1st let's start with how great the employees are. Ordered online and when I get there early they apologized for not having the food ready I was early and wasn't expecting it done. Kept checking back with me and thanked me profusely when they delivered the good. Got home and the order was perfect. The quantity was huge, very flavorful. On another note I watched them serve, clean tables and greet customers as if each one of the employees was vested in their success. I'll be back and keep up the great work read more

What a cute little place!! It was late in the evening and I was getting hangry. I was craving ramen and Neko came up during my Yelp research. They were open late, so we decided to go. The restaurant was popping at 22:00 on a Friday. We were greeted warmly by staff. It was intriguing to us that we ordered via an iPad kiosk as if we were at a boba place, but we didn't mind. However, usually only to go orders are placed on a kiosk. In my hangry state of mind, I had not realized that Neko only serves their ramen with chicken broth, so for those of you who prefer tonkotsu broth, this isn't the place for you. For that reason, my husband had to order a chashu rice bowl instead. Personally, I enjoy both paitan and tonkotsu. I went with the black garlic ramen. It didn't take very long for our food to arrive. While we waited, we dispensed water for ourselves from the soda fountain. I was a little confused upon receiving my black garlic ramen, as I thought the black garlic oil would be more prominent. I was assured that I had the right bowl. My husband enjoyed his chashu rice bowl. I had a small bite and the pork was tender and well-seasoned. The paitan broth was very umami indeed. I would have liked to have more of a black garlic flavor, but it was still good. Next time I would just pay the extra $2 for more black garlic oil. The noodles were bouncy, and the chashu was tender. The egg was deliciously jammy (alas no photo because I devoured it). I saw they had soy sauce and hot sauce, but wish they had the classic chili powder so I could have added some to my ramen. Neko Ramen & Rice hit for late night noms, and the cat-themed decor all around (since Neko means cat in Japanese) was such a vibe. They also serve curry, poke, and various small bites if you want some apps to enjoy before your entrees. If you don't mind chicken broth for your ramen or will be ordering rice bowls instead, Neko is a fun little place to come dine at, especially since they open late. read more

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We wanted something warm but everything was closed at 10 PM. We settled for Neko because they closed late. We called to make sure their kitchen doesn't close earlier than posted closing time. They're next to the Domino's and Starbucks. Inside the decor is trendy with Japanese-themed cats. Neko is cat in Japanese, so duh. You order at the tablet, then take a table number that's in the box to the left. I got whatever spicy ramen they had for $17 regular size. You have to pay extra to get the spicy sauce, which was actually spicy and good. I dropped the entire container into my ramen and even used it to dip the karaage. I didn't like the karaage. It was too "American". The ramen was ok. Noodles were filling. I wish they didn't put fried onions. I might have missed that option when ordering? I vaguely remembering that you could add toppings though. Service? Where? Maybe they were new? One didn't speak English. -Bathroom available -parking lot with plenty of parking -No outdoor seating -Fountain drinks, self-served read more

Neko Ramen & Rice - Wall of cats - Ramen Near Me - Denver, Colorado

I went here on a date so no pictures :( but the flavors will be in my memory forever! Large parking lot shared with surrounding businesses. I saw a tiktok for this place advertising their cat themed decor and flavorful broth. I confirm, both did not disappoint! The decor was on point! So many cute cat references and the classic white cat waving statues. If you like cats, I would go just to see the theme. I got the miso ramen. The broth was so flavorful! It was rich and savory! It comes with an egg and pork belly. The pork was cooked well and I think the egg was soft boiled! They serve it in a large bowl with plenty of noodles! Reasonably priced too, about $15 for my bowl (after tax). Overall I would definitely go back with friends. read more

Small space we discovered one night as we arrived in Denver in a rainy night. Ramen was the perfect vibe and this place did not disappoint. The only downside is that the seating capacity is limited and on a very busy day, you may need to share a table. Both the pork belly bun and ramen was very good for CO standards (still doesn't compare to west coast restaurants). The bun was a little smaller than what I'm used to and for the price ($8 each) I would've expected a bit more read more

Neko Ramen & Rice - Black garlic ramen - Ramen Near Me - Denver, Colorado

Awesome little hole in the wall ramen place. We were searching for a ramen place open late and stumbled upon neko. I had the black garlic ramen and it was very garlicky and delicious. Our only complaint was the egg in the ramen was poached rather than boiled, which we prefer boiled eggs. Also the decor is very cute and fun. Staff was very nice as well. read more

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My husband and I love Ramen and we are always searching for good Ramen places when we travel. Neko 100% measures up to our expectations! You know when you walk in and there is steady stream of take out orders you can expect the food to be great. You order at the counter and staff bring out the ramen once it's ready. We did have to wait/sane a table with another individual because it was so busy. I got the Hot Miso and my husband got the black garlic. The pork was cooked perfectly and had an amazing flavor. Next time we are in the Denver area we will be going back! read more

The ramen here instantly transported me back to the meals I had in Japan, it's incredibly authentic. The spicy miso ramen was so flavorful yet perfectly spiced. The black garlic ramen was also really good - if you like garlic this is the your perfect ramen order! The shrimp was so freshly friend, loved it! Service is quick! Totally worth the 40 minute drive from Parker! read more

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This place is incredible. I honestly order their ramen like once a week. It comes hott because they package it so well and the broth is so tasty. Highly recommend. read more

Excellent ramen spot, a great comfort food spot we enjoy frequenting with eclectic music (I love when they go anime) and its vegetarian friendly (my gf loves the vegan creamy ramen). You order via a kiosk and then they deliver the food to you when you sit down via the number you're given. Sailor Moon in neon eating ramen is a very nice touch too, but keep an eye out for the evil Neko. On the top, via spotlight from the far left it's the second from the left. Something we noticed, this Neko seems to watch you read more

Neko Ramen & Rice - Miso Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Denver, Colorado

Really enjoyed our spicy and black ramen with vegan meat. We tried the lunch special as well which was good just had to add a little soy sauce. The service was great and enjoyed the sailor moon decoration! read more

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I recently gave Neko Ramen & Rice a try after noticing its appealing storefront and trendy ambiance on some online photos. The decor is definitely a strong point. The place is filled with fun Japanese paraphernalia that creates a cool, immersive atmosphere reminiscent of a Tokyo ramen bar. Ordering is done via kiosk, which is convenient enough. After placing my order, I received a number and waited about 15 minutes for the food to be ready. The process was smooth, though the staff seemed pretty uninterested and disengaged. Not rude, but definitely not warm or welcoming. As for the food: I had higher hopes. I got the spicy miso ramen, and it tasted fairly generic and lacked that rich, deep umami flavor that defines a good bowl. The broth didn't stand out in any particular way, and the pork was overly salty -- to the point it tasted like it had been over-marinated or left too long in soy sauce. It wasn't inedible, but it wasn't satisfying either. Coming from Southern California, I've had better spicy miso ramen. Overall, while the setting and concept are appealing, the actual food and service didn't live up to my expectations. I really wanted this to be a new favorite spot, but unfortunately, it left me a bit disappointed. There's potential here, but it needs more attention to flavor and guest experience to stand out. read more

Neko Ramen & Rice - Spicy miso ramen - Ramen Near Me - Denver, Colorado

When I first walked in, I noticed how hip and cute it was with the decor and neon lights. This place has a self-serve kiosk and you order first and grab a number then find a table. I ordered the corn butter ramen with pork instead of chicken and it came out quickly. I liked that the corn butter option was unique than other ramen spots, but I found that the taste of the ramen overall was ok. The pork pieces were small and weren't as fatty as some of the pieces you get in authentic ramen. Overall, it was a good experience but not the tastiest ramen I've had. read more

Neko Ramen & Rice - Corn butter ramen with pork instead of chicken - Ramen Near Me - Denver, Colorado

Just an update that the owner did contact us and refunded our meal. This was the right thing to do and I am glad no one got seriously sick. They did mention how they are reviewing their food handling practices. read more

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I'm so glad this place is located here! The food is outstanding and the service is wonderful. The food is rich and flavor and on a cold day, just warms the soul. The atmosphere is a taste of what it might be like in Japan. Highly recommend! read more

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I tried Neko Ramen after seeing social media posts about how cute it is. And the decor is really fun and cute! I tried the Corn ramen, also because it was recommended. I didn't know what to expect, but it was incredible - one of my favorite ramens I've ever had in Denver. It felt very comforting and delicious. read more

I came to Neko Ramen & Rice for a late dinner. Upon arriving, the place was packed, but despite this, the line moved fairly quickly. The speedy service continued after I had placed my order, with my food coming out within several minutes. As for the quality of the food, it was pretty good for a fast-casual restaurant. The broth was flavorful and complemented the chicken, whereas the egg was perfectly poached. On top of the excellent service, two employees here have the same first name as me! Overall, I would recommend Neko Ramen & Rice if you're looking for good quality ramen served at breakneck speeds. read more

Neko Ramen & Rice - Ramen Near Me - Denver, Colorado

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Great little spot. The ramen portions are HUGE. We couldn't finish though somehow the guy next to us who got his food 1 minute before us finished his entire bowl before we even got our chopsticks open. Food was flavorful. I got the creamy vegan ramen. It has brussel sprouts and vegan meat crumbles. Very delicious. My wife got a regular pork ramen. For some reason ALL their ramen bowls except one use a chicken broth. Seemed weird but she said it still tastes yummy. I would go again. Filled me up for the day. Super cute decorations. Lots of lucky cats everywhere. read more

Very bad arrangement. We came first and ordered by the self order kiosk. We didn't know we have to queue up at the fountain drink area but stood at the entrance for 10 mins. All the groups after us got tables and we didn't know until we asked a staff. Many staffs saw and passed us but no one told us there was a line. Not sure the food but definitely very bad experience read more

This place was fire! The ramen was goated, the food was on the cheaper side for Denver, and the atmosphere and staff were so welcoming and warm I'm definitely visiting next time I'm up here in the BIG CITY! read more

Neko Ramen & Rice - Takoyaki (4pcs) soju! - Ramen Near Me - Denver, Colorado

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Seriously good. The spicy miso ramen was flawless but what really blew me away was the garlic soy crispy chicken thighs. Worth making a special trip just for that. read more

Black garlic Ramen 7/10 When you add soy sauce and whatever red sauce was on the table 8/10 Dumplings 5/10 Bao Bun 5/10 (They use the same pork they use in the ramen, in the bun but has a sweet sauce we didn't know how to feel about.) Atmosphere is cute but you have to ORDER THE FOOD ON AN IPAD -4/10 (Won't be going back for this reason. Stop making me work when I go out to eat. I don't work here) Place was busy enough there was a wait for a table to sit down at. Price was great. $14 ramen, $8 buns and dumplings read more

Such a cute spot. Doesn't hold a lot of patrons on the inside but they sure do turn and burn Togo orders! The staff were all super friendly and nice. This is an order at the front and they'll bring you your food type of place but the employees were still coming around and asking if everything was going okay and if we needed anything. There were only two front of house employees and they were doing awesome. Food! The ramen was amazing! Probably top 3 places in Denver to get Ramen. Everything about it was so good. read more

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Amen, Ramen! That's exactly what you'll be saying after dining at Neko. They've got an amazing selection of ramen, rice dishes, apps, and soju, plus such fun decor and I'm obsessed with the vibe here! And let me tell you, the food matches (or even beats) the vibe. For my first visit, I had to try some of their most popular dishes! What I tried: MI-SO HOT - Chicken broth, spicy miso paste, pork chashu (pork belly), egg, bean sprouts, grilled onions & green onions CURRY CHICKEN BOWL - Curry, steamed white rice, pickled Japanese radish Green Apple Soju Best bites: I only tried two dishes, but both were fantastic! The ramen broth was spicy, rich, and packed with flavor, and the pork belly was the perfect protein for it. The curry chicken bowl was next-level and the curry itself was incredible, and the pickled jalapeño radish? A perfect addition. If you haven't been yet, check them out! I cannot wait to go back and try more. read more

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This is such a cute ramen place. If you love cute things, this place is worth visiting once. The wall is covered with neko cats and there's a sailor moon eating ramen neon light. It's filled with fake cherry blossoms. Definitely like the vibe of this place a lot. The food is pretty good. The noodles are nice and chewy. The black garlic ramen had a lot of flavor. The charsiu tasted very good in the broth. The bang bang shrimp was very tasty and comes with six pieces. The takoyaki was also really good. There are lots of tables to eat. It is a self serve place so you put your dirty dishes away up front near a counter. This is a great place to go to if you're eating dinner past 7pm and want something better than fast food drive through. read more

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Trendy Japanese ramen place for gen z customers. Cute decorations, huge bowl but just normal portion, order at the counter, food served at table with table number. Got number from counter to use restroom. We ordered black garlic, miso hot, Tori, corn butter, Everybody is happy with the food and clear the bowls. Only complain is the eggs are not marinated and cooked right. Minus one star. read more

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Happened to kind of stumble into this place with my family after picking them up from the airport, and it was pretty busy considering it was 10:30 at night. I liked all of the decor! We managed to snag a table and the food was quite good, notably all of their ramens. Noodles had a good chew and the broths were yummy/very umami. The poke bowl was a little underwhelming, and felt like the protein was kind of skimping (only reason this isn't a 5 Star). Would definitely go back for their ramens and would be great as a late night meal! read more

Neko Ramen & Rice - Black Garlic Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Denver, Colorado

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I ordered DoorDash from here and I liked how I had a lot of customizing I can do with my ramen like remove toppings or add toppings. I ended up just removing green onions and it came with a soft boiled egg and some bean sprouts and of course pork. It was very good and the right amount of spicy. The egg was cooked perfectly. I also got the bang bang shrimp. The batter was crispy and it was a good starter. I love that there is a variety of things on the menu and I will definitely try more! read more

Neko Ramen & Rice - Bang Bang Shrimp (6pcs) - Ramen Near Me - Denver, Colorado

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Cute small place with fun decors. Service: ordering is done through kiosk and you select your number and find a table. They will not place your order if you don't have a table. Food: one of the best ramen spot I've food in Denver so far. I got the black garlic noodle. Flavor was there. I wish they did have the option to choose how the noodles are cooked. I've had better charsu. Con(s): space is very limited read more

The owner must be obsessed with cats, given the name of the restaurant ("neko" is cat in Japanese) and the interior which has more maneki-neko (beckoning cat) figurines than I have ever seen in one place. Not to mention all the cat drawings, including a series of tatooed, yakuza-style kitties. Maneki-neko bring good luck in Japan and I had the good luck to find this somewhat odd little place. It looks like it should be a branch of yet another fast food chain, but it is a standalone, family-owned restaurant with carefully, made-to-order food. The menu is focused on ramen with six basic varieties, mostly using chicken or chashu (pork belly). There's also a vegan option and a kid's version. There are 15 choices for extra toppings. I don't think most people will find these necessary, although I do like to add a second egg to my order. If you don't want soup, you can get fried rice or a rice bowl with pork or chicken. There are a variety of appetizers including dumplings (gyoza), shrimp, a pork bun, chicken, egg rolls, wontons, Brussels sprouts, edamame (soy beans), and takoyaki (octopus balls). Besides fountain drinks there are sone canned teas, Japanese sodas (Ramune), and a small selection of sake and bottled beer. I've tried the black garlic, miso, and tori ramen, the first two with pork belly and the latter with chicken. Are these the best ramen ever? No. However the broth has been made with care, all of the ingredients are very fresh, and the pork and chicken are tender and flavorful. The ramen is served in beautiful, porcelain bowls--not cheap plastic. That definitely elevates the experience. You order and pay at the counter, receive a number on a stand, find a seat, and a pleasant staffer brings your order to you. There's comfortable, inside seating for about 25-30. This is not fast-food. Expect your order to take 12-15 minutes to prepare. We arrived just a few minutes after opening and the space was already two-thirds full with take out orders starting to stack up. I've enjoyed the food, the service, and the ambiance here. If you're feeling down, a bowl of delicious ramen and a wall of lucky cats is sure to cheer you up. Give it a try! read more

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Place seemed small from the outside but once you step in, it really opened up. Spacious and beautiful. The decorator did a great job. You find yourself constantly looking at all the details they put into the store. Love it. As for the food. It was great. We ordered takoyaki, kirage, miso ramen , and spicy miso ramen. They all turned out delicious. The broth was creamy and perfect. I had the spicy ramen and the meat in the ramen had a smokey flavor and the noodles were cooked perfectly. My wife enjoyed her ramen too. Nothing but clean plates when we left Parking want a problem either. We grabbed a spot immediately, even though it was quite busy. Only negative comment was where we were sitting. The table got cold Everytime someone opened the door. Can't control that though. There was a lot of people coming here. Definitely would recommend coming here. Enjoy. read more

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Cute decor paired with late night ramen? It was flavorful and fantastic. Their team was very attentive to our table with clearing dishes and checking to see if everything was going well. I ordered the Black Garlic Ramen and really liked that I could order extra pork chashu and egg. The crispy chicken was meaty and crunchy. The cream cheese wontons were packed to the brim which I really appreciated. I'll be back to try the pokè and pork buns soon! read more

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Great food! I had the black garlic ramen and daughter had the miso ramen. You order at a counter and the staff brings it out. Good portion size and it was served hot. All the restaurant folks seemed engaging and happy. Definitely will return. Pro tip: have the cheese wontons for an app ... delicious! read more

Neko ramen was an extremely pleasant find after landing late on a breezy Denver night. After looking over the board to order, I opted for the miso ramen and the bf went with the butter corn ramen. We also added brussel sprouts for health. The sprouts came out first and I really enjoyed the fact that they were actually crispy! More than that, the sweet soy citrus sauce was really tasty! The threads of saffron were also a nice touch! When it came to my ramen, I enjoyed the chicken based broth a lot! It was very flavorful, almost velvety. I really liked that it was also not too salty. The pork slices were super tender and the poached egg was a nice touch. While it didn't include some more traditional toppings like woodear or bamboo, I did appreciate the crunch from the marinated bean sprouts and the umami from the fried shallots. The noodles also looked handmade and had a good chew to them. We did redeem the Yelp offer for a melon ramune and it was definitely a shot of nostalgia! Tasty meal overall! read more

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Only chicken broth ramen! Very delicious and flavorful. Service was quick. The place only has a few tables, don't recommend for large parties. Parking lot is free. read more

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Pre museum visit, my bf and I ended up at Nemo's since a neighboring business was closed (for unknown reasons). We had a great experience too! The food arrived quickly and was absolutely delicious. I ordered a bowl and added egg rolls as part of the lunch special--it was a generous portion, and I still had leftovers to take home. The flavors were spot-on, and everything was fresh and satisfying. The only downside is the limited seating on-site, but they make up for it with easy options for takeout and delivery through their website. If you're craving tasty ramen, this place is definitely worth trying, especially the garlic chicken. Nom nom! read more

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Pretty nice ramen shop in Denver! We were able to go inside as soon as they opened so I grabbed some photos. The ramen was pretty tasty, the staff was super sweet and I loved the interior design of the place! read more

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Love this spot so much, it's a new go to for us. Ambiance is nice, service is great and we haven't had anything on the menu that we didn't like. The vegan ramen (with an added egg) is my favorite and then the bang bang shrimp - so good! read more

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Stumbled upon this whole in the wall randomly before headed to the airport. Food was really good and it was super filling for the price. read more

Neko Ramen & Rice - Ramen Near Me - Denver, Colorado

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Writing an update to boost Neko Ramen up to 5 stars! One year later, it's still my go-to ramen place, and I've widely recommended it to others who have said the same. Honestly, it started out with many late-night visits because no other ramen places in Denver are open until 11pm or midnight. I always get the same thing - Black Garlic Ramen with RIP Sauce on the side. And hot sake of course. Still never TOO busy in this strip mall, so get it while you can! read more