Osakaya

My fiance and I stumbled on this place after we gave up on waiting for all you can eat Korean BBQ. It's nestled above another Japanese restaurant​ and there was a wait. Make sure you sign in on the clipboard by the door. Someone will come out and call names eventually. It wasn't a bad wait for 2 people. When we we're seated, we sat with a bunch of other people at a large table. Everyone was at a different point in their meal. It wasn't a bad experience, just different. The ramen we ordered was delicious! The best I've had (but I'm from Kansas and we don't have a lot of choices). The portions were generous.

The ramen always hits the spot and the service is quick and very thoughtful. It’s loud, so if you’re looking for a place to talk to have deep chats, this is not the place. But the vibe is like a Japanese bar and I love it.

Came here after The Centers (Japanese Cultural and Community Center) new year celebration with my family. The waiting system was a bit confusing because we weren’t sure if we should wait in the restaurant or in the vestibule. We came because of their vegan and gluten free options. Everyone enjoyed their noodles and the gluten free noodles had a great texture. The vegan does have a fritter in it so I’d suggest getting something else if you don’t want a deep fried topping.

We love coming here! Delicious ramen, broth, lots of add on options, and additional dishes. Calling out one night we came and there was this incredible CRISPY FRIED PORK LEG on the menu (Age Ashi). So so good! Staff is really friendly, and the food is delicious. And there's a gluten free ramen!

I come here every year for my birthday from out of town. The Kara-age chicken is fantastic! My family all loved what they got. Staff is fantastic every year. Nice breeze through the windows and a nice view (when there isn’t construction). Over all great place.

This place slaps and my preferred ramen destination in Japan town. Broth is thick and delicious and is deservedly 5/5 which is the most important thing in ramen imo

Sure! Here’s a 150-word review in English for Yamadaya in San Francisco: I had a great experience. I ordered a bowl of ramen and a kara-age bowl, and both were absolutely delicious. The ramen had a rich, flavorful broth and perfectly cooked noodles, while the kara-age was crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside, served over warm rice with great seasoning. The food felt comforting and satisfying without being too heavy. The staff was very attentive and kind, they made sure we had everything we needed and checked in at just the right moments. The atmosphere is cozy and relaxed, making it a nice spot whether you’re going solo or with friends. It’s clear they care about both their food and the experience of their guests. I would definitely come back to try more from the menu. If you're in the area and craving good Japanese food, Yamadaya is a solid choice.

Claire Mizutani

Came here after The Centers (Japanese Cultural and Community Center) new year celebration with my family. The waiting system was a bit confusing because we weren’t sure if we should wait in the restaurant or in the vestibule. We came because of their vegan and gluten free options. Everyone enjoyed their noodles and the gluten free noodles had a great texture. The vegan does have a fritter in it so I’d suggest getting something else if you don’t want a deep fried topping.

Jennie S

We love coming here! Delicious ramen, broth, lots of add on options, and additional dishes. Calling out one night we came and there was this incredible CRISPY FRIED PORK LEG on the menu (Age Ashi). So so good! Staff is really friendly, and the food is delicious. And there's a gluten free ramen!

Nathaniel

I come here every year for my birthday from out of town. The Kara-age chicken is fantastic! My family all loved what they got. Staff is fantastic every year. Nice breeze through the windows and a nice view (when there isn’t construction). Over all great place.

Alex Seel

This place slaps and my preferred ramen destination in Japan town. Broth is thick and delicious and is deservedly 5/5 which is the most important thing in ramen imo

Pily P

Sure! Here’s a 150-word review in English for Yamadaya in San Francisco: I had a great experience. I ordered a bowl of ramen and a kara-age bowl, and both were absolutely delicious. The ramen had a rich, flavorful broth and perfectly cooked noodles, while the kara-age was crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside, served over warm rice with great seasoning. The food felt comforting and satisfying without being too heavy. The staff was very attentive and kind, they made sure we had everything we needed and checked in at just the right moments. The atmosphere is cozy and relaxed, making it a nice spot whether you’re going solo or with friends. It’s clear they care about both their food and the experience of their guests. I would definitely come back to try more from the menu. If you're in the area and craving good Japanese food, Yamadaya is a solid choice.

Tim Bartleman

Loved it. My whole family loved it. The food was fantastic. It came out fast and it was great. Service was great. Super friendly people who tons of recommendations of what to do in the city. I 100% recommend this place for anyone looking for a meal on Japantown.

Lucas Chang

This was my second time eating here and it was just as delicious as the first time. Four of my friends ended up getting the Yamada Ramen and we were pleasantly surprised by how good it was. The service was quick and friendly and we all really enjoyed the meal. We also were not ostracized for wearing banana bucket hats on our way out.

Ramen Yamadaya truly delivered an exceptional dining experience. The food was absolutely fantastic, especially the Kara Spicy Ramen. I opted for the "fire" heat level, and while it was intensely spicy, it was irresistibly delicious. As a food enthusiast, I can say the balance of flavors was spot on. If you check out my photos, you’ll see I devoured every bit! Highly recommend for anyone seeking authentic, flavorful ramen.

I got a pork belly rice dish, and overall I felt that the prices and portions were reasonable. Pork was cooked well, along with a light cabbage side and egg made this a well-rounded lunch. The location in Japantown is convenient and the square + mall is right next to it.

Wonderful overall. The food was so tasty, and tbh i would recommend the entire menu. The server was nice (took a while for check) and overall good experience, will come back

The service is amazing everyone is welcoming and the food comes out hot and fast, it's also hidden away from the main plaza which makes for a cozy and private atmosphere. The food is great, I highly recommend this spot if you are interested in trying a new Ramen joint.

Pleasant evening dining here. There was a wait list for a table upon arrival, but the list moved quickly. We had a table in about 15 minutes. The menu is a mix of ramens, appetizers, and rice bowls. The fried chicken buns were very good. We had an order of the garlic edamame, which were very underwhelming. The chicken wanton ramen was very good, but I had to add some of my husband’s spicy broth to get it just right. Overall a very nice meal, and I would dine here again.

I have been here twice now. The first time was in the spring and I sat outside, the second time is in December and it was pretty cold. I dined inside. One thing that was very interesting about my indoor dining experience was the music. The music does not fit the environment the decor and ambience but I was loving it. It was a great mix of 80s and 90s R&B and hip-hop. The food was pretty good. I had my Ramen and the the fried bun. While I enjoy the two of those, the edamame did not work for me. There is a dipping sauce that is supposed to give it flavor, but the flavor was off to me. The edamame itself. didn’t have any seasoning. So other than the edamame, the food was pretty good. There was a window opening, which was blowing a consistent cool breeze in the restaurant, but they were nice enough move us to another table.

+3

Came here cuz a nearby restaurant had a really long wait and there was no wait here. The staff was super helpful and quick. Ordered a mango nectar drink which was delicious. The ramen I had was Kinuki(?) and it was only okay. The ambiance of this place is nice and can seat a lot of people, very clean.

We had to get ramen while we were in Japantown. The ramen here was delicious. I got the Spicy Ramen with medium on the spice level. I wanted to play it safe since my friends make fun of me that I can only handle “white boy spicy.” The broth was super flavorful and complex. My friend got the Wantan Ramen since he’s a sucker for chicken-dashi broth. He loved it! It wasn’t busy since we were here on a Thursday night. They are centrally located in Japantown and I recommend coming by to satisfy your ramen cravings while you’re here. 🍜

Friendly staff, clean store and only thing I am not satisfied is rice taste not right for Japanese food, a bit dry.

Sarah Chou

Came here cuz a nearby restaurant had a really long wait and there was no wait here. The staff was super helpful and quick. Ordered a mango nectar drink which was delicious. The ramen I had was Kinuki(?) and it was only okay. The ambiance of this place is nice and can seat a lot of people, very clean.

Adam Hatch

We had to get ramen while we were in Japantown. The ramen here was delicious. I got the Spicy Ramen with medium on the spice level. I wanted to play it safe since my friends make fun of me that I can only handle “white boy spicy.” The broth was super flavorful and complex. My friend got the Wantan Ramen since he’s a sucker for chicken-dashi broth. He loved it! It wasn’t busy since we were here on a Thursday night. They are centrally located in Japantown and I recommend coming by to satisfy your ramen cravings while you’re here. 🍜

minilan Brown

Friendly staff, clean store and only thing I am not satisfied is rice taste not right for Japanese food, a bit dry.

Eric Barriere

The service is amazing everyone is welcoming and the food comes out hot and fast, it's also hidden away from the main plaza which makes for a cozy and private atmosphere. The food is great, I highly recommend this spot if you are interested in trying a new Ramen joint.

Visited Yamadaya Ramen in Japantown for the first time with my colleagues for lunch and overall, it was a good experience! Now, I have to be honest, I’ve never had real ramen before. I’ve only had the ramen noodles that comes in a pack. I must say, I’m not a fan of ramen, so take my feedback with a grain of salt. This business is located in downtown Japantown. It’s directly across from the large beautiful pagoda on Buchanan Street. Oddly enough, this ramen shop is located on the second floor of a business. You can easily see the awning, which clearly identifies the ramen shop. Once you walk inside and upstairs, you’ll notice a large cardboard sign that describes “How To Eat Ramen.” This step by step guide is great for newbies like me. Once inside there is plenty of seating lined along the walls, with one large table located in the middle. One cool design aspect is seeing characters from the anime Demon Slayer on the wall. So, we ordered edamame (which was good), fried Shrimp Bun, and Karaga (fried chicken) for the table. It wasn’t too bad. I ordered a chicken ramen bowl which was substantial. I didn’t know what to expect, but, I definitely didn’t expect such a large and deep bowl. I decided to get brown gluten free noodles and chicken. There was a lot of broth, sea weed, variations of chicken, and spices. Even though I didn’t enjoy it, it doesn’t mean that others won’t. Check my pictures for a greater perspective!

+6

I was a little bit confused when I saw “Tokyo-style hakata” but we stopped by after we tried to go to another restaurant in Japantown only to find out they had sold out for the day. We got the yamada and the kakuni, which were both filled with rich and hearty broth that could’ve been a little teensy bit saltier. The fat on the pork was a little slimy and the meat could’ve been more tender. Unrelated to the food, but if you come in the afternoon, the sun can get a bit in your eyes!

Ordered Miso spicy ramen and miso tsukemen. Noodle texture is great, al dente and chewy. Soup is too salty and thick to my liking. Maybe soy sauce soup base is better. Salad is good.

+2

I honestly don’t know what happened to this place; my family and I used to come here every time we came to San Francisco but the quality has definitely gone down. The food was not the same as before as well as the service. Would definitely not come again, you could probably get better quality and service for the same price. As well as the portions being pretty small for the price. Also the place was sort of loud so keep that in mind if you dine here!

Indoor dining 3/29/2021. I had their Yamada-ya ramen $15 and karaage (fried chicken) $10. The karaage and ramen were both served lukewarm. These types of dishes need to be served hotter. There was too much hot and sweet sauce on the chicken and made it soggy on the bottom. Unlike good Korean style fried chicken, this was not fried twice to get that good crunch. This was too soggy and not warm enough. The ramen broth had a deep, milky, rich fantastic flavor. Good job on that. The not so great are pork pieces were overcooked on the edges that tasted more like the ones from a Chinese BBQ house. The toppings were average otherwise. Having been to hundreds of ramen restaurants throughout Japan, these are the subtleties foreigners don't catch. Ramen chefs in Japan have spend lifetimes perfecting it. In terms of ambiance, this place was weird. There's loud Coldplay and Hoobastank music playing in the dark dining room. It almost drowns out the mariachi music playing in the kitchen with the chef singing his heart out. I could have sworn there was a karaoke back there. It was almost too dark to eat and it felt like I was in a Italian restaurant in Rome or a club in LA. Hopefully management takes account of my feedback and improve. The service was excellent by the way. My bill tonight was $31 with tax and tip.

+3

The restaurant was pretty average. The small plates and dishes they gave us weren’t very clean, which was a bit off-putting. The ramen was decent—not great, but not terrible either. The staff were really friendly and attentive, which was nice. The atmosphere was okay, but I personally didn’t like the lingering old smell. There was no lid for the water they provided. The hygiene could be improved.

To be honest, the ramen here is not very special and you can make it at home. Ordered the Yamadaya ramen $18.50 , the noodles are thin, but the texture is not very good, you can even taste the raw noodles. The soup base may have fish flavor, I was thirsty 30 minutes after eating so I think the soup base should mixed from condensed soup base . For topping , here is the pork belly instead Chashu . Service is average , they did their job , that’s all !

Went here because it's my son's favorite Ramen house, but I found just ok. Located in the heart of J town, I'd imagine it gets a lot of traffic. My son ordered gluten free noodles, but they messed it up and he had to wait until it was resolved. I thought my bowl was extra tasty and sadly I was right for the wrong reason. After we finished and I was driving away, I got hit with an MSG rush starting in my lower spine up my back into my head. Leaving a headache for about an hour. Warning.... if you're sensitive to MSG, order something without the broth or just don't drink it : )

Mason Chen

Ramen Yamadaya – Japantown is located on Buchanan Street (aka “Osaka Way” or “Buchanan Mall” refers to the one-block pedestrian street runs between Post and Sutter streets.) The Mall is paved with “a river of cobblestones, connecting two fountain installations, consisting of origami flower forms designed by renowned artist Ruth Asawa [*The Ruth Asawa San Francisco School of the Arts (“SOTA”), is a public alternative high school established in 1982 by the San Francisco Unified School District, located at Portola Drive and O’Shaughnessy], and surrounded by low, circular stone walls.” Regrettably, Yamadaya ramen has made downward turn because: ❶ The Dashi quality is akin to TonTon, i.e., plain and “soapy.” ❷ The ramen noodles are not bad and Chasu is tasty {not “soy sauce” salty} but comes with only two tiny pieces. Ajitsuke tamago is also decent. ❸ Other ingredients are rather scarce only comes with scallions, wood ear black mushrooms and bamboo shoots. No bean sprouts, pickled red ginger, seaweeds, sweet corn, etc.{The big Sake Jar is the water jar😉} Honestly, it’s quite disappointing because I used like Yamadaya Ramen [*You can literally turn to old photos of ramen dating 2019 then make a comparison] especially during the pandemic while sitting in the heart of artful mall enjoyed the view of the pagoda... Oh well, hopefully things will change in the near future for the better… Yamadaya (山田屋) "Yama" (山), which Kanji means "mountain," [one stroke in the middle is the summit and two strokes on the side are slopes]; “da” (田), which means "rice field" “ya” (屋),which means “house,” “indoor shop” or “roof.” [*The top component 尸shapes like roof to cover the house; the middle part 至 is quite intriguing which infers to a bird comes down flying from the sky then settles on the ground under the roof. 🤔] PS Muni Bus line 38 (“Geary”), 38R (“Geary Rapid” means few stops) stops on Laguna or Webster. 2 (“Sutter”) stops at Post/Laguna.

Kimberly Iwamoto

To be honest, the ramen here is not very special and you can make it at home. Ordered the Yamadaya ramen $18.50 , the noodles are thin, but the texture is not very good, you can even taste the raw noodles. The soup base may have fish flavor, I was thirsty 30 minutes after eating so I think the soup base should mixed from condensed soup base . For topping , here is the pork belly instead Chashu . Service is average , they did their job , that’s all !

KAVINPAK YANGCHAROEN

The restaurant was pretty average. The small plates and dishes they gave us weren’t very clean, which was a bit off-putting. The ramen was decent—not great, but not terrible either. The staff were really friendly and attentive, which was nice. The atmosphere was okay, but I personally didn’t like the lingering old smell. There was no lid for the water they provided. The hygiene could be improved.

The service was good, friendly staff. Ordered the omakase set which consists of ramen of your choice, chicken karage and tea or fountain drink for $20 (bowl of ramen is already $15.50 so might as well) Tea: first cup came out lukewarm and I asked for another glass...which then came out blazing hot, including the cup. It’s like they threw it in the microwave... I couldn’t drink it until I basically left Chicken karage: cooked nicely and maintained juices but did not have much salt Ramen Broth: way too oily, I let it sit for 2 minutes as I ate the karage and the oil layer was already forming on top of the soup Egg: soft boiled but not professionally (more like I can make at home and not on par with the egg at amazing ramen places) Toppings: bamboo was alright, the fried garlic actually deters from the other flavor as it makes everything else taste like that Chasu: lots of meat, three thin slices and one thicker pork belly. Thin slices didn’t have much flavor but the pork belly was good Noodles: just right, not too hard or soft. All in all, I think there are better options than this in SF ramen scene.

I had one of the worse restaurant experiences at this place. We arrived just before 9pm and they welcomed us to our table and we made our order and the Ramen arrived quickly. As we started to eat, the staff of the restaurant started cleaning. The main problem was that they used super strong detergent/bleach washing the floor literally below and around us while we were eating. The smell of the bleach was so strong that I started coughing and we simply couldn’t stay inside to finish our ramen and had to pack it and leave. I wish they told us they were closing soon (Google Maps says they’re open until 10pm) and we would maybe take a take away or just go somewhere else. Nobody even apologized, just gave us the takeaway boxes to pack our remains. I would absolutely not come back here. The ramen was mediocre (the meat was a bit chewy at some parts and the egg was overcooked) but the soup was ok.

We’re a group of four and ordered two tempura donburi and two karaage bento. The amount of food is good. However, flavor was not there. The miso soup was served in a less than authentic bowl (photos attached), the rice was a bit dry, and the sauce for tempura was tonkatsu sauce with Mayo. I had an impression that the shrimp tempura batter was frozen, thick rather than lighter as it should be. I’ve been at this place in the past and quality has definitely changed.

Been visiting this joint for years for good ramen near Japantown. To be fair, I have not tried the other ramen houses within the japantown complex itself but this place compares favorably with similar eateries on the peninsula. On my most recent visit in Dec 2023 the quality of the food seemed to have gone down a little from years before. Nevertheless the ramen broth is flavorful, the chashu and stewed pork are soft and flavorful and the egg well done (firm outside and soft inside). The ramen texture is not great. Appetizers are fine - portions are big but the quality is so-so. We had the fries with cheese, geso karaage and house salad. Extensive menu beyond ramen. Sep 2025 update - not sure what happened but the food quality has plummeted since we ate here a year ago, and definitely nothing compared to what it was years ago. The tonkutsu broth is tasteless, the noodle texture was off and the tsukemen was terrible. Will not be returning.

Tourist Trap. Go somewhere that values your hard earned money. Do not get the coconut curry. They randomly tossed in a lemon and carrots in it. It wasn’t even listed in the ingredients. Broth was diluted and watery. Service is average, nothing that sticks out. Ambiance is dark and dingy. No music and smells of cheap commercial chemicals like Fabuloso.

Came at the end of the lunch rush nearing 2pm. The place felt convoluted and people didn’t receive their full orders having some people start before others. The broth in my Yamada Ramen was bland and the egg upon biting it was cold, it felt like I was eating it raw. Granted I will not be coming back.

We were out checking out the Blossom Festival and ended up in line at this spot—mostly because everything else was packed and this seemed like the best of the options. Big mistake. What followed was one of the worst dining experiences we’ve had in a long time. You know that feeling when a good meal brings people joy? Yeah, this place doesn’t deliver that. Every dish we tried was off. The gyoza tasted like it came straight out of a Costco freezer bag—bland, rubbery, and weirdly artificial. Ever had something so oddly “pipe-flavored” that you start questioning not just the plumbing, but your life choices? That was us. I ordered udon and my partner got the spicy ramen. Both were terrible—easily the worst ramen I’ve ever had. And trust me, I’ve had instant ramen that puts this to shame. Honestly, second place in the “worst food” category goes to Dumpling Time in San Jose—just to give you a sense of how low the bar is here. The shishito peppers were a whole other offense. They should be grilled—smoky, blistered, and tender. These? Crunchy like they were trying and failing to be bell peppers. And serving them with a side of mayo? That’s not just wrong—it’s a betrayal of everything good and holy about Japanese small plates. Service? Painfully slow. We waited forever to be helped, and you could just feel the awkward energy around the room—people nodding like they were all in the same boat of disappointment. The water was lukewarm, no ice, and tasted like it had been sitting in jugs all day. Not a great first impression. To top it off, the waiter basically tossed the receipt at us and clearly didn’t know how to handle our complaints. Thankfully, another staff member came by and comped our ramen and noodles, which we appreciated. Moral of the story: if you’re in San Francisco and craving ramen, do your homework . Don’t be fooled by the reviews—this place is not it. I’ve had better ramen at gas stations.

Wee Khim Lee

Been visiting this joint for years for good ramen near Japantown. To be fair, I have not tried the other ramen houses within the japantown complex itself but this place compares favorably with similar eateries on the peninsula. On my most recent visit in Dec 2023 the quality of the food seemed to have gone down a little from years before. Nevertheless the ramen broth is flavorful, the chashu and stewed pork are soft and flavorful and the egg well done (firm outside and soft inside). The ramen texture is not great. Appetizers are fine - portions are big but the quality is so-so. We had the fries with cheese, geso karaage and house salad. Extensive menu beyond ramen. Sep 2025 update - not sure what happened but the food quality has plummeted since we ate here a year ago, and definitely nothing compared to what it was years ago. The tonkutsu broth is tasteless, the noodle texture was off and the tsukemen was terrible. Will not be returning.

Ray C.

Tourist Trap. Go somewhere that values your hard earned money. Do not get the coconut curry. They randomly tossed in a lemon and carrots in it. It wasn’t even listed in the ingredients. Broth was diluted and watery. Service is average, nothing that sticks out. Ambiance is dark and dingy. No music and smells of cheap commercial chemicals like Fabuloso.

M S

We were out checking out the Blossom Festival and ended up in line at this spot—mostly because everything else was packed and this seemed like the best of the options. Big mistake. What followed was one of the worst dining experiences we’ve had in a long time. You know that feeling when a good meal brings people joy? Yeah, this place doesn’t deliver that. Every dish we tried was off. The gyoza tasted like it came straight out of a Costco freezer bag—bland, rubbery, and weirdly artificial. Ever had something so oddly “pipe-flavored” that you start questioning not just the plumbing, but your life choices? That was us. I ordered udon and my partner got the spicy ramen. Both were terrible—easily the worst ramen I’ve ever had. And trust me, I’ve had instant ramen that puts this to shame. Honestly, second place in the “worst food” category goes to Dumpling Time in San Jose—just to give you a sense of how low the bar is here. The shishito peppers were a whole other offense. They should be grilled—smoky, blistered, and tender. These? Crunchy like they were trying and failing to be bell peppers. And serving them with a side of mayo? That’s not just wrong—it’s a betrayal of everything good and holy about Japanese small plates. Service? Painfully slow. We waited forever to be helped, and you could just feel the awkward energy around the room—people nodding like they were all in the same boat of disappointment. The water was lukewarm, no ice, and tasted like it had been sitting in jugs all day. Not a great first impression. To top it off, the waiter basically tossed the receipt at us and clearly didn’t know how to handle our complaints. Thankfully, another staff member came by and comped our ramen and noodles, which we appreciated. Moral of the story: if you’re in San Francisco and craving ramen, do your homework . Don’t be fooled by the reviews—this place is not it. I’ve had better ramen at gas stations.

Luna Dulcinea

Came at the end of the lunch rush nearing 2pm. The place felt convoluted and people didn’t receive their full orders having some people start before others. The broth in my Yamada Ramen was bland and the egg upon biting it was cold, it felt like I was eating it raw. Granted I will not be coming back.

Ugly looking, too salty, and Galbijim rib ramen’s rib was too chewy no taste no way to eat. They don’t know how to serve in the restaurants, they were like whatever. Brought my husband ramen first before our appetizer and then after 5 minutes my ramen then appetizers. Okey worst thing is my husband and I both had a diarrhea after two hours since we got home. Never ever go back!

Without question, the worst meal I've had the displeasure of eating in 2024. Please go across the road to Hinodeya, or better yet, MENSHO for your ramen needs. Tsukemen - 0/10 - broth was watered down tonkotsu broth and they hid this nasty looking shoyu egg (pictured) in the broth rather than sitting on top of the noodle bowl. Noodles were undercooked. Seafood Ramen - 0/10 - ingredients were frozen and broth tasted like lightly salted water.

The vegan ramen looked good at first, but there was a lump of undissolved seasoning paste in the broth that made parts of it extremely salty. By the end it was basically inedible.

The ramen did not meet expectations. Chashu was overcooked, broth was too salty, and portions were smaller than expected. Staff was polite, but overall quality needs improvement

This is by far the worse ramen I'd ever had. Firstly, the service I received was terrible, server had a massive attitude and was borderline throwing our food at us. But surely it's fine because the food is good right? Wrong. Out of the 4 ramens that we've order, I only would've willing eaten one. They put looks over taste. None of the broths were creamy and was served like it was heated up. On top of all of that the broth is for some reason bitter. I'm sorry but this is just one gigantic tourist spot. If you want some good ramen just go to Marufuku 2 blocks away cheaper and better.

Edited 7-6-24: hate to say it, but a lot of what I used to love about this spot in no longer present. I understand that inflation is brutal right now…. But….Portions have gotten cut in half despite the price being the same. I’m not being dramatic here…. My bowl was 50% full when dropped off at the table. Not to mention that the ramen had the chintzy’est portion of pork…. it was laughable. The chicken karrage is still awesome with its different style options…. But as a whole it’s evident they’re trying to save money downsizing. Its was so obvious that I’m stuck with ‘voting with my wallet’ and not coming back. Que Serra Serra…. Change is the only constant. This place does Ramen right. The Black Garlic is the heavy hitter on the menu. Service is good but can be a bit hectic around dinner rush. It is also quite loud in the main dinning room. I know this is a chain but the quality and service is outstanding and easily in the top 5 of ramen spots in the city worth checking out. The ‘experimental ramen’ section of the menu has some really interesting options as well

Haolin Chen

This is by far the worse ramen I'd ever had. Firstly, the service I received was terrible, server had a massive attitude and was borderline throwing our food at us. But surely it's fine because the food is good right? Wrong. Out of the 4 ramens that we've order, I only would've willing eaten one. They put looks over taste. None of the broths were creamy and was served like it was heated up. On top of all of that the broth is for some reason bitter. I'm sorry but this is just one gigantic tourist spot. If you want some good ramen just go to Marufuku 2 blocks away cheaper and better.

I gave it a one star because I can't put down a zero star. I am a lover of Asian cuisine and let me tell you, this place is a tourist trap. It's terrible and a waist of your $$$$$. We love ramen soup but it was watered down, no flavor or taste. There's no way it took 20 hours to make the broth. My braised pork rice bowl was 99% rice that tasted old, 5 very small thin pieces of very dried up pork and a table spoon of shredded cabbage with some mayo. There's no sauce what so ever on the meat or rice. My recommendation, don't go.

The Korean chicken karage I ordered was undercooked and gave me food poisoning. The other food was crisp but had such a weird consistency in the inside. On top of this our server forgot to give me our melon soda until I asked at the end. Would not recommend.

Everything tasted left out and reheated. Waxy and chewy karage, waxy bao buns, soggy tempura left sitting in the seafood ramen, over cooked noodles and barely warm broth and very little seafood. We specifically asked for the sea food ramen to be boiling hot, and was told that “all our broths are boiling” nothing was even close to hot. House ramen lacked flavor, bland broth and overcooked noodles with very little meat and bamboo and cold egg. We did not finish the ramen. Wanted to give them the benefit of doubt after reading the reviews and waiting a while. We asked more than once for napkins, water cups and chopsticks. There were a few groups of 4 but by no means were they slammed! $87 down the drain. Unfortunate because it’s the perfect weather for ramen. Let’s hope things improve and maybe today was just an off day.

sochetra mo-yamamoto

I gave it a one star because I can't put down a zero star. I am a lover of Asian cuisine and let me tell you, this place is a tourist trap. It's terrible and a waist of your $$$$$. We love ramen soup but it was watered down, no flavor or taste. There's no way it took 20 hours to make the broth. My braised pork rice bowl was 99% rice that tasted old, 5 very small thin pieces of very dried up pork and a table spoon of shredded cabbage with some mayo. There's no sauce what so ever on the meat or rice. My recommendation, don't go.