Ramen in LA has certainly become big business.

Just when I think I’ve been to them all, another one opens somewhere else and soon as Jonathan Gold drags his fat ass there, it’s suddenly got a line around the block.

When I first started going out for Ramen, the flavor choices were Shio (Salt), Shoyu (Soy Sauce) and Miso (fermented soybean paste).

They were all fine, they were ok. I ate them but didn’t rave about them.

Tonkotsu Ramen has more recently become the hot new thing. It’s a thicker, richer broth made from boiling down the pork bones and fat for hours til you’ve got a cloudy, latte-colored soup.

It’s SO much better than the prior ramen we had dane to devour before.

Some places, such as Daikokuya, ONLY serve that. Or at least, that’s all you’d want to order there.

Men Oh, located in Honda Plaza (across from Sushi Gen) seems to be tapping into Daikokuya’s market. Which is fine. Daikokuya usually has God awful lines and Men Oh is certainly a comparable alternative.

The two ramens are almost identical. Like twins. Like two feisty twins ready to pull a Parent Trap. Huh?

While I hate to admit that Daikokuya’s broth is a bit more flavorful than Men Oh’s, it’s good enough as long as I also make sure to order those tasty Karaage (fried chicken bites) and the PERFECTION which is the Gyoza.

Gyoza often bores me. Soggy, oily, partially-fried wontons filled with bland and scalding hot meat.

Men Oh’s wonton wrappers are delicately thin enabling them to crisp up without all the oil residue and the contents are tasty, porky, piggy heaven.

Oh, and that divine soft boiled egg is better than Daikokuya and isn’t that the best part of any good bowl of ramen??

456 E 2nd St
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 687-8485