Midori Matcha

Jody

I ordered the loco moco and really enjoyed it. The patty was big and nicely firm, the sauce had great flavor, and the egg was cooked just right. The pickled shredded carrots were especially good and added a nice balance. For reference, the sauce was a little on the salty side and the rice slightly sticky, but overall the dish tasted great and I’d happily order it again.

wook kim

Finally checked out Azay for brunch. Food was delicious and presentation was exactly as expected. Felt like we were back in Tokyo having breakfast at a hotel. Love the variety of dishes all seasoned delicately but still flavourful. The space is small to give the intimate feel. Definitely want to come back to try their dinner menu.

Shane Li

I love Japanese breakfasts for their variety, fresh flavors, and healthiness, and this place seamlessly blends that with a wonderful Japanese/French twist. I’ll definitely have to come back and try their dinner sometime. The restaurant is relatively small. We arrived right when they opened and were seated immediately, but it filled up quickly afterward. The service, while friendly, felt a bit disorganized—three different staff members tried to bring us the bill while we were still waiting for dessert, likely due to how busy they were.

Jason B

We truly love everything about this place. My companion found it by searching for authentic Japanese cuisine and it was as authentic as it possibly could be. Intentionally I ordered Sukiyaki as that has always been one of my favorites. It was heart warming and delicious. Our waitress was extremely polite and knowledgeable. She paid attention to everything and we felt welcome. We certainly will go back there next time in LA.

Lilian Lin

Hands down the most enjoyable Japanese and French fusion food in town! The bento box shows authenticity and delicacy of Japanese cuisine at its best. The duck confit is pretty good with the couscous. The grapefruit tart, special dessert of the day, was very impressive too! It feels like we don’t get to find this kind of hearty food at this price anywhere else in LA! Reservation is highly recommended!

Shalini Saravanan

I really loved this place! Maybe my favorite in LA. I had some house barley tea, the matcha creme brulee and the chawanmushi. I went on a rainy Wednesday morning around 11:30am and there was no wait for a table. It got a lot more busy after that with small groups. I also know the owners and some of the servers participate in mutual aid work in the area, which makes it a business I would support. The best item is the creme brulee. I have dreams about it. it's that good lol

Brian Monroe

Absolutely incredible. I'm so glad we got a reservation for traditional Japanese breakfast! The service was kind, informative, and outstanding. I wish we were closer and could visit more often. Omg the Matcha Brulee!!!

Xena Wang

What an absolute treasure of a restaurant in Little Tokyo! The food is beautifully presented. It's light but filling so you leave satisfied :) it reminded me exactly of the traditional breakfasts I had in Tokyo. I came for the Japanese dinner set and loved the meal and service so much I went back the following day for brunch. I hope to visit again the next time I'm in LA!

Sue Oda

This place is a gem! We love the vibe, love how the art on walls is uniquely related to the history and development of the restaurant. Philip is a delight, it meant so much to us that he shared the history of this family restaurant and what inspires its menu. It’s unassuming on the outside, which I really like about it. The inside is bright yet understated. In the world of Japanese tea ceremony, I would say this place has wabi-sabi. (Not a place to go if you expect a flashy scene.) Also the food is intentionally seasoned with complexity, subtlety and unexpected delights. We had dinner here and from the first bite everything was delicious. Their food is like an orchestra, with highlights and depth. Every detail of the meal was intentional. We started with a couple of appetizers: Crab and uni milk toast, and Sunchokes w/ dengaku miso. The crab and uni milk toast was rich and creamy on top with a crisp crunch of toasted artisan baguette below. Sunchokes were perfectly crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. The miso glaze added a savory highlight. We had Chilean sea bass and Jidori shio koji chicken. Both were excellent and cooked to the perfect doneness. The chicken thigh had passion fruit seeds which added a sweet surprise to balance the savory honey nut squash. The sea bass, which was one of their signature dishes, is served in a hand-painted dish reminiscent of a traditional Japanese kaiseki meal. It was cooked to tender and delicious perfection. Desserts were equally delicious and thoughtfully prepared. We had a soy milk panna cotta (big thanks from lactose-intolerant Asian) which was rich and creamy and topped with a pear granita, yum! The apple tarte had a traditional French crust, flaky and delicious. Service is excellent. We noticed they pulled extra staff out when serving our entrees so everyone at our table received their meals at the same time. Small detail, but it's these quiet details that really made us feel so well thought about. Their menu changes weekly. If we lived in the area we would definitely put this place on our regular rotation.

Erica Low

Authentic Japanese food, good choice for brunch. The business hours are a bit short, so you need look at the opening hours and plan your time before you go. The restaurant is relatively small, but the vibe in the restaurant is laid back.

Beautiful cozy place that gives authentic Japanese vibes with delicious traditional Japanese breakfast options. We got all three types - with Saba mackerel, miso cod and miso tofu and all three were devoured! If you’re a sweet tooth, make sure to check out matcha creme brûlée - YUM! A special gold star for service, the staff we’re very accommodating and we didn’t have to wait long to get our food, which was without a doubt delicious- will be back and bring more friends. Note to book ahead of time as the restaurant is small.

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.

i love coming to Azay! it's the highlight of my week! highly recommend getting a reservation since there can be a wait on the weekends and it's a smaller dining area. the vibe is so cozy and uplifting and everything i've tried is incredibly delicious and fresh. 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 :)

Anastasia Volkova

Beautiful cozy place that gives authentic Japanese vibes with delicious traditional Japanese breakfast options. We got all three types - with Saba mackerel, miso cod and miso tofu and all three were devoured! If you’re a sweet tooth, make sure to check out matcha creme brûlée - YUM! A special gold star for service, the staff we’re very accommodating and we didn’t have to wait long to get our food, which was without a doubt delicious- will be back and bring more friends. Note to book ahead of time as the restaurant is small.

Such a wonderful Saturday morning experience! Came with my roommate who got the famous Japanese breakfast and absolutely loved it. I got the omurice and it was delicious as well but I do think that it left a little bit to be desired. The drinks were great and the service was friendly!

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.

In A Nutshell: -Azay is a cool spot to grab a Japanese breakfast. -It's basically a bento box that comes w/ a fresh tofu, tamago (Japanese omelet), miso soup, pickled veggies & you can also add some protein such as Maryland Soft-Shell Blue Crab or Black Cod -It's a very different style of breakfast you would normally eat in L.A., but something worth trying out b/c it's really good. -Their green tea/matcha creme brulee was really, really good & I highly recommended trying that too. Overall, this was a nice find & I didn't have to wait at all on a Sunday morning around 11:30 am.

I’ve gotten to eat here twice now and I’ve enjoyed myself! I think I would dock 1 star solely because after finishing my meal, I’m still hungry. Portions are not big at all. I’m also not someone that eats much, so that tells me something. However, I’ve enjoyed dining here for the vibe. The food is decent and I love japanese bfast. Come early because it does fill up and get busy.

Came here for the traditional Japanese Breakfast. It did not disappointment. The owner lady was so cute. She gave great recommendations and told me about the Momosoto that was left on my plate. I almost didn't eat it because I thought it was an olive but it turned out to be a delicious mountain peach found only in Japan. It was so good that I bought a bunch to take home on my flight to Seattle. I love Japanese food because I feel like it's very balanced. The breakfast had fish as the main thing but also multiple little side dishes that just complimented the whole meal. Outdoor seating was nice. Next time, I will have to try all the other entrees because I wanted to eat everything!

I called to see if they were able to accommodate a group of 8 as a walk in and they were able to let us get seated as long we we were out within an hour so the next group could be seated. It is a very small space indoors, but they have tables outdoors. There is a restroom for customers to use, and you can park on the street. Now, onto the food. Everything was good, but it was maybe too healthy for our liking. We left out wanting more things to eat, so we wandered around to find something else. I appreciated the fact that they were able to accommodate our group on short notice, and we were well prepared to leave within an hour. It was a bit annoying that the staff kept walking by us and looking at our table, so we just felt that much more pressured. They also didn't refill our waters until the end when they cleared our table. Food: 3.5/5 Service: 3.5/5 Accommodations: 4/5 Overall, there's plenty of places you can eat around LA, and I wouldn't have to come back here again.

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.

Nicole A

I’ve gotten to eat here twice now and I’ve enjoyed myself! I think I would dock 1 star solely because after finishing my meal, I’m still hungry. Portions are not big at all. I’m also not someone that eats much, so that tells me something. However, I’ve enjoyed dining here for the vibe. The food is decent and I love japanese bfast. Come early because it does fill up and get busy.

Tina C

Was able to barely get a seat with walk in on a Saturday morning. I like their fish better than the pork, but the sides were all good. I enjoyed all the veggies.

Dude

In A Nutshell: -Azay is a cool spot to grab a Japanese breakfast. -It's basically a bento box that comes w/ a fresh tofu, tamago (Japanese omelet), miso soup, pickled veggies & you can also add some protein such as Maryland Soft-Shell Blue Crab or Black Cod -It's a very different style of breakfast you would normally eat in L.A., but something worth trying out b/c it's really good. -Their green tea/matcha creme brulee was really, really good & I highly recommended trying that too. Overall, this was a nice find & I didn't have to wait at all on a Sunday morning around 11:30 am.

Yuchen Zhang

Came here for the traditional Japanese Breakfast. It did not disappointment. The owner lady was so cute. She gave great recommendations and told me about the Momosoto that was left on my plate. I almost didn't eat it because I thought it was an olive but it turned out to be a delicious mountain peach found only in Japan. It was so good that I bought a bunch to take home on my flight to Seattle. I love Japanese food because I feel like it's very balanced. The breakfast had fish as the main thing but also multiple little side dishes that just complimented the whole meal. Outdoor seating was nice. Next time, I will have to try all the other entrees because I wanted to eat everything!

Amy Phorth

I called to see if they were able to accommodate a group of 8 as a walk in and they were able to let us get seated as long we we were out within an hour so the next group could be seated. It is a very small space indoors, but they have tables outdoors. There is a restroom for customers to use, and you can park on the street. Now, onto the food. Everything was good, but it was maybe too healthy for our liking. We left out wanting more things to eat, so we wandered around to find something else. I appreciated the fact that they were able to accommodate our group on short notice, and we were well prepared to leave within an hour. It was a bit annoying that the staff kept walking by us and looking at our table, so we just felt that much more pressured. They also didn't refill our waters until the end when they cleared our table. Food: 3.5/5 Service: 3.5/5 Accommodations: 4/5 Overall, there's plenty of places you can eat around LA, and I wouldn't have to come back here again.

Milani Cruz

Such a wonderful Saturday morning experience! Came with my roommate who got the famous Japanese breakfast and absolutely loved it. I got the omurice and it was delicious as well but I do think that it left a little bit to be desired. The drinks were great and the service was friendly!

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.

Worse food experience in little Tokyo. I was looking forward for an authentic breakfast experience but after a 1 1/2 hr wait it was more of a lunch. As the menu states there is a French Japanese fusion, we decided to order the kakuni omurice, Nagoya hitsumabushi. The omurice was an over cooked egg omelet over a rice drenched in ketchup. The egg was so dry and a major disappointment. The eel bowl was just disappointing because the white rice was wet and not cooked properly. The eel was a bit fishy, and the broth served with it was cold. I’ve had better unagi at its price point. Duck confit was a very salty flavor and not juicy. The couscous was dried along with stale bread. The veggies were served soggy. Not only was the food disappointing and lacked quality, but waited long for a water refill or even hot water for the tea. Service and food experience was so poor, I would definitely not recommend. For a true Japanese experience Gardena and Torrance in South Bay has so many hidden gems at a lower cost. Save yourself time and visit other nearby spots in little Tokyo that offers better food like sushi gen.

Martha Ericka Silva

Worse food experience in little Tokyo. I was looking forward for an authentic breakfast experience but after a 1 1/2 hr wait it was more of a lunch. As the menu states there is a French Japanese fusion, we decided to order the kakuni omurice, Nagoya hitsumabushi. The omurice was an over cooked egg omelet over a rice drenched in ketchup. The egg was so dry and a major disappointment. The eel bowl was just disappointing because the white rice was wet and not cooked properly. The eel was a bit fishy, and the broth served with it was cold. I’ve had better unagi at its price point. Duck confit was a very salty flavor and not juicy. The couscous was dried along with stale bread. The veggies were served soggy. Not only was the food disappointing and lacked quality, but waited long for a water refill or even hot water for the tea. Service and food experience was so poor, I would definitely not recommend. For a true Japanese experience Gardena and Torrance in South Bay has so many hidden gems at a lower cost. Save yourself time and visit other nearby spots in little Tokyo that offers better food like sushi gen.