TENSHO

Name: TENSHO
Address: 418 E 2nd St, Los Angeles, CA, United States, 90012-4209
Telephone: (213) 617-1016
Price range: $50 and over
Rating: 4.8

4.8

38 Reviews

$50 and over

Shabu-shabu

Top Tags:

Even if seats are full, we may still have availability. Also, special requests or inquiries would be welcome. Please do not hesitate to reach us by phone (213-617-1016).

5.3.2022 Tue
NEW OPEN in Little Tokyo
[TENSHO]

Right in the heart of Little Tokyo, “Kagaya” has established itself a top tier shabu shabu restaurant. Now, the torches have been handed to a new head chef and owner, the next generation to carry the torches of tradition and exquisite flavor, with the new name of TENSHO.

Trained in traditional Japanese cookery, this 23 year veteran chef is on his way to introducing a new wave of Japanese delicacies to the States. As close as you can get to Japan itself, this chef brings his revisioned menu, with patron favorites, and extensive sake list. The desert and a la carte menu is designed by their French trained chef.

The wagyu beef is of A5 rank. The seafood, carefully selected to be of highest quality. Food that is not only delicious but also good for the health.

Make a reservation

Party Size

2 people

DateTime

Dec 2, 2023

7:00 PM

Booked 12 times today

Experiences are available.

Additional information

Dining style
Fine Dining
Price
$50 and over
Cuisines
Shabu-shabu, Seafood, Kaiseki
Hours of operation
Dinner Tue–Sun 5:00 pm–9:30 pm
Phone number
(213) 617-1016
Website
https://www.instagram.com/tensho_la/
Payment options
AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Dress code
Casual Dress
Owned/operated by
Asian and Pacific Islander
Executive chef
Mr. Tetsuhiro Watanabe

Location
418 E 2nd St, Los Angeles, CA 90012-4209
Neighborhood
Little Tokyo
Parking details
Private Lot
Additional
Beer, BYO Liquor, BYO Wine, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking, Wine

Featured in

Asian-Owned and -Operated Restaurants to Support Near LA

Experiences

Deluxe A5 WAGYU & Live King Crab & Seafood
$188.00 per person
Multiple dates available
This is TENSHO's Best combination shabu-shabu. highly recommended. Tax may apply at payment.
Today's Seafood
$128.00 per person
Multiple dates available
From the sea, we choose the best seafood every day, basically, we provide Sashimi grade scallop (from Hokkaido Japan), Freshly shucked oysters, Shrimp, King crab. Tax may apply at payment.
USDA Prime Beef
$93.00 per person
Multiple dates available
Prime beef is produced from young, well-fed beef cattle. It has abundant marbling (the amount of fat interspersed with lean meat). Tax may apply at payment.

Offers

[50%OFF] COME JOIN OUR HAPPY HOUR (5-7 PM TUE-SUN)
Multiple dates available
Sun - 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM,Tue - Sat - 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
From Tuesday to Sunday, between 5 PM and 7 PM, we offer draft beer for $5 (regularly $10) and oysters for $2.5 (regularly $4.5) for those who order during our happy hour. Tax may apply at payment.

What 38 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.8

4.8 based on recent ratings

4.8Food
4.9Service
4.7Ambience
4.5Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

Downtown / South and East LA
Best Overall
Downtown / South and East LA
Best Food
Downtown / South and East LA
Best Service

38 Reviews

MT
MartaT
Los Angeles
7 reviews
5.0
7 reviews
Dined 7 days ago
overall5food5service5ambience5
Food' presentation and service was excelent! The care and attention we received was outstanding!. Sitting at the bar was a must have always experience! Overall was a mesl to repeat and remember!
TENSHOResponded 4 days ago
Hi Marta! Thank you for your excellent review and for highlighting our food presentation, service, and bar experience. We're thrilled to hear that you found the care and attention outstanding. Looking forward to your next visit for another memorable meal!
Is this helpful?
JR
JeffreyR
Los Angeles
7 reviews
5.0
7 reviews
Dined on November 20, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
A friend of mine suggested Tensho to me. Let me start by saying, the A5 almost melts. Came with a few other items, and all were fantastic. Even the homemade strawberry sorbet at the end, was very refreshing. Staff was extremely polite, and even though we were a bit late for our reservation, I was seated almost immediately. It’s a small place, so showing up without a reservation would not be ideal. 100% would recommend giving a try. Prices are high, so keep that in mind. Great for casual dining. Presentation of food was also very beautiful.
TENSHOResponded 6 days ago
Hi, Jeffrey, Thank you for your kind review and recommendation of Tensho. We're delighted you enjoyed our A5 Wagyu and the homemade strawberry sorbet. Glad to hear our staff made a great impression. We appreciate your note on our pricing and look forward to welcoming you back soon!
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Los Angeles
1 review
1.0
1 review
Dined on November 20, 2023
overall1food1service1ambience1
After this meal, my husband feels ill in the middle of the night.
TENSHOResponded 6 days ago
We're very sorry to hear about your husband's experience. The well-being of our guests is our top priority. So, please contact us directly so we can learn more and take appropriate actions. Your feedback is crucial to us.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Los Angeles
4 reviews
vip
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on November 19, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
My favorite shabu shabu place in LA. I came here so many times cause not only the food is amazing, the service is top notch as well. I told all my friends about this place. For the price, you get 3 appetizers in addition to the shabu shabu and rice/udon soup and dessert! What a great value! Can’t wait to come back!
TENSHOResponded 6 days ago
Thank you for your enthusiastic review and for recommending us to your friends. We're thrilled to be your favorite shabu shabu spot in LA! Looking forward to serving you again soon!
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H
Happygolucky
Los Angeles
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on October 12, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Best shabu shabu in the world. And I grew up in Japan.
TENSHOResponded 6 days ago
We're incredibly honored by your high praise, especially considering your background in Japan. It's wonderful to hear that we've met such a distinguished standard with our shabu shabu. Thank you for sharing your experience, and we look forward to welcoming you back soon!
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Los Angeles
1 review
vip
3.0
1 review
Dined on September 29, 2023
overall3food4service5ambience3
It is very rare for me to leave a review like this but I have eaten Shabu Shabu all over the world including most of the restaurants in LA. I feel l have an obligation to warn people about this restaurant. Their food is good. I would call it above average. But the portion sizes are very small and the prices are completely outrageous. I am used to spending a lot because we always upgrade to include the A5 Wagyu, but the prices they are charging are 2-3 times what I have seen anywhere. For the A5 they charge $193 for 8 oz, which works out to $386 a lb. That is almost a 400% markup on the cost of A5. It is definitely not worth it. And for what? The ambience is decent but not great. Also, WATCH YOUR FEET AT THE TABLES WHEN YOU STAND UP!!! They have the power cords for the tables running loose under the tables. If you catch your feet on one you could trip and possibly knock the table with boiling broth over on yourself or someone else. I will say that the staff is really nice and an overall nice experience but there are several places in LA where you can have just as nice an experience, eat the exact same quality beef and seafood and not feel like you were absolutely robbed.
TENSHOResponded on October 6, 2023
First, let us extend sincere gratitude for choosing us. It is through feedback that we can continue to improve our dining experience. Deluxe A5 Wagyu ($193) is the price of a course including 3 appetizers, vegetables, rice, and dessert. It's NOT $193 for Wagyu alone. Let us explain to avoid misunderstanding. We deeply value the authenticity and quality of the ingredients. Also, we pride ourselves in sourcing the most selective Miyazaki A5 Wagyu from Japan. We believe that the unparalleled quality & taste justify the price, ensuring our customers receive a genuine shabu-shabu experience. As for power cords, we appreciate your valuable insights, it's under internal discussion. We recognize it as an improvement area. Safety & comfort are of utmost importance. Thank you for your candid review.
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CL
CindyL
Seattle
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on September 11, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience4
Quality of the food was good, portion was big, service was 5 stars.
TENSHOResponded 6 days ago
Thank you for your positive review! We're delighted to hear that you were satisfied with the quality and portion of our food, as well as our service. We strive to provide a 5-star experience, and it's great to know we achieved this with your visit. Looking forward to welcoming you back soon!
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R
Reviewer
New York Area
6 reviews
vip
5.0
6 reviews
Dined on September 1, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
The staff was extremely accommodating for our various food allergies.
TENSHOResponded 6 days ago
Thank you for positive review with our team's efforts in accommodating your food allergies. We take pride in providing a safe and enjoyable dining experience for all our guests. We're delighted we could meet your needs and look forward to your next visit!
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OT
OpenTable Diner
San Francisco
5 reviews
vip
5.0
5 reviews
Dined on August 27, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Wonderful food, amazing and helpful staff. Will be booking for next weekend again!
TENSHOResponded 6 days ago
Thank you for your wonderful review! We're thrilled to hear that you enjoyed our food and found our staff amazing and helpful. We look forward to welcoming you back soon!
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Los Angeles
16 reviews
5.0
16 reviews
Dined on July 8, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Top notch authentic Shabu Shabu. Service is excellent.
Is this helpful?
OT
OpenTable Diner
Seattle
1 review
vip
5.0
1 review
Dined on June 23, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Amazing authentic Japanese shabu shabu, with a multi course kaiseki service. Food and service are impeccable. Probably the best shabu shabu this side of Japan. I’d recommend!
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L
Lucky
Los Angeles
5 reviews
5.0
5 reviews
Dined on May 17, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Atmosphere is great! Not too crowed. Food were excellent and servers were very friendly as always. Main chef is very kind!
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c
chap
Los Angeles
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on May 14, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great food, fresh and high quality, and excellent service! This is the second time we visited the restaurant and we really enjoyed the course meal. We also tasted the Wagyu beef sushi which was very tender and flavorful.
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L
Lucky
Los Angeles
5 reviews
5.0
5 reviews
Dined on April 24, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Wonderful service. Staffs were friendly, quick respond.
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y
yuejiaz
London
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on April 10, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
loveeeee, recommend to everyone. would definitely return.
Is this helpful?
L
Lucky
Los Angeles
5 reviews
5.0
5 reviews
Dined on April 8, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Excellent service, friendly staffs, chef is so nice!
Is this helpful?
r
rolanh
Los Angeles
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on March 31, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
wonderful shabu shabu course, with some delicious side dishes--pricey, tho!
Is this helpful?
L
Lucky
Los Angeles
5 reviews
5.0
5 reviews
Dined on March 20, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Excellent service. Portion of the meal's big. Friendly staff and very clean.
Is this helpful?
Y
Yossi70
Los Angeles
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on March 19, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Awesome A5 Wagyu beer and Crab Seafood full course dinner. Nice selection of Drinks Friendly service. Highly recommend
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D
Ding
Philadelphia
1 review
vip
5.0
1 review
Dined on March 19, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Very gold. Will come back in the future. Recommend.
Is this helpful?
SS
SimoneS
Los Angeles
32 reviews
vip
5.0
32 reviews
Dined on March 15, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience4
Great food, most likely the best Shabu Shabu in the LA area. The staff were very attentive and provided very good service.
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g
ginal
Chicago
2 reviews
vip
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on March 12, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience4
Delicious and authentic shabu shabu. We used to patron Kagaya and were very pleased to see that Tensho carried on the same quality and service. A must for shabu shabu lovers!
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C
Christine
San Francisco
42 reviews
vip
5.0
42 reviews
Dined on March 12, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Excellent quality prime rib Shabu Shabu neat. Not your typical all you can eat. A dining experience. Pre fixe. Started with omakase chefs choice appetizers. Blue fin tuna appetizer, then shrimp clear broth and a steamed grouper. Then had the Shabu Shabu. Then had udon noodles in the broth. Finished with a small and tasty dessert. A bit pricey but worth it!
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GK
GeorgeK
Los Angeles
2 reviews
vip
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on January 27, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
The best shabu shabu in the Western hemisphere. If you want the real Japan experience, go here. There is no runner up that comes close to Tensho.
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KL
KLam
Denver
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on December 21, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
One of our favorite meals ever. The fish was so fresh and the service was impeccable. This was our first time having shabu shabu so we needed help and the servers were so terrific. The desserts were phenomenal. Very expensive but worth the cost.
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L
Lucky
Los Angeles
5 reviews
5.0
5 reviews
Dined on December 17, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Staffs were friendly, chef is excellent. Meal portion is large.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Los Angeles
77 reviews
vip
4.0
77 reviews
Dined on December 7, 2022
overall4food5service5ambience4
What an amazing experience! High quality product, fresh. Amazing flavors, little bit expensive, but worth it. Customer service was incredible and attentive. We will be back. You must try!
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W
Will
Las Vegas
8 reviews
vip
5.0
8 reviews
Dined on November 7, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Still the same as the old spot, Wagyu is great and price went up a bit, but still within reach, great service, already book for next trip.
1 person found this helpful
OT
OpenTable Diner
Los Angeles
1 review
vip
5.0
1 review
Dined on October 16, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience3
Great quality
Is this helpful?
OT
OpenTable Diner
New York Area
1 review
3.0
1 review
Dined on October 13, 2022
overall3food3service5ambience4
Good—not exceptional—food, but not high value. The service was great. Probably wouldn’t go back at this price point.
Is this helpful?
OT
OpenTable Diner
Los Angeles
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on October 7, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
When I read the news that Kagaya had closed, I was so sad. After reading a few reviews on Yelp it seemed Tensho was that the new owners have done a wonderful job of upholding the quality of food and experience of the Gaia. After looking at a few photos and seeing That the restaurant itself looked largely the same, I decided to give it a shot. I was so unbelievably excited that, in the best way possible, little to nothing had changed. In fact if the Kagay signs still hung outside the door, I would’ve only thought that I had attended on a night where Mossa was on vacation. It’s so clear that the new owners had the deepest respect for Masako Gaia and the institution that was Kaguya. And the legacy left behind. They have carried on the traditions they are upholding the legacy. If you eat at the Gallo before and where is bummed as I was when you saw that it closed, do not worry run to town show you’ll be so happy you did. And if you’ve never eaten at Gaia, I’d say you don’t know what you’re missing, but that’s not true as all you have to do is come to town show and have the best shabu shabu outside of Japan.
2 people found this helpful
JA
JASUH
San Francisco
3 reviews
vip
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on October 7, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
The food was amazing, absolute fine Japanese cuisine in a small intimate environment. The service was impeccable.
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NA
NAOKIY
Los Angeles
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on September 17, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
First time for the dinner with my friend We ordered A5 wagyu beef course. They served kaiseki style dishes and main A5 beef and vegetable at last all Food and service are so good We had fine food and drink (Rindo) The dessert (Apple pie ala mode and Banana pie ) also taste good Definitely will come back soon
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Greater Boston
1 review
vip
5.0
1 review
Dined on September 4, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
This is my one and only to go place in LA for Shabushabu course menu. From 3 type appetizers and main shabu and rice porridge soup is top notch than any other else. Legit Japanese Shabushabu. Staffs are super friendly and always professional services.
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K
Keri
Las Vegas
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on July 27, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great experience overall. The food was delicious and service excellent. Will be back!
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DL
DavidL
Los Angeles
4 reviews
vip
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on July 25, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Food was amazing and the workers were VERY nice and accommodating. Would highly recommend!
Is this helpful?
OT
OpenTable Diner
Denver
4 reviews
vip
2.0
4 reviews
Dined on June 27, 2022
overall2food2service4ambience4
The sukiyaki (or the shabushabu) doesn’t meet my expectations. It’s even not as good as my homemade.
1 person found this helpful
JM
JinsookM
Los Angeles
3 reviews
3.0
3 reviews
Dined on June 25, 2022
overall3food3service3ambience3
Service was good and friendly but I liked Kogaya much better.
1 person found this helpful

FAQs

TENSHO is rated 4.8 stars by 38 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

Party Size

2 people

DateTime

Dec 2, 2023

7:00 PM

Booked 12 times today

Experiences are available.

418 E 2nd St, Los Angeles, CA 90012-4209

Additional information

Neighborhood
Little Tokyo
Hours of operation
Dinner Tue–Sun 5:00 pm–9:30 pm
Price
$50 and over
Cuisines
Shabu-shabu, Seafood, Kaiseki
Dining style
Fine Dining
Dress code
Casual Dress
Parking details
Private Lot
Payment options
AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Owned/operated by
Asian and Pacific Islander
Executive chef
Mr. Tetsuhiro Watanabe
Additional
Beer, BYO Liquor, BYO Wine, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking, Wine

Website
https://www.instagram.com/tensho_la/
Phone number
(213) 617-1016

Featured in

Asian-Owned and -Operated Restaurants to Support Near LA

TENSHO

Make a reservation

Additional information

Asian-Owned and -Operated Restaurants to Support Near LA

Deluxe A5 WAGYU & Live King Crab & Seafood

Today's Seafood

USDA Prime Beef

[50%OFF] COME JOIN OUR HAPPY HOUR (5-7 PM TUE-SUN)

Shabu-Shabu Course

USDA Prime Beef$93.00

Deluxe A5 Wagyu$193.00

Today's Seafood$128.00

USDA Prime Beef & Today's Seafood$108.00

USDA Prime Beef & Live King Crab & Seafood$143.00

Deluxe A5 Wagyu & Today's Seafood$158.00

Deluxe A5 Wagyu & Live King Crab & Seafood$188.00

Live King Crab & Seafood$168.00

Above Course Includes

3 Kinds of Appetizer

Your Choice of Shabu-Shabu Hot-Pot

Udon Noodles or "Zosui" Rice Soup (1 Pot / 1 Table)

Dessert

Shared Course

Shared Course

Additional Order

USDA Prime Beef$43.00

Deluxe A5 Wagyu$143.00

Seafood$78.00

Live King Crab$118.00

Mix Vegetables$18.00

A La Carte

Shucked Oyster

Baked Oyster

Aburi Seared Wagyu Sushi

Sea Urchin (Uni) Sashimi$48.00

Overall ratings and reviews

Loved For

FAQs

How is TENSHO restaurant rated?

Is TENSHO currently accepting reservations?

Make a reservation

Additional information

Featured in

Asian-Owned and -Operated Restaurants to Support Near LA