As someone who has experienced ramen in Japan: Pretty good ramen joint. I'd say it's alright in terms of quality and authenticity. Definitely better than the plethora of other Asian noodle places in the area that serve ramen more as an afterthought. Pretty good portion sizes as well. The lady who served me was also very friendly. The place is pretty small and can feel a bit cramped compared to other restaurants, though I'm not gonna dock points for that (I guess it's also somewhat authentic in a sense!). The only issue I have is that for roughly the same price, you can get higher quality ramen from other places in the area, like Ramen Nagi. read more

My visit to Ramen Ichiraku was unexpected. I was in the mood for ramen but didn't want to veer too far from my route home. I'm grateful for the accidental find. I'll definitely be back soon. This was a solo trip so I only got 2 items - squid calamari and beef ramen. Both were fantastic! The place was empty at 6:45 on a Wednesday which made me nervous on quality, but the food was great, so I think they just need help getting the word out (which helped motivate my review) I really hope they stay in business. The woman who took my order was friendly and the kitchen was quick! I had low expectations for the squid knowing it likely wouldn't travel well for take out, but when I got home both the flavor and texture were great. The ramen was also really good. The broth was creamy and noodles had the right cook. I liked the unique flavor flashes that made the soup exciting but not overpowering - hints of ginger and a sichuan-like spice. I had a good experience, I'll try dine-in next time. read more

Service is prompt, attentive. They offer water refills and quick to bring things ordered. The ambiance is cute with Naruto designs on the wall. Over feels clean but disappointed that there isn't an easily accessible bathroom for bathrooms. The one supplied has leaking ceiling fan. There are buckets collecting water. The food is just ok. The broth lacked much umami flavor. The noodles are definitely store bought. The portions are smaller than normal ramen places. Fairly disappointed with the ramen here. Since I ordered the ramen mild I just tasted salty heat. read more

Best in the world . Service is amazing . I will forever eat here . I love Ramen ichiraku

Ramen is good here , El Monte really doesn't have Ramen places but when I'm passing through I stop here , the staff are very friendly and the pork Ramen is mmmm mmm good read more

Ramen Ichiraku - Pork Ramen ( spicy) - Ramen Near Me - El Monte, California

Friendly and fast service. The broth was a bit rich but nonetheless really tasty. I think perhaps some lime or lemon would help with the heaviness of the ramen. The gyoza was sooo good! 10/10. Also, tried the passion fruit green tea with boba. The boba is not actual boba.. it's more like a jelly. But it was still refreshing, sweet, and fruity. Oh and the interior is Naruto themed! Very cool! read more

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Ramen Ichiraku is a Naruto themed ramen restaurant. The details and decorations within the restaurant were pretty cool, which in my opinion, would be one of the reasons why you would visit this restaurant. If you're looking for quality, delicious ramen, I would recommend trying a different ramen restaurant. For this price, you are really paying for the environment. I ordered the fried chicken ramen and modified it to hot pot style for $0.50 more just for the experience. Based on advice from previous Yelp reviews, I asked for the fried chicken to be on the side to prevent it from getting soggy. My wife ordered the Chashu ramen. Both dishes were just OK and it didn't help that service was very slow. There were a few parties that came in after us that got their food first. We were waiting about 30 min before our ramen came out. My wife's ramen was also missing a fish cake, which we had to ask the staff to get for us. It turns out the fish cake is small and thinly sliced. While I can see the appeal of wanting to come and experience the Naruto theme, we will not be returning and would recommend other restaurants for more quality ramen. read more

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Food was pretty good. I enjoyed the takiyaki and fried chicken ramen. Good service and atmosphere. Great local spot to come have dinner. Perfect rainy day meal. read more

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TLDR; Naruto theme restaurant with great ramen, broth not very overpowering, fried rice was up to standard, and fries could have been crispier. The location is very small and tucked away but provides a great themed Naruto experience. The ramen itself was not too overpowering, the broth was simple and clean and not very tonkatsu-y. Noodle texture was perfect imo and the pieces of chashu in my bowl were cooked tender, the fried chicken in my wife's was great but wish they gave an option to place on the side, because they got soft as soon as the bowl was mixed. Portion size was good. Pork fried rice was made probably using the chashu and was delicious. A tad on the oily side but it's fried rice. Corn and peas were a nice veggie, but if you're a picky eater keep that in mind. Sweet potato's were lack luster, I understand it's a ramen shop but could have been fried a bit longer. Overall great experience, we came when it wasn't too busy so got served quite quickly. Would definitely come back. read more

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The staff here was very nice and let us enter early when it was raining. This business seemed family owned. I ordered the pork cutlet with curry and the portion was very generous. They forgot about my diet Coke so I had to ask again. read more

Ramen Ichiraku - Pork cutlet with Japanese curry - Ramen Near Me - El Monte, California

Located in a small plaza on Garvey Ave., Ramen Ichiraku is a Naruto-themed ramen shop with cute Naruto art around the shop. The shop itself is small with about 7 tables. We came during a weekend for lunch and we were seated right away, but our two orders of ramen took ~30 minutes to come out, and a family of 5 was being served before us too. I was getting cranky seeing dish after dish getting served past us. Quality wise, the ramen and broth were just okay. Comes toppings such as earwood mushroom, corn, pickled ginger, bean sprout, green onion, bamboo, and half a soft boiled egg. - Naruto Chashu Ramen: I chose a regular bowl with miso broth. The menu says it comes with chashu and fish cake, but that is literally one small slice of Narutomaki (pink and white swirl fish cake) and it was missing from my bowl. The chashu looked good but wasn't much of an umami flavor. It also didn't really taste like miso broth, but was a lot heavier. The quantity of noodle is decent so it does the job of filling you up. - Fried Chicken Ramen, tonkotsu broth, hotpot style (+0.50$): The only difference with the hotpot style is a different bowl with a fire underneath to keep the ramen hot for longer, but everything else (amount, volume) is the same. We asked for the chicken on the side based on other's yelp reviews. But the chicken wasn't really fried, and tasted like the type of chicken used for popcorn chicken at tea shops. The tonkotsu broth is "meatier" than the miso broth, but was nothing to write home about. Overall, this is a cute ramen place to try once but I don't think I would return given the price point isn't that much better than other ramen shops and I enjoy the broth and ramen better at other places. read more

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Second time here and restaurant was empty when I came in around 6. It's a small little hole in the wall shop. They serve ramen here, but it's like Chinese Ramen. I got the Naruto Chashu ramen and it was pretty good. Made it a hotpot for 50 cents more which makes it an interesting way to eat ramen. Also got to try the fried chicken ramen and it was solid as well. The fried chicken isn't as good when it gets soggy and honestly if you get this I think you should ask for the chicken to be on the side. It's good when it's crispy but isn't when it's soggy, I don't understand why it's mixed. Overall it's an average spot for ramen IMO. It's good but also nothing special. Prices are normal at about $15-$16 a bowl which also comes with a lot of toppings. I definitely enjoyed the decor though with all the Naruto characters and service was good. Parking is plentiful in their own lot so no worries on that. read more

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I do not eat ramen. This day I ate ramen. Didn't really try the noodles but I enjoyed the broth and pork. Rdawg got his spicy And me and the boy settled for mild which still had a hint of spice. They have huge yummy onigiri. Salmon, radish, stew pork, and tuna We will be back even though Rdawg says the broth is not rich in flavor as hiro nori. read more

Ramen Ichiraku - Naruto Chashu Ramen - Ramen Near Me - El Monte, California

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I've been visiting the spot next door to here for years. Always wondered about this ramen place. Hubby was craving ramen, any ramen, so with finally a purpose, I came down to dine in and get some, and take Hubby's back to him. Loved the interior artwork. Server was friendly and attentive. Ramen came quick. Also got a side of fried tofu. Enjoyed my ramen. Will very likely come again! read more

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Our server was great and food was very flavorful! The portion is just the right amount to get us full. The cha shiu is thick and juicy. I also got the fried tofu and chicken cutlet but forgot to take pictures. The interior is cute and comforting. Definitely becoming mine and my boyfriend's regular ramen shop.Totally recommend! read more

o1.31.2o23 Final meal of 2023! Ramen, any type of soup noodles is always good for a chilled night. We wanted something close by and swing by this restaurant for some hot ramen soup. It was quite slow. I guess many are out partying. We are living the old ppl life now. Lol. We got the sweet potato fries, takoyaki, chashu ramen, stew pork ramen, and a shrimp fried rice. Our toddler really likes the ramen and fried rice, so did we. The meat was a bit tough but it tasted good. The only downside to me was that there were no serving plates, not even when the takoyaki was brought to our table. We did ask for a plate for the little one. Maybe that's the new rule? You only get it if you ask? I don't know. We wanted to get some boba afterwards too... but the one in the next plaza was closed early. Oh darn read more

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Food was great! It was my first time to be in this place and I like how they hand made Naruto Art very artistic!

The food is AMAZING . The fried chicken is so crispy . The ramen hearty. Overall I was amazed . They have good service and fast . The restaurant is nice with fan art . We came on a weekday and it wasn't packed at all . read more

Ramen Ichiraku - Fried Chicken Ramen - Ramen Near Me - El Monte, California

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It was great small and cozy restaurant. Tasty food reasonable price Should check it out, worth to visit read more

Ordered online for pickup and loved it! It took about half an hour for the food to be ready once the order was placed which was great since it was a rather large order. I got a beef ramen with vegetable broth, fried chicken ramen with veggie broth, takoyaki, curry rice with chicken, two salmon onigiri, and two mango tea drinks. The drinks were a little too sweet but still tasty. My fav was the curry rice, super good and yummy. The takoyaki was my least favorite. It didn't taste bad but it was pretty soggy. It could have been due to it being a pickup order though so I don't blame the restaurant, I'll just make sure to only order it if I go in person. The only issue I experienced was one forgotten onigiri, but the staff was super nice about it. I immediately called the restaurant when I noticed and after confirming my order, they told me to go back to pick it up. Really appreciated how fast everything was taken care of! Would definitely order again! read more

BEST RAMEN EVER. The workers were SO nice too. It is a really good place that I think everyone should try. They not only have ramen but curry too. And the curry there is DELICIOUS. This place is a 10/10. read more

Love this place food is super delicious the flavor is just right and staff is super friendly read more

Ramen Ichiraku - Combo Soda or milk tea with ramen bowel and one side - Ramen Near Me - El Monte, California

Service and food is always amazing and on point. Cute setup if you are into Naruto and anime ! I recommend trying the ramen hot pot style , it is so good!! Definitely give it a try if you are a ramen fan! read more

I stumbled across this place when I was on the hunt for pho, I drove past it and circled back - The food was amazing! I ordered the Pork Stu Ramen and it did not disappoint. My kids had the pork fried rice and that was so good. I've had Ramen in many different locations, this had a slight different taste than the usual broths, but in a good way. I ordered it extra spicy and the level was perfect, the noodle was very good. - The service was fast, friendly, and well executed. Even though the place is small, they accommodated my family of five. I will definitely be making my way back here. read more

Ramen Ichiraku - Pork Stu Ramen - Ramen Near Me - El Monte, California

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Discovered this gem in the 626 area, located in El Monte. My first experience was incredible and I will be back soon. Service: - Whom I believe is the owner and server was amazing! She was very friendly, very enthusiastic, and overall marvelous. She was so patient with us and was so sweet to my fiancé and I. Food: -AMAZING! {Vegetable Ramen} was delicious for someone that doesn't eat meat the vegetables portion was very filling, it was a little too much at times and felt like I got more veggies than ramen but it was such a delicious way of filling my tummy ! (LOL) {Beef Ramen} was delicious it was very savory and had the perfect amount of spice. {Chicken Ghouza} AMAZING. Very savory, super crispy on the edges and the chicken was phenomenal. Parking: -Parking is pretty easy to find they have a spacious parking lot in front of the location or you can always park on the curb Ambiance: -Pretty small dining area luckily we stopped by during lunch time on the weekday so we were seated immediately! They have sketches and incredible interior read more

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I am a regular for the past 2 years, love this Naruto themed place! Always delicious and consistent.

This was my go to place during COVID and I continue to support it because it never disappoints. Fried chicken ramen is the ultimate best. I just wish they had some appetizers. The service was kinda slow this time around, but they were busy with take outs. The decor is always pleasant. read more

Good food, friendly service, cozy, loved the theme.... I wood go again, it was a bit of a drive but well worth it.

Tasty nice dish but a little salty. Stopped by here during the week and food came out in an adequate amount of time but be warned they do get a lunch rush! read more

Ramen Ichiraku - Ramen Near Me - El Monte, California

food is good. no complaints. service is fast. no complaints. the service is nice. it is summer so just two other people there but makes it feel special. someone came in and sparked a conversation about his wife feeling sick so having hot soup will help her and he will come back more often later because it's too hot right now. I was craving ramen so this helped a lot. great ambiance. cute naruto decorations. I hope they stay in business read more

Ramen Ichiraku - Naruto Chashu Ramen - Ramen Near Me - El Monte, California

My family has tried this place two times so far. The first time was to-go and we ordered from their website. We ordered the two Ramen combos (Ramen [beef & fried chicken], one appetizer (fried mushroom & takoyaki], drink [passion fruit tea & wintermelon]) and two onigiri [tuna & pork]. Honestly, everything was very good, except the fried chicken was a bit too salty with the ramen and the wintermelon tea was too sweet for my taste. The wintermelon tea lasted a long time because we watered it down to our preference, so that was okay. Felt like I got a few cups of tea for the price of one. Second time was in the restaurant and the service was so nice! We came with our two daughters and the waitress was so attentive. She brought out water in kid-friendly cups and even gave out pop-it bracelets for them so they wouldn't be bored waiting. We still got ramen combos, but I got the chashu Ramen with medium spice and gyoza this time. So so good! The spice kick really elevated it. My daughters shared one beef Ramen bowl split between them and they liked it. Husband finished whatever they didn't eat. Overall, a decent place, we also like Naruto anime so it was cool to be at a place with that theme. We'll be back again with some out-of-state friends who like the anime. read more

Food, service and ambiance all great! I always come back here for my ramen cravings. Highly recommended! read more

Ramen Ichiraku - Seafood ramen and gyoza - Ramen Near Me - El Monte, California

This is by far the BEST ramen spot I've ever been to! If you're a huge Naruto fan, then this is the spot for you! Upon arriving, you'll see a poster with Naruto holding a bowl of ramen. Once inside, the atmosphere is fantastic! It makes you feel like you're in an episode of Naruto itself. The staff is very friendly and nice. They prep and deliver your food asap! I ordered the Naruto Chashu Ramen, and it tasted great! Not to mention, the rice cakes are packed with flavor! There aren't many anime-themed restaurants in the US, so places like this are far and few in between. I'll be going back next time I'm in the area! read more

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I'm not a fan of Japanese manga, but I've come to realize that the name of this shop, Ramen Ichiraku (literally meaning 'Ramen is the Best Pleasure'), is a direct reference to the ramen establishment in the comic series Naruto. There's even a real-life Ichiraku Ramen in Fukuoka, Japan. Ramen Ichiraku in El Monte is a hole-in-the-wall establishment located in a tiny mall. One side of the shop's walls is adorned with Naruto-themed decorations, but the opposite wall is painted in a contrasting color with the word 'San Sui Tei' on it, likely a remnant from its previous business name. It can be a bit confusing. While no one knows exactly how the ramen in Naruto tastes, it's typically described as having narutomaki (the spiral-patterned fish cake), several pieces of chashu, bamboo shoots, marinated egg, and green onions. The soup is said to be miso-based. My bowl of Naruto Chashu Ramen at Ramen Ichiraku checks off all these items, and it even features bean sprouts and corn. However, in terms of taste, this shop doesn't fare well. The soup is overpoweringly savory and almost feels pungent. The chashu is layered with fat but not particularly tender and carries a porky smell. The outsourced noodles are cooked to the right level of firmness for my liking, which is perhaps the only redeemable quality of this bowl. The fried appetizers are rather unremarkable. I'm inclined to give this shop a poor rating, but given that it's already overrated on Yelp, I'll opt for a 4-star rating to help bring down its average. read more

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3 Visits Review Came here on three separate occasions. Overall, the ramen (soup base and noodles) are really well executed. Noodles have a bounce and al dente texture and the soup base is consistent, deep in flavor and not overly salty. I would pass on the side dishes. Each of my visits I've tried a different side dish, and each time it was underwhelming. Most of the side dishes are fried, and you can tell they do not switch out fresh fryer oil as much. Just stick with the ramen, it's what they're known for. The place is a hole in the wall, nothing fancy. Owner doesn't seem to care much about the upkeep, it's outdated but has a lot of character. All their fixtures are dusty and unkept. Service is friendly and standard. 1. Shabu Beef Ramen. It's exactly what it says. Need quality is average--like your shabu shabu beef short plate. So it's oily, fatty and crinkly. It's tender to the bite but portion wise is sub average. 2. Stewed Pork Ramen. Out of my three visits, this would be my least favorite. Soup base is great but pork was gamey and not the most tender. 3. Naruto Chashu Ramen. Generous thick, round cut of chashu pork, it's charbroiled a bit for a Smokey flavor. Tender and flavorful. Solid choice for ramen and probably the best ramen in the immediate nearby area. Averagely priced and can't complain too much about their ramen offerings, but again, I'd pass on the side dishes. read more

LOCATION - When you head down Garvey you'll pass Santa Anita and the restaurant is located in a very small parking lot that comes up quickly on the right. A good amount of parking is available. Outside and in, a great Naruto theme is going on! The inside of the restaurant was small, with a limited amount of tables but well worth it! FOOD - I ordered the Naruto Chashu Ramen, mild spice level, which includes pork and a fish cake. The flavor was so good! It easily became one of my favorite spots for ramen. I also ordered their Vegetarian Ramen and that was full of delicious veggies. You have the choice of having veggie broth or pork broth, which I think was pretty cool. Lastly, I got an order of their Fried Trumpet Mushrooms and those were really good. Crunchy on the outside and nice and juicy on the inside with a side of sauce. SERVICE - Since this was my first time coming here, I wasn't sure how their seating worked. Upon entering, I glanced at the woman working the register. I said, "for two" and she just pointed at this notebook leaning against the window. We were seated within 15 minutes so not bad for having a full house. Service was pretty good and I'll definitely be coming back here! read more

Ramen Ichiraku - Front of restaurant. - Ramen Near Me - El Monte, California

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Very good Pork Spicy Ramen cant wait to try more food on the menu! Qwertyuiopsidjfjgjrjcjfj

This is one of my favorite spots it has the best food ramen and onigiri around ! Local hidden gem I highly recommend and have never had issues with this spot. Kind people and great place and ambience. read more

Any Naruto fan should come here! Believe it! The food was great! Parking kind of sucks but we got lucky with easy parking! Service is fast, was only one other group inside. Small seating area but didn't seem busy so it was okay. read more

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Surround yourself with custom artworks and smiling faces while indulging in some delicious ramen and tea. I went a little out of my normal route on lunch to try this spot on a cold, rainy day. I was not disappointed! The hostess was so helpful and kind and allowed me to sit at a table while I waited for my order to-go. The order took about 10 minutes and I was on my way. They do have quite a few tables available for dine in. I'm a novice ramen enthusiast, and so the hostess helped me pick my order. Which I believe was ramen with steak. It was hearty and tasty. Overall, the restaurant provides a chill environment to spend time with friends or family. Don't sleep on this one. read more