Susuru Ramen Bar — Restaurant in Los Angeles

Imagine our surprise! Ranked #1 on Yelp's top ramen spots in California, Susuru Ramen Bar had us equal parts excited and worried about wait times. Walking in, however, we were greeted by… an empty restaurant. The staff was even gathered around tables, phones in hand. It was an unexpected sight for a supposed top contender.

Despite the initial oddity, we dove into the menu. We opted for the classics: tonkatsu ramen and chicken shoyu ramen, along with a plate of chicken and pork gyoza. The star of the show was definitely the tonkatsu ramen (spicy option available as well). The broth was rich and creamy, exactly as I like it. The pork belly chashu was cooked to perfection - juicy and flavorful with a distinct caramelized sear that complimented the broth beautifully. However, the noodles fell a bit short. They were a touch on the hard side, indicating some undercooking. This issue was present in the shoyu ramen as well.

The gyoza was decent, but nothing extraordinary. It didn't quite match the level of the broth and chashu.

Overall, Susuru Ramen Bar offers a great bowl of ramen, particularly for those who love a creamy tonkotsu broth. However, based solely on this visit, the title of "best ramen spot in California" might be a stretch. The undercooked noodles and the slightly inattentive service (though understandable given the empty restaurant) prevent it from reaching that top tier. Still, it's a solid choice for a satisfying ramen fix, and with 4 stars, it's definitely...

Susuru Ramen Bar - 5/5 Stars

I ordered delivery from Susuru Ramen Bar, and let me tell you--it did not disappoint.

Food Review: Spicy Tonkotsu - The katsu was perfect, and the spice level was just right--not overwhelming but definitely not mild. Added extra wood ear mushrooms for an extra $1.50, and they were absolutely worth it. Tonkotsu (x2) - Whether made in-house or not, the tonkotsu was fantastic. Added extra scallions to one for an extra $1.50, and it just elevated the flavor. Thai Tea (x3, Large) - Perfectly sealed, well-balanced sweetness, and refreshing. Worth every penny Veggie Tempura - Some of the best tempura I've ever had. Light, crispy, and flavorful. Chicken Karaage - Absolute favorite! I've never had chicken karaage this good before. Perfectly crispy and seasoned. Salmon Roll - This isn't a sushi place, and at $10, the roll wasn't my favorite. But let's be real--you come here for the ramen, not the sushi.

Final Thoughts:

I can't speak to the ambiance or in-person service since this was a delivery order, but I can tell you this: Susuru Ramen Bar is worth every penny. The ramen is significantly more affordable than most competitors, and the quality is outstanding. If you're craving ramen, this is the...

We really wanted to love this place but unfortunately other than the great friendly service it fell short for us.

The veggie and shrimp tempura sauce was weirdly sweet and the veggies themselves were very bland and unseasoned.

The tonkatsu ramen: the egg was straight up cold, like it was in the fridge and they didn’t bother thawing or heating it through before serving it. Same with the bamboo shoots, cold and slightly undercooked. We could have lived with these minor missteps but unfortunately the star of any tonkatsu ramen, the broth.. was incredibly sweet like someone dumped a large amount of sugar in the broth pot. Very strange and confounding and not good at all. It was so sugary I struggled to eat it. The black garlic ramen also suffered from being overly and strangely sweet. I’ve never had ramen that I would describe as cloyingly sweet until now. I literally have a strange aftertaste that reminds me of that fake diet soda sugar in my mouth an hour after eating there. 5 stars for service, two...