Once upon a time before fatty-pork tonkotsu ramen ruled the land, there were places like Ramenya, serving classic Japanese ramen in clear broths. Originally located on Olympic, right around the corner from Sawtelle, Ramenya always had a crowd of diners waiting outside. Since then they’ve moved to new digs on Gateway, with a parking lot conveniently located outside.

The restaurant has a contemporary decor, nice and bright, with Edison lights hanging from above.

Their menu lists several different types of ramen, from which you can select your choice of broth for your ramen – shoyu, salt or miso.

The Basic comes with roasted pork, bean sprouts, bamboo shoots and green onions. The salt broth was pretty mild, especially when compared to the usual fatty pork broth.

The Spicy Miso lived up to its name. Served with assorted stir fried vegetables, this had me reaching for my water glass after just one bite.

The Wonton was the same as the Basic, but came with won ton dumplings.

The wonton was more wrapper than anything else, with the tiniest bit of filling.

If you’re looking for a more flavorful broth but not spicy, order the shoyu.

The roasted pork was the best thing about the dish, way better than the slices of char siu that I’ve become accustomed to eating. In fact, it’s what took my fairly standard ramen to the next level. Even my picky daughter agreed that the roasted pork was incredible, causing her to request a return visit a few weeks later.

For those who are gluten-free, there are rice bowls, sushi and fried rice.

Ramenya has a smattering of Korean dishes as well, like kalbi (beef short rib), bibimbap and kimchee, including a kimchee fried rice, which looked delicious. Next time.

So the next time you get a ramen craving, give your arteries a break and head over to Ramenya. Your body will thank you.

Location –  11660 Gateway Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90064
Website – http://www.ramenya-la.com
Kid-Friendly – Yes
Kid’s Menu – No
Vegetarian/Vegan Friendly – Yes
Gluten-Free Options – Yes