One of my friends has been coming here since they were little and has been recommending it forever. I had been once a couple years ago, but was happy to come back with family! It was pretty busy on a Sunday evening, but after about a 5-minute wait for a table to be cleaned, we were seated. The space had a lively, casual vibe -- definitely a popular spot for dinner. I love seafood, but I also really wanted to try the katsu, so even though I'm not a big eater, I went with Combo D... which was huge. Honestly, I think it could easily feed two people. The side soup and bread came out almost immediately. The soup was simple but nice with a bit of pepper, and the bread was so good -- warm, soft, and buttery (I had to pace myself knowing what was coming). The pasta was delicious -- the clams weren't overly "clammy" (lol), and the cream sauce was light and not too heavy. The katsu was crispy and satisfying, and the salad added a nice, refreshing balance. Everything worked really well together. I ended up taking a good portion home, and even reheated, it was still just as good! Overall, a great spot with generous portions and solid food. I'd definitely come back and would recommend it to others! read more

Akane Chaya - combo d - Japanese Near Me - Gardena, California

WHY AKANE CHAYA? - Ever since 1991 a staple in Gardena - Budget friendly pricing and portions - Craving Japanese-Italian besides Spoon House FOOD 4/5 Hamburger Steak & Pork Cutlet with Demi-Glace Sauce 4/5 - h.steak was soft and went well with the sauce - cutlet wasn't fatty Shrimp Spicy Tomato Sauce - Sauce isn't as thick as Spoon House, so it depends on what you like better SERVICE 4/5 Both staff members were extremely kind and friendly. No issues PARKING 5/5 Pacific Square Shopping Center has tons of ample parking read more

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Akane Chaya is one of our favorite spots for Japanese-Italian dining. The restaurant has a nicely balanced atmosphere--upscale and refined, yet still very family friendly and comfortable. It's the kind of place where you can enjoy a thoughtful meal without feeling overly formal. The food is excellent, especially if you appreciate more natural, balanced flavors. The seasoning is not overly heavy or "loud," which really allows the ingredients to shine. Everything feels carefully prepared and well thought out. read more

We had seen this restaurant many times when shopping at Tokyo Central. We finally had the opportunity to stop on and dine. We came close to the lunch closing, so they were out of the hamburger steak. We decided to order a C combination and D combination. Each pasta had unique tastes and the noodles were cooked to perfection. The corn soup was tasty and was a nice start to our meal. The pork cutlet was delicious too. We will be back to try their hamburger steak. read more

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I haven't really tried Japanese yoshoku style food before but I'm really glad I tried it for the first time here :) This restaurant is located in a big shopping mall with a Tokyo central and various coffee shops near it so there's tons of parking everywhere. They have lots of seating inside and it's not too loud inside - it's very chill with some light music playing. As for the service, they were so nice! There was never a time we were waiting for water or utensils-anything really. They were so attentive and prompt! As for the food we got the combo B which is the seafood pasta with the hamburg steak and combo A with the meat sauce. Each came with a soup and choice of bread or rice. Opted for the bread which was nice and fluffy when it came, definitely didn't taste like old stale bread. The soup was light which was nice since the main dish was going to be heavy. The mains came in extremely large portions and were so delicious! Idk how they get the hamburg so tender but it was just cooked perfectly. All of that food was about $80 with tax and tip! Great value for the amount of food we got! Definitely recommend trying this place when you want Japanese-western style food read more

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I had never been here before but was excited to have this experience! I came with a large group so we waited about a half an hour for our table which was not a bad wait time at all. We were eventually seated inside, where it was cozy and clean, and given the extensive menus, I wasn't sure what exactly I wanted to eat because there were so many options. Originally I wanted to order something with pork cutlet, but when I tried ordering they told me they were sold out for the day, which was unfortunate. It was Saturday night, so maybe they had been really busy all day or all weekend. I decided to go in the opposite direction and order the carbonara which my waiter told me was really delicious. It came with a bread roll and salad as well. The sauce was creamy and rich and delicious, and it definitely hit the spot after a long day. I definitely want to come back again and maybe try the pork cutlet curry next time! read more

Akane Chaya - Salad and Bread roll - Japanese Near Me - Gardena, California

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It's in the same location as Tokyo Central & Main so there is ample parking. Their menu is relatively extensive and there's something for everyone. It reminds me of Saizeriya in Japan. We ordered Set A, Akane Specialty hamburger steak and tonkatsu, and vegetarian Spinach Garlic Tomato Basil. The sides came out first and it was hot. The bread was warm and fresh, the salad crisp, and the dressing delicious. The dressing is a house dressing and very tasty. Set A was a hefty dish and my friend could barely finish it. The meat sauce tasted like it was house made and was good. My special was cooked right with neither the hamburger steak nor the tonkatsu overly done or dry. It was very good and I was given extra demi-glace sauce when I ran out. My special also came with rice, which helped with the heavy taste. My friends Spinach Garlic Tomato Basil was standard fare but it came out hot and the basil is fresh. Overall, they serve really good comfort food and I would recommend if you want a family style restaurant. There's an early bird special that wasn't really explained to us so there seems to be a benefit for arriving early. I wished the potato salad was served in a bigger size... It was smaller than a spoonful. Otherwise, the servers were friendly and very attentive. I would come again. read more

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This place was on my list for a while, so I was excited to finally try it. I ordered the Combo B, which comes with their signature hamburger steak with demi-glace sauce and clam spaghetti with mixed mushrooms in a cream sauce. The hamburger steak was tender and juicy, and the demi-glace paired really well with the meat. The pasta was cooked perfectly, and the cream sauce was flavorful, creamy, and not heavy at all. I was expecting more clams in the dish, but it was still very satisfying. The combo also came with soup, salad, and bread or rice. The soup was especially good and a nice bonus to the meal. The service was also really great. I'd definitely come back again to try other dishes. read more

Listen. I didn't realize what I was getting myself into. I didn't walk into Akane Chaya -- I was spiritually transported back to 1980s Japan the moment that buttery demiglace aroma hit me. Somewhere between the sizzling hamburger steak and the mushroom asari(clam) pasta with soy sauce with shiso, my Japanese soul -- which had been quietly wilting in American food despair and being battered by the PhD process-- was welcomed with: "お帰りなさい" by ambiance alone. Everything here tastes like nostalgia, but even better than I remembered it. The pasta? buttery and the taste i can only explain as "YASAHII," a taste so kind and comforting, I feel like it healed emotional damage. The warm bread, just fresh, I can tell was kneaded with thought, and the oil and balsamic. I remember in my youth, when my siblings and I tried to emulate this with olive oil and balsamic vinegar we had at home, and dipped sliced wheat bread. Brought memories back. The vibe? Comfy af, time moved more slowly there, like I was stuck in a time warp of comfort. Light jazz in the background. Opposite of Urashima taro, I feel like I got spirited away to that one sunny, winter day, where I found myself alone in Miyako, Iwate, studying the effects of natural disasters, when I stumbled upon a house with a "kissaten" sign, I walked in, and ojisama-chef told me to sit anywhere as he stood up from the table, chatted with the regulars, and donned his chef hat. By the time I left, I was full, nostalgic, and a little teary, the decor so homey with too many cat-related things, but also, just like my grandpa's house. Just perfect. The Christmas tree, lit up in the corner, added just the right amount of "we put it up, but we've been a little too busy to take it down," which happened at my home with Hina dolls and koi nobori every year. LOL, is this my home? comfort perfection. Growing up in a small Northern California town with very few Asians and moving to Southern California, it has been one of the few times I've felt so at home. 110/10 would let Akane Chaya reawaken my identity crisis again. Every food gave me flashbacks, which brought back memories I thought I had forgotten. *if you need a mental image, I was that critic from Ratatouille, getting flashbacks as he ate the ratatouille. But small, Japanese, and female. Opposite me, a tall Korean boy with fluffy curly long hair And as I was leaving, another family patron and their young daughter (probably around 3 years old) waved goodbye and threw me a kiss. I will have to keep going back to just see her grow up. read more

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Akane Chaya has become one of my favorite restaurants in SoCal. Although the round trip distance is about 100+ miles from where I live, I find the trip is well worth it. The restaurant provides consistently good service and great tasting food. I appreciate the nostalgic Showa cafe atmosphere. The restaurant reminds me of where I used to frequent with my favorite grandparents as a child every Sunday. The menu item lineups are similar too! I have never had a visit where the food items were overcooked, under seasoned, or something along the lines at Alane Chaya. My favorite things to order from here is the big plated Akane Specials where you can order hamburg and a pasta of your choice. It's supposed to be a children's platter but in adult portions. I LOVE THE CONCEPT! The giant platter will arrive with refreshing salad, pasta of your choice, and red wine flavored demi glacéd hamburg. I also love their homemade bread and soup that arrives prior to the platter being served. I think their specials offer a great value because you get to try a good portion size of their most popular menu items. It's also nice to know that although they don't really do takeouts, you can take everything home except for the soup. Lastly, free parking is available right outside the restaurant and they also take Amex. The staff there speaks both English and Japanese. It's in a shopping center that also houses BookOff that actually has Japanese books, Tokyo Central with Nikumanya and MamMoth Bakery as well. All 4 of them are also well worth the visit afterwards in my opinion. read more

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Yum!! The Hamburg is so juicy and delicious. The mentaik pasta is perfect. The bread is soft and yummy. Soup is pretty good (but would've loved it more if it was corn potage) and salad is standard but a nice way to round out the meal. Didn't have a super long wait and the restaurant has quintessential Japanese, homey style vibes that's prevalent to the South Bay Area. A place I'd definitely come back to! read more

Akane Chaya - Set C with tarako pasta and bread - Japanese Near Me - Gardena, California

What a gem this little place is. Busy during lunch hours for a reason, wait did not take long. They have a large communal table for small parties too. Service is very kind! Food is the star, simple meals but amazing. I've had the pastas here and all are so delicious and cooked perfectly. Large portions. Hamburger and gravy was very yummy, the meat was so pillow soft. Definitely come check the place out. They have an extensive menu read more

Akane Chaya - Japanese Near Me - Gardena, California

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If there's one genre of Japanese food that is in dire lacking in OC and that I always go to the South Bay for, besides okonomiyaki as well, it's kissaten style food, the Western variation of Japanese cuisine. Think wafu pastas and the like. This was my first time coming to this restaurant, and the vibes were absolutely immaculate. You were greeted immediately with Japanese, and I admittedly fumbled and spoke in English instead, but you definitely feel welcome with that sort of Japanese hospitality you've come to expect. The restaurant is pretty much filled with members of the Japanese community right at opening, so you can tell this is one of the places to be. I had the hamburg steak, and the flavor of the demiglace sauce was very delicious. Admittedly the texture took me by surprise since it was more of a meatloaf than what I would have expected, but that seems to be more of a house style more than anything. It wasn't my favorite, but that was more of just a misaligned expectations more than anything. I am really looking forward to exploring their rather expansive menu. As a kissaten, I'm sure their coffee is fantastic, which I will surely sample the next time I'm not just dropping by for a quick meal. This place is a real gem, and I look forward to coming back. TIP: Honestly, you can't go wrong with anything on the menu - they're all bonafide classics of kissaten style food. read more

Akane Chaya - Japanese Near Me - Gardena, California

What a great new find! Was visiting my sister today and they brought me here.. it's a no frills place with good eats! Staff is friendly too! I tried the B combination which was hamburger and a cream mushroom pasta. The combo comes with rice or bread and a tasty veggie soup. The flavors reminded me of eating pasta in Japan. Not super rich, but subtle good flavors. The hamburger was super fluffy and soft, it had me thinking how did they make it so airy and yummy? The sauce the comes with it really packs a lot of flavor. This plate is a generous portion too. All in all, food was yummy so I will be back! read more

Akane Chaya - B Combo - Japanese Near Me - Gardena, California

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We came in at lunch on Sunday. It was walk-in and it was full. We had to wait about 25-30 minutes. The service was great. Everyone was attentive and friendly. The only downside was some of the dishes were unavailable. I should have asked for the salad dressing on the side, the ginger inside made my son unhappy (he rather eat salad plan). Also one downside someone with OCD... I had a hard time not wanting to straighten the pictures on the walls. The decor was fun to see by the kitchen opening, they had fun toys. read more

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First off, hubby & I both love the food here and that gets 5 stars! Why the 4 star rating? There's this little clause at the bottom of one of the menu pages that says, "Minimum Order $14 per Person". What they really want is for us each to order individual meals. We've been told that they won't accept the two of us to sharing a meal with extra sides that brings the cost above and beyond the $14 x 2 ($28). ( https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/akane-chaya-gardena?select=7TBbRY3fkP9KYJOg5FQMyA ) We usually share the Super Combo which adds a small plate of Curry with Rice and costs $28.60. We also added hot tea and another item to more than meet their minimum order requirement. We have no problem meeting the minimum dollar amount, but they really need to change the working on their menu to reflect exactly what their requirement is! That said, our Go-To meal has always been the Super Combo. The food has always been so good! We shared Combination A that comes with the Signature Hamburger Steak, Soup, Salad, Rice or Bread... then we added the Super Combo which basically just adds a small plate of rice & curry. The total meal was more than we needed to eat, but we loved it all so we ordered it every time. The service is sometimes good, sometimes nonchalant. Depends on who the server is. The interior is quaint. There are a couple of tables set up for larger groups and the rest are two and four tops. I love the kitty cat figurines! We had been going to Spoon House across Redondo Beach Blvd because hubby prefers noodles to rice. We were happy they serve noodles here! Hubby really liked that he could get noodles here, too! Like Spoon House, it is a Japanese Italian Restaurant. Maybe we need to alternate between the two places. Not sure how we'll order to get what we want the next time we go. We'll see how this pans out for us, but we will have to change up our ordering style. read more

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Japanese interpretation of Italian food. Whats good here ? The staff is very friendly and patient with any questions you might have, the interior is cool with old signs, its charming in its own way. Plenty of seating. I recommend the Salmon pasta with cream, the hamburger is delicious but sells out. Ive also had their meat sauce. The pasta sauces are very fresh and delicious, no they do not make their pasta but thats ok. Its not meant to be some unbelievably delicious restaurant that will change your life. But it will cheer you up. read more

This restaurant has the best Japanese style pasta dishes you'll find in Japan. Food is so good and their service is second to none. I come here almost once a week. I like their Hambagu Steak with Salad, Pasta of your choice and rice or bread. Check this place out when in the South Bay. You'll be glad you did! David S. read more

I stood up at the front for, not exaggerating, 10 minutes, with plenty of open tables. Not sure why it took so long to get sat but the food made up for it. The portion sizes are pretty great and the staff is very kind. The pasta is good, the hamburger steak is a 8.5/10! Plaza has plenty of parking as well. read more

Tucked away location off Redondo Beach Blvd and VERY popular. Unique cuisine and lots of options. Service was very friendly and prompt. Restaurant was busy. The hamburger steak combo A was the choice with pepperoncino pasta. Very good choice. Only lose a star for the canned sodas. read more

Stopped by here for lunch on a Saturday. This place is in the same plaza as Tokyo Central so it was convenient for us to do some grocery shopping while waiting for our table. We were seated in about 15 minutes. Service was just okay. I had begun to place my order saying my bf and I would be sharing the combination A, but before I was done ordering that dish, the waitress had pointed to a page noting there was a $15 minimum per person. I was cut off before I could even order our second dish, the seafood pasta. After explaining to her that we were planning to order another dish, she was apologetic but that had already kind of ruined the experience for me. We got the combination A with hamburger steak and tarako pasta. The hamburger steak was good and tender and I let my bf have the tarako pasta since I'm not a huge fan of roe. The seafood pasta was okay to me but nothing special. It could have used more flavor. read more

Akane Chaya - Combination A with hamburger steak and Tarako pasta - Japanese Near Me - Gardena, California

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Very delicious hamburg steak and seafood pasta. Plenty of parking Good service Food was made to order Everythjnf was delicious Hamburg steak was flavorful and very tender Akane style Sauce was amazing I loved thr seafood cream pasta - very light and delicate tasting So much seafood flavor Will definitely be back read more

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food was fast and great! I love the portion, curry, and service was great as well! it has lots of options and plenty of different kind of pasta, curry, and sauce. read more

Akane Chaya - combo A with meat sauce - Japanese Near Me - Gardena, California

Great restaurant focusing on some traditional Japanese dishes while also having a wide selection of Japanese takes on spaghetti dishes. It can get very busy on the weekends so try to come early (before 6:00PM). read more

I have been wanting to try this place for soooooo long! So I came by a few months ago, and with my luck: they were closed! (Temporarily at the time, but still!) But there's a reason for everything, right? The 2nd attempt was better given I had company: Hubbers, Mom and Big Bro! We came through around 7pm-ish on a random week. Not busy, so we were seated immediately. The menu is EXTENSIVE, so if you happen not to find anything you like, you're the problem. Hehehe.... But for real, though. However! I had plenty of time to screen through it before coming through, so I knew what I wanted: Combination B [Signature Hamburger Steak (9oz) with Akane Special Demi-Glace Sauce (Brown Sauce) AND Spaghetti of Asari Kinoko Cream Sauce (Chopped Clams and White & King Mushrooms with Cream Sauce)]. Came with a side of soup, salad and white rice. No apps needed. (I'm not even sure if they had any!) Everything is on this plate! And since it wasn't that busy, we all got our meals pretty fast. I wasn't sure what kind of soup I got with my meal - didn't bother asking, I was hungry (might be a sort of corn chowder with mirepoix). Needed a bit of seasoning, so fresh crushed black pepper fixed that. Whatever kinda soup it was, it wasn't bad. The salad was fresh and came with a slightly tangy dressing. The hamburger steak was seasoned well. Not sure about the demi-glacé sauce, it didn't really work for me, but it wasn't bad. The pasta was a good al dente but it's the sauce that makes it. The potato salad was a good palate cleanser! FOOD: 4. SERVICE: 4. VALUE: 4. Quality and quantity. We had enough for a 2nd meal. PARKING: Private lot shared with lotsa others. Not an issue up in these digs. OVERALL: 4. WARNING: Tons of food with the combos - maybe even enough to share with another. So, come hungry! There are way too many interesting plates I wanna try, so there will be future visits! read more

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The food is amazing and outstanding. You can't get the quality and flavors of what they serve here anywhere else. The hamburger steak can't be beat! All the dishes are absolutely delicioso! The service is also amazing. Be ready to out your name in and go do some shopping or even get a quick car wash. Believe me it is definitely worth the effort wait. If waiting for the most tasty hamburger steak, tonkatsu, japanese pastas, is worth your time, this is your place. You won't go wrong to wait for this amazing meal. The satisfied faces of the patrons will say it all. read more

I had no clue Akane Chaya existed! I have always been a staunch spoon house lover, but Akane Chaya really impressed me. I got the Tarako Kinoko Ika Akane style and it was yummy! Not too heavy yet very flavorful. There are so many options on the menu that it is a bit overwhelming, but that means there are also many things that I am excited to try. read more

Food: this is one of my all time favorite pasta place, very comparable to the spoon house that's across the street in my very personal opinion. They give complimentary bread roll and salad prior to the main dish. The bread is soft and warm, great with a bit of balsamic, and salad is fresh and crunchy with mild dressing that is not too overpowering. And the pasta itself, wow, it's sheer perfection, cooked al dente every time so consistently. The harmony of ingredients and noodles and sauce are just fantastic, light and not too heavy. I am especially in love with their tarako cod roe pasta variety, but have tried bites from other dishes, which were just as great. Price: around $15 per pasta dish, which is very very reasonable given that they all come with salad and bread, and portion of the pasta is enough to make me full and satisfied. Ambiance: nice japanese casual vibe, it can get a little bit busy, I waited about 20 minutes prior to being seated before, but well worth the wait. There are about 10 ish individual tables inside. Great to come with family or friends for lunch or dinner. Service: overall just okay. My previous experience was muddled with poor service from a waitress, who brought us to a sticky table, didn't get us utensils, denied us bread that came with combo plate, and told us that they were out of hamburg steak while others were getting them served. But when I went back again with other friends, we had no big issues, they just forgot to offer us parmesan cheese with our pasta. Parking: restaurant is part of a large mall that also has tokyo central market, there is amble amount of parking spaces, no trouble finding a spot read more

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Japanese italian pasta is the name of the game here and I would definitely come back here again. Yes, spoon house is across the street but the sauce here doesn't feel as heavy. But I'm comparing apples and oranges. So to preface, I will have to say there's one waitress with clear frame glasses who kinda made our dining experience less than ideal. She forgot my utensils multiple times, tried to refuse me part of my order (the bread with my pork cutlet combo meal), and lied to me about the hamburg steak being sold out when other customers before and after us were clearly getting hamburg steak. Besides that, I'd say this is a pretty solid place. Tarako Kinoko Ika cream sauce akane style: This is one of the must gets, it's nice and creamy without being too heavy. The squid and mushroom mix really well together, and overall it's just a great dish. Pork cutlet combination: It's decent, but I really wanted the hamburg steak, dunno why the waitress lied to me about it being out of stock. Anyway, pork cutlet is good, it's got crunch, sauce, and tenderness. I'd very much like to come back here and hope for better circumstances next time. We shall see though! read more

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My wife and I have been coming to Akane Chaya for many years. The food is consistently well prepared and the service is very prompt and professional. I just wish that it was closer to OC. read more

I've dined at Akane Chaya several times, but it had been a while since my last visit. I seem to recall a more extensive menu during my previous outings, and I was disappointed to find that one of my favorite dishes was no longer available--though it still appeared on the menu. Everything we tried was tasty, but it didn't quite live up to the deliciousness I remembered. Perhaps my taste buds have matured, or maybe I was just chasing the nostalgia of the past. read more

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Great Japanese/Italian bistro style Gardena restaurant in the Pacific Square shopping center that serves up Japanese Wafu style Hamburger steaks, Katsu, pilaf, and some good pasta dishes. Friend took me here since hes been going here for over 20 plus years and I was very impressed. Ordered the Kinoko (mushroom) Hamburger Steak with Demiglas Sauce which was tender and tasty, friends had Carbonara pasta with bacon and Seafood Pilaf. Dinner also came with bread and salad or soup, a filling meal. Would highly recommend, friendly service and great food.... 5 stars. read more

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I wish they have this in Orange County. One of my favorite foods is Japanese hamburger steak. It's hard to find a good restaurant that has this. My mom always said you can tell if a Japanese restaurant is legit by the rice they serve and their rice is delicious. If you like pasta and hamburger steak and demi-grace sauce this is the place for you. read more

Excellent pastas; can't go wrong with any of the choices. We especially like the salmon cream pasta; scallops & salmon pasta; Meat sauce pasta and my favorite the Seafood pasta (scallops, shrimp, mussels & etc). And when I can't decide I go to the combo Hamburg and Tonkatsu. Been going there for a long time and their quality has never faulted. read more

Small quiet area with jazzy music playing in the background. The b super combo is a lot of food and the dessert was not too sweet. read more

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Really high quality Japanese western fusion food. The hamburg steak was tender and the pasta cooked perfectly. It's a little hidden in the shopping center (weren't sure where the front door was) but well worth it. read more

i'm a 53 year native of Gardena and have been coming here since they opened like in 1988ish? I wanna say? You pretty much cannot go wrong with anything here! The service is great and everything has got the sublime Japanese taste. If you're American and like the traditional red sauce pasta then this may not be for you. Right now there is a resurgence of Japanese style pasta as I was at Sushi Gen in DTLA yesterday and there was a crazy long line at Pasta E Pasta. I don't really care for that place because everything is salty AF! Guess it's for the American tastes. There's also the Pasta Stories that just opened up in the Tokyo Central in South Torrance on PCH. I'll have to go check that out one of these days. read more

This is one of those hidden gems. Reminded me of being in Japan, the service was excellent and the food was simply delicious. Ingredients felt very simple and clean but done so well, you can't help but finish your plate. I was gonna for the basic spaghetti w meatsauce but went for the salmon scallop pasta and i'm sooo glad i did!!!! Would definitely recommend this spot read more

Akane Chaya - Hamburger steak - Japanese Near Me - Gardena, California

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I love supporting small mom-and-pop restaurants, especially when the food is so good and comforting. They serve Japanese-Italian pasta with a variety of items on their menu. They give complementary bread with olive oil dip. The servers are super friendly and great at giving recommendations. I got their #25 Tarako Shrimp Kinoko with Basil which comes with cod roe, shrimp, basil, and mushrooms and I loved it! The portion is pretty big and there was a generous amount of cod roe mixed into the spaghetti noodles. The sauce was Akane style which was light with parsley, garlic, and piri piri. Overall I loved this spot and would definitely recommend checking them out! read more

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Food was amazing. Service was great. First time can't wait to come back and try other dishes