Great food and flavor! Thank you to our server Michelle for serving me and my friend! read more

HiroNori Craft Ramen - CRISPY CHICKEN (KARAAGE) - Noodles Near Me - San Mateo, California

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Yummy! Crispy chicken was amazing. I got the tonkatsu ramen as well with extra garlic and spice. Server michelle was great read more

HiroNori Craft Ramen - Noodles Near Me - San Mateo, California

Sooo good. I recommend. The service was really good thanks to our server Julia.Thank you Julia!

I had tried this chain from their Sunnyvale location and came to eat here with my friend at their San Mateo location. It didn't disappoint!! We were seated quickly and service was great. Sometimes, it can get busy and server might take a while with getting our check back but I totally understand. Having 1-2 server out in a packed restaurant can be tough. Crispy rice with spicy tuna was great. I really enjoyed my tonkotsu ramen. The broth was super rich and you can tell it's well made for hours+. Noodles were chewy, pork was tender, additional sauces on the side came the dish extravagant. Truly my to go ramen place that I always recommend everyone to go try! read more

HiroNori Craft Ramen - Noodles Near Me - San Mateo, California

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Like Odysseus struggling his way back home and overcoming many trials and tribulations, I had to walk two blocks to HCR. It was a trek that Zeus would have respected. I had movie tickets that night, but instead of a hotdog and tub of popcorn, this guy ate like a warrior from Ithaca (too much?). I knew that I would want more that was the theater snack bar could offer. So, I chose a bowl of noodles fit for the gods. Okay, I'll stop. This is my favorite ramen house on the Peninsula. Sure, there might be others that garner higher reviews, but this guy likes this place. It is so consistent and that is what I'm looking for when I'm craving ramen. Okay, here is what I am talking about. read more

My husband and I love Hiro Nori!! The Tonkatsu and Shoyu are both delicious, and their spicy tuna rice bowl is AMAZING. I dream about the spicy tuna crispy rice appetizer as well, one of the best things I've ever eaten!! We come here often and I love the food! The atmosphere for seating isn't necessarily my favorite, so takeout might be a good option if you would rather eat at home or in a slightly better atmosphere. Service is always great and quick! read more

Quality food and great flavor! If I were to be picky I wish it could have had a deeper flavor and fresh noodles, but the serving size was great and it was delicious. Great location in downtown and was able to walk in and get seat on a Friday night. read more

HiroNori Craft Ramen - Noodles Near Me - San Mateo, California

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Stopped by for dinner before catching a movie nearby. We were seated immediately as there were plenty of tables available. Noise level was moderate and not much decorations. We both opted for the tonkatsu ramen, which was loaded with seaweed, chashu, noodles, and a soft-boiled egg. Pro tip: ask for the garlic and spicy sauce on the side. Adding those into the broth really elevates the flavor profile and gives it a nice kick. Just a heads-up for future diners: they include an automatic 15% service charge on the receipt, so be sure to check your bill before adding an extra tip. Definitely a solid spot for a quick and filling meal! read more

HiroNori Craft Ramen - Tonkotsu Ramen - Noodles Near Me - San Mateo, California

We arrived here around 12:30 on a Sunday were promptly seated. The menu has good options for selecting ramen or something else. We had split an edamame appetizers and didn't expect the yuzu flavor to shine through...good surprise! For my order, I stuck with the tonkotsu ramen with a side of the black garlic oil. It's nice that they had it on the side to allow me to adjust the flavor if I wanted to. First sip of the broth, I was going with a 4 given the creamy pork broth was solid...not fatty and flavorful. As I added the black garlic oil into the bowl and started eating, it was just delicious. Noodles were perfectly cooked and firm with a bit of chewyness...the egg marinated well...the chasu grilled and balanced well with meat and fat. Overall...everything went so well to make this a 5 star ramen bowl! I saw this restaurant is part of chain and if the quality is just as good elsewhere...I'm in! read more

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We wanted to have ramen after 2pm and HiroNori was one of the few options open in downtown SM. We both had tonkotsu ramen and thought it was very good. The broth was very flavorful, like it was simmered for hours. The noodles were thick and topped with spinach, bean sprouts, one half of a hard boiled egg and two thin slices of roasted pork belly. There were small dishes of minced garlic and spicy chili sauce for you to personalize your dish. The only negatives are the hard backless stools and the mandatory 16.44% service charge. I normally tip a little more than that, but I'm not accustomed to a mandatory tip amount. We will be back! read more

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We dropped in Wednesday around 6:15pm. Ramen took about 10-15 mins to arrive. We ordered tonkatsu and added the free raw garlic and spicy sauce. Ramen broth was flavorful and not too salty. Chasu was tender. Egg was cooked perfectly with flavorful seasoning. Noodles were al dente and chewy. Causal place. Parking is garage and street parking. 15% tip is also automatically added to the bill. WTH??!! read more

HiroNori Craft Ramen - Tonkatsu ramen - Noodles Near Me - San Mateo, California

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HIRONORI CRAFT RAMEN - 211 E 3rd Ave, San Mateo Food: 4.75 | Service: 5.0 | Ambiance: 4.75 HIRONORI CRAFT RAMEN is a good find for well-made, meticulous, artisan ramen. Their TONKATSU RAMEN (豚骨ラーメン) with their 24-hour simmered pork bone broth is their signature bowl of ramen. SHOYU RAMEN (醤油ラーメン) is a clearer broth w/chicken, pork bone and soy sauce. The VEGAN RAMEN offers a great meatless alternative w/a 100% VEGAN BROTH, a skillful blend of 5 misos from Japan! Ambiance is clean, modern, minimalist Japanese decor. Note, Though, the chairs are not made for lingering. Slurp and go! Clarissa, my waitperson, was both kind, patient and welcoming. She happily explained the nuances in the menu and pointed out some highlights. You do wish/hope for a Clarissa in every restaurant you'd visit. Ordered: EEL TEMPURA BUNS - Steamed bun, tempura eel, pickled onions, hoisin sauce, 2-pieces. This was really good but filling with combo of the tempura and the steamed bun. The 2-piece was the minimum option. Would be great if eel was grilled to lighten this starter. I'd order it again. With friends. Lol. SHOYU RAMEN (醤油ラーメン) - Chicken, pork bone broth w/2 year barrel-aged soy sauce, pork chasu, green onion, spinach, bamboo, kaiware sprouts, half egg. I chose their "thick" noodle which is the standard ramen noodle. Better to grab onto the rich broth. Added a bit of complimentary house spicy sauce and garlic. Black garlic oil is extra. The artisan crafted ramen noodles were toothsome, chewy, and along with the standard add-ins made for a filling and satisfying meal. HNCR also features a Combo option worth trying: Choice of Ramen, Green salad, Mini-rice bowl (add salmon poke +$1). I'd love a return visit to HIRONORI CRAFT RAMEN to try their signature, TONKATSU RAMEN (豚骨ラーメン), VEGAN RAMEN. PORK or CHICKEN RICE BOWL, or SALMON POKE BOWL. P.S. HNCR does charge a 16.45% service fee to dine-in to support the kitchen staff. This fee does NOT include gratuity to waitstaff. I opted to pay gratuity in cash. The service fee can be off putting but HNCR does offer a well-crafted bowl of ramen. Your choice. read more

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I have been to two other HiroNori locations already and this was my third one. I got the shoyu chicken ramen during my other visits and didn't particularly fancy it. I was recommended to try their vegan ramen by some vegetarian eaters and decided to try that instead this time. We got combo versions of the ramen which came with salad and a rice bowl. So this is how it went- *side salad-3/5- too much dressing and too little salad. *rice bowl with chicken-3.5/5- too sweet though the chicken was cooked well. *vegan ramen-3.5/5- the broth lacked umami and depth. There was a large bunch of greens thrown on the top which didn't jibe well with the ramen. Noodles were delicious though. The broccolini was very greasy, I m assuming it was flash fried in oil before being dunked into the soup. I like the vegan ramen at their places in the bay and felt the version here a bit lacking. *crispy chicken-4/5-this was delicious. Flavors ran deep and it was addictive. read more

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Monday evening - place half empty so really easy to get a seat. Staff was super friendly and attentive. Food was solidly good. Seats are backless stools so my parents had a hard time with them. We got the tonkotsu ramen with thin noodles and tempura eel buns. I liked that the broth was flavorful without feeling too heavy nor salty - although it was still too salty for my dad. You have the option of adding garlic and their house spicy sauce to the broth which adds a lot more flavorful for those who prefer their broth that way. The chashu was very soft and the noodles bouncy. The egg was good but not amazing. We also enjoyed the tempura eel buns. There is a sizeable amount of eel in each bun and the flavor was great. Overall, a solid ramen option in downtown San Mateo. read more

HiroNori Craft Ramen - To Tonkotsu Ramen - Noodles Near Me - San Mateo, California

My order is edamame and the vegetarian ramen, they never disappoint. Im new to ramen but this is so far my favorite. The broth and veggies are so flavorful! Also, the service here is always good. Fast & friendly. read more

HiroNori Craft Ramen - VEGAN RAMEN - Noodles Near Me - San Mateo, California

Probably my #1 ramen spot. If you like a strong garlic flavor, this will hit the spot. The shoyu is solid as well. Prices are reasonable and not too costly. Alexis , the waitress, I believe is nice and efficient. read more

HiroNori Craft Ramen - Chicken. Bowl - Noodles Near Me - San Mateo, California

Let's start with Julia, she was absolutely amazing!!!! We would come back just for her phenomenal service. Her recommendations were right on point and we enjoyed the food greatly! The restaurant was clean and well appointed. We had the Shoyu Ramen which is a rich chicken broth with pork and a variety of veggies and egg. The pork was the best pork that I've had at a Ramen restaurant. We also enjoyed the crispy rice with spicy tuna, and the tempura eel buns! They were absolutely delicious. Next time we are in the Bay Area, we will be coming back.. read more

Hiro Nori is our favorite ramen spot!! Staff is always so friendly and very quick service. They just remodeled and they have a really nice and sleek vibe. Their water is fruit infused, and they also have great Japanese drink options. Their ramen never disappoints, but their rice bowls are also delicious! I got the vegan ramen this time and it's actually my favorite now. Highly recommend! read more

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Michelle was our server :) We had the tonkatsu ramen, the broth was so flavorful and perfect for this gloomy day. Hubby added the spicy tuna rice bowl to his ramen and we almost always order fried chicken when it's on a menu :) The spicy tuna has a bit of citrus flavor to it which is kind of unique? The crispy chicken was light and crispy! And I love not having to wait! We're always starving Thank you for feeding us!! read more

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I had this place saved for years after hearing how amazing it was. I finally had an opportunity to try it. I went in on New Years Day and it was very busy (duh). They were doing some kind of construction or painting so one wall was covered in plastic. I sat at a table for 2 alone and it felt weird. I was close to the door with heavy foot traffic. I dealt with it since I was lucky to get seated right away. They served flavored water, which is fine, but it had watermelon in it. I hate watermelon, please don't come for me. I asked for a plain glass of water and was given one. I ordered the shoyu ramen. It looked great but it was so damn plain. I've had many bowls of shoyu in my lifetime and this was the worst. The noodles were undercooked as well. I left with an upset stomach, which the watermelon water was part of. I didn't like it at all. Not coming back. read more

The ramen here is fine. Nothing that will blow your mind away but not bad either. Everything felt very standard to me except the pork belly was above average. I found the tonkatsu broth too salty. Could use more ramen noodles too. The pork belly in the pork belly buns was fantastic but for the price, they should add another slice of pork belly. With just 1 slice, the bun looked barely filled and anemic. Service appeared really slow for a ramen place. We waited pretty long to get our pork belly bun appetizer and watched people that were seated after us get their ramens even before we got our appetizer. read more

HiroNori Craft Ramen - Tonkotsu Ramen - Noodles Near Me - San Mateo, California

Food is solid, service can be slow due to the crowd but they are friendly. The place is clean and inviting. read more

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i came here with a group of 5 of us and we were able to get sat right away! our server was very sweet and attentive and took our order down very quickly. i ended up getting the spicy tonkatsu ramen! it also came with a garlic puree? on the side that you can add to your ramen and it was soooo good. the noodles were very fresh and the food comes out very quickly! i will definitely be coming back when i get another craving for ramen! read more

HiroNori Craft Ramen - Tonkotsu Ramen - Noodles Near Me - San Mateo, California

There's no shortage of very good Ramen places in San Mateo and HiroNori is on that list. Maybe not at the very top but firmly on the list. For today's lunch visit I ordered the Tonkatsu Ramen for $17. The noodles were perfect and the broth good. I could have enjoyed a little more spice and a little less salt but that can be chalked up to personal taste. My dish came with a small cup of spices-if you like your ramen spicy, use it! Service is prompt and friendly and the seating area efficient but homey Overall very enjoyable. For visitors who may not know, San Mateo has a deep Japanese legacy that it wears comfortably. The Japanese influence is seen throughout downtown--Stop by the nearby friendship garden in Central Park, notice the plaques commemorating their Japanese sister city, and memorials to the Japanese Regiments that fought in Italy during WWII. Less happily it was the site of internments and the nearby Tanforan racetrack collection center. Japanese cultural impact runs deep here. read more

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Delicious shoyu and tonkatsu ramen! We shared a chicken karaage between the two of us as well. Generous portions and we left feeling so satiated! Diana was attentive and made sure we had our waters filled. Would def come back! read more

HiroNori Craft Ramen - Shoyu and tonkatsu ramen with karaage! - Noodles Near Me - San Mateo, California

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Cynthia & Alexis was amazing thank you both for your service .... Noodles were amazing .. Thank you read more

HiroNori Craft Ramen - Thick noodles - Noodles Near Me - San Mateo, California

The food was delicious, the menus instruct that you are alllowed add ons to your plate which are listed adjacent to their price. ( the broccolini in my shut ramen was an add on) Garlic and a spicy sauce are free of charge. There are vegan options as well. The service was helpful. the team seemed to be busy with two servers working the phone, tables, and takeout which can be a lot for a Sunday dinner time but they made it work and were super helpful and kind under all the demand. The restaurant is pretty bare but if the food is great, can't complain!! Super tasty food :) read more

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I had no idea this was a chain of restaurants, but they've perfected the ramen recipe with a rich broth and delicious thick noodles (Tonkotsu Ramen). Best of all was the daily freshly made garlic sauce that is a free add-on and the watermelon, lime, mint infused water that they also serve. Wish they provided water in reusable cups and had reusable chopsticks, but the space was clean and the staff very friendly and explained many parts of the menu. read more

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I love going to downtown San Mateo and finding different Asian cuisine spots. This time was no different; my friend took me here for a quick bite before heading to an event. We ended up chilling here for an hour, sharing the Ramen and Pork Buns. I personally don't even like ramen, so I got the pork buns. The pork was fatty and flavorful, but I wish the buns were in a sphere shape instead of the taco shape because it gets cold quickly. I tried my friend's ramen despite my dislike for ramen, and I'm glad I did because it was fantastic. The rich tasty broth was filling and the noodles were delicious. Service was quick and welcoming. It's at the perfect location to get some dessert and to window shop after dinner. The only downside was that the chairs are stools so you can't sit back to relax. read more

HiroNori Craft Ramen - Sapporo Pork Buns Tonkotsu Ramen - Noodles Near Me - San Mateo, California

Eli and Allen (might be Alex?) We're incredible. Service was spot on and the food was amazing. Will be coming back with my daughter (:

This is my 8th time returning to HiroNori in San Mateo downtown! Each time has been exceptional from the service to the delicious food! Tonight, Julia provided excellent service starting with a welcoming energy, efficiency, and she created a pleasant dining experience! The FOOD! I am ALWAYS happy with my ramen and tonight I added several sides (cucumber crab salad, and chicken wings) and all of it tasted fresh & flavorful! The vibes are chill, not rushed or made to feel like an inconvenience. Love that. This spot has consistently given delicious food and good service so I hope they continue to thrive and more people try them to enjoy! read more

Amazing place with a friendly atmosphere! Everything was very clean, the service was fast, and the staff were so welcoming. The vegan ramen was incredibly rich and creamy. It was absolutely delicious. read more

HiroNori Craft Ramen - VEGAN RAMEN TONKOTSU RAMEN - Noodles Near Me - San Mateo, California

The place is currently in the middle of a remodel but still open for business as usual. We came in on a rainy Saturday evening for dinner and was happy to see that there were plenty of tables available so we were seated right away. The menu here is fairly limited and for a "ramen" place, I would have expected to see at least more ramen options, but this is a place that likely focuses more on quality over quantity. Price for a bowl of ramen also gives me a bit of heartburn. We ordered the yuzu edamame, two shoyu ramens, and 2 pieces of the crispy rice with spicy tuna. Everything we got was delicious. The edamame was perfectly boiled and salted and had the subtle hint of yuzu shining through, which was a nice complement. The crispy rice was perfectly fried and crispy with a good ratio of protein on top - not super big, you can eat one of these in a couple of bites. The ramen was solid - broth was good, noodles fresh. The staff was helpful in bringing us some extra bowls and utensils so we could share the ramen amongst our group of 4. A perfect meal to have to warm yourself up on a cold, rainy evening. read more

Busy place! Love to see it probably means good food. Evelyn got us seated and she was slammed on this night. Ordered up some ramen bowls and appetizers. The noodles were excellent, has some ite to it. Just how I like it. Broth was good as well. Deep flavor, food stuff. Great service from Evelyn. Hard worker. Will be back. Hire more peeps! read more

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I have had hironori many times in socal. First time eating it in NorCal. It's consistent and taste the same. I love all the ramen but my favorite is the cold dipping noodles. I love the bouncy thick noodles but they have a thin noodle option too. I love getting the crispy spicy tuna and crispy chicken for appetizers. FYI they have gratuity included in the bill so an extra tip is optional. read more

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Walked in and got seated quickly. I got the tonkatsu ramen with thick noodles. The broth is rich, creamy and flavorful. You get two thinly slices of chashu and half an egg. The pork is tender and just melts in your mouth. The portion is small. Could use more ramen noodles. read more

HiroNori Craft Ramen - Noodles Near Me - San Mateo, California

Everything was absolutely perfect!! Julia was outstanding. Felt taken care of and the food was superb. Highly recommend!! read more

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Take out review - I ordered takeout from Hiro nori and it was very ok. The noodles were good, but the broth felt very fatty. Maybe I'll have to try in-person sometime! read more

I came here around lunch time with my family, we ordered the crispy chicken and pork bun appetizers as well as the tonkatsu ramen for all of us. Our server Michelle was attentive and checked in on us frequently! I appreciated the option of free garlic and house spicy sauce they offer on their menu for a garlic and spice lover like me. Food was great! I would come back again. read more

HiroNori Craft Ramen - CRISPY CHICKEN (KARAAGE) - Noodles Near Me - San Mateo, California

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These noodles are delicious. I tried the tonkatsu ramen and the cold chili dip noodles. Both were very good with the thicker noodles. The chili dip noodles really stood out with the sauce which is spicy and sweet with almost a peanut like undertone. The ambiance is nice and seems very trendy. Semi open kitchen on the right Asha tables on the left with groups of 4 on the wall and parties of two in the middle. The staff were very nice and the food came out fast. The presentation was also good as well. They also serve a refreshing watermelon infused water. The only thing that surprised me was the mandatory 16 percent tip for a party of two which I've never seen before. I was still going to tip regardless but I was caught off guard by it. read more

HiroNori Craft Ramen - Tonkotsu Ramen - Noodles Near Me - San Mateo, California

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