Tamatebako - Torrance

There is no longer a Tametabako. At the second renovation, Redac has removed lunch and most dinner. Now they have a buffet breakfast and starbucks branded coffee. At dinner, they have about 8 basic entrees, something like pasta, hamburger set, and tonkatsu or something. It seems they decided to just have a bar and a bit of food for hotel guests rather than attempting to have a restaurant. Too bad, I liked some of the previous food and service staff. You can see for yourself at the hotel website which is linked. That is the current photo and hours.

So I was still hungry after my uni Quality Seafood. Found this place from yelp app. This place is located inside an old hotel. The receptionist the hotel looked like she was bored. She was just staring the wall and didn't say a word. I asked her where the restaurant was and she just pointed the restaurant and didn't say a word. We ordered sukiyaki and hamburg steak. The menu was HUGE!! Sukiyaki: it was hot and tasty. Too bad the quality of the beef wasn't the best. I really like the broth a lot. Perfectly cooked. 4 stars!! Hamburg Steak: I wish we didn't order this. This ruined my experience. It was just average. 2 stars!! 3 stars!! Tamatebako's sukiyaki is yummylicious!!

Came here for lunch today with my boss man and momma..and it was okay. He's from Japan, and he wanted to try their hamburger steak since he was craving it. He only came a week ago, you'd think he'd want some American food while he's here..right? Lol. We all ordered their hamburger steak lunch set. Mom got the ponzu no green onions, boss got the ponzu as well, and I got the demi glace. It comes with obviously the hamburger steak, underneath was bean sprouts, and steamed broccoli and carrots. Sides were the salad, miso soup, and a bowl of rice. Pretty good portion of food, I was definitely full by the middle of the meal, but I proceeded to finish the damn thang. IMO, the hamburger was too soft. The softness kind of grossed me out a bit. The taste was almost there. Salad was okay. Not great, but not bad. Miso soup was average. I did like the steamed veggies though lol. Mom and boss man seemed to like theirs though. No complaints from them. But, I guess that's what you get for a good priced lunch meal. All of ours combined totaled to $29 and some change.

I can 't believe I 've never reviewed Tamatebako before. I 'm surprised it doesn 't have more review, seeing as how it 's in Torrance and relatively close to all the other Japanese establishments. It 's in the Torrance Plaza Hotel, so if your date is like, What the... tell her/him to rest assure, you 're just going for the food! You swear! And well, if you have a good date... I just went for dinner. Met up with GL and LH for dinner and ordered my usual wafu hamburger steak for $11. Great deal as it comes with rice, salad, miso soup, a few carrots, broccoli, bean sprouts, an egg and a good-size hamburger. It 's like Japanese fajita, because they bring it out the plate super hot, you pour the respective sauce on it (wafu, ponzu or teriyaki), cover yourself with your napkin and let the sizzling commence. Honestly, I 've never gotten anything else, and don 't really have any desire to. Although LH did get the wrapped hamburger, which came with seafood gratin but was $5 more. It was wrapped in foil, and it was more of a sweet sauce, but there was no sizzle. Why would you pay $5 more for no sizzle? Boo.

New menu sucks, no more Hoke for lunch and no lunch specials either boooo and yeah not a fan of the newly reopened Tamatebako. The flavor of my ex-favorite Demi Glazed Hamburger was no longer flavorful, the sauce was watery. Service was still good, but mannn.... I wish they have the old menu and same old taste as before... too bad...