Shin-Sen-Gumi

It was a packed house. I tried some skewer sticks, noodle and rice dishes. Overall, everything was good. Service was great and super efficient. Parked in the free parking structure nearby.

My family and I come here often for dinner but usually during weekends when it gets packed. We went on a Wednesday evening and there were just a handful of tables with customers. We ordered a few items from their happy hour menu. Perhaps because it wasn't very busy, their yakitori was perfectly cooked. The pork cutlet curry rice was very good as usual; the cutlet was so crispy and the pork was juicy. My son also enjoyed the ramen.

I liked their chicken hearts and grilled shrimp, but unfortunately the rest of the skewers we had were overcooked. Portions were tiny as well. However, I loved that they let us do the unlimited sake tasting. We managed to taste a few, and picked the 750ml Platinum bottle (which is a limited edition), and we thoroughly enjoyed it. Overall, it is not a bad place when you want varieties or something to nibble on the Main Street. Service was fast!

I made a reservation for four people at Shinsengumi. There were multiple 4-person tables available, but Grace, the hostess, tried to seat us at a table tucked away in a corner. When I asked for a different table, she made an excuse, saying it was “reserved,” even though all the tables looked the same. When I questioned what the difference was, she couldn’t give a clear answer and told us we would have to wait another 15 minutes while they reset a table. While we were waiting, Grace seated two other groups of four — who didn’t even seem to have reservations — before us. After finally being seated, we realized that water was leaking from the ceiling above the table, and we ended up stuck at a weird corner spot we didn’t want. To be fair, the other staff members were very friendly and the food was great — exactly what we expected from Shinsengumi. It’s just unfortunate that Grace ruined an otherwise great experience. Honestly, if it weren’t for her, I would love to come back.

If you're diving into the flavorful world of Shin-sen-gumi in Alhambra, you're in for a treat! The skewer selection offers a hearty mix, perfect for those who enjoy picking and choosing from a variety. From chicken and beef to delightful veggies, each skewer packs a punch of authentic taste. While the size might not be as filling as you’d expect, it’s a great way to sample multiple flavors without feeling overloaded. Plus, pairing it with a donburi makes for a satisfying meal that gets you both variety and volume. Definitely a must-try for any local or visitor wanting to taste a bit of Japan!

I’ve tried several Shin-Sen-Gumi locations, and this one is definitely my favorite! The tall ceilings paired with lantern decorations make you feel like you’ve stepped into Japan. The chefs prepare piping hot skewers of delicious barbecue right on the spot, and the passionate, attentive service left a great impression on us. This restaurant is well-known for its grilled skewers, so we ordered tender and perfectly cooked beef chunks, flavorful chicken meatballs, and fresh jumbo scallops — all of which were absolutely delicious! As for the udon, I found the soup base a bit on the sweeter side for my taste, but the stir-fried udon had a wonderfully chewy texture that I really enjoyed!

Updated review for March 18, 2025: awesome experience today for the special bluefin tuna cutting event. got to try delicious fresh tuna sashimi and other classics, such as the beef and onion bowl and the happy hour karaage. excellent event and excellent service! shout out grace for being so professional despite the huge crowd and all the chefs working hard today! Original review: Visited this place for lunch during Father's Day and was pleasantly surprised by the experience. Food was good and well priced, service was fast and good, and the place is very well decorated. We ordered the Satsuma Ramen, Negitama Beef Bowl, and various skewers. Ramen note: $12 at the time of writing this review; cheaper than other places nearby which average around $15, slightly smaller portion but smoother broth and better quality Negitama beef bowl: tasty! Egg on top comes cold first, I just mixed it in with everything else. I liked it. Skewers: small portions, but very tasty meat and sauces.

Food: not very good. Portions: small Price: bit high for the portion size Service: good Atmosphere: clean and pleasant Have not been here for more than a year. I don't like it now. The place remains the same, but the menu items has been changed. They do away with all the ramen and added a lot of skewers. Came in today with my nephew who wanted ramen. Disappointed they no longer serve it. The menu was very disappointing. Can't figure out what to eat. Not here to drink alcohol. We ordered 1 Kobe beef skewer meal (the beef is chewy , not good) and 1 curry lunch, but the curry is not the same. Not as good. Much rather have the old menu back.

Eee it's back. The ramen still tastes yummy. Perfect for my lunch time cravings when I want shinsegumi. The cha sui tastes a little different than before. Not sure what it is. But they do give you more noodles now because before I'd be able to finish it but now I would leave a couple of bites. (I don't have that big of a stomach) Chicken karage was crispy and juicy and came with greens. I was not a fan of the salmon carpaccio, it didn't have enough sauce. Would come back for their udon next

I used to visit the Monterey Park location often, but this was my first time at their new spot since they relocated. It seems like the menu has either gotten smaller or they've replaced a lot of items. One notable change is that they now serve ramen at this location and there is no Motch (server at their previous location)! The skewers are still decent, and there are a couple of appetizers I'd order again. However, I can't help but miss their previous location and the menu they used to offer.

My friend was craving ramen and I remember Shin Sen Gumi being one of the top ramen places in 626 maybe a couple years ago so we stopped by the Alhambra location for lunch. We were seated quickly and ordered one Spicy Hakata Ramen. The menu was kind of confusing, we didnt see many ramen options so we kind of let the server just order something standard and spicy for us. When we received our bowl, my friend didnt know it came with the thin ramen noodles as she used to thicker ones at other spots. Not a big deal. We also noticed it was served to us warm and not hot, so our bowl got pretty cold fast. It just doesnt seem like there is enough guest traffic here for their soup to be fresh and tasty. The place was pretty dead..maybe it was the time we went and the meal was just okay, very mediocre and nothing like how I remembered before. I would not come here again or to this location, but service was great. Stars are mainly for service, but just come elsewhere for Ramen.

Came here for a lateish night bite after an event. Parking in the free structure right behind the building is very convenient and you can enter through the backway. I was craving creamy udon so we immediately ordered the Uni Cream Udon ($28.50). It was exactly what I wanted, extra creamy, umami taste, with silky udon noodles, and the uni + caviar topping was delish, although you always wish there was more of it. Another star was the Yakitori (no brainer) - each skewer was grilled just right + Kobe Style Beef w/ Garlic $8.00 - must get! The beef was so tender + Intestine $4 - perfect chew and charred flavor We also ordered: + Salmon Carpaccio $12.00 - salmon was thinly slice and I liked the ponzu but the fish flakes just soaked up the sauce and didn't really add too much + Fried Chicken Skin $8.00 - the skin was more tough, would skip for next time Looking forward to coming back for more yakitori!

I have nothing but good things to say about this place! Parking is public and you can access the restaurant from the alley way as well as on Garfiled. Our servers name is B. He is phenomenal! He told us about a limited time special for blue fin tuna that they recently chopped up a few weeks ago. You get 3 different fatty cuts along with otoro. We couldn't pass on this opportunity. He also told us that they do this cutting twice a year and it's open to everyone! Best believe we are coming back for that! He also mentioned that there will be another location opening in vegas in Feb in Chinatown. He also told us that sometime in January they are going to offer a wagyu a5 steak that is 100 grams...excited about that! I was curious about the uni udon. I asked if i can sample the cream and I'm extremely thankful he was able to do that for me because I would have not enjoyed that dish. I'm not a fan of uni, it's too fishy for me. We mainly ordered yakitori and all have been flavorful and amazing! I had to try the a5 wagyu.. sooo deliciously fatty! It can get dangerously pricey but TOTALLY worth it! If you intend to eat here, be ready to drop some bills! The environment is very casual and we came on a Sunday evening and there were a lot of seats available. They also have an outdoor patio that is nicely covered. The restroom is located in the outdoor patio area and it is nicely stocked and clean. We ARE definitely coming back. This is our first visit for my husband and I, and it won't be our last! B made our visit worth it! Thanks B!

I've tried several Shin-Sen-Gumi locations, and this one is definitely my favorite! The tall ceilings paired with lantern decorations make you feel like you've stepped into Japan. The chefs prepare piping hot skewers of delicious barbecue right on the spot, and the passionate, attentive service left a great impression on us. This restaurant is well-known for its grilled skewers, so we ordered tender and perfectly cooked beef chunks, flavorful chicken meatballs, and fresh jumbo scallops -- all of which were absolutely delicious! As for the udon, I found the soup base a bit on the sweeter side for my taste, but the stir-fried udon had a wonderfully chewy texture that I really enjoyed!

We didn't get a chance to capture all the food but here's a glimpse! Their yakitori was well seasoned and tender. Their food was surprisingly good because I had never heard of them but my husband found it as a spot to try on our evening out with our little one, and it was very baby/toddler friendly with changing tables, high chairs/boosters, scissors for cutting their food, kid-friendly tableware, etc. So that was a huge plus to the food. The yaki-udon was also really delicious, generous in portion, and full of healthy vegetables too! The bluefin bowl was a big portion for the pricing as well, and the quality was great. We also loved how spacious the restaurant was, along with open view of the yakotori. And the service as very friendly and attentive.

My daughter and I came on a Thursday around 1 pm for lunch and shared the yakitori combo and ordered extra skewers. We both love yakitori, and all the skewers tasted very good. We were bummed they didn't have cartilage skewers that day. The Kobe style rib chuck log w/radish ponzu sauce that came with the yakitori combo was melt in your mouth delicious. Highly recommend it! I saw several reviews that mentioned they no longer have ramen, but they do have Hakata ramen, just not the bigger selection they used to carry. The only item I wouldn't recommend is the Mexican style corn. I love esquites, so wanted to give it a try, but unfortunately it wasn't good. The servers were attentive and friendly. There were only a few tables occupied when we went. The restaurant has a good vibe, hip and bright during the day. They offer different lunch discounts on different days. I would come back again for their yakitori.

An acceptable yet modest experience at this popular chain Ramen restaurant turn izakaya. The skewers were individually well prepared though somewhat bland. The karage was good, although the chicken was not as plump as others I've tried. The service was strong and perhaps the best part of the experience. However, I do expect more value from the yakitori menu especially coming during Happy hour. If on a budget, would certainly stick to the ramen here.

So good. My brother and I usually just go for izakaya and curry. Their curry is actually really good, not comparable to a dedicated curry place but better than I expected for a place the serves so many different types of dishes. And zero complaints on the izakaya. For the price it's really good with a decent variety. Staff is always friendly, ready to greet you, and helpful. They definitely get busy, but if you just flag someone down it's not a problem. The place also looks great. Exposed beams, extensive decorations, and screens that are usually playing anime.

Our entrees are excellent! Everything we ordered was so delicious! We ordered asparagus pork belly skewers, enoki pork belly skewers, egg soup custard, miso ramen with beef curry rice, udon. Service was great but I don't remember his name.

I come here a decent amount since they are close by and have decent prices! I love their $16 ramen with its rich broth and perfectly cooked chashu pork. I am a big fan of the ramen noodle itself as well. The servers are always friendly and never had to wait too long for my food.

Shin-Sen-Gumi Yakitori has become a staple for the hubby & I. Came again over the weekend and were told they updated their menu at the beginning of June (no more ramen & curries), though they have some new Udon options (more pasta-style). I think their menu shift was from them recognizing what was working and what wasn't. Hopefully they can add more yakitori combos even for weekends (i.e. 5 skewers for set price or 10 skewers for set price). My go to skewers are Beef Tongue, Chicken Thigh w/ Green Onion (with Yakitori Sauce), Enoki Mushroom w/ Pork Belly & their new *dinner only* Sukiyaki skewer. Yum! I love using a bit of the chili powder and yuzu pepper on all the skewers. =P We always get the Seaweed Salad and Takoyaki as well. Very much a Japanese bar food vibe. They've also added more drinks to their menu: assorted Sake (sake tasting - choose 4 for $15); cocktails, etc. I tried a Spritz and also the Attack on Titan Sake flight which was fun. I'll miss the curry udon, but so far I like the menu revamp! Restrooms are located by the patio area. Parking is available in lot right behind restaurant. Back patio entrance may not be open all the time, so you may have to walk around...or you can park across at 88 Alhambra Place or other lots nearby the movie theater or further up 1st Street.

Super disappointed in the lack of ramen options! They went from having a whole page full to just one singular style. I should've known better to order it. It used to be a rich, flavorful broth and tender noodles. The noodles were almost crunchy and the chashu was beyond dry. Our server was nice and we received our food within about 15 minutes of being seated. Unfortunately, I don't think we'll be back for a long time unless they change the menu back.

First time here. Took my family here to eat. Nothing wrong with food. When I walked in the women's bathroom with my 88 year old mom, there was a man standing there in the middle of urinating, my mom almost slipped because she was in shock. The man saw us and finished his business and left. I informed the supervisor and two other servers. The manager offered a 20% discount, that's the way you do business!

Ramen - 2/5 I would say, do not come here for the ramen. The ramen was very mediocre. I got the basic Hakata ramen, and added on an egg, and it turned out to be $16.50. There were additional add ons but didn't want to end up paying $20 for a small bowl of ramen, where other places already include a bunch of fixins for the $15 price range. Flavor was not deep at all. Two of the thinnest and saddest pieces of pork. Doesn't even come close to places like Silverlake ramen. Pork cutlet curry udon - 5/5 My husband got this and said it was amazing. I tried it and it was really good! Service - 3/5 Ok service Haven't tried the yakitori so can't speak on that but will still return, just not for the ramen!

Ah, the old reliable. This is a genuine Japanese chain that made itself known over here quite a while ago. My first time was at the Monterey Park one (that also had shabu shabu hot pot on Atlantic Ave) but that closed down awhile ago so now the one in Alhambra is our regular spot. The place has very high ceilings so it can get a bit cold in there which I understand since I'm sure the charcoal grilling of the yakitori and robata can get the chef overheated. So make sure you bring a coat or a sweater in case it gets too chilly for you. Our mainstays are the grilled offal: gizzards, hearts, tongue. We also love the beef flap meat, the takowasa (raw octopus in fresh wasabi), the raw cabbage (as a palate cleanser), pork belly, chicken thigh with green onions, karaage, and arabiki sausage. I order the same stand-bys at Hayatobi and the quality is just as good. Service is also equally consistent. They always come by to check on you and notice when your drinks are low. I always order the draft Sapporo with hot sake. I haven't tried their ramen; I understood it from what the waiter told us is that they are transitioning the hakata ramen to lunchtime. We came in at 4pm for an early dinner and that was okay for us. I like the decor a lot - the cookie monster wave forms on skateboards. There's always a "One Piece" anime episode playing on the back TV screen. Pro tip: make sure you add a tiny dollop of the green-colored yuzu kosho (it's where the soy sauces and other condiments are located) on your yakitori or robata for full flavor enhancement.

PREGAMED FOR THE SHIN SEN GUMI. Totally slapped and the yakitori stayed slaying. Shout out grace and Sam for the excellent customer service. 100/10

I would give this place 3 stars but the service added an extra star. The servers were super helpful, and very sweet the entire time. They adjusted to our needs and gave their 110%. The workers B and the young lady Grace were our servers. The reason this restaurant is 3 stars is because of the food. Chashu Ramen - The Chashu was way too salty. Broth was good and the noodles were cooked perfectly but the meat.. Why was it so salty? Curry Cutlet pork - The pork was super tough. It was hard to chew almost like a rubber band. The outside was perfectly cooked and crispy but the pork.. I couldn't get by it. It was not appetizing at all. Miso Butter Ramen - Good. The broth was really great! I wish I got this over the chashu ramen. We went ahead and tried to have the pork katsu remade. When they made it again the pork was cooked much better. I'm not sure why the pork was very hard to chew. They offered to replace it with shrimp tempura which was very nice of them. Overall I am very happy with the service and I would dine here again.

Food: pork belly - 5/5 juicy, flavorful thigh chicken with green onion salt - 3/5 lacked flavor thigh chicken with green onion sauced - 4/5 decent taste and flavor tempura udon - 4/5 decent basic udon , solid meal green chili - 4/5 the sauce is good and so is the bacon katsu curry udon - huge! good portion, crispy Kobe Style Steak w/ Garlic Sauce - 4/5 eat while it's hot and fresh and it's good! Service: Super friendly and accommodating Ambiance: This place is very nice and clean inside. It's such a vibe!

Stopped by around 7pm on a Friday night, it was about 15 minute wait for 2 people. Although it was busy, the few servers on the floor were kind and attentive! We got 2 ramens and some skewers. Everything tasted fresh and good, although some skewers were too salty. There were plenty of indoor seating as well as outdoor seating available (although outdoor seating was closed when we went due to rain). Plenty of structure parking within the block.

They served our food to another table. Then, I heard some commotion with that table trying to get a servers attention some time later and watched our server, Yuumi, pick up the food and bring it directly to my table with the shift lead watching all of it happen and not expressing any concern. I had no idea how long the other table had our food or to what extent they touched it or interacted with it but when I was a server, it was a clear cut rule that if an order was already served and set down on a table, it should be disposed of, remade and should never be re-served. I was appalled and disgusted that shin sen gumi had such a lack of standard for food safety and basic health, and common sense.

First time coming to this location since the rebrand and they no longer serve ramen. I was surprised at the quality still being great for their other items. The hamachi was fresh and flavorful and the steak was tender. We also got the pork omelette which was solid as well. Overall a pretty solid meal and I'd visit again especially for their happy hour deals!

It's a classic Shen sen gumi. There are tons of them in the area and while they might serve different things they are always decent. It feels like it's a bit pricier than it should be but you'll never be upset about the quality of what you ordered. We came here as a group of 5 for lunch and left happy. 2 people shared some assorted Yakitoris. Some were grilled better than others but there was decent flavor in all. Another got the curry bowl which was a TON of good. There was so much rice and curry it felt like you could make 2 meals out of it. I got the ramen which was good. Overall pleasant food and a classic shin sen gumi experience.

This is closest Shin Sen Gumi location to me so we tend to go to this one the most and I've found that the locations vary in menu items. Parking is convenient with a large parking structure that is free in the back. This location is one of the ones that has curry udon which is another reason we come. My bf usually orders the pork cutlet curry udon and I usually get the Nabeyaki udon which comes with veggies, eel, chicken and shrimp tempura in a hot pot broth. It's always hit the spot and very hearty on a cold or even warm day. The service is good and servers have been really friendly. Sometimes it's a little slower during busy times but not terrible. This location is probably one of the most spacious so there is almost never a wait unlike the Rosemead one. I would say come to this location for the udon but for ramen I prefer the Rosemead location.

This is a way better location for them. It's facing a major street and there's plenty of parking. The restaurant is airy and lots more tables than their other nearby locations. The staff is friendly and welcoming, and there's a menu at the front counter for people to peruse before committing. I've had their ramen before at other locations. The broth is excellent and the ramen is cooked al dente. The Hakata Ramen is the most popular. It's about $13 but not a great value. Two thin slices of pork top the ramen. I'm not a big eater but can consume two bowls, as they're fairly small. You can add various ingredients, including ramen, for a few dollars more each item.

When I read that they had rice bowls, I was in shock how much they would charge over rice. Oh oops, my bad, they have other stuff on top of the rice. The beef bowl was well, a nicer version of Yoshinoya I guess. Or pretty similar, I don't know. The egg drop ramen was, decent? BUT THE SKEWERS. The SKEWERS. Are DELICIOUS! I would probably order more of that Wagyu skewer, but not much of the rest of what we had. PS. The dining section in the back looks super cute, though nobody is seated there for now I guess? Or maybe just when I went. Anyway.

The chashu is objectively bad at this specific location. It's not seasoned correctly and it's cut thick so that it's chewy instead of tender by the time the soup soaks into the meat. This is the only location that does this with their chashu. If you go to the Westwood location it's perfect each time. The Yakitori is great here so that's what I would recommend getting and skip the ramen, because the chashu meat just isn't what it should be. Not everyone likes a chewy piece of meat with tons of unchewable fat with their ramen... some people would prefer a little more care (again, like the Westwood location does. This is a problem only at this location).

Back for a new menu. Never disappoints. They also have special drinks buy one get one on a specific day of course. The food is amazing as always, however, they didn't have the one main dish that we came for. The beef capaccio with UNI. I was a bit disappointed but given how popular the dish was, I will have to forgive them. But yes .. it's a great yakotori place given that it's in the San Gabriel and Alhambra area.

Came here on a Sunday night with a bigger group and we were seated right away. Waiters were super attentive and nice. We ordered the yakitori and appetizers to start off with. I made a mistake because I ordered ramen thinking the yakitori and appetizers weren't gonna be that filling. They were filling and so dang good. Everything was seasoned well and cooked to perfection. Everything was so flavorful even the mushrooms! I highly recommend the beef tongue. It was of high quality and wasn't rubbery at all. The takoyaki was very good as well. We then also ordered the dessert. I had the matcha ice cream. It was good but nothing too special. I'll definitely be coming back to feast on the yakitori.

I would recommend this ramen place if you're a ramen lover. I ordered their Hakata ramen, Satsuma ramen, takoyaki and mille crepe cake few days ago. It was a hot day that day and we held a party outdoor but then we had to move it to indoor. - Hakata ramen (pork flavored ramen with chashu pork, green onion, pickled ginger & sesame seeds) $12.50 I like their ramen noodles & soup base so much. The taste was on point and flavorful. Some ramen places like to add bamboo shoot but I hate that. It ruins the ramen soup flavor and I'm glad that they did not add bamboo shoot into it. Chashu pork was soft and delicious. - Satsuma ramen (rich chicken, pork & vegetable-based broth, thick noodles, chashu pork, bean sprouts, green onions & crispy fried onions) $12 Their thick noodles were also delicious. I like Hakata ramen pork flavored soup base more than this one though. (my personal preference) I like that they put a lot of crispy fried onions on top of the ramen. -Takoyaki $6 deep fried octopus pancake-ball, okonomi sauce, mayo, topped with bonito flakes & green laver (5 pcs) we ordered Takoyaki as appetizer and they were okay, we've had better Takoyaki at other places mille crepe cake $6.5 - homemade style crepe cake with vanilla flavor. Highly recommended!!!! tasted heavenly! Service was good and the staff were friendly. Their price was very reasonable. Oh, I forgot to mention that they have Yakitori too. We will go back there soon.

First time tried the Hakata Ramen BOGO deal. OMG, I regretted so much that I will definitely not go back. It's $21 and it's like kids meal which they gave you little soup, a pathetic 2 pc of tough meat and not well cooked noodles. It's ridiculous. No wonder the restaurant was empty. It's such a rip off and the food did not even taste good. I don't think this business is going to last.

Stopped by to try their ramen & yakitori. They have lunch specials everyday 11 am-3 pm. It wasn't busy when we arrived. We were seated right away, ordered our food, and it arrived immediately. We ordered the lunch special combo, Hakata Ramen with Beef and Rice Bowl & Hakata Ramen with 5pc Takoyaki, and 2 yakitori skewers, chicken thigh with sauce & bacon wrapped scallops. The ramen broth was okay, needed to add chili oil and sesame seeds to make it better. The takoyaki was alright, not one of the best ones we had. The yakitori were fine, didn't really have that umani flavor that we were looking for. The inside decor is pretty nice with all the sumo wrestlers paintings. They have limited outdoor seating area. Restrooms are also located outside.

First thing this restaurant customer service was awesome. They are very welcoming and patient as this was our first time here. The food was excellent, freshly cooked to order and the taste of the yakitori was very good. We really enjoyed the service and food. The ambience is very casual and pleasant. We will definitely come back when we are in the neighborhood. Thank you Shin-Sen-Gumi for the great dining experience. If you're in the area, I definitely recommend this place.

We absolutely love this location! Their yakitori is delicious and they recently switched the menu to focus more on an izakaya style. They no longer serve ramen at this location, but they have plenty of new appetizers to try. The new menu is good, I'm happy to have some sashimi as an option. As AOT fans we enjoyed the flight since each bottle of AOT sake is pretty pricey so this gave us an opportunity to try them at an affordable price!

Food: not very good. Portions: small Price: bit high for the portion size Service: good Atmosphere: clean and pleasant Have not been here for more than a year. I don't like it now. The place remains the same, but the menu items has been changed. They do away with all the ramen and added a lot of skewers. Came in today with my nephew who wanted ramen. Disappointed they no longer serve it. The menu was very disappointing. Can't figure out what to eat. Not here to drink alcohol. We ordered 1 Kobe beef skewer meal (the beef is chewy , not good) and 1 curry lunch, but the curry is not the same. Not as good. Much rather have the old menu back.

Last week, I stopped by this spot for some dinner! There waa no wait when I walked in. Parking was a little hard to find! The place had a cool vibe and nice ambiance to it. I decided to get bunch of different meats to try and all of then were delicious but some of the meats were definitely over-priced for what they were. The desserts were amazing as well! Overall, a solid dining experience despite the price.

I've been here now twice. The first was about a year ago before the menu got changed and some of the ramen got removed. I decided to come back a few months later to see if the food quality was exactly as I remembered and if the new menu was good. Well, despite me thinking I would do that, I ordered a small order of rice with curry and three skewers. I grinned and salivated as it was cooking and the seasoning was perfect. I took off one star from the max because I'm unsure how long this menu will stick around. I would like to see if there are more rotating menus or if the current menu will be the same the next time I go in a month.

Affordable and delicious food! I got myself the Negitama Beef Bowl ($14), and it was great and delicious! Portion size was good too! Everything on the menu seemed very reasonably priced and had quite a variety. The service of the place is great. There's parking in the parking garage behind the restaurant. Overall, I had a great experience here, especially going with a large group of friends.

This location has replaced the newer Phoenix Inn restaurant that didn't survive the pandemic. We came by for Happy Hour that starts at 800pm midweek. The interior is spacious and doesn't feel cramped. They have some great deals and I ordered the fried chicken and fried rice. They also offer beer and other liquors. The food was very delicious and flavored just right.

Great service, great food! Highly recommend their skewers especially during happy hour

Came here on a Saturday night and was disappointed with my experience. We were served our ramens over the counter and were about to ask the staff member for some vinegar. Just after saying "Can we have..." he cut us off and said "Can you ask your waiter? He's like right there." I turned around and he was not near at all. I am genuinely embarrassed for the guy. If you're not willing to help your customers and have such a "not my job attitude" don't work in the service industry. There are other ways you could've gone about it: 1) not cutting off people in the middle of their sentence 2) saying something like "Let me let your waiter know" and we would've gotten the hint and would've not asked again. Luckily, the staff preparing the yakitori - all 3 members were very friendly and helpful although they had their own tasks as well. It was hard to get ahold of our waiter otherwise.

Decided to go here on a whim after attending a USC football game earlier. This place did not disappoint! Located in Alhambra, near Main St. and Garfield Ave. this is just a few steps from the parking structure off of First Street. Not too terrible to get to, but be prepared since this is a very busy area with the Regal movie theater and just a whole bunch of restaurants and shops in the surrounding area. We were walk-ins for party of two, and only had to wait for about 10 minutes. They have a variety of seating options, including counter space seating where the staff prepare the yakitori too. They also have a back room area that can accommodate larger groups and overflow for small groups too. As for the food, this place was AMAZING! I loved every dish we ordered. You can see the pictures included in this review. Yakitori: 1. Chicken thigh w/green onion: moist, flavorful 2. Chicken hearts: one of my favorites! Prepared with a nice sauce that makes it even better 3. Gizzard: great texture. Would have liked a dipping sauce or some salt 4. Intestine: LOVED this one! Great chewy texture. 5. Pork Belly: simple and delicious. Very tender 6. Pork Jowl: good flavor and texture. Takoyaki: very well prepared. Kept a nice temperature and crunch on the outside. Some places are hit or miss because they can get cold quickly. These were good. Nabeyaki Udon: it's listed #1 choice on the menu, and for good reason! Sadhu Broth was flavorful! It comes with two pieces of shrimp tempura, unagi (eel), chicken pieces, shiitake mushrooms, enoki mushrooms, and a poached egg! You can't ask for a more complete or satisfying bowl of udon. It comes in a hot pot with a side bowl for you to scoop out for yourself. All of the ramen and udon noodles have options to add additional toppings! So feel free to customize to your liking. I added the Diablo spicy miso because I wanted to make my udon a little more spicy. Be careful...they weren't joking when they list this as SUPER Spicy! It is made with Carolina reaper peppers so that's all you need to know! If you want a less spicy add-on, there is a "Spicy Miso" which may be a better option. Overall: easy 5 star rating for me! I've bookmarked this place and can't wait to come back!

This place is off Garfield Ave and has parking in the back. There is also a structure nearby with free parking. The staff was very attentive (almost too attentive) and kind. The inside was clean with well spaced tables. There is also a back door. I am vegetarian ordered their 2 vege friendly items which was a JustEgg and vege meat crumble bowl and their veggie ramen. Both were pretty tasty. They also had some vege skewer options like mushroom, okra, potato. It was a good meal but I wouldn't come here specifically for those options.

I hadn't been to Shi sen Gumi in a while, so I was excited to visit their new location near Sprouts. The new space is clean and spacious, a significant improvement from their previous compact spot in Monterey Park. We decided to try the hakata ramen with Kobe beef and bacon-wrapped enoki mushrooms. Unfortunately, the girl who took our order made a mistake and only entered one ramen instead of two. We had to reorder with another staff member. Even when the second bowl of ramen arrived, my skewer order was missing, so I had to place a third order. Despite these hiccups, the food was amazing. I thoroughly enjoyed both the skewers and the ramen.

I really really loved this place so much even before they moved from Monterey Park to Alhambra. I have no problem with their service because it's no question, still one of the best service out of all restaurants. Their menu keeps changing without notice. Some of my favorite food aren't there anymore, there's no more daily specials anymore. Their beef tongue is thinner than before now.. They also took off their yelp wait list feature after having it for some time. The vibe is okay, they always play anime movies or shows whenever we come in. Staff are very attentive and they still have the best yuzu paste ever.

The recent changes to the dinner menu are very disappointing, and we won't be returning for the foreseeable future. Curry and ramen dishes are no longer offered, and the portions are noticeably smaller. It seems an emphasis on yakitori is the reason, at the expense of their full entree selection. I don't often leave Yelp reviews, but was compelled to here. Do better, Shin-Sen-Gumi!

We live by a Shin-Sen-Gumi in OC, but we love this location in Alhambra. The food is fantastic! It's a fun environment and loud, probably the echoing from the high ceiling. Our server Emiko is so sweet and attentive. She didn't even have to write down our order. That's when you know the girl is good at what she does. The ramen is absolutely delicious! In most ramen places, their ramen is super salty. The Yakitori is great. Loved everything we ordered. Although, I would have liked my Yakitori hearts a little crunchy grilled texture. The parking is a little hectic on the side, but there is a parking structure in the back of the restaurant. This place is insanely packed during dinner.

Yakitori heaven! And right in my neighborhood. Beautiful and dangerous at the same time. I might be here ALL the time. Shin-Sen-Gumi has been on my list of local restaurants to try. I was meeting up with some friends for dinner before movie night. Beyond happy they choose this spot. I've been in love with the Samurai in the window for a long time and for some reason always thought the inside was a lot smaller. Pleasantly surprised to see how big and open the restaurant was. Big taiko drum and Sumo wrestler poster as soon as you walk in. The entire staff was extremely friendly, greeted us at the door, and seated us right away. So many food options: skewers, ramen, udon, rice bowl dishes, salads.. it took us a little bit of time to decide. The kids made their choices quickly and watched the Anime that was playing on the surrounding TVs. We finally settled on a couple skewers each, ramen and rice bowl for the kids, and a couple salads. We ordered chicken heart, pork belly, asparagus wrapped in pork belly, chicken thigh with green onion, and the marbled kobe. Mouthwatering and tender, we loved them all but we definitely had two favorites: marbled kobe and asparagus wrapped in pork belly. Everything was delicious. Next time I might order one of every skewer and a bucket of beer to round out my meal!