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Atch-Kotch Japanese Restaurant
Category: Restaurants Japanese Japanese [Edit]
1253 Vine StSte 5
Los Angeles, CA 90038
Neighborhood: Hollywood
(323) 467-5537
- Hours:
Mon-Sat 11:30 am - 10 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
About This Business:
At Sushi Sasabune, it is our mission to make your sushi experience like no other. Trust us, and you'll see what we mean. We adjust courses based on our… read more »
152 reviews for Atch-Kotch Japanese Restaurant
Review Highlights
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"I also always add items to my ramen for an added punch." In 104 reviews -
"We both got the South Sea Style Ramen - its sooo good." In 12 reviews -
"...but the best thing on the menu is the Spicy Garlic Tofu." In 4 reviews
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152 reviews in English
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Review from Javi N.
Los Angeles, CA
3/13/2012 1 Check-in Here
Love this place.
It's a bare bones place, but the ramen is solid.
No liquor. -
Review from Paula J.
N HOLLYWOOD, CA
4/9/2012 1 Check-in Here
Ok. So. This is an ok place. Small, inside a strip mall with massage and nail place.
Ramen was decent. Nothing special. But this is Hollywood, and not little Tokyo in downtown. If you want the best stuff, go to little Tokyo. If you want something good without driving, this is a good spot.
I would've given a 4 star, but really, the taste of the South Sea ramen was just ok. And I asked which ramen was the popular, and it was this. -
Review from Diana L.
Los Angeles, CA
3/4/2012
It pains me to write this because I love discovering & supporting family-run, independent establishments (as opposed to those that are multi-branch). Independent establishments, when done right, give the city color and character that those multi-branch clones usually cannot. You know what I mean, the restaurants that all look the same inside no matter what city you are in.
My Atch-Kotch experience weeks ago, was so uneventful...I forgot to write about it. For the sake of the veracity of my reviews, I feel compelled to include the good and the disappointing. The disclaimer is, that I've been to Japan & been spoiled with the likes of Daikokuya Ramen Yamadaya, & Ramen Jinya. I was actually brought here when I was wandering around lost after a failed attempt to find Los Balcones Del Peru. Meanwhile, I found a coffeeshop to at least quench my caffeine needs while I trekked on.
This place was my consolation prize, or so I thought. I walked in to the small space for lunch. The ambience was nothing to write home about. I looked around at the lack of customers...but decided to give it a shot. The woman handed me a menu and then asked if I would like a glass for my coffee. I graciously declined until by the looks of it, I got the passive-aggressive offer's subtext...that outside drinks were not allowed. So, I acquiesced. In hindsight, I have no problem respecting an establishment's wishes...but an explicit declaration in the form of a "No outside food and drinks allowed" would have been nice. At least then, I would have known what to expect...given that I'm not of the mind-reading profession. But alas, that would not have been passive-aggressive enough, would it?
I ordered a bowl of the regular sized ramen. I wish I could tell you what I ordered but I possess selective memory & it was a meal I'd rather forget. I do remember that it was a ramen with seafood. Shortly after..I got a bowl & started eating without question....until a few minutes later...another waitress talked excitedly to the older woman (perhaps the owner) & came over to tell me in a stressed voice that I had received the wrong order. It was meant for the poor gentleman a few seats away from me who was patiently waiting for his lunch & needed to get back to work. The older woman apologized to first me, then him, and then...proceeded to give him the bill & ask that he wait while another bowl was being made.
He graciously offered to pay and said he had to go and couldn't wait for another bowl to be made. Only then was he relieved from his paying duties. Meanwhile, I waited patiently for my order hoping it would be better than the bites of his order that I had. I got mine and held my breath....but the Eureka moment never came...those bites were as forgettable as the previous...
If this was what the service was like on a non-busy weekday during lunch...I'd hate to imagine what it would be like on a weekend. I didn't even finish the meal & promptly asked for the check. I wish I had just made lunch. I would have fared better. -
Review from Rob C.
Los Angeles, CA
3/22/2012 3 Check-ins Here
From looks from the plaza your thinking this place is a total hole in the wall, but you will be mistaken when you open the door. Its one of the cleanest ramen spots I've been to. I ordered the lunch special half beef bowl with shuyio pork ramen all for 9 dollars. It turned out to be the one of the best hangover cures.
-
Review from michael w.
Los Angeles, CA
2/22/2012
worst ramen ever!!!
and i thought this place was the real deal.
i guess those days are over, it used to be good in the 90s.
we ordered the miso ramen with chashu pork and got a bowl of dishwater with scallions.
the order came with a small bowl of chicken curry on rice, wich had no curry flavor whatsoever, it was just brown gravy.
my friend just moved here from japan and i watched her taste the noodles and the soup and both times she shook her head and made a disgusted face. she also had a view of the kitchen from her seat and noticed that the cook looked mexican and not japanese.
what happened to this place? -
Review from Jonathan S.
Los Angeles, CA
1/12/2012
Great little noodle shop hidden in an ugly strip mall. The South Sea Ramen with pork is one of my faves, as well as the chicken katsu-don and of course the spicy garlic tofu.
There are daily specials on the fluorescent dry erase board, by the kitchen, and worth looking at. -
Review from Elise c.
Los Angeles, CA
12/23/2011
5 Stars for the South Sea Style Ramen with Pork, Added Veggies (I like to pretend it helps it be more healthy, ok??) and an Added Egg. The broth is Thick, flavorful, and has a great amount of spice to it. The people taking the order are always an older very polite but quiet gentleman or a younger woman who listens very intently and says "Hai" after every detail. Either way it's very endearing, and adds to the mom and pop shop vibe of the whole place.
Please note that I don't think that this is super traditional style ramen, so DIE HARD legit ramen fans might get uppity. Myself, I enjoy ramen a lot and have had a decent amount, but am not what anyone would call a connoisseur. I enjoy the heartiness of this style, and crave it on the regular.
Its not the kind of place you take someone that you want to show off for on a date or something...but it is an amazing place for take-out/ a quality quiet chat with someone you actually want to talk to on a cold(ish, its LA people) day. -
Review from Graham S.
1/17/2012
Dang good noodle soup--cleans out the sinuses! Had the spicy pork with soba noodles and bok choy, medium spicy, and, man, it did the trick. If you're ever feeling a bit under the weather, or just looking for a hearty meal, I highly recommend this place. It's a pretty unassuming place tucked into the strip mall at Fountain and Vine, but the food is solid. Good stuff!
-
Review from Kevin P.
9/5/2011 1 Check-in Here
A great lil' Raman house that is a delight for a lunch meeting.
They had what I liked (Raman combo with shu mai and fried rice) and it was very delicious. I wasn't a huge fan of the decor or the service (I think it was because they were closing to prep for dinner) so I had to knock a couple stars down for those things, but over all A-OK.
Good food in the Hollywood area is always appreciated. I plan on stopping here more often if I'm outside the valley (to go to Koraku) or to go to J/K town.
Enjoy. -
Review from Erica T.
Los Angeles, CA
7/16/2011
We came here because we were hangover craving some ramen, but didn't have the effort to make it lil tokyo for daikoukuya or orochon ramen.
Sadly, this was no comparison. however, the meal was still delightful (hence 3 stars) because the server had set us up a single table outside and it was like dining in my own living room, minus the open air.
here's a breakdown of food though:
1. california rolls- don't order them. its like 70% rice, 20% avocado, 10% crab meat STICK (not even shredded or mixed w mayo)
2. gyoza- omg these are so hot when they get to your table. do NOT put the whole thing in your mouth, its deceiving, the steam will win.
3. the ramen- i ordered the miso soupbase and it was surprisingly bland. the toppings are scarce and presentation was not so great. i still ate most it though. i WILL say that i commend them for having the low calorie yum yam noodle made of tofu and yam as an option though. for this ALONE, i would consider coming back again.......(noodles under 40kcal- WHY NOT? its practically like working out)
however, if it's not for the yum yam noodle, im not sure i'd come here again unless i were in the same situation (hungover, worthless, in hollywood)... -
Review from Frederick C.
Glendale, CA
2/7/2012
This is very much a "ramen house" - focused on noodles, but also serving other Japanese favorites. I had the Curry which is a favorite comfort food in Japan. The food was good and the prices were fair. The waitstaff was friendly. The have a clean, comfortable dining room. Located in a depressing-looking strip mall, but don't let that deter you!
-
Review from Tony K.
NORTH HOLLYWOOD, CA
9/29/2011
My dad introduced me to this place years ago and I have been hooked ever since. It is by far my favorite ramen place in LA.
South seas style ramen with a raw egg and pork is what I usually get. It's spicy, salty and has more than a hint of ginger in it. Often I find ramen places skip the ginger or put too much in there, Atch-Kotch gets it perfect.
The prices are low and the service is fast. I cannot recommend it enough. -
Review from Angela s.
Arcadia, CA
7/13/2011
came here for lunch today, and this place is pretty okay. I had their Tataki Albacore bento... Let's start off with the miso soup.. I think generally, it was pretty good, just a bit too salty for my taste.. The tataki itself was over salted as well.... The Potato salad was okay.. salad was over dressed. But besides that, I think this would be a okay place to try! If you're around the area, and you are craving some japanese, check it out~
The service was pretty good, but it took awhile for them to get to us when there was almost no one there. -
Review from Morgan A.
Los Angeles, CA
I love Atch-Kotch. My friends and I have been going here for years. Though the the decor and ambiance don't really leave much to be desired - its Atch-Kotch and I really could care less.
I usually always get the Shoyu Ramen Combination w/ pork fried rice. If you've never tried their fried rice before - oh boy, you're in for a treat. So flavorful and delicious. I also always add items to my ramen for an added punch. Some favorites for me are the tofu, bean sprouts, sweet corn, garlic & hot and spicy. The chicken teriyaki is also fantastic if you want to go that route. In the summertime months I would highly recommend the cold somen noodles. So refreshing and perfect.
I was very sad to hear that the mother had passed away. Her and her husband used to sit at the same table EVERY time we went in. They were always so sweet and helpful. I just loved coming in. I'm so glad they decided to keep the restaurant open after all. I'm sending positive thoughts in the family's direction and we'll continue to frequent Atch-Kotch as often as possible. Thanks Atch-Kotch, you're one of our favorites. -
Review from T G.
Los Angeles, CA
7/13/2011
Sadly, this was my 5 star, go-to noodle house back in the 90s but, having moved back to LA, in 2007, and tried it twice, just to make sure, I can say that it's come off the rails.
Firstly, the choices are not nearly what they once were for toppings, and noodles themselves are quite poor, and the service dropped through the floor. The appetizers were utterly pedestrian.
I want to love you like I did once, Atch-Kotch, but you're a different person alltogether. -
Review from J S.
South Pasadena, CA
2/22/2011
Buy the tamen miso soup here!
Tried some dishes and their lotus appetizer; that's ok but the soup is great! Even stood outside in the rain admiring the soup menu with other folks who love the South soup. So this place is my substitute when I crave pho and I'm in that area. It does run me about $10, which my cheap self hates, but my desire for that soup overcomes it. Note: sometimes there is not a lot of liquid, so I add water.
Parking: sucks. Part of one of these mini mall places. I believe after 6 pm it become valet for $6. If you pick up you can negotiate out of that. Don't see much street parking around.
Overall: go here for soup, staff very friendly and pick up if you can to avoid parking fee. -
Review from Stephen C.
Santa Monica, CA
3/27/2011
Being a huge ramen fan I love this place. I'm not talking the 99 cent store in the package ramen but the real Japanese noodle deal. This place is as authentic as you get. Sometimes to the point it's hard to communicate with the waitresses but just point to what you want on the menu.
The dining room is decorated real old school Japanese style and the menu is designed to be the same. They serve what they know. They do Ramen, Sashimi, Bento Boxes, Don-Buri style and Dim Sum and do it all well. You can do traditional or mix it up a bit. Never use spoons other than the traditional Japanese ones they supply but chopsticks is the only real way to go here.
I enjoy the basic Miso ramen noodle bowl thick Udon noodles, though you can opt for Shio, Shoyu or Tanmen. Then I dress it up with garlic, seafood and a little bok choy (Chinese cabbage). It's filling and healthy and not salty. If i'm in the mood for a little change up I usually go with the North Sea Style Ramen. A large bowl of Mild miso flavored ramen with salmon wing, imitation crab sticks (the only time I ever eat imitation crab), wakame (seaweed), moyashi (Japanese sprouts), sweet corn and a little onion. A meal in a bowl and great on the go.
Wash it all down with a nice hot green tea and your good to go. Don't forget to say Domo arigato on the way out! -
Review from James H.
11/7/2011
The owner is very friendly and service is usually great. However, I can't say the same with the food. The ramen is way below average (broth, texture, everything). The sushi rolls are also way below average. The gyoza is tasty, but the portion is very small. Overall, the food quality is way sub par, but the friendliness and environment bumps it up to average.
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Review from Jija C.
Los Angeles, CA
11/22/2010
this ramen place was a bit of a disappointment. Although the server was super nice, that doesn't necessarily replace how bad the ramen was.
the broth was very blend , the noddles were over done and it tasted like they bought it from the market. the goyza was weird. i think i had vegetable stuffing inside. I'm only assuming i had veg because the color was green but the texture was very mushy. kind of weird...
some people might like it if they never had a ramen in their life or just had a bad ones.
this is a bad representative of ramen.
i hope people won't think this is how ramen should be! -
Review from Fred R.
Los Angeles, CA
10/21/2010
This place is not good if you are use to good ramen. I love Hakata, Daikokuya, Orochon, even Asahi Ramen.
This place, the noodles tasted like overcooked cheap ramen you can make at home. The broth, although nice and garlic-filled (with the garlic addition) was super bland.
The pork was overcooked, and this place has the most horrible gyoza imaginable (bitter as hell). All you people that gave it 5 stars are seriously tripping.
You want good ramen? Try Hakata Ramen and Daikokuya. Avoid this place at all cost. -
Review from Yun L.
Los Angeles, CA
10/7/2011 1 Check-in Here
Yelp reviews concludes this ramen place with bi-polar ratings, either 1* or 5*. My visit confirms its validity. South Sea Ramen will land you in the full bar ratings. Chicken gyoza & other random ramen will ring out the 1* palette.
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Review from Reed R.
Los Angeles, CA
6/15/2011
This place is a gem in Hollywood for me. Very few ramen places and for such a moderate price too!
I've only tried the soyu ramen but it was delicious especially with plenty of shichimi!
May seem kind of bland for westerners but the broth was divine! and besides a lil' soy sauce and you gringos are good.
Everytime I go its always just one japanese girl running the whole place and a cook in the back.
Good service, good ramen, okay decor and yeah. -
Review from Erica M.
Los Angeles, CA
11/13/2010
Departing customers saw us reading the menu posted outside and encouraged us to go in; "it's delicious!" one said. So we did, and were one of two tables in this small-ish place around 6 pm on a Saturday. There was an odd smell that my bf interpreted as cabbage. The rest of the ambiance was spare and clean.
We had some very oily but tasty vegetable spring rolls and decent hot green tea. I had vegetarian miso ramen with soba noodles and it was GOOD. I haven't eaten a lot of ramen so don't know how it compares to others, but from the perspective of my taste buds it was delicious. My bf had the tanmen ramen, clear broth with pork, vegetables, and noodles. I found this one lacking in flavor, far less tasty than the miso broth.
The proprietress was friendly and food came fast. I would go back. -
Review from Yvonne L.
Los Angeles, CA
9/15/2011
You would think with all the japanese people working there, the food should be at least ok to good. BUT it was surprisingly awful. I was craving for japanese curry, after I ate their fried pork cutlet with curry, I am so traumatized, curry won't be on my order list for probably a year.
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Review from Raquel A.
Los Angeles, CA
I've been dying to try this place since my friend seems to live here. Seriously, he probably eats here every day.
Finally got the chance today and I can see why he's a regular here. I ordered the tanmen soup with soy sauce. It wasn't as spicy as I would've liked it to be. No problem. All you need it is to add some spices from the table condiments and order a side of chili paste. Still not spicy as Orochon, however, the flavor...YUM! And the best part was the noodles. So fresh.
If I live by this place, I could've easily been a regular too. :) -
Review from Brian B.
1/14/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Parking is eh, but it's hollywood so of course it is. At some point the parking lot becomes a valet lot for the small shopping center so get there a little earlier and park for free. Their ramen is solid, the broth is flavorful and slurp worthy. I really enjoy the South Sea version.
Their bento boxes are a good size and come with miso soup, rice, a salad and filling. I'm not sure if it always come with the bento boxes but there was a potato salad stuff that was really good. I'm kinda cravin' it.
Some nights it can get a little busy and there is usually only one waitress so be patient, be polite and be assured that your food will come. Just don't be on a tight time schedule and you will be fine Los Angeles. Just sip some tea or even better some sake and relax. -
Review from Marijo C.
Los Angeles, CA
10/1/2010
This place was not that good. I got the shoyu ramen and my friend got the miso ramen. The broth had no flavor, the noodles overcooked, and the pork was very tender but flavorless. I have no idea how this place haas an average 4 stars rating and there are a bunch of individuals that deemed it worthy of 5 stars.
We arrived before the lunch rush, and as the place filled, I was thinking there may be potential in this place. Then we got our ramen and we were just disappointed. The shrimp gyoza we ordered on the side was delicious, but with the ramen would be exceptional considering the name of the place has the word "ramen" in it.
I had been curious about this place for a while since i drive by it all the time, but probably not going back. At least I can say I've tried it. -
Review from Marcus W.
Los Angeles, CA
2/16/2012
The south sea style with pork is pretty amazing. I've even had a few other choices and they're really tasty. I've tried a few other places in L.A. but this one really stands out. I love it!
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Review from hana k.
Los Angeles, CA
9/24/2007
If you're getting ramen or chicken teriyaki, you're missing out.
One word: omakase.
Ask for omakase (two person minimum). First, the kind gentleman will ask you if there is anything that you can't/won't eat. Then he'll ask you how hungry you are.
Tell him you're hungry. Order an ice cold beer [preferably Orion] and wait. Soon your table will be covered with little plates of food.
On the night Mr. R and I had omakase, we dined on:
* spicy tuna: hunks of fresh tuna in a ponzu/wasabi sauce
* albacore sashimi
* pork katsu topped with egg and broth
* tofu cooked with broth and chopped veggies
* spicy fried chicken
* japanese eggplant cooked with mustard sauce
* pork with spicy-ginger sauce
* sauteed japanese peppers
* red snapper in garlic sauce
Most of the dishes came out at the same time, so it was a little overwhelming. Yet, each dish was satisfying. The sashimi was very fresh, and the meat dishes were made with lean meat. I loved the delicate flavors of the veggie dishes. I had a hard time deciding which one was my favorite. It was a toss-up between the spicy tuna and the pork katsu and the eggplant. Three-way tie.
The couple who run the place are friendly without being overbearing. They checked with us to see if we wanted more rice or more beer. Later, they asked us if we wanted more food. That meal was more than enough for two.
All that delicious food for only $25 per person. It's a no-brainer.
Solid 4.5 stars. I'll add the extra half-star after I experience the omakase one more time. -
Review from P K.
Los Angeles, CA
5/19/2011
I want to give this place negative five stars but I don't have that option.
I went there because I was craving for ramen. So my husband and I went there and got 2 ramens and a gyoza. The gyoza was burnt on the outside and the filling tasted like rotten vegetables. I had the clear ramen broth and my husband had the miso ramen. The noodles in the ramen are instant noodles and my broth was totally bland. So basically I ate instant noodles in tasteless boiled water. My husband didn't like his dish either. We ended up grabbing a bit after this place coz we just couldnt eat it. Very bad food and service was terrible too. Do not go here. I am so surprised it has 4 stars!!! -
Review from Ed C.
Los Angeles, CA
9/12/2007
UPDATE: 09-20-07
I went to Atch Kotch a couple of days ago and gone are the crazy-ass hyper-color, surreal still life photos of bugs, flowers and other things. Instead they now have black-and-white photos. I was checking them out when the very amiable owner of the joint walked over to me and asked how I liked their new photos.
"Very much," I answered. His question seemed, um, a little pointed. Did he know about my review? Probably not.
I ordered the Parko Ramen again and this time, I asked for the pork to be put in a separate To Go container from the noodle/soup. When I got home, the pork was all hard. I guess the better way to go is to ask for the pork to remain with the rest of the ramen - as G-d intended.
=========================================
The other day, I had a real hankering for Japanese noodles. I usually jam down to Little Tokyo, but I felt lazy (or was I sick?) so I went to Atch-Kotch instead since it's in my 'hood. Plus I believe one of the L.A. indie rags (LA Weekly? Independent Beat?) just had done a positive write-up of the place.
I had been there before, since one of my J/A girl friends loves this place b/c they have natto served with a "special ingredient" (natto lovers will know what I'm talking about), so I wasn't un-familiar with Atch-Kotch.
Anyhoo, here's the skinny on this place:
* There's a large parking lot - but it's shared with El Flordita, Super Tortas and other super busy businesses, so if you go at night, it's better to park on the street.
* Inside the joint, you're slammed with vintage(?) 80's decor. There's also crazy-ass hyper-color, surreal still life photos of bugs, flowers and other things I can't recall on the walls - but I do remember thinking "Do they really think that these crazy-ass hyper-color, surreal still life photos of bugs, flowers and sh*t are going to inspire appetite in people?"
I ordered the Parko Ramen w/ Pork to go - since I didn't really want to hang around. Besides, Jeopardy was about to start on the T.V.
When I got home, I dug in. The ramen was very o-i-shi (that's "delish" to you, Gaijin) indeed.
The noodles were a little softer than what I'm accustomed to (I like them a tad al dente), but that's b/c the soup had gotten soaked up by the time I made it home - but ultimately the noodles were fine.
The same softening effect happened to the breaded pork, but I didn't care. It had retained enough flavor and texture to make it special.
In conclusion, I recommend Atch-Kotch. But remember that I warned you about the crazy-assed still photos on the wall.
Three stars! -
Review from Sat Y.
Los Angeles, CA
8/1/2010 3 photos
My heart breaks to find out that the Mom of this place passed away (see Chris B's review before me), but I would find it more heartbreaking if I lied about how pretty icky this place was.
Service:
Okay, maybe they were distracted about the restaurant closing and whatnot... But it took a good 3 minutes before the waitress noticed that we came in.
It took another minute and a half to get menus, and another 2 minutes to get our order.
AND we got no water.
Ramen without water? Really?
And I had the pork fried rice (salty) that came with really salty, horrible tasting miso soup.
The waitress should have given me extra water to water down the soup, no?
Food:
Shio ramen with gyoza for the sister. I got pork fried rice.
The fried rice was good, just a bit salty.
The miso soup that came with my fried rice...
It was like a 4th grader made it.
Like it was obvious that it was only water and miso in the soup.
Japanese cuisine begins and ends with dashi.
There was no dashi in my miso soup.
Me so not happy.
Ramen. Okay, this is what the waitress said about their ramen.
"Japanese people probably would think our shio ramen is too bland."
I think she was telling us not to order it.
(She was being "Japanese" and not really being straight with us...)
But my sis said it was fine.
So. Not. Fine.
Again, it tasted like it was only water and salt.
Gyoza.
This is also what the waitress said about the gyoza:
"It's vegetable only. Japanese people usually don't like it."
Actually, the only-vegetable gyoza was so-so.
Tasted more like fried wontons than gyoza (did they half-steam it like they are supposed to? Didn't look like it), it was filled with pureed broccoli. Or maybe it was baby food. I don't know.
Glad I only ate 1 of the 3.
So 2 stars for the food, but -1 for the service.
Everyone has given good reviews...perhaps the Mom was the rock of this place, and we went at a really bad time.
Sorry to give a bad and unfortunate review, but hey, it doesn't matter now, right? -
Review from Andrea K.
Glendale, CA
Oishii!!! 4.5 stars overall.
Simply deilcious!
THE ORDER:
S. Sea Ramen: 4 stars...grub. Miso-based soup jam packed full of goodies. I added shoots and sprouts....amazing. This Ramen is a bit thicker than Shin Sen Gumi's, but soooo good. The amount of chashu was perfect ( i usually order extra, but I didn;t have to). Every bite was exploding with variable flavors....green onion, ginger....I added vinegar, red pepper, white pepper, and chili oil....AMAZING!
Chinese Pickles: 4.5 stars......DELISH! sooo sour, sooo tangy! GOes perfectly with the ramen (especially when combined). DANK!
Side Salad: 4.75 stars.....simple but delightful. Crisp shreds of iceburg lettuce, cucumber, and tomato all topped with a lovely dressing. Extremely refreshing and yummy. Oh, did I mention it comes with a large dollop of potato salad that's pureed to creamy perfection?
THE SERVICE:
Great! We were checked up on, questions were answered, water refilled....all in all, great.
OVERALL:
So good after a night of drinking.....the perfect portion size, too. SO tasty!
I'll DEF be back!!!!!!! I wanna try more menu items, bc everything I had was near perfect!
I think I'm going this week again...it's that good.
I Recommend to all Yelpers who know and love ramen.
xo-
andrea
note: portion of sides are small, so if ur famished, order a lot...it's worth it. yumtastic!Listed in: Asian Persuasion, Oishii! My fave Japanese spots…
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Review from Jims ..
Hollywood, CA
9/15/2006
I disagree with the other reviewers on this one. I was so excited to have a ramen house in this area and I when I first moved here, I kept going several times to try to convince myself that it was good or at least good enough to be a repeat customer. As far as ramen's go, it is sub par. How do I know? Once you have the Platonic ideal of Ramen and go back to Atch-Kotch, you realize their offerings are sorely lacking the refinements that make a good ramen: amazing broth, firm but supple, fresh noodles, and top notch garnishings. Spend some time in Japan or eat at Daikokuya in Little Tokyo to get a baseline of what ramen can be then go back to Atch-Kotch and let me know if your estimation is the same. One extra star just for existing in a ramen diaspora.
Also, though they have a large parking lot in the strip mall, it's often mandatory valet at night which is a total scam. Valet is useful when parking is limited and you pay for the service of having others park your vehicle. There is no shortage of space here ergo free cash for parking attendants. -
Review from Paul M.
Redondo Beach, CA
1/30/2012
Had ramen and gyoza...officially the worst I've had...ever. Not sure why people are digging this place, but if you're looking for good ramen then try Hakata Ramen Shinsengumi (Gardena) or Santouka Ramen (Torrance).
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Review from Monika K.
1/3/2012 1 Check-in Here
south sea style ramen for the win, this place is the bomb. hits the right spot every time I'm lucky enough to get out to LA. flavorful, delicious. service is fast and friendly. we need a real ramen place like this in south florida!
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Review from Carol L.
11/12/2009 1 Check-in Here
I used to come here regularly when I worked in the area, but that was years ago. Recently I decided to go by for dinner to see how it compared to the many other noodle houses I've since tried. The parking is still really bad. It definitely hurts their business to be in a strip mall that has very limited parking for a lot of businesses. Good thing I was determined. I circled the area a couple of times before I found a meter...two blocks away.
The restaurant was (sadly) pretty empty. The owners, an elderly couple, were sitting at a table in a corner. She was knitting and he was working on a crossword I think? A lone server brought me my menu. There is some randomness to their menu and the occasional sushi/sashimi offering. So let's be clear, they are foremost a noodle shop. If you try the other stuff and get disappointed, well it's like going to a donut shop and complaining about the "Chinese" food you picked up to go with your jelly-filled.
Start with some ramen, udon or soba and then customize it with toppings (for extra of course). There's a little key recommending certain toppings for a specific noodle. Truthfully, it can get expensive. I skipped my build-a-bowl and went with something new to me -- the South Sea Style Ramen, which features spicy green onions, a choice of chicken or pork miso, and a garnish of red ginger and sesame seeds. The verdict? WOW!!!
Noodles: Their ramen noodles are on the softer side if that's what you like. I prefer al dente.
Toppings: Lots of spicy green onion and red ginger which added to the complexity of the broth. The slices of pork are lean. Not that I have anything against the fatty pork at Daikokuya.
Broth: The pork miso was amazing! Rich in flavor and spiced with red chili oil (it was pretty spicy actually). I usually am not too tempted to drink up most of the broth, but I almost did this time. OMG, the broth was great.
P.S. I have to mention this. The hot green tea is nothing special, plus they charge $1.50 for it. Drink something else.Listed in: Best Use of Pork..., Some Comfy Soup For Those Cold…
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Review from Johnney C.
West Los Angeles, CA
2/19/2009
Quick rundown for you suckas:
Really good:
Service/accuracy (this gives it the 4th star because Yoshi and his wife are nice as hell)
Garlic tofu/beef/chicken bentos
The dons
Agedashi tofu
Mediocre:
Any of the ramens (mainly because of the mediocre noodles)
Quick and painless no? -
Review from Henry W.
San Gabriel, CA
7/12/2009
Having my first lunch break here was sorrowfully disappointing. I wished I could have picked somewhere else.
Ramen was bland, just a bowl of noodles and some colored water. The food lacks flavor.
The service was ok, and they're nice people for sure, but the food is not up to par to what I've had of Japanese food in the past. -
Review from Jeff G.
Marina del Rey, CA
2/22/2009
I love the girl who wrote that she doesnt like this place, but shes been coming for two years regularly. If you dont like it, why do you come back? I cant think of anyone who does that.
Personally I love this place. Been here twice, first time I thought that everything was great except the food, but then second time around the food got its groove back. For me it all starts with getting my bowl of noodle soup with the "spicy" add on. Once you do that you are all set. Noodles were great, not too tender, not too al dente. Broth was tasty, and served hot, which is def a plus. Atch Kotch is a total hole-in-the-wall which is apparent right away, but I think thats a redeeming quality. The wait staff is friendly,,,,,,..........oh god my hangover this morning, sorry...........a friendly wait staff, never been mean to anyone in their life i dont know what people are talking about when they say anything otherwise.
Anyways this place is legit, with great ramen and thats all that is important. Going back to sleep now.
