Torihei restaurant in Torrance
![At Torihei in Torrance, chefs Masataka Hirai and Masakazu Sasaki have created an incredible union of oden and yakitori dishes.](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/2cd648d/2147483647/strip/true/crop/586x425+0+0/resize/586x425!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F63%2F2b%2F402c56589915baecae6ed96dae13%2Fla-fo-find01-kjup37nc.jpg)
At Torihei in Torrance, chefs Masataka Hirai and Masakazu Sasaki have created an incredible union of oden and yakitori dishes. (Stefano Paltera / For The Times)
![Torihei restaurant](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/1ec8d2d/2147483647/strip/true/crop/586x425+0+0/resize/586x425!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F07%2F88%2F81192f2723bd970e1fa22832b49e%2Fla-fo-find02-kjup4gnc.jpg)
Long-simmered daikon is turned nearly translucent by its time in the subtly salty dashi. (Stefano Paltera / For The Times)
![Torihei restaurant](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/be12fb1/2147483647/strip/true/crop/586x425+0+0/resize/586x425!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fb9%2F32%2Fad9d6a16a7a73f0f16c6bb30f3ba%2Fla-fo-find03-kjup3rnc.jpg)
The fresh fish cake is without fault a faintly fishy triangle that floats with the same airy texture as a marshmallow. (Stefano Paltera / For The Times)
![Torihei restaurant](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/ca96c05/2147483647/strip/true/crop/350x425+0+0/resize/350x425!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fe0%2F07%2F9cb3c1275d2aecd8bd5de3baef27%2Fla-fo-find04-kjup20nc.jpg)
Chef Masataka Hirai grills yakitori skewers. (Stefano Paltera / For The Times)
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The restaurant’s charcoal grill turns out a daunting but gratifying whole grilled squid. (Stefano Paltera / For The Times)
![Torihei restaurant](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/78c2bcb/2147483647/strip/true/crop/329x425+0+0/resize/329x425!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fe6%2F36%2Ff039e5510f96ea810d83d9716788%2Fla-fo-find06-kjup0qnc.jpg)
The meatballs are fluffy spheres that melt in your mouth like some meaty candy. (Stefano Paltera / For The Times)