Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Bantam King

    4.0 (1k reviews)
    Closed 11:30 am - 2:30 pm, 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM
    Updated 3 weeks ago

    Waitlist - Bantam King

    Waitlist closed

    The restaurant is not taking waitlist parties right now

    Order Bantam King Takeout or Delivery

    Bantam King Photos

    BANTAM KING ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Trendy
    Moderate noise
    Good for groups

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - Bantam King

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Inside
    Caitlin D.

    Suuuuuper cute interior and a great food option close to Capital One Arena. I got the Nashville fried chicken, which definitely wasn't traditional Nashville hot chicken (not super spicy and not tenders,) but was very good nonetheless. Comes with rice with butter, a roll, and pickles. Great service. Wish the portion was bigger / more filling! Definitely want to come back and try more.

    Tim T.

    Amazing chicken ramen place that is one of my absolute faves in DC (and truly one-of-a-kind in that you really can't find any other ramen place quite like it anywhere else in the country) and a go-to when I lived in the area five-six years ago. All their ramens have chicken flavor (and can be made halal) - however their standout dishes for me are the very simple rice with onsen egg and rice with chicken drizzling plus butter. Straightforward but delicious and very unique, and no other restaurant serves this. The giant cookie dessert is also a highlight because it is made with chicken fat. Exceptional service from Kos and very stylish interior decor with funny manga on the wall, Japanese decorations, a drink cooler and margarita machines. Highly recommended if you are in DC (and @ the edge of Chinatown)!

    Spicy Miso
    Dhania I.

    Always try to visit Bantam King when I'm in DC! My favorite is the Spicy Miso Ramen with a side of spice chili bombs. Yum! The rame broth is so rich and delicious! Plus it's Halal It's quick and the employees are so nice and friendly! The vibe is like a casual ramen joint with unique decor. Love the ambiance! I also ordered the Curry snow fried chicken but this time without the curry snow super yum! I'll give this spot 100000000/10!

    Vanessa N.

    I ordered the Shoyu Paitan ramen, which was rich, creamy, and flavorful. We also shared the gyoza, which came in a flavorful broth. Honestly, the broth was so good that I wished there was a ramen option with this broth. Overall, it was a solid experience.

    Nashville Hot Chicken Plate
    Jordan B.

    Bantam King is that perfect pre- or post-event spot, sitting literally steps from Capital One Arena; you can't beat the convenience. My friend and I stopped in before a show and we were immediately met with fast, friendly service that kept the whole experience smooth, even with the crowd rolling in. I ordered the Nashville Hot Chicken plate and babyyyy... that thing was crispy, juicy, and seasoned to perfection without being too greasy. The heat had flavor and the breading stayed crunchy all the way through. It went perfectly with the buttered rice and dinner roll. The food came out quick, fresh, and was exactly what I needed before heading to my event at Capital One. If you're in the area for a game or concert, Bantam King is absolutely worth the stop. Great food, great people, and unbeatable location. 5 stars, no hesitation.

    Spicy Miso
    Bruce K.

    I like the ramen here. It's brothy, but not too much. I never had Bantam King before, so when the sister took us we were surprised. I really really wanted to get the fried chicken, but opted to go and get a nice ramen considering how cold it was outside. In addition, we go tthe gyoza as an appetizer. The dumplings were great, but I think the broth/sauce that it was served in was awesome. The broth was thick, but very flavorful. I think the next time I come I'll try out a different broth. If they had the sauce from the gyoza as a broth/ramen I would totally get that. I think that's my search the next time around. Would definitely recommend, it's limited seating so I would say to get there early, but if you have a small party you won't have any issues.

    Spicy Miso
    Thomas H.

    To start, I am obsessed with this place. Ive had this place probably over a dozen times and it still reigns as the greatest ramen I've ever had. The Spicy Miso is just the perfect blend of flavors and ingredients. This is one of my top 3 favorite places in DC to eat at. The setting of the restaurant reminds me of a school cafeteria which is fun and playful!

    Veggie Tantanmen
    Breanne R.

    As a pescatarian I was hesitant to try Bantam King. However, I saw several yelpers talk about how good it was, so I gave it a try. My waitress was attentive, but my ramen came out way later than my friend's meal. However, the taste made up for the delay. The veggie tantanmen was very flavorful! I often find that vegetarian ramen has a basic flavor profile, but this certainly did not. It also felt hearty, which I enjoyed. My only other complaint is that this is the only real option for vegetarians. I would have appreciated at least one appetizer option.

    Sydney G.

    Love me some Bantam King! I think the key is to come for dinner bc it seems less crowded than at lunch. My friend and I split the curry snow chicken (white meat) and it's definitely a must get. The sauce is so good and the chicken is fried to perfect. I personally really enjoyed the Shio chicken ramen which tasted like the best kind of chicken soup. The shoyu is more of a traditional ramen flavor but they were both delicious!

    Deanna L.

    This was a quick stop this time. I tried their chocolate chip cookie. It's made with good quality Valrhona chocolate and chicken fat, which made for an unique, decadent cookie. The chicken fat added richness and a savory taste and the Valrhona chocolate added depth and more richness to the cookie. I'll definitely have to come back and try more of their food items and give a more thorough review later.

    Nashville Fried Chicken Plate
    Steven T.

    I have seen lots of people talk about some ramen shop in DC that supposedly had some of the best fried chicken. My friend and I came for lunch and were pleasantly surprised by it. The chicken had a distinct crunch to the skin while the meat was still moist and tender - even for a breast piece. They serve it with a roll and some rice that is topped with chicken dripping and a little bit of butter. I see why people like the fried chicken here and would love to comeback to try their ramen!

    Shio Ramen
    Sera K.

    It was easy to get a seat on a Saturday night around 4:45pm. Me and my boyfriend ordered the shio ramen, Nashville hot chicken with dark meat, and gyoza. We liked the ramen and the flavor of the broth. It was different from the pork based ramens I have had in the DMV area. It was also comforting on a chilly night. The Nashville hot chicken is flavorful and crispy. I did not really like the rice as it was too rich and buttery. The pickles were a great addition. Coming from the Rockville area, which has a lot of great Chinese food, the gyoza was nothing special. I've had better gyoza and wontons with spicy chili oil. Overall, we enjoyed our meal and would come back from the chicken and ramen. I would skip the gyoza.

    Spicy Miso
    Nichelle B.

    This was my first time having chicken based ramen and it did not disappoint. The ramen was packed with flavor, the chicken was tender and the noodles were perfect. The restaurant was busy but service was great. It's such a colorful environment and they played really good music. Perfect for lunch if you're in the judiciary square area for lunch.

    Spicy miso Ramen with marinated egg

    See all

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Anna L.
    212
    1061
    2238

    3 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Bruce K.
    600
    1428
    2932

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 3
    Love this 6
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Mayvon C.
    53
    38
    39

    6 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Tierra A.
    42
    94
    102

    5 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Moriah W.
    333
    14
    9

    4 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 2
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of B W.
    0
    8
    4

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Mabu ..
    0
    57
    162

    3 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Joseph V.

    Joseph V.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Joseph V.

    Joseph V.

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 1

    11 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Jonathan r. Was very rude and unprofessional. Made 0 effort since gratuity was already included. Will not be coming back.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 26

    Bantam King Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Bantam King

    Is there outdoor seating?

    Yes!

    Do they still serve halal meat in it? Is the chicken still halal?

    Yes I went last week and they have halal chicken! They have a wine spray to top off the ramen but they omit it to make the dish halal. On their menu online they have it stated specifically it's halal.

    Are you seating people inside during the week?

    They are now allowing indoor seating!

    What is halal here?

    All dishes are made with Halal Chicken. The Ramen typically includes a spray of wine, but the staff is very familiar with Halal. Just let them know you eat Halal and they will not put the wine spray on it.

    Is this restaurant 100% halal?

    Is there any vegan options available here?

    They just recently added a vegetarian broth and you can keep all the additions vegan. For example, you can add butter to the vegetarian broth, and make it non-vegan.… Read more

    The broth of this ramen is true chicken broth or mix with tonkotsu broth?

    True chicken broth

    View All 8 Questions

    You might also consider

    Toki Underground - Pork gyoza/dumplings- served with chili oil, sweet soy sauce. Pan fried, steamed or fried

    Toki Underground

    4.1(2.6k reviews)
    1.6 miH Street Corridor/Atlas District/Near Northeast
    $$
    13 years in business
    Vegetarian friendly

    I really enjoyed my experience at Toki Underground!…read more Toke Underground a small bar and restaurant in the H st corridor which seems to be most well known for its ramen offerings. We got there nice and early on a Friday to enjoy the happy hour which is available from 4-6 on weekdays. As a part of happy hour they had several cocktails and small bites for $10 or less. I had the pumpkin spice spritz and an order of the fried chicken bites - both were really really good. I'd order both items again. For awareness, they limit dining in to about an hour and a half - because the restaurant is fairly small, they want folks to make their seats available for other guests pretty quickly. They weren't rude about enforcing this time limit, but they definitely tell you up front and quickly gather your orders/plates to help move you though the meal quickly. This is a nice date spot - it's coziness would make for the perfect ambiance in you're looking to grab a bite with that special someone. Pro tip: Be careful not to walk past it! The signage outside isn't the best, so it's very easy to miss the door completely (as I did).

    TLDR: would recommend, decent ramen. Appetizers are great and the drinks are well made. Definitely…read morenot good for a large party size due to restaurant size. Servers are very attentive and come by very often. Must Try: Shrimp Naruto Atmosphere/Setting: very small place with dim lighting. This isn't the place to have your birthday celebration with a Partiful of 20 people. It's moreso catching up with a friend or having a good meal after a long day alone. Food: it's a ramen spot but honestly I've had better ramen but this one is pretty good. I think the appetizers are moreso the star of the show ! Appetizers : Shrimp Naruto (10/10) , Brussels Okonomiyaki (8/10) , Yuzu Rootbeer Wings (6/10) Shrimp Naruto is phenomenal , literally my favorite. I wanted to like to e wings but they were too soft for my liking. If they were fried harder or had a bit more of a crunch I'd rank them higher because the flavor is there. Drinks: both drinks were great !

    Photos
    Toki Underground - The Toki Classic- tonkotsu (pork bone soup), chased, soft egg, kale, pickled ginger

    The Toki Classic- tonkotsu (pork bone soup), chased, soft egg, kale, pickled ginger

    Toki Underground - Shiiitake & Cashew Dan Dan

    Shiiitake & Cashew Dan Dan

    Toki Underground - Fried Chicken Steam buns- karaage fried chicken tossed in sweet chili sauce served with kewpie mayo, pickles, scallions and cilantro

    See all

    Fried Chicken Steam buns- karaage fried chicken tossed in sweet chili sauce served with kewpie mayo, pickles, scallions and cilantro

    Mecha Noodle Bar - KFC bao bun

    Mecha Noodle Bar

    4.4(156 reviews)
    1.2 mi
    $$$

    Mecha is by far my new favorite ramen spot! I can't believe I haven't done a review already…read more First things first, you have to get the edamame. This is the most uniquely prepared edamame I've ever had. It's packed with herbs and spices and so flavorful that you won't go back to regular edamame after trying it here. I've ordered quite a few items off the menu, and I've been equally satisfied every time. I've had the Pho Ga and the Shoyu Paitan...both were so delicious. They come with extras so you can customize your bowl with hoisin, chili flakes, and more, which I love. One time I went with a friend who's pescatarian, and we ordered the Cha Ca La Bong (catfish). It was incredibly flavorful and filling. It's served cold, a delicious sauce. But don't let this cold dish fool you ...it does not disappoint. We also ordered the General Tso shrimp, and I got the sweet-and-sour spareribs. Everything was delicious. As for drinks, I don't quite remember which frozen one I ordered, but it didn't give much of a buzz. The regular alcoholic drinks, though? They definitely got the job done. Every time I've gone, the service has been excellent. Everyone is welcoming, smiling, and genuinely seems proud to serve you. I also appreciate that if you don't finish your ramen, they box it up thoughtfully, packing the broth and noodles separately so it stays fresh. Highly recommend!

    Mecha Noodle Bar was pretty good. I visited on a Thursday at 6 PM and it was about 1/3 full…read more The place is very casual. Many of the tables have benches on one side and small stool on the other; it's fine, but not the most comfy. Tables are also loaded with the basic chopsticks, napkins, menus, and condiments you need. We tried the Kale Salad, Red Oil Dumplings, Firecracker Wings, Spicy Miso 2.0 ramen, and Tonkotsu 3.0 ramen. The kale salad was fine but a little lame. The wings weren't "firecracker" -- not spicy at all -- but had a very nice dry rub and smoky flavor (very similar to the wings at Succotash). The dumplings were enormous and pretty good, but I wish the sauce stuck to the dumplings better. Ramen was also good; I preferred the Spicy Miso over the Tonkotsu. Service was a little too basic. We had to flag down a waiter to get water, water wasn't refilled, the check and pay pad weren't picked up quickly, and I got the wrong ramen order.

    Photos
    Mecha Noodle Bar - Bar area

    Bar area

    Mecha Noodle Bar - Spicy beef ramen

    Spicy beef ramen

    Mecha Noodle Bar - Pork Belly steamed baos

    See all

    Pork Belly steamed baos

    Kajiken

    Kajiken

    4.5(128 reviews)
    9.3 mi

    The family and I ate here for dinner. Aburasoba may not be the popular ramen, but I may enjoy it…read moremore than broth ramen!! It's so flavorful, the noodles are so bouncy and don't get overcooked in the broth. I often don't finish ramen broth anyway bc it's quite salty (they do offer ramen broth bowls if that's what your feeling). All that to say, the aburasoba that they do here is really good. Some of the apps are on the smaller side, but the salad and the tebasaki are worth it for sharing. You can order with the staff or with the kiosk. Service is good and it's a casual dining area inside.

    I've been on a hunt for ramen around my area these past couple of months now and Kajiken was up on…read morethe testing block. I was aware of this spot for a while now after the old Foxfire grill closed but taking the time out to try it has been tricky. Well, what's a better time than 30 minutes before closing time to just pop in and grab a couple of bowls then! It's cold, it's night, it's ramen time! We stumble in grab some shoyu, miso, seaweek salad, takoyaki, karaage, and tiramisu at the end. This place feels like a Japanese version of a Pho shop. Clean restaurant and clean bathrooms. Service was good, straigh forward, skip all the pleasantries. No Bars here but there is a connected space where you can get matcha drinks and boba but its matcha. Everything was matcha. If you're into that stuff, then that's a matcha for you. Ramens were okay. Broth was blowing my mind in flavor. I would say the depth was not too deep but this will work for a cold night. Karaage was okay. Takoyaki lacked impact in flavor also, missing the oomf! Seaweed salad was good but I'm not gonna rave about seaweed salad. We wrapped things up with the tiramisu cake. Oh boy, that was a surprise. It fell flat. The layers were overcooked and had a tough bite. I expect tiramisu to have a tender bite to it. We didn't finish that slice of cake. Well, we left full but half fulfilled. Was it worth it? Not really. If you need ramen and cup o noodles isn't cutting it, this is an option. Then again, there are options.

    Photos
    Kajiken - Niku Miso

    Niku Miso

    Kajiken - Teriyaki Tori

    Teriyaki Tori

    Kajiken

    See all

    Akira Ramen & Izakaya

    Akira Ramen & Izakaya

    4.7(84 reviews)
    5.7 mi
    $$

    Food was excellent especially the beef and green onions over rice. Sushi was great. The miso soup…read morewas the best that I ever had. Staff are knowledgeable and super pleasant. Atmosphere was open and music was great. Parking lot is around the corner temporarily but you can follow the signs to park at the lowest level which puts you steps away from the entrance. I am looking forward to the next trip for the ranen!

    Came here on May 1, 2026 after leaving the MVA...IYKYK so I was irritated and hungry...lol. I was…read morein the mood for some sushi and maybe some ramen to go so just yelp a place close to me and this popped up. Easy access to a garage that's just around the corner because it is on a very busy street. So garage parking is a must. I don't believe they have been open too long as they are still working on their liquor license. Very cute restaurant nice and tidy but a lot of personality in a small space. I was greeted when I walked in and since I was by myself I opted to sit at the sushi bar area. I forgot to take a picture of my food when I came out because I was so hungry...but the rolls were delicious and fresh. I also took some ramen home and I loved how they packaged everything up for me. I would give them a 3.75 stars because I wish they offered more ramen like beef and with the chicken broth not chicken that's fried. As the chicken was soggy and not eatable when I got home even though it was separated from the ramen. I would give them another try if I'm in the area to try more rolls and their alcohol selection.

    Photos
    Akira Ramen & Izakaya
    Akira Ramen & Izakaya
    Akira Ramen & Izakaya - Spicy crunchy Shrimp Roll w/ a Traditional California Roll

    See all

    Spicy crunchy Shrimp Roll w/ a Traditional California Roll

    JINYA Ramen Bar - Union Market - Spicy Chicken Ramen Mushroomand Shrimp Wonton (3pcs)*

    JINYA Ramen Bar - Union Market

    3.7(82 reviews)
    1.2 mi

    Went here on a whim because I was craving ramen and the place looked like it had a nice vibe from…read morethe outside. The lighting is low, which makes it a good spot for a date or a chill dinner. I sat at the bar area, which actually overlooks the cooking station. Service was fine, nothing bad, nothing over-the-top. I ordered the JINYA Chicken Ramen, which is usually my go-to at any ramen spot, so I had a lot to compare it to. The broth was a little mild at first, so I tried to doctor it up. The condiments they had out weren't really my usual choices. I normally reach for sesame oil, vinegar, or even a little hoisin, but they didn't have those. There was dumpling sauce, something that looked like a chili garlic sauce (but wasn't quite), and one other option. That said, interestingly enough, the next day the broth tasted way more flavorful. The chicken, though, was really good. Chicken in ramen can sometimes be dry or bland, but this was moist and very tender, which I appreciated. Another thing to note that I liked was that you can get free noodles if you have broth left over! I also ordered the dragon fruit fizz, and it was delicious and smelled amazing. One glass gave me a slight buzz, but mostly it was just a really good drink. Bonus points for location. It's right across the street from a free three-hour parking garage, which is always a win. There's also an upstairs portion to this restaurant, which I didn't see. Overall, I'd come back if I was in the area and in the mood for ramen.

    JINYA's Premium Red Tonkotsu Ramen delivers a rich, creamy pork broth with a deep umami flavor and…read morea satisfying spicy kick that builds with each bite. The noodles are perfectly firm, soaking up the bold broth, while the tender chashu and fresh toppings add great texture and balance. Compared to a previous experience at another Jinya location in VA where the quality felt inconsistent, this visit really showed a return to form -- the flavors were deeper, the broth hotter, and the overall execution and not to mention service was superb. The service was attentive and efficient, with staff checking in just enough without being intrusive. The ambiance felt modern, with warm lighting and a sleek, industrial design that makes it a great spot for both casual dinners and relaxed date nights.

    Photos
    JINYA Ramen Bar - Union Market
    JINYA Ramen Bar - Union Market
    JINYA Ramen Bar - Union Market - Bowls

    See all

    Bowls

    Bantam King - ramen - Updated May 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...