Don't waste money here, Sashimi is with portion skin on when it should be clean cut. Also very chewy. Didn't approved the service as well, poorly trained staff. Far more better places near by... read more

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This was a small restaurant in an old plaza, but the inside has the brightest decor you will find in a Japanese restaurant in the entire city. I came on a whim with a friend who said it was one of her go-to spots for work day lunches. The parking wasn't too bad, considering the crowd inside. And there is a crowd. We hard a lot of Chinese speakers actually. I ordered the soba with cold dipping sauce and battera sushi. The battera sushi was basically marinated mackerel. I have to give the food a 5 stars for presentation. However, for those that lack more protein in their sushi, they may find that it's a bit lacking here. The sushi rice and fish were excellent though. The soba noodles and the accompanying dipping sauce was tasty. read more

Would not usually expect a Michelin-star restaurant in a strip mall. They are humble about the recognition - I didn't see it mentioned on their website nor in the restaurant. The lunch was definitely high quality. We enjoyed a Chirashi bowl, very fresh and good quality sashimi-cuts of fish, and a black cod lunch combo. Practically melt in your mouth tender and flavorful. Miso which came with each meal was also tasty. Highly recommend. read more

This restuarant specializes in sushi and tempura. Make reservations, walk in spots are rare and waits can be typically 20 minutes. They have seating at the sushi bar, tempura bar, or a table. However once inside, there is a sushi bar directly in front behind the curtains. It is where those dedicating themselves to this can also order things from the tempura bar in back. In the back is a tempura bar. This is where we sat and dedicated ourselves to the tempura menu. You order off the list just like sushi. We ordered everything from lotus root, scallops, sweet potato, and more. We also ordered the fig and unagi salad, as well as roasted gingko nuts. All delicious. With all the tempura we ate, it did not seem greasy and did not put us into a coma. Very light and delicious. I would recommend as a cuange of pace. The prices are on the premium end and the service as well as cuisine deserve it. read more

First time trying , great simple food that tastes clean. The service was great too. The wife and I had a great experience.

I really enjoy the food at Inaba, but the customer service here is really disappointing. For food I would've given them 4 stars, but the service was so terrible that I didn't have an enjoyable eating experience overall. I had made a reservation for Friday night and came in a party of 4. I understand Friday night can get busy but I felt like I spent over an hour waiting for things. It took forever for them to take our order, give us our tea (the waitress forgot and brought us water, took it back, and then took another 10-15min before she brought us our tea), give us our food (probably took half an hour until our main entree finally came), and give us our check. The restaurant is pretty small (around 9 tables) and they had 3 waiters/waitresses with one receptionist helping from time to time and yet they somehow still seemed super understaffed for some reason. Most people who came around the same time we came (and ordered around the same time) all left before we were done with our meal. Even when we already wanted to just pay and leave it still took us a while before we're able to wave down the waiter to get our check and pay. I would probably still consider coming back if I knew they won't be busy (right when they open or on weekday night) but definitely will have second thoughts now before coming here again. read more

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I had a Inada bento box lunch. There were sashimi,tempura, grilled fish, and more. It was good choice that I could taste many dishes they serve individually in one order . read more

Love this place! The in-house soba and udon are amazing. My go-to is the udon/soba and tempura combo and for the side I always get the battera. It's one of my favorites there. The sushi and sashimi is fantastic as well. read more

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Authentic Japanese cuisine here it is!! You can't really tell from exterior how amazing this place is!! Their tempura comes out divinely crispy and light since they cook tempura right in front of you. Thankfully we were able to get seated but they were almost full even closer to the end of Saturday evening. And they brought sobayu and I almost cried as not many places do that for customers. I appreciate genuine service and care. read more

Inaba Restaurant - Japanese Near Me - Torrance, California

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The food here is generally good, but nothing exceptional. It's also a bit pricey in my opinion and the service is rather slow. Expect to wait about 30 mins for your food to be served. As far as I know, they make their own udon and soba noodles. You can order them hot or cold. I'm not a fan of soba noodles but I think they're pretty good here! The udon noodles are good too, but be mindful that they're not the thick round udon noodles you might be expecting. Chirashi: I had this today for the first time. What was interesting was that the rice and sashimi come separated. I'm used to seeing chirashi bowls with the sashimi on top of the rice. It was good, but overpriced I think - $37. It comes with a small side of steamed eggs and miso soup. read more

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High quality soba in a warm atmosphere... Expansive menu that includes a number of combo meals, traditional rice dishes and hot entrees... But the soba is what you want to get, with lots of choices of toppings. On our last visit, I ordered the mentaiko and tororo soba... a large order of soba for an extra $5. It's not cheap - but it is extremely tasty. On top of all that, the staff is extremely attentive - as you would expect from a place that is so loved by the locals. read more

Inaba Restaurant - Mentaiko and tororo soba... - Japanese Near Me - Torrance, California

I love this place. There are two sides to this restaurant. One side is the sushi bar, and the other is the sit-down tables. There's also a little area right in front of the tempura chef. We ordered some tempura, nigiri, hot pork soba, chef's sushi set dinner, and a soft shell crab roll. Everything is amazing. The fried shrimp head were perfectly crispy. The sushi was fresh, and I like how little rice they give. The soup broth for the soba was very flavorful. I could drink the whole bowl! I have been here twice, bringing different people, and everyone always love this place. read more

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4 Stars!!! You have to be kidding us. Who is writing these reviews, people who have never eaten at a good restaurant? The Service was the only thing that was good. First we were served vegetable tempura which was under cooked with no color. Second we ordered bluefin sashimi which had a fishy taste and was returned. We had ordered the Filet Mignon which came over cooked and was returned and replaced it with an under cooked Filet Mignon which was also returned. The Ribeye Steak that was ordered was tough and chewy. The overall experience was very disappointing, and we will never return. Best to do yourself a favor if you are a discerning food person and skip this restaurant as this is a place for people who are not concerned with quality. The restaurant is dated and in need of remodel. The other notable point is it was a Saturday night and there were plenty of open tables during our stay and at 7:30pm when we left the establishment. If this was a 4 - 4.5 star restaurant there would be people waiting to get in on a Saturday evening. read more

There may be more innovative sushi restaurants out there, but I really enjoyed the food, the great accommodating service and the quiet coziness of the place. I would really love to go back and try more of the tempura dishes that they specialize in. You know the place is good when something so simple and overlooked as miso soup is the most flavorful you've ever had. The bento box let me get a taste of everything. We enjoyed the service so much, we even shared some of our homemade chocolate raspberry birthday cake with the servers. read more

I previously rated Inaba as a good Resturant but after going four more times I seriously have to down grade my review primarily for the aweful food they routinely serve their non Japanese customers. Four times in a row I sat and watched them serve me cuts of fish and food that was clearly very substandard versus the Japanese customers next to me. My latest venture I ordered the Kaseki lunch because I have always heard good things about the Tempura and Soba...wanted to try, while still having a sampling of sushi. My shashimi serving had foul kampachi and Tuna cuts so clear, like the fish had no blood! Worst Akami I had in a long time. I the. Had six pieces of nigiri. I watched the two Japanese men next to me have beautiful cuts of dark red Akami and their tempura served hot one by one. My nigiri, It was the smallest nigiri I every saw in my life. Dont get me wrong, I don't care about the size as I am not looking for big portion...I just never saw nigiri so small in my life. And again it was all aweful except the awabi...which was good and crunchy. The sushi rice was aweful...grainy and tasteless. I then had Gindara which very rich and good...probably should have just had that with sone rice and called it quits. Then came the soba. It was al dente but looked crushed. There was nothing special about it and I prefer Tananakaya soba better. Then came the Tempura with the soba. I had two bites and could not eat it. It tasted like it was rich in butter and sugar. Just aweful! Also annoying was the waitress telling me four times the dipping condiments and sauce was for the tempura. I also tried to substitute something else for my ice cream, since I don't eat dessert and they refused. Don't try to get dietary substitutions here. And goodness my edamame appetizer was aweful....clearly frozen for centuries. Japanese people always assume if you are not Japanese (1) you don't know how to eat Japanese food and (2) you have no appreciation of the quality. This is why they always serve substandard food to there non Japanese customers. There are exceptions out there for sure. But food racism is the norm. And mind you I am a food racist myself. The tragedy here is I know and appreciate good Japanese food. But it gets exhausting be be treated like shit, politely of course, by traditional Japanese resturants. read more

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Classy, contemporary & clean decor! Excellent quality food! Walking into I-naba, I was just amazed. I would never have thought this restaurant would be here. It's in a small strip mall but when you walk in you are literally walking into another world. It is a small yet very clean and very classy restaurant. To the left of the entrance is a cute tempura bar and then to the right is the main dining room. The main dining room looks so fresh and clean. White walls, tables with clear linen and lovely folded napkins and contemporary lighting, it is sight to be seen. My friend and I came on a Friday night and we did not have reservations. Luckliy though we were early so we got seated. Soon after though, folks who did have reservations started coming and the place was soon close to filled. My friend chose to get the soba with tempura ($14.50) and I got the udon with tempura crunch ($10.30). My udon came with the tempura crunch on the side and my friend's soba came with the tempura on the side. My tempura crunch basically was a bunch of tempura flakes that were to be used as toppings for the udon. My friend's tempura was a mixture of shrimp, jalapenos, zucchini and beans. I found the udon to be very tasty. I could tell that they make their noodles fresh! I really liked this. Even when I tried my friend's tempura, I could tell that was of high quality. The batter was crispy and you knew that they used new oil. This is one of the things I really liked about I-naba. There food was simply of the freshest quality. Yes, it is a litte pricey but it is fresh! I was very impressed with the freshness of the food and the overall neatness of the restaurant. It's classy all around! read more

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Soba: Some Like Hot..Some Like it Cold. This Cold Soba is Hot, Hot and Hot! No Need to put the heat on here! COLD SOBA BABY! Cold Soba and Tempura. This Soba is definitely one of the best I have had. The Tempura, I think, is the best I have had. In this case, a picture is better than any of my words. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/J3Fq8AVAraIiFtzlRQg5Og?userid=f-iREBx-5CznQjIMWmoOkw 11:30 AM we were the first and only customers. Everyone came in later and the place did get packed. We had the best service ever and they even gave free grated radish and some extras. The Tempura was absolutely amazing. If you come to this place you have to try both the soba and the tempura! HOT TEA was mmm a perfect compliment to the meal. Total Price: 10.50 per person plus tax and tip. Plenty of Parking. If you know a better place, let me know! read more

Inaba Restaurant - Japanese Near Me - Torrance, California

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We found a great Japanese restaurant for sushi bar dining in this area, the two sushi bar areas are so private and quiet, perfect for couples. In fact I only saw couples were occupying sushi bars, glad we made a reservation earlier, all the seats were reserved at that point! This place is for fresh sashimi and sushi mostly, as well as Omakase, I would have tried the seasonal Omakase menu but I didn't want to stuff myself that evening, so we went for some of our favorite raw fish and small plates. Bottle of 759ml cold sake, it was sweet and refreshing, so tasty. The raw: Oysters on half shell, sea bass, halibut, uni sushi, mackerel box sushi, Toro, Red snapper & Tuna nigiri sushi. They were fresh, especially uni and mackerel, oysters were too big for our taste, halibut was a little too thick too. But mostly they were still very tasty. It was interesting to watch sushi chef make mackerel box sushi. And the sushi rice was one of the best I have ever tasted! Small plates: Cold spinach with fish flakes, Steamed rice with miso soup, housemade pickles and raw egg, it came with spicy sauce, soy sauce, green onions and dry fish flakes too. Spinach dish is my favorite Japanese apptizer, so yummy. The rice dish was amazing, I have never seen anything like that, another dish we can only find in Torrance I guess. It was so comforting, I loved the miso soup. Food was just enough for us, everything tasted so good. Service was very friendly and attentive. Definitely a very pleasant sushi bar dining experience, we will be back real soon! read more

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Love! After my recent trip to Japan, I have been having intense cravings for legit soba noodles Inaba definitely hits the spot. I am no tempura and soba noodle connoisseur but my hot soba with tempura definitely brought back the taste of Japan. The crispy tempura puts 626 Japanese food to shame. All in all, twas a wonderful lunch. Will definitely be back. read more

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After work the other night, I was just taking a different route home and when I pulled into the parking lot to take a phone call - I figured, I'd check Yelp for where to go nearby, for Sushi. I was less than a couple football fields away from I-naba so I figured, what the hell. Doesn't look like much from the outside. Inside though - it's pretty modern and clean. Three separate areas - sushi, tempura and the main dining area. The main area was packed and full - however, I was whisked right to the tempura bar; party of one - no wait - the norm. Service was great and I'm sure it had to do with the chef who was making tempura - I would just motion to him that I needed something and he made it happen. Several different people helped which doesn't matter to me as long as someone is helping - and they were all equally as friendly and nice. The food - as you can see from the pics - I had Octopus(Namatako) for an appetizer and a combination (Assorted Sashimi for 1) for my entree. You can't really tell how juicy the cuts of fish were - but take it from me - they melted in my mouth. It was so good I wanted to order another round. But I wanted dessert so I restrained myself and had a Sweet Potato Royal. The restaurant stayed full the entire time I was there so I'm thinking reservations might come in handy on the weekends or if you have a large party. Plenty of parking in the lot in front. read more

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Came here for lunch with a friend. It's been a year since I've been to I-naba. we both ordered the Deluxe Tempura Lunch ($24.99) which included a lot of food: green salad, miso soup, seaweed salad, sashimi, seasoned rice, tempura, soba and ice cream. Sashimi as usual was pretty awful. It had a very strong metallicky taste and some pieces were extremely fishy. However, everything led up to the star of the meal -- tempura and soba. I had mine cold while my friend had his hot. The tempura was perfectly fried -- crispy but still retaining the natural texture and flavors of the shrimp and vegetables. It wasn't greasy at all. The soba was just perfectly al dente. From my friend's ooos and ahhhs while slurping up the soba, I knew he was enjoying his as much as I was enjoying mine. Stick with the soba and tempura and stay away from sashimi or sushi. If it's sashimi or sushi you're craving, go a few doors down and eat at ikko. read more

This place thinks it's fancier than it actually is. The hostess was kind of snooty when I walked in without reservations. You guys are in a strip mall. Relax. Anyway, we got the beef tongue, squid and uni appetizer, and the soba and tempura combo which came with our choice of sushi. We chose mackerel. Everything was really good. Tempura batter was crisp and not doughy. Soba was cold and chewy. Mackerel slices looked thin, but they were marinated so it was just enough flavor. Beef tongue was the best. The slices were tender and flavorful. I liked the squid, but my bf was not a fan of the strong uni flavor. read more

Inaba Restaurant - Mackerel sushi - Japanese Near Me - Torrance, California

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I love these Japanese restaurants in nondescript mallstrips. After you walk into I-naba, you're almost transported to another place. Kind of like Narnia but replace closet with ghetto mallstrip and wardrobe with restaurant doors. Anyway, the food really hits the spot. They have a wide variety of combinations for lunch, ranging from teriyaki chicken to black cod. Hot soba to tempura. Flavored tuna bowl (sashimi tuna) and udon. The lunch entrees and combinations are decently priced ranging anywhere from around 9-16$ depending on what your appetite is up for. The tempura, like everyone says, is delicious. Crispy fresh. The hot soba is chewy and the soup is a kake, a soy sauce based broth with seaweed and green onion on top. The mini flavored tuna bowl is topped with radish wasabi ginger and a ponzu sauce. The udon is quite possibly more delicious than the soba. Equally chewy and probably double the size of standard soba, which is a lot thinner than 'normal' udon. The miso is also very flavorful and not overboiled. The mini chicken donburi is also good, a rice bowl dish with egg, scallions, chicken in a light teriyaki like sauce. I-naba has great food at a good price. read more

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We have been here many times. It is always great experience - excellent food, good service! We usually order from the 'combo sets' that include lots items, so that we can get the best experience. So if this is your first time, those combo will be a good idea! You get to sample their specialities. My favorites here are - tempura dish and soba (the cold noodle) dish. read more

Inaba is noted for its handmade Soba which is difficult to make. Buckwheat has very little gluten so that it doesn't "stick" together easily. Therefore, in order to facilate the making of Soba, about 20% is wheat flour to create a decent noodle that does not break apart at the slightest handling. Soba may be the most "Japanese" according to purist Japanese food addicts. The term "Shisso" connotes simplicity, modesty, frugality, and Soba has those characteristics. It is earthy, unadorned, satisfying in a downhome manner. The perfect accompaniment is usually a light, ethereal, crunchy Tempura tasting of fresh sweet oil based Umami. Today though, and all through September, Inaba is featuring different variations of the family Ostreidae better known as the True Oyster. 1) Kaki no Sappari Sho-yu Yaki: Refreshing Soy Sauce Baked Oysters seemed to be given a bit of a flour dusting then baked with an addition of a lightly sweetened soy sauce & possibly a touch of lemon. The 3 extra large oysters under this treatment were meaty in texture, firm yet softly yielding with a slight pastiness from the flour coating. However, I felt that the sweetened soy sauce may not have been the best match to pair with the more sea minerality infused oyster which usually does better with sauces that are more tart, slightly acidic. 2) Kaki no Negi Miso Yaki: Oysters baked with Miso (fermented soybean paste) & chopped green onions: A dollop of salted preserved Miso with a soupcon of chopped green onion was placed on the oyster after it was baked. The salty, Umami filled Miso played well with the meaty minerality of the 3 Oysters. This combination created a rich but not cloying aftertaste to be savored & then paired with the Kikumasamune (kee koo mah sah moo neh) Taru Sake (sahkeh). It is in the Junmai (pure rice) level of premium Sake. This Sake is mellow, mild, neutral in flavor except for the scent & light woody taste of Sugi (soo ghee) or Japanese Red Cedar. In some ways, the Greek white wine Retsina is a harsher analog to the Taru Sake since Retsina is barreled in pine wood for a stronger taste of pine sap. Taru Sake is a far more delicate & nuanced libation. 3) Kaki Furai: The 3 Fried Oysters are classically breaded with Panko (pahn koh) or Japanese breadcrumbs which make for a superior crispy light, fragile deep fried coating. The oysters themselves, this time were not so much meaty, but slightly creamy, almost mousse-like in a cloud-like airiness with a subtle ocean based Umami. The sauce was a very faint yellowish/white that reminded me of Sauce Gribiche which is basically a light mayonnaise with chopped boiled egg melded in. This sauce is simple in flavor just to add a touch of simple richness in order not to overpower the delicate flavor of the fried oyster & the equally delicate Panko coating. Exceptionally well done execution of something that can be totally god awful under an inexperienced, incompetent hand. Palate cleansers were necessary to clear the palate for more of the oysters in the 3 different guises: 4) Seaweed Salad: Iceberg lettuce was the basic ingredient with Wakame (wah kah meh) seaweed, touches of red seaweed, Kaiware Daikon (kah ee wah reh dah ee cone) or Daikon radish sprouts & a wedge of tomato for color. There was a topping of Surimi (soo ree mee) crab for some protein Umami. The dressing was light Ponzu (pone zoo) which was probably Japanese rice vinegar, Sho-yu (show yu), touch of lemon. This salad was refreshing with a nice salty, lightly acidic tang. 5) Neba Toro Sutamina Sarada: Sticky, Slimey Stamina Inducing Salad is Iceberg lettuce, touch of Mizuna (mee zoo nah)/Japanese Brassica (mustard family), Kaiware Daikon sprouts, soft boiled egg, tomato slice, Okra, Natto- (nah' toh)/fermented slimey soy bean. The dressing was Ume (pickled salty plum) & a slimey puree of Yama Imo, a type of yam. The Okra, Natto-, Yama Imo were the source of this very slimey, yet delicious & refreshing salad. Unlike American cuisine, the Japanese feel there is a medicinal health aspect in eating mucilaginous ingredients. To me this was a rather unorthodox combination, but it worked in providing a flavourful salad that at the same time had palate cleansing properties appropriate for the eating of oysters. Sad that this Oyster fest is only going to last til the end of September, but being seasonal & only taking the best that the season has to offer is quintessentially Japanese. In Japan, almost no one will eat a watermelon in January since it would be too expensive, and probably not as good as when eaten in August at the height of summer. I believe the French & the Italians feel the same way. Good culinary experience involving Oysters where the different preparations made it so one did not tire of the same thing. 4+ Yelp stars. read more

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I heard so much about this place from local Japanese community and wanted to try. When I arrived, I wasn't sure from outside but walking in it looked very nice, although I didn't know which way to go. On my right, they had sushi counter, and on my left they had main dining area. They escorted me to the tempura bar counter next to the main dining area. It was very interesting to watch the tempura man. It was like an art. Although he was the tempura man, he also took care of my order (besides the server). Server was good, and kept my hot tea filled, but the tempura man was standing so close to me, anything he noticed, he took care of it. As soon as he noticed I put my credit card in, he washed his hand and took care of my payment. Very attentive and courteous person. Food was very authentic. I ordered bento lunch box, came with salad, soup, rice, grilled salmon, sashimi, tempura and some cooked in bonito broth vegetables. Some reviewers mentioned about being pricey but lunch was reasonable. It is so close to the hotel I like to stay around here, it would be nice to try for dinner (and walk back) next time. read more

Inaba Restaurant - Two different soy sauce. Right is for sashimi and left is for sushi - Japanese Near Me - Torrance, California

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This place has authentic Japanese soba and tempura. I always like going there after seeing my favorite orthodontist at Breeze Orthodontics nearby here :) the place is calm and quiet - good place for meetings. read more

We are here around 5pm and it just opened. All tables are empty but doesn't allow walk-in customers.

I-naba Restaurant is tucked away in a pretty rundown strip mall and honestly I would never discover this place without using Yelp. Later I learned that both I-naba Restaurant and Ichimi Ann Bamboo Garden (one in Old Torrance and another one in Rolling Hills Plaza) belong to the same business group - so the quality of homemade soba (aka buckwheat, made fresh everyday and shipped directly from Nagano, Japan) at I-naba is just as good as soba from Ichimi Ann Bamboo Garden. Unlike Ichimi Ann Bamboo Garden (which only sells soba + udon + rice bowls), I-naba also specializes in tempura (if you sit at the tempura bar, there are tempura order sheets right next to condiments and you write down what you want). The menu offers a good variety of combinations such as soba OR udon + bowl (from $11.5 to $21), plate lunch (pick a meat + salad + rice + miso soup - from $9 to $11), combination plate (sashimi OR tempura + pick a meat + salad + rice + miso soup - from $12 to $15.5), rice box (from $15 to $16.5), deluxe tempura lunch ($30), sushi assortment, chirashi ($28), bento lunch box ($17.5), tempura lunch ($17), sushi gozen (salad + 6 pieces sushi + tempura + soba OR udon - $22), etc. *** Soba and Tuna Tororo (grated yam) Bowl ($13.5): I regretted ordering tuna tororo and it tasted gooey and flavorless. The guy who sat next to me got a sushi set and that looked really yummy ... on a brighter side, excellent soba with very clean & not-too-salty broth. *** Credit cards accepted, quick service, and great dining atmosphere. Not exactly a cheap lunch option, but this is still an excellent soba restaurant and I'll give their tempura a try upon my next visit. P.S. - There are two types of soy sauce on the table - blue one for sushi & white one for bowl. read more

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I used to work next door at the learning center and I've been here with my boss and coworkers. This place is busy during lunch and dinner hours! The wait can be quite a bit. I want to say go to the restaurant right at the time of opening for lunch and dinner. That way you also avoid fighting for parking at this busy plaza. The price of the restaurant varies from very affordable to pricey! But no matter what you get, it is completely worth it. At lunch time I stuck with the soba and marinated tuna bowl. It is for about 15 dollars including tax. It was really good! The soba was fresh so was the fish. I was so satisfied and full. Will come again for dinner! read more

After hearing a coworker/friend of mine rave about how good the tempura bar is here, I knew it was time to give it a try. According to her, this is almost as good as what one would find in Japan. Of course since the USD is so freaking weak along with the uncertainity of the Fukushima nuclear plant, I don't think I'll be travelling to Japan anytime soon. We knew we had to sit at the bar which limits parties to no more than 7 we quickly made reservations on a Thursday for Saturday night's dinner. We were the first ones to arrive and was escorted to the tempura bar. Placed in front of each seat were three dipping salts (curry, sea salt, and green tea) http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/J3Fq8AVAraIiFtzlRQg5Og?select=VnxX-3VIZsxZN6iWX1yWxw. I was definitely intrigued as I was accustomed to dipping my tempura into tempura sauce rather than seasoning it with salt. After the entire party arrived, we quickly ordered our tempura along with a big bottle of Asahi. After hearing what my friend recommended, we just checked off a bunch of items and ordered 2 sobas. She then saw our list of items and laughed since she knew it would be too much food. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/J3Fq8AVAraIiFtzlRQg5Og?select=yFbe3lJxHTHIcGx8UBul8w http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/J3Fq8AVAraIiFtzlRQg5Og?select=b1E3hAzVw1um2IUgTDM3DQ http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/J3Fq8AVAraIiFtzlRQg5Og?select=LEpVddAbtvZ68-_7uYzFJw What we ordered: Grilled pork w/ onsen tamago (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/J3Fq8AVAraIiFtzlRQg5Og?select=MJzmvFL7yFsi3AsOR6kDTQ). The flavors and tenderness of the pork was simply amazing. The onsen tamago also added a nice creaminess to the salad. Pumpkin tempura (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/J3Fq8AVAraIiFtzlRQg5Og?select=pmRv-a74kbOa6P5c48ppMg). First of the tempuras to arrive and with each bite I was able to sample the 3 different salts and each brought a different flavor to the pumpkin. Black yam and sausage croquette (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/J3Fq8AVAraIiFtzlRQg5Og?select=U2dr5kIrma6Telfbc0ThAA). The black yam was definitely had a different texture to what you'd normally find in a potato croquette. The yam also had a nice sweetness that complemented the sausage. Sweet potato tempura (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/J3Fq8AVAraIiFtzlRQg5Og?select=n-3YhK0Jn5uptenhb_W-mQ) I only had a bite as this was the gf's favorite and needless to say it was delicious. Cold soba w/ tempura (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/J3Fq8AVAraIiFtzlRQg5Og?select=GcSexe4dIUgr_dKnKtWVfA) and (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/J3Fq8AVAraIiFtzlRQg5Og?select=TK65m12n5ViJ0ET_8Cav7w). Heard that they make their own soba so I knew this would be on the list of items to try. The soba was cooked perfectly, leaving a nice chewiness to each bite. A must order when dining here. I was laughed at when I ordered the tempura soba and realized that my friend was right when I had to share the tempura with everyone as I was getting full. Hot soba w/ mushroom (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/J3Fq8AVAraIiFtzlRQg5Og?select=aqvyo07O5B9gIrCHdtNFzg). Upon eating a few bites, the soba had the perfect chewiness and the broth was amazing. Of course the gf couldn't finish her bowl of soba so I was asked to eat more than half. What I did notice was that the broth was so hot that towards the end of the bowl, the soba was soggy. Not sure I'd order this again as I preferred the cold vs. the hot. Sausage tempura (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/J3Fq8AVAraIiFtzlRQg5Og?select=xnOau64yDNweOfPi7kUh7w). Another must order item from the tempura list. Paired with the curry salt, this was my favorite item for the night. Stuffed lotus root tempura (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/J3Fq8AVAraIiFtzlRQg5Og?select=XRJFkHRKOxG6wCLUdK2MXQ). I am a big fan of lotus root and this item did not disappoint. Burdock tempura (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/J3Fq8AVAraIiFtzlRQg5Og?select=TYG41X1LUG7eINAD_OFxCQ). Some sort of root and again was awesome. Stuffed shrimp tempura (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/J3Fq8AVAraIiFtzlRQg5Og?select=nLfxvgSrZDoooy1ofu4_rg). Probably my least favorite item for the night, more than likely due to the fact that I was stuffed and really didn't have the appetite to eat any more. Final item was the stuffed shitake mushroom (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/J3Fq8AVAraIiFtzlRQg5Og?select=luHoXC60N5ybtnvEtVTy_A). At this point, I really didn't even want to take a bite but I had to give it a try. Another awesome item. I was definitely stuffed at the end of the meal and I-naba definitely lived up to the hype. Looking back, we should've ordered only 1 soba to share and should've ordered less. After having had tempura paired with the 3 dipping salts, I'm not sure if I can go back to having my tempura any other way. Seasoning the tempura with the salts retains the crunchiness of the tempura. Will be back to try the items I missed. read more

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In the same family of restaurants as ichimi an, ichimi an bamboo, and the steakhouse, the food is similar to the other aforementioned restaurants. It's probably the nicest one out of the three noodle houses, although it doesn't look it from the outside since it's located in a plain (kinda ugly) strip mall. Once you go inside though, you'll notice that the décor is upscale and the waitress welcomes you with a big smile. It gets busy during lunchtime, but with extra seating at the counter, it has never been a problem getting a seat. I usually get the soba with tempura, but they have bento specials and different sushi items too. Hubby usually gets the cod lunch bento, and it's very tasty, although the cod piece they give you is really small. The soba here is very firm and chewy... the way I like it. They bring you the soba-yu at the end to pour into the soba dipping sauce to drink and finish your meal. A great lunch spot. Quick, clean, great service, and a real treat if you're a soba lover like me. Recommend! read more

Inaba Restaurant - Tempura soba with a side of salmon/ikura bowl - Japanese Near Me - Torrance, California

With so many Japanese restaurants in Torrance, my friend (visiting from Singapore) and I looked to Yelp for Help. We decided to check out Inaba and its four star rating was spot on comforting... To start, Inaba's decor is very basic. Nothing fancy. White butcher paper on top of white linen table cloths. The four menus were somewhat confusing: one main menu for sushi, appetizers, sashimi, noodles etc; one for sake; one paper slip for sushi; and one paper slip for itemized tempura. The main menus was dated with discolored photos but after we figured out how the menu worked, things only got better... We ordered a ton of food (uni sushi, yellowtail sushi, unagi, toro sashimi, sashimi combo, kake udon, steak, edamame, and sake), and everything was just right. The sushi and sashimi were really fresh. The toro melted in our mouths and the octopus had the perfect fresh crispy crunch texture. The sushi rice could have used a tad of vinegar but no complaints. Perhaps the best or most interesting dish was the kake udon because the noodle was not the usual thick white udon noodle. Instead Inaba serves a thinner style noodle - almost like the noodle you find in Taiwanese beef noodle soup. Best of all, the service was excellent. While we had a dedicated server, every staff member in the restaurant was willing to answer a question or address our request for additional food, wasabi, and utensil. There are so many great Japanese neighborhood restaurants in Torrance, and Inaba is definitely one of the 4+ stars in the area. read more

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Sunday night , 5:45 Pm. You have 5 table empty. Your next reservations are at 6:30, 6:45 and 7pm. You have couple tables are finishing up and you can't take walk in for 3 people? So you'd rather have all 5 tables to be empty instead of sitting people in? I'd rather support other business during this time than this place. Management and common sense are not there read more

This spot is a gem!! My dad took my family here on Saturday for lunch, and we were seated right away with our reservation. Service was excellent, as our server was checking up on us frequently. The food prices here do seem a bit expensive for the portions, but i promise you, you WILL get filled very quickly. As for the quality of the food, I have no complaints. Everything was so fresh, including the rice, eel, sashimi, EVERYTHING!! Overall, I would give this place over 5 stars. Service was great, interior is clean, and the food quality is amazing. read more

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Tempura at its best! We got there a little after opening. It was packed!! I ordered the sashimi with tempura combo. The tempura was perfectly cooked and the sashimi was very fresh. Meals comes with rice ,(white or multi-grain), miso soup, and salad (potato and green). Pro tip! Get there early and be sure to have your whole party there before you check in. read more

Inaba Restaurant - Japanese Near Me - Torrance, California

This place is kind of in a run down plaza but the food is actually pretty good. The one thing that left a sour taste in my mouth is that I came in on a weekday with a friend and we didn't know we needed to have reservations so we were given the cold shoulder and left standing at the door for a good 10 minutes. I didn't know we needed reservations? Not sure if that's required? Anyways, they were nice enough to sit us at the bar. After that hiccup, service was great. I got the cold soba. It was the best I've ever had. The noodles were the right amount of chewiness. It was easy to swallow and left my tummy happy. We also ordered a bunch of fried appetizers that complemented the soba pretty well. My favorite is the tempura. We got to sit in front of the chef making the tempura and it was pretty awesome to see him bread it and then fry it. It came out super fresh. The meal can get $$$. We ordered around $65 worth of food for 2 people and finished every last drop. It's a great place to eat to catch up with friends or for a special occassion. read more

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I just ordered from DoorDash. I am a foodie snob with a rich history in fine Japanese dining. I worked in Chicago's Benkay and even my kimono uniform was 4 figures. Restaurants shut down during Covid is a real downer. Food just doesn't deliver well. Luckily my Dasher was quick to deliver. The sashimi was quality. Everything down to the fresh salad dressing was fresh and tasty. Sorry I have no I tired. This is the first time I've finished an entire meal since I started intermittently fasting over a year ago. I can't wait to try the food from dining in. read more

I-Naba is a small Japanese restaurant strictly serving hot and cold soba and udon. Yeah, pretty much all you need when it comes to good soba and udon noodles. Everything here at I-Naba is soba/udon noodles. You can either order it plain or they serve it with a ton of other sides such as Katsu pork, chicken and egg rice, marinated tuna rice, tempura, sushi, etc. The combos are endless! Go for great noodles, good service and delicious Japanese food. Credit cards accepted, be mindful of the lunch crunch as the restaurant is a bit smaller and does get packed. read more

Inaba Restaurant - My hot soba with tempura. - Japanese Near Me - Torrance, California

Vegetarian review: None of the dips or soups are vegetarian. No soba or udon- hot or cold, is vegetarian. They all have fish in the base, which is to be expected. If you call in to ask, be specific to vegetarian, which means no fish, either. The answer came out wrong the first time. Not dinging them for that, just FYI. Assorted vegetable tempura: not bad, just slightly over battered. Weird, for a place that does a lot of tempura. Since the tempura dip has fish in it also, they gave me some salts as dip- curry salt, sea (?) salt, green tea salt. You can also ask for a side of minced daikon to put in some soy sauce. - corn tempura: very good. Kernels of corn lined up in a small, neat rectangle. You can order this separately, but you get one or two in the assorted tempura order. - mushroom tempura: also very good. Same as the corn- one comes w/assorted plate. - snap pea tempura: the best one of them all. This is a special, does not come w/the assorted plate. The pea itself was still crunchy and the tempura coating gave it a crispy texture as well. Cucumber roll- just a cucumber roll. More FYI- there is already wasabi in the roll. read more