HiroNori Craft Ramen will be opening its second location in the former and short-lived Mad Dumplings space that opened in 2023. Though the business license has been granted, it is unclear when the space will open in Bixby Village Plaza. (Though with the popularity of Luna and the closure of multiple spaces to make way for its upgraded plaza and massive California Fish Grill, the space is a warm welcome.)
Much to the shock of those in the Long Beach food scene, HiroNori lost its mentions entirely in the 2024 California Michelin guide after maintaining it for the previous six years.
Wait—what is HiroNori Craft Ramen for those that don’t know?
HiroNori was born out of a shared vision between two longtime friends—Hiro Igarashi and Nori Akasaka—who believed that California deserved ramen rooted in Japanese tradition but elevated by local sensibilities. After meeting in Los Angeles, they founded in 2017 in Irvine. What began as a single shop soon developed into a line-out-the-door space known for its signature tonkotsu broth and its rich, carefully developed tare.
Hiro, originally from Japan, brought a lifelong passion for the craft of ramen, steeped in years of culinary experience and a deep respect for regional styles. Nori, trained in the art of sushi and Japanese cuisine, shared a similar reverence for technique—but also had an eye for design, branding, and what it would take to make their ramen shop stand out in a crowded California food scene.
HiroNori launched the ramen revolution in Long Beach.
What set HiroNori apart from the beginning was its uncompromising commitment to quality: 24-hour simmered pork bone broths, scratch-made noodles, and ingredients sourced locally wherever possible. Each bowl—whether the velvety tonkotsu, the savory shoyu with its soy-braised chashu, or the vegan ramen with creamy sesame miso—was a balancing act of flavor, texture, and craft. And while they leaned heavily into tradition, HiroNori’s California roots gave them the freedom to experiment—like adding a Japanese-style vegan broth long before it became a trend.
From that first Irvine location, HiroNori quickly expanded to other California cities, including Long Beach, San Diego, Santa Clara, and beyond, bringing its thoughtful, minimalist aesthetic and craveable ramen bowls to neighborhoods all across the state. When it arrived in Long Beach—along with a slew of middling options—it was and remains the city’s best bowl of tonkatsu ramen.
HiroNori Craft Ramen’s new location will be at 5718 E. 7th St.
