Twenty eight years ago, Tozai Plaza opened on the corner of Redondo Beach Blvd and Western Ave. in Gardena. The mini mall quickly became the buzz of the Japanese community because they opened new cutting edge restaurants. One of them was Kotohira and it is still operating today. As you drive by the busy intersection,…
Japanese
N Café Features Bento Boxes and More!
According to USA Today, the average lifespan of a restaurant is five years and by some estimates, up to 90 percent of new ones fail within the first year. Chef Yuichi Natori bucked the trend by working for the last 25 years at Chaya Venice. He recently went out on his own and opened N…
Week 11 – Coronavirus Dining in LA
On May 29, Mayor Eric Garcetti said that Los Angeles restaurants can reopen at 60% of their capacity and apply for outdoor dining permits, under social distancing guidelines. This caused many restaurants to scramble and figure out how to re-establish a new norm. In the meantime, many have elected to continue operating as “to go”…
Week 9 – Coronavirus Dining in LA
Dr. Christina Ghaly, director of health services for L.A. County, recently reported some good news suggesting that the effective transmission rate of the coronavirus is slightly decreasing. This is good news for all LA Country residents, but in particular, to small businesses that are weathering the storm. This week I am happy to report two…
Week 8 – Coronavirus Dining in LA
Two months after LA’s restaurant’s were ordered to close their dining rooms, a somber mood still covers LA. Some have figured out how much they need to pay the rent with no dine-in customers and others have simply given up. I continue reviewing restaurants that are currently in operation. Hurry Curry of Tokyo Hurry Curry…
Week 1 – Coronavirus Dining in LA
With the freedom Americans enjoy, I never imagined that our everyday lives would be impacted in such a severe way. Freedom means many things and I used to enjoy the freedom of movement or as Southwest Airlines says “you are now free to move about the country.” I thought it would be interesting to continue…
First Look: Mitsuwa Del Amo Food Court
Mitsuwa Marketplace is a Japanese supermarket that recently moved its flagship store from Western Avenue to the Del Amo Mall. I visited and reviewed the market after it opened. While I like the market-side of the business, I was more interested in the Mitsuwa Del Amo Food Court. Since some of the announced restaurants in…
Mitsuwa Del Amo – First Impressions
Mitsuwa Marketplace is a Japanese supermarket chain located in strategic areas across the U.S. MItsuwa recently moved its Torrance store from its location on 184th and Western and faces Carson Ave. in the Del Amo Mall. The storefront was formerly occupied by Marshalls. Mitsuwa Del Amo distinguishes itself from other Japanese grocery stores by offering…
Otafuku Restaurant, Where Soba Noodle Reigns King
Otafuku is a Japanese soba noodle house in Gardena that has been around for approximately 20 years. Despite their longevity, they are relatively unknown. I happened to find them while performing a Yelp search when I had a hankering for Japanese noodles. While Otafuku has a sign in front of the building, the blinds are…
Kagura Opens in Tokyo Central
Kagura is a Japanese restaurant that specializes in tonkatsu. Their first location is in Old Torrance, an area noted for quality Japanese fare. Their second location is located not too far away in El Segundo. I was surprised to learn that they opened a fast-casual concept in Gardena. Their newest location is located in the…