Deliciously Messy Teriyaki Burgers, A Bowling Alley Coffee Shop And Secret Sushi: It's Cheap Fast Eats Gardena

Can you believe it?

We’ve reached the 10th edition of Cheap Fast Eats, where we scour the L.A. area looking for delicious dishes you can enjoy quickly that won’t break the bank (as in, around $10).

That means we've been to 50 restaurants. For those keeping track, we’ve visited places such as Culver City, Silver Lake, Pasadena, Long Beach, and Inglewood, looking to dig deep into tasty deals.

This time around, we end up in an often-overlooked South Bay city, Gardena. With its sizable population of Asian, Black, and Latino residents, the cultures meld together to represent something distinctively Southern Californian, and yet all its own.

From big-portioned Hawaiian dishes to the perfect Italian sandwich, it’s time to dig in.

This is Cheap Fast Eats Gardena.

Gardena Bowl Coffee Shop

Yes, this restaurant is in a bowling alley. Upon entering the building, just to your left is the Gardena Bowl Coffee Shop entrance.

The space is always brimming with customers, both bowlers and non-bowlers alike. Like many, we became familiar with Gardena Bowl Coffee Shop when it was featured in the Netflix series Breakfast Lunch and Dinner, hosted by Momofuku chef, owner, and now SoCal resident David Chang.

Gardena Bowl and Coffee Shop on S. Vermont Ave.

(

Brian Feinzimer

/

LAist

)

Customers and employees at the counter at the Gardena Bowl Coffee Shop.

(

Brian Feinzimer

/

LAist

)

Despite that fame, the coffee shop still maintains the look and feel of a local hangout. Many regulars sit at the small counter and chat with the staff, catching up on life, ready to indulge in some of their favorite comfort food.

Specializing in Hawaiian cuisine, Gardena Bowl Coffee Shop serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner so there's much to choose from. Selections such as club sandwiches and pancakes are solid dishes.

But the real magic happens in the Asian-meets-Pacific-Island-inspired cuisine.

One excellent option is the donburi, made of steamed eggs with added chicken katsu over a bed of rice garnished with pickled ginger.

Top it off with some of their spicy mustard, which brings a sinus-clearing kick that’s always welcomed, cause who doesn’t want to feel something when consuming a good meal? That being said, it’s okay if you don’t finish everything. Take the rest to go. This dish and many others save well; the portions here are never lacking.

Pitburger

What is it about a good take-out window that always attracts us? The no-frills ordering while standing at a metal counter is forever charming. Pitburger is the perfect example of this.

The visual style of the place screams neighborhood institution, judging from the crowds of middle schoolers who spill out onto the sidewalk, stopping by for a quick bite on the way home along with construction workers, who line up in their safety vests and t-shirts.

Pittburger on Normandie Ave.

(

Brian Feinzimer

/

LAist

)

A double teriyaki burger and Orange Bang at Pitburger.

(

Brian Feinzimer

/

LAist

)

Teriyaki is the name of the game here. As soon as you get out of your car, the smell of the sweet, charred meat wafts in the air, letting you know you are in the right place. While many tend to order the rice bowls, the teriyaki burger holds a special place in our hearts.

You might wonder, what’s so special about a burger patty smothered in teriyaki sauce — and do they add pineapple? Let me stop you right there and dispel any burger patty-shaped notions you may have.

The “burger” is a decently sized sliced flank steak that's expertly shellac-ed in sweet teriyaki sauce, a couple of leaves of iceberg lettuce all piled just right on a sesame seed bun slathered with a sensible bit of mayo.

Have your choice of single, double, or triple-stacked cuts of steak, depending on your hunger level. The first soft bite feels like an extra special treat, especially when you opt to wash it down with an Orange Bang. This frothy whipped orange beverage is made here in SoCal and feels perfect for an indulgent meal.

Tokyo Central Food Court

Why did it take so long to recognize that food courts are perfect for Cheap Fast Eats? This is a great question that we are asking ourselves too. While there are always plenty of opportunities to partake in the occasional Costco hot dog or even a soft pretzel, we’re always looking to challenge ourselves more when grabbing a bite.

The regional Japanese supermarket chain Tokyo Central is excellent for many things, and the same goes for their Gardena location. But don’t overlook their food court, where there are plenty of treasures.

The first stop is Gindaco for some of their world-famous takoyaki. The Japanese chain boasts over 500 locations in Japan but has recently begun opening up a few in Southern California. The street food staple is said to be found on most corners throughout its country of origin.

Customers enter and exit Tokyo Central Specialty Market.

(

Brian Feinzimer

/

LAist

)

Spicy Scallion and Sriracha Takoyaki from Gindaco and Karaage Bento from Tenkatori USA inside of Tokyo Central Specialty Market.

(

Brian Feinzimer

/

LAist

)

The piping hot fritters are filled with chunky bits of octopus tentacles, tempura bits, and pickled ginger, and are made to order; you can watch the staff pour the batter into a specialized cast iron molded pan to allow them to achieve their spherical shape.

After 10 minutes of expert turning in the pan, the fritters are cooked to a crisped perfection. They can be served with various choices of toppings, such as “The Original,” drizzled with sweet and tangy takoyaki sauce, topped with seaweed, and sprinkled with bonito flakes. However, our favorite is topped with green onion and sriracha, which brings fresh flavors that cut through the fried batter.

While waiting for the takoyaki to cool, head to Tenkatori USA, for some karaage. You can have your choice of cuts, such as the traditional boneless thighs, along with wings, gizzards, and cartilage. However, if you’ve got a bit more room in your stomach, we’d urge you to order the bento boxes with your choice of chicken, rice, a cold noodle, a scoop of potato salad, pickled radish, and a green salad. The options are plentiful and you owe it to yourself to participate in this delicious fun.

Giuliano's Delicatessen

As you may know, we are a sucker for a good market with mouthwatering options for food that can be enjoyed in-house or taken home with you. (Roma Market, from our first Cheap Fast Eats guide to Pasadena and Jasmine Market in Culver City both come to mind.)

We find something appealing about grabbing a bite while also having the opportunity to perusing shelves and refrigerated sections to see what tasty items we can find.

Giuliano’s fits the bill with its bustling deli counter, bakery, and grocery. The place has been around since 1952 and contains a particular type of hometown charm you’d see on an episode of California Gold hosted by our patron saint Huell Howser.

Customers walk in and out of The Original Giuliano's Delicatessen.

(

Brian Feinzimer

/

LAist

)

Customers shop inside of The Original Giuliano's Delicatessen.

(

Brian Feinzimer

/

LAist

)

After taking it all in, head toward the back, where the sandwich counter is located. There, you’ll find a stack of their signature Torpedo Jr. sandwiches. Look for the plastic wrapping made to look like the Italian flag which also makes it perfect for taking it to go especially if you are in a hurry.

The sandwich contains a cornucopia of Italian meats that includes two different types of salami, capocollo — aka gabagool — mortadella, provolone cheese, and lettuce. Pro tip: When you pay for a sandwich, ask for the small containers of oil and vinegar to go with. You'll want to drizzle it on the inside of your sandwich.

At first bite, you’re greeted by a meat and cheese rainbow, and the in-house baked bread is soft, pillowy, and heavenly. A bigger-sized sandwich is available that’s 10 inches, but somehow, the Jr. always seems perfectly satisfying.

Sakae Sushi

Sakae Sushi is the type of place that requires a little planning ahead, but that’s part of its charm and very much worth it. It’s a take-out establishment that only accepts cash, and ordering ahead by phone is preferred. But once you take those preparatory measures, you will undoubtedly be rewarded.

Look for the cute mid-century storefront on Denkar Avenue when you arrive. Pull into the lot, enter through the back courtyard, and head to the rear entrance, where you can pay.

When your order is ready, the sushi comes in a wrapped cardboard box, similar to a department store gift box, which some of you might remember from before we started ordering everything online. When unwrapping it, I’m always reminded of a favorite quote from the television show Twin Peaks, from Agent Dale Cooper, played by Kyle Maclachlan, “Every day, once a day, give yourself a present".

A pedestrian walks past the exterior of Sakae Sushi, the pick up window is in the back on the inside of the office plaza.

(

Brian Feinzimer

/

LAist

)

A 7 piece sushi box from Sakae Sushi.

(

Brian Feinzimer

/

LAist

)

You can choose from California rolls or our favorite, the mix, which contains a combination of tamago (egg), nori-maki (shitake mushroom and spinach), inari (fried tofu), ebi (shrimp), and saba (pickled Atlantic mackerel).

Each bite of sushi contains a tasty amount of sweet, seasoned rice, a great complement to fish. You’ll find yourself marveling at the attention to detail when it comes to the construction of each piece, especially the shrimp and pickled mackerel, which feature precise geometric cuts for the proteins. Gardena dreams of sushi, indeed.