Goal number 1 - Check!
LOCATION : 1601 SAWTELLE BLVD. #101 LOS ANGELES, CA 90025
One of the places my friend Jimmy told me to go to in LA three years ago was Shin Sen Gumi. I didn't make it back then but believe me, I was dedicated this time and Christel was completely willing to help me make this happen. Our own trip ended up being a schedule of where we wanted to eat with places to visit as filler in between meals. As a true city vacation should be. We went and got Christel a haircut at her regular salon nearby on sawtelle and decided to hit up Shin Sen Gumi for dinner and boy was I a happy camper.
We were very lucky with parking and got a spot on the street right next to the restaurant and only had to wait a couple minutes for a table to be cleaned before we were seated. Jimmy also gave me specific instructions on how to order my bowl of ramen but he's crazy and I'm sure I would've died in the sea of spice and oil he was recommending so I went a little off book. We each ordered 1/2 hakata sizes of ramen just so we could also order arabiki sausage because Christel has had them before and really wanted them again upon seeing several tables with that dish. They were great so I wasn't going to complain. I got my ramen hard/chewy, with medium oil, and medium broth strength, without ginger. I also added a flavored egg because perfectly soft boiled eggs in ramen are life. I also added a little chili oil on top of mine because Christel has turned me over to the spicy side of food and while I was alright with spice before, I love it a little more now.
This food was great. I love the bustle of the restaurant and the servers speaking Japanese to each other. The soup was balanced and had a really amazing flavor to it with a great kick from my chili oil. The half size was enough for us and we each finished the whole bowl (I can't say I drank all the broth but I probably could've if I was hungrier). I love the ability to customize the ramen a little and while I went midway on everything to see what my tastes were, I can see why people go back again and again.