Top Japanese Restaurant in Artesia
Katsumura
11710 South St Suite 105, Artesia, CA 90701, United States
Get Bento, buddy!Occupying the former location of a shabu shabu restaurant, Katsumura is a Korean katsu restaurant, specializing in gyu katsu. Yakiniku is available after 4pm, as well.Pork katsu bento lunch special-Choice of pork, chicken or shrimp, with rice, salad, macaroni salad, seaweed salad, gyoza, takoyaki & miso soup. A generous amount of food, yet not heavy in the tummy, Katsumuras pork katsu bento lunch special provided a bit of everything. The breaded pork cutlets were cooked a tad too well done for my liking, but still good. The takoyaki tasted great, but sauced thoroughly which made them soggy. The bento provided an ample amount of food for a very great price.Service was great. A gentleman, whom I believe is the owner, greeted everyone and checked on each table during visit. Ample seating inside, the restaurant kept the shabu shabu hooded vents on the ceiling. A woodsy, rustic motif prevails throughout, adding to the ambiance. Parking is at the busy Artesia City Plaza. Katsumura is located in-between BCD & Gerrys Grill.Welcome to the neighborhood, Katsumura! A fine lunch was had & Im looking forward to experiencing their gyu katsu & yakiniku in the very near future. Great food, friendly service & a welcoming environment, I plan to be a regular patron going forward.
Hasu Japanese Izakaya & Grill
2120 Artesia Blvd, Torrance, CA 90504, United States
Wow! This place is the best Japanese izakaya place Ive ever been to in L.A. County! Ive been to a lot over the years, and this place is wayyy above the other restaurants in terms of quality, taste, service and ambience. The restaurant looks new and upscale, and the food plating was minimal yet beautiful. But most importantly, everything tasted fresh and carefully prepared. Amazing!!!
Dip Shabu Shabu
11710 South St Suite 105, Artesia, CA 90701, United States
My review is based on 4 factors - Price, Product, Location and Atmosphere. If you like Japanese Shabu style restaurants youll like this place. The location is small and the prices are fair. There is a u-shaped bar in the center of the restaurant and there are about 20 seats with cook-tops. There are several cuts of meat in 3 sizes and several broth options. Choose your meat cut and size, pick your broth flavor, add your own seasonings. Throw in your vegetables and start cooking your meat. Cook to your liking and pull from the pot and dip in either (or both) of the dipping sauces. Prices are fair and food is good. Parking can be a challenge and there can be a short wait from time to time. Its our favorite local shabu restaurant!
Nanking Indo Chinese Restaurant
18349 Pioneer Blvd #5532, Artesia, CA 90701, United States
Is there a better lunch buffet in Little India? I got Nanking for you, man!$7.95 lunch buffetIm the buffet boss, especially when it comes to Little India. Nanking Chinese restaurant recently opened up in Little India Village, occupying the former home of Tangy Tomato. The cuisine consists of Indian, Chinese & Nepalese dishes.First thing I wanted to try? The Chinese food.Haka noodles & fried rice-Surprisingly well done, the noodles & rice werent oily or salty. Neither were they spicy. These were light & excellent tasting.Hot & sour and sweet corn soup-I found these absolutely delicious! Both were thick & hearty, moreso than the ones Im accustomed to from Chinese restaurants. Rich in flavor, I favored the hot & sour soup because of the savory over the sweet from the sweet corn, but both are fortifying and warming to the soul.Manchurian veggie balls-Looking just like meatballs, the Manchurian veggie balls were mealy in texture, but the sauce contributed a spicy tanginess. Close your eyes, and youll think youre eating meat.Nepalese & Indian food.Bagara baingan-I love me some eggplant, and these were terrific. Fork tender & bright, the bagara baingan were one of the highlights for me.Chicken pakora-Think boneless wings. The chicken pakora were succulent & juicy, with a light, crunchy coating. I can put away about a ton of these watching Walking Dead or Ancient Aliens. Know what Im sayin?Other favorites included daal, paneer, chicken biryani, goat curry & samosas. Unfortunately, no momos (dumplings) are offered during the lunch buffet.Dessert-The buffets dessert section was comprised of fresh fruit (cantaloupe & pineapple), jello & the sinfully addictive mango soufflé-Reminding me of the mango pie filling I make using cans of mango pulp & Knox unflavored gelatin, this was akin to whipped mango pudding. Sweet, but not too sweet. Slightly ethereal, but enough substance to coat the tastebuds with the flavor profile of sweet Indian mango. I demonstrated the utmost restraint & kept myself from taking the entire tray of mango souffle for myself.Service was good. My plates were cleared in a timely manner & my soda water w/lime filled. Plenty of table seating inside, hospitable to large groups & gatherings. Several flatscreen TVs with Indian music videos & the BBC for your viewing pleasure.Parking is in a private lot at Little India Village. Be mindful that parking is strictly enforced. Your car may be towed if you leave to walk down Pioneer Blvd. Nanking Chinese is on the second floor of the South Wing of the shopping center.Feel like a king for a paupers price! Nanking Chinese offers up delicious Indian/Chinese/Nepalese cuisine at a bargain basement price. I immensely enjoyed helping myself to the lunch buffet, the highlights being the chicken pakora, bagara baingan, the samosas, the soup. Pretty much the entire buffet. Nanking Chinese is a welcome addition to the competitive Little India market & Ill be a frequent visitor whenever my tummy hankers for Himalayan food once more.Highly recommend!NOMNOMNOMNOMNOMNOMNOMNOM
Kagura Gardena
1740 Artesia Blvd, Gardena, CA 90248, United States
Located in the food court of Tokyo Central in Gardena, this Japanese Tonkatsu restaurant is an authentic hidden gem for Tonkatsu lovers?Tried their pork Katsudon set (you have a choice between pork or chicken also) and the pork upon first bite was juicy and meat was very tender. Outside katsu was crunchy, the pork is lean and didnt have any fat too. Miso soup and cabbage salad was fresh and not instant, I would visit this place again. 5 stars??
Rascals Teriyaki Grill
1540 Artesia Blvd, Gardena, CA 90248, United States
I have been a Rascals fan for decades and even used to bring friends here, but Im so disappointed by whats happened at this location.First, the quality of their Chinese Chicken Salad has really declined. They seem to be be cutting the amount of chicken and other things in it, while expanding the amount of cheap lettuce to act as a filler. At the same time theyve raised their prices considerably over the last few years. I understand that costs go up, but it barely seems like a chicken salad anymore. The cost isnt worth it.Secondly, the restaurant is poorly maintained, and has been for quite a while now. I think they only wipe down the tables once per day, because for the last 2 years every time we go in they are dirty and sticky no matter which ones we try. Sometimes the seats are too. Also a few of the tables are so wobbly that your drinks spill out if you bump it. Additionally, they repair the upholstery on the seats with duct tape, and have been for a long time. The tape gets worn and sticks to your clothes and leaves residue.
Pepper Lunch
11632 South St #103, Artesia, CA 90701, United States
Put pep in your step (along with your lunch) at Pepper LunchOriginally planning lunch at Mian Sichuan Gourmet Noodles, only to find its closed on Tuesdays, Plan B became neighboring Pepper Lunch. Pepper Lunch has been in business at this location for awhile, but Ive been reticent to dine here, as pics of their signature beef pepper rice seemed rather meager. The rice seems to be the main, and the beef more the side dish. Still, wanting to give businesses a fair shake, I dropped in, hoping to select a winning entree.Salmon & Angus cut steak Combo Deluxe-The Combo Deluxe comes with choice of 2 proteins - chicken/hamburg/Angus cut steak/salmon. Im not too fond of the taste of salmon, but Pepper Lunchs salmon only had a subtle hint of it. The skin was also left on, which adds greatly to the overall taste. The Angus cut steak was perfectly medium rare, the succulent fat melting upon my tastebuds. The corn, beansprouts, green beans & carrot medallions rounded out the dish. The onion rings brought everything together, bringing their crunchy texture.Service was okay. Upon walking in, there are 2 tablets to place orders. They didnt seem to be up & running, so I just went to the register & had staff take my order. At the time, only takeout & outdoor dining is permitted. I chose a table, and hardly waited at all till my food arrived, sizzling hot. Unfortunately, I was never checked upon, and when asking for a cup of water while ordering, I was told Pepper Lunch only sells bottled water to customers. Parking is via a private lot at the Fresh Catch shopping center.Despite not having staff come by my table once while dining outdoors, nor offering water cups to paying customers, Im willing to forego those minor offenses for the very delicious Combo Deluxe lunch I had. Having 2 protein options, I found the portions to be reasonable, and the quality of the Angus cut steak & salmon were both up to snuff. Having arrived home after eating, I found a Pepper Lunch flyer in the mail with coupons, including BOGO Free Entree. Suffice to say, Im a fan & Ill certainly be back!
South Bay Rice Things
2401 Artesia Blvd UNIT 105, Redondo Beach, CA 90278, United States
I used to come here three times a week, but it’s so sad that this restaurant has changed! It’s disappointing! They changed the menu and I miss the traditional menu they had. They used to serve bigger portions as well. I bet they’re going to lose a lot of customers with all the change. I’m starting to look at other traditional Japanese restaurants nearby.
Tampopo
11700 South St #104, Artesia, CA 90701, United States
We were in the area, hoping to get hot pot but unfortunately, everybody seemed to have the same idea so we settled for the second best option - ramen. Looked up the options in the area and Tampopo seemed pretty promising. Theyre located in a very busy plaza with decent parking (spaces are quite tight). When we went, they didnt have dine-in just yet - everything was packaged to-go, but there were outdoor tables if you wanted to eat outside.The lunch specials that they have here seem really cheap but the regular prices arent too bad either. All sushi rolls are already 50% off - not sure if it was always this way, but with the markdown, prices range from $6-8, which is on the cheaper side considering the fact that youre getting various rolls besides the basic ones.Opted for the ramen set of the tampopo ramen (regular size) with sesame chicken for $14.95. I asked for the ramen to be spicy, but since the worker said the spice level is a little high, I opted for the sauce to be on the side so that I could spice up the ramen/broth to my preference. If youre planning to eat outside, I recommend ordering the regular size as the soup is filled about halfway so that you can still have enough room to add the ramen. All of the ramen options use the same broth of pork and chicken bone (not sure about vegetable). I thought the broth was just okay; first sip was decent, but as I kept eating the ramen, it just got more and more oily. Ramen wasnt anything special but the most disappointing part was the chashu - had no color, lots of fat, and tasted a bit rubbery. About halfway, it became more of a chore to finish the ramen.We also ordered another ramen set with 4 pieces of California roll for $11.50. Since it was the large size, I believe we compensated for the larger bowl. This was super hard to eat since the broth was filled to the brim. My friend had to do some adjusting but eventually made it work. He was pretty disappointed with the overall ramen and barely finished the chashu because of the amount of fat.The only redeeming items from the dinner were the items that came with the ramen. Sesame chicken was pretty good. I could pair it with a bowl of rice and make that a meal. Chicken not only smelled good, but had good sesame flavor and came with sauce as well as a small salad. The California roll was alright. Tasted on point and came with ginger and some wasabi.tl; dr - The trash was over-flowing and nobody cleaned the tables outside, so its up to the customers to make sure you have a pretty clean spot. Im no ramen connoisseur, but even I felt like the quality was a little subpar. Broth, noodles, and meat werent great. Maybe Id come back for the sushi, but I wouldnt order ramen from this place again.
Maruichi Bento
12206 Artesia Blvd, Artesia, CA 90701, United States
Formerly Falafel Shack in yesteryears, Maruichi Bento is a takeout only spot, since its, quite literally, a hole in the wall. A simple menu, consisting of assorted musubi and their specialty bentos. Choice of protein for the bentos are beef, pork, or what I ordered, chicken.Chicken karaage bento-Wow! Theres something about that breading. Crispy, crunchy coating, surrounding delicious, juicy chicken thigh meat. I found the amount of chicken reasonable. The cabbage came w/o dressing. I assume the lemon slice was meant to be the dressing, but I used a bit of the included karaage sauce to alleviate the dry cabbage.Calling in orders is the preferred method of ordering, as there will be a wait. Customers can wait in their cars, and the staff will bring their orders out to them.Service was okay. As a walk-in, I was told my order would take about 20-25 minutes, which was fine, since I was headed over to Pampangas Bakery. Meaning to have a quick lunch w/ the top of the nearby 7-Eleven trash bin as my dining table, I picked my food earlier than anticipated, only to find out utensils werent provided. I came back to pick them up, and when I arrived back at my dining table, I noticed no sauce was included. Again, I had to come back. Minor inconveniences, since I was a few doors down, in front of the 7-Eleven. However, if I took my order home, not having the karaage sauce wouldve been a buzzkill.Parking is via a small shared lot. Mariuchi Bento is located on the right of Dominos Pizza, at the 7-Eleven plaza.Minor guffaws, notwithstanding, I immensely enjoyed Mariuchi Bentos chicken karaage. The succulent chicken was on point, and I was happy with the lunch I had. Im looking forward to coming back and trying their beef & pork bentos.