First time coming here. We've been wanting to come here after seeing them feature on several articles and social media posts. It is the last remaining Japanese Restaurant in the area. Its been around for almost 70 years now. Its a cute little mom and pop restaurant with about 5 counter seats and 4 booths. The food here is comforting. Service is friendly but expect a wait if its crowded. Its like a one man kitchen and a one man front of the house.

It is best you Uber or Lyft to this location because there is very little parking to be found. This place is a small, quaint location in Boyle Heights. Don't fear the reputation of the neighborhood. The people are to themselves and will leave you alone. Unfortunately they don't even say hi, so go about your business. Nonetheless, grab a tasty meal, enjoy it, then Uber or Lyft back home.

As someone who is half-Japanese and deeply connected to Japanese culture, Otomi-san Restaurant holds a special place in my heart. Originally established within a Japanese community, it now stands as the last remaining Japanese restaurant from that era. It's heartbreaking to see the Japanese community diminish, but it makes this restaurant's existence even more crucial. Otomi-san is more than just a place to eat; it's a cultural anchor for those of us who cherish and wish to preserve our heritage. With the challenges Little Tokyo faces today, as the Japanese population continues to decline, this restaurant's role becomes even more significant. I sincerely hope Otomi-san continues to thrive, not just as a business, but as a beacon of Japanese culture in Los Angeles.

Otomisan Restaurant was established in 1956 and is located in Boyle Heights. Boyle Heights was once home of a large Japanese community, but over the years the Japanese population has dwindled. It's the last remaining Japanese restaurant in Boyle Heights. It's the oldest continuously operating Japanese restaurant in LA. As you can see on the sign outside the restaurant, it's considered a Historical-Cultural Monument in LA. We ordered teriyaki chicken, Mixed Tempura with shrimp, vegetables. The batter of the tempura is very light and crispy. It pairs well with a dipping sauce. The teriyaki chicken was very tender and the sauce was flavored perfectly. The wife ordered teriyaki beef and also thought it was delicious. However, we were in agreement that the teriyaki chicken was much better. We also ordered some sushi and it was pretty good. It didn't wow me, but it was bad either. It was just okay. I would definitely come back for the Chicken Teriyaki and Tempura Combination. We ordered some green tea and they offered free refills. The tea was very light and came inside these very beautiful tea cups with different pictures of sushi. The decor is very cool. It has all sorts of different kinds of Japanese artwork. The service was very good. The waitress was very attentive. We came a little early and they were nice enough to open the doors of the restaurant for us to sit down and order. That was very kind of them! The food here is simply delicious. I recommend you come here to eat at a historic restaurant in LA.

Everything we had was so good! The combination meals come with solid portions. Loved the cold udon especially now that its warming up outside and the katsudon is a must try. Be prepared to wait as the restaurant is on the cozy side. The owner is a sweet lady who does her best to manage the large volume of customers during busy hours. Its worth the wait!

My experience at Otomisan Restaurant in Boyle Heights left me with mixed feelings. As a fan of "Takeout with Lisa Ling" on HBO Max, I was eager to visit this famed establishment, touted as "the last remaining Japanese Restaurant in Boyle Heights" with a rich history and cultural significance. However, my lunch meeting on a weekday didn't quite live up to my expectations. Upon arrival, I was promptly seated by an elderly woman, but it took a considerable amount of time for someone to attend to our table and provide us with menus. When our food finally arrived, I was disappointed to find that there were no sauces provided, and it took even longer to request them. I opted for the entree set with mackerel (saba shio), which came with soup, salad, and a separatebottled green tea. While the mackerel was decent, the miso soup was lukewarm and excessively salty. Service-wise, I couldn't help but notice that the attention seemed to be disproportionately directed towards other diners, presumably regulars, who engaged in lengthy conversations with the staff. Unfortunately, this left me feeling neglected as a newcomer to the restaurant. Despite these shortcomings, I appreciate Otomisan's longstanding presence in the community and its unchanged charm, both inside and out. The restaurant's historical significance undoubtedly adds to its appeal. While the food was passable and the ambiance charming, the subpar service detracted from the overall experience. Considering its cultural significance and the potential for improvement, I would generously rate Otomisan Restaurant with 4 stars. However, would I be returning? Probably not. It was great to try just to try it for my own curiosity.

Small historic gem close to the Downtown Los Angeles area! It's been a here a very long time, family run with a busy and cozy feel. I was coming back from an event in LA, so I thought to atop by this small but mighty Japanese shop. It was packed when I came by, and it took 15 minutes to get a single seat, just off the ledge of the counter. It was a bit of a squeeze for me and the waiting area of two chairs were very close to me, so a little awkward having waiting patrons inadvertently looking me way as I inhaled my tempura and teriyaki chicken plate. The portions were huge and robust, with miso soup, rice, and salad! Very filling, good family atmosphere, decent prices! Would like to come back if I'm the Rowland height area. There is metered street parking, but do not charge after certain hours. There was a line outside by the time I left, and they had to turn people away as it was getting close to their closing time

My friend and I have been wanting to try this restaurant for a while now. We finally were able to try it on a Tuesday night. They do close early so definitely a before 7 pm dinner type of place. I was able to find parking on the street across from the restaurant. It was meter parking. Parking is limited and don't park in the back of the restaurant. I believe you will get towed. This place has limited seating. I want to say like three tables and counter seats up front. It does have a homey vibe which I like. I really enjoy the food. I got the pork katsu with tempura and it was delicious. My friend got the chicken teriyaki with California rolls and the California rolls reminded me of a place I used to go to so that brought me some joy. The service was good. The ladies were super friendly. Overall, if you're craving some Japanese food this will satisfy your cravings.

Imagine a tiny, cozy mom and pop type diner that serves Japanese food. This is Otomisan. The menu is really straightforward with comforting Japanese classics. The lady that helped me was super sweet. She also had to be very efficient because it seemed she was by herself taking care of the room and taking takeout orders (I came on a weeknight). The vibe is like having dinner at my friend's family's house. Otomisan is the oldest operating Japanese restaurant in Los Angeles and was founded in 1956. Boyle Heights was once one of LA's largest Japanese American/ immigrant neighborhoods and this gem of a restaurant is one of the last remnants of that era. Just a note about seating/availability: I came on a weeknight right after work. I've been wanting to come here for a long time, and this was actually my second (actual) try on a weeknight. Understand that this place is TINY. So they stop seating probably about an hour before close. If this was my family running the place, I'd want them to wrap up around closing time as well. I haven't tried coming on the weekend, but I would imagine this place gets packed and backed up. So go early or right at opening. I ordered the natto and the tonkatsu curry plate. I've never had natto before, so I was super curious. I definitely think it is an acquired taste due to the flavor and the texture. I probably would order it again, because it is a nutrient dense superfood. The tonkatsu curry was super flavorful and crispy. Not sure if it was because I was super hungry, but I absolutely cleaned the plate. Parking could be tough. There's street parking, but I ended up parking about a block or two away in the residential area. This is a busy area of Boyle Heights with lots of traffic coming through.