Tsukemen Aizen

Many of the restaurants we visit are selected intentionally, with at least a little planning before we stop in, but on occasion, we leave things up to chance and wind up at a place we discovered on a whim. Tsukemen Aizen is an example of the latter situation: Instead of revisiting Holy Basil, we found it on a map while walking through Little Tokyo in Los Angeles, and changed plans to check it out. As the “tsukemen” name indicates, the specialty here is Japanese-style dipping noodles, a soupless form of ramen, though the menu also has a handful of non-tsukemen choices, including izakaya-style appetizers.

We had no idea what we’d find at Aizen, so were pleasantly surprised to discover that both the outside and inside of the place are beautifully decorated with an authentically Japanese wood and water motif. Vertical columns of wood align with blue wall accents and vertical string-accented lighting, providing a natural balance to the dining room’s industrial seating.

The menu provides several choices of “signature” dipping noodles, either with pork or vegan broth and accompaniments, as well as ramen noodle bowls with pork or fish. Appetizers include double-sized Japanese chicken wings (wings plus flats), fried oysters, wasabi octopus, and Chinese-style pork belly steamed buns. While each of these appetizers was quite good, the fried oysters and pork bun stuck out as superior, while the Tebasaki wings were less crispy (but also meatier) than ones we’ve had in the past.