Onigilly franchisees Rav Randhawa and Dana Romano are bringing the Bay Area onigiri brand to Torrance, locking in a Del Amo Fashion Center location near Philz Coffee and aiming to open in summer 2026. The pair is taking on a relatively roomy 1,300-square-foot space, larger than the chain’s typical footprint. They first discovered Onigilly at a trade show, then followed up with tastings at corporate locations before deciding the South Bay would be their launchpad. The Del Amo shop is part of a broader effort by the company to stretch beyond its Bay Area base over the next year.
According to What Now Los Angeles, Randhawa and Romano toured several Onigilly locations in the Bay Area before settling on Del Amo and said they were specifically looking for a spot that could host more of the community. The mall’s directory lists Onigilly as “Coming Soon” at Del Amo Fashion Center, confirming the upcoming tenant and roughly where it will land among the other food options. Del Amo Fashion Center currently includes the brand in its official store listings.
“For us, the most important thing was to like the product,” Romano told What Now Los Angeles, adding that the partners plan to lean on their corporate operations background as they build out the franchise. The outlet notes that the Del Amo space is larger than the compact kiosk-style setups Onigilly often uses, which should make room for both quick grab-and-go service and a modest dine-in area. The partners hope the shop will deliver fast, affordable meals for mall visitors along with employees working in and around the center.
Brand Background And Expansion Plans
Onigilly started in the Bay Area and its leadership has shifted into franchising after a strong revenue year, positioning the company for a faster growth curve. A press release from PR Newswire highlighted the brand’s expanding franchise pipeline and business momentum heading into 2026. Industry reports say the concept is lining up multiple Southern California leases and views highly visible mall locations as a key way to introduce more customers to onigiri. CoStar News reports that Onigilly is targeting a sizable Southern California rollout this year, citing markets from San Diego to Orange County.
What It Means For Del Amo Shoppers
Del Amo has been steadily updating its dining mix, layering in both national names and regional players to pull in more visitors and keep them around longer. A slightly larger-than-usual Onigilly at the mall could act as a quick-service stop for shoppers racing between stores as well as a casual lunch option for families and mall staff. Del Amo Fashion Center emphasizes its extensive roster of retailers and food-court-style zones where compact fast-casual brands like Onigilly typically set up shop.
Randhawa and Romano say the actual opening date will depend on permitting and construction timelines, although they are still aiming for a summer 2026 debut. For updates on opening plans, menus and the broader franchise expansion, the company maintains a locations page and corporate news on its website. Onigilly Japanese Kitchen lists current units along with general brand information.
