December 12, 2024 The Best Source of News, Culture, Lifestyle for Culver City, Mar Vista, Del Rey, Palms and West Los Angeles

Food Review: Ramen Restaurant Opens First Westside Location

ai Ramen opens first Westside location

By Kerry Slater

A new ramen spot on the Westside may not knock your socks off but still offers a solid Tonkotsu broth that is a much-needed addition to the area’s dining scene.

Kai Raman is not new to the Los Angeles dining scene, with eight locations across the county. A few weeks ago, however, the restaurant opened its first Westside storefront on Montana Avenue between Lincoln Boulevard and 7th Street. I popped in for lunch, order a classic Tonkotsu ramen for take-out (the restaurant does not yet have an outdoor setup), paid ($13 plus tax & tip) and walked out less than five minutes later with my food. On the Westside, an area where waiting an hour for ramen is not unheard of, getting served so quickly was a pleasant surprise. Also on the Westside paying $13 for ramen is reasonable, especially on Montana Avenue.

The ramen came in a disposal bento box. Not only does this prevent the noodles from getting soggy, it is also a great bento box that I will reuse for other things. After assembling my ramen in a bowl and taking a photo, I began by taking a sip of the broth followed by a bite of pork and was not disappointed.

It was not the best ramen I have ever had. That award goes to Tsujita on Sawtelle. It was not even the second-best ramen I have ever had. That honor belongs to Ippudo (formally in Santa Monica). But it still checks off all the boxes for a solid bowl of ramen. The broth packed full of umami yet not too salty and slightly sweet. The two slices of pork belly were hearty, thick and crispy (thanks to some flame torch action). The flavored egg traveled surprisingly well while ample mushrooms and greens were provided, adding some great texture to the bowl. The weak link was the noodles, not because they were bad, but just because the take-out process deprived them of any al-dente bite. After I was full, there were still leftovers but I still found myself wanting to eat more, a true sign of a good bowl of ramen.

Overall, Kai Raman is a much-needed addition to the Montana Avenue dining scene. Not only does it serve a solid bowl of ramen, it also offers other Japanese options, a type of cuisine missing in the area amid the array of Italian restaurants, cafes and healthy eateries on the street. This is not a place to go on a romantic date, this is not the place to take a visitor to, but it is definitely a place to stop by for a quick, tasty bowl of ramen that is sure to hit the spot.

Taste 8/10
Value 7/10
Quality 7.5/10

Overall: 7.5/10

in Dining, News
Related Posts

Court Rulings Spell the End of Proposed Merger Between Albertson’s and Kroger

December 11, 2024

December 11, 2024

Grocery Chain Announces Kroger Lawsuit in Separate Press Release Albertsons Companies, Inc. has announced the termination of its proposed merger...

Bar Nine to Close Culver City Flagship After 11 Years of Excellent Espresso and Connection

December 11, 2024

December 11, 2024

Espresso Bar Bids Farewell to Culver City, Plans Bright Future with Pure Espresso After 11 years of serving the community,...

(Video) The Watermark at Beverly Hills Offers Boutique-Style Living for Seniors

December 11, 2024

December 11, 2024

For More Info, Go To Watermarkcommunities.com For More Info, Go To https://t.co/OmOzzwuFyj pic.twitter.com/FecaVlqabn — Westside Today (@WestsideLAToday) December 11, 2024

Dan O’Brien Named Culver City Mayor, Freddy Puza to Serve as Vice Mayor

December 11, 2024

December 11, 2024

Newly Elected Council Members Sworn in as Göran Eriksson Ends Term Council Member Dan O’Brien will serve as Culver City’s...

Culver City Police Department Warns City and Nearby Areas of Potential Fire Danger and Air Quality Issues

December 10, 2024

December 10, 2024

High Winds, Low Humidity, and Dry Conditions Increase the Potential for Wildfires The National Weather Service has issued a Red...

Franklin Fire Update: Over 3,000 Acres Burned, New Shelter Opened, City Government Relocated

December 10, 2024

December 10, 2024

Homes and Structures Impacted; PCH and Major Roads Closed as Firefighters Battle Blaze The update from the city government of...

(Video) School of Rock Offers the Most Revolutionary Music Education

December 10, 2024

December 10, 2024

Sign Up Now at WestLA.SchoolofRock.com Sign Up Now at https://t.co/UY2nQjzBYg pic.twitter.com/G98Z4Q7C7P — Westside Today (@WestsideLAToday) December 10, 2024

Man Arrested for Murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO in NYC Has Ties to Santa Monica

December 9, 2024

December 9, 2024

Suspect Found with Ghost Gun, Manifesto, and Fake IDs in Pennsylvania Luigi Mangione, a 26-year-old man, was arrested in Pennsylvania...

Disturbance and Car Wreck Snarl Castle Heights and Venice Boulevard Traffic Friday Night

December 9, 2024

December 9, 2024

Police Detain a Belligerent Man Blocking Traffic; Overturned Car on Venice Boulevard On Friday night, December 6, at around 6:45...

Culver City Police Department Launches Its Holiday Toy Drive for Local Kids

December 9, 2024

December 9, 2024

Donate New, Unwrapped Toys To Brighten the Season for Children in Need The Culver City Police Department is inviting the...

Golden Globes Announce 2025 Nominees: See the Full List

December 9, 2024

December 9, 2024

Hollywood’s Biggest Night Returns, Top Contenders Revealed The nominees for the 82nd Annual Golden Globe Awards® were announced Monday, December...

“A Safer 11 for a Better 11” Initiative Targets Crime Reduction, Infrastructure Upgrades

December 9, 2024

December 9, 2024

Councilmember Traci Park Launches New Public Safety Plan for District 11 Councilmember Traci Park, alongside LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell, Los...

Shore Hotel to Open New Coastal-Inspired Hotel Restaurant

December 9, 2024

December 9, 2024

By Susan Payne A new restaurant is opening at the Shore Hotel in January, offering guests and the public a...

Where to Meet Santa on the Westside This Holiday Season

December 8, 2024

December 8, 2024

From Malls To Diving Adventures, Explore the Top Spots Who wants to meet Santa? For parents, it’s one of the...

Man Shot in Robbery Near Blair Hills Park in Culver City Early Saturday Morning

December 8, 2024

December 8, 2024

Police Seek Two Suspects Who Fled the Scene After Wounding the Victim. A man was shot and robbed early Saturday...