san fernando valley - sherman oaks: ramen by omae

it is always a good time for ramen, especially when it is ramen by omae...

original pork broth ramen with thin noodles

burnt kogashi miso pork broth ramen with thick noodles

chashu bowl

tommy says: if you like a thick, rich ramen broth this is the place to get your fix.  of the handful of visits, the menu has been tweaked about three times, but it never disappoints.  the server stated that the burnt kogashi would be spicy, but it really was not anything requiring a warning, quite mild and more smokey than spicy.  at one point a chashu bowl was listed on the menu, but wasn't on the most recent visit.  ordered it anyway and it was mind-blowingly good (and different from their previous rendition).  how can a simple chashu bowl be mind-blowing?  the pork was unbelievably tender and the sauce was hauntingly good - it is so simple, but done amazingly well. worth a visit just for the chashu bowl alone.

ramen by omae
14425 ventura blvd 
sherman oaks, ca 91423
(818) 784-8981
http://www.ramenbyomae.com/

west la: santouka ramen

tommy finds nirvana in a bowl at santouka ramen in west la...


salt ramen with pork
miso ramen

tommy says: soooooo good! the salt ramen broth was delicious, flavorful, and not too greasy. miso is also fantastic. better than shin sen gumi and soooo much better than chabuya (no contest). quality food from a food court, who knew?! possibly the best ramen in la-la land - love it!

santouka ramen
mitsuwa marketplace food court
3760 s centinela ave
los angeles, ca 90066
(310) 391-1101

http://www.santouka.co.jp/

los angeles - gardena: shin sen gumi hakata ramen

tommy slurps up some ramen at shin sen gumi hakata ramen in gardena...


ramen




sweet potato with butter

tommy says: good, but not as orgasmic as people hype it up to be. you get your choice of noodle texture (firm, medium, or soft), and oiliness of the broth. they also offer a half size ramen as well as extra noodles to accommodate all appetite sizes, which is nice. while the ramen here was good, would rather drive to jtown for an equal if not superior bowl.

shin sen gumi hakata ramen
2015 w redondo beach blvd
gardena, ca 90247
(310) 329-1335
http://www.shinsengumiusa.com/G_ramen/index.php

japan - narita airport: ramen

tommy's last meal on japanese soil, ramen...

japan - osaka: ramen

japan - osaka: osaka castle park

tommy takes a break from the sights with a bowl of ramen at osaka castle park...

west la: chabuya tokyo noodle bar

tommy slurps up some ramen at chabuya on sawtelle


spicy green onion ramen in pork broth

tommy says: mediocre ramen... the broth lacked the rich smoothness and was a bit on the greasy side, although the spice was nice. the noodles were run of the mill as well. if you are in a pinch and traffic is absolutely horrendous, chabuya may have to suffice, but otherwise it would be worth it to drive to jtown for a superior bowl of ramen

chabuya tokyo noodle bar

2002 Sawtelle Blvd

Los Angeles, CA, 90025

(310) 473-1013
http://www.yelp.com/biz/chabuya-tokyo-noodle-bar-los-angeles