Appealing resto front, so didn't know what to expect coming in. Narrow, mysterious entrance that leads to a gorgeous artsy dining room. Mid-week dinner before the show, while Dreamforce was happening - luckily there was no wait at an early 5pm entrance. Seats are quite close to each but we had a corner spot where there was more room. HH calls for drinks! Had the jelly sake so good and refreshing - couple of ramen bowls, nice creamy broth, trio buns, and brussels sprouts - so good and crunchy! Didn't have dessert. I believe I only saw one offering which appeared to be a larger portion that we simply didn't have room for before Wicked. Definitely a different vibe than the one in NYC, but ramen was just as comforting in my belly. read more

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Real Japanese Ramen ( Japan )! The service was great! They made me a yuzu vodka lemonade that was great. Ordered the spicy ramen and it was sooooooo good ! The noodles were perfect! The spicy hit the hot notes! Perfect amount! Finished all my noodles! Paired it with shishito peppers appetizer that came with a flavored dipping salt. Perfect for snacking with drinks! Ohh and they have a fabric bag box at tables for your handbags . QR code in wood (match decor) for menu . Walked in around 2:15 pm... no wait. Try doing late lunch down here. You'll love it! Great for visitors to SF because it is waking distance from Union Square and many of the Hotels! If you're staying at the Four Seasons or the Marriott, you just have to walk around the corner to this place! read more

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Oh man, I remember when I thought Ippudo was like the living end, at least among the geekier ramenheads. That was way back when they first entered the US market about fifteen years ago in NYC competing noodle-to-noodle with Momofuku. By the time I tried this spot on Yerba Buena Lane, I guess I was well over my tenure as a ramenhead. It was raining hard when I was scampering on Market and thought I should finally give it a go. I was surprised how spacious it was, though I assume it fills up during Dreamforce and meta gatherings like that. I was being conventional myself when I ordered their signature ramen bowl, the $20 Akamaru Modern. There were the familiar ingredients I remember like pork tonkotsu broth, Hakata thin noodles, and pork belly chashu. Scallions, seasoned bamboo shoots, and garlic oil completed the bowl (photo: https://yelp.to/ny7AkbmNeP). While the dominant pork flavor would please pig aficionados, I've never been a fan of the thin-style noodles, and they tasted particularly limp in the thick broth. The $9 Goma Q provided a nice textural contrast with crunchy cucumber slices drizzled in sesame dressing (photo: https://yelp.to/14dCVQzRoK). Maybe I'm just getting more fastidious about my ramen preferences, but I have to say I was rather underwhelmed by my Ippudo experience this time around. FOOD - 3 stars...the thin noodles were not my favorite, the pork dominates AMBIANCE - 3.5 stars...spacious though a bit stark SERVICE - 3.5 stars...serviceable enough TOTAL - 3 stars...Ippudo's Hakata-style ramen just doesn't cut it for me RELATED - Exploring eastern SoMa? Here's my collection of places I've tried and reviewed: https://bit.ly/2VNINP6 read more

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A chain ramen place but very good! Food is a good mix of Japanese ramen and some fusion Asian appetizers and rice bowls. Good selection of signature cocktails, sake, Japanese beer, and Japanese whiskey. Service is good. It was busy but they were right on with the wait times and we were seated just when they said we would be seated. Our waitress was prompt with seating us in a corner table with storage cubby for our work bags. She took our orders promptly and the food arrived quickly. The place has a modern Japanese industrial look. With table cluster led around a treelike art piece. Overall a five star restaurant. read more

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I went here two times but this is my first time reviewing it. The 1st time I came was for dinner and there was a long wait. But while you wait, you can order a drink at the bar in the front. The 2nd time I came was for lunch and it was empty, no wait! I got the karaka spicy ramen & my friend and I shared the spicy gyoza. Both of it was good and spicy! I do think this place is a little pricey and it adds up quick. Menu is on a QR code and service was fine both times. Other than that, I think the easiest way to get here is by Bart or Uber, since there's barely any street parking around. If you take Bart, get off at Powell and the restaurant is walking distance. read more

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We came in as a party of 4 on a Sunday around 2:45pm. We got seated immediately, and they took our order about 5 minutes after. I ordered the Modern ramen, which is the classic with added garlic oil and house spicy sauce. The ramen itself was delicious. The noodles were perfectly cooked, still crispy to each bite. The cut of pork wasn't too fatty and filled with flavor. The broth was rich, and filled with garlic nodes. The service was very fast and nice, the ramen was 10/10 delicious, and there is plenty of seating inside. Solid ramen spot that I'd go back to! The ramen was about $21. Note: This is on a busy street so parking is really only available 1-2 blocks down. read more

Ippudo San Francisco - Akamaru Modern Ramen - Ramen Near Me - San Francisco, California

Really horrible ramen. Extremely salty but bland at the same time. Service was very poor, crammed patrons together despite empty seats. It's the bubba gump shrimp of ramen, souless read more

Friday night dinner before a show at the orpheum theater. It's a few long blocks away but the area isn't very good, don't walk by yourself. We got there around 545-6 and didn't have to wait. When we were leaving it was busier but still no wait. We all enjoyed our noodles. 2 of us got the kaedama/extra noodles for $3. They have thin and thick noodles. You can change it out to your preference. read more

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Not worth the price or hype. I had stopped by during lunch for a quick bite as I was craving some ramen on a nice chilly sunny day in SF. I was seated pretty quickly during a busy lunch. Since I was dining solo, they had added me to the end of a wide table with an existing party. No worries since there wasn't any bar for solo diners. The ramen itself was decent. Adding an egg to the ramen is an extra $4, so my Karaka Spicy Ramen came out to $27 before tip and tax, which is expensive for decent ramen for lunch. After T&T it would be about $32-35 per person which adds up fast. The service was fine, no issues there. Location is convenient as it is a block away from the Moscone center, so it wasn't far to walk to. Overall, I found it decent but expensive so I don't think it's worth the premium for ramen. read more

Ippudo San Francisco - Karaka Spicy Ramen - Ramen Near Me - San Francisco, California

I thought this was a very good choice for ramen in the city. The dining area has a really cool metal tree sculpture and has a view of the kitchen. We had the Karaka Spicy ramen (pictured) which was flavorful and just the right amount of heat. I loved that the chashu was sliced really thin--I haven't see that very often. Service was friendly, prompt and attentive. read more

Ippudo San Francisco - Karaka Spicy Ramen - Ramen Near Me - San Francisco, California

This is a nice place to have some lunch with your friends or even by yourself. If you're craving some ramen or Japanese food this is a nice place to go. We ordered takoyaki as a starter. It was perfectly crispy on the outside and soft and warm on the inside. The octopus piece inside was also pretty large. We both got the Akamaru modern ramen and it was so delicious! They used thin noodles which were soft and chewy. The broth was quite good and it came with two pieces of pork belly which were the perfect texture. read more

Ippudo San Francisco - Takoyaki - Ramen Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Broth was very creamy. Big pieces of bamboo. Two slices of pork. Not overly salty. I would have liked some red pepper flakes. Everyone in your party must be there to be seated. No reservations Cute seating. read more

Ippudo San Francisco - Classic ($19) - Ramen Near Me - San Francisco, California

When you walk through the front entrance, you head into a back room where the action happens. Despite the large crowd, I was seated fairly fast, which was a plus. They're open until 10 PM, which is super convenient for a late dinner. I ordered the Shiromaru Classic ramen, and it was good--hot, fresh, and served quickly. I added an egg, which was cooked perfectly! I do wish I could've customized my ramen. I would've changed the broth but kept the same toppings. Speaking of toppings, I felt like they were a bit skimpy and could've used more. Overall, a solid experience. I'd definitely come back, but I'm also excited to try other ramen spots in the area! read more

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I'm happy to have found another Ramen restaurant that I can give a 5 star to in San Francisco! (Please read disclaimer at the end) I'm a sucker for Hakata Ramen, and it's great that Ippudo serves Hakata style noodles with similar quality to other good restaurants in the area. Their meat quality & care put into prepping it is apparent from the tastes. They also have a uniquely slightly-sweet taste to their soup and menma, which is interesting. Service was decent, and the interior is really nice. Something about the interior gives the vibes of entering another world - which I was not expecting. They also have baskets for personal belongings like in Japan! Would definitely recommend for a Ramen lover. If you have the appetite - go for their humongous matcha shaved ice! Disclaimer: I agree with the criticisms for portion size. Their ramen serving sizes are quite small, and I'm only forgiving it because of the quality and my personal appetite when I came. Of the top ramen restaurants in the are, Ippudo definitely overcharges, so be warned when trying to be full! read more

Ippudo San Francisco - Shiromaru Classic Ramen - Ramen Near Me - San Francisco, California

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The food is delivered fast once ordered. They're understaffed at the front desk but it's worth the wait. Food is hot, flavorful, and spiciness level can be customized by the diner (if you get the spicy mix on the side). I really liked the ramen. Tip; if you don't like a heavier broth, be sure to ask for no pork fat. The pork fat was too heavy for me and did not enhance the flavor. Good place for groups or casual dinner, but the lighting isn't romantic date night vibes. read more

Ippudo San Francisco - yuzu shoyu - Ramen Near Me - San Francisco, California

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OMG. Loved this place. Just as good as in Japan. Do not skip! Great service too! Yummm

I ordered for pick up at 6 order said it was ready at 6:18 but when I went to go pick up the lady said it wasn't ready and I waited for 30 minutes only to see that my pickup order was already ready to pick up and sitting there waiting but wasn't stapled it was on the far corner of the left with the other bags that were done and needed to be put to front. I saw the worker physically staple it and add nothing to it and was told the order was just done when went to grab it. When I felt the bottom of the bag it was cold and me and my friend were super regulars of ippudo and I get that it's a busy night but to be waiting 30+ minutes for a pick up that was done at a certain time was really disappointing and disheartening Food is always great love to come in the am brunch time the cook that time makes it always bomb read more

What better place to enjoy ramen than Ippudo! I haven't had any Japanese food since visiting Japan in June, so my cravings were strong when I saw that there was an Ippudo just around the corner from my hotel (Hyatt Regency). I entered the restaurant and was greeted by friendly staff. Came on a Sunday afternoon around 1pm and was promptly seated. The quality of the ramen here is just as good as those found in Japan. I selected the Karaka spicy ramen and it did not disappoint! The pork tonkotsu broth was deep and rich. The pork slices were soft and tender. The think noodles complimented the broth, picking up every taste and flavor from the spicy broth. The "spicy" wasn't too hot. So don't be afraid to try! I also ordered a pork belly bun as an appetizer. Excellently prepared with two decently thick slices in the bun. The restaurant itself was easy to find nestled near the Contemporary Jewish Museum and St. Patrick's church. There are lots of other restaurants along that walkway. This is a must-try ramen restaurant! read more

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One of the very best ramen places I've had in recent years. The cold, unfiltered, sweet, fruity sake was the best I've ever had. I don't eat much pork, so tired--and loved--their vegetarian ramen (with added chicken and egg). There's a certain creaminess that was lovely. The decore was chic and the service was great. I highly recommend for any modern ramen lovers. ‍ read more

Their ramen is undoubtedly the best I have eaten in this country. I had the nirvana classic and as the name suggests, it is a classic. The service is very quick and there are kind waiters. The buns are great too. It's a little pricey, but hey no one is competing with it's taste read more

Ippudo San Francisco - Ippudo Veggie Bun - Ramen Near Me - San Francisco, California

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This place has beautiful decor and the setting of this restaurant really is a vibe. Goma Q (cucumber): can't go wrong with this. It was a refreshing appetizer. Cooled and crunchy with the perfect amount sesame dressing. Akamaru Ramen: 5/5 - the broth was delicious, had a great umami flavor to it. Noodles were made the way I requested. This location is downtown so parking can be a little bit further. But perfect location for those staying in hotels near by and/or hanging around Yerba Buena. The staff was really friendly, the restaurant was clean, and overall I had a great experience trying this place for the first time. read more

Ippudo San Francisco - Akamaru Modern Ramen - Ramen Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Very yummy, so far best ramen in SF but I haven't tried Mensho yet. Service was super fast which was nice. Interior is really well designed and good vibes read more

Ippudo San Francisco - Shiromaru Classic Ramen - Ramen Near Me - San Francisco, California

The ramen and karaage (Japanese fried chicken) that we had at this Ippudo location in San Francisco was excellent. Service was great too, and the wait was short. I enjoyed my experience here more than my experience at Ippudo's original US location in Manhattan's East Village. Therefore, I give this Ippudo five stars. My wife disagrees with me. She rates our experience at this location four stars. She thought the ramen was good, but not mind-blowing. Some people might expect mind-blowing ramen from a brand as highly-regarded as Ippudo. She thinks the ramen we have back home at Okiboru in Atlanta is better. I can't really argue with her because she makes some good points. For those unfamiliar, Ippudo is an internationally-renowned ramen restaurant chain from Fukuoka, Japan. Fukuoka is where tonkotsu ramen originated. There are only seven Ippudo locations in the US at the time of writing this review. They're either in California or New York. The East Village location was Ippudo's first location outside of Japan. That location opened in March 2008. This location in San Francisco opened in January 2018. This location is hidden from street view, but it's easy to find because it's located on a prominent, wide walkway between Market Street and Yerba Buena Gardens in SoMa. When we arrived just before 1:30pm on a Sunday, there was a line of about 10-12 people inside ahead of us. The line snaked through the front bar area. The bar was not in use. We were seated in less than 10 minutes. Ippudo doesn't take reservations. It's first come, first served and everyone in your party must be present to be seated. One guy in line in front of us got held back because the rest of his party hadn't shown up yet. Ippudo is also strict about no outside food or beverages. My wife brought in an iced coffee and had to leave it at the bar. We picked it back up on our way out. This location has an open kitchen and a fairly spacious modern dining room. The place was packed when we sat down, but by the time we left, shortly before 2:40pm, there were several open tables and no line. The tables were placed closely together. There was very little room separating our table from the one next to us. We might as well have been eating with the two random ladies adjacent. Solo diners and a few parties were seated at communal tables near the front of the dining room (that was my experience at the East Village location). So, you may be sharing a table with strangers. The ramen menu was straightforward with five kinds of meat or fish-based ramen ($18-21 each), four kinds of veggie ramen ($19-22 each), 14 toppings ($2-8 each; optional since the nine ramen selections already came with preset toppings), and kaedama (extra noodles to add to your broth after finishing your first serving, $3). The non-ramen menu had mostly Asian dishes like buns ($6 each or 3 for $17), dumplings (gyoza, $12), and rice bowls ($17 or $18 each). They also had some good-looking cheesecakes for dessert (different flavors, $7 each). The girls next to us got the Matcha Cheesecake and it looked delicious. Here's what we got: Special Appetizers * Oishi Kara-Age ($13) - deep-fried boneless chicken marinated with Ippudo's "secret" recipe; comes with choice of one dipping sauce -- we chose Mentaiko Mayo, homemade seasoned cod caviar with Japanese mayo Ramen * Shiromaru Classic ($18) - pork tonkotsu broth, Hakata thin noodles, pork belly chashu, scallions, seasoned bamboo shoots, and naruto * Akamaru Modern ($19) - pork tonkotsu broth, Hakata thin noodles, pork belly chashu, scallions, seasoned bamboo shoots and garlic oil; topped with Ippudo's "original 'umami'" paste If you're a fan of karaage, I think Ippudo's Oishi Kara-Age is worth getting. While it doesn't particularly stand out to me, satisfaction-wise, compared to other karaage, it is generally different in a few ways: (1) The batter is thicker and crunchier. (2) The chunks/pieces of chicken are bigger and meatier. (3) The savory, creamy dipping sauce is unique (and it's appetizing). I thought both the Shiromaru Classic and the Akamaru Modern ramen were equally terrific. My favorite and most memorable thing about them was the "Hakata" thin noodles. They had wonderful texture. When we ordered, our server asked us what noodle texture we'd like. I believe the options were soft, medium, and firm. We chose firm for both. The noodles were indeed firm, and bouncy, unlike most other restaurant ramen we've had. In Fukuoka, "Hakata ramen" is the same thing as tonkotsu ramen. I will say the tonkotsu broth wasn't as rich nor as complex as a lot of other restaurant ramen we've had. Also, my wife preferred the Akamaru Modern over the Shiromaru Classic because it was more flavorful overall. The Akamaru Modern came in a red bowl and the Shiromaru Classic came in a white bowl. Ippudo has red, white, and black bowls and the colors designate various ramen. We had a Thai server who was friendly and attentive. Our order came out fast. read more

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One of the top dinner options for post-work metreon movie nights. Lots of nice conversations had here. I think Ippudo gets a bad rap sometimes because it's a bit pricy and less distinctive than some of the other ramen spots in the city, but I do quite like it. Thin noodles are my favorite. And the vegan broth is probably the best vegan broth I've had - granted, I'm not vegan so I haven't tried thaaaat many. read more

My favorite ramen in the City! -Delicious broth -Menu has a good variety of different types of ramen: tonkotsu (pork), chicken, & vegetarian -Loved the spicy tuna roll with tuna poke "chunky salsa" on top. Roll was squishy & crunchy...yum! -option for skinny or thick wavy noodles -nice boujee interior -friendly service :) *Wished they had more specialty beer, like a yuzu beer or somethin'* read more

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A decent ramen place along Market Street. This place doesn't take reservations, but I was able to get a table for 2 upon walk in immediately on a Sunday evening. I ordered the Shiromaru classic ramen. While the noodles had a great texture and the flavor of the broth was good, I wish the soup had been more piping hot. Additionally, I felt like the portion size was a bit too small to justify an almost $20 price tag. After taxes and tip added on, it just felt like an overly expensive bowl of good noodles but not necessarily amazing noodles. Service was very quick. I want to say the food came out within 5 minutes of us ordering it, which was nice! The waiters were also extremely attentive; my friend dropped his spoon and a waiter came to replace his spoon without us even asking. A relatively calm and relaxing environment as well. A decent spot, but just a little pricy for a small bowl of noodles. read more

Ippudo San Francisco - Shiromaru Classic Ramen - Ramen Near Me - San Francisco, California

This spot sure garners the tech-city crowd. Youngins in muted-color baggy fashionista clothing. A dude raving about using A.I. art at his company because he doesn't want to keep human artists on contract......*grumble grumble* Anyway, pretty solid ramen restaurant. The miso ramen was soothing and flavor-balanced (not too salty at all). Plump takoyaki. Generous portion of shishito peppers. I might be crazy, but the pork bun tasted like a mini burger to me ahaha probably because it had soft lettuce and a mound of mayo. Also tried the yuzu passion drink. It was alright in that it was like a glorified mimosa as the drink taste was overwhelming of citrus juice. Place seems understaffed as it took a bit of time to get the check. Not sure how strong the ramen game is in SF but overall I recommend this spot if you're in the area and have a hankering for some ramen. read more

Ippudo San Francisco - Miso (ramen), takoyaki ball, shishito peppers, pork bun - Ramen Near Me - San Francisco, California

First time here amazing setting staff is super nice and helpful. The ramen is amazing a lot of different choices. Ambiance is perfect for eating some good ramen. read more

Ippudo San Francisco - Ramen Near Me - San Francisco, California

Next to Four Seasons San Francisco you'll find a great Ramen House. Though Ippudo San Francisco was recommend by St.Regis Hotel concierge, honestly, I had very low expectations as is not located anywhere near Japantown, convenient as it was within walking distance from my hotel. I was pleasantly surprised great food, excellent ramen, good service, vibrant vibe, and clean bathrooms. Ordered the Edamame, Ebi Mayo, and Shiromaru Classic Edamame: boiled edamame with yuzu seasoning salt. Ebi Mayo: Tempura shrimp with sweet red mayo,tangy white mayo on scallion and ginger bed. Shiromaru Classic: pork tonkotsu broth, Hakata thin noodles, scallions, seasoned bamboo shoots, naruto, and slow cooked pork loin chashu with a deeper, delectable flavor, added Tamago, marinaded seasoned egg, Everything was beyond delicious, a solid 5 Yelp starts. enjoy read more

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I got one thing here and it was the Akamaru Modern Ramen. This broth was soo up my alley. Not too salty, not too "umami", it was just right. It was a really simple and well-done bowl. I would come back just to have this again! Service was ok. They took about 15 minutes to tell me they were out of the goma Q (cucumber appetizer), but they were able to serve the man sitting next to me who got a ramen bowl, even though he got seated after me. But I'm not rating based on this hiccup. read more

Ippudo San Francisco - Akamaru Modern Ramen - Ramen Near Me - San Francisco, California

Seated very quickly, service was very good. Food was great, ordered the Tonkotsu ramen and fries.

This location was surprising empty on a Monday for lunch. I was at a conference at Moscone and hopped over for a quick lunch. The space is spacious, and the food came quickly. I got the yuzu shouyu for something a little bit lighter, and it hit the spot - noodle texture was good, and you could taste the yuzu without it being overpowering. It was a pleasant surprise to be able to get a quick bowl of ramen near Moscone! read more

Another San Francisco conference, Another ramen restaurant. This was a great find. Strongly recommend. read more

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Had some delicious ramen and bao buns recently at the SF location. We came a little later in the evening so we got served right away to our seats and had a great time overall. The staff were friendly and we got our food quickly. Will definitely come back soon! read more

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Sam was an amazing server! Stellar service I love this place This the spot I go to when my friends tell me they hungry or visitors are in the area. I take em here and we get lit! Ya know I got to get my Sapporo or That other what is it. Hmmmmm asahi how can I forget. I get the basic cuz it's all I need. The ramen Tonkatsu nothing modified and enjoy that with my alcohol one or two I'm good to go. It's super pretty in here and gives the authentic feel like I'm I. Tokyo with the bins for my bags cuz you know in Japan they be Hella hygiene friendly. Why can't all restaurants be like this. I love the storage bins. The k ly thing that is different is toilets are not bidets lol! Love how it gives and authentic feel like you are in Tokyo and this is hella close. Thankful for traveling without flying all the way overseas. Immaculate ambiance 10000000. read more

Ippudo San Francisco - Asahi beer :) - Ramen Near Me - San Francisco, California

Good service, delicious ramen after a sunset cruise, absolutely perfect. It as a cozy spot; we were seated quickly. I got the Akamaru modern ramen which was absolutely delicious, others got a spicy ramen and miso ramen. We were so busy eating, it was that good! read more

I absolutely love the food here. The best place in SF for veggie ramen lovers. Will keep on coming back for Nirvana Karaka.

Food was great, but just overpriced in my opinion. I cannot believe I paid $30 for ramen. Service was great, ambiance was fine. I dunno, I guess I am just mad at the cost of ramen. read more

The wait was short to get seated so about 10mins They were pretty busy since it was 1215pm. It took awhile for them to get our order taken but it made sense. It was lunch time in a busy area off Market St. I ordered edamame & karaka spicy. The edamame was served warm with a powder on the side. I think it was salt with something else in it. Not bad but a lil weird. Karaka spicy: the broth was rich in flavor. Not too salty, not too spicy for the average spice lover. I personally would have had it more spicy. It was like sweetness and spice. I finished my whole bowl. You can add more toppings/extra and I got an Onsen Tamago added (poached egg). I disappeared after I mixed it all. The entrance was simple. After getting called to get seated, you walk through the curtain (noren) and are delightfully surprised by the dining area. The Aesthetic is modern and stylish. They have beautiful tree like sculpture and the walls are styled with cloth. They have a happy hour 3-6pm. Which I would definitely return for to try but I would also just go there for a date. Seems like it's the spot for lots of business people too. Saw lots of peopele in suits. Makes sense. Market St. read more

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Ippudo was an excellent spot for Ramen for a long time. However on this particular visit, the quality seems to have dropped. And as with every other restaurant, the prices of seem to have gone up. The place still has a classy vibe. The service is still pretty good and as is the food, although the buns aren't as tasty as I remember. It but it's not uniquely good and just doesn't quite justify its price considering you can get some pretty damn good Ramen all over the city. read more

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