WHY Fatty pork belly (you know you want it), kim chee udon topped with butter and caviar, tuna poke, seafood-filled baguette au gratin… amazing and delicious dishes that typify the best of Japanese-L.A. fusion cooking.

WHAT The loud, chaotic (and fun) Torrance branch is a contrast to the more sedate (and fun) Santa Monica location of this anything-goes pub, where European ingredients and concepts (roasted garlic, dips and crackers) are incorporated into Japanese pub fare.