Great vibe, great pre-Symphony meal very close to the Civic Center arts institutions. read more

Nojo Ramen Tavern - Charsiu rice bowl - Ramen Near Me - San Francisco, California

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The chicken ramen is really good. Broth is viscous and gelatinous in the best way, without feeling heavy. Noodles are quite special - they taste so fresh, bouncy with the perfect bite. Salmon hand roll is in taco format - not cheap but very delicious and tender fish, and plenty of ikura. read more

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It's all about the chicken in these ramen bowls. My friend suggested this place for Friday lunch. We were able to find parking on Franklin and there was no wait to be seated around 12.45 pm. At her recommendation, I ordered the tan tan spicy miso paitan ramen. The bowl comes w/a heap of fresh cilantro and shredded green onion on top of al dente noodles, a perfectly cooked and seasoned ramen egg and a delicious (though really not that spicy) and creamy broth. The one thing that was missing was the ground chicken. I think there was probably about a tablespoon of chicken in my bowl and for the price ($21) I do expect to find one of the described ingredients in an adequate amount in my bowl. That was my only beef w/this joint. Otherwise, service was prompt, attentive and friendly. read more

Nojo Ramen Tavern - Ramen Near Me - San Francisco, California

A popular spot that always seems busy, so we gave it a try. Soy sauce tori paiton was flavorful and solid, but Tokyo was bitter, not aromatic, from yuzu and "chashu" pork was so dry we thought it was chicken breast, matching with other menu items. Server didnt let us order extra noodles unless everyone gets a bowl of ramen, even though we also ordered small salmon rice bowl (skimpy on meat and all mayonnaise), a salmon hand roll kind of thing (way too expensive for one piece and raw fish not fresh), and a dorayaki (proobably frozen/defrosted), coming to a price equivalent of another ramen if not more. Was overall overpriced and underwhelming. There are many other better restaurants in such a chic and trendy district like Hayes valley. read more

Got a Tokyo ramen and honestly was not a fan of the broth but that's probably just a personal preference. It lacked the umami flavor of ramen broth which I really love in a bowl of ramen. The calamari was good tho and had great texture! read more

Nojo Ramen Tavern - Tokyo Ramen - Ramen Near Me - San Francisco, California

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A super cute little spot around the corner from some local music. Stopped here for dinner and got seated immediately! The food was cooked right in front of me (bar seating) and boy did it look tasty. The tokyo hit the spot! Exactly what I wanted from the style. Will be coming back for that crazy chicken one sometime! read more

Nojo Ramen Tavern - Tokyo Ramen - Ramen Near Me - San Francisco, California

i'm so glad I discovered this place. The menu feels so creative, I've never seen this many chicken Ramen dishes before the Ramen soup was very flavorful, and the chicken tasted great. The skin was so crispy, although it got a little soggy by the end. I liked all the toppings and the egg as well. The inside is very dark, but the seating is nice, with many different types. The waiter was helpful. I'm definitely coming again, so many menu items I want to try. read more

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Walked by so many times and finally tried it. Went with their miso spicy ramen and cucumbers. The ramen and broth were cooked perfectly. The Broth was so flavorful and the ramen was perfectly chewy. Just the way I liked it. The cucumbers were refreshing and marinated well. Def coming back! read more

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Good ambiance, right on the edge of Hayes Valley. Cute spot with decent seating, moderately loud. Ramen did feel a little expensive overall (my bowl ended up being $25 with tax & tip). However, it is a solid bowl of ramen. The shio (salt) paitan ramen has a delicious yuzu flavor to it, with a rich but refreshing broth. I enjoyed the noodles which had a good chew! Service is fast and as expected. Would go back! read more

Nojo Ramen Tavern - Shio Paitan - Ramen Near Me - San Francisco, California

the flavor of everything here was absolutely amazing. I've never tasted more rich and flavorful ramen broths than these, especially the soy sauce tori paitan, which is their signature ramen. its broth had this savory, smokey flavor that was so delicious and addicting, and the whole braised chicken leg was perfectly tender and fell off the bone. we also ordered the tan tan spicy miso, the shio (salt), and the dry spicy ground chicken tossed noodles. they all had an incredible blend of flavors and spice and we loved the chewy texture of the ramen as well. we got the fried calamari to start which were good and crispy, but nothing too special and was a pretty small portion. we came here for dinner before going to the symphony which was perfect since it was right across the street. It's also very convenient to join the yelp waitlist from your phone ahead of time-our wait was around 10 minutes at 6pm on a saturday, so it wasn't too bad at all! overall, we were highly impressed by the food and enjoyed our experience at this little ramen joint! It was very cozy yet bright inside, and the service was quick. would definitely come back again! read more

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The food and atmosphere are decent, but was expecting a bit more attention to detail for the price. Ordered the tomato ramen with corn added on. The flavors were wonderful, however, there was hardly any broth or chicken which made the dish feel unbalanced. The corn edition was pricey ($2.50), and although they gave a very generous amount, it was way too much for the dish, again making it feel unbalanced. Additionally, the fresh tomatoes were not ripe. The restaurant has a very warm and cozy feeling, and the wait staff were kind and attentive. Overall, considering how many Ramen options there are in the area, I will likely not be coming back here. read more

Nojo Ramen Tavern - Tomato Ramen - Ramen Near Me - San Francisco, California

Great ramen place on Fillmore. Usually a bit crowded, especially on a Friday or weekend dinner rush, but there's a tablet inside where you can join the yelp waiting list and stroll around Hayes for the 15-25 min wait. The Signature Ramen is a must-try. It's a bit pricey for ramen but it includes a giant chicken leg that's fall-of-the-bone level of tenderness. read more

Nojo Ramen Tavern - Signature ramen - Ramen Near Me - San Francisco, California

We didn't have any reservations on a Friday night but we got seated pretty quickly at a table for two. I ordered the signature Tokyo ramen and my husband ordered the tomato one. Both were delicious - the broth was very flavorful. I wish our server was a bit more attentive and friendlier, she didn't greet us with any smile when she approached our table - Something to improve on. read more

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Food and service was great. The broth was really flavorful. The interior is very clean and the service is fast but not hurried. read more

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It's kinda shocking that it's taken me so long to try this place. I love ramen and I'm often in the neighborhood for arts events nearby. Finally decided to give this place a try after a Frameline movie and loved it! Soy Sauce Tori Paitan: The chicken leg quarter is unmistakable. Something I haven't seen in other ramens. It's so tender, almost like the texture of duck confit. Very rich and tasty. The broth as well is rich and delicious! Can't believe they get all that flavor from chicken. The noodles were springy and chewy. A really satisfying bowl, probably because of all the protein, so you don't really need to order any other food to accompany this. read more

Nojo Ramen Tavern - Soy Sauce Tori Paitan - Ramen Near Me - San Francisco, California

Bustling restaurant with a nice vibe. They have a good selection of ramens and a few other dishes as well. This classic soy sauce ramen was flavourful but the noodles were outstanding. Bouncy. Chewy and delicious. I also tasted the tan tan miso ramen and that was probably my favourite. Good amount of numbing spice yet still creamy. Definitely stop by on the next rainy day! read more

Nojo Ramen Tavern - Soy Sauce ramen - Ramen Near Me - San Francisco, California

Was very impressed by this place! Came as a group of 4 at about 8pm on a Saturday. No wait time and everything we ordered was unique and delicious! read more

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I've been here for quite a while, and honestly, the food is sooo good, say less! I would 100% recommend trying this restaurant without even thinking twice. The service was super nice and friendly; she kept checking in on us, which I really appreciated. And the vibe? The ambiance made our dinner feel so warm and cozy. read more

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New go-to ramen spot in SF! We came during lunch time on a Saturday and we were seated right away, though the restaurant was packed. The highlight of the meal was hands down the Tomato Paitan. So flavorful and a fun twist to ramen. The spicy miso was classic and solid. The egg sando was underwhelming - would probably skip. Highly recommend! read more

Nojo Ramen Tavern - Tomato Paitan - Ramen Near Me - San Francisco, California

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My Lord the broth for the soy sauce ramen Why Was it so good! Umami o mommy I loved it Eat gyoza while it's hot I loved the whole chicken leg in that thing too Service was pleasant and fast and attentive read more

Nojo Ramen Tavern - Soy Sauce Ramen - Ramen Near Me - San Francisco, California

Ordered item B, the (salt) ramen with an added soft boiled egg. The ramen was delicious! I will definitely be back! Service was great. Loved the jazz music playing in the background. read more

Nojo Ramen Tavern - Ramen Near Me - San Francisco, California

Immediately seated for a table of 2 on a Tuesday around 8pm! Seating is a little tight, but it wasn't too loud and their service was friendly. You choose and pay for your food via a QR code in each table. The spicy miso paitan was super flavorful and not too spicy! Would get again. read more

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Still in love with their chicken paitan. I don't know if they ruined it for me... I compare every PAITAN ramen against Nojo's ever since I've had theirs and NONE can come close... the flavor, the unctuousness, the noodle bite, the chicken leg quarter - this bowl of ramen set the paitan bar and I'm still so in love with it. I got giddy to find out they are open on Friday lunches and now that I'm working Fridays in office -- ya girl is probably gonna get this ramen at least once a month cuz it's just that yummy! Shared it with my partner and got a salmon over rice and ate the salmon rice with some of the broth and MMM MMM MMM --- chefs kiss - so happy! The service is straight forward and quick with the QR code ordering... ambiance is still very cool - I actually wanted to ask (but didn't cuz I got shy) where to buy their chopsticks cuz they're so nice! All this to update the fact that - NOJO - thank you for STILL making the yummiest paitan ramen for me. read more

Nojo Ramen Tavern - Ramen Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Overall good. I tried their signature shio ramen, tomato paitan, and shishito peppers. The soup was rich and flavorful, and the noodles had a nice chewy texture. However, chicken was on the dry side. The shishito peppers were 5/5. I might return if I'm in the area and craving, but the price is a bit steep. read more

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We came on a Friday night for a casual dinner before a show nearby. My experience here was overall a bit underwhelming. The restaurant is small, so there was a bit of a wait, as expected. We sat down at the lower tables in the middle and I thought the chair was uncomfortable, like the seat back was too far from the seat pan for me. We got the soy sauce chicken paitan ramen and the broth was rich and flavorful, and came out very hot. It also wasn't too salty. The ramen is a thicker noodle, which I like. There's tons of scallions, chives, and shallots, which can be good or bad depending on if you like onions. However, all of our chicken legs were a bit dry, seems like they over-roasted it. At $23 a bowl, it's quite pricey already so it was sad to have dry chicken. read more

Nojo Ramen Tavern - Soy sauce chicken ramen - Ramen Near Me - San Francisco, California

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While the workers were fantastic and the environment allowed for me to converse with my friends, I had more expectations for the food. My friends and I came here on a weekday night, and we were able to be seated immediately. There were not too many options on the menu, which often speaks more of quality than quantity for me. I ordered their Shio Ramen and Umami Chicken Wings for the table. The chicken wings came out first, and they were finished immediately by our table. They were flavorful and not too crispy/crunchy. All our ramens came out at the same time, and I was slightly still hungry after finishing my portion. I expected a bit more flavor and seasoning for the ramen, when comparing it with other ramen restaurants in SF. I enjoyed my meal but otherwise would not suggest this place to friends. read more

Nojo Ramen Tavern - Shio Ramen - Ramen Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Came by around 5:30pm on a Friday before attending an event nearby. There was no line and open tables inside. We were sat down right away, and we felt quite rushed to order. We ordered the shishito peppers as an appetizers. The dish was just okay - the peppers were quite oily and some peppers had no flavor as the sauce wasn't evenly distributed. I got the Tokyo ramen as a lighter option and the only one with chashu, but it was quite disappointing as the meat was very tough and there weren't many additions in the bowl that made it feel anything special. Definitely not the best value for what you get and the flavor was just fine. It got quite busy and loud by the time we were finished as the restaurant was full. read more

Nojo Ramen Tavern - Tokyo "homemade" ramen - Ramen Near Me - San Francisco, California

I really wanted to like this place, but unfortunately it was a letdown. The ramen here is basically just packed ramen -- not fresh noodles -- and the soup base tastes the same for every bowl. They just add different sauces or toppings on top to try and pass it off as different flavors. For the price they charge, I expected something a lot more authentic and thoughtfully made. Definitely feels overpriced for what you're actually getting. There are way better ramen spots out there for the same or even less. Wouldn't come back. read more

Nojo Ramen Tavern - Ramen Near Me - San Francisco, California

Food: I think it's mid based off the appetizers and the dry noodle dish I had. The miso cucumber was okay. The yakitori and chicken wings were not particularly too flavorful. I perhaps can't comment too much on yakitori, but with asian chicken wings, I prefer my wings on the crispier side with that "right" amount of seasoning - ya know? My friends seemed to enjoy their respective ramen dishes and I enjoyed mine. The reviews were all pretty positive, but I also feel like a lot of ramen reviews are positive. It was good and tasty, I just was not particularly blown away by my dish. When I get ramen or eat food like this, I want to be blown away by the complex flavor profile. I think there are different degrees of that when it comes to this cuisine, so that's where my review stands. That being said, I could be at 4, or maybe a 5, if I get a wet ramen next time. Service: You order and via the QR code at your table. Super convenient and quick. If you're looking for a sit down, this is not your place. Each QR code is associated with the person and not the table, so you do not pay for everyone, just you, unless you share your phone. Ambiance: Cozy vibe. Very small place, but pretty quick turnaround. You can see the kitchen, which is pretty cool. read more

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Very good! Tried the Soy Sauce ramen and the Tokyo. The soy sauce ramen was more creamy and has a thicker broth. I preferred the Tokyo ramen since it was more light and salty. Overall really really good. No wait for 2 on a Saturday night. We finished both bowls. read more

Nojo Ramen Tavern - Soy Sauce Paitan wz Chicken Meatball - Ramen Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Came here on a chill day and this ramen spot hit like a warm hug! It was so good and flavorful, the chicken leg was so juicy and just fell right off the bone. The service was so quick and I can't wait to come back and try other flavors! read more

Nojo Ramen Tavern - Tokyo Soy Sauce Ramen - Ramen Near Me - San Francisco, California

We got lucky with a quick seat here at Nojo, and it was at the bar where we saw the chefs do their thing in the kitchen. The open restaurant is a cool concept and always fun to see. The restaurant has a QR code that allows you to pay and take orders through their online app. It makes it convenient and helps with the flow of the restaurant. We ordered the popular items - Spicy Tan Tan, Soy Sauce Ramen and their half and half fries. Spicy Tan Tan had just enough kick to feel a burn but not enough to overpower. Very flavorful and rich. Highly recommend this dish. Soy Sauce Ramen felt lighter and had a more herbal taste which is great for those who want a lighter meal for the night. Half and Half fries are a must try. The truffle oil is incredible. Loved this restaurant. It felt very exciting being inside with it being so lively. read more

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I ordered an unagi don. 2 big pieces of unagi under a small bed of sticky rice. The unagi was flavorful and was pretty satisfied after I finished eating. read more

Nojo Ramen Tavern - Una Don (Eel bowl) - Ramen Near Me - San Francisco, California

My husband and I came a little after the lunch rush on Saturday and were seated right away at a high top table, although we were later able to move to a regular table. Overall this spot gives casual, self service ramen shop vibes. You scan the QR code on the table to customize your bowl, including removing certain toppings or putting them on the side (eg spice bomb, chili oil, cilantro- although I opted for no cilantro and mine still came with it). We would have liked to get the soy sauce ramen with whole chicken leg but they were sold out. Instead we tried the tomato paitan (flavorful, husband says it reminded him of cioppino) and tan tan spicy miso (classic, solid- and no peanuts!). Service is pleasant and speedy, nice for a quick and satisfying solo or small group experience. read more

Nojo Ramen Tavern - Tan-Tan Spicy Miso Paitan, Tomato Paitan - Ramen Near Me - San Francisco, California

The spicy tan tan ramen was delicious! Tastes very similar to the spicy tan tan at marufuku ramen which is one of my favorites.

This place is a hit with my friends with no dietary restrictions, but my rating is exclusively for this with restrictions. They have an allergen menu but it's a little confusing. They mix up soy with soy sauce by marking things that have soy in it but not marking wheat, but when I try to confirm with the waiters they say it has soy sauce which contains wheat. Even things not marked with soy nor wheat, they said had soy sauce. You definitely have to check with the staff, but it's to be expected at more authentic places like this. I've only been a couple of times when others wanted ramen, and I can usually find a seasonal special I can eat. I do not recommend it though for those with allergies or celiac. It's a no frills ramen stop and they are usually pretty busy. However, they hustle through their waitlist so you don't usually have to wait too long, even with a group. read more

3.5 star! Originally a 4/5 star, I really enjoyed the salad. I think i would literally come back for just their salad that comes with edamame, radish, golden beets, tomato paired with a toasted sesame dressing. The ramen is good. I did enjoy the Soy Sauce Tori Paitan which came with a whole chicken leg. I thought it was unique since you don't see this type anywhere in other ramen places. It is on the heavier flavor profile side, but the salad helped a lot. -0.5 star due to the mini flies that kept flying around my food while I was dining. They wouldn't leave me alone! It may due to the fact that the restaurant door was wide open, maybe flies flew in? read more

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When ramen is crafted with this much thoughtfulness, it should be cherished. Nojo Ramen Tavern is a traditional Japanese Izakaya and Ramen Bar located on Franklin Street in the heart of San Francisco's Hayes Valley neighborhood mere blocks from San Francisco's Civic Center and the performing arts corridor which hosts everything from the symphony to the opera. Owned by a parent company who owns more than 200 ramen shops throughout Japan, you can't get more authentic than the noodles served in rich paitan broth being crafted by the team at Nojo Ramen Tavern. What sets Nojo Ramen Tavern apart from so many of their competitors is that their paitan broth base comes with soy sauce, which gives the normally thick, cloudy, rich soup, that's a major component of ramen, a darker color. What brought a group of three friends and I here on a recent weekend evening dinner was the fact that we were hungry for a satisfying dinner and we knew they would be fast service to get us in and out as we had a show to see at a nearby theatre. Nojo Ramen Tavern is a first come first serve style of business meaning that if you want a table your entire party must be present in order to be sat but you can be waitlisted for a table if you enter your name and party number on the Yelp tablet in front waiting area so you can wait patiently for your name to be called via text message. Luckily, even though I had yet to make it to the restaurant in time to be seated, they allowed the rest of our party to sit at a tall communal table and order without me until I was able to arrive. Fortunately, I was able to peruse the menu ahead of time and inform fellow diners what I wanted to order. The menu at Nojo Ramen Tavern is separated into categories including their Ramens, Appetizers, Bowls, Dons, and Plates. Of course, each one of us diners came for Ramen and I ordered the Tan-Tan Spicy Miso which had ramen noodles, spicy ground chicken, a soft boiled organic dashi egg, toasted sesame, cilantro, chopped green onions, and something called a spice bomb. Others ordered their Tomato Ramen which had ramen noodles, tomato, shredded chicken tenders, black garlic oil, cilantro, grana padano cheese, lemon and fried garlic; their Dry Spicy Ground Chicken Tossed Noodles which featured flat noodles topped with spicy ground chicken, an soft boiled organic dashi egg, nira chives, cilantro, red onion, shredded nori, bonito flakes and toasted sesame; and their signature Soy Sauce Ramen which features a slow braised whole chicken leg, an organic soft boiled dashi egg, nira chives, black garlic oil, red and green onion and fish powder. Since I ordered ahead, it wouldn't take too long for our food to be delivered to our table, and I was actually taken aback by the sheer size of their meals as they seemed huge at first glance. Thanks to the abundance of their signature paitan broth, I was in ramen noodle and soup heaven. This was one of the first instances where I enjoyed ramen noodles and the soup broth outshined everything else. The rich and flavorful tomato broth, which thankfully was topped with a lot of garlic bits, was the perfect menu item to warm up on a cold evening. Everyone else seemed to enjoy their meal, as the one diner who normally loves spicy food, even found the Dry Spicy Ground Chicken Tossed Noodles even too hot for their taste buds! Our total bill was $92.37 before gratuity was added in, which could be considered on the pricier side, but is in line with what this local area has to offer in terms of dinner. A return visit to Nojo Ramen Tavern just so I could try their Tonkatsu Plate or their Una Don, as there is nothing more authentically Japanese cuisine than deep fried pork cutlet or marinated eel. At Nojo Ramen Tavern there is a little taste of Japan that resides in the Noe Valley neighborhood in San Francisco, and here's to hoping this is just the beginning for them here in the Bay Area. read more

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Nojo Ramen is known for its signature ramen, which includes a whole braised chicken leg. The chicken was flavorful and tender, but the broth itself was a bit too salty. I also ordered the chicken nanban, which was fried chicken intended to be spicy, but it fell short on heat. I would recommend skipping this appetizer, as the house-made sauce wasn't very impressive either. read more

Nojo Ramen Tavern - Signature ramen - Ramen Near Me - San Francisco, California

We decided to find something to eat before heading to the symphony nearby and found this place that we wanted to try out. We got seated pretty quickly, which was a great start to our dining experience. You can order online by scanning the QR code on the table or ask the waiter for a physical menu. Tan-Tan Spicy Miso Paitan: This dish was a highlight! The spicy ground chicken, toasted sesame, cilantro, green onion, organic dashi egg, and spice bomb created a rich and flavorful broth. Highly recommended! Fried Calamari: This side dish was decent. The fried calamari with mayonnaise and chili powder tasted alright, but the squid pieces were a bit small, more like end tail parts. Chicken Nanban Spicy Tartar: I would definitely recommend this dish! The Miyazaki-style chicken fritters dipped in soy vinaigrette and topped with house spicy tartar sauce were delicious. The chicken was tender and juicy, and the spicy tartar sauce added a great kick. Overall, a solid dining experience with some standout dishes. Would definitely come back! read more

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