Saturday, April 20, 2024

Hayato@Little Tokyo ★★★

2 Michelin Stars Restaurant Hayato. Exquisite Kaiseki Cuisine handcrafted by Brandon-san with his careful attention to detail. Various traditional cooking techniques used for the courses. Like a Food Artist/Scientist. Freshest seafood arrived same day from Japan from US Sakasyu. Fresh vegetables from Torrance Farmers Market. He explained each dish at the beginning of each course with the cooking method, ingredients, and why. Love the amazing Charcoal Grilled Kinki Rockfish w/ Roasted Onion, which brought me back to the taste of Japan. Nodoguro Rice Pot was all-you-can-eat (woohoo). Good idea to refill a bit to get the crispy rice on bottom of pot. Experience was quite different from last visit in 2021. Brandon-san has a serious look when he's cooking, but he actually has a nice personality. He's honest, straightforward, & quite talkative with a sense of humor. We enjoyed chatting about everything from Japan, food, people, to getting on his waitlist on Tock. He likes to play it fair and give new customers opportunity to try it. Server Kaori was nice & friendly. Impossible to book with only 7 seats (counter) & 1 seating per night. Reservation was made on Tock within 2 seconds at release time. Limited 2 people per party. Door opens at 6:30pm. Dinner was 3.5 hours. $350 per person ($400 starting 5/1). Plus 18% gratuity automatically added. Complimentary hot tea. Parking at the Row DTLA structure or street.


Juyondai on the house this time



Yuki no Bosha Junmai Daiginjo $150

Yuki no Bosha Junmai Daiginjo $150


Sakizuke: Seared Kinmedai
tosa zu jelly


Shirano & Sweet Potato Tempura (browned edge style like Tempura Kondo in Tokyo)



Hokkaido Surf Clam "Nuta Ae"
mix all together

Live Santa Barbara Spot Prawn

Shinogi: Aji Bo-Zushi
w/ grated ginger on top

Owan: Okoze, Fresh Bamboo


Otsukuri: Japanese Sea Bream, Akagai
sliced shiso leaf, myoga (Japanese ginger bud), Seaweed (eat in between sashimi)

Steamed Abalone

Steamed Abalone w/ Liver Sauce

Charcoal Grilled Kinki, Roasted Onion

Panko Crusted Bamboo Shoot

Anago Tempura, Tokyo Turnip

Nabe: Okoze, Fresh Wakame, Bamboo Shoot


Complimentary Sake for Dish Pairing

Complimentary Sake for Dish Pairing

Chinmi: Konoka (Sea Cucumber)

Nodoguro (Black Throat Sea Perch) Rice Pot, Shell Peas

Japanese Pickles

Nodoguro (Black Throat Sea Perch) Rice Pot, Shell Peas

Soup to go w/ Rice

Nodoguro (Black Throat Sea Perch) Rice Pot (2nd refill w/ crispy rice from bottom of pot)

Mizu Mono: Nashi (Asian Pear) w/ Sake Jelly

Raspberries





Birthday Treat

Hayato
1320 E 7th St Ste 126
Los Angeles, CA 90021
(213) 395-0607
hayatorestaurant.com

Friday, April 19, 2024

そば処 そじ坊 Sobasho Sojibo@KIX Kansai International Airport Osaka ★★★

Inexpensive Delicious Soba at Kansai Airport. Was able to get Tororo (Grated Japanese Mountain Yam) on the side, which is not on the menu. Heaven. The restaurants and food court are 1 level down the airport check-in. Elevator available.

冷し月見ぶっかけそば Cold Soba w/ Soft-Boiled Egg 1080 yen, Tororo (Grated Japanese Mountain Yam) side 300 yen

そば処 そじ坊 Sobasho Sojibo
関西国際空港 Terminal 2
KIX Kansai International Airport 2/F
1 Senshukukokita, Izumisano,
Osaka 549-0001, Japan

Thursday, April 18, 2024

Sushiro, Momi & Toy's Creperie, Takoyaki Tamaya@USJ Universal CityWalk Osaka

Eatery Hopping at Universal CityWalk Osaka. Wanted to try スシロー Sushiro because it seemed to be popular. It's just so-so. The wait was about 90 minutes, so get your ticket before you shop around. Tried Horse Meat Sushi there. Momi & Toy's Crêperie had a line, so you can't go wrong with that. They have Takoyaki Park upstairs. Tamaya Assorted (limited) at たこやき 玉屋 Takoyaki Tamaya features 9 different pieces of Takoyaki that was delicious.

Yellow Dishes 150 yen each plate

Savory Crêpe from Momi & Toy's Crêperie

Takoyaki Assorted from たこやき 玉屋 Takoyaki Tamaya 1,200 yen


Need to keep this payment sheet at Sushiro to pay

Yellow Dishes 150 yen each plate

Kumamoto Horse Meat Sushi Akami, Yukke, & Toro Roll Comparison 840 yen (seasonal)

Uni Sushi 210 yen

Shishamo Roe 140 yen

Ikura Sushi

AR Photo Op from USJ Photo Purchase

AR Photo Op from USJ Photo Purchase


Self Checkout at Sushiro

Cute SushiToys if you accumulate the stamps


Osaka Souvenir Shopping at Citywalk.
I tried this Osaka limited Minion Banana, but Tokyo Banana is better

ユニバーサル・シティウォーク大阪店 - スシロー Sushiro Universal CityWalk Osaka
大阪府大阪市此花区島屋6丁目2番61号 3階
06-6463-7176
https://www.akindo-sushiro.co.jp/shop/detail.php?id=2479