I've always heard such great things about this chain but it was my first time trying! I don't make it to this side of LA often but oof.... This was so good I might have to because I already know I'll be craving it again soon. Shiromaru Classic ($18)-- It was such a beautiful bowl. No complaints at all. The soup base was rich without being overwhelming, light enough to be able to drink. Meat was nice and tender, bamboo shoots were included, noodles were cooked perfectly firm (which is exactly how I like them!!) The places where they give you a slip and you put noodle texture (eg. Shinsengumi) I'm always picking firm/hard and this is their default! Amazing. I don't like soggy noodles so this worked out great for me. BONUS they have free kaedama right now! It ends in May. That means you're basically getting 2 bowls for the price of 1 so just ration your soup and toppings. One time per person but that's good enough for me! Toppings at the table-- sesame (grind it yourself), spicy bean sprouts and spicy pickled mustard greens. I love when places have a sesame grinder because it's just extra fragrant compared to just sprinkling the seeds. The spicy bean sprouts and mustard greens are good too! Had a little kick which is nice if you want to change up the soup a little bit. I liked the texture it added too. I parked across the street at the Steps plaza but if you get lucky maybe you'll find street parking! Overall I loved this place way more than I thought I would. I was fully expecting it to be overhyped but ... I stand corrected and will definitely be back! read more

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Ahhhhh Ippudo. One of my most favorite places in Japan. At the Osaka Ippudo - I said "come on, can this place really be this incredible or are we remembering it fondly"? YES IT WAS THAT GOOD. The Osaka Ippudo is the best location to me and I've been to plenty of Ippudo. So I was so happy that they opened in Culver City. When I went it was pretty packed, but the wait was only like 10 minutes or so. The workers were working really hard - there were just a few people doing a lot of stuff. It took a while but my ramen came. The first thing I noticed was that the chasu was not the same. This was more like a pork thin slice at a Korean BBQ. It tasted fine, but wasn't the same. I order an ajitama egg that was cooked perfectly and the menma was good as well. The broth was close - it definitely tasted like Ippudo but it lacked "something". Still, one of the better representations of Japan ramen in the US. Glad I got to try it. read more

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Been wanting to try this place since I didn't get to in Japan. We came for an early dinner on a weekday and were the only party but a few more came in later. -Oishi karaage (4/5): crispy and juicy, a little plain but was good with the spicy mayo sauce they offered -Shiromaru classic (4.5/5): tasty, rich but not overly salty broth, nice and chewy noodles, good amount of chashu, big portion. They even had a limited time promotion for free extra noodles but I was already stuffed lol Interior is spacious and aesthetic with a good amount of tables. Service was nice and checked on us often. read more

Ippudo Culver City - Oishi karaage - Ramen Near Me - Culver City, California

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Been wanting to try them since I didn't get the chance in Japan! We were the only ones there at early dinner, but more parties came in as we ate. Service was fast and they checked on us often. Found parking in the nearby public parking lot by the Culver Steps (free for 1 hour, $1 each 30 mins after) Oishi karaage (4/5): light and crispy, some parts were a little fatty. A little plain for me but it was good with the spicy mayo they offered Shiromaru classic (4/5): warm and hearty bowl. I like how much chashu there is since some places are not as generous. Good portion and they even had a limited-time promotion for complimentary extra noodles, but I didn't need it lol read more

Ippudo Culver City - Oishi Karaage ($9) - Ramen Near Me - Culver City, California

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Great bowl of ramen. I ordered the Karaku Spicy. There was a spoonful for seeet and spicy paste that gave the ramen lots of flavor. The spicy is strong but doesn't linger and cause pain. I ordered the extra serving of noodle and it was a bit more al dente that the original noodles. The waiter was nice and attentive to our large group. read more

Ippudo Culver City - Kakaku Spicy Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Culver City, California

attentive service! the server was very nice. they have a restroom. the ambience is fun inside. in my memory, it was not a loud eating experience. love the pickled table side dishes. really loved the taste of shiromaru classic- rich but not overwhelming. didn't try the others but they looked good too. read more

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Very good ramen. I didn't love the sides but everyone else did so it's probably just me being uncultured. Still though, very clean delicious ramen read more

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First impression was A+ all around. the decoration of the shop really stood out the most and I loved it. It felt like it's own little world and an escape from LA. The ramen is as good as it is in Japan and NY. The bone broth, I just wish it came with more because of how good it was. You can order more for extra but it was little pricier -- granted, its made with a lot of time and love put into it. Everyone at my table finished our bowls clean. They have different variations of ramen but where tonktosu uses thinner noodles since it's hakata style. I got the AKAMARU MODERN but asked for the spicy sauce on the side. The house sake was one of the best sake's I've had and I wish I asked what they used. Parking, there is street parking or the garage with validation. Service was quick and attentive. I highly recommend trying this place out! read more

Ippudo Culver City - Ramen Near Me - Culver City, California

Pretty good ramen in LA! Right by the culver steps, you can park for 2 hours for free in their underground parking and walk across the street. Plenty of seating inside with outside patio available and you can call or make reservations online! The inside was clean and the servers were nice and quick to take our order but the food did take a little bit longer to come out. Came with some colleagues and tried some appetizers which were all pretty tasty! They were a bit pricey, but I enjoyed the flavors. - GOMA Q $8 (4/5) refreshing sesame oil cucumber salad - OISHI KARAAGE $13 (5/5) very crispy with tender flavorful chicken - TAKOYAKI $12 (4/5) mayo octopus balls that melt in your mouth For my entree, I tried their: KARAKA SPICY $22 + $4 tamago (3.5/5) Pork tonkotsu broth, Hakata thin noodles, slow cooked pork loin chashu, scallions. Topped with Ippudo's house blended spiced Niku-miso bolognese, fragrant garlic oil and fried onion chips. The broth was hearty, oily, and flavorful. Had 2 thin slices of pork chashu and scallions. I really enjoyed the thin noodles cooked to perfection and the runny marinated egg. Definitely pricey for $26, but if you live in LA and are looking for somewhere close by when craving ramen, this will do it! read more

Ippudo Culver City - Karaka spicy $22 - Ramen Near Me - Culver City, California

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So happy to see they opened an Ippudo in culver! My first time trying it was in London, then NY and now finally in the west coast. Service was great, food was phenomenal per usual and ambiance is clean and modern. Cheers! read more

Ippudo Culver City - Vegan ramen w egg - Ramen Near Me - Culver City, California

Ippudo was one of my favorite ramen spots back when I lived in NYC and so I wanted to see how it tasted here. The depth of pork flavor in the broth of the Shiromaru Classic here was incredible and this broth was one of the most delicious tonkotsu ramen broths I have had. The broth of the Akamaru Modern reaches a similar depth of flavor but has an interesting twist to it thanks to the umami paste they add. In my opinion, this spot is a top 3 ramen spot in LA right now, with the other two being Ramen Nagi and Hokkaido Ramen Santouka, mainly because the flavor of the broths here is outstanding. If ramen broth is the main focus, then I believe this spot might have the number 1 ramen broth in LA right now. read more

Ippudo Culver City - Ramen Near Me - Culver City, California

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One of the best ramen I've had in LA. We ordered the Shiromaru Classic and Akamaru Modern ramen. Both ramen's were really good and their broths were incredibly rich and packed with umami flavor. Their broths were nicely balanced, and weren't too light or too heavy. My favorite of the two would be the Shiromari Classic. The Akamaru Modern was a bit saltier and a bit more flavorful as they add extra umami paste to the broth. The chashu in the ramens were thinly sliced (unusual from the typical thicker slice of chashu in ramen), but were really soft and tasty. Overall, delicious ramen and I could definitely see myself coming back here again. read more

Ippudo Culver City - Shiromaru Classic - Ramen Near Me - Culver City, California

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I was in the area to watch a movie so I decided to dine in here during their soft opening stages. I came during the happy hour and I ordered two items as follows: Bao filled with pork belly, chicken, shrimp. plant-based ramen menu with faux tonkotsu and "chicken" broths with vegan noodles, tofu chashu, and soy meat, plus plant-based sushi and other appetizers. KARAKA SPICY Pork tonkotsu broth, Hakata thin noodles, slow cooked pork loin chashu, scallions. Topped with Ippudo's house blended spiced Niku-miso bolognese, fragrant garlic oil and fried onion chips Service was on point. My glass of water was constantly filled up even without asking for refill. Food was delicious so I truly enjoyed both items. Restaurant has an open area where you can see the open kitchen and area for sushi making. There's a restroom inside. Metered street parking is available in front of the restaurant. read more

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I came in for a lunch during a visit to the area and it hit every spot. I had the Akamaru classic and the broth was so flavorful and the umami sauce added a mushroom-y essence to the soup. The chashu was delicate but rich. I loved that they have condiments on the tables including an interesting sesame grinder, bean sprouts, and mustard greens (I think). The space is bright and I think the server and one of the chefs in the kitchen were Japanese so you know you're getting authentic ramen. read more

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I always wanted to try IPPUDO in NYC but there was always a 45 min+ wait line out the door. I was happy to see one opened in Culver City to decide to try it out. We got the: IPPUDO Gyoza (2/5): For $12 it only came with 5 pieces and it wasn't even crispy even though it was pan fried. The inside filling was pork and was very bland. I didn't like how it didn't have much meat either. Just seemed like a dumpling I could get out of a frozen dumpling section. Akamaru Modern (3/5): $22 - This was their pork tonkotsu broth with thin noodles, pork chashu, bamboo shoots, garlic oil, and topped with their IPPPUDO's original "umami" paste. This was more flavorful in their broth but I didn't love it as there wasn't much depth to it and the umami paste was the only thing pulling this dish together in flavor. It wasn't the best umami flavor and just felt like a savory, salty sauce poured over their bland tonkotsu broth. The noodles were chewy and good but the whole dish lacked flavor other than a one dimensional saltiness. The pork chashu was good though and fatty. Shiromaru Classic (2/5): $20 - This was their pork tonkotsu broth, thin noodles, scallions, bamboo shoots, Naruto, and chashu in their clearer, classic broth. This broth had no depth of flavor at all either and it felt very light but also slight saltiness that didn't really tie in well with the whole ramen dish. The veggies didn't add flavor and I had to put in their sides of mustard greens and bean sprouts that were seasoned to add more flavor to this dish. I was really disappointed in their classic ramen as it wasn't a good dish to remember. I can't justify the high prices of their ramen when it wasn't tasty and I was still hungry by the end. Maybe it's the Culver location of IPPUDO as some of my friends in NYC loved IPPUDO more than ICHIRAN. I loved ICHIRAN so I thought I would like IPPUDO but there are better ramen places in LA that will leave you more full and packed with flavor than here. read more

Ippudo Culver City - Akamaru Modern - Ramen Near Me - Culver City, California

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If I were to rate my top ramen spots in downtown culver, ippudo would now be at the top of that list. Mensho if you want that specialty ramen (overrated in my opinion) and Afuri is closely behind (I liked that they have more outdoor seating and more food choices). This place serves hakata style like at shin sen gumi but slightly more elevated. I had the original tonkatu and hubs had the spicy version. I liked how the soup was fatty, even though our chashu was not. Our 2 year old son happily munched on the extra noodles we got plus the bun sampler and fries with aioli. I'm really glad their happy hour had such a wide array of drinks! Service was also very quick too. Will plan to try their miso ramen with the thicker noodles next. read more

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Ippudo is a ramen chain that started in Japan almost 40 years ago. They have since expanded to multiple countries and recently opened this spot in LA. Compared to other ramen spots here, they offer a lighter, more refined ramen, with an atmosphere to match. I tried the shiromaru classic ($18) and a chicken bun ($6). The bun was basically all about the chicken though, so I probably should have gotten the kaarage instead. The ramen is excellent. The rich broth, teetering on the edge of tongue-burning, and the chewy bamboo pieces were the highlights for me. The noodles are thin and toothsome - I plan to spring for the extra noodles next time. Located in a bustling part of Culver City, it's easy to make this a stop part of a great night out. read more

Ippudo Culver City - Shiromaru Classic - Ramen Near Me - Culver City, California

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Heard about this contest (in Japan ) winning Ramen place and wondered if LA could support another Ramen restaurant.... There are so many of them these days, and in the small Culver City downtown area, there are a few of them within walking distance. I would recommend Ippudo for their authenticity and the quality of their noodles. The soup base was very flavorful and there are two small jars of pickled vegetables that you can add to your noodles. I love their noodles, especially the thicker kind; they are al dente - firm to the bite, not overcooked or mushy. Atmosphere is casual and warm, decoration reminds me of small eateries in Tokyo. Service was excellent when we were there, very attentive and polite. Price point is about $20, give intake a few for each Ramen. Portion size is a little small, but that seems to be the trend of all the Ramen stores these days. Overall, I'd recommend this place for a warm and authentic Japanese noodle experience. read more

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Finally got around to trying Ippudo and they are a solid ramen spot. I tried the Akamaru modern ramen and I love how garlicky the broth is. They give you a lot of ramen, but like most ramen places, they really lack on the quantity of meat. The broth is flavorful but not overly salty, which I actually liked. read more

Ippudo Culver City - Akamaru modern ramen - Ramen Near Me - Culver City, California

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There's a reason why they have over 200 locations around the world! If you love Ramen, then you need to head over to Ippudo's newest location in Culver City for delicious Hakata style tonkotsu ramen! We got their: Bun Medley Spicy Tuna Roll Spicy Cucumbers Spicy Gyoza Karaka Spicy Miso Ramen Yuzu Cheesecake Samurai Rock Honestly, everything we got was so great! I surprisingly liked the spicy tuna roll that was topped with a mango poke sauce since it added freshness to each bite, and the karaage was so juicy and paired great with the mentaiko mayo. The broth for the popular Karake Spicy ramen hit the spot since it was umami rich and packed with flavor, and the noodles and toppings for it were just perfect. The yuzu cheesecake was the perfect touch of sweetness to end our meal. They're located in the heart of downtown Culver and I highly recommend stopping by. They have a wide variety in their in their menu ranging from appetizers like sushi, pork buns and Gyoza to delicious cocktails, and rich ramen. It's definitely the newest place to go in downtown Culver City, so you need to check it out the next time you're in the area. read more

Ippudo Culver City - IG @snacks_with_steph - Ramen Near Me - Culver City, California

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Ambiance: it's one of the popular ramen chains, and finally opened in west LA area, and it replaced a previous pizza restaurant in Culver City. It's packed with tight seating arrangement inside, and few tables outside Service: overall friendly, but so slow and disorganized, considering they just opened the restaurant, and it may take some time to fully train their staff here, servers weren't familiar with their menu items, and came to the table again and intended to place new order after we almost finished the food, and in the end it took forever to pack leftover and get the bill, I literally had to talk to three servers to get this done, because they couldn't find the container and lost track of the square terminal, which ended up one employee was using one machine but forgot he had already put another machine in his pocket, basically held both machines while his colleagues were seeking everywhere, honestly, a lot of inefficiency and human errors could have been avoided at the first place Food: standard ippudo ramen menu, however, they ran out ingredients, and didn't have everything like drinks listed on their menu SHIROMARU CLASSIC - *** Pork tonkotsu broth, Hakata thin noodles, scallions, seasoned bamboo shoots, naruto, and slow cooked pork loin chashu, broth was good, however, undercooked noodles and very thin slice of meat KARAKA SPICY - *** Pork tonkotsu broth, Hakata thin noodles, slow cooked pork loin chashu, scallions, topped with house blended spiced Niku-miso bolognese, fragrant garlic oil and fried onion chips, not very spicy, average taste KAEDAMA - *** Extra serving of noodles, Tokyo style thick wavy noodles, make sure to leave enough soup for dipping, not much flavor left Price: moderate portions and reasonable prices for this area, expect $25~$30 per person, unfortunately mediocre quality and caused stomach problem afterwards read more

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A top two ramen spot in Los Angeles! The ramen was phenomenal. Everything was so thoughtfully crafted and prepared. The KARAKA SPICY was a standout. So complex and smooth and just beautifully crafted. The noodles were cooked to perfection. The staff are so so so nice and attentive. Ask for their favorite dishes and they'll offer helpful insights. It was very bright, open, and inviting. read more

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So delicious!!! Obviously not as good as the original locations in Japan but close enough. Free Pickled veggies are a welcome addition and so tasty especially the bean sprouts but no free tea! The classic was so creamy yet light and flavorful. Adding an egg cost $4 though which is a bit steep in my opinion but it's flavored. Came around 6pm on a Friday night and were able to get seated in the patio area with our dogs right away. Inside was a bit packed though and just a few open tables. Service was fast and very friendly and the food comes ouT pretty fast. They seem to default all they noodles to hard which was great for us too. Parking is street metered or free neighborhoods across Venice street or the steps has 1 hour free. read more

Ippudo Culver City - Classic - Ramen Near Me - Culver City, California

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I came here on a Saturday night around 9pm, the wait was about 10 minutes and we didn't make a reservation! I had reallyyyy been looking forward to trying this place, it piqued my interest from the moment the sign went up and I am SO GLAD I was able to stop in for dinner. First of all, AWESOMEEEEE VIBES! Love the decorations - the fish hanging from the ceiling, the ropes in front and surrounding the bar...SO COOL! You can tell they clearly took such care in their design and aesthetic to create a warm, welcoming experience. Now for the food...let's just say I can't wait to come back - I mean, SERIOUSLY! The chicken appetizer we had was deliciousssss, so juicy and flavorful and the orange sauce on the side was scrumptious. I got the Karaka Ramen (spicy) and added a soft boiled egg. This might be my favorite ramen that I've had in LA so far (and I've been living here for almost 3 years now). The noodles were the exact thinness that I prefer in my ramen and the broth was so so flavorful and spicy but not toooo spicy. It was one of those dishes where you really did not need to add anything to it to enhance , it was perfect as is. For 3 ramen dishes, an appetizer, and 1 soft drink, it was around $112 (including tip). We left soooo full and with 1 box of leftovers! I would absolutely come back here and I'm already planning to return! Thank you guys very much for such a lovely meal read more

Ippudo Culver City - chicken - Ramen Near Me - Culver City, California

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Overall: A! Great spot for Tonkotsu and veggie ramen! I had their Karaka Spicy ramen, Nirvana classic ramen, pork bun and chicken karaage. I enjoyed the Hakata thin noodles and the tonkotsu broth is rich and flavorful. Their veggie option was surprisingly good because the mushroom broth was just as flavorful as its tonkotsu counterpart. The pork bun was delicious. It was like biting into a soft cloud. I appreciated how they give you hand wipes with the pork bun to clean your hand before grabbing the bun. There are pickled bean sprouts and sesame seeds on each table. I like to put ground sesame seeds on my ramen! My water cup was never empty, which was a sign of great service. There's plenty of seating for 2-4 people, and there's also a ramen bar towards the back of the of restaurant. The decor is great and it reminds you how world renown this ramen chain is. read more

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This place is so expensive compared to the ippudos in Japan! 3x the cost for whatttt! #forwhat read more

Famous Japanese ramen chain now made it to downtown Culver. Their weho location has now changed as of 2025 to an all vegan concept which is quite interesting and a representation of the surrounding weho neighborhood. This location is super conveniently located in downtown Culver across from the Culver steps. It does have a bar in back and feature lots of Japanese drinks and even unfiltered sake made locally in LA. Their decor here is nicely decked out with art shirts floating lanterns blimps style art and more artistic decor elements It looks like it seats about 30 people at the maximum The food was really good but I think this location is focused on the bar drinking lite bites vs the traditional ramen foodie crowd read more

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The bun medley was a real treat. The buns were soft and complimented the crunch of the accompanying filling which included chicken, pork, and a mushroom. The enoki tempura also had a pleasant crunch that I enjoy with my meals. They were a great addition to my ramen. The ramen I ordered was spicy, but not too spicy. I was able to eat it without having a runny nose after. It was very flavorful. The noodles were thinner, but they made for a nice lunch that didn't make me feel too over full. I will definitely be going back again. read more

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We came for happy hour and got the fries, shishito peppers, bun medleys, drinks, and karaka spicy ramen with tamago add on! Fries were shoestring style and crispy, the mentaiko mayo was very mentaiko forward. Shishito peppers came with a yuzu salt that was also tasty! For the bun medley we got the shrimp, chicken, and pork! They could use a little more sauce but were still tasty. Pork and chicken were our favorites. The Karaka spicy ramen was just ok. The tonkatsu broth felt like it needed more flavor, but it wasn't as heavy on the stomach compared to other ramen shops. Noodles were chewy and the pork was tasty! The tamago add on did not feel worth it for a flavored hard boiled egg compared to the jammier ramen eggs at other places. We tried the yuzu and sake sangria drinks! Sake sangria wasn't sweet but the fruit added was. The yuzu drink was very mango-y. Service was warm and efficient and the restaurant had a lot of tables. Ippudo has more variety for ramen/appetizers in Culver City but I think I'd prefer going to Sawtelle if I truly craved ramen! read more

Ippudo Culver City - Yuzu Passion and Sake Sangria - Ramen Near Me - Culver City, California

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Love love this broth, spicy level AND their thin noodles! This place has it all and it's decently priced ($22) easily my favorite spot in Culver City and the staff are great! read more

Ippudo Culver City - Karaka spicy - Ramen Near Me - Culver City, California

Having waited in anticipation for Ippudo to open in downtown Culver City, I was excited that it finally opened recently and decided to give it a try. I put in my order for pick-up and headed over to get the food. Staff were really nice and courteous, and I got my pick-up promptly. I ordered miso ramen, Shiromaru classic ramen, truffle fries, and karaage. Total (including tip) was over $86, which was steep, as each ramen was over $20. Not only that, but egg does not come with it-- you'd have to pay an extra $4 for it. Considering the price for a bowl of ramen, I had high expectations for the quality. Sadly, everything kind of fell flat. Highlights were the chewy noodles and soft-boiled egg-- however, the broth for both ramen were bland and tasted diluted. I was expecting a rich, creamy broth, but it was not the case. Even the karaage disappointed me: while nice and crispy, it was also bland and could've used some salt. Honestly, the best dish was the truffle fries. Overall, I appreciate having tried Ippudo and seeing what the famed Japanese ramen chain was all about. However, given the steep prices for otherwise bland food, I think I'll skip next time. read more

Ippudo Culver City - Karaage, truffle fries, and Shiromaru classic ramen - Ramen Near Me - Culver City, California

So stoked that Ippudo is finally in Culver City! The biggest draw? Consistency. Whenever I'm dining at an Ippudo location, I know I'll get a high-quality, delicious and hot bowl of ramen. Earlier this evening, my partner and I visited Ippudo for their soft opening for our date night. While they were still working out a few kinks as there were a few lulls in our dining service, I thought they did pretty fantastic for a first run! The servers were all warm, patient and friendly too. We both got the Akamaru Modern Ramen, which was a pork tonkotsu broth topped with umami paste, and we both absolutely and wholeheartedly loved it. Seriously, it was so good. I got the thin noodles whereas my partner got the thick and wavy noodles. Both were delicious. Heck, I even ordered extra noodles! We also enjoyed the thinly sliced chashu, which was a nice change of pace from the thick slices at other shops. The tamago was probably one of the best we've had in quite some time too, so major points there too. Overall, we're excited to see Ippudo in Culver City! Whether you're grabbing a quick meal by yourself, going on a date or catching up with friends, Ippudo's the spot. I definitely recommend checking this place out, if you haven't yet! read more

Ippudo Culver City - Akamaru Modern - Ramen Near Me - Culver City, California

Went in on a rainy Los Angeles evening. Staff were quick to seat us and the server was kind. They checked in on us with time to look over the menu. We wondered the Dragon Tantan. It was incredibly savory and mildly spicy. The restaurant space is mid-size and it wasn't too busy or loud. Great place to meet for a date of catch up with friends. read more

Ippudo Culver City - Dragon Tantan - Ramen Near Me - Culver City, California

Spectacular restaurant! Food was easily a 10/10 in flavor, texture and portions. Happy Hour Drinks hit the spot to complement this perfect food! Our server was very friendly and would frequently swing by to refill our waters. I came with high expectations and they absolutely delivered! I can't wait to come back and try more items on the menu! read more

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really good hakata ramen! highly recommend adding the enoki tempura as a topping. the service is very kind and attentive! the buns are a good option for an appetizer, but the ramen is very filling and a good portion size, so you'd need to be hungry to eat it all read more

Ippudo Culver City - akamaru modern - Ramen Near Me - Culver City, California

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Impromptu walk in smelled so good we ended up eating dinner here. Food was delicious and definitely hit the spot for both ramen and appetizer. A bit pricier as the regular bowl doesn't come with an egg and is already ~$24 but it was delicious nonetheless. Will come back. read more

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Excellent balanced soup profiles across many flavours. Best Ippudo experience since my visits at their NYC locations years ago. Top notch service from Yoshi. Best ramen in Culver City! Classic ramen restaurant ambiance. read more

Service was superb! Atmosphere was awesome and very clean! The ramen however was so-so. The broth wasn't very flavorful and I'm not accustomed to char siu that looks and tastes like cold cuts. I've been to Ippudo in NYC and really enjoyed it so I'm not sure why this location didn't live up to that standard. read more

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Ippudo is a reliable ramen chain from Japan, haven't been to one in years given the so many great ramen shop choices we have in LA, but found ourselves there one night after seeing a line out the door at the newest ramen shop in downtown culver city (we went from none to 3!) Service was fast, interior was clean and modern with a decent bar in the back. Between two people, we shared two bowls of ramen with egg added, and it was perfect amount of food (not leftovers). The Akamaru modern was classic tonkotsu ramen -- rich creamy broth, pork was well cooked and tender, small pieces of bamboo as well. Even with an added egg ($4!), it felt like it needed more toppings (even a piece of nori would've helped). The Dragon tan tan was spicier and more flavorful -- the lots of green onion and onions set it apart from your classic ramen, as well as the small chunks of pork. Add the sesame seeds topping at your table to give it extra umami! Both ramen were good and solid. The menu is only on a QR code, and there are no prices shown, so I got sticker shock when we went to pay. I dunno if it's inflation, but do ramen eggs really cost $4 now?! Ended up with each bowl being over $20, so minus a star for lack of price transparency. read more

Ippudo Culver City - Dragon tan tan in front, Akamaru modern in back - Ramen Near Me - Culver City, California

Disappointingly mediocre. I ordered the miso ramen with fried enoki mushroom and seasoned egg, and the crispy corn appetizer. I will say the crispy corn appetizer was great. Nicely cooked corn on the cob with a flavorful crispy bread crumb topping. But the ramen was so bad. First of all, the portion was small for a $26 bowl and the broth was not nearly hot enough. Strangely the noodles were short and uneven, like they'd been cut up, so you couldn't slurp them. I've had my share of not-so-good ramen in my life, but never broken noodles. How does a ramen restaurant even....? I'm pretty sure I just got the last noodles they had before shutting down for the night. Same situation with the fried Enoki mushrooms. It was so obvious that they gave me the dregs of what was left before closing. No big pieces of freshly fried mushrooms as pictured in the menu. just a big pile of tiny crispy shreds. Also, heads-up that the default pork in their ramen is not the typical thick-cut fatty chashu pork people typically expect from ramen places, but rather thin slices of tender pork loin. It's not bad, just a different experience. They have pork belly, but you have to specify that you want it and of course pay extra. That's lame. The service and vibes were mid. I got there at 9PM a full hour before closing and they were completely empty, which I should have taken as a sign. Plus they had already fully shut the outdoor patio down so I couldn't sit outside as planned. Is it normal to shut the patio down that early, especially on a warm summer night? They also kind of ignored me, and then cut the big lights on at 9:50 when I was still in the middle of eating and started mopping. Come on, man. I would have complained about the food, but my server didn't check in on me after bringing it, and I felt uncomfortable calling her over just to complain, but I should have. When I managed to flag her for the check, I did try to politely ask her whether the noodles were meant to be short, but she just said "no they're not supposed to be like that, sorry" and walked away, leaving me with the check. Awesome. It's such a bummer when you take yourself out for a comforting classic like ramen just to be disappointed. Not sure if it's just me, but food is so personal and emotional and when restaurants don't honor it, it feels almost disrespectful. read more

Ippudo Culver City - The scraps that I received instead of actual fried Enoki mushrooms, a full hour before closing - Ramen Near Me - Culver City, California

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