Sawtelle Japantown in Los Angeles Just Might Have to Be Renamed "Little Tsujita Town"

First came Tsujita Artisan Noodle, then three more restaurants all on a one block stretch of Sawtelle Japantown

Takehiro Tsujita owns and operates at the time of this post four restaurants on Sawtelle.

Photo Description: Sawtelle Blvd with people standing out front of the Black Market retail store with a giant sign above them of an artistic surreal billboard with a blue female looking figure with chopsticks feeding its baby — I actually took a pic of the billboard, but you can kind of see the back of the line for Annex.

Takehiro Tsujita is da man/owner/chef who dominates Sawtelle with his killer noodles from ramen, tantanmen, tsukemen, to even sushi. That should be no surprise because the man is straight outta Tokyo where he lives, owns, and operates a number of successful ramen restaurants in and around Asia.

Photo description: a chef from Tsujita Ramen standing behind the counter looking down at something as he works with the counter in the foreground separating guests from the open kitchen — The staff is always hustling and on point at Tsujita Artisan Noodle.

One time I was here with either a girlfriend at the time, friends, or possibly visitors from out of town that left a memorable experience. Not a memory created by the girlfriend or the friends, but by Tsujita (looks like my friends need to step it up).

Shortly after ordering, we had been asked by the staff if we could move on over to another table because they needed to make room for a larger group.

While transitioning on over to the other table, our order had come out, but the food had sat out on the table. It had sat for barely a minute and before we could start eating, the chef took back our entire order to the kitchen to have it redone.

I thought that was an over the top move since tsukemen is not served piping hot, but I had appreciated the attention they placed on their product. Now, if only the ex and my friends would step it up to leave memorable lunch experiences (I joke, well slightly joke).

On Sawtelle in Japantown, Tsujita owns and operates:

All within a couple of blocks.

Tsujita LA Artisan Noodles

The OG location specializing in tonkotsu gyokai tsukemen (pork and fish based dipping ramen).
2057 Sawtelle Blvd, Los Angeles
(310) 231-0222
11AM-2AM (last order 1:30am)
Order online for pickup

Tsujita Annex

I’m sure this was the second spot they opened, but they serve up a “Jiro style” tonkotsu shoyu (pork and soy sauce base) ramen w/cabbage (kyabetsu), and bean sprouts (moyashi). I personally like to go hard with the garlic (ninniku).
2050 Sawtelle Blvd, Los Angeles
(310) 231-0222
11AM-12AM (last order 11:30pm)
Order online for pickup

Tsujita Sushi

I would have to say Tsujita’s abilities and capabilities are not limited to ramen because their edomae sushi holds their own (if not one of the best in LA).
2006 Sawtelle Blvd, Los Angeles
(310) 231-1177
11:30AM-2:30PM, 6-9PM
https://tsujita-sushi.com/

Killer Noodles

Tantanmen a spicy ramen based on dan dan mian (what isn’t rooted in Chinese food) and the only spot I unfortunately have not tried yet.
2030 Sawtelle Blvd, Los Angeles
(424)293-0474
11AM-11PM (last order 10:30pm)
Order online for pickup

To Glendale and Beyond

Good to see that they have extended their reach beyond Sawtelle, but I can’t believe their Honolulu location failed and closed.

Tsujita Glendale

The Americana at Brand
889 Americana Way, Glendale, CA 91210
Daily 11 a.m. – 11 p.m.
Order for delivery or online
Order through: postmates.com

Tsujita & Co. Noodle Production

109 N Fairfax Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90036
Daily 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Order online for pickup or delivery (caviar)

Tsujita Annex

In 2017, the late LA Times food critic Jonathan Gold ranked Tsujita 91 out of 101 on his Best Restaurants list.

Photo description: two bowls of ramen, one with the soup, tons of pork back fat, red chili powder dolloped on top, bean sprouts, and an egg. You can saslo see the chili powder condiment jar. — Delicious bits of pork back fat because fat is flavor. Image by Ganesh K.

Tsujita Artisan Noodle

I’d say I would do the tsukemen 4 out of 5 times when I’m on Sawtelle.

Photo Description: two bowls that make up tsukemen, one with the soup broth to dip the noodles in and the other of the noodles. The noodle bowl has the noodles, char siu, a lime, and sheet of black nori laid against the edge of the bowl — Definitely my fav spot in LA for *tsukemen*

I love the tsukemen that much, I pursued learning how to make it for almost a year and a half till I felt confident enough to do my own tsukemen pop-ups (www.taniguchiramen.com)