Sawtelle is known for its abundance of delicious Japanese cuisine, especially their delicious ramen! Intrigued by the culinary scene, I wanted to see what the best ramen spot was, so I visited three prominent restaurants: Killer Noodle Tsujita, Tsujita Artisan Noodle and Tatsu Ramen.
Killer Noodle Tsujita
Address: 2030 Sawtelle Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90025
The line to get into Killer Noodle was very short, and it appears to be one of the less busy ramen places in Sawtelle. Upon asking for a recommendation, the waiter suggested the Downtown Ramen, noting it as their most popular dish. Wanting a good kick of heat without it being overpowering, I opted for a level four on their spiciness scale. The Downtown Ramen comes fully loaded with a variety of toppings, so I didn’t feel the need to add anything extra. The dish features a rich chicken and pork broth, combined with chili oil, Sichuan peppercorn, sesame sauce, peanut butter, vinegar, white sesame, bean sprouts, nikumiso, cashew, cucumber and Ajitama.
This dish was undoubtedly flavorful, though I found the nutty taste a bit too pronounced for my liking. Also, while it might be appealing to many, I wasn’t particularly fond of the nikumiso, as I don’t prefer ground meat in ramen. Nonetheless, the broth was delicious with a tangy flavor profile and I appreciated the level of spice. Overall, Killer Noodle offers a good ramen experience, though it may not be my first choice compared to other ramen places in Sawtelle.
Tsujita Artisan Noodle
Address: 2057 Sawtelle Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90025
This ramen restaurant is the hot spot in Sawtelle and the wait was quite long, a testament to the anticipation surrounding their renowned ramen. Tsujita is known for their signature dish, the Chashu Tsukemen. Served with cold noodles and a warm dipping broth, the dish had great texture and flavor. The ramen was topped with extra chashu pork, green onions, fried garlic chips and a soft boiled egg. The noodles were an excellent foundation for the dish and the broth had immense flavor. As I savored each bite, the broth revealed various new flavors, although it did get saltier with time. My advice: eat as quickly as possibly to savor it at its prime! The best part of this dish was the chashu– tender, savory and bursting with flavor. While it was a little fatty, that’s where the magic lies!
Overall, this is a balanced and great dish with perfectly cooked chashu and noodles. It definitely is a must-try for ramen enthusiasts.
Tatsu Ramen
Address: 2123 Sawtelle Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90025
When I went to order, the line wasn’t too long since I went early, however this place is open late, so as the night goes on, the line gets longer. At the kiosk, I asked the waiter for their favorite ramen recommendation, as this place didn’t have a signature dish. They recommended the Hippie Ramen with an added egg, and I decided to give it a try. The ramen features a rich, flavorful vegan broth paired with curly noodles, topped with fresh spinach, sweet onions, cheese, chicken (other options were pork or tofu) and a hint of ginger. Being a fan of spicy food, I also requested some chili oil.
From the first bite, I was in love. The flavors were incredibly comforting and delicious. The broth stood out as the best I’ve ever had—so good that I could easily enjoy it on its own. The toppings perfectly complemented the dish, and adding the miso egg was an inspired choice. The yolk was delightfully runny, creating a killer combination with the broth. I slurped my bowl clean and can confidently say this is the best ramen in Sawtelle.
While all three ramen spots were delicious in their own way, my personal favorite among the three was definitely Tatsu. The Hippie Ramen’s rich vegan broth and fresh toppings, complemented by the added miso egg, offered a comforting and delicious experience that stood out as the best ramen spot in Sawtelle.
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Featured Image Photographed by Emily Chandler/BruinLife.
