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

i've really only had the karaage here but its absolutely the best karaage in socal. i've probably had it 10-15x. Sometimes I get curry down the street and buy the karaage and take it all home, thats my goto take out when i go to sawtelle read more

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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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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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 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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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

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

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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I injured my back and I need some culinary spiritual relief so I headed over to Tenkatori on Sawtelle, the west side little Tokyo. Where upstairs in a three story mall with underground parking, this heaven of a fried chicken place makes all other chicken pale in comparison. I practiced my four-year-old Japanese and ordered a five piece Kaarage and a five piece of the whole wings with sweet and sour sauce and aïoli sauce. Both of these are gluten-free as is the sauces. Not only is it the BFC (best fried chicken- keeping it clean), but they have a turntable playing vinyl with JBL speakers if you want to sit in the one row of high top tables along the wall facing where you order and enjoy the tunes. I got mine to go, and I could barely contain myself from eating one or both of my orders prior to getting home. This BFC will forever make you never go to KFC. Well played Tenkatori. Mata ato de! read more

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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

*** 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

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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Very good karage and food and service. Would highly recommend to anyone who Looking for good Japanese authentic food 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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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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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

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

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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Best karaage, juicy and so flavorful! The popcorn chicken and wings are also so delicious! Must try sweet and spicy sauce!

This place is awesome. Parking can be a little awkward, but the food is always fantastic. And the service and courtesy they offer always excels. And honestly.. some of the best dang gizzards... Cooked perfect every time. read more

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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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

This hands down has to be the best Japanese fried chicken, "Karaage" I've ever had. I've been there so many times recently and have to try more items than just the dark meat Karaage. I must try the wings, sweet and sour, also they have what looks like really amazing curry as well. This restaurant is a neighborhood treasure and a gift to all of us who are lucky enough to get food from here. It's just plain delicious and I can't get enough. The sauces are pretty amazing too. I like the spicy mayonnaise one and of course teriyaki. I must try the chicken gizzards as well and there are so many other items I haven't had yet that look as amazing as what I have had to eat here. It must be obvious now, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS PLACE COMPLETELY!!! Also, you can tell a lot about a restaurant by the people that work there and that is what's also amazing here. Huku, who I believe is the owner as well greets you with an inviting welcome and is a world class guy. They have great assortment of drinks as well and, Huku is a jazz enthusiast who plays the most wonderful selections from his vinyl collection that is at this location as well. Great Food, Great Owner, Wonderful Music, who could ask for anything more? If you have never been here, Go!!!!! You will not be disappointed at all and will probably become a huge fan like I am. Well Done Huku!! See you soon. Can't wait to come back. Eating there and/or getting your food to go is a world class experience and first rate. Thank you for being there. Craig read more

The Karaage is fantastic here, highly recommend. Generous portions for the money. Friendly staff.

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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I ordered quite a bit. The gizzards were tasty, but they are one of my favorite things fried or not. I reheated to be more crispy. There is nothing special about the chicken, its lack luster and runs from flavor or seasoning. I'll be making the trip to k-town for flavorful KFC in future. Sauce is ok, aioli is tangy. Service is average not bright if that's your jam. Glad I tried, but it won't be a staple or a second try. read more

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

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

A local fried chicken spot with good vibes. If you need a local gluten free fried chicken spot this is the place for you. They use only gluten free breading and most of the sauces are gluten free to. A great spot for a casual date or hang out with friends. The staff is also pretty friendly. read more

Tenkatori - Popcorn chicken and nankotsu (cartilage fried) - Chicken Wings Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Wow... just wow. I feel like this place doesn't even need another 5 star review telling them how amazing their product is but I'm gonna do it anyways. Hidden in a bustling shopping center on the second floor is Tenkatori. Quite possibly the best fried chicken I've ever experienced and one I hope to visit many more times in the future. This place is practically giving away this high quality stuff in their bentos and I'm excited to report it's worth every penny (should be more expensive if you ask me). Light and crunchy fried chicken cooked to order and served promptly. I could eat here more if I lived closer but I guess that's good for my health. Service was great and helpful with all our questions too. Can't wait to come back. read more

Tenkatori - More of this please - Chicken Wings Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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You can tell the food is truly fresh! Staff is so kind and amazing and honestly dare I say this was my favorite food place in Sawtelle! Although the place is a bit on the small side, you just want to keep coming back! read more

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

Perfectly cooked chicken hot as soon as you bite into it very chill guys in the back they are very kind. . 70 year old recipe that is great. Very laid back location for a small lunch or dinner. Take it with you or to go. They will take care of you. read more

Tenkatori - Classical Japanese films on vhs !!! - Chicken Wings Near Me - Los Angeles, California

I order every week from this amazing place, its gluten free!!!!!!!! and its delicious!!!!! it's a small place with a couple of tables that u can eat inside. I have order online and i have been there, service is good, nice people. coming back absolutely!!!! read more

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Great friendly service and delicious wings! Went for lunch here today and ordered tebanaka, sunagimo, potato salad with yuzu aioli and sweet and spicy sauce. read more

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

What a crunch!!! I was craving some juicy and crispy fried chicken and had bookmarked Tenkatori for some time so finally I had a chance to check it out. It's a bit hard to figure out where it is. I've been here dozen of times when I frequent Nijiya Market at the street level but I had no idea that it was actually in the same Sawtelle Place mini. It's on the second floor, right above Daiso. It's more of a takeout place than a sit down, although they have about 5 barstools available for dine in. Note: All chicken is GLUTEN FREE as they use potato starch. It also helps make the chicken extra crunchy! I came around 4pm on a weekday so it was pretty quiet. Fuku, the owner and Tatsu greeted me and Tatsu took my order. He helped me decide what to order as there are so many choices. I picked the Karaage Bento Box with popcorn chicken and a 4 piece Butsu Giri. Tatsu told me that Tenkatori first opened in Oita, Japan by a man who opened Japan's first Karaage takeout restaurant after he had perfected his recipe over 70 years ago. Warning that the Karaage, which comes in two big portions in the bento box is their #1 seller and quite hot so take your time eating it so you don't burn your tongue! It was very tender and tasty! Way better than the ones you get at other restaurants. There was a lot of chicken in the 4 piece Butsu Giri which was delicious and juicy! Definitely try their different sauces. The Spicy Mayo is extremely spicy for me so I preferred the Yuzu Aioli which is the only gluten-free sauce, and the Sweet-and-Sour sauce. Tenkatori really know how to perfect their fried chicken and my craving for it was fully satisfied! read more

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You can't go wrong with some good crispy on the outside, moist on the inside karaage! What makes Tenkatori unique is that they make karaage out of many different parts of the chicken. Unique for sure! They're located in this extremely busy shopping plaza with multiple businesses and eateries, but we got street parking within walking distance, so we were good. Service is very welcoming and polite, making sure to answer all of our questions and getting us all of our utensils and sauces. Apparently, they have been using the same sauce recipe for the same 70 years and their oil is changed daily. Makes sense since everything that we ordered was nicely juicy without being too heavy and oily and crispy as well. The meat inside was moist and cooked nicely as well. We got the Karaage Boneless Thigh, Sunagimo Gizzard, and the Nankotus Chicken Gizzard. Obviously, the latter two were more chewier, tougher bits of chicken, but something nominal to try since it's not something I generally see fried in karaage form. Of course, we also had to get the classical boneless karaage which went great with their Yuzu Aioli Sauce which had a nice citrus taste that was also creamy too. I wouldn't mind trying their other locations for some more finger lickin' fried chicken Good stuff and the little chicks they have in samurai gear for a mascot, fingers crossed they have stickers or merch for them one day! read more

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