Discover Torrance hosted our visited. Opinions are our own.
Who knew that we were in for a foodie adventure in Torrance. The South Bay is an amazing part of SoCal and is filled with family fun and rich cultural experiences.
Here are our where to eat suggestions!
Din Tai Fung
Din Tai Fung is consistently delicious and amazing! They take care of you, the service is quick and the food comes out hot and steaming. I love to start off the meal with their cucumber salad. Next we had Xiaolongbao, their signature steamed buns, and they are dreamy. We love when the server lifts up the cover to the bamboo basket to reveal those twirled buns filled with minced, spiced pork. My family fight over who gets the last one! The atmosphere of the restaurant is inviting, attractive and the waitstaff is always attentive and helpful. From their buns to their dumplings, fried rice, and even the desserts everything is wonderful. Kids can stare through the preparation window as chefs prepare these little pieces of heaven!
King’s Hawaiian Bakery and Restaurant
Craving Hawaiian style food? Head to King’s Hawaiian Bakery and Restaurant. The smell of sweetness wafts through the air as you approach the restaurant from the parking lot. I knew we were in for a treat! The bakery is located right inside the entrance, and was filled with their Paradise cakes (passion fruit, guava, lime flavors ), rolls, donuts and so many other delicious treats that really gets your appetite working. Ask for a seat near the aquarium. On our visit, we ordered breakfast. My husband and I both ordered the Big Island Breakfast. I chose the side of Portuguese sausage while he went with a side of Spam. The massive sweet bread French toast was delicious and the sausage and spam balance it out with salty goodness. Make sure to grab a photo opp next to the massive pineapple upon checking out plus take home a bag of King’s Sweet Hawaiian bread!
King Mediterrano
King Mediterrano is a small place with outdoor seating only. We were so impressed with the deliciously massive menu! I had a hard time deciding and wanted to try everything. The employees who run the spot are upbeat, helpful and recommended the crowd favorite, King Bowl. We ordered a chicken and steak combo. It’s packed with greens, garbanzo beans, sauce and protein. We also had the gyro wrap. The sauce was beautiful. My daughter asked for a Shredded Chicken Mediterranean Quesadilla. This is a large portion so two kids could probably share it with an order of fries. King Mediterrano is one of the best Mediterranean restaurants we’ve eaten at in Southern California.
Giuliano’s Delicatessen & Bakery
Subs are one of my lunch favorites. Giuliano’s has a wonderful section of imported goods to shop for and a deli with meats and cheeses. We dined in, first ordering at the deli, then headed to the registers to pay and last grab a table inside or out. My daughter and I shared a large meatball sub. The meatballs were tender, flavorful and big! The roll was soft, the cheese was goey (just like I like it ) and there was just the right amount of zesty red sauce. The waitress made sure that we had everything we needed and was so friendly.
Cocohodo
I had to try these Korean walnut-shaped pastries called “Hodu-gwaja”. They are little walnut cake/cookies snacks filled with sweet creamy red bean and a nice piece of roasted walnut. I promise you, you can’t stop at one. They are made fresh which means they are warm and happy. We ordered a bag of 6 but you can order a variety of sizes. My husband is a coffee snob and loved their ice coffee which is from Klatch.
Hisaya Kyoto Chestnuts
Roasted chestnuts are nostalgic for me. My mom would make them for my brother and I when we were kids. I discovered Hisaya Kyoto Chestnuts and their chestnuts did not disappoint. There are two varieties that are prepared daily. The chestnuts have a wonderful aroma and taste, plus they’re firm but nicely break a part. Chestnuts don’t really have a nutty taste, so I guess I would compare them to a yam? Hisaya Kyoto Chestnuts also serves ice cream, donuts and coffee drinks. Wonderful!
Bakery 85
Grab a tray, tongs and head straight to the self-serve baked item section for fluffy breads, delectable pastries and other freshly baked treats. This bakery serves up Taiwanese, Japanese, Danish and European style pastries. I highly recommend the Deluxe Strawberry cake, it’s insane!
Dahlicious Creamery
This spot left my daughter with a smile on her face. Rolled ice cream at it’s best! Select one of their combos or create your own. We ordered the chocolate covered strawberry which is strawberry ice cream, fresh strawberries and chocolate syrup. It was delectable, and the ice cream was smooth. We sat outside and because rolled ice cream is a firmer than soft serve, it didn’t melt as quickly. The price was reasonable at $5 for a decent amount of ice cream and ingredients. Ice Cream cookies are also an option. It can take a little while to prepare but kids can pass the time by watching the Dahlicious employees painstakingly create each order.
K Minamoto also located in the Del Amo Fashion Center. We were greeted by a woman who offered us a sample of a dessert. The store was a journey through beautiful unique Japanese treats and were overwhelmed by the selection. Some were expensive! Many are labeled as popular items/favorites which helped narrow down our choices. I chose a Fukuwatashi Senbei which has a lovely layer of sweet vanilla cream between two wavy crunchy waffle cookies with a delightful cream. Wow! It’s now one of my favorite cookies, ever! I also recommend the softly-cooked manju with that contains strained bean paste and sweet potato paste. I was really impressed with the robust flavors and organic ingredients. Make sure the kids pick out an origami at the register upon checkout.
Dragon’s Nitro Puff – this nitrogen dessert lab is located at the Del Amo Fashion Center. If you’re looking for an adventurous moment try Dragon Nitro Puff. It’s $7 but definitely fun to try once for the Insta. It’s a cereal (think fruit loops spheres) then drenched in nitrogen. I recommend dipping the cereal into the strawberry sauce which gives the treat more flavor. Take the stick, poke the cereal and smoke like a dragon!
Read our other articles related to this Discover Torrance visit.
Where To Stay In Torrance.
Things To Do In Torrance.
