http://www.weddingmapper.com/plan/vendor/ca/gardena/restaurants/shinsengumi/42076

For decades now, the land of the rising sun has blessed us with Nintendo, ninjas, obscure porn, and sushi. And now they have done it again with Shin-Sen-Gumi.

What is Shin-Sen-Gumi you ask my little ninja star throwing-video game playing-crazy anime watching peeps? It’s a fantastic restaurant chain serving traditional Japanese cuisine. Shin-Sen-Gumi is a chain of nine restaurants in the Los Angeles area focusing on serving four types of traditional Japanese cuisine: yakitori, mizutaki, shabu-shabu, and hataka ramen. Each of the nine restaurants is uniquely different than the others since each restaurant only serves one type of the aforementioned cuisine. So make sure you visit them all or else a little ninja will haunt you forever…seriously.

I’ve been to all of them but my favorite is Shin-Sen-Gumi Yakatori in Gardena. The exterior of the restaurant is very plain and simple, kind of like Paris Hilton’s personality. But once you enter, you are greeted with orgasmic cheers of joy. This particular restaurant uses a small charcoal grill located in the center of the restaurant to cook individual skewers of a variety of meats and vegetables. In other words it’s where you want to die and be reborn. Each skewer provides an individual serving of deliciousness. With every bite it’s as if Jackie Chan is break dancing inside your mouth. The meats range from chicken thighs and succulent meatballs to beef tongue and quail egg wrapped in bacon. No matter what you order you will not be disappointed. The small grill uses special wood charcoal to cook the skewers perfectly. In addition to the skewers of meat, the restaurant has a wide array of appetizers. You can order anything from Nankara (Japanese chicken pieces) to cheese trutsummge (melting white cheese rolled in egg roll style crispy rice skin). The skewers are inexpensive usually ranging from $2-$5, so you and a friend can get full and shit-faced for less than $30. Banzai!!!

But what makes Shin-Sen-Gumi a great place to eat and drink, is the bonds of friendship you create with your fellow restaurateurs. On the weekends, the restaurant is full of happy (intoxicated) people who are cheering their work-week away. As you sit with your friends and prepare to pound several shot of delicious sake, don’t be surprised if the table next to you joins you in your drinking bebotury. In addition, taking a shot of sake causes the entire staff to stop what they’re doing and yell out (although I’m sure they’re Japanese phrases cursing Americans) Japanese cheers. If the staff so chooses they will join you in your shot.

So take it from JohnnyD: if you’re looking for a place where you can eat delicious food, drink great beer, yell, cheer, and high-five random Japanese people this is your place.

 

Kampai!!!

I give if 4.5 of of 5 Neaves

 

Shin-Sen-Gumi: Yakatori

18517 S. Western Ave

Gardena, Ca 90248

(310) 715-1588