TONCHIN LA — Restaurant in Los Angeles

Tonchin is in LA! Tonchin NYC is my favorite ramen place in the US so I had high expectation coming to the LA location.

Food/price - 3.5/5 - it was good but it’s was sadly not the same as the one in NY. We had the Spicy miso and Tokyo Tonkotsu. The broth wasn’t as dense and rich. It was too salty. The tonkotsu chasu was good. Overall, it didn’t live up to the NYC tonchin which is legendary. The NYC one is a Michelin guide but the one in LA is not but the price was the same. it was $19 for a good bowl of ramen which is higher than other ramen places in LA. Tonchin is a higher end ramen restaurant, it’s good to try it once.

Service - 5/5 The staff were very kind and professional. Hostess was kind and store our umbrella. We completely forgot to make a reservation but they still seated us right away. Our server was nice but seemed very robotic so we were unsure if she was nervous or still getting used to her job.

Vibe - 4/5 the layout of the place is very good. Hostess table, bar then main seating area with the kitchen to the back. It was a good flow and they had similar mood lighting. The decor of the place was great. The only downside was the music and sound proofing. Not sure what it was but it was really hard to hear the other person in our group setting of 5. The noise of the music which sounded subtle along with the flow of everyone else taking made hearing one another very hard.

Accessibility - 2/5 they don’t have a parking lot since this location is situated under a apartment complex. You pay $10 for validation which is a lot for LA. There are street parking in the neighborhood behind the restaurant but it’s limited and very inconvenient even when it was on a weekday night. Also, I’m not sure if they have a separate entrance but the main entrance is not wheelchair friendly. The accessibility for free parking was a huge negative especially when you’re in a city like LA. For patrons, parking should be availble.

Cleanliness - 5/5. The bathrooms were spacious, well maintained. The overall restaurant was new so it was kept very clean from the bar to the seating area. You can see the kitchen and they had a good,...

The food is good, there's no denying why Tonchin has staying power and has been able to expand from Japan, to China, New York and more recently LA.

The noodles are freshly made in house, the broths tow the line of being rich and deep but not too fatty, and the traditional and not as traditional toppings are of quality and in abundance.

Generally when an Asian restaurant has too varied of a menu it's a sign that they can't do anything in particular very well. Tonchin bucks that conception and has plenty of appetizers, salads, and even ramen styles to choose from. My group shared the tsukune & fried fish buns as well as the curry cheese wings. All three delivered in flavor and had nice textural contrast.

Ramen-wise even with dipping/tsukemen and broth less/mazamen options the group all chose variations of Tokyo tonkatsu. The classic is as advertised, creamy and rich. The spicy dan dan had a proper kick on the back end and the cashew provided extra texture and a creamy taste. The smoked dashi was slightly fishy in a good way and was balanced by the smoke and there was a generous amount of baby clams.

Almost as popular as their ramen, a dessert was seen on practically every table. The Tokyo Banana was ordered as well as the mango Kaki-Gori. A play on the popular dessert that often is brought back as gifts from those that have traveled to Japan, the banana pudding with a bruleed piece of banana was not too sweet but unfortunately wasn't that special. The Kaki-Gori on the other hand was incredibly light and fluffy; the combo of thick whipped cream, sweet ice, and tart mango pieces was a crowd pleaser.

Service at times can be a little lean with staff but when they are present they are nice and helpful. The tables can be close together so you'll catch some of the nearby gossip. Lighting is dim and great for a date and it can get a bit loud, outdoor with heart lamps might be a solid option if you're trying to have deeper conversations.

A more modern ramen shop, with bar and cocktails, out door seating and a handful of veggie and vegan options, Tonchin is a place that can please most Angelenos from the purest to...

Walking into Tonchin is like teleporting into a modern izakaya. This isn't your average ramen joint in LA. It's sleek, modern, dimly lit, and somehow manages to feel both swanky and welcoming. Like your cool friend's high rise condo where they also happen to serve up slurp worthy ramen and other tasty japanese nibbles.

I dove headfirst into the shishito peppers as I usually at these types of spots. Charred, some mild and some with a sneaky kick, sprinkled with sea salt and a nice warm-up. Nothing to brag home about. Pro tip: pair them with a frosty Asahi super dry. The chicken wings were next on the menu. Crispy, juicy, and a spicy exterior coated in a tantalizing glaze, these wings will have you licking your fingers. Luckily, they provide you with a wet wipe. Then, the gyoza. Pan-fried to crispy perfection, with a juicy pork filling that is moist with a dipping sauce that deserves its own line item on the menu. Honestly, I could eat these all day.

Onto the reason I came here: the ramen. The classic tokyo tonkotsu and the spicy tan tan ramen are both a rich and hearty broth, cradling perfectly cooked noodles, and succulent pork belly. The house-made noodles are springy and perfectly al dente, and the toppings add just the right amount of textural and flavor contrast. It's a ramen experience that'll leave you wanting a nap in the best way possible. Don't skip dessert as I had to leave room for the matcha kakigōri. Shaved ice meets matcha magic. Imagine fluffy, melt-in-your-mouth ice flavored with earthy matcha, drizzled with condensed milk and topped with red bean paste. It's the perfect curtain call to the meal.

The staff is polite. Empty water glass? Not on their watch. The service maintained a steady rhythm, though not without the occasional offbeat and mysteriously disappearing when you need to pay your bill. Having said that, it's a place where you can indulge in delicious Japanese comfort food, enjoy a cool atmosphere, and slurp...