Tsuruya

My new favorite ramen spot! The broth was so delicate and delicious, and the egg was bomb. Great service and cute little spot. This will be our new go-to in Berkeley.

My favourite Japanese ramen restaurant that I’ve been to in North America. So delicious and the owner is always there and very friendly. Just wish I didn’t have to wait to be seated but that’s what happens with popular places!

Always really appreciate good atmosphere, but the food is also genuine and so good. Rich broth and choice of Hakata or Sapporo noodles and firmness. I just ate my leftovers with kaedama to go. The leftover toripaitan broth was a thick gel of mostly broken down collagen, a sign of some seriously rich real ingredients and a lengthy process. Yuzu soda also yum.

Stopped in by chance on their first day soft open. Absolutely excellent ramen!! The broth was rich and thick and the noodles were perfectly cooked. The staff was super nice and I had an amazing experience! Can’t wait to go back!! Thank you Tsuruya Ramen!

Oishi! Loved this place. Kind, welcoming service. A delicious, rich, nourishing, and filling bowl of tonkatsu ramen. I've had many bowls of ramen in my life including quite a few in Japan and this place holds its head up high. I'll be back with my son, another ramen fanatic!

Had chicken paitan, black garlic tonkotsu, and chashu croquettes here. Tonkotsu broth was not too thick compared to other ramen places like Masa and Mensho, but definitely delectable on a lighter side. Their chicken paitan was truly excellent; broth was very rich, could feel rich chicken flavor out of it. Not subtle at all. Highly recommend chicken paitan here, as I think it is way better than Mensho’s which I found the flavor’s going off quite fast over time. In Tsuruya, you could still slurp the chicken broth with richness even after 30 minutes or so. Two (tiny) downsides of this place are that their ramen comes out less hot (in terms of temperature) than expected, and that not many appetizer options are available at the moment (maybe due to soft opening).

The ramen is fantastic. We had the black garlic ramen which was great and the spicy tonkotsu was phenomenal. Very nice space and interior design. Highly recommended.

Authentic ramen! Great food and the servers were awesome! 👏

Wow, both tonkatsu and chicken ramen were amazing. Each to its own and totally different flavor but superb in taste either way. This has to be one of best ramen broths we have had in the US. Not too salty, just slow cooked goodness! Staff was super nice and helpful. And super clean toilet!

This restaurant has the most welcoming atmosphere with a combination of incredibly put together menu. We had the opportunity to try the chicken ramen and the spicy tonkotsu dishes and were completely left satisfied of the delicious flavors and portion filling. Additionally we tried various dessert dishes and were left with some new favorites to come back for. All in all this is a location id recommend to all who visit the Berkeley area for some truly wonderful authentic Japanese cuisine. Especially on a cold winter night where you will leave warm with a full belly. We were grateful to have stopped by, and would recommend to all visiting this side of the bay !

I’ve found my new local ramen shop in the bay. My first job ever was working as a dishwasher in a ramen shop so I’ve had a small obsession with finding the perfect bowl of ramen for years and I will say Tsuruya proves promising. So far I’ve only had the Jigoku Tonkotsu - Tokujo w/extra menma but the broth was flavorful and well balanced; not too oily not too salty. The spice level was toe-curling and sweat inducing (just how I like it) and the toppings were well thought out and complimented the bowl well; overall the bowl left my lips on fire and my belly satisfied. If the rest of the menu is anywhere as close to my first bowl here, I plan to be a repeat customer. The only downside was the lack of alcoholic options since sometimes it’s nice to have an ice cold asahi/sapporo/kirin to quench the fire, but other than that it’s a stellar shop with a simple atmosphere that is cuisine focused. Can’t wait to return.

Finally I found a good ramen spot in East bay. It’s a hidden gem, family owned. Welcoming staff, easy to get seated right away. We got spicy paitan and garlic paitan ramen. Broth is flavorful, meat is tender. Highly recommended!

Firm noodle, rich soup. Jigoku Tonkosu is very spicy, even though I can eat authentic sichuan food. But the taste is good.

This tiny ramen shop might be small in size, but every single thing they do is unbelievably thoughtful and crafted with care. The noodles are cooked perfectly with such a lovely chew, and the toppings are clearly chosen with purpose nothing feels random. The chashu is tender and beautifully seasoned, the egg is marinated just right, and even the vegetables feel fresh and crisp, not just thrown in as an afterthought. What really stands out is the attention to detail. You can tell they put their heart into crafting each bowl. Even the way the ingredients are arranged shows intention. It honestly feels like a bowl of ramen made by someone who respects the craft and wants to deliver the best possible experience to their customers. If you’re a ramen lover or simply someone who appreciates food made with dedication and soul, this place is an absolute must-try. My second time here and this place is already my favorite.

Ramen quality deserved 5 stars. Atmosphere and Service - so so and there’s room for improvement. First, please do not make people wait outside a cold alley. Invert a tablet for people to put in their phone numbers for waitlist. So you can text when your table is ready for the party. Or pay a little bit for Yelp or Google to form your waitlist. Second, please use a QR code for customers to order food at the table. It’s fastest and it would not make any mistakes by the servers. Third, hire more servers as they’re already busy enough. If you claim you’re authentic Japanese Ramen, then do it more efficiently. You can turn your tables quicker that way. One last thing, ask to take out the red onion in your ramen. It doesn’t belong in tradition noodle soup.

Can't stop thinking about that vegetarian ramen I had. Added a medium amount of spicy paste to make it more flavorful but I think I might need to add a bit more next visit! The broth was the best part. Made me feel so warm inside. The yuzu sorbet was GREAT! loved.

They have 4 bases and one can choose between either pork (Tonkotsu) or chicken (Tori Paitan). They also have the option for vegetarian ramen, but this is limited each day. What's unique is that you can have either the regular Hakata, thin noodles, or the Sapporo, medium thick wavy noodles. You can't make reservations, but they have some seating in the clean alleyway where you can wait. Only downside was that it took over 25 minutes for our ramen to be served, but at least the owner came to our table and apologized for the delay.

We ordered vegetarian ramen and it was amazing! The service was excellent. The people are really kind! I forgot my purse in the restaurant and the server came running after us till a block to return us our purse! Really appreciate their food and service. Will definitely come here again.

As a first timer came from out of town almost about to walk inside the restaurant there was a couple group of people that were already waiting outside. I walked in and it was fully packed with very small space capacity. A minute after an asian lady who might be the owner said it'll be a wait just give it a little wait outside for a few minutes. So I waited outside for about 5-10 minutes she then comes outside the restaurant and brought everyone who was outside towards to the inside at the same time. First off atmosphere inside is amazing and very welcoming, the only downside I would say is for the space inside just being very small and felt compact knowing it can't fit alot of people. I had to sit at the bar area for just myself but the space wasn't too bad. I originally wanted to order the tori paitan but ended up getting the spicy version which I didn't mind since I can handle a little spice and it also wasn't too spicy anyway. For how quite busy it was on a Saturday night the ramen came out pretty fast. The workers there has great customer service and the cooks back there know what they are doing. The server recommended me what noodles I should get for the ramen I chose and I gotten the medium thick wavy noodles. When they brought the ramen out the presentation of the ramen felt like I was in an anime movie. As I tried my first sip of spicy tori paitan broth I must say it was AMAZING. The broth was not very hot, more like warm almost to luke warm but flavor wise was top notch! I had to get a second sip after the first one. That's how good it was! Overall it was some really good ramen, I ended up clearing the whole bowl. Not too much broth but just enough. Noodle amount was a generous amount. toppings such as green onion, bamboo shoots, wood ear mushroom, red onion, 2 pieces of chasu chicken, and half an egg could be better if the portion size quantity was a little more. Other than that I would not mind coming back here again if I make my way out of town heading towards the bay area. 10/10! Definitely will recommend some of my friends here that are also ramen lovers.

A bit of a wait to get a table, but it was well worth it! Vegetarian ramen was excellent. I’m less of a fan of the matcha panna cotta, but it was still yummy.

Had the most amazing ramen here! Best in Berkeley, hands down! So tasty. Really good value for money, Atmosphere was a vibe. Staff were just lovely. Such a good night! 💜

Hidden in an alleyway is where you’ll find Tsuruya, this place offers high quality ramen, appetizers, and Sake. Service is amazing everyone working was nice and friendly, the atmosphere is cozy and intimate as seating is limited and close to one another. I highly recommend you try this spot if you are craving to try something new.

Best ramen I’ve ever had. Broth was flavorful, the noodles were delicious, and the spice level was fantastic (I have an insanely high spice tolerance, so be aware before ordering). It was extremely lively, so if you’re looking for somewhere quiet—bring headphones. Quick customer service, they’re extremely attentive, and the owner was extremely kind. Will return.

Fantastic! The menu is very limited, which is often a good signal for the kitchen, and the 4 different ramen we tried were excellent, especially the black garlic one. Drinks were great and desserts exceptional, very subtle. Small inside, very cosy, nice and attentive service.

This place has amazing food, we ordered the spicy ramens and creamy pork croquettes. Very worth it, prices are super fair for being in Berkeley. Only downside parking can be difficult and it does get busy quick. They do a good job of not leaving you without a server for too long. Highly recommend this spot for a cozy ramen moment.

Found this place serendipitously and was delightfully surprised by the delicious food! One of the best ramen places that I have tried personally! Recommendations 1. Limited Vegetarian Ramen - the restaurant has only one vegetarian option however, it is one of the best vegetarian ramens I have had! Flavorful and light broth, with perfect textured noodles, and lots of vegetables with tofu. Absolutely must try for vegetarians! 2. Spicy Tonkatsu Ramen - Exquisite broth, thin straight noodles with wood ear mushrooms and egg. My friend who had this reported that it is the best ramen they have ever had! 3. Fried Calamari - Very crispy, perfect amount of batter, wonderful taste! 4. Panna Cotta - Creamy, coffee flavored dessert. Nice way to end a meal! The atmosphere is lovely with efficient and fast service. We did not have to wait long to get a table and there is parking nearby. Highly recommend trying this place!

Ordered the deluxe chicken and pork ramen - both were really good! Prefer their thicker Sapporo noodles over the thin ones. The matcha panna cotta was super tasty too. Place is clean and the staff are friendly and quick!

really tasty and authentic ramen! the owner is also very kind :) always a great time here and the food is delicious and comforting! the veg ramen is also always flavorful! its also so affordable for students, which is amazing.

Better than many ramen places in Japan. Been here many times now and they offer friendly service and consistent quality at a reasonable price. Indoor seating has a mix of bar seating, high chairs, and tables for larger parties. Broths: Both the tonkotsu ramen and the tori paitan ramen are solid. The broths have much more flavor than those from other restaurants and it really feels like the restaurant put in the time and effort to make a truly good soup. Another thing that I like is that the broth isn’t too salty so you can actually drink it. Egg: Egg is important. For some reason, lots of restaurants have inconsistent ramen eggs that are overcooked or cured for too long. But the ramen eggs here are consistently done properly - jellied/cured yolk and not overcooked. Noodles: You can choose to have thick noodles or thin noodles. Both are good and done to a slightly firmer consistency which is nice. Chashu: Both the chicken chashu and the pork belly chashu are good. The meat is tender and not tough. The chicken chashu is rolled around some yuzu which is a really nice touch. Toppings: Toppings go well with the broths. Chicken karaage: Batter is light and the chicken is juicy. The chicken-shaped plate is also very cute!

Delicious ramen, and a very friendly staff. 100% recommended. * Tojuko | ($2 more) gives you chashu, egg, spinach, and Nori. *Kaedama ($4) | an extra serving of noodles in case you ate them all, but have broth left, and want more noodles.

Great new place to get your authentic fix of ramen. Tonkotsu is flavorful, thick, and porky. Tori Paitan is a chicken broth ramen and they are amazingly chickeny showing tons of flavor you can get with Chicken! Noodles are chewy and very clingy to the soup which I like. The atmosphere is cozy and everyone working here are very friendly. Amazing experience and would recommend anyone around to give it a try! There was a bit of wait after ordering, but looking at what I am served with, I can see the details they are coming up to craft this bowl of ramen are well worth it! Coming here during soft opening, they don’t currently have a menu to look. Today they were serving 3 kinds: Tonkotsu, Tori Paitan, Miso Tonkotsu all of which can be made spicy.

Angela & Elliot Zhang

Ramen quality deserved 5 stars. Atmosphere and Service - so so and there’s room for improvement. First, please do not make people wait outside a cold alley. Invert a tablet for people to put in their phone numbers for waitlist. So you can text when your table is ready for the party. Or pay a little bit for Yelp or Google to form your waitlist. Second, please use a QR code for customers to order food at the table. It’s fastest and it would not make any mistakes by the servers. Third, hire more servers as they’re already busy enough. If you claim you’re authentic Japanese Ramen, then do it more efficiently. You can turn your tables quicker that way. One last thing, ask to take out the red onion in your ramen. It doesn’t belong in tradition noodle soup.

Ali

Can't stop thinking about that vegetarian ramen I had. Added a medium amount of spicy paste to make it more flavorful but I think I might need to add a bit more next visit! The broth was the best part. Made me feel so warm inside. The yuzu sorbet was GREAT! loved.

Madhuri Jain

We ordered vegetarian ramen and it was amazing! The service was excellent. The people are really kind! I forgot my purse in the restaurant and the server came running after us till a block to return us our purse! Really appreciate their food and service. Will definitely come here again.

James Wang

They have 4 bases and one can choose between either pork (Tonkotsu) or chicken (Tori Paitan). They also have the option for vegetarian ramen, but this is limited each day. What's unique is that you can have either the regular Hakata, thin noodles, or the Sapporo, medium thick wavy noodles. You can't make reservations, but they have some seating in the clean alleyway where you can wait. Only downside was that it took over 25 minutes for our ramen to be served, but at least the owner came to our table and apologized for the delay.

Victoria

Had the most amazing ramen here! Best in Berkeley, hands down! So tasty. Really good value for money, Atmosphere was a vibe. Staff were just lovely. Such a good night! 💜

Eric Barriere

Hidden in an alleyway is where you’ll find Tsuruya, this place offers high quality ramen, appetizers, and Sake. Service is amazing everyone working was nice and friendly, the atmosphere is cozy and intimate as seating is limited and close to one another. I highly recommend you try this spot if you are craving to try something new.

Sabrina G

Best ramen I’ve ever had. Broth was flavorful, the noodles were delicious, and the spice level was fantastic (I have an insanely high spice tolerance, so be aware before ordering). It was extremely lively, so if you’re looking for somewhere quiet—bring headphones. Quick customer service, they’re extremely attentive, and the owner was extremely kind. Will return.

Sarah Hernandez

A bit of a wait to get a table, but it was well worth it! Vegetarian ramen was excellent. I’m less of a fan of the matcha panna cotta, but it was still yummy.

nimita mishra

really tasty and authentic ramen! the owner is also very kind :) always a great time here and the food is delicious and comforting! the veg ramen is also always flavorful! its also so affordable for students, which is amazing.

Rosie Chen

Ordered the deluxe chicken and pork ramen - both were really good! Prefer their thicker Sapporo noodles over the thin ones. The matcha panna cotta was super tasty too. Place is clean and the staff are friendly and quick!

nes atayde

Delicious ramen, and a very friendly staff. 100% recommended. * Tojuko | ($2 more) gives you chashu, egg, spinach, and Nori. *Kaedama ($4) | an extra serving of noodles in case you ate them all, but have broth left, and want more noodles.

Sylvain Francois

Fantastic! The menu is very limited, which is often a good signal for the kitchen, and the 4 different ramen we tried were excellent, especially the black garlic one. Drinks were great and desserts exceptional, very subtle. Small inside, very cosy, nice and attentive service.

Richard Zamora

This place has amazing food, we ordered the spicy ramens and creamy pork croquettes. Very worth it, prices are super fair for being in Berkeley. Only downside parking can be difficult and it does get busy quick. They do a good job of not leaving you without a server for too long. Highly recommend this spot for a cozy ramen moment.

Owee Angare

Found this place serendipitously and was delightfully surprised by the delicious food! One of the best ramen places that I have tried personally! Recommendations 1. Limited Vegetarian Ramen - the restaurant has only one vegetarian option however, it is one of the best vegetarian ramens I have had! Flavorful and light broth, with perfect textured noodles, and lots of vegetables with tofu. Absolutely must try for vegetarians! 2. Spicy Tonkatsu Ramen - Exquisite broth, thin straight noodles with wood ear mushrooms and egg. My friend who had this reported that it is the best ramen they have ever had! 3. Fried Calamari - Very crispy, perfect amount of batter, wonderful taste! 4. Panna Cotta - Creamy, coffee flavored dessert. Nice way to end a meal! The atmosphere is lovely with efficient and fast service. We did not have to wait long to get a table and there is parking nearby. Highly recommend trying this place!

Daniel Zheng

Better than many ramen places in Japan. Been here many times now and they offer friendly service and consistent quality at a reasonable price. Indoor seating has a mix of bar seating, high chairs, and tables for larger parties. Broths: Both the tonkotsu ramen and the tori paitan ramen are solid. The broths have much more flavor than those from other restaurants and it really feels like the restaurant put in the time and effort to make a truly good soup. Another thing that I like is that the broth isn’t too salty so you can actually drink it. Egg: Egg is important. For some reason, lots of restaurants have inconsistent ramen eggs that are overcooked or cured for too long. But the ramen eggs here are consistently done properly - jellied/cured yolk and not overcooked. Noodles: You can choose to have thick noodles or thin noodles. Both are good and done to a slightly firmer consistency which is nice. Chashu: Both the chicken chashu and the pork belly chashu are good. The meat is tender and not tough. The chicken chashu is rolled around some yuzu which is a really nice touch. Toppings: Toppings go well with the broths. Chicken karaage: Batter is light and the chicken is juicy. The chicken-shaped plate is also very cute!

Ming Zeng

Firm noodle, rich soup. Jigoku Tonkosu is very spicy, even though I can eat authentic sichuan food. But the taste is good.

Jashanjot Singh

Finally I found a good ramen spot in East bay. It’s a hidden gem, family owned. Welcoming staff, easy to get seated right away. We got spicy paitan and garlic paitan ramen. Broth is flavorful, meat is tender. Highly recommended!

Five stars for the incredible staff and delicious food! We tried the vegetarian ramen (the only veggie option, but it’s a winner!) and loved the beautiful atmosphere. The highlight of our night was the legendary service. After leaving my purse behind, a server ran all the way outside to catch us and return it. It is rare to find such kind and honest people. If you want great food and even better service, eat here!

Just had a fantastic “spicy tonkotsu” here. Such rich flavors, deeply savory. Perhaps the best ramen in the East Bay at this time. Definitely coming back soon. They also offer a few interesting beers from Japan that I had not seen before. I tried “Baeren” from Iwate and really liked it.

poorvi garg

Five stars for the incredible staff and delicious food! We tried the vegetarian ramen (the only veggie option, but it’s a winner!) and loved the beautiful atmosphere. The highlight of our night was the legendary service. After leaving my purse behind, a server ran all the way outside to catch us and return it. It is rare to find such kind and honest people. If you want great food and even better service, eat here!

They serve decent Tonkotsu ramen. I would give 4 stars for the flavor and the noodle. Looking was really good!

Update on 10/12/2025: The ramen isn’t as good as it was six months ago. The black garlic tonkotsu ramen was lack of flavor but overly salty, and the regular tonkotsu ramen not as flavorful. The chashu was also quite dry. The noodles and other ingredients are still good, but overall the taste wasn’t as satisfying as in our previous visits. We couldn’t help but wonder if the chef or recipe has changed. It was a Sunday dinner and surprisingly easy to get a table. Unlike before, when there was always a line. Wondered if other customers also noticed the difference. ————— Authentic and delicious! Their matcha dessert is a must try!

Simple, clean, well done fare. Got the kara'age, which was very solidly done. I had the deluxe version of the spicy tonkotsu. A very pleasant kick, definitely friendly spice levels for those who tend to distance themselves from that kind of thrill-seking spice level. Some of the best chashu I've had in North America: massive and melt-in-your-mouth. The inclusion of fine diced raw red onion was admittedly odd, but might be there to compensate for the fact that American scallions tend to be incredibly mild.

Tucker

Simple, clean, well done fare. Got the kara'age, which was very solidly done. I had the deluxe version of the spicy tonkotsu. A very pleasant kick, definitely friendly spice levels for those who tend to distance themselves from that kind of thrill-seking spice level. Some of the best chashu I've had in North America: massive and melt-in-your-mouth. The inclusion of fine diced raw red onion was admittedly odd, but might be there to compensate for the fact that American scallions tend to be incredibly mild.

The portion was too small for $17. The ramen was really good and salty, but it was just too little for $17. I didn't feel full after eating it. If you want to eat a good ramen go for it, but if you want to fill your stomach, this won't be the place.

Got the Black Garlic ramen with chicken. It was underwhelming to say the least. It looked delicious at first glance but the broth was thin and lacked flavor. Also there was very little black garlic flavoring in ramen too. Not to mention, the chicken tasted off and had null flavor. I had to add a lot of spice to make it taste anything. For my $24 dollar meal (with taxes and everything), I would expect more. The service was slow but amiable. Server did keep my water refilled and I drank a lot of it. But as for the food, I don’t think I’ll come back again.

The ambiance is great for a cute neighborhood spot. However the restaurant was very busy when we visited, so we waited about 30 minutes for our ramen after ordering, and when it arrived, the egg was refrigerator-cold and the broth was only lukewarm.

I would not recommend this place. I've gone here multiple times in the past, and it's been a few months since my last visit. I came back last night since I remember the ramen here being decent but I think it's gotten worse in quality and taste. Another reviewer mentioned the same thing where it doesn't taste as good as it used to and fewer people are coming back. I ordered the spicy tonkatsu ramen and I felt the soup was not hot but just lukewarm. The pork was not tender and only one piece making the portion size somewhat small for the $18 price. It was mostly noodles or onions in the ramen, so not much value for what you're paying. Most importantly, I ate the egg after almost finishing my bowl and it was extremely SOUR that I had a look of disgust on my face. 🤢 I've eaten at many ramen places and have had this happen only one other time at a ghetto obscure ramen location but I expected better quality from here. The egg was definitely spoiled because I puked the next morning and had some stomach issues which never happens to me after eating ramen. This place may not be hygenic with how they served me an inedible egg, and the quality is down so I will also not return here. I would recommend going to Marafuku for ramen. I've ordered takeout from them and dined in many times without any food mishaps. They also serve you a whole egg (not half like Tsuruyu) with a good amount of pork, and I've never had a sour experience with them... Marafuku has never let me down! Also Sobo Ramen which is nearby is another gem that gives you bigger ramen portions, whole egg, and has great service.

Rachel Liu

I would not recommend this place. I've gone here multiple times in the past, and it's been a few months since my last visit. I came back last night since I remember the ramen here being decent but I think it's gotten worse in quality and taste. Another reviewer mentioned the same thing where it doesn't taste as good as it used to and fewer people are coming back. I ordered the spicy tonkatsu ramen and I felt the soup was not hot but just lukewarm. The pork was not tender and only one piece making the portion size somewhat small for the $18 price. It was mostly noodles or onions in the ramen, so not much value for what you're paying. Most importantly, I ate the egg after almost finishing my bowl and it was extremely SOUR that I had a look of disgust on my face. 🤢 I've eaten at many ramen places and have had this happen only one other time at a ghetto obscure ramen location but I expected better quality from here. The egg was definitely spoiled because I puked the next morning and had some stomach issues which never happens to me after eating ramen. This place may not be hygenic with how they served me an inedible egg, and the quality is down so I will also not return here. I would recommend going to Marafuku for ramen. I've ordered takeout from them and dined in many times without any food mishaps. They also serve you a whole egg (not half like Tsuruyu) with a good amount of pork, and I've never had a sour experience with them... Marafuku has never let me down! Also Sobo Ramen which is nearby is another gem that gives you bigger ramen portions, whole egg, and has great service.