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Food is great here. Very fresh, Service is good . Atmosphere is pleasant not too loud. You can visit without yelling. Bathroom is clean. I would recommend this restaurant . Japanese hamburger is a softer texture . Little on the pricey side.
This spot is proudly serving the kind of hearty fusion dishes that make you feel in a good way. I went with Combination D, and let me tell you, this plate showed up like it had something to prove. * Pork Cutlet with Akane Japanese Sauce Crispy, golden, and wearing that tangy‑savory sauce like a designer jacket. Every bite had that perfect crunch followed by a "oh wow, that's tender" moment. * let's talk about the Asian Kinoko Cream Spaghetti, it was a full‑on mushroom party, mixed mushrooms, chopped clams, and a cream sauce so smooth it could probably talk its way out of a parking ticket. The noodles were perfectly coated, rich without being heavy, and honestly... dangerously comforting. It's the kind of pasta that whispers, "You don't need to share me." "Together, the combo felt like Japan and Italy high‑fiving over my plate." The staff here is friendly, quick, and genuinely warm. They move with that calm confidence that says, "We've been doing this a long time, relax, we got you." They checked in just enough, kept things flowing, and made the whole experience feel easy and welcoming. This place has that cozy, lived‑in charm, warm lighting, a lively buzz, and the kind of atmosphere where you immediately feel comfortable. It's casual, inviting, and perfect for when you want a hearty meal without the fuss. This spot has the Japanese‑Italian fusion lane with comfort, flavor, and personality. The food hits, the service is kind, and the vibe makes you want to linger. If you're craving crispy cutlets, creamy pasta, and a cozy spot that feels like a G-Town neighborhood favorite, this place delivers. "One bite at a time!" Miguel C.
This restaurant has a mom and pop vibe and serves the coziest Japanese Western-style set meals! The service is relaxed and it's clear that they have many regulars. This adds to the homey and laidback atmosphere of the restaurant. Personally, I'm a big fan of their salad x pasta x hamburg steak combo plates. You can choose the pasta sauce from the set menus, I personally like the clam and mushroom cream sauce best. The hamburger steak is served with a delicious demi glace sauce. And all orders come with a basket of bread and oil/balsamic vinegar dip.
We "discovered" Akane Chaya for dinner a few months ago and came back a second time (can't believe we'd gone past this place all these years). The first time, I had the Asari (clam) kinoko (mushroom) pasta with soy-based sauce and shiso. This time, I had the Asari Tomato sauce pasta and added the recommended $1.80 shiso topping. Both pastas were excellent. I love the bright and herby taste of shiso - it complements the sauce of both dishes, and the clams in both were flavorful with no grit. The pastas come with crisp salad topped with a delicious citrus dressing, and a warm Akane roll that is a bit on the hearty side and perfect for sopping up the dish of olive oil and balsamic vinegar, or any leftover pasta sauce. We enjoyed the jazz music in the background, settling us as we stepped out of the chaos of Redondo Beach Blvd. Lots of parking in the Pacific Square plaza. There was no (or a minimal) wait at dinner time both times. The lighting is subdued and the staff, while incredibly busy, remained calm and friendly as he circulated among the tables. You can hear the conversation at your table. Even the forks were intentional, with a scalloped edge for twirling the noodles. They have other things besides their extensive pasta menu so I look forward to trying those, too.
Arrived at about 1:40 PM on a Saturday and we were seated promptly. The restaurant was nice and cool on this hot day. After about a 5 minute wait, our server came and took our order. We started with a tall Sapporo beer which was very refreshing on this hot day. My wife ordered the Akane hamburger steak with bread. I ordered the B combination plate which has the hamburger strak and spaghetti with clams. The Chowder was hot and tasty. We weren't blown away with the hamburger steak. But the soup, salad bread and clam spaghetti were delicious. I had to drop a star because of the hamburger steak missed the mark for our taste buds
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
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!
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
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!
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.
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.
It's on!!!! Bomb place in Gardena. Great staff and amazing food. 5 stars completely underrates it.
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!
23 days ago
Food: Absolutely amazing! Everything from the salad and bread to the pastas is served fresh and with amazing flavor! My favorite is the Asari Kinoko Soy Based Cream Sauce! The Spicy Shirmp Tomato Sauce is another favorite of mine! The bread is always served hot and fresh, one of my favorites! Their salad is also very tasty with a refreshing orange dressing. Service: The service here is always amazing, whenever I come in I am always greeted with warm welcoming smiles. The service is one of the other main reasons I come back all the time. The service here is always on par no matter how busy they get. Ambiance: The atmosphere is always cozy and welcoming. They can get pretty busy and there might be a small wait, but it is always worth the wait. This is a great spot for all sorts of groups! read more
Although only one of us still live in the area, happy to have tried it recently here for the first time with two friends from high school. Since "Hambaga" is very popular in Japan, I was excited to try Akane's version. Unfortunately, I've had better. There was a LOT of filler in the meat which made it taste less like real meat. I know they do this to make the consistency of hamburger meat "soft", but IMO, this really lacked flavor, which could easily be avoided with additional seasonings. The pasta I got in the Combo B was the Clam/Mushroom with Cream Sauce, which also, IMO lacked flavor. Very bland. I saw the "Pasta Carbonara" in the Yelp photos, but unfortunately, they did not have it on the menu any longer. NOTE: There are still plenty of pasta choices to pick from. Also note that any pasta you choose besides the choices noted with the combo meals will have an extra charge according to the pasta you choose. Although the price for a Combo meal is around $40 OTD including tax & tip, it's a bit pricey IMO for hamburger, pasta, salad & a cup of soup. They do, however, give you plenty of food which is more than the normal person can eat in one sitting. We all had a "to go" box with leftovers. read more
23 days ago
Overall, we had a pretty good experience at Akane Chaya! I ordered the mushroom and clam pasta and really enjoyed it. The sauce is on the lighter side--not the thick, heavy cream sauce you usually get with American-style pasta--which I personally prefer. The mushroom and clam combination was really good and flavorful without feeling too rich. My daughter ordered the shrimp pasta with pink sauce, but she wasn't a big fan. I think her taste is a little more Americanized, so she prefers a thicker, creamier sauce with less of a seafood/shrimpy flavor. My husband ordered the uni pasta, which was good, but I think he actually liked my mushroom and clam pasta better! We also tried the iced coffee, and it was pretty good too. Nothing overly fancy, but definitely decent. Overall, a nice Japanese-style pasta spot in Gardena. I would come back, especially for the mushroom and clam pasta. read more
28 days ago
Food is great here. Very fresh, Service is good . Atmosphere is pleasant not too loud. You can visit without yelling. Bathroom is clean. I would recommend this restaurant . Japanese hamburger is a softer texture . Little on the pricey side. read more
This spot is proudly serving the kind of hearty fusion dishes that make you feel in a good way. I went with Combination D, and let me tell you, this plate showed up like it had something to prove. * Pork Cutlet with Akane Japanese Sauce Crispy, golden, and wearing that tangy‑savory sauce like a designer jacket. Every bite had that perfect crunch followed by a "oh wow, that's tender" moment. * let's talk about the Asian Kinoko Cream Spaghetti, it was a full‑on mushroom party, mixed mushrooms, chopped clams, and a cream sauce so smooth it could probably talk its way out of a parking ticket. The noodles were perfectly coated, rich without being heavy, and honestly... dangerously comforting. It's the kind of pasta that whispers, "You don't need to share me." "Together, the combo felt like Japan and Italy high‑fiving over my plate." The staff here is friendly, quick, and genuinely warm. They move with that calm confidence that says, "We've been doing this a long time, relax, we got you." They checked in just enough, kept things flowing, and made the whole experience feel easy and welcoming. This place has that cozy, lived‑in charm, warm lighting, a lively buzz, and the kind of atmosphere where you immediately feel comfortable. It's casual, inviting, and perfect for when you want a hearty meal without the fuss. This spot has the Japanese‑Italian fusion lane with comfort, flavor, and personality. The food hits, the service is kind, and the vibe makes you want to linger. If you're craving crispy cutlets, creamy pasta, and a cozy spot that feels like a G-Town neighborhood favorite, this place delivers. "One bite at a time!" Miguel C. read more
This restaurant has a mom and pop vibe and serves the coziest Japanese Western-style set meals! The service is relaxed and it's clear that they have many regulars. This adds to the homey and laidback atmosphere of the restaurant. Personally, I'm a big fan of their salad x pasta x hamburg steak combo plates. You can choose the pasta sauce from the set menus, I personally like the clam and mushroom cream sauce best. The hamburger steak is served with a delicious demi glace sauce. And all orders come with a basket of bread and oil/balsamic vinegar dip. read more
26 days ago
We "discovered" Akane Chaya for dinner a few months ago and came back a second time (can't believe we'd gone past this place all these years). The first time, I had the Asari (clam) kinoko (mushroom) pasta with soy-based sauce and shiso. This time, I had the Asari Tomato sauce pasta and added the recommended $1.80 shiso topping. Both pastas were excellent. I love the bright and herby taste of shiso - it complements the sauce of both dishes, and the clams in both were flavorful with no grit. The pastas come with crisp salad topped with a delicious citrus dressing, and a warm Akane roll that is a bit on the hearty side and perfect for sopping up the dish of olive oil and balsamic vinegar, or any leftover pasta sauce. We enjoyed the jazz music in the background, settling us as we stepped out of the chaos of Redondo Beach Blvd. Lots of parking in the Pacific Square plaza. There was no (or a minimal) wait at dinner time both times. The lighting is subdued and the staff, while incredibly busy, remained calm and friendly as he circulated among the tables. You can hear the conversation at your table. Even the forks were intentional, with a scalloped edge for twirling the noodles. They have other things besides their extensive pasta menu so I look forward to trying those, too. read more
Arrived at about 1:40 PM on a Saturday and we were seated promptly. The restaurant was nice and cool on this hot day. After about a 5 minute wait, our server came and took our order. We started with a tall Sapporo beer which was very refreshing on this hot day. My wife ordered the Akane hamburger steak with bread. I ordered the B combination plate which has the hamburger strak and spaghetti with clams. The Chowder was hot and tasty. We weren't blown away with the hamburger steak. But the soup, salad bread and clam spaghetti were delicious. I had to drop a star because of the hamburger steak missed the mark for our taste buds read more
4 days ago
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
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
8 months ago
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
9 months ago
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
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
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
2 months ago
It's on!!!! Bomb place in Gardena. Great staff and amazing food. 5 stars completely underrates it. read more
1 year ago
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 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
1 year ago
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
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
11 months ago
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
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
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
7 months ago
1 year ago
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
9 months ago
2 years ago
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
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
3 years ago
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
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
1 year ago
7 months ago
4 months ago
8 months ago
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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1610 W Redondo Beach Blvd
Gardena, CA 90247
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(310) 768-3939
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