- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
Daikokuya
Category: Restaurants Japanese Japanese [Edit]
327 E 1st StLos Angeles, CA 90012
Neighborhoods: Downtown, Little Tokyo
(213) 626-1680
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 11 am - 12 am
Fri-Sat 11 am - 1 am
Sun 11 am - 11 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- No
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
3144 reviews for Daikokuya
Review Highlights
"This is seriously the best ramen I have ever had."
(in 555 reviews)
"The shredded pork bowl was amazingly good."
(in 176 reviews)
"Daikokuya - ramen is bomb, fried rice is bomb."
(in 438 reviews)
Loading...
3143 reviews in English
-
Review from Dona C.
El Monte, CA
2/6/2012
Alright..their original ramen is pretty good and pretty famous. But wait until you try the ********************KICHI-MEN*******************!! !!!!
My mouth is salivating as I type. This ramen is not even on their menu. Occasionally you will see it posted up on the walls. It's a spicy & sour version of their original soup base. However, the noodles for this ramen is cooled down and separated from the soup. Also served separately are the toppings: fatty pork, green onions, soft boiled egg, & bamboo shoots. I'm in ramen heaven.
So there I am, staring at a tray of ramen galore. Where to start? What to do?! Just take a sip of the broth and let the tart spicyness tickle the toungue. Then twirl some ramen noodles up and strategically dip it into the soup with the chopsticks and spoon. After some more experimenting with the other toppings in the same technique, toss all the toppings into the soup. It'll almost taste like a milder version of tom yum soup.
Ahhhhh...after all that is washed into the tummy, notice that the pork fried rice that came with the combo has been left untouched. Pack that up and we've got lunch for work tomorrow.
Zing!Listed in: Oodles of Noodles!
-
Review from Paul A.
Los Angeles, CA
2/9/2012
WELL!
a) If I wanted authentic ramen, I probably wouldn't go here.
b) If I wanted FATTY ramen (which I actually LIKE), I would go to San Sui Tei two doors down and be seated immediately instead of waiting 1 hour here, and have better-quality pork, more of it, and a better broth.
c) If I wanted to impress someone new in town, or someone who demanded a slightly hipper atmosphere and better marketing, I would take them to Daikokuya.
B00m : ) -
Review from Nicole L.
2/7/2012 1 Check-in Here
"I'll take extra back fat with that please."
Ramen was good. The noodles are cooked perfect, more on the aldente side like I prefer and the broth was full and hardy. I think the kotteri really added the extra bunch and have been told by more frequent Daikokuian's that it definitely makes it taste better.
BF got the combo of ramen and small rice bowl with shredded pork. How anyone could eat both is beyond me and we ended up taking the rice bowl to go. The shredded pork was really good, nicely seasoned and saucy.
Overall, I liked the rice bowl better than the ramen. Would definitely go back for some more shredded pork over rice. -
Review from Marvin C.
2/5/2012
BE PREPARED TO WAIT AT LEAST ***ONE HOUR*** (even if it may be a random weeknight). Like most Japanese places, make sure you write your name down on the wait list.
The wait is well worth the hour because I believe this place has the best Japanese ramen in LA. Apparently the shredded pork bowl is good here too (and some claim that it tastes better than the ramen)! Unfortunately, I don't think you're able to change the broth/noodle thickness or customize it any other way like you can at some other ramen places (This is a guess since I was not asked when ordering the Daikokuya ramen). Fortunately, contrary to the wait time, service was extremely fast and the waiter there was very nice. -
Review from Diana I.
2/3/2012 1 Check-in Here
What?! How have I not reviewed Daikokuya?!
Okay, so I've been here several times. I used to say this was THE BEST RAMEN in SOCAL! But now I'm not so sure anymore. I don't know if their broth changed or what, but when I went recently, it didn't taste as amazing as it did before. We waited an hour to get seated, our food came out fast, and the service was friendly and quick. But the ramen... it just wasn't as flavorful and as delicious as I remembered. I love how the noodles are slightly on the harder side though! But the broth.. hmm.. it was missing that pizzazz that I once knew. Even putting in a lot of ginger didn't do it for me.
If you're hungry or it's your first time there, DEFINITELY get the ramen combo that comes with the shredded pork bowl! That bowl is sooo good! It may even be the redeeming factor of your meal if you're not enjoying the ramen as much. And the two just go so well together!
Parking sucks. You can get street parking if you're lucky or park in the structure across the street.
Overall, I think the ramen at Hakata Ramen Shinsengumi in Gardena is actually better than this place and is still my favorite! But Daikokuya is for sure no less than 2nd place.Listed in: Little Tokyo // J-Town
-
Review from Richard K.
Los Angeles, CA
2/2/2012 1 Check-in Here
Meh...
If you want to drink a bowl of pork fat, then I guess Daikokuya is the place for you. In fact, get the kotteri (cloudy and rich) ramen where it's literally a bowl of ramen with chunks of fucking fat floating around. If you want a sure fire way of dying after a meal then order Daikokuya's kotteri ramen because you are guaranteed a heart attack from this dish because fat is fat no matter what you call it. I mean kurobuta and black pork sounds great, but at the end of the day you are eating pig fat soup.
When it comes to Japanese ramen, I guess I'm more of an assari (light and clear) enthusiast, which explains why I have an affinity for plain shio (salt) ramen and shoyu (soy sauce) ramen because I prefer ramen broth that isn't so damn dense. In fact, even when cooking ramen at home I forbid anyone from adding eggs to my broth because I like my shit clean and pure... like me. I mean you are what you eat, right? RIGHT!
But seriously, what disappoints about Daikokuya is that they only offer one type of ramen: pork fat ramen or uber pork fat ramen. And sadly, I'm just not a fan like all the other 3,000 bandwagon followers. And guess what? Because Daikokuya is in the tourist trap of a place we call Little Tokyo (where Japanese people do not even live because the real Japantown is in the South Bay), you will have to wait a fucking long ass time to eat overrated food.
Other Food Options
Besides their fatty ramen, Daikokuya offers rice bowls with tonkatsu (deep-fried pork cutlet) or tuna sashimi, fried rice, and other side dishes like a weird salad.
Tonkatsu - Average and not spectacular
Tuna Sashimi - Don't fucking order sashimi from a non-sushi restaurant
Fried Rice - The best thing I had at Daikokuya
Weird Salad - Let's just say that I did not appreciate the mayonnaise/pink slime dressing
-----------------------------
So, if you really want to try delicious umami Japanese ramen, then you must check out Santouka inside the Mitsuwa Market in Torrance (aka Big Tokyo).
*BTW, Yelp, are you fucking serious? How is Daikokuya a 2011 top ten US Yelp Restaurant? SMH... Un-fucking-believable...Listed in: The $hit List
-
Review from Barbara N.
San Francisco, CA
2/3/2012
First, I just want to say that this place kills it on green onions. I mean total green onion overload. Since I like them, it was a good thing for me, but I didn't expect everything that we ordered - two appetizers and our ramen bowls - to come with a veritable mountain of bright green onions on top. Although, it did make the presentation quite pleasant.
Second, since this place is so highly rated, I must have ordered the wrong ramen bowl because the broth I got was weak! The ingredients (noodles, pork, egg, etc.) were fine. But the broth was lacking depth and mouthwatering savoriness. I think the broth is the most important part. When I eat pho or ramen or any kind of soup, I want the broth to be so good, that I have to drink the last drop.
On a positive note, the service was good, and the appetizers were yummy. Also, there was no wait to be seated because we arrived shortly after the lunch rush.Listed in: Ramen Obsessed
-
Review from Jimmy C.
Palo Alto, CA
2/5/2012
Dat kotteri broth
Fattiesgonnafat.jpg
MFW I live across the street and can go when they open to skip the line. You jelly?
Oh they raised the price on the unagi bowl. It was only $13(?) before... now it's $16 or $17. It's okay I still love this place. -
Review from Vicky H.
Los Angeles, CA
2/6/2012
I'm a believer now. This place is worth every minute of wait-both times I've been here more than 40 minutes. Absolutely love this place, but I had to give it 4 stars since there is no place to wait inside and not even benches outside :( and they don't take credit cards and they don't take reservations and they don't take to-go orders, but if you can stay this busy with all these restrictions, they are doing something right=KICK ASS FOOD!
Order the classic ramen with fried rice combo, truly the best ramen I've ever had even in comparision with what I had in Japan! The egg is perfectly cooked with soft yolk, must not leave it in soup too long, otherwise, it overcooks so indulge it right away. Fried rice is really really good too. Try the dumplings, it's homemade and vegetarian (a certain health nut hasn't tried this yet, but I know for a fact he'll love it!), weird looking gyoza, but unbelievably goooooooooooooooooooood...! -
Review from Jackson L.
Cheviot Hills, CA
2/5/2012 1 Check-in Here
Salad, Cole slaw with thousand island and mayo. (3/5)
Pork rice eel sauce (3/5)
Fried rice, soggy pork corn green onions onions eggs. (4/5)
Daikokuya Ramen (4/5)
Salad, Cole slaw with thousand island and mayo. (3/5):
Exactly as it sounds.
Pork rice eel sauce (3/5)
It was okay, but this is also exactly as it sounds. Nothing really stands out about this dish.
Fried rice, soggy pork corn green onions onions eggs. (4/5)
The fried rice was pretty good. I liked the texture of the rice. It felt almost like soul food.
Daikokuya Ramen (4/5):
Their ramen is good, comparable to that of Shinsengumi Ramen. The broth is good, and noodles aren't half bad, I'd say a slight notch more flavor then Shensengumi, but Santouka is definitely better. Santouka broth is more flavorful in both ramen, and soup. -
Review from John D.
Cool, CA
2/3/2012
All time favorite Ramen place. It's always crowded so unless it's off hours I tend to avoid. But it's crowded for a reason.
Ramen is good. Their chicken, beef, and salmon roe bowls are all good. Their sushi, although an odd place to have, is great as well! -
Review from S L.
Los Angeles, CA
2/2/2012 1 Check-in Here
This place doesn't need any more reviews but i can't help it. It is THAT good. It was my first time here. I finally had a chance to pop in after hearing so much about this legendary place. The wait was bearable since I came fully prepared to wait for a spot.
We were seated at the bar area, which i thought was ok at first. But when i started eating, i knew it was a really bad idea. First of all, the kitchen area right in front of the bar is emitting a lot of heat and steam - there is a constant blast of hot air all around you. I thought ok, no probs, i'll take off my coat and order a nice cold beer to cool me down. That worked until the ramen came (ramen with kotteri flavor was all i ordered). I started to feel really hot and uncomfortable during my meal. Cold beer wasn't helping anymore and i was balancing my coat and handbag on my lap while trying to wipe sweat off my face and struggling with my chopsticks. All at the same time! i finally gave up after eating about 1/3 of the delicious noodles and asked for the rest to go. Ooooh the thought of eating that in comfort of home with another cold beer. i was looking forward to that.
Anyways, uncomfortable moments aside, the ramen is EXCELLENT. I can see why some reviewers said the broth was not tasty. That came to my mind too with my first bite. But once i had a good chance to savor my meal comfortably at home, i concluded the broth is definitely packed with yummy porky goodness but i think they season it minimally. Which i think is healthier anyway with less salt, sodium, MSG, whatever you call it. You can always add a bit of soy sauce to bring out the umami flavor. I didn't do that but i added Sriracha hot sauce and it tasted the bomb after that. Ask your server for Sriracha and chili oil on the side when ordering your food.
I loved the heaping of green onions and bean sprouts. Some may say the amount of greens is overkill but you need that freshness to cut through the fatty broth. It all went well together. Lots of broth, lots of noodles. Very good all round. i'm a fan!
i did miss one thing: sheets of seaweed in the dish like other ramen places i've been too.
And i hope they improve on their air conditioning. i spent way less time sitting down with my meal than waiting for a spot! -
Review from Khoi N.
Santa Ana, CA
2/5/2012
Good to try at least once, but what is the big deal??
I was satisfied, yes. The food and service was good. I expected the long 45 minute wait so that was okay. However, the way some reviewers have built up the food here is crazy.
I was excited to eat here. I read a lot of comments and bought into all the hype that mentioned "all time favorite" and "best ramen ever" - some written in CAPS. Man, I was pumped. My expectations were high. Maybe that was the mistake to begin with.
I didn't get the OH MY GOD experience that some other people had. I mean, it wasn't much more memorable than a Shin-Sen Gumi or even Ajisen experience. In fact, I think Shin-Sen Gumi and Ajisen were more memorable experiences for me. Here, the thing I'll remember most is the long wait, not the food... and that isn't right.
I over hyped this experience for myself. That's likely the problem. Plus, I don't know ramen enough to appreciate the whatever-it's-called, fancy pork fat that Daikokuya uses in their recipe. I actually got the combo meal, and chose the shredded pork rice bowl... which had good flavored, crispy shredded pork oozing with oil, fat, onion, green onion.
So yes, it was good. I was stuffed. Can't complain about the service. It's a nice experience to try at least once - and maybe twice or thrice - but only during off hours because it's not worth the wait. Otherwise I'll be making my return to the other ramen restaurants to be satisfied all the same. -
Review from David Y.
San Francisco, CA
2/3/2012
Been going to Daikokuya for 7 years, back when you didn't have to wait 2 hours for a table for 2 and check the list every 20 minutes. I don't know if anyone else noticed this but the quality has gone DOWN. The pork isn't as good anymore - it used to be a different color. They changed the fried rice recipe too. And what pisses me off the most is that it's CASH ONLY now. They used to take plastic a year or two ago. I guess they're getting greedy with the gravy train that comes through there because of the insane Yelp reviews.
The ramen is still pretty good, just not what it used to be and it's definitely not worth waiting 2 hours for. -
Review from Mandie R.
Los Angeles, CA
1/31/2012
Absolutely delicious ramen. I was a bit disappointed that they only have one kind. I was expecting more customization options but it WAS super delicious. I could have done without the egg and super fatty chasu though. The broth was super flavorful.
I love the decor inside, the lighting was nice and the restaurant felt very Japanese. I liked the vintage feel of it. Our server was very attentive and nice, service was also super fast. Guess it needs to be considering how long people wait to get in here!
The wait was terrible, 45 minutes on a Saturday afternoon.
I would come here again, yes. I'll try on a week night however or start my wait when I'm not hungry, haha. -
Review from Lindsay A.
Los Angeles, CA
1/30/2012
AUTHENTIC ramen! I know this because I'm an ESL teacher and my Japan students said this place is just like JAPAN. I come here all the time. It is my go to Ramen place. Don't be frightened by the B rating (means it tastes better!) or the huge crowd outside. A huge crowd means the place is delicious! When you get there, write your name on the clipboard inside. Go ahead, push past all the crowd. You need to get your name on that list. You will see a long list of names before you, but just remember which number you are and soon you will be partaking of awesomeness.
The wait can be 30 min of so but it's so worth it, even late at night. JUST DO IT! I usually get the combo and share with my husband because we usually do this after we have already eaten dinner and want a late night snack (open til 1am). With the combo you get a delicious bowl of steaming ramen, a BOMB salad, and one other dish (around $11-13). Let me stop here and tell you about the salad. It is the tastiest dressing I have ever tasted at any Japanese restaurant! I love it! OMG I want some right now. As far as the other dish you can get, Chicken Teriyaki is SO GOOD. A little crunchy on the outside and not too sweet. The Pork Katsu is also REALLY good. I think I prefer it to the chicken. YUUUMMMMMMM. If you love ramen or if you have never had ramen, or if you are just hungry and in the downtown area, you need to go here! -
Review from Erica T.
San Francisco, CA
2/2/2012
Every time I go and visit my friends and family or just go to Socal for fun, I will always come to Daikokuya. I can't help it, old habits die hard. I started coming here around 2007 and haven't stopped coming since then. Yes, line is long, but I always seem to not wait past 30 mins.
I usually order gyoza, ramen combo (comes with another dish), I don't usually finish but I don't have this place in Norcal, so I order what I can and give the rest to my friends or bf.
Love the broth, it is rich and tasty. I wish I could order it spicy without having to pay extra for it. Gyoza is always the best here! The consistency of the gyoza the past several years hasn't changed. I can't recall the amount I paid for all the dishes. I haven't gone back to Socal for close to a year... maybe it is time to plan a trip back!
Can't wait! Writing this review started to make me drool for Daikokuya ramen and gyoza! -
Review from Edward W.
Fremont, CA
2/3/2012 1 Check-in Here
For all the hype, Daikokuya failed to impress me. When I first had ramen in Tokyo, I had this OMG feeling because it was simply too good. Now I've been searching for that same feeling and this place just doesn't bring it.
Arrived at 11:15am on a Saturday and it was already full. The first wave arrives at 11am (opening time), so no one will really leave until 1140am.
Like most people, I tried the Daikokuya Ramen.
First, the broth is tasty. Flavorful, not too hot, delightful to my tongue.
Second, the noodles aren't flimsy like instant noodles, yet the texture is thicker while staying chewy.
Thirdly, the pork is nearly tasteless. I did eat lots of marinated meat the night before, but the pork was just very unsatisfying and slightly too tough.
Lastly, the boiled egg. The egg was COLD in the middle. They must have just pre-boiled it and threw it into the broth, hoping it would warm up before I ate it.
Leaving around 1230, there was quite a crowd waiting outside, but I knew my journey for awesome ramen would continue without this place. -
Review from Rosie W.
1/30/2012 1 Check-in Here
FINALLY made time to come here this past wkend on our SoCal visit. Pretty worth it :)
I was a tiny bit disappointed about their Ramen. It wasnt the best I've ever had. The noodles were a little on the harder side and the broth was so thick, I couldn't see what was underneath it. The broth was also not as flavorful as I expected. I added a bunch of spicy pepper and it was the first time I had to add soy sauce in my ramen. It also had a tad too much green onions and bean sprouts. 3 stars for the Ramen.
I upped it 1 star for their fried rice. I was told it was BOMB, so even though I KNEW I couldn't finish everything, I opted for the fried rice (they have a bunch of rice combinations). TOTALLY WORTH IT! Where should I begin with the fried rice ... it had the right amount of saltiness, it was soft, it was juicy, it was moist and had shrimp and chicken in it. My stomach was hurting from how full I was, but I still managed to finish half the plate (yeah I was a fatty and my diet went out the door), but it was totally worth it. I wish I was hungry enough to finish everything.
We also didnt have to wait too long for our food. + points because we waited 40 minutes to get seated on a Sunday at noon. -
Review from Douglas K.
New York, NY
1/29/2012
When I read all the reviews, it said the best ramen from SoCal. While this might be the case, this is hardly the best ramen I've had, ever. I can't speak for Tokyo, which probably has the best ramen in the world, but I have been to many places in New York, and it has so many more better spots, AINEC.
The broth and the pork are in general a bit weak in flavor, and I got the kotteri flavor version. Fundamentally, it was a decent ramen, but there was nothing to write home about. Because of the hype, I was very disappointed at the experience, maybe I'll give it another try the next time I come here and it was a bad day, but overall it was just a decent ramen place, nothing more.
The shredded pork dish was actually pretty good however, and my friend enjoyed the eel dish, so there are some highlights. For the price and what you get it isn't bad, but it isn't amazing, either.
I know my review seem like NYC snobbery, but I feel I am objectively judging based on pure taste. There are things in LA I like more than in NYC, but this ramen is not one of them.Listed in: Ramen
-
Review from David P.
Los Angeles, CA
Updated - 2/3/2012
4 stars only because its A)Cash only (Little Tokyo) B) So small. Ramen other wise is the biz!
Hands down Daiko makes some of the best broth. Service is fast and the Daiko ramen combo is a savior with the half side additions like fried rice to sashimi.
Only sucky thing is the wait. The place is soo small I would say a party of 4 would be perfect and nothing more. The wait is a bit of a pain BUT nothing like Daikokuya :)
oh yeah! Manga collection in the corner when waiting :)1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
6/8/2011
Atmosphere is really good. Servers are fast and hard working. Ramen is delicious but nothing… Read more »
-
-
Review from Holly C.
1/29/2012 2 photos
Logistics first. You need to walk in and write your name on the list yourself. They will call by name and number so remember both - sometimes the servers were hard to understand. If you are not quick to claim your reservation, it will be given to someone else. This was especially tricky for larger parties - I saw them give a 5-top away to 2 people after giving the party of 5 about 1 minute to claim their table. So stay on your toes, people. CASH ONLY!
Now, was this all worth it? Not in my opinion. The salad that comes with the combinations was pathetic - just cabbage with pink mayo sauce on it. The pork rice bowl was pretty good as well as the gyoza. But we are here for the ramen, yes?
Comparing this to Monta in Las Vegas, the ramen noodles were higher quality but the pork was not. But there was more pork. The soup was not as salty as Monta but not as flavorful either. I really didn't taste pork in the broth like I do at Monta. I was starving and wasn't really impressed. Kirin on tap and by the pitcher was a nice touch, though.
FYI, the restaurant had a B rating when I was there. All in all, it was ok but not worth the wait. -
Review from boo k.
Irvine, CA
2/2/2012
I'm a definite fan because of the price and delicious deals!
I'm not a fan because of the wait... but heck the wait is worth it all! -
Review from Evan Y.
Los Angeles, CA
2/8/2012
Verdict: GO!
but be weary, you will feel SUPER full. slightly oily ramen broth. -
Review from Christy E.
Glendale, CA
1/31/2012
The wait was horrible. I had time to walk around the plaza across the street and visit Illest and still had 30 min. to spare 'till we were able to eat.
BUT. the wait was totally worth it. best ramen place ever! -
Review from Joa K.
1/23/2012 1 Check-in Here
3.5 stars.
I'm surprised this place is rated so high. It's not bad but does the food warrant such a long wait? Not really.
The atmosphere is like a small mom and pop ramen shop - but really popular and overrun with a really diverse crowd. Shoddy stools at the bar, looks a bit dirty, not exactly a hole-in-the-wall but has that vibe. Vintage Japanese advertisements on the wall, huge red lanterns in the window/waiting area...I really like the way this place looks and feels. But....
I'm very disappointed in the gyoza. Not because it tasted bad but because it was undercooked. The pork was reddish pink and cold. No, not just a little pink, I mean like wow-that-is-obviously-raw pink. I wanted to notify the server but was afraid someone was going to spit in our ramen or something weird like that (you know, for complaining). Haha, I know, I am a bit paranoid. Anyway, it was really too bad. The first bite was good until I got to the center of the gyoza. :T I wonder if this kind of stuff is why they have a "B" food safety rating (see their front window)....
The fried rice was SO SALTY. WTH! It's more like a Chinese style fried rice dish, not the Japanese style we were hoping for. Oh well. Cut back on the salt and I think this dish is decent.
I ordered the Tsukemen because I have been searching for good Tsukemen since I ate at Musashi in Shibuya, Tokyo. I was really excited to see it on the menu. I shouldn't have expected so much, that was sort of dumb of me, haha. Daikokuya has pretty good ramen noodles. I was really happy about that. Perfectly cooked and would suit most any ramen broth pretty well. But I was disappointed by how dry the pork was and how bland the broth was. However, I think once you let the green onions and pork sit in the broth for a while, the taste gets better and becomes pretty decent. Dipping the noodles into the broth brought back memories of Tokyo so I was pretty happy overall. So about 3 stars for the Tsukemen alone.
The Daikoku ramen was decent. But we both found ourselves longing for the soft pork of Santouku Ramen and the amazing flavor of ramen that is available elsewhere....it's weird that the famous and popular Daikokuya makes us long for food from other shops. Maybe I am being a bit harsh....
I think Daikokuya is just an average place. I don't hate it, I don't love it. Would I recommend it to others? Sure, maybe just to try it out and have their own experience. But perhaps waiting anything over 40 minutes is just not worthwhile. I might return but don't have any real conviction or craving to. -
Review from Crystal C.
Diamond Bar, CA
1/31/2012
my friends suggested we eat here, at first i was skeptical because i've tried japanese ramen at honda-ya and i was not a fan. i'm not big on overly fatty meals. I agreed to go there because he said this place was different, and i was sold on the reviews.
i'm so glad i ate here. this place is sooooo good! they give you lots of food for a great price. i loved the broth. it reminded me of the korean dish sullungtang. same kind of broth.
i wish i lived in LA cause i'd be here all the time :) -
Review from Patricia L.
Torrance, CA
1/26/2012 1 Check-in Here
After all of the hype surrounding this place, I finally went to eat there recently.
Luckily for me, I called my friend who was already on his way there, so by the time I got there, they were at the front of the line. I didn't have to wait. Parking was still a pain in the butt though...
I got the ramen combo, which came with the ramen and the shredded pork bowl, as well as a salad. The salad was, well, a salad. Nothing special there. Then I tried the ramen. I enjoy Japanese ramen, but I haven't tried that many in this area. However, I found the ramen to be pretty bland. It wasn't bad, but it was just slightly under my personal preference. I added some of the seasonings on the side tray, which made it a lot better for me personally.
I didn't even get close to finishing my food. I couldn't finish my ramen or my pork bowl, even though I shared that pork bowl with a friend. I took it togo and at the rest at home.
Overall, I really enjoyed the dining experience. I just don't ever want to drive there again. As long as someone else drives, I'm game to come back! -
Review from Calvin H.
Los Angeles, CA
2/2/2012
One of the FEW gems in J-Town. Daikokuya serves solid, authentic ramen! It's pretty obvious they're doing something right when the line/wait can make you wait nearly an hour sometimes for a delicious bowl of their ramen! Portions are big and the aroma always gets you when your bowl first arrives. Koterri for an extra fatty-kick to your ramen!
Other than the food being spectacular, do be warned, the wait has been getting longer and longer with every one of my visits... almost to the point where I don't visit here as often. -
Review from Amy L.
La-La land....you keep disappointing me. Such high ratings and an hour wait really had me thinking that Daikokuya was going to give Ramen Dojo or even Orenchi a run for their money. Not even close!
Based on the soup base, I compared the Daikokuya ramen to Orenchis. We ordered the Kotteri flavor which is extra fatty pork based broth. The broth wasn't anything special. It lacked flavor and tasted like instant soup base. Honestly, the whole bowl tasted like packaged fresh ramen that you can buy at Nijiya. The noodles tasted like the packaged ramen. It didn't have bounce or the al-dente chewiness ramen should have. The egg which is supposed to be boiled on the outside but runny on the inside wasn't. Totally overcooked.
This was not worth driving 400 something miles for and standing in an hour line. Half way through I didn't even want to finish my bowl. It is really that un-appetizing. Disappointed.Listed in: Oodles of Noodles, L.A L.A Land!
-
Review from Kat L.
Northridge, CA
Best ramen ever! This coming from someone who isn't very fond of pork belly or all the fattiness that comes with it. The broth, noodles, meat, fish cakes, and bean sprouts were absolutely perfect. Only part I didn't care for was the soft boiled egg which just took up space in the bowl...space where more meat could have gone.
After a harrowing 50 minute wait I couldn't help but order a combo which came with a huge bowl of ramen and a small bowl of tuna sashimi. Their tuna bowl was delicious! The sashimi was melt in your mouth fresh and came in a simple and cute little presentation over really moist and flavorful rice.
When I do come back I might just have to get their large tuna sashimi bowl and just mooch off the bf's ramen.Listed in: Oodles of Noodles
-
Review from Shelly N.
1/19/2012 1 Check-in Here
Amazing ramen. DELICIOUS and hearty broth. The prices are very wallet friendly. I ordered the combination signature Daikokuya ramen with a side of tuna sashimi bowl. I think it was around $14? It definitely filled me up and I still had sooo much ramen left over! The ramen bowls are much bigger than your typical Pho bowl. The ramen includes a soft boil egg and fatty goodness slices of pork belly. The way the egg yolk oozes into my bowl and coats my noodles..O M G I'm drooling as we speak.
They give you such thick slices of tuna.
I will be back whenever I go back to L.A! -
Review from Jimmy D.
1/27/2012 1 Check-in Here
This is probably as good as it gets in So Cal.
I always get the Daikokuya Ramen, since thats what Daikokuya is known for. The bowls are huge too! If you're extra hungry, you could opt for a combination and get a rice bowl with it.
Noodles were cooked perfectly -- not too soft, not too hard. Al dente!
Broth was very rich in flavor and I can tell they don't use msg (very little if they do). I recommend going for the koterri for that extra rich/fatty taste.
Staff is always running all over the place so it can be hard to get a refill on water sometimes (minus a star). It's expected since this place is always so busy. They're quick to clean up when you're done though. They obviously want you outta there asap so that more customers can come in.
Only downside is that this place gets so crowded. I've been here multiple times and its usually an hour wait. Make sure to put enough time on the meter!
Only if San Diego had ramen this good... -
Review from Erich D.
Went on off-hours hoping that there wouldn't be a line. No such luck. We hungrily waited outside about forty minutes or so, growing slightly more impatient with every opening of the main entrance which wafted the aroma of the tonkatsu broth out onto the sidewalk while satisfied patrons exited discussing how much they enjoyed their meal.
Needless to say, when our number was called we sat down at the counter eager to order before sitting down and scooting our stools in. I ordered a combination consisting of a bowl of the Daikoku ramen and a small tuna sashimi bowl. The noodles were great, the broth was flavorful and rich with a light milky/creamy texture, the pork slices were very tender (wish I ordered extra) and the soft boiled egg was good though a tad bit overcooked. The only problem I had with this bowl of ramen was the amount of green onions and bean sprouts they put in it. It's almost overwhelming. The strong flavor of the mound of freshly cut green onion takes away from the flavor of the broth and the texture of the handful of uncooked bean sprouts gets in the way of enjoying the noodles.
Friendly service and appreciative business overall. I think everyone that worked there thanked us pretty much in unison as we left.Listed in: Top Ramen
-
Review from Coralie B.
Buffalo, NY
1/18/2012
I've been thinking a lot about ramen lately and I can't believe I've yet to give a shout out to the best - Daikokuya.
Morgan A. is right - the ramen is made in the biggest pot I've ever seen in my life. I feel like I'm in The Ramen Girl when I'm here. "Her romance is on pins and noodles." Yeah. Anyways...
You can get a huge bowl of Dikokuya Ramen + a small fried rice and a salad (love the salad) for $11.50. This is a steal!!!
You will probably wait a really long time for a table, but as long as you're prepared (and even if you aren't), its so worth it! It gave me a stomach ache once, and I don't even care! -
Review from Sean H.
Los Angeles, CA
1/25/2012
Good ramen. Not the best I've ever had. Not even the best in LA. But probably the best on the east side of LA.
I haven't really ventured out on the menu past the standard ramen and their respective combos. The ikura bowl is always a nice addition, but nearly doubles the price of your meal.
The broth is smooth and clean, but not over-the-top porky as some of the other places in town. The chashu pork, which I believe is belly here, is soft and unctuous. The noodles are ok- but after eating a bunch of ramen in Tokyo, they don't really compare to the hand crafted noodles you find over there.
If you're Downtown or in Silver Lake, Hollywood, etc, definitely hop over to Little Tokyo for some Daikokuya. If you live on the west side, however, and you have Santouka and more importantly Yamada-Ya nearby, you have no reason to venture all the way over here. -
Review from Melissa D.
Los Angeles, CA
1/30/2012
This place was delicious with huge portions. Portion size is a big deal for me.
The only things that keep it from receiving that last star is the long wait and the fact that none of the tables could seat all six of us so we had to split up our group throughout the restaurant. Kinda lame. -
Review from Triniti T.
Long Beach, CA
1/15/2012
So yummy in my tummy. Now if only my feet and my tummy can come to a compromise.
The wait here is long... too long sometimes. I once came here when it was 10:30AM and there was a wait outside already. And the restaurant doesn't even open until 11:00 AM. ::: sigh:::
This restaurant opens at 11AM and closes when the broth is out. I have to admit that the first time trying Daikokuya, I complained, "Why spend $8.50 on ramen when I can get an entire box of ramen at the asian supermarket for $10 bucks?" Boy was I wrong. The ramen here is phenomenal. Some suggestions would be to go easy on the green onions. They get a little too "green onion" happy there.
I usually get the combo which is daikokuya ramen + pork belly rice bowl for $11.95. DEE-LISH-SHUSH!!!! -
Review from Crystal N.
Irvine, CA
1/24/2012
I might be the ultimate Daikokuya creepy stalker, but really, I'm their ultimate #1 fan! I love Little Tokyo's Daikokuya so much that I even go out of my way to find their social media fanpages so that I can express my gratitude and my love for their ramen and fried rice.
My weekdays are consumed with work, but that has never stopped me from traveling 20 miles back to Downtown, LA to wait roughly about an hour to eat at Daikokuya at 11:00pm. I work minutes away from the joint located in Hacienda Heights, but no location compares to the one in Little Tokyo. Not even the one in Monterey Park. You'll just have to come here and experience it for yourself. If you don't feel what I feel for Little Tokyo's Daikokuya, then great. I don't want to share Daikokuya, my love, with anyone, anyway. :P
First timers, I highly recommend getting the combination. You'll be able to enjoy a big bowl of Daikokuya's ramen along with a small (but perfect sized) bowl of a savory rice dish. Go for the fried rice--seriously. Omg. ohhhh my....gosh! I want me a bowl rah now!!!!!!!! and the salad that comes with the combination orders--what is in that amazing dressing?! Writing about it makes me salivate. Hm, that was slightly embarrassing and non-lady-like to write but love makes you express crazy things!
Random thought, but I'd like to share this. Daikokuya is loved by so many, it even shows in their red cushioned (well, not-so-cushioned-anymore) vinyl seats. I visit quite frequently and every new visit to Daikokuya, I notice their seats just get more and more weathered. Maybe this is what I'm so drawn to. Your imperfections make you that much more perfect to me.
Anyway. Love seriously makes you write crazy and even non-sense and super cliche things.
Anyway, again.
I've eaten here in the early afternoons, dinner time and what I call, second-dinner time (aka when you accidentally eat too early at 6pm and have to eat again at 10pm!) . Girls always say they have a second stomach for dessert. Whatever, I have a second AND third stomach for Daikokuya given any time and any day! -
Review from Irene L.
Temple City, CA
1/19/2012
There are three things that I look for in the restaurants that i go to- service, cleanliness, and of course, food.
Service: the first time i went here, the cashier working at the time (not asian, woman) gave us so much attitude, so it gave me a bad impression off the bat. I've gone there again since that first time and the other cashiers are okay, but the first girl was just annoying and seemed to really hate her job, lol.
Cleanliness: its in a food court so the place is nice and clean. As for the actual eating area, its pretty clean too, nothing special.
Food: like almost everyone else, i got their ramen and i lovee the soup! Its not that hot though, but they heat it up for you if you ask them. Also i think i got their teriyaki chicken which wasn't dry or too salty.
Read more reviews for this business:
Dutch (1)
