I came here with a friend for dinner on a Sunday night. We made reservations in advance, so we had no problems getting a table. I had the Paint It Black ramen. The flavor was rich and very savory. It was one of the best bowls of ramen I've had in a long time! read more

Ambiance (5/5): We were sat immediately when they opened at 6p on a random Tuesday. There is another seating area in the back (did not look) but the front can seat 5 parties. The inside is sleek, cozy, and medium lighting. Service (5/5): No issues with service since the restaurant was still fairly empty. Waitress was patient when we asked a slew of questions and her suggestions. Happy hour drinks were priced at $6 from 5:30p-7p with some tapas also at $5-7. Chicken dumpling (3/5) Red version: It was unique to find kernels of corn in the dumpling! I enjoyed the vinegar/soy sauce and chili oil. Next time, I would have liked to try the brown. Overall, there wasn't anything special about the steamed dumplings. Iron Men (3/5): I was disappointed since reviewers said that the broth would be very rich but it did not have much flavor to me even after using their house chili sauce (+$2). I definitely tasted the Iberian pork undertones but overall, I thought it was watery and didn't have much flavor without the chili. The poached egg was perfect. The rosemary oil was very subtle (cool presentation as it was provided in a dropper!) The noodles were perfect--chewy and bouncy. I thought the 2 slices of pork were thin but tender, also more lean and not fatty (not as ideal so did not melt in your mouth). Expensive for a bowl with little meat ($23). I did not use the miso paste as I did not love the aftertaste, which admittedly could be why the broth lacked flavor to me! Nagoya Miso Katsu-Don (N/A): I tried a little of the dish. I thought the pork was very crunchy and had a great taste. Boyfriend said the dish was nothing special. read more

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I was actually blown away by all aspects of my experience... To start, I came here with a party of three and a dog. I was not sure if the place was dog friendly but they have a lot of seating in the back and we had our own private outdoor tent in the back that was spacious, had heaters, and quality furniture. The staff was extremely friendly and attentive, not just greeting you when you come in but throughout the entire dining experience. My group split the black dumplings which I really liked the sauce, I had the Point Blank ramen -- it was delicious and smokey. The pork broth was savoury but not so oily as the horse radish cut through well for a really refreshing taste. My sister had the Iron Men IV which was also so good. I think I was most blown away by the creativity in the dishes and how good they were. The whole menu felt innovative and intentional. I really want to come back again and again to work my way through the whole menu lol. Last thing just wanna shout out the staff again! they were awesome! read more

Small restaurant with limited seating, but it wasn't too packed on a Saturday evening. They have a decent variety of ramen styles from classic tonkotsu and shoyu ramens to tsuke-men (dipping) ramen. My group shared the takoyaki, shisito peppers, and zangi karaage. The takoyaki has a nice crispy outer shell with a creamy center. I'd skip the zangi karaage next time as it was basically a chicken tender and not very flavorful. I had the ironmen and the rosemary oil really elevated the broth. read more

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Still one of my favorite ramen shops in New York, and a beloved regular dinner spot back in my Brooklyn days. I recently visited after a long hiatus and was pleased to discover that the food's as good as ever. I particularly enjoy the ramen options that incorporate yuzu or horseradish for a distinct tang or kick that you don't find too many places. Indeed, that inventiveness is one of the things that keeps me coming back. If you only eat one bowl of ramen in New York, this is a worthy option. read more

Small place. Good for 1-4 people MAX 10ish seats (5 small tables) + 10ish bar seats (good if eating alone). Patio closed for weather Food: - dumpling good - Ramen: loved the paint it black (special). Point black was a 2 for 1 ramen. The horseradish added a nice twist. Then you get a yuzu sauce to use midway which changes the taste completely. The ramen was great and not overpowering. Perfectly sized. - extensive drink selection both alcohol and non alcohol Recommend if in the area read more

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The inside seating area is rather small but they also have a heated patio. The service was excellent. The wings were crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside. The ramen was great, rich and super flavorful broth, nicely cooked noodles (and a larger amount of noodles than typical in a ramen), tender pork. They have a lot of unique ramen on the menu and I look forward to try more of them. read more

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Food/drinks point blank was delicious! I'm not a huge fan of ramen but I did really like their horseradish yuzu ramen concept Atmosphere really cute mix of a cool bar and Japanese style Service‍ friendly! The servers and chefs speak Japanese Priceas expected in NY ~$20 per ramen bowl read more

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My partner's review: The ambience was cozy and very friendly and welcoming, and the food was a savory and very fulling. It made my heart happy. My review: We arrive to the restaurant around 9 PM and I was a little worried that we weren't gonna make it in time before the kitchen started closing however, upon arriving, we were met with great energy and hospitality. We decided at the bar the restaurant is very cozy and it feels like it's kind of hugging you, but there was still enough space to move around. I got the Pan Head Ramen. The pork broth was rendered nicely, and the flavors of the fat came through with different notes of a nutty flavor in the garlic note. It was overall really nice and my bowl was very empty read more

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This might be one of my favorite ramen spots as of now! We had such a great meal, and service was friendly and speedy. The kitchen was amazing to watch, as I saw someone easily grab piping hot ceramic bowls of dumplings straight out of the oven. Very impressive. Cozy place! We had the white dumplings with horseradish to clear some senses, and I had the captain Brooklyn iii, super smoky with pleasant mala glory. They give you a shield as they open a glass dome that comes with the presentation. The tsukemen was also delicious, every bowl hit the spot. Will def keep returning, and we do not live in the area. read more

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Great ramen with some unique menu options. Noodles were cooked perfectly and the broth was tasty. They don't have too many seats and can get busy after 6pm so try to go early. Ramen had a ton of umami flavor and the chicken wings were also good, crispy and had a soy sauce glaze. They are famous for their iron men ramen and have limited quantity. Good service also, server came by several times to ask if we needed anything. read more

Karazishi Botan - Botan Wings (5 pcs) - Ramen Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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Been wanting to try this place for a while, but they only open for lunch on the weekends. It was pretty empty when I came on an off hour, but eventually more people poured in. It seems that they rotate their menu occasionally. They also have seasonal specials. I ended up trying the Iron Men III. They do theme some of their ramen. The Iron Men III came in an iron bowl. Their Captain Brooklyn came with a Captain America shield. The ramen was pretty good. For something so flavorful, the soup wasn't as heavy. I wasn't expecting a clear broth. It was plain though (i.e. not many toppings). Poached egg was a good addition to the broth as well as the lemon juice. Charsiu was tender. However, for $22 I was hoping to have at least a vegetable. Good local ramen spot. It would be good to come back to try their other ramens when they rotate. read more

Karazishi Botan - Iron Men III - Ramen Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Amazing little ramen spot on smith st. The place is super cozy and the staff is friendly and very attentive. Besides ramen, they do serve delicious dumplings. Each order consists of 5 dumplings with chef's special sauce. There are 5 different sauces available and each one will hit your pallet in a different way. Restaurant has a limited selection of alcoholic including a handful of craft beers. Give this place a try next time you are in the area. read more

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This place came recommended by a local, but I didn't love it. I thought it lacked flavor. The Karaage was good. It came with two large pieces of fried chicken. The chicken had a great, buttery consistency, and the sauce was tasty. The ramen came deconstructed, which meant that the pork and the egg on the side were cold by then time I added it to the broth. The broth lacked flavor. I really wanted to love this place because the ambiance is great and the service is wonderful. Plenty of street parking and easy to get to via subway. Unfortunately, the food didn't hit for me. read more

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Friendly neighborhood spot serving inventive, delicious ramen! They are currently serving a seasonal ramen called Captain Brooklyn that is a flavor bomb of numbing spice and umami flavors. They even provide you with a Captain America-esque shield as protection! There are plenty of appetizers and side dishes to round out your meal. We really enjoyed the tofu and edamame nuggets. Come before 7 pm on a weekday to enjoy their happy hour specials. read more

This is probably my favorite (and in my opinion the best) ramen in the neighborhood (the Cobble Hill/Carroll Gardens/Boerum Hill/Gowanus corridor). This place got a lot of press when it open given that it's helmed by Fumihiro Kanegae, one of the OG chefs from Ippudo. After being here a handful times, I'd say the place lives up to the hype. A bit of a small indoor space, but they have sidewalk/street seating as well as a beautiful backyard. All of the ramen I have had are delicious. They have a seasonal menu that rotates so there's always something new to be had. The texture and bite of their noodles is always spot on. Service is friendly, price are very reasonable for the quality of the food. If I'm craving ramen in the neighborhood, this is my go-to! read more

Karazishi Botan - Ramen Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Came here on a Sunday night shortly after returning from a trip to Japan. I was missing our trip and wanted a little nostalgia so decided to grab local ramen. This place transported me right back to being in Tokyo (minus the fact that this is 10 times larger than any restaurant we visited in Japan). The staff were all friendly and greeted us in standard Japanese. We were sat outside in a maze of covered and heated stalls, very cozy. The food was very good, solid noodles, great broth, it was exactly what I needed. I look forward to going back and exploring more of their Americanized menu because the items sound delicious, but for this night, ramen was perfect! read more

Karazishi Botan - Tonkotsu Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

This is a quaint and intimate ramen spot along Smith Street. First of all, be sure to make reservations as there are only 8 bar seats, one booth and a small table. To start off, we had the Takoyaki ($10), which are crispy and fluffy. The sauce gave it lots of flavor as well. As for the ramen, there are some unique options. We both chose the ramens from Japan as I opted for the Pan Head Ramen ($17). This is a pork Tonkotsu ramen, which had great flavor. I liked the bouncy texture of the thin noodles as well. It was a good bowl of ramen, especially on a cold day. read more

Karazishi Botan - Takoyaki. - Ramen Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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Food: One of my absolute favorite ramen spots! In the process of going through each ramen dish one by one but so far my favorite has to be the ramen with horseradish...the flavor is amazing and in the end they give you a little yuzu sauce that changes the taste profile! Cost: Reasonable pricing/similar cost to most dishes around this area. Environment: The place offers both indoor and outdoor seating. Indoor is pretty limited, the space is small and you'll have to rsvp in advance if going during peak hours. They do have outdoor seating that can accommodate more people. Service: Never had issue with service here- the servers are attentive and the food comes out within a reasonable time frame! Uniqueness: I love ramen and the different dishes they offer here are both exciting and delicious! read more

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Delicious !!! & unique ramens. Service is great too - the kind of place you can just grab a seat at the bar solo and have a delicious bowl - extra seating in the back - and cool decor. I like that it doesn't get too loud inside since there isn't that much seating inside read more

I saw this place featured from a food writer so I had this place on my list. I was waiting for an event to start so I decided to come here for a quick dinner. As a solo person, it is easy to eat at the bar especially as a walk in. The menu has many options but due to me trying to go light today, I decided to get the escardogs (turkey corn dogs with escargot sauce) and the Ironmen III ramen (Ðry aged pork bone, chicken & oxtail trinity soup). What they tell you as you order is that some ramen comes with extra ingredients already included. As such, the ironmen already has pork chashu and a soft boiled egg. I enjoyed the escardogs as a quick appetizer (they are mini dogs). But with the ramen, they tell you to taste the ramen broth before adding the ingredients and the rosemary oil (in a dropper). I appreciated it because those add ins made the whole ramen taste completely differently especially the rosemary which I loved. What I regret is what the person next to me did was that he added scallions to his ramen (same as mine). The broth is just so thick and filled with fat that I would have like more of a vegetal presence to cut through it. Funny enough the ramen that got me interested in going to the place wasn't available since it is a seasonal menu in terms of the ramen. But that just means more things to try. I admire how they are experimenting with flavor. I can see myself coming back to try something different. It isn't too loud so I can bring a friend. Also there is an outdoor area but it was raining so I didn't check it out. read more

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One of my favorite ramen spots in the city. The service is quick and efficient. Been here 3 times and never had to wait more than 5 minutes. This space is very cozy and reminds me of my time in Tokyo. Highly recommend the Chefs special: the Ironman. The broth is amazing. While the toppings are spare, there's a wide range of add ons you can order. I always get the scallions. read more

Karazishi Botan - Ramen Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

First time got here! From my friend's recommendation, we got there around 7pm Friday night. It was packed and one empty sheet at the outside so we waited the table for 2 for couple minutes. They have a huge backside space with heater so it was basically an backyard iSH space but it all covered so not bad even in the cold weather. All servers are very nice, great smile, reliable! It was great serving experience!! We started off with Hakkaizan Sake and Beer. While we are drinking, they served appetizers perfectly in that time. Ordered Botan Chicken ( good and fresh hot. Needs a bit more kicks ) Brown Dumplings ( very good! ) and for the main, two ramens. Both of them are Tonkotsu but Miso base and classic Tonkotsu base. I feel like broths could be more better but It was nice and hot! Also, f there is some seasoning on the side! it could be a great one in Brooklyn, NYC. Amazing experience! Would definitely recommend and come back! read more

Karazishi Botan - Knucklehead One-Off - Ramen Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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I was here around a month ago on a weekday. I was able to grab a seat and there was a flow of traffic of people either getting take out or sitting down. The staff here was very nice. They have a rather unique ramen menu as well as some other appetizers and other dishes you don't have to find. Apparently the chef used to work at one of the branches of Ippudo. For my drink, they have some specials as it was shochu month or something else. Specifically they had some from Iichiko; a common shochu brand I'm a fan of; and I got I believe an oak smoked version which was tasty and added depth to the original. For my appetizer I went with the brown dumplings for 9$ (for 5 pieces) after asking what they meant by "Japonaise sauce." The way they described it reminded me of some other dishes and it turned out the sauce was a slightly sour tomato base which I have had before. I believe there was maybe Worcestershire or something else and it was tasty and they were also topped with scallion. The inside of the dumplings (uniquely chicken lemongrass) were good with my only complaint being perhaps the texture though usually I'm someone who prefers gyoza at ramen shops so blame that for preferring crispier dumplings. My main dish was of course Ramen and I went with the "Pan-Head/とんこつ味噌" or No.489 which was $17. Said ramen was a tonkotsu miso ramen topped with two pieces of pork chashu/チャーシュー, scallions, seasoned bamboo shoots/menma/メンマ, and ginger paste. I added a nitamago/seasoned egg/煮卵 of course for $3. The ramen had a very good broth and the added nitamago was very tasty. The pork was tender but I found it to not be as flavorful as some other spots. The food overall was very tasty. I wouldn't really go here looking for a traditional ramen but if you're looking for something a little bit different in mostly a very good way, I would recommend this place. read more

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Highly recommended by a friend and it totally lived upto the expectations. Brooklyn does have a lot of good restaurants and Karazishi Botan adds to the list. Cozy atmosphere, heated lamps on each table, great selection of Sake and Ramen. You can pick ramen base and select your fillings. If you pick horseradish ramen my advise is not to add Yuzu to it, totally changes the taste. My only complain is they didn't serve the bowl piping hot but nonetheless it tasted great. We enjoyed our experience. Perfect place to visit for ramen with a small intimate group. read more

Karazishi Botan - Ramen Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Incredible. Hands down the best ramen I've had near the park slope area. The environment is so cool and edgy but authentic at the same time. Amazing staff. Loved the indoor/outdoor garden space with the heaters. Feels like a little private greenhouse. read more

We just moved into the neighborhood and were in no shape to prepare or eat dinner at home -- we chose Karazishi Botan basically because it was close. What an unexpected experience! They elevate Ramen to a place where I've never seen it before - either in the US or in Japan. Each individual ramen dish came with its own unique broth and toppings - the food was absolutely fabulous, the place is delightfully cozy, the staff welcoming and knowledgeable, and the prices were more like a neighborhood place than a destination experience. A GREAT welcome to the neighborhood! read more

This place tops all the other Brooklyn places I've been to for ramen! I've been to so many but not only does this have an amazing outdoor space (in front and also a backyard with a cover) and also super dog friendly (they prepare a bowl for your dog prior to your sitting), they also have amazing food. The service is so good- they always give you space and is super attentive. If you're curious about their asahi draft beers, I tried the ginger one and their homemade ginger syrup made the beer so much smoother! It's not that sweet as they said and it just adds a little hint of ginger but not the spicy kind but just sweeter and smoother for anyone who isn't a fan of ginger shots. Now onto the food- I've tried the Brooklyn balls (takoyaki), my favorite. I order them here everytime I visit. Typically I don't enjoy them but their batter is thick and very flavorful. Other takoyaki I've had was either too hot or too loose in batter for me to enjoy but I really like these! The brown dumplings were good and they were an interesting take to your typical gyoza dish as an appetizer. It didn't amaze me that much but it's nicely steamed with a good flavor. I've had the tsukemen here and the knuckle head one off. The tsukemen is really flavorful and their jammy egg tasted very good with their meat. To be honest I prefer this over the Okiboru tsukemen that's Michelin rated in the city because the flavor is more intricate and also less salty here. The Knuckle Head One Off is so good because they add basil sauce in it which creates a nice touch to the tonkotsu broth! I liked this over the Pan Head ramen my friend had although they are similar, pan head has miso in it. I read a lot of reviews about the Chashu being lean. Yes, it is lean but as someone who only wants 2 slices of Chashu I am very happy it is lean and not too fat which is also why it's 5 stars for me- it fits my palette and requirements. I've also tried my friend's gamma green ramen and that one taste better than a lot of the vegan ramen I tried and has the same ramen texture as normal ramen but it's made of greens! They also include vegan protein in it which is what a lot of vegan people are looking for! All of the ramen here seem to be very imaginative and quirky which adds the appeal to this place as a "New York style ramen diner" which they advertise! Lastly - I would totally recommend the matcha tiramisu because that pretty much melted in my mouth and it was soooo good. Not too sweet and not too moist and not too dry. The perfect consistency. read more

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Some of the best ramen I've had in all my years. Visiting from California and this was one of my favorite dinner locations of my trip. Cannot recommend enough. Wonderful experience, 10/10 read more

Great ramen spot! I went for a pretty basic ramen and some hot sake. The noodles and broth were delicious. I ordered extra noodles to use up the rest of the broth. I sat at the bar and service there was good. I liked how the staff enthusiastically greeted and said goodbye to everyone too. It's a nice cozy spot - I came with a book and felt very comfy and left with a clean bowl and a full belly. read more

The employees were absolutely lovely and so accommodative. Absolutely stellar service. You were greeted in Japanese when you entered and exited the restaurant and it really made us feel warm and appreciated. The prices are all pretty standard for NYC but I do wish the crab cream croquette burger was a lot bigger because it's no where near filling. I love how the bun is almost reminiscent of a sugar donut. The chili fries were vegan (if you forwent the Parmesan on top). And despite not being vegan I loved that menu accessibility. There's outdoor seating in the back of the restaurant in little tents. If they add some more veg/pescetarian things to the menu I'd be back in a heartbeat. This was a memorable experience! read more

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So impressed by the Tsukemen (seasonal special). The soup was on the thinner side, but it had such depth of flavor. There was soy sauce, smokiness, umami, and a je ne sais quoi. The noodles were cooked well, the egg had perfectly jammy yolk, but the one downside was the pork chashu. It was a little tough, and I prefer ones that melt in your mouth. The summer special (Point Blank II) tasted interesting, but it was initially a tad too horseradishy. But, after finishing half the soup, you're advised to mix in some of the provided Yuzu juice, which helps a lot to balance out the flavor. Service was great! It was a hot day, so having a constantly-filled glass of cold water was clutch. (Rounding up from 4.5 stars) read more

Karazishi Botan - Tsukemen - Ramen Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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Service was great - refilled my water the moment I finished my glass. I also loved the vibe and the pricey small plates...?

Love the ramen and all the specialties, my favorite japanese restaurant in the area. Amazing karage, great sake selection too

I stopped in for dinner at Karazishi Botan and was immediately met at the door by a friendly server who accompanied me to the bar for a seat as the restaurant was full. The bartender was very nice and attentive. The restaurant is small but quaint and offers outside dinning. My dinner consisted of a Silver Wedge Salad for a starter and the entree was the Showa Classic. The main dish had delicious pork and noodles with a tasty broth. read more

Karazishi Botan - Silver Wedge Salad - Ramen Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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One of the few good ramen spots in Brooklyn Heights. I did think the food was good, but it's become my default mainly due to the lack of options. Service is good, and they're quick to seat you. TLDR: good ramen for the neighborhood, doesn't stand out if you're willing to branch out from BK Heights Food: good! I do think there are other options if you're willing to travel, but the ramen broth is good & there are a lot of veggie options including apps Service: they get BUSY. Waitstaff is very attentive when you're able to flag them down and you don't have to wait long for your dish Insider tips: call ahead to ask for wait times / a res Good for: date night! Friends from out of town read more

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The food was amazing, the atmosphere and service was relaxed and friendly. Highly recommended

A throw-back review... Karazishi Botan was the last restaurant we went to where we actually dined indoors before they shut everything down because of covid. For that reason alone I give them 5 stars (without the nostalgia 4.5, but maybe still rounding up). Impeccable service, nice ambiance, and excellent and creative food... The ramen itself is pretty good (I'm pretty jaded when it comes to ramen but that's for a different venue) but the tapas were the star. "EscarDogs"?! Come on! Who wouldn't wanna try that one... Fantastic... read more

Walking into the restaraunt on a Saturday evening, there was no wait and I was greeted by a welcoming bunch. They greeted me in Japanese, making the dining restaraunt even more unique and personal. I wanted to come here because of the unique menu and aesthetics of the backyard. The experience itself was made even better with the fantastic customer service. We had a choice of the backyard or outdoor street dining. We chose the backyard. The backyard had little light bulbs and a section with a bench and pink pillows. There were also regular tables instead of benches of course. The lighting is perfect for pictures as long as you avoid the other customers in the background. There was music playing from next door (perks of the backyard/outdoor dining). It was just a whole vibe. My friend ordered the chicken katsu burger and it was overflowed inside, making it kind of messy to eat but hey! That's a good thing. It means they're not stingy with the fillings. He said the sauce reminded him of mexican mole (not sure how accurate that is). There were so many things I wanted to try on the menu but I ordered the green ramen (vegetarian option), escardogs, and matcha inari mochi. The green ramen had a strong tan tan and cilantro flavor. I didn't ask for any toppings but I would suggest you do so if you do choose this ramen. The escardogs tasted like hot dogs except it had a strong garlic flavor to it. The inari mochi was pretty sweet. It is a rice cake wrapped around tofu skin with matcha on top. I would say this place is definitely a place you should try at least once because of the cool combination of flavors/options they have. But, i'm sure that this place would leave you wanting to come back because although I wasn't fond of those specific options I chose, there's still stuff I want to try. The next time I come here i'll definitely be trying the cream croquette/ katsu burgers and matcha fries/chicken wings. It sounds delicious. read more

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I felt that the food here was made with such love and passion. The dishes here are beautifully hand crafted and the presentation I felt was everything. The service was so kind and courteous. We were a party of 3. I had dinner with my boyfriend and Mom. We shared some appetizers. The turkey corn dogs with escargot sauce was so delicious! I would order again. I had a hard time believing that it was turkey. I don't eat beef and it's so difficult to find this in other restaurants. It wasn't the traditional pigs in a blanket but higher quality dough that was very crispy. The red chicken dumplings had so much texture and flavor with a nice added spice. They had a base of cilantro. The cilantro leaves were lush and green with such a vibrant fresh flavor. I could taste a hint of sesame from the sauce. The pork ramen with the spicy sauce is what I ordered. I didn't order toppings on mine but the other ramen dishes that were ordered had Parmesan and croutons added. My boyfriend added an egg and he was oh so kind to share his half with me hehe. The broth had so much flavor and I loved how it did not seem like it had a lot of sodium as a lot of ramen places add. I did feel that I needed more vegetables so I may add this next time but would be nice if it did have some that was not extra. Pork was very lean and tender. Egg wasn't runny and I loved this. Dessert was tasty. I expected more of an Asian donut to be honest. It was more of a American donut. American Asian fusion. The Michu ice cream was nice. Probably wouldn't order this again. The drink selection was ok. Tons of sake! Only two beers in the menu. Asahi and a Japanese IPA. The only disappointment I had was the nigori sake I ordered. Glass was cute but I have always been given a larger portion for $9. I guess welcome to smith street? Hmm not sure. Overall, I would most definitely come back. Noodles had a good texture and it was so comforting for a chilly autumn Saturday. The staff was so sweet and I thank them. Oh, and restaurant is VERY CLEAN. Including the restroom! read more

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