My Favorite Yakitori Spot in LA ～ A 30-Year-Old Gem That’s Totall

I’d heard about this place before—a yakitori restaurant that opened in Gardena back in 1990. 🏮 It’s said to be originally from Shinbashi, Tokyo, and the chef here trained at the Tokyo location before bringing the flavors to LA. How serendipitous—I actually stayed near Shinbashi once while visiting Tokyo and would walk through the izakaya district every day! The vibe here is cozy and authentic—lots of Japanese office workers come here to unwind after work 😄 I even saw a Japanese guy and a Korean girl on a date next to us — so cute! Without a reservation, be prepared to wait—I arrived around 6 PM and waited quite a while, but it thins out after 8 PM (though some items might sell out by then). They don’t serve beef or pork skewers—but their chicken is so delicious you won’t miss it! They use binchotan charcoal for that perfect smoky flavor. Everything I ordered was a hit 🍢, and the veggie platter was super fresh! But a word of warning: the green onion salad is tasty but leaves a strong aftertaste… not the best choice for a date night 😂 They offer a $38 chef’s choice set—10 skewers, soup, salad, and ice cream—which is great value! I skipped it this time because I wanted to try more variety, but it’s definitely worth considering next time. Torimatsu 📍 1425 Artesia Blvd UNIT 17, Gardena, CA 90248 #LocalEats #LALife #LAEats #Yakitori #JapaneseFoodExploration #LATravel #HiddenGem