Okinawa Shop

I have been looking for Ryukyu (Okinawa) Glasses everywhere, but this is probably the only local store selling them. The fact that you could see the actual products and purchased them right there is nice. And they aren’t expensive. I would probably have to pay twice for the same kind products buying online. Also, a lady working there is super nice and helpful. They are actually travel agency as well. When I plan to visit Okinawa, I will definitely check with them.
Only drawback was I had to go through some trouble to find the business hours. I first went on Saturday afternoon, and they were closed. The number listed in Unilocal and anywhere else was old number. New number is 213−680−2499. I think they are mostly open 12pm-​5pm weekdays, but not sure for weekends. Better check before visiting the store.

I haven’t had sata andagi in over six years since I last visited Hawaii. I grew up eating this at yearly carnival events on the islands. I started to google my area and this place showed up. I used my gps and I thought it was pretty hard to find. Once I got there all I saw was different things from Okinawa and the place was closed. I was like darn… I think the place closed down. I guess the closest place is in Torrance for Andagi and that place didn’t have a good rating for it so I was definitely bummed. Woke up early today to do some fishing and I believe I left the beach at approximately 8AM. This is now 2 weeks from the last time I tried to go to Okinawa shop. I decide to give the place a call to see if they even sell it. BINGO! Tamiko picks up the phone and I wasn’t prepared to talk to someone. I just wanted to see if the place was open. She was super helpful. She said she would make it for me as we speak. She said to go by the office at 10ish. Around 9:45am I receive a phone call and she tells me they are ready. I get to the place and I felt like a little kid again indulging into some very delicious Sata Andagi. I bought a bag of 10 for $ 5. She sells these at local fairs, so she knows what she is doing. You can email her at
. If you are at Okinawa shop and you think you are lost. Don’t be afraid to ask any of the workers about their Sata Andagi. Doesn’t look like a place that would sell it, but ask anyways. It was well worth a second trip.

I shop for my Oba (Grandma) here everytime I’m in the area. I know people mention staff but I’ve been lucky to talk to the same person everytime (I think owner) she’s sweet, awesome, and last time her and my Oba talked on the phone to find a dvd that she wanted. They had it and she is quite happy.

Everytime I go to Los Angeles, I make it a point to stop by Okinawa Shop to get a taste of nostalgia from the very islands I grew up on.
The sata andagi (Okinawan Doughnuts) are always a must buy whenever I stop in. They remind me of my old field trips into the old Ryukyuan Villages when the aroma of them filled the air. They are a bit on the heavy side, but it’s okay to indulge once in a while.
Aside from the doughnuts, the shop has amazing Ryukyuan Glass, Noren, Books, and various other Okinawan eye candy that will for sure remind you of home.
Like the others have said before me, the shop is full of extremely nice staff that go out of their way to help you. One time they ran out of doughnuts, but let us sample some delicious beni imo chinsuko (Okinawan Sweet Potato Cookie).

Try to think of a place that you’d never stepped in before and yet they let you walk out of their store with $ 350 worth of merchandise, waving you off with instructions to mail in a check whenever. And this, after going out of their way to help you.
Yup, check was in the mail the next morning. And if I ever need more Okinawan stuff, guess where I’m headed.

Craig’s right, this place has very friendly and accomodating staff, and is a great locale to find Okinawan «stuff», as opposed to Japanese «stuff» (many Okinawans dont like to be called Japanese, and still hanker for the days of the independant Ryukyun Kingdom)…they are generous with food samples and, if you’re nice, will even serve you hot tea while you’re shopping… the shop isnt on the main Japanese Plaza drag so you have to search a bit for it, but it’s definitely worth the trip if you’re looking for Okinawan items.