This is just my opinion, what a lovely and fun restaurant. Location: Parking lot is small, but the restaurant is lively and intimate. It is an interesting and welcoming restaurant and has a great atmosphere. I also love how the location has Japanese and Thai artwork all over. 4/5 Staff: The owner is super kind and helpful. She has a lot of passion and obviously cares about her customers. She is adorable and works very hard. I also thought that her staff was nice and attentive. 5/5 Price: I feel that the food is well priced and competitive. The serving portions meet my expectations and of course I will always say I want more, but that is unrealistic. 4.5/5 Food: Tonkatsu Chicken Curry Rice: Absolutely the dish I miss from Japan and this has that comforting dish vibe I used to have at home or in Japan. I highly recommend and love how this makes me warm and happy after eating it. 5/5 sorry no photo but my favorite dish Teriyaki Chicken Domburi: Simple, delicious, and just what I wanted. 4/5 Vegetable Tempura: Very light, delicious, and it is what it says it is. This isn't too fancy or trying to be different. 4.5/5 Conclusion: I had a great time here and I ordered a lot of food to go (sorry I do not have photos or reviews for everything). This is a place I recommend you stop here when you want some well done japanese dishes to cheer you up or need a heart filling dish. My Score: 4.5/5 Yelp Score: 5/5 read more

Crane & Elephant - Vegetable Tempura - Ramen Near Me - Canoga Park, California

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Love coming to Crane & Elephant. It's become a nice go to when my husband and I are craving a nice warm and comforting meal. We especially enjoy talking to the employees and owner who are just so warm hearted. Parking can be sparse depending on what time you come but we haven't had any issues just yet. Their space is nice for watching the World Cup and is split into two in case you have a bigger group or smaller group. Can't wait to come back again! read more

So far everything we have ordered there was amazing!!! My favorite is the katsu curry. What's even better is they are open late :) go check out this place Service was great. Chef even walked around and gave explanations of the food. So cute. read more

No Saturday lunch crowd. However, parking is limited. We had to park on the street. The place looks bigger inside. Decor has Japanese temple on one side and Thai buildings on the other. Gracious host greeted us. She walked us through the menu. We got Takoyaki, Tonkatsu ramen and Zaru Udon. The food is tasty but a bit salty for me. Takoyaki was nice and hot. Crunchy outside and soft inside. The toppings had a lot of red ginger that was overpowering the balls. Tonkatsu was nicely plated. There were a little of toppings. Ramen was chewy and broth warm not hot. Zaru Udon noodles (I think) were not handmade. I would skip this item maybe even suggest to remove from the menu. In my opinion, the highlight is the noodles but it did not do it justice. Noodles were not chewy but slightly overcooked. The sauce is heavy on soy sauce. This would have been a perfect summer dish. read more

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Finally decided to check this place out after seeing it on my radar for a bit! Parking was nice and easy but shared with other stores. Lots of seating with great ambiance. Waiter was very attentive and the food came not long after. We ordered ramen, curry and a bento (not pictured). Ramen was decent but the curry was very rich and delicious. Will definitely be back if in need for a late dinner! read more

Crane & Elephant - Ton Katsu Curry - Ramen Near Me - Canoga Park, California

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Nice spot to get some ramen and open late until 2am. Really friendly service from our server, did not catch her name but she explained all the spice levels. We went with hot which is right before it really kicks up (see menu). We like the heat and "hot" was just right. We had the Tan Tan Men soup which was flavorful. Think Dan Dan but a soup. We also had the Ton Katsu Curry. Great sauce, and tender pork. We tried the side of sausage. I like how they were crispy, but honestly tasted like hot dogs, maybe they were?!? No beer, which would have went well with the dishes. Should have asked if byob is ok. Parking in the lot and on the street in neighborhood. read more

Crane & Elephant - Ramen Near Me - Canoga Park, California

I had higher expectations of this place based on the reviews. I had the chicken katsu which was mid at best. Overpriced for the portion size. Parking is tight depending on the hour. My food was however ready quickly and the place inside was clean. read more

Crane & Elephant - Chicken Katsu Curry - Ramen Near Me - Canoga Park, California

It's taken Jim G. and I forever to finally get to this tasty spot; glad we did! Parking lot is small and looks like door-dent central; luckily, there is ample street parking. They are also open late, which seems rare out here in the Valley! Not too busy when we got there and grabbed a booth. Friendly server (whose name I did not get) explained to us that the ramen and curry come mild, medium, or hot, or, if you're more daring, there is a "heat challenge" for $1 extra with 3 or 4 more intense heat levels on the menu. We went with the basic 'hot' which had a nice kick and, more importantly, good flavor. We enjoyed the Tan Tan Men ($19.95) and the Ton Katsu Curry ($18.95). Both were great portion sizes and full of flavor. We also ordered a side of Sausage ($6), which tasted a bit like hot dog. Probably wouldn't order that again. I thought I saw Asahi in the cooler and was excited, but, sadly it's non-alcoholic. A cold beer or two would be perfect with the food. We learned after the fact that we can byob, so we will be doing that next time. read more

I got a tonkatsu curry (hot), which wasn't very spicy, but their spicier ramen was actually quite spicy, so I'll have to explore the extra hot options next time. The tonkatsu was quite crispy, just the way I like it, and the portion size was generous. The inside is well lit and very roomy, but the parking lot is small so you may need to find street parking during more crowded hours read more

Crane & Elephant - Tonkatsu curry - Ramen Near Me - Canoga Park, California

Hungry and saw Crane & Elephant's pictures of ramen on Yelp, therefore I decided to give them a try. We were greeted right upon entering and given instructions to pick a spot for dine in. Jes was our server's name on our bill, although our waitress didn't bother to introduce herself --she was kind and attentive despite that. Our water glasses were always filled and we were checked on several times. Ordered the fried Calamari as an appetizer $12.50, came with a tempura sauce and a thicker, orange dipping sauce on the side. Calamari was good, not too greasy and portions was sharable for two persons (see my pic). I ordered the Black Garlic Ramen $19.95 -pork in it was tasty, good flavor and portion size was large enough for me to have leftovers (see my pic). Thai tea boba $6.50 was good size with it's boba was nice and soft. Restaurant has been open for only 4 months, so dining room/restaurant is till under construction (see my pic of inside seating). They have TV, although not working the Saturday night I had dinner here. Located with limited free parking, otherwise free street parking available. read more

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I've been wanting to try this restaurant for a while now and finally had a chance to. They close between their last seating at 3pm for 2 hours and then re-open at 5pm until 2am in the morning. Not really sure why they are opened that late and in this part of town. Not the area looks dangerous or seedy, but it's not well lit and gives off that uncomfortable feeling of being unsafe. Parking in this strip mall is on the small side and not great for large SUV's. Walked in on a Friday night and the place only had about 4 or so tables occupied. My wife and I did notice a light stench of mildew or something of that nature. Our table was a little bit on the sticky side, but I got past that. We ordered the takoyaki to start. She ordered the pork cutlet curry and I got the tonkatsu ramen. The takoyaki came out in pretty good time. It wasn't piping hot to the point where you have to wait for it to cool down before biting in. I liked that it had a slight crisp to it and it wasn't not in liquid form when I bit in to it. Each piece had 3 pieces of octopus. They were a pretty good size and also tender. Wasn't overcooked but still had that chew. The sauce that came with it was just perfect. No fishiness to it, slightly sweet and creamy. The added pickled ginger helped add a little texture and cleanse the palate at the same time. Both of our mains came out. Both dishes looked good. Our server let us know the red dot on the curry is a spice oil and to make sure to stir the sauce really well. Prior to stirring the curry, I did taste it and noticed there was a slight kick. Nothing too bad. But once we incorporated the chili oil, you can taste the heat in the back of your throat. It added heat, but did not change the taste of the curry. It was slightly sweet and was really good. The rice that came with it was cooked perfectly. Wasn't soggy or al dente. The ramen was also good, but I found it to be a bit salty. It was definitely missing something. I did enjoy the noodles though. Though I do like the noodles at Shin Sen Gumi more. One thing I would suggest is an option to add extra noodles like Shin Sen Gumi does. Don't get me wrong, this is definitely a place I would. come back to for a good bowl of ramen. Will definitely cure your cravings. I don't have to drive all the way to Sawtelle for good ramen now. Though there's Jinya at the mall, which I think taste better. Anyways, I enjoyed our small conversations with the owner and server. If you haven't given this place a try, make sure you come down here. I remember them being on DineLA earlier this year. So that would be a great opportunity for you to come try out this place. read more

One of the most humbling experiences love this place if you ever want to try some good food at late night come here!!! You can not be let down A++++++++ read more

best late night spot in the valley great service too Try the curry & the beef teriyaki read more

Friendly service and good food. Always plenty of food if you order a bento box. Nice having this place in the neighborhood. read more

Crane & Elephant - Bento Box - Ramen Near Me - Canoga Park, California

|[ n e w n e w ]| Brand new and like everyone says they only have the Japanese menu but they didn't disappoint! Absolutely loved the spicy miso ramen, and how I could substitute tofu in place of meat. Soup rich and flavorful. I would've loved if the egg was poached rather than completely boiled and the bowl could use more veggies but I'd still give this a 4.5/5. Tonkotsu bowl was also nicely flavored (I tried the egg part since I don't eat meat). I do wish the bowl were bigger for the price though. Clean spacious dining space, what was exceptional was the outstanding kindness and service they provided. |[ s o ]| Small unassuming plaza w small parking lot! This place has potential and I'll def be back when I'm craving ramen and don't wanna drive too far. C: read more

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Beautiful and clean restaurant with great service and tasty comfort food. Bonus for having late hours, so a perfect spot for my group to hit up after catching a movie nearby. We ordered the beef udon, which was good but a bit on the salty side for me. The shrimp tempura was also good and perfectly crispy. Not too oily or heavy like other tempura is. Sadly they were not selling the Elephant side of the menu (their Thai food) when we came by, only their Crane (Japanese food) menu. Definitely planning on stopping by again to try out their Elephant menu next time! read more

Crane & Elephant - Beef Udon - Ramen Near Me - Canoga Park, California

A new ramen joint in Canoga yes thank you. On a strip where you have some historic restaurants it's nice to see new businesses with really good food open up. Let's start off with service I've gone to this establishment three times and each time the service has been outstanding the staff and owner are extremely welcoming and friendly. Now let's talk brass tacks the food. I've had two different types of ramen both extremely good Hardy and well seasoned. My buddy had the curry and had nothing but positive things to say about it. If you're looking for a place that's open until 2:00 a.m. to get your fix this is the place to go to. read more

Crane & Elephant - Amazing!!!! - Ramen Near Me - Canoga Park, California

The restaurant looks really nice and my food was ready when I arrived. I was really looking forward to trying this place since it has such high reviews. I hate to give them such a low rating but I must have caught them on a bad day because I didn't enjoy my food at all. I tried the black garlic ramen. The broth was so salty, it had to be diluted with water. I was really disappointed. I would have like it if it was 50% less salty. read more

Crane & Elephant - Black garlic ramen. Broth was too salty for me. - Ramen Near Me - Canoga Park, California

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The service is amazing, the workers are so friendly Parking can get a little rough if busy because it's a small lot shared with other businesses but there is some street parking Food was good. They explain they used to be Thai AND Japanese but they decided to remove the Thai because the kitchen couldn't handle both cuisines The curry is good, a little sweeter undertones for me personally, their rice comes with scrambled eggs and sautéed spinach which tastes good with it The shrimp tempura is AMAZING, the batter is perfectly crispy and light and doesn't feel heavy, the owner got the tempura batter down The takoyaki one time came out a little undercooked and cold in the middle but they addressed it and I'd try again The green milk tea was good, kinda like Thai tea but...green Would come back for the vibes because the ppl were great and the food is yummy, usually busy when we go and ppl are always ordering on delivery apps it seems read more

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I was very excited to see this place open up since I live fairly close and there isn't much ramen in the valley. I held off of trying this place for a while and to be honest after trying the place I held off of writing a review because I didn't have much positive notes from my experience. One I love supporting small businesses and I chose to write this because I appreciate this place but do think there is room for improvement The interior is beautiful, bright, and spacious. Filled with art all around and loads of things to look at. You seat yourself I asked the server best sellers and recommendations She had told me the tonkatsu curry and the crane special So I ordered both Took about 30 minutes for the food to come out I could see a cook in the back scratching their bare back and not washing their hands Noodles were over cooked felt like it was sitting around before being assembled Not a big fan of the pickled ginger Kikurage and Menma was good Egg was beautiful but minus points for half Chashu was very thick and marbled the best part of the ramen Broth was on the lighter side was very watery lacked flavor and depth. The Katsu curry was really good I would order their curry over the ramen 100 percent of the time read more

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First time here and the service was amazing right from the start. The food was fresh and full of amazing flavors. Great vibe and plenty of seating. I will definitely be coming back. The Teriyaki Chicken is so fresh and flavorful. The Bento box is amazing quality and flavor. Highly recommend eating here. read more

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First time here. Raw chicken in the curry. Praying I don't get sick after this. Very disappointed . read more

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My current local takeout fixation and maybe some of the best udon I've ever eaten. The bento boxes are a lot of food! Very good food, but just know you should come hungry. read more

Yummy food. Definitely has an authentic Japanese taste - the most I've had in a long time. Top notch chef! Will be back for sure.

Had a delicious lunch with my eldest here today! I had the Crane Special Ramen and they chose the Beef Udon. We both ordered Thai tea as well. Everything was super tasty, service was friendly, and attentive. The space is much nicer and cozier than the previous restaurant that was here and we were very amused Godzilla Santa read more

Crane & Elephant - Godzilla Santa - Ramen Near Me - Canoga Park, California

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4.4: We'll def be back! Ambiance: 4 Service: 3 Flavor / Quality: 5 Value: 4 Cleanliness: 4 This cool hole-in-the-wall spot in Canoga Park is serving up a delicious blend of Thai, Japanese, and Vietnamese cuisine! The Food: Perfection The menu is expansive but simple, offering different variations on main selections: Do you want ramen, do you want katsu, do you want a bowl, do you want dessert, do you want boba? I ordered the Tan Tan Noodles (I believe that was the name), and it was easily the highlight. It looked amazing in the picture and seemed like a perfect option merging all the cuisines here. Flavor / Quality: The broth was fragrant, complex, and delicious--absolute perfection! I would come back here just for that dish. Value: At $15, it was worth it! It was quite a decently sized bowl, with a good amount of ramen and a good amount of ground pork. My wife ordered the Katsu with vegetables. This was another big win, as I can never seem to find a katsu cutlet curry place that serves vegetables with the curry! The Vibe & Service The place felt clean and tidy (score of 4 for cleanliness). The vibe is casual and definitely gives that great "hole-in-the-wall" feel. Service was a little less than amazing because we were with a bigger party (score of 3 for Service). But that's okay--they can't cater to just one party! Overall, the food quality here is stellar, especially the Tan Tan. We'll definitely be back! read more

The restaurant is big and clean with nice seating and decor. The staff was friendly and helpful with menus recommendations and information. We order two spicy tonkotsu, a tat tan man, and black garlic oil. The broth was flavorful and not too salty for all items. Noodles are good and have a great consistency and taste. The portion size are a bit small for the price point which is 19-20 dollars per item. However, I recommend this place for a late night ramen crave, since it is open till 2am. read more

We had such a wonderful lunch at Crane & Elephant in Canoga Park -- easily one of the best Japanese dining experiences in the area. The restaurant has a clean, modern, and beautifully designed interior that feels both stylish and comfortable. From the moment we arrived, the service was excellent -- friendly, attentive, and full of great information and recommendations. The owner was absolutely delightful, checking in on us and clearly taking pride in both the food and the atmosphere. We ordered the bento boxes, which came beautifully presented with a little of everything: Beef short rib - tender, perfectly marinated, and packed with flavor. Gyoza - crisp and savory with great texture. Salmon - fresh and perfectly grilled. Crispy fried shrimp - golden, light, and delicious. Miso soup - rich and flavorful with soft tofu and seaweed. Fresh salad - crisp greens topped with a sweet, tangy dressing that tied it all together. Everything tasted freshly made and thoughtfully prepared. We finished with green tea ice cream, a smooth, refreshing end to a perfect lunch. Overall, Crane & Elephant combines beautiful décor, outstanding service, and excellent Japanese comfort food. The only small downside is the limited parking lot, but it's absolutely worth finding a spot for the meal you'll enjoy inside. 5 out of 5 -- highly recommend! read more

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I've been driving by this place for years and today was a rainy day and I felt like a good curry, so after checking the Yelp reviews on this place I figured I'd give it a go, and I am glad I did! First, some background, this place has been here for a while, and was a Thai/Japanese fusion restaurant (hence the Elephant and Crane), however as of about four months ago there is a new owner and the focus has shifted entirely to Japanese cuisine. The interior is cozy and has a nice Asian aesthetic, the servers are friendly and knowledgeable about the menu. I was here on a Monday for a late lunch, after 1pm, and it wasn't packed but was busy... still my food came out in under 10 minutes. I had the Japanese curry with chicken katsu, and asked that the spice be medium. The curry and katsu were served with a healthy portion of white rice and some tsukemono. The katsu was really good, hot and well seasoned, the chicken was tender and cooked perfectly, and the outside was perfectly crispy. The curry was fantastic, and for me (I like my food spicy) the medium spice was just about right. They put the chili oil in last so be sure to stir the sauce up well! Even though they removed the Thai items from the menu, it is still substantial! They have everything from edamame to seaweed salad, to gyoza, chicken karaage, and tempura, to ramen, curries, rice bowls, and bento, to green tea ice cream. They have a large beverage selection including soft drinks, Asahi (non-alcoholic), iced and hot teas, and fizzy water. I am very impressed by this version of Crane & Elephant and plan to come back to sample more of the menu and post an update! Parking is in small lots in the front and back, and on the side streets, no parking on Sherman Way. read more

Expectations: I was looking forward to trying the Thai dishes, as I had read many positive reviews. However, when reviewing the menu, I was informed by the waiter that Thai food was only offered when the restaurant first opened and is no longer available. This was somewhat unexpected given the restaurant's name and Thai-themed décor, but I understand menus can evolve over time. Ambiance: The atmosphere was generally calm. We arrived around 7:30 p.m., and there were approximately five to six parties with no wait. Thai décor was present throughout the restaurant. There appeared to be only one server on the floor. Background music was playing, though it didn't quite align with the overall ambiance. We were seated at a table next to the cashier station. During our meal, food pickup orders were called out nearby, and dishes were placed on the counter loudly, which was somewhat distracting while dining. Service & Food: I ordered the Black Ramen noodles al dente, no mushrooms, added bean sprouts, and requested an additional +3 spice level. When the dish arrived, the noodle portion appeared to be half-sized. The server confirmed with the owner that it was indeed a half portion, and the owner apologized and stated the remaining portion would be brought out shortly. There was some confusion regarding whether I still wanted the additional noodles prepared al dente. I indicated that either preparation was fine. The interaction felt rushed, and the tone came across as abrupt. When the additional noodles were served, they were placed on a separate plate and had cooled and dried by the time I received them. The owner explained that the restaurant no longer serves Thai food due to limited kitchen space and described changes made to streamline operations, including their machine noodle-making process. She states that her noodles are perfect Everytime due to the machine she uses. She apologized again for the initial mix-up. The waitress was polite and calm throughout the experience, though I did overhear the owner giving corrective instructions to the staff, which created a slightly awkward atmosphere. This seems to be a recurring action based on previous yelp reviews. When I asked whether the requested spice level had been added, I was offered additional chili oil drops. Each drop was priced at $1, and three drops were added. Given the portion size, I did not feel this added value. Overall Food Quality: The broth was flavorful, though I would have preferred it to be hotter. The spice level was mild for my preference but acceptable. The noodles in the broth were fine; however, the additional noodles served separately were cold, clumped, and dry. The total cost for the ramen came to approximately $27 with tax. Overall: The food itself was acceptable, but the experience was impacted by communication issues during service. Update: I have revised my rating to one star due to a lack of accountability and placing responsibility on the customer during the interaction. Please note that this review reflects my personal experience and is shared to provide an honest account. read more

Crane & Elephant - Black Ramen add beansprout, no mushrooms - Ramen Near Me - Canoga Park, California

First of all, the decor of this place is ever so cute! Really. As a prior reviewer stated, however, they are moving from Japanese and Thai to mainly just Japanese, the Crane, no more Elephant. Boo, hoo. That being said, they do have quick and pleasant service. We ordered the karage ($11.50, 5 pieces) , Tonkatsu bowl (17.95) and Curry Tonkatsu plate (18.95). I really wanted to like it more but the flavors were just, ok. If you are looking for a lovely setting to eat that supports local business, come here. But the authenticity of flavors leave a bit to be desired. read more

Excellent! .. the food is VERY good and reasonably priced. The only bummer is they weren't able to offer the full menu as intended from concept. I hope they find a way to add some of the thai dishes. I'd be happy with orange chicken, yellow curry and mango sticky rice ;) It also looks very nice inside and service is first class. I'll be back for sure but if the menu had more variety I'd be there often. I'd call this place a must try tho read more

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First time visiting and we will definitely be back. I ordered the Tan Tan Men and we had the spicy garlic edamame. The spicy garlic edamame had enough spice, but it wasn't overpowering. Service was good. We were seated right away and our server was very helpful! We will be back to try the Japanese curry! read more

Crane & Elephant - Tan Tan Men - Ramen Near Me - Canoga Park, California

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A much needed new addition to the neighborhood. Very welcoming staff. Came for an early dinner. Enjoyed the vegetable curry. Looking forward to trying the soups and tempura. Will come again. Comfortable seating and nice atmosphere: read more

Crane & Elephant - Vegetable curry - Ramen Near Me - Canoga Park, California

I came for dinner, had the curry shrimp & one of the bentos. The curry was delicious & the breading on the tempura was nice & soft. (Opposed to when batter is so thick & hard it cuts the roof of your mouth). I love a good bento because I love options, you get your rice, beef teriyaki, gyoza, veggies. The udon was rich too. The broth was too rich for my partner but it was perfect for me. read more

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Oh my God, I love the servers and the owner Erika!! I felt like family here. She's always go out of her way to make sure I'm happy! And the food was delicious. Yummy! The only late night place in the valley :) read more

I recently tried Crane & Elephant, and was very impressed! The restaurant was clean and had a welcoming atmosphere. Our server, Jackson was patient, attentive, and made sure we had everything we needed throughout the meal. The food was delicious, and I appreciate that their miso broth is vegetarian -- such a thoughtful option that isn't always easy to find at ramen spots. Everything was flavorful and satisfying. Overall, a great experience with both the food and the service. I'll definitely be returning the next time I want ramen. Also they are open until 2 AM, which is a plus in case you are looking for a late night meal. read more

Crane & Elephant - Miso Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Canoga Park, California

Crane Special Ramen was delicious! Great vibes and atmosphere - felt very welcomed. Will definitely be coming back.

My family and I are such fans that we've been here at least three times in three weeks. The staff is excellent (shout-out to Anthony) and so is Erika's food. My two favorite dishes are the garlic ramen and the gyoza. It is by far the best ramen I have ever eaten. The filling in the gyoza is so flavorful. They're addicting. The Crane special is also a winner. I've also tried the beef curry and the fried shrimp curry. Both are great. The seasoning is wonderful. The decoration is cute, half Japanese and half Thai. I like to sit near the giant TV and relax watching the Japanese landscapes. read more

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I got to come to Crane and Elephant for the first time and it was amazing. I ordered their Tonkotsu ramen and it was truly delicious. I got to try the iced green tea drink and it was really good and had such rich flavor. The staff were very kind and helpful, the food came out in perfect time too. The restaurant looks amazing the art on the wall is beautiful. read more

Crane & Elephant - Tonkotsu Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Canoga Park, California