Reviewing Tsujita: Japanese dipping ramen in Los Angeles.

If you ask any L.A. local for a ramen recommendation, chances are that Tsujita is on their list. Tsujita L.A. Artisan Noodles, or Tsujita for short, is located on the famous street of Sawtelle in the West L.A. neighborhood. Sawtelle is known for having some of the best Japanese food in West L.A., and Tsujita nearly tops the list.

Tsujita’s menu features ramens such as tonkotsu, a creamy pork-based broth, vegetarian options such as vegan ramen, and various rice bowls. However, the dish that has many coming from all over the world is their famous tsukemen. Tsukemen is a Japanese noodle dish which consists of cold noodles served on the side to be dipped in a separate bowl of rich and flavorful broth.

Obviously, being their famous dish, I had to order that. They have three different types of tsukemen: Basic, Ajitama, and Char Siu. Each of the three types also has two sizes: regular and large. The Basic includes a side of cold noodles and broth, which contains pieces of pork, menma (bamboo), and green onions. The Ajitama includes all of that plus a soft boiled egg inside the broth. The Char Siu includes all of the Ajitama as well as a few pieces of braised char siu.

I decided to order the Basic because I was not too hungry, and I am glad I did because the portion was just the perfect amount. Each tsukemen bowl is served with a side of limes as well as pieces of nori (seaweed). I opted to order extra limes as well as a side of garlic. I squeezed the limes over both the noodles and broth to give it a more acidic flavor and help cut through some of that fatty, pork flavor. The side of garlic serves well to mix into the noodles and give them a nice garlicky flavor. The noodles had the most lovely, chewy texture, and their taste flawlessly complemented the thick, salty, and flavorful broth that contained yummy chunks of pork and crunchy bits of menma. I made sure to squeeze some lime every few bites to give the noodles a fresh, acidic taste, and it made the meal feel lighter to eat.

Because the noodles are served cold and on the side of the broth, it makes it the ideal dish to enjoy on a hot day here in L.A. Unlike typical ramen, served in a bowl of hot broth, you won’t find yourself sweating while eating this bowl! After I finished my noodles, I still had some broth left, so the staff recommended that I add some lighter, thinner flavored broth to it and create a thinner soup that I could sip on. Because of the addition of the thinner broth, the broth became less salty and was enjoyable on its own. It was the perfect ending to a perfect bowl of noodles.

The staff at Tsujita are some of the kindest and most attentive people and were super helpful in making sure your water was always filled and your order was taken quickly. They are also great at making sure your food comes out quickly, so you will not find yourself waiting forever for the food.

However, beware of the long lines that gather outside this popular spot. They open at 11 a.m. daily, so be sure to get there right at opening, or else you need to be willing to wait some time for a table. They do not have much indoor or outdoor seating, but their quick service makes the wait as short as possible. This restaurant is of the most popular spots on Sawtelle, and it is because of a good reason! Be sure to add this amazing ramen spot to your list of must-tries in L.A.