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    Kotohira Restaurant

    4.3 (848 reviews)
    ModerateJapanese
    Closed • 11:30 am - 8:45 pm
    Updated 2 months ago

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    Kotohira Restaurant Photos

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    KOTOHIRA RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Quiet
    Good for kids
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Kotohira Restaurant

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    Udon and potato salad comes with your BENTO box.
    Julie N.

    Back again. I remembered they have a great BENTO BOX, so that's what I ordered again and recommended the same for my friend. We had a great time here on a Saturday afternoon. The food was as great as I remember and although the restaurant had plenty of people, we didn't feel rushed. Everything was delicious from the sashimi, tempura, fish, nishime and chicken karaage. The bento box also comes with potato salad, udon and gohan. When I'm in Gardena, this is my choice for Bento Box... You literally get a little of everything!

    Yamakake soba (subbed udon for soba)
    Erina P.

    Kotohira is a great no-nonsense Japanese restaurant that focuses on noodles. I've come here often with family and have ordered a variety of items. They have lots of combos that offer both a rice dish and noodles, or you can order noodles à la carte. Parking can be challenging when busy, but you can usually find something if you're willing to park a bit further. When the restaurant is busy, it can take a while to get your food, but everyone here works hard to get you your meal quickly.

    Brian I.

    Another great meal here with my usual chicken karaage meal set. What I love about this place is their consistency.

    Side of udon
    Karen S.

    A gem of a restaurant in Tozai Plaza. In such a bustling location, it appears small and dark from the outside - tucked into a corner without much signage - but makes up for it in spades with the food and service. Our server was brisk, professional and extremely friendly. Hot tea came right away. My sister and I both ordered the Bento and Mom ordered hot soba. The bento was value-priced and included a well-balanced variety of small dishes, all prepared with care: sashimi, chicken karaage, tempura, simmered Japanese veggies, a bit of grilled mackerel, and a petite side bowl of udon. Mom loved her soba; it was generously sized and she ended up taking half of it home. Guess I should have done the same with my bento but I couldn't resist it eating it all on the spot. It was my second time here and I highly recommend it.

    Tim H.

    Japanese homestyle bento bliss with a legacy! Hard to believe this cozy gem has been serving locals for 25 years. At the heart of the menu is their Sanuki Udon...a silky, springy noodle born in Japan's historic Sanuki Province (now Kagawa Prefecture) on Shikoku Island. This isn't just comfort food--it's a taste of centuries-old tradition. Bonus points: the menu is loaded with photos so you know exactly what deliciousness you're ordering. Food: 4/5 Generous portions, wallet-friendly pricing. I went for the Sukiyakidon which was hearty, flavorful, and satisfying. Ambience: 4/5 Old-school interior that feels like stepping into a Japanese home kitchen. Parking: 4/5 Can be busy depending on the time thanks to all the great eateries in the plaza

    Okinawan braised pork noodles delish!
    Dave H.

    Transports you back to a small cafe in Japan with wonder service and delicious food including Japanese and Okinawan specialties for great prices. A very nostalgic Japanese restaurant atmosphere mixed with Japanese carpentry and western decorations make this place so charming! The lady who serves the restaurant is so charming and friendly! Plus ice cold draft beer!

    Chikara Udon
    Melanie G.

    On a Sunday night around 5pm, it wasn't too busy and we were one of the few parties there, able to be seated right away! By the time we left (closer to 6), it started to pick up a little more. It's so warm and comforting inside too. I loved the seating. I got the Chikara udon, which is udon with baked mochi. I think they burnt the mochi a little too much but it was an interesting dish! I also think the udon noodles were a little overcooked. It was a pretty plain dish (I do wish they have more fishcake and green onion), but it still took awhile to come out. I might not necessarily try coming back however, the service was good. Our server was very kind. It also seemed everyone in the restaurant got a potato salad on the house. I don't usually like potato salad but theirs was smooth and mild but still tasty!

    Udon set with tempura. My friend put the soba there.
    Tremaine E.

    A staple of Gardena! Absolutely lovely interior that just feels like home. Really great and kind service that makes you cozy inside. Came here with some buddies after we played some basketball. After all, what sounds better than some udon, soba, and tempura after crossovers and fadeaways? The food is really well-executed and balanced. The udon is supremely soft and perfectly cooked. The tempura is light and refreshing. The tsukemono really is a necessary change of pace, just like in basketball. They also have Okinawan food! Shoutout Okinawa! Overall, a wonderful, wonderful restaurant that I hope stays for years to come.

    Michael C.

    The bento is an amazing deal. They have fresh fish, crispy tempura, fresh udon, and more. Everything is so delicious it transports you to Japan.

    Fried squid legs Geso Age
    Jackie X.

    Came here on a Saturday around 7 pm. There is a large private parking lot shared among the many businesses in the plaza but it seemed like open spots were limited. We luckily got a spot right away but saw many cars circling around. We were greeted and seated immediately for our party of 2. The restaurant is small and doesn't have many tables but at this time, there were only a few groups of 2. We were drawn to the cheaper prices on the menu and good reviews. We decided to get the fried squid legs, assorted tempura, the mini katsudon and the bento. Food came out relatively quickly. We even got a potato salad on the house which was good. It was cold, slightly sweet, and creamy. My boyfriend got his mini udon that came with his bento first. Then we got the squid legs. The squid legs were good, very crunchy and not overcooked. It came with a simple wasabi mayo dipping sauce and a lemon, which really brought out the flavors. Then came the entrees and tempura. The bento box had a good variety of items. The grilled fish was Smokey and flaked well. The karaage was only lightly breaded but was juicy and had good flavor also. There was an assortment of marinated veggies which I didn't try, some tempura, and some fresh tuna. The tuna was as expected, fresh and soft! For my entree, the pork cutlet with eggs and onions was the most savory. I wish the flavor was a bit stronger but overall it was pretty good and they had condiments provided as well including soy sauce, chili oil, pepper flakes, and sriracha. The udon broth was simple and comforting, could also have been more savory so I did add chili oil. The chili oil was just okay, tasted a bit stale in my opinion but did add some spice and flavor. The tempura was very crispy. A thicker batter but wasn't too oily. I wasn't a huge fan of the dipping sauce. It didn't have a very strong flavor and tasted a little sour, which wasn't my cup of tea. Overall, I thought the flavors were there but could have been much stronger. For the price, it isn't too bad but definitely not my favorite. The ambiance is warm and cozy and it did feel pretty homey. Worth it to try for yourself given the many positive reviews to see if you'd like it, but I would personally try other spots in the area before returning. Maybe it was just an off meal as no restaurant is perfect!

    Mini Katsudon Set
    Kathy B.

    Very homey restaurant with comforting food! Our server was very nice and was attentive throughout our meal. The udon is on par with other udon restaurants I've had and the meal was overall great! I loved their Takoyaki and agedashi tofu!

    Chicken udon
    Binny O.

    Food was great and service was superb. I will definitely will be back, everything was delicious

    Sitting area
    Ethan Z.

    Pretty good Japanese find in a busting little plaza.. We were immediately greeted on entry and welcomed to one of their wooden booths. The inside craftsmanship on the wooden aesthetic was warm and complimented with Japanese antique-like decor. Their menu is simple with great combos/ and a la carte options. My girlfriend and I came in starving after exhausting ourselves at the beach After going over the menu - We did their mini katsudon and bento with some friend squid, tempura, and potato salad (on the house)! The food came out fairly quickly and in multiple intervals. While the prices were definitely great for the range of ingredients, we were not particularly awed by the food but we had certainly had found comfort in the steamy and colorful dishes . I enjoyed the bento options, their udon was nice and subtly umami, with some cut green onion, radish and small portion of noodles. The tuna thankfully was a good serving! It pretty good quality and better with the wasabi and soy mix. 5/5 yum. I liked the karaage - they came out in 3 bite pieces but again were nothing above amazing. As for the grilled mackerel - It was nicely cooked, and had pretty tender/savor meat, fun portion an rewarding texture. The mini pork cutlet from my girlfriend's order might've been the strongest flavor element dished out and was also good! It was savory and had great rich crunch! It was easy to admit that for the price, we had left happily full, and lucky to have tried some special plates. The service here is excellent and the ambiance is spectacular - very relaxing restaurant for a good fix of Japanese cuisine!

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    Page 1 of 22

    Ask the Community - Kotohira Restaurant

    Where is it located?

    It's in Gardena CA in the shopping center with Northern cafe across from the Honda dealership.

    Do you need. Reservation for lunch on a Saturday?

    I went for lunch on a weekday and it was busy, only a few tables left. I'll assume weekend will be busy too so if it's me I'll make reservations to avoid having to wait.

    I like the Unagi Don set however i was curious if the marinated eel with rice can be ordered separately, i do not want the Udon, just the eel over rice is it possible to order just the eel rice?

    I wasn't asked how much I wanted to tip. It appears an amount was added without my consent. Is this a new policy? It was a delivery order, tonight, one Kotohira combo and one mini katsudon combo. This has not happened before. Is this enough info?

    Hi Kay, was this a food delivery? Was this today. We would never add a tip. It might have been a mistake on our part. Can you please let us know your order? Did you dine in with us or take out? I am terribly sorry.

    View All 8 Questions

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    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.

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    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.

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    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.

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