Sushi Inaba

Tucked away inside Inaba restaurant in Torrance lies a six-seat sushi counter that feels like stumbling upon a secret gathering spot for serious seafood devotees. Sushi Inaba offers the kind of intimate omakase experience that South Bay residents are lucky to have in their backyard, helmed by the charismatic and knowledgeable Yasu-san.

What sets this counter apart is the chef’s remarkable ability to draw out flavors from raw fish that you didn’t know existed. Yasu-san, who grew up surrounded by the fish importing business in Tokyo before teaching himself the art of sushi, has an intuitive understanding of seafood that’s evident in every piece. The 20-plus course omakase ventures into less commonly encountered territory, showcasing ingredients like caviar-topped sweet shrimp bathed in egg yolk sauce, hairy crab accented with vinegar jelly, and amberjack that’s been patiently aged in kombu until it develops an almost fudgy richness.

This isn’t the place for a casual weeknight dinner or a quick bite. Sushi Inaba demands your full attention and rewards it generously. The intimate setting means every seat feels like the best in the house, and Yasu-san’s entertaining presence makes the multi-course journey fly by. It’s the kind of spot where debates about whether Hokkaido or Santa Barbara produces superior uni feel perfectly at home.

For those seeking an exceptional sushi experience in the South Bay, Sushi Inaba delivers something truly special. Save it for when you want to impress visitors or celebrate a milestone, and come prepared to discover seafood preparations that will recalibrate your expectations of what great sushi can be.