Mr Max Izakaya Richardson — Restaurant in Richardson

The host/manager extremely rude. She completely ignored me waiting in first - greet the couple behind me and then later comeback told my sister who was sitting down she refused service? While i still standing in front of her?? We would be fine if she came to me and told kitchen close in couple minutes; come back the other day

Edit for a full one since it mine sister who was so mad; called the host racist because she disrespected me and my sister.

We planned to check the irving location since we saw great praise online but then after searching a bit more we found out there one close to our house just open and we just want to go there to check out. I did read review about the host being rude but I thought well maybe because they just open new location and probably maybe too busy running around (guess I should trust reviews a bit more next time). My family came in around 8:05 or 8:07 (I called their number at 7:37 to check but no one answer the phone) I saw group of 2 - 3 (there literally 3 groups) waiting and the restaurant not that busy so I got in the line and patiently wait for the host to come so I can ask her for more information, around 8:10 there a white couple walk-in like us and she greeted them with smile - table for two?; while ignoring me who standing in front of them and waving at her - continue running inside and check seats for them; after that she came back - still ignoring me and came to my sister and ask her for her name on waitlist - not greeting, not a simple hello.. nor explanation - she straight up told my sister she refuse to serve us while accept the other walk-in like it not a big deal - my sister ask her if she refused us then why she accepted the others - called her racist and we left after that at 8:15. as I wrote above; she could just came up to me and told me there no table for 4 available and we would be fine; She chose to ignored me and come to my sister who was already mad because she treated me like i was invisible; called her racist was too much out of line but at the same time she was treating us and other differently...

Saturday night in Dallas. One month back from Japan and still dreaming in train station jingles, we needed something to bring us back. Google led us to Mr. Max’s Izakaya. No reservation, no problem (though you should make one). The place buzzed with a warm, organized chaos—chopsticks clinking, highballs being poured, and laughter mixed with fleeting moments of not too distant conversations. We slid into a table beneath wall scrolls covered in brush-stroked kanji, like a love letter from a distant but familiar place. The menu is, however, modern via QR code but the energy is old-school izakaya through and through.

Drinks came first—Kirin for me (the biggin’), a peach chuhai for my wife that was dangerously good (we had another). Hot sake too, because we can. Then came the food: bacon-wrapped tomatoes—fatty pork belly, charred and sweet, a perfect opener. My wife’s salted salmon was clean and beautifully cooked. Karaage was rich, soaked in a soy-based marinade that gave it depth. Smothered in mayo—too much, really—but fried chicken is fried chicken, and we weren’t sending it back. We skipped the fish skewers and went for ramen. Hers was Tonkotsu, missing something, maybe depth, but still satisfying enough to vanish. I gambled on Taiwan noodles and hit gold—spicy, meaty, more Tan Tan than Taipei. I’d go back just for that bowl.

The space is well-built: high ceilings softened by wood—on the walls, in the beams, under your elbows. The noise doesn’t bounce, it hums. You can hear the person across from you without shouting. That alone is worth something these days. Mr. Max’s isn’t trying to be Tokyo. It doesn’t need to be. It’s a quiet echo of Japan in a Texas suburb, and it delivers where it counts—bold bites, strong drinks, and the kind of warmth that settles into your bones. The menu’s deep, the vibe is honest, and if you leave unsatisfied, that’s...

I have to leave an honest review although I loved the Irving location. Got there at about 7:26pm. No one was there to host and welcome anyone in and put them on the waitlist. About 15 minutes later someone finally showed up and I got on the list. Friends and I waited from about 7:40-8:50. At that time we noticed quite a few people had been called in before us. We decided to ask how much longer the wait was only to have the staff bring the list and see my name at the top and everyone underneath crossed off. My name was not crossed off at all. I never received a call and they never called my name. I say right by the door after getting on the list. The waitlist, they ask for your number and then call when the table is ready. There were plenty of larger groups of about 5-6 people who got their tables before us that showed up after us. I had a party of three. At that point she offered the bar seats for us. We declined to continue any more as they had an hour before close and would probably close the kitchen soon too. Its an absolute shame. I typically love their food and service so much but last night was such a bummer. I was really excited to see their new location in Richardson. We were planning to eat together there at our favorite restaurant to celebrate and say farewell to our friend that had gotten accepted into medical school. Theres also this giant brick at the front door they use to prop it open which is a hazard and also doesn’t work. So many girls that were dressed up in heels kept walking in and stubbing their toe on the brick and it would get knocked out of the door and then lock everyone else trying to get in out. This happened several times...