Tsujita LA

April 20th, 2019

On a cold spring April, hot ramen and tsukemen comes to mind. Tsujita LA on Sawtelle is one of my favorite go-to for ramen and tsukemen. There’s always a long line outside waiting for a table, and you’ll probably have to wait for about 45 minutes. It’s worth the wait. I think of it as part of the experience when you stand outside in the cold weather, getting ravenous after some martial arts training (for me), and finally nourishing your tired body with a bowl of hot, piping ramen. It seems to elevate the experience of eating ramen in LA. To be honest, I don’t have a favorite between the ramen or the tsukemen at Tsujita – they’re both just as good. And one of the best part is asking for more limes to squeeze over the tsukemen.

The tsukemen is delicious with a squeeze of fresh lime over the thick noodles. It makes the noodles fresh and tangy, and whets your appetite even more. With your chopsticks, dunk some noodles into the dipping broth to get a rich, fishy (in a good way) smooth sauce that clings onto the noodles as you slowly slurp them into your mouth. On the other hand, the chashu (stewed pork belly slices) is very tender.

The ramen is just as delicious. The chewy noodles are much thinner, and pairs well with the crunchy woodear fungus and the bite of the spring onions. And the best part, is the broth. The broth is rich, yet light at the same time, rich in umami flavors. It is not overly salty, and I pretty much drank the whole bowl. I usually like the chopped pork fat on top of my ramen, but Tsujita’s ramen is so light yet flavorful that you don’t even miss it.

The soft boiled egg has a nice, gooey golden yolk:

Hold on!! Before finishing your tsukemen or ramen, ask for more soup wari (broth). It’s fun and gives a different flavor profile every time your the dipping broth or soup gets added with soup wari. If you’re not sure how to ask for soup wari, there are instructions at the table and the waiters will tell you about it too. Overall, at Tsujita’s it’s a pretty hearty meal that you should take your time to enjoy.