This is a very cozy neighborhood gem in Gardena that delivers pristine quality! They maintain a…read moresteady baseline of excellent food and fast service. The moment you walk in, you're hit with a warm comforting atmosphere. It feels like stepping into a traditional welcoming home. To top off the hospitality, they start you off with a complimentary scoop of mashed potatoes. We ordered gyoza to start, which was perfectly pan-seared with a great crisp on the bottom and a juicy, savory filling. We also got chicken karaage which was golden, light, and incredibly crunchy (do not skip the fresh lemon squeeze! It cuts through the richness beautifully and highlights the seasoning). For entrees, we ordered the Bento box set. It is a massive, visually stunning assortment with tuna sashimi, chicken karaage, grilled mackerel, crisp tempura, earthy root veggies, and rice. It comes paired with a side bowl of their udon. You literally get a little bit of everything We also got the Pork Curry Katsu set: the katsu retains its crunch even under a rich blanket of deeply flavorful curry. It's incredibly filling and comes accompanied by refreshing pickled veggies to cleanse the palette and another hearty side of udon. Between the fast service, generous portions, and flawless execution across both raw and hot dishes, Kotohira is an absolute staple.

*** Credit cards accepted ***…read more Kotohira Restaurant is one of several old school Japanese restaurants in Gardena and the restaurant specializes in Okinawan food (Okinawa soba) and Sanuki udon. The restaurant is located in a fairly busy strip mall with other popular restaurants and drink shops located within the same mall. Renowned food critic Jonathan Gold from the Los Angeles Times wrote an article about this restaurant back in 1992 ( https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-07-09-fo-2127-story.html ). [Parking]: The strip mall has a big enough lot and our party had no issue finding an available spot during weekday dinner hours. [Interior]: Old school Japanese mom-and-pop dining vibe. [Menu]: The restaurant offers various combo sets with tempura, bento, udon, and seafood (unagi, salmon, grilled mackerel, etc). Their specialty dishes are Shoyu Udon and Tanuki Udon. *** Tendon Combo (assortment of fried tempura with a semi sweet sauce poured on top of rice $15.95): The fried tempura pieces were not as good as the tempura from Tendon Tempura Carlos Jr. as the combo lacked variety. The miso that came with this combo was really good. *** Overall a mediocre experience with the tempura combo that I ordered, but I sampled the udon and liked it a lot better than the tempura so I would definitely recommend getting their specialty like udon for a better experience.

It's a nice old Japanese restaurant. Great service, good food, with a lot of options for you to…read morechoose from. I had a great time!

The restaurant has a very old school Japanese vibe. Has a good amount of tables for two or a bigger…read moregroup. The service is okay. A small family run restaurant so things can be timed weird but the people are very friendly. The food is good. I ordered the special tonkatsu combo plate. The cold udon is delicious. The tonkatsu is crunchy and juicy. Made very well. Overall a solid 4.7

Authentic Japanese food. You can ask for what you want and they can prepare it for you.read more

YUM! I mean these…read morewere not cheap, but LOOK at the portion. if I wasn't dancing the night away at Gardena Obon this night, I would've saved half for lunch the next day. I still had some leftovers, though. sashimi were thick cut pieces, needed 2 bites per piece to eat. beef teriyaki: get it. even if you JUST get this, get it. I knew something was up when my mom AND sister both ordered some kind of combo, but my sister called dibs on my mom's as soon as she said she was going to order it. this led me to ordering my own beef teriyaki combo. oyakodon was classic and hit everything just right, the cheapest of the entrees but just as filling. love it here!! will be back soon

The food was delicious and the service was amazing!…read more We felt so welcomed and definitely enjoyed ourselves and would be coming back.

I got here right as they opened on a holiday weekday, and the place was already half full! I was…read moreable to try a bit of everything, and these were my personal favorites: Beef tongue with lemon pepper, okra, shiitake mushroom, and fried oysters. I enjoyed the chicken thigh meat texture more than the chicken breast, but I loved the seasoning of the chicken breast with shiso pun and chicken breast with wasabi. The yakitori was made fresh in front of me, and all of them had a nice smoky and griled flavor with a variety of seasonings. It took a while for our first few orders to come out, probably because they had just opened. Great casual spot for yakitori; I would recommend getting here early!

Waka Sakura feels ilike perfect blend of good to great quality sushi with a fun gimmick (bullet…read moretrain sushi) at a reasonable price point, in contrast to other rotating sushi bars in SoCal that aren't the best quality and expensive. I recommend getting their six piece salmon special (it used to be $10-12 but the price has since risen). My personal favorite item is the salmon onion nigiri, the onion pairs nicely with the salmon and I wish this was a more common offering amongst sushi spots. The fried salmon belly is also great, and I've been lucky enough to order it when it's discounted a few times, though I think that's mostly on week days. My only gripe would be how inconvenient ordering is - you order off a digital touch screen at your table/booth, but the screen is attached to the wall over your head, so you have to strain your neck upward to the read the menu and it's pretty strenuous if you want to take your time looking through the menu and deciding what to order. Despite this setback though, I still highly recommend coming to Waka Sakura if you're looking for your sushi fix.

Pretty good... That is what I walked away thinking after I ate here last week…read more.. Let's call a spade a spade. This isn't conveyor belt Sushi as some of the other reviewers have mention. There is no sushi out in the open that rotates for you to pick out like Kura. This is strictly made to order which is exactly what I like. Every piece of sushi is something you've had but it just taste better. The portions are fresh and quality of ingredients are magnificent. What I also love is they have a Trio of sushi. Whether it's Tuna, Steak, or Salmon... I love the location. It's nestled on the 2nd floor of Tokyo Central which also makes it for those who really really want to go here cause it's not like the signage is extremely easy to see.. Will definitely come back.

There are certain foods I crave when the weather gets warm, and a really good bowl of soba is high…read moreon that list. Otafuku absolutely delivered. The Kikouchi Soba was fantastic--nutty, earthy, and wonderfully chewy with that satisfying texture you want from properly crafted soba. It had enough character to make the noodles themselves the star of the dish, rather than simply being a vehicle for the broth or toppings. You can really appreciate the craftsmanship here. And don't sleep on the sides. The tofu was excellent--delicate, flavorful, and beautifully prepared. The ginkgo nuts were another standout, adding a subtle richness and texture that paired nicely with the meal. Everything felt thoughtfully made rather than like an afterthought. Service was great, and we were able to get seated immediately for Saturday lunch, which is always a win. On the pricier side for soba, but this is one of those places where you can taste where the money went. Quality ingredients, careful preparation, and craftsmanship make it worth the splurge.

This place delivers that classic "small-but-mighty" Japanese comfort vibe, the kind of spot where…read morethe noodles do the talking and the tempura does the flexing. Interior is clean, simple, friendly service, and soba so good it could probably negotiate the challenges you probably will have finding parking. Parking? Well... let's just say alley parking builds character. Hot Seiro Soba + Tempura, The hot soba comes out steaming like it's clocked in for a full shift. The noodles have that perfect chew, not mushy, not stiff, just that "I trained in Japan for this" texture. Dip them into the broth and suddenly you're rethinking your taste buds in a good way. The tempura? Light, crisp, and not drowning in oil. It's the kind of tempura that makes you feel like you're eating responsibly... even though you're absolutely not. Cold Seiro Soba + Eel & Veggie Tempura, Cold soba is always a personality test. If you order it, you're either a purist or someone who enjoys refreshing noodles that slap. The eel adds that sweet-savory richness, and the veggie tempura brings the crunch. Together, they're basically the Japanese version of a buddy-cop duo. Chicken Skewers, Juicy, lightly charred, and simple, like the restaurant's way of saying, "We know you came for the soba, but here's a little something extra." Overall the Service was pleasant for a Sunday night, which is impressive considering half the customers were probably still recovering from weekend errands. Parking behind the building is... let's call it "intimate." You'll either fit or you won't. Western Ave is your safer backup plan. Consider it part of the Otafuku adventure, like a mini‑boss before the main quest. Miguel C.

One of my favorite Japanese/Italian pasta shops to go to in the South Bay. They have a large amount…read moreof selections for pastas. The most popular and recommended is the #34. I liked the following pastas: #34 hot garlic with seasoned mushrooms Mushroom & sea urchin/uni Japanese style clam sauce with shiitake & shimeji mushrooms Japanese cod roe with sea urchin/uni, squid & seaweed I also love their $1 salad which can't be beat in pricing. Their overall pricing for the pastas are great. The staff is very friendly and this place can get very busy during peak meal times. So when it's busy, sometimes the orders will come out a bit slower. The vibe is just casual/busy dining where if you have a seat at the bar section, you can see the chefs making the pastas or other dishes.

This restaurant is well known for its Japanese-Italian fusion pasta. They seem to be popular with…read morefamilies and the establishment is always packed no matter what time of day! The parking lot can get full, but I've never had an issue with finding a spot. The service is fast which allows the staff to seat you quickly and get customers in and out. They provide complimentary French bread with butter with your food. I like to have veggies with my meal, but I found the salad dressing to be a bit bitter. Their entrees are made using dried pasta and they have a decently sized menu. I have tried different pasta dishes, but I think the tomato and cream bases are my favorite. When I was feeling more adventurous, I tied the mentaiko pasta which I found too fishy for my personal taste.

This restaurant has some of the sweetest and most positive staff members. When you're here you feel…read morelike you're getting the service you would when you're in Japan. They are quick to greet you, seat you and assist you with your order. They have some of the freshest, and tastiest hand rolls. Depending on what you order, they have some that are so fatty, flavorful and just melt in your mouth. They also make their own in house drinks with fruits and sugar that kind of ferment to create a bubbly drink, it's delicious. There's some seating inside, they have the jars of fruit above the sushi bar and overall it's just a nice interior. Each handroll is pretty pricey but you're paying for quality. If you're looking for fresh hand rolls, amazing service and a bit more upscale sushi experience, this is the place!

Came during lunch, and the restaurant was extremely busy. Unfortunately, the service seemed to…read moresuffer as a result. The menu was a little confusing for my friend, who had never tried hand rolls before, although I had no trouble navigating it myself. That said, the food was excellent! The fish was high quality and tasted incredibly fresh, and I really appreciated the fresh wasabi. The udon was also amazing and definitely worth ordering. Very trendy modern decor, however the bar seating wasn't the most comfortable. Overall, I enjoyed the food and would happily return, but I do hope the service improves, especially during busy lunch hours.

Food: Absolutely amazing! Everything from the salad and bread to the pastas is served fresh and…read morewith 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!

Although only one of us still live in the area, happy to have tried it recently here for the first…read moretime 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.

Our favorite spot in this area! Hands down good service and…read moredelicious food options. Great for groups with options for private rooms. Cork fees if bringing wine, but Sake is not allowed, as you can find fairly priced Sake here with a good selection to choose from. ie Kubota, Hakkaisan, Suigei, Nanbu Bijin and more. Try their Shikuwaza chu-hi (highball)! (also available without alcohol). Sashimi is super fresh, very thick and long. Hot pot is their specialty along either their udon noodles, a must try!

Awful experience, truly one of the worst places to be served at…read more Sat at 7:20, it took 20 minutes for our order to be taken despite telling 2 servers we were ready to order, and the restaurant not being busy. Appetizers rolled in one by one, not a problem, but one of our main entrees weren't put in. We were told by one server it would take a few minutes, sure again no problem, but after 15 minutes we had to tell another server we were still waiting on another udon dish. Other tables at this point were getting their food, so it's frustrating. Every worker walked by us without checking in, without clearing dirty dishes off our table, without providing any service. And the craziest part? I've already written a bad review about this restaurant's service a year ago and it's now removed. Shame on you Masaaki M. the business owner. The food was good, but not good enough to tolerate such horrible serving staff. 0/10, would NOT recommend to anybody.