665216 Fri Nov 06 10:52:09 -0800 2009 8 2 Los Angeles Area 0 5161260 So this seems a simple enough question, but when I do a search I get nothing relevant. I go to little tokyo all the time, but usually stick with the same two restaurants out of fear of accidentally ordering something spooky. I love most japanese food, sushi included, but stay away from the weird meats like intestinal tracts, fish flakes/broth. I'm looking for something not expensive, and in the area of that outdoor-ish mini mall market. Any ideas? Any recommendations of a restaurant and what to get there would be appreciated. Carly Fri Nov 06 10:52:09 -0800 2009 217887 carly_mizzou 1 5161286 Which 2 do you frequent? Fri Nov 06 10:58:39 -0800 2009 5161260 10883 JAB 1 5161392 There is a lot written on the board about the following places: Suehiro Cafe on 1st Street has a large menu and a good sampling of cooked japanese food. I like the various dishes over rice, (pork katsy don) the shumai and gyoza and the koika on the specials board, although thats fried seafood. I dont go there for noodles as they are just so so or sushi which they dont serve. Sushi Gen is known for their fish and their lunch specials. Kokekoko does grilled chicken on skewers. Izayoi has some interesting cooked dishes and I think good lunch specials. Fri Nov 06 11:26:07 -0800 2009 5161260 13876 ickster 1 5161404 "So this seems a simple enough question, but when I do a search I get nothing relevant." Then you're not conducting a proper search. Over the last 5 years, there are nearly 1,500 threads on the L.A. board that mention "Little Tokyo" -- you can sort the results by date, relevance, etc... Click: http://search.chow.com/search?query=%22little+tokyo%22&advanced=1&from_date=5+years+ago&type=Topic&sort_mode=newest&from_date_select=5+years+ago&search_boardgroup_id=1&search_board_id=2&user_name=&post_title= . . Fri Nov 06 11:30:10 -0800 2009 5161260 10606 Joe Blowe 1 5162255 Hi Carly, Wondering if you ever broke out of the Columbia Chinese buffet mentality and have explored the glories of the Chinese food in the San Gabriel Valley http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/564715#4111724 Faves in Little Tokyo: 1. Daikokuya for their tonkatsu ramen (if you still think of ramen as $0.25 dehydrated packages of noodles, you have to try the real stuff). Also their gyoza are phenomenal, but Tokyo Cafe around the corner sells excellent ones for cheaper. Get your gyoza appetizer there while you wait for a table a Daikokuya. 2. Sushi Gen for lunch - $16 gets you a really nice quality sashimi lunch. This would be $30-50 in other restaurants. (this deal is not available if you sit at the sushi bar) 3. Sushi Go 55 in the top floor of the mall on Alameda and 3rd. Also really good quality fish for a bargain price, and 10% off if you use this coupon http://www.japaneserestaurantinfo.com/sushigo55/coupon/index.html Mr Taster Fri Nov 06 16:11:59 -0800 2009 5161260 17579 Mr Taster 1 5167670 I work just outside Little Tokyo so I eat there a lot. I think the hole-in-the-wall kind of places are sometimes good at some things, but pretty bad at others. I'll recommend the vegetarian lunch at Usui (on first st.). The people at Aoi (also on first) are pretty great, even if the food's only OK. They're what I'd want my Japanese grandfather and grandmother to be like if I were Japanese and had grandparents. Shojin, the vegan place in the shopping center at 3rd and Alameda is also good, but the portions were a bit Tokyo-sized as of the last time I went. You can also go to Senor Fish! (Given its location, before I went there I thought it was some kind of weird Mexican/Japanese fusion restaurant.) Mon Nov 09 12:15:19 -0800 2009 5161260 273927 JamesF 1 5169352 Homegirl Cafe, Wurstkuche, Daikokuya, Curry House, King Taco, Lien Hoa Deli are a few primo options in or near Little Tokyo (I work there so I've done a good amount of lunchtime eating). Tue Nov 10 00:51:06 -0800 2009 5161260 233427 tenxtone76 1 5169581 There's a Korean BBQ place on First St. in the area you mention. The name escapes me (might be something clever like Korean BBQ). Their lunch specials are pretty self explanatory and you get a lot of grub. Tue Nov 10 06:12:48 -0800 2009 5161260 10332 mc michael 1 5171232 Second the Sushi Gen rec. The deluxe sashimi or nigiri sushi lunch special for $16 is the best deal in Little Tokyo. Joymart, in the Village is a regular lunch stop for me. Food is just ok, funky rolls & bowls/donburis, but a great deal nevertheless. Best deal is the 2 or 3 item lunch combos. TOT (same parent company as Joymart) around the corner, is decent too. Of course Daikokuya for ramen. Great pork bowl too. I think the Korean BBQ joint on 1st St is HK BBQ. It's ok for the price, not great, but still a regular stop for me though. Curry House To Go on ground level of Onizuka plaza. Fast, cheap Japanese-style curry +/- chicken or tonkatsu, hits the spot when I have a craving. Not a huge fan of Suehiro. Tue Nov 10 16:12:51 -0800 2009 5161260 104996 pharmnerd