I found this place so randomly bc I was in the area and really just needed some food. This hidden gem is tucked away in the most random strip mall with other businesses. The lady at the counter was SOOOOO nice. The overalll ambiance of the place is not what you would expect from a traditional japanese restaurant. But don't let it throw you off because the karaage was as legit as it can get. I love how light and crispy the batter was. They offer a variety of sauces. The Yuzu aoili was my favorite to pair with the chicken. Don't let the random location steer you away. Probably wouldn't go here for a date night, but for sure if you want some delicious karaage! read more

Tenkatori Miramar - chicken thighs - Japanese Near Me - San Diego, California

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This place specializes in kararage and they fry everything perfectly. The staff is super nice and you can choose what sauce you want. The parking spots are kind of small and the seats are small round tables that fit 3 people comfortably. There are plenty of tables tho. Food wise they specialize in karage so get it! We do like other cuts of meats like gizzards and it comes out hot and moist. read more

Tenkatori Miramar - Gizzaess, chicken thigh, chicken bento - Japanese Near Me - San Diego, California

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Finally tried this place! I'm so glad I went to their store vs getting it through delivery service. This place is super cozy, and legit. Place is welcoming and open, the prices are so affordable and the food is so good! Got the bento box with boneless thigh and another 5 pieces of boneless thighs with spicy mayo. The bento comes with 4 pieces, rice, a small scoop of mashed potato with gravy and cabbage with sesame dressing. The chicken was fresh, crispy, and juicy. The staff is friendly and quick. I went for lunch and they were a lil busy but makes sense cause their food is affordable and delicious! read more

Tenkatori Miramar - Japanese Near Me - San Diego, California

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DoorDash Order Date of Visit: 3.8.2026 Location: Miramar Cuisine Type: Japanese Fried Chicken Vibe: N/A Cost: $23 Service: N/A Food/Rating: Mega Karaage Bowl - 5/5 - Chicken thighs with some light bbq sauce one egg/ yellow daikon pickle and spinach for garnish. I think Tekatori has one of the better karaages out there. It is crispy but has this unexpected tenderness in the meat even after the fry which makes it unique. Filling meal a bit on the expensive side Overall Thoughts: Best Thing I ate: Mega Karaage Bowl Something to Improve: The pickles are kinda dry and the few leaves of spinach is kinda silly. The egg was nice addition but honestly either give more vegetables or pickles or just don't have it...maybe it is just for the color element heh still good chicken never the less read more

Tenkatori Miramar - Mega Karaage Bowl - Japanese Near Me - San Diego, California

Best karaage in San Diego. I always get the 12 piece boneless thighs or 8 piece wings with spicy mayo and yuzu aioli sauce. I'm from Torrance and this place is just as good as the karaage spots in Torrance. Price is fair for the quality you're getting. Service is always fast and friendly. More of a chill spot for lunch with a friend or takeout- not enough tables for big groups. Highly recommend and we always stop by if we're in the area to treat ourselves or order takeout for a gathering with friends. read more

Located east of the 805 off of Miramar Rd / La Jolla exit. If coming from the 15 side, go west. If you need a landmark, I believe it was behind Carls Jr. The business is located in the corner of the parking lot opposite from the entrance. I had visited once before and didn't review it previously. Friendly staff and good service. Not a place for ambiance, but the food is fantastic. Mega Karaage Bowl is very filling. I'm not normally a fan of hard boiled eggs (prefer medium on the yolk), but it's a nice tough of extra protein. Definitely worth the visit for those who lived fried chicken. read more

Tenkatori Miramar - Mega Karaage Bowl - Japanese Near Me - San Diego, California

Amazingly light and delicious Japanese style chicken! If you want authentic tasting Japanese chicken, this is the place for you. There are some seats inside, but i usually take it to go and eat at home. The yuzu aioli is a must try if you like yuzu! All the staff I've talked with are incredibly nice. Definitely will continue to come! read more

Tenkatori Miramar - karaage - Japanese Near Me - San Diego, California

Really great place! I had been eyeing this place for awhile now but haven't had the chance to stop by due to their opening hours. The woman at the cashier was super friendly and gave me recommendations on their most popular items. I ended up going with their Karaage Don. They prepared it fresh and really took their time on presentation. I also tried the yuzu aoili-- which I would highly recommend. The flavor of everything was just as good as it looks! The place is clean and the staff is super friendly. I'd highly recommend!! read more

Tenkatori Miramar - Karaage Don - Japanese Near Me - San Diego, California

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Super authentic Japanese karaage; juicy, tender chicken and perfectly cooked rice. The sauce was flavorful (I got the yuzu aioli), and everything felt thoughtfully prepared with care and Japanese pride. I hope this restaurant sticks around for a long time! read more

Hands down the best Japanese karaage in San Diego. This is a hole in the wall shop where they solely focus on karaage! This place was arguably the best karaage I've had in San Diego. The batter is super light, really crispy and airy, while the inside was a juicy burst of hot lava from being freshly fried. The prices of chicken were also pretty sizeable where the price was justified. We paid about $12 for 8 pieces, $3.50 for side of rice, and $1.50 for yuzu aioli that paired perfectly with the karaage. I usually find the mayo to be too much but it's heavy on the yuzu flavor which made for an addicting dip! New favorite!!! read more

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The best karaage! Big chunks of juicy chicken thighs that are flavorful and with a crispy outside. Everything is made fresh and comes out super hot. We got the karaage don (comes with rice, boiled egg, some spinach), chicken fried rice, and karaage combo that comes with fries and drink. We also got the yuzu aioli dipping sauce which was amazing. There are about 5 counter top tables, a couple more seating along the wall, and a couple of small outdoor tables/chairs. They are located in the middle of a small strip mall with plenty of parking on a Saturday afternoon. They were super friendly, patient, and helpful. Good music too :) read more

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My partner picked up dinner from Tenkatori on the way home from work. Despite the 30 minutes of travel time, the food was so good that I felt compelled to leave a review. My only criticism was that the take out containers are not vented, so the chicken doesn't stay crisp, especially with the steam from the rice. I ordered the nanban bento. The chicken thigh karaage pieces are very big and not overly battered. Super juicy and seasoned well with the aioli drizzled on top. Rice seemed to be lightly seasoned with rice vinegar which was a nice touch. Portions are really generous, especially in comparison to the price. The location is a bit difficult, but don't let that deter you. Will definitely be returning to eat in! read more

The chicken was fresh out of the fryer and so juicy and crunchy. I burned my mouth a little with my impatience and it was totally worth it. Really a delight! The rice was great too and I enjoyed the shredded cabbage salad coleslaw. Mashed potatoes weren't bad, they just weren't on point like everything else. Not a sauce on chicken guy, so, sorry, nothing to report there. Nice, friendly staff. The parking lot for this shopping center is small. Just come prepared to wait or street park. Will definitely be back! read more

Tenkatori Miramar - Chicken Thigh Bento - Japanese Near Me - San Diego, California

This place is worth coming back to and worth recommending to others. The Kara age had a good flavor. Good texture. Juicy and moist. I tried both dark meat and white meat. Both are cooked right. Only issue we had as a family with toddler. They only got high chairs and one of them high tables. read more

Wow. Yelpers are right...this place is great. Went with the Boneless Thigh Bento box. Chicken coating is light and crunchy. Pieces are pretty big and very juicy. Bought the sweet and spicy sauce side. Make sure to stir it to get all the flavors. Yummy. Also tried the Nanban Bento box. Main difference is that they add the sauce in top. This is good if you like saucy tanginess. Staff there are very friendly. They answered our questions about menu items. Cabbage and potato salad sides are good. Reminds me of what is served at a Japanese restaurant. Decent seating inside. Very clean. There is $10 minimum for charge card. Shared business restrooms outside (ask staff for key). They are clean. Good price points, delicious food. We'll definitely be back. read more

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I stumbled across this business and looked up the reviews here. The 2 items I ordered are so good. The chicken thigh was so crispy and juicy. I tried the yuzu aioli and tarter sauces. They were both so good. I prefer the yuzu sauce more since it had a bit of a tangy flavor. The kimchi fried rice was also great. Friendly and great service. This is my new go to place for my kids and fam. read more

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The fried chicken was simple but well-executed. 7/06/2024. 5 piece chicken wing section: simple home cooking, 3.5/5 stars. Boneless chicken thighs, one plain and the other with sweet & sour. Both were juicy and crispy with full of meat, 4/5 stars. The food is made to order but is well worth the wait for hot and crispy fried chicken and fries. read more

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Glad I found this place! Next to my son's boxing gym. Great after workout meals for him! We got the Karaage chicken don and it was delicious! Def coming back soon! read more

Tenkatori Miramar - Karaage chicken Don - Japanese Near Me - San Diego, California

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Cute little shop that specializes in chicken karrage (Japanese fried chicken)! They are located in a small shopping plaza, so parking could be a little tricky during busy lunch hours. Luckily, I was able to find an open spot! The menu was expansive and featured a la carte chicken like thighs, wings, cartilage, etc, and also bento boxes, rice bowls, and fried rice. I opted for the 7oz chicken cartilage combo (fries and drink) and a side of white rice. I later also added a side of the yuzu aioli sauce which is an extra $1.40 (good but a little pricey). Next time, I would probably skip the combo and just go with the white rice. The drink selection was limited to canned sodas and canned green tea. The fries were good but they do not have ketchup available or for sale. The chicken cartilage was very tasty and was more substantial than I expected! It's a long, skinny piece of cartilage but not the small ball-shaped pieces normally at yakitori places. The side of white rice was good sized portion. The menu prices have gone up compared to the website. Service is friendly and the whole interaction was efficient and simple. read more

Tenkatori Miramar - Rice, 7oz chicken cartilage combo - Japanese Near Me - San Diego, California

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The karaage was really good. We got the combo and it was great. 4 people 10 dollars each. read more

Tenkatori Miramar - Japanese Near Me - San Diego, California

Really amazing karaoke. Juicy and tender. What a great treat especially after climbing. Trust when a compliment comes from Japanese. read more

Good food, good price, and a reasonable wait during lunchtime. Would definitely go again for some more take out.

Juiciest karaage in town, hands down. Not 100% sure if it's a franchise but I've also tried the locations in Costa Mesa and Sawtelle, both with the same name, and every time the karaage was fried perfectly tender and juicy. It's a bit on the pricey side but definitely worth it. Paired with the garlic yuzu dipping sauce and you've got yourself the yummiest little snack! read more

Had the karaage chicken. It was good, chicken was moist, outside was crispy, and it was served steaming hot. I tend not to be a fan of places that would charge for sauces, so that was disappointing. With that said, there wasn't enough sauce. The portion you pay for is small and I'm not a heavy dipper. Probably won't be back due to portion and price but it's an okay place for being in the location its in (without having to drive to convoy) read more

Food was fire here. Chicken was CRISPY, juicy, and flavorful. Each bite packed a punch. Sauce is a must get, otherwise your meal will be sad and dry. They do ask you what sauce you want, and preferably the spicy mayo is my sauce of pick. Service was cool, quick, and attentive. Shop is a bit small but enough space to get a bite and leave. I got the Karaage-don. Perfect serving size for 1 person. The pickled radish and ramen egg were a nice touch. Would absolutely come again and check out the other menu items. read more

Tenkatori Miramar - Karaage-don - Japanese Near Me - San Diego, California

Food was so good!! The chicken wings and gizzards came out fresh and hot. Great flavor and the Yuzu Aioli added the extra touch of goodness. We will be back soon. read more

It's not very often that we find a local place that has nanban chicken. We tried this dish in Osaka and so happy to find a spot that does it authentically. We got one order of that that came with four huge pieces of chicken, a side salad, and rice. The tartar sauce was tangier than what we prefer but it was still delicious. Chicken lacked the nanban sauce which we love about the dish so I hope they add more of that. The dressing on the salad was delicious and I has to ask for more. I also got the mega kara mayo don which was juicy and crispy chicken thigh chunks that has a delicious spicy mayo sauce. I liked that it came with hard boiled egg and plenty of rice underneath. The serving itself was big enough for two people, IMO. Both meals were of reasonable price. The ambience was cozy and spacious. We will definitely be regulars from now on! read more

Tenkatori Miramar - Japanese Near Me - San Diego, California

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Came here for dinner tonight and it was so delicious! I got the chicken wing bento box, fries and gizzard. The yuzu aioli was very yummy and I enjoyed everything I got today. I will definitely be coming back soon to try the other chicken dishes. read more

It was authentic Japanese karaage. My family loved it. It is reasonable price as well!!

If you like karaage, you'll like this place. I've had karaage in both Japan and the US, and I can say this is good karaage. I got the thigh meat, gizzards, and spicy karaage bowl. Thighs: 8.3/10 they were tender and well seasoned Spicy karaage bowl: 8.3/10 was super filling with a nice touch from the spicy mayo. + it comes with a whole egg. Gizzards: 9/10 can we talk about the gizzards?? I may be biased because I love gizzards, but they were soo good. Chewy, perfectly seasoned, and so crispy. Would come again just for the gizzards. read more

Tenkatori Miramar - Karaage Bowl - Japanese Near Me - San Diego, California

Oh my gosh yummm !!! The fried chicken is so good and juicy and crispy here! They have locations in LA and Hawaii. The batter is super crispy and not oily and best of all it's gluten and egg free! Will be back read more

I have been recommended to eat here by some very close associates and i am glad i visited. I ordered the mix bento to try different parts of the chicken. Regardless of what piece you choose the technique of making a true kaarage can be found at this establishment. A true kaarage requires no lemon or Japanese "kewpie" mayo and this establishment has aced it. It was also warming to be able to speak Japanese which made the service welcoming, as the first bite of my kaarage took me back home to Kanagawa. read more

Tenkatori Miramar - Mix of Boneless Thigh & Wings Bento Box - Japanese Near Me - San Diego, California

Huge fan for ordering to go. The kiddos love the karaage here. Definitely want to try their other items and placing this on my list to revisit! Staff were helpful and telling me their popular items. read more

Here is one of my family's favorites. Very nice Japanese style chicken fries. You can have gizzard here. read more

Tenkatori is a great find in Miramar for fried chicken! This little restaurant turns karaage from a side dish to a filling entree. I'm used to ordering a small serving of karaage to satisfy my fried chicken cravings before diving into a bowl of ramen; but here, you can get a karaage bento box, karaage rice bowls, or even karaage fries! I enjoyed ordering the karaage don (rice bowl)! As soon as I bit into the chicken, it was clearly the star of the show! Nice crunchy skin and super tender meat, and I will certainly be back for the karaage. I enjoyed the complement of fresh spinach and pickled radish in my rice bowl. I would have enjoyed my meal even more if the egg was a softer boil, as the egg was a bit rubbery and overboiled. I will be back for more karaage and to try their other cuts of fried chicken offerings. Easy strip mall parking for this casual lunch/dinner spot. imple range of canned/bottled beverages in the grab-n-go fridge by the counter, so grab a tea/soda on your way in. The staff is friendly and passionate about the food, and it shows! Looking forward to my next visit to Tenkatori and enjoying their delicious Japanese-style fried chicken! read more

Go here if you love karaage! I got both the chicken (thigh) karaage bento box and the kimchi fried rice. The karaage was exceptional. The only minor piece of feedback I'd offer is that I'd rather there be potato salad instead of mashed potatoes. Regardless, the chicken itself was amazing as well as the sauces (got the yuzu and chipotle aioli). It's a pretty small spot, so I'd recommend ordering the food ahead of time and taking it to-go. Parking isn't too bad as the restaurant itself is located in a small strip mall. There's also side street parking if the lot itself ever is full. Lastly, the service was very friendly and the kind woman who took my order was very helpful with guiding me through the menu and providing recommendations. I'm definitely coming back here when I need my karaage fix! read more

Tenkatori Miramar - Kimchi Fried Rice (top) and Chicken Thigh Karaage Bento (bottom) - Japanese Near Me - San Diego, California

GOATED spot the best to do it. Customer service on point, food is fresh and amazing. All that needs to said. If you're thinking about coming to tenkatori you just do it, good every time. read more

So delicious! Chicken is crunchy, not dry at all. The yuzu aioli is so good and you get a good amount!!

While staying in Sorrento Mesa, I was happy to be able to try the Karaage Chicken from Tenkatori! Their chicken thighs and chicken wings are delicious by themselves or with their sauces. I really liked their yuzu mayo and their spicy and sweet sauce, which I feel are worth their supplementary cost. (If you were to ask me what I liked more, it would be the yuzu mayo). I got a meal that came with soda and fries, but I enjoyed pairing the chicken with steamed white rice as well! What's special about Karaage Chicken is the chewiness and crispiness you get from their potato starch. The chicken is generally crispy, juicy, and flavorful. It's simple and delicious. Was the perfect choice for dinner! read more

I really love Tenkatori! Their fried chicken is always so delicious. My favorite pick is the 7 oz cartilage with the meal upgrade paired with their yuzu sauce. I also love getting the mashed potatoes on the side. For all the visits I've had their fried chicken never feels greasy. The amount of breading is just right, and the crisp bites are always on point. The meal upgrade is to add fries and a drink. The fries are just as fresh and not greasy. I've also tried their Mix Bento, Boneless Thigh Bento, and Mega Karaage Bowl. Calling ahead is my preferred way to order since the meal is cooked per order and can take up to 20 min to finish. It's always worth the wait. When picking up the to go order or ordering in house the workers are always kind and attentive. They have plenty of seating inside and outside. Parking can be a little tight and crowded. read more