Absolutely fantastic ramen and tseukemen. Typically, I will travel all the way to the South Bay or Sawtelle for ramen, mazemen or tseukemen, but all of it is really really good here. Great choice of delicious broths. Friendly service and a comfortable environment. Would recommend! read more

The tantanmen was amazing! The atmosphere was great, the restroom was clean, and I was very happy with everything. Highly recommend! read more

Kashiwa Ramen - The tantanmen was amazing! The atmosphere was great, the restroom was clean, and I was very happy with everything. Highly recommend! - Ramen Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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So I was not expecting this little hole in the wall to be of anything special but I was trying to not go to my usual places and give it a go. My rundown: Service spot on Beer can get $2 Sapporo to go Broth: choices veggie to chic pork all intense flavors Noodles : wavy thick thin flat perfect Add ons: corn seaweed egg etc Serve time: extremely fast All in all I'll be back 3 of us for dinner expect to pay $15 each for ramen read more

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My family loves ramen. My hubby picked out this spot and I was skeptical but down to give it a go. Although there wasn't a line or a crowd waiting, this place had a very steady flow of diners. The restaurant is moderately sized so seating for large parties over 6 may be challenging. The waitress was not helpful when asked to provide a recommendation. Service could use some significant improvement here. Luckily the food is good. The ramen itself was delicious and served piping hot. The egg was perfectly soft boiled and the noodles and soup broth were well-cooked and flavorful. I would come back again. read more

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Service quality needs improvement. Waiter never came to our table to take our order after bringing us water. We had to call for a waiter out loud to get their attention. We ordered some appetizers to start but again the waiter never came back to get their attention rest of our order. I noticed there were new customers that sat down and they were served right away. How rude. Please pay more attention to your customers rather than standing at the counter watching the chefs cook. Do better. read more

We've been coming to Kashiwa ramen for over 4 years now and they are hands down still the BEST ramen shop in the OC area! Their ramen broth is so flavorful, rich, and delicious. I love how you can customize noodles the way you want. Their karaage chicken is delightfully crispy outside and juicy inside. The service and quality is always consistent, which is very impressive. The vibes here is like a blend of SoCal chill with Tokyo nightlife. Locals frequently come by to grab amazing ramen and enjoy a drink! Plus the owner is such a cool guy, he's always super nice and makes everyone feel welcome. If you live in the area and haven't stopped by yet, you're totally missing out! (Photo is aftermath of order, completely cleaned out!) read more

Kashiwa Ramen - SO GOOD - Ramen Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

One of my favorite spots for ramen in OC. There was no wait to get seated and there is also bar seating. You get to customize your ramen and choose the type of noodle you want. I got the ramen with straight noodles and swirl broth (tonkatsu and chicken). It was super yummy and filling. Definitely recommend this spot if you are craving ramen! read more

Kashiwa Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

The ramen is great and so is the service. Some of the best ramen I've had in the area.

Killer Ramen Great service been coming here for years it's a Costa Mesa staple! It's a must try! Tha read more

Kashiwa Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

You literally won't regret coming here !!! Top tier ramen !! Spicy black garlic is what we get and have never been disappointed!

Authentic Japanese restaurant . We ordered Mazemen noodle, fried chicken and takoyaki . Everything so good . We saw them on Yelp and never disappointed. The owner so welcome and friendly. read more

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In O.C, there are only a few ramen shops that I can count on one hand to hit "repeat" on my eat-list. This is one of them. It's one of the rare finds that offers chicken broth option among the popular pork broth...it's even better when you can have the "swirl" option. Never a dull moment with their menu. Do a Yelp check-in to get one free topic (except protein), so I always get corn for the extra crunch. read more

Kashiwa Ramen - My sentiment exactly! - Ramen Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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The ramen is the type you customize yourself, and both the chashu pork and the soup were incredibly delicious. I'll definitely go back to this shop and try different customizations. read more

We love this place! I have been to Japan twice now and this ramen is just as good as the best I had in Tokyo.

Delicious food in a down to earth restaurant. Food is good, vibe is good, clientele perfect. The servers were friendly and helped me get my Tsukemem Ramem perfect. I also got a Karaage Bowl. Kind of a fatty, so I brought some home. Would recommend to anyone craving ramen Tsukemen. read more

Kashiwa Ramen - The masks of our era - Ramen Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

My family got the following to-go, so I can't comment on the dining experience. Chicken karaage, gyoza, and two bowls (chicken mazeman and black garlic pork ramen). Note the mazeman does NOT come with broth. Everything was generous in quantity and delicious! Plenty of food for two adults and a toddler. Reasonably priced given today's day and age (Aug 2024). All I could've asked for! read more

Kashiwa Ramen - Chicken Mazeman - Ramen Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Another yummy ramen is discovered, follow me! Highlights of the menu: 1. Black garlic ramen 2. Mixed broth chicken ramen - with curly noodles 3. Extra eggs 4. Chicken karaage 5. Pork char-sui bowl This is definitely a spot to grab a bowl of ramen for lunch of after work. Yummy!! "It's Ra-meant to be..." read more

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The garlic was really good but a bit overwhelming as I ate it more and more. I loved the noodles. They were straight and medium firm and they were perfect. The flavor was there. I know my friends loved the spicy miso! Would love to come back and try more. read more

Kashiwa Ramen - Garlic Tonkotsu Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Wednesday night special and my group decided on Kashiwa! Cute and small ramen shop tucked away in the corner of this plaza, can be hard to find since the sign does not light up in the evening. YELP CHECK IN!! For a free topping Ordered dipping ramen (tsukemen), black garlic ramen with pork, and seasonal special hokkaido scallop ramen. The broths of the black garlic and scallop stood out the most. Both earthy, salty, and rich was needed for the autumn nights that are coming. Tsukemen was tasty and broth is lighter compared to Tsujita in LA Service was quick and easy (filled out ramen orders via paper and pen). We'll continue to visit whenever a ramen craving comes up read more

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Kashiwa Ramen in Orange County has rightfully earned its spot on Yelp's Top 100 Ramen Spots in California, and it's easy to see why! This ramen shop offers a variety of noodle dishes to suit every craving . . . and every season - try their COLD RAMEN for these hot summer months! But really, whether you're in the mood for traditional hot ramen, soupless dry noodles, dipping noodles (really cool!), or that refreshing cold ramen, they've got it! The owner is really sweet and his passion shows. One visit is enough to have you craving their ramen again and again (like me right now, lol). read more

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Best dipping ramen in OC!! Such a hidden gem, service is always quick and friendly too which is a huge plus!

Updated review: this is now the number 1 ramen spot and my favorite place to eat ramen in all of Southern California. There is no better Tonkotsu broth than this place. I have eaten ramen from all across California, and ate ramen all over Tokyo. This place is the only place that can compete with ramen in Japan. All other places in Southern California don't know how to make real Tonkotsu broth. This is the only place I've been able to find that actually makes Tonkotsu broth like how I remember in Japan. The servers actually speak Japanese as well, which may not be a big deal to most but to me it's nice to see other Japanese people that can speak the native language. read more

Kashiwa Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

One of the best tonkotsu ramen we have had. The pork melts in your mouth and broth is quite balanced. read more

Kashiwa Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Really cool spot, friendly staff and the food is bomb. I got the black garlic ramen and it was delicious. Really nice flavor and a good portion. Would definitely recommend! Also love the decor they have around the place, it's adds a cool vibe. read more

Kashiwa Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

WOWWEE. Potentially the best ramen I've ever had!!!! Let me tell you about the two stars that puts this place over the top: THE WAVY NOODLES & THE PORK CHA-SHU. I ordered: -Spicy Black Garlic Ramen with Swirl Broth, Pork Cha-Shu (Wave Noodle), Level 2 Spice -Spicy Ramen with Pork Broth, Pork Cha-Shu (Wave Noodle), Level 2 Spice -Karaage I LOVE that you can choose the spice level here. I opted for Level 2 and it was a perfect level of spice (as I was going out the next day and didn't want to have the urge to use the bathroom haha). Level 2 was the perfect balance of slight spice without hurting my mouth or stomach much. The texture of the wavy noodle was TO DIE FOR. It was so bouncy and had such a fantastic bite to it. And then the pork cha-shu...UGH! SO DELICIOUS! Wonderful fatty flavor to it with a hint of saltiness and smokiness. Just fabulous. And both broths were just delicious. Truly one of the most magical bowls of ramen I've ever had! The Karaage was great too! But nothing too special when compared to the ramen! OH I'LL BE BACK. read more

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Great service! Food was amazing. Would love to come here again and would recommend to anyone looking for a good ramen spot.

Great overall vibe! Workers were very nice and food was good. Would definitely recommend to anyone in area.

The overall flavor and noodles were pretty good, very flavorful and tasty. I would say it's a bit on the salty side but overall not bad. The service was very decent and they were friendly and quick to serve the food. The place itself was very clean and tidy too and there was plentiful parking out front. I would sure recommend this place and I will for sure come back! read more

Kashiwa Ramen - Black Garlic Ramen with Pork Broth, Chicken Cha-Shu (Straight noodle) - Ramen Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Had the fried chicken curry. Bad decision by me. Restaurant is called "Ramen", I should've just stuck with ramen. The curry was mid. Spicy level wise, it gave me a kick (I chose the spicy version), but other than that, it wasn't good. Wasn't terrible because I managed to finish it, but I'd just go elsewhere for curry, such as coco ichibanya. Service was pretty quick, we got all our food within 15 mins during week day lunch time. My coworkers were all fine with the taste. Chicken based soup, so if you're Muslim or you don't eat pork - aka the usual soup base for ramen, you should give this place a try. read more

I have been coming here for five years now (since I was a student at UCI - I'm now a doctoral student, so it's been a while!) and something that hasn't changed is the 10/10 quality. Their chicken broth tsukemen is always a hit, with pork chashu and egg that are always made perfectly. The owner is extremely passionate and kind and the inside is decorated with lots of personality and is comfortable for a group. I even buy Kashiwa when I see them as a vendor for events, like Anime Expo. Thanks for years of greatness! read more

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First time in the area and cam in for bar service and quick ramen and got a seat right away! The customizable ramen is really neat, and they check to make sure you fill it out correctly/you know what you're getting before going off to make it. I got spicy black tonkotsu ramen with pork, classic / spicy / my favorite to order wherever I go! I had it along with a crispy Sapporo draft. The ramen broth was delicious, spicy, with great flavor. The chashu was good quality and the noodles were nice. Spicy level 2/3 was perfect for me. Ambience is casual, friends/family spot, I wouldn't come with a groups over 4 people. Lots of delivery / takeout orders so locals probably really like it! My only -1* was that the ramen took a good while longer to come out than expected. If in the area I would come back to try their specials! read more

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This place is amazing! Unlike other ramen restaurants they give you the choice to customize your own ramen! From broth, sodium level, protein, and even how curly you want your noodles! Kashiwa always hits the spot!! I always recommend this place and always get great feedback! read more

Kashiwa Ramen - Spicy miso ramen with chicken broth and their delicious crispy gyoza's - Ramen Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

I love the food here to the moon and back! I only order one thing and one thing only: Mazemen (Warm/Pork Chashu/OG/Poached Egg/Extra topping Bamboo shoot) Staff is always very nice, and the place is actually very underrated so it almost never has a queue! Small but cozy. PS: The extra topping is free if you show the staff you checked in on yelp! Also ask for 'mazemen rice' because you usually have an overwhelming amount of meat leftover. Also an extra tip, Show your student ID to get a 15% off discount. read more

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I came here for Monday dinner, and there was no wait. The service was quick and nice. We did wish someone asked us if it was our first time and explained how to use the form. You can't order from the menu even if it is one of the specialty bowls. I thought I could order the spicy black garlic ramen with the served, but I also had to fill out the form. Decorations were cute and ambiance was chill. I ordered the spicy black garlic ramen ($16) exactly like how it is on the menu with tonkotsu broth, pork chashu, wavy noodle, green onion, and woodear mushrooms. The black garlic flavor was strong and unique. The flavor of the tonkotsu was masked by the garlic, so it was a little difficult to taste the depth. Brother was very creamy and a bit thicker than usual tonkotsu broth. It made me uncomfortably bloated lol. My boyfriend got the classic ramen ($14.5) also with tonkotsu broth, wavy noodles, normal taste, and chashu pork, added egg and corn (+$3.25). He thought his ramen was ok... nothing really special. He likes HiroNori ramen more. My roommate got the tsukemen ($16) like how it was on the menu and really enjoyed it! The noodles were wider and more chewy than ours. His dipping sauce was a nice thick creamy consistency that coated the noodles well. Overall, this ramen spot was pretty good. It wasn't good enough for me to want to come back willingly. If I were to come back, I'd get the lite taste or swirl broth (with chicken brother), and hopefully it's less dense. If you're into a heavier, creamier tonkotsu then this is the place! read more

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When I enter the door, I see a poster saying there's basil on it and I am a huge fan of basil so I ordered it. As you can see in the second picture, it was absolutely AMAZING and TASTY. So I finished it all. You can also choose to add eggs in it, loooove when the eggs are filled with basil broth. Kashiwa always have new flavor of Ramen so you get to experience different things here! If you are a foodie, this place is a must go :) Food is 10/10, service was fast,10/10, and I love sitting in the corner where I can enjoy delicious food! Love the vibe! read more

Kashiwa Ramen - Basil Ramen (with chicken broth wavy noodles) - Ramen Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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After reading the reviews, I knew I had to give this spot a try - it can never hurt to add a new ramen spot to the toolkit in such chilly, unpredictable weather. We snagged the last table during a dinner rush and were still kindly assisted by our waitress in deciding what to get. Your ramen is ordered through a slip of paper of highlighted options. I went for the fan favorite, the Black Garlic ramen. Although it did hit the spot in the weather, I felt like I couldn't distinguish the flavors I was looking for in the broth. The noodles were also a little harder than what I was used to. Overall, I just felt like it wasn't memorable - service was great though! read more

Kashiwa Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

ordered the tsukemen which was just okay. the broth is good at first, but as you eat it gets very diluted and is not as flavorful as i'd like. i definitely want to come back and try their soupy style ramen! read more

Kashiwa Ramen - tsukemen - Ramen Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

My friends and I loved this place! We all enjoyed the appetizers, the Chicken Karaage basket, and the gyoza. The karaage came in big pieces, and the sweet sauce complimented it well. The gyoza isn't in your typical shape, they are flat pieces. We sat ourselves in the shop when we arrived and got a sheet to customize our ramen! I got the Black Garlic Ramen which was great; the pork literally fell apart in my mouth! I'm usually very harsh on ramen spots because I feel like all ramen is similar, but honestly, I really like this spot and would 100% come back. The broth wasn't too salty or bland compared to other spots. Be sure to check in for 1 free topping except for meat! read more

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Excellent spot for authentic Japanese ramen! The broth wasn't too salty, thin noodles were done just right and the pork was browned just the way I like it. Hope to return again soon. read more

Kashiwa Ramen - Konbu ramen. The ume was a nice touch! - Ramen Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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The mazemen is really tasty (along with the vinegar, chili oil, and limes they give you on the side) and the portion size is great for the price. I got it with the karaage chicken and I was shocked at how much they gave me. Seating was no problem for dinner on a Saturday even though the place is small. I really love this place and can't wait to go back and try something else! read more

Kashiwa Ramen - Mazemen - Ramen Near Me - Costa Mesa, California