OC Yakitori — Still Gotta Be Shin-Sen-Gumi 🏮

After trying so many yakitori spots in OC, Shin-Sen-Gumi still tops them all. Before 2020, maybe Honda-Ya could compete — but lately their quality has really dropped. Not that I won’t go back — it’s closer to Irvine and has more non-yakitori options (maybe I’ll write about that next time). They have over 40 types of yakitori — and among my friends, no one’s complained about any being a letdown. No specific recommendations because every single one is worth trying 😂 But crowd favorites include: 🐔 Chicken gizzard 🐷 Pork belly 🐮 Beef tongue 🥩 Kobe beef skewers 🍙 Grilled rice balls 🦆 Duck liver 🧅 Anything with scallions! Also great: Horumon Udon / Yaki Udon Yuzu Shishito peppers Takoyaki (octopus balls) Ong Choy Pork Belly Soft Shell Crab Takowasa (wasabi octopus) On the table, there’s a yuzu chili paste — if you like spice, give it a try (it’s salty though, so go easy). 🚫 Skip: Steak and lamb chops — the meat quality isn’t impressive. 💡 Tips: Order more variety, fewer portions — some skewers are big, so sharing works well. Service is slow — you might want to reorder halfway, but wait until everything’s served or you might overorder. The Fountain Valley location takes reservations — call ahead! Not every Shin-Sen-Gumi does yakitori — the closest to Irvine is Fountain Valley. Other locations are in Gardena and Alhambra — the rest are ramen or shabu shabu spots. 📍 18315 Brookhurst St #1, Fountain Valley, CA 92708 #LocalsFavorite #IrvineArea #JapaneseCuisine #OCEats #LAEats #JapaneseFood #Yakitori