Best place for traditional mochi and wagashi. Everything is handmade and so beautiful! I especially like the sakura mochi they make. I think the rice they use is top quality.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Assorted 16 Mochi in the Box, Sakura Mochi
M. P.
LOVE the mochi here!!My favorite flavors are the peach and the coffee. So nice and soft. Super friendly and lovely staff too. Will always come here for my mochi needs!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Mochi
Mabet Hill
They will sell out before they close, so you have to get here early.
Andrea Barbato
One of my favorite shops in the entire LA area. Probably one of my favorite in the entire world. Most delicious wagashi of the west coast.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Suchaya Ratanajaipan
The mochi is very soft, not too sweet and very pretty. I love the names of mochi.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Assorted 16 Mochi in the Box
Anna T
Beautiful mochi, very nice presentation. Service is friendly.
Food: 5
Service: 5
Digital Ken
One of the few traditional mochi and wagashi made by a traditional Japanese family from Japan. I ❤️ this place and always buy Chikara Mochi here, Tokyo Central, or at Nijiya markets.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Assorted 16 Mochi in the Box
Angel B
Super good mochi, love the different flavors offered here. Recommend this place to everyone. I bring an assorted box to work and share with my co-workers because they are actually small pieces of edible joy
Alexander Jettel
Exceptionally well crafted and delicious mochi. A must visit every time I'm in LA
Grant S.
This review is long overdue- LA has a few artisinal mom and pop mochi shops that have lasted for decades, and Chikara is one of them. The presentation is beautiful, these are not cheap eats as well. For $20 you can get a decently assorted box of mochi to give, they take cash only. They also prepare it differently depending if it's a gift or for yourself. Some of my favorites are the Kiku, Sakura, Nadeshiko, and Strawberry. It's definitely pricey compared to other mochi places, but in my opinion it's the chewiest compared to others.
Still awesome mochi and love the lady working there. Just want to update with a photo.
Jay ..
This place and another mochi shop has been in Gardena for decades. The mochi is tasty and they have a variety using red bean and white beans for their filling. They also have mochi shaped like fruits and even tastes like the fruit. Parking is easy on the street. I felt the mochi were quite small for the price. I do understand that they are hand made. It is an artesian mochi. Not something I would go buy all the time. Like I said a bit pricey, I would stick with the traditional non pretty shaped ones and they're a bit cheaper. $2 vs $2.80.
Rosemarie N.
Beautiful mochi at Chikara. They taste just as great as they look! I try to come in the morning so there are more selection to choose from. Never had any problem with free parking right in the front, along the street. Make sure to have cash on hand as they are about $3 each.
Darcilla Yang
Absolutely delicious! As mentioned, bring cash! I highly recommend coming here for your mochi cravings as not only are you eating with your eyes, but the texture of the mochi is amazingly soft! The majority are filled with smooth red bean, but if you’re looking for a bit of extra flavor then I highly recommend the orange peel and peach which are filled with white. I ended up loving this place so much I needed to make another stop prior to my flight to get some for my family back home! Trust me, you will definitely want to make this place as a destination!
izzy apuya perez
i love this very traditional and 本物の 日本せい real japanese wagashi shop. In america it is nearly impossible to get your hands on “しろあん” shiroan which is the white bean paste that makes traditional japanese wagashi for tea ceremonies. I hunted every online shop and in person asian market and could only find any real desserts containing shiroan at Chikara. It is a bit sad that the foot traffic does not exist there, yet the quality of the desserts are amazing. If you can find time to try this place out, i promise it’ll be worth it. Also it’s cash only LMAO, i would’ve bought much more if i had more cash on me.
Best place for traditional mochi and wagashi. Everything is handmade and so beautiful! I especially like the sakura mochi they make. I think the rice they use is top quality.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Assorted 16 Mochi in the Box, Sakura Mochi
LOVE the mochi here!!My favorite flavors are the peach and the coffee. So nice and soft. Super friendly and lovely staff too. Will always come here for my mochi needs!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Mochi
They will sell out before they close, so you have to get here early.
One of my favorite shops in the entire LA area. Probably one of my favorite in the entire world. Most delicious wagashi of the west coast.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The mochi is very soft, not too sweet and very pretty. I love the names of mochi.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Assorted 16 Mochi in the Box
Beautiful mochi, very nice presentation. Service is friendly.
Food: 5
Service: 5
One of the few traditional mochi and wagashi made by a traditional Japanese family from Japan. I ❤️ this place and always buy Chikara Mochi here, Tokyo Central, or at Nijiya markets.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Assorted 16 Mochi in the Box
Super good mochi, love the different flavors offered here. Recommend this place to everyone. I bring an assorted box to work and share with my co-workers because they are actually small pieces of edible joy
Exceptionally well crafted and delicious mochi. A must visit every time I'm in LA
This review is long overdue- LA has a few artisinal mom and pop mochi shops that have lasted for decades, and Chikara is one of them. The presentation is beautiful, these are not cheap eats as well. For $20 you can get a decently assorted box of mochi to give, they take cash only. They also prepare it differently depending if it's a gift or for yourself. Some of my favorites are the Kiku, Sakura, Nadeshiko, and Strawberry. It's definitely pricey compared to other mochi places, but in my opinion it's the chewiest compared to others.
Restaurantji Recommends
Still awesome mochi and love the lady working there. Just want to update with a photo.
This place and another mochi shop has been in Gardena for decades. The mochi is tasty and they have a variety using red bean and white beans for their filling. They also have mochi shaped like fruits and even tastes like the fruit. Parking is easy on the street. I felt the mochi were quite small for the price. I do understand that they are hand made. It is an artesian mochi. Not something I would go buy all the time. Like I said a bit pricey, I would stick with the traditional non pretty shaped ones and they're a bit cheaper. $2 vs $2.80.
Beautiful mochi at Chikara. They taste just as great as they look! I try to come in the morning so there are more selection to choose from. Never had any problem with free parking right in the front, along the street. Make sure to have cash on hand as they are about $3 each.
Absolutely delicious! As mentioned, bring cash! I highly recommend coming here for your mochi cravings as not only are you eating with your eyes, but the texture of the mochi is amazingly soft! The majority are filled with smooth red bean, but if you’re looking for a bit of extra flavor then I highly recommend the orange peel and peach which are filled with white. I ended up loving this place so much I needed to make another stop prior to my flight to get some for my family back home! Trust me, you will definitely want to make this place as a destination!
i love this very traditional and 本物の 日本せい real japanese wagashi shop. In america it is nearly impossible to get your hands on “しろあん” shiroan which is the white bean paste that makes traditional japanese wagashi for tea ceremonies. I hunted every online shop and in person asian market and could only find any real desserts containing shiroan at Chikara. It is a bit sad that the foot traffic does not exist there, yet the quality of the desserts are amazing. If you can find time to try this place out, i promise it’ll be worth it. Also it’s cash only LMAO, i would’ve bought much more if i had more cash on me.