Quick answer
Los Angeles's ramen culture has been building for over two decades, driven by the city's historic Japanese American population centered around Little Tokyo, Sawtelle Japantown, and the South Bay cities of Torrance and Gardena.
- Best overall
- Tsujita LA Artisan Noodles
- Top pick
- Tsujita LA Artisan Noodles
Top verdicts
- Tsujita LA Artisan Noodles: / \s* The Verdict: (.*?) /s
- Daikokuya Little Tokyo: / \s* The Verdict: (.*?) /s
- Ramen Nagi: / \s* The Verdict: (.*?) /s
Today, the scene spans everything from 60-hour pork bone broths in strip mall shops to Michelin-recommended craft ramen in Beverly Hills. Tonkotsu dominates, but you'll find excellent tsukemen, shio, and vegan options across every neighborhood.
Area map
All 12 spots at a glance
| # | Name | Style | Price | Area |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tsujita LA Artisan Noodles | tsukemen | mid | Sawtelle Japantown |
| 2 | Daikokuya Little Tokyo | tonkotsu | mid | Little Tokyo |
| 3 | Ramen Nagi | tonkotsu | mid | Century City |
| 4 | Kazan Beverly Hills | craft | high | Beverly Hills |
| 5 | Bincho Ramen Tarzana | tonkotsu | mid | Tarzana (San Fernando Valley) |
| 6 | Tatsu Ramen | tonkotsu | mid | Melrose Ave |
| 7 | Silverlake Ramen | tonkotsu | mid | Silver Lake |
| 8 | Tonchin LA | tonkotsu | mid | Larchmont / Hollywood |
| 9 | Susuru Ramen Bar | fusion | mid | Thai Town / Hollywood |
| 10 | HiroNori Craft Ramen | tonkotsu | mid | Pasadena |
| 11 | Ramen Hood | vegan | low | Grand Central Market, Downtown |
| 12 | Hokkaido Ramen Santouka | shio | mid | Torrance (Mitsuwa Marketplace) |
1Tsujita LA Artisan Noodles
TsukemenQuick comparison
- Best for
- Tsukemen in Sawtelle Japantown
- Strengths
- Known for Tsukemen Β· Sawtelle Japantown
- Price / value
- $$
- Why it made the list
- / \s* The Verdict: (.*?) /s
- What to order
- Tsujita LA Artisan Noodles is a featured pick in this guide.
π Opening hours
2Daikokuya Little Tokyo
TonkotsuQuick comparison
- Best for
- Tonkotsu in Little Tokyo
- Strengths
- Known for Tonkotsu Β· Little Tokyo
- Price / value
- $$
- Why it made the list
- / \s* The Verdict: (.*?) /s
- What to order
- Daikokuya Little Tokyo is a featured pick in this guide.
π Opening hours
3Ramen Nagi
TonkotsuQuick comparison
- Best for
- Tonkotsu in Century City
- Strengths
- Known for Tonkotsu Β· Century City
- Price / value
- $$
- Why it made the list
- / \s* The Verdict: (.*?) /s
- What to order
- Ramen Nagi is a featured pick in this guide.
4Kazan Beverly Hills
Craft RamenQuick comparison
- Best for
- Craft Ramen in Beverly Hills
- Strengths
- Known for Craft Ramen Β· Beverly Hills
- Price / value
- $$$
- Why it made the list
- / \s* The Verdict: (.*?) /s
- What to order
- Kazan Beverly Hills is a featured pick in this guide.
π Opening hours
5Bincho Ramen Tarzana
Artisan TonkotsuQuick comparison
- Best for
- Artisan Tonkotsu in Tarzana (San Fernando Valley)
- Strengths
- Known for Artisan Tonkotsu Β· Tarzana (San Fernando Valley)
- Price / value
- $$
- Why it made the list
- / \s* The Verdict: (.*?) /s
- What to order
- Bincho Ramen Tarzana is a featured pick in this guide.
π Opening hours
6Tatsu Ramen
Tonkotsu / VeganQuick comparison
- Best for
- Tonkotsu / Vegan in Melrose Ave
- Strengths
- Known for Tonkotsu / Vegan Β· Melrose Ave
- Price / value
- $$
- Why it made the list
- / \s* The Verdict: (.*?) /s
- What to order
- Tatsu Ramen is a featured pick in this guide.
π Opening hours
7Silverlake Ramen
TonkotsuQuick comparison
- Best for
- Tonkotsu in Silver Lake
- Strengths
- Known for Tonkotsu Β· Silver Lake
- Price / value
- $$
- Why it made the list
- / \s* The Verdict: (.*?) /s
- What to order
- Silverlake Ramen is a featured pick in this guide.
8Tonchin LA
Tokyo TonkotsuQuick comparison
- Best for
- Tokyo Tonkotsu in Larchmont / Hollywood
- Strengths
- Known for Tokyo Tonkotsu Β· Larchmont / Hollywood
- Price / value
- $$
- Why it made the list
- / \s* The Verdict: (.*?) /s
- What to order
- Tonchin LA is a featured pick in this guide.
π Opening hours
9Susuru Ramen Bar
Thai-FusionQuick comparison
- Best for
- Thai-Fusion in Thai Town / Hollywood
- Strengths
- Known for Thai-Fusion Β· Thai Town / Hollywood
- Price / value
- $$
- Why it made the list
- / \s* The Verdict: (.*?) /s
- What to order
- Susuru Ramen Bar is a featured pick in this guide.
10HiroNori Craft Ramen
Tonkotsu / ShoyuQuick comparison
- Best for
- Tonkotsu / Shoyu in Pasadena
- Strengths
- Known for Tonkotsu / Shoyu Β· Pasadena
- Price / value
- $$
- Why it made the list
- / \s* The Verdict: (.*?) /s
- What to order
- HiroNori Craft Ramen is a featured pick in this guide.
11Ramen Hood
VeganQuick comparison
- Best for
- Vegan in Grand Central Market, Downtown
- Strengths
- Known for Vegan Β· Grand Central Market, Downtown
- Price / value
- $
- Why it made the list
- / \s* The Verdict: (.*?) /s
- What to order
- Ramen Hood is a featured pick in this guide.
12Hokkaido Ramen Santouka
Shio / Hokkaido-StyleQuick comparison
- Best for
- Shio / Hokkaido-Style in Torrance (Mitsuwa Marketplace)
- Strengths
- Known for Shio / Hokkaido-Style Β· Torrance (Mitsuwa Marketplace)
- Price / value
- $$
- Why it made the list
- / \s* The Verdict: (.*?) /s
- What to order
- Hokkaido Ramen Santouka is a featured pick in this guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best ramen in Los Angeles?
Based on local consensus, Tsujita LA on Sawtelle is the most recommended for tsukemen, while Bincho in Tarzana holds Yelp's #1 spot nationally for 2025. Daikokuya in Little Tokyo is the most iconic with 4,300+ reviews. For vegan ramen, Ramen Hood at Grand Central Market is the standout.
Where is the best ramen in LA for tourists?
Little Tokyo (Daikokuya) and Sawtelle Japantown (Tsujita, HiroNori) are the best areas for tourists β both are walkable neighborhoods with multiple ramen options. Century City's Ramen Nagi is convenient if you're near the Westside. Downtown's Ramen Hood at Grand Central Market combines great ramen with LA sightseeing.
Is ramen in LA expensive?
Most bowls range from $14-$22, with Kazan in Beverly Hills being the priciest at $30-$40. Ramen Hood is the most affordable at $10-$12. Adding toppings like extra chashu or a soft-boiled egg typically adds $2-$4.
What style of ramen is most popular in Los Angeles?
Tonkotsu (rich pork bone broth) dominates the LA scene, driven by Hakata-style shops. Tsukemen (dipping ramen) is a close second, with Tsujita leading that category. The city also has a strong vegan ramen movement, with Ramen Hood and Tatsu Ramen both offering excellent plant-based options.
What time should I go to avoid lines at LA ramen shops?
Weekday lunches (11:30AM-12:30PM) and early dinners (5-6PM) have the shortest waits. Tsujita and Daikokuya can have 30-60 minute waits on weekends. Going solo helps β most shops have counter seating that turns over faster. Tatsu Ramen is open until 3AM on weekends if you prefer late-night slurping.
Are there good vegan ramen options in LA?
Yes β LA has some of the best vegan ramen in the country. Ramen Hood at Grand Central Market is 100% vegan with a rich sunflower seed and white miso broth. Tatsu Ramen and Susuru Ramen Bar also offer excellent vegan options alongside their regular menu.