Torimatsu, too legit to quit. Chef one man show, still here only leaner and stronger, wow he shrunk in a health and good-looking way. I was sat right in front of him. Been coming here for years, probably haven't for 3-4yrs. Everything is still the same, no difference, super excellent of course since Chef is still the one cracking the binchotan and firing up yakitori. Love it! Yaki-Onigiri still a fan favorite, meal closer. Japanese style, follow the rules, yakitori, sake, and beer until buzzed and happy, then carbs to fill up your stomach and soak up some of that alcohol. Super happy my son has finished college and working here in SoCal just a ways from LBC. Will be visiting him often from Phoenix our new home (broke up with SF, it wasn't SF's homeless and dirty streets, it was me...) and coming to Torimatsu fozizzle my nizzle. read more

This area is a bit far for us to travel to, so when we had to pick up our friend from LAX, I wanted to find something super unique to this area to go to for dinner and Yelp search did NOT disappoint. I believe this is the one of the few places (I think the other is in Berkeley), where you can get raw chicken. DEFINITELY call in to get a reservation. Not only is it a good stop for "tourists" like us, but you can tell it's a local favorite too, which isn't too hard to see either. We went here on a Monday evening and the restaurant was PACKED. It's not a big dining area either, just a couple tables and the bar seating area to watch the master grill and prepare the skewers (he just uses his hands to grab and cook everything, which I think is insane). The waitresses were super attentive, polite and friendly. To the girl with the super deco nails, you are so pretty and fashionable! For our visit, each of us ordered the Torimatsu Course which comes with 10 piece yakitori, your choice of salad, soup and ice cream at the end. This is A LOT of food. I had to share some of my skewers after taking a tasting bite since I was getting so full. Probably the first time I've ever gotten full from skewers and it wasn't a Draculian field of stakes. The meal consisted of: 1) Salad: -Each of us chose the scallion since it was a bit more unique. Crispy with a tangy onion-y bite with the slight sweet taste. 2) Chicken broth soup: -This came in the middle with the rest of the skewers but was also a great change of pace when it came to texture and taste. -Delicious rich chicken flavor without tasting too "chicken-y" if that makes any sense. It comes out SCALDING hot to the point that there's warnings on the menu, so definitely be super careful and make sure you don't burn your tongue or your hands (even the cup bowl is pretty hot too). 3) Tsukune (chicken meat balls): -Can't go wrong with simple meat balls. Juicy and goes great with any of the salt, shichimi or other seasonings you can get at your table. 4) Tebasaki (chicken wing tip): -I've never seen bone on chicken on a skewer before, so this was neat. Moist chicken, slightly crispy edges and the meat fell right off the bone. 5) Shiso-maki (chicken wrapped in perilla leaves): -One of the group's favorites. Moist soft, tender juicy chicken on the inside and the slightly minty, herb taste of the leaf on the outside. Delicious. 6) Uzura (quail eggs): -It's just regular boiled quail eggs grilled, but I love quail eggs, so this was a treat. 7) Negi-Niku (chicken and green onion): -Classic combination. Slightly sweet tare glaze on the moist chicken, went great with the different slightly sweet onion taste profile. 8) Sunagimo (chicken gizzards): -The BIGGEST chicken gizzards I have seen. I usually expect tiny morsels when this is ordered at a skewer place, so this was a welcomed surprise. Nice springy chewiness to these meaty giblets. I usually don't like this cut of chicken, but pretty good. 9) Nankotsu (soft bone): -Another group favorite. CRAZY texture. I've never had chicken that had the texture of high quality scallops. It's really good and something that none of us had ever had before. A must if you're getting a la cart as well. 10) Tsumire (chicken stuffed in mushroom): -Very, very filling, but the mushroom cap is very tender and isn't chewy in the slightest (my issue with some larger mushrooms). 11) Stuffed Bell Pepper (stuffed with chicken of course): -Slight bitterness of the bell pepper on the exterior went great with the seasoned chicken. 12) Kitsune (chicken in deep fried been curd): -I love kitsune, so this was one of my favorites as well. 13) Toriwasa: -This is the rare/raw sliced chicken breast with wasabi soy sauce. There's some shredded nori on top too. -Perfect for pictures and to jump scare some people, but the presentation was aesthetically pleasing as can be for "chicken sashimi" and was prepared very delicately. -We actually got this first and ate this first since it's advised to do so once the dish is at the table. -It has a super subtle chicken taste, mostly tasting like the sauce it's in. It has the texture of salmon sashimi but with slightly more chew if that makes sense. Definitely not something I crave normally, but I can now say that I've tried this! Topped everything with a scoop of vanilla ice cream at the end. Can't go wrong with that. It's also super neat to see the huge vase of tare that is allegedly 30 years old. Keeps the flavor well and is monumental to the yakitori here for sure. We were so full and didn't have a chance to try their chicken skin yakitori (something we almost always get when going to a skewer restaurant), so we'll definitely do that and try more of their menu. The quality of chicken they have here is top tier and understandably so since there's extremely strict guidelines and regulations with serving raw chicken to customers. Can't wait for our next visit. read more

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very welcoming restaurant and friendly staff Had their second set menu with 7 yakitori, salad, soup, and ice cream. Also ordered a mentaiko yaki onigiri on the side. Everything was delicious, fresh and such a wonderful experience. The atmosphere was very laid back and relaxing. It's pricey but would definitely come back again on special occasions! Be sure to make a reservation! read more

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Right next to one of my favorite omakase spots is this amazing authentic yakitori place and it's such a gem! It feels like a clean, modern take on those classic market‑style yakitori stalls. If you sit at the bar, you can watch the single grill master working right in front of you, turning out perfectly cooked skewers one after another. Chicken seems to be the star here, with tons of different cuts and variations to try. And whatever you do, don't skip the yaki‑onigiri! Just make sure to order it early since it takes a bit longer to prepare. Overall, a fantastic spot with great vibes, great food, and an authentic yakitori experience you don't see often. A must‑try! FYI - apparently Ohtani rented out the whole restaurant a week before my arrival! read more

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Japanese izakaya place that focuses on chicken skewers. Over the food is really good, well grilled and well marinated, and service was pretty fast. All the skewer came within 10 mins after ordering. My favorite was probably the chicken meatball and buttered potatoes. But every was pretty good! The restaurant is pretty small with both tables and bar seatings, my husband and I were able to walk in without reservation on a Thursday night, but reservations are recommended as this place can get busy! read more

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Yummy skewers and great service! We walked in right when they opened and didn't have to wait.

Cozy Japanese yakitori restaurant focused on chicken. Made reservations for a Friday dinner - would def recommend making reservations as it gets very busy. Place is located in a strip mall with ample parking. Was sat immediately - ordered several different yakitori pieces, as well as some rice balls. Would also recommend ordering some chicken broth as well. Both the chicken and veggies are well prepared. You can also order chicken sashimi here! I've had it a while back before and enjoyed it - but stuck with the normal yakitori today. Service is quick - and there's a decent sake selection as well. Would def come back! read more

Torimatsu - Japanese Near Me - Gardena, California

A very authentic and intimate yakitori restaurant! The chef is grilling everything in the kitchen which is in the main dining room. The skewers are very generous in portions and every thing was cooked perfectly. I was surprised at how quickly all of my food arrived. All the chicken and vegetables were plump, juicy, and tender. Nothing was over cooked. The service is very prompt and friendly. I arrived 10 minutes before opening on a weekday night and I was seated immediately at opening. It quickly got busy as the hour went on. Yaki onigiri - 5/5, my favorite item on any yakitori menu. So happy to see it on theirs and I love the crunchy exterior with grilled soy sauce flavor! Stuffed Lotus - 5/5, I love lotus root and I thought it was so unique and delicious that they stuffed ground chicken in it! Chicken tail - 5/5, Chicken giblets - 5/5, I love chicken gizzards and I'm very sorry that I missed trying the hearts here! Negima - 5/5, a classic yakitori skewer! The green onions pair really well with the chicken. Fried chicken cartilage - 5/5, if you love crunchy foods this is double the crunch! Oshinko - 4/5, generous portion of pickled vegetables. While I didn't like them all, the acidity and crunch were essential to help me finish my food as I got more full towards the end. Chicken wing - 4/5, it is exactly that but butterflyed. I would go with something else next time, but it was good! Quail egg - 4/5, standard. I wish they got grilled more. Okra - 4/5, I love grilled okra and wish they let it get more charred. But it was still very delicious! Ginkgo nut - 4/5, unique skewer to try! It's a little bitter. Eggplant - 4/5, excellent roasted flavor but I wish they cooked it marinated. We had to dip it in soy sauce. I really liked the grated ginger it was served with. Mushroom - 3/5, this was fine. Personally, not the best skewer option on the menu. read more

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TL;DR - good place for a yakitori experience, their Torimatsu course was good, and next time I'll try their chicken sashimi lol I heard this place was known for their raw chicken AFTER I left lol so maybe I'll try it next time. For this visit, I ordered the Torimatsu course which comes with 10 Yakitori skewers, salad, soup, and ice cream. Also got a few other things a la carte like their roasted egg plant and soboro-rice. Unfortunately a few of their menu options that we wanted to try were unavailable that night, like their karaage and one of their salads on their Torimatsu course. The skewers were good but didn't have that smoky aroma you'd typically expect from a yakitori restaurant. The food was otherwise tasty and we left satisfied. The service was quick (they plopped all of our skewers on two plates all at once!) and kind (our waitress gave my kid ice cream with a candle on it because it was her birthday). Overall, decent place and I'd come back! read more

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I've heard about Torimatsu for yearrrrrs. Who hasn't heard about the legendary Japanese chicken skewer place that serves raw chicken in LA? For one reason or another, I never made it out here , and FINALLY, we were able to check it out last week. We ordered the set menu, and in my opinion, the set menu items were not the best. There wasn't a single vegetable item, and there was an item like liver, which is not for everyone. I found it hard to enjoy that. One of the items, chicken in yubu, came out not cooked well, it wasn't even hot. I don't think I would've even noticed except my husband got the same skewer that was well charred and piping hot, so I could really tell the difference. The seasoning was on the mild side, so it's good if you don't want anything too salty, but it is almost bland without additional seasoning. We also added fried cartilage and the raw chicken in ponzu dish, and it was ok. I personally passed on the raw chicken, but my husband enjoyed it. Lastly, we ordered non-alcoholic beer, and the bottle was lukewarm. When we asked the waitress about it, she just gave us a glass with ice so that we could add it to the beer. The decor is old school charm, and I love the feel of traditional neighborhood yakitori-ya. Overall, I was kinda disappointed after hearing about Torimatsu for so long. I don't think I'll be back but I'm glad we finally got to try it. read more

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This restaurant is exceptional! The food is so authentic and every single bite was special. We particularly loved the negima and tsukune yakitori. The staff clearly cared about the restaurant, the service couldn't have been better. They have a very nice beer/wine selection and a large menu. We tried many skewers and each was terrific. The ambiance feels very authentic and is low-key in a very nice way. I can't wait to visit again! read more

Finally found a place in the US that offers raw chicken. Authentic Japanese restaurant from Japan that specializes in chicken dishes and skewers. Restaurant provides a very cozy environment perfect for a chill hangout or even a date. Expect a wait if you are trying your luck for walk-in seating as reservations are considered first. The staff, also, recommended to come after 7:30pm for the best chance at seating within a meaningful time. My group was seated within an hour after arriving after 7:30pm. Opted for their 10 course (Torimatsu) meal along with raw chicken (Sasami ponzu). Everything was absolutely made to perfection. The stars of the show were certainly the raw chicken, chicken wing skewer, chicken breast skewer, and chicken/green onion skewer. The raw chicken was very clean, flavorful, and tender. The skewers were just absolutely divine with the juices bursting at every bite. Will be returning for some more skewers and try their Yaki-Onigiri along with their Karaage. Definitely recommend! read more

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Back again (like a yakitori-loving Terminator)--this time with my partner, who also loves this place minus the Terminator energy, my nemesis (a.k.a. G-san, my partner's 32-year-old friend whose diet consists exclusively of chicken breast, cheese, and bread), plus his worldly brother (what happened to G-san to make his culinary repertoire as small as an American toddler???) and the brother's girlfriend. Our mission: cultural and culinary enlightenment. Our weapon: tsukune Yakitori-- still the best in the U.S., hands down. Caramelized perfection, juicy and still fluffy on the inside, slightly crisp on the outside -- like if your dependable neighborhood tough guy turned out to secretly write poetry and has received many awards...quietly, unexpected ギャップ萌え. Watching G-san bite into it was like witnessing the exact moment someone unlocks a new flavor dimension. Well...TBH, I don't know what his reaction was because I was over there, meeting Buddhas, feeling like I had reached the Pure Land, and reacquainting with my ancestors, drinking Sapporo and eating tsukune, and my favorite -- the cartilage. The Yakionigiri tho... Had blown G-san and his brother+gf away. Or at least that's what they SHOULD have felt. Rice ball heaven, if they could make a shiso miso yakionigiri with umeboshi, my life would be complete (my grandpa used to make it for us, but it's a Sendai thing, maybe?) And for my last meal, I'd definitely come here. Seeing that I'm only 30.., 頑張ってくださいw. I will become rich just to support Torimatsu. Well, not just Torimatsu, but you get my sentiment. The yakitori taisho, grilling meats and onigiri, sall the while donning a Yamamoto Dodger's jersey, in the midst of the Ohtani craze -- respect --while the music hummed softly, and for a brief moment, world peace felt achievable. Everything else -- the yakionigiri (order first, always), the atmosphere, the friendly staff (shout out to Mai-chan, who's always there when we go and serves us so efficiently and kindly)-- flawless as ever. Still worth the drive from Irvine. Still the best tsukune I've had. めっちゃ美味しかったです。またG-sanの味覚教育のために来ますw！焼き鳥食べるたびに自分のおじさん化にびっくりするけど、ほんとに軟骨おいしくて、サッポロビールとあって、幸せをかみしめてます。:) read more

It was my first time visiting today. The vibes of this restaurant felt like a more upscale yakitori without the yelling and like hole in the wall shin sen gumi gives. They season their food a lot lighter then the shin sen gumi fountain valley location I go often. My family particularly enjoyed the duck and the chicken skin. I also enjoyed the chicken thigh with green onions! I would also recommend the grilled onigiri I got the Bonito flake one! It was crispy on the outside but soft on the inside. I was sat in front of the glass but would be nice to reserve the seats on the side so you can get your skewers grill to plate (: The service was good they were pretty attentive and pleasant. The food also came out super fast but granted it was a Monday night and two other parties were there. read more

Torimatsu - Yakitori and grill - Japanese Near Me - Gardena, California

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The only izakaya that I regularly visit while im in town. The skewers are so good and plenty of other options. Their meat ball and chicken onion skewers are so addicting. I also recommend the butter potato. The cook behind the grill carries the restaraunt fs. Pricey but worth every dollar. Restaraunt is a bit small so you definitely want to make a reservation a few days in advance. They've served Ohtani before read more

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I haven't been there for more than 10 years. I went there today with my kids and the taste is still as great as before. It's still that chef making all the skewers. I told my kids that this chef has been doing this for his entire life, so no matter what you do, do it to the best as you can like him! read more

Delicious food and amazing service. Would definitely recommend this place but be sure to call for reservations as it fills up quickly.

Torimatsu is magical. The entire staff is incredibly excellent, but especially our server. He was so nice and attentive, but not overbearing, just perfect service level. We did not have a reservation (I *highly* recommend making one) and when we called the day prior, they said we could try to stop in at opening for a table. We got very lucky because they were able to give us a table for 75 minutes - perfect! The aesthetic is simplistic chic with what I would envision a yakitori place in Japan looks like. I'll confirm for you next year after I go, lol. ;) But it was perfect! We ordered some special grilled onigiri that takes 35 minutes to prepare so all our food came out accordingly. I would imagine without this though, things would come out pretty quickly. If you belly up at the food bar, you can see the chef at work like a maniac preparing everything. Dinner and a show. You must make reservations for these seats. :P The quality of everything is incredible. We had everything from chicken wing tips, to chicken hearts, boiled chicken skin...basically all the variations of chicken can be had here. It's all so plump and tasty! I especially loved the chicken wrapped in perilla leaves, incredibly juicy and delicious. My friends and I also did have those grilled onigiris I mentioned, as well. Salmon and roe - all was so tasty. I'd definitely get those again, as well. Overall, my favorite yakitori thus far in the greater Los Angeles area. LOVED IT! Plus they have plenty of parking. read more

1. Quail egg: n/a 2. Aigamo: 3.5 3. Tebasaki (tip of chicken wing): 3 4. Tsukune (meatball): 3 5. Negi-niku (Chicken green onion): 3.5 6. Motsu (Liver): 3.5 7. Sunagimo (Giblets): 3.75 8. Sasami (chicken breast): 3.25 9. Kawa (Skin): 3.75 10. Bonbochi (Tail): 3.3 11. Tsumire (Chicken and mushroom): 2.5 12. Shiso-maki (Chicken with shiso): 2.5 13. Kitsune (Chicken with fried bean curd): 2.5 14. Stuffed lotus: n/a 15. Stuffed bell pepper: 3.75 16. Hatsu (Heart): 3.5 17. Nankotsu (Soft bone): 3.5 18. Atsuage (fried tofu):n/a 19. Ikada (Green onion):n/a 20. Shiitake: 2 21. Asparagus: 3.25 22. Shishito (Japanese peppers):n/a 23. Okra: 3.25 24. Imo-butter (potato): 3 25. Nasu (eggplant): 2 26. Mushroom: 3 Side orders 1. Dry curry: was ok. Need more curry flavor Overall food was 3.25. May need to try some of their other items. read more

Torimatsu has some of the best yakitori in all of LA, and has blown up since being featured on LA Eater as an essential South Bay restaurant. I appreciate the authentic feel of the restaurant. As you go inside, the amount of seating is very limited, so don't even bother coming with a big group. It's just not possible. As you walk in, you'll be greeted by an elderly Japanese man that is manning the binchotan grill and working hard. It's very reminiscent of eating in Japan. I think the best value is probably going for the Torimatsu course meal that includes 10 yakitori pieces, a salad, soup and ice cream. We ordered a la carte because we came with a seasoned professional and he ordered all the high value skewers. Be patient because it takes a while for the food to arrive, but they are absolutely fantastic. Come early, and come with a small group. read more

Torimatsu - Menu July 2024 - Japanese Near Me - Gardena, California

None take a call during open hour on 7/6. I applied app to reserve and spent money but couldn't get a reservation. I don't recommend this service. read more

Best yakitori place in LA. Tons of respect to the yakitori maestro! They do skewers that other yakitori won't trouble to make. Love the vibe, the service, the food, everything! read more

A superb dining experience! We all had the 10 skewer torimatsu course which included skewers such as chicken gizzards, liver and other delicacies. The chicken meat ball was one of my personal favorites of the bunch, and was snappy and delicious. Service was quick and friendly, and the ambiance is lively and abounding with character. I do wish they provided some carbohydrates with the meal given the pre-fixed meal (needed to pay), plus there was some confusion with my order, but otherwise it was a great experience. read more

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Very good spot for Yakatori. Make a reservation ahead of time because this place does not have a lot of seating for walk ins, Seems like everyone who came had reservations. My boyfriend has dabbled in making Yakatori so he wanted to try a spot where he was not behind the grill. So glad I found this place, everything was really good! Was extremely full after we left. Would definitely make the drive to come back here again! read more

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I have mixed feelings about not living nearby this restaurant. I may come few times weekly if I lived closer and gain weight from eating too much! Probably a good thing it is far for me. This is the best yakitori restaurant I've tried in the States. It reminded me of being in Niseko Japan as the food and cooking are so authentic and delicious. I'm amazed how the chef can manage so many skewers and still cooked them just right. My favorite was the rice ball which had the perfect flavor and charred rice! I'm salivating just thinking about it. We were actually brave enough to try the sashimi CHICKEN! We chickened out in Osaka but ended up trying it for the first time here. It tasted like fish sashimi. We didn't get sick. We ordered way too much food and had to take some home. I say stick to the yakitori. The omakase was a good deal! read more

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yakitori omakase they also have rare chicken breast and various exotic cuts. highly recommend! make a reservation or call early, this place books out fast! read more

Torimatsu - Japanese Near Me - Gardena, California

Torimatsu is the best yakitori restaurant. I don't eat out often, but when I do, I always come here. The yakitori is perfectly grilled, and whether you have it with sauce or just salt, everything is delicious. The service is also excellent! read more

So what's up with the waiters?? They're so rude and when you call to speak to the manager they're never there lol. They're too good for Americans or something? And the food was ridiculous over priced for a little skewers of chicken. Not worth it, save you money its just chicken and the flavor isn't unique or remotely authentic read more

Pretty small space with ample seating. This place is reminiscent of the typical restaurants in Japan. There is one master griller (?) that cooks everything; you can tell he's done it for years. They use charcoal which creates that amazing aroma when you eat all the different items, and they use a sauce that's probably been around and added to for many years. I'd say the meat quality for most of the ground chicken products were pretty dry. Best was cartilage, heart (hatsu), liver, and chicken sasami ponzu. Have an open mind when eating the different types of chicken available. You won't be disappointed with the whole cuts! Course menu will get you full for sure, but I'd do the non-ground chicken a la carte. read more

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I'm surprised to see so many poor reviews for service when I thought the service was as good as the delicious food! Place is small and fills up quickly but we were able to make a reservation that day. Definitely excited to go back! read more

Best yakitori. Perfectly grilled. Everything is good. Service is good. Expertise is unmatched on how each item is cooked. Not overcook. No heavy flavoring. Brings out natural flavor of chicken. read more

This place specializes specifically in chicken yakitori. Everything here is chicken. The downside is you're eating only one meat. But the upside is they do it amazingly. If you're coming here with the understanding their focus is on perfecting chicken you're going to have a good time. If you want something else it's your own fault. That's not to say you can't have other things, they have other smaller items like their fantastically grilled rice ball. But don't be unreasonable and ask for beef or pork. You know it's a chicken place! Definitely some of the best chicken wing yakitori I've had. read more

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Very good place to get yakitori Ordered the Torimatsu course and few extra skewers All the skewers were delicious. Favorite skewers was the duck and chicken breast. The chicken breast skewer was super simple and very juicy. The green onion salad was a tad strong but I liked the dressing. The dessert at the end was some sor of yuzu sorbet which was delicious. It does take a while to get the next skewer but it's understandable because it's only one person grilling. Overall a very good experience. Prices are similar to other yakitori place but I would come here instead because they use binchotan instead of ogatan. I would recommend make reservations in advance because we saw a few parties try to walk in and the estimated wait time was 2hrs. read more

One of my favorite yakitori restaurants, with guaranteed quality and excellent service attitude. It was a great experience. Highly recommended read more

We called about two weeks ahead to make a reservation for a party of 4 for a Friday evening. On the day of our reservation, two of us arrived on time however the other half of our party was stuck in traffic - they kindly sat us and we just ordered some drinks while we waited for the rest of our group. I ordered the 10 skewer omakase and I thought the skewers came out at a good pace. It's nice because they bring a 2 or 3 at a time so they're all still warm. We really liked the atmosphere and didn't feel rushed to finish our meal - well at least not by the staff. We could see how many people were trying to do a walk up so we didn't want to take up their table too long. Although the staff took their time to tell us what skewers they were giving us - I was too caught up in the moment to take photos of all of it or write it down. They did say the omakase skewer options change regularly. I do recall my favorite though - it was the chicken in perilla leaf. We also ordered the grilled onigiri - we were absolutely stuffed. read more

My first time having Yakitori. Price is reasonable. Even though the skewers are small, I left full. Just one thing if you're unfamiliar, one of the choices of skewers is all gristle. Unless you like eating chicken bubblegum, I suggest switching it out for a more traditional variety. Generally, Asians waste less of the animal than Americans, and eating gristle, tendons, cartilage, and feet is not uncommon. read more

Enjoyed a wonderful yakitori dinner here. Very authentic and good service. The fried cartilage was amazing as were all the grilled items we enjoyed. read more

Excellent yakitori spot! I heard great things, and my experience confirmed the high reviews. This place is a legit yakitori joint that does chicken right--exactly what you'd expect with a focused menu centered around chicken. Their chicken thighs are some of the best I've had, and while the chicken skin isn't the absolute best, it's still among the top in Southern California--where, frankly, great yakitori is hard to find outside of Japan. The downside is the limited menu, but what they do serve is excellent. Also, they no longer take reservations, so it can be hit or miss for seating, especially with large parties. That said, I've always managed to get in without issues. If you're craving quality Japanese skewers, you've got to try this place! read more

I spotted this place after a massage in the same plaza and saw several different groups of Japanese business men walking in for a after work drinks or dinner. Anyone who has traveled to Japan knows that yakitori is a very popular spot for the businessmen after work for drinking and snacking. I wasn't too hungry but I just had to try it out. The place is small but felt very authentic. There are a few tables and a bar where you can watch the yakitori master at work. If you have choice or a small party, definitely sit at the bar to watch the skewers being cooked on the grill which authentic bincho charcoal. Bincho charcoal is higher quality and what they use in Japan at the legit yakitori joints. It provides a better flavor to the meats and veggies on the grill. They have ala carte options or an omakase set with 10 chef's selected skewers of the day. I ordered just a few skewers to try plus a yaki onigiri with pickled plum. Everything was great and I definitely will be back to try the omaskase set next time. My favorite today was the shiso-maki (chicken with shiso/perilla leaf). I also tried the stuffed lotus root, negi-niku, and the kitsune (chicken in deep fried tofu skin). Everything was great....served hot directly from the chef! It's hard to find authentic yakitori comparable to Japan in the states. This spot comes close and according to the menu, there is also another location in Shinbashi Tokyo Japan. This place is legit!!!!! read more

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Had the 10 course menu and everything was so delicious! I've been to some other yakitori places around Gardena but Torimatsu has a more traditional and authentic feel. The chef's been there for over 25 years and he really takes his time to preparing the yakitori, and he grilled the rice ball for nearly 20 minutes to get it perfectly charred and crunchy. read more