Los Angeles, the second largest city in the United States, is home to quite the diverse population of citizens. It is thanks to all of this awesome diversity that it is also home to some fantastic restaurants. When it comes to Japanese Restaurants, it has some top-notch offerings that are sure to please even the fussiest eater. If you are in the Los Angeles area and do not know which of their many restaurants to choose, then read on to learn the details of the best Japanese Restaurants in all of Los Angeles.
Located just north of the 101 on First Street, Daikokuya Little Tokyo always attracts quite the crowd. It is not uncommon to find some folks lining up outside just for the chance to partake in some of their authentic eats. When I visit, I like to start out with their sliced roast pork appetizer. Their pork belly with its sweet glaze always hits the spot and it's roasted to the perfect crispy. Makes for a great mukbang on camera! Though they have many types of ramen options, if it is your first time visiting, you must try the Daikoku Ramen. The noodles are perfectly cooked and the broth is delicious. It has something for everyone. It is pork belly, bamboo shoots, bean sprouts, green onions, and a boiled egg in their simmering tonkotsu broth. Sake drinkers will want to try out their offerings of both hot or chilled sake.
What I recommend: Daikoku ramen and Tsekemen ramen
Just south of the 101 you will find Marugame Monzo. They are famous for their handmade traditional udon noodles and this is some of the best udon I've ever had. If you get the chance to come here, try the uni udon if you're familiar with uni. If you're not a fan of uni, I also enjoyed their duck nanban udon for it's duck and amazing broth. For just an extra $2, they will double the portion. That's right, ONLY $2! For those who enjoy Asian fusion, they even offer a miso carbonara udon that is worth a try. Everyone loves noodles, so this is a great place to take a family. Even the picky little ones will find something they love.
What I recommend: uni udon or the duck nanban udon
Having served sushi in downtown Los Angeles for over 40 years, Sushi Gen describes itself as understated. I would say that their menu offerings are anything but underrated. If you are visiting them for lunch, then I recommend giving their salmon teriyaki lunch special a try. For dinner, I start out with the Japanese fried chicken known as chicken karaage. It is always crispy, savory, and cooked to perfection. For my main entrée, I like to go with their sushi delux combo. It has some of the best sashimi and nigiri I've ever had It's no wonder this place is so popular. The combo also includes a salmon skin salad and mozuku which is a Japanese seaweed. This was a recent discovery for me but I'm kicking myself for not have discovered this place earlier.
What I recommend: sushi delux combo
Location: 422 E 2nd St Los Angeles, CA 90012
If Japanese food means nothing more than California rolls or chicken teriyaki, then I highly encourage you to try one of the above restaurants and order something new. Though the more well-known Japanese offerings are always delicious, some of these lesser-known menu items are sure to be just as tasty. After all, ordering noodles and fried chicken is a good idea at any restaurant, but the above restaurants manage to stand out amongst an already tasty crowd.
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