tongue, liver, and cartilage galore

Shin Sen Gumi Yakitori
18617 S Western
Gardena, CA 90247
(310) 715-1588
www.shinsengumiusa.com/

price: $$
verdict: omg, i love it!

i ate here almost weekly at one point for a few months...until it got uber crowded and the wait became impossible so the trek from silverlake to gardena didn't make sense anymore....not that it does right now either.

there's a lot of great things going for this place. the staff is really friendly, the environment is loud and inviting, and the "innards" they grill for you are fantastically delicious. that's right. i am hardcore and i like the place loud while i'm consuming innards.

my meal always starts off with mixing the yuzu (the green stuff you see in a bottle at your area) and the vinegar/oil together into a dipping concoction. then i mark all the items i want to have them grill on my order sheet as i enjoy my complimentary shredded cabbage. because i like sitting at the bar area, not only am i entertained by all the yapping that i do with my friends, it's also interesting watching the grill master cook your food. let's see, i've seen a mini fire being put out once, flying sparks, and a smoke disaster.

i typically order the liver, heart, intestine, cartilage, beef tongue, and chicken wings. those are the staples. depending on the night, they will have specials like the salmon tomato, albacore tuna, or soft shell crab. those are pretty delicious too. the menu items are also great if grilled food isn't the only food you're hankering for. of course, there's a variety of sake, beer, and soju for you to order. you can round out the meal with dessert, but seriously, after consuming all that, i'm too stuffed for dessert.

after you pay your pricey tab, you can walk out with a lot of yelling from the staff. i'm not sure what it all means, but i'm quite sure they are bidding you adieu and hope you come back again. i have great memories of this place.