Finally! Rameniac takes a seventh-inning stretch from his San Francisco chronicles to revel in the glory of quite possibly the best, most authentic example of regional ramen outside of Japan, certainly in Southern California at least. Presenting the food court phenomenon that is Santouka!

Santa Ramen inspires a cult-like following in and around the environs of San Mateo, California. There’s a perpetual wait to get in the door, but is this temple of Bay Area noodling worth it’s weight in m. glutamate? Check in with rameniac as he checks it out!

Something wicked is afoot in Mountain View, California, where mysterious sightings of a black-souped ramen have been reported! Special investigator rameniac is on the scene for a decidely close encounter with paranormal phenomenon…

After a twelve round bout with the flu, rameniac has finally returned for some serious slurpage at the surf-themed Ramen HALU! Dude, tune in to the good vibrations and catch a wave at one of the Bay Area’s most popular noodle shops! 

The Little Tokyo branch of San Sui Tei is so new, it doesn’t even have a proper sign up yet! Perhaps rameniac should have waited for them to get settled in before writing a review, yet that bowl of spicy tonkotsu ramen looks oddly familiar...

Koraku is Los Angeles’ original late night ramen joint, perfect for that post-party slurpdown. But although ramen is considered proper hangover food in Japan, can a few beers impair one’s judgement of taste? Let’s find out!

Kick things up a notch with rameniac as he samples the Chinese-influenced paiko pork cutlets and tantanmen-style noodles of Shisen Ramen in Torrance, Calfornia! Bam!

A gigantic green dragon stands watch over Kinryu Ramen in Osaka’s world-famous Doutombori shopping and dining district. Is rameniac brave enough to enter his lair for a quick bowl of the you-know-what?

Tucked away in a desolate corner of Little Tokyo, Hanaichimonme has been quietly churning out some of the best ramen in Los Angeles for the past two decades! Do signs of life remain, in the former Yaohan Plaza?

Rameniac sneaks his brand-new camera into Tokyo’s depot of decadence, Kyushu Jangara Ramen. When last he tried this, he was told no pictures. Playing up the baka gaijin this time around, he finally captures the experience of dining in Akihabara’s hottest ramen shop. Point-and-shoot for all the sordid details!

Takeshi Ramen is a suprising oasis of upturned parasols in suburban Glendale, CA. But Brand Boulevard is pronounced “bland” in Japanese! Can ramen survive in this corner of Los Angeles, across the street from a California Pizza Kitchen?