I've been here twice! Overall I think this is a pretty good restaurant - I think some of the skewers are hit or miss but maybe because we did the Omakase next time we'd order what we preferred. I'm docking down a star because there is a lady who was quite rude to us (explained below) the second time I came here. //CONTEXT// First time I came here with my Japanese speaking friend who made a reservation and we got bar seating for two. I recommend you calling and making a reservation 2 weeks out or so. They seem to turn down walk-ins. Second time I came here with my boyfriend. //SERVICE// I'll start with the service first. The first time around service was fantastic! They were nice and cordial, and originally we had a table and asked for the bar and they said if we could finish in 1.5 hours then they could seat us there. Amazing. Second time around, I originally made a reservation but I didn't realize I put it under my boyfriends name and phone number. So when I walked in and told them we had a reservation for 2 under my phone number they said they didn't have it. They said they'd put us on a waiting list. I asked them if I could see the reservation list to confirm they didn't put down my information incorrectly. The lady was rude and said "NO that is private information" and rudely brushed me off. My boyfriend and I walked back to our car to wait for our waiting table, we get a call from them on my boyfriends phone number and that's why I wanted to check the list (although our fault for forgetting). Anyways the way she handled it was extremely rude and throughout the experience left a bitter taste. //FOOD// We did the Omakase which is a chicken skewer Omakase! I think the first half was super tasty, but the tail-end I feel like it wasn't extremely memorable. The chicken started to become very dry! I highly recommend their chicken sashimi in ponzu! It is so tasty! I do think you should write down what you like because then you can order a la carte next time. Their rice ball plum cake was decent but maybe because I'm not a huge fan of rice balls but it's cool it was smoked on the charcoal. //OVERALL// I'd probably come back to have friends experience the raw chicken and omakase - but the service turned me off a bit. 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

One of the most authentic Japanese Yakitori spots in the Southland and possibly even in the US! All the employees who work there are Japanese, the vibe inside feels like a classic outdated Tokyo restaurant, and the food is fantastic! There was a wait on a Friday night even after 9pm so you knew it was going to be good! The place inside is pretty small. I'd imagine you couldn't sit more than maybe 25-30 people total if you're using all chairs. Anyways, all the skewers we tried were delicious! I'd 100% return if in the area! 戻ります! ありがと! read more

Amazing place. Very small and intimate. The food is superb. The lotus root stuffed with chicken and the shiso leaves stuffed with chicken are worth a trip. Chicken meatballs are top notch. Chicken liver is also very good. A very nice selection of sake at reasonable prices. They have a 300ml of Kubota Manju Junmai Daijingo for only $55. Service is friendly and professional. Very reasonably priced. Food was $80 for 2 and we ate quite a bit. This is a very small and popular place where groups often linger. Reservations are a must. read more

Been here two time and both times the food was great the staff were friendly and helpful service was good even with a full house and only two servers. Their coffee sundae ice cream was so good definitely a try. read more

Torimatsu is as good as Yakitori can get really not just in U.S. standards but even in Japan standards. Torimatsu is a well known restaurants for the chefs, even the most well known Nakazawa san from Sushi Sho (Mentor for many of the best Sushi chefs in Japan) have dined at this restaurant. Shoji san is just pure legendary and only term that can define his form is, shokunin ship. He is the master at this craft and he has done this yakitori craft more than most people have been born. He is some what a sort of a Jedi when it comes to Yakitori. I myself particularly do not favor a single type of cuisine nor style of cooking. I just care for one thing which is energy and how the energy is transformed and converted. I love to eat food that was prepared at the time of cooking using the best quality ingredients but simplicity that brings the most complex umami. It happens to be mostly simple Japanese cuisine such as: Sushi, Soba, Tempura, and Yakitori and such. I have dined at this restaurant for the last decade probably close to once or twice a week. I can say every time the experience was just incredible as if I'm transported to the world of Shoji's philosophy and his art of simplicity but complexity. The flavor profile is just mild blowing to see how he can transform such a simple ingredient into something so delicate and special. I would say his appetizer and other side dishes apart from the Yakitori are amazing as well. Such as dry curry, cha soba, and torizosui. I'm happy to be in such a city with such an amazing legendary chef Shoji san. read more

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the best yakitori , trust me ...... good luck getting a seat , they are always booked for obvious reasons read more

If you love Yakitori like us This place is very good, sometimes it can get busy because it's a small spot so the food may come out slow at times but for us it's well worth it . Close to the 110fwy read more

Very authentic, but the food and service didn't quite entirely land for me. I can understand the wait, but the servers really left me feeling neglected to the point where I had to point out that I was still outside to be seated. The servers here in general are quite blunt and not quite as friendly as I would expect in terms of Japanese standards. In terms of the food, it was good, but I wouldn't really want the set course again. I'd probably prefer to order a la carte as some of the skewers weren't really a hit for me. The tare though is great here. Might come again, but make sure to have a reservation. read more

Was looking for some yakitori after coming back from Japan. Torimatsu didn't disappoint. Luckily we were able to get a spot rather quickly as a walk in. It seemed most tables were reserved and the place isnt very large similar to what you would see in Japan. Prices were reasonable and the chicken cooked over binchotan charcoal was superb. The service is quick and friendly. There is only 1 person cooking but he is able to keep up with all the tables and the food is cooked masterfully. We ordered the omakase which was $38 and you get 10 skewers. We also ordered Ala Carte. Everything we had was delicious. Only thing I would have gotten different was the salad. Probably the scallion salad instead of the house salad. read more

Torimatsu - The grill - Japanese Near Me - Gardena, California

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Very authentic yakitori! They specifically focus on yakitori, so there is not much variety in appetizer, but you still can get satisfying meals. Not too loud either so it's perfect for dining in. Probably not best for a big party. read more

I had a pleasant first time dining experience at Torimatsu. It is a Japanese Yakitori restaurant, therefore, they are specialized in grilled chicken. No beef or pork available. Minimal to no seafood (only salmon, spicy cod roe, and bonito flake Yaki/Grilled Onigiri). I love how they have course options that comes with a set number of skewers (depending on the course- 'torimatsu'/'shinbashi'), soup, salad, and ice cream. You also have the option to order off the menu, a la carte. The standout menu items I loved are the Kitsune (chicken in deep fried bean curd), Negi-Niku (chicken and green onion), Shiso-Maki (perilla with chicken), and Atsuage (fried tofu). Such simple flavors yet very satisfying! My meal was filling yet light as it is overall pretty healthy. Take advantage of the table side condiments if you need a little more spice or salt to your dishes. Service was friendly and the interior was simple yet beautiful. The only con is that there may be a bit of a wait as it is a bit popular. Otherwise, I recommend you check this spot out! read more

Torimatsu - Japanese Near Me - Gardena, California

The yakitori here is less than $4 a piece with the only meat option as chicken. I ordered a torimatsu course which includes 10 skewers, the chicken-broth soup, salad, and ice cream. For $38, I thought it'd be nice to try what the chef decides to cook. However, tables beside me seemed to prefer choosing their own skewers, so it's definitely preference! The business is small, so don't get it confused with the Japanese Omakase restaurant on the right! There's a bar seating to watch the chef grill and about 4 tables of 2, and 2 tables of 4. Be sure to call ahead of time to try to make a reservation!! Parking -- YES plenty in a plaza!! Bathroom -- CLEAN read more

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This place is truly a gem! I would highly recommend making reservations ahead of time as the wait can be long for walk ins or they may not be able to accommodate you at all depending on how busy they are. The staff are super friendly and the restaurant itself is intimate and warm. Definitely try the chicken balls as they are absolutely juicy and delicious. I personally have not tried the chicken sashimi but they do offer it for you adventurous eaters out there. Parking: Shared parking lot in a plaza with other businesses. read more

Torimatsu is one of those places you can enjoy a meal by yourself or with a group and time just slows down. This place is one of my favorites and I wish I lived closer to them. My favorite is the bar so that I can appreciate and admire the yakitori chef work his magic. The menu has a few varieties and you can choose the prefix menu of two courses. These set courses are chef's choice and they will ask if organs are ok. My favorites are the lotus with chicken, chicken soup, thighs, skin and shiso-maki (chicken with shiso). The tare is delicious, not overly sweet and just the right amount on the yakitori. Staff are super friendly and nice. I would recommend to make a reservation as it fills out fast. There's plenty of parking available. read more

Food was great. Service was a little iffy. Got salmonella from the sasami ponzu (chicken sashimi) read more

An authentic Japanese spot featuring fresh, lightly salted chicken and spice seasonings. read more

Torimatsu - Japanese Near Me - Gardena, California

ここで食べる焼き鳥がどこで食べる料理よりおいしい。ぜひ鳥松に来たら、カウンターでささみとレバーのレアを注文してください。 The yakitori here is more delicious than any other cuisine. When you come to Torimatsu, be sure to order rare chicken skewers (sasami and liver) at the counter. read more

Torimatsu is by far the most authentic Japanese restaurant currently in LA area that serves delicious and variety of Yakitori. They offer exceptional dining environment and service!!! Highly recommend to go early to avoid waiting in line and sit at the yakitori bar to enjoy the next level dining experience! read more

Torimatsu - Japanese Near Me - Gardena, California

Ambiance: traditional Japanese yakitori izakaya restaurant, very narrow layout inside and packed seats, reservation is necessary especially for the grill bar seating Service: very friendly and attentive when you need to add items, but you have to be patient, the only two waitresses could get very busy and therefore slow Food: overall great taste, their specialty is all kinds of chicken items Nankotsu karaage - **** fried chicken cartilage, very crispy, recommend Uzura - *** quail eggs, average Aigamo - *** duck, dry and lack of flavor Tsukune - **** grilled chicken meat balls, juicy and tasty, recommend Shishito Chicken - **** not on the menu, recommend Motsu - ** chicken liver Sunagimo - **** chicken giblets, chewy texture, recommend Kawa - *** boiled chicken skin Shiso-Maki - **** perilla with chicken, recommend Stuffed Lotus - *** average Stuffed Bell Pepper - ** so so Atsuage - *** fried tofu Chicken Wings - **** crispy outside, juicy inside, recommend Salad - ** house lettuce salad, so so Soup - **** meat broth with spinach, savory taste, recommend Price: typical portions and decent prices, about $25~$30 per person for food only plus any alcohol read more

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I used come here for lunch frequently back in early 2000. Lunch set was delicious back then. Recently visit again and they no longer open for lunch. It is dinner only. Service is still excellent but somehow dinner set was disappointing. A few skewers tasted bland with no real flavor and probably cook with non charcoal fire. A bit disappointing. Tori-Zosui still good thou. I'll come back and sit at the bar next time, avoid the set dinner and order individual skewers and see if its still good. read more

Racist restaurant. Don't come here if you're a person of color. They clearly want to keep it "Japanese" only. They insisted on a hour wait time despite there being several open seating areas. Save yourself the trouble and go anywhere else where people of color are accepted. read more

Walked in right 10 minutes prior to opening and was able to grab bar seats. The place filled up fast within 30 minutes. Good variety and decent prices, I only wish the binchotan/chicken oil flavor was stronger. read more

Make a reservation. This is one of the best yakitori restaurants outside of Japan. We ordered their $38 prefix menu and also ordered extras such as the eggplant, almond nuts, chicken breast kaarage, chicken sashimi, tofu, mushroom etc. Everything was good. I highly recommend to try their chicken sashimi. My favorites were the chicken soup, eggplant, mushroom, chicken sashimi, and chicken meat balls. read more

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One of my favor yakitori restaurants in LA. Very authentic and delicious! Most chicken skewers are very juicy! Must order: Wing Heart Soft bone Please make sure you make your reservation early and sit in the counter. The only thing I didn't like was we get to sit outside and it was very windy day. read more

Torimatsu - Menu - Japanese Near Me - Gardena, California

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R U D E H O S T E S S / WA I T R E S S I've been wanting to try this spot after reading an article and watching videos about the owner and infamous 10 year old Tare from Japan. After barely signing in we were approached by the rudest host/waitress. She assumed we did not know anything about Japanese food and said "We don't serve sushi or noodles here". It seemed like she said that to my husband and I because we are not of Japanese decent. The word "Yakitori" is beneath the restaurant name outside. She rudely said it will be a one hour wait and shooed us out of the door. We were never treated like that the many times we went to Shin Sun Gumi down Western. To the Hostess/Waitress, there's a better approach communicating with your customers. Tori Matsu, I so wanted to try your food but your employee left a bad taste in my mouth. read more

Very solid place for chicken yakitori. I liked everything we got but the ones that stood out were -Chicken tail -Chicken heart -Chicken with mushroom I did not like the liver however or the ginkgo nuts which were tasteless and a little bitter. Generally I think I would have appreciated more of a char on the skewers but all that said, you can really taste the unique elements of the chicken. There's also a $2 chicken broth that I recommend getting to accompany the meal. It's very hearty bone broth. Try sitting by the counter so you can watch the grill! Overall I was very happy and full for a yakitori place. +1 for great quality ingredients + value on top of everything else. read more

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Delicious spot for yakitori with a sister location in Tokyo. Went there for dinner on a Thursday night and the place was packed. Luckily we had a reservation and were promptly seated. I really enjoyed the experience, as it felt very authentic and the food is of a high quality. read more

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Excellent food and service. The food reminds me back home in Japan. Always goes there to get traditional yakaitori

This place is great! Would definitely come back here very soon. Got the skewer combo and it's definitely worth it! read more

Perfect service and nice server! Food is also good for our family:) so delicious! I'll recommend to my friends! read more

Stay away from this restaurant! Waiter was rude! Waited in line over an hour while they have few open tables available for seating. Don't know how good is your food but you ain't getting business from me! read more

Rumors says this is the best Japanese Yakitori and I'm not disappointed. We had a large party so we had to sit at a table rather than the bar, so the skewers when they came to us was a bit cooler than my liking. The wait can be long so definitely call to make a reservation ahead of time. read more

Torimatsu - All the skewers - Japanese Near Me - Gardena, California

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1 star for service. Can't rate the food, could not talk to anybody about a reservation. Management not in the hospitality industry. Thumbs down. read more

** The TORIMATSU COURSE was the best value and had so much food that I was super full. It included 10 pieces yakitori, salad, soup and ice cream for dessert. The roasted peppers were amazing. Chicken was well cooked. Lotus root was flavorless. We got the 10 skewer combo but 9 out of the 10 were chicken. Could've used more variety. Overall, it was a pretty good deal for the 10 skewer combo! read more

Authentic Yakitori! The food is great and is not expensive at all ! the vibe is great, and I like the environment ! Please don't take photos when you come here! just enjoy the food! read more

Yakitori technically means roasted or grilled bird which usually is chicken, and Torimatsu takes that almost literally serving anything you want as long as it's chicken. I may lIke Shinsengumi Yakitori more since the staff is enthusiastically more welcoming, motivated & friendly and because they serve Bara/pork belly, bacon, Kuro Buta sausage, duck, shrimp, and other non-avian meat ingredients. However, I like Torimatsu since it is more tranquil & sedate. Both Torimatsu & Shinsengumi Yakitori use Kishu- Bincho-tan/Japanese hardwood charcoal that has an even, steady flame with subtle, refined smokiness. Ordered: 0) Ohitashi salad of blanched bean sprouts. 1) Tsukunè (tsoo koo neh) herbed ground chicken meatballs. 2) Negi Niku: chicken with green onion 3) Renkon Nikuzumè: Starchy, crunchy lotus root w/holes stuffed w/ meaty ground chicken. 4) Motsu or chicken lIver is grainy yet creamy The more one chews the organ meat, the funkier it gets. Countered by thick, sweetened Sho-yu/soy sauce, , Mirin/sweet Sakè (sah keh). 5) Aigamo, bbq duck 6) Kitsune: chicken meat sandwiched between Agè/fried, textured soy bean curd. The Agè was tastless & dry in texture. 7) Complementary chicken soup was cloudy from hours of simmering the chicken bones but still not very compelling. The accompanying ground Sansho/Japanese pepper was freshly ground & alluringly sharp. The Shichimi To-garashi was fragrant as well as piquant. Excellent freshness & strong scents of citrus zest. Sea salt had sweet minerality. Great way to enhance the basic, smoky, fatty. meaty qualities of the chicken. 1-7a) Karatamba Junmai Honjo-zo was a generous pour to show Omotenashi/hospitality. Astringent, clean w/ pleasant Japanese pear fruitiness. dry peppery finish. Excellent pairing to the Yakitori. Non-seasonal slice of ripe watermelon finished the meal. 4-Yelp stars for a more tradition leanIng style of Japanese bbq. read more

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The most delicious yakitori restaurant in LA. I go to eat three times a month. The combination of yakitori and beer makes me feel the best happiness. Dry curry and chicken soup are also delicious. read more

Wife and I were hungry but didn't know where we wanted to go so we drove and stopped in a strip mall with several choices, we ended up picking Torimatsu and are glad we did. Being adventurous we opted for the 10 piece chef's choice and were very happy with the food. Duck, Chicken Meatball, Chicken wing, Quail egg, Chicken Gizzards, Chicken soup, Salad, Stuffed lotus, Chicken Stuffed mushrooms, Chicken Breast, Chicken and peppers. Everything came at a nice pace and their was enough of each skewer to get a good taste of each one. Waitress was very attentive and told us what each skewer was when they were served. Very small location, with a great menu and attentive staff read more

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I love eating here when I can! Their yakitori is mainly chicken and they're so good. They even have chicken sashimi here which they recommended to eat with alcohol to get rid of any germs. The chicken sashimi itself was okay. It didn't really taste like anything but the sauce it was drenched it. I probably would not get it again but everything else was delicious. I recommend making a reservation as it can get pretty crowded. read more