This is a nice enough modern Noodle House. It has a nice enough mix and match of noodles you might like. I ordered the Yakasoba type noodles with Manchiko Fried Chicken. I have two main comments about this dish. There were only five pieces of chicken in the whole Bowl all grouped together in a lonely little clump. The noodles were firm and tough. Not what I would expect from yakisoba. All in all I was very disappointed. I tasted my wife's chicken broth and rice noodles. The whole thing was very Bland. I would recommend going to any Chinese restaurant or Pho place before going to this over-inflated expensive and pretentious Noodle House. read more

Probably the best ramen I've ever had. I got the Chico Ramen and it was so full of flavor. The kale chips were a surprisingly delicious touch. We also tried the pickles and tots as starters. The pickles were perfectly spicy and crunchy. Although I wished that every slice had the seasoning and sesame seeds on them. The tots were crunchy on the outside and perfectly soft on the inside. Took a bite of my husband's pork belly Bao Bun and oh my goodness. The combination of the soft, semi-sweet bun with the savory juiciness of the tender pork...wow! Nice job, Momona. read more

The wait during rush hour is....bad. Waited 40 minutes for a pick up. The food is worth the wait therefore 3 stars but pricing is ridiculous for ramen. read more

Amazing food, maybe the best in chico, but we had terrible service. They forgot we were there, our waitress didn't get our order for 20 minutes and when we got our food after an hour they didn't give us chop sticks or silverware so I had to go ask for them. We finished our food and waited for the check but no one came, so I asked a random waitress for it and she brought it. I put my card on it and waited, no one came to get it. Hope to go back and have a better experience because the food was genuinely delicious. read more

I like noodles as much as the next person, but this seemed a little over priced for what it was. The food was good, and creative. Different from what I usually eat when I eat out. But I probably won't be a regular here. read more

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In my opinion, as someone who has had a lot of ramen from a variety of places, it's not worth the price for what you're getting. For my tastes personally, it has little in the way of flavor which isn't compensated for well with how much it costs. While not the worst bowl in the world I would just much rather take my business elsewhere when taking into consideration both the mediocrity of the food as well as the price point. read more

This is our second visit to Momona, all I can say is we'll be back again. The food tastes so fresh and seasoned just right. We really love the fried chicken BAO can't wait for dining in to reopen for sit down dining. read more

The Ahi wonton chips were amazing! I can't wait to come back to chico just for them. The ramen was pretty good too. read more

Momona - Ahi Wonton Chips - Ramen Near Me - Chico, California

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Meh. That's what comes to mind with this place, although my friends all think it's great, so perhaps it is more that it isn't my type of food? (Although, have it known food is typically my friend.) I was confused from the start. I found the menu unfriendly. I had to ask a dozen questions about ingredients, as well as ask the waitress to clarify her explanation because she answered using the same puzzling ingredient names. I ended up choosing a bowl and chose my ingredients ---which again was truly a blind endeavor. I was surprised I actually put something together that tasted okay. The bowl arrived with two huge lettuce leaves sticking up on the side, and all the ingredients layered on top of each other. It was good after I figured out how to eat it , but the whole lettuce leaves confused me a bit (not like I had a knife or fork to cut it to fit in my mouth). I also found it a little strange that the bathroom was literally next to the cooks working on the meals, but with that said, both were immaculate so really no complaint . As far as the cost, I had the bowl, 2 Pale Ales, and the bill was $20.00. You be the judge on that one. read more

Momona used to be five star in my book. My original review was: Absolutely a great go-to for ramen. Easily better than places in San Francisco. They are continuously improving ever since they opened. However, things have changed over the last year with momona. Previously the food was good enough we would eat here at least once a week. Now we don't even bother. The noodles are consistently not cooked properly, and the broth has gone downhill while the prices creep up and service quality degrades too. Momona needs to figure out how to bring back the quality they used to have. read more

The best fusion Japanese in Chico hands down. Definitely worth a visit. Expect flavorful bowls of ramen and soft pillowy bao stuffed with tasty ingredients. Also pick up a small plate or two for some expertly prepared and creative dishes. read more

Went to Momona last night for apps. My hubby & I were SO impressed!! Here's what we got: Pork Belly Onigiri Okonomiyaki Tots Pork Belly Bao Manapua Bao (I added cilantro) All of these were delicious but the Okonomiyaki Tots were a 10 out of 10!! We put the house-made pickles on almost everything, SO good!! Excellent sake selection, too. I cannot wait to go back & try the rest of their food. read more

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it's not your typical ramen dishes, it's more of an original recipe or a fusion type of ramen. we had the double dip (which is a little spicy), chico ramen, fried chicken bao & the pork bao (forgot the actual names). the food tastes great in our opinion! and the price is just the same with other ramen places like in sacramento and bay area. as for the service, they're all so nice and very friendly. i personally like it when they take time to have a small conversation with the customers. i'll definitely go eat here again when i go back to chico! read more

frickin good the ramen is so good the bao is good too and they have this really good lilikoi drink service is good and it has a nice interior read more

Chico bowl is supreme!!! Love ramen noodles. The saki flights are brilliant. Service is always great, and atmosphere is enjoyable.

Hands down the worst ramen I've ever had. For being the only real restaurant in Chico to find ramen I didn't expect all that much but this was absolutely disgusting. The noodles were WAY over cooked, the broth has zero flavor, and the oil! Holy cow. There was an extremely thick layer of oil that overpowered the entire dish. It would have been bad anyway, but still. I come from the Bay Area and I'm used to having a ramen place on every block. I eat ramen at least twice a week. Tonkotsu is my favorite of all time but I am severely disappointed in this place. read more

Absolutely delicious food! I can see why it was so busy when I went. Could use more seating, maybe they'll open up a second location!

We were in Chico two weeks ago (dropping off at CSU) and Momona happened to be right next to our Air BnB so we thought we'd give it a try. This was, honestly, one of the best dining experiences we've had in Chico... or anywhere! My husband ordered the special vegetarian bowl and I ordered another special (something called ends and bits maybe?) It was fantastic but hardly compared to the vegetarian bowl! The veggies were perfectly prepared and the flavors were intense and perfectly balanced. In addition to our delicious meal and wonderfully cold beers, the staff could not have been nicer or more helpful. We cannot wait to eat here again! read more

The pork belly bao was to die for. The "ramen" not so much. I came from San Francisco to visit a friend, I would make the trip again just for the pork belly bao. Compared to the $5 bao's in SF, this bao was twice the size, and x4 the flavor! read more

Wow....I cannot believe how this place has lower than a four star rating. Their ramen is top notch. If I had to add constructive criticism (not complaint), it would have to be serving size. This place has authentic flavors, but it doesn't really "fill" me up, I always end up hungry about an hour later. For the price, I'd love a Pho sized bowl...other than that, if you want ramen and you are in the area, this is the spot to go, hands down. read more

Let me just say that you all need to do yourselves a favor and head over to Momona. I anticipated their opening and drooled over IG/FB pictures for damn near two months, so you can imagine how high my expectations were. The food, staff, and atmosphere were incredible! If you're into crispy, moist pork, try the pork belly bao--it may change your life (for the better). The pickled cucumber is the perfect addition to the soft steamy buns (which are made IN HOUSE!!!). We also ordered the miso corn butter ramen and it was perfectly spicy, with extravagantly sweet charred corn. We will be back soon to sample more deliciousness. All of the staff were so genuine and kind, even on opening night. We were treated so well, with several folks checking on us throughout the meal. The space is simple: white, high ceilings, locally made neon signs (which are rad!), with several tables, bar seating, and a few spaces at a bar in the front windows. Go eat here. Just do it. It's delicious!!! read more

This food was just okay and for the price I paid I feel like the portion size was really underwhelming. The flavor of the ramen was the same flavors you get at a Chinese food place, didn't really taste like authentic Japanese Ramen. If you are looking for quality authentic ramen I would recommend Cocos ramen on Nord ave instead. read more

Can a bowl of ramen truly ruin your whole day? Probably not as my friend insisted; but the disappointment did linger. Oh Momona, I was excited to venture through your doors-- The interior; modern and clean. The hostess; pleasant and engaging as she explained your ways... Menu; simple & appealing-- 4 types of ramen, 4 types of boa, 1 special. WAIT! Stop... Hold everything--$1 for hot sauce?! (Apparently, it's made in house--like most local Mexican establishments, which give it to you -- which was supposed to justify the extravagant cost) Being a sucker for hot sauce, I reluctantly added it to my $13 bowl of ramen from the clueless male cashier. (I know, you wouldn't usually think a restaurant peddling $13 bowls of ramen, $5 boas and $1 for hot sauce would be pushing "cafeteria" or "european bistro" style, but they are.) We order, we sit. We move to "people watch" at the bar in front of the large open windows, mainly due to the loud music overhead of our original table. We continue to admire the posh design elements, and lightly scoff the germ potential for the communal utensils and napkins sitting in little metal buckets with onset of flu season. (Places with large tables can totally get a way with this, but we are talking tight quarters-- right under any sneezing/coughing body) Our ramen comes out, nice and hot-- Looks amazing! BUT-- the broth is void of ANY culinary inspiration :( I ask for a fork. I ask for some salt; I dumped it all in... It helped, but not enough to redeem itself. We realized our boa had not arrived-- We ask for that as well; trying not to jeer at the notion that our 3 item order, where there are only 8 things on the menu, and only 3 people in Momona, could possible be wrong. The boa arrived-- The pork belly in the boa gave the pork belly in the ramen a bad rap (crisp vs. the soggy soup pork). The boa pickled cucumbers were delightful (the pickled ginger in the ramen deserves minor kudos as well); a little more on cue with what one might expect from this hip "Noodles + Boa" bistro. But, you know what they say, "Expectations are planned disappointments". "E" for "Effort", and maybe potential for later "Excellence"-- But Momona has some growing up to do; especially in the kitchen. (UPDATE: HOLY COW!! I just goggled some of SF's best restaurants known for their Pho & Ramen-- They range $8-$12 a bowl) read more

I have to say, this place is a welcome addition to the Chico food scene. I've only been in Chico a couple years, but what has amazed me is that, considering how many places there are to eat here, there is such a scarcity of good restaurants. It's either wayyyyy overpriced, so-called "fine dining", or cheap college grub. Not much in between. As a noodle fan, I find the choices even slimmer, with a few vapid pho joints and a chain spot. What Momona brings to the table here is a fresh take on traditional ramen an bao, with some added Hawaiian and Thai leanings to keep things interesting. They have a great Sake selection, and they refuse to serve it hot, which is definitely a bonus. The vibe is simple urban and social, very relaxed and fun. We sat at the bar and shared some plates: The classic fried chicken bao, the sweet and spicy cucumbers and the tempura oysters. All were exceptional in flavor, texture and presentation. We also split a bowl of the Double Dip Ramen (the bowls are huge) and it was savory and hearty. Add a tall Asahi and a glass of red, and we got out of there completely satisfied for around $50. An excellent value in a town like Chico, which either tries too hard (swine dining) or not hard enough (mediocre mexican, burgers and pizzas). Those that are trying to compare it to what they've had in Japan or what they can get in L.A. (where there are 100 places like this and they have to compete) are missing the mark entirely. This is not Japan or L.A., and it is not trying to be. What it is, is a much needed change up in a town full of curve balls where dining is concerned. We're already looking forward to going back and trying other items on the menu--hell, we've been craving this place since we left! Bravo, guys--and a warm welcome to the neighborhood. read more

I have been visiting Momona a few times over the years. They have always been mediocre. They get a lot of hate on yelp for some reason. I guess people expect authentic Japanese ramen but this isn't it. They're inspired by the style of Hawaiian and Japanese ramen but it's California fusion at its core. I'm happy to say that my most recent visit was the best yet. The broth was good and meat flavored just right. I love to see local businesses thrive and Momona is on the right track. Give them a visit if you haven't recently. read more

Ordered delivery from here. The Ramen dishes were fine and but definitely overpriced. The rice bowl was ridiculous. It was maybe 1.5 scoops of rice and literally 3 tiny pieces of the fried chicken. Not pieces like strips or thighs but 3 small popcorn chicken size. That was frustrating. They also called me with a question about my order and still got it wrong. I think I will try again one more time to make a full opinion. read more

The ramen is pretty good, but compared to everywhere else is Chico it's a complete rip off. Cost $15 dollars a dish to pickup and you get far less than half of the to go container. They also charge insane amounts for extras which are tiny! Way better bang for your buck at any one of the 20 restaurants in a half mile radius. read more

Momona - $15 ramen. - Ramen Near Me - Chico, California

Ooooooooo so it's like kind of cute inside but like cool cute not cute cute. They have a nice variety of different things on the menu but I'd def get a noodle or bao. They have a build your own noodle kind of menu/build your own bowl. I really like the variety of noodles and protein options to choose fun. The only down side is that I wished they had more like small add ins such as bamboo and like spinach or you know a few more random stuff to fill the bowl. The portion size is pretty good and it is not the traditional flavor flavor of ramen. It's like a goood lighter version of ramen that still satisfies. I just got the regular wavy noodles which are the basic ramen noodles. If your questioning between these and the straight ramen; the straight one is less bouncy and more somen like.. some of the employees were meh. Like obviously they seemed occupied or like they didnt feel super service giving. 2 other girls that worked there were more friendly though. Basically she wasnt friendly ‍ and I said what I said. Cause her coworkers 2seconds of interacting with me gave me more service than her. I just realized the word I was looking for was the ppl were very low energy and unenthusiastic af. Basically the menu is confusing af and the ppl that work there aren't trying their best to make sure their customers are well situated. And like no real greeting when you step in. For a noodle bar I usually expect more energy and like a loud welcoming vibe. read more

The pork belly bao is the most delicious thing I can think of that I've sank my teeth into. It melts in your mouth and then you get a little crispness to finish off the perfect bite each time. I got one to share originally and then got stingy because I wanted it all to myself. The ramen is great. It is a little pricey but the bowls are big. I got the Chico ramen and it was delicious. I had to take half the bowl home to save for later. Over all I'd recommend this place as a night out kind of place. Maybe stop in regularly for the bao. Also they no longer charge extra for the hot sauce. read more

I ate here last night for the first time ot was really great food the vibe of the place was very comfortable and clean. The service was a bit slow at first and not real friendly but luckily the food made up for that. read more

Momona - I ordered the pork belly bao which was my favorite, and the double dip soup (I think that's the name of it) - Ramen Near Me - Chico, California

Duck bao superb! Duck with leeks, shallots and pickled red onions. Bring someone you love for lunch!

I was in the chico area for business and was craving ramen so found this place on yelp. Went in and was surprised a bowl of ramen was $13 with no egg, so i added and egg for $2 more. Ok do thought the food would be worth it because of such a high price. Service was horrible, i waited 20-30 for my bowl of ramen and what was more irritating was that when the guy dropped off my bowl not a word was said to me. No "enjoy" "sorry for the wait". It wasnt that busy so i dont know why it took so long. So i got my oily plain brothed ramen and cracked open the normal plain egg. The yolk was way undercooked and it just all dissappeared into the plain broth. Waste of $2. NEVER COMING HERE AGAIN! BAD SERVICE, PLAIN FOOD. go to a real ramen house guys, you will taste the difference read more

Momona - High priced oily plain broth, way undercooked watery plain egg. Burnt pork belly plus bad service - Ramen Near Me - Chico, California

...Oh, how I wanted to fall in love with you Momona! Filled with anticipatory delight for the Ramen experience I was sure awaited my arrival, only to succumb to my worst culinary nightmare..... bland, overpriced food masked in an even more bland, sterile decor. Well, I did like the wooden chairs actually. Hmmmm......here are some items of noteworthy mention when deciding to spend your hard earned dollar here: 1. When I say dollar, I literally mean it. "$1 for hot sauce or spice in my ramen I asked the cashier?!?", who stared back at me with pleading eyes, knowing it was a ridiculous cost, but imploring me to cease the inquiry, and accept his trained & rote response of " its made in-house". So is salad dressing in most restaurants I thought to myself, but they don't ask you to pay EXTRA for it when you order a salad! 2. Have aliens abducted me and I'm in San Francisco, because surely a $13 bowl of ramen at Momona (add another $1 for hot sauce) is akin to the authentic noodle houses of the Bay Area that give you a complimentary plate of add-ons (spice choices, greens, shredded carrots, scallions, etc....) Sadly, no. 3. BROTH, BROTH!!! Everyone knows the broth makes the soup!!! Again, bland....lifeless.....with minimal accoutrements, except that of some green scallions and sparse pickled ginger. I sat there and mourned the noodles submerged in their watery grave. 4. Minimal Menu Options: I know they just opened, but maybe they're still coming up with more variety??? However, if you're going to simply have 4 or 5 ramen choices, those dishes better be orgasmic in nature, instead of leaving one debating whether or not some boxed chicken broth was warmed up and thrown in the bowl. Will I be recommending this place to friends or strangers? A resounding NO. read more

Cool setting, but seemingly early in process. Black canvases on the walls are boring but coincidentally appropriate. Bao and ginger tea will knock your socks off, but ignore the rest of the menu. read more

Do not order online, they prioritize dining in, I spent 100 dollars tonight and my order was not ready to leave the restaurant for 2 hours!!!! When I asked why they said they got busy and I said that doesn't make sense because my order should have already been In Queue and the person who answered the phone said "I'm not gonna lie we do prioritize in dining". This was on a Thursday night!!! read more

This place was ok...the price was a bit much though. I paid around $17 for a bowl of Ramen and a maybe...6-8oz bottle of soda...too much, smh. The food was a bit bland for my taste buds and I do agree with some of the other users that they really need table condiments. My meat was unseasoned and..dare I say dry/crispy. I'd like maybe a little more meat with seasoning, and veggies. Aside from that the scenery was nice I imagine myself visiting on a cold winters day. I truly wish they would allow to go orders...that's a downfall for me as someone who's alone and doesn't want to sit at the restaurant I'm forced to if I want to eat there. On the positive note...I have visited every place in Chico to my knowledge the sales things even closely related to Ramen and this was the best...for Chico read more

I had the miso and chilled butter ramen, I thought it was good but the ramen was lacking for the price. I really wish that it had more veggies or topping. Also noticed there are no extras on the tables like soy sauce, chili sauce or anything you can add to your ramen (please even some sriracha would help). I also got the pork belly bao, it was good but again, was lacking. It would have been so much better with some pickled veggies or adding a crunch to it. My two friends both tried the pork ramen, both thought it was very bland and had to ask for some soy sauce to help it out a little. This place has tried to go for a certain look but I am not a fan of the atmosphere, felt really cold. Everything was really focused on presentation, but I rather have the focus be on the food. Really wished I could love this place. read more

Great atmosphere, great service when ordering. That's about it. I bought their popular iced tea $2.50 and Tonkotsu Ramen $15 (because I added oil) and one pork belly bun. Total $27.82!!!! My soup was tasteless and literally 3/4 inch of oil. I couldn't even finish it because I felt like I was drinking a bottle of oil. The Ramen at the sushi spots have more flavor than this. read more

Momona - Tonkotsu Ramen with an inch of oil floating on the top... - Ramen Near Me - Chico, California

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There are a lot of positives about this place and I am super happy that a place like this opened in Chico. There are however a couple negatives, and I wish I could break down the review in yelp. Food - the food is AMAZING!!! - Five stars hands down - I could eat fifteen of their Pork Belly Bao - absolutely incredible. They have an awesome Japanese beer selection as well.. but it is really expensive ($8 a beer??). Price - As incredible as the food is.. the price is a little high. The Bao are $5 a piece and the ramen is $12-$15. I'll definitely be back but the price makes me a little hesitant to make this a regular dining option. If they dropped their price a bit they would have lines out the door. Comfort - The restaurant is nice and clean. The sit down tables/chairs are very comfortable however the bar stools are incredibly uncomfortable. I am not sure if anyone say down in them prior to buying a bunch of them but they remind me of high-school stools... get better stools and more people will be happy/comfortable at the bar (which is more than 50% of the restaurant's seating. read more

Best ramen bowl I have had in a very long time. I ordered the Tonkotsu 3.0 and added an egg. I was so impressed and satisfied! The pork belly had crispy edges with melt-in-your mouth quality. The broth was balanced and soothing. The egg was a soft-boiled style, but boiled just enough to get separate bites of egg with a few bites. Noodles were very good and not overly starchy. There is no better ramen dish within Chico/Paradise, and it's better than my homemade! I can't wait to come back to try some of their Japanese beers too. Update: they stopped serving the tonkotsu ramen and the alternatives offered were horrible. I was seriously turned off by my most recent visit with the bad tasting ramen and skankily clad waitress. Sorry Monona, but it doesn't look like I'll be returning until I hear of the Tonkotsu ramen coming back. :( read more