Brief summary: - Good portions - fills up more than its appearance - Liked the equal balance of the broth and noodles with protein - Close to Trader Joe's - Indoor seating Ramen is a dish that has started sprouting in Berkeley, and this is one of them .I decided to go there for dinner with the family before heading to the Trader Joe's across the street to stock up on groceries. We entered a few minutes before peak dinner times, so there were seats to choose and sit from. By the time we left, mostly all the seats were filled up, so I would suggest coming in early. I liked the naming for each of the ramen dishes, some I recognized the names from Hawai'i. For this round, we ordered 3 different types of ramen: the Kuni, Broke da Mouth, and the Miso Hungry. These orders also came around the same time. A notable elements I liked about the ramen was that the noodles were chewy and springy, and the broth was smooth and easy to drink. I also didn't have the urge to drink lots of water either, so the seasoning was perfect. The other element was that I got to enjoy the ramen's broth and noodles as the stars of the dish, and the proteins, like the pork were supporting roles. For me, what I enjoy ramen are the broth and noodles, so I'm happy that these are prominent in the dish, rather than me having other chow down a thick slab of pork. This restaurant hit the right marks for what a delicious ramen is for me, so I'll come back, and maybe try their other broths. read more

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Berkeley is a great city to try new food and we found another ramen spot! This restaurant is located near the campus and parking was fairly easy to find after hours. When walking in, the dinner crowd was slowly trickling in. I found a spot closer to the entrance. They have the place a bit divided by two sides for more intimacy. The food is a mix of Hawaiian and Japanese. We both wanted to try the broke da mouth ramen as it was a customer favorite! I enjoyed my ramen and it was good to catch up and talk. The atmosphere was chill and it felt like we had the whole place to ourselves. We ended up talking for hours about everything until I realized how late it was and the bowls were cleared. They were patient and didn't kick us out right away. Lol Ty Ty Very good ramen, good place to catch up and friendly staff. I'm still biased and have a few favorite ramen spots though read more

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The Broke Da Mouth ramen was so delicious! I've never had ramen with parmesan cheese before and I was surprised at how the flavors came together. The meat was cut pretty thick but it was so flavorful and the spice level was just the right amount for me. I've never actually had mochiko chicken even after going to Hawaii multiple times, but their mochiko chicken was so good! Very crispy and went well with the cabbage. My bf and I wish we had more! Staff were friendly. Street parking available. read more

Masa Ramen Bistro - Mochiko chicken - Hawaiian Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Was in Berkeley looking for lunch and found Masa Ramen Bistro. Great selection of Ramen and plate lunch options at super reasonable prices! Just came back from BI, so getting the Kilauea ramen was very fitting. I got a level one spicy I had a great umami flavor with a great kick to it. The noodles in soft boiled egg were also cooked perfectly too. My sister got the diamond head Ramen and enjoyed her savory meal as well. I'll definitely have to come back to try the oxtail saimin since it's more difficult to find outside HI! read more

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Amazing food but I was not fond of the tables and chairs. The chairs were metal and the tables were plastic? Very uncomfortable. The food is 10/10 though! Ordered the beef curry and their most popular ramen, broke the mouth. The beef curry was tender and super flavorful. The broke the mouth ramen was one of the best I've ever tried, except I had to take out most of the red oil. It was very oily but delicious . Will definitely be back for the food! read more

Masa Ramen Bistro - Broke BROKE DA MOUTH - Masa Special - Hawaiian Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Came here with a party of six on a Sunday night and was surprised at how empty it was -- we were seated right away. To start, we ordered chicken karaage and takoyaki to share. The takoyaki was actually meant to be a substitution since one of our party members is lactose intolerant and couldn't eat part of her dish. The server asked if she wanted to swap it for something else, but instead of it being a true substitution, we were charged for it. That was a bit disappointing since it felt like they were accommodating, only to add an extra charge. For mains, my fiancé had the chicken curry katsu and I ordered Da Broke Da Mouth Ramen. Funny enough, he preferred his katsu while I preferred my ramen. The katsu was generous in portion but a little flat in flavor (I'm admittedly not a big curry fan, so take that with a grain of salt). The ramen, on the other hand, was deeply umami and very enjoyable. My only complaint was the cheese topping -- instead of melting smoothly into the broth, it clumped into a chewy glob. I think a lighter dusting of cheese would have worked better. Overall, though, the portions are generous and the value is solid. Definitely worth trying if you're in the area. read more

Masa Ramen Bistro - Hawaiian Near Me - Berkeley, California

Food- the food was great but missing something and I can't put my finger on it but overall got me full and can say it's a good portion. The spicy was enough but could add more to a kick. Service- our waitress was amazing and helpful. Love how the staff here is friendly and also lgbtq welcoming. Felt like I found my place here. Parking is a little bit of a hassle since it's on a busy street so it goes quickly and you might have to circle the area to find a spot. There's lots of other small businesses near by and a good bakery right next door. read more

Masa Ramen Bistro - Hawaiian Near Me - Berkeley, California

Service started off great--our server was friendly and attentive at first, but we had to keep asking for water refills throughout the meal, which was a bit frustrating. Portions here are definitely generous! I loved that the Chicken Curry Katsu came with multiple cuts of chicken--it was tasty and satisfying. However, the Da Broke Da Mouth Ramen was just okay to me; nothing really stood out. Someone in our group has a dairy allergy and requested her meal without any sides. The waiter kindly offered her tako as a substitute, which we thought was a nice gesture. Unfortunately, we were later charged for the tako, which felt a bit off since it was presented as part of the accommodation. Overall, good food with large portions, but some hiccups in service and billing made the experience mixed. read more

Masa Ramen Bistro - Chicken Katsu Curry - Hawaiian Near Me - Berkeley, California

So happy we decided to come here! We loved the atmosphere, very open, happy, and friendly. We had the diamond head ramen, broke da mouth, karaage chicken, and 808 chicken. First off the noodles were cooked so perfectly, thin and a perfect bite to them . All broths were not too thick, but rich with flavor. The broke da mouth ramen was so flavorful, rich, and spicy. We ordered the level 5 spice, and it's definitely got a kick to make you sweat but not inedible. I would say that some Buldak ramens are way more spicy. Definitely something that I could not eat myself continuously, but at the table my partner was can handle a good amt of heat and he thoroughly enjoyed it. The karaage chicken , da kine, was so crispy and light. The dipping sauces perfectly paired and I love to put only a little bit of lemon. Definitely a must!!! The 808 chicken was also cooked well, but I think because of the nature of it being caramelized it cannot be as juicy/light. I recommend the da kine chicken over the 808! Would love to come back to this place again! read more

Masa Ramen Bistro - DIAMOND HEAD - Original - Hawaiian Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Cozy, clean, cute bistro. Tasty, flavorful eats disappointed that they didn't have more options. Value is ok. Service was quick and effort. read more

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I thought I had reviewed this place already, but Yelp doesn't seem to think so? I had ramen with a black garlic broth. It was perfectly cooked, service was great, would definitely go back. Ambiance was Christmas music (meh). read more

Kuni ramen definitely scratches the ramen itch and I've enjoyed it a few times by now. The only negative really is that it's got stiff competition out there. read more

(Strumming my ukulele) I wanna go back to my little grass shack in Kealakekua, Hawaii / I wanna be with all the kanes and wahines that I knew long ago... Sometimes Jamie W and I get a hankering for some local grindz, brudda. But hey, it's not as if we're at a roadside luncheonette on Oahu's North Shore. We be on University Avenue close enough to the UC campus to have entered a true student hangout even though some of the menu items were on the pricy side for a struggling undergrad. Even though neither of us were feeling like ramen-heads that evening, I felt like splurging a bit and ordered the $29 Pulehu Beef Short Ribs. The dish consisted of a couple of 1/2-inch cut Kalbi ribs covered in a sweet BBQ sauce and laid on top of shredded cabbage with scoops of Fukikake rice and potato salad (Photo 10). It was good but... The portion was paltry for the price. Jamie had better luck with the $18 No Worry Chicken Curry where the chicken cutlet was pleasantly a big serving of breaded tonkatsu in a pool of slightly watery curry sauce. He got plain white rice, mac salad, and a pile of pickled radish (Photo 9). He definitely got the better deal, but truth be told, neither dish sent us through the pipeline. The best deal of the night was the $4.50 Spam/Egg Musubi, a shareable portion with shoyu-marinated Spam and a scrambled egg packed with Fukikake rice and wrapped in nori (Photo 7). This casual snack was honestly the most satisfying part of our meal. There are other dishes to consider the next time we get a longing for the islands because... (Picking up my ukulele) I wanna go back to my little grass shack in Kealakekua, Hawaii / Where the humuhumunukunukuapua'a go swimmin' by... FOOD - 3 stars...decent but not really the grindz we was looking for AMBIANCE - 3.5 stars...pretty spacious SERVICE - 3.5 stars...attentive enough TOTAL - 3 stars...do you know the words to "Sweet Leilani"? RELATED - Exploring Berkeley? Here's my collection of places I've tried and reviewed: https://bit.ly/2CbVh8u read more

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From the outside, you'd have no clue what the restaurant would be like, but once the food starts coming you're in for a treat. This restaurant doesn't put the money in fancy surroundings or high quality seating. Instead it invests in good food and good service and really which would you prefer? FOOD: Although it's called a ramen bistro (and they do have very good ramen), I love that they also have some very fun and traditional Hawaiian food and Japanese food, too. Personally, I can't resist a good loco moco so that's what I had and it was delicious. Great tasting burger, nicely cooked egg, great rice, and the gravy was good. Not quite as flavorful as I like, but definitely tasty. The mochiko chicken was phenomenal and I would come back just for that! Tender and moist on the inside with wonderful flavor. There's more I want to try and that's always a good sign. SERVICE: Beyond excellent. Seriously great service. Nice and attentive enough with a genuine service orientation. Portions were great and everything was plated so well. COST: Very reasonable for what you get. About $20 per person and worth every penny! read more

Masa Ramen Bistro - Loco moco was so delicious! - Hawaiian Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Seems like the egg shortage may have hit this restaurant HARD because all of the aji tamago have been crossed out. They're still up there valuewise though! I ordered their special Broke Da Mouth ramen, which is their signature parmesan garlic ramen. It was interesting.. the Parmesan cheese did add a new depth to the flavor. The garlic bits were also a little crunchy (not sure if this was intentional). I'll give the dish a 4/5. The creaminess isn't my thing but I think it's definitely something to try at least once. Not food related but I apprecite how the staff was okay with a kid bringing in his bike to eat. They were also giving out free Meyer lemons as well. The low prices and kind attitude stuck out to me. I hope this restaurant thrives here in Berkeley. read more

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Simple, budget friendly, but still very decent ramen! No idea where else you can find $14 tonkotsu ramen anymore these days, so this is probably great for students living around the area. Unfortunate that they crossed out the included egg; that really would've sweetened the deal. There's no option to add additional toppings either. I ordered the Diamond Head and my husband ordered Broke the Mouth. Diamond head was very plain, especially with no egg, but really fit all my basic needs if I'm just trying to have a simple lunch. The noodles were thin and firm, the way I like it. The tonkotsu broth was not as rich in flavor as I would've liked, but it wasn't exactly bland either. I sampled the Broke the Mouth broth and it definitely had a lot more flavor from the black garlic and spice, but I usually prefer ramen with a lot less going on. read more

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Great Japanese/Hawaiian spot right on University Ave. it's a busy street so find parking on the side streets. The place seems to accommodate to mostly students, but the food is excellent. Pricing is reasonable and that's always a plus. Only tried a couple things on my first time here. Had to try the oxtail ramen, which was very tasty. Chicken katsu was also good. Will come back and try other dishes! read more

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Excellent food at a decent price. Good portion, rich smooth broth and chewy noodles. Kiluea had nice spice and diamond head was delicious. Pretty atmosphere, server was friendly and helpful. Definitely a place to favorite! read more

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Ramen - 4.5 stars. Chicken Katsu - 0 stars. Undercooked. Disgusting. Thigh meat. Fatty. Mac salad - 3 stars. Bland. Too mayonnaisy. Ambience - A for effort but 1 star - ceiling was leaking water and cold air was blowing in and the place smelled like asbestos and was freezing. Also bike, ladder visible - lame. Also I don't want to watch cooking shows while I'm eating - why?? I gave them a 3 because it is a ramen place and they did a good job with authentic ramen. I'd get the ramen to go and skip the rest. read more

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I ordered the Broke Da Mouth with 3/5 spicy. Very rich and flavorful broth! I'd say the 3/5 is perfect if you have a medium/high spice tolerance and want it to be spicy while not taking away from the dish. The pork was wonderfully tender and juicy. The Parmesan cheese was an interesting addition! It was awesome for flavor, however when it melts in the broth it forms into dense cheesy blobs. Service was great. They had only one employee managing the entire dining area tonight and she did a great job of helping us and about 10 other tables at once. I would love to come back and try one of their Hawaiian dishes. read more

Masa Ramen Bistro - BROKE DA MOUTH - Masa Special - Hawaiian Near Me - Berkeley, California

My friends and I were hungry so we decided to try this new ramen spot. Ambiance - casual. Reminded me of a pho spot actually with the plastic table and metal chairs. TVs were playing a video of some guy cutting up a big tuna fish. Food - hmm...I ordered Broke Da Mouth ramen with spice level 3 and it didn't hit the spot. I think the black garlic oil, garlic butter and Parmesan cheese overpowered the whole bowl. However in hindsight I should've known it was going to be oily with cheese, oil and butter -_-. I wanted to try their #1 ramen but left feeling like I should've ordered a regular tonkatsu ramen. The Parmesan cheese melted in a gloop towards the bottom and the whole bowl felt heavy. Noodles were cooked to perfection though so I'll give them that. Everyone else liked their order (friend got Chicken Katsu Curry - which was delicious! Huge portions too. My other friend ordered the Diamond Head, and lastly my friend ordered the Kilaeua - all shown in the picture) only complaints was that their egg yolk tasted a bit salty. I thought mine tasted fine. We also got the Da Kine chicken to try. It was good, one piece was just purely fat and cartilage though. Service - very attentive! Our server kept asking us for water refills and even gave us Hichews with our check. Even said she had more flavors if we didn't like the ones she gave us. Now would I come back...hmm..maybe for their curry. Parking is busy around here, so you're gonna have to park in the surrounding neighborhood. Good for students though who live around the area or can come here by bus. read more

Masa Ramen Bistro - Chicken Curry or Katsu - Hawaiian Near Me - Berkeley, California

This is a cool little hip restaurant on University Avenue. I originally thought it was Japanese, which it is, but it's more like Hawaiian really. We had a few things. Edamame, Manini fries, Katsu chicken curry, Korean short ribs, and Loco moco. All orders came with either Mac salad or potato salad. The Manini fries were pretty awesome! Perfectly crispy nice with and a nice flavor. The loco Moko was definitely overcooked. Well done inside and nearly burnt on theedge. If not for that, it might've been pretty good. The chicken Katsu curry was decent. The best dish was the Korean short ribs however... It also costs $30, almost double of all the other dishes. If I were to go back, I think I would try the Ramen. And by the way, the service was pretty bad. It took a long time, we had to keep waving down the waitress, and she had a bad, grouchy attitude the whole time. She did do all the things she needed to serve our table mechanically speaking, but could improve the pleasantness. read more

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I happen to love takoyaki, those octopus balls from Osaka. I used to frequent Musashi on Dwight because they made a great takoyaki but they stopped dinner service this year and my octopus dish is not offered at lunch. I tried some other places but kept looking. When I found Masa Ramen Bistro and their takoyaki I thought I was set for life. Well, for a few years. But now they are closed!!!! I cannot find out why and my heart is broken read more

===TL;DR=== - Diamond head ramen, spicy level 4 - Kuni ramen, spicy level 3 ===TMI=== Just when I thought Tsuruya made it to my top 5 ramen list recently, now Masa also made it (under Tsuruya tho hehe)! Laid back with a bit of an industrial interior vibe... almost like a touch of Hawaii feel. They had a great food selection for a one page menu but I'm here for the ramen! Really enjoyed my bowl of Kuni ramen, the black garlic oil alway just hugs you so well along with the hearty base of the tonkotsu broth. I'm content at a level 3 spiciness and level 4 was still manageable. Their pork belly char siu was cooked to perfection. Team thin ramen noodles all the wayyyyy. If I didn't remember wrong, the server said Kilauea was just the spicy version of the Diamond ramen FYI. So instead of ordering Diamond head and add a spiciness level, you can just order the Kilauea. read more

Masa Ramen Bistro - (Oct 2024) KUNI - Black Garlic with level 3 spiciness - Hawaiian Near Me - Berkeley, California

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I tried the favorite or popular dish here, which had cheese on it. I was skeptical but decided to try it since it was popular. I definitely think ramen should not have cheese in it. Adn the flavors weren't very strong. It was okay ramen. The others that I went with got ramen without cheese, and the flavors weren't very strong there as well. The service of the place was good! Our waitress was very friendly and checked in regularly. This is located on the main street, so parking can be hard. read more

Visiting UC Berkeley for the weekend, we happened to find this place. It's a nice cozy little place that's an Asian/Hawaiian fusion. The staff were super nice, and inviting. We ordered the loco moco, which was really good, and the beef patties were very nicely seasoned. The gravy was delicious too. The apps we got were the 808 chicken, which is a must get, and the Bruddah Brussels sprouts. My wife got their signature dish the Broke the Mouth Ramen, which has cheese on top, and it was really good. If my son chooses to attend Berkeley, I'll visit here more often. read more

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We came with a friend for dinner on a Friday evening since she was in the mood for Japanese/Hawaiian food. Located on University, parking was a little challenging and we found parking about a block and a half away. Though it has Ramen Bistro in its name, the menu has more of an emphasis on Hawaiian dishes than Japanese. The menu consisted of six ramen options (1 was sold out) and seven Hawaiina options (2 were sold out) and nine Pupus of Japanese and Hawaiian options. We decided to order several pupus and two entrees. Da Kine Chicken - 10 good-sized pieces of moist chicken thigh pieces. Served with a calamansi ponzu dipping sauce. Manini Fries with curry furikake - had a light curry flavor. Nothing special. Shrimp Pops - panko crusted shrimp patties on a stick served with a sweet Thai chili sauce. This was tasty Diamond Head Ramen - good pork broth with two slices of pork belly char siu. A good tasty satisfying bowl of ramen, but I've had better. Lolo Loco Moco with potato salad - ordered with over easy egg. It was a good loco moco with a tasty brown gravy. Service was friendly in a nice bright restaurant with tables and a bar counter in the middle and by the window. Good ramen and Hawaiian options for the area. read more

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I was pleasantly surprised. It was a lot more authentic than I expected. The noodle was thin and very firm like the type you get in Japan. Broth is very flavorful and good ingredients read more

Masa Ramen Bistro - Hawaiian Near Me - Berkeley, California

Good selection of vegetarian, vegan, and standard ramen dishes. I enjoyed the Timmy Tan Tan ramen - a little bit of spice, fresh crisp from the greens, and nice depth in the broth! I usually only have half a bowl and save the rest for leftovers but I was still a bit hungry halfway through and ended up eating the entire thing. Service is very quick with orders and refills. Very relaxed, casual atmosphere good for catching up with friends. Unfortunately they are now very low/out of eggs due to the current egg stock issues. It does leave the ramen feeling a little naked. read more

Masa Ramen Bistro - TIMMY TAN TAN - Vegan - Hawaiian Near Me - Berkeley, California

If I could, I would give this place at 10. Good service good amazing portion yummy flavor. I got a second drink. It was so good. I can feel that it's really authentic Japanese just like it is in Hawaii where I am from. I love it over here I like that it's authentic Japanese potato salad Just the way I like it. The only hard part is parking but we made it through yummy yummy! Oishi! read more

Bottom line: TRY THIS PLACE! My family and I were in the mood for some ramen, and this place seemed like it had great reviews on Yelp. I recently moved to the area and had an excellent ramen place in my last neighborhood, so my standards were high! Masa Ramen Bistro exceeded my expectations. The interior is extremely casual and comfortable. We ordered 2 "Broke Da Mouth" bowls and 2 Kuni bowls. Everything was great, but the Broke Da Mouth was insanely good. The menu said it was the most popular item on the menu, and it did not disappoint! The cheese was such a great touch, and the garlic butter really shone through. The Kuni is also a great option, if you're looking for something a little lighter than the Broke Da Mouth. I'm genuinely so happy to have found this place and expect that it will become a staple in my routine. There is street parking available, and it is close to the BART. You cannot miss this spot the next time you're in Berkeley! read more

Masa Ramen Bistro - KUNI - Black Garlic - Hawaiian Near Me - Berkeley, California

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I had the broke da mouth ramen and I give it a solid 8.5/10 it was super garlicky- which I LOVED and the broth was so flavorful- it was great as leftovers too! my friend had the beef curry which was a huge platter and she gave it to men 8/10! overall great vibes and great tasting food- def the best ramen spot in the area! read more

Masa Ramen Bistro - Hawaiian Near Me - Berkeley, California

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The staff were friendly and inviting. Great portions, accurate spice levels, and delicious food. Overall lovely experience. read more

Masa Ramen Bistro - Shrimp Wonton Ramen - Hawaiian Near Me - Berkeley, California

Masa Ramen Bistro Stopped off at Masa Ramen Bistro for an early Saturday dinner. Street parking, but it wasn't an issue. Only a handful of people in the restaurant. These are the dishes we ordered in descending order of my preference. Diamond Head - this ramen bowl is legit. Soup is rich and creamy. Noodles have a good chew to them. The flavor is great and you get a nice whole soft boiled egg. Broke the Mouth - we ordered a 3 out of 5 which was spicy but not knock me over spicy. It was kind of interesting with a mountain of shredded parmesan in there. Despite it being tasty, I think my preference would be a straight black garlic version (Kuni). POG - pretty sweet and tropical Da Kine Chicken - the chicken was well fried and marinated. I don't think there was much seasoning on the breading though. Also thought the pairing with the ponzu sauce was a bit odd. Bruddah Brussels - these were brussel sprout halves, coated with panko and parmesan and fried. Hot and tender in the middle. Just wasn't working for our family and it largely went uneaten. Normally when we're getting fried brussel sprouts, they're crispy, greasy, well-seasoned, and gone faster than the Flash. All in all, I'm always ecstatic when I find a good bowl of ramen in the East Bay. They are just so few and far between. Definitely will come back for that and maybe try out some of the other appetizers. read more

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Ramen is amazing, thinner noodles with a firmer bite to it. Broth is great and the spice level can go from 0 to level 5. Spicy level 1 adds a lot of flavor and is very manageable for almost anyone. Secret spicy level 6 is available but not to be taken lightly, a spicy connoisseur I ate with said it was one of the hottest things they ever ate. The server was fun to talk to, and very attentive. The building is straight to the point nothing super flashy about it, a few tables around the dining area and some TV's on the walls but who cares if the food is good, it's good. 10/10 will definitely be going back. read more

Masa Ramen Bistro - Pitcher of water needed during eating of ramen with secret spicy level 6, you have been warned - Hawaiian Near Me - Berkeley, California

I try to go here during the quiet hours between the busy shifts and eat at the counter by the windows. It's a great place to sit down for good ramen at a reasonable price (for the Bay Area). The noodles, broth, toppings, are all very good. When I feeling particularly hungry, I get the karaage. Masa Ramen's karaage is probably my favorite in the East Bay. The chicken to breading ratio favors the protein, with the crispy coating not going to crumbly crunchiness like many other places' karaage. Their curry is excellent, too, with big pieces of beef. There is a level of generosity here that I hope is sustainable. read more

Stopped in just after opening time, so I was the first table. Very slow service for being the only customer. Ordered the vegan ramen with no noodles and added kikurage and corn. The dish was served quickly; however, it was not piping hot. Disappointed by that, but the broth is a lovely deep sesame flavor. Bold and hearty. I slurped it down in record speed. I would definitely order the vegan ramen again! I feel like the prices of the vegan ramen are slightly higher compared to other places. read more

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Went for the first time. Restaurant was cold and had a dank smell like a basement. There were garbage bags taped to the ceiling in the corner so there may have been a leak or something. Small portions for ramen. The soft boiled egg was cold like it had just been pulled from the fridge and thrown in the broth at the last minute. Two ramens came to ~$45 with tax and tip. We were both hungry so we ended up walking across the street to Rose Pizzeria to get some pizza. read more

Nothing hits like Masa Ramen on a cold day. I've gotten the same thing every time: the diamond head ramen. It's a creamy and rich broth. The egg is perfectly soft boiled every time. Noodles are chewy. Chashu is tender and soft. This is my go to ramen place in Berkeley. I have yet to try their other dishes, but my friend got the chicken katsu curry with potato salad. It looked bomb. The katsu wasn't too fried and the chicken was juicy. There was only one waiter and almost every table was filled. I'm not sure if this is a normal occasion but the service was still decently quick! He was efficient and still able to check up on our table a few times. read more

Masa Ramen Bistro - DIAMOND HEAD - Original - Hawaiian Near Me - Berkeley, California

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I stopped by Masa Ramen Bistro around 7:00 p.m. on a rainy Friday evening and the restaurant was pretty empty. Besides my party of four, there was only one other diner. Though Masa Ramen Bistro has ramen in their name, the reason my friends and I decided upon this place for dinner was because of their other offerings, specifically their loco moco. Masa Ramen has hands-down the best loco moco I've had in the Bay Area. The large hamburger patty has a wonderful crust around the outside that stands up well to the hearty gravy. The gravy itself is very well made and did not split as we ate our meal. Furthermore, it was not overly salty and had just the right consistency. The two sunny side up eggs were perfectly cooked as well. If you like your eggs prepared in a different style, you can certainly make this change when you place your order. The other dish I really enjoyed was the 808 chicken. Sometimes karaage chicken can end up being kind of dry, but this chicken was incredibly juicy and tender. I would definitely order this appetizer again. The kuni ramen my wife ordered was surprisingly light. The noodles were cooked a tad too much for my liking though. I think one to two minute less time on the stove would have been ideal for the ramen noodles. Also, the bowl of ramen is more on the simple side in terms of toppings. Not a bad thing necessarily, but something to keep in mind if you're expecting 10 different toppings in your bowl. I would definitely stop by again for the loco moco. If you're craving ramen, there are some other places I would recommend. Solid four stars. read more

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