Local Guide
Little Tokyo Restaurants: Hand-Cut Udon, a Courtyard Bar and Late-Night Ramen
A walkable Little Tokyo night: Marugame Monzo, Far Bar and Shin-Sen-Gumi, drawn from 5,373 Google reviews.
The Local Desk · Los Angeles, CA · November 7, 2026
Little Tokyo rewards a slow night more than a rushed one. We read 88 of the 5,373 Google reviews behind three spots that sit a short walk apart: hand-cut udon on 1st St, a courtyard bar next door, and late Hakata ramen on Central Ave. This is the order we would do it.
Start hungry at Marugame, cross the sidewalk for a drink and a plate at Far Bar, then finish with a bowl at Shin-Sen-Gumi when the neighborhood is still awake. Check hours before you go, especially on weeknights.
Stop 1: Marugame Monzo for hand-cut udon
4.5★ · 1,624 Google reviews · 329 1st St, Los Angeles, CA 90012, USA
Read the reviews →Marugame Monzo is the early dinner move. Reviewers keep coming back for thick, hand-cut noodles and bowls with a kick, from Tan Tan to carbonara-style udon, and the room moves quickly once you sit.
“Delicious udon. Came here on a Monday night and it wasn't busy at all. I got their seasonal Tan Tan Udon and it was very flavorful and a bit spicy. My partner got the Miso Carbonara Udon and he loved it. The only thing we didn't like was the seating. It's a little tight and awkward when you're trying to get up without grazing the person and table next to you. Will definitely be returning and sitting at the bar though.”
“Simply SPECTACULAR. A pleasant surprise we didn't expect to find in LA. Highly, highly recommend trying their carbonara udon.”
Stop 2: Far Bar, the courtyard next door
Far Bar is a few doors down on 1st St, so you barely have to decide. Reviewers call out Japanese beers and sake, bar food that holds up, and a courtyard that works for a game night or a long catch-up.
“Great dive bar with excellent food. Lots of locals here watching the Dodgers/Mets game. cool vibe. We went back a second night because the food was legit. Try the ribs, Raman, and rolls. All delish!”
“It's a bar, but they serve Japanese food. They only seem to have Japanese beer brands. The portions were American-sized. I think the taste would suit Japanese palates. It was simply delicious. I enjoyed it while watching a Dodgers game. Cash payments seem to be slightly cheaper than card payments.”
Stop 3: Shin-Sen-Gumi Hakata Ramen for the late bowl
4.5★ · 2,321 Google reviews · 132 S Central Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90012, USA
Read the reviews →Walk over to Central Ave when you want the night to end on broth. Shin-Sen-Gumi lets you dial noodle firmness, flavor strength and oil, and reviewers treat the Hakata tonkotsu as the reason they keep coming back to Little Tokyo.
“Wonderful small restaurant in Little Tokyo. I had the hakata ramen with pork broth. The broth was flavorful and satisfying, the noodles were nice and chewy, and the small pieces of pickled ginger added a nice touch. I ordered extra noodles and it was a perfect amount. The service was friendly and efficient.”
“I really have a craving for ramen. This restaurant is so good you might mistake it for being in Japan. You can adjust the firmness of the noodles, the strength of the flavor, and the amount of oil. Above all, the noodles are great. The service is also very Japanese, which is reassuring! If you park your car in the car park at the back, you'll receive a one-hour service voucher.”
The route
The route
- 1. Marugame Monzo · 329 1st St, Los Angeles, CA 90012, USA
- 2. Far Bar · 347 1st St, Los Angeles, CA 90012, USA
- 3. Shin-Sen-Gumi Hakata Ramen - Little Tokyo · 132 S Central Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90012, USA
Marugame and Far Bar share the same block of 1st St, so the first hop is a sidewalk. Shin-Sen-Gumi is the longer leg over to Central Ave. Walk it in that order, or flip the last two if the ramen line looks friendlier earlier.