Sawtelle Tempura House

How this place is not constantly packed, I will never know. Really really great food at a fraction of the cost you would pay for anything else on Sawtelle. 6 bucks will get you a meal big enough to spread to lunch and dinner, and it will be two meals you will not regret a bite of. Highly recommend. Wish there were more of these type of places in west LA. Tired of the trendy expensive places…

The taste was boring. But if you’re on a budget they had some good deals!

A hole in the wall!
If your ever on Sawtelle Blvd and are looking for a cheap but good portion lunch… look no further.
This place is «cash only!»
prices are very cheap, and food is good.
It’s a bit hard to understand the nice lady working there, but she’s very kind and will help you get your food on time.
Check it out.
«Elite Approved!»

I rarely do this with my Unilocal reviews, but even though the food was just OK, I insist that you really have to try this place. You get a glimpse of what maybe Sawtelle used to be before the ramen craze, Korean soon tofu, pizza, and burgers rolled in. You have to go there to understand what I’m talking about.
The place is run by a the cutest grandma and grandpa EVER. It appears that they’ve had the same menu for decades. Nothing has changed. Not their recipe, not their menu… nothing. Definitely not the walls.
And still there’s this irresistible charm to the whole thing… even the food. The food tasted like it would at your grandma’s house – not restaurant quality or style. So, it’s pretty good.
I ordered both the tempura meal AND a bento box. I was hungry. The bento box was fantastic!
TIPS:
— metered street parking only
— take out only
— only open in for lunch

This a wonderful mom and pop joint. It’s only take out! Cash Only! Don’t come here expecting high brow food. This is washoku like your elder neighbor, grandma and mother may make for you. The prices are not expensive and you can have a traditional bento (not fancy, but ones my mother packed for my dad — meat, simmered dish, tasty bites of this and that) and a side of tonkatsu (chicken or pork cutlet) for less than $ 10. Yes the owners have been there a long time and is part of the community there. Yes sometimes it takes a minute or two longer because the owners are elderly, but they are so kind and its a institution that should continue. Go down to the area, have ramen, Shabu Shabu or what not and do yourself a favor and pick up something from the Sawtelle Tempura House for dinner. It’s one of those places you walk in and feel like it’s in the past. Reminds me of some small mom and pop places in Japan.

I found my home away from home!
Wow, this is the cutest little Japanese mom & pop ever and I am so, so glad I found this place. This «obaachan» reminds me of my baachan and I couldn’t be more delighted. I spoke to her in Japanese and she answered back, not even surprised or taken back by it. Love how kind she was too! So sweet!
Got the daily bento and sushi special. Okay kids, handmade bentos are just not made like this anymore. Especially handmade bentos full of love. I almost died when I saw how cute, organized and pretty this bento was. It was like buying a eki bento in Osaka or any train station in Japan. It really struck me and made me feel nostalgic.
Bento consisted of tamago yaki, veggies, saba, daikon, so much goodies! I loved eating all those flavors. Reminds me of my grandma’s cooking. The sushi maki… my god… I almost cried. It had kanpyo in it!!! Kanpyo!!! I love futo maki with kanpyo in it! You just cannot find it anymore! And it had that pink fish flakes, which are slightly sweet (I forget the name) are straight out of a Miyazaki film! LOVE!!!
Definitely check this place out if you’re by the 405 and in the West Side. Support these local Mom and Pops! お弁当おいしかったです！

I love supporting mom and pop stores and this definitely fits the bill if that’s your thing too. The grandma reminds me of mine and I like how cheap, fast, and plentiful the food is here. I’m away from home so it’s super pleasant to have a chance to eat something that feels homemade. If you go often enough, the grandma will remember you. :D

This is seriously the cutest little place on Sawtelle! It’s a little lunch-​only, cash-​only, take-​out hole in the wall run by the cutest Japanese grandma and grandpa you’ll ever meet! The prices are crazy reasonable and the food is great, so give them a try if you haven’t already. Like I said, the place is lunch only, so be mindful of their hours, and don’t expect to eat on site, either, as there’s no indoor seating, and the one table outside is usually taken.
Also check out the lunch specials (like the chicken burger — TRY IT — it’s very good and very different). There’s definitely a pic of the special schedule somewhere on Unilocal

Cute place to grab an inexpensive and good lunch! I came by midweek in the afternoon and there wasn’t anyone else in the shop. However, after I ordered, there were at least 2 – 3 people waiting behind me, so I might’ve just missed the lunch crowd.
There aren’t many options here, but they have everyday specials! I opted for a lunch plate combo with 1 meat and only paid $ 6.50! It was plenty of food for just one person and my boyfriend even ate my leftovers cause I couldn’t finish it. You get the option of steamed rice or fried rice, and I chose to get the fried rice. It also comes with some noodles and veggies. For the meat, I got pork katsu! Everything was really tasty, especially the noodles. For the price of what you get, I really have nothing to complain about.
I also love how it’s family owned and the lady helping me was so cute! I’m surprised anyone is still working at that age, but I admire that they continue to keep their business open. Will definitely be back

Hmm. Pretty Cool. I like it.
I was pleasantly surprised to find a place called Sawtelle Japantown, also unofficially known as Little Osaka. It’s a hidden gem on the westside and is not to be confused or compared to Downtown’s Little Tokyo. The idea between the two places are the same, but both are very different. So far, Little Osaka has won me over.
The layout of the area, the atmosphere, the food, and the people are noticeably different from the city. Everybody who lives or works downtown are always on a hustle and bustle. The lifestyle of the locals is based on their work schedule. It sad sometime because we miss the opportunity of catching or noticing all the details that matter.
On the westside though, it is the opposite. People on the westside tend to be more lax and chill, it’s pretty obvious. Honestly though, who wouldn’t want to live away from the city, where is area is cleaner, traffic doesn’t suck balls, and the air is more breathable rather than the smell of stale urine radiating from the asphalt post rain in downtown. Definitely the reasons why the locals in Sawtelle Japantown tend to be a bit more friendlier.
Anyways, enough with the intro. I’ve driven through the area numerous times as I handle my business at The West LA Building and Safety Department. Since I missed breakfast and was an hour early for my appointment, I was left with the dilemma of either waiting it out to eat after or eat now and possibly be late for the appointment. Knowing myself, I’d f*ck anything and everything up for the sake of food. With that said, you already know where this is headed.
My hunger pangs took control and I stepped out frantically searching for the closest spot to eat. Plan Check wasn’t going to be open until 11am. Shit. I look up towards the sky in desperation, and subtly see a sign, «Tempura House». It was 9am and the door was open. Fugh it.
Right when I stepped in, I was transported back in time. Such an awesome place. It’s literally a tiny shack with a dilapidated wooden screen door that was painted white. The surface of the color has worn and faded through, revealing parts of the wood. The door has a little trinket attached to a rope along the edges of the door, letting the owners know when customers walk in.
I was kindly introduce by an old lady who reminded me of my own grandmother. She spoke very little English, and had a hard time understanding what she was saying through her Japanese accent. I was definitely lost in translation. I just smiled and said yes to everything she asked, in effort to not offend her. She was such a sweet lady.
Special thanks to the Unilocal community for posting all the photos. I was able to figure out how and what I was going to order. Each day of the week, the place serves combination specials. I ordered their Tuesday special, and the futomaki on the side.
I don’t think the menu has ever changed since they opened, but then again, I don’t even how long they have been opened.
The place is nothing extravagant, and far from anything to be called a restaurant. Instead, it’s a home business for an old Japanese couple that serves Homestyle cooking. That’s the beauty of this place.
I recommend a try, but not for a food experience. If you’re hungry, tight on cash, and need a quick bite, then pay this old lady a visit and eat whatever she feeds you. It’s regular food, but you definitely can taste the love. The obachan is my bae.

well, congratulations, «Sawtelle Japantown,» on your new name. i am sure that you will be even more overrun now with foodies wanting to stand in line for some noodles. GOOD! please, foodies, stay in line. do not walk a little further down the main drag and make a line here at my favorite place to get a bento. i feel like i’m going to have to start making weekly or more trips here before it succumbs to the fate of my beloved Tokyo 7 – 7 Coffee Shop (Culver City’s downtown revitalization basically pushed the oba & ojichan there into retirement… it was gonna happen eventually, but i still miss it… see
)
anyway, once you walk in through the swinging screen door, check the handwritten, fading list of daily specials on the wall. you can’t really go wrong with them. or just look up to the dusty old skool diner menu and decide if you want 1 meat or 2 meat with your plate lunch. most people get food for take-​out; there is a table out front you can use, and if it’s taken, the friendly, sweet obachan who runs the place with her husband will set up a folding table for you. so nice!
she will take your order and either fill it herself, or if it requires her husband in the kitchen to, say, make some udon, she’ll shout it to him. the value is unbeatable; $ 6.50 gets you a huge portion of steamed veggies, noodles, and perfect washoku-​ish fried rice. everything is always fresh and tasty, and portions are generous. holy moley, that «hamburg» daily special is freaking huge.
a bento+rice will run a little over $ 5, but i’m so devoted to the pork katsu that i always forget to switch it up. one day i shall try the onigiri. i promise. just don’t be making a line out the door in front of me please. in fact, you know what, just give the obachan your cash money and go; i will be happy to eat the non-​pretentious and utterly authentic comfort food here for you. oh yeah, please remember to tell them «Arigato!» when you go!

I love the bento and chicken hamburger! They’re both my favorite. The grandma who packages your food (and also runs shop) is sweet and makes me miss home. Part of me comes here often just to support the owners. Cheap and homemade :)

The grandma and grandpa here are too cute! You can’t help but be taken back to the simple days probably in the 70s or 80s. Very retro and not much has changed — you can even argue the prices are pretty much the same.
If you’re looking for a quick and easy lunch, to-​go on Sawtelle without a crazy wait, this is your spot. They have daily specials. I only tried 2 things when I came — chicken teriyaki plate and chicken hamburger plate. Both comes with rice, chow mein, and stir fried veggies for only $ 6.50! I really like the chicken hamburger. It had a ton of flavor! The gravy was also a nice touch. The chicken teriyaki was OK — generous portion but a bit bland for my taste.
I hope they continue to thrive and do well. There’s been a crazy change on this street for the good and bad but I don’t ever want to see mom and pop places like this go.

A small place but great service. Just remember to bring cash. Reasonable price especially for lunch time. If you are in the area Unilocalers give it a shot

It’s a mom and pop store! It’s a very small, family-​styled place.
Their portions are pretty generous! I only got the a la carte chicken teriyaki ($ 4.50), which came in a half-​sized to go box but I could only finish half. It had rice, chow mein, steamed vegetables (cabbage, broccoli, carrots), and chicken! The chicken was very juicy and tasty too.
The grandma greets you when you come in and takes your order. She also packs your meal and does the transaction. She is such a nice lady! She tried to give my friends some of the extra Halloween candy haha.
The grandpa is the one who cooks! I saw a glimpse of him earlier, and he was a cool guy.
Overall, I had a pretty great experience here! I found street parking fairly easily and the table outside was empty so my friends and I could eat!
It feels good to support this shop since it’s only run by the grandpa and grandma. :)

I love Sawtelle Tempura House. I picked up a bento for $ 5.20 that came with rice. It’s home-​made. I appreciate this place.

I do not really buy daily special from this place.
Usually I get higawari bento or something else.
Onigiri 2pcs is really good. Big two onigiri and it comes with tsukemono.
Chicken curry is pretty good.
Katsudon is very very big and tasty:)
Udon is pretty good too.
Everything is good, but katsudon is my favorite dish so far.
— Cash only.
— There is a table outside, but it is usually taken.
— Parking is street parking, but is easy to find just across the street for free.
— Be prepared to be «patient» if there is a line. Grandma is doing all the taking orders, packing, handling money by herself.
— She likes when non-​Japanese try to speak Japanese to her:)

4 stars purely for the fact that this place is an old school mom and pop shop that’s been around since 1989 and the food is just so damn comforting.
Culinary wise, the food isn’t anything special. Comfort wise, it is the very very best. Only open during lunch, the lunch combos are great. Choices range from chicken hamburger (if you like meatloaf, get this), spicy chicken wings, chicken cabbage rolls (found this to be on the bland side), chicken/​pork katsu (get here early to nab this awesome fried goodness!!), etc. The combo is served with mixed veggies, some noodles, a little mapo tofu on the side if they have it that day, and a hearty serving of super peppery fried rice. All this for under $ 7!
All in all, great cute lunch spot and very filling. Now if only they would adopt me…

Slightly disappointed.
When you walk in, it’s a small hole-​in-​the-​wall with a two-​seater «bar» facing the window.
The cute old Japanese grandma takes your order. Her English isn’t that great but she understands, kinda.
I had the two meat lunch plate which comes with veggies, rice (brown, white or fried), and chowmein with your two choices of meat which can be chosen from the special of the day or some other items they have daily. I had the chicken hamburger, and pork katsu with fried rice.
This is more of a take-​out place because she gives them to you in those styrofoam boxes. It is a lot of food for $ 8.50. I would say this is what a Japanese Panda Express would be like.
The food doesn’t taste fresh probably because it’s been sitting there all day. The fried rice, veggies, and chowmein all have a lot of black pepper on them. The pork katsu wasn’t crispy but it wasn’t bad. The chicken hamburger was moist and pretty good.
There’s one patio table outside where you can sit and eat if you’d like.

I lived in the area for a while and would pass by this place on the way to work everyday, but I never tried it. I have since moved further south, but still work close by and I finally made my way in. The outside appearance isn’t new or modern and when you walk inside it’s like walking into someone’s house. It felt warm and welcoming and I like that. One thing I love is mom and pop type of places, so this spot seemed right up my alley. I was excited to see that they carry Hawaiian Sun and I quickly grabbed a Passion Orange from the cooler. I had that days special which was the chicken hamburger; this was flavorful and reminded me of a meatloaf of sorts. The rest of the dish consisted of noodles, rice, and steamed veggies. Aside from the chicken hamburger, the rest of the plate wasn’t anything spectacular.
I would still come back to try other items of course and snag a Passion Orange. I have added this place to my lunch rotation!