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Orochon Ramen
Category: Restaurants Japanese Japanese [Edit]
123 S Onizuka StLos Angeles, CA 90012
Neighborhoods: Downtown, Little Tokyo
(213) 617-1766
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 11 am - 10:30 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Garage, Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
About This Business:
Sushi - Sashimi - Maki - Robata Yaki
1753 reviews for Orochon Ramen
Review Highlights
"and the cha-shu pork was soooo yummy and tender."
(in 48 reviews)
"Lots of people just love to take the Man Vs."
(in 257 reviews)
"I think I love you more Shhhhh don't tell the Miso."
(in 677 reviews)
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1752 reviews in English
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Review from Lola R.
Montebello, CA
1/29/2012
Had the spicy Ramen miso level 2...
Excellent Ramen very tasty and a big portion. Great place to go with friends. Great service. If you do not like spicy food then they have different levels of spiciness to choose from. You pay for extra toppings... try it with garlic... -
Review from Nerisa L.
Northridge, CA
2/7/2012 1 Check-in Here
I'm not sure what was all the hype about. It's a quaint lil place that serves ramen. I ordered the miso #3 and it packed a lil heat but I knew I should have gone with more heat. There wasn't enough meat in the bowl but the bowl had enough of everything else.
I don't think I'll be coming back anytime soon unless I'm in the area and I'm craving ramen -
Review from Kevin C.
Anaheim, CA
2/4/2012 1 Check-in Here
Went to Orochon Ramen last night (Friday) after 10 pm. Even though it was later at night, the restaurant was crazy busy, and we waited for only about 10 minutes before we were seated.
This was the first time I ate here. They gave us menus that included instructions on how to properly order. When you order, you first tell them which broth you want - either miso, soy, or salt. Next, you tell them how spicy you want your ramen. I chose the level 5, which is just barely spicy. Finally, you tell them what "extras" you want with your ramen. I ordered extra ramen, but, because the server forgot to bring it to me, and I was too full to want to eat the extra ramen anyway, I cancelled the extra ramen order. All ramen orders come with minor cuts of pork and an assortment of vegetables, such as onions, mushrooms, bean sprouts, bell pepper, and bamboo shoots. Anything else you want to order will cost you extra, although I personally think that the "base" order was plenty enough.
Service was quick and efficient ... in the beginning. After the second time someone on the wait staff came by to ask us how our meal was, all interaction stopped until the check was requested. Btw, this is a "cash only" place, so don't bring your debit or credit cards here.
The food was okay. The miso broth was on the salty side, and I prefer noodles that are a little thinner, instead of the thicker ramen noodles that we were served. Depending on if and how many "extras" you order, your restaurant bill can end up being pretty expensive, considering that it's a ramen house.
Parking is available in the parking structure on the sub-street level. If you don't stay too long in the restaurant or go shopping afterward, parking validation from the restaurant should cover your parking costs. -
Review from Jane K.
Los Angeles, CA
2/8/2012 1 Check-in Here
EH
The cha-shu was way too dry and the broth was nothing special sorry Orochon, you don't live up to your hype. -
Review from Evan Y.
Los Angeles, CA
2/8/2012
Verdict: GO!
delicious noodles. did the special #2 not for the challenge but flavor! -
Review from Rachael K.
Los Angeles, CA
1/27/2012 2 photos
Occasion: Dinner reunion with high school friends, Christina and Julianne!
What I Had: Ramen with the miso soup base, Level 4 Spicy, egg, and bean sprouts
Food Review: Daikokuya trumps Orochon. The noodles at Orochon were good, but I think the soup base, even the miso soup base which is supposed to be the thickest of the soups, wasn't as much so as I would have liked it. I will give Orochon credit for the large portion sizes at a very good price, but I'd prefer a marginally smaller bowl of Daikoku Ramen over Orochon's at $8.50. With miso base at $7.45 and extras ranging from $0.99-2.00, Orochon's ramen ends up costing about the same.
Service Review: Service was not so great. Luckily we got in a little before the dinner rush, so we didn't have to wait to be seated. They didn't check on us at all though, except to give us the bill, and we had to ask them to refill our waters.
Venue Review: Orochon has indoor and outdoor seating, but I don't remember seeing heaters outside (or maybe they weren't very big?) so opting with indoor during the winter is advisable. They have more than 10 smalls tables for 2 indoors that can be combined. Parking in the lot across the street is $5, so not unreasonable for Downtown LA.
Overall Impression: I'd say 2.5 stars because it's decent ramen for a good price, but now that I've finally tried this place, why go here if you can go to Daikokuya and get better ramen for about the same price? -
Review from Hannah A.
1/24/2012 1 Check-in Here
God dang it.
I used to love you, but now I can't.
You did me wrong. Service was terrible.
Why did you have to go and do that now, huh?
The best bowl of ramen I've ever had but make sure whoever takes your order actually cares enough to provide what you want. Otherwise you'll sit there with a bowl of what you don't want and you will be embarrassed that you invited a friend along for the ride. -
Review from Mary L.
San Gabriel, CA
1/22/2012 1 Check-in Here
It was packed... I wonder which dish people come here for? If you're like me, who was curious about the hotness of their specials, and decided to try it, then I understand. But I didn't take on the actual HALL OF FAME challenge because the bowl was way too huge and I'm too skinny to handle all of it.
There are three broths: Miso, soy sauce, and salt
I ordered the soy sauce flavor (level hyper). ***The customer next to us opened her eyes wide when she heard "hyper." It tasted like soy sauce with lots of hot pepper, that's all; it seemed like something that even I could make at home. It took 20 minutes for my order to come out; my friend's came out right away and she waited for me. At least bring them out together O_O Was I able to handle level "hyper"? Yes, but I didn't finish all my soup and normally I would regardless of how hot/ spicy it is because I am a soup person. I wonder if their MEGA MEGA MEGA hot one is just with extra extra extra pepper?
One star for serving us ice water right away... cus you know, two stars= one star and one star on yelp is pretty equivalent to zero. How do I know??? I frequently read one star reviews saying "I would give this place 0 stars if I could." -
Review from Joni S.
Camarillo, CA
1/21/2012
Pros: Best ramen anywhere! Funny to watch people do the Special #2. Large portions without cutting into your wallet.
Cons: Parking is hard to come by.
Tip: They validate. -
Review from Kressler N.
Orange County, CA
Fulfilling a Man vs. Food craving at Orochon Ramen. =)
First off, we had no intention of completing the challenge here - we just wanted to try the ramen to see if we would like it. I love spicy but the bf can't handle a lot of it so Orochon is a good choice for us since there are different spice levels to fit both of us. We came on a weekday at lunch - it was crowded but we did not have to wait for a table because there was only two of us and for most who were still waiting, they had three or more in their party.
We sat at a counter & looked over the menu. You can choose shio, shoyu or miso ramen...the spice level you want...and any additional toppings. The bf chose miso ramen at level four with extra green onion, meat & noodles. I chose the shoyu ramen at level one with extra meat. The standard bowl already comes with some pork, bean sprouts, bamboo shoots and green onion.
Orochon is definitely different from other ramen places because of the spice level. The higher the number, the less spicy it is. Level seven is not spicy at all while level one is extremely spicy...then, of course, there's the special #1 and special #2 spicy which I would dare not eat after my experience with regular level one.
The bf got his ramen first. I liked the flavor of the miso broth but he felt he made a mistake ordering extra noodles since it was a lot to start with. He and I ended up splitting the extra noodles between us. His level four is what I would consider a medium level leaning towards spicy...he was definitely building up a sweat & had trouble eating the soup but I thought it wasn't so bad.
My level one shoyu ramen was definitely spicier than I anticipated - there's something crazy about that spice mix they use because usually when you order "spicy" with Japanese food, it ends up not being that spicy. Don't make that mistake with Orochon - it was definitely hotter than I thought it would be and the longer it sat, the more spicy it got! I was able to finish the noodles, meat & veggies but could not finish the broth. My arms were litterally starting to shake a little & my eyes were twitching a bit. I did not sweat or cry but I think my body shaking is enough of an indicator for me to stop. I used the bf's level four miso broth to cool my tongue down, haha. =)
If we were to go again, I might get the miso broth instead of shoyu (I think it makes the spiciness more palatable) and I would go at regular level two. I think the bf would go down to level five next time & we'd both add the egg and chashu pork next time. We don't really go to LA often but if we were in Little Tokyo I would not be opposed to another round at Orochon. =) -
Review from Katherine O.
Los Angeles, CA
1/28/2012 1 Check-in Here
Came to Orochon for the first time with my coworkers. I didn't realize it was the spicy ramen house I saw on Man vs Food so I was excited to try it as soon as I found out. I'm not much of a spicy food person so I might not be the best person to rate this place however, my friends seem to like it! I think I ordered the Orochon 5 which isn't spicy at all. I found it a little ridiculous that you have to pay for toppings and extras especially the egg. Anyways, the soup was okay, not as much flavor as I prefer and actually a bit too salty for my taste. The noodles aren't my favorite either but still edible. All in all my experience was decent and I would come back to take my bf here to try the spicier ramens they have to offer.
The service was good but the parking can be a hassle during peak hours. -
Review from Brittany B.
Los Angeles, CA
1/9/2012 1 Check-in Here
This is definitely NOT my favorite ramen. I think the other reviews are correct - people go here because The Man told them to. Well I no longer trust The Man.
I ordered the miso broth with the #4 medium spicy level and it was OK but I felt pretty disgusting after I finished eating it. The ingredients did not seem like they were of good quality. Service felt quite impersonal and I guess there is always a wait for this mediocre ramen.
Bottom line, with all the great ramen options in LA, go elsewhere. Do not waste your time or money here.Listed in: lunch time in LA!, cheap eats!, Downtown
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Review from Stephan Y.
Irvine, CA
1/9/2012 1 Check-in Here
Came back here for the ramen...
my first experience here was horrible...ONLY because I did the special #2 challenge! Heres a lil tip to all those WHO WANT TO ATTEMPT or ARE THINKING OF ATTEMPTING THE CHALLENGE...put ice cubes into the broth to cool it down. Its not that spicy...but when the spices are combined with hot boiling temperature soup...its a killer combo!
Anywho...came back here again...got something a little less spicier this time around :)
First of all...the portions are HUGE!! Out of all my ramen experiences...not only does this place gives the BIGGEST PORTIONS...but this place is also one of the CHEAPEST ramen places out there! SO MUCH BANG FOR YOUR BUCK!
Secondly...you also get these little vegetable add ons...most places dont really give you anything on top...and most places will give you very little...this place has a GENEROUS PORTION : )
Thirdly...the broths are amazing! You have an option of SALT, MISO, or SOY SAUCE...I have both the salt and miso before...now Im just waiting for my next adventure to try the SOY SAUCE!
THE ONLY POSSIBLE NEGATIVE THING I CAN THINK ABOUT THIS PLACE ARE:
-the parking can be hard sometimes...especially those who drive LOW CARS...be prepared for scrapes on your underbody when parking in the parking structure
-the restaurant is small...so be ready to wait sometimes....especially during the busy dinner hours!
VERY WELL RECOMMENDED! WILL DEF. COME BACK AGAIN!
UNTIL THEN!! ^-^ -
Review from Vincent K.
San Francisco, CA
1/18/2012 1 Check-in Here
I love the runny boiled egg. I think all ramen places should use that and do away with the damn hard boiled one.
Orochon was a last minute lunchtime decision that came about when almost every other ramen joint in the area closed during New Years Day.
And don't ask me why we decided to have hot spicy ramen on a 85 degree day. At least we were sitting outside and my wisdom opted us to get 2 pitchers of ice cold beer to quench our thirsts and alleviate our rising temperatures.
I went with the the level 3. A wise choice. But I added extra toppings like green onion, corn, etc. An UNWIse choice. Why? Because they already give you a sufficient amount. DOh!
When the bowl arrived almost topped with a forest of green onion and stalk of corn, I already knew I was in for a duel. Unknowingly, the level 3 which sounded like such a doable spice level, proved to be a tad bit spicier than expected. And in the blazing heat, this was rather uncomfortable. I'm sure a drip of sweat of mine sinked in to complete the circle of life for me. But aside from that, the noodles were ok, a bit on the chewier side. I went with a salt based broth which I find leaner and less saturated like miso. Maybe its the extra toppings and perhaps the spice, but there is just too much going on in that soup. It's hard to appreciate the ramen and its broth flavor with that much going on.
Overall I had a good experience with the outdoor setting, a nice frosty beer, and a big bowl of food in front of me, but the ramen definitely was not the star of it all.....it might have just been the pitcher of beer. -
Review from Sherry A.
Los Angeles, CA
1/19/2012 1 Check-in Here
yum =)
HUGE portions, great Service.
Note: i love spicy .. but i had the Level 3 once and i was dieing. just FYI. -
Review from Diana L.
1/29/2012
There's nothing WRONG with it... it's just uber overrated. Long ass wait at all hours for "aight" ramen. Broth ain't nothin special, which is sad, because I've had ramen in Japenese markets that have had broth with more depth. Yes, it's spicy. But that's about it.
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Review from Lexie V.
Los Angeles, CA
1/8/2012 1 Check-in Here
Meh. Not impressed.
I am currently on a quest to try all of the best ramen places in LA. I went to Orochon back in October and honestly forgot about it until now. That is not a good thing.
Everything was mediocre but the prices were above average. -
Review from Belle N.
Anaheim, CA
4/2/2011
Ok so our 2nd time there and decided to go for the special 2 challenge to support the Japan Relief as all proceeds will go to them! I didn't even make it...not even close..LOL but it was pretty entertaining to try...it was just retarded how they dump in extra fillers that end up not letting you enjoy the meal even if it was timed and super spicy!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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7/16/2010
6/19/10 - Saturday evening and we were .2 miles from Orochan so we finally decided to check it out!… Read more »
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Review from Nobody M.
Los Angeles, CA
1/29/2012
I really hate soup and this place didn't change my mind. But the Special 2 kept my taste buds awake enough to fill myself.
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Review from G M.
Los Angeles, CA
1/16/2012
I love spicy tasty food, so this is place for folks like me.
I also believe food is for pleasure, not pain, so I will tell you now the highest I will go is the level FOUR. Which to me, nearing the end of the bowl, is on the edge of too much. I'm happy with the THREE
I like adding the PORK, CORN, maybe extra noodles. -
Review from N h.
West Hills, CA
1/16/2012
This place was absolute crap. Got dragged here by a friend who saw it on Man vs. Food.
I ordered the miso ramen with corn, egg, and green onion. The corn made the broth SOOO luke warm.
The server was so unhelpful. I asked him how spicy 3 was and he said OMG SO HOT, DON'T GET IT.
Me, I love spicy. I get the spiciest at indian restaurants... just saying. I told him, too. He still told me be warned with number 3.
NUMBER 3?!?!? SERIOUSLY. IT WAS CRAP. NOT SPICY AT ALL.
So disappointed, I told them to make it a number 1. STILL, yeah, a little kick, but NOT SPICY.
I wonder how hot special 2 is, or even special 1? But this place is a joke.
Food so unremarkable. I got so sick of mine after eating a quarter and just dumped the rest.
Sorry, not impressed. -
Review from MICHAEL K.
Gainesville, VA
2/3/2012
Went there with a buddy in December 2011, one of the best ramen places. Got the extra noodles and medium spicy. Do not need extra needed, they give you enough.
I was very full and satisfied and I am a big eater. -
Review from Holly N.
Austin, TX
1/8/2012
Came on Sunday night and there was a wait. Didn't wait long to get seated though. The miso ramen comes with bamboo shoots, bean sprouts, green onions, mushrooms, green bell pepper and pork. I ordered an extra egg. I got level 6 but I should've gotten level 5 because it wasn't spicy at all and kind of plain, so I added the chili oil thing and soy sauce that were on the table. The bowl was so huge I couldn't finish it. Eh, I thought it was okay.
The couple sitting next to me got level 2 and the guy was sweating and looked like he was crying/dying. The girl was really red but didn't seem like she was struggling as much. Poor guy. Both of them drank a lot of water and kept blowing their noses hahaha.
The service was good! It came out fast and everyone was really nice. There's an atm in the corner which is a bit deceiving because they do take card -
Review from Mike C.
Northridge, CA
1/20/2012
So I went to Orochon Ramen for the Special #2 Contest...
....
.....
.......
WTF WAS THAT ALL ABOUT!???
Shit had barely any noodles + SALTY ASS SOUP + PARADE OF JALAPENOS!
I did finish it around the 29minute mark.
basically took spoonfuls of jalapenos BLEHHH ~ !
Got my picture on the wall but my stomach paid the price.
Couldn't even walk after the contest.
I guess for all the spicy food fanatics, you should give it a try but I definitely wouldn't eat that soup ever again. Next time, I'll order like a regular person =) -
Review from Douglas B.
Colton, CA
1/15/2012
Another long overdue review.
Let's get the main question answered and out of the way: Yes, the wife and I decided to track this place down after watching Adam Richman tackle the Special Challenge #2 on an episode of Man vs. Food.
Let's get one thing straight: I love this place but I've had better/more authentic ramen. The nice thing about this place is the different levels of spicy that are made available to you. This is the main reason why my wife loves this place. Not only does she enjoy the flavor, she enjoys the heat!
The size of your ramen bowl is huge. You get plenty for your money and you have plenty of options to add on. IE: Butter, Green onions, Chashu, Egg.
We usually like order a side of gyoza and if we're feeling really hungry, a side of some spicy fried rice.
The place is popular and is usually busy. On several occasions we've had to wait but never horribly long.
Good value, great food. This is our 'go-to' Ramen locale. -
Review from Nina M.
Los Angeles, CA
1/22/2012
What was ordered:
-2 bowls of Miso soup ramen, #3 and #4 spiciness
Pros:
-Sat outside on a clear night with fire and it was pretty
-Good location, Little Tokyo
-Huge ass bowl, with huge ass portions (can split one bowl between 2 adults)
Cons:
-Salty as heck soup, made us all take huge gulps of water
-I didn't like the ramen noodles or the taste of the broth
-Meat was very chewy..........
-parking annoying
It's just me, but I don't like the Ramen they serve here (different style I suppose). Soup was bad and they used a different type of noodles that just doesn't taste good in ramen. I prefer the yakibuta japanese ramen -- now that has the good stuff in it.
Guess you should come here for the show... but in my opinion it's not worth it and there are other places in Little Tokyo to check out before you head on over here! -
Review from Jessie L.
Pico Rivera, CA
1/21/2012 1 Check-in Here
I love this place in fact as I write this review I'm heading out the door to go eat there now. I decided to try it after I saw it on man vs. food and realized it was so close to me.
Their service is fast and their portions are HUGE.
I usually order an extra order of beef in the bowl cause it always seems like it needs more. You get to choose your base miso, soy, or ....I think the other maybe salt I can't remember I always go with the miso. Then you get to chose your level of Heat and I do mean Heat cause it can get out of control (special #2) I usually got with a 4 or 5 I like it kinda hot.
If you are in the market for dessert their is a Pink Berry right around the corner -
Review from Shi Y.
Torrance, CA
1/17/2012
Oh Orochon... You keep me return to you so many times.
I love spicy food so I've tried their special#2, sp#1, regular #1 and 2 all miso based. I do not add anything extra to my ramen, but I do order the fried rice as an appetizer to share with my friends since the noodles don't completely fill me up. (i'm not a fatty..).
I usually never liked japanese ramen but this place got me well. The service is pretty friendly! Try to avoid weekend dinner nights since it will be packed! -
Review from Aaron M.
12/20/2011
The dreaded SPECIAL 2 CHALLENGE! If Adam Richmond could do it, then I definitely have some confidence. HAHA.
The past two times I've come down here though, I've driven. So I didn't want to feel terrible on the way home. I guess its not that much of a step up from the Extreme or the Hyper. I gotta get my face on that wall, I hope they can take two pictures cus I wanna be able to take a souvenir home!
My buddy Jon conquered the challenge. He said the food was good but at the end he felt like death. AHAHA. So beware, enjoy the food but don't enjoy the afterparty.
On a flavor note. Everything about their ramen is great! They have lots of stuff to add to your liking. The noodles aren't soggy, the meat is tender. Having an egg, some bamboo and some corn in it adds that extra flavor. All you gotta do is pick a broth. They have miso, soy sauce or salt. I usually pick a different one each time depending on my mood. They're all good though.
Its a tiny place but they have some outdoor seating too! And you can just browse Marukai Market downstairs if its a long wait time. Just make sure you have a friend waiting so you're not skipped!
Adam Richmond, I will join you on that wall!Listed in: Origato!, CHALLENGE ME!
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Review from Tom P.
1/5/2012 1 photo
Meh, the little bro was right (for once). The ramen here is overrated. The only thing neat here is the spicy challenge. Luckily for us, that's exactly what I came to do. With our 'YOLO' battle cry, we called for two orders of the Special 2 challenge, one for myself and one for Anthony G.
We came, we saw, we ... conquered? Okay not really. But it wasn't so much us succumbing to the spiciness, we just couldn't finish in the half hour time limit.
But other than the novelty of Orochon's famed Special 2 challenge, the ramen here is rather bland. I barely had any meat in mine and the broth was just ordinary. Heed my little brother's advice: there are better ramen places out there (Exhibit A: Katana-Ya in SF). -
Review from Marielena S.
Los Angeles, CA
1/18/2012
4 stars for the food!
I love the ramen noodles here. I get the number 7, miso.
The noodles are great but there are just too many damn vegetables in my large bowl of soup. I love vegetables, just not that many all at once. And I prefer my vegetables raw, not wet. I hate it. Asking for extra noodles just fills up the bowl even more and it becomes a mess.
I also hate how small the place is. It's stuffy (and no one knows how to cover their coughs or sneezes nowadays), LOUD, and the wooden tables smell wet. The wait is also a bit long depending on how many people are already there. And A LOT of people are always there before you.
Good food, bad place. -
Review from Adnil P.
Stockton, CA
1/13/2012
The best ramen noodles I have ever ever had!!!! I had spicy level 3 next time I will def get level 2. Wish we could order different types of meat but pork is good.
Make sure you arrive early to sign in because lines are LONG!
This place is definitely one of my top priorities when visiting socal again. :) -
Review from Marco A.
Rosemead, CA
12/22/2011 5 Check-ins Here
Oh Orochon....you are so dear to my heart. When I was a stranger to the wonders of Los Angeles, you were the first of many places to which I became a regular. Don't let my "check-in" record fool you cause I've only been yelping a few months. Please believe I've been here over 20 times. Is the 5-stars for sentimental reasons? Maybe, I won't lie. I've come and gone to other ramen places but I return to you at the end of the day.
There's three broths to choose but there's really only one you should be getting: Miso. The soy and salt are alright but nothing beats miso. My friend RJM swears by soy. Different strokes for different folks, I guess. Maybe I'm crazy, but I'm pretty sure different broths come with different noodles. The last time I went I got soy and the noodles seemed to be significantly thinner than the ones I get with miso. Maybe a noodle connoisseur can verify this if it hasn't been already.
Call it gimmicky or unauthentic but I like that you can choose your spice level. I like my food spicy, so I go with a #3. I forget what the name for that level is but, for me, it's the perfect blend of heat and flavor. Be warned that I like my ramen to make me start sweating like a terrorist being interrogated by Jack Bauer. Not a pretty sight but I wouldn't have it any other way. For the faint of heart in the spice department, play it safe and ask your waiter/waitress for a recommendation.
Toppings are a plenty but costly. The pork slices are delicious and a must. Typically I get 1 pork slice and extra noodles. I've heard the egg isn't bad. If you want something to go with your ramen, the edamame is a good choice. The fried rice isn't anything to write home about.
Ittadakimasu, Yelp! -
Review from Shiho T.
Los Angeles, CA
1/11/2012
I love spicy ramen so naturally I enjoyed their noodle. I wasn't brave enough to try extra spices and tried #4 (which is the regular Orochon). It was spicy but nothing I couldn't handle. I would try #3 next time!
There was a bit of wait ~10min on Friday night, but it was well worth the wait. -
Review from Oscar A.
Salt Lake City, UT
1/15/2012 1 photo
It's all in the name. Ramen is king here. If you're craving it head here for your fix. They have many levels of spiciness so you get to pick your savory poison. I love spicy dishes and I chose level 3, or 'Impact' level. It was good enough for me but I probably could go one level hotter since half way through your mouth numbs up and the heat evens out, but I want to make sure I still taste the food.
The menu is simple but packed with flavor. I enjoyed the Miso broth with added corn and the Cha-Su pork slice. The Cha-su pork was over kill and a little too fatty. Next time I'll add the extra meat instead. The portions are plenty too. 7 of us ate here with 2 pitchers of beer for under $80. You can't beat that bang for your buck.
The space isn't too fancy but who cares. There's also plenty of seating outside for those nice days or nights out. The staff was very friendly. They all even made sure to bid us a good night as we left just after midnight. I'll be back. (Picture included) -
Review from Lisa G.
Moorpark, CA
1/12/2012
I went here almost a year ago & I'm still raving about it! It was a long wait in the rain, cold & wind. I was more than happy to enjoy the hot bowl of ramen. I was bowled over by the spicyness which I love. The spicier the better in my opinion.
I didn't enjoy the huge portions, but that's because I cannot eat much in one sitting. -
Review from Nathan A.
Brea, CA
12/30/2011 1 Check-in Here
My first time to this place and I had the special #2 ramen. I did finish the ramen and yes it was super spicy. Its loaded with Jalapens.
It was very lively atmosphere and the ramen was ok. A lil pricey though and they kind of skimp on the meat.
I would recommend going atleast once though. Give it a try if you want spicy. -
Review from Patrick H.
Hawthorne, CA
12/26/2011
Sorry, no.
In no way, shape or form is this good ramen. Usually I would say that taste is subjective, but no.. no way can anyone say this is the spot to get ramen... you must think cardboard is delicious too.
I've eaten at most of the ramen houses in LA, and I promise you I know what makes a good bowl of ramen - and this place lacks it.
I got the charshu ramen w a spice 4...
The noodles were tasteless, the broth was thin and not complex or unctuous in the least. The pork was a f*cking joke - thin, waaaay overcooked, dry, gray pieces of pork scattered around the bowl. Oh, and the mushrooms were also cooked to death - rubbery and tasteless.
We also got the fried rice which was meh and a side of shumai dumplings, which were actually really good, surprisingly.
Overpriced, worthless ramen.
For serious, don't waste your $. -
Review from Mark S.
12/17/2011
Went to Orochon after, you guessed it, watching this place on MvF. It definitely lived up to the billing, as it can get pretty freaking hot. I'm not necessarily a ramen connoisseur, but I've had my fair share. This is pretty darn good, and the additions (other than the pork) are generally good as well. But you're really here for the spice, which ends up taking over anyway. You can still taste the broth and the noodles even if you get the hottest one, which is a testament to how good this is.
If you're coming here for the heat, you'll be rewarded with a fiery mouth and a burning stomach by the time you leave. But that's why you came here, right? -
Review from connie t.
Temple City, CA
12/20/2011
Been here once.
Did the spicy noodle challenge.
Almost finished until...
I threw up in the restaurant.
That is all I have to say about my experience.
HOWEVER, after my ordeal I tried some of my friends noodles and they got the miso base soup and it was actually pretty good. I think this place is just another hyped up band wagon ramen joint but honestly. They kicked my ass. Orochon- 1 Me- 0
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