Best Restaurants that are Worth The Drive in Hawthorne / Gardena

Absolutely love this place. Food is consistent and so so so good. Thoughtful menu. Love sitting at the counter and watching the chefs cook.

This is the third time I've eaten here in the last few months and it was outstanding, as usual! While we didn't love where they seated us (even though we had made reservations over a month in advance - but now I know what to ask for in the reservation), the food and service were great. The roasted beet hummus, muttabal and fresh-from- the-oven pitas were probably our favorites, but everything was great. Last time I came here, I ordered the roasted beets salad with grilled salmon (also amazing). We also tried two desserts, the knafeh and osmalieh ice cream, both were excellent...and they went great together! I'm looking forward to my next visit!

Everything we ordered was absolutely delicious! We started with the octopus and the caviar. While the octopus was decent, it was slightly overcooked and just okay. In our opinion, the Little Door Caviar was the standout starter—its flavor was far superior. For mains, the Branzino was perfection—crispy and flaky on the outside, tender and soft on the inside. The ribeye was equally fantastic, cooked beautifully and packed with flavor. We finished the meal with the crème brûlée, which was the perfect dessert—smooth, creamy, and with a perfectly caramelized top. The service was impeccable, making the evening truly special. We celebrated my friend’s birthday, and it was a memorable experience from start to finish. We’ll definitely be back!

Our family has been enjoying this wonderful neighborhood Japanese restaurant for years, and it truly feels like a hidden gem. The food is consistently excellent, with fresh and flavorful dishes that impress even our friends with sophisticated palates. At the same time, it is incredibly family-friendly—our two small children are always welcomed with warmth. The service is exceptional, and the prices are almost unbelievably reasonable. While part of us wants to keep this treasure to ourselves, it is simply too good not to share. Highly recommend it for both intimate family dinners and outings with friends!

This app is a great idea in theory but it didn’t help my wait time in the least bit. I made my reservation early in the morning for a 5pm dinner. When I arrived they already had my name down and said it would only be a 5-10 min wait. Awesome. But then 10 min came and went a few times over. I ended up waiting over and hour and twenty minutes to be seated. Loved the food and service. Definitely won’t be using the app again. Too much false hope lol