The best of Sawtelle Boulevard

At Kiriko sushi bar on Sawtelle, the uni nigiri.   (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)

The “Chef’s Favorite Burger” at Plan Check with cheese “two ways,” bacon “two ways,” ketchup leather, sunny fried egg and hot sauce.  (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)

Plan Check in West L.A. draws the burger-and-beer crowds to its patioed corner spot.   (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)

ROC Kitchen’s crispy pork dumplings are available from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m.  (Betty Hallock / Los Angeles Times)

The soup dumpling at ROC Kitchen.  (Betty Hallock / Los Angeles Times)

The beef roll in its crispy layered crepe wrapper at ROC Kitchen on Sawtelle Boulevard.  (Betty Hallock / Los Angeles Times)

The menu at ROC Kitchen on Sawtelle Boulevard includes Taiwanese specialties.  (Betty Hallock / Los Angeles Times)

Galbi poutine with Korean braised short rib and twice-fried French fries at Seoul Sausage Company.  (Jenn Harris / Los Angeles Times)

The crowds gather on the sidewalks of Sawtelle Boulevard.  (Betty Hallock / Los Angeles Times)

There’s always a line at Tsujita LA Annex; the lucky ones get seats.  (Betty Hallock / Los Angeles Times)

The tsukemen -- in which ramen noodles are dipped into rich broth -- at Tsujita LA Annex.  (Betty Hallock / Los Angeles Times)

The rice bowls at Tsujita LA Annex.  (Betty Hallock / Los Angeles Times)

Ramen at Tsujita LA.   (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)

Tsujita LA Artisan Noodles on Sawtelle Boulevard serves tsukemen “dip ramen” at lunch only.  (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)

Servers greet diners as they enter Shin Sen Gumi.  (Betty Hallock / Los Angeles Times)

The Kimukatsu sandwich.  (Betty Hallock / Los Angeles Times)

The katsu -- breaded fried pork cutlet -- at Kimukatsu.  (Betty Hallock / Los Angeles Times)

The variety of pork katsu at Kimukatsu includes cheese and black pepper.   (Betty Hallock / Los Angeles Times)

The sign at Kimukatsu, a pork cutlet specialist, on Sawtelle Boulevard.  (Betty Hallock / Los Angeles Times)

A pretzel at Coffee Tomo filled with cheese and jalapeno peppers.  (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)

Cinnamon-infused espresso and milk at Coffee Tomo.  (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)

The honey butter bread at Coffee Tomo on Sawtelle Boulevard.  (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)