I had probably the best restaurant experience I've ever had this past Monday evening at Tokyo Soul, and it wasn't just cuz of the delicious fare, but also because of [& overwhelmingly so] the abundant hospitality that was shown to me and my friend. (: How it started: I showed up a couple min prior to their 5:30pm opening time and got welcomed in. Before I even sat down, a stranger at the corner table asked if I liked beer, to which I said yes, so he recommended the Suntory premium malt draft beer. I decided to go ahead & order it and liked it quite a bit & let the table of friends know. Before I knew it, I'd be introduced to Stan, one of the sunniest people you'll ever meet. He & his friends pretty much make the big decisions for the mall and are somewhat more involved w/ a handful of places like Tokyo Soul. It was such a privilege to be on the receiving end of their warmth, generosity, and openness. My friend & I ended up getting to try some of the items they're planning to introduce the following week (which I won't post pics of, just to keep it a surprise :P) as we continued getting to learn s'more about our new friends, interspersed by the continuation of my & my friend's own convos. We felt lucky that we got to be served by Edward too (a mentee of Stan's), who usually doesn't work that shift, but his friendliness was definitely one of the first things I noted as I got seated. The hospitality that night outshined the food only because it was like nothing I've experienced in LA. However, the food can hold its own, and though my conversations w/ my friend + Stan & co. meant I was eating my pork katsu curry rice way past its prime state, the dish was still so flavorful that it was a delight to eat even cold. What a Monday night to remember. Thank you Stan & co. for taking care of us so well! read more

Tokyo Soul - Pork Katsu Curry Rice - started eating my salad before taking the pic, thus the strewn leaf bits - Japanese Curry Near Me - Arcadia, California

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We were specifically wanting katsu curry at the mall, so it was the right joint to hit up! We never tried this place before, but it used to be where Monkey bar was at (iykyk). Located at the promenade and can be easy to miss since they don't have a huge sign or anything. Right across from Wing Hop Fung. We were seated immediately since it wasn't too busy. We got two katsu curries and 1 hamburg curry. The hamburg curry does take a little longer to prepare. Trying out the katsu curry, it was pretty salty overall. Mild spicy, but not spicy at all. The katsu is also pretty tough to eat at certain parts (usually the edge), and doesn't slice that cleanly when cutting it into smaller pieces. The miso soup was also a bit salty, but the salad was pretty nice and refreshing! We also got to try a bit of the hamburg curry and that one actually tasted better than the classic katsu curry... disappointing that even the signature misses the mark. Overall, it just tastes like how it's advertised, "Tokyo-style inspired". Employees were nice and attentive for checking in on us! read more

Tokyo Soul - Katsu Curry - Japanese Curry Near Me - Arcadia, California

I always pass by the spot but with a toddler, the hours of operation never really worked for us where I can sit down to eat a meal inside or it's closed when we are here in the mall. Only option was finally to get takeout today. A little pricey for what it is. Not much rice or curry. Didn't really fill me up after paying almost $50 for sharing beef curry rice medium spice and hayashi rice. It came with miso soup on the side and bc of the cyclospora outbreak, they weren't serving salad so refunded me $4. The beef in the curry rice was too beefy and chewy. The medium spice didn't really have a kick to it. The meat in the hayashi rice tastes like hot pot meats and the flavoring in that didn't have enough OOOMPHH if you know what I mean. Since it's located in the mall, there's plenty of parking available. This restaurant is on the 2nd floor right next to Nordstrom. read more

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After walking around the mall, we had just stopped by here about 45 minutes to closing, and we were pleasantly surprised. We had the pork katsu curry and the beef curry, and it came with a combo of salad and miso soup, and the size of the curry dish was pretty big too. The curry itself was very flavorful, and both cuts of meat were tender and goes very well with the curry sauce. Service was good and friendly, I know it's not easy in the last hour prior to closing so I appreciate the staff taking care of us that night. read more

Tokyo Soul - Beef Curry - Japanese Curry Near Me - Arcadia, California

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This place hit me by surprise. I didn't know i loved this type of food. Came with friends and everyone liked the food. read more

Tokyo Soul - Japanese Curry Near Me - Arcadia, California

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There's mall parking to get here. This is located outside by the Nordstrom on the second floor. It's chill and casual inside. The staff are friendly. I tried the chicken curry with rice. It was okay. I got the mild curry but curious on the higher spice level. It wasn't quite favorful. The miso soup and side salad were decent though. I liked the dressing they used. The portions were good and should fill you up. read more

Tokyo Soul - Chicken curry - Japanese Curry Near Me - Arcadia, California

I got seated right away at the bar section during lunch time and the waitress was so nice and attentive. The curry was so good too. I've had katsu curry at a lot of different place and honestly think the curry here is the best I've had so far. I got the medium spicy katsu curry and it was so moist and crispy. This place also had great luck vicariously I opened a blind box while waiting and got the one I wanted read more

Tokyo Soul - Japanese Curry Near Me - Arcadia, California

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Tokyo Soul specializes in rice dishes and curry. I will say that their extra spicy curry was excellent. Yes, spicy but in a good way where the flavor wasn't killed. We ordered a lot of food and I forgot to take a picture of the karaage. The service was excellent and taken care of by two servers. They were so friendly and on top of everything. Ambiance 9/10 Service 10/0 Cleanliness 10/10 Bathrooms N/A Food 10/10 Value 9/10 Will I Return? Yes! read more

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Great staff! The restaurant is well decorated but a bit small. The chicken karrage was not crispy but it was tender and flavorful. The gyudon beef was not really good. However the pork katsu curry was not bad. read more

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Found the cute small restaurant outside the mall and the decorations on the inside were pretty. When my friend and I went for dinner there was no line. The service was pretty good and the food came out pretty fast. I got the Katsu curry regular and the portion was bigger than I expected. However, the curry and miso soup were salty, the salad was too sour, but the katsu was perfectly crispy and the meat wasn't dry on the inside. read more

Tokyo Soul - Katsu Curry regular - Japanese Curry Near Me - Arcadia, California

Small little japanese restaurant in the outdoor section of the mall. Staff was super friendly, and recommended the pork belly katsu. You can adjust the spicy levels and while I chose the spicier option, it was still manageable for my taste buds and I could still taste the flavors! Comes with a side salad and miso soup which is always appreciated! read more

Tokyo Soul - Pork Katsu Curry - Japanese Curry Near Me - Arcadia, California

Great option for savory Japanese food in Santa Anita Mall Service was quick and friendly. They even had kids cups and high chairs which made it easier. Their Pork Katsu Curry was great. Thick cut, flavorful pork was the standout with a light crispy katsu crust. The curry was nice but not as special, but overall the meat was the star. Hayashi Rice was solid as well. Savory beef/onion stew that reminded me of an elevated hamburger stew. Will be back. Prices also pretty good for quality and location, and being a complete meal (miso soup and salad included) read more

Tokyo Soul - Hayashi Rice - Japanese Curry Near Me - Arcadia, California

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A real hidden gem in the Santa Anita mall that's absolutely worth your time and money. Mostly comparable to reasonable prices compared to the other offerings here, and it's all really hearty and satisfying. I had the chicken curry on my first visit and the hayashi rice on my second, and both were really great. read more

Tokyo Soul - Hayashi Rice - Japanese Curry Near Me - Arcadia, California

This is a newer restaurant located on the upper level of the Santa Anita Mall. There is plenty of parking. It is a interesting space, and It doesn't really feel like you're at the mall while you're inside. the wall mural is also fun to look at, a sort of Where's Waldo of LA landmarks. Unfortunately, the food was just okay. I also found it a little expensive. I would have preferred to be charged a few dollars less and not receive the miso or salad. It didn't really add anything to the mall. I got a beef stew/bowl, and I found the beef a bit chewy and there were too many onions. Overall, I do think this is a better option than many of the stalls in the food court, but I do not think I will be back. read more

Passable Japanese Curry spot in the mall if you have to have curry on your shopping spree. The curry is a bit pricey for the portions but a major miss is that the meal especially the curry needs to be hot and not lukewarm. The Chicken Kaarage appetizer was very good and came out hot. If you need a quick bite just get the Chicken Kaarage appetizer. Service is good and attentive. read more

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We tried the pork katsu curry and beef curry, and both were quite delicious. I enjoyed the salad that came with the meal set -- the yuzu dressing was very bright and refreshing. We visited on a Friday night around 6pm and there was no wait. Service was fast and attentive! It's located on the second floor of the mall, close to the outdoor area. read more

The wife and I wanted some comfort food that's not Chinese in the Santa Anita mall, so we decided on Japanese, which brought us here to Tokyo Soul. Chicken Karaage - 2 stars** The chicken was juicy and the batter was lightly crispy. However, my main gripe was that it was way too salty. All the other people who ordered it seemed to have enjoyed it so maybe we got unlucky. Hayashi Bowl - 4 stars**** This is my first time trying a hayashi bowl, so I don't have anything to compare to but I have to say that this was pretty dang delicious. Beef was soft and the sauce was packed with savory flavor. Katsu - 2 stars** not the best japanese katsu that we've tried. The wife was pretty disappointed. The katsu was lightly crispy but was a little thicker and tougher than she wanted. read more

Tokyo Soul - Karaage - Japanese Curry Near Me - Arcadia, California

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We've actually walked by a few times while at the Santa Anita mall but timing never worked out as they were closed in between lunch and dinner. Decided to dine here for lunch on a Sunday. Started off with a 5 piece karaage and was amazed by the size of each piece of chicken. Each piece was perfectly fried to a golden brown and was well seasoned and juicy. The dipping sauce has a nice little kick and for those wanting more spice, just add more chili powder which is on each table. We ended up ordering the katsu curry which once again was fried to a perfect golden brown and cooked perfectly. The curry had a nice little kick (ordered the mild) and paired perfectly with the katsu. I thought the portion was quite generous and had enough food leftover for lunch the next day. Wifey ended up ordering the soboro don which she quite enjoyed. The only thing I didn't quite like was the salad dressing thy provided with the side salad. Service was attentive and will definitely be back as our last meal at Kagura in MP was quite disappointing as the katsu was soggy. read more

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A pretty delicious spot in the Santa Anita Mall. It's located all the way past Din Tai Fung near the promenade. We came on a Friday and it wasn't too crowded, which was nice. The restaurant itself is cozy. I really liked the decorations, and it felt like one of those small restaurants you'd find in Japan. As for the food, everything was good. I tried: Karaage - Crispy, well-seasoned, and the sauce was both spicy and savory. A must-try. (4.5/5) Pork Katsu Curry Rice - The curry was simple, but the pork katsu was perfectly cooked and super crispy. Great flavors, and I liked that it came as a set with soup and salad. (4.5/5) Hayashi Rice - My personal favorite. It's like a beef stew with thinly sliced beef and rice. Very flavorful and comforting. I'd definitely get this again. (5/5) Overall, I'd definitely come back. The food was good, the portions were sizable, and the prices were reasonable for Arcadia. Service was fast and friendly too. read more

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Nothing special but very good. Average wait time. Service is 10/10 for sure they're so so kind. Not too busy and smaller menu. Chicken was very moist and crispy !! read more

Tokyo Soul - Chicken - Japanese Curry Near Me - Arcadia, California

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Tried Tokyo Soul in Arcadia and was pleasantly surprised by how comforting and flavorful everything was. I ordered the Hayashi bowl and chicken karaage, and both dishes hit the spot. The Hayashi bowl tasted like a delicious hybrid between a Japanese curry and a gyu-don -- rich, savory, and full of depth. The pickles on the side gave it a nice pop of brightness, and the portion was generous. The miso soup that came with it was bold and full-bodied, not the watered-down version you get at some places. The karaage was another win: crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, and I loved that it was boneless. Super easy to eat and great for sharing. Overall, a cozy spot with satisfying flavors. I'd definitely come back to try more of their menu. read more

Tokyo Soul - Hayashi bowl - Japanese Curry Near Me - Arcadia, California

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4.5 stars since it is a little pricey! Tokyo Soul is located in the outdoor space right by Nordstroms. This specific location has gone through multiple changes so we wanted to check it out. They specialize in Japanese curries but have other dishes as well. We got seated right away and there were plenty of counter seats available the entire time I was here. The servers were attentive and the menu is pretty simple which made choosing easy. The portions were decent but it always seems like curry dishes shouldnt be super expensive since its made in bulk. Overall the food was good. The miso soup came out pretty hot which is always a good sign. The salad was also good with a light citrusy dressing. read more

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Showed up on a Friday at noon and we were the first two guests seated. Restaurant was clean and well maintained as well as our waiter being very courteous. We ordered the 5 piece boneless karage to share and both of us got our own order of pork katsu curry. Boneless Chicken Karage: Delicious! Would definitely order this again. Came out hot with a slice of lemon and what I believe was a spicy kewpie mayo mixture dipping sauce. Each piece was essentially a whole thigh, well worth it. Pork Katsu Curry: Also delicious! Came with a side salad and a miso soup which I didn't realize. Curry was my type where it's a bit more on the thicker and richer side. The pork was well fried as it was still juicy inside as well as crispy on the outside. Bit more on the pricier side but would definitely come back. read more

Tokyo Soul - Pork Katsu Curry and Boneless Chicken Karage - Japanese Curry Near Me - Arcadia, California

I haven't been back yet but I had to get this off my chest and this might apply to you dear reader, when in search of good food on Yelp: DONT TRUST REVIEWERS WHO COMPARE CULINARY DISHES TO THEIR COUNTRY OF ORIGIN. It's COMPLETELY IDIOTIC to compare the quality of ingredients, the availability of the ingredients and even the portions. Oh, you've been to Japan and had food there? Nice flex, bro. But we're here, in California- where we don't have the same sea and land that grows the same crops and raise the same animals. Use your mouth and not your memories when tasting this food. Ok? Don't let bougie people dictate what is good cause sometimes they got no sense. And being mad at the servers? Maybe that one reviewer was hangry, the store probably barely opened and the server was probably just starting their first job. If a server was outright ignoring you I would understand, but some of these reviewers are being mean for the fun of it I swear. The menu isn't gigantic because they are making their dishes right, it's all about quality, not quantity. This ain't Cheesecake Factory. This ain't a Las Vegas buffet. Lastly, come with an open heart and mind- you'll feel better. That's all, I will die on this hill. read more

Tokyo Soul - Soboro don. Every bite had FLAVOR. - Japanese Curry Near Me - Arcadia, California

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We stopped by Tokyo Soul for dinner on a Saturday, and while impressed by the portions, the adorable interior and pleasant staff, I can't say the food was particularly standout. I really appreciate that the chicken karaage was gluten-free, and it was good. But I did notice that chicken fat wasn't trimmed well, so there was a pretty big chunk in my piece of chicken. The soboro-don was huge...and I actually was able to take home the majority of it. I just felt that the fragrance of mirin was a bit too strong (and never faded). The salad that came with the don was tart and fresh, but the dressing to salad proportion was a bit too much. Twice the amount of salad to that dressing would have been a better fit. I can say I'll be back with so many other options to try in the Santa Anita Mall. read more

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Delicious curry in a little restaurant that recently opened. We wanted to sit outside so ordered our food to go. Sadly, there was no tap water provided, so we just got boba from 3CAT. It took at least 20 minutes before our food was ready. Not sure why the wait was so long since they weren't busy, but the food was worth it. Child had no complaints about the kara-age, and my pork belly curry was delicious and tender. Went with a medium spice level and that turned out to be perfect - it had a kick to it without being painful. I didn't try the broth or salad that came with it, though the leaves looked a little wilty. Would be willing to eat here again read more

Tokyo Soul - Pork belly curry - delicious! Would get it again - Japanese Curry Near Me - Arcadia, California

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I saw this new restaurant open up while looking up new restaurants on Yelp. Tokyo Soul is a small restaurant located close to Din Tai Fung in The Shops at Santa Anita. Matcha Ren conveniently opened at around the same time. So I visited the mall to try both Matcha Ren and Tokyo Soul. Unsurprisingly, as this was a new restaurant, and I went on a Friday evening, there was about a half hour wait. The restaurant is quite small but the staff are nice despite the restaurant being quite busy. Eventually, my wife and I were seated. I was not super hungry, so I got 3 pieces of karaage and a side of rice. My wife got the vegan tofu curry, extra spicy. The food took about 15 minutes. The vegan curry was too spicy for me, but it was pretty good. Similar quality to Coco Ichibanya. The karaage was juicy. The chicken meat was juicy and the skin was crispy. It went with spicy mayo, which I loved. It's a solid restaurant, though just slightly pricey. read more

Tokyo Soul - Vegan tofu curry - Japanese Curry Near Me - Arcadia, California

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This new restaurant is a mixed bag. It is located in the Shops at Santa Anita Mall near Nordstrom. So there is a large shared lot that still gets full during peak hours on weekends, holidays, and after work. The main server is a lady who is polite and efficient. The restaurant is somewhat like a traditional Japanese noodle or sushi bar with a bar that has limited seating and limited table seating around it. The noise level was average to noisy with noise from the outside part of the mall coming in and the people in the restaurant talking. We got there relatively soon after the lunch opening at 11:30 and there were already full except for bar seating. We got the chicken curry and pork katsu curry. The chicken was relatively tender and the pork was way too fatty with little meat. One piece of pork was so fatty it was inedible. The curry comes in mild moderate and hot. We got mild and it still had a little kick, but was good quality. The curry on the pork was ok, but the chicken curry was cold and really needed to be heated up. The pork pieces were very large, but fatty. As opposed to chicken curry we have had in Tokyo, Hokkaido, and various places in the States, their chicken was in big chunks (3 medium pieces) and so were the limited vegetables (4 pieces of carrots). The curry was only about 1/8" thin on the plate. $4 to order extra curry. Each dish was about $20-$24. Possibly a reasonable price for today's inflation and post-COVID pricing, but not a great value for the quantity. For anyone who is pretty hungry or eats a lot, you probably would need to order 2 full dishes here to get full. As is traditional, you also got a side salad and miso soup with your dish. The soup was good and hot and very heavy on the miso. The salad did not have the traditional white swerve dressing, but instead had a sesame oil-vinegar dressing. I thought the dressing was good, wife didn't care for it. So overall, seems like a restaurant trying to blend traditional Japanese, possibly Korean, and modern/post-modern deconstructed dishes. The food quality is mostly good, but the quantity for the price is not worth it unless you are on a diet or just don't eat that much. While I would consider getting the curry chicken again, the wife would not return here. Probably a 3.5 star, but Yelp only allows round numbers for single reviews. They are worth trying one time to see if you like them, but expect to pay about $50 for 2 people. read more

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Great addition to the promenade area, food was good! We got the katsu curry rice and the hayashi rice. It's nice to have a hayashi option as a switch up. I was a little disappointed with the size of the karage chicken pieces. However they were very crispy and juicy. Service was great but because of the open door-seating style of the restaurant, I really did *not* enjoy a rando approaching me from behind showing me a scribbled cardboard cut out asking for money and food. I don't know if the staff actually saw the girl approach and get inside the restaurant however it is something to know that does happen in this area occasionally. read more

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Been wanting to try Tokyo Soul since I heard about it opening but never had the chance due to the heat. Finally got to last night. Food is soo tasty and comes out fast. And the service is very friendly! Its semi limited seating due to the small size of the place. But its worth getting! I got the soboro-don soy chicken and tamago bowl which was extremely filling since the meals come with miso soup and salad. My bf got the hayashi rice, very onion forward and he loved it read more

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Grabbed lunch here to catch up with an old friend and the pork katsu curry was served as a set meal with salad and miso soup. Pretty thick portion which I enjoyed, at $24 subtotal it was steeper than most other places but I did enjoy it! Curry flavor was standard but temperature was colder than I would have preferred. Service was perfect, drinks were consistently refilled and he checked up on us regularly. There are a few small tables and bar seating available. Menu is limited to curry and a few other rice dishes. Def not my first choice for curry in the area, but it's nice that it's in the mall where I was planning to visit cha redefine after our meal I liked the salad dressing, it had a pleasant citrus yuzu flavor. Overall, not amazing, but not bad read more

Tokyo Soul - Pork katsu curry set meal - Japanese Curry Near Me - Arcadia, California

We came in when it was relatively empty but it still took a while to be seated. We each got the pork katsu curry rice. I liked how refreshing the salad it came with was and thought the katsu pork had a good texture and portion, but the curry was a bit too salty for my taste. read more

Tokyo Soul - Pork Katsu Curry Rice - Japanese Curry Near Me - Arcadia, California

Wow. The katsu pork is perfectly tender. The rice and salad is also noteworthy. This is a sleeper spot at the mall. read more

Tokyo Soul - Japanese Curry Near Me - Arcadia, California

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This place is okay, not too bad. The price is quite steep for a meal but it's average with everything found in a shopping mall in Arcadia. The service is good but the wait can be very long when it comes to getting your food. The servers are alright too. The ambiance is pretty chill, nice interior and you can definitely tell that it's newly opened. read more

Went to the mall originally for Kura, but the line was too long on a Thursday night; ended up at this place. Love the corner store with lots of windows, very comfortable restaurant. We're the only guests in the restaurant, got the servers 100% attention. To our surprise, one of the best Japanese curry place we have been in recent years! Both of us order the Pork Katsu Curry, mild and spicy. Food came out hot and tasty. Sure hope it is busy on the weekends for the restaurant to survive. read more

Tokyo Soul - Pork katsu curry - Japanese Curry Near Me - Arcadia, California

Came here it when it first opened and wanted to give it a shot since it's been a while since a new restaurant came to the mall. Ordered the pork katsu curry and the beef hiyashi rice. The katsu was crispy and generously portioned. The beef hiyashi rice was a pleasant surprise with its sweet base and slick cuts of beef and vegetables. Overall, it's a nice addition to the mall and the interior of the restaurant is nicely decorated with attentive service. read more

Tokyo Soul - Japanese Curry Near Me - Arcadia, California

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Good food, friendly quick service, limited seating with 5 tables & a bar. The place was clean, small but spacious, they spread out the tables so you don't feel cramped. You can order to-go or dine-in. It's located at the mall's promenade close to Nordstrom. This was our first time visiting, it was a Saturday at 1:30p. There was a sign-in sheet, we had 2 groups in front of us but they never showed up so we were seated next! We tried the pork katsu curry rice & hayashi rice (beef stew). Both were delicious, generous portions & came with miso soup & salad. It was a little overpriced for curry but all items were 20% off for their soft opening. We will return to try more items on the menu. read more

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Small restaurant with limited menu items, located in the Arcadia mall. We ordered the pork belly, curry combination, which was good, the salad was light and refreshing. Service was good, but we were the only ones in the restaurant. I'm glad we tried this place, not sure we would come back. read more

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Our server, Margarita, deserves a special shout-out -- she was professional, attentive, and genuinely friendly throughout our entire meal. She knew the menu inside and out, offered great suggestions, and made sure every detail was perfect. Margaritas (pun intended ) are definitely five-star quality, but Margarita the server was even better -- friendly, efficient, and truly made our night memorable. The food was flavorful and beautifully presented, and every course was delicious. Margarita checked in just the right amount -- helpful but never intrusive -- and she made us feel like valued guests. This is the kind of service that turns a great meal into an unforgettable evening. I'll absolutely be coming back and recommending this place to everyone. Five stars all around -- especially for Margarita! read more

Tokyo Soul - Japanese Curry Near Me - Arcadia, California

Duy who is one of the chefs recommended me this place. Really wonderful food. I tried the spicy beef curry and it was outstandingly good. read more

Tokyo Soul - Spicy beef curry - Japanese Curry Near Me - Arcadia, California