Ramen Adventures

Ramen Shop Reviews from Japan and Abroad

  • Food Tours
  • Ramen School
    • Tokyo School!
    • Osaka School!
  • More
    • News and Events
    • Area Guides
    • Best of the Best
    • Print and Media
    • Ramen T-Shirts – Ramen Books
  • Ramen Map
Primary
  • Food Tours
  • Ramen School
    • Tokyo School!
    • Osaka School!
  • More
    • News and Events
    • Area Guides
    • Best of the Best
    • Print and Media
    • Ramen T-Shirts – Ramen Books
  • Ramen Map

Asahi Ramen in Los Angeles

Rating1 Star
0 Reviews
Add Photos
Write a Review

_DSC3994.jpg

 

I was a little unsure how to approach a ramen adventure in my old home of Los Angeles. The city has an established ramen scene, with pockets of Japanese enclaves dotting the area. But time was limited. I’d rather reconnect with old friends at a leisurely craft beer bar than a hectic ramen shop. Sure, the facebook page yielded a lot of recommendations, like Yamadaya and Sinsengumi, and I wish I had more time (and a car!).
The two that I was most interested in, newly opened IKEMEN and Tsujita LA, will be mentioned in due time.
_DSC3996.jpg
So how did I end up at Asahi Ramen? Did I consult the internet? Yelp tends to like this place. Yelp also tends to judge ramen shops solely on wait time and whether they take credit cards. Thirty minute wait and cash only! Zero stars! Did I consult the real experts? Keizo from GO RAMEN! finds that just uttering the shop’s name is a waste of oxygen. The Rameniac‘s review isn’t any better; “dry, stiff chashu, pre-boiled non-marinated eggs, and a healthy sprinkling of ugh.”
The simple reason was that my cousin wanted to take me here. How bad could it be?
_DSC4000.jpg
This is how I left the bowl after one sip of soup and one slurp of noodles. My first bowl of ramen in America wasn’t just a let-down, it was a shock to the system. The lack of taste, any taste, and words escape me. How do you review a bowl of piping-hot dishwater? At least it was hot.
_DSC3992.jpg
Yes, critically renownedTsujita LA is less than 100 meters away from here. You should probably go there.
Apparently, this place used to be good, but they flipped ownership a few times in recent years.
Also, it may have been rebranded as a sushi spot.
_DSC4004.jpg
Strangest official site ever here
View Larger Map
_DSC4001.jpg
Wait, Tsujita LA? To be honest, I didn’t really want to go there. I’ve heard nothing but positive reviews. Praise upon praise for the masterful noodles; noodles made just the way they are made at Tsujita’s shop in Tokyo. And that’s why I didn’t go. Should I spend a precious meal just so I can confirm what everyone else already said? Not this time around. Also, I emailed Tsujita-san before the trip, asking if I could come in for an interview, but he never wrote me back.

Rate & Write a Review

Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Get Directions

Nearby Shops

    Ramen Adventures is 3rd-party ad free and has no cookie tracking nonsense. If this makes you happy please consider supporting for $1 on Patreon.

    Login

    Lost your password?

    Next Up
    IKEMEN in Los Angeles

    I was admittedly excited when I heard about "Sean" Nakamura's latest Los Angeles experiment. I say experiment, because this guy…

    Previous
    Saimin at Ken's House of Pancakes in Hilo

    I'll be honest, whenever I visit my Dad in Hilo, Hawaii, the last thing on my mind is noodles. Hawaii…