Aburiya Toranoko in Little Tokyo
![The chef's daily specials are written on a blackboard outside.](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/2f5c888/2147483647/strip/true/crop/586x399+0+0/resize/586x399!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fb0%2F1a%2Fc53930cedb946cc0a451a8aec9f8%2Fla-fo-review01-ll0cubnc.jpg)
The chef’s daily specials are written on a blackboard outside. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
![Aburiya Toranoko in Little Tokyo](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/bf6e7a3/2147483647/strip/true/crop/586x277+0+0/resize/586x277!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F8d%2Fba%2F9314a832177d9c64cdb5a86afa9a%2Fla-fo-review02-ll0cuqnc.jpg)
Head chef Hisaharu Kawabe puts the finishing touches on sushi. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
![Aburiya Toranoko in Little Tokyo](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/14e5a27/2147483647/strip/true/crop/586x325+0+0/resize/586x325!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F03%2F70%2F57b7aed4a544d011a0305c8a046a%2Fla-fo-review03-ll0ctvnc.jpg)
The early bar crowd sits below a mural painted by a tattoo artist. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
![Aburiya Toranoko in Little Tokyo](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/c3947fc/2147483647/strip/true/crop/288x425+0+0/resize/288x425!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fdf%2Faf%2F44fa71a346dcaf4c21f9addf61d6%2Fla-fo-review04-ll0ctfnc.jpg)
A baby block of sesame tofu is crowned with Santa Barbara sea urchin roe, topped by a dab of wasabi and served with a sweet sake and soy reduction sauce. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
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![Aburiya Toranoko in Little Tokyo](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/592b5a4/2147483647/strip/true/crop/586x376+0+0/resize/586x376!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F74%2F98%2F1680f8b2c6d35da64e0553df0bf7%2Fla-fo-review05-ll0cv5nc.jpg)
A skinny communal table runs down the middle of the small space, with a series of black leather booths hugging one wall. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
![Aburiya Toranoko in Little Tokyo](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/3c868b0/2147483647/strip/true/crop/288x425+0+0/resize/288x425!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F4d%2F31%2F1021203ffdca3465b9df954f61b6%2Fla-fo-review06-ll0cvlnc.jpg)
Seafood okonomiyaki is a Japanese-style pancake with shrimp and squid. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
![Aburiya Toranoko in Little Tokyo](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/e95d7df/2147483647/strip/true/crop/303x425+0+0/resize/303x425!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F8f%2F6c%2F21f6efe653de8ecfec57ef67e9ef%2Fla-fo-review07-ll0cw1nc.jpg)
Homemade green tea pudding is topped with a light caramel sauce. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)