Hillcrest's first location from the Irvine-born HiroNori chain, the ramen shop at 3803 Fifth Ave uses soy sauce aged two years inside barrels that have been in continuous use for over three centuries at one of Japan's oldest producers. Side dishes include Japanese-style gyoza, karaage fried chicken, and takoyaki that round out the noodle-focused menu, complementing the pub-food format at North Park Beer Company - Bankers Hill a few blocks south on Fifth Ave. The tonkotsu broth simmers pork bones for a full 24 hours, while the vegan option blends five varieties of miso imported from Japan into a sesame-miso base. All noodles are milled from premium Canadian wheat selected by the co-founders during on-site farm visits. A curated sake and Japanese whisky list pairs with the ramen and small-plate menu, extending the Fifth Ave dining experience alongside allergen-dedicated bakers like Starry Lane Bakery in the same Hillcrest corridor. The kitchen's most complex preparation is the HiroNori Special tonkotsu, which layers 24-hour bone broth, charred chashu, a soy-glazed egg, and proprietary aged shoyu over house-milled noodles in a single bowl.