Nice place. I hope the owner can find a successor.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Jason Bradway
Very nice service. The food was average at best.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Chicken Teriyaki
Christine Venegas
Quaint historic Mom n Pop open since 1956.Good food? in a small space 4 booths and counter service.They don’t accept reservations.Come early n be prepared to wait as they are almost always filled to capacity
Whenever I come down from the sgv; This is the place to go! Near a pretty dope bookstore on Cesar Chavez.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Miso Soup Soy Based Soup, Chicken Teriyaki
Jim Sherman
Great history and food. Very impressive tempura and curry, and of course the sashimi was super fresh. I do miss AOI, so the home estylen cooking here was a real rad treat. I loved it, we came pretty early and on a weekday as you must do because it gets filled up so fast!! So glad we made the effort because it had been on our list so long and it didn't disappoint
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Miso Soup Soy Based Soup, Salmon Sashimi Bowl, Spicy Tuna Roll
Chris N
The tempura and beef udon were delicious the gyoza as well! The tempura udon was my favorite. We went pretty early, 10 minutes after the shop opened. It's very small, but the food is so delicious and the service and people are wonderful. The owner in particular is very kind and sweet! I'm happy I finally got to go after years of putting it on my list of food places I want to try.
I don't give it less than one star simply because it can't be done, the customer service was not good at all. THEY THROWN THE MENU AT ME AND WE WERE 2 PEOPLE. In addition, they looked at us badly, they honestly gave us to understand that they don't like people. dark skinned.
Service: 1
Rebecca Martinez
I was looking forward to eating at this place because I heard it's one of the most authentic Japanese restaurants. However, the customer service was so bad and made it disgusting to stay there. The minute we walked in, the waiter ignored us. They THREW 1 menu at us even though we were 2 and with such a disdain in her facial expression as if she hated us being in that place. I still wanted to give it to us a chance, but when another worker who was cooking came out. She paused and looked right at us with such a hateful look, which I don't understand because they were okay with all the other folks who had been there. But without even once talking to us, they already had biases and discrimination towards us. It was quite sad and upsettingm We ended up leaving and going to a restaurant at Little Tokyo which was a much more welcoming environment.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
hirohito murai
Katsudon is delicious. This is a restaurant where you can feel Japan.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Jose Paez
It is a place with a lot of history but something small will take you some time to enter and be served since they only have one lady to charge, serve and attend to the front, not good if you are in a hurry.
Local institution. Coming in here is like traveling back in time. They have on ktla 5 most times. Chicken Udon is the truth. Chicken Karrage goes quickly. It's small. Maybe seats 10.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
kimmie yan
Purely for charm and LA history, Otomisan is outstanding. The oldest continuously operating Japanese restaurant in the city, there's certainly a retro feel to this place that can't be replicated.Ever since a few well-received profiles (Vice, PBS, etc), Otomisan has experienced a burst in popularity. On Saturday, we arrived at 11:30am, which is when they opened, and already all three booths were taken. Our party of four sat at the counter, which honestly might have been the reason we had such swift service.The owner is SUPER nice and even though she was obviously totally overwhelmed with a long waiting list and a bunch of takeout orders, she handled everything with a smile and didn't rush anyone out.The food is exactly like what I had when I ate at my friends' parents' or grandparents' houses who were Japanese American, so this meal was a lovely hit of nostalgia.Highly recommend the katsu, teriyaki, tempura, edamame, and salmon roll.
Place is very small and there's a wait to be served. No parking. Parking is available on the street.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: California Roll, Tempura Udon, Beef Udon
Ivan Tellez
Must try! Immediately my Favorite Japanese restaurant ?
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Salmon Sashimi Bowl, Rainbow Roll Various Sushi, Chicken Teriyaki, Tempura Udon
Mango 2017
#LATEPOST from 01/22/2024:Took my sister and my mom here, due to the story behind this restaurant. It was opened since 1950s!It was raining, on Monday lunch hour when we get there. This place is so tiny! It was packed! 3 of 4 seaters booths & 4 stools for dine in customers and 2 groups (included ours), were waiting by the entrance door. While we were there, more people were coming and tried to come in for the food. But the lady "closed" the restaurant for a while because it was FULL! LOLThis was a good sign! The lady owner was busy running around to cater to everyone. We were waiting for quite a while to be seated. We ordered Tonkatsu, Curried chicken katsu plate & spicy fried chicken bowl.. and 1 side of sweet potato croquettes.The prices were decent, portions were big! The taste of each meal was so authentic!We enjoyed our food & the authenticity of Japanese homey vibes! It's definitely worth the drive.. the wait and the entire experience!Parking: Very limited parking space available in the area. Depends on the hours, it would be very hard to find any parking space.Kid-friendliness: Lots of non spicy choices for young kidsWheelchair accessibility: The place is very small & tight. Would be very very hard to use wheelchair in the place
Nice place. I hope the owner can find a successor.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Very nice service. The food was average at best.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Chicken Teriyaki
Quaint historic Mom n Pop open since 1956.Good food? in a small space 4 booths and counter service.They don’t accept reservations.Come early n be prepared to wait as they are almost always filled to capacity
Food: 4
Service: 3
Recommended dishes: Tempura Shrimp & Vegetables, Miso Soup
Whenever I come down from the sgv; This is the place to go! Near a pretty dope bookstore on Cesar Chavez.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Miso Soup Soy Based Soup, Chicken Teriyaki
Great history and food. Very impressive tempura and curry, and of course the sashimi was super fresh. I do miss AOI, so the home estylen cooking here was a real rad treat. I loved it, we came pretty early and on a weekday as you must do because it gets filled up so fast!! So glad we made the effort because it had been on our list so long and it didn't disappoint
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Miso Soup Soy Based Soup, Salmon Sashimi Bowl, Spicy Tuna Roll
The tempura and beef udon were delicious the gyoza as well! The tempura udon was my favorite. We went pretty early, 10 minutes after the shop opened. It's very small, but the food is so delicious and the service and people are wonderful. The owner in particular is very kind and sweet! I'm happy I finally got to go after years of putting it on my list of food places I want to try.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Gvoza Par-Fried Dumplings, Tempura Udon, Beef Udon
I don't give it less than one star simply because it can't be done, the customer service was not good at all. THEY THROWN THE MENU AT ME AND WE WERE 2 PEOPLE. In addition, they looked at us badly, they honestly gave us to understand that they don't like people. dark skinned.
Service: 1
I was looking forward to eating at this place because I heard it's one of the most authentic Japanese restaurants. However, the customer service was so bad and made it disgusting to stay there. The minute we walked in, the waiter ignored us. They THREW 1 menu at us even though we were 2 and with such a disdain in her facial expression as if she hated us being in that place. I still wanted to give it to us a chance, but when another worker who was cooking came out. She paused and looked right at us with such a hateful look, which I don't understand because they were okay with all the other folks who had been there. But without even once talking to us, they already had biases and discrimination towards us. It was quite sad and upsettingm We ended up leaving and going to a restaurant at Little Tokyo which was a much more welcoming environment.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Katsudon is delicious. This is a restaurant where you can feel Japan.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
It is a place with a lot of history but something small will take you some time to enter and be served since they only have one lady to charge, serve and attend to the front, not good if you are in a hurry.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Teriyaki Chicken, Pork Katsu, Rice Bowl, Miso Soup
Restaurantji Recommends
Local institution. Coming in here is like traveling back in time. They have on ktla 5 most times. Chicken Udon is the truth. Chicken Karrage goes quickly. It's small. Maybe seats 10.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Purely for charm and LA history, Otomisan is outstanding. The oldest continuously operating Japanese restaurant in the city, there's certainly a retro feel to this place that can't be replicated.Ever since a few well-received profiles (Vice, PBS, etc), Otomisan has experienced a burst in popularity. On Saturday, we arrived at 11:30am, which is when they opened, and already all three booths were taken. Our party of four sat at the counter, which honestly might have been the reason we had such swift service.The owner is SUPER nice and even though she was obviously totally overwhelmed with a long waiting list and a bunch of takeout orders, she handled everything with a smile and didn't rush anyone out.The food is exactly like what I had when I ate at my friends' parents' or grandparents' houses who were Japanese American, so this meal was a lovely hit of nostalgia.Highly recommend the katsu, teriyaki, tempura, edamame, and salmon roll.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Miso Soup Soy Based Soup, Roll, Teriyaki Chicken, Pork Katsu
Place is very small and there's a wait to be served. No parking. Parking is available on the street.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: California Roll, Tempura Udon, Beef Udon
Must try! Immediately my Favorite Japanese restaurant ?
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Salmon Sashimi Bowl, Rainbow Roll Various Sushi, Chicken Teriyaki, Tempura Udon
#LATEPOST from 01/22/2024:Took my sister and my mom here, due to the story behind this restaurant. It was opened since 1950s!It was raining, on Monday lunch hour when we get there. This place is so tiny! It was packed! 3 of 4 seaters booths & 4 stools for dine in customers and 2 groups (included ours), were waiting by the entrance door. While we were there, more people were coming and tried to come in for the food. But the lady "closed" the restaurant for a while because it was FULL! LOLThis was a good sign! The lady owner was busy running around to cater to everyone. We were waiting for quite a while to be seated. We ordered Tonkatsu, Curried chicken katsu plate & spicy fried chicken bowl.. and 1 side of sweet potato croquettes.The prices were decent, portions were big! The taste of each meal was so authentic!We enjoyed our food & the authenticity of Japanese homey vibes! It's definitely worth the drive.. the wait and the entire experience!Parking: Very limited parking space available in the area. Depends on the hours, it would be very hard to find any parking space.Kid-friendliness: Lots of non spicy choices for young kidsWheelchair accessibility: The place is very small & tight. Would be very very hard to use wheelchair in the place
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Potato Croquettes, Katsudon Pork Cutlet Bowl, Tonkatsu Pork Cutlet with Curry Rice