Ichiban Ramen - Torrance, CA

Ichiban Ramen is a small spot near Mitsuwa and Torihei (a great Yakitori place) in Torrance, CA.

The Decor is modern, the menu is different with a kind of gastropub-ish taken on a Ramen restaurant.

The ramen soup itself was made from a chicken base and only Shoyu, Shio, and Spicy Miso were on the menu today.  Miso being one of my favorites I went for it, and wasn't disappointed.

This spice was light, not to sharp with only a slight burn at the end.  The toppings were sesame seeds, bean sprouts, negi, corn, egg, and chashu, which was had a nice and strong roasted flavor.  The noodles were springy and full of flavor but the soup its self was the highlight for me.  It was right and packed with different flavors and finished with a kick.  It was not too salty or oily and because it was chicken based there was no pork fat floating in it.  It felt slightly on the lighter side but without sacrificing flavor.  This bowl was definitely nothing like the "miso" it is listed as, but it was delicious all the same and I would definitely order it again.

In addition to ramen we also had the Kara-age:

This Kara-age unfortunately came with the most pathetically small lemon wedge, so it lacked that sour citrus flavor that goes so nicely with the crispy chicken.  The pieces of chicken themselves were large and juicy, but not flavorful enough on their own and I assume that was due to a lighter marinade being used (or not marinating long enough).

We also had the Gyoza:

These were pretty standard gyoza, crispy on the bottom, steamed on the top, and filled with meat and negi.  They were a nice addition to the meal.

Overall,  Ichiban Ramen has a great menu, a nice ambiance, and makes a fantastic Spicy Miso Ramen.  I am looking forward to going back and trying the Shio and Shoyu soon to see what unique twist they put on them as well.  I highly recommend Ichiban Ramen to anyone who is up for delicious, well crafted Ramen.