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

Good food, good atmosphere and amazing service . Best Ramen in town! Next time I will try the spicy Ramen read more

Ramen was stunning. Stopped by here for work and it's what I need in my soul. Keep up the good work and enjoy the bowl. read more

Kumako Ramen Den - Ramen Near Me - San Jose, California

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. read more

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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. read more

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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. read more

Kumako Ramen Den - Tan tan (too spicy for me) - Ramen Near Me - San Jose, California

Karaage - good portion, good batter and crisp, not much taste tho. Duck ramen - meat was good, but gave a neck/collar piece it seemed which could be a better cut, ramen ok, broth light. read more

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. read more

Kumako Ramen Den - Katsu Curry Ramen - Ramen Near Me - San Jose, California

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. read more

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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. read more

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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! read more

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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. read more

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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 :) read more

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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. read more

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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. read more

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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! read more

Kumako Ramen Den - Dungeness crab ramen - Ramen Near Me - San Jose, California

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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! read more

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This was my first time visiting this place. I saw many good reviews on Yelp and Google, so I wanted to come and try it to see if it was really as good as people said. I ordered the Tonkotsu Ramen (extra spicy), Katsu curry with ramen, and chicken karaage. The restaurant is not very big, but they have seating both inside and outside. When I came, it wasn't too crowded, so there were still seats available. The owner was very friendly and welcoming, which made the experience even better and made me want to come back again. Overall, the food was good, the service was great, and the prices are reasonable. It's definitely worth the price. It may not be a super high-end ramen place, but it's still a very tasty ramen spot that I would recommend read more

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Server was very nice and funny. The interior was cozy and service was fast. Broth was very flavorful! read more

Kumako Ramen Den - Ramen Near Me - San Jose, California

Hands down our favorite ramen spot in the area! We've been coming here for several years and the food never disappoints. Hand made gyoza is top notch as well! read more

Kumako Ramen Den - Ramen Near Me - San Jose, California

They had the best katsu curry I've ever had. I've always had mixed feelings about the dish in general but I was not disappointed. The portion size was so generous just for one person and I loved how they had pieces of pork belly in the curry. It's a cute small business with great customer service. Not sure how it is during the weekday but, I thought I could get in within an hour of closing on a Sunday, and there was still a crowd waiting outside. I can't wait to come back and try their other rdi read more

Kumako Ramen Den - Katsu curry with rice - Ramen Near Me - San Jose, California

Their Curry has never let me down. Still as deeply flavorful, with a perfectly crisp tonkatsu to top it all off. Also, I saw they're serving a new curry ramen! Will have to give it a try the next time I inevitably return. read more

Kumako Ramen Den - need - Ramen Near Me - San Jose, California

Walked into this ramen spot and realized before even being seated that I had actually eaten at their original location in San Jose Japantown before. That turned out to be a good sign. Just like the Japantown location, the service was super friendly and welcoming. The food presentation was great, and the ramen had the same rich flavor and quality I remembered. Everything tasted fresh, comforting, and well put together. Always nice to see a restaurant keep the same consistency and experience across different locations. Definitely worth coming back to. Came around 1230 PM on a Saturday and did get busy soon after. read more

Kumako Ramen Den - Curry Ramen - Ramen Near Me - San Jose, California

Portions are super generous and the food is super delicious! It's in a lion market plaza right off the freeway near SGD tofu house, and I gotta say, this ramen place was pretty good I can't wait to come back! Duck ramen 9/10 gosh for this huge portion and sweet and tender duck, you really can't beat this. This is one of the more unique ramens as I rarely see any duck ramens at ramen shops. The shio broth was super rich in flavor and not oily at all! Noodles were chewy and don't forget to add the homemade chili! It really makes a difference and adds at extra level of spice and flavor Chicken Karaage 9/10 ok this portion was HUGE and the seasoning on the chicken was amazing. So juicy and flavorful you honestly didn't really need any dips or sauce with it. I could probably just finish a plate of this and be pretty satisfied on fullness Can't wait to come back and try other ramen dishes, I just heard so many amazing things about the duck ramen so glad that was my first impression! read more

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This place gives traditional ramen place vibes for sure. I got the spicy Tan Tan Ramen and it was delicious: - flavorful rich broth that isn't oily - chashu was super tender, not too fatty - noodles were nice, and had some chewiness - the spicy ground pork added some nice contrast to the chashu and also had great flavor - the crunch of the bean sprouts and bamboo shoots also added good texture My wife got the tonkatsu curry, which was also delicious: - good batter, nice and crispy, but tender - curry is so worth it because it has meat in it too The waiter, Nikky, was super nice and welcoming! He's always funny kind and he was very accommodating because we brought our daughter in a stroller--he made space for us without us even asking. Definitely gonna come back and try the other ramens! read more

Kumako Ramen Den - Oolong Tea - Ramen Near Me - San Jose, California

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We were in the area and looking for a place for a quick lunch. This did not disappoint! A hidden gem inside of a strip mall, parking can be tricky, especially during lunch time. The restaurant is small, yet welcoming. We were greeted immediately upon entry and we sat ourselves. The menu is a great sign of a good place. Straightforward, and not overly complicated. Given its Friday of lent, we opted for a vegetarian tofu ramen, with the vegetarian broth. As a meat eater, I'm always impressed when I don't feel like missed out by choosing a vegetarian fish. This was no exception. The broth was flavorful, we added fish cakes and mushrooms which made it even better! Portions are good for the price. We also had the shrimp shumai and edamame - both delicious! read more

Kumako Ramen Den - Vegetarian Ramen w added fish cake and mushroom - Ramen Near Me - San Jose, California

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Overall quite a good experience at Kumako Den. We had a very short wait when we got there, and the staff were very friendly. The ramen was definitely quite good; the noodles were amazing, as was the char siu. The broth was overall decent but not as amazing as the rest! My only gripe was that it was quite pricey; for a ramen and beer each for two people, ended up being over $60, which felt a bit steep. Overall very decent though! read more

Kumako Ramen Den - Ramen Near Me - San Jose, California

Normally, I don't really like ramen but this ramen is pretty good. The tonkotsu ramen broth wasn't overly salty and had good flavor. The noodles had good texture and the meat was meat. $16 for the tonkotsu ramen was worth the price for sure. Also had the gyoza which was packed with filling. There was no air between the filling and wrapper when I bit into it and the gyoza was pretty good. Watch out though because there are no waitlists online (it's on paper) and the restaurant is pretty small. Overall, this is pretty affordable and good. read more

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Ramen to You Sister location to the similarly named longstanding J-Town location that has been in operation for almost twenty years (ca. 2006). Interestingly, this newer location (ca. 2021) replaces another long-standing (ca.2010) other ramen restaurants: Ramen Tenma. This location has won multiple reader's choice awards from local publications Metro Silicon Valley and the San José Mercury News, as well as cracking the Yelp Top-100 Places to Eat in The Bay Area (#63 in 2020). I visited the og J-Town location many years back and wasn't a fan, but after seeing the solid reviews and many, many awards, I figured it was time to go. The Good: *Server (owner?) was terrific and seemed to know a lot of his customers by name. He was a one-man show! *Small outdoor dining tables but it's better than nothing. *Maybe one of the most inexpensive bowls of Ramen in The South Bay at $16 (avg these days is $20+). To be fair, it's not the biggest bowl around but it's enough. *Noodles were standard but exactly what you want and cooked well. *Karaage (fried chicken) was a bit odd at first with the simple cornstarch batter, but it eventually grew on me and I loved them by the end. The Meh: *We both weren't fans of the "award-winning"** gyoza. We liked the texture and size of them, but there was a definite lack of flavor in the gyoza themselves. Not terrible, but just bland. Maybe it was an off-day? *Tonkatsu broth isn't my favorite. It's just a bit too light in flavor and umami for my liking, but again that's obviously subject since I seem to be in the minority on this. The Ugly: *Much like the J-Town location, the interior is very small and holds maybe a dozen patrons, not including the two previously mentioned outdoor tables. Conclusion: Decent bowl of Ramen at a fair price with fantastic service. Oh, and, get the karaage. I'm still thinking about it... 0_o **Fwiw, they mention both on the website and the menu that their Gyoza is "award-winning," but for the life of me I can't see where or with whom they won this award for. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ read more

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My son and I drove an hour away to try this place. It did not disappoint! The service was fast and friendly and the ambiance was clean and inviting. The shumai was basic but the Karage chicken had lots of flavor which paired nicely with the pickled radish they served it with. The curry was rich and flavorful. The spicy ramen was really amazing. The ramen noodles was bouncy and cooked perfectly. You MUST ask for their Habanero sauce, it was soo good with the ramen! I love little shops like this! read more

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A lovely, cozy place with great food. The first thing you notice with this place is that it's exactly what it says it is - a cozy, small restaurant with an open kitchen. There's peppy music playing. There's also outdoor seating, good for larger groups. The service is friendly and fast! There's even a small bar if you're especially on the go! So far I've tried: Main Dishes: Curry Ramen (with Beef): This was great! Spicy sauce but not too spicy, very flavorful, lots of different vegetables, good beef, and of course the noodles! Mapo Tofu: There's something almost therapeutic about the Mapo tofu. Tasty, spicy, energizing. This is one you have to try. Appetizers: Chicken Karaage: These fried chicken bits are crispy AND juicy, top notch. They serve them with sweet okonomiyakii sauce, mustard, and other condiments. Gyoza: Good quality gyoza, great sauce! These also have a real fresh taste to them. Katsu Appetizer: Breaded porn, sliced in pieces. Pretty decent, though a little more crust and thinner than I prefer (I know it's Katsu). You have multiple side dish and ramen choices, plus you can customize your ramen with extras. Definite recommend. Plus the shopping complex it's in has a grocery, pastry shops, and more to have a relaxing time - or a break from errands. read more

Kumako Ramen Den - Chicken kaarage - Ramen Near Me - San Jose, California

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Cute ramen spot just around the corner of lion supermarket - it's a little hard to find since it's around the corner of the main plaza but not difficult. Service was fast. The ramen was good but it didn't feel too special - especially the duck ramen, the duck didn't really have any umami flavor to it. read more

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Really good experience at Kumako! Even at 2pm there was a wait. ~30 mins for 4 people Ordered the tonkatsu plate, shoyu ramen, karage, takoyaki, dan dan ramen, and tonkotsu ramen. All super flavorful and really good. Perfect meal on a rainy day. The service was also great. read more

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Busy inside and out around 3pm on a Saturday. We scored one of the last tables before there was a wait. For starters, the two of us shared the gyoza. The skin was so delicate, it fell apart when we picked it up. It was alright. I got the curry katsu ramen, which they happily accommodated the request for katsu on the side. The pork katsu was good! The ramen was a soupy curry broth, which was tasty too. Next time I'd try the curry katsu with rice though. My fiancé got the duck ramen which had a very nice broth. The duck was good too, but only a few pieces and not a lot of meat. read more

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Best duck ramen soup! I loved it so much. The combination of ingredients with the duck was perfect. There was some habernero sauce added on request. We got hochia tea as well. It's a small place but wait wasn't bad. read more

Kumako Ramen Den - Duck ramen - Ramen Near Me - San Jose, California

An impulse stop sent my brother and me into the cozy, bustling den of noodles for a takeout order. I ordered the Tan Tan ramen, which was wildly spicy, right at my heat tolerance. The brother got tonkatsu and we picked up miso ramen for his fiancée. Even though the place was super busy, service was friendly and calm. The noodles had great texture and bounce to them; tasted very fresh. I enjoyed the ground pork and the char siu, but I couldn't taste the subtlety of the broth because of the spice level. My fault though! The others reported good but not superb broth. While Ramen Taka still beats out Kumako for me, I definitely want to come back, eat in, and try some more options. The vibe seems really nice, local, like there would be a lot of regulars and the staff knows them. read more

I forgot to take photos of my food but staff was nice and greeted us nicely! Tonkotsu ramen was ok to me I wish it had more flavor. However the chicken large was packed with flavorful but a tad bit oily. I like the options of low sodium ramen and vegetarian ramen. Lots of good options for those on a strict diet. read more

Food was amazing, service was great. Beer was cold had a wonderful time. I had the duck ramen and was amazing. 10/10 would go again. read more

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Service and food always on point. Quality and passion is there. Simple and cozy spot. read more

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Pros: - attentive and personable staff, who remembers their customers - delicious sauces/spices (and homemade!!) - good sized portions - clean/nice atmosphere Cons: - limited to none, in my opinion! I will for sure return in the future to eat here again. They're doing a great job! :) read more

Kumako Ramen Den - Ramen Near Me - San Jose, California

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