Kotsu Ramen & Gyoza Riverside

Good ramen. Seems to have an Indian twist on it. Just doesn’t automatically come with corn on all bowls. 1 dollar for corn or 3 for meat.

Great Boba tea ,nice flavors and you can coztumize. Delicious ramen and the Gyoza You really have to tried it.

Kotsu Kick is awesome heads up it’s spicy. Goes great with the HiFive Gyoza. Recommendation dine in if possible. Food taste great before it cools down. The customer service has been great. One time at closing time they let us dine I in and told us to take our time. Staff is very attentive.

I really enjoyed it. Good food, good portions. Clean and quiet. It's great curry. I love the curry ramen and curry bowl, and the matcha ice cream.

My kids and I loved it! Super nice staff and delicious food. The kids love the ramen. The only thing I would recommend is a simple chicken and broth kids portion option. At $14 it can be pricey for them both but we make the best of it and they don’t mind the leftovers the next day.

Best I’ve had since moving to Riverside from LA. Creamy and delicious. Highly recommend.

Food very tasty. And price reasonable. 14$ per bowls. Full of fresh ramen , large size of pork . Soup was so good,hot and tasty. I saw 3.8 stars in the reviews. I afraid to go there . But when I go there 2 times it were very good service. All to go at that time . I met the Indian girl worker. She look shy but service fast . And second time I met black boy his look friendly and good service too. I think you guy should go try there again . Because the food and service now improve a lot . Just they don’t have much customers. I like their food . I want this restaurant continue the business. So I can get tasty ramen with reasonable prices and close to my house . It my honest review.

Tried Kotsu Ramen and Gyoza for takeout lunch and ended up eating it in the parking lot because we couldn't wait. I got The Tonyu chicken chashu with a soft boiled egg and The Kick pork chashu. We also grabbed the plant based gyoza. Everything was packed really well. The broth was rich and and the egg was cooked perfectly. They also gave us our order in a reusable tote with their logo, which we kept and now use as a regular tote bag. Small detail, but I love stuff like that. Definitely one of those spots we'll be coming back to when we're in Riverside.

Flavorful dinner!! We had quite a feast, and left very pleased with everything we order. We ordered the chicken karaage , hai five, the kick, Tori O G & a kids ramen. Loved the fact that they had a kids menu, however the portion of their Ramen for kids was just about the same size as an adult portion, which isn’t so bad if you like to have leftover. The place was clean and inviting. Our waitress was kind and very knowledgeable about the menu and gave us some great advice on their menu. Will be back for sure, those chicken Karaage were our favorite.

I finally made my way to try Kotsu Ramen and Gyoza a few weeks ago and fell in love with the Kotsu Kick deluxe. I have been back a few times since and really enjoy coming to enjoy a meal. Delicious flavor, relaxing atmosphere, friendly staff. I hope to try more on the menu in the future!

Great new Ramen place. I haven't tried Ramen in Riverside yet but this is my new go to spot. I had the Kotsu and my wife had the Tori but we both preferred Kotsu spicy. The staff was attentive, place is clean, music was at a nice level. 5/5

Such good Ramen. I got the Katsu Kick with Chicken Cashu. Next time I would probably get the Katsu Flame. For a little more spice. I also had a side of Hai Five Gyoza. Yummy

I'm really surprised at the low reviews! This place is legitimately my new favorite ramen place in Riverside. I got the tonyu flame which is a vegan/plant based one. It comes with roasted Brussels sprouts, corn, tofu, and chili threads. Super spicy but sooo good! My boyfriend had one with chicken chashu (in the Tori flame I believe) and was seriously losing his mind over how good it was. We will definitely be back!

The noodles, toppings, protein, and broth are all on point here. Very rich in flavor and the staff are always so friendly For 2 people getting the deluxe option for the ramen, 2 drinks, and tip is usually 50 bucks. Not too shabby and hands down one of my favorite eateries. The amount that you get is better than any other local ramen spots Always on point

A quiet sit down and eat ramen chain. You pay first at the cashier and sit down to wait for your food to be brought out. I got the curry tonyu ramen which is the plant based curry ramen they have. It had a very good spice and the charred brussel sprouts were a welcome and delicious addition. My only slight was the tofu was nothing spectacular or prepared in a special or custom way. It was good as it was fried on the outside but that was it. A good chain to come sit down and eat ramen and not be disturbed.

Brianna

Flavorful dinner!! We had quite a feast, and left very pleased with everything we order. We ordered the chicken karaage , hai five, the kick, Tori O G & a kids ramen. Loved the fact that they had a kids menu, however the portion of their Ramen for kids was just about the same size as an adult portion, which isn’t so bad if you like to have leftover. The place was clean and inviting. Our waitress was kind and very knowledgeable about the menu and gave us some great advice on their menu. Will be back for sure, those chicken Karaage were our favorite.

Heather Smith

I finally made my way to try Kotsu Ramen and Gyoza a few weeks ago and fell in love with the Kotsu Kick deluxe. I have been back a few times since and really enjoy coming to enjoy a meal. Delicious flavor, relaxing atmosphere, friendly staff. I hope to try more on the menu in the future!

Christopher Lopez

Great new Ramen place. I haven't tried Ramen in Riverside yet but this is my new go to spot. I had the Kotsu and my wife had the Tori but we both preferred Kotsu spicy. The staff was attentive, place is clean, music was at a nice level. 5/5

Justin Ward

Such good Ramen. I got the Katsu Kick with Chicken Cashu. Next time I would probably get the Katsu Flame. For a little more spice. I also had a side of Hai Five Gyoza. Yummy

Dawn Livaudais

I'm really surprised at the low reviews! This place is legitimately my new favorite ramen place in Riverside. I got the tonyu flame which is a vegan/plant based one. It comes with roasted Brussels sprouts, corn, tofu, and chili threads. Super spicy but sooo good! My boyfriend had one with chicken chashu (in the Tori flame I believe) and was seriously losing his mind over how good it was. We will definitely be back!

Yeni Flo

The noodles, toppings, protein, and broth are all on point here. Very rich in flavor and the staff are always so friendly For 2 people getting the deluxe option for the ramen, 2 drinks, and tip is usually 50 bucks. Not too shabby and hands down one of my favorite eateries. The amount that you get is better than any other local ramen spots Always on point

Zerah Kawami

A quiet sit down and eat ramen chain. You pay first at the cashier and sit down to wait for your food to be brought out. I got the curry tonyu ramen which is the plant based curry ramen they have. It had a very good spice and the charred brussel sprouts were a welcome and delicious addition. My only slight was the tofu was nothing spectacular or prepared in a special or custom way. It was good as it was fried on the outside but that was it. A good chain to come sit down and eat ramen and not be disturbed.

I ordered chick teriyaki rice bowl via GrubHub, and the portion is quite big which I only ate half and was stuffed. The food tasted above par. I will order again if I get a chance.

Chunwei Chung

I ordered chick teriyaki rice bowl via GrubHub, and the portion is quite big which I only ate half and was stuffed. The food tasted above par. I will order again if I get a chance.

The food was exceptionally flavorful, and it was pleasant to discover that they offer kid-friendly options. Additionally, there are three levels of spiciness.

The ramen here is solid. I had the Kotsu Kick and I enjoyed it a lot. It was spicy, but not uncomfortably so.

We really enjoyed the ramen. One extra spicy and one not spicy. My only gripe is i wiped down my own table and high chair. The restaurant was not busy at the time. Never any excuses for tables/seats/high chairs to not be clean

The food was okay and the ramen has good quantity of noodles. The waitress was very friendly and gave us a complimentary bowl of rice for our toddler. The only con is that I feel the ramen noodle is more similar to instant noodles and they sticked together.

I always order the Vegan Tonyu Kick. It is amazing! Place is clean. The people who take the orders always seem bothered but maybe it’s cause it’s always hot in there. I’d eat there more often if the air would kick on. Placed an online order as well recently. It was good however, I paid extra for Brussels and they didn’t add it and on the one I asked without they added some in there. You definitely get more when eating in them ordering take out.

Tina

The food was okay and the ramen has good quantity of noodles. The waitress was very friendly and gave us a complimentary bowl of rice for our toddler. The only con is that I feel the ramen noodle is more similar to instant noodles and they sticked together.

Jessica J

I always order the Vegan Tonyu Kick. It is amazing! Place is clean. The people who take the orders always seem bothered but maybe it’s cause it’s always hot in there. I’d eat there more often if the air would kick on. Placed an online order as well recently. It was good however, I paid extra for Brussels and they didn’t add it and on the one I asked without they added some in there. You definitely get more when eating in them ordering take out.

bryan quinonez

The food was exceptionally flavorful, and it was pleasant to discover that they offer kid-friendly options. Additionally, there are three levels of spiciness.

Their ramen is good, but their meat isn't to my taste. The Chashu pork is very thick and chewy, and I usually prefer a thinner cut and tender meat. My partner likes their version though so it might be up your alley! Their Karage is okay, it's just close enough to authentic to make me wish it was fully authentic. Still tasty but doesn't quite hit my craving. Honestly, the biggest issue here is the service. There are a few cashiers who are nice and helpful, but they seem to be at odds with the cooks who seem very unhappy to be here. Normally, that wouldn't matter. Customer service isn't the chef's job, but they let it affect their food. Numerous times we have come, ordered something with a slight adjustment, the cashier agrees that's fine with zero push back... And our food arrives completely wrong. I once ordered ramen with no meat, but extra eggs. I received noodles and broth. No veg, no meat, no eggs. Granted, that's my fault for taking my order before checking it. Generally just disappointing. We live down the street so I really wanted to like this place, hence why I kept coming back even though I don't like their meats. I think we're gonna give up tho.

First time visit was not pleasant at all. I walked in, the restaurant was empty. I greeted the young lady standing at the register. I let her know it was my first time there and wanted to look at the menu. I guess I was taking too long, because she asked me if I was going to order. I smiled and reminded her that it was my first time there. She gave me a smug look and rolled her eyes. I ordered, asked a question... she seemed irritated. I got my fountain drink and waited for my order. When she brought my order to me, she dropped the bag on the counter and walked away! I was so disappointed in the customer service, I don't recommend this place. Although the food was good, they need to do better with making customers feel welcomed.

Update: 8/22 Still pricey but quality seems to have gone down. Broth is just OK. Noodles OK. Downgrading to 3 stars. Do better. Made a pick up order. Told me to be at the store certain time. Arrived 20 minutes late. If the food was good even after sitting out for 20 minutes, can't imagine how it would taste when it's fresh! Definitely coming back and actually eating here and trying out other things on the menu.

Not bad . The ramen I ordered was a bit oily. I'm not happy that the staff member took my order and then went to the back to help make the food. The appetizer was good, and the dipping sauce was good. Weird smell inside. I'm not a fan of having to get a key to go to the restroom.

Richard Ortega

Not bad . The ramen I ordered was a bit oily. I'm not happy that the staff member took my order and then went to the back to help make the food. The appetizer was good, and the dipping sauce was good. Weird smell inside. I'm not a fan of having to get a key to go to the restroom.

Zapporah

Their ramen is good, but their meat isn't to my taste. The Chashu pork is very thick and chewy, and I usually prefer a thinner cut and tender meat. My partner likes their version though so it might be up your alley! Their Karage is okay, it's just close enough to authentic to make me wish it was fully authentic. Still tasty but doesn't quite hit my craving. Honestly, the biggest issue here is the service. There are a few cashiers who are nice and helpful, but they seem to be at odds with the cooks who seem very unhappy to be here. Normally, that wouldn't matter. Customer service isn't the chef's job, but they let it affect their food. Numerous times we have come, ordered something with a slight adjustment, the cashier agrees that's fine with zero push back... And our food arrives completely wrong. I once ordered ramen with no meat, but extra eggs. I received noodles and broth. No veg, no meat, no eggs. Granted, that's my fault for taking my order before checking it. Generally just disappointing. We live down the street so I really wanted to like this place, hence why I kept coming back even though I don't like their meats. I think we're gonna give up tho.

Ordered the Kotsu OG and it was very bland and almost watery tasting - almost like the noodles were not strained of water all the way or the broth was just bland. I had to ask for chili oil to give it flavor and it tastes a little better but not by much. The egg was perfectly cooked and the meat was a good texture. Overall, this place didn’t satisfy my ramen craving at all.

The chicken was burnt, my noodles were clumped together as if they didn’t sir while the noodles were boiling and we found hair in my friend’s bowl

Bought some food as lunch because I was craving it and the price was fair compared to other places. However, upon eating the food it was very clear that the broth was low quality as well as not having a strong flavor in general. and to be a bit more personal, the food gave me acid reflux, of which no other ramen shop has given me.

The food is good here i’ve came here multiple times and always get the Tori Flame. Their customer service and professionalism is lacking. everytime we come we’ve had an issue with order taking and our order being messed up. its almost like every time we come it’s a burden to the worker who’s sitting on her phone. the place is always empty too. i suggest to train your workers better in customer service

Michelle Raymundo

The food is good here i’ve came here multiple times and always get the Tori Flame. Their customer service and professionalism is lacking. everytime we come we’ve had an issue with order taking and our order being messed up. its almost like every time we come it’s a burden to the worker who’s sitting on her phone. the place is always empty too. i suggest to train your workers better in customer service

I went to visit Kotsu; this place came highly recommended. I'm on vacation in this city and wanted to share my experience. There were two thin young women reclining in chairs who didn't get up until the woman inside told them to serve us. They were rude, giving us dirty looks, as if annoyed that we interrupted their rest. The woman inside, a Chinese woman, seemed embarrassed. We did order, and the food was delicious. It's a shame the young women's customer service wasn't very good.

So disappointed. We normally love this place, but came at 8:20 and they told us they can’t seat us because they don’t serve inside the restaurant after 830 ? But it wasn’t 830 yet. There were only a couple tables that had people at them. They said we could only have take out. Not only that but as soon as we walked in the young man behind the till looked so disappointed that we were there. It was not welcoming. We ended up leaving.

Ruben Jiménez

I went to visit Kotsu; this place came highly recommended. I'm on vacation in this city and wanted to share my experience. There were two thin young women reclining in chairs who didn't get up until the woman inside told them to serve us. They were rude, giving us dirty looks, as if annoyed that we interrupted their rest. The woman inside, a Chinese woman, seemed embarrassed. We did order, and the food was delicious. It's a shame the young women's customer service wasn't very good.

Georjah Ltd

So disappointed. We normally love this place, but came at 8:20 and they told us they can’t seat us because they don’t serve inside the restaurant after 830 ? But it wasn’t 830 yet. There were only a couple tables that had people at them. They said we could only have take out. Not only that but as soon as we walked in the young man behind the till looked so disappointed that we were there. It was not welcoming. We ended up leaving.

Was looking for a good Ramen place in Riverside. The food pictures for this restaurant looked delicious so I decided to try it out. I thought I was going to enjoy a delicious meal but I was wrong. The food was not good at all and I ordered several different things. Spent 70 dollars plus 10 dollars in tip, thinking I was going to enjoy the food. Not worth it. Won't be coming here again. Also the bathrooms are disgusting and the floor in there is extremely sticky.

No flavor dead taste...over fried chicken nuggets with no seasoning Brussel sprouts flavorless octopus balls completely raw dough inside and again no flavor not sure who was cooking but the were asleep this is a hard pass never never again..burnt chicken nuggets put my own sauce on it from home if you rate this higher than a three you have never had Ramen or you're the owners mother this was worthless ...threw it away they need to learn how to cook add flavor and not burn chicken...ps place was empty so no excuse

Japanese cuisine, I always try chicken karaage, but here, the chicken karaage is not chicken karaage, you should call it fried chicken. Too dry and no flavor, can taste burn out the skin, also the fried powder is too much. I have to say this is very bad experience and cannot finish my meal. The service is terrible, we came first time and the server just stand there and said order here and pay, which means there is no service at all. And the floor is very sticky. One thing good is the meal portion is a lot.

Today I went with my kids like at 2:00 pm and the there service is horrible please don’t go to this place if I could give it no stars I would I was waiting for them to attend me and they took forever!!!! Service is horrible

1. The food sucks 2. atmosphere is 0/10. 3. Umm the girl was rude and not happy to see people.

Terrible experience. We came in to try their ramen and weren’t even greeted—instead, we were met with attitude. The female worker, Virk, made us feel unwelcome by removing us from our table because we hadn’t ordered yet. We explained we were just putting our things down before ordering, but she was still rude. The service was slow; we waited a long time just to place an order. The food also took forever to arrive. On top of that, the restroom was filthy, with urine everywhere and no soap to wash our hands. Highly unprofessional, unfriendly, and unhygienic. Would not recommend.

I got a royal rose falooda but I'm pretty sure they gave me the wrong one. Also the lid on the drink was from some empanada place and it was dirty. This has to be a health code violation. The drink was really bad too. The ice cream was freezer burned and whatever rose flavor or syrup they used tasted old and expired. I would not recommend their boba drinks here at all. Avoid at all costs. I had to dumped out the drink. Not worth $10.

Andrea Vazquez

Terrible experience. We came in to try their ramen and weren’t even greeted—instead, we were met with attitude. The female worker, Virk, made us feel unwelcome by removing us from our table because we hadn’t ordered yet. We explained we were just putting our things down before ordering, but she was still rude. The service was slow; we waited a long time just to place an order. The food also took forever to arrive. On top of that, the restroom was filthy, with urine everywhere and no soap to wash our hands. Highly unprofessional, unfriendly, and unhygienic. Would not recommend.

Surya Baraiya (Sunny)

I got a royal rose falooda but I'm pretty sure they gave me the wrong one. Also the lid on the drink was from some empanada place and it was dirty. This has to be a health code violation. The drink was really bad too. The ice cream was freezer burned and whatever rose flavor or syrup they used tasted old and expired. I would not recommend their boba drinks here at all. Avoid at all costs. I had to dumped out the drink. Not worth $10.

I a party of 3 walk in with a separate party of 4 beside me. The server sees us but doesnt acknowledge either one of us. I swear we all looked back at each other for a good minute until she started walking towards us. I didnt even bother staying to try the food.

Avoid, food was not cooked properly and tasted old / not fresh. Gyoza was literally not cooked; just burned on bottom to give appearance of cooked. Ramen noodles were chalky and also not cooked. We did not eat our food and asked for a refund. 2 stats service because we did receive a partial refund.

Insomni Boy

I a party of 3 walk in with a separate party of 4 beside me. The server sees us but doesnt acknowledge either one of us. I swear we all looked back at each other for a good minute until she started walking towards us. I didnt even bother staying to try the food.

Nicholas Wren

Avoid, food was not cooked properly and tasted old / not fresh. Gyoza was literally not cooked; just burned on bottom to give appearance of cooked. Ramen noodles were chalky and also not cooked. We did not eat our food and asked for a refund. 2 stats service because we did receive a partial refund.