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    Munchie-Ken

    4.2 (180 reviews)

    Munchie-Ken Photos

    MUNCHIE-KEN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for groups
    Happy hour specials

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    Fire cracker
    Khanh T.

    The plaza has plenty of parking and our group of 5 got seated right away! Love our server. She was super quick and courteous, even spoke Vietnamese to my parents to explain the menu. The food was great! Everything we got was delicious and we left feeling content.

    Black garlic tonkatsu
    Vincent N.

    I want to give this place 4.5 stars, but I'm rounding up! Ordered a crunch roll as an appetizer ($14), came with 8 pieces and they were pretty large sized. Imitation crab, shrimp tempura, avocado, typical crunch roll, but was definitely a good appetizer to our ramen! Ordered the Black Garlic Tonkatsu, the chashu was great, tender and firm at the same time and the noodles tasted pretty fresh! The broth was pretty good as well, although towards the end of the bowl, the garlic flavor is pretty overpowering. The Yuzu Shio was super good! Very clean lemony broth flavor! I definitely would come back to get this again! My only criticism is I wish the bowls had a little bit more noodles and toppings. I felt the bowl was a little meager but overall the flavors were great!

    David W.

    We tried Munchie-Ken for the first time and it was outstanding in all aspects. We were seated promptly and with a smile as soon as we walked through the door. The decor was enchanting and reminded me of shops in Little Tokyo. My wife and I both ordered the black garlic tonkatsu ramen and I added a seasoned egg to mine and made it spicy (level 2). WOW!! The broth was on another level SO tasty, it was perfectly seasoned and the noodles were perfectly cooked. We also shared the chicken karage which was good but not mindblowing. Highly recommend Munchie-ken for amazing ramen and first class service!

    Ume Onigiri
    Christine C.

    I really wanted to like this restaurant because it seemed like it was promoting a special chef from Japan and a different twist on ramen, but I would say that there's better ramen in the vicinity. The pork bao was decent, but for $5 per bun, I was expecting a lot more. As for the ume onigiri, the seaweed and rice was good, but it was too salty. The spicy miso tonkotsu ramen was pretty good, but the broth could be a bit more richer and flavorful. The smoked salmon ramen was just so-so. The salmon wasn't the best quality and the broth was a bit on the watery side. The ramen noodles were a good consistency, but they were a bit choppy and not as long as usual. The restaurant ambience is decent. Nothing fancy and just like a typical casual eatery. The service was fair and if you use your Yelp check-in, they will offer you free dessert which is two small scoops of ice cream. The restaurant is in an outdoor plaza with a good amount of parking so it is convenient. Not sure if we'd go back, but at least we gave it a shot.

    Creamy Salmon Ramen with Spicy Miso
    Harrison T.

    Munchie-Ken is a new ramen restaurant that just recently opened in FV that previously was occupied by Fukusuke. They serve fusion ramen with a heavier focus on fish broth for their ramen and after recently having stopped by for dinner, they can certainly make a tasty bowl of ramen! The chef is from Japan having already operated and owned a ramen shop there and has fortunately brought his unique flavors here. I had the Creamy Salmon ramen with spicy miso and it was so good! There was smoked salmon pieces in the bowl and a bigger piece of salmon on top. The broccoli was an unexpected topping that surprisingly worked well with the creamy broth that had a great, deep flavor but wasn't too rich or overpowering. The sweet potato tempura added some good crunch and added more texture to such a good bowl. They also serve other japanese dishes like katsu and sushi rolls but I'll try them on my next lunch or dinner here. There's plenty of seating if you want to bring a group and they also have lunch specials as well! My only gripe is that the ramen here is priced on the higher side with pricing similar to shops in LA. My bowl cost $17.50 after adding the spicy miso paste so that might deter some people from stopping by but the quality is pretty high here so I can understand why it costs more and their fish broths do help them stand out! Overall, I recommend stopping by for lunch or dinner to try something new if you are a fan of ramen, you probably haven't had anything like this before! I can't wait to come back soon to try the rest of their menu!

    Shihito pepper
    Brigitte C.

    If you're after a refreshing twist on traditional ramen, Yuzu Shio Ramen is the one to try. The broth is light and clear, perfectly seasoned to let the citrusy yuzu shine through. The noodles are just right, offering a satisfying chew, and the broth is the best. While savoring this ramen, my friend and I also indulged in their blistered shishito peppers and their chicken karaage, a delightful happy hour treat. Their mild heat and smoky flavor made for a perfect appetizer. We also got drinks: I got a peach Chu-Hi which is similar to a peach soda and a Sapporo beer. Between the vibrant ramen and the tasty happy hour, it was an exceptional dining experience that left me eager to return. Food: 9/10 Value: 10/10 Ambiance: Cozy and chill; perfect for anytime of the day by yourself or with friends.

    Michelle L.

    UPDATE: Restaurant refunded our meals which was very nice and assured us they went thru all their fish and made sure nothing was spoiled. Service was great however after eating here my husband got SEVERE food poisoning. He eats fish I don't so I was fine. This place is never that busy so not sure their fish is the freshest. Tried to call but their phone doesn't work. Not happy after spending $105 on lunch for Father's Day.

    a plate of food
    Jean Y.

    First time I visited Munchiken Ramen. Nice and clean. Had spicy miso ramen and T had katsu curry. Food came real fast! Curly thin noodle cooked perfectly, which means not too hard or too soft. Misosoup base was also perfect. Not much of veges in the ramen. Just soybean sprouts. Chashu was pretty good. Actually I am picky about chashu part in ramen. It shouldn't be too much of pork smell or taste. T loved his katsu! Not many of katsu curry places are in the neighborhood, T said. Good ramen and katsu curry place tucked in on Brookhurst. Lemongrass paste was very different though good. Munchiken hot sauce remind me of Korean gochujang.

    Happy hour deal!!!
    Smith M.

    They have the best ramen in the oc area. I have tried tonkotsu shoyu ramen, it was the best ramen I have tried. I came here since day1 ,and all the food is getting better and better. Thank you munchie-Ken.

    Kids Happy Meal Menu (Feb 2024)
    Diane L.

    Munchie-Ken is located near Stonefire Grill with plenty of parking. We stopped by here for a late lunch on a Saturday afternoon and were seated immediately. I ordered the spicy (level 3) tonkotsu ramen and it did not disappoint. The broth was rich, creamy and flavorful. It was served hot which always make ramen taste better. The portion was just right and the prices reasonable. Service was also excellent. I will definitely be back.

    Shoyu ramen and Original (Tonkotsu) Ramen
    Khanh H.

    Small and cozy restaurant. I ordered Shoyu ramen with chicken broth, my boyfriend got the Original tonkotsu ramen. I like it's lighter than pork broth. They have yakotaki on Friday as well.

    Banana Tempura
    Ricky Y.

    First time eating this ramen restaurant and WOW! After carefully looking through all their options, I decided to try out their Scallop ramen on their special menu. This was the perfect example of "simplicity is perfection". The broth was super flavorful and I never knew how good scallop would be in ramen til I tried it here :). Service is top notch, super nice and attentive so you will feel at home. Lastly, they really captured all of the japanese vibes inside the restaurant with some awesome wall paintings that really set the mood. I recommend this ramen place to anyone who loves or is interested in trying out ramen for the first time! PS: Their dessert options are unique and really delicious. Leave room for them!

    Spicy Tonkotsu Ramen
    Julie Ann N.

    Location: Brookhurst/Garfield. Same plaza as Stonefire Grill, Lollicup, 85c Bakery and Philly's Best I had a sudden ramen craving and wanted to check this place out. Sonny recommended the Spicy Tonkatsu, level two. I opted for even spicier, LEVEL THREE - because I'm dangerous like that. Broth was flavorful and I could see myself ordering this again. The lunch special includes a mini chashu bowl for just $1. I took a bite but saved the rest for an afternoon snack later. Highly recommend if you're in the area !

    Salmon lover roll

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    Munchie K.

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    Authentic Japanese ramen. Love the light but on point flavor of their broths. Customer service is great, highly recommend!

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    Kappo Honda

    4.0(2k reviews)
    0.3 mi
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    Kappo Honda is such a wonderful place to wind down with a beer and some good casual food. I sat at…read morethe counter, but they're cooking such a large volume of food that they've put up a big screen between the chiefs and the diners to avoid a large amount of smoke moving into the dining area. I got to watch the process a bit which was cool! I think anything you order here will probably be good, especially paired with a couple cold beers. You MUST get some skewers of course, my favorites being anything pork belly and chicken skin. I also highly recommend any charred meat, like the steak or marinated short ribs. Fried foods are also great drinking foods, so the takoyaki is a safe bet and the tempura was delicious. Honestly, get a wide variety with some friends, try everything and have a good time.

    TLDR: It's easily one of my favorite Japanese restaurants. It's not because everything I ordered…read morewas the best, but it's because everything I ordered was either above average or podiums on my list. I think the price was also reasonable, which is all one could ask for when dining out. Chicken Teriyaki: I really enjoyed this, because I rarely go to Japanese restaurants that serve chicken teriyaki outside of a side dish in ACYE. The chicken is juicy, the teriyaki sauce is just the right hit. Not too salty, a hint of sweet, and the dish overall is generally light. A great complement to the rolls, yakitori, ramen, or whatever. Kyushu Ramen: I will admit that this ramen will fall on the pile of "generic ramens that non-specialty stores sell". However, there is nothing wrong with ordinary, if ordinary means that a restaurant is proud to serve something at a respectable price with a solid taste. Beef Tongue: It's no secret that beef tongue is good. The problem is finding an establishment that can cook it well. Kappo Honda does it well, and they offer a very good diving board to those who want to try it for the first time. Bay Scallop with Pork: I like it when I see an item on the menu that has a few words, and I taste all the flavors that the words communicated. You get the taste of pork the first second, then the burst of scallop on the first or second chew. A nicely designed stick overall. Service: Nothing special. They ask what you want, they give you what you want, you pay, and leave. I would say it'll take you a second to take the menu in, so try to see if the staff could help you out with options. Ambiance: It's a sizable place, but it feels small because of all the seats packed in. I enjoyed it because it gives a very Japanese vibe. The inside of the restaurant is full of autographs of famous people who dined at some point, very Japanese.

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    IZAKAYA OSEN

    IZAKAYA OSEN

    4.3(2.2k reviews)
    6.0 mi
    $$$
    Outdoor seating
    Full bar

    Unagi was delicious! 10/10 We kept ordering more cause how good it was. I love that the rice was…read moreflavorful too. So good. It's in the details. Loved wrapping it in the extra seaweed Unagi toro bowl, bomb. 9/10, -1 point cause wish more unagi. Sasha platter was good! 9/10 thick yummy fresh pieces. My toro had a stringy section but other than that was good. 9 pieces was good to share for 2 amongst other dishes Angel our server was so nice!! Great service. Drinks are so bomb!! The henny strawberry was strong and sweet 8.5/10 Lemon drop, delicious as a lemon drop usually is 9/10 Lychee martini also delicious perfectly balanced and sweet 10/10 Special shoutout for their ginger too, tasted like they pickle it and has a sweetness to it too. Like I said in the details. Amazing food great service will definitely be back

    Izakaya Osen is easily one of my favorite spots in OC for sushi and Japanese food. Everything I've…read moretried here has been delicious, from the skewers to the sashimi platters and carpaccios. Everything is always super fresh, and the service is great. The portions are perfect for sharing but still feel generous. The sea bass kushiyaki literally melts in your mouth, and the prime beef kushiyaki was so tender. The blue crab uni bowl is also really fun because you get to make your own hand rolls. The cuts of sashimi are always really thick here too. Overall, you really can't go wrong with anything here. The interior is spacious and modern, making it perfect for a date night or girls' night out. They also have private rooms if you're coming with a larger group or celebrating something special. Definitely one of my go-to spots in OC when I'm craving Japanese food. Parking is easy in their paid structure -- just be sure to validate before you leave!

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    Takaya Yakitori Izakaya

    4.2(405 reviews)
    3.6 mi
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    This place is a gem. Reservations only!! Dont go without a reservation!!…read more Small space inside. But i think this allows them to keep better quality control for their food. Service was wonderful and the food was bery fresh and delicious. Glad we found this place and will be coming back.

    Honestly, I don't understand why this place is so popular or has such a high rating…read more We came here on Saturday night, August 31st, because we had heard so many good things about this restaurant. Unfortunately, the experience was a major disappointment. The service was technically fine, but the attitude of the servers was very average. There wasn't much warmth or friendliness, and overall it just didn't feel welcoming. As for the food, honestly, almost nothing we ordered was good. The Tako Wasa was especially disappointing. We've had Tako Wasa many times before, but this was completely different from what we expected. It didn't even taste like the same dish we were familiar with. We also ordered some fried items, including the black pork tonkatsu, which we saw recommended online. Unfortunately, it was extremely bland. Even the fried coating seemed to have almost no seasoning, making the whole dish very boring. The yakitori was another disappointment. The meat had a noticeable gamey/fishy smell, which made it difficult to enjoy. Out of everything we ordered, the only things we actually enjoyed were the clam soup and the cut roll. Overall, I really don't understand the hype. The restaurant being reservation-only makes it seem like it's supposed to be a special dining experience, but in my opinion, the food simply doesn't justify it. For us, it was absolutely not worth the effort or the price. If I had to choose again, I would much rather go to Honda Ya or Habuya. Both are better choices in my opinion. Very disappointing experience, especially considering how highly rated this place is.

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    Munchie-Ken - ramen - Updated September 2026

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