A certain Japanese chef told us about his favorite udon place in Los Angeles (‘better than Japan,’ he claimed) called Otafuku, a hole-in-the-wall Japanese noodle house with homely interior. Otafuku is famous for handmade Soba which comes in 2 types: Seiro (white) and zaru (brown), and handmade udon, served in either cold, hot, soup or dipping sauce form. The menu indicated that their noodle are specially handmade with bottled spring water.
Seiro Soba with cold plum soup. A perfect dish for summer. The seiro soba was nice in texture, smooth and slightly springy, which is different from the usual soba at other places which were more mushy and soft. The plum flavor broth was tasty.
My friend’s Udon with Chicken.
Udon with Eel Tempura. The udon noodle is soft and incredibly light! The yuzu in the broth added a fresh flavor. Very good. Though the unflavored eel was quite bland.
The menu boost about their popular item: Oyakodon (Chicken & Egg Bowl). My goodness this is the best I’ve ever had! The egg was cooked to the perfect timing so it was runny-enough. The sauce was delicious and the chicken very tender. Every bite melts in your mouth. My mouth watered just by thinking about it.
There are lots of non noodle dishes on the menu as well, such as tempura, Uni rice bowl, etc.
Otafuku
16525 S Western Ave. Gardena, CA 90247
I’ve never had soba with cold plum soup before! Is the lemon peel “yuzu”? It is more common to use yuzu. I love eel(anago?) tempura…it should taste good simply a little salted…strange that you found it bland(eel is frozen not fresh maybe?).
[…] views strikes, LAist prefers Captain Kidd’s in Redondo Beach; Potatomato heads for soba at Otafuku and skewers at Nanbankan; and Franklin Avenue stops at the venerable La Super Rica on a Central […]
Oh maybe it is Yuzu~ Oh the eel could used a bit more salt (here in US, everything is most likely frozen).
Have you been to Oumi Sasaya, next to Gaja Moc in Lomita? I really love their udon.
[…] time the topic of “best soba in LA” came up, other than Otafuku , someone recommended Ichimiann Bamboo Garden. Also hidden away in the Torrance/Gardena area, […]
Gardena has great food, my favorite in Torrance is the Bamboo Inn
Your article was very helpful, good photos