Sake House Ichiza (市座) - Las Vegas, NV

I first heard of Ichiza from edjusted and couldn't resist not trying it before leaving Las Vegas. So as I said my final congrats and bid adieu to the happy couple, I was back to my crazy ramen eating ways that went sort of like this: I walked in, grabbed a seat, and asked the cute Japanese waitress which ramen was the best. Without hesitation she said "Ramen DX!" You gotta love a girl who's confident about her ramen. Anyway, I would have been perfectly fine with talking to the waitress all night, but the ramen was a callin'.

Ichiza Ramen DX: Interesting. Unique. Okay. It wasn't bad. The tangy miso was full of flavor and spice. It eerily reminded me of Saika Ramen from the town of Tenri without the massive amounts of garlic. I only say eerie cuz Tenri still creeps me out. Anyhow, the DX stands for deluxe and it only differs from the regular miso ramen by the big piece of kakuni and half-slice of egg. The kakuni was tender and moist, but I recommend that you split it in half and let it soak in the soup for a few minutes. The center was a bit cold. Overall, I enjoyed the Ichiza Ramen experience. If you ever find me passed out on a casino floor underneath a poker table, please drop me off here. Thanks!


It's located on the West side of the 15 freeway about 10 minutes from the strip. It's an Izakaya so ramen takes second billing here. It's open daily from 5pm to 3am. From now on, I will be going here everytime I'm in LV.

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4355 Spring Mountain Rd #205
Las Vegas, NV‎
(702) 367-3151‎
Mon-Sun: 5pm to 3am

Yokohama Kaigenro (横浜海源楼) - Las Vegas, NV

Yokohama Kaigenro claims to have "the best ramen noodles in Las Vegas" and without much competition, they very well may be onto something. On second thought, maybe they are just on something. I've always said that a sushi restaurant serving ramen has do not enter written all over it; shockingly, that same proverb does not apply here (although I can only speak for the ramen). It's definitely not close to being the best I've ever had, but Yokohama Kaigenro's ramen does a decent job of comforting the gambling soul. And yes, even in temperatures surpassing 100°F.

Kaigen Ramen: I asked for their specialty and got this. It's a shoyu based seafood and vegetable ramen that is very similar to an umani ramen without the pork. Shrimp, scallops, napa cabbage, bamboo shoots, mushrooms, and carrots are only some of the toppings included. The soup is a typical shoyu flavor that is thickened by the sauteed toppings. I actually enjoyed it. Although the mediocre noodles brought my msg high back down to Earth.


Down the street from Hard Rock and a block from UNLV, Yokohama Kaigenro is located in what looks to be an old, vacated Japanese strip mall. It's about 5 minutes from the strip and a good place to regroup after (or during) a long night. Hours are unknown so call ahead to check if they're open.

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4503 Paradise Rd
Las Vegas, NV 89109
(702) 732-1296

Cafe Koraku - Jean, NV

32100 S. Las Vegas Blvd. Suite. 424
Jean, NV 89019
(702) 874-1000

Located within the Fashion Outlets of Las Vegas, Cafe Koraku is your last chance to gamble when driving back to LA. I'm not sure if they're related to the Koraku's we know, but I'm not going to expect much from a ramen-ya in an outlet mall. Could this be where they send all the defective bowls of ramen?


Sandwiched between a Journeys and Perfumania, Cafe Koraku is not your typical sweet-smelling excursion. Surprisingly busy, this ramen-ya only offers bowls of discounted flavor.


Shoyu-ramen: After only 3 hours of sleep and a 4-hour drive looming ahead, this plain shoyu-ramen knew how to hit the spot. It wasn't great or anything close to that, but after a long night in Vegas it became my best friend for about an hour. The toppings (rubbery chashu, menma, egg, spinach, nori, and negi) helped discount the character of this outlet ramen. The noodles were just your average noodle. If you're desperate for some comfort after a long night and on your way home on I15, then feel free to stop and try Cafe Koraku. Otherwise, quit while you're ahead and just wait until you get back to LA.


Gyoza: Disastrous! I've had frozen gyoza that tasted better.

Togoshi Ramen - Las Vegas, NV

855 E Twain Ave Ste 107
Las Vegas, NV 89109
(702) 737-7003

Prior to what turned out to be a day of intoxicated madness in March, coupled with the highs and lows of letting it ride with friends not named Jack, I was able to enjoy the calm before the storm with a familiar face--ramen. When you think of Las Vegas, ramen is probably the last thing on your mind, but win or lose Togoshi Ramen does a decent job of comforting expected disappointments or celebrating unexpected delights. This Japanese-owned and operated ramen-ya is also a perfect cure for that heavy hangover.


Shoyu-ramen: An old-school shoyu-ramen that does just enough to get the job done. Nothing fancy here. Just a full-bodied deep shoyu flavor that works only in Vegas. The toppings (egg, chashu, menma, moyashi, and negi) simply pleased my craving without all the lights and glamor of the strip. The noodles were nothing special either, but they were perfectly cooked and easy to slurp. The friendly staff also made the ramen taste better than it was. I would definitely go back whenever I'm in Vegas.


Miso-ramen: The miso was shockingly strong! A bit too strong. Delicious nonetheless, it's probably best suited for waking you up from that groggy hangover.


Gyoza: The gyoza had a nice flavor, but probably could have used more crisp. Warning: Do not eat if you plan on drinking a lot of beer, unless you can somehow control your burps.