BY LINE

I am the Little Tokyo area Business Counselor for the Little Tokyo Service Center Community Development Corporation. I can be reached at 213-473-1658 and nkikuchi@fc.ltsc.org.  I assist business owners draft marketing plans, package loans, and deal with the government agencies.  I also put on seminars regarding tax matters, health department issues and accessing capital.  This month, I am writing about a new ramen restaurant that opened up in Weller Court at the end of 2002 called Orochon Ramen.

A REFERRAL

I received a call from a client of mine, who said a friend of hers was opening up a restaurant in Little Tokyo.  She wanted to know if I could help him set up the business and get started.   I met my new client who planned to open up a restaurant in Weller Court and call it Orochon Ramen.  I told him he needed to obtain the three licenses and permits that are required of most new businesses.  I explained how to get a business license at the City Clerk's office at City Hall, how to register the restaurant name as a fictitious business name (more popularly known as a "d.b.a.." or "doing business as") at the County Recorder's Office, and how to acquire a seller's permit from the California State Board of Equalization.

MORE LICENSES AND PERMITS

Opening a restaurant requires more than a business license and seller's permit, however.  My new client needed to have Building & Safety Department (city) and the Health Department (county) sign off on his premises prior to opening.  In addition, he needed to obtain a Food Handler's certificate.  So, we went in search of a school that offered classes in Japanese.  My client went to class and passed the exam. 

Since someone with a Food Handler's certificate must be at the restaurant during its business hours, my client wanted some of his staff to be certified, as well.  Now I was looking for schools that offered classes in Spanish.  I called the Health Department and was faxed over a list of schools that offered not only English and Spanish classes, but instruction in Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean, Arabic, Cambodian and Thai, as well.

THE SPICY RAMEN MENU

Although there are several restaurants in Little Tokyo that specialize in serving ramen, Orochon Ramen differentiates itself by allowing the patron to custom order their bowl of noodles.  First of all, the customer is asked to choose one of three broths: miso, shio (salt base), or shoyu (soy sauce base).  THEN comes the fun part.  The customer gets to choose the level of spiciness – there are nine (from non-spicy on up), and they are as follows: Level 7 is Non-Spicy Orochon Ramen, Level 6 is called Osae-Osae Orochon, Level 5 is Osae Orochon, Level 4 is Orochon, Level 3 is Impact Orochon, Level 2 is Hyper Orochon, Level 1 is Extreme Orochon, Special 1 Level is Double Hot and Special 2 Level is Triple Hot.

I had Level 6 (Osae-Osae), which was very manageable for me.  I'm going to try Level 5 my next time there.  A bowl of ramen will cost between $6.45 and $6.95.  The customer can request Cha-Shu (pork) to be included for an additional $.99.  Orochon Ramen also serves Gyoza (dumplings), Meat & Vegetable Stir Fry with Rice and an Asparagus Salad.  The restaurant is also in the process of obtaining a beer and wine license.

DETAILS, DETAILS

Adjacent to the New Otani Hotel, Orochon Ramen is located on the 3rd floor of Weller Court and is very easy to find.

• The address is 123 S. Onizuka Street, #303, Los Angeles, CA  90012.
• Hours of operation: Monday to Friday, 11:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m., 6:00 p.m. -10:30 p.m.;  Saturdays 11:30 a.m. - 10:30 p.m.;  and Sundays 11:30 a.m. -  9:00 p.m.
• The telephone number is 213-617-1766.