Koraku Restaurant - Los Angeles, CA

314 E. 2nd St.
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 687-4972


Koraku, Kouraku, or Ko-raku. Is there a purpose for the inconsistent translation of their name throughout the restaurant? All I ask is that it doesn't translate over to their ramen! Today I decided to take a trip downtown since I've pretty much conquered OC (at least for the time being). After finding a place to park and overcoming the initial nostalgia of playing in Little Tokyo as a child, I walked on over to the ramen-ya closest to the parking lot--Ko.u.ra.ku. I'm sure that I've been here before but for what it's worth, I couldn't remember.

Shoyu-ramen: I've had better and I've had worse. The soup base was a bit on the strong side and even left the yellowish noodle stained brown. Could this be an inconsistency? I guess I'll have to go back again to know for sure. Anyway, the noodle texture was good and the toppings (egg, chashu, moyashi, menma, and negi) were simply average. Nothing to cry nor scream about. I think I'll try a different ramen the next time. Perhaps the mabo or the tonkotsu.


Gyoza: I've never found it odd for an order of gyoza to arrive 15 minutes after my ramen (this is usually the case), but to arrive 15 minutes before?...now that is odd! Especially since these arrived just seconds after I ordered. Were they declined by another customer? Do they mass cook gyoza anticipating their orders? Or do they cook them in the morning and just nuke 'em during lunch? I'm not exactly sure how it works and quite frankly, I don't care. Their existence was quick and short lived. I'll have to order the chahan next time!

Katana Sushi and Ramen - Hacienda Heights, CA

3107 Colima Rd.
Hacienda Heights, CA 91745
(626) 333-7222

It's Q? No it's Katana Sushi and Ramen! After browsing a forum thread on rameniac's site which mentioned It's Q Ramen (Ikkyu), I decided to go check it out. But after calling to see what time they open, I was greeted by a soft "Hello, Katana Sushi and Ramen." Did I call the wrong place? Anyway, it doesn't matter. I still heard them say ramen so I asked for their hours and headed out my door. Anything to kill that Noodle Pluto taste that's still lingering from yesterday.

Tamayu-ramen: After reading some prior reviews about It's Q, it looks like their ramen still lives at Katana. Perhaps the owner of It's Q simply changed their name and added sushi. Or perhaps the new owners also bought the ramen recipe. Or perhaps they just enslaved the old ramen chef. Or perhaps I know nothing at all. What I do know is that I actually really enjoyed this hakata-style tamayu-ramen. It also eerily reminded me of Shimadaya's nama tonkotsu ramen in the package. Could this just be a pure coincidence? Hmmm...it makes me wonder. Well the soup base was oily and excellent. The noodles were slightly undercooked but I didn't mind since it beats being overcooked. The toppings were simple (thinly sliced moist chashu, negi, goma, and konbu), giving the ramen some individuality. And with Utada Hikaru singing First Love in the background (natsukashii), I virtually fell in love with Tamayu!


Gyoza: For just $7 total, my Tamayu-ramen came with three pieces of gyoza. Not bad! Although these were deep-fried and reminded me more of fried wontons than gyoza. They even came with their own sweet ponzu-like sauce. Good but not great. There are plenty of other items to choose from for this ramen-combo so you might be better off skipping the gyoza here.

Noodle World - Pasadena, CA

24 W. Colorado Blvd.
Pasadena, CA 91105
(626) 585-5885
www.noodleworld.com

If you're stuck in Old Town Pasadena desperately craving some ramen, then you're better off walking across the street to Famima!! and checking out their instant noodle collection. Noodle World (formerly Boba World) is not known for their ramen and quite frankly I don't understand why they even bother to have it on the menu. If this were the only noodle shop in the world that served ramen, I would probably be heading the next NASA expedition in search of ramen on Mars!

Ramen: Not much to rave about here so I'll try to make it brief. The soup smelled and tasted like shiitake. It reminded me of udon broth. I think this might be a new species of ramenudon--something that probably should be extinct if you ask me. The noodles were on par with the worst of them and the toppings were even worse. I particularly detest cilantro in my ramen and the chashu (or what looked like chashu) tasted more like processed chicken or some other four-legged furry animal. Normally a HUGE fan of menma, I couldn't bare to eat these. At least they had some decent smoothies to wash most of the rancid taste out of my mouth.


Extra Famima!! pics (NOT NOODLE WORLD!):

Oki Doki Asian Cuisine - Costa Mesa, CA

At first glance you may not think Oki Doki serves ramen, but a closer look at the menu reveals an obscure shoyu-ramen surrounded by various Asian dishes from Japan, Vietnam, China, and Korea. Located near what I call Costa Mesa's "ramen whirlpool" and owned by the same owner of San Shi Go Japanese Restaurant in Laguna Beach, it's not surprising that ramen made it onto the menu here, albeit just one type--shoyu. An added benefit of this restaurant is that it will also accommodate your not-so-crazy-about-ramen-like-you-are friends, since ramen is not their main dish.

Shoyu-ramen: Not the prettiest looking ramen, but also not their main focus. After all, looks aren't everything. The soup base was very oily and loaded with garlic that pleased my soul. You can distinctly taste some other Asian influences involved which makes this ramen very unique. The toppings (chashu, egg, naruto, moyashi, menma, and glazed scallions) were average and almost went unnoticed. The noodles definitely need some more work too. But I'll let it slide since this isn't their specialty. Overall, this ramen was enjoyable and worth it. I'll have to head back someday, not only for the ramen but for all the other oishii-looking dishes.

Foo Foo Tei - Hacienda Heights, CA

15018 Clark Ave.
Hacienda Heights, CA 91745
(626) 937-6585

After a nice morning ride on my motorcycle that worked up an appetite, I thought I'd head on over to Foo Foo Tei to see what all the rave was about. Upon arrival, I wondered in amazement how a ramen-ya could be located in this unusual industrial neighborhood and still remain successful. If it weren't for some fellow ramen lovers, I may have never known that this place existed. (Thanks Shin!) Crazy as it seems, groups of Asian people began to arrive by the car loads. The line was already 25 people long 20 minutes before opening. Could the ramen really be this good?!

As the door opened I managed to survive the mad dash and make my way to front of the line--after all I was the first person to arrive. To my surprise (maybe because of the name), the waitresses all spoke Japanese and greeted us with the usual "Irrashaimase." The menu had plenty of variety, but I knew right away what I wanted. The good 'ole shoyu-ramen and gyoza.

Shoyu-ramen: Okay. Let me take a deep breath. This ramen was...outstanding! The light, crisp, flavorful taste of the soup base was perfect satisfaction, even on a hot day. The noodles, slightly thinner than the norm, had a nice chewy texture that tangoed with my tongue. And for the toppings (egg, naruto, scallions, menma, moyashi, a piece of nori, and two pieces of tender fatty chashu)...they were outstanding as well. Altogether a great blend and well worth the wait. If you're corny enough, this ramen might even have you screaming foo foo for Foo Foo Tei!


Gyoza: Contrary to what the picture below might show, this is not your boss' hair piece. So what is it? I'm not sure. Of all my years eating gyoza, I've never seen it cooked like this before. If you out there have any ideas, please enlighten me. Nevertheless, it tasted amazing! This strange crust may have hinted a slightly burnt taste, but the actual gyoza was full of juicy, garlicky minced pork. An unusual sight, but a definite recommendation.

Kiraku Ramen - Gardena, CA

15472 S Western Ave
Gardena, CA 90249
(310) 515-0966

There's nothing like being stranded in the Gardena/Torrance area when in the mood for ramen. The only headache involves trying to choose which ramen-ya to go to. Today I chose Kiraku Ramen House. Mostly because I passed up Umemura and wound up in the Kiraku parking lot debating whether I should go back or not. Since I knew that if I left I would be back, I decided to just park and go in and save Umemura for some other time. Upon my entrance, I was greeted and seated immediately by the waitress. A quick glance at the menu and I was ready to order the usual shoyu-ramen and gyoza.

Shoyu-ramen: The shoyu-ramen was definitely unoriginal and unexciting but overall, mildly satisfying. The soup base had a light flavor that soothed and tickled the back of my throat as it went down. If they sold just the soup in a vending machine I would probably buy it. The noodles, on the other hand, were slimy, clumpy, and slightly overcooked--a huge pet peeve of mine. The toppings were average and minimal (egg, kamaboko, menma, scallions, and two pieces of dry chashu). If I had a rating system, this ramen would not receive the highest but I would still recommend going here any chance you get.


Gyoza: So far one of the best gyoza's that I have tasted! A crispy, eye-opening flavor that leaves your mouth drooling...mmmm. Need I say more?!!

San Sui Tei - Temple City, CA

5953 Temple City Blvd
Temple City, CA 91780
(626) 285-3650

If you're looking for a cozy little ramen house to spend the day slurping and relaxing, then San Sui Tei is for you. Like many "old school" japanese restaurants, there is a nice (albeit slightly outdated) selection of manga to take advantage of while you wait for your food and ponder how current advancements in nanotechnology will improve the lives of countless ramen enthusiasts throughout the universe. Okay, maybe not that last part but you'll definitely find it peaceful.



Shoyu-ramen: Encircled by a deep, menacing bowl, this ramen appeared to be sitting at the bottom of a well. And with each chopstick lunge, I felt as if I was trying to rescue baby Jessica. Anyway, the shoyu-ramen was pleasant but not as impressive as I thought it would be. The soup was light and flavorful (without any oddities) and there were plenty of toppings (chashu, flavored egg, seaweed, plenty of cabbage, menma, scallions, and corn) to satisfy your hunger. The noodle texture, on the other hand, was very odd and strangely reminded me of "cup noodles." If I were blindfolded I may not have been able to tell the difference. Overall the shoyu-ramen was plentiful and well presented but nothing to get too excited about.


Gyoza: Instant excitement from the first bite to the last! I couldn't tell if they were homemade, but to be honest, I didn't care! They even got me to thinking if I should start a new blog solely devoted to gyoza. Go Gyoza!?? Lol! Don't be trying to steal my ideas now.

Chuuka Soba GOMEN - Stanton, CA

7147 Katella Ave.
Stanton, CA 90680
714-761-8007

Hmm...I wonder why they're apologizing ahead of time? (Gomen also means "sorry" in japanese.) Could this be a bad sign??

And the answer is...YES!!!! Literally and figuratively! Let's get straight to it folks.

Tonkotsu-Shoyu-ramen: Submerged in this murky bowl of shoyu flavored tonkotsu ramen, lives a slithering noodle creature that can only be described as...odd. What is this flavor I'm tasting? The soup is extremely unusual, confusing my taste buds with that crinkling forehead sensation. The noodles were even worse! Claimed to be homemade and fresh, I couldn't grasp why I kept tasting charcoal with every slurp. I wouldn't go as far as saying "don't go" to this place, after all we are called GO RAMEN!, but I'm not sure if I can accept their apology. If there's anyone out there that can change my mind about this, please let me know what I need to try!


Gyoza: Lightly burnt to a crisp (the way I like it), the gyoza was a bit more familiar to my taste buds. But it still couldn't fix the damage done by the ramen oddity. And what's with that plate?!

Santouka - Costa Mesa, CA

665 Paularino Ave.,
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
714-434-1101
more info

Located in the Mitsuwa shopping center in Costa Mesa, Santouka is a great place to enjoy a quick ramen after some shopping. Their ramen isn't quite gourmet but it still does a good job of filling that hungry stomach of yours. And don't worry, it tastes much better than the one in that plastic display case. Just be sure to bring your own soup spoon because a fork would probably work better than the spoon they give you. Or you can two-fist it, like I did.

Shoyu-ramen: Balancing a bowl of ramen on a plastic tray in a crowded food court can become quite tricky. And two is just plain stressful! After avoiding any spills and admiring my balancing act, I was finally able to taste what I had been intensely staring at for 10 minutes. To my amazement, the soup was very flavorful but overly oily (see pic below). The noodles had a good texture despite reminding me of the instant nama ramen I had for dinner last night. If I had to choose, I would probably choose the instant ramen. The toppings consisted of a fatty piece of chashu, seaweed, menma, scallions, sesame seeds, and a piece of naruto (not the manga!).

Kairakutei Ramen House - Tustin, CA

17292 Mcfadden Ave.
Tustin, CA 92780
714-368-0233

Originally from Yokohama Japan, the owner of Kairakutei has brought his father's famous ramen recipe to the states in hopes of rekindling that same popularity with ramen lovers of Orange County. And it may be working because year after year I've never heard anything bad about this place. It's located in an odd triangle shopping center surrounded by Mcfadden, Walnut, and Newport Avenues. It may be hard to find so be on the look out for the ramen sign.

Shoyu-ramen: After weeks of trying ramen bordering on blandness, this ramen is light years away. For some people, it may even be too strong. I, for one, found it exciting to meet a ramen with this much flavor. Another indication of the soup being strong was the darkness of the noodle absorbing the shoyu--marination at its best. If you tend not to like a strong soup make sure you tell the waitress when ordering. The chef will be more than happy to lighten it up! The noodle texture was perfect and the traditional toppings (egg, chashu, seaweed, and scallions) were quite the match. Even the uniqueness of being served in a bowl traditionally reserved for udon was amusing. My only complaint would be the lack of menma (bamboo shoots). How can a ramen be without menma?!! Well, I guess I'm willing to overlook it since the ramen was so good. Maybe I'll just bring my own menma next time!


Tonkotsu Miso-ramen: Mmmmmm...miso!


Tan Tan-ramen: Spicy and fulfilling!


Gyoza: Claimed to be "home-made" (in which I don't disagree), it's still far from coming close to moms! But if you have room in your stomach, do not hesitate to order them. One could argue that they are made too big (bigger than the norm), but I think the size gives the big taste justice. After all we are in America!


Chahan: When I first saw this chahan I got flashbacks of all the "okosama lunches" I'd eaten as a kid. It looked so much like a childish plate of chahan that I hesitated to eat it. But after that first bite I couldn't stop. The chahan may have been the best part of my visit to Kairakutei. It's very rare that you find a chahan this good to accompany your ramen. And the good news is that it comes as part of a set. I highly recommend it!

Takeshi Ramen - Glendale, CA

UPDATE: This place is now CLOSED and out of business.


126 N. Brand Blvd.
Glendale, CA 91203
www.takeshiramen.com

Located next to Famima!! on Brand Boulevard, this ramen-ya is far from any other. It doesn't seem to be japanese owned or operated but nevertheless, it's good to see a ramen-ya where you wouldn't expect to. After reading the review on rameniac, I went in with some low expectations, but surprisingly it wasn't as bad as it seemed. My only complaint would have to be the service. I happened to walk in on the day the new waitress was starting and she had no clue what she was doing. But I don't blame her since there was nobody even training her.

Shoyu-ramen: The picture may not show it, but this ramen was a delightful surprise, especially the soup. The soup was very light with a crisp flavorful taste that was definitely not overbearing. The noodles had a nice texture that also separated it from being just average. The toppings (chashu, menma, seaweed, spinach, scallions, and egg) complemented the overall ramen as you would expect. The chashu was a little dry but not as thin as rameniac noted (they must have read the review too).


Fried Gyoza: I thought I had ordered the traditional gyoza with my lunch special but perhaps the new waitress wrote it down wrong. Nevertheless, I'm always welcome to try something different. Like a fried wonton, this gyoza is very crispy and crunchy. The intense garlic flavor pierces your tongue as soon as your teeth sink into the crispy shell. Definite vampire killer. I fully recommend adding this to your ramen although I will have to try the traditional gyoza next time and determine which is better. I have a feeling that the traditional gyoza will be better. If you've tried it let me know in the comments!

Koryu Ramen - Costa Mesa, CA

891 Baker St. Suite B-21
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
714-556-9212

Kohryu used to be my favorite ramen-ya in Orange County up until their recent change of ownership. Now it's just a reminder of my mom's broken english--"I kohryu laeta." Joking aside, the ramen is relatively decent and still may be my first choice when visiting Costa Mesa, but it will never live up to the ramen-ya it used to be.

(I apologize for not having any pics here. My storage card crashed when trying to upload them. I'll take some more when I get a chance to go back.)

Shoyu-ramen: Good flavor, light taste, not very filling. The noodle texture was good but the toppings (or lack thereof) sucked. The disappointment of ownership change is affecting my ability to leave a detailed review...my apologies.

Shio-ramen: Same as shoyu but a little lighter. It needs more than just one piece of chashu and 3 pieces of menma.

Gyoza: The pre-ownership change gyoza was also much better than it is now but I was still pleased with the flavor. It actually woke up my senses and invoked the nostalgic memories of old-koryu. If you go here just to eat the gyoza you should leave happy. You may even want to stay away from the ramen all together and order one of their chinese dishes.