I should go ahead and declare February Japanese Food Appreciation month. From budget sushi to high-end fishes, not to mention spicy ramen and modern Japanese fare, it seems that the bulk of my meals these past 25 days have hailed from the Land of the Rising Sun.
Continuing on my streak of delicious Japanese cuisine, I traveled to Torrance for a feast of yakitori and oden at Torihei. I was joined by a band of merry eaters including The Astronomer, Remil, Danny, Amy, and Dennis (Amy’s fiance). Torihei is Danny’s favorite spot for skewered and grilled goodness in the South Bay.
Torihei is the collaborative effort of chefs Masataka Hirai and Masakazu Sasaki. Chef Hirai heads up the yakitori portion of the menu, while Chef Sasaki is an expert in Kyoto-style oden dishes. [To learn more about the histories of both chefs and their specialties, I recommend reading Exile Kiss’ thorough write up.]
Danny spearheaded the ordering effort, sticking mostly to the yakitori side of the menu. However, I heard from a trusty source that the oden dishes are equally superb.
Every table is outfitted with wooden boxes filled with shichimi togarashi (Japanese spice blend) and sansho (Sichuan pepper powder). Both are used as dipping condiments for the grilled items. The numbing sensation of the Sichuan pepper powder paired marvelously with the skewered odds and ends that graced our table this evening.
