Great food and Great people! I wish I took more photos, but the food was awesome! I got the chili tamale, and it was VERY YUMMY. Comfort food to the max! I'll probably order one next time I come. Mother got the salmon bento, she ate ALL the salmon. She never finishes her meals, so this says a lot! The service was the best. All smiles and good times! Ambiance was cozy, welcoming, and nostalgic to restaurants I've been to in Hawaii! Love the vibes. I'll be back soon, thanks Cherrystones! read more

Cherrystones Grill & Grotto - Salmon Bento - Japanese Near Me - Gardena, California

Attended a reception at Cherrystones on a recent Saturday. That being said, the entire restaurant including the patio area was rented out for this event. This was my 1st time at Cherrystones though I've had friends rent it out for their birthday celebrations in the past and I always heard good things. Starters or pupus for the guests were their famous chili, rice optional and also fried wontons & island fried chicken. I had the latter 2 and they were good. I love me some ginger fried chicken so that was good and the fried wontons were also good with some sweet & sour sauce. This was served buffet style, inside. The main dinner consisted of a buffet table in the back patio with many food choices. They were Hawaiian chicken salad, jap chae noodles, green bean salad, kalbi, panko breaded fish, teri chicken & kalua pork. I had most of the offerings and they were good. Some of the kalbi was undercooked so some at our table didnt indulge in that. Understandable. Service was good. Our drinks were refilled, place settings taken away when we were done and the 2 ladies that were serving checked on us often to make sure we had everything we needed. We appreciated that. The servers were great. There are mostly booths and some tables inside. And there is more tables outside that can handle the longer tables. A handful of parking spots in their private lot or street parking is available. Street parking is free. read more

More favorites at Cherrystones. Along with their delicious menu offerings, they have weekly specials on the board. The servers friendly attitude and speedy service make your meal great. The casual upscale restaurant vibe makes your meal or date night extra special. Be sure to make a reservation as get full. If you read this and come in, stop by and say hi to me read more

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Great atmosphere Nice for large parties too Been enjoying an occasional chili buffet night on Fridays Great deal and variety read more

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Great customer service, staff was friendly felt like everyone was family Prime rib Friday was fun, great sides especially liked the salad and choices, meat was cooked to order read more

Cherrystone Grill and Grotto is really a hidden gem which serves really good food with friendly service. Best make reservations as the dining area is relatively small and they get filled up pretty quickly. My suggestions would be the chili tamale, chili rice with weiners, the prime rib, and the Chilean sea bass all great choices in my book. The other items on the menu are good as well. Group parties can be arranged and catered in the back patio area. Everyone is nice and maybe on the weekend tryout the huli huli bbq. read more

Food is delicious at this place. There is such a variety at lunch that a regular entree can be turned into a Bento on most items. I had the Shrimp with lobster sauce bento and it was so delicious. Everything is good you will not regret. Service is fast and the restaurant is nice. Employees are so pleasant. I recommend this place but hours are limited. read more

Cherrystones Grill & Grotto - Meatloaf bento. Very good with somen salad, macaroni salad, broccoli salad, and Takuwan. - Japanese Near Me - Gardena, California

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I always see this place on my way to play pickleball and finally decided to check it out. Get a taster of their award winning chili. I think it was cold that day and starting to rain. So you know how chili hits on those cold/ rainy days. I wasn't blown away by the chili. Not saying it was bad at all. Because it was good. Just not great. I thought it would have a smoked cherry flavor because the name of the place is cherrystone. I also got the teriyaki beef at the suggestion of the owner. It was also good but not great. I ended up taking the chili home and putting it over rice and a tamale and that made it something i remembered from my childhood. I landed on 3 stars because everything was good but nothing was exceptional. read more

I really enjoy this family restaurant, which makes me feel like I'm in Hawaii! This was Prime Rib Friday, so the menu was already great and appetizing. Becausxe this is fish Friday, I enjoyed the fish and chips with all the fixings, including malt vinegar. Probably the most enjoyable is the conversation with the owners, who shared their favorite dining spots in Maui, Oahu and other islands. Diners around us heard our conversation, and added more of their adventures as well! read more

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Very good food and friendly servers. Large portions at a very fair price. Will go back again to try the prime rib. read more

Every Friday my friend and I do D&D (dinner and dessert) and we choose restaurants in Gardena cuz we want to support local. After being a lifetime residents of the city we FINALLY came to Cherrystones and we're made we didn't make it sooner. It's a smallish place filled with locals (the servers knew people by name). The Dodger came was on and it felt like we were hanging out at someone's house. Laid-back with attentive service. Their chili is AMAZING no wonder it's award winning. We can't wait to go back! read more

Cherrystones Grill & Grotto - Chili burger w/tater tots - Japanese Near Me - Gardena, California

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As close as it is to home, I never got the chance to come through since they're closed on the weekends and they're closed by the time I get out of work. But when WFH finally caught up at my line of employment, and with the ability to flex my time, I thought of stopping by and picking up lunch here one day! Showed Hubbers the menu and told me his choice. Came through about 45 minutes past opening hour and was told they were having a private event. (NOOOOOOOOOO!!!) "... but we are taking takeout orders." Ah, cool then! Put in three orders and waited patiently. Since they were having a private event, I expected the wait to be a bit long, but my goodies were surprisingly ready quicker than I expected. (This on top of previously called in orders, too!) So I was on my way home sooner than I expected. CHILI CHEESE TATER TOTS: Boy, were they generous with this! It's pretty much a meal in itself good enough for two, maybe three people! Loved the crisp on the tots and the amount of chili was commensurate with cheese. This was delish! LOCO MOCO: I was a little disappointed with this. Came with two eggs, I asked them cooked over easy. They were cooked over done. Only came with one patty- I guess I'm used to two from everywhere else I've had this at - and last, it came plain. No sides, just eggs, one patty doused with gravy, and rice. They were generous with the rice, though, I'll give 'em that. The patty was cooked and seasoned well. Just got too honed in about it coming solo... might order an extra next time. CHILI CHEESE BURGER + FRIES: Hubbers liked this set a lot a LOT that his plate was clean by the time he was done! FOOD: 3.5. SERVICE: 4.. Host was very nice and friendly! VALUE: 4. PARKING: Private lot and street. OVERALL: 3.75. It's a really small place - prolly won't fit more than 50 people, so if you have a big party, plan ahead. I was told they serve prime rib on Fridays starting at opening hour (11am) vs. 3pm to 7pm. It's also a fine-in option now (vs. take out only.) Hubbers and I will be checking that out soon! Good first run - will return probably sooner than later. read more

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*This review is based on catered food as a guest of several events.* Cherrystones food is delicious! I recently had a plate of kalbi beef, Hawaiian BBQ chicken, cold noodles salad, Chinese chicken salad, fried won tons, and mac salad. (Yes, I piled all that onto my plate!) The star dish was the kalbi--so flavorful and delicious. My friend and I were amazed at how tasty the mac potato salad was. Perhaps it was the type of mayo used because at other competing Hawaiian places, mac/potato salads kinda have this standard, okay flavor. Cherrystones is set apart from others in some dishes including the kalbi. They have catered large scale events at my church and friends that I have sat with have raved about their food. Later on there were to-go boxes at the buffet table and I was able to pack a box for my hubby. I hear that they have some outstanding award winning chili. Will have to pay a visit to their restaurant at some point and try it. For now 4 stars and may need to update this after an in person visit at their restaurant in Gardena. read more

Cherrystones Grill & Grotto - Mac-potato salad, Hawaiian BBQ chicken, kalbi, fried won tons, and cold noodles salad underneath won tons. 3/1/24 - Japanese Near Me - Gardena, California

Food was amazing. Been here before. Family friendly and very clean. Staff was amazing and tended to every thing we needed. Service couldn't be better and the food was superb. Recommended for a prime rib. read more

Cherrystones Grill & Grotto - 12 0z prime rib with mashed potatoes - Japanese Near Me - Gardena, California

Cherrystones catered my brother's celebration of life memorial last Sunday at the Toyota Meeting Hall in Torrance. We were about 120 people. The food and presentation was excellent. We opted for the Kalua Pork and the Teriyaki chicken, both delicious. Loved the broccoli salad and Mac salad. Our guests raved about the food. Cherrystones catered my dad's memorial in 2016 and the food was excellent then. I would not hesitate to use them again if I needed a catering service. Thank you Cherrystones for doing my brother proud. read more

I can't believe that I am just NOW trying Cherrystones. I have lived in the Gardena area for 12 years and I have always seen the tents outside selling ribs and chili, but I was clueless as to the flavors contained inside. If you drive down Vermont, you might just miss it, but it's worth a try. I ordered the Chili Cheese Tater Tots with cornbread and a Shirley Temple and my boyfriend ordered BBQ ribs with a salad. Everything was delicious! The service was so warm and friendly. It didn't feel like we were at a restaurant, it felt like we were at a persons house. I love the homey decor, with many Hawaiian and Japanese paintings and decorations. I will definitely be back! read more

Haven't been here in about 20 years but the food remains delicious and of high quality.

Food service Ambiance Friendly atmosphere the server was amazing helpful friendly staff read more

Thank you to Yelper Terry T. for recommending Cherrystones Grill & Grotto in Gardena, CA, as we would have never thought about visiting this restaurant on our own. What an amazing restaurant! Opened by owner/chef Leonard Kim some 35 years ago in 1987, Cherrystones still stands in its original location with a loyal following for its Hawaiian and Pacific Rim home-style cooking. This restaurant is known for its award-winning and delicious chili, huge prime rib cuts on Fridays, Chilean sea bass, Hawaiian chicken salad, and Japanese bento boxes. Cherrystones' menu items include: prime rib (8 oz, 12 oz, 16 oz) with somen salad & creamed corn with choice of steamed rice or French fries; chili (by the cup, barrel, with rice & wiener, with cheese fries, with cheese tater tots); salads (Hawaiian chicken, tuna, poke); burgers & sandwiches (cheeseburger, chili cheese burger, crispy chicken, tuna melt, char siu avocado); local favorites (fried rice with eggs, loco moco, garlic noodles, poke, chicken & shrimp stir fry); bento boxes (teri beef, hamburger steak, orange chicken, teri chicken, pineapple chicken, kalua pork char siu bbq pork); plates (kalbi, fish & chips, meatloaf, bbq pork ribs, chicken katsu, Chilean seabass); homemade bread pudding. Prices are very reasonable for quality ingredients used and generous portions served. They also have a full bar of house wines, beers, and drinks. They also provide private parties and catering services for baby/bridal showers, birthday parties, graduation parties, celebrations, and funerals. We arrived at 6:30p on a Fri. evening and had the following: * Prime rib dip with fries. They served the last prime rib cut before we came, so we kind of missed out, so next time, we'll call to reserve. Instead, staff recommended this prime rib dip sandwich served with au jus and horseradish on the side. This sandwich with generous amounts of prime rib cuts was delicious and so filling! The fries were perfectly crispy. * Chili rice with wiener. I can see why it's an award-winning chili, as it amazingly delicious! No beans and lots of beef with the slight consistency that just melt in your mouth! Just the right amount of spiciness and flavor! Loved how they arranged the wiener slices in a circle, topped with onions and cheese! A winner! A complimentary loaf of warm sourdough bread with butter was served, which complemented our meal and was completely devoured. We really enjoyed this bread! Customer service is amazing at this restaurant! Family-operated by owner Leonard, his wife (Audrey), and daughter (Nancy), as well as staff, they were so friendly, gracious, and attentive to our needs. The restaurant definitely has the old-school feel and the hospitality that welcomes you as though you were part of their family. No kidding! Staff is quick to ensure that your needs are met, that or ordered be quickly served, water glasses are replenished frequently, and that your bill is processed. The restaurant was packed this Fri. evening, and staff did not rush us. As it slows down in the kitchen, owner Leonard is extremely friendly and will come out in front and talk story to everyone. Leonard is passionate about his restaurant, as we spent some 45 minutes talking to him and his wife, Audrey, after our dinner. Growing up in CA, he reminisced about how his wife who just loved cherrystone clams, and hence, the name Cherrystones Grill & Grotto was started. He loved to talk about his loyal customers who supported him through all the years and some of his interesting life stories. He's a good storyteller and a talented magician! Then, we find out that his wife Audrey and my husband had some mutual interests, as both worked for Sheraton HI many years ago. The owners are very much in tune with the community, as they give back to the community, e.g., sponsoring an annual golf tournament for charitable causes for local senior citizens in the area. The restaurant has indoor seating of tables and booths. It is clean, bright, and has a family feel. There's also an indoor patio where private parties are held. A tent is set up outdoors on Sundays that sells only chili. Located in Gardena on Vermont Ave. near Redondo Beach Blvd. behind the Hustler Casino, look for Cherrystones' outdoor sign. A private small parking lot with free parking is available or street parking. Note that their hours of operation are limited due to their many private catering events: Tues to Thurs 11a to 3p, Fri 11a to 8p, Sun 11a to 4p outside chili tent only, Sat and Mon closed. We look forward to returning to Cherrystones the next time we're in Gardena to try their prime rib! Can't wait! And we hope you get a chance to try them if you haven't! read more

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Had a private party there, service was great and so was the hospitality. Leonard and Audrey were great!

We've had Cherrystones food catered at family get-togethers. It was always so delicious. We were in the neighborhood and stopped by today to for some good grinds. Such nice people. Leonard and his wife are so enjoyable to talk to. We started off with the chili. I poured it over rice with onions and cheese....omg so so good. Definitely recommend the chili, it won awards at a cook off. We also had the prime rib dip with fries. Came on a nice roll with raw horseradish on the side. We finished lunch off with banana bread pudding and a nice big scoop of vanilla ice cream. Very good! The waitstaff are so nice and friendly. Every item on the menu sounded delicious. I wanted one of everything. read more

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Love their Prime Rib, Spaghetti and Chili...best in this area. There are other choices and they always punch a pack of flavor. We love coming here, being greeted like a family member coming home to visit. read more

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Good is always excellent! Very efficient wait staff. Friday nights there are magicians who dine there.

I can't believe that I've lived in the South Bay for most of my life and only recently discovered Cherrystones! I was in the mood for some chili and found this spot through Yelp. They're known for their chili, but they also offer a wide variety of Japanese and Hawaiian food. There aren't many restaurants around the South Bay Area that offer chili, but Cherrystones is by far one of the best. The meat is slow cooked and incredibly tender and super flavorful. It also doesn't have beans which is great for people who enjoy chili but don't like beans. I placed an order for pick up and it was ready within 15 minutes. The woman working behind the counter was super friendly and asked what my favorite dish was from here. I told her that it was my first time coming here and she was happily surprised. It seems like this restaurant has a lot of regulars and I'm not surprised that they do. I'll definitely be coming back to try their other dishes! read more

Some relatives and I met here for lunch after seeing good reviews. I wanted to try the award-winning chili and it was, indeed, rich and noteworthy. It came with shredded cheese and diced onions on the side. I also ordered the fish and chips which came with a tangy cole slaw. The others ordered the teriyaki chicken and pineapple chicken bento boxes which also included potato macaroni salad, rice, Hawaiian somen salad, and broccoli. Our server Angelica was great. She gave samples of the chili to the others. The restaurant isn't large and has limited hours, but you can tell that many of the people who came in were regulars/faithful customers. I was very surprised that the restaurant was located very close to a place I occasionally go to for meetings so I'm very likely to come again in the near future. read more

Amazing place with limited hours. Went for prime rib on Friday and the bread is so good! But the most stellar part of the dining experience is the family atmosphere. Can't wait to go again read more

I've been here for both a private event on the weekends and also on a Friday prime rib night and both times it has been fantastic! The service staff is beyond compare and with a smile! read more

Every time I go to Cherrystones; I find myself loving it more and more! Their chili is no doubt the best chili in the South Bay! (My boyfriend even says it's better than a famous chili from Hawaii...;)). This past Fourth of July; I got some chili as well as their special sesame chicken wings. I love the chili and now I love their chicken wings! These chicken wings we got were so amazing! Now aside from chili; Cherrystones will also be my go-to for wings on special occasions. The chicken wings were good in size, tender and moist. The flavor profile was excellent. It had the right hint of sesame and has a slight sweetness to it! I also thought it was great deal! It was 20 for $18! I'm already looking forward to my next visit to Cherystones! I want to get their Huli Huli chicken next :) read more

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Plenty of parking outside every time I've come here usually don't lunch time and not really a big lunch rush here. They get your order pretty quick and service was fantastic. Ended up getting burger with Mac salad everything was cooked to perfection. Keep in mind there is a full bar here with liquor and few bottled beers. Place was pretty quiet no need to yell to speak and place was nice clean and very good at upkeeping. I did here that there prime rib is a must try and does sell out on Fridays. Haven't tried but will be back. read more

We don't go here as often as we should. It was a wonderful dining experience and the people could not have been nicer. We walked it without a reservation and were able to be seated almost immediately. We will know better next time to make a reservation. The food was delicious! Thank you for coming by the table to chat Leonard. read more

This is one of the most charming places in the South Bay . The owners Len and Audrey are the most welcoming duo ever , they care and love to accommodate. The food is a wonderful combination of classics and a Hawaiian style menu. World famous chili is a winner bento box The Friday meal of Prime rib is off the charts tender is the meat salad ,baked potato ,fabulous loaf of bread ...sides all included . We love the menu !!!!!so much to choose from and all great ingredients . The ambiance is amazing too. The little bar is really beautiful with top shelf choices. The service really is excellent too. Go earlier on Friday because prime rib sells out you won't be disappointed. Cheers to stones they care about the community and do a lot to make life and dining meaningful . Len loves to fill you in with great stories and lovely wine read more

If you live in the area, you've probably driven by this place a hundred times and not even realized it was there except for on the weekends when you see the smoke coming from the BBQ chicken stands that they set up in the parking lot. Cherrystones has a special place in my heart. My mom is friends with the owner so we've been going there for family dinners for years. Their staff will make you feel right at home. I always get the feeling they treat everyone like family. The food, I don't know how to explain their menu but I guess it's best put as...Hawaiian meets American. You'll find Hawaiian grindz like the Loco Moco, poke, kalua pork but then you'll also see burgers, sandwiches and prime rib on their menu. My mom always gets their prime rib dinner, I'm pretty partial to their Chili Cheese Burger as a quick and filling lunch. You can't really go wrong with anything you pick on their menu, everything that I've had has been solid. They do have some odd hours so you should check if they're open before you go. read more

Service is always excellent. The gals go out of their way to accommodate your needs and check on the tables even after serving your food. Best deal for dinner is their bento box with entree of your choice. Portions are generous and filling! Of course their prime rib speaks for itself. Always check the white board for any specials! Only downside is that Cherrystone is only open for dinners on Fridays but lunch is now available more often. Kudos to Leonard who is always generous with his donations to charitable JA organizations. Private parties are available along with catering capabilities. Worth your trip to Gardena for those of us who do not live close by! read more

I had been to Cherrystones several times before, but I'm just getting around to writing a review now. Cherrystones is located in Gardena (off of Vermont, close to the Hustler casino) and has been around for quite some time now. Their parking lot is rather small, but you can also find street parking nearby. It's a medium sized restaurant with comfy booths and tables. What really makes this restaurant exceptional is their service. I've never met the owner (Leonard), but his wife is very friendly to all of the customers. The servers are also nice and efficient. They seem to be very much "on top" of things. I've tried various things here, but my favorite is their prime rib. I would almost dare to say that it's better than The San Franciscan! It's cooked perfectly and the rub on it is outstanding. The au jus is also incredible. It's reasonably priced as well. For dinner, I usually get the medium size (12 oz) for $24.95. It's only served on Fri., Sat. & Sun. It comes with salad, corn & your choice of starch. On my most recent visit, I asked for all green beans instead, and they obliged, although the green beans had a little too much salt for my liking. I've also had their loco moco which is good, and I've tried their chili, which is what they are known for. My parents love their bento boxes. They are open for lunch & dinner, but I'm not sure of their hours so it's best to call and confirm. I've also been there for a private Christmas party, and the service and food was outstanding. They also do catering as well. Cherrystones resembles many local restaurants that you'd find in Hawaii. Just a nice, casual place with good food and the aloha spirit. read more

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Huge thank you to Cherrystones catering!!! Westlight celebrated Easter and our 20th Anniversary yesterday with the Kalbi and Island Fried Chicken along with the basics! Their kalbi is so tender and tasty! The chicken was sooo delicious and crunchy. We loved all the sides! The kimchi and mac salad were the favs!!! The pickup was easy and the staff are so nice!!! Will definitely cater from them again! read more

The chile is amazing it's the best chile I've ever had. Staff are also very kind and helpful.

Leonard and company are great. From a catering aspect, food is great and package well. They do things like chicken teriyaki, Korean short ribs and Kalua pig. Their chili is absolutely delicious. We've done parties onsite and the staff isn't huge but they are friendly and attentive. Great party spot for groups of 40-60. I recommend both catering and private parties. read more

Great food and wonderful service. They make you feel like family. Best chili in the South Bay.

So...I have been coming and eating at this restaurant for years, but truly only actually went inside once...lol I happen to play cards at the Hustler and then once I am done and drive by..chicken and ribs are being BBQ'd outside...wow!! But that isn't what truly caught me and made me want to continue to come back every week. The story goes - I did the usual thing and played card then after that I was driving by thought I should be dinner home for the family, right?? So I stop and notice that there are 2 booths so I order my chicken and ribs and walk over to the other booth. The couple that are selling their chili are just so nice and welcoming that I thought I would try their chili....WOW was I in for a surprise. I have not had better....please do yourself a favor and try it. Like I said, I am back every week...but it isn't for the chili (although OMG it is awesome) and it isn't for the prime rib dip...again same OMG flavor, but I go back as the people that work and run this place made me feel like I was welcome...like I had just arrived at my aunt's home and was welcome to come in a eat. Leonard and crew are the best!! I will be back for the food and keep coming back for the welcoming company....each week!! read more

Good food, good portions and good, friendly service. A hidden gem. Small dining area, but they have outdoor seating and I believe they also do take out and catering. read more