Photo credit: la.eater.com
The well-known yakitori chain Torikizoku, which has over 600 branches throughout Japan, has launched its first U.S. outlet in Torrance, California, as of January 24, 2025. Renowned for its attractively priced grilled chicken skewers, usually made over binchotan charcoal, Torikizoku provides a lively dining atmosphere complemented by a selection of beer and sake.
Since its inception in Osaka in 1985, Torikizoku has evolved into one of Japan’s prominent izakaya chains, drawing crowds of customers. In Japan, customers can savor plates of skewers and side dishes at a fixed price of 308 yen, which equates to just over $2. Alongside its expansion into the U.S. market, the chain has also established restaurants in Taiwan, South Korea, and Hong Kong.
The Torrance location features a straightforward menu that includes a broad selection of kushiyaki, which refers to various types of skewered foods, with an emphasis on yakitori. The chicken skewers come in different cuts, such as kizoku yaki (jumbo yakitori), momo (thigh), teba (wings), tsukune (meatballs), hatsu (heart), sunagimo (gizzard), and yagen (cartilage). Additionally, seafood options like hotate (scallop) and ebi (shrimp), as well as quail eggs, vegetables, and harami beef, are available. To complement the skewers, patrons can enjoy sides like edamame, cucumber salad, yaki onigiri, and steamed rice. The menu also features dishes like karaage (fried chicken), takoyaki, agedashi tofu, and okonomiyaki, which pair well with Suntory lager on tap. Other small main dishes include yuzu shio ramen and soboro don (a rice bowl with ground chicken), with most plates priced at either $4 or $8.
In addition to food, Torikizoku offers a variety of beverage options, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic, including yuzu sour, grape Ramune soda, hot green tea, sake, and umeshu. A selection of wine, sake, and shochu is also part of the drink menu.
The design of the Torrance restaurant echoes its Japanese counterparts while infusing elements of modern minimalism. Guests are welcomed by a semi-enclosed host stand, with sloped wooden beams creating an inviting atmosphere. Behind the counter, a curated display of sake, wine bottles, cookbooks, and artisanal pottery adds a unique charm. The centerpiece is a U-shaped wooden bar, which overlooks a glass-encased kitchen area where chefs prepare kushiyaki over binchotan charcoal. The elegant setting includes rustic wooden tables, circular Noguchi-style paper lamps that provide a warm ambiance, and eye-catching gray lime-washed walls paired with concrete floors.
Torikizoku enhances the diverse culinary landscape of Southern California, joining established yakitori eateries like Shin Sen Gumi, Koshiji, and Torimatsu, as well as izakayas such as Ototo and Izakaya Hachi. The restaurant’s opening, together with the recent emergence of the popular Japanese bakery Bread, Espresso, & in Redondo Beach, suggests a potential surge in Japan-based dining establishments across Los Angeles. Given Zoku’s success in the South Bay area, Torikizoku is well-positioned to become a staple in the region.
Torikizoku is situated at 21839 Hawthorne Boulevard, Torrance, CA 90503, and operates from 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday.
Source
la.eater.com