The staff here operates with that smooth, friendly efficiency that makes you feel like they've been…read moreexpecting you all day. Water refills appear out of thin air, dishes land on the table right when your stomach starts whispering, and everyone has that calm, welcoming vibe that makes the whole experience feel easy. This place is cozy, warm, and tucked away in a strip mall. it's the kind of spot where you settle in and instantly forget where you are. Soft lighting, relaxed chatter, and that comforting izakaya energy make it feel like a neighborhood hideout. You come here to unwind, snack, sip, and smile. Depending on what part of the day you arrive. Let's talk about the important things. This is where Akatsuki really flexes. Every dish hits that "oh yeah, "this is why we came out tonight" level. * Tempura, light, crispy, and somehow still fluffy. The kind of tempura that makes you judge every other tempura you've ever had. * Sunomono Octopus, bright, refreshing, and perfectly chewy. A palate cleanser that doubles as a confidence booster. * Hard Shell Clams, briny, buttery, and served sizzling. You'll be tempted to pick up the bowl and drink the broth like soup. * Salmon Bowl, so fresh, vibrant, and generously portioned. It's the bowl that hugs your soul. * Onigiri, simple, comforting, and exactly what you want it to be. A rice triangle with main-character energy. * Karaage Fried Chicken, finder licking good, crispy, juicy, and borderline dangerous. You'll consider ordering a second plate before finishing the first. * Spicy Crispy Tofu, Shockingly addictive. Even tofu skeptics will start questioning their life choices. * Yellowtail Sashimi, so delicious, clean, buttery, and melt-in-your-mouth smooth. The kind of sashimi that makes you close your eyes for a few seconds....hopefully you don't fall a sleep it's that comforting. At one point, the karaage was so good I briefly considered writing it a thank‑you card. And the clams...Wow! They had me contemplating whether I should take home the shells and make a necklace as a souvenir. "Always remember, good energy brings good energy!" Miguel C.

We came by here for a late lunch, which it wasn't too packed and busy at all. We were seated within…read morea few minutes. There seems to only be 2 waitresses in the dining area, and I feel bad cause they look like they're moving as fast as they can but in a calm manner. They were very kind! We ordered the Umami Maze Udon, a spicy version of the maze udon, and a kaarage to share. My maze udon came out first, then the spicy and kaarage shortly after. The udon is a generous portion size! The udon itself was very chewy, although, kinda subtle in flavor. It was overall pretty decent, but I had better udon from other places. I did like how it was less salty compared to many maze udon places though. I heard the spicy version was actually pretty spicy haha. The kaarage itself were also very huge pieces. Although, I wish they had more seasoning or at least had a dip bc it was lacking in flavor. It was just a big fried chicken. The one thing that was kinda bothersome was the lack of air ventilation in here. It was a pretty hot day, so the restaurant was just very warm and quite uncomfortable. It felt like there was no air everywhere. Also the tables were just soo sticky. The booths also feel like the cushions were definitely overused. The whole seating situation was not a pleasant experience. Food was okay, did not make up for the experience dining in though.

This is the kind of place where you sit at the bar, watch the grill masters do their thing over…read moreJapanese charcoal, and suddenly realize you've been smiling like a hungry fool for 45 minutes straight. This place offers Chill Vibes, Great Service, and Skewers Worth Writing Home About Slide into that front bar seat, and you're basically signing up for dinner and a live cooking show. The chefs work the grill with the calm confidence of people who know they're about to make your day. The service up front is quick, friendly, and laid‑back, matching the whole casual, chill atmosphere, the kind of vibe where you can unwind, sip something cold, and watch the charcoal glow like it's performing a tiny, delicious magic trick. And the skewers? Oh man. Each one hits the grill freshly made by hand every few minutes as the orders get placed, using locally sourced, quality meats that somehow tastes like it grew up doing yoga and drinking alkaline water. "lol." The texture is firm, springy, and ridiculously juicy, a perfect testament to the chefs' skill. You can literally savor each skewer as it grills over Japanese charcoal, picking up that smoky, mouth‑watering flavor that makes you rethink every other skewer you've ever had before. By the time you get to the last bite, you're already plotting your return, or wondering if it's socially acceptable to ask the chef to adopt you. In my opinion, there's something humbling about watching your skewer get grilled to perfection while your stomach is whispering, "Sir... please... I'm right here." But you wait, because greatness takes time, and Shin‑Sen‑Gumi is absolutely serving greatness. Come check it out for yourself. I just love good quality food and service! Miguel C.

I love their lunch items! I go there at least once a week…read more The atmosphere is great!!!

Ichiban! Food is excellent. For weekends only! This is the…read moreplace to have lunch . They just started this bento lunch Special. We tried the steak and chicken bento. Both were Excellent . There is a side menu for yakitori if you want extras. This bentos come with with a green salad, pickled veggie and miso soup. At the end is a free dessert of vanilla, Macha , or lichee ice cream. Yum that Lichee ice cream is so refreshing with real lichee in it. A must have. Service could be better but there was only one server. The atmosphere was nice and quiet . I would definitely go back there for lunch. Dinner is another different menu. Also looks good.

I'm genuinely confused by the 4.4/5 rating because my experience was nowhere near that level…read more The one bright star is for the lone server, who did an impressive job managing the entire floor by herself and staying helpful throughout the meal. Unfortunately, the food told a very different story. We ordered a wide variety of yakitori since the glowing reviews repeatedly highlighted it as the restaurant's specialty. Instead, what arrived was surprisingly inconsistent. Nearly every skewer had a heavily charred exterior that crossed the line from smoky to bitter. Good yakitori should showcase careful grilling that enhances the ingredients, not mask them with burnt flavors. The proteins themselves didn't taste particularly fresh, and the seasoning was all over the place. Some skewers were so lightly seasoned they tasted unfinished, while others were aggressively salty. Consistency is one of the fundamentals of good yakitori and it was noticeably lacking here. Having visited plenty of izakayas and eaten more than my fair share of yakitori, I'm not claiming Michelin-level expectations. I simply know the difference between properly grilled, well-balanced skewers and ones that miss the mark. Based on this visit, the food was below average and failed to live up to the hype. With the volume of positive reviews, I expected a memorable yakitori experience. Instead, I left wondering if I had visited the same restaurant everyone else was raving about.

Glad we got there early, when we finished dinner the whole restaurant was a packed house, all the…read moretables were taken. Good food, good service, good price tonight was a win win all the way around and the kicker was parking was a breeze considering that parking lot is always full.

to keep it short, they forgot they sat us down. they didn't take our order for over 30 minutes and…read moreafter they did there was a lot forgotten like my takeout order i think had gotten lost after being placed. i should've said something a lot sooner regarding having our order taken especially because i was in a time crunch but i don't like the thought of rushing workers especially when it's a smaller business with less people. my coworker i went with has been many times but said this never happens so this was a first for us. i think the language barrier also played a factor as well, however, the table sitting next to us who spoke fluent japanese also never received their check and was forgotten too. it was not busy. but the owners seemed to prioritize the other side of the restaurant instead. nonetheless, they were apologetic and we still ate and the food was very good, id recommend coming here on a day you are not busy!

The restaurant has a very old school Japanese vibe. Has a good amount of tables for two or a bigger…read moregroup. The service is okay. A small family run restaurant so things can be timed weird but the people are very friendly. The food is good. I ordered the special tonkatsu combo plate. The cold udon is delicious. The tonkatsu is crunchy and juicy. Made very well. Overall a solid 4.7

Party of two for lunch. Arrived as the restaurant opened and shown our seats promptly…read more They were out of soba for oyaku jyu combo so went with the udon. Friend order chicken katsu and was told they were out of cali rolls and subbed for gyoza. My lunch arrived much in advance, their lunch arrived incomplete. The rest of the order arrived as we were finishing up the meal and they had to take the rest to go. Staffing was sparse which could've contributed to the pacing and service. The food quality was just okay. My chicken was a bit tough and the udon noodle was a little bloated in the broth. The miso soup was a bit salty. Probably my fault as I waited to eat for our full order to arrive. Been here before and the food quality was good; providing a simple but tasty home cooked vibe. This time not so much.

This restaurant is such a hidden gem! At first, I didn't even realize it was a restaurant from the…read moreunassuming storefront. It's a small restaurant, and it seemed like reservations are highly recommended, if not required. Luckily, they were able to squeeze us in right before another reservation. The restaurant has an authentic yakitori vibe where the tables are packed pretty tightly and you're dining elbow-to-elbow with other guests. That said, I loved the variety on the menu. They offer a huge selection of grilled, steamed, fried, and cold dishes, so there's something for everyone. The skewers were amazing, and the grilled onigiri was one of my favorites. Everything we tried was really enjoyable and I loved being able to order a little bit of everything! One thing to keep in mind: the rice pot takes about 45 minutes to cook because they start with raw rice. I wish our server had mentioned this when we ordered, because we probably would have skipped it knowing how long it would take. Overall, I'm really glad we stumbled upon this place. Definitely feels like a hidden gem, and I'd love to come back and try more of the menu!

We went here at a Thursday evening for dinner and we were sitting at the bar…read moreMy friend said he has been this restaurant before so he highly recommended it It reminded me so much of the vibe of Japan We ordered so many dishes last night and all the grilled chicken are all good I personally love the grilled ginkgo nuts because it is so delicious and very rarely to see restaurants serving it with shells The service was really good and it is a great place to hang out with friends and families Have a drink paring with the food definitely it the best way to enjoy the food there Somehow, I noticed the little hallway entering the back kitchen and also inside of the lady's room smells bad I am not sure it is the plumbing issue or something but the smell is irritating and unpleasant Other than that, everything is very good Note: the restaurant is located at the plaza with 85 degrees bakery so the parking is plenty and easy to find a space

YUM! I mean these…read morewere not cheap, but LOOK at the portion. if I wasn't dancing the night away at Gardena Obon this night, I would've saved half for lunch the next day. I still had some leftovers, though. sashimi were thick cut pieces, needed 2 bites per piece to eat. beef teriyaki: get it. even if you JUST get this, get it. I knew something was up when my mom AND sister both ordered some kind of combo, but my sister called dibs on my mom's as soon as she said she was going to order it. this led me to ordering my own beef teriyaki combo. oyakodon was classic and hit everything just right, the cheapest of the entrees but just as filling. love it here!! will be back soon

The wife and I checked this place out recently. I ordered the tempura and beef combination while…read moreshe got the tempura and sashimi combination. I got to try items from not only my plate, but hers as well. The food was hit and miss. The beef teriyaki, which they cooked exactly to the doneness I requested, was incredibly good. The steak was tender - the teriyaki sauce was spot on. I also liked the macaroni salad which was hiding behind the lettuce. However, the sashimi and tempura missed the mark. While the slices of sashimi (e.g., tuna, salmon, and yellow tail) were fresh, they were cut way too thick. The assortment of tempura tasted good, and was crunchy, but was battered way too heavily. It felt like the batter was the focal point of the dish instead of the vegetables and shrimp, which I could barely taste. The service was excellent. Our server was attentive even though the restaurant was packed with people. The food and drinks came out fast. They served our sodas in chilled mugs, which was a nice touch. I didn't enjoy the fact that it was uncomfortably warm in the restaurant (it was hot that day). I don't think the AC was running. However, I won't count this against the establishment since the server stopped by our table to apologize about the warm temperature in the room. Some final thoughts about this place. -We came right at opening. The place filled up pretty fast. -There was plenty of parking behind the restaurant. -If this restaurant had executed the small things more effectively, as opposed to focusing on preparing the food quickly, this could have easily been a five star write up.

I have written two past reviews for this place, each one glowing brigther than the sun's heat in…read moreAugust. Thus this place does not need more of my praise. It is eastablished and celebrated by eaters far more articulate and with wider reach than I. But I recently went, and enjoyed myself quite a bit. Not only because the food was incredible but because the staff made me feel like a special patron. My main server was Julian. He was young, attentive and continued the chain of grand service. But there are two other female servers that make the experience pop with above the line service, I wish I knew their name. The first passed me and my companion Conrad and asked how is your mother? All I could say was she was still alive. I took my mom to mother's day there two years ago and she remembered. That kind of service cannot be reproduce because it was held in heart and intention. I was a welcomed guest. I may not go often but when I do I am remembered. That kind attentiivesness is more than appreciated, it is remembered too! The second server when I leave the place meets my eyes, has a grand wide smile, and said something in Japanese that makes me feel seen in Kyoto. I am engaged in a jovial way by the staff here that is why it is a sincere pleasure to buy the kitchen staff a picther so we can Kanpai!. There sweet way with me is something I cannot undervalue because in doing so I would ignore the kind of hospitatlty that moves mountains closer to the sun. And the food is amazing, like so good, it cannot be ignored espeically when the menu went through changes. The reason why that face immediately hit me in the face was because I used to go for these corn tempura things that were like this amazing crunch in corn. But still what we had was wonderul. Like I would hurt back or strain my inner thigh trying to complain about the food in this place. This time around Conrad and I had their Shabu Shabu. I have had Shabu Shabu before (not here) a few times, not many but this was the first time that Conrad had it. And that face in itself is special, I think. So moving on from that, eating Shabu Shabu was engaging cause you basically create a broth that you are using to cook veggies and meat so images of witches and camping come to the mind, easily. I also took a video of Conrad grinding some sesame seeds, like he was an apothecary or doctor of old times. And I do not care who you are, you are going to enjoy working a bit, especially in a fun way, for your meal. Like who would not like to peel a few cloves of garlic for their herbed chicken? The broth came with pork shoulder and pork belly. We also had some meat and onions on stick--- I think we had pork belly and chicken. We also had a rice ball. We also had thier Gobo Chips. This is something that survived the menu transition that hit every crispy bite. It hit every crispy bite. By this point I know that the food will be fantastic, and the type of food that warms the heart and soul- comfort food. However, this, comfort food is not mine to claim by familiarity because I have not known it since childhood. But I have known it enough to know it as comfortable. I guess, I can claim it as familiar because it became such in the span of years, not decades. Like when can someone claim a carne asado taco to be familiar comfort food when they did not grow up eating it? That is the question that I am left to ponder. This place is a spot I know to be good and trust to deliver on service and quality.

3.5/5 Went here for…read morethe first time and ordered the Signature Party Course (Minimum 4 people) for $78 per person. Came with the below. Honestly it was only ok, not worth the price. Noting stood out, no amazing flavors, and some was fishy. Gobo Chips - good Uni & US Wagyu Sashimi - only ok Five Kinds of Sashimi - very thick cut. Decent but nothing special Octopus & Radish Salad - was ok Sweet & Savory Chicken Wings - nice and crispy Thick-Cut Beef Tongue - pretty good Fried Oysters - good Ribeye Ponzu Steak - fatty Pressed Saba Mackerel, Pressed Eel Sushi, Pressed Salmon Sushi - can't even pick it up without falling apart. Some fishes were fishy. Pumpkin Zenzai - fine

We visited Otafuku Restaurant right when they opened at 11:30 am on a Saturday, and the restaurant…read morefilled up almost immediately. We ordered the Seiro Soba with Shrimp and Vegetable Tempura, which came out within about 10 to 15 minutes. We ordered a large to share, and without us even asking, they split the soba into two portions for us. That small gesture really reflected the service overall. The staff was very sweet and welcoming throughout our meal. The Seiro Soba was unlike any soba we've had before. The noodles had a noticeably chewier texture than the buckwheat soba we're used to, but we really enjoyed them. The tempura was also very good, with the Perilla Leaf Tempura being my personal favorite. Parking nearby seemed limited, so we parked along 166th St. and walked over. There was plenty of street parking available when we visited. The restaurant had a very homey, neighborhood feel, and it was clear that a lot of regulars come here. I'd definitely come back to Otafuku Restaurant to try more of their noodles.

This place delivers that classic "small-but-mighty" Japanese comfort vibe, the kind of spot where…read morethe noodles do the talking and the tempura does the flexing. Interior is clean, simple, friendly service, and soba so good it could probably negotiate the challenges you probably will have finding parking. Parking? Well... let's just say alley parking builds character. Hot Seiro Soba + Tempura, The hot soba comes out steaming like it's clocked in for a full shift. The noodles have that perfect chew, not mushy, not stiff, just that "I trained in Japan for this" texture. Dip them into the broth and suddenly you're rethinking your taste buds in a good way. The tempura? Light, crisp, and not drowning in oil. It's the kind of tempura that makes you feel like you're eating responsibly... even though you're absolutely not. Cold Seiro Soba + Eel & Veggie Tempura, Cold soba is always a personality test. If you order it, you're either a purist or someone who enjoys refreshing noodles that slap. The eel adds that sweet-savory richness, and the veggie tempura brings the crunch. Together, they're basically the Japanese version of a buddy-cop duo. Chicken Skewers, Juicy, lightly charred, and simple, like the restaurant's way of saying, "We know you came for the soba, but here's a little something extra." Overall the Service was pleasant for a Sunday night, which is impressive considering half the customers were probably still recovering from weekend errands. Parking behind the building is... let's call it "intimate." You'll either fit or you won't. Western Ave is your safer backup plan. Consider it part of the Otafuku adventure, like a mini‑boss before the main quest. Miguel C.

This area is a bit far for us to travel to, so when we had to pick up our friend from LAX, I wanted…read moreto find something super unique to this area to go to for dinner and Yelp search did NOT disappoint. I believe this is the one of the few places (I think the other is in Berkeley), where you can get raw chicken. DEFINITELY call in to get a reservation. Not only is it a good stop for "tourists" like us, but you can tell it's a local favorite too, which isn't too hard to see either. We went here on a Monday evening and the restaurant was PACKED. It's not a big dining area either, just a couple tables and the bar seating area to watch the master grill and prepare the skewers (he just uses his hands to grab and cook everything, which I think is insane). The waitresses were super attentive, polite and friendly. To the girl with the super deco nails, you are so pretty and fashionable! For our visit, each of us ordered the Torimatsu Course which comes with 10 piece yakitori, your choice of salad, soup and ice cream at the end. This is A LOT of food. I had to share some of my skewers after taking a tasting bite since I was getting so full. Probably the first time I've ever gotten full from skewers and it wasn't a Draculian field of stakes. The meal consisted of: 1) Salad: -Each of us chose the scallion since it was a bit more unique. Crispy with a tangy onion-y bite with the slight sweet taste. 2) Chicken broth soup: -This came in the middle with the rest of the skewers but was also a great change of pace when it came to texture and taste. -Delicious rich chicken flavor without tasting too "chicken-y" if that makes any sense. It comes out SCALDING hot to the point that there's warnings on the menu, so definitely be super careful and make sure you don't burn your tongue or your hands (even the cup bowl is pretty hot too). 3) Tsukune (chicken meat balls): -Can't go wrong with simple meat balls. Juicy and goes great with any of the salt, shichimi or other seasonings you can get at your table. 4) Tebasaki (chicken wing tip): -I've never seen bone on chicken on a skewer before, so this was neat. Moist chicken, slightly crispy edges and the meat fell right off the bone. 5) Shiso-maki (chicken wrapped in perilla leaves): -One of the group's favorites. Moist soft, tender juicy chicken on the inside and the slightly minty, herb taste of the leaf on the outside. Delicious. 6) Uzura (quail eggs): -It's just regular boiled quail eggs grilled, but I love quail eggs, so this was a treat. 7) Negi-Niku (chicken and green onion): -Classic combination. Slightly sweet tare glaze on the moist chicken, went great with the different slightly sweet onion taste profile. 8) Sunagimo (chicken gizzards): -The BIGGEST chicken gizzards I have seen. I usually expect tiny morsels when this is ordered at a skewer place, so this was a welcomed surprise. Nice springy chewiness to these meaty giblets. I usually don't like this cut of chicken, but pretty good. 9) Nankotsu (soft bone): -Another group favorite. CRAZY texture. I've never had chicken that had the texture of high quality scallops. It's really good and something that none of us had ever had before. A must if you're getting a la cart as well. 10) Tsumire (chicken stuffed in mushroom): -Very, very filling, but the mushroom cap is very tender and isn't chewy in the slightest (my issue with some larger mushrooms). 11) Stuffed Bell Pepper (stuffed with chicken of course): -Slight bitterness of the bell pepper on the exterior went great with the seasoned chicken. 12) Kitsune (chicken in deep fried been curd): -I love kitsune, so this was one of my favorites as well. 13) Toriwasa: -This is the rare/raw sliced chicken breast with wasabi soy sauce. There's some shredded nori on top too. -Perfect for pictures and to jump scare some people, but the presentation was aesthetically pleasing as can be for "chicken sashimi" and was prepared very delicately. -We actually got this first and ate this first since it's advised to do so once the dish is at the table. -It has a super subtle chicken taste, mostly tasting like the sauce it's in. It has the texture of salmon sashimi but with slightly more chew if that makes sense. Definitely not something I crave normally, but I can now say that I've tried this! Topped everything with a scoop of vanilla ice cream at the end. Can't go wrong with that. It's also super neat to see the huge vase of tare that is allegedly 30 years old. Keeps the flavor well and is monumental to the yakitori here for sure. We were so full and didn't have a chance to try their chicken skin yakitori (something we almost always get when going to a skewer restaurant), so we'll definitely do that and try more of their menu. The quality of chicken they have here is top tier and understandably so since there's extremely strict guidelines and regulations with serving raw chicken to customers. Can't wait for our next visit.

very welcoming restaurant and friendly staff Had their…read moresecond set menu with 7 yakitori, salad, soup, and ice cream. Also ordered a mentaiko yaki onigiri on the side. Everything was delicious, fresh and such a wonderful experience. The atmosphere was very laid back and relaxing. It's pricey but would definitely come back again on special occasions! Be sure to make a reservation!