Kuni is not only the chief but also an amazing owner! Came here around 12 PM and ordered the pork katsu curry. Overall, I had a great experience. The curry was prepared correctly--rich, balanced, and full of flavor. The katsu had a nice crispy texture on the outside while staying tender inside. Once everything comes together, it's exactly what you want from a solid curry katsu dish. The atmosphere was great. It's clean, relaxed, and has a comfortable vibe where you can just sit and enjoy your food without distractions. Service is a bit different--it's automated. There wasn't a traditional waiter setup when I went, but everything was smooth and easy to follow, so it didn't take away from the experience. Price came out to about $21 with tip, and I only had water. For the quality, I think it's fair. One small suggestion: it would be great if they offered an option for extra rice instead of having to order a separate portion. The curry was so good, I definitely wanted more rice to go with it. Overall, really solid spot. The flavors are on point, the vibe is right, and I'd definitely come back. read more

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Kotoya offers great ramen and is an excellent neighborhood spot. I ordered the original ramen (14.5) with an egg (2.5), along with a side of chicken gyoza (7.5). You can choose three toppings for the ramen; I went with green onions, wood ears, and fried onions. The ramen is really delicious. I was impressed by the price and wondered how they could manage that. I think it's because they give you less chashu, which is also nothing to write home about. But they cut no corners on the tonkotsu broth and the chewy noodles, so I was quite happy. The gyoza were a great accompaniment. They did come with a mayo-based dipping sauce, which I had never seen before, but there are other sauces and seasonings at the table for you to add if you like. The place is small: there are two or three tables and a counter that seats about five. You order at an iPad in the front, then grab a spot and wait for your food. It won't be long! read more

Kotoya Ramen - Chicken Gyoza (7.5) - Ramen Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Great authentic flavors, ramen cooked to perfection, and the owner is super friendly. Small intimate shop reminiscent of a small ramen join in Japan. The vibe is chill, quiet, and great place to stop by for a bite. 10/10 for me! read more

Kotoya Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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The ramen was great! Portions were good, broth was nice, noodles were cooked well. Toppings, however, are limited to only 3. I got the curry ramen which was different but unique. Also got garlic edamame...for the price it was a small portion but tasted great. The service was fast. You order through tablets outside or inside. Reminiscent of Japan. There's bar seating and a couple booths inside with additional seating outside. The space is very cozy and welcoming. Downside is parking. Its only street parking or if youre lucky the lot across the street. read more

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The ramen was delicious! The broth was rich and robust. You order and pay on an iPad at the front and they bring it to your table. The noodles are thick and kind of chewy which I like. The Spicy Miso Tonkatsu was so good. There's a generous amount of toppings too. The fried chicken gyoza was good, but it would use more filling. And it came with a spicy mayo dipping sauce instead of the usual ponzu like dipping sauce. The service was fast and friendly. Great cozy spot with a few tables and an authentic Japanese vibe. Theres also a small patio outside with a few bar seats. Parking is very difficult around this area though which is a downside. read more

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Ordered vegan ramen with the yuba tofu. Ingredients were fresh and fragrant. The noodles were chewy. The broth was bland. I would've wanted more miso or mushroom to come through but it just wasn't hitting. I wasn't expecting a yuzu broth but this existing broth needs to be worshipped more. read more

Kotoya Ramen - Vegan Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Ramen here is kind of old school Los Angeles, focus on toppings and whatnot, not just the broth and noodles in more modern shops. Location off National Blvd and Motor Ave is pretty solid given the little cluster of ethnic restaurants there, although parking is a bit rough. And the ambiance is just about right, a bit worn, a bit tight, but a nice little outdoor patio that includes a bit of bar seating to maximize what little space they have. read more

Kotoya Ramen - Original ramen. - Ramen Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Compliments to the chef as always. Lots of options and everything is made to perfection. The chef seems to be pretty involved and I can definitely see the care he put into the food and restaurant itself. This is the second time visiting but I definitely will be trying to come again when I have the chance! read more

Kotoya Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Came back this week for the miso spicy Ramen. This is my new favorite. A flavor bomb. Support local business businesses like Kotoya! read more

When they became a vegan ramen shop for a while, I was quite bummed. I'm so glad to know that they've brought back the old menu and even expanded. The service is quick and efficient. They're friendly but leave you to enjoy your meal. The restaurant is more of the type to eat a quick meal and leave. The broth is always thick and flavorful but without being too thick. The noodles are chewy and bouncy, always perfect. It's also nice that you get to select up to three toppings. read more

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I don't leave reviews often but I discovered this place a few months ago and needless to say, I'm in love. I've been to Japan a few times and this sends me right back every time! Their white garlic tonkotsu and miso ramen are my favorites, but honestly I'm yet to meet a dish I don't like. It's pretty empty usually so I make sure to always bring a friend with me when I come. 7 bar seats, 2 couples booths, and a small handful of seats outside on the patio gives it a really nice cozy vibe. Please come visit them!! read more

Kotoya Ramen - White Garlic Tonkotsu (White Garlic Ramen) - Ramen Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Both my son and I enjoyed the spicy ramen here.. it was fast and food was amazing!! Highly recommend ! No proper sitting for family inside maybe for a couple .. we sat outside and enjoyed the food!! read more

I ordered the Spicy Ramen and the Black Garlic Ramen. Both ramen are delicious! The noodle are fresh and perfectly cooked and the broth are very tasty. The texture of noddle is excellent. I do highly recommend the Black garlic Ramen. The broth is very flavorful and one of a kind. It's a small restaurant with limited seatings. It's very clean and the service is nice read more

Kotoya Ramen - Spicy Ramen (front) and Black Garlic Ramen (back photo) - Ramen Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Service was quick and the ambiance was cute. Didn't dine in, ordered to take out but the staff didn't seem rude during the short interaction in contrast to other reviews. The broth was actually very flavorful and one of the best parts of the ramen, and the noodles were cooked well with a good texture. Compared to how strong the broth and noodles were, the rest of the ramen felt a bit underwhelming. The chashu was a bit dry, not bad enough to complain about, just okay. What really stands out is the efficiency, though ordering on the tablet can slow things down if the person ahead of you is still figuring it out. read more

Efficient place! Order on a tablet outside, then find a seat, consume and leave. Quite small inside and every person must order a bowl of ramen. There were maybe 5 seats at the bar and two booths that can accommodate two people in the outside. Also a few seats outside as well. Very savory broth with excellent quality ingredients! read more

Kotoya Ramen - Vegetarian Ramen with tofu - Ramen Near Me - Los Angeles, California

As a ramen connoisseur I was really excited to have finally found a ramen place near my job. I am a spicy miso girly and if it's ever on the menu, I order it without hesitation. When I received my bowl something looked off as if there was a separation occurring between fats and oils. Upon tasting it the ramen was very sweet almost like sugar based and was not the best tasting. The texture reminded me of a curry rather than ramen and was evident in its appearance. I asked the waiter if he saw what I was seeing, without looking he immediately started educating me on ramen assuming I knew nothing about it. I asked if there was a way to change it as the food had barely been touched and is unenjoyable. He responded "no", turned up back and minutes later proceeded to try to educate me again as if I was a bother. Sucks that this was my first and last experience here. In addition to my review and in response to the business manager. GROSS! The service here is just overall terrible. Never have I been met with such resistance from staff AND the owner/manager whoever you are. I am not "throwing a tantrum" rather than submitting a review as you have left open by being in yelp. read more

Kotoya Ramen - Here's the photo for reference. Less oil than other businesses? Okie dokie! - Ramen Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Ok so I used to live right across Overland in 2021/2022 and this ramen spot was my fave then. A little local gem you could walk to. I preferred it to Tatsu, Jinya, etc. They're super quick, the ramen tastes the exact same every time and takeout and dining in tastes the same. When I finally got to visit Japan in spring 2024, this ramen was the baseline of what I was comparing other ramen to while there. I've had ramen in Osaka, Kyoto, and Tokyo and STILL this place is my favorite. I am not a food expert by any means and I am not Japanese but, to me, I can't see another ramen tasting better. We thought they shut down (they were operating under a different name for a while) and I was gutted I'd never be able to try them again to confirm that they were still my favorite. Luckily for me, they're back and I was able to try today and my assessment still stands: BEST RAMEN EVER. Wish I still lived near but just for this place. Please open one in OC read more

Kotoya Ramen - Original ramen. Doesn't need anything added - Ramen Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Stopped in when I saw they had vegan ramen. It's really easy to order you can do it from the kiosk and pay right at the kiosk. inside or outside seating. Service was very quick and friendly. The vegan ramen that I ordered was the spicy version and it comes with this nice tofu fried chicken. The noodles were cooked perfectly and the broth was full of flavor. I picked the first level of spicy above no spice and it was a gentle heat With lots of flavor. Can pick your toppings and add extra noodles or broth or Me other toppings. Really great value And a nice chill place. read more

Kotoya Ramen - Spicy Vegan Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Hontini AMAZING! My new favorite ramen spot! Great taste! Excellent service! Really cool vibes and atmosphere. --- To tell the truth, I felt like I was back in Japan at typical unpretentious ramen joint. Honestly, I passed by Kotoya so many times since I moved into the neighborhood a couple of years ago but finally tried it last night. I realized that I won't need to go to any other ramen in LA anymore. (Peace out!) Kore kara, Kotoya will be my regular ramen place from now on!!! Yeahhh read more

Kotoya is pretty decent ramen spot! I've had the spicy ramen and it was really good. A little more oily and salty for my taste though. I would come back again and try other things. The noodles are pretty good, they're a good size with a decent bite. The staff are friendly, and it's a very small restaurant, so you'll be cramped inside, Also parking on this street is bad but you can find ample parking the next block over. read more

So sad to hear this place is closing- the first night I had this ramen they had a sign posted that said they were closing at the end of the month after 12 years in business! I ordered the curry ramen with tofu green onion and corn! The broth was so rich and creamy and the noodles were the perfect amount of chewy. You could taste the quality of the ingredients and the time it took to prepare! There weren't many seating options available for groups, but plenty of seats at the bar sitting facing the ramen chef. If you see this review in June 2024 do yourself a favor and go here while you still can! read more

Ambiance: small ramen store located in national, street parking only Service: you need to order through the two touch panels in front of the store, terrible service experience, they won't service you anything else except bringing the food you ordered to you, water is self served, they didn't even bring me any napkins, the guy had bad attitude when I asked for spicy oil and powder sauce Food: simple menu for noodles, where you can customize toppings and portions, surcharges for add-on, their broth is too salty and overly oily, not authentic Original Ramen - *** two pieces pork char siu, choices of bean sprouts, and wood ear mushroom, soy sauce base, tonkotsu pork broth, average Black Garlic Ramen - *** Black garlic oil, two pieces pork char siu, choices of corns and green onion, tonkotsu pork broth, overly oily and bold msg taste Price: medium portion and affordable prices, less than $20 per person read more

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The food is so delicious. The broth is flavorful while the noodles are chewy yet delicate. The egg was perfectly cooked and the shrimp was perfectly crispy on the outside and soft in the inside. The ambiance is like a small ramen shop in Tokyo. It was a lovely experience. I highly recommend it. read more

Kotoya Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Los Angeles, California

This is my favorite ramen shop on the west side. It's a small but efficient, unassuming shop with a casual atmosphere. I particularly love the black garlic ramen with bean sprouts, corn, and the soft boiled egg. This dish is unique and packed with umami flavor. I don't usually prefer tonkotsu broth but I love this one! I take any leftover broth to-go. That's how good it is! My husband is a fan of the spicy ramen (level 1) with bean sprouts, wood ear mushroom, and the soft boiled egg. This isn't my favorite kind of ramen but my husband loves it. He also loves Hakatta in Little Tokyo, for context. The texture of the ramen noodles (thick kind) is perfectly cooked so that you get a slight chew while slurping your noodles. It reminds me of how ramen is prepared in Japan! They are also generous with the toppings (bean sprouts and corn). You order and pay at the iPad before sitting down (no cash accepted). Grab yourself a cup of water on your way to find yourself a seat in one of the inside booths, inside counter top, or outdoor seats. Service is quick and efficient even though I've only ever seen one worker here! read more

Great ramen! Pork broth was very porky and the cha shu was perfectly salty and sweet. The vegetable broth had a surprising amount of flavor. The noodles were bouncy and just the right thickness. Clean dining room. Cute set up. Staff was friendly. Will be returning! read more

Kotoya Ramen - Spicy pork ramen and Vegetable Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Los Angeles, California

One girl was running this place. It was only myself dining in this afternoon. I don't see this place being crowded at least for lunch time. It is a small place of 10 seats inside and about three outdoor. You place an order on their touch screen at the entrance. Single serving of Noodle was not filling enough for a healthy eater like myself. You may need to select double serving or more toppings. read more

Kotoya Ramen - White Garlic Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Los Angeles, California

One of the few ramen spots in LA that I keep coming back to. The taste and atmosphere feel just like a ramen in Japan. They don't have large tables, so it might not be the best spot if you wanna hang out with a big group like at a bar or izakaya. Personally, I love both the food and the vibe! will definitely be back soon. read more

Long-time neighborhood favorite ramen spot. It's gone through some ups and downs, and is again turning out very tasty bowls at a fair price. Kotoya is back! read more

This place serves probably the best tasting spicy ramen I have ever had . Customer service is efficient, our food was served in 5 minutes. The restroom was clean. However, the place can get crowded very quickly because of how small the restaurant is and parking can be quite challenging (street parking only). Food (there is a reasonable amount of selection, but we only tried 1 dish: - Spicy Miso ramen (10/10): Like I mentioned earlier. This is probably the best spicy ramen I have ever tasted. Wow, the broth is savory and addicting, I actually finished my ramen down to the last drop of the broth ! Noodles were mildly chewy and tasted awesome! Their chasiu had very little fats, which was great! Finally, the portion served was very generous! Overall, I love the ramen here , the only I wish was better was the parking! TIPS: If you want iced water, you could do self service. it'll be to your right when you enter. read more

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I was hesitant to write this review, because this is one of Palms best kept secrets. The Ramen here is excellent! My girlfriend and I have been to all of the Ramen spots on Sawtelle and this one is just as good, but at a more affordable price. So good!!!! read more

I love ramen & am always in search of good noodles and broth. This tiny postage stamp-sized joint serves good ramen but the oiliness of the rich broth makes it less than appealing. Also they have only one kind of noodle, which are very good and were nice counterpoint to the tofu & mushrooms ramen (vegan). Customers order at an outdoor tablet screen & are asked to stay outdoors. It takes a few tries to understand how to order: basic noodles, with level of spice being adjustable, 2 free toppings, and a charge for any additional topping. The downsides of Kotoya are the horrendous parking situation in the evenings, the tiny outdoor space with a few shaky stools, the even tinier interior with some bar seating and 2 tables. The strict rules posted and the discomfort of eating here in general makes it not likely I'll visit again. (also, if you need to take food to go - the portions are generous - you're given a super-sipper, 64oz styrofoam cup to pour your soup into! My suggestion is to take your own glass storage bowl.) read more

Kotoya Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Post-pandemic review: Had a late lunch here at 4pm (i guess that's technically 'linner'?) and noticed that the star old man chef wasn't working. I entered my order onto the iPad outside, and noticed an automatic 14% tip was applied to the total. I ordered the black garlic ramen to rekindle my memories of the good ol' pre-pandemic days but alas.. the water to soup ratio was 9:1, the broth and oil visually looked like it had been ladled in without being blended, the scent of garlic was almost non-existent, and the WORST atrocity of it all - the pork charsu tasted like someone picked up luke warm deli ham and slapped it against the inside of the bowl. Disappointed is an understatement for this experience but I'm going to try it one more time before writing this place off. read more

By far the best ramen I've ever had. The broth was extremely tasty. Service was phenomenal, and our food was ready in about 3 minutes. Would recommend this place to anyone. read more

Kotoya Ramen - Miso Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Kotoya is a cozy delicious ramen shop in Palm that can save locals a trip to Sawtelle. You order at one of two machines and can take a seat. We waited about 10 min or so before we were able to start slurping our ramen. Broth was flavorful and noodles had a good consistency. Decently sized bowl that was very comforting. Service was nice. There's some outdoor seating as well. read more

It was getting late and I couldn't sleep. I looked up my favorite comfort food- ramen. I found Kotoya and it was open late (I think midnight) They have 2 touch screen self serve ordering screens. I ordered the veggie curry ramen with tofu, 2 eggs, spring onion, corn and wood ear mushrooms along with an order of garlic edamame. The edamame arrived quickly and it was super garlicky and savory. The ramen was delicious! It had the right consistency of curry. The table had spices to add as well. I added Japanese spice, pepper. The ramen hit the spot and it's authentic. On my way out I told the chef "ごちそうさまでした!" (Gochisōsamadeshita!) read more

Kotoya Ramen - Veggie curry ramen with 2 eggs - Ramen Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Order on a tablet. Place is small and has only two booth seating but intended for just one person sitting on each side and then there's like countertop sitting. I loved the tofu nuggets. Got the curry chicken ramen and it was pretty good. Everything was solid. read more

Kotoya Ramen - Tofu nuggets - Ramen Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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This is place is my second favorite ramen place in LA (first is Tsujita on Sawtelle). It's a small place that has 4 booths and then 4-6 counter spots. My partner and I havent been since 2020 and now they have a dank to-go system. We usually get the black garlic ramen. The broth isn't too heavy and the flavors are amazing. We always leave satisfied that we came, never disappoints. Only reason Tsujita is #1 is because the pork there is slightly better, BUT this place doesn't have a long wait and you'll be happy you came here too. read more

Kotoya Ramen - Black Garlic Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Kotoya Ramen is a hole-in-the wall Ramen spot in Palms, a primarily residential area. The spot is cute and dainty, not offering a huge amount of space, but boasts a compact Japanese interior with a few booths, bar seating, and a small outside eating area. The service was standard. Parking can be difficult at night, where most of street parking is taken, and your best bet is across the street in a plaza's parking. I ordered the Original Ramen, which I did not enjoy. - way too much pepper - broth not rich - pork had good texture, but no fat, nor flavorful - egg seems precooked, and the yolk was hard throughout - noodles more on thicker side, chewy Overall, 3.5/10. Hard to find good ramen spots that aren't located in predominately Asian food neighborhoods, and would rather travel a little farther for a bigger jump in quality. read more

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Spicy Tonkotsu is my "goto" ramen. I learned about Kotoya not long ago by accident. The I-10 was so packed, I got off the freeway to take the surface streets... and there it was... with a parking spot right in front of the restaurant... waiting for me. LOL ... This was my second visit. I am in love with their spicy tonkotsu broth and their thicker noodles. You place your order on the iPad, they don't take cash. I really enjoy sitting outside. read more

Kotoya Ramen - Spicy Tonkotsu with bean sprouts and seaweed - Ramen Near Me - Los Angeles, California

I dream about this place. Not just the best ramen noodles in LA, the best I've ever had, anywhere. And to top it off, the vibes are immaculate. 100/10 read more