Best Ramen in Los Angeles (2025)
A compact, chef-run counter where handmade noodles and Tokyo-style broths lead the way. Recommended by Time Out and praised by local critics, it’s a Westside staple for balanced tonkotsu and sterling chuka soba.
The house specialty at Jidaiya is chicken-based ramen, which makes sense when you realize this strip mall shop in Gardena is run by the same owners as the excellent yakitori spot, Torihei. The dining room here has a strong Old Tokyo theme to it, with a faux wooden rooftop and lots of dark wood along the bar. Our favorite bowl is easily the Tokyo Yatai, a soothing, savory, lighter-style shoyu ramen that’s adorned with a seared piece of chashu, a slice of pink fishcake, and a perfectly soft-boiled egg. They’ve also got more unique ramen styles that are worth a try, like garlic tantanmen and soy butter-tossed “monja” noodles. And be sure to get an order of their pan-fried “UFO gyoza” too, which come linked together as a single disc of dumplings.
A Little Tokyo classic famous for a fiery challenge, but regular bowls keep locals returning. Covered by Time Out and featured on television, it’s a lively stop for customizable spice and late-night slurps.
Downtown’s benchmark for plant-based ramen, serving a rich sunflower-seed broth with umami to spare. Covered by the Los Angeles Times and Time Out, it proves vegan ramen can be indulgent and satisfying.
A Little Tokyo specialist where dipping noodles shine. Eater LA spotlights the deluxe platter of bouncy noodles and thin-sliced pork with a concentrated, fish-forward broth that coats every strand.
A South Bay favorite with a signature broth blending pork, chicken, and fish, plus excellent garlic and chili oil add-ons. Eater editors call it a top local pick; beloved for value and consistency.
A late-night Little Tokyo landmark serving ramen and Japanese comfort fare since the 1970s, credited by Eater LA as America’s first ramen restaurant. It remains a cultural touchstone with loyal regulars.
A storied SGV ramen house with an unusually broad menu—from miso and shio to inventive bowls—long admired by Eater LA. Its limited hours draw faithful regulars for soulful, old-school flavors.
Sawtelle is home to plenty of pork-heavy ramen shops, but there aren’t any quite like Torisoba Sumiya, a chicken ramen specialist where the cooks flip birds over open flames. The charcoal-grilled chicken adds smoky depth to the house ramen, which comes with freshly made noodles and an extra-rich poultry broth speckled with charred bits. Spoon on some of their green yuzu sauce for a peppery bite, and if you're hungry, upgrade to the mini rice bowl combo for $5 more (we like the one with surprisingly light fried chicken tossed in sweet and sour sauce). The space is tight, but if you come solo, you can sit at the bar with a front-row view of the grilling action, gaze at the Japanese calligraphy on the walls, and slurp noodles in peace.
Opened quietly in 2020, Burosu Ramen has quickly risen to become one of the best ramen shops in the entire Valley. The menu here is fairly big—there are both hot and cold appetizers, plus an entire handroll section—but if it’s your first time, concentrate on the house ramens. The spicy Reddo is a standout, made with Japanese chili oil and sesame paste. For something lighter, go for the brothless Orenji with marinated ground pork and red ginger. We’ve yet to pick a favorite between the two, which is why we just order both and take the leftovers home.
