Mrs. Helen was our server tonight. She is also the restaurant owner and was an amazing host. The entire restaurant was very friendly and the food was so absurdly good. 10 out of 10 would recommend. The lighting was great in there and the posters were cool. read more

First off this unassuming ramen spot on 9th Street, is actually a great place to get a nice warm bowl of ramen and get it quickly! If you have a short lunch break, this will be a great spot to warm up and get out and back to work on time. The service was good and the people were very friendly and attentive. I highly recommend it. read more

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Came here with friends, and we had a great experience! The atmosphere was really nice, cozy, and perfect for enjoying a warm bowl of ramen. The staff was super friendly, making us feel welcome from the moment we walked in. Parking was surprisingly easy to find, with convenient street parking nearby. Definitely a spot we'll be coming back to! read more

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This is a cool, little ramen bar on a bustling strip...and I enjoyed their Spicy Dan Dan Ramen, with Shrimp Tempura on the side. However, I've had several better versions of Spicy Dan Dan Ramen. For starters, the meat portion was really small...and the beef wasn't cooked long enough. In fact, all of their ingredients felt a bit minimal...as I've had other versions of Spicy Dan Dan with a much more generous meat and toppings. Also, the sauce was good...but could have been a touch spicier as well. So...yeah, while the ramen was good, it could have been much better. Also, the Shrimp Tempura was good...but a bit short of great. I did appreciate how they added Takuan to this appetizer dish. Despite some disappointment with the foods, I did enjoy this dining experience overall. Also, the service was good. I may give them another try...should I revisit Durham in the future. read more

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It was great hanging out with a buddy of mine at this restaurant...My Soup was very filling and delicious...The staff and the decor was very great. .Looking forward to going back soon.. read more

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Glad I got to try the newest ramen spot in town! Kiichi is conveniently located on 9th St, with lots of free parking nearby. I got the Tonkotsu Ramen (homemade pork bone broth, pork chashu, woodear mushrooms, bok choy, bamboo shoots, spring onions, seaweed, and egg). Overall, it was good & satisfied the craving. I appreciated the tenderness of the chashu, but the depth of the broth's flavor could be deeper and the egg was not super jammy. Relatively fast service, fine ambiance. 6.5/10 would recommend! read more

Kiichi Ramen - Tonkotsu Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

My wife and I ate here last week and it was great. I had the Eel Rice Bowl and it was very tasty. My wife had a Ramen dish that was also very good. In fact both meals had left overs that we took home and made additional meals out of. Great restaurant and prices for your time and wallet. read more

Fast service, and super cute decorations. Ramen was delicious. Love the neighborhood- full of life, but parking can be tricky. read more

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My family and I were in town to tour UNC and Duke and to take in a UNC lacrosse game. We were staying at a hotel close by Kiichi Ramen and walked 5 minutes to the restaurant from the hotel to grab dinner after a long day. It was incredible. Extremely tasty food that was brought to us very quickly and with personable, kind and friendly service. We loved getting to meet and spend time talking with Helen, the owner. She was so sweet to our son about his unstoppable appetite as a growing, 17-year old and didn't flinch when he ordered a second helping. Please go enjoy a meal at Kiichi! And make time to meet Helen. We highly recommend. read more

Kiichi Ramen - The kids with Helen. - Ramen Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Great ramen place. The ramens are rich and flavorful and the appetizers were pretty good. Nothing blew us away but it was an overall good experience. Service was also good here. read more

So good! Hearty portions of ramen with tofu agedashi and gyoza as appetizers. The wait staff owners were so friendly and attentive. Definitely go here for a great (and budget friendly) meal in Hawaii. Easy parking. read more

The Dan Dan Ramen is super tasty. Friendly service. Definitely recommend. It's our top spot for Ramen.

I will be the first to admit that I have a genuine bias when it comes to ramen shops. Having lived in Japan for three years with the Navy exposed me to some genuinely amazing ramen craft. To date, I've only experienced three ramen shops in the U.S. that lived up to their heritage from Japan. I wanted to say that Kiichi was another to add to that list... especially since it's just 20 minutes down the road, but my first experience was a resounding meh. The service was exceptional and they were very attentive to my visit. Also, super fast getting the ramen bowl served. The restaurant vibe is simplistic, but a genuine nod to the heritage. The food quality was where I felt there could be improvement. The ramen noodles themselves did not have the texture and chew that I was seeking, the broth tasted a little... wanting, but the other ingredients seemed fresh and well done. All in all... I'll give it a few more chances to establish a better exposure, but right now I can't really give it my whole hearted endorsement. read more

Kiichi Ramen - Asahi Super Dry - Ramen Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Great little gem on 9th street. I was lucky enough to find street parking (there are also parking lots available...some of them may be pay). I met my friend here Wednesday afternoon for lunch. We were greeted promptly by a very sweet lady who took us to a table and took our drink order (just water.) The decor was absolutely adorable...little white cats everywhere. I loved it! And the fans hanging from the ceiling were a nice touch. The nice lady came back quickly and answered our questions. Bestie got the chicken curry ramen and I got the special, katsu curry with shrimp tempura. Bestie said that hers was delicious. Mine was pretty amazing as well. The curry was flavorful and spicy, the rice cooked perfectly, and the shrimp tempura were the best part. There were not a lot of people there so I didn't feel crowded and it wasn't loud at all. I have a feeling that when all of the tables were full though, it might be both crowded and loud (it's not a very big space). We were able to sit and talk for almost an hour. We went to the front to pay. Our dishes were both $15.99 before tax and tip, which still seems like a bit much but unfortunately becoming more standard. I didn't mind so much because the food was very tasty and it was such a great experience. I would definitely come back if someone wanted ramen. read more

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Solid ramen place! I've had the tonkatsu and curry ramen with either chicken or pork and both ramen and udon. Love the broth - super rich and flavorful! I typically prefer udon and sub it in but I found the udon a tad al dente for me but really liked the ramen noodles! I do think they could give a little more meat (2 pieces of pork). I appreciate the chili oil on the table - I love spice and like being able to add as much as I want! I've also had the Korean corn dog (be forewarned its not like an American corn dog - cheese is the center) - it was pretty good, hot and crispy and cheesy; and I've also had the fried squid - a yummy crispy Asian calamari! The ambience is cute - festive and fun. It was pretty packed one Sunday at 530 pm when we went. Servers are friendly. Decent prices. A great addition to 9th street! read more

Takoyoki was absolutely delicious I highly recommend!!! Service was timely and kind, and the atmosphere was very cute. read more

The ramen here is decent, particularly for this part of town, where ramen shops have been a rarity over the years. While I didn't find anything particularly special about the ramen itself, the broth was not very memorable. On the whole, the customer service was good. read more

Kiichi Ramen has the vibe of a Japanese ramen stop. In Japan you order from a vending machine and give your meal ticket to the kitchen staff. This restaurant is laid out similarly. The host stand is where the machine would be. Our server looked to be one of the owners. She enjoyed hearing about our experiences in Japan and hoped our meal here will bring back good memories of our trip. This review says yes. Our takoyaki boat was presented the same way it is when you order from the Japanese street food stall. Our ramen bowls were excellent. The flavor was top-notch and nostalgic. Well done. read more

Kiichi Ramen - Shoyu & Tonkotsu Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

The staff here are so welcoming and friendly, I would come back just to have a conversation with them again! The ramen was delicious and perfect on a cold winter night. Parking was easy to find on the street or in the shopping center lot across from the restaurant. read more

The food here was really good, hard enough to get authentic protein for food but this place did a fantastic job! Feels like you are walking in a ramen shop loved how quiet it was. The people were friendly and sweet. read more

Great food and service. I grew up in Japan so it's is nice to get some good ramen that tastes pretty authentic. read more

Kiichi Ramen - Miso ramen (far) and Kiichi Shoyu with chicken (close up). - Ramen Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

I got the spicy Dan Dan ramen, and my wife got a bento box. They were splendid! We love the atmosphere and prices. What a treat!

Fantastic food and service! The waiters are always attentive and refilling water. I can finally say that there is a ramen place in Durham I can recommend. My favorite is the Spicy Dan Dan ramen. The seafood udon is also good with a lighter, brighter taste. The ambiance is bustling and feels like an outdoor night market inside.the prices are also reasonable. read more

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Decided to stop by and try Durhams newest ramen restaurant tonight. We came right around 4:30 when they opened and we're seated right away. The workers were all friendly and I loved the cute cat decorations on the walls. The food came out fairly quick, but my friends and I all agreed that it was just okay. The chicken shoyu broth and the miso broth were both quite plain and flavorless. The bowl was mostly filled with noodles and there was not much meat. For $16-18 per bowl I was a little disappointed with the taste and portion size. Overall, it wasn't bad, but I don't think it's worth trying more than once. read more

Decided to try Kiichi based on the fabulous reviews I'd seen from their soft opening, and honestly, I was underwhelmed. The ambiance is cute and I love the option of eating at the noodle bar. The menu looked promising--8 types of ramen/udon noodles with a variety of proteins and a few rice-based dishes as well. The food came out quickly and the presentation was nice, but the flavors were decidedly bland. Luckily there was chili oil and soy sauce on the table, but even that didn't do much to enhance it. Each bowl ranges from $16-18, so it's definitely not a cheap eats location and I really expected more based on the reviews and the price point. I don't think I'll be back since there are much better ramen places for similar prices downtown. read more

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This was delicious! The edamame was hot and fresh and not too salty. The broth in the seafood ramen was so flavorful- it was chicken-y with a lot of depth; the menu says it's chicken bone broth with seafood broth. This would be scrummy in a cold night. The fish was good - the mussels had that ocean flavor and the scallop was large and had bee pan-seared. The spicy Dan Dan ramen was quite spicy - and my spouse loved it. The ramen was the best part, he says, but everything else was quite good. The noodles had good texture and flavor. There are lots of other things hints in the menu that I'd like to try; we will be back! read more

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Very authentic. Excellent broth. Better than I've had in Manhattan. Very kind and helpful staff. read more

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"New Ramen restaurant on Ninth Street in Durham" Kiichi Ramen has just launched a "soft opening" in a premier spot on Ninth Street in Durham. The restaurant layout is trendy, with a comfortably lit large "bar" seating area and various seating tables around it. I liked the ambiance. We tried it on a Saturday night, and despite the opening being "soft" and the date being just before a holiday, the place was hopping! My wife ordered the Kiichi shoyu ramen (with chicken), my son got the seafood ramen, and I ordered the shrimp tempura udon. Our server was kind and thoughtful, taking our orders patiently, answering questions, and getting lame-o me a fork since I struggle a bit with soupy noodles via chopsticks. The quality of our dishes was good-- not the very best ramen I've had locally, but better than some places in the area for sure. Mine was a little saltier than I may have predicted, but the flavor was good-- I didn't see the need to add soy sauce or anything else to it. It sadly did only come with two pieces of tempura shrimp (which, I admit, matched the photo on the menu), but the taste was quite good. I had a bite of my wife's chicken ramen, and that was quite tasty as well. Honestly, I might order that next time. We were all a little disappointed with the quantity of food. The bowls were just not that large for the centerpiece of a meal. (The bowls looked big, but the volume of food inside was small.) We stopped by CookOut on the way home to get more food. Maybe the quantity would have been fine if we had gotten appetizers, but this was small-- I could have easily had two bowls. Nonetheless, I'm going to be hopeful that this is something that will be adjusted going forward, and I'm keen to come back and try some of the other dishes. I'm just happy to have a ramen place in the Ninth Street area! read more

3.5 stars - Not the best but still pretty solid. The broth was pretty mediocre and the toppings could've been a bit more generous, but ultimately pretty good. Was definitely my mistake to get chicken so can't thoroughly rate it but I'd just say broth could've been better. The gyoza were actually pretty bad, just stick with the ramen. read more

Kiichi Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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Absolutely beautiful place. The restaurant is beautifully decorated, the service was so nice and waiters are very sweet. The food, I cant even put into words how good this is. I get the Tonkatsu Ramen almost every time i go, but the other dishes are so good. My favorite appetizer is the Takoyaki. It's so good to share with friends. Recommend this place if you want something well-priced and filling!!! read more

Kiichi Ramen - Yakisoba Noodles - Ramen Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Atmosphere: Kiichi Ramen is a small and intimate ramen shop on 9th Street. With both bar seating and tables, the restaurant was pretty busy on a Sunday night. Service: There was a small hiccup with communication at the beginning of our meal as our servers didn't realize that we hadn't ordered yet. However, our servers were kind, and our food came out pretty quickly. Food: We ordered the Tonkotsu Ramen and Curry Ramen, both with pork. The Tonkotsu Ramen was rich and came with a surprisingly generous heap of noodles, along with a delicious soft-boiled egg. The Curry Ramen was a bit bland and could've used some more flavor from the curry. It was much less salty than the Tonkotsu Ramen, which could appeal to some people more than others. Overall: We enjoyed our experience at Kiichi Ramen. It's probably one of the better ramen places in Durham, but it also didn't overly impress us. We may come back after their soft opening once they're a bit more established. read more

Kiichi Ramen - Tonkotsu Ramen with Pork - Ramen Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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Having recently moved from San Francisco I wasn't expecting much from a ramen shop in Durham. However, I was pleasantly surprise when I had my first sip of Kiichi Ramens tonkatsu broth. The bok choy was fresh and well cooked, the meat had great flavour, and the overall ramen was tasty. The inside was bustling with both staff and customers. I only picked up my food to go but the host at the front was very sweet and personally put together my order in the back. Overall my experience with Kiichi Ramen was great and I will order from them again next time I'm craving some warm noodles on a cold day. read more

Kiichi Ramen - View from the bar, decorations, and additional seating - Ramen Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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Delicious authentic Asian food. Superb service. Highly recommend. Small space but they make it work.

It was a super cold day and decided to treat myself to a warm bowl of ramen. So glad I decided to try Kiichi Ramen. I had the pork tonkatsu. Everything about it was good. The boiled egg and the fish cake was so good, I wished there were more of them in the soup. Will definitely be back soon. read more

Kiichi Ramen - Pork tonkatsu - Ramen Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Tonkotsu ramen was good. The soup had great taste. Chashu was also good. Udon noodle soup was very sweet and shrimp tempura was disappointing. It tasked like it came frozen. read more

Kiichi Ramen - Tonkotsu Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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Don't let the 'hole in the wall' outside appearance prevent you from going in and having an amazing culinary experience! The place is clean and inviting and the food is amazing. I had the dashi broth udon noodles and my husband had the chicken bento box. Both were delicious. The service was impeccable. I needed guidance on choosing a vegan or pescatarian dish and the suggestion was perfect. We don't live in Durham but when I'll crave ramen I will make the trip again for sure. Thank you! read more

Great ramen and ambiance! Protein portions a bit small but overall really happy with the experience. Will go again!

10/10 Recommend - Kiichi Ramen is now our go to ramen spot!! My partner and I just moved from New York and LOVE ramen. We'd never been to the south so we were a bit worried the quality of ethnic food might be less but this place made us feel right at home and was DELICIOUS! The second we walked in we were greeted by the sweetest woman. The decorations are beautiful and everything is incredibly clean. There's everyone from families to couples - and they're super LGBTQ-friendly! Our favorites were the chicken karaage (fried chicken), chicken gyoza, and Pork Curry Ramen. read more

Kiichi Ramen - Left: Chicken Karaage Right: Chicken Gyoza - Ramen Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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Great service and quick food, spicy dan dan is the best ramen you can get in Durham. Very cute interior, perfect to stop in for a bowl of soup and a beer. read more

Incredibly fast service for all parts of our meal (party of 3, 7pm on a Thursday). We ordered edamame and karaage for our appetizer, both of which were very hot but good. The ramen was well presented and looked just like the menu pics! It comes with a big bamboo soup spoon. The noodles are thicker and wavy with a good chew. Loved their baby bok choy! Clean well lit cute and quiet place. I don't live here but would come again. Reminds me of my time living near Japantown in San Francisco. read more

Kiichi Ramen - Edamame - Ramen Near Me - Durham, North Carolina