Waka Sakura Gardena
Sushi restaurant · Gardena
1740 Artesia Blvd, Gardena, CA 90248
Highlights
Made-to-order conveyor belt sushi with fresh ingredients
Made-to-order conveyor belt sushi with fresh ingredients
"We were born too late to explore the world, and born too early to explore the universe, but at least we were born in time to experience the futuristic conveyor belt sushi at Waka Sakura. Located on the second floor of Gardena's Tokyo Central supermarket, this sleek operation has you order via tablet or your phone, then whisks sushi to your table minutes later (a common setup in Japan). Everything here is a bit more polished than your average conveyor belt spot, and the sushi is a notch above what's in the supermarket cold case downstairs, but it's still very affordable. The big menu covers a range of sushi, sashimi, and rolls, but the nigiri combos offer the best bang for your buck, like the six-piece Salmon Party for $12. Waits are no longer as bad as they were when Waka Sakura first opened (aside from weekends), but if there's a line, just put your phone number in and do some shopping until you're called." - Garrett Snyder
"A tremendous addition to the Gardena dining scene, Waka Sakura is a higher-end conveyor belt sushi restaurant (kaitenzushi) that feels plucked right out of a tony Tokyo shopping district. With no windows and a sleek, minimalist dining room, all the focus goes to the extensive sushi menu that is ordered through tableside tablets. Expect well-seasoned rice, fresh fish, and well-executed rolls that, altogether, add up to a great value. Waits can add up during meal times, so take a stroll through the first-floor Tokyo Central grocery store." - Matthew Kang
"Tucked into a hard-to-find second-floor space with no windows at Gardena’s Tokyo Central Market, Waka Sakura represents a new level of quality in conveyor belt sushi that one would typically find in Japan. Here, plates run a few dollars more than at budget spots like Kura Sushi, but the overall freshness and execution, from the provenance and seasoning of the rice to the freshness of the fish, are worth the premium. Waits are pretty long, up to an hour, so put your name down and go shopping for Japanese groceries downstairs. — Matthew Kang, lead editor" - Eater Staff
"Word of Waka Sakura spread quickly on social media and Reddit after its opening on February 27 on the second floor of the Tokyo Central grocery store in Gardena. The restaurant’s instant popularity prompted the grocery store to dedicate a small waiting area to contain diners queuing for upwards of two hours to try the restaurant. What’s immediately different about Waka Sakura is its more upscale dining room and the quality of its sushi. The sleek, dimly lit, and windowless space could be tucked into a Tokyo office building or shopping mall, with hushed jazz piano tunes and helpful service staff. Diners are presented with a heavy paper booklet with photos of the restaurant’s offerings and can order either using the tableside tablet or with their phones and a QR code. The first page of the menu touts the restaurant’s freshly grated wasabi, Hitomebore rice, red vinegar and Junmai Daijingo rice seasoning, and Kyushu-sourced nori. On the nigiri menu are tuna, yellowtail, salmon, sea bream, seared wagyu beef, and more; the accompanying rice is well-seasoned and served not quite warm but not frigid cold. Prices for the nigiri, which comes in two pieces per plate with some exceptions, start at $3.99 for albacore with garlic chips and go up to $5.49 for roe-topped salmon. Cuts that often only come from higher-end omakase places, like engawa (halibut fin), surf clam, uni, and jack mackerel punch well above their cost. Waka Sakura also offers saucy rolls, hand rolls, sashimi, and grilled plates like salmon filet and hamachi collar." - Matthew Kang
