Tokyo Central is a specialty Japanese grocery store in California and one of my go-to markets. It offers various imported Japanese goods, fresh produce, beauty products, and prepared Japanese food. They opened a second Torrance location on Pacific Coast Hwy and Hawthorne Blvd, next to Best Buy. Tokyo Central’s newest location opened on the weekend…
Torrance
Aunty Maile’s Delivers the Exceptional Hawaiian Experience
I became aware of Aunty Maile’s when it opened as Island Flavor in Gardena. Before I tasted the food, I knew it would be good because of the big-framed Island customers. The owners moved to bigger digs and reopened as Aunty Maile’s with plenty of indoor and outdoor seating. When the pandemic hit, they converted…
Lunasia Dim Sum House Opens in Torrance
I am a big fan of dim sum, but I don’t enjoy it as often because I live in the South Bay, and the top dim sum places are in the San Gabriel Valley. Yes, Dim Sum 101 Express opened nearby, but I’ve longed for an experience with a vast menu. I was thrilled when…
Clutch and Coffee – Chef-Inspired American Diner
After having a tough week, sometimes you look forward to an excellent comfort breakfast. Many of these diners exist throughout LA, but in Torrance, one, Clutch and Coffe, which opened in 2016, is currently a local popular favorite. Clutch and Coffee is an off-road racing-inspired cafe in Old Town Torrance, a few doors from Torrance…
Full House Plus Introduces Korean Chinese to the South Bay
You are mistaken if you think Korean cuisine is all about kimchi, tofu soup, and Korean BBQ. Korean cuisine reflects a complex interaction of the natural environment and different cultural trends. For example, during the Korean War, budae jjigae (a.k.a. Army Base Stew) was created using spam and sausage. Another example is Korean-Chinese, a hybrid…
Ojiya Delivers Solid Japanese Comfort Food In Torrance
I grew up in LA’s Westside, and during that time, restaurants that featured Japanese comfort food were plentiful. These family-oriented restaurants featured teriyaki, pork tonkatsu, udon, tempura, and sashimi. Most of these restaurants have vanished because the children don’t carry it forward. Ojiya is one such restaurant and has been going strong since 2003. Ojiya…
Kozo Sushi – Great Option for Japanese Take-Out Sushi
The Rolling Hills Plaza in Torrance is best known for its many Japanese eateries, such as Nijiya Market, Iccho, Ichimi-An, and Yamaya. Sushi Boy recently closed and reopened in a new location in the mall as Kozo Sushi. Kozo Sushi took over the retail space where Sub Society resided. It is a fast-casual restaurant with an extensive…
Piccini Delivers Dine-In Quality For Italian Takeout
Updated Oct 31, 2022 During the pandemic, some restaurant owners took advantage of the downtime to create new concepts. Due to the staffing shortage, fast-casual restaurants became popular because they don’t require servers. One example in the South Bay was Piccini, a restaurant created by the owners of Gaetano’s in Torrance. Piccini means young children…
Barbacoa La Brava Pop Up For Flavorful Barbacoa
Let’s face it; LA is a great place to reside if you like tacos. While Tito’s Tacos set an early craze for tacos in the ’60s, King Taco’s soft tacos with carne asada took LA by storm in the mid-’70s. More recently the tacos dorados de camaron from Mariscos Jalisco. Barbacoa La Brava, a pop-up…
Izakaya Hachi Delivers Amazing Japanese Tapas
Prior to the pandemic, Izakaya Hachi was one of the busiest restaurants in the South Bay. Their brick-and-mortar is located on Carson St near many Japanese eateries. Reservations were required and sometimes you had to book a couple of weeks in advance. As an izakaya, they operate similar to a Spanish tapas bar. Izakaya restaurants…