Working Late, Candy J-pop, and Tofu - Tokyo Fast Food, West Los Angeles

Tokyo Fast Food is a little joint on Santa Monica Boulevard in West Los Angeles that reminds me of two places that I went to at least three times a week during college in Berkeley. In fact, it’s so similar, that for the longest time, I kept inadvertently calling the place Japanese Snacks, the name of the restaurant in Durant Square where I would order yakisoba at 2 am. I actually ate Tokyo Chicken with an overly generous squeeze of sriracha more often from Yokohama Station two doors down, but who's really keeping track here? Japanese Snacks, Tokyo Fast Food, Yokohoma Station – they all sound fabulously fast and cheap to me.

I actually never realized that Tokyo Fast Food was there in that same plaza as Mama Voula’s. It’s right next door, but I ignore any and all neon, human, or other distractions when I’m there, as I am always focused on spanakopita, souvlaki, and hummus. Nothing gets in the way of my hummus and pita. Nothing.

Except Tokyo Fast Food.

I was driving home from work, very late, as usual, and already knew that even if there were actual food items in my refrigerator or pantry with which to cook, I didn’t have the energy. Cold cereal? Yeah, if I actually had milk. Microwave popcorn? *gasp!* Instant ramen again?! I couldn’t bear the thought of yet another massive marketing project week “meal.” Oh, where is my veggie Fat Slice sanctuary from Econ 100A all-nighters? Where is my fraternity-fling ride to Sun Hong Kong? Where or where has my little Top Dog gone?!

The sign for the plaza was up there on my right, and remembering that I had seen Tokyo Fast Food a few times on visits to Mama Voula’s, I pulled into the tiny parking lot. Ending up at Mama Voula’s for a gyro crossed my mind, but tonight, it was now or never for Tokyo Fast Food. Besides, it was late, I was tired and “fast” was the actually the most appealing word at that moment.

The inside is fluorescent bright, with a few simple tables and chairs. No frills, except the few wire racks of Japanese and other entertainment publications for your persuing pleasure while you wait for a to-go order or...ignore your date. With my eyes scanning the illustrated menu board that spans the entire width of the restaurant’s back wall (sounds big but the place is pretty small), I walked toward the back of the restaurant. A severe looking woman was standing behind the counter, armed with a notepad and pen. I stepped up to the counter and was somewhat suprised when the woman asked “May I take your order?” in a soft, sweet, smiling voice that didn’t match her outside appearance. The menu has everything I would expect from a Japanese fast food restaurant like teriyaki, tempura, katsus, rice bowl, even a few sushi-like rolls, but I just ordered a simple tofu and vegetable dish – the picture looked very much like the Tokyo Chicken I used to order in college, just without the chicken.

All the other patrons in the restaurants couldn’t have been more than 25 years old. Twenty-seven max, and that’s only because Asian age is difficult to determine. A lively, pink-faced group of Japanese students dressed like a colorful candy J-pop band kept my attention occupied as I sat at a table waiting for my order. They had spiky dyed hair, funky clothes and interesting accessories. For some reason, I kept picturing them suddenly freezing their animated conversation at the sound of a gong, popping into a formation in perfect sync, then breaking out into a choreographed lip-sync routine around the restaurant.

It’s called Tokyo Fast Food for a reason. My tofu and veggie came up so soon after ordering that I had to wonder if the cook had read my mind and started throwing ingredients into a wok before the woman at the couner had even taken the time to write down the order, ring me up on the register, and hand off the order-slip to him. Fast.

My order came with white rice and a small portion of marinated bean sprouts – kind of like bahn-chan. The tofu and vegetables was just a simple stir-fry of tofu with mostly cabbage, a few strands of carrots, and onions, seasoned with soy sauce, sesame oil, and spices. The kitchen was a little stingy with the tofu, but other than that, the food was fine, just as I would expect for paying so little at a place called Tokyo Fast Food. The marinated vegetables were fine. The white rice was fine. The tofu and veggies could have used a little more spice, but hey, that’s what sriracha is for.

Tokyo Fast Food is not a place for which I’d drive from Chino to West LA, or even from Brentwood to West LA, for that matter. LOL! But on the way home from a late night at work, or pulling an all-nighter for organic chemistry, or filming a candy J-pop music video, Tokyo Fast Food is pretty much...okay.

And if they really did break out in a dance number right there in the restaurant, that would have even beaten watching Iron Chef over a bowl of bi-bim-bahp, no question. LOL!

Tokyo Fast Food
11921 Santa Monica Boulevard (@ Brockton)
West Los Angeles, CA 90025
310.478.3603

tags :: food : and drink : japanese : restaurants : reviews : los angeles