HIKARI Japanese BBQ & Grill

Food selection was really good. It’s not all you can eat fyi. We got the chef course. The ambience was very intimate not a lot of ppl. The food cooks slow so i would recommend this for business meeting or dates. I came with a family of 4. Overall experience 8/10 thank you again.

Amazing food in an authentic environment. Incredible service. Our waitress was named Asahi and she was very attentive and friendly. My friends had meat that they said was one of the best they’d had (and they are Japanese foodies) but the best part for me was that the chef created a vegetarian experience for me that was fabulous!

So happy we found this restaurant while visiting California! From the outside, it is a bit deceiving. A little run down. But the inside is very nice and I love the setup of the tables. The spring rolls were by far my favorite and we had so much fun cooking our own meat! I just wish the restaurant had better ventilation. By the time we left, we smelt like smoke and my eyes were hurting. The staff was very very friendly and helpful!!

LOVED the food here and the service was great. Everything was fresh and flavorful. The charcoal grill is one of the things that makes this place so special. The charcoal adds a great flavor to the food. We doubled down on the marinated steak and miso chicken. This was the perfect date night spot.

Fixed menu. The meats are more marinated than expected, very delicious. Table next to us was cooking everything at once and the whole place got smoky. Don't do that! Enjoy each piece one by one. Loved that there was a mixed rice bowl with cheese. Perfect amount of food and drinks. Charcoal is the way to go.

I had the best birthday dinner experience at Hikari with my boyfriend. We ordered the $60 omakase set with extra meat and an appetizer. Everything was delicious, and the waiters were amazing! They were so attentive and sweet. It was truly one of the best experiences I've had in Southern California. This place offers authentic Japanese cuisine with great vibes, pricing, and food. I highly recommend it – 12/10!

I've been here two times and each trip has been incredible! If I were a local, I'd be here ALL the time. Wonderful food, top-notch service and really great memories.

Fantastic dining experience! We took the whole family, and everyone enjoyed grilling their own food. It does get a bit smokey depending on what is on the grill, but the food tastes fantastic. Some of the dishes blend southern California flavors (avocado, jalapeno, etc) work Japanese, and there results are outstanding. The servers were friendly and attentive as well. We really enjoyed this restaurant.

Chose this place off of reviews alone. Not realizing it is Omakase, we did not know what to expect. The seating is closed quarters but still with offers the right amount of personal space for yakitori. It was 6 courses and each course did not disappoint. I wished I had taken more photos to share. Every dish served was excellent. (beef tongue, marinated flank steak, rib finger steak and yakiniku to name a few). Our server/ host was very gracious and hospitable (thank you Asahi). I have told others to eat here and I will be back in the future as well.

Upon venturing into the realm of top Japanese BBQ spots in the area, Hikari emerged as a hidden gem on my radar. Its inviting ambiance, characterized by soft lighting and rustic wooden decor, sets the stage for an unforgettable dining experience. Opting for the omakase menu, we embarked on a culinary journey that showcased the essence of Japanese barbecue. From the tantalizing trio of appetizers to the parade of seven meticulously prepared meats, each dish offered a symphony of flavors and textures. The option to savor some meats with and without their signature marinade added an extra dimension to the tasting experience. A delightful surprise awaited us as we savored the succulent wagyu ribeye, a fitting finale to our carnivorous feast. Among the appetizers, the standout was undoubtedly the refreshing cucumber paired with a delectable miso dipping sauce, providing a perfect balance of flavors. Service at Hikari was exemplary, with attentive servers guiding us through the culinary voyage with precision and care. Their detailed explanations of each dish, along with expert advice on cooking times, enhanced our appreciation for the artistry behind Japanese barbecue. Hikari's refined approach to dining now centers exclusively around its omakase experience, offering diners two distinct options to indulge in their culinary mastery. The original omakase, which I had the pleasure of experiencing, boasts a lavish spread of appetizers and meats, meticulously curated to delight the senses. For those seeking a lighter fare, an alternative omakase option presents a streamlined selection, featuring fewer meats and appetizers. However, for those with hearty appetites or specific preferences, Hikari graciously extends the opportunity to supplement the omakase experience with additional meat and appetizer selections from their à la carte menu. This thoughtful flexibility ensures that patrons can tailor their dining experience to their individual tastes and hunger levels, ensuring satisfaction for all discerning palates.

I had the best birthday dinner experience at Hikari with my boyfriend. We ordered the $60 omakase set with extra meat and an appetizer. Everything was delicious, and the waiters were amazing! They were so attentive and sweet. It was truly one of the best experiences I've had in Southern California. This place offers authentic Japanese cuisine with great vibes, pricing, and food. I highly recommend it - 12/10!

We had the omasake for dinner and it was incredible (and a great value). For $60 per person you get an appetizer, 5 kinds of meat, and a rice or noodle dish. Everything tasted delicious- I didn't think I would like tongue, but I even liked that. It's cozy inside with nice music playing, and the server was so sweet.

got a promotion at work so I wanted to celebrate. decided ti treat myself to some Japanese bbq, glad I chose Hikari. great meal and service was great

The service is good, but the food is somewhat overpriced considering its quality and quantity. Additionally, their ventilation system isn't functioning properly.

My friends and I went here recently and had an amazing omakase dinner here. This spot specializes in Japanese bbq but they give very refreshing appetizers and even noodle dishes that are seasonal. To be honest, I don't remember all the meats that I had... but each any every one of them was amazing. I particularly enjoyed the beef tongue. They do allow BYOB with a corkage fee!

Very tasty. Very good value for money. Unique flavors and has a very strong Japanese feel even though they gave interesting fusion flavors. Wish the omakase had some veggies. Large intestine was excellent.

This place is horrible. We have reservations for dinner but still have to wait more than 30 minutes for our table. What's the point of making it a reservation only restaurant if you're not good at making judgements on the service time. And oh yeah, be prepared to have smoke in your face during entire meal because the ventilation system at each table does not work.

The experience here is extraordinary, starting with welcoming and personal service. We planned to order a la carte but got the omakase instead, which was the right choice. The flavors were innovative and the portion generous, and te only quibble I have is that a vegetable course would have been a nice addition. Hikari is the best Japanese BBQ I have experienced in LA, and I have been to many.

My brother and I were looking for something new and happened to notice this restaurant in the Yelp and Tripadvisor listings for 'Restaurants in Lomita'. I have enjoyed the Japanese style of BBQ at several restaurants, and this is by far the best. The cooking happens over Japanese charcoal at the table instead of gas, and the flavor that this imparts is wonderful. I imagine that on a busy night it could get pretty smoky in there, but on the evening that we visited there were only two other tables cooking so it wasn't a problem. We ordered the 'Omakase' menu where the chef selects everything for you based on what he feels is best. We picked a five-meat sampler (and actually received six meats - thanks!). Another gift from the kitchen that we didn't actually order was a bowl of very tasty soup - beef and onions predominated, with some flavors that we couldn't identify but really liked. As for the meats - Most of the beef ones are thinly sliced, so cook with care - you do not want to turn meat of this quality into leather by cooking it too much. I am not normally a fan of beef tongue, but their preparation of it was tender and delicious with a delicate seasoning that complemented the richness of the meat. The lamb chops were of generous size and excellent quality. These came with a harissa sauce on the side that was actually too spicy for this meat in my opinion, but their other table sauce complemented it very well. A brisket with basil seasoning was delicious, as was rump meat with parmesan/garlic preparation. I thought that the freshly grated cheese would fall into the coals and create a flaming mess, but somehow it didn't. A ground beef Japanese-style curry rice side dish had just the right amount of spice heat and was a generous portion. They offer wine, beer, soju and sake - and are very knowledgeable about the sake and soju types. The service was very attentive and friendly, and they were delighted with the smattering of polite Japanese that my brother knew. I will definitely recommend Hikari to friends, and consider it excellent value for the money.

The omakase menu is delicious and keeps us coming back for more. Totally worth the price and just enough food to fill you up. My favorite course is their Japanese curry, so gooood! Also, not to mention the staff here is so sweet!

Finally we were able to give this place a try on our 3rd year anniversary. It was a little bit over post covid, so during that time we had to make reservations and we did not expect to be the only customer during that time. It felt extra special. anyway, the ambiance was perfect for such crlebration. The food was soooo good, I could not remember the names but hands down delicious in every way. Very fresh and the presentation was top notch! Service was professional and was able to explain every dish that comes out. A must try place especially if you're having a special thing.

hello, took my gf here for a special dinner meal. small little restaurant packed with flavor and quality. had the omakase menu and was pleased with the selections. chef cooked us a delicious meal and was all worth it. just let them know first if you have any food allergies. there was so much variety of foods, everything was on par. quality over quantity for sure here. marble beef, wagyu, and kobe beef. it was nice to get a little of everything. however, I wasnt a fan of the gamy or goat meat rack. everything was good though. if you have not tried this spot, I recommend it. enjoy!

Hikari Japanese BBQ is one of the best restaurant for an authentic Japanese Omakase style Yakiniku meal. Takeshi san is an experience chef whom has great knowledge in art of many different style of cuisine. You can tell the taste profile is almost French but also accomodates to Japanese philosophy and adapt to American customers. The seasoning is very relative but also unique taste because he can incorporate different elements of seasoning through salt, garlic, tsuyu (dashi shoyu) and even teriyaki flavor to enhance the natural umami of each dish. The meats have been fully been striped and modified through seasoning and conditioning for its optimal umaminess. You can tell using natural Binchotan (Charcoal) the meat cooks very fast yet retains perfect maillard reaction which creates even more complex flavor from the already seasoned each meat. Maillard reaction requires temperature of 284-330 degrees Fahrenheit which can be achieved easily with the hot binchotan charcoal. Binchotan also helps to create its natural charcoal aroma that adds on to the beef for more authentic country side Japanese Yakiniku. Despite the very reasonable pricing, I can definitely say, I have tried even yakiniku omakase that charged 10x the price of here, and I would still prefer to dine at this restaurant. More than its a hidden gem, its really a true blessing and experience for anyone to come and enjoy this type of well organized umami sensational poetry journey. The end of the course and meal change through times and I really love both of Takeshi san's Pasta and rice dishes. Its super umami goodness all over and you must really just experience this goodness to feel its blessing. This is my one of my best favorite restaurant in the town.

The food was great! It was Smokey but the food and Service made up for it!!! The Ambiance was also very easy on the eyes.

There are no words to describe how wonderful the experience i had at Hikari. The ambience was warm, servers are friendly which make the whole evening so enjoyable. The foods were worth the price. It was one flavorful dish to another. Overall 10/10.

The service here is impeccable. Very friendly and attentive. The food was amazing and scissors to cut meat is very sharp. Had a really great time here and I bet you would too!

They have various takeout menus. I wish they opened earlier but I'm sure for most people 5pm is good enough. Both beef tendon bowl and yakiniku don't were delicious! I wish they added some veggies but the prices are good so can't complain! It almost looked like the portion was modest but when I ate it, I got so full!! When I picked up the food, the restaurant was quiet and I did not really feel welcome but I may be feeling over critical as I never go out in the pandemic and is lacking the carefree interactions with strangers, lol. I recommend trying different appetizers too as they seem affordable too. I am just glad this place is holding up during COVID.

We had the omakase set which came with an appetizer, an assortment of meats and also a Curry rice at the end. The meat quality for the curry was not the best but the meat is delicious and very very tender. I would definitely recommend this place and will come back.

My first time at Japanese BBQ! It was raining so the hot tea and bbq meat felt perfect. I made a reservation the day before, but it looked like there was space for walk-ins, on a weekday night. Only the pre-fixe $70 omakase is offered at this time. The appetizers and meat portions were bite sized, but the entire course was just right for two people without overeating. Some of the meats were a bit fatty. The last pasta dish was full sized, and cooked right in front of us. Service was really great. The atmosphere was mostly quiet, good for a date night. I also saw families seated as well. I would come here again if I was craving bbq.

Loved this place before when it was a La carte. Love it even more now. $70 omakase style with 4 bite size delicious apps, 5 meats, and finish off with their tomato pasta (full size). Every thing was soooo good & worth every penny. There's only 1 chef/owner and he changes up some stuff here and there to keep it fresh & new. Can't wait to come back and try more dishes! Service was great too! We left very full and satisfied :) This place is a hidden gem.. don't know why it's not more packed. Reservations required. Online said it was full but was able to call for one instead.

I am not quite sure where to start, my son wanted to take me out to dinner for my birthday, I let him pick the place. When we arrived, I was impressed at the gracious welcome we received. We were seated immediately and received information about what was being served that night and explanation of the menu at an offer to take our drink order. From that point on, it only got better! The food was excellent! The drinks were excellent! The service was excellently divine. I the quality of the food, the explanation at each course, the entire experience was memorable.

First time here last week, I didn't know how their system worked ( must order Omakase ). I came here because of beef tongue but anyhow their Omakase was good, In my opinion instead of beef pasta, something like spicy ramen would of been better. Nice cold beer, beef quality was good and I ordered extra meat after Omakase, thick cut beef tongue, outside skirt and something else don't recall the name but they were all really good. Waiter was vey attentive I like the vibe here not so crowded, due to preset Omakase and I prefer that, I rather pay more and come here. I'll be coming back!

This place is a hidden gem my friend and I found during the pandemic. The staff are very nice and humble. The food is of top quality and the courses change every so often. It's rare to find a Japanese bbq omakase that is resonantly priced for the quality. Highly recommend, especially since I was told that the chef is getting inspired and enjoys creating and exploring new dishes.

This restaurant is an absolute gem! Due to COVID-19 they currently only serve a phenomenal and reasonably priced omakase menu. The meat quality is impeccable and food presentation is on point. Our waitress, Yuka, was also such a delight and very attentive. Because you grill your own meat on a traditional Japanese grill, it will get a bit smokey. If this is your first time, I recommend asking your server the appropriate amount of time to grill your food. We ordered the shochu cocktails and that was an added plus. They make their grapefruit cocktail with freshly squeezed grapefruit! I highly recommend Hikari and look forward to going back!

Walked in at 8:20pm they said they were closing. Yelp has listed hours open until 10pm

We didn't know it's a omakase when we entered the restaurant but the staff was pretty nice and patiently explained. We decided to stay and the food was stunning! It's the best meal I ever had! I only hope they can make the fans of the air filter faster because sometimes there's too much smoke inside the restaurant when too many groups of guests are inside

Amazing! I took my husband here for his birthday and we were both blown away. The food and service was amazing. We dined on a weekday and omakase was our only option. The appetizers were a chef's special, so you won't find it on the menu, which is unfortunate because it was so delicious! We also ordered a few extra items, but in all honesty we didn't have to and still would have left feeling very full. It is a bit on the pricey side, but very well worth it. We'll definitely be back!

Amazing food! Love this place and hope to come back soon. The appetizers and meat were exceptional.

The meat omakase is amazing. Very premium meats. Every cut was delicious with great flavor. The wagyu ribeye cut was divine. The waiter was very attentive and nice. I had a great experience. Highly recommend.

Excellent experience at HIKARI. Quality cuts of meat and a fantastic experience grilling over binchotan coals. Friendly staff and reasonable price. Highly recommend it.

One of the best restaurants in So Cal. This restaurant has been my favorite for a few years. I have been here before Covid, during Covid and now. Right now, they are serving Omakase style. The chef is amazing. My favorite has been the edamame tofu - the texture is like Mochi or almost mozzarella fresh cheese. The smoke tongue - this restaurant knows their tongue meat. My #1 favorite is the mojito pasta at the end. I always request whenever I go there. It is so refreshing after all the meats. They are a small restaurant with not many staffs. But their services are good and friendly.

The rating is for the Omakase course. Although the food looked fresh and presentation were nice, the selection of the meat was not really aligning with what we paid for $70/person. Some of the meat came with fat as the majority of the portion. While the meat were cut in small pieces, you end up with full of fatty oil in the mouth without any taste of the meat. Some with lots of tendon that you can barely separate it from the meat. The spaghetti served in the last of course was too salty to taste the real flavor of the food. The most important thing was my wife not feeling well after the meal that night and suffered from stomach ache. Really Disappointed!

This is the best Japanese BBQ I've been to!! The quality of meat is perfect, and you can choose your own way to grill the meat. The meat is spot on, thick, chunky in portion, and timed right on the dot. Must ordered: **Prime Thick cut beef tongue **Tongue Kalbi ** Hanging tender ** Boneless short rib ** Outside skirt steak ** Hikari House salad: a great companion for BBQ meat. Tried some new dishes: **Burrata Cheese w/Sauteed beef: very innovative dish! The combination of Burrata cheese and basil sauce worked concordantly. ** Deep Fried Chicken wing

Very good food and very testy and service very good I will definitely come back love so much

My husband and I came here because we received a gift certificate. Our usual go to Japanese BBQ is Tamaen or Manpuku. The time we went was on a Sat night and they were only offering the pre-set dinner course for $60/person. Compared to the meat quality of Tamaen and Manpuku, Hikari wasn't that great. Their beef tongue was very chewy and sliced on the thicker side. The only meat we actually enjoyed eating from the pre-set dinner course was short rib, skirt steak, and the flank steak. Therefore, I'm rating a 3 star since we did like 3 types of their meat cuts. We probably would not go back there again.

Man, I REALLY hate, hate, HATE this place! I can't believe how it has ruined my culinary life. I mean, I can't even go to regular AYCE barbecue anymore after eating such high quality meat. We had an omakase dinner, which was our only option for this particular weeknight, and man, the chef was spot on! The prosciutto/cheese cream/kiwi app was so refreshing with flavors that interestingly worked superbly together. All of the barbecue meats were so rich and flavorful. Honestly, omakase will get you full, but my wife and I didn't know and ordered two extra meats and a chicken liver pate and cucumber/meat sauce app. Everything was just SO tasty. Boy, were we full by the end of the meal. Little did we know, the omakase also included cheese beef curry which the friendly server whipped together at our table in a hot stone bowl. Perhaps my ONLY minor critique is that some of the marinated meats were a bit on the salty side. Other than that, the meal was perfect! Trust me, this place will make you think twice about eating typical AYCE barbecue ever again. My stupid taste buds have been elevated. I hate you, Hikari!

Right when you walk in you'll notice tabletop grills and hood ventilation. Forget about them, they don't work... or at least they choose not to use them. Haven't really decided whether thats a good thing or not. The reviews are correct though, it can get smoky due to the poor ventilation... just be prepared. Each table will get their own hibachi style charcoal grill which I think is cool. This place goes for quality over quantity. So if you're looking for quantity, then you should probably just go to an AYCE place since the grill isn't that big. All the meats that we got though were pretty good. Thick Cut Beef Tongue (4.5): Not your typical beef tongue. They cut it in small cubes and score it which makes it cook nicely. Boneless Short Rib (5): Nicely marbled. Super high quality. One of those cuts that just melt in your mouth. I'd get this every time. Hanging Tender (3.5): Decent. Good quality but I think we were just spoiled from the short rib. Still a very good cut, just leaner. Chefs special flank steak (4): Very good if you have one charcoal right on the top of the grill to char the meat. If you can char it without overcooking, you get some amazing flavors. Stone Roasted Tomato Risotto (5): What a compliment to the meal! Honestly we weren't expecting much but was happily surprised. The cheese, the tomato, the rice, they all just went well together. All in a sizzling stone pot to keep it hot. Deep Fried Chicken Wings (3): Like a traditional karaage chicken dish. Batter is light. I feel like the chicken could have been better though. Not sure if it was the flavor of the batter or the quality of the chicken. I've had better elsewhere though. Overall we enjoyed our evening. Service was good. Quality of the meats were fantastic. Wish there were sets to choose from but we managed a la carte. Probably get a salad or another side next time.

Quality meats. They prepare meats very well. The service is good and very Japanese style. I love the Japanese yakiniku sauce.

I love coming to Hikari with my dad for pre-covid dinners. The meat quality is superb and the service is excellent! I decided to try their takeout menu this week and I was impressed - affordable and delicious. I ordered quite a few items for 2 people. The portions were a good size and we were able to enjoy it for dinner and then leftovers for lunch the next day. Total was just under $60 (tax included), which means approximately $15 per meal. Great deal! Takeout service was easy, efficient, safe, and a lot of gratitude was expressed by the staff. Appetizers: 1. Cucumber Sticks with Homemade Miso Dipping Sauce 2. Stir-fired Pork Belly & Eringi/Eryngii Mushrooms (AKA king oyster mushrooms) with Miso Butter Sauce 3. Burrata Cheese with Slice Tomato & Basil Beef Entree Bowls: 1. Beef Tendon Stew Bowl 2. Beef Tongue Stew Bowl 3. BBQ Beef Bowl

Hubbers and I had our hearts set to have dinner at another Japanese BBQ spot for our SunDate fun date, but were disappointed to find them closed 2 hours earlier than posted hours. (Didn't make sense to us given it was a long weekend and crowds were bumpin' up around the area.) Since I really had a taste for it, we did our individual search on Yelp and found this place. Yeah, it was about 20 minutes away, but we didn't mind. Hubbers secured a table for us via the Yelp app. Maybe because it was closer to closing time, but there were tons of parking spots available. We were reassured they had our reservations and were seated immediately. Since it's both our first time, we took a bit longer to decide what to have for dinner. While doing so, however, OH, the amount of smoke this small place was amassing! Being seated three tables from the open front door, the smoke emitting off the grills from the other two tables on our side had nowhere to go but waft through our table. I found that a bit bothersome as my eyes started to water. I was convinced their vents weren't working in their most optimum. I saw the smoke from across the room just lurking around them rather than getting sucked out. I looked at the vents above us and found the same results. We tried not to let it distract, so when our server came around, we asked if each or any of the orders came with anything. We were told everything is by individual orders only. So, we each started with a pint of beer as well as kimchee and cucumber with dipping miso sauce. The kimchee we mostly saved to have with our grilled items. The cucumber with dipping miso sauce is exactly what it was: slices of cucumber with some miso paste. It didn't really do anything to our palates. I thought it wasn't worth it, so not recommending that. Thick cut beef tongue was a must for us and that was impressive. Really great chew and flavor after a bit of grilling. The hangar and flank steak were also pretty up there in terms of quality and taste. But my ultimate favorite was the boneless short ribs. It had an almost-perfect symphony of meat and fat. We liked it enough to put in a second order. The charcoal grill does make a difference when it comes to taste! We put in an order of Hikari salad which they forgot about. Hubbers and I realized it was missing when we were already way too deep into our dinner, so we made it sure it was cancelled. FOOD: 4 SERVICE: 3 VALUE: 2.5 (A bit pricier than what we're used to, especially for the starters.) PARKING: 5 OVERALL: 3 It was a good experience, although I'm not sure I'd come back. There are too many places closer to home that are more inexpensive for similar offerings. And the lack of ventilation was enough of a deterrent. I understand that's the aftermath of having a charcoal grill, but... ... if only those vents did a better job, then maybe... JUST maybe...

Everything was absolutely excellent except for one major inconvenience which shouldn't have been a problem with a restaurant of this stature. That problem was the very poor ventilation. Thick smoke was everywhere throughout the restaurant and my party and I constantly had to fan the smoke away from our eyes as we cooked our delicious food. Minus 2 stars for this, otherwise 5 star place.

They serve charcoal bbq, and they use the little charcoal grill which is very traditional. And for now they only serve omakase, it's 60 dollar per person. And it's out of my expectations. Really, I did not think that I would be surprised by this restaurant before I came. First of all, the service is good, very nice and thoughtful. Secondly, the house "tofu" is so good. It is not real tofu actually, it taste kind of like Mochi, and it has wasabi which makes the whole flavor totally special. The waitress told us that the house tofu is made from whipped cream and some kind of powder. And the meat is ok. The arrangement of the courses is very thoughtful and resonable. And the course finished with a cold noodle, which cleanse everything. Very nice! Totally worth it.

I do not have a BBQ, so when I crave grilled meat, I either have to go to a restaurant or convince a friend to fire up their (usually gas) grill. Hikari may be a bit out of the way, but every bite of grilled meat I ate was a mouthwatering morsel of tender juicy happiness. The grills here are not gas powered, so the flavor of whatever you grill has the added carbon component. If you allow you meats to sit on the grill (they provide metal tongs and scissors) until they are properly seared, you will be rewarded with flavors that will make you smile:) I chose the thick cut beef tongue for $13, which was scored and marinated before being brought to my table. Once on the grill, the fat dripped into the coals and resulted in a gorgeous result. I was still hungry so asked my waiter whether he suggested the ball tip or the hanger and he said hanger for $10, so that is what I chose for my next course. It was a much larger serving than the tongue and it came with a ginger and scallion sauce for the meat to be put on after grilling. Hanger is one of my favorite cuts of meat, and this was perfectly marbled quality meat that may convert any filet mignon lover into a hanger lover. Hikari was so good, I had to go back with friends, so that I could taste more of the items on the menu. I went back the next week with two non-Asian friends who are foodies (and not intimidated being the only non-Asians in a restaurant). We started with the fried chicken, a nice rendition, nothing exceptional, nothing amiss. On my recommendation ,we ordered the thick cut tongue and hanging tender, which they loved :) We had to order a vegetable, so we chose the stuffed mushrooms, and we were glad we had eaten other items because it took awhile for these to cook....But they were worth the time to get a burst of cheese, garlic, and mushroom in a juicy bite! So many Yelp reviews raved about the carbonara that we had to try it. With pork belly and watercress, this delectable combo was the epitome of great fusion on a plate:) The last order of the night took the longest to get to our table, but it was worth the wait for the rib fingers. Rib fingers are the pieces of meat between rib bones, so they are the meat you love usually attached to ribs you gnaw, but at Hikari, you get the meat sans bones in their fatty, wonderful moist pureness with a side of minced garlic to enhance the grilled meat. I don't know how we made it out the door, but after 5 orders and 2 large Sapporos for the adults and a soda for the teen, our bill was only $100 including tax and tip. Our waitress came outside as we walked out to thank us for visiting :) I am sure will will be regular visitors!

My friends all vouched that this was the BEST Japanese bbq that they have ever had... After finally trying Hikari for my first time, I was blown away by how delicious everything was!! My bf & I have had Japanese bbq in Japan, and I can say that Hikari is almost up to par! The meats we ordered were all perfectly seasoned! Each bite you take wIll just melt in your mouth! You can definitely taste the quality of the meat! I loved the fact that each meat dish came with a different type of seasoning that pairs well with that meat! So, it doesn't taste like you're repeating eating the same flavor over and over again! What we ordered: (We asked the server to order everything that was popular! Everything that he recommended was amazing!) - Hanging tender - Outside skirt steak - Thick cut beef tongue - Boneless short rib - Rib fingers - Sautéed pork belly & mushroom w/ miso butter - Spicy ramen - Stone roasted bibimbap - Beef tataki The only issue I had with Hikari was the fact that it's a bbq restaurant, but their ventilation was crappy! It was so smokey my eyes started to water. I also felt like I still smelled like bbq even after my shower hahaha Other than that, the service was great and the food was to die for! On a side note: we came for a friend's birthday, and I thought it was super adorable that the waiter put a candle on the meat they shaped into a rose! I wish I had a picture to show you all!! For a group of 15 the total bill came out to about $1k

Tonight was my first time here and I fell in love with everything! Five star service, five star food and atmosphere. The waiter was so sweet and told us about all the different meats! I will be back again

***Authentic Japanese BBQ Restaurant*** I'm not quite done reviewing all of the places I went to on my recent Japan trip, but I stopped in here this past Sunday for a late night dinner and had an exceptional time. HIKARI Japanese BBQ & Grill is the real deal! I highly recommend this place to ALL. Came here around 9pm this past Sunday night. I was in the area, hungry, and took to my trusty Yelp bookmarks to find us a place to eat dinner. As it was late on a Sunday, I wasn't optimistic that I'd be able to find a great place to eat at, but lo and behold, I found one of the best finds in a long while! When we arrived, the place was packed! That was the first surprise of the night. No available tables at 9pm on a Sunday night? Wow, this place must be good. The restaurant itself is fairly small, but decent enough to accommodate a few large parties, if needed. There was a wild one going on at one side of the restaurant. The atmosphere was very lively and festive. A great place to party at, no doubt. The clientele all seemed to be Japanese, which was a great sign of authenticity. We'd later confirm that authenticity is definitely the case here. There was a 5-10 minute wait, but before we knew it, we were seated and ready to rumble. The menu was mouthwatering, and I was starving. We ended up going all out. Our order included marinated flank steak with mayo sauce ($12.80), 2 orders of SAGARI/hanging tender ($10.80/each), SHINSHIN Steak/Ball tip steak ($13.80), Kalbi/Boneless short rib ($13.89), Kalbi Sudare Yaki/Marinated short plate steak ($13.80), SHINSHIN Tataki/Beef tataki ($9.80), YUDE GYUTAN/Braised beef tongue with wasabi, a couple ramens, edamame ($4.80), rice, a few pitchers of Sapporo ($16.50/each), and more. We tried pretty much all of the recommended dishes here, and consequently left extremely satisfied. All of the beef was delicious. My favorites were the hanging tender steak and beef tataki. I really enjoyed the fresh salt and real wasabi they had to further flavor the cooked meats. Service was out of this world. Our waitress, who actually is from Japan, was seriously the best! She did a great job and was extremely friendly. She made it a truly unforgettable experience. One of the best waitresses I've ever had! If you're deciding between trying this restaurant or another, definitely go with this one. It will not disappoint. Having recently got back from a culinary-rich vacation in Japan filled with fine dining, this restaurant is the only one so far that's been able to satisfy me. The food here is authentic and real. Even the wasabi, which was top notch and very fresh. It's unfortunate that I never really make it to this part of town, because I'd definitely be a regular here if I lived or worked closer. Do not wait any longer - go ahead and give this place a try!

This place is so good!!! We made a reservation thru yelp but it was empty when we got there anyway, surprisingly. This place must be one of those hidden gems that nobody knows about. The servers give exceptional service; from explaining the items on the menu to making sure we were enjoying everything. I can't quite remember everything we ordered since I wasn't the one doing the ordering but definitely go with what the servers recommend because it doesn't disappoint!

It was only omakase for 60 dollars per person. It was really good and filled me up, but if you want more food, they offer you more meat as an option if you're a really big eater. Meat quality is very good and appetizers are great, I'm probably not the best to compare to other places as I'm somewhat new to eating the Torrance area and mostly go to korean bbq. Meat quality is up there though.