Mitsuru Cafe

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.

Lovely experience and the dango was very fresh and warm! Absolutely delicious and the ube ice cream had a strong profile, VERY ube. The prices are fantastic as well, with most individual items priced at 3$.

I just finished lunch nearby and my dad spotted this place. It was a great find for a snack. I had their chicken karrage and their shrimp balls. The chicken karrage was my favorite and very delicious. At the prices they were great overall. I’d definitely come back here again to try their other menu items.

Great for Japanese snacks. We always stop by here to get the red bean cakes. The rice cakes are also nice. I do wish they heated up the karaage fried chicken. The dango is also good.

I tried the red bean cake which a unique taste not too bad nor too good but I try it. The fried chicken on a stick was very good. The way the red bean cakes were made was a show itself looking through the window. Definitely a historic Japanese spot that’s been operating since 1968 in Los Angeles, CA. Jesus Christ Loves You!!!

Hate their hours, only open a few days a week but the food is really good. Especially love the chicken kaarage and shrimp ball. They also had mitarashi dango before but didnt see it when i went, i remember it to be really good.

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.

This place is not a dine in restaurant, it’s more of to-go food and snacks. Their dango is fresh and so good. They are specialize in skewers such as chicken karage, pork shiumai, takoyaki… they always have a line.

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.

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

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.

$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.

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

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.

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!

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.

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!

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.

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.

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!

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 :)

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.

There's a reason why this place has been around for a long time. When I got there, there was a line but it moved quickly. I really liked the Imagawayaki. I was afraid it was going to be too sweet, but it had the perfect amount of sweetness and it wasn't too heavy. I never tried a Mitarashi Dango, so I wanted to try it. I liked the rice cake part but I wasn't a fan of the glaze, but I'm glad I tried it. I can see why there's a line. It's a nice snack to have walking around Little Tokyo.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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!

Came on a Saturday afternoon around 4:30pm right before closing to grab a quick bite before heading to a community event nearby. A friend picked up some items for us which included shumai, mitarashi dango, takoyaki, and some karaage. All items were very tasty and relatively inexpensive at $3 a skewer. I think that the takoyaki from here have been some of the best takoyaki that I have ever had. I am a sucker for mitarashi dango but would love if they also offered to serve it with a piece of Nori or at least allow people to pay for one!

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.

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.

The red bean custard was incredibly delicious, and the cute little window in Little Tokyo adds to the charm.

Came on a Sunday around 1:30 pm. There were about 5 people in line before us but the line went pretty fast. This is my second time coming to Mitsuru Cafe and I really love the mitarashi dango ($3). The first time I had a dango was in SF Japan town and I thought it was amazing until I tried the dango at this cafe. I realized I was naive for liking the SF one. The Mitarashi dango at this cafe has a nice soft and chewy dango and a perfect sauce that is sweet and salty. The only thing I wished was it be a bit warmer. This time I also decided to try the chicken karaage ($3) and was honestly surprised how delicious it was. It was crispy and juicy even though it was not made to order; however, it could have a bit more flavor. I still enjoyed eating it as I walked around little Tokyo. Mitsuru Cafe is one of spots I always stop by when visiting little tokyo

Delicious and affordable snacks and skewers in the heart of Little Tokyo that you can take to go! I go here with my family once or twice a month and get the imagawayaki (a red bean cake), and usually 1-2 other skewers which are delicious. This is one of the few place where the red bean paste is delicious to me! Once we got one of the made to order meals and that was great too. Definitely stop by, grab your lunch or snack, and then sit and people watch in the nice weather on a bench nearby or in the plazas nearby.

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!

@MitsuruCafe Los Angeles, CA If you're visiting Little Tokyo, you must visit Mitsuru Cafe for some Mitarashi dango. It's so freaking chewy and delicious. The Imagawayaki (red bean cakes) are freshly made off the griddles- these round pancake with andazuki red bean paste in the middle, has the perfect balance of sweetness!

This place is great!! It was sooo fresh and tasty!! Staff is very nice Quick and easy to order some times a little wait but worth the wait. Over all 5 stars

The red bead cake was soo delicious, I wish I had ordered more than one!! Service was quick and friendly. There was no dine in area.

I was skeptical about how good this joint would be but I was glad to be surprised! We tried the Imagawayaki that they make inside the window, a fried shiu mai skewer, and mitarashi dango. The dango was more nostalgic but I didn't realize $3 was for ONE skewer with 4 dango. That felt like a total rip off even if it was good. I guess I should've asked before asking for it! If you go for something, get the Imagawayaki. It was chewy, crispy, and yet the red bean inside isn't too sweet. Plus it's warm from being freshly made. It was worth the $2.50. I didn't try the Shiu mai but my friend said it was good too! The line that kept growing behind us on a Sunday went quite slow so the wait is a bit annoying since everything seems to be ready to serve, but otherwise I'd recommend giving it a try! Bring cash if you're only buying one or two items!

Window shop with Japanese goodies, we mainly stopped by for the Dango. There's a card minimum of $10 so we snagged some other small bites. Dango - I honestly didn't like the glaze that much, but the actual rice balls were so good and chewy. The rice flour foundation really stands out with the stickiness of each chew. I would've been okay without the sauce and I wish they had more variety to pick from. Takoyaki - a pretty average takoyaki. Not much to comment on. Red Bean Cake - fluffy and tasty with a fair amount of filling. Not a generous amount, but pretty average quantity wise. Taste is solid though.

The takoyaki, chicken karage, pork shumai, were all over-cooked and dry. The mochi was average.

一家到小東京一定會拜訪的甜品店， 也許吃吃火鍋， 也許吃 udon， 再對自己好些時吃生魚片，但不管吃啥， 都還是會來這買個紅豆餅，買個 糯米丸, 餵飽自己對甜點的慾望， 沒辦法， 對甜點就是沒啥抵抗力， 他們只收現金倒是真的， 來，要記得帶錢來歐！

This has been a favorite of mine since I was a little girl. I still love standing out front watching them make fresh Imagawaki cakes! Miss being able to sit in the restaurant and enjoy the wonderful aromas and tasty food, but the service is still friendly and on point. I'll be back!

Recently visited Little Tokyo and had to stop by our favorite place for its red bean cakes and skewers. Half a dozen of red bean cakes and 2 shrimp skewers came out very close to $30. Now I wouldn't have given a 3 stars if the quality was the same as pre inflation but the cakes and the skewers were just warm. I remember it being hot where you would need to blow on it or wait for a bit to cool down. Not this time, very disappointing since the cake and skewers aren't that great if cold. Thus, not sure if it's worth the price of $3 and change

This place is not a dine in restaurant, it's more of to-go food and snacks. Their dango is fresh and so good. They are specialize in skewers such as chicken karage, pork shiumai, takoyaki... they always have a line.

It literally doesn't matter how many times I go to little Tokyo. I will probably always have to come by here and get their fresh :::::red bean cakes and mitarashi dango (rice balls in sweet soy glaze) fav!! ::::: I've had a couple of their other items but those are my most haves. They're becoming more and more nostalgic to me as I get older lol They're right in the middle of Japanese village mall which has their own paid lot so it's pretty easy to get in and out or stroll around. My mouth is watering thinking about these just writing this review. Can't wait to go back!

4.5 stars. Located in Little Tokyo and a perfect spot for a quick snack. This. place doesn't sell much so you know they are specialized in the few items they do make. On my Little Tokyo tasting adventure, this was one of the first places I visited. I only ordered a single Red Bean Imagawayaki and it was delicious. It was hot and fresh, very satisfying to eat. I personally wish there were other fillings like custard or matcha. However, the red bean was still a solid filling. They sold other things that looked pretty tasty and next time I visit, I definitely want to try the other things they have to offer. Overall, I would recommend quickly stopping by this place if you are strolling through Little Tokyo.

Got some sweet rice balls with sweet sauce I can't remember the name and also a red bean cake from here. SUPER good and felt really authentic. Staff was quick and friendly I had my order in my hands within seconds. Definitely will come back next time we are in Little Tokyo!

I love their imagawayaki and dango. I try to make a stop at this kiosk every single time I'm in the Little Tokyo area. Imagawayaki has a nice texture with an eggy flavored batter, and there's a good amount of red bean filling. The mitarashi dango has a delicious glaze and the mochi is super chewy.

Super fast service even when the lines are long! I've been here about 3 times now - most recently on the tail end of a brewery walk in DTLA. If you're not sure what to try or only want one thing - get the chicken karaage stick! It is so good and flavorful - it's the perfect amount of food for just a little snack or if you want to create your own food walking tour while visiting LA. Bonus points if you go karaoke in the mall before or after!

Mitsuru brings back a lot of memories for me; when I was younger, every time I came to Little Tokyo I would go to Mitsuru to get imagawayaki (red bean cake) with my family. I love the imagawayaki here: they're cooked fresh, so they're always warm and soft. I don't think I've found another place that serves them besides Mitsuru, and still get one every time I visit the Japanese village plaza. The wait time at Mitsuru is super short, as food comes out very fast. Most of the times I've gone, there hasn't even been a line. The workers are super friendly and kind as well. There is no indoor seating, so I like to eat on the benches near the shops or on the steps in the middle of the plaza. It's always relaxing to sit and enjoy a snack from Mitsuru while being surrounded by the fun, lively ambience of the plaza. Would highly recommend going if you are in Little Tokyo!

Pretty good! I didn't even realize it was made out of red bean till I looked closely at it!

Mitsuru Cafe may not look like much due to its very homey/old timey decor but it's a Little Tokyo classic perfect for a snack or lunch. If you visit Little Tokyo's central courtyard, you'll most likely see a line at the cafe's window and there you can grab what they're most famous for - Japanese street snacks. My family loves their soft and warm red bean cakes and sweet/savory dango. Typically, both of these are made fresh - either fresh from the pan sitting in a pile or on busier days, you'll have to wait for them to finish cooking and get the food right off of the pan. If you're in search of affordable Japanese food, head inside and check out their full menu. I usually get the udon and it's always a nice, comforting bowl of noodles.

Favorite (and only) place I get dango ! They no longer have indoor seating, just a to-go style of their delicious snacks. $10 minimum for credit card.

I don't know why but it never occurred to me that I've never thought about reviewing this little spot in the Japanese Village Plaza. I've been ordering all sorts of delicious small snacks from here throughout the years. My fiancee and I always order karaage, takoyaki, fried shrimp balls, imagawayaki (round sweet pancake filled with RED BEAAAN paste), and maybe shumai once. My favorites are the karaage and imagawayaki though! And while this may sound like a very distant, far away memory, but before COVID they actually had an entire restaurant inside where you could sit inside and order more than just skewers and dessert. It was the only place that seemed to slow things down to baseline compared to the chaotic crowds outside in the plaza. Anyway, this cafe is great for snacking because let's face it: Everything in this area whether you're waiting for lunch or dinner is easily an hour wait or more. Mitsuru Cafe will definitely hold you over until it's time to eat and it won't ruin your appetite. It might just end up being a routine pit stop for you just like it is for me. Oh, and they've been cash only for as long as I can remember. There's a Chase ATM in the plaza near the shabu restaurant.