What I love most about Los Angeles is that even having grown up here there is always something new to discover. LA has so many neighborhoods and hidden gems to explore. Plus there is such amazing diversity in this city, it makes the neighborhoods and the neighborhood eateries that much more interesting.
Take for example when I stumbled upon the sweetest fresh mochi shop in Little Tokyo, Downtown LA just a few weeks ago. I’ve been in and around downtown hundreds of times, but this little shop was not on my radar. Then over coffee and catching up with a pal she asked if I had ever been to Fugetsu-Do. I had never even heard of it when she mentioned it and she was shocked. Immediately after coffee I headed down the street to see what it was all about.
Fugetsu-Do is known for traditional Japanese confections – mochi and manju. It has been operating in Los Angeles since 1903. Yeah 1903 and I only now stumbled upon it! It is run by the Kito family and was opened by Seiichi Kito. It was then managed by his son Roy Kito, and today his son Brian Kito manages it. They continue to supply mochi to Japanese markets, restaurants, and cafes around LA and beyond.
It is a simple space and when walking in you would think not much has changed, but that is also part of the charm. They have a pastry case full of different mochi and manju.
You can buy it by the piece or by the box. I got a sampling of 4 to start. Two of which ended up being the same thing whoops, I need to brush up on the Japanese flavor description for my next visit. The mochi was so pillowy soft and delicately sweet. I preferred the just mochi slices to the filled mochi. My favorite of which was the blueberry mochi, make sure to try this if you visit them. They sell other Japanese sweets and treats too beyond mochi if you are looking for more.
I’m now inspired to see what other hidden in plain sight treats await me in my own city! Have a spots like this in your city? Let me know in the comments below or share with me on Instagram @LetMeEatCake.
Fugetsu-Do 315 E 1st St, Los Angeles, CA 90012
Sweet Somethings: