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Categories: Japanese, Asian Fusion
Neighborhood: TorranceMon-Sat. 6:00 p.m. - 11:30 p.m.
Sun. 6:00 p.m. - 10:30 p.m.
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I just love this place! My friend introduced me to this place and ever since I'd take people who haven't been there to try something new. They have an awesome menu! However, it is on the pricey side, but it's well worth it. If you feel like splurging a bit, I say definitely check it out. I will review each dish with order of best to worst (but the worst is still really good).
//Cheese Risotto//
This is AMAZING! It's so simple but so great! It also has a great presentation too because they bring a HUGE block of Parmesan cheese with a hole on top where the rice is, and they scrape the cheese that has melted from the heat of the rice with little pieces of bacon (I think). It is very creamy, and great flavors from the parmesan cheese (not too salty). Those with health problems, stay away though.. Cheese is not the best food to be eating and this dish is pretty much all that! But if you don't care, YOU HAVE TO TRY THIS!
//Ebi Mayo Mayo//
Very great dish also! The shrimp has a layer of batter that has been fried then mixed in a mayonaise sauce. It is not too heavy and the the firmness of the shrimp with the crispiness (but not hard) of the batter gives it enough bite. The sauce also is amazing. Japanese Mayonaise has alot of great flavors in it, and I don't know what else they put in the sauce, but it is slightly citrusy (slight)
//Udon Vongole//
This is a great dish, because it's a vongole dish but with Udon noodles instead of pasta. This is a great dish.. can be on the greasier side depending on who eats it. Everything in the dish is on the chewy side from the udon to the mushrooms. I know some people like contrast of texture and bite in their dish, but this dish has very similar texture and bite to each ingredient with variations in degree of texture or bite.
//Yaki Udon//
I love Yaki Udon, and their yaki udon is a great dish. It is a bit on the salty side, but if that's not a problem for you, definitely try this dish!
//Musha's Friend Chicken//
I love this chicken! very crispy on the outside but super juicy on the inside!
//Buta Kakuni//
Pretty much.. Large chunks of Pork Belly simmered in a soy sauce broth for a loooonggg time that the meat just melts in your mouth. Served with a dab of mustard on the side of the plate, it gives you a great kick to wake you up from the greasiness of the dish. I love this dish because it is very savory but also really tender and jam-packed with flavors. However.. it is very greasy, especially with the large layer of fat from the pork belly. So drink lots of O-Cha (Tea).
//Shichirin Griller//
This is great because they bring out a grill for you with charcoal inside. You cook whatever you order yourself.
Tan Shio - Cow Tongue (I think it's cow) with salt. If you have never tried Cow Tongue or Pork Tongue, it is very chewy and has great texture.
Eringi Mushrooms - Pretty much just mushrooms but so good on the grill.
All the dishes I have had so far were very good or amazing! This is definitely a place to go with a large group of people so you can all share dishes and try different things on the menu. The restaurant itself has a very cozy atmosphere like many Japanese Izakayas. Great place to take a girl on a date (casual, but pricey) or just to get some drinks (they have asahi black!! so good...)
I still remember the night when I first experienced Musha. It was a few years ago at the Santa Monica location near my office that I fell in love a little bit with this establishment. Musha quickly made its way on to Lori's "My Top Restaurants" list.
It wasn't until I met the second location in the South Bay that I fell head over heels for Musha. We were meant to be! There's a location near my work and a location near my home! Score! I'm tellin ya folks there are hidden culinary GEMS in Eastside South Bay! I do like the Torrance location more because, even though unlike its counterpart in SM, it's located in a strip mall, it has a magical ability to make you forget where you are and make you feel like you have been transported to a gastropub in Japan. The atmosphere at Musha is unbeatable. If you have a choice I recommend sitting at the communal table. The menu can be confusing and being at the communal table affords you the opportunity to see what others have ordered and chat up your dinning companions and ask them for recommendations.
My favorite dishes include the Ebi Mayo Mayo, the Baguette Au Gratin which basically involves bread stuffed with scallops and creamy cheesy goodness that's been baked and if you haven't experienced the cheesy bacony risotto that's served out of a huge block of parmigiano reggiano it's worth a try.
One thing I did notice is that they play Latin music...perhaps it's in the spirit of the food being Tapa-ish?
Family style Japanese dinner tables!- 5 stars
Musha Salad- 5 stars! (My favorite salad ever!!)
Chilean Seabass- 5 stars!
Baguette Au Gratin- 4 stars! (only cuz it was too cheesy for my likeing)
Cheese Tofu- 5 stars! (Their own creation, so delicious!)
Steak Grill- 4 stars!
Yaki Udon- 3 stars.
Spicy rice- 4 stars.
Ebi Ebi Mayo Shrimp- 5 stars (But you must eat while hot or it gets soggy)
I have yet to try other dishes but so far, I love it! It's about 10 bucks a dish so not too bad for good food! Next time I want to try their Tuna Carpaccio for SURE and also their green tea sundae thingy... looks delicious.
overall not that impressed. some food was good, some was really lame.
cheese tofu: the lamest dish ever. i know people liked it, and it was good, but basically it was something that tasted like mascarpone cheese, with honey, and club crackers!
You know a restaurant is a 3 when it acts like a blockage in desperate need of Dr. Natura. It's neither an abomination nor a culinary masterpiece, leaving you uninspired to write any reviews until you could figure out how to write this one.
So, without further delay:
Food- 3 Stars on average
Avg price- $10.00 per dish
Atmosphere- 4 Stars
Service- 5 Stars
Everything I'm about to list is what we had AND gets 3 Stars:
Cheese Risotto- super rich & somewhat tasty
Kukuni Pork Belly- I've had better for half the price, pretty bland
Yaki Udon- very very bland
Ebi Ebi with Shrimp Mayo-- tasty, but overpriced.
Black Sesame Ice Cream-- Really, it was just like scooping it from the carton. The cookie and sauce doesn't fool me, nor does it warrant the $5.00 price tag.
Altogether, I really really really wanted to like this place, but it missed the mark for me. I'd suggest making the portions smaller and cutting the prices in half to allow flexibility in trying different dishes. The Honda family & Shin Sen Gumi is greater than this place.
My boyfriend and I were going to eat at another Japanese restaurant when we saw one of his coworkers there. We thought it would be awkward because he and his coworker ate there just last week.
ANYWAYS, I looked to Yelp to help us find something nearby and stumbled upon Musha.
I didn't think it was going to be anything out of the ordinary, but I was mistaken!
Intimidating big table shared with other guests aside, the food and atmosphere was inviting and fun. I forget what we ordered other than it had kimchi in it. DAAAAAANNNNG! I'm telling you it was good. Even the side soup was tasty, similar to something my grandma (who cooked well) would make.
Dessert was yummy. I had the black sesame ice cream. The flavor was splendid and it was great for two to share.
If you haven't been to this Japanese restaurant, you are totally missing out. Seriously, this place is THE PLACE to go to if you want to enjoy and eat traditional, authentic, and exquisite Japanese food. It will be helpful if you go with a Japanese friend who can help you decided what to order, but I can honestly say that any food that comes in your way will be a success. You definitely got to try CHEESE RICE - it's to die for. Also, don't forget to order a hot sake and Asahi beer to wash down the amazing food. The hours are limited and there are always a lot of costumers so plan ahead wisely. Hit me up girls or boys if you're down to go!
SUKOI DESU!
Down in the Carson, CA for the 2009 BJJ Pan Ams, I stepped out into the night looking for for a tantilizing dinner.
With the help of the Yelp app on my trusty iPhone, Musha was the location of choice.
I love Japanese grill and if you have never experienced it, its a must.
Everything was so 'oishii' that I can't wait to go back near there again.
The chicken karaage was perfect; crispy, marinated and tender with a vinegar sauce. The tri tip grill was so fresh it came with its own hot grill to cook it on, garlic, hot radish, and a seasoned soy sauce to dip it in after it was cooked. Grubbin!
Adding to that were the Yakitori rice nigiri and Crispy shrimp with spicy mayo.
I say no more. Just go.
YUM! A very cool place in Torrance to hang out and chill. Food is excellent and the atmosphere was really fun. Went and met up with several friends, we got to sit around one corner of the really huge table. There were Japanese chefs in one area cooking and stuff, and the waiters were nice and attentive.
We were a party of 5, and ordered maybe about 7 dishes. Everything was REALLY delicious, perfectly portioned, and flavorful. One of the really cool things was the cheese risotto, which they had a hUGE block of cheese and made it in there in front of us. Overall, very fun, chill place to hang out would definitely go back!
Finally a restaurant experience to bring me out of my Yelp-bernation.
This is a good place to try many flavors. Dishes are 7-11 dollars and good for sharing. This would be a good place for a date, or just for friends to get together. Definitely recommend you get down to Torrance for this one.
Pork belly was succulent. Came with potato and hard boiled egg with delicious soy based sauce, seasoning and garninsh. Next up was delicious diced tuna with greens, sprouts, served on rice crackers that were nutty flavored to balance the tuna. Crab salad was fresh and delicious. Garlic angel hair noodles were tasty. Table top grilling of seasoned sirloin was very good topped by minced green onion and sesame ponzu dipping sauce. Finished with chocolate souffle and a wonderful maple syrup creme brulee. $40/per with beer and tea.
Go get some!
Amazing restaurant. Killer service, crowd, and of course the food was dynamite. Half of the items we had were completely new to me... and I eat Japanese food all the time. The mac & cheese as simple as it sounds was incredible (they actually mix it for you inside of a Parmesan cheese wheel). Every single dish we were given we thoroughly enjoyed, my favorite was the house specialty (octopus salad type of thing). If you are ever in the area, this is the place to go. Just make sure to make a reservation, there isn't a ton of seating in there.
This is my first time in this place, and service is excellent and the atmosphere is comfortable. We went there for my sisters birthday and the waiter dimmed the light and silenced the music to bring out the dessert and sing the birthday song, overall this was a fun experience.
Some of the food were unique and tasty, but some others were not that impressive for that kind of price.
But my guess is that most people go for the atmosphere.
We went there and was not disappointed.
Per the review, we tried the cheese risotto and it was fantastic, a must try. Very creamy and right texture. I don't even like risotto, and it was o good
All the other dishes are also very tasty.
I love this place. My first ever Izakaya and I have tried many in the Southbay. It can get pricey, crowded and loud! Reserve ahead if you can, else expect to wait for hours.
Some of my favorites: I always get the buta kakune. Some of the best and tender pork belly you can get. The cheese risotto is also delicious; they bring out a huge block of parmesian and mix it for you. There are little pieces of bacon in it. I feel sorry for any of you who cannot eat Pork.
They pay attention to nice little details. Like the Typhoon Chahan (i.e., fried rice). They have the most awesome flat serving spoon ever to get that rice onto your plate/bowl. Ingenious. They will also hand sear items at the table for a nice effect as well.
I have tried almost everything here and most of everything was pretty much good. The only things that I thought that could have been better were the sashimi items or common items (e.g., tempura, kimchi, etc.) you can find at other types of restaurants.
I've been here a couple of times now. And every single time I get great service and great food!
I always order the Kabocha Dip (Japanese Pumpkin dip.) This dip you can enjoy the true flavor of Kabocha (sweet.)
Jidori Chicken (Free-Range Chicken) is also good. The yuzu chili paste that comes with the dish gives you an extra zing to the chicken.
Kinoko Asparagus (Mushroom and Asparagus) This dish is really just various mushrooms and asparagus. I think they cook this with butter and that's why its full of deliciousness. Like Homer Simpson said, "Fat tastes good."
Must try the Cheese Risotto. They mix in the cheese by throwing in the hot risotto in middle of this huge hunk of cheese. Very tasty, very creamy and a bit on the heavy side unless you split it with people you're with.
Ebi Mayo Mayo. Another deliciousness in one dish and another must try. Deep fried breaded shrimp with special mayo sauce.
There are many other dishes that I've tried (that are good), but these ones that are popping up in my head now. Many of which you should accompany with a thing of salad ... just so you can balance out the fat:healthy ratio.
If you're like me and like sweet alcohol, try the Anzu-chu (Apricot juice with Shochu.) Just remember, alcohol is expensive. The more you drink, the thinner your wallet gets. So eat up peeps!
Oh also, when you leave the restaurant, tell the people behind the bar (store manager should be there) "Go-chi-sou-sa-ma!" You're basically saying thanks for the delicious meal.
Yum! I will have to come back here. With its selection of what seem like original izakaya dishes like the takana meshi, or the many other dishes that i'm drawing a blank on that Akiko T. will kill me for forgetting,
Deliciousness abound. This Japanese fusion restaurant had a Latino chef who would yell out orders in Japanese. How cool is that?
Unfortunately, I don't believe he could actually speak Japanese since the waiters spoke to him in English. Lol
Foods good. Go. Kisama!
this place is really cool.
very creative, and very different from other regular japanese restaurants.
i love ebi mayo mayo, and musha salad :)
i like this location better than the one in santa monica.
I had been listening to local food guru Ken J. rave about this place for months, describing the food as if it were Mana from heaven. So we decided my initiation was way overdue and off we ventured to the realm of his fantasies for our last dinner together before he trekked a bajillion miles away. Ok, so it's not THAT far, but I'm still gonna miss my eating buddy. ='(
Coming in, I thought I had a clear picture of what Musha would be like and boy, was I wrong! I expected the place to be loud, wild and full of drunk waiters like my favorite hang out spot is but instead I was greeted by a calm and collected atmosphere somewhere between fine dining and comfy casual. It was different and threw me off. The large, dominant communal table in the middle was kinda intimidating too. It wasn't the proximity to others but rather the reserved (dare I say inhibited?) attitude of the patrons that night which made me sigh in relief when we were seated at a single table.
With that scenario over, the most important piece came into play: Food!
- Yaki Udon: a very good opener suggested by Kenny (as was most of the food). Tender udon noodles perfectly stir fried along with mushrooms, scallions, cabbage and chewy pieces of pork tied together by a splendid cream like sauce. The plate came topped with fine shreds of seaweed and a small heap of beni shoga (a type of pickled ginger) to one side. A definite palate pleaser despite its simplicity.
- Tonjiru (Miso Soup): I ordered this on a whim since I'd been craving a decent bowl of miso soup for a long time. It came as a single serving with added toppings of pork, daikon, carrots and chopped scallions. Shiro (white) miso was used for the base, though the daikon flavor stole all the essence due to its dominant presence. There was no real hint of dashi either since it was probably soaked up by the same culprit. Miss 1 of 2.
- Cheese Risotto: When the server brought out the big hunk of cheese I thought it was just a cute serving bowl till Ken pointed out my newbie mistake. This was my first time trying risotto and I really liked its consistency and the flavor of Musha's cheese sauce. At first I scoffed at the small portions, though after a few spoonfuls I understood. The cheese mixture is quite rich and went straight to my head. No doubt it'll end up somewhere on my thighs too.
-Ebi Mayo Mayo: I could see myself willingly going into cardiac arrest at the behest of this dish. Fried, breaded prawns drizzled with Kewpie mayo and squiggled with extra squirts of a concoction resembling thousand island. I don't know what it was, and I don't care. "Please Sir, I want some more."
- Cold Eggplant Stuffed w/ Crab: 2 for 2 on the 'not so great choices' made by yours truly. It started off good, but my head was reeling from consuming everything else and gave up the fight.
We topped our meal with some Sesame Ice Cream drizzled with coffee syrup which is never a disappointment. Service was solid. Our waiter was efficient and the food was brought out relatively fast despite the large crowd. Empty plates were whisked away promptly and I loved the complementary hojicha (hot tea) with added umeboshi that was served at the end.
While I don't feel completely sold on Musha yet, I would love to stop by again and try more of their signature dishes (like that pork belly I keep hearing about).
But until then, a special shout out to Ken J:
Thank you for a truly memorable evening and for five years of laughs, late night chats, and mind bending foodie experiences. Here's to sixty more.
Type: restaurant; Japanese; izakaya
This place is pretty amazing.
Great atmosphere, great service and great food.
We had:
Ebi Mayo Mayo (which I thought were good but probably not something I will get again because they are just fried shrimp with mayo like the name says)
Beef Tenderloin that we cooked at our table on the mini grill - this was really good and fun to do
Baguette Gratin - definitely my favorite of the evening - someone else said its like getting a bread bowl of clam soup and it is similar to that taste with cheese added - so good
The Fried chicken - really good, love the ponzu dipping sauce instead of the mayo most places serve
And you all need to try to Black Sesame Ice cream with Black Honey
it was so good I seriously thought of licking the bowl - if I was at home I would have!
Cant wait to go back and try some other items that we just couldnt fit into this dinner.
Make sure to come here with 10 or more people and take advantage of the huge rectangular table in the middle of the restaurant! U can seriously fit 25 people on that thing. Trust me the more people, the merrier.
The food, atmosphere, and service couldn't be any better. The menu and food selection is like no other.
Another izakaya restaurant that I've been fortunate enough to be invited to. My friends and I came here for a birthday and we practically took up the entire place. Larger in size compared to Open Door (Monterey Park), and the staffers there are just as friendly.
Service and attentiveness is decent. Let's get to the good part...the dishes!! Again, we ordered TONS of dishes (as they are small in portions and we had a large group). Some of the best ones I can still remember are:
Cheese Risotto (SOOOO GOOD, nom nom nom)
Beef Tongue
Chilean Seabass
Duck with Ponzu Sauce
Kakuni (pork belly)
MFC (Fried Chicken)
Seared Mackerel (melts in your mouth)
Udon Clams
Chocolate Souffle
Black Sesame Ice Cream (YUM!!)
And you definitely have to order a large bottle of Sake to wash all these good/yummy dishes down.
In the end, it was good times and good food with friends. No disappointment here.
One Thursday night, I was looking for a chill, down-to-earth place where I could enjoy a nice drink and a diverse array of choices.
I knew Torrance is brand-spankin' full of great Japanese restaurants, and Musha had made it into my "List of Places to Try in LA" list after I saw a photo of the fresh, hot, melty cheese risotto being tossed in its creamy heaven (a 10 pound block of Parmesan cheese) - which they replace every 3-4 days (I asked because I was so curious).
This is a fusion place, and their izakaya items are incredibly unique. We had a cold cheese that was made up of cottage cheese, cream cheese, tofu and mozzarella. You spread it on small pieces of baguette or crackers. We also had a pressed grilled chicken thigh with a strong, pungent green chili paste on the side, braised pork belly with a hard boiled egg and potato (soft and crumbly as ever). Lastly, we had the risotto. It was the crowning dish of the night.
If you're looking for some bubbly booz that isn't champagne...(and way cheaper at $5 a glass), get the Calpico Soju Cocktail. It's fizzy, strong, and delicious (made with the Japanese Calpico fermented milk drink, soju and a dash of club soda).
Was introduced to this hole in the wall about a year ago (the one in Torrance). It has become one of my favorites! Great food and ambience! Cheese Risotto is awesome!
I have been to this place a ton of times but never remember to write a review for it. I love Musha... like seriously. It never fails to cheer me up even when I'm grumpy mcgrumpster. But good food will do that to me... what can I say.
If you go here, these are the MUSTS that you need to order:
1. Risotto- It is so ridiculously good I could just sit and eat that all day. They finish preparing it right at the table by dumping a steam hot plate of it into a giant wheel of parmesan and letting it pick up just the perfect amount of extra cheesy deliciousness.
2. Duck with Ponzu sauce- Tender Duck + Ponzu sauce- 'nuff said.
3. Kakuni- Melt in your mouth Pork Belly with Potato and an egg and some tasty mustard on the edge of the bowl if you should so desire. To me, this is the perfect comfort food.
4. Baguette Gratin- Bread with creamy soupy goodness in the middle topped with cheese. mmMMM. Lt's like getting clam chowder in a bread bowl but a mini version and about a bazillion times tastier.
Everything else there is delicious too but your experience will not be complete without these 4 things. Trust me. I would have given Musha 5 stars but I think there are a few little things that are more meh than fab these days. First, they give you tea in those cheap Chinese restaurant metal tea pot things now. Note to Musha: It does not fit your decor. Secondly, the servers aren't as awesome as they use to be. They're still super nice, but I guess some of the newer ones are a little clueless. Thirdly, I had to sit in a corner last night for dinner and it was kind of squashy. I guess that's what happens when the restaurant is tiny.
But seriously, GO. It's fabulous. And maybe get there early so you don't have to wait 5 years to eat.
One of my favorite izakaya joints in the South Bay, might be a tie between this place and Otafuku. Talk about food overload!
1. Garlic Butter Manila Clams - name says it all, and the mushrooms were delicious also
2. Croquettes - nothing spectacular, I almost forgot we even ordered it
3. Baguette Gratin - baked baguette stuffed with bay scallops, onion, in a white sauce..yummm
4. Cheese Risotto - not as cheesy as I was hoping but it was pretty good, extra points for serving it in a block of cheese http://static.px.yelp....
5. Pork Belly - very juicy and tender, the potatoes were great too http://static.px.yelp....
6. Beef Tongue - nicely sliced pieces and tender then grilled on a cute tabletop grill http://static.px.yelp....
7. Beef Tenderloin (x2) - also grilled at the table, everyone was a fan of this so we ordered another one
8. Ebi Mayo Mayo (x2) - tempura fried shrimp with yummy mayo sauce..another table favorite, we had to get another order!
9. Tuna Poke - very small chunks of tuna, but I did love the rice cracker
10. Duck in ponzu sauce - first time having duck cold, it was ok, a little on the chewy side
11. Cheese Tofu - just a simple dish of mozzarella cheese, cream cheese, cottage cheese and soy milk (wow doesn't that just scream no-no?!) mixed together plated with crackers and slices of baguettes, pour on the honey with a cute little honeycomb stick, and you got a bomb a$$ appetizer! My favorite dish of the night!
12. Seared Scallops - torched at the table, flavor was good but the scallops were fresh but kind of small http://static.px.yelp....
13. Green Tea Parfait - topped with red bean! I love red bean! Crunchy corn flakes on the bottom instead of the normal granola in a parfait http://static.px.yelp....
One thing I did notice was that some of the dishes were served with 7 pieces, and we had 7 people. Was that a coincidence or did they alter the serving size to accommodate us? If so, I thought that was pretty nice of them, would be pretty weird to be splitting a slice of beef tongue.
This place was pretty busy so the service was not too bad, not great. They did forget our order of kimchee udon but after reading some reviews we didn't miss out too much. With all that food and a pitcher of beer total came out to be $28/pp which is pretty good for me with the quality of food we got.
Don't forget to make reservations if you plan on dining here, the place is pretty small but they do have a large communal table at the center of the restaurant.
The dishes were enjoyable but pricey. The service was excellent and the atmosphere fun and unique.
Ordered:
Kukuni Pork belly ($10.50) - Very tender, served with a soy-sauce boiled egg and potato. Pretty much equivalent to the soy-sauce marinated Chinese pork dish.
Takotama Omlette ($7.30) - Uniquely textured with noodles inside an omelet with hints of seafood flavor. Good, but I'd try something else before ordering this one again.
Shinjo ($8.30) - Three fried dumplings (?); very smooth and tasty.
Hot Tea (x2) - $4.00 - I don't have nice things to say about a place that charges per person for bagged green tea.
Overall, I had a pleasant experience. Recommend this place for groups due to the atmosphere and set up.
Couldn't be better!
Menu is awesome,
Food is gorgeous,
Price? hm... not cheap,
Atmosphere is good,
Service is nice.
"Pork Belly" is recommended.
That's... really... really... delicious!
One more...
don't forget reservation!
My wife and I visited Musha this Friday evening, and they made our first Izakaya experience magical and memorable. We made last-minute reservations just an hour and a half prior to our visit and were seated right away when we arrived, despite the facts that the restaurant was packed and we were ten minutes late. We were given a small table for two along the West side of the room, which was fine. Neither of us had eaten all day, so we were quite famished. I began ordering one thing after another from the extensive and eclectic menu of various delicacies. Everything looked so good! After hitting my 6th item the waiter grew concerned and cautioned me that I was probably ordering too much food for two people. I began to heed his advice and cancelled the Musha Fried Chicken, vowing to try it on my next visit; but then the Baguette Gratin caught my eye and I ordered that instead. The waiter and I shared a brief chuckle over my unbridled gluttony and off he went.
Our small table was soon overflowing with beautiful culinary delights. First came the green salad, which was an artfully assembled fresh bounty of lettuce, avocado, cucumber, cherry tomatoes and other garden goodness dressed perfectly in a tangy soy sauce vinaigrette.
Next came the beef tenderloin, which we got to grill ourselves at the table over a cute little BBQ cube. The beef was tender and smoky and flavorful with a ponzu dipping sauce and chopped green onions and something pink and a little bit spicy I guess may have been a puréed pickled radish alongside.
Shortly thereafter the Yaki Udon arrived. A steaming hot plate of thick, succulent perfectly cooked noodles with tender pieces of pork and sliced mushrooms. Not too saucy, perfectly slurpable and very delicious. These are the kind of noodles you can really sink your teeth into, and they were wonderful.
After some plates had been devoured and cleared, our Baguette Gratin and Ebi Mayo Mayo were cheerfully delivered to our table by the attentive waitstaff. The baguette was as it should be, crispy on the outside, warm and tender on the inside. There were two generous slices which had been hollowed out in the center and stuffed with a thick and creamy sauce with chunks of shrimp, and topped with gobs of melted cheese. The textures and flavors were simply amazing. The Ebi Mayo Mayo was equally amazing; tempura fried shrimp atop a bed of lettuce and thousand island-like dressing topped with mayonnaise. If you haven't had this before it probably sounds like an odd combination, but trust me it is scrumptious.
Finally, our cheese Risotto came. This seems to be every Yelper's favorite, so that's why it was our "must try" of the evening, and we were not disappointed in the least. I won't belabor the obvious by redescribing what has been so expertly described by many Yelpers before me, except to say in a word, it was simply decadent.
Against my wife's futile protestations, I ordered us a tiramisu and a maple crème brulée for dessert. While we waited for the desserts, all the lights in the place went out and everyone fell silent. We thought there was a power outage at first, but that wasn't it at all. One of the waiters said "Whose birthday is it?" and a young lady sitting at the far corner of the large community table was pointed out by her friends. A candle-topped dessert was then delivered to her while a pre-recorded "Happy Birthday" song was played on the loudspeakers, and the whole restaurant cheered and hooted and clapped in rhythm to the song in the dark like one big happy family. Through the darkened window to the kitchen in the back we could see a chef flipping a flaming wok up and down. It was really quite a show.
Soon after the lights came back on our desserts arrived. The tiramisu was excellent, but nothing out of the ordinary; which is not to say we didn't devour it like a pair of starving animals. The crème brulée was really something special though. It was exciting to watch the waiter caramelize it for us tableside with a butane torch. Breaking through the perfectly crisped top with our spoon and scooping the rich custard inside into our mouths, our eyes lit up in unison. It was orgasmic. Upon ordering it I was afraid it might be too mapley, like pure pancake syrup, but it wasn't that at all. The flavor was subtle, rich, delectable, and surprisingly reminiscent of S'mores.
The service was impeccable. The staff had lots of hustle, and they were warm and friendly from start to finish. Our every need was promptly tended to, and we were never made to feel rushed.
We left with a song in our hearts, a big grin on our face, and feeling stuffed like pigs; not in a heavy unpleasant way, but more in an over-indulged and completely satisfied way. We actually couldn't finish it all, and the waiter provided us with a doggie bag and a knowing grin. Next time I must remember to take his advice more seriously. :)
We didn't come to Musha to dine...we came here for a cooking class! It wasn't just your normal cooking class; it was a class on "Macro-Biotec cooking." The basis of macro-biotec cooking is "genmai" or brown rice and involves using organic ingredients, vegetables and no meat or dairy.
Anyways, the owner of Musha instructed the class. He flew in from Tokyo and does so quite often since he owns 4 restaurants in Tokyo and 2 here in Los Angeles (one in Torrance and one in Santa Monica).
It was a 3 hour cooking course and we learned the intricacies of healthy cooking and would recommend it to anyone. The class however, is all in Japanese. The recipes are in Japanese as well but if you go with a Japanese friend, it should be no problem. We all started from step 1 from the chopping and preparing of ingredients and then finally we got to eat what we made, which was extra tasty.
Next time, we are coming to Musha to actually dine!
Is Musha good? Yes Is Musha great? Ehhh. Perhaps, we ordered the wrong dishes but, a few were disappointing. Still a few plates were great putting it at four stars instead of three. We ate at the bar, and the environment wasn't too loud, quiet enough to have a conversation in without too many problems. We ordered the following:
- Tuna Poke: The tuna was good but it came in very small pieces. Definitely the least inspiring dish of the night.
- Pork Belly: It was good, but a few bites were dry, while others were melt-in-your-mouth delicious. I guess that would be the definition of inconsistent?
- Ebi Mayo Mayo: I definitely enjoyed this. The mayo was very good. Still it's mayo, and there's only so much you can eat of it before you get sick of it. Lesson learned: the law of diminishing return will get ya.
- Cheese Tofu: When it first came out, I was visually underwhelmed. It looked like a bunch of crackers and Cool Whip. Then I tried it and instantly became a fan. I loved it. It was very simple. The flavoring of the cheese tofu mix was similar to cream cheese with a lighter feeling. I don't have the proper words to describe this. Place the honey on top and it's an amazing combination. Second best dish on the night.
- Takotama: Best dish of the night. It's Musha's House Special and it didn't disappoint. I don't really know how to describe other than that it looked the Japanese answer to lasanga. Layered with octopus, scrambled eggs, noodles, mushrooms, onions, and drenched in mayo and some type of dark sauce, the Takotama is just a hodgepodge of goodness. It shouldn't work but it does oh so well. Highly recommended.
With the sheer number of options to order, it's totally possible to get a few bad apples at a place like this. I enjoyed my meal at Musha more than enough to come by again (though no more Tuna Poke and Pork Belly).
The food is okay and many people I know work here so 5 stars to you guys!
My dad comes here more than I do.
I always enjoy Izakaya, and Musha did not disappoint. The service was very friendly, and it's a fun, casual atmosphere.
I tried a few dishes, and my favorites were the ebi mayo mayo (fried shrimp with spicy mayo sauce) and the house special salad (snow crab and radish on mixed field greens with grape tomatoes).
I'm not often in the area, but I'd definitely go back the next time I am. And if you live in the South Bay, you have no excuse not to go to Musha.
It was just ok for us, maybe we were expecting too much from these great reviews. We ordered the grilled beef tonque, pork belly, they were just ok, nothing special. The fried shrimp (Ebi mayo mayo) was the only good tasting dish we had. The cheese risotto was overrated, it was okay only. We didn't make reservation and were seated right away. Service was great. But will I ever come back again? Probably not.
This place is awesome! This is where my husband and I went on our first date, so it has plenty of sentimental value, but every time we come here we always say, "this place is consistently delicious!" Our usual order is the musha green salad, itame somen, & jidori chicken. When we bring other people we'll order those plus baguette gratin, chicken karaage, and risotto. My favorite drink here is the apricot soju. Also, come here on your birthday - they do an awesome job of making you feel very special!
You know you're in a good Japanese restaurant when 90 percent of the patrons are Asian. This place is just five stars amazing, an orgasm to your tummy! The ambiance is really cool. I've sat both at a table and the bar area, service was kick ass on both ends.
My ultimate fav is the portabello mushrooms with truffle oil. So damn good. You get to grill them yourself on this cute little charcoal grill they set up for you. Love me some Ebi Mayo Mayo. It ain't just the Europeans that like mayonnaise as dipping sauce! These tasty big ole portions of shrimp are deep fried and then drizzled with their tasty mayo sauce. Kind of like Dutch Frites sauce. Not the healthiest choice but it's just so damn good! Both times I've ordered the Hamachi and it was very fresh and all butters, felt like it melted in my mouth. You must, must, MUST, try the parmesan cheese risotto. It's very heavy but worth those many calories. It's pretty cool seeing them prepare the risotto in a big ole wheel of parmesan too.
If your too busy chowing down and have been neglecting your beer, no worries on it getting warm. They have these cool pitchers with a lil ice tower thingy in the middle that keeps it crisp and cool.
The place gets packed even on the week nights so I'd highly recommend making a reservation.
Fun place to snack and drink with your friends. Notice that i use the word, snack, because you can try a ton of food and not get full. It's an izakaya, so that means food comes in small plates.
The pitchers of beer come with an internal ice pack - which is cool if you're a slow drinker - but if you have a large group, you lose out on about 1.5 glass of beer per pitcher.
If you're a first-timer, definitely get something grilled. Their portable tabletop charcoal grill is very cute yet effective. Get the beef tongue or tenderloin - both are winners.
Also get the saba - it's torched tableside. Makes it fun to watch, and it's tasty!
Skip the kimchee udon and if you're adventurous, try the cheese risotto.
After all this food, we still had plenty of room to eat more. See pics for everything we tried.
Just ate here for the first time and I must say, I'm completely and utterly satisfied.
Musha is such a great place for friends to gather and drink. They have an excellent selection of Japanese style tapas and even have my favorite japanese beer, asahi kuronama.
I usually don't frequent American izakayas because I've found them to be quite bad but I've just been introduced to the notion that there can be a truly good izakaya here in America.
Try the Black Sesame Ice Cream w/ Black Honey. Yum!
This place is so delectable.
It can be kinda hard to get a table depending on the night, but it really is worth the wait.
Everyone here is eating, drinking, and enjoying themselves. The service is quite good considering how busy they are. The menu is interesting and extensive. Some of our faves are the Buta Pork, Cheese Risotto served out of a Parmesan wheel, Spicy Cod Roe Udon, and anything Hamachi.
Cool place to eat, drink, and be merry with friends.
You know it's good when your hubby happens to say he's eating out at a little japanese place and doesn't mention the name, because he's a little bad biatch, eating good food without you, and he's totally busted.... = p
They serve good variety of Japanese "Izakaya" food. It gets very busy on weekends, so make sure to make a reservation ahead.
My favorite dishes are grilled beef tongue (which you cook at your table) and seared vinegar-marinated mackerel (which they sear at your table). They have good selections of salad as well.
You get a pitcher of beer and/or sake, and share a bunch of small dishes with your friends. The bill is very wallet-friendly. :)
One downside is that the place gets very smokey (due to all these grill thingy at tables), and it gets worse during winter time as they close all the windows.
Even Japan Air Lines' flight crew members love this place. You often see them enjoying food and tons of drinks. Yes, they do drink a lot! :p
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Neighborhood: Torrance
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Neighborhood: Torrance
Neighborhood: Torrance
Category: Food
Neighborhood: Harbor Gateway
Category: Japanese
Neighborhood: Torrance
Category: Japanese
Neighborhood: Harbor Gateway
Category: Japanese
Neighborhood: Torrance
Category: Japanese
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