If you're looking for a true hidden gem in Boyle Heights, this place is an absolute must-visit !!! It's the oldest Japanese restaurant in Boyle Heights and one of the last original spots still standing after more than 70 years in the neighborhood.. It's a small mom-and-pop restaurant that feels like stepping back in time in the best way possible... The restaurant itself is tiny, maybe 3 booths and a few high-top seats, fitting around 15 to 20 people at most, so be prepared to wait if you come during peak hours. We visited on a Saturday evening around 5:30 PM. We waited about 15-20 minutes for a table, but it was absolutely worth it.. The place is run by what I believe are a brother and sister... The brother is the chef, and the sister runs the front of the house.. She seats guests, waits tables, and makes you feel immediately welcome.. She's incredibly friendly, bubbly, and helpful, offering great recommendations and explaining the most popular dishes... We ended up ordering a couple of their combination plates.. One was the teriyaki beef with a spicy tuna roll, which came with miso soup, salad, and rice. The other was the teriyaki chicken with assorted sashimi, also served with soup, salad, and rice. Everything was phenomenal... The sashimi was fresh and cut thick, and the portions were generous for the price... Honestly, it's one of the best values you'll find for Japanese food in the area.. Every bite tasted incredibly fresh and homemade.. The whole experience honestly felt like sitting down in someone's home in Japan and enjoying a meal they just cooked for you... Another cool detail is all the memorabilia and photos on the walls showing the history of the restaurant and the neighborhood... It adds so much character and reminds you that this place has been part of the community for decades. If you don't want to wait, you can always call ahead and order for pickup, but we wanted the full experience of dining in, and I'm glad we did.. This spot absolutely lives up to the hype !!! Five out of five stars !!. Highly recommend checking it out !!! read more

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It brings me shame to admit this but I've been here only once despite me being born and growing up in Boyle Heights/East L.A. It took me 38 years but I eventually found out about Otomisan and visited for the first time this past weekend! It's a tiny place, 3 tables and, what, 5 or 6 seats at the counter? It's super cozy, super quaint and super sweet. The woman behind the counter and serving everyone was amazing. She had a smile and a genuinely positive attitude through and through. She made my wife and I feel very comfortable. The food is satisfying and delicious. Given, it was only my first time, I only had stomach space enough to try a few things like the beef udon soup, the pork tonkatsu with curry and rice, and the edamame and gyoza sides. The tonkatsu was cooked well; rather tender and still juicy. The curry was spicy but not in the hot sense. It was a smooth spice and very appropriate considering the rainy weather. The rice underneath was the perfect bedding of carbs. The beef udon soup my wife ordered for herself was just what the doctor ordered. It was rich and full-bodied. The beef was soft with the fat adding to the broth a savoriness making the udon delectable. The noodles were delicious. Edamame was standard fare and the gyoza was crispy on the outside and juicy in the middle. I will be back again to try the sashimi options and sushi and also, just to experience the friendly and personal guest service. I feel bad for not asking the woman her name, she was excellent and handled the full dining area to the T. I feel like the regulars would know her well. All in all, super good Japanese restaurant in the middle of Boyle Heights with a rooted history and friendly service. Be aware though, you will probably have to wait for a while when Otomisan is full. Like I mentioned before...it's tiny! read more

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Being a 4th gen Angeleno who's entire fam lived in Boyle Heights at one pt., I have no idea why it took me so long to finally eat here. And boy was the food good. My MIL had the saba (grilled mackerel) combo, my hubby had the tonkatsu (pork cutlet) curry combo, and I had the salmon shioyaki (salt grilled) + sashimi combo. OMG, it was so good, prob the best piece of cooked salmon I've ever had in a restaurant & the quality of the raw fish was excellent. Service was awesome. Def coming back. read more

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This is one of my favorite places in all of LA. The service, presentation and quality keep me coming back. TBH, I would come back even if the service sucked because the food is amazing. I've tried several things, which have all been great, but by far, the sashimi and tempura are my favorite. The sashimi was melt-in-your-mouth fresh and the tempura was light and crispy. This place keeps the Japanese standard in all that they do. I almost want to keep this place a secret but I need yall to try for yourselves. Not a fancy place, more like a homey Japanese diner-type place. The Japan away from Japan *heart* read more

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Finally was able to go here after hearing about it for a long time now. Otomisan is a small and quaint business located in Boyle heights and as depicted on one of the photos, it is the last standing Japanese restaurant. We had just made it before they closed which is at 2pm. We had ample to order and eat at around 1pm. We were greeted by Christine who was by far the best server I had ever encountered. Not only was she catering to us but she conversed with us with such a friendly demeanor which is mostly gone nowadays. She made us feel at home! I ordered the beef udon, combination meal which included a miso soup, a bowl of rice, with the choice of veggie and tempura shrimp and a side salad with a tonkatsu or pork cutlet. Ordered some sides too which were gyoza and edamame and a itoen green tea which isn't pictured. Anyways got to digging into the food and I have to say it was delicious! Fresh and made with care! The gyoza smelled divine and had a nice taste to it I think it was steamed in something because the aroma of it was just phenomenal and burnt into it the flavor was grand. The edamame was nicely salted from biting and removing seasoned well throughout. The tempura and the cutlet were very good! The tempura had a nice light flavor to it as in the batter wasn't over bearing and suffocating the actual food like most tempura I had where it was overly coated with batter and all I would was basically fried flour but this was nicely done and just right. The cutlet was cooked to perfection! Not too dry and not too juicy it was just right and I prefer my tonkatsu with no sauce which is crazy for some but for me I enjoy it that way. The salad had a nice evenly drizzled dressing that i enjoyed and I can't put my finger on it but It reminded me of thousand island but it wasn't thousand island either way the choke dressing was a nice touch to this small salad. The crowning jewel of the meal was the beef udon! Normally when I was at beef udon at some Japanese places I see the sukiyaki I usually see which is the thinly cut beef you would see at Yoshinoya but here it isn't! It was well marinated beef and cut nicely into chunks over the broth with udon noodles and combined it was a great flavor. The noodles were nice and bouncy still and didn't break apart. The beef was delicious and the best part was the broth most udon I've had was either overly flavored and sat in a pot that was always hot and sort of burned the broth giving it a weird taste but this one was fresh. It felt and tasted like it was made to order. I think this place has blown away my expectations and I want to come back when I'm in the area again. Great job guys! :) For me it's 5 stars read more

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Stopped in and I was so pleasantly surprised by the quality of the cuisine and the genial happy atmosphere of a family restaurant. The place was bustling with regulars and the food was coming out piping hot, cooked with integrity. I ordered their combination plate with the twos sides of pork cutlet and shrimp/vegetable tempura - and wow! Excellent home style cooking with soul. Service was so nice and friendly, really made me feel like I was their family. Everything was hearty and tasty! Def will be visiting again! read more

Otomisan Restaurant - Exterior - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Been going there for a while now. Always great food in the heart of East LA. It brings me a little piece of Japan every time I go. Be ready to wait, though -- a lot of people come to enjoy the authentic food. read more

Otomisan Restaurant - Curry tonkatsu - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

I had Otomisan on my to-go list for ages and finally had a chance to try it with a good friend. Love the decor inside and the warm, home-like atmosphere which instantly put us at ease. The food was abundant in portion, tasted amazing and really filled me up - both a feast for the eyes & stomach! I liked the conciseness of the menu (no frills or fuss) and service was also wonderful. From the moment Christine greeted us at the door all the way until we finished our food, packed our leftovers and headed out, we felt welcomed and also really appreciated her cheerful demeanor & astute attention to detail (including reminders to take our belongings and not leaving things behind by accident!) Will bring friends and family back here for sure. Thank you Christine and the entire team at Otomisan for creating such a lovely culinary experience! It was the highlight of my day. read more

Otomisan Restaurant - Salmon sashimi bowl, sushi roll, salmon teriyaki bowl along with miso soup! - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Everything was great. And.... you get the privilege of sitting in ahistorical legacy restaurant. That's worth a star in and of itself. Keep the small businesses open. Had a combo with Teriyaki Chicken and Pork cutlet. Cooked fresh, so if in a hurry don't pop in. Let them take the time they need to cook it up from scratch. Chicken was tender, fresh and savory with the sauce. Pork cutlet had just the right crispy panko texture. Had a Spicy Tuna roll cut. Easy right? Not everywhere. Some spots chop the tuna a bit coarsely and spread too much Japanese mayo on it. Not here. Perfect texture, tuna ground just right. Daisy was Spectabulous, friendly, attentive and available. Pop in. read more

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Tried this spot for the first time and now I'm wondering living in LA all my life, how could I have missed this spot before? I was recommended by a family member and it did not disappoint. The lady that runs this place is such a a sweetheart. Super friendly. We ordered the salmon teriyaki plate and some rolls. Everything was delicious, food came quickly. This little tiny restaurant is definitely a gem and by looking at all the newspaper articles on the walls it definitely has some strong history. Parking can be challenging but when in LA area that's the norm. Definitely recommend this authentic Japanese restaurant, I'll be back again soon. read more

Otomisan Restaurant - Salmon Teriyaki - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Can't express how happy I am to have finally been able to try this place out. Came in for lunch on a Friday. Seating is definitely limited but as I was on my own I sat at the counter. The waitress Daisy was super sweet and friendly. The restaurant is full of tchotchkes and Japanese cultural pieces. I ordered the tempura and spicy tuna roll combination that comes with rice, salad and miso soup. Everything was perfection! I recently went to Tokyo and this meal basically teleported me back. The food is EXACTLY the same as over there and having missed the authenticity of the cuisine I was so satisfied with the meal. The tempura was light and perfectly fried. The shrimp were nice and large and it had a good variety of veggies. The salad had what I think is a sesame dressing and it added a nice fresh crisp factor to the dish. The spicy tuna roll although simple was so fresh and delicious; the amount of spice was just right. Last but not least the miso soup, probably one of the best I've had in LA. Simple but so full of umami; there is no spoon so sipping it from the bowl added another layer of just comfort in eating it as well. I will absolutley be back to try more items off their menu. read more

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This place is DELICIOUS! On top of that the service was spectacular! I left with such great vibes. Do yourself a huge favor and dine in.

I had lunch at Otomisan in Boyle Heights. It's the longest running Japanese restaurant in LA. Although the tables and counter space are limited, it balanced with great service and fantastic authentic Japanese cuisine. The owner/chef Jeffrey is very friendly, accommodating and ensures a high quality of food. Otomisan has a family feel to it and the hospitality reminds me of my childhood at my grandparents house. The prices are very reasonable. There's limited street parking and you have to be careful of the parking restrictions and meters. read more

Otomisan Restaurant - Spicy Tuna rolls and Teriyaki Salmon Combo - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

This is the cutest little hole-in-the-wall Japanese restaurant, and actually the oldest in Los Angeles! The menu is a bit limited, but it still covers a good range of traditional Japanese dishes like appetizers, sushi, udon, and combination sets. We tried the oyakodon, California roll, tofu appetizer, and gyoza, and everything was tasty and satisfying. The restaurant itself is tiny, with only about 6 bar seats (partially covered with boxes and take-out items) and 4 booths. Parking can be tricky since it's only street parking, but we lucked out and found a spot just a few doors down. The sweetest lady runs the place and only adds to the charm of this place. I've heard the waits here can get long, so we came on a Thursday evening for dinner. Arrived around 6 and waited maybe 15 minutes for a booth. By the time we left, the place was packed, and I overheard them running low on food by around 7:30. A cozy, nostalgic spot worth checking out if you're in the area. read more

Gone to this restaurant twice so far and it is my favorite restaurant as of currently It's really small-size wise, so I'd recommend getting there early haha! It has a very cozy atmosphere, both the bar and booths are comfortable to sit at. Very friendly staff, the waitress actually recognized me the second time I went The food is fantastic, the portions are fairly large, but tends to be on the lighter side (which is my ideal combo!) I personally like to get a combo as it comes with a small salad and miso soup! The first time I got it with tempura and a pork cutlet. Very filling, in retrospect I wish I had looked more at the menus before randomly selecting the pork cutlet lol. I also got natto as a starter and cold green tea. They were generous and asked if I'd like a bowl of rice for my natto at no extra cost! The green tea was the same as the ones you can find in vending machines if you go to Japan! The second time around I got the combo with tempura and sashimi (at an extra cost) with hot green tea. Probably the best sashimi I've had in a while! The hot green is superior to the cold green tea and has a warm nutty flavor + free refills whoooo. I can't wait to come back!!! read more

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It's a small place but super amazing! I wish I remembered her name but the lady helping us (at 430pm yesterday) was amazing! Super sweet, even more attentive. The food was fresh and tasted beyond perfect!! Great atmosphere, I loved the homely feel! read more

Otomisan Restaurant - Mixed tempura side. Tbh I ate one of the shrimp before I took the picture. - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Never been to Japan but felt like a preview... from the hospitality/ service, decor, FOOD. I had a whole experience and I'm so excited to come back! read more

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The Owner/Server, the food and the location are excellent. Good Japanese home cooking. The prices are decent as well. A bit small, but that just adds to the charm. Everything I've had so far has been tasty. I was surprised the sushi was so good. It just seems that quite a few Japanese restaurants that serve non sushi dishes, the sushi suffers a bit. Not this place. Reminds me of my trip to Tokyo. I highly recommend this place. read more

So after figuring out the parking meters outside, my coworkers and we went in to have a nice lunch. Although they said the food was good, they did say they have had better. Although I did enjoy my selections of the spicy tuna cut roll, and their katsudon. The flavors were good in my opinion, which that other places doesn't have the same selection. Now granted it's hard to impress me with Teriyaki chicken, as most places don't make it as good as home, but that is why I didn't order any. My coworker did though and he said it was good, but not the best. The beef udon was said to be good, but maybe it was the price too. I'm not sure why they didn't fully love their meals, but I'd still go back. The service was excellent again, and very attentive. Although there were a lot of meters in the front, the place was full.We lucked out that a table became available, as the restaurant is small inside. I would say regardless, it was the hospitality that made for a comfortable experience. Enjoy and try it sometime. read more

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Always wanted to stop by and try out Otomisan Restaurant. It was founded in 1956 and the last Japanese restaurant in Boyle heights. There is street parking with coins or card. As I entered the restaurant, I was greeted right away by the staff and owner. I ordered the teriyaki chicken bowl with vegetables and katsudon to go. While I was sitting, the owner made everyone feel welcomed and chatted with each person in the place. The decor was absolutely adorable with the Japanese decoration and anime characters. My order came out right away and it smelled delicious! The food reminded me of a home cooked meal from a loved one. I will be back to try out the rest of the items on the menu! read more

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Our first time here and after leaving this place, it felt like we ate lunch but also felt like we visited someone. The place overall felt like a haven especially with the booth seating. We both ordered the Udon soup and my buddy recommends the Chicken Udon. The young lady that works the front is very welcoming & super friendly to everyone which is great for us & whole the community. My friend and I are from Orange County and he wants to return because he enjoyed the food and the friendly hospitality. I told him he can drive next time! read more

Otomisan is a community gem in Boyle Heights, a historic, diverse community with a multigenerational Japanese American legacy that continues to this day. The fourth owner is taking care to respect the tradition of this restaurant, including providing good care of the quality of food and the service as well. It's a very small restaurant with only five seats at the counter and four booths, so be wary of going there during peak hours. read more

Otomisan Restaurant - Grilled salmon entree was great! - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

First time here and I was impressed! To start the wait time was 30 min which they told us it would be, when I went inside I could see why there are only 3 booths and one bar area with stools, not a lot of room so recommended to get there early, very old school and hole in the wall, loved the vibe inside. The food was incredible, a combination plate may sound basic but even this basic dish was savory and unique, would come back here for the teriyaki 10/10. The unagi bowl was my first time trying this dish and for the first time I loved it, so warm, sweet, savory, soft, melts in your mouth and perfectly paired with the white rice. I'd recommend to make the trip here 10/10 read more

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I came here right when it opened so there wasn't a line yet. The unagi bowl was savory and filling. Their katsu-don and rice was very flavorful. The sauce was addicting and leave you wanting more. I enjoyed reading the history behind the restaurant and the painting of Japanese cuisine on the walls. I would return again to try more on the menu. read more

Otomisan Restaurant - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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After a great concert at Disney concert hall, we decided to have sushi at the oldest Japanese restaurant in Los Angeles less than 15 minutes away. It really did not disappoint! The tempura was light and crunchy, and the sashimi tasted great. The price point is really affordable, especially for such authentic Japanese food. Would definitely go back again. read more

Otomisan Restaurant - Restaurant - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Great flavors and fresh ! The brother sister establishment continues family traditions and recipes. A must if you're in Boyle Heights and even a short trip! Hospitality is *****!! read more

Otomisan Restaurant - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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The food is homemade and tremendous. Keiko and the staff are cool, organized, and flowing with good energy. Must try the curry sauce , tempura , rice, and any teriyaki items. The sauces are great, the inside is welcoming and cozy. 12/10 read more

Otomisan Restaurant - Menu and vibes - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Food was delicious and service was fantastic. The restaurant was cozy and felt like we were in someone's home. Looking forward to coming back soon. read more

Otomisan Restaurant - Curry Rice with Chicken - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

My husband and I came to Otomisan for the 1st time. I lived in the area for such a long time and finally came to try it out. Everything we order was delicious. Our waitress was friendly, fast, and always asked how we are doing. I loved the cozy feeling like you're eating in someone's kitchen. All of the Japanese decor and painting from people that visit. My husband said he would y mind coming back more often since we only live 3 mins away. read more

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Dropped in on a Monday morning at 11:30am (right at opening) and was seated at a booth immediately. Greeted by staff and welcomed with water. We ordered the combination - includes miso, rice, salad, chicken teriyaki, and California roll (6) and a side of gyoza and a cup of green tea. Between my boyfriend and I we shared the meal. A very good portion size for two but if someone is very hungry they can clear off this meal easily. Would love to come again for the curry and the udon! Parking is tight, try the residential streets for a spot. read more

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Wonderful little spot with nice service. Friendly staff and a lovely cozy ambiance. The wall art is beautiful as well. read more

Otomisan Restaurant - Rainbow roll - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

I really enjoyed there fresh Calif rolls and there chicken curry. I lived in this area back in the 1960s it was a beautiful experience eating in this restaurant it brought back good memories of my family and the neighborhood. read more

My friend and I have been wanting to try this restaurant for a while now. We finally were able to try it on a Tuesday night. They do close early so definitely a before 7 pm dinner type of place. I was able to find parking on the street across from the restaurant. It was meter parking. Parking is limited and don't park in the back of the restaurant. I believe you will get towed. This place has limited seating. I want to say like three tables and counter seats up front. It does have a homey vibe which I like. I really enjoy the food. I got the pork katsu with tempura and it was delicious. My friend got the chicken teriyaki with California rolls and the California rolls reminded me of a place I used to go to so that brought me some joy. The service was good. The ladies were super friendly. Overall, if you're craving some Japanese food this will satisfy your cravings. read more

Otomisan Restaurant - Chicken Teriyaki + California Roll - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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It was so cool trying the oldest Japanese restaurant in LA! I ordered the chicken teriyaki bowl with vegetables which was around $17. The miso soup was very tasty and rich! The chicken was pretty good as well, but I just wasn't too impressed with the flavor, it's probably not the better dishes at this place but still pretty descent! read more

Otomisan Restaurant - Chicken Teriyaki - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Otomisan Restaurant was established in 1956 and is located in Boyle Heights. Boyle Heights was once home of a large Japanese community, but over the years the Japanese population has dwindled. It's the last remaining Japanese restaurant in Boyle Heights. It's the oldest continuously operating Japanese restaurant in LA. As you can see on the sign outside the restaurant, it's considered a Historical-Cultural Monument in LA. We ordered teriyaki chicken, Mixed Tempura with shrimp, vegetables. The batter of the tempura is very light and crispy. It pairs well with a dipping sauce. The teriyaki chicken was very tender and the sauce was flavored perfectly. The wife ordered teriyaki beef and also thought it was delicious. However, we were in agreement that the teriyaki chicken was much better. We also ordered some sushi and it was pretty good. It didn't wow me, but it was bad either. It was just okay. I would definitely come back for the Chicken Teriyaki and Tempura Combination. We ordered some green tea and they offered free refills. The tea was very light and came inside these very beautiful tea cups with different pictures of sushi. The decor is very cool. It has all sorts of different kinds of Japanese artwork. The service was very good. The waitress was very attentive. We came a little early and they were nice enough to open the doors of the restaurant for us to sit down and order. That was very kind of them! The food here is simply delicious. I recommend you come here to eat at a historic restaurant in LA. read more

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Everything we had was so good! The combination meals come with solid portions. Loved the cold udon especially now that its warming up outside and the katsudon is a must try. Be prepared to wait as the restaurant is on the cozy side. The owner is a sweet lady who does her best to manage the large volume of customers during busy hours. Its worth the wait! read more

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I visited this restaurant for a purpose of interviewing the third and the fourth owners of this very historical and charming Japanese eatery. I am currently trying to write a history of Japanese restaurants in Southern California. Their story and aspiration for a good food and a good service really impressed me. Their Tempura was amazing. I truly enjoyed it and I will visit again next time with my family to enjoy their wonderful foods. I highly recommend this restaurant. read more

Imagine a tiny, cozy mom and pop type diner that serves Japanese food. This is Otomisan. The menu is really straightforward with comforting Japanese classics. The lady that helped me was super sweet. She also had to be very efficient because it seemed she was by herself taking care of the room and taking takeout orders (I came on a weeknight). The vibe is like having dinner at my friend's family's house. Otomisan is the oldest operating Japanese restaurant in Los Angeles and was founded in 1956. Boyle Heights was once one of LA's largest Japanese American/ immigrant neighborhoods and this gem of a restaurant is one of the last remnants of that era. Just a note about seating/availability: I came on a weeknight right after work. I've been wanting to come here for a long time, and this was actually my second (actual) try on a weeknight. Understand that this place is TINY. So they stop seating probably about an hour before close. If this was my family running the place, I'd want them to wrap up around closing time as well. I haven't tried coming on the weekend, but I would imagine this place gets packed and backed up. So go early or right at opening. I ordered the natto and the tonkatsu curry plate. I've never had natto before, so I was super curious. I definitely think it is an acquired taste due to the flavor and the texture. I probably would order it again, because it is a nutrient dense superfood. The tonkatsu curry was super flavorful and crispy. Not sure if it was because I was super hungry, but I absolutely cleaned the plate. Parking could be tough. There's street parking, but I ended up parking about a block or two away in the residential area. This is a busy area of Boyle Heights with lots of traffic coming through. read more

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First time coming here. We've been wanting to come here after seeing them feature on several articles and social media posts. It is the last remaining Japanese Restaurant in the area. Its been around for almost 70 years now. Its a cute little mom and pop restaurant with about 5 counter seats and 4 booths. The food here is comforting. Service is friendly but expect a wait if its crowded. Its like a one man kitchen and a one man front of the house. read more

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Went there on a whim for lunch while visiting Keck USC. Great food and service at the little place.