Kouraku, recognized as America’s oldest operating ramen shop, is celebrating its 50th anniversary with a free street carnival in Los Angeles’ Little Tokyo on Sunday, November 8, 2026.
The milestone event honors half a century of Chinese-influenced Japanese comfort food in Southern California.
The Kouraku Matsuri – 50th Anniversary Fest runs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. outside the restaurant at 314 E. Second St., according to MyNewsLA.com. A portion of Second Street between San Pedro Street and Japanese Village Plaza is closed to host the festivities.
The outdoor celebration features carnival games, food samples, and original Kouraku merchandise, as reported by MyNewsLA.com. Culturalnews.com noted that the gathering includes performances from Koshin Taiko, Shishigumi LA Lion Dance, samurai performer Burai Productions, and artists including Marii, Almand Martin Jr., Lisa Suzuki, and Stephanie Yanez.
Attendees can participate in a timed gyoza-folding challenge and visit a 21-and-older beverage experience inside the restaurant. Mamoru Tokuda expressed gratitude for the community support that carried the historic diner through five decades.
“We are very happy to celebrate 50 years of Kouraku with everyone,” Tokuda said in a statement published by MyNewsLA.com. “We hope people will come to enjoy the celebration with their families and friends.”
The restaurant originally opened at 240 E. Second St. in 1976 before moving to its current location in 1986, under the longtime ownership of the Yamauchi family. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Tokuda served as a support system and restaurant consultant to the previous owners before taking over ownership in 2023.
In January 2025, the city of Los Angeles installed a monumental marker at the storefront, formally recognizing Kouraku as the oldest ramen shop in the United States still in operation. The street carnival anchors a broader anniversary campaign that runs from October 6 through December 8, featuring commemorative menus, a drawing contest, and digital storytelling chronicling the eatery’s history.
| Milestone Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1976 | Kouraku opens at 240 E. Second St. in Little Tokyo. |
| 1986 | The restaurant relocates to its current address at 314 E. Second St. |
| 2023 | Mamoru Tokuda assumes ownership following the COVID-19 pandemic. |
| 2025 | The city installs a monumental marker recognizing the shop as America’s oldest operating ramen diner. |
| 2026 | Kouraku celebrates its 50th anniversary with the Kouraku Matsuri street festival. |
As part of the anniversary programming, the restaurant collected photographs, family dinner memories, and staff pictures submitted by customers to display at the November event. The campaign concludes on December 8.
