On a cold Spring night, my husband and I made our way to Moto Ramen, a family-run, neighborhood ramen eatery in Culver City. As it was a Friday night, the intimate restaurant was pretty busy, and we had to wait about 20 minutes before being escorted to our table overlooking the open kitchen. 

Established by restaurateur and Los Angeles native Sarah Kim and chef Yuki Nakamoto in June 2020, the restaurant serves delectable Japanese fare inspired by the culinary traditions of Okinawa, located in the southwestern tip of Japan. Kim and Nakamoto bring their experience working together since 2004 to Moto Ramen. This eatery’s ramen is not the typical rib-sticking fatty broth. The broth is in the Okinawa style, a lighter, more nuanced version that they consider more LA-friendly. 

Moto Ramen’s interiors are minimal yet warm and welcoming. Wooden tables and window counter seating are arranged alongside an open kitchen, where the restaurant’s expert culinary team can be seen whipping up steaming bowls of ramen and other Japanese dishes. As soon as you enter the restaurant, a colorful feature wall showcasing a cat skateboarding in a bowl of ramen catches your eye. The restaurant’s ambiance is lively yet laid back. The crowd is a mix of families, couples, and groups of friends catching up over a delicious meal. Right from the get-go, the staff was warm and amiable.

At Moto Ramen, guests can expect lip-smacking small plates, rice bowls, bento boxes, sushi rolls, and ramen. The dishes are packed with flavor and are crafted using the freshest local ingredients. The highlights from Moto Ramen’s extensive menu include the Chicken Karaage (fried Japanese chicken), Pork Bun (steamed bun with pork belly, shaved red cabbage, and carrots with sweet miso sauce), Garlic Edamame (boiled edamame tossed with garlic chili oil), Yellowtail Jalapeno Sushi Roll, Gyudon Rice Bowl (thinly sliced beef and onion simmered in a soy sauce based marinade on top of a bed of rice), Tantanmen ramen (rich pork bone soup with spicy, sesame and nutty flavors topped with ground pork, soft boiled egg, bok choy, and bean sprouts) and Spicy Miso ramen (rich pork bone soup with Japanese spicy miso, topped with thinly sliced pork, soft boiled egg, bamboo, carrots, cabbage, mushrooms, green onions, bok choy, bean sprouts and fish cake). The Tantanmen ramen can be ordered as a cold dish as well. They swap out the broth for a spicy sesame paste.

On the recommendation of the server, we ordered the Chicken Karaage ($8.50), Garlic Edamame ($6), Yellowtail Jalapeno Sushi Roll ($8.50), and the Tantanmen ramen bowl ($16.50), and were not disappointed. The standout dishes for me were the spicy Garlic Edamame, the Chicken Karaage – that had a perfectly juicy inside and was crispy on the outside – and the Tantanmen ramen, which was extremely nuanced with spicy and sweet flavors. The ramen boasts a rich, flavorful broth and perfectly cooked noodles with a satisfying chew. In addition, the melt-in-your-mouth pork, well-seasoned soft-boiled egg, and vegetables help craft a symphony of textures and tastes in every spoonful. Furthermore, the Yellowtail Jalapeno Sushi Roll was fresh and tasty but a bit more subtle flavor-wise than the other dishes. 

While we didn’t order any drinks, it was good to know that Moto Ramen also offers a large selection of sake, wine, beer, coffee, and tea. From the beverage menu, the Hot House Sake, ​​​​​​Masumi Nanago ‘Seventh Heaven’ Sake, Kyoto Matcha IPA, Iced Matcha Latte, and Genmai Matcha Hot Tea (​​a harmonious blend of sencha green tea, toasted brown rice, and good-quality matcha), are crowd favorites. Moreover, on weekday lunches, Moto Ramen serves bento boxes as well. You can choose from Tofu with Yuzu Mushroom Sauce, Chicken Karaage, Beef Yakiniku, or Miso Salmon. The bento boxes are served with a side of rice, kale salad, Japanese potato salad, California roll (vegetable roll for tofu bento), and a veggie side. 

Check out Moto Ramen if you’re looking for a hearty Japanese meal of high-quality dishes that are oh-so-satisfying. The restaurant is a versatile, easy-to-frequent casual dining. Along with the food, I was also very impressed by the friendly servers who gave excellent recommendations. Additionally, if you live within a five-mile radius, I recommend getting on their waitlist before going to the restaurant, as they are typically quite busy, especially during the weekends. 

Located on the corner of Washington Blvd and Commonwealth Avenue, Moto Ramen is open daily from 11:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. On Saturday, Moto Ramen operates from 4:30 pm to 9:00 p.m. only.

Photo of the author and her husband enjoying the food and atmosphere of Moto Ramen.