Daikokuyo

I've been to the one at little Tokyo and the lines and how chaotic it was there was not my favorite thing! This place though was nice I honestly think the atmosphere and aesthetics of this location is way nicer it's pretty chill too! My friend and I came around 9pm the vibes were nice the playlist also nice! The servers with super chill too! Would recc if you wanna chill with your friends while eatting 👍

Last year I given a 3 out of 5…SEEEEE! They improve and make it better! I mean wonderful! Love it!! I left the precious comments below lol (The food in this store tastes the same as another chain store, but there don't seem to be many people there, giving it a spooky feel. There was a very cute black cat at the door, probably a stray cat nearby.)

Pro: Excellent customer service, clean and cozy setting. Fair prices for good food. Con: Broth was a bit salty for taste. Friday night, I walked into the local Daikokuya ramen shoppe and was immediately greeted and seated. I ordered the Chicken Karaage, Geso Age, and Spicy Miso Ramen. My partner has an egg allergy, so I asked them to remove the egg after the order was already taken. They immediately went to the kitchen and removed the egg before serving, which proves to show how much they care for their customers. This was what brought me to leave a tip for them, they deserve it. We had no issues with the food served. Everything was delicious and served hot. I did feel like the broth was salty for my taste, but ramen broth does need to boil overnight for the rich umami. I'd also like to note that I love the retro Japan decor. The center bar was fashioned into a street vendor bar and the booths looked like a rustic shack. On the walls, they have plastered on some retro Japanese films and drama cover art. The place is well maintained and clean.

Mike Choi

Came to Daikokuya El Monte and had a great experience. I ordered the Spicy Veggie Ramen, and it was really good—rich broth, great depth of flavor, and perfectly spicy without being overwhelming. We also ordered the Daikokuya Ramen, and everyone at the table loved it. The noodles were cooked just right, and the broth was deep and comforting. Solid ramen spot with consistent quality. Definitely coming back.

Wayne Cheng

Whenever we visit Little Tokyo, we will have ramen at Daikonuya. It was a pleasant surprise to find this spot in El Monte, as it's way closer to where we live. All the dishes we ordered tasted great. Service is prompt and friendly. Will definitely visit again in the future.

Adrian Arellano

Food was excellent! $9/32 oz beer for the win! Timely service but homeboy could’ve been a little more welcoming/friendly.

Richard Chacon

No TV’s bit a fantastic meal at DaiK. Unbeknownst to me, there is a very popular location in downtown Jtown. Fried spicy tuna roll appetizer was fresh and flavorful. However the star of the show is the ramen. I had the Daikuya ramen which is the most popular. Even though the offered extra additional toppings, I felt my basic soup had everything I wanted. Green onions, egg, sprouts, mushroom stems, yummy. I did miss a tempura appetizer but everything was very flavorful. Make a point to stop by the non busy El Monte location

StarSanti

Craving some ramen I decided to go to daikokuya in little Tokyo . But then I noticed there was one 3 miles away from where I was so decided to go there. I went when they just first opened so the experience was good . Food and service, excellent. I’m glad I came to this one in El Monte. The one in little Tokyo it’s so crowded. This location has its own parking lot so that was an extra ⭐️for this review .

Alex Le

Fantastic ramen, hard for me to say if it's as good as the og Little Tokyo location but it's still pretty damn good and it's a lot closer for me personally. This location also has a sweet lunch combo, crazy good value and flavor.

Andil Ong

- Never been to this branch before but the food is still the same Daikokuya Ramen Quality that I have loved for 20 years - Out of all the branches I been, I like this one the most. Really feels like Ramen bar in Japan.

Prasoet Jukrajatatip

The food is ok, it seems they have changed the recipe from the one in Little Tokyo. Their signature ramen seems to be missing something. 3 stars for the ramen but 5 stars for the hot asian guy who served on us and the other staff member who waited on the other table who had so many requests. I wish they bring back the old recipe back.

Jia Li

Great food! Plenty of parking. Service can be a bit slow, especially when it's busy, so be patient.

Poly Gone

This is a fantastic ramen restaurant. I got the spicy miso ramen and small pork cutlet bowl combo $20.95 and it was delicious! The portions are large and filled me up. Way less crowded than their Little Tokyo location. The staff is friendly and there is free parking in back.

Xeraeus “Jun” Kindly

I've been to the one at little Tokyo and the lines and how chaotic it was there was not my favorite thing! This place though was nice I honestly think the atmosphere and aesthetics of this location is way nicer it's pretty chill too! My friend and I came around 9pm the vibes were nice the playlist also nice! The servers with super chill too! Would recc if you wanna chill with your friends while eatting 👍

Cyan H

Last year I given a 3 out of 5…SEEEEE! They improve and make it better! I mean wonderful! Love it!! I left the precious comments below lol (The food in this store tastes the same as another chain store, but there don't seem to be many people there, giving it a spooky feel. There was a very cute black cat at the door, probably a stray cat nearby.)

John Zhuang

Great food, portion, and service! The fire truck is a must have! Great variety if you don’t know what you want.

Very good business. Lots of the staff are friendly and they can speak Japanese so it is nice to be able to order directly in the Japanese language or speak of food in the Japanese language and people will understand it. South El Monte is a community which is friendly and loving to Japanese influences and Japanese cuisines like sushi and poke bowls so this business is a fine addition to the community and a good spot for anyone visiting from China, Japan, Vietnam, Singapore, or any other Asian countries who would love to enjoy a Japanese ramen soup lunch. Daikokuya is a top Japanese business just like the Michelin star Hironori Craft Ramen. I would even recommend some Michelin Star Asian judges try and visit South El Monte for this ramen business and provide a rating so that South El Monte can be famously known for high-quality Michelin-star cuisines in the future.

John Hua

Very good business. Lots of the staff are friendly and they can speak Japanese so it is nice to be able to order directly in the Japanese language or speak of food in the Japanese language and people will understand it. South El Monte is a community which is friendly and loving to Japanese influences and Japanese cuisines like sushi and poke bowls so this business is a fine addition to the community and a good spot for anyone visiting from China, Japan, Vietnam, Singapore, or any other Asian countries who would love to enjoy a Japanese ramen soup lunch. Daikokuya is a top Japanese business just like the Michelin star Hironori Craft Ramen. I would even recommend some Michelin Star Asian judges try and visit South El Monte for this ramen business and provide a rating so that South El Monte can be famously known for high-quality Michelin-star cuisines in the future.

Ildur X

Don't think twice, just come. The ramen is savory and delicious. The broth has depth and the consistency is perfect- sticking to the noodles. the flavor spreads on your tongue, making you want to eat without stopping. Don't forget about the homemade gyoza! The best I've had, no questions asked. No fancy atmosphere to worry about either, only homey vibes, you can just let loose and relax. Truly a great experience here, thank you!

Ultimately, the kotteri spicy miso broth is still worth the trip. Service was acceptable, not great. I was not greeted upon entry, stood around a while until seated, and had to hail the server to place my food order. The place was about less than half full. There were plenty of empty tables and I was the sole person at the sit-down counter. I'm not sure if only one person was on staff waiting tables or what. The final refill on my iced green tea was only filled halfway. Since default toppings are used sparingly, I added corn and wakame per the menu's suggestion for the spicy miso broth. Each of these additions did not add to the experience at all. The wakame had no flavor whatsoever and the corn wasn't even sweet. Don't bother with add-ons except for extra chashu (the chashu included in the bowl was anemic and disintegrating), and requesting beni shoga and crushed garlic. Beni shoga and crushed garlic used to be available at the table, but this was changed around covid. These two items are still available and there was no extra charge for them, but they are not noted on the menu and must be requested. Eel bowl and cabbage salad were great. No complaints there. Egg was scarcely overcooked, could have been my fault for polishing off my side dishes first and letting it sit around in the broth. If I hadn't ordered the wakame and corn, food would be 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟. The cost for 1 came out to $50 with tip after including the combination meal, my drink, and add-ons.

Fried rice is superb! The spicy miso soup was recommended by our waiter. Great broth, noodles are good. I will definitely come back to try other dishes.

There’s 3 options for ramen and many more options for rice / appetizers etc. For your ramen, you can add in “back fat”. It’s just fat that gets put into your soup. It’s suppose to make it richer but it honestly didn’t taste any different to me. The price is pretty high compared to other ramen shops. The portion was okay for the price. They do have a small parking lot in the back. I’m sure once it gets busy, it’ll be difficult to find parking but if you get there before 6. Parking should be okay. I’d recommend to try at least once if you’ve never tried this chain before.

Karina

Ultimately, the kotteri spicy miso broth is still worth the trip. Service was acceptable, not great. I was not greeted upon entry, stood around a while until seated, and had to hail the server to place my food order. The place was about less than half full. There were plenty of empty tables and I was the sole person at the sit-down counter. I'm not sure if only one person was on staff waiting tables or what. The final refill on my iced green tea was only filled halfway. Since default toppings are used sparingly, I added corn and wakame per the menu's suggestion for the spicy miso broth. Each of these additions did not add to the experience at all. The wakame had no flavor whatsoever and the corn wasn't even sweet. Don't bother with add-ons except for extra chashu (the chashu included in the bowl was anemic and disintegrating), and requesting beni shoga and crushed garlic. Beni shoga and crushed garlic used to be available at the table, but this was changed around covid. These two items are still available and there was no extra charge for them, but they are not noted on the menu and must be requested. Eel bowl and cabbage salad were great. No complaints there. Egg was scarcely overcooked, could have been my fault for polishing off my side dishes first and letting it sit around in the broth. If I hadn't ordered the wakame and corn, food would be 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟. The cost for 1 came out to $50 with tip after including the combination meal, my drink, and add-ons.

Mr Rob

Fried rice is superb! The spicy miso soup was recommended by our waiter. Great broth, noodles are good. I will definitely come back to try other dishes.

Sherns Wang

There’s 3 options for ramen and many more options for rice / appetizers etc. For your ramen, you can add in “back fat”. It’s just fat that gets put into your soup. It’s suppose to make it richer but it honestly didn’t taste any different to me. The price is pretty high compared to other ramen shops. The portion was okay for the price. They do have a small parking lot in the back. I’m sure once it gets busy, it’ll be difficult to find parking but if you get there before 6. Parking should be okay. I’d recommend to try at least once if you’ve never tried this chain before.

4th ramen spot in the area we've tried. It's okay. Compared to the other spots in the area we've been to, this ones been best so far, but it it's not fantastic. Got the regular Daikokuya ramen, would give it a 6/10. The toppings were minimal , and that's fine. I think that comes down to personal taste , but the bamboo was super vinegary , which I wasn't a fan of. The egg was cold which was disappointing. Lot of green onion so brownie points for that. The bean sprouts were fine. Wish the broth was a bit creamier, but the flavor was good, not too salty. The noodles were very good as well. The texture was just right, and they were chewy. Overall this is an okay spot and it'll satisfy the craving, but I don't think we'll be back. We shall continue the search for "The Spot".

Lee

4th ramen spot in the area we've tried. It's okay. Compared to the other spots in the area we've been to, this ones been best so far, but it it's not fantastic. Got the regular Daikokuya ramen, would give it a 6/10. The toppings were minimal , and that's fine. I think that comes down to personal taste , but the bamboo was super vinegary , which I wasn't a fan of. The egg was cold which was disappointing. Lot of green onion so brownie points for that. The bean sprouts were fine. Wish the broth was a bit creamier, but the flavor was good, not too salty. The noodles were very good as well. The texture was just right, and they were chewy. Overall this is an okay spot and it'll satisfy the craving, but I don't think we'll be back. We shall continue the search for "The Spot".

Food was ok, atmosphere was nice... service was bad!! After we ordered the girl never checked on us and was just texting on her phone the whole time! I had to get up and pay upfront because she was on her phone texting the whole time!

Mariela p

Food was ok, atmosphere was nice... service was bad!! After we ordered the girl never checked on us and was just texting on her phone the whole time! I had to get up and pay upfront because she was on her phone texting the whole time!

I love all the other Daikokuya locations. However this one the workers did no care about us. Told us to sit wherever and then took 20 minutes to get our drinks, I had to call them over to take my order. It was after they took a large group of 10 that came in after us. There was almost no one in the restaurant so I don’t know why we were not taken care of. Our food was gross and not up to par with the other locations.