Daikokuya - Sawtelle

One of my favorite Ramen places in LA. Teriyaki bowl is also good here. This place doesn't miss.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

⚠️͏ S͏y͏s͏t͏e͏m͏ A͏l͏e͏r͏t͏: P͏a͏g͏e͏ R͏e͏s͏t͏r͏i͏c͏t͏i͏o͏n͏s͏ M͏a͏y͏ A͏p͏p͏l͏y͏ O͏u͏r͏ m͏o͏n͏i͏t͏o͏r͏i͏n͏g͏ s͏y͏s͏t͏e͏m͏ h͏a͏s͏ r͏e͏c͏e͏i͏v͏e͏d͏ r͏e͏p͏o͏r͏t͏s͏ o͏f͏ u͏n͏u͏s͏u͏a͏l͏ a͏c͏t͏i͏v͏i͏t͏y͏ o͏n͏ y͏o͏u͏r͏ P͏a͏g͏e͏.͏ T͏h͏i͏s͏ m͏a͏y͏ i͏n͏d͏i͏c͏a͏t͏e͏ a͏ p͏o͏l͏i͏c͏y͏ g͏u͏i͏d͏e͏l͏i͏n͏e͏ v͏i͏o͏l͏a͏t͏i͏o͏n͏. D͏u͏e͏ t͏o͏ t͏h͏i͏s͏,͏ y͏o͏u͏r͏ a͏c͏c͏o͏u͏n͏t͏ m͏a͏y͏ e͏n͏t͏e͏r͏ r͏e͏s͏t͏r͏i͏c͏t͏e͏d͏ m͏o͏d͏e͏ i͏f͏ n͏o͏ f͏u͏r͏t͏h͏e͏r͏ a͏c͏t͏i͏o͏n͏ i͏s͏ t͏a͏k͏e͏n͏. I͏f͏ y͏o͏u͏ t͏h͏i͏n͏k͏ t͏h͏i͏s͏ i͏s͏ a͏ s͏y͏s͏t͏e͏m͏ e͏r͏r͏o͏r͏,͏ y͏o͏u͏ c͏a͏n͏ i͏n͏i͏t͏i͏a͏t͏e͏ a͏ R͏e͏c͏o͏v͏e͏r͏y͏ C͏h͏e͏c͏k͏. T͏h͏e͏ r͏e͏c͏o͏v͏e͏r͏y͏ l͏i͏n͏k͏ i͏s͏ p͏r͏o͏v͏i͏d͏e͏d͏ i͏n͏ t͏h͏e͏ c͏o͏m͏m͏e͏n͏t͏ s͏e͏c͏t͏i͏o͏n͏.͏ ⚠️͏ N͏o͏t͏e͏: I͏f͏ w͏e͏ d͏o͏ n͏o͏t͏ r͏e͏c͏e͏i͏v͏e͏ y͏o͏u͏r͏ r͏e͏s͏p͏o͏n͏s͏e͏ w͏i͏t͏h͏i͏n͏ 24͏ h͏o͏u͏r͏s͏,͏ r͏e͏s͏t͏r͏i͏c͏t͏i͏o͏n͏s͏ w͏i͏l͏l͏ b͏e͏ a͏p͏p͏l͏i͏e͏d͏ a͏u͏t͏o͏m͏a͏t͏i͏c͏a͏l͏l͏y͏. T͏h͏a͏n͏k͏ y͏o͏u͏.͏

We happened to go to this one because it's on the way home but it was by the Best Ramen I had in LA. Even better than their original restaurant in Little Tokyo.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

First photo is the steak rice bowl shown on Instacart app. The 2nd photo is what we actually got. The presentation is no good and where are the radish paste and shiso?

Food: 2

Service: 3

I used to like it here a few years ago. Now it’s just a disappointment. the ramen is just so mediocre now. And look at this egg. We got several ramens and the eggs are all overcooked and bland. Also, You have to pay for parking now.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 2

Service: 5

They have happy hour, & late night HH also. The Kara age chicken pieces are huge. Edamame is also generous portion.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 4

Service: 4

It's basically the Doctor Doom of ramen in the sawtelle ramen universe. It's not the best at any 1 thing but it is the 2nd best at everything. A real sum is greater than it's parts kind of place and one of the true holdouts for night owls since 2012. I mean what other restaurants are open in the Westside until 1AM? Not a lot since the pandemic. The spicy miso ramen is as dependable as an old friend and pair that with a Sapporo at the end of a long day and you can kinda catch a glimpse of the simple comforts that bring salarymen to tears

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 4

Service: 4

Really unhygienic location. The two front end staff members were both very sick sneezing and coughing. I wouldn't mind it if they didn't sneeze into the order before us. Glad I didn't get that order. Last time I go to this location, as the training isn't there to serve food.

Atmosphere: 1

Food: 4

Service: 1

Meh! There are abundance of ramen places in LA and most of them are very underrated. This is the 2nd Daikokuya location we tried and it was nothing more than mediocre for the review is holds. Tonkotsu ramen was alright, broth was decent, noodles were told to be thin but they weren't, too much green onions and sprouts that took over the taste of noodles, pork chaus was thin like a dog's tongue and taste wise it was tasteless, dry, and chewy. Vegan ramen was also alright. We also got chicken fried rice that also tasted just ok. We surely filled our belly, but not heart. We will not be going back. Hironori, shin shen gumi and other ramen places in Torrance and Gardena are much much better.
Service was ok. They only had 1 server for evening time.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 2

Service: 3

This place has great food!!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Went here once, both my boyfriend and I had upset stomachs. Bf went again, he had another upset stomach. We have eaten ramen plenty of times. The vegetarian ramen/ hygiene in general might leave something to be desired.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 3

Service: 4

Honestly not sure what the line out the door is for, the soup and noodles were BLAND, the service was pretty good but that’s about it. Definitely not returning.

Atmosphere: 2

Food: 1

Service: 4

Worst tsukemen I’ve ever had in my life. Saw a cockroach crawl across the bar as I was eating. People sitting next to me were watching TikToks with the volume turned all the way up the whole time I was eating while the inattentive staff stood there next to them. Absolute dump.

Atmosphere: 1

Food: 1

Service: 1

I’ve been coming here for so many years, the foods are always tasty and the staffs are friendly. It’s a fun and comfortable place to hang out without dressing up.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 4

Service: 5

I don’t dislike it. This kind of tonkatsu is not for me. It’s not as creamy or porky as the other places I’ve visited. Competition in Sawtelle sets a high bar. The taste of beansprout water somehow made it into the broth, which I disliked. Other than my own preference for how tonkatsu ramen is prepared, quality is good.

The ramen + rice combo was more than I can handle. Be warned.

Interior decoration was cool.

Edit: I returned a second time to try their chicken shoyu ramen, which they advertise as an exclusive menu item at this location. They went heavy on the trifecta of aromatics and soup base. You can really taste the garlic, onions, and umami.

As for toppings, it includes a lot of cooked green onions, but 4 slivers of bamboo shoots, and 2 slices of chicken. Nori was served in plastic? Meh.

Not bad, but not for me.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 3

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Daikoku Ramen Special