2ND LOOP ARCADE sits in a Torrance strip mall, but stepping inside feels less like a Southern California suburb and more like a neighborhood arcade in Osaka or Akihabara circa 1996. The venue brands itself 2ND LOOP ARCADE, while headers and footers occasionally reference “UDK Amusements” as the parent operator — a minor branding discrepancy worth noting for visitors researching ahead of time.
The space was curated by Maasai Singleton, a second-generation arcade collector, and leans enthusiast-first rather than barcade-loud. The mood reads as reverent rather than raucous: a neighborhood time machine built for players who care about the hardware as much as the games themselves, with original motherboards, Japanese cabinets, and a serious emphasis on rare shoot-’em-ups and head-to-head fighters.
Torrance sits squarely in the South Bay’s retro-gaming corridor, putting 2ND LOOP within easy reach of larger chain venues like K1 Speed Torrance and Lucky Strike Torrance. Readers mapping the wider field can use the interactive arcade map or browse the broader arcade finder directory to compare the options side by side.
At a Glance
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Address | Torrance, CA |
| Phone | +1 310-400-7935 |
| Hours | Mon–Tue: Closed · Wed–Thu: 5PM–12AM · Fri–Sat: 3PM–1AM · Sun: 3PM–12AM |
| Rating | 4.6 out of 5 from 22 reviews |
| Best For | Serious players, tournament players, and solo visitors who appreciate original Japanese arcade hardware |
The Scene
With no Google review summary or visitor highlights in the public record, the best read on the room comes from the venue’s own homepage analysis. Curated by a second-generation collector, 2ND LOOP ARCADE is pitched as an authentic ’90s-style Japanese arcade stocked with rare EXA Label boards — original-PCB conversions for titles like Batsugun, Dodonpachi True Death, and Crimson Katana — running on authentic Japanese cabinets.
The mood is enthusiast-first rather than barcade-loud, focused on rare shmups and head-to-head fighting games. The space feels like a neighborhood arcade time machine built for players who care about the hardware as much as the games themselves, and visitors who arrive expecting alcohol service or a full menu should adjust expectations: the venue’s homepage does not advertise any bar or food service, so food and drink status is unknown from the available data. A small handful of casual amenities — gashapon capsule machines and an online game-card purchase option — round out the experience.
Games & Machines
The cabinet line-up reads like a fighting-game historian’s short list and a shmup fanatic’s wish list at the same time. Signature pieces include Batsugun (EXA Label), Dodonpachi True Death (EXA Label), Crimson Katana (EXA Label), Air Gallet (EXA Label), and the rhythm game Maimai DX, while the broader rotation includes Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike, Marvel vs. Capcom 2, Capcom vs. SNK 2, King of Fighters ’98, Garou: Mark of the Wolves, Real Bout Fatal Fury 2, Samurai Shodown V Perfect, The Last Blade 2, Sonic the Fighters, Rage of the Dragons, Arcana Heart Love Max, Karnov’s Revenge, Shock Troopers 2nd Squad, Aka & Blue Type R, Senko no Ronde Duo, Crazy Taxi, Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo, Pac-Man’s Pixel Bash, Monkey Ball, and Space Invaders Part II.
The shmup selection rotates weekly from a curated archive, and fighting-game tournaments are a regular fixture on the calendar. Per-cabinet hardware leans toward authentic Japanese motherboards rather than bootleg conversions, which is the single biggest draw for collectors visiting from across the South Bay. A note for readers cross-checking the homepage: Maimai DX is listed as a 2-player setup on the site, but the official game release is single-player — a minor catalog discrepancy rather than a deal-breaker for most visitors.
Visiting
2ND LOOP ARCADE is located in Torrance, California, in a strip-mall setting along the city’s main commercial corridors. The phone line is +1 310-400-7935, and the venue’s website at 2ndlooparcade.com carries the most current event listings. Doors are closed Mondays and Tuesdays, opening at 5PM midweek on Wednesday and Thursday (until midnight), stretching to a 3PM–1AM window Friday and Saturday, and settling into a 3PM–12AM Sunday slot that gives weekenders a last shot at the cabinets before the week resets.
Play is sold via a mixed pricing model. Time passes run $5 for 30 minutes, $15 for two hours, $25 for an all-day pass, and $100 for a monthly pass, while credits stack at tiers from $10/40 up to $500/2000+500, with bonus credits kicking in on the larger bundles. The venue does not list an age policy or a party-booking system on its homepage, and food and alcohol service are unlisted — visitors planning around those details should call ahead. Owners and operators who spot an inaccuracy in this listing can claim the listing to update hours, pricing, or amenities directly, and curious players can browse the wider South Bay field through the RetroArcade.com arcade finder.