blogdowntown
Not currently logged in. [Login or Create an Account]

Stay Connected



 

Hashi Ramen House Adds an Inexpensive Evening Dining Option for Little Tokyo

By Pamela Rouse
Published: Monday, October 11, 2010, at 04:23PM
Hashi Pamela Rouse []

DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — The restaurant space at 442 E. 2nd Street has housed several different concepts over the past few years. Most recently it was the 2nd Street Cafe, which opened in November of 2008 but closed its doors earlier this year.

Next in line at the Honda Plaza spot is the Hashi Ramen House, and last week the new restaurant's owners held a soft opening to test their menu and tempt customers off the street.

Hashi, which is Japanese for "chopsticks,” puts its focus on ramen dishes, cutlets, and other familiar favorites including Don Katsu (pork cutlet) and the Katze Nabe (which is a pork cutlet with egg and house sauce). Ramen dishes come hot or cold, like the cool ramen which has Chaschu, cucumber and egg in a cool broth or flavored with miso. Side items include steamed dumplings, fried tofu or edamame.

The menu is still a work in progress, but should settle in within the next week or so. Entrees average $9 to $11.

Beer is served in bottles and on draft along with sake, soju, green tea and fountain soda.

Hashi is open six days a week for lunch and dinner hours, closing in-between for prep. A website is in the works and should be up within the next week.

Hashi Ramen House / 442 E. 2nd / / Hours: Tue- Sun 11:30am-3pm and 5pm-midnight; Mon: CLOSED

SHARE:

||


Conversation

Guest 1

Guest on October 11, 2010, at 04:29PM – #1

Nice. I wonder how it compares to my personal favorite (Orochon), and everyone else's favorite (Daikokuya). More ramen can never be a bad thing.


Guest 2

Guest on October 11, 2010, at 11:43PM – #2

$9-$11 is a little high,keep it under $10 if you want to stay open in this economy.


Guest 3

Guest on October 12, 2010, at 12:07AM – #3

The space looks great!! Let's hope this is the charm.


Guest 4

Guest on October 12, 2010, at 07:54AM – #4

Actually, after this space closed as 2nd Street Cafe, it reopened as The Burger Joint. I believe it may have been the same owners with an attempt at re-branding. The Burger Joint was short lived and the space had been empty for a while.


Jamie DeFrisco on October 12, 2010, at 05:49PM – #5

I would prefer to see Shinsengumi or Santouka move downtown.

Agreed that $9-$11 is expensive for a ramen joint. Unless they have better ingredients in it or it's really good I don't see why anyone would pay more than the other ramen places.

From the article it sounds like this place won't be authentic Japanese ramen.


Guest 5

Guest on October 13, 2010, at 11:44AM – #6

I'm really sorry that Pamela (or any of the blogdowntown staff) didn't give this place a good interview (like they always do). It would have been nice to learn of the owners/management and their inspiration for the menu.

The modification are very reflective of Japanese interiors. The menu (as it is evolving) is also plenty authentic to the area (Little Tokyo). The location is excellent for City employees, SCI Arc and right near the A-Dash stop and Gold Line Extension.

Sorry Hashi that you didn't get the "welcome to the neighborhood" treatment - instead you get people questioning the menu pricing and reminiscing of prior owners and their issues.


User_32

Rich Alossi on October 13, 2010, at 12:21PM – #7

For the record, Guest 5, not all business owners jump at the chance to speak to members of the local community, blogger or otherwise. A lot of times they act suspicious of anyone asking questions (let alone asking to take photographs), refuse to answer, or evade phone calls. That's happened to me on MANY occasions.

The worst was when a bar owner (now defunct) called me and left voicemail after nasty voicemail saying that I was unfairly telling people about the concept in an article I wrote. This is after tours and interviews were given by this same proprietor, and at all times it was communicated that all of this was public info.

In that situation, all the writer can do is a straightforward, matter-of-fact "This place is opening on this date, and here's the menu."


Guest 5

Guest on October 13, 2010, at 03:14PM – #8

Rich - the scenario is totally understood. If that's the case, then why post?


User_32

Rich Alossi on October 13, 2010, at 03:38PM – #9

Because there's still newsworthy information, even if the business owner isn't available or doesn't want to comment.


Guest 6

Guest on October 25, 2010, at 03:29PM – #10

I've read reviews elsewhere for this place, no one seemed to like it. Also, run by koreans not japanese.


Guest 7

Guest on November 07, 2010, at 12:24PM – #11

I ate there, probably the wort ramen i have ever had. Trying to think of something good.... size was on the larger side (thats the best I can come up with). It was just awful.


Guest 8

Guest on November 11, 2010, at 11:15AM – #12

Tried out the place yesterday and I thought the ramen was pretty good! Will definitely go back again.


Guest 9

Guest on November 16, 2010, at 11:07AM – #13

Gotta agree with Guest 7. This place is horrible and I'm usually pretty tolerant of bad food. I kept looking for the rest of the menu. It seems like there were only 10 things to choose from. Ramen was lousy, fried rice was ok and takoyaki was clearly fried even though the menu said it was grilled. Takoyaki should never be fried. The place appears to be Korean owned/run. Not starting a race war, but I go to Little Tokyo to get authentic Japanese food prepared by Japanese people.


Guest 10

Guest on November 29, 2010, at 09:50AM – #14

I had the Miso Ramen and my wife had their Yaki Ramen. Both were really good and hit the spot after shopping all day Friday!



Add Your Voice

In an effort to prevent spam, blogdowntown commenting requires that Javascript be enabled. Please check your browser settings and try again.

 

Search:


Story Location:

Loading... Please wait.




On Twitter

New Comments


Recommendations



blogdowntown Photo Pool

Photos of Downtown contributed by readers like you.

Downtown Blogs


Downtown Sites


Elsewhere