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    Torigoya

    3.9 (328 reviews)
    Closed 6:00 pm - 10:00 PM

    Torigoya Photos

    Business Info

    TORIGOYA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for kids
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Torigoya

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    May C.

    This is my second time here. Their food is very consistent. Their rice is very good portion, it really surprised me by the size. Their services are very good. The only thing is the table which they gave us is too small and the seats which don't have any back supports. But overall, very good experience. Very nice and cute restaurant with great food and services. A note to the restaurant customers, they don't give out parking validation anymore. Make sure you get them at the supermarket. Still highly recommended it, if you never been here before.

    David B.

    Torigoya is a beautiful and elegant yakitori house that's going to be difficult to walk in during the busy hours but for amazing reasons! From what I understand they do chicken here, and it's done in what feels to be a million different ways. Skewers to gizzard to hearts to fried chicken, and meaty rice, it feels like a different meal all in one. Everything was tender, seasoned on point and was brought out in timely manners. The staff was attentive and they were very kind. It's a smaller inside- tables plus bar seating but it fills up very quick. There's a reason this place is at the top and the only way to find out is to come and try!

    Agedashi tofu
    Deidre M.

    Legit yakitori spot! Enjoyed their meatball, wing, breast, soft thigh, and zucchini. They forgot our shiitakes and we should have spoke up sooner bc they cooked it right away upon being notified. Their agedashi tofu was also a stand out for me (chewy melty outside as if it were wrapped in mochi!!). Cucumbers with the miso paste is a nice "chaser" and helps balance all the meat. Many people got the side ginger sauce. We got the yuzu and I could have done without (not special) but was nice flavor addition. Service could improve, as it's a bit matter of fact (cultural) but it's not a deterrent. You just have to be a bit more assertive so if that's not your thing, you're warned! It was fun to sit at the counter, but would only recommend for 1-2 persons. We parked in underground parking and thankfully had to do some grocery shopping after at Marukai so was able to be validated -- this restaurant does NOT validate. All in all, def would return but will keep track of what we order / receive next time hehe

    Tiff E.

    I tried Torigoya's 10 course menu plus some additional skewers and the oyako bowl. It's not the best I've had, but it's not bad. I usually like going early, right when they open to avoid the crowds since they have limited staff, and everything can get a bit slow when it's busy. Keep in mind it's just Tomo-san grilling every skewer himself, so patience is definitely key. I prefer ordering everything at once so he can pace the yakitori. Reservations are a MUST here unless you don't mind waiting. Price-wise, it's pretty standard for LA. Used to be $35.50 for the 10 course 2 years ago, now it's $43. I've noticed more yakitori places opening up lately, so I'm excited to try those and see how they compare with Torigoya.

    Brandon S.

    I've been wanting to eat chicken skewers and this was the spot recommended to me. Reservation is mandatory unless you want to wait until 9pm to start eating. I ordered a bunch of skewers and a rice bowl which arrived slowly over the course of 2 hrs. Breast - super juicy and flavorful, small amount of wasabi gives it a slight kick, also goes really well adding the spice condiment Gizzard - chewy, springy and strong taste. One of the better gizzards that I've had. Nice smoked flavor with pinch of salt. Thigh - soft and juicy but lacking the chicken flavor compared to breast, also less juicy than breast but springier Skin with sauce - great smoked flavor, slight sweetness from the sauce, chewy and springy Meatball with salt - strong chicken flavor but kind of dry. Really good texture though with that dryness so not a negative aspect. Meatball with sauce - sauce gives it a sweetness and is less dry compared to the one with salt. I like this one over the salt one Soft thigh - juiciest skewer and strong chicken flavor, had a light springy texture but all I could taste was the chicken juices and chicken meat Neck - the second juiciest piece but with a light chicken taste compared to breast. Meat is springy but not as elastic as skin or gizzard. Eggplant - smoked eggplant and very soft, the way they cook it, the eggplant also retains all the water Zucchini - I liked this one more over the eggplant, also smoked flavor and super watery inside Soboro bowl - first time having grounded chicken meat with sauce and rice in a bowl like this. Light chicken taste with grainy texture + a sweet sauce on top of soft rice. Mixing the quail egg in gave a nice gooeyness. Overall, food is decent but service is atrocious. I get that they are busy but the servers pretty much ignore customers most of the time. Food is a little bit expensive for quantity and taste but there really is no other option for chicken skewers in the surrounding neighborhood. This is more of a you settle with what is available kind of spot.

    1/4 of restaurant empty
    Vanessa M.

    It's pretty ridiculous when they says there fully booked when we are walk-ins and half the restaurant is empty. Pretty disappointing and I honestly really love this place. Fees like a members only type of place. Really sad. Honestly disappointed

    Seth R.

    Torigoya is hands down one of the best spots in Little Tokyo if you love yakitori. The skewers are perfectly grilled with just the right amount of smokiness, and you can really taste the quality of the chicken. Every piece came out juicy, tender, and seasoned beautifully. The atmosphere is cozy and authentic, with that intimate izakaya vibe that makes you feel like you're in Japan. The staff was super friendly and attentive, making the whole experience even better. I know the service can be slow but that's how busy restaurant is. Highlights for me were the tsukune (chicken meatball) and the chicken skin both were incredible. Pairing it all with a cold drink made it perfect. In the end finish with ramen was perfect ! If you're in Japan Town and craving yakitori, this is a must-visit. Five stars all the way!

    Menu
    Joe H.

    The food was tasty with many different options to explore. Albeit the location being a bit obscure as it's on the the 2nd floor of a shopping plaza, I would still consider it accessible via stairs and an elevator. .It seems a bit crowded as they have limited business hours , so a return trip might be an order on a less busy night. The Ambiance can be casual or romantic depending upon where you are seated .The matcha beer was delicious (kirin) and i recommend getting the Habanero dipping sauce (extra $) for the assorted skewers of which there are a pretty decent variety. Solid 4 of 5 maybe improved promptness of service could change that in the future.

    Chicken nanban
    Alicia C.

    I was in Japan not too long and was craving yakitori. I know it's tough to find a place here that is comparable to authentic Japanese food from Japan, but Torigoya is as close as it gets. We got the 10 skewers course (chicken breast, liver, gizzard, meatball, Chicken thigh/skin/heart/wing, 2 vegetables); chicken Nanban. For drinks we got a matcha beer which tasted like regular beer with a hint of matcha. Food was amazing but it was a busy night so had to wave down the server for everything. Maybe because we were seated at the very far end of the bar. Service can be improved since we felt invisible. They catered to regulars and Japanese customers more. Overall a good resturant but go at non-peak hours.

    Jin L.

    Food is very good. Service is friendly. I have been coming to this place every year when we visit Los Angeles. It's very tasty and has great service.

    Angela P.

    Authentic Japanese izakaya experience if you sit at the counter! We bought a shochu for the chef grilling all the skewers; good vibes all around. I came around 8:30pm on a Tuesday night and there was no wait and plenty of seats available at the counter. Ordered some skewers, chicken nanban, takowasa, agedashi tofu, and asahi beers. The restaurant is located in the plaza shared by kinokuniya and marukai! There is a parking structure where you can get validated parking at marukai if you purchase an item.

    Marc A.

    Torigoya is legit! We waited almost 45 minutes when there there only 3 parties ahead of us and once we finally got in, it was worth the wait. If you get the chance, sit on the counter. We were able to see all the action, sounds and smells that lends to their authenticity. We walked in and it brought me back to the last time we visited Japan. The restaurant was surrounded in wood. It looks like something you would find in a smaller city, like Fukuaoka. Don't be shocked by the prices as everyone's prices are going up. But you have to look at the intrinsic value of the whole experience. We ordered a lot of different items from the menu and not one disappointed. Although you may shake your head at two pieces of grilled eggplant for almost $4, I hope you didn't just order that. Their karaage is probably one of the best I've had in a long time. The chicken was marinated perfectly and the coating was lite and crunchy. They ran out of chicken skin skewers so we opted for the chicken skin appetizer with vinegar and it took us by surprise. The raw, white onions under the chicken did not have a strong flavor that overpowered the chicken. One by one the chef brought over the skewers and each of them had their own distinct flavor and texture. Chicken hearts, thighs, wings, meatballs...they were all delicious. If you are planning to bring a group, I would recommend reservations as it is small and the style of service and cooking isn't a quick dining experience. So take your time, soak it up because this is as close to eating in Japan as you can get. Cleanliness 9/10 Bathrooms 8/10 Ambiance 10/10 Service 10/10 Food 10/10 Value 9/10 Will I Return? Yes!

    Peter H.

    100 ways to serve chicken but it's still chicken. To be fair the items have authentic Japanese flavors. As you step into this unassuming gem, you'll find yourself transported to the bustling streets of Tokyo. Get the chicken meatballs, soft chicken thighs skip the chicken breast kinda bland. Yakitori everything: Torigoya lives up to its reputation as a premier yakitori (grilled chicken skewer) spot. The aroma of charcoal-grilled chicken fills the air, promising a delicious dinner. Service was ok hence the 3 stars.

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    Torigoya Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Torigoya

    How do you make a reservation here? The website link is broken and they don't answer the phone

    can make reservation over the phone, call around 6pm

    Does the restaurant valid parking for the underground structure?

    No. Not anymore. They use to prior to the pandemic, but no longer.

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    Kopan Izakaya

    Kopan Izakaya

    4.3(134 reviews)
    4.0 miKoreatown, Wilshire Center
    Free parking
    Kitchen open late

    One of the best sushi restaurants I've tried so far. I arrived as a walk in and was quickly seated…read moreand served. Their customer service was top notch despite the restaurant being busy. The food was excellent. I ordered a couple rolls, sashimi, and chicken katsu curry. All dishes exceeded my expectations. The drinks were well balanced as well. The restaurant is quite dark and very intimate. Perfect place for a date or if you're looking for something more personal.

    The Bottom Line 3.75 stars: Recommended for Japanese food with Korean flare while shopping at the H…read moreMart Shopping Plaza in central K-Town. Location 3.5 stars: Inside the H Mart Shopping Center, on the West side of Western Blvd, between Wilshire and 6th Street in K-Town. Paid parking structure. You can get at least a portion of the parking fees validated electronically by shopping at H Mart or one the restaurants or stores or the movie theater at the plaza. Possibilities for street parking is very limited if any. Venue 4 stars: Nicely decorated modern venue, with inside and outdoor tables and a sushi bar. Service 4 stars: Staff were polite, courteous and attentive. Food 3.5 stars: Large selection of traditional Japanese food including sushi, sashimi, rolls appetizers, ramen, hot stone and hot pot, along with some Korean staples. We had sushi, sashimi and rolls which were good but a little lacking in flavor. Drinks 4 stars: Beer (bottle and tap), wine, sake, soft drinks, coffee and tea.

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    Kopan Izakaya
    Kopan Izakaya
    Kopan Izakaya

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    KazuNori | Downtown LA

    KazuNori | Downtown LA

    4.4(3.6k reviews)
    0.4 miDowntown
    $$

    There's a parking structure nearby where you can park and get your ticket validated, which makes…read moreparking pretty convenient. Seating inside is very limited and consists entirely of bar seating, so don't expect to come here with a large group. The staff was very attentive and did a great job making sure we had everything we needed throughout the meal. One small detail I really appreciated was the restroom. They have two types of hand soap: scented and unscented. The unscented soap is meant for when you're going back to continue eating, while the scented soap is for after you've finished your meal. It's such a small touch, but it really adds to the overall experience and shows how much thought they put into the details. For the food, we got the 6-hand-roll set, which ended up being plenty to fill us up. The rice was perfectly warm and had a slight seasoning to it, which helped bring everything together with the flavors of the fish and seafood. The hand rolls were fresh and satisfying without feeling overly heavy. Price-wise, I think it's fair for the quality you're getting. Overall, Kazunori is a solid spot for hand rolls if you're in the area or just craving some good sushi!

    I've visited this location numerous times, but this review is based on my most recent visit…read more * Parking is available in the same building for $7. Street parking is also available, but it can be difficult to find and may require a bit of a walk. * We were a party of two. My partner ordered three ankimo hand rolls because she loves ankimo, and I ordered the six-roll set. * The rice in my first two rolls was a little too hot, possibly because it had just been prepared. From the third roll onward, the temperature was fine. * After my partner had the second ankimo roll, we both felt that there was too much sauce and that it was overpowering the ankimo. We had just visited the Pasadena location the week before, where the flavor was much more balanced, so the difference was noticeable to us. * We asked the server if they could use a little less sauce on the next ankimo roll, but we were told that everything was standardized and could not be changed. * We tried to clarify that we were not asking them to change the ankimo recipe or any pre-made seasoning. We were simply asking for a little less of the sauce that the chef squeezes on while assembling the hand roll. However, we were given the same answer again that it was standardized and could not be adjusted. * At that point, we stopped asking and just accepted it as it was. Interestingly, the last ankimo roll actually tasted just right, which made us think the chef may have understood what we were asking for even though there seemed to be some miscommunication with the server. Overall, the food itself was not the main issue. We've visited this location many times and have generally had good experiences. This visit was disappointing mainly because a very simple request turned into a communication issue that we felt could have been handled more easily.

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    KazuNori | Downtown LA - Available Starting Aug 6th.

    Available Starting Aug 6th.

    KazuNori | Downtown LA - Lobster Hand Roll

    Lobster Hand Roll

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    Daikokuya Little Tokyo - Daikoku Ramen

    Daikokuya Little Tokyo

    4.1(10k reviews)
    0.1 miLittle Tokyo, Downtown
    $$

    Daikokuya is a long time staple of Little Tokyo, whenever I'm in town on business or vacation I…read moremake a point to visit. Their ramen noodles are always cooked perfectly (I like them a little firm) and their broths are super flavorful, their eggs cooked perfectly. I usually enjoy their spicy or black garlic broths which add extra kicks. Daikokuya can be busy throughout the day, but there servers and kitchen staff work hard to turn around orders and tables relatively quickly. Anytime is a good time for ramen from Daikokuya.

    Daikokuya is a solid ramen franchise from the Bishamon group. I miss how close the Hacienda…read morelocation one back in the day, and now the closest one to me is the MPK location, but if any of my out of town, out of state, out of country friends are visiting and they have a hankering for ramen with a strong, but not super heavy kotteri flavor. The location isn't super big and it does get super busy with people putting their names on the wait list and people queueing busily outside (overflow of people waiting for many of the other restaurants along this part of the block too). Overall the ramen isn't bad, chashu is nice and fatty and tender. Ramen is rich and filling. It's nice that it already comes with an egg too and you don't have to add another one. Lots of other side dishes and combos too if someone in your party doesn't want ramen. However, with the increases in prices, the fact that there's many other options in LT, and the fact that there are other Daikokuya locations, it's an alright LT option.

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    Daikokuya Little Tokyo - Inside

    Inside

    Daikokuya Little Tokyo - Spicy Miso Ramen

    Spicy Miso Ramen

    Daikokuya Little Tokyo - Bishamon Sake

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    Budonoki - Aburi Salmon

    Budonoki

    4.6(369 reviews)
    3.4 miEast Hollywood

    Budonoki is easily the best meal I've had during my most recent trip to LA. In my party of four, we…read moreshared the following dishes: two orders of the spicy tuna handrolls, two orders of the negima -- "jidori chicken oyster with negi", a scallop crudo, a curry pan (two pieces to an order), a charred Japanese sweet potato (three pieces to an order), an order of aburi salmon (six pieces to an order), budo-"gnocchi" -- made with rice cakes instead of actual potato gnocchi, wagyu zabuton -- prepared as steak frites, and a few cocktails. Although their menu is regularly updated and posted on their website, they'll also have a piece of paper on the table listing on the special of the day. On our visit, the special was fried yellow tail, but we ultimately passed since our order was already loaded. After you place your order, the dishes are coursed out so not everything hits the table at the same time. Pacing was perfect and service was polite and attentive. Of the items we ordered the crowd favorite was the fries from the steak fries dipped into the sauce of the budo-gnocchi dish. The fries were effectively a perfected version of the McDonald's fry: golden and crispy, crunchy on the outside, fluffy on the inside. The wagyu was sliced into beautiful bite-size pieces and was melt-in-you-mouth tender. Definitely a must order! Another favorite of mine was the Japanese sweet potato. The surface of the potato is beautifully brûléed, there's an intense richness from the glob of miso koji butter on top, and the chives add a nice freshness to the dish. I cannot recommend Budonoki enough if you're a foodie. Seriously some of the best food I've had in LA.

    Wow! Just delicious! Everything was amazing, but the budo-gnnochi surprisingly took the cake! Just…read morea ball of flavor and wonder! A true party in your mouth. We mixed steak with the budognoochi, and it was terrific! I will be back! Phenomenal service!

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    Budonoki - Interior

    Interior

    Budonoki - Quarter sheets x TOMATO PANZANELLA: munak ranch heirloom tomatoes, focaccia croutons, chickpea-miso dressing | $18

    Quarter sheets x TOMATO PANZANELLA: munak ranch heirloom tomatoes, focaccia croutons, chickpea-miso dressing | $18

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    kodo

    kodo

    4.3(568 reviews)
    1.3 miDowntown

    The inside is low lit & gives an elevated ambiance. Service was fantastic and very attentive. We…read morestarted with the pacific oysters & spicy tuna crispy rice. The pacific oysters are a good size and I really enjoyed the yuzu-kosho ponzu sauce on it. The spicy tuna crispy rice have a good amount of spicy tuna on top & I loved how crispy they made the rice underneath. The Kodo trio comes with uni, toro, & wagyu and the Toro sampler comes with o-toro, chu-toro, akami. All of these handrolls were phenomenal & just left you wanting more. The Wagyu katsu you cook on a hot stone at the table which I liked as an interactive dish. The Wagyu cheeseburger was dripping with juice but still had those crunchy edges. The Uni pasta was beautiful & delicious. The Chimichurri prawns I could eat multiple plates of- the shell comes sliced down the middle so you just have to peel it off. For dessert we ordered the Kodo basque cheesecake & Miso chocolate torte. I love a basque cheesecake & the sesame crumble added great texture. The miso chocolate torte made me wish I ordered my own. Everything from start to finish was amazing, it's hard to pick favorites. Parking- valet $13

    I really enjoy eating here because service is fast and friendly. You get a lovely meal and every…read morestaff member you meet is always so friendly. Food is delicious, drinks are good, and parking isn't hard to find if you're willing to walk a little. The design kinda dark inside, but the patio is always nice. The best part? I can be in and out in less than an hour if I wanted!

    Photos
    kodo - Inside Dining Area

    Inside Dining Area

    kodo - Toro carpaccio

    Toro carpaccio

    kodo - Entrance Seating

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    Entrance Seating

    Torigoya - japanese - Updated September 2026

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