The restaurant is located adjacent to Abalone Ave, different from the location that was shown on Apple/Google Maps. While you were at the corner, you would see its noticeable sign. It felt causal and cozy inside, simple and clean. We arrived late at around 1:30 pm on a Saturday afternoon but the waitress was patient and friendly, guiding us to seats and let us know to order before their kitchen was closed. It had a lunch special menu which showed several special items at a very affordable price. We picked the Negitoro Bowl from this special menu (at half of the regular price). The tuna had a balanced fat and was minced in a manner that I felt it melt in my mouth. It's a good match with rice. The Kaisen Bowl had a variety of seafoods and all of them tasted very fresh! The salty fish roe made the rice more flavorful. The Kaisen Bowl came with a miso soup and a salad. We also ordered a soba which was well cooked. We definitely will go back to try more dishes! read more

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The food was delicious and the quality felt really good for what I paid. The staff were also very friendly, and overall it was a nice experience. This was always one of the restaurants I wanted to try, so I was happy I finally got to visit haha. One thing is that the prices are high and the portion felt little small. If you are really hungry, I probably would not recommend ordering only the premium dishes. It might be better to try some of the more affordable menu options too. Still, the food quality was great and I would love to come back again to try different dishes next time. read more

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You ever have that one friend thatʻs particular about food? You donʻt wanna call them picky, but the reality is they are? Well I do and last night I wanted steak, but not steakhouse steak and not Applebees steak either. I found Waraku while we were shopping at Walmart and figured it was nearby, they have seafood, which she will eat, and the quality looks prime. It is the corner space of an outdoor plaza, most known for the 85C Bakery off of Carson. If you enter the lot from Abalone Ave, youʻll see it right away. The exterior is very unassuming, but interior is spacious, clean and contemporary Japanese. The service is excellent and the quality is very good. I want to say the price is reasonable for the quality you are getting. It is more like a ala cart experience, so it can get pricey real fast! I did get my steak (Angus NY strip loin) and it was cooked perfectly medium rare. I wouldʻve liked it a little more charred on the outside, but it was still great. She got the A5 wagyu teppanyaki and crab which was very fresh. Those were off the appetizer menu so those portions were VERY small. We both ordered one piece each of shrimp tempura, which was really good (big, fresh piece of shrimp) and crispy clean batter. Iʻm still on the search for the best shrimp tempura tho. Iʻm talking light airy batter with the panko like crust. This wasnʻt that, but it was very very good. I need to go back for the daily seafood bowls, which looked like the real star here. read more

So good! Portions are filling and prices are reasonable. The fish is fresh as well. They also have daily specials they fly in from japan every morning. We got the firefly squid - highly recommend! read more

Waraku - Chirashi, Beef tongue carpaccio, firefly squid, salmon bowl - Izakaya Near Me - Torrance, California

If you want real Japanese vibes in Torrance, you need to try Waraku Japanese Dine & Bar not your typical sushi spot-- this place feels like a cozy izakaya with home-style Japanese dishes. the sashimi is next level, so fresh it literally melts they even bring fish from Osaka, which explains the quality from kaisendon to unagi egg bowls and crispy karaage, there are so many good options every bite is worth it. read more

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Waraku is such a fun gem if you're craving simple, thoughtful Japanese food done really well. I stopped by for their lunch special and was pleasantly surprised by how much value and quality they packed into one meal. The set came with the most decadent chawanmushi--silky, savory, and incredibly comforting. I chose the cold soba, and the dipping sauce was beautifully balanced with a deep umami flavor that wasn't overly salty. One small detail that really stood out to me was the wasabi--it tasted fresh, mild, and clean, without that harsh, chemical bite you sometimes get elsewhere. The lunch also included a light side salad with a sesame dressing and a mini negitoro bowl. The rice was perfectly seasoned, and the fish was incredibly fresh--it all felt very intentional and well executed. Service was warm and seamless, with the team working together effortlessly to take care of guests. The ambiance is clean, calm, and understated, making it a great spot to slow down and enjoy a quiet, satisfying meal. read more

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The Fish here is extremely fresh. Much fresher than you can get at any restaurant or market. I was highly impressed by this. But you get what you pay for and since the fish is so fresh the price is going to be more than you expect. This isn't a place I think you could eat for lunch everyday unless you get the lunch special bento boxes. But for sashimi and sushi this place is by far the best read more

This spot is definitely fine dining. The quality of the food really stands out...every bite melts in your mouth. It's light yet filling and packed with flavor. Yes, it's on the pricier side, but completely worth it for the quality you're getting. I had the salmon and yellowtail bowl, and it was incredible. I also tried my sister-in-law's bluefin bowl and my boyfriend's cooked salmon, and honestly, I can't even choose a favorite because each one had its own unique flavor and was equally delicious. From the outside, it looks small, but don't let that fool you there are several room options inside. The customer service was excellent as well. I'm already telling my boyfriend we need to go back. read more

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I was craving some japanese food, so me and my friends came here after we had just landed at LAX. We arrived around dinner time, and didn't have to wait much at all, practically seated instantly. I ordered the chiraishi bowl and we all got the karaage to share. The restaurant is a bit more upscale and classy, but you can still go regardless of if you're dressed up or not if you're worried about that. The karaage was crispy, hot, and delicious when it came out, and was a good sharing size. The chiraishi bowl was delicious. Every single piece of fish was so yummy and had little to no fishiness along with a good texture. It is definitely a bit on the pricier side, but if you are looking for quality fish, this is another spot that you should come to. read more

Waraku - Chiraishi bowl, karaage, tuna bowl, tuna salmon bowl - Izakaya Near Me - Torrance, California

Came right at opening on Saturday 5:30 PM with a reservation and were seated immediately always a good start. We arrived early and grabbed chestnut soft serve next door, and even at 5:15 there was already a line forming. By opening, about 1/4 the dining room was filled. Maybe 6-7 tables? Right at opening!! By 6:30 I'm pretty sure the whole restaurant was filled and every table was Japanese or Asian families. That's when you know you're in the right place. Food I ordered: Teppanyaki wagyu was so good we ordered a second one, no hesitation. Chu toro bowl: 9/10, beautifully fatty and balanced. Omakase sashimi (7/10, 8 pieces): high quality overall, though 2 cuts didn't quite hit for me. 5 oz steak: 8/10 Toro sashimi: 9/10 Ankimo: 8/10 Pro move: saved the rice from the chu toro bowl to pair with the omakase and steak. Notes for fellow food people: ama ebi doesn't come with a fried head. Jumbo clam was solid (per my date) cuts aren't as big but they are fat square shape. Service was efficient, food came out quickly, and the pacing was smooth despite a full house. Great quality across the board. Total bill was 214? With everything we got not too bad. Yes pricey but other places would've been over 300 easily! Would absolutely return. read more

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Was excited to check out this authentic Japanese restaurant, which is known to ship their fish directly from Osaka. Located in a small strip mall in Torrance, parking is free and plenty in the mall lot. Came on a Monday night and did not need to wait for a table for two. Their menu is simple and highlights what everyone is undoubtedly there for, fresh sushi and chirashi bowls, although I did see some hot food options like curry and udon for people who want something cooked. I love my tuna so settled immediately on their special of the day, the Otoro bowl, which was a fair price including complimentary miso soup. Sadly there were not too many pieces of tuna, and while creamy, could not replicate what you can find in the Japanese fish markets. Still was a good meal, just found myself hungry at the end of it. read more

Waraku - Otoro Bowl - Izakaya Near Me - Torrance, California

If you're craving a fresh, clean sashimi bowl, this is the spot. I came here Saturday night with a friend and had some of the smoothest, freshest fish I've had in a long time. I ordered the chūtoro bowl (their special), and wow. The fish was incredibly rich and buttery, with that perfect melt-in-your-mouth texture that almost coats your tongue. Super delicate, slightly sweet, and just indulgent in the best way. I ate it way too fast and was genuinely sad when it was gone. The bowl alone didn't quite satisfy me, so I'd definitely recommend adding an appetizer. The takowasa was great, bright, briny, and refreshing. The wasabi wasn't overpowering, which let the octopus really shine. I also really enjoyed the chicken karaage, crispy, juicy, and super comforting. Ask for mayo, they'll happily bring some out. The space itself is beautiful, modern, clean, and relaxed with a solid drink selection. Service was attentive without being overbearing, and yes, even the bathroom was spotless. I really hope this place gets busier because the food absolutely deserves it. read more

Waraku - Izakaya Near Me - Torrance, California

The last time I visited this place, it was still called Wadatsumi. I was impressed with their hot dishes then, and I'm still impressed with the hot dishes now. It's a lovely little store retaining the same decor and furnishings. The service is still fine as well. I got the unagi tamago bowl, yellowtail collar, seaweed salad, chawanmushi, Ankimo, and beef curry. The standout was definitely the unagi tamago bowl. Both the eel and the egg were cooked well over a bed of fluffy rice. Great flavors all around and a decent portion size. The yellowtail collar was grilled to spec, crispy skin and flaky meat. There was a hint of fishiness so maybe the fish isn't the absolute best, but still quite good for what you can get in America at this price. The chawanmushi is also good like how I remember it. Made with some dashi so extra flavorful. The seaweed salad is nice if you need some vegetables and comes with a fairly standard Japanese dressing. Ankimo was cooked very well, very soft and served with nice vegetables to pair. I do enjoy the beef curry flavor wise more than a place like coco ichibanya, but it was not the hottest. Definitely a solid place to come to if you're looking for a hot Japanese meal, but I can't speak on the sushi. read more

Waraku - Seaweed salad - Izakaya Near Me - Torrance, California

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Came here with a couple of friends this past Monday for dinner. We made a reservation for 5:45 pm and honestly thought we probably didn't need it. Turns out it was a good call because shortly after we sat down, the place filled up. Once seated, our server gave us some time to look through the menu. The bara chirashi immediately caught all of our attention. The server mentioned they only had two servings left, so we jumped on it. The other dishes ordered were the 3 kinds bluefin tuna box and the bluefin tuna chutoro and negitoro bowl. Everything was delicious. The bara chirashi was the standout and felt really unique. It had scallops, cubed cuts of bluefin tuna, and salmon roe. The sushi rice was seasoned perfectly and tied everything together. The tuna dishes were also fresh and high quality, exactly what you hope for at a place like this. Service was good throughout the meal. The ambiance is what you would expect from a traditional Japanese restaurant with a mix of tables, bar seating, and booths. We sat in a booth and had no problem holding a normal conversation. We will definitely be back, especially to try the unagi bowl and more of the menu. If you're into chirashi bowls, this place is absolutely worth checking out. read more

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Place is spacious but we didn't know the place closes super early on Sundays. We got there around 1pm and it closes at 2pm. I just order the poke bowl lunch special. It was filling for a quick meal. Service was attentive but I felt a bit rushed since tables were getting cleaned rapidly next to us. A bit of rush feeling to get us moving. Food is great. Just a quick jolt to eat. read more

Waraku - Izakaya Near Me - Torrance, California

We had an incredible dinner before heading to a LA Galaxy game. We came in knowing we wanted to try the omakase sashimi and ended up discovering two more amazing dishes. The omakase plate was fresh and beautifully plated. The scallops were sweet and tender. We also tried the chicken karaage, which was fried to crispy perfection. The standout of the night was the rich and tender pork belly that just melted into the flavorful sauce. Paired with a crispy fried soft boiled egg, it created the perfect bite. Service was friendly and inviting. I appreciated our server assisting with a few food allergies as well. We definitely want to visit again. read more

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We walked in with no prior knowledge of this restaurant and no reservation on Valentine's Day, and ended up feeling very lucky with our choice. Staff at the front told us the restaurant was fully booked for the night, but spent a minute checking his system and managed to squeeze us in at a table. As starters, we ordered a half halibut sashimi and eel shirayaki, both chef's recommendations from the daily specials menu. Halibut was fresh and light, and we both loved the eel. We've never had it prepared this way and agreed we prefer it over with unagi sauce; it felt delicate and highlighted the natural flavor of the fish. For mains, we got the bara chirashi bowl and the chutoro bowl daily special. Both were fresh, filling, and good value for the price. Bara chirashi was nice for the variety, and the chutoro was so melt in your mouth. We will be keeping this place in mind next time we're in the area! read more

Food is high quality and excellent! We ordered the UnaJu which is a limited item. It comes with dashi to make soup rice at the end of finishing the dish. Rib fingers and mushroom tempura are also very tasty. It has an Izakaya feel without being too loud. Service is quick and attentive. I will definitely be back! read more

Waraku is a gem of an Izakaya spot in the Torrance area serving up some fresh seafood imported directly from Osaka, Japan. This spot is located in a plaza with a good amount of parking spots. Inside, they have a newly renovated interior with a warm vibe and about 5-6 tables for seating. I stopped by for dinner around 7pm with wifey and some friends and we had a reservation. Keep in mind that reservations are highly recommended especially during more peak hours. For their menu, they have a wide range of appetizer, sushi, noodle, and rice dishes to choose from. Our group ended up getting a spread consisting of the Beef Tongue Dry Cured Ham Carpaccio, Bluefin Tuna Bowl, Angus Outside Steak Bowl, and the Dipping Soba with Fried Mushrooms. Overall, we thoroughly enjoyed our dining experience here and could taste the quality of the food with every bite. All of the staff here are very friendly and welcoming. I am definitely glad to have stumbled upon this place and to experience their amazing food! read more

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It has been more than 6 months since I have been here. They had a slip in their health rating and I was waiting for the A to go back into the window. Waraku still has the consistent service and great food I have come to expect. I find this place relaxing and welcoming. The server knows we always ask for togarashi and brought it to the table as we were seated. The staff is friendly and service is great. I had the sashimi lunch special. It was as good and fresh as it ever was. One of my lunch pals had the beef bowl and the other had the fried seafood plate. We were happy. read more

Waraku - Special - Izakaya Near Me - Torrance, California

Eating here feels like you got on a plane and had a meal in Japan! Waraku which was formerly known as Wadatsumi is well-known for their fresh sushi and seafood and I had a great lunch here yesterday with my friends. The interior space has plenty of seating available for parties up to 4 or 5 and there's also a small bar area for dinner dining and private rooms for special occassions. The menu has a variety of seafood dishes and some meat options like their beef curry or katsu if you want something that isn't seafood. Service is quick and attentive here and they will happily answer any questions you have about the menu. I ordered the Bluefin Tuna Chutoro & Negitoro Bowl and we got a side of chicken nanban to share as an appetizer. Everything came out in a timely manner and we didn't wait long. The chicken nanban had a nice light crunch and paired with the tartar sauce, it was a tasty appetizer. The chicken was moist on the inside and not dry and had good flavor. The chutoro and negitoro bowl was excellent. The tuna was so fresh and had a great fattiness to it and was quite buttery overall. The sushi rice on the bottom was warm and a perfect compliment to the toro. They included wasabi and ginger on the side of the bowl as well. Overall, this was a great lunch meal and I would happily come here again for lunch or dinner. They serve $9 mini bowls during lunch and also offer meal sets as well. Parking is plentiful in the plaza. If you love sashimi or Japanese food, come check out Waraku! read more

Waraku - Bluefin Tuna Chutoro & Negitoro Bowl with Miso Soup & Chicken Nanban - Izakaya Near Me - Torrance, California

I got the chu-toro and negitoro bowl. The bowl was more filling than it looks and the cuts of fish were fatty and fresh. It was a great bowl for a weekend lunch and the service was good despite it being a little busy. read more

Waraku - chutoro + negitoro bowl - Izakaya Near Me - Torrance, California

My family and I were able to get seated at a table for 15 without a wait which was amazing. My favorite were the sushi box sets, hamachi collar, salmon belly, and tempuras read more

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Expensive but quality, quality, quality! This place serves up delicious Japanese food. They have private tatami room which is great because we were there to celebrate our sons' Birthday. All customers inside the restaurant were speaking Japanese so we knew right away that it was legit. Una-Jyu - OMG!!! It was as good as it can get. Expensive but delicious. Highly recommended. Daily Omakase - so so fresh, melt in your mouth sashimi. The scallops and Amaebi were so sweet. Just delicious. Highly recommended. Chicken Karaage- Big chunks of chicken, not like those with tons of batter. Not bad Angus's NY strip loin - not bad but I prefer it to be more char/ seared on the outside and rare on the inside. Chicken Soba - broth was very refreshing. Not bad I would definitely return, just for the Una-Jyu and Omakase. Note: this place does not have desserts. Bring your own desserts, if you are celebrating someone or something. read more

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Yummy and amazing! I love the bowls here and always get the unagi tomago bowl. It's so flavorful and the egg omelette is always my fav! I've always tried the tuna bowl and fresh yellowtail from the street market in Japan. Everything I've tried has always been amazing! And the service is great with super friendly employees! 10/10! read more

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Finally got a chance to visit Waraku. We made reservations through open table so were seated right away. We started with a mug of Sapporo draft beer. We than ordered chicken karaage to sample and my wife ordered the negitoro lunch set with the hot somen noodles. I tried the negitoro lunch set with cold somen. The salad, negitoro, somen a d chawamushi were spot on. The only dish that we were not impressed with was the chicken karaage. It was okay, but not great. That dropped one star off my review. read more

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Ordered the seasonal toro on their special menu and steak curry. The ingredients are fresh and delicious. The service is fast and prompt. Ambiance is relaxed with louder Japanese businessesmen who enjoy dining and drinking here. I'd come back again if I'm in the Torrance area. Plenty of parking in the open plaza lot. read more

Waraku - Izakaya Near Me - Torrance, California

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My son and I have had dinner here a couple of times and I took a friend once. Every time, it was really good. Fish is very fresh. They highlight the unagi but I will say this has been our least favorite dish. Too many bones and way too much sauce. The Karaage is the best we have ever had! Chawanmushi is fantastic. Rolls and bowls are really delicious!! read more

The plaza is pretty empty and located in the corner. The aesthetic is calm, menu has option but Simple, and is has small quiet charm. It's a warm winter but the place is also very warm....a little too warm for me. Fish is supposed to be from Osaka. I got the iruka and salmon and didn't find anything special about it. The rice and fish is good but find it like any other place. The wagyu beef bowl has more flavor. The servers are nice but not exceptionally good. You had to ask for more water and they rarely come by. Prices are reasonable. Food is decent. Nothing is bad but nothing stands out either. read more

Waraku - Izakaya Near Me - Torrance, California

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Tasty seafood and unagi bowls! I came here with some friends on a weekend evening, and we were seated right away at a clean table in the center of the restaurant. It's a nice vibe inside that is quite intimate for a date night. The assorted bowls with tender tuna transport you to japan. I loved how flavorful the unagi was with a savory egg on the side! read more

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I know that Waraku is known for their raw fish, but I would say that their unagi tamago bowl tops it all here! I've come here twice so far and both times I had to order the unagi tamago bowl. They have free hot tea and our dishes came with miso soup :) Unagi tamago bowl: 1000/5. I LOVEEEEE this dish so much, I'm constantly thinking about it. They give generous pieces of fresh unagi! The sauce they use is different from other places - it's perfectly sweet and salty, not extremely sweet like other places. And let's talk about their tamago... holy..... it's so addicting, soft, delicious. Literally perfection. I'm an unagi lover, and this dish truly hits the mark for me!! Bara chirashi bowl: 3.5/5. I mean, it's not bad! But when I compare this to Sushi Gen in Little Tokyo, Sushi Gen is wayyy better. The chiraishi bowl just feels incomplete to me and a little dry? The fish is pretty fresh and the price is really cheap though, but it's a much smaller portion than Sushi Gen. Salmon, yellowtail, tuna bowl: 3.75/5. I liked this more than the chiraishi bowl, but again, Sushi Gen is so much better. Sushi Gen has much bigger portions and has fresher fish. Good and friendly service :) read more

Waraku - Salmon, yellowtail, tuna bowl and unagi tamago bowl - Izakaya Near Me - Torrance, California

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i tried their seasonal ocean treasure bowl which was hella boujee and everything was so fresh i loved it. it was a bit on the pricier side, but they did give me gold flakes and caviar with my bowl. the uni and the fresh sweet shrimp were definitely the stars of the show for me. this bowl came with one of every cut of fish that they had so it was easy for me to try it all. read more

Waraku - Izakaya Near Me - Torrance, California

Waraku used to be Wadatmasu but was rebranded last year. The place is very pristine and seems like a good restaurant for dates or to hangout with friends. They have an extensive menu with lots of different Japanese dishes and even had fresh items from Osaka. My fav was the baked oysters - not exactly sure what they put on it but it was umami. The sashimi is VERY fresh as well. They also had a very interesting fresh sencha tea served in wine glasses which was fun. read more

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Heaven for Sashimi rice bowl - premium quality. You can see the freshnesh of each ingredient in their servings. I am so obsessed with this place. Stopped by at lunch time and Waraku was pretty busy. Fillings are just enough for you to get full, and they fill up the bowl with thick cut of Shasimi . This place is a gem. I ordered their signature bowl and they give you a little bit of every type of fish. I love Ameabi- the sweet shirmp here taste so fresh and unique flavor. There are different booth inside the restaurant so you don't have to worry about sharing tables. Service: attentive and friendly read more

Waraku - Signature bowl - Izakaya Near Me - Torrance, California

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Cheap and cheerful sushi and rice bowl place. Location is in a strip mall with plenty of parking. Was seating right away for a weekday lunch - there's a buzzer on the table to request service. Place has a couple different rooms and booths to make things a bit more private. Had the negitoro rice bowl and soba noodle combo. Was pretty good - came with a salad, egg custard, soba noodles (can have it cold or hot - had it hot), and the a modest negitoro rice bowl. Everything together was plenty of food - negitoro in particular was delicious. Soba noodles broth was a little salty but def flavorful. I did have a piece of sushi from the person I was eating lunch with - was a little fishy, so wouldn't recommend the sushi. The bowls were delicious though. Would come back for a lunch special. read more

Waraku - Negitoro bowl with soba noodles - Izakaya Near Me - Torrance, California

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We came like 20 minutes before closing and they were nice enough to seat us. The food came out quickly, the service was kind, and the food was delicious. The menu is more catered towards chirashi bowls as opposed to per piece sushi. The fish was fresh, not too much rice, and nice variety especially for the price. I look forward to coming back! read more

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We came across this place on a social media platform and what everyone was talking about this place, we had to check it out. Service was great, we were sifted right away and the server explained food options and fresh fish which were delivered same day. We tried much of different things but mostly sticked with their fresh fish options. Grilled oysters were over the roof and their omakase option gave wide variety of fresh fish option from their "Osaka seafood Market". All the fish from 3 different tuna options, salmon, shrimp, and others were mouth watering and they were super fresh! We also tried their beef bowl and fired chicken and they were absolutely delicious as well. I highly recommend this place and I will be visiting again to taste other food options they have. read more

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Amazing service. Amazing food. Everything is presented like it would be in Japan (with larger portions) and rare cuts of fish and bowls were available. Lunch prices were very reasonable as well. Side note - it was cool that most of the waitresses are actually Japanese and speaks perfect Japanese read more

Waraku - Bluefin Tuna Chutoro and Negitoro Bowl ($24) - Izakaya Near Me - Torrance, California

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Great Izakaya dishes. A5 wagyu meat was melt in your mouth. Enjoyed the mushroom croquettes. 3 kinds of tuna bowl was tasty--especially fatty toro. Imported from Osaka but of course not as good as fresh as eating in Japan but decent. Eggplants were refreshing. Shrimp tempura was alright. Very friendly and attentive service. Nice Japanese ambiance. read more

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One of the better izakaya around the area! After it changed from Wadatsumi to Waraku, we've been coming consistently still because it's just solid good food here. It can be a bit pricey and ever since the change, the portion size seems to have gotten a bit smaller, but there's a lot of gems on the menu that we really like. Their rice bowls are solid options. Beef bowls used to be our favorite but since the change to Waraku, it's not as consistent as before, so we opt for their tuna dons or other seafood dons. The curry here is legit one of the best. Deep savory beef curry that's different from anywhere else. It can easily be over $25 if you add toppings like katsu or menchi katsu but it's one of the items we always get when here. The tempura dishes are great as well, with my favorite being the sakura shrimp kakiage. Tamagoyaki here is one of the better ones in LA also! There's a variety of fish collar you can choose from but my favorite will always be the sea bream if available. Standard sashimi plates can be ordered here and if you want to splurge, they have fish flown in from Osaka on their specials menu, and many times it's seafood you won't see often in the US. If there's bonito that's one I'll always get! Just be warned, it's maybe a few slices for that price! It's also fun to try hot items from the specials as well and generally it's tasty. For lunch, the menu is a bit smaller, and price is a bit lower. Solid sake selection and of course, the usual beer you'd expect. Service has always been solid here. I'd make reservations if coming on the weekends. read more