I’m a Los Angeles Local and I Think These Sleepy Suburbs Are the City’s Best Food Neighborhoods—Here’s How to Visit

Los Angeles is many things. It’s the capital of the entertainment industry, one of the country’s most beloved beach towns, and one of the most culturally diverse places in the world, with 224 languages spoken across the region. But above all, L.A. is a food city—and one of the best in the country. 

When people say “Los Angeles,” they’re often referring not just to the city itself, but to Los Angeles County, which spans 88 cities and is home to more than 9 million people (that’s a bigger population than 40 U.S. states). I’ve lived in the L.A. area for eight years, and while glamorous spots like Santa Monica and West Hollywood tend to get the lion’s share of attention, I’m partial to the South Bay— specifically Gardena and Torrance. 

Unlike their more famous siblings, like Redondo Beach and Manhattan Beach, these two cities are almost entirely landlocked, save for a small stretch of coastline in southern Torrance. This isn’t where you go for palm tree-lined strolls or boutique shopping. But if you’re looking for a true only-in-Los-Angeles experience, this is where you’ll find it.

Gardena and Torrance are home to the largest Japanese American populations in the U.S. outside of Hawaii. Many of L.A.’s original Japanese immigrants settled in Gardena in the mid-1800s, when it was a key agricultural hub—strawberries were one of the main crops, earning it the nickname, “Berryland.” Later, the arrival of Japanese companies like Honda and Toyota (before the latter relocated to Texas in 2017) helped cement the cities as integral hubs for L.A.’s Japanese American community.

Little Tokyo often steals the spotlight, but Gardena and Torrance’s Japanese American roots run just as deep. And if you’re willing to make the drive down the 10, you’ll discover some of the best food in the Southland, ranging from raucous izakayas to handmade noodle spots. Sure, there are flashier places to visit—but will they be as tasty?

Here’s what you need to know before visiting two of Los Angeles’ best (and most underrated) food neighborhoods, Gardena and Torrance.

Best Places to Eat

Karaage and kitsune udon from Gaburi Chicken in Torrance.

Mae Hamilton/Travel + Leisure

Gaburi Chicken

One of the neatest things about Gardena and Torrance is that you can often find American outposts of Japanese brands here, and a tasty example is Gaburi Chicken. This chain was founded in Nagoya in 2010 and takes a more modern, youthful spin on the traditional izakaya experience. Rather than beer and shochu (though you can certainly order that), citrus highballs reign supreme, and you can choose either a grapefruit, orange, or lemon soda, which comes with a fresh fruit branded with the Gaburi logo. As the name suggests, Gaburi Chicken specializes in karaage (Japanese fried chicken), which you can choose to enjoy in a set meal with rice and pickles, in a burger, or even with ramen.

Otafuku

This is truly one of the South Bay’s best-kept secrets. Otafuku has a nondescript storefront off of Western Avenue, and it’s one of those places you’d simply pass by if you didn’t know it was there. Enter from the parking lot in the back, and you’ll find a cozy, family-owned restaurant that’s been a stalwart landmark in Gardena ever since it opened in 1997. This is a place where people come to unwind, and you’ll notice a “bottle keep,” a wall where customers have purchased bottles of spirits that they can sip from each time they visit. However, the stars of the show here are its handmade soba and udon noodles, made fresh daily by owner and noodle master Seiji Akutsu. In terms of soba, the delicate all-white seiro is a customer-favorite, but I’m a fan of the hot udon noodles—spring for the unagi udon, which comes with the largest slab of perfectly fried eel I’ve ever seen.  

Sushi Inaba

The South Bay is absolutely spoiled with good sushi restaurants, so it can be hard to pick just one place. But Sushi Inaba earned the South Bay’s first and only Michelin star in 2022, making it a serious contender as the best sushi restaurant in the area. The dining space has just a handful of seats, so you’ll need a reservation to eat here. Though there are chirashi bowls and handroll sets available for purchase at lunch, the main attraction is the omakase dinner, created by chef Yasuhiro Hirano, who likes to use cuts of rare fish (think: monkfish liver, shirako, and aged skipjack) in his creations. While an omakase dinner will set you back about $300 per person, expect a once-in-a-lifetime level dining experience with super fresh fish and a creative spin.  

Curryfornia 

Japanese curry may be the ultimate comfort food, and Curryfornia has the craft down to an art and science. Many restaurants simply serve boxed curry—but that’s not the case at Curryfornia, where you can enjoy curry made from scratch. The menu here is very unfussy—diners simply choose white or brown rice, their preferred spice level, three free toppings such as fried onions, sweet corn, and potato salad, as well as a protein such as classic katsu (fried pork tenderloin), fried shrimp, or karaage. There’s only one table on-site with a couple of chairs, so make backup plans to eat at a nearby park or at home. But come early: Curryfornia frequently sells out well before closing time.

Hakata Ikkousha Tonkotsu Ramen

There are quite literally dozens of ramen shops throughout the South Bay, and you honestly can’t go wrong with any of them (and as any ramen connoisseur knows, ramen preferences can be deeply personal). However, one of the favorites in the area is Hakata Ikkousha Tonkotsu Ramen, which originally hails from Fukuoka and serves Hakata-style ramen, aka tonkotsu or pork bone broth-based ramen. There are some wild options on the menu, like the “black” (it’s flavored with black garlic) or “god fire” options (it’s doused in dried chilis), but most folks usually go for the classic tonkotsu, which is thick and rich from being gently boiled for up to nine hours.

Best Things to Do

The amphitheater at the Pine Wind Garden.

Discover Torrance

Have a quiet moment at the Pine Wind Garden.

This little-known spot opened in 1991 in the Torrance Cultural Arts Center Campus, and was designed by National Landscape Award winner Takeo Uesugi, a Japanese American landscape architect who specialized in Japanese gardens. Here, you’ll find a classic koi pond with two small waterfalls surrounded by elegant bonsai trees. Completely free and open to the public (they also accommodate events), it’s a nice place to steal away a quiet moment in the heart of Torrance. 

Attend a festival at the Gardena Buddhist Church.

Gardena Buddhist Church was founded in 1926 by early Japanese immigrants to Gardena. The church is a Jodo Shinshu Hongwanji-ha temple, part of the most widely practiced branch of Buddhism in Japan. Whether you’re hoping to learn more about Buddhism or simply gain a deeper understanding of Japanese American culture, this is a great site to visit. The church has a gorgeous main hall, a meditation room, plus a Japanese-style garden with a koi pond. There are events and workshops held throughout the year, but some of the most memorable include its Obon Festival, an event that honors the memories of people who have passed. The temple is celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2026.

Take a class at the Gardena Valley Japanese Cultural Institute.

This little-known institution was originally founded in 1912 as a Japanese language school, but over the years, it has expanded its scope and purpose. Today, the Gardena Valley Japanese Cultural Institute is a pillar of the South Bay Japanese American community, and while you can definitely still take language classes, the center also provides meals for seniors, holds events and festivals, and hosts fun workshops. Some upcoming classes and events include a mochi-making demonstration, a Japanese New Year foods workshop, and an art show.

Best Places to Shop

Tokyo Central 

Here’s a little secret: you don’t actually need to fly all the way to Japan to stock up on Japanese ingredients, household essentials, kitchen supplies, and skincare. There are two Tokyo Central locations in Gardena (as well as one in Torrance), but I recommend heading to the one on Artesia, which bills itself as the largest Japanese supermarket in California at 45,000 square feet. Tokyo Central is owned by Japan’s Don Quijote, the beloved multi-sensory overload discount stores that can be found all across the country. In addition to all the kitchen ingredients you may need, there’s a food court with curry, karaage, and takoyaki shops, as well as a hot deli. I love spending a couple of hours browsing the skincare aisle, where I can find brands that I previously only thought I could buy in Japan, such as Hada Lobo, Sana Nameraka Honpo, and Kaena Nadeshiko. And for the best (yes, the actual best) conveyor belt sushi experience in L.A., head upstairs to Waka Sakura, which specializes in nigiri, rolls, and hot items like udon and fried squid.

Boogie Maru

For city pop fans, there’s no better destination than Boogie Maru, a small but mighty record store located in the same strip mall as Curryfornia. Though there’s a nice selection of every genre you can think of, from international folk, jazz, and classic rock, the real gem here is the nice variety of city pop albums. All records are in pristine condition, and I’ve lost more than a few hours browsing the selection here. 

Chikara Mochi

For the prettiest wagashi creations you’ve ever laid eyes upon, head to Chikara Mochi, a little mom-and-pop shop located on Western Avenue. There are a variety of classic daifuku (mochi stuffed with red beans) to choose from, but the real knockouts here are the mochi that are themed around flowers, seasons, and small animals. Even though the creations are around the size of a child’s palm, they’re decorated with vivid, colorful scenes like koi swimming in a pond, bunnies enjoying the smell of flowers, and some are even shaped to resemble peaches, oranges, and apples—they’re truly works of art. You’ll also find seasonal favorites such as delicate sakuramochi (rice cake dyed a pastel shade of pink, filled with red bean, and wrapped in a pickled cherry blossom leaf) in the spring. Note: the business is cash-only and they often sell out well before their usual 4 p.m. closing time, especially on the weekends. 

Meiji Tofu

I hate to be one of those people, but tofu does actually taste much different in East Asia, and if I’d only ever eaten American tofu, I’d hate it too. To try the real thing without the plane ticket, you’ll need to stop by Meiji Tofu, which makes fresh, Japanese-style tofu every day—it’s the only shop of its kind in the L.A. area. There’s a variety of different tofu types that you can pick from, ranging from classic soft tofu to ”supreme” varieties, which are made with twice as many soybeans. My personal favorite thing to get is the soy milk that comes in pint or half-gallon servings. If you can’t make it down to Meiji’s brick-and-mortar, you can find their products at Tokyo Central and Nijiya Market.

Hitachiya USA

This neat specialty store sells Japanese cookware and knives. Hitachiya was originally established in 1956 in Tokyo’s Tsukiji Market and opened its American outpost in 2011. You’ll find a wide variety of high-end kitchenware here, and the shop also offers knife sharpening services and lessons. 

Nightlife

Courage Piano Lounge + Nobusas Coffee

Going to a Japanese jazz bar is a rite of passage for Tokyo visitors, but luckily, there’s one conveniently situated in Gardena. Courage Piano Lounge has exactly zero reviews on both Google and Yelp, and the signage can be easy to miss in the bustling Tozai Plaza strip mall—it’s one of those places that you simply have to know is there by word of mouth. You’ll be able to enjoy classy piano music and highballs in the evenings, but this little piano lounge also plays host to one of the most popular coffee pop-ups in the city, which one Instagram commenter accurately described as “harder to get into than a Taylor Swift concert.” Nobusas Coffee is run by coffee master Nobu Nobukazu Sasaki, and he roasts and grinds all of his beans himself. He specializes in Nel Drip coffee, which produces a smoother, sweeter, and milder coffee. If you can manage to snag a seat (he posts reservations time slots on his Instagram a few times per month), I recommend getting the classic Vienna coffee and the coffee jelly.

Best Places to Stay

Miyako Hybrid Hotel

The Miyako Hybrid Hotel is one of the few Japanese-style properties that you’ll find in the Los Angeles area. During a stay here in one of the hotel’s 208 rooms (including 12 suites), guests will be able to enjoy luxe linens, Japanese-style soaking tubs, and plenty of natural light that flows in through floor-to-ceiling windows. Locals in the know often head to the on-site Ise-Shima, which specializes in teishoku (set meals) dining as well as sushi. The restaurant also has American and Japanese breakfast buffets. Though I certainly recommend renting a car when visiting the South Bay, you could easily walk to the strip mall that houses Hakata Ikkousha Tonkotsu Ramen in about five minutes. 

Terranea Resort 

This hotel is actually located in the nearby community of Ranchos Palos Verdes, but with views like these, I think the short (and scenic) drive is more than worth it. Terranea Resort is perhaps one of the few true resort-style stays in the Los Angeles area, and the Mediterranean-style property has 582 rooms ranging from standard guest rooms to multi-bedroom casitas. Though it’s about a 30-minute drive from both Gardena and Torrance, there’s nothing quite like waking up to the sounds and sights of the Pacific Ocean. 

Bluestem Hotel

For a boutique-style stay in the thick of Torrance, consider booking a reservation at the Bluestem Hotel. There are just 58 rooms here, all of which have a fun coastal Californian aesthetic. A stay here gets you perks like complimentary parking, coffee, and access to a fitness center stocked with all the essentials. The courtyard is outfitted with several fire pits and is a nice place to hang out, and the property regularly hosts outdoor yoga classes as well.