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Sakura-ya

4.5 (409 reviews)
Closed • 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
Updated 1 week ago

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3 Kinako Mochis
Shirley W.

Visited after lunch. Can find convenient street parking right in front! There is also a parking lot in the back. Walking in, honestly my first impression of this place is that they seem like a struggling local business. Which makes me sad and hope they're doing okay! All their mochi is showcased in just one specific see through cabinet. Everything else inside this shop just seems very outdated. My friends and I ended up getting the same mochi, which was the kinako mochi. 1 mochi is $3.40, cash only. It's kind of awkward if you want to enjoy the mochi in-store, just cause it's pretty small and quiet, and no where really to sit. It's best to enjoy it outside or bring it back home. First bite into the kinako mochi, it was really good! It does feel very small in your hand, but you can finish it within 3 petite bites. The red bean filling is not too sweet, the mochi is very soft. The nuttiness was also very nice. I would say, the mochi is kind of tooo soft, I wish it had more of a chewy bounce too it. Overall, still pretty nice. I was glad to see that right when we were eating our mochi outside, there were more people coming in.

Mochis
Tiffany H.

Was craving some mochi and stumbled upon Sakura-ya. When we arrived we thought we had the wrong location because the building that it was located in didn't look like it sold mochi. They are a cash or check only establishment. They don't accept credit or debit cards. We ordered the green and pink mochi and the manju mochi. The mochis were all so yummy. The pink mochi was our favorite. It had a white paste inside and it wasn't too sweet either. All the mochis weren't too sweet and were soft and slightly chewy. The green mochi and manju had red bean paste in it. Both were also pretty good! Service was okay. I didn't feel a friendly vibe towards the lady helping us but maybe she had a long day so not going to take it personally. Aside from that, I would definitely return to try their other mochi flavors! There is plenty of parking in the back lot shared with other businesses.

Jessica G.

If you're a first timer like me, you might be doubtful entering the store just like my experience as it's not like the door was open or you could peek through from outside. Nonetheless that's probably the way you knew it's legit as the store didn't even come in gorgeous presentation or whatsoever. Just simple showcases and an attendant, with cash-only payment. Nothing looked fancy, but abundant options of both mochi and manju. If you're not familiar, prolly simplest way to differentiate is mochi comes in chewy texture while manju is more soft bread-alike. The filling they offered varied from red bean, white bean, even black one! I got their Kinako Mochi filled with black bean and covered in soy bean powder. One bite and WOW IT WAS BOMB! So good and totally cured my craving for the ones I had in Japan. I could totally tell the quality was stellar and it's fully stuffed with luscious filling making the price tag paid certainly worth.

Top row--two chocolate manju, 1 orange mochi            Bottom row--peanut manju, pink mochi, inaka manju
Dalia J.

When I want GOOD, FRESH mochi I head on down to Sakura-ya. Like a lot of places that make their goods on site Sakura-ya can sell out or if you go later in the day find that some of your favorites aren't available. No matter what, whatever mochi or manju you get, you won't be disappointed. I got here on a Friday around 2:30 and there were still some good options but ultimately my friend and I settle on 6 pieces--two chocolate manju, 1 peanut manju, 1 inaka manju, 1 orange mochi, and 1 pink mochi. The azuki beans used in the manju are some of the best I've ever had. Perfect blend of bean pieces mixed with azuki bean paste! And the mochi! OMG, softest rice around. I love holding the mochi in hand. It's heavy in that wonderful way that mochi should be dense. Sakura-ya is a staple in Gardena and the interior of the shop shows the years of dedication to making delicious manju and mochi. Glass counters, wooden shelves, lighting that hasn't changed in years...it's perfect.

Outside
Michael C.

I don't get the high ratings. While I love to support small businesses, I'm not a fan of overrated places. I had much better Mochi elsewhere... The Mochi here is nothing to rave about, I wouldn't say you are missing out on anything if you didn't make it to Sakura-Ya. For what it was, I thought Sakura-Ya was on the pricier side; considering the selection is not as vast as other places. No Peanut Butter or Fruit filled Mochi here. Also the location and the fact this is a run down hole in the wall. Annndd... finally there is that inconvenience of the Cash Only business policy. 2025!

Jessica G.

My entire family is a fiend for mochi, so I went to go get a custom assorted box of treats for them. They devoured it all within one sitting. They are a cash only establishment! Please bring cash otherwise you won't be able to get your goods. The staff were very nice and let us know which items were best consumed within the day to ensure quality!

Maruko X.

Ambiance: it's a small Japanese desserts store, very old fashioned decorations, and it was so dark inside Service: fast and friendly, packed food promptly Food: they offer limited kinds of sweets Green Mochi - *** poor presentation Maruyaki Manju - *** overly sweet Price: it costs $ 3 each approximately, cash only payment, and the taste was just fine

Hannah C.

You can definitely taste the freshness in the mochi here--soft, pillowy, clearly handmade with care. We came later in the day, so the selection was a bit picked over (note to self: come earlier next time). Wasn't the biggest fan of the orange mochi Overall, good mochi! But if I'm being honest, I still prefer Fugetsu-Do for the full experience. That said, if you're in the area, Sakura-ya is worth a visit--just maybe aim for earlier in the day for the best picks.

IG: @myfoodiegirl
Michelle M.

We were in the area and I couldn't miss an opportunity to get some mochi! I saw Sakura-ya was nearby on Yelp and decided to make a pit stop. THE MOOD: Sakura-ya is located in an unassuming street. If you drive too fast, you may just miss it! The inside isn't particularly fancy or well lit - the focus is on the fresh mochis and they are all displayed in a glass counter. THE FOOD: The mochis tasted super fresh. We went with the 10 piece box for $29.50. I asked the nice lady behind the counter to surprise us with 10 of her choosing. The mochi is soft, chewy, and not too sweet. There was also a nice ratio of filling to the mochi dough and overall, the mochis were super balanced in flavor and had a great texture. Plus, the whole box, once opened, just looked so pretty. So, it is a nice gift to give as they wrap it up for you. We grabbed an extra box for my brother in law as we were seeing him later that day. THE 'TUDE: The lady was super nice behind the counter. She got us in and out! Like I said, no muss, no fuss! :) OVERALL: The mochis here are delicious. If I'm in the area again, I'll definitely stop by. Tip 1: This place is cash only! Tip 2: You can park along the street or behind the store in a lot. Tip 3: There is no indoor or outdoor seating. You just order and go!

Kinako & Orange Mochi
Katie C.

CASH OR CHECK ONLY! When you walk in it's not very lively in there, quite dim and dark. Presentation in this shop is lacking a ton. Their mochi seemed to be lacking something I can't seem to put my finger on, they didn't seem too appealing and I only ended up grabbing 2 to try. Kinako Mochi (Roasted Soy Bean Flour)- texture of mochi was very very soft and not much bounce to it. Roasted Soy Bean was as expected. Filling wasn't too sweet and paired well with the nutty soy bean. Orange Mochi (no filling)- texture was much better, a little dense but enjoyable.

Sarah S.

I can't evennnnn with this mochi. It's so freaking good! Sakura-ya is a total hole in the wall spot and very old school. Cash only and adorable Grandma running the business. Parking was free on the street, but don't drive too fast or you'll miss it. Green tea mochi was filled with adzuki red beans and created loads of smiles in my belly. The softness is unlike any other place I've had before - fresh and poofy like a cloud, and rich in flavor. Pink mochi with white bean filling almost seemed more soft and fluffy than the first one I tried. How is that possible?! What Harry Potter Wicked wizard ish is this! I can't put my finger on it but goodness, am I in love. About $3 a pop, plump as can be. I will be back soon and I will be back often, bringing all my out of town friends! Plus, they package it so cute.

Mixed mochi box

Sakura-ya you're still a 5! If you're a new customer, this is a small Mom n Pop shop that takes cash or checks. It's best to get here early that way there's a bigger variety since they are a small shop. They are closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. So with that being said, enjoy fresh mochi and monju at a reasonable price. It may seem expensive but it's really not. It takes time and skill to make these and are well worth it in my opinion. Customer service is always great and they will box your order and add a ribbon if you're buying a box full. It's such a great gift! Thank you for being in business and working so hard still. My family has been coming here for decades and I hope to see it stay open for much longer.

Cindy D.

They offer simple and fresh mochi and manju with no frills packed nicely in a box if you buy a few pieces. They make for a nice hostess gift.

pink, white, orange mochi

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Ask the Community - Sakura-ya

Do they have non bean flavors?

They have some with no beans in them. All mochi, like the orange ones. Don't know if it matters, but they have dark bean and white bean in some.

Would they accept a special order for about 80-90 pieces of mochi?

Are they hiring?

Not that I'm aware of, but you can call them and ask

Is it cash only?

Yes

Can i get the peanut butter manju without the red bean?

No, but they do have a chocolate chip one!

Do you have an online menu with ingredients? I'm interested in anything that is gluten free, dairy free. Do you ship?

Gluten-free options and Vegan options are listed under their Amenities & More section. I don't know if they ship their products...

Do they sell Kiri Mochi, the plain white squares of Mochi? I cannot find any anywhere and need them for New Year celebration.

They do sell it however you would have needed to preorder. They may have made extra so you might get lucky.

Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

Sakura-ya - bakeries - Updated May 2026

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