Consistenly delicious Japanese food, worthy of 5 stars. Feels like a mom and pop Japanese restaurant with tasty food. It's a small eating area with a nice rustic wooden ambience--somewhat darkened with Japanese decor. It's in the Tozai Plaza immediately east of Western Ave. There are a bunch of mostly Asian restaurants in this plaza, but you can't see them easily from the nearby streets. I have eaten the Mini Katsudon Set twice, which is a pork cutlet on rice with a sweet and savory egg included. It includes Udon as well, which is also great. I've tasted the Kalbi, macaroni salad, and house salad, and all of the food is of high quality. The help are also nice, and that's where I got the Mom and Pop vibe from. They gave me a complementary macaroni salad when I picked up my takeout order. read more

*** Credit cards accepted *** 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. read more

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Glad we got there early, when we finished dinner the whole restaurant was a packed house, all the tables were taken. Good food, good service, good price tonight was a win win all the way around and the kicker was parking was a breeze considering that parking lot is always full. read more

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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! read more

Kotohira Restaurant - Udon and potato salad comes with your BENTO box. - Japanese Near Me - Gardena, California

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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. read more

Kotohira Restaurant - Yamakake soba (subbed udon for soba) - Japanese Near Me - Gardena, California

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

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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. read more

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Food: good solid Japanese fair with emphasis on udon. The broth was clear and delicious. Edamame was bland. No salt. The udon noodles had a nice chew but not too much. The tempura was good , not excellent. The shrimp was the best. Ambiance: old school but charming Service: it was a small mom and pop place. The one waitress was very pleasant. I liked it a lot. It's a casual place to get solid Japanese food. Nothing fancy. But solid. Prices are reasonable. 2 for dinner. With edamame and tempura sides plus 20% tip was $74 . So please try them. Bon appetit read more

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 read more

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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! read more

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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! read more

Kotohira Restaurant - Chikara Udon - Japanese Near Me - Gardena, California

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. read more

Kotohira Restaurant - Udon set with tempura. My friend put the soba there. - Japanese Near Me - Gardena, California

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! read more

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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. read more

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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! read more

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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! read more

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

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This place was unexpectedly amazing! We stumbled upon this place when searching for a lunch spot. It's tucked away in the corner and easily missed. Parking is ample in the lot but can definitely get busy and filled! I ordered an udon set with katsudon and my boyfriend ordered a udon set with a unagi bowl. They also give a small potato salad side! Both were delicious! We finished all of it! Service was good and fast too! read more

Kotohira Restaurant - Side - Japanese Near Me - Gardena, California

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A long-term establishment, Kotohira is a small mom-and-pop shop tucked away in the corner of a busy plaza with restaurants and dessert shops. We showed up 5 minutes before lunch opening, and there was already a small line outside the door-- luckily, we were able to get in at first seating, but I would definitely recommend showing up early to guarantee a seat. Service was very nice, if slow; I assume each dish is made-to-order, and I figured they were understaffed, as it took a while to get our food and the check at the end. Any case, we really enjoyed the complementary potato salad side dish, as well as the crispy and tender agedashi tofu, fried squid, and fried mochi. I kept it simple and ordered a cold udon and tempura combo: as Kotohira is known for its udon, I could tell that it was quality and utterly delicious. The tempura were a bit on the oily side, but I think I'd waited too long to eat it, so I don't fault the restaurant for that. All in all, a delicious little establishment serving no-frills Japanese (specifically Okinawan) cuisine in a home-y style. Definitely come early to get your fix! read more

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Tiny and cute authentic Japanese restaurant. Delicious and good home cooking, doesn't get any better than this. Unagi Don Set - Delicious and tender unagi pieces in a rich sauce on a bed of white rice and a hot bowl of udon. I wish I could get my broth to taste like this when I try to make Udon at home. This meal was very filling and hits the spot if you want a light lunch. My friend ordered the saba set and 2 tempura shrimps and an egg. The saba tasted really moist and good. read more

Kotohira Restaurant - Saba Set - Japanese Near Me - Gardena, California

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Udon is not usually my noodle of choice, but I'm so glad I stepped outside of my tastebuds and gave Kotohira a try. We ordered two sets: -Mini Tendon Set ($15.95): assortment of fried tempura over semi sweet rice and shoyu udon -Mini Oyakodon Set ($15.95): chicken, eggs, and onions over semi and hot tanuki The udon was nice and bouncy with the perfect amount of chew. Of the two, I prefer the hot tanuki version where you're able to dip the noodles. This allowed the udon's taste and texture really stand on its own. This was also my first time trying shoyu udon. You have the ability to control the amount of sauce you can pour over the noodles. In fact you can let the noodles soak in the sauce for added flavor. Ordering a set is a really excellent way to try more of the menu. I really enjoyed the lightly battered tempura. It was a nice way to break up all the noodles. Highly recommend eating at Kotohira if you haven't eaten here already. read more

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My favorite Japanese restaurants in the south bay. Such a gem with not only good food but their ambiance transport you to Japan. I've tried their own menu my personal favorites is the kotohira set (Tempura and udon), sanma set, saba set, and mini katsudon set. Honorable mention is sukiyaki don, such perfect blend of umami,sweetness and hearty meal. You are able to switch the soups in the sets with either udon,soba or something. Their appetizers are also delicious, my favorite to get is the squid. Has a nice delicate charred and smokiness to it. Prices are not overtly expensive compared to other Japanese restaurants. A must try! Parking can be a little difficult during Fridays or weekends. Wait-times can also be a bit long on those days as well. read more

Kotohira Restaurant - Free potatoe salad - Japanese Near Me - Gardena, California

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Came here for the cold soba and it was pretty decent. Nothing really stood out, but everything was solid and enjoyable. The interior is cute and cozy, and the service was really nice. I'd come back if I was in the area. Service: Very nice and welcoming Food/Drinks: Decent cold soba Ambiance: Cute and relaxed Japanese restaurant 7/10 Solid and pleasant spot without any major highs or lows read more

Kotohira Restaurant - Japanese Near Me - Gardena, California

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Stumbled upon this place when checking out the anime store and decided to try it out. It did not disappoint! This hole in the wall Japanese restaurant is now one of my favorites in the South Bay! The food was fresh, delicious, and overall amazing! The staff were also super friendly and welcoming. And the inside was so cute and quaint. I ordered the miso cod set with udon and it was some of the best I've had. It also came with a delicious potato salad which I'm never really too fond of but this one was different! I really enjoyed it. A must try place and overall 10/10! read more

Kotohira Restaurant - Miso Yaki Cod Set - Japanese Near Me - Gardena, California

Went here with a friend after some locals recommended me this place. I ordered the mini oyakodon set! The oyakodon was good but I felt like the sauce they put over the rice was a bit too sweet to my liking. The udon was like any other typical udon you would order at any other places. Service was great and the server was very attentive, but I felt bad since there was one lady running all the customers all by herself. Lastly, love the booth seating itself and it definitely brought a great calmful vibe to the setting. read more

Kotohira Restaurant - Mini Oyakodon - Japanese Near Me - Gardena, California

It is not the greatest udon in the world, but it is a very good authentic place to eat. A few of my loved ones call it their "comfort food". It has been at the same spot since the 1980's and has changed to a different owner. However, I believe the currently owner has been there for a long long time. The staff is limited so you need to be patient. They will eventually get you your food. read more

Wow, I'm so glad to have found such an amazing Japanese restaurant, it definitely made me feel like I'm actually back in Japan! Came around 1pm and the restaurant was still pretty busy with quite a lot of people eating inside, but thankfully there was still one or two empty tables and we were seated within 10 minutes. Staff were very cheerful, friendly, and attentive. There was such a wide variety of options, but my party ordered the bento (what I got), mini katsudon set, and the soki soba. After ordering, they even gave a complimentary potato salad, which was nice since they probably know the food takes some time to make. The food came relatively quick, with the bento and mini katsudon coming first while the soki soba did take some more time. The bento was definitely well worth the price and the portion is so generous. There is so much food, the bento itself was already pretty filling, with a variety of fried tempura (pumpkin, carrot, green bean, sweet potato, and shrimp), tuna sashimi, chicken karaage, root vegetables, and even a grilled mackerel. But this even comes with udon and a small bowl of rice! Everything was so good, especially the chicken karaage, it came piping hot. Even without sauce it was so flavorful and I don't know what they use to marinate, but it's just that good. The root vegetables were really good too, with a slight kick of spice. The tuna sashimi was fresh and not fishy at all. The udon was good but it was nothing special. I also tried a bite of my mom's katsudon and the katsu was pretty good but slightly dry. Overall, I highly recommend trying this place out. With the many Japanese restaurants in the plaza, they definitely stood out to me. Price is very reasonable and you get a lot of food (I left feeling very full and even had some leftovers). I definitely will come back again to get the bento and even try out their other sets! read more

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This is a cozy Japanese restaurant with a variety of set meals. The staff is very kind and patient. We dined at an off-hour, around 2:30pm, so the service was on the slower side. But I assume they have more servers during their main service times. Saba set -- 4.5/5, the grilled saba is excellent! The udon is good, but the broth is really salty. I enjoyed the potato salad appetizer and picked cabbage side. Grilled squid -- 5/5, the squid is tender and the grilled flavor is delicious. I really liked the grated ginger served with this! read more

My favorite Japanese casual comfort food restaurant in the South Bay. Flavors and quality equivalent to the casual spots in Japan. Really delicious and simple flavors. I normally get the oyakodon or chicken katsudon! Service is polite and prompt! Food comes out super quickly. read more

Near got my soul cleansed by these udon noodles: broth was incredibly rich and really hit that spot. The rice bowl provided on the side was good as well but I would instead recommend the bento. I appreciated the variety that the bento offered and I particularly enjoyed the grilled fish for its subtle undertones, the chicken kaarage, and the lotus roots. I loved the ambiance of this restaurant and the staff were all incredibly pleasant. read more

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Came here for a solo dining experience! I arrived a little after opening and it was empty, but it began to fill up as time went on. The interior was beautifully decorated and I felt like I was transported all the way to Japan. Service was prompt and efficient. I got the mini katsudon set and it was carb overload LOL but in a good way for sure. You got udon noodles, rice, and a potato salad. I was ready to snooze after that meal. Everything was really comforting and felt like a home made meal. For $17, it was a good deal. I'd definitely stop by when I'm in the area and am craving something to fill me with warmth. read more

Kotohira Restaurant - Interior - Japanese Near Me - Gardena, California

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I love Kotohira! Everything is so good! Starting with the potato salad, so fresh and delicious . Next we had the age mochi, salmon set and mini tendon set. Everything was excellent! I highly recommend Kotohira, excellent food and service! read more

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Went to visit Kotohira after work one day and it was a good experience! The server was very attentive and friendly, he enjoyed striking up conversations with me and my friend. The menu has a great amount of options for whatever you might be craving, like tempura, udon, soba, bento boxes, it was hard to choose! I went with the Miso Yaki Cod set, which did not look like a lot of food, but I was stuffed afterwards! The fish was nice and soft, not too oily, and came with a side salad, udon, and rice! We also ordered a side of takoyaki which was yummy! Overall great ambiance and would definitely be back to check out the other items! read more

Kotohira Restaurant - Japanese Near Me - Gardena, California

Cute mom and pop place. The beef ribs were juicy and tender. I do wish the miso had tofu in it. The beef curry has more of a braised beef versus beef cubes. Authentic flavor to match the great service will definitely be back. read more

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to keep it short, they forgot they sat us down. they didn't take our order for over 30 minutes and after they did there was a lot forgotten like my takeout order i think had gotten lost after being placed. i should've said something a lot sooner regarding having our order taken especially because i was in a time crunch but i don't like the thought of rushing workers especially when it's a smaller business with less people. my coworker i went with has been many times but said this never happens so this was a first for us. i think the language barrier also played a factor as well, however, the table sitting next to us who spoke fluent japanese also never received their check and was forgotten too. it was not busy. but the owners seemed to prioritize the other side of the restaurant instead. nonetheless, they were apologetic and we still ate and the food was very good, id recommend coming here on a day you are not busy! read more

From the street, you can only see Japanese characters, so I figured it must have been there a long time. The place is clean and not crowded during weekend brunch time. The combination bento had some boiled vegetable like taro, lotus, that reminded me of what I ate in Japan. The tempura is crispy. I liked their udon a lot, consistency was just right. My companion ordered the braised pork udon and she liked the soup, which is a good sign. She normally wouldn't drink it if there is msg. Both waitresses were friendly and prompt with service. On a hot day, they did not hold back on the AC. The is parking inside the inside the plaza so very convenient. read more

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Food (5/5): I so badly want to gate keep this place because Kotohira's food transports me to Japan. I've had numerous items on their menu ranging from their udon, katsudon, tempura, and bento. My absolute favorite is their mini combo katsudon with udon. The sweet and umami balances out with the earthiness of the udon. Service (4/5): They bring out the food ridiculously fast, however there's only one woman who works the floor. She's super kind but I've seen plates build up on empty tables because she has trouble serving and bussing at the same time. Ambiance (4/5): Cute little spot! Any families or groups that are more than 4 people may experience a bit of a wait because there's two corners that can fit that many individuals. Price (5/5): worth every penny! It's not even expensive in the first place. read more

What a nice treasure of a restaurant! I've had a katsudon bowl from a very famous joint in Shibuya - Tokyo and I think the katsudon bowl here is better! May just be my American palette, though, but the heavy use of onions in the bowl and the slightly sweeter soy glaze was delicious! Come here if you haven't, you'll love it. read more

I love the location of this place in a little mall with lots of different kinds of Asian food. It seemed like a real draw for the local community. As a tourist it was great to go to a place that felt authentic. The food was delicious and ample. I had enough for a full dinner and a good lunch the next day. The pictures is pretty much say it all. read more

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There were so many great dishes. It was hard to pick one. Came with my mom who thoroughly enjoyed it and said it reminded her of Japan. The potato salf was delish. Love when something so simple is so good. The service was warm and attentive. They did a lot of tenant improvements so it was a nice atmosphere. Obviously has been there a while and well loved. They won't seat unless the entire party is there. We got there before noon on a Wednesday so there was ample parking. However, when we left parking was much tighter. read more

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