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Itani Ramen

3.5 (657 reviews)
ModerateRamen, Izakaya
Closed 11:30 am - 9:00 pm

Order Itani Ramen Takeout or Delivery

Itani Ramen Photos

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ITANI RAMEN ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Hipster
Casual
Trendy
Moderate noise

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Recommended Reviews - Itani Ramen

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Shredded pork belly ramen
Priyanka S.

Itani ramen in Oakland sadly fell short. When I went with a group of friends for one of my friends birthday we decided to order the karage chicken as well as the minced pork belly ramen and both were not as flavorful as expected. The karaage chicken was not very crispy and felt a bit soggy towards the bottom as they were plated atop a base of sweet soy sauce. The chicken skin itself while having some chili powder was not coated enough and fell flat in flavor. The shredded pork belly ramen was quite similar in nature and tasted very mild almost border lining on tasting bland so we asked for chili oil which the restaurant did not have. While edible and moderate in flavor I would say pass on the ramen and karaage here as there are far more flavorful ramen places in Oakland such as Mensho ramen.

Miso Pork
Bianca H.

Came here during the week and it was decently crowded. It wasn't a problem getting seated, since the establishment is big and there's plenty of seating. The food was good!! Definitely get the sloppy gyoza! They offer pork and veggies, so I tried the veggies and they were delicious. The Miso Pork ramen tasted a little more fishy and bitter. But the noodles were cooked well and overall it was good. I look forward to coming back!

Veggie ramen and Waffle Fries w/ Fresno Chili Aioli
Naima C.

I live in the area and have been walking past this spot for over a year now and have been meaning to try them. They always have a good size crowd inside the restaurant, and upon arrival I was given by staff who were really friendly! I started off by having their Mocktail of the day, which was a passionfruit drink, and was really yummy and I recommend trying that. The waffle fries were a 10 out of 10 I would come back just for that and the veggie Ramen was OK for me. I wish I had a little bit more flavor in the broth. I will say The vegetables tasted really fresh as well as the noodles! If anything, I would try another Ramen as I would assume the broth would have more flavor since it is meat based Ramen.

Veggie potstickers
Sun L.

First time Street parking Place has high ceiling and very spacious Fast and friendly service Different take on ramen, very clean and fresh, very different in taste/ flavor Potsticker was what's good

Salad
Reginice C.

This review is based on my delivery order. I had the Recovery Meal; includes your choice of a ramen bowl, 3 pieces veggie or pork gyoza, negi chashu mini donburi or small salad, and a non-alcoholic drink. I opted for the Veggie Ramen, veggie gyoza, salad, and Yuzu lemonade. The veggie ramen was flavorful. The veggie gyoza with the dipping sauce, yummy! The dressing on the salad made it so delicious. I'm a huge fan of yuzu and the yuzu lemonade really hit the spot! I appreciate restaurants that have okay-based and vegan options. I hope they expand on these options.

Wendy C.

Just what we wanted prior to going to the Paramont to see Home Alone. The Miso pork ramen, oxtail ramekin hit the spot and warmed out inside. Just a few blocks from the theater.

Oxtail Ramen
Emmalee N.

came for the ayce crab feed for my boyfriend's birthday, and that experience was amazing! not a fan of the fried chili crab but everything else was tasty, especially the milk bread with nori butter. i need that everyday haha. i hate to say though the ramen was not good. neither the oxtail or spicy miso. the oxtail meat was tasty and so was the crab meat but the broth and noodles didn't really work together. i feel like the noodles didn't absorb any flavor like other ramen places and maybe the noodles were just too thick or were put into the bowl right before being served, but it was like eating two different things. we ended up not eating the ramen after a few bites and felt bad for the restaurant as well as ourselves as everything was over $300. just to clarify though it was that price for the ayce crab feed (which included ramen) not their normal restaurant prices lol

Exterior
Ikenna I.

I hit up Itani Ramen on a random Tuesday evening with some friends. The spot itself is solid. It's that medium-sized, industrial-chic aesthetic that Oakland loves. I liked the layout; the seating kind of wraps around the open kitchen, like we're all spectators in a delicious production. It's a nice design that allows you to feel the energy without being jammed up. Good space for a group dinner. I took the plunge and ordered the Oxtail Ramen (sweet potato, garlic chives, sesame, shio chicken broth). Now, I love oxtail, and I love ramen. This should've been the culinary equivalent of watching an undefeated season. The Verdict? It was... fine. You ever eat something that's technically correct--the spices are there, the texture is fine--but it just doesn't hit that emotional frequency? That was this bowl. The oxtail was tender, and the sweet potato was an interesting, earthy addition. The shio chicken broth was savory, but it frankly lacked that deep, soulful complexity, that umami punch that makes you stop mid-slurp and appreciate the moment. It wasn't bad, just not inspired. If this bowl was a term paper, it would get a competent 'C'--meets the requirements, but nowhere near the Dean's List. If you're in the area and need a decent, perfectly acceptable bowl of hot soup and a chill environment, Itani will do the job. But if you're looking for that transcendent, life-affirming ramen experience, you might want to adjust your GPS. I'm giving it a 3 out of 5 stars--it passed, but I'm not running back for seconds.

Ramen
Vivian L.

The food was good but not the most flavorful broth. It's a simple ramen so it is good but the flavor isn't as deep as I like my ramen. It also costs extra for minor add ons.

Esther F.

I've been here twice and am planning to go many more times. I've tried the miso pork ramen and the spicy shrimp ramen. The miso pork ramen had a very rich and savory broth, very well seasoned and not too salty. I added in some of the spicy (probably msg?) from the table and it gave it just that nice extra umami flavor. The spicy shrimp ramen wasn't my favorite and I wouldn't have it again. The broth was not as rich and the spice level was not spicy enough in my opinion. But my friend had it also and loved it so to each their own. I also had the karage chicken which I do not recommend, it was not crispy and the texture was very off putting. The service is great, they bring the food out in a timely manner which is great to go during a lunch during the workday. Overall recommend this place very much.

Kimchi fried rice with addition of braised pork belly (+$4).
Casey C.

First time here. Food was a bit salty here. I could have done with 30-40% less salt for both the ramen and kimchi fried rice. That being said, at least the salt was good? It just didn't need so much, or maybe it's a personal preference. Many other people seem to feel that the broth is actually not too salty. But lovelyyy ambiance. Location is convenient as can be. Servers were great.

Hamy T.

We came by after dinner next door to get something for our kid. As soon as we walked in, the smell was amazing, so we ended up ordering ramen for ourselves too. Service was good, friendly staff, even brought out coloring paper for our kid. The ramen was decent, simple and basic, but for the price and portion, we probably wouldn't come back. The restaurant was roomy and clean.

Pork ramen
Cody T.

My gf and I stopped by Sunday night before the pink sweats concert as it's walking distance from the fox theatre. We were seated quite quickly and ready to order as we were running with limited time. We ordered the pork donburi and the pork ramen as well. Both came out smelling so good and tasty too! Their portions are quite generous as well and tons of flavor. Overall, for our quick visit; itani ramen is the perfect spot for a quick bite. Will definitely be back if we're ever in the mood!

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3 years ago

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8 months ago

Excellent food and wonderful service!!! Wings were top tier and the cocktails were so good. Service was fast and liked the atmosphere!

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1 year ago

Loved the DIY spicy tuna hand roll! the bartender is so sweet! Had a great experience. All the staff seemed very kind.

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2 years ago

Perfect pre show meal. Good and quick service, the cocktail menu is great. For oakland prices this is worth it.

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6 years ago

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2 years ago

fantastic location right by the fox & really nice vibe and cocktails. Great spot to go before a show!!

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Itani Ramen Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - Itani Ramen

Hi. Do you add MSG to any of your foods? Thank you for

Yes. 👍🏼

Where do I make reservations?

No reservations needed! Just stop in. We are now open daily 11:30am - 9:30pm. We look forward to having you join us!

Did Itani stop serving sushi? I loved the ramen and sushi combo.

Yes, we did. That's great to hear you enjoyed our sushi program, but that has now converted to our next-door concept, Yonsei Handrolls. Please visit us there to enjoy the handrolls on their own. Unfortunately, there isn't an opportunity to enjoy… Read more

Are there vegan options?

Yes. They use egg noodles but you can sub for a vegan alternative rice noodle that's just as good. They were able to prepare the Cold Cali Noodles vegan and there's a veggie miso ramen there as well.

Does this place still make the noodles with an Italian Pasta Maker?

We no longer make them in the basement with that Italian machine. The volume became too much for us. We gave our recipe to a local noodle maker and they produce much larger quantities than we could make in a week.

Are there gluten free options here?

Hi Anne, Yes, very much so. We carry a gluten free noodle that we cook separately from the other… Read more

Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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Mensho

Mensho

4.5
(653 reviews)
1.8 mi
$$

Mensho is a very popular restaurant. This was my first time visiting, and I had a great experience…read more The food was delicious! The standout dishes for me were the Calamari, Karaage, and Daikon Salad. The Calamari was perfectly fried, and the seasoning was well-balanced. The Karaage was also perfectly fried, and the sauce was flavorful. The Daikon Salad was light and refreshing. I would like to thank our server, Noah, for his helpfulness in choosing our dishes and for the prompt service. I highly recommend it!

Unpopular opinion: wasn't my favorite. But that's all due to personal preference (aside from…read moreservice and a rocky start). The good: fresh, quality ingredients The bad: started with the host/wait list. I accidentally added my name twice for a solo diner. Host thought it was a mistake and completely removed me from the wait list and seated other parties that came in after me. Thoroughly confused - she didn't even call my name to confirm so I had to go up to her and ask. No apology either. Was seated at the counter where solo diners usually sit. Service was non existent. Server came up to me and ask "what would you like to order?" I've never been there before. No "hi my name is ... I'll be your server" nada. They're just a machine - people in people out. The ramen - broth was fine. The squiggly noodles aren't my favorite. Expected to have kernel corn but had corn ribs instead (good thing I'm good with chopsticks!) The charshu was just okay. Enoki topping was just ... aight. The nice touch was that they didn't put it in the ramen and served it on the side to preserve its crunchiness because it definitely needed the texture! It was loud, busy, and nothing spectacular about the dining scene here. $55 dollars later (ramen, 2 additional toppings, one box of sake) ... I sadly don't think it was worth it.

Photos
Waiting area
Waiting area
Spicy garlic karaage fried chicken
Spicy garlic karaage fried chicken
Hokkaido Uni Mini Rice Bowl

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Hokkaido Uni Mini Rice Bowl
Kinda Izakaya

Kinda Izakaya

4.2
(183 reviews)
4.5 mi

We discovered this fun little Izakaya (Japanese social eatery) when coming into town for the…read moreLadytron show at the UC Theater on busy Saturday night on University Avenue and we are glad that we decided to give it a try. It was conveniently located across the street from the venue, and the unassuming outside of the restaurant did not hint at the amount of fun, ambiance, good food, and warm hospitality contained inside. First, there is the name. Not sure if it's some sort of play on words, secret joke, or if it's someone's actual name, but it works, kinda. It's kinda a restaurant, kinda a bar, kinda of a hangout, and kinda fun. The tiny entrance and plain facade reveals a bustling world of delicious food, tasty beverage, and lots of decorative eye candy to keep you looking around the space while you are hanging out with friends, on a date, or just relaxing after a long day. The decorations there are very upbeat, eclectic, fun, and distinctly Japanese pop culture. Posters, banners, flags, lanterns, toys, and trinkets can be found all over the restaurant, and made it fun to keep looking around and discover new novel things to look at. I did feel like I was in an authentic Izakaya somewhere in Shinjuku, Shibuya, or Ebisu in Tokyo. The place had a lot of personality & personal flair in an otherwise, tiny & industrial small warehouse type space. Service was excellent. The host was the cute & personable Mina, who couldn't have been more accommodating, patient, friendly, and engaging. It was very busy, and even though it was our first time there, Mina made us feel welcome into their home and was also very helpful to guide us around their experience. The other staff were less engaging, but still professional, efficient, and polite. Service was quick, attentive, and friendly on all accounts, and they as a team, managed to serve an entire full house of hungry & happy patrons during the entire Saturday night dinner rush. Fun place with a good staff. We opted for Izakaya-type, shared small plates to satisfy our hunger cravings without getting too full and weighed down on big portions of heavy, rich foods. Everything on the long & expansive menu looked great, but we mostly stuck with small appetizers to sample & savor. It was nice that there were plenty of lighter, fresh vegetarian options as neither of us were really in the mood for seafood, fried food, or big heavy entrees. We ordered the Kinda Tofu, Kyuri sliced fresh cucumber salad, and Kinoko butter-grilled mushroom hot platter and washed it down with some green grape Jinro soju. Everything was pretty good! Not overly fried, greasy, salty, or seasoned. Lightly cooked, delicately glazed, with just enough seasoning & oil/sauce to make it taste good, but not end up too complicated or messy. The taste really came through using these minimal cooking & seasoning techniques. The taste of the original vegetables & tofu came through perfectly, and were only complimented by their light hints of adding flavor. Portion sizes were ample for two people, and presentation was appetizing and organized. The bill for 3 apps + 1 bottle of Soju was less than $50, so it was a good value for the fun experience & good food. Wait times during the dinner rush are long, and there isn't really anywhere to sit or stand, so reservations are recommended. You can also enter and go straight to the 10-seat bar if there are openings, but we got a table for two after around a 20-30 minute wait. After that, everything moves pretty quickly, from ordering, getting food & drinks, to wrapping up and getting your check. Perfect system if you're trying to get to a concert, movie, or appointment with a specific start time. I really liked this place, not Kinda, not Sorta, but Definitely, or Absolutely! Kinda Izakaya will always be our destination to eat & hang out next time we come back to Berkeley, it is a true gem of a Japanese Izakaya/light meal fare right in the heart of downtown Berkeley. It's fun, tasty, busy, and friendly. Small & cozy, yet also airy & comfortable.

2nd Visit. I'm smitten with the menu and vibes. $6 Kyuri:…read morerefreshing vinegary counter to the fried and grilled items. $12 Crispy Chicken Knees: very karage like. Excellent. $6 Bacon+Oyster: Least surprising. Tasty at least. $4.50 Chkn Skin: kinda sweet! In a good way, charred, and fatty. Delicious. $31 Ika Yaki: delicious

Photos
Inside
Inside
Kaki Fried
Kaki Fried
Chicken Kneecaps

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Chicken Kneecaps
Ippuku

Ippuku

3.9
(1.5k reviews)
4.3 mi
$$$

Yesterday was my first time at Ippuku. My friends and I were a group of 8 and they were able to…read moreaccommodate us but in 2 separate tables - I believe their large table was already reserved. This worked out fine for our group. The menu had various options and eye-catching beverages! My table ordered 3 versions of the Chu-Hi's. Quite pleasant. I liked my Meyer Lemon Hi, it came with half of a lemon which I freshly squeezed and poured into my drink. I thought that was very fun! The quality of each dish was cooked well. My favorites were the crab croquettes, chicken heart, one of the marinated skewers (I can't recall the name of it), gizzards, and the squid ink fried rice. I'm definitely curious to try the bacon-wrapped mochi at a future visit. The only downfall was that the kitchen was extremely backed up during our visit. It took well over what felt like 20-30 minutes from our 1st order to our 2nd Chef's Choice dish. That negatively impacted our experience, but it happens. I'd like to try Ippuku again and hope there will be less of a delay. Our server was nice & attentive, came around a few times to refill our water.

Came back here and it was just as amazing as the first time…read more This time we tried the : daily specials which was fried fish ( in place of their fried oysters), Neck, bacon wrapped asparagus And we got the Ippuku Salad and Squid Ink Rice again because they're so good! Amazing will be back Monique served us again and she is just wonderful and it's nice to see her again.

Photos
Cool shochu dispensers
Cool shochu dispensers
Sashimi combo: tuna, fatty tuna, sea urchins and ?
Sashimi combo: tuna, fatty tuna, sea urchins and ?
Beer and sake

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Fish & Bird Sousaku Izakaya

Fish & Bird Sousaku Izakaya

3.9
(442 reviews)
4.0 mi
$$$

Top contender for Japanese cuisine in Berkeley--equal parts sophisticated and scrumptious…read more Highlights include: - Sea Bean & Corn Tempura: a savory funnel cake worthy of a Michelin star thanks to its texture and the side of matcha salt - Salmon sashimi: succulent with fresh wasabi - Wagyu Shime Special: insane price for insane flavor--a generous portion of veggies and wagyu in a big ol' iron bowl of bubblin' broth

Ate Christmas dinner here with my mom as our celebration tradition is usually a Japanese…read morerestaurant. The ambience was intimate and cozy yet elegant, and the staff was very attentive and kind. I loved the decorations, the plates and silverware, and the food was just as intentional in flavor and selection. For appetizers we had: Anchovy Stuffed Olives Tempura - Tempura Spanish alives stuffed with anchovies $9 Kombu Tsukudani - Premium Hokkaldo kelp, say sauce, bonito, shiso, sesame seeds, enjoy with sake or rice $6 For our meal we had: Saba Bouzushi - House-cured saba mackerel bouzushi - stick-shaped sushi, also called battera, served with shiso, sesame, scallions, topped with Hokkaido shiraita kombu, ten pieces $29 Gindara Yuanyaki - Local black cod marinated in soy sauce and shikuwasa Okinawan citrus juice served grilled $34 Steelhead Trout Nabe - Norwegian ocean trout raised sustainably in the clear, cold ford where the seawater meets fresh meltwater from the glaciers in the mountains. Enjoy the rich flavored, melt-in-your-mouth fish, hotpot with dashi broth, mushrooms, napa cabbage, burdock, clear noodles, tofu, mizuna, scallions, yuzu kosho $39 We've been to many izakaya spots and this place had some of the most unique flavors I've tasted. The Saba Bouzushi stood out to me because it reminded of Filipino paksiw but as a roll! The Gindara was buttery and soft and had a yummy smoky flavor. The Nabe was perfect for a rainy evening - hearty, fresh, and so well balanced in flavor (I loved the yuzu kosho the had us add for a citrusy, peppery flavor)

Photos
Uni chawanmushi -- savory custard with shrimp and vegetables topped with sea urchin
Uni chawanmushi -- savory custard with shrimp and vegetables topped with sea urchin
Duck tataki -- seared duck served medium rare.
Duck tataki -- seared duck served medium rare.
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The Public Izakaya

The Public Izakaya

4.2
(733 reviews)
8.0 mi
$$

There was a short wait when we went on Monday Night around 10 pm and the resaurant is a tight fit…read morehowever we were sat in the back of the restaurant where they is a bit more room. The waygu ramen melted in my mouth and had be day dreaming about it for days after. I was hesitant it get it but thank God my boyfriend ordered it so I just ate his. JUST ORDER IT! You will not regret it. The tables are kind of wobbly so that was the only annoying thing about dinner. However the food and vibes, I cannot complain about.

I don't know how this place has so many raving reviews. It doesn't deserve the stars it has…read more First, we came in around opening which was at 4:30. We stood in the front with multiple workers seeing us, but wasn't acknowledged for a full five minutes (it's completely empty). We're seated and figured they would allow us to start happy hour because it was from 5-6pm (which, what a short HH!) and we ordered around 4:50pm. Nope. Waitress took out her phone and denied it. Okay.... Waited an extra ten AND THEN ordered food. Got the nigiri sampler and added the uni and toro. That was a mistake, because for a whole $20 addtl., the sampler was so lackluster. The tamago was oddly colored and the rice was... chewy? We left the crab one because... unsure what kind of frozen crab that was. Meanwhile, this whole time we're waiting for our HH drinks while other people are receiving theres. Mind you, we ordered first. Also, I ordered a Sapporo which was a CAN. Had to bother multiple staff to get my can. Also... $5 HH special from regular $7 price? Idk... We also ordered the HH karaage and gyoza which came with a curry sauce that wasn't too bad, and some agadashi tofu that I actually liked. Ordered the chicken skins or Tori Kawa, and those were mediocre. Tried to order more HH items but the wait staff almost completely ignored us. Soon enough, HH is over! Worst happy hour experience ever. Never coming back to this place and recommend others to find another spot for sushi since there's waaayyyyy better spots in the city than this.

Photos
Halloween celebration
Halloween celebration
Blistered Shishito
Blistered Shishito
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Salmon, tuna, and hamachi roll

Itani Ramen - ramen - Updated July 2026

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