Spoon House Gardena

Small, bustling spot with a Japanese take on Italian food. Came here with 2 other friends on a Tuesday evening around 7:30 and it was about a 30 minute wait (no reservations accepted). You put your name on the piece of paper by the hostess stand, and wait for your name to be called. If your entire party isn’t present, they’ll seat the group after you and you’ll have to wait until the next seating is available. It’s a small place with limited tables and communal seating, so it’s best for 2-3 people. No outdoor dining available. There’s a parking lot in the back. Credit cards are accepted. It’s located right across the Tokyo central complex so you can walk across for dessert (I.e., boba or ice cream) or to get some groceries. Food-wise, they do give you some free French bread with butter. You can also purchase the bread for $3.25 plus tax. Got the $1 salad per everyone’s suggestions and I would echo their sentiment. The dressing is what makes it so interesting. The spaghetti omelet I got was cooked al dente, but note it’s more of an egg being placed on top of spaghetti rather than an actual omelette with spaghetti filling. My friend’s white sauce pasta was super creamy and filling. My other friend who had recommended this spot always goes for the bolognese. Our dinner was less than $20 each (including the tax and tip). Overall, it’s a great reasonably priced spot for an intimate, casual dinner with good pasta.