Yokohama Kaigenro

I’m sorry to say Yokohoma is gone (or should I say it was bought out?). We use to eat here quite often the prices were right and the food was good. Mitsuwa is also gone now occupied by some Korean store.

I went there to have something to eat after visiting Norton Simon Museum and before going to Chandler Pavilion for opera. The fact that they had lunch special-​like combo of ramen and mini beef bowl, I had to try it.
The ramen was adequate for the individual price ($ 6?). The beef bowl was a bit too sweet and wet for my liking, but if you were a Japanese who had stayed in LA and haven’t eaten any Japanese food for a week, this combo will be a godsend. It wasn’t for me, but I still appreciated its availability.
The interior looked old and outdated. It was as if I came to a Japanese restaurant in the US 20 years ago. This place had this overall rundown, which can be said about the whole building unfortunately. It surely didn’t convince me that Little Tokyo has been restored as other people have commented.
Anyway, the combo was $ 7.95, which is very good for its variety and quantity. I would try other places next time, but if I’m in a hurry, I’ll try this place again.

Good, tasty, cheap ramen. It’s nothing mind-​blowing, but since when was ramen anything but good ol’ solid comfort food? For seven or eight bucks you get a huge bowl of fresh, hot ramen that could easily serve two average people or one person who hasn’t eaten anything all day.
The noodles here are good to the tooth, not overly firm or egg-​y at all, but the various broths are really the highlight for me. I’ve tried the veggie, seafood, and chashu ramen, and as different as the broths were for all three, they were all deeply flavorful and not too salty.
Three stars because this is a great, casual place for a quick/​cheap lunch; it’s probably not worth a forty-​five minute drive but definitely worth regular visits if you’re in the neighborhood. The location in a fairly slow, deserted mall makes your dining experience a quiet one, which for me is a boon when I’m in LA, and the fact that Mitsuwa is next door is another plus. I’d’ve given 3.5 stars (or even four if I was feeling expansive) if the bathroom hadn’t been so dirty, though to be fair the women’s bathroom is probably cleaner.

Having eaten at the Yokohama Kaigenro in Vegas and hearing that they opened a place in LA, I had to go for the obligatory comparison.
First off, it’s located in what was formerly known as Yaohan Plaza, a now sleepy and only partially occupied 3-​story mall. Now anchored by Mitsuwa market, it’s hardly the draw it once was. This could be a good thing, though, because parking is a breeze and there are no crowds. A Beard Papa’s is setting up shop with a huge sign on the building, so that could add to the competition for parking, but I’m sure there will be plenty of spaces. And don’t get me started on Beard Papa’s.
So the restaurant is located on the second level, next to Mitsuwa. When I went for lunch, the place was virtually empty, but knowing the building situation, I didn’t take it as a bad sign. I ordered the chanpon ramen (veggies and seafood). For $ 6.95, I got a large bowl of salt-​based ramen with lots of napa, carrots???, shiitake and black mushrooms, a handful of shrimp and a couple pieces of mirugai. My order came out with hot soup base and slightly soft noodles. I like my noodles a bit more chewy, but I’m easygoing.
This place is not going to put Orochon or Daikokuya out of business, but it’s still a place for a decent bowl of ramen. And parking is easy and there’s probably never a wait. It’s a good standby if you need a noodle fix on a short timeframe i.e., lunch away from the office.
The menu is not as broad as the Vegas branch (give it a visit if you’re ever up there) with sushi a notable omission from the LA menu. Overall, my experience was good enough that I’ll go back and sample some of the other offerings. Other bonuses include shopping at the Mitsuwa market, the Marukai-​style .99 cent store, and well… Beard Papa’s if you must.