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誕生日前夜ディナーで娘達に連れて来てもらいました。 小さな看板が控えめだが、中に入るとほぼ満席、90分制は珍しい。 カウンター席に座って、隣のお客さんと話したり、店の人も親切で感じがよかった。 刺身は、親切、厚めで美味しかった。 マグロとたくあんを海苔に巻いていただく前菜、野菜のおばんざいが気に入りました。 この辺りにこんな居酒屋がないからか、常連客がたくさんいたようで 活気がある人気店、一度行く価値はあると思います。 My daughters brought me here for dinner the night before my birthday. The small sign is unassuming, but once inside, it was almost full, and the 90-minute time limit is unusual. I sat at the counter, chatted with the customers next to me, and the staff were kind and friendly. The sashimi was delicious, thickly sliced, and made with care. I particularly liked the appetizer of tuna and pickled radish wrapped in seaweed, and the vegetable side dishes. Perhaps because there aren't many izakayas like this in the area, there seemed to be many regulars. It's a lively and popular restaurant, and I think it's worth visiting at least once.
o6.27.2o26 Amazing food, friendly staff, awesome vibes, great company! A colleague took a few of us to this restaurant. When I got to the lot, it took me a few minutes to locate the restaurant because the name sign was super low-key. The restaurant is pretty small but feels cozy. My colleague already ordered before I got there so I just ate whatever they put on the table! The only one I didn't like as much was the beef? It was too salty for my taste. The sashimi platter was the best! The corn tempura was new to me and it was so good! I think my kids would love it. The grilled whole seabass was amazing. I need to find time to take my family there kind of good!
We are here to celebrate our friend's birthday tonight. Very nice host and the food is amazing and delicious. The whole restaurant guests and staffs sing beautifully for your birthday. Very cute restaurant, perfect for any celebrations. We will definitely come again.
Visited Izakaya Tonchinkan on a Saturday night, around 8:45 pm after a long day spent at the nearby Santa Anita Horse Track. Restaurant is located in a small strip mall, with a fair amount of parking. There isn't a flashy restaurant sign in front of the building, and once you step in, it truly feels like you are in a small, homey Izikaya in Japan. The restaurant only has a few booths, a few tables and bar seating inside, so reservations are highly recommended on a busy Saturday night. My boyfriend and I got lucky that they were able to accommodate us within 10 minutes, because there was seating available at the bar. There is a physical Drink menu (sake, beer, etc.) and the food menu can be viewed by scanning a QR code with your phone. The waitress made suggestions about which dishes she personally liked & we ordered whatever she suggested, along with some of the things we thought looked good. *7/10 Toro w/ seaweed *8/10 Moriwase (chef's selection of sashimi) 2 each of 5 different sashimi. There was one cut I did not particularly care for. *7/10 chicken wings *10/10 Beef tongue-- Tender, but firm. Delicious, a must try! *10/10 Ankimo-- creamy and paired well with the ponzu and fresh seaweed *10/10 Fried Seabass-- they served the entire fish, which is rare. *10/10 Sous-vide Duck breast-- must try! *10/10 Nikomi stew--simple, but delicious! *10/10 Matcha Oolong Panna Cotta-- subtly sweet with a smooth texture. It was so good, that we ordered two! The only reason that I only gave it a four out of five stars is because the service was slow. All of our dishes, came out in time, but no drink refills were given and the server never came back to collect our check for payment. So we had to walk it up to them ourselves. For a small space, with three servers, it shouldn't be hard to attend to all the customers. The menu can be pricey, but food is delicious! Along with exceptional service, eating here is worth it.
It's like walking into a Tokyo Izakaya ----------------------------------- This place is all about quality over quantity. The atmosphere was cozy, and there seemed to be Japanese guests (always a plus). The food was really enjoyable. We enjoyed our experience here and would definitely come back next time!
The yellowtail and sansho donabe rice was the highlight for me! The fish was very buttery and rich while the sansho made the rice fragrant and peppery. It was a pity that a decent layer of rice at bottom of the pot was too burnt to eat though. My second favourite was the grilled duck breast. The meat was tender and had a nice smoky flavour. I also liked the truffle mashed potatoes on the side. The panna cotta tasted pretty standard with a hint of hojicha, while the tekka bluefin tuna sushi roll was average at best. Overall, the food was great and fairly unique, yet portions were quite small for the price. Service was friendly but on the slower side. The interior was small and had a nice and local izakaya vibe with many wooden accents.
Small but cozy spot that instantly reminded me of the actual izakaya ive been to in tokyo. Vibe is authentic, service was great and the servers were friendly and attentive. They also had a great selection of dishes I havent seen at other izakayas in my area. Oysters: 7.5/10 plump and fresh. Not as sweet as id hoped but still enjoyable. Fries with truffle salt: 7/10 could've used a bit more truffle flavour and crispness but still good. Gizzard, liver and heart: 8/10 really flavourful. Nice balance of sweet and salty though some bites leaned more salty. Ankimo: 10/10 thick rich slabs of ankimo cooked perfectly. Extremely flavourful and the ponzu paired very nicely. Ikura and salmon rice: 9/10 super umami and very generous with the insurance and salmon. Would definitely order again. This could probably serve 3-4 people depending on how many other dishes you get. Horse mackerel sashimi: 10/10 perfectly thick slices, super fresh with great texture Beef tongue: 8/10 could've been a bit more tender but I love beef tongue. Came with pickled jalapeños that were great on their own, though not the best pairing with the beef tongue in my opinion. Amaebi sashimi: 9/10 fresh and super sweet. Only complaint here is that they were tiny.
Had a great experience tonight at this hole in the wall Izakaya spot it's tucked inside a small plaza right by Baldwin and Duarte Rd but once you stepped inside, it's like you're transformed into Japan instantly! The livelihood of the place, the owner's laughter while striking lots of conversations with his customer, gives you that smile in the face that you came to the right spot :) Since it is a Izakaya, all portions are meant to be smaller so you can try more variety and share with ppl you come with while sipping on some nice sake to go along with it~ they have quite an amazing selection of choices of alcohol so you're bound to find one that you'll enjoy :) Food is amazing and they even have fresh sashimi as well tried their chef choice 3 item appetizer today, beef tongue, duck breast, tempura corn (must try!), miso stewed beef, and marinated firefly squid. All are amazing and yes *nod* pairs well with some sake Reservation highly recommended so give them a call before stopping by!
Came here on a Wednesday around 5:35pm thinking we could just walk in... nope The place was already mostly full with a lot of reserved tables. There are limited booth seating (about 4 booths), one larger table, and roughly a dozen counter seats. We were a party of 4 with another group of 3 expected at the counter, so we were told next availability would be 7pm. But the owner (also the sushi/master chef) stepped in and offered to squeeze in an extra chair for us at the bar. We happily said yes, and that pretty much set the tone for the night. The ambiance is a cute, homey Japanese-style spot. It's calm and quiet enough to actually have a conversation, which I really appreciated. The owner was also cracking jokes throughout the night and kept everyone entertained, which made the experience feel even more personal. Food highlights: * Eihire (seared stingray fin) - 9/10. Great drinking snack, just wish there was more. * Grilled Angus beef tongue - 9/10. Tender with a really good jalapeño sauce. * Hokkaido uni tray with roasted nori - 10/10. Favorite dish of the night, easily. * Chicken liver, gizzard, and hearts in sweet soy - 10/10. Super rich and flavorful. * Whole grilled seabass - 9.5/10. Perfectly cooked, but could've used more ponzu. * Sous vide + grilled duck breast - 8/10. Solid, especially with salt and hot mustard. The mashed potatoes and roasted veggies on the side were . * Deep fried eel with ponzu - 7/10. Decent, but didn't stand out compared to the other dishes. * Sashimi (amberjack, hamachi, toro, sweet shrimp) - overall great. The sweet shrimp and fried head were 10/10, but the hamachi didn't quite match the rest. Also wish they gave more ginger upfront. * Roasted 5 kinds of vegetables - 7/10. Tasty but a bit pricey for the portion. * Sea snail - the only dish we wouldn't reorder. Not bad, just not our preferred style. Service was excellent. Our server gave great recommendations, kept our water filled, and checked in often without being overbearing. This is a 5-star spot largely because of the owner. Super down to earth, funny, and clearly passionate about both the food and the experience. Parking is free in a shared lot with other businesses. It's a decent size, so should be manageable. Definitely recommend making a reservation (they only take phone reservations)... but even if you don't, there's a good chance they'll still find a way to take care of you. I'd definitely come back to try more dishes.
This is, without a doubt, one of the liveliest izakayas in Los Angeles -- boasting an impressively long menu and one of the most extensive selections of premium sake in the city. The atmosphere is intimate, and Itamae Chef Tatsu-san is as enthusiastic and entertaining as they come, blending humor with genuine hospitality. On our last visit, he shared that the producer for Lisa from Blackpink had dined here, and that the son of the guitarist from the rock duo B'z is a frequent guest -- a testament to the restaurant's popularity, particularly within the Japanese community. The food is authentic, straightforward, and rooted in the fundamentals of Japanese cuisine -- nothing overly ornate, but deeply satisfying and heartwarming. Many dishes are designed for sharing, with several donabe options to end the meal. The sashimi is expertly prepared: we enjoyed abalone freshly sliced while still alive, along with amaebi and shiroebi that were refreshingly sweet -- ideal sake companions, especially on a warm summer evening. Some of my personal favorites include okizuke (marinated firefly squid), ankimo (monkfish liver with ponzu), and 甲州煮 (chicken liver, heart, and gizzard simmered in sweet soy sauce). Each makes for an excellent otsumami, perfectly suited for pairing with drinks. From time to time, the restaurant also hosts special events, such as Dassai Sake Night and Nankai Shochu Night, further cementing its reputation as not only a dining destination but also a cultural hub for Japanese food and drink in Los Angeles. The only downside is that it's so far from where I live that I couldn't visit more often, but I suppose that's entirely my fault.
Been wanting to take hubby here for a while. The food is still as good I recalled it to be. The server was kind to let us get seated w/o a reservation. We were famished after a long day. Items we ordered: 1. Ankimo - so creamy & just the way I like it. 2. Beef tongue - delish. 3. Chef's assorted choice of sashimi - the fish were all light & fresh 4. Sautéed clams with asparagus- looked simple but a bowl punched with flavor 5. Firefly squid - refreshing during a hot day 6. Fired tofu - must get. This is like a nice spin of agedashi tofu but 100x more delish! 7. Kara age - tender & crunchy 8. Collar - extremely tender 9. Toro & scallion roll 10. Duck breast It's a hidden gem in the area!
This is such a great izakaya spot. I used to love Hinotori and was honestly sad when it closed, but once Tonchinkan opened I got excited again and it definitely delivered. The food is super fresh, everything we've tried has been delicious, and the price point is very reasonable for the quality you're getting. It's the kind of place where you order a bunch of small plates, hang out, and end up having a really fun time. The vibe is lively without being too loud and the owners are super chill, which makes the whole experience feel welcoming and relaxed. It does get busy and fills up fast even on weeknights, so make a reservation if you can. Already looking forward to coming back.
I was surprised there's such a hole in the wall in Arcadia. Our friend took us here on a Saturday night. Would recommend making a reservation in advance. If not, there would be quite a wait. This restaurant is a small place but it serves authentic and high quality Japanese food. Makes me reminiscing about our times in Japan. We ordered a few dishes. I can't remember their names. There were sea bass, beef tongue, two types of sushi, fried gizzard, egg rolls, chicken karage, and etc. Everything was delicious. The highlight of the night was the grilled sea bass. It was fresh and just perfect. The dipping sauce complimented the fish as well. Atmosphere was friendly, warm, and welcoming. Overall, this was an experience. Would recommend!
Reviews are largely positive. Many highlight the fresh, unique food, cozy authentic atmosphere, and friendly, attentive service.
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Izakaya Tonchinkan is a hidden gem. Reservations recommended, even during the work week, but definitely on Friday and Saturday nights. The plaza is small but there was a decent amount of parking in the lot. The restaurant has a few tables and mostly bar seating. The bar is where the fun is at. Chef Tatsu and his team of staff were all welcoming and helpful. The other customers here are mostly regulars and all super friendly too. Their menu is on tablets or you can scan a QR code. They seem to use seasonal ingredients and change up their menu often. They had a really impressive variety of sakes. For the drinking munchies they have sushi, starters, cold dishes, hot dishes, grilled dishes, dee fried dishes, donabe rice, and desserts. There were so many items I wanted to try but I had to really narrow it down. I started off with a Hot Tea ($3) but after seeing their incredible sake collection I asked chef for a recommendation. Since I was alone, he recommended the Chiyomusubi ($20/large cup). I'm so glad I got to experience it because the waitress came out with an amazing of sake cups for me to choose from. Love it! These were the items I got to try: Oysters ($24/half dozen) - These were Sugaki Pacific Oyster with ponzu sauce, medium size. The ponzu brings out the sweetness of the oysters. Moriawase ($55) - An assortment of sashimi of the season. Chef let me pick the sashimi I wanted and I asked for the uni, file fish, kanpachi, shima aji, hotate, and kurodai. All fresh and delicious. I especially loved the uni!! There was a generous amount of it! Assortment of Small Appetizers of Chef's Choice ($15) - An assortment that changes depending on your visit. Good item for me eating alone since it gave me a variety in on dish. There was a snail, tuna, chicken salad, and grilled collar. Eihire ($10) - Best decision I made all night. This is a unique grilled stingy ray fin served with an aioli on the side. The sting ray reminds me of a grilled squid but much much better. It was so addicting and delicious. Highly recommended. Giant Clam Sauteed with Butter Soy ($12) - Very good clam, came sauteed with asparagus. The asparagus was a nice green contrast to the butter soy. Grilled Angus Beef Tongue ($22) - Highly recommended by Chef and I must thank him for pointing it out. I love beef tongue, but I missed it while I was browsing the menu. The beef tongue was tender and perfectly cooked. Such an amazing meal. I was really full but that didn't stop me from getting desserts. I couldn't resist their housemade Roasted Green Tea Panna Cotta ($8). I love panna cotta and this was a great execution. Good texture, good flavors, I can really taste the roasted green tea. Looking forward to coming back and trying more of their menu. A great place to dine with friends and share food or dine by yourself and chat up the locals. Thank you Chef and team for a fantastic meal! read more
We came to Izakaya Tonchinkan around 9 pm, with last orders at 9:30. The restaurant has its own parking lot in the plaza, and there was plenty of space that late at night. We ordered the Assorted Sashimi, Beef Tongue, Salmon and Ikura Rice, and Hojicha Panna Cotta. Our total came out to around $158 for three people. The sashimi was fresh, with the Japanese Mackerel and Scallop being my favorites. The Beef Tongue was good, and the Salmon and Ikura Rice was solid and tasted pretty much as expected. The Hojicha Panna Cotta, though, was amazing and easily the most memorable item of the meal. It was also a lot of food for three people, and we probably could have ordered one less dish. The service and atmosphere were the biggest highlights for me. The staff was immediately welcoming and helpful in explaining the menu and popular items. The owner/chef was also very lighthearted and friendly, and the whole restaurant had a communal, neighborhood feel. Even around closing, everyone seemed relaxed and was enjoying their time together. Overall, the food was good, but I did find it expensive for what we ordered. I'd still come back for the atmosphere, service, and Hojicha Panna Cotta, but I'd be more mindful of how much I order next time. read more
Came here for my mom's birthday and I'm so glad we did! We sat at the counter and the head chef was super funny and friendly, which made the experience even better. We ordered a bunch of appetizers that paired really well with our drinks. My favorite was the beef tongue it was so tender and flavorful! The ambiance was also great cozy, lively, and perfect for a night out. Definitely a great spot to grab drinks with friends or family while enjoying some really good food! read more
誕生日前夜ディナーで娘達に連れて来てもらいました。 小さな看板が控えめだが、中に入るとほぼ満席、90分制は珍しい。 カウンター席に座って、隣のお客さんと話したり、店の人も親切で感じがよかった。 刺身は、親切、厚めで美味しかった。 マグロとたくあんを海苔に巻いていただく前菜、野菜のおばんざいが気に入りました。 この辺りにこんな居酒屋がないからか、常連客がたくさんいたようで 活気がある人気店、一度行く価値はあると思います。 My daughters brought me here for dinner the night before my birthday. The small sign is unassuming, but once inside, it was almost full, and the 90-minute time limit is unusual. I sat at the counter, chatted with the customers next to me, and the staff were kind and friendly. The sashimi was delicious, thickly sliced, and made with care. I particularly liked the appetizer of tuna and pickled radish wrapped in seaweed, and the vegetable side dishes. Perhaps because there aren't many izakayas like this in the area, there seemed to be many regulars. It's a lively and popular restaurant, and I think it's worth visiting at least once. read more
o6.27.2o26 Amazing food, friendly staff, awesome vibes, great company! A colleague took a few of us to this restaurant. When I got to the lot, it took me a few minutes to locate the restaurant because the name sign was super low-key. The restaurant is pretty small but feels cozy. My colleague already ordered before I got there so I just ate whatever they put on the table! The only one I didn't like as much was the beef? It was too salty for my taste. The sashimi platter was the best! The corn tempura was new to me and it was so good! I think my kids would love it. The grilled whole seabass was amazing. I need to find time to take my family there kind of good! read more
1 month ago
We are here to celebrate our friend's birthday tonight. Very nice host and the food is amazing and delicious. The whole restaurant guests and staffs sing beautifully for your birthday. Very cute restaurant, perfect for any celebrations. We will definitely come again. read more
5 months ago
Visited Izakaya Tonchinkan on a Saturday night, around 8:45 pm after a long day spent at the nearby Santa Anita Horse Track. Restaurant is located in a small strip mall, with a fair amount of parking. There isn't a flashy restaurant sign in front of the building, and once you step in, it truly feels like you are in a small, homey Izikaya in Japan. The restaurant only has a few booths, a few tables and bar seating inside, so reservations are highly recommended on a busy Saturday night. My boyfriend and I got lucky that they were able to accommodate us within 10 minutes, because there was seating available at the bar. There is a physical Drink menu (sake, beer, etc.) and the food menu can be viewed by scanning a QR code with your phone. The waitress made suggestions about which dishes she personally liked & we ordered whatever she suggested, along with some of the things we thought looked good. *7/10 Toro w/ seaweed *8/10 Moriwase (chef's selection of sashimi) 2 each of 5 different sashimi. There was one cut I did not particularly care for. *7/10 chicken wings *10/10 Beef tongue-- Tender, but firm. Delicious, a must try! *10/10 Ankimo-- creamy and paired well with the ponzu and fresh seaweed *10/10 Fried Seabass-- they served the entire fish, which is rare. *10/10 Sous-vide Duck breast-- must try! *10/10 Nikomi stew--simple, but delicious! *10/10 Matcha Oolong Panna Cotta-- subtly sweet with a smooth texture. It was so good, that we ordered two! The only reason that I only gave it a four out of five stars is because the service was slow. All of our dishes, came out in time, but no drink refills were given and the server never came back to collect our check for payment. So we had to walk it up to them ourselves. For a small space, with three servers, it shouldn't be hard to attend to all the customers. The menu can be pricey, but food is delicious! Along with exceptional service, eating here is worth it. read more
It's like walking into a Tokyo Izakaya ----------------------------------- This place is all about quality over quantity. The atmosphere was cozy, and there seemed to be Japanese guests (always a plus). The food was really enjoyable. We enjoyed our experience here and would definitely come back next time! read more
The yellowtail and sansho donabe rice was the highlight for me! The fish was very buttery and rich while the sansho made the rice fragrant and peppery. It was a pity that a decent layer of rice at bottom of the pot was too burnt to eat though. My second favourite was the grilled duck breast. The meat was tender and had a nice smoky flavour. I also liked the truffle mashed potatoes on the side. The panna cotta tasted pretty standard with a hint of hojicha, while the tekka bluefin tuna sushi roll was average at best. Overall, the food was great and fairly unique, yet portions were quite small for the price. Service was friendly but on the slower side. The interior was small and had a nice and local izakaya vibe with many wooden accents. read more
Small but cozy spot that instantly reminded me of the actual izakaya ive been to in tokyo. Vibe is authentic, service was great and the servers were friendly and attentive. They also had a great selection of dishes I havent seen at other izakayas in my area. Oysters: 7.5/10 plump and fresh. Not as sweet as id hoped but still enjoyable. Fries with truffle salt: 7/10 could've used a bit more truffle flavour and crispness but still good. Gizzard, liver and heart: 8/10 really flavourful. Nice balance of sweet and salty though some bites leaned more salty. Ankimo: 10/10 thick rich slabs of ankimo cooked perfectly. Extremely flavourful and the ponzu paired very nicely. Ikura and salmon rice: 9/10 super umami and very generous with the insurance and salmon. Would definitely order again. This could probably serve 3-4 people depending on how many other dishes you get. Horse mackerel sashimi: 10/10 perfectly thick slices, super fresh with great texture Beef tongue: 8/10 could've been a bit more tender but I love beef tongue. Came with pickled jalapeños that were great on their own, though not the best pairing with the beef tongue in my opinion. Amaebi sashimi: 9/10 fresh and super sweet. Only complaint here is that they were tiny. read more
Had a great experience tonight at this hole in the wall Izakaya spot it's tucked inside a small plaza right by Baldwin and Duarte Rd but once you stepped inside, it's like you're transformed into Japan instantly! The livelihood of the place, the owner's laughter while striking lots of conversations with his customer, gives you that smile in the face that you came to the right spot :) Since it is a Izakaya, all portions are meant to be smaller so you can try more variety and share with ppl you come with while sipping on some nice sake to go along with it~ they have quite an amazing selection of choices of alcohol so you're bound to find one that you'll enjoy :) Food is amazing and they even have fresh sashimi as well tried their chef choice 3 item appetizer today, beef tongue, duck breast, tempura corn (must try!), miso stewed beef, and marinated firefly squid. All are amazing and yes *nod* pairs well with some sake Reservation highly recommended so give them a call before stopping by! read more
Came here on a Wednesday around 5:35pm thinking we could just walk in... nope The place was already mostly full with a lot of reserved tables. There are limited booth seating (about 4 booths), one larger table, and roughly a dozen counter seats. We were a party of 4 with another group of 3 expected at the counter, so we were told next availability would be 7pm. But the owner (also the sushi/master chef) stepped in and offered to squeeze in an extra chair for us at the bar. We happily said yes, and that pretty much set the tone for the night. The ambiance is a cute, homey Japanese-style spot. It's calm and quiet enough to actually have a conversation, which I really appreciated. The owner was also cracking jokes throughout the night and kept everyone entertained, which made the experience feel even more personal. Food highlights: * Eihire (seared stingray fin) - 9/10. Great drinking snack, just wish there was more. * Grilled Angus beef tongue - 9/10. Tender with a really good jalapeño sauce. * Hokkaido uni tray with roasted nori - 10/10. Favorite dish of the night, easily. * Chicken liver, gizzard, and hearts in sweet soy - 10/10. Super rich and flavorful. * Whole grilled seabass - 9.5/10. Perfectly cooked, but could've used more ponzu. * Sous vide + grilled duck breast - 8/10. Solid, especially with salt and hot mustard. The mashed potatoes and roasted veggies on the side were . * Deep fried eel with ponzu - 7/10. Decent, but didn't stand out compared to the other dishes. * Sashimi (amberjack, hamachi, toro, sweet shrimp) - overall great. The sweet shrimp and fried head were 10/10, but the hamachi didn't quite match the rest. Also wish they gave more ginger upfront. * Roasted 5 kinds of vegetables - 7/10. Tasty but a bit pricey for the portion. * Sea snail - the only dish we wouldn't reorder. Not bad, just not our preferred style. Service was excellent. Our server gave great recommendations, kept our water filled, and checked in often without being overbearing. This is a 5-star spot largely because of the owner. Super down to earth, funny, and clearly passionate about both the food and the experience. Parking is free in a shared lot with other businesses. It's a decent size, so should be manageable. Definitely recommend making a reservation (they only take phone reservations)... but even if you don't, there's a good chance they'll still find a way to take care of you. I'd definitely come back to try more dishes. read more
This is, without a doubt, one of the liveliest izakayas in Los Angeles -- boasting an impressively long menu and one of the most extensive selections of premium sake in the city. The atmosphere is intimate, and Itamae Chef Tatsu-san is as enthusiastic and entertaining as they come, blending humor with genuine hospitality. On our last visit, he shared that the producer for Lisa from Blackpink had dined here, and that the son of the guitarist from the rock duo B'z is a frequent guest -- a testament to the restaurant's popularity, particularly within the Japanese community. The food is authentic, straightforward, and rooted in the fundamentals of Japanese cuisine -- nothing overly ornate, but deeply satisfying and heartwarming. Many dishes are designed for sharing, with several donabe options to end the meal. The sashimi is expertly prepared: we enjoyed abalone freshly sliced while still alive, along with amaebi and shiroebi that were refreshingly sweet -- ideal sake companions, especially on a warm summer evening. Some of my personal favorites include okizuke (marinated firefly squid), ankimo (monkfish liver with ponzu), and 甲州煮 (chicken liver, heart, and gizzard simmered in sweet soy sauce). Each makes for an excellent otsumami, perfectly suited for pairing with drinks. From time to time, the restaurant also hosts special events, such as Dassai Sake Night and Nankai Shochu Night, further cementing its reputation as not only a dining destination but also a cultural hub for Japanese food and drink in Los Angeles. The only downside is that it's so far from where I live that I couldn't visit more often, but I suppose that's entirely my fault. read more
1 month ago
1 year ago
Been wanting to take hubby here for a while. The food is still as good I recalled it to be. The server was kind to let us get seated w/o a reservation. We were famished after a long day. Items we ordered: 1. Ankimo - so creamy & just the way I like it. 2. Beef tongue - delish. 3. Chef's assorted choice of sashimi - the fish were all light & fresh 4. Sautéed clams with asparagus- looked simple but a bowl punched with flavor 5. Firefly squid - refreshing during a hot day 6. Fired tofu - must get. This is like a nice spin of agedashi tofu but 100x more delish! 7. Kara age - tender & crunchy 8. Collar - extremely tender 9. Toro & scallion roll 10. Duck breast It's a hidden gem in the area! read more
8 months ago
This is such a great izakaya spot. I used to love Hinotori and was honestly sad when it closed, but once Tonchinkan opened I got excited again and it definitely delivered. The food is super fresh, everything we've tried has been delicious, and the price point is very reasonable for the quality you're getting. It's the kind of place where you order a bunch of small plates, hang out, and end up having a really fun time. The vibe is lively without being too loud and the owners are super chill, which makes the whole experience feel welcoming and relaxed. It does get busy and fills up fast even on weeknights, so make a reservation if you can. Already looking forward to coming back. read more
1 month ago
I was surprised there's such a hole in the wall in Arcadia. Our friend took us here on a Saturday night. Would recommend making a reservation in advance. If not, there would be quite a wait. This restaurant is a small place but it serves authentic and high quality Japanese food. Makes me reminiscing about our times in Japan. We ordered a few dishes. I can't remember their names. There were sea bass, beef tongue, two types of sushi, fried gizzard, egg rolls, chicken karage, and etc. Everything was delicious. The highlight of the night was the grilled sea bass. It was fresh and just perfect. The dipping sauce complimented the fish as well. Atmosphere was friendly, warm, and welcoming. Overall, this was an experience. Would recommend! read more
2 months ago
2 months ago
Everything we ordered was really good, and the service was friendly. The restaurant is small but cozy, and the chef was very warm and welcoming. You do need a reservation, and they're closed on Sundays. Overall, a very nice dining experience. read more
2 months ago
For an experience that will take you back to Japan. I nominate Izakaya Tonchinkan. From the sheer size of the restaurant and limited seats, it's an emulation. Head chef Tatsu was friendly and funny, which made the food and drinks that much better. My favorite items of the night had to be the grilled chicken cartilage and stewed beef tongue. I gotta say, if it wasn't for my friends, I would've never known about these dishes here. While they do serve fresh fish, I wouldn't categorize it as a sushi spot. You can find that across the street at Kisen. Not the biggest location and shares a parking lot with other shops. Servers were so nice as well. read more
Came by for dinner the other night and it was a tasty experience. Dropped by right when they first opened and managed to get a counter seat with a full view of the kitchen. Parking is available on the street or inside the private lot. Started off with the blue fin tuna toro with green onion and it reminded me of Tokyo! I've been on the lookout for some tasty tuna toro here in the US! Unlike Korean, Chinese, or Hispanic influenced Americanized sushi rolls, these are the real deal, just like in Japan! Moved on to the corn tempura and it was also excellent! It had a side of green salt. The corn was light lightly breaded and fried. The miso soup was fragrant although a touch watery compared with the versions I've had in Japan recently. It was decent for US standards. I had an entire grilled fish for dinner and it was the weakest dish of the evening as it was over-grilled making the fish on the drier side and it was also oversalted...bummer. Finished off the meal with the green tea panna cotta which was tasty, especially with the layer of foam cream on top! Service throughout the evening was hospitable and they take credit cards. ~$80/head after tax and gratuity for dinner. read more
I've celebrated a birthday and anniversary at Tonchikan and always thought of it as a special spot. So when it was our anniversary again this year, I was given a choice of anywhere I would like to go, and I chose Tonchikan, but I have to say... I was really disappointed today. We ordered the following items: Chef's Sampler Ankimo Negitoro Oysterx 2 Beef Tongue Kanpachi-Kama Karaage Ika Geso Karaage Chicken Liver, Gizzard, and Hearts Each dish was beautifully presented. My favorite would definitely the Ankimo, oysters, and Grilled Beef Tongue. I did like the chef special sampler, but, when I asked what the items were for today, she couldn't tell me and just said some protein and a warming cold dish. So I went ahead and ordered the Kanpachi-Kama (Amberjack collar). So when the sampler came out, I noticed that it had the amberjack collar on there. If I went to their sister Restaurant Kisen, they would've told me that that's already on the sampler and and would've told me if I wanted to order something else, but they didn't. Which I was really disappointed about because I didn't even touch the collar in the picture. Their Ika Geso Karaage was slightly over fried, their Karaage was a little too salty, and the Chicken Liver, Gizzard, and Hearts Simmered W/ Sweet Soy was a little too sweet. The Negitoro Roll was good but I think I prefer them at Kisen. All in all, the food was decent, but it wasn't as good as before, and I was disappointed with a service. The fact that they didn't tell us that we had a repeat order with the collar and that they didn't acknowledge that it was our anniversary, even though I put it in our reservation, I just made my anniversary dinner experience kind of sad. read more
2 years ago
My favorite izakaya in town! Lively ambience and friendly service. Small and cozy so reservation is highly recommended. Grilled beef tongue and whole sea bass is must have. Also love their salmon & ikura donabe rice. It is supposedly for 2 to 3 people, but i think it is big enough to share with 4-5 ppl. Today i tried the house made tofu which is a cold dish. Very refreshing with soy bean aroma. The dishes are well plated and with excellent details. Never too salty. Just right. Parking is in a private lot. This restaurant is next to the ups store. May be hard to find for first timer as its sign is not in an obvious place. read more
6 months ago
This place took me back to japan for a second. Super cozy, warm, just the way the space feels... it's kind of amazing. Every dish was top-tier, simple, and done really well and the sake collection is kind of insane. I wanna go back. read more
This place is usually packed so I made a reservation for an early dinner on a Saturday evening. Upon entering, I noticed the restaurant was already pretty full. It was also pretty loud and we had to lean in to hear each other talk over the noises. Service: Our server was really patient and attentive at the start but then towards the end, we had trouble flagging her down so we asked another server to bring our check for us. Food: We ordered the following: * Negitoro bluefin toro chopped with scallion * grilled beef tongue - this was actually my favorite out of everything we ordered * grilled jidori breast cartilage * this uni and sweet shrimp dish * salmon and ikura donabe rice - this was delicious as well. The ikura added some saltiness to the rice that made it tasty. * japanese kale with fried tofu salad - a little too salty for my liking A pretty solid place that I would definitely return to again in the future! read more
2 years ago
My gf's parents came from another country to visit and I chose this place to take them to. I made a reservation beforehand since the restaurant is small. We ordered shima aji sashimi, kinmedai sashimi, teppan sausages, grilled beef tongue, fried tofu, and a chicken and burdock donabe rice. The grilled beef tongue and shima aji sashimi arrived first. I loved the thick cuts of beef tongue but a few pieces were a bit too chewy. The taste was amazing though. The shima aji tasted extremely fresh and were nice thick cuts. I usually order them as sushi but thick slabs of shima aji were just delicious. They sold out of kinmedai so I was really sad. The fried tofu and teppan sausages arrived next. I wasn't too big of a fan of the toppings on the fried tofu since there was pepper flakes. It covered most of the taste of the other toppings and the bean taste of tofu. My gf's parents also couldn't handle spicy foods so my gf and I had to finish it ourselves. The teppan sausages were super flavorful and hot. The skin was crispy and the meat was soft on the inside. They were seared very nicely without being burnt. The last to arrive was the chicken and burdock donabe rice. This was the one dish I was unsure of, but ended up being my favorite. The rice was soft and flavorful after being in the same clay pit as the chicken and burdock. The chicken was soft and moist. The burdock taste was not overbearing and gave a nice texture difference. Overall, food was delicious. I'm a regular at their other restaurants like sushi kisen and this one is just as good. I definitely recommend this spot for people who want izakaya style dishes. Service was great as we did also order some sake and the waiter took time to explain all the off menu bottles that they had available. read more
9 months ago
Another good time here. Food is good as always. Try some dishes today which are perfect for shochu. Service is attentive. Sitting at the counter drinking with friends and fellow customers is fun. read more
I LOVE THIS PLACE SO MUCH gonna call it a hole in the wall just bc i never knew about it and i've lived here my whole life LOL the food here is just amazing i can't even put it into words how much everything is a 10/10 my favorite dishes are the beef tongue, salmon rice, duck breast, and seasonal sashimi. it's all worth getting! service is 10/10 and the ambiance was 1000/10 despite being small and i do recommend making a reservation beforehand everything is comfy and clean! read more
This sign-less, unassuming place, located right next to the UPS store was such a gem to find in Arcadia. We mainly came in to try the food for dinner and not so much drink, so let me first say that we didn't have a chance to try the many selections of sake. We didn't have reservations, waited about 15-20 mins for a table, and they were able to accommodate. We ordered 4 items and a panna cotta dessert. All were very good! The sashimi was fresh, the salmon rice pot was nice and hearty. read more
Arrived in town and my son and his fiancé took us immediately to their favorite Izakaya in Japan, oops Arcadia. For real, the restaurant, atmosphere, servers, fish and grill staff, sake selection, made it feel like we were in Japan. This is as authentic of an informal Izakaya as you can get without forking out for a transpacific flight. The four of us were lucky to have a 7:30pm reservation which got us into a wooden booth. Mika was our attentive server for the night and gave us various recommendations as to fresh sashimi, grilled items, and sake. She and the rest of the server staff cleared dishes quickly as we finished item by item which were appropriately spaced out - meaning not arriving all at once. The pace was fitting for an Izakaya. We ordered so many items from sashimi recommendations of o toro and mackerel, grilled items of beef tongue, truffle oiled vegetables, dried ika (can go without the sauce), and fried items of corn and chicken Karrage. Also liked the Black Sesame ice cream. Those were the items we really liked while we had some items which were just ok - grilled duck breast, Butter soy scallops, salmon & Ikura rice - did not stand out for us. Definitely make a reservation rather than waiting in line for a table. Large free parking lot in this Arcadia strip mall. read more
Good food and cozy atmosphere. Came to celebrate a friend's birthday. She made a reservation at 5pm on a Saturday. We were seated at the bar. Our server was really attentive and patient. The food was overall good. We ordered a variety in order to try, and there were definitely some passes. We ordered: - Salmon & Ikura donabe - our server helped us choose because it was hard to decide. It was good! The ikura added a salty burst - Cold tofu - My friend said the last time they came it was sold out because it was extremely popular, but I thought it was just ok. - Smelt fish w/eggs - it was ok - Karaage - it was really good and crispy, we recommend! - Assorted sashimi chef's choice - ended up being 3 pcs (one pc for each of us) of 5 different sashimi, for around $50. It was 1. amberjack(I believe), 2. barracuda, 3. toro, 4. tuna, and 5. mackerel. They were all delicious. We liked the barracuda the best! I was a bit disappointed in the toro because my piece did have a chewiness to it - it felt like there was a chewy film dividing my piece? - green tea pannacotta - I thought this was good! not too sweet. After all the food, we struggled to split one read more
For all the Japanese restaurants in the area, Izakaya Tonchinkan stands out for the unique dishes it offers. I came here for my birthday since I had it bookmarked for a while and looked interesting, and I wanted a place that had enough options for my newly-vegetarian-again dad. The server recommended the chef's sampler and it turned out to be my favorite of everything. I would guess that they use the parts that aren't being used in other dishes and put it all in one. It is four different small dishes that vary by day. Ours included a cubed beef dish with yuzu sauce, two kinds of fish and tofu skin. All were nice and delicate, and well worth the $15 dish price (comparatively). I ordered a yellowtail with sansho peppercorn rice dish, and I think I may have been better off ordering two separate dishes instead. While the peppercorn flavor was nice, I would not order a rice dish of this size and price again. I also was expecting the fish to be raw but the texture was fine. I normally would've chosen the ikura salmon donburi but I wanted to try something different. The NY steak was good. I tend to like Japanese flavoring for steak since it is usually flavorful yet delicate. The zucchini(?) blossom dish had ham or some kind of meat it in which caught me off guard since I thought it would be vegetarian. The tofu dish was basically a mapo tofu but cold. I enjoyed it since I love mapo tofu. My dad also had the grilled veggies and a ume/mountain yam roll which was quite small but nevertheless interesting. He noted that it was cut and sized nicely. Overall it is an interesting menu to experience. I would try some of their other dishes but only for a special occasion since the price point is on the higher end. read more
2 years ago
I was on a hunt for umeshu. A google search does not bring much up, so I decided to take my chances and check out this highly rated Izakaya. Umeshu jackpot!!! I loved the green tea and ujicha umeshu options. For the table we ordered the chef choice appetizer, grilled beef tongue, and grilled sea bass. Thoroughly enjoyed everything and highly recommend the appetizer: 4 diff items of well balanced beef, steamed fish, and sushi. Service was so kind, funny, and welcoming. Open plan from kitchen to dining area, so it's easy to interact with the cooks and waiters. Loved my experience here! read more
Cute little Japanese Izakaya place we found recently. There is parking out front. The menu is pretty extensive so we got to try a variety of things. The outside doesn't have much signage to direct you so it's a little hidden at the end of the strip mall. The fish was really fresh and everything we tried was delicious. We had sweet shrimp, beef tongue, chawan mushi, and a few other items. They offer an uni tray here which we will try next visit. We sat at the bar and the food all came out pretty quickly. Hope you get to try the food here. Happy Yelping! read more
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More info about Izakaya Tonchinkan
713 W Duarte Rd
Ste H
Arcadia, CA 91007
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(626) 461-5078
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http://izakaya.la
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Ask the Community - Izakaya Tonchinkan
I see reviews recommending a reservation, but see no information about it. Do we call? How far I'm advance is recommended?
Hi! Yes. Please call them. I've made reservations 2-3 weeks in advance. If you want to come in the middle of the week or close to 5:00pm, you could probably be successful…
Do they still serve chirashi?
They stopped doing chirashi-zushi when they switched to back dinner only. I recommend going to Kisen (Same owner) across the street for chirashi-zushi. Tonchinkan is an izakaya, not a sushi-ya.
What is corkage for red or white wine?
$25 for a 750ml bottle as long as it's not on their menu. it they offer it, corkage goes to $100/bottle
Can you guys accommodate a party of 15-18 people?
The establishment is very small, and I highly recommend you contact them for a reservation with regards to such a large party. A lot of regulars each day, and they may decline your request.
Lunch & dinner menu same OR can we order from dinner menu during lunch?
There is no lunch time or lunch menu at this time. It's been dinner-only since spring of 2023.
Anyone know what the sake corkage might be?
See the answer for wine corkage, esp. as most of their drink menu is sake.
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