Gardena Bowl

This place is the pinnacle of solutions to not knowing what to do with the next 30 minutes to 4 hours of your time. The pizza was killer, the billiards room was affordable, the arcade cabinets were also pretty enjoyable, and I found myself easily able to kill time I would have otherwise spent looking for the next place to drive to. Me and 3 friends played billiards for an hour for only 20 dollars and it was the highlight of the weekend

Such a clean, wonderful bowling alley. The owners are the most wonderful people. The coffee shop is like the ones on the island for sure. Good old-school Hawaiian Japanese food.

Okay... to the uninitiated. This will sound ridiculous. However, I have been to Gardena Bowl hundreds of times. In all honesty bowled 3 times. Nothing against bowling. However the Cafe is HEAVEN ON EARTH. The best Japanese, Hawaiian, American, plus random specialty menus available. It is a perfect cozy diner where your guaranteed to leave happy. Case and point. I moved to OC and drive here for the food. Enough said. Go! Now! Go... your hungry anyways.

Best coffee shop/bowling alley food around. Cant go wrong with the Aloha Royal with an extra over easy egg on top. Things that you should definitely try are the Garlic chicken and the Saimin. Actually you really can't go wrong ordering anything off the menu.

Gardena Bowl is a classic bowling alley with charm and character. The alley itself is well-maintained, with plenty of lanes available for both league play and casual games. While the morning leagues can make it a bit intimidating for newcomers, the atmosphere is generally welcoming and friendly. One of the highlights of Gardena Bowl is the coffee shop, which offers a variety of hot and cold beverages as well as light snacks and pastries. It's a great place to grab a quick bite or relax with a coffee before or after bowling. The staff are friendly and helpful, and the prices are reasonable. In addition to bowling, Gardena Bowl also offers pool tables, which is an excellent addition to the space and provides another activity for customers to enjoy. The tables are well-maintained, and the cues are in good condition. The pool area is well-lit and spacious, which makes it a comfortable place to play. The only potential downside to Gardena Bowl is that the space can get crowded during peak times, especially on weekends. However, this is to be expected at a popular bowling alley, and it doesn't detract from the overall experience. Overall, Gardena Bowl is a fun and affordable option for anyone looking to enjoy a game of bowling with friends or family. The coffee shop and pool tables add to the overall experience, and the staff are friendly and helpful. While it can get crowded during peak times, it's a great place to spend an afternoon or evening with friends and family.

Went there for their diner which specializes in Hawaiian favorites. I had the eggs and Vienna sausages. I thought a Vienna Beef sausage, but it was the tiny ones from a can. Still very good though.

This cafe has been serving the community for over 50 years offering a variety of cuisines including Hawaiian, Japanese, and American. The cafe and extensive menu is served all day. Portions are large but I only wish the food had more flavour...

I go here for the diner. Fried won tons and the hawaiian Royale are my go too. Sometimes the laulau

I don't live in the south bay area anymore, but it's great to know some things haven't changed over the years. This is an amazing local spot where you can tell regulars come here often. It is a fairly small/tight space, but it's also attached to a small bowling alley...so you can't be that surprised. This place is awesome for any meal throughout the day and I have yet to come for breakfast, but if it's anything like dinner...it'll be just as delicious. Party of 2 on a Friday night wasn't too busy and was seated immediately. They have an extensive menu with a little bit of everything for everyone. Service is quick and friendly, food is amazing with generous portions. The garlic chicken was crispy and flavorful. Teriyaki chicken wasn't too sweet, just the right amount. They'll have specials occasionally too!

This place was amazing. Food portions are well worth the price, it's almost too much... almost. Everything tasted freshly made and the meats were all tender. My girlfriend and I ordered chicken katsu, bacon and pork fried rice, tanin danburi, and Hawaiian Royal rice. Everything tasted amazing. I love rice so I will say my favorite dishes were the rice dishes. The Hawaiian Royal rice dish was my top favorite as it serves great flavor and meats were tender. Service was top notch and the place felt clean! This place really gets busy so make sure you come early! Their menu is very extensive so there is something for everyone. I'd recommend getting the Hawaiian Royal rice & and katsu. Definitely coming back!

I'll start by saying my server Savanna was great. 5 stars for her. She was the only one working as far as front of the house. It was pretty busy and she handled it like a boss. I had the teriyaki chicken and beef combo, Hawaiian French toast, and a side of kalbi ribs. The combo was disappointing. The chicken was very dry and had bones and cartilage all through out and I don't think it was supposed to be to be bone in chicken. The teriyaki sauce was good though. The broccoli was ice cold and pretty much raw. The beef was just ok. The Hawaiian French toast and the kalbi was great as always though. I usually get the loco moco and after this, I think I'll stick with it. Overall, I love Gardena bowl and I'll continue to eat there. Maybe just an off day for the kitchen. Great job Savanna!

Japanese diner food. How can you go wrong? Large portions, sprinkled with comfort foods like spam, Portuguese sausage, and eggs. We tried coming here at night but it was too crowded so we came back the next morning and we were glad we decided to come back again to try. We weren't sure if it was the bowling or the restaurant. Its located inside a bowling alley. It feels quite american diner like which is odd because they offer a lot of japanese food. Staff is friendly and service is quick. Their portions are huge and definitely filling. I found everything to be well seasoned and not too salty all things considered. There wasn't much of a wait when we got here early but there was a line forming by the time we left so would recommend getting here early or be prepared to wait a bit. There's parking offered but during the busy times, you may need to park on the street.

Always packed and always takes forever to get the food. It's worth it thought because it's actually pretty good. Favorite is the fried rice. Lots of food that could potentially be 2 meals. Would recommend

If you find a restaurant that looks like it shouldn't exist and yet it's been there for over a half a century you are going to have yourself a good time, and Gardena Bowl Coffee Shop is no exception. Why is there a diner in a bowling alley? I have no clue, but I do know that it is exactly what you want in a dinner - a down-home atmosphere, and unpretentious yet totally delicious food. It's got the feel of a place that all the locals know and love, and what more could you ask for in a diner? Their menu has a Hawaiian flare, and they specialize in their Portuguese Sausage Mixes - basically a large egg and sausage scramble served with rice and potatoes. Delicious stuff, but even their more traditional menu items like the French Toast and eggs were great so it seems like you can't really go wrong here. Though they serve breakfast all day, they also have an extensive lunch and dinner menu, in fact I'm honestly amazed that this small kitchen is able to pump out that many different dishes but they certainly sound great and I hope someday I'll have the opportunity to come back and try some of their other options. If you are in the Gardena area and looking for a killer breakfast or brunch that makes you feel like a local, do yourself a favor and find your way down to Gardena Bowl Coffee Shop.

So many food choices, especially Hawaiian inspired dishes! Great service, nice family vibe, friendly staff. Huge food portions! This place has been here for many, many years! I believe this was once featured on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives!

I used to come here all the time as a kid and it's been years since I've been back, but it still tastes the same. Love this place so much. The service is great and you feel like Ohana here. We got the side of lomi lomi which I wish had a little more salmon inside but still good. Also got the garlic chicken and Hawaiian royal which was fire. I usually get the bacon fried rice which is also amazing. Come check them out!! Oo and don't forget to order the butter mochi

Love this spot, everything I've ever had has been delicious. Fair prices and these people Work super hard!

Whenever I'm missing flavors of home (Hawai'i) I'm gonna be rushing down to this spot. If you're familiar with Aiea Bowl (Pearl City) well then this is exactly what it is. Same vibes and ono plate lunches. Decided to test out how legit it is and ordered laulau, poi, and saimin bowl - ono me ono! As a local, born & I raised in Hawai'i, this really hit the spot. Seems like theyre always busy, that should speak to how delicious it is as it draws a crowd. Staff took a bit of time to get to us, no biggie, seemed short handed that day and they are all very friendly. Went on a weekend late afternoon and caught the tail end of rush hour. There's plenty parking, go bowling or play pool after you grind.

A bowling alley attached to a restaurant and with GOOD food??? It really can't get any better than this! I'd give 5 stars for this dish alone honestly. The slight spice kick from the Portuguese sausage was just perfection and the eggs are cooked real nice. Love the addition of chopped onions, accompanied by the white rice to balance the flavors, this dish is just THE dish to get. The service is also what makes this shop unique. It feels like a homey restaurant like you're at someone's house. Everyone is very nice and friendly. I would come back again and again if it were closer to me. If you haven't been, please come check them out!

Next to the bowling alley, Gardena Bowl Coffee Shop is an old school diner specializing in Hawaiian cuisine. The decor is pretty vintage, and the seating is a bit tightly spaced. The team provides fast and friendly service. We tried the signature dishes Loco Moco Chicken Cats, Garlic Chicken, and Hawaiian Royal. All were good, and the portion was generous. However, the flavor was quite heavy that it's hard to finish everything in one sitting. 3.5 stars bumped to 4 for fair pricing

Gardena Bowl is an iconic must stop for Hawaii locals living in the South Bay. Hawaiian Royale. A! Garlic chicken. A! Sweet Sour Wings. A! French Fries A+ Super ono food here. Lots of locals hanging out. Friendly service.

I have been craving Hawaiian Royal for a while now. Let me tell you, Gardena Bowl didn't disappoint. Not only is it fire but the portions are huge. It took me two days to finish it. The service is always amazing!

What more can be said then this place is all you've heard. Homestyle cooking at old school prices. Honest servings for your your hard earned dollars. Just like it was, it is still here. Go with the garlic chicken and any of the specials. You really cannot order wrong here. Fast and friendly Gardena Bowl Cafe is a pure delight.

Came here to meet a couple friends for a late lunch on a Sunday afternoon. The coffee shop shares the building with Gardena Bowl. The coffee is a decent size, not too small or big. It was packed with hungry diners. Thankfully there was one table open which I quickly commandeered. We ordered Nabeyaki Udon, Chicken Katsu Loco Moco, Chicken Teriyaki and Egg Foo Young combo and Saimin. I ordered the chicken teriyaki and egg foo young. The chicken teriyaki pieces were hearty and not drenched in teriyaki sauce. It was a good balance. The egg foo young was also good too. I initially thought there was too much gravy, but I actually wanted more. LOL. I enjoyed my meal and would order it again. My friends were happy with their choices and finished their meals. None of us left hungry. Throughout our meal, I noticed a lot of people were picking up to go orders. The menu is extensive offering Hawaiian, Japanese and American dishes. The price is reasonable and portions are large. This is definitely a Gardena local gem.

Believe the hype that good food can come from a bowling alley! That's it that's the review.

So I'm giving this place 5* for one reason -- the Portuguese sausage. I've had sausage in probably 20 other Hawaiian places over the years and nothing comes close to Gardena Bowl's. Get it with a couple of eggs over easy and rice. You'll be hooked. I've seen everyone here from locals in t-shirts and flip-flops to bankers in suits reading the WSJ. Lots of other typical Hawaiian and Japanese dishes on the menu but if this is your first time, get the Portuguese Sausage!

Two words that will change your life- GARLIC CHICKEN!! It's must try and upgrade to fried rice!! FIRE!! The food here is really delicious and prices are reasonable. Parking can be a challenge if there is some kind of bowling tournament. The restaurant shares the same space with the bowling alley. Overall, pretty much everything I've had here is too good! Generous portions and friendly service.

We came here to just try it out randomly. It's a cute little dinner looking spot. It is very tiny inside. It seems to get pretty busy. Our waitress was kind and seems like she runs it alone. The food was really good actually, we also got the garlic chicken and it was so so yummy, definitely recommend.

I've enjoyed many meals here over the years, they've all been delicious. The staff are friendly and the atmosphere makes you feel at home. This is located inside the Gardena Bowling Alley and it sure is a hidden gem.

A South-Bay landmark. Authentically and consistently good, which is why it's consistently crowded. A go-to spot - praises can be found all over Yelp so I kept it brief.

I came here after a work meeting and ordered sukiyaki to go. The place is cozy and clean. Service was friendly and fast. The beef sukiyaki was excellent. I'd definitely add this place to my list and come again when I have another work meeting in this area.

Located inside of a bowling alley, Gardena Bowl Coffee Shop is a casual, small-business focused on American brunch items and dishes ranging from Hawaiian to Chinese and Japanese cuisine. In general, the portion sizes are generous, making up for the somewhat high prices. I was able to split my teriyaki and egg foo young combo into two meals. In terms of flavor, everything was really tasty here. The Lau Lau and beef teriyaki were both tender. The fried rice was a little salty but when paired with the teriyaki beef or egg foo young, it was fine. Definitely would go back!

First time having the banana pecan pancakes here and wow were they good! Homemade batter, soft and fluffy pancakes very tasty. I usually get the Hawaiian Royale here but this did not disappoint. Service was really good our server was very helpful and attentive.

If you find yourself missing the islands like I do, this really hits the spot! They've got tons of classics and their portions are awesome. My favorites are any of the fried rices, loco moco & the breakfast options. It's always busy and yet service is quick & kind, everyone there is always so welcoming!

Im from the local area and have always heard about this spot but finally made it out. So happy I finally made a stop with my family, everyone loved it! We got lucky and there was a table available right away without having to wait. It stays constantly busy during the time we were there. Their menu is pretty extensive, so many options a little of everything. We had great service from our waiter he was very attentive and friendly. We ordered teriyaki beef with fried rice, loco moco with beef patty, Hawaiian French toast with Portuguese sausage and eggs, banana pecan pancakes and bacon fried rice. Everything was delicious, this will def be one of our fave spots now, can't wait to try more items off the menu! Cute little diner/cafe feel seems small but lots of seating. If you haven't been I'd recommend making a stop!

I didn't check out the bowling alley but the restaurant was so good! I love that it has that mom and pop feel. And it's nice to see a lot of old folks come in and enjoy the food. The prices are good and the portions are big! I got the Loco Moco and brought home leftovers. I would definitely come again the next time I'm in town.

Came in an hour before closing. Chill vibes, can get pretty busy. Looks like they have breakfast available all day which is great. I tried something new to me, the Beef Teri and egg foo young, I give it a 3/5 stars. The Hawaiian royal was a god 4/5, personally like how much ginger it came with lol.

Gardena Bowl Coffee Shop is an iconic restaurant in the city of Gardena that serves excellent specials as well as a great mix of menu items. So many great dishes and not enough space to describe who wonderful it is. Also from time to time they have grab and go food like peanuts or banana bread. I am 60 years old and been eating here 55 years. Do it.

Found another great Hawaiian restaurant in the area. The Loco Moco and chicken katsu donburi don were so delicious. The coffee was fresh and the service was great.

It's been quite a long time since I stepped foot in this establishment but nothing has changed... food was still good ( oxtail soup and Hawaiian French toast ). Service was friendly and the ambiance wasn't bad.. just your average busy restaurant with hungry customers. Always a treat to come here and I'm already waiting to try more items on my next visit. Plenty of parking and not a long wait. It gets pretty empty around 11:30 ish..

Don't let this place fool you, even though it's in a bowling alley it's amazing. The portions are good, the food flavor is spot on, and it's a nice hole in the wall. Service is generally not bad keep in mind they get busy during peak time with to go orders.

Still a solid 4 stars! Came back to dine in on 11/10/24 with the ohana. Service was good. The young lady was personable and friendly. She and another gentleman were the only hostesses and they were efficient. We arrived around 4:30ish and the restaurant had plenty of available tables. The food was good. We ordered the combo with beef teriyaki and tempura, my daughter's ordered karaage and beef teriyaki combo. I wish we were asked how we like our meats cooked bc the beef teriyaki was not to our liking. We like our meat medium rare. Well done is too chewy but we enjoyed it nonetheless. My daughter's beef teriyaki was a thin sliced, not like ours where it was a steak. Next time we will make a note of it. The tempura was delicious! Crispy and flavorful. The ambiance is relaxing and the restaurant was clean. We will definitely be back as we enjoy dining at Gardena Bow.

Gardena Bowl Coffee Shop--it's a diner... in a bowling alley. (Not like an açaí or grain bowl that I thought never being here before). They serve Japanese-American food, but with a Hawaiian twist. So, like... if you want a Loco Moco, they've got you covered. If you want a strike, well... you're in the wrong part of the building. So what it's not fancy. Who needs it? If you remember 1975, it's nostalgic if not it's a greasy spoon diner in a bowling alley (not literally) but yeah same place. Just good food, weird location? Meh. Bring friends and or your family -- Get the garlic chicken! SCORE 300! Udon noodles, wooooooooooo! The staff? Legends. They remember faces, they bring the food fast, and they do it without a side of attitude. It's like being served by a bunch of cool aunts and uncles. It's greasy, it's nostalgic, and it's perfect. Gardena Bowl Coffee Shop isn't trying to be cool--If you're not leaving full and slightly confused, you did it wrong.

Authentic Japanese Hawaiian food in a family diner style setting. About as authentic as you can get on the mainland

Located inside Gardena Bowl, hence the name, 'Gardena Bowl Coffee Shop' ... Great menu offerings that feature both American, Japanese, and Hawaiian dishes. Interior is on the smaller size but the service and quality of food make up for it. Our go-to is the Hawaiian Royal, which is char siu, portuguese sausage, green onions and eggs served over a bed of white rice and drizzled with teriyaki sauce. Large portion which feeds two! This establishment creates their own Portuguese sausage and is not to be confused with brands such as Redondo's, Purity, or Ono. Plenty of delicious food options to choose from that meet all appetites.

Service sucks! Lady was so involved in talking to tue black guy the entire time. Plus she was cough without wearing a mask. Loco moco was just ok.would go back.

Never really bowled here but ate at the diner plenty of times. It's a mix of traditional American diner food and Hawaiian food. There garlic chicken is one of my favorites. Can't go wrong with chicken or beef teriyaki. Kim Chi bacon fried rice is always a winner. Workers are friendly and hard working. The place feels like old Hawaii but you look out the window and see the traffic on Vermont and realize your in LA.

This is my friendly neighborhood coffee shop that never fails to satisfy my dinner needs. This is a Japanese/ Hawaiian fusion diner that has been a local favorite for decades! My favorites are their special Ox Tail Soup which a huge bowl of very tender ox tail in its broth and they give you a side of cilantro and ground ginger which enhances the flavor of the broth. It also has big chunks of carrots, mushrooms and a leafy green vegetable (not bok choy) . The 2nd is their Garlic Chicken which isn't garlicky at all but its deep fried chicken chunks with a sweet like teriyaki sauce drizzled over it. Then you have Royal Hawaiian fried rice with their homemade Portuguese sausage. Bacon fried rice. Loco moco, etc. Some of the staff know me by name and I feel right at home! Great breakfast and just all around anytime you're hungry diner.

We ordered garlic chicken, rice, and green salad for Mother's Day lunch. Everything was delicious!!

Gardena Bowl Coffee Shop is definitely worth the hype. They serve some great, no-frills, and affordable Hawaiian food located within a bowling alley of the same name. Note, you do not need to bowl to eat here and vice versa. The wait was a bit long, but then again it was peak Sunday brunch hour, but once inside we didn't feel rushed at all. The feel is like an old-school diner. I got my usual order of Loco Moco and it was so good. Definitely come hungry because the portions are huge. I also recommend to be in a position to take home leftovers because I wanted to try so much of the menu (corned beef hash, portuguese sausage, spam musubi, you name it, it's probably there) but wasn't going to be back home for the rest of the day. Parking was easy in their giant lot, and feel free to stick around to play a game of bowling or play the pool tables. I highly recommend coming here!

0 stars. Service was terrible. Waited for an hour for our food to find out our waiter never put in the order. We had a long drive back to the Bay, so we left. Was left disappointed and hungry since we've heard great things about this long time establishment!

This is a Hidden little Gem in the city of Gardena! It's located inside a bowling alley. If you're planning to come here be prepared to wait for seating because it's always packed! That's already a good sign the food is good! It's crowded inside and it has an old school dinner look to it. I tried the chicken teriyaki bowl and the garlic chicken!!! Both were Amazing but my favorite was the Garlic chicken!! The house fried rice is !! Definitely recommend! You won't regret! They have so much else to choose from.

Great late night spot to grub when all your friends want something different. The inside feels like an older cafe somewhere more rural, and there's a bowling and pool area outside of the cafe. You can just go for the cafe though. It's a good alternative to Azuma and has really similar menu items for some Japanese food. This is nice because they also have cafe type food and Hawaiian food. We got a club sandwich with fries to share, and Hawaiian fried rice. Rice was a little rich but good, and sandwich and fries were both good too. No complaints but it is diner food!

A great coffee shop that been here for years and is located right in a bowling alley. The food is hearty and affordable and the service is great. This is a great "go to" if you don't know what you want to eat, but want comfort food. Highly recommended.

A bowling alley with a large cafe, serving Hawaiian plates for breakfast, lunch, and dinner at decent prices. Aiai bowl in Oahu was the first place we visited where a bowling alley had dishes that could be considered elevated, using fine dining techniques and ingredients. Ever since then, I've always liked the idea of entrepreneurial folks using a business for multiple things. Gardena Bowl stands out in this area, and have been wanting to check this place out for a while. So as it happened, the first opportunity ended up being my wife and her friend, coming for breakfast right when it opens (8 am on weekday). The parking lot wasn't full then, but became full by the time they left around 9. There were folks there for bowling league, and plenty stopped in just to eat (a lot of regulars). Stephanie was their waitress, and was great throughout (so told). Hawaiian French Toast Combo ($13.49) - french toast using hawaiian sweet bread, with bacon, 2 scrambled eggs). Loco Moco - Portuguese Sausage ($13.74) - sweet sausage on top of white, medium grain rice, with 2 over easy eggs, covered with a dark, rich gravy. Kalua Loco Moco ($13.97) - chunks of Kalua Pork as the meat, with grilled onions. This was for carry-out, and it was good at home. The very brown gravy was plentiful..tasted a lot of roux as the base (which can give me stomach issues, so probably good that I ate this at home). Still looking for someplace like Aiai Bowl here in the 48...Gardena Bowl is definitely not it...but it does what it's supposed to do, really well, and at great value.

#18 for 2023 We were a party of 6 coming in around 6pm on Saturday after working a special occasion. A friend said he knew this good place to get a loco moco. Hawaiian food! No second thought there let's go. Place was crowded. So we were offered to sit at the counter or continue to wait in line for a table to clear out. Counter please. i decided to have Chicken Katsu with a side order mac salad. The staff reminded me the mac salad is a side order that can be added on. This is not Hawaii. Sounded blasphemous to me. lol In Hawaii this would be unheard of. All plate lunches have a scoop of mac salad. For here you have to order this as a side dish. Wow lau lau. The chicken katsu wasn't bad but it didn't taste right. I can't put my finger on it. I did finish it. Wasn't going to let go to waste. My friend ordered the loco moco which he loves. He did allow me to taste it. I was curious if it was good and it was. But just that, good. Remember now this is a bowling coffee shop. Though it was nice, neat and clean It did feel a little cramp when you have to walk between the tables. It is well lit thank goodness for that. The decor with the chrome felt like something out of the 70s. It didn't bother me much. Actually though it looked nice with all that glitter.

Small coffee shop inside the bowling alley, staff is friendly and attentive. Prices are reasonable, food is hot and fresh. Runs about $15.00 with tax and tip. Good location for Hawaiian food.