We are huge fans of this place! This Torrance spot on Cabrillo is actually one of three branches they have, we've officially been to the other two now, and tonight's dinner here definitely didn't disappoint. The restaurant itself is on the smaller side, but it has a really nice, cozy decor with cool Japanese characters on the walls. We went with their popular tempura combo paired with cold udon, and also grabbed a shrimp tempura roll. Everything was amazing! These guys absolutely know what they are doing when it comes to tempura, it's always perfectly light, crispy, and delicious. The service was also fantastic, super efficient, quick, and friendly from start to finish. Plus, having a parking lot in the back makes coming here totally stress-free. Another great meal down, highly recommend! read more

Tendon Tempura Carlos Junior - Tempura combo with udon - Japanese Near Me - Torrance, California

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Stopped in for lunch probably around the end of the rush. It was quite crowded, but we were luckily seated right away. Service in general was pretty quick and attentive. The main dining room has a decent amount of tables that are relatively close together, and felt like a busy izakaya to me. JEWEL BOX: 3/5. The tempura was definitely the star of the show, the sashimi was just okay, and the rice was not good. It was hard, like it was either stale and old, or there just was not enough enough water. SMALL TEMPURA BOWL: 4/5. The batter was soft. It wasn't bad, but I guess I definitely expected a little more from a place that specializes in tempura. SOBA: 5/5. The soba broth was very clean, light, and refreshing. read more

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Worth the wait? I don't think so. After hearing so much hype about this place, I had to see what all the fuss was about. People talk about waiting 45 minutes to over an hour just to get a table, especially on weekends, so I decided to come during lunch instead. Luckily, the place was almost empty, which made for an easy visit. Going in, my expectations were high. Since I'm allergic to shrimp, I let the staff know and ordered the beef bowl and tempura combo instead. At around $20, I wasn't expecting cheap fast food, but I was expecting something that justified the price. The tempura was easily the highlight of the meal. It was light, crispy, and fried well, especially paired with the dipping sauce. If there's one reason I'd give this place any credit, it's the tempura sauce. The chicken tempura, however, was a different story. The coating was crispy, but the chicken itself was incredibly bland. It tasted like plain boiled chicken that happened to get dipped in tempura batter. The beef bowl was even more disappointing. Honestly, it reminded me of a Yoshinoya beef bowl--except it cost more than twice as much and came with a noticeably smaller portion. That's a comparison I never expected to make at a restaurant with this kind of reputation. The service didn't do much to elevate the experience either. Considering how slow it was during lunch, I expected a little more attentiveness, but it felt pretty average from start to finish. As for the atmosphere...it was fine. Nothing particularly memorable, nothing that made me think, "I need to come back." Maybe I ordered the wrong items. That's always possible. But based on this visit, I just don't understand the hype. The food was decent--not terrible--but nowhere near worth the long waits, the price, or the reputation it seems to have built. If you happen to be nearby and there's no line, sure, give it a try. But if you're planning to wait an hour because everyone says it's a must-visit, I honestly think you can skip it and won't feel like you missed out. Buyer please be aware. read more

Tendon Tempura Carlos Junior - Vegetable Tempura Plate and Beef Small Bowl - Japanese Near Me - Torrance, California

My friend and I meet for our birthdays twice a year and this was her dining choice! I was excited to try this place because I've heard all good things about it. We both arrived around 11:30 AM and were seated shortly after my friend signed in. The restaurant is quaint, yet seated a lot of parties of all sizes. The employees were very friendly. It took us a while to decide what to order since the menu is pretty extensive. My friend ordered the Premium Tendon and I ordered a California Roll, a small Teriyaki Bowl and a side of Maitake Mushroom. I was impressed with the California Roll because I loved the presentation! It was also very flavorful! The restaurant of the food we both ordered was just ok. I'm Japanese and have grown up eating lots of different tempuras, but I felt this restaurant's was just ok...there wasn't anything that was special about it. Maybe it was because I drove almost an hour to get there, but I wouldn't make a special trip again. The main reason I rated this place only two stars was because my friend and I were asked to leave even though there was food left in front of her. Keiko came up to our table and said that there are people waiting...so we got up and left. I understand that there may be time limits, but if there are, it should be posted in the restaurant and/or customers should be told ahead of time. In as many restaurants I've been to, I've NEVER been asked to leave and neither has my friend (and she's a foodie!)! When we walked out, there weren't many people waiting for a table. I will NEVER return to this place again! There are so many other restaurants that will treat their diners much better than the way we were treated. read more

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This restaurant pleasantly surprised me. As a vegetarian, I was hesitant about what I would be eating and if it would be a filling meal. I walked away enjoying my meal and full -they had a handful of vegetarian options available on the menu. I ordered the vegetable tendon - it came with an assortment of vegetable tempura, runny yolk egg, white rice with sauce and a bowl of miso soup. I did not end up eating the soup because sometimes there are fish products in them and I didn't ask our waiter about it. read more

Tendon Tempura Carlos Junior - Vegetable Tendon - Japanese Near Me - Torrance, California

We had the zaru soba and tempura combo. Huge portion. I liked the celery shoyuzuke and ginger w gobo that are at the table. I got a side of daikon oroshi as well. This def is more of a tempura place. Tempura was really good. Nicely seasoned and not greasy. I'd like to come back and try their veggie tempura. I am one of those people who hate egg yolk so if you are like me, skip the egg. Everyone else loves it so lol if you do it's a nice addition to the tempura. You can make your own TKG. The soba was okay. The noodles weren't the best quality and the tsuyu was too sweet. It satisfied my soba craving but it wasn't the best. read more

Tendon Tempura Carlos Junior - Tempura and zaru soba combo - Japanese Near Me - Torrance, California

Ready for tasty shrimp tempura? This is the place. Very good and a must place to try. Service is top notch and just what is expected. The atmosphere is a typical local restaurant nothing fancy. They have two containers on the table with a ginger and root mixture and the other one with a celery mix, very good. read more

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Tempura was pretty great but it could have been a bit more crispy and light. There's going to be a wait but it's not too bad. Parking could suck though so do a loop. It's mostly worth it but the busyness kind of discourages me. Tempura: Must get! This is what you come here for and it's in the name so you have toooo. I have a pickiness for tempura and it's pretty great here but it doesn't live up to the hype and the wait tbh. It also gets pretty expensive but yeah just basically get any combo plate or bowl and you'll have a good time. Soba: get! This is what I was pleasantly surprised about. This isn't in the name but I would say this was the better unexpected twist of my experience here. Just very clean and subtle flavors that coat the noodles that are a great texture. Make sure to put some wasabi in too! Food: 8/10 Service: 8/10 Atmosphere: 7/10 Value: 6/10 read more

Tendon Tempura Carlos Junior - FOOD - Japanese Near Me - Torrance, California

If you accidently routed here expecting Carl's Jr, you will be sorely disappointed by Carlos Junior, 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! read more

Tendon Tempura Carlos Junior - Soba/Tempura Combo, Mixed Sashimi/Tempura Combo, Toro/Tempura Combo - Japanese Near Me - Torrance, California

Arrived Sunday at 12:45pm, first visit. Was afraid that there was a wait, but only 4 other tables serviced at the time. As soon as we sat down the restaurant filled up completely by 1pm. I was going to try Carlos's bento box, but when I asked the server the bento or sukiyaki tempura she said sukiyaki. BF got the tempura plate. While waiting, we fell in love with the pickled celery (condiment on table). Super delicious! Our lunch came out in less than 10 mins, piping hot always a good sign! I have to admit, I think this is the best tempura I ever had! Light and crispy, clean and just went so well! I thought we were going to go but we finished everything! Would definitely stop by here again when I'm in the area, enjoy! read more

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After having amazing tempura bowls in Japan, my husband and I were so excited to find this place. 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. read more

Tendon Tempura Carlos Junior - Special Tendon Bowl - Japanese Near Me - Torrance, California

I had the shrimp tempura and white fish combo with miso soup and rice. Unfortunately, the tempura was very disappointing. When the dish arrived, the batter on most items looked pale and undercooked instead of light and crisp. The scallop and squid pieces were especially bad--there was too much batter, and I had to pick the seafood out because the coating was heavy and doughy. The shrimp tempura was also soggy and not properly cooked. There was a lot of inconsistency on the plate. The pumpkin was over-browned and seemed like it may have been cooked separately or held too long, while the shishito pepper was fine. The egg was served with an undercooked white, and when I mentioned it, I was told that was intentional. I don't mind a runny yoke but I do not eat undercooked egg whites. Plus the tempura batter was mushy and undercooked on the outside of the egg. The white fish itself was fine, but overall the tempura seemed like it was coming out of unstable or poorly managed frying oil. I also noticed a slightly scorched oil smell and that other tempura dishes being served around me didn't look much better. Service was slow to check in after the food was dropped off, which made it difficult to address issues early. By the time I sent the shrimp back, most of the meal experience was already affected. The ambience also wasn't very comfortable--quite loud and not really conducive to a relaxed meal. Overall, I wouldn't return for tempura here based on this experience. read more

Tendon Tempura Carlos Junior - Japanese Near Me - Torrance, California

I've lived in Torrance all my life, but somehow only discovered this spot after moving to Long Beach and now it's one of our go to comfort places. The tempura here is amazing. I usually get the combo tempura plate and always add an extra egg because I love mixing it into my rice with a little red pepper. The dipping sauce (I think it has some kind of relish in it) is so good and really elevates everything. The combo comes with shrimp, fish, sweet potato, and other seafood tempura, and it's always fresh and satisfying. It's definitely become our feel good spot. Even my parents love it and come often which says a lot because my mom is very picky. Customer service is consistently great, and the ambiance makes you feel like you're in a small restaurant in Japan. Parking is also super easy with both free street parking and a garage nearby. read more

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Looked for a place for lunch in Torrance, since I was in the area and found this place on Yelp with so many reviews. Was worried there would be a wait for Saturday lunch, but was sat immediately. Ordered the salmon and ikura bowl with tempura combo. The salmon bowl came with thick slices of the softest, melt in your mouth salmon. It was quite a filling for myself with the tempura. The tempura had such a good crisp to it. I liked that their menu had many different items and I'm excited to come back and try more! The service was great- seems like a very authentic Japanese place! Interesting to find out the founder is from Peru! read more

Tendon Tempura Carlos Junior - Front - Japanese Near Me - Torrance, California

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The food is light and reminded us of Japan with how thinly fried the tempura was. The Salmon was fresh and delicious as well. Service was quick and got seated right away on a Sunday, the spot was super cute and simple which makes the food even better. Definitely a spot to come back too. read more

Tendon Tempura Carlos Junior - Tempura Small Bowl with Salmon Sashimi. - Japanese Near Me - Torrance, California

Great place for a solid meal. Decent amount of seating. Good service. Clean restaurant. We ordered the dragon roll and tempura roll as appetizers. To be honest it wasn't exactly knock your socks off but decent. I got the udon combo with salmon sashimi. It was good but the sashimi was a little lacking in quantity and the rice was more than one could eat with such a small amount of salmon. Udon was good but not extraordinary. Friends for the tempura plate which I probably should've gotten because it looked better than my food. read more

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Cool story: Tendon Tempura Carlos Jr., Pinto writes about how, after moving to Japan from where he grew up in Peru, tempura saved him from loneliness. Awesome, flaky, crunchy and NOT SOGGY tempura with a hardboiled eggs as a tempura! Food 4/5 Vegetable bowl, sauce is lightly pre-drizzled on it. Pay a $1 more and get everything on a plate. Service 4/5 Prompt quick service, no issues at all! Parking 4/5 FREE parking lot in the back but LIMIITED spaces read more

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got the tempura ikura bowl and it was so good. everything was so fresh and crispy and a perfect bowl in general. this place is definitely getting more popular online so expect there to be a wait. read more

Tendon Tempura Carlos Junior - Japanese Near Me - Torrance, California

I had the BEST Birthday Lunch! Got invited to pick a place for my birthday and I chose this place with all the good reviews. Little did I know that Carlos, the owner, had worked at the tendon place in the old Mitsuwa Supermarket's food court, on Western, before they moved to Del Amo Mall. OMG!!! Same taste!! I enjoyed it so much and can't stop thinking about it!! It is always busy, so give yourself a little time to enjoy the food. Friendly staff will get your seat, so make sure to sign in. You'll instantly love the coziness and welcoming smiles. Parking is street-parking. But plenty of parking up & down Cabrillo. I will be back!! read more

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Came here for the first time after hearing so much about it from my friends and it did not disappoint! To start off, there's plenty of seating but not too much parking since you have to rely on street parking. Service is also really great, very friendly and fast. My group was 4th in line but everyone got seated very quickly. As for food, I ordered the special tempura which was delicious but one thing to note: ordering the bowl is a $1 less since the sauce is in the bowl and not on the side. Ordering the plate is $1 more but sauce and radish come on the side. So up to you what you prefer :) Overall would recommend! read more

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Pros: - Quality food for sure. Tempura was lightly battered. The ingredients were prepared with care. I'm picky with ikura since most places tend to make it into little salt bombs, but not here! Even their little side veggies are phenomenal. Food can be shared for sure unless you're really hungry. I was stuffed after one bowl... - No wait, but we did come on a Wednesday. I can see that parking can be difficult, but we parked at a small parking lot in the back of the building. - Service was pretty straightforward. The place itself had a good amount of seating ...more of a no frill type of place. There is a little sushi bar, but I'm not sure if they seat people there. Cons: - I need them to open in San Diego or even Orange County..the drive to here is a pain :( Tip: Get ikura in your bowl. If you're looking for an even more droolworthy picture of your bowl, get the special tempura bowl. The eel that comes with it, will overflow. read more

Tendon Tempura Carlos Junior - Japanese Near Me - Torrance, California

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Worth the hype! this is our second time coming here. Parking is pretty easy on the street and there was no wait on a Friday for dinner. Servers are quick and interior has some bar seating and tables in the back. The menu is a bit confusing since there's just so many variations to choose from with sets and what type of tempura to get. We got: - salmon sashimi with tempura set (5/5): salmon was fresh and came with imitation crab. Tempura was perfectly crispy and batter is light. - hot soba with tempura set (5/5): soba was flavorful and satisfying. I liked having soup to cut all the tempura I'm usually not a huge tempura person but this spot is good! Last time we got the Monger Eel and it's pricey, but probably the best tempura piece to get. read more

Tendon Tempura Carlos Junior - Soba with tempura - Japanese Near Me - Torrance, California

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As good as advertised, plus it kind of has that vibe that reminded me of having tempura in Japan. It's quite good, not oily at all, with a nice thin batter. It matches the better tempura I've had. What distinguishes Carlos Jr. is the dashi (dipping sauce). It really is different and takes the meal to another level. Apparently their tentsuyu is something the chef perfected over the years, it made a very good tempura dinner memorable. read more

Tendon Tempura Carlos Junior - A good value with a wonderful tentsuyu (dipping sauce). - Japanese Near Me - Torrance, California

parking located in the back of the restaurant and also street parking. wanted to get sashimi, soba, and tempura so we ordered the tempura don and cold soba set alongside the jewel box, which comes with fried pieces of shrimp, squid, and scallop and raw slices of bluefin tuna, salmon, and yellowtail. the tempura itself was crispy yet didn't seem too greasy or overwhelming. i also liked how the egg was jammy (not super runny) on the inside so added to the overall dish. the soba was a little different than the noodles i'm used to as this version seemed thinner and paler in complexion. the jewel box was also a solid dish as the fish was soft and buttery, well accompanied with the sweet soy sauce and rice bed on the bottom. it got busier as time went by but the wait didn't seem long enough to make a line. read more

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Tendon Tempura Carlos Jr. in Torrance is such a great spot when you're craving high-quality tempura. It's located in a shopping plaza along the street, so you can either park in the lot across the street or find street parking nearby. The ambiance is clean, cozy, and casual - nothing fancy, but comfortable and welcoming. The service was great - friendly and efficient, and the food came out quickly. We ordered the special tempura bowl, which came with white fish, two shrimp, kakiage (mixed seafood tempura), pumpkin, seaweed, shishito pepper, and a half-boiled egg, along with rice and miso soup. Everything was perfectly crispy, light, and delicious. The standout for me was the half-boiled egg mixed into the rice - it added such a rich, comforting flavor. I also loved that they had a helpful sign on the wall explaining how to eat the tempura, including mixing the egg into the rice first. We also ordered the kids meal, which came with rice, two shrimps, pumpkin, a fruit cup, and a drink. My daughter loved it, and it was a generous portion - more than enough for her. Overall, this spot was great. Loved the crispy tempura, great service, and a welcoming atmosphere. We'll definitely be back again. read more

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I can't believe I haven't written a review for this spot yet! I was introduced to this place a few years ago from my coworkers and Carlos Jr is the only place where I'll get tempura! I never cared for tempura before, but I'll crave Carlos Jr tempura! The restaurant is small and quaint with probably 15+ tables/booths so if it's a busy night, there could be a wait, but trust, it's worth the wait! I always opt for the chicken tempura plate since I feel like it offers a good variety - chicken, shrimp, pumpkin, seaweed, and squid/scallop mix. The plate also comes with rice, miso soup, runny egg, and radish house sauce. I love to pair the meal with the pickled veggies on the table and add the chili flakes into my sauce. There's a new item on the menu - Carlos Jewel Box - salmon, tuna, and yellow tail sashimi with squid/shrimp tempura over a bed of rice, with a side of miso soup and house sweet soy sauce. For $20, this box is such a steal! The quality of the fish is very good, which is not surprising as the other raw fish options are also great sides to get! read more

Tendon Tempura Carlos Junior - Carlos Jewel Box - Japanese Near Me - Torrance, California

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Tempura was everything I expected and imagined. I absolutely love tempura, and this place truly lived up to it. I can't wait to go back. My favorite piece was the eel tempura, it was incredibly crispy and delicious. The restaurant was clean, and the service was fast. The Hispanic waiter who helped us (I didn't catch his name) was very attentive and helpful throughout the meal. Everything was great, even the sides. I'd also like to try more of their dishes. We ordered some sushi as well, and it was pretty good. One thing that really stood out was the tempura sauce, it was amazing. The place actually reminded me a lot of Japan. It's spots like this that make me miss it and want to go back. read more

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ANOTHER great experience here. My second time. Not sure how long the other location at the Mitsuwa Marketplace food court has been there, but this time this location was not as busy as the first time I came. Both days were Sunday. I DO HAVE ONE COMPLAINT THOUGH. I went with 2 ladies who have never been here before, so they, obviously, wanted to look thru the entire menu, HOWEVER, as soon as we sat down, (within 2 minutes) we had TWO waitresses asking us is we were ready to order. I understand that this is NOT a restaurant that you could take your time and visit, but these two waitresses came by AT LEAST 3-4 times EACH in the first 10 min we were there. NOTE: If you are looking at the menu, it SHOULD give the waitresses an idea that YOU ARE NOT READY TO ORDER. Once we put the menu down, that should be your clue we are ready to order. The food was exceptional, as always. I really enjoyed the soft boiled tempura egg again and my favorite still is the Maitake mushroom. Unfortunately, the tempura dipping sauce this time was overly salty, so I just added water to it so I wouldn't have to complain. I'll be back, but truly hope management is reading this so the staff can make some adjustments so your customers won't FEEL RUSHED. read more

Tendon Tempura Carlos Junior - Special Tempura. I ordered a Maitake mushroom on the side...(my favorite) - Japanese Near Me - Torrance, California

My favorite tempura spot!! The tempura is SO good. The batter is light, crispy, and airy, not thick or greasy. Everything comes out perfectly golden and super crunchy! The udon was also simple but comforting and paired really well with everything. Also just a great value. You get a lot of food and the quality is honestly impressive for the price. The service is also really nice :) Always a satisfying meal here. I've been back three times! read more

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delicious tempura! so crunchy and delicious, not soggy at all. i went for the premium tempura bowl and dont regret paying extra for the eel. the batter was pretty light, and even though we had it for lunch, I didnt feel gross after the meal like I tend to do with other fried foods. also came with the usual warm and comforting miso soup. service was fast and nice, and the seating area had a good amount of seats including the bar area so there was barely any wait. a friend put our name down at 12:30 and we were seated within 5 min on a Sunday. i would definitely revisit Carlos Jr for some crispy tempura :) read more

Tendon Tempura Carlos Junior - Japanese Near Me - Torrance, California

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Came here a while ago but never had the time to write a review. Anyway, reason why I'm going out of my way to write a bad review is because the quality of the sushi was so bad. Our wait for 2 people was over 45 mins, the service was subpar, and the food overall was so mid I was p***ed off. Aside from that, the prices are not friendly in any way. Stay away from this place, I'm not sure why it's so hyped... MUCH better sushi around Torrance. COMMENT FOR OWNER/MANAGER- INVEST IN A WAITING AREA PLEASE! if you're going to have people wait, at least be courteous and give them seats or shade. read more

My sis and nieces love their tendon tempura. Came a couple of times now with the family and I can't get enough of my tempura bowls. Both times I've gotten the Special Tempura bowl. There are a lot of different items in there so much I am not going over each one. One thing that I really enjoy about Carlos Jr is they have an optimized way to enjoy your tempura bowl. Its drawn out in a lil comic and placed on each table. Although no one should really tell you how to enjoy your food, I do really enjoy when the cook has a purpose to enjoy their food their way. The establishment is fairly small and I understand that this place can get crowded over the weekends. I think its worth the wait if you have the time. Parking: Street parking VERDICT: Rinse and repeat read more

Tendon Tempura Carlos Junior - Shrimp tempura bowl - Japanese Near Me - Torrance, California

This place was delicious and tasted authentic. Tempura was fresh and had a light, crispy batter that did not feel overly oily. I really liked the sweet sauce that they include in the tempura rice bowl as it added extra flavor. The workers were super friendly and attentive! I came on a Sunday morning and was seated right away. The dining area is spacious and parking was easy to find, read more

Tendon Tempura Carlos Junior - Udon set - Japanese Near Me - Torrance, California

I'm bummed at myself that I didn't take more photos. I'm was also bummed that I didn't see the instructions on how to eat the tendons before finishing my tendon. Oh well. Maybe another chance next time I'm in the neighborhood. Carlos Jr. was good. We ordered 3 different bowls plus a cold soba and we ate and enjoyed them all. The service was fine. Nothing special. The restaurant was more reminiscent of an old school Chinese restaurant or diner (that old retro 90's color and look)--didn't really fit with the food. Parking in the back is very limited but there are street parking. Tendon from Carlos Jr. was some of the best I've had. That said, it's Torrance. You'd expect that, right? To me, it's worth going back. But I'm not a local so I don't know what other options for Tendon there are that are competitive. read more

Tendon Tempura Carlos Junior - I read these instructions after finishing my bowl. Made me want to order another one... - Japanese Near Me - Torrance, California

Came by for lunch after a swim meet nearby. The wait was not long, and the food was really good. I had the Special tempura bowl, that although was not very big, it was surprisingly filling, and very good. The poached egg was awesome and worth the visit in itself! My wife and son got the combo special that came with Udon. I didn't like the Udon at all, but I also didn't order it :-). My dish tasted great, and I would love to come by again! Small restaurant, but quick service and good food! read more

Tendon Tempura Carlos Junior - Japanese Near Me - Torrance, California

The way I need to emphasize how much Tendon Tempura by Carlos Junior changed my LIIIIFE. I don't want to be dramatic. But I love authentic Japanese food. And the frittery, craggly fry on all the dishes within the platter we got for takeout was PERFECTION. Usually tempura is lazily fried up but there was attention and care to detail here. Every texture was on point, they even managed to fry chicken breast while maintaining its moisture and offer a nice airy, crumbly crunchiness to all of the tempura. Carlos Jr how do I hire you as my personal chef? I'm also so glad they opened a new location in Mitsuwa, which was pretty good as well. They have a rotating menu as the second time I went they didn't have the chicken breast anymore but I was delighted by new members to the lineup. The rice was fluffy and warm and sticky, the veggies were crunchy and fresh, the sauces paired perrrrfectly. I mean Carlos Jr is a must try. read more

We got here right at opening time on a Friday. There were plenty of street & lot parking spaces available. We were one of 2 parties to be seated when their doors opened, but by noon almost all their tables were filled. Everything we ordered was so fresh & delicious! Their tempura is light & crispy with the perfect dipping sauce, and their sashimi is so good. We each got a combo & then shared a tempura plate: Premium Tempura Plate Salmon & Ikura bowl w/tempura Medium fatty tuna bowl w/tempura Service was very warm & attentive. We loved everything about this place! Highly recommend! read more

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Tempura is always my go to order when I'm trying a new restaurant so I was thrilled with Tendon opened up in Torrance! I love the tempura here, heck, the food in general is sooooo good! The restaurant is the perfect size and fits well into the Old Torrance restaurant culture. When you walk in there's a counter to your left and about 8 people can fit there. To the right is the restaurant's open space to seat larger groups. Staff has always been incredibly friendly and attentive. Don't forget to sign in when you arrive and just wait until your group is called. Expect a wait if you're there during peak dinner and/or weekend times. The menu is extensive but not so big that you feel overwhelmed. The standard tempura that comes with meals/combos is shrimp, pumpkin, shishito pepper, and seaweed. So damn delicious. What I LOVE so much about Tendon is you can order extra tempura! I love getting the maitake mushroom tempura too. A lovely restaurant that's going to give you great service along with delicious food choices! read more

Tendon Tempura Carlos Junior - Combo Tempura and Soba (Udon) I got the udon. This comes with 3 shrimp, pumpkin, shishito pepper, and seaweed. I added the mushroom. - Japanese Near Me - Torrance, California

This spot was a bit hard to find off the side of the street but look for the picture of Carlos on the wall. Parking is street parking but it was pretty easy to find. The inside of the store is quite small but there is some counter seats as well as some tables. It has a similar to feel to the other authentic Japanese spots in the area. For food, I had a hard time understanding the difference between a tempura bowl and a tempura plate but essentially the bowl has rice and the plate does not. We ended up getting 1 tempura bowl and 1 tempura plate combos, as well as the spicy salmon roll. Everything here was pretty solid but I definitely preferred the tempura bowl over rice as the rice added some balance and there was sauce to add flavor. read more

Tendon Tempura Carlos Junior - 10.10.2025 spicy salmon roll - Japanese Near Me - Torrance, California

I've gotten tempura from the express in Mitsuwa before and thought it was just okay, but the actual restaurant tastes way better! I ordered the Special Tempura Plate and Small Tempura Bowl + Soba combo, and both was really good. The tempuras were crispy and delicious. The sauce makes it even better. The soba was good but a bit plain. Service was pretty fast as well despite the short line to get seated. Overall, great spot in the South Bay! read more

Tendon Tempura Carlos Junior - Japanese Near Me - Torrance, California

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