Headlines

 

- A Magazine "Voga" explains why 

 By offering soba noodles that are prepared daily, tempura fried by a skilled chef, and sushi using extremely fresh fish, "Inaba" is always crowded with people who enjoy real Japanese dishes. Because of its popularity, there is often a long wait to get a table on the weekends. Although we have introduced "Inaba" over several issues of this magazine, we have decided to provide you with a complete review. We hope our readers will fully enjoy and appreciate Inaba's attention to details in preparing its dishes.

Upon entering the restaurant, I first noticed the stylish bar. Although "Inaba" has become very popular and one expects a long wait for a table on the weekends, the "California Wine Bar" opened to ease such long waits. The Happy Hour between 5:30 p.m. to 7:00p.m. is especially popular since there are complimentary munchies and all wines, beers, sakes and shochus are only $1.10 per glass. With such treats, the wait for the table most certainly will not seem very long. The interior of the restaurant is completed with varying shades of green and the many furnishing create an elegant and relaxing atmosphere. First, I decided to try the "Yonezawa Ita Soba Noodles" which is one of the restaurant's recommended dishes. It is not surprising to hear that thenoodles are prepared daily since they are shine and go down my throat smoothly. The wonderful smoothness and aroma of these noodles is a result of the use of the soba powder directly shipped from Japan. Feast on this at a sitting by dipping it in the sauce that has been prepared using ample amounts of seaweed and bonito flakes. In addition, I highly recommend trying the tempura fried by a chef of "Tenmaru" of Ginza. The tempura is excellent with its crisply fried light crust, the fresh and flavorful shrimp, and the faint sesame aroma. The masterly fried tempura and particularity of having the ingredients shipped from Japan brings the true flavor of Japanese cuisine to diners. The sushi chefs use an authentic Edo method in preparing the fresh fish and prepare each sushi piece carefully. It is easy to tell that each piece of sushi has been prepared with care. 

Now, although there are numerous individual dishes that I would recommend, the "Inaba Special Kaiseki" is a good way of enjoying all these wonderful dishes. The Inaba Special Kaiseki includes an appetizer, sashimi or seasonal sushi, vegetables cooked in stock, tempura, roasted meat, soba noodles and dessert.The Inaba Special Kaiseki is very filling and one order could be sufficient for two women. In addition, this deluxe course is only $55.00! It is an excellent choice for two people to enjoy with an order of sake. This is definitely a worthwhile course.

Finally, I would like to note Organic-MLT.com (URL: organic-MLT.com), the organic specialty store that supplies ingredients to Inaba, and Inaba's commitment to a healthy life.

First, the chicken"Petaluma Rocky Junior," which MLT recommends with confidence. The chicken is raised free of any products such as anti-biotics, chemicals or preservatives. The chicken is fed high-grade corn and soy protein feed, and, therefore has 26% less fat compared to that of other chickens. The difference in using this chicken is easily distinguishable when tasting a bite of Inaba’s Chicken Teriyaki prepared using the Petaluma Rocky Junior. In addition, the "Japanese Style Beef" and "Pork Cutlet" dishes, which use natural beef and pork, taste excellent. Furthermore, Organic-MLT.com has also started selling pork sausages that uses high quality pork that is ground and flavored in its original brand spices which is then stuffed in high-grade natural sheep intestines. The sausage has a texture and mature taste that often cannot be tasted in the United States. Those who are interested in the MLT should access their website.

Locations where Organic Chicken and Pork Sausage can be obtained:
1) Organic-MLT.com Tel: 310-792-3816
2) Restaurant Inaba Tel: 310-376-6675
3) Nippon Food Tel: 714-826-5321

-  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  

Genuine Japanese Cuisine Faithful to the Basics

 My friend informed me that Inaba's tempura and soba noodles are tasty and their sushi is delicious. Sushi, soba noodles and tempura are standard dishes in Japanese cuisine. Although I felt that the dishes were standard and could be on any Japanese restaurant's menu, I decided to go check it out.

All the dishes that were brought were aesthetically pleasing and my mouth was watering just looking at them. The tempura crust was light and the ingredients tasted sweet which is a sure sign that the ingredients were fresh. The homemade soba noodles have an excellent consistency and it is hard to stop eating them. As for the sushi, both the nigiri sushi and mackerel oshisushi is excellent. Inaba opened in Torrence last June. Since its opening, its reputation spread quickly and it now has a steady fan base. The dishes are never disappointing and you can always sense that the chef has paid careful attention to each dish. This is because the chef who has been dedicated to Japanese cuisine for 30 years uses his experience while faithfully preserving the basics of Japanese cuisine. The reason why the menu is particular and stubbornly limited to sushi, tempura, and soba noodles is probably because the chef has confidence in the dishes. The dishes are not influenced by the American style of Japanese cuisine and the flavors are as if they were directly imported from Japan.

Here are some recommendations from the menu. As for soba noodles, try the "Yamagata Agari Ita Soba" ($18.00) which can be enjoyed by 3-4 persons. Ita soba is a dish where soba noodles are piled in a bamboo basket and in the Yamagata area people finish their meal with ita soba noodles. As for tempura, try the tempura and sashimi set"Tempura Gozen" which comes in 3 different types ($19.00 - $30.00). As for sushi, try the "Super Deluxe (Tokujo) Nigiri" ($25.00), "Deluxe Nigiri"  ($18.00) or "Chirashi" ($20.00). There is also a special dinner menu ($15.00 - $19.00) that allows for various combinations of sushi, tempura and soba noodles. The "Inaba Kaiseki" ($55.00) is a full Kaiseki course of 9 dishes that allows one to fully enjoy various dishes of Inaba. Because of its volume, Inaba often gets requests from its female customers that they would like to share the course. Also, the "weekly dish" ($3.00 - $7.00), which is perfect as a side dish when having a drink, is also very popular. Of course, Inaba offers 30 different kinds of wine, various Japanese sakes, some of which are unusual brands that are directly shipped from Japan. Inaba is closed on Monday. Lunch is from 11:30am to 2:00pm Tuesday through Saturday. Dinner is from 5:30pm to 10:00pm Tuesday through Saturday. Dinner is served from 5:00pm to 9:00pm on Sundays. The last order is 15 minutes prior to closing.

20920 Hawthorne Blvd.
Torrance, CA 90503
(310) 371-6675

For more details→

 
  (in Japanese language only)

Authentic Japanese foods ingredients

Sample photos are shown below.
(Additional notes in English may be available when it is ready)

Carefully selected, high-grade pork is grounded coarsely and seasoned. With specially blended spices it is then stuffed into natural sheep intestines. Enjoy "crispy crunch" and matured taste of the genuine sausage. You get a feeling of very difference with American sausage. It is the first time a product as such available in U.S.

pork sausage Japan-style
PORK SAUSAGE IN NATURAL CASING
NET WEIGHT 17.6LBS(2kg)

Product of: YONEKYU U.S.A., INC. Los
Angeles, Ingredients: Pork, Water, Dextrose, Salt,
Spices, Monosodium, Glutamate, Sodium, Phosphate,
Sugar, Parsley, Ascorbic Acid, Sodium Nitrate

 
 cod roe

 
 herring roe

 
 salted salmon roe 

 
salted salmon roe

[ Home | Newsletter | Products | Customers| Shopping | Network | About Us ]

Please send your comments and suggestions: hosoi@earthlink.net

back to top

Last update: 2001/11/28

© 2001  MLT International Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Design/management by Brainet Associates, Ltd.