Video game fans in L.A. have a new destination to add to their list. Square Enix, the company behind Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest, and NieR: Automata, has opened its first-ever permanent cafe and shop in the United States, landing in the heart of Little Tokyo.
The Square Enix Cafe & Shop Los Angeles, located at 316 E 1st St., opened its doors on June 13 with a limited soft-opening menu, followed by a full grand opening on June 20. The space combines themed dining with an attached merchandise shop, the result of a partnership between Square Enix and Little Akihabara that began in 2024.
What can you expect?
The menu draws from multiple Square Enix franchises, offering themed drinks, entrées, and desserts inspired by titles including Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest, and NieR: Automata. Guests with dining reservations also receive collectible novelty items, including random placemats and coasters featuring franchise artwork.
Beyond the dining room, the merchandise shop is open to all visitors, no reservation required. It carries official Square Enix products alongside launch-exclusive items made specifically for the L.A. location, including an L.A. Chocobo T-shirt and an L.A. Slime T-shirt. Outside, a 120-by-20-foot mural wraps the building’s exterior wall, depicting Chocobo and Slime — mascots of the Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest franchises — surfing on a Los Angeles beach.
The opening also marks a milestone for Little Tokyo itself, a neighborhood long known as a hub for Japanese culture in Los Angeles. With Square Enix now anchored on 1st Street, the area adds another draw for fans
📍 Location: 316 E 1st St., Los Angeles, CA 90012
🍽️ Menu: Themed drinks, entrées, and desserts inspired by Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest, and NieR: Automata
🛍️ Shop: Open to all visitors without a dining reservation; exclusive L.A. merchandise
🎟️ Reservations: Required for cafe dining, until walk-in service becomes available
