The commercial spine of West LA's Japanese-American community, Sawtelle Boulevard between Olympic and Santa Monica is a dense, low-rise run of ramen and tsukemen shops, izakaya, mochi and matcha dessert cafes, sushi counters, and Asian grocery stores. It is less of a tourist set-piece than Little Tokyo downtown, and the better for it — the crowds are largely local and the food is the point.
Evenings see lines outside the most popular spots; come early or be prepared to wait. Beyond the restaurants, the strip has picked up Japanese bookshops, plant nurseries, and homeware stores, making it a rewarding hour of browsing as well as eating. It is the one genuine reason to make a detour into West LA.