If you like karaage, this is THE spot. 'Nuff said. This is to fill the character limit but is uneeded. Above text is sufficient to review said restaurant. read more

I liked it. Good spot for fried chicken. Inside is simple and small. Only a few small tables for seating. Seems more popular as a to go option. The fried chicken is great. You can order by the type and piece. But they also have a bento that's good for lunch. I got the karaage and teba (wings) bento. It was good! Portion was decent. The chicken is juicy and fried perfectly. I like the lighter breading style. The spicy mayo is a must. Would definitely come back to try more. Service was great. Friendly staff. Located on the 2nd floor of the shopping center. There's a pay lot for the shopping center or there's street meters nearby. read more

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Popcorn chicken slapped, guy at the counter was very cool. 10/10 Yelp says I need to write more but I feel like this sums it up. read more

BACK AGAIN at my favorite fried chicken place! I'm happy to see that they've now got some mini combos where you can mix and match the different types of meat you can order, but I gotta say that after eating up and down their menu for the last couple of years, their OG kaarage is still the best - best for taste, juiciness, and value. :) The folks here are also always super nice - the whole place has a bit of a retro vibe to it that makes it quite fun to visit. read more

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5 piece Karaage Boneless Thigh and Crispy Popcorn Chicken to go for a fantastic meal. Two dipping sauces and I had to use all my willpower to avoid eating both boxes on my drive home (of course without the dipping sauces to be safe). I managed to make it home so I could enjoy two meals with the sweet and sour and the aioli sauces. Love the VHS showing movies and the vinyl record player playing great albums and chatting with the gracious man who mans the counter. 80 years ago this joint started making this wondrous Kaarage style chicken in Japan and it beats all fried chicken I've ever eaten, and it's Gluten Free. read more

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Tenkatori in Sawtelle is one of my and my family's favorite spots! The chicken is always delicious, tender, juicy, and incredibly flavorful. We live the sweet and sour flavor as well as the sweet and spicy. The teba is crispy and tender. Pair with some warm steamed rice and you have an amazing meal! Every visit is always consistently wonderful. What really sets this place apart, though, is the Customer Service. It feels so welcoming when the staff remembers you and treats you like an old friend or a family member. They always make us feel special and valued customers and friends. That personal touch makes the experience even more enjoyable and keeps us coming back. Great food, wonderful staff, and a warm atmosphere. Highly recommend! We love Tenkatori!!! read more

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Tenkatori is on my shortlist for the best fried chicken chain in SoCal, but the Sawtelle location particularly stands out. In fact, I think a case can be made that this location makes the best fried chicken in Socal full stop. I don't know what they're doing differently here, but the chicken always comes out juicier and less oily compared to the other spots. I've played around and ordered various things on the menu, but the boneless thighs are the one thing you shouldn't miss out on. read more

Tenkatori - Karaage Boneless Thigh - Chicken Wings Near Me - Los Angeles, California

seriously the best karaage in LA. It always come out crispy, piping hot, and of course delicious This is a Sawtelle must have! I just moved to the area and have already been back 5+ times. The prices are fair, the service is great, and the location is tucked away on the second story of the mall. It's a cute little spot with enough seating too. My boyfriend eats gluten free and this is his favorite spot. I usually order in person, but today i ordered ahead and they drew the cutest note for me. I 1000x recommend read more

Tenkatori - cute note! - Chicken Wings Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Lovely fried chicken upstairs from Daiso. Not only is it delicious and have the most friendly staff imaginable, but it's also the only and best gluten free friend chicken I know of on the west side! Killer atmosphere with records playing and vintage (80s or 90s) movies playing to keep you occupied. Could note recommended more highly. Thank you Tenkatori! read more

Tenkatori - Pulp fiction playing - Chicken Wings Near Me - Los Angeles, California

This place has been bookmarked for a while so was glad I was in the area on a random Wednesday to sample for lunch! They have all sorts of options but I went for what they're known for, the chicken thigh karaage. It does not come with any sauce, and you have a choice of four. I appreciated that they let me sample some of the sauces (since there's a cost) -- I sampled the spicy mayo and the Yuzu aioli. I ended up buying the spicy mayo, although I would recommend mixing the spicy mayo with the yuzu aioli! The yuzu one alone is a sharp acid, felt like it's perfectly complemented the creaminess of the spicy mayo and the juicy chicken karage. I ordered the 8 piece karaage. They are made to order, so prepare to wait a bit (I waited about 10min and was the only customer at that time). They smelled amazing that I couldn't help but sample them before I got back to my car. They were piping hot. This is the first time I've seen karaage shaped like a ball. I actually prefer more breading to meat ratio so didn't love how these were prepared. But the crunch and the flavor was good. There is a small fee for credit card use. Free 1hr parking in lower garage with $10 purchase ( so don't forget to grab your receipt!) read more

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We ordered the small combo with 5 middle wings, karaage, and a sauce on the side. Everything was really taste. The chicken was super tender and juicy. On its own, the flavor is a bit on the lighter side, so definitely dip it in the sauce to bring out the full flavor. The service was friendly, and the shop is quite small with limited seating, so it's more of a grab-and-go spot. read more

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not exaggerating even a bit- this is my new all-time favorite chicken place hands down. my husband and i split the 12pc karaage , which is a great size for two people. the pieces are HUGE compared to typical karaage at places i've been to, which makes the price worth it. it is insanely juicy and the housemade spicy mayo is a great pair. the service was quick and polite, with a few tables for seating inside. parking is 20mins above ground or $10 max under the structure. read more

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Try this hidden gem in West LA! The upstairs restaurant is such a wonderful find. Their chicken dishes are outstanding, and the gentleman who owns the restaurant is absolutely wonderful. You'll be amazed by how delicious the food is--and the value is even better. Definitely worth checking out! read more

What an amazing find! This was a perfect snack to share between friends (although it was only 5 pieces). The chicken was huge! You'd think it would be dry but definitely not. The chicken was juicy and flavorful. Be careful with your first bite because it does squirt out. They give you options for sauces and we opted for the yuzu aioli. Dipping the chicken into the sauce added a nice tangy-ness to the chicken. They have a few tables inside where you can sit and enjoy the fresh food! The person that took our order was very attentive and made sure that we were enjoying the food. I would come here again to try the other menu options! read more

Tenkatori - Karaage Boneless Thigh - Chicken Wings Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Sawtelle Japantown is quickly turning into one of my favorite foodie destinations. There are so many good eats in the area and I become more and more a fan each time I visit. This time it was a visit to Tenkatori that truly blew me away! Wow this spot is well deserving of their current 5 star status on Yelp. In fact, when I first saw their 5 star Yelp review status, I was intrigued and it is what initially peaked my interest to visit. I am so glad did because this is indeed a 5 star spot! I had previously visited Tenkatori at Gardena's Tokyo Central but this visit at the Sawtelle location really impressed me. I chose to get the #1 best seller, their Karaage (boneless thigh). 8 pieces is $12.00. I also chose to get a side of potato salad for $4.50. When the karaage first came out I was so surprised at how huge the karaage pieces were. When I say huge, I mean huge! The karaage came in big ball sizes. Not only were they large in size but gigantic in flavor. These chicken thighs were so juicy and crispy. They were so flavorful and fulfilling! I was full after eating two. The potato salad was also yummy but honestly I did find this side to be a bit pricey at $4.50. The potato salad service is two small scoops. Overall it paired well with the karaage but I would probably skip it next time. During future, I am looking to try their homemade torimeshi (chicken rice). Overall I really enjoyed Tenkatori Sawtelle. Though I've tried the Gardena location, I can't remember having such large, juicy pieces of Japanese chicken. This spot is a true winner and well deserving of their 5 stars on Yelp. read more

Tenkatori - Chicken Wings Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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What I appreciate most about Tenkatori is their consistency. I periodically visit when I'm near Sawtelle, and if I'm craving popcorn chicken I know that I will not be disappointed with a visit to this restaurant. They offer a variety of chicken dishes including wings, karaage, and even chicken parts such as gizzards and cartilage. You can also get combo chicken meals, bento boxes, sides such as rice and shishito peppers, and sauces to accompany your dishes. I can be a creature of habit when I find something I like, so I've only tried the popcorn chicken. The crispy texture and hint of spice is always on point, and the service is fast and personable. While I often see people ordering food to go, there are also a smattering of tables and seats if you decide to eat on site. read more

Went here for a quick snack but did not know that this was one of the best karaage places I've ever been to. This place is located on the 2nd floor of the plaza. I recommend ordering the mini combo #1 and getting the yuzu sauce. The chicken was fried to perfection and very juicy. Staff were really nice when asking for recommendations as well. Definitely coming back for more in the future. read more

Tenkatori - Chicken Wings Near Me - Los Angeles, California

we came in maybe 30 minutes before they closed and luckily they let us make our orders. the man at the counter (who i can only assume is the owner?) was so nice! i got the 5 piece karaage with spicy mayo and i was gagged at how big the chicken pieces are. definitely happy i got 5 instead of 8. each bite a was genuinely delicious. idk what they season it with but i didn't even need to dip it in the spicy mayo to get some flavor, it's so good on its own. speaking of the spicy mayo it's proper spicy lol so be aware before dunking the entire piece into it. soooo good! i really cannot sing any more praises for this place. its amazing food for a fantastic value (i think my total was like $10 and i wasn't hungry for the rest of the night) run by efficient and professional staff. stop reading this review and go try it now!!!! read more

Tenkatori - 8 karaage - Chicken Wings Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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*** Additional fees using credit cards *** Tenkatori is a Japanese fried chicken chain that specializes in karaage (Japanese fried chicken) using recipe that has been preserved since 1955 & daily oil change. They currently have 4 locations - Sawtelle, Costa Mesa, Gardena, and Miramar (San Diego). Apparently this location received "Top Place to Eat - LA County" in January 2024 ( https://www.instagram.com/p/C2Drmzfv8L1/ ). I actually tried Tenkatori once at the the Belly Laughs Festival in July 2025 and decided to stop by this shop when I visited Sawtelle. [Parking]: Parking rates for the designated parking garage = 1-hour free parking with $10 purchase, $2 for each half hour and maximum $10, and $6 flat rate after 6 PM. I took a chance and parked on Sawtelle Blvd (right in front of Volcano Tea House) at 6:45 PM and ... I got a $92 parking ticket because no street parking on Sawtelle Blvd from 4 PM to 7 PM on weekdays. [Atmosphere & amenities]: The shop is located on the 2nd floor. There's one unisex restroom, but customers need to ask for a key at the cashier counter. The shop has 5-6 indoor bar tables. I waited about 15 minutes before receiving my order. [Menu]: Karaage (boneless thigh) is the most popular option and customers can order 5 pieces, 8 pieces, 12 pieces, 1 kg, or 2 kg. Second popular option is popcorn chicken (chicken breast). Homemade dipping sauce is not free ($1.25 for sweet & spicy OR spicy mayo OR sweet & sour / $1.50 for yuzu aioli sauce). They also offer two bento options. *** Karaage (boneless thigh 5 pieces - $7.80): These chicken pieces were lightly fried - personally they were some the healthiest karaage I have ever had. Huge round pieces, but unfortunately they were not as juicy as I thought. *** High quality Japanese fried chicken, but they lacked the extra wow factor. A solid 4.5-star on karaage, but bump down on an extra cost on dipping sauce and $10 minimum purchase for 1-hour free parking. read more

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Affordable, flavorful, and generous fast casual spot tucked on the 2nd floor of a plaza above Daiso and Nijiya. Seated is really limited: 6 people (for this location/haven't been to others) so def take your order to go and eat it soon after to retain fried chicken crispness. The focus is on chicken (and its various parts like gizzards) which is masterfully cooked, and offered as bentos, bowls, a La carte. 4 pieces of karaage alone would be a great protein forward snack, rice completes the meal. I would come back to try their spicy version of the karaage bowl. Parking will be tough because it's a busy street so good luck with finding parking read more

Tenkatori - KARAAGE BOWL Sept 2025 - Chicken Wings Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Got the chicken karaage: Crispy crunchy outside tender juicy flavorful inside. Service: Friendly and efficient. read more

Tenkatori - Chicken karaage - Chicken Wings Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Best karaage in Los Angeles. So flavorful. Amazing recipe. Didn't feel too greasy. Cool vibe. Friendly service. Can't wait to go back read more

Tenkatori - Chicken Wings Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Tenkatori sugoi! Such a great spot for fresh fried chicken, AKA Karaage. I saw they were doing a Yelp event but decided to come on my own to give it a try. Love the juiciness and crispiness of the karaage. It's perfect to pair it with some rice and their yuzu aioli sauce. This sauce is out of this world and gives a nice tang to your karaage. I also tried their Tori Meshi Fried Rice which was pretty good, not a ton of flavor. Only downside on their karaage is that some of their chicken pieces are super fatty and chewy being thigh meat. Inside they have limited seating, I would recommend taking it to go if you are in a large group. Parking here is pretty tough but they have paid parking below and across the street. Definitely coming back! read more

Tenkatori - Chicken Wings Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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This is a must try fried chicken on Sawtelle in LA. Their chicken is fried to perfection. Meat is tender and juicy with right amount of seasoning. Outside has thin crust that is crunchy when you bite into it with juicy meat inside. Fried chicken is not greasy or oily. It is perfectly cooked with flavors from ginger and garlic. Service was good and fast. It is a small shop located on the second floor of the plaza. You have to pay for parking in that compound lot. Parking is not easy in that area. But it is a must try place if you are ever in that area of Sawtelle neighborhood for fried chicken. read more

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Fantastic chicken! I love coming here for their karrage alone! The chicken is crispy but super juicy on the inside. They're pretty quick on turnaround time and they also offer catering which I'll definitely take advantage of for events. It's a little small inside but it's not usually crowded so it's easy to get a seat. read more

Oh man do I absolutely love Tenkatori!! I *think* I heard the owner or main cashier say his name was Katsu? Either way, he was super friendly, attentive, and informative when explaining the different dishes, sauces, and history of Tenkatori saying they import the sauce directly from Japan! I ordered the combo bento adding wings to the plate, along with a side of the sweet and sour sauce, which totaled about $14-15. He said it would take about 15 minutes but my food was ready in less than 10. It's a good size bento and very reminiscent of what you'll find in Japan - balanced and not too big, not too small, with still plenty of flavors. The potato salad is simple, creamy, and tasty. The noodles are an interesting twist and slightly sweet. The pickles are crunchy and fresh. The rice is simple. The chicken is outstanding. The chicken thighs are so juicy and crunchy with delicious umami flavors. The wings are crispy, meaty, and share the same flavor profile. A sauce isn't needed but the sweet and sour is amazing - rich, gooey, slightly sweet and with a kick. read more

Tenkatori - TEBANAKA (Wingettes/Flats) - Chicken Wings Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Pretty decent gluten free karaage bento on the second floor of a strip mall on Sawtelle. Service was nice. Kind of a hole in the wall type of place, but food was decent but not mind blowing. read more

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Summary: Massive portions, juicy chicken, sauces are alright but each one is like $1-2. The staff was friendly and helpful. The store itself is pretty small, looks like around 10 people max seating. Pretty cozy store all around, neat stuff to look at behind the counter too. Food: Massive pieces of chicken! Got the 1kg of karage with sweet sour and also sweet snd spicy sides, came up to $36.78. Super juicy chicken but the breading is a little lacking for karage for me, it's almost a chicken ball. Portion size and the juiciness of the chicken really carry the rating, if the breading was a bit crispier I would rate it higher (personal liking). Ended up finishing 2 between my friend and I (decent appetite) and finished half then finished the other half another day. 8.25/10 Sauces: Sweet & Sour is my personal favorite, its very light but it's kind of standard sauce. 6/10 Sweet & Spicy is alright, you have a small kick of spice, but in my opinion it's very weak for a spicy sauce, tastes kinda like the sweet & sour with a tiny kick of spice at the beginning. It is to the point I would personally just rather not have the spice to begin with. 4/10 read more

Tenkatori - Karage - Chicken Wings Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Delicious, juicy, and flavorful chicken karaage and wings. The portions are also generous and sauces go well with the chicken esp the yuzu and mentaiko mayo. I loved the potato salad just wish it there were more of it haha. read more

Tenkatori - Karaage Boneless Thigh, Chicken Rice Torimeshi, and Potato Salad (Potesara) - Chicken Wings Near Me - Los Angeles, California

The Baseline: For Karaage chicken that must be crispy, meaty, and flavorful. Food: The base bowl of ramen is very tasty and the noodles have good pull. The Karaage chicken is really delicious with a crispy breading and thick pieces of chicken. The chicken had a nice spicy kick to it. I also tried the shishito peppers than were also very good. Service: The service was excellent and I picked up my Karaage chicken and peppers. The staff provided great service. Atmosphere: The seats are comfortable and the tables are well situated in a corridor fashion. Not made for a long time to sit in the restaurant but enough for a quick bite. read more

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Food: 5/5 Service: 4/5 Ambiance: 4/5 This place has the best chicken karaage in town. I always come here whenever I'm craving Japanese-style fried chicken. Highly recommended. Order ahead and pick up would be better to avoid parking fee or looking for street parking. read more

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First time here after years of going to the Gardena food court Tenkatori location. It's a full service restaurant with many items not available at the fast-casual food court location. Best of all, you can see the making of their legendary karaage via a glass opening in the kitchen wall. . Suffice it to say, after discovering Tenkatori, I no longer ordered karaage at other restaurants; none has the same crunch or taste as Tenkatori. Your food may take longer to come out because they only make the karaage to order. A good thing is worth waiting for. read more

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For the LIFE of me I cannot understand these ratings. I'm gluten free and we saw their sign when we were in the strip mall. I was super excited. We ordered their #1 favorite chicken thighs and the popcorn chicken. HORRIBLE. The popcorn chicken was rubbery, had almost no flavor and the inside of each nugget had a greyish hue on the edges. It felt as if it had been frozen for 15 years, breaded in something barely noticeable and then fried. Seriously so awful. The thighs were bigger but I didn't have any so I have nothing to say about them. If you want to kick up the flavor, you have to pay $1.30 for each dipping sauce. They are totally mid. This place is supposed to be an homage to the 80s with the TV/VCR on the front counter playing 80s movies but the decor was super tired, stained and scratched up walls and very uncomfortable seating. The whole dining room is smaller than my closet. Finding gluten free chicken can be difficult and I'm thrilled that they offer it. But when your food can't even hold a candle to frozen gluten free chicken nuggets from Trader Joe's, you have a problem. I won't be returning. read more

I got the karaage bento box for lunch. It came with rice, four pieces of fairly large karaage, a small portion of what seemed to be Japanese spaghetti, and a small salad. Dipping sauce is extra, and I got the sweet and spicy. The kaarage was juicy, crispy, and delicious. What I didn't like about this spot is that they don't even offer water, and you can only buy bottled beverages. The iceberg lettuce salad was also already browning, and I don't think it should have been served. read more

Excellent food & kid approvedjust above Daiso on the upper level. We ordered the mini combo 2 with 5 chicken wings and 5 karaage, tastes so yummy read more

Tenkatori - Outside - Chicken Wings Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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They really have the best karaage in town!! Chicken pieces are huge, juicy, and crunchy. Made to order. Sauces are extra, but definitely get at least one. I tried all of them and my favorite is the yuzu aioli (which is also the most popular sauce). My husband likes the spicy mayo. This is a small restaurant in the 2nd floor above Daiso. There are a few tables for dine-in, but takeout is more popular. Plus it gives the karaage time to cool off if you take it to-go. If you're eating in, be warned - the chicken is super hot, straight from the fryer, so let it cool for a few minutes before you start munching. read more

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Service and vibes were amazing. Casual place with Japanese city pop playing on a vinyl record curated live by the cashier. He was very enthusiastic and everyone there was passionate about their job. The chicken was soooo juicy and tender! I don't know how they did it! The bento box was a perfect amount. Tega (chicken leg wing) was so tender and not tough at all! Converted to tega person after this. The chicken cartilage had a bit of red spicy powder on it tasted like popcorn chicken. The karaage was a huge ball and super juicy. I would get the tega next time and maybe the normal chicken wings! Service can be slow 10-15 mins since the kitchen is small. Not for large parties. Good for two person date or takeout. Not much seating either. They will validate parking read more

Tenkatori - COMBINATION BENTO B - Chicken Wings Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Big portions/pieces of chicken that's super crispy on the outside and really juicy in the inside. They're pretty quick on turnaround time as well. Bonus points for super friendly staff. The store itself is small so dining in might be difficult. read more

So glad I discovered this fried chicken gem! Omg I'm salivating writing this review but just finished a 20 piece karaage. The owner is very nice and it's all made fresh. Looooooove. read more

Tenkatori - KARAAGE (Boneless Chicken Thigh) - Chicken Wings Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Finally got a chance to try this spot. The restaurant itself is quite small, but super cool. There's an old CRT TV playing vintage classic japanese VHS movies at the entrance and jazz music playing on a real vintage vinyl record player in back! The two Japanese guys who worked there were friendly and helpful. Ordered an 8 piece karaage and a small nankotsu chicken cartilage plus the yuzu aioli dipping sauce. Everything was made to order and the portions were very good sized and reasonably priced. The chicken was crispy on the outside and juicy in the middle, and the cartilage was cooked perfectly too! The dipping sauce was bright and fresh tasting. Will definitely come again to try more options. read more