Shin-Sen-Gumi Yakitori & Chanko Gardena

Best yakitori and grilled skewers around! Shin-Sen-Gumi is hands-down the most reliable chain for Japanese street-food-style dishes. Their yakitori selection is huge, and everything is seasoned well. Prices are reasonable, too. The atmosphere and flavors feel authentically Japanese — it reminds me of the energetic yakitori bars that define Tokyo nightlife. Be prepared to wait in line! I love animal internal organs, but for a safe and crowd-pleasing choice, try the beef, chicken thighs or wings, potatoes, rice balls, meatballs, and sausages. I don't recommend taking leftovers or to go orders with most yakitori. Reheating ruined the flavor. FYI: offal (aka internal organs) is packed with iron, zinc, vitamin B12, protein, and vitamin A. So be bold and experiment — bring a friend along to share, or to hand off anything you don’t love. After all, what are friends for if not to be your food trash cans… I mean, sharing is caring, right?

Delicious yakitori + reasonable price + busy hot place vibe. Delicious yakitori at a very reasonable price with that lively, busy hot spot vibe—it’s easy to see why this place is popular. The food itself was great once it arrived, and I’d definitely come back for the taste alone. The only downside was the service. Our server seemed either inexperienced or just overwhelmed with too many tables. Orders came out very slowly, and a couple of mistakes were made with what we ordered. It was a bit frustrating, especially since everything else about the restaurant was so enjoyable. If the service improves, this would easily be a 5-star spot for me.

Interesting Japanese space in Gardena that features both a yakitori side and a shabu side. The place has great service, super friendly staff that are great to chat with. I probably came at the weirdest time possible as there was a power outage which pretty much ended the yakitori night as no ventilation was available. However, before the power went out, food was good and served at a quick rate. Good spot to grab a beer, skewers, and apparently they get busier in the night, especially after Dodgers games.

Stopped by for a quick late dinner on a Monday night at 10PM. We walked in and were promptly seated. We ordered a couple skewers: 1. Beef was tender and seasoned well. 2. The chicken thigh was so juicy and flavorful! My favorite skewer. 3. The bacon wrapped asparagus was grilled well with great texture. 4. The chicken and onion seasoned with salt was delicious. 5. The yakitori chicken fries with mayo and cheese was the perfect comfort food. The fries were crispy and piping hot and well complemented by the chicken. Highly recommend a visit. They have ramen and lots of seasonal specials as well.

Fast, friendly service. Fun space. Reasonable prices. Delicious grilled goodies. And according to my friend who lived in Japan for a couple years, it's the real deal. We will be back, soon!

The ramen is AWFUL. They use, what I believe, is buckwheat noodles. The taste and consistency are that of higher end instant noodles. They were the color of dijon mustard. I knew something was up when they didn't ask me if I wanted my noodles firm or soft. I question if this is actually an official Shinsengumi. NEVER AGAIN.

This place is great! I love the energy of every single employee. They make you feel very special especially when you order a beer and everyone gets involved for the "kanpai". I used to come here almost weekly but the prices have drastically increased over the years. All of the items have nearly tripled in price from when I originally came here nearly 15 years ago. Normally I just stick to the lunch menu these days but I also love introducing people to yakitori. The meatballs are always a fan favorite for everyone I bring.

Great spot. Small 3 bite skewers, price adds up but most of them were great. The beef tongue, wagyu, and skirt steak were really good, loved the flavor they had. The bacon wrapped ones and the mushroom skewers were all good. The only lacking one was the pork belly and scallop skewer, those were definitely a pass. The braised pork belly and fried calamari however, amazing. The scallop sashimi also solid. The fires were ok but the chicken pieces it came with were excellent. Overall great spot.

One of my favorite restaurants to eat at. I usually go for lunch right when they open and ask to sit at the counter. I enjoy watching the cooks grill the chicken. Besides the yakitori, I enjoy eating their takana rice which isn't always available. The staff is friendly and efficient here. They always make me feel welcome as soon as they yell "Irasshai".

The only two things I can think of to improve on are that there is always a wait and it is cold inside depending where you sit. The wait thing isn't necessarily a bad thing and very common. In this particular instance the wait is worth it because the food is great! If you're sitting next to the door at night you might get cold but staff tries to keep the door shut. The service and food is amazing. The food and drinks come out relatively quickly. Add the wontons to the ramen! They're so good. You can customize the ramen to your liking so the food will always hit! Food: 5/5 Service: 5/5 Ambiance: 4/5

Be prepared to wait during busy hours. I ordered their namesake chasuke, but that was meh. The scallop skewers I got were overcooked. The skewers that were good thankfully came towards the end of my meal: the pork intestine, chicken skin, and special heart. I appreciate that they use the traditional binchotan, so I don't come out smelling like a grill. I wish they had a Happy Hour like the Alhambra location. I would come back regularly if they did.

It has limited seating inside so there can be 1-2 hours wait! It's a cozy ambiance and festive as the workers have periodic Japanese chants. The dishes are small bites so if you're hungry expect a high bill. They have a specials menu on a white board near the grill to check out. It's cooked on a charcoal grill so the smoky flavor comes out. Enjoyed the smelt fish, braised pork, pork belly, octopus. Ideal for late night snacking. Part of a plaza with good amount of parking and then street parking. Also has Japanese sake and beer for good price

This place really impressed me. We got the a la cart grilled meats and everything was of high quality and delicious. You can tell they put the highest attention to detail in everything. Service was amazing also, the staff were very attentive. It's cozy in there but we got there right when it opened and it was a pleasant place to sit and eat.

I was on the hunt for high quality binchotan yakitori and this was on the short list of recommendations in LA. It hit the spot perfectly. This is an a la carte establishment, so I ordered the following: duck, special heart, marbled wagyu beef, thigh, wing, and I believe the chicken tail or rump. An older gentleman was manning the binchotan grill and furiously juggling so many skewers at one time. I was genuinely impressed. Each skewer was masterfully cooked with minimal heavy charring, which I really appreciated. The succulence and seasoning for each skewer was immaculate; I would readily order them all again. As this was our second lunch of the day after Tempura Carlos Junior, I didn't order more after the initial wave of yakitori. I highly recommend Shin-Sen-Gumi in Gardena. I have not visited the other locations but I'm sure they are of high quality as well.

Food: One of the better value spots in the South Bay and also open late for the area. The Tsukuba with truffle was the highlight for us. Best spot for late night cheap eats and beer. Service: Great service and lively crowd. They kanpai with you when you order a pitcher and the food and drinks come fast. Ambiance: Classic yakitori interior a kind of place you would see salary man enjoying good drinks and cheap eats.

The service is grew at Shi Sen. they may be a chain and this is the second location I have been too. There is a wait at times but they have so many tables that the wait should be fast. Well let get to the food, all the sneers are good and you order one skewer so you need to increase the quantity if you intend for more than one. Well the skewers are really good and the butter ramen I ordered was ok. They have claw machines if the air is long. They have parking garage which makes parking easy too. If you are looking for good yakitori I'd recommend going to Shi Sen Gumi.

有時重溫舊夢， 方覺歲月如風，人老了，喜歡懷念過去的歲月，因為過去的日子裡保留著的是～永遠得不到的東西，每一次的顧盼回眸，都是對過往的告白，帶著這些溫暖的回憶， 就是我們勇敢前進的力量～ 新撰組， 吃了二十幾年的燒烤店，在我心中，是日式串燒的最佳代表，這種伴隨著我們變老， 看著小孩長大的地方， 走進去真的吃的不只是燒烤而已呀， 兩個月前陪老友過來，不需要喝酒助興，才點杯茶就也已經讓好友感慨萬千，滔滔不絕的話說從前了，從我們相識的當年講起 這次過去發現他們生意有比較好一些， 一般的weekday ,我要離開時，外面有一些在排隊的人潮，朋友他幾年沒來了，味道還是他記憶裡的味道，以前覺得是算貴的餐廳，這兩年到處漲的一塌糊塗之後， 帳單來時99 元，他覺得一點都不貴，有時在這個有很多故事的老店裡， 多希望時光能緩下來， 故人能不離散呀！

The ramen was okay, everything was okay but both of us wouldn't return. It's hard to describe it. It seems very commercialized. The chicken wings and gyoza were good even if the portions were tiny. I didn't care for the size and texture of the noodles and the broth was just okay to me. My favorite ramen place Santouka has nothing to worry about. Service was fine but a little slow. I didn't care for my seating but I didn't want to wait longer for better seating.

Going to update my review since I came to Shin-Seun-Gumi recently. It's been almost 10 years since I last came here and I was in the area for sushi, but the wait was too long. I remember how much I used to enjoy Shin-Sen-Gumi when I used to work around here, so decided to give it a try. I came on a Sunday and there was almost no wait, which was great because I was starving. I got seated at the bar, so I could watch the employees make the yakitori. The prices are still super fair and the food was still so good! I was worried that the quality would have gone down since I last been, but I think it is just as good. I ordered a whole bunch of things, but the highlights for me were the chicken meatball (still so good after all these years), the skirt steak, mushroom and the beef tongue. I also had their karage for the first time and it was delicious. I also tried their spicy ramen because I wanted something with carbs. That was probably my least favorite. It was too spicy and the pork inside was not cooked as well. But, aside, from that everything else I ordered was so good. As an added plus, the employees were all super efficient and friendly. Small parking lot outside, but there is street parking if it is full. And, there is also 7 Leaves inside the same strip mall if you want a boba after. Will definitely have to come back now again!

Good yakitori options. It's a bit small there so you might need to wait a bit depending on your party size. Overall their yakitori is good, I wish they had more options, but I can't complain of the options they do have. Worth checking them out!

My partner and I have been wanting to check this place out for a while. We finally came to celebrate our joint bday with some nice sake and yakitori and had such a great time!!! We received wonderful service from the staff. Everyone was so fast and friendly and helpful! All the yakitori we ordered was delicious. I had never had chazuke before and it was perfect with some hot sake on a chilly-ish evening. Highly recommend!!

I've tried yakitori in Japan and it's quite different from this place. Got a variety of skewers and appetizers (see pics) and thought they were just OK. Some were too sweet with the sauce, and the quality of meat was meh. Wouldn't come back. Free parking in lot.

Super yummy high quality skewers, and there was chicken heart! Favorite skewer was definitely the chicken skin and least favorite was the scallop (personal preference). Would definitely return if I'm craving yakitori. Service was polite and helpful, and the ambience was casual. Parking was free and easy - they share a lot with several other businesses. There are restrooms inside.

First time experiencing Yakitori (Japanese skewers). I honestly didn't think you could get full off little sticks of meat but man was I wrong. I swear by the end of it we had ordered most of the meats and veggies. Everything & I mean everything was delicious. If you can, I highly recommend making a reservation or getting there early. We got there before they even opened on a Friday night and there was already a hugeeeeee line. Either way, I can't wait to come back. Service, food, and vibe all 10/10.

Small but authentic place. Excellent food options. Felt welcome and in a different world at the same time

I think all shin sen gumi yakitori places are tiny, but this one has probably the most elbow room. Too bad it's far from where we live. You can never go wrong with anything on the menu and the service is always great. We came on a Saturday around 230p - 3p and hardly a wait and was not crowded. The staff in this particular location were very attentive and this is probably my favorite shin sen gumi location.

If you want yakitori, Shin-Sen-Gumi is your place - it's in the name, after all! While I've only come here for dinner, after work, with colleagues, it's such a fun place to have happy hour/team dinners; be warned that it can get very loud and there can be quite a wait - remember to sign-in on the sheet at the front of the door when you arrive. The service is attentive and quick; everything you'd want from a yakitori place. I've always ordered a variety of dishes and my favourites are chicken meatball, skirt steak, mushroom, beef tongue, karaage, chicken thigh, liver, heart, wing, pork belly, enoki mushroom w/ pork belly, shiso basil w/ pork belly, and shrimp. Honestly, you can't go wrong here! While the bill can add up quickly, it's a fun way to decompress and eat good food after wall. The parking lot is pretty small, but you have teh added option of street parking.

Instead of getting there at open we arrived after 6pm on a Saturday and that's a different wait time. Rating is 4.5 stars once we got in. 3 stars on the waiting outside. Food is wonderful tho the cooks look younger that the morning crew they prepared the vast majority of items very well. Another difference at night is the friendly atmosphere. It just seemed friendlier. The from morning to evening goes from 0/15 mins to 45+\- Sometimes it felt some arrivals were exploiting some loopholes to get it but I have no real proof. If you wait, you will get in tho

This is my go-to ramen spot that's close to my house ..... this is my favorite solo date spot .... Small but worth the wait

Our service for 4 was fast! We were seated immediately upon opening, and the chef were already on their way to fire up the grill. Of all the things we ordered, the pork belly skewers and beef tongue were the tastiest. The simple salted season was all it took to bring out its flavor. We felt that the chicken meatballs were pretty standard and the least interesting ones, especially if you grew up around eating meatballs or kebabs. We would totally come back again!

There was a time when I thought familiarity was boredom. Food couldn't hold interest unless it was deconstructed and reconstructed, shrouded amid the haze of dry ice. Then the world turned upside down. Dine-in turned into takeout. Friendly faces gave in to fatigue. Quality became a question rather than a given. Shin-Sen-Gumi Yakitori has stood firm as the industry tilted. The skewers are still patiently turned over fire, served only when the time is ripe. Each dish is gently seasoned and thoughtfully presented. The space is narrow and the neighbors, close, but the tone is relaxed and the mood, easy. The staff sets a warm example and maintains it. Every item tasted like I remembered, even the chicken meatballs which would've been easy to alter but weren't. Each bite was a memory made new, a reminder that familiarity is not boredom but an anchor.

The Shin-Sen-Gumi Restaurant Group operates different restaurants across Southern California including robata & yakitori (grilled chicken skewers), chanko (hot pots), Hakata ramen (what Shin-Sen-Gumi is best known for), shabu-shabu, and udon. This Gardena location is the first and flagship restaurant (opened in 1992) that specializes in yakitori. Please note that the next door sister restaurant Shin-Sen-Gumi Chanko only opens for dinner from 6:00 PM to 9:30 PM (last call at 9 PM). [Parking]: Came here for Saturday lunch and I didn't have an issue finding a spot within the free parking lot. [Wait List & Rules]: Everyone in a party must be present at the door to be seated. The restaurant will not be able to add any guests to a party after being seated. Once seated the restaurant will not be able to move a party to a different table. The restaurant only accepts up to MAX 2 cards per check. The restaurant is not able to split the check by items. The restaurant also does not accept prepaid credit cards. [Menu]: One side of the paper menu has all of skewer items while the other side has miscellaneous cold/hot dishes. The QR code or laminated menu has various lunch combos (including yakitori bowl, plates, etc), pork belly mini hot-pot (limited 5 per day), curry rice plates, and selected Wednesday & Thursday lunch specials. Please note that grilled rice balls, chicken breast cartilage, chicken rump, chicken tail, and fried tofu are only available during dinner hours. *** #7 Thigh w/ Green Onion ($3.25) + #8 Meatball ($4.00) + #15 Wing ($3.50) + #23 Enoki Mushroom w/ Pork Belly ($4.50) + #24 Asparagus w/ Pork Belly ($4.50) + #26 Quail Egg w/ Bacon ($4.50): Half of our orders (#7, #8, and #15) were just ... chicken so honestly they weren't all that special (at least wing was slightly juicy, but felt somewhat unsatisfying with portion). Asparagus and mushroom wrapped w/ pork belly were all that special. Lastly quail egg with bacon tasted slightly bland. *** While (1) our party only waited less than 5 minutes to get a table on Saturday at 12:30 PM and (2) service was friendly, our food took a while to arrive and our waitress clearly missed one of our hot dish orders despite I asked her to check our order again. If I am drunk enough, then maybe I won't be able to tell how bland these skewers actually taste. Don't expect a full stomach unless (1) customers order at least $25 worth of skewers per person or (2) customers order one of combo plates/bowls with rice.

I ate here recently and it was probably the best yakitori I've ever eaten outside of Japan. Honestly, it gave the skewers I had in Japan a run for their money. It was that good. This place gets busy so be prepared to wait. We came on a Sunday around 5PM and it was packed, but we got lucky and were seated at the bar after only a few minutes. If you are looking for a high-end and calm dining experience, this is not it! The chefs and waiters do all kinds yelling and bantering. It's part of the atmosphere and I found it a lot of fun, but I know people who may not enjoy that energy. It's casual and a bit crammed in here, but it's worth it for the food. As for the meal itself, just wow. Everything is fairly priced, cooked to perfection on a grill with Japanese coals and absolutely delicious. The chicken meatballs were by far the best I ever had. The beef was cooked perfectly and the quail eggs wrapped in pork were unbelievably good. I also had the best chicken liver skewers I've ever eaten. Even the hearts were great and I usually skip those. Honorable mention going to the pork-wrapped scallops. Literally everything we had was perfect. I can't wait come back. A must try for foodies and totally worth the drive and wait. Don't sleep on this one.

Was in the area running errands with a friend and decided to come here for dinner (around 6 pm on a Sunday). It's located in a small plaza and we found parking easily. There were a few small groups waiting for tables outside and when we put our name down there were 3 parties ahead of us (est. 20 minute wait). I think we waited less than 20 minutes before being called in though. Between the 2 of us, we ordered: Beef Tongue ($5.25) x1 Beef Flap ($5.00) x1 Chicken Thigh w/ Green Onion ($3.25) x2 Chicken Liver ($3.50) x2 Chicken Gizzards ($3.50) x4 Shiso Basil w/ Pork Belly ($4.50) x1 Quail Egg w/ Bacon ($4.50) x2 Grilled Plain Rice Ball ($3.00) x1 Cream Crab Croquette ($9.50) - since this was a hot appetizer item, it came with 2 pieces! Everything we had was good but the Cream Crab Croquette was amazing as well as the Chicken Liver and Quail Eggs w/ Bacon. Tip: Try to order all of your yakitori items at one time because it does take some time for them to bring out a second round. We also got a mug of Asahi and a cup of hot tea (w/ free refills) as well. Our total after tax and tip was about $88 ($44/per person). I would definitely come again to try their other yakitori options!

Food's great! A little bit pricy. $80 after tax per person for lunch. Tables are too small.

My cousin loves this place so she brought me and my sister here when we were visiting. She ordered the things that she liked, and we all shared. One of our favorites was the chicken skin. Everything was good, but my sister and I thought most of it was too salty. We needed dip to kind of balance it out, but we also didn't care for the sauces/spices they offered for dipping.

Great service, and great food. Warning you will smell like barbecue. It's always a pleasure to come here. This is definitely my favorite restaurant to go to. Hands down the best yakitori in the southbay imo.

Cucumber appetizer was good Thigh, gizzard, pork belly, and ground sausage were all were very good. Chazuke was good too

We are a fan of this place for a quick lunch bite. Hubby got the yakitori combo - comes with a meatball + chicken thigh skewers, Karage, fried oyster, & potato croquette. I generally get the grilled mackerel. The portions are always so generous & the price is so reasonable!!

I've gone here a few times and it's always a treat! The Japanese food is consistently delicious the portions are more along the lines of tapas (with pricing to match) so manage expectations. The ambiance is cozy and loud so don't expect a private experience. The servers don't mess around and stay on top of their deliveries. I will say that prior to coming I had seen someone say to arrive early. They were not kidding. People start lining up at least 30 minutes before it opens. It's worth it though. I really enjoyed the takoyaki and the pork belly!! Highly recommend!

This place is perfect for cold weathers !! Soft noodles with thick miso broth and add corn, fried onion, soft boiled egg, please :) They have sliced pork that comes with the soup but I don't eat that much pork. It's already filling for me but. Super Declious everytime 10/10 for me!

Best Yakitori in town. Come hungry and expect to wait a little bit. Small place, always packed. Super friendly service, great music, and an all around good vibe. The meat is always high quality and comes out hot. Live a little bit and try the chicken hearts and livers. The duck is top notch. Can't miss with the Kobe beef. Great change of pace date spot.

30 yrs plus in business, this place is staple to Gardena, and by far one of the best and most consistent Yakitori places in the South Bay, always delivers food cooked to perfection. Service is always good, with vibrant energy, good quality of ingredients and prices are extremely fair. Decoration brings you back to places in Japan. If you cannot go to Japan, come here and you'll feel what you're missing out ;) Btw, be ready to wait... always a crowd waiting.

So happy that we impulsively chose to go eat here since other places weren't open later at night (on a Thursday no less). Truly an A+ dining experience with the most welcoming, "loud fun family" atmosphere. It does get a bit packed in here and just know, that it WILL get loud. But that just adds to the fun of it all. Hearing the staff yell out to each other (usually orders, or a "cheers", or a "good work!", to welcome and thank the customers, etc. makes it so energizing and uniquely, different from many other eateries (I don't even know if you can find an izakaya with this level of energy even in Little Tokyo, I'll be honest). There's table and bar seating available. Since it was our first real experience at an izakaya, my friend and I were a bit unsure of how to eat certain things, where to put the skewers, etc, but all of the servers were super helpful in giving us recommendations for the yuzu sauce, to put the skewers to be discarded in the little bamboo cup thing on our tables, etc. So what I'm saying is despite the noise level and crowds of people, A+ customer service. For our late night dinner, we got the: 1) Chicken Skin Skewer: -Crispy and delicious. Goes great with the yuzu sauce that they have. 2) Beef Tongue Skewer: -Tender. Can't go wrong with beef tongue. 3) Chicken Rump Skewer: -One of the more unique cuts of chicken and when it first came out, we had no idea what it even was. -Small thick meaty pieces. Not bad. 4) Chicken Gizzard: -Slightly chewy with some crispiness to it. Also not bad. 5) Bacon Wrapped Scallops/Quail Eggs: -These were 2 separate order items. -Nice crispy bacon on the outside that's not too salty or greasy. -Tasty and simple. Loved how tender the scallops were. 6) Grilled Mixed Onigiri: -Nice and slightly burnt edges add to the crunch. Definitely enough to share. -It comes with nicely sauced rice mixed with shiso and basil. -I love the taste of shiso so I really enjoyed this. 7) Shinsengumi Ochazuke: -Big hearty single bowl serving that is easy to share as well. -I'm a big fan of ochazuke and have always had it made instant so it was a treat to have the real deal at a sit down restaurant. -It comes with thin, black shredded seaweed, shredded chicken and scrambled eggs, as well as mushroom. -Rich soupy rice with subtle tea taste. I'd recommend this over just getting a standard bowl of rice, especially if you're sharing. 8) Fish Cake & Cheese: -This wasn't on the paper menu iirc, but was on a small white board near where the bar was. Comes with 6 pieces and is a nice simple appetizer. -It's filled with gooey white cheese and the fish cake comes in the form of those white fish balls. Simple and yummy. My friend got the okra but I am not a fan of the vegetable so I can't be relied on for an opinion on it lol I did taste a bit of it and I'm sure if you love okra you'd like this because it had a nice charred taste to it too. Overall a delicious and fun dining experience, would recommend going to it if you're in the area and nothing else is open at a late hour. Hopefully we get one of these in the 626 !

Are you craving Japanese style chicken skewers and beer? This would be a good choice. A friendly neighborhood yakitori joint with lots options and decent ramen. I went with my family and it was kids friendly and the service was fast and welcoming.

We ordered the soft shell crab appetizer, and a variety of skewers. They have a lot of selection, but not as much for beef. I'd recommend ordering the pork belly/enoki & also the okra skewers! Their Sapporo pitcher is $18 & gives around 4.5 mugs of beer. Everything here is really tasty, but if you're a big eater then you'll probably have to order a lot in order to get full.

The food is absolutely incredible--true Izakaya, authentic Japanese vibes. The service was top-notch, and the atmosphere felt like a warm welcome back to Japan!

;food is always delicious and service is outstanding. Love this restaurant. ;been coming for 14 years and the food is always amazing.

Shin-Sen-Gumi is pretty well known in the South Bay (with about 3 different locations) but I have to say this location specifically, is my favorite. This location sticks out as it focuses on Yakitori, Japanese grilled skewers over a charcoal grill. I love bringing people here because it's such a great spot to catch up over delicious bites and the service is so great! Earlier today I brought my family for the first time and they were so wow'd by the flavor and quality of the food. We ordered my favorite skewers-- kobe beef (worth it, believe me), salted pork, pork & enoki mushroom, chicken & green onion. We also ordered the fried squid legs, sesame cucumbers, and agedashi tofu to share. Highly recommend sitting at the bar if it's your first time. The interior is simple yet so charming. Highly recommend this spot!

place was lit for a Thursday night but we still got seated and served in a timely manner. extremely loud atmosphere but typical and expected for a spot like this. large and diverse menu but easy to understand. portions and pricing was a bit of a shock. for what I paid I could have had ayce bbq. left hungry and had to get drive-through on the way home. fun first time but don't think I'll be back. my appetite is too big and my wallet is too small for this type of dining.

It is simply the best. I have been eating there for 20 years and have taken people for dinner there for business and pleasure.

This place incredible and has it all. Value, phenomenal food, excellent service, and a cozy and fun vibe - almost like a little yokocho. Pork belly skewers and the chicken skin were out of this world, but honestly EVERYTHING we ordered was a hit. I'll be dreaming of those croquettes my LORD! We will absolutely be back, and I love how frosty the pitchers of beer are as well. Total gem!

My Gumi addiction came back... can't get enough of the skewers. Some of my favorites: chicken thigh yakitori, liver, heart, wing, intestine, belly, enoki mushroom w/ pork belly, shiso basil w/ pork belly, tomato with bacon, shrimp...

My absolute favorite yakitori place in SoCal. From the vibes, to the food, to the experience, to the service, to the parking lot! Immediately as you walk in, all of the employees greet you in Japanese! Talk about transporting you to Japan (I really felt like I was in a mom & pop stall in Japan again!!) the food is delicious- I haven't been disappointed by any of the yakitoris I've ordered. Try them all!!! Even the chicken wing- yes the chicken wing! If you order alcohol, they'll get the whole staff to cheers you in Japanese too! So fun! Parking isn't tough at all. One thing to be wary is they get busy so go early! My Fiance and I came here at least once a week for 3 months straight lol yes it's that good.

Late review BUT here it is. I took my family here to celebrate my mom's birthday and try something new than what we're use to. From the moment we arrived we were seated quickly and greeted by the entire staff which was cool lol. Since it was our first time here our waitress explained everything and gave us her favorite recommendations (Cindy) and a new trainee (forgot his name) was extremely helpful. The food came fast even though it was busy and ordered a bunch of food! The food was delicious and flavorful and even though they don't do anything special for birthdays, Cindy and the trainee came and brought a little ice cream fudge with a candle which was super sweet of them! Service: 10 out of 10 Food: 10 out of 10 WOULD RECOMMEND 100%

Just updating with some pictures from two separate visits. Chefs are well trained and the food is consistently cooked well and delicious.

A reccomended spot for the Bento Box, we decided to visit on a Saturday at about 4pm and missed the lunch menu, which ended at 3pm. The dinner menu does not include the bento box, but rather a variety of appetizers and Yakitori. The server was patient and explained and reccomend various dishes. We ordered the following for the table to share: Chicken Meatball, included 3 on a stick for $4. They were juicy and delicious. Potato Salad, $5.75, included 3 small scoops. Loved the creamy potato salad with cucumbers and carrots mixed in. Agadashi Tofu, $7.50, was the tables least favorite. Described as being fried, the dish included two cubes in broth, one topped with seaweed and the other with green onion. Strong flavors of ginger, the tofu was soft on the insude and only slightly fried on the outside. Sadly, the broth and toppings took the crisp away. Ebi Mayo, $8, was my favorite. Perfectly fried shrimp, topped with a mayonnaise based sauce. Delicious! Chicken Karaage, $7.95, was perfectly fried and also a table favorite. Deep Fried Squid, $8.50, included Squid tentacles that were deep fried chewy goodness. The is a small cozy spot with great customer service. Be prepared to wait during peak times. I'll definitely be back to try more!