Tapas and Wine Bar C, Japanese Restaurant, Los Angeles, CA
Tapas and Wine Bar C
428 East 2nd Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 628-8877
Hours: 6:00 PM-2:00AM
A little place that I never would have heard of, but would certainly have been interested in seeing at least once, but luckily two of my friends took me there one night. This strange little wine bar is located on the southeast of 2nd, in a little mall with parking, though it will likely be full up, but there are various places to park in Little Tokyo.
Now for what makes this place special. It does have food, though we didn’t try it, but it is mostly a wine bar (though they have mixed drinks and beer) with a huge selection, including most that can be had by the glass, but what makes it really special, is that the Japanese waitresses all dress in French Maid outfits. Yes you heard that right, FRENCH MAID OUTFITS!
Orochon Raman, Japanese Noodles, Little Tokyo, CA
Orochon Ramen
123 S Onizuka St, 3rd floor
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 617-1766
Mon-Sun: 11:30AM-10:15PM (though there was a wait, and we didn’t get seated until about then)
I can’t believe I had not heard of this place before, especially since it is on the floor above the Curry House in Little Tokyo (and so it has the same parking underneath with validation). I didn’t hear about this place until it was on MAN VS. FOOD, where I learned of the spiciest Ramen in Los Angeles, and I had to go. Then my friends took me out to Little Tokyo, and since every place was packed we decided to go to Orochon since I wanted to go, and one of my friends wanted the spicy ramen (my other friend wanted another ramen place he thinks is better, and I must try).
LightHouse Royal Seafood Buffet, Japanese All You Can Eat, Santa Monica, CA
LightHouse Buffet
201 Arizone Ave
Santa Monica, CA 90401
(310) 451-2076
Listed as a top 5 buffets by the Food Network, this place is pretty decent, but the food is of course buffet quality, but pretty damn decent for $11.95 lunch and $20.95 per person dinner. It is located one block away from the promenade, and remember not to fill up on too many drinks, which they will refill quickly to try to fill you up. A decent meal that will fill you, but of course nothing amazing.
Atch Kotch Japanese Ramen Restaurant, Hollywood, California
1253 Vine Street
Los Angeles, CA 90038-1662
(323) 467-5537
A little Japanese Restaurant in a strip mall in Hollywood. A place for Ramen, though I haven’t tried their Ramen yet, just their Bento box which was excellent and inexpensive.
Kabuki Japanese Restaurant, Hollywood, California
1545 North Vine St.
Hollywood, CA 90028
(323) 464-6003
As a chain I didn’t think this place would be that good, but I was wrong. The Sushi is actually really decent, and even better half price (the joy of bulk buying for a chain) and all tasted very good. My only complaint was the Chicken Terriyaki was not nearly as good as what I make, but the rest of the food was quite good, and $70 for 2 people including booze is pretty inexpensive.
The Curry House, Little Tokyo, Los Angeles, California
The Curry House
123 S. Onizuka St. #204
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 620-0855
If you love Japanese Curry, or Curry at all you have to check this place out. This has been one of my favorite restaurants in Los Angeles for many many years. My friend Ashanti brought me here while I was going to USC, and I have been going ever since. The place is almost always packed, and the food is always good (if a little fattening).