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    Kai Ramen - Sherman Oaks

    4.3 (1.3k reviews)
    ModerateRamen, Soup
    Closed 11:30 am - 10:00 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Order Kai Ramen - Sherman Oaks Takeout or Delivery

    Kai Ramen - Sherman Oaks Photos

    KAI RAMEN - SHERMAN OAKS ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Outdoor seating
    Happy hour specials

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    Anthony D.

    I visited Kai Ramen for the first time in years and had a pretty good experience. It's been hard to find a ramen shop that serves a flavorful broth and doesn't skimp out on the pork Chasu. It was refreshing to not be disappointed by our ramen, so my mom and I went back less than a week later. Any issues we experienced our first visit were either repeated or amplified during our second visit. Both times I noticed that the ramen isn't served hot. At best, it's served warm, so despite being a quick eater, the last bites of my bowls were "enjoyed" cold. Also, the restaurant is very busy with to go orders, so the overwhelmed staff has to juggle dine in as well as delivery drivers and their priority is the to go orders. They have a sign up/wait list, but they don't follow it. Customers who stand at the door, in the staff's view, will be seated before others who signed up before, but are off to the side. Lastly, is the issue of cleanliness. Our first visit the restaurant didn't feel very clean, but by the second, I was sure they weren't cleaning throughly. We ordered fresh garlic and the garlic masher they gave still had old garlic inside. On top of that, they don't wipe tables between customers because they're so busy. Strictly rating the food, Kai Ramen deserves a solid 4 stars, but as a whole, I think 3 stars is generous. Unfortunately, another visit wouldn't change anything because the problem is caused by management understaffing and overworking employees.

    Courtney S.

    Really enjoyed this place. They're always pretty busy but the staff is on top of it and if you're patient you usually get seated pretty quickly. It is rather small inside so keep that in mind. The food is pretty good, not the most authentic experience but the quality is good and you get good portions for the price. Service has always been great. Overall a solid ramen spot! I'm

    Apps -  Spicy tuna salad  shrimp tempura  spicy tuna crispy rice    Main -  (Hers) spicy chicken miso Ramon  (Mine) spicy white Ramon
    Animal A.

    First off ... Holy fuck !!! I been wanting to try this place for a while now cus they always looked so busy, But we weren't ready for this kinda of depth in flavor AND Hospitality!! (Shout out to Jacky !!) rare when you find a place with that kind of combination definitely coming back weekly.

    House Salad
    Melissa D.

    the ramen was great! super flavorful and fresh ingredients, which is different to find nowadays with ramen spots. the spicy chicken ramen was my favorite. the server was nice enough to give a side of dressing to go since the salad was amazing! they make their dressing in house. will be coming back here to try the vegan ramen! its in a strip mall, so be warned there was not much parking we did have to park in the street with a running meter.

    Chashu Bowl and Summer Noodle
    Kathy Z.

    This is a relatively quick spot to pop in and enjoy a wonderful bowl of hot or cold ramen with thick or thin noodles - yum. Expect to wait a bit during peak dining hours, though. It's not a large spot and the parking is shared with numerous other businesses. There's a good selection of appetizers like calamari, shrimp tempura, croquettes, and the like. All ideal for sharing, and at a reasonable price. I see a fair amount of takeout orders whenever I'm here to dine in, so that's a good option for people who would prefer to dine at home. My one critique, and the reason for four stars, is because of the bathroom ... it is disgusting. I get that this place is a bit worn around the edges and evidently doesn't get enough of a scrubbing on a regular basis, but I cannot forgive how the bathroom looks and smells every time I'm here. I just visited again this week and, despite the bathroom door being closed, I could smell the gross odor from where I was sitting at the bar!!!! I could not believe it. Yes, the smell is that distinct that I could definitely tell what it was.

    This is a great spot. Service is always great. Food is amazing. Prices are reasonable.
    Michael L.

    This outlet local ramen spot. It's small but great food and the servers are always friendly and attentive.

    Black Ramen
    Ezra Ann Grace S.

    The black ramen is one of the best ramen I've ever had! Perfectly rich broth and tender pork. The place is small but worth the wait! Waitstaff very friendly and service is great. Sometimes the plaza parking is full on weekends we just go on the street.

    Marlon T.

    Kai Ramen is a cozy little spot with some solid bowls of ramen. The broth had good flavor, and everything felt fresh and well put together. The staff was super friendly and welcoming, which made the experience even better. I wouldn't necessarily drive across town just to eat here, but if you're in the Sherman Oaks area and craving ramen, it definitely hits the spot.

    Black ramen

    This place is so good it feels sinful to eat here. Highly recommend the black ramen! Great portion size, everything you want from a hole-in-the-wall vibe.

    Tsukemen
    RJ C.

    came in on 05/10/2025 around 5pm. Food: Tried their Tsukemen for the first time. It was served with two tender slices of pork and marinated egg. The broth was thick and salty, pairs so well with the jumbo ramen noodles. They have a new Fried Calamari appetizer on the menu, it comes with I believe a sriracha mayo dip. The batter was well seasoned and the calamari itself is not rubbery. The batter got burned a bit, but I do not mind at all. Service: It was perfect. The staff were attentive. Atmosphere: The dining space was clean. Gives off a typical Ramen Restaurant vibe. It has counter seating. Overall the food tasted great. 10/10 would recommend to a friend. I don't go to Tsujita anymore for Tsukemen. Kai Ramen all the way.

    Buttercorn Ramen
    Laena P.

    I haven't eaten pork in about a decade and Kai Ramen is the ONLY place that brings the same flavor in a chicken version. Their Buttercorn Chicken Ramen is my holy grail, I've ordered it multiple times over the years via delivery- comparing it to other more "popular" spots versions (both in the valley and not) that absolutely do NOT begin to compare to the depth of flavor Kai has been able to replicate and achieve. If I'm sick or it's a cold day this is my go-to and will continue to be for as long as they're open.

    Royce L.

    Awesome ramen spot that we stumbled on while staying in the area. They had table tops and sushi bar seating as well. We had a decent sized group and we didn't want to wait so we all just sat at the sushi bar. The ramen and the apps were delicious. The staff was nice as well. Definitely a spot im coming back when im in the area again.

    White Ramen
    TJ L.

    Great tasty white mild ramen. We ate outside since we came during dinner time. It's a pretty small and busy place. You need to have patience but it's worth the wait. Everything was delicious. I didn't leave anything in the bowl. I will visit this spot again when I'm in the area.

    white ramen with corn and chicken instead of pork

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    2 months ago

    Best Ramen in LA!! I wish it wasn't so hot in the summer - I'd eat more Kai Ramen!!! My Ramen Go-to every time!

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    Kai Ramen - Sherman Oaks Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Kai Ramen - Sherman Oaks

    Do you have gluten free options?

    Yes. Gluten free is available as a substitution on all ramen dishes.

    Do they take phone orders?

    Yes. You can order ahead for pick up.

    Do they use MSG (ajinomoto) in any of their ramen broths?

    Ajinomoto is already in any soy base sauce . So we recommend the salt base soup such as Kais White , Black , Red .

    Do they take reservations?

    Sorry we do not take reservation because of limited seatings . However we do our best to turn tables as fast as possible .

    View All 8 Questions

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    I had such a great experience at Ramen Izakaya! The restaurant was clean, welcoming, and had a…read morereally nice atmosphere. The staff was incredibly friendly, attentive, and made us feel taken care of from the moment we walked in. The food was absolutely delicious and came out quickly. Everything tasted fresh, flavorful, and well prepared, and the ramen was especially satisfying. You can tell they put real care into both the food and the overall dining experience. Service was smooth and efficient without ever feeling rushed, and everyone we interacted with was kind and professional. It was one of those meals where you leave already thinking about coming back. I would absolutely recommend Ramen Izakaya to anyone looking for great food, friendly service, and a comfortable place to enjoy a meal. I'll definitely be returning!

    Ordered from Ramen Izakaya because it's such a busy day and I was craving Ramen. I ordered the…read moreChili lime Ramen with extra egg and the Cucumber Sunomono. First, my Chilli Lime Ramen was absolutely fabulous!!! I LOVE this Ramen, soooo tasty and really hits the spot. The broth is exactly what I was craving. The meat pairs perfectly with this broth with the flavors dancing in my mouth. It was so delicious that I kept eating even when I got full so then I was really full at the end but so worth it. I wasn't sure that I would like the cucumber sunumono because it's full of carrots, but one bite and I couldn't stop. The cucumber and carrots taste very fresh and cooling and whatever it is they're soaked in, it's perfect. I don't like carrots, but I ate the whole thing they tasted amazing. Overall I'm so impressed by Ramen Izakaya, I will definitely be ordering from here again in the near future!!!

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    Nicely lit dining area.

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    REDWHITE - Studio City - No 8 Red Hot Miso

    REDWHITE - Studio City

    4.6(352 reviews)
    5.2 miStudio City
    $$
    Kitchen open late
    Casual dining

    lovely food, lots of flavour and well presented. very impressed with this restaurant. a bit pricy…read morebut you get quality ramen.

    My friend was craving ramen and found RedWhite because of its high Yelp ratings, which sounded good…read moreto me. What he apparently did not notice during this research phase was one fairly major detail: the entire restaurant is vegan. Once he realized it, there was a definite moment of hesitation. I was more in the camp of, "Well, you brought us here. We're committed now." Thankfully, his accidental vegan ramen selection turned out to be a very good one. The space is compact and dimly lit, with dark walls, simple wood tables, and a warm glow throughout. It was packed when we went, which gave the room a lively energy, but it still felt cozy rather than chaotic. Once the bowls arrived, any skepticism disappeared pretty quickly. The broth was much richer and more flavorful than either of us expected, with that creamy, savory quality you want from a comforting bowl of ramen. We both finished ours. I had the No. 9 Truffle Salt Ramen and added fried dumplings to mine. The dumplings gave the bowl a nice crispy contrast, and the truffle flavor came through without overpowering everything else. The funniest part is that neither of us walked in specifically looking for vegan ramen. We just wanted a good bowl of ramen, and that's exactly what we got. Parking is available in the shared plaza lot, but keep in mind those spaces are shared with the neighboring businesses. Street parking is another option if the lot is full. My friend may not have realized he was taking us for vegan ramen, but I'm giving him full credit for the accidental discovery.

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    No 5 Yuzu Sesame

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    No 8 Red Hot Miso

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    The Little Izaka-ya by Katsu-ya

    The Little Izaka-ya by Katsu-ya

    4.2(800 reviews)
    0.3 miSherman Oaks
    $$

    I am sharing some love in the 818. I'll start here with Little Izaka-ya by Katsuya, my favorite…read morelocal sushi joint in the San Fernando Valley. The food is always fresh -- trust me. I visit this little Valley gem (near the 405 Fwy and Sepulveda Blvd just south of Ventura Blvd.) about one to two times a month. I went more often when I lived in Sherman Oaks. First, it's always busy at dinner, so you know the word is out that it is good. Second, the food is consistantly very good. Third (and can be First), the staff is great. They work well together and quietly and always make sure you are taken care of and they are also friendly, which is great when you are a regular. So, Katsu-ya is a chain. Little Izaka-ya by Katsu-ya serves the same great taste and standard of any of the Katsu-ya restaurants, only this one will serve smaller dishes. So, I mostly go solo and I can order a variety and get 1 piece of sushi or a mini-order of the sashimi specials. I think this is a big factor in why I started going to begin with. The managers are always so welcoming (Joe (no longer there. Boo.), Koh and the newest sweet manager (I didn't get his name, but will when I go again). The parking is the only downside. The City of Los Angeles owns the war-torn disaster of a "parking lot" in the rear of the row of restaurants. You have to pay at a kiosk (about $2.50). BUT I suggest you call the city and report the pitted asphalt and GO TO LITTLE IZAKA-YA. Some of my favorite dishes -- all gluten-free -- are the Crispy Rice/Spicy Tuna, jumbo scallop sushi with yuzu and sea salt, salmon skin hand roll (no gobo), albacore sushi with gf ponzu sauce, and the salad with blanched broccoli, asparagus, cucumber, avocado, tomato and lettuce... and a cold house sake. Mmmmm.

    Great spot and just my go-to when I'm in Sherman Oaks area and am craving fresh sushi!…read more The brussel sprouts, sauteed to well-done, were phenomenal and with a lot of flavor. The spicy shrimp cut roll, creamy salmon cut roll and the spicy tuna cut, were very yummy as well. The ratio of fish to rice was perfect, the fish tasted fresh and flavorful and these rolls always hit the spot for me. The spot gets very busy for lunch but has a good number of tables and about 15 spots for seating at the sushi bar. I prefer to sit at the sushi bar, as I love to see the action of all the chef's creating their masterpieces. The chefs and the general staff are very friendly as well and are always happy to help. Will definitely be back again!

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    The Little Izaka-ya by Katsu-ya
    The Little Izaka-ya by Katsu-ya
    The Little Izaka-ya by Katsu-ya

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    Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ

    Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ

    3.8(1.8k reviews)
    0.7 miSherman Oaks
    $$$

    I never knew about this chain of restaurants until yesterday when we were expecting to be in…read moreHollywood too late to return home to Thousand Oaks before they roll up the sidewalks. They "close" at 10:30 (the place was still hopping at 10) and we arrived at a little past 9:00, figuring at that hour we wouldn't need a reservation. Think again, the place was just one click shy of a madhouse. The bar was lively and the tables were occupied mostly by 20-30 somethings in crocks and belly shirts, jabbing food in the mini fire pits and shoveling it in their mouths with the authority of hungry guard dogs. We had to wait 10 minutes or so, for a table and another 7 or so for our server to appear. It gave us a chance to peruse the menus. Yes, menus, plural. There are three laminated ones and a book with pages. Given how extensive the food menus are, the drink menu was a little unimpressive. The sake list had a few things listed, not including a Nigori. The white wine had two, Chardonnay and Pinot Grigio. We like Sauvignon Blancs but ordered the Pinot Grigio. Mezza Corona. That's what casinos comp pour at the slots in Vegas. It was fine, but not optimum. Overwhelmed by the menus and not particularly craving one thing, we decided to order the "Anniversary" dinner for two. It was a set combination of mostly proteins with the house salad and miso soup. The "poke" wasn't the usual gooey stuff seen in most raw places. It was perfect little cubes of ahi and marinated onions over a bed of pickled seaweed. The salad was large and simple, with a sesame dressing. Then... omg the proteins started to appear. Every single one was delicious. We found that putting the pork belly on the grill helped to keep the following proteins from sticking. The rice was beautifully steamed. The miso soup was even the best I've had in a long time, with lots of tofu and seaweed sinking to the bottom. I can see how this would be a great place for a group, and I can't wait to go with more friends; albeit my husband and I really enjoyed the respite. Our server, Cole, was cool and real. He didn't seem to need to pretend to be nice. He was just a sincere, caring young man. Their happy hour times are worth noting. They're happy throughout the day and night with the exception of 6:30 - 8:30 pm. There is a happy hour combination menu you might want to consider, especially if you've never been here and just want to see what's going on. There are AYCE choices which might come in handy if you're really into some favorites. There's also a big thing about Wagyu. Eh. Different strokes I guess. We'll definitely be back. We really enjoyed the experience. We reduced one star for the silly valet parking and the not-so-great wine list.

    The food is always great when I come here. The consistency is what brings me back. Bistro hangar…read moresteak is always my favorite. Their kimchi and cold tofu are also 10/10. Our server today, Fallon, was nothing but stellar. She would check up on us when she saw our food getting lower. It was nice to see how proactive she was. If you can, definitely ask to be seated in her section. Great dinner and will be back again.

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    Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ
    Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ
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    Hanabishi By Kyushu Ramen

    Hanabishi By Kyushu Ramen

    3.4(1.2k reviews)
    3.5 miVan Nuys
    $$

    Tried this place one Friday night, we asked for menu for to-go but decided to dined in instead…read more was seated in a booth and got served right away. Our server was nice and promptly attended our needs, food is great with reasonable prices and lots of selections from sushi, ramen and variety of Japanese shareable dishes. Parking is huge since it's situated along with other food businesses. Added to my list and will recommend to Yelpers.

    I ordered a vegan Ramen, expecting a hearty dish, but it turned out to be a mere salad in vegan…read moreRamen broth. I read the menu, said he would have spinach and bok choy but literally there's just tomatoes, onions and lettuce leaves. , When we talk to the server at two different people to complain about it, they said they would ask the manager nobody ever came back to offer something else or a replacement because I had to drink some of the broth The sushi was decent, but I would prefer to dine at Kura Sushi, where the quality is superior. I ordered for an eel avocado cucumber roll with light rice. Unfortunately, they lack tamari sauce for those with wheat allergies and don't offer gluten-free noodle options. Despite the crowded restaurant, there were four servers wandering around, but we didn't even have the same server throughout our meal. We had four different people come to our table, which was quite confusing at times. I ordered a baked salmon roll to replace the soup It never arrived, and they still attempted to charge us at the end. Finally, we had to ask them to remove it from the menu. I would have loved this place if it had been more accommodating. The ambiance was charming, with a cozy booth and wooden decor throughout. The atmosphere was not too loud, which added to the comfort. However, I was disappointed that they didn't provide gluten-free noodle options. Honestly, I had high hopes for this restaurant, but it fell short of my expectations.

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    Hanabishi By Kyushu Ramen - The main seating area of the restaurant. Such a wonderful, dependable place for Japanese food.

    The main seating area of the restaurant. Such a wonderful, dependable place for Japanese food.

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    Kai Ramen - Sherman Oaks - ramen - Updated September 2026

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