Delicious Little Tokyo, a food festival celebrating the flavors of one of the three remaining Japantowns in the country, will host a series of tasting experiences in the DTLA district on Saturday, June 24.

Since 1884, Little Tokyo in Los Angeles has served as the cultural center for Southern California’s Japanese American community. The Tasty Time Hop self-guided walking tour highlights the neighborhood’s food history. Bites include skewered chewy rice dumplings glazed in sweet soy from the 55-year old Mitsuru Cafe, a Delicious Little Tokyo-exclusive hōji-cha tea-flavored custard-filled donut, a cilantro garnished green tea soba salad from AZAY, a mini tempura roll from Oomasa, and mochi from Fugetsu-Do. The family-owned Japanese confectionery celebrates its 120th anniversary this year, making it one of the oldest businesses in the area.

These hōji-cha tea-flavored custard-filled donuts are being offered exclusively during Delciious Little Tokyo. (Photo by Jenn Tanaka)

The walking tour also includes an LTCC limited edition tote bag and enamel pin. The pin designs include a  Fugetsu-Do logo, soy sauce bottle, a vintage camera, lucky cats, a Japanese doll, homages to Rafu Shimpo, a bilingual, daily Japanese American newspaper that started publishing in 1903, and more.

Sips include Sanzo sparkling water flavored with lychee or calamansi. Wolf & Crane will also host an introduction to Japanese whisky and spirits with House of Suntory. (The Japanese distiller celebrates its 100th anniversary this year and recently announced a partnership with actor Keanu Reeves, and directors Sofia and Roman Coppola, which includes a special limited release of Yamazaki and Hakushu 18-year old single malts.) Wolf & Crane tasting tickets are $40.

For more information, visit littletokyola.org/delicious-little-tokyo-events

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