Inaba @ Torrance ... The Real Deal

This week, the LA Times published a story on how the Japanese government is looking to create "a sort of bureaucratic Zagat guide" to rate the authenticity of the Japanese restaurants here in the U.S. Truthfully, yes, there are plenty of restaurants here in Los Angeles serving crude versions of the real thing which native Japanese people will never patronize unless forced to by their "sakee"-loving American compadres. And those places do amazingly well cause, afterall, who doesn't love an extra heap of cream cheese in their fried crab roll?

As much as I think an authenticity guide would be helpful, I still don't think the good people of America would let it dictate their food choices. Food is food and the more the better. So bring on the California rolls and pour on the extra-thick teriyaki sauce. $7.95 combo meal with green tea ice cream? Lovely.

That said, if you're one of those few people seeking out authentic Japanese then head to Inaba in Torrance. I'd heard a lot of good things about it and finally made my way down there for lunch today. The menu is pretty extensive with wagyu beef, soba and tempura combinations galore. My super-sized stomach urged me to pick one of the 15 dollar-and-over combos, but the inner Japanese took over with a simple selection of cold zaru soba and tempura. (Authentic Japanese tip #1: Eating the soba cold is a good way to tell just how good the noodles are.)

I was utterly amazed when my tray came out. The noodles were as thin as ramen and nearly translucent. That gave away the fact that this was one of the rare Japanese restaurants in LA which make their own noodles, called te-uchi soba. I was as giddy as a schoolgirl in the springtime. The tempura was pretty good too. Crispy and not overly battered. The takikomi gohan (soy sauce-flavored rice with bits of vegetables) was also well done, but I just couldn't keep my hands off the soba -- slightly soft but nonetheless chewy. Mochi-mochi, is what you might say, I think.

Inaba definitely took me back to Japan. I just kept wondering how good of an experience it was for the handful of Americans in the room who ordered more than they could handle. (Authentic Japanese tip #1: Don't get the chicken teriyaki. It's only there to satiate the gaijin's large stomach. Japanese people really don't eat chicken teriyaki unless it's on a stick.)

Thank god for styrofoam boxes.

Gaja - Lomita

How many okonomiyaki do you think Kobayashi could scarf down in 12 minutes? Sure he ate 53 3/4 dogs at Coney Island, but I'd say by the 5th okonomiyaki he'd forcibly throw down his gloves. Even my friend, who is known as the human garbage can, looked pale after we finished our second "pancake" tonight. (Can anyone think of a better way to describe okonomiyaki? "Pancake" seems misleading.)

As much as I like the okonomiyaki at Gaja I think I'll stick with a "one per visit" policy. It always saddens me when cold, untouched pieces are pushed to the side and forgotten.

My usual lineup at Gaja is this:

1) Gaja salad; Though don't order it if you don't like tuna or dressing-drenched lettuce.
2) Modan Okonomiyaki; Anything on their top ten list is good. The more ingredients the more fun. It's like a party in your mouth!
3) Japanese soupy spaghetti; I had the cabbage and ground beef one tonight. It's light and refreshing. A good way to balance out the okonomiyaki. (See below)
4) Parfait with Pocky sticks; Okay, actually I've never gotten this but I hope to someday. I just need to bring my Lactaid pills.

Super Udon - Torrance

I don't know why, but most old people I know have a perpetual craving for udon. Probably because it's a light meal and it reminds them of the good 'ol pre-war days, whereas ramen has been the post-war staple. Maybe I've been hanging out with my grandma too much but as I drove past this little gem of a stand ( a Big Tommy's in its former life?!) I had a sudden craving for SUPER UDON!Surprisingly, there was a line of people, nearly all Japanese. I had the tempura udon. M size.
Noodles were your typical thick, store bought kind with a passable broth. Shrimp tempura was crunchy but overbattered as you'd typically find in the U.S. Still, there's something uniquely Japanese about this place that'd probably compel me to return. Perhaps it's because udon stands are such a rarity. Or because they have a free dispenser for iced green tea. Maybe it's because there's plastic basins set out for you to separate your tray, ceramic bowl and paper trash after you're finished. That's pretty super if you ask me.
You can also get different flavors of onigiris, chicken salad and some rice bowls. Ooh ooh, and there's shaved ice too.
I recommend this place if you're shopping in Torrance alone (as I was) and you just need something to settle your stomach. Otherwise, it's probably best to try Otafuku across the street.

Chantilly - Lomita

Until I'm proven otherwise, Chantilly in Lomita the best dessert shop in town. I happened upon the place after eating at Gaja (okonomiyaki) this weekend. Chantilly looked like a typical Asian dessert shop with a lot of bite-sized cakes and tarts sitting pretty behind the glass case. (I'm always wary of looks because, more often than not, I end up getting shortchanged with a flaky over/undersweetened, over-buttered waste of money.) I had an apple tart with a light custardy cream (above) and it was excellent! Definitely something you'd find in Tokyo's best pastry shops. They also had fruit tarts, mousses, cream puffs, and cute little bags of cookies. Check it out and tell me what you think. 2383 Lomita Blvd., No. 104, Lomita, (310) 257-9454.