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Hakata Ramen Shinsengumi
Category: Restaurants Japanese Japanese [Edit]
2015 W Redondo Beach BlvdGardena, CA 90247
(310) 329-1335
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 11:30 am - 2 pm
Mon-Fri 6 pm - 11:30 pm
Sat-Sun 11:30 am - 11:30 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:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
1096 reviews for Hakata Ramen Shinsengumi
Review Highlights
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"The fried rice was exceptional and highly recommended." In 195 reviews -
"Soft drink for the D-set, beer for the E-set." In 28 reviews -
"If I order Kaedama (extra noodles) I get them soft." In 94 reviews
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1096 reviews in English
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Review from Choy L.
Updated - 5/18/2012 4 Check-ins Here
Came here again for the nth time the other day..
Still the best!
16th yr Anniversary on June 23-24, $3 Ramen!!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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3/28/2012
What is the one thing I love more than Yaki Tori you ask?? RAMEN!! and my golly-gee-wow this place… Read more »
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Review from Chanel C.
5/25/2012
"YOU CAN HAVE WHATEVER YOU LIKKKKEEEE"
didn't Nelly write a song about that or something?
Well, at Shinsengumi you can have whatever you like! How cool is customizing your own ramen down to how firm you want your noodles?! -
Review from Richard T.
San Jose, CA
5/24/2012 1 Check-in Here
The kitchen is right in the dining area. You can watch as your bowl of perfect brooth, noodles, and extra pork are prepared.
The menu includes many different toppings.
I am not an expert on ramen, but this place sets the bar pretty high. -
Review from Angela T.
5/21/2012 1 Check-in Here
Ummm...I don't get the hype. I'm no ramen expert...but this place really left me saying, "meh" at the end of my meal.
Problems?
1) It's pricey. Each bowl starts at $6.95 and comes with 2 slices of pork. Want a normal portion--gonna cost you $2.
2) Totally inconsistent. The whole table orders ramen. My fiance gets a bowl that barely has enough broth to cover the noodles--half of what the rest of us has. We point this out to the waiter--who tells us that the chef was just heavy handed with the sauce for 3 of our bowls and that the fiance would have to pay for $1.50 to get more broth. Ugh--screw you! That would bring our bowl of ramen to just under $12. No thank you.
I give the bf some of my broth--considering it's far too salty to be consume much anyway.
Want good ramen? Go to Santouka Ramen in Mitsuwa. It's infinitely better and much more bang for your buck. -
Review from Samantha Q.
Winnetka, CA
5/12/2012
Really good Ramen joints have, in the past, always seem to have eluded me.
No Longer!
The ramen here is really exceptional. The flavor, ingredients and even the service has made me a loyal customer after my first visit. I don't think I can say enough good things.
The staff is very nice and attentive. They check on you enough times that you feel taken care off but not too many times that you are feeling rushed to eat. They go over all options they have on their menu for you and don't mind if you ask any questions.
The ramen is SO good. You pick the consistency you want for broth and noodles which they always supply in record time. The extra ingredients you can pick are also always delicious. I REALLY recommend both the dumplings and pork to be added to your meal... I'm salivating just thinking of it. It's not just the ramen though! Everything I have ordered from here is wonderful.
The one drawback to this place is that I always leave here sad because I can never finish eating all of the wonderful food they serve to you. The portions are too much for me. One day I can finish... I just have to believe.
I will be back many many times. I really will ^_^ -
Review from Er Lai W.
Los Angeles, CA
4/25/2012
Shinsengumi Hakata Ramen is one of my favorite examples of Japanese ramen in Southern California. Will you have to wait for it? Yes. Will it be worth the wait? Yes, if you like Fukuoka-style ramen and noodles.
The perfect order (for me) is the Hakata ramen with extra pork, a spicy chili bomb, 2 eggs, and spinach. Shinsengumi let's you customize your oil and soup for the ramen and I got strong, but recommend newbies start with medium and go up/down from there. -
Review from Kellen A.
Torrance, Los Angeles, CA
5/2/2012
THE RAMEN IS SO BOMB! Bloaaaaarrrggghhh!
But seriously, this is the best ramen place I have visited in the south bay... hands down. Love it! -
Review from Adelina W.
San Francisco, CA
Came to visit a friend and she took me here. The line wasn't very long that day. We had to put our order in while we were waiting to be seated. It totally make sense, get people in and out as efficiently as possible. I was told to go with the J set, which I did. I added dumplings and an egg to my ramen. The spicy charsiu bowl was good. It was well flavored and kind of reminded me of chinese salted fish rice. (Yes, I like salted fish. Don't judge me!) The ramen was equally as good. The broth was exceptional, smooth and milky.
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Review from Seth S.
Redondo Beach, CA
4/27/2012 1 Check-in Here
Wow -- best ramen place in the South Bay. Beats Asahi Ramen up on Sawtelle, if anything because they serve beer! But also the broth and the noodles are pretty special. Plus, the extras for the ramen are not to be missed -- especially the spicy miso, the pickles, and the ginger.
Fantastic place! -
Review from Tankobu T.
Torrance, CA
5/19/2012
Took some of my relatives from Hawaii to this place. We had to wait at least 10 - 15 minutes for a lunch on Saturday. But the anticipation made the ramen taste even better. My relatives said that the ramen was better than the ones that they have in Hawaii. We both got the extra servings of noodles afterwards. I like my noodles aldente' with firmness, and not overcooked. Both times they were firm and great tasting. The service was also very good....and the waiter and waitress were very attentive.
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Review from Sherry T.
Alhambra, CA
4/21/2012
Oh do I miss this place with the traditional Japanese welcoming that seems like they shout at you when you enter, pay your bill and leave. It's funny to watch people and their reaction to it. Yes, the lines are long but since it isn't one of those places where people camp out (any expatriate will tell you that you come for ramen after you've had alcohol, not before. if you want to drink, go to the Shinsengumi on Western and 190th), turnover is fairly quick. If you're on a tight schedule during lunch or have a large group, good luck trying to get out within an hour including the wait time. If they had an area like in Japan where people eat their ramens on a table standing up, it'd be cool. I digress. If you're a party of 2-3, you may have to share the large tables in the middle with others. I think the fish tank is awesome but they could probably add a few more tables if they removed it.
Their takana fried rice is delicious with bits of pickled greens. I tried to replicate this at home but it didn't come close as I'm pretty sure they use some of the tonkotsu as a base. The gyoza is just perfect, bite-sized and has the "okoge" which is burnt-to-the-right-crispness in J-speak. The term is used more for rice dishes me thinks.
Ohhh I can't even describe the ramen but here goes: NOT oily like some places, the aroma of miso and pork is pure sensory overload. The noodles are cooked to your preference and I always get mine medium since it'll soften up somewhat. Yes, it's pretty pricey for ramen but you have to pay for quality. Don't even get me started with newbies who think Top Ramen or Nissen is just as good. Uh, could you make it more obvious you're ignorant about ramen? All ramen are not created equal!
I think I tried their dainty desserts once. It was cute and cleaned off the palate with just the right amount of sweetness that makes you scream, "more, more, more!" -
Review from David L.
Anaheim, CA
5/24/2012 1 Check-in Here
If you feel like Ramen.. this is the place for it
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Review from Andrew M.
4/18/2012 1 Check-in Here
Hakata Ramen Shinsengumi's projects an aura of authenticity that supplements the amazing level of customizability available for each bowl of ramen to create a satisfying experience.
Through an organized chart designed to tailor to each customer's ramen preferences, Hakata provides a well-rounded bowl of ramen, with seasoned, appropriately-salted broth and a hearty amount of fillings.
Maybe my taste buds have been muddied by the supposedly inferior ramen in the Bay Area, or maybe Bay Area ramen is more than competitive after all. Whichever the case, Hakata's lighter, flimsier noodles taste fresh and bouncy, but are ultimately less than satisfying.
The waitstaff is on point, never leaving a glass empty for long, and consistently enthusiastic in greeting customers upon entering and leaving.
Willing to give Hakata another try! -
Review from Justin R.
4/16/2012 1 Check-in Here
I brought my parents in to try Shin Sen Gumi a few nights ago after I tried the Little Tokyo location a few weeks ago with my coworkers. The little tokyo location in my opinion is way better. The service at this location kind of made me upset. We sat down and others that sat down after us, got their orders taken and received their orders before us.
The food here is good they don't make their own noodles but the broth is well balanced because a lot places are too salty, too oily and so on. The service needs to be tighter and more organized. It's also a very small establishment and their fish tank, takes a big chunk of their space. I'd come again but only if I'm really craving ramen. I would rather just drive to the Little Tokyo location for the better service. I usually get the Hakata Ramen with wontons, seaweed, corn and egg. It's a good place for a date, as long as the other half enjoys ramen. -
Review from Alyssa V.
Torrance, Los Angeles, CA
5/16/2012 5 photos
Their ramen is THE BEST. Hands down. I've only been here a couple times so far, and I already love this place. I still need to try the fried rice though.
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Review from Valerie C.
San Jose, CA
5/16/2012
The first time we came here it was toward the end of the lunch rush and we sat for 30 min after ordering. I was about to reach the point of being annoyed when one of the staff came running in with grocery bags full of ingredients. That's how good this place is! They will sell out in the few hours they're open for lunch! The food was worth the wait. We came back again for dinner a few weeks later and I was pleased to see how quickly our food was prepared and served; within 10 min of ordering.
Just came back from another lunch visit and I'll be going back soon! -
Review from Julieann C.
Gardena, CA
5/5/2012
I have gone to a few ramen places and by far this is the best I have been to. The soup base alone is very rich in flavors. Their ramen noodles is BOMB Diggity! It's so good I went ghetto..hahaha! Reasonable prices too. Though it's a small place and you may have to end up sitting with other customers in one table, the food will make you not care about who you're sitting next to. Every time I've gone, I never had to wait long but every time I pass by the restaurant, there's always a line out the door. If you do not want to wait long, you may want to go there right before or after lunch time hits or right before dinner time hits. But if you decide to go and there's a bit of a wait, I say the food is worth waiting for. Also try their deep fried chicken bites (I forgot what it's called), it's goood!!
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Review from Jonathan K.
La Palma, CA
3/25/2012 3 photos
For some reason, it rained like crazy today when every other day of the month...it's sunny
So I ended up coming here with some church friends..... and I must say...
they did the job right.
lunch special from 11:30-2p.m.
It's a pretty good deal so try to come for it. You get the ramen plus a side (like fried rice, wontons, dumplings, white rice) for like ~7.50
the ramen.... is just PHENOMENAL
I JUST ate it... but as I write this, I want it again... no joke.
I'll add a picture and GUARANTEE you that when you see the picture, you are gonna be wanting it right now.
I give it four stars because one of the older workers was rude to me. and honestly... I'm REALLY polite in public.... but Iono if he was pms'ing or what...but he was rude.
Otherwise I'd give it a definite 5/5 for sure. -
Review from Ashley L.
My go-to place for late night ramen in the South Bay.
Simple and delicious. There can be a wait on busy nights but once you are seated the food comes out quickly. You can customize your noodle firmness, broth strength, amount of oil and toppings.
My usual:
http://www.yelp.com/bi...
Ramen (firm noodles, medium broth, medium oil) w/ chashu, egg, bamboo, seaweed -
Review from Dez M.
Fullerton, CA
4/2/2012
For some REALLY good ramen, I recommend this place. It's located in a little old strip mall in Gardena. If you're not familiar with the area, you just might pass it. This place is really run well. The service is fast and friendly. Since it's so small they like to turn tables as quick as possible. When you arrive you are greeted in Japanese (I have no idea what they're saying), but who cares... you're here to eat ramen. You have many options on how you want your ramen and with what condiments. I alway order the ramen and fried rice combo.
I would give this 5 stars but I have one small complaint. When they greet new people and yell out the orders to the ramen chef, they really do YELL! It's quite jolting when you're sitting there, enjoying the yummy warm bowl of ramen, when a server walks by behind you and yells out the order. It made me jump a couple of times because I wasn't ready for it. I wish they would tone it down a few notches. Other than that, I am a fan of Hakata ramen. -
Review from Shelly J.
4/5/2012
I second what fellow Yelper Lisa P. said.
Soup was just off. Weak broth? I can't really put my finger on it.
And I didn't like the noodle texture either. Not the typical Japanese ramen noodle I'm used to.
The wait's definitely not worth it =( -
Review from Vanessa D.
Lawndale, CA
5/13/2012
Hands-down best ramen EVER. Bomb fried-cheese appetizer and CHEAP pitchers of beer. A HUGE bowl of ramen is extremely inexpensive and I always have at least half left over to take home. If you go after 7, expect to wait at least 25 minutes because they're always packed. But its worth it!
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Review from Song C.
4/3/2012 1 Check-in Here
I like how you can customize your dish with what you want, however, please note that the more you add, the more it costs! Came with a group of coworkers AND I WON'T MENTION ANY NAMES, but didnt pay attention and left two of us stuck with the bill because they thought a bowl of noodle was only $7.95 - well they didnt know that the other stuff was extra.
Anyways, you can select if you want a thick, normal, or thin broth, oily or not oily, and hard, soft, or normal noodles.
I got normal broth with normal oil and normal noodles - the dish came out a bit too salty for my taste and for those that know me, I like a lot of flavor so for this to be salty, I'm sure the went a little overboard. Next time, I will order the light oil and light broth.
Overall, I liked this place and would come back! -
Review from A P.
Los Angeles, CA
5/7/2012 1 Check-in Here
The broth is absolutely amazing... like seriously delicious. The noodles were a lot thinner than what I'm used to in Little Tokyo, but still very good. Being able to customize your ramen was nice. Adding spinach was a definite bonus. However, I was a little disappointed that the regular ramen does not come with hardboiled egg. Still, definitely worth the trip!
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Review from Bradley P.
Malibu, CA
5/8/2012
I've always enjoyed going to the one in Fountain Valley so I thought it would be a good idea to give this one a shot. It's tucked away in a small strip mall with funky Japanese music blasting near the front door.
When I walked in, I was hit with a steamy, musty smell. High humidity in the air you're going to need a shower after you eat here. Looking at their cooking setup, it's easy to see why. An insufficient hood system with even more insufficient makeup air, they should invest in a new hood system.
I tried first to order the chicken karaage but to my surprise I was told no fried foods until 6 PM. Probably because of this hood issue they have, I don't know if they have to cook it outside or what. But extremely disappointing that I couldn't order that item. So I opted for 1 ramen and one half size ramen for my buddy with a few fixins such as bamboo, corn and spicy miso. That's it.
Noodles were nothing to write home about, it's good but not great. So often the case with these highly rated and highly popular places it's food that appeals to the masses but not to the connoisseur, I accept that. You might not get a bad meal here so that's a good thing.
However, why I should give them 1 star instead of 2 is the way they handled my bill. The two noodle bowls and 2 sodas came out somehow to $31, a bit expensive considering you can do better at more authentic places with better food. But the big insult was that they didn't bring me back any change. Honestly I wanted to tip the guy $5 which would have been more than fair considering he did almost nothing, but to have the notion that you would deserve $9 for doing nothing is incredulous. I waited and watched to see what they did with the other checks and other tables were getting their change. I didn't want to sound cheap over $4 of extra tip so I just decided to walk out and as they do that Japanese shouting when someone leaves I just think to myself STFU you greedy bastards... This place won't be earning my business again, not even the Fountain Valley location and trust me I go there often... -
Review from Annie K.
3/18/2012 1 Check-in Here
Of course, I didn't know about this place and didn't have plans to go Hakata Ramen Shinsengumi since we were more out in Orange, California. We were going to have Chipotle for lunch when I decided I felt like eating ramen. Of course, my sister's boyfriend recommended Hakata Ramen Shinsengumi.
Hakata Ramen Shinsengumi had one of the best ramen I've had so far. Their broth is creamy and flavorful. The noodle is straight noodles like somen. The best part about Shinsengumi is that you get to choose your noodle firmness, taste of broth, garnishes to add and whether you want all the basic garnish like green onions, sesame, and ginger. Now just remember what you ordered because all the server is going to say, order #1. Make sure you know what your order number is on the order form.Listed in: Asian Good Eats, *Slurp*......Noodles.
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Review from Craig R.
2/28/2012
My yelp buddy Keila's review inspired me to try this place. Last week my assistant and I went to Hakata Ramen for lunch. Their specialty is Tonkatsu Ramen. The noodles are thinner than your typical ramen. You can order the noodles either soft, medium, or firm; and order the broth according to your oil and flavor preferences. The noodles are awesome, and the broth is one of the best I've ever had!
This place is legit and lives up to the hype. -
Review from A.R. G.
Brooklyn, NY
4/8/2012
I don't even know why i'm writing a review for this place since i'm just re-affirming what most others have said. but this place is so good that when i come in from out of town, i try to come here right after i pick up my rental.
great you can be so specific about what you want - i love my noodles hard personally, & boy do i get that here!
i especially recommend the spicy miso paste. -
Review from Susan Y.
Sherman Oaks, CA
3/22/2012 1 Check-in Here
If it were up to me, I'd go to Shinsengumi in Monterey Park, off of Valley. But seeing that I live in the SF Valley and my dear man currently lives in south OC, this is the halfway point we pick to satisfy our "hakata ramen with spicy miso" cravings in the middle of the week. They have pretty much the same menu as the Shinsengumi in Monterey Park, but it's just a tad bit lower on the tasty scale. That's what the 3 stars are for. More accurately, I'd give it a 3.5 stars for the ramen at this place, but that's not an option so I rounded down to 3.
There is also a bit of a wait here, most likely because the place is so tiny. I'd say to avoid going in large groups because it's a lot harder to get a seat.
If you want some BOMB ramen, I still say head to Shinsengumi Monterey Park, because you'll probably agree it was worth the drive. However if you're looking for something more on the west side, this place will do an adequate job satiating your Shinsengumi craving. -
Review from Carmen H.
2/27/2012
I have driven past this place for yeeeeears. I always wondered about this place - there is always a line of people outside, waiting.
I finally went yesterday and had the ramen.
It was an experience - from how well organized they are getting people in as quickly as possible and getting the food to you once you order it. I sat at the counter and was able to watch them make the meals.
I enjoyed my ramen and the subtle flavor of pork. I also had the fried rice balls....
I enjoyed them. They were good....chicken flavor was precise and not over or under powering. -
Review from Keila N.
My boyfriend and I stopped by here on a Sunday afternoon. There were 3-4 parties ahead of us. The wait was perhaps 10-15 minutes.
You have the option of choosing thin or thick noodles; and mild, medium or strong flavor. We ordered the strong thick noodles. It was rich, creamy and boldly flavorful.
The beef bowl had tender thin sliced beef that was perfectly balanced.
I like the ambiance here. It makes me feel at home.Listed in: Ramen
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Review from Muriel A.
2/12/2012
I had been wanting to try this place forever, so my fiance and I came in for an early dinner. This way we avoided the wait and were seated immediately.
I had the Hakata Ramen with extra pork, spicy miso, eggs and the strong broth base. DELICIOUS. The soup had so much flavor and the pork was melt -in- your- mouth tender! We also had the gyoza, which is probably the tastiest I have ever had in my life. The service was really attentive without being overbearing. I will say the add ins for the ramen do add up quickly, but still it felt totally worth it. So good!
I was sure this place could live up to all the hype but it totally did! Will definitely be back! -
Review from David K.
Long Beach, CA
4/29/2012 1 Check-in Here
It's my bff Katy's favorite joint to go too, the one in Huntington Beach that is... So I decided to take her to another location... She said she likes it so I am happy.
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Review from Jenny C.
Cerritos, CA
2/22/2012
My boyfriend LOVES ramen so we get it quite often. And since he works in Torrance, he gets to try a lot of ramen places. This is one of the most popular and famous ones around the area and I can see why.
When you sit down, you are greeted with a write in menu where you get to select your soup base, how cooked your noodles are, what you want to add in such as eggs, chasu, corn, etc. You hand this to your server making ordering very simple and fast. It also gives you more options that aren't typically available such as the soup oil base.
The ramen itself is very delicious and both the broth and noodles are fantastic. It seems healthier than Santouku but maybe thats because I always get it with little soup oil as possible. I've also tried their fried rice and wasn't as big of a fan as other places.
I would recommend this place for ramen in Torrance but not over Daikokuya in LA. -
Review from mimi p.
Loved this place!!! It hit the spot on a gloomy Saturday morning, trying to fight out the hangover from Friday night. We arrived around noon and the wait was bad..only 10 min to seat 2 at the counter..we both got the combos, 1 with the gyoza and another w the fried rice...and we choose the spicy broth with reg noodles... It was soo delicious!!! The broth was so flavorful and the noodles were fresh.. What I also liked about this place was that after I was done eating, I didn't see the broth curding up from all the fat or spicy paste... it was still clear and and looked delicious!! I will definitely be coming back, this place is worth the wait.. we couldn't even finish our sides because we wanted to enjoy our noodles...
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Review from AJ W.
Gardena, CA
4/27/2012
Its small, but It's awesome. I love noodles and rice...and food for that matter, but I hunt for the best rice and noodles around town and this is it. Since I've been pregnant, I've had my husband standing outside in line waiting with me at like 10pm waiting to sit down for a yummy c set. Hakata Ramen, normal oil, normal noodles, heavy base and a side of rice! Yummay!!! My hubby doesnt do noodles, but he likes the Yaki Ramen!
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Review from W Q.
Honolulu, HI
2/10/2012
Amazing ramen experience! Delicious!
This place gets packed, so expect to wait, but well worth it.
Get the combo for dinner, Hakata Ramen+Gyoza+Fried Rice+one side of your choice+one drink for under $20 I like extra pork so I ordered that as extra along with bean sprouts.
The best part is the dessert, the most unique ice cream i've had anywhere, it's the black sesame ice cream - WOW! Very very good!! Highly recommended!
I will definitely crave this place! -
Review from Sara C.
New York, NY
1/27/2012 2 Check-ins Here
THE STEPS:
1.) Write your name in asap. And pls count your own head as well when you're giving them the number of people for a table.
Long story short...
Waiter: "(Customer Name)!! table of 3?"
Customer: Yes! we are here!
Waiter: ....~ing!? You are a group of 4....
Customer: Yes, me PLUS my family of 3. So 3!
Waiter: ..............(awkward pause)
Customer: *confused look*
Waiter: ...you are 4..... please wait a little bit more....
2.) Grab an ordering menu sheet and pencil and check off your Ramen before entering.
.......
Man... I remember the days when I always choked on noodles and swore to myself that I would never eat noodles for the rest of my life.......
(15 yrs after)
I stuck with firm noodles, mild soup base, and bean sprouts. I knew I couldn't go wrong with that. And yes I was correct. The simple less materialistic Ramen was amazingly salivating.
PLEASE NOTE: Just be prepared for an unnecessary long wait. They like to create a long line out the door to show how popular their place is. It's irritating every time I go to see empty seats and the waiters practically crawling to you because they don't give a crap that you're out in the rain. Blah blah etc... can't complain.
I mean... it's business. I guess. -
Review from Jeah T.
Harbor City, CA
3/13/2012 2 Check-ins Here
My husband and I have been to so many ramen places but we keep coming back to Hakata Ramen. We still have yet to find a ramen place that could beat this place.
I absolutely love the taste of their soup base! For lunch, I usually order the S-set. For dinner, there's really only two sets so it really just depends if I feel like drinking beer or soda. That's the only difference between the two, I think. For the side order though, I LOOOOVE the gomaae (not sure if I spelled it right but whatevers).
Price is not bad at all. The only thing I don't like about this place is the long wait. If you wanna get seated right away, come early. If you come around 7pm or later, you are bound to wait in line for an hour or two with a growling stomach! So if you're really craving for Hakata Ramen but you don't like to wait in line, you can go to the Marukai market down the street on Redondo Beach Blvd / Western. It tastes the same. The only difference that I noticed is the thickness of the chashu pork. -
Review from Ron S.
Fontana, CA
2/6/2012
This place is a good solid Ramen house.
The broth is beautifully made with thickness only found in low and slow cooking.
They have a great menu check list that allows you to add your toppings, determine how hard you like your noodles, how strong your broth would be, and how oily.
they offer straight flour noodles which are good, although i prefer curly egg noodles. So to each their own.
They have un unrivaled black sesame ice-cream, which i would make the drive here to acquire. I'm sure its bought in bulk and found in some asian grocery, but i'm still in search of it. Which deserves a star of its' own.
the ambiance is set mainly by the friendly helpful staff, that greet you often.
* It's best to come in smaller groups, to assure your soup comes to you piping hot.
* the spicy miso is great to use to add another level of flavor, and you can adjust the heat by how much you add yourself.
