Need Japanese Rec - OC or Southbay?

[Lau]

I'm coming home in a few weeks and I can't decide where I should take my grandmother and the rest of the family for japanese food. I've been searching around and I'm kind of overthinking it and can't decide now

Here's what i'm looking for:
- Type: don't want sushi, ramen or udon (sushi is too difficult with the amt of people i want to bring, ramen and udon are really individual dish type things....even though all love the previously mentioned I don't think it will suit this family dinner)
- Price: doesn't really matter, care more about quality of food; want good authentic japanese food (language isn't an issue although it usually isn't an issue anyhow at japanese restaurants)
- Geography: would prefer OC or Southbay (torrance, gardena etc), I'm coming from newport beach, so while I could do LA, I'd prefer something slightly closer (although if u've got the best thing since sliced bread happy to hear)
- Time: If there is something open for lunch that would be easier, but I could swing dinner (I'm trying to fit as many meals as possible into a fairly busy schedule over a few days)

Exilekiss - u have any good ideas?

[Lau]

i ended up going to Azuma b/c Torihei was totally booked when i tried to go (i was so disappointed...it is top of my list when i come home in a couple months)

here's my report:
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/6160...

[exilekiss]

Hi Lau,

Oh, welcome back to LA. :) Some nice, traditional, good Japanese food with the requirements you listed for the family...

* Izakaya Bincho - Call ahead and book as much space as you need. Just great Izakaya food, made-from-scratch. Wonderful. :)

* Torihei - Yakitori / Kushiyaki / Kyoto-style Oden! See the recent Chowhound thread for more details. Great, great place. :)

* Kagura - Koryouri-ya, Tokyo style. A nicer, fancier place (still good food). They have a private room available IIRC, and they serve one of the better Kaiseki meals (they have individual dishes / Koryouri-ya style).

* Yuzu - Washoku-ya. More down-to-earth, homestyle Japanese dishes. Nice, quiet little setting.

* Kappo Hana - nice little place down in South OC. Call ahead for their Kaiseki meals that are really affordable. Ambiance / setting are not so good (basic hole-in-the-wall), but some good dishes if you're in the area. They are open for Lunch as well, but don't have the full menu (unless you make special arrangements perhaps).

* Otafuku - The beloved Izakaya in Gardena has some nice dishes, but it's a small space, so call ahead as well. They also close early.

* Komatsu - My favorite Tempura Specialist currently. They can be slow at times, but if you love Tempura this place makes a nice version of it.

Let me know if there's some type of cuisine you want to hone in on. :)

-----
Komatsu
1644 W Carson St, Torrance, CA 90501

Otafuku
16525 S Western Ave, Gardena, CA

Kappo Hana
25260 La Paz Rd A, Laguna Hills, CA 92653

Yuzu Restaurant
1231 Cabrillo Ave, Torrance, CA 90501

Kagura
1652 Cabrillo Ave., Torrance, CA 90501

Izakaya Bincho
112 N International Boardwalk, Redondo Beach, CA 90277

Torihei
1757 W. Carson Street, Torrance, CA 90501

[sbritchky]

EK, I have the opposite problem. I'll be in the Torrance area later this week and want to try Torihei, especially their Kyoto-fu oden, after reading your wonderful review. You and your friends had so many great dishes. Is it possible to get a good cross-section of their cuisines in a solo meal without being carried out on a stretcher? ;-) Thanks. -SB

[OCAnn]

At Torihei, you order by the number of pieces, so if you order one each (of whatever you choose) and don't eat lunch before you go, you should be okay. BTW, I went w/a group of four and still wasn't able to try everything. There might be somethings you can order and take home to try later (like the cold dishes).

[exilekiss]

Hi sbritchky,

Oh, very nice! :) As OCAnn said, luckily Torihei has most items by the skewer (Yakitori) / individual piece (Oden), so feel free to try 1 order of a variety of items. It's nicely flexible that way and you should be able to get a nice taste of the menu. :) I hope you enjoy your visit. :)

[sbritchky]

Thanks, Ann and EK! I'll let you know how it goes.

[Lau]

awesome - ure the best

i looked up them up on your blog and i'm going to go on a sunday, so half of them aren't open (komatsu?, kappo hana, bincho and torihei are all open)...is komatsu open on sundays? i'm going to go to one of them....they all look awesome

[exilekiss]

Hi Lau,

Thanks; I'm just trying to help. :)

If you haven't been to any of them, I'd recommend starting out with Izakaya Bincho and Torihei first, and then work down the list. Both of those 2 are open on Sundays for sure. Be sure to call ahead and reserve a table. Enjoy~

[Lau]

awesome...im leaning toward torihei since i really like oden although bincho sounds good too

[JEN10]

I love Bincho!!! The food, the service, the drooling just thinking about it.

[annerene]

GINA LEE'S! Japanese food with a fresh twist- My Japanese in-laws loved it! Their bento boxes and fish are fantastic!
211 Palos Verdes Blvd
Redondo Beach, CA 90277

Of course, The area around PCH/ Crenshaw has some great more traditional Japanese restaurants, but Gina Lee's bistro is a delightful change of pace.

[eezerik]

Musha in Gardena or TSURUHASHI in OC off Brookhurst.
best in the early evening.....5:30/6pm

[Lau]

damn it, i saw musha, but forgot about this post and didn't try it (torihei was all booked)