This review is reserved for Hotaru's Tonkotsu ramen!! One of the most flavorful broth in Michigan, one slurp and you'll be transported back to those ramen joint in Tokyo! The ramen was el dente, the shashu was tender and melted in my mouth (wish they were a bit more but oh well). Crunchy corn, beansprout was just right, soft boiled egg was a nice touch. Often time the tonkotsu broth around here are either 1) too watery and flavorless, or 2) watery but very salty, or3) super oily. Well my friends in MI, Hotaru's tonkotsu broth is neither of those and it's truly an amalgamation of umami and simple joy in your tummy. It's not overly oily yet has so many complex flavors, you'll want to tip the bowl and drink all of the broth after the ramen is gone! Don't wait, get your ramen head over there right now :) The squid karaage was decent, would try other apps next time. On the side note, I also ordered another tonkatsu ramen and chicken katsu curry rice to-go. It was packaged well and the curry rice was quite delicious as well. Service was good, staff was polite and the ambience is clean and serene. It's also right next to a quaint used book store which was fun to look through afterward. read more

Hotaru - Tonkatsu ramen--the broth is worth the trip - Ramen Near Me - Novi, Michigan

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Food is fire Service is gas Prices are great Workers are nice read more

After a long workday, I was in the mood for a big bowl of noodles. I had a few places in mind, many of them bookmarked on Yelp. Distance was a factor, since I was hungry. Ramenya is located in a strip mall, conveniently for me, with several other Asian restaurants. The menu is online and I must say that I appreciate all the pictures. It is so much easier to know what you are ordering, instead of trying to decipher what is being said in the text. It looks like the website is still in development since some of the images are still not posted yet. While restaurants were allowed to offer limited dine-in service, it was empty of guests (and "seemed" to be set up for pick up only) when I walked in. I ordered the Tonkotsu Ramen; there was a variety of both ramen and udon noodles available. My noodles were packaged separately from the broth, which I appreciated. As well, I also picked up a specialty roll because they looked so fantastic. The ramen broth was fantastic, still hot, surviving the drive. I loved the full, rich tasted of the creamy broth and the perfectly cooked, tender but firm, noodles. It came with two thinly sliced pieces of Asian-barbecued pork and half of a soft-boiled egg. I think an improvement here would be to be able to add more pork, even at an additional cost. I had half the ramen so that I could also enjoy the roll. Because I am allergic to salmon (unfortunately), I read through that part of the menu carefully. In the end, I went with the Red Dragon, which included shrimp tempura, crab salad, avocado, and tuna. It was yummy. The service was polite and efficient. read more

Hotaru - Red dragon: shrimp tempura with crab salad, spicy tuna, and avocado combine together for a tasty roll. - Ramen Near Me - Novi, Michigan

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Called ahead to make sure they were open for dine-in, they are. Open until 9pm and last order by 8:50pm. The woman that answered was pleasant. They have my favored pacha soap company lavender scented hand sanitizer. Yoonki is waiting on us tonight. She's sweet, warm, attentive and friendly. She was likely the same perish that answered the phone when we called earlier. We ordered the holy crab, lady of samba and the baby one more time, house salad and a Champon ramen. It's a small cozy space in here. Sanitizers are everywhere, I like it. The champon ramen is big. There's shrimp, scallops and mussels in a spicy chicken broth. It looks and smells so good. The broth has some real heat and so robust with flavor too. A nice blend of seafood, ramen noodles and onions, carrots and cabbage. The lady of samba looks so colorful. They ate such big pieces. It tastes so good. The crunchy deep fried outer is quite nice. The flavors all meld nicely. The baby one more time is my favorite, the crab salad on top was worth the $1 up charge. The cream cheese is a nice and much needed addition. The sweet gochujang is a nicer topper. The holy crab is also so good. I can't decide which rolls were the best. The sushi chef brought us all out piece of sushi on the house as a welcome, how sweet. Ours was spicy. Topped with a half a slice of jalapeño. We even got a small side of kimchi to too. $0.50 charge for the sriracha side and $1 up charge for the crab salad on top of my lady of samba instead of the shrimp. Hospitality and service here is tops. The food is all good. Ramenya is also called Oharu on the bill. read more

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Coming from the Bay Area and have eaten ramen from Japan. I came here because of the the reviews raving about the tonkastu ramen. The broth is just salty and didn't have any depth of any flavor. Had the curry and it didn't have a rich flavor. The beef was chewy. The miso soup was salty. It was dark and thinking they put soy sauce in it. No it wasn't the dark miso being used. Got hot tea. It was pitch black. 1 star for service 1 star because it was clean read more

Just an update to my last review. Hotaru is still the best ramen and udon noodle restaurant I've found in the area. It's always crowded but we manage to squeeze in at lunchtime. We still order the Champon Ramen and the Tempura Udon but have tried the Gyoza and beef bulgogi combo which is delicious! The website menu has full color pictures and descriptions so I would advise checking that out before going as it's much more helpful than the restaurant's menu. I just googled Hotaru Novi. The waitresses are so efficient and quick I'm so impressed. The restaurant is closed weekdays between 2:30pm and 5:00pm. They open at 11:00am. I would get there early to avoid the crowds if you can! read more

Hotaru - Champon Spicy Seafood Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Novi, Michigan

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This is by far the best Ramen I have had! The atmosphere and service is great! They are very clean! We have also tried the other things on the menu and they never miss a beat here! Hoping soon they'll get even more locations read more

Amazing service and tasty food. I typically get the Chick-Chick Ramen and it never disappoints! The servers and the cooks are very friendly. The food quality reflects the attentiveness and kindness of the staff- both equally amazing! The interior is a bit tight for seating, but we have never had an issue! If you're looking for a quick, inexpensive, welcoming, delicious ramen spot, then this is your place! read more

Nom nom nom this is next level good. Nothing here was halal and I told them vegetarian so they did two bento boxes for lunch with tofu for me and a miso soup. It was so good. read more

Hotaru - Veggie bento box - Ramen Near Me - Novi, Michigan

Got the Nagasaki Ramen my daughter wanted... wish I had gotten the Ton katsu.... still very good, sea foods were to my liking. likely to try again read more

Yum the food is great and fresh. The dining area is small and hard to move around bit would be great if they could move to. Bigger space. There were a lot of people there when I went. I cannot wait to go back and taste more of the menu items. The service could be slightly better but they were very busy on the day I was there. read more

Hotaru - Udon - Ramen Near Me - Novi, Michigan

We loved Hotaru! They have great selection for lunch menus and their service is amazing as well. We have been there twice and it hasn't disappointed us so far. *fingers crossed. So far, we've enjoyed their lunch bento boxes that comes with miso soup too. Their prices are pretty fair compared to other lunches in the area, IMO. For $12 lunch bento boxes, you get a few varieties. The seating would be tricky during lunch rush. They have waiting benches right outside their establishment. read more

Hotaru - Bento lunches - Ramen Near Me - Novi, Michigan

The service is warm, speedy & consistent. This is the best ramen in my opinion. You can tell everything is crafted with Love. 10 out of 10 - highly recommend!!! read more

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What a great surprise find. Wife and I were craving some Pho but when we arrived it was closed... luckily in the same strip mall we found Hotaru. Amazing Ramen! Small mom n pop local business with great service and delicious food. Emen came with a small salad. The chef surprised us with a sampler bowl of rice and tuna that was perfect. read more

Probably the best ramen I've had in a LONG time. Friendly staff, small place but very efficient. Visited on a weekend but was told they have great lunch specials. Stop here if you're in the area! read more

Hotaru - Chicken Raman - Ramen Near Me - Novi, Michigan

Broth, noodles and pork we're all great! The broth was very rich and creamy. The pork was tender and flavorful. I really like the egg was cooked but wish it was marinated beforehand. Regardless it was still great. Staff was super friendly and even gave us a free dessert! One downside is they do not carry beer here. read more

Hotaru - Tonkatsu Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Novi, Michigan

Great (quick) lunch spot or anytime you're in the mood for Japanese. Good amount of food and variety to suit your appetite. Service was pleasant and fast. Lunch combo #3 ramen comes with a mini ramen of your choice - I thoroughly enjoyed the Shoyu, it was perfect. I wanted to resist the 3 fried gyoza that came with it but they were too good to leave uneaten. It also came with salad and rice. The chef also gave us what I think is the sweet shrimp sushi but in a poke style to start and ended our meal with 2 chocolate mochi. Definitely adding this to my 'list' of places to frequent, especially in the damp, grey days of winter. read more

Absolutely amazing ramen and appetizers! Visited this place on a Tuesday evening and it was POPPING! I saw a lot it Asian folks eating so I knew the food HAS to be good! It was absolutely amazing!!! Will return! read more

Hotaru - Chik Chik Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Novi, Michigan

So far the best Ramem in Novi, order the service take away and was not disappointed. The price is fare

Is my first time coming to this ramen shop it's small but very Homie. Staff were friendly and inviting,food was excellent. I ordered the shoyu Ramen and made it spicy, the chicken Karaage with the rice was amazing. This whole tray was around $16 which I would say is a great value. Will definitely come again soon. read more

Hotaru - Chicken mayo ramen lunch combo - Ramen Near Me - Novi, Michigan

This review is meant to give people information before hand. First if all, it is a type of okay restaurant that if you like food and does not care about experience. The restaurant does not have waiting area. And there are people allowed to wait inside and some not allowed. If it is winter, be cautious because you will be TOLD to wait outside as the owner thought maximum capacity means no waiting area allowed inside. To compare, Ajishin is way better (before Covid) as they allowed people to wait inside. The owner is very aggressive when questioned and they will tell you go somewhere else. And they will represent your feeling on your behalf about whether it is cold or not. Simply put, if they don't think it is cold, then it is not and no one should complain about waiting outside and they think asking people to wait in the car is nice enough. read more

So I will say the flavor of my miso ramen was very good. However, I felt the portion was very small. Idk if it was because it was a carry out or not, but it was small. I also didn't get my salad with my order. Again, maybe because it was a carry out. I paid for meat (pork) since I don't get it in the miso ramen and it was two small pieces of pork, sliced thin as bacon. Will I give it another try, definitely as I do like the flavor. Hopefully second time will be better as I want to try their sushi. read more

Nice place with a good food! I was there once, but will surely pay another visit with an occasion!

My wife and I have been to Hotaru serval times in the last 5 years. It is our go to Ramen place, but their Curry and Bulgogi are just as amazing. Service is great. Atmosphere is intimate. read more

I had a hankering for a tuna avocado roll and went to the nearest sushi restaurant. The single lady working sat me at a small table, then proceeded to set a family with a very loud child next to me. The entire rest of the restaurant was empty....whhhyy. A couple came in and tried to order take out. But the lady was so rude they left. I ordered 3 rolls. Tuna avocado, mushroom and a super spicy specialty roll with a jalapeno on top. All were so delicious and refreshing. Totally hit the spot. When I got the bill, the lady made a mean comment to me about how I ate too much food. How rude!! Food fantastic. Service so mean! read more

Hotaru - Beautiful platter of sushi just for me! - Ramen Near Me - Novi, Michigan

We were in the area and wanted to try some ramen but the one we always visit in town was closed. Decided to try it out based on the feedbacks. It didn't disappoint. We dined in and ordered 3 kinds of ramen, karaage and shrimp tempura. All the ramen were great, but the chicken has room for improvement. The place is clean and service was good! The owner even gave us some conch to try (on the house!). Definitely recommend! read more

Hotaru - From top left, left to right: Tonkotsu, shoyu and miso ramen, with karaage (fried chiecken) in the middle, and shrimp tempura in our tummies - Ramen Near Me - Novi, Michigan

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Delish and probably best ramen in the state! Good vibes! Expect a line so try to come early not Hangy. The staff and owners are friendly. read more

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My mom and I almost went to the Korean place next door, but she didn't feel like Korean bbq (and the rest of their menu was pretty limited), so we saw this place and decided to try it out. I ordered the tonkotsu ramen, which came in a giant bowl and only cost $11. In addition to a couple slices of pork, it also included half an egg, some bean sprouts, spinach, and corn. The broth was delicious (not too salty) and the noodles had a great firm texture. My mom got a bulgogi stew that came with clear bean thread noodles. I tried some - it had good flavor, but the portion was pretty small and they also didn't soak the noodles long enough before cooking (they were pretty hard to chew). They also offer 1/2 off specialty sushi rolls on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, so we tried some. I got the special roll #1, which had shrimp tempura, mayo, crab salad on top, and tempura crunch. The mayo was unnecessary, so I picked it out to save a few calories. The sushi was okay...nothing special. I'd put it on par with Benihana. With the discount, it was a pretty good deal (between $5-6), but I wouldn't order this roll at full price. Ajishin is still my favorite place for sushi, by far. I would definitely come back here for ramen, if nothing else! Update: I did come back for ramen, and decided to try the chicken karaage (Japanese fried chicken) as an appetizer. I don't recommend it. It's expensive, flavorless, and not crispy. We think they may have baked some frozen chicken in the back, because we didn't hear any deep frying going on in the kitchen. One World Market's chicken karaage is 10x better, and it's only half the price! read more

Tried out this place due to other nearby Japanese places being closed. It was a great substitute, but not sure if I'd come back if the other places were open. The lunch specials are a good bang for your buck, but the gyoza, egg roll, and shumai didn't have any dipping sauces. The servers were nice and the atmosphere is cute. read more

The food was fantastic people were amazing and super nice, it was also super clean I will definitely be back maybe every week when I have time love this place... read more

Hotaru - Ramen Near Me - Novi, Michigan

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This is my happy place. Whenever I am craving ramen, this is the first place i'll go. Delicious flavors and incredible menu here. Tons of non ramen options as well. They have rice bowls with chicken, pork, shrimp, etc, curry, udon, and bento boxes. Super cute place to dine in with a quiet ambience and cozy booths. Great place for a date or a solo meal. I love their Tonkotsu ramen, as well as the Shoyu and the chick-chick ramen. It really just hits the spot everytime. I find myself finishing it almost immediately just wish there were more noodles! Cannot recommend this place enough! read more

Hotaru - tonkatsu ramen and tempura shrimp - Ramen Near Me - Novi, Michigan

A noble attempt at being an "authentic Japanese ramen shop" but falls short. The store is clean and ambiance looks good but... Ramen soup is lukewarm when it should be piping hot. demiglace tonkatsu has very thin pork and straight out of can demiglace sauce. Side of corn is also straight out of can. Expectations for decent lunch was not fulfilled. Really hoping that one of the ramen chains that operate in Chicago or Toronto make their way here... read more

This is a modern and cozy place to eat! The service was welcoming, and they were quick with bringing food out, as well as taking our finished plates. We enjoyed our food and we'll definitely come back to try more of their food. read more

Hotaru - Shrimp Shumai and Squid Karaage (Calamari) with mayo. - Ramen Near Me - Novi, Michigan

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Amazingly delicious will be back everything was on point service was great ambiance was amazing

Did a pick up order. So so good! Amazing ramen - we had the Tonkotsu and the shoyu amazing! - smaller place if you want to dine in

Everything we've had here has been REALLY good! (I think a lot of the reviews are from before they changed owners in mid 2019. Definitely try this place the service and food are really great) Bibimbop came out steaming hot. Make sure you ask for their homemade gojuchang! It's not as spicy as some and has really great depth of flavor. Sushi 5/5: they have a lot of speciality rolls in addition to the standard rolls. The tuna in the spicy tuna roll was very fresh! I pulled a few larger pieces out to try on their own Get the Gyoza! read more

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So far so amazing. You get greeted immediately by a friendly staff and they have a lovely ginger salad, along with super fast service!! Will definitely make this a new spot in the rotation. If you haven't tried it here yet do--and they have lunch specials from I think 11-2:30pm! The atmosphere is very causal and light hearted as well. read more

Hotaru - Ramen Near Me - Novi, Michigan

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Ordered beef curry for carryout. Came home and noticed there were plenty of potatoes and a couple of carrots. Ate a few potatoes and all the carrots then started digging for the beef when i noticed there was literally one small piece of beef! One! They should've called this dish potato curry not beef curry. This a huge F for fail read more

Hotaru - Beef curry with literally one small piece of beef! - Ramen Near Me - Novi, Michigan

They've gotten way better over the years. The lunch bento is very good and portion sizes are good too. I've gotten the bulgogi bento and the pork Katsu bento and both have been good. Will keep coming back! read more

Hotaru - Lunch menu - Ramen Near Me - Novi, Michigan

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We normally get our udon soup from Ajishin and have talked about trying Hotaru for quite some time. Tonight we pulled the trigger and I'm glad that we did. The udon was great and so were the goyza appetizer. Next time I will try their ramen soup and of course the goyza. read more