Hakata Ikkousha Tonkotsu Ramen Little Tokyo — Restaurant in Los Angeles

This place is an absolute scam. Do NOT come here! I came with my kid and an elderly family member to have ramen, and the experience was beyond terrible.

First, when we walked in, this short guy with a bad attitude tried to seat us at the bar by the door. We asked if we could sit at an empty table nearby, and only then did he let us. No greeting, no basic courtesy.

Then, when it was time to order, there was ZERO explanation—nothing. It was our first time there, and he just told us to write down our order ourselves. It took us about 10 minutes to figure everything out.

The ramen? Absolutely disgusting. Super cheap ingredients, a thick layer of grease floating on top, and the meat tasted like it wasn’t even fresh. None of us could finish it.

The restroom was absolutely filthy and disgusting.

Now, here’s where it gets really bad: When we went to pay, this guy OVERCHARGED us. When we pointed it out, he insisted he was right. Only after we went through the bill line by line did he finally redo it—without a single apology. Then, the second bill he brought us was even MORE expensive than the first! Again, he claimed there was no mistake until we made him check it again. Only on the THIRD try did he finally give us the correct total.

At this point, his attitude was straight-up nasty. I was pissed, but I still planned to tip 10%, which I thought was reasonable given his behavior. But the moment he saw me enter 10%, he snatched the POS machine right out of my hand and aggressively told me to “hurry up and pay and get out.”

I called him out on his attitude, and he straight-up said, “This is just how I am.” I was done. I changed my mind on tipping and left him nothing. Paid my bill and got out.

As we were leaving, he kept saying we weren’t welcome and telling us to “get out.” Unbelievable. I have no idea how this place is still in business. The food is bad enough, but the service is beyond disrespectful.

To anyone reading this—CHECK YOUR BILL...

I wouldn't recommend this place whatsoever. The food is overpriced, with subpar service.

I ordered ramen to-go because I wanted to bring home ramen for my partner. I waited outside for 30 minutes before going in and asking how much longer until my order is ready. At first, the cashier pointed at a cook who was finishing up a bowl, claiming that my order was just about to be out. She said that they were behind because they were busy (which the store was packed, even at 8:00 PM), but also that they spilled two ramen bowls and were extra behind. I didn't mind too much, although it would have been nice if she informed me about how long I would be waiting for my order either in the beginning or when she knew it would take a little extra time because they messed up other people's orders. With years of experience in the food industry, I see no reason why she couldn't take just one second to inform me about my delayed order, especially since I was the only person who ordered to-go and I was sitting outside the restaurant the whole time.

But on top of everything, she looked over and noticed that my order was already completed. She nonchalantly handed it to me without even apologizing or stating how long it has been sitting there.

I'm not sure how the food tastes yet, but the portion is pretty disappointing, especially with me spending almost $30 on one bowl (I got the tonkkatsu ramen bowl with the everything plus toppings and spicy sauce). The pork chasu also looks pretty thinly sliced so I doubt I'll be coming back ever.

Update:

The food is decent and definitely not worth the cost. The broth is pretty good but the pork chasu, noodles, and toppings together left something to be desired. Their spice, the "Fire Ball," is not really spicy and again, not worth an extra $1.50.

Especially with the area being surrounded by Ramen joints, please save your time, money, and taste buds by eating...

I have come back to edit my review: This Ramen is love. This Ramen is Life. I cannot live without it. Now that I have begun to eat at this place regularly, I can't be satisfied by any other Ramen place. The tiny noodles, the amazing flavors, the little hole-in-the-wall vibe, nothing tops Hakata Ikkousha.

I love this Ramen joint like a family member. These chefs are Gods of Ramen. They are the masters of flavor. The ultimate creators of the most sacred thing on earth.

I would stand in the rain for hours to get a chance to eat this. I would brave high seas, blizzards, tornadoes, hurricanes, man or beast to eat this food. There is nothing I wouldn't do to have this Ramen at least once a week.

I have a hard time enjoying Ramen elsewhere because I have tasted the divine nectar and ambrosia of Hakata Ikkousha. MAY THE GODS SMILE UPON YOU SIRS FOR A THOUSAND YEARS!

Original Review:

I don’t even know how to describe the deep joy and happiness this ramen place gives me. I was just introduced to it a couple months ago and now I crave it every day. The broth is delicious and the God Fire is so spicy and good that it warms your soul. Everything in this place is perfect; the staff are kind and attentive, the ambience is modern with a clean and crisp look, and the food is top notch out of this world.

This is the best ramen you will eat in Little Tokyo. Probably in Los Angeles!

I need to eat this at least once a week now or else I feel like I’m missing something. The noodles are so perfectly chewy and thin. The rich broth and freshness of the ingredients gives an overwhelming feeling of warmth and coziness. This is the ultimate comfort food.

They will serve you relatively quickly even if there’s a rush. The restrooms are extremely clean.

If you haven’t been to Hakata Ikkousha you’re really missing out. 5 stars, perfect...