Nestled betwixt Downtown (proper), the Arts District and, ahem, Skid Row, to form a misfit tetrad of walkable neighborhoods, Little Tokyo is home to your next favorite restaurant coffee shop bar spot. Est. 1886 (i.e. in LA terms, pre-historic), it’s one of few remaining US Japantowns, and the well-documented taciturn cultural pride has protected its authenticity, skewing it less tourist-trap and more Taste of Tokyo.
Izakayas are the antidote to the more common Japanese approach of specialty restaurants, and Honda-Ya offers everything from ramen and soba, to chazuke (green tea over rice) and zosui (porridge), via maki and yakitori, alongside a solid sake selection. Seating options include tables, kitchen-side bar, or traditional tatami floor. There’s always a wait, even at times you would not expect it.
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