Musha Restaurant

04/30/2008 Posted by BeerJunkie

This is my favorite restaurant in Torrance, and I've been going here for 8 years. Not only is the food fantastic, the service and the aubience are all a great part of the experience. If you're bored of sushi and are looking for a great new restaurant, give Musha a try.

02/27/2008 Posted by losalman

Great selection of Sake, service is good and food is better than average as some posts have said. Portions are small and expect to spend about $75 for two if you have a drink. For those who enjoy eating without alcohol then it will be less. The Cheese Rissoto would make my Nona Smile! The Lobster roll and Musha Fried Chicken are great and of course trhe Ebi Mayo is something EVERYONE orders and enjoys. I am going AGAIN tonight! See ya there!

Pros: You never know who you will see.....

Cons: Usually need a reservation

08/06/2007 Posted by pink3qannie

a friend took me there for the first time and i love it!!! then i took my friend who visit from another country and she loves it also!!~ dishes are quit unique. The portion isn't the biggest, but if you are going in with a party of 3, you should get a taste of different dishes. Trust me, you eye is always bigger than your stomach! the first time i went with just a friend and i, we order wayyyy to much. tonight i went again with a party of 3, we order the "tuna poke" as an appetizer, the cheese risotto (rice dish), beef tongue stew on griller, garlic butter clam, and the cheese tofu as dessert. the food was sooooooooooooo good. must try!

Pros: environment, dish, fun for group

Cons: Ventilation system

07/31/2007 Posted by dewydrop

I wouldn't say it's authentic japanese food since several of their dishes were creative fusion dishes with a korean/italian flair. They even state it on their menu that they're not a traditional izakaya. The menu is written in cute casual english and japanese fonts, and has a variety of interesting hot and cold dishes, salad, and rice and noodle dishes that ranges anywhere from $6-$10. We ordered ten dishes for four people and we were pretty full. I particularly liked the ponzu marinated mackerel sashimi that's torched right in front of you before serving. The yuzu chicken was pretty tasty, too. Although the souffle was a disappointment (it looked & tasted like an upside down fudge brownie -_-), the black sesame ice cream was delicious! Overall, the food is average flavorwise...lots of pepper in their grilled dishes which is expected in pub grub, but musha gets extra points for creative presentation and the friendly ambience. You get to grill certain items like beef tongue and mushrooms on these mini charcoal grills, which is great for people who like to have fun with their food. The portions are just big enough to allow 4 people to sample each item. For those who complained about the noise level, c'mon it's a pub. That's what makes the izakaya ambience friendly, casual, and inviting. It's a perfect place for a group of friends (I'd say 6 max since the place isn't that big) or for even couples who just want to have fun. There are a couple of cute servers who look like they belong in a boyband and all the servers were very friendly and courteous. If you don't know what to order, ask them for some suggestions. That's what we did. =) Oh and I will go back there again, just so I can try every item on their menu at least once. I think i'll try the asari noodle dish next time. =p

Pros: fun ambience, friendly & helpful servers

Cons: Too much pepper on grilled meats (for my taste anyway)

07/20/2006 Posted by nomo_fan

Musha exemplifies all of what is good about Japanese cuisine: tasty and tempting tapa-like treats that tantalize the tongue and satisfy your stomach. Winners include the following: kabocha dip (ask for more crackers when you run out), seared duck, yellowtail carpaccio, pork and kim chee stirfry, fried chicken, cook-your-own beef tongue, octopus soba omelette, chocolate souffle, and black tea ice cream. The one disappointment was the cheese risotto, which is presented wonderfully but is a bit overpowering in flavor. This is a wonderful izakaya. If you have a large group, make a reservation early and sit at the communal table. It's crowded by 7:30 on a Wednesday night!

Pros: Friendly service, great food

Cons: Noise level

11/28/2005 Posted by kreplech

This is a great restaurant. Highly inventive Japanese tapas dishes. Not a bad value considering the quality of the food. Hit or miss on some of the 'stranger' dishes, but the ones that do 'hit' are fantastic and worth going back for. Nice ambience although I hear the Torrance location is a bit more laid back. I am a repeat customer and will continue to be... Inattentive service at times.

Pros: Food, Ambience, Location

Cons: Service at times

01/31/2005 Posted by mcastaneda

The original Torrance branch has much more authentic ambience and the food seems more carefully prepared. The Santa Monica branch is more harried, therefore service is less attentive, plus it's invaded by the hipster crowd (from Los Feliz?)! Honestly, the plates are way too large to be pub grub but for the most part the food is wonderful. I would stay away from the spring rolls, though.

Pros: Food, Ambience, Parking (Torrance)

Cons: Crowded (SM), Parking (SM)

01/28/2005 Posted by anat17

I've taken many people to this place and EVERY SINGLE TIME, we had tears in our eyes... that's how good musha is. I've only been to the Santa Monica one. make reservation on Friday night. HAVE TO order their albacore salad, takotama, and grill beef tongue. Their sake comes in the most brilliant bottle as well. I went there last Friday and I'm going there tomorrow. Yes that's how much I love that place. NOW EVERYONE GO TRY IT!

Pros: food, ambience, sake bottle

Cons: parking, crowded, hard to find

10/08/2004 Posted by sha_renton

Excellent take on japanese food. Never fail to please your palate. From the pumpkin dip to the grill meats to the slow cooked pork ... Ask for the specials. And if you're in a big group ask for the tatami room in Santa Monica's branch. FUN.

Pros: excellent food, friendly service

08/03/2004 Posted by rhkan

No Westernized Japanese food here. This suburban gem serves only trad'l Japanese dishes. Entrees like the broiled black cod w/miso, beef tenderloin, and scallop/shrimp sashimi are all winners. And don't worry, no one is going to chase you for tip - the other reviewer is just trying to prevent others from finding out about this place.

Pros: Flavorful Food, Easy Parking, Festive atmosphere