Chef Akira Hirose brings a mix of French training and Japanese roots to the menu at Azay, with items like a traditional Japanese breakfast and boeuf bourguignon sharing space on the daily menu. Follow the restaurant on Instagram for the most up-to-date hours and dinner menu, as the selection rotates weekly.

Look no further than Jist Cafe for a brunch spot in Little Tokyo. Open Thursday to Sunday, Jist serves up comfort foods like porky omurice and chashu hash. The real star is the cafe’s pancake, a thick and fluffy piece of heaven on a plate. Get one on the side with creme fraiche and syrup, or the more decadent tres leches version.

No guide to Little Tokyo would be complete without Fugetsu-Do, the beloved Japanese manju and mochi confectionery shop. Fugetsu-Do has been family-owned and operated since 1903, serving up sweet morsels made fresh every day. If you’re new to traditional Japanese sweets, opt for a pre-packed 6-piece tray; the rainbow dango and chocolate mochi are good entry points. Visit early in the day to avoid the line that snakes out the door and bring cash if you don’t plan on reaching the $15 minimum for credit cards.

Head to Torigoya to unwind and drink with friends after work. Specializing in charbroiled chicken skewers grilled over imported charcoal, Torigoya serves each skewer as it comes off the grill. Get the 10-skewer course and don’t forget to order the yuzu special sauce on the side to enhance your experience. Call ahead to make a reservation as walk-ins are very limited.

Stop by Marugame Monzo to sample handmade udon noodles — rolled out and cut to bouncy perfection in plain view of the dining area. For first-timers, the kake or beef udon is a good place to start, but for those well into their udon explorations, the signature miso carbonara or sea urchin cream udon are must-try bowls.

For the past 30 years, Shabu Shabu House has provided the best hot pot experience with high quality meat, a housemade ponzu sauce, and at a price that won’t make your wallet cry. The owner, affectionately referred to as “Yoshi” by diners, has a no cellphone policy inside the restaurant, so enjoy your meal disconnected from the world for as long as there is meat to swish into your hot pot. Come early to put your name down as the waitlist grows quickly. This spot is cash-only.

Mitsuru is another shop with a decades-long presence in the community. This no-frills cafe offers Japanese comfort dishes like oyakodon, and teriyaki and tempura sets at affordable prices. What it’s best known for, however, is the window where you can get freshly made imagawayaki, a red bean cake straight from the pan. It’s pleasantly warm to hold in your hands as you roam the plaza. Bring cash if you’re just stopping by the window, as the credit card minimum is $10. 

Find a loaf to match any of your bread needs or grab a quick breakfast at this Japanese-style western bakery. You can’t go wrong with the melon pan (a fluffy sweet bun with a crunchy cookie crust scored to resemble a melon) or the steamed cheese cake (a Japanese-style cheesecake that is lighter than its New York-style counterpart but just as rich). For one-handed, on-the-go snacking purposes, pick-up a steamed bun; the nikuman is a classic choice, but there’s also a vegetarian option with mushrooms.

This latest overseas transplant started off as a pop-up in Long Beach and opened its first location in Little Tokyo in 2020, filling the curry void left behind after the much-loved Curry House in Weller Court closed permanently. The katsu here is crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, and most importantly, the Kanazawa-style curry is thick, rich, and flavorful. For heat seekers, order the curry spicy for a burn that builds with every spoonful.

Tea Master has been selling high-quality green teas and ceremonial-grade matcha in Honda Plaza for over a decade, and opened its cafe in 2014. For a cold treat that’s not too sweet, get a cup of the best-selling matcha soft serve. For something slightly left of the usual matcha latte, ask for the hakko-cha oat latte; the green tea is aged and develops a nutty flavor profile, falling somewhere between a black tea and an oolong in taste.

Aloha Cafe is a mom-and-pop style diner serving up Hawaiian classics like loco moco and Spam musubi, as well as other specialities like gabli beef and chicken. Portions are big, so come hungry.