While I spend most of my efforts featuring new eateries, I also like to write about experiences with long-time establishments. These restaurants typically appeal to their local community so that the restaurant can benefit from repeat business. One such restaurant is Suehiro Cafe, a Japanese restaurant in Little Tokyo.
Suehiro Cafe opened its doors on 2nd Street in 1972. They later moved 1st Street in the heart of Little Tokyo, just south of San Pedro St. The interior is old-school traditional Japanese decor from the ’60s with both bar seating and booths. Their seating nicely accommodates local people looking to eat a quick lunch or dinner or a family getting together for dinner.
When many people think of Japanese cuisine, they often think of sushi or ramen. According to Japan Talk, there are 30 distinct cuisines. Suehiro Cafe is closest to Yoshoku, or Japanese food modeled after western cuisine with katsu, curry, hamburger steak, and hayashi rice. They also have udon, rice bowls, and ramen.
While katsu is available city-wide, their Katsu Curry ($16.75) has a crisp exterior, and the pork isn’t fatty like many other restaurants. The curry is both thick and rich and works well with both the pork and the steamed rice. It is also available with chicken instead of pork.
The House Special ($16.25) is one of their most popular dishes. Of the options available, I selected sliced beef. It is stirfried with sliced eggplant and bell peppers and served in a sweet miso sauce. In Japan, this dish is popular during the warm summer months.
Oyako Don ($10.75) is the classic soul food of Japan. Chicken, onions, and egg are simmered in an umami-rich dashi-based sauce and placed on a bowl of fluffy steamed rice. The dashi sauce nicely elevates the taste of the other ingredients and makes for excellent rice seasoning.
While nearby ramen shop Daikokuya gathers crowds, I feel Suehiro Cafe nicely delivers Japanese comfort food and is priced appropriately. Service is polite and prompt, and the food is consistently good.
Parking in this area is challenging. I park in the nearby Judge Aliso parking lot on 101 N Judge John Aiso St, a few hundred feet away from 1st Street.
Suehiro Cafe, 337 E 1st St, Los Angeles, CA 90012; 213.626.9132; suehirocafe.com