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LA's 16 Essential Ramen Shops
Killer Noodle by Tsujita is one of LA's 16 Essential Ramen Shops.

1. Killer Noodle by Tsujita

8.2
2030 Sawtelle Blvd, Los Angeles, CA
Noodle Restaurant · West Los Angeles · 23 tips and reviews

EaterEater: What’s different about Killer Noodle is its clear homage to the spicy Chinese-inflected tantanmen, with sesame and pepper-laden noodles that come in either soups or “dry” style platters. Cash only. Read more.

Hakata Ikkousha Ramen is one of LA's 16 Essential Ramen Shops.

2. Hakata Ikkousha Ramen

8.5
21605 S Western Ave, Torrance, CA
Noodle Restaurant · Olde Torrance · 10 tips and reviews

EaterEater: The hakata-style ramen uses a rich but not overly fatty tonkotsu base while throwing in chili or garlic oil to boost flavor. Comparable to Shin Sen Gumi but with a bit more finesse. Read more.

Ramen Shack Takumiya is one of LA's 16 Essential Ramen Shops.

3. Ramen Shack Takumiya

8.2
1550 S Pacific Coast Hwy #A, Redondo Beach, CA
Asian Restaurant · South Redondo Beach · 3 tips and reviews

EaterEater: This Redondo Beach chain prepares classic tonkostu-style ramen and seared chashu pork at reasonable prices. There are various spice levels for any adventurous diners looking to amplify the flavor. Read more.

Tsujita Annex is one of LA's 16 Essential Ramen Shops.

4. Tsujita Annex

8.3
2050 Sawtelle Blvd (at Mississippi Ave), Los Angeles, CA
Noodle Restaurant · West Los Angeles · 52 tips and reviews

EaterEater: This all-ramen restaurant from the popular izakaya just across the street serves a completely different bowl here, using thick noodles and a dense, porky broth that's chock full of garlic. Read more.

E.A.K. Ramen Melrose is one of LA's 16 Essential Ramen Shops.

5. E.A.K. Ramen Melrose

6.5
7455 Melrose Ave (Vista and Melrose), Los Angeles, CA
Ramen Restaurant · Mid-City West · 10 tips and reviews

EaterEater: The thick cut noodles here pick up more broth with every slurp, and additions like chopped onions and garlic oil ensure one doesn't get bored on repeat visits. Read more.

Venice Ramen is one of LA's 16 Essential Ramen Shops.

6. Venice Ramen

8.6
515 Washington Blvd (Beach Ave), Marina del Rey, CA
Ramen Restaurant · Venice · 15 tips and reviews

EaterEater: This ramen shop is the best place for Japanese noodles on the Westside. Amp up the flavor with a spice bomb. For something less heavy, opt for the Chuka Soba, a Tokyo-style bowl with a lighter broth. Read more.

Jidaiya Ramen Dining is one of LA's 16 Essential Ramen Shops.

7. Jidaiya Ramen Dining

8.8
18537 S Western Ave, Gardena, CA
Ramen Restaurant · Northeast Torrance · 11 tips and reviews

EaterEater: The standard ramen offerings can be slightly inconsistent from bowl to bowl, but when it's good, the tonkotsu is very admirable. The Tokyo-style ramen has a burst of bonito to round out the flavors. Read more.

Tsujita LA Artisan Noodle is one of LA's 16 Essential Ramen Shops.

8. Tsujita LA Artisan Noodle

8.8
2057 Sawtelle Blvd, Los Angeles, CA
Ramen Restaurant · West Los Angeles · 208 tips and reviews

EaterEater: Both the standard ramen and tsukemen are the two best offerings in LA in either category. Formerly just a lunchtime affair, the original Tsujita now serves ramen day and night. Read more.

9. Ramen Tatsunoya

7.9
16 N Fair Oaks Ave (Exchange Aly), Pasadena, CA
Ramen Restaurant · Old Pasadena · 25 tips and reviews

EaterEater: This transplant regularly fields long lines in the heart of Pasadena. Try varying the flavors with spice and extra chashu pork. To avoid a wait, go in the middle of day, or right before dinner. Read more.

Santouka is one of LA's 16 Essential Ramen Shops.

10. Santouka

8.1
3760 S Centinela Ave (at Venice Blvd), Los Angeles, CA
Japanese Restaurant · Mar Vista · 105 tips and reviews

EaterEater: A big chain in its native Japan, Santouka in the Misuwa Marketplace offers some of the freshest, most delicious traditional-style ramen in LA. [Eater 38 Member] Read more.

Tentenyu is one of LA's 16 Essential Ramen Shops.

11. Tentenyu

2012 Sawtelle Blvd, Los Angeles, CA
Ramen Restaurant · West Los Angeles · 8 tips and reviews

EaterEater: The focus at Tentenyu is on chicken ramen, with the broth made from scratch and boiled for ten hours, until it becomes rich in the same way you might think of pork-based ramen to be. Read more.

Ramen Yamadaya is one of LA's 16 Essential Ramen Shops.

12. Ramen Yamadaya

11172 Washington Blvd (at Commonwealth Ave.), Culver City, CA
Noodle Restaurant · West Los Angeles · 65 tips and reviews

EaterEater: Yamadaya boasts a thick, umami-rich tonkotsu broth and thin noodles. The tsukemen broth has a fishy intensity while the thicker noodles make slurping easier. Read more.

Shin-Sen-Gumi Hakata Ramen is one of LA's 16 Essential Ramen Shops.

13. Shin-Sen-Gumi Hakata Ramen

8.7
132 S Central Ave (btwn E 1st & E 2nd St), Los Angeles, CA
Ramen Restaurant · Little Tokyo · 118 tips and reviews

EaterEater: The Hakata-style is one of the most recognizable types of ramen. Completely customizable this loud, raucous dining room will surely remind one of Japan. Read more.

Kotoya Japanese Ramen is one of LA's 16 Essential Ramen Shops.

14. Kotoya Japanese Ramen

11901 Santa Monica Blvd (at Armacost Ave), Los Angeles, CA
Japanese Restaurant · Westgate · 26 tips and reviews

EaterEater: This broth doesn't overwhelm in fattiness like a tonkotsu, and the noodles are slightly better than average alkaline, but the whole bowl adds up to a delicious umami-bomb thanks to high quality sides. Read more.

Ramen Jinya is one of LA's 16 Essential Ramen Shops.

15. Ramen Jinya

8.0
11239 Ventura Blvd (Studio City Plaza), Studio City, CA
Ramen Restaurant · 96 tips and reviews

EaterEater: With an evenly balanced bowl and Hakata-style noodles, it's like old faithful in the landscape of all these new shops. Jinya has a fun fast casual shop in Hollywood & Highland as well. Read more.

Asa Ramen is one of LA's 16 Essential Ramen Shops.

16. Asa Ramen

7.1
18202 S Western Ave (182nd St), Gardena, CA
Noodle Restaurant · 16 tips and reviews

EaterEater: The noodles here makes this one of LA's classics. With a dated but charming interior and a wide menu of karaage, dumplings, and takoyaki, it's a perfect late night ramen joint in the South Bay. Read more.