I normally don't write reviews, but I had such a great experience at Daikokuya last friday that I wanted to share it! I usually come here on thursday nights. It was really busy last friday's lunch time and we were thinking about leaving, but the server kindly told us he could seat us in about 15 mins. Even though he was working by himself, he quickly cleaned a table and got us seated in only about 5 minutes. I was really impressed by how fast and attentive he was! The servers here including the ones I usually see on thursday nights are always very friendly. We were trying to find a Japanese friend we had met a long time ago, and even though he was busy, he took the time to help us while still taking care of his other customers. I really appreciated his kindness. I'll definitely be going back soon! read more

I had a good experience with friends at Daikokuya recently. Even on a weekend evening late at night, there were plenty of customers lining up outside to eat ramen. I ordered their special Daikoku Ramen with extra chashu pork, and it was satisfying. The broth was rich, the noodles had great texture, and the extra chashu was worth adding and was tender and flavorful. I sat at the bar, which reminded me of the cozy, counter-style ramen shops found in Japan. Service was friendly and welcoming, which made the meal even more enjoyable. Great ramen spot that I'd love to return to when I'm craving a comfort bowl. read more

Daikokuya - Daikoku Ramen - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Literally some of the most amateur service I've ever experienced. We arrived, put our name on the waitlist, and were told the wait would be about an hour. Since there was a cafe only 10 minutes away, we decided to wait there. The moment we sat down at the cafe, we received a text from the restaurant saying that we needed to check in with the host because our table was ready. So we walked all the way back, only to be told by the host that we still had another 45 minute wait. I explained that we had received a text saying our table was ready and even showed them the message. Rather than acknowledging their mistake and making things right, especially when there were clearly a couple of tables available, and it was pouring outside, they simply told us it was an error and that we would still have to wait. Seriously, how does a restaurant make a mistake like this and then expect the customer to pay for it? This felt completely unprofessional and poorly managed. I absolutely do not recommend this place. You wait forever for average food that you can find at plenty of other restaurants, except those places actually treat their customers with basic courtesy and respect. read more

Daikokuya - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

It pained me to write this! Daikokuya was my intro to Japanese ramen! I remember my first time trying when I was 10 and falling in love with Japanese food! The experience inspired me to pursue culinary and even study abroad in Japan! It's been a while since I've tried and seeing the sawtelle location I was excited The interior is beautiful makes you feel like you're transported to a street in Japan! Staff is friendly and spoke Japanese! The ramen wasn't what I remembered. It was cold Noodles were over cooked and short The bean sprouts were longer than the noodles The egg was super cold and hard boiled made it kinda depressing. The meat was the best part Karaage was nothing special Can't say I'll be back but I do want to thank you for the many years I used to go as a kid! read more

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the restaurant is super cute but if you're coming here for protein in ur ramen u won't get any. service was great when i picked up the order MY ISSUE: the chicken ramen came with the two tiny pieces of chicken i've ever gotten at a ramen place. the ramen tasted great and the egg was delicious, but the amount of meat is a joke lol. i paid over 20$ for this bowl and they could def have included a normal or even one more piece. this was enough for like a newborn baby . read more

Daikokuya - the amount of chicken in the ramen - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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It was very lively from the moment we arrived to when we left. The service was amazing and so hospitable considering the long line they had and still sat 4 of us in 10 minutes. The bowls were served nice and hot which made the food even more comforting at night. The both was rich and easy to drink without feeling heavy after. All the people inside both customers and workers seemed to enjoy being there. read more

Daikokuya - Daikoku Ramen - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Very solid all around ramen spot which is an extension of the ultra popular restaurant in Little Tokyo. Hearty portions that's well flavored and presented. Enjoyed the rich tonkatsu ramen. The tsukemen sauce/dip felt a little light. I prefer thicker and heavier base. Plenty of happy hour discounts. Old Japanese village facade completes the immersive experience. Next time will try their lunch specials. read more

Daikokuya - Tonkatsu ramen - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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The baseline, the platonic ideal, the standard by which all ramen in LA is judged. This branch is as good as the original in Little Tokyo and the line moves faster. The hanjuku egg in the Tonkatsu Ramen is always perfectly jammy. And it's open late! A Westside gem. read more

Quick service! A little busy when me and my friend walked in so we had to wait only a short time to be seated. The edamame was yummy, super well seasoned and garlicky, I would be tempted to just order this to go and snack on these at home with some rice. I got the classic ramen, it was good but not to my tastes, nothing really blew me away about it, which one could chalk up to personal tastes. read more

Daikokuya - Ramen and edamame - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

What a great find in this area! I so enjoyed the lunch special of ramen & garlic butter rice bowl. Everything was super flavorful, & I loved the atmosphere. Yoshimi is so wonderful, she has such a kind & warm spirit & I saw how caring & attentive she was to everyone who entered & dined here. She really made me feel special. Thank you Daikokuya & Yoshimi! read more

Daikokuya - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Finally got to try this famous place. It was late so I went with the chicken ramen since I was late. Love the broth and the texture of the noodles. Service is fast and friendly. After 10:00 p.m. It's easy to find parking on the street. Definitely going to return and try their known ramen. read more

Daikokuya - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Came here to get ramen. Ordered the vegan broth to limit my sodium intake while my friend got the spicy miso. When the food came out, my friend was on the phone outside, so when they put the ramen in front of me, I waited a few minutes, then started eating. When he got inside, he realized I had ate his dish and that mine was in front of him. He asked for a new one and they said they would get it, but then said they wouldn't, but then said they would. Anyways, due to the mishap and misunderstanding, I got to try both ramens!!! The vegan broth is phenomenal. It's made out of soybean and tastes really comforting. I wish the vegan ramen gave you the option of having the regular ingredients, but they go heavy with different vegetables on top of it. When added with an egg, charsu and bamboo, it's not too bad though. The spicy miso broth was just ok. It was really light in flavor. I actually ate this one first and was like wow this vegan broth is a disappointment. But it wasn't the vegan broth, it was the regular broth! Once you get to the spice though, the flavor gets better. I do like the toppings it comes with though. In an ideal world, I would recommend the vegan broth with the regular toppings. It might cost a little more to substitute everything back in, but it's the best option in my opinion. Overall, the service was good. The error was resolved and we both got to eat. I hear normally they say what ramen is which when they bring it to the table, but I guess they just didn't do that this time around. It's not a big deal on my end, but I also was not the one who had to wait longer to eat, so I guess that's debatable. The ambiance is cool. Super busy. Will probably be here again for the vegan broth! read more

Daikokuya - Spicy Miso Ramen - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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The vibes were nice and the food came pretty quick! I tried the Tsukemen but would want to try the daikoku next time! The noodles were nice and chewy but the broth lacked a bit of depth and fragrance. read more

Daikokuya - Tsukemen and Daikoku ramen - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Everyone gone crazy on this place! Small yet warm & cozy place. There is open kitchen where we can see the chefs preparing food. I ordered gyoza which I think a great choice while my Ramen came out as I expected, tasty broth, whole boiled egg included and also great noodle texture. There is one lady server who was serving us all the time who is lovely. Hint: if you want to avoid long line, better to come during late lunch / early dinner around 3-5pm, that way you can save so much time in waiting. read more

Daikokuya - Gyoza - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Wait! Was I teleported to Japan? A great place for delicious ramen and nicely prepared sides. We were seated immediately and the attentive staff got right to work. Had our drinks in no time, with California rolls and gyoza were not far behind. Rolls were fresh and with lots of crab, and the gyoza...best I've ever had anywhere. Our party each git different ramen: Spicy Miso, Chicken Shoyu and Tsukemen. All excellent. It's a small place but cozy, comfortable and welcoming! read more

Daikokuya - Best Gyoza(5pcs) ever! - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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I've never been to Japan, but I can imagine this is exactly what it would feel like! From the moment you step in, the atmosphere transports you -- like you're on a hidden street in Tokyo, surrounded by the cozy glow of a late-night ramen spot. The design is beautiful and so thoughtfully done. They have a great selection of ramen, sushi, and other dishes -- everything looked and tasted amazing. Seating is limited, but trust me, it's worth the wait. The service was incredible -- friendly, quick, and attentive. And the fact that they stay open super late (till around 1 AM!) makes it the perfect spot for a late-night bite. A total vibe -- cozy, flavorful, and full of character. read more

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There's a good option with combos. It is with Ramen + small bowls. The ramen had tasty pork slices. The pork katsu had scrambled eggs and grilled onions with rice. The chicken karagge was nice and crispy, that was paired with lemon and mayo. You are also given a small side salad which is shredded cabbage and sauce. Parking is in the same plaza but you have to download the app and sign up your license plate. There is no parking validation. read more

Daikokuya - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Delicious ramen place. Great service. Clean indoor dining. Love the Japanese decor. We ordered the half order of pork cutlet bowl combo with Daikokuya ramen. Included was a small side salad. All for $25.50. Good quality food. Always love coming here. read more

Daikokuya has been a favorite of mine for some time, but after the past two visits last month, I've definitely had second thoughts. My favorite here was the standard Daikoku Ramen - kotteri, of course. The broth is now too salty for me. Now, parking is also not free at Marshall's - gotta pay now, so consider carpooling! On weekday nights, the wait can at times be nearly an hour even if 30 minutes is expected. As my party got our text, we were told that our table was given to another party. Despite there being another table empty in the next 10 minutes, we were almost skipped again until we spoke up. Outside of the Daikoku Ramen, our party ordered a spicy tuna roll, a beef bowl, and takoyaki. The spicy tuna roll was average. the beef bowl was a bit too saucy - very sweet and salty - and not easily enjoyed without rice weakening the taste. The takoyaki was decent, freshly hot for those palm-on-mouth husha-husha moments; yes I was guilty of this! The takoyaki were good, though a bit too much sauce for me. Overall, my recent visits to Daikokuya haven't been as enjoyable as before, and I am sad that I can no longer recommend it was one of my favorite ramen shops to friends whom are visiting. read more

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Me and my boyfriend come here all the time and we love it. The staff is super friendly and the ramen hits every time. I always get the spicy miso ramen and my boyfriend gets the daikoku ramen and it's AMAZING. 11/10 will come here forever Omg and I cannot forget the decoration of this place. I love that it looks like a Japan alleyway. My fav part is the moon in the corner of where the entrance is read more

Daikokuya - Spicy Miso Ramen and Daikoku Ramen - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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I've made staggered visits to Daikokuya over the past decade. I only get the Daikoku ramen with the kotteri add-on. Typically delicious but my most recent visit I noted that the broth was a tad bit too salty. No matter, the noodles were delicious and the appetizer Karaage was great. Curry side bowl also found its way to the table and was good considering Daikokuya is known for its ramen. Sawtelle location is quite small inside but it is unique. There's also 2-3 tables for outdoor seating with space heaters for late night eats. Service was hit or miss, overall average. We were seated for 10 minutes before we were able to catch the staff's attention to input our order. read more

Daikokuya - Daikoku Ramen, Curry Bowl - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

This place reminds us so much of Japan, a tiny interior restaurant usually with a wait. The food is delicious and so flavorful, we both got the standard Daikoku Ramen which was great on a cold night. The only disappointing part was that they ran out of their gluten free ramen noodles which was the reason I went there because they are the only place with gf ramen noodles. I'm not celiac so I just ended up getting the regular ramen anyways, but disappointing. Either way, good food, good vibes. read more

Daikokuya - Daikoku Ramen - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Very nice, small place to go get some great ramen during rainy cold days. The place is very small and on this particular day (raining and cool) there was a long waiting list to sit and eat. I took my Chicken Shoyu Ramen to go and was much faster out of there. As you can see I am enjoying my food from the trunk of my car :). I parked at the Marshalls parking lot since my wife is shopping there. The Ramen is really good, I wish I had asked to get some hot sauce to go with. But even without the sauce the ramen hit the spot and warmed me up real quick. It has decent flavor and enough for two (IMO). Maybe next time I will sit and try other items on the menu. read more

Daikokuya - Take out order of Chicken Shoyu Ramen - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

20260604 First time. Great food & decor. Really felt like we were back in Tokyo. Limited and bar seating and all! Both our Daikoku ramen combo with small tuna sashimi bowl & Tsukemen bowl were so good. Definitely recommend. Even had a Happy Hour menu! read more

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Here's a little introduction ... My name is Ran and I'm a Ramen Junkie. For a while, I was on the wagon as I reached new heights experiencing the Ramen in Japan feeling confident that it wouldn't be the same here in the US as it was back there in the land of the Rising Sun. Last week, while exploring Sawtelle with a friend, I fell off, but after my experience at this Daikokuya outpost, I jumped right back on. Parking had nothing to do with it. If you know Sawtelle, parking is always an issue. You know the tricks to avoid paying (but walking), or you either get lucky and find a spot and pay or keep doing laps until then. It is what it is. Not sure how else to say this - service was adequate. Not good. Not bad. Checked off all the boxes but nothing to complain nor rave about. IT's the food that made me hop back on the wagon - at least until my next visit to Japan. For starters, I'm accustomed to and expect Ramen to be served with piping hot broth. It wasn't. I like my noodles' consistency a little al dente. However, the noodles were a too chewy for me. I wouldn't say it was raw, but definitely undercooked for my taste. As for the Shiso Age - I don't have ample experience with this dish to have a baseline as to how the ingredients were or how it prepared - just that it wasn't to my liking. Not awful to not clear the plate, but enough that I wouldn't order it again, but would eat it if someone at the table ordered it and offered. Maybe I expectations were too high considering the visits to Japan and having had Ramen there. Maybe I should have brought this to the server's attention. Or maybe it was just an off day for the BOH crew preparing the food. Whatever the case, the experience was ok and I know better for next time. If there is one because that's up in the air for me. At least for this location. read more

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Never fails ! Always amazing taste amazing karrage chicken and clean restaurant I would love if it was more space for seating read more

Daikokuya - Daikoku Ramen extra fat - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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If you're using DoorDash. Forget it. Orders are cancelled and we couldn't get anything else in time. Frustrating.

Daikokuya is the REAL deal. Thank you to Mel Tommy ktoro From the second we walked in, the staff greeted us like we were family. Top-tier customer service -- attentive, fast, and they got our order right the first time. No long wait, no confusion... just straight excellence. And the FOOD? Absolutely out of this world. The flavors hit so hard it felt like we were sitting in Japan. Rich broth, perfectly cooked noodles, everything balanced to perfection. Straight killer taste. My wife and I are not new to ramen -- we've been all over SoCal trying spot after spot every weekend in LA. Places are usually a one-and-done... or they earn regular status. Daikokuya just became HOME for ramen. Easy 10 stars. If you're reading this and love real ramen -- stop thinking and go. You'll thank me later. read more

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I love this daikokuya because of the decor. It does get busy at night, and it's open late. Everyonce in a while I'll pop up in and order their spicy tonkotsu ramen and get the back fat added into it. You're going to need it I promise you, it adds a little more DEPTH in the ramen broth. read more

Daikokuya - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

If I could give 0 starts, I would. I order ramen from Postmates tonight and the restaurant never sent my order in the delivery robot. According to the app, the order was supposed to get placed in the robot at 10:40 and sat outside for a while. Then was sent to my location empty. When I called to ask about the empty delivery, they mentioned how busy they were etc. If a restaurant is opting in to use robot delivery, it's up to them to remember that pack the order even if it's busy! read more

Daikokuya - An empty CoCo delivery robot - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

The food was so cold the the miso soup tofu was frozen the seaweed tasted expired and our chicken rice bowls were so cold. We clearly saw them microwave our food the table smelled so bad and the utensils were dirty I ended up asking for the check and left all the food I do not recommend this place to anyone! read more

Daikokuya - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Meh! There are abundance of ramen places in LA and most of them are very underrated. This is the 2nd Daikokuya location we tried and it was nothing more than mediocre for the review is holds. Tonkotsu ramen was alright, broth was decent, noodles were told to be thin but they weren't, too much green onions and sprouts that took over the taste of noodles, pork chaus was thin like a dog's tongue and taste wise it was tasteless, dry, and chewy. Vegan ramen was also alright. We also got chicken fried rice that also tasted just ok. We surely filled our belly, but not heart. We will not be going back. Hironori, shin shen gumi and other ramen places in Torrance and Gardena are much much better. Service was ok. They only had 1 server for evening time. read more

Daikokuya - Cabbage salad - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Service and staff was obviously 10/10 I love the interior design of this restaurant, it's 1 of 1 Takoyaki: 10/10 The portions and sauces, everything is just like what I ate in Japan, there's nothing else more that I could say. Spicy Miso Ramen: 9/10 This is the kind of ramen where you don't want too much sides over powering the ramen itself, this is the place. Simple and delicious. Salmon Sashimi Bowl: 8/10 , overall very good but the rice was a tiny but too seasoned however it was still very good. The salmon wasn't too much or too little, it was perfect. read more

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If you're in the Satelle area, do yourself a favor and stop by for a bowl of ridiculously good ramen. Out of all the ramen spots I've tried, this one takes the title. The broth is deep, rich, and incredibly clean-tasting, the portions are generous, and the prices are reasonable for the quality. The staff were friendly and welcoming, and I absolutely loved the décor inside, it adds so much character to the experience. It does get busy most of the time, so be patient, but the wait is 100% worth it. Street parking is available if you're lucky enough to snag a spot. Worth the traffic, worth the wait, and definitely worth the visit. read more

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3.5/5 Service is good, greeted with nice polite workers This is the OG ramen in LA from what I recall (little Tokyo location I believe) I've had ramen so many times since 2010s that I'm kind of sick of it and the tonkotsu broth is a little too fatty for me now (or I'm getting old). The flavor is still good, but just fatty mouth feel...and sometimes feels a little too salty (like I said, maybe cz im getting old) but it's pork, so I guess expected. Their noodles are always perfectly chewy. The egg is perfectly jammy and seasoned, the combos are great to get ramen and something else on the side like rice bowls I've always loved their cabbage salad with their ginger/onion dressing of some sort. Very refreshing Parking here kinda sucks a little, either street parking if ur lucky, or there's a parking structure attached that now you have to pay...even if u don't get a ticket of some sort, looks like it's digital now and there are cameras that scan your license plate...so that kinda sucks cz parking used to be free Price wise it's average price There are so many ramen spots now but this is definitely for nostalgia... read more

FOOD: 2/5 (Ramen 1/5, Side katsudon bowls 4/5) SERVICE: 3/5 AMBIANCE: 4/5 VALUE: 2/5 Guys, I was so disappointed because my ramen tasted like bean sprout soup. There was literally no flavor! Do yourself a favor and go to another establishment, or go to the location in Little Tokyo which is a lot better. The interior is gorgeous, has a wonderful ambiance, but the service is a bit slow and the seating is cramped. Parking is bad in Sawtelle (are we surprised) so be prepared to park on the street further away. The non ramen items are honestly better than the ramen here. I won't be coming back unless they improve their broth :(( read more

Daikokuya - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

We got a lot of food for the price we paid for!! We did the combo. The rice and meat dish was super good. It was pretty busy when we went but we were able to get our food really fast. We sat at the bar. read more

Daikokuya - Rib eye steak - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Stopped in here on a whim - have been to a different location once. It was good - service was fast. The gyoza wasn't my favorite, it was loosely packed and wanted it to be a bit crispier. The ramen broth was tasty, but I wanted deeper flavor, and wanted the egg to be gooier. The pork was tender and tasty. read more

Daikokuya - Tonkatsu - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Love this place! First time eating here, apparently is a chain. The broth was so delicious , umami taste. I could not stop drinking the broth. The ramen was cooked perfect . I also had the hitachi chucks ( limited for summer menu) that was delicious with the option of sesame or soy sauce. I selected soy since that is the traditional sauce. It had an abundance of toppings if tomatoes, avocado, cucumber, egg, chicken, red ginger, The ramen was chewy and delicious! Definitely coming back here again read more

Daikokuya - Gyoza(5pcs) - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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This restaurant in particular is a great restaurant to get late night ramen. This place closes at 1 am every day. My group and I came around 12. There was still quite a lot of people at this time, but we were able to get seated without waiting. I got the spicy miso ramen. It came out relatively fast. It was really hot and comforting considering it was really cold outside. The broth provided a kick. Didn't expect it to be that spicy but still good! It was just a little bit too salty for my taste. The egg was cooked perfectly. The ramen was al dente. I had some leftovers at the end and I was able to make another noodle dish with the soup. I love the layout of the restaurant. It's small, but has a cozy feel. The decorations make it feel like a ramen restaurant that you can find in Japan. Overall, had a good experience here! read more

Daikokuya - Spicy Miso Ramen - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California