DJ TJ Johnson has opened Wax on Hifi, a vinyl café and restaurant that blends Japanese and Creole flavors with her passion for music.
Johnson, born in Atlanta and now based in Los Angeles, pursued dual careers in DJing and software engineering. A transformative stay in Japan inspired her to bring the unique experience of Tokyo’s vinyl bars to the U.S., creating a space where music and cuisine come together.
In an interview with Essence, Johnson described the meticulous and calming atmosphere of Tokyo’s record bars, where precision and care are paramount. “It’s a very technical experience,” she said. “I’m trying to fit it for the American palate because here, when we go out to listen to music, we go out to have fun and socialize.”
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Wax on Hifi is located on Fifth Street, filling a void in the community where no other restaurants have existed for blocks. The space, once legendary but empty since 2018, has been revived by Johnson, who is thrilled to offer a place where people feel safe, welcome, and part of a community.
Johnson’s restaurant blends quality music with excellent food, curating daily playlists that are pre-approved by staff, while also encouraging customer requests—a nod to her DJ background. “I wanted to flip the old joke about DJs not taking requests on its head,” she said. “We even ask customers if there’s anything specific they’d like to hear.”
Inspired by Yukari Matsushita, a professional chef who owns Tokyo Cooking Studio and studied in New Orleans and San Francisco, Johnson has crafted a menu that features matcha pancakes, shoyu ramen, wagyu patty melts, and a variety of cocktails. Wax on Hifi has quickly become a hotspot for LA’s elite and celebrities, offering a sensory experience that blends music and cuisine.
Johnson is also expanding her business digitally, with plans to develop an online request system where customers can browse the café’s record collection and make selections in advance.
With Wax on Hifi, LA has a new cultural gem, and Johnson, a trailblazing Black woman, is poised to make a lasting impact in the world of music and cuisine.
