The inside is underwhelming. I had the classic tonkotsu ramen, which was alright but I definitely prefer other places more than this one. I will say that the chicken kaarage was the best I've ever had. Portions were okay, but a little pricey for what you get and the quality. read more

Really great and easy ramen shop that tastes amazing! Their menu is very simple and have limited choices in ramen as well as poke. I got the miso based ramen which was delicious! The broth has to be the best part in any ramen and it was really rich and flavorful. Highly recommend the classic or miso ramen. The ramen itself was good, a little undercooked but shouldve still be a bit chewy. The pork was tender but the egg was slightly overcooked, not having a running yolk. Overall still highly recommend for a lunch if you're in the area! read more

Kaizen Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Royal Oak, Michigan

Was excited to try the new Kaizen Ramen in Royal Oak. Nothing says comfort in a bowl on a cold night like a bowl of ramen. Kaizen is fast casual where you order at the cash register and then are given a number to place on your table and they bring the food out to you. They offer a classic ramen with tonkotsu (pork based) broth, miso paitan, shoyu chintan, and a vegan miso broth. Each bowl of ramen runs around $11-$13 depending on the type of broth you choose. I had the classic tonkotsu ramen with soft boiled marinated egg, chili oil, scallions, bean sprouts, miso, and red ginger. The pork belly is sliced extra thin and was brought out on a separate plate to add to your ramen. The ramen itself was delicious but a smaller portion than most ramen restaurants offer. Most ramen restaurants seem to offer huge bowls that I can barely finish but this looked like a pretty small bowl. The noodles seemed a lot thinner than most ramen noodles, almost like angel hair pasta, but the broth itself was on point. The broth was super flavorful and tasty which is one of my qualifications for a good ramen dish. I also ordered the spicy noodle as opposed to the regular noodle for $1 upcharge. Not sure if the spicy noodles are any thinner than the regular noodles but they weren't all that spicy. Kaizen also offers curry, and green noodles for an extra $1 and gluten free noodles for a free swap. You can add additional toppings to your bowl for $0.75-$2.00 and an extra portion of noodles for $3. They also offer poke bowls, rice bowls, buns, and appetizers. I had a pork chashu bun for $5. It was an open faded bun with thinly sliced pork, mayo, onions, and scallions. It was good and tasty but not the best pork bun I'd ever had. The meat is very tender and sliced super extremely thin. It kind of reminded me of Philly cheesesteak meat. I think I'd probably prefer pork belly on a pork bun. The Karaage chicken appetizer also looked very tasty. The atmosphere is nice with a warm yellow wall mural and communal style booth on one wall and lots of metallic decor and some artwork. Service was good. My food was brought out extremely fast and my server/cashier was very friendly and helpful. Overall, I enjoyed my meal here. It wasn't the best ramen I ever had. Urban Ramen and Ima are probably better but the broth alone was so good that I'd definitely return and it's a nice addition to downtown Royal Oak. read more

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Ramen not too bad. Was a bit fatty for me and the pork was more like bacon but enjoyed the concept with the lack of wait staff. Goyza was also pretty good. Will be back to try the other options. read more

Kaizen Ramen - Tonkotsu - Ramen Near Me - Royal Oak, Michigan

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4.5 I come here often. I am embarrassed to say it. My coworkers make fun of me for it. The shirt I wear to this place is upset with me after... The first day I ate here, apparently I ate like an animal and didn't notice until laundry day and no one told me. Their ramen tastes great! The pork is soft as it should be. The egg is soft boiled and marinated as it should be. They put a tad to much spice, but that's fine, I remove a bit something. The noodles are a perfect size and take up all that broth flavor. I'm not a huge fan of the mushrooms, but they aren't even close as bad as Urban. The only reason I say 4.5, is that feel the serving amount of the pork is rather small. Again, the quality is great! I come only during lunch, so I can't make a judgment call for their dinner time when it gets busy. I have always received my meal within 5-10 minutes during their lunch times. read more

Great food & atmosphere. Friendly employees. Clean and unpretentious. Quick service and many vegan & gluten free options! read more

Kaizen Ramen - Vegan ramen & spring rolls - Ramen Near Me - Royal Oak, Michigan

Just....meh. With ramen shops becoming more popular, and becoming more common in every city. I feel like in order for a ramen shop to be successful, it needs to really meet the bar of quality with its food. Their noodles are gross. The restaurant doesn't have a clear vibe either. They could of used that space to really made something amazing. Once again, ramen shops are for the experience. And they just don't have that "wow". Everyone at my party agreed if feels like it's owned by a first time restaurant owner. The service was great, everyone was very quick and kind. You can get a higher quality dish for that price at ima or johnny noodle king. It's not great, it's not terrible. It's... meh. read more

The hubs and I are not Ramen connoisseurs by any means, but we really enjoyed our ramen and will definitely return. I ordered the traditional bowl and substituted chicken- perfectly seasoned, rich flavored broth. Service was great, ambience is cool (great playlist)- it's worth stopping in to support local business. read more

Kaizen Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Royal Oak, Michigan

Seriously impressive!!! I'm a San Francisco transplant desperately trying to find close to authentic ramen. This place did the trick. Menu is not huge but what you get is fantastic ramen, great flavors and fast service. We will be back! read more

Agree with another reviewer that the inside leaves a lot to be desired, especially the cleanliness factor. If you come in expecting a cafeteria type atmosphere, you will have the right expectation. Ordered the gyoza and one of the rice bowls. The gyoza were ok. The chicken on the rice bowl was inedibly salty and a bit stringy. Perhaps this would work better in a bowl of broth but I won't be back to find out. read more

Fell in love after my first visit in which I shared the Tonkotsu Ramen dish, Spring Rolls and some Gyoza with a friend. Fell madly in love after seeing a giant robot spewing Ramen noodles at some other "bad guy" looking robot... This place stands out to me as having a different and impressively consistent theme / feeling. It is light and playful all while having some serious TLC put into the food. The broth in the dish is thick and rich and is perfect for this cooler weather. I find myself occasionally day dreaming about it while I am at work (out in Clinton Township). read more

I am a huge ramen lover and Kaizen has some of the best tonkotsu style ramen I have had in Michigan! The broth is rich and creamy and has the perfect amount of spice. The noodles are homemade with a bit of chew which is just how I like them. The decor is fun and energetic, but relaxed and casual. Love love love! read more

Kaizen Ramen - Tonkotsu Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Royal Oak, Michigan

Real deal tonkotsu ramen. Rich, fatty, deep flavored pork broth. Seriously good. I think that alone is reason enough to go to this place. I have yet to find a single restaurant that does this well in Michigan except for Kaizen. read more

Unfortunately, this was a lesser experience. Don't get me wrong, there were positive moments but the lady working the cash register on Thursday August 14th was negative, rude and didn't know the menu or care to share any information. She didn't even offer to ask anyone. I was excited to try this spot, as a friend recommended it. The space is large and offer nifty paintings (possibly local). The guys who delivered the food and the other guy working behind the lady were all extremely kind, helpful and asked if they could help in any way. Here's how it went down. I was asking recommendations, about flavors, and the lady knew nothing about the menu minus what she liked. She wasn't willing to ask anyone else and was blunt and said I don't eat vegan and wont ever so I don't know. Normally, if you dont know, you ask.. anywho. I then asked if I could substitute items and she said yes. However, she failed to tell me that I would pay the normal $11 for the ramen plus every additional item i added. Even though, i removed every item that was in it. I am allergic to garlic and corn and tofu and that made up the entire dish... and I cannot eat chicken and that was the broth of the other ramen. She told me my total was $36? I'm still unsure how it got to be so much and I dropped my mouth. I then went to ask why and she still didn't tell me. So, I guessed it was because I substituted items out and asked if that was why. Which, she replied yes. Then I asked to cancel it and reorder and she told me I couldnt do that. I stated that had she communicated with me that I would pay more for the substitutions (even though they were same price items), then I would have saved all her trouble in the first place. She sighed huffed and puffed, went back to the kitchen yelled at them to cancel the food. Well, she couldnt figure out how to cancel the order in the system and again told me I had to eat that ramen and pay for it. I said that I wouldn't and continued to say that. All in being kind and trying to explain the situation. She was nasty and I was thankful to walk away. Her energy was horrible. And unfortunately, I did not enjoy the vegan broth or vegan noodles. I won't be back and will certainly share my experience with everyone, as no one deserves to be treated like crap. Especially, when the customer is being understanding. read more

Absolutely delicious, I had the Miso Paitan Ramen. The broth was so rich and delicious, but paired with the various accoutrements you are in for very fine treat. The Karaage Chicken was also very tasty and I really enjoyed the sweet sauce. There are also some Japanese imported drinks in the fridge to choose from, I chose a Boss coffee. Take a date, they will be impressed or just roll solo like I did and treat yourself. read more

Kaizen Ramen - Miso Paitan, Chicken Karaage, Boss Silky Black Coffee - Ramen Near Me - Royal Oak, Michigan

FANTASTIC! Better than Johnny Noodle King! All 4 of us ordered the traditional and chicken based ramen and they were all excellent. Perfectly seasoned, noodles cooked soft not al dente just the way I like it, and generous portions. We also ordered the crispy chicken appetizer and it was delicious. Everything came out hot, fresh, and quickly. This will definitely be the perfect place to go to when the weather turns cold or the next time I'm sick and need something better than soup. A+ all the way! read more

So delicious!! My one complaint was that there was not enough sauce on my rice bowl. After a little while it tasted as if I was just eating white rice. But the sauce that was on there was delicious. There are also many vegans can vegetarian options. It's located right in Washington Ave in Royal Oak. It's an awesome location. Very reasonable pricing as well. Awesome suggestion for some Japanese food! read more

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Excellent ramen. One of the best in the area. I am excited to see how it compares to the up and coming City Ramen nearby. The vegan broth is absolutely delicious and you can even make it spicier if you want. I really loved the curry noodles option, I never thought the noodles themselves could have a kick. Lots of flavor and really great on a chilly fall night. I am so happy this place opened up! Before, the closest ramen of this quality was in Canton or Ann Arbor. It's awesome to finally have one in a thriving area of Oakland county. I'm excited to come here more in the future! read more

I ordered the vegan ramen. I'll start with my favorite parts: 1. The broth- it was packed full of flavor. I did add a little heat to it but the hint of spice was delightful. 2. The asparagus was perfectly cooked. I wish it had more than 2 pieces. Now for the other side of the coin: 1. This place gives you that I'm not sure if I want to eat here vibe when you walk-in. 2. The gnats also played a part in with the negative ambiance. 3. It took us about 5 mins to place an order b/c the cashier disappeared in the back. 4. My food came out very quickly which gave me mixed emotions. My food had an interesting temperature, like varying degrees of warm. I figured stirring it would resolve the temp concern but it didn't. 5. The tofu was also lackluster. It seemed like it had been fried and steamed. The inside of the tofu was soft but the band around it was tough. The spinach noodles were decent and had a good texture. I had enough to bring leftovers home but I had a feeling the noodles wouldn't reheat well. It was at that moment I wish I had traditional noodles. This place has me conflicted... I would love to try the ramen with traditional noodles, vegan broth veggies but I don't know. read more

Kaizen Ramen - Vegan ramen - Ramen Near Me - Royal Oak, Michigan

Pros: bao: amazing. Gyoza: yum. Ramen and broth: really excellent. Some of the best I've had in the area. I wish they put more fish cake in. Egg cooked perfectly. Kinda wish the noodle was wavy but not a big deal. Problem: tipping for carry out: they ask you to tip regular sit down meal % on their screen. Big loss for them. It's an auto tip option and carry out customers may not do that. Husband got a glare and no thank you for his business at pick up. Come on. Solution: put a tip jar out. Problem: no chopsticks, no napkins, no spoons in carry out bag. This is basic service stuff guys. Do better. read more

Love having this crazy good spot for Poké and Ramen right down the road from us! We ordered the Tuna Poké bowl and added Krab. The ingredients are so fresh and delicious you don't need sauce like the other places. The gyoza are made in-house and you can definitely taste the difference! The service is incredible too, we had great service, assistance and recommendations when ordering and were checked on at least 3 times while we ordered. Can't wait to go back! read more

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I came here with my husband for lunch. It's setup as counter service (order at the counter, then grab a table). The menu is pretty short but we came for ramen so that was no big deal. I got the tonkotsu ramen and my husband last minute decided to get the Karaage Don rice bowl. I loved the ramen. The broth was flavorful and they subbed gluten free noodles for no extra charge. The gluten free noodles were great and the soft boiled egg was cooked perfectly. Unfortunately, my husband's meal left a lot to be desired. The fried chicken was flavorless and most of the pieces barely had any chicken (75% breading). If my review was based on his meal I'd give it a 2 but since it's a ramen place, I'll give them the benefit of the doubt. We'll be back but will definitely stick with ramen. read more

Kaizen Ramen - Tonkotsu ramen - Ramen Near Me - Royal Oak, Michigan

I've had better ramen and service. Maybe they'll get better with time, but I was highly disappointed. The customer service was subpar. They need to have a cashier with a good attitude and at least some type of knowledge of the food that she is ringing up. The busboys are very kind though. The food, itself, was once again subpar. The pork tasted fake and I am used to having a broader selection of toppings, broth, and how the ramen is overall made. I will not be coming back to this restaurant anytime soon. read more

Enjoyed carry out last night. We tried the miso and shoyu ramen. Both were very flavorful. The were packaged with the broth separate and the noodles and toppings in a bowl. We both really enjoyed our ramen and will be back for more! We also tried 2 appetizers, the edamame and spring rolls. The spring rolls had a good dipping good sauce and and wrappers were nice and crispy on the outside, they did seem to be lacking much filling and we both agreed they were a little too "doughy" on the inside and needed to be filled more. The meal was filling and we spent around $35 for the both of us. We were happy to see this restaurant that isn't a chain and give it a try! read more

We loved this place. It is one of the best ramen in Detroit area. We've tried a lot of different places. The broth is rich and thick and so flavorful! I've ate in Osaka, Kyoto and Tokyo and this place is reminiscent of my travels. read more

Kaizen Ramen - Tonkotsu - Ramen Near Me - Royal Oak, Michigan

Our family has only had packaged ramen noodles before, or udon at restaurants. I don't know if it's because this was our first ramen shop experience, but omg the flavor! My five year old loved her bowl so much and my baby kept signing for more. I can't stop thinking about how good it was. I live like 45 minutes away but I think we might just make Royal Oak trips just for more of these delicious noodles. The restaurant was clean, the employees super friendly and helpful, and yes fun robot art on the wall. But the flavor! Oh my goodness. read more

Finally tried Kaizen Ramen at Royal Oak. I ordered the classic tonkotsu ramen. The broth had a nice savory and porky flavor and the noodles had a nice chewy bite to it which served as a great vehicle for the broth. I think the only down side to my food was that it was on the salty side and the broth itself was too thick for my liking. But all in all I still would eat this again, with a tall glass of water on the side. They also have other things on the menu that I'd like to try the next time I go there with my friends. The Kaizen staff were very nice and the place was clean. If you're in the area definitely try it out. read more

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This place is my New Jam! I work right around the corner and I have already been 4 times since it has opened. The decor was really vibrant with unique artwork and murals. It was a very open space with quite a bit of seating. I ended up getting the Classic Tonkotsu and it was perfect. The eggs were made exactly how they should, the ramen was cooked very well. Often times I find Ramen to be hard but this time it was cooked properly and fresh. I am looking forward to trying everything on the menu and I highly recommend them. Best ramen in the area hands down. read more

This place is good. The quality of the food is great. A couple issues I have are the low amount of protein in the signature tonkotsu. For the price, I'd hope for at least a full egg. For $1.50, you get another half egg. They serve it in a nice bowl, but the fork (for non chopsticks with noodle people) is the cheapest possible. Another $.05 would get them something usable. read more

Kaizen Ramen - Tonkotso with extra hLf egg for $1.50 - Ramen Near Me - Royal Oak, Michigan

I had the vegan ramen and my wife had the tuna poke bowl. The food was excellent and the staff was great. I have a fairly severe gluten allergy and the staff walked me through ordering so that I didn't have any problems. A restaurant I would definitely recommend. read more

I went there opening day so keep that in mind. This was very good. Ima pho in Madison heights/corktown is better but this is very good and I'm very happy they opened in RO. I know pho is salty but this was extremely salty. I totally recommend you go here. read more

Kaizen Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Royal Oak, Michigan

Yelp lead me here to have a try. I ordered the classic ramen and Sides . I feel it is just so so. The bowl is so tricky,shorter at the bottom. The soup is thick, but a litter bit salty for me. read more

Kaizen Ramen - Classic ramen - Ramen Near Me - Royal Oak, Michigan

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This is a new addition to downtown Royal Oak and it's a good one. I had curry noodles and the house signature dish. It was right on the money, nice in flavor and in spice ( love the spice) Great place for families and friends with lots of four tops 6 tops and 8 top table's. It's clean and fresh, price is good not too expensive but just about the right cost for the kind of fresh food read more

This is great Ramen! I have 2 very particular teenagers and they both loved this place. (Their friends dining with us did as well!) My husband was reluctant to eat here as the restaurant was empty except for one lone diner when we arrived. After our food came, he had a totally different opinion. Definitely recommend!! read more

Kaizen Ramen - Miso Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Royal Oak, Michigan

Today was my first experience at Kaizen Ramen and it was entirely positive! All of the workers were welcome and kind. The food was delicious and the bowls were quite big; I was feeling full well before my bowl was empty! It's definitely worth the price. The building was clean and quite cute as well. read more

Kaizen Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Royal Oak, Michigan

Been on a Ramen crawl for a while in the metro Detroit area so when someone told me about Kaizen Ramen I was a bit apprehensive, good Ramen in Royal Oak? But I was nicely surprised, walked in met with a friendly and informative staff, ordered up front paid and sat down, simple! I ordered the Tonkotsu ramen, side of Gyoza and Edamame. The Ramen was well seasoned, creamy and very savoury tasting with a delicious Umami flavour that at certain Ramen spots they simply miss this lil step, they offer a GF option of ordering rice noodle(a big plus here).The Gyoza was tasty altho it's not made in house, perfectly cooked(crispy exterior with a nicely steamed hit interior) the edamame came out plain but the server did offer more salt on the side and I spiced it up further with the Ramen Chilli pepper seasoning, Delicious! The space is nicely decorated with steel, exposed brick and this mural that gave the space a fucky but welcoming feeling. read more

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The Ramen was very good, would definitely go again. Minimal menu choices, making it easier on those of us with poor decision making skills. Good amount of seating. I got a pork Ramen with spicy/curry noodles. Huge portion sizes. Enjoyed it overall. read more

Kaizen Ramen - Pork Ramen with a spicy noodle - Ramen Near Me - Royal Oak, Michigan

I tried this place yesterday, and would recommend. I tried the original and would order again...I had leftovers which warmed up beautifully for breakfast read more

Kaizen Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Royal Oak, Michigan

Kaizen is a welcomed addition to Royal Oak. There are a handful of Ramen places around the area but this is a walk in, grab a menu, go to the cashier to order and sit at any table type place and the food comes at you pretty quickly which is nice. Their orders are decent sized and delicious. Their Chicken Cashew Bun and California Bun are AMAZING! Highly recommend! I hope to see this restaurant strive because there is a perfect niche for this in Royal Oak. read more

Older style flavored Japanese ramen. Those who have been to Japan and know a ramen shop is about the flavor, and not any "wow" factor of the shop itself will appreciate this place. The Shoyu flavored ramen is reminiscent of a classic style, light in strength, not overbearing. It is not as good as Urban Ramen, but prettt close. Definitely better than Johnny noodleking. (If your concept of what Japanese Ramen should taste like is Johnnynoodleking, then you wont appreciate this place at all. This place is truer to what you would find in Japan, without the "Americanized flavor"). Pros: - classic flavors - choice of noodle types. (pay attention, if you order grass noodles, you will get buckwheat and not regular noodles). - the gyoza is very good as a side dish choice. Cons: - Parking in Royal Oak. - cashier likes to talk too much slowing down the experience excessively. read more