L.A. eatery crowned as longest-running ramen spot in the U.S.

Ichiro and Nomo among fans of Kouraku, offering homestyle recipes for 50 years

Kouraku, recognized by Los Angeles as "America's oldest ramen shop still in operation," boasts recipes largely unchanged for five decades. (Photo by Naomi Hayase)

REI NAKAFUJI

February 1, 2025 05:57 JST

PALO ALTO, California -- A ramen restaurant in downtown Los Angeles has been honored for its longevity in the industry amid a growing wave of enthusiasts nationwide for the beloved noodle soup from Japan.

Established in 1976, Kouraku in the city's Little Tokyo district boasts recipes that have remained largely unchanged for five decades. Its popular menu items include tanmen, a type of ramen with stir-fried vegetables, and tenshin ankake chahan, omelet-covered fried rice with gravy.