ID

Fast service, great food, and comfortable environment. It can be a little bit hard to hear if the place is full and you’re sitting in the rear dining area. The broth is really good and surprisingly not as salty as other ramen places. The tea egg was so so tasty and perfectly soft in the middle. I would definitely go here if you want a classic ramen that hits the spot. I recommend the free public parking structure around the block.

Ron Ng

Great tonkotsu ramen in downtown Mountain View's Castro Street. Had their special tonkotsu ramen without any spice even though I love spicy food cos that would be closest to original Hakata style tonkotsu ramen and it certainly didn't disappoint. The broth was rich and flavorful, the noodles springy and chewy. Their karaage and gyozas we're good, though I wouldn't rave over them. We went early so we didn't have to wait. Groups arriving after 6pm on a Friday had to wait to be seated.

Sir Kumamon

I like this ramen at this spot. Service is fast and we got a seat quite quickly. The décore inside is pretty cool too I thinks. As for the food the ramen was nice and tasty. The tonkotsu broth was rich and flavourful. The noodles were springy, and the meet was tender. The egg and was also soft and gooey on the inside. Also got a side of curry and it was really nicely flavoured too. Would recommend.

Scott Hobin

Last night, my family and I went to Ramen Izakaya Yu-Gen in downtown Mountain View, and it was amazing! As soon as we walked in, I felt like we had stepped into a real Japanese ramen house. The atmosphere was warm and cozy, with wooden decor, lanterns, and Japanese art that made it feel super authentic. For our appetizer, we had the Takoyaki, which are octopus dumpling balls. They were crispy on the outside, soft and gooey on the inside, and topped with a delicious sauce and bonito flakes that danced from the heat, so cool to watch! For the main dish, I ordered the Tonkotsu DX Ramen, and it was hands-down one of the best bowls of ramen I’ve ever had! The broth was rich and creamy, full of deep flavors. The noodles were perfectly chewy, and all the toppings-chashu (braised pork), kakuni (slow-braised pork belly), bean sprouts, green onions, a soft-boiled egg, and dry seaweed made every bite incredible. I also got extra Kikurage mushrooms, which added a nice texture and earthy flavor. The attention to detail in both the food and the decor really made the experience special. You can tell they put a lot of effort into making everything just right. I would definitely come back and recommend this place to anyone who loves real Japanese ramen!

Charith Chowta

I recently dined at Ramen Izakaya Yu-Gen in Mountain View, and it was a delightful experience! The special tonkotsu ramen I ordered was rich and flavorful, with a perfectly creamy broth and tender chashu. The noodles had a nice chew, and the soft-boiled egg was seasoned just right. My friend tried the mixed vegetable ramen and loved how fresh and vibrant the flavors were. The ambiance was cozy and modern, with an open kitchen that added a nice touch of authenticity to the experience. The staff were friendly and attentive, ensuring we had everything we needed. One small downside was that it got a bit crowded during peak hours, so the space felt tight. I’d recommend making a reservation if you plan to visit. Overall, Yu-Gen is a fantastic spot for ramen lovers, and I’ll definitely be back!

Trying this place after 10 years. The quality has gone down compared to our last experience. The spring roll was good but the sauce could have been better. It was too salty that it overwhelmed other tastes. Pineapple fried rice was good you can’t go wrong with it. Green curry was delicious. I think this was the only place that I could find spicy Thai curry. Overall, good meal, but kinda overpriced.

We have eaten here for years and this is the first time at the new location. This place is half the size of the old location that was across the street. The food is still very good. Mango cashew chicken is a family favorite. Service has room for improvement. They dropped stacks of plates on the center of our table and had us place them, dropped 4 glasses and left at the side of the table, and brought the wrong appetizer by accident, We will still return and hope service is better next time.

The food was delicious I enjoyed the green curry I ordered and the pan-fried noodles. Service: The server was also really attentive to our friends’ nut allergy so I appreciated how they went back to check if the dishes were nut-free. The service can be slow also. We waited a while for our food and they almost missed the last dish we ordered, so expect to wait after you order. Restaurant: The restaurant has plenty of seatings. They have Thai decorations on the wall which is nice to see. It also looks like they have the tables where you sit on the floor, but those were closed when we came. Parking: Parking around downtown Mountain View’s not bad. We just parked in one of the lots nearby.

The food was really delicious but I am giving four stars because they gave us small dish and it was hard for us to eat in small dish. Apart from this the overall quality of food was awesome and the service was also good. Along with it they also helped us by keeping the cake in refrigerator as went to celebrate one of friends birthday. Fried rice , spring roll, pranthey and chutney and special salad was too good but the quantity was less as per price. I am definitely going there again!!

A great Thai place to eat with friends! The Tom ka soup is pretty good! I ordered with seafood. Curry is a bit salty but I guess you need to eat it with lots of rices, crab fried rice is my favorite! I had it twice but first time is better than second I guess. Still enjoyable

Came for lunch. Tried to skip carb and eat healthier and asked if I can have veggie as replacement. The waitress was flexible and agreed to change it without extra charge. Food came fast. My soup was delicious, although the replaced bean sprouts were scanty. Can't ask for more when they were nice enough to modify for you. Basil chicken and yellow curry chicken were both tasty. Yet the papaya salad was unbearably sour and tasted terrible, it also had fishy smell. I've never had papaya salad this bad. The recipe was a disaster. Service was very nice. Staff was polite and attentive. Would probably come back to try other dishes.

Good authentic Thai food. Friendly staff. Nice ambience. A bit pricey but well worth the tasty fare they serve. Some tables offer great view of the street and you watch the world stroll by.

Nhan Phan

The restaurant is located in a nice strip that has a lot of different shops and eateries. It was nice walking around once you find parking. We ordered the tonkatsu for the kids and it was good. The kids complained that there was no pork in the bowl though. The pork cutlet curry and the special ramen were good. We thought the restaurant looked authentic but the food was very Americanized.

+3

Shubham Kamdi

Yugen Ramen on Castro Street is a fantastic go-to for hearty, reliable Japanese comfort food in a modern, spacious setting. The Spicy Chicken Paitan Ramen is a standout, featuring a creamy, soul-warming broth with just the right level of heat to elevate the savory poultry base. For those craving something more substantial, the Chicken Katsu Curry offers a generous, crispy cutlet served with a rich, aromatic beef-base curry sauce that hits all the right notes. The Tonkatsu Don is equally satisfying, with a tender pork cutlet and perfectly seasoned egg served over a steaming bed of rice. Whether you're there for the noodles or the rice bowls, the consistent quality and efficient service make it a top choice in downtown Mountain View.

Alex Lin

Within the South Bay Area I’d rank this place pretty good. They have a good balance of price, quantity, and quality. The quantity was good enough for the price. The quality and taste was decent but I have had better in Cupertino. If I lived next to this ramen place I’d probably go eat it regularly without complaints. I like the decor and atmosphere inside. Service is also good and fast.

Jason R

My daughter and I stopped in for dinner on a Saturday night and while the place was busy, seating only took about 10 minutes. The staff is very cordial and attentive, which I appreciated. Our order came out very quickly, which was nice but I would have liked a few more minutes between the appetizers and ramen. To start we had the gyoza and takoyaki. The gyoza was decent, about average for the Bay Area. However the takoyaki was delicious and I was pleasantly surprised how much I liked it. My Daughter ordered a peach soda, which she really enjoyed. The ramen was above average, it didn't dethrone any of my favorites but still very good and worth working in to a rotation if you like mixing it up like I do. Something that stood out to me was the soft boiled egg. The egg was cooked perfectly with a nice jammy center and lots of flavor from the marinade. A truly elite ramen egg if that's your thing.

Mehrnoosh Kh

Favorites: Tonkotzo,Deluxe Rsettings. Foood is delicious there. They have outside and indoor seatings.

+10

Shayer S

Busy spot but we were able to get seats quickly. Service was attentive and the loft-like ambiance gave it a cozy vibe I really liked. Pricing is on the higher end but still reasonable. We ordered the Takoyaki and these were eaten up in seconds. Super good. For my main dish, I had the Chicken Paitan Deluxe Ramen. The broth was excellent and medium spicy was just the right level of heat, though the roasted chicken wasn’t for me since the aroma was a bit too strong (probably intentional, just not my taste). I also tried the glowing lychee drink, which was cold and refreshing. My coworkers enjoyed their dishes as well, though they might have regretted choosing the spiciest option! Overall, I enjoyed my experience and would definitely come back.

Kate X

This place wasn't too crowded on a Monday night. I got the spicy chicken paitan and it was quite good. The broth was not overly heavy which was nice. The ramen could use a few more pieces of chicken and some more toppings, but the noodles were good.

Mark Tashima

2/24/2025 Ramen Izakaya Yu-Gen 152 Castro St Mountain View, CA 94041 I went there for a solo lunch on a Monday around 12:30. There was ample parking in the city free parking structure behind the restaurant. The layout is long and narrow with a contemporary chair and table setup. There is some bar seating at the front, which I chose. I ordered the Pork Cutlet Curry at the spicy level. My food was brought to me shortly and consisted of a gravy boat of curry sauce, a green salad topped with macaroni salad and corn, pickles, rice and the sliced breaded pork (tonkatsu). The curry sauce was not spicy but there was a condiment dish with cayenne pepper which I dumped in the sauce to take it to the level I wanted. The cutlet was thick and uniform in thickness with a golden brown crispy coating. It was moist and a little chewy but okay by me. Flavors were good, service was fast and attentive. A good value and repeatable for the curry.

+4

Dharma M

Stopped by for lunch. The place looks nice and I like the decoration. It is like ramen shop in Japan. We ordered katsu curry, tan tan ramen, spicy tonkotsu ramen, veggi ramen and gyoza. I can say they highlight is tan tan ramen. The broth is very yummy. The tonkotsu broth is a bit on the light side. The noodle is cooked nicely. Gyoza is good and veggie soup is a bit back. The service is pretty good and the server is friendly. I like the open kitchen concept. For me it is about 3.5 stars.

+4

Sohrob H

Uniqueness: Exceptional curry and well-executed chicken dishes Wait Time: [x][x][x][ ][ ] (Can get busy with a waitlist during peak hours) Food Quality: [x][x][x][x][ ] Service: [x][x][x][x][x] Setting: [x][x][x][x][ ] Cost: [x][x][x][x][ ] First visit? Fantastic. Second visit? Still good, but a little off. The ramen here is rich, flavorful, and well-executed, but the spiced chicken had an overpowering cinnamon flavor this time. Most people seem to love it, but for me, the seasoning was too intense and threw off the balance of the dish. That said, their curry is absolutely amazing—aromatic, creamy, and packed with deep, layered flavors. It’s easily one of the best things on the menu and something I’d come back for without hesitation. Service is always friendly and efficient, but depending on the time, there can be a wait. If you’re patient, though, it’s worth it. Next time, I’ll be skipping the spiced chicken but will definitely be back for that curry.

Good authentic food mostly, curry etc a bit over seasoned . Also note that extra sauce for ROTI seems like an extra charge of $7. Also the bill was given to me without showing the specific price for each item. Just wishing more honesty on this. The point is mostly deducted for this.

Garima Gupta

I am a vegetarian, went for veg ramen. It was decent, they have outdoor seating without heater. In summers one can enjoy the food with their dogs.

Christine Robson

The ramen is really pretty good. Not perfect, but genuinely delicious and authentic tonkotsu. However it's unpleasant to eat inside. The kitchen is fully exposed to the dining room and there is some very loud bit of equipment that emits random beeping alarm noises constantly until the kitchen staff hits some glowing red numbers to disable it. It was very loud and really hard to enjoy a meal with the alarm constantly triggering.

Food lacked flavor. Chicken satay and papaya salad was good. Fresh rolls and crab fried rice were average at best. Pranag chicken curry was the worst. Had big chunks of chicken with two three pieces of bell pepper. Curry was tasteless and whole dish looked unappetizing. Won’t be visiting again

Unfortunately service fell far short of even decent. Both waiters were rude and short with a 10+ minute delay to take our order and 30+ minutes to receive food. Drink refills were nonexistent. When it came time to pay the bill, we were told when we were given the check that the bill could only be split two ways. There were 6 of us that sat down and we informed the waiter we would all be separate checks and there was nothing said. We paid via handheld PoS system which could easily separate the checks. I understand it takes a few more minutes of the waiter’s time to split the checks, but that is compensated by mandatory pay and optional tips. On the positive side, the food was fantastic, with great taste and really solid portions. This unfortunately does not overcome the service issues. With all the other options in Mountain View, I would look elsewhere.

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This was my favorite Ramen Restaurant!! I typically have great service and food. I haven’t been to visit Mountain View in more than 1 year. Today, my Ramen had hair in it. It was pretty gross. I got a togo order. I’m not coming back for a while.

Tanya

We ordered spicy tan tan and kakuni ramen. Very average. I did not like it. Too bland. Would not recommend at all.

Alfred Pennyworth

Service is fast and great, the atmosphere is nice but wow the food is severely plain and boring. The broth has a layer of oil and lack of flavor, I got Medium Spice and it tasted like mild. The noodles are not fresh and worse quality than Buldak. The meat is also grey and the food is way overpriced. The egg in my ramen tasted like it was sitting in the fridge for a day then put in super hot broth to warm it up. Never coming here again and would not recommend to anyone.