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    Otafuku Restaurant

    4.2 (778 reviews)
    Closed Closed
    Updated 1 month ago

    Otafuku Restaurant Photos

    OTAFUKU RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Classy
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - Otafuku Restaurant

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    Reviews With Photos - Otafuku Restaurant

    Menu
    Lance N.

    I would start that I'm not a great judge at Japanese traditional dishes. I learn of new dishes all the time and will say that I had a wonderful time trying to dishes at Otafuku. The staff were wonderful and friendly. The ambiance was comfortable and although not overly quiet, it was comfortable to have our own conversation. Hahaha As for the dish I originally went for was the soba, but I changed my mind. I had the Eel Tempura bowl, and it was very tender and tasty. I can't wait to go back and try their other offerings. Enjoy...

    Siero soba
    Doreen T.

    Otafuku is well known for its variety of soba and yakitori dishes, though the entire menu looked tempting. I ordered the hot seiro soba with Japanese mountain potato. Note that all of the soba toppings are priced separately, which can make the dish a bit expensive. That said, we added shrimp and scallop tempura, and it was absolutely delicious. For yakitori, we tried the chicken wings and the chicken meatball. The meatball was amusingly served as one giant chicken-sicle! The wings had great flavor, though the skin was a bit too fatty. My husband also ordered a pork cutlet bowl, and we shared a sashimi plate with scallop, cod, salmon, and two types of tuna. Everything was incredibly fresh and delicious. We also shared the jidori egg and seaweed salad. Out of everything we ordered, my favorites were definitely the sashimi, the shrimp and scallop tempura, and the jidori egg. They do take reservations, but when we visited on a Sunday night, we were lucky enough to be seated right away. Dining here really felt like being back in Japan, and we'll definitely return.

    Seiro soba w/ shrimp & veggie tempura
    Arthur E.

    Easy eats soba noodles in a low key space. Went for a Friday evening dinner - would recommend RSVP'ing but was able to walk in. There is a parking lot in the back but would recommend street parking as it gets pretty cramped in the lot. Vibe feels like an old school mom n pop Japanese restaurant - relaxed and welcoming. Was sat immediately - ended up ordering the hot Seiro soba, some shrimp and veggie tempura, and a beer. Everything was light, but filling and tasty. Noodles disappeared pretty quickly - definitely enjoyed it, as well as the broth. Tempura was also very well cooked. The shrimp tempura wasn't sad shrimp, they were sizable. Two meals were about $65 ish all together - not bad. Would come back!

    Seiro soba (regular) with vegetable tempura
    Melanie G.

    On a weekday night around 6:45, we were able to be seated right away, but by the time we left, I think it was a full house! They do take reservations. Our waitresses were very kind and helpful; great service! They have 3 different kinds of soba. I got their signature seiro soba which is 80% buckwheat and a white noodle. This alone is $18 which I think is steep for the amount of soba and dipping sauce. It was tasty though and I enjoyed it because it felt lighter than other soba dishes I've had. Then you can add some other items on to make a combo, so I got the vegetable tempura. This is more worth its price at $14. It came with a variety of 8-9 pieces of tempura in a light and crispy batter! It was a good combination, just wouldn't necessarily pay $30+ for it again. But I would come back to try other items! At the end of the meal, they bring hot water to pour into the rest of the soba dipping sauce and become a broth. It was warm, savory and according to our waitress, "good for you!"

    Red bean soup
    Eugene W.

    Seiro soba (8.5/10): delicious. I preferred cold over hot, as the cold noodles have an amazing chew. We got the shrimp and veggie tempura with it. Not sure why it costs $14 (nearly doubles the price of the soba), but I do concede that the tempura was perfectly fried. Jidori Egg Omelet (9/10): this was an experience. Never had anything like this before. Really elevated egg to a new level. This is a must-order Chilled Supreme Tofu (8/10): very soft and custard tofu. Great starter for the meal Karaage (8/10): nicely fried and tender within. Salt levels were perfect. Jidori Egg Custard (9/10): omg this dessert is so good!!! Save room for this at the end. So creamy. Red bean Soup (8/10): also a great dessert. Less unique than the egg custard, though Service was fantastic. Restaurant space is very nice as well.

    Rickey M.

    Delicious in house made Seiro Soba. If you're a fan of soba or havent had Seiro Soba coming to Otafuku should be on your list of things to try. Came by for lunch with a friend on a sunday at open and was able to snag a seat easily, but the crowd followed shortly after. Very homely vibe in here with families and friends of all types to try the food here. I got the Cold Seiro Soba with the Tempura, and Ive gotta say the Seiro soba is so nice and bouncey, and soaks up the Tsuyu really well to get a full flavored bite with each dip. I prefer cold soba because i like my soba chewy the whole meal, so if you do so i reccomend getting the cold soba. The tempura that came w the order was so nicely and lightly battered that even after eating i didnt feel any sort of heaviness. The Shirmp tempura were surprisingly big, but the shrimp they choose here is also really nicely sweet! Definitely reccoment getting the tempura set with your soba while you're here. Glad ive finally had a chance to get down there any try their soba after years of not getting around to it. Definitely a place worth checking out, and especially to try their Seiro soba!

    Seiro soba, mackerel bowl, tempuras
    Heather H.

    Service is super kind and they don't rush you out of the restaurant. Space is a little tight but very reminiscent of traditional Japanese restaurants which I love. Got the cold seiro soba- yum! Mackerel rice bowl - omg I lovedddd this. Definitely my fave Eel and vegetable tempura - good! Shrimp and vegetable tempura- also yum! The tempura was all fried perfectly very crispy Such a great homey Japanese spot. excited to come back and try other things!

    Rice dishes
    Courtney O.

    For me, there's nothing better than Japanese comfort food. I love looking over a menu full of familiar favorites that my mom or grandma used to make. When we walked in after parking in their back parking lot, we were greeted with friendly smiles. We called ahead on a Friday night, but they still had a few open tables. What makes Otafuku extra special is their homemade soba noodles. You can order them hot or cold and can choose from side dishes to make it a combination. I went with hot brown soba noodles with mixed tempura. While the noodles are popular, my husband tried the tonkatsu donburi, which was also very good. It was a large portion and he was only able to eat about half, but he enjoyed it a lot. We also ordered a side of potato salad. Japanese potato salad is something special and I enjoyed it a lot here. The food was warm, comforting and absolutely delicious!

    Hot soba and tempura
    Ginna S.

    We came around lunch time on a weekend and it was packed. Despite the business, they were able to accommodate us at the bar. It has a very homey and family owned feel. The service was fairly quick. The parking lot in the back was a tad tight so we ended up street parking in the neighborhood. We ordered the seiro soba (one hot and one cold with diakon radish/green onion), a combination of shrimp+veggie tempura, and a small salad with yuzu dressing. The food was delicious! Well balanced and delicious!

    Shrimp and vegetable tempura
    Elisa C.

    This local Japanese noodle spot came across my feed and when I asked a friend who's from the area if they'd join she said she loves this place. The very simply decorated restaurant felt like I was back in Japan. The noodles and food live up to the hype. The appetizer fried chicken had some of the lightest tempura batter I've ever had. The tempura was super light and also comes with a shiso leaf. The zaru soba was excellent and they give you some hot noodle water towards the end of the meal to turn the dipping sauce into soup. I'd love to go back.

    Seiba soba and petit mackerel bowl
    Young L.

    Soba noodles are remarkably chewy and delicious. Once you're done, they give you hot buckwheat water to mix with your dipping sauce. I think it's supposed to help with digestion. I recommend the tempura eel and the mackerel petite bowl! If you like dessert, the cold red bean soup is to not be missed!

    Tamago/egg omelette
    Sarah P.

    Omg the tamago/egg omelette is delicious! Not super sweet, perfectly fluffy and was served hot! The radish on the side with some type of flavored soy sauce drizzled on top complemented it very well. The jidori chicken was super flavorful and tender. There is a tiny lot in the back and seemed to get pretty crowded shortly after opening.

    Marko C.

    Five stars for Otafuku! This place is packed with Japanese nationals so you know it has to be GOOD! I was so excited to try this place, I ordered three dishes for myself! Anago eel tempura. There was a generous portion of eel, deep fried perfectly. The crunch on the outside was perfect and it was not greasy! Serves with a tempura dipping sauce! Grade: A Next I ordered the tempura combination. Generous pieces of shrimp and assorted veggies. The tempura was cooked to perfection. Grade: A I also ordered the anago soba combination. Uiu get to choose between two types of soba. I got the one that was a higher percentage of buckwheat grain. You also get to order it hot or cold. I got the hot. This dish was amazing and I noticed that most tables ordered the lower buckwheat grain soba. All looked good! Grade A Service was amazing. Friendly and helpful! Overall impression grade: A!

    char-grilled berkshire pork with yuzu pepper paste = $18.00

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    Otafuku Restaurant Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Otafuku Restaurant

    What is kind of broth is available with the soba noodle? Is it made out of fish or vegetable or chicken?

    Fish (bonito) broth.

    Is outdoor seating available?

    Yes.. there are a couple seats outside in the parking lot.. no tent or covering

    How can I make reservations?

    Call 310-532-9348 or DM on Instagram @otafuku_restaurant Thank you!

    Do you allow dogs in your outdoor dining space?

    If service dogs, yes.

    Are they open? I've called like 5 times but it keeps ringing and no answer...

    Yes, I went a couple days ago

    Anyone know if this place is open this week?I've been calling since Saturday and no one picks up. I called at different times. We live near Pasadena so we want to make sure they're open before driving an hr or so.

    They are open today 12/31. Closed 1/1 and 1/2.

    Been coming here for years. Is it impossible to get in now?

    Highly recommend making reservations. I had to wait an hour on a friday night.

    Do they offer gift cards or gift certificates?

    Yes.

    Do they still have a B health score?

    A, when I visited today 10/18/18

    View All 13 Questions

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    Kagura - Torrance

    4.0
    (1k reviews)
    3.4 mi
    $$

    If you're craving authentic Japanese comfort food wrapped in a vibe that whispers "psst... you…read moredeserve privacy", This is the spot. The private booths alone made me feel like I was signing a secret business deal, except the only thing I was negotiating was how much more food I could fit into my stomach. Every dish came out looking like it had been through a glow‑up montage. So delicious! * Unagi -- Melted in my mouth like it had a personal vendetta against being solid. Sweet, buttery, and dangerously addictive. * Katsu -- Crispy enough to be heard across the booth. If this dish had a crunchy Japanese category, this would be the headliner. * Spicy tuna -- The perfect balance of heat and flavor. Not "call the fire department" spicy, but definitely "I see you trying to impress me" spicy. * Seared tuna, Elegant, silky, and so fresh it probably had plans later. * Uni pasta, Listen... this dish is a commitment. Creamy, ocean‑kissed, and luxurious. It's the kind of pasta that makes you sit back and reevaluate your life choices, in a good way. * Sake - WOW ...My delicious sake was smooth, floral, and paired with everything like it had studied my taste buds in advance. The staff here operate with polite ninja efficiency. They appear, refill, deliver, and disappear before you can even say "arigato." Not rushed, not pushy, just clean, respectful Japanese hospitality that makes you feel taken care of. "Always remember the energy you give....is the energy you get in return!" The private booths are the star of the show. Cozy, warm lighting, and enough privacy to talk chisme without worrying about the table next to you judging your life choices. It's intimate without being cramped, like a little wooden cocoon of comfort. Kagura is one of those Torrance gems that hits every category: authentic food, quiet comfort, top‑tier service, and dishes that make you want to come back before you've even left the parking lot, oh and let me remind you how small that parking lot is, be prepared. If you're into Japanese cuisine that feels both homey and elevated, this is your spot. Living life one bite at a time...go and enjoy yourself! Miguel C.

    I came here for lunch (no res) right when they opened on a Saturday! I had a great experience and…read moreservice was good. I ordered the pork and fried oyster combo and everything was delicious! I love the additional sides of the soup and veggies to pair with the katsu and oyster. The fried oysters were super juicy and were cooked perfectly! I would come back and try their other katsu dishes!

    Photos
    Banquet Room Available! Call us for details!
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    Izakaya Akatsuki

    Izakaya Akatsuki

    4.5
    (473 reviews)
    1.1 mi
    $$
    Family-owned & operated
    Large group friendly

    Home-y vibes izakaya at a strip mall…read more Went for a Friday dinner. Parking was easy at the time, but do know the plaza can get a little busy in the evening. The inside decor was home-y, with regular seating and a few tatami rooms. Had a rsvp for a booth and was sat immediately. Ordered a few different dishes: - Sweet potato tempura - Agadashi tofu - yellowtail jalapeño sashimi - soba noodles - chicken curry rice Everything was really good - but the chicken curry rice and sashimi stood out. They also did get our soba noodle order wrong and received udon, but the udon was good also. Prices were reasonable for the amount of food you get. Would come back!

    This restaurant came up on my FB feed, and the food looked really good, so we thought, "Why not…read moregive it a try?" I usually read through the Yelp comments and look at the photos before trying a new place, but this time I only checked the rating -- which was great -- and decided to go based on that and the FB post. Looking back, I probably should have read the reviews first. We didn't realize the bento boxes are only available during lunchtime, and we were also surprised to find out they don't have yakitori. Those were two things we were hoping to try. We came with a party and ordered several items, including the Akatsuki Special Hot Pot, which was recommended to us, along with other dishes. The tempura and karaage were definitely the highlights -- both were really good. The rest of the food was okay for our group, but unfortunately it didn't really satisfy our craving or stand out the way we were hoping. The restaurant has a nice atmosphere and the staff was friendly. I think the biggest thing was that our expectations were set by what we saw on FB, and the items that caught our attention weren't available when we visited. I would recommend checking their current menu before going so you know what to expect. Maybe we'll come back another time to try their lunch menu and explore more of what they offer.

    Photos
    Parts of our selection of sake
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    Red Rock-Torrance

    Red Rock-Torrance

    4.3
    (851 reviews)
    1.1 mi
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    If I lived closer to here, my wallet would seriously be in trouble…read more Anytime I'm in the South Bay, this place is a MUST! I've been a fan and regular for a while now and have never disappointed by their quality or service. The workers are all extremely friendly and welcoming. Cut steak don: 5/5 I don't think I've ever dined here and not ordered this. The steak is extremely tender and cooked to perfection. The sauce they pair it with coats the rice and creates a delicious bite with every spoonful. Roast beef don: 5/5 GET THE EGG!! you won't be disappointed. This is wifey's go to here and one of the rare occasions she will eat meat. The yogurt sauce cuts through the heavy meat and once you mix the egg into the rice, it's game over Spicy black curry omurice with Pork katsu: 5/5 The katsu's breading actually sticks to the meat which is why we always order this dish as well. Not to mention, the seasoning on the katsu is amazing and the pork is juicy! Make sure you upgrade to the garlic rice, it's next level (Not pictured) Beef tongue 5oz: 5/5 Tender cuts of beef tongue paired with their miso wasabi sauce, just delightful The interior is designed like a small Japanese eatery. There's a few tables and some bar seating Overall we've never had a bad experience here and definitely recommend anyone in the area to come experience this for themselves

    Kara age fried chicken was crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside…read more It came out very hot, which made it even better. It was well seasoned so it didn't need much sauce. Steak curry & rice was really good. It tasted like the curry I had in Japan and was the best Japanese curry I've had recently. They recommended ordering the steak well done, and l went with that. The sauce portion was generous so there was plenty to go with the rice. There are no extra toppings just rice, curry, and steak but I would come back to have it again.

    Photos
    Inside
    Inside
    American Sliced Beef Don w/ Egg (regular/5 oz)
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    American Sliced Beef Don w/ Egg (regular/5 oz)

    Otafuku Restaurant - japanese - Updated August 2026

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