A haiku review: Ramen like a hug On a chilly winter night Red tonkatsu bite Egg, nice and jammy Broth so rich and flavorful Love fish cake on top read more

Baka Umai - Shoyu , Silky Red Tonkotsu - Noodles Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Just gotta rave about this place. Best ramen in town, by measure; mayhaps not traditional but all very well crafted. my 3rd time here & my 3rd amazing soup. the black tonkotsu is one of the current specials. Yes, black soup, the texture of the broth is incredible, smooth as silk but a little heftier, hints of fat. Just enough heat for me, perfect noodles, some big hunks of pork. And the service here is SO friendly! read more

Baka Umai - crazy delicious! - Noodles Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Another fantastic visit. Got a bento bowl this time and the Baka bites, as well as our favorite tonkatsu with the habanero mash, just as wonderful as the first time. Again, these folks know what they are doing and you need to try this out right now. There's magic in this kitchen. read more

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Hubby needed a ramen fix, went here on a recommendation from another Yelper friend. Ridiculously good! Lots of choices, hubby got his favorite, tonkotsu, I chose a "mild" spicy mala style. Some may have considered it spicy. There are several rather intimidating sounding spicy ramens, looking forward to trying something more adventurous next time. Both were delicious, lots of toppings, perfect egg, and noodles with just the right bite. The service was very nice, the restaurant is simple, and quite lovely, sorta Pac NW/Japanese decor and style. They also have a good selection of sakes and make their own rather interesting pickles in house. read more

We are visiting and were looking for some dinner. Came in to Baka Umai located along Hawthorne close to Por Que No taqueria. Parking along the busy street or nearby off streets between the housing. Let's start with what was great: The staff was very friendly, attentive and quickly sat us down with booster and high chair. Drinks (IPA and a Calpico) came out very quick as well as the Tabor tofu (3). The food was good. We had the Tabor tofu (kids enjoyed) and x2 Kaiyo Tsukemen. The dipping ramen came out with a nice jammy soft boiled egg and the noodles had a pretty good chew. The sauce was a bit thin but had that good seafood umami flavor. Pork belly was well portioned and had a light char. Overall, decent place to eat. Had to dock stars because out of the 4 items we were hoping to get for dinner, they did not have 3 available (fried Ota Tofu, Blistered Shishitos and Umami Mazemen). Maybe they were super busy early on but we were there around 6:45p so surprised menu items were not available. The staff was quick to apologize and worked quickly to get a 2nd Kaiyo Tsukemen out for us when the Umami Mazemen was not available. Wish we could've tried those dishes as I think it would've been a better complete meal. Kids still enjoyed it and our plates were empty so food was still good. Good amount of seating inside, utensils and water are self serve and looks like it could be a fun spot during summer months if they are able to roll up the garage doors! read more

A bowl of soup to restore your faith in humanity. I got the Hatch chile shio ramen, and it hit the spot. I love the creative combinations -- Hatch chiles or chorizo, for example. There also are more-traditional bowls. There are many vegetarian options, and a big list of spicy options. If all this sounds confusing, don't worry -- the staff takes its time and counsels you through your order, making sure you understand what you're ordering and get what you want. The Hatch-chile ramen, a seasonal special, is not just some chiles thrown into the soup. First of all, Hatch chilies are grown only around Hatch, NM, and only available for a few months a year. Baka Umai orders a big bag, ferments some of them and roasts the rest, and combines them into a paste to enrich the broth. That process gives a clue about the care they take with all the food here. I will return often and try everything on the menu! See you there. read more

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You order at the front when you're ready, they give you a number & you place it at your table. Ordered the shishito poppers & the tonkotsu ramen. Shishito poppers were phenomenal! So creamy, delicious, & spicy! Tonkotsu had good flavor, egg was nicely marinated. Pork belly was nice & succulent. Great noodle texture. My only complaint was the oil. I don't like super oily ramen broth. A little is good, but when there's so much like that, it's hard to enjoy the broth. Nice bright atmosphere. They had a good amount of tables. You don't have to bus your own table. Water is self serve. Service is super quick & friendly. Overall, a nice spot but missed the mark for me broth wise due to the amount of oil. read more

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Great selection of ramen option here! I had the Tonkotsu ramen and husband had the TanTan Tsukemen. His was really good- so much flavor. I also liked the thicker noodles in his dish. The ramen had thinner noodles. Pork belly was excellent and I really enjoyed the broth too. They have a whole page for spice lovers so if you're into that, this place will fit the bill. Friendly staff too. Order at the counter and they'll bring it to your table. read more

Baka Umai - Tantan Tsukemen - Noodles Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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My family and I went here for New Year's Eve and it was delicious. They have vegan, vegetarian and gluten free options. There is a wide variety of drinks, both alcoholic and non alcoholic. The broth was delicious and the serving sizes were great. The decor was cute and the staff were super friendly! read more

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We were lucky to snag a table after ordering on a busy Saturday night. The full tables and line starting to form was a good sign. The bright overhead lights in part of restaurant seemed more awkward than adding anything to the vibe of the space but the artwork was pretty. I appreciated the table full of utensils, tons of paper towels and loads of seasoning options. Now the food...wow. So packed with flavor and the karaage portion was massive! Never experienced chorizo and noodles before and we were blown away. The bento bowl with sweet tangy pickled veggies was a surprisingly tasty combo. A little on the smaller side portion wise but you really didn't need more if you get another dish to share. Looking forward to returning and trying all the things. read more

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Great food and fast service! Huge points for having three big pieces of chashu and an entire egg in the Tonkotsu ramen. Noodles had a nice texture and bite to them. Baka Bites were good but I wish they came with more rice One of the better ramens I've had in Portland read more

Had a high quality experience. Ordered the unconventional chorizo ramen. A fun spicy mix of ramen and tortilla soup. Filling and delicious, especially in our many rainy days. Staff also accommodated me for a hot Japanese tea (usually served cold). Will be back! read more

Price: Relatively affordable on Hawthorne anywhere from 17-20 dollars a bowl. Ordering: You place your order at the front of the restaurant, grab your own water and pick a place to sit. You do not have to bus your own table. Quality: Their signature Chorizo-men ramen is a solid go to and have gotten it every time. Good blend of spicy and rich broth with a healthy amount chewy noodles paired with karaage is a great combo leaving you filled and satisfied. Their Lime or Yuzu Shio ramen is also another great option. Other notable appetizers include Baka bites. This place has been a staple for hangouts with my buddies. Ambiance: Cozy with decent lighting, wooden chairs with some booth seats, tables and window seating and outdoor seating options. No dedicated parking and have to park on the street which there is plenty of. Overall: Would recommend for lunch and dinner, great date place also to walk down Hawthorne to grab a drink or boba down the street. Will continue being a staple in my book until something drastic happens. read more

I haven't been the big ramen fan in my family, but that situation may not last. Our family paid a visit, knowing that I would be thrilled with the katsu chicken on their menu. Everyone else at the table had different ramen varieties, and the samples I tried of my wife's choice had me thinking about a return visit to try their signature dishes. Baku Umai is a casual space in a relatively new building, so the ambiance here is laid back, with splashes of local basketball and landmarks as decoration. Patrons order at the counter, and tables are well stocked with all the spoons, chopsticks, napkins, and anything else you're likely to need. read more

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Great food, great service, great ambiance. I had the Reaper Ramen (I think it was called) and it was perhaps the best bowl of ramen I've ever had. read more

This place is fr crazy good! Haven't had a bad or underwhelming dish off the menu yet :) The silky red tonkatsu is my go-to here. It strikes perfect notes of toasty heat and creamy umami tonkatsu broth. It's a complex, bold, yet balanced bowl. The noodles are delicious - some sweet mushrooms add a spike to the flavor profile, as if sake marinated. My partner got the Cho-Maz, a beautiful bowl of hearty noodles with a perfectly poached egg on top. The chorizo flavor is incredible and unique to Baka Umai, with a mouth-watering heat! We've had the chicken karaage on our first visit which was just perfect. This time we opted for the Crispy Ota Tofu which didn't disappoint! They were about as crispy as the karaage, and a perfect light appetizer to accompany our bowls. Beer and sake selections are always on point. The service is welcoming, straightforward, and casual. Love the ambiance, especially on a busy evening when the pop music is blasting. 10/10 spot, highly recommended! Get menus and order at counter, seat yourself. Food is delivered to table and staff busses when you are done. read more

Of all the ramen in Portland, I think this spot is definitely up there on the list. The service was good and staff was very friendly. I ordered the karage, blistered shishito peppers, and the habanero tonkatsu. One of the staff members saw my indecisiveness on what sauce to choose for the karage and ended up giving us both sauces. I totally forgot to take pictures of the two appetizers, but I inhaled them in about 2 seconds because I was so hungry. The habanero tonkatsu is has a rich broth balanced by the spicy habanero and pickled shitake mushrooms. In my personal opinion, I like when the pork slices in ramen have a little chew. These were tender, but not to the point where it just breaks apart when you try to grab it. I recommend looking at the menu ahead of time because it is pretty big and I've heard that most of their items are super good. So good luck deciding what you want! read more

Baka Umai - Habanero Tonkotsu - Noodles Near Me - Portland, Oregon

My partner and I had just finished hiking around some local wildlife refuge and we were feeling for something soup-y, something hot and while we initially wanted to try a ramen food truck, we ended up trying Baka Umai instead because of proximity. Ordering is done at the counter, and you're free to sit whenever you want. There's a few booth seat, plenty of window counter seats, and some tables for larger parties. We opted for window counter seating. Between my partner and I, we decided to share a bowl of Edamame and from their special menu, the Salt & Pepper Karaage. I wanted something smaller, so I picked the Baka Bento Bowl with Crispy Pulled Pork as my protein. My partner opted for their Traditional Shio, but instead of the dashi broth, he went for the Shiitake Blend broth (with the original protein). Order came really quick. Our shared plates came first, and there was quite a lot actually. The Karaage pieces were really crispy on the outside, but tender and juicy on the inside. It's bursting with flavor. I'm not exactly sure what blend of spices they use, but there's a bit of mala (numbing) in there. I liked the addition of white onions and green onions they threw into the mix. Those were flavored up as well. As for the edamame? That was perfectly cooked. The edamame were still had a slight crunch to them, and whatever seasoning they used for it worked quite well. I think it's the seasoning they used for the Karaage pieces and edamame is quite similar. Very much umami, but also just a tad too salty. For my Baka Bento Bowl. For some reason, I thought I was getting something small because the bowl is like $10-$12 I believe. I wasn't feeling for much, still a bit full from breakfast, so I wanted something small. I ended up getting a pretty sizeable meal. But thankfully, a good portion of it is toppings and salad. The rice portion is small, which I'm thankful for because I prefer more toppings over rice, haha. The crispy pulled pork was great. It's flavored nicely, a bit chewy, but not tough. It's almost got a jerky like texture, but similar to the freshly made ones, and not prepackaged ones from grocery stores. I enjoyed the mix of pickled veggies and the mushrooms were deliciously seasoned. I kind of wonder if they soaked the mushrooms with the soy eggs (similar flavor). I also found it interesting that they used shredded napa cabbage instead of the regular cabbage as well. It worked though. Provides a softer crunch to the mix. I sampled my partner's ramen and the mushroom broth was comforting! Deliciously mushroom-y and umami. I also liked that the noodles were chewy and not too thick. The one thing my partner said was that overall, the meal was a bit ok the saltier side, but it was good and I have to agree. A solid ramen find. I would definitely recommend it to people looking for some comfort experience. We didn't interact with the staff much, but they seemed pretty friendly! read more

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Service was prompt and kind, but the food was really bad. Neither I nor my friend finished our dishes. The ghost pepper ramen is indeed very spicy but is incredibly oily, lacks depth, and honestly seemed under-salted. The karaage was the absolute worst I've ever had. Truly mind-blowing that you can mess up fried chicken like this. The pieces were way too large to eat with a chopstick, and were fried to hardness, with the dark meat tasting dry, stringy, and bland. Hacking into these monster nuggets was not worth it and I left them on the platter. There is an upcharge for GF noodles (+$3.00), but it's not clear on the menu and so I was a bit puzzled by at the checkstand. The register doesn't show the itemization of the bill as each item is added, so my cashier just shared the total and I thought she messed it up because their menu is poorly marked. Seating is like a ramen bar, with lots of countertop space, but the decor is very "JAPAN! Mt Fuji! Sumi-e inspired font!" There are a handful of 4-seater tables and maybe 2-3 tables for larger groups. There's three benches that have seen better days on the sidewalk. If you are looking for good Japanese food, steer clear-this is one of the worst imitations of Japanese cuisine I've seen. No finesse, just an oily mess. If you're looking for fun fusion food, this place is also underwhelming in a major way. Won't come here again. read more

This is an excellent ramen scene. One of the chefs at Baka Umai was mentored by a Japanese ramen chef who has a huge following in the LA area. The menu has a good variety of choice from traditional to nuclear hot. There are also Mazemen (brothless) and Tsukemen (dip noodles in a bowl of broth). The broth flavors stand out and reflect the time and care put into each bowl. Noodles were a match with the broth. I had the pleasure of enjoying their seasonal of Gyokai Tonkotsu (shellfish alert). This a seafood tonkotsu and it was GOOD! Add a nice Japanese lager to the it and both paired well. I have Baka Umai bookmarked in my Yelp and will return. Thank you Baka Umai. read more

A few tables and bar seating. Order at the counter and they bring it out to you. Blended matcha drink with the coconut was soooo good! Not too sweet and blended like the Starbucks frappacino but better flavor. Super good and I'd come back just for this! Got one of the "current specials" yuzu ramen and it was good but not the best. The bowl is a bit smaller than most ramen places. I wish it came with a bit more broth. The egg was kind of cold and the other toppings which messed with the temperature of the ramen once it got to me. Overall it was a good soup with a delicate flavor. The meat was on the salty side. I'd probably try something else next time or just come for the matcha blended drink. I did like their chopsticks which are fancy disposable ones but felt like real chopsticks. read more

Baka Umai - Yuzu Shio Ramen - pretty good but not amazing - Noodles Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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Done amazing again! This place never fails to satisfy your taste buds! We will return again soon! read more

Baka Umai - Noodles Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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Habanero ramen was spicy and delicious, but not overwhelmingly spicy. My pork chashu was a little tough instead of fall-apart tender, but the jammy egg, menma, noodles, and broth were all very good. The karaage was also crispy and juicy. Service was terrific despite being a busy Saturday night. Sat outside since it was busy inside and not raining, and that ramen warmed me right up. Will certainly return. read more

Man, this place was a huge disappointment. I read so many good reviews about this place so I was soo excited to try it, but everything was either oily and undercooked (like the edamame and the shishito peppers) or hard and overcooked, like the chasu in the tonkatsu ramen and the shredded pork on the umami mazeman. The peas in the edamame were hard and undercooked for the outside looking so charred. The shishito peppers were charred on one side and raw on the other, and the peppers were crunchy. We didn't even eat half of it, even after they cooked it again. The tonkatsu was ok. The shredded meat that came with the mazeman was so hard I had to spit it all out. The noodles were nice and chewy though. I was surprised everything was so poorly prepared given the fact that we got there around 5, when they opened, and we were the only customers in there. It's not like they were busy either. read more

Baka Umai - For how charred they looked, these were hard on the other side - Noodles Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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This place is a seat yourself small little place. When you walk in, the cashier will give you a menu and tell you that you can seat yourself anywhere and when you're ready to order, you'll order at the cashier. We went around 8pm and it was somewhat full house. We ordered chicken karage, regular. That was really good. Ordered reaper ramen, it was spicy. (Unfortunately, my sister didn't like how oily it was to her so she didn't eat it but it was good according to our other sister) We also ordered tonkatsu, it was really good. And we also order their chicken katsu, it was really good my sister had already ate it before we could take a picture aha. As for the outside, it's along side some other foodie places and for parking, you'd have to do street parking read more

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What a great ramen option in SE Portland! Located on Hawthorne, Baka Umai is a cozy ramen bar serving unique soups that will warm up any cold day. The atmosphere is casual, with counter service and bar and table seating. They are known for their chorizo-men - a tantan pork broth with housemade chorizo, but offer other options such as miso, shio, tonkatsu, vegan, and vegetarian soups! They also have a page dedicated to spicy ramen, from mala to ghost pepper spices, definitely something for everyone! I got their special, a dirty tonkatsu, and it was good! It was a bit too salty for me, but the flavors and spices were unique and unlike other ramen I've had. Portions were generous and worth the price. If you're looking for a quick, unassuming, yet delicious ramen in SE Portland, Baka Umai is the place! read more

Baka Umai - dirty tonkatsu - Noodles Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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Second time here. First time I got the Kanai Tsukemen which I loved. This time got the Tan Tan Tsukemen which had a little too much going on with the chorizo and dipping. Baka bites are great. I'm a fan of this place and will come back for the Kanai Tsukemen or try something else read more

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Baka Umai is quickly becoming our go-to Portland ramen spot. At our last visit we ordered the Ramen Tonkotsu with extra pickled shiitakes, the Traditional Ramen Shio, and the tasty Chicken Karaage with cilantro aioli. Both ramens were absolutely delicious. The tonkotsu broth was rich, thick, milky white, each spoonful packed with umami. The shio broth was light, bright, truly exquisite. Both bowls came with ample toppings and the best noodles (homemade) we've ever had. The menu offers several other options of ramen, many of which are spicy, which we'll be sure to try on future visits. We're already tempted by the Yuzu Shiro, the Chorizo-men, and the Silky Red Tonkotsu. And this isn't to forget the outstanding pickled shiitakes! The mural on Baka Umai's wall says it all: "From Mount Fuji to Mount Hood. Japanese inspired, Portland evolved." read more

Baka Umai - Traditional Shio Ramen and Chicken Karaage - Noodles Near Me - Portland, Oregon

If you visit you have to try the chorizo ramen and shishito poppers! Flavors are on point, pricing is fair, and atmosphere is chill. This is an order at the front, get a number situation. Staff was kind and helpful with my noodle questions. Only downside is that it's chilly inside with the door constantly opening, but not too cold I had to leave my jacket on. Will come back! read more

Baka Umai - Chorizo-Men - Noodles Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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The spiciest Ramen I've ever had. They were super accommodating to make a version of one of their spicy Ramen's vegetarian for me. I got extra hatch pepper mash and I think that's what did me in. Still super tasty and I ate most of it, but they do not shy away from spice here. Appreciate the kindness of the staff in accommodating my dietary preference read more

Baka Umai means stupid delicious and this place lives up to its name. The ramen here is very savory and flavorful. I ordered the silky red tonkotsu and it was SILKY. The noodles were dense yet chewy. I also had the chicken karaage which was cooked and seasoned just right. It is counter service and service was phenomenal. They were busy but were quick to get tables cleaned and food served. I'm thinking this will be my new go to spot for ramen. read more

Baka Umai - Noodles Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Baka Umai means "stupid delicious" and they're not kidding!! I saw them come up on IG right before my trip to Portland, and knew I had to make a point to visit. I love that they have ramen for everyone. They have ramen in broth, dry ramen (mazemen), extra spicy ramen for the spice fanatics, and so much more. The boo opted for the chorizo-men which offers thin ramen noodles in a dashi broth and tan tan sauce, topped with the spicy ground chorizo and veggies. If you love chorizo, this one is for you. I am impartial to chorizo, I don't love or hate it, but I'd definitely see how this one is popular especially as a fusion type dish. On a warm day, I'm more of a dry noodle girly so I went with the Midori mazemen. They were not kidding when they said this one was spicy. In my experience, Japanese cuisine doesn't usually have the spiciness I look for, but Baka Umai deliiiiiverrred. I was all ready to add in the Rayu (chili oil) from the table but good thing I mixed this thing up and tasted it first because I was already breathing a little dragon smoke as is. The dish is sooo savory, in contrast to the fresh, sweetness of the asian pear slices. I especially loved the crispiness of the pulled pork. The noodles in this dish are little thicker than the ramen noodles in the broth, but thinner than udon. All it needed was a little drizzle of black vinegar, and mwahhhh! Chef's kiss! Because we're extra, we decided to try the shishito poppers and the baka bites. I don't like jalapeno poppers in general so I wasn't expecting much but shishito poppers are where it's at!! They chop up the peppers and blend it into the cream cheese filling, and panko crust it before frying. They serve this with a sweet chili dipping sauce too, which balanced the creamy cheesiness so well. I loved everything we ate here but this dish might have been top 2. Don't sleep on the baka bites either. Deep fried, glazed pork belly over rice. Need I say more? The pork belly was sooo tender and the fatty pieces melted in our mouths. TBH I could have came here just for these two apps and still have been satisfied. Portions are large for the ramen, and even though I can eat, I still took half my mazamen home. The pricing is on par with Bay Area ramen shops so no big deal there. I love the decor! Airbender Aang with a bowl of ramen being my favorite art piece. This was such a good experience and a perfect way to start off our Portland trip with a bang! read more

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[ FOOD ]: 3/5 * Tonkatsu - Broth was thick and flavorful, but personally the toppings flavor was throwing me off a tad bit. Definitely was a good solid tonkatsu but the mushrooms were a little vinegar-y for my taste. Chashu pork was good though! Thick and flavorful! * Chorizo-men - Broth was more to my liking, rich and flavorful. Was added a hint of lime and chorizo brought a good saltiness to the dish. * Baka bites - Yummy appetizer but flavors felt like they were clashing a little too much for my own taste with miso, teriyaki, and sweet and sour sauce in different parts of the bowl. Just the pork belly bites alone, they were delicious! {OVERALL- Food was solid, nothing special when it comes to ramen. I feel like there's an effort to be creative which i can appreciate but the flavors don't compliment each other the way that I expected} [ SERVICE ]: 4/5 * Everyone was very kind, friendly and helpful. [ AMBIANCE ]: 4/5 * Cute little anime themed decorations here and there read more

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Simply amazing food. The noodles are incredible, and delicious! Highly recommended!!

We ordered delivery, so keep that in mind. First, I needed something with a gluten free option and this place has gluten free noodles available. I made the request for the substitution in our Door Dash order and got what I wanted. Miso ramen for me, with house rayu, which turned out to be chile infused sesame oil. Husband got ramen shoyu. Both were excellent. The broth was rich and savory, it was perfectly balanced, needing no salt or soy sauce added. The broth came on the side and we added it ourselves. The egg was perfect. In the end, I heated the broth on the microwave - but it was delivery and I don't object to it being lukewarm in that case. The best part of my ramen was the mushrooms. I don't like mushrooms and would have had them left out if I thought about it but these were amazing flavor bombs. If you like mushrooms- try this! If not, maybe give them a try anyway. We will have to visit in person after such an auspicious start. read more

Delicious ramen! I've never had chorizo in ramen before but I really enjoyed it. The broth was quite tasty too. I'd definitely go back! read more

Baka Umai - Chorizo-Men - Noodles Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Japanese Prime spot, it is stupid delicious!! It's been a minute since my last ramen meal, but it will definitely be in the top 5 next to the Tokyo hole in the wall I had the pleasure enjoying. read more

Baka Umai - Tonkotsu Silky Red Tonkotsu - Noodles Near Me - Portland, Oregon

As a spice lover, I am very fond of Baka Umai. Here's what you should order: Chicken karaage and blistered shishito peppers for your appetizer snackies. For your ramen, go with the habanero tonkotsu ramen. This one has the perfect blend of spice and flavor. If you're a real daredevil, get the reaper ramen, but have 911 on standby. I come here at least once a month. Service is friendly, ambiance is medium-loud, but not obnoxious. read more

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The food was good and came out really fast. The place was clean and the chopsticks were really fancy for disposable types. It was also nice that the next store over was roasting granola so the whole place smelled like sweet cinnamon. read more

Baka Umai - Shoyu ramen - Noodles Near Me - Portland, Oregon

This is the best ramen we've had in Portland! So many veggie-friendly options - I love the miso ramen (shitaki broth) and everything we've tried has been really good! You order and pay at the counter and then they bring you your food - the service is always really quick. We love coming here! read more