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    Kumako Ramen Den

    4.7 (1.2k reviews)
    ModerateRamen
    Closed 11:00 am - 8:00 pm

    Kumako Ramen Den Photos

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    KUMAKO RAMEN DEN ATMOSPHERE

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    Moderate noise
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    Recommended Reviews - Kumako Ramen Den

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    Reviews With Photos - Kumako Ramen Den

    Tonkatsu
    Julie S.

    I got to try Kumako Ramen Den initially through a Yelp Event, and knew we'd have to go back after the event ended. Kumako is located in a shopping complex off of Saratoga with a bunch of other spots. There was plenty of parking because it's a big lot. The decor is very cute, and really has a "Japanese ramen spot" ambiance. They have some seating inside and outside tables as well. At this visit, we sat outside. I had ordered the curry ramen last time with tonkatsu, and this time I tried the regular curry ramen. It was full of pork slices and pork on the bottom too! The curry broth is really delicious and unique. We also ordered the gyoza which the friendly waiter told us were handmade, and they were really exceptional! My companion got the mapo tofu curry with rice and loved it. The service was so great. Our waiter was happy to see us back after our previous visits and he kept bringing out free sides for us! This is a very welcoming spot. I really appreciate how Yelp brings attention to small businesses like Kumako Ramen Den.

    Mimi L.

    We stopped by to try their ramen based on the good reviews. Their signature dishes are ramen and curry meat over rice. I found the food greatly satisfying. My tonkotsu ramen had light flavored pork bone broth, three pieces of charsu pork slices, bean sprouts, bamboo shoots and chewy noodles. It was pretty good. The curry pork over rice was probably one of the best I've had. With generous portion, it was quite worth the price. Service was friendly and nice. Initially I asked if they can substitute a low carb version of noodle - konjac but they don't offer it so I hesitantly and later happily broke my diet. I understand konjac is non-conventional but still wish they'd consider adding it as an alternative for people who're keto dieting. A hole in the wall place with cramped space, chaotic and dirty environment, don't expect too much ambience. Tables were limited both indoors and outdoors. Old fashioned in doing business with small scale clientele thus it can be personal.

    Tan tan (too spicy for me)
    Danelle S.

    Service is excellent. No A/C so it was crazy hot. Originally ordered the tan tan but it was too spicy for me and there's a weird flavor. He brought a kids tonkutsu and I took it to go. It's more of a pho broth consistency with ramen flavor. Different. Not bad but different. Let's talk about the fried rice appetizer. That was the saving grace!!! It was AMAZING!!! I'd come back just for the fried rice! Also the eggs were perfectly jammy! I got an extra one. No dishes were taken from our table but there was only 1 guy working.

    Katsu Curry Ramen
    Brett W.

    The first thing you'll notice is a few tables outside which would likely be needed when there's a lunch or dinner rush considering how small the interior of the restaurant is. I was seated immediately by a kind gentleman who promptly gave me a menu. I chose the Katsu Curry Ramen. It was way better than I expected. I have been here years ago and their ramen is top notch. Definitely recommend.

    Inside - Cozy, just like the location in San Jose's Japantown
    Brian B.

    Kumako Ramen has a new location! This is great ramen. The focus is on quality ramen dishes that never fail rather than a huge menu. Excellent service. Nick is amazing Coming out of San Jose's Japantown, Kumako Ramen had expanded its location of heavenly noodles and succulent broth with all the traditional tasty additions. The word 'Den' is a good description of this restaurant. The inside is small and the seating is packed, but that is a sign that people really like the food here. It is not the type of place to linger after your meal. I love ramen, especially in the winter. A bowl here will heat you up. It's so good.

    Menu (5/15/26)
    Leslie C.

    Kumako Ramen Den is a well known ramen spot. I usually frequent the Japantown location for lunch. Parking here is easy to find since a large lot is connected to the plaza. Service was friendly and cheerful. The oolong ice tea came with a chilled cup with made it refreshingly cold. The ramen is always good, but I opted for the gyudon combo this time. The beef is thinly sliced and has a light soy sauce flavor. The plate itself is huge and took up half the table! Wait times can be extremely long during peak hours since the shop is small. Took me about 45 minutes to be seated.

    Front entrance as we left... lots of people waiting
    Gerald L.

    Kumako Ramen Den is a cozy spot that performs way above its weight class. It's a smaller place, but thanks to both indoor and outdoor seating, they handle a pretty decent-sized crowd. We rolled in at 5:30 PM on a Friday and beat the rush, but by the time we left, there were a lot of people waiting. The vibe is moderate to high-energy, mostly thanks to the host and waiter that is incredibly friendly and hard-working. He was the only waiter during our visit, but efficiently ran around to make sure everyone was taken care of. We kicked things off with edamame served nice and warm with just the right amount of salt. They were soft enough that the beans practically popped themselves out. Chicken karaage, which was the major highlight for me. It was very crispy and came with a delicious signature sauce and japanese mayo. Our two entrees were fried rice and tonkatsu ramen: Honestly, the rice was really good. And it came out piping hot so we knew it was freshly made. The ramen noodles were soft and satisfying. The broth was unique, not quite like any other tonkotsu I've tried, but still very tasty and hit the spot. The egg I added was also perfect. I love them gooey with ramen. Here's an interesting tidbit: They won "Gold" for best ramen in the Metro Best of Silicon Valley awards. And I heard that the owner is so dedicated to the craft that he even wrote a Kumako Den Cookbook so fans can try to recreate that magic at home. Overall, it was a fantastic dinner. If you want to skip the line, definitely arrive early!

    Trina H.

    Really enjoyed our lunch date here. Restaurant is small but food was on point. I got the miso ramen and my fiance got the spicy tonkatsu. I love that the broth didn't taste super heavy or oily like most ramen spot that would put me to sleep right after. The portions were generous. We also got chicken kaarage - the perfect crispiness and not too much batter. I would so come back here.

    Gyoza
    Amanda V.

    I have driven past Kumako Den, but I finally got to try it today! Food is superb; it is freshly made with the right amount of "kick". Textures are on point and food came out with just the right amount of steam on it. I would definitely come back for both the gyoza and Japanese chicken nuggets (especially the latter). While flavorful, both tastes pretty healthy and not too salty or greasy. I'll be back for sure! Service was also stellar and friendly :)

    inside
    Melissa N.

    a solid 4.6/5!! very friendly and informative waiter, tasty starters, and yummy ramen I'd absolutely come back for again. Service was excellent from beginning to end, he helped me choose the duck ramen when i was in between choices and even shared a lot about the restaurant. the inside is relatively small so there was a short wait but well worth it! the decor is very cute as well. the gyoza were flavorful and cooked really well, I really enjoyed the chives inside, definitely a highlight for a starter. My only note is that I wish they served a bit more sauce on the side because it went so well with them. for ramen, I tried the duck ramen with shio broth. The broth had a really comforting flavour and the duck was done well, though I felt like the bowl was just missing a little something to fully tie it together. Still, I'd absolutely order it again because it was genuinely enjoyable. shoutout to the Kumako ramen den team for the great food, and hospitality, looking forward to coming back again.

    Tonkotsu Ramen
    Lloyd C.

    Kumako Ramen Den is a cozy restaurant located in the same mall that has Lion Market. The parking is plentiful in this plaza. Though, maybe the closer parking spots might be harder to get. Make sure to get onto the waitlist. An intimate and cozy restaurant with table seating inside and outside and counter seats. The tiny kitchen quickly churns out your ramen or rice bowls. The service from Nick was friendly, humorous, attentive, and outgoing. Though, due to their popularity, the staff can get overloaded. They do what they can. The ramen came out quickly. Tonkotsu Ramen: pork bone broth topped with nori seaweed, beansprouts, green onions, pickled bamboo shoots, naruta & pork slices (3.5/5). A lighter and less fattier broth. The noodles were thin, almost like won ton noodles but cooked perfectly. Support your local business.

    Dungeness crab ramen
    Audrey Q.

    Had the friendliest service and a great weeknight meal. Had the curry katsu ramen and it was good--definitely ask for low sodium. There was no duck ramen since they ran out earlier in the day so I'd be interested in coming back to try!

    Areli S.

    We visited from San Diego for the World Cup and looked up the "best ramen place around Santa Clara" and this place came up... we walked in and ordered to go..the place was busy....the ramen was good...we ordered the duck and tokotsu ramen and they were good, the broth lacked a little flavor. The seaweed salad was ok. The gentleman that greeted us was NOT FRIENDLY...he was busy running around and when we asked a question or requested chili oil he was very rude and seemed bothered! (Not cool!) we don't know your menu dude...if you are reading this, be more friendly! The place is small- I believe they have 4 tables inside and 1 big table outside. I don't know if I would come back again on my next trip!

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    1 month ago

    The food is good and the Takoyaki is very delicious would be happy to come back again!

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    Kumako Ramen Den Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Kumako Ramen Den

    Hi- dairy allergy here. Does the katsu curry have any dairy like butter or cream or anything?

    Do they do takeout?

    Yes they do offer take out.

    Do they accept google pay?

    Yes!

    Do they offer gift cards?

    No, they dont offer gift cards. 100% sure. Called them last week

    Are they affiliated with Kumako at Japantown, San Jose? Franchise?

    Yes, Kumako is a family-owned business. I have been to both restaurants. The old Chefs of Kumako now works at the Den!! Everything in their menu is the same. The menu maybe the same, but it tastes different. I like the Den better.

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    Hinodeya - San Jose

    Hinodeya - San Jose

    4.1
    (192 reviews)
    4.6 mi
    $$

    Went here after coming back from a flight. We arrived around 10pm and it was packed, but we were…read moreseated immediately. The owner was so sweet, I wish I got his name. He kept the room lively in a subtle matter with the gong, not too loud. Inside was nice too, well lit and clean. Service: 10/10, no complaints, where one server lacked another picked up the back end. They all helped each other out to keep a good flow Shishito peppers: 10/10, good flavor and cook, not too spicy, great enjoyable appetizer! Spicy butter corn miso ramen: 10/10, loved that they didn't overdue the butter, very tasty. The wheat noodles have the perfect chew. The broth was nice and rich and the corn, bamboo shots and ramen egg blended everything well. Will definitely be coming back next time I'm in the area! ^_^ My compliments to the chef and the whole team, excellent experience.

    I came here on a Saturday evening and thought the ambiance was nice, but the restaurant itself is…read morepretty small. This being my first time, I was told I could either scan a QR code to order or have a server take my order. I want to say we waited about 15 minutes, and despite there being 4 to 5 employees working, not one checked on us. And they were looking at us. The whole time, we had to get up multiple times just to get someone's attention. That was ridiculous. I ordered the house ramen. The broth was tasty, but everything else was pretty mediocre and lacked lots of flavor. But overall, the service and food didn't live up to the price. I was actually really disappointed. There are so many great ramen spots nearby, I'd rather spend my money elsewhere.

    Photos
    Bar seating
    Bar seating
    TON of clams!!!
    TON of clams!!!
    Yummy apricot lychee sake...

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    Yummy apricot lychee sake...
    Hokkaido Ramen Santouka

    Hokkaido Ramen Santouka

    4.0
    (3.4k reviews)
    0.3 mi
    $$

    this place is super delicious and i can see why a lot of people love to come here, especially if…read moreyou're craving some good ramen after doing a bunch of grocery shopping. it's located inside the mitsuwa marketplace! the lady in the front that takes the orders is so sweet and kind. i've come here a few times already and she's super accommodating and helped me out when i had questions about the food. the ramen itself is super yummy! fyi, the broth is pork based incase that might be significant to you. the broth is also a bit more saltier than my liking, but overall i think the entire bowl complements each other so it's really not a bother to me & i end up finishing all of it hehe. my favorite part of the entire bowl is definitely the slices of meat, i'm not sure how they cook it but it's really really good!! also, once you're done with your meal, please put your dishes on the black push cart next to the garbage can!

    I've been going here for 10+ years already, since my colleges days and it still hits the same every…read moretime. I ordered the 109, which includes a medium spicy miso soup and a side order or meat, rice and green onions, as well as an egg. The soup itself has bamboo, seaweed, chashu, and a delicious mild spicy broth. The price was about $23 to $24, which is reasonable for the amount of food you get. The workers are friendly, and they offer free water if you ask. Since it's located inside a Mitsuwa, the parking can be challenging, especially during the weekends, so just be mindful of when you go. The plaza has other shops as well, in case you want to visit Paris Baguette, Daiso, etc. I recommend trying this place whenever you're near the area.

    Photos
    Hokkaido Ramen Santouka
    Hokkaido Ramen Santouka
    Hokkaido Ramen Santouka

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    Udon Mugizo - San Jose

    Udon Mugizo - San Jose

    4.4
    (1.3k reviews)
    0.9 mi
    $$
    Kid friendly
    Locally owned & operated

    We passed by this udon place all the time and finally had chance to try it last weekend. It was a…read morenice culinary experience! This restaurant is a stand-alone building with its own parking lot which has ample parking spaces. Double wooden doors give a Japan vibe and so do the interior decorations. We came on a Saturday at noon. The restaurant was crowded but we were quickly greeted and seated right away. Water was served and orders were taken quickly. Our food came out super fast! And we gobbled on it in no time. The udon was freshly made and has a nice texture, not too chewy but not too soft. Just fresh and perfect! Even after being immersed in the soup for a long time, the udon noodles still maintained their flavor, shape and texture. We ordered the Tonkatsu Udon Deluxe and the Katsu Curry Udon. The soups were perfectly made! Light, full of flavors and not salty at all. Really authentic, in my opinion. Overall, it was a pleasant experience and we will definitely come back to try other dishes .

    Got the tonkotsu udon & niku bukkake udon. For the tonkotsu udon, I could really taste the fish in…read morethe broth. Nonetheless, udon's always a comforting meal. Noodles are cooked perfectly. Good portion! Spicy garlic edamame was a great appetizer! We also got the hot sake & Sapporo (so refreshing)! Good service with friendly & attentive workers. I was surprised to see how big the space was! It's dimmed inside but still good enough light. No issue with parking - plenty spots available around the restaurant.

    Photos
    Try our Unagi Seiro-mushi set!
    Try our Unagi Seiro-mushi set!
    Udon Mugizo - San Jose
    Udon Mugizo - San Jose

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    HiroNori Craft Ramen

    HiroNori Craft Ramen

    4.4
    (3.7k reviews)
    5.1 mi
    $$
    Vegetarian friendly
    Locally owned & operated

    HiroNori always hits the spot if you are craving ramen! It's my go-to place with a simple menu and…read moredelicious food. It's also the go-to spot for sports fans if there is a game happening at Levi's Stadium. The parking lot has a time limit of 1 hour now because people would park there and walk to the stadium. The tonkotsu ramen is a generous portion and tastes divine. The broth is rich, but not too salty. I'm craving it again just writing this review! I like the lemon infused water they offer here. They recently switched the uncomfortable black stools out with new chairs, which is nice. The staff is friendly and they make sure to point out the 15% service charge (also shown on their menu) if you are dining in. This is not a tip, but tipping is optional at the end of your meal. This doesn't seem to deter customers at all because the wait time can be long around dinnertime. I highly recommend making a reservation before your visit!

    Came here before our World Cup match at Levi's stadium. It's walkable to the stadium! About 15-20…read moremin walk. We got there around 5pm so lots of tables available. I ordered a tonkotsu. The noodle was quite chewy. They did offer a thin noodle. Maybe I'll try that next time since it was a bit chewy for me. The broth was good. Pork was a bit too fat for my taste. Portion was small for the price. My son ordered the dipping noodle and he said it was good. I wish they have an option to have non-spicy dipping noodle. Ambiance was good. Table was a bit small for 2.

    Photos
    Two Chefs
    Two Chefs
    Shoyu Ramen
    Shoyu Ramen
    Sign

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    Sign
    Hinodeya Ramen Bar

    Hinodeya Ramen Bar

    4.4
    (991 reviews)
    3.4 mi
    $$

    It was so helpful to be able to put ourselves on the waiting list with Yelp! Definitely do it! As…read moreother reviews have said, parking is a BIG challenge. We were able to park on a side street & walk. Just a couple of blocks. They saw we were on the list & were seated right away. We chose to sit out on the patio. They had fans going, so the temperature was perfect. We were immediately served water in large containers. Helpful so we didn't have to ask for refills. (Our container emptied one time, and without asking, we were immediately brought another one.) You scan a barcode at your table on your phone to get the menu & order. I wasn't so sure about it being I'm technically challenged. Lol We had our 19yr old son with us though, and he loved it. Also helpful if you're going to split the bill. You just use your own phone. They have a big "heat level" chart on the wall that is helpful to see before you order. I got the sweet butter corn ramen & loved it. We all got our ramen within about 10-15min of ordering. Perfect size serving. Best ramen I've ever had! The broth was so flavorful & noodles perfect. I loved the way the egg was done. I got heat level one, which I thought had a nice spice to it. I tried my son's who ordered level 2 & it was a bit too spicy for me. When you order, they give you a bunch of options to check. What type noodles, extra egg, type of meat, add-ons, etc. I removed the bamboo shoots from mine. I would definitely go back & possibly try a different ramen, but knowing me, I'll get the same but probably add mushrooms. Other thing I thought was cute... there was a thin slice of what looked & tasted like imitation crab in the ramen. I had one slice & my son 2. Turns out it's to signify what heat level you got! As we left, I did see a waitress helping a table & showing them how to use their phone & order. So, if that is a concern, you'll get help!

    Food is good, speed of delivery is good…read more We sat for 15 minutes with no water or menus and we were treated like second class cause we had a kid If im tipping 18-20% I expect the bare minimum

    Photos
    Interior
    Interior
    TAKOYAKI
    TAKOYAKI
    Shisito Peppers

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    Shisito Peppers

    Kumako Ramen Den - ramen - Updated July 2026

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