Daikokuya - Sawtelle — Restaurant in Los Angeles

It’s not common for me to write a review but as someone that loves ramen I can’t let this place get the praise it used to have from its former glory. I visited this Ramen Bar for my first time maybe 5 years ago. This was when there were not many good Ramen bars around. At the time, the taste of their Tonkotsu broth was captivating. Their eggs were perfectly softboiled and runny. I would come back about once or twice a year since then whenever I visited LA. But over the last 2 years I have noticed a significant decline in their quality and yesterday was the last straw. I ordered a Daikokuya Ramen with a side of Chicken Egg Rice Bowl. The service was great and the food came out fast. Probably too fast...the broth was not hot at all. The ramen didn’t seemed cooked long enough. The egg was not soft boiled. It actually seemed old? Like it’s been premade for the week. The rice bowl looked like it was just microwaved. I’m deeply deeply sad that this once amazing Ramen Bar has turned into this basic fast food level ramen shop. I would not want friends or people that I know visiting LA from out of town to wait for 2 hours to get food of this lacking quality. I hope things will change back to the original quality for them. I may still come now and then to see if the quality has changed but for me it’s sad to say that this place is no longer the best ramen bar in...

I've been going to Daikokuya for years. I don't know why I waited until tonight to write this review, but let me spin you a love story.

It was late September in 2016. My last week at a previous job. My coworkers suggested we go out to lunch as a send-off for me. They told me to pick.

We had already gone to Tsujita months before, so I looked at other places. The glowing reviews for Daikokuya stood out to me. So here we went.

We started with the sliced roast pork, which is perfectly sweet and savory. It's something I could probably eat continuously for the rest of my life and be perfectly happy. Is there a way to arrange that?

I also had the spicy ramen, which was flavorful and filling.

Since then, I've gone back with friends visiting from out of town, friends across town, family, other co-workers. I've been here alone. I keep coming back because the ramen is so good, and the atmosphere is so cool. It's like (I imagine) being on a Tokyo street.

Since my first visit, I've switched to the Daikoku Ramen, which isn't spicy. Every element is full of flavor without being too salty. Highly recommended.

There's often a wait here, but it's worth it. The service is always solid, the food is always top notch, and the experience is always a joy. Daikokuya, you are the ramen I have been waiting for since I was 5 years old and I called Top Ramen...

Open until at least 2 am on nights is great. The place itself is very small which can't be helped, but the parking garage nearby is free and street parking is free after 8 or 9 most nights.

It's a very popular place, even at night time. On weekends it can get especially busy with up to 45-60 minute waits, so if you're planning on taking a large group or getting something quick you may want to reset your expectations. They have outdoor seating to accommodate as best as they can for their small space.

The food itself is great though! On top of rice bowls, ramen, tsukemen and more they have a late night menu. If you're ordering a combo, it's a good value in the fact you get a half sized rice bowl and a full ramen for under $20 (most combos). The rice bowls as full orders also come with cabbage salad and miso soup, so it's a great deal if you're hungry.

Food itself is top-notch, and I haven't ordered anything that I didn't love in the 10 or so times I've gone there. Highly suggest the tsukemen if you want something soupy, or any of the pork rice bowls if you're...