Kitakata Ramen Ban Nai - Torrance

Reviews

• EM

  Edward Martinez

  Feb 18, 2026
  5.0
  Delicious food, AWESOME staff, good size portions!!
• YT

  Yodai Takeuchi

  Feb 15, 2026
  5.0
  Delicious ramen with a great and smooth service experience! If you let the server know, you can customize the firmness of noodles and richness of soup (stronger or lighter) which was nice.
• KL

  Kimberly Lundell

  Feb 12, 2026
  4.0
  Character limit reach... see Yelp for full review. Tip: Use Yelp "Join Waitlist" during lunch/dinner rush, though a single diner is less likely to have any wait issues. Food Order: Large Green Chili Shio Ramen (pork broth, shio base, 5 toro chashu, green chili, nappa, Asian chives, green onion, sesame oil) $17.45 A Combo Set: Cubed Chashu Bowl $2.50 Soft Boiled Egg $1.00 Bamboo Shoot $2.00 Seasoned Tofu (5 pcs.) $2.90 Kitakata Ramen Ban Nai is located in Vista Plaza (southwest of H-Mart), replaced defunct Sub Club Italian Deli. Kitakata Ramen is well-known in Japan, & is considered one of the "Big 3" regional ramen styles along with Hakata & Sapporo. What sets them apart in the South Bay is their distinctive high-hydration, flat, wavy noodles (Kitakata-style) & golden clear pork broth. There's plenty of parking at the plaza with a couple of prime spots at the restaurant's entrance. Upon entering, I was warmly greeted & seated at the bar, which is my preference since there's an open kitchen. I love watching how my order is prepared when I'm dining alone. There's a couple of booths on the left with a medium bar (seats 6) flushed against the open kitchen, & 2-tops that line against the wall that can be adjusted for large groups. Taped to the bar's short wall, there's an info card about Ban Nai Noodles & Soup, weekday deal lunch special menu, & QR code for their menu (didn't ask what happens if you're without a phone). A server asked if I had questions (nope), & brought a glass of water while I waited. My order was ready pretty quick since there were only 2 other tables, & they had already ordered. The bowl of ramen teased my senses with its aromatics & beauty that it was slightly challenging for my camera to eat first. LMAO Once the obligatory pics were finished, I dove in & have to agree that the perfectly al dente noods makes for a most satisfying chewy & springy texture while soaking up the delish shio, pork broth -- damn, good mouthfeel! Throw in that perfectly cooked soft boiled egg... wowza, adding a savory, jammy contrast to clean noodles. The golden yet clear broth is new to me since most pork ramen broths are thick, fatty-rich; this is light & savory broth is reminiscent to a flavorful consommé, but with a hit of green chilies. I added bamboo shoots for some texture, & its flavor seems to complement the rich shio broth. I had the seasoned tofu on the side so its "seasonings" doesn't get diluted in the broth or meld into the broth. I slurped some ramen & added a spoonful of tofu, which cut through & balanced some of that spicy, salty broth. I ate a few more bites, alternating between the 2, then saved a tofu square to polished off. While I grew up using chopsticks, I'm not skilled enough to maneuver the soft tofu without breaking it; surprisingly, I kept most of the pieces intact. Whew! The chashu has good flavor & tender, but I prefer Santouka's toroniku (you know what I'm talking about). I went out of my way once to combine their pork with my fav ramen shop's noods & broth; Kitakata Ramen is tempting me to do the same. Hehehe... While both are "toro" pork, one is focused on the pork jowl (cheek) & the other is broader in the pork belly & other fatty cuts. I was pretty stuffed from the ramen so it was a slight push to eat the Chashu Bowl. The chashu was tasty & mostly tender, but a tad dry (maybe overcooked?), & I get a bit of pork belly in every bite. It would have been a perfect meal if this was executed better. Still, I was stuffed (full tilt!) & will likely fall into a food coma. LOL The menu is short: appetizers, ramen, rice bowls, & toppings ($1.00 - $6.50), with moderate to moderately high price points in comparison to its local competition. I like that they give you the option to upgrade the portion size (ramen) for $1.50. Friendly & efficient service... though the server didn't check back once my order was executed; luckily, I didn't need a water refill. If you want to try something different than hakata ramen, Kitakata Ramen Ban Nai is definitely worth a visit! おいしいです (oishii desu)!
• PP

  Paolo

  Feb 7, 2026
  5.0
  ordered the tan tan ramen-broth was full of flavor. its medium spicy. chicken karage is crunchy and juicy. such good umami flavor even without the sauce. friend ordered the chicken katsu he states its good. service- very attentive and friendly. i enjoyed eating here.
• JJ

  JB

  Jan 27, 2026
  1.0
  Not sure what to make of this place anymore. I used to frequently visit as this place was my favorite ramen shop. However, in my recent trips, there’s been a lot to note. First is the ramen. The noodles used to be very chewy and curly but now look more like pasta and don’t hold as much flavor as it used to. Also, the broth is never consistent anymore. Some days super salty, others super bland and watered down. It’s become almost unrecognizable. The toppings come out super watery and sad. The chashu slices and the fried chicken are also not what they used to be. What once used to be cleanly cut slices of chashu are now sometimes blocks of chashu or super thin and small. The fried chicken is either too small or way too big or even worse, burnt. A server noted to me letting me know that the kitchen staff has changed significantly within the last couple months which was the biggest factor for the food tasting differently. This is all picky differences I’ve picked up on, but it’s ignorable. What’s worse and honestly shocking is how the cooks are allowed to behave. A girl in the kitchen could be heard openly using foul mouthed words to talk negatively about customers. Unbelievable. The food has become so inconsistent and the behavior of the kitchen staff ruined the experience so much, I don’t think I want to come back ever. The only good that I experienced was that the servers were very attentive and friendly.

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