This is located at the corner of 1st and Alameda. It’s not really a village – more like a cluster of restaurants and shops. Love coming here ever since my college days. There are so many delicious Japanese foods, ranging from sushi to ramen, in Little Tokyo. Today I’m sharing my must-have treats when I’m in the area.
Imagawayaki aka red-bean cake 紅豆餅
Mitsuru Cafe
117 Japanese Village Plz MallLos Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 613-1028
http://www.yelp.com/biz/mitsuru-cafe-los-angeles
Back in the college days, we’d stop by this place for weekend lunches. Nowadays, it seems like the red-bean cake is the main attraction. Basically, get in line, tell the cashier what you’d like to order, pay and grab your order. The cafe itself is small, so it’s the only shop in the village that you’ll see a line out the door during the weekends. The red-bean cake is really moist and chewy, and the red-bean filling is not too sweet. It’s still good even when it’s not hot anymore! Yum!
Watch your red-bean cakes being made!
Ice Cream & Mochi Ice Cream
Mikawaya
118 Japanese Village Plz MallLos Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 624-1681
http://www.yelp.com/biz/mikawaya-los-angeles
Yes, this is the Mikawaya of the mochi ice cream fame. Know the ones that you’d buy at Trader Joes or the grocery stores? Well, there are a few Mikawaya stores around LA. The downtown one specializes in the ice cream, gelato (recently added) and mochi ice cream. The Gardena location sells different types of mochi sweets. I always make it a point to stop in here if I’m in the area. The ice cream and mochi ice cream is THAT good. The mochi on the mochi ice cream just tastes so soft and fresh! Recently, Mikawaya added gelato and mochilado (mochi gelato) but I don’t think they’re as good as the ice cream variety. This place is CASH ONLY!
The store front
The famous mochi ice cream
The ice cream flavors (in clockwise order from top left): rainbow, green tea, kona coffee, mango, red bean and black walnut.
The prices: 1 scoop $2.55 2-scoops $3.55 Mochi ice cream $1 each. There are 2 scoopers, 1 for the ice cream line and 1 for the gelato line.
Our lovely round of mochi ice cream — green tea totally dominated!
Tagged: Japanese Village, Little Tokyo, Mikawaya, Mitsuru Cafe, mochi ice cream
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