Thanks for your detailed review @PorkyBelly
I’ve really enjoyed the TFL, Red Medicine and Cuba takeout menus at Vespertine, but I’m skipping this one 'cuz I don’t think Japanese cuisine is well suited for leftovers (except sukiyaki - makes a tasty bento).
Reading your review makes me wanna visit Otafuku for soba and Midoh and/or Kimukatsu for pork katsu. As for unagi, I’m gonna stick with the Binchotan-smoked Kagoshima frozen unagi ($32 - 39 depending on whether from Marukai, Nijiya or Mitsuwa). However, using fresh cod instead of unagi for hitsumabushi style sounds interesting and I might do a DIY.
Too bad Jordan Kahn didn’t consider a tie-in and simply use Meiji Tofu’s pudding-like kinugoshi tofu - now I want to drive to their flagship store in Gardena since FTCers have mentioned it being sold out at times at the local Japanese supermarkets. Robata Jinya used to have a tableside prep of fresh organic hot tofu, but not sure if they kept it on the menu (I’m still longing for the shrimp toast and annin almond tofu dessert Robata Jinya discontinued about 3 years ago).
That’s truly sad about Vespertine’s Japanese style desserts - the strawberry sando should’ve been wrapped in plastic to prevent the bread from drying (at some afternoon tea places they cover the tea sandwiches with a damp dish towel). I’d rather go to SomiSomi for fresh taiyaki filled with soft serve or custard; Yamazaki Bakery in Little Tokyo for “pudding a la mode” and get my green tea fix with matcha kit kat bars.
9/12/2020 Update: More alternatives to Vespertine’s Japan menu
Handmade fresh soba noodles made by @losnooyado in NoHo See FTCer takes by @PorkyBelly Soba and Wagashi @losnooyado
And J_L
Japanese style fruit sando/sandwich at Katsu Sando in Little Tokyo
Green tea cream puff with craquelin at Ototo in Echo Park - please see @hanhgry ‘s write up Ototo - Echo Park | Opening 5/22/2019 - #7 by hanhgry