Koraku - Los Angeles - TravBuddy

This is a really great "cheap eats" place located in Little Tokyo in downtown Los Angeles. The menu is filled with ramen, fried rice, japanese appetizers (mostly fried stuff), etc. - all at relatively affordable prices (for example, $8 for an immense bowl of ramen); but I mainly come here for one kind of ramen - the tonkatsu moyashi ramen - wonderfully textured ramen noodles (with the perfect amount of spring and bounce) swimming in a rich, yet simple pork broth, complimented with just a few pork slices and bean sprouts, so as not to take attention away from the amazing broth and noodles... mmmm.... it's perfect on a chilly day, or a late night of drinking and partying. The service is very friendly and efficient.

Bonus - there's a pinkberry a few doors down so you can warm up your belly and then go cool it down with refreshingly tart yogurt and fresh fruit. (alternatively there's a mochi store nearby that also sells gelato, mochi ice cream, etc. - my dad adores this store - really one of few places in LA were you can get fresh mochi desserts).