609100 Thu Apr 02 17:35:40 -0700 2009 12 2 Los Angeles Area 0 4562700 Just got back from Japan and an unforgettable visit to the Shin-Yokohama Ramen Museum. I sampled an outrageously delicious bowl of Kumamoto-style ramen at one of the stands and would love to know from our CH ramen experts if this style is available anywhere in LA. For those unfamiliar with Kumamoto ramen, it is similar to the milky white pork broth style of Hakata ramen, but with more subtle pork flavoring and the use of toasted/fried garlic vs. raw garlic. Char siu (roast pork), green scallions, crunchy woodear mushrooms, and bit of bean sprout are common toppings. Thu Apr 02 17:35:40 -0700 2009 14558 Ernie 1 4562977 Not sure of the name but Chabuya on Sawtelle N of Olympic seems to fit that description with a slightly milky pork broth and the toasted garlic and other toppings...kind of came a across as not soupy enough and a little bitter from the garlic but some folks love it. I still think Santouka's better (different that what you're looking for) so I go there. I hope you find what you're looking for - I'm sure the Yokohama ramen museum has some good stuff! Thu Apr 02 19:17:39 -0700 2009 4562700 21455 jessejames 2 4563453 Agreed, the closest I know of is Chabuya, but IMHO it's not all that great. Better than, and stylistically closer than Orochon though. Fri Apr 03 00:59:48 -0700 2009 4562977 107648 mrhooks 3 4571369 The style of ramen at Chabuya is very close to what Ernie describes. Their use toasted garlic instead of raw actually caught me by surprise. Mon Apr 06 08:21:39 -0700 2009 4563453 18466 a_and_w 1 4563305 Orochon Ramen. Huge Portions. Good Options. Very Spicy if your interested Thu Apr 02 21:59:15 -0700 2009 4562700 279388 Rachael5000 1 4563335 I doubt you'll find any Kumamoto style ramen in LA, at least not yet. Maybe they have something similar at the place in Hacienda Heights (Foo Foo Tei?) that was doing every style of ramen imaginable. But don't get your hopes up. There are about a couple dozen styles of ramen that you can't find in LA just yet. Thu Apr 02 22:22:39 -0700 2009 4562700 10509 E Eto 2 4564269 Well put E Eto. Ernie, it is as E Eto says, unfortunately. There's just nothing close to real Kumamoto style Ramen in L.A. (yet, fingers crossed :). Unfortunately, Foo Foo Tei (Hacienda Heights) doesn't make a Kumamoto style Ramen. Fri Apr 03 08:55:42 -0700 2009 4563335 113442 exilekiss 3 4564519 Thank you all for the info, much appreciated! Hopefully one day this amazing version of ramen will show up in our great big 'hood :) Fri Apr 03 10:01:29 -0700 2009 4564269 14558 Ernie 1 4567492 If you pick up the most recent Japan Up! publication (in Japanese restaurants, got mine at Famima!), it's a ramen issue. They have a map of Japan and show 14 different style of ramen, the geographic origin and short description. What a great ramen education! Perhaps in the ads you might see if any retaurant in So Cal offers it, I haven't gone through the ads yet. Sat Apr 04 12:00:14 -0700 2009 4562700 63444 groover808 2 4572174 Our own Rameniac has done a free version of this: http://www.rameniac.com/ramen_styles Mon Apr 06 12:13:21 -0700 2009 4567492 36389 nakni 3 4585832 I didn't know this was on his site, thanks! Fri Apr 10 17:23:11 -0700 2009 4572174 63444 groover808 1 4570716 don't know if kyushu ramen on sherman way would be worth it. Why not call them and ask about what you're looking for? Sun Apr 05 23:31:03 -0700 2009 4562700 10366 Jerome 2 4571999 Kyushu Ramen tries to do too many things and, per reports from Mme. Akitist's contacts in the immigrant Japanese community, none of them very well. We've eaten there maybe twice since the original owner sold the business and haven't wasted our time since. Mon Apr 06 11:02:14 -0700 2009 4570716 89849 Akitist