Kaistar's Food Thread - Los Angeles Area

[Kaistar]

Since it seems that Shinsengumi quickly is becoming one of the pre-AI trip rituals, I thought I'd make a thread of ramen shops, city, and a quick summary/opinion. Separated by area and listed alphabetically.

VENTURA COUNTY

VC? With ramen? Are you kidding me?

SAN FERNANDO VALLEY

Kyushu Ramen, Sherman Oaks

A decent bowl but there's better out there. One of the favorite late-night hangout spots for FFA 3s players.

Nippon Ramen, Reseda

Blah ramen, great portion size though. HUEG BOWL IS HUEG

WEST LA COUNTY/TORRANCE/GARDENA

Asahi Ramen, Santa Monica

Decent bowl on Sawtelle. I'd rather go to RamenYa or Kinchan's, though.

Chabuya, Santa Monica

Tokyo spot coming to America, this is GREAT GREAT GREAT. On Sawtelle. It's either here or Kinchan's if you're in the area.

Gardena Ramen, Gardena

YES! A traditional bowl of ramen from a chef who cares. I wish I remembered street direction to this place but this is one of my favorite spots in this area of LA. This and Santouka are definite recommendations.

Kinchans, Santa Monica

A mainstay of Sawtelle, this is definitely one of the spots in LA I like to hit up if I'm in the mood for ramen. Decent bowl.

RamenYa, Santa Monica

Another good ramen spot in Japanese block of Santa Monica, this isn't on Sawtelle but rather around the corner on Olympic.

Santouka, Torrance
FTW!
Mitsuwa plaza in Torrance... Do it. Do it. DOOOO IT. Santouka is a popular chain of ramen restaurants in Japan with a few locations in the USA and for a chain it's really really good. My hands down favorite in SoCal. I like the Costa Mesa Mitsuwa location better though.

Shin-mama Ramen, Torrance

Yes, another Torrance location. Torrance is full of Japanese people. Tasty stuff but would rather go to Santouka.

Shisen Ramen, Torrance

Not bad! Good for a hole in the wall. Nothing outstanding about it, though. Go to Santouka unless you're being adventurous.

Shinsengumi Ramen, Gardena

And you thought it was only in Rosemead. Nope. The bottom of the barrel as far as SSG though. Better places to go in the area, though.

DOWNTOWN/EAST LA COUNTY

Daikokuya, Downtown

I'm not out this way often but I hear a lot of good things about it. I've been meaning to go so if someone's been there, please tell me how it is.

Hanaichimonme, Little Tokyo
FTW!
Third floor of the now-defunct Mitsuwa (formerly Yaohan) Plaza, this is one of my favorites. I forget the name of the one on the first floor next to the Mitsuwa isn't that great, but HM is my regular spot. Tastiest light broth in all of SoCal and if you're into seafood they make the best Champon/Spicy Champon in SoCal hands down.

Ichiban, Rowland Heights

Haven't been there myself but I hear good things about it. Worth a shot one of these days? Maybe.

Mr. Ramen, Little Tokyo

Mediocre. You can do better at Orochon or Hanaichi.

Orochon, Little Tokyo

Upstairs in the Weller Court (home of Curry House and Kinokuniya), this is a great cozy ramen spot. The BEST place if you're into decent but SUPER SPICY (like spicier than Korean food spicy) ramen. I like this place but prefer to go to Hanaichimonme if I can spare the time, which I usually can. Relatively customizable bowl. If you're looking for TRADITIONAL sushi, waltz next door to Kappo Ishito.

Shinsengumi, Rosemead

I don't think I need to introduce this to anyone on the boards, but for those of you who don't know, SSG is infamous for their fully customizable Hakata Ramen. Super loud "IRASSHAIMASE~" that can border on obnoxious, tasty ramen, AWESOME yakitori, and a social atmosphere make for a good restaurant. I'm personally of the "this is good-but-overhyped" ramen, so I sit on the fence with SSG, but it's still great. I also like the Fountain Valley location better.

Takeshi Ramen, Glendale

Mixed bag. Some days good, some days bad. I don't like risking it anymore.

Tampopo Ramen, Rowland Heights

This is right next to AI. If you can spare the drive and want something better, go to SSG in Rosemead or Santouka in Costa.

ORANGE COUNTY

Mitae Ramen, Costa Mesa

Awesome spot, worth a visit. I like to go here sometimes despite the fact Santouka is practically right next to it.

Santouka, Costa Mesa
FTW!
See the Torrance summary, but this is easily my favorite spot in all of SoCal for ramen. Mitsuwa Plaza, Shio ramen. Gogogogogogogo~

Shinsengumi, Fountain Valley

Same deal as Gardena but I like the cooks here better.

Edit as I find and eat at more spots.

[f-wlen ice loop]

Hanashima, Rowland Heights

Corner of Colima and Nogales. I'm fond of this place because of their very reasonable lunch specials, but as far as ramen places go it's not superb, simply good.

Also, needs more Korean tofu pot places.

[juniorSantos]

haha kaistar thats so cool! thanks

i actually like curry better, you know any good places for curry rice?

[IamtehSEX]

you know kaistar... there are other types of food other then ramen.  seems like you need a little more variety in your life.. try a hamburger or something.

[Kaistar]

Way too many for curry rice. Are we talking Japanese curry, Thai curry, Indian, Malaysian...

I love food. 

[juniorSantos]

japanese

[F9|Chibi]

Ooh I can add to this list with places in NYC / NY / NJ.

 

[Arlieth Tralare]

Make the Ramen/food threads regional, plz. i.e.: SoCal Ramen, NE Ramen, whateverz.

[Kaistar]

Arly Toastlare: Can you please move the thread to regional? That'll save previous posts and everything.

Santoast: This is kind of a toughie because I hardly see any "curry" only places... Curry House in Little Tokyo, Irvine, and on Sawtelle are obvious but do note that Curry House uses the pre-made House Curry mixes that you can buy in any Asian supermarket! Hurry Curry is also on Sawtelle... I could swear seeing another location somewhere but I forget where - Pasadena I think? Blue Marlin cooks up a good curry...

To kinda finalize the Sawtelle block, GREats (Giant Robot Eats) also serves a surprisingly good curry iirc -- who knew an indie fashion/art store could whip up a decent restaurant? It's worth a shot to try. Nothing special but it's kinda cool.

Ducks Curry in San Gabriel makes a great curry -- try the beef curry over rice. Their curry spaghetti dishes are also great as well.

Maestro, in the same Mitsuwa food court of Santouka in Fountain Valley, cooks up a really mean ramen. My girlfriend and her friends are here all the damn time.

ALSO: RIP E&E... It's too bad E&E is closed now... Good food in the Valley is pretty hard to find.


Went to Shinsengumi in Fountain Valley with my girlfriend on Friday night and the service was terrible. They weren't even that busy... food is still pretty good though. It's too bad the gyoza are TINY. Girlfriend didn't want an entire bowl of ramen and when our appetizers came out (I'd only ever ordered the ramen before) we were shocked. Bah!




I am way too picky with food. 

[scottind]

Foo Foo Tei in Hacienda Heights, CA Rating:

Secret ramen shop nestled behind industry warehouses. Very good shit. Comparable to Shinsengumi.

[Arlieth Tralare]

One more suggestion:

Rating system (either 1-5 Stars, or)

1: 
2: 
3: 
4: 
5: 
?: 

[THIS IS LEO]

foo foo tei soup sucks, shinsen for the win, plus foo foo tei has foo foo service, it sucks

final verdict 

[sleepy]

One of my biggest favorite places to eat: Golden Deli, Alhambra

goddamn good pho / viet food
rating:
 

[Kaistar]

Thread revival!

Went to Sushi Go 55 on the third floor of the Little Tokyo shopping center (formerly the Yaohan/Mitsuwa Plaza) again for dinner with my girl, her little brother, his gf, and our friend after the Haruhi signing.


I haven't had that good of a dinner in a while, but the wait was kinda stupid. I have to run but I'll post a review later.

Any of the Interface crew want to share their experience at Suehiro Cafe?

[juniorSantos]

I ordered the pork cutlet curry at Suehiro Cafe and didnt like it 

the curry was thick and had no flavor which is the opposite of Kyushu. the only plus at Suehiro were the potatoes in the curry

[Mailorder]

This thread made me want to move back ; ;

[Kaistar]

There is a taqueria on the corner of BALBOA and SAN FERNANDO MISSION next to a laundromat; the place has a GREAT carne asada burrito for really cheap.

King Burger on Reseda near Plummer is really good and cheap, too.