Marufuku Ramen was an absolute breath of fresh air. I put my name down on their waitlist and spent…read morethe wait browsing the mall instead of standing outside in the heat, such a simple, thoughtful system that makes the whole experience smoother and more enjoyable. When my table was ready, I walked right in with zero stress. The staff were warm, attentive, and genuinely welcoming from the moment I sat down. The food was amazing. The ramen was rich and flavorful, the toppings were perfect, and everything came out beautifully prepared. The space itself is well put together: clean, stylish, and comfortable, making it a genuinely nice establishment to relax and enjoy a meal. Marufuku gets every detail right, and it shows. Five stars all the way.

So the day starts wrapped in a soft, silvery fog, locally called Karl, that blankets San Francisco…read moreas the night cools. The air is damp, temperatures are hovering in the 50s, and Karl the Fog clings to the Golden Gate Bridge and waterfront, creating a misty, almost ethereal scene...And that, ladies and gentlemen, is a SIGN FOR RAMEN. Where else? Marufuku Ramen - San Francisco in Japantown for some authentic Hakata-style Tonkotsu ramen. Because when San Francisco decides to turn a summer evening into a refrigerated fog chamber, you don't argue with Mother Nature. You order soup. And not just any soup. RAMEN. We ordered the Hakata Tonkotsu DX, and from the moment that bowl arrived, I knew the evening was going to end well. The broth was rich, deeply simmered, creamy, savory, and incredibly comforting...the kind of broth that seems to have one job in life...Make you forget that you're cold. Mission accomplished. Then came the supporting cast...Seasoned Soft-Boiled Egg, perfectly tender and adding another layer of richness. Green Onions bringing freshness and a little aromatic bite. Kikurage Mushrooms adding that wonderful chewy, slightly crunchy texture. Bean Sprouts providing a crisp counterpoint to all that luxurious broth. And then...Buta Kakuni aka braised thick pork belly. Now we're talking. Tender, succulent, deeply flavored pork belly that practically surrendered to the chopsticks. Rich without being overwhelming, it added that slow-braised goodness that makes you suddenly question why all pork belly isn't served this way. Then came corn for little bursts of sweetness and nori seaweed for that subtle oceanic umami. Everything had a purpose. Everything had a place. And everything somehow ended up in my belly. This wasn't simply ramen...this was soul-soothing culinary therapy. The kind of meal that melts away the evening San Francisco chill one slurp at a time. But apparently ramen wasn't enough...because we also ordered the Chicken Karaage. And OH BOY... That golden-brown, ultra-crispy exterior gives way to tender, juicy, deeply flavored chicken inside, creating that beautiful combination of crunch and tenderness that is both satisfying and dangerously addictive. One piece becomes another. Then another and suddenly you're negotiating with yourself. "I should probably save some for later", however, your hand reaches for another piece. Apparently, self-control was not invited to dinner. The combination was perfect. Hot ramen. Crispy chicken. Rich broth. Tender pork belly. Crunchy vegetables. And Karl the Fog doing his best impression of a giant refrigerator outside. This is where I started thinking about Japanese minimalism. It reflects ideas of discipline, respect, mindfulness, simplicity, and harmony, with a deep connection to nature and tradition. Marufuku Ramen hits on all points. The ingredients are thoughtfully composed. The textures have purpose. The flavors are balanced. Nothing feels unnecessary. Nothing feels like it's trying too hard. It's simply a beautiful bowl of ramen and some seriously good karaage doing exactly what they were meant to do. And perhaps that's the beauty of it. In a city where everything seems to move at 100 miles an hour, you sit down with a bowl of ramen, pick up your chopsticks, take that first sip of broth... And for a few minutes...You slow down. Karl can wait. The Golden Gate Bridge can wait. The rest of San Francisco can wait. Dinner comes first. Overall: 5 stars. The Hakata Tonkotsu DX was rich, savory, comforting, and loaded with wonderful textures. The Buta Kakuni was tender and deeply satisfying, while the seasoned egg, kikurage mushrooms, bean sprouts, green onions, corn, and nori created a beautifully balanced bowl. And the Chicken Karaage? Crispy. Juicy. Flavorful. Basically...fried chicken therapy with a Japanese passport. Come hungry...and Go Big!!!

This Ramen Shop is definitely worth the long wait outside to get in. They have really unique Ramen…read morebroths that you won't find it other shops. They definitely try their best to keep the line moving and one of the main ways it seems is to highly encourage guests to look at the menu while they are waiting in line outside so as soon as they are seated they can place their order and then eat quickly so then they can vacate the seat for the next person. Because this is exactly what happened to us. Also they have written warnings and they do tell you that their policy is everybody must order their own entree there's no splitting. I wouldn't call the servers overly friendly ( we had to flag them down to order drinks after our food was served) but the food came out quickly and the orders were accurate and it tasted amazing. I have never seen MATCHA flavored Ramen anywhere else and since I'm a matcha girly, you know I had to try the Duck Matcha Ramen. When asked, the waitress was honest and said "people who like matcha, like it." Happily I am one of those people and I did like it! If you've got 45 minutes to an hour to kill chatting with your friends in line and don't mind slipping down your Ramen quickly in tight quarters then you should give this place a try.

This place gives me true Japan vibe, very tight spacing and quick in/ out. On Saturday we arrived…read moreat 5.30pm to find a long line. We waited 50 minutes before it was our party of 4 got called in. There is a policy that everyone has to order at least 1 bowl of ramen. I thought that was interesting. This is a Chicken based broth ramen (Toripaitan) place. For family of 4 (2 teenage boys), we ordered $270 worth of food. 2 signature Toripaitan ramens, 1 signature Toripaitan Spicy ramen, 1 classic Toripaitan ramen, 1 Hokkaido uni and A5 Wagyu hand roll, 2 orders of 5 pieces A5 Wagyu sushi, 1 side order of A5 Wagyu slice XL, 1 corn ribs, 1 edamame, 1 vegan fried chicken made out of oyster mushroom, and 1 Matcha IPA. The ramen bowl itself is about $25/bowl. My signature Toripaitan spicy bowl soup surprisingly was not that hot. That's too bad. The thick noodles were hot though. Taste was decent. But the lukewarm broth ruined it for me. I like the side dishes better. Interesting ramen like the matcha duck and lamb cumin ramen might be with trying next time.

Took young adult kids to dinner at Taishoken (I had a sore throat so ramen sounded good). Used Yelp…read morewaitlist to make a "reservation" and were seated within ten minutes of arrival. Cute restaurant, great service, seemed like very authentic Japanese decor. We did not find it hard to hold conversation among the four of us seated in the middle of the restaurant. Chicken karaage, 5 pieces - 5/5, large pieces of fried chicken yum! with dipping sauce Agedashi Tofu - 5/5, lightly fried tofu (says deep fried but there's hardly a crust on the silky soft tofu), came with a generous amount of shiitake and shimeiji mushrooms, in a light broth. It came out after our ramen so unfortunately I did not taste it without having already tried the spicy miso broth Tonkotsu Spicy Miso Ramen - 5/5, excellent broth, noodles (straight white thin noodles) perfectly cooked, came with two generous thick slices of tasty roast pork chashu, a warm soft boiled egg (sometimes ramen places give you a cold egg, I don't like that!), green onion, bamboo shoots. I opted for no red onion because that just seemed weird to me. Just the right level of spice and made my throat feel great! I look forward to going back next time I'm visiting the kids in the Mission!

came back again before i left the city-- so sad to go. we loved it just as much as the first time…read more still would absolutely recommend going to anyone who enjoys a good, hearty bowl of ramen. this time i tried the ginger lime cocktail with shochu. loved it. thank you taishoken for another great experience.

Amazing place gave bunch of Katsu and great sake. The fiery katsu is a must have. Chicken katsu is…read morealso great

We are writing to express our strong appreciation for the exceptional Umami Creamy Tan-Tan-Men soup…read moreand to respectfully request its permanent return to the menu. This dish stands out as one of the most memorable and flavorful offerings we have experienced. The rich, creamy broth delivers a perfectly balanced umami depth, harmoniously combined with subtle heat and aromatic spices that create an indulgent yet refined dining experience. Both my partner and I were thoroughly impressed by its complexity and comforting warmth, and we have continued to crave it long after the winter season. The Umami Creamy Tan-Tan-Men soup represents a true highlight of your culinary repertoire. We believe it deserves a lasting place on the regular menu, where it can be enjoyed year-round by loyal patrons and new guests alike. Its removal has left a noticeable gap, and we are confident that reinstating it as a signature item would be met with great enthusiasm. Thank you for creating such an outstanding dish. We eagerly await its return and look forward to ordering it on our next visit.

Unexpected find, small place with accommodating staff, amazing food quality…read more Not super cheap but most restaurants in SF are not and most. For the quality the prices are reasonable. The flavor of the egg in the ramen was out of this world good, the meat was so tasty and high quality also.

Came here on a Friday night. It's a small shop with limited seating so as a party of 4 it took some…read moretime to get seated. It's also only one person serving and hostess-ing and we could tell she was trying her best. We were sitting at the outside facing bar seats at first and appreciate the hostess for re-seating us at a table where we could actually talk to each other. It was my first time and I decided to try the hiyashi chuka as ramen is usually a bit too heavy and salty for me. The classic hiyashi chuka sauce is refreshing and sesame based. I thought it would be the classic sauce, but whatever they had tasted basically like soy sauce and water. I was not a fan, and wish they called it something else so I would not have confused it with the classic hiyashi chuka flavor. We also got the mushroom tempura to share. These were super good!! Stick to the classics! Hope to be back to try their better stuff.

The chicken ramen is really good. Broth is viscous and gelatinous in the best way, without feeling…read moreheavy. Noodles are quite special - they taste so fresh, bouncy with the perfect bite. Salmon hand roll is in taco format - not cheap but very delicious and tender fish, and plenty of ikura.

It's all about the chicken in these ramen bowls…read more My friend suggested this place for Friday lunch. We were able to find parking on Franklin and there was no wait to be seated around 12.45 pm. At her recommendation, I ordered the tan tan spicy miso paitan ramen. The bowl comes w/a heap of fresh cilantro and shredded green onion on top of al dente noodles, a perfectly cooked and seasoned ramen egg and a delicious (though really not that spicy) and creamy broth. The one thing that was missing was the ground chicken. I think there was probably about a tablespoon of chicken in my bowl and for the price ($21) I do expect to find one of the described ingredients in an adequate amount in my bowl. That was my only beef w/this joint. Otherwise, service was prompt, attentive and friendly.

My favorite ramen place in the city. Very unique broth. And must add the bone marrow to your ramen…read more- truly divine

A great spot for a classic bowl of ramen! Service is friendly and efficient…read more I usually get the traditional paitan ramen, which is a safe and delicious choice if you are looking for a go to item. I have also tried the spicy ramen, which is great as well. The broth is flavorful without being too heavy, and the noodles are cooked nicely al dente. I also recommend ordering the bone marrow on the side if you are looking to add something a little more rich and decadent to your meal. Overall, a solid ramen spot. Street parking only.

This place is absolutely amazing. Out the door Was hands down the best service we have ever had…read more Best food I've pretty much ever had in my life. Ambience is perfect too.

Great food Good amount Portions for the food…read moreService was great Will definitely come back again

5 Stars, 5 Stars, 5 Stars!!! I LOVE San Francisco! Working in the city always allows for an…read moreopportunity for great food, and boy did we hit a home run. Literally a half a block from our hotel, Yelp showed us a 4.6 rated restaurant. Read some reviews and we were sold. We were both hungry (with my foodie son) and sat down for an early dinner. Saki was the first order of business, with an excellent recommendation from our service (sweetest person ever) Dry and not too sweet. So early we jumped right into the happy hour appetizers. The Brussels were dreamy, the chicken was pure perfection and the gyoza spectacular. Also dove into the octopus balls (not literally )and they were ridiculous. We also ordered the Niki Ramen that had us in "we can't stop eating, mode. The broth was incredible and the shaved pork just over the top! A free drink suddenly appeared at the table and we were eternally thankful. Finished with the custard and we both wept! Yes, THAT good! The service was impeccable, friendly, funny, attentive, sweet, etc. 5/5 service, just like the food. SO cute on the inside with only around 8 tables. We got there really early, like 5pm, but by 6 it was a packed house, and mostly locals. A bigs hats off and thumbs up to this little hole in the wall. Keep it Rockin!!!!!

I get very skeptical about japanese izakaya / j skewers because I feel they are usually way over…read morepriced for the value but not gonna lie.... this place exceeded my expectations by a lot. Usually these types of places serve like $5-$8 each skewers that taste bland and not filling/ satisfying. but taniku know how to actually bring out flavor from skewers making it feel more worth it. My best friend and I came here on a whim and really glad we did. The drive up was a little sketchy but the place is a small little unassuming spot - cutesy. There was a line outside and a 10-15 min wait for us (because of how small the place one) but we didn't mind. Service was also a tiny bit odd / slow but I'm not type to care too much about that especially if it's busy and the food comes on reasonable time + food is good. Customers waiting in line outside seemed confused and out of loop kept asking me since I was in front of line if there was a line or waitlist/how long the wait was. Another odd thing is their menu. I saw reviews / pictures of food that wasn't on the paper menu they gave so it was confusing what they actually offered. We ordered the Niku ramen : change to rice bowl (really good portion sizing for japanese place) tasty flavoring. not too meaty taste. kimchi was random but worked well, cut the beef sweetness and savoriness. +Added $5 soft shell crab for topping. Very good. Typically fried soft shell crab. Crispy, crabby. Scallop hand roll: seaweed was a little soft for my liking. scallop quality was very yummy. loved the yuzu. Thought the spicy mayo + yuzu pairing was too much clashing flavors. Pork Belly Skewers: sooo good. Crispy outer. soft inner. Flavorful. Chicken meatball skewer: raw egg sauce helped put it all together enhancing and uplifting the chicken itself. Very yummy. not bland. all together like $60 (not w tip) which is really good for j izakaya. I need come for happy hour

Delicious food, fast service, nice staff. We sat outside - they have heat lamps, so it was warm.read more

Stopped by Hinodeya on Saturday Night! The line was super long, but they moved very quickly. It was…read morepretty impressive and a testament to their staff and kitchen! Inside is cozy and feels like a restaurant in Japan. They have a lot of seats indoor and outdoors. Once we were seated, we were able to place our order quickly. We did the back to school special (2 ramen, 3 apps and 2 drinks for $59). It was incredible value! The dashi chips were great and the karaage is amazing! The takoyaki was good but nothing crazy special! Their ramen was portioned well and their chashu is the best I've ever had. The flavor of the broth could be stronger and have more spice to it. We loved dining here and if we're ever in the area again, we would stop by!