Thanks @J_L for that confirmation, very cool! 
Hi @President_Mochi,
That’s good to know, but my friend was saying that the included “Steamed Rice” with each meal was made with that little Kamameshi (not just custom orders), which is pretty neat.
I’ll definitely have to try the Kinoko next time, thanks!
Thanks for this post. Even though I guess the El Segundo location isn’t as good, I’m going to try it as it’s the closest to my office.
Each branch of Kagura has their speciality. The speciality in the Torrance branch is the Tonkatsu, so it’s worth making the effort to go there. Although it is funny, the original branch of Kagura in Little Tokyo serves a half decent Ramen, so one of the first things you see when you enter the Torrance branch is a sign that says “No Ramen”. LOL!!
I go to Kagura Torrance from my office at the Edge of Playa Vista. I can make it back and forth in good time. However, there is NOTHING like this in the ES/MB area, so it’s worth a shot for a bento style lunch.
–Dommy!
Ah, gotcha. That does sound great.
Update:
It was too long since we last enjoyed the crispy, delicious Tonkatsu (Deep Fried Pork Cutlet) from Kagura, so it was time for a revisit! 
Chawanmushi + Salad:
Their Steamed Egg Custard (Chawanmushi) and Salad (part of the combination) are fine (same as usual), which is to say, it’s a solid rendition, silky, light, but not has airy and delicate as the best Chawanmushi in town, but as part of a combination meal, it’s fine.
Fillet Katsu Gozen (Deep Fried Black Pork Fillet Cutlet):
Their Gozen / Lunch Set meals arrive with a few small appetizer bites and a Tonjiru Soup. The Pork Broth is tasty and very savory (and it’s bottomless, if you want refills). 
The Fillet Katsu (Cutlet) arrives hot, crispy, slightly crunchy and delicious! 
There was a nice seasoning, but it worked even better when you dab a bit of the Karashi (Japanese Mustard) and some of the Tonkatsu Sauce.
Mixed Grain Rice:
As before, I love their Mixed Grain Rice as an option. Lightly nutty, fragrant and a nice pairing.
On another visit:
We really can’t get enough of their Onion Dressing! It makes a simple Cabbage Salad into something far more enjoyable.
Grind It Yourself Sesame Seeds (for the Tonkatsu Sauce):
One of the coolest aspects of Kagura is their complimentary Fresh-Ground Sesame Seeds. They give you a mortar and pestle, and you can grind up the Sesame Seeds which unleashes an incredible fragrant aroma!
Then sprinkle that on top of your Tonkatsu Sauce and as you dab your Fried Cutlets you get the added, nutty fragrance as well as the delicious fried, crispy Cutlets.
Premium Loin Katsu (Deep Fried Premium Black Pork Loin Cutlet):
While the Kurobuta (Berkshire Pork) Loin is the leanest cut they offer here, it’s still quite tender and moist, and there’s a tiny bit of a fat cap they keep to give it just a little bite of this luxurious quality with each piece. It is delicious!
Millefeuille Katsu Gozen (Deep Fried Multi-Layered Sliced Black Pork Loin Cutlet):
Their selection of small appetizer dishes with the Lunch Set today is very tasty. My favorite was the Pickled Cabbage.
And then their Millefeuille Katsu arrives. As before, we really like the thin slices of Kurobuta Pork layered together and then deep-fried. It is incredibly tender and juicy! 
It’s now our favorite version of Tonkatsu (probably until I feel like the Fillet Cutlet or Loin Cutlet again).
Even to this day, Kagura remains L.A.'s best Tonkatsu specialist and the standard to which all other Tonkatsu (Cutlets) are compared to. I’m getting hungry again just writing about this.
Kagura
1652 Cabrillo Ave.
Torrance, CA 90501
Tel: (310) 787-0227
Lunch box set in El Segundo. $18. Good amount of food. Nicely fried crispy tonkatsu loin. Got one very grisly chewy piece. The sides are nice. Good compliment to the salty crunchy pork. Its a little pricy for lunch but a nice treat once a month.
This was a nice lunch. Probably the best cutlet I ever had so far. The sides were nice too and provided a good balance. The soup was also tasty with pieces of radish. The cutlet even better with the sauce and some of the hot mustard. Hojicha was served at the end, a nice finish and touch. I parked at Wadatsumi/Nozomi/Torihei/Ikkousha plaza.
I love that place! Those katsu cutlets are dreamy.
Hi @JeetKuneBao,
Nice! Did you fresh grind up some of the Sesame Seeds to add in some incredible nuttiness to the Tonkatsu Sauce?
Update 2:
It had been too long since our last visit to Kagura.
I love their Housemade Tonkatsu Sauce and the mortar & pestle for grinding your own Sesame Seeds (which adds so much to the aroma and enjoyment of the Tonkatsu).
Each Lunch Set comes with a Mini Chawanmushi (Steamed Egg Custard) & Cabbage Salad:
There is something really enticing about their Onion Dressing. It’s really flavorful, fragrant, with a savory quality.
Millefeuille Katsu Gozen (Deep Fried Multi-Layered Sliced Black Pork Loin Cutlet):
As great as our previous visits, Kagura’s Millefeuille Katsu (Deep Fried Multi-layered Sliced Kurobuta Pork Loin Cutlet) is made up for thinly sliced layers of Kurobuta Pork Loin, which when sliced that thinly and perfectly fried, makes for this almost melting, juicy, tender quality. Add some of their Housemade Tonkatsu Sauce, Fresh Ground Sesame Seeds, a bit of their Karashi (Japanese Mustard) and it’s pure joy!
Mixed Grain Rice:
I really like their Mixed Grain Rice option.
Another visit:
We had some friends visiting L.A., so we decided to take them to Kagura and drive around Torrance for a bit.
We really like Kagura’s newly remodeled wooden bar seating. Previously this was wasted space (not really used for much / partial storage of plates, etc.).
Premium Loin Katsu Gozen (Deep Fried Premium Black Pork Loin Cutlet):
The leanest of the cuts, the Kurobuta Pork Loin Deep Fried Cutlet is still tender, but meatier, firmer. Tasty!
Pork Millefeuille Cutlet Curry:
Kagura now serves their own Housemade Curry, for a Kare Raisu (Curry Rice) set. The Curry is pretty robust, heavier on the spicing (like Garam Masala) than most Japanese Curries. Being able to enjoy that with their excellent Tonkatsu (Deep Fried Pork Cutlet) makes this one of the best Katsu Kare locally.
Millefeuille Katsu Gozen (Deep Fried Multi-Layered Sliced Black Pork Loin Cutlet):
As awesome as before. Juicy, succulent, the most tender of their Tonkatsu selections.
Premium Fillet Katsu Gozen (Deep Fried Black Pork Fillet Cutlet):
There’s a little more marbling in the Kurobuta Pork Fillet Katsu. This was one of our friend’s favorite cut (while his wife enjoyed the Loin Katsu the most). But ultimately all 3 Pork Cutlets were on point today.
Kagura
1652 Cabrillo Ave.
Torrance, CA 90501
Tel: (310) 787-0227
I love Kagura! I need to go back.
Thank you, Chowseeker; The curry tells me it’s time to get back to Kagura again.
As an aside, if anyone ever makes it to Honolulu, inside the Outrigger Regency Beachwalk Hotel is Tonkatsu Ginza Bairin, which makes a truly great tonkatsu. It’s quite a bit more expensive than Kagura, but worth it.
I loved their Kurobuta cut, which was quite expensive at $36, and my wife loved the much more reasonable tenderloin. Also I loved the way they make rice; It reminds me of the rice at the old Torafuku near Westside Pavillion.
I can vouch, this place is excellent. Lots of great eating around the Outrigger actually…
Hi @ogawak,
Thanks for the tip for Hawaii! Bookmarked it. Hope you like Kagura’s Katsu Curry.
So good! A must-visit on every trip to Honolulu.
Update (To-Go):
Kagura, the excellent Tonkatsu (Deep Fried Pork Cutlet) specialist, has re-opened recently for limited dine-in service, but are still primarily focused on Takeout & Delivery orders. Half of their restaurant is still closed (with tables & chairs removed).
While we want to support our favorite restaurants when we can, anything fried doesn’t translate well for Takeout or Delivery, so we’ve been holding off on ordering from Kagura during the pandemic. But it had been too long and so we prepared to enjoy the meal in our “portable dining room” (our car), instead of letting the Fried Cutlets steam on the way home. 
(New) Mentaiko Pasta (Spicy Cod Roe Pasta):
A wonderful Japanese comfort food, it’s hard to find a good Mentaiko Pasta recently. Kagura’s version is solid, a respectable version with slippery Spaghetti cooked just a touch softer than al dente, and a light Mentaiko flavor. There was a bit too much Cream which dominated the dish; I prefer Mentaiko Pasta with a bit more hint of the ocean waves (in a good way).
(New) Uni Pasta (Sea Urchin Pasta):
In another surprise, Kagura has added Uni Pasta as well to the menu! Another nice comfort dish, Kagura’s Uni Pasta tasted fresh, lightly briny with a balanced bright Uni flavor. However, they still use too much Cream for this Pasta dish as well, and as a result, it mutes the star ingredient’s flavors.
Overall like the Mentaiko Pasta, their new Uni Pasta is a solid rendition, worth a try if you’re hankering for either of these comfort foods while in the area.
Millefeuille Katsu Set (Deep Fried Multi-Layered Sliced Black Pork Loin Cutlet):
We arrived 5 minutes earlier than the time they said our order would be ready, to minimize any “steaming” that might happen when the Tonkatsu is wrapped up in the to-go container.
We quickly entered our 4 person dining room (car) and removed the lid to stop the steaming. Taking a bite:
Incredibly crispy-crunchy, piping hot, Kagura’s Millefeuille Katsu (Deep Fried Multi-Layered Sliced Black Pork Loin Cutlet) is perhaps their best offering, a tribute to the classic French Pastry Millefeuille, but applying the “thousand sheets” idea / thin slices with Kurobuta (Berkshire) Pork Loin, and deep fried. For those that haven’t tried it, it is as wonderful as it sounds, the thin slicing of Berkshire Pork results in an incredibly tender, juicy Pork Cutlet center, as the exterior is perfectly deep fried and crispy crunchy.
The only downsides for Takeout right now are that you don’t get their mortar & pestle to fresh grind Sesame Seeds to add into their Housemade Tonkatsu Sauce (which is like a zestier, bolder Worcestershire Sauce), and they currently only serve Steamed White Rice (their Steamed Multi-Grain Rice is better).
Fillet Katsu Set (Deep Fried Black Pork Fillet Cutlet):
On another visit, their Fillet Katsu (Deep Fried Black Pork Fillet Cutlet) doesn’t translate as well, a touch overcooked, it was still crispy crunchy, but the Kurobuta Pork Fillet meat was a touch on the dry side. For dine-in before the pandemic, it has consistently been properly cooked, so it may just be an off day.
Gindara Saikyo Yaki Set (Grilled Marinated Black Cod in Saikyo Miso):
But then their Gindara Saikyo Yaki (Grilled Black Cod in Saikyo Miso) saves the day: Perfectly cooked, the Grilled Marinated Black Cod is moist, flaky, buttery tender, and the usage of Saikyo Miso imparts that sweet, fragrant, umami factor in every bite! It is outstanding!
It’s good to see Kagura (OG Branch) having steady Takeout business, and encouraging to see that some of their dishes translate pretty well for this model (under specific conditions). If ordering their Tonkatsu for Takeout, make sure you arrive 5 - 10 minutes earlier than the time the restaurant says it’ll be ready, so that you can get your food as soon as it comes out of the kitchen (and you can then remove the lid to minimize steaming of the fried dishes).
Their Millefeuille Katsu (Deep Fried Multi-Layered Sliced Kurobuta Pork Loin Cutlet) is their best Tonkatsu to order right now, and the Gindara Saikyo Yaki (Grilled Black Cod Marinated in Saikyo Miso) is outstanding. We’re looking forward to the day it’s safe to head back out, and enjoy their various Deep Fried Cutlets in a more ideal setting (on their little metal wire racks (to prevent steaming on the bottom of the plate)), with their fresh ground Sesame Seeds and a full variety of side dishes (that accompany their dine-in sets)).
Kagura
1652 Cabrillo Ave.
Torrance, CA 90501
Tel: (310) 787-0227
Nice report! We hit Kagura Express at Tokyo Central about a month ago when they re-opened and had their Katsu Curry… which was really awesome. It’s a little cheaper than the restaurant and at that time, you couldn’t eat in the food court (Not sure if that is the same situation… will check out this coming week) but we’ve been having Trunk Lunches and this, along with the Ginaco Mini Okonomiyaki made for a really great lunch… There is nothing like Kagura’s dark and peppery curry!
Hi @Dommy,
Thanks for your report on Kagura Express. Yes! We really enjoy their Housemade Curry. 
Oh, forgot to mention that Kagura has temporarily removed their Omu Raisu (Japanese Omelette Rice) during this pandemic, in case you were going to try getting one on your next visit.
