Mikawaya - Los Angeles (Little Tokyo)

So after our tasty but not quite full dinner at Izakaya Haru Ulala, we made our way through Japanese Village Plaza and came upon Mikawaya, creators of mochi ice cream. Did you know they only started mass producing mochi ice cream in U.S. in 1994? A version of it was invented by a Japanese company, Lotte in 1981. I thought it had been around forever, but I guess not. I think I had my first mochi ice cream in 1997, so does that make me relatively cutting edge? :P

Mikawaya mochi ice cream is commonly found at most Asian grocery stores and Trader Joe's. But they also have a retail store in Little Tokyo where they sell individual mochi ice creams, ice cream, and Japanese pastries.


At the end of the day, there was just vanilla and coffee flavors left. One single mochi ice cream is 75 cents. My favorite flavors are green tea and mango.

I forgot all the ice cream flavors but there was obviously green tea and plum wine.

Jaden of Steamy Kitchen very nicely bought a six-pack for us to share.

Mmm. Coffee ice cream surrounded by a thin layer of sticky rice dough.

But we're not done yet. Mochi ice cream was a great treat but we were still hungry.

Mikawaya
118 Japanese Village Mall
Los Angeles, CA 90012
213-628-6514
Monday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Tuesday to Friday 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Saturday 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Sunday 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.