Haraku

Easily the best Japanese food I've had in recent memory. The standouts were: Treasure Bowl, Beef-tongue Carpaccio & Unagi Tamago Bowl. The Treasure Bowl is limited time only. Everything is really fresh and it's visually stunning. The Beef-tongue Carpaccio is solid and melts in your mouth. The Unagi Tamago Bowl was fire too. Torrance has quite the pick of Japanese food spots, but this place is for sure one of my go-tos

I really enjoyed it. Served an actual Japanese menu with tastes like it was Japan. Smaller and more expensive of course than Japan but isn’t everything here? The service was great and fast and speak 日本語. The tongue was really tender but firm and fresh. The soba was refreshing and light. Definitely recommended.

Delicious and super fresh tuna. The soba was also really on point. Will definitely be coming back again when I'm in the mood for sashimi. The o Toro and the tuna charaishi were very tasty and fresh as well. Highly recommended

+6

Been here a couple times, both times had the 3 tuna bowl. Fish was excellent, rice was excellent, comes with a small salad and miso soup. Service is pretty fast once seated. Can be a wait to get a table tho.

We’ve been coming here since we moved to South Bay Area. We had not dined in since pre Covid so it was a surprise to see the remodel inside. Very pretty! Dinner does get busy, definitely recommend calling in a reservation.

+5

The bowls are amazing in taste and value. The tuna and negi Toro are next level. Sad that I wasted 3 years not coming here when it was right there. It's divine every time. Pass on the shrimp tempura though.

I came here for lunch and enjoyed the ju-Toro jirashi bowl. Fresh tuna but tiny portions. So definitely quality over any resemblance of quantity - I think I can eat about 2 bowls comfortably. I'd highly recommend this restaurant P.S. I enjoyed my lunch so much, I came back for dinner with my family. Here are some more pictures from my equally satisfying dinner here!

+6

Absolutely the best Japanese curry I've ever had in the US! Legit Japan-level curry!!!

This restaurant was delicious and authentic to true Japan flavors. I had the Kaisen-don. It was great. I was blown away by the Karage!! It was tender and not greasy. By my standards, perfect. My wife had the Bara-Chirashi cut. She enjoyed it. We also sampled the Ribeye steak bowl (took most of it home as we were full by then. That turned out to be my wife's favorite dish. The server brought the respectful and pleasant Japan feeling. We have to come back for the full dinner menu. Note: they only serve a limited, bowl-centric menu before 5pm.

Came here for lunch for their rice bowls. Had the tuna and salmon bowl as well as their steak bowl (Yea I was hungry). It was pretty crowded for a weekday but wait was fast. The sushi was amazing, very fresh. And their grilled steak was amazing, super flavorful and tender. Definitely a great value for lunch!!

This fresh Kaisen don at $26.00 is an excellent value because every piece of raw fish is fresh without any dry part for left over. The Grilled Fish Set is also tasty, moisture and fresh at $18.95, which beats the signature sworfish (too dry) at $48.00 at the BlueWater Grill in Torrence we had two months ago. We decide to come back next day for dinner here. If you look for services, it is rated 3 stars, but 5 stars for fresh Sashimi dishes with reasonable prices with a Today's Special menu printed out daily.

+2

Came here for lunch before my hair appointment. It was so delicious, I forgot what really fresh fish tasted like. It was a heavenly experience, I got the Chu Toro Negi Toro Donburi. Perfect portion for lunch, you don't have to worry about getting the afternoon sleepies. Come early, this place is popular. There is almost always a line.

+1

The food here is absolutely outstanding! The fish is incredibly fresh and flavorful, and the steamed egg (I think that’s what it was) is surprisingly amazing. Portion sizes are just right, so not too much, not too little. And I already know I’ll be coming back again and again. This place has quickly become one of my favorite Japanese restaurants. You know it’s the real deal when most of the staff and customers are Japanese. That says a lot about its authenticity. Easy 10/5 stars from me. I’m telling everyone about this spot!

Expensive but quality, quality, quality! This place serves up delicious Japanese food. They have private tatami room which is great because we were there to celebrate our sons’ Birthday. All customers inside the restaurant were speaking Japanese so we knew right away that it was legit. Una-Jyu - OMG!!! It was as good as it can get. Expensive but delicious. Highly recommended. Daily Omakase - so so fresh, melt in your mouth sashimi. The scallops and Amaebi were so sweet. Just delicious. Highly recommended. Chicken Karaage- Big chunks of chicken, not like those with tons of batter. Not bad Angus’s NY strip loin - not bad but I prefer it to be more char/ seared on the outside and rare on the inside. Chicken Soba - broth was very refreshing. Not bad I would definitely return, just for the Una-Jyu and Omakase. Note: this place does not have desserts. Bring your own cake, if you are celebrating someone or something.

The atmosphere was warm and inviting, and every dish was thoughtfully prepared with great attention to detail. The flavors were authentic and comforting, making it the kind of place you want to come back to again and again. Even the drinks were well chosen — the Maru High was light and refreshing, complementing the food perfectly without overpowering it.

My family and I were able to get seated at a table for 15 without a wait which was amazing. My favorite were the sushi box sets, hamachi collar, salmon belly, and beef tongue! Staff was friendly

Wow. My friend made the reservation at Waraku last night and I’m so glad she did. Everything we ordered was incredibly fresh and absolutely delicious. You can really taste the quality of the ingredients and the care in how the dishes are prepared. The flavors were amazing and the overall experience was just fantastic. If you love great Japanese food, do yourself a favor and come here. You will not be disappointed.

Its all fresh and tasty. I have ordered three dishes to try out and it was all good. For chirashi, you might be disappointed if you wish alot of sushi on top of rice.

This spot in Torrance is the best that I've tried so far in the area. I love their wide selection of dishes from fresh sashimi, to rice bowls! I can tell that each dish that I've tried were made from premium ingredients because it was loaded with amazing flavors. I'm obsessed with their Beef and Unagi Rice Bowl. It comes with the fluffiest rice, and both meat were incredibly delicious! The Sashimi was sooo fresh as well. This spot is also very spacious inside, and they even have some private rooms that are perfect for celebrating special occasions. A must visit spot for sure if you love authentic Japanese food! I love how fast they serve the food and they provided excellent service too.

As someone who loves going to Japan and find soba as comfort food, this place rocks. Everything was great. The pork katsu was fried perfectly. Soba delicious. Will visit again when I'm back in LA.

Went for Grand Re-opening Fish quality is top notch! Cold soba(noodles) a treat🙌🙏 Curry was also very good!

This restaurant offers plenty of seating and welcomes walk-ins during weekdays, making it easy to visit on a whim. The place is vibrant and arguably the best spot in the Torrance area for authentic Japanese cuisine at reasonable prices. I had the Shirasu Ikura Don, Roast Beef Don, a seafood bowl, and curry. Although primarily a sake bar, it serves substantial meals that are highly recommendable. A must-visit for anyone craving genuine Japanese flavors!

Angela Wang

Expensive but quality, quality, quality! This place serves up delicious Japanese food. They have private tatami room which is great because we were there to celebrate our sons’ Birthday. All customers inside the restaurant were speaking Japanese so we knew right away that it was legit. Una-Jyu - OMG!!! It was as good as it can get. Expensive but delicious. Highly recommended. Daily Omakase - so so fresh, melt in your mouth sashimi. The scallops and Amaebi were so sweet. Just delicious. Highly recommended. Chicken Karaage- Big chunks of chicken, not like those with tons of batter. Not bad Angus’s NY strip loin - not bad but I prefer it to be more char/ seared on the outside and rare on the inside. Chicken Soba - broth was very refreshing. Not bad I would definitely return, just for the Una-Jyu and Omakase. Note: this place does not have desserts. Bring your own cake, if you are celebrating someone or something.

Matthew N

The atmosphere was warm and inviting, and every dish was thoughtfully prepared with great attention to detail. The flavors were authentic and comforting, making it the kind of place you want to come back to again and again. Even the drinks were well chosen — the Maru High was light and refreshing, complementing the food perfectly without overpowering it.

Abbie N

My family and I were able to get seated at a table for 15 without a wait which was amazing. My favorite were the sushi box sets, hamachi collar, salmon belly, and beef tongue! Staff was friendly

WILLIAM SHIN

Its all fresh and tasty. I have ordered three dishes to try out and it was all good. For chirashi, you might be disappointed if you wish alot of sushi on top of rice.

Cheska Garcia

This spot in Torrance is the best that I've tried so far in the area. I love their wide selection of dishes from fresh sashimi, to rice bowls! I can tell that each dish that I've tried were made from premium ingredients because it was loaded with amazing flavors. I'm obsessed with their Beef and Unagi Rice Bowl. It comes with the fluffiest rice, and both meat were incredibly delicious! The Sashimi was sooo fresh as well. This spot is also very spacious inside, and they even have some private rooms that are perfect for celebrating special occasions. A must visit spot for sure if you love authentic Japanese food! I love how fast they serve the food and they provided excellent service too.

David Lee

As someone who loves going to Japan and find soba as comfort food, this place rocks. Everything was great. The pork katsu was fried perfectly. Soba delicious. Will visit again when I'm back in LA.

Sohei Moribe

This restaurant offers plenty of seating and welcomes walk-ins during weekdays, making it easy to visit on a whim. The place is vibrant and arguably the best spot in the Torrance area for authentic Japanese cuisine at reasonable prices. I had the Shirasu Ikura Don, Roast Beef Don, a seafood bowl, and curry. Although primarily a sake bar, it serves substantial meals that are highly recommendable. A must-visit for anyone craving genuine Japanese flavors!

Dan Brawley

Went for Grand Re-opening Fish quality is top notch! Cold soba(noodles) a treat🙌🙏 Curry was also very good!

electro wasabi

Been here a couple times, both times had the 3 tuna bowl. Fish was excellent, rice was excellent, comes with a small salad and miso soup. Service is pretty fast once seated. Can be a wait to get a table tho.

This is an INCREDIBLE Japanese spot- everything was delicious. We got the chef’s choice sashimi, the grilled eel (this one is a must try), and the bluefin tuna churaschu and sashimi bowls. 10/10 food, fast and polite service, fair prices for how good the quality of the fish was. Would absolutely come here again when I’m in town!

Chelsea P

This is an INCREDIBLE Japanese spot- everything was delicious. We got the chef’s choice sashimi, the grilled eel (this one is a must try), and the bluefin tuna churaschu and sashimi bowls. 10/10 food, fast and polite service, fair prices for how good the quality of the fish was. Would absolutely come here again when I’m in town!

Delicious wagyu roast beef over a bed of perfect rice. The beef was really fatty and soft. The harami beef skirt steak was drier. I’ve never eaten meat dipped in wasabi with soy sauce before, so that was interesting. Miso soup was tasty. They have a tent outside in the parking lot for outdoor dining during Covid.

A good Japanese restaurant. You can enjoy genuine Japanese food here. But I felt the chicken dish was not so good. On the other hand, the fish dish like sashimi was very good.

Good spot for casual Japanese food! Portions are not massive but filling. Chirashi bowl is very fresh, and the Wagyu beef bowl is good quality for the price. Chicken Karaage is not very good.

Authentic Japanese restaurant with seafood, sashimi, wagyu, and chirashi bowl. It's pretty cool that they offer rotating specials menu with sashimi that are directly shipped from the Osaka central wholesale market. The overall flavor was good, but it wasn't amazing. The fish did taste fresh and the portion was surprisingly good for this type of cuisine. I would have to say their Snake River Farm wagyu served on the sizzling plate was a bit disappointing because it was overcooked (medium well). I wish it was served medium rare so the meat wasn't so tough. Plenty of parking in the lot. They seem to have busy nights so reservation can help, but not needed. We were sat immediately without a reservation. Service is good and attentive. Probably won't be returning anytime soon, but I would recommend trying it. $50-65 per person if you order more than one item per person and get a drink.

Was expecting to see the menu we saw online but the lunch menu was different did not include many of the items online. Nonetheless, what we ordered was very good. I had a fatty tuna on sushi rice and my husband had something similar. We each had a glass of a seasonal sake that was very nice. They have a relatively large selection of sake by the glass. We also got some vegetable tempura to start which was excellent. I asked the waitress what some of the sides were that came with the rice bowls and she was very honest in describing them as slimey. They were very interesting and probably would have been better if they had been added directly to the rice bowls but we got them sides so we could share. The best for us was the salmon roe. There was a wait when we arrived and I think their tends to be a longer wait for lunch at noon. Their website says they are going to be reopening a place in West Los Angeles, which I am looking forward to.

+2

This is a very traditional Japanese restaurant with Japanese staff. Fantastic customer service, quick and polite as you would expect from Japanese. They serve a variety of traditional Japanese dishes, including sushi, soba, as well as wonderful small servings that you can enjoy while having a nice cold beer. They also do have Wagyu beef dishes - which is their particular specialty. Delicious and worth stopping by if you are in the area.

+3

Came here with a couple of friends this past Monday for dinner. We made a reservation for 5:45 pm and honestly thought we probably didn’t need it. Turns out it was a good call because shortly after we sat down, the place filled up. Once seated, our server gave us some time to look through the menu. The bara chirashi immediately caught all of our attention. The server mentioned they only had two servings left, so we jumped on it. The other dishes ordered were the 3 kinds bluefin tuna box and the bluefin tuna chutoro and negitoro bowl. Everything was delicious. The bara chirashi was the standout and felt really unique. It had scallops, cubed cuts of bluefin tuna, and salmon roe. The sushi rice was seasoned perfectly and tied everything together. The tuna dishes were also fresh and high quality, exactly what you hope for at a place like this. Service was good throughout the meal. The ambiance is what you would expect from a traditional Japanese restaurant with a mix of tables, bar seating, and booths. We sat in a booth and had no problem holding a normal conversation. We will definitely be back, especially to try the unagi bowl and more of the menu. If you’re into chirashi bowls, this place is absolutely worth checking out.

We came here twice in a week to see if they were consistent with their flavors. It can be difficult with fish, but the tuna was really good on both days while the salmon was different the second day. The rice they use compliments the steak dishes they have on the menu.

Very solid lunch spot for sushi in the Torrance area. The portions are decent, not big like other places, but the quality is very good. They even offer lunch special mini rice bowls for those looking for a little extra protein and carbs. This place is inside a strip mall and has plenty of parking. But the restaurant itself Is very busy as I assume many people who work in the area come here, so it can get very busy. Definitely worth checking out if you’re in the area looking for fresh sashimi or sushi.

Very good food! We went during a busy Sunday afternoon. It took a bit to get seated and a while longer to get our food, but it was worth it. We had the Bara chirashi bowl and Unagi Tamago, and both came with miso soup and a small salad. The chirashi was fresh and each grain of rice was absolutely flavorful. The unagi dish was like a blast of flavor and you get quite a lot! Definitely coming again when it's less busy 🥰

We visited pre-pandemic and finally getting around to writing this long overdue review. This was an incredible meal, perhaps the best Japanese meal I can recall in a long time. The fatty tuna remains a highlight to this date - we still talk about it now - the fish was almost buttery in texture and so fresh and delicious. We ended up ordering three servings of sashimi it was just such remarkable quality. The rice balls were also very good, with fish and beef options and the rice seasoning was very tasty. The kids enjoyed rice bowls with chicken and beef, and ramen. These were also very good and I definitely stole some bites from them. Service was excellent, ambiance was excellent. Nothing to complain about here. We will absolutely come again when visiting L.A. 5-stars Update 8/28/2021: Came back after a 2 year wait. Wasn’t quite as good as last time. I'll chalk it up to the pandemic but the food was still good.

Traditional Japanese spot. Came here on a Monday evening around 6:30pm with three other friends. We put our name down on the list and waited less than 10 min (we didn’t have a reservation). Free parking lot available. Indoor dining only. Credit cards accepted. They do serve alcohol. The tuna tataki rice bowl came with tuna slices and tuna paste. The fish tasted fresh. The beef rice bowl was a heartier option, and came cooked medium and thinly sliced. We had a plate of cucumbers to split at the beginning - it was on the vinegary side as a heads up. Our waitress was efficient and left us alone for the most part (which is what we wanted). Overall, a chill, authentic spot to grab food with a group of friends.

Jimmy Su

Came here with a couple of friends this past Monday for dinner. We made a reservation for 5:45 pm and honestly thought we probably didn’t need it. Turns out it was a good call because shortly after we sat down, the place filled up. Once seated, our server gave us some time to look through the menu. The bara chirashi immediately caught all of our attention. The server mentioned they only had two servings left, so we jumped on it. The other dishes ordered were the 3 kinds bluefin tuna box and the bluefin tuna chutoro and negitoro bowl. Everything was delicious. The bara chirashi was the standout and felt really unique. It had scallops, cubed cuts of bluefin tuna, and salmon roe. The sushi rice was seasoned perfectly and tied everything together. The tuna dishes were also fresh and high quality, exactly what you hope for at a place like this. Service was good throughout the meal. The ambiance is what you would expect from a traditional Japanese restaurant with a mix of tables, bar seating, and booths. We sat in a booth and had no problem holding a normal conversation. We will definitely be back, especially to try the unagi bowl and more of the menu. If you’re into chirashi bowls, this place is absolutely worth checking out.

Eddy Chen

We came here twice in a week to see if they were consistent with their flavors. It can be difficult with fish, but the tuna was really good on both days while the salmon was different the second day. The rice they use compliments the steak dishes they have on the menu.

Andy Chiang

Very solid lunch spot for sushi in the Torrance area. The portions are decent, not big like other places, but the quality is very good. They even offer lunch special mini rice bowls for those looking for a little extra protein and carbs. This place is inside a strip mall and has plenty of parking. But the restaurant itself Is very busy as I assume many people who work in the area come here, so it can get very busy. Definitely worth checking out if you’re in the area looking for fresh sashimi or sushi.

Maria Perez

Very good food! We went during a busy Sunday afternoon. It took a bit to get seated and a while longer to get our food, but it was worth it. We had the Bara chirashi bowl and Unagi Tamago, and both came with miso soup and a small salad. The chirashi was fresh and each grain of rice was absolutely flavorful. The unagi dish was like a blast of flavor and you get quite a lot! Definitely coming again when it's less busy 🥰

Eric

We visited pre-pandemic and finally getting around to writing this long overdue review. This was an incredible meal, perhaps the best Japanese meal I can recall in a long time. The fatty tuna remains a highlight to this date - we still talk about it now - the fish was almost buttery in texture and so fresh and delicious. We ended up ordering three servings of sashimi it was just such remarkable quality. The rice balls were also very good, with fish and beef options and the rice seasoning was very tasty. The kids enjoyed rice bowls with chicken and beef, and ramen. These were also very good and I definitely stole some bites from them. Service was excellent, ambiance was excellent. Nothing to complain about here. We will absolutely come again when visiting L.A. 5-stars Update 8/28/2021: Came back after a 2 year wait. Wasn’t quite as good as last time. I'll chalk it up to the pandemic but the food was still good.

Shanelle S

Traditional Japanese spot. Came here on a Monday evening around 6:30pm with three other friends. We put our name down on the list and waited less than 10 min (we didn’t have a reservation). Free parking lot available. Indoor dining only. Credit cards accepted. They do serve alcohol. The tuna tataki rice bowl came with tuna slices and tuna paste. The fish tasted fresh. The beef rice bowl was a heartier option, and came cooked medium and thinly sliced. We had a plate of cucumbers to split at the beginning - it was on the vinegary side as a heads up. Our waitress was efficient and left us alone for the most part (which is what we wanted). Overall, a chill, authentic spot to grab food with a group of friends.

I was looking for a place serving shirako, cod milt, a rare seasonal ingredient. This place fit the bill. Started with shirako and the beef tongue, both really delicious. The vegetable and the baby shrimp tempura dishes were absolutely delicious. Eel and tamago plate was a tad sweet for me, but very tasty. Ikura salmon bowl could have been tastier, but it was very fresh. Atmosphere was great, not too noisy, a bright room that felt a lot like dining in Japan. Service was good, and the price seemed like good value to me.

Peter Wilson

I was looking for a place serving shirako, cod milt, a rare seasonal ingredient. This place fit the bill. Started with shirako and the beef tongue, both really delicious. The vegetable and the baby shrimp tempura dishes were absolutely delicious. Eel and tamago plate was a tad sweet for me, but very tasty. Ikura salmon bowl could have been tastier, but it was very fresh. Atmosphere was great, not too noisy, a bright room that felt a lot like dining in Japan. Service was good, and the price seemed like good value to me.

My family used to come here ALLL the time before Covid happened. The prices were decent and the food was AMAZING. We came here once we felt safe and noticed that the prices inflated, some increased 30-40%! The fish was still oh, so good, but the prices really shocked us. I ordered the salmon rice bowl, so yummy. But the miso soup was so salty!

Sashimi omakase shipped directly from Osaka Seafood Market. Fresh and good price. Meat was not as good, dishes tend to be saltier My husband loves his sashimi, my parents did not like the salty flavor too much

Tram Vu

Sashimi omakase shipped directly from Osaka Seafood Market. Fresh and good price. Meat was not as good, dishes tend to be saltier My husband loves his sashimi, my parents did not like the salty flavor too much

Waraku Restaurant - Disappointing Experience I recently visited Waraku Restaurant in Torrance, a newly opened Japanese restaurant, and unfortunately, my experience was quite disappointing. We arrived around 12 pm on a weekend, hoping to try their special lunch menu. However, we were informed that the specials had already sold out. When I asked if I could order the house special curry beef from the regular menu, they agreed but charged me $5 more for the same portion. This felt like poor customer service and left a bad impression. The dish itself was underwhelming. Compared to what I’ve had in Japan, the curry was overly salty and there was very little beef in the dish. Overall, it did not meet my expectations, and I don’t plan on returning to this restaurant.

I used to think this was one of the best Japanese restaurants in Torrance. I was very satisfied with the price, food quality, and service attitude. Unfortunately, after it reopened recently, not only did the price of the food increase significantly, but the portions were also greatly reduced. I came here with high expectations, but I came back disappointed.

regis kwong

Waraku Restaurant - Disappointing Experience I recently visited Waraku Restaurant in Torrance, a newly opened Japanese restaurant, and unfortunately, my experience was quite disappointing. We arrived around 12 pm on a weekend, hoping to try their special lunch menu. However, we were informed that the specials had already sold out. When I asked if I could order the house special curry beef from the regular menu, they agreed but charged me $5 more for the same portion. This felt like poor customer service and left a bad impression. The dish itself was underwhelming. Compared to what I’ve had in Japan, the curry was overly salty and there was very little beef in the dish. Overall, it did not meet my expectations, and I don’t plan on returning to this restaurant.

Paul T.

I used to think this was one of the best Japanese restaurants in Torrance. I was very satisfied with the price, food quality, and service attitude. Unfortunately, after it reopened recently, not only did the price of the food increase significantly, but the portions were also greatly reduced. I came here with high expectations, but I came back disappointed.