Orochon Ramen

Ramen restaurant · Historic Core

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Highlights

This cozy Japanese hideaway boasts a spicy ramen challenge and a menu loaded with customizable options and generous portions, perfect for any ramen enthusiast.

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123 Astronaut Ellison S Onizuka St #303, Los Angeles, CA 90012 Get directions

$10–20 · Menu

Adam stops in for Los Angeles' most authentic Japanese fare, and faces the Spicy Ramen challenge.

Man Vs. Food - California
·

Mar 16, 2022

View Postcard for Orochon Ramen

Nick S

Google
Orochon Ramen is a well known ramen shop in the heart of Little Tokyo, serving a wide range of spicy levels and well known for their extremely spicy ramen variation. The staff are friendly, there isn't much seating indoors but there is seating outdoors. The food comes out quick and place is kept very cleanly. The ramen portions are large for the price, with a wide range of toppings and spices available to customize your ramen. We got a mild broth, which might've been a mistake since the broth didn't taste that good, but was still pretty good to try out. The noodles were cooked well, and the toppings went well with the noodles. If I go back I'd probably get a spicier broth.

Janneane Rosales

Google
Someone recommended this place for lunch and let me say: I was wowed. It's hidden, it's small, the prices are great and I really enjoyed how customizable it was. It was 8 of us and the bill came to 120 granted only 6 got ramens and most stuck to water but the portions are huge! And they have a variety of spice levels to choose from.

Christine Rubalcaba

Google
If you want Ramen…you found your spot! They have a wide selection of mild to extremely spicy levels. They have a miso broth, a soy and a salt base broth to choose from. I prefer the miso, but to each their own! So many selections in terms of what you can add to your Ramen along with appetizers, beers, sake to enjoy! 😊 it’s located on the third floor of Weller Court, there’s parking on the bottom and you can also get it validated at the restaurant.

Estela Lara

Google
My FAVORITE ramen spot! 🍜 Their fried rice is also amazing! Teriyaki chicken, everything is delicious 😋

Isadora

Google
Stopped by here after shopping awhile, we were seated and served pretty quickly. Ordering was simple, and you are given a giant serving for the price, which is great. The presentation was pretty messy though, but it was really filling and tasty. Definitely want to come back and try it with more toppings. 😋

Mark “arcticfish” White

Google
Attempted the hottest spice level ramen and failed my attempt. It tasted awesome and the staff was attentive and supportive. Easily the hardest food challenge I have ever attempted.

Eryk Kai

Google
Big Portions, Customized Bowls of Ramen... 7 levels of Spice of Soup Broth ranging from no spice, mild to extra extra spicy, Choice of Miso, Soy or Salt; Choice of Vegetarian or Pork Broth. Service and cooking time was fast. Famous for the Spicy Broth Challenge, wall of fame. Very Affordable, Quality Japanese Fast Food

cowgomoo

Google
My favorite ramen shop. Different than most other ramen shop around the area. If you love spicy food, this is a must try. Shoyu number 3 or 4 with side fried rice is my go to.

Mariajose R.

Yelp
Me and my friend ordered the same exact thing. Waited about 30 minutes for our order, only for them to com back with one bowl. We had to wait another 30 minutes just for my friends bowl to come in. I didn't get to enjoy my food because of the wait. Food was good overall but not worth the wait.

Innas I.

Yelp
I've been wanting to try this place since 2009. This place is legend to me. Before social media marketing, this place had huge hype in LA after the Man vs Food episode. All my high school friends at the time were talking about the Special 2 challenge. I finally got to satisfy my craving. Highly recommend everyone in LA to try this place at least once. Even though the show/episode is "old" now, I believe to this day, the Special #2 is an iconic menu item that you can only find here. Although I didn't try the special 2, I can imagine it to be very spicy. I was satisfied with the medium. I was a battling a sore throat, and the ramen broth did wonders!

Ryan L.

Yelp
I came here with friends in order to see them do the SP2 challenge. I got the impact spicy miso ramen with chasu and egg, but I do believe I could've gone one higher but that's just one. The ramen was very tasty and the soup was great! The challenger on my table on the other hand had a lot on their table, going through the noodles and toppings was very easy, but the most difficult part was the soup. In the end they weren't able to finish, but that's okay. The staff was really nice about it and they do validation for parking as well. I really liked that we could sit on the outside so we could let us take in the outdoor chill for the spicy ramen!

Galilea G.

Yelp
This place is so delicious! Ramen portion is amazing I would've honestly shared this one. I love that they're also open pretty late, parking is a little tricky but other than that it's a great place to come.

Angelina L.

Yelp
i didn't love the miso broth, and i wish the egg came soft-boiled. the gyoza was fine, but felt a bit too greasy. that being said, the service here is great -- our waitress was incredibly attentive! cool to see that they have a spicy ramen challenge though.

Diana D.

Yelp
Orochon was very yummy! I enjoyed my ramen with egg, corn and pork meat.I wish they put more meat. You already pay extra for adding the sides to your ramen. I would hope to pay more only if I want extra. But if you don't order your ramen with sides ( you will be having just broth and noodles). Therefore I wish the plates already came with these sides or the most important ones in the ramen and then people can pay if they want (extra) or add more items to their ramen. Flavor wise, it was very good and flavorful. We also tried the #2 spicy ramen! Super spicy guys !! if you can handle spicy! Good luck! Good vibes inside, place is smaller than I expected but there was no wait time so it was fine (:

Eunice S.

Yelp
This used to be a cool place known for the most spiciest ramen in CA and the way how it changed throughout the years is a little bit disappointing. The cleanliness and organization of place is greatly needed. You can see all the dirty dishes on the counter while you're eating and the menu stands with tapped bell on the corner of the restaurant is not attractive at all. I still appreciate the napkins, straws and chopsticks being in the drawer compartment. The service isn't bad but isn't good either. The food was interesting. I ordered a miso broth ramen with medium spicy and my husband ordered a miso broth ramen with non-spicy and both of our ramen had sliced green bell peppers, which we have never seen that ingredient in our ramen before from any other ramen restaurants. Unfortunately, we could only taste the green bell peppers, which hindered from the pure rich flavored soup. It's such a shame that they are on a border line of being wonderful.

Jessica W.

Yelp
多走一點彎路沒有關係,多花一點時間也沒有關係,只要是在人生的道路上你還是走在妳想要的路上,何時到達並沒有那麼重要 誤打誤撞的來到這一家拉麵店,其實這一個廣場是以前curry house 的廣場, 真是很懷念以前有curry house 的日子, 這家東西,最好吃的應該就是他家的餃子了, 拉麵的湯頭, 嗯, 個人覺得還有待加強, 服務態度是還不錯, 但食物沒有用心

Jose R.

Yelp
I work in downtown and stumbled upon this hidden shopping center by Little Tokyo-finding a restaurant in this area where parking is validated is a huge plus! Service is quick and friendly with few options for broth but you can tell it's a favorite with a frequent clientele. I chose the miso broth and added an egg. Savory broth with all the comforts of a traditional Japanese ramen. The place offers no frills but you will definitely have an enjoyable lunch!

Sharon K.

Yelp
Come to Orochon if you are craving a big bowl of a light pork based broth ramen which you can customize the spice level! I personally love a bowl of thick tonkotsu broth ramen but most ramen places dont allow for spice level customization. Even if they do, it doesnt satisfy my spicy cravings! Orochon does. Orochon's broth is light and you can choose one of three styles. I always get Salt level two and my sister gets the Soy sauce level two. I love sitting outside because the inside could get hectic and packed at times. Its nice sitting outside at night, especially when it is cold and I have a hot bowl of ramen to devour.

Narciso A.

Yelp
Orochon Ramen [3.5 Stars]: A Convenient Choice for Hearty Ramen in Little Tokyo #NarcisoA634 I visited Orochon Ramen during the Oshugatsu Festival in Little Tokyo. The use of a Yelp kiosk for virtual queuing was a welcome touch of technology, making the wait short and efficient. The restaurant, located on the 3rd floor of a slightly worn strip mall, offered a surprisingly nice view from where we sat. Opting to share a giant bowl of Miso soup with extra ramen, fried tofu, and Chasiu pork turned out to be a wise decision, leaving both my wife and me satisfyingly full. The soup itself was good, albeit lacking the complexity and variety I've come to expect from Japanese ramen. The broth was thankfully not too salty, and while the meat was tender, it was sparse. The service was quick and unobtrusive, fitting the informal setting. At just under $30 for the shared bowl including tax and tip, the value was quite reasonable. While Orochon Ramen might not be a destination in itself, it's a solid choice if you find yourself in the area with a craving for a sizable, no-frills ramen bowl. Rubric Scores: * Value: 4/5 - Reasonable for the quantity. * Food: 3/5 - Good but lacks the full spectrum of traditional flavors. * Presentation: 3/5 - Functional and adequate for casual dining. * Service: 4/5 - Efficient, suitable for the setting. * Physical Location: 3/5 - Average, improved by the unexpected view. Final Thoughts: Orochon Ramen offers a straightforward, hearty ramen experience in Little Tokyo. It's a practical spot for a filling meal, especially if you're already in the area. For a detailed understanding of my review criteria, visit: https://jayr.live/YelpRubric

Stephanie G.

Yelp
Stopped by for a quick bite on a Thursday afternoon and the place was empty. Service was very attentive to our hungry bellies and everyone enjoyed their meals. Soup broth was tasty and kids bowls are a very good size especially with the extra noodles.

Kyle C.

Yelp
I honestly wanted to love this restaurant, but the food was very mediocre. We had to wait for one hour and during that time we got to explore the scenery. The service was decent. My 2 friends and I all got the miso ramen. The portions were good and the kid sized ramen was well worth it. We all thought that the noodles were very good, however the egg, meat, and broth were very disappointing. The broth was very watery and not a creamy-rich ramen broth we were looking forward to. The broth had lots of bell peppers that didn't tie very well with the miso flavor. There was not a lot of meat inside the ramen. The meat tasted like it came from hot pot. The egg was not very good either. The egg was clearly not made for ramen. It was a little cold and not hard boiled nor soft boiled. Overall, this restaurant is decent, but there are definitely better options out there.

Mefa L.

Yelp
If you're looking for a meal that's truly worth every penny, this ramen challenge will absolutely deliver. Picture this: a massive bowl filled to the brim, towering with noodles, rich broth, and toppings that spill over the edge like a culinary mountain. And the best part? It's just $20 for a feast that feels like it could feed a small army. The broth alone is a savory treasure, perfectly balanced and brimming with layers of flavor. Each bite of noodle is a victory in itself, and by the time you get to the finish line, you'll feel like you've conquered a ramen titan. This is more than just a meal--it's an adventure, a challenge, and a truly satisfying experience all wrapped into one steaming bowl.

Alexander M.

Yelp
I've tried a lot of ramen from Phoenix area where I originally live and I can say that this spot has surpassed all of Phoenix. It just shows that spots like these carry the flavors of Japan.

Yiyi S.

Yelp
Disappointing place, starting low service, lack of hygiene from servers, poor food quality and quantity, overprice for low expectations of food, appetizers were low quality and poor tastes. Main dishes: beef teriyaki was with low quality beef, hard to chew, and chicken with skin left overs. I don't agree this is a4.4 start restaurant.

Nathan V.

Yelp
It's weird just recently saw an old picture I took when i went years, guess never put up a review. Well it's been a long time since I've gone but use to come here a lot when I lived in OC and wanted to get ramen. I was introduced by an ex who found out from places to check out. This was back when we had a high tolerance for spice and eventually worked our way to the hottest which we couldn't even finish one bowl between us two. But that's not a bad thing, I definitely recommend coming here for spicy ramen, since some places claim that it's spicy but in reality isn't. But not here, you definitely get the burn you ask for. Have gone here a lot before and after and was always my first choice to go to. The place isn't that big but it's in LA so no surprise but the staff has always been attentive and it's been clean and service has always been great. Price is on par with most places, and this place is no different which is a good thing considering it's location. The location is great because there is so much to do around afterwards. While been more open to trying more ramen places I haven't been to in LA more recently. This will always be my go to if I don't want to risk something new . Because I know I'll always leave satisfied and usually eat here before the night starts so always a good way to start the night.

Joey Y.

Yelp
I love this place they have one of the best ramen in Los Angeles in my opinion. Plus this is the only one I have encountered that has a ramen challenge for you to try out if you are not afraid of really hot, hot foods.

Eileen S.

Yelp
Of all the places where I've gotten spicy ramen, I still haven't found a place that has the kind of spicy flavor that Orochon does. It's such a specific taste that I can't find anywhere else, so I crave it on the regular. Located on the third floor of the Weller Court, you can either park on the street at a meter or park in the structure on the first floor. When you validate your parking with the restaurant, I believe you get an hour free the last time I ate there in person. Depending on the time you go, it can be a bit of a wait, but you can kill some time looking around some of the shops on the first floor before your table is ready.

Mico S.

Yelp
A favorite of mine. The ramen is always delicious and good value. Their location is great because you can visit the surrounding businesses and go for a walk. The restaurant itself is a bit small, so expect a line to get in from time to time

Rachel S.

Yelp
I Love This place! I have been coming here since like 2017/2018 I can't remember. But I have spent birthdays here, I have friends from out of town come here, I go on dates here. It's always 10/10 and everyone is always happy with the food quality, taste, and service. It's usually busy but there's always seating. It has changed so many times through the years. I remember when there were buttons on the tables to call for service, but now they are like every other restaurant where they service you when they think of you. The dumpling have changed many times but they still taste good. I always get the gyzo dumplings and salt broth soup. They've added many things to the menu so I give them that. I Love This place as it's very busy and it can be loud but it's still intimate enough to be in your own bubble at your table. I think this is a great place for a date, get out of the house dinner, alone time dinner, bring out of town friends. They never disappoint!

Ronald A.

Yelp
Good stuff !!!!! Just a little spicy!!! Service was fast and chill no rush until lunch time !!!

Khanh N.

Yelp
We were staying at the hotel next door so came for dinner. The portions were big. Chashu slices were thick & very tender, much more satisfying to eat compared to other ramen places. The broth was a bit salty for us, not sure if there's a low sodium option, we would've liked that. Otherwise great service, enough space to accommodate crowds so you don't have to wait.

Allie P.

Yelp
Dined outside at one of their patio tables. Ordered the salt ramen medium spicy and a Sapporo. Good service and good tasting food, the beer was cold and it was a very ice and enjoyable day to eat outside. Would recommend as it wasn't a long wait either!

Michael T.

Yelp
Been coming here for years especially on a really cold winter day food is always great the potstickers Ramen soup fried rice is the best your going to get In Los Angeles only complaint I had was the service we had a Japanese waitress and she was the most miserable person that we ever had serve on us I could understand if maybe the restaurant was busy but we was the only people in there it was shocking because it's usually packed but everything we asked for.. she rolled her eyes at us so I'm knocking off a star because of her

Thomas K.

Yelp
Orochon ramen is okay. It's located on the 3rd floor of the Weller Court - right next to the Double Tree Hilton Hotel. I visited Orochon Ramen over 10 years ago and I still remembered attempting the spicy ramen challenge - don't do it. The broth comes out practically boiling and if it doesn't hurt going in. It'll hurt coming out. In my recent visit, I've humbled myself and got a miso ramen with medium spiciness. The ramen was okay. I do like that they have a lot of toppings with the ramen. The broth is a cleaner, less fatty taste - unlike man of the other famous ramen places in Little Tokyo. I can safely say, they aren't boiling pork bones for 18+ hours or incorporating pork fat to get a silky profile. I didn't feel like there was a lot of noodles in my order. I ordered 2 servings of extra noodles - I normally order 1 extra order at other ramen places. While the restaurant is a little dated, it was cozy. I went on a Monday night (chilly February) and it was empty.

Katheryn S.

Yelp
Service and Ambiance were good. I got the Shoyu (soy sauce) Ramen. I'm Japanese so I'm pretty picky about the quality and service of Japanese restaurants. It would be hard to imagine this being a Japanese owned place. I have never seen a real ramen shop have ratings for spiciness on something like Shoyu Ramen and the selection below medium was hard for me to take. The broth wasn't great and the meat was like Beef Bowl sliced meat which I have Never seen in real Japanese ramen. The help and service were very nice but I'm sorry, this was not a good ramen. Huge surprise for Sho Tokyo.

Tara S.

Yelp
Food was fire the service was great I love wall of bravery. Everyone was nice and cool the food was made with love. Ignore the bad reviews if you like ramen you will love orochon ramen

Heather L.

Yelp
This is my favorite non-tonkotsu ramen place. I've been coming here for 15+ years and I think I've brought all my family, old colleagues and close friends here at least once. I love how their ramens are always consistent. A miso ramen with 1/2 spicy fried rice is my go-to combo (just wish they don't put too much carrots in the fried rice). Their ramens are huge and they come with the toppings that I like--bamboo shoots, green onions, bean sprouts and wood ear mushrooms. Their other menu items and sides are average to below average. I rarely order anything besides the spicy fried rice, which is also slightly below average but I like the little kick it has. Their covered patio is dog friendly so it's a plus for me. Hope this place stays in business forever.

Susan O.

Yelp
It has been difficult for me to find a good ramen place that serves ramen made without pork broth and Orochon had a vegetarian option that was great! My friends and I thoroughly enjoyed our meals and received decent service. The only downside to this location is that there weren't very many solid seating options outside for groups of 5 or more, so plan accordingly!

G B.

Yelp
This place needs better packaging uber driver deliver soup and literally the bottom of the foam ripped apart causing all my soup to be in the bag

Marcelo R.

Yelp
this place is surprisingly absolutely fantastic. Ramen was great broth was great.. service is excellent. And very clean. I stumbled in here, by accident and was so happy I did. It's a must try.

Cel S.

Yelp
Came a couple of weeks back, and ramen seemed to be a good idea for the cold weather. Unfortunately, the taste of the ramen is really nothing writing home about. It wasn't bad, but just extremely mediocre. The takoyaki was pretty good though! Staff were overall very pleasant and kind. We did have to wait, so I'm not sure if I'd be back, because I'm not sure if the taste of the ramen really justified the wait or the price. Maybe if there was nothing else nearby or everywhere else had a really long wait time?

Arlet G.

Yelp
Came here Friday on my wife's insistence (she's been taking me for a quick minute) as honestly just had a rough day. BROOKE the name of the waitress that served us treated us with a nasty attitude and couldn't even be bothered to finish serving us. I have stomach issues and asked if I could get the child's portion and was told no so I said it's okay I'll just share a bowl with my wife could we get an extra bowl along with extra pork. Her coworker brings it out and we're there waiting a good 5 minutes for what we asked. BROOKE passed by us several times so we had to end up asking her coworker again for the extra bowl and extra pork...he brings out COLD pork that both my wife and I saw was out there sitting for a while. I'm honestly disgusted because it looked so nasty so my wife asks for new pork, she was denied so I asked if we could reheat it at least and the server just stared at me like I offended him so we changed our mind and sent it back honestly losing our appetite. We overheard him talking to BROOKE that we didn't want the pork that what should he do. She answered him rudely as if my wife and I are not within hearing distance of them. Acting like she wasn't the one who took our orders. I lost my appetite and patience and told my wife to leave we got up and walked out yes that's right we walked out because I honestly didn't even touch the food nor open the soda can they gave us. My wife had posted a similar review complaining and instead of apologizing for the poor service we received, the owner accused her of stealing as if we haven't been coming here repeatedly. We are not thieves I have no shame in admitting what we did because at the end of the day you don't get to treat people rudely and expect them to take it AND pay especially a business that deals in food. You have my wife's information I hope you intend to follow up because we have no reason to hide why should you or your rude incompetent waitress UPDATE: almost 2 weeks of radio silence despite claims the owner would reach back out to me. Instead get the owner trying to cover up for her incompetent waitress, THE OWNER threatens me with video of us walking out like of course I did I'm not wasting my money on subpar customer service especially when we barely touched the nasty stuff

Elyssia W.

Yelp
So the atmosphere is a little dated, still it feels personal and quaint I guess. The food was ok. Gyoza was ok. The ramen noodles in my miso ramen were good! But the chicken was too soft and the pork too tough. (Also you can't sub the pork out, they'll take it out but will still charge you extra for chicken.) Flavor of the soup was just ok. Noodles in the salt ramen were different: much smaller, not as good. Now the rice.. It was way too mushy for one. Like where's the "fried". But most importantly, they didn't have an ingredient list for it and it included what looked like crab meat (or imitation crab) and pork. I'm allergic to crab meat. My boyfriend ate the rice first and saw the meat. We asked what it was and they said it wasn't crab or imitation, just fish cake. You be the judge of what it looks like, a piece is pictured. Pretty frustrating. Overall, food was not very flavorful without super spice or soy sauce. Immediately I unimpressed by the host/waiters greeting, then the rest of the service was not so great also. At the risk of sounding arrogant.. I had to ask my waiter to bring me another refill of water even though he had walked past the table several times. Before we had food on the table he brought us the to go boxes and check for a different table. Then he disappeared before we got the check so we were just kind of looking around and waiting before asking another server for help. Mostly though no one there, minus the one waiter who helped us, seemed very professionally friendly. Sorry that got long.

Makena L.

Yelp
This is one of my favorite places in LA! I've been coming here for years and they never disappoint. It's a small restaurant on the third floor of a little outdoor shopping center, and although there aren't a ton of tables, any amount of waiting that you do is quick and definitely worth it! Our waitress was super kind and very attentive with our orders and requests. I ordered the vegetarian miso broth with extra noodles and the soy sauce soaked egg. I think I will be dreaming about how delicious that egg was until I'm able to come back! This is a gem in LA and I definitely recommend it!

Vivian N.

Yelp
Stopped by here to try enjoy some ramen after shopping in Little Tokyo. This is a small yet busy restaurant. The bowls are big and the ramen was very filling!

Rian C.

Yelp
Food: 10/10. The portions were big and totally shareable. The taste was great! Service: 9/10. It was not as fast but it was also a weekend so that played a big part in the serving time as well as the waiting time. The servers were really nice though. Ambiance: 7/10. The place is a bit small and can only take in so many people. We were also seated in front of the door that was kept open the whole time while it was raining and cold so that was not ideal.

Alice C.

Yelp
Has been so long since my last visit, before pandemic. The quality didn't change, which is good. The only thing was the soup, it got a bit heavier, still good though. This all depends on have strong you like your soup. The cost of course went up a little, but comparable to other places. They still offer the parking validation for an hour. There are a few new stores in the plaza. Give a try to enjoyed the ramen, then browse around the new stores too.

Wendy C.

Yelp
Food is good. The service wasn't good at all, they sat us down and we never received the menu, we had to grab it from the table next to us, even though we were sitting there for about 20 minutes trying to get noticed, employees would just pass by us, ignoring us. I don't recommend the water they serve, it doesn't taste well. The restaurant itself needs to be cleaned and updated. We've been coming here for years and sadly yesterday the service was very disappointing.

Jillian S.

Yelp
Hyper Soy sauce ramen. i LOVE spicy and this was barely spicy so I'd probably go for extreme next time, except there won't be a next time. The noodles and broth don't complement each other. There are wayy too many toppings to enjoy the actual flavor of ramen. I asked for the classic, iconic sunset ramen egg but they can't even make it properly?? I mean that is basic for a ramen shop. They had their A/C and fans on full blast which made food get cold REALLY fast. The interior of the restaurant itself is also dirty. The seats are all run down. The presentation of the restaurant is not appealing and does not attract an appetite. Would not recommend. However I would recommend R101 in Glendale or Slurpin Ramen Bar in K-Town.

Jaythel D.

Yelp
Orochon is one of my favorite spots in little tokyo to eat at! Their salt based ramen is just amazing. It is one of the most flavorful broths i have had that is not a tonkatsu broth. I also add some spice which just enhances the flavor! The noodle texture is just amazing. As one who struggles with spice and does not have much of a tolerance, a range of spice levels is always appreciated. I always get the osae-osae level for spice and it has the perfect kick without a lingering spice in your mouth. On other occasions I have also tried their gyoza which are always cooked to perfectin and come with one of the best chili sauces. Their fried rice is also a great dish that comes with a decent amount of meat and fish cake!

Steven F.

Yelp
We had spicy miso ramen and gyoza here when I'm back in town to visit my cousin. Had great ramen and spicy miso is a must!! We will definitely be back here for sure.

Jet C.

Yelp
Visiting LA for a concert, in desperate need for ramen and this place is a safe bet. Food portion is huge, no size variation. Ramen broth is really flavorful and the sides were plenty to choose, though the price tends to rack up. The ambience is casual, quick eats considering how tiny it was. Service is fast and great and overall it's a good option for quick ramen craves.

Adrian O.

Yelp
Service was beyond bad. The worker standing close to the restroom entrance didn't even acknowledge anyone. What terrible service when I asked the short girl about something, but she didn't even answer. I asked the guy at the front and it seems like he didn't speak English. It seems like he didn't want to associate with the customers. Do yourself a favor and eat ramen elsewhere!

Dom K.

Yelp
There's a lot of ramen shops in Little Tokyo and since Orochon is tucked away at the top of Weller Court, they have to do something to draw in customers. Their specialty is spice, with 9 levels of spiciness. They don't really advertise special combos or topping sets, rather incorporate spice level as part of the order. They also have a Wall of Bravery for those challenging the top 2 spice levels! We ordered the miso ramen, shoyu ramen, and a plate of takoyaki. Each of their ramen broths have a pork base as well, so this means more calories, sodium, and flavor. They also have a vegetable base as well. Their bowls don't include cha shu, rather sliced pork belly which is very mid. Their broths are rich and there's a good amount of noodles, but lots of bean sprouts. The takoyaki has a crispy exterior and a mushy interior. I think the meal is average at an average price, but I would recommend the other ramen shops unless you're going for the spice.

Billy M.

Yelp
Not only was the chicken unedible the service here is terrible. After being moved 2 times for no apparent reason the food I was served was so bad I ate two bites and left the rest. The chicken was so undercooked and awful. HIGE LET DOWN. Never again!

Tammy L.

Yelp
Ramen here can be spicy if you'd like. Alejandro was our server and he was a great balance between being attentive and given us space. They have outdoor and indoor seating

Jessamine J.

Yelp
1/5 for the ramen 2/5 for the service 4/5 for the location Growing up in San Francisco, you could never go wrong with any restaurant in Japantown. Moving here, I thought the same about Little Tokyo.. but I was WRONG. My friend and I were excited to try a ramen spot in Little Tokyo before heading to a concert. We didn't check Yelp before sitting down, but figured it was OK since we were in Little Tokyo. We were sadly mistaken. Food: We both ordered the Miso Ramen and my friend ordered a Level 3 spicy and I ordered non-spicy. We were surprised to see that the "base" Miso Ramen was already $18, and any add-ons like chasu, corn, and egg were additional. In my 6 years of doing yelp reviews, majority of the restaurants I've visited are Ramen shops, and this is the first Ramen place I've been to where they nickel and dime you for toppings. Upon receiving the ramen, the broth was incredibly salty. My friends' ramen was supposed to be spicy and it was even more saltier than mine. I tried to finish the noodles, but the broth was just way too salty. By the time the check came, my friend and I spent around $23 each on this terrible ramen. Upon leaving, we walked over to Japanese Village Plaza and the ramen there had ALL the toppings included and it was about $15-$16! My friend and I were full of regret that we didn't stop by here first. Service: Terrible, and their bathrooms were pretty dirty quite honestly. I needed a lot of water for this meal, and it was hard to track anyone down. After waiting awhile, my friend and I quickly paid our bill and left. Location: It's across the street from the Japanese Village Plaza. There's plenty of street parking. We came around 7:30-8:00pm and there was no wait. Overall, buyer beware. I feel that the prices are way too high for the quality of the ramen. My friend and I had to drink so much water after leaving the place because of how salty their broth is. And for $23 after taxes? Smh.
Orochon Ramen on Postcard