Umenoya has always been a go to and a craving. Not sure why there are so many bad reviews. In terms of South Bay ramen, this is one of the best spots. It's a classic and is decent quality. I hadn't been in a whileeee and now their menu has gotten huge. Lots of variety now. That being said, I got the miso ramen and ordered it Level 2 spicy. I almost got level 3 but my waitress said even level 1 is spicy. Level 2 was actually pretty spicy in a good way. If you like spice I'd say you could do level 2 or 3. I always get their Russian roulette gyoza because I like the spicy one lol. Their gyoza is tasty regardless. Also got a half order of their fried rice which was tasty too. Boo thang got their shoyu ramen which was good and more light tasting. Open decently late. Recommend! read more

Umenoya - Half order of fried rice - Ramen Near Me - Torrance, California

Food: 2 1/2 stars max. The gyoza was cold and oily. The ramen and fried rice were okay. Service: 0 stars. She was very rude, unprofessional, and hostile. We came in around 8 pm and there was only one table at the restaurant. Not a good sign on a Friday night. We ordered three Bowls of ramen, a full-size fried rice, and gyoza. We had some left over from the ramen and we asked for a to-go container. The waitress (the old skinny lady)said she knew I wouldn't be able to finish my ramen. She said she was nice enough not to charge me for the to-go container. Wtf! For similar prices, you get much better quality of food and with professional staff. read more

Has a very ramen shop vibe. There are a few tables for 3 or more but also bar style eating and tables for 2. Service was good; Japanese ramen style. Food was good. The jiro ramen is why I came here. It was really good. I was very happy with the flavor and style. Definitely coming back here for that again. The gyoza was just okay. I only ordered because it's a $20 minimum to use your credit card. Next time I might try the fried rice; it did look good. read more

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Excellent food and service. The spicy miso ramen was to die for. The best I've had in the USA, and I have had a lot of ramen. I was reminded of my trip to Tokyo. Great atmosphere too. Will definitely return. read more

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Really like the vibe of the restaurant. The miso chashu ramen was very tasty. I have always tried tonkotsu but this was a reminder that I need to explore more. read more

Umenoya - Ramen Near Me - Torrance, California

Haven't been here in a while and ordered Black Garlic Tonkatsu ramen off the specials board. The broth was savory and light, garlic flavor did not overpower the broth and the noodles were cooked perfectly al dente. The miso ramen was also flavorful and delicious. The karaage runs neck and neck with Hakata Ikkousha and always a must order. As usual the sevice was fast and attentive. There was a big party waiting outside as this restaurant is small and normally seats 2&4 people per table. read more

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STILL GOT IT. I've been coming to this small ramen shop since my brother in law brought me here in 2016. Very consistent, and tender chashu. Melts in your mouth. I still haven't found a place with better chashu. Very rich and creamy broth when ordering misos. Today I tried the black garlic ramen. Tastes as described, and hit the spot on a cold day. A little saltier than the other broths. The owner is very nice and attentive. See ya next time. read more

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This cozy little spot is always packed at dinner--either we're chronically unlucky or it's THE go-to. We finally scored on a quiet Monday evening around 6pm. It's snug, with limited seating, but the service is quick and the vibes are warm. We both went for the spicy miso--mine regular, his large. I devoured mine, he claims they were stingy on noodles. All in all, it was a good experience, flavour was honestly decent, but not as rich as I would have liked. Would I return? For the regular spicy miso bowl, perhaps. For the large, maybe not. That being said I'd love to come back and explore the other items on their menu. read more

Umenoya - Outside - Ramen Near Me - Torrance, California

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Parking in front and bathroom was pretty clean. The lady who greeted us was very welcoming, helpful, and checked on us. The ramen was good. We ordered the lunch combo of Black Garlic Ramen that came with fried rice and karage chicken. My husband also got Tonkotsu Ramen. Personally, the fried rice was my favorite! It was very tasty. The karage chicken was a little too hard for my sensitive teeth. When we left, we got a hearty "thank you." Definitely a welcoming place! read more

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I got a large Tonkatsu ramen, gyoza and chicken karaage. Everything was very good. The broth was flavorful. Good skin and filling for the gyoza. The karaage was crispy and hot. Service was very friendly and prompt. read more

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We enjoyed our food here. The service was good and the roulette gyoza was so fun! I didn't love it as much as another place I go but I'm glad I tried it. To be fair, I didn't get tonkatsu which is apparently what they're known for. read more

YES! JIRO! JIRO IS LIFE! UMENOYA HAS JIRO KEI! If you are like me and need a jiro ramen fix... this is the place to get it! Don't expect the same call and response system like you get at butayama or another Jiro chain in Japan. But definitely go try it if you want jiro kei! For me? 10/10. Highly recommend. Go. Eat jiro. Overcome the mountain of meat and vegetables! マシマシ一択！ read more

Umenoya - Jiro kei ramen mashi mashi regular - Ramen Near Me - Torrance, California

It's hard to be a ramen spot in the Torrance/Gardena area, there's a lot of tough competition and you really have to have unique or good ramen to stand out. Umenoya offers something that I haven't seen other ramen places serve. Umenoya has Jiro ramen, which is mostly unknown here unless you're Japanese or have traveled to Japan. Jiro ramen is this super filling bowl loaded with garlic, bean sprouts, and an unbelievably rich broth. It's super filling and definitely one of the more intense ramen experiences you can have. The noodles are definitely on the flatter side in contrast to like Hakata style noodles. read more

Umenoya - Ramen Near Me - Torrance, California

I have been here quite a few times. I love the food and I decided to try something different at this ramen place. I got their chicken katsu curry. You know, everywhere I have had Japanese style curry, it's pretty consistent. I have never had a bad one yet. This one was good and the katsu was nice and crispy. :) read more

Umenoya - Chicken Katsu Curry - Ramen Near Me - Torrance, California

Great little Ramen shop. Noodles are well cooked and broth is delicious. I get the same server, an older woman, who is super charming. And, they have non alcoholic beer! The ambiance is about right for a small ramen shop, but not what I would call charming, nor quaint. But, it is functional. read more

My favorite ramen spot in all of LA! Been going here for years now, and have tried many ramen restaurants all over LA. Umenoya is still undefeated as my #1 choice! The broth is so rich and flavorful, the Chasu is thick cut and cooked perfectly, with egg and added toppings pairing perfectly with my go to, the Tonkatsu Chasu Ramen with Level 2 spicy. They have 3 tiers of spicy, and 3 will for sure hit you. I love spicy food, so level 2 is enough kick for me to enjoy the flavor of the ramen and feel the burn from the spice. The corn is refreshing with each bite of ramen, and the noodles are cooked perfectly, slightly al dente which I prefer with ramen. They have a gyoza roulette which is a lot of fun, with one dumpling being extremely spicy. The staff is friendly and attentive, and the restaurant has an authentic Japanese feel, with bar, table, and booth seating available. A must try if you love ramen! read more

Umenoya - Tonkotsu Chashu Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Torrance, California

I never feel welcomed by the manager, the only waitress that's I've seen in the restaurant. She's this older lady. I was trying my best to be cordial with her every time I visited. On the first time I tried out this place, she already gave me bad vibes and attitude. But I let it go. Seriously, too unfortunate..... because Umenoya always gets me. It is my favorite ramen place for its best ramen in town, based on my experience at least. This time around, she insisted that I sit where she asked me to and I asked her why can't I sit at the corner (I wanted some privacy) then she got really irritated, lips were shivering and said "you always pick that seat! You are so difficult." I sat and looked at the menu and thought I don't want to eat here with her presence anymore. I don't have to be yelled at and judged like that, simply because she doesn't want to serve anyone at that particular table. So I decided to order to go but she said that dish I wanted can only be "dine-in"....... I said very reluctantly "you're making me not want to eat here anymore" She said "okay you don't have to eat here" I've never been talked to like that at a restaurant. I've also never seen a waiter react so strongly irritated just because I'd like to pick a table. It's very unfortunate, because it does have the best taste in town. Honestly, if she didn't talk to me like that I wouldn't have felt strongly about her attitude. I have noticed how extra nice she is to male patrons. I just can't understand her why she would think it's okay to talk to patrons like that... Little did she know, I always recommend this place to my friends. I post about this place a lot of instagram. I even bring my closest friends to this place. read more

Staff has no sense of awareness nor sense of urgency. We waited a long time outside for a table and it seemed like they didn't know or seemed to care that patrons were waiting out in the cold. While we waited, 4 tables were empty without being cleaned for 20 minutes! We almost left out of frustration! We should have left too because the food wasn't any better. I would have left an extra star if the food was any good. Won't be coming back. It's also too expensive. No child options read more

I ordered the spicy miso ramen and it was delicious! Umenoya Ramen offers a delightful dining experience that combines rich flavors, quality ingredients, and a welcoming atmosphere. Service is friendly and attentive, ensuring a pleasant dining experience. ​There is limited seating available so during busy hours be prepared to wait for a bit by writing your name on the list outside! read more

Umenoya - Spicy Miso Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Torrance, California

Wow! This is a rare one star... I didn't care for the attitude of the wait staff... Definite one star. There are many, many alternatives available within a 3 or 4 mile radius... Place was empty... We ordered an Abura Soba... My daughter was the judge & hungry one. She was seriously disappointed. She has been to Japan many times ... Including this past May (2024) and set again for Aug next year. Each time we cruised around Japan. This past May was Celebrity while next Aug would've a Nubata Festival cruise with princess, our 70th sailing ... So she has always been a demanding enthusiast of Ramen & Soba. In each port my daughters make a production of seeking out each ports most renown ramen houses. She said there were "so many things wrong with Umenoyas' Soba" this evening. Thats quite a critical failure for Umenoya. The Soba tasted sweet and had no "springy snap" (that's all wrong!)... The flavors were "tasteless". She really expected far better. Neither of us want the left overs... We're throwing it out. As for my observed annoyances... The waitress said there were no outside beverages allowed? Ok...i said "...it's just tea..." To which I would have just left with it but the waitress added impolitely... " I don't care what it is" ? ... I thought mildly how that was not necessary? Oh well ... Than she remarked that they had a $5 per person spend requirement. The place was empty? So I said... "Ok, I'll leave" ... To which she seemed taken back a bit. When I returned to pay - they had a $20 minimum for the $18 tab ... Well, ok but it's the manner of the waitress, maybe she was tired near the end of the day? ... So It's almost NEVER that I skip tipping but I thought how this whole attitude thing ran from her in spite of thier "policies". No tip for her and tonight seemed well deserved for the tasteless and odd textured soba + indifferent service attitude. Driving away my daughter remarked how they had a good reputation but our experience was among the worst imaginable? Oh... Maybe some might think I was not in a decent mood ... Nope, I was totally cordial with staff ... Plus my daughter was a separate opinion on the dining experience... One star is too many stars, zero would have been closer to what they deserved ... Plus for hundreds of reviews to average 3ish paints this place as less than stellar and it should have been far better to be slightly better than "average" in stars ... I'd try other places ... If you care about the cuisine or service minimums... read more

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Felt like I was walking into a ramen shop in Japan. Basic decor, fully functional with open kitchen. Service was excellent, quick and courteous. Quick to order and our food was ready in a flash. The smells are soo good they should charge for them. Ordered the vegetable Croquette, miso vegetarian ramen, and wife ordered the Tonkotsu Chashu Ramen. She said it was top notch just as good as Hiro Nori. Glad we stopped by and will be back. Oh btw prices were extremely reasonable. read more

Umenoya - Miso D-Vegetarian Miso Ramen (very tasty ) would buy again - Ramen Near Me - Torrance, California

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Best Ramen I've had. Authentic taste. Greeted at the door with a smile. Small, but cozy. Felt like I was back in Japan. Overall 5 stars.

Small legit Japanese ramen shop located off Crenshaw blvd in Torrance that was recommended to me by a local friend Open late, which was a plus since I wanted a hot ramen on a cold rainy March night. Parking was tight since its in a small mini mall with lots of restaurants but managed to find a spot closeby. Seating is a bit tight as its in a small restaurant but it is enough for a quick bite. Walked in and was greeted warmly. This place has two sizes of ramen, my eyes were bigger than my stomach so i ordered the Large Jiro Ramen, along with a side order of gyoza and karaage chicken. Food is definitely top notch, felt like I was in Japan. All the food was served piping hot and was delicious. Again, the Large size was way too much for me, I would suggust a regular portion when we return next time Gyozas and Chicken Karaage were also legit, true to the ones in Japan. Definitely impressed, will return again on my next visit. 5 stars read more

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Ordered the abura mazemen and the tsukemen with thick noodles. Both were horrendously over salted and gave me food poisoning. I won't be returning here ever again read more

This place is very good! The food is amazing! The service is good and very friendly. It's a cute and clean place. read more

Umenoya - Unagi musubi - Ramen Near Me - Torrance, California

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Portion was generous, and food came out quickly. However, broth was on the salty side for the veggie miso ramen. Had to add on something small since they ask to spend a minimum amount to charge with credit. Stopped by as it was open late, but felt like the food couldn't be enjoyed as we were rushed to leave...wish it was a better experience. read more

Umenoya - Spam musubi and veggie miso ramen - Ramen Near Me - Torrance, California

Black Garlic Tonkotsu Ramen does not disappoint if you see it on the daily specials chart! My friend suggested Umenoya for a quick bowl of ramen since it was getting late on a Saturday. We got there 45 minutes before closing and were promptly seated. Gyoza - The pork gyoza were as expected. Pan fried brown on the bottom layer, moist on the inside. They have a Russian Roulette Gyoza where they make on of the gyoza beyond spicy. It's a mystery and they don't tell you which one is packing heat. I just stuck to the regular gyoza and was satisfied with it. Black Garlic Tonkotsu Ramen - This was not on the menu, but it was on the daily specials chart on the wall. It comes with some sliced wood ear, green onions, two pieces of dried seaweed, a plethora of garlic and slices of pork. I liked their tonkotsu and garlic broth because it had deep flavor but the soup wasn't overly heavy. Strong, but not too strong. The pork had been slow cooked and was extremely tender. A very satisfying bowl of noodles. Finished before closing time and sat for about 10 minutes shootin' the sh*t and then we were told that the restaurant is now closed. Basically she was telling us to get out. I totally understand, because I don't want to be that person that overstays their welcome at a small restaurant at the end of the night, but after reading some reviews, I guess the main server is abrupt like this even when it's not closing time. If you are looking for the typical super polite and slightly friendly Japanese store experience, Umenoya is not it. But they do serve a decent bowl of ramen. read more

Umenoya - Gyoza - Ramen Near Me - Torrance, California

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I love the Ramen and the fried rice. I've been here many times when I get out from work, I love the flavor of the Ramen, very rich and creamy. read more

It's been more than a decade since I've been here and now wondering why I stopped coming. So many choices of flavors it's impressive! I got the Ushio tonkotsu which comes with this shrimp garlic paste. They recommended to put in a little when you want a change in flavor. They were definitely right! It changes the flavor so much just adding a little bit. Pretty strong shrimp flavor. I recommend putting it in the soup spoon and enjoy one spoonful at a time. Hubby got the Jiro ramen with bold flavor and extra fat. The cabbage and bean sprouts volume was intense! Delicious too! Gyoza was nothing that stands out but still delicious. We were going to order the Russian roulette gyoza but we had a 10 year old with us and the waiter was super kind enough to recommend us not to do it lolol Props for her looking out. I will definitely make this a regular place to visit. I can't wait yo try their yuzu next time read more

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Umenoya is located on a strip mall off the corner of Lomita Blvd and Crenshaw Blvd. When traveling south from Crenshaw Blvd, stay on the right side of the left-turn lane and make an immediate right into the strip mall. Missing this path will make you do a long turn around the block. Upon entry, the server made us show vaccination proof before seating. There are monthly specials on the wall, and one that caught my eyes was the RUSSIAN ROULLETE GYOZA. One of the six gyoza is extremely spicy. I can't imagine playing a simple table game and losing to picking out the spicy one. What an ingenious idea who comes here with friends! what I ordered: TSUKEMEN (3 piece Chasu, Flavored Egg, Bamboo Shoot, Onion, Lemon, Green Onion, Cabbage, Bean Sprout, Dried Seawood) - The bowl is massive. This place serves the BIGGEST PORTION that I have ever ordered for a regular. I had to double-check and ask the server if this wasn't a large entree. The noodle portion was enormous, and even the dipping sauce came in a large bowl. The dipping sauce wasn't thick compared to other famous places I've tried--however, the flavor of light fried tempura crumbs within the sauce is really good. Also, the makeup of other ingredients, such as cabbages and sprouts, within the noodles made it taste like a home-cooked meal. Overall, this dish was PLEASANT. Although this wasn't the best I've tried, their price consists of generous portions in their bowl. read more

Umenoya - Tsukemen - Ramen Near Me - Torrance, California

My fiance and I love coming to this ramen spot because 1) DUH their ramen is so good! 2) They're open late most nights! 3) The staff is so friendly and attentive! We've been eating here since our earlier dating years and can't see ourselves stopping anytime soon, even though we're no longer in LA! While their main specialty is ramen, they have incredible side dishes, entrees, and appetizers as well like their chashu bowl (My personal favorite), takoyaki, keema curry bowl, and a fun gyoza roulette. For my most recent visits, I've been getting their premium tsukemen because you really can't argue with a soup base like that! This comes with some powdered Bonito on the side that adds a whole new depth and flavor to the already-flavorful soup base. If you're not a fan of fish, no problem! Just get the regular tsukemen, it's equally as incredible. What I love most about their ramen in general are the bits of onion they put in. It gives such a fresh, yet savory touch to the rich broth! There are other ramen selections suitable to almost any palette, including their refreshing cold ramen in the summer. I'm always so excited to come here, it almost feels like coming home! Located in a small plaza packed with great businesses like Katsu Bar and ShareTea. Parking is usually available since we always go at night. Try them out! read more

Umenoya - Premium tsukemen - Ramen Near Me - Torrance, California

Came here for work lunch with co-workers. Ramen was pretty good. Not the best around imo, but did enjoy it. Flavors were good, broth was good, noodles were ok. read more

Such A Gem Of A Place! Tucked Into A Strip Mall, Umenoya Is Quaint And Satisfying. We Arrived Around 8:30pm And We're Sat Immediately. I Honestly Wanted To Eat Everything On The Menu I Was Happily Surprised They Had Diet Dr Pepper! That's My Favorite Drink! We Ordered The SHIO (salt) Ramen, SHOYU (soy sauce) Ramen & TONKATSU (Pork Bone Broth) Ramen! My Shio Ramen Was Perfectly Light! I Tasted The Shoyu & Tonkastu From My Party's Bowls! All, Of Which, Did Not Disappoint! They Had Tacoyaki (Octopus In A Pancake Batter Shaped Into Balls, Origin Ōsaka)! I Wanted To Try. But, I Knew My Eyes Were Getting Bigger Than My Mouth! I Told Myself To Slow Down! lol This Place Was Cute! Food Came About 15 Minutes After Ordering. I'll Definitely Be Coming Back To This Place! The Service Was Fast, Friendly & Food Was Not A Disappointment! I'm Doing All The Sides Next Time I Come Back. read more

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I originally thought this place had vegan ramen but I think the last time I came here before the pandemic, I ended asking for a miso ramen, no egg, and put rice in place of ramen. Not the same :) Years later, my family and I came back to this restaurant. In my mind, I would have thought they had vegan ramen but only vegetarian so this is confirmed by the waitress. We were served by 2 waitresses tending to our meal. The one waitress this night asked the girls if they wanted anything else to drink besides water. They got their Ramune and I was eying a beer... The waitress never asked me or my partner and I looked at each other. Maybe they forgot I don't know. The vegan options I had are the tofu nuggets, and spicy garlic edamame. These were fine with a glass of water. Obviously white rice is vegan but I didn't want that tonight. Our appetizers came quick as well as their gyoza but their ramen took a very long time. Not sure why. Maybe there was one chef and 2 waitresses. But my family liked their ramen as it was the perfect size and ingredients were to their preference. They didn't feel over full like some restaurants. The girls were allowed to share their ramen but the one waitress taking our order gave a look of "I want to tell you that you cannot share but will not say anything" based on previous other reviews. Let this serve as an updated review from those who wrote reviews for vegan options from 6 years ago. They have spice levels for their ramen as well so for those that want extra heat or extra ramen, those are extras. Since I was craving for ramen, after I went home, I got a vegan cup ramen from the cupboard, added some vegan gyoza, and had my own beer at home. Not the same but didn't want to take out ramen from another restaurant as I wanted a doing in experience with my family, which I got but not what I wanted to eat so if you want vegan ramen, this is not the place as it's not an option :') read more

Umenoya - Tofu Nugget - Ramen Near Me - Torrance, California

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Delicious ramen with chicken! This is one of the few places you can get chicken broth instead of pork!

Since moving to South Bay, we've tried over a dozen ramen places. Umenoya, recommended by a Japanese friend, has us hooked. The Tonkotsu ramen is phenomenal, and the appetizers are equally mouthwatering. The service is friendly and fast. We'll definitely be back! read more

Umenoya - Tonkotsu Chashu Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Torrance, California

Umenoya serves the unofficial ramen of my work place. Dietary restrictions aside, you're not going to fit in here if you don't loveloveLOVE the Spicy Miso Ramen. And what's not to love? That broth is creamy and thick, and they make the best chashu in LA. They do make other stuff, and I heard good things and/or enjoyed them myself. Vegetarian friends swear by the miso, others enjoy the corn butter and the shoyu. I go for the Tsukemen when I can't stomach so much broth. They also make a fantastic spicy tuna bowl, and I'm always torn between that and the ramen. Bites like the Takoyaki can be fun, and the Gyoza Roulette is great for sharing. Service could be friendlier, but they've gotten nicer since Covid hit. If you haven't already, stop by and get the spicy miso chashu. They do to-go orders as well. read more

When it come to the Japanese ramen, Torrance is a very crowded market! As the traditional Japanese city in southern california, you will find endless choiceses! However, Umenyoya is unbeatable my favorite please for REAL Japanese ramen and more! My husband and I love this little place. The food are so good we cone here once a week! You have to try the cilantro steamed Gaozi ! Picture of us to thousand words! Enjoy ! read more

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No idea why the reviews are so low but this place has fire tsukemen. Been quite a few times and will keep going back! The servers are all so nice too! read more

We ordered Tonkotsu ramen level 1, Tonkotsu Ramen level 3, spam musubi, and gyozas. Absolutely delicious! The spicy levels were super spicy and tasty. The noodles were definitely freshly made there!! We were seated quickly, the waitress was so sweet and attentive. It felt like authentic ramen from Japan and the environment felt like we were back in Japan. This will now be one of our go tos!!! read more

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