Champ

Timothy Mike Parolise

Absolutely incredible experience. I came on a Wednesday early afternoon and truly loved the food. I saw it can get busy at times on reviews, which is a great sign for any establishment, so we came during the earlier part of the day and Had no issues getting seated and eating in a timely manner. Customer service was extremely professional and polite. I plan on coming every week. From the noodles to the meat and the broth/soup every part of the dish was enjoyable. Can’t wait to come back. 10/10 or 5 star food experience. Thank you again.

Sophie

This is a popular ramen place, so there was a bit of a wait when I came for a Sunday lunch, but it wasn't too bad (15 minutes). They have the menu QR code on the utensil holder. You can order and pay online or ask a server to take your order. You can customize your ramen (use the QR code to see all your options). * Tonkotsu Ramen 5/5 - I usually get Miso Ramen, but I heard it can be salty here, so I got Tonkotsu instead. I got thick noodles instead of thin and that was a great choice. The noodles had a good bite, slightly firm, and a nice flavor. The pork broth was flavorful, not salty, and not fatty. The chasu pork was a thicker cut, but very tender. The kikurage mushroom added a crunchy texture, and hey, anything to get my vegetables in. Overall, the ramen was tasty and I enjoyed it.

Jerry C

Ramen Champ is one of those hidden gems that both locals and ramen enthusiasts can't stop talking about. I first discovered this spot in June of 2023 for one key reason: their signature Jiro-style ramen--and let me tell you, it's something you won't find anywhere else in the Bay Area. This massive, show-stopping bowl is a pork lover's dream, layered with generous amounts of pork essence, bean sprouts, garlic, and a drizzle of luscious pork backfat. Hearty, unapologetically rich, and absolutely bursting with flavor, Jiro style is a serious comfort food that sets Ramen Champ apart from the typical ramen joint. Another unique offering is the Habanero Tonkotsu Ramen, perfect for those who crave a fiery kick. It starts with a creamy tonkotsu base, then steps up the heat with a lively habanero punch. The spice never overwhelms; instead, it complements the richness of the pork bone broth, leaving a satisfying burn that warms you from within. This bowl should be on your radar if you love a little (or a lot of) heat in your ramen. Of course, there's much more to love at Ramen Champ, including their classic lineup of Shio, Shoyu, Miso, and Tsukemen. Shio Ramen Shio ramen is notoriously difficult to perfect, but Ramen Champ nails it. The broth is delicate yet deeply savory--like a gentle ocean breeze that coaxes natural flavors rather than masking them. You'll notice a clear, golden hue that speaks to a meticulous cooking process, with no shortcuts taken. Toppings like silky pork slices, bamboo shoots, spring onions, and wood ear mushrooms enhance the subtle brilliance of salt-based seasoning. It's rare to find a shio this balanced, proving that simplicity done right can be utterly unforgettable. Shoyu Ramen For a classic soy sauce experience, the Shoyu ramen delivers. The broth balances savory layers of soy flavor with a comforting warmth without ever becoming too salty or one-note. You'll spot familiar ingredients--menma, nori, and melt-in-your-mouth chashu--each element harmoniously supports the soy sauce base. Hearty yet not heavy, it's the perfect bowl for those craving old-school ramen nostalgia. Miso Ramen Prefer something creamier and full of depth? The Miso ramen hits the mark. Ramen Champ blends different miso pastes to craft an earthy, sweet broth brimming with umami. Toppings like sweet corn, bean sprouts, and succulent pork chashu reveal the flavor profile. Each sip feels warm and comforting, making it a must-try after something rich and satisfying. Tsukemen Though it may not be the best tsukemen you've ever had, Ramen Champ's version still shines in its own right. Thick, chewy noodles are served separately, inviting you to dip them into a concentrated broth with savory goodness. The sauce clings beautifully to each strand, and a side of minced garlic lets you dial up the flavor. It's a fun, interactive way to enjoy ramen--proof that Ramen Champ's kitchen knows how to do more than just the classics. Overall, Ramen Champ excels at taking foundational ramen styles and giving each one a special touch. The highly sought-after Jiro-style ramen is what first drew me here, and it's a bowl that truly sets this place apart in the Bay Area. Factor in the fiery Habanero Tonkotsu, the perfectly executed Shio, and a lineup of other traditional favorites, and you've got a ramen destination that's well worth a visit. With friendly service, a cozy ambiance, and bowls that cater to both purists and spice lovers alike, Ramen Champ is bound to keep you coming back for more.

Alex Chan-Kai

Love their negitoro don, excellent quality fish and excellent matcha latte. Their ramen is excellent rich well flavored broth, tonkatsu and properly done al dente noodles & decent portion size too. They even hooked me with a free miso soup. Excellent service as well. Definitely the best Japanese spot in the area!

Elijah “Japs” Espino

It’s my 3rd time eating at Ramen Champ and I didn’t want to review until I was sure of the quality and consistency of the shop. And to my surprise they blew me out of the park. 2months in between each time I ate here. I tried the buta max, shio yuzu, and the shoyu ramen. The amount of food is perfect for the price. 15 for the shoyu and shio and 22 for the Buta max (really big portion). The karaage is super crunchy and flavored well. The takoyaki has alot of stuff on it that mixed well, and the octopus inside was not sparce. The food was served in 15 mins (I was with 5 people). It was fresh and hot. The servers were attentive and nice on all times I went. The food was really great! Broth was light for the shio yuzu, creamy for the buta, and very balanced for the shoyu. It also wasn’t super salty, it was just right. They had a lot of beer choices as well with many being local brews too. I also love that fact that this is the only Authentic Ramen shop in South San Jose except for the really expensive ramen resto in Oakridge mall. 10/10 food 10/10 price 10/10 ambiance 10/10 servers

Sam N

They deserve 10 stars! We planned our errands in the area so that we could do lunch here & came in at 1:10 pm when they close at 1:30 pm. We were still seated with a smile (there’s no air conditioning so we sat under the ceiling fan) & helped ourselves to the menu’s. The service was stellar, the server was very helpful polite & kept refilling our ice cold water (super refreshing on a hot day). I wish we could’ve tipped him more but we went over budget for our lunch. The food was deliciously lip smacking, the takoyaki was so yum! The miso ramen (not spicy) hit the spot & the pork was so tender. The chicken karaage portion was bigger than my face & I had to get a take away container for the leftovers in the end. I wish I had more space in my belly for the broth that came with it! Highly recommend this cute little restaurant, clean bathrooms, great service and amazing food!!

Evelyn Paulose

Had ramen and takoyaki and they were great. What was better was the service, we were served water again and the best part was they saw we were struggling with chopsticks (I may have had 'how to use chopsticks' open on YouTube on my phone) and offered forks and also an extra bowl to share our noodles etc. It's a small space, luckily we reached half an hour before closing and we did not have to wait. Overall a great experience.

Brah honest truth by far best ramen I've had in mainland since having really bomb ones in Japan when I was still in the Marine Corps. Hands down the best! Got their Tonkatsu Tonkatsu ramen and the overall broth, to the noodles, and the katsu itself was just so so good. Also got Tonkatsu curry and portion is great for the price and Katsu again just amazing. Highly recommend!

I just had the best ramen I’ve tried in San Jose. The habanero tonkotsu ramen was incredible....perfect SPICE🔥 and flavor....and the karaage chicken was delicious. Not sure how this place is only at 4.4 stars, but I’m honestly fine with it… keeps the wait time shorter for me. Definitely some of the tastiest ramen around.

Pj S

Brah honest truth by far best ramen I've had in mainland since having really bomb ones in Japan when I was still in the Marine Corps. Hands down the best! Got their Tonkatsu Tonkatsu ramen and the overall broth, to the noodles, and the katsu itself was just so so good. Also got Tonkatsu curry and portion is great for the price and Katsu again just amazing. Highly recommend!

William Sierra

I just had the best ramen I’ve tried in San Jose. The habanero tonkotsu ramen was incredible....perfect SPICE🔥 and flavor....and the karaage chicken was delicious. Not sure how this place is only at 4.4 stars, but I’m honestly fine with it… keeps the wait time shorter for me. Definitely some of the tastiest ramen around.

Went for dinner at 7pm on a Saturday and waited for 10 mins but it was worth the wait. It was a busy night and Ramen and kurage was great. My wife had the tonkatsu Ramen and it was flavorful. Restaurant is cleaned and I recommend this place.

We tried champ two times back when it first opened, but the ramen was too salty for us and the big noodle was and uncook... So it's been a while since we are back again this week. It's nice to see the restaurant expand next door to have more seating. My son tried tonkotsu, and the borth was good, not too salty. My husband tried the shoyu ramen and the surface of the broth was ok but toward the bottom of his bow it was salty. My daughter tried the soupless ramen, and her big noodle was still hard but doable, and similar to my husband situation, her noodle was salty toward the bottom of the bow , yes even for the dry noodle. In the 3 ramen we tried, we like the tonkotsu . We also tried their teriyaki chicken karaage and some of the pieces with too much sauce also taste too salty for us. The fried gyoza was not bad. We like the tokoyaki appetizer best. In general, the food seems improved, the portion is generous, less salty this time , but still pretty salty for us. If you don't like food too salty, I recommend to tell the staff to see if they can adjust the salt level. I think they can also improve on cooking the noodle too. The soft noodle to me was missing the tender, chewy, crunchy of the ramen I try at other store before. I think it's more like the type or brand of noodle they use. The big noodle need to cook to the right amount of softness and chewy but not hard. In general, since we have better the experience this time, I think we'll come back to try other items.

A small little place for decent ramen. It gets packed real quick so come early. Highly recommend the kaarage.

Nice little cozy Ramen place. Love the atmosphere! Chicken karaage was juicy as always. As for ramen, the broth was a bit too salty for my taste and noodles were a bit hard to chew. Decent portion though. Will try again later for other dishes on the menu. BTW, don’t like the fact that you pay up front (including tips) when you order.

Nice, simple restaurant near Kaiser on Cottle road. They have 1/2 off special during lunch time , M-F. We ordered 1. Miso Ramen, aka original Champ ramen (pork-miso based) which was too salty (on a scale 1-10, the salt level was 8) for me, imo, and 2. Shoyu ramen (chicken-pork base broth) (salt level was 5) was just right for me. Appetizers were chicken kraggae (deep fried chicken which was tender and fresh with mayo-like sauce, with lemon 🍋) and potatoes 🥔 croquettes (deep fried panko potatoes with vegetables, pea if I remember correctly) with teriyaki dipping sauce. They have a new orange colored dipping sauce (please see first picture) which goes pretty with the ramen and deep fried appetizers or just any dishes 😊. We enjoyed the sauce thoroughly. We had previously ordered Buta Max which we throughly enjoyed. Buta Max can easily feeds two adult if u r not too hungry. I would recommend ramen champ.

EvelynThai Nguyen

Nice, simple restaurant near Kaiser on Cottle road. They have 1/2 off special during lunch time , M-F. We ordered 1. Miso Ramen, aka original Champ ramen (pork-miso based) which was too salty (on a scale 1-10, the salt level was 8) for me, imo, and 2. Shoyu ramen (chicken-pork base broth) (salt level was 5) was just right for me. Appetizers were chicken kraggae (deep fried chicken which was tender and fresh with mayo-like sauce, with lemon 🍋) and potatoes 🥔 croquettes (deep fried panko potatoes with vegetables, pea if I remember correctly) with teriyaki dipping sauce. They have a new orange colored dipping sauce (please see first picture) which goes pretty with the ramen and deep fried appetizers or just any dishes 😊. We enjoyed the sauce thoroughly. We had previously ordered Buta Max which we throughly enjoyed. Buta Max can easily feeds two adult if u r not too hungry. I would recommend ramen champ.

Eve Lim

Went there a little past 8pm on a Sat night. Saw the staff starting to close part of the restaurant already. There was only 1 other table of 2 customers in the almost empty restaurant. Ordered the deep fried oysters and ramen. Wanted to try the ramen with Yuzu broth but when I enquired with the waiter if I’ll be able to taste the Yuzu, he said I won’t. Thought that is strange to have a description on the menu of broth having Yuzu taste but in actuality won’t taste it🤔 So I ended up going with his recommendation of one with chicken and pork base broth instead. Food was served fast. Oysters looked kinda over-fried as the batter looked rather dark, but tasted fine. The ramen noodle had a nice chewy texture and the broth tasted ok but nothing impressive. I wanted to try their ramen as I saw the pics online that they were chunky pieces of pork belly vs the usual thinly sliced ones. It is served chunky but it wasn’t as tender as I had hoped for. The taste was standard typical ramen taste except noodles were more chewy than most other ramen places. My friend had the Buta-ramen which had minced garlic, lots of bean sprouts and an egg which I noticed was a hard boiled egg and not soft boiled. I probably wouldn’t go out of my way to dine here again since I can get better tasting ramen elsewhere.

David Olais

Went for dinner at 7pm on a Saturday and waited for 10 mins but it was worth the wait. It was a busy night and Ramen and kurage was great. My wife had the tonkatsu Ramen and it was flavorful. Restaurant is cleaned and I recommend this place.

My Hoa N.

A small little place for decent ramen. It gets packed real quick so come early. Highly recommend the kaarage.

Trang Thu

We tried champ two times back when it first opened, but the ramen was too salty for us and the big noodle was and uncook... So it's been a while since we are back again this week. It's nice to see the restaurant expand next door to have more seating. My son tried tonkotsu, and the borth was good, not too salty. My husband tried the shoyu ramen and the surface of the broth was ok but toward the bottom of his bow it was salty. My daughter tried the soupless ramen, and her big noodle was still hard but doable, and similar to my husband situation, her noodle was salty toward the bottom of the bow , yes even for the dry noodle. In the 3 ramen we tried, we like the tonkotsu . We also tried their teriyaki chicken karaage and some of the pieces with too much sauce also taste too salty for us. The fried gyoza was not bad. We like the tokoyaki appetizer best. In general, the food seems improved, the portion is generous, less salty this time , but still pretty salty for us. If you don't like food too salty, I recommend to tell the staff to see if they can adjust the salt level. I think they can also improve on cooking the noodle too. The soft noodle to me was missing the tender, chewy, crunchy of the ramen I try at other store before. I think it's more like the type or brand of noodle they use. The big noodle need to cook to the right amount of softness and chewy but not hard. In general, since we have better the experience this time, I think we'll come back to try other items.

El T

Nice little cozy Ramen place. Love the atmosphere! Chicken karaage was juicy as always. As for ramen, the broth was a bit too salty for my taste and noodles were a bit hard to chew. Decent portion though. Will try again later for other dishes on the menu. BTW, don’t like the fact that you pay up front (including tips) when you order.

Review based on only yuzu ramen. Enjoyed it but wished the yuzu flavor was more infused in the broth. There are big pieces of zest in the broth but the yuzu flavor comes more from the zest than the broth so if the pieces of zest sink to the bottom so does a lot of the yuzu flavor.

Wesley Payne

Review based on only yuzu ramen. Enjoyed it but wished the yuzu flavor was more infused in the broth. There are big pieces of zest in the broth but the yuzu flavor comes more from the zest than the broth so if the pieces of zest sink to the bottom so does a lot of the yuzu flavor.

This place seems extremely popular, but it wasn't great for me. Went here on a rainy Friday evening and it was still packed. Not too many ramen joints in this part of town. I do like you order on your own using a QR code, and if I recall, you pay that way too. The weird thing was you pay for tip before you actually get your food, which is odd to me, because I tip according to service. Their food selection was fairly large. We tried two ramens. The Buta and the Tonkatsu. The Buta looked great and it came with an egg, which I liked, but the broth wasn't hot and maybe I'm not used to the Shoyu flavor but wasn't my thing. The Tonkatsu was basic and okay, but again just wasn't hot enough.

I love Miso Ramen, but the flavor of the broth and pork at this place is not for me.

This place has been on our list for awhile and we finally had a chance to make it all the way down to south San Jose. We had really high hopes after seeing the reviews. The overall experience could be better but let’s get down to it. We sat by the windows and found it to be surrounded with small flies. Overall cleanliness of the place is kinda sus when you have flies buzzing around. I don’t know if other areas have flies but avoid the spot right by the window. The flies all congregate there thinking they can just fly out. Service was so-so. The waitress provided us water but we only had 1 set of chopsticks for two people. Not the end of the world. I grabbed another set myself. They didn’t check up on us at all after giving us food. Also not the end of the world having to call someone over for water. This is however a problem when you have to pay and tip ahead of time. The default tip goes from 18%-25%, which is quite high for the level of service. Adjust this to your preference obviously lol. Anyway, let’s talk about the food! We ordered the fried oysters, buta max, and the tonkotsu ramen. The fried oysters were okay… could use a tad less breading but that’s just our opinion. The buta max was a mixed bag. We really appreciate how the noodles were handmade. Love the texture. The broth was also flavorful. I should’ve read the menu better because the ramen packed a strong garlic punch. One of the noodles was cut extra thick and it didn’t cook all the way through. The egg was a little overcooked as well. The tonkotsu ramen met the expectation of tonkotsu ramen. The noodles weren’t handmade like the buta max. I guess we were kinda spoiled so a little disappointed lol. The broth was flavorful. Egg was also overcooked. Long winded review 😮‍💨. This place is definitely very popular and busy. I wish we had a better experience. We’re not against trying this place again but it is quite a detour for us. Until next time!

Edison Huang

This place has been on our list for awhile and we finally had a chance to make it all the way down to south San Jose. We had really high hopes after seeing the reviews. The overall experience could be better but let’s get down to it. We sat by the windows and found it to be surrounded with small flies. Overall cleanliness of the place is kinda sus when you have flies buzzing around. I don’t know if other areas have flies but avoid the spot right by the window. The flies all congregate there thinking they can just fly out. Service was so-so. The waitress provided us water but we only had 1 set of chopsticks for two people. Not the end of the world. I grabbed another set myself. They didn’t check up on us at all after giving us food. Also not the end of the world having to call someone over for water. This is however a problem when you have to pay and tip ahead of time. The default tip goes from 18%-25%, which is quite high for the level of service. Adjust this to your preference obviously lol. Anyway, let’s talk about the food! We ordered the fried oysters, buta max, and the tonkotsu ramen. The fried oysters were okay… could use a tad less breading but that’s just our opinion. The buta max was a mixed bag. We really appreciate how the noodles were handmade. Love the texture. The broth was also flavorful. I should’ve read the menu better because the ramen packed a strong garlic punch. One of the noodles was cut extra thick and it didn’t cook all the way through. The egg was a little overcooked as well. The tonkotsu ramen met the expectation of tonkotsu ramen. The noodles weren’t handmade like the buta max. I guess we were kinda spoiled so a little disappointed lol. The broth was flavorful. Egg was also overcooked. Long winded review 😮‍💨. This place is definitely very popular and busy. I wish we had a better experience. We’re not against trying this place again but it is quite a detour for us. Until next time!

G Lee

This place seems extremely popular, but it wasn't great for me. Went here on a rainy Friday evening and it was still packed. Not too many ramen joints in this part of town. I do like you order on your own using a QR code, and if I recall, you pay that way too. The weird thing was you pay for tip before you actually get your food, which is odd to me, because I tip according to service. Their food selection was fairly large. We tried two ramens. The Buta and the Tonkatsu. The Buta looked great and it came with an egg, which I liked, but the broth wasn't hot and maybe I'm not used to the Shoyu flavor but wasn't my thing. The Tonkatsu was basic and okay, but again just wasn't hot enough.

Tam Ly

I love Miso Ramen, but the flavor of the broth and pork at this place is not for me.