This place is almost always busy, so be prepared for a wait time of an hour or more, especially…read moreduring peak hours. However, the experience and food make it worth considering if you have the patience. The staff is consistently attentive and welcoming, always kind to guests entering and leaving the restaurant, which adds to the overall positive atmosphere. The food is delicious, and the ramen is always satisfying and filling. The broth is flavorful without feeling overly heavy, which makes it enjoyable every time. Seating inside is somewhat limited, but they make good use of the space with a mix of bar seating, stools, and wall seating options.

I'm going to acknowledge right off the bat that I'm no ramen expert. I've only been to a handful of…read moreramen restaurants and my favorite ramen joint of all time is in Tucson, AZ. With that disclaimer out of the way, here's my humble opinion of the ramen at Shin-Sen-Gumi Hakata Ramen. It's okay. When I came here yesterday afternoon, I ordered the Hakata Ramen which is basically a tonkotsu style ramen. Every aspect of it is customizable including the broth, noodles, and toppings. I just went with the default options, which i believe they recommend for first timers. On the side, I got a flavored egg, and pork belly. The broth was solid. It was flavorful, and fatty. The noodles were the right firmness as well. However, the chashu pork and pork belly were pretty mediocre. I know this sounds harsh but hear me out. Even after bathing them in the broth, they were dry and not tender. I didn't enjoy the flavored egg either. It was overly boiled and barely marinated. Despite the shortcomings noted above, I'm still giving this place four stars because the service is fantastic. The staff is very nice and provide incredibly fast service. My drink came out in like one minute. The refill came out even faster. They also offer free refills of the noodles.

I have been searching high and low for a Bo Kho with a thicker roux like broth, it's how I was…read moreintroduced to Vietnamese beef stew in Virginia. Saigon Dish is the first restaurant I've found near LA that prepares Bo Kho that way. My dramatic self stopped the employee to tell him how long it's been since I've had a Bo Kho that reminded me of home. Although it was sweeter than what I'm used to, it was still delicious. I was lucky enough to come in on a Saturday when the Banh Xeo was available. The crepe was light and crispy (now this dish I'm actually used to being a bit sweeter) but the nuoc mam really balanced everything out. I contemplated taking a container of the fish sauce home but I know what happens if that spills in your car. Anyways, this is one of those restaurants where you want to come hungry so you can eat 3 meals.

A great local spot to satisfy your Vietnamese cravings! We stopped by for an early Friday dinner…read moreand found the place already busy, but luckily a table opened up for us. I like to switch things up between pho and bun rieu, and that night I went with the tomato-based noodle soup. It was a bit mild at first, but adding extra shrimp paste made it just right. I also appreciated that the staff had no problem blanching the bean sprouts upon request just the way I like them. My husband ordered the grilled pork chop with rice, and they were happy to swap out the shredded pork for a fried egg. We also shared an order of shrimp cakes to start. The food came out quickly, service was prompt, and overall it was a great experience. We'll definitely be back to try more dishes on the menu.

It doesn't look like it but the sushi here is actually pretty good the only downside was when I…read moreordered my food for pick up and asked for condiments they charged me extra even tho I purchased more than $50 worth of food and still asked for extra charge on condiments I thought that was crazy considered most sushi spots I've been too never charged me extra for it but like I said the sushi overall is good. I'm not sure about the staff but food I agree is good

Hidden gem alert in North Torrance If you're a Ramen lover…read moreand haven't tried Yamadaya Ramen yet, you're missing out. This quaint little spot sits in a small strip mall on 182nd Street & Crenshaw right next to The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf. Parking is decent, and the cozy interior gives it that authentic neighborhood ramen shop vibe, although I usually order mine to-go. My wife and I always order the Tonkotsu Ramen. The pork broth is absolutely incredible -- rich, creamy and perfectly balanced with just the right amount of saltiness poured over perfectly cooked noodles. The bowl comes topped with: * Bamboo shoots * Diced green onion * Pork belly * Marinated egg halves * Braised pork * Mushrooms * Dried seaweed If you order takeout, they package the broth separately from the noodles and toppings so the noodles don't get soggy before you get home. The price is reasonable and honestly worth every penny, and the staff is always willing to assist with questions. Pro tip: I add Chef Troy's Crunchy Garlic Chili Oil for an extra level of flavor (purchased at Vons)

Spoon House is one of those rare places that completely lives up to the hype. Tucked away in…read moreGardena, this longtime local favorite serves some of the best Japanese-style pasta I've had anywhere. The menu is unique, blending Japanese flavors with perfectly cooked spaghetti, and every dish tastes like it's been refined over decades. We've been coming since day one and everything is still fabulous after all these years. The pasta is consistently cooked al dente, the sauces are rich and flavorful without being heavy, and the ingredients always taste fresh. Whether you're ordering a classic mentaiko pasta, a creamy uni dish, or one of their garlic-based specialties, every plate is packed with flavor. The house-made bread is outstanding and the famous $1 salad is a must-order. The restaurant itself is cozy and unpretentious, which adds to its charm. Service is friendly, efficient, and welcoming, even when the place is busy. It's easy to see why Spoon House has remained a South Bay institution for so many years. If you're a pasta lover or simply looking for something different from the usual Italian restaurant experience, this place is absolutely worth the visit. I'll definitely be back.

Legit japanese pasta spot in Gardena! If you come, do not miss out of the salad! It's so good and…read morefor the price, you'd be a fool to not get it!! I got the uni squid pasta, but be warned, it's not your typical version with cream as a base. It was definitely seafood forward and tasted pure to the ingredients. I recommend coming with someone to try different plates! The location isn't super big, but it's quaint and the servers are so friendly. Very little parking in the back lot or you can park on the street.

Located in the inside corner of a busy plaza, there is a parking lot here but it gets full pretty…read morequickly. I believe Bowl Thai is one of three restaurants started by the same owners. Bowl Thai is the original location, and their other two locations, Sweet Rice and Bowl Thai Grill, are just a couple blocks away. I've been to both and they were both fantastic, so I wanted to try out the original Bowl Thai. Like the other two restaurants, Bowl Thai has similar decor with simple and clean furniture. Order first at the counter, then you're given a cup for self-serve water. The self serve station also has napkins and utensils. Then, it's free seating and the food is brought to you, freshly made to order and pretty quickly, I might add. I had the Tom Yumm Soup with chicken (default is medium spicy). It was a huge serving in very large bowl. It came with a bowl of white rice. The flavors were rich and aromatic, a great mixture of beach mushrooms, lemongrass, lime, and chili. I also had their Thai Iced Tea, perfectly creamy and refreshing. The service was great, friendly, fast, and checked on me during the meal to make sure I had everything I needed.

Absolutely delicious soups! Had a great experience dining at this small but great location…read more The place is not going to wow you with its decorations but it has great service and great food! We tried the Boat House Noodle Soup and seafood Hot pot. The broth for the beef soup was rich and deep. It almost had a sweetness to it even though it was pretty spicy. Great combination. And the seafood was sour and spicy, with a great light flavor to it. You've gotta try both of these! The parking situation is not great on weekends because there are several popular restaurants in this place but it's so worth it!!

Enjoyed our meal, server Moon was amazing and attentive, will definitely be back . Great vibesread more

Excellent service,great food and great atmosphere.. The food…read morehas great taste have to wait a bit but well worth it !

I literally picked this place as it was in the middle of who I was meeting. We've all never been…read morethere. Saw some pics via yelp and figured there was a lot to choose from. Parking: you can either park on the street, if there is parking; or park in the lot where h can enter from the back of the restaurant. Get there before 5 to grab a seat because the place fills up QUICK. Inside is small and narrow. If you're not a big eater, share a dish. Their portions are HUGE!! Biggest plates I've seen for a Japanese restaurant. The servers there work hard and try to be quick as possible. I would definitely come back here.

There is so much to choose from on their menu. I had the sashimi and croquette combo which was so…read moregood. Service was good too. I'm assuming they were busy prior to us arriving as the floor was still dirty with chopsticks and napkin still on the floor and there was rice on the chair.

Pho Daily is open late--possibly 24 hours--which makes it a convenient option when you're craving…read moresomething warm and comforting in the middle of the night. It's especially nice to have a place like this available when most other spots are closed. I ordered the large pho combination bowl along with an order of cream cheese wontons. The portions were very generous--I couldn't finish everything and definitely would have been fine ordering a small pho bowl. The broth was decent and satisfying, though flavor-wise I've had better pho elsewhere in Orange County. I wouldn't go out of my way to come here specifically for pho, but for the price, location, portion size, and late-night convenience, it's a solid option and worth trying if you're nearby or craving something comforting after hours.

Came here late at night because it was one of the only spots open and the pho pictures looked…read moregood... big mistake. Ordered two spicy pho soups and pork egg rolls. The pho had ZERO flavor, and the egg rolls were burnt. Even my Arnold Palmer wasn't good, which says a lot. Bill came out to $80 for food that wasn't worth it at all. Service was just as disappointing--they barely checked on us but still expected a tip. Honestly, I don't recommend this place. If you're going to spend that much, go somewhere else where the food actually has flavor and is worth your money.

You can't go wrong with Bossa Nova. The food, the service, and ambience are amazing. When you visit…read morethe restaurant, say hello to Derek. Cheers

Service in the beginning was a bit cold (didn't greet us at the door). After we were seated, Tallis…read morewas an amazing server, he made our night by going out of his way to provide great service. Food was good, i'd recommend the feijoada and the coxinha.

Their food id hands down ... NO BRAINER GOOD every time we order from them…read more In other words- CONSISTENTLY TUMMY!!!! Just order and quit wasting your time overthinking and searching. You found the right spot. Hmmm Hmmm Hmmm Hmmmm Enjoy, & thank me later!

I had the roasted pork with fried rice. It was one of the best I've ever had. What a NICE…read moreestablishment that just recently remodeled. The staff was very nice, and professional. Check it out even if you're going on a date! By the way, they have an amazing selection of coffee drinks as well! Swanky music to boot!