Los Angeles Ramen Yokocho 2014


RAMEN!


March 29 - 30, 2014
Santa Anita Park
Japan Cup and Japan Family Day


Watch the festival commercial HERE


March is National Noodle Month!
What a way to end the month...

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?

See What Jay Eats...

Tonkotsu Miso Ramen
Tajima
San Diego

Loved the seasoned egg!


My visit to Tajima Ramen HERE


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

Read Kristie's post HERE
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.


See the @backyardbite's Tastemade video
HERE


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.

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

Comments

Unknown said…
Now I'm hungry again and I just ate!
April 2, 2014 at 5:52 PM
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