Otafuku is a Japanese soba noodle house in Gardena that has been around for approximately 20 years. Despite their longevity, they are relatively unknown. I happened to find them while performing a Yelp search when I had a hankering for Japanese noodles.
While Otafuku has a sign in front of the building, the blinds are lowered and there is no “open” sign. If you simply walked or drove by this establishment, you would never know that the business was open. Access to the restaurant is through the back door in the alley via 166th Street near Western Ave.
If you are fortunate enough to get a parking space in the back, you make your way through the narrow hallway towards the front of the restaurant. You then walk by the kitchen, where you are greeted by the family that is working in the kitchen. They quietly nod to you in appreciation for your visit.
Otafuku is best known as a Japanese noodle house that specializes in soba. This type of Japanese noodle has been gaining in popularity because it is not wheat-based like udon and best of all, is gluten-free. They serve soba noodles both cold and hot. In the evening, the menu expands to izakaya items with skewered meats and sashimi.
Oyakodon is one of their most popular lunch items. This one-pan dish is where onions, chicken, and egg are simmered in an umami-rich dashi-based sauce. The chicken/egg/onion mixture is then placed over a bowl of steamed rice. You can think of it as an omelet made with chicken and sliced onions. The best part is the sauce because it gives the dish a sweet and salty boost.
Their Special Seiro noodle is made with the hearts of the white soba seed. It has a mellow flavor and quickly takes on the taste of the supplied dipping sauce. Served cold, it is a great dish to order on a hot day.
The regular zaru (buckwheat) soba is what they use as a foundation for many of their dishes. Hot and cold soba options are served with vegetable or shrimp tempura, or toppings such as grated Japanese yam, daikon radish or tempura flakes. Udon noodle dishes are also available, but many opt for soba because they make their soba noodles in-house.
If you are looking for quality Japanese soba noodles, Otafuku is the place to go. The dinner menu expands to include yakitori, grilled fish, sashimi, and meat appetizers such as karaage chicken.
Don’t forget to enter from the rear of the restaurant!
Otafuku, 16525 S Western Ave, Gardena, CA 90247; 310.532.9348