Restaurant: Shin Sen Gumi
Location: 1601 Sawtelle Blvd. #101 Los Angeles, CA 90025 Tel：424-208-3293
Date: March 6, 2015
Cuisine: Japanese Ramen
Rating: Solid Hakata Ramen w/ lots of options
Ramen is just taking over in east Santa Monica (now officially Sawtelle Japantown). There are 6-9 places within a mile, the majority of which even specialize in Hakata ramen (the porky southern variety).
Shin Sen Gumi has an unassuming front.
But a busy and decent sized interior with both tables and counter.
Half order of Gyoza. These are the smallest potstickers I’ve ever seen. You can’t tell from the photo, but they are about 1.5 inches long! Get a full order. They were fairly tasty though.
Fried squid. Quiet good leg calamari.
Garlic Shrimp. Also very good. Pretty much like the Spanish Gambas pil pil.
Full Hakata Ramen. This own was “strong”.
A few additions for the ramen. From the upper left, clockwise, curry paste, garlic chips, cloud ear mushrooms, poached egg.
Pig ear on the left and more pork belly slices on the right.
My ramen after additions.
Overall, this was solid ramen, and there were a lot of options both as tapas, some other entrees, and tons of possible condiments. I dumped that curry ball in and after mixing it made the whole thing taste like Singapore curry noodles.
Still, I like the slightly modern flavor of Tatsu better and the pork in a bowl of Tsujita.