Post #562552 by bigbrotiki on Sat, Oct 30, 2010 12:04 PM

But..!: More info from Bob at O.A. just came in:

"Actually we never heard from Steve since we supplied the job. We did do another job for him which was called Tokyo Kai Kan in Little Tokyo. Your research is very interesting."

Which brought me to find this interesting tidbit of culinary history:

"Tokyo Kaikan - Birthplace of the "California Roll"
At Tokyo Kaikan, Sushi Chef Mashita invented what is widely known today as the "California roll," possibly the first specialty roll in sushi cuisine.
According to Sushi Chef Imaizumi, who worked with Chef Mashita at Tokyo Kaikan, the California roll was created to substitute for a maki roll made with toro (fatty tuna). Because the fish was seasonal, the thought was to create a roll that had the similar texture and flavor as toro. By substituting avocado when the fish was out of season, Chef Mashita was able to recreate the roll, much to the pleasure of restaurant patrons."

...AND like the fate of many Tiki temples:

"Just an asphalt parking lot now, but plenty of good eating memories. I remember going to the tempura bar several times 30 years ago. I didn't know any better, but now I realize maybe it was the only tempura bar around. I remember they served you 12 huge tempura shrimp throughout the meal. There was also a teppan bar and sushi bar. Later on in life I used to go there to drink and meet my buddies--just like Cheers..."where everybody knows your name." I still see Ichi the bartender with the crew cut and glasses tending bar in Little Tokyo on 1st Street. Then I met a friend recently who's mom used to work there as a waitress which surprised me.
Few years before they closed TK's their restaurant group opened a place called Kitiyama in Newport Beach which still exists. I've never been there, but maybe some of the food is similar."

Anybody know that place in Newport Beach? At first I was thinking that perhaps it is still owned by the Tong family, but maybe Stephen Tong was just a partner in the company that owned both:

"International Marine Products, Inc. is a subsidiary of EIWA Group. In 1963 EIWA opened its first restaurant in the United States, named Tokyo Kaikan, in the Little Tokyo district of Los Angeles. This was the first truly authentic Japanese restaurant in America. Tokyo Kaikan is also the birthplace of the now famous California Roll. Presently, EIWA (owns and) operates the Kitayama Restaurant in Newport Beach, California.
In 1968, using their experiences as a fish wholesaler in Japan, EIWA has operated International Marine Products, Inc. in Los Angeles, a wholesaler of fish for Sushi. Since establishing this business in Los Angeles, We have opened branches in San Francisco (IMP Foods, Inc.), Las Vegas (IMP Nevada, Inc.), and Sydney, Australia.(IMP Seafood, Inc.)."