Loved this authentic Japanese spot and it's lowkey a hidden gem because the front of the restaurant…read moreis tucked away in an alley with other stores surrounding it. Walking in there's plenty of seating and gives Izakaya vibes. One thing I love about this place is their portions and price. I got their special chicken cutlet combo which came with California rolls, udon, rice salad, katsu and miso soup all for $25, thats so good. Even if it was $30 I feel like thats solid for what you get. All of it was delicious and I loved the katsu most of all. Would definitely come back and bring my family.

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.

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.

Its not easy giving all full 5 star review. I looove this spot. Not a conventional Izakaya, they…read moredont have many small side dishes, but thats not why I come here. I come here for the Yakitori. Errmugurrd hands down my fav dedicated yakitori place. The charcoal grilled sweetness smacks you in the face as soon as you walk in. If its your first time, its like sushi for chicken grilled skewers. The best parts are the unconventional chicken parts you dont usually eat. Chicken, heart, liver, gizzards, all of that so good. Dont forget the chicken meatballs, and some pork belly omgaawd. I prefer this place over newer trendier spots, ha smore character i guess. Service has always been good. Usually plenty of parking.

The hearts are super tender! Order:…read moreHearts Liver Special shiro (special pork intestines, really good if you like intestines!) Shishamo (on the special menu) Ika yaki (think of like a deconstructed takoyaki without the carbs) Chicken meatball Chicken thigh Gizzard was also very good Duck Cartilage Chicken oyster Beef tongue (only alright compared to other spots) Pork belly with shiso Tail Everything was super tender! Would come again! Heart, gizzard and special shiro we ordered more of! Food was so good that I didn't take any pictures haha

A Japanese friend recommended this restaurant to me and I personally really liked the food…read more The rolls and sushi were fresh and the karaage and other side dishes were also good. The sauce that came with the shrimp sushi had a little kick and was really addictive so we ended up ordering a lot of it. The soups were good too. The wait can get pretty long, so I'd recommend making a reservation.

Waka Sakura (located upstairs in Tokyo Central) offers a fantastic, premium sushi experience with a…read morefun, high-tech twist. ​Exceptional Quality: Everything is made-to-order via tablet using premium, in-house milled rice and fresh, generous cuts of fish that rival high-end sushi bars. ​Fun Delivery: Your food arrives rocketed straight to your booth on a slick, two-tiered express conveyor belt. ​Must-Try Dishes: The Tuna Lovers Plate, Salmon Party Platter, and the incredibly crispy deep-fried salmon belly. ​It gets busy on weekends, but you can easily shop downstairs while you wait. Highly recommended for a high-quality, 5-star meal!

Otafuku is gass. Everything I had was insanely delicious. There were 5 of us and the appetizers all…read morehad 5 pieces which was perfect. The first thing I tried was the Sizzling Mushroom Gravy over Crispy Rice; The dish was to die for and my personal favorite thing I tried. I don't even know how to describe how flavorful and well put together the gravy was with mushroom pieces that were perfectly soft and easy to eat. Next was the salad which was so fresh, citrusy, and tasty; It was salty and all the flavors complemented each other so well forming a perfect citrusy salad. After that was the shrimp tempura. It was not too fried/flaky. It was kind of like a taquito. The shrimps flavor was very fresh with a complementary umami flavor. The Sardine Sashimi was super high quality. It was super soft and fatty and ended with a heavy pleasant fishy flavor. The miso grilled cod was great. Not much to say about it was almost creamy and the miso was good. I ate the skin too and it tasted great. The main part of this place is the soba. The kikouchi soba are thicker 100% buckwheat noodles that were very well cooked and pleasant to eat. The Plum "Ume" broth was so refreshing and nice. I ate it cold; I probably would have preferred it hot but the is just a personal preference. The Ginger Pork was great. The pork itself was super gingery without being too pungent. The shredded cabbage was super easy to pick up and eat and the side of noodle salad and miso soup were great complements to the meal. I can tell no corners were cut anywhere and that Otafuku puts a little of effort into every meal they prepare. There is great care for all of the preparations and it was a very special meal. I felt like I was in Japan for a second as the feel of the restaurant is very "homey" and the ambiance is a nice cheerful atmosphere.

Super authentic. Great service. Literally like I'm teleported to Japan. Had amazing dinner…read more Everything was perfect. I wish I could eat here everyday. If you've never been here try it! Won't regret! Guaranteed!!!

Japanese Italian cuisine is served here and it is delicious- the pasta is perfectly al dente and…read morethe sauce is light but flavorful. It's a small restaurant and they don't take reservation but the way isn't too long. They have both counter seating and a few small tables. Service is quick and friendly-many people have been coming here for years and the kitchen consist of brothers who have been making the pasta for a long time. I enjoyed the clam pasta, and my boyfriend got the spinach bacon pasta, which he says he orders every time! They are simple but delicious.

Great spot that's on the corner of the street! My parents have been bringing me and my sister to…read morethis spot for years. This was one of the spots they went to when they first started dating many many years ago. It's definitely nostalgic every time we eat here. So glad to see that they're still here and thriving. There's a small parking lot in the back and street parking available. The restaurant is pretty small and only has 4 tables, but lots of bar style seatings. Lines can get pretty long but service is pretty quick. Crazy since they still have their $1 salad still available! It's such a good deal and the salad dressing is delicious. All of their pastas had been delicious. They have a lot of fusion pastas.

We dined here for lunch on Thursday with s group of 12. The experience was fantastic from start to…read morefinish. First the ambiance - very pleasing surroundings. The waiters were very kind as patient - especially since I was a first timer here. So I asked for advice and got the eel with cucumber, yellowtail and tuna. The lens came on a special tray in open tender shells. Perfect for adding sauces and eating with your hands without making a mess. It was hard to pick a favorite but the eel was perfectly flavored and tasted great. Everything was exceptionally presented and very appealing. I had hot tea and received several refill without asking. Turned out everyone in our group wanted to pay individually. The waitress was super patient and handle our payments like a pro and kept a smile the entire time. I really want to come back here again. I believe it's better to make a reservation so I'll keep that in mind. Parking was easy. The lot is not huge and supports several other businesses and restaurants but I find a spot as soon as. I entered the lot. This place had my highest recommendation.

What a great experience! Great service, great food, and a wonderful Japanese vibe…read more Everything was tasty. I loved the salads, the Karaage was outstanding, the fried tofu was okay, and the suminomo was good. The hand-rolls were awesome! The various dressings and toppings were really good. The nori wrap was crunchy and brought a lot of flavor. The fish was fresh and flavorful. For desert, we chose the Sweet Potato Brulee. It was perfect and the ice cream was very high quality. Our server was from Japan and very hospitable and helpful. All in all perfect lunch!

One of my friends has been coming here since they were little and has been recommending it forever…read more I had been once a couple years ago, but was happy to come back with family! It was pretty busy on a Sunday evening, but after about a 5-minute wait for a table to be cleaned, we were seated. The space had a lively, casual vibe -- definitely a popular spot for dinner. I love seafood, but I also really wanted to try the katsu, so even though I'm not a big eater, I went with Combo D... which was huge. Honestly, I think it could easily feed two people. The side soup and bread came out almost immediately. The soup was simple but nice with a bit of pepper, and the bread was so good -- warm, soft, and buttery (I had to pace myself knowing what was coming). The pasta was delicious -- the clams weren't overly "clammy" (lol), and the cream sauce was light and not too heavy. The katsu was crispy and satisfying, and the salad added a nice, refreshing balance. Everything worked really well together. I ended up taking a good portion home, and even reheated, it was still just as good! Overall, a great spot with generous portions and solid food. I'd definitely come back and would recommend it to others!

WHY AKANE CHAYA? - Ever since 1991 a staple in Gardena…read more - Budget friendly pricing and portions - Craving Japanese-Italian besides Spoon House FOOD 4/5 Hamburger Steak & Pork Cutlet with Demi-Glace Sauce 4/5 - h.steak was soft and went well with the sauce - cutlet wasn't fatty Shrimp Spicy Tomato Sauce - Sauce isn't as thick as Spoon House, so it depends on what you like better SERVICE 4/5 Both staff members were extremely kind and friendly. No issues PARKING 5/5 Pacific Square Shopping Center has tons of ample parking