They got fried chicken sandos now and also pork belly burnt ends sandwich! I tried the lava chicken - delicious and huge! Comes w/ fries for $15. They also got a citrus honey flavor. Not sure if management has changed they redid some other things on the menu too. read more

Akasaru Ramen - Lava Chicken Sando - Ramen Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Immediately was greeted with a kind welcome. Came here with my mom who's new to these places, we loved our food. Atmosphere is very comforting! Best ramen I've ever had! read more

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I placed an instacart order for vegetarian ramen, just like I always get from you guys. I ordered the exact same thing last week and it is totally different today. From the way it was packed to the taste. The noodles are one weird stuck together glob. There should be marinated tofu slabs like there always is, but today there are 4 small, flavorless chunks tofu. The mushrooms are missing completely as well as an additional egg. The broth has much less flavor as well. I basically paid $25 for a bland bowl of noodles. Really unfortunate. read more

Location: cute but small. Menu was on the wall, must order before finding a place to sit. We ordered the coconut miso ramen and split the sweet potato fries--both were really good. The broth was rich and flavorful, and the fries were crispy with just the right amount of seasoning. read more

Akasaru Ramen - Spicy Coconut Miso Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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Not the worst ramen in Portland, but there are better ones that outshine this Akasaru. Located on NE Alberta, Akasaru adds to the diverse food profile this street has to offer. A small storefront, they are counter service with a few tables for indoor and outdoor dining. We came with a group of 6 on a Monday evening and there was plenty of seating. I opted for the brothless abu-ramen. The noodles were cooked well - chewy, al dente, and not mushy. The ramen had too much chili oil, and the taste was overpowering. The chasu pork was also a bit dry. They also offer poke bowls and rice bowls that look decent. Their price point is fair and on the cheaper end compared with other ramen restaurants in Portland. The taste and quality of Akasaru were a bit underwhelming, but a quick and casual ramen place may just hit the pot once in a blue moon! read more

Akasaru Ramen - abu-ramen - Ramen Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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I love Akasaru Ramen. I recently ordered food for delivery. The food arrived on time and hot. My food order was prepped and packaged correctly as well, with the broth separate from everything. The food was delicious. All the flavors of the food meld together so well. The noodles are good too. Would definitely recommend! read more

Akasaru Ramen - Akasaru Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Bad. This isn't Japanese ramen. My husband and I went there for lunch. We ordered two ramens and Agedashi tofu. I've had bad ramen before, but this place is one of the worst. Basically, the people cooking the ramen have no idea how to make the broth or what toppings to add. We love Japanese ramen. We've been to Japan and have lived in NYC for a long time, trying many different ramen spots and styles. You can make a bowl that looks like ramen, but you can't replicate the authentic flavor. The Agedashi tofu was just as bad--too thick batter and the sauce was too salty. If you want genuine Japanese ramen, avoid this place. This isn't it! read more

My first experience here was pretty good, though it did give me some concerns about their allergen handling. Unfortunately, my experiences since then have been inconsistent and increasingly concerning on the allergen front. I always order the exact same thing. Sometimes the ramen has veggies in it, sometimes it doesn't, and number of slices of chashu varies. With takeout, sometimes the noodles are a good texture and other times they're dry and undercooked. The one time I ordered takeout with another person, we got different broths and they were unlabeled which is particularly distressing when only one of them was gluten-free. The bowls of noodles weren't labeled either but at least I remembered the shape of the gluten-free ones from previous visits. The broths were so similar in appearance that we had to call and get the broths described to try to tell them apart, but even then, I was panicking the whole time that the identification of them might have been wrong. On top of that, depending on whether you're looking at their website, menu board, or printed menu, the contents of menu items are different, as are their allergen labels. For instance, some of their menus list the sweet potato fries as gluten free and others don't. If you don't have food allergies or intolerances to worry about, you'll probably have a pretty decent meal here, and you should give it a try. But if you, like me, have a body that struggles to digest even tiny amounts of gluten, go elsewhere. They really don't have it together on that front, and they don't seem to be making any progress, either. read more

Akasaru Ramen - Gluten-free miso ramen - Ramen Near Me - Portland, Oregon

This is one of those spots that you have and go...meh, it's ok. Take it or leave it. And then you give it months and months of space and come back again and say, meh, it's ok. I guess it's a consistent middle of the road meal for me. Usually have the edamame that doesn't have salt and is room temp. The tofu was a first to try and the mushy rubbery texture won't have me trying that again. The ahi poke bowl is pretty basic and no sauce. So I bring it home and doctor it up! The base is good, tuna tastes fresh and rice is fluffy. Saw they have a broth less ramen now. I'll have to try that next time. They have vegan options as well here and basic drinks in a can. Also have sake, beer. read more

Akasaru Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Small simple establishment with good ramen. You work up to order before seating. Spicy ramen definitely has a kick to it. A little bit more depth would be nice. But the veggie toppings are a nice touch. Fun mural on the wall! read more

Akasaru Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Portland, Oregon

It's been a couple of years since I've stopped by at Akasaru. A friend and I decided to get a takeout from there during the recent cold snap. We both ordered the spicy coconut ramen and split a side of edamame and gyoza. The broth for the ramen was as tasty as I remember it. However it was a LOT saltier than I recall. So salty that it was close to the point where I didn't want to eat it. Like I said, the flavors were right, but I'd prefer significantly less saltiness. It ruined what would otherwise be a really tasty experience. read more

There was a time when I considered this the best ramen shop in Portland. I would eat here a couple times a week and it always was amazing. Recently they changed their noodles and reduced the portion sizing. They also changed how they cook the pork I guess. It used to be slightly charred and now it seems almost steamed. The broths are still good but the noodles are pretty bad and the pork is overly chewy. Sad that it went from a place I craved to a place I don't think I'll visit much anymore. read more

great ramen and poke can be inconsistent but overall good experiences here. I like the style of service they do were you order up front. Its cute and small the bathroom is clean. read more

YUM. They were out of the ramen we wanted to try but the gal let us doll up our second choices for no extra charge which really helped soften the blow. The ramen was deliciousssss and the noodle portion was hearty! I am excited to come back here to try the coconut miso and also want to check out the poke. read more

Quick & Tasty! A little tiny ramen shop that will fill your tummy. Service was quick.! I think it took about 10-15 min for our food to come out after we ordered. The noodles were cooked perfectly. Broth was at a good temperature where you didn't have to wait for it to cool down or spend too much time blowing the heat away. Akasaru Ramen- the base of the broth is chicken with bonito dashi and the added duck fat with toasted chili just made it *chefs kiss. Spice level to me was 2/5. I liked how the flavorful broth comes out from the spice. Instead of the other way around. The torched chashu pork also gave the dish a nice smoky flavor. Red Miso- I wasn't expecting this type of flavor profile since most places just add a spice seasoning with the miso broth and call it a day. I wish they had the coconut miso though. But they had already run out for the day. Maybe when I return I get to try that one. Overall, it's not a bad place. Nothing super in your face that makes it better than other ramen spots. read more

I loved this ramen, it was very yummy. There are better ones out there but this is well priced and in a cute neighborhood, it was great. The shop is small with individual and community tables that were great for reading a book while enjoying your food. The atmosphere is quiet with a friendly staff. read more

Akasaru Ramen - Spicy Miso Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Portland, Oregon

The first time my wife ordered from Akasaru, she had it delivered via DoorDash. The second time, she had it delivered via HusbandDash. Both of these occurred within days of each other, indicating that she was pretty darn happy with her order. This meant I had to get in on the action as well, to see what I was missing out on. When it was my turn to taste their namesake dish, which came with a warning about its level of spiciness (please! do you know who I am?!), my body was ready. We ordered ahead, and once more, I drove across town to Alberta Street, arriving a few minutes early. Everyone present was incredibly friendly and conversational during my wait, in a way that has become so uncommon, it was almost alien. A sign of good things to come. I rushed home with our order, finding it to still be piping hot upon arrival and transference into proper tableware. The Akasaru ramen broth does have a fierce heat to it, almost too much for my wife, who could be heard sniffling and seen with watery eyes, but it's just perfect for me. The savory, umami combination of chicken broth, pork belly and bonito immediately warms and comforts you from the inside out. This will easily be my go-to order here, so for anyone looking for reviews of other entrées on their menu, I am sorry to say, you're going to be disappointed: I see no other reason to order anything else! Although, I've heard wonderful things about their spicy tuna poke don, and my wife has been side-eyeing the spicy coconut miso ramen, so perhaps I should hold off on carving our default order into stone. All that said, we've also sampled the side of kimchi (great! but isn't all kimchi great?!), gyoza (great!) and chicken karaage (great!), for the kids. There has never been a grumble of complaint from anyone in our house, and considering how finicky our kids can be, that's saying something. So far, we've never actually dined in the restaurant itself, since everything has been ordered and carted across town. Thus, since we're experts on ordering to-go, here's my take-away for Akasaru Ramen: don't skip this place, or you'll be Aka-sorry! read more

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Delicious and very flavorful ramen! Friendly servers and cute interior! Server was very helpful when answering our questions about the menu items as well. Definitely will be coming back to this location. read more

Akasaru Ramen - Akasaru Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Cute restaurant with a few tables and window bar seating. The menu is limited. We opted for the poke bowls (cream salmon and tuna), along with edamame and fried tofu. The poke bowls were very fresh but I missed having more of a sauce to pull all the ingredients together. The edamame was delicious! The fried tofu was soft with a light breading. The dipping sauce was pretty flavorless making the tofu also flavorless. Overall good dining experience. read more

Akasaru Ramen - Such cute interior decor! - Ramen Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Stopped by Akasaru Ramen today while exploring Alberta Street and loved it!! I got the miso ramen and the flavors were fantastic. I usually don't love pork, but the chashu pork belly was surprisingly delicious and the noodles were the perfect texture. My friend got the vegetarian ramen with gluten free noodles and said that it was top tier ramen and that the broth was fantastic! Inside, you order at the counter and then seat yourself. There are utensils and napkins at the table and you bus your own plates, so you can really eat at your own pace here. I ate my leftovers for a late night snack the same day I went because it was so tasty! read more

Akasaru Ramen - Miso Ramen (regular noodles) and Vegetarian Ramen with gluten free noodles! - Ramen Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Like others have said, the menu is definitely limited, but I don't think that's a bad thing! They know what they specialize in and from what I can tell they nail it. I had the Shoyu ramen and it was great! Rich broth, lots of meat, great noodles. It seemed a little expensive for what I got, the total coming in at $13, but I'm new to the area so maybe that's just standard. Service was great, server was super nice, and the food came out unbelievably fast. The actual space is super cute and vibes are really good. I'd recommend if you're feeling like ramen and in the area! read more

Akasaru Ramen - Shoyu Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Love their ramen and sushi burrito . The broth was different in this one vs the their Tacoma location . But everything else was exactly how i remember it . I'm for cali and look forward to visit akasaru ramen each time i come to Washington . We drove from Portland to come try this location read more

Always delicious. Love getting my miso ramen red with an extra egg. I appreciate that they have gluten free noodles! read more

Akasaru Ramen - Gluten free miso ramen red. - Ramen Near Me - Portland, Oregon

I was hopeful, but hesitant coming to this ramen place on Alberta because I've had some not-so-good ramen in Portland. I ordered the shoyu ramen and chicken karaage and was pleasantly surprised with how my food tasted. The broth was a little salty, but that's to be expected with shoyu flavor. The noodles were a perfect consistency and the toppings were decent. The size of the bowl is kinda small, but not too bad for $11. The chicken karaage was tasty, but came with so little sauce that the last couple pieces was were plain. My reason for three stars is because I waited 30 minutes for my chicken karaage to come out and another 15 minutes after that for my ramen. When my ramen finally did come to my table, I was super confused because the only toppings in it were an egg and pork. The shoyu ramen says it comes with more toppings, so I brought my bowl up to the counter and the guy who brought my food out was like "yeah we gave you the kids ramen on accident." He already knew he gave me the wrong order and didn't say anything! It's like he was hoping I wouldn't notice. So I had to wait another 10 minutes for my new bowl of ramen and wasn't given an apology or anything. Overall it was a disappointing experience. read more

I have ordered their ramen time and time again both in person and through delivery. Always a staple always delicious food. I adore their ramens especially for winter months. Service is speedy and kind, and a clean and organized establishment. Have, will, and continue to enjoy this restaurant! read more

Akasaru Ramen - Akasaru Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Portland, Oregon

This ramen wasn't the worst, but I was not impressed with it either. The flavor in the broth was fairly bland. It was a good hot temperature for takeout though. The poke bowl was a little better but still not mind blowing. Service was fine and prep time was fairly quick. read more

Akasaru Ramen - Ranen (front) and Ahi Tuna Poke Bowl (back) - Ramen Near Me - Portland, Oregon

My favorite ramen joint in Northeast. I usually get the Shoyu ramen spicy, it's the best.

Small but cozy spot. Quick service. Coconut broth was sooo tasty. Very disappointed in only receiving half of an egg? Never seen that before.....just give people a whole egg lol! The pork is very thin. Otherwise it was a tasty bowl. Edamame was extremely dry. read more

Akasaru Ramen - Coconut Miso - Ramen Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Ramen was delicious and very flavorful. GF had the Shoyu Ramen and I had the Miso. Miso was damn good. Shoyu was good as well but that Miso was soo good. I personally think the portions are perfect. Very fast service and we personally really like the QR code ordering. Made it super easy. Will be returning on our next trip to the Big Island. read more

Akasaru Ramen - Miso Green Onion Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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Honestly kind of gross. And they only give a half an egg which is strange. Mediocre service.

This ramen is so special to me, I went to school in Portland and ate here as much as I could. After leaving PDX, I often find myself remembering and craving the ramen from this place! I especially love all the extra goodies they include in their ramen (greens, pork, wontons, etc)... this is definitely something that sets them apart from other places. Love them! read more

Akasaru Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Very tasty and it was nice they had a vegan protein. We've recently gone to The Boxers ramen and I liked their broth better but no vegan protein. I would definitely recommend Akasaru again. read more

Came here upon request from a friend whose brother raved about the place. Apparently it was the ramen place to go on Alberta. Place was cute and small, seats approximately 20 people, 3 picnic benches plus window seats. Menu was relatively minimal and simple, which is nice since I get overwhelmed when menus are too big. You order at the counter than seat yourself. I ordered the Chasu Don and was underwhelmed. While the chasu pork was flavorful and juicy, the rest of the bowl, including all the toppings (yu-choi, oyster mushrooms, scallion and pickled ginger) was super dry. If not for the chasu pork, arguably the star of the dish, the rest of the bowl was mediocre and near hard to finish. My friend did tell me that in the past when she had it, it's not supposed to be this dry and that they drizzle some broth or oil into the bowl? Don't know if this is true or perhaps they forgot this time? However, it's really hard to justify paying $12 for a not so well done rice bowl... Another downside was the wait time, which was around 30 minutes. As the kitchen was backed up by an overwhelming amount of online/to go orders. Perhaps I'll give this another try sometime in the future, but don't think it'll be anytime soon as there are definitely some better and more affordable options out there. read more

Akasaru Ramen - Chashu Don - Ramen Near Me - Portland, Oregon

After trying several PDX ramen spots, I feel like I have a seasoned palate for ramen. Akasaru is a small restaurant on Alberta, overall reviews seem to be good and I liked that their broth is all chicken broth rather than pork (I don't eat pork). We walk in and the counter girl seems less than enthusiastic about her job. . we order kimchi, squid leg karaage & two ramens - spicy miso as it comes and the spicy coconut ramen no pork but add tofu. Squid legs were kind of pungent, but the flavor of the spicy mayo they were paired with masked any fishy smell/taste. They were good. Kimchi was good as well. The ramens were both underwhelming unfortunately!! Nothing to write home about and that is why I am writing a review. Ramen is ramen, but it has the option to be amazing and we just didn't love what we tried.. my guy described his ramen as "something he could make himself at home" ‍. To describe the ramen in one word it would be "mediocre" Noodles were soft, a little over cooked. We spent $39 + tip. Matcha tea latte was good I recommend that, my guy enjoyed his mango basil lemonade as well. read more

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This ramen spot has been on my list for a while. Decided to stop by here before heading to the airport. The broth was decent, not as rich as I thought it would be. Didn't know the ramen came with bean sprouts or else I would've told them not to include bean sprouts...each order comes with 1 gyoza which it took a bit to hand out despite already receiving our ramen bowls. Decent amount of protein and good amount of noodles. read more

Akasaru Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Portland, Oregon

I really loved the Akasaru Ramen. It was the perfect amount of spicy and was flavorful without feeling too heavy, as ramen can often be. The wonton was delicious and was a really nice addition to the soup. My favorite part of ramen is always the soft boiled egg, and this place did not disappoint. They also serve poke here and I will definitely have to come back to try it another time! This is a small and cute place with a couple of outdoor tables- perfect for summer & great for lunch. They also offer gluten free noodles for those of you who have allergies/sensitivities! You should absolutely give Akasaru a try :) read more

Akasaru Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Portland, Oregon

We were in Portland for a mini vacation and came here completely randomly not knowing the street or area or really anything about the ramen. Last time I had a nice big bowl of ramen was at my favorite place in Mountain View, CA over 2 years ago so its been a long minute! First off, this street is full of cool little art galleries and a fun place to walk around. Akasaru Ramen is a little hole in the wall type place, but they had 2 picnic tables outside and there was a nice breeze happening in the shade, so we were like, heck yeah! We both ordered the Akasaru ramen bowl in medium spicy. The broth was very red. There were several pieces sliced pork belly (thank goodness mine was extra fatty, YUM!) and great noodles cooked al dente, which I loved. The broth walked the fine line between perfection and fire water. I was super happy with it! But no way would I get anything spicier than medium!! Good amount of bok choi in it and half an egg. Super filling portion. I would definitely come back again if in the area. read more

Loved my Abu-ramen, service was fast and friendly. Ambient music was great and I really appreciated the ergonomics of the front bar seating!

So I think this place is great in that it's a good ramen shop in the area, but I don't necessarily think that the ramen here is the best that you can get in Portland. That honor goes to AFURI (covered in another review). Now let's talk about the positives of this place! PROS: - you pay first (not commonly found at ramen shops) - the ramen is as advertised. The broth is delicious and hearty. - its a cozy location and seating arrangement. - staff is knowledgeable about the food and their broth, a rarity for most ramen shops! CONS: - definitely not authentic tasting Japanese ramen. The noodles taste like noodles most commonly found in instant ramen. - it doesn't taste like traditional ramen (though to be fair. They don't advertise themselves to have that, so I'm not knocking them on this point, just wanted to let y'all know) - you pay first (both a pro and con.) con because you're asked to tip after you pay, but you can't really judge the tip without given service yet hahaha. Anyways, I think this ramen shop is fine the way it is. It's a non-traditional take on ramen, and it's fulfilling. It's certainly not terrible, but it's not something to write home about. You can get in, order, pay, eat, and get out within 30 minutes. I recommend going here if you're not down to wait at AFURI, or don't care for traditional tasting ramen. read more

Akasaru Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Ordered Miso Ramen. It was just ok... nothing special at all. Had to add a few shakes of Soy Sauce and Schiracha just to have some flavor. Also, Mexican music blasting pretty loud... doesn't really inspire confidence in terms of Ramen makers. read more