Brian W.

We really wanted to like this place, but in the end, not sure the chicken broth ramen - did not blow us away. The noodle quality is good, the presentation is on-point. But so are a lot of other ramen places these days, and I think that might speak more to the quality of the competition. Standing out is a lot tougher than it used to be these days. Service is good, the vibe is pleasant modern wood tones, and the chicken "char siu" isn't bad... but no one in my party left raving, and I think that's the finest statement we can make.

Ray J.

Superb service, friendly servers! We tried the signature rich chicken broth ramen, a spicy ramen ( with level 1 spicy) and wagyu beef appetizer, a salad. Out of all items, the salad was the most boring item, it was just a plate of mixed greens with a few slices of fried lotus root crisp; nothing special ($13) The ramen had good flavor and it sure was different from the piork broth ramen style. The level 1 spicy was already very spicy for us, it had a layer of chili oil on top of the ramen and was hot! The beef was perfect in flavor served with crispy garlic slices and grilled to perfection, very deliciuos!

Dina A.

To survive in sawtell as a Ramen place you got to deliver to the standard . If I need to eat the frozen pan fried dumpling , I better eat at home . The stuffing is salty and so much black pepper .

Garth R.

Don't know this part of LA, just happened to be here for finalization of a tooth implant with Dr. Yamada, due to a cracked tooth - I do like to chew my ice but don't tell on me plz. Dr. Yamada gets a 100 - I'll review him later since this place is dangling a carrot in front of me, to do a Yelp review and get a free dessert. More on that later... I wanted some warm food to soothe my gum surgery and this place hit the spot with its silky warm chicken ramen. I got the Signature Rich Chicken Broth dish which comes with some minor veggies (diced red onion, some thin strips of greens) I added an egg which didn't add much flavor for me so I'd probably skip it next time and I'm def. down to try the Spicy Inferno next visit. Place is really clean and staff are accommodating but a bit awkwardly presenting with the free desert to do a YELP review. Seems like a great way to get us to participate in helping gain business; the awkward part came when I was asked repetitively to show my review before and during eating my dessert. I take a long time to do reviews in detail, and happy to do a review for free dessert, especially since I already planned to do it anyway, but I don't want to be asked about showing it and waiting for me to complete it, that was def. a bit awkward. Regardless, this place deserves five stars it was excellent and at 6 PM on Thursday not busy at all. Parking around the corner by meter or if you're there during the hours allowed, you can park for two hours if there's a spot open without paying. There are a few spots in front of the Restaurant and underground parking and maybe they validate but I didn't ask cause I used the meter around the corner.

Dee L.

Food: Ordered the signature rich chicken broth ramen. The broth was a bit too thick and salty for my taste, and I was hoping for more chicken flavor. The noodles, however, were cooked perfectly. The chicken chashu was tender, while the pork chashu was sliced very thin, incredibly tender, and flavorful -- quite different from what you get at most other ramen places. Service: Extremely good service throughout the meal. Ambience: Warm lighting, very clean, and a cozy Japanese-style atmosphere. I didn't quite enjoy the music selection, but the overall vibe was still pleasant.

Conor B.

I am always excited to check out a new ramen place so my coworkers and I jumped on the chance to check out Ramen Chikumo for a team lunch. I love the heavy, rich broth of traditional pork ramen. But chicken ramen offers something completely different. It's light and smooth. Almost refreshing compared to its pork counterpart. And Chikumo's broth nails it. It reminded me of being young and sick having a bowl of Campbells chicken soup just way more gourmet and elevated. Everything tastes fresh and perfect. Staff was friendly, but only really interacted with us when taking orders, dropping off the food, and presenting the bill. It was fine since we didn't ever need anything, but I did find it out of the ordinary that no one came in to check on us. I really am not sure how to rate to be honest. On one stand everything tasted good and fresh and the interior is clean and inviting. However, I think ultimately chicken ramen just isn't for me. I crave the richer pork broth. That's not to say others won't completely disagree with them. I would give my personal rating of the food a 3 star. But everything else 4 and, because I want to keep my own personal bias out of this review, I will side with my 4 star review. Please, go check them out and make your own decision.

Susan L.

Loved it. The broth is rich. These noodles are special - chewy, fresh, perfect. It's super clean and stylish and breezy inside. I read a bunch of reviews which were super helpful! I was surprised at how expensive this place is. I would have given five stars because the ramen is DELICIOUS and satisfying. Parking was easy and free with my validation from the restaurant. I held back one star because broth, noodles, an egg, and seaweed added up to $30. Be forewarned. Fantastic but expensive.

Kelly C.

Super cute ramen place in sawtelle with parking (90 min free with validation!). We came on Easter Sunday at 11:30am and it was empty which was so nice and relaxing! I ordered the yuzu citrus as our server said that it was a lighter ramen and it was indeed light. Aside from that, I didn't really taste any yuzu as advertised and found the noodles (thin) too mushy when I thought it would be al dente. For dessert, we ordered the matcha ice cream and were shocked to find that it was just vanilla ice cream with matcha sprinkled on it!!! :o Overall, pretty ok ramen but great service!

Shallom L.

I came here because Sawtelle is literally ramen heaven, and I wanted to try something different from the usual tonkotsu spots. Ramen Chikumo focuses on a chicken-based broth, and it was actually a really nice switch up. The broth is rich, creamy, and slow-simmered for hours, which gives it that thick, velvety texture without feeling too heavy. The noodles are egg-free, and the meats (both chicken and pork) were super tender and cooked really well. The marbled roast beef was definitely a standout for me -- super flavorful and worth ordering on the side. I also liked that they offer dipping ramen, which is perfect if you don't want your noodles getting soggy. The space itself is clean, modern, and has more of a calm, aesthetic vibe compared to other ramen spots in the area. Service was friendly and attentive too. Overall, with so many ramen options in Sawtelle, it's hard to stand out -- but this is definitely a solid switch-up if you're tired of the usual tonkotsu.

Jennifer H.

Nice modern space, classic ramen shop from Japan. I ordered the Tsukemen and asked for the warm noodles and added a $2 egg. Their broth is chicken, but still rich. Comes with 2 pieces of perfectly tender and moist chicken, as well as perfectly cooked chashu. Really enjoyed the great bowl of ramen! Service was fast and friendly. No wait on a saturday night Would come back to try their classic ramen.

Belinda C.

Ramen Chikumo has really grown on me as a quieter, low-key ramen restaurant that's tucked away on the corner of Olympic and Sawtelle. I came for the grand opening a few months ago, and I've been back a few more times since. The ramen is a chicken-based broth, so it feels lighter and healthier than a traditional pork-based broth. I've tried the signature chicken broth ramen and the yuzu citrus shio ramen. Both are delicious, but I really like the yuzu ramen. The yuzu is unique and refreshing. The noodles are the thin-type of noodles (I prefer thicker noodles like the ones at Tsujita). The surprise standout dish though is the yuzu-pickled daikon and cucumber pickles. It's just an appetizer, but the dish is a perfect balance of salty and sweet. Highly recommend. Parking is free for 90 minutes with validation in the underground lot. I've only been here for lunch, so I can't speak to the dinner crowd, but I've never had to wait for lunch. In fact, the restaurant is usually empty. It's a beautiful, minimalist space, and the servers are very friendly. I hope business picks up.

Eunice L.

One of Sawtelle's hidden ramen gems! Their signature ramen, yuzu ramen, and tsukemen are all delicious. Among the sides, the roast beef is a must-try! I used to wish they served beer, and I was so happy to hear they've finally launched draft beer -- definitely gives me a reason to go back again. The restaurant is clean, and the staff are incredibly friendly. Parking in Sawtelle is usually tough, but they have their own parking lot. If you park there and get validation, parking is free -- a huge plus!

Amy W.

Really enjoyed this chicken based ramen spot! Definitely recommend checking it out. FOOD: - Spicy Inferno Ramen: Tasty! The broth was very rich though I would've preferred it to be spicier (I got Level 2). I do prefer thicker ramen noodles but these thinner noodles were well cooked. I really enjoyed the fried lotus chip toppings! I added a soft boiled egg which was delicious and gooey. - Signature Rich Chicken Broth: My partner seemed to enjoy this! I forgot to try the broth so can't speak on it. - Roast Beef Appetizer: Really beautifully plated. We made little rolls with greens and the fried garlic chips inside the beef, which made for super fun textures. The sauce was a little salty. - Cucumber and Yuzu Daikon: Wowow loved this cold dish. The yuzu daikon was perfect - so refreshing. Highly recommend ordering this to help cut through the richness of the ramen. AMBIANCE: - Beautiful interior with lovely wooden bar seating and numerous tables. - We sat outside with our dog and the chairs were very comfortable which is rare for outdoor seating! SERVICE: - Very attentive and kind service, even though we were sitting outside! They made sure to check on us a few times which is much appreciated. They even brought a bowl of water for our dog. Overall give this place a 4.5/5. The food is clearly made with care. Parking is validated for 90 mins. Check it out! :)