Daikokuya Little Tokyo Reviews

I have had lots of ramen, but this beat the band. I knew that there is usually a wait here (from reading reviews), so I went about 4 and got a seat at the bar. I told the wait person to bring me what they do best, and I got ramen made with pork. The broth was to die for- different (in that it wasn't clear) but oh-so-tasty. The noodles are obviously hand-made. They were flavorful, delicate and cooked perfectly. Service was a bit sketchy, but atmosphere made up for it. It's a very low-key casual place with old Japanese posters/ads on the walls; simple and kitschy. Loved it so much I tried to go back another time later in the eve and the wait was too long for me. Next time I'm in LA I'm heading straight there. :)

This place is bomb. Fast efficient service just like the shops in Tokyo and Kyoto. I was gonna take pics but I immediately forgot once the food was sat down in front of me. I recommend the gyoza and their signature ramen bowl. Opt for the ramen combo if you're truly hungry, ramen bowl plus a small bowl of rice with your choice of meat. Also comes with a small classic shredded cabbage salad!

Really good ramen. Got the regular and it was a good size portion. The broth was perfectly balanced, unlike some that I had found that tasted mostly of salt. Served with one whole egg - some places only give you half. Anyways, really enjoyed that as part of a combo - got the half size mix poke bowl as well. Very good flavours and generous amount of fish. Efficient service. Cash only. BTW we put our name down on the list (around 6.30pm) and it was about a half hour wait before we were seated.

I've never missed this place whenever I visit LA since 2006. Unchanged taste and long waiting. Koterri, richer flavor is my favorite. Namabiru and gyoza combination is perfect!!

*Only accept CASH!* We visited Little Tokyo mid afternoon and after reading reviews on TA, we decided to eat here. At 1:45pm there was a short wait to be seated. Ramen was the top choice for 3 of us, and one beef bowl. All were excellent. Very large portions! Very quick and great service! They only accept CASH!

Delicious ramen, small restaurant, it gets crowded but good atmosphere... staff is very nice and the ramen and noodles were divine.

I am trying right now to plan a trip back just for the Ramen. Although there is usually a line to get in, it is worth it!

Visited this Little Tokyo gem with my friends and had really yummy ramen and various add-ons! The interior transports you to Japan and the booths are cozy and memorable. Posters line the walls and the cooks hard at work creating the ramen broth. The unique thing about this restaurant, as compared to other ramen places, is that you can order your ramen coupled with a rice bowl. In my case I ordered the Daikoku Ramen and a small teriyaki eel rice bowl - found both to be outstanding. My friends ordered a chashu pork rice bowl and pork cutlet rice bowl. Service is efficient - parking can be challenging.

First, don’t wait in the line because it’s not a line. You have to sign in inside. I imagine many of the other ramen spots in the neighborhood may be just as tasty, but why not try the most popular spot? The service was prompt and friendly, and the ramen was very good. We also really liked the octopus balls.

After being away from the Downtown L.A. area for the past 5 years, I was really looking forward to eating at this Little Tokyo location. Got a little delayed getting there before opening, so there was already a very sizable crowd waiting to get in when I arrived. Ended up waiting outside for 45 minutes, and being a solo patron, was directed to the counter seating and ordered the Daikoku (Tonkotsu) Ramen. When I was served my ramen, I was initially disappointed with what appeared to be a smaller portion in the big bowl than what I remembered getting on my last visit years ago. By the end of lunch, I was stuffed from eating that apparent "smaller portion". The noodles were okay, but the pork broth was just as excellent as I remembered. This time, I ordered some corn to be added to the remaining broth after the other ingredients had been consumed, as an incentive to finish the rest of it.

It was hot. AC was barely working. The door was opened with hot air blowing in. I could not enjoy my very tasty noodle, not because the noodle was not good, but it was so uncomfortable.

Cash does not work when I need record on business trips. Went to sushi gen instead and had a meal I will never forget.

We were staying at a nearby hotel and were looking for something a little different. Daikokuya had good reviews and we decided to try it. We read reviews that said Cash Only and were prepared to pay cash. Very good to know. We were there at an odd time of day, 3:00 pm, yet there was about a 15 minute wait. It is obviously the favored noodle place in the area. There were other restaurants with similar food nearby, but they did not have people waiting outside. The food was good, but it was a little sophisticated for my palate. My husband liked it better than I did.

I was told by the concierge this was the hot spot in Little Tokyo. Oddly when I read the menu they list other LA locations. Anyway it's a small joint with very good Udon. I had the spicy vegetarian and it was delicious. I like their salad which is more of a Cole slaw with their in house salad dressing that they sell. You can order a small by request which I did . I guess this is why some flock to Little Tokyo. I'm just not a fan of the area. I can recommend here though. The dishes people were eating looked good too.

Daikokuya opens at 11, we got there at 10:30 and the line was already forming. So many more items than I anticipated. Ordered the beef bowl (comes with salad and miso soup). Husband ordered the classic ramen with salmon poke. Also Ordered the pork tongkatsu appetizer. Great variety, would have been better if we had more people so we can get even more good food and share. Worth the wait.

There is always a wait here... If you like a heavy pork broth- you will understand why! Located in the heart of Little Tokyo, its hard to compare all the different ramen places to each other. (My favorite is Santouka in Gardena). This place wins for the richness. Shin Sen Gumi around the corner has a lighter ramen and a tastier marinated shoyu egg. But I love the ambience here over Shin Sen which is very loud.The gyoza here is also excellent. My tip about this place: get your name on the list and walk around the plaza across the way. Also its cash only so don't forget to stop by the atm first.

Sometimes I need a place to eat in Los Angeles that's open later than 9:30 p.m. Little Tokyo has a few restaurants, but Daikokuya was by far the most crowded. There was a 20 minute wait when my family and I arrived at 9:50 p.m. and the place continued to fill the entire hour I was there. There are only 6 booths and a sushi bar. Though the menu seems extensive at first glance, there are really only 2 basic items to order along with a handful of appetizers. Most everyone was eating the enormous ramen bowl: a huge portion of hot and tasty broth, egg noodles, meats, and scallions. There's plenty to take home for lunch the next day. My son ordered this along with a small chicken rice bowl as a combination. My husband and I ordered the rice bowl entree. This is a very big portion of good sushi rice, a bit dry, but tasty, topped with some strands of seaweed and sesame seeds, then a generous amount of protein (I had sushi grade tuna, hubs had chicken and egg). Both styles of entrees come with a small salad of finely shredded cabbage and carrot in house dressing (ask for the dressing on the side). The rice bowls also come with miso soup. I ordered extra green onion for my rice bowl and added them to the salad, too. The spicy tuna roll sushi appetizer was excellent. Be aware, this is one of the few places in L.A. that is CASH ONLY. Plan accordingly, since there are no ATMs in close proximity.

Had the vegan spicy sesame ramen as they had no alternative to pork and Im glad I did! The noodles were good but the slightly charred flavour in the sesame broth was just divine

So good! The food is very good and the staff is awesome. They made me feel like I was in Japan! The ramen broth was out of this world. Not sure what some other reviewers had to complain about...

My boyfriend and I stopped by on our way to Claremont and expected a wait. There was none, even though the restaurant was crowded and we sat at the bar. We both got the spicy miso ramen. I normally eat light for lunch but I ate the whole thing. It was flavorful and had a lot of pork in it. I've eaten at other Ramen places in LA, but this is the only place worthy.

Write your name on the wait list as soon as you arrive. There were about 40 names ahead of us, but we only waited about an hour. Worth it! The staff hustled but they were still fun and happy, taking pictures with guests and providing excellent service. Most people get the special ramen kotteri, but we also had gyoza, sliced pork and a rice bowl. Reasonable prices. Under $60 for 4 people plus drinks.

The Japanese take great pride in one of their stand out trademark dishes around the world- Ramen. There's a good reason why this place is still packed, with a line outside, at 10pm on a Tues- really really really good Ramen. When you go to this, you gotta get the Ramen. The Pork belly is tender and juicy, the broth is superb. Love this place and will definitely be back.

Excellent place for quick lunch or dinner. The food is prepared very well and tasty. This place does not have much ambiance, but the food is great. It gets very crowded. We arrived at 11am and were sitted immediately.

One of the better, if not the best, RAMEN places you'll ever go to .. .. Just look at the line outside ,. .. Not a huge place so you'll have to time your visit just right .. .. And, I hate paying for parking anywhere, so be prepared to park in a nearby garage or use a lot of quarters on the street .. .. But, once you're beyond that, you will love the RAMEN!!!

This was my first visit to this Little Tokyo landmark. I loved the authentic vibe and the Godzilla over the doorway! The line was down the street, but the smells wafting from the kitchen convinced us to sign the wait list. We left to go shopping and 45 minutes later, they still had not called our names. We waited another 40 minutes for AWESOME noodles. I had the Cold Soup Ramen without meat (I'm vegetarian). It was absolutely delicious. My husband had the Daikoku Ramen and raved about the stock. We had avocado rolls - delicious, although they fell apart easily. The wait staff are wonderful - very upbeat. Will definitely go back - however long the line is, I will wait.

This is my "go to" place for great raman. Not sure what is in the chicken stock, but it is out of this world.

I am far from a ramen connoisseur (and I know you are out there--I hear you comparing the fine points of ramen all the time), but I think I generally know good ramen, and I love the ramen here. The broth is rich (and you can ask for the richer style, but the daikoku ramen is plenty rich on its own), which I happen to love. The egg, pork and noodles are delicious too. I try to come here every time I visit LA, and I've never been disappointed. There is always a line at dinner, and there is usually a line at lunch. But I've been lucky with a short wait time for a late lunch on weekdays--say 1:00 or later. The longest I've waited then has been about 10 minutes. Don't get me wrong--I've waited more than an hour late on a weekend night for ramen, and even then it was worth the wait. If you want fancy sushi or something other than ramen, I'd go elsewhere. This is a shrine to ramen. If you've read other reviews, you know it's cash only. You'll need about $15 per person. Also, the salad dressing is delicious, and they sale bottles to take home for about $6. It makes every salad at home better.

We came here before the major lunch crowd(before 12) and were seated within 15 minutes. You have to put your name in and wait outside until they call you. We had spicy miso ramen, tempura bowl and chicken yakisoba. For appetizers, we had the homemade gyoza. All good. Cash only.

Daikokuya hails itself as Los Angeles' original noodle and rice house. It is tucked into a string of restaurants on 1st street in the heart of Little Tokyo. There is street parking but it can be tough to get a spot, so be prepared. Its a great noodle shop which is very busy. There are plenty of tables and there are about 10 stools at the counter. ONE CRITICAL POINT IS THEY ONLY ACCEPT CASH. Service is quick and the food is prepared very well. The menu is pretty diverse. Most ramen dishes range from $10-$15.

Stopped by for a quick lunch during a day of exploring Los Angeles. Tried the Tonkotsu and I was extremely impressed.Only afterwards I found out that this place serves the best Ramen in the City and that there's sometimes a 45 minute wait. A must have meal while in Little Tokyo!

With the queue crowding the footpath around Daikokuya you need to prove that you are worthy of your delicious meal by waiting for (quite) a while. But it's definitely worth it! The food was delicious, the service wonderful, and the at atmosphere authentic. Would definitely recommend it!

This is the third time we've eaten here in a year. the amount of ramen in the bowl has decreased slightly. That's not really a bad thing, because the first two times, we weren't hungry again until late that night. It's still the best bowl of ramen in town; and the best I've ever had. The prices are still low. And there's still a line out the door and down the block.

First of all, keep in mind this location is cash only. We arrived there on a Thursday night at 11pm and we got a table without waiting, but usually you have to write your name when you arrived and wait to be seated. I really love the place! It's cozy and the Japanese music makes it even more authentic. We tried the combination with Ramen and bowl. Everything was tasty, especially the eggs in the ramen and the shredded pork bowl. Cheap prices and they have sushi, which is a plus. I love they close at 1am.

Two reasons I go to this place: it has great udon, and it's close to Disney Concert Hall. So I get to fill my belly with good food and my ears with great music. What could be better?

I wanted a quick dinner on arriving in LA and this was around the corner from the hotel. It's very busy but because service is quick and you are not encouraged to linger they do turn customers over pretty quickly. I had a bowel of ramen/soup which was delicious. Apparently it comes in 3 sizes and so I picked medium and could barely finish it. The marinated egg is an acquired taste of which I was not a fan but all in all the meal was great. When you arrive you write your name on a list and as seats become available they shuffle through the list. They won't seat a party until all members are present. Tough, but fair!

I stopped here for a later lunch with my friend and were surprised at the lack of line. There is usually one waiting out the door since it is so popular. We put our name on the list and then only waited around 5 minutes to be seated. The ramen options on this menu are amazing sounding with add ons you can include for extra. It was around $12-$15 for a bowl but it was very large and well worth it for the flavors alone. The inside was cute and I'd recommend a visit if you can make it! It is cash only!

Seriously amazing! By far my favorite ramen place in the world! You can't go wrong here. Everything is absolutely to die for. I can't wait to come back and try the other flavors. There's always a huge line here. We came here for an early dinner and there still was a line. But we waited less than an hour so it wasn't too bad. I guess it would have been worse if we came here during prime dinner hours. But, it's still worth it! There's only street parking which parking kinda sucks here so good luck!

We were staying in downtown Los Angles and were looking for the best ramen in the Little Tokyo area. Daikokuya was rated highly by many sources and recomend by a Japanese Concierge at our hotel and we were not disappointed. Whiel thre are limited choices, their featured ramen and brooth wre outstanding. We wre told there could be long lines to get in but we went early on a Monday for lunch and there was no line but the place filled up quickly while we ate.

We tried to get into this place but the list was too long. This time we were determined to wait. As a party of two it wasn't too long. Food came out super fast and was delicious. Giant serving sizes. We ordered way too much and left full and satisfied.

There was already a line outside when we arrived a few minutes after opening, but it was worth the wait! Apps came out fast and hot and the ramen was absolutely delicious, huge portions. Only downside was the server came multiple times to try to serve us food we didn’t order, a little disorganized. Great place though!

yes, this is a bowl of ramen. but that kind of ramen, during rush hour need to wait 1- 1.3 hours during winter time of my college years in los angeles. this is something college students used to do after a big test, and for revitalize our brains. this ramen, this broth, egg, pork, is done at perfection, like the Lexus moto: "in pursuit of perfection", i mean this place the consistency of their noodles, is timed precisely, that umame of the soup, and the harmony with the condiment is something of this world, but the way it tingles my tastebuds is extraordinary, and like nothing else taste like this. it is something singular, one bowl, but the way how they balance the flavor is remarkable, a definite place to repeat and recommend for ramen fan, and for all the newbies out there that has been missing out on ramen. Best ramen, in the world!

This place is great. I've had just about every dish they serve haha and I come back every chance I get. Parking does suck and there is always a line, but highly worth the wait.

So AAA Westways magazine was doing some articles on Little Tokyo in Los Angeles and they mentioned some shops that had been there for a long time. Two of those shops caught my attention: Fugetsu-do (which I found to be a heavenly place of mochi cornucopia) and Mitsuru Cafe which makes those gridle cakes filled with red bean paste. Well then I got to thinking that if I were to make the 45 minutes drive to Little Tokyo, what is there to eat before I had those sweets?? So I did some googling and found that the lines at Daikokuya (Dai-big koku-black ya-house) was longgggggg, to which I am thinking that there might be some good ramen to be had there. So we went this Saturday, 10/29/16. We got there at 10am, an hour earlier than when they are to open. I was the first one in line and at 10:30am, three women from Riverside started lining up behind me. (As we waited, I heard them talking about their having some good udon literally next door (it's called Monzo) and that the place made their own noodle fresh. I will elaborate on this a bit later. So by the time the door was opened, there was a good 40 people behind us. Alright, so at 11:03am, a waitress opened the door and seated us in one of 9 booths there. Each booth can accommodate about four adults. Some other people sat at the counter facing what would be the cooking area. But the cooking area was shielded with opaque plexiglass. Ok so all three of us ordered the Daikokuya Ramen, which was a BIG bowl of steaming hot ramen. If you have a small appetite, you can get a half bowl. The ramen comes with slices of marinated pork leg, a marinated egg that is creamy and yummy because it was soft boiled, marinated bamboo, and a couple of handfuls of chopped green onion on top. My first impression was that the yellow ramen was a little too big in size which did not blend well with the soup. The soup was alright, but lacked the flavor and complexity of the ramen that I had at Shinsen-gumi in Fountain Valley. I would say the same for the slices of pork. At Dai, the pork slices were actual slices of pork leg. The sight looks a bit intimidating especially when you see it on a plate since we ordered it extra on the side. At Shinsen-gumi, the slices were square shaped with equal amount of fat and meat that had been well marinated. Three bowls of Daikokuya ramen with extra order of pork and bamboo came to $43 and some change. Knowing what I know now, Daikokuya is not worth the drive. Where to park? Well, right in front of the restaurant itself, there are parking spots with meter. So, bring coins and circle around and if you see the spot empty just swing in. We parked directly across the street at a private open air parking spot for $10. There are also other parking right across the street in a parking structure for the mall, and Miyako Hotel (also across the street) have valet parking for $8. (By the way, Miyako Hotel seems very nice. The lobby is clean and comfortable. It had a soft four way couch to sit on. And most of all, the bellman and the lobby lady was very nice to let us use their restrooms for at least five times. Thank you, Miyako for the hospitality and generosity. You have the right facility and people to make your hotel stay a relaxing and enjoyable one.) After having ramen at Dai, we walked to the Broad museum which was a good nine blocks away and uphill. After 3 hours of walking around the museum and waiting in line to see the infinity mirror exhibition, we came back to our car. I insisted that we try the udon at Monzo because earlier the three women from Riverside said that it was good and it will be a long time before we head this way again. There were three parties in front of us on the sign in sheet but we were seated within 10 minutes. We ordered beef udon with octopus and mixed tempura and a dish called kakiage(?). We were seated at a counter facing the cooking area. While waiting for the food, we saw fresh udon being made in front of us. This place is worth the drive for. The udon noodle was very good. It blends well with the soup. The soup itself was very flavorful as udon should be. It was not too sweet and not too salty, just right. Their tempura was all good, although I preferred the egg plant and shiitake mushroom ones. Their baby octopus was not baby and was a bit large and chewy. We left the restaurant full and very satisfied. As we cross the street toward our car, we saw that there were a lot of people waiting outside of Dai. I felt such a pity that they could have had better food next door with little or no wait at all.

This place is always packed for a reason...it's good Ramen. The broth, pork, egg and noodles are on point every time I eat here (been 5 times in 2 years). I also like their other dishes, teriyaki eel and goyza are solid. If u come 15 mins before it opens, you will always get first seating.

Their ramen soup had great flavor we shared the large bowl. Sushi was incredible and staff very friendy

You will see a line outside. It moves pretty fast, even though it is a small restaurant. Very efficient at cleaning tables and getting the next group in. Wonderful noodle dishes. Great Ramen. Other noodle restaurants nearby have immediate seating, but join and crowd and wait for a table here.

Great ramen. I ordered the ramen combo(ramen and rice bowl). The portions were very large. Not the most well appointed restaurant, but go for the food.

Listen, I hate hypy places, but Daikokuya is my favorite ramen spot in Los Angeles. Just absolutely delicious. The atmosphere is down-to-earth and friendly but when it’s poppin’ it can get loud. They serve quickly, and are cash-only. The best part is that their food is consistent. I’ve been coming back here for years, and I’ve never for once thought, “Hm, it was better last time.” In fact, I just enjoy the food and think, “Mmm delicious.”

Solid, very popular ramen stand in Little Tokyo. My favourite chain is Santouka - and I definitely feel Daikokuya stands up to them on every level - from proper ramen stand greetings and etiquette, to excellent broth to proper noodle texture to topping selections. The wait is a bit crazy here - if you live close to good ramen stands, you may scratch your head...but if you don't get good ramen where you live...this is definitely worth a stop!

Man...where do I begin. I have begun the Los Angeles Ramen hunt about a year ago and found this place on a late venture into a hungry night. Finally arriving and almost discouraged by the amount of people waiting outside, something told me to bet on my patience and wait. To my luck, the wait wasn't long until we sat in what looked like a little part of old Tokyo. My friend recommended the Daikokuya Combination plate, which is the best for first timers looking for their a bountiful meal ( for the best price). If you have room or a friend to share the plate with, I also recommend the fried rice which was SO GOOOOOD! The Ramen combination comes with the beef bowl, salad bowl, so bomb, and the sauce! The sauce guys...so good. And by time the ramen hit my lips as I lifted the bowl to finish drinking its amazing broth, I finished the entire bowl, slurping it to its highest honor. Highly recommended, specially since the Ramen Master has returned for Ramen training straight from Japan. Enjoy all who visit!

Be prepared to wait to have some very good ramen here. For ramen in the USA, it's actually pretty excellent. But ramen I've had in Japan is still better. My Daikokuya ramen was a bit too salty and fatty for my taste.

My husband and friend really liked their rice bowls but I had the yakisoba and was a little disappointed. The noodles were tepid around the edges possibly because it was served on a plate and not in a bowl. Also, could have done with a bit more meat.

Hands down best ramen in LA! It’s located by Little Tokyo (downtown LA) so there are a lot of attractions around this place too. There usually is a long line. So put down your name and wait patiently until they call out your number. This place is cash only but if you forget, there is a ATM inside the restaurant. Go for the kotteri flavor if you like richer broth.

It's a very long wait but it's well worth it. After walking around Little Tokyo it's an awesome place to grab a bite.

The famous Daikokuya restaurant in little Tokyo is almost a sightseeing stop itself. The notorious long line in front of the restaurant during lunch and dinner time have shown how this restaurant is people's favorites! The decorations in the restaurant is actually worth your time to stare at because it helps to create a pleasing vibe for you to enjoy your food. The ventilation of the restaurant is a minus, but there isn't really much can be done to help because this place had been here forever. To me, it somewhat affects me on savoring the food fully because could smell a combination of all the food in the restaurant when I was only taking a bite out of the gyoza. The seating in the restaurant is very crowded. There are bar seats and booths. If you come with 3 or less, chances of you getting a bars seat during peak hour is higher. Booths are for 4+ more people during peak hours. Their service is very good and fast. Finally the food! I actually think their original Ramen is only average. However, gyoza, fried rice, and shredded pork rice are actually better! I love their salad with their in house dressing! Ps. Avoid the long line by coming when it just opens or before peak hours. And it's CASH ONLY. It's very close to metro gold line little tokyo stop.

I'm a native Japanese and lived in Tokyo until I moved to US. Ate 1000's of Ramen everywhere. Daikokuya has great broth. That is the key to a delicious ramen. I had the" Kotteri Tonkotsu Ramen" and my daughter had the "Regular Tonkotsu Ramen"so we can compare. Both were great and I really enjoyed the thick oily broth. if you don't want thick greasy broth and order Shoyu (soy sauce) base or Shio (salt) base ramen. I'd say it will be in my top 10 of all the Tonkotsu ramen I had including in Japan. If you don't want to stand in line for long time, go there right at 11:00 when they open or after midnight.

When I was in college, about 10 years ago, I would come here few times every semester. I just went again today and it did not disappoint. The taste was still the same and crowded as usual. Recently moved back to the States from Japan and thought I would compare this ramen while my taste buds were fresh from trying many ramen shops in Japan. Personally, I think Daikokuya is above average from authentic ramen in Japan. I've definitely had better in Hokkaido and one other in Tokyo but this is up there in taste and quality. Pros: -Broth is thick flavor and great taste -You can ask for harder "al dente" noodles -Chaa-Shu (pork) was soft and very flavorful -Eggs are excellent, Japanese style darker color and soft yoke -Actual Japanese workers and Japanese music and Japanese themed decorations and comics. -Garlic and white pepper available for added flavor -Other dishes like fried rice, salmon on rice, salad etc. -Fast efficient workers Cons: -Long lines due to limited seating -Cash only -Slightly expensive for ramen ($11+) Gyoza is $6 -very limited parking on the road Other: -I wish noodles are thicker (personal preference) they are thin noodles -you can ask for "kotteri" soup which makes broth thicker. This gives more flavor but beware if you have a sensitive stomach from all the extra grease. Overall I would rate 4.5/5 but I rounded up to 5 because...ramen ftmfw!

We waited for more than 30 minutes on a weekend for a place for 3, but the wait was worth it. The cabbage salad they served with the food was amazing and I asked for an extra portion; the shredded pork that they served was top notch and the service was fast and efficient... wouldn't rave about the ambience but it was cheap, good and hearty! so wo complains... the ramen was great as well...

Definately live up to their standards, no wonder there's a line outside... Beautiful large dishes, not too expensive, can even share one large bowl. Awesome flavors and atmosphere - I find myself going back often! even though it's an hour drive from home.

I read about this place online, and wanted to check it out. I came for lunch on a weekday and waited for a seat for about 20-25 minutes. I had the spicy miso ramen and it was terrific. The broth, the egg, the noodles, the veggies .. everything was perfect. Only downside is that the soup is around $13, and it doesn't come with many toppings to start out with; each additional topping is $0.75-$1, so it can get a bit pricy. The quality of the soup, though, is fantastic, and portions are large. The service is fast. Bring cash with you. There are Chase and Citibank ATMs across the street, and there's also an ATM inside Daikokuya, in the back.

I am not an overly adventurous person but wanted to have fun in Little Tokyo. This was a win! 10 year old had rice with chicken and loved it and too much to finish. My daughter had spicy ramen and I had regular ramen minus the pickled egg. Authentic and yummy. So much and filling. Line outside moved fast-cash only so be prepared or there is an ATM in the back. Would definitely go here again!

Good ramen, but not spectacular. Nice old funky vibe. Friendly service, good prices. Better than the touristy places in the area.

Daikokuya has amazing ramen that beats any other ramen that I've had. Lines outside take around 30+ minutes to enter, but well worth the wait. Living in LA my whole life, this ramen restaurant is really spectacular. Service is fairly fast, no complaints. Go try it!

Have eaten lot of well known award winning ramen shops in Tokyo, Osaka and Southern California. Daikokuya in Little Tokyo may not be the best in the world but certainly best in West Coast or in USA. Tried their other locations but broth is better at Little Tokyo location. Tonkotsu(pork broth) ramen is the game here which is on the heavy side compared to other types like shoyu ramen. The side rice bowl with chopped pork and fried rice is a must. You really can't go wrong at Daikokuya and that is why there always is a waiting line. Park across the street or if your lucky park on the street and feed the meter well as parking enforcement is notorious here.

It's hard to find a good ramen spot that does not have a very long line. It is almost a requirement for a good ramen. This place is in Little Tokyo, on the 1st street, not exactly in the Village Plaza but close. You will recognize it with the long line on the front. Our wait was about 40 minutes plus. Not much to say, the ramen is very good, one of the top ramen in LA, together but different than Santouka, Ippudo, and even Tsujita. Daikokuya is somehow less specialized, as it serves dishes other than ramen, which is good if you have a group/family with different tastes. This was our last meal our end of 2019 trip to LA, lunch time. After the meal, we still had time to spend some time in the Village Plaza and nearby, and have some boba drinks and dessert before heading home. Some very pleasant hours.

I was blown away right from the first slurp. The broth was brilliantly done and the pork slice that came along with was simply succulent and tasty. The greedy part of me came to the fore and I couldn’t help but also order the fried rice. I’ve a soft spot for that and absolutely no regrets at all.

If there’s one thing I learned from our Food Tour in Little Tokyo 10++ years ago, it’s that we should make time for a full Daikokuya experience on a return trip to downtown Los Angeles. **Kicking ourselves for not returning sooner** These days there are at least 5 ramen joints within a half mile of each other in Little Tokyo but the longest wait is for, you guessed it, Daikokuya! Here’s what we recently enjoyed and would recommend: (pictures attached) Spicy Miso Ramen Spicy Tuna Roll Chashu Pork Bowl Chicken Teriyaki Bowl Fried Rice Daikokuya is the “original OG of the OG” of ramen! The broth is rich and flavorful with soft-ish al dente noodles and boiled egg that tames down a bit of the spicy miso. It definitely hit the spot on a chilly, windy afternoon in LA. The wait is long but service is fast and friendly, price is competitive and ramen of course is worth the wait. Best to walk off the carbs up and down 1st street and hit the Japanese Village Mall where more restaurants and novelty shops await your stimulus bucks. A couple of miles out is the LA Flower District where you’ll find reasonably-priced tulips and ranunculus and the most beautiful array of orchids! IG: @i_therefore_conclude

We are from Oregon staying in Los Angeles for the Eagles vs Rams game. Have some time to explore the great city of Los Angeles so we decided to visit Little Tokyo. Was recommended by a friend to eat here and by oh boy this Restaurant did NOT disappoint. The portion of food you get is huge and the food is Delicious! Light on your wallet also which is a Plus! The only downfall was that we had to wait about 45 minutes to be seated but it’s because it’s a small restaurant and not a lot of seating for the amount of customers that they get. Staff was also Amazing! Very friendly and attentive staff.

I only had a half sized ramen bowl, because I wanted to try the homemade gyoza. They are absolutely delicious. For real. Loved them so much! The filling, the flavors, the crunchiness, the sauce.... everything.