i love coming to Azay! highly recommend getting a reservation because the wait can be long on the weekends and it's a small dining area. the vibe is so cozy and everything and anything i try is incredibly delicious. i'd come every week if i could! can't wait until they open up dinner service again because i haven't tried it yet :)
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Alex AlChwikani
I walked by this place so many times and finally decided to give it a try. I'm so glad I did! The food was phenomenal and the staff was very nice. We will be returning. Seating is limited so reservations are encouraged.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Japanese Breakfast
Mary Leon
First time at Azay in Little Tokyo today, and somehow it felt like I’d been meaning to walk through those doors for years. One of those places that quietly lingers on your “must try” list until you finally give in.
Azay was opened by chef Akira Hirose, who built the space around the kind of Japanese breakfast he grew up with. Thoughtful. Seasonal. The opposite of rushed. It’s a small, intimate restaurant in the heart of Little Tokyo, where the morning light hits just right and everything feels intentional.
The Japanese breakfast was exactly what I hoped for and somehow better. A neat lacquered tray carrying grilled fish, delicate sides, miso soup, rice, pickles. Comforting in that quiet, steady way. Home cooked but precise. Balanced without trying too hard. Elegant, nourishing, and deeply satisfying without ever feeling heavy.
It’s the kind of meal that doesn’t shout for attention. It simply exists with confidence. And sometimes that’s exactly what you want.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Farid Tavakol
Perfection! We ordered the Japanese breakfast and the Bento and both were perfect! We loved the food, the service and the atmosphere. Definitely recommend!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Christine Song
The food had the potential to earn four stars or more, but the rice was shockingly bad—soggy and somehow worse than what a home electric rice cooker produces on its worst day. You would never encounter rice of this quality in any Asian restaurant, let alone one claiming Japanese influence. Anyone who has eaten in Japan knows that rice cooking is an art form. It should be cooked properly and perfectly every time as it's the main staple.
Having eaten my way through much of Tokyo and France, I found this restaurant failed to meet the meticulous standards that true Franco-Japanese cuisine demands. For a self-described “Franco-Japanese” restaurant promoting itself as the legacy of a classically trained French chef from Japan, the execution fell far short of the hype.
We ordered the miso black cod bento and the eel rice bowl. While both fish were well cooked and seasoned, the inedible rice completely undermined the dishes and ultimately ruined the entire dining experience.
Service was fast but also non-existent and not friendly.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 3
Service: 2
Sasha M
This was my first time trying Japanese home-style cuisine. I walked in around 11:30 a.m., and the wait time was about 15 minutes. The food was clean, simple, and thoughtfully portioned. The flavors were light and comforting, and the cute, delicate plating was especially appealing.
The portion sizes were just right—I enjoyed it so much that I completely cleaned my plate, enough to make the chef smile. Overall, it was a very satisfying meal.
I highly recommend the matcha tiramisu for dessert. It was a highlight of the experience.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Amran
Absolutely amazing spot. The chicken karage and black cod were beyond delicious.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Dran Levis
French-Japanese comfort in a relaxed setting. The omurice is silky with just enough demi-glace to feel special, not heavy. I love that you can get a proper café au lait here too. Service is attentive without rushing you out. Perfect for a quiet brunch before wandering First Street.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Faith Cho
I love friend dates here :) After the most DELICIOUS homey meal, I love walking through Little Tokyo to Hauser & Wirth.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Karen Ishizuka
Always consistently excellent food and friendly service. LA hidden gem!
Food tastes good, but the portion is small while the price is high. There are too many people but too few waiters. Barely no service at all. It is a very small restaurant so prepare to sit outside without reservations ahead.
Julia M
Loved the Japanese breakfast at this restaurant! All the food was so flavorful, and the staff were excellent!!
Kyoo Jin Lee
I had Japanese breakfast w/ miso black cod, it was tasty.
April Y
It was not a good sign to see no Asians from cooks to customers in this restaurant after we stepped in. Not to our surprise, the food was not even as good as bento box in grocery stores but prices were double to triple. If you are looking for authentic and good Japanese food, it is not recommended.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 1
Service: 4
Sakiko Reuterskiold
Lovely family run restaurant for healthy delicious Japanese and French food made with high quality ingredients. Being half Japanese and having lived in Japan, I appreciate the authenticity of Azay so much. Many other pseudo japanese izakaya/casual restaurants in LA use chilli and mayo and super sweet sauces on everything. Azay is lovely lunch and brunch japanese and french food. So good and prepared with love. I’m grateful they exist.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Japanese Breakfast, Matcha Crème Brûlée, Miso Soup, Asari Clam Soup, Mackerel, Daily Bento, Breakfast Bento
i love coming to Azay! highly recommend getting a reservation because the wait can be long on the weekends and it's a small dining area. the vibe is so cozy and everything and anything i try is incredibly delicious. i'd come every week if i could! can't wait until they open up dinner service again because i haven't tried it yet :)
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I walked by this place so many times and finally decided to give it a try. I'm so glad I did! The food was phenomenal and the staff was very nice. We will be returning.
Seating is limited so reservations are encouraged.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Japanese Breakfast
First time at Azay in Little Tokyo today, and somehow it felt like I’d been meaning to walk through those doors for years. One of those places that quietly lingers on your “must try” list until you finally give in.
Azay was opened by chef Akira Hirose, who built the space around the kind of Japanese breakfast he grew up with. Thoughtful. Seasonal. The opposite of rushed. It’s a small, intimate restaurant in the heart of Little Tokyo, where the morning light hits just right and everything feels intentional.
The Japanese breakfast was exactly what I hoped for and somehow better. A neat lacquered tray carrying grilled fish, delicate sides, miso soup, rice, pickles. Comforting in that quiet, steady way. Home cooked but precise. Balanced without trying too hard. Elegant, nourishing, and deeply satisfying without ever feeling heavy.
It’s the kind of meal that doesn’t shout for attention. It simply exists with confidence. And sometimes that’s exactly what you want.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Perfection! We ordered the Japanese breakfast and the Bento and both were perfect! We loved the food, the service and the atmosphere. Definitely recommend!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The food had the potential to earn four stars or more, but the rice was shockingly bad—soggy and somehow worse than what a home electric rice cooker produces on its worst day. You would never encounter rice of this quality in any Asian restaurant, let alone one claiming Japanese influence. Anyone who has eaten in Japan knows that rice cooking is an art form. It should be cooked properly and perfectly every time as it's the main staple.
Having eaten my way through much of Tokyo and France, I found this restaurant failed to meet the meticulous standards that true Franco-Japanese cuisine demands. For a self-described “Franco-Japanese” restaurant promoting itself as the legacy of a classically trained French chef from Japan, the execution fell far short of the hype.
We ordered the miso black cod bento and the eel rice bowl. While both fish were well cooked and seasoned, the inedible rice completely undermined the dishes and ultimately ruined the entire dining experience.
Service was fast but also non-existent and not friendly.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 3
Service: 2
This was my first time trying Japanese home-style cuisine. I walked in around 11:30 a.m., and the wait time was about 15 minutes. The food was clean, simple, and thoughtfully portioned. The flavors were light and comforting, and the cute, delicate plating was especially appealing.
The portion sizes were just right—I enjoyed it so much that I completely cleaned my plate, enough to make the chef smile. Overall, it was a very satisfying meal.
I highly recommend the matcha tiramisu for dessert. It was a highlight of the experience.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Absolutely amazing spot. The chicken karage and black cod were beyond delicious.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
French-Japanese comfort in a relaxed setting. The omurice is silky with just enough demi-glace to feel special, not heavy. I love that you can get a proper café au lait here too. Service is attentive without rushing you out. Perfect for a quiet brunch before wandering First Street.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I love friend dates here :) After the most DELICIOUS homey meal, I love walking through Little Tokyo to Hauser & Wirth.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Always consistently excellent food and friendly service. LA hidden gem!
Restaurantji Recommends
Food tastes good, but the portion is small while the price is high. There are too many people but too few waiters. Barely no service at all. It is a very small restaurant so prepare to sit outside without reservations ahead.
Loved the Japanese breakfast at this restaurant! All the food was so flavorful, and the staff were excellent!!
I had Japanese breakfast w/ miso black cod, it was tasty.
It was not a good sign to see no Asians from cooks to customers in this restaurant after we stepped in. Not to our surprise, the food was not even as good as bento box in grocery stores but prices were double to triple. If you are looking for authentic and good Japanese food, it is not recommended.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 1
Service: 4
Lovely family run restaurant for healthy delicious Japanese and French food made with high quality ingredients. Being half Japanese and having lived in Japan, I appreciate the authenticity of Azay so much. Many other pseudo japanese izakaya/casual restaurants in LA use chilli and mayo and super sweet sauces on everything. Azay is lovely lunch and brunch japanese and french food. So good and prepared with love. I’m grateful they exist.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Japanese Breakfast, Matcha Crème Brûlée, Miso Soup, Asari Clam Soup, Mackerel, Daily Bento, Breakfast Bento
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