hadashi: March 2008 Archives
this is a love letter to one of my favourite restaurants in Los Angeles. ever. why i haven't written this before, i don't know.
many years ago, feeling somewhat homesick for my childhood home in Okinawa, Japan, i was moaning about my need for cheap & cheerful Japanese eats. a friend who lived in Palms had an idea. "i know!" he said. "you have to go to this little Japanese greasy spoon/coffee shop in an alley! you can get something with rice & i'll have a cheeseburger."
i was, understandably, dubious. but hah! little did i know...
i fell in love that morning, deeply and completely. where else can you get yakisoba and fries? gyoza and a thick chocolate shake? a tuna melt and sunomono? the little obasan waitresses were friendly and efficient, and the food was simple & surprisingly ultra-delicious. i soon was taking other friends to Tokyo 7-7 myself.
nowadays, i live within walking distance, and the obasans don't even bring me, or my husband (who over the course of many breakfasts at Tokyo 7-7 went from boyfriend to fiance to husband) a menu anymore -- they just greet us with a cheerful "Ohayo!" (good morning) and give me my delicious cha-shu royal and green tea, and bring my honey his $2.35 breakfast special #1 with a root beer float.
once you find this little neighbourhood gem (park in the Cardiff structure & walk out into the alley, not to the street), you too can quickly become a regular and decide if you like the club sandwich or the udon noodles better. or heck, have 'em both!
3839-B Main St. Culver City, CA 90230 or call (310) 204-5728 for more information. hours: Monday-Friday 7 a.m.-3 p.m., Saturday 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m. parking in said Cardiff structure is first 2 hours free. cash only!
many years ago, feeling somewhat homesick for my childhood home in Okinawa, Japan, i was moaning about my need for cheap & cheerful Japanese eats. a friend who lived in Palms had an idea. "i know!" he said. "you have to go to this little Japanese greasy spoon/coffee shop in an alley! you can get something with rice & i'll have a cheeseburger."
i was, understandably, dubious. but hah! little did i know...
i fell in love that morning, deeply and completely. where else can you get yakisoba and fries? gyoza and a thick chocolate shake? a tuna melt and sunomono? the little obasan waitresses were friendly and efficient, and the food was simple & surprisingly ultra-delicious. i soon was taking other friends to Tokyo 7-7 myself.
nowadays, i live within walking distance, and the obasans don't even bring me, or my husband (who over the course of many breakfasts at Tokyo 7-7 went from boyfriend to fiance to husband) a menu anymore -- they just greet us with a cheerful "Ohayo!" (good morning) and give me my delicious cha-shu royal and green tea, and bring my honey his $2.35 breakfast special #1 with a root beer float.
once you find this little neighbourhood gem (park in the Cardiff structure & walk out into the alley, not to the street), you too can quickly become a regular and decide if you like the club sandwich or the udon noodles better. or heck, have 'em both!
3839-B Main St. Culver City, CA 90230 or call (310) 204-5728 for more information. hours: Monday-Friday 7 a.m.-3 p.m., Saturday 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m. parking in said Cardiff structure is first 2 hours free. cash only!
