Photos: Oumi Sasaya
![The noodle house Oumi Sasaya in Lomita, in the South Bay area of Los Angeles County, specializes in udon.](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/5a75bf3/2147483647/strip/true/crop/259x425+0+0/resize/259x425!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F22%2F25%2Fc7a201d7882fb2e22ffdef3ba73e%2Fla-fo-find01-l2l4q3nc.jpg)
The noodle house Oumi Sasaya in
![Oumi Sasaya / Lomita](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/b55db97/2147483647/strip/true/crop/305x425+0+0/resize/305x425!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F67%2F60%2F17c3b867871879629602458939c4%2Fla-fo-find02-l2l4tnnc.jpg)
A tagine pot is made with beef and and a rainbow of vegetables. (Stefano Paltera / For The Times)
![Oumi Sasaya / Lomita](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/994ace8/2147483647/strip/true/crop/500x312+0+0/resize/500x312!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fd9%2F1a%2Fa37242f1f88e2199d93993b6d052%2Fla-fo-find03-l2l4qgnc.jpg)
The shrimp and mochi tempura udon at Oumi Sasaya. (Stefano Paltera / For The Times)
![Oumi Sasaya / Lomita](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/636c228/2147483647/strip/true/crop/500x339+0+0/resize/500x339!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F14%2F42%2F9378108eac24f01cd7bde5598f77%2Fla-fo-find04-l2l4qrnc.jpg)
The curry udon soup contains shrimp and mochi tempura. The broth is a mild mahogany curry. (Stefano Paltera / For The Times)
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![Oumi Sasaya / Lomita](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/e9c1dc7/2147483647/strip/true/crop/500x322+0+0/resize/500x322!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F3a%2F24%2F44ca6006139421726bd7659c8dc7%2Fla-fo-find05-l2l4shnc.jpg)
In Japan, the Moroccan tagine vessel has become a popular tool for healthy cooking, and Oumi Sasaya uses it exactly for that. (Stefano Paltera / For The Times)