Noodle Neighbors: Kotohira

Who would suspect that two of the best noodle shops in town are right next door to each other in Gardena? The first of them, Kotohira, has a long and esteemed following. The udon is made on-site, and the kindhearted yet mischievous server boasts as she serves our complimentary potato salad that they serve 20 different noodles. Udon is a thick, slippery flour noodle either served cold for dipping or in a hot broth.

The two specialties at Kotohira are Shoyu Udon: Tempura lace, dried bonito shavings, green onion and ginger. Unlike the other udons it is served with just a little bit of sauce instead of the hot broth. The other specialty is the pricier Udon-Suki dinner for two or more diners: Crab, chicken, vegetables and udon served in a hot broth.

There are a number of combinations with choices from tempura to tendon. Your main choice is between the udon noodles and soba buckwheat noodles.  I usually order Nabeyaki Udon, with shrimp tempura, chicken, shiitake mushrooms, greens, an egg and kamaboko, a slice of fish cake that my friend refers to as fish bologna. I love that it is de regeur to slurp your noodles, but I have to admit I have left more than once with a stippling of teensy burns across my chest from the spattering hot broth. So worth it.

Elise Thompson

About Elise Thompson

Born and raised in the great city of Los Angeles, this food, culture and music-loving punk rock angeleno wants to turn you on to all that is funky, delicious and weird in the city. While Elise holds down the fort, her adventurous alter ego Kiki Maraschino is known to roam the country in search of catfish.
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One Response to Noodle Neighbors: Kotohira

  1. Darlene Lacey Darlene Lacey says:

    Oh, man… that looks delicious!

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