Spoon House Bakery and Restaurant

This restaurant called Spoon House was introduced to me by my wife's boss and I heard it has been in business for many years. We arrived at about 11:15 this morning, and there were still not many customers. My son and I chose to sit at the bar. The food in this restaurant mainly focuses on Japanese-style pasta. We ordered Napolitan spaghetti and Mentaiko spaghetti with sea urchin. To be honest, I think their Napolitan spaghetti is very ordinary. The carrots are cut into too big pieces, the onions are not cooked enough, and there is not even a piece of ham. It is very different from the spaghetti I have tasted many times in Japan. However, my son said his Mentaiko spaghetti was good. In addition, the $1 salad was also a surprise. Both the portion and the taste were of high standard. The service attitude of the waiter was also very attentive, which gave a good impression.

This is a nice little spot in the corner. I've been coming here for years for Japanese styled spaghetti. Everything on the menu is delicious and you can't go wrong with their $1 salad. They serve you fresh bread which you can also buy a loaf of for $3.

My wife and I came here and ordered the vongole pasta and meat sauce doria. Overall, it was a nice experience. The doria was delicious—hot, flavorful, and very satisfying, which is exactly how I like it. The vongole pasta, while fresh, didn’t quite meet our expectations. My wife loves vongole in general, but felt the sauce didn’t cling to the pasta enough and could’ve used a bit more flavor. Service and atmosphere were pleasant, and we’d definitely consider coming back to try other dishes!

Spoon House specializes in Japanese and Italian fusion spaghetti dishes. There's a parking lot behind the store for customers. I got natto spaghetti with shiso leaf, which was surprisingly very tasty. I would not recommend it to those that do not like natto (fermented soybean), but if you're craving something new and are familiar with the taste of natto it can be a fun surprise. The tarako spaghetti comes with options to add squid and seaweed, which I would recommend. It is a very tasty seafood pasta. The hot garlic spaghetti is also very popular, and I would recommend it if you enjoy garlicky flavors.

I've been going to Spoon House for over 40 yrs. The food is the same great food they have always served. The noodles are made to order and your plates come steaming hot!!!! The prices have gone up drastically from the past as most places have. The portions for the price do not compare to other Italian places you can go to. But the food is worth visiting just not as often as i would if i price/ portions compared to other Italian eateries.

My favorite Japanese-Italian spaghetti restaurant!!! My family and I have been going here for a while at least 15 years and maybe even longer. My favorite is garlic beef with Italian sauce. The bread is delicious and we like to buy a loaf to eat at home. We are surprised that $1 salad is still $1. This place is one of the few restaurants who I went as a kid and now I’m taking my own kids there.

This place has been serving up pasta with that Japanese twist for decades. All the pasta varieties are great. Btw we ordered the "seafood porridge" for the first time and it was NOT what we expected. More of a soup than porridge but that's not a bad thing. Very generous portion so the porridge/soup was shared

I stumbled upon this place with coworkers one evening while in Los Angeles on a work trip when I learned that it was a Japanese spaghetti I was like that sounds very cool. I’m glad I went in out of curiosity and gave it a try, the spaghetti that I had was very fresh, and surprisingly with the mix of textures within the spaghetti it paired very well. I would definitely go back and try other spaghetti options, as there were so many, from ones that look more traditional to others with their sea, urchin and infused or marinated beef or chicken to. The service was great, I’m glad that the waiter shared some of their recommendations And the inside of the establishment was clean. The restaurant was able to accommodate me adding shrimp to my pasta dish as I wanted some additional seafood.

What a beautiful find. I was just cruising through Gardena to get to Tokyo central and drove by this place. It doesn't look like much from the outside but had a nice charm to it. So I decided to dine here before I did my groceries. Always better to shop on a full stomach. Service was great, food was delicious and well presented. The restaurant was cute, simple, and did have the charm of a cafe in Japan. I'm hardly in this area. But I'm glad to have this memory now. Who knows, maybe I'll cruise by again in the future.

I must have ordered the wrong thing when I visited Spoon House Bakery and Restaurant. I really wanted some gratin and knew ahead of time that it will take extra time. But what I didn't realize was that the seat I got was directly across from the kitchen and the place had hardly any circulation or air conditioning. It made for a very unpleasant and hot experience. What was actually the most disappointing was the actual food itself. The bread was stale and airy. Butter cane in tiny aluminum foils. Very hard to spread and definitely not enough for the amount of bread vs butter. The gratin had exactly 6 pieces of pasta, smothered in under-seasoned béchamel sauce. It was more like a shroomy combination of greasy and watery sauce that got diluted by the baked broccoli. I found precisely two pieces of seafood and that was it. The most pathetic gratin I have ever had in my life. I am in the area often and wouldn't mind trying their spaghetti meals in the future. They do take Amex and parking is free although limited in both spaces and quantities in the back of the building.

Who knew Gardena is on the cutting edge of gastronomical delights in Los Angeles? The Spoon House is Exhibit A. It's a humble, family owned restaurant that specializes in a cuisine all its own - Japanese/Italian fusion! Each dish on the menu is completely unique to the Spoon House and its master chefs. Just read their menu. It's affordable, friendly, casual, and clearly proud of the culinary magic they make. Outstanding!

Japanese- Italian spaghetti cafe with about 40 kinds of fusion spaghetti dishes to choose from. I love the # 34. Hot Garlic with Seasoned Mushroom, Grated Daikon, and Dried Bonito Flakes. Add-on: Eggplant and Shiso Leaves. It totally works. Outstanding! Another favorite is the #4 Spaghetti topped with FRESH clams in light butter wine sauce laden with shiitake and shimeji mushrooms; add shiso leaves. My husband has been coming here forever and it's one of his favorite places to eat. Our children also love Spoon House. We never get bored of Spoon House! Dine-in is available. Busy in the weekend. Plenty of parking in the back of the restaurant or residential street. They accept credit cards and cash.

I've been going here for almost 10 years now and I'll gladly keep coming back. The food, the service and the ambiance really ties everything together for Spoon House. The food is consistently delicious, the service is consistently accommodating, and the ambiance gives it that homemade feel. The ironic naming of the white sauce and wiener actually comes together to make a delicious meal! Very satisfying and very flavorful. The same goes for the carbonara, too. Very filling, very yummy! The service here is consistent - they're friendly, respectful, and overall great people. The restaurant is small so expect some wait times during peak hours. Parking can sometimes be an issue, but there's usually parking either out back or across the street in the plaza. Overall, can't recommend this place enough. Delicious food, very fair pricing, and great service.

Casual Japanese Italian restaurant that serves various spaghetti dishes that are common in Japan. Free bread - crunchy outside and soft inside. Loved it to the point I bought an extra one to take home. Bolognese pasta - tasted fresh and most of us ordered it. Decent. Carbonara- good. I think I would have liked it better if it had more yolkish thickness. Bacon is also a bit too crunchy for my liking. I would recommend looking at a picture. Parking is behind the restaurant's building combined with other restaurants in the area. Go pass the restaurant that is located in the corner and park in the back of the building.

I came in with a group of 5 at 8:20 pm, close to closing time. The restaurant has a hole in the wall feel, and it really reminded me of my time eating at older cafes in Japan. The interior is plain and simple, and the kitchen in full sight provided a very homey feel. The store was only a quarter full, and we were seated quickly, and our orders were taken shortly after. I ordered the Japanese style cod role and butter sauce with sea urchin, seaweed, and squid. Our complementary bread and our pasta came at a brisk pace. Also, our waitress was attentive and providing water refills throughout our stay. Bread, 3.5/5: Simplicity done well. The bread was soft, slightly sweet, and fluffy. The crust provided nice texture as well. I ended up using the bread to soak all the sauce from my pasta, leaving a nice, clean plate at the end. However, the bread was not cut through all the way, so I did have to tear the slices apart with a bit of force. This also left crumbs everywhere on the table, leading to a messy experience. Japanese style cod role and butter sauce spaghetti with sea urchin, seaweed, and squid, 4.5/5: This is pure essence of comfort food. While not the prettiest presentation, it left a rustic, homemade vibe on me. The pasta was perfectly cooked al dente. The butter sauce was rich, sweet, and creamy with salty umami boosts from the cod role. The seaweed and squid provided different textures, making this dish such a fun experience. The pasta truly reminded me of the Italian food I had in the cafes in Japan. The only complaint I had for this plate was how little sea urchin was inside. While it did add pockets of creaminess, the amount did feel negligible. However, as mentioned before, I did leave with a clean plate thanks to the bread. Overall, I would love to come back and try their different pastas.

I had a fantastic experience at Spoon House The parking is always full so please park on the street somewhere but it was easy for me to find street parkings. I ordered the Japanese-Style Cod Roe and Buttered Sauce, Sea Urchin, Squid & Seaweed (たらことバターの和風 ウニ イカ ワカメ). This dish is so moist and full of sea urchin fragrant. The squid is fresh, clear, crunchy, and chewy but soft enough to bite. I wonder if the squid was raw because the opaqueness was different than normal squids I have and I love it. Definitely you should order with squid. The price is reasonable compared to other Japanese fusion pasta places I have visited. 5/5 Custard Pudding (カスタードプリン) is only $6 and comes with a scoop of ice cream. What a deal! I definitely recommend it. The sauce is caramel and overall tastes like ordinary flan but for this price, it is worth a try. I would absolutely come back to try other dishes like the Doria. Service was fast and friendly. Staff filled up our water constantly without the need for us to ask. Waiting can be long due to limited staff despite many open seats. Also, be prepare to smell like food afterward. My hair and clothes smelled like food so I needed to spray perfume to cover it.

CARB LOADING?? come here. Its a blue house on the side of the street. Theres a small parking lot in the back and a huge plaza with toyko central across the street. Inside is super cute! Like a little European cafe style and had more seats than I expected. The tables can get small if you order more than two plates loool. The service is sweet and tried to balance everything on our little round table. Expect a 20 minute wait and there is very limited waiting room inside. Huuuuge portions. Had to bring like 1.5 plates home lol. The pasta was delicious!! Its all basic spaghetti with huuuge portions and tossed lightly in whatever sauce. It's cooked perfectly al dente and isn't too heavy. It's perfect if you're a simple spaghetti vs sauce person. Compared to Italian food it definitely feels more "homemade" like a mom made it for their kid as a weeknight dinner Mentaiko- not oily or fishy at all but distinctly mentaiko. Had a slight creamy flavor from the butter. Everything clung on well Carbonara- probably our fav. Sometimes I find it to be too salty or oily, but this was perfect and the sauce really clings well to the spaghetti Spicy tomatoe- enjoyed the depth of this sauce. It's robust tomatoe vs refreshing. Overall, the flavors and experience is rather nostalgic. Id recommend this if you're training for a race! The area itself isn't as nice, but this place is both affordable and keeps well for leftovers.

I've had this place on my list for a long time, probably since 2019. I once ordered takeout but wasn't impressed. However, I wanted to give them another chance, so I kept them on my list to try for dine-in. Today was that day. I visited in the afternoon and had the choice to sit anywhere. The first thing I noticed was bread crumbs all over the seats. I also noticed an odd scent in the store. It's definitely an old mom-and-pop restaurant that locals who grew up in the area would have an affinity for. I ordered the spicy cod roe pasta with sea urchin and squid (around $18-19 without tax). Portions were really huge. I'd say one plate is good for 2 people. The pasta was too soft/overcooked for my preference. The squid and sea urchin were barely noticeable. Generally, the dish had a very watered-down taste. Not very rich nor flavorful. It's definitely not worth paying the price. Service was so-so. The waiter barely made eye contact and handed me the bill before I even asked for it. It's cool how this store specializes in Japanese pasta, but it's definitely not the best around. It's expensive, the vibes aren't great, and the service is bare minimum. The restaurant probably saw better days, but as a "first-timer," I wasn't impressed.

It's been at least 10 years since I've been here and it's still this cute, quaint little joint I used to go to when I worked around the area. We were early for lunch, so it wasn't packed. I ordered what I usually ordered, creamy urchin pasta with nori. It was as good as it was back then and brought back many memories. With the order, you can add a salad for $1. I opted out because I knew the pasta was more than enough food. My friend ordered his favorite, pasta with cut up hot dogs. His fav. Definitely a place worth recommending!!

You can never go wrong with Japanese-style spaghetti! Complimentary bread was a bit stale, but aside from that, great food and friendly staff. Worth a try if you're into fusion pasta!

I love this spot! First I enjoy their Corned Beef & Cabbage which is full of flavor and deliciousness. I also enjoy their Mushroom & Sea Urchin which is dripping with flavor and excellence. They have other great options as well that will allow your taste buds to be satisfied. Service is great as the staff is helpful with suggestions and assistance.

Always a place to go when we're in LA or Torrance for some Japanese style of spaghetti. Our favs dishes are white claim sauce, dollar salad and panna cotta for dessert. We do ordered a different dish each time so we can see how it tasted and this time is Mexican. Overall, consistency for decades, perfectly cooked and packed with favor. It's still an old-style decors but they did updated 2X for the last almost 30yrs I knew this place. Service is fantastic, you can see and chat with the cook with you sit at the kitchen counters. Still same old cooks 90% of them and still nice & friendly. Parkings are on the street or on the smaller side street but so far I hardly had to park far. Weekend can be packed but it got lighten over the years. My kid love love this place and tend to clean up the generous portion plate. Price wise, very reasonable.

This restaurant was very crowded when I showed at the start of dinner rush, luckily I was seated at the bar for a party of two. You should expect a wait since this is a smaller sized restaurant. The pasta is cooked al dente which is perfect! I really enjoyed the large portion of house made French bread, it was super soft. Their menu boasts a large selection of Japanese specialty pastas. As you can see in my review, I enjoyed one very much but not the other. 3/5 - The house salad was a much larger portion than expected! The dressing seemed to be like some kind of homemade purée -- it is refreshing and light, with a slightly bitter aftertaste. 5/5 - Japanese style clam sauce pasta - You can't go wrong with this classic pasta combination. The nori on top added a nice touch of umami to the clam sauce. 2/5 - Japanese cod roe and butter sauce, I wasn't expecting the cod rod and butter sauce to be so watery. You can see in the photo that the sauce is very thin and runny. I didn't find that the sauce clung to the noodles very well and the taste was just okay.

The good: A local recommended this place to me and told me her family has been coming here since she was little (for decades). I tried 3 spaghetti dishes here (a clam one, a shrimp one and a pork one) and liked how perfectly cooked the spaghetti was. It was al dente (which I normally do not like) but they really perfected the timing on these noodles. They had a nice slippery texture to them without being overly greasy, buttery or rich. I noticed they put lemon in almost everything. I enjoyed being able to see the chefs cook from the bar area. The bad: There's no outdoor seating. The interior is very small and isn't great for large groups. The menu is quite simplified and doesn't explain everything in the dish. My husband's dish just said pork but it failed to say there were cooked onions in it (the only food he doesn't eat) so he was a bit disappointed that his dish had so many cooked onions. The interesting: It was my 3-year old's first time eating clam and she had 7 of them (plus 5 shrimps!). The bakery part of this store is apparently referring to the free bread you get before your meal. I noticed a lot of folks got the salad here so I'll try that next time. The exterior has a British feel because of the blue door.

Still one of the most authentic Japanese Italian pasta house around South Bay. Been eating here for years and the taste is still consistent Highly recommend their meat sauce pasta and mentaiko pasta. Don't forget their $1 salad Quick friendly service and casual environment.

I've been coming to Spoon House since I was young and it always hits the spot. It's a cute and cozy Japanese Italian spot. It is a bit on the smaller side so feels a little tight but it's not bad! They offer seating both at tables and bar style. If you're sitting at the bar, its fun because you get to watch the chefs cooking. The service here is quick despite only a few employees and they're really sweet and friendly. They start by giving you complimentary slice of baguette which is soft. I love the ($1) salad its simple but the dressing really adds to it by giving it that fresh kick and flavor. Perfect as an appetizer and on some days I've gotten more than one. The pasta portions are perfect. They have classic options and specialities. Can't go wrong with the Bolognese or Japanese Style Clam Sauce. There's a small parking lot in the back which is convenient, residential parking not too far away, and a large parking for the grocery store across the street.

My husband and I went here for dinner and don't know what happened to the service. We both came here before and had significantly better dining experiences. Save yourself some time and go to Akane Chaya (across the street in the Tokyo Central Main Plaza) or only get to go from Spoon House. We were seated at the bar area in the front, and we likened this experience as a Japanese Denny's. The poor experience started with our bread basket, which was a bit stale and cold (we swore the bread was warm before but we are not 100% sure). We asked if we could have the bread warmed up and were told straight up "no". Additionally we didn't get any small plates for the bread, so there were crumbs all over the table and our clothes. The dollar salad was also a bit lacking. I'm sure it hasn't changed but it was awkward to eat large slices of tomato (like for a burger) and oddly ripped iceberg lettuce. The pasta we ordered came in a relatively timely manner and was not bad. However our experience was already soured by the bread and salad scenario, so we asked for the check shortly after receiving our food. We were told to pay at the front (again, don't recall having to do this in the past except for to go orders). Once we left our area, they quickly seated new customers and we were stuck in line to pay the bill. Maybe it was because we were looking forward to eating out after a long week of work and had good memories of Spoon House. Unfortunately, we will not be coming back again.

Really amazing Japanese Italian fusion pasta. The restaurant itself had limited seats so be prepared to sit at the bar or counter. The food came out fairly quickly.

Food: Every pasta we tried felt like eating at grandmas house where everything just had that homemade touch. The food is simply not pretentious in any way and just classic no nonsense good Japanese style pasta. No#33 was our favorite but plan on trying several more as the menus is quite large. You simply can't beat the value for this place. Service: Amazing everyone so kind. This was one of the first restaurants I ate when I moved here 13 years ago and it still feels the same which is a good thing. I only saw one of the original ladies from back then but the service was on point. Ambiance: Very simple humble interior with no frills. It gets quite busy with the takeout orders and people trying to sit and dine. I recommend the bar seat if possible and the tables move fairly fast.

Such a cute shop with delightful Japanese/Italian fusion options and fresh bread. It has humble hole-in-the-wall vibes and the fun option of a $1 simple Japanese-restaurant style salad (with ?carrot vinaigrette dressing). Servers (?owners) were very polite and friendly. Came on a random Thurs in Aug at 5:30ish, and there were a few other couples. In addition to enjoying the salad, I thoroughly enjoyed the hot garlic with bonito flakes, mushrooms. It was simple yet satisfying. My boyfriend liked the white sauce with clams (forgot the name). I definitely recommend this place to anyone who wants to try some comforting, casual Japanese Italian fusion.

Food was great Servers were very attentive Small local place definitely recommend !!!!

Came on a Monday right at 5, and were seated at a table right away. We were served the French bread after ordering the $1 salad, Japanese mixed mushroom and mushroom with Uni. Pasta was cooked well and the flavors were fresh, light and tasty! The restaurant is very compact, on the corner of the building. Very clean, simple and somewhat frozen in time in the best way. Will try and sit at the counter next time as the chefs are right there preparing each order. Small parking lot behind building is convenient. Although we were the first to arrive for dinner, the restaurant quickly filled up as we were finishing up with regulars and what seemed to be other first timers as well. Will be back for more!

This place is so cute! It's hard to find restaurants that make and serve Japanese pasta so I had to come here. Located on an unassuming corner of an older building, Spoon House gives off mom and pop vibes. It's very cozy inside with minimal seating so I can definitely see the wait getting long during peak dining hours. Arrived around 5 and had to wait about 10-15 minutes to get seated.The cod roe pasta seemed to be a solid choice so I went with that. Love the free, fresh bread they serve here! Soft on the inside with a nice crunch. The pasta was solid with a large portion. This was a good meal overall and I would come back again.

Lovely cozy diner with Japanese style spaghetti! We came as a party of 2 on a Monday night at 6:15pm and were seated right away. I love the cute blue interior and bar-style seating, such a nice spot for a casual but intimate date night! Carbonara Spaghetti (5/5): Creamy and salty sauce with bits of bacon. Super flavorful and the sauce thickened as we kept eating. So yummy! Mushroom & Sea Urchin Spaghetti w/ Cream Sauce (5/5): My personal fav, packed with a variety of mushrooms (shimeji, shiitake, button, enoki). Light seafood taste from the uni paired super well with the creamy umami sauce. One Dollar Salad (4/5): A bit heavy on the dressing (but thats just my personal preference. Otherwise very yummy and refreshing to start off with, and eat alongside my pasta. And such a worth it price! Overall the spaghetti was perfectly al dente, sauces were soaked up with the sweet pan de sal bread (clean plate club!), and I left feeling satisfied and full. I would love to come back again and try more flavors :) Tip: Parking is available in a small lot behind the restaurant, and there is also a Tokyo Central grocery across the street that had a larger parking lot.

Such a wholesome family Japanese-Italian fusion restaurant! I am so glad I finally tried this place! My friends and I came on a Wednesday night and the server wasted no time getting us seated. We ordered the famous $1 salad and it is famous for a reason! The lettuce was fresh and crunchy and the dressing was an interesting onion miso flavor. Definitely worth the try. We ordered: - Barco D'oro (3.8/5): this one was my least favorite but it was still delicious and a nice tomatoey break from the richer pastas - tons of seafood in it - Japanese style clam sauce with shiso, shiitake and shimeji mushrooms (5/5) my FAVORITE so balanced with tons of clams and the delicious savory shiso flavor - if you've never had shiso before you HAVE to try this - Tarako (cod roe) (4/5): delicious! Buttery but not too rich with a little bit of spice! I would love to come back here! I'm craving the clam pasta just writing this review! Also they have a small parking lot behind the restaurant so it is very convenient.

Walked in on. Friday morning and was able to get a table for 2. I was excited to try Japanese style pasta since Pietro closed. I ordered Clam with shiitake and shimeji mushrooms and my friend ordered bolognese with meatballs. We both ordered their $1 salad. The portion size and price is just right! We both liked everything about the pasta, salad and bread. Servers are sweet and good. Really no complaints. I'm happy to have tried this place and look forward to returning. It got busier and filled up by the time we left at noon. There is a large parking lot in the back of the building.

Japanese style pasta. Need I say more? The restaurant is cozy, sweet, and virtually untouched by time. On a recent visit, I was pleasantly surprised to find that they still offer their famous one-dollar salad. The salad is simple - iceberg lettuce, tomato, and cucumbers - dressed with a lovely miso dressing. Highly recommend starting off with one. My order changes each time I come, but on a recent visit, I ordered the #24 which is mushroom + sea urchin in cream sauce ($17.75). I absolutely loved this pasta entree. They toss the al dente spaghetti in a light, but creamy sauce that's packed with a medley of meaty mushrooms. Bits of sea urchin sneak in with every forkful of spaghetti and mushroom. It's an understated, yet flavorful pasta. I really like Spoon House a lot. The pastas are imaginative and distinctly Japanese. Highly recommend coming here if you haven't already.

service: 5/5 ambiance: local south bay torrance favorite; casual japanese italian restaurant serving perfectly al dente noods and free bread highlights: - $18 japanese cod roe w/urchin and seaweed (10/5): best pasta ive ever had, my god, i lowkey had a ratatouille moment aka childhood flashback. adding this to my list of 5 dishes before i die. make sure to squeeze lemon on top - $14 carbonara (3/5): just ok, ive had better carbonara - $16.75 barca d'oro (3/5): also just ok, would pass - make sure to order the $1 salad!

Anytime I'm in the area, you're going to find me here. Spoon House is an institution and the best Japanese pasta anywhere stateside. Sometimes you're just looking for no-nonsense flavor, and they absolutely deliver whether it's the more Western or Eastern style of pastas. Once you enter, you'll be immediately greeted with some of the best bread I've ever had anywhere, and they will provide refills to if you ask! Pick a pasta, all of which are fairly priced, I personally like the hot garlic but sometimes go with the more traditional mentaiko varieties or the ever classic carbonara. You honestly can't go wrong with anything you choose. Pair your salad with their signature $1 salad, simple yet packs the flavor in their dressing, and wash it all down with their iced tea and syrup, free refills as well, and you have an indulgent meal that will remind you of any great pasta place in Japan for a fairly affordable price. Even when I'm not in the mood for the type of food, as long as I'm nearby, I will surely check it out, and I never regret it. TIP: $1 salad is clutch and really makes it into a nice multi-course meal for a fairly affordable price.

Japanese style spaghetti A lot of different seafood pasta dishes. Sauce is distinctively Japanese, A good place to enjoy some delicious pasta and they also have good bread

This is a gem of a restaurant in the South Bay. Try to sit at the bar area to watch them make the orders. Don't miss the dollar salad and unlimited iced tea

Not your typical spaghetti joint, this place specializes in Japanese style spaghetti with items like Octopus or plum or shiso on top. Food: - They have a $1 salad (think side salad portion) with basic iceberg lettuce and tomatoes - free 1/3 of a Baguette was provided but it didn't exactly have that fresh crunch, it seemed like it was made yesterday at least - pasta and spaghetti executed well, just not my cup of tea - it's like fusion almost since it's Japanese take on Italian food. Service: - came in through the front door with 2 servers staring at us but not acknowledging us - there were a couple empty seats so when a server came towards us with menus I thought she was seating us and followed her. She turned around and said "no, not you" but there was no one else around, we were the only ones waiting for a table - so we stood around confused for 10mins, since there was no one before or after us until finally someone waived at us and pointed to a table on the inside - this was our first time here so I felt the service was lacking. I'm going to give them the benefit of the doubt that they were just busy Parking: - small parking lot but some street parking TDLR: Japanese take on Italian food, great to try, but not my cup of tea

Be warned, Spoon gets unbelievably busy during dinner rush hour. It's also a really small restaurant, so don't even think about coming here with a group larger than 4 max; you'll be waiting for a long time. Also, it seems like Spoon is perpetually understaffed. There's only usually 2 Japanese ladies taking orders, serving, and cashiering as well. The food here is great. It's a cross between Japanese and Italian -- really interesting combination. The best part is that there's counter seating that overlooks the kitchen so you can watch the chefs cook your meal. It's neat to watch how efficient the chefs make the pasta. We've had the Spoon House Original Seafood Gratin (which takes 20 mins to make), and the Carbonara. Both were delicious. Parking is not too bad; there's a small lot behind the restaurant. And there's residential parking a short walk away. We would come back again, but definitely not during rush hour.

A wonderful spot tucked away in Gardena filled with comforting pasta dishes & $1.00 salads, and bread!!! I've been coming here for years since I was a child and it has always had a comfortable, cozy, nonchalant atmosphere. There's seating along the bar where you see the chefs work and cook the pasta, and booths / tables. There was a bit of a wait around 1/2 pm on a Sunday but it moved quick, 10 mins max. We were seated at the bar and I ordered the carbonara pasta and my husband ordered the vongole tomato basil pasta, and both of us had the $1.00 salad. Salad was simple with tomatoes, lettuce, and a ginger dressing. Since it's so familiar to me it would feel off if I didn't order the salad to go with mypasta. They serve the bread before the food comes out and I'll usually finish it before the pasta comes out, and they refill it for you which is nice. The carbonara was excellent, hit the spot and I was using my bread refill to scrape the last bits of sauce. No leftovers with this one! My husband did like the clam pasta, but I let him know we usually get the bolognese pasta (which is a 100% must order) so the next time we come he'll probably skip out on the vongole. I think he was expecting more of a red sauce base, and it was his first time eating here and we did order in a rush because I came in knowing it was a carbonara type of day for me Service is nice and attentive even though it was busier, there is parking along the Main Street or also in a small lot space right behind Spoon house. This is something I've only gone to 2/3x a year now that I'm an adult but I look forward to frequenting it more often this year. Great and affordable prices, super casual, and a place that is comforting and delightful.

It was my first time today. Woeski took me here after his doc appt. Ordered the Japanese style clam sauce with seaweed, shisho and shiitake mushrooms. While he ate a salad. It was pretty good. Our first server was kind of rude. But another server was a nicer. Overall, it was good. I can see myself eating here by myself since there are countertop seating available.

After trying Pasta e Pasta by Allegro in Little Tokyo, I wanted to try this place since the food was similar. I ordered the Japanese clam sauce pasta with shiitake mushroom and the uni pasta with seaweed. It did take me a while to get home, so the pasta wasn't as hot. I remember at Pasta e Pasta by Allegro, they put foil to keep the pasta hot. This place should do that for takeout. The favorite of the two was the Japanese clam sauce pasta. The uni pasta was a little lackluster as it didn't have that much uni flavor. Next time I would dine in because I could see the pasta having great potential!

Japanese style spaghetti falls into its own category. Never mind the cacio e pepe or carbornara, wafu pasta typically has elements of seafood such as uni or mentaiko, and it should stay that way at Spoon House. Spoon House is on my list of South Bay recommendations for anyone visiting and I always recommend their cod roe or clam sauce base pastas, especially with uni. Last Saturday my friends and I showed up around 6PM and were escorted to the bar seats immediately, we were lucky to show up just before the weekend dinner rush. I normally go for their cod roe or clam sauce but decided to try their bolognese with meatballs, a true Italian classic (or so I thought). Unfortunately, I think their bolognese misses the mark: there's no richness in the tomato sauce I was looking for nor did the meatballs live up to my expectations. They weren't particularly dry but they certainly weren't juicy. Pretty underwhelming unfortunately. I'm usually pretty good at finishing my food 95% of the time I eat a meal but that day was the rare 5% where I had to sadly hand over my unfinished plate to the waiter. I'd still happily give Spoon House 4/5 stars solely because of their seafood pastas (and complementary bread and butter of course), I just wouldn't recommend the bolognese here. Perhaps leave that to the Italian restaurants elsewhere.

Nothing really went wrong, but I don't think their pasta is to my taste. I got the Napolitano. I actually wanted the doria, but they were out. The Napolitano was very garlicky, which I didn't mind, but I do wish it was sweeter. The dish that was actually supposed to be garlicky, the Hot Garlic, wasn't very garlicky. In fact, I think most of the other dishes could have used a bit more salt or could have been creamier. Our server was nice and the actual restaurant itself is very cute.

I almost always stop by at Spoon House when I'm in the area. The parking lot is kinda small but we usually never have an issue parking. The inside is quaint, can seat about 25-30 I'd say which means there can be a wait during rush hour. I typically get the bolognese but this time I decided to switch it up and got the white sauce with shrimp. I also got the one dollar salad per usual. The in house made bread is always tasty but I wish they would toast it just a bit. The pasta is always a perfect al dente, not too chewy. The white sauce was rich without being overwhelmingly salty. I would have appreciated a larger portion of shrimp since it was quite delicious. I wish I got a large size since I wasn't full after my dish. Their other menu options are good as well, at least the ones I have tried. It would be hard to go wrong when ordering here. Service was on point and dining area was clean. I don't get to come here often but I always appreciate when I get the chance to. Solid meal this outing.

Good food spaghetti, salad, bread, and ice coffee! Price are fair and the service is fast! Yup they know how to do business!

Been craving Japanese Italian and this place hit the spot! We opted for the Japanese style clam sauce with oyster mushroom and the Japanese style cod roe and butter sauce with sea urchin and seaweed. The flavors are on point and overall, the whole meal felt very light but I was satisfied and full. Parking was pretty easy since they had a little lot in the back. Will definitely come back to try more of the menu!

I have been going to this place for decades... it has been always good until last night. Ordered seafood gratin for myself and napolitan spaghetti with sausage for my wife. Gratin was hot outsise, but just warm inside. Spaghetti was not good at all. Hope it will be same as befor next time....

Been eating here for 35 years now. How the time has fly. Some dishes has changed over the course of time but the flavor stands the test of time. My favorite here is definitely the Mexican spaghetti. Is just a great creation of a Mexican fusion dish. The spicy garlic and the clam spaghetti is also amazing here as well. The only thing I can complain here is I feel like their complementary bread isn't as good as it used to be. But that's OK, I'm here for the pasta so I can look past that.

One of the best Japanese pasta spots around! I've been coming to this place for a long time, and it never disappoints. I had a pasta dish today, and it was just as good as ever. The flavors are always on point, and the quality is consistent. Highly recommend this place to anyone who loves Japanese-style pasta!

spoon house has always been a solid place of mine for years!! it's a small, cozy shop with decent seating. since it is a bit small, you might feel cluttered a bit but other than that, the experience leaves me happy. their parking lot is located in the back and usually there is a wait time but it's pretty short!! the food is great; it's japanese-italian fusion so they offer dishes that are non-traditional but surprisingly delightful!! they also offer complimentary bread and butter and their dollar salad is a MUST! it's a great appetizer while waiting for your food but i'd advise being aware of being full from those. for me personally, i stick with my usuals because the other dishes are hit or misses for me. they are usually understaffed but the servers try their best to make sure the food comes out on time and that our drinks are served promptly. here's what i've tried: - one dollar salad this is honestly a must for me. great price, great salad, great appetizer, happy me. - tarako with squid this is my go-to dish here. they use mentaiko and butter and with a squeeze of lemon... it's just heavenly. the portions are pretty big but i stuff myself til full with this dish. - spoon house original doria i tried the white cream sauce one (it comes with shrimp). honestly, a good dish but the only downside is it takes around 20-25 minutes to prepare... so by the time you have everyone finish their dishes, you are getting your doria. just be mindful of that when you order. - carbonara i have a very specific carbonara taste i like and while spoon house has their own take on it, it isn't my cup of tea. i imagine a very heavy and creamy sauce but spoon's is a lot lighter and less viscous. - barca de oro this was not my favorite but if you like tomato base and seafood, this might be for you! i rmbr my ex-bf loved this dish but i didn't like it at all. take the risk for yourself!

My biggest regret being a South Bay native is not discovering Spoon House sooner. I came here by my friend's recommendation years ago and it's been my go to spot when I want fusion pasta. Spoon House specializes in Japanese and Italian fusion pasta, with many pastas combining seafood, uni, seaweed and spaghetti. My go to has been the tarako and butter sauce spaghetti with uni, seaweed, and squid. The pasta is buttery and rich, and the portions are generous as well. If you've had Akane Chaya across the street, Spoon House will be very similar experience.

Local Japanese pasta institution in Gardena/South Bay here. Very few tables inside the main area 3-4 depending on configuration! A sit up bar as well and a few more out in the less nice lobby area. The $1 salad is a great deal still! Bread to the table plus free refills also great tradition still on-going. Some traditional and some not - haven't veered too far yet but menu has a good 50 different options available if feeling adventurous!! Prices for the plate size were reasonable. Check it out if you're craving pasta!