I had a really enjoyable experience at this Lan Ramen, It's located in an underground basement-like setting, and the decor is charming. The overall ambiance of the area is quite pleasant, especially on a beautiful fall day. I loved the surrounding buildings and streets. The place was a bit on the chilly side, but we warmed up with some comforting, delicious food. I ordered the beef noodles, while my partner had the lamb stew, and both choices were exceptional and savory. The noodles were particularly outstanding, and it's the kind of restaurant where you leave feeling full and satisfied. I was quite hungry. The service was decent, but I do have one caveat. Our food took longer to arrive than expected, and it seemed like every other table received their orders before us. We inquired about this, and the manager promptly approached us, acknowledging the delay and apologizing. They mentioned that there was an issue with the order-printing machine, although it seemed to be affecting only our order, which was a bit unusual. To compensate for the wait, they offered us a popcorn chicken appetizer, which was delicious, and the sauce was amazing. While this hiccup didn't make it a flawless visit, the wait staff did leave something to be desired, even if it was an isolated error. I genuinely appreciate this place, and it truly satisfied my expectations. I wholeheartedly recommend it, especially for the exceptional food alone. Thanks! read more

Lan Ramen is an absolute gem! From the cozy, rustic ambiance to the bold and flavorful dishes, everything about our visit was fantastic. We went there Saturday lunch time. What We Ordered: * B5 Griddle Cooked Spicy Pot (Beef) + Side of White Rice - The perfect balance of heat, savoriness, and tender beef. The peppers and onions added a great depth of flavor, and the spice level was just right. Definitely a must-try if you love bold, wok-cooked flavors! * Eggplant Fries - Surprisingly crispy and light! The batter was airy, and the eggplant inside was perfectly soft without being mushy. The dipping sauce paired beautifully, adding just the right amount of sweetness and tang. * C2 Crispy Spicy Chicken + Side of White Rice - This dish was a standout! The chicken was fried to perfection--crispy on the outside and juicy inside. The mix of dried and fresh peppers gave it an excellent kick, while the onions and seasoning tied it all together. Atmosphere & Service The interior is beautifully decorated, featuring wood accents and a warm, inviting vibe. The service was friendly and efficient, with our food arriving quickly and piping hot. Final Thoughts If you're a fan of authentic, flavorful Chinese cuisine with a hint of spice, Lan Ramen is a must-visit. We'll definitely be coming back to try more from their menu! Would highly recommend! read more

This is without a doubt the best Ramen restaurant in the area. I've been to China and Japan many times and this restaurant offers very authentic Ramen. The crispy spicy chicken reminds me of the original dish in Sichuan region (it is not as spicy as the original, but I think it is a good "localization" effort) and the Zha Jiang Noodle also does not disappoint. The interior is really beautiful. The open kitchen adds both style and a sense of authenticity to it. The ramens are all handmade, and my son loves watching the chef making it. The owner is very friendly and cares a lot about her customers (you can see from the way she answers almost all comments here). Several of the negative reviews here mainly focused on the poor service of the waiters -- long waiting time, lack of professional service, etc. To be fair, we also had to wait for a while to order. It was a busy Saturday night and the place was full, with several people waiting. The waiter was apparently new and was overwhelmed. This does not change my review, however, since waiters could improve or even change, but the chef and the dish are the key "ingredients", and they are perfect. read more

This the closest thing you can get for a high quality Chinese food in Princeton. Granted the price is on the higher end; however I can understand that given the location and the focus of the owner of using high quality ingredients and hand cut noodles. Please note this is not a Japanese ramen place and don't expect to find shoyu / miso ramen. I have tried so many dishes here and so far so good! - Taiwanese beef noodle soup can warm you up during the cold days. Beef quality was good and the broth has the perfect level of balance of herbs, beef and spice! - chicken noodle soup is on the lighter side; to me, it's good to have when you are feeling unwell or would like the taste of home food - shredded chicken noodle is chewy and tasty - if you want to up your spice level, try the crispy spicy chicken, griddle fish pot or big plate chicken. They are tasty and full of fire!!! - for an exotic taste, try the lily bulb dish. It is expensive as it is not easy to find but the taste is surprisingly on the tasty and nutty side - their beef bun is good ; the shrimp is ok - Zha Jiang mian was ok - I just personally did not get used to the sauce read more

This place really hits the spot! Fresh-tasting Chinese food is almost impossible to find around here, but one bite and I was sold. Really loved the bean tops (sauteed greens with garlic and ginger), the spicy chicken pot (perfect amount of Sichuan heat!) and the Baby Lilly Bulb when combined with some baby shrimp. These dishes were very well prepared with clean, balanced flavors. Nothing too salty or overpowering. I can't wait to try the hand-pulled noodles, buns, and dumplings. I imagine as more people find out about this place, it will be packed with students and Princeton visitors alike. Already dreaming about my next visit! :P read more

Very impressive restaurant! We visited it last weekend. The seats' layout is not crowded with great taste. Hand-pulled classical noodles made my little son eat 2 bowls! He is such a picky eater that I believe the ingredients of the noodles should be very good without preservatives. We also tried lily dish, very special and nice. The chicken and lamb are both delicious. I will highly recommend to my friends since it is hard to find a restaurant using high-quality materials nowadays. The only problem for my family is that this restaurant is a little far from my house. read more

Amazing food. Did have to wait a while for them. It was totally worth it though. Not your typical chinese restaurant. Everything was super fresh. You can tell that they probably used very good ingredients. We had the big plate chicken, with the hand ripped noodle. The gravy was very savory. It was laid on top of the ramen. Very interesting , never had anything close to this. Btw, it is also ope kitchen so you can tell how clean the place was. Will definitely come back with friends. They are located directly across from Halo Pub. read more

I passed by the new open Ramen restaurant today by accident. Its front door is a few steps downstairs from the street. I like the environment, the wood chair at the entrance is so special. I like the lights. The food don't make me disappointed either. I ordered a Ramen for myself and packed slow cooked braised pork for my kids as their after school lunch. The Ramen tasted good. The braised pork Looks juicy and there is a lot veggie at the bottom. The restaurant is great. I'll highly recommend it to my friends. read more

The only authentic place for Chinese food in the Princeton area. The noodles are hand-pulled by a really talented chef (that comes from the area that these noodles originate from) and they are cooked really well. I always get the Beijing zha jiang mian, a common comfort food that I miss from home. The staff is sometimes aloof and inattentive, but I think it's gotten a little better. Prices are reasonable for the quality. read more

First off, I would like to say that base my reviews not only on food, but on the service. Service was friendly and efficient. Orders came in quick and accurately. This is probably the most authentic traditional Chinese cuisine in NJ. Hand pulled noodles were chewy . Baby lamb was juicy and tender. Everything tasted yummy and fresh. Overall this place had amazing food and is worth a trip if you are not local to it read more

I recently visited this amazing ramen place, and everything was absolutely fantastic! From the rich, flavorful broth to the perfectly cooked noodles, each bite was a delight. The toppings were fresh and generously portioned, adding great texture and taste. The balance of savory and umami flavors made the whole meal incredibly satisfying. Overall, the experience was top-notch, and I can't wait to go back for more! read more

You may almost walk past this place entirely since it is hidden away, but do not miss the great food and beautiful atmosphere hidden beneath the stairs. Menu is vast and I was almost unable to decide what I wanted. So many things offered here that sound great. The Monster Spicy Beef Noodles are delicious and indeed spicy. Come here for a great authentic ramen experience whenever you're in Princeton. read more

It was super clean inside and the service was very nice with them having an attachable table hook for my girlfriend's purse. The shrimp were fresh and crispy, the eggplant fries were amazing, and our ramen was huge and filled with beef and veggies. One of our favorite Ramen spots and a great vibe for lunch or dinner. Only regret was eating the appetizers before our pictures. read more

We are personally from China and this is the best ramen and Chinese food we've had in the states until now!!! The soup dumplings taste exactly like the ones we've had in Shanghai!! The ramen taste great and the Beijing Zha jiang noodles are amazing. The chefs are definitely all professionals from China. But we recommend providing a chinese menu for the Chinese tourists. :)) read more

I recently had the pleasure of dining at Lan Ramen, and it was an exceptional experience! The cozy atmosphere, friendly staff, and, most importantly, the delicious ramen left me craving for more. Each bowl was a perfect blend of flavors, and the noodles had that ideal chewiness. Lan Ramen is now my go-to spot for a satisfying bowl of comfort food. Highly recommend! read more

Their cook changed over the summer. The noodles and the soup dumplings are no where as good as it used to be. The dishes have gotten worse too. The ingredients (especially meats) that they use are of bad quality. The two star are for: 1 - the spicy fish filet is still okay and probably the best in the downtown area. 2 - the service have gotten a little better read more

It's rare a restaurant exceeds my expectations but this was easily one of those times. Understated and lowkey, literally underground, this spot was great. Scallion pancake was crispy and flavorful and spicy beef ramen was fresh, hot, spicy, and beautiful seasoned. If you like ramen, a casual yet upscale atmosphere, and good food Lan Ramen is a great place. read more

the food was amazing, everything was perfectly seasoned and tasted fantastic. highly recommend to go here. many different options for food, the service was top tier everyone was caring and kind. The overall ambiance was amazing a very cozy place with light music and perfect lighting, the place was also very very clean and had wonderful service again!!!!!!! read more

We had a delicious lunch - Rock Shrimp served with Japanese mayo and Crispy Spicy (not overly spicy) Chicken. The owner is lovely and very helpful. They'll soon have hand pulled noodles for the Ramen. Can't wait to go back to try the Sweet and Sour Whole Fish that we saw being eaten at the next table. Attractive space and nice staff. read more