Izakaya Hachi Torrance - Carson

It seems I never posted my follow-up review. I was in town again in March and tried to walk in solo after being turned down for takeout/delivery last time. Laughably, I was rejected again! The restaurant is quite small, similar to Sushi Morio in Honolulu, with maybe 5-6 tables and a counter. I noticed some spots open at the counter and thought since it was quite late in the evening I'd have a chance, but nope... Rejected once more. I did make an effort. Having just returned from Osaka and Kyoto, I've come to realize that in Japan, they often reject people when there are no open tables. However, if a table becomes available as you walk in, they will accommodate you. So, I wonder if this is a cultural thing. Perhaps the third time will be the charm?

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!

One of my favorite Japanese restaurants in Torrance is Izakaya Hachi, located in a small strip mall near Manpuku. The convenience of ample parking in the lot is a plus. They have an extensive menu featuring Japanese dishes, ranging from sushi and yakitori to shabu shabu. Whenever I visit, I always start with their gobo chips, which are addictive and a unique offering from Hachi. Their chicken karaage is flavorful, and the yakitori options, like chicken thighs and meatballs, are equally delicious. The agedashi tofu is among the best I’ve had, and their pork shabu shabu is packed with flavor and accompanied by a generous amount of fresh vegetables. Recently, I tried their snapper nigiri, which, while a bit pricey at $20, was incredibly fresh and delicious, making it well worth the cost.

There is an abundance of Japanese restaurants in Torrance, thanks for the city's hosting of the biggest Japanese carmakers in America. When I worked in Carson, I frequently drove to Torrance for some of the best Japanese food in Southern California. Fast forward to 2024, when all the carmakers moved to other states to lower cost, the number of options is dwindling, but I am very glad that Izakaya Hachi remained. It has the best Japanese food in the entire Torrance neighborhood. If you're a Japanese cuisine connoisseur, you would know about this place. Parking in this shopping center was pretty impacted. Get ready to find street parking if you're out of luck. Service was attentive, as what you typically expect at any Japanese establishment. The noise level was pretty loud, as the place was packed on a Sunday evening. The other patrons did not distract from my dining experience, as we had a pretty lively conversation of our own. My wife was having a little reunion with her college friends. There is a $60 per person option of tasting the best of what Izakaya Hachi has to offer, but we thought that was quite pricey. I shared the pork belly kimchi with my wife, and I also had their beef udon. The meat was well marinated, and the udon was served in a very unique bowl that had a wooden lid. The serving vessel was worth the menu item alone, but the content was also satisfying. The texture of the udon was perfect. This is an ideal place to celebrate a special occasion. The entire experience was a treat.

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!