Getting a full plate of tasty, made to order food in little Tokyo for less than 15 bucks is still possible! My wife and I stopped in for a couple of their "special" plates today and were really impressed. You could easily walk right past the place because it's more or less a takeaway spot couched into the side of the Japanese village. We saw a short line though and got intrigued...I got the special plate an and she got the special plate b and we topped it off with a red bean cake. The plates were each about 12 dollars - wow! Everything was very fresh. We particularly dug the tempura crusted potato and the tempura shrimp, but both the barbecue pork and beef were super tender and flavorful too. Both plates hit the spot, the portions are generous. It's a little mom and pop operation, so please be patient with the order time if you order hot food. That said, great flavor and experience. We'll be back. read more

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My family and I were staying at the DoubleTree Hilton Downtown right next to Little Tokyo for several days. One of the days we stopped by Mitsuru Café to pick up a snack! I wanted to try a couple of their popular treats, so I went with the Mitarashi dango and the red bean cake. I really enjoyed both of them, but I think the Mitarashi dango was my number one! I liked its chewiness and how well flavored they are! It was a great fast option while I walked around Little Tokyo! I was also able to get a order of their red bean cake that was fantastic too! It was so soft and sweet and it was nice and warm. Mitsuru Cafe has a wide variety of Japanese treats! The shop was located in Little Tokyo. I would visit here again, and would order another order of their Mitarashi dango! read more

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Their Imagawayaki is less incredible. Still freshly made and hot. But we had the first batch this morning and it was very burnt.

I've long heard about this place, so I decided to come here for lunch. There was a line, but it went by fast. We place the order at the door, and they'll hand us our order when it's ready. I got the mitarashi dango, takoyaki, and chicken karaage. One of each was very filling. I liked the chicken karaage the most out of the three. Parking is available at the Japanese Village Plaza Parking Garage. read more

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A little tiny shop, a traditional spot in Little Tokyo for red bean cake and rice cake. It may be busy at time but the wait isn't long and the owners are very nice. Had their two items from the Silent Hill event and they were perfection like always. read more

Mitsuru Cafe - Red Bean Cake and Rice Cake - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Mitsuru Cafe is always a must go to whenever in Little Tokyo. Their Mitarashi Dango and Imagawayaki (red bean cake) are delicious! Their prices are also reasonable. Make sure to bring cash and patience as sometimes the wait time can take awhile (especially on the weekends). P.S. no pictures were taken before the food was consumed. TOO GOOD. read more

Mitsuru Cafe is popular for their fresh imagawa-yaki (batter filled with red bean paste) where you can watch them make right in front of you. The place use to serve Japanese traditional lunches in the cafe ;however, I don't think the option to dine-in (post pandemic) is available. Mitsuru Cafe is an old time establishment and been here forever... expect LONG LINES on the weekends! Cash and Credit ( $10 credit card minimum) accepted. accepted. read more

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Dango is SUCH a unique little treat and highly recommend trying! I've gotten the ones from the Mitsuwa Marketplace before which are also good but they're refrigerated. The ones from this cafe are fresh, warm, and absolutely perfect. The staff are also super friendly. I always go for he mitarashi dango which are rice cakes with a soy sauce sugar glaze so you get that perfect sweet and savory combo. Absolutely insanely delicious! They don't have a place to dine in but everything they serve are finger foods and on the go kind of things anyway! Plus you can find some benches and maybe even get lucky with some tables outside of other businesses in the area. The prices are great for the quality and amount you get. IG: @ammysalamii read more

Mitsuru Cafe - Menu IG: @ammysalamii - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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4++ the spot is located in the heart of the main plaza in Little Tokyo downtown Los Angeles. I'm not sure if there's more to it, but my buddy and I were walking through and we stopped by here to order a snack - the red bean cakes. It seemed like there's only an ordering window here. Again, we were walking through and did a really quick stop just to order. So it's possible that there's more than just an ordering window, I just can't tell for sure. The red bean cake itself was delicious and is a very fun snack to eat while walking around in the area. There were some other food items, but we were in a hurry so we just got that one. read more

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My favorite things to order from here are Imagawayaki and Dango. The imagawayaki you can watch them make through the window. It reminds me of a fluffy pancake stuffed with red bean. The dango are warm, chewy and I love the savory flavor of the soy sauce glaze. Love stopping here in Little Tokyo. read more

Mitsuru Cafe - Imagawayaki & Dango - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Take cash! I recommend miratashi dango, takoyaki, and karaage :) There could be a line but it moves quickly. You order from the window and take it to go. No seating available. Enjoy! read more

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$3 for 3 takoyaki pieces: 9.2/10. The takoyaki balls are a little bit on the smaller side but nonetheless DELICIOUS. My favorite takoyaki I have ever had (I've even been to Japan before). Extra delicious when it comes out hot. Sometimes its room temperature, but when it comes out hot and steaming it is even better. Similar to japanese food stall. Fast and easy to order. Good for a quick bite or if you are hungry and waiting to get off the waitlist somewhere in little tokyo. read more

Mitsuru Cafe - takoyaki - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Nice Japanese street food type of food. All very reasonable price. Apart from the red bean pastry that is freshly made as a display. They do have a lot of other savory options. And they are all $3 per. We tried the fried fish ball and fried chicken. Both pretty good for a price of $3 each. The fish ball is the Japanese kind of fish ball (as compare to other Asian types). Very satisfying street food for me read more

Mitsuru Cafe - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Whenever I'm visiting my friend in LA we'll hit up little Tokyo to eat some snacks. The service at this spot is always super quick, so it's the perfect place to get hot food. Here are my food ratings: Shrimp ball, 7/10 - delicious but I think I've had better elsewhere. I would get again if I was craving shrimp while walking around little Tokyo. Chicken karaage, 9/10 - WOW great crispness on the outside but still moist on the inside Dango, 9/10 - this is a must! I love to just find a place to sit outside, like on a bench to eat these snacks. Always a great day in little Tokyo. read more

Mitsuru Cafe - shrimp ball, dango, chicken karaage (in bag) - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

This store was part of the special "Taste Of Ebisugaoka" event that Konami launched for the Little Tokyo area for the days of Sept. 25th - Oct. 19th. There was a line outside of it (there is not a seating area, just a window from which you order and you receive the food from). The service was stellar, cashier was friendly, fast and efficient in dispatching people. The ambiance, as always in Little Tokyo, is a 10/10. I tried the 今川焼き (pronounced as "imagawayaki", basically a thick pancake containing red bean jam, served hot) and also the みたらし団子 ("mitarashidango, basically several pieces of skewered rice dumplings in a sweet soy glaze), and both were fantastic. Because they had a significant long line, and because they were running the special Silent Hill f event when I went, they skipped the "10 dollars or more" criteria for using credit cards, but usually, on slow days, that policy is in place, so please bring cash or order more than 10 bucks if you intend on using your CC. The presentation and little boxes with the Silent Hill f logo in it were also 10/10. read more

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Cheap cute little red bean cakes, very easy purchase to buy and snack on while walking around the plaza. Only $3 and came out hot and fresh. read more

Mitsuru Cafe - Red Bean Cake - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

One of my favs and musts in Little Tokyo, especially if I happen to be lucky enough to be in the area when they're opened! Service is efficient and friendly. Quick, yummy, cheap eats. You can't go wrong with Mitsuru Cafe. You just order at their door/window and the foods are already prepared for you (aside from the red bean cakes). Everything is delicious, warm, and you can tell it's all home made. Love their dango (soy sauce and the classic tricolor ones), super cheap takoyaki on sticks that don't break your bank, shumai, karaage skewers, etc. One of the very few mom & pop shops/cafes left in the area. You gotta go if you get the chance! read more

For $3 a skewer, this place is a quick stop to try all things fried. My family always come here whenever we visited Little Tokyo. Our go tos are: takoyaki and shrimp balls. Occasionally we'll get more skewers to try. Their red bean buns are also delicious by the way. There is a line that they set up on the front, so you won't be entering the restaurant. You order on the window, tell the staff what you want and how much you want, pay them and you get your goodies. You enjoy the delicious-ness outside wherever there is an open spot :) read more

Mitsuru Cafe - Takoyaki, shrimp ball, pork shumai, karaage - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

One of my favorite spots for Japanese cuisine. One of my favorites on their menu is the Niku Dofu which is meat & bean curd cooked in broth. I also enjoy their Katsu Donburi which is beautifully deep fried pork cutlet & veg w/ egg over rice. Both are great choices to enjoy at this location. The staff is just as good as the food and always helpful and friendly. read more

I've always wondered what the hype was about Mitsuru Cafe, especially with the long lines I'd see whenever I passed by. Finally decided to check it out, and I'm so glad I did! I tried the dango and imagawayaki, and wow-- the imagawayaki was incredible. It's a small mom-and-pop spot, so make sure to bring cash (they do take card). Be ready for a wait, but the line moves pretty quickly and is totally worth it. They serve the imagawayaki fresh, so be sure to dig in right away to experience its full deliciousness. Highly recommend! read more

Mitsuru Cafe - Dango - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Staff: They were okay but nothing particularly friendly. Quality: We got the Imagawayaki (red bean cake) which was really good. The best places to get it. Also, got Takoyaki (Octopus balls) was good but unfortunately not made to order. Due to this it was barely warm so this was a big disappointment. Value: It seemed fair. Cash preferred or minimum $10 if you use credit card. Overall: I'd return for the Imagawayaki only. read more

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Another of my favorite old school businesses in J Town. It has changed since the pandemic. They are still selling their version of dorayaki and dango which had a healthy line waiting to buy. But they no longer have seating inside for meals. I remember eating breakfast and I munch at the counter and with friends in the booths in the past and miss that Japanese Diner experience. The food is still consistently good and the service is still fast and courteous. Wish they still had indoor seating and a full menu it still a regular stop anytime I go to Little Tokyo. read more

I've been coming here since I was a little kid with my family. My mom always loved the red bean cakes. They're freshly made, and you can watch them work their magic at the windowsill. Came back for the first time in years, and it's exactly as I remember. Same crispy outside and sweet red bean goodness on the inside. Good times. read more

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Great little shop for a delicious snack!!! Been coming here for over 50 years! The people are great and food always fresh!

It's a street-food vibe especially since they don't have indoor seating and everything is pretty much walking food. It's undoubtedly fun foods to try for sure. And they have a big window that lets people see how the red bean cakes are made and that's pretty neat. Unfortunately though, I didn't like the texture of the red bean cake. I was expecting the breading to be soft, but it was kind of hard and resistant to chewing which I disliked. The Kaarage seems like a good deal with a small price point (in theory), but it's actually small so I didn't find too much value in it. The positive though, is that the meat is tender and easy to eat and if you just think of it as a tasting, then it works. The line gets long throughout the day so it does feel like you're experiencing something that you need to if you're a visitor of this area. But for me, it's a one & done. There are so many other tastes and flavors to try out in the area. read more

There was a line when we went but it went by super fast. I tried their Red Bean Pancake and it was so yummy. $3 for one. They take card but your purchase has to be over 10$ to use it. Staff is super sweet and patient. There is no sitting but there are benches around. read more

Mitsuru Cafe - How they make their Red Bean Pancakes! - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

ordered: 2x chicken karaage, 1x mitsurashi dango straightforward service, good food, good price. no complaints read more

The best red bean cakes you'll ever find in LA. This is one of my favorite spots to go to when visiting Little Tokyo. Located in the Japanese Village Plaza, this cafe makes Japanese Imagawaki (red bean cakes) made fresh to order by the window. Ordering is easy and quick, but they don't accept Apple Pay and credit card requires a minimum of $10. They also have other Japanese snacks like their pork shumai, takoyaki, and their mitarashi dango which I love. The dango is rice cake mochi with a sweet soy sauce glaze. Definitely check out this spot for their Imagawaki! read more

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Got the nice hot and sweet Red Bean Cake. So delicious! One was not enough, had to get two

Affordable bento lunch. Friendly, nice and efficient service. Good selection. Hearty portions. They validate parking at one of the lots for up to 2 hours. The red bean pancake pastry is made fresh and really good - sweeter than normal but just the right amount of red bean - more pastry than red bean. I had the veggie Don - good size, lots of rice, good flavor - not too sweet. But maybe too many onions. Mostly cabbage and carrots are the veggie content. My daughter had bento B. She liked it - just not the shrimp tempura - too much batter - not much shrimp. Had 2 drinks, mac salad, plus what's mentioned above and it was $34. read more

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This is my first time trying a red bean cake so I can't compare it to anything else. They are made fresh and served hot. You can watch them pour, fill, and bake them through a display window front. The pastry is made of a waffle cake batter and has red bean paste filling. The outside has a consistency of a waffle with a slight cakiness as you get towards the generously filled red bean paste center. They have a very good ratio of cake to red bean filling. The price has risen recently in the past few years but still very reasonable at $2.50 per bun. I'm glad that I was able to try them as I heard rumors a few years back that they might need to close due to the low cost they were selling at previously. read more

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Love the walk up window. I grabbed the Chicken karaage and Pork shumai and found a nearby bench to eat and people watch. Cash only. There's a small menu. Very affordable. read more

Chicken Karaage - would taste better warm but it was cold when we got it. batter perfectly seasoned (not too salty) but chicken was a bit soggy. Pork Shumai - comes as 3 deep fried shumai with decent savory meat filling Takoyaki - comes as 3 balls with more dough to octopus ratio Service - I came at 1PM on a Sunday and was second in line though the line does varies throughout the day but moves relatively quick! Staff was friendly and quick :D Overall, perfect for snacking and trying with friends! read more

I've been coming here since childhood, it's my favorite place to get warm Imagawayaki! It's a small window walk up, and they also have Takoyaki, Dango, and more. Super affordable little snacks to eat while exploring and walking around the Little Tokyo Village. The staff is very friendly and the food is always made fresh. Tons of parking is available both in nearby lots and street parking. I try and go by here whenever I'm downtown. read more

Mitsuru Cafe - Imagawayaki & Takoyaki - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

The cake so good, i like red bean. But you have to waiting long line front of the door. Like Fomo. Must try read more

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My family's favorite imagawayaki place for 45 years! I don't have enough words to describe this place. My parents took me to this cafe ever since I was little and the way they make and sell it has never changed. If I take a bite of their imagawayaki, it takes right back to my childhood. The texture and flavor is exactly the same. Also, their service is incredible. So sad that I can't go inside anymore and have to order from outside of the store but I'm so happy that they are still there as many of the stores in the Japanese Village Plaza has dramatically changed or no longer exist. I still see their old cash register inside through the window, which shows how old this place has been there. Please stay there forever and keep up the great work! read more

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Definitely get the chicken karrage and red bean cake. Delicious eats! Very nice service too

Cash only unless you hit $10 min! I tried the Imagawayaki and dango - first time trying dango, and it was perfectly chewy and savory. The red bean cake was delicious as well, and I also got an iced oolong tea. Overall very quick service, and delicious treats. read more

Mitsuru Cafe - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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I passed by Mitsuru Cafe a zillion times while walking around in Little Tokyo and food always looked great here and wanted to try it, but I never got around to it till recently when we had a bad experience at our go to bakery in the Japanese Village. They don't have a lot of choices, this is street food, you grab and eat on the go or on a bench near by. Fine by me! We got a bunch of their meat on the sticks (skweres yakatori type) food: shrimp balls, pork shuami, calamari and chicken. $3 a piece, all delicious, we went back to get more chicken, fried, not health food but delicious. We also had to try their red bean cakes (imagawayaki) since we love red bean and the lady makes them right then and there! We didn't have anything like it and we'll gladly get some more next when we'll be in the area! Great place for a fun snack, cool Japanese street food. Cash is encouraged and customer service is great, nice people and pretty fast! It's great to try a new place that's been there forever and turn something negative into a fun culinary experience! read more

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Always stopping by this place for their Red bean cake, remembered when they were around $1.50 along time ago, now $3 ea. Efficient and fast service waiting in line. read more

Mitsuru Cafe - Redbean cake - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California