Furaibo Japanese Restaurant — Restaurant in Gardena

I’ve been a loyal customer of FuRaiBo since 1995. This time, I had the chance to visit their outlet near my hotel in December 2024, as I usually go to the one on Sawtelle Street.

Unfortunately, I feel this restaurant needs improvement. When I visited at 7 PM, the place was surprisingly quiet, with only two tables occupied.

This was especially noticeable compared to the restaurant next door, like Boiling Point, which had a long line of customers waiting.

The menu feels outdated, and the taste, which I used to enjoy, now seems ordinary—nothing special to note. Health-wise, the food also felt a bit concerning. Most dishes were deep-fried or grilled.

The steak I ordered had visible burnt char marks. It seemed like the grill they used wasn’t cleaned properly, as the burnt residue clearly came from previous usage.

If asked whether I would return, my honest answer would be no. I think this outlet could benefit from refreshing its menu, improving...

This was a small, quaint place tucked in a shopping center like area with other Asian eats. The food was not bad, but I couldn't say that it was good either. Let me preface though that we make these dishes at home, and IMO are better homemade. The chicken wings lacked.....chicken. Where did the meat go? The bento was large, but the flavor was subpar for what I had expected. Chicken katsu was crunchy, but the sauce was off (you can always tell a good place by the flavor of their katsu sauce!). Teriyaki steak was tender, but again the sauce was off. Hoise salad dressing was not as flavorful as I hoped and the sides were meh. Miso soup was comforting but lacked tofu and some flavor. Overall, I'm glad we tried it, but I...

Absolutely loved it. Those wings and even better the thigh/leg (CHITA) combo is fantabulous. Saw the owner there and he came and took our order very pleasantly and with the vibe of great customer service. The eggplant topped with sweet miso sauce and the rice ball in either soy sauce or miso is just as great. To top it all off the prices are extremely affordable (and this comes from someone who has no problem spending $150+ for 2 people just because and why not when it comes to good food)and as Im typong this review Im about to call in an order to take home tonight. Sidenote: If you're up to it drink a large hot sake (its only $6)...