Rural Ramen Bar

One of the best ramen I have ever tried. Great deal.

The broth of the chicken ramen was life giving on this windy spring afternoon. It had depth and flavor in every bite. My partner got the shrimp pad Thai which was also very good. I highly recommend this place if you are looking for tasty food that will warm you up!

Tonkotsu Ramen is great, kakuni(braised pork) is so soft that almost melt in your mouth, the broth is very rich and tasty. Spicy miso ramen is also good, chachu pork is so good(but not as good as the kakuni)

+1

Excellent food and service in a convenient location. On the border of Nob Hill and Chinatown this new Ramen bar features appetizers, 3 types of Ramen and assorted other dishes. The young fresh coconut was really amazing and worth the $6. I enjoyed the location on Powell and the sturdy parklet. The service was fast and friendly. Highly reccomend and plan to be back soon. I wish them the best of luck in obtaining their license to serve Beer & wine. Cheers

Delicious tonkotsu ramen and chicken katsu. The pork and broth were excellent, as was the chicken. We found the katsu sauce to be sweeter than expected, but still really enjoyed it. The portions are generous and service was friendly and fast. It was quite empty on a Sunday evening, but this didn’t affect how tasty and filling everything was. Thank you!!

We’ve been to the Rural Ramen Bar 3 times now and love the Niwa Ramen. As vegetarians/vegans, it’s sometimes hard to find a decent ramen option but the Niwa delivers every time. For the portion size, the price is worth it and much lower than other ramen restaurants in the city. Make sure to ask for the Homemade Spicy Sauce since the broth by itself isn’t too spicy. Would definitely recommend. Follow for more on Instagram @roamingreina

+1

Honestly fire and filling ramen! We came towards the beginning of the night on a Saturday and it was quiet (which was nice). Great portion of pork belly, I couldn't finish it all!

The tonkotsu ramen was rich and flavorful, and the staff were attentive without being intrusive. The warm atmosphere makes it the perfect spot for a comforting meal. Highly recommended!

My neighbor (Shree) and I just ate at Rural Ramen Bar and it was perfect! The food was nicely portioned and the price is very fair. One of my favorite aspects of the restaurant was their outdoor seating; it was very well done. This place will definitely go into the rotation!!! Be sure to go visit Polly and her family and they’ll take good care of you!

Great new casual spot for delicious ramens 🍜 Stumbled upon it when walking my dog and decided to give it a shot. We ate outside, they have a small but efficient parklet with a partial view on the water 🌊 I tried the Tonkotsu ramen and my hubby the spicy miso. The noodles are homemade and the broth is thick and creamy. Yummy!

Great experience overall. Friendly and attentive staff. Chill environment. Great food. The Tonkotsu ramen and Sayuri Nigori Sake are both pictured.

Passed by two other ramen places to get here. This place was well worth it. As others have noted, the Tonkotsu Ramen is incredibly delicious and filling. Quaint, relaxing atmosphere and excellent service. Definitely will be marked a favorite.

Great tonkotsu Ramen, the rural signature noodle is spot on with a nice kick, and pad thai is legit. Also if your keto the tuna poke is a great option.

+5

My fiancé and I visited Rural Ramen on New Year’s Day while spending a couple of days in San Francisco, and it was a highlight of our trip. The ramen was absolutely delicious—while we’re no experts, this was hands down the best tonkotsu ramen we’ve ever had. The ambience was warm and pleasant, and the service was excellent from start to finish. We also tried the flavored nigiri in strawberry and pineapple, which were a fun and tasty surprise, along with the shrimp tempura, which was perfectly cooked. We’d definitely come back and highly recommend this spot! 🍜

Great ramen, quick service and chill jazz music. I’ve been on a mission to hit all of SFs ramen places and this one is very good. I got the Tonkatsu Ramen and it was creamy, rich, and it had a huge portion of meat (more than any other ramen place I’ve been to) the slices were thick and tender. The noodles are flavorful and had the perfect texture. I also ordered the geso karage, which was pretty decent but I think a bit overcooked (more chewiness than I’d like). Would definitely come again.

First time here with my wife and she has never had Japanese cuisine and she loved it. The ambient is calm and it's definitely a vibe. The waiter is very nice and welcoming.

Cute little spot with great ramen! The broth was flavorful, portions were adequate, and prices were reasonable. The staff were friendly and welcoming, making it a pleasant dining experience. Definitely recommend if you’re in the area

Was looking up ramen and we decided on this place. The noodles are my favorite part of this deliciousness soup! The coconut was perfect too. Will have to come back and try different ones. My friend who is vegan liked it too. Fast and friendly service too.

Loved it. Delicious. Quick service and the waitress was very sweet.

Lovely spot, tasty ramen, super fast and friendly service. The menu is short — which is always a good sign!

The BEST ramen we’ve had!! Broth was perfectly seasoned and all Ingredients tasted fresh. Salad and appetizers were also very delicious. Waiter was friendly and attentive. Lunch special was a great deal.

This was a great place to get some ramen. The mood inside is really sweet. They have a soft purple lights on that really help set a mood. The green tea was very good. My sister and I both loved it. The ramen was hot, filling, and very tasty. I thoroughly enjoyed the notes of ginger in my Tonkotsu ramen. The pork belly tasted like it was seasoned and seared on a grill and only added more flavor to the ramen. Definitely recommend if you're in the area.

Very calm and relaxing atmosphere for your ramen and Curry crave. Only one waiter so patients is of the essence, not very big party friendly but luckily ours was able to find a table.

We found rural ramen bar because we wanted something warm on a rainy day and we were not disappointed! The spicy miso was super spicy without being salty and the tori paitan was sooo creamy. They were perfect to order together! The ramen portions are huge and the pork and chicken chashu in the ramen was giant too. I've never seen chashu that big before lol The poke salad was fresh and the chicken katsu curry was juicy and crispy too. My partner thought the curry was a little sweet but I thought it was just right and helped calm the spiciness from the spicy ramen lol The staff was very friendly and the food came out quickly. The perfect ramen spot!

Fantastic ramen! We had the Tonkotsu ramen, which tastes delicious and the pork was especially flavorful and tender. Came out to $37 for two people. Service was fast and friendly, and took us about 10 min to receive our food after ordering.

While en route to Fisherman's Wharf, our cable car happened to pass by this ramen shop. Uncertain of what to anticipate, we were pleasantly surprised to discover that it was the finest ramen establishment we had the pleasure of visiting in San Francisco. The service was prompt, the ambiance cozy, and the cuisine delectable, evoking memories of Japan.

I took my boyfriend here to eat, and we both loved how the restaurant looked. Everything on the menu was priced fairly well and the food did not disappoint. Our server was attentive and our food came very quickly. I loved the way our food was presented to us especially the drinks. We were the only ones in the restaurant at 6pm but it should be tried out more. Definitely coming back.

I like my choice! It was a delicious and honest Porck belly Ramen!!

My new favorite ramen 🍜 in SF! I appreciate that the Niwa is vegan as is and doesn't need any additions (but I still asked for extra tofu for the protein 💪). Delicious broth and the noodles are perfect. My only complaint would be that the bok choy was a little hard to eat, but that's so minor because otherwise it's amazing. Order a young coconut 🥥 and it comes with both a compostable straw (no plastic here!) plus a spoon to scoop the meat. Polite service and very relaxed atmosphere with cute decorations. I will absolutely be back and recommend this to others.

Byron Osborne

My fiancé and I visited Rural Ramen on New Year’s Day while spending a couple of days in San Francisco, and it was a highlight of our trip. The ramen was absolutely delicious—while we’re no experts, this was hands down the best tonkotsu ramen we’ve ever had. The ambience was warm and pleasant, and the service was excellent from start to finish. We also tried the flavored nigiri in strawberry and pineapple, which were a fun and tasty surprise, along with the shrimp tempura, which was perfectly cooked. We’d definitely come back and highly recommend this spot! 🍜

Ryan Venegas

Great ramen, quick service and chill jazz music. I’ve been on a mission to hit all of SFs ramen places and this one is very good. I got the Tonkatsu Ramen and it was creamy, rich, and it had a huge portion of meat (more than any other ramen place I’ve been to) the slices were thick and tender. The noodles are flavorful and had the perfect texture. I also ordered the geso karage, which was pretty decent but I think a bit overcooked (more chewiness than I’d like). Would definitely come again.

Kevin Clift

First time here with my wife and she has never had Japanese cuisine and she loved it. The ambient is calm and it's definitely a vibe. The waiter is very nice and welcoming.

Brandon Cable

Cute little spot with great ramen! The broth was flavorful, portions were adequate, and prices were reasonable. The staff were friendly and welcoming, making it a pleasant dining experience. Definitely recommend if you’re in the area

Raul Piscoya

Was looking up ramen and we decided on this place. The noodles are my favorite part of this deliciousness soup! The coconut was perfect too. Will have to come back and try different ones. My friend who is vegan liked it too. Fast and friendly service too.

Alex R

This was a great place to get some ramen. The mood inside is really sweet. They have a soft purple lights on that really help set a mood. The green tea was very good. My sister and I both loved it. The ramen was hot, filling, and very tasty. I thoroughly enjoyed the notes of ginger in my Tonkotsu ramen. The pork belly tasted like it was seasoned and seared on a grill and only added more flavor to the ramen. Definitely recommend if you're in the area.

Laura B

Loved it. Delicious. Quick service and the waitress was very sweet.

Jmayorga

The BEST ramen we’ve had!! Broth was perfectly seasoned and all Ingredients tasted fresh. Salad and appetizers were also very delicious. Waiter was friendly and attentive. Lunch special was a great deal.

Kristina Femal

My new favorite ramen 🍜 in SF! I appreciate that the Niwa is vegan as is and doesn't need any additions (but I still asked for extra tofu for the protein 💪). Delicious broth and the noodles are perfect. My only complaint would be that the bok choy was a little hard to eat, but that's so minor because otherwise it's amazing. Order a young coconut 🥥 and it comes with both a compostable straw (no plastic here!) plus a spoon to scoop the meat. Polite service and very relaxed atmosphere with cute decorations. I will absolutely be back and recommend this to others.

Ivan Martinez

A rare find along Powell Street. Their Tonkotsu Ramen is packed with tasty toppings and broth. The smoked pork belly meat gives the broth a unique creamy texture. Had an amazing experience trying their crunchy Enoki Tempura appetizer.

ElNinioRio

Very calm and relaxing atmosphere for your ramen and Curry crave. Only one waiter so patients is of the essence, not very big party friendly but luckily ours was able to find a table.

Sam Lee

We found rural ramen bar because we wanted something warm on a rainy day and we were not disappointed! The spicy miso was super spicy without being salty and the tori paitan was sooo creamy. They were perfect to order together! The ramen portions are huge and the pork and chicken chashu in the ramen was giant too. I've never seen chashu that big before lol The poke salad was fresh and the chicken katsu curry was juicy and crispy too. My partner thought the curry was a little sweet but I thought it was just right and helped calm the spiciness from the spicy ramen lol The staff was very friendly and the food came out quickly. The perfect ramen spot!

James Patterson

Fantastic ramen! We had the Tonkotsu ramen, which tastes delicious and the pork was especially flavorful and tender. Came out to $37 for two people. Service was fast and friendly, and took us about 10 min to receive our food after ordering.

Mycah Midem

While en route to Fisherman's Wharf, our cable car happened to pass by this ramen shop. Uncertain of what to anticipate, we were pleasantly surprised to discover that it was the finest ramen establishment we had the pleasure of visiting in San Francisco. The service was prompt, the ambiance cozy, and the cuisine delectable, evoking memories of Japan.

Hilario Dez

I took my boyfriend here to eat, and we both loved how the restaurant looked. Everything on the menu was priced fairly well and the food did not disappoint. Our server was attentive and our food came very quickly. I loved the way our food was presented to us especially the drinks. We were the only ones in the restaurant at 6pm but it should be tried out more. Definitely coming back.

Olga Clark

I like my choice! It was a delicious and honest Porck belly Ramen!!

Service was great, but honestly the portions were pretty small and the ramen wasn't the best I've had. I've paid less for a bigger bowl before. I got the gyoza and the vegetable ramen. I'd check out Izza Ramen instead.

Please take this 4/5 with a grain of salt. We ordered two Tonkotsu ramen. The noodles were firm (good texture). The pork belly aren’t as thick as some ramen place but they were prepped and smoked well. The eggs were a little overcooked so I hope they get that iron out. The broth wasn’t what we expected.. is it due to the Asian fusion concept or our taste buds? The pickled ginger was a little overpowering as well. However, this could boil down to personal preference hence my comment about taking my rating with a grain of salt. I do want to point out the female server’s level of attentiveness. I dropped a wadded straw wrapper when I fished something out of my pocket. I didn’t immediately pick it up like I should have but it was gone within the next couple minutes. Note: they did not kick us out or comment on the drinks we brought in. Some places are strict but they didn’t seem to mind.

I have never seen enoki mushroom tempura anywhere else. I love enoki mushroom 🍄 so much so that deserves ⭐ we went a Tuesday lunch time, btw they closes at 2:30 once, there was no customers besides us. I think the location is a bit of enemy to this ramen place. yes, that hill. from the financial district,cues, that hill. this place isn't huge place but good space between booth and tables. I wasn't sure if this is Asian owner or Japanese owner. I gotta tell you this is really important. if you are a ramen lover, you know what I mean 🍜 enoki mushroom tempura .... yeah, it is like facehugger from alien movie. I ordered shoyu ramen. omg I've been plenty ramen places but besides one I know of, ramen noodle is straight type, not curly one you usually see ramen noodles. I believe it's called "chu-ka soba" more Chinese traditional type and nama type which isn't frozen dry type. soup isn't a strong point. maybe less tasty? but it was okay. if soup is a bit more hot, it could get 5 ⭐ I don't know why renge, soup spoon, is metal like a dental equipment but star ⭐⭐⭐⭐ total. putting an extra napkin without asking at ramen place is what I judge the most places like a ramen bar, some alcohol served, sake, asahi etc

Totally empty on a Tuesday afternoon at lunch time, but that is not a bad thing. The food is pretty average fare, again not a bad thing. The curry with chicken and rice is pretty good. If you stop by, be sure to also stop on at the cable car museum a block over.

John Gravener

Totally empty on a Tuesday afternoon at lunch time, but that is not a bad thing. The food is pretty average fare, again not a bad thing. The curry with chicken and rice is pretty good. If you stop by, be sure to also stop on at the cable car museum a block over.

Nice in an antiseptic way for s place called Rural. Limited menu, but a nice relaxed spot between North Beach/Chinatown 1/2 way up the northeast side of Nob Hill. A nice spot to have a bowl of ramen, and a good place to catch up with someone that doesn't mind plastic menus and slurping

Joseph Sekula

Nice in an antiseptic way for s place called Rural. Limited menu, but a nice relaxed spot between North Beach/Chinatown 1/2 way up the northeast side of Nob Hill. A nice spot to have a bowl of ramen, and a good place to catch up with someone that doesn't mind plastic menus and slurping

I want to start with two caveats. First is that I am a ramen snob. When I rate ramen restaurants, I'm comparing them to the best ramen I've had. And I've had a lot. The second is that this is not bad ramen. If you are in the area and you're looking for ramen, this will hit the spot, especially on a cool day. That said, reading the reviews of the tonkotsu ramen, I can't help but conclude that the quality has declined over the years. The pork truly is delicious and was the most outstanding part of the ramen. The broth was too thin and a bit bland. A good tonkotsu broth should have a rich mouth feel from the collagen from the simmering bones. This broth was more like a standard soup broth. It had a creamy appearance, but the texture and flavor weren't there. The noodles were also just fine They were a touch overcooked; they had no chew to them. And because the broth was thin, the noodles tasted bland because they didn't get that thin coating of broth that I look for. So all in all, I was happy with my experience because I was in the area on a cool day and was in the mood for ramen. But this is definitely not a place I would come out of my way for.

The people are very nice but the food was just ok. The chicken katsu curry sauce was too sweet and the chicken was tough. Not horrible at all but not great by any means.

Very mid. I don't know if other reviewers just don't know what good ramen tastes like or if they only know how to write nice boy reviews but this place was definitely not a 5 star kind of place. Broth was pretty flavorless. Biggest let down tbh. Toppings were there. The chasu was the best part, thicc boi cuts. Egg was overcooked. Noodles were fine. Had lots of ginger which is good if you like that but can be a bit much. Karaage was good too but again nothing special. Sauce had very little to add to the chicken. Overall not bad per se but definitely a 3.7/5 max. $40 for ramen, chicken and a beer.

I got the lunch set with an appetizer of chicken karake, a salad, and a bowl of spicy miso ramen. I really enjoyed the salad and chicken karake with my strawberry sweet sake. The ramen soup was a bit too thick and strong for my liking and the pork belly is slightly tough. I love the chill and comfortable feeling in the restaurant.

Penny Gaffney

I got the lunch set with an appetizer of chicken karake, a salad, and a bowl of spicy miso ramen. I really enjoyed the salad and chicken karake with my strawberry sweet sake. The ramen soup was a bit too thick and strong for my liking and the pork belly is slightly tough. I love the chill and comfortable feeling in the restaurant.

Am

The people are very nice but the food was just ok. The chicken katsu curry sauce was too sweet and the chicken was tough. Not horrible at all but not great by any means.

The ramen here is really mid. If you have to get a meal on this particular block then ok. But if you have options, most other ramen spots are better

Rating 1 star for the bad service I went to Rural Ramen Bar for dinner, and unfortunately, the experience wasn’t great. First, I had to wait to be seated, which I didn’t mind too much. But once I sat down, no one brought a menu—I had to ask. It took quite a while before they even took my order, which made the whole start slow and frustrating. The food itself was fine, but when I got my bill, I saw I’d been charged $2 for a spicy sauce without any prior mention. It felt sneaky. Then, after paying, I simply asked for a glass of water, and the server refused saying they were already late in closing. It was 7:51 and so I asked what time do you close and he said 8:00. Just didn’t care! Overall, the service felt slow and unwelcoming. I’d hoped for a much better experience.