Formerly Modan, Kontesu is probably one of the most ethically priced restaurants in the SGV. At a time when all restaurants seem to use inflation as justification for their inflated prices w out the quality to match, Kontesu proves that good food doesn't have to come with an outrageous bill. From their sub $20 generously portion unagi plate to their $9 appetizer, all with freshness and quality that rival the high end Japanese restaurants in the area, This place is a shining example that even in affluent neighborhood like South Pas, restaurant can still serve quality food at honest, reasonable prices. Honorable mention is their perfectly cooked soy marinated egg.. which most ramen shops charge $2.50-$3 per..Here it's $1.25! Part of me is worried Kontentsu might realize they're still stuck in affordable pre-covid pricing... Here's hoping they' don't!! read more

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Came here twice and both times were very positive. Every ingredient is very fresh, and the flavors are neither under nor overwhelming. The stand out for me is the poke ramen. This was one of the most unique things I've tried at a Japanese restaurant. For $17, the portions are super generous - lots of fresh salmon and tuna, and not overfilled with lettuce fillers. I normally won't eat kale, but I'll eat this! The kale noodles were very similar to soba noodles, and the kale bits were crispy almost like nori. I enjoyed the sauce they used - a little sweet and nutty. I'd repurchase this without a doubt! I got the salmon lotus roll on my first visit because I love lotus chips, and so this one really intrigued me. The salmon on top was delicious and very tender. It might be one of the best salmon rolls I've had. The unagi in the don was also very tender that there was no need to chew. I haven't had much unagi in the past, but this is one of the better ones I've had. I've mainly had firmer ones, but I liked that this was very soft. Lastly, I tried the black tonkatsu ramen, and what I loved the most about this was generous amounts of the crunchy thin mushroom. This is one of my favorite ingredients in ramen other than the chashu and noodles. The broth isn't very thick or rich, and I think the amount of garlic in it was just right to be enjoyable. The noodles were cooked perfectly al dente. Overall, I've found this place to be a very enjoyable experience, and I'm excited to try more of their menu! read more

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Delicious food and large portions. The space was bigger and nicer than I was imagining from the outside. Tonkotsu Black ramen had a nice combo of flavors and ingredients (the crunchy kale and onion was a great addition). The Green Bean Tempura dish was good, larger than expected, and came with kabocha chips. The only aspect that wasn't great was the service was pretty inattentive, even though they weren't that busy. We had water glasses that remained empty and I had to ask for various things. read more

Kontentsu - South Pasadena - Green Bean Tempura with chipotle sauce - Ramen Near Me - South Pasadena, California

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When i want to eat healthy, this is where i go. This would probably be the healthiest food id eat willingly. Their brussel sprouts are soo good. I love the sauce they give. I will always get this and end up packing the rest to go for later. Poke with x2 salmon is always good. I decided to get the imitation crab instead of the spicy tuna this time. The eel bowl was really good as well if i want to eat rice. Parking is pretty easy. Theres always parking at the place witht he ramp. At least all the time ive been there were space read more

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I randomly stopped in here for lunch as I was on the way to go to Coffee Bean around the corner and we saw that this restaurant had changed to Kontetsu. My review from 7 years ago for the old restaurant was still here. I got the spicy of miso ramen and out of the combo which included a salad and a rice bowl of my choice. I had asked the waitress with the most popular item was for the rice bowls and she said the spicy tuna. So I took a recommendation and went with that. Food came out fast but it was paced out fairly well. Salad came out first and then slowly after the spicy tuna bowl came out. The space he was actually pretty good and the amount of spicy tuna that it came with was a lot more than I had expected. The rice was cooked great and luckily there was a side plate that I could put some of the ginger and some of the other items on because it was going to be a little bit challenging to eat The spicy miso ramen was really good as well. The bowls that they use are fairly deep so it was deceptively more than I had imagined. It was a slight kick to the spiciness for sure. But lots of great ingredients inside. Yeah the option to get tofu, chicken, pork belly and I opted for the pork belly. Overall is a great dining experience the space is really big I think they might have taken over another unit so now it's two units wide with lots of seating available inside. There's a decent amount of parking here even though there might be a good amount of Bristol farms shoppers here that take up most of the spots but with this restaurant being located somewhat in the back there are more options to park Glad we were able to stop in randomly and try this restaurant read more

Food tastes amazing, large portions, fair prices, nice atmosphere, what's there not to love? First got introduced by a friend who had been raving about this place, and now with my second time back, its fair to say its becoming a favorite of mine. This time I got their poke don and it was soo good! The fish was fresh, and I recommend choosing their spicy tuna as it was really good. Im usually just alright about spicy tuna but the spicy tuna tastes fresh and juicy here if it makes sense lol. Thr bowl was also huge, and I took half my meal home. read more

Kontentsu - South Pasadena - Poke don - Ramen Near Me - South Pasadena, California

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In the mood for some delicious Ramen and some tasty appetizers, this is perfect and hit the spot! I love crinkle fries, and they went perfectly with the curry sauce, my favorite! Lots of leftovers for lunch tomorrow! Located in shopping mall, next to Bristol Farms. Excellent customer service! read more

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this is my favorite restaurant !!! it's so peaceful in there and all the food is delicious and comes out very quickly. I love kontentsu ‍ read more

Kontentsu - South Pasadena - salmon avocado roll, chashu pork tacos, & spicy tonkotsu ramen - Ramen Near Me - South Pasadena, California

My favorite little hidden find! My husband and I live close and love to order their Chicken Don! We love how fresh and tasty the food is; while also fitting our budget! The servers are always warm and friendly and we have been able to order online easily. Thank you for the great food and service read more

Kontentsu - South Pasadena - Chicken don - Ramen Near Me - South Pasadena, California

Portion sizes and price is amazing for the Pasadena area! Went with a group to celebrate some birthdays after work, it was a group of 6 of us with no wait time- we were able to walk right in and get seated right away. The ambience is great, and even better, the prices for the food with the portion sizes you get surprised me! The servers were polite and the food came out fast. I got a gyudon bowl and it was large enough that incase able to take some home for a meal the next day. My gyudon was very good, but the soup inside made my rice feel a bit soggy. The top it with a generous amount of green onion and red picked radish. Everything else everyone ordered were all large portions as well, especially the katsu! There is plenty of parking in the lot and a Bristol Farms grocery we stopped by after our huge meal. Would like to come again to try their other dishes, soild food, great ambience, good service, big portions, I'll certainly be back! read more

Kontentsu - South Pasadena - Gyudon - Ramen Near Me - South Pasadena, California

We have been wanting to try this restaurant for a while so we found time today. 1 Brussel sprouts: Yummy 2 Calamari karage: Very tender 3 Poke salad: Definitely a must try. Not only the salad was fresh but the poke was plenty 4 Salmon crudo: Salmon sashimi, very good 5 Bao bun: This is a secret menu item. Bro liked it a lot 6 Salmon lotus: Sushi roll. Another good item Overall, the service is very good, restaurant very clean and nicely decorated, and the food is . read more

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Havent been here since it was Modan which I thought was good but just not on the same level of some other spots. However, saw the name change ans read reviews and was in the mood for some ramen given the rain and popped in. Had limited seating vut was able to get a table. Pretty nice and easy going staff and good menu with Ramen and Sushi amongst other Japanese fare. Ordered crispy rice tuna, the black tonkotsu ramen and another miso ramen. Also threw in some Chicken Karage and a special ( crunchy? ) roll. Food came out quick and ramen was on point! Ramen was Nice and hot ( which was perfect given the weather) and the black ramen was perfect...a nice balance of garlic, salt and chili ( i ordered it spicy) and crispy rice was a good value and crispy...chicken Karage was cooked well and balanced not greasy. I think I found my bew favorite spot to come enjoy ramen...give them a go!! Great food and service in South Pasadena... read more

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Was already a fan of their ramen when it was known as Modan. Loving it even more since expanding to Kontentsu! Their Spicy Mazemen (I ask for spicy on the side lol) quickly became our new favorite. The gyozas are always a must. Their added non-ramen dishes are also a hit, and we especially love their GYU Don, Pork Katsu, Unagi Don! The servers are always friendly and attentive. The decor is clean and beautiful. Love that parking is amply available as it's located in the same plaza as Bristol Farms, a plus when dining in South Pas! read more

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This is a very chill quiet vibe restaurant great for a lunch time meet up. The food comes out quickly and service is very nice. If you're looking for a place to chat and enjoy some Japanese dishes, this is the place! read more

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Came here with my friend for dinner and absolutely loved the food! Was feeling adventurous and ordered the Pork Chashu Tacos which ended up being my favorite. It was tender and flavorful. Portions were good + service was attentive and the overall vibe was pretty relaxed as we came on a Thursday evening. read more

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I am revealing my favorite Sushi restaurant in the world. I hope that I don't regret it by creating crowds. The salmon lunch dinner is beyond deliciou. The curry bowl rocks. Enjoy but don't tell everyone read more

Really nice ramen spot. We went for a late lunch and it was not busy but the ambiance was modern, bright and comfortable. We were assisted by two servers, both of who were attentive, efficient and friendly. We ordered the Brussel sprout appetizer. They were cooked well and flavorful with a great accompanying dipping sauce. They were listed on the menu as being the most popular and I can see why! I also tried the vegetable miso ramen. It was a very ample portion with a lot of noodles, tofu and other ingredients. The bowl it was served in looked deceiving as it felt like the portion may be small- but I was unable to finish my ramen! I would return. read more

Kontentsu - South Pasadena - Ramen Near Me - South Pasadena, California

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Back again today and it is always so impressive!! The food is off the charts. I love it so very much. We ordered the spicy tuna rolls, Brussels sprouts with delicious sauce and soup. The service was terrific!! The Hispanic American man was sooooo nice and so was our waiter!! I just love coming here. It is so pretty inside. They have beautiful cherry blossoms all over!! Thanks!! read more

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I've visited the Glendale location before, so I decided to check out the Pasadena spot since we were nearby. I really enjoy their poke bowls -- they feature unique ingredients I haven't seen elsewhere. The kale and kabocha chips add a great texture, especially paired with their fresh salmon. Overall, the service was excellent during our weekday lunch, and the atmosphere was quiet and relaxing. read more

Kontentsu - South Pasadena - Takoyaki - Ramen Near Me - South Pasadena, California

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This place is delicious! I hope it never closes so please check it out. Mid priced but the umami in each dish is so good. Have tried: Tonkatsu ramen: their broth is light and not oily, taste is deep, so good and comforting Poke ramen: my personal favorite since it includes two of my favorite things - poke and ramen. This is very refreshing and they add so many great touches like crispy kale that really add to the flavor. Pork chashu tacos: it's pork chashu plus tacos, what else do you need! Unagi don: their unagi is made perfectly with a touch of smokiness, and they give a good portion. Portion sizes are great here and bigger than you might think. Lots of restaurants in this area - this is a winner! read more

Don't miss this tucked away gem! Best Ramen in town for sure! So much better than Silverlake Ramen try the kimchi ramen . And a really sweet place with excellent Japanese all around. It's not a sushi bar but they still have great sushi choices and a super atmosphere as well. read more

Kontentsu - South Pasadena - Ramen Near Me - South Pasadena, California

Oh this place is really good just across the parking lot where I work at which is Bristol Farms I had there ramen and it was delicious they also have pork katsu and sushi as well. I really like the ambience when you walk in its very modern and the service was very friendly and I felt welcomed. read more

Kontentsu - South Pasadena - Ramen Near Me - South Pasadena, California

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This restaurant is very good, the flavors are phenomenal and with a beautiful presentation. Service is great, atmosphere too. strangely this location is without the amount of customers one would expect. Their other location on Montrose doesn't have the attention to detail as the South Pasadena location. read more

Space was previously Modan Ramen. They are under same ownership and have rebranded themselves and expanded. the decor is very zen like and classy. The prices are very reasonable. They also have sushi and other cooked food. We will definitely be back and also with our extended family. read more

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Considerate attentive waiter lets you choose your table on a not so busy weekend afternoon. My daughter chose the pork tonkatsu and an iced green tea served up in a cute glass mug. Noodles were great and the broth remarkable! Great serene ambience. read more

Kontentsu - South Pasadena - Inside - Ramen Near Me - South Pasadena, California

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Charming modern space. Good selection of Ramen and Poke bowls. Tonkatsu Ramen for Tokyo-born wife and Pork Chasu Don for old white guy. Excellent! Service by Hazel was friendly and we felt very comfortable. Price was modest about $20 each. A good price. The parking is in front right opposite the Bristol Farms entrance. read more

Took my mom to Kotentsu for her birthday. I didn't realize it is the same as "Modan" that I tried years ago...It was mom's choice and we came for lunch right when they opened. Servers were great and service was fairly quick. I think we did a lot of ordering with our eyes because we were hungry, lol. Hubby ordered the Iced Green Tea, tasted like matcha. We each got a Ramen dish, and weren't all that impressed by them. -Hubby ordered the Spicy Mazemen, it does have a kick and thought it was okay...he was expecting it to be more like Menya, but it wasn't quite the same. -Mom ordered the Spicy Miso, and while she loved the full toppings the flavor wasn't her favorite and the ramen noodles drained the soup rather quickly. -I ordered the Shoyu Ramen, I've been on the hunt for a good shoyu, but nothing compares to Japan =') I wished I'd gotten the chicken instead of chashu. Chashu is thick cut and grilled...I had to take it out on the plate. As stated above, the ramen noodles drained the soup quickly... However, the apps, salad and sushi we got were decent. -Takoyaki, this was standard. -House Side Salad, actually quite a decent portion and definitely shareable. I liked the dressing and squash chips. -Sunset Roll, spicy tuna and salmon on top. It was good. -Tempura Eel, this was a fully loaded roll, big bites! But good. I did like the side of their house kimchi(?) that one of our servers gave us, it was good! Restrooms located in the back of the restaurant were clean. Interior of the restaurant is clean and nicely decorated. Parking is shared lot with Bristol Farms and other stores. read more

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I used to come to this place many years ago and it used to be called Modan Artisan Ramen. I moved from South Pasadena and kept coming back here haven't been here in a while. I drove here and saw a different name and when I was about to leave. A Hispanic worker ao kindly cane to ask me. What I was looking for and he said. I explained and he said, same owner larger space different name and oh man.! I was impressed so spacious, and food was amazing . I ate with my daughters and my son and they exceeded my expectations. Thank you so much Damiano the young host and the helpful Hispanic worker that pampered my kids, sorry I missed your name. I can wait to return for a romantic dinner alone with my husband . We had sushi, ramen, fried chicken, pokebowl. read more

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The place is very clean I ordered poke bowl the fish is really fresh and very generous portion

Have been here a couple of times now and thoroughly enjoyed both meals. The food is not only delicious , but beautifully presented. I like that even though Kontentsu is basically a ramen place, it has so much more to offer too, like shareable side dishes and special sushi rolls. My favorite dishes are the cold poke ramen noodle dish, the chashu tacos and brussels sprouts. All are so flavorful and uniquely different. The ambiance is lovely too. Beautiful, modern decor, with simple Asian touches. The prices are quite reasonable too for the quality and quantity of the dishes. So glad I discovered this gem of a neighborhood restaurant. There's free parking too in the shared Bristol Farms parking lot. read more

Kontentsu - South Pasadena - Poke ramen noddle salad - Ramen Near Me - South Pasadena, California

It was a very good restaurant last time, so I came to eat with my family again. The inside of the restaurant was very clean, the music was pleasant, and the atmosphere was very pleasant. The ramen was also delicious. It was impressive that the pork chop was so big. The server also felt very good, and I came back very satisfied. read more

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used to go back here when it was Modan. From what the staff tells me same cheff. The ramen was fantastic and the brussel sprouts are delicious. The karage is served flattened and is good as well. Overall great spot for lunch or dinner. Date night as well. read more

Yummiest Brussels sprouts! Love their spicy tuna bowl & rice cakes! Plus, if I'm starving and in a hurry their take out is ready to go in like 5-10 minutes-- no kidding. read more

4/14/23 An unassuming little gem of a ramen shop at the Bristol Farms Plaza in South Pasadena-what a great find & discovery!! Well, at least for my part. One of our colleagues suggested this place because she has tried it before & says it's really good. The shop itself is small yet clean & simple, neat decor. Our server was sweet & attentive who made several trips to keep our glasses filled & asked if there was anything else we needed. For an appetizer, we ordered the Spicy Tuna Crisp-delectable delights! Perhaps we three were ordering with our eyes & chose to get Poke salads AND ramen bowls. Both of them ordered the Modan Ramen while I went the Black Ramen, arugula added (not bad, $0.50!!) In hindsight, it's a lotta food, all of us had leftovers for to-go. It's all about the broth!!Mine was so savory & delicious, the ramen had the perfect consistency-bouncy, good chew. I especially loved the crisped kale shreds that had wonderful crispy texture. Umamilicious & phenomenal!! My poke salad was fresh & I opted for crab instead of the spicy tuna because I might end up up with a coughing fit lol. They didn't skimp on the tuna & salmon--that impressed me! Overall, my yummy experience here is top notch. Highly recommend this place!!! read more

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Very nice interior, friendly service, reasonable prices. My wife and I had the Tonkotsu with pork. Very delicious. The broth was probably one of best I've ever had. It's especially good on a cold day! Ramen noodles were perfectly cooked. read more

Second visit. A courtesy for accuracy. Good parking (parking garage located in lot). Nice interior! Pleasant staff. Uncontrollable diarrhoea all night: Bad food. (Happened last time also). Sorry: read more

Kontentsu is a cozy, modern spot with a warm ambiance and great service. We skipped the ramen this time and went for sushi and gyoza--both fresh and flavorful. We can't wait to try the Ramen. A quaint, stylish find that's definitely worth a visit! read more

Kontentsu - South Pasadena - Albacore Crispy Onion Roll & South Pasadena Roll - Ramen Near Me - South Pasadena, California

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Kontentsu deserves 10 stars!! They have the absolutely best food, service and ambiance in all of LA!! The ramen, sushi rolls, spider sliders, and pork tacos are superb!! Truly delicious!! read more

My go-to Ramen stop when picking up a few things at Bristol Farms. Their ramen is full of flavor and packed with tasty surprises! Service is always excellent and prompt. Today I ordered the Shoyu Ramen with nice, thick slices of tender pork. read more

Kontentsu - South Pasadena - Shoyu Ramen with pork - Ramen Near Me - South Pasadena, California

Wow so shocked this place isn't packed but then again we came right before they closed for lunch. Best ramen in a long time! Will be back again! read more

Kontentsu - South Pasadena - Kimchi Ramen - Ramen Near Me - South Pasadena, California