We dined in early Sunday afternoon. Service was the absolute best!! Started w the miso cake because as the server said, Live your dreams! Had the wings, tater tots and 2 different ramen, everything was perfect! read more

This was my first time visiting Alkaline since they moved out of the Pendulum location. Definitely much more space and seating in the new place! Parking is better, but still busy and tight, as it's in a shopping plaza with a Farm Fresh. We arrived right around 6pm, and thankfully we were seated right away... a slew of people arrived shortly thereafter and had to wait a bit. Anyway, our server was prompt and courteous, and was quick to bring our appetizers out. We ordered the okonomiyaki tater tots and the dinuguan nachos. I love the bonito flakes they add to the tots, both for the smokiness and the visual flair :) The dinuguan nachos were tasty but I would love more vinegar flavor in it. We also had the tonkotsu ramen and grilled short ribs with kimchi (can you tell we were hungry?!) The flavor of the ramen was flavorful, the short ribs were nice and tender, and I loved the tart fermented-ness of the kimchi. Will definitely be back soon! read more

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Great Ramen! But I wish they have selections! The pork in the ramen tasted like Hawaiian Kalua pork. Chicken appetizer is really good you can customize them with sauce or without! Not fond of the tater tots appetizer, the menu is really different Like: sisig and dinuguan nachos! Did not tried it but its probably interesting. read more

i've never had pho so i tried this place for the first time last night and i can definitely say this place is gonna become a go to for me read more

Alkaline - Shoyu Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

Absolutely love this place! We went back at their pop up location and it was delicious. Now they have their own location and have a much larger menu. We had to try multiple things so we did and we will return to try the rest. Our group had a bowl of ramen each.(four of us in total) I personally had the beef ramen with was some of the best broth I have ever tasted. We ordered the tater tots, the wings, the Korean bbq ribs, and a few mixed beverages from the bar. Not one of us was disappointed in the food and the service was on top of their game! There was already an hour wait when we arrived which was not too late past their opening. It was worth the wait but they were able to call us in almost a half an hour earlier than expected. Congratulations on the new location, cannot wait to try more! read more

The ramen is great. They put a lot of time and effort into this bowl and it doesn't go unnoticed. The service is fast, the drinks at the new bar are great. I'm excited to see what the future of this place holds. read more

Alkaline - Ramen Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

I had the sticky wings and they were super crunchy, but mostly breeding. The flavor was pretty good though. My friend had the salmon and although it was a bit underdone she said it was good. read more

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It's really not good. It's a fusion modern place, which is fine, it just didn't taste good.

WOW!! Best. Ramen. In HR!! I had a rare craving for Ramen and had heard of Alkaline and wanted to give it a try. I took the 45 min drive from the ocean front in VB to get in on this tasty Ramen. I didn't find that parking was an issue, they do have a small parking lot in front of the building, but there is plenty of parking on Colley, the side streets, and parking lot next door towards the back. We got there around quarter to 8pm and there was a 45 min wait. The restaurant is small, being that it is in a butcher shop so seating was a little limited. The place was packed and more and more people were coming to eat as well. I waited on the porch until called. By the time I was called to be seated, the front porch was pretty full of waiting hungry guests. Once seated, it didn't take long to figure out what I wanted. I ordered the Shoyu Ramen, which was a soy/chicken broth with pulled pork, a sous vide egg, pickled ginger, nori strip, and a cute little fish cake. I also added pork belly.. BEST. DECISION. EVERRRR!! The Ramen came out quite quickly, and after the long wait it was ohhhh so satisfying to finally have it in front of me. Presentation was on point, everything looked really fresh and tasty... AND IT WAS!! The broth was so good and the longer the delicious ingredients sat in it, the better it tasted. The broth had a nice salty, not too salty, and savory flavor, the expected flavor from chicken broth but with added flavor; smokey, porky flavor from the pulled pork, onion flavor from scallions, the nori added a sea-flavor that was very appealing, the pickled ginger gave a crisp and refreshing ginger flavor as well, and that pork belly added to the flavor really adding that fatty, meaty, umami flavor that's oh so desirable! The pork belly was also very crispy and tender to be nestled in liquid but hey I'm not complaining it was the best pork belly I have every had!! I really enjoyed the sous vide egg too, once broken it was creamy and wonderful addition to the dish, it's definitely necessary in this dish! The noodles were also amazing!! Perfect chew and absorbed the AHHHHMAZING flavor of the broth. I can honestly say this was by far the best Ramen experience I ever had! I never thought that I'd have such an obsession over a bowl of ramen but hey, things happen and in this case for the better! I will be back and I would love to try the other various options as well. This place is a must try!! read more

Alkaline - Shoyu Ramen with crispy pork belly! ADDICTING!! - Ramen Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

Not good anymore. When they used to be at the old location the food tasted better. Now everything is rushed and made very quickly. Not much time put into seasoning the food or cooking it enough. This isn't a sushi bar! read more

My favorite ramen place!! Great service,(Chris) and excellent broth.. Needs to have a few more items on menu!!

Red Thai curry ramen and tonkotsu were a ok but not good, beef broth something ramen tastes like straight soy sauce. As a Japanese grew up on ramen in japan, this place is another disappointment :( read more

Food so good, you melt into the flavors. Nachos and ramen. Got chill hip hop in the background and cocktails so right it will set your night off. read more

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Spontaneously decided to go here. I've heard of it's popularity but I was never in Norfolk at the time they opened, but today was my lucky day. Went on a Monday at around 6pm and it wasn't crowded and had ample parking. Ambience had a hipster/rustic vibe and they had music playing from a record player. Noise level was calm and casual. They sat us down in the community table right in the center. I ordered tonkotsu ramen (~$12) and they split it for me and my boyfriend. Presentation was lovely and the wait was not long at all. The taste was even better. Alkaline definitely impressed me, and I would come back. Highly recommend. read more

Alkaline - tonkotsu ramen split in half. - Ramen Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

Albsolute worst experience I've ever had in a restaurant. Management/service is garbage. They forced out a family of 6 that were waiting before we arrived, and we were seated, ate, and received our check and that family was still waiting and never helped. They were clearly there for over an hour because we were there at least that long. The hostess straight up lied to them about the seating issues and they had to leave without eating which is pathetic. Their food is highly overpriced. Better flavor from a packet of .25 Top Ramen. Definitely not worth the wait or the hefty bill that follows a subpar meal. I'm just sorry for the family that had to leave with their kids after waiting for so long. They were pretty upset and understandably so. Ridiculous. They should consider new staff and management. We won't be back. read more

It's the top ramen stop in Norfolk! Not a huge fusion fan but I think this place does a great job! I always get their veggie ramen and I got their taters which were soooo good. My one qualm is I wish their menu would expand to more Japanese cuisines! read more

Incredibly underwhelming. I had high hopes this place might compare to a respectable ramen restaurant. It does not. To begin with, it would be inaccurate to call what they serve here "ramen" as their interpretation of it is inaccurate at best and lacks about half of the ingredients that are called for in even basic Ramen. No bean sprouts, no black mushroom, not enough scallions and...NO PORK BELLY? These hicks serve tonkotsu ramen with PULLED PORK. That is like calling a sirloin steak filet mignonette- same animal, VERY different meats. But the ultimate insult to the dish they are trying to imitate has to be the broth. Watery would be a generous description. Flavorless would be more accurate. To top this all off, their prices are ridiculous! $15 for a bowl of disappointment? I won't be back. PS the noodles suck too (very thin) read more

Amazing food! Always satisfies my tummy...recommend for all ramen lovers! I do miss the old location it had such a warm welcoming to it, but the new location has a nice sleek look! read more

Amazing. Alkaline completely changed my view on ramen. I haven't had any type of ramen since college, and since that's considered a typical "college food," ramen just didn't appeal to me. Alkaline has easily become one of my fave restaurants in the area. The staff is so nice and the food is DELICIOUS. Flavorful and filling! The only reason I'm giving it 4 stars instead of 5 is because the waiting area is a bit small. Alkaline is currently a pop-up inside Pendulum Fine Meats, so this is understandable; but during our long waits sometimes, the space can be a little inconvenient, especially during the winter time. Other than that, I definitely recommend this place!!! read more

Alkaline - Ramen Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

Really good ramen, it looks good and taste just as good as it looks! Really friendly staff as well, and the inside looks really nice. They aren't playin! read more

Alkaline - Ramen Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

Wow! What a nice surprise. I'm so happy to have found this hidden gem in the heart of Ghent. Parking is terrible though, so get there early. I had the first Ramen listed on the menu....can't remember what it's called. It had pulled pork, pork broth, egg and some other stuff. I added a little of the really spicy hot sauce and a side of the free red chili sauce. So good....so much so, I had two bowls! Now I'm walking away feeling delightfully stuffed. read more

Alkaline - First Ramen listed on the menu. - Ramen Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

Don't be fooled when you see a building called "Pendulum." It's Alkaline. Also, parking is tight! This is a cute little restaurant with great service. Everything we ordered was fantastic. I ordered the Shobyu Ramen with pork belly with the spicy chili oil on the side. My party ordered the short rib, Asian sticky wings, and spicy poke appetizers. All were delicious. Hands down, the wings were the star of the show. It's a little pricier but you pay for quality and ambiance. It had a really nice hipster vibe, but it's also family oriented. In sum, I'd definitely come back. I'll be sure to order the wings and short ribs again! read more

In the heart of Ghent, Alkaline gives a hipster feel. The restaurant itself is beautifully placed. That's the only thing good about this restaurant. Once again, I'm dissatisfied with the amount of Asian cuisine in Norfolk. Coming from a diverse Asian background, I'm always weary of Asian fusion restaurants. This was the worst of them all. The kimchi ramen didn't even taste like kimchi. Who puts shredded pork in ramen? The spicy red curry ramen was TOO spicy. How can you drink a broth that is going to burn your mouth off? Even my husband, who loved spicy food & eats jalapeños like it's nothing, said it was too much. Lastly, the wings we tried had no taste. I've had spectacular Korean wings, but these lacked any taste at all. I couldn't taste the sauce its supposed to have. So to the owners and chefs at Alkaline, if you have no idea how to make Asian food, please stop. It's disappointing to the culture and the people start thinking this is what "good ramen" is like when it's not. Try to make something you're actually familiar with. I do not recommend going here to anyone. read more

Alkaline - Lunch i Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

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The BEST ramen in the area! The spicy red curry ramen is to die for! The sticky wings appetizer is also a must try! We come from Virginia Beach on a regular basis because it's that good. read more

My husband and I just ordered take out last night, 02/10/2019, we both had the spicy curry chicken and the family style beef Tagalog, which was recommended by the hostess over the phone. We got home, we were super excited to eat, the food tasted really good both the soup and the beef Tagalog. And hour later my stomach began to hurt really bad, almost like chronic stomach cramps, I threw up the living hell out of my body, I thought it would have been just me, a couple hours later the same thing happened to my husband, and we were both up in the middle of the night, racing to the bathrooms, and a bucket on our laps, we are both so sick with a toddler, and the both of us barely have the energy to get some gastrointestinal virus medicine, we have been struggling for the past 24hrs. We definitely have a food borne illness, after I visited the doctor this early morning 02/11/2019. The food must have been contaminated with some bacteria or toxins. I feel so bad for the money spent but also for the day ruined and not being able to attend my 2 year old. My husband feels much worst then I do, since he was able to eat all of his food, I literally had just a quarter of the portion and still felt horrible. As good as it was, it's unfortunate but I'm never going there again, the worst experience in my life. I put a one star because that is this is the only way I could post this review. read more

Absolutely loved the Asian wings and the Phö served. Be sure to try the cream sodas!! So good!!

Love the ramen! BUT my biggest complaint is the lack of air conditioning. It's hot in here. I came about a month ago and same thing. So if you're "cool" with that, you'll love this place. read more

Food was not my cup of tea as far as flavor, not to mention there's not a lot of options on the menu to choose from. Service was garbage, won't be returning. Also very over priced not worth it, was charged $15 for 3 ribs... Don't recommend read more

I kept seeing mention of the place as a pop up but never made it before it opened as a full restaurant. I looked forward to trying it and went twice. I wasn't really impressed the first time but it is local and I thought I'd try it a second time for dim sum. There were so few selections, it felt more like a fixed price set menu. I had hoped for carts of various dumplings and was a bit disappointed. It was an ok meal but there are so many other better options in the area that I doubt I will be back. read more

Been wanting to try this place for a very long time now and when I finally convinced my husband to try it I was sad and disappointed with the food that we ordered. First off we waited in line to find out someone who walked after us was seated before we did. Then their best seller on the menu was sold out for the day. Food was very salty and the chilly pepper oil on the table was so watered down that it took about 5-8 scoop to even flavor the soup. Was very disappointed and probably would not recommend. read more

Came here to meet with some friends. Wanted to try a restaurant I hadn't been to before and was craving ramen so it seemed like the best bet considering it's awesome reviews. It didn't disappoint. Everyone I was with thoroughly enjoyed their dishes and mine was amazing as well (I got the tonkotsu ramen). Also had the fried shrimp and squid appetizer which was delicious. Lightly battered and full of flavor. Even their drink selection was excellent. Our waitress was super friendly and helpful and the ambience was really fun. Will definitely be back and hopefully soon! :) read more

Alkaline - Ramen Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

I seen this restaurant on Triple D, so I tried it out. I got the sticky wings because Guy was raving bout how delicious they were, but they were pretty regular. The chicken soup I got was good I like how they cooked the chicken but stay away from the desserts. read more

Went from a 3 to 2. Saw the nachos on a list of great nachos in America, or something like that, decided to check it out. Long story short, they're not good, actually a bad flavor honestly. May still try the ramen out another day. Met one of the cooks at a party and he convinced us to come back again. Third times the charmor fool me once... read more

I was really underwhelmed by my meal here. I started with the street food tater tots. The flavor was very good, but there were essentially frozen tater tots with Asian bbq sauce drizzled on top. When I got through the first few on top, they were just pain tots underneath and I had to ask for extra sauce. While I enjoyed the flavors in this dish, I found it really over priced. I ordered the tonkatsu ramen. It came out luke warm and was not hot enough to properly finish the white of the egg, causing there to be odd textured egg pieces in the soup. The noodles were all stuck together in the center of this dish and I found it difficult to break them apart. They seemed undercooked also. There was very little meat in the soup and no other ingredients really. Overall I did not think this was anything special, but will say the broth had good flavor. My meal was just ok, and I probably wouldn't come back here. read more

Love love love this place. From the drinks to the ramen, everything I've had is AMAZING! They even have cute shirts. Everyone that visits me gets a meal from Alkaline read more

Sad to say, I am really not a fan. Nothing I had really blew me away and I personally don't think it is worth the price tag. Service was ok but not spectacular. Yeah just a little overwhelmed by the whole experience. I waited a long time to eat here and I am disappointed it didn't live up to the hype. read more

Came here for a impromptu date night. (Pictured) Ordered Kimchi Ramen & Tum Kollins (i think thats how they spelled it). Huge bowl of soup but I felt it was missing something that "umi" flavor and maybe even a but more salt and spice. The drink was refreshing but a beer probably would have been better to go with the ramen. (Not pictured) We also got the sticky wings app , octopus & shrimp app and red curry ramen. The wings were okay. The sticky and fried seasoning on the outside were okay but the chicken seemed bland. It could have been marinated a before cooking. The shrimp & octopus were pretty good and the size was not bad. The red curry ramen was not like the typical Thai curry or Indian curry at all. It was missing that extra spice and coconut taste too. The broth was a bit sour too. We don't know if we'll try this ramen place again bcz its a hike to Ghent from our spot & it really didn't "wow" us. Maybe we'll try another ramen spot closer to home or just stick to a shabu shabu where we can try numerous soups with tasty flavor. read more

Alkaline - Ramen Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

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I've been going to this place since they first opened their doors. It has an excellent vibe to it and omg the food is amazing. I always get the spicy curry ramen and nothing else can beat it. Even in this age of take-out, they still manage to serve hot, fresh food that tastes amazing even in a plastic to-go container. read more

Ordered: Tonkotsu Ramen, Shoyu Ramen (with pork belly), Crispy Baby Octopus & Shrimp Quality: 4/5 - The ramen was al dente. Each bowl comes with a small amount of pulled pork. The broth was delicious and was elevated by the hot oil. The pork belly was extremely soft and can be broken apart by the chopstick. The crispy baby octopus and shrimp aren't special though, they're exactly what you expect them to be. Value: 4/5 - The price was decent for the amount of food I received. I did not believe the pork belly was worth the extra $4 at the time of the order. At $3, I could see it being worth my money. Ambiance: 4.5/5 - Very relaxing and casual. A TV on the side wall playing anime. A great place for friends to grab a quick snack. Service: 3/5 - Ordering and serving were both quick. However, the bill took way too long to get to the table. Chances of returning: HIGH read more

Been trying to get to this place after getting a rave review by a friend of mine. They are closed between lunch and dinner for 2 hours, and I always seemed to be by there during that time frame. Was finally able to have dinner there tonight, and was extremely satisfied! Great atmosphere and the staff was very nice and helpful. Had a hard time deciding on what I wanted because everything sounded so good. While trying to make up our minds, we ordered an appetizer called tater tot okonomiyaki, which are tater tots topped with bacon, bbq a mayo-like sauce called kewpie, scallions and the star of the appetizer... katsuobushi. This is dried, fermented and smoked skipjack tuna (also called bonito). What makes this the star is that when they bring this dish out, the bonito is waving like it's alive! It's sliced extremely thin and with the heat coming off of the tots, it moves. Very tasty and fun to look at. I settled on the Spicy Red Curry Ramen bowl. Excellent heat and amazing flavor! I opted to add in the soy pickled shiitake mushrooms for an extra flavor addition. My wife, not liking the heat like I do, went with the Beef Noodle Soup, which is billed as being spicy, but I didn't think it was too bad. The server, Brittany, brought us out a container that had some of their house made spice, which was a kind of red chili oil with garlic and sesame seeds. Had a slight sweet and low heat to it. Couldn't get enough of that! Great food, great staff, great atmosphere. I can't wait to go back and try some of the other items on the menu. They have some very interesting and exotic drink choices, but I didn't any on this visit. read more