Wow! My first visit this past weekend; this place is a little hidden gem!!…read moreFirst, Mary Kate was amazing at the front. She had great suggestions and was so very nice!!! Our server, Yui K, was also fantastic!! She recommended a lovely sake (Shinryu Nishiki) and desserts for my friend and me and was so efficient and sweet! (Mary Kate had already given us a number of suggestions for the appetizers and skewers.) Zoku Q: yummy!! Spicy Karaage: Oh my goodness! Eyes rolling back delicious! Giant Ebi Mayo: shrimp (huge!) cooked perfectly and also so delicious! Elote Corn Ribs: excellent flavor, but there are only four very small pieces so not worth the price (to us). Skewers were all good: Momo Teri, Mune Ume, Wagyu Beef, Unagi, Tsukune. We would definitely order the wagyu beef, Tsukune and Momo Teri again. (The others were good but not as good as these three.) For dessert we ordered the Panna Cotta and the Custard Pudding. Completely different textures but would order either again! I will enjoy returning!

The staff who greet you at the entrance, as well as the servers, are all wonderfully attentive! The…read moreatmosphere is great, and every staff member creates a very welcoming vibe whenever a customer walks in! Since this was my second visit, I ordered things I hadn't tried the last time. As always, every dish looked so appealing -- the plating is absolutely stunning. The overall balance, colors, and presentation... everything made me want to take photos. Compared to other yakitori restaurants, the selection might be a bit limited, and die-hard yakitori fans may find it a little lacking, but it is definitely worth visiting at least once! My personal favorite here is the Chicken with Honey Mustard! The Karaage sauce is also incredible!! And finally, the desserts -- always something to look forward to! Every single one tastes like it came straight from a fine pastry shop, and I'm always blown away. I'm already looking forward to my next visit! Next time, I'd love to come for lunch and try the Yuzu Shio Ramen.

I've been to The Izaka-ya by Katsu-ya in Manhattan Beach and I seriously love their sushi…read more Everything tastes super fresh, and the flavors are always on point. The vibe is relaxed but still has good energy, and the staff has always been friendly and attentive whenever I've gone. It's the kind of spot where you can enjoy great sushi without feeling rushed. This has definitely become one of my go-to sushi places, and I always look forward to coming back. Staff is very friendly with locals.

This place is by far South Bay's best sushi spot! I…read moredefinitely won't go anywhere else. The whole stop is super friendly they have high quality sushi sake and more. Everybody here is on a first name basis and most of the staff knows all of the repeat customers by name. Get the Omakase sushi and you won't be disappointed.

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 tried a couple of new dishes tonight. I tried the Garlic Shrimp Yakisoba for the first time. It…read morewas super good. The presentation was wonderful and the taste exquisitely delightful. This may be become one of my favorite meals here ... although there is so much more. My guest had the Tantan Ramen which looked great. This restaurant really knows how to please their customers.

Where do I even start? The food, the atmosphere, the service?…read more I come here weekly, not only for the amazing food but also the incredible servers and bartenders that make this my favorite restaurant! If I could give a 10 star review I would! Brooklyn and Brandon are absolutely amazing!!

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.

Spent the day at del amo mall and was looking for some food nearby. Came across Hasu and izakaya…read moresounded great. The waiter at the front let us know that we weren't allowed to drink our tea (we got gong cha prior) and it could be left outside on the table which we decided to put back in the car. We were asked if we had reservations and when we said no, he gave us a bit of a look while there were plenty of empty tables inside. Once seated, one of the water cups they served us had something residual left over on the mouth area. We decided to stick it through and ordered a variety of skewers (about 16 in total). Food was okay, but the last skewer took an extra 20 minutes after we had finished all of our food. From my experience I will not return but I can see how others would fare with a different experience.

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!

Finally got around to trying this place and came by myself, so I ordered a bunch of different…read moreskewers to try. The negima was probably my favorite. Nicely grilled and had a good amount of flavor. The eel, wings, and liver were also really good. The pork belly was cut pretty thick and had a good balance of meat and fat. The cartilage was another favorite. It was juicy and had a nice crunchy texture. The tsukune was good and had some cartilage mixed in, which gave it a nice texture. It also came with a poached egg that was pretty tasty, although I would have preferred a pasteurized egg. The grilled squid and yaki onigiri were solid as well. A few of the skewers were a little on the salty side. The chicken breast was also a little dry, while the tongue was pretty thick and chewy. The tail was really fatty, but that's kind of expected. Unfortunately, they were out of hearts, which I was hoping to try. Overall, there were more hits than misses and I enjoyed most of what I ordered. Would definitely come back to try some of the other skewers.

I got here right as they opened on a holiday weekday, and the place was already half full! I was…read moreable to try a bit of everything, and these were my personal favorites: Beef tongue with lemon pepper, okra, shiitake mushroom, and fried oysters. I enjoyed the chicken thigh meat texture more than the chicken breast, but I loved the seasoning of the chicken breast with shiso pun and chicken breast with wasabi. The yakitori was made fresh in front of me, and all of them had a nice smoky and griled flavor with a variety of seasonings. It took a while for our first few orders to come out, probably because they had just opened. Great casual spot for yakitori; I would recommend getting here early!

After the movies at AMC South Plaza, we were already close to one of our favorite yakitori spots in…read moreGardena, Shin-Sen-Gumi Yakitori. We've tried quite a few yakitori places, but honestly, this one is hands down one of the best!! This time, we also decided to try their ramen--and oh man, it was SO delicious! The noodles were perfectly al dente, and the broth had great body, depth, and that punch of umami that brought everything together. Definitely a must-try! As always, the servers and cooks were super friendly, attentive, and professional. Another great meal at one of our favorite spots!

The food is decent, but the experience needs work. The room was hot and uncomfortable, almost like…read moreeating inside a humid gym. I understand yakitori is cooked over a grill and the smell is part of the experience, but sweating through dinner in a small shop is not charming. Turn up the AC or improve the ventilation. Service also felt cold. There was no warmth, no hospitality, no sense that anyone was glad people were there. The grill master mostly stared through the room, which made the whole place feel more awkward than welcoming. As for the food, some skewers were good, but others were noticeably over salted. For something as simple and focused as yakitori, the execution has to be tighter than that. There are plenty of yakitori spots around. If the food were exceptional, maybe the uncomfortable room and flat service would be easier to forgive. But right now, the flavors aren't strong enough to make the experience worth repeating.

This izakaya is located in an unassuming strip mall but its food is anything but. I had been…read morefiending for some yakitori since our last visit to Tokyo and this spot did not disappoint. If I had been able to eat crunchier / harder stuff (I had dental work done prior), I would have been more adventurous with the menu. They had so many delicious looking options! That being said, the skewers were AMAZING. Their chicken skewers, the scallop, and the veggies were cooked to perfection. I felt like I had just walked back into a legit izakaya in Tokyo. The vibes were amazing, the staff was so friendly. I will absolutely be back. 10000000/10

Everything was good Food. Ambience. Service. Ate here 6…read moretimes already, and will come more often with friends. Yesterday ordered gyoza, burnt rice pot with salmon and roe, hot pot with tan tan flavor, 3-kinds sashimi, salmon skin salad and Sapporo beer. Plenty of food for 3!

Why Izakaya Akatsuki? - Homemade udon and soba noodles…read more- HUGE tatami rooms for private parties in the back (exceptional service) Would I come back? - Yes, majority of everything I tried has that delicious homemade feel to it 4.5/5 FOOD #1 pick = house hot pot with Akatsuki special + Yuzu & salt + finish with ramen or udon set #2 pick = kamameshi #3 pick = anything from their housemate noodle section 4/5 Service - Friendly and quick service from everyone 5/5 Parking - Always ample parking anytime I come to this plaza 4/5 Ambience - Clean tables and location, they are pretty packed when we came

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.