Chicken Ramen
Whole chickens slow-cooked into an ultra-rich, creamy broth. Lighter than tonkotsu but no less full-bodied — finished with yuzu kosho for a citrus kick.
What is Chicken Ramen?
Chicken ramen, often called paitan or tori paitan in Japan, is a creamy broth built by simmering whole chickens at a rolling boil for hours. The fat and collagen emulsify into the liquid, giving the broth a silky, almost milky texture similar to tonkotsu — but with a cleaner, brighter chicken flavor.
At Tatsu Ramen, our Cheeky Ramen is a paitan-style chicken bowl. The broth is slow-cooked using whole ingredients, then finished with yuzu kosho — a fermented chili-yuzu paste — for a bright citrus heat. Curly noodles, Tatsu Egg, scallions, and flash-fried onions complete the bowl.
Chicken ramen is a great choice if you want the richness of a creamy ramen without the porky depth of tonkotsu. Available at all four LA locations.
Our Chicken Bowl
The Cheeky Ramen — creamy chicken paitan, served at every Tatsu Ramen location.
Where to Find Chicken Ramen Near You in LA
Chicken ramen is served at all four Tatsu Ramen locations across Los Angeles. Same recipe, same hours, same soul.
Tatsu Ramen Melrose
7111 Melrose Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90046
Late Night (Open until 3 AM Fri-Sat
View LocationTatsu Ramen Sawtelle
2123 Sawtelle Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90025
Late Night (Open until 1 AM Daily
View LocationTatsu Ramen Pasadena
319 S Arroyo Pkwy #9
Pasadena, CA 91105
Late Night (Open until 2 AM Thu-Sat
View LocationTatsu Ramen Arts District DTLA
427 S Hewitt St
Los Angeles, CA 90013
Late Night (Open until 2 AM Fri-Sat
View LocationChicken Ramen FAQ
Is Cheeky Ramen the same as tonkotsu?
No — they are different broths. Cheeky uses whole chicken, simmered into a creamy paitan-style broth. Tonkotsu uses pork bones. Both are slow-cooked and rich, but Cheeky has a cleaner, brighter chicken flavor while tonkotsu has a deeper, porkier savor.
What does yuzu kosho taste like?
Yuzu kosho is a Japanese fermented paste made from chili, yuzu citrus peel, and salt. It has a sharp, bright heat with floral citrus notes — like a more aromatic version of chili paste. On Cheeky Ramen it cuts through the creamy chicken broth with a quick, clean spice.
Where can I find chicken ramen near me in LA?
Tatsu Ramen serves the Cheeky chicken ramen at all four Los Angeles locations: Melrose, Sawtelle, Pasadena, and Arts District DTLA. Open late for dine-in, pickup, and delivery.