Silverlake Ramen — Restaurant in Los Angeles

So there's this ramen place in Silver Lake called, simply enough, Silverlake Ramen. It has over 3000 reviews, which is a whole hell-of-a-lot of reviews for any place. So I tried it out tonight, because - well, that's what I do.

How to best describe the ramen at this place? ?????? Okay, I think I've got this: "Let's say Martha Stuart read an article (translated from the original Japanese) written by the bellhop at the Shinjuku Hilton. The article was submitted as part of a contest sponsored by the Tokyo Shimbun (Tokyo Times), titled "The Best Bowl of Ramen I Ever Ate!" Mr. Watanabe (the Hilton's weekend bellhop) had submitted his entry at the behest of his wife, who always told him he had a "wonderful way with words" (in Japanese of course). His entry was selected as the Grand Prize winner, and printed in the paper's 'Sunday Food Adventure's' edition.

Ms. Stuart received the translated version of Mr. Watanabe's article in an email sent from an arduous fan who was very fond or what she called 'oriental' cuisine. Ms. Stuart was so moved by Mr. Watanabe's description that she set out to recreate his favorite bowl of ramen in her very own kitchen. Even though Ms. Stuart had never eaten a bowl of ramen in her life, or watched a video of someone eating ramen, or even seen a picture of what a bowl of ramen looks like, she felt confident she could recreate Mr. Watanabe's favorite bowl on just his description alone.

After several hours in her kitchen (four, to be exact), Martha Stuart emerged with her rendition of Mr. Watanabe's favorite bowl of ramen.

Now while I concede that Martha Stuart is an extraordinary chef, and she can probably make anything taste great, the ramen at Silverlake Ramen tastes exactly like what I expect Martha Stuart to make in four hours in her kitchen, after never actually eating ramen before in her life.

The broth was shallow, no depth at all, like it was concocted by adding ingredients together to recreate a savory broth, without actually taking the time to make a savory broth. Why is it so cloudy white? Am I supposed to believe that comes from the pork fat that has rendered for many hours on the stove? I'm sorry, this broth is just weak, it has no depth and the flavor feels, well, artificial. I am just not convinced a bunch of animal bones sat in a pot of boiling water for a really long time to contribute to this broth. (maybe I'm wrong, but that's what it tastes like).

Now let's talk about the pork belly, because obviously this place does Chashu differently than most ramen places. I did not hate the pork belly, and I'm actually a big fan of the idea of thick chunks of pork belly instead of those thinly sliced pieces of Chashu. The problem is, every bite I took of the pork belly kept singing out the same tune in my head - "Can someone please pass the salt?" All it needed was just a sprinkle of salt, less than you would actually put on a piece of caramel, and the pork would have been awesome. But without it, the awesome flavor of the pork belly felt like it was hiding inside, afraid to come out.

So in the end, some "almost great' pork belly, noodles that did not even merit leaving an impression, and a broth that felt contrived, all combined into a bowl of ramen that, honestly I'm sorry I bothered with.

Oh hell, I forgot, I waited 30 minutes for this crap. Now I'm really pissed.

I'm sorry my Silver Lake neighbors, but you people have got his...

2021.12-26/SUN_1200: Still the same after all these years and after many locations have opened! Their food quality, ambiance and staff is still excellent. We were greeted with a smile, seated quickly and our server was great. She was really nice. The ambiance is excellent because the staff is so kind, attentive and they always play great music!

We had the Pork Buns, Chicken Karage and Tsukemen Ramen and Nigori. Delicous. Nothing has changed. We started visiting this place since 2013. Throughout the years, we would visit and the food quality, prices, and customer service is consistent. There has never been a time when neither was lacking.

Their Pork Buns are still soft and succulent. The Chicken Karage is still lightly crispy on the outside and melt in your mouth delicious like the Pork Buns. Our favorite is always the Cold Dipping Noodles, Tsukemen Ramen. The broth is rich in flavor and creamy in texture. I was so full and still wanted to continue eating - it's worth the food coma! Always a favorite and we'll be back again. Silverlake Ramen is hands down, still the best ramen in LA for us!

2021.03-14/1130.SUN: We haven't been here in years and this was our first ramen spot I was taken to when I moved to LA. HOLY MOLY. IT'S STILL FIRE.

It was the consistency that we fell in love with - from customer service, the food and affordability, you can't beat it. Our food server, Isaac, who looked like Kakashi Hatake, was awesome as usual. He was super nice and attentive. He took good care of us.

The food is incredible. The best ramen in Los Angeles. Their Tsukeman Ramen broth is out of this world. No doubt. Hands down. Deliciousness. Their Chicken Karage was light and crispy and not dry and overcooked. It's been a little while since I've been here and it seems the breading is much lighter. The pork belly bun was still delicious, too. It melted in my mouth. The bun is perfect but the pork belly...no words. It's always cooked to perfection. Lightly crispy on the outside, soft and gelatinous on the inside. When it came out with our Tsukamen Ramen, it was over. Heaven in your mouth, we guarantee it. We've been other places and their broth is nothing like this.

It's good to know that there has been no decline in their quality and customer service after all these years. We always love the drive out this way to support excellent local business owners. Heck, we're SO happy they didn't shut down permanently due to COVID.

This will always stay our #1! ❤️

Two years earlier: We haven't been here in a few years and it's still amazing! We always try and get there at 11 before it really fills up and be plus we have time to find parking! You will wait in line! My favorite is the Tsukemen ramen! The broth is rich and the flavor is to die for! The only reason why I treat myself every once in a while! My drive is ALWAYS worth the wait! I'm kinda glad I do live far away otherwise they would see me...

My trip here was motivated by Bryan R.'s Yelpeview. Bryan's review was so tempting I had to go. And did I ever. I've visited a few times. Silverlake Ramen is located on Sunset in the neighborhood of Echo Park/SilverLake land. Everybody talks about hipsters coming here. It's almost like it's a reason not to come here. LA is one big hip city. LOL. It is unlike any other ramen place I have visited here and in Japan. It's truly different, so different ramen freaks are loving the difference. Here are some components of the tonkotsu bowls here that are standouts:

1. The broth-- SR claims the broth is simmered for 16 hours. Yes, you can tell, deliciousness ensues in any preparation that makes its primary component, the broth, low and slow. There is milky unctuousness to the broth, something most people are not accustomed to in a tonkotsu preparation-- I've never even had this quality of broth even in Japan. But I like it, it's got umami.

2. The pork belly is no sliver of chashu that we are all accustomed it, it's 1/2 - 3/4 of an inch, piece of belly, grilled to brown on one side. When you bite into it, I totally agree with Bryan this pork belly is out of this world, crazy good. It's sooo scrummy, I've witnessed diners ordering a second piece. This one towering giant guy ordered 4 pork bellies.... Woweth!

3. The noodles are supple, thick(er) than most ramen joints. It's not curly like some hard core ramen freaks would prefer; it's not smooth and thin like Hakata Shin Sen Gumi; it's not like the noodles at Umemura or Mr. Ramen, and certainly , not like Daikokuya's, or TOT's. A bowl of this ramen in tonkotsu broth, a side of garlic oil gives it a teasingly flavorful accent to this ramen experience that makes for good slurping. Add a side of chile paste to taste and that sends this bowl of ramen to the level of a 5 star joint.

Less 1/2 star: The wait staff is exhausted, so accustomed to the high turnover and high service expectations; they seem to be on autopilot. I think the owners here should give 'em a vacay and a raise. :)

Were I to eat ramen with hipsters again, I'll eat here. But hip or not, SR speaks volumes to the uniqueness of the bowls they serve up: heartier noodles, THAT pork belly and THAT richly bold broth so unctuously bold and different...is an experience no other ramen place can duplicate. Silverlake serves up ramen soul food, 2die4.

Thanks for the lead Bryan R.

Visits: 5+

Tip: Wait is upwards of 45 min during the dinner hour. Sometimes I've arrived at 4:30 for an early dinner. Parking is insanely crazy. Parking is free on on the street, Sundays :) But no fret SR is open...