Tampopo - Gardena, CA

15462 S. Western Ave. #102
Gardena, CA 90249
(310) 323-7882
Tozai Plaza

I first met Tajima-san (the original owner) shortly before he closed the Rowland Heights Tampopo earlier this year. As we talked, he acknowledged the public's familiarity with Tampopo, the movie, and confessed his desire to build a franchise of Tampopo restaurants along the West Coast. After first opening this Gardena location, he went on to open three more in Costa Mesa, Irvine, and the aforementioned Rowland Heights. Sadly, those three are now closed and this last remaining Tampopo is owned and operated by somebody else.

What I'm about to say next might irk Tajima-san (and others), but I hope he gets to read this so he understands the reality of what's going on. The Gardena Tampopo is not at all living up to the aging movie. In fact, it may be tarnishing the name instead. Soon enough, Tampopo Ramen will no longer be associated with a wonderful movie, but with a bad taste in one's mouth. I hate to say it, but that's the truth. Tajima-san, please come back and open YOUR Tampopo before it becomes too late...onegai!!


Tampopo Ramen: Supposedly a tonkotsu base, this Tampopo Ramen tasted only like pepper. Honestly, I couldn't taste much else. It wasn't creamy, it wasn't rich, and it definitely wasn't very good.


The menma was from a can (I think I have some in my cupboard) and the chashu was borderline nasty. I swear, the scab on my knee probably tastes better.


I think I've said enough. This will be my last review for 2008. The next post will be what you all have been waiting for... |^o^|

Feeling like ramen on Christmas?

I just called all the ramen-ya's in Southern CA to see if they're open Christmas day. So just in case you are craving some noodles after opening up all those presents, here are the results:

Los Angeles Area:

• Hanaichimonme - Los Angeles, CA (213) 626-3514
• Joy Mart - Los Angeles, CA (213) 680-9868
• Mr. Ramen - Los Angeles, CA (213) 626-4252
• Orochon Ramen - Los Angeles, CA (213) 617-1766
• Santouka - Los Angeles, CA (310) 398-2113
• Shin-Sen-Gumi - Rosemead, CA (626) 572-8646

South Bay:

• Men-Bei - Torrance, CA (310) 320-7730
• Santouka - Torrance, CA (310) 212-1101
• Shin-Sen-Gumi - Gardena, CA (310) 329-1335
• Shisen Ramen - Torrance, CA (310) 534-1698
  

Orange County:

• Santouka - Costa Mesa, CA (714) 434-1101
• Shin-Sen-Gumi - Fountain Valley, CA (714) 962-8971
• Takaraya - Irvine, CA (949) 654-1221

San Diego:

• Santouka - San Diego, CA (858) 974-1101

Las Vegas:

• Togoshi Ramen - Las Vegas, NV (702) 737-7003

Make sure you call first to check the times because some won't be open all day. If you know of any others, feel free to post a comment or email me. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! Stay warm and slurp loud!!

Gyu-Kaku - Pasadena, CA

70 W. Green St.
Pasadena, CA 91105
(626) 405-4842
www.gyu-kaku.com

A friend once told me that Gyu-Kaku's ramen is really good! Specifically, they said Gyu-Kaku's ramen in Pasadena is really good! And this was the same friend that said Tokyo Table's ramen is really good. Can you see where this is going? Yup, I'm definitely gonna have to reconsider this friendship over the holidays...hehe.


Goma Negi Ramen: The menu describes it as: "Ramen served in a special SHIO broth topped with ample Green Onions & Sesame Seeds." I will describe it as: "Sapporo Ichiban noodles overcooked in a stone pot and served in a special instant-like soup with a touch of Green Onions & Sesame Seeds." I'm sorry, but I could've made this at home.


The only positive thing about this ramen was the chashu, but that still wasn't even great. There's also a raw egg dropped in that gets cooked in the soup. You know, just like when you make instant ramen at home.


Thank goodness this is a Japanese BBQ restaurant and not a ramen-ya! My favorite is the Harami Miso! So next time you're stuck in Pasadena and desperately craving ramen, just chew a stick of gum until that craving dissipates. But if you must eat the ramen here, please do so at your own risk. Otherwise just stick to the meat and beer!


Okay, you can still be my friend...

Lunch:
FRI-SUN 11:30am - 4pm
Dinner:
MON-THU 5pm - 10:30pm
FRI-SAT 5pm - 11:30pm
SUN 5pm – 10pm

Ducks Restaurant - San Gabriel, CA

1381 E Las Tunas Dr #1
San Gabriel, CA 91775
(626) 287-8743
Ramen Menu

If someone were to tell me a Japanese restaurant in San Gabriel named Ducks serves good ramen, I would have laughed and said "You're Crazy!!" Wait a minute...that actually happened! I can't believe I've driven by this place thousands of times on my way home from work and never realized that (1) they had ramen and (2) it's Japanese. Apparently known more for their curry & spaghetti, Ducks also has a few ramen on the menu. Simply labeled Chashu Ramen, choices of soup base include Shoyu, Miso, Tonkotsu, Curry, and Tonkotsu Curry. But don't worry, no actual ducks were hurt in the boiling process.


Chashu Ramen (Shoyu Base): Beautiful! Definitely well presented, but we all know true beauty comes from within. So after a poignant first impression, it was time to sip its soul...absorbing, exotic, captivating, humurous, fashionable. Oh wait...I'm describing the girl that was sitting across from me...hehe. Sorry folks, now let me get back to the ramen. Wonderfully presented, this ramen was light and refreshing with a decent non-overwhelming flavor. Slightly above average, simple enough to soothe a craving would aptly describe this shoyu ramen. Topped with chashu, bok choy, and a few strips of negi, I felt like it could have used something more. The chashu was somewhat disappointing as well, but like I said...it's simple enough to soothe a craving.


Although most likely not homemade, the noodles tasted very fresh and cooperated with the soup. Evidently, my slurping got a 10 on the noise meter...haha.


Cold Ramen: Basically a hiyashi chuuka without most of the ingredients that make it a hiyashi chuuka. Did that make sense? In other words, it's the same sauce without all the vegetables and ham and stuff. It was good and I liked it, but I'd rather have some soup.


Mini Curry: The curry was delicious! Impressive, but I still wouldn't call it the best. Hmm...it makes me wonder how the Tonkotsu Curry Ramen tastes.


Ducks has been around for a long time. Something like 10 years if I'm not mistaken. Which makes it all the more shocking that I never knew it was here. This can only mean one thing...that there must be others like Ducks hiding in a neighborhood near you! If you have a recommendation, please please let me know!

Hakata Ramen Shin-Sen-Gumi - Gardena, CA

2015 W. Redondo Beach Blvd.
Gardena, CA 90247
(310) 329-1335
www.shinsengumiusa.com

The original Hakata Ramen Shin-Sen-Gumi location in Gardena has been around for more than a decade and is still considered the best (imho) compared to its Fountain Valley and Rosemead siblings. (I just can't believe I haven't posted this location yet!) So where should I start? All Shin-Sen-Gumi restaurants have a lot of character and it probably would be unjust if I tried to explain their mission in my own words, so here's a little video in "their" own words.

Hakata Ramen: As stated in the video, you can modify this ramen to your liking by specifying the texture of the noodle, the amount of oil used, and the amount of flavor added. It's like having your own personal ramen chef! Unfortunately, you can't take them home. Anyway, like I said before, the Gardena location is my favorite out of the three. There's definitely a harmonious feeling of originality that transfers over to the soup. I've never been to Hakata (or just too young to remember), but this is probably as close as one can get in Los Angeles. Its creaminess rivals that other place and on some days may even be better. The toppings (chashu, shoga, negi) are great too. Kaedama Onegaishimasu!


Gyoza: Top 5 for sure!! I got mine with the A-set. Highly recommended!


Feel like ramen on New Year's Eve? This location will be open until 5AM New Year's Day for all post party celebrations. So get yo drunk-a** down there!

That makes me wonder...does ramen qualify for toshi koshi soba?

Sushi To Sakedokoro - Anaheim, CA

8086 E Santa Ana Cyn Rd #155
Anaheim, CA 92808
(714) 998-3757
Exit Weir Cyn off the 91 freeway.

Sushi To Sakedokoro translates to a place for sushi and drinks. So what is a sushi-ya doing on a ramen blog, you ask? Well let me give you a little background first. This restaurant was originally opened by a family friend of ours a few years back and it used to be my dad's favorite hangout. My stepmom even worked there for a short period of time up until it was sold to a nice Korean family last year.

So fast forwarding to today, the new owner's son (Chef Jun, who's also the head sushi chef) is a HUGE fan of Japanese ramen. And for the past five years, crafting a unique bowl of his own has been his passionate hobby. He remembers working in San Diego several years ago, stumbling upon a newly opened Tajima and trying an eye-opening ramen for the first time. The ramen had tickled his soul and he was forever hooked. Ahhh, I know the feeling. Just from hearing Chef Jun speak about his recent trip to Japan and how he ate ramen everyday tells me that his passion is for real!


Kimchee Ramen: Described as his specialty, Chef Jun meticulously began cooking at the small stove behind the sushi bar. His knowledge of ramen is purely based on curiosity. He's had no training and relies heavily on Japanese books and TV shows that explain the improvised art. Throw in some Korean flair and you get the Chef Jun special--homemade kimchi sauteed with ground pork topped on a shoyu-based ramen that also includes egg, baby corn, negi, and sesame seeds. Although still in its infancy, you can taste the potential that his passion will bring. It wasn't spectacular, but I know that in due time it will be. Pretty soon his dad will need to rename the restaurant to Sushi To Sake To Mendokoro!


Doesn't this close-up look at the sauteed kimchi make your mouth water? Mmmm...right? Since Chef Jun is constantly experimenting, everyday might produce a different style ramen. He has no boundaries and no limits. He opens the gate and just lets his creative juices flow.


The noodles are store bought and nothing special, but Chef Jun does envision making his own someday. Perhaps his own full-fledged ramen-ya is in the works?


Oh yeah, and they also have sushi. On nights that are really busy and since ramen isn't "officially" on the menu yet, Chef Jun may not have the time to make it, so you may want to ask first before you sit down. He's looking into buying a bigger stove and hiring some more staff but until then your best bet is to go during off-peak hours.


And now if you're stuck in the Anaheim Hills/Yorba Linda area, there's no need to travel far for ramen anymore. It's a good location and definitely fills a void in that region. Let's be patient and hope that Chef Jun can master the art of making ramen!

Chopstix - San Diego, CA

4633 Convoy St.
San Diego, CA 92111
(858) 569-9171
google

Within walking distance from my first stop, Chopstix had already formed a line during its peak lunch hour so that's how I ended up eating at my second stop beforehand. I also spent some time at BOOK-OFF to digest and rest and regretfully ended up spending waaay too much on manga...dammit!

By the time I returned, the peak lunch hour was over and I was ready to tackle my third and final stop of the day. Like Tajima, they have more than just ramen, but who really cares anyway...hehe. (Btw, it looked like everyone else cared because nobody around me seemed to be ordering the ramen.)


Shoyu Ramen: I really had a hard time deciding whether I should order the shoyu or the mabo, but I settled with the shoyu since mabo might be a little more filling and I wasn't sure if my stomach could take it. In any case, shoyu is always my first preferred measurement so it was the right thing to do. At first glance, the gritty residue forming on the edge of the bowl from the soup triggered a pleasant memory, but sadly it could not live up to that expectation. The soup was a very classic "old-school" shoyu that probably once gave birth to the more exotic versions prevailing throughout Japan today. It was slightly on the bland side with very little exhilaration. The toppings (chashu, egg, naruto, moyashi, negi) were forgettable.


The noodles weren't bad. They just felt a bit too slippery and lacked a significant chew. They sort of reminded me of rockstar, but saying that would be much too harsh. I now wished I had chosen the mabo...maybe next time.


Gyoza: Rarely do I run into a gyoza that's disgracefully inedible. I...am...serious. These tasted like they were filled with dirt. And that's still being somewhat generous with its description.


Overall, it was a great day trip to San Diego. Sadly, the ramen here is only ma~ma~ (for the ones I've tried so far) and somewhat deplorable. I know there is demand, so hopefully that'll force new ramen-ya's to open or old ramen-ya's to improve. Please keep me posted so I can keep you posted!

Hours:
11am~10pm (Mon-Fri)
11am~9pm (Sun)

Santouka - San Diego, CA

4240 Kearney Mesa Rd. #119
San Diego, CA 92111
(858) 974-1101
Located in Mitsuwa Food Court

What's a ramen trip to San Diego without visiting its newest, most highly anticipated, excessively hyped and much overrated ramen-ya that we all have come to love (and hate) over the years? That's right. I'm talking about Santouka--everybody's favorite food court ramen-ya.

Fresh off my Santa Monica visit, this might serve as a good comparison for those that are curious. As you may remember, I was quite impressed with the West LA location and couldn't believe how much better it tasted when compared to Torrance or Costa Mesa. And now I was more than excited to finally complete the last piece of Santouka's California puzzle.


Shio Ramen: I skipped the Toroniku today (to save stomach space) and ordered just the signature Shio Ramen. After a quick 10 minute wait, I was carefully balancing my bowl while searching for a seat. Sigh...Never being much of a Santouka fan, I was secretly hoping to have good things to say today. Unfortunately, this Shio Ramen was extremely disappointing. The soup was nowhere near its piping-hot-capability, the thin layer of oil to trap the heat was non-existent, and the noodles were frightfully undercooked, revealing a more-than-normal starchy disaster. I think I'll blame it on the day or because the place is new...sort of (it's been open since April).


Just looking at the noodles makes my stomach tremor. Something was definitely not right! But just to say anything positive, the ume was awesome!!...haha.


I'm still very happy that Santouka finally made it down to San Diego. There's no doubt they need it and I'm sure that it will improve in time. I'll be back, you can be sure of that!

Hours:
Open 7 days/week
11am~7:30pm

Tajima Japanese Noodle House - San Diego, CA

4681 Convoy Street, Suite #1
San Diego, CA 92111
(858) 278-5367
www.tajimasandiego.com/noodle

It's about time I turned that radiused corner heading due south on Interstate 5, in search of the best ramen that San Diego has to offer. I couldn't have picked a better day to drive down the coast either. With clear blue skies, 72 degree weather, and an abundance of sunshine, it was a beautiful December day for slurping in San Diego.

My first stop was the much anticipated Tajima Noodle House. Arguably, the best ramen SD has to offer (according to most locals), I've been anxiously waiting for over a year now to experience that revelation on my own. Upon reviewing the menu, Tajima offers four choices for soup base (shoyu, shio, miso, and tonkotsu a.k.a. "Tajima Original") and two choices of noodles (thin-cut vs. thick-cut). There's also plenty of rice bowls and entrees along with udon and soba, in case ramen isn't part of your diet. Obviously, I completely ignored those other sections.


Shoyu Ramen (w/thin-cut noodles): The instant my tongue touched the soup, I could taste a strong niboshi flavor that harmonized well with a deep, yet crisp, shoyu taste. Not quite kotteri and not exactly assari, but interesting nonetheless. The toppings (chashu, hanjuku ajitama, nori, negi) were simple and barely worth mentioning. The chashu was very tough and very disappointing. The egg, on the other hand, was delicious. The thin-cut noodles tasted fresh, were perfectly cooked, and paired well with this broth. No complaints there.


Tonkotsu Ramen (w/thick-cut noodles): As I mentioned above, this is also known as the "Tajima Original". I was hoping that "original" would translate into the best ramen that Tajima has to offer, but apparently this wasn't the case. The Tonkotsu Ramen, in my opinion, was far inferior to the Shoyu Ramen above. Light and bordering on bland, it wasn't horrible, but I was expecting so much more. Where was the creamy, smooth, jaw-dropping flavor that a good tonkotsu is known for? Evidently not here. Contrastly, the thick-cut noodles were a welcome change, but probably would have tasted better in the shoyu.


Here's an up close comparison of the thin-cut vs. thick-cut. As you can see, there is a big difference. I usually love a thicker cut of noodles, but I'd have to give a slight edge to Tajima's thin-cut today. They were a lot easier to slurp!


I'm not done with SD. Stay tuned and you will see...

Hours
Lunch: Mon-Fri 11:30am~2:30pm
Dinner: Mon-Fri 5:30~10:30; Sat-Sun 12pm~10:30pm
Late Night: Thu-Sat 10:30pm~3:30am

Japanese Noodle House Kohryu - Costa Mesa, CA

891 Baker Street
Suite B-21
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
(714) 556-9212

So I've decided to return to Kohryu (yet again) in hopes of the once-known-glory doing the same. If you've been following this blog, you might remember how Chinese Restaurant Koryu was historically the best ramen-ya in OC, but after a few ownership changes they just kept plummeting (imho) like the stock market is today. Ironically, "Chinese Restaurant" Koryu had better ramen than "Japanese Noodle House" Kohryu (not sure what's up with that or the added "h"). But it's been 10 months since my last visit and because I'm constantly hoping for ramen improvement wherever I revisit, I found myself back in a familiar spot, reminiscing (yet again) about the past.


Shacho Ramen: Shacho means boss, so apparently this would be Boss Ramen. (Whenever I hear boss in a Japanese context, it always reminds me of Tiger Woods' Boss can coffee commercial...remember that?) In any case, I wanted to order the kotteri shoyu Koi Ramen but they were out of it on this day. So instead, I ordered the other "Chef's Favorite" in the kotteri miso base. Amazingly, this s*** was good! The toppings (ground pork, moyashi, onions, negi, chashu, menma, and caramelized scallions) were surprisingly out of this ramen world. The sweet miso-infused sharpness really tingled my tastebuds with a boss-like lashing. Within minutes, I was at bay and yearning for more.


The noodles weren't very impressive, but I've pictured the average curly noodle below to give a comparison of what comes next.


Chanpon: A good chanpon contains everything you can imagine (seafood, pork, vegetables) and this shio-based concoction, which also comes in miso or spicy-miso, is arguably the best in the West. Of course Foo-Foo Tei's version contains fresher ingredients, but it's hard to compete with what comes next...


...a different noodle. Yes, you read it correctly. This Chanpon comes with a more straight noodle like the ones you'd typically find in Chinese noodle soups. Impressive indeed! I wouldn't have it any other way!


Gyoza: Unfortunately, the gyoza showed no improvement over past visits. A mushy, overloaded mess of garlic and pork that doesn't even satisfy a starving soul. Skip these for something else!


This neighborhood is very special to me and it always feels good to come back home. Although Kohryu will never be the same as I once remembered it, it's always nice to know that it's still there. There's nothing like eating ramen and then scheduling your next Japan trip right next door!

Santouka - Los Angeles, CA

3760 Centinela Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90066
(310) 398-2113
www.mitsuwa.com

After spending the last 8 days under citizen's arrest (haha...whatever), I've finally posted bail and found my way to the rameniac's hood on the westside. Yes, it's hard to believe that I've never been to the "Santa Monica" Mitsuwa before, but since you-know-who has been touting this Santouka for quite awhile, I had to at least come and see if it was better than the others. Unfortunately, the signature shio ramen was sold out by the time I got there (booo...), but I wasn't going to let that discourage the night.


Kara Miso Ramen: Ka-Ra-Mi-So-La-Ti-Do~~. Okay, so I liked it. Rameniac was right. For some reason this West LA branch tastes a lot better than the others. But why? Who knows... This Kara Miso tasted great and really satisfied my constant ramen craving. Although it's not very spicy at all, I felt like it was just the right amount. The toppings (kikurage, chashu, menma, negi) were abnormally normal, but the noodles were magnificently magnificent!


It's hard to imagine that these noodles were even remotely related to the starchy madness I recently experienced in Torrance. The chashu pictured below was also juicier and fresher than I could ever imagine. I was impressed! Perhaps the gateway of ramen in CA does begin in West LA...


Tokusen Toroniku Shoyu Ramen: Since I couldn't have the Shio and ordering the Tokusen Toroniku was a must, Shoyu was the next best option. With disappointment looming in my mind (not from the Toroniku), I was prepared for a mediocre shoyu ramen at best. But first, let's talk about the specialty. If Santouka's Toroniku could talk, I have no doubt that it would sound as confident as Muhammed Ali in his prime. Guaranteed!


Now to the Shoyu. Although it really can't compare to Santouka's signature Shio Ramen, today's Shoyu was incredibly better than those found further south. I can't believe I'm really saying this. Rameniac must be pumping something in the air up here! And the noodles in the Shoyu were exactly as good as the noodles in the Kara Miso.


So maybe I've changed my tune about Santouka (keyword being maybe), but it will still take more to change the score. Hmm...how much more?