JiST Cafe

Chasu hash skillet is a little too heavy for breakfast/​brunch, as it is a skillet of pork, potatoes, and soft boiled egg. It’s still pretty tasty though. They charge you for a side of rice, but their service is really great for a «take a number» type of place. I ordered sencha green tea and it came in a nifty teapot where the tea drips down if placed on top of a cup. Parking is a pain though and it’s only metered parking, but if you check in via Unilocal,you get a free cookie!

LOVE this place whenever I’m visiting LA. I’ve only done breakfast/​brunch and it’s worth the price! Delish and the portions are good. If you check in on your Unilocal app, you get a FREE cookie. Usually I do the hanger over breakfast which is short rib omelette. Btw, the people are very nice here too.

Oh JiST café. I wanted to like you and I heard so many good things about you… Aside from the parking issue (can’t be helped, but add that to the $$$ of your breakfast/​lunch/​brunch)… The food wasn’t all that good… The LOOKS are delicious and appetizing, but it just didn’t work for my palate. The infamous Chashu skillet was too salty, a little too soggy, and there was no crisp, it was just mush… Little too sweet for my liking, and yes it DEF needs rice with it so having a bowl of rice as a simple recommendation isn’t really fair. Also it comes with two eggs, one of my eggs was soft boiled, the other was hard boiled. Consistency people! Especially if it’s your prized dish! The crème fraiche pancake DOES sound delicious doesn’t it? Except, it’s bland in flavor and the maple syrup is… terrible. The best part of getting pancakes here is the aesthetics cause they are some good looking fluffy cakes. As for my chicken and pig meal, which I thought came in a skillet (based on previous Unilocal photos), the meats were good but again, just so bland.
Really don’t want to come here again and I would opt out should my friends ask me to come by. Sorry.

Came here on a Sunday late afternoon at about 2pm. They closed at 3 so it wasn’t too crowded and we didn’t have to wait too long. You order at the cash register and bring a number to seat yourself. Food came out in a reasonable amount of time and the service is friendly. Got the Chashu Hash and a side order of white rice and a strawberry pancake. The side of white rice is a must as the hash can be on the salty side so the rice will help balance it out. The food was extremely delicious and I would definitely go back again.

This restaurant is no passing fad. It has been in business under the Ishii family for 70 years, and bustling because it’s absolutely delicious, knows how to switch up its menu with the times without alienating long time customers, and the owners are always there to ensure fast and friendly service to the customers.
I’ve been here for brunch and the crème fraîche pancakes are obscenely good. They are the fluffiest pancakes in Los Angeles. The famous chashu hash skillet is also very satisfying if you’re looking for something savory instead of sweet.

My friend and I stopped here for lunch on our break after seeing the pictures on Unilocal.It was even better in person. I got the Pork Chashu Hash, she got the Super Huge Breakfast Burrito, and we split a single chocolate chip pancake.
The hash was a little sweet and a lot of savory. The pork belly and potatoes still had their crispy edges, despite being drenched in a dark gravy sauce. Get the rice bowl, because you’re going to want something to sop up the richness. I love Sriracha, but Tapatio might be the better choice if you’re looking to lighten up the flavors a bit with an acid.
The burrito was pretty good. I’m used to dense, eggy, and rich breakfast burritos, so it was a nice surprise to see a balanced burrito with black beans instead of refried beans, ham, and veggies topped with salsa verde. Not too heavy, which was great after the hash.
The best part of the meal was the chocolate pancake. It wasn’t too sweet and was fairly fluffy, but the orange zest whipped cream put it over the top.
5/​5, would go again soon.

Stopped over for breakfast after the Federal Building.
THE AMBIANCE:
JiST is a small café with an outdoor patio in Downtown LA, Little Tokyo. It was cold in the morning so I decided to stay inside and sat at one of their small tables. The inside seats less people than the outdoor patio. You order at the front counter and then take a seat. I spoke with the owner of the café, a young woman, and she told me that the name of the café comes from two (2) family names put together. I thought that was neat.
THE FOOD:
I saw in reviews that a highly recommended food item was the Chashu Hash Skillet (pork belly Chashu deeply marinated with six minute egg and potatoes) so I tried it. I ordered the half order ($ 6 instead of $ 12, comes with one six minute egg instead of two) and it was enough for me. It was very good! The egg was perfectly cooked with a runny yolk. The Chasu was sweet and tender with some crunchy pieces. The potatoes were fried well and had a crisp. I would definitely recommend this plate.
JiST had a check in offer of one (1) free cookie. It was a chocolate chip cookie ($ 2) but I don’t eat chocolate. The owner offered me a piece of coffee cake instead, which was very nice. The coffee cake was dense and to me it had a semi-​banana/​vanilla flavor. It was delicious! Great customer service!
THE TIPS:
Parking is awful and almost non-​existent in this part of town. If you can Über it I would suggest it. JiST still has the same check-​in offer!

Ugh. Love at first sight. Took my sister here for her birthday brunch and she loved it! It’s indoor/​outdoor self seating. Ordered the chashu hash skillet (shared but wish I didn’t), the hangover skillet, and a tres leche pancake because the sign out front said to. I loved the fact that the chashu hash skillet had a 6 minute egg on top, it was the cherry on top! The actual chashu really amazed me though because of how well it was prepared. I was one happy happy girl.
*the kombucha was really good too*

Wonderful Sunday brunch. On Sundays, lil Tokyo has free meter parking so if you get there at just the right time. it’s a win win situation. I called to see if they take reservations but they don’t. They gave me a tip though… on Sundays, do not come between 11am and 1pm because it gets crazy packed. So I set my heart at 10am with my early riser friend.
Their chamomile tea is the only one without caffeine, so I got that to cure my hangover. Did it help? I’m not sure because I got too distracted with the food. We got the chashu hash like every smartie would, and also got the lucky ducky. Both were amazing and there were plenty of leftovers to make its own meal that evening. Do get that side of rice though because otherwise, it’s way too much flavor to handle that saucey goodness.
I also appreciate that they accommodate noobs like me who don’t usually drink tea and don’t know how to work the fancy tea dispensers. I knew something was wrong when I poured my tea and all the chunks were in the way of my enjoyment. Upon inquiring, they chuckled, brought me a new one on the house, and taught me that you’re supposed to put the cup under it, which then lets out only the liquid. Learning new things everyday! It was my fault too, since it seems like they normally do explain but I had been in the bathroom so they had left my tea there.
Only lament? Being too hungover to redeem my cookie. Womp.

Why is the main picture for this café some guy complaining about paying 91 cents for water? Kinda random. But hey, fuck it. Don’t let it dissuade you from coming in and getting some delicious break fast food. The chashu hash was as good as advertised, as were the pumpkin chai pancakes.
If you come with a friend or significant other, share your dishes to truly enjoy the variety of tasty delights that this place has to offer. If you come by yourself, still get two things then take half of each home. Don’t just get one thing and think to yourself, «Damn, I wonder what that OTHER thing that I DIDN’T get tastes like.» It’ll eat away at you and eventually drive you into madness. Trust me; I’ve been there.

4.5 stars
Great and nice little café in Little Tokyo. Came here here on a Saturday morning before 10. Parked adjacent to Judge John Aiso St with metered parking ($ 1.50 every half hour with a 2 hr max). My cousin and I were greeted right away upon entry. The people that work here were super friendly and look like they have a few regulars.
We were given menus and sat down (already knew what I was gonna order beforehand, thanks Unilocal!haha). When you’re ready, you order at the register and they give you your food when it’s ready. I ordered the hangover killer which were eggs (omelet), caramelized onion, cheese, potatoes, braised short rib, and some magical sauce from the heavens. Great mouthwatering taste. The size of the short rib was way bigger than I expected, which is a good thing. I througholy enjoyed each bite. I put some cholula and pepper to add some more flavor. I chose wheat toast as my side. It was alright, I was just way too full from the hangover killer, I wasn’t event hungover.
Above the register there is also a chalkboard with sweets which I wanted, but (did I mention) I was already full. I had the Stumptown coffee to drink. WIth the freedom to add your own sugar/​sweetner/​milk or half&half, it tasted very well and certainly woke me up.
I’d like to come back here again in the future to try their sweets and pancakes. In general, menu prices are $$ but that’s DTLA for you,
The elderly lady that works there is super nice and such an angel.

Great brunch spot in the Little Tokyo area of Downtown LA! Come here on an empty stomach and prepare yourself for bold flavors in an intimate yet modern setting.
I came here with a friend on a Saturday morning and it was not crowded at all. It’s a small establishment with about 6 – 8 tables inside and some outside seating available too. When you come in, you take a look at the menu and place your order at the cashier. Then your food is brought to your table. I had the Chashu Hash Skillet with a side of rice. It consists of pork belly and potatoes in a sauce that’s a bit sweet yet meaty. It’s topped off with two hard boiled eggs that you can break and have all the yolk run over your meat and potatoes, all served in a skillet. The eggs were perfectly prepared: runny yolk, but not too runny, and was able to serve as a good sauce to bathe the potatoes and pork. I’m glad I got a side of white rice because the sauce was pretty rich after a few bites, and the white rice helps to calm and cleanse your palate amidst the rich flavors. The pork chunks were generously sized, tender, with a generous amount of fat. A little more meat and braised flavor on the pork chunks would have been better, though. I enjoyed the potatoes at the edge of the skillet that were still crispy! I would recommend this dish to anyone who likes bold with a hint of sweetness and definitely recommend getting it with white rice (a buck 50 extra). It’s a pretty heavy dish, so take your time.
Nice and friendly staff. Self-​serve water is available at the front from nice glass dispensers, which was nice. It is a bit pricey (about $ 12 for my meal), but it was the weekend and I wanted to treat myself to a relaxing brunch.

I really wanted to love JiST but it’s just not that great. I came here for a birthday brunch. Really nice touches with a custom menu that said «Happy Birthday (Friend’s Name)» and the CUTEST obasan. However, the dishes just fell flat.
*I ordered the Chicken and Pigs (pan-​fried, housemade chicken apple sausage patty, prime smoked hickory ham & maple bcon and Bloody Mari Relish): Overall, it was just a-​okay. This is the kind of dish I feel like I can just make at home. Also, the potatoes were just really soggy and not the crispy deliciousness I expected.
*Chashu Hash Skillet (pork belly chashu deeply marinated in family history, with two 6-​minute eggs and breakfast potatoes) — all my friends throughly enjoyed this. The bite I had seemed really great — super flavorful. It’s a little on the oily side but if you’re going to order anything here, I’d recco this dish

This place has been bookmarked for quite some time! I heard many good things about this place and I was dying to try it out. My friend and I were also planning to go to Unique USA later that day so we decided to make it a full hangout day in DTLA/​Little Tokyo.
When we arrived, we were seated outside. It was around 1PM so it wasn’t too busy. We also did street parking. It’s $ 3/​hr but on Sundays, it’s free! Also, it was really nice weather outside (after weeks of coldness here in SoCal).
We ordered the Japanese Curry Enchiladas and the Chashu Hash Skillet with rice. Both were really really good! The enchiladas was good but the skillet was honestly the main star. Though, I was expecting the skillet to be sizzling hot but the dish was extremely to die for! The sauce is amazing. Also, I’m a big fan of pork belly and egg and with these two combined in one dish, I’m sold! The skillet is big enough to feed two people in my opinion.
Definitely will return next time to try other dishes! Though, I’m already sold on the Chashu Hash Skillet

Grab a friend and your dog on a nice day and get the Chashu hash skillet with a side of rice. The skillet is savory and sweet, so if you don’t get a side of rice, there is nothing to balance the rich flavors with. The soft boiled egg is the best. I also tried the omurice, which was not as exciting and slightly bland once you get past the egg. Stumptown coffee = delicious.
I also got a pancake, but it was super duper dense and I am more of a fluffy pancake girl.
Service was wonderful and everyone was friendly.
Fun tip: Unilocal check in gets you a free cookie!

I’ve been meaning to come here for a long while. My GPS was tripping out and kept telling me the restaurant was on the wrong side of the street so beware!
I wanted something light and decided to go with the roasted veggies salad for lunch. I should’ve read the description as it was topped with granola. I didn’t love it. It just had much more granola than needed because it dominated the lightness in the vegetables and made the salad really heavy to eat.
We also ordered the cha shu hash with a side of rice which I didn’t have any of but I admired it from across the table. Haha. The six-​minute eggs looked so good. The table beside us had the banana and chocolate pancakes that was huge and looked so fluffy… I’ll have those next time.

4.6 stars!
Ok, I came here again today and got the Chashu Hash Skillet AGAIN.
And we also tried out the Crème Fraîche pancakes to balance out the salty dish.
OMGoshh, that pork fat on the pork belly is just over-​the-​top goodness! It’s marinated to perfection! Melt in your mouth perfection!
And the pancakes were as fluffy as everrr. SO GOOD! I don’t know what they put in their pancakes or the cream, but the pancakes just taste ridiculously amazing.
And wonderful ambience. Outdoor seating is very posh too with the cloth canopy going on.

I’ve been waiting for this moment, and I was not at all disappointed. Everything I’ve imagined in this chashu hash was what I expected. It’s full of flavor, with a combination of fatty thick chashu, potatoes, and perfectly cooked soft-​boiled eggs.
Also tried the hangover killer, and that was also killer. The short-​rib was perfectly braised, and with the omelet, gravy, and potatoes, this meal sure packed a huge punch.
While both of these dishes honestly did not need tapatio, I LOVE adding a little kick to these meals and that’s Tapatio really did its job. This place is worth the hype and I’m definitely coming back to try some of their thick pancakes, and obviously the chashu hash.

I’ll make this short and sweet, just like me (not the short, just the sweet)
3 Reasons Why Your Hangover Needs JiST
1) Chashu Hash Skillet & Chicken and Pigs
Monster breakfast dishes probably invented by some drunk chef with his buddies after a handle of Jack. The most umami tasting two dishes you can ever get out of a breakfast that will leave your stomach very satisfied. The has has a gangster pork belly chashu that will overwhelm your taste buds with two 6-​minute eggs… that’s 6… not 5… not 7. Chicken and Pigs is a more simple but delicious dish with sausage, ham, and bacon in a scramble of sorts.
2) Fresh air & Stumptown Coffee
What better spot to go to than an open air patio after a long night of drinking to sit in the sun and let the alcohol bake out of your skin while you cure that hangover with an ice cold Stumptown coffee.
3) Free Cookie with Unilocal Check In
I’ve said it 10 times and lets go ahead and make it 11, I love free stuff. I wake up in the morning scheming on how I get more of it. This cookie though… is mother of all cookies, perfectly baked and thin so you don’t feel like a fatty.
Get the JiST?!

I’ve must’ve walked by this place hundreds of times while eating in Little Tokyo before I even stepped foot inside. Wife took a day off during the week and decided to come here for lunch. Think she found this place from someone she was following on IG and saw a picture of their chasu hash skillet.
Must’ve circled around the block 3 – 4 times before finding street parking a few blocks away. Should’ve just pulled into a lot and paid the flat or hourly rate.
Quickly browsed the menu and stuck with the chasu hash skillet. Make sure to check in to receive the free cookie. Food came out 10 mins later and though the chasu was flavorful it was a tad bit salty for me. Glad I ordered a side of rice which was supposed to mop up all the sauce but instead it balanced out some of the saltiness. Decent sized portion and ended up packing some of it to go for the next day. The 6 min egg was a tad bit over done in my opinion as I would’ve preferred a runnier yolk.