West LA: Ramen at Tatsu

Tatsu Ramen on Sawtelle has been opened since 2012 but I finally made it over there just recently. There are just so many ramen options in Los Angeles! Tatsu made headlines by offering an unique way of ordering. You make your selection via an iPad by the front door, pay then let the host know you’d like a table.

That said, Tatsu isn’t staffed by robots. There are real humans making your soup and delivering your food. The streamlined ordering process just gets your bowl to you faster.

It was pretty easy to navigate the system though things can add up if you add a billion sides to your bowl of ramen. Tatsu does offer free corn and garlic and seaweed are on the counters.

There are currently seven ramen options including a soupless one (Naked ramen) and a vegetarian one (called Hippie ramen). I chose the Bold ramen which is their tonkotsu.

My friend spotted pork belly buns and got a couple to start. These were gigantic and filled with tons of pork. I actually saved some pork for my fried rice.

 

I added a fried rice to my soup order. It’s pretty tasty.

 

I was a little surprised how good the ramen was. The egg was perfect (though not as wonderful as Ramen Champ‘s) and the soup was nice. I know some love Tsujita (and Tsujita Annex) but I liked that I didn’t feel gross afterward from too much pork fat. I like it as much as Yamadaya though Jinya probably still has an edge over Tatsu.

I doctored my soup by adding a little bit of chili oil, a sprinkle of red pepper, corn, garlic and seaweed.

 

On the way out, you have the option to electronically give them a tip via another iPad or just leave cash as we did.

 

Tatsu Ramen

2123 Sawtelle Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90025  —  (310) 684-2889

 

also at 

 

7111 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90046  —  (323) 747-1388

 

 

© The Minty  2015