Topline:
Gardena is a hidden paradise where you can find undiscovered gems for less.
Why Gardena? It's our 10th edition of Cheap Fast Eats, and the South Bay city has become one of our favorite places for inexpensive, under-the-radar meals.
What's on the menu? From teriyaki burgers you order from a walk-up window to Japanese street food staples such as karaage chicken and takoyaki at a supermarket food court to old-school Italian sandwiches, Gardena has a little of everything.
Can you believe it?
We’ve reached the 10th edition of Cheap Fast Eats, where we scour the L.A. area looking for delicious dishes you can enjoy quickly that won’t break the bank (as in, around $10).
That means we've been to 50 restaurants. For those keeping track, we’ve visited places such as Culver City, Silver Lake, Pasadena, Long Beach, and Inglewood, looking to dig deep into tasty deals.
This time around, we end up in an often-overlooked South Bay city, Gardena. With its sizable population of Asian, Black, and Latino residents, the cultures meld together to represent something distinctively Southern Californian, and yet all its own.
Every month, we scout out eateries, stomach-filling burrito joints, and hidden gems, focusing on dishes around $10 -$15. If you want us to try an area, drop us a line at the bottom of the story.
From big-portioned Hawaiian dishes to the perfect Italian sandwich, it’s time to dig in.
This is Cheap Fast Eats Gardena.
Yes, this restaurant is in a bowling alley. Upon entering the building, just to your left is the Gardena Bowl Coffee Shop entrance.
The space is always brimming with customers, both bowlers and non-bowlers alike. Like many, we became familiar with Gardena Bowl Coffee Shop when it was featured in the Netflix series Breakfast Lunch and Dinner, hosted by Momofuku chef, owner, and now SoCal resident David Chang.
Despite that fame, the coffee shop still maintains the look and feel of a local hangout. Many regulars sit at the small counter and chat with the staff, catching up on life, ready to indulge in some of their favorite comfort food.
Specializing in Hawaiian cuisine, Gardena Bowl Coffee Shop serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner so there's much to choose from. Selections such as club sandwiches and pancakes are solid dishes.
But the real magic happens in the Asian-meets-Pacific-Island-inspired cuisine.
One excellent option is the donburi, made of steamed eggs with added chicken katsu over a bed of rice garnished with pickled ginger.
Top it off with some of their spicy mustard, which brings a sinus-clearing kick that’s always welcomed, cause who doesn’t want to feel something when consuming a good meal? That being said, it’s okay if you don’t finish everything. Take the rest to go. This dish and many others save well; the portions here are never lacking.
Location: 15707 S. Vermont Ave., Gardena
Hours: Sunday-Thursday 8 am-9 pm, Friday and Saturday 8 am-10 pm
What is it about a good take-out window that always attracts us? The no-frills ordering while standing at a metal counter is forever charming. Pitburger is the perfect example of this.
The visual style of the place screams neighborhood institution, judging from the crowds of middle schoolers who spill out onto the sidewalk, stopping by for a quick bite on the way home along with construction workers, who line up in their safety vests and t-shirts.
Teriyaki is the name of the game here. As soon as you get out of your car, the smell of the sweet, charred meat wafts in the air, letting you know you are in the right place. While many tend to order the rice bowls, the teriyaki burger holds a special place in our hearts.
You might wonder, what’s so special about a burger patty smothered in teriyaki sauce — and do they add pineapple? Let me stop you right there and dispel any burger patty-shaped notions you may have.
The “burger” is a decently sized sliced flank steak that's expertly shellac-ed in sweet teriyaki sauce, a couple of leaves of iceberg lettuce all piled just right on a sesame seed bun slathered with a sensible bit of mayo.
Have your choice of single, double, or triple-stacked cuts of steak, depending on your hunger level. The first soft bite feels like an extra special treat, especially when you opt to wash it down with an Orange Bang. This frothy whipped orange beverage is made here in SoCal and feels perfect for an indulgent meal.
Location: 16602 S. Normandie Ave., Gardena
Hours: Monday-Saturday, 9 a.m. - 8:30 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m.-8:30 p.m.
Why did it take so long to recognize that food courts are perfect for Cheap Fast Eats? This is a great question that we are asking ourselves too. While there are always plenty of opportunities to partake in the occasional Costco hot dog or even a soft pretzel, we’re always looking to challenge ourselves more when grabbing a bite.
The regional Japanese supermarket chain Tokyo Central is excellent for many things, and the same goes for their Gardena location. But don’t overlook their food court, where there are plenty of treasures.
The first stop is Gindaco for some of their world-famous takoyaki. The Japanese chain boasts over 500 locations in Japan but has recently begun opening up a few in Southern California. The street food staple is said to be found on most corners throughout its country of origin.
The piping hot fritters are filled with chunky bits of octopus tentacles, tempura bits, and pickled ginger, and are made to order; you can watch the staff pour the batter into a specialized cast iron molded pan to allow them to achieve their spherical shape.
After 10 minutes of expert turning in the pan, the fritters are cooked to a crisped perfection. They can be served with various choices of toppings, such as “The Original,” drizzled with sweet and tangy takoyaki sauce, topped with seaweed, and sprinkled with bonito flakes. However, our favorite is topped with green onion and sriracha, which brings fresh flavors that cut through the fried batter.
While waiting for the takoyaki to cool, head to Tenkatori USA, for some karaage. You can have your choice of cuts, such as the traditional boneless thighs, along with wings, gizzards, and cartilage. However, if you’ve got a bit more room in your stomach, we’d urge you to order the bento boxes with your choice of chicken, rice, a cold noodle, a scoop of potato salad, pickled radish, and a green salad. The options are plentiful and you owe it to yourself to participate in this delicious fun.
Location: 1740 Artesia Blvd., Gardena
Hours: Gindaco: Open everyday, 11 a.m.-6:30 p.m., Tenkatori USA: Open everyday, 10:30 a.m.-7 p.m.
As you may know, we are a sucker for a good market with mouthwatering options for food that can be enjoyed in-house or taken home with you. (Roma Market, from our first Cheap Fast Eats guide to Pasadena and Jasmine Market in Culver City both come to mind.)
We find something appealing about grabbing a bite while also having the opportunity to perusing shelves and refrigerated sections to see what tasty items we can find.
Giuliano’s fits the bill with its bustling deli counter, bakery, and grocery. The place has been around since 1952 and contains a particular type of hometown charm you’d see on an episode of California Gold hosted by our patron saint Huell Howser.
After taking it all in, head toward the back, where the sandwich counter is located. There, you’ll find a stack of their signature Torpedo Jr. sandwiches. Look for the plastic wrapping made to look like the Italian flag which also makes it perfect for taking it to go especially if you are in a hurry.
The sandwich contains a cornucopia of Italian meats that includes two different types of salami, capocollo — aka gabagool — mortadella, provolone cheese, and lettuce. Pro tip: When you pay for a sandwich, ask for the small containers of oil and vinegar to go with. You'll want to drizzle it on the inside of your sandwich.
At first bite, you’re greeted by a meat and cheese rainbow, and the in-house baked bread is soft, pillowy, and heavenly. A bigger-sized sandwich is available that’s 10 inches, but somehow, the Jr. always seems perfectly satisfying.
Location: 1138 W. Gardena Blvd, Gardena
Hours: Monday-Saturday 9 a.m.-6 p.m., Sunday 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Sakae Sushi is the type of place that requires a little planning ahead, but that’s part of its charm and very much worth it. It’s a take-out establishment that only accepts cash, and ordering ahead by phone is preferred. But once you take those preparatory measures, you will undoubtedly be rewarded.
Look for the cute mid-century storefront on Denkar Avenue when you arrive. Pull into the lot, enter through the back courtyard, and head to the rear entrance, where you can pay.
When your order is ready, the sushi comes in a wrapped cardboard box, similar to a department store gift box, which some of you might remember from before we started ordering everything online. When unwrapping it, I’m always reminded of a favorite quote from the television show Twin Peaks, from Agent Dale Cooper, played by Kyle Maclachlan, “Every day, once a day, give yourself a present".
You can choose from California rolls or our favorite, the mix, which contains a combination of tamago (egg), nori-maki (shitake mushroom and spinach), inari (fried tofu), ebi (shrimp), and saba (pickled Atlantic mackerel).
Each bite of sushi contains a tasty amount of sweet, seasoned rice, a great complement to fish. You’ll find yourself marveling at the attention to detail when it comes to the construction of each piece, especially the shrimp and pickled mackerel, which feature precise geometric cuts for the proteins. Gardena dreams of sushi, indeed.
Location: 1601 W. Redondo Beach Blvd. #112, Gardena
Hours: Wednesday-Sunday 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Topline:
Several Los Angeles heavy-hitters were recognized in the James Beard 2026 awards, the Oscars of the food world, which were handed out Monday night in Chicago. Dave Beran of Seline in Santa Monica won Best chef for California, Providence won Outstanding Hospitality, and Kato won Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program.
Why it matters: Similar to the Oscars, winning can lead to an instant boost in reservations and bragging rights. While three of L.A.'s restaurants were recognized, however, the city lost out in key categories like Outstanding and Emerging chef.
Who else was honored: Nancy Silverton won a Lifetime Achievement award, Inglewood legacy restaurant Silver Spoon was honored with an America's Classics award, and L.A. nonprofit, No Us Without You, was awarded Humanitarian of the Year.
Several Los Angeles heavy-hitters were recognized in the James Beard 2026 awards, the Oscars of the food world, which were handed out Monday night in Chicago.
Dave Beran, of Seline in Santa Monica, won Best Chef in California. The chef, who got Jeremy Allen White camera-ready for The Bear, said operating a restaurant in disaster-prone L.A. is hard.
"You name the problem every year.... whether it's fires so on and so forth. So to stay culture and goal-focused and believe in what we're doing even though I'm sure there are paths that probably would have been more profitable ... [the award] means a lot," Beran said.
Beran, who also owns Pasjoli nearby, offers a 16-22 course tasting menu at Seline for $295.
While L.A. was eclipsed in some key categories, like Outstanding Chef, Emerging Chef and Best New Restaurant, it picked up awards in others. Kato, the one-star Michelin restaurant in DTLA, won the Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program. Ryan Bailey, sommelier and co-owner, told the audience in his acceptance speech that their vision was all about inclusion.
It was important that "no matter what was in your glass you were raising to cheer, you felt equal” at the bar.
Meanwhile Providence, the three-star Michelin restaurant on Melrose that's celebrating its 21st anniversary this week, won Outstanding Hospitality. Co-owner and General Manager Donato Poto joked that in the restaurant world, its longevity puts it "somewhere between middle age and a miracle."
With a 1:1 customer to staff ratio, Poto said that exceptional service "is not something that can be scripted or manufactured, but rather is the result of a team united by a shared commitment to care, humility, and excellence."
In a ceremony that was part celebration and part a passionate plea for recognition of the role of immigrants in the food industry, the contributions of other Angelenos were also honored.
Silver Spoon, the legendary soul food restaurant in Inglewood, was recognized with a James Beard America's Classics award, given to "locally owned restaurants with timeless appeal."
Local icon Nancy Silverton was awarded a Lifetime Achievement award. However, she said, “This award doesn’t mean I’m going anywhere … because I have nowhere to go. And mark my words I will be back there to receive my lifetime achievement award 2.0. “
A local nonprofit, No Us Without You, was awarded Humanitarian of the Year. Started by chefs Othón Nolasko and Damián Diaz to provide food relief to hospitality workers during the pandemic, six years later, it's pivoted to also serve food at home to families affected by ICE raids.
Topline:
A fire near Stevenson Ranch Monday afternoon prompted evacuation orders and warnings before firefighters were able to stop its forward progress hours later at 6:25 p.m. The Max Fire, which was reported at about 4:20 p.m., has so far burned 45 acres, according to the L.A. County Fire Department.
What we know so far: The fire is located just west of the 5 Freeway in Pico Canyon Park, near Stevenson Ranch Parkway, according to Cal Fire.
Read on ... for more on evacuation orders and warnings.
This is a developing story and will be updated. For the most up-to-date information about the fire you can check:
A fire near Stevenson Ranch Monday afternoon prompted evacuation orders and warnings before firefighters were able to stop its forward progress hours later at 6:25 p.m. The Max Fire, which was reported at about 4:20 p.m., has so far burned 45 acres, according to the L.A. County Fire Department.
The fire is located just west of the 5 Freeway in Pico Canyon Park, near Stevenson Ranch Parkway, according to Cal Fire.
Mandatory evacuation orders were issued for parts of the communities of Southern Oaks and Sunset Pointe, including the Laing-Brookefield Open Space. Parts of Valencia and Newhall are under evacuation warnings.
Mandatory evacuation orders have been issued for:
And warnings have been issued for zones:
Authorities say those who require additional time to evacuate and those with pets and livestock should leave immediately.
The Max Fire broke out about 4:20 p.m. west of Stevenson Ranch. It's currently 0% contained.
It's among several fires in recent days, including the Hazel Fire near Lancaster, which burned 66 acres Monday before the L.A. County Fire Department said crews had stopped forward progress of the fire. Evacuation warnings for nearby residents are still in place for that fire. LAist media partner CBS LA reports aerial footage showed a few structures on fire.
Check out LAist's wildfire recovery guide
If you have to evacuate:
Navigating fire conditions:
How to help yourself and others:
How to start the recovery process:
What to do for your kids:
Prepare for the next disaster:
Topline:
A B-52 bomber crashed today and burst into flames, killing all eight people aboard, shortly after takeoff at a U.S. Air Force base in Southern California’s Mojave Desert, military officials said.
What we know: Aerial footage showed virtually nothing left of the aircraft that went down around 11:20 a.m. during a routine test mission at the base, which is north of Los Angeles. After reviewing footage of the crash, it was determined that no one could have survived, Col. James Hayes, the Deputy Commander at Edwards Air Force Base, said at a news conference.
About the victims: “We lost eight great Americans,” Hayes said, adding that officials were working to notify their families. On board was a mix of military service members and government and civilian contractors, Hayes said.
A B-52 bomber crashed Monday and burst into flames, killing all eight people aboard, shortly after takeoff at a U.S. Air Force base in Southern California’s Mojave Desert, military officials said.
Aerial footage showed virtually nothing left of the aircraft that went down around 11:20 a.m. during a routine test mission at the base, which is north of Los Angeles. Black smoke rose from a large swath of charred desert near what appeared to be a runway on the base, with emergency vehicles nearby.
After reviewing footage of the crash, it was determined that no one could have survived, Col. James Hayes, the Deputy Commander at Edwards Air Force Base, said at a news conference.
“We lost eight great Americans,” Hayes said, adding that officials were working to notify their families.
On board was a mix of military service members and government and civilian contractors, Hayes said.
It was not immediately clear what caused the crash, and it could take up to six months to complete an investigation, Hayes said, but shared that the B-52 was supporting the “radar modernization program.”
The Boeing B-52 Stratofortress is a long-range bomber that entered service in 1955. Designed to carry both conventional and nuclear weapons, it has been used in conflicts involving the U.S. military from Vietnam to Iran.
In 2025, a B-52 flew to Edwards with a new, modernized radar system. A test team planned to conduct ground and flight test activities on the aircraft throughout 2026 to feed a production decision, the air force said in a 2025 news release. The modern Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar system replaced the aircraft’s antiquated radar for efficacy.
Edwards Air Force Base is home to a large portion of the U.S. Air Force’s aircraft test and development efforts and is about 100 miles (161 km) north of Los Angeles. The 412th Test Wing, which runs the base, also conducts developmental testing of all Air Force aircraft, weapons systems, software and components before purchase by the service as well as throughout their lifespan.
The vast desert base is also where Air Force test pilot Chuck Yeager reached a speed of Mach 1.05 and broke the sound barrier in 1947.
The airfield was closed most of Monday and all inbound aircraft were being diverted, but it reopened by late afternoon. Non-commercial visitor passes for the base were suspended as emergency crews doused the flames.
It’s too soon to say what might have happened.
The way the B-52 crashed so quickly after takeoff without getting very high or going far makes aviation safety expert Jeff Guzzetti suspect some kind of flight control malfunction.
It’s possible the controls were rigged wrong after maintenance, he said, or a catastrophic engine problem or a failure of a piece of equipment that was being tested.
“I think it was definitely a controllability issue. Now, whether that was tied to an engine failure, a flight control failure, or some new testing device failure, I’m not sure,” said Guzzetti, who used to investigate crashes for both the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board.
Although the Air Force has been flying B-52 bombers for more than 70 years, testing out new equipment on a plane can create new challenges.
“A flight test is always riskier than normal operations, so that’s why you have specially trained test pilots, and you should have other safety protocols,” Guzzetti said.
___
Toropin reported from Washington D.C. AP Transportation Writer Josh Funk contributed to this story from Omaha, Nebraska and AP reporter Hallie Golden contributed from Seattle.
Topline:
Heavy surf, high tides and rip currents have done some damage to the Southern California coast, with potentially dangerous conditions expected to last at least until Thursday.
Why it matters: A young girl was recently swept into the ocean and killed, and some coastline infrastructure has been damaged.
Keep reading...for more on the recent heavy surf and high tides.
Heavy surf, high tides and rip currents have done some damage to the Southern California coast, with potentially dangerous conditions expected to last at least until Thursday.
The conditions already have had devastating consequences. Just last week in Laguna Beach, a 5-year-old girl drowned after she was swept into the ocean by powerful surf. Authorities said they were able to rescue her mother and brother, who were caught in the same swell.
In Crystal Cove State Park, tides over 7 feet and heavy surf damaged part of a historic cabin, and nearly flooded another. A lifeguard tower was nearly pulled into the water.
“ At the peak of it, just the biggest waves I've ever seen here in my experience as a lifeguard,” said Jake Beckley, who’s been a Crystal Cove lifeguard for six years. “We've lost pretty much the entire beach at certain points.”
The tide reached as high as The Beachcomber restaurant at one point, and pulled chunks of a historic seawall from beneath a cabin nearby.
In the 1910s, the area became popular with both beachgoers and Hollywood movie makers who used it as a filming location. From there, it grew into a bustling community for summer visitors, and later residents. In 1979, it became a California State Park.
Sandra and Rigo Garcia of San Dimas have been visiting Crystal Cove to stay in those historic cabins since the late 1990s. They’ve seen the beach change over the decades.
“The tide is just so high that it took all the sand, and we're just like, ‘Oh, where's my beach?’” Sandra Garcia said as they sat under an umbrella on the sand of a small road.
Rigo Garcia pointed to the patch of sand in front of them.
“This spot was always the greatest spot, because I would come early in the morning, set up the easy-ups and chairs, and we always had plenty of real estate,” he said. “The kids would be able to swim maybe 10, 15 yards while they're out there. But now it's so dangerous…too many rocks.”
A strong southern swell, combined with high tides, has led to the coastal erosion and flooding. The highest tides of the year, however, usually come in the winter, but over the last week some beaches have seen record high tides for this time of year, according to the National Weather Service.
“As sea levels rise, things like this are gonna become more common."
Riley Pratt, an environmental scientist with California State Parks Orange County District, said these events are a window into the future — as pollution in our atmosphere heats up the planet and melts glaciers, sea levels rise.
“As sea levels rise, things like this are gonna become more common, and their impact is going to be proportionally greater because the baseline is shifting,” he said. “That's going to change what is this just annual cycle into something that's new and that we haven't seen before.”
But for now, the beach is crowded, the sun is shining, and summertime is in the air. And for the Garcias and their fellow beachgoers, there’s no time like the present.
“Earth changes, so you have to go with it,” said Sandra Garcia. “Even though it has changed so much, we still can enjoy it… and be thankful that we have this paradise here.”
In Orange County, the National Weather Service warns that dangerous surf conditions, including rip currents, are expected to continue through Friday evening.
This creates dangerous conditions for swimming. Anyone caught in a rip current is advised to swim parallel to the shore to clear it. And, as the NWS says, "always swim near a lifeguard."
In L.A. County, conditions are expected to continue through Wednesday night, including coastal flooding, high tides and rip currents.
Southerly swell combined w/increased tides will bring dangerous rip currents & elevated surf from Pt. Conception southward today into early this coming week.
— NWS Los Angeles (@NWSLosAngeles) June 14, 2026
Remain off rocks & jetties, always keep an eye on the ocean, and follow local lifeguard advice before swimming. pic.twitter.com/WNBxUK2igi
