Furaibo

I’ve been coming here for forever and at one point my friend and I were here once a week.
The food is always good. The service is always good. A recent incident peeved me, though.
We’ve never had to wait for a seat, which used to surprise me bc we’d go prime dinner time. This time we went on a Saturday around 8pm? My friend put our name down on the list after three other parties. They call in one party. Then they call the other two at the same time. We were standing out there for a good 45 minutes while we saw a bunch of open tables. Wth? Finally my friend goes in and asks if we’re going to be seated and the lady says is the whole party here, talking as if we just walked in. WHAT! My friend said yes, we’re on the waiting list! They basically didn’t bother to check the waiting list to see that there was another party waiting. We were standing in plain view of the restaurant, too.
Other than that unfortunate incident, the service once we were seated was really good, as usual. We ordered our usual orders– these are a must:
Hanpen cheese
Agedashi tofu
Yellowtail collar
Clams in sake broth
The Filipino lady (this is an assumption, I THINK she’s Filipino) is usually the one that helps us out and she’s always really sweet. She did ask if we could vacate our table bc others were waiting, but still managed to do it in a way that didn’t rub us the wrong way. That takes major skills. Lol
Be careful in this parking lot– witnessed two near accidents just while we were waiting outside. Bad drivers + impatient drivers = recipe for disaster.

The tebasaki chicken wings are sooooo good! The other dishes like the fried rice, fried whole baby halibut, and the scallop and enoki mushrooms are good too!
After eating the yummy wings, get yourself a complimentary hot tea to wash away that grease from your mouth. :o
Oh and it’s not really a first date kind of place cuz you should really just use your hands and get up on those chicken wangs! :p

I have been coming here for maybe 4 – 5 year, their services, sometimes was good & sometimes was bad depends on who you got. I always forgive since we love chicken wings& fried baby halibut too much. But since we had dinner last night then I desired I ‘m NOT going back anymore. We asked for Sriracha sauce for fried halibut fish, this lady that worked last night (only lady) with those Latinos guys. You can see 1 little squeeze in a little bowl. When we saw we said WOW and this was the third time she did this to us. Prices here is not cheap. But to give like little drop of sauce that’s really suck. You will loose us forever. We consider ourselves regular customer because we go once a month. This lady hardly said much (Hi or Bye) to us but just took our orders, brought food to the table. Last night we said Bye when we left so she said Bye back, it was the only time she said something back to us but just because we said BYE really loud (no customer in the restaurant) at that time. This BYE is for good!

Came here on Wednesday night. Wasn’t packed. We arrived around 5:30 and were seated immediately. Friday night could get busy. Make sure you write your name on the waiting list. Ordered the baby halibut. The whole fish was deboned and perfectly deep fried. It came with ponzu sauce. We also tried their Chita box with so much food in the bento box. A chicken leg quarter, pork cutlet, baby shrimp, salad, tsukemono, rice and miso soup. We also ordered the beef tongue yakitori and chicken liver yakitori; both were cooked just right (as always).

It’s ok. I like their chichen’s flavor :) it would be nice if they have more variety of appetizer…

Acceptable, but not spectacular. I prefer SSG Yakitori for Japanese skewers. Came here on a Saturday night and there was a short 10 minute wait. The place is small with a handful of tables, bar seating area, and one large table. Ambiance is typical Japanese, but updates to the décor are needed. We had a party of three and we tried the following:
Pitcher of Asahi — standard, but it had too much foam.
Tebasaki Chicken Wings — nice crispy texture, lightly salted, but wings were on the smaller side. 4 stars, but recommend a larger order to fill your tummy.
Chicken Yakitori — it was undercooked and after raising our concern, the server brought another properly cooked one. It was tender, but lacked flavor. Also, the temperature was more like room temperature. I thought these were cooked to order? 3 stars.
Beef (skewer) — tender and flavorful, but like our chicken skewer, it wasn’t hot enough. 3 stars.
Scallop (skewer) — flavorful, but it was a bit too chewy. 3 stars.
Mushroom (skewer) — juicy, earthy, and tender. The star skewer of the night. 5 stars.
Fried Rice — very good with hints of smokiness from the sausages. It was cooked perfectly and, if I come back, I would order it again. 4 stars.
Service was friendly and food came out timely. Like I premised this review, our experience was overall acceptable, but not to the point where I need to come back soon.

Came here for dinner though I hear they have a very good lunch menu. Had to get the chicken wings, which they are famous for, the steak that came on the grill, the Chita, fried rice.
For sure get the wings. They are very small, comes with 8 pieces but so well seasoned! Loved that it was coated and sweet and salty. It kinda tasted smoky though I know they just fried it.
The Chita was also good. It was the leg and thigh and had the same seasoning as the wings. Very good but it tasted really fatty.
Also had the steak. It’s $ 11 but very thin and had teriyaki sauce. It was good but don’t think it’s worth the money. I would go with the Korean bbq plate to get money’s worth. I would also skip the fried rice, cause it was just any fried rice with sausages that almost tasted like hot dogs.
The 5 stars is for the chicken. This is what they’re famous for and what you should get when you come. There are other small tapas style dishes you can get but it does add up.

Been coming to the T Plaza but never checked this place out. I was thinking tebasaki only but there were plenty of choices and prices were reasonable. I had the chicken wings, scallop w veg, chicken liver, and some more stuff. All pretty well executed. A bit cramped but OK. I would be coming back to try more from the menu.

Been here a few times to dine in… and have also done the tebasaki chicken wings to-​go for dinner many times. LOVE THE WINGS… the white pepper seasonings, paired with the rice and salad, makes a great, favorite go-​to take out dinner.
Unfortunately, I live in Orange County and no longer pass by this area, but the next time I’m here, I really want to try the deep fried baby halibut. My mouth is watering, just thinking about it. I’m hearing that they don’t always have it, so check before you go.
I’ve tried a few of the small plates (all delish) and my friend raved about their fried rice.
Agree. Parking is plentiful, but always crowded because of the various eating establishments in the same mini mall.

Everything was. salty. Okay, wait, I take that back. the side dish with the potato and bacon was not salty and neither was the breaded chicken (almost like a cutlet?), but all the side dishes that came with the bento box were meh. I ordered the ribeye bento for $ 19.99, asked for medium and it was basically well-​cooked, with not a great sear. The ponzu sauce they gave me to dip with it was salty. The bbq sauce they gave for the chicken cutlet was throwing me off, why is there a bbq sauce at a japanese place? Meh. The only things I did enjoy was the salad and the super fried shrimp that I could eat whole, everything else was lacking.
I had heard this place is better for actual side/​finger food dishes, but I don’t know if I want to come back to find out.

This place is super consistent, you can depend on your food to taste just as amazing the 100^th time you’ve eaten there.
The boo and I like to sit at the bar so we can watch the guys move around the small galley and create these delicious dishes. If you like fried chicken, chicken wings, and white pepper you HAVE to have the fried chicken wings or any of the other fried chicken dishes. We haven’t really gone wrong here, so point at what piques your interest and enjoy! We always get one chicken dish and the eggplant with pork sauce. Yumm…
Service is attentive but pretty hands off which is good! THe parking lot can get crazy, but you can unwind with a bunch of food and booze here.

It was at Furaibo that I finally gave in and admitted that dark meat does taste better than white meat when it comes to fried chicken. Having tried the Jane (breast) and finally trying the Chita (leg & thigh), I was convinced the Chita is where it’s at! Man was I missing out!
I’ve also come to learn that «extra spicy» here is really not all that spicy. It just means you’ll get extra white pepper sprinkled on the chicken, which is just more flavor, so I’m all game – Make it extra spicy!
I enjoy the dinner boxes because you get a little bit of everything – salad, pickles, soup, tonkatsu, fried shrimp and your choice of meat.
They get busy during peak hours so expect a wait if you’re coming with a large party. It’s usually no more than a 15 – 20 minute wait so no biggie. Also, they won’t seat you until everyone in your party has arrived.
Food for thought: The parking lot, shared with several other businesses in the plaza, is absolutely horrendous! If you don’t already have dings on your car doors, expect to find one when you leave. The spaces are tiny and crammed together so it’s inevitable that something or someone will hit/​touch your car when they’re getting out of their car or walking by. Try and park in one of the spots in the very back, or if you wanna be a douchebag, but save yourself a visit to a Dent Pro, then take up two spots, which technically in all other parking lots would equate to one. #thatshowijustifyit

Its Mediocre Monday!!!
Furaibo has been on my list because I heard so much about their tebasaki wangs. However, what I found out they have a lot of other items, including a two item lunch special for $ 8.95. Furaibo is in the Tozai Plaza on Redondo Beach Blvd & Western in Gardena. BTW, there are two more Furaibos: One in Sawtelle, and one in West Covina.
I ordered the two item combo w/​tebasaki chicken wings and fried fish ($ 8.95). From memory, there are about 3 «A» items (chicken), and 8 «B» items incuding chicken katsu and tonkotsu. The lunch special include tsukemono, miso soup, salad and rice. First of all, the fish was OK. It was snapper, and the panko batter was crispy and not greasy: 3 Stars. Secondarily, the wings were good, but not great. I was expecting more flavor, heat & meat (I ordered spicy)! Unfortunately, they give you the skinny part of the wing here, but what do you expect for $ 8.95 including fish? Nonetheless, I was full afterwards, and I only ate some of the rice: 3 Stars.
Regarding the ambiance, it is typical Japanese. This is a small place, with a few counter seats and a few tables. However, the space is used efficiently: 3 Stars. The service was OK. My waitress was nice, but a little odd. She wiped the counter down where I was sitting, after I sat down. In addition, I had to ask for a drink refill. Nonetheless, she was not rude: 3 Stars.
I would come back to try some other items, but I was a little disappointed for my first time. However, the amount of food is good for the price, and the people are nice. I would return to try some other items.

I think Furaibo has some bomb food, but the prices are way too steep for me to want to go here all the time. The last time I was here it ending up being a $ 60+ tab for lunch between two people without any soft beverages or alcohol.
Furaibo is known for two dishes from what I remember: Teba-​saki (chicken wings) and Karei (deep-​fried whole baby halibut served with ponzu)
With those two being the center pieces to any meal at Furaibo, I tend to build around them with other dishes. This case, we ordered buttered asparagus, Enoki and scallop, hanpen cheese as side dishes.
Teba-​Saki: First off, almost everyone I know orders this item extra spicy, which is not at all spicy. I am a huge spice lover, but extra spicy on this item hardly does a thing. The chicken wings are normally a decent size, but this time around we received wings that once belonged to a skylark. Seriously, the wings were about 2/​3rds the size of my pinkie. Very disappointing. The flavors were there, but I could polish off 3 of those at a time at the same time. This was the first time I’ve received such small pieces of wings.
Karei: Is one of their signature dishes like the Teba-​Saki. A deep fried baby halibut cut up and served in its own bones as a bowl, yes this is a win. The pieces are slightly smaller than the size of the chicken nuggets at macdonalds, but made from delicious halibut meat. They are crisp on the outside and juicy on the inside. Served with a side of ponzu sauce, the Karei is a must at Furaibo.
Enoki and Scallop: sounds like the title of a children’s book that feature two companions. The Enoki mushrooms and Scallops match very well as a dish, but the scallops used are way too small and the Enoki mushrooms are the dominant flavors in the dish. I enjoyed having the two chop stick pick up servings of this, however, for the price I’d omit this from my order for future visits here.
Hanpen cheese: The Hanpen Cheese was an unorthodox fried dish. Hanpen cheese is a deep fried fishcake wrapped with seaweed and stuffed with a slice of american cheese which melts to coat the inside of the fishcake with a bubbly cheese coating. The flaky and crispiness surrounding the outside is perfect for dipping in a little wasabi infused soy sauce before biting into. This is good if you’re looking for an appetizer that won’t fill you, but will satiate your mouth’s curiosity for flavor.
Overall, Furaibo is an alright place to dine at. Get used to the small portions, because if you’re expecting to get full at this place, you’ll be spending a pretty penny before you feel satisfied.

Furaibo definitely has its appeal — their famous crispy Chicken wings, crispy fried squid on a bed of salad, saba on miso soup, enoki and scallops and asparagus/​cabbage concoction. These dishes were all acceptably tasty.
The wings are definitely worth coming for. Our group of 9 removed our shoes, sat on the floor traditional Japanese style and enjoyed our dishes. We were satisfied and had a secluded enclosed spot in the back.
If you are hungry and expecting large portions, this is not your place. This is a good Japanese restaurant that is keeping it Asian with small just enough to hit the spot portions!

Yes! This place is definitely one of a kind.
When I first came in to try this place, I was intimidated by the menu, for it was very different from what I was accustomed to. It does help taking someone that has been here before and knows what to get, because this place does not offer the usual Japanese dishes such as Udon, Sushi or Bento.
For first timers, you will not go wrong with the chicken wings (Tebasaki), this is one of my favorite dish, the chicken is perfectly marinated in exotic spices in a great unconventional way.
Second, the Rib eye steak is just heavenly, the texture of the beef is tender and seasoned to perfection. Very delectable and highly recommended.
Service grade is B-​, depending on the traffic. This place can be a bit pricy (for the price sensitive), but not a bad place to go once in a while for a special occasion.
Great place to impress a late night date, throw in a beer or two to seal the deal.

Our go to spot on any night of the week!!! Our favorites:
Tebaski extra spicy! — I love spicy foods but even extra spicy is pretty mild!
Shittake skewers — perfectly salted and peppered
Agedashi tofu — so crispy and always perfectly cooked
Kimchee fried rice — some of the best fried rice I’ve ever had!!!
Other greats:
Spinach bacon — a little too greasy for me
Pork cutlet — really good I’m just not a huge pork fan
Karen karaage — great!!! However I usually just come with my husband and it’s too much for just two people to split!
Service is pretty good but not the best but who cares when the food is this good!!!

Not bad for a yakitori place. I’d say it’s fairly authentic here. Menu is pretty limited outside of meat-​related stuff, so be aware of that fact. Bento box is probably the best value.
The chicken that everyone is raving about is certainly overcooked in my book, but if you like it crispy, power to you. The flavor is decent.

Decent place for chicken wings if you like very strong, salty flavor that is. Furaibo specializes in Tebasaki wings which I think is good BUT theyre a little too salty to my taste.
I know Furaibo is in other cities but I probably have to say this location is seriously the most decent place out of all. Customer service is average. Actually, its below average for Japanese restaurants. I always expect really good service when I go to Japanese restaurants because they are just born with it. But this place is probably not one them. But then again. its Japanese restaurant but not really. Over the years, I see non-​asians coming here more and with that service has also gone down.
Besides the wings, I really like their Hanpen Cheese. I like anything fried. This falls in that category. Its like fishcake wrapped with seaweed which has melting cheese in between the fishcake. This whole thing is fried ans comes in 4 triangle pieces. I like it so much that I usually get 2 orders of them.
Its a good place to get some small plate food because they have many variety to choose from. And of course, they have alcohol so you can always drink with your friends.
Parking in this plaza can be extremely hard especially on the weekends and during dinner time but its not impossible.

Furaibo is one of the better known Japanese restaurants in Gardena likely because of 1) it’s stellar location in Tozai Plaza (next to Guadalajara Tires
) and 2) their popular Tebasaki –chicken wings!
I come here for an early dinner every few weeks and I always order the tebasaki bento which comes with a mix of everything including wings, rice, soup, cabbage salad, shrimp, picked veggies and root veggies in a sauce. It is a lot of food and all of it delicious. I can eat every single thing in that box! Some people might think the chicken is small and it is in size, but it is also gigantic in its crispy yummy flavors. I like how you expect it to be greasy, but it isn’t and at first you think it is salty, but it is peppery. Their regular wings are actually very mild in terms of spice, but you can specify your heat level.
I agree that service Ihere is a little slow, but I think the servers prefer to let you eat rather come by often and check on you. It might take while to get used to, but I have learned to like it and if you catch their eye or wave (like Todd M said) they’ll come by! I have tried some of their other dishes like the meatballs and seabass, but the chicken wings are my fav. Great place in my book and you can also get a pretty cheap carafe of wine to go with your meal. Here’s to my 400^th review and to Furaibo in the good ol’ city of Gardeeennnaaaa!