Call ahead to make a reservation - they are reservation only. I saw them turn away a few customers who did not have reservations. You are allotted 90 minutes, they do a last call 30 minutes before your end time. Yakitori Nishi is situated in an unsuspecting plaza with a hole in the wall feel. As you enter and are seated you're transported to a yakitori bar filled with the smells of charcoal and a vivacious ambiance. If you are not a selective eater, I highly recommend trying every skewer they have! My friend and I ordered the pork belly, chicken meatball, quail egg, chicken thigh with green onion, fried tofu, zucchini, fried onigiri (grilled rice ball), and the potato (with butter). There were also specials off menu - we tried the chicken sasami which was incredibly tender. All the skewers were seasoned so well and the charcoal made a huge difference in the experience. We did pair our proteins with the onigiri and potato which filled us up. There were condiments to complement the skewers - Japanese spice powder, yuzu kosho, vinegar, and soy sauce. I pretty much had the yuzu kosho with everything. I'm not sure if there was something wrong with their AC, but it was quite hot in there! After a while you get used to it and adds to the authenticity of enjoying a yakitori on a hot summer evening in Japan. read more

Yakitori Nishi - pork belly, chicken meatball, quail eggs, chicken thigh, potato - Japanese Near Me - Lomita, California

Went again for some more yakitori on a weekday night. Called in for an rsvp. Food was as tasty as last time around - not as many specials this time around and no skirt steak unfortunately. However, we made up for it by ordering a few more other skewers. Experience was good as 14 days ago - will be back! read more

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I'm glad I was able to check out this Yakitori spot! Definitely call ahead to make reservations because they get full every night. It doesn't take long to notice that many regulars come here; that's how you know it's good! I tried the tofu, shiitake mushroom and eggplant. The tofu had a nice consistency between soft and crispy and was coated in a savory soy sauce. The shiitake mushroom was juicy and salty (but not too salty). I enjoyed that it didn't have that overly-mushroom flavor like shiitake can sometimes have. They give a lot of eggplant for the eggplant dish - around 10 pieces?). It's simply salted and covered in bonito, which adds a nice texture and savory component on top! It's nice to add a little soy sauce on top too. Our servers were attentive and nice, with care for allergies! The food takes a little bit to come out but it does come out very fresh too. read more

Yakitori Nishi - Eggplant - Japanese Near Me - Lomita, California

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We had a reservation around 5:30 this past Sunday and when we got there, we were seated quickly! It is a pretty small place. I ordered the Negima, Harami, and Grilled Rice ball. You can really taste the quality of the food! Out of the 3, the Harami was my favorite. The beef was so tender and flavorful! The Negima was also very tasty as well! The added green onion was a nice addition to the Negima. The grilled rice ball was okay. I liked the soy sauce on top of it but wasn't really a fan of the grilled rice texture. Overall, this was my fav yakitori place I've been to so far! The service was pretty quick when I was there and the staff is very friendly as well! read more

Yakitori Nishi - Grilled rice ball, Negima, and Harami - Japanese Near Me - Lomita, California

Yakitori Nishi is a great yakitori spot right off PCH. I came here for mother's day since it is one of her favorite restaurants. As an appetizer, she likes to order the salad, which was simple and tasty with the Japanese dressing. We ordered the skewers I show in the photo as well as many of the vegetables. My two favorites were the chicken meatball and the okra! They all had that great charcoal flavor fresh from the grill. If you want to try the grilled rice balls, make sure to order them first since they take a while to prepare. Everything was very delicious! read more

Yakitori Nishi - negima, chicken meatball, beef, wasabi chicken - Japanese Near Me - Lomita, California

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This place is a very good yakitori spot in the southbay. All the yakitori and veggies and dishes were all excellent. I was very impressed with the chicken tender wasabi that was very soft and succulent. The chicken heart was also great. The veggies were also great with the fried tofu and eggplant being the crowd favorite. Others really liked the Harami beef. I thought the boiled pork intestines and grilled rice ball were great. Another surprise was how much there was portion wise for the ground chicken over rice was and how good it was. The special skewer was gingko nut which had great texture as it was soft and chewy earthy and very delicious. The staff was super attentive and very nice and kind and helpful in suggestions. There can be a very long wait as it is a small space so I highly recommend calling ahead because the was super busy even on a random weekday. read more

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We decided to come here to celebrate our 10-year wedding anniversary after searching for a yakitori restaurant on Yelp--and what a great choice it was. We made reservations and were seated immediately. The restaurant is small and cozy, with excellent, attentive service that made the night feel special without being over the top. The food was exceptional. You can really taste the quality of the meats and how thoughtfully each yakitori skewer is prepared and grilled. Everything had great flavor with just the right hint of charcoal smokiness. Not a single miss on the table. My wife and even other customers were saying it tasted just like being in Japan--and I couldn't agree more. Definitely a place we'll be coming back to. read more

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Had to come 2 days in a row because we are obsessed! Glad we tried tofu skewers because it was bomb!!! honestly everything is just top notch here. We finally got to try some more drinks too and I'm definitely coming back for beniotome shochu. It's a shochu distilled from sesame which has this unique earthy and nutty flavor, almost tastes like tequila or whiskey - highly recommended if you like unique flavors! read more

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What an amazing hidden gem! It's in an unassuming plaza in Lomita and I would never have known about it or seen it if my friend hadn't told me about this place. After trying it, I can say this is hands down my favorite yakitori spot in the South Bay. I came here with my husband for dinner. We made a reservation well in advance and got seated at the counter. Definitely make reservations to eat here. The place is pretty small and they're usually busy, filled with Japanese locals. Everything we had here was SO good. We tried the chicken thigh, cartilage, liver, chicken heart, pork belly, scallop, chicken wing, fried tofu, and eggplant. All the meat yakitori dishes were SO tasty, juicy and well seasoned with that smoky grilled flavor. SO legit! My favorite of the meats was the heart and the chicken thigh. But more than the meats surprisingly, my two absolute favorite dishes were the eggplant and the fried tofu. They knocked my socks off! I never expected to like these so much. I don't even LIKE eggplant but this was literally the best eggplant I've had in my life. It had an INCREDIBLE delicious, umami, juicy, smoky flavor and texture. Same with the fried tofu. Both were so SOOOO good. I highly recommend getting those! Service was excellent. I really have no complaints about this place. We will definitely be back! Parking: free in plaza lot read more

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A really chill yakitori restaurant; absolutely loved the chicken skewers. The liver was the highlight for me. It was cooked perfectly with a nice smoky taste without the texture being chewy or hard to stomach. The service was great; didn't have issues with seating and the service was fairly quick. Expect the restaurant to be filled with people who want a place to chill after work (HH vibes). Parking is good with a spacious lot. Definitely recommended. read more

REALLY GOOD YAKITORI. I debated between 4 and 5 stars for only one reason: limited menu. I decided to go for 5 stars because a restaurant shouldn't be judged by a small menu, but by the quality of their food. So if you're looking for a menu with a lot of different items then go to Shinsengumi Yakitori in Gardena or some other restaurant. Of all the options here, I can say that I enjoyed every single one of them. The smokiness, smell, and flavor of each yakitori was 110% better than what I was expecting. It's legit to the max! Oh, besides their limited menu, the only downside is their strict timing. They emphasized the 1 hour time slot. It's not a bad thing. It's actually nice to see a restaurant that is very serious about itself, and its treatment of its guests and reservation slots. We felt a little rushed but at the same time, came in understanding this. If you want a place where you can eat multiple rounds depending on your mood, kill time, chat for hours on end, etc, then go somewhere else. Otherwise, you will have a great experience here. read more

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One of, if not the, absolute best yakitori places in the South Bay. It's my personal favorites, followed closely by zoku. The food here is well-seasoned, smokey, and delicious -- everything you could ask for from yakitori. They also have meats like chicken heart, liver, etc. (they even offered chicken skin as a special tonight!) that are not commonly found at other yakitori restaurants in the area. Service is wonderful, wait staff are always attentive and efficient. The space is intimate and seats ~15-20 total patrons. As It does get busy, definitely book in advance, especially for weekends! read more

Amazingly good Yakitori restaurant. Great foods and traditional Japanese services. Highly recommended read more

Yakitori Nishi - Pineapple Ice cream - Japanese Near Me - Lomita, California

Small yakitori spot with a couple tables and bar seats. Came here right before 9pm on a Sunday and there were a few bar seats available and a table. We were seated at the bar. Ordered a drinks first then placed our food order soon after. Since it was the end of the night they did run out of certain items. You pay for each skewer. The chicken heart and gizzard was my personal favorite. We also got the harami, scallops, chicken cartilage, and fried rice ball; all of which were pretty solid options. I probably wouldn't get the rice ball again, only got it because we had something similar in Japan and this one didn't hit the same. Overall a cool spot to grab a late night bite. read more

I visited Yakitori Nishi for my birthday, and it turned out to be such a pleasant experience. The yakitori isn't grilled right in front of you--it's prepared in the kitchen and brought out, which I actually preferred. My clothes and hair didn't smell like smoke at all, unlike some other busy neighborhood yakitori spots. What really stood out was the service. Since it was my birthday, the staff kindly helped with cake cutting without charging any extra fee. They provided plates, a knife, candles, and even served us warm tea. Small gestures like that made a big difference and made my birthday feel genuinely special. Thank you to the staff for the thoughtful hospitality. It was a warm, memorable evening. read more

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This place is really good. Very small inside so you should make a reservation unless you come in at 5pm and get lucky but will have to leave by 6pm. Will definitely come back for some of the best yakitori in the Southbay. read more

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Came here at 5:30pm Thursday without a reservation. Next time available was 8pm. Came back another day with rez. Service was quick and friendly. All food items were explained clearly. 1. Negima (chicken with green onion): 4 2. Tsukune (chicken meatball): 4.25; usually don't like meatball but this was good 3. Tebasaki (chicken wing): 4.5 4. Sasami wasabi (chicken tender wasabi): 3.75 5. Liver: 3.75 6. Hatsu (chicken heart): 3.75 7. Zuri (chicken gizzard): 3.75 8. Nakotsu (chicken cartilage): 3 9. Bonbochi (chicken tail): 4.5 10. Uzura (quail eggs): 3 11. Buta bara (pork belly): 2.75 12. Harami (beef skirt): 3.25 13. Hotate (Scallop): 4 14. Pork belly with enoki mushroom (special): 2 15. Duck (special): 3.0 14. Shishito pepper: 2.5 15. Shiitake mushroom: 3 16. Nasu (eggplant): 4.0 17. Jagaimo (potato butter): 3; underseasoned 18. Okura (okra): 3 19. Zucchini: 3.25 20. Atsuage (fried tofu): 4.0 21. Salad: 3 Food comes out very quickly. We were so full by the time the veggies came out. They probably would taste better if we weren't so full. The eggplant is probably meant for more than 4 people to share. Would come back again/ read more

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Small place, but absoluteley amazinng! The food was delicious, the wine and sake selection was excellent. Our server was incredibly knowledgeable and took great care of us throughout the meal. She made us feel comfortable and welcomed from start to finish. Definitely one of the best dining experiences I've had in Torrance. Highly recommend! read more

Yakitori Nishi - Japanese Near Me - Lomita, California

One of the BEST yakitori spots in the southbay. I've been to most of the main ones (excluding the newest ones that have popped up within the last year). Don't allow the small menu deteer you from going,each piece was phenomenal. Compared to other surrounded yakitori places the available meat variety is less tbh but each piece they have here is sooo good. Firstly, my god the sizes of the pieces are larger compared to other yakitori places,LOVE THAT. Prices are competitive and match the sizes in my opinion. The meats are so tender,juicy,smokey but not overwhelming and perfectly seasoned. My personal favorite was the tsukune( chicken meatball),negima (chicken thigh w/green onion) and buta bara (pork belly). Not yakitori, the soboro bowl( fround chicken bowl) was a nice size and very yummy, I reccommend but do keep in mind it comes with a raw egg if thats not your thing. Cannot speak to the vegetables as we didnt order any but would love to try them next time. A THING TO NOTE: You cannot do a walk-in, the hours are so short and the restaurant is so small and so a reservation is truly the only way to go in. We went 3x as walk-ins and only on our last try we made it because someone cancelled. Service is very nice and personable, the two hostess were super friendly and chatty as we sat by the bar. I saw a table buy them drinks, its such a nice vibe. Food came out timely,didn't have to wait long. Nice place for a date, groups or families. I had a nice experience overall and it will go on my recco list if people ask me for good restaurants in the south bay. Go make that rezzy! read more

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Called at 16:30 and was able to get a reservation for 17:00. Ordered a variety and everything was very good. My favorites would be the Hotate, Buta Bara and the Harami. Don't forget that the used skewers go into the cup provided on the table. read more

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Delicious grilled meats on skewers! Steak; Chicken breast, thigh, wing; LEAN Pork; Duck... Very tasty! All the yakitori skewers we tried are tasty & enjoyable; nothing is displeasing. But, we do have some favorites: Pork Belly (cut meticulously LEAN), is juicy & flavorful. Chicken Thigh with green onion & pepper tastes great together. Chicken with Wasabi (sauce)- Wasabi sauce is Wonderful! We love the blended wasabi sauce. Service is fast, attentive, & very friendly. Orders are served to you quickly. The smaller means the staff are completely focused Full Disclosure: Restaurant is small: ~4 small tables & 7 counter seats. You MUST call ahead to reserve a seating time & receive a time slot in which to complete your meal. * [As of now] They do not accommodate phone orders for "Pickup"/"Take Out". Dine In only. read more

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Amazing!!! Everything I ate was soo yummy. My favorite yakitori was the chicken thigh and green onion. The pork belly, okra and chicken tender with wasabi was also delicious as well. Oh and please make sure to try the yuzu sauce in the little jar they have with the condiments on the table. It's spicy but has an amazing flavor that goes well with everything. Service was great and the yakitori is brought out fresh to order. Restaurant is a bit small but is very cozy. There are about 4 tables and several seats at the bar available. Enjoyed the studio ghibli soundtrack they played too! read more

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I been wanting to try this place for sometime. I was unable to few other times I visited. It is small location with waiting list. Call ahead and exepct to be on waiting list. The server actually knew that I came before she felt bad and tried to make room for us. It was very appreciated. Finally got to try the yakitori was nice balanced, tender beef and meat was cooked properly. Service was great and chef was kind and respectful as well even with a full house. I highly recommend this place. Price is a higher-end for yakitori but you won't regert coming here. Give it a try! read more

Yakitori Nishi is probably my new favorite Yakitori place in the south bay .. and I don't say this lightly. There are so many amazing options now, but this place stands out because of the quality and flavor. The staff are really kind and knowledgeable so I would recommend asking for their recommendations & special of the day! The vibes inside were sooo elegant, yet welcoming. read more

Yakitori Nishi - Chicken thighs and green onions and chicken meatballs tsukune - Japanese Near Me - Lomita, California

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Hidden gem in Lomita and so glad we found this place. We were able to get 2 seats by the bar as soon as we walked in tonight. Both waitresses and the chef were super friendly. All the dishes were very flavorful, this is definitely one of our favorite yakitori restaurants in south bay area. My favorites are chicken meatballs and tofu. Chicken meatballs were perfectly cooked, very flavorful, tender Chicken meat and juicy on the inside. Tofu was amazing, i had to ordered more tofu for lunch tomorrow. Tofu was crispy on the outside but very soft on the inside. Great service, excellent food, perfect dining experience read more

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We loved every single dish at Nishi Yakitori. Each skewer was expertly cooked and perfectly seasoned, and even the next day we were still craving and talking about all the dishes we had. The servers were exceptionally friendly, and Chef Nishi's warm hospitality made the experience even more special. A truly memorable meal, and we can't wait to return! read more

This is a new yakitori restaurant in Lomita They seem to specialize in chicken but they had some other offerings. Most of the skewers I ordered were tasty. The service was friendly. I'd recommend reservations if you're in a group as it's a smaller restaurant. I honestly felt like I was in Japan in a very awesome way! read more

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Dined here 9/5/2025. Underwhelming experience to say the least. The yakitori was just ok. I gave up taking any more photos because it's all really nothing to write home about. Excellent service as expected from any Japanese restaurant. read more

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Wonderful food, service & atmosphere. We enjoyed the Japanese culture, food & service at Yakitori Nishi very much. Call a day or two ahead of time to reserve a table. read more

I guess you can say I was raised on yakitori in Gardena which is pretty casual and relatively boisterous. My son was visiting from school and we wanted yakitori without going out to Gardena. I found Yakitori Nishi in a small mall near a Harbor Freight and a massage place. This spoke casual to me and that's how we came in. That felt like a miscalculation as most people there looked to be more business casual than our jeans and hoodies. The folks who came in looked to be respectful of the experience. If you want to be in a mood to be loud, this may not be your stop. The hostess asked if we made a reservation and I felt "oops" this may be awkward. However, I'm glad I was wrong and it was a very enjoyable meal. More warm and intimate than my other yakitori meals. After a brief wait, the hostess seated us and was nice and attentive through our stay. We had various chicken dishes, scallops, mushrooms, the baked potato and shishito peppers and all were wonderful. The chicken and scallops were the best yakitori style dishes I've had! The menu is a bit more limited than I've seen before, but the execution was tip top. We had a couple of Japanese beers, but it looked like they had a pretty good bar. Parking was easy as well. I look forward to a return. read more

The BEST yakitoriya I have been to since I left Japan! Everything was perfectly cooked, including the yakionigiri and tonjiru that we finished the meal with. Worth every penny! read more

Yakitori Nishi was such a wonderful surprise, a "home run" in Japanese culture and taste (likely Kyushu Region). Their staff is so fun to talk with, enhancing this entire experience. Their menu is compact and easy to order and their Yakitori selection is full of flavor. Please try their hearty "White" miso soup (Tonjiru). This is a meal in itself and not your boring miso soup. In conclusion, please complete your meal with their specialty, pineapple ice cream. You'll be blown away by its spectacular presentation and personalized taste . read more

Yakitori Nishi - Pineapple Ice Cream - Japanese Near Me - Lomita, California

One of the best Yakitories in the area! 5 star food, friendly crew. The service is fast and great and the food is very well prepared.

Excellent! Delicious and stellar service. Very much like the establishments in Japan. Make reservation. read more

Amazing Food and Service! The best people and atmosphere! We love going and recommending this restaurant to our friends. The food is fresh and delicious! read more

Pretty solid spot for yakitori! Reservations are a must as the space is small and it gets pretty busy, you get 2 hours to dine. All the skewers we had were flavorful and cooked well. My favorites were the chicken tail, heart, and gizzard. The alcohol menu is on the pricier side for a yakitori place, a glass of wine was $14 and my small sake (no price on the menu) ended up being $22. Overall I had a good dinner, spent about $150 for two people after tax and tip. Will return when craving yakitori! read more

The food is great. Yakitori at its best. The ambience is very plain as a typical in a Japanese diner.

Made a reservation for Friday night 6:30 and got the seated no issue. Everything was fresh, tasted good, and not salty. The grill is in the kitchen, so you don't get the smoke in the dinning area, which is a good thing, unless you like the smell of the charcoal. Service was on point and nice. The pork lover was on special and cooked medium rare, if you are okay with that. I have to say that I really like this place. read more

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When you walk into this restaurant you'll notice it is very tiny and intimate. They do take walk ins but they fill up very fast. I noticed they turned down people who walked in during their peak hours. Definitely make a reservation beforehand. There is only one chef so the food takes awhile to come out. Their food is very exceptional. My favorites were the Beef Skirt, Chicken Meatball, and Grilled rice ball. Also, ask for a side of their wasabi! It is real wasabi which is really hard to find. If you are looking for an authentic yakitori restaurant definitely come here! read more

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I loved my first dining experience here. It's a tiny restaurant so you must make a reservation in advance. They have 2 hours maximum seating policy. We've tried every single veggie options and some chicken. Eggplant was my least favorite, but it's just our preference. I noticed the most customers were regulars. That is always a good thing! read more