Back again. I remembered they have a great BENTO BOX, so that's what I ordered again and…read morerecommended the same for my friend. We had a great time here on a Saturday afternoon. The food was as great as I remember and although the restaurant had plenty of people, we didn't feel rushed. Everything was delicious from the sashimi, tempura, fish, nishime and chicken karaage. The bento box also comes with potato salad, udon and gohan. When I'm in Gardena, this is my choice for Bento Box... You literally get a little of everything!

Food: good solid Japanese fair with emphasis on udon. The broth was clear and delicious. Edamame…read morewas bland. No salt. The udon noodles had a nice chew but not too much. The tempura was good , not excellent. The shrimp was the best. Ambiance: old school but charming Service: it was a small mom and pop place. The one waitress was very pleasant. I liked it a lot. It's a casual place to get solid Japanese food. Nothing fancy. But solid. Prices are reasonable. 2 for dinner. With edamame and tempura sides plus 20% tip was $74 . So please try them. Bon appetit

Premier find for excellent Japanese cuisine. My girlfriend and I came here for an early Saturday…read moredinner after a day on the water in Long Beach. When we arrived luckily there was no wait and were sat immediately. Luckily it was only a couple moments before a party of maybe 12 arrived behind us for dinner. Our host and server were helpful and efficient. We quickly scanned through their menu and decided on their combos (pork cutlet and tempura) Our trays of paradise quickly arrived and looked beautiful! ( see attached for reference ) i loved the balanced presentation and blend of flavors. Each tray had some miso, a 4 bite California roll, some rice, soba noodles, broth, wasabi and ginger. Mine came with some dipping sauce for the tempura. Considering the amount of food I was very satisfied. The tempura was gorgeously crafted with semi thin crisped batter, and a decent amount portioned. I was mostly amazed by my girlfriends pork plate. Their crisp cutlet had beautifully made with an easy crunchy exterior and soft tender pork savory to taste. All elements complimented each other perfectly. Their soba was also good quality and a nice touch to an already balanced dinner. While I was exactly stuffed after dinner, i was still impressed with their entree presentation, quality of food, calming ambiance and great service.

Hidden in the inner corner of a shopping plaza in Gardena, the restaurant features Japanese-style…read moredécor, a 15-person party room, and enough space to accommodate 60 guests. When we arrived for lunch, the place was quite festive with a mixture of young people, families with kids, and an ongoing lunch party with senior ladies. Luckily, we were able to get the last table, and the friendly waiter brought the water and menus right away. After browsing through their menu, we ordered the following items: Special Fish Combo (Spanish Mackerel): The Spanish mackerel was nicely grilled but lightly seasoned. It had quite a few bones, which took a little bit out of the enjoyment of the meal. The udon noodles had a very nice texture, however the broth was on the bland side. The California rolls were well made and flavorful. Tempura Combo: The shrimps were tender, however, the battered outer layer of the tempura was a tad thick and not quite airy. Like Fish Combo, the udon had a bland broth, and the California rolls were fine. Our main issue was the 50-minute wait time for the meals. As a courtesy, the restaurant definitely should have informed us about the delay.

What a hidden gem if you like kicking it back with old school sushi.....Nothing fancy, no sauces…read moredripped all over the sushi....or sushi baked in the oven. Or a menu with a 100 different choices of speciality rolls. This place is all about going back to the basics with an extremely small menu focused on just a couple of items: Inari, California roll, mackrael, shrimp sushi and more. The sushi is authentic and yummy in the tummy! If you are deciding to stop in for some sushi- Make sure you order in advance as they do sell out. Call the shop to put your order in with pick up time. Note the shop is not open at night- best to call early in the morning before they sell out. The shop is just carry away. There are no places to sit and dine. You will find this shop within an apartment complex on the first floor around a courtyard. If nobody is at the window, ring the bell at your pick up time and a friendly person will attend to you. The ladies are so cute. And the to go boxes are so cute and perfect as well. Once you grab your box, you can enjoy it at home or take it to the park.... Don't forget to bring cash as this is a cash only place!!!!

This spot has been on my list for the longest time and I'm glad I got to try Sakae! Service is…read morequick and friendly. Hours see more limited and availability may vary if you don't order earlier. Take out and cash only! The food was very tasty and although the ingredients were simple, they paired very well. The ratio of rice is quite high although it is very high quality. The California Roll is my favorite and the most balanced piece so far. Ginger is included but not wasabi. I will definitely be back!

Finally got a chance to try Waka Sakura, and it was such a fun experience! We stopped by on a…read moreFriday afternoon after 2 p.m. and were pleasantly surprised there was no wait. The conveyor belt dining was entertaining--we kept ordering just so we could watch the dishes make their way and stop at our table. The food was fresh, tasty, and there was a great variety to choose from. Between the good food and the novelty of the experience, we had a great time. We left full, happy, and definitely amused. Looking forward to coming back!

Waka Sakura is located on the second floor of Tokyo Central, and it ended up being a great spot for…read morea quick sushi fix. We came on a Sunday and were surprised that there was no wait at all. We were seated immediately, and the service throughout our meal was excellent. This is conveyor belt sushi, but instead of grabbing random plates, the sushi comes out on the conveyor belt after you place your order. We tried several nigiri including the salmon, whelk, and yellowtail, along with a few hand rolls. The fish tasted fresh and was better quality than I expected for the price point. One thing that caught my attention was the rice since it has a brownish color, but I believe it's actually white rice. Whatever they're doing, it tasted great and paired well with the fish.

My new favorite handroll place!…read more Such a cute small shop. Parking was easy and free, got sat immediately. Service was absolutely outstanding, we were very well taken care of. They even opened the door for us as we exited. Our food came quickly and tasted fresh and amazing. We loved all 6 handrolls we ordered. Our recommendations are the eel + tamago and the snow crab + spicy mayo. I highly recommend adding double rice to your handrolls (it's free!) We also ordered the sweet potato brulee which was the best dessert I've had in a long time. It was not too sweet and very light/refreshing tasting. We will absolutely be returning! Can't wait to come back and try more.

We called ahead to confirm they had the 50% off tuna since it was listed as limited quantity. They…read moreassured us it would be available all day, which is the main reason we decided to come in. When we arrived, we ended up waiting about 30 minutes for a table for just two people, even though there were clearly open tables inside. During that entire time, none of the staff acknowledged us or gave any updates. We were also the only ones waiting, which made it even more frustrating. After finally being seated, I asked for the 50% off menu, and that's when they told us they were already out of stock. This completely defeated the purpose of us coming in, especially since we had called ahead to confirm. This isn't the first time I've had issues here either. On a previous visit, we weren't seated despite there being open tables. Overall, the lack of communication and organization is really disappointing. Unfortunately, I won't be coming back.

This place is a neat little restaurant that specializes in spaghetti with various toppings,…read moreJapanese style. The interior opens into some countertop seating with a waitress stand to the left. Behind the waitress stand is more seating overlooking the open kitchen where you can take in the sights and smells of the employees working on their craft. The interior is decorated simply and cleanly with wall decorations but most of the focus drawn to the kitchen. I ordered the avocado cream cheese (with onion and bacon) spaghetti. The avocado and cream cheese tag teamed into a creamy coating on the noodles with a tang from the cheese and a richness from the avocado. The onion and bacon added some necessary contrast, crunch, and meatiness to the meal. The noodle texture is excellent with a nice snap. Unfortunately, it does reach a point where the cheese becomes too rich to consume and I found myself requiring breaks before resuming. All in all, a very good meal and a definite recommend in the area for the experience.

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.

First time visiting here! Staffs were very nice and food…read morewas great. Chicken katsu was great, but ahi poke was bit salty for me.

Gardena is quite the hub for good Japanese and Hawaiian eats. I've been to Gardena Bowl,…read moreCherrystones, but it's only recently that I got to checkout Ladybug Cafe! Walking in on a Saturday, the place was buzzing with patrons, so I knew this had to be up to par with many of the ono spots serving Japanese and Hawaiian cuisine in the area. My friend I chose to order two dishes. Our choices were the Ladybug Fried Chicken and Fried Rice with Char Siu. The Fried Rice comes with Miso Soup. The Miso Soup was served first. It had a light and savory broth that was comforting. It had a good umami rich miso flavor and made for a good soothing start for the meal. Up next, we got to try the Fried Rice with Char Siu. The Fried Rice had a surprising reddish color that perfectly matched the char siu. It added a nice visual cue to the sweet, smoky flavor. The Ladybug Fried Chicken was my favorite. It was freshly fried, golden and crispy. I enjoyed the juicy and tender meat and the crunchy outside. It is served with rice, green salad and potato-mac. I wish there was an option to upgrade to fried rice because this fried chicken really paired well with the fried rice. Nevetheless, I did enjoy this chicken with the potato-mac as well. The potato-mac was creamy and was so ono. Overall, Ladybug Cafe is a solid spot in Gardena for some classic Japanese and Hawaiian eats!

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.

Azuma's menu is incredibly extensive, offering just about every type of Japanese comfort food you…read morecan think of. From sashimi, yakitori, udon, donburi, and so much more. With so many options, it was honestly a little overwhelming to choose. I decided to keep things simple and ordered the sashimi and broiled mackerel fish set, which came with rice, miso soup, cabbage salad, and macaroni salad. My husband couldn't settle on just one dish, so he went all out with a chicken oyakodon, grilled salmon, steamed eggplant, and a stir-fried chicken and bean sprout dish. The restaurant itself is narrow and deep, which actually reminded me of some of the small alleyway restaurants we visited during our travels in Japan. It added to the cozy and authentic feel. The service was attentive, especially when we requested a few extra items. One thing that really stood out was their ponzu sauce. It seemed to include green onions and perhaps a touch of vinegar, and it was absolutely delicious. It paired perfectly with the sashimi, steamed eggplant, and even the chicken dishes. Next time, I'm definitely going to spend some time studying the menu beforehand. The portions were generous enough that we had leftovers for another meal, and we were lucky enough to find parking right in front of the restaurant.

5 stars - Best katsu in the South Bay…read more Cozy little spot in Old Torrance that does tonkatsu better than anywhere I've tried in LA. The Millefeuille Katsu Gozen is insanely juicy with a perfect crisp, and the Uni Pasta is rich, creamy, and loaded with uni flavor. Gozen sets come with rice, miso, salad, and sides so it's a full meal. Service is super friendly -- they even give you sesame seeds to grind for your katsu sauce. Gets packed, so make a reservation. Must order: Premium Pork Fillet Katsu, Uni Pasta $$ | Kagura

I recently had a meal at the Gardena location of Kagura, which is situated in the food court of…read moreTokyo Central. The setup is fast casual: you place your order at the counter, and when it's ready, you can either take it to go or eat in the shared dining hall. I ordered the pork loin plate set (tonkatsu), which came with a fried pork cutlet, shredded cabbage and condiments. The meal also included a bowl of steamed rice and a bowl of miso soup. If you check out the brand's website (kagurausa*com), you'll find six locations in LA County. Each spot might be set up a little differently--some could be full-service restaurants, while others might offer alcohol sales. The location of this store is convenient, and sometimes you just want the meal without the need for a full-service restaurant. The meal, itself, was well-prepared and satisfying.

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 !