Kosuke

A good friend of mine introduced me to this place and I can easily say it’s one of the best ramen places in the area. He recommended the spicy ramen which comes standard with a spicy broth (which is super flavorful), with a choice of chashu (thinly sliced pork) or chicken, egg, spicy bamboo, black mushrooms, and green onion. The taste of it is absolutely mind blowing! I usually get the chashu option and mild for the level of spiciness. The small kick really brings the flavor together. Prices are fair and once you order, food comes flying out of the kitchen. If you’re in Alhambra and need a go-​to ramen place, this restaurant is worth giving a try.
* Tip 1: Prices has gone up a bit due to the minimum wage law. *
* Tip 2: They only accept cash so have that ready. *
* Tip 3: I usually go on weeknights around 7:30/8:00pm and the wait can range from 20 — 30 minutes. *

What I ordered:
— Tonkotsu Ramen w/​Popcorn Chicken (chicken on the side)
— Takoyaki
What I liked:
— The broth was rich and flavorful
— Popcorn chicken was crispy and delicious
— Servers were friendly and helpful
— Wallet-​friendly prices
Could be better:
— A reallllly long wait between the time they took my order and the time my ramen arrived; I came early in the evening (before dinner rush) and there were still a few empty tables, so not sure why the food took so long
— Not a fan of the various toppings that came in my ramen (egg, mushroom, etc.) — other ramen places do the toppings a lot better
Overall:
— Would definitely return and recommend to friends but isn’t my favorite go-​to ramen place

My friends and I were in Alhambra one afternoon and found this place on Unilocal.So gooooood. Black sesame ramen is THE BEST! I’ve never even heard of it until I saw it on the menu and I HAD to try it.
The wait was whatever’s. We had a party of 5 and came at a nonbusy time on weekday and waited around half an hour. So plan your time accordingly. I think there’s always a wait.

So I’ve lived in Alhambra for a couple of decades and tonight was actually my first time eating here. It’s just not one of the ramen joints that comes to mind when you’re craving ramen. This may be largely because the location is so small and hard to find! The parking is also easy to miss, located right next to it in a narrow «alley opening.» I just parked at the parking structure across the street. When we got there, we only had to wait about 10 – 13 minutes behind 3 parties, which I think was pretty quick, and the servers were nice.
I was super tempted to order the Corn Butter Ramen, but we ended getting the Tonkotsu and Kuro Ramen with Pork (Tonkotsu with sesame oil on top?). I thought both were rich and creamy, but if I had to choose, I would say the Tonkotsu was better due to the slightly above average saltiness of the Kuro. I think my egg had a bit of eggshell on it, and the texture of it was a little wilty; same with the pork. But texture aside, the taste more than compensated for it, and not to mention, the price was cheap!
Overall, this is yet another good place to get your ramen fix in the 626; but this time, smaller line!

Just okay. Service was so-​so. Food was fine. Long wait for mediocrity? Not a fan.
I went here with friends and I had the veggie ramen. I asked for EXTRA spicy and received somewhat spicy. This always annoys me. The waiter even said, «are you sure?» to which I replied «yes, very spicy please. Extra spicy» to assure him I understood the request. He looked at me with a curious expression. Listen dude, if I asked for extra spicy I clearly like really hot food. Don’t second guess me or give me a mildly spicy dish. Then when my two friends asked for water they gave me a refill, when I hadn’t requested more water, and then gave my friends a weird splash each. One cup wasn’t even halfway full but no one returned to give her a real refill. Wtf?
I give 3 stars (generously) because despite the heat issue my bowl was plentiful for the price. Once I added a lot more chili it was pretty damn good. However, both ladies I went with got the chicken ramen and had bad stomachaches later. Odd.
The water refill mishap became a running joke. The servers are too young and unprofessional. Try another spot before this one.

Thanks to my wonderful friend, I am a new fan to this hot little spot! Friendly staff, even friendlier owner. The tonkotsu soup is VERY flavorful! Noodles are nicely al dente. I like their spicy ramen soup the best. Even for «mild,» the soup packs a punch! I feel like I have to order the medium spicy to go so I can eat til I cry in the comfort of home. (lol). So ask for more napkins and water if you are going to dive into all that spice!
Be sure to get your popcorn chicken on the side or it’ll be soggy! The gyoza is a tasty and affordable add-​on. They fry them perfectly and there’s a good crispy on the skin.
The wait is quite long at times, so best to go when you’re not rushing or at your earliest convenience. I found that arriving 30 mins before closing helps, especially for groups of 2 or go solo. However, you are getting the end of the say stuff, which is not bad, but I’m sure they’re all tired and want to go home. I don’t like to rush when I’m eating hot and spicy ramen!
There’s street parking and other lots available in the area if their tiny lot is full.

AHHHH one of the things I miss about L. A is the food and the cheap food prices. As a ramen lover I was determined to venture out and find legit and cheap ramen before leaving this city. On my way to grab dessert with my siblings, I saw this ramen place and I immediately yelled «Let’s go eat ramen!» forcing my sister to detour to grab lunch. Fortunately for me, we still had an hour before Kosuke closed (@3pm) before they opened the restaurant again for their dinner hours.
After getting out of the car I literally power walked to the restaurant to reserved a spot! This place is quite small and popular which justifies why there was a lot of parties waiting outside. Because I had a 4 member party, we were seated less than 15 minutes. Oh the joy!
I love ramen but my brother is a very picky eater. I order the chicken katsu for him while the rest of us ordered the tonkatsu ramen, the spicy ramen and the popcorn chicken. After he finished his rice, I offered to give him some of my ramen in his empty rice bowl and he agreed. After he had his first bite he loved the spicy ramen! Yay my mission to make him an asian food lover is on a road to success!
But anyways, my spicy ramen was really really good. Not too salty and not too spicy (it was more on a medium level). I also tried some of my sister’s popcorn chicken and it was also delicious. If ramen isn’t your thing do not fear because Kosuke has a lot of other noodle and katsu options in their menu. I’m soooooo glad this place didn’t disappoint me. If I could only find an excellent AND reasonable priced bowl of ramen in D. C I would be complete. But nevertheless, until that day arrives, I will continue to come back here when I’m in town.

Cash Only, folks!
Small ramen house that serves up excellent bowls of ramen with inexpensive selections of appetizers and sides. However, Kosuke also serves up udon noodle soups and Japanese curry rice dishes as well.
Another plus about Kosuke is that you’re given a choice of chashu or popcorn chicken as your protein for your bowl of ramen. They also offer a vegetable options with a miso-​base soup, as well as ramen with chicken cutlet. A good number of options.
I ordered the Tonkotsu Ramen with chashu. Broth was delicious. Nice full, porky flavor that wasn’t too salty. The noodles were cooked nicely al dente that gave you a nice chewiness. Portion size was perfect, leaving you enough room to add a side to your ramen or share an appetizer.
I added the gyoza as my side for a couple of dollars. 3 gyozas, fried to a nice crisp without being greasy. However, the filling was on a softer, mushier side than I like, and it wasn’t well seasoned.
I also shared a popcorn chicken appetizer with my friends, ordering it medium spicy. Nice and crispy, well seasoned, with just enough of a spicy kick to them.
The wait here can be anywhere from 15 to 30 minutes as the place is rather small. Limited parking in the rear of the building.

Kosuke has become increasingly popular over the years with good reason; their ramen are consistently delicious with flavorful booth and good amount of noodles. The prices are very reasonable, being a bit cheaper compared to other ramen places in the area. Also, it’s cash only, so remember to bring cash!
Expect a line formed outside the small restaurant when you visit. Usual wait times are about 30 minutes to an hour. They have a small parking lot in the back area, but I prefer to park on the nearby street or parking structure and walk over. It beats the inconvenience of entering and exiting their small parking lot –never again!
Their spicy ramen has a great spicy kick to it, definitely recommended if you enjoy all things spicy. I also love the Kuro Ramen which comes with black sesame oil in the broth giving it a nice flavor. They have two meat options: popcorn chicken or chashu. After my last visit, I think I’ll be opting for popcorn chicken next time because they just don’t give enough chashu.
Staff was friendly and prompt, I’ll be back when I’m craving for ramen and don’t mind the wait!

My friends and I were looking for a Japanese ramen restaurant in Alhambra and found Kosuke through Unilocal.Parking for the restaurant is in the back, through a small alleyway. I missed it the first time I passed by and made a whole circle around the block to pull into the parking lot. If you miss the parking lot, there is also a parking structure down the block where Tea Station is and is more spacious and better lite.
For a cold winter’s night, the wait for this restaurant is no joke. We were amazed how many people were willing to wait out in the cold for a meal. The restaurant is small so there really isn’t any waiting areas inside the restaurant, only a few chairs outside on the sidewalk and plenty of standing. There is a restroom but it is out back, behind the kitchen, near the parking lot.
Tonkatsu ramen with chashu (combo) + side order of potato croquette, 3 pcs (extra $ 1)
Genmaicha (green tea with brown rice) — loose leaves in a strainer in the tea pot
If it is the first time at a ramen restaurant that I haven’t been to, I will usually try the most basic ramen first to try out their soup base and noodles. It seems that most Unilocalers rave about the Black Sesame Ramen, which is something I should try next time when I’m in the area and down to be standing out in the cold.
The tonkatsu ramen was good but I cannot say that it was overwhelmingly mind blowing, but I did like the chashu and freshness of the other ingredients in the ramen. The broth was smooth, a bit lighter in flavor than I am used to. The noodle texture seemed to be a bit undercooked for me, would’ve preferred it to be a bit softer. The texture of the potato croquette was perfect, crispy and not at all soggy! Tonkatsu sauce was provided as well if you want to dip the croquette in it.
If you order the tonkatsu ramen to go, they only have the popcorn chicken option available (no chashu).
The older Japanese lady was really nice and funny. We had a group of 3, 2 girls and 1 guy, and she came over to pat the guy on the head because the girls were done eating but he wasn’t. She was very attentive and playful. That and ramen was most definitely the highlight of the night!

Tonkotsu ramen with extra fried garlic chips. Don’t let those melt or get soft because they taste good crunchy. When it gets wet, it will taste good too. It’s garlic for crying out loud. However, it is extra charge for garlic. I wonder if I could bring my own? The broth is good and I figured I get the regular tonkotsu ramen first. I see tons of pictures about the black oil ramen so I’ll be back to try that on my next visit. It’s called Kuro ramen on the menu. For me, the oddest thing is the selection between chashu and popcorn chicken in your ramen. Which would you pick? Does that mean I have come back and try the same ramen bowl a different way?
There’s parking in the back but you’ll probably miss the building like I did. If you make the right turn from Atlantic Blvd onto Main Street, it will be on the right after the big Administrative government building. Red brick building where everyone is waiting outside. Yes, there is a wait and hopefully the parking lot in the back isn’t packed just like the front door. Since I passed it, I ended up turning around and parking across the street. Just be aware that there is a crosswalk at the T-​intersection or you know Alhambra Police would be waiting to write a J-​walking ticket. So just park in their parking lot and avoid having to keep track of parking time on the street.
As I was saying to a few friends, it’s not the best but it definitely is not the worst. I think I like the places where I can scoop more garlic or press more garlic in my ramen as much as I want. Which means I’m doubling down on my garlic the next time I visit. Hopefully there isn’t a long wait in the cold. That wasn’t much fun at all. It’s a small place but you need to keep track or keep asking which name they are on. I swear this couple sneaked in before a few groups including me standing outside because they were standing inside. Now it’s your turn to try it and then let me know your opinion.

Good food, long wait!
Wait time: The restaurant is VERY small and I got there around 5:50pm with two friends and we got seated at 6:40pm and then our food came out at 7:10pm! You’re going to be waiting outside. No room inside to wait. (Dress appropriately acc to weather because I was freezing :()
Food: didn’t blow my mind but they gave a lot of noodles and it filled me up but it was good! I got tonkotsu (spelling?) ramen and the broth was a very nice creamy and not too salty (which is a problem I get at a lot of ramen places). My friends got the spicy ramen and said it was really good considering the fact that many ramen places don’t offer it.
Price: I think my ramen was $ 7.95 and spicy ramen was $ 7. All three of us was $ 34ish
Service: workers are very rushed but very polite! My friend was going to get extremely spicy ramen and a worker’s face looked so shocked and said one guy just burned his tongue earlier that day. Lady seating people was so cute! She was older and so nice!

Tonkotsu Ramen is only $ 6.75! Like the price :) Taste was a «B». Good/​fine, but no «wow». It was a bit of a wait for a weekday night. Didn’t realize this place has gotten go popular @@ Oh, you can also add $ 1.50 more to get stuff like mini curry, tofu salad or California roll, etc. Awesome deal!
There is a hidden lot next to the restaurant, but there are plenty of choices. Street park across the street. Park at the Cakelly Plaza or park behind where the dentist & acupuncture building is at. Or parking structure behind HSBC.
It was warm and packed in this small ramen joint. Service was adequate. Definitely give it a try, but don’t expect to be impressed or wowed. It’s plain «good»…that’s all.

I just found my new favorite ramen spot! I’ve heard of this place and I’ve been meaning to come here for awhile, but never found the chance. On a Tuesday evening, I finally came here with a friend for dinner. At 7pm, the wait was about half an hour. The wait itself isn’t too bad considering it’s a small little restaurant, but it was freezing outside so I was anxious to get inside.
WARNING: This place is cash only, which made me freak out for a couple minutes. Thankfully, my friend had a $ 20 bill and was able to cover us both –phew!
So I ordered the Spicy Ramen ($ 6.95) while my friend ordered the Popcorn Chicken Ramen ($ 7.80). The price is incredibly cheap for such a perfect bowl of ramen. I have fallen in love with this place just because where else can you get such a good price and such good food altogether?! I got my ramen extra spicy and I’m not going to lie –it’s incredibly spicy, holy moley! But I love spice and it was all that and more. In most places when I ask for extra spicy, it’s never enough so I’m glad they have met that expectation of spice level for me. The broth was also rich and full of flavor. As full as I was, I couldn’t stop eating until I finished my entire bowl. My friend’s ramen was quite delicious as well. My only problem was that they put the popcorn chicken inside the ramen leaving it to soak up. If you’re into soggy and bland chicken, go for it. But next time, I would ask for it on the side because the broth takes off the flavor and crispiness of what popcorn chicken should be.
Overall, I am going to be coming here every chance I get. I just need to remember to bring cash around with me more often!

This is one of the better ramen places in the area without having the drive all the way to jtown. I have not found any other place that sells ramen with black sesame oil. So this is my go-​to spot! There’s just so much flavor in the broth that it makes your mouth water just drinking the soup. The noodles come with everything so you don’t have to pay extra for toppings and egg. But there is an option to beef up your bowl, which comes with a price depending on what additional items you want to add.
Sometimes, it is painful to go out to eat if you’re on a budget or is a broke college student. But this place is super affordable. For about $ 8 – 10, you get a huge bowl of delicious ramen. The bowls are big enough for you to share if you’re a small eater. And if you feel like splurging, you can order some appetizers for $ 1 !! Your choices includes some fried dumplings and California rolls.
There’s a small parking lot in the back, it looks shady, but don’t worry, nothing ever happens. You’ll be lucky to find a spot because it’s usually packed.
Cash only!

My new favorite ramen stop! Definitely 5-​star quality ramen and flavor and also with their meat (chasu and chicken) and gyoza (crisp and flavorful).
We tried their Black Sesame Ramen (nice earthy flavor, better than any of the others I’ve tried). Their noodles are also plentiful and well cooked. The Spicy ramen is also very tasty although, I would caution you on their spicy-​scale… their «medium» is more similar to the «medium» spice of Thai/​Indian places.
The only reason I took away a star from this place, is that their service was not very good. This is a big difference than most Japanese places, in which they usually pride themselves on good service! Despite us mentioning the spicy level was too much, they wouldn’t water it down or try to make it less spicy, or try to accommodate in any way. We also asked for half the ramen to be boxed up (since it was too spicy), and they threw out most of the sauce and gave us a very small take out container with just the noodles basically. Quite disappointing… But since their food was so good, I still hate to say that I still love this place.
Funny note: I finished my ramen (completely empty) and we asked to pack the other two (both half full), the waiter asked… «Which two do you want packed»?

I’ve been to Kosuke twice now and haven’t been disappointed once!
The first time, I ordered tonkotsu ramen. It was so flavorful and rich in the pork broth. It’s what everyone should order if it’s your first time so you’ll have something to compare to from the plethora of tonkotsu ramen spots all over LA/​OC.
Today, I ordered the Corn Butter Ramen. They might as well call it the Porn Butter ramen because It was THAT good! I didn’t feel like the butter was overwhelming at all. If you’re afraid of butter because you’re afraid of adventure, you can get it on the side. All of the ingredients blended together very well. I give Porn Butter Ramen a thumbs up!
If you’ve been to Vegas, there’s this place called Ramen Sora. They have great ramen and also offer the Corn Butter Ramen (aka: Porn Butter Ramen!). Give it a try if you’re ever in LV.

3.5 STARS!
I stopped by for lunch to kill a ramen craving. I parked in the neighborhoods a block away and put my name on the wait list.
I ordered the popcorn chicken ramen, asked to make it spicy (mild was already really spicy), added corn, asked for the popcorn chicken on the side (wanted it crispy), and added a croquette. $ 11 TOTAL!
Ramen — ³⁄₅ The broth was a little salty (as always), but savory. The noodles were a little thinner than I’m used to (minus a star), but still had a slight chewy texture.
Popcorn Chicken — ³⁄₅ Nothing special about the chicken. Your typical popcorn chicken you can find at boba spots (sometimes better at the boba spots).
Croquette — ³⁄₅ Again, nothing special. However, the dipping sauce that came with it was awesome. I recommend getting that sauce for the popcorn chicken.
I gave this 3.5 stars for the BANG FOR YOUR BUCK. I don’t think I can find cheaper ramen elsewhere.

Lunch on Thursday, 11÷5÷15 (first time visiting)
The parking lot is very small and difficult to get in and out of. Remember to check for the business hours so you don’t come here when it’s closed. Restrooms are located in the kitchen and are for customers only. It’s a shared restroom with the staff members so don’t expect it to be hotel-​style clean.
Sign in for a table as soon as you can. It gets pretty busy. Luckily for us, the parking lot cleared up to park and we were next in line for a table. Service is average for a small restaurant. The ramen was good although I’ve had better. The eel over rice was delicious.
It’s a nice place to have ramen but I want to say it’s not really worth waiting too long for. It’s definitely a place to try and experience for yourself at least once.

My order:
Spicy Ramen — Extra Spicy with Popcorn Chicken on the side.
I have to say this is my favorite ramen of all time.
Here are some tips:
There is parking right behind the ramen shop but it’s usually packed.
I park at the big pink building half a block away. (with tea station, Lunasia, UPS store)
Expect a wait, at least 30 minutes. Then it takes awhile for them to prepare the ramen too.
They have a unisex bathroom that you have to walk out the front door and go in from the back door to the kitchen. It’s not convenient but it’s there.
The ramen:
It comes out piping hot. They make each bowl individually. I noticed even when you order the same ramen as someone else, they don’t come out at the same time. It’s nice to know your bowl of ramen is made to order and individually one at a time.
The broth is super flavorful, hearty but not heavy or greasy.
The squishy slurpable noodles aren’t super thing or super thick. I feel like Goldilocks finding my perfect bowl of ramen.
The extra spicy, spicy ramen comes with chopped up thai chili.
I also like the popcorn chicken on the side so it doesn’t get super soggy and I never finish it so I end up taking it home.
The popcorn chicken is light and stays crispy even when it’s cold. The slight sweetness goes well with the atomic fire soup.
I like getting a side of croquette to go with my ramen. I don’t like the sauce they give with the croquette. But the croquette itself is super light inside and extra crispy on the outside.
I like dipping it into my ramen and soaking up the super spicy broth.
I leave stuffed to the brim but always with some of my ramen to go. I tell myself I’ve fulfilled my ramen craving for at least a month but the flavors burned into my taste buds don’t take long to remind me I need to go back sooner than later.