A meal at Otafuku in Gardena is a memorable experience and is definitely in our top ten places for dining out in and around Los Angeles. This family-owned Japanese restaurant, which opened in 1997, specializes in exceptional handmade soba and udon made fresh daily with flour flown in from Japan. The chewy texture and bite of the noodles are perfection. And while the soba is a star on the menu, many other delicious dishes are also a must when ordering. It’s worth noting that it is one of the few places the kids will happily drive 45 minutes to because they know that soba awaits! I recommend going during the middle of the day if driving down from LA to avoid traffic. We usually head out around 11:00 am to get there when they open around 11:30 am. Check their hours and days open, as they close between lunch and dinner service.
Here is a round-up of our favorite dishes we always order when we go:
Seaweed and Mixed Green Salad
Vegetable Tempura
Japanese Omelet
Berkshire Pork Cutlet
Petite Tuna Bowl
Seiro Soba
Zaru Soba Soup
