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The Best Ramen in Los Angeles

Little Tokyo's downtown ramen cluster and the newer Westside counters — where to eat tonkotsu, kotteri, and shoyu bowls across the city.

By Dim Hour · Updated 2026-07-18 · 6 verified picks

Little Tokyo has the densest ramen cluster in Los Angeles, and Tenkaippin — the Kyoto-born kotteri chain's first U.S. location, serving the thick chicken-based broth created there in 1971 — anchors it. The picks below run from that broth to Silver Lake's line-out-the-door counter, each one scored and verified by Dim Hour.

A note on style: this list mostly runs tonkotsu and kotteri-style pork- or chicken-based broths, the richest end of the ramen spectrum, with LA's ramen scene concentrated in two clusters — Little Tokyo downtown and the newer Westside/Culver City wave. Expect counter seating, no reservations, and a wait at peak hours for the most popular bowls.

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The Picks
1

MENSHO TOKYO

Japanese Ramen · Culver City · $$ · Dim Hour 90

A Japanese ramen counter on Culver Boulevard in Culver City, serving bowls in a casual, no-frills setting — one of the higher-scored ramen counters on the Westside.

📍 9516 Culver Blvd, Culver City, CA 90232 Full listing on Dim Hour →
2

Hinodeya Ramen & Bar

Ramen · Little Tokyo · $$ · Dim Hour 90

A ramen counter in Little Tokyo pairing bowls with a small bar menu — one of several Hinodeya locations across the LA area's biggest Japanese ramen cluster.

📍 232 E 2nd St Ste b, Los Angeles, CA 90012 Website ↗ Full listing on Dim Hour →
3

Kopan Sushi & Ramen

Japanese · Koreatown · $$ · Dim Hour 86

A Koreatown spot on South Western Avenue splitting its menu between sushi and ramen, part of a small local group with several LA-area locations. Dine-in, delivery, and pickup all available.

📍 621 S Western Ave #208, Los Angeles, CA 90005 Website ↗ Full listing on Dim Hour →
4

Tonchin

Ramen · Hollywood · $$ · Dim Hour 86

The Melrose Avenue outpost of Tonchin, a ramen group with sister locations in New York and Brooklyn — a rare case of an NYC ramen name crossing over to LA.

Order: shishito · edamame · kyuri · kimchi mushrooms · tebasaki
📍 5665 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90038 Website ↗ Full listing on Dim Hour →
5

Tenkaippin

Ramen · Little Tokyo · $$ · Dim Hour 86

The brand's first U.S. location, in Little Tokyo, serving the original kotteri-style chicken-based broth created in Kyoto in 1971 by Tsutomu Kimura — a formula that built more than 200 locations across Japan before reaching Los Angeles.

📍 333 1st St, Los Angeles, CA 90012 Website ↗ Full listing on Dim Hour →
6

Silverlake Ramen

Ramen · Silver Lake · $$ · Dim Hour 84

A Silver Lake counter on Sunset that helped turn the neighborhood into a bowl-slurping destination, known for lines at peak hours. The kitchen runs long-simmered tonkotsu-style broths alongside spicy and vegetarian options, plus rice bowls and shareable starters.

📍 2927 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90026 Website ↗ Full listing on Dim Hour →
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best ramen in Los Angeles?
The top ramen picks in Los Angeles include MENSHO TOKYO, Hinodeya Ramen & Bar, Kopan Sushi & Ramen. Each is scored and verified by Dim Hour; see the full ranked list with signature dishes above.
What neighborhoods have the best ramen in LA?
These picks cluster in Culver City, Little Tokyo, Koreatown, Hollywood, Silver Lake — Little Tokyo alone accounts for several of the strongest bowls.
What is the history behind Tenkaippin's ramen?
Tenkaippin serves the original kotteri-style chicken-based broth created in Kyoto in 1971 by Tsutomu Kimura — a recipe that spread to more than 200 locations in Japan before this Little Tokyo restaurant became its first U.S. location.
Where can I get vegan ramen in LA?
Silverlake Ramen in Silver Lake runs a vegetarian option alongside its tonkotsu-style broths.
Do LA ramen shops take reservations?
Rarely — most ramen counters in LA, including every pick on this list, run walk-in and counter-seating only.
How many restaurants does Dim Hour cover in Los Angeles?
Dim Hour curates 1,270+ restaurants in Los Angeles, each scored and verified, organized by neighborhood, cuisine, and occasion.
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