Tamaen Japanese BBQ

I was craving some yainiku when I was in this area. I found this place in Unilocal.I am so glad I gave it a try.
It’s NOT a korean place (thank god– I am Korean, but Yainiku offers better meats)…
Beef tongue was to die for. I dream about it every other day… service was very friendly.
I honestly did not like side dishes but that’s because I am Korean. Yainiku is Japani“zed” Korean BBQ.
Go here for meats. You’ll love it

the meat is awesome!!!

Highly recommend the assorted kimchi, the oxtail stew and the kobe shortrib. They have the best kobe around, for the price and the size of the platter– and its REALLY well marbled. Order the garlic to roast in oil on the grill, its so amazing. Its making me hungry just writing this review. The food is phenomenal. The only reason I deducted a star is because of how uncomfortably hot it gets around the grill– more so than any other J-​BBQ around… there seems to be less ventilation and everything is super sticky.

One of my fav BBQ place! I’m not big fun of BBQ but I still like Tamaen! BBQ meets r also great but I come here for low beef sashimi! Probably it sounds wired for many American ppl but I recommend to try it for life experience!!! lol U may like it some of regular meets r maybe cheaper than gyukaku and better meets costs more. But it worse for the price

This is like my reason to travel Torrance from LA. Tamara definitely has authentic Japanese BBQ. We order plenty of dish includes Top-​short rib (galbi), Beef tongue, intestine, spicy short rib soup, cold noodle, bibimbap. Accidentally we order regular bibimbap but recommend not stoned bibimbap. Bill came out $ 300 for 5ppl, not bad at all! The amount and quality of why we getting is awesome.

Tamaen ! Love here!
Honestly, it’s soooo far from my home town.
but when I come to South Bay, I always come here.
One of best Japanese BBQ. Their meat quality is great. Short rib is my recommendation! Quick serve and there is many parking spot.
Very chill and cozy BBQ spot.
Best for family dinner.
Love their dessert too. Plz try out YUZO sherbet :) Hope they gonna open somewhere near Los Angeles area.

Hidden in a large strip mall and set back from PCH, there is no way one can see it driving past. Also the façade has a white, washed out look so scanning casually may not be enough to find it. The interior is casual w/​table seating & the standard BBQ grill, but this is one of the very few places that uses real charcoal. For more traditional Japanese style dining, there is a raised polished wooden platform w/​Zabuton or square cushions surrounding a low Shokutaku/​dining table that includes the BBQ grill. Of course there are stainless steel exhaust hoods above each grill which are so efficient that I didn’t detect any of my clothes smelling of smoke at the end of the meal.
Alcoholic drinks are a basic selection of Japanese beer (i.e. Sapporo, Asahi, Kirin), Sho-​chu– (show chew)/Japanese Vodka distilled from sweet potato, barley, buckwheat, rice, etc.), Sake (sah keh) brewed from rice. I opted for the large bottle of Sapporo since beer quenches the thirst from eating a lot of meat as well as serving as a palate cleanser.
1) First ordered the Isoyaki which means rocky beach BBQ consisting of shrimp, scallops, mini squid steaks. First put the squid on the hot grill & after cooking the one side lightly, I tried to turn it over & found that it sticks a bit to the wire mesh grill. The shrimp grilled fine w/​the meat firming up, but the some of the good quality, sweet scallops stuck to the wire mesh grill never to be eaten. A special Sho-​yu/​soy sauce w/​added flavours such as possibly Dashi/​broth from bonito to emphasize Umami was good to use w/​the seafood. Thin slice of Kabocha/​Japanese pumpkin, carrot, a single Shishito-​/​Japanese green pepper could be grilled.
2) Specially Selected Extreme Black Kobe style U.S. Beef: Filet seemed like ribeye steak diced up into thick pieces. It was dressed with sweetened Korean Kochujang/​fermented soy bean paste & red chile pepper. The meat was lean but w/​a very soft, smooth texture w/​a chew that later melted in the mouth.
3) Fatty Pork Meat was thinly sliced possibly from the belly. It as dressed with a delicate oil, salt, herb rub that left a light satisfying meatiness in the mouth. The fat content made it so that the meat left a nice fattiness on the tongue.
4) Tamaen (tah mah en) Original Salad was a nice selection of sliced tomato, cucumber, red & yellow bell pepper slices, asparagus, shredded iceberg lettuce, half a boiled egg, dressed w/​Japanese rice vinegar vinaigrette & Kewpie mayonnaise for added richness on the side. Nice way to refresh the palate in between bites of the meat.
5) To conclude the meal ordered the Assorted Kim Chi which was Nappa cabbage, Cucumber, Daikon/​Japanese white radish. The cucumber was stuffed with a bit of a chiffonade of Nappa Kim Chi & was the least fermented & soaked in the red chile marinade. The Nappa cabbage was a little more funky, and the Daikon Kim Chi was the most fermented in a light sourness soaked in the strongest tasting of the red chile marinade. A bowl of warm steamed white rice was the accompaniment to eating the Kim Chi.
Warning: the charcoal here burns with an intensely hot heat so be very vigilant in cooking the meat & vegetables or they will burn. Once the charcoal is blazing, there is basically no heat control. Surprisingly the charcoal burns so cleanly that there is very little smoky flavor that infuses into the meat as it is cooking. So there is very little advantage in cooking with charcoal vs natural gas.
The service here is typically Japanese: polite, thoughtful, nonintrusive. For example, at the end of the meal just as I had finished the Sapporo beer, the waiter brought me a glass of iced water without my asking. Also without asking, a reward card that when it is filled out, is good for a $ 5 discount was presented after paying the bill.
The quality of the ingredients here is high. However, I must say that I like the Yakitori at Shinsengumi a bit better since the meats & vegetables are seasoned with various salts, bacon, pork belly as well as having their secret recipe, spicy Yuzu Kosho– paste, and Shinsengumi uses Bincho-​tan/​hardwood Japanese charcoal for a smokier, more flavourful result. 3+ Unilocal stars for good, competent Japanese BBQ at Tamaen.

OMG! What a restaurant. I had dishes I never would have ordered. If my niece wasn’t there, I think we would have a limited dinner. She chose the best and it was so good. I forgot to ask for rice. You didn’t need it. Your tastebuds exploded for flavors I never knew. The meats were so tender and delicious. Everything else was scrumptious! Cucumber kimchee was so crispy and «clean.» Yummmm to all of it.

I dined here with my family about a week or two ago when I was on a family trip in California, and we were hanging out with my longtime friend who is a California resident. We ordered almost everything on the menu, so I can tell you in complete honesty that /​everything/​is good. Why don’t we have anything like this in Hawaii? *ugly crying face* If I lived in California, I would go out of my way to eat here every week (multiple times a week!) and would probably have to work two jobs to support my eating. Lol. Seriously, everything is just that good; so if you were thinking about eating here, just do it! :)
The service is amazing and I appreciate the staff who covertly helped me pay the bill as discreetly as possible. ;D (Thanks guys!)

This would be the closest to the Japanese yakiniku I know and have been looking for. I’ve tried neighboring Yamaya and Gyukaku which aren’t that bad and I would say that this is the best. I’d definitely come back!

A well hidden gem in a non-​descript strip mall at the corner of PCH and Eshelman. When you enter it looks just as non-​descript, then menu seemed a bit over-​stimulating when you are here for the first time and don’t know what to choose…
But then the wonderful staff helps you figure it out.
And, once the food arrives, all is well. No, more than well. It is some of the best quality meat I have ever eaten anywhere (and I am including significantly more expensive places in this judgment). We had some regular beef and pork meat choices, added vegetables to grill and mixed Kimchi vegetables. All was wonderful. Our final course of meat was the Kobe short ribs and all I can say is WOW. Melted in my mouth with wonderful flavoring.
We arrived on a Saturday before 6 pm and managed to get in, however after 6:30 not a seat to be had. When you call ahead they do not take reservations but your name on the waitlist with a priority. Dinner for 2 was about $ 60 without alcohol.
We will be back soon, very soon!

Prime rib, A+
Beef tongue, A+
Ribeye, A
Kimchi combination, B
House special pancake, A
great place to eat some yakiniku with your friends. RSVP ahead of time if you are not sure. They also have tatami mat seatings if you are feeling like a real nihonjin. Meat quality is definitely superb and amazing. Ofcourse you are paying for quality overhere. This is not your average AYCE KBBQ. In fact, I love how the menu is very limited and the chefs only offer what is good. Not trying so hard to please everyone.
Is it wrong that I left wanting more even though I already spent over 30bucks on food per person @_@

Prime Short Rib ⁵⁄₅ — marbled deliciousness that melts in your mouth
Cubed beef tongue ⁵⁄₅ — also delicious
Cheese pancake ⁴⁄₅ — it tastes like a regular Korean scallion pancake, yummy and perfectly crunchy but not cheesy at all
Ribeye steak ³⁄₅ — good but nothing special, I would just get more short ribs!
Intestines ³⁄₅ — nice marinade but nothing special
Spicy beef soup ³⁄₅ — no noodles in it, but was good and filled with enough meat
Service was great as well ⁵⁄₅
Environment ⁴⁄₅ — quaint cute Japanese place, easy parking lot outside
Would return!

Overall:
I usually go to another Japanese BBQ in Torrance, but it closed early on Friday. After searching on Unilocal,my friend and I found Tamaen BBQ in a city near by. The menu selection is only two pages and the options are minimal, but it’s worth a try. The meat was good and it wasn’t overpriced. If you haven’t had Japanese BBQ before, you pick the type of meat you want (usually comes in a few pieces), and then cook it on a grill.
Food:
+ Beef Tartar — This has more of a meatier taste than most beef tartar I tried at other Japanese Bbq places. The strips were slightly thicker. The raw egg gives this beef tarter a creamy taste. It may be weird for your first time, but it is worth a try.
+ Beef tongue — First, you grill the tongue and then dip it with lemon afterwards. It was delicious!
+ Rib eye, short rib, and skirt — The rib eye and short rib were tender and delicious. The skirt was tough and its not something I would recommend.
Service & Environment:
The service was good. They were always very prompt in bringing out the meat quickly and picking up the dishes. The space and parking lot was ample.

Meat quality is very good here. However, it could be quite pricey if you’re here for the Kobe beef. I would recommend the regular meats since they’re just as good.
Must get:
Kobe beef tongue cubes!!! (The best I’ve ever had)
Beef tar tar
Bean sprouts salad
Pork belly
Beef rib eye

I’m starting to love the South Bay. Cause, there are so many great restaurants to enjoy, especially Japanese BBQ. The obsession first started with OC venues like Gyu Kaku, Anjin, Tsuruhashi, and Manpuku. When that got boring, I wanted to search for smaller locations, with a more comfy feeling and better service. After hitting up the nearby Seikoen, I think Tamaen Japanese BBQ is the better choice in the area.
SHOCHU
Don’t drink that cheap Korean shit. Go for the better distilled alternative, like my favorite iichiko. It tastes so clean, unlike its Korean cousin. It’s so enjoyable that I drink it on the rocks. Add lots of ice and lemon and it starts to taste like unsweetened lemonade. I promise no bitter taste and a much cleaner buzz.
Tamaen has about 9 different shochu options to choose from and they’ll save your unfinished bottle for up to one year. Most places offer one month, at best. That’s the kind of service you’re gonna get at this place. My waiter Alex, one cool cat. Very attentive and really courteous.
It was dead for a Sunday afternoon, with only one other table occupied. It’s not usually slow so I believe I had luck on my side. I think a lot of Japanese actors and athletes frequent the place. With so many pictures adorning the walls, it reminded me of Park’s BBQ, where you see the photos of different celebrities that have dined there.
I GRILL, THEREFORE I AM
I smiled as I noticed that they use the same type of grill used by Manpuku, Gyu Kaku, and Genwa — the ones that suck the smoke underneath so that it doesn’t decimate your clothes. You come out of there smelling better than usual.
I ordered the Kobe Style US Beef — the Filet and the Short Rib. The meat just melts in your mouth. The texture of the Filet, it was the best I’ve had all year long. If you pay attention, you can grill carefully to get the consistency exactly the way you like it. Just flip over once, that’s all.
I also asked for the Tamaen Original Pancake. Cooking that fried egg right into the pancake really does something to the taste. The soy sauce mix that you dip the pieces into is no joke. The Spicy Beef Yukejan soup wasn’t that hot at all. Ask for a bowl of white rice and mix a bit of the broth and its contents and you’ve got one savory mix to pair with your meat.
Tamaen is open daily from 5pm to 11pm, but closed on Wednesdays. They also open for lunch on the weekends from 11am to 2pm, then they close till 5pm to prepare for the dinner rush. If you’re like me and enjoy JBBQ slightly more than KBBQ, then Tamaen is a smart move. Up next on the list? Hakata Yamaya, here I come!

Had a great meal here today. 5 star experience!
Alex was our server and he was super nice and accommodating.
I loved the charcoal flavor on the prime cuts of beef. They serve Snake River beef, crazy marbling that melts in your mouth.
We also had spicy beef soup, assorted kimchee and the pancake omelette. All was delicious.
It wasn’t difficult to get a table.
Parking was super easy.
The prices were very reasonable.
Food delicious.
Server awesome.
Would definitely recommend and come back!

Absolutely Must Go if you’re in Southbay area. Everything I’ve tried on the menu is delicious. The bimbimbap, spicy beef soup with rice, and oxtail soup are some really great side dishes to go with your meat. I recommend it 100%. if you want authentic Japanese food where you can cook your own meat on the grill, you must come here!

Good meat but pricey. Way better than Gyu-​kaku.
Be careful sitting directly under the exhaust fan.
Droplets of grease fell from the exhaust fan and
landed on my boss’ dress shirt.

I love me some yakiniku (Japanese-​style BBQ). In fact, when I first moved to Japan, before I was open to trying the wondrous variety of culinary options, it was all I’d eat. And boy did I have my share of it, which is why I tend to take it seriously when rating it.
Tamaen offers delicious and authentic yakiniku. Just walking in makes you feel like you are in Japan. The meat is good quality and the service is great. I did however feel obligated to take off some points because some of the meats, while tasty and well-​marinated, felt a little insubstantial at times: the tontoro (fatty pork) were mere slivers, and the beef tongue (a yakiniku staple) were small cuts, preventing you from fully enjoying the texture. Still, taste and marinade was good, so these are not necessarily deal breakers.
I will mention that the Tamaen Salad (the salad/​vegetable dish the waitress recommended) was a bit uninteresting and underwhelming for the price. The cold noodles, a good way to close any yakiniku outing, were tasty, plentiful, and overall a redeeming factor.
To me they are a full star behind Seikoen, my favorite yakiniku restaurant in Torrance. But Seikoen has very limited seating and, if you find yourself without reservations on a particularly carnal evening, you may find yourself ousted to Tamaen, which is not a terrible thing.