Shin-Sen-Gumi Hakata Ramen - Gardena

Cute Ramen restaurant tucked in nice strip mall. There's free self parking. When we arrived, there was already a line. They open at 6pm. The line she's move quickly. They have the menu on the window outside so you can plan ahead. Once they called our names, we were greeted and led to the bar. They have a few tables but those are mostly for larger groups. Singles and doubles are seated at the bar where you can watch them prepare your food as it's a partially open kitchen. The staff is very efficient. You order on a small menu paper. Pretty straight forward. They have lots of ramen options. They also have curry and lots of side dishes. Also, there's a dessert menu. The food is yummy and portions are just right. They have vegan and vegetarian options. I personally prefer Hiro Nori ramen more...but that's just my opinion. Atmosphere is a bit loud so it was difficult talking to someone next to you. Overall it was good.

This place is hands down the best ramen place there is, no doubt about it. The service is very good and the staff is exceptionally kind. And man do they let you add a lot of ingredients this place has it all. Always get the classic Hakata ramen with soft eggs, seaweed, and the garlic spice ball. Their sundaes are also so good looking and cute! (Sorry about the image I gobbled up the ramen before I had a chance to take a proper picture)

Visited this place after moving back to the LA area... the decor and tables remain the same as before. The ramen noodles continue to be made with care. Love the quick service and custom order of noodle firmness and broth strength.

WOWZERS. I think this was even BETTER than Ichiran 👀🤩 Loved going there for lunch on a week day, I can imagine there being a long wait otherwise. Being able to select the firmness of my noodles was AWESOME. I like it firm and I was able to customize that! The ramen broth was life changing and you can even adjust the saltiness of it too! Just all around amazing and the bow on top was the fabulous service. Thank you!

Extremely delicious food! Atmosphere is nice especially with Japanese music playing at the background. Waiters are friendly and welcoming, this place is clean and their menu is big with variety of awesome meals. I recommend ordering fried bananas as a desert, it’s just divine (as you can tell from the picture)

Delicious and flavorful! I love the option to customize the noodle firmness, broth and toppings. Quick and friendly service. Free parking on the parkinglot.

I hesitate to write this review but I must after seeing that they have a 4.7 rating, OMG. I have no idea why that is. Either they are all paid reviewers, or people simply don't understand what good ramen is in this country. Read my last paragraph first, or just go to Japan, and understand what good ramen is. Just goto Tokyo Station Ramen Street for starters, there are 8 great ramen restaurants w different styles. Each of them will blow this place away by a mile. There are plenty more in local alleys if you can find them. But literally, almost any ramen you find in Japan in any street corner is better than this place, IMO. I've been eating ramen at Shin-Sen-Gumi for over 30+ years in multiple locations. Years ago, it was one of the best Tonkotsu ramen in SoCal cuz there weren't that many good ramen back then. Fast foward to today, there are so many better ramen places in SoCal. I will name just a few for you in no particular order: Tatsu, Tsujita, Hinonori, Ikkousha, Josui, Kitakata, Daikokuya, Tatsunoya, Hinodeya, Santouka, Nagi, Men Oh Tokushima, Silverlake, Afuri, and many more. You don't even need to go to J-town or Sawtelle for great ramen anymore. Here's the problem with Shin-Sen-Gumi: I visited them about 3 months ago and already thought it was not what it used to be, but I refrained from writing a review, hoping they would improve. Today was the last draw. They only serve Tonkotsu, so you would think that should be great cuz it's their specialty, easy enough, right? Ramen only have 3 components: noodles, broth, and toppings. First, I will say the noodles were still OK. I always ask for Katame (firm noodles) when eating Hakata style ramen since it's thin noodles. I like "Al dente", I don't like soggy noodles. Second, their toppings were never great, but acceptable. Char Siu had always been too dried, and still is. Green onions always seem frozen chopped long ago. Third, here's the DISASTER. Years ago, the broth was their magic. It had a unique rich pork bone flavor. That is what Tonkotsu means (豚骨) as in pork bone. Today, it tasted like it was some powder mix from some instant ramen package, but worse, ZERO umami. (btw, I ordered thick and strong for the broth, and it was still tasteless, horrible. Maybe I should have ask them for some MSG Ajinomoto, LOL). A pack of "Shin" noodles tastes much better. After my meal, I consulted with the staff. I asked for a manager but there was none. I told them exactly what I wrote above, that they have lost their mojo; but they seem indifferent. Maybe they were embarrassed that someone pointed out to them this is not real Tonkotsu (豚骨) soup base. You can't pretend to sell Tonkotsu with instant noodles packets mix. It's fraudulent. So I left, and vowed I will not be back, EVER. If you have NEVER eaten Tonkotsu ramen, you might think this is good ramen, but if you have ever been to Tokyo or Fukuoka and eaten ramen there, you will laugh at this place in disgust.

I've been coming here for over a decade. The ramen here is fully customizable and they also offer lots of different options. This is great place to come for lunch or dinner. I personally like to come for a late night treat and sit at the counter.

Excellent service and delicious food! We order the regular noodles and soft noodles, creamy croquettes. Everything is delicious!

sooo yummy! Definitely recommend on a rainy day. The wait wasn't bad either, went by pretty fast

This is by far my favorite ramen spot in Gardena, the customer service is great and the food is amazing!

My roommate had a hankering for Ramen last week, so he looked up a local Ramen place with the most reviews. He chose Shin-Sen-Gumi Hakata Ramen in Gardena. You could tell it was going to be good, because there was already a waitlist before they even opened! Thankfully, we only had to wait about 15 minutes to be seated. The server who helped us with our order was super friendly, and helpful. He helped us navigate the ordering process. The restaurant fills up quickly, but service is still pretty fast. We were seated at the bar, and got to watch how they prepare the ramen, they really have it down to a science. When our ramen finally came out, I can honestly say that it was the best I've ever had. The flavor was absolutely heavenly! Our server checked up on us periodically and even asked if we wanted more noodles. Although the restaurant gets crowded, the noise level was normal, and I did not feel overwhelmed. I am definitely making a return trip!

Based on the reviews I thought it would be a lot better. I rarely see spam masubi, so I had to order it. The flavor was good but it was straight out of a fridge cold. I also ordered the house ramen, which was okay but not great and a bit lukewarm. I added a soft boiled egg that was also straight from a fridge. Luckily, we came when there were very few people so the wait was only about 5 mins and the service was very good. Would I return or recommend...No. But there are tons of 5 star reviews so maybe they had an off day.

Have been going here for over 20 years and it has yet to disappoint. Just know it is a popular spot, so plan to wait. Service is great. Food is great and prices are reasonable considering everything now.

Let's check this place out 1st time trying out this place since it was recommended to us a few times now it would say it was ok needed more flavors I guess if you been here b4 and know what to add to it maybe it taste better but for me being my 1st I went with the house Ramon and I wasn't impressed the rice was also ok I had better

The food here was delicious! We started with the edamame--great price, but just a small portion. We also ordered the gyoza (half order of 6), and they were so flavorful and tasty. Definitely recommend getting the full order next time! I had the Hakata Ramen, which had really good flavor and came with pickled ginger--I'll absolutely be ordering that again. My partner got the Spicy Dan Ramen, and he loved it. He let me try some, and now that's what I'm getting next time we come back! Service was very good and attentive. There's a waitlist but it flows pretty swiftly and worth the wait.

One of the best ramen places in the South Bay. They have many selections other than ramen. We had their Hakata Ramen with flavor egg, garlic chips, and fried onions. Started our meal with some fried oysters and fried green beans. The service is quick for an extremely busy location. Interior is clean and inviting. It is a must try for great authentic ramen.

Honestly I think this is the best Shin sen Gumi location out of all of them. The broth was so flavorful and rich. The noodles were cooked to perfection. The service was quick and enjoyable too

Shin-Sen-Gumi has officially taken my #1 spot for ramen in the LA area. If you're thinking about going here, don't delay. This spot is AMAZING-- from the service, to the food, and the ambiance. Our experience here really reminded us of our time in Japan. Gyoza -- The taste was absolutely amazing. Keep in mind, these are "one bite" gyozas, but the price is reasonable; 6 pieces for $4.50! A great starter before the meal. Ramen -- We added the miso butter and pork belly cubes, and this was such a game changer. We enjoyed it so much we forgot to take a photo before diving in (obviously). Pork katsu curry -- This was SO good. The portion was very large and could easily be shared by two people. The only thing I would have liked is the curry to be a little thicker and some vegetable options to add into the curry. But even if, it was still amazing! Our experience was nothing less than amazing. Be aware that there might be a long wait - we waited 1 hour on a Friday night, and you can only join the waitlist on an iPad in front of the restaurant. But it's SO worth it. Looking forward to coming back! Highly recommend!!

My daughter wanted Korean soup and I had curry the food was good the place was busy and the server was very nice.

The long waits are still worth it! Solid ramen spot in the South Bay. I've been a few more times between my last review and now. Absolutely loved my spicy dandan noodle ramen. Customer service is always excellent. Good vibes and good soup with friends.

I came hoping I would have a good experience and I did. I usually use Yelp as a tool to help me decide on what dish I'd like to order. This time I just trusted myself. I ordered the Dandan Ramen. The broth of this ramen is out of this world. This has to be the most authentic ramen I have had in LA so far. My bf ordered the Hakata lunch como with the gyozas. I wasn't in the mood for an appetizer and decided to skip on that. He convinced me to try the gyozas and I kind of regret not ordering some for myself. They're handmade and packed with flavor. For my noodles I ordered normal, the soup oil normal and the soup base mild. Once your seated you have the opportunity to customize your broth to your liking. The add ins are extra. The good thing is that you can build your ramen the way you like it the most. I will be coming back as I loved the service and the food. The ambiance is great as well!

Soup was Pretty GOOD!! Service too for my first time the girl helped me with the order and advice 10/10 great service and food quality the only thing its $$ for the portion of food

I am not a ramen aficionado, but in my opinion, this place has the best ramen. The broth. I love, love, love the broth. So flavorful and delicious. Even a touch creamy tasting. I ordered the Hakata Ramen (Tonkotsu Ramen) with Kikurage mushroom on the side, which I added to my ramen. Yummo! I got it without oil. My son got the Spicy Dandan Men. He said it wasn't very spicy, but he likes food that is "fire spicy". I tried it and I thought it definitely had a bit of a "kick" but not super spicy. We tried the gyoza, as well. Flavorful and delectable. The service was great. It was very busy, but the servers were on point and very friendly. Drink and food came out fast. The establishment is small, but my experience in ramen places is that they are small. Looks like a standard Asian ramen restaurant inside. Nothing fancy. I have had ramen elsewhere, but I think daily about going back to this place for ramen.

Shin-Sen-Gumi Hakata Ramen is where you want to go for a solid bowl of ramen. The process of building your bowl is an art form. You start with a base and build your bowl as you go. They have an informative menu with plenty of pictures in the case you have any questions. You can control how al dente your noodles come, the amount of soup oil in your bowl, and even how strong you want your soup base. I love that it's all customizable. I went with the Hakata ($15.00) - tonkotsu ramen with no modifications. The bowl comes with 2 slices of chashu, green onion, pickled ginger and sesame seeds. I also added a flavored egg for $2.50. The noodles had just the right amount of chew and were swimmingly perfect in the tonkotsu broth. My only complaint is that the broth got a teeny tiny bit too salty toward the end, but overall, I am pleased to report that the standard Hakata is a very good bowl of ramen. Apps were good as well - takoyaki ($6.50 for 8 pcs) was giving what it needed to give: fluffy dough with a little octopus delight. The menu is quite expansive so there's definitely something for everyone if you find yourself dining with a large group.

The service was amazing, the broth is so delicious as well, I love getting mine with the strong broth, I normally get a flavored egg added. Sometimes I get extra chashu as well depending on my mood, with the meat tender and not tough at all! The ambiance of the place is also relaxing, welcoming to everyone and friendly to all! Please stop by this restaurant!

My sister and brother told me this was a good place to get ramen. I just tried DOL coffee which is literally 2 seconds away and saw a ramen shop. And since I love Japanese food and especially ramen, I decided screw it and walked in. I was greeted and I went to the bar. The place looks a usual Japanese restaurant. My server was thoughtful and he had great service. I got the horkata ramen and it was yummy. I ordered 2 sides of extra chashu thinking it would be 2 pieces but nah there was a but ton of them. I felt stupid . So yeah, I forced myself to eat everything but at least it was fire and the portions were nice. I was super stuffed after that so next time I know not to get 2 extra orders. LOL

I went again for my 5th time or more. I'm still love coming here. The food and the service is exceptional great.

I went on a Saturday night around 7pm and fortunately, it wasn't at its busiest yet so we were seated within 10 minutes! I got the vegetarian ramen. The noodles were very good, but I felt the broth and veggie protein were too salty. I do like that they give a veggie protein though. Not the best selection of vegetables included, it was mainly cabbage. Staff were very kind!

I went during a weekday lunch so I was able to get seated without waiting. The service was fast and staff were friendly and attentive. Food was delicious. The broth was rich and the noodles were nice and chewy. Will definitely back if I'm in the area!

Overall, it was a fantastic Japanese ramen restaurant. I enjoyed a combo meal with my colleagues, and the experience was delightful!

I ordered the Hakata ramen and it was great! I've heard good things about this ramen place and I finally tried it out. It did not disappoint. The noodles were firm and the broth was savory. There's not a lot of noodles so you may end up ordering extra noodles. I feel like it should come with some more default toppings. It only comes with chashu pork, green onions, pickled ginger, and sesame seeds. The other optional add-ons like boiled egg and corn are pricy.

Food is still good here as always. Friendly staff. Nice ambience. Fortunate to have come right before it got crowded.

Shinsengumi is a stranger to no one at this point and is known for coming onto the ramen scene with quality ingredients and establishing themselves as one of the best in the LA area. Loved by many, I was excited to get to try them. The chashu was thin and tender, but not super chewy/juicy. The noodles cut nicely with each bite, and a nice texture though not too bouncy. The flavor was nice, rich, and simple. Really quality bowl of ramen but I think at this point in the ramen scene, we've seen so much progress that I'm not sure I would put them in the ranks of best ramen I've had anymore. However, they do satisfy an itch, especially for homestyle Japanese cooking and quality ingredients without the frills (which is sometimes what I run into more often). Anyways, all that being said, I would def return. Keep up the good work shinsengumi!

After an afternoon stroll in the beachside we decided to try this ramen restaurant. There's an iPad sign up for waitlist for a busy Saturday dinner time but we didn't wait long our name got called in. We're greeted by the warmth and friendly faces of staff and seated right to our table. All staff is attentive and quick to get our orders. The restaurant space is not that big although the bar seating area is available all table space is occupied we took the last available table that evening. Music is playing but not an annoying level. There's a small QR that you can scan at the side of table for menu but they also have the booklet type with pictures. My hubby order is Spicy Miso ramen with extra crunchy onions and I pick Vegetable ramen. The serving is huge full of flavorful broth and my bowl is filled with crunchy fresh vegetables. Condiments are already available in the table where you can add chili oil and sesame seeds for added umami. My son loves their crunchy chicken Kaarage perfect with a side order of white rice. We end up going home with a happy tummy. Simple way to say Happy Father's Day dinner celebration.Highly recommend!

Had a craving for Ramen the other night and found Shin-Sen on Yelp. Walked in and I was warmly greeted by this young man. I choose to sit at the counter/bar like area. I told him I was looking to have Pork Ramen and Chicken Karage. Being it was my first time, he recommended me to order normal noodle and normal spice level. The ramen had good flavor with the shredded ginger on top but my pork disintegrated in the broth, poof.. it was gone! I would have liked a thicker slice of pork. With that being said, I will go back again and maybe try something else.

Came here for a dinner date with my fiancé and it was amazing. Lovely atmosphere, service was very attentive, food was amazing and very tasty. the staff were very friendly and attentive ! Definitely recommend coming here!

Went here towards their closing time and we still had to wait for an hour. The service was quick but the food was mid. Their ramen was alright. I did like the flavor of the soup but no element truly stands out. They offer flavored egg as either soft boiled or hard-boiled but the former is too runny and the latter overcooked. I like my ramen egg to be jammy so this one was a miss. We ordered the karaage and Takana fried rice which were both tasty. Overall, the food is okay but I don't think it's worth the hour wait.

I haven't been here for a long time and I have to say it's not as good as I remember but still tasty. The service is always great here and it does get busy during peak meal time. So try to come during a non peak time or don't come "starving" in case there's a long wait. The ramen was okay. I still like the noodles which I always order firm. But the broth isn't as rich and flavorful as I prefer nor was it vey hot. The chashu was also pretty thin and lacking that good pork belly flavor. The chicken karage was pretty tasty especially with the mayo sauce. The beef bowl was also good but needed less rice and more meat and sauce. And definitely get a bottle of cold sake. All in all, it's a decent ramen place with good appetizers. Come with friends, get some sake/bee, and have a good time.

TLDR: It's worth a try but the taste profile gets old very quick. The prices are a bit expensive but the portions are quite generous. It's a one stop hot Japanese food stop that can improve with the taste. Hakata ramen: It's good to start until you take more bites. I notice that the ramen got a lot saltier as the meal went on. I've never felt this way with ramen and it's a shame given that the ramen looks amazing on the pictures and in real life. Overload: It's the same ramen but with pork cutlet, spare rib, and pork belly. The cutlet didn't really belong there, the chashu was fine, but the spare rib was very good. You can change the ramen type to one of the 3 choices which is nice, but you're better off ordering a ramen and having an additional order of spare ribs on the side. Gyoza: It's cute, it's plentiful, but it feels like a drop in the bucket even after eating 3-4 bite sized pieces. Taste wise, it matches the flavor and lightness that one would expect in above average Japanese restaurants. A good option, but certainly not a priority. Beef and onion curry rice: Very good curry with a smaller portion of beef belly. There is no question about the rice portions, quality, and texture. However, I would've liked it more if there was more beef. Service: It's was fine. We got everything that we asked for and they checked up on us every now and then. Ambiance: It's a nice restaurant to be in and to sit in. There is no shortage of a Japanese influence but it's not overbearing too. I like it.

The forgot my extra noodles and provided it after we were finished eating. Long waits as well.

I came here with my family around 9:00pm after our flight arrived at LAX. This is one of my dad's favorite ramen restaurants, but it was my first time dining here. I have to say that the ramen served was just what we needed after a long five hour flight. We each ordered a Hakata Ramen as well as one beef bowl and karaage to share. I also ordered a soft boiled egg with my ramen. The noodles were a good texture, not too soft or firm, and the broth was also very tasty and not too rich. My favorite dish was the karaage. The breading was crunchy and the chicken was hot and fresh from the fryer and tasted a little bit lemony and wasn't too salty. Our server was also very friendly and prompt. The same goes for the entire waitstaff. They did a great job and I could tell that they work very hard to create a relaxing dining atmosphere. I can't wait to come back here again when I'm not too jet lagged.

Haven't been eaten here for many years, but the food was okay and time was efficient.

TLDR: very fast service, attentive servers, excellent service. There was a bit of a wait outside (we were told 30 minutes at the most), but we were craving ramen like a bunch of people on a rainy Monday. We waited about 20 minutes, the staff was very friendly throughout the whole stay. Food came much quicker than we thought; all of it was great. The broth, noodles and toppings were delicious, staff was quick to refill drinks as needed. You can look at how we left the plates Overall, so glad this place is a local staple. It is a bit small inside, but food is absolutely worth it. Thank you for a great dinner!

Ohmygosh the wait here is long... and they have you sign in and wait outside. If it's at night, it can be a cold wait but they'll text you too after you sign in on the iPad thru yelp. I never realized how expensive ramen could be until I came to this place. Like you order your bowl of ramen and they have multiple add on options, but the add one are so pricy and after picking a few; your ramen ends up being like $28 lol I guess I get carried away by their options. Honestly this is one of my go to ramen places even though it's a drive out of the way for me. But once you find a good ramen place, it's hard to let go of. I came here on a cute date night with my bestie and we took shots of soju, had ramen and chicken and spilled the tea while catching up. Even as crowded as it was, it just felt very sweet and intimate hanging out with her and I didn't feel like the whole world was in our business. But good company always makes for the best adventures. And her letting me choose the spot, this place didn't disappoint for a late night dinner with delicious food and great vibes. While I want to complain about all the cons like the price and the wait or whatever. I can't even lie that it doesn't deter me from coming here back over again

We came at a very good time when it wasn't very crowded and we didn't have to wait. Two of us ordered the lunch Combination A with the Hakata ramen and 6 pieces of small gyoza and one person ordered the veggie ramen with a side of spring rolls. I can see why this place is so popular and has almost 3,700 reviews. The broth is rich, flavorful, and comforting. This is an ideal place to satisfy your ramen craving.

Deliciuos and good service. I go whenever it's cold. コーヒーゼリーおいしいです。I like my ramen spicy so they hope that they have many condiments

The ramen here is so good. The servers were all really attentive which was nice. My only complaint is there is alot of saffron in the ramen so if its nit your fav ask for less or none at all. Other then that

I love coming here!!! The food and service never disappoints. I've tried most of the menu and I still haven't found anything I didn't like. The booths are pretty good for large parties and will fit about 8 adults. The service is always really good as well- they always check in on you and will give you updates if you're waiting outside.

Every bowl of Ramen and all the menu items are always delicious. There are many options, so you can enjoy many different meals and they're delicious. The seating is cozy and the decor is just like a Ramen Shop in Japan. The staff are very polite and speedy, once you sit down, soon you'll be enjoying a delicious meal. There is plenty of parking in front and around the sides.

We have been here a ton of times and always leave with a happy belly. The staff are all very friendly and I love how they all say 'irashaimase' to everyone walking in. The veggie ramen is so delicious. My absolute favorite! The sesame spinach also amazing! We love it here!

The food is amazing. The service is great. The ambiance is delightful! All staff were wonderful and so kind to me and my fiancé.

I have been eating here since they opened, my very first experience eating ramen which spoiled it for most other ramen i have had since. The noodles are always the perfect texture, the broth is delicious. The toppings are vast. I suggest if you like spice, add the spicy miso.

We've been coming to this location for a long time because the ramen is always delicious, but unfortunately, we had a very unpleasant experience yesterday. A member of our party, who is eight months pregnant, arrived 15 minutes before us with her husband. They put their name down and asked if she could take a seat at the counter while they waited, as there were open seats available. They were told no. Thinking there might have been a misunderstanding, they explained that she was heavily pregnant, and were again told "No" because "We have to keep the seats open for customers." (There was no line.) They even reassured the staff that she would happily give up the seat if more customers arrived, yet they were still denied. When we arrived, we saw that the entire counter was nearly empty, with only one person seated. I asked to speak with the manager, but there wasn't one present. Instead, I spoke with a long-time staff member and explained the situation. His response was, "I understand, but we also have to maintain some control here." I respect restaurant policies, but refusing to accommodate a visibly pregnant woman when the restaurant was half-empty is ridiculous and shows a complete lack of flexibility and basic empathy. When I pointed this out, he simply said, "Maybe we could be more flexible," but offered no apology. This was not a complicated situation and could have been handled with a little common sense--at the very least, offering to bring a chair outside. We've always enjoyed dining here, but after this experience and the disappointing lack of understanding shown, we're seriously reconsidering if we'll return.

Just as good as ever. This has been our favorite go-to place for ramen in the South Bay. The food is consistently good. Service is good and quick. Kid friendly too! The place is small, but seating turnover is usually pretty quick and there's seating at the counter too.

Delicious Ramen. I've tried numerous Ramen spots and Shin Sen Gumi is by far my favorite!

Very small and long wait but worth it. Service is pretty quick, food is made very fresh so takes a little long. Highly recommend ordering early if you need something to go before you leave.