beach, CA, known for its vibrant atmosphere and unique culinary offerings. This restaurant combines traditional Japanese flavors with a contemporary twist, making it a popular destination for locals and visitors alike. Established with a vision to create a cozy yet lively dining experience, Oak & Coal has quickly gained a reputation for its exceptional food and cocktails. The establishment features a back room known as The Oak Room, which adds an intimate speakeasy vibe to the dining experience. Guests often highlight the quality of the ingredients, with many dishes prepared using organic and free-range proteins sourced from sustainable farms. With a focus on community and a welcoming ambiance, Oak & Coal has become a beloved spot for gatherings, celebrations, and casual dining.

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This modern Japanese izakaya was the perfect place for my friends and I to catch up for a girls night. It was a little confusing because they have a back room which they call The Oak Room, their "speakeasy". I think using that term is generous as it's just a second room that serves the same menu as the main room but has a bar and more of an ambiance. If you're looking for something lively, that's where you'll want to sit. We were greeted warmly by our server and ordered a few cocktails. All of them were fantastic, but my favorite was the Shishito Sour. I had never had anything like it. Their special menu item for the day were lobster hand rolls with caviar. At a very affordable $9 each, we knew we each had to have one and it ended up being one of our favorite items of the night. The Chicken Katsu with Yuzu Slaw was another of my favorite dishes. I'm a sucker for some yuzu and the katsu was perfectly executed. The Spicy Wagyu Bao Buns were a fun and flavorful item, and we enjoyed both the Shishito Peppers and Brussel Sprouts. I would order the Pork Belly Skewers again and again, and the Ube Banana Pudding for dessert was decadent yet fresh and a wonderful combination of flavors. I can't wait to come back and try more of the menu.

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The place is very small which could be good but the people at a large table were screaming over each other. The selection is limited, tapas only. And the price is high. That said, the food was really really good. I. The end we enjoyed ourselves, but this is a try it once place.

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We sat at the bar in the back room. Great spot for a date night. The staff were all very friendly and the food comes quickly. Admittedly I was slightly suspicious of the food but they share the kitchen with the restaurant so it was very good. Highly recommend this spot for a relaxing meal and drinks.

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Paid a visit during a weekend late night, got seated almost immediately, which was nice. The bar seating is a great place to get drinks, but the food on the other hand was passable. Drinks were pretty good but the food felt severely overpriced and none of the flavors really stood out. I usually don't mind paying a premium if it's tasty but the food here was lackluster or overly salty. Got 5 small dishes and that alone was already $120. Tldr if youre coming for food just walk away. If youre there for a drink feel to check out their bar. I will not be returning anytime soon as i am confused on why their ratings are soo high

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My brother and I wanted to try a new spot for dinner and drinks and we came across this place. The walk through the restaurant felt like a speakeasy. Bright lit room and then into a dark bar. We ordered a bunch of things whatever sounded good on the menu. Each had a cocktail. I ordered the OJ sour very delicious. Started off with the chicken karage pretty bomb. Then we got our wagyu skewers, I thought they cooked it a little too much but it was decent probably gonna ask next time to cook it less. The salmon sashimi was very good soft salmon but still a bite to it. My favorite was the unagi and crispy rice. The rice was so crispy and the unagi was flavorful. All in all it was a good meal and the vibe was cool. Will be back.

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Such a cute vibe. Didn't have reservations & had no issues being sat. We sat in the back for the bar which I highly recommend. There is a parking lot so it wasn't hard to find parking. Service was fast & friendly. They decorated it nicely for Halloween. I got the chicken skewers & the seared hamachi. Both were delicious. Also for drinks had the lychee spritz & the Japan smash, so tasty. Would definitely recommend to anyone & I will be back!

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Wagyu Bao Buns 10/10- I absolutely loved this! The bao buns had ginger and jalapeño which brought a nice heat to the dish without being overwhelming. The Wagyu meat was incredibly tender and flavorful - you could really taste the quality of the beef. I loved how fluffy and soft the bao buns were - they had that perfect pillowy texture that made them ideal for holding all the delicious filling. The combination of the rich Wagyu with the spicy kick from the jalapeño was amazing. Brussels Sprouts 10/10- these came with lemon and bonito shavings and a spicy aioli on the side. This was the perfect shareable dish! I loved the charred flavor from the cooking method - it gave them this amazing smoky taste. They almost had a teriyaki sauce flavor too which I really liked and wasn't expecting. The bonito shavings added this great umami depth, and the lemon brightened everything up. The spicy aioli was the perfect dipping sauce that complemented the earthy Brussels sprouts perfectly. Chicken Yakitori Mix- I didn't try this but my friend liked it Tokyo Gimlet 9.75/10- made with Roku gin (my favorite!), yuzu liqueur, lemon, simple syrup, St. Germain elderflower, and mint. Honestly this had more of a lychee taste to me than elderflower, but it was still really good. The drink was also pretty strong but not overwhelmingly strong - just the right amount of kick. The yuzu added this perfect citrusy brightness and the mint made it so refreshing. Even though the elderflower didn't come through as much as I expected, the overall flavor profile was delicious. Ube Banana Pudding 9.65/10- normally I don't like ube but this was so good! The ube flavor was subtle and not overpowering like it usually is for me. The banana added this perfect sweetness and the pudding texture was so creamy and smooth. It was the perfect ending to the meal and I'm honestly surprised I loved it since ube isn't usually my thing. They have a back room that's a speakeasy vibe which I absolutely loved! The atmosphere was so cool and intimate. I actually can't believe this is the first time I tried Oak and Coal - I've been missing out! I loved everything we ordered and I will definitely be back to try more of their menu. Everything is made with high quality, organic and free-range proteins from sustainable farms, which you can really taste in the quality of the food. This place is doing something special! Instagram; @hungrytamale

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First time coming here. Been on my bookmarked places to visit for sometime now. Upon entering I thought it was a small seating area with tiny open kitchen but they actually have another area tucked away inside towards the back for bars and tables. Dark lighting indoors. Have mini lamps on each tables. That's how I managed to take food photos haha Ordered 5 small tapas style plates. Wagyu beef was cooked well done so it was so hard and chewy. Wished it could have been cooked medium rare. Lamb chops were cooked perfectly! This was my favorite. Pork belly was okay. The unagi and crispy rice tastes better separately cuz their crispy rice is crispy on the outside and mashed on the inside. Rice is too mushy, and unagi itself is a soft fish. The black cod was my second favorite dish. Well seasoned and cooked right which complimented well with the cucumbers.

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This spot has such a cool, tucked-away vibe with a gorgeous speakeasy in the back. The food is amazing, with tons of shareable options, which I love. We had the spicy Wagyu bao buns--really good. The ginger and jalapeño brought a nice heat, so if you're into spice, definitely try them. The veggie mix was great too. The eel crispy rice was a standout. I usually feel like the crispy rice-to-topping ratio is off at most places (just a personal thing), but I still really enjoyed it. The eel was delicious. We also got the Wagyu skewers, which were super flavorful and cooked perfectly. Shoutout to the server--we had originally meant to order the bao buns instead of the skewers, and he brought the skewers out on the house. Such great service, super friendly and accommodating. I had the lychee spritz--it was okay, but I'd probably try a different drink next time. Overall, the vibe is great, the food is solid, and I'd definitely come back.

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First time here, went to the speak easy bar part of the restaurant. The bartender and the servers were amazing. The food was so good. We had the wagyu skewers, salmon sashimi, karage and the udon soup. Everything was amazing and the service was good. I would come back again.

Discover Oak & Coal in Newport Beach, CA—an inviting restaurant offering delicious cuisine in a cozy setting. Book your table now for a memorable dining experience.

Oak & Coal Restaurant in Newport Beach, CA | Cozy Dining Experience

Costa Mesa

Oak & Coal

California

Explore the full menu at Oak & Coal in Newport Beach, CA. Discover signature dishes, drinks & must-try items. Visit us at 333 E 17th St, Ste 2.

Oak & Coal Menu – Food & Drinks in Newport Beach, CA

Learn about Oak & Coal, a premier restaurant in Newport Beach, CA. Experience our unique culinary style, cozy ambiance, and prime location at 333 E 17th St.

About Oak & Coal, Newport Beach, CA

Opening hours for Oak & Coal, Newport Beach, CA. Find opening hours for Oak & Coal, Newport Beach, CA on 333 E 17th St.

Oak & Coal – Modern Japanese Izakaya in Newport Beach, CA

SusieCakes- Newport Beach

Jack in the Box

Sections Fine Meats