Noriko Keimi and chef/husband Yuji, who run Mon Japanese Restaurant in Tarzana, launched Mon Ramen in April nearby in Woodland Hills. Noriko hails from Tokyo and spent four years working for a Japanese ramen chain before moving to LA, which is where she met Yuji. He’s from Okinawa, a fourth-generation French chef and trained sushi chef.

The former home of No Udder Desserts in Ventura Connection plaza now features wood tables, white walls, skylights, black tile floors and decorative red and blue Japanese flags. 

Mon Ramen serves 10 different ramens, including signature Mon Original Ramen with pork and soy broth, thick-cut pork chashu, bean sprouts, bamboo shoots, scallions and soft egg. Other versions include shoyu chicken ramen, spicy tan tan men and spicy creamy vegetable ramen.

Form combos with options like pork gyoza, spicy tuna rolls or California rolls. Supplement your meal with Japanese-American sushi rolls like spicy volcano roll or the munchy handroll, a menu item they promise to be “very spicy and very big” that combines imitation crab, spicy tuna, chopped shrimp tempura, jalapeno, and white and green onions.

For dessert, consider mochi or milk snow cones in flavors like strawberry, green tea, melon or red bean.

20839 Ventura Blvd., Woodland Hills, 818-719-9280