Ramen Tatsunoya

Above average ramen place. There is always a line outside so it must be very popular. The pink rice sushi is one of their most unique and popular dishes. The ramen is very nice and delicious. The staff are very friendly and helpful, and the interior is clean. A great spot in old Pasadena for food.

Didn't expect to find ramen this good in Pasadena! Like others have described, the broth is rich and isn't heavy at all. They also offer a lighter version if you like your broth milder. The noodles are firm and the added toppings really add to the overall flavor. Their chashu choice is interesting as it's leaner than I normally see in a ramen shop. The gyoza were a treat and had a nice contrast of crispy and soft, especially with the cooked starch mix. Service was great and felt like what you'd get in Japan. Very happy with my meal here and will definitely come back

Been here many times and tried new menu item the crispy spicy Chashu Wraps are FIRE. Wow. Of course their ramen is bomb but the wraps are amazing. Definitely try it out for long time goings or new patrons.

I had the CHASHU BOWL W/ YUZU MAYO - it was absolutely delicious. The meat is lathered with a savory, somewhat smoky sauce that compliments the yuzo mayo beautifully. I ordered another to take home and have for dinner. Only $7.50! We also had the homemade gyoza which were lightly fried to perfection. The staff greets you in Japanese as you enter and leave. Our waitress was very friendly and kept up with water refills (4× for me).

I have lived 5 minutes away from this ramen shop since mid-2022. And it wasn't until an idyllic PTO-fueled Monday afternoon that I bothered to check this place out. In my 5 years living in SoCal, I've tried countless ramen shops and they all were great and stand out in one way or another. I've baptized ramen as “The only soup worth eating” and this shop further proves the veracity, authenticity and validity of that statement. The broth is rich, the pork chasu is cooked to perfection, the thin noodles have the right amount of chew and the gyoza is flavorful. Nothing that you could not find at any other competent ramen shop, such as Hiro Nori, but this is located at the heart of Old Pasadena, the locale gives it a boost from 4 stars to 5 stars. I do wish they also offered Tsukemen, though.

I think this is solid Ramen for $17.50 The Rich Tonkatsu broth reminded me of Japan and how their Ramen is made. I got the short noodles which I wasn't a fan of, I think short noodle ramen can work really well but it depends on where they source their noodles or how they make their noodles. Their chasu, or pork, was tender and had a slightly sweet yet not overpoweringly sweet taste. It was well marinated and well cooked and had a uniqueness to it that most Ramen restaurants in California don't have (because they often just imitate chinese chasu). I recommend this restaurant, it's a place I'd bring people to eat and show them if they were in town.

Never a disappointment if you want mouth-watering, savory, sweet, fat melting chasu that has been marinated prior to being placed atop your ramen. The eggs are also marinated prior so u can order many and have them out fast!! Perfectly soft boiled, and they give that already perfect broth that extra zing when mixed into your ramen. If you add some cheese with this, you're golden for a heavenly time!!! It's great to go for dates, with groups, or even solo. If you like spice, they have apicy options! If not, you can enjoy the Koku-extra chasu like i do! Even as I type this, i just want more ramen!!! I left so full amd warm but dang. After one day, i now wish i could have another bowl with the works!!! I dont normaly lile pork belly but their chasu is just so well done. Even compared to other ramen places, this one still stands alone in how good it is.

Good ramen especially on a rainy day. I deeply enjoyed their spicy broth. There are a lot of counter seats so a lot of people moving in and out. Is more of a place for a quick meal, especially if you get seated at the counter. They are often overwhelmed with customers so it might take a minute to get an attention of a server. Took me a while to get the check and pay.

Fun ambiance on the inside and the food is delicious. Highly recommend the gyoza and the tonkotsu ramen, the broth is delicious and the meat as well! It does get busy, got here around 6pm on a Saturday and it filled up quick and there was a line out the door by the time finished

This may be a bit of an obvious but it wasn't for me... the noodles are served just slightly undercooked - they finish cooking in the broth. If you like the noodles al dente, then eat 'em immediately, otherwise, take your time, enjoy some broth or gyoza and let your noodles sit in for a min. Ordered the spicy miso with extra chashu for $21 (worth it). Broth is delicious, however, the spicy was not spicy so I added some of the chili paste that comes served on the side. It has a little sign that says "may contain sesame". Try that one, it's fabulous. Gyoza is among the best I've had but take that with a grain of salt as I don't frequently order gyoza so I don't have too much experience to go off of. This one tastes hot and fresh to me, so... best by far. We drive 30 minutes out of our way to enjoy this ramen so I'd say it's well worth it. Can be a wee bit pricey, we paid $100 (including tip) for 2 bowls of ramen, 2 refills plus extra chashu, an order of gyoza and two cokes. I don't think it's overpriced by any means, as we ate for a full family of 4 so kind of makes sense to get a higher bill. I absolutely adore this ramen though. The only thing that mildly sucks is the no fountain drinks. If you're a soda addict like me, be prepared to pay for every bottle you drink. Not a deal breaker by any means, just mildly annoying. Also paper straws. Give me plastic for the love of God. Anyway, place is awesome can't wait for my next visit!

Tatsunoya is where my daughters discovered their love of Ramen. This small restaurant hidden in the middle of Old Pasadena carries a small, but effective menu. The Tonkotsu is solid, savory, yet not heavy, and comes in three simple tiers to choose from: rich, light, and spicy. Savory and delicious, no matter your choice. The service is fast and polite. The interior is understated and simple, as all great Ramen shops should be. The tree adds a nice touch and really ties the room together. The only critique to this restaurant is the unavoidable: it is very small, and very popular. Expect a wait during peak hours. This is by no means the fault of Tatsunoya - service is quick, friendly, and efficient. So do your fellow Ramen lover a favor - order, savor, and then depart! Food: 5/5 Service: 4/5 Ambiance / Facility: 4/5 Value: 4/5

Great lunch! We arrived a little before the lunch rush before noon. We received the staff greeting which is very welcoming. The three of us in our party sat at the tall communal table on the corner which was perfect. Our served brought a little mesh basket stand for my purse. A very nice feature to not have to fuss with it on my shoulder or lap. We all had the $15 ramen. It was delicious. I'd pass on the red chili oil, I tried a bit and mostly tasted like oil. The broth is great, doesn't need the extras. Enjoy! If you come for dinner you'll most likely have to wait.

Due to the yellow Ramen sign out front, i always thought that Tatsunoya was another Daikoku location. Thanks to Cindy S, I learned they were a different Ramen house. Good service and good food. The Spicy Tonkatsu Ramen with thick noodles was very good. The Pork Goysa is also very tasty. It comes with 8 pieces and I didn't think I could finish it, but I actually couldn't stop! They are delicious. Overall, Tatsunoya was a very good experience. I wish their chopsticks didn't splinter so much, but that won't keep me from coming back again.

Ramen Tatsunoya is a must-visit for any ramen lover. Despite being packed, the seating was efficient, and the communal table experience added to the charm. With its amazing ramen, excellent service, and delicious appetizers, Tatsunoya stands out as a top ramen destination in Pasadena. When we arrived, the place was packed, but luckily, we got seated right away at a communal table, which we didn't mind at all. We ordered the spicy chashu ramen with thick noodles, and it was absolutely divine. The broth was rich and flavorful, and the noodles had the perfect texture, making every bite a delight. We also ordered their pan-fried gyozas. These flavorful dumplings are a must-have appetizer that perfectly complements the ramen. The service was great too, adding to the overall fantastic experience.

My son is a ramen snob and is so picky with his ramen. He's only had 1 approved ramen until he tried Ramen Tatsunoya. This is now the #1 fave ramen of all time! We'll for sure come back. I just hope the area does something with parking. $11 parking is horrible for just an hour. Please offer to validate parking! Or send parking ideas my way (we parked at the nearest structure)

Just happened to walk by and decide to have some ramen for lunch in old town Pasadena. I am a big ramen fans, their ramen is just okey. Nothing too stand out. I definitely have better in SGV before. Also, their size of ramen is relatively small for the price that they are charging. And very inflexible too, can't do any substitute (like have a thick noodle for the black garlic bowl... they set that it is set for only thin noodle and won't work for thick noodle..... ooh.. go figure) Food came relatively slow too. I am surprised as of how slow it took to cook two bowls of noodle. (As we are the only table that is waiting for the food) I guess that I am too used to the efficiency of ramen making in Japan!! But a plus side, it's a nice restaurant, quiet and clean. Servers are attentive. Food is mediocre.

Eating tonight at Ramen Tatsunoya was a delight with myself and a party of 9! Shoutout to Omar for his hospitality and accommodation to our group tonight! All of us had a variety of ramen and the chashu was the star of the show! Thank you to Omar once again, and we will be back soon!

I have came here for some time. Sadly this place is not as great on the weekends. People are confused about how to line up. Everyone opens the door to ask. Gets shouted at to wait outside. Well, after 20 mins wait we ordered the food. 2 bowls of Ramen and a plate of wings. Then the wings came before the ramen. It took almost another 20 mins. For ramen this is most definitely too slow. Chicken wings' flavor is bomb. Noodle was amazing. Soup is great. Food is good per usual. Service was perhaps one of the worst this past Sunday. I am disappointed. It's also fairly loud in the restaurant. I have to knock off one star.

Less is more. Such a very evident character of this restaurant. The limited ingredients in every dish they serve bring out more satisfaction to one's palate. Jun Tonkotsu Ramen in mild broth & thin noodles proves to be undeniably tastier as compared to the noodles with thick & dark broth from another place that I tried. Chashu pork were sliced perfectly in circular way (not in cube) making the meat more tender & the whole bowl authentic. Tatsunoya Roll is so filling. Good quality Japanese rice, right amount of meat & thinly sliced veggies played in harmony. Chashu Bowl with Yuzu Mayo (as highly recommended by the staff) is one complete meal! Ample meat on top, a cup of rice underneath & little greens. The presence of mayo makes a big difference as it blends well with their special sweet sour sauce. And the prices are super friendly to anyone.!

Jun Tonkotsu 3.5/5: Standard, average ramen. Spicy Tonkotsu 3/5: Also standard. Strong flavors & pretty salty Nice service, checked up on us often & food came quick

This is one of the best ramen I've had in a long time. The soup is soooooo good. And the chashu pieces are big enough for the soup. Not thin like some places. And if you really wanted to, you could pay a smaller fee for a "refill" - more noodles and choice of small item. Be prepared for a long wait in line if you have a group larger than 4. Best if you go by yourself or in pairs. Be prepared for prices too. You have to pay extra for their marinated egg. Service is no nonsense and fast.

Great little gem in Pasadena. Quaint restaurant if you're in need for some good ramen. Service is quick and fast. Menu is simple, quite self explanatory. 3 different tiers of ramen ranging from rich, light and spicy to choose from. I had the koku tonkotsu which is normally my go to. Rich and savory broth with chasu cooked to perfection. There's ramen sides that you can add on for a price. Only complaint is that they don't offer bamboo shoots on their list of ramen sides.

Good ramen especially on a rainy day. I deeply enjoyed their spicy broth. There are a lot of counter seats so a lot of people moving in and out. Is more of a place for a quick meal, especially if you get seated at the counter. They are often overwhelmed with customers so it might take a minute to get an attention of a server. Took me a while to get the check and pay.

Solid choice for authentic Japanese ramen. The Koku Tonkatsu ramen is the chef's recommendation and probably the best thing here. What makes the ramen so good is the broth, which is full of umami flavor. Their chashu is also excellent because it is fatty and melts in your mouth. For a lighter and less creamy broth, the Jun Tonkatsu ramen is a great option. I like that they only have a small menu where you can't go wrong with anything you order. If you come during off hours, you can get seated without any wait. During their busy hours though, there are very long lines. Whether you have to wait or not, the delicious bowl of ramen will all be worth it!

I have lived 5 minutes away from this ramen shop since mid-2022. And it wasn't until an idyllic PTO-fueled Monday afternoon that I bothered to check this place out. In my 5 years living in SoCal, I've tried countless ramen shops and they all were great and stand out in one way or another. I've baptized ramen as "The only soup worth eating" and this shop further proves the veracity, authenticity and validity of that statement. The broth is rich, the pork chasu is cooked to perfection, the thin noodles have the right amount of chew and the gyoza is flavorful. Nothing that you could not find at any other competent ramen shop, such as Hiro Nori, but this is located at the heart of Old Pasadena, the locale gives it a boost from 4 stars to 5 stars. I do wish they also offered Tsukemen, though.

Ramen was excellent. The broth was very flavorful. The pork was on the fatty side. The service was prompt and not over whelming We came at 1:20pm on a Friday so no line

3.5 rounded up for best dumplings/gyoza/mandoo in all of LA in my opinion- including San Gabriel valley. My fiancé and I both enjoyed the gyoza over the ramen. I typically am not a fan of anything in the gyoza family but I loved this dish. It was like soup dumpling meets pan fried mandoo. Very unique, savory, heartwarming, 10/10! The ramen wasn't spicy enough for me- even with spoonfuls of the spicy paste they have had every table. Chashu was good, very thick cut portions. Staff is efficient in serving and seating. There's always a line outside, but they do a good job seating everyone and maximizing space and everyone's place in line. I would come back just for the gyoza!

Our server was terrible! Lol. Savannah was terribly rude, condescending, and has an idgaf attitude towards dietary restrictions or even just simple questions about it. At least she was consistent in being mean. Why even go into the food? You can have the best ramen in the world (which this place definitely does not) but if your server brings the mood down everytime she comes by, who cares.

I recently dined after always noticing the long lines outside and thinking it must be good. The service was fantastic, with attentive and friendly staff who made the experience pleasant. However, the ramen and roll I ordered did not meet my expectations. The ramen was underwhelming, and the mayo topping on the roll was off-putting. Despite the great service, the food was disappointing. I'm not sure if I'll be returning.

We stopped by Tatsunoya on our way to Claremont McKenna. We arrived a bit early and waited outside the restaurant for about 10 minutes. When we entered the restaurant we were greeted with welcome in Japanese and were quickly seated. The restaurant was medium in size with some high stools and some booth seatings. The restrooms were spacious and clean. We have had better ramen elsewhere but the ramen here are not bad. Just not the best we have had. The gyoza had good flavor and the service was great. Overall, it is a good place for a nice lunch in my opinion.

We got there around 11:15am. They open at 11. There were a lot of customers inside already. Service was good and fast. - Gyoza 5/5 Small pieces of pork and chive(?) dumplings: it's crispy on one side and soft on the other. It's juicy and delicious. - Spicy Miso Ramen 4.5/5 It's really really rich for a miso ramen. It's only slightly spicy... so if you want more spice just add the red sauce on the table. Comes with thick noodles and you cannot switch for thin. - Koku Ramen Extra Chashu 5/5 Very rich but also not as thick as the miso ramen. It has a flavor of black garlic in the broth. It's really really yummy. The umami taste is strong. Comes with thin noodles and you cannot switch to thick. $2 egg is soft boiled, cold in the center. Parking is street parking. Pay w passport app.

Really needed a noodle fix and found this place off of Colorado and fair oak. The place is super clean and I sat by the bar side facing the chefs who were preparing the noodles. Service was quick and fast and ready to provide the noodles right away. I immediately ask for the thin noodles ramen and order extra noodles on the side. Portion size it's enough for me to feel full and satisfy my tummy during the cold winter. Thanks for the ramen!

After some shopping on Colorado, my boyfriend recommended we stop by his favorite ramen spot. We were immediately seated and quickly brought waters to start. My boyfriend said everything on the menu is great but I wanted to try their original tonkatsu. It came with the traditional pork and veggies but I requested an egg as well. I added a little bit of chili oil/paste but not much, although it plenty flavorful as it came. My boyfriend DOWNED his spicy ramen so I can only imagine how good it was lol! I hope to come back soon!

OMg! I forgot how amazing this ramen is quality food and always delicious. Sake was on point and we didn't wait too long. Sat at the bar and the staff were super attentive.

The food tastes spectacular and the restaurant is so clean and it's also very nice looking inside. The inside is a tad bit small but it's still very pretty inside. I'm not sure what aesthetic they are going for but it's gorgeous nonetheless. I stopped by for a quick dinner. To my surprise they close for a couple hours for the employees lunch breaks. I was helped out by multiple employees and they all provided the best service to my table. I had the spicy miso tonkotsu and it was delicious, the egg was so good and worth the $2 extra fee. My only complaint is that it made my stomach feel i'll. I'm not sure why but after a couple minutes after leaving the restaurant I didn't feel too well.

Finally got to try this spot in old town Pasadena after walking by so many times and seeing so many people! We came on a Thursday night and were sat down immediately. Service was very attentive and fast! I got the Koku Tonkotsu with an egg which was pretty good! The chashu was a little too fatty for me, but the broth was umami packed and the noodles were the perfect firmness for me. We also got additional noodles which were a little too firm, but not too bad! Overall, I do think it's a little pricey for how much they give and with additional toppings, the prices definitely add up! Nevertheless, the ramen was yummy and authentic!

Very limited menu but everything is scrumptious and worth the wait. Service is excellent and ambiance is Collegial.

Excellent ramen. Koku tonkatsu. Rich, umami broth. Delicate, thin noodles (wish there were a little more). A little heat, just right. Melt in your mouth pork (also wish there was a little more). Lots of green onion, mushrooms. Price is fair - $16. Service is friendly. Atmosphere is inviting, minimalist. Sat at booth by the front window and watched the world go by as we slurped. Highly recommend.

Oh how I love thee Ramen Tatsunoya with your unctuous most succulent broth, perfectly fatty pork belly, and most decadent chewy slurpy noodles. Uhhhh, comfort awaits you my friends, and the staff are always friendly and ready to assist in every way they can! Be ready for your warm greeting upon entering as you'll hear, "Irasshaimase" shouted with joy, which essentially means, "Welcome" or "Please come in". Their greeting extends way beyond the simple acknowledgment of your presence and actually is an expression of sincere gratitude for choosing to dine with them. I've learned from my Japanese friends how it actually sets the tone for your entire dining experience, instantly making you feel valued and appreciated. How beautiful is that!? In turn, the correct response is, "Arigatou gozaimasu," which translates to "Thank you very much", which actually is what hubby and I say! Although traditionally tipping isn't expected in Japan, those principles don't apply here throughout the US, and my Japanese friends tell me that the amount you leave reflects how well they met your needs. Also expressing your gratitude with "Arigatou gozaimashita" (Thank you very much) is a sincere and heartfelt gesture, or a warm hearted "thank you" will suffice too! Enjoy my friends!

Have walked by this place a lot but have always been wary due to a long line outside. Took advantage of the rain to get in quickly and didn't disappoint. The staff was helpful and did well refilling drinks and getting orders out quick. The ramen was excellent. The chashu especially was perfectly done. My only critique is I didn't really see the point of the lettuce in it (not a lettuce fan anyway). But even then it doesn't change that the broth and everything else was spot on.

Really solid ramen joint, with original locations from Japan! Had the original tonkatsu large and added an egg. Ramen was tasty, and one of the better places I've had in LA. Really good service and cool decor inside. Only reason why not a five star was the pricing - $20 for the ramen plus $2 extra for egg - out the door was about $28.5 with tax/tip.. which is steep for ramen, for me at least. Nonetheless, I'd still recommend to try!

After trying numerous places, I haven't been the biggest fan of Ramen. I was surprised when I enjoyed and finished my entire bowl. Definitely will be coming back! The gyoza is a must! We got the spicy miso ramen but modified to not put the pork back fat in the broth which tasted a lot better and used the thin noodles instead. Great for a cold day!

There was nothing wrong with the ramen here, it just wasn't very memorable nor did it blow my mind. Portions are VERY small and I was still hungry after finishing my bowl (for reference I'm a 5'3" 120lb Asian girl and this just wasn't enough). I understand you can order extra noodles for $2-$2.50 but why is the default amount so little?? I've had much better ramen elsewhere, and I would definitely pass on eating here if there was a wait. (Usually there's a long line out the door). I came on a Wednesday at 5pm and was seated immediately. Staff here were attentive and kind, so the service was great. The women's bathroom was extremely dirty and had a strong smell of urine so it already put me off with the cleanliness of the place. You always hear about how the cleanliness of a restaurant's bathroom is reflective of the cleanliness of their kitchen. I hope that is untrue for this place because of how dirty the bathroom was.

Yeah, still a great ramen staple to eat at in Pasadena. Always refreshing, always delicious, can't go wrong!

Ramen was a bit too salty for my taste, and the roll was just okay. Not bad, but not my favorite spot.

I really like the koku ramen. The broth was rich and good flavoring while the chashu was very flavorful. It was a good ramen overall but I would say it's a little pricey for a ramen bowl, since there was not as much noodles as I thought. The bowl was good but the pork was a little small but there was a lot of flavor and rice

Amazing service and delicious food. Best ramen bowl I've had in a while. Will definitely fulfill your cravings, super nice interior and design.

Excellent Ramen From Japan. Finally Tried Tonight. Order Koku (Rich) Extra Chasu & Jun (Light) Extra Chasu. So Much Enjoyed !!!

I've been here a few times with friends, and the food is consistently tasty. I've had the koko tonkotsu probably three times now, and it's been great each time. The chasiu is soft, and the broth is very fatty. I also order the soft boiled egg with my ramen every time, and the egg is packed with flavor with a perfectly jammy yolk. There is often a line out the door, but the service is quick so the line moves quickly. There is a decent amount of seating, but it can be a bit tight. My one issue with the food here is that every single time I've come here, myself and whoever else I was with had very painful stomach pains that would last throughout the night. It could be due to the incredibly high fat content of the broth, or perhaps every single one of our bodies just can't digest fat well, so be conscious when eating here if you think eating too much fat may negatively affect you.

Solid spot for tonkotsu ramen. Broth is quite rich. Seating and service was quite quick and attentive. I got the rich Tonkotsu ramen. I wanted thick noodles, but they didnt allow substitutions. You had to get the spicy one, which I wasn't in the mood for. Maybe next time. Would check this place out again in future if I'm in the area.

The best ramen in Pasadena! I like the rich flavor broth which actually quite balanced. They can be quite busy during dinner and the weekend, but it's all worth it. Add garlic and sesame seeds for more umami!

Love their ramen. Classic, authentic. Keep coming back. Recommend for sure. Service is fast. Ambiance is great.

Broth was so rich. Noodles were on point. Smaller restaurant so had to wait in a line outside but the food was very good. Gyoza and rolls were also fire.

So my boyfriend and I got the light broth thin noodle ramen. We asked the waiter if we could share the bowl since there was an additional $2 for another serving of noodles option. We were thinking we could just get the extra noodles for one person and split the broth and chasu we asked the waiter and she said it was ok. This worked out really well and saved us a couple of dollars and less waste. Cleaned all the bowls and no leftovers. We had to wait in line for a bit since we went during dinner rush hour. But it was worth it bc the noodles were perfectly cooked and the broth was flavor full. The chasu was a bit hard to chew and salty but that's ok. The service was great and the ambiance was nice. There was a lot of noise and chatter everywhere so this is prob not good for a quiet candle lit dinner vibe.

My husband and I were so excited to try this place, since we are ramen connoisseurs. Just to be slapped in the face with disappointment. Advertised "two decades of perfecting broth" only to find out my ramen was served burnt and bitter. A perfected ramen should not need any extra ingredients. My husband and I were forced to mask the burnt ramen with extra soy sauce and chili just to give it some flavor. I should have known from the start that it was not going to be good because we ordered the gyoza for an appetizer and every bite of the gyoza was extremely oily, was not crisp at all and was falling apart the moment you hold it . Customer service was not it. Everyone in the comment section is lying to you. Overly rushed and would not come again thank you . By the way I did not eat the noodles I gave them to my husband . Didn't even touch the broth.

Never had a bad bowl of ramen or bad service or anything bad here. It's the best place for ramen ever! Here is a pic of my ramen. Wait,,, it gone cause it was soooooo good!!!

After passing by couples of times and wanting to try it out. My son and I decided to eat here for early dinner. There were decent amount line, of course on weekends, expected for popular restaurants. We waited about 15 minutes not too bad, because we sat at a bar stool table in the center instead of booth tables. The restaurant was crowded with busy chefs, waitresses and customers enjoying and slurping their ramen noodles. The restaurant had a good Vive. Food came out fairly quickly with good size of chasu pork slices and side of bean sprouts. Broth was flavorful but I would of liked it more if the broth was little more warmer. I like my soup hot. My son had the special of the month ( middle of August to end of August special) He seems to enjoy it. It was separate noodles and sauce for dipping style. He liked it but tiny bit salty for sauce. Overall we enjoyed it. Service was excellent!!! Very friendly and attentive:)