Hachi - Carson

This is a late review from December, but better late than never cause this is my favorite Japanese restaurant in LA!! I loooove the ambience, the food, the work... read more This is a late review from December, but better late than never cause this is my favorite Japanese restaurant in LA!! I loooove the ambience, the food, the workers, evening reminded me of Japan. Def try their chicken meatball skewers. Would come here moreoften if it weren’t for the commute. ???????????!!

The food here tastes amazing. The “skewer” items are a very generous portion. Try the beef tongue. The meat is extremely tender and soft. The strip steak has a... read more The food here tastes amazing. The “skewer” items are a very generous portion. Try the beef tongue. The meat is extremely tender and soft. The strip steak has a great sauce with it. The Kobe beef and uni sashimi is incredible.

She typically prefers to have lunch, as she doesn't like to eat late (after 3 p.m., she struggles to sleep). But she agreed to accompany me. I chose Izakaya, tr... read more She typically prefers to have lunch, as she doesn't like to eat late (after 3 p.m., she struggles to sleep). But she agreed to accompany me. I chose Izakaya, trusting they would provide both the food and ambiance to help me celebrate her. I wanted her to see how her little boy has grown and that he spreads joy wherever he goes. I made the right choice, as Izakaya delivered impeccable service, a warm atmosphere, and delicious food, allowing us to create a cherished memory together. This type of memory is priceless and will bring me joy even when my mom has found her place in heaven. I felt a bit embarrassed for arriving so early; we got there at 4:55 p.m. and watched the staff park and enter. We waited outside until around 5:05 before going in. They seated us at a cozy corner of the counter. Right away, I ordered my go-to favorites: Gobo Chips, corn tempura, and lamb chops. The blonde server informed us they had some specials, including a unique sushi roll. Not fully understanding what it was, I decided to try the second special of the night and let fate lead us in hopes of something extraordinary. I also ordered a pitcher of Sapporo for the kitchen staff, who soon came out to greet us with a "Kanpai." I stood up and made sure to let them know I was toasting my mom, saying it in both English and Spanish. One of the kitchen staff thanked us in Spanish, likely for my mom's benefit. She raised her glass of Coke, and I my diet Coke, for a toast. This was a small but meaningful gesture from the universe, showing my mom that I was doing well in the world and sharing beautiful moments with her. Across from us was an older sushi chef, and I told my mom how talented he must be, having honed his skills over the years. When the Zuke, the tuna sushi I ordered, arrived, I knew I was right. It was unbelievably delicious—each bite felt like a divine reward for the good I strive to do. It was pure bliss, a delightful message from the universe. I could taste the chef's expertise in every bite. When I asked our server who had made my sushi, she pointed to the older chef. I sent him a bounty of kisses with my hands, and his smile was full of appreciation, mirroring the joy on my mom’s face. I ordered three servings of that amazing Zuke sushi! Everything else we had was out of this world—the lamb chops were an ode to my palate. My mom loved everything as well and said she’d be willing to come back. Yay! During our meal, I was overwhelmed with love and gratitude for her, leading me to shed some solemn tears. She promised she would be my mom even after she passed. The restaurant created a space for us to share this moment of joyous sadness, which felt truly magical. While I was talking to my mom, a server approached with a flower and exclaimed, "Ta-da!" She handed it to me to give to my mom, adding another special touch that made me grateful for choosing this place for our memorable night out. Thank you to the servers and staff at Izakaya; you all are doing an incredible job! Keep up the great work because it truly matters to food lovers like me!

Great place for great Japanese food at a reasonable price. Definitely try beer ,spicy Miso beef intestine and gobo Chips ???????????? read more Great place for great Japanese food at a reasonable price. Definitely try beer ,spicy Miso beef intestine and gobo Chips ????????????

Like many other great Japanese restaurants in Torrance, Izakaya Hachi is located in the corner of a small strip mall. We arrived late in the evening, around 8:3... read more Like many other great Japanese restaurants in Torrance, Izakaya Hachi is located in the corner of a small strip mall. We arrived late in the evening, around 8:30PM on a random Tuesday night, and the restaurant was filled with people. Granted that it was a small place (40-50 seats), but still! It was so lively on a random week night! This was my first sign that this place will be good. As soon as we entered, we were greeted by Japanese-speaking wait staff. This soon made sense, as we quickly learned that 99% of the patrons spoke Japanese. I felt like I was at an izakaya joint in Tokyo. The food is served izakaya style, perfect portion size to try a little bit of everything. We ordered the following: Grilled Oysters: seasoned with dashi shoyu. They were grilled to perfection. Juicy, tender, not over cooked. Pork Kimchi: pan fried pork belly, kimchi, bean sprouts, served on a cast iron plate. It arrived sizzling with fragrant pickled scents from the kimchi. The pork belly was thin and seared until the fat was crispy. Absolutely delicious. Beef Tongue: my favorite dish of the night. Grilled to medium rare, perfect texture and flavors. It was so tender but still had a nice bite to it. Yuzu Pork Cheek: the cheek was seasoned with simple salt and pepper but had yuzu paste on the side to add to each bite of cheek upon serving. The citrus from the yuzu added a nice, unique flavor. Chicken Thigh Skewer: great, bold flavors. A little too saucy for my taste (I enjoy simple salt/pepper seasoning to taste the natural flavors), but still very good. Saba Mackerel Pressed Sushi: served with Japanese plum. I've never had pressed sushi before, but it's essentially sashimi pressed onto a layer of sushi rice and formed into a sushi roll. The tangy Japanese plum paste complimented the fish very well. Beef Sukiyaki Udon: BBQ beef, egg, with dashi broth. This udon is presented in a cute wooden bowl with a warmer on the bottom. Presentation is so cute. The dashi broth is packed with umami flavor, and the beef is thinly sliced and tender. The egg is runny, giving the broth a nice creamy flavor as it oozes out. I still think about all the things I loved and there's so much more I want to try! I'll definitely be coming back for more!