Sobo Ramen

Thomas Buckland

The food here was damn good! We wanted ramen for our last night on our business trip. We decided to try this place despite the 3.5 rating on Yelp. The place was pretty empty at 530pm. Servers were prompt and polite, answering questions and giving recommendations when asked. We ordered steamed gyoza and three ramen dishes. I ordered the country ramen, amazing flavor and mild spice. My coworkers ordered the Tonkotsu with Tonkatsu and Sobo ramen with chicken and spicy - way too spicy for my liking but my coworker loved it. I'd love to come again on my next trip!

Frederick Regala

My family and I love this place. We eat here at least once a month, perhaps more during cold season. The broth is very good particularly the spicy black tonkotsu. Meat is just right and the whole bowl is simple, just how ramen should be. A simple comfort food. My wife and I have been in many ramen places around the Bay Area that are ranked or rated high on several sites and even from TV food shows and I can honestly say that Sobo Ramen is among the best we have tasted. I just wish there are more options for appetizers but we love it here! We are regulars here by now and we are welcomed here like family each time we eat at Sobo Ramen. It is SOBOlicious!!!

Brian Wilborn

Pretty darn good. Had the spicy black ramen, chicken gyoza and a pork cutlet. All of the food was excellent and right sized portions. The atmosphere was cozy (I ate at the bar) and the service was pleasant. I would definitely eat here again.

Andy Hakopian

Very impressed! First time here. Great atmosphere, great friendly service, great food. I liked the changing menu choices. We had lamb skewers, roasted garlic charshu ramen, and curry chicken n mushrooms ramen. They have a large selection of sake n beer. The place is decorated very creatively.

Ajinkya Taware

I so love this ramen. I find this as the best ramen in all of Oakland. Their broth is chicken based, just the way I like and I especially like the miso flavored broth, but the shoyu is good too. I would skip on the shio broth, but that's just my taste. The food quality is awesome and the taste is always on point, no matter what day you come, it's always consistent. Definitely a must try. Side note: They never have the gluten free ramen, so do not expect them to have that even though their menu might indicate otherwise since it might not be updated.

Maryrose Sweeting

Took a party of 7 in for my son’s birthday. This was my first visit but was recommended by my daughter. The food was delicious, and the service was great.

ZorTroN Industries

Great place to eat ramen!! It's a family place with Japanese modern decoration. I ordered a minced pork ramen and it was great. They have many options for drink too like cocktails, beers, sake... The service was very fast, nice and helpful. Price of the ramen around 15 dollars.

Great ramen and kids bento. Serves beer, sake etc. It has its own restroom inside the restaurant.

if you're craving legit ramen that doesn't break the bank but still feels special, Sabi--er, Sobo Ramen--is one of the best in the East Bay. Easily top-tier. 10/10 would smash again, no cap. Go get that bowl, you won't regret it! Ambience is cozy as hell. It's got that intimate, low-key Japanese ramen shop feel--nothing fancy, but warm lighting, clean setup, and it doesn't feel cramped even when busy. Perfect for solo slurping, a quick date, or grabbing with friends. In the heart of Oakland's Chinatown/Pacific Renaissance spot, it's easy to get to and feels authentic without being stuffy.

We tried this place for the first time a few months ago, and we keep coming back for the spicy black garlic ramen and the spicy miso ramen. The ramen is consistently delicious, and we like the chicken gyoza and yogurt soju too. The space is relaxing and the server is friendly. Can’t recommend enough.

Jacob Regier

We tried this place for the first time a few months ago, and we keep coming back for the spicy black garlic ramen and the spicy miso ramen. The ramen is consistently delicious, and we like the chicken gyoza and yogurt soju too. The space is relaxing and the server is friendly. Can’t recommend enough.

Used to go to this place for lunch all the time. Got the spicy miso ramen. Noodles are homemade, thin and somewhat al dented. Great texture. Char siu was tender and delicious. They had two types of char siu in the bowl. Mushrooms have good texture. The seaweed and green onion garnish take it over the top. Broth was a tad over reduced this time. Maybe it's just been a while

The food was good and had great flavor. Can you really say there's such thing as bad ramen? The staff was nice. I went just before the lunch craze so service was rather fast. The decor is nice, and the restaurant is clean. It's a bit tucked away in the shadows. Judging by what I ordered and what I got, it could be considered a bit expensive. The menu has several options, yet at the same time not overly complicated.

Clean place serving delicious food! You can choose your own ingredients for your bowl of Ramen. Parking entrance is right next to the restaurant!

Came here on a cold Sunday night craving some ramen. The line was out the door, but luckily we were a party of two and there was some bar seats available, so our wait was about 10 minutes. Once we were seated, our order was taken relatively quickly and the ramen came soon after. The broth was hot and flavorful, the noodles was very chewy and cooked al dente, and everything else in it was great. I can't think of anything bad with the place except for the wait if you have a party more than two.

Patrick Okubo

Used to go to this place for lunch all the time. Got the spicy miso ramen. Noodles are homemade, thin and somewhat al dented. Great texture. Char siu was tender and delicious. They had two types of char siu in the bowl. Mushrooms have good texture. The seaweed and green onion garnish take it over the top. Broth was a tad over reduced this time. Maybe it's just been a while

Dave C

The food was good and had great flavor. Can you really say there's such thing as bad ramen? The staff was nice. I went just before the lunch craze so service was rather fast. The decor is nice, and the restaurant is clean. It's a bit tucked away in the shadows. Judging by what I ordered and what I got, it could be considered a bit expensive. The menu has several options, yet at the same time not overly complicated.

Erik H

Clean place serving delicious food! You can choose your own ingredients for your bowl of Ramen. Parking entrance is right next to the restaurant!

Alan W.

Came here on a cold Sunday night craving some ramen. The line was out the door, but luckily we were a party of two and there was some bar seats available, so our wait was about 10 minutes. Once we were seated, our order was taken relatively quickly and the ramen came soon after. The broth was hot and flavorful, the noodles was very chewy and cooked al dente, and everything else in it was great. I can't think of anything bad with the place except for the wait if you have a party more than two.

Highly recommended. I came for a late lunch/early dinner before they closed for the later afternoon. Was a bit worried that given the timing, food wouldn’t be was good, but turned out nothing to fear. I had the agadashi tofu appetizer which was nicely done, crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. The spicy miso was also tasty l, noodles, pork and veggies. The background jazz was also soothing. Will be back.

Grabbed dinner to go. Best Ramen we have experienced in Oakland. It's a little of the main route. Maybe that's because we don't know the city that we'll yet. We will visit again.

Frank Rinaldi

Highly recommended. I came for a late lunch/early dinner before they closed for the later afternoon. Was a bit worried that given the timing, food wouldn’t be was good, but turned out nothing to fear. I had the agadashi tofu appetizer which was nicely done, crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. The spicy miso was also tasty l, noodles, pork and veggies. The background jazz was also soothing. Will be back.

James falls

Grabbed dinner to go. Best Ramen we have experienced in Oakland. It's a little of the main route. Maybe that's because we don't know the city that we'll yet. We will visit again.

I came in for some ramen and instead of ordering the fatty pork ramen, I tried the black garlic ramen. I normally eat medium spicy but this was a bit spicier than that. The ramen noodles were a bit undercooked for me, chewier than Al dente. The soft boiled egg was definitely hard boiled. Also the fatty part of the chasu was nice and tender but the no fatty part was very dry and tough. The chicken karage was well fried but I didn’t like the yuzu aioli.

Wilson Tsang

I came in for some ramen and instead of ordering the fatty pork ramen, I tried the black garlic ramen. I normally eat medium spicy but this was a bit spicier than that. The ramen noodles were a bit undercooked for me, chewier than Al dente. The soft boiled egg was definitely hard boiled. Also the fatty part of the chasu was nice and tender but the no fatty part was very dry and tough. The chicken karage was well fried but I didn’t like the yuzu aioli.

Not sure if I came at a bad time but this place was extremely underwhelming. I ordered the black garlic mayu ramen and it came out lukewarm. The broth/chashu had no depth or flavor. Also ordered the chicken gyoza which had what seemed to be like chili garlic bits on top which tasted far too burnt to enjoy. Definitely not worth checking this place out with so many other options for ramen in the area. Kudos to the server though. She was the only one on during the lunch rush and was holding it down pretty well.

Joe Seo

Not sure if I came at a bad time but this place was extremely underwhelming. I ordered the black garlic mayu ramen and it came out lukewarm. The broth/chashu had no depth or flavor. Also ordered the chicken gyoza which had what seemed to be like chili garlic bits on top which tasted far too burnt to enjoy. Definitely not worth checking this place out with so many other options for ramen in the area. Kudos to the server though. She was the only one on during the lunch rush and was holding it down pretty well.

I recently ordered the Glazed Pork Belly Ramen from Soba Ramen, hoping for a satisfying meal. Unfortunately, I have to give this place a one-star review. The Tonkotsu broth in the ramen was mediocre at best, lacking the depth of flavor I had expected. The glazed pork belly, a key component of the dish, was surprisingly flavorless, which was a major letdown. To add to my disappointment, the choice of pickled red onions as a garnish seemed out of place and didn't enhance the overall taste. Moreover, the ramen was overpriced for what it offered, leaving me underwhelmed. The toppings were peculiar, and the noodles had an unfortunate mushy texture. Considering the hefty price tag of $19, I was honestly expecting a more generous selection of toppings, such as bean sprouts or mushrooms, to complement the dish and justify the cost. Unfortunately, my first experience with Soba Ramen left me feeling unsatisfied and disappointed.

Alice Hou

I recently ordered the Glazed Pork Belly Ramen from Soba Ramen, hoping for a satisfying meal. Unfortunately, I have to give this place a one-star review. The Tonkotsu broth in the ramen was mediocre at best, lacking the depth of flavor I had expected. The glazed pork belly, a key component of the dish, was surprisingly flavorless, which was a major letdown. To add to my disappointment, the choice of pickled red onions as a garnish seemed out of place and didn't enhance the overall taste. Moreover, the ramen was overpriced for what it offered, leaving me underwhelmed. The toppings were peculiar, and the noodles had an unfortunate mushy texture. Considering the hefty price tag of $19, I was honestly expecting a more generous selection of toppings, such as bean sprouts or mushrooms, to complement the dish and justify the cost. Unfortunately, my first experience with Soba Ramen left me feeling unsatisfied and disappointed.

Michael Bries

I only got the classic pork ramen. It lacked the usual ramen that you can taste any where that has ramen. I asked for hot Sake and it was cold. After the subpar service and food, they wanted a tip. I gave a tip worthy of their service. Overall, just not a fan.