Tampopo — Restaurant in Artesia

We were in the area, hoping to get hot pot but unfortunately, everybody seemed to have the same idea so we settled for the second best option - ramen. Looked up the options in the area and Tampopo seemed pretty promising. They're located in a very busy plaza with decent parking (spaces are quite tight). When we went, they didn't have dine-in just yet - everything was packaged to-go, but there were outdoor tables if you wanted to eat outside.

The lunch specials that they have here seem really cheap but the regular prices aren't too bad either. All sushi rolls are already 50% off - not sure if it was always this way, but with the markdown, prices range from $6-8, which is on the cheaper side considering the fact that you're getting various rolls besides the basic ones.

Opted for the ramen set of the tampopo ramen (regular size) with sesame chicken for $14.95. I asked for the ramen to be spicy, but since the worker said the spice level is a little high, I opted for the sauce to be on the side so that I could spice up the ramen/broth to my preference. If you're planning to eat outside, I recommend ordering the regular size as the soup is filled about halfway so that you can still have enough room to add the ramen. All of the ramen options use the same broth of pork and chicken bone (not sure about vegetable). I thought the broth was just okay; first sip was decent, but as I kept eating the ramen, it just got more and more oily. Ramen wasn't anything special but the most disappointing part was the chashu - had no color, lots of fat, and tasted a bit rubbery. About halfway, it became more of a chore to finish the ramen.

We also ordered another ramen set with 4 pieces of California roll for $11.50. Since it was the large size, I believe we compensated for the larger bowl. This was super hard to eat since the broth was filled to the brim. My friend had to do some adjusting but eventually made it work. He was pretty disappointed with the overall ramen and barely finished the chashu because of the amount of fat.

The only redeeming items from the dinner were the items that came with the ramen. Sesame chicken was pretty good. I could pair it with a bowl of rice and make that a meal. Chicken not only smelled good, but had good sesame flavor and came with sauce as well as a small salad. The California roll was alright. Tasted on point and came with ginger and some wasabi.

tl; dr - The trash was over-flowing and nobody cleaned the tables outside, so it's up to the customers to make sure you have a pretty clean spot. I'm no ramen connoisseur, but even I felt like the quality was a little subpar. Broth, noodles, and meat weren't great. Maybe I'd come back for the sushi, but I wouldn't order ramen from this...

Popo?! Where? Oh, Tampopo. They're right over there!

Tampopo Restaurant has been a long term tenant at the Artesia City Plaza. I remember dining at the prior occupant (Sushi Samurai, I believe), many years ago. Originally planning to dine at Katsumura, only to find they're not open Mondays, Tampopo became Plan B for some sustenance.

Lunch Specials & 50% off Sushi everyday

Tampopo ramen & gyoza lunch special- Priced at $14.95, the Tampopo ramen & gyoza lunch special was a good deal. The broth was thinner than what was expected, and the ramen wasn't al dente (more spaghetti-like) to my preference. However, the bowl of soup had an ample amount of food with three thick slabs of tender pork belly.

The gyoza provided a nice textural contrast to the ramen, and were pleasurable to eat.

Service was good. Seating was readily available and the wait was minimal for food. Parking is at the Artesia City Plaza, which can become quite difficult to find during peak hours. Tampopo is located in-between Bakers & Baristas & Sweetee Thai.

Not ramen quite comparable to a dedicated ramen shop, Tampopo's ramen & gyoza lunch special is still a bargain for a filling meal. Things are expensive now, so I find Tampopo's reasonable pricing & ample quantities and good choice when in search of a meal option...

Tampopo

Korean owners with Japanese food, yet good combination and tasty.

Tampopo is famous for fair price and generous portion. We have been here a few times and each time, we are really full without breaking out wallet.

They also have lunch special for really good price. We have to pack the left overs. It was too much even it is only for one person. They are really generous.

The service is not bad. They tend to wait until you call them. I drink a lot of water and it is gone fast. But when you call them, they show up within a minute. Not too bad.

They are also nice that they don’t force you to eat and leave fast. A very relaxed place for either lunch or dinner. Not only Asians like here, it has all kinds of ethnic groups that show how popular they are.

I like this place. Keep up...