One of the few shops here that you can find some "recently released but hard to find nendoroid"!!…read moreBeen looking for a few of them and tried all around town and have no luck. (Tried all hobby shops in little Tokyo and other area. No luck). Really surprised to see both of them there at a reasonable price!!! They definitely didn't jack up the price. It's pricer now because they imported it with the new tariff. At least the nendoroid price look reasonable. They got a lot of prize figures from the latest series. Not a big fans of those but they got some brand new release again. Overall a nice shop for people looking for nendoroids.

This store is one of few anime/game/cute stuff stores with official merchandise in the Little Tokyo…read morearea outside of Weller Court and the Little Tokyo Mall(Little Akihabara part). No food or drinks inside, they have a little area to put your drinks and food on by the entrance. The staff seem friendly and ready to help every time I go here. The store always looks pretty clean inside too. The selection is great and I've even seen some niche series I never thought I'd see. Come check it out if you don't like knockoff merch you might encounter around LT. Prices seem to be pretty fair but I do sometimes pick up something and put it down after looking at the price.

A small shop tucked in an upper level of a small commercial block. Have a big collection of model…read morekits. The owner is very knowledgeable and friendly. Some kits have lower prices than retail counterparts.

On a rainy afternoon, my 9-year-old son and I stumbled upon this unassuming little shop tucked away…read moreon the second level above an urgent care. As a middle-aged father looking for a hobby we could share that didn't involve screens or video games, I'd read a bit about Gunpla and decided to give it a shot. What a find! The owner was incredibly helpful and patient with us, taking the time to understand what we were looking for and guiding us to first sets that were perfect for our skill levels. His enthusiasm was genuine, and it made the whole experience fun and welcoming, never overwhelming for complete beginners like us. The prices are very reasonable, which is a huge plus when you're testing out a new hobby with your kid. We both walked out with our own kits, and I have to say, I'm just as hooked as my son! Building these models has been a surprisingly relaxing and rewarding experience, and I'm already looking forward to tackling more complex builds and refining them. I'm planning to return soon to pick up a few more sets for Christmas gifts and to expand my own collection. If you're looking for a screen-free activity to share with your children or just want to explore the world of Gunpla, I highly recommend stopping by this shop. The passion and knowledge of the owner really make all the difference.

I love this place! So many new manga and artbooks. Everyone's always been nice and the place is…read morepacked. It's pretty pricey though - you can get things you might not see anywhere else but you'll definitely be paying extra for them. They have figurines and some blind boxes and other stuff too! Have been here a few times and will absolutely be back.

Animate LA is the North American outpost of the Japanese Animate chain, and for anime and manga…read morefans in the US it occupies a category largely by itself. I walked into a store that carries merchandise that simply does not surface at most American retailers, and that distinction was the main reason I made the trip. The selection covers a wide range. I saw rows of pins, acrylic stands, stickers, keychains, figurines, manga, and stationery filling the floor, and the depth in certain titles went well beyond what I have found at convention vendor tables or general pop culture stores. The Project Sekai section was one of the more notable dedicated areas and is genuinely rare to encounter outside of Japan. VTuber merchandise and more niche title selections appeared here in a way that reflects the store's connection to the Japanese market rather than just catering to the most mainstream Western anime fanbase. There is also a gashapon section where you can exchange cash for tokens and try your luck at the machines, which tends to draw its own crowd. Prices run higher than what I would pay in Japan directly, which is expected given the import overhead, but for collectors who cannot make the trip the markup is the cost of access. The store is worth visiting for any serious fan of the medium, and even a casual browse tends to surface something unexpected.

The greater LA area used to be a haven for ethnic enclaves. With the decline of first generation…read moreimmigrants these vibrant cultures have been diminishing or at least shifting geographically. This gem is still located in the heart of the SGV. Thanks to the kind owners it remains an outlet for a different form of entertainment. Both English and Chinese manga are available, and custom orders can be made. There are quite a few series that are hidden gems, and the owners are very helpful with any questions. It's clean, organized, reasonably priced and even has a large meeting room for events for manga loving fans.

I cant believe Ive passed by this place so many times without noticing it. Like most stores in my…read morearea, It is truly a hidden gem that serves the locals. Me and my gf stopped by after we noticed it while driving and we were appalled by the aesthetics of the store. You walk in and its like you just entered the secret store in an rpg. The store offers rental services as well as purchasing books. Most of the manga/comics are in Chinese, however, they are currently expanding their english catalogs. There is a sitting area with comfy chairs where you can read their manga like a library. The owner was very nice and welcoming. We chatted about things and the store has been in his ownership for about 6 months. I look forward to not having to drive all the way to LA just to buy manga.

Ocean Pop is one of many retail shops that sells blind boxes and plushies. One can think of this…read moreplace as a variation of Miniso but without the cosmetics, stationery, and housewares sections. [Parking]: Free underground parking garage at Atlantic Times Square. The shop is located across from Daiso. [What to expect]: In addition to Labubu and POP MART blind boxes, they also have really cute Sanrio character Eternal Flowers Bouquets, crochet flowers, small jewelry, keychains, and trinkets. [Conclusion]: This retail shop is distinct enough to stop by if you are in Monterey Park & especially for those who are looking for slightly different Sanrio character gifts like the Eternal Flowers Bouquet.

New business in Atlantic Times Square just across from the Daiso…read more For those of you who are into Labubus or other Pop Mart blind box goods this is the place for you. I guess if you can't find it at 528 straight across, you can try to find it here. Lots of blind box goods on display and you can get accessories for them too. They also have a DIY station in the back for customizing goods like many of the other DIY arts and crafts that you see nowadays (oshikatsu storage, cases, frames) and they even have acrylic stick on nails here too. They have stickers and lots of strange and cute unique keychains (not from characters or franchises that I recognize so they may be OC's), but aside from the Pop Mart original characters they also have some licenses goods here like the wall of One Piece goods. It's not really my cup of tea, but quick place to grab a gift if you know someone who enjoys this stuff and don't wanna venture into a Pop Mart.

great service. price is reasonable. my kids love everything about the store! they have a lot a…read moreselection

It was very nice very lovely and had cute stuff and had many cute thigg by a with plushies and…read morespace alien

Very friendly and cozy space. They have fairly priced One Piece, Pokémon, and Riff Bound cards,…read morewith bulk in the back for you to look through. They have six tables for playing. When we visited, it wasn't too busy and everyone had such a warm, positive energy. They also sell labubus, figurines, and card organization items. Unfortunately, they do not have a restroom in house but you can head over next door to use their restroom! Place is well-lit and the decor is nicely displayed all around without feeling too jam-packed. Would definitely come back to play during their tournament days, or even to play casually with other gamers.

Been coming to this shop for one piece locals for months! Community of players are all very…read morewelcoming! Friendly staff and a great selection of cards! I highly recommend this place for locals whether or new or just wanna practice!

A wonderful place with a very good selection, comfy chairs, drinks, good air conditioning, and some…read moreof the friendliest staff I've ever met at a small business. If it were closer to me I would live there.

Manga Lounge is an all-you-can-read manga cafe in Monterey Park (close to East LA College) that…read morerecently opened in March 2026. It is the first manga lounge in California and also the biggest anime manga lounge in the U.S. with over 7,500+ manga volumes (mostly in English with some Japanese titles like Weekly Shonen Jump magazines). [Parking]: Manga Lounge is located within the same strip mall plaza as BOOKOFF Monterey Park and our party had no issue finding an available parking spot on Sunday afternoon. [Checking-in & process]: No reservation is required. Visitors will need to download the app to access the lounge, but they can install it on the spot. After the installation is complete, visitors show the QR code at the front counter to start the timer. Need a blanket or phone charger? Just ask a staff member at the front desk. Once visitors are done reading, return the books to a black book cart and DO NOT re-shelf them. [Complimentary drink guide]: Select a drink from the fridges and visitors can only pick one at a time. Then head to the front desk and scan the QR code. Visitors cannot get a new drink without returning the previous can. The lounge has a good selection of soft drinks such as Ito En green tea, pineapple / apple sparkling water, Mitsuya Cider, UCC black coffee, Gatorade, Coca-Cola, etc. There is also a complimentary water station. [Special notes]: Children under 13 must be accompanied by a guardian. Some manga may be restricted for visitors under 18. Visitors are welcome to (1) bring their own laptops and work here and (2) bring their own snacks or light meals along with non-alcoholic beverages. [Price]: A special $4 per hour rate (not just for the first hour - it is for the entire first visit) for first-time visitors and $8 per hour thereafter. There is a 5-minute grace period (1 hour 5 minute stay = 1-hour rate and 1 hour 6 minute stay = 2-hour rate). Recently the lounge introduced the Manga Lounge Monthly Subscription with unlimited access to Manga Lounge, two free guest passes every month, and early access to event tickets for $94.99 per month (membership capped at 30). [Manga selection]: The lounge has all the genres you can think of - manhwa, yaoi, romcom, romance, fantasy, action & adventure, classic, sports, food, slice of life & comedy, dark action, horror, psychological, drama, light novels, Shonen Jump magazines, etc. [Atmosphere]: Very quiet and relaxing atmosphere. The entrance has a wall mural of manga panels drawn by an independent artist and each bookshelf also has small laminated cards with descriptions highlighting some interesting titles and genres. [Conclusion]: I was only able to finish one chapter in 45 minutes so it is not economical to stay here for 8 hours ($8 per hour x 8 hours = $64) for only 10 chapters. A better way to use your time here is to be strategic and pick a series you are interested in and flip through a couple of chapters to gauge your interest level as the lounge has a comprehensive list of manga. I am a huge fan of this lounge and can easily see myself stopping by here from time to time. P.S. - The manga lounge also hosts various events (e.g. Jazz Night and Psychological Manga Club) so check their IG or website for more details.