Little Tokyo Los Angeles: What to See, Do, & Eat

[@YellowProductions]

✅ You might enjoy watching my tour of Apple's new iconic Tower Theatre store: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nHy5k5uXnLJ3p5Y

[@piercechan]

Hi Chris, I am one of the owners of Sunright Tea Studio in Little Tokyo, thanks for shouting us out! Please drop in for a drink next time you are in the neighborhood.

[@YellowProductions]

Very cool piercechan!

[@scottman895]

Little Tokyo looks awesome especially with all the ramen spots! I feel that I could spend the entire day just eating great Japanese food there!

[@YellowProductions]

A Japanese food eat-a-thon!

[@alyssadiceflipper5201]

So many cool eats! Haven't really been there in 4 years. Lots of changes. Probably the safest neighborhood in Downtown.

[@YellowProductions]

Safest for sure! Time to revisit!

[@javierlima4094]

not really. A block away from Skidrow.

[@ppaooh]

Statistics Say It has One of the highest crime rate of the entire US

[@fullmetalroyal1216]

Actually one of the most dangerous according to police statistics

[@IamSpacedad]

I was there the other day - the bookstore you went to right at the very end is a prime location for anime/manga fans and the artists/animators of L.A.! It's also a site that anime and manga artists from Japan often visit when they come here, like during conventions. There is an impressive array of anime production artbooks, TONS of manga, and a great array of artist pens & sketchbooks there. Prime spot for artists and fans of comics & animation!

[@DiJourne]

Wow! Never thought any travel journalist would cover this town in L.A. Thank you, can’t wait to go back there some day.

[@YellowProductions]

Glad I could bring you something unique! :)

[@AviorsFreelancer]

OMG WAIT IM THE GIRL WITH THE PURPLE HAIR AT 15:49

[@matty6878]

is that based off a series or original idea? i thought the blue-haired cosplayer was konata from Lucky Star but i don't know! 😂

[@AviorsFreelancer]

@@matty6878 oh we’re actually cosplaying characters from a game called Genshin Impact! I’m cosplaying Keqing and my friend is Ganyu

[@YellowProductions]

Awesome Hu Taos Wife!

[@sab2432]

LMAO

[@glitterinmyblunt]

LMFAOO

[@evancortez2]

Suehiro is my favorite place to eat in Little Tokyo, been going there since 1986 - glad to see they survived the pandemic!

[@ginilingbaka8994]

This guy has got to be the best virtual tour guide like, ever.

[@poles9926]

I love how this is pretty updated and during pandemic times since the ones before 2020 might be too different in terms of shops open and people passing by

[@YellowProductions]

Thanks Pol!

[@jameshiga8077]

Hi Chris. Thank you for a very nice tour of Little Tokyo. Definitely a place to stop by the next time I'm ion L.A. Thanks for sharing and take care.

[@YellowProductions]

Thanks James! It's one of the best places in LA in my opinion :)

[@NothingMaster]

Ramen is a delicious comfort food, and I realize it’s part of the cultural tradition in Japan, with almost endless local varieties on the same basic dish. But I can’t imagine so many restaurants being dedicated to essentially serving fancy noodle soup!

[@YellowProductions]

They like their Ramen for sure!

[@MrsMoe72]

I used to lunch here when I worked downtown, love it and miss it so much!

[@YellowProductions]

Great lunch spot!

[@benlafontaine969]

WOW!! I am very excited to travel to LA!! Little Tokyo is definitely on my list as it is a very safe neighbourhood and has so much to see! Greetings from Montréal, Canada 🇨🇦

[@YellowProductions]

Awesome Ben

[@Life-oo2tr]

Hello fellow Canadian🇨🇦! Your comment was made 2 years ago and I hope you got to visit LA & Little Tokyo in the end. I know LA locals tend to not be so fond of LA, but as a Canadian, I just love it! So many interesting little stores, entertainment, cultural museums, and neverending blue skies with not a cloud in sight. Vastly different atmosphere from Canadian cities😅.

[@gw9n]

THE KEQING AND GANYU

[@atastyspamwich]

The brakery in the main area, they have hot pork buns, which are very good. And the grocery at the other mall (marukai) has onigiri (and tons of other snacks and drinks) Somisomi has custard or taro (other flavors too) filled hot taiyaki (fish shaped waffles)

[@YellowProductions]

Thanks for the tips Dwarf!

[@cdc6245]

Lived in SoCal all my life and I still love watching your SoCal videos. Thanks for all your videos!

[@YellowProductions]

Thanks CDC!

[@goldensun168]

We love little Tokyo. We make a point to visit every time we are in L A.

[@YellowProductions]

Awesome Martin! I love it too!

[@buddhahead00]

Very comprehensive and informative walking tour of Little Tokyo (from someone who is very familiar with this area). One correction: there is a Little Tokyo Metro stop on the Gold Line, on Alameda Avenue, across from the Japanese American National Museum (much closer than Union Station)

[@YellowProductions]

Thanks for the Metro update Chester!

[@braveknight2000]

Really good tour! Before the pandemic, I would get the $10 all day pass on MetroLink and go down there for the day. But you showed me some places I didn't know about. I will be going back soon.

[@evancortez2]

Little Tokyo Galleria used to be called Yaohan plaza, named after the big Japanese department store they had there - I remember there was a big Japanese bookstore there that we would go to, also an auto parts store that carried hard to find JDM parts

[@YellowProductions]

Thanks for the history!

[@mrsandgroper584]

This video brought back happy memories as my wife and I stayed at the Miyako Hotel and walked through Little Tokyo in 2017. Greetings from Perth, Western Australia.

[@YellowProductions]

Nice Claudio!

[@evancortez2]

Oh wow I can remember when Anime jungle had one little store tucked away in the back of LT mall, but now it looks like they've taken over the entire lower level!

[@bigbrothertravel4ktour775]

15:26 - i love it. very straight up and honest about what they will serve. great video.

[@aracnealbarran7228]

Ugh, I missed so many great things to do there. I might have to just visit Little Tokyo once more😁

[@queenb2450]

I'm going to be in Little tokyo soon and this video made me even more excited! I feel like I could definitely spend a whole day here.

[@YellowProductions]

Awesome!

[@NostalgiaMan]

The next time I am in L.A. This is my stop.

[@danielleporter1829]

I suggest you also make a stop into the the Japanese American Museum and the Tea room next to the museum ( the name of the tearoom escapes me @ the moment but I have been there for afternoon tea for my birthday and had a wonderful time). Olvera Street is the historic beginnings of Los Angeles by the first Mexican families in the 1750'sish. There are restaurants in and around Olvera Street and Union Station. Little Tokyo is a few blocks from Olvera Street , in fact Olvera Street is between Little Tokyo and Chinatown. And pop into Union Station

[@YellowProductions]

Thanks for those tips Dannielle! I hope to do Olvera Street and Chinatown in some upcoming tours

[@NostalgiaMan]

@@danielleporter1829 Very awesome ideas. I actually took a train into the station in L.A. once and it looked awesome. Very old world and awesome feel to the place.

[@LegalShield3000]

Definitely do. Also city hall is close. They have a observation deck on top (Pandemic might have changed that).

[@danielleporter1829]

@@NostalgiaMan When I was in college at Loyola Marymount University, I took an Anthropology class( not that needed too since I had taken one at a community college before transferring but didn't want to go through the hassle of going to see if those credits transferred over or not). And learned s little know fact about Union Station and Chinatown. The fact was that Chinatown was a lot bigger than the one that's in DTLA now and the big kicker is Chinatown was where Union Station is.

[@karencarranza6901]

You should visit Gardena in the South Bay in LA. It has a lot of traditional Japanese restaurants and it has a large Japanese population.

[@YellowProductions]

Thanks Karen! Been to Gardena many times. It's tough to do a walking tour on since it's more a strip mall neighborhood

[@garyi.2954]

So true that Gardena & Torrance cities have probably more Japanese establishments, but it is spread over many square miles while Little Tōkyō DTLA is concentrated in a walkable area.

[@rawrethisaytoyou]

I'm planning to go there at the end of the month for the 1st time ever so SUPER glad to have this vid pop up in my notifications! :D

[@YellowProductions]

Awesome! Enjoy Little Tokyo! Perfect timing!

[@rupman27isback]

Seriously, great job with your videos man! You are so knowledgeable and explain things perfectly. Thank you!

[@YellowProductions]

Thanks rupman!

[@garyi.2954]

You missed Mitsuru Café in Japanese Village Plaza famous for its Imagawa Yaki (Japanese Pancake stuffed with Anko/sweet Azuki bean paste). You can see it baking through a large picture window. Also other Japanese street foods on a stick.

[@VargasDaniel-x5z]

I just went there this year, and let me tell ya, it is beautiful! 🤩 🇯🇵

[@YellowProductions]

I totally agree!

[@awesomeadamfrom2099]

Awesome job Chris.

[@YellowProductions]

Thanks Adam!

[@awesomeadamfrom2099]

No problem chris

[@MysticMusic758]

Thank you for the video, I was trying to remember some parts in Little Tokyo that I have been to before with my mom. The Marukai Market was one the first spot we traveled to, me and my mom went to a ramen restaurant and two stores I had visited it was fun!

[@mooveegal]

Great walking tour Chris! Appreciate your recommendations.👍

[@YellowProductions]

Thanks mooveegal!

[@ZykoPlayz]

i love your videos, i just went to boston with my friends and you gave us great insight for our trip.

[@lewismansey381]

This is so epic !!😁🐺😎

[@YellowProductions]

Thanks Lewis!

[@gilbertocarmona6295]

Great video! It's very good see you at downtown LA. I hope you make a new one about Grand Central Market. I believe your last video there was before pandemic.

[@YellowProductions]

Thanks Gilberto... I'll add Grand Central Market to my new "Walkaround" series :)

[@rosathegoblinshark]

So excited to go there someday! Especially excited for the Sanrio store there.

[@julietmichael5737]

Not boring at all, I Love that Big fountain! 💦⛲ great tour and so informative with important details! You should have gotten the Panda 🐼🐾🤩

[@YellowProductions]

Maybe I should go back for the panda! :)

[@TheNintendoWizrad]

Definitely on the visit list when I visit LA.

[@YellowProductions]

Awesome

[@ronniebababooe7584]

You know its a quality video when he walks up the stairs backwards to get the shot!

[@skincareaddicted]

Great video, I have visited but didn’t know all these other spots existed

[@YellowProductions]

Thanks!

[@garyi.2954]

Suèhiro (soo eh hee roh) is the Denny's of Little Tōkyō. Competent sampling of many types of Japanese. Their choose your own food items to make a combo is a great deal. They open till 1am on certain days.

[@YellowProductions]

Thanks for that perspective

[@10thmountainvet]

Great review. My daughter is enjoying diving into Japanese history and culture and I was considering a trip out to LA. Glad to see it first hand. Definitely affected my decision, to not go and give CA my money.

[@YellowProductions]

Thanks John :)

[@nataliex2587]

thank you for this video! i wanted to go to little tokyo for my birthday and now i really want to go! thank you! ^_^

[@pennymarmar]

So much info. I live near by and never beem there due to parking🤓🤓. Makes me want to check it out on Friday NOT the weekend im sure its supper packed

[@YellowProductions]

Good plan!

[@lewismansey381]

Great review bro love the travel guide 😁😁😁🤣

[@ernstgenzs7456]

“This is when they designed buildings that looked classy” 100% agree. And were built to survived for centuries The attention to details is gone or simplified. But I understand architecture portraits the way we live today instead of the way we lived a hundred years ago.

[@YellowProductions]

For sure Ersnt!

[@fiveoctaves]

The tea place in the Japanese American National Museum is Chado which also has locations in Hollywood and Pasadena. The Mediterranean restaurant is Spitz. Totally bypassed the cultural offerings of Little Tokyo: East West Players, the Aratani Theatre, and the Japanese American Cultural Community Center (JACCC.

[@timdrake200]

Thank you! Great video and very informative! I do wish they had more bathrooms in Little Osaka!

[@YellowProductions]

Thanks Tim!

[@Pixics]

Man, haven't been here in a long time. I may have to schedule a visit.

[@YellowProductions]

Always a fun time in Little Tokyo!

[@MarleeCraig]

Really enjoy all your videos Chris. I watched your videos before my most recent trip and it was so helpful. I aim to watch all your LA videos and get as much advice as I can before my next visit in December 😉👍

[@YellowProductions]

Fantastic Marlee!

[@UzuiLK]

Thanks for the video, very useful information. I was curious what was around👍

[@YellowProductions]

Glad it was helpful!

[@kaoruB]

Thank you for nice video about Little Tokyo❤

[@YellowProductions]

My pleasure!

[@theaveragejoe5781]

This turned out to be really helpful for my LA visit. Would have missed so many things otherwise. I even ate at the cafe recommended, the food you mentioned. Tasty 😋

[@YellowProductions]

Awesome Joe!

[@Cali.fornia.k]

I went there a few months ago for the first time and really enjoyed it. Now I want to go back since you pointed out so many things I missed! I did have a really good steamed vegetable bun from a small stand not too far from Nijiya. Market, but I can’t remember the name. It was delicious though!

[@12012channel]

I once walked from Little Tokyo to Wurstküche and took a wrong turn. There was some kind of tour bus with all the windows smashed and it was on fire in the middle of the street. I don't think it was for a movie or anything like that. Just some random burning vehicle in the middle of the street.

[@lewismansey381]

I will go there when I’m older 😁😁🤣

[@garyi.2954]

For refined, classic Èdomaè (eh doh mah eh) Nigiri (nee ghee ree) Sushi Takèda (tah keh dah) on the 3rd floor of Weller Court has one of the most consummate Sushi chefs for miles around.

[@aracnealbarran7228]

Love your videos!!!!

[@YellowProductions]

Thanks Aracne!

[@clairedobson2240]

Looks great Chris. Will definitely have to pay a visit

[@YellowProductions]

Thanks Claire!

[@jessicalist7916]

We were going there next week, this vlog just arrived in time!

[@YellowProductions]

Awesome Jessica!

[@FoodXBert]

Great tour Chris.

[@evancortez2]

I started going to Little Tokyo about 30 years ago - the area wasn't so gentrified yet back then, I'd walk around and it would mostly be Asian people, but now it's more like a tourist area and lost most of it's original identity

[@winkywink3971]

Wow I always wondered about that place. Thanks 😊

[@YellowProductions]

My pleasure winky!

[@carmenhuehnken649]

Thank you for this nice video. Its a part of our trip in october we hope. Please plesse tell us when you hear any news about reopening the border. Greetings Carmen und Sven

[@88Kidlat]

My family’s favorite restaurant is the Korean Hibachi Kitchen - the best sizzling plates ever!!! You guys should try it.

[@YellowProductions]

Thanks for the tip Myrna!

[@vincently1995]

Wonderful

[@tonybrigner3866]

nice place thanks for the tour

[@YellowProductions]

My pleasure Tony!

[@nish221100]

The longest I've waited for DaiKokuYa is a little bit over one hour.

[@YellowProductions]

Thats a long time!

[@xmradio1909]

Do you have any videos on CHINA TOWNS in Los Angeles, New York and other cities in the USA. Truly enjoy your amazing videos fantastic.

[@lynnkurumaji2478]

Would like to mention the Honda Plaza has one of the best sushi restaurants, its called Sushi Gen. Has some of the freshest fish for their sushi.

[@YellowProductions]

Thanks for the tip on Sushi Gen Lynn!

[@KibaJovanni]

OROCHON RAMEN LITTLE TOKYO THA BOMB 💣

[@denniszenanywhere]

Love the area. Can't believe I haven't been there. I visit LA every couple of years. Have you covered 7th St before in that area?

[@YellowProductions]

Not yet!

[@denniszenanywhere]

@@YellowProductions I didn't realize it was Skid Row. Is there no 7th area that's like the Arts District?

[@YellowProductions]

Here's a tour I did of the arts district: kzbin.info/www/bejne/l37OqI2im6h7gLM

[@motoxphone6956]

Taking the wife and daughter, they will love it. Any info on parking? Public garage close by?

[@YellowProductions]

There are a ton of parking lots / garages with a 2 block radius of little tokyo

[@MizzViperBarzWorld]

Wow!! You had me at founded in 1885 👀🧐🤯🤯💖💖 How Honored to know another culture chose to establish themselves here for so many decades 💖💖👏🏾👏🏾✨✨🥰🥰 日本が大好きです。ジャパニーズビレッジプラザ行きたい🙏🏾☺️💖💖🇯🇲🇯🇵

[@greginski]

you are awesome!

[@YellowProductions]

Thanks Greg!

[@sweeney0558]

GREAT PLACE THANKS

[@macheezm0]

I work across the street from J Town and my favorite Ramen place is Shin Sen Gumi.

[@YellowProductions]

Shin Sen Gumi is pretty tasty!

[@bani_niba]

Do a collab with Action Kid (walking videos normally in NYC), he's in LA the last few days, doing walking videos in different LA neighborhoods.

[@Mpphc1006]

Have you been to Grand central market in LA?

[@enwenchileno7050]

Yes, I walked too far and ended in Skid Row 🥲

[@Light23K]

The market sells the most delicious tangerines.

[@santi7616]

Thanks for the video. I enjoyed a lot your video months ago when you were at the top of the building city hall, that we can see in this video actually, I love that building, as all the downtown area skyscrapers. About little Tokyo I never went, but I will certainly go next time I go to California. Now I have two places to go on my list, visit San Francisco again, San Diego and of course, los angeles, with little Tokyo included 😉 but right now I can only dream about it... 😔 As I am from an European country I'm not allowed to fly as a tourist, even if I am already vaccinated. 🥇 I hope they allow tourists maybe after summer when people is already working and students studying, then I have the hope they might allow vaccinated tourists from Europe, let's keep our fingers crossed, and let's continue enjoying California through your camera until better days will come, I hope. Thank you 🥇😉💯

[@YellowProductions]

Hi Santi.. this probably doesn't really help your situation. It's not Europeans that are banned. It is travelers coming from a European country that have been in one of those countries in the last 14 days. So. You could visit Mexico for 14 days.. and then travel to the USA.

[@santi7616]

@@YellowProductions well, that's an interesting idea, I've always wanted to visit Mexico 😉 I will think about it. Best regards 😉

[@yankeebiscuitfan]

Is there a store with Japanese sports/baseball merchandise?

[@YellowProductions]

Hmmm.. I'm not really sure on that one!

[@junhokeumjr.1033]

Koreatown looks more cyberpunk than Little Tokyo

[@YellowProductions]

Sure does

[@jennyd5728]

Is it cheaper to park on the street by the meter than the parking structure?

[@ecalibay9069]

Are the shops and restaurants open on Mondays?

[@YellowProductions]

Some are closed but most are open

[@angryvideogamenerd2244]

R.I.p Retro Game camp

[@LegalShield3000]

Got to the plaza in 2020 just before the Pandemic kicked in.

[@austinmejia3210]

Nice video and also not too far from Orange County.

[@YellowProductions]

Thanks Austin!

[@llexhwin6606]

Does LA have a little Saigon ? (Melbourne, Australia)

[@YellowProductions]

Yes.. it's in the suburbs in Orange County... so not quite as walkable as Little Tokyo is

[@jvxnne]

where's a good place to park when visiting there?

[@stargazer5073]

Best place to park?

[@YellowProductions]

I usually park in the Little Tokyo Mall parking garage

[@carllawler2837]

Only three Japantown s in California ... San Francisco and San Jose...

[@jedgould5531]

But where is it?

[@Kawayoporu]

Any Torii there?

[@SenorMartinos]

No ones going to comment on the fighter pilot mic?

[@YellowProductions]

Nope.. it's top secret! :)

[@andrearomero2558]

Can you cover Los Angeles Koreatown

[@YellowProductions]

I'll add to my list of places to cover in the future!

[@andrearomero2558]

@@YellowProductions yay! Thank you looking forward to it. This one was very informative