Japanese Village – DTLA

335 E 2nd Street

Los Angeles, CA 90012

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 Mall
Los 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 Mall
Los Angeles, CA 90012

(213) 624-1681

www.mikawayausa.com

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