I’m one of those gals who likes to celebrate her birthday all month long. Following a luxurious sushi dinner with The Astronomer, my friend Sam and I whooped it up over down home noodles at Chin-Ma-Ya in Little Tokyo. It’s one of his favorite haunts in the neighborhood, and I’m always up for some hauntingly good noodles.

There are well over one hundred outlets of Chin-Ma-Ya in Japan, where the restaurant  is originally from. The first U.S. branch opened in Little Tokyo in 2009.

The most cost effective approach for eating in Little Tokyo is to order a “combo.” Chin-Ma-Ya offers over half a dozen of these unbeatable deals, including a gyoza and ramen combination for $9.60. I originally ordered that combo, but subsequently opted for a la carte after catching a glimpse of the portions. I wouldn’t normally shy away from a gigantic bowl of noodles, but I had to play it safe considering I had a whole month’s worth of birthday celebrations ahead of me.

The gyozas ($4) were the first to arrive at the table. Expertly seared and filled generously with pork, the dumplings were most satisfactory.

Sam ordered a side of karaage (Japanese fried chicken) to supplement his noodles. It was served with a chili-mayo sauce and a lemon wedge. The nuggets were lightly battered and very crispy. I liked how the ratio of meat to batter was skewed toward the latter.

Sam and I both ordered half-size portions of the Tan-Tan-Men ($4), extra spicy and with Temomi noodles. Tan-Tan-Men, which is one of Chin-Ma-Ya’s specialties, is a Japanese interpretation of Chinese Dan Dan noodles. Our noodles arrived steaming hot and topped with ground beef and pork, a pouch of wilted spinach, and a shimmery orange broth.

Made from a blend of chicken and pork stock, chili oil, and sesame paste, the Tan-Tan-Men’s profile was rich, creamy, and slightly peanut buttery. The spicing was mellower than I expected, allowing the broth’s distinctly nutty notes to shine through. The curly and slightly firm Temomi noodles were a fine accompaniment, although not necessarily an upgrade from regular ramen noodles.

Both Sam and I slurped our bowls clean, noodles, broth, and all. Clearly, the mark of complete satisfaction.

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Chin-Ma-Ya of Tokyo * CLOSED *
123 Astronaut E S Onizuka #202
Los Angeles, CA 90012-3847
Phone: 213-625-3400