36 Best Japanese Restaurants in Torrance

“Excelent food ! Great place !“

“Good taste noodle, great customer service! interesting old Torrance neighborhood.“

“This place is incredible. I’m honestly shocked it doesn’t have more reviews or a Michelin star. My wife took me here for Father’s Day and it was just fantastic food. We eat at places all over the world, and we’re in Japan in March, and this was still a super special experience. Thank god it is 10 minutes down the road haha“

“Really liked this place. It offers quick prep moderately priced sushi that tastes good for moderately priced sushi. The only weakness was the shrimp nigari which was skimpy on the shrimp. My meal included miso soup, salad and roll, wrap & funnel sushi. I had 2 bites of the roll and drank some soup before I took the picture. I was hungry!“

“We don’t visit the South Bay often but when we do, it’s a must to Yelp and find someplace new to eat. In search of a Japanese restaurant that offered a menu loaded with options and was both fast and affordable, we lucked out when we discovered Hoka Hoka Express. This place is everything Japanese wrapped all into one - food, beverages (leaded & unleaded), snacks, porcelain teacups, tote bags, cute collectibles, you name it!

I can’t say I’ve ever been to a restaurant that offered a menu item like the Normandie - salmon, spicy tuna, shrimp tempura, spicy ponzu, spicy mayo and served over your choice of base. I went with the Half & Half which was a mix of sushi rice and spring mix. So good! The only reason I didn’t award a five star was due to the service. The woman who was working the counter was not overly friendly, so maybe she was new or was having a bad day. Regardless, I highly recommend a visit to Hoka Hoka Express for all things Japanese!“

“They offer a wide variety of dishes, ranging from traditional Chinese cuisine to creative Western cuisine, and there are many surprising combinations. In addition, the restaurant pays attention to the selection of raw materials and the innovation of cooking techniques to ensure that each dish can bring you the most extreme taste experience“

“I've been to several Marugame locations, and I like this one because it is very spacious and in a great location. Service is always consistent.

That said, I'm glad that I came back to a lovely surprise. For a very short period of time, the Nikutama Curry Udon, a huge customer favorite was taken off the menu. I'm happy to say that it has returned after much customer feedback. Thank you to the CEO for listening to the uproar and for reverting the menu to include this dish again. There were enough fans of that udon bowl who were ready to choose violence, so I hope it returns permanently.

If you haven't tried the Nikutama Curry Udon, it's a must-try at least once. You will not regret it.“

“Delicious, great value, and great service. Katsu Bar is an Asian fusion fast-casual restaurant with a bunch of well-priced options for lunch and dinner. We had the chicken katsu curry udon, the tteokbokki, and the rosemary pork katsu sando. Portion sizes were solid as well.“

“Indoor👍🏼👍🏼we opted for it but was surprised when they ushered us to the back portion of the restaurant. It makes you feel like you really are in an authentic Japanese Izakaya restaurant.“

“Love this place!! Favorite restaurant in the Mitsuwa food court. The prices are amazing, especially for the kake udon, it's only $5.95 even after the recent small price increase. Their weekday lunch special is also such great value, around $10 for a kake udon + 3 tempura/yakitori. The service is quick, and the employees there are so polite and kind. Great place all around. It can be a bit difficult to find parking sometimes though, especially on weekends.“

“Authentic, high quality yakitori restaurant with a large Japanese clientele. We arrived at the restaurant at 6:45pm on a Sunday and the restaurant was full except for the 1 table we had reserved. We tried most of the chicken yakitori selections, and a few of the beef, pork and fish ones as well as the vegetables. They were all good and comparable to the high end yakitori restaurants in New York City. The service was friendly and efficient, considering there were only 2 people covering the entire restaurant. Overall a good yakitori restaurant.“

“Good food, good service, plenty for everyone“

“Great place to hang out with friends! It’s our first visit so didn’t realize it’s more like a bar than restaurant -.- we ordered too much… the roasted chicken is soooo good! We ordered garlic rice as a side of roasted chicken. And all fired dishes are highly recommended! People at next table order grapefruit drinks and smells so good! Already plan to go a second time and order the grapefruit drink!

2nd review: Add one more pic for grapefruit drink & orange soda! Yes we went there again“

“it was yakitori and izakaya place. it was sooo nice and good. it's pricey though, but that's what fine dining is right..!? so i think it is pretty good, to come with famz or colleagues 😃👍🥰“

“No dress code, friendly staff and good food.“

“I visited for lunch and really enjoyed the experience. While having a happy hour beer, I ordered the steak and pasta. The steak was cooked to a perfect medium rare, and the sauce had a familiar, comforting flavor that reminded me of Japanese cuisine. I truly appreciated being able to enjoy this kind of taste in the U.S.

The atmosphere was calm and relaxing, making it a very pleasant place to spend time. I would highly recommend this restaurant.“

“the chicken katsu was thicc!! btw the manager is hella sexy XD“

“On a Monday night with no leftovers at home, I decided to check out Komatsu in Torrance after a friend recommended it. I headed there straight after work, but I would highly recommend making a reservation for your visit. They only seem to operate for about three hours for lunch and another three hours for dinner. The restaurant is run entirely by a Japanese husband-and-wife duo—the husband cooking and the wife serving—so things move a bit slowly, but you just have to be patient because the food is incredible! 🕒🍱

The place smells amazing, and the cozy interior feels exactly like a local neighborhood restaurant in Japan. The menu is quite diverse, mostly focusing on comforting Japanese teishoku (set meals) served with rice. It honestly feels like the kind of meal a Japanese grandmother would prepare for you, where every bit of the experience relies entirely on amazing, authentic flavor. Just a heads-up on the service: they are definitely not unfriendly, but do not expect the typical, hyper-friendly American style of service. They let the food do the talking. 🏡🥢

We ordered the #6 Hamburg Steak with Demi-Glace Sauce Combo, the #15 Black Pork Cutlet Combo, the #19 Black Pork Steak with Stamina Sauce Combo, and the spicy tomato appetizer. Not a single dish disappointed us. Everything was absolutely delicious, and the Stamina Sauce on the pork steak was a massive highlight. I am already looking forward to returning soon to try their Oyakodon! 🥩🍅“

“Food is not bad. Grill is very small - good for 2 people but not for 3 or more.
Ventilation is pretty bad, your hair and clothes won’t survive the bbq odor with smoke directly hovering into your face most of the time. Some people might actually enjoy this dinning experience, but definitely not for all.
Price is on the higher side, quality is fine, overall value is average.“

“We stopped in for lunch yesterday. Service was friendly and we were told about the March California rolls special. Portions were big and the rolls were so fresh. Will definitely be back, they even have a dog friendly outdoor seating area, with fresh water for your pups!
Such a cute little hidden gem 🍱“

“The server was so Great. He is so respectful, attentive and helpful. He gives suggestions of what I will order being my first time in Wadatsumi. Thank you very much for the Awesome service.😊 I'll definitely come back with my friends.💯“

“Great food 🍱 and great service!! Really awesome place“

“When you think about authentic Japanese noodle houses from the movies, this place is what probably will come to mind. Servers and entire staff were very friendly and welcoming. Food came quick and was very good. This would be my go-to sushi spot to bring friends just to show off the atmosphere. Highly recommend if you're looking for a good place to eat.“

“I originally learned about Red Rock when I was in Japan. A local girl told me about this roast beef place that serves this tower of thinly sliced roast beef with a horseradish yogurt sauce.

I don't even like horseradish, so that didn't exactly sell me lol, but somehow the sauce doesn't really taste the way I expected and the whole thing works.

So when I found out there was a Red Rock in Torrance, obviously I had to see how it compared.

I came right when they opened, so it wasn't busy. They make everything fresh to order and even have a sign telling you to be patient. I ordered the smaller roast beef bowl and added the egg. Still good, and the egg definitely makes it better.

But the surprise was the hamburger steak.

It was only around $13, and normally this isn't something I'd get excited about. I'm usually not a huge fan of giant meatball/meatloaf-type things because I feel like the inside never has enough flavor. Then this came out covered in this super dark gravy and I wasn't expecting much.

It was bomb.

I actually think I liked the hamburger steak more than the roast beef, which I absolutely wasn't expecting. The roast beef is still good, but I'm really glad I tried something different instead of only ordering what I already knew.

There were several other things I wanted to try, including the omurice, so I'll definitely be back. There's also a dessert place next door that I need to investigate next time because apparently one stop wasn't enough lol.“

“If you want a hand roll sushii that tastes like it was made just for you, this is the spot. Every hand roll is crafted with care—fresh, balanced, and bursting with flavor. The fish quality rivals high-end omakase, but at half the price.

What really sets them apart? The service. Staff are warm, knowledgeable, and happy to guide you through the menu. They remember regulars and treat everyone like family.

For the price-to-quality ratio, you simply can’t beat it. Quick, fresh, and unforgettable. Will be back weekly!!“

“I’ve been coming to Yamaya for years, back when dinner was the reason to visit. The quality of the beef has always been solid and while I still think places like Manpuku are a little more memorable, Yamaya has never really disappointed me.

These days, though, it’s lunch that keeps bringing me back. In a city where fifteen dollars barely buys a sandwich, Yamaya somehow serves one of the best lunch specials in the South Bay. It isn’t trying to impress you with theatrics. It simply gets the fundamentals right.

The yakiniku is grilled just enough to pick up a little char without drowning in sauce. A few thicker pieces can be slightly chewy, but the flavor is consistently balanced. The salad is simple, the miso soup is comforting even if it’s usually closer to warm than hot and then there’s the rice.

The rice deserves its own paragraph. Perfectly cooked, unlimited refills and paired with unlimited mentaiko and house pickles, it’s the kind of combination that makes you slow down and wonder whether another bowl is really such a bad idea. It’s simple food executed with enough confidence that it doesn’t need to hide behind unnecessary complexity.

The service has been a little inconsistent over the years, but on this visit it reminded me why hospitality still matters. Our server was warm, attentive and genuinely welcoming without feeling rehearsed. The restaurant was calm, a Japanese family chatted quietly at the next table and for an hour lunch felt refreshingly unhurried.

Is this the best yakiniku I’ve ever had? No. Is it one of the best values I’ve found in Los Angeles? Absolutely.

Some restaurants chase spectacle. Yamaya earns repeat customers instead. That’s a much harder thing to build. One of the lunch deals I recommend most often in the South Bay.“

“Best place in town! Thank you Yoshisan! 💙 he’s BIG DODGER FAN LIKE ME! DODGER MEMORABILIA GALORE IN SMALL RESTAURANT!💙⚾️🤙“

“Always friendly staff and great food.“

“Great Japanese restaurant in the Miyoko Hybrid Hotel (never stayed at the hotel) in the Torrance area.

This restaurant is a great place for family gatherings, and has excellent Japanese food, service and classy ambiance. Plenty of free parking in the lot, as well as food selection. We only go to the restaurant to dine, but I have noticed on multiple occasions that this is a popular place for international Japanese flight crew to stay at while staying overnight in Los Angeles/LAX.“

“Been going to Yogi for a long time. It's a great place for a simple healthy meal. Honestly, lots of times when I don't know what to eat or just don't have time to prepare I'll head over to Yogi's for a meal.

Small parking lot, but I've never seen this lot full so it's nice and easy. Service is quick and the staff is always very friendly and accommodating to requests. The place is small and but enough sitting and very clean.

Call me basic or predictable, but I'll always get their chicken veggie plate with sauce on the side. Eat the chicken and rice with your preferred amount of teriyaki sauce and chili and it's a satisfying meal. The veggies are well prepared, not overly cooked at all. It's a very balanced meal and usually with the plate, I'll have some for another meal.

Great place for teriyaki meals in the South Bay“

“The food here is DELICIOUS. Came here on a whim with some friends and really love how lightly salted the food is, tempura is yummy, and the Carlos Jewel Box is iconic. Sapporo is draft and crisp with easy parking to enter and great service. I never give a 5/5 but this one is it. Will be back!“

“Good taste noodle, great customer service! interesting old Torrance neighborhood.“

“I'm the kind of person who makes homemade pasta at home and thinks it's a waste of money to eat pasta out unless at a really high end place or here. Their pasta is amazing.

I saw another review about this place as an alternative to Pasta Unico and was offended because that place is absolute garbage, 1 star, compared to Pasta Stories.

Honestly I sometimes choose this Tokyo Central over other markets so I can tempt myself to eat here when buying groceries. I recommend ordering, then shopping, and eating because they do make it fresh and carefully.

Don't sleep on it and please come eat here because I never want it to close ever. Also it's extremely cheap for what you get. I'd pay 3x for the Ehime2.“

“Fresh sashimi and nigiri with good selection of sake and beer“

“Japanese no shoes table experience“

“Food was delicious. 👍😋👍😋👍“