Shin-Sen-Gumi Restaurant — Restaurant in Rosemead

Honestly speaking, this one is way much better than the other ones, such as the one in Little Tokyo. Here are some points as to why I heavily, again, HEAVILY prefer this one.

No communal table I don't have an issue with the communal table, but it's obvious that most people would prefer to sit separately with their own groups alongside a private table. That's the issue with Little Tokyo, but this chain restaurant lot does not adopt such system.

Fast rotation As Rosemead isn't the first place that tourists or adventurers of LA would come, the waiting crowd outside is far smaller than Little Tokyo, or even Gardena. I guess it really depends on what time you come, but when I went there around 8PM with my girlfriend, there were about 15 people outside. Nonetheless, we were offered a table for two in less than 5 minutes. The people who come here just visit to eat, not take Instagram photos with #LittleTokyo and whatnot, so customers spend lesser time inside.

Overpriced in Little Tokyo? ( Not confirmed) There is this amazing piece of appetizer called Cheese Egg roll. Now, my memories may not serve right, but the last time I was at the LT Shin Sen Gumi, it was around $4.00 for 3 of them. Here, $3.75 for 6. So here I am wondering if there are other ones that the one in downtown charges more, just because tourists are willing to pay anything pretty much.

No shouting! As much as I love the brand, I wasn't the biggest fan of those muscular guys who shout on top of their lungs right next to you every time a customer comes and goes. Sure, it's a special thing, but after you frequent for a while, it gets annoying real quick. Nevertheless, this one in Rosemead is quiet as hell. They don't scream, and don't over do anything.

There are probably more things I could nitpick out of, but those four points are the reasons as to why I'm willing to abandon the famous...

I come here a lot... This is a tiny restaurant that serves some pretty good ramen usually there's a wait even right before they close which is never too long...the ramen is really good you can choose various levels of salty oily richness and add on extra toppings. Each additional topping is like $2 to $3.50. Most of the appetizers are really good too. The employees are pretty respectful and quick with their service.

Generally I have no problems with this restaurant, but one time the manager was there to take our orders and he was just plain rude... There's a box where you can choose regular ramen or something else (i can't quite remember)... we usually don't mark it because we never noticed it but I happen to notice this time so I wrote RR down as regular ramen. The manager picks up the paper and in a condescending tone said "next time you don't have to write RR on it...it's automatically RR "... ugh it DOESN'T MATTER! He knew exactly what I wanted just take the paper and put in my order... so what if I write an extra 2 letters ...

He does a good job of disciplining of his new employee but I feel like he should of pulled him off to the side and told him instead of showing a sigh of annoyance that your employee made a mistake (he forgot to put ice in the soda) and correcting him right then and there. He was very apologetic to the customer and fixed it before the customer said anything about not having ice. But I think he was a little harsh on the employee. He also criticized him for not responding in Japanese when the hostess yells it a phrase when he brings in the customers to be seated

Not a very large restaurant ... I think it can only fit about 40 people

Not a wheelchair friendly place

There is a restroom

There is plenty of parking

Don't think there was a takeout option but...

(Dec 23rd 2024 Lunch 2pm) The food is, never in question, an amazing treat. But the service was horrendous.

I've been a patron to this restaurant for many years (2018) and have always been treated warmly and promptly (even when busy)

I took my father, from out of town, to enjoy with me my favorite restaurant but the experience left a sour taste in my mouth at the end.

People walking in and getting attended before me (I checked in and none of the people have).

When serviced by Steven, we were not given water or an explanation to my father about how to order ( I was already familiar with ordering).

Did not approach us for our order, opting to help other patrons with their orders and receipts. Never asked me my dessert options for the Christmas special while the other server was doing that across from my table.

When the ramen arrived my father had no chopsticks or utensils, I asked Steven for a fork for my father and he promptly went to the back to do other things; clean a table , talk to the servers, talk to the other patrons ( their friends?) Before I reminded him about utensils and snapped at him for serving my father food and making him wait for utensils.

At that point, my father and I felt unwelcome, especially after seeing better service around us. We promptly ate, ask for the dessert to go (Steven still got it wrong), paid and left.

I still tipped , considering preconceptions might have caused the bad service ( I don't know).

I've been visiting this place for 6 years but this experience has left an extremely bad experience for me and the short time I had with my father visting this week.

I will be taking my business to the Alhambra or Los Angeles chain. The food is still of really...