One of my favorite times of the year is DineLA. It is the perfect excuse to explore new restaurants while enjoying curated menus at a great value. For this season’s DineLA, I finally made it to a spot that had been on my radar for a while – Unico Tokyo Pasta in Redondo Beach.

This cozy Japanese-Italian fusion eatery offered a well-priced $25 three-course DineLA menu, which included a starter salad, a choice of soup or garlic bread, and a variety of pasta entrées that showcased their creative East-meets-West flavors.

First Course: Unico Salad

We began our meal with the Unico Salad, a simple yet well-executed starter. It featured crisp romaine hearts topped with crunchy panko crumbs and a creamy Caesar dressing. The textures complemented each other perfectly. I loved the fresh greens, crisp topping, and rich Caesar dressing. It set the tone nicely for what was to come.

Second Course: Koji Cauliflower Soup

Next up was Koji Cauliflower Soup. Made with cauliflower and infused with Koji probiotics, the soup had a subtly sweet, deeply savory umami profile. Though minimal in ingredients, it was full of flavor and depth. It was a comforting dish that felt nourishing without being too heavy.

Third Course: Curry Bolognese + Chicken Shisolico

For my entrée, I chose the Curry Bolognese, one of Unico’s most popular offerings. Al dente spaghetti was layered with Japanese curry, Wagyu beef pancetta Bolognese, mushrooms, onions, and asparagus. The curry had a warm, subtly spicy kick that paired beautifully with the richness of the meat sauce. The Wagyu and pancetta added indulgent depth, while the asparagus brought a nice contrast of crunchy flavor texture.

I also got to sample the Chicken Shisolico, a spaghetti dish with Jidori chicken, Japanese shiso herb, and basil pesto. I found this to be not as bold as the Curry Bolognese. The pesto was very light in flavor. It was a lighter type of spaghetti dish.

Overall, my first experience at Unico Tokyo Pasta was a success. The DineLA deal is a great way to sample their menu, and I enjoyed the Japanese Italian fare very much!

For more smiles, check out my Yelp Review on Unico Tokyo Pasta.