LaaF…Culture!

by dave k.

people have asked me: “hey you’re japanese…any recommendations for good japanese food in LA?”

here is my answer (my top 10 so far: covering all types of japanese food, with food from the LA-ish area.  *keep in mind, for the most part, this list considers what you get for what you pay as well as its proximity to LA city proper.  **this list doesn’t include ramen which is a whole other beast entirely that needs its own list.)

10. margugame monzo in little tokyo, downtown

from yelp’s cathy s.

great place for creative takes on udon.  it’s even surprisingly kid friendly.  so if you’re tired of waiting in line at daikokuya downtown just walk a couple stores down to marugame monzo!

9. honda ya izakaya in little tokyo, downtown

from yelp’s julie g.

it is hard to go wrong with any of the dishes at this place.  a great place to go, even with a rowdy group of friends, to try ALL kinds of mouth watering yummy dishes (especially if you like fried foods)!

8. hide sushi in little osaka, westside

from yelp’s maggie c.

look, if you want good sushi
1) you have to go to a place that is a SUSHI restaurant, not just a Japanese food restaurant that has sushi on their menu.
2) the initial test of good sushi is the regular tuna.  if you have to chew it or it smells even faintly fishy…ain’t nothing else at said place that is gonna be impressive.  if it essentially melts in your mouth with a couple bites this place has some promise.
3) the real test for great sushi is uni (that’s right ladies and gents…sea urchin gonads).  if it tastes like rubber gloves…well then it tastes like rubber gloves and the said place is a fail.  if it tastes like butter melting in your mouth…you have arrived at a legit sushi place.

with all that said this is an all around great place for good sushi.

7. osawa in pasadena

from yelp’s queenie z.

i used to go to this place when it was still called shaab.  there’s other shabu shabu places but what distinguishes this place is the spicy miso broth in which the shabu shabu is dipped.  its a little pricey but it’s awesome sauce…literally!

6. ichimi-an in torrance

from yelp’s l.w.y.

i don’t normally go out just for soba noodles but dannnnggg the soba here is so good.  they make the noodles themselves and it has this magical chewy yet soft texture.

5. wakasan in west la

from yelp’s kwiri y.

ok this place is one of the fanciest i have reviewed but regardless their japanese food is truly exquisite…even their chawanmushi (which is a risky dish) is great.  if you’re gonna go through the trouble of making a reservation (highly recommended cause its tiny) and spending some bucks, do yourself a favor and get the omakase dinner…it provides you with a rare broad taste and texture of japanese cuisine.  seriously, only the japanese can get away with telling you what and how to eat.

4. sanuki no sato in torrance

from yelp’s kathy t.

this is a great place for some authentic japanese dishes.  their a-ge dashi mochi is AMAZE-BALLS (and i use that word very sparingly)!  heck, i proposed to my now wife in the place!

3. ladybug asian grill in gardena

from yelp’s c.m.

the reason this fast(er) food place is ranked so high is because it’s the best bang for your buck (because japanese food ain’t cheap unfortunately).  i made an account on yelp for this place!  people need to know about it, cuz it’s in a hard to see place.  this is probably one of my favorite japanese/hawaiian fast food places…and this is in GARDENA people…one of so. cals historic meccas for good j-food.  this place is the perfect balance of many things: the portions are great, the food entrees are typical with no frills but deliciously done, the sides are yummy, and all for a reasonable price.  if you’re extra hungry you can get combos with spicy tuna rolls on the side.

i love fried food, so the katsu plate is classic, but if you’re feeling up for something a lil more healthy the saba (mackrel) plate is great (with lemons, soy sauce, and daikon-oroshi…huh, they do it right don’t they?!)!

2. teishokuya of tokyo (aka tot) in little tokyo, downtown

from yelp’s angela a.

great japanese meals (i don’t know about their sushi) for little tokyo, even as a japanse-american who’s eaten in japan often enough.   you can tell by their menu that they have a larger selection and do dishes beyond just the stereotypical sushi, teriyaki, tempura stuff.   i haven’t had anything there yet that i didn’t like.  if you feel lost you can just go with the katsu-don and you’ll be a happy camper.

1. otomisan in boyle heights, eastside

from yelp’s liz o.

oh.my.goodness. this place is soo good!  I wanted to keep it a secret but something this good you just gotta share.  this little gem in boyle heights (it seems strange but if you know your history, it used to be a neighborhood full of japanese) is a legit spot.  now tempura is done all over the place; it’s a relatively simple recipe, but to get it right takes some skill.  This is THE BEST tempura i’ve found in LA and that’s saying a lot.

just be forewarned that for that kinda lovin’ to be put in a dish it takes a little time (so be prepared to wait) not to mention that there is literally an awesome oba-chan (grandma) making the food.  this place is like walking into a nice japanese family’s house (which isn’t that big).  it even has a screen door to get in and there is a sweet middle-aged japanese mama who’ll take your order…who will sometimes speak to you in japanese whether you are japanese or not.  good stuff.

HONORABLE MENTIONS

– azuma in gardena – awesome portions for japanese food without sacrificing too much quality

– tokyo fast food on the westside – another great bang for your buck fast(er) food

what are your great japanese food finds in LA?

Tags: japanese food, la, los angeles, recommendations, restaurants, top 10 list