Tune In Tokyo: Downtown L.A.'s Japanese Gem
By Mar Yvette & The Citysearch Squad, Los Angeles
One of the longest-standing cultural neighborhoods in Los Angeles, Little Tokyo has maintained its cool throughout Downtown L.A.'s ups and downs, trends and bends. From first-rate dining and hip street threads to cult-like karaoke and groundbreaking theater, Little Tokyo is where it's at.
-
Takumi Restaurant
333 E 2nd St, Los Angeles, CA
What's black, white and red all over? This corner J-Town eatery combining modern, simple decor with inventive Japanese dishes. -
Sushi Gen
422 E Second St, Los Angeles, CA
Fresh fish, no-nonsense dining and long lines during the lunch and dinner rush reign at this popular sushi spot just off the main drag of Little Tokyo. -
Sushi Go 55
333 S Alameda St Ste 317, Los Angeles, CA
L.A. sushi veterans bring Japanese regional classics like beef tempura with homemade sauce and exotic specialties (think grilled conch served in its shell) to Little Tokyo. -
Frying Fish Restaurant
120 Japanese Village Plz Mall, Los Angeles, CA
Take your pick: This affordable, revolving sushi bar features rolls that range from the traditional to the unusual. Chefs cook in the middle of a conveyor belt while diners scan and scoop up their dishes of choice. -
Shabu Shabu House Restaurant
127 Japanese Village Plz Mall, Los Angeles, CA
Get in line and prepare to wait...and wait...and wait at this Little Tokyo favorite for savory Japanese-style hot pot dishes. -
Izakaya Haru Ulala
368 E 2nd St, Los Angeles, CA
Little Tokyo's popular late-night haunt echoes Japan's ubiquitous casual neighborhood izakaya.
-
Daikokuya
327 E 1st St, Los Angeles, CA
Hearty bowls and the waft of steaming broth ensnare random passers-by to this bustling Little Tokyo diner. -
Mr. Ramen
341 1/2 E 1st St, Los Angeles, CA
Simple, no-fuss Japanese ramen restaurant lures its loyal fan base with oodles of steaming noodles. -
Orochon Ramen
123 Astronaut E S Onizuka St, Los Angeles, CA
Japanese soup spot in Little Tokyo's Weller Court is known for ramen specials of varying spice, fun atmosphere.
-
Archrival
349 E Second St, Los Angeles, CA
With an inventory fit for a hipster heiress, Little Tokyo's formidable shop definitely has the global streetwear scene on lock. -
Cools
110 Japanese Village Plaza Mall, Los Angeles, CA
Believe the hype: A store that actually lives up to its name, Little Tokyo's thrifty gem marries truly cool (read: nice) attitudes with affordably cutting-edge designs. -
RIF
334-A E 2nd St, Los Angeles, CA
New kicks on the block: Japan's exclusive sneaker shop finds its way to L.A.'s Little Tokyo. -
Popkiller Second
343 E 2nd St, Los Angeles, CA
Sister to Sunset's popular outlet, this ode to laidback hipsters is one of Little Tokyo's top destination shops. -
Bunka DO Japanese Records
340 E 1st St, Los Angeles, CA
Not your average tourist gift shop, this Japan Town relic features a variety of fancy chopsticks, handcrafted tea sets, Samurai swords and, oh yeh, Japanese records. -
Kamikaze Anime
329 East 2nd Street, Los Angeles, CA
The ultimate shop for piles and piles of Manga, imported Japanese video games, cartoon T-shirts, J-pop CDs and everything else anime. -
Footland
107 Japanese Village Plz Mall, Los Angeles, CA
Casual mall atmosphere and reasonable deals make shopping for cool-kid kicks a cut above the average experience. -
Nijiya Market
124 Japanese Village Plz Mall, Los Angeles, CA
This little taste of Tokyo is where Japanese locals--and the people who love their cuisine--go for the goods. -
Little Tokyo Shopping Center
333 S Alameda, Los Angeles, CA
A straightforward Little Tokyo mini-mall offering various imported goods.
-
Bar Ohjah
328 E 1st St, Los Angeles, CA
Miyako Hotel's hidden upstairs karaoke lounge hosts its visiting Japanese guests, Little Tokyo locals, professional regulars and a hodgepodge of affable barhoppers who appreciate the fun, polite vibe. -
Oiwake
122 Japanese Village Plz Mall, Los Angeles, CA
Combination all-you-can-eat Japanese restaurant and late-night karaoke bar offers a single stage for entertainment, plus a la carte offerings such as teriyaki, tempura, noodles and sushi rolls. -
Cosmos Saloon
333 E 1st St, Los Angeles, CA
Relaxing atmosphere, sociable crowd and great service takes precedence over free karaoke when it comes to drawing in the Little Tokyo locals. -
Max Karaoke Studio
333 S Alameda Ave Ste 216, Los Angeles, CA
This alcohol-free karaoke club offers private booth studios that fit up to 15 people and features a large library of tunes (read: more than 40,000 songs) in English, Japanese and Korean.
-
Cefiore
134 Japanese Village Plaza Mall, Los Angeles, CA
This bright Italian frozen yogurt shop lets customers personalize their desserts with fresh fruit toppings and sweet favorites like Apple Jacks and mochi. -
Yamazaki Bakery
123 Japanese Village Plaza Mall, Los Angeles, CA
One of Little Tokyo's oldest bakeries, this charming spot sticks with traditional Japanese pastries, but rolls with the times with Western desserts as well. -
Mikawaya
118 Japanese Village Plaza Mall, Los Angeles, CA
With a tagline that boasts the "finest name in Japanese pastries since 1910," this J-Town sweet shop is the birthplace of mochi--and where neighborhood regulars and tourists go for fresh batches of the famed dessert.
-
Japanese American National Museum
369 E 1st St, Los Angeles, CA
Little Tokyo's elegant archive preserves the legacy of Japanese Americans. -
MOCA at the Geffen Contemporary
152 N Central Ave, Los Angeles, CA
The versatile Geffen is a good fit for MOCA's larger installations and spillover exhibitions. -
East West Players
120 N Judge John Aiso St, Los Angeles, CA
The country's first Asian-American theater company still walks the edge.
