Best Japanese Restaurants Los Angeles

In Japan, there is a saying that people in Tokyo spend all their money on shoes, people in Kyoto spend all their money on clothes, and people in Osaka spend all their money on food. As I learned first-hand on a trip last summer, Osaka is full of foodies, and is the birthplace of several of the most interesting and amazing delicacies in The Land of the Rising Sun. One of these is Okonomiyaki (pictured above), a savory pancake made with flour, eggs, vegetables such as cabbage, green onion and sweet potato, and a variety of other ingredients including pork belly, octopus, shrimp, calamari and/or cheese. These hearty, mouth-watering treats are served piping hot and usually topped with bonito flakes, Japanese mayonnaise and a thick and sweet dark sauce.

My favorite LA spot for Okonomiyaki is Doya Doya. It’s located in Torrance, which is home to a substantial Japanese population. Doya Doya is a small and unpretensious strip mall joint; great for a quick lunch or grabbing a bite after a day of sunning at nearby Manhattan or Hermosa Beach. In addition to Okonomiyaki, Doya Doya serves another great Osakan specialty — Yakisoba, which are fried noodles cooked with your choice of seafood or Berkshire pork and topped on request with a sunny side up egg. if you have a sweet tooth like I do, make sure to order a homemade cream soda and/or a scoop of sesame ice cream drizzled with a homemade sesame sauce.

Doya Doya is located at 2140 Artesia Blvd. in Torrance.

Yakisoba

Homemade Cream Soda

Located in a strip mall in Torrance

Little Tokyo is one of my favorite dining destinations in the city. There are only three official Japantowns in the whole country (the others are in San Francisco and San Jose) and just like the rest of Downtown, our Little Tokyo has seen amazing revitalization over the past few years. There are not only a slew of great Japanese restaurants of every variety, but a veritable smorgasbord of pre- and post-meal activities to entertain and amuse you, including museums and galleries, secluded Japanese gardens, interesting shops, and karaoke.

Of all the restaurants in Little Tokyo, my favorite is Aburiya Toranoko. It was opened only a couple years ago by the same owners as its next door neighbor, Lazy Ox Canteen, and is both a high-end sushi bar and izakaya (i.e. Japanese gastropub). The design of the restaurant is Ã¼ber-hip and modern; very urban with chandeliers and a giant colorful mural on a long brick wall.

If you’re with a large group, you’ll need to get a table, but if you’re dining alone or with only one companion, the beautiful polished wooden sushi bar is the place to be. There you can witness the formidable skills of talented and charming sushi master Seiji Nakano. If you can afford it, go with the omakase and let Chef Nakano be your guide. In terms of izakaya fare, the incredible Uni Goma Tofu (sesame tofu topped with sea urchin) is an absolute must-have. I also highly recommend the Sumiyaki (grills meats and fish on skewers), especially the Miso Black Cod and the Tsukune (chicken meatball). The Jidori Kara-age (fried chicken) is also excellent. For dessert, I love the Green Tea Pudding and the Chocolate Lava Cake.

Aburiya Toranoko is located at 243 So. San Pedro St., Los Angeles (Downtown).