I would highly recommend Tatsu Ramen to friends and family! Service and food were amazing. The manager, Angelo, was very helpful and welcoming. Definitely going back for more.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Christian Saucedo
Very good ramen, very fast service. Would recommend easily, just be prepared to look for parking.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Monse Ruelas
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Delicious ramen with rich, flavorful broth and perfectly cooked noodles. Portions were generous, and the service was fast and friendly. Definitely coming back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Ashley Andyanto
tatsu's naked ramen is my go to everytime i visit LA! the sauce and spice always hits. the food came out really quick & the server was nice!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Joseph Carlini
Tastsu is the best Ramen! Love the flavors and the staff!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
John Mulchaey
My favorite ramen place. Consistently excellent.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
katayoun kh
We tried the creamy chicken broth which was amazing and also the pork old school broth. I will get creamy chicken broth next time as well. Service was fast. Seating space at some parts is tight but overall nice. Taste was 5/5!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Ross Lake
Always a good time here at Tatsu. Been coming for years and it’s never let me down!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Moises Rosas
Extremely good food, worth the price, and great customer service!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Jose Mosqueda
Alright, let’s talk about Tatsu Ramen, because this one hurts a little.
Tatsu used to mean something. I remember going to the locations on Sawtelle and Pasadena before the pandemic, after the pandemic, and again now in 2025. Every era felt different, but back then there was still a clear identity. Fresh garlic at the table with a press. Chili oil and powder mixed properly. Thoughtful execution. Even the small stuff like sodas not being five dollars felt intentional.
Fast forward to the Melrose location and… the brand hasn’t survived here.
The space feels cluttered and confused. Shelves packed with random figurines, anime characters, rubber ducks, pink piggies. It looks more like a collector’s shelf than a restaurant, and none of it ties back to the original Tatsu aesthetic beyond some red trim and baseboards. There’s no cohesion, no visual through-line, no sense of what this place is trying to be.
Service-wise, I get that it’s counter-serve. You order on a tablet, find a seat, and staff interaction is minimal. That’s fine in theory. But even when tipping, the level of attentiveness doesn’t change. It feels transactional, not hospitable.
I visited December 25, 2025 and the food itself was the biggest letdown. The ramen was flat. The broth had almost no depth. When I asked for chili oil, I was given oil and chili powder separately, which just reinforced how far things have drifted from what made Tatsu good in the first place.
What really threw me was the smell in the dining room. Heavy cilantro and onion. I genuinely paused and thought, why does a Japanese ramen spot smell like a Mexican restaurant? Then I saw the menu. Birria ramen. Creative? Sure. But birria, plastic figurines, rubber ducks, and disengaged service don’t belong in a brand that once set a standard for ramen in LA.
One more thing that genuinely concerned me: several points of entry and exit were blocked with red straps, and the sliding exit door wasn’t clearly marked. The only “exit” sign I saw was unlit and hanging from the ceiling. I’m not here to play inspector, but blocking exits is never a great look, and it made the space feel uncomfortable from a safety standpoint.
Overall, this location feels like brand drift in real time. Tatsu used to be intentional, focused, and confident in what it was. At Melrose, it feels scattered and unsure, and unfortunately the food reflects that.
I wanted to love this visit. I really did. But this one missed hard.
delicious food, seated quickly, wonderful guest service. The manager Angelo Agojo was kind and attentive, came to check on us multiple times while we were eating to make sure everything was good.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Bold Ramen
Luckyjhnnyby
Decided for a late night hot soup after a chilly night at Universal Studios. Our party got both the Bold and Cheeky ramen bowls. They were amazing. Quick and kind service. Bold bowl didn't make it to the photos it, it was too delicious.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Bold Ramen, Cheeky Ramen
Dre Brown
Tatsu Ramen’s Beef Spicy Red is hands down the best I’ve had full of flavor and just right on the spice. Over time, though, I’ve noticed the cleanliness has gone down a bit, which is a bit disappointing. Still worth a try if you’re craving some solid ramen.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 3
Solana Sanchez
Tatsu is still fire 🔥
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Bold Ramen
Emma Freyre
I am obsessed with the place! I eat it every time I’m in town because the Hippie is the best ramen I’ve ever had. The manager, Angelo, always makes sure that I’m enjoying everything and really makes us feel at home!
I would highly recommend Tatsu Ramen to friends and family! Service and food were amazing. The manager, Angelo, was very helpful and welcoming. Definitely going back for more.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Very good ramen, very fast service. Would recommend easily, just be prepared to look for parking.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Delicious ramen with rich, flavorful broth and perfectly cooked noodles. Portions were generous, and the service was fast and friendly. Definitely coming back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
tatsu's naked ramen is my go to everytime i visit LA! the sauce and spice always hits. the food came out really quick & the server was nice!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Tastsu is the best Ramen! Love the flavors and the staff!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
My favorite ramen place. Consistently excellent.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
We tried the creamy chicken broth which was amazing and also the pork old school broth. I will get creamy chicken broth next time as well. Service was fast. Seating space at some parts is tight but overall nice. Taste was 5/5!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Always a good time here at Tatsu. Been coming for years and it’s never let me down!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Extremely good food, worth the price, and great customer service!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Alright, let’s talk about Tatsu Ramen, because this one hurts a little.
Tatsu used to mean something. I remember going to the locations on Sawtelle and Pasadena before the pandemic, after the pandemic, and again now in 2025. Every era felt different, but back then there was still a clear identity. Fresh garlic at the table with a press. Chili oil and powder mixed properly. Thoughtful execution. Even the small stuff like sodas not being five dollars felt intentional.
Fast forward to the Melrose location and… the brand hasn’t survived here.
The space feels cluttered and confused. Shelves packed with random figurines, anime characters, rubber ducks, pink piggies. It looks more like a collector’s shelf than a restaurant, and none of it ties back to the original Tatsu aesthetic beyond some red trim and baseboards. There’s no cohesion, no visual through-line, no sense of what this place is trying to be.
Service-wise, I get that it’s counter-serve. You order on a tablet, find a seat, and staff interaction is minimal. That’s fine in theory. But even when tipping, the level of attentiveness doesn’t change. It feels transactional, not hospitable.
I visited December 25, 2025 and the food itself was the biggest letdown. The ramen was flat. The broth had almost no depth. When I asked for chili oil, I was given oil and chili powder separately, which just reinforced how far things have drifted from what made Tatsu good in the first place.
What really threw me was the smell in the dining room. Heavy cilantro and onion. I genuinely paused and thought, why does a Japanese ramen spot smell like a Mexican restaurant? Then I saw the menu. Birria ramen. Creative? Sure. But birria, plastic figurines, rubber ducks, and disengaged service don’t belong in a brand that once set a standard for ramen in LA.
One more thing that genuinely concerned me: several points of entry and exit were blocked with red straps, and the sliding exit door wasn’t clearly marked. The only “exit” sign I saw was unlit and hanging from the ceiling. I’m not here to play inspector, but blocking exits is never a great look, and it made the space feel uncomfortable from a safety standpoint.
Overall, this location feels like brand drift in real time. Tatsu used to be intentional, focused, and confident in what it was. At Melrose, it feels scattered and unsure, and unfortunately the food reflects that.
I wanted to love this visit. I really did. But this one missed hard.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Recommended dishes: Tatsu Ramen
Restaurantji Recommends
delicious food, seated quickly, wonderful guest service. The manager Angelo Agojo was kind and attentive, came to check on us multiple times while we were eating to make sure everything was good.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Bold Ramen
Decided for a late night hot soup after a chilly night at Universal Studios. Our party got both the Bold and Cheeky ramen bowls. They were amazing. Quick and kind service. Bold bowl didn't make it to the photos it, it was too delicious.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Bold Ramen, Cheeky Ramen
Tatsu Ramen’s Beef Spicy Red is hands down the best I’ve had full of flavor and just right on the spice. Over time, though, I’ve noticed the cleanliness has gone down a bit, which is a bit disappointing. Still worth a try if you’re craving some solid ramen.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 3
Tatsu is still fire 🔥
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Bold Ramen
I am obsessed with the place! I eat it every time I’m in town because the Hippie is the best ramen I’ve ever had. The manager, Angelo, always makes sure that I’m enjoying everything and really makes us feel at home!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
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