Chin-Ma-Ya of Tokyo

I used to come here at least twice a week for either their Tan Tan Men or Chin Ma Han (mapo tofu rice). It’s been a while already but I’m still incredibly sad and disappointed that they closed. Please come back. :(

Can’t get enough TTM into my face!!! When the Gardena location opened we were there up to 3 – 4 times a week. My hubby and I were the Norm & Cliff of Chin Ma Ya, South Bay. The staff would always greet us (I swear I heard «Norm» shouted in unison sometimes) We were so sad they closed. It literally broke my heart!
On a trip to Japan many years ago, i vaguely remember this same style of Dan Dan Men :) and have been searching ever since, until Chin Ma Ya. Beyond my wildest dreams and expectations.
The broth was O-​So-​Creamy with lots of spice (#3-​at least for me), the noodles so silky. mmmmmmmmmm HIT THE SPOT! Its what I’ve been waiting for. Sometimes I put an egg on top. Chin-​Ma Han –sweeter than the usual Mapo Tofu, but so satisfying. The Karaage, done perfectly — crunchy on the outside, tender on the inside w/​a delicious spicy dipping sauce. Goes perfectly with the broth. Their salads are fresh, the hubs and I especially love the spinach salad. All the appetizers are perfect while you wait for yoru heaven in a bowl to appear. ;D The great thing is, its such a great value. The prices are so good, thats how we ate there so often, trust me, we will pay for good food, but this place gives us so much at such a good value. Whats not to love?
Tan Tan Men, extra toppings and kae-​dama, #3 Spicy. AWESOME-​NESS in a bowl. Im gonna miss ordering it just that way.
When we got the email that the Little Tokyo location was closing so we got home early from work and headed to downtown… despite the game, despite the traffic, despite Little Tokyo had changed over the years, despite it all. The husband ordered at least 1 of everything on the menu and even ordered some stuff to go — to be enjoyed and savored for a few days following. We made a pig of ourselves, just so we can get our fill to hopefully tide us over until we meet again. If the stories are true, we should see CMY reopen somewhere else soon. Hopefully back in the South Bay close to me.
This girl will wait patiently as I did before.

The owner of the Tan Tan Men Ramen-​Ya FUKUMIMI here in Las Vegas informs me that CHIN-​MA-​YA will not go out of business and that they are just changing locations as well as changing their name. Apparently, the owner of FUKUMIMI is a long time friend of the owner of CHIN-​MA-​YA. I am so relieved that CHIN-​MA-​YA will not die. It has been my favorite restaurant for over 5 years.
I am really happy that CHIN-​MA-​YA is moving out of Little Tokyo. All the USC and UCLA kids, and the hipsters have no appreciation for real Chuka Ryori cuisine from Japan. Every Japanese person I know talks about how Orochon is the worst Ramen-​Ya in America, yet that place is always packed. It shows you how stupid people in this part of Los Angeles are.
I don’t blame the Japanese-​American community for not supporting CHIN-​MA-​YA, and not helping it succeed in Little Tokyo because… there are no f*cking Japanese people left in Little Tokyo to support the Japanese businesses. All the Japanese people moved to South Bay or that lame Irvine town. I think CHIN-​MA-​YA should split like everyone else did. Let them rename Little Tokyo into «Little UCLA».

«A bowl of ramen is a self contained universe … all exisiting in perfect harmony. Harmony is eseential. What holds it all together … is the broth. The broth gives life to the ramen.»
Understand?
I hope you don’t understand so y’all will keep going to Orochon upstairs and Daikokuya across the street.
Don’t get me wrong I still love the other two places I mentioned, but when I don’t feel like waiting, I don’t want everyone coming here to make the wait here just as unbearable. But I just love some variety and Chinn-​Ma-​Ya gives just that, another option to ramen here in Little Tokyo.
I’ve tried the Tan Tan Men and tofu combo both spicy cuz that’s how I like shit. I’ll definitely be back for the Tonkotsu ramen and whatever else they have to offer cuz if it’s anything like the stuff I tried, I’m sure I’ll love it.
Remember.
Don’t come here making the wait times unbearable for the impatient people like me.
Thanks.
PS. yeah, I really did watch that movie.
PPSS. they do take to-​go orders.
Take that Daikokuya.
I’m definitely no ramen grand master so I don’t really care about the texture of the noodles, the placement of the ingredients but I do know what I like and the ramen here is delicious and the presentation is lovely.

I went for one thing and one thing only. the TAN TAN MEN!. This spot was recommended by a fellow Unilocaler and glad I heard him.
Lets start with the appetizers. After tasting the KARa-​age I was ready to do a dance because of its awesomeness. Man. crunchy enough, not greasy and super tasty. And the sauce that it comes with complimented it very good
The Gyoza was fresh and cooked just right. You get a choice of pork or chicken. We got the pork and tasted fantastic.
And now… to the main dish of the night. Level 3 Spicy TAN TAN MEN. You get punched by the flavor. ITs strong, and its delicious. Not everyone out there likes tan tan men. Gladly im not one of those weak souled fellas: p. The noodle consistency is great and so is the broth. I added my classic toppings (egg, shreded green onions and MORE chili) dont judge me. my latino side gotta make everything extra mega spicy!
Service was great, prices were incredible. their weekday lunch specials are insanely cheap!!! and they also serve sake which compliments the food great.
Def recommend this place and thanks to my friend Tetsuro for letting me know about this spot.

Hello. My name is Libby.
I am addicted to Chin-​Ma-​Ya of Tokyo.
It all started last year, New Years Day to be exact. I had a hankering for some noodle deliciousness and my old favorite — the one with the hour long wait — was closed.
Well, I’m a lot of things, but I ain’t no quitter, so I searched with the Unilocal app and saw that Chin-​Ma-​Ya of Tokyo was opened.
Fuck it, I wanted my fix.
Since then, my 2012 has been filled with trips to this place. I especially love the Tonkotsu Ramen (Black or White). And, the happy hour specials which enable me to have a bowl of ramen with a beer for under $ 8 makes the idea of waiting an hour or more for other ramen laughable.
The service is attentive, the ramen is great, there are good sides (though I never order them) and there is a variety of types of noodles to statisfy (I think the tan tan men broth is a bit too peanut-​y but I do love the other varieties of ramen I’ve tried)
2012 is drawing to a close, but I’m pretty sure my addiction is going to last into the new year. In fact, I think I’ll give Chin-​Ma-​Ya of Tokyo a visit tonight…

Tan-​Tan Noodle and Tsukemen were both ok. Interestingly, they were in a peanut-​like broth. I asked for mild which was just slightly spicy, the way I like it. The (white) Tonkotsu was ok too. In general, the noodle broths and marinated egg were not as good as other ramen places that I’ve been to. I will try other places first before I come back.
Complimentary tea was slightly sweet which I liked.
Service was good.

Rainy days = ramen hunt in full effect. Today’s hunt led me to this joint, located in the Weller Court plaza (right underneath Orochon). I was delighted by the no wait/​no line because my stomach was yelling and I needed to shut it up quick.
I ordered the Tonkotsu Black Garlic ramen combo w/​a mini Nikusoboro rice bowl. It was good, definitely memorable. The pork slices were delicious and the noodles were perfect. My ramen had their homemade garlic oil which I could imagine spreading on everything I eat and being really happy about it. I got a side of Plum Raspberry Wine ($ 1.99) which was good but too strong for my liking so I didn’t end up finishing it.
So let me tell you about what happened post-​Chin-​Ma-​Ya. THE CRAZIEST FOOD COMA OF MY LIFE. I felt like I was drugged, slept for 3.5 hours. Good thing I had no plans!!! Now I wonder if that homemade garlic oil was really code for «MSG». Sigh. It was so good though so I’ll probably be back, obviously on a day that I have no plans. Preferably during happy hour — can’t beat $ 5 ramen bowls.
K, back to sleep.

Had a craving for noodles so we decided to try this place in Little Tokyo. Although they say this is a Japanese place (which most of the food is) their signature dish is the Tan Tan Men which is actually prepared in a more Chinese style.
I ordered the Tan Tan Men which was really flavorful and not too salty which was great since ramen broth can tend to be overly salted. The noodles were great and the portion was pretty big so it totally filled me up. I liked how they garnished the dish with some spinach and meat on top and the broth had a really yummy sesame flavor which I loved. I got it medium spice which was not too spicy but started to have a kick after awhile. We also got the «black» ramen which was supposed to be a garlic base but it wasn’t that garlicy which was weird. The shrimp gyoza were okay… wouldn’t get them again but the karage (fried chicken) was quite good and the dipping sauce was great!
This is a solid place to satisfy your noodle craving, I’d come back for sure, probably during their happy hour which I found out is M-​F in the afternoon.

YEAHHHH!!! Give me a tonkotsu ramen BLACK (garlic style) and I am getting exactly what I ask for. the perfect bowl of ramen that I crave probably everyday.
add a deliiiiiicous sake specialty drink and cheers! clink my glass and clink my bowl to the best ramen above daikokuya. ESPECIALLY BECAUSE IT IS CLEAN!!!
I am so overly satisfied whenever I eat here. I dream about it all the time. Just a simple bowl of ramen, done perfectly. I honestly don’t know what more to write.
Gyoza was yummy too both shrimp and pork.
Again… NOT loud. I can enjoy my meal AND my company.
Moving to little tokyo soon. so I’ll DEF. be around.
Also. August had the best happy hour. $ 5 Dollar Ramen? AHHHH SO DANGEROUS… but garlic-​ly delicccccciiiious! YUM!

The ramen itself was OK. I had the tan tan men, which had a thicker broth than of what you would expect to find, though that was the appeal to me. You know, try something different. It also had a peanut flavored aftertaste, so I’m sure that the thickness in the broth resulted from some peanut additives. Had a chance to try some of my coworkers tonkotsu ramen and it was just OK too. The broth was a little on the bland side, maybe the result of very few pieces of pork in the bowl?
The spice is level isn’t anything to worry about if you are concerned about the spicyness. Even the hot was more like a medium, so if you want take it up a notch, run to up Orochen Ramen a floor above and steal some of the #1 or #2 special’s broth.
The bowl was serviceable, but not my favorite by far compared to other ramen joints. I do have to say that their $ 5 ramen happy hour from 20 – 6:30, (including $ 2 Kirin’s) isn’t a bad deal for the price.

Chin-​ma-​ya is famous for their chin-​ma-​han and tan tan mian. They have a few other dishes and some appetizer items and they serve beer and sake.
The chin-​ma-​han is like mapo tofu except Japanese style. It has minced meat and tofu in a bean sauce. I get it extra spicy with tons of chili oil. It comes on a bed of warm Japanese rice. It’s heavenly.
The tan tan mian is ramen in a thick soup. It comes with spinach and meat. I add a marinated soft-​boiled egg. I usually order chicken karaage to put in my ramen. I also get my ramen extra spicy.
I love that their prices are so reasonable. You can get a full order of rice and half ramen or the other way around for less than $ 10. They also have a good happy hour deal on food and alcohol.
They are located on second floor right underneath the Orochan. They also had a few outside seating.

Good variety of ramen, or Tan Tan Men. They have tonkotsu, but of course, it isn’t like Daikokuya’s, haha.
I’ve notice people coming here when the line upstairs at Orochan is too long, and it isn’t a bad alternative.
I love the variety here, and I’d totally come back to try more of their different broths and toppings.
I ordered the spicy tonkotsu ramen. It had a little kick to it, but the spice was purely from hot oil. It looked a bit odd to see oily red stuff floating, but whatever it takes to make it spicy though, right? It did not take away from the tonkotsu flavor, which was a good thing.
I’d be sure to order the miso ramen next time because I love miso.
I miiiiight have given this place four stars, but their gyoza was rather gross. Orochan’s gyozas were many times better. These were «gross» because they were a bit soggy and very oily. Their dipping sauce claimed to be spicy, but it had the texture of oil and there was hardly any flavor to it. I only had one gyoza and that was enough. The bf had the rest of them, haha.
Oh, I’ve noticed someone sending their ramen back. His issue was that the broth was too thin, but the chefs happily remade his dish. I got good service, but yet again, it wasn’t a full house.

I would pick this place over Daikokuya any day! I’m sorry if I’ve offended all those people waiting in line at Daikokuya right now, but it’s the truth. The lunch special tan tan mien is so worth it here! For $ 7 – 8, you get a huge bowl of tan tan mien, a side (pick the chicken karaage!), plus a drink! Looks like they have great beer specials, but unfortunately I’m not allowed to drink on my lunch break :((
I love that the tan tan mien broth is spicy and nutty. Mmm mm. They do have a lot of other choices, but the tan tan mien is so good that I don’t think I would ever get anything else from here. And, if you’re on your lunch break at work and don’t have time to wait in that long line at Daikokuya, the lines here are reasonable, if any, because the place is bigger.
NOTE: for all those looking for Chinese dan dan mien, this is not the place. The tan tan mien here is very soupy and different.

I’ve been looking for healthier options lately. We came to Chin Ma Ya on hot summer day for lunch to grab a bite to eat. I’m not too much into ramen since most broths are too salty for me but wanted to try something different.
I ordered the cold tan tan men, cold ramen in a cool sesame soy broth under cucumber, corn, ginger, eggs, and veggies and a side of chicken kara-​age. Chicken kara-​age isn’t all that healthy but needed some protein. Crispy exterior served hot with a side of spicy dipping sauce. Under $ 10 served as a combo with a drink. A decent bargain for a fulfilling meal. Most definately delishious. Service was quick, great, and very attentive.

Second time coming, and much better results! Came during a non-​crowded weekday for some last minute dinner. The waiter was very nice and let us in even though they were closing soon. We got:
Soboro gohan: Something like that… minced pork over rice. It was too sweet for my liking, but my bf sure enjoyed it. It’s his favorite!
Cold tan tan men: Pretty good, though I felt it was slightly too dry. There was a slight spiciness, but overall it was good. Noodles had a good texture and the veggies were quite refreshing.
I’d give it an overall 3.5 stars (like my last review), and I’d come here again. I like my tsukemen more than he cold tan tan men, but maybe I’ll venture out and try another new thing. Hmm, what to try next…

Was craving some ramen and decided to come in here since the sign said over 100 locations in Japan! It has to be good right? Eh. The food was alright. Not great enough to come back. The prices were decent tho. A bowl of the house special ramen was about 6 – 7 bucks.
I ordered the tan-​tan-​men spicy. The bowl wasn’t larger than any other place but for some reason there was sooo much noodles I couldn’t even finish. The noodles were bomb… they were perfectly made (soft and tasty). This ramen consisted of noodles, ground beef (i believe), and spinach. The broth was insanely rich and super thick. The first couple of bites were delicious but after a while, the broth was just too heavy and I didn’t really feel like eating it anymore. They needed more veggies or something to balance it out.
My bf ordered the same ramen but with a side of the fried chicken. Well it’s exactly that fried chicken with a mayo based dipping sauce. It was good of course.
The servers were very attentive and always refilled our waters without being asked. The food was decent. If elsewhere is crowded, swing in but don’t expect to be blown away.

A lot of people ask to eat ramen when they come to Little Tokyo. It’s either Daikokuya or Orochon, and as someone who will only crave ramen once in a … cold winter, I usually try to steer them to something else. But my friend mentioned Chin-​Ma-​Ya the other night, and having never heard of it, I decided to give it a try.
They have 2 signature dishes — the Tan Tan Men and the Chin Ma Han, which seemed rather ordinary (like Chinese Ma Po Tofu with rice). Thus, I opted for the tan tan men with a side of pork gyoza. I actually love the Chinese Dan Dan mien, so I was excited to try their dish. It was definitely different, and even though I don’t know if anything can really top the Chinese one, this was good! The noodles were wonderfully chewy, and the broth had a thick and creamy texture from having sesame paste added to it. So don’t think typical ramen broth! You also get to choose your spicy level, A medium spicy had some spiciness, but totally manageable. I also like that it came with spinach, as well as some ground beef (but not much).
We also had sides of pork gyoza and chicken karaage, both of which were tasty. But of the 2, I’d probably recommend the karaage (fried chicken), which came with a mayo type sauce. It was crispy but didn’t have all this greasy batter to overwhelm you. Get it to complement your noodles! :)
They also happy hour and stamp cards! 1 free tan tan men or chin ma han after 8 orders!

Located upstairs on the second floor of this strip mall, this tiny restaurant with a quirky name sells ramen. Many people imagine that spicy ramen is quite hot but this place even if you order the most spiciest which is number three it still doesn’t taste spicy at all. So it goes both ways if you are not into spicy than this is the place for you if you love spicy ramen then I would suggest not to come here.
Overall I just wanted to try this place out and they had that happy hour special with Kiren beer for $ 1.99. So why not. The noodles weren’t amazing but they were doable. It wasn’t horrible and it wasn’t that awesome. That is why this place gets three stars out of five because it was just a-​ok !
I also ordered a side of pan fried dumpling thingies. I know they aren’t called dumplings but to me they look very similar to dumplings. They tasted just exactly like what you can go and get from a freeze aisle in the supermarket of a Japanese store.
The inside is great and pretty cute and the menu is simple but I think they should make the spicy flavor have more flavor.

Spicy Ramen? Check.
Flavorful Gyoza? Check.
Cold Draft Beer? Check
Crispy Kara-​age Chicken? Check.
Dry Sake? Check.
Mabo Tofu and Rice? Check.
Did I mention the draft beer?
As a fan of Chin-​Ma-​Ya of Tokyo in Gardena, the most recent Friends and Family Night was a great excuse to visit the Little Tokyo restaurant. The good news is that this location features the same delicious Tan Tan Men with one major addition: a liquor license.
Friends and Family night is basically happy hour prices with an additional discount: $ 1 beers. $ 1 Plum Wine and 20% off food. Sign up for the email announcements to know when the next one is.
The service was fairly good and parking was validated in the Weller Court underground parking lot. We’ll be back.