Bistro Beaux

Wasn’t great for my 4 and 6 year old kids. Menu was not clear in its descriptions and the waitress didn’t really know what was in the dish either. Meh. Not returning. We’re not their ideal clientele.

I really enjoyed the uni pasta and the seafood stew/​soup. This place puts a good spin of Japanese pasta. All dishes are light compared to Italian cooking.
It can get pretty pricey if you order drinks too, but that’s like any restaurant.
If you’ve ever been to spoon house definitely give this place a try!

*** Desserts ***
Don’t be fooled just because this place is «BAR». Their desserts are actually pretty good and better than other «specialty» dessert places in the area.
Catarana: Basically frozen tiramisu cheesecake. Rich, creamy, yet not too sweet. Very unusual and Yum!
Coffee jelly: Coffee jelly isn’t sweet yet vanilla ice cream & whip cream make it yum! I’m very used to very sweet one in Japan, yet this ain’t bad. Different.
*** Drinks ***
Total speakeasy. The Bomb! They have amazing drink list including sissy liquors I do enjoy (you don’t see that awesomeness anywhere else outside Japan). Scotch and whiskey lists are quite impressive — you see tons of good Japanese whiskey (known for the high quality and $$$ due to the high demand), too. One of the bartenders are so awesome and know booze. I only order from him :) When he’s off, I don’t even drink: p Hands down the best bar in CA.
My cocktails: I always try something different and my bartender makes special ones for me every time. (Though I rarely drink 2 or even a half glass in general, this place makes me drink 2 at least and leave happily… That good!)
Matcha cappuccino: non alcohol. Terrible. It’s like just matcha milk without coffee. ;(I love drinks (w booze) here so much, yet this was a terrible mistake. It sounded awesome but not a typical «cappuccino» I assumed…
— Conquerors’s Deduction —
I looooooove this place.
Drink wise, this place is a total 5 stars, but the food could be hit & miss, though they do have a higher standards on food as a «bar». I’m not a pasta/​noodle fan…
I’m adventurous eater/​drinker, so rarely go to the same spots. The very rare place that keeps me coming every time I’m around here. That good :))

Cute little neighborhood bar and restaurant, made a reservation at the bar seatings, place was packed when we walked in, even more ppl waiting later on!
We had bottle of Pinot Grigio and a few martinis after, the drinks were inexpensive, a Goose vodka lemon drop martini was only $ 10, it was surprisingly tasty and strong, the bartender put in so much effort making our martinis! Menu is big, we ordered a few to share, the portions were not even small for tapas, I suppose it’s more like small plates drinking food right?
The very good:
Marinated scallops with chopped tomatoes and onions: great drinking food, very flavorful and tasty.
Vegetable sticks with housemade dipping sauce: very fresh veggies, loved the sauce, I put it on other things too!
Angel hair noodle in a broth with clams: loved the flavorful broth, the angel hair was so yummy even though I only had a bite, clams were fresh and tender.
The good:
Mushrooms with grilled sea urchin: the sauce was bomb, grilled Uni tasted funny but still delicious.
Uni pasta: hubby likes Uni so much and pasta too, so it was an ideal dish for him. He liked it a lot.
Miso soup with clams: generous amount of fresh clams, soup was comforting.
The OK:
Special of the night Cod fish: the fish was fresh but a bit hard and chewy, a little bland too. Didn’t like it much.
Overall food was delicious, service was friendly and fast, eating at the bar was fun, we didn’t even move when there was a table available. Great bar in the hood, we will definitely come here from time to time!

I can’t believe I never finished this review! Well here it goes… There are a handful of place I go to on a regular and this my friends is one. If you haven’t tried the Crab Butter pasta you have not lived! The consistency used to be a little thicker and creamier but the flavor has stayed as perfect as the first time I tried it. This is defiinitley a small plate restaurant, everything is a la cart style so don’t go in thinking you’re going to get a steak with two sides. I recommend a pasta dish, it seems to be the largest and you can share if you get a few sides. Typically I order a crab pasta FOR MYSELF, because I refuse to share, and then some sides for the table. The seeweed rice balls are great also!

Bistro Beaux was a great place to have a late night dinner due to its casual atmosphere. It reminds me of Japan in a couple of ways– besides the Western Japanese fusion food, this seems like a place that has regulars. The mixologist behind the bar was crafting cocktails with pride and something about it reminded me of a Japanese movie I watched earlier last year that highlighted just how much the restaurant experience can be enjoyed. But I digress.
We shared since we weren’t quite ready for a full meal ourselves and this proved to be satisfying, though now I think back to it, we both could have had our own meals.
We shared the Sauteed Eryngii Mushroom & Sea Urchin since it looked very lovely on Unilocal.My friend really enjoyed this and I liked the flavors– you can taste a bit of alcohol in the sauce and the mushrooms were pretty close to perfect. The sea urchin, I thought, could be a bit softer and still keep that nice uni texture you get from eating it raw. I know that they grill or sear it but it is too much so as the texture is a bit harder than expected.
The Spaghetti in Crab Butter White Sauce was excellent and what you would completely expect from a Western Japanese fusion dish. It was creamy and went well with the nori flakes atop. I would have liked more nori flakes so there is more in each bite but I don’t think they want to overpower it.
I’d revisit this place again if I were closer to the area after I’ve tried mostly everything around here. It certainly gets the job done and service was just ok. The food does take a bit to come out but it is piping hot, so no complaints there!

Their service sucks! Particularly the owner is so rude. It was a few years back that we had dinner there. The guy came to our table where we had some foods left. He asked us if we were ready to order more, but we were still working on the foods we had and told him we were not ready yet. Can you guess what this sob said. Then you should order desert now. We could sense he wanted to kick us out and take new customers. Who the hell wants to come back to this kind is shitty service restaurant! I will never forget it and never forgive this sob!

Here again! Love the ambience love the food, love the Japanese whiskey.
I usually order the cheese rice. Might be the best risotto style dish I’ve eaten. Here in this hole in the wall gem.
The Torrance chips are delicious.
The service is consistently awesome! Professional and efficient!
Will be back soon and often!

Well, i was really impressed by the review on Unilocal and it was the reason why i got there. But the thing is that it didn’t give me any impression actually. I ordered beef steak with soy sauce (with garlic) and Squid ink pasta. Everything was really rich. However, it was really salty. The steak was served with just 5 pieces of beef and salad. The restaurant should have nonified me that it has just only 5 pieces of beef. then i wouldn’t order it. It is almost 20 bucks for 5 pieces. Furthermore, It was too dipped into soy garlic sauce. it was the problem too. Beef’s quality is incredibly great. However, i couldn’t enjoy it very well due to too much salty sauce. Sauce should be on the side.
Also, Pasta. I liked it. But my bf could not eat a lot cuz it was salty. I can hold it in and eat it. But for many people, they would need several cups of water to handle the foods.
Summary: Salty. Beef /​seafood qualities are good. Every sauce should be on the side and people can control saltiness. Also, server should ask people if everything is okay. (they didn’t care cuz it was too bz) The appearance of food is really great but Actual taste is not as delicious as it looks like.
This restaurant needs to be improved in some aspects.

Went to this local restaurant for the first time. We tried their veggie stick and three-​dipping sauce appetizer. The sauces were delicious.
I also had the clam Miao soup, which was excellent, with large clams. The broth wasn’t too fishy.
My main course was the crab gratin. Outstanding dish, with very fresh crab meat and yummy cheese. with the soup it was more than enough food. I will come here again.

Came here for dinner with some friends. The servers were really nice and the Moscow Mule was really good. The most important thing (the food) was meh. I ordered the Butter Sauteed Natural Chicken and it was just okay. When it came out all of us were a little shocked because it wasn’t what we were expecting, but it could have been worse I suppose. My friend had the Beef Fillet Steak with Garlic Soy Sauce which was good, but a tad too salty. We had to order a side of rice to share. My other friend got the Squid Ink Spaghetti which was okay too. It just really reminded me of black bean noodles except more expensive. My friend’s boyfriend ordered the Seafood Soup Risotto which was okay too. Everything was pretty subpar to be honest. The only thing that I really liked was the Fried Potato which was basically a fancier version of potato wedges. It was good, but basically you’re paying a dollar per wedge because it only comes with four.

The crab butter pasta is my absolute favorite. The sauce is very flavorful, and I try to refrain from licking the plate clean. The Uni pasta and squid ink pasta are really good as well. The squid ink pasta had a hint of lemon which complimented the pasta surprisingly well. I also tried their Caesar salad and it had a little too much dressing. I would recommend asking for the dressing on the side because you never know if they’re going to put too little or too much :)

This is third of three places the chef at Seoul Sausage recommended to me: The other two were winnahz, so I expected nothing less at Bistro Beaux. One of the specialties of the house is a squid ink pasta, that is so dark it stains your mouth! BB is on Western at Carson in Torrance, next door to previously reviewed Matsui.
I came here with my pal Cheonjae (Korean for Genius). BTW, beaux means to escort a woman for a night out, so I thought this would be a good place for both of us to try for the first time. We ordered uni shume ($ 9.80 — enoki mushrooms w/​uni), chicken karaage ($ 7.80), filet w/​shoyu & garlic ($ 19.80), ikasumi ($ 14.80 — squid ink pasta), and prosciutto pizza ($ 8.80). They have a full bar here, and Genius had a grey goose martini ($ 10), while I had a Yamazaki 12 year old Japanese whisky ($ 16).
First of all, the uni shume was just OK. The mushrooms were a bit chewy, and the uni was cooked. To me, uni should always be served raw. Nonetheless, the dish didn’t taste bad: 3 Stars. Secondarily, the karaage was very good. The chicken was tender, the batter was not greasy, and it was not overcooked: 4 Stars. Thirdly, the steak was a disappointment. It was salty and the portion was small for the price — It was $ 20 for 6 small pieces of meat!: 2 Stars.
Our next item, the ikasumi was not as good as we expected. Genius thought it was salty, while I thought the ika was overcooked. However, this dish didn’t taste bad either. Nonetheless, keep in mind, what goes in, must come out (48 Hours — LOL): 3 Stars. Lastly, the pizza was not that unique. It was basically meat on a cracker. However, the portion was decent sized and the prosciutto tasted OK after drizzling a little olive oil on top: 3 Stars.
Regarding the ambiance, it is very nice. The full bar catches your eye when you walk in. There are numerous tables in the small space. On the other hand, a major downside was paper napkins: 3 Stars. The service was OK. Our waitresses were nice, but they were not proactive: 3 Stars.
Well, Alex: Two out of three ain’t bad! The consensus is, we would not return. There are far better izakaya and other Japanese restaurants in the area (like Matsui a couple of doors down). BB has a nice bar, but needs some work in the kitchen.

Decent place. Decent food. Looks like a cool vibe for drinks. We brought a group in for dinner and the staff were incredibly accommodating. I wish that their menu was a bit more descriptive of each of the meals, but the serving staff and kitchen staff were very quick. The food was ok… but I feel like I made choices quickly because I didn’t know what I was ordering. Definitely has potential.
And believe it or not, it is a Japanese-​Italian place (I’ve never been to one before). They specialize in pasta dishes.

I love Beaux. So much that I’ve waited years to write a review. Only because it’s already busy as is on some nights and I’d rather keep this a «secret». But I feel generous today so I’d like to share…
The best part of beaux is you can enjoy it as a izakaya (tapas) place, straight up dinner place, or «just came to drink «bar.
Izakaya/​Tapas:
Beaux is a «Western Izakaya» which means they serve non-​Japanese food, but sometimes with a Japanese twist. The best way to enjoy Beaux in my opinion is take advantage of their array of small plates. I usually order (for 2 – 4 people) a small appetizer dish, salad, fried dish, pasta to share for the table and start from there. you can add on items throughout the night, which is really the beauty of a izakaya.
Some of my favs:
Seafood Salad
Popcorn Shrimp
Mushroom Scrambled Egg
Filet Steak (I prefer the japanese wasabi sauce but garlic is good too)
Crab Meat Pasta
EVERYTHING on the specials menu. seriously. please order at least one thing off the specials menu.
Dinner:
I’ve also used beaux for a quick dinner. (not often since I am always tempted by their wonderful tapas choices and alcohol) Come in earlier like at 6 or 7, order one appetizer to share with my friend, and we each get 1 pasta dish. Keep in mind… if you are expecting a «typical» restaurant where you appetizer comes first and all the entrees for the whole table come at once, go somewhere else. please don’t bother the servers and kitchen and ask that all entrees be brought out together. this is a izakaya, food is served as ready. if you don’t want to be the only one waiting for your food, get an appetizer. Also, be sure to know the portion you are ordering since most of the dishes (besides the pastas) aren’t meant to be a full portion dinner.
Bar:
Beaux is probably open the latest around this area (when looking at Japanese restaurants) so you can also come in just for a drink or better yet, dessert and drinks! (more about that in the next section). They are one of the few places that have a full-​bar at a Japanese restaurants. I usually order beer, wine or shochu, but here I occasionally indulge in a cocktail or two. They also have a good selection of whiskey (Yamazaki!) for whiskey lovers.
Desserts:
The owner makes the BEST desserts ever. My favrorites are the catalana (a half frozen custardy dessert), coffee jelly (for people who don’t like too much sweets) and their weekend only tiramisu. Actually if you like tiramisu try coming in on Friday… once they run out you have to wait until next week.

Delicious Japanese/​Italian fusion restaurant in the heart of South Bay. It’s a little restaurant tucked behind the Mitsuwa plaza but they have an innovative menu and reasonably priced meals.
I am a sucker for Japanese fusion food BUT it has to be good. I have been coming here since elementary school and the menu has not changed one bit (for the good). Service is okay but the pasta makes up for it. I have to say, this place is way better than Spoon House.
Things that are good:
1. Spaghetti with meat sauce — the noodles are wonderfully chewy and the sauce is wholesome, tasteful, and has a good amount of meat. It is perfect with a nice glass of red wine
2. Gratin — served piping hot!!! It takes a little longer for this dish to prepare but it is worth the wait. The top is crunchy and once you break into the gratin, the cheese oozes out and it is sinfully good
3. Catarana (tastes like a frozen crème brûlée) — oh my god. To die for! If you don’t have room for dessert, make room. This dessert is unlike any sweet dish I have ever had. It is caramelized on top and it is cold, creamy, and not too sweet on the inside. It is served with some whipped cream which makes this dish even more decadent and delicious
Not so great
1. Uni pasta — pretty bland

3.5 stars rounding up.
First of all, Bistro Beaux is very hidden! My husband and I had such a hard time finding it because they don’t really have a sign up and it’s located in the back of the plaza, near Daiso (same plaza as 85C, Musha, Matsui, etc.)
I was pleasantly surprised when I walked in. Although it’s a casual restaurant, it could definitely be a place for a date if you’re looking for somewhere casual but also kinda nice and intimate. They have a full bar, and there’s music playing in the background but it’s still quiet enough to have a good conversation.
Their menu has a ton of options, including daily specials. I looove Japanese-​Italian (the gold standard being Spoon House) so I was excited to try their dishes! We shared the following:
— Tomato and Mozzarella Salad: This was basically a twist on the traditional caprese salad. There were basil leaves, tomatoes, and fresh mozzarella, but instead of the usual balsamic, they had a really delicious garlicky vinegary dressing on top, with some kind of herbs in it. It was delicious! Great appetizer!
— Sautéed Corn and Mushrooms: This was one of their daily specials. OMG! I couldn’t believe how good it was. It is a really simple side, only $ 4.80 but it came sauteed in an amazing, delicious light and buttery sauce. I don’t even like mushrooms but I LOVED this dish!
— Spaghetti with Squid Ink: this is one of their more popular dishes. But WARNING: do NOT get this if you’re here on a FIRST date or if you’re trying to impress your date… it makes your whole mouth and teeth completely BLACK! My husband and I got a good laugh out of it. It tasted pretty good too. Not amazing, but good and surprisingly light. I liked the bites where I could taste the lemon. The little squid pieces were also cooked well – it was soft and not too tough or chewy.
— Spaghetti with Sea Urchin (Uni): this one was a mistake. I really regret ordering this. It was pretty bland, and it came with some thin uni pieces that weren’t very fresh, and OLIVES. I am not a fan of olives, but even if I was, it did not go well with the uni and spaghetti. I really think we ordered the wrong dish… I’m definitely gonna try a different pasta next time!

HelloOoo little strange and quaint little shop without the sign outside! You are unique and funky and a little bit weird on the inside, but I kind of like that!
Your French (?) name doesn’t really describe the food well because I think it’s Japanese and Italian, but after I tried a couple dishes, I will definitely come back to try something new. (I hate trying new dishes btw. For instance, if a restaurant has mac and cheese, I will always order that instead of scallop salad. and saffron dishes.!)
[+1] BUT I TRIED THE SCALLOP SALAD! And this flavorful dish filled with scallop and onions was delish! And would repel a group of vampires away o_​o;; I hate onions and I still ate this. Idk. Bistro Beaux, you make me a weird person. I don’t normally order such weird things!
[+1] I did order a salmon cheese risotto, which was something I’m more comfortable with but was told it would take 30 minutes.*cry* I will say it was worth the wait (because it was more than 30 minutes!!) because it was really delicious, cheesy, salty, and nommy. I didn’t want to share. Nope. Not a bite. but I did anyways. See? Weird.
[+1] I ordered a saffron cream sauce on a pasta that was really tasty. first time eating saffron. I’m still a bit weirded out I ate 3 whacky things and I ordered more food that wasn’t comfort food to me.*eep*
[-1] If you’re really hungry, don’t come here. The wait is quite a bit longer than the 30 minutes they put on the menu. also I had ordered a couple dishes and they came later than the risotto and they didn’t have the 30 minute warning so I don’t know why that was!
[+1] Otherwise I’m happy coming back to chillax after a long day’s work and try some weird and tasty dish. just make sure you bring friends that can entertain you:) since you’ll be waiting of course~!

4.5 stars but since it’s Friday I’ll round up.
I had no idea what to expect upon entering. The set up of the restaurant is cozy/​private with a touch of urban pop. For example, my table was separated by a metal criss cross gate forming a «fake» wall. The inside was «open» and casual with just enough lighting where it’s not a forced «romanticism,» but plenty to see what you’re eating.
Spinach Salad I could do without, but wasn’t too bad. I would’ve liked more sauce/​flavor, but it’s a good dish to keep around for cleansing the palette.
Squid ink pasta, very generous with the number of squid pieces and not too salty.
My favorites would be the beef flanks in garlic sauce. I got it medium cooked and it was just perfect, the sauce was delicious, where I almost wanted to just drink it. However, I held myself back since I was in public. The daikon soaked up the sauce and I just ate it as so, don’t judge me!
The other favorite was the honey mustard chicken (on the special menu). Chicken was cooked tenderly with the sauce, just the right amount of flavor and texture.
Service was fantastic, came by enough to refill drinks. Since the sign to this place is really small, very easy to miss it. Bistro Beau is next to the bank, facing Western Ave. A wall separates Bistro Beau and Mitsuwa.

If you’re stuck between carbonara pasta and squid ink, pick the latter if you are into super savory flavors. Carbonara has generous amount of bacon and it’s good as well but I this place is known for the squid ink.
The pasta dish also gives you options on what kind of pasta you want such as angel hair, penne, regular pasta, etc.
The atmosphere is pretty chill, its a good place to meet up with friends after a long day of work. The bar is fully stocked which also helps.
Parking: there’s a lot of parking
Service: The bartender was great and she gave us a heads up on how long our food will take to make.