Lunch at Sakae brings standard noodle and combination meals such as udon with sushi ($13.95) - toothsome noodles in a nuanced broth accompanied by a California roll made with snow crab.

There’s a similar excitement to picking up your order from the tiny, family-owned Sakae ... pressed sushi; inari, or fried, seasoned tofu pouches with rice; and nori, tamago and California ...

I accidently drive past the building that houses Sakae Sushi at first ... and full of more flavor than your average sushi rice. The California roll is probably the item with the lowest rice ...

To the editor: Your article on Sakae Sushi brought back many fond memories. When I was growing up in Gardena in the 1960s and ’70s, their delicious platters were a mainstay at potlucks and buffets.

At Sakae, which started serving sushi in 1962, it feels like you're in on a secret. (Mariah Tauger / Los Angeles Times) ...