Go Little Tokyo’s 6th annual Delicious Little Tokyo, the multi-weekend series of special in-person activations, has kicked off and will be running through July 25, 2021. 

Culinary experiences include visits to historic restaurants on two food-themed tours, and POP – Picnic on the Plaza – featuring an afternoon of music, takeout and live food demonstrations. 

Here’s the schedule:

SHOP | Saturday, July 10 – Sunday, July 25

Shop and support Little Tokyo’s small businesses for a chance to win a $50 gift certificate to your favorite Little Tokyo business.

Submit your receipts from Little Tokyo businesses on the Delicious Little Tokyo webpage (golittletokyo.com/delicious) to enter. Two winners will be chosen, and multiple entries are encouraged. Receipts must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, July 25.

HOP | Saturday, July 17, 2-5 p.m.

“Hop” through Delicious Little Tokyo on Saturday, July 17 from 2-5 p.m. by enjoying two themed bundles of some of Little Tokyo’s tastiest offerings, all while supporting small businesses and the Little Tokyo Community Council. Select one hop, or both, and head out for a delicious foodie adventure. 

Each hop includes items from seven local small businesses as well as exclusive items from the Little Tokyo Community Council including a limited edition Little Tokyo Map Tote, a pin from the LTCC Yokoso Collection, and an event passport. Early bird tickets are $62 through July 9 and $69 beginning July 10. Ticket sales close on July 14 at 5 p.m.

Tasty Time Hop

The Tasty Time Hop will lead you on a stroll along Historic 1st Street, through the Japanese Village Plaza to 2nd Street, and end in Honda Plaza. Embrace the rich history of the Little Tokyo community with manju from the neighborhood’s oldest brick-and-mortar, Fugetsu-Do, snack on traditional bites like inarizushi and futomaki from Mitsuru Sushi & Grill, and delight in new community favorites like Cafe Dulce’s sausage donut and Tea Master’s matcha latte.

Tasty Time Hop Menu:

  • Manju | Fugetsu-Do
  • Chow Mein | Far Bar
  • Shumai & Karaage | Mitsuru Cafe
  • Futomaki & Inari | Mitsuru Sushi & Grill
  • Matcha Donut & Sausage Donut | Café Dulce
  • Matcha Latte | Tea Master Matcha Cafe
  • PLUS special items from Rafu Bussan and Little Tokyo Community Council

 

Mini Matsuri Hop

Japanese street food aficionados won’t want to miss the “Mini Matsuri Hop.” Meaning “festival” in Japanese, the Mini Matsuri Hop will highlight a special selection of  Japanese bites like gyoza and takoyaki as well as Japanese American favorites like spam musubi. Hop through J-Town and stay refreshed with cold udon and lemonade.

Mini Matsuri Hop Menu:

  • Spam Musubi | Aloha Cafe
  • Chinese Chicken Salad | Azay
  • Cold Tsukemen | Kouraku
  • Takoyaki | TaNoTa Takoyaki
  • Fried Gyoza | T.O.T. (Teishokuya of Tokyo)
  • AO Lemonade | Café Dulce
  • PLUS special items from Utsuwa-no-Yakata and Little Tokyo Community Council

POP | Saturday, July 24: 

“POP” in for a good time at Picnic on the Plaza at the Japanese American Cultural & Community Center Plaza on Saturday, July 24 from 12-4 p.m. Grab takeout from your favorite Little Tokyo restaurant and bring your friends and family for a fun afternoon of kicking back with emcee Tamlyn Tomita, watching fun food demonstrations led by Fugetsu-Do (1:30 p.m.) and Azay (2:30 p.m.), and enjoying the sounds of DJ アンドリュー(Andrew).

RSVP for a chance to win $15 gift certificates to Fugetsu-Do and Azay. Winners will be drawn and announced at 2 p.m. and must be present to win.

DELICIOUS LITTLE TOKYO VIRTUAL FOOD TOUR | Thursday, July 22, 6-7 p.m.

Join the Little Tokyo Historical Society (LTHS), Little Tokyo Community Council (LTCC), and the Japanese American National Museum (JANM) on a trip through the culinary past, present and future of Los Angeles’ Little Tokyo. Bill Watanabe, Executive Director of Little Tokyo Service Center, will lead a virtual tour of historical food landmarks found in this over 130-year-old neighborhood and point out cultural highlights along the way. From the birthplace of the fortune cookie to the first ramen noodle shop in the United States, these sites were integral in the making of the Little Tokyo community and Japanese American food landscape that we know today.

PRICE:

SHOP: No minimum purchase required

HOP: $69 

POP: FREE

Virtual Food Tour: Suggested $5 donation

TICKETS, RSVP AND REGISTRATION:

For more information and to purchase tickets for one or both foodie “HOP” tours on Saturday, July 17, to RSVP for the Picnic on the Plaza on Saturday, July 24, and to register for the Virtual Food Tour on Thursday, July 22 visit golittletokyo.com/delicious.

 

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