If you accidently routed here expecting Carl's Jr, you will be sorely disappointed by Carlos…read moreJunior, but will find something a bit different, and ultimately so much better. The setting was unexpected, a sushi bar with the majority of seating behind curtains, hidden away. Sitting down, I noticed many things that made this place special; from the step-by-step instructions to the free sides of marinated celery and a blend of picked ginger. The manu was brought out and was easy to follow. For a place tha specializes in tempura, they also seemed to have mastered soba and sushi. While not pictured, I got the Carlos Jewel Box, which is a mixture of squid, shrimp, and scallop tempura; salmon, tuna, and yellowtail sashimi; miso soup; and rice all for $20. Worth it in my opinion. The sushi was fresh, and the plating was marvelous. Soba can come hot or cold, and the miso soup featured mushrooms which I had never seen before! The service was attentive and kind, nothing to fault there. While slightly on the pricier side, I can see why with the sheer number of components on each dish, and the flavors they are able to achieve though it. Good job Carlos!

After having amazing tempura bowls in Japan, my husband and I were so excited to find this place…read more We came here on a Saturday night and were pleasantly surprised that there was no wait. There was plenty of parking in the back of the restaurant. I got the Special Tempura Bowl and my husband got the Special Tempura Plate. We bother really liked our meals! The food quality is top notch and the tempura was so crunchy. The tempura shrimp and egg are our favorites. Service was great, friendly and quick. Would love to come back and try their sushi and soba.

Why Kagura? - Affordable and quality…read more- Grab it after visiting Tokyo Central Food 4/5 = Solid choice not to mention always busy - Katsu sando $12 - Loin Demi tonkatsu set $16.50 Not dry perfectly cook and no issues for a simple quick bite. Tonkatsu Marushichi is still #1 though pricing but AMAZING! Service 4/5 - Quick ordering and moves pretty fast Parking 3.5/5 - Free parking but can get really busy during peak hours due to ppl shopping. - Parking lot is the entire perimeter of complex Try Go Go Curry next to Kagura is you're open to trying curry!

I first discovered Kagura when I was searching for katsu places to try after coming back from…read moreHawaii and trying the most authentic and high-quality katsu I've ever had outside of Japan. Kagura lived up to the expectations I had for amazing katsu. I tried their pork loin and was transported back to Tokyo! The breading is perfect and the meat still stays perfectly juicy. All the food is super fresh and tasty. I loved the interior of the restaurant too because there are separate booths that are super private and perfect for a group of 4. All our servers were super attentive and kind. Will definitely be back here!!

The restaurant is located adjacent to Abalone Ave, different from the location that was shown on…read moreApple/Google Maps. While you were at the corner, you would see its noticeable sign. It felt causal and cozy inside, simple and clean. We arrived late at around 1:30 pm on a Saturday afternoon but the waitress was patient and friendly, guiding us to seats and let us know to order before their kitchen was closed. It had a lunch special menu which showed several special items at a very affordable price. We picked the Negitoro Bowl from this special menu (at half of the regular price). The tuna had a balanced fat and was minced in a manner that I felt it melt in my mouth. It's a good match with rice. The Kaisen Bowl had a variety of seafoods and all of them tasted very fresh! The salty fish roe made the rice more flavorful. The Kaisen Bowl came with a miso soup and a salad. We also ordered a soba which was well cooked. We definitely will go back to try more dishes!

The food was delicious and the quality felt really good for what I paid. The staff were also very…read morefriendly, and overall it was a nice experience. This was always one of the restaurants I wanted to try, so I was happy I finally got to visit haha. One thing is that the prices are high and the portion felt little small. If you are really hungry, I probably would not recommend ordering only the premium dishes. It might be better to try some of the more affordable menu options too. Still, the food quality was great and I would love to come back again to try different dishes next time.

This place is so cute and the service was amazing! Our server was very attentive and kind and was…read morevery fun to talk to. The food here was exceptional. We ordered another round of the beef tongue cause it was just. that. good. The chicken thighs with the green onions were also good. I probably wouldn't order the meatballs again, not because they were bad but the other things were just soo much better.

Torihei is a small izakaya, and that intimacy is part of its charm. The compact dining room creates…read morethe kind of warm, personable atmosphere that a good neighborhood izakaya should have. Rather than feeling cramped, it feels welcoming and authentic - a place where the focus stays on good food, good drinks, and good company. Over several visits, these have become my favorite dishes: Cabbage Salad with Spicy Sauce - 4/5. Torihei offers two versions of its cabbage salad: one with a garlic sesame dressing and another with a spicy sauce. The garlic sesame version is fine, but the spicy sauce is the clear winner. It features crunchy garlic and chili oil that add texture and depth without overwhelming heat. I would have liked a little more acidity to brighten the dish, but it's still an excellent way to start the meal. Chopped Cucumber with Sesame Oil - 4.5/5. One of my favorite appetizers at Torihei. The cucumbers are smashed rather than neatly sliced, which gives the dish a rustic character and helps the dressing cling to every surface. The addition of tomatoes is a smart touch, contributing acidity and freshness. Combined with the flavorful sesame dressing, it becomes far more interesting than its humble ingredients suggest. Soboro-don - 3/5. This small rice bowl comes topped with ground chicken, a poached egg, and pickles on the side. The rice is cooked well, and the chicken itself is clearly of good quality. However, the ground chicken is surprisingly underseasoned and could use more salt or additional seasoning. Despite that flaw, it's still a comforting dish thanks to the well-prepared rice and silky egg. Beef Tongue Curry Rice - 4/5. Despite its name, this dish eats more like a stew than a traditional Japanese curry. Fortunately, it's very tasty. The sauce is rich and meaty with just a hint of curry spice. At the same time, the beef tongue contributes a buttery texture and luxurious richness. It's hearty, comforting, and one of the more memorable rice dishes on the menu. Beef Tongue Soup - 5/5. This is a clean, balanced soup that showcases restraint. The broth has enough meatiness to be satisfying without becoming heavy, letting other umami flavors come through. The beef tongue itself is tender and rich, making this an excellent side dish to accompany the restaurant's grilled offerings. Yaki Oni - 4.5/5. The grilled rice ball is exceptionally well executed. Though triangular rather than spherical, it achieves the ideal texture contrast: a lightly crunchy exterior with a soft, substantial interior. The surface develops a beautiful golden-brown crust without crossing into burnt territory. It's a simple dish done right and a perfect accompaniment to skewers. Grilled Squid - 3.5/5. The squid is succulent and tender rather than rubbery, which is often the challenge with grilled squid. The flavor is enjoyable, though I would have welcomed a bit more char and grill marks. Pork Belly and Chicken Thigh Yakitori - 3/5. These skewers are solid but not standout. Both were slightly drier than I prefer. The pork belly could benefit from more rendered fat and richness. At the same time, the chicken thigh would be more appealing with a juicier finish. Chicken Hearts and Beef Tongue Yakitori - 4/5. These are among the stronger skewers on the menu. Heavily exercised cuts tend to offer deeper flavor, and both deliver. The chicken hearts have a satisfying richness, while the beef tongue combines robust flavor with pleasant marbling. If you're ordering yakitori, these are better choices than some of the more conventional cuts. Meatball Yakitori - 4.5/5. This is deservedly one of Torihei's signature dishes. The exterior develops an excellent browning and a slight crust, while the interior remains tender, juicy, and intensely meaty. Chicken Kara-age - 3.5/5. The kara-age is good, but it falls just short of greatness. A crispier crust and juicier chicken would elevate it significantly. Still, it's a satisfying version of a classic izakaya staple. Fried Shishito Peppers - 3.5/5. These peppers are mild rather than spicy and develop a pleasant glistening texture when fried. Their slight fibrousness gives them character, making them a simple but enjoyable side dish. Creamy Annin Tofu - 5/5. Available either plain or with green tea syrup, both versions are excellent, though the green tea syrup is the better choice. The texture is closer to a delicate pudding than tofu, and the sweetness is restrained and balanced. It's a deceptively simple dessert that provides a satisfying and elegant finish to the meal. No izakaya experience is complete without alcohol, and Torihei delivers. The sake and shochu selections are solid, offering enough variety to complement the menu. Beer options are mostly limited to familiar Japanese labels, but they pair perfectly with the food. Combined with its cozy atmosphere and solid drink selection, Torihei is the kind of neighborhood izakaya that earns regulars for good reason.

Came here for dinner last night with my husband. Very clean and service was amazing. This is why I…read moregive them a 5 stars. Food is a 4 stars, but because of the excellent staff service, 5 stars. We ordered: Mune kizokuyaki - chicken breast all spice (tare may be a better choice, but my husband wanted to try mixed spices since it was different) Unagi (eel) Teba (chicken wings) Very flavorful Ebi (shrimp) the head and shell were left on, so won't order it again as it's too much work to remove the shell and fingers get dirty) Tsukune (chicken meatballs) Beef harami steak with mashed potatoes & cabbage- only $2 more to add side mashed & cabbage Tori Q (marinated cucumbers) Agedashi Tofu Houjicha pudding for dessert (loved it) Drinks : houijicha tea and Sapporo beer Overall, for the price and the size, it's well worth it. Again, had better yakitori's elsewhere, but serving size is much smaller, so you end up ordering more; which means more $$$$. Service was also amazing and food came out quick. Our favorite picks are: Unagi, teba, tsukune, beef harami, & Tori Q cucumbers. Will come back again for sure to try other skewers/apps. I will definitely order the chicken breast/green onions in tare sauce next time as opposed the mixed spices. In summary, I highly recommend to check this place out and experience the great ambiance and service.

We won't be returning. The food was disappointing and service was mediocre…read more I made reservations via OpenTable for two and made another one for a different day (in case it passes the taste test) to take my dad to for Father's Day. Yakitori was for the most part $8 for a set of two. The quality was not worth the $4 per skewer. For skewers, we had gotten liver, heart, wing, chicken meatball, thigh with onion, chicken breast with plum. Also got the cucumber salad, fried chicken skin, and spicy karaage. The biggest complaint was that most of the skewers that didn't come with sauce were under salted and I would say it's pretty dry as well. The cucumber salad was bad because it was bitter in every piece I ate so I ended up not finishing it. The spicy karaage was an absolute no. I took one bite and didn't finish it. My boyfriend ate a small piece and the rest of the dish went untouched. When it came to ordering the finishing dish, I had called for service. The gentleman said brb he's going to grab his tablet... Only for him to come back to grab the table next to mine's order and left lol. I had to call for service again with someone else and ordered a grilled rice ball and the ramen. Grilled rice ball was a disappointment (not even surprised anymore). It was completely soft (probably too much sauce) so it wasn't crispy on the outside at all. The boyfriend enjoyed the ramen and I did try the broth and it was actually pretty good. Um, I guess the best part was the yuzu sour drink I had ordered and the broth from the ramen. I also ended up canceling my second dinner reservation for next time when the skewers came out. Never again.

Back again. I remembered they have a great BENTO BOX, so that's what I ordered again and…read morerecommended the same for my friend. We had a great time here on a Saturday afternoon. The food was as great as I remember and although the restaurant had plenty of people, we didn't feel rushed. Everything was delicious from the sashimi, tempura, fish, nishime and chicken karaage. The bento box also comes with potato salad, udon and gohan. When I'm in Gardena, this is my choice for Bento Box... You literally get a little of everything!

Food: good solid Japanese fair with emphasis on udon. The broth was clear and delicious. Edamame…read morewas bland. No salt. The udon noodles had a nice chew but not too much. The tempura was good , not excellent. The shrimp was the best. Ambiance: old school but charming Service: it was a small mom and pop place. The one waitress was very pleasant. I liked it a lot. It's a casual place to get solid Japanese food. Nothing fancy. But solid. Prices are reasonable. 2 for dinner. With edamame and tempura sides plus 20% tip was $74 . So please try them. Bon appetit

Came here for a date night and will definitely be coming back!…read more The meal came with complementary ice tea, I believe it was barley or oolong tea. I ordered the ten toji don combo and a salmon hand roll. The food came out fast and was piping hot. The portions were also huge for not a ton of money. The udon was delicious and the ten toji don was good as well! I loved the combo of the shrimp tempura with the egg. The salmon hand roll tasted fresh as well, 8/10. There is ample seating in the restaurant and lots of parking outside. The restaurant is also located in a shopping plaza with many other restaurants and dessert places.

I was just starting to eat my meal when the sat a large group breaking them in to tables on both…read moresides of me. So people needed to squeeze by and then one guy asked if he could sit for a moment at my table. I said okay. But then I think he planned to stay at my table until finally my waiter moved him! There was a seat at one their tables the whole time. Then their waitress wedge herself with her back toward me in between the tables and I had to stop eating. Very disruptive and rude. Taking a while for the six people to order so I nudged her and I asked her to move and she seemed upset that I did that but didn't say anything no apology so it was very uncomfortable and I was rushing through my food so I burnt my tongue on the hot soup again even though I knew it was hot because I just wanted to get out of there. And then when I was done, I had to wait a while for the check and then they couldn't process the Apple Pay at the table so then I had to go to the front and wait for somebody to attend to me there overall this experience was not fun and stressful and I had got there right when they opened. I sure wish I had selected a different seat!! I wouldn't get the Nabeyaki soup again. It was really big and had a lot of end pieces of tough napa cabbage. There were two pieced of shitake mushroom and the standard thin fish cake slice. There was and egg in the soup and a three small chicken pieces. On the side were three small pieces of green bean and two tempura shrimp.

Came for lunch with colleague around 12pm. Plenty of parking spaces behind the restaurant and since…read moreit was Wednesday, not much people were at the restaurant. If you are planning on having a pasta, Wednesday is the day you want to go because they have -$5.00 promo on Wednesday. Ordered the Caprese for an appetizer to share and it was delicious! We ordered pasta and it was also very yummy Plenty of seating inside and it's nice and cozy. 5 star Italian- Japanese pasta Place!

Met an old food service industry friend for lunch. I had a very savory and flavorful uni pasta with…read moreshrimp! I would have liked a slightly larger portion, but it was satisfying nonetheless. Our server was extremely friendly, perfect temperament for food service! I'll have to bring the wife here!

You've probably read all the articles online about this place and all the reviews on here, so I'm…read morejust going to confirm that this place is indeed very good as they say. Definitely go for the nabe, and if you're here with several friends and family, the family course/set meal (which is what we got for 4 adults) is perfectly enough food for everyone. We added on the tongue as an a la carte because it wasn't part of the set and wanted to try it. Very good as well. Good service and very izakaya interior.

It takes a lot for me to be blown away when it comes to food and this place was it for me. Our…read morefriends introduced us to this place and it was spectacular! The ambiance is great, not so loud and the vibes are perfect for night out with the girls or even date night. We came in a group and just ordered family style but I started off with the Beef BBQ Yakiniku salad and it was so delicious I didn't share this particular plate it was so flavorful. Their Gobo Chips are a must along with their Doteni Braised Beef Tongue and that was my favorite so simple and that bite was perfection. Their chicken and green onion skewers those were finger licking good the chicken was so tender. We finished off with the Shabu shabu hot pot and that broth was so flavorful and all the cabbage, spinach and noodles were great! Everything we had was delicious and can't wait to go back and try some other items. Their customer service was great, we were a group of 6 and everything came out quick and we were able to enjoy our tasty food and drinks.

We enjoyed regular and new lunch menu and desserts! The…read moreduck lunch menu was delicious, too. And all of the desserts were excellent.

I have eaten here only 3 or 4 times. The most recent was a retirement lunch for a work friend. We…read morehad a group of 11 and the handled it really well. They not only had a space that big, but it also felt private. The staff was super attentive. The food is great. I ordered a rainbow roll. All the fish was super fresh. Even though we had a large group, we all got our food at around the same time. It was a great lunch for our work pal.