Skip to Content
Cheap Eats

Ramenya ~ West Los Angeles

4:37 AM PDT on October 10, 2006

943.jpg

11555 W. Olympic Blvd. ~ West Los Angeles, CA 90064 ~ 310-575-9337 (TACO Map)

Asahi on Sawtelle has dominated the Westside ramen scene for years. With long waits for ramen that is fulfilling in overly salty, oily, soy-drenched gi-normous bowls, sparsely swimming with pork or beef over a dozen similar dishes, we knew their must be another option west of Broadway for our Japanese noodles.

1206.jpg

Sure 'nuff, hiding around the corner, Ramenya has a more refined, though similarly inexpensive, array of flavor, with just as generous portions of excellent ramen, and no lack of options on their 61-item deep menu including plenty of spicy numbers. The second and first generation crowd is also still there, though we had no wait, and the ambiance leans entirely more towards cafeteria than Edo-period hideaway (albeit one with a small manga collection). But the magic of Ramenya is in those fat bowls that hit the table right after your free glass of cold tea does...

584.jpg

The ramen broth here is less salty, more complex and flavorful than its competition, giving us the sense that it is more authentic, and certainly easier on the blood pressure. A wide white bowl of Ajo-Ramen ($7.00) has an artful arrangement, and a clean, garlic-saturated flavor emanates from the whole clove drowned in the midst of sliced pork, crushed red peppers, onion, and chives stir-fried in butter. All flavors were discernable, even with the overpowering garlic essence making vampires bacdafucup.

The much more simple Tanmen ($6.75) was similarly clean and easy on the eyes, the surface skimming with cilantro petals, its delicate broth tasting of chicken stock, the vegetables retaining their rootsy tastes, the tender pork salty in the right way. The broth here is watery in texture, not in taste, which is a refreshing balance between the oily concoction we see around town and the tasteless, textureless Pho we sometimes encounter.

399.jpg

For a taste of something different, we attacked Tenshin Men ($6.75), an unholy looking ramen creation with an entire 3-egg omelet floating inside a rich red gravy. Upon breaking the omelet open, a cooked mass of tender mini-shrimp and thin noodles emerges, allowing one to eat the egg with the ramen or to swirl in into the cauldron and eat it all in one big mess. The dish is a delicious monstronsity, an gnarly egg-orgy full of hot surprises and indulgent flavors.

The noodles in all the dishes are thin and not perfectly homemade, but certainly adequate to sop up the savory broth. In fact, all of the dishes' noodles reminded me a bit of the microwaveable ramen that got us through higher education, but in a good way, the unmistakeable flavors of the starch familiarly recalling food as nourishment. Asahi wins on the noodle front for texture sin duda.

2156.jpg

The gyoza were not standard, either, but seemed to have love invested in their recipe. Ramenya might get a B-grade from the health department, but to us it's at the head of its class.

Closed Wednesdays!

676.jpg
4100.jpg
767.jpg
863.jpg
1044.jpg
Already a user?Log in

Thanks for reading!

Register to continue

Become a Member

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from L.A. TACO

Echo Park’s Own Xochitl Gomez Wins The Finale of Dancing With the Stars

The young Marvel star shared the importance of showcasing her Mexican heritage in her ballroom dances through her song choices, set design, and wardrobe. Gomez is a constant advocate for representation both on movie sets and now in the ballroom.

December 6, 2023

‘These Animals Saved My Life:’ L.A.’s Equestrian Communities Fight Ordinance Seeking to Ban Local Rodeos

After three hours of public comments from both sides, the City Council decided the ordinance be sent back and reviewed before it officially can be voted on. L.A.'s cowboys and cowgirls who were present at the meeting took this as a small win for the city's rodeo culture.

December 6, 2023

Woman Brings Claim Against City, Alleging Former LAPD Assistant Chief Put Tracking Device on Her Car

While on a trip with friends in September, the plaintiff discovered an Apple Airtag in a black box attached to the undercarriage of her vehicle, the claim states. Her friend scanned the Airtag and found that the serial number and owner information matched the last four digits of former Assistant Chief Alfred Labrada's city cellphone, according to her claim.

December 6, 2023

Exclusive: Macheen and Horchatería Rio Luna to Open New School Torta Shop in Paramount

Expect a tender beef barbacoa torta served with guajillo consomé to dip, a torta ahogada de camarón (shrimp) with a yuzu avocado puree drowned in a spicy lobster stock, and a "Mexi-Italian" sandwich with panela, hot pistachio salsa macha, and mortadella. This innovative torta venture in SELA is set to open next week on Monday.

December 5, 2023
See all posts