Out of all the destinations in Little Tokyo, I feel that Oishinbo gets the least love. This is both a good and a bad thing - good, because that means I can have the restaurant all to myself (and the old Japanese expats who habitually dine here), and bad, because this means that people are missing out on a good thing. Unlike a lot of Japanese restaurants with specialized menus, Oishinbo has a rather extensive selection of Japanese dishes. Normally, I go for their yakitori selections with a side of rice, and maguro natto - fermented soybeans served with fresh chunks of tuna sashimi and egg. It's definitely an acquired taste for many people, but maguro natto is personally one of my favorite Japanese dishes that's not easily available in most Japanese restaurants.
The booths are a little bit too narrow for my taste, which makes bumping into people a bit of a liability. Aside from this, when your favorite restaurants in Little Tokyo are full (as they often are - I'm looking at you, Kikufuji and Seryna!), head on over to Oishinbo for an equally delicious and laid-back experience. read more