Kashiwa Ramen — Restaurant in Costa Mesa

Went on a ruse cruise ordering from here:

My partner and I ordered two bowls of ramen from here to-go. I got the Black Garlic ramen. Upon arriving a gentleman behind the counter just stares at us as we entered the restaurant and after a bit of an awkward staring match, the woman working the front comes to help us out. When we returned home to eat I noticed there was this ominous black layer at the top of my broth that looked quite similar to burned food or the char that you find at the bottom of your pan after burning something. Took a slurp of broth to find what tasted like pieces of charcoal in my food. After closer inspection, I noticed a large burned blob of something (looked like actual charcoal). Outside of the weird, burned, sandy texture of my broth, it just tasted like pure cooking oil.

Turned off to the taste and texture, I called the shop to let them know and see if maybe I could drive back and swap it out for a different broth but was not met with that level of hospitality. The woman who picked up the phone sounded like she was either in a rush or just wanted to be curt. After explaining my problem with the broth, she transferred me to "the chef" who clearly sounded like he didn't want to take my feedback and at no point offered to make the situation better.

Apparently, they burn the black garlic before adding it to the broth. This would have been fantastic news to have known in advance or include on your menu. After telling the chef my problem there was a long pause, he thanked me for the feedback then asked if he could help me with anything else before hanging up. Since the broth was inedible and contained a truly odd texture that I've never experienced in ramen broth before, I ended up having to purchase broth from another (and much better) ramen shop so I could fuse that with the other ingredients I received from Kashiwa to have an edible dinner.

Once again, thank you to the staff for providing zero assistance and not listing this anywhere on your menu. The ramen market in O.C. is saturated with infinitely better...

🍜 toyama black 🗓️ 02/2025

I find myself coming back to Kashiwa every other week because they consistently pump out so many interesting specials 🫡 This time is a @kashiwaramen_oc x @shimamotonoodle collab with their take on Toyama Black.

The soup was a delicious chicken chintan paired with a dark soy sauce tare to produce this striking hue on the soup. One sip of the soup, and it's incredible how bold and caramelly the profile of this shoyu was. It's a flavor that echoes the origins of Toyama Black itself. Initially created to provide a high salt content for laborers rebuilding the region, the intensely dark soy sauce broth was a staple for those needing to replenish their energy. Many might understandably shy away from the perceived salinity of such a concentrated shoyu on its own. However, I think the salt level was just right when paired with the noodles that Shimamoto-san provided, which were thin and straight this time around. These strands came with a firm but decent chewy bite, and the gloss on their surface made for a fantastic slurping experience 🙂‍↕️

Pork chashu was my choice of protein here. While I still think the torching dried out the surface a bit for my liking, it imbued a slightly smoky character into the broth that harmonized beautifully with the tare. Black pepper was also provided on the side, which plays a significant role in many interpretations of Toyama Black. The aromatic spiciness balanced out the high-salinity soup really well while also adding a vibrant layer of complexity.

I think this is one of the few bowls I've ever had in SoCal that got me thinking, “Damn, I want to eat this same bowl again.” Easily my favorite special at Kashiwa and probably the best shoyu you will find in SoCal.

Come read more of my gibberish writings on ig...

Summary: good food, fast service, not very nice dine-in experience, will come back for to-go only

I had heard so much praise about this place, especially after spotting their curry tsukemen on Instagram--a dish I was really to try.

Our visit was around 5:30 PM, and we were seated promptly in the center of the restaurant. The staff was incredibly friendly and took the time to provide detailed responses to our questions. We ordered curry tsukemen with cold noodles and a customized ramen. We particularly appreciated the step-by-step ordering page/menu, as it allowed our kids to choose their preferred noodles, proteins, and toppings, making the experience engaging for them.

Unfortunately, our dining experience took a downturn when the owner paid a visit to the table next to ours. While engaging with the customers at that table, he inadvertently bumped into our table multiple times, causing our ramen and tsukemen soups to spill. I had to firmly grip the table each time he passed by to prevent any further disruption. Even after the staff noticed and warned him, it didn't stop. While I understand that it was unintentional, it would have been more considerate if he had taken greater care after being alerted to the problem.

Despite this disruption, I must say that the curry tsukemen was outstanding, and the ramen my kids ordered was packed with flavor. However, we did feel rushed to finish our dishes due to the distraction, which impacted negatively dining experience.

I would definitely return for the curry tsukemen, but next time, I might opt for a to-go order to avoid any similar...