Azuma Japanese Restaurant — Restaurant in Gardena

Down home narrow shot gun Izakaya with bar style seating on one side & narrow table seating on the other. Larger tables in back. However, this is definitely not a place for large group dining.

The waiters at Azuma are Japanese speakers while most of the cooking staff are Latinos except the head chef who appears to be Japanese. They are an amiable bunch, and it's interesting to see how they react & interact due to their differing cultural upbringing. LA is a great place to see how this intercultural give & take is happening not just between two cultures, but multi-cultures numbering in the hundreds.

We lucked out in that Azuma has late night Happy Hour so there are reduced prices for Sapporo Draft beer in glass for pitcher; Sake (sah keh) flavoured with Yuzu, a Japanese citrus, Katana, Karatamba Sakes; Sho-chu- which is Japanese lower alcohol Vodka with such brands as Yokaichi, Shiranami; and sweet Plum wine. There is a Happy Hour limited menu for food, but I didn't order from the list.

1. Wakasagi is fresh water smelt that is breaded with Panko (pawn koh) & fried. Usually Wakasagi has a light fresh taste, but his version was a bit fishy & a bit over fried.

2. Mu-rugai Ninniku is green mussels with garlic & butter with Panko bread crumbs as a filling. Again the mussels were over baked leading to extreme dryness.

1-2a) The Nihon Katana Sakè (sah keh) was a good mating for the above cutting through the oil and palate cleanser to some of the fishiness. Katana is dry, hints of Sugi or Japanese cedar, clean finish with a hint of sweetness.

The prices were certainly reasonable for these small dishes and the quantity was large, but I just didn't get the impression of really finely tuned cooking. Perhaps I didn't order the restaurant's high points. For now, it borders...

Great Japanese restaurant! Good quality, great pricing. Lunch specials are well worth a visit here. They also have sashimi, traditional entrees, curry and udon on their menu.

Tempura Udon was delish, came with both vegetable tempura and two shrimp tempura.

Sashimi + pork cutlet combo was great, came with cabbage salad and macaroni salad. Sashimi came with daikon, lemon slice, octopus, yellowtail, salmon and tuna (sounded like you could customize your sashimi if desired, e.g. only salmon, etc.). Lots of food between the two orders - we also had a side of rice and miso soup (wasn't sure if it came with the udon or combo, but was plenty for my mom and I).

October 2020 - COVID-19 outdoor dining review. Dining available in the back parking lot under your typical white catering tent. Limited seating, but they had a good system at lunch. If you are waiting they would take your order as other tables were winding down, that way once you were seated your food was ready! Highly efficient. Staff wearing masks, gloves and cleaning between guests. Best for group of 4 or less.

Take out also available - they have a "window" set up on the street side entrance for your...

Ázuma Japanese restaurant .The service is as charming as it gets – picture a smiling waiter always ready to top up your rice or soup, making you feel pampered and cared for.

Now, let's talk about the star of the show: the grilled fish. It's not just right; it's a symphony of flavors that transport you to Japan with each bite. The authenticity here is unbeatable, making every dish a delightful adventure for your taste buds.

But what truly steals the show is the cozy atmosphere that turns every meal into a cherished family moment. This place isn't just about food; it's about creating memories over delicious dishes and heartfelt conversations.

In a nutshell, this Japanese restaurant isn't just a dining spot; it's a delicious journey into tradition and hospitality. You'll leave with a full belly, a happy heart, and a craving to come...