Amaze Ramen

While many L.A. ramenyas now offer plant-based broths, almost none of them offer a vegan version of tsukemen, the rich dipping-style broth that first took the city by storm over a decade ago. One of the few exceptions is Amaze Ramen, which recently took over the longtime Kotoya Ramen space in Palms. The plant-based ramen joint serves a luxuriously creamy tan tan tsukemen with thick, bouncy housemade noodles, plus a flavorful, creamy garlic ramen—with a spicy option available—that would stand up to even the tastiest traditional tonkotsu in a taste test. Both options use sunflower seeds and mushrooms to flavor the broth, making them suitable for those with tree nut allergies as well. While I’m still partial to the fairly vegan-friendly Rakkan Ramen or Tatsu’s ultra-popular hippie bowl, Amaze Ramen offers the sort of knockout flavor worth coming from across the city for. Just know that the pint-sized restaurant is fairly casual: You’ll need to order at a kiosk outside—no cash accepted—and fetch your own water.