We LOVE Ichran! We come here every week! The food is amazing, the staff is very friendly and the atmosphere is fun!

This was my first time trying more of an authentic Japanese ramen. Since I have nothing to compare it to besides places like Domoishi, it's hard to say exactly how I feel about it. I had the Ebi (shrimp) curry ramen. The curry was very flavorful but different than both Jamaican and Indian curries. I don't like that they keep the tails on the shrimp even though it's in the ramen. I also had salmon rice balls as well as Shumai. The shumai was good and so were the rice balls, but never having had rice balls, they weren't what I was expecting. I expected them to have meat in them but it was just rice with salmon flavored powder. We also added hot green tea to our meal. While not anything special, I do like to end my meal this way. The service was pretty good but we didn't like that our waitress stood next to our table from the moment we sat down. We felt pressured to hurry up and order, and it just made things awkward. She was very attentive though. This restaurant is your typical local Japanese style restaurant. Very authentic in its feel and decor - nothing fancy, basic service. But if you like more authentic type dishes vs chain restaurants, I think this is a place to try! Oh, I will also add this place was alot less expensive than places like Domoishi! I give it a 3 star because I feel neutral about it - not because anything was super wrong about it! read more

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Very attentive wait staff. There's always one (even while others take a break for lunch) always standing watching tables to make sure every order, question, etc is attended to. Atmosphere is cozy. I ordered the katsu ramen. The taste was spot on, although the presentation looked very basic and more homemade than restaurant. read more

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Stopped in on my way home was in the mood as always for some amazing ramen if you know me you know I'm always in the hunt and so far it has not disappointed me me yet read more

Ichran Japanese Ramen - Spicy Ramen yummy - Ramen Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

The outside is non descript with blocked off windows and in a sketchy neighborhood... don't let that throw you off...it is totally worth it! Now we didn't actually get the ramen which they are known for, but we got 5 different appetizers! All we wonderful but the stand out was the ebi shumai (shrimp steamed dumplings), negimaki (beef and scallion) grilled rolls, and the gorudo ebi (potatoe wrapped shrimp)... oh my, all served up hot and fresh. The staff never let our water glass go empty and we're very kind. Just go here, you will not be disappointed! read more

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So it is pretty affordable we'll say, but I think that the Ramen quality could definitely improve but for the price can really complain. I think it's about $12 for a bowl at lunch which compared to today's prices the other Ramen shops is a steal. The Ramen itself was not bad. It had a lot of soy and miso notes, but I didn't have that much creaminess like typical Japanese Ramen. It was actually more Chinese style than I thought. They also put a lot of Napa cabbage in the noodles to fill the bowl up; I wasn't a huge fan since I'd rather have more noodles, but I think it comes to personal preference. The best part about the dish was definitely the egg I really liked the goose. It was perfectly salted comparable to other Ramen shops and it was also very jammy in the center. I would say for the area this r/'en shop is OK but in comparison to all the Ramen shops, I've tried being up in Maryland and nova I think that this one is probably below par than what I usually have. The service was pretty fast I would say and they were very quick to get my bowl out, probably within five minutes. read more

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Came for dinner on a weekday and noticed the inside is a quiet and clean place. Seems like ample seating. Works were friendly and attentive, kept things running smoothly. Ordered the agedashi tofu and the katsu ramen. The tofu was lightly battered/fried and the sauce was the right flavor, but it was way too salty. I appreciate the generous helping of sauce, but I think it's too much for agedashi tofu. The ramen was also disappointing. The katsu pieces were minimal, there was too little broth and it wasn't very rich or flavorful. The noodles were cooked right though. read more

Ichran Japanese Ramen - Katsu Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

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Ugh I've been to this place many times but I just keep forgetting to review it! I think it is their own fault too... their food and service are so good every time I leave, I am satisfied and happy for the rest of the day, everything seems to fade away. Yep, it is that good. The place is small and unassuming, simple, with a few tables in a big, not overly decorated, room. The service and attention is prompt and friendly. The food has been great every time I visited. My only complaint would be the chicken karage is not that great, a little on the plain unseasoned chicken but the sauce that comes with it balances it out, still, not the best karage out there. I've have had their gyoza and multiple ramen varieties and I am happy and satisfied every time. Definitely recommend to everyone and will continue to visit often. read more

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Always a go to for my ramen needs! Staff is always so friendly and helpful with rapid food service. It is a great little spot tucked away that always has some great tunes in the back ground to enjoy the experience. Food is always consistent and full or flavor pairs great with some Japanese beer! read more

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I have been on the search for great ramen and unfortunately my search continues. Ramen was decent here. My chicken katsu was not as crispy as I wanted it to be so it got soggy fairly quick. The flavor was a bit bland. Will have to try again because my brother said this place was really good to him when he went. Service was okay. The waitress was straight to the point. Not pictured was the gyoza... also just okay. read more

Ichran Japanese Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

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This was my first time trying Ichran and I would definitely go back. I ordered gyoza for my appetizer, shrimp fried rice and tonkotsu for my entree. I wouldn't order the gyoza again, but the shrimp fried rice was AMAZINNNNNNG !!!!!! The tonkotsu ramen was good as well. The service was good and they were very attentive. read more

Ichran Japanese Ramen - Tonkotsu - Ramen Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

Came for lunch with some friends, and found a decent Ramen spot. Overall if I could I'd give it a 3.5 star review, but I round up. The ramen was good, the broth was spicy, but not as spicy as I thought it'd be. The beef had a good, unique flavor that prevented the bowl from being monotonous. I'm not a fan of the soup spoon. It looks cool but isn't very user friendly. Service was fast and friendly. Overall a solid Ramen spot if you're in the area. read more

Ichran Japanese Ramen - Spicy Miso Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

Back for round 2 with the family and they didn't disappoint! Gyoza and edamame were delicious. Gyoza by far is the best we've had in America. We are Ramen snobs as well after being in Japan for 5 years so trust us when we say ITS YUMMY. I had the red miso, which is their spiciest. On a scale from 1-5, 5 being spiciest I'd say it's a 2. But it was delicious! Service was quick and very accommodating. This is now our goto spot! If you want authentic Japanese tasting Ramen, this is the spot. read more

Ichran Japanese Ramen - Tonkotsu Ramen. - Ramen Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

Pretty good Ramen for the area. The servers were very nice and helpful. The ambiance is nice and the restaurant is small. They don't have a very big menu but they have a good variety of different kinds of Ramen. I would come back read more

Ichran Japanese Ramen - Milk Based Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

Our first visit here. I ordered the tonkotsu ramen because I tried it from another ramen location and enjoyed it. My party had chicken ramen and vegetarian ramen. They also ordered soda and received them in 12 oz cans without glasses or ice. My order of water came in a glass larger than the soda cans. The ambient temperature of the place was so hot that shorts and tank tops were comfortable (N.B. it was winter outside). My ramen was spicy, which I liked, but wasn't as rich in flavor as the one I had elsewhere; the quantity of char siew was much fewer. Due to the ambient temperature and spicy soup stock, I was sweating like a pig. One upside is the price - $11.95 ramens are a rarity now, they usually start at $16. However, the service and atmosphere is enough to not recommend this place. read more

Ichran Japanese Ramen - Tonkotsu ramen - Ramen Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

What the heck... was that? Ordered the cream ramen with no corn and the broth was definitely broken. Fine, but off putting. Also, it came to the table WITH CORN. So, I had to talk to the server about it. Service was fine overall. A little pushy. They corrected the issue, but they clearly just removed the corn, they didn't make it again. So if I was allergic to corn, those few pieces left over in the bowl would've been a real problem. This was just awkward. The place was way too quiet. The vibes were very off. They didn't have any music playing. There was, however, something that kept beeping in the kitchen. A timer went off like 2 or 3 times and each time it just kept beeping and the kitchen staff ignored it for a while each time. This was just such a weird experience. Back to the food - it literally tasted like food poisoning. It hurts me to say this cause I used to LOVE this place and I recommended it to everyone. My boyfriend ordered the seafood ramen and he said it tasted like the squid had turned. I hope we don't get sick later. Pretty sure the appetizers were microwaved. I'm so disappointed in this place. It seems to have really gone down hill. Not sure why. Everything was just off tasting. It's hard to explain. Anyway, steer clear. Waste of time and money. Kappo Nara and Alkaline are the way to go. Those places are great and it tastes like the people making the food really care about it. Should've just driven a little further out of the way. What a waste. read more

First let's start with the ambiance and service and then we can get into the "meat and potatoes" lol. Upon walking in on a chilly Sunday afternoon we were immediately greeted and told to seat ourselves. They were super attentive and got our drink orders right away. Maybe 3 minutes later they came back for our food order, still wasn't ready but the attentive service was nice. Didn't seem pushy or overbearing at all just polite waiters/waitresses. I settled on the Seafood special ramen extra spicy, and it was just that EXTRA SPICY. I really enjoy spicy food so this was perfect for me. It comes with bean sprouts, peanuts and cilantro for a little extra seasoning. I added vinegar for that extra tang. This place would've gotten 5 starts but the chicken stick wasn't what I expected. Just kind of salty chicken. Overall we will be back to try a few other things on the menu! read more

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The chicken katsu curry was a delicious, comfort food type dish and I enjoyed every bite of it! Also enjoyed the edamame and dumplings for appetizers. The staff was nice and we didn't wait long for our food. The place is cozy and clean. read more

Ichran Japanese Ramen - Chicken katsu curry - Ramen Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

Had a very good aesthetic and vibe to the place! Staff were nice and friendly and the food is pretty good in my own opinion. I would definitely go again and try some new stuff. read more

I found my new ramen spot at Ichran. It's a small cozy place in which we were greeted and taken care of right away. I ordered gyoza , karaage chicken and milk based ramen. I found it to be particularly delicious. The ramen has a blend of sweet and spicy which I enjoyed. I will definitely be back. read more

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Came here for lunch and was pleasantly surprised. Great customer service, super friendly. I liked the bar seating and watching the men behind the counter cook - lunch and a show!. Large menu with many types of ramen. I got the Katsu ramen, and it was good, but wish the broth had just a little more flavor. Edamame was fine, but hat you would expect- slight salt flavor. Took off a star for limited seating as I'm sure this place fills up quickly. read more

Ichran Japanese Ramen - Katsu - Ramen Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

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I've been here multiple times and this place NEVER disappoints. It's a little small non chain place with the best ramen. The parking is ok. There is a small parking lot right in front of the restaurant that's shared with a few other businesses. We've always had great service, and the visit yesterday was the same! They are always so personable! As soon as we sat down they asked if we would be using chopsticks or forks. My daughter is a chopsticks girl but I need a fork, and all was well. Start your meal with the gyoza. It's pretty delicious. Historically I've had the vegetable ramen (which has been delicious) but yesterday I had the chicken ramen, which was also good. If you are a fan of spicy food, and your ramen isn't already spicy, you can ask for them to spice it up. Of course I added some spice to mine! There is so much food you may not be able to eat it all, let them package it to go. read more

Ichran Japanese Ramen - Gyoza appetizer - Ramen Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

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Service was great. Food was good. My daughter said she loves this place. Will be returning.

Let me start by saying the service was good. I ordered to go and everything was properly boxed up. The shio ramen sub katsu was okay. As you can see by the pictures the chicken katsu looked a little gray and black through the middle. I didn't end up eating it. It just wasn't appetizing. Broth wasn't super on depth of flavor. Noodles were okay. Bean sprouts weren't trimmed and had some stringy pieces. Overall wouldn't eat here again. I love shio ramen and this version just wasn't tasty. read more

Ichran Japanese Ramen - Chicken katsu - Ramen Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

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This is my first time trying this place. Very cool little spot in Norfolk. The staff are very friendly and the place is very be clean. One of the cleanest restaurants I've ever been too honestly. Now for the food. It's very bland. I don't know if it's me but that's my take on it. I had to add chicken bouillon, garlic powder and cayenne pepper to it to give it any flavor. Not what I expected for flavor but presentation was awesome. The pork was the only thing with flavor. I rate this place 3/5 read more

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It satisfied our hunger but nothing memorable. I got the tonkutsu ramen (one of my usual go to when I try a new spot) and my husband got the katsu ramen. We ordered take out and they forgot my pork. We had to drive back for it. They were sincerely apologetic and even hooked us up with extra pieces and some mochi. I really appreciated that. The three stars are mainly because I think the flavor was OK. One thing that kept throwing me off was I kept biting /chewing on ginger slivers. But aside from that, it's not something I'd crave for again. Amazing staff and I wish I could give more stars because of it, but taste wise, I can't recommend it. read more

This is a small ramen restaurant that's tucked away in Norfolk off military hwy. I had never heard of it, but I am glad that I was able to check it out. When we walked in, we were greets by a friendly staff. We didn't wait long before the waitress was over to greet us, bring menus, and offer water. We ordered our food and before long, the food was there. The soba noodles were so flavorful and the portions were great. I paired my lunch with some plum wine. The wine was a little strong for me, but non the less, it was tasty. They had a steady flow of customers for an early Saturday afternoon. Must be a local favorite. I would definitely go again. read more

Ichran Japanese Ramen - Shrimp Soba - Ramen Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

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Ramen is awesome, takoradi good. Been eating here for years. Always great service, good food!

It's not a bad ramen restaurant, but not the best either. Ichran is a quick ramen spot in Military Circle if you want a small hidden gem. Got the classic Shio and it's pretty good! Noodles are bouncy as it should be. Nothing crazy different however. read more

My husband's favorite Amazing service, VERY AUTHENTIC, very delicious ramen. They make all there noodles in house and the lighting there is very nice! read more

When you visit a place and it's packed, it always a good sign! We were quickly seated and ordered drinks. I love the various drinks they offered and it seemed most sodas were in bottles/cans. We ordered the gyozas and vegetable rolls as an appetizer. Loved the sauce with the rolls. For dinner, we had seafood ramen and the Osaka chicken I believe. The chicken was really good! To be a ramen place, it's nice that they have other food options that are of good quality. I ordered my ramen spicy and I loved it! Would've liked a little more spice tbh. Only had about 3 shrimp in it, so for the upcharge of "seafood" ramen it was kinda ehhh. The wooden spoon was a nice touch though. So glad to have another ramen restaurant under my belt that would get another visit from me. Waitresses were great! read more

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My husband and I love this place. The ramen in delicious and it's so much better than all of these chain places. My husband is also a vegetarian and it's so helpful that they offer tofu items as well as a Vegetable Ramen. The inside is small but very cozy warm. I highly recommend!! read more

Ichran is my favorite ramen place in Hampton Roads, probably because I haven't been to any other Ramen places in the area. Other than ramen, Ichran also serves katsus, but no sushis. Their food presentations are beautiful. For the ramen, they serve it with a wooden spoon. My usual order is the spicy Seafood Ramen. The broth was rich and flavorful. They usually serve it with shrimp, squid, and fish cakes. I was quite disappointed because my bowl looks so plain. There's only 2 shrimp, a few squid rings & tentacles, and no fish cakes. I would understand if they ran out of fish cakes, but I just wished they mentioned it to us. My SO ordered the Katsu Curry and he enjoyed it a lot. Ichran's price is very affordable. The staff were pleasant and helpful. We will definitely be back, but hopefully there's fish cakes on my Seafood Ramen next time. I might also Tonkotsu Ramen next time as well. read more

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The go-to for lunch!! One of the best ramen shops in the area. You can tell that they put in the care and effort into the food. Always recommend. read more

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I went on a Friday afternoon and there were a few people sitted and enjoying their meals. I was seated right away. The waitress was very friendly. Curry ramen is the way to go!!! It was soooo flavorful!!! There was only 4 shrimp in my bowl. My only concern was how they cleaned the tables after patrons left was a bit unsanitary that is why I gave them 3 stars. The waitress took a napkin and dipped it into the previous patrons cup of water and wiped the table. She didn't go back with a spray cleaner that was disgusting and it turned me off from wanting to go back. read more

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Can't believe I haven't reviewed this place yet. It's near Janaf in Norfolk (which is the only downside since I live kinda far) Otherwise this is easily one of the best ramen spots from Va Beach to Richmond. They have a terrific selection and offer a wide variety of add ons to really customize the perfect bowl. They also have a great selection of Japanese sodas and beer so it's easy to try something new every time. My personal favorite is the Tan Tan ramen, the noodles are always the right amount of chewy and the broths/meats are flavorful. I have yet to be disappointed here! The interior is a little small so if you have a group bigger than 4 I would call ahead but even if you have to wait I think it's worth it. read more

If you are looking for authentic ramen this is the place. The menu has lots of options but they are combos of the same stuff. The friend rice and curry is also good. My favorite is the soft boiled egg and the broth you want to put it in a travel mug for the drive home. The place is small so dinner can be busy. read more

The soup here is out of this world, it nourished my soul. I love this place it's fantastic. I have never had bad food.

1.5 I'd say. It wasn't inedible so I can't entirely cannibalize the place. It was close though in some aspects. I'm actually kind of surprised though. I suppose the lack of competition in the area can make this easier for stuff to pass in certain ways. There were so many missteps with the food though. Service answered any questions we had, and stopped by relatively frequently to refill waters and check on us. I had ordered a tonkotsu ramen, karaage, and spring roll. Another compatriot had ordered potstickers as well. If you're thinking anything traditional as far as the Chinese or Japanese stuff, don't. Appetizers are probably from the freezer, and are poorly prepared. I'm not sure what they used to coat the karaage. It maintains no crunch, there are no spices, it is served with some kind of weird thick brown sauce. I want to say it reminded me of oyster sauce by consistency. The flavor didn't fit the chicken either which I tried out of sheer curiosity. The potstickers were obviously ill prepared. Possibly just boiled or microwaved. Not entirely sure, didn't want to ask. Same weird brown sauce. At this point I suspected that they just got the wrong soy sauce or something and served it. *Side note: The spring roll is ONE spring roll. Honestly, the menu doesn't lie which is kinda sad. That thing is 4 bucks. Just... don't. The saving grace? I used the sweet chili sauce that came with it for the karaage. Saved nothing really but made the karaage somewhat palpable at least. I hate wasting food. The tonkotsu ramen. Most of which was sliced cabbage, and bean sprouts since they cost the least. I added some thinking I want this to be healthier. Little did I know this would make everything else stand out even more so. The broth was only warm which wasn't hot enough to actually cook the ingredients the way that they put them in there. There were some pickled vegetables in the broth (also probably for cost lowering, though this was somewhat of a crime. Like seriously who does this) which was already suspect to me after the snafus with the appetizers. The noodles were little in amount, not springy. The chashu were cooked poorly, and chewy. The egg remained somewhat cold due to the temperature of the broth. The broth itself tasted off putting. I'm not sure what they did to make it to be honest. I will never return again and would suggest against others going if you're craving any of the things that I had ordered. You're better off getting something packaged from Amazon. read more

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My husband and I were in the area running some errands and craving ramens, so we gave this place a try. Turned out the staff were Chinese and the ramen was not so Japanese. It wasn't bad, just not as authentic as what we were expecting. read more

Ichran Japanese Ramen - Tonkotsu Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia