Tokyo Table - Arcadia, CA

Westfield Santa Anita

400 S. Baldwin Ave.

Arcadia, CA 91007

(626) 445-4000
www.tokyotable.com

Tokyo Table...hmmm. I liked the interior design. I liked the Ume Cucumber. I liked the Beef Tataki. I liked the Sapporo beer. I liked the company I was with. And I even liked my glass of water. Do you want to know what I didn't like? Yup, you guessed it.

Cha-Siu Ramen: Well, I can't blame them since this is not exactly a ramen-ya, but they still could have made it look like the picture in the menu! If you go to their website and download the pdf, you'll know exactly what I'm talking about. I mean...look at the pic below. You can't even see the chashu or the menma or the egg. It almost felt like I got someone else's f'd up order. I've never been more compelled to use the acronym WTF!


The broth wasn't bad. The menu claims it to be a tonkotsu soup, but it tasted more like a rich shoyu. The toppings (an average slightly dry chashu, plain egg, menma, green onions, and fried onions) were also decent. But for the noodles...a complete ramen defamation! They were Sōmen noodles! Don't get me wrong, I love Sōmen, but what are Sōmen noodles doing in ramen!! That's almost as bad as calling a California Roll sushi!


Gyoza: The gyoza was a little soggy but good. They probably could have used more flavor, but I was just happy not to find Sōmen noodles in them.


All in all, it was cool to hang out at Tokyo Table. Just don't order the hot Sōmen!!

あっち こっち Atch Kotch - Los Angeles, CA

1253 Vine St. #5
Los Angeles, CA 90038
(323) 467-5537

After traveling here and there for the past 10 months in search of ramen, I've finally made it to Atch Kotch, which literally means there and here. Atch Kotch is a ramen-ya that has somehow migrated up the 101 freeway away from the others in Little Tokyo and situated itself in Hollywood where few, if any, ramen-ya's have ever ventured before. Could this be a hidden gem? Umm...probably not according to the reviews on Yelp, but let's just see for ourselves.


Parko ramen (パーコー　ラーメン): Parko, Paiko, Paako...whatever. I guess there is no standard for fried pork ramen. Anyway, this ramen was very very bland. I thought it was a joke, but April fools day was four days ago. The soup had a burnt taste without any flavor and quite honestly felt like I was licking cardboard. The toppings (fried pork, menma, negi, and caramelized onions) were bland too. This is the first time I've actually eaten a ramen and wished that there was more MSG in it. The noodles were the only good news here. Straight and smooth, they had a nice chewy texture. I probably won't be coming back anytime soon, so me saying I'd like to try the other ramen on the menu would just be a lie.


Gyoza: Whatever you do, do not order the gyoza! A crispy, crunchy outside that was full of mush. I can't even describe how disgusting that mush was. Skip these and you'll be better off.


GO BRUINS!!

Sakura - Los Angeles, CA

333 S. Alameda St.
Los Angeles, CA 90013
(213) 687-6699

If you are low on cash, hungry, and desperate for a ramen under $5, then I recommend buying some nama-ramen from the refrigerated section and cooking it at home yourself. Located inside the Mitsuwa Marketplace, I've always wondered if Sakura served a decent ramen. And now that I've tried it, I can only wonder why it has yet to be replaced by Santouka.

Shoyu-ramen: An old-school ramen with that tangy shoyu taste. A great deal for the huge bowl at $4.50, but hardly a tongue-pleaser. The toppings (chashu, negi, and moyashi) failed to do anything but disappoint. The noodles were のびてる (overcooked)--a cardinal sin of ramen.


The chashu looked like a wood chip, and quite frankly tasted like one.

San Sui Tei - Los Angeles, CA

313 E. 1st St.
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 613-0100

Located about thirty steps from the renowned Daikokuya, San Sui Tei is just another ramen-ya in the neighborhood successfully failing at stealing its customers. Having been to their original location in Temple City once before, I never really cared to visit this one until today. And that's only because my original destination (Atch Kotch in Hollywood) was closed. *sigh*

When I first took the pic below, I didn't notice what was on the TV. Perhaps this is their artful way of persuading me into writing a good review. Should I be scared?...I don't think so! This San Sui Tei is not only a ramen-ya, but also a sushi-bar. Based on my experience, restaurants that offer both sushi and ramen are usually non-Japanese owned (which is the case here) and never very good at either. But I'm here and I can't just get up and leave, or could I?


Tonkotsu-ramen: On any other street in any other city, this ramen might be popular, but being so close to Daikokuya, this tonkotsu-ramen is light years behind. The soup is a nice creamy blend of pork sprinkled with chips of garlic that should please the average ramen-goer. The toppings (egg, chashu, negi, menma, ginger, nori, corn, and cabbage) were average with the exception of its chashu. The chashu was moist and full of flavor. The noodles were crinkly and flat and just like its Temple City location, they reminded me of cup noodles.


Spicy Tonkotsu-ramen: A spicy version of the ramen above. It tasted exactly like Korean ramyun. It's great for all you Chileheads.


Gyoza: The gyoza was uncommonly sweet and the skin looked like my fingers do after swimming in a pool too long--a common characteristic for gyoza that's been thawed. It was edible, but the pre-mixed sauce needed more shoyu.

Fuji Ramen - San Gabriel, CA

537 W. Valley Blvd
San Gabriel, CA 91778

"New ramen place in san gabriel called fuji ramen." That's how the text message read from a friend and fellow ramen fanatic who just happened to drive by it Saturday morning. After seeing the words "new" and "ramen" in the same sentence, I immediately called him back to get the scoop. And that's when we decided to check it out on Sunday. At first I was really excited, but then a ramen place in San Gabriel can only mean one thing--Chinese-owned? I just hope it's not as bad as Mountain.


Red-orange and yellow walls with wood trim. Bright blue and yellow seats. Umm...are you sure this is a ramen place? It's definitely not a ramen-ya! I suppose I can live with the strange color combinations, but c'mon...Teriyaki Chicken Ramen???!!! Are you kidding me?? From the funky decor to the waiters speaking Cantonese to the Young Ho restaurant next door, I braced myself for an interesting experience.


Cha Siu Ramen: So I ordered the cha siu ramen. The soup was lighter than I thought it would be. It had hints of pork, but seemed to be primarily chicken-based and I really couldn't taste any fish. The noodles were clumpy and only slightly better than the noodles from Cup O Noodles. The toppings (cha siu, egg, green onion, and 大根 daikon) were probably the worst I've ever experienced.


First of all, why is there daikon (japanese radish) in this ramen?? I love daikon, but in ramen? That's just so weird! The egg was borderline nauseating...wait I take that back, it indeed crossed that border. I've eaten play-doh that tasted better. The cha siu was on the tastier side, but the texture was tough and far from melt-in-your-mouth. Overall, it wasn't as bad as Mountain, but don't count on seeing me there again. If I ever do go anywhere near Fuji Ramen in the future, it will only be to visit the Peach House two doors down.


Gyoza Dumplings: The gyoza dumplings didn't exactly look like gyoza, but at least they weren't fried. The gyoza dumplings didn't exactly taste like gyoza either. They were more like Chinese dumplings. With that said, I liked them. But I wouldn't call them gyoza.


The meat in the dumplings looked like paper wrapped chicken meat. As you can see, it's not your typical gyoza.

Sumire - Mitsuwa Legendary Ramen Fair

2/15 ~ 2/18 Limited Time Only!

Mitsuwa Marketplace
21515 Western Ave.
Torrance, CA 90501
(310) 782-0335

My last stop on this weekend's ramen fair is Sumire at the Torrance Mitsuwa. If you recall, I just had their instant shoyu ramen last Monday and wasn't very impressed, but I'm sure things will be different this time around. Interestingly, the line at Santouka was still longer.


I must say that there is a lot of MSG in this one. So if you aren't cool with it, consider this a warning. The layer of oil on top also keeps the soup scolding hot, so try not to slurp too fast. The miso flavor was outstanding, much better than the instant shoyu. It also reminded me of Keyaki. They both have that sweet and mildly spicy miso flavor that kills all other miso ramen in the states. The toppings (slightly dry chashu cubes, menma, moyashi, negi, and some onions) were good but minimal. I was even tempted to buy a pack of chashu from the market, but held back. The noodles were excellent and almost perfect. Sumire did not disappoint!


Sumire will also be at the San Diego Mitsuwa from 2/22~ 2/25.

Chabuya - Torrance, CA

24231 Crenshaw Blvd.
Torrance, CA 90505
(310) 530-2749

There's nothing like starting off the new year with the first ramen-ya to open in 2008. Officially open on Tuesday (1/15), Chabuya (with the success of its West LA location) has decided to bring its "real ramen" to the real ramen mecca of LA--Torrance. For those that live in the area, Chabuya Torrance is located where the izakaya Kazamidori used to be. It's also in the same shopping center as Shin-Mama Ramen but on the opposite side of Home Depot. They've been serving people for a couple of weeks now, even though they aren't officially open, so I thought I'd go give it a try before the crowds start forming. The decor is not as nice as its predecessor, but the wood furnishings and trim greets you with a feeling of old Japan. Chabuya Torrance will be a great addition and perhaps give Shin-Mama some friendly competition.


Kara Kara Ramen: This ramen is a spicy version of "The Classic" with ground chicken. I thought I'd try something different since I'd already had "The Classic" numerous times at the Sawtelle location and boy did I make the right decision. The spiciness enhanced everything about the ramen in a way that HGH enhances baseball players. What they need to do is rename this ramen to "The RGH Classic." I'm not a big fan of the thinner Hakata-style noodles but these are as good as Chef Morizumi intended. The toppings (house-made chashu, menma, negi, fried garlic, and ground chicken) were exceptionally good. I highly recommended this ramen.


Shrimp Ibushi (Charbroiled Noodles): If you go to a ramen restaurant who's mission is "to create the perfect bowl of ramen", why would you not get the ramen?? Anyway, this shio-yakisoba was just okay and only worthy of eating if you're not in the mood for ramen. I was really hoping for someone to order the okonomiyaki, but I guess we'll have to try that next time.


Pork Gyoza: If these look a little white to you then that's exactly what I was thinking. They probably needed to be cooked a little longer, but I'll just blame it on the new guy in the kitchen. After all, they haven't even officially opened.


Just a quick note: I'll be leaving for Tokyo in a few days so be on the lookout for some ferocious ramen slurping. My relatives have their favorites all mapped out for me so let's hope I can survive the msg poisoning!

Mitsuru Cafe - Los Angeles, CA

117 Japanese Village Plaza Mall
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 613-1028

Best known for their Imagawayaki's, Mitsuru Cafe does manage to include a single ramen on their menu, simply listed as...Ramen. I doubt that it's a best seller with all the other choices in the area, but perhaps it could be a quiet sleeper in what used to be a booming plaza.


Ramen: A simple ramen for a simple ramen addict. This shoyu-based ramen was not nearly the best, but I still enjoyed it's light flavor and boring appearance. The toppings (chashu, menma, moyashi, and negi) sat lazily in the broth like they've been doing this for years. All in all, this was a below average ramen, but once you set foot in Mitsuru Cafe, you really can't ask for anything more.


On a side note, I stopped by Daikokuya to take some gyoza to go, but I was told that they can't do to go today. That sounded strange to me. I never heard of anything like that...have you?

Cafe Asa - Gardena, CA

18202 S. Western Ave.
Gardena, CA
(310) 769-1010

Rameniac wasn't kidding!...not that he ever does. Cafe Asa is definitely "one of the top ramen shops in town." Located in the same center as my favorite udon-ya, Sanuki No Sato, Asa explodes into the LA ramen scene with some of the best stuff on this side of the Pacific. Let's just straight out say it now--this ramen-ya is a must GO! I've waited hours to eat ramen that's far more inferior than this. I know some of you may be weary of letting the secret of Asa out, but I say we start rounding up everyone we know and start lining up at the joint! I would hate to see them disappear so soon. The only reason I say this is because the place was empty when I was there. Tell your friend's and have them tell more friend's and so on. Let's keep them in business!


Kotteri-shoyu: Kotteri or Assari...that is the question. A great way to keep it simple! Kotteri is the thicker more rich (and probably more fattening) soup base. With plenty of flavor, one sip will send you drifting away into a heavenly dream. The noodles are thin and add a delightful crispness to the whole experience. The toppings (chashu, negi, and menma) are perfect and you even get an option to add others. Need I say more...


Assari-shoyu: After tasting the Kotteri, the Assari was extremely refreshing. But I would still prefer the more intense Kotteri any day. That's not to say the Assari was bad. It still rocks and would bury most other ramen out there.


Kurobuta Wiener: If it weren't for ramen, I might have a blog entitled "GO WIENER!" Thank god for ramen...hahaha. Japanese sausages are the best. I practically grew up on these too and remember having to smuggle these into the country whenever I visited Japan. Okay enough wiener talk, let's move on.


Mochi-Cheese Takoyaki: The other Cafe Asa specialty is their takoyaki and this mochi-cheese takoyaki was surely something special. Give it a try!

Chabuya - Los Angeles, CA

2002 Sawtelle Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90025
(310) 473-1013

After a strong feeling of disappointment was literally trapped in the pit of my stomach, I decided to walk across the street to see if Chabuya had a cure. Okay, I didn't really go in the same day (I've learned my lesson since my Daikokuya-Mr. Ramen encounter), but maybe I should have. Chabuya is probably the nicest ramen-ya I've ever set foot in. I think I was more impressed with the decor than the actual food. Anyway, Chabuya's ramen is famous in Japan (not sure if it still is but who's keeping track). Friend's that live in the area claim that it has the best ramen on the westside. Is that really true? With Chabuya being the last of the big four in the area that I've visited, perhaps I can assist in making a final judgement.


The Classic: A shoyu-tonkotsu ramen that is definitely one-of-a-kind. It's look and presentation is elegant and cocky with what appears to have the endurance and stamina to last a 15-round prize fight, but unfortunately its lack of strength fails to deliver that knockout punch. The ramen wasn't bad, but the flavor was not all there. The noodles were thin, straight and firm like a quick jab to the throat with every slurp. Sadly, they reminded me of an instant ramen I once had that was even more flavorful. The toppings (chashu, menma, egg, negi, and glazed scallions) were interesting at most. The chashu tasted surprisingly more like thinly-sliced roast beef than pork. I guess in the end, I would have to say that the ramen battle on the westside is a draw. I can't decide. If I had to choose one though. I might just stick with the sleeper--Ramenya.


Gyoza: Despite a slightly pasty aftertaste, this gyoza was delicious and 100 times better than Asahi's. The thin, light-tasting skin gave way to a succulent, moist pork filling. Chabuyaaaahhhh.

Asahi Ramen - Los Angeles, CA

2027 Sawtelle Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90025
(310) 479-2231
www.asahiramen.com

Back when I was in college, Asahi Ramen was the only good ramen-ya in the Westwood area. I never considered it the best ramen, or even really good for that matter, but it was decent and always fulfilled my weekly ramen craving--especially during finals. I've often wondered why I haven't been back since those days, but I guess I've just been too busy trying the rest. I even received an email the other day from a reader saying: "I can’t believe you’ve never blogged Asahi Ramen?! " Well here it is. I hope you enjoy it better than I enjoyed the ramen.

Shoyu-ramen: I wish I could say a(aaaah)sahi...but it's not even worth the oxygen it'll take to do that. I think I may have been overly looking forward to this ramen because it was a serious disappointment. The soup was very bland. According to their website, "the broth is derived from meats and 10 different types of vegetables and steeped for over 24 hours." What meats? I couldn't taste a thing! Even the noodles were overcooked. The toppings (chashu, egg, menma, moyashi, and negi) were also sub par. The chashu weren't as dry as they look in the picture, but they still couldn't rescue this review. I think the trick here is to NOT get the shoyu-ramen. I remember the mabo-ramen being good in the past and I've also heard good things about the tan tan-ramen. Next time, I'll definitely be trying one of those.


Gyoza: Do you really want to know how these tasted? They were like rubber erasers with thick skin and a hint of garlic. I was utterly disappointed. Enough said!

Shisen Ramen - Torrance, CA

1730 Sepulveda Blvd #6
Torrance, CA 90510
(310) 534-1698

With plenty of Sichuan-style restaurants located throughout Japan, it's good to see a ramen-ya in Torrance trying to distance itself from the others with a Sichuan (Shisen) influence. Shisen Ramen does this by perfecting their signature Tan Tan style ramen, a spicy spectacle of sensation. Located on the corner of Western and Sepulveda, Shisen (sort of) reminds me of ramen-ya's in Japan--more counter seats then table seats. The waitresses are all dressed in nice Chinese dresses and are very friendly.


Shisen-ramen: An unusually delicious spicy slurp. It's not as spicy as it looks but it was still enough to give you a kick. It reminded me more like mabo-ramen without the tofu. The soup had a great flavor, probably due to the bottom-dwelling ground pork. The noodles were straight and thin with impeccable texture. The toppings (baby bok choy, cabbage, carrots, onion, and ground pork) were a welcome change from the norm. A return trip is a must!


Shisen Paiko-ramen: All of the above plus paiko (fried pork). I definitely recommend getting this one. The paiko was amazing and made the ramen twice as good.


Gyoza: These were so small that I couldn't get a good grip on the taste. They weren't bad, but they had this strange tangy-ness that sort of exploded in my mouth.


Chahan: A bit on the greasy side and missing some flavor, but still pretty decent and better then average.

Kinchans - Los Angeles, CA

2119 Sawtelle Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90025
(310) 445-0031

Happy day after Thanksgiving! Another perfect day for ramen!! My initial destination today was Asahi Ramen (after a reader emailed me to say she can't believe I've never blogged Asahi), but since I didn't have time to wait in a long line, Kinchans was the suitable replacement. Being on Sawtelle during the middle of the day for lunch brought back many fond memories of my college days. Oh how I wish I could go back. Anyway, Kinchans wasn't around back then so hopefully those memories won't interfere with this review. I just want to quickly mention that the service here was great. I was able to get in and out in 20 minutes fully satisfied.

Shoyu-ramen: An average ramen that was somehow better than average. That's the only way I can describe it. The simple soup was slightly strong and surprisingly satisfying. It's not as complex as some other places, but you can still taste the effort that went into it. The noodles, at first taste, felt overcooked due to its slick coating, but after a few more bites they actually tasted pretty good. They even reminded me of my favorite thick soumen noodles that mom used to make. The toppings (chashu, menma, spinach, corn, and negi) blended well with the rest of it. Although the chashu wasn't the moist kurobuta kind, it was still full of flavor. I would go back again.


Gyoza: This gyoza was also surprising. They were very juicy and full of garlic. Definitely not a disappointment. The only downside to them is that the garlic will stay with you throughout the day, but is that really a downside?

Eboshi Noodle Bar - Lomita, CA

2383 Lomita Blvd. #116
Lomita, CA 90717
(310) 325-6674

Located on the outskirts of Torrance, Eboshi Noodle Bar has all the makings of a good ramen-ya. From your typical ramen (shoyu, shio, and miso) to the more exotic (gomoku, kanitama, mabo, and toku miso), Eboshi has all the tools to compete with the best of them, including yakisoba, donburi, and several izakaya-style dishes. As I walked in to grab a seat at the counter, the crowded hustle-and-bustle environment got me all excited. This place must be good, I thought...


Shoyu-ramen: Contrary to what I was wishing for, I wouldn't be receiving anything good from Eboshi on this day before my birthday. All the excitement I felt upon entering came crashing to an unexpected halt. This shoyu-ramen was a disappointing disappointment and that may be an understatement. I couldn't believe how bland the soup was. My taste-buds kept reaching for a flavor that didn't seem to exist. My only explanation for this blandness could be due to the various exotic ramen on the menu that add-in their own flavor. But still, there's no excuse for this shoyu-ramen being so bland. The noodles were also disappointing. Slippery and slightly overcooked, they couldn't hold up and rescue this ramen from the hole it was in. The toppings (chashu, egg, menma, seaweed, and negi) were the only highlight in this mediocre mess. Since I was really hoping for Eboshi Noodle Bar to do well, let's just say I ordered the wrong ramen. Next time, I'll have to try the gomoku-ramen. And yes, I did say next time.


Gyoza: The gyoza was decent. There was a lot of flavor but they still couldn't rescue the ramen.


Chahan: This was the best part of the meal. It's not the best I've ever had, but it definitely kept me from walking out. I would get it again.

Orochon Ramen - Los Angeles, CA

123 Astronaut E. S. Onizuka St.
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 617-1766

Whenever I hear someone talk about Orochon ramen, it's almost always about the "Special 2" ramen and the "wall of bravery" or the nine levels of spiciness. Rarely do I hear anything about the actual quality of ramen. Although I still plan to take the challenge one day, this day was just meant for unveiling the truth behind all the gimmicks.

Shoyu-ramen (Level 4 - Orochon): Level 4 is the signature Orochon ramen. It's your average shoyu-ramen with a little (or lot depending on your taste) spiciness added. To get straight to the point, I do not understand this ramen nor its concept. And I don't understand what all the hype is about and why this place is usually packed. Maybe I'm just old school. I like spicy foods, but I also like it when spicy foods have character. The soup was so bland that it was almost like drinking spicy salt water. The noodles were even worse. They had a tough undercooked feel that tasted pasty. The toppings (pork, menma, negi, konbu, and bellpeppers) were sparse and just odd. I've never seen bellpeppers in a shoyu-ramen before. Now I'm not sure if I even want to try the "Special 2" ramen. Not because I don't think I can survive the spiciness, but because I don't think I can survive the bland ugliness. I wonder if they'll let me try the challenge with ramen from Daikokuya!


Gyoza: These oddly-shaped shumai-like gyoza were juicy and full of flavor. A good way to extinguish any minor flare-ups.

Yokohama Kaigenro - Los Angeles, CA

333 Alameda St. Ste. 125
Los Angeles, CA 90013
(213) 325-2113

Yokohama Kaigenro is another ramen shop situated in the deserted former Yaohan Plaza. Located on the first floor next to the Mitsuwa entrance, it appears to be a nice, friendly place to enjoy a good ramen. Unfortunately, their ramen wasn't very good. I'd rather take the escalator up two stories and eat ramen at Hanaichimonme or Honda-ya.

Shoyu-ramen: The soup was an average shoyu with an unexplainable after-taste. I couldn't quite pinpoint the strange taste but it must have something to do with the dashi. The noodles were crinkled and average as well. The toppings (chashu, egg, baby bok choy, menma, moyashi, negi, and nori) were the best part of this not-so-impressive ramen, but they still couldn't make up for the damage already done.


Shio-ramen: The shio soup was really bland and tasted like sea water--very fishy. The noodles were the same as above. The toppings (chashu, cabbage, egg, moyashi, menma, and negi) couldn't make up for this flavor either.


Gyoza: They looked good but looks can be deceiving. They weren't the worst that I've had, but they still could've used some more flavor.

Mountain - Rowland Heights, CA

18414 Colima Rd Unit R
Rowland Heights, CA 91748
(626) 810-9697

In a desperate effort not to exceed more than ten days between posts, I went digging deep into the Hong Kong Palace area of Rowland Heights only to discover...the...WORST RAMEN EVER!!! I honestly never thought I could find a ramen this bad. I know that ramen isn't their specialty, but come on...this was horrendous. Why even have it on the menu?!! I've never not finished a ramen before no matter how bad it was (Noodle World included), but I guess--like they say--there's a first for everything. After only a few slurps, we asked for the check and left. With that said, let's not waste any more time.

BBQ Pork-ramen: Basically a really bland chashu ramen with mushy, overcooked noodles. It even came topped with not one, but TWO gnats. Yum!


Chicken Ball-ramen: Need I say anything else?...I think not.

Koraku Restaurant - Sherman Oaks, CA

14425 1/4 Ventura Blvd.
Sherman Oaks, CA 91423
(818) 906-0045

I've been working in Sherman Oaks lately so I thought I'd give Koraku Sherman Oaks a try. Having already been to the Koraku in Little Tokyo, I thought I'd order some of the other not quite traditional ramen's on the menu. In surprising contrast to the Little Tokyo restaurant, this Koraku was empty. My co-worker and I were the only ones in the restaurant. Hmm...I wonder why?

Koraku-ramen: If you name a ramen after your restaurant's name it better be good! And indeed this ramen was good but I still think it could've been better. Slightly on the fishy side, if you aren't a seafood lover then you should definitely pass. But I did enjoy it. Since there are too many toppings to name, I won't even try. The soup was a little oily but that's nothing new. The noodles were typical Koraku. I probably will never order this again, but not because I didn't like it. More so because it's just not my style.


Gekikara Miso Yasai-ramen: I didn't try this so I really can't review it. I'll just provide the picture and let you imagine what it would taste like. According to the actual eater, this ramen was really good. Let me know if you agree.

Kyushu Ramen - Van Nuys, CA

15355 Sherman Way
Van Nuys, CA 91406
(818) 786-6005

How often can you sit down at a ramen-ya and listen to an 80 year-old Japanese-American man tell random stories about Manzanar? Not very often, but today must have been my lucky day. Unfortunately, I could only take an hour for lunch so I had to leave right when he began telling the story of how they used to sneak off the camp in the middle of the night, while the guards weren't looking, to go fishing at the nearby creek. I wish I could have stayed longer. Anyway, I feel fortunate to have the freedom of being able to mindlessly travel from ramen-ya to ramen-ya. Being at Kyushu Ramen today has definitely put things in perspective.

Kyushu-ramen: I've seen this tonkotsu ramen mentioned favorably in comparison with the greats--Daikokuya and Shinsengumi--so I HAD to see for myself. So what did I think?...good but not even close to the greats. BUT, I'll have to try it one more time to make a final decision. The noodles were overcooked so it threw my judgment of everything else off a bit. The chashu was flavorful but nowhere near as moist as Daikokuya. The rest of the toppings (egg, seaweed, spinach, naruto, menma, and negi) were just along for the swim.


Shoyu-ramen: The soup was very dark and that darkness transferred over to the noodles in discoloring fashion. The strong flavor was bearable, but not what I've been used to. The toppings (chashu, menma, egg, naruto, spinach, and negi) were great, but they also absorbed much of the soup's color. If your taste buds yearn for strong, bold flavor, this ramen is for you.


Gyoza: There are two-types of gyoza served here: A regular gyoza (seen below) and a house special gyoza. I wasn't quite sure what the main difference was, but the house special gyoza tasted a bit more garlicky. Both were good but I'd rather order the regular gyoza from now on. You can also choose between pork or chicken.

Hanashima - Rowland Heights, CA

1738 1/4 Nogales St.
Rowland Heights, CA 91748
(626) 839-5906

Literally translated, Hanashima means Flower Island. A strange name for a ramen-ya, but thank goodness names don't make the ramen. Sandwiched between a Korean restaurant and a laundromat, could Hanashima be that ramen rose which grows from concrete? Early signs say no, but I've been wrong about first impressions before. Plus, the Chinese waiter/manager speaks fluent Japanese and claims to have been born in Japan.



Shoyu-ramen: I honestly expected worse. This shoyu-ramen wasn't quite bland, but it's definitely on the lighter side as far as taste goes. The soup also had a minor sweetness to it that made it stand out. The crinkled noodles were much like the ones you'll find at most ramen-ya's. Not original but they still tasted good. The toppings (chashu, baby bok choy, menma, negi, naruto, and nori) all tasted very normal and unimpressive.


Mabo-ramen: This mabo-ramen was created by injecting the shoyu-ramen with anthrocytes. I think I've found the world's first bionic ramen! Ten times better than the shoyu, this spicy specimen took me through a full spectrum of emotions. I highly recommend it if you're in the mood for mabo. The only negative for me was the size of the tofu. Bigger chunks would have been better.


Gyoza: A little too much meat, but otherwise delicious. Plenty of garlic, but not too overwhelming. A good companion to the ramen.