As much as I'd like to wax poetic about the handmade udon noodles at Sanuki No Sato, for me it's all about the broth. With my springtime allergies in high gear, the liquid comfort offered from a piping hot bowl helps soothe my sinuses. The different flavors option range from the hearty curry to the esoteric yukinabe, but my sore throat much prefers the healing powers of the simple nabeyaki. Hopefully this head cold goes away soon, or maybe they should just lace the bowl with Sudafed.

Situated in the same mini-mall as Asa Ramen, Sanuki No Sato is a favorite among the Japanese glitterati visiting Los Angeles. Hey, if the mentaiko is good enough for Ken Watanabe, it's good enough for me!

One thing I like about Sanuki No Sato is that it also features a large izakaya menu, allowing a group to share popular favorites like stewed pork belly (kakuni), fish cakes (chikuwa), and potato croquettes (humorously translated phonetically as korokke).