JiST Cafe

Breakfast food for breakfast, brunch, lunch, and linner.  

I first visited JiST Cafe shortly after they opened the doors to the public (last summer).  I was instantly hooked.  Maybe it is the hot skillet full of roasted potatoes, fatty chashu (pork belly), and the perfect soft-boiled eggs.  Maybe it is the nice, shaded back patio for enjoyable outdoor dining/ people-watching.  Maybe it's the sweet Japanese grandma who greets you with a huge smile that comforts you to the core.  It's likely all of the above.

Cool architecture.

Friendly faces.

Chashu Hash Skillet -- breakfast potatoes, chashu pork belly, and a pair of 6-min (soft-boiled) eggs -- $12

Perfectly soft-boiled. 

Katsu Sandwich -- panko-encrusted, deep-fried pork cutlet with shredded cabbage and Kewpie mayo -- $11

Thick pork cutlet hiding underneath the mountain of cabbage.

Half-size of Grandma's Chopped Salad with chicken -- $9

Angeleno Veg Scramble -- Brussel sprouts, garlic, mushrooms, tomato, potato, lemon segments -- $9

Comes with a side of toast.

Porky Omurice -- Fried omelet rice with peas, hickory ham, and demi glace sauce -- $10

Half-size of Grandma's Chopped Salad with pork belly chashu -- $9

Yummy Bonito fries.

Croissant Ham Sandwich -- with hamburger meat and demi glace sauce and soft-boiled egg

Small bowl of chili with half of a grilled cheese sandwich.

Ooey, gooey, buttery, goodness.

Outdoor patio (shading available).

Come here, and come home.

It's been awhile since I dropped in for lunch, but it'll be difficult to go wrong with any of the dishes (unless you order something you know you'll despise).  They also serve Stumptown Coffee (my fave)!  Enjoy the generous portions, sweet service, and casual dining at this small, but impressionable Little Tokyo brekkie spot!





cuisine: American with a Japanese flair.
location: Little Tokyo, LA
hours: M-F: 7am-3pm; Sat-Sun: 8am-3pm
websites: { JiST | yelp | facebook | twitter }
parking: Street meters or one-time fee parking lots ($5-$8); lot right across the street is $1/ hour.
attire: Casual
seating: Indoor (limited) and outdoor patio
notes: Order, take a number, and be served. 

Tsurumaru Udon

In the somewhat deserted, but currently under-construction Little Tokyo Galleria, an udon shop on the third floor stays busy serving tasty bowls of comfort food.  Tsurumaru is arranged cafeteria-style: you decide the kind of udon that you want, you place your order, you pick up a tray, grab your udon at the pick-up window, add any other toppings (tempura), and pay.  It's simple, casual, and cheap.

Cafeteria-style Tempura

Regular-sized Niku Udon (#1 bestseller) -- fresh-made udon with beef and topped with green onions -- $5

The above-pictured Niku Udon is Tsurumaru's #1 bestseller.  It consists of hand-made udon noodles and beef and onion in beef broth.  Despite the simplicity of ingredients, the taste is fresh and satisfying.

Regular-sized Curry Udon -- basically the Niku udon with curry -- $6

Unsurprisingly, the curry udon packs in more flavour (but also more sodium) with the scoops of curry that is mixed in with the beef broth.  While it's similar to the Niku, there's an added dimension both in sight and taste.  Neither leave you feeling bloated on MSG which is a plus.

 One can argue that there are better udon shops in Little Tokyo, and maybe they are right, but if you're looking for a fast food place that doesn't feel too rushed, Tsurumaru Udon Honpo is for you!





cuisine: Japanese udon
location: Little Tokyo
hours: M-Th, Sun: 11am-9pm; Fri-Sat: 11am-10pm
websites: { yelp }
parking: Free validated parking lot
price: $
attire: Casual
notes: Don't forget to return your tray after your meal.

Justice Urban Tavern

Feeling justice wasn't served [in the courtroom]?  That's okay, because now we have Justice Urban Tavern.

This new gastropub, located next to the DoubleTree Hilton in Little Tokyo, aims to provide "high quality, fresh, wholesome dishes with a California sensibility and seasonal awareness."  Sounds like a lovely mission statement, but will it follow through?  It's tough to tell this early on, but from what I saw and tasted at a private event, I can say it is very promising.

Pro: Plenty of natural light.

Pro: Plenty of choice beer and cocktails for your midday or happy hour pleasure.

Menu

Menu.

Fun "Justice"-style names that I found amusing.

Part of the Beer List.

Starter: Mushroom Flatbread-- Mozzarella, goat cheese, arugula, and truffle salt -- $10

The flatbread is simple: mushrooms, cheese, and arugula topped on a buttered/ toasted piece of bread.  And yet, whether it's the truffle salt or goat cheese pieces, something sets this flatbread apart from other flatbreads.  This is a great way to start your meal!

Starter: Parmesan & Cornmeal-dusted Fried Calamari with lemon slices and spicy marinara -- $9

The calamari is presented in a small basket, but once you open it, there're more pieces of calamari than you'd expect!  I loved the texture and flavor to this.  Dip this in the spicy marinara and you have another great starter.

Side: Mac N Cheese topped with barbecue chips -- $5

Oh yes, classic Mac N Cheese!  The barbecue chips were a nice touch, though the chips had lots most of its crunchiness by the time the dish reached the table.

Starter: Big Spiced Shrimp with chorizo and Tillamook cheddar grits -- $12

This isn't a light starter, but I loved the flavors.  I couldn't put my spoon down; cheesy grits you're fantastic!  The jumbo shrimp (three pieces) was good and nicely spiced, too.

Starter: Black Mussels -- steamed in Blue Moon ale with roasted garlic, sweet onion, tomato, and saffron -- $10

The mussels were smaller than usual and the sauce was not as rich as I would have liked, but the Blue Moon addition was a nice touch.  It'd be nice if this came with a slice of bread so that the broth could be better enjoyed.

Ahi Tuna Salad -- not on menu.

Fried Chicken Po'Boy -- fried chicken, smashed avocado, corn relish, lettuce, smoked jalapeno mayo, with a side of fries -- $9

The Barrister Burger -- Medium-done meat patty with American cheese, lettuce, tomato, pickles on a warm brioche bun -- $12

I ordered the burger, especially because it had two stars next to it on the menu.  For a burger priced at over $10, it's good, but not extraordinary.

Chocolate Ice Box Cake (only in shape/ not temperature) with vanilla ice cream (half portion) -- $5.

I'm not even a fan of chocolate cake, but the cake is moist and icing is not overly sweet or dense.  I loved this!

Sticky Toffee Pudding with vanilla ice cream (half portion) -- $5.

I was less impressed with the sticky toffee pudding because it wasn't sticky, I couldn't really taste the toffee, and the whiskey sauce purported to be used with it, was hardly noticeable.  That said, after the bread was soft and fluffy.  Not a bad dessert; it just wasn't what I was expecting.


Overall, the meal was fantastic.  The portions (even for appetizers) are reasonable and easily shareable. The decor is contemporary without being too weird.  The natural light that fills the room during the day creates an airy, relaxed vibe.  I'm sure the indoor lighting at night will be just as nice.  There's an outdoor patio with shaded seating, perfect for those warm days or beloved summer nights.

The service was attentive, but based on the newness of the restaurants/ servers, it could be improved.  Also, for some reason, we were given four different menus, so we can to play a game of figuring out all of the menu items.  Consolidating the menus would be greatly helpful, to create uniformity and avoid confusion.  Lastly, the entrance from the front (Los Angeles & 1st) is tough to locate.  If the patio gate is not open, look for a single glass door between the doors to the hotel and the patio.

Who's ready to check Justice out for happy hour?  Let's go!






cuisine: American
location: Little Tokyo
hours: Sun-Th: 6am-10pm; Fri-Sat: 6am-11pm; Happy Hour: M-Fri: 3-7pm
websites: { JT | yelp | facebook | twitter }
attire: Casual
parking: Self-parking at the hotel ($8); street meters; or nearby lots.

Fickle

The Sandwich Smith by day, Fickle by night, 

but unlike Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, 

both are good and right.*

* Thank goodness I'm not a poet!

The two shops, though different by name, share the same kitchen and space, located on the southwest corner of 1st & Central in Little Tokyo.  Every day between 4:30 and 5 pm, the Sandwich Smith transitions from being a made-to-order sandwich shop to a sit-and-order restaurant, cleverly-named Fickle.  And though the transition is not apparent to the naked eye, the two restaurants are hardly one in the same.

I checked out Fickle's Happy Hour on two separate occasions, and each time, Chef James Ta delivered.  And the beauty of this place, along with many other successful places, is that all of the plates are shareable amongst diners.  Sharing is caring, ya'll.

dine-in date: June 7, 2013; 6pm { HH & Dinner }

White Sangria -- $4

Complimentary kettle corn, dusted with brown sugar, cinnamon, and chai powder.

Fanny Bay Oysters -- $1.75/ each

Fresh shucked oysters are served with red wine mignonette cocktail sauce and lemon

So fresh and sweet.

Burrata Artichoke -- fresh burrata, artichoke hearts, pesto, and edible flowers atop grilled ciabatta slices -- 2 slices/ $7

Yummy! I recommend.

Half-Roasted Moroccan Chicken -- with cucumber, lentil, arugula, tomato, corn, and roasted grapes -- seasonal 

Refreshing salad, but too much residual oil from the chicken.

Mussel Oxen -- Blue mussels, whole oxtail, kimchi broth, with grilled bread -- $15

Reminiscent of a Korean stew... but not quite the same.

Hazelnut Chocolate Cake -- with Frangelico hazelnuts and crispy rice nuggets -- $10

They say this massive slice of chocolate cake is a Fickle Favorite, but I found it underwhelming in a number of ways -- overly dense frosting; cake that was hard and too chilled.

**

dine-in date: August 8, 2013; 6pm. { HH only }

Kale Salad -- with cranberry, almonds, and garlic confit -- $7

Crispy Yukon nuggets with Tapatio aioli -- $5

Buffalo Cauliflower -- with bleu cheese crumbles, celery bits, and Tapatio buffalo sauce -- $5

Bone Marrow -- with basil Gremolata and daikon salad -- $7

Spread the delectable and decadent marrow on a grilled ciabatta slice and you'll be beaming.

Pulled Pork Sliders -- Dr. Pepper pulled pork with honey BBQ sauce -- $8

The only disappointing part of trip #2 were the Pulled Pork Sliders.  Considering it was their first debut on the Happy Hour menu at the time, I suppose it's excusable, but the pulled pork was on the dry side.

Overall, if you're in Little Tokyo and you're not feeling Japanese food, Fickle is a great place to visit.  Thanks for providing delicious food by day and night!



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cuisine: New American with Asian fusion flair
location: Little Tokyo
hours: M-Th: 5PM - 10PM; F-Sat: 5PM - 11PM; closed Sundays
websites: { Fickle | yelp | facebook | twitter | instagram }
parking: Street meters or flat rate lots
attire: Casual
notes: Great weekday Happy Hour deals from 5-7PM.  If the weather's warm out, sit on the patio and people-watch!