West LA Foodies, Rejoice! 🎉 Delicious Yakitori is Here!

While driving today, I noticed the Shinsengumi Ramen spot had transformed into a yakitori restaurant! Found street parking and rushed in to try it out 🚗💨 While checking the menu, I chatted with the staff—turns out the owner’s first restaurant was actually a yakitori spot over 30 years ago in Gardena, right across from the Toyota dealership! From that one shop, they’ve grown to over 10 locations across LA—yakitori, ramen, udon, shabu-shabu… how impressive is that?! I had no idea Shinsengumi had such a long yakitori history—I always thought they were just a ramen chain! Now onto the food 🍢 Started with a potato salad to whet the appetite, then dove into the skewers! Ordered a bit of everything, and the food came out super fast. Every single skewer was delicious—no disappointments here! Highlights: 🐔 Chicken Liver – So tender, it melts in your mouth! 🌿 Chicken Breast with Shiso Leaf – A must for shiso lovers! 🥘 Sukiyaki – Dip it in the raw egg yolk—absolutely amazing! Honestly, everything was great—zero misses! Finished with Ebi Chili and a Soboro Don (chicken rice bowl) — totally satisfied! Though this location now focuses on yakitori, they still serve ramen—perfect for those who want skewers + noodles! They also offer lunch sets and combos! UCLA and Sawtelle folks—you gotta check this place out! My only regret: I drove, so no beer 😭 Next time, I’m taking an Uber and pairing these skewers with a cold draft beer! 🍻 📍 Shinsengumi West LA 💵 Price: $40–$80 per person 🅿️ Parking: Street parking or nearby public lots #WestLAYakitori #Yakitori #JapaneseGrill #Shinsengumi #UCLAEats #SawtelleFood #WestLAEats #LAFoodie #HiddenGem #SkewerHeaven #EatLocal 🍡