Sushi & Teri - 1983
The original Sushi & Teri as I remember it. After watching Anime at the Japanese-American Cultural Center what better way to end the day than with beef teriyaki and tempura.
I was there recently, and an elderly Japanese man was teasing our waitress (who is a foreign exchange student from Japan) for a
kankokujin. The significance of his joking became understandable when taken in light of how Mitsuwa, the Japanese market (and before that Yaohan) had fallen to the new Korean market.
Its about the demographic dynamics of any immigrant population. Immigrant populations will start out in the city, then succeeding generations will advance on the socio-economic ladder and migrate towards the suburbs, taking with them their shops, restaurants and markets. Eventually, those restaurants will be co-oped by the society as a whole. Notice how ubiquitous Sushi & Teri is? I've noticed the Hawaiin Barbecue phenomenon. Also, I've noticed the genesis of the Vietnamese sandwich shop.
Further, so long as there is a steady stream of immigrants ...there will always be a Chinatown. Sadly for Little Tokyo, I don't think that is the case.
(Sigh.) In the 80's Little Tokyo had its apex, now it is in its twilight.
116 Japanese Village Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90012
140 West Valley Bl, CA 91776
