Finally got to check out Mensho Tokyo after seeing Forgotten Island (gotta support). We ended up…read moretrying a few different bowls to share and grabbed 2 to go. Honestly, the matcha ramen was the biggest surprise-I thought green tea in ramen sounded a little gimmicky, but the broth is crazy velvety and savory, and the matcha just cuts through the richness perfectly. The sliced duck on top was super tender with that slight sear on the edges. The signature bowl is pure comfort: rich, milky, and has those awesome chewy noodles that hold onto all that broth. Plus, that jammy egg was done just right. We got the other two ramens to go the shoyu and the classic shoyu but they got it wrong and got us the duck, we talked about it. Basically miscommunication on both parties so I wont get my personal feelings involved cause I thought that was waived ,but it is what it is. Everything tasted fresh, down to the house-made noodles, and the presentation was top tier. It gets packed, so expect a little wait, but it's 100% worth stopping by. Easily one of the most unique ramen spots around.

We ordered the signature ramen, enoki chips and the garlic knock out ramen. Our favorites were the…read moregarlic knock out ramen and the enoki chips! The garlic knock out ramen wasn't super heavy and oily and you can really taste how flavorful the broth is. The ramen had a strong garlic flavor as well. The enoki chips were too easy to eat! They were light and crispy. The signature ramen was good but it was a bit too heavy and rich for us, so it was a bit difficult to finish but it definitely had a lot of flavor and they gave a lot of meat! Service was excellent! The servers were attentive and we received our orders quickly. There is plenty of seating inside the restaurant and they also have bar seating. There is paid parking in a parking structure across the street from the restaurant. They don't validate for parking though. I would recommend!

Such a great spot for fresh sushi! You can pick your own pieces of fish, and they'll slice…read moreeverything for you. The rolls are so good, the ikura is amazing, and they have tons of authentic Japanese products. I made this whole plate from all the fish I bought here and the scallop was INSANE. So fresh and buttery!

Yama Sushi Marketplace is an extremely popular grab-and-go sushi shop and this is one of Yama…read moreSushi's newer locations. Ever since the original owner Kenzo Yamada sold the marketplace to the Kohno family (two family members are retail consultants for Japanese department stores) and partner Alex Soto in 2021, Yama Sushi has been expanding beyond the flagship location in San Gabriel. There are currently 3 locations (San Gabriel, West LA, and Koreatown) as of September 2026 with a new 4th location in Sherman Oaks coming soon. [Parking]: Yama shares the same small and free parking lot with Chipotle and the lot is typically packed during busy hours, but there's a high turnover rate so cars are constantly driving in and out of the lot. Even if the lot is packed, there's still free street parking. [Atmosphere]: The marketplace is constantly busy with limited indoor and outdoor seating. [Ordering sashimi]: Visitors take a number first. Once your number is called, then visitors can select fishes that they want and a staff member will cut the fishes into sashimi. [Hot deli]: This location actually offers a hot deli unlike the flagship location in San Gabriel. Some of the items include chicken curry, curry pan, chicken katsu, unagi don, char siu bao, etc. Please note that many of these hot deli items were sold out by the time I got here at 6 PM. [Signature items]: Yama is best known for its signature California Rolls and the shop is constantly making these rolls due to high turnover rates so you know they are always fresh. Another one of my favorite items is the Poke Bowls, but they are always sold out past lunchtime. *** Bara Chirashi (jewels of the sea - tuna, salmon, yellowtail, ika, tamago, avocado, ikura, and seasoned rice - $14.95): This is one of their new items and honestly it is hard to find a chirashi bowl that costs less than $15 in 2026 and tastes this fresh nowadays. A-tier item. Unagi don (aka eel bowl - $9.95): This is one of the most inexpensive eel bowls in Los Angeles and Orange County. It is unbelievable how they can sell an eel bowl for less than $10 in 2026 when places like Marugame Udon sell their grilled eel bento for $20+. S-tier item. *** Come here for lunch for the best experience with the full selection. Expect fresh quality fish and incredible value at Yama. It would be nice if Yama decided to open another location in the South Bay with Torrance being the home to one of the largest Japanese populations outside of Japan. P.S. - Extra $0.20 for a takeout bag.

I can't believe we haven't tried this place sooner. Since it replaced another ramen shop years ago…read morewe never tried it. Glad we did. We ordered the sashimi, tonkatsu ramen, yellowtail donburi, karaage chicken, tofu, and more. We enjoyed every dish. The sashimi with ponzu sauce were all great. My fave was the jalapeno yellowtail. I am curious if there was more sashimi in the yellowtail donburi for $22 than the $20 yellowtail sashimi. The karaage chicken was huge and well worth it. I had some for leftovers today and it hit the spot. My oldest daughter, who is a ramen connoisseur says she likes it better than Tsujita. Big statement. And my youngest son who ranks all the ramen he's ever had, ranks this as his new #3. Santouka is his #2 and we can't figure out his #1. Nonetheless, everyone was thrilled! Service was also attentive and helpful! Can't wait to return!

Great ramen Lunch. I've been here years ago I recalled it being very good. Went there for a recent…read morelunch. Had pork tonkatsu. The broth was so delicious. They cook it for 10-12 hours. It's rich and comforting. Loaded with veggies, ginger and mouth melting slices of Chasu pork to a of needs along with a soft boiled egg. They offer a great selection of soups, bowls, and rolls. Now o. My regular list of spots to eat at when I. Culver City.

I've been to Saijo three times now! It's such a great neighborhood spot. The wait can be long…read moreespecially for dinner on the weekend, so be sure to get there early. You can put your name in and hop over to the corner door for a drink. It's a mix of handrolls and kushiyaki. This last time I went, it was a date night and my husband ordered the 4x4 and I got the flavors of Saijo. The standouts in the flavors of Saijo included the oyster, the dry-aged sashimi, the scallop uni one bit hand roll and the signature hand roll (which is Blue Crab, Shrimp, Salmon Belly). I also enjoyed the shrimp kushiyaki. I enjoyed the other handrolls as well, but wish they didn't chop up the salmon. It would be nicer as larger pieces of fish. I find myself comparing it to Kazu Nori or Yunomi (both of which we love). The service was great and attentive. It's a nice spot for a date night or to catch up with a friend! I'll be back - and hopefully for the lunch special.

Went here for a date night and we really enjoyed ourselves. It's a very small and intimate…read morerestaurant where you sit at the bar top so I'd only recommend going in small groups as I imagine it's hard to talk to people unless they're sitting next to you. I loved that it was a mix of raw hand rolls and cooked skewers. While the place is pricey and the wait can be long, we thought the food was great. The handrolls were exceptional and so fresh. I loved that each dish came out freshly made and handed to you but do wish they didn't come out so quickly. As someone who is a slower eater, it was a bit overwhelming how quickly the food came out and the skewers would get cold as I couldn't eat fast enough. However I assume they want to turn around tables quickly so I don't think it's a grazing type of date night spot. We really enjoyed both the handrolls and skewers and look forward to coming back soon!

I think we found our new go-to sushi spot! Great food and…read moreamazing value. Food: The fish was fresh, the selection was great, and the price is really fair. Our order (for 2) - each got us he Uzumaki plus. $45 for Apps + 8 nigiris + 8 piece roll. We preferred the crunchy shrimp over the spicy tuna. - Yellowtail kama was excellent - Bluefin Otoro nigiri was solid, as always It was a lot of food. Next time we're thinking of doing the Uzumaki and just ordering more à la carte! Vibes: it's casual, but nice and vibrant. Ideal for a casual date night or small group hang, when you just want good food without the scene. Service: warm and efficient. We felt so well taken care of :) Parking: they have a lot and plenty of street parking in the area. Unfortunately they don't take reservations, so call ahead!

Small unassuming sushi place with very good quality sushi! We got the Uzumaki Plus set and a few…read morenigiris, namely their daily special snow trout, Hagashi Toro, Bluefin Toro, Salmon Belly, Uni, also their fish karaage and baked crab roll. They were all very good quality and delicious. I wish their toro was Otoro but it wasn't, it was a medium toro but it was still $20 for two piece of toro nigiri. So definetely pricier side. Service was great. The server notice we ran low of pickled ginger and tea before we were even asking and refilled it. Total bill for two people came out to about $240 with tax and tip!

Legit yakitori…read more Butter potato Chicken skin Curry rice Everything was fantastic. I actually loved the mentaiko also

Got to the restaurant on a Saturday around 6:00 and was able to sneak in with no reservation... but…read morewish we didn't. We got the $30 omakase and the food was pretty good but would definitely opt for ordering à la cart next time since the selection was pretty repetitive. We were also sat outside which was nice at first but as it got busier no one checked on us. After we finished our meal we tried to get someone's attention for 25 minutes to pay before having to physically get up and walk up to someone. Usually I try to be understanding especially when there's a dinner rush but 25 minutes just to pay is really unreasonable and bad service.

It felt like one of those slow, cozy days where time doesn't rush you…read more I met up with my college friend after what felt like forever, and somehow we both landed on the same craving--ramen. No debate, no hesitation. Just ramen. I had tried this spot at another location before and remembered liking it, so it felt like a safe, comforting choice for a long overdue catch-up. We got there at that in-between hour... not quite lunch, not quite dinner. The kind of time where the restaurant feels like it's just exhaling. It was completely empty except for us, which honestly made everything feel a little more intimate--like the space was ours for the afternoon. We sat down and immediately slipped into conversation, picking up right where we left off after graduation. Life updates, little wins, quiet struggles... the kind of conversation that only comes easy with people who've known you for years. And in between all that, our mouths were busy. The ramen came out hot, comforting, and exactly what we needed. Rich broth, satisfying noodles--one of those meals where you don't even realize how hungry you were until you take the first bite. We kept pausing mid-sentence just to take another bite, then laughing because we couldn't decide what deserved more attention: the food or the conversation. Service was really attentive without being intrusive. They somehow knew when to check in and when to let us just exist in our little bubble. The music was soft, not overpowering, so we never had to raise our voices or repeat ourselves--something I appreciate more and more these days. We stayed longer than we probably planned, but it didn't feel rushed at all. Just two old friends, warm bowls of ramen, and a space that let us slow down for a bit. Definitely one of those simple meals that turns into a really good memory.

Great vegetarian ramen options!…read more Would rate 5 stars, but I don't care too much for the trivia host. I found how they enforced the game rules unnecessary and rude. Hard not to use your phone especially as a parent for over an hour. One quick glance and was told to put my phone away.

Came for a weekday lunch and there wasn't a wait, but the restaurant did start filling up around…read more12:10-12:15. I had the Tokyo mazemen, which was super flavor and I really enjoy the thickness and texture of the noodles. They give you a small bit of rice at the end so you can enjoy the bit of sauce of the dish with it. There are a couple metered street parking spots right in front or the side streets have parking too - just make sure to read the signs as some of the streets are permit parking only.

Was in town and looked up some top restaurants and this was the most highly rated so I figured…read morelet's go try it out plus I've been wanting to try mazemen aka dry ramen for a while so I was very excited. We parked around the corner walked in. It was a one man show and he was very attentive and nice. We ordered the saitama mazemen and umami bowl. I wanted to try the deluxe but my spice level isn't that high unfortunately so I figured this one wouldn't be that bad since it said so. I won't lie my partner and I found it a tad too spicy for us but for seasoned spice eaters it's prob perfect. I think I had different expectations of what the dish should taste like but mine was overwhelmingly seaweed flavor which I'm not the biggest fan of. I'd like to give mazemen another try but flavor wise it was a bit disappointing. The chicken karaage was delightfully light and crunchy and I really liked the dressing on top and the kale underneath. Small shop walking distance of all the restaurants in Sawtelle, it's quaint and makes authentic cuisine, just not my preference!

Tried this place for the first time recently. It's Saitama style ramen and I'm glad to try a…read moredifferent style of ramen and feel so lucky that LA has so many spots that specialize in different styles but I must say that Saitama style just isn't my preferred ramen style. It was delicious and I'm particularly happy to see more places produce seafood ramen bowls but all together it's not a ramen style I would crave. Definitely give it a try if you've yet to try Saitama style ramen!

This was my husband and I first time trying Hinodeya after seeing so many good reviews on Yelp…read more They also have other locations in San Francisco and Berkeley, but I haven't tried those yet. We ordered the Gyu-Don with Mini Ramen Spicy Miso for $23 and the Yu-Lin-Chi Don with Mini Ramen Spicy Miso for $22. Honestly, everything was delicious. Both the ramen and the don were really good, and I would definitely come back again. The service was great too. If you sign up for their rewards program by scanning the QR code, you get a free dessert. We chose the Yuzu Cheesecake, and it was yummy! I liked this location because the staff were friendly, the restaurant was clean, and the decorations were nice. It had a nice Japanese vibes, and even the restroom was very clean. Maybe it was because it wasn't too busy when we went, but overall, we had a good experience.

This place is a great spot for Japanese Italian food. I got the uni & scallop pasta which was full…read moreof garlic and the pasta was al dente. It was very delicious and flavorful. The staff was very nice and attentive. The decor was dark and a nice touch to the atmosphere of the Japanese restaurant.

We are a simple group, we see Japanese and Italian fusion pasta and we go. The parking was a bit of…read morea nightmare, so if you manage to find it, this place is a must-try so you don't the opportunity. Luckily our group had about 6-8 people so we were able to try quite a bit of the food. Glapponese - Ground pork, garlic, bacon, soy sauce for pasta. Very strong umami in this. It's for when you'd like a simple pasta with meat and nothing too overpowering. Tarako - Cod roe and nori. This is another simple pasta when you'd like something with a strong salty flavor but want to mostly enjoy the texture of the pasta, which was soft and chewy btw. If you want a familiar Japanese flavor, this is the one to order Carbonara - A very familiar pasta in case you want to stay on the safe side. They still make it very delicious and creamy if you're in a simple mood for an Italian style pasta Keema Curry - This is where you start going for a more complex taste for your pasta. If you can't decide if you want an Italian or Japanese pasta, combine the tastes with pasta in curry Service I feel can be a bit more attentive. When they sat 6 of us down first, there were only 5 settings, so it seemed pretty natural to bring us a sixth set of utensils. But when we realized they missed it, we ended asked them. Not a big deal. But when our remaining two friends came, they sat them with us and brought out only 1 set of utensils, so we had to ask for it again. Just a small detail that had me a bit confused during the experience, but the food itself was great and we'd love to come back when they reopen