Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Torisoba Tonsho

    4.8 (215 reviews)
    ModerateRamen
    Closed • 11:30 am - 9:00 pm
    Updated a few days ago

    Order Torisoba Tonsho Takeout or Delivery

    Torisoba Tonsho Photos

    TORISOBA TONSHO ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Outdoor seating
    Dogs allowed

    More like Torisoba Tonsho

    Recommended Reviews - Torisoba Tonsho

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Lemon ramen, miso Teri and full spread
    Evin G.

    We had the lemon ramen, regular ramen, miso Terri bowl, gyoza and chicken karage and a sake. The place is adorable and food came quickly. I think the prices are reasonable. The ramen is decent. I think I may just not be a ramen person. The lemon butter ramen was basically just what you'd think, lemon and butter with ramen. It's good but it's not special to me. The chicken is cooked perfectly and if you get extra noodles you'll definitely have enough broth to eat them with. The miso Teri and dumplings were delicious! The chicken was also very good but it did feel like there was a lot of crispy coating and a moderate amount of chicken, especially since the portion is very small to begin with. I also loved the little glasses they served the sake in. It's a good place to try!

    Mavis S.

    Came back for the second time, and the service was still amazing! This time I tried the lemon butter, and it was so rich and delicious. Definitely coming back again!

    Trinny T.

    I finally got to try torisoba. This location is cute but parking can be hard to find unless you park in the mall nearby, though it is not free. Street parking is available. The restaurant isn't crowded on a Thursday evening and I was seated immediately. Original ramen 5/5 has a stronger chicken broth flavor. Lemon butter ramen 4/5 is masked more with the buttery and creamy flavor. So the chicken broth flavor isn't as strong. Miso teri bowl 5/5 has a charcoaled flavor and is favored well by my group. Gyoza 5/5 is okay. You can't go wrong with gyoza. Overall, the ramen this restaurant used is a wheat type, not egg. The ramen noodles have speckles of wheat on them and appear much more clear. My table thought the wheat flavor was too overwhelming while I didn't think so. I definitely like the original ramen more because it has a stronger chicken f

    Brianna L.

    this ramen is so unique and delicious! love the foamy broth and the texture of the noodles. we were seated really quickly and our food pretty fast. there isn't too many seats inside the restaurant.

    The Lemon Butter
    Tue Minh N.

    BEST RAMEN IVE EVER HAD! tho they did mixed up our order but this lemon butter ramen is the best ramen in my life, did not feel bloated at all after and i was craving for more. went during non rush hour so we were seated quickly. nice vibe

    delivery photos :)  gyoza!
    Sarah S.

    I'm such a fan of chicken ramens lately. Torisoba Tonsho has various options aside from ramen, but their chicken paitan really hits for me. All the chicken they use in every dish was just so darn plump and flavorful. Excellent quality all around. My friend and I shared the chicken karage which was huge, plump pieces in a crisp deep frying. How that stayed so crisp and fresh for a delivery is beyond me but I absolutely loved it. We also had the chicken gyoza which they give a nice char on the outside from being pan fried. I liked this difference from other places but aside from the frying, it was fairly standard. Get the karage if you want a side item! Now the ramens are just fabulously rich and creamy in their chicken paitan white broth that goes so nicely with the proteins for a clean but slightly savory taste. Their broth is so light and airy, they give you special instructions for reheating to recreate the emulsion type of effects they use. That's such a nice touch! Their noodles are more wheat-forward and thin than other places but once you accept that, you can lean into the difference nicely. The Lemon Butter had great flavor with just the slightest bit of acidity giving a bit more dimensions to the flavor. Absolutely loved Torisoba Tonsho and can't wait to come back to try more of the menu! It's right across the Largo if you are going for dinner & a show. :)

    Michael T.

    This place was pretty great. The interior is bright and clean with a large flavored water jug and open view kitchen. The servers were nice and accommodating and the menu is fairly simple. I ordered the original with no egg. The broth was creamy and full of chicken unami and the noodles were perfectly spring and chewy. The chicken was nicely cooked, if lacking a strong flavor, but was perfectly fine in broth. The overall result was warm and comfortable. A very pleasant bowl of ramen. Then, out of curiosity, I ordered the spicy garlic miso noodle refill. The idea of flavored noodle refills is unique and mine came with noodles, a spicy miso bomb, scallions, chicken chunks, and garlic chips. They recommended mixing the noodles like a mazemen, but it did not particularly taste very good due to how dry the components are. In the leftover broth, it completely transforms the flavor. The garlic chips add a nice crunch and hit of garlic. The miso bomb made the broth have a kick and amplified the warm unami of the chicken. Very pleasant experience. As a note, the parking situation is paid/validated parking at the rear of the restaurant. The entrance and exit are narrow alleyways connected to the main throughfare of the area. Parking is validated for 1 hour through QR code at the restaurant (or paid in the same manner). All in all, a very nice experience. Unfortunate for the parking situation, but if you could handle the narrow alleys, very much worth the experience.

    Truffle Oil and Pepper for the table
    Alison C.

    The unique thing about this spot is that they froth their soup so it has a bubbly look to it (see photos). Supposedly it helps make the broth creamier and stick to the noodles. It kinda works? The noodles looked pleasing and the food tasted great. Would come back again. Feels like a hole in wall spot. Luckily not busy during lunch on saturday, but would hate to deal with a crowd as the place is small and after your free one hour parking it's like $6.50 an hour in the lot. Didnt check street parking price. Parking (usual per LA) remains troublesome as if you park in their lot you have to turn into a tight alley and I wish this restaurant was more accessible. Seems great for regulars or people nearby who can walk here as you can earn reward points. I really like how they have a simple menu with not too many items, but they have honed down their base flavors and variations. You can slowly customize the dish throughout your experience with the truffle oil, pepper, can even request spicy chili oil, or getting extra noodles when you're done makes it a great dining experience. Staff is very sweet and friendly. -Karaage: Meaty, crunchy, and juicy. Has quality compared to what you'd find in stores -Original: super deep flavor chicken broth, can never go wrong with this. -Dandan: Great for spicy lovers, broth can be a little salty but still great. I love that they cut the chicken into small squares, also great quality -Lemon Butter: Creamy. Good to shake it up if you ever get tired of the original. I was worried it would be too buttery, but make sure you mix it well and it just adds more flavor. -Vegetarian: VERY interesting. I can't pin down what the flavor it is but it was the most unique. Had an almost acidic taste. It kind of reminded me of alcohol but someone also said it had a corn flavor which i agree with (there is corn in it). -Sparkling Ooling Tea: I don't usually get drinks at restaurants, but I would get this again. Sparkling tea is rare to me.

    Lemon butter ramen
    Angela C.

    Lovely spot for paitan ramen, with frothy white broth made from chicken that's simultaneously rich yet light and refreshing! ARRIVING / PARKING: Small parking lot behind the restaurant, one way so be careful entering. Pay by QR code and there's parking QR code at the front after you walk in. VIBE: Counter seating and smaller tables best for up to 4 people inside, bright and easy to chat. There may be a line for dinner but they seem to move fairly quickly and stay about 2-3 parties deep. FOOD/BEV: No alcohol license yet but theres non-alcoholic beer and yuzu juice etc. There's gyoza, fried rice, karaage and more but they're famous for their chicken paitan ramen! Our favorites are the ORIGINAL and LEMON BUTTER (can add egg as supplement). Their fried rice is excellent to whet the appetite too. Lovely light broth, a pile of green onions, semi firm thin noodles, white chicken meat. If you'd like to change up the flavors there is truffle oil on the table; couple drops go a long way, and there's also a black pepper grinder for fresh pepper flavor. Excellent, have been here a couple times already and look forward every time. There's a rewards program which is handy for discounts of promos too.

    Lemon butter ramen
    Kelly C.

    Free parking and delicious food, I'm not sure why this place isn't more popular!! My friend recommended this spot and I have not stopped talking about it with my friends. The butter ramen is so special with nice chewy noodles to top it off - I always get the lemon one which offers a nice kick. While the bowls look small, it's actually the perfect size where you find yourself getting full just at the very end. Services is great as well! I have tried the basil extra noodles and they weren't as good so I would stick with the original and lemon butter :)

    Lemon butter ramen with truffle oil
    Darianna C.

    This cute ramen shop was a bright oasis in a desert of eateries. Walked in on a cold, rainy afternoon after a visit at Cedars Sinai and needed some warm comforting food. The place is super clean, yet cozy and inviting. Staff is very kind and helpful. I ordered the lemon butter ramen and hubby got a miso Teri bowl. It was so good and a balm for the tummy. Delicious food, polite staff and a little haven to eat, relax and recharge. Would definitely come here again.

    Lemon butter ramen
    Dante H.

    I dropped into Torisoba Tonsho because the restaurant was known for their creamy chicken ramen broth which is pretty hard to find, since most places use a pork broth. There's a parking lot behind the restaurant with a really tight entrance and exit, but if your car fits, the restaurant provides 1 hour of free parking. The restaurant is very small, with 5 tables and a bar area, so expect to wait during peak dining hours. I ordered the lemon butter chicken ramen and my dad tried the original chicken ramen bowl with the Toriten bowl. We also shared some chicken gyoza as well, so they're definitely a chicken-based restaurant! I don't think I saw any beef or pork dishes. All the food was really good, but their ramen is the star menu item. The ramen broth was creamy and savory, and the ramen noodles had a nice bite and chew to them. It was a surprise to me as I didn't see them in the pictures, but each ramen bowl also comes with 2 thick pieces of chicken, hidden deep within the creamy confines of the broth. Honestly, I personally couldn't really tell the difference between the lemon butter and original ramen broths, there was maybe just the slightest hint of lemon flavor. The truffle oil they provide on each table is amazing! You can add as much or as little as you want, but if you love that earthy/umami truffle flavor, you'll definitely wanna put tons of itty-bitty spoonfuls of the stuff into your ramen bowl. I should have just poured it in with the amount I ended up adding! Definitely would come back if I'm ever in the area again.

    LEMON BUTTER CHICKEN RAMEN W / SEASONED EGG
    Juliet G.

    This is an excellent spot for chicken ramen in the Melrose area. I visited on a weekday afternoon and was seated immediately. The staff were so kind and quick, and the environment was spotless with cute electronic music in the background. I was recommended the lemon butter flavor, which I can say truly reminded me of other delicious chicken ramen I've had in Japan. It was also slightly reminiscent of au gratin, because it was creamy and hearty. I added a bit of truffle oil and black pepper that were available at each seat, which brought the flavor of the broth to another level of umami. With the seasoned egg and lemon it had a unique flavor profile for ramen, very cozy and homey without being heavy, perfect for the upcoming season. I loved everything about Torisoba Tonsho, and I know you will too. You have to check them out if you're a ramen fan!

    The "flavored egg" was perfect.  It's cold, so let it sit in your broth to warm it up.

    See all

    20 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Shin-Sen-Gumi Guest Relations T.

    Shin-Sen-Gumi Guest Relations T.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Shin-Sen-Gumi Guest Relations T.

    Shin-Sen-Gumi Guest Relations T.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    26 days ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Shin-Sen-Gumi Guest Relations T.

    Shin-Sen-Gumi Guest Relations T.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Shin-Sen-Gumi Guest Relations T.

    Shin-Sen-Gumi Guest Relations T.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Shin-Sen-Gumi Guest Relations T.

    Shin-Sen-Gumi Guest Relations T.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    16 hours ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Shin-Sen-Gumi Guest Relations T.

    Shin-Sen-Gumi Guest Relations T.

    Helpful 11
    Thanks 6
    Love this 11
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Shin-Sen-Gumi Guest Relations T.

    Shin-Sen-Gumi Guest Relations T.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Shin-Sen-Gumi Guest Relations T.

    Shin-Sen-Gumi Guest Relations T.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Shin-Sen-Gumi Guest Relations T.

    Shin-Sen-Gumi Guest Relations T.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Shin-Sen-Gumi Guest Relations T.

    Shin-Sen-Gumi Guest Relations T.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Shin-Sen-Gumi Guest Relations T.

    Shin-Sen-Gumi Guest Relations T.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    9 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Shin-Sen-Gumi Guest Relations T.

    Shin-Sen-Gumi Guest Relations T.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Shin-Sen-Gumi Guest Relations T.

    Shin-Sen-Gumi Guest Relations T.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Shin-Sen-Gumi Guest Relations T.

    Shin-Sen-Gumi Guest Relations T.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Shin-Sen-Gumi Guest Relations T.

    Shin-Sen-Gumi Guest Relations T.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Shin-Sen-Gumi Guest Relations T.

    Shin-Sen-Gumi Guest Relations T.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Shin-Sen-Gumi Guest Relations T.

    Shin-Sen-Gumi Guest Relations T.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Ada Y.
    202
    382
    1708

    5 months ago

    Delicious creamy yet light ramen. The noodles were cooked perfectly. It isn't overly salty or oily. Parking is a bit annoying but doable.

    Business owner information

    Photo of Shin-Sen-Gumi Guest Relations T.

    Shin-Sen-Gumi Guest Relations T.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    15 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    10 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 3

    11 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Shin-Sen-Gumi Guest Relations T.

    Shin-Sen-Gumi Guest Relations T.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Shin-Sen-Gumi Guest Relations T.

    Shin-Sen-Gumi Guest Relations T.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Shin-Sen-Gumi Guest Relations T.

    Shin-Sen-Gumi Guest Relations T.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 6

    Torisoba Tonsho Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Torisoba Tonsho

    Someone in my party is allergic to seafood and seaweed, basically everything in the ocean. Does the broth have konbu in it?

    Hi Cindy, Thank you for your inquiry. Unfortunately, our ramen contains kombu and shellfish. The… 

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    Daikokuya Little Tokyo - Daikoku Ramen

    Daikokuya Little Tokyo

    4.1(10k reviews)
    8.1 mi•Little Tokyo, Downtown
    •$$

    I've heard that Daikokuya usually has a long wait, but we were lucky enough to get seated…read moreimmediately on a Wednesday around 2pm! The restaurant really felt like stepping into a ramen shop in Japan, especially with the booths and the bar seating right in front of the cooks making the ramen. It was fun being able to watch them prepare the food. My friend and I both ordered the Daikoku Ramen since it was listed as their top seller on the menu. The broth was so rich and creamy, and the noodles were really good and chewy. The marinated egg was also cooked perfectly. The whites were nicely set while the center was still gooey, with a little bit of sweetness from the marinade. Overall, we really enjoyed the ramen and had a great experience. I would definitely recommend the Daikoku Ramen if you're visiting for the first time!

    Daikokuya is a solid ramen franchise from the Bishamon group. I miss how close the Hacienda…read morelocation one back in the day, and now the closest one to me is the MPK location, but if any of my out of town, out of state, out of country friends are visiting and they have a hankering for ramen with a strong, but not super heavy kotteri flavor. The location isn't super big and it does get super busy with people putting their names on the wait list and people queueing busily outside (overflow of people waiting for many of the other restaurants along this part of the block too). Overall the ramen isn't bad, chashu is nice and fatty and tender. Ramen is rich and filling. It's nice that it already comes with an egg too and you don't have to add another one. Lots of other side dishes and combos too if someone in your party doesn't want ramen. However, with the increases in prices, the fact that there's many other options in LT, and the fact that there are other Daikokuya locations, it's an alright LT option.

    Photos
    Daikokuya Little Tokyo - Inside

    Inside

    Daikokuya Little Tokyo - Spicy Miso Ramen

    Spicy Miso Ramen

    Daikokuya Little Tokyo - Bishamon Sake

    See all

    Bishamon Sake

    Shin-Sen-Gumi Hakata Ramen - Little Tokyo - Shinsengumi ramen hakata style with side egg

    Shin-Sen-Gumi Hakata Ramen - Little Tokyo

    4.0(3.3k reviews)
    8.1 mi•Little Tokyo, Downtown
    •$$
    Casual dining
    30 years in business

    We came here around 1:30pm to grab lunch thinking we will get skewers, but then found out they only…read moreserve it after 5pm on weekdays. Nevertheless they still had curry and ramen options we wanted to try. Tue interior of the restaurant was super nice, as it recently opened. It was clean and nicely decorated with Japanese artifacts. We ordered the karaage curry rice and eel combo set. Took about 10 minutes for the dishes to come out. The curry was so tasty. Chicken karaage was excellent. Loved the flavor of the eel, it was cooked perfectly. Prices of the dishes were good for the quality and the portion. Service was excellent. Our server greeted us in Japanese, was very friendly throughout the lunch. We found out he was from Fort Lee, NJ, so we also had extended discussion on current state of Fort Lee and NJ.

    Every time I come eat here, the employees are always so friendly and helpful! I usually get a…read moreHakata Ramen (consistently 10/10), but today I was craving some rice! Today, I got their Pork Cutlet Bowl; it features pork cutlet topped with mayo and tonkatsu (?) sauce, shredded cabbage, red ginger, and rice. For me, it was a decently good bowl. The flavor was good, but the pork was a little dry. Overall, not too bad!

    Photos
    Shin-Sen-Gumi Hakata Ramen - Little Tokyo - Rainbow (salad) ramen: cold noodles & julienned vegetables.

    Rainbow (salad) ramen: cold noodles & julienned vegetables.

    Shin-Sen-Gumi Hakata Ramen - Little Tokyo - Fried pork rice (my favorite)

    Fried pork rice (my favorite)

    Shin-Sen-Gumi Hakata Ramen - Little Tokyo - 12 piece gyoza for $5.15

    See all

    12 piece gyoza for $5.15

    Hachioji Craft Ramen - Hachioji Shoyu Ramen w/ Duck

    Hachioji Craft Ramen

    4.2(464 reviews)
    8.0 mi•Little Tokyo, Downtown
    •$$

    One of our must-go ramen shops whenever we visit LA! It was really hot in LA this time and we were…read morealready sweating like crazy but that didn't stop us from eating some good ramen! We usually order the same ramen but my husband and son decided to try something different this time. My husband ordered the Tonkotsu Ramen and my son ordered the Shio Ramen. Mine was, of course, delicious as always but I tried theirs too and they were both very tasty! Our only complaint was that it was also very warm inside the restaurant. We were hoping to cool down a little while we ate but unfortunately, that wish was not granted. LOL We still really enjoyed the food, though! And my husband definitely enjoyed his cold beer!

    TLDR: Go for gluten free experience, avoid for other dishes…read moreThe only positive part of this experience was that they offered gluten free noodles and specific gluten free broths for my brother with Celiac who hasn't had ramen in years. They were very knowledgeable in what was gluten free and what wasn't. The only unfortunate part is that all the meats are marinated in a sauce that is not gluten free. So you can only get tofu or no protein. Even if you select no protein, it comes out to be the same price. Other than the gluten free ramen, we ordered a karage bowl, dry spicy ramen, and spicy tuna roll. The karage bowl had chicken that was NOT fried. I'm not sure how it's cooked but the chicken came out slimy. I was very disappointed as I was looking forward to crunchy karage. The dry ramen had noodles that were way overcooked. The flavoring was okay. Nothing to be impressed about. The spicy tuna roll was probably the best thing there. They had pickled yellow radish that we thought was interesting.

    Photos
    Hachioji Craft Ramen - Interior

    Interior

    Hachioji Craft Ramen - Hachioji Bun Burger

    Hachioji Bun Burger

    Hachioji Craft Ramen - Sapporo Beer

    See all

    Sapporo Beer

    Men Oh Tokushima Ramen

    Men Oh Tokushima Ramen

    4.1(1.5k reviews)
    8.2 mi•Little Tokyo, Downtown
    •$$
    Happy hour specials
    Kid friendly

    We were looking for a place to eat for lunch and we haven't had ramen in a minute so we decided to…read morestop by before we head back home to Bakersfield. If you have not been to this ramen spot, you are missing out! I still remember that broth like it was yesterday..... so flavorful, so rich, delicious umami flavors. There's not a lot of seating here and there's also not a long line; however, weirdly when we visited people came exactly when another person was leaving. I don't know if it was just timed perfectly or what, but this place definitely stays busy. If you're not afraid of garlic then I would highly recommend the black garlic for sure and of course don't forget to order your extra egg for good luck! You have to pay for the parking area to get into the gated area, but it's not too bad. They won't let you in the gated area if there's no parking which is probably how they have consistent guests but also kind of timed perfectly. I mean, there are other restaurants nearby also that are as busy, but that's what I noticed when I came. I'm always in the area and there's too many delicious food spots in Southern California, but I would love to come back to this one. The staff was also really nice and gave us our space. Restrooms were okay, we came in the afternoon so it wasn't spotless, but it wasn't too bad either.

    This was my first time trying this place out. 1. Staff were…read morefriendly and attentive. 2. Ramen Soup broth was amazingly tasty, best part was that it wasn't too salty. 3. Chicken Karaage was very good. I ordered the Black Garlic Ramen and Chicken Karaage. The Chiasu was tender and cut thick. I really enjoyed having lunch here. While I was there, people were coming in and out, and the place fills up. The manager/owner was Japanese and was very friendly.

    Photos
    Men Oh Tokushima Ramen
    Men Oh Tokushima Ramen
    Men Oh Tokushima Ramen

    See all

    Maruya - Chirashi

    Maruya

    3.7(956 reviews)
    8.1 mi•Little Tokyo, Downtown
    •$$

    Every time I come to little Tokyo, this is the place I go to eat. Amazing Ramen bowls, fresh…read moresushi, and great Japanese spirits from rice beer, to sake, to shochu. This is the place to eat in little Tokyo!

    Little Tokyo Ramen Crawl: Maruya Some days you just get a…read morecraving. Not a specific one, not a "I need this exact dish" kind of craving -- just a deep, nagging need for a bowl of noodles. That's the mood that pulled me into Maruya in Little Tokyo, Los Angeles. I ordered the chashu tonkotsu, the classic go-to when you want to judge a ramen shop by its bones. And the verdict? It was... fine. Not bad, not memorable -- just okay. The kind of bowl that doesn't offend you but doesn't linger in your memory either. No standout richness in the broth, no chashu slice that made me pause mid-bite. Just noodles, doing their job. This is actually the second ramen spot I've tried in Little Tokyo, and I'll admit -- I'm starting to feel a little underwhelmed by the neighborhood's ramen scene so far. For a pocket of the city with so much culinary history packed into a few blocks, I expected to be a bit more wowed by now. Two tries in, and I'm still searching for that bowl that stops me in my tracks. What did stand out, though, was the service. The staff at Maruya were genuinely warm and helpful -- attentive without hovering, quick to check in, the kind of hospitality that makes you want to root for the place even when the food doesn't quite deliver. It's the kind of detail that softens an otherwise middling meal. So, Little Tokyo ramen crawl: two down, verdict still out. The people have been great. The noodles? I'm still waiting to be impressed. On to the next bowl.

    Photos
    Maruya - Inside

    Inside

    Maruya - California Roll

    California Roll

    Maruya - Yellowtail Jalapeno

    See all

    Yellowtail Jalapeno

    Kouraku

    Kouraku

    3.9(1.4k reviews)
    8.0 mi•Little Tokyo, Downtown
    •$$
    50 years in business
    Family-owned & operated

    I was drawn to Kouraku because of the very vintage, Showa-era facade and interior. Without knowing…read moreanything about the place, I decided to stop in and was surprised to learn this is the oldest ramen shop in the United States. I thought that was incredibly cool. I was seated at the counter and didn't have to wait long for the waitress to come around, who recommended ordering via the QR code on the wall in front of me. I liked that it wasn't the *only* way to order, though, and that I can still have a human interaction and order with the waitress if I prefer. There was so much on the menu that I wanted to try that I actually had a tough time ordering, but I eventually decided on the mabo ramen. I was surprised by how big the bowl was, filled with a generous serving of noodles and mabo tofu. It was fantastic, and such a unique ramen compared to what most places offer. I returned three months later on another weekend trip to L.A. and went with the chicken katsu curry. This time, my husband came with me and he got the tenshin chahan ankake, which is a big pile of chahan (fried rice) covered in a shrimp omelette with a gravy pour-over. The katsu was juicy on the inside and incredibly crispy on the outside, in a flavorful curry with a nice little kick of heat. My husband really liked the chahan and cleaned his plate. We finished the meal with an order of the pudding, which had a subtle caramel sweetness and wasn't too cloying or overwhelming. There was a stark difference in how busy they were the first time I visited versus the second. I think I just got lucky the first time and ate there during a lull, because there was no wait to get in on a weekend night and hardly anyone eating inside. But when I came by the second time, we had to put our names on a waitlist, there were a few parties ahead of us, and they were short-staffed. We were seated within 10-15 minutes of putting ourselves on the waitlist and the waiters and waitresses were all very nice despite the crush of customers. Food still came out pretty quickly, too. Kouraku will be celebrating its 50th anniversary this November. They've certainly earned it, and I hope they continue on for more decades to come. I'm looking forward to my next visit.

    I came here for the 2nd time with my son. He is a regular customer since he lives near this place…read more Being a vegetarian I ordered a vegetarian Ramen. Service and ambience was good. I wish they added tofu(for protein) and vegetables to this meal. I enjoyed the robot delivering our meal

    Photos
    Kouraku
    Kouraku
    Kouraku

    See all

    Torisoba Tonsho - ramen - Updated October 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...