Gokigen Tori – Best Yakitori in Culver City

I thought it was bold to label one’s restaurant the best in an area…. UNTIL I TOOK THE FIRST BITE. Holy moly better than some yakitori places in Japan using US birds. How?! I never find anything this good at such an affordable price. I was eating so aggressively here that I pit the inside of my cheek and was bleeding out of it in pain for days. But still worth it. Every single skewer we had was magical and even the sides - chawanmushi was delicious. Even the veggie skewers were so good… the salinity on each dish was near perfect.. something you could never find at $6 a skewer in NYC or London. The claypot rice was so fragrant I can still smell the white rice from here. The grill master is from Japan and so is most of the staff. You can feel the energy all throughout the restaurant. Wishing

A yakitori restaurant that gives you high quality and a variety of chicken parts just like what you had in Japan. The price range is a bit generous, but the quality of the ingredients is good. The criteria for finding a good yakitori is how many detailed chicken parts you use. For example, chicken heart, liver, and seseri, bonziri, segimo, sori. It sells Suntory premium malts draft beer and uses high quality charcoal. One unfortunate aspect is that they sell high-priced yakitori, but they didn’t disclose the name of the farm or the local chicken they use. Additionally, they were unaware of the information regarding the charcoal used.

This place was delicious! Can’t wait to go back. The chefs are great and true pros. A lot of variety of meats, with delicious sides and menu items. Our favorites were the Kokoro Nokori, Eel, Gizzards, Pork wrapped Pepper with Cheese, the Buttered Potato and the Onigiri. The 100% binchotan makes it smoky and delicious.

Authentic Japanese yakitori is hard to come by in West L.A. outside Torrence, and Gokigen Tori more than meets that expectation. The restaurant’s modern, sharply defined interior is organized around a central yakitori station equipped with a sizable ventilation hood, yet you still catch the mouthwatering charcoal aroma the moment you walk in. Once seated, a hot towel is offered—a small but traditional gesture that sets a courteous tone. The menu even includes an optional “seat charge” of shredded lettuce, a nod to Japanese custom, made discretionary here for guests less familiar with the practice. The skewers themselves are superbly executed, each one striking a delicate balance between smoky char and the natural flavor of the chicken. The tsukune is a standout, blended with shiso and bit

Not long ago, I tried Japanese cuisine for the first time — and it happened here. I honestly couldn’t have asked for a better first experience. I’ve been here many times already, but today I finally felt I had to leave a review. Every visit is consistently amazing — the food is always outstanding, and the staff is incredibly attentive and kind. Today I decided to try several items from the specials menu, and I was absolutely blown away. The fish was unbelievably tender and melted in my mouth. The tofu with anchovies was a total surprise in the best way — so flavorful and perfectly balanced. And the Japanese cheesecake was light, delicate, and simply unforgettable. I truly love this place and highly recommend it. It has become one of my favorite spots, and I always leave happy and impres