Inaba Japanese Restaurant

If ramen is the attention hog in the family of noodles, then soba is the wheat-based variety's more refined cousin. The delicate, slightly nutty flavor of the buckwheat-based strands, plus the skill the staff puts into the making of each thread, makes this South Bay shop a destination Japanese noodle spot across all of L.A. Though purists will tell you that the best way to enjoy these noodles is plain or zaru—served cold alongside an umami-rich dipping sauce—we actually prefer the ten zaru: an upgrade with the addition of light, crispy tempura on the side. For best sampling, order their combination lunch or tempura omakase set dinner: the seasonal omakase typically includes sashimi, chawanmushi (savory egg custard), that ethereal tempura and a small bowl of soba or udon. But if you’re just here for that tempura—well, they even have a tempura kaiseki.