Little Tokyo Edition
- Jenna Flexner
- Nov 1, 2025
- 5 min read
Updated: Mar 17
Food & Fun in Little TOKYO -
LITTLE TOKYO TOUR
My daughter Lila is growing up fast, so I seized the day and asked her on a daddy/daughter date. I asked "If you could do anything in town with me, what would it be?" Last year we walked around Tokyo, Japan and ate our faces off and she had a blast. She asked if we could do something like that again. Japan is a long way off, but guess what? You don’t actually need to leave LA to experience Tokyo. I suggested we do a walking, eating, shopping tour right here in LA's very own Little Tokyo. Little Tokyo is the closest thing you can get in the U.S. to a full Tokyo experience. There are around 50 restaurants combined with many gift stores, packed together within walking distance. Our goal was to walk the entire Little Tokyo district and eat one dish at a time. We even threw in a little shopping and a real live temple!
There are 6 main areas of Little Tokyo. We started on the North side at Weller Court, made our way to Little Akihabara Tokyo Mall, then to the Japanese Village Plaza, then 1st street, then on to Honda Plaza, and ended up at Little Tokyo Galleria to the South. Below is our itinerary with a 👍 (thumbs up sign) for the places we visited and other options we like. Check out our videos of each area. :)
1) WELLER COURT
* We Parked HERE at Weller Court
* 👍 Onigiri (rice ball) at Rice and Nori. Lila had the Spam Musubi,
Erik had the Ikura Mentaiko (Salmon Roe)
* 👍Tokyo Central Kawaii Store
* 👍 Kimonoya Gift Store
* OTHER OPTIONS WE LIKE:
- Yakitori at Torigoya
- Sake at the Old School Bar at Kushi Shabu
- Something sweet at a food vendor on the walking mall
2) Little Akihabara Little Tokyo Mall
Lots of weird little stores in a Tokyo Style Walking Mall, typical near underground subways.
* 👍Toy Vending Machines (Lila loves these!)
Walk up 2nd St.
OUR FAMILY FAVORITES OVER THE YEARS:
- Kouraku
- Kushiyaki / Noodles at Yakitana Food Truck (if there)
- Millet Crepe - Little Tokyo
3) Japanese Village Plaza
* 👍Monkey Pants Toy Store
* 👍Yamazaki Convenience Store. Lila had the Pizzaman, Erik had the
Square Croissant with Sweet Bean Paste
* 👍Shinyodo Kimono and Japanese Gifts
* 👍Maneki Neko Japanese Gifts
* 👍Okonomiyaki (“Samurai Pizza) at Chinchikurin Hiroshima Style
Okonomiyaki
OTHER OPTIONS WE LIKE:
- Boba at Tiger Sugar Little Tokyo
- Ice Cream at Honey Mee
- Nijiya Market
- Taiyaki and Takoyaki at Mitsuru Cafe
- Oomasa Izakaya
4) 1st Street
* 👍Kaminari Gyoza Bar. Lila had the Mixed Ice Cream Mochi, Erik
had the Shrimp Gyoza
* 👍Koyosan Buddhist Temple
* 👍Ginza Vintage Store
OTHER OPTIONS WE LIKE:
- Erik loves the Karaoke Bar at Lounge Ojah in the Miyako Hotel.
Very authentic!
- Chocolate Mochi at Fugetsu-Do Confectionary
- Tokyo Style Ramen (Clear Broth) at Hachioji
- Tonkotsu Ramen (Pork Broth) at Daikokuya
- Donburi at Mitsuru Grill (Temporarily Closed)
- OUR FAVORITE IZAKAYA JAPANESE PUB Izakaya Gazen. Try the
Ginger Pork and Homemade Tofu
Back to 2nd St. through Japanese Plaza. Take short cut left of Nijiya Grocery
- Donburi at Tot
- Ramen at Hakata Ikkousha Tonkotsu Ramen
5) HONDA PLAZA
RECOMMENDED!
- Tea Master Matcha Cafe and Green Tea Shop
- Ramen at Men Oh Tokushima Ramen
- Bakery at Tous les Jours Bakery Little Tokyo
- Sushi Gen (Booths)
6) Little Tokyo Galleria
* 👍Daiso Japan Household Goods. Lila had the Janjaka Soda Candy
and Green Tea Swiss Roll Cake
* 👍Hana Ichimonme. Erik had the Menchi Katsu (Tempura Fried
Minced Pork/Beef)
* 👍Little Tokyo Taiyaki Cart. Lila had the Chocolate and Mochi in a
Koi Shaped Taiyaki (Stuffed Waffle)
OTHER OPTIONS WE LIKE:
- GREAT JAPANESE PUB WITH 200+ Dishes: Izakaya Bizan (See this
video of a different visit:
* GROSS!!! Little Tokyo, Big Appetite: Face-Eating at
Izakaya Bizan
- Utsuwa-No Yakata Traditional Japanese Household Goods
- X Lanes Bowling and Arcade
- Tokyo Central Marketplace (HUGE Japanese Grocery Store)
Then walk it ALL off in a brisk walk back to the car!
Exploring Little Tokyo is a great family outing, and we are lucky to have it right in our backyard. Fun fact, it is the largest and most populous of only three official Japantowns in the United States, all of which are in California.
Erik and Jenna’s
Entertainment Picks
MIDNIGHT DINER
(ERIK'S PICK)
Midnight Diner: Tokyo Stories is a quiet, soulful anthology series set in a small Tokyo eatery that opens from midnight to 7 a.m. Each episode centers on a different customer, their story, and the simple dish that ties it all together. The Master, the calm and kind chef, listens more than he speaks, creating a space where food becomes a bridge between strangers, memories, and emotions.
What works best about Midnight Diner is it's atmosphere. The dim, cozy lighting, the gentle clatter of dishes, and the unhurried pace all create a rare sense of calm. The stories are small but deeply human, finding beauty in everyday struggles — heartbreak, loneliness, friendship, forgiveness. The food isn’t just background; it’s the emotional anchor of each tale, showing how comfort and connection can be found in something as simple as a bowl of noodles.
Perhaps not everyone will connect with its slow rhythm or episodic structure. There is little overarching plot, and its sentimentality may feel repetitive to some people. But for those who let it unfold at its own pace, that simplicity becomes its strength.
This is my favorite show. I have watched every single episode TWICE, and I think it is a beautifully simple, poignant show. It doesn’t aim to dazzle with plot twists or action, but it does something rarer: it comforts. It offers space to breathe, to think, and to feel. If you like character-driven stories, quiet moments, the way food can hold meaning, and seeing people in their messy, small moments, this is a gem. It’s the kind of show you watch not to fill time, but to savor it. Good for evenings when you want something gentle, reflective, maybe even a little nostalgic. One of those shows that feels like a warm drink after a long day. Let it pique your taste buds, and then head down to Little Tokyo to sample the real thing.
We love hearing from past clients, and meeting new ones! We are happy to be a resource for any real estate needs, so don't hesitate to reach out.
Until the next adventure,
- Erik & Jenna
ERIK AND JENNA'S CONTRACTOR LIST
-Would you like a copy of our newly updated recommended contractor list of service providers? (75+ good people) Just CONTACT US for a copy! (snippet below)
-Let us know if you need anything else!
Erik Flexner
DRE# 01352476
Broker Assoc.
M: 310.254.2285
Jenna Flexner
DRE# 01779858
Broker Assoc.
M: 310.367.8280
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