Tea life
Best LA marathon dining, Yang’s Kitchen, Bruce, Bevel Coffee, Ojai Valley Inn, Park Hyatt Tokyo, MORE
WORK • Thursday Routine
The sound of water boiling
TOMOKO IMADE DYEN • Japanese culinary curator & Japanese tea specialist • Culinary Curation
Neighborhood you live in: Downtown
It’s Thursday morning. What’s the scene at your workplace?
Thursday mornings start quietly, usually with the sound of water boiling. It’s my favorite part of the day: that first pour of hot water into a teapot. It resets my mind better than coffee ever could. My desk is a mix of tea samples, ceramics, and what I call “organized chaos in my brain” — ideas, collaborations, and future pop-ups all floating around together.
Since it’s Thursday, I’ll probably swing by the South Pasadena Farmers Market later in the day. It’s a great midweek stop to pick up something for my next tea pairing, or just a snack I didn’t know I needed.
What’s on the agenda for today?
Packaging new tea products! I’ve been working on a line that reflects my philosophy of tea that connects people, culture, and time. Each tea has a story, whether it’s from a small farm in Ureshino or a friend’s harvest in Tokushima.
Any restaurant plans today, tonight, this weekend?
I like eating clean whenever possible, and LA’s seafood scene has gotten really exciting in the past few years.
Yess Restaurant (currently closed) in the Arts District is my top pick for seafood that feels Japanese in spirit but is entirely its own thing. Chef Junya sources local fish and cooks with a deep understanding of Japanese philosophy and restraint. It’s soulful, not textbook.
When I want to eat well and catch up with friends, I head to Yang’s Kitchen in SGV. They use locally-sourced ingredients and make every dish feel thoughtful and nourishing. Whatever you do, don’t skip their seasonal soft serve.
People often ask me for the best sushi omakase in LA. Sushi’s personal — it’s about your connection to the chef as much as the fish. My current favorite is Sushidokoro Miyama in Arcadia. Hiro-san adjusts his shari (sushi rice) for each fish and makes the silkiest chawanmushi.
If I’m on the Westside, you can usually find me at Crudo e Nudo, for beautiful space, great energy, and food that just feels good.
How about a little leisure or culture?
I recently became a G-Dragon fan (yes, really) and experienced my first K-pop concert. It was electric — the fashion, the stage design, the sheer dedication of the fans. It reminded me that artistry takes many forms, whether it’s a perfectly brewed bowl of matcha or a full arena performance.
Any weekend getaways?
Ojai is my favorite reset. The light there feels softer, somehow. Even if you’re not staying overnight, walking the grounds at Ojai Valley Inn is restorative. And Rory’s Other Place on the main street has a great matcha affogato. It’s become a ritual stop.
What was your last great vacation?
Most of my travel is tea-related, but it never stops feeling magical. Visiting tea farms in Japan — in places like Ureshino, Shizuoka, and Tokushima — is like stepping into another rhythm of life. Everything moves slower, more intentionally. My husband and I once visited an onsen with a tea theme — we literally bathed in tea and did morning stretches surrounded by tea fields. It reminded me that tea isn’t just something you drink; it’s something you live.
What store or service do you always recommend?
Joint Seafood in Sherman Oaks. Top-quality seafood, handled with care, and their chirashi is perfect (order in advance!).
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LA RESTAURANT LINKS: Former Horses chefs’ pop-up Bruce moving from Cafe Triste to Justine’s in Frogtown • Chinatown hotspot Cafe Tondo has to pause outdoor music programming after permit woes • Longtime popup Bevel Coffee opens permanent space in Altadena • People are outsourcing Max & Helen’s line waiting to Taskrabbits • My personal goodbye to Echo Park’s Taix • LA’s best comfort dishes, according to LA line cooks.
RESTAURANTS • The Nines
LA Marathon, dining
Nine spots for sustenance and libations along Sunday’s marathon route. Paid subscribers have access to the complete Nines archive.
Bia Ôm (Echo Park), spectacular Sunset Boulevard-parallel patio for Vietnamese-German fusion and starting line viewing, reserve
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