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The Ramen side order of Gyozas 3 for $1 the parking is small so be ready to go pass it and park on the streets or way back on next plaza. Overall good ramen shop
The sever is so nice and helpful and the food was very good and the ice cream is so cold and yummy
I used to like this place when it was within the first 1 to 2 years of opening. Since then, it's went downhill. The flavor is not what it used to be unfortunately. I got their Spicy Ramen with Popcorn Chicken on the side and the broth felt less rich and did not have the umami I was looking for. The chicken was just... chicken. The service was decent and the ambiance was okay. There are better ramen places in the area now so I won't come back most likely.
OBSESSED WITH THE POPCORN CHICKEN RAMEN! Pro tip: order the popcorn chicken on the side so the chicken doesn't get soggy. The serving is very generous. Great service. The location is a bit small so you don't want to show up hungry during rush hours. However it'll be worth the wait!
Drove over for lunch on a Monday. The parking in the back is small and kind of a dead end. We drove over to the plaza parking and walked over. Very small place. We wrote our name down and waited 20-25 minutes. Since we had a toddler they gave us a table for two. We ordered the Tonkotsu and my husband ordered the spicy ramen. We also got a bowl of popcorn chicken to share. Popcorn chicken was good and a good amount. They actually give a lot of ramen. My daughter and I shared a bowl. Texture of the ramen was good. I do have to say it takes a bit for the food to come out. Bathroom is in the back. You have to go outside and through their parking lot.
Cute restaurant (limited seating though), with a very friendly staff. We got the Kosuke udon, agedashi tofu, and croquette curry. Our food came out relatively quickly and I loved the broth.
Kosuke is a cozy Japanese restaurant tucked off Main St., and honestly, I'd passed by it countless times without realizing it was even a restaurant. There's usually a cluster of people waiting at the entrance, but I never connected the dots until my husband and I decided to try it for the first time. Thankfully, we came at the perfect moment--no line, and only two tables left in this quaint little spot. The dining area is tiny, maybe eight or nine seats total, but the atmosphere is warm and inviting. The front is run by sweet, hospitable Japanese ladies who make you feel welcome the minute you walk in. What we ordered: * Takoyaki - ~$5.95 Six pieces, and they tasted freshly made in-house. Soft, creamy inside with a crisp outside--really well done. * Potato Croquette - ~$4.95 Three generously sized pieces, fried perfectly golden and deliciously comforting. * Spicy Ramen - $15.99 (+$1.50 for rice & curry) The curry on the side was incredibly flavorful, and the rice paired so well with it. A great hearty option. * popcorn chicken udon The broth was light, clean, and refreshing, and the noodles were al dente with that perfect bouncy bite. It came with a side of popcorn chicken, which was surprisingly tasty and well-seasoned. * Pork Katsu with Curry Combo We ordered this for our son, and it was fantastic--crispy pork, rich curry, and a satisfying portion. Overall: We loved everything about this place--the food, the service, the cozy vibe--and we're absolutely coming back. This is officially our new Japanese ramen spot!
Came in for a quick lunch! I saw outside on the window there little signs and what caught my eye was the chicken bowls. I stepped inside past the curtain and there were quite a bit of ppl in there! You can't even tell from the outside. It's such a hidden gem' I yet have to try there ramen I'll wait for the winter. I tried out there summer specials so cal chicken bowl. It came with a little bit of salad, avocado, rice and chicken teriyaki . Freshly made! It was so good and tasty . The flavors were delicious. I ordered some egg rolls for appetizers and they were delicious. I've never seen somebody cut them in half like that and fry them. It's definitely a game changer for me! The location is small. I saw a few ppl grab food to go instead of dine it. Can't wait to come Back for ramen !
We got the spicy ramen, sesame oil ramen (forgot name), and fried squid. The ramen had good portion sizes, we both had to take to go boxes. The fried squid was a bit chewy compared to other places I've had. Overall not bad! If you post on instagram you get a free ice cream.
I've been here a handful of times and I definitely think this is one of the best ramen spots in SGV for its price! Their portions are huge for their price, tasty, and their other dishes hold up just as well to their ramen. I looove their katsu. Recently, they've shrunk their croquette sizes from 3 full circles to 3 halves (1.5 croquette). My family, accustomed to the original serving, had ordered two plates of croquette for our party of 5 expecting 6 circles, but received 6 halves. For about $5 a plate, I feel like at least 2 croquettes is appropriate. Overall, I do think Kosuke is still worth a visit. The portions and taste for everything else is still amazing for its price.
Walked in with a group of 5 for lunch on a weekday and was seated immediately. My ramen was flavorful and delicious. Service was great- servers were welcoming and helpful!
I'm still trying to find a wow this ramen blows my mind place but this one was good enough. I'm not a ramen guy but it was a pleasurable experience. Ambience is cozy, we got there at like 6:30pm on a Sat and we beat the crowd. Had the spicy ramen with chashu. Noodles were a good texture, broth was rich, pork was sweet and savory, toppings complemented the soup. I asked for extra spicy, it was definitely spicy but not hallucinating, just enough to burn the palate. *Next day update: Things are hurting and burning, lol just what I asked for, so it was spicy enough. Also had a mini curry add-on, tasty like Coco Ichibana, maybe a little sweeter than that. Came with rice and curry. Popcorn chicken was delightful, I had some of a friend's order. I posted on my IG story to get FREE tasty and creamy green tea ice cream.
Ordered their popcorn chicken curry rice Togo. They give huge portion of popcorn chicken! It came in a separate bag along with the rice, salad and pickled raddish on one container with a container for the curry. I feel like the popcorn chicken could use some more seasoning. But it was crispy and juicy chicken overall. I really like the pickled radish it comes with.
6 years ago
Kosuke is just so.. comforting. This little gem is one of my favorite spots to pick up some Japanese food-- especially perfect for cold days!! My go-to order here is their chicken cutlet curry, but my family adores their popcorn chicken ramen. [Note: be careful when ordering spicy here, their "spicy" level is actually pretty dang hot! do not underestimate!! it's so good, but take caution lol. I'd recommend medium spicy to most people.] Anyways, food aside, I've always had a good experience picking up from Kosuke! Everyone there is so kind and welcoming. It's also easy to call for an order. If you're craving for Japanese food, please give Kosuke a try! read more
2 years ago
4 years ago
my bf & I came here since we had a ramen & chicken curry craving :D from the outside, kosuke can definitely seem like a hole-in-the-wall, but the intimate size of the place just adds to the comforting feeling (like home almost). the staff here are super attentive & friendly from the moment you walk in the door. we ordered the spicy miso ramen & the curry katsu chicken. the spicy miso ramen had a very rich, deep flavor, especially the broth! all of the toppings, noodles, & broth really cultivate a "mesmerizing" experience, according to my bf LMAO. everything was cooked to a nice texture, including the noodles, egg, & chashu. they also let you pick the spice level, & we chose the medium one, which honestly felt like a good lvl. you also get to choose the meat you have w/ it, which can either be chashu (which is what we got), or popcorn chicken. moving on to the curry katsu chicken! the chicken is breaded just enough, providing a crunchy exterior, but a soft and chewy interior. unlike some of the other katsu chickens we've tried, this one remains juicy and isn't dry after the frying is done. as for the curry sauce, it was just SO GOOD! it got to the point where we were scraping it off of the plate. it also comes w/ a side salad that's a refreshing palate cleanser in between bites of chicken. the only improvement i'd see for this dish is to give a more generous serving of the sauce & ginger (esp the ginger lol), so consider asking for extra if you try this dish! all in all, we'd definitely come back the next time we get a craving :) read more
I ordered food from one of my favorite Ramen restaurant in Alhambra. The Boss is very nice and courteous on the phone when I called. The ramen, chicken karaage, takoyaki are very delicious. If you are craving for ramen, recommend this place. read more
2 years ago
Best Ramen joint in Alhambra. The ramen is so delicious. I often order a non spicy soup along with the spicy chicken. Literally the perfect combination. Hands down my fav ramen ever. read more
2 years ago
This place was definitely cozy, not the biggest so beware if you have a big party, space is limited. The food was good I got the spicy ramen, pop corn chicken and tonkotsu ramen. Too be honest the pop corn chicken was dry and not very flavorful. The ramen was delicious though it was just SO temperature hot I had to wait a while for it to cool down which isn't ideal when you're hungry! Other than that it was a good overall experience. read more
a small, cute hole in the wall but their ramen is A1! tip: ask for the popcorn chicken on the side so it doesn't get soggy. they don't serve alcohol so forget about a happy hour but no matter what you will be so happy once you have that first taste! cash only & there's limited parking in the back but street parking & a unit near by. fast service is a plus read more
Decided to try out Kosuke as my friends and I were looking for a new ramen spot, and it turned out pretty good! I got the spicy miso ramen extra spicy and was satisfied with how spicy it was. My only gripes with the ramen were that the egg included with it was just a normal hard boiled egg and that the bamboo shoots had a bad aftertaste. Other than that, the broth was surprisingly good and the noodles were good as well! We also got the takoyaki as an appetizer and it was delicious! I would highly recommend getting it as they are probably one of the best takoyaki I have had around the area! As a side note, definitely get the tonkotsu ramen as spicy might be a bit too much if you don't normally eat spice! read more
3 years ago
The Ramen won't go wrong. Just order and enjoy. The line here in lunch time is way better than dinner time. Service is fast. We had a Popcorn Chicken Ramen and Tonkotsu Ramen. read more
3 years ago
Parking is a pain in the butt for this place. They do have a private lot but the entrance to the lot is about a 1.5 car width... so if someone is exiting and you're trying to enter.. good luck. Literally a hole in the wall place. The restaurant is quite small. Max capacity prolly less than 30 ppl i would say... so come prepared to wait. Definitely dont come with a big group, you will regret that. Overall taste was ok. This place stands out for its value. The ramen portions are quite satisfying and for a couple dollars more you can add a side of tempura with your ramen order. Overall a good local ramen shop that offers great value. read more
6 years ago
Kosuke is by far my favorite ramen restaurant in all of SGV. I have been to many ramen places in SGV on the search for the best ramen. SGV ramen typically doesn't really compare to ones you can get in Little Tokyo or Torrance/Gardena area (and even then, those don't compare to top-notch ramen shops in Japan), but they do have a couple of gems like Kosuke! My favorite at Kosuke is the spicy ramen with chashu, medium spicy. They package their ramen nicely for takeout when I went during the pandemic. Kosuke is owned by an older Japanese lady who works at the restaurant every time I come. I love that they usually play some Miyazaki movie on their TV - Kosuke gives such a homely warm feel. Food: The Spicy ramen is really the dish to get at Kosuke. I've tried the Tonkotsu and Spicy miso ramen as well, but I always always go back to my trusty Spicy ramen. Their spicy ramen has a deep yet clean pork flavor without being too heavy, and the spice does not distract from the flavorful soup. It comes with bamboo shoots, kikurage (wood ear mushrooms), negi (green onions), a choice of meat, and half an egg (comes hard to soft boiled, depending on the day). For the meat, you have the option to choose either chashu (traditional pork belly topping) or popcorn chicken to go with the ramen. I think the chashu compliments the spicy ramen the best. You also get to choose the spiciness of the ramen - mild, medium, or spicy. I've gotten all of them before, and medium is the "happy medium" for me. Kosuke does not joke around with the spice in their ramen. Spicy level is very very spicy - and I have seen several customers order this in the past, and they've needed to down water after every bite. Even for an intense spice lover like me, I think medium is spicy enough without having to suffer come consequences later on (if you know what I mean). If you're not a big spice lover, mild will be more than enough spice for you. They also offer combos for their ramen - mini curry, gyoza, and others for only a couple bucks more. I like the mini curry a lot - it's curry sauce with white rice. The gyoza is also good - it's more of a deep fried kind of gyoza - not as traditional Japanese. Takeout: I called to order for takeout amidst the COVID pandemic, which was very convenient as I didn't need to wait long at the restaurant. The lady answering the phone was very friendly. They package the items very nicely - noodles and toppings are separated from the soup, and the popcorn chicken comes in its own box too. Parking: They have a small parking lot at the back of the restaurant. There should be no problem finding a spot these days because of the pandemic. Otherwise, you can park on the street or around the block. ***They are a cash only establishment. Closed on Sundays!!!*** read more
My wife and I have been to so many good ramen around L.A. and beyond to search for a good bowl of ramen and the search still on going for a bowl ramen. After shopping at Target I told my wife,I'm hungry for Ramen I remembered a friend of mine told me there's a ramen restaurant just across the street from the Alhambra car wash. The restaurant called Kosuke.its a small restaurant just next to the Dog Groomer but always get pack and a long line to get in. We arrive at the restaurant just on time before they open their doors for the dinner crowed,we were the second group in line while more people were getting in line. This place is CASH ONLY no debit or credit card just being cash don't forget. We look at the menu for appetizer we order the popcorn chicken then we place our order the ramen. My wife order the pork cutlet ramen and I order the Tonkotsu ramen. First they brought our appetizer the popcorn chicken,we took a bite the chicken was tender,crunchy and spice flavor but it needed a sauce to match it that would be perfect. Final they brought us our ramen,our bowl were hot and the aroma was good I couldn't wait to took a taste of my Tonkotsu. My Tonkotsu was really good full of flavor,the broth was delicious with a good clear taste,I was surprise with sesame seeds in bowl it add flavor. My wife enjoy her ramen bowl,we both the popcorn chicken and ramen,we will probably go back again. read more
4 years ago
2 years ago
Friends have been raving about this place so I thought I'd try it out myself. Came here with one of my friends on a rainy Friday night. The wait wasn't too bad, but oh man the place was small and packed. Be sure to have someone come down and write your name down if you're more than a party of two as wait times can get long. I talked to one of the guys waiting with a party of six and he said they have been waiting for about an hour, no surprise, they had limited tables. It was also weird to me how they had a random table in the middle of the restaurant. I ordered the Kuro ramen and my friend ordered the spicy ramen. The Kuro ramen had a nice broth, but it was A-OK. It didn't have a WOW factor and didn't really meet my expectations. The chashu was a bit disappointing as I was expecting a bit of fat attached to it but it was mostly the meaty portion (which I think is probably something some people prefer). It wasn't as tender as I wanted it to be, but it was still enjoyable. It seems that their popcorn chicken is something to 'rave' about, maybe I'll try that next time. The service was quick which was nice and the staff was attentive. It's a small restaurant so there would be no reason to give bad service. read more
6 years ago
Kosuke's ramen hands down the best ramen I've had. The broth is not too salty or fatty. The ramen noodles have the perfect chewiness. If you are a foodie, i recommend their popcorn ramen. If you order takeout, the popcorn chicken comes on the side so you can eat it in the ramen and/or as an appetizer. I also recommend their takoyaki as a appetizer. Bring cash if you can. Not sure if they accept card. Parking is super easy, theres a structure in the back! read more
2 years ago
The service was great! The workers are really kind and the food is nice and juicy! It's a small place and may be busy sometimes, but there's usually not a wait. read more
I recommend you try the tonkotsu-shoyu ramen here! It's like tonkotsu mixed with bonito (fish) flavor and I think it really cuts through the heaviness of plain tonkotsu. Also it came with a ton of wakame seaweed, and I love that stuff! It's so briny and chewy. I've never had it at any other ramen shop before and it's an interesting addition to the broth. I also like how the ramen is the thick, chewy, wavy noodles instead of the thin, straight noodles. I will never understand the preference for thin, straight noodles (Shinsengumi I'm looking at you). I also tried my boyfriend's tonkotsu ramen. It had good pork flavor but immediately I tasted overwhelming sesame oil flavor. By the end of the bowl, my boyfriend said that the sesame flavor had gotten too much. We both agreed that the tonkotsu-shoyu ramen was the superior option. Another great thing about Kosuke is that they include a good amount of toppings (egg is the most important) with each bowl of ramen, so you don't have to spend a lot of $$ on extra toppings. Also the portions are huge! I was completely stuffed afterwards. I'm definitely coming back again. read more
4 years ago
7 years ago
Loved it! Reservations impossible, wait time for 4 substantial. There were various ramen choices with a miso or pork based broth and respective preselected and optional components. It was very good. On my wish list though would be to have non-fried chicken meat as a choice ... and to move to at least the 20th century and accept credit cards. read more
4 years ago
This is my usual ramen joint in the area. If you come during peak hours, there's usually a wait - around 30 mins. Cash only!! My favorite is the Kuro ramen. The broth is rich and flavorful. The black sesame oil adds that extra kick of umami. Noodles are medium sized and perfectly chewy. You can get your ramen with chashu or popcorn chicken. They actually give a good amount of popcorn chicken. Tonkostu and corn butter ramen are also good. The corn butter is really creamy. The spicy ramen is actually spicy, so watch out if you order it medium spice level or above. I've been going here for years since it opened. But lately I feel like it can be a hit or miss experience here. There was a time where my noodles and egg were overcooked, but were normal on my next visit. The food here is great, but I wish for more consistency. read more
4 years ago
When my friend told me she had found a ramen spot that was the only place she could eat ramen at since returning from a visit from Japan I was eager to try and Kosuke did not disappoint. I personally have a favorite ramen spot in J-Town but this place really did come close! The location is small, pretty busy, and has a small parking lot behind. We found parking easily for Friday night but my friend said sometimes it's busier and you have to park elsewhere. The wait was about 20-30 minutes which was fine because one person in our party had not arrived. The location is fairly small with no frills. The wait staff is okay but since the place is busy after your initial order it seems they have to be flagged down to get attention. The food, I ordered vegetarian ramen for the first time and was pleasantly surprised at how tasty the broth was and combination of ingredients overall. The noodles were a bit firm but maybe that was on purpose? My friends got the spicy ramen with meat and they all enjoyed it. Three of us in the party ordered mild and one medium on spice level. My friend who comes often said depending on the day sometimes the mild is spicier. We all liked are spice level but there were some itchy throats and runny noses. A word of caution if you are delicate to spice. Overall it was great and I am happy to have found a ramen spot closer to home. I would likely come again with friends when in the mood for ramen. read more
3 years ago
4 years ago
I've had this place bookmarked for awhile, but haven't had the chance to come eat here until this past Wednesday. When looking through their menu and pictures on yelp, we noticed that they had a ramen with karaage in it, which I have never tried. I was kind of hesitant because since it's fried chicken, it would become soggy just sitting in the broth. I ended up deciding to try something different. I ordered the Tonkotsushoyu ramen rather than the popcorn chicken one. If you look at the price, the tonkotsushoyu one is more worth it because you get the chicken and an egg, which is still cheaper than just ordering the popcorn chicken one. The broth may be mixed with both pork and fish, rather than just pork broth, but I'm cheap and always like to find a better deal. The broth is light compared to Tonkotsu, which is my usual orders at ramen places. Although I prefer a slightly creamier broth, I thought this was still good. Don't be scared by the description of having pork and fish broth together; it didn't taste fishy at all. The karaage itself was really good. Even though it was bathing in the broth, the chicken didn't taste that soggy throughout my meal, which was one of my concern before ordering this. The amount they give is quite generous too, or at least in my opinion. I believe they gave about 10 pieces or so. I couldn't finish the bowl and stopped with maybe 4 pieces left and a bite or two of ramen left. The only thing I didn't really like about the dish was the egg. Usually the egg has soaked in the broth and is flavored, but I thought the egg just tasted like a plain boiled egg. PARKING: The entry to the parking lot is one way, so it's small. I suggest to drive slowly because it could be easily missed. The parking itself is small too. I would say there are around 10 spots and it shares with another business. There are reserved spots for Kosuke, but I think I only saw 2 spots? I arrived right when they opened for dinner time, so there was still parking available, but I'm not sure how it is during other times. read more
2 years ago
7 years ago
Went here for dinner for the first time after my boyfriend's coworker recommended it. Personally, I didn't think the ramen was extraordinary, and tasted very average to me. I also felt that the spicy ramen was a bit oily. However the service was really nice and quick, and the place was super packed, even on a Thursday night! I wouldn't want to come back to stand the long wait for ramen that was just okay. read more
Favorite ramen joint! The atmosphere is cozy and comfy. Every time I come here, the place is always packed so prepare to wait for at least 20-30+ minutes. It's always worth the wait! I recommend getting the Kuro Ramen with the croquettes on the side. read more
9 years ago
Went back to Kosuke to try their ramen after not visiting for several years. Still hear glowing things about this place, so I wanted to see if it was as good as I remembered it to be. There's a very tiny lot by the restaurant for parking - I would think that street parking might be a better option if you're visiting on a busy day. The restaurant is pretty small; not too many customers are able to be seated at one time although there doesn't seem to be as much of a wait as I remembered. We were quickly seated and given menus after arriving. Kosuke does have a good variety of items on the menu: ramen, udon, rice plates, curry, etc. They also have a ramen set deal where you can add an item for a lower cost if you order a ramen bowl. Ended up trying the Tonkotsu ramen again with a side of spicy bamboo shoots. You can get your choice of chashu or popcorn chicken along with some set ingredients. You're also able to customize it with additional toppings for an additional price. I was pleasantly surprised at how big the bowl of ramen was. For $7.75, I felt like they gave a good amount of noodles in that one bowl. The chashu wasn't too special - felt like there were maybe only 2-3 slices of meat in that bowl. I did enjoy that half of an egg, but was a bit disappointed that it was only half. The only thing that was unsettling was the heaviness of the broth. I felt like this bowl of ramen was really heavy and oily. After eating only several bites, I was already pretty full. The broth wasn't bad, but I felt like it made everything in that bowl taste similar. I remember liking the mini curry bowl, so I decided to order it again at the extra $1.50. Don't remember why I liked it so much as it was pretty much a small amount of white rice with some curry sauce poured over it. It tasted good, but I don't think I'd order it again. I can probably make something similar using ingredients at the supermarket. tl;dr - Kosuke was a miss for me this time - I didn't enjoy the meal as much as I thought I would have. The ramen was okay and better than some places, but I definitely still prefer Benten. Price was pretty affordable and the amount of noodles given was a huge plus. Factor in the parking situation and the restaurant being cash only - I'd probably skip it and just head to Benten the next time I crave ramen. read more
4 years ago
Delicious ramen with great value and great service! The ramen with popcorn chicken is massive and comes with an egg plus an appetizer-sized plate of meat. The broth and noodles were super flavorful and unique. I got the spicy ramen in medium spice and it was a bit spicier than I could handle lol but still good, just be careful! Just because I killed myself w the spice, I preferred my friend's black garlic ramen a bit more but overall I'd def come back here again!! read more
More info about Kosuke
618 W Main St
Alhambra, CA 91801
Directions
(626) 289-8030
Call Now
Visit Website
https://kosukeramen.com
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Ask the Community - Kosuke
Is new ownership or new cooker? I been here long time this is my one of best ramen place. I ordered today, soup taste light chiken and egg little different. I hope not
I also wondered if it was different, went into the bathroom and the kitchen crew looked totally different. Didn't see the old Japanese lady or her daughter.
Is the ownership non-Japanese?
Sorry, I do not no the answer to ownership. However, everyone who work there speak Japanese.
Are they open for dine-in?
Yes they are. Monday thru Friday is Dinner Only. Saturday is Lunch and Dinner.
Is this place not listed on any delivery services (door dash, Grubhub etc)?
No, they're not
I've been trying to call, but it goes straight to voicemail...does anyone know if they temporarily closed for the holiday?
They are opened, keep trying they get very busy.
Do they have dine in?
Currently no, it's a small spot and looked to be only open for takeout for now. Would suggest calling in an order for takeout/pick-up
Open during covid?
Yes it is! Call ahead and they will have it ready in about 15 minutes. Parking is in the rear.
Is this place taking phone orders?
Yes they are. They are just busy with orders so keep trying and you will eventually get hold of them
Do they have Vegetarian/ Vegan ramen?
You can get the vegetable ramen but ask for no dashi/bonito in the miso broth. They were able to accommodate my vegan friend easily :)
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