When we visit our friends—especially those who have new babies—one of my favorite things to do is bring a box of treats for the new parents. And since we've had a ton of friends having babies over the past year ('tis the season!), I've been looking for something to bring other than my standard cupcakes or pies. So I took a little trip to L.A.'s Little Toyko in search of some treats for friends, as well as some for future sweet cravings of my very own.
My first stop was Fugetsu-do, a family-owned staple of Little Tokyo since 1903 that specializes in the freshest mochi (rice cakes) and manju (sweet bean-filled rice cakes). In addition to the beautiful mochi and manju, Fugetsu-do has packaged and boxed candies and crackers that I stocked up on for last-minute gift and snacking needs. (And they're up with the times and offer shipping across the country and sell online!)
For the best ice cream mochi (rice cakes filled with ice cream), Mikawaya (located in Japanese Village Plaza) was my next stop. Mikawaya has a ton of regular mochi options, but specializes in the ice-cream-filled variety. So while these might not be things I can take over to a friend's house, they are a nice treat to have while you're in the area shopping. The green tea, cookies and cream, and plum ice cream mochi were my favorites.
While in the Japanese Village Plaza, I stumbled upon Café Dulcé. I'd heard great things about the green tea doughnuts, and I loved the variety of doughnut and pastry selections available—it's simply a great Japanese version of your favorite local bakery. I especially loved the tapioca roll and, of course, the green tea doughnut.
Once all was said and done, I gathered together my finds from all three places to put together a little box of treats for friends. It was such a fun morning of exploring what Little Tokyo has to offer and experiencing a bit of Japan right here in Los Angeles…
Fugetsu-do | 315 East First St. | Los Angeles, CA 90012 | 213.625.8595
Mikawaya | in Japanese Village Plaza | 335 E. 2nd St.| Los Angeles, CA 90012 | 213.346.9910
Café Dulcé | in Japanese Village Plaza | 335 E. 2nd St.| Los Angeles, CA 90012 | 213.346.9910
{Photos by Bonnie Tsang. My outfit: dress by En Soie, tote by Mar Y Sol, vintage shoes.}
So much delightful eye candy! I love your dress.
Isn’t That Charming.
What a great idea! Love the color.
I love your dress, where is it from?!
How fun! I’ve never been a fan of mochi, but maybe that’s because I haven’t tried these great places. I’ll have to investigate and find out!
YUM! Also I love that shopper bag — so fun!
http://folledejoieblog.com
everything seems delicious !!! We have a big japanese grocery in Paris, I have to go, maybe I will find some of these ^^
And your dress is so gorgeous too
See U !
Hi Emily,
Its by En Soie—link is at the bottom of the post!
best!
Joy
Where are your shoes from? Love them!
Those look cute as well as delicious. The chick treat is adorable!
heading to little tokyo today for lunch at aloha cafe!
Gorgeous photos! I accidentally happened into Mikawaya last year when I visited LA and I loved it! little tokyo was so much fun to stroll through 🙂
I love this post! Little Tokyo is wonderful and one of my favorite places for food in LA. The green tea donuts from Cafe Dulce are ah-maaaAAAaziing! The hubby loves the macadamia nut ones too (to the left of the bacon donuts). Gorgeous dress too btw!
I love mochi! The colours and the powdery, squishy texture too 🙂
Bacon donuts! Yum!
Cute dress 🙂
Those all look delish! I love mochi, but I need to try some other Japanese desserts.
~ Bev
http://bevedlybev.blogspot.com/
The food looks amazing but it’s that purse that I really want. so pretty!
I love mochi! Ice cream mochi is the best. I also like Mochicream (http://www.mochicream.com/), which is filled with cream. Yummy!
Oh, it all looks so delicious! 🙂
Oh wow, how delicious they all look!
I miss the Japanese Village!Love the treats! Have you tried goin’ to Karaoke right upstairs?;)Love that dress too!
http://simplyvuela.blogspot.com/
I’m definitely a big fan of mochi and there’s an amazing place nearby in the “Little Tokyo” where I live. But let’s talk about that GORGEOUS dress you have on! It is absolute perfection on you!
Wow there is just too much beauty in all of these pics! I love your outfit and I love those desserts!!! I’m a huge fan of mochi.
Wow, bacon doughnuts next to spirulina rolls – now that’s inclusive! Lol… everything looks like perfection – what a great place.
Oh goodness, love mochi filled with ice cream. Definitely going to have to check out these spots!
Wow! The food + shops are so lovely + bright there. I loved this! thanks for sharing 😀
I so want a green tea doughnut now! And love-love-love your dress, Joy.
Oh, I can’t wait to go to all of these places! What wonderful, delicious treats!
The colors are so beautiful!
Awesome, I just pinned this post in my LA Eat pin board. How fun! I love that you got one that looks kind of like a peep =)
the colors look fantastic! Those flower candies are so cute!
Oh dear me, these photos are all so lovely! I cannot get over all the yummies in the photos. You dress is also amazing!
Hi Oh Joy! I’ve been reading almost of your posts but never written any comment. Here it’s my first time. Thanks for sharing beautiful photos… Your dress is very lovely. I love it <3
Lovely dress! and the treats, yummy!
Thank you Pam!
Joy
I always want to ask you what your recommendations would be for Philly in terms of Chinatown… do you have any specific favorites from the bakeries over there? I have tried Yelping, but there’s no clear favorite. Love your blog! You give a med school girlfriend hope on a exciting post-match city 🙂
wow such fun! love your dress here its absolutely gorgeous! xx. gigi. food and beauty blogger @ http://www.gigikkitchen.blogspot.com
Way to think outside the box! Such pretty desserts.
Wow – this all looks amazing.
Such a gorgeous assortment of sweets!How lovely 🙂 thank you for sharing. Hope to stop by some of those places next time we’re on the west coast!
I adore your style. It always looks so easy, but perfect. And you just gave me a super idea. Friend of us who live in Germany just got a baby. I’m going to prepare a small gift box for them and not only gifts for the baby. More like good quality coffee, face mask, spotify relaxing play list and things like that. 🙂 Thanks!
suuuuper jealous!!
Everything looks so d’lish. I feel like tracking down mochi suppliers in Sydney now lol 😉
love this post, has me daydreaming about visiting LA and eating sweets. 🙂
you hit all my fave spots, and now all i want for lunch is a box of beautiful mochi. 🙂
you hit all my fave spots, and now all i want for lunch is a box of beautiful mochi. 🙂
you hit all my fave spots, and now all i want for lunch is a box of beautiful mochi. 🙂
you hit all my fave spots, and now all i want for lunch is a box of beautiful mochi. 🙂
you hit all my fave spots, and now all i want for lunch is a box of beautiful mochi. 🙂
you hit all my fave spots, and now all i want for lunch is a box of beautiful mochi. 🙂
you hit all my fave spots, and now all i want for lunch is a box of beautiful mochi. 🙂
you hit all my fave spots, and now all i want for lunch is a box of beautiful mochi. 🙂
you hit all my fave spots, and now all i want for lunch is a box of beautiful mochi. 🙂
you hit all my fave spots, and now all i want for lunch is a box of beautiful mochi. 🙂
that looks so yummy! I love japanese treats:)
Just a question about your dress- Did you buy it at their LA store or did you find it online somewhere? I’m in NYC and absolutely love the colorful, summery print!
I was in Little Tokyo on Tuesday. I wish ai had this post then!
what a fabulous dress!! we visited ‘Little Tokyo’ during our LA trip last month – loved exploring the Supermarkets and finding edible things we’ve never seen before!
Oh my! How do you chose which to eat first?! They all look so yummy. It’s a pity I live too far away to shope there regularly.Thanks for sharing.
I’m going to LA soon and cannot wait to try Cafe Dulce!
Has anyone commented on the editing of the first photo yet?!?!?!?! I’m curious to know why you chose for you foot to be backwards or are my eyes playing tricks with me?
Hi Nancy!
I think its just the angle, I am walking away from the camera in the photo but I see how it could look like I am walking towards! 😉
Joy
Oaw !! You are happy couple and your life style is really modern and advantage for any people , its really happy dear !!!
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