This place is known for their famous ramen eating challenge. Basically, you eat this gigantic bowl of super butt-burning spicy hot ramen under half an hour and you get your picture taken and thrown on the wall of fame. Normally their ramen has pork and other meats in it, but you can get it made vegetarian if you ask. I got the Special #2 with Miso Broth. We were eleven deep, four of us submitted the challenge. The other dudes/bros that did the challenge got unvegan ramens and would later go on to attributing my triumph/their loss to this.
So yeah, I won. There was one point halfway through were I was about to give up, but my homies kept the faith and pushed me onward. I wont tell you my secret to winning, but I will tell you that it's all in your head. If you think you can win, you will. The other dudes didn't even get halfway through their bowls before throwing in the towel. And yeah, the food was spicy but not unbearable, it was more of the amount of food coupled with the spice that made it difficult.
After I drank the last of the broth and those crazy asian waitresses took my picture, I immediately went to the bathroom and regular barfed all over the place. I have no idea why restaurants would ever do food challenges, their janitors must be crazy masochists. I'm sure they will be scrubbing my barf off the ceiling for the next week.
The ramen was actually pretty delicious, but it's difficult to enjoy the food when you are speed-cramming it down your spice hole. The broth is tasty and they have tofus to throw in there for proteins. I would go back to just eat anytime. Also, if you expect to do anything for the next few hours after accepting the challenge, it better be at your own house, or else be sure to be within 30 feet of a line-free public toilet, lest you enjoy walking around in soggy jeans all night.
3/5 Plunges



Orochon Ramen
123 Astronaut E S Onizuka Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 617-1766