Kitakata Ramen Ban Nai - Torrance — Restaurant in Torrance

HONEST REVIEW! (Overall good for sure)

This is a new place that opened right next to H Mart. I personally and absolutely love noodle soup dishes. So I will be as detailed as possible.

Customer Service The important part that I review the most is of course customer service. And yes, they are definitely kind and attentive! And not too caring either (you know one of those place with people walking up to you every 5 minutes while you are eating).

Menu Many of good places have fewer menu options. And this place had concise, straight forward, fewer ramen options, which doesn't overwhelm you. I really like their lunch special combo. They have two pieces of chicken or gyoza or chashu bowl with any ramen. Their sides looked promising to the point where you could actually bring your toddler for their own small meal :)

Portion I am a heavy eater. To give you a perspective, at Saigon Bistro (Western & Carson), I can clear even broth XL pho + extra noodle without any issue. Their large portion was too much even for me! I'd say stay with regular.

Taste The last but not least, taste. Noodle was excellent. I was so used to Hakata Ikkousha noodle and that this place's noodle was definitely refreshing, and to be honest better than Hakata! Broth gave me mixed feelings. Overall feeling and richness were very nice. I ordered Spicy Miso (extra spicy) and my wife ordered Umakara Tan Tan Ramen. We both thought that their soup was too salty and the server kindly offered plain broth when I asked for hot water (it tells you that we were not the first customer to request the same). To my surprise, their pork broth was AMAZING just by itself. After mixing the broth, saltiness died out but came back again. Later we realized that meats were the culprit. Meat was cooked really well but I think they were marinated too salty. Next time, I would love to try either clear broth ramen or veggie ramen!

Overall Take Will definitely come back. Per one of servers' recommendation, I would love to try clear both ramen or veggie ramen. They should really consider toning down on their meat for saltiness. This is especially since they opened next to H Mart and will draw a lot of Korean customers who like their food rich and spicy. It's so happy to know that there is another great ramen place that opened in Torrance! :D Do not order large size unless you haven't eaten for 2 days. Definitely go for lunch special if you are eating lunch. (But be respectful and don't share 1 lunch special with 2 or...

I have been a repeat customer of the Torrance location and have always enjoyed their ramen. In the past, I had to rely on doordash deliveries due to bring in surgery recovery. I recently got cleared to work again and wanted to celebrate with their limited edition sweet and sour ramen. It was too much for me personally, but I still enjoyed what I was able to eat. The main issue was they claim they don't accept cash, which is stated nowhere on their website. I had no other forms of payment via credit or debit because I've been living off unemployment after my surgery recovery period rendering me unable to work- Thus get a paycheck deposited in my checking account. My amount of cash more than covered the cost of one meal plus 20% tip included. I informed the waitress my cash covered everything with more than an ample cushion and she tells me they don't have change, so I need to remind her a second time that I don't need change. She asks the manager and thank god he accepted because otherwise I dont know what I would have been able to do? It was way past 6PM, so it wasn't like I could leave my ID and wallet with them to go dump my cash in my account. It just felt really unfair and humiliating to be singled out for having cash on me, especially since debit cards are so easily hacked from restaurant systems. I just would have appreciated more understanding, personally. Customer service is part of the job too, I would know being a professional...

I’ve come here twice now; both visits within a week and it’s just so good!

I’m vegetarian so it’s just refreshing to find a place that offers a vegan option that is flavorful and delicious. It’s a vegan miso that is water based versus pork based- heck yes!!! It has vegetables such as cabbage, spinach, carrots, drizzled with a little sesame oil, as well as big pieces of tofu. I like adding one of their eggs too.

The first time I came- I got it as is but with an egg and this time around I got my usual but asked for the spicy miso too. Great addition that has some heat, but the vegan miso ramen is so good on its own that it doesn’t even really need it unless you want it. They also have chili oil at each table and other condiments.

It’s very clean inside. You scan the menu with your phone and it’s a cashless establishment that accepts cards and mobile pay too.

Everyone greets you when you enter and exit and they are very nice as well.

Not only do I enjoy the broth, I really like the noodles. They aren’t the “normal” ramen noodles I’m used to having, but something about them is nostalgic to me. They have curves to them and honestly remind me of instant ramen noodles but in the best way possible and 100X better. It’s the nostalgic aspect that makes any meal better.

I’ll definitely be coming back here and love seeing what others eat since I don’t eat meat but everyone seems to enjoy their...