Sophia Vaughan
Staff Writer
With ramen becoming a new favorite of Manhattan Beach residents, many have found they have to travel for the delicacy, and the most acclaimed ramen in Los Angeles can be found in Little Tokyo.
Little Tokyo, which is filled with streets of different ramen restaurants, provides a diverse and overwhelming selection of ramen restaurants. However, some ramen restaurants have garnered attention from food critics as the best of the best.
Perhaps the two most critically acclaimed spots in L.A. are a sharp contrast of each other, Daikokuya and Men Oh Tokushima Ramen. Daikokuya is undoubtedly the more famous of the two and is consistently flooded with customers in the heart of Little Tokyo, with lines always out the door. However, Men Oh is more of a hidden gem, and although never empty, is tucked away in Little Tokyo’s Honda Plaza, with a much more quiet atmosphere.
Men Oh Tokushima is the first Japanese chain restaurant to be opened in the streets of L.A., as it becomes increasingly trendy for Japanese ramen chains to try their luck internationally. However, the customer would never know that it is a chain, as the restaurant boasts an attentive wait staff and a private atmosphere, making the space nothing less than inviting.
The restaurant is immediately welcoming, filled with subtle Japanese inspired decor. The tables are adorned with sauces, ranging in their level of spice. A cup on the table holds an assortment of charming ramen spoons, and the staff invites you to look at the menu, only enhancing the welcome feeling of the restaurant.
Men Oh Tokushima serves lunch and dinner and is renowned for its pork, which is the delicacy of Tokushima, Japan. Men Oh has also garnered attention for its homemade green tea and thick egg noodles. The L.A. Times former celebrated food critic, Jonathan Gold, even proclaimed the restaurant to be, “almost certainly the best ramen in Little Tokyo at the moment, or at least the most refined.”
The menu features a large range of appetizers and main dishes. Appetizers include karaage (japanese fried chicken), takoyaki (fried octopus balls) and pork gyoza. The gyoza has an excellent texture, with the perfect balance between a slight crunch and a soft outer shell. The pork and vegetables are rich and fresh, living up to the region’s reputation for some of Japan’s best pork.
The main menu stars a variety of ramen options, including their signature dish, Tokushima Ramen. The dish features all of the restaurants most famous specialities, including the perfectly cooked egg noodles and rich regional pork. The pork is barely seasoned, relying on the natural quality of the meat. A pleasant surprise comes in the form of the mushrooms, which provide a burst of flavor, seasoned with a refreshingly unique combination of spices. The broth is thick and miso-style, creating a dish that is an excellent medley of flavors and makes the restaurant stand out from other ramen places nearby.
The menu also extends to tailor the needs of customers seeking healthier options, featuring selections such as the Black Garlic Ramen with a lighter broth and thinner noodles. The Vegetable Ramen also supplies a delicious option for vegetarians. For those seeking an option other than ramen, a pork rice bowl is available.
Authentic refreshments are also listed on the menu, including Men Oh’s unique green tea. The tea boasts one of Little Tokyo’s most vibrant green colors in town. Athough the tea is unsweetened, it still manages to leave behind a delicate aftertaste.
Despite being outside of Little Tokyo’s main strip, Men Oh Tokushima is worth the trip and serves flavorful ramen amidst a quiet atmosphere that can be seldom found in Little Tokyo. Men Oh Tokushima opens at 11:30 a.m. everyday, closing at 10 p.m. and staying open until 11 p.m. on Saturdays. It can be found on 456 E 2nd St. in Los Angeles.
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