Los Angeles Ramen Yokocho 2014
RAMEN!
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March 29 - 30, 2014
Santa Anita Park
Japan Cup and Japan Family Day
Few will believe that there is actually a food festival for Ramen in the U.S. This was the second year in Los Angeles and the largest ramen festival in the U.S. 14 ramen vendors from Japan, Las Vegas, San Diego, San Jose, and Los Angeles converged on Santa Anita Park in Arcadia on a sunny Saturday to begin this 2 day noodle fest. I attended the 1st Los Angeles Ramen Yokocho in Torrance, IMO it was the wrong venue, but the ramen was good.
Santa Anita Park is a great location, not just for 626 Night Market, but the infield venue was larger than I thought. Today it was filled with boiling pots of broths, some taking up to 20 hours to make, and lots of fresh noodles. Growing up, I often think of the dried packages of noodles and in 45 seconds, ramen is ready. Today, we have gourmet ramen vendors creating magic with pork bones, noodles and red ginger. OK, if you follow me on Instagram, you know I ask for extra ginger at Shin-Sen-Gumi.
But today, I'm at Santa Anita Park for the 2014 Los Angeles Ramen Yokocho!
*Photo by Kristie Hang
I guess you can tell who the STAR is in this photo, right?
I guess you can tell who the STAR is in this photo, right?
See What Jay Eats...
Tonkotsu Miso Ramen
Tajima
San Diego
Loved the seasoned egg!
Ran into @backyardbite
Read her post HERE
Lots of stock pots on the burners
Expecting about 10,000 friends over for ramen?
Tonkotsu with Chicken and Vegetable Stock
Monta
Las Vegas
I remembered them from last year
and just as good!
Stopped to watch the traditional tea ceremony
One question, where's the boba?
j/k, pls no DMs
Ran into my friend Matt
from MEN-OH
with the Famous Tokushima Ramen.
The famous Tokushima Ramen,
a creamy shoyu tonkotsu
MEN-OH
Torrance
@KristieHang is back from Hong Kong
in time for Ramen Yokocho 2014
Propane burners aplenty...
Signature Tonkotsu
with a broth of whole chicken and chicken feet.
Shalala
San Jose
Yes, there were lines...
BUT, I do have to say this is a better venue than last year.
Plenty of parking, bathroom facilities, other food,
and room to find a seat or sit in the grass and enjoy
the beautiful San Gabriel mountains.
The Fusion Ramen
Hiromaru
Las Vegas
Just a bit too much garlic for my taste.
Lots of water needed for the noodles.
It was funny hearing the cooks mentioning
the different cooking times.
Sorry, not sharing any secrets...
Before I share my favorites,
there was horse racing too...
Let me first say that I enjoyed all 8 of the ones that I tried,
but these were my 3 favorites of the day
(not in any order)
Tonkotsu
Tatsunoya
Japan
#1 in Kyushu
with a signature chashu
(pork)
Tsujita Tokyo
Los Angeles
If you live in Los Angeles, you know what I mean...
Toyama Black Mapo Ramen
Mattou Seimen
Japan
I liked this one, maybe because it wasn't tonkotsu.
It was a bit spicy, but not hot. It had ground pork (my guess)
and I'm a sucker for a green onion stalk and love bean sprouts.
What I learned today...
I need to get a big screen!
Actually, the ramen was good today.
I wish there was more of a ramen variety by the vendors.
Tonkotsu still seems to be the flavor of the moment.
Tonkotsu still seems to be the flavor of the moment.
The event planners did a better job on the 2nd year,
just ask 626 Night Market how their 1st year went?
I'm sure next year will even be better!
Arigato!
Kenichi Ota
Have chopsticks,
Will travel for Ramen!
Checkout @TammyLaLaLand 2014 Ramen Yokocho Tastemade video HERE
Read my 2013 Los Angeles Ramen Yokocho post
Photos by Jay Terauchi
*Photo by Kristie Hang
Jay Eats Worldwide
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