Koshiji

Japanese restaurant · Torrance

Koshiji

Japanese restaurant · Torrance

2

22807 Hawthorne Blvd, Torrance, CA 90505

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Koshiji by Christina C./Yelp
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Highlights

Pit stop for small Japanese dishes & meat skewers cooked on a charcoal grill, plus beer & sake.  

Featured in Eater
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22807 Hawthorne Blvd, Torrance, CA 90505 Get directions

koshijiusa.com
@yakitorikoshiji

$30–50 · Menu

Information

Static Map

22807 Hawthorne Blvd, Torrance, CA 90505 Get directions

+1 310 378 3787
koshijiusa.com
@yakitorikoshiji

$30–50 · Menu

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Last updated

Jul 11, 2025

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@eater

"Yakitori is one of the best forays into Japanese drinking cuisine. This tiny strip mall spot checks many of the boxes, with high-quality chicken and other meats grilled over binchotan. Order up some beer, pick up a bunch of skewers, and enjoy a post-work meal the Japanese way." - Matthew Kang

The South Bay’s 17 Finest Japanese Restaurants
View Postcard for Koshiji
@eater

"A small yakitori and kushiyaki den in a large Torrance strip mall, this is one of the South Bay’s most legit Japanese skewer specialists. What’s special about Koshiji is that each skewer gets a gentle smoky flavor while focusing on the quality of the meat. The tradeoff is that much of the saucing is up to the diner at the table — a hit of lemon juice, a dip into mustard, or savory house sauce. —Matthew Kang" - Farley Elliott, Crystal Coser

Meat on a Stick Always Wins at LA’s Best Yakitori Spots - Eater LA
View Postcard for Koshiji

Zoe Robertson

Google
FIVE STAAAAARS!! One of the best grilled chicken in Torrance! The atmosphere inside is like a Japanese tavern and they have a large selection of items, other than yakitori, they also have soboro rice bowls, and many mooore!!! A MUST VISIT!!!

Jeff Tong

Google
What feels to be a hidden gem. We went late in the evening and it was pretty empty, no reservations needed. Seated at the bar, we had a perfect view of the grill master meticulously tending to each skewer. Most pieces were unfortunately cooked well done and lacking a juiciness, maybe it could benefit from hotter coals. Our favorite pieces were the pork belly and grilled smelt. The service was friendly and quick. The ambiance had a coziness like stepping into a local izakaya on the streets of Japan.

P RANNA

Google
Japanese Yakitori and beer. Nuff said. Always on my list when im in Torrance since its an authentic izakaya and friends love this place. Reservations recommended since this place packs and is rather small. Grab the checklist and write down what to order and enjoy as the freshly grilled meats and vegetables arrive at your table🤙Wish they would open later but it is what it is. 5 stars👍👍

RJ St.Thomas

Google
This is the best yakitori restaurant in California! It may seem like a very humble looking establishment from the outside, but don’t let that fool you! Over the years, I have been to many Japanese restaurants that specialize in Yakitori and Koshiji is the best of the best! The meat quality of the skewers are amazing, the meats are well seasoned and the smokiness from the binchotan compliments everything perfectly. The staff here are also awesome ! They very accommodating and showcase the truest definition of Japanese hospitality! If you’re looking for the best yakitori outside in Japan, this is the place!

Tony Tran

Google
2nd timer visit forgot about this location it was good tasty yakitori authentic dishes taste and love yaki onigiri good service can get busy call reserve or get their early check in will return - only a bit far from home for me

Jenny Koh-Lin

Google
Last minute dinner decision for a Saturday night Went around 630ish it was packed but we didn’t wait very long However one of the waitress asked if we made a reservation we did not she did first come off rude but later service was very nice The two gentleman by the bar greeted upon entering Food was very tasty but they forgot the starter soup and rice for the course meal It was plenty as we order each course meal Chicken and the Beef We also got a pitcher of their draft Ahsai Overall experience was great we would definitely come back

AC

Google
Wow. Super shitty business practice here. They’ll happily try to get you to double tip…on a party of 2. Returned home and called back regarding the clear tactic. Ordered 12 skewers at $39.45, one app at $7, and one plum wine at $4.95. Comes to $51.40 before tax. HOW DID WE GET TO $80.70 and I didn’t leave a tip. You are a bunch of liars

Risa

Google
We went for our first time last weekend. Recommend making a reservation, they got packed super fast! Great menu selection! We all enjoyed the service and food very much!

Don L.

Yelp
The food was delicious...authentic Japanese cuisine. The service was polite, warm smiles from the owner-hostess. You feel as though you're in Japan once you step inside the restaurant. We had a fantastic experience!

Susan S.

Yelp
Koshiji is the perfect neighborhood izakaya/yakitori place. We've been here a few times, and I always leave satisfied and content. I enjoy the atmosphere, the food, and service is nice and attentive. They have a couple of different set menus if you're a newbie or menu decision challenged; and of course you can order a la carte. All the yakitori items are pretty good, and food comes out at a good pace. There are similar yakitori places for sure, but Koshiji feels very cozy and casual, not so loud or crazy, and I like that. It is our go-to place if we want to go out for dinner and just chill. Lately it's been hard to just walk in, so I recommend making reservations ahead of time.

Tim E.

Yelp
Food was very tasty and nice. Nice ambience and clean. Wide variety of foods will definitely return

Jane S.

Yelp
We love the food and ambiance here! Reservations are highly recommended a week in advance!

Janet T.

Yelp
The food here was really good. It was really tender, cook perfectly and flavored perfectly. We ordered the lamb chops, the gizzards, beef tongue, the Yakionigiri, and chicken wing. They did run out of lamb chops and chicken heart by the end of the day so if you like those, you should come early. It is a small mom and pop shop that does get really busy and has the ambiance of Japan. If you love yakitoris, I highly recommend trying this place. There's plenty of parking and the price is pretty fair!

Julia H.

Yelp
Food comes out slowly. At least +20 min wait.    From their 44 item menu (Rating out of 5) 1. Asparagus with pork: 2.5 2. Okra with pork: 2.5 3. Enoki mushroom with pork: 3 4. Green beans with pork: 3 5. Green onion with pork: 3.25 6. Eggplant with pork: 2.5 7. Tomato with pork: 3.5 8. Chicken and green onion: 3 9. Chicken meat ball: 3 10. Chicken Wings: 3 11. Chicken breast with shiso: 3.75 12. Chicken skin: 3 13. Chicken liver: 2 14. Chicken gizzard: 4 15. Quail eggs: 2 16. Duck: 3 17. Chicken breast with plum: 2.5 18. Spicy chicken wings: 3 (wasn't spicy) 19. Beef: 3 20. Beef tongue: 3 (a bit chewy/tough) 21. Lamb chop: 3.5 22. Pork belly with shiso leaf: 3 23. Shrimp: 3 24. Scallop: 3 (small pieces) 25. Smelt fish: 3 26. Salmon: 3.25 27. Squid with shiso: 3.25 28. Asparagus with mayo: 3.25 29. Shiitake mushroom: 3 30. Japanese green pepper: 3 31. Eggplant: 2.5 32. Okra: 2 (not a fan of okra in general) 33. Zucchini: 3.5 34. Sweet corn: 4.25 35. Japanese green onion: 3.25 36. Gingko nuts: n/a 37. Stuffed mushroom: 3.5 38. Potato butter: 3.75 (takes awhile to make) 39. Chicken soft bone: 3.75 40. Chicken tail: 4 41. Chicken neck: 3 42. Chicken heart: 3 43. Chicken skirt: 3.5 44. Root of heart: 3.5 Cold Dishes: 1. Nama Tako wasabi:3.5 2. Ankimo: 3.75 Hot Dishes: 1. Agedashi tofu: 3.5 2. Chicken karaage: 2. Meat is dry. Think it was cooked too long. 3. Yaki imo (sweet potato): 4

Rebecca C.

Yelp
A small and cozy izakaya restaurant in Torrance. The menu has good variety of items to choose from, and price was fairly reasonable. The owner/chef makes the izakaya behind the counter so bar-sitters can see everything that is being made, kinda of a asmr situation. The food themselves were pretty good, tasty and and well seasoned. We tried different items and my favorite was the grilled scallop and quail egg! My only suggestion was slightly faster service, I get it takes a while to grill the skewers, but the wait time was abit long. Oversell, a wonderful place to eat izakaya!

Alexander M.

Yelp
Food was good! I love yakitori and this definitely hit the spot. I'm japanese and I totally understand that there is a different standard of service but the service I had today was poor. My family speaks japanese and the server barely said a word to us. I wouldn't even say he was polite. Then the bill came and I understood. We were a party of 5 and they had 18% included gratuity. In my opinion that's ridiculous. And for the server to not even mention it to us, I thought was pretty lame. What other place has guaranteed gratuity for a party of 5? Crazy in my opinion. I left the restaurant feeling cheated. It's obvious the servers know there is guaranteed gratuity so there is no reason to put any effort in.

Jeff T.

Yelp
What feels to be a hidden gem. We went late in the evening and it was pretty empty, no reservations needed. Seated at the bar, we had a perfect view of the grill master meticulously tending to each skewer. Most pieces were unfortunately cooked well done and lacking a juiciness, maybe it could benefit from hotter coals. Our favorite pieces were the pork belly and grilled smelt. The service was friendly and quick. The ambiance had a coziness like stepping into a local izakaya on the streets of Japan.

James Q.

Yelp
One of the best skewers places I've ever had in a while. It's different from other places in that it's very authentic - both in terms of food selection and decor. The customer base are mostly Japanese clientele which validated its authenticity. Furthermore, the experience is enhanced by their well designed menu and dining ware. The food comes quickly, has a nice selection of chicken, beef, and seafood. Some of these you cannot get at other places. Some memorable pieces besides the usual chicken and beef tongue include: - chicken combo which comes with soborro rice and chicken soup (white from cooking long time and letting the marrow permeate the liquid) - very memorable ginkgo nuts (it's a bit charred and smoky) - corn (also smoky and charred)

Doug L.

Yelp
Great authentic japanese yakitori. Great authentic Japanese atmosphere. Great service. Warning - they did raise their prices recently, but to be fair, so has all the other restaurants except for In 'n Out burger as of Nov 2023.

Tricia S.

Yelp
Service was fantastic and the food was delicious. Reasonably priced and very authentic. The restaurant is small but it keeps it intimate.

Nathan P.

Yelp
Came here 06/12/2022. Expensive, but authentic and delicious. Koshiji is an izakaya that specializes in yakitori (grilled chicken skewers). They have a legit binchotan (charcoal) grill that is manned by an elderly Japanese man. The staff is all native Japanese. I came in a party of 3 on Sunday night around 8:30 PM. There was a very short wait but I was glad to see that it was full of patrons even this late. It's always a bad sign when a restaurant is empty. It was myself and 2 girls, and we completely pigged out. We got multiple orders of chicken and negi, beef, chicken liver, shisito peppers, ankimo (monkfish liver), pork belly, and chicken skin. I kid you not, every single skewer was delicious and cooked perfectly. I legitimately cannot find anything wrong with this restaurant. This is hands down the best yakitori I have had in the states and extremely comparable to Japan. I highly recommend giving the Ankimo (monkfish liver) a try! It's hard to come by outside of sushi restaurants and the quality that Koshiji has is amazing. It's not for everyone but it's delicious.

Bob Y.

Yelp
The food is ok. The service is terrible. Basically boiled down to one thing, the server was slow, so I asked if he was our server and he said yes, then I asked, should I be asking about our order he said "what's the point" I asked what do you mean, and he just grumbled. I usually give an extra star for small businesses, and quite generous with my reviews, however this treatment deserved a fair rating. 1 star. Skip this place and go where people are a*holes. South Bay is full of Japanese food and Yakitori joints, go to a place where you aren't verbally abused or gaslit.

Alex A.

Yelp
Great food! Great service! Just an excellent restaurant! One of the best Yakatori restaurants you can visit. I recommend calling and making a reservation.

Susan M.

Yelp
Good Yakitori, nice owners/employees, cozy environment.. (extra star for the yaki onigiri) Will be back

Nori T.

Yelp
This is the best Japanese izakaya restaurant! Very friendly staff! I love yakitori!! Yummy !

Felix G.

Yelp
Pricey but worth it! Wife and I go every few months when we want some yaikitori and I don't thing we ever spend less than $100 for the two of us. Quality ingredients and everything tastes great. Get the beef tongue, I can just eat that and I'll be satisfied but everything else is also great from the wings, to quail eggs and the veggies. The Yaki onigiri is also a nice addition. Service is very nice, everyone is attentive and friendly. It can get a little loud when it's busy but that's part of the atmosphere in this type of establishment. Go earlier if you want quiet. I don't even care as the food and service is great here

Chadel L.

Yelp
This is our go to spot. We are very close by and the Yakitori here never disappoints. We come here once, maybe even twice a month. Love the vibe, the ambience is never too loud, when it's packed. My favorite items to get is the Lamb Chop, Sweet Corn, Buttered Potato, and Asparagus wrapped in Pork. I highly recommend this place of you love Yakitori

Bob W.

Yelp
Love this place. This is my go to yakitori bar when the craving calls although I live almost an hour away. They do take reservation and a table is always available when you show up on time, the $32 dinner set is a great value. Service is always exceptional. I don't like everything they bring from the kitchen but that's really subject to personal taste. For that reason, A honest rating would be 4.5 star for me. Regardless, I will continue to come back for the convenience of reservation, excellent service, and just order the food items hat like,

Subin S.

Yelp
Good service and quality food. I like to seat at the counter and watch the Chefs work the charcoal grill. Must try lamb (very juicy) and not much game taste. I also like chicken soft bones, chicken tail (yes, the a55:)), and the intestines. They do get busy at times, so I always called one day ahead and made reservation.

Jonathan I.

Yelp
They open at 5:30pm and every time i try to come here they ask if i have a reservation, how do i make a same day reservation? It seems like more and more yakitori places are working with such exclusivity. Perhaps they do not need anymore business.

Larry L.

Yelp
If you like real Japanese style Yakitori, this is the place! Very cool, traditional looking spot, with great service and great food!

Tiger T.

Yelp
Excellent food but subdued atmosphere. Servers are efficient but eager to clear tables for next customers (felt rushed dining). Typical Japanese Izakaya chef/cooks engage with counter customers but not here

ashly j.

Yelp
I think I found THE SPOT. Great ambiance, food, and service. We thought the wait would be long but we were seated right away. Shortly after ordering the orders started rolling in (really quickly) we were impressed. Food was amazing. A lot of Yakitori places tend to be too salty to our liking but the seasoning was perfect here. The servers were all very kind and had a great attitude. Moreover it was the first time in a very long time being amazed and impressed by every single dish we ate. We will definitely be coming back very soon!

Tiffanie D.

Yelp
So glad I found this place! Great pork wrapped veggies skewers. Unlimited hot tea. Very friend host. Favorite items: - the chicken rice soup dish - meat ball stick (always) - chicken thigh with onion - chicken wing - tomato wrapped pork - enoki wrapped pork - asparagus wrapped port - mushroom Well.. basically everything!! Also great prices. Great services. Great atmosphere. Would recommend and come back bimonthly

Bryan C.

Yelp
Great experience and meal. Not too loud. Not too quiet. Tons of choices and a friendly chef. Loved trying unique skewers like squid with shiso, and potato with mushroom. Chicken meatball tasted better than other places. Wish the beef tongue was thicker. But must try all the shiso skewers!

Ryan S.

Yelp
Koshijii is easily my favorite yakitori spot. There's nothing fancy about this place and may not appeal to everyone, but this place has always delivered. If you're looking for a restaurant to do Sake-bombs, drink and act belligerent, or saturate your food in soy sauce- First of all, stop that, and this place is def not for you. Alternatively, if you're searching for high quality yakitori, decent pricing, peaceful ambience, and hospitable staff then I unequivocally recommend this restaurant. Koshijii is a small, unusually attractive and old-fashioned restaurant. It may not look like much in the inside, but what they lack in appearance they profoundly make up for in their food and service. It's comparable to the quaint yakitori street restaurants in Japan in my opinion (I'm aware that's a bold statement but again my opinion). I've been coming to Koshijii since 2016 and they never disappoint. The staff are very pleasant and respectful, mouthwatering food is always on point, and I leave satisfied. Covid-19 safety: Typical Covid-19 precautions (e.g. masks upon entering, social distancing, disposable/contactless menu, etc) Parking: Not an issue. Safe and plenty of parking in the plaza. My usual: Spicy chicken wings, chicken and green onion, chicken skin, chicken tail (fire), duck, beef tongue, smelt fish, salmon, okra w/pork, tomato w/pork, enoki mushroom w/pork. Hangry???: Tori Karaage/Japanese style Friend Chicken (Fire!), Nankotsu Karaage/Japenese Style Deep Friend Soft Chicken Bone, Zousui/porridge rice w/ Chicken (Spicy option taste better). Veggies: The potato w/butter (fire), and sweet corn skewers are both fantastic Alcohol: House Sake is decent and pairs well with the Yakitori :P Tips- Make a reservation, sit at the bar (food comes out faster and it's HOT). Overall impression: Consistency in food, service, and hands down my go to yakitori restaurant.

Sonya O.

Yelp
My favorite South Bay restaurant! Food is delicious. Service is unmatched. 10/10 in every way !!!!!!

Rachel S.

Yelp
Great experience at Koshiji. It's difficult to find good yakitori outside of Japan and Koshiji definitely scratched that itch.

H J.

Yelp
I admit that I am petty. I was waiting for the restaurant to open. Upon walk in, the waitress told me that every table is reserved. There's also a picture of a chicken saying that they don't honor google reservations. Clearly they didn't need my business, and the waitress didn't feel bad about it. Maybe I'll find a way to make a reservation. Maybe I won't go there. For those who are turned off - izakaya hashi, torihei, and Shin-Sen-Gumi yakitori are good options.

Fook Y.

Yelp
OMG where do I begin? I made a reservation at 5:30pm (the opening hour) we came in on time, they placed us in the backseat. Then two white people came in and they placed them in-front of the bar and immediately took their orders and they got foods before us. Later, 6 Asian parties came in. They finished ordering after us but the old female server took their orders before us. Why are we last in everything? Is it because we came with a kid and we don't drink alcohol and you feel like there's no money in our table or something??? This is ridiculous. The dude with a long hair that serves drinks also sucks. Clearly ignore all customers by avoiding eye contact. Bro, why are you here??

John L.

Yelp
I have been coming here the past 5-6 yrs. Food here is good, but the service is consistently bad. Please beware.

Allie T.

Yelp
Excellent yakatori menu. One of our favorite go to spots. It won't disappoint you. Give it a try.

Maruko X.

Yelp
Ambiance: traditional izakaya place, small and packed, could be smoky inside, better to make reservation before come, plenty parking available in the plaza Service: very friendly and attentively refilling water, patient with requests Food: overall great taste with a few highlights Chicken w/ Green Onion - *** average Chicken Meat Ball - **** very tasty, recommend Chicken Skin - ***** crispy, highly recommend Chicken Soft Bone w/ Special Salt - **** crunchy taste, recommend Spicy Chicken Wings - ***** juicy and tasty, highly recommend Duck Breast w/ Miso Sauce - **** juicy and chewy, recommend Asparagus w/ Thin Pork - *** average Juicy Pork Belly w/ Shiso Leaf - *** flavorful Beef w/ Ginger Miso Sauce - ** too dry and hard to chew Shrimp - **** fresh and tasty, recommend Smelt Fish - *** two small skewers Quail Eggs - **** flavorful, recommend Japanese Eggplant - *** bold taste Vegetable Sticks - *** fresh taste Soup - *** light taste Soboro Don - *** Rice Topped w /Seasoned Ground Chicken Price: decent portions and prices, on average $25~$30 per person

Ivan L.

Yelp
The place makes you wait and they have a takeout menu but the lady was kinda rude and said no to go , I wouldn't recommend the place , no courtesy

Brandon B.

Yelp
Bomb ass yakitori. 3 bucks a dish. You should probably make a reservation but this place is the spot to go in the South Bay when you're looking for some grilled Japanese yakitori. They stuck to fundamentals here. The place is small, you'll have 2 tatami rooms in the back. Sit at the bar and watch the grill master or get a bottle of sake on a table top and order the basics.

Brandon P.

Yelp
Been here a few times when I used to work in the area. This place has excellent different yakitori dishes. Not the cheapest lunch, but one of the best ones. If you are in Torrance, and there are a ton of Japanese restaurant options, I still recommending trying this place. Its family run and it has good ambience. Another place I hope to go back to, when Im in the neighborhood.

Mark M.

Yelp
Torrance Food Crawl #321 Koshiji is a Japanese restaurant where the primary patrons are Japanese, which is probably a good sign. While there are a few other items on the menu, food on skewers is the thing here. Yakitori, or skewered chicken, is the main draw, however, Kushiyaki, or mixed skewered meats, are also on the menu. One can order individual skewers or a combination of Yakitori or Kushiyaki choices. I was here just as dinner service was starting and sat at the bar. From my seat I could feel the heat of the grill as the cook was stoking the coals. I noticed that the briquettes were hexagonal in shape with a round hole through the center. I suppose this helps with getting the maximum amount of heat from a given volume. Also, the briquettes burnt much cleaner than ones I would use in a backyard barbecue, which is a good thing. I tried the combination Kushiyaki dinner. It came with eight skewered items which were served in pairs during the meal. The meal came with Soboro, ground up chicken on a bed of white rice and covered with thin strips of seaweed. Good. The soup was very hot and very mild tasting, more like a thin broth than soup. A small dish of a cucumber like vegetable sliced very thin and soaked in vinegar came out very well. The small vegetable bowl with a cabbage, carrot stick, and a mild radish was nothing special. The skewers came in pairs. - Asparagus with Thin Pork and Juicy Pork Belly with ShishoLeaf - the asparagus came out nicely; the pork was soft and without a strong pork taste. - Chicken with Green Onion and Chicken Meat Ball - the chicken with onion was very good; the chicken meat ball was average (I guess I'm just too used to beef meatballs). - Japanese Eggplant and Beef with Ginger Miso Sauce - I'm usually not a fan of eggplant but this turned out excellent almost making me think it was something other than eggplant; the beef was well cooked and decent. - Spicy Chicken Wings and Shrimp - the wings are good though a little separating of chicken from the bones is necessary; the shrimp were average, sort of like first hearing about 'shrimp on a barbee' sounds appealing but turn out to be nothing special. There was some Sweet Peanut dipping sauce and Spicy mustard on the side, which were good but I didn't feel like I wanted to use much of either. Service was good. Casual eating, comfortable environment.

Dani S.

Yelp
Food is good, service was very absent, prices are a bit high. Came here for lunch one day and the restaurant wasn't super busy. However, there was only 1 server for the entire restaurant and so she was pretty absent throughout our meal. We ordered a few of the lunch special combos to share. The seafood yakitori combo and the meat yakitori both came with 6 skewers, rice, and salad. The skewers were very tasty, but super small, we had to order several most a la carte in addition to the lunch combos. The ramen dish we ordered also had a good flavor in the broth, but due to our absentee server, the soup was lukewarm by the time we got it. Overall just an ok experience, lots of misses, and a bit lacking overall.

Lynn H.

Yelp
Our favorite Yakitori place! We typically sit at the Yakitori bar, where you can watch your food being prepared and cooked. It's cooked over the charcoal chunks like the old days. I like to order the individual sticks of my favorites. The chicken balls and pork belly rolled with shiso are my favorites. My husband loves the Yakitori onigiri and lamb chops.

Kelsey C.

Yelp
Probably the closest izakaya to me, and they have good deals for lunch. Loved the Soboro Don, a hearty comfort-food bowl of tender grilled and ground chicken and a stripe of fluffy egg. It's filling but won't put you in too much of a food coma. They have a good selection of skewers, though they are pricey and ordered by each individual piece. We got all our favorites, the classic chicken hearts, smelt roe, quail eggs, chicken skin, chicken meatball, beef tongue. All made well, all cooked just right, but all could have used a little more seasoning or at least a little more salt. Then again, that may be more a matter of personal preference. The skewers can get expensive if you're hungry, but the bowls are a lot more affordable. Everything we had was good, but I'd rather go to Torihei for food on sticks.

Caroline L.

Yelp
Maybe because I compare all yakitori places to my loves, Torihei and Nanbankan (West LA), Koshiji was just alright for me. They have a good selection of yakitori items but the taste was just ok. Some of the yakitori items seem smaller than other places as well. Got their 8 stick yakitori dinner set that comes with a small soboro don and my favorite was definitely the pork belly. It was so good I got another one. :p Definitely pass on the beef as it was tough. The "spicy" chicken wings were not spicy and the original tasted better. Ugh, I guess I will just have to either make reservations or press my luck and walk-in for Torihei still.

Lauren Y.

Yelp
Yakitori is good (4 stars) Not attentive service (2 stars) Spicy ramen was little disappointing (3 stars). I like this place because it's is quieter than Shinsengumi and closer than Nanbankan.

Steven L.

Yelp
Love Koshiji's yakitori. Friendly and professional service. Nice vibe at the restaurant. Highly recommend this place. One of the better yakitori spot in the Los Angeles area that has a great balance of both price and food quality. For first timer, I suggest you come in for their lunch specials, price starts at $11.95 to $16. I usually get the "lunch box" ($11.95). It's a great way to sample their food and it's a good deal. Dinner is slightly pricier but you can order one of the 2 suggested dinner special combo set for $25 and then add on additional items. Wifey and I always order the large soboro rice bowl (minced soy flavored chicken over rice with eggs). Expect to pay btwn $50-$60 (dinner for two) without alcohol. Yakitori is not something anyone can just grilled up in the back yard (commented by a previous Yelp reviewer). Yakitori is an art form.

Kyung B.

Yelp
Koshiji is one of the best places to get yakitori in the south bay! I've come for lunch and dinner, and even though it can get pricey depending on what you get, the quality of the meat is very excellent and the marinades and sauces are so well balanced and delicious. The lunch sets are great, and though it's a lot of food, none of it is super heavy so you don't feel uncomfortable afterwards. I got the classic lunch set that comes with 6 skewers (chef's choice), a bowl of rice (I upgraded to soboro which is a ground chicken mix for $1), a small salad, and a small miso soup. The skewers were: chicken meatball, chicken thigh with green onion, chicken wing (THE BEST), shishito peppers, and green beans wrapped in bacon. Everything was yummy and cooked perfectly! I also regulaarly order the gizzards and chicken heart. I know it sounds gory, but the tiny chicken parts are so delicious! This place i definitely on my rotation for when I feel like eating deliciously grilled meats and veggies. It's the perfect place to come if you are on a low carb regimen too!

Steve L.

Yelp
Many years ago I spent two years in Japan. Whilst there I became enthralled with YAKITORI! It is a quick and delicious snack or meal (depending upon how much one eats). I have looked all over L.A. to find that awesome Yakitori place and my search IS OVER finally! Koshiji is that magical place that is like a little slice of Japan. I was almost expecting to see Mt. Fuji in the background when I walked out. The food was scrumptious and the service was outstanding. DOMO ARREGATO !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Bobby K.

Yelp
So our craving for fine Japanese cuisine has finally arrived, as we made an excellent choice to pick Koshiji as a place to grab dinner in the South Bay. Located on Hawthorne Blvd between Torrance Blvd & Sepulveda, it's hidden inside a strip mall. Parking shouldn't be an issue, as there's ample parking right up front. We came on a Sunday evening at around 7PM, and waited for a good half hour before a table opened up. The restaurant space is quite small, and no waiting space in the entrance. After two spaces opened up by the bar side, we were seated in the corner. I must say that the seating area was quite congested, but then again, the size of this restaurant is very small. Our waitress gave us our menus, but since we had previewed the meal, we ordered the yakitori set which literally came with a whole lot of meat. I must say that the meat balls were probably my favorites--it literally melts in your mouth, and it's super delicious. The other items like the wings, asparagus with pork, and a few other items on sticks were all quite tasty. I will say though, one of my least favorites was the quail egg--just not an acquired taste. Service was fine--when we first arrived, I understand that the ladies were very busy with customers, so I won't hassle with their lack of paying attention to customers who walk in for a table. The guys in the kitchen (the two Japanese chefs) were working non-stop, and seems like they never take a break! We will definitely come back again-- but I would like to try to dine in the back where I believe they might have some booths to enjoy a quieter dinner. Overall grade: A

DJ H.

Yelp
This place is great! Fantastic Yakitori. We sat at the bar and watched the grill man. The man was skilled at his craft to say the least. There were three of us in our party and we ordered and ate enough for at least four so we hit a ton of different items on the menu. Some pretty basic, some that you might find a little more exotic but each one, amazing! Small place, so expect it to be busy. We were there at around 8 in the evening on a Friday and waited about 20 minutes or so. It's a wait, yes, but it's worth it. Looking forward to coming back the next time I am in town.

Warren T.

Yelp
Craved some yakitori on a Saturday... Didn't know what to order with all the choices and thought that the the lunch special was my best option. This deal came with 6 skewers picked by the chef and who knows what the guy would be picking for me. Came with miso soup, salad, and rice. I also added a side of edamame. In my photo, from top to bottom... 1. Chicken wings 2. Egg plant with ginger sauce 3. Beef with ginger sauce 4. Chicken meatballs 5. Chicken with onion 6. Green beans Here the treatment of the egg plant is the same as the beef protein. Both are drizzled with ginger sauce and I didn't particularly like the egg plant with the sauce. The sauce worked with the lean beef, but the beef didn't particularly satiate my cravings. The chicken wings proved to be the tastiest. The chicken meatballs are definitely among my fave of the skewers. Overall positive experience and next time I return I will be sure to explore the a la carte offerings.