Aoi: Great Japanese Food
My wife and I have eaten at Aoi regularly for the past 6 years, since we moved to LA. It's a small, family-run place with a typically dumpy Little Tokyo interior - but loads of charm due to the friendly staff and GREAT food. Top recommendations: tempura (best anywhere!), gyoza, spinach appetizer, sake chazuki (green tea broth soup with salmon and rice). Don't go for the sushi, though they have a few offerings that are fine.