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    NōKA Ramen & Bar

    4.3 (622 reviews)
    Closed 12:00 pm - 2:45 PM, 5:00 PM - 8:30 PM

    Order NōKA Ramen & Bar Takeout or Delivery

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    NŌKA RAMEN & BAR ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
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    Nikita K.

    Came here for a friends birthday dinner and it was a good time. Parking is difficult but there's garages nearby. It wasn't too crowded on a Thursday evening. The service is pretty good here. The aesthetics made it great for a birthday dinner. Very cute backdrop for pictures and just decor around the restaurant. Love that there's many vegetarian options as well. I got the veggie ramen, fries, corn, and Brussels sprouts. All were yummy. The cocktails are very pretty colors too with cute decorations.

    Menu
    Joe W.

    Came on an early Saturday evening with a party of four and got seated right away. The first thing that stands out is how friendly the staff is here with their communal greeting as soon as you arrive. You are literally waited on with excellent service, our server today was N and they were phenomenal at what they do. We loved the anime themed "uniforms " and matching decor that instantly transported us back into classic 90s anime nostalgia. The cocktails and food are colorful and delightful to peruse but honestly don't think too hard about it. Everything on here looks great and taste even better. Highlights for us during this trip, where the Pikachu burger and the steak Ramen, which features spicy yet flavorful broth and generous portion sizes for everything. We tried the passionfruit highball that came with an exclusive Pokémon card, which is a great garnish that tickled my inner child. Would not hesitate in coming back and trying more of their offerings.

    That Wagyu truffle ramen.
    Danreb V.

    As an Asian nerd, I don't think I've ever been as positive taken back as I was with the ambiance of NoKA. This place is a dream for even the most casual anime fans. The servers are in cosplay, there's drinks garnished with Pokemon cards, Dragon Ball Z is playing on the big screen, and there's even a Sailor Moon Sake flight. I was just floored. But this is about the food, right? My girlfriend and I stayed the weekend at Oakland because it's not a place we frequent, and this place was definitely the highlight, especially since it's so easy to find at Jack London Square. She had the lobster ramen and the aforementioned Sailor Moon flight. I had the wagyu truffle ramen along with one of lychee Pokemon TCG drinks. The first bite of my ramen was awesome. It might have been the best flavor I've ever had out of a beef ramen. My only issue was that I was still hungry, which usually isn't the case with ramen. It comes in a big flat bowl, but that's the optical illusion. With the bowl being so big, it looks like there's more food than there actually is. The drink was fine. No frills. The card included was a common, for those wondering. My girlfriend's lobster ramen was also good, but the lobster comes whole with you having to do all the work. I'm great with crustaceans, but I had trouble pulling the lobster meat out as it stuck to the inside -- a sign of it being overcooked. So buyer beware here. Again, it's good, but if you're gonna make me peel the lobster, at least make it a little bit easy. The Sailor Moon flight was cool too but as you'd expect, it's mainly for the gram. All this said, the food was good enough and I loved the vibes, so I'll definitely be back.

    Black garlic noodles and truffle fries
    Frances C.

    It's been awhile since I returned Places still look fresh and the food is still excellent. They added few interesting items. Broth is thick and creamy with a good favor. Need to try them out

    UME highball
    Sara B.

    Literally my favorite meal in awhile. I was so surprised by this little spot in Jack London that I've had in my list for awhile. Decor is stunning first of all. Like tropical, anime, paradise? The service was so quick! I had barely gone to the bathroom after ordering and my food was out. Our server was so kind and attentive too. I love that they're all in power ranger cosplay too. Drinks and menu were unique and fun! I loved my highball which came with a Pokémon card. The gyoza was handmade on my ramen and the broth was so flavorful and comforting. Best of all, they could accommodate my kids! They have a mini kids ramen that was perfect for them. They both ate so much! Needless to say, I will be back. This is a must try if you're in Jack London.

    Kaitlyn L.

    I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed this spot, and how excited I am to come back. Coming here was a suuuper last decision to fulfill a group ramen craving despite how picky I am with my ramen (Ichiran changed me, sorry!). We had no idea there was even a theme, but our waiter took our order in green power rangers uniform which I was visibly confused about at first, but enjoyed the fun vibes. There are pokémon scattered around the place and lots of greenery + lights in the evening, it was hard not to be happy in there. Black Garlic Tonkatsu Ramen: so many toppings that automatically come with it. The broth was rich, the egg was jammy, and the chashu (omg) was sooo soft + fatty! I really enjoyed this bowl. I desperately wanna come back to try their drinks in particular. They have quite the experimental menu and some cards come with a surprise pokémon card for an extra $1... This is the perfect spot to kick off your night @ Jack London Square.

    Black garlic tonkatsu ramen
    Paul C.

    Super cute Ramen place on Jack London Square. Has a fun drink list, really amazing Ramen, really cute interior, great service, fair prices The drinks are themed, super interesting menu, everybody was having a good time

    Chicken Ka-Ramen
    Sunny P.

    Came here today for the first time and can't believe I never knew NōKA existed here in Oak town! My homegirl brought me here and it was so dope, she said it became one of her spots after she discovered it a couple of years ago on TikTok. This place is really good, from the staff, the ambiance and the food/drinks and what's cool is they have Pokémon highballs with a random card you'll get and Sailor Moon flights! The ramen was so good too. Definitely will be back again

    Fried ice cream sandwich
    Shahan A.

    Built my own bowl. Black garlic broth was absolutely delicious - really umami. Noodles and veggies were cooked well. Ribs were fine, but could've been better. Not a ton of flavor, and slightly tough to chew, but not a big deal. Dessert - fried ice cream sandwich was amazing, but $14 for 2 sandwiches is a high ask imo. Each goes down within 5-6 bites. Also breaks easily - not structurally sound - but hey, it's an ice cream sandwich, whatever. Honestly didn't like the peach soda. Sorry to say to all the jigglypuff fans. You taste the carbonation more than anything fruity. Sundays are pokemon-themed, it seems. That was a lot of fun. They had season 1 playing on the big screen, and a big pikachu walked out and was interacting with patrons, but only for a few mins. Ambience was like rainforest cafe, but Japanese style. Food came out very quickly. Somewhere between 5-10 minutes. Waiter was attentive. Overall a fun experience, but $80 for 2 people is a lot imo. (Dirty tourist talking) 4.25 stars

    Classic Tonkotsu (5)
    Bryan T.

    Ordered the Classic Tonkotsu Ramen here. Price is definitely on the pricier side, but the ramen was worth the amount. The broth was rich and creamy, noodles had a good chewy firmness, and the chashu had an excellent char to it. Service was attentive, but also all dressed up like characters from Dragon Ball Z. The experience was a little strange, since Halloween was a month ago, and you're sitting in a restaurant/bar with fake trees and vines detailing the ceiling like a rainforest cafe. A projector is playing TV shows and anime onto the floor and walls, though I couldn't really hear the show over the ambience of the restaurant. If for nothing else, the food was good (if pricy) and the atmosphere is interesting enough to make Noka Ramen worth visiting at least once!

    Mercy D.

    Some places are happy to give you a free dessert if it's your birthday. And then there are some places that charge you a "dessert fee" if you bring your own dessert. I didn't think much about it. I brought my child to celebrate his birthday (day of, on a weekday) following a doggy training session by the waterfront and brought a tiny cake to eat after dinner (there should always be a cake on birthdays!). However, when I asked to borrow a knife they said there was a dessert fee............... We decided to save the singing for home. I wonder if they would still charge this dessert fee had I brought my own knife? I guess I'll never know. What really drew us here was that they had an Anime theme and advertised drinks that came with a Pokémon card. My child is a huge Anime fan and aspiring artist so would've been a perfect spot for a tiny birthday blow out to end a nice day. Honestly it seems like all just a gimmick to get people here. The restaurant was nice enough with cool decorations making it feel like a jungle in there and a large projection on a wall for kids to watch some anime but when we went it was kind of empty. To be fair we were an hour and a half from closing time so that could account for the low attendance. Not sure if we'd come again... the soup was very salty and the drinks are just overpriced sugary beverages laced with artificial flavoring.

    Linda N.

    3.75 stars I really wanted to love this place but my palette just couldn't agree. Their cute aesthetics, their playful twist on the current theme: Pokemon, their HUGE portions, how can one not enjoy this place? Pork Baos - these babies are huge. Sometimes, I like big portions. Other times, especially dishes like this, i like to appreciate equal parts meat and bun. The meat was a bit much and overpowered the whole dish. Pikachu Burger - goddang, another massive baby. So big, it definitely was challenging to eat. Had to eat it deconstructed style. The meat again, was a bit much. Ramen - Pretty basic ramen, very minimal to no garlic flavor Noka Rangers - just for kicks. Drink was standard, nothing special Overall, food was ok, wouldn't go out of my way to come back. Service was GREAT.

    Sailor Moon Sake Flight, Passion Fruit Highball, Truffle Fries, Chicken Karaage, Hibiscus Lychee Highball
    Romelia R.

    This place is cute, cozy, IG aesthetic spot. The workers were dressed in Pokémon characters the night we went -- including someone in a huge Pikachu costume that went around each table taking pictures with guests. The staff was very attentive and although they were busy they were good about checking in with us and refilling our waters. For drinks we got the passion fruit highball, the hibiscus lychee highball, and the sailor moon sake flight. The highballs were okay and more on the sparkly side since they are a sparkling water based cocktail. The sake flight was very good. Food was amazing all around! We started with the truffle fries and chicken karaage. The sauce they came with had a perfect touch of spice. They put a flame to the Loco Moco at the table and mixed it for you. The gravy was very flavorful. They also put a flame to the Ikari Steak Ramen. The steak on that dish was so tender and delicious. The tonkotsu ramen's flavor was very good too. I built my own ramen and was very surprised to see Brussel sprouts on the list. Overall, it was a great experience and I will definitely be back to try their bento boxes which are only offered Monday-Friday.

    Maine Lobster Shio Ramen

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    Page 1 of 16

    NōKA Ramen & Bar Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - NōKA Ramen & Bar

    Is this place kid friendly?

    Yes! They often play anime/cartoons and on weekends they have staff dress up in costumes as well. Good options on menu for kids if they like Japanese food!

    Is there parking?

    When I was there, there was plenty of street parking in front and alongside the restaurant. Also, there are parking lots within a few blocks.

    How long have you waited for a walk-in on a Sunday?

    We went on a recent Sunday a little after 7:30pm and there was no wait, only a couple other tables seated so pretty quiet. Can’t say if that would apply to other (especially holiday) weekends.

    Is this place reservation only? Are the sailor moon sake flights always available or was the photo…

    It's not reservation only, they take walk ins. And the sailor moon flight is always available. This place is more for the gram rather than quality. But if you go hope you like it. It was a pass for me

    Will you always have the ikari ramen? Thanks

    It's first come first serve. If they run out of pork then no more items.

    Is there a gluten-free ramen option?

    Who owns this restaurant?

    Same folks as Farmhouse Thai & Daughter Thai

    Are pet allowed at the outdoor patio?

    Yes

    Are there any vegan options?

    Now there is the tofu ramen.

    What's the price range for the ramen bowls?

    Starting at $16

    View All 15 Questions

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    I figured out the secret of when this place is not busy with no lines. It's when the weather is 80+…read moredegrees! I dined here on a weeknight during a heat wave, and walked in as a party of 2 to be seated immediately. The host even provided options of which table we preferred. Totally unheard of especially when every other visit included a 45+ min wait. Mensho has great ratings, and for good reason. They have enough ramen selections to cater every type of eater. The ingredients seem quality and the noodle texture has the perfect chew, which Mensho described them as "mochi noodles". I opted for the vegan ramen during my recent visit, loved all the veggies and the broth wasn't too salty. I had a couple bites of the wagyu from the wagyu ramen, the meat was very rich/buttery. I probably wouldn't want a whole serving of that, but a few bites satisfied the curiousity. Currently, Mensho offers a matcha pudding type dessert for $7. It was very tasty with a few bites of red beans and couple slices of strawberry. I was actually enjoying every bite. Prices have definitely creeped up over the years, glad to see that they're still using quality ingredients. Service was good. I'll come again during the next heat wave. Haha. #39/2026

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    Sobo Ramen - Curry Chicken Katsu Ramen

    Sobo Ramen

    3.8(1.1k reviews)
    0.5 miOakland Chinatown
    $$

    Sobo. So good! I got one of the signature ramens, Black Garlic Mayu. The combination of pork bone…read morebroth with roasted black garlic oil is layered in its complexity and oh so satisfying. The Chashu pork, Ajitama egg, bamboo shoots, bok choy, and garlic cloves are delicious and nutritious! Well worth $19.50. It's a huge bonus that they have my favorite sake, the Demon Slayer. The service is polite, the food comes out quickly and there are plenty of tables. Nothing fancy, but a nice place to have noodles with friends.

    The worst yakitori I have ever had. All round no one liked their ramen as well (6 ppl). I normally…read morereserve one stars for food health hazards but this was terrible. Ordered the chicken thigh, chicken skin, and tofu scallion yakitori. Chicken thigh yakitori- cold meat that was clearly old frozen meat. Biting into this was like biting into a spongy mush slab tasting only strange water excretions and the overwhelming teriyaki sauce drenching it. 0/10 Chicken skin yakitori - expected a fried skin lightly seasoned item. Received regular mushy chicken skin with no flavor or pan searing, baking, frying nothing. Again drowned in teriyaki sauce. 0/10 Tofu scallion yakitori - tough, old, and dry tofu on a stick drenched in teriyaki sauce again. 0/10 I have never received such horrible food. All other ramen orders at the table also mentioned bland broths.

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    Tsuruya - Black garlic Tonkotsu with Hokkaido noodles. I added spinach and spicy paste. Yum!

    Tsuruya

    4.6(178 reviews)
    5.5 miGourmet Ghetto, Downtown Berkeley
    $$

    WHEN: Sat @6pm…read more PARKING: There is metered parking around, and is free after 6pm. It may be a bit tricky especially around meal time, but keep circling and you'll find a spot near by enough. This cute little ramen shop has such perfect lighting coming through thanks to thier skylight. We weren't actually hungry so we shared the following: TONKOTSU - $16.50 (Regular) Pork Belly Chashu, Bamboo Shoots, Red Onion, Wood Ear Mushrooms, Green Onion, Ajitama Egg. You get a choice of noodles to pick: 1.) Hakata - Thin Straight 2.) Sapporo - Medium Thick Wavy Figured since it's my first time here, I choose the most basic version of their bowl of ramen. I chose Sapparo and for some reason expected it to be thicker/wider, but regardless it was still good! The presentation of this bowl is just gorgeous, served on a small wooden platter. The red onion is chopped, and the pork Belly is quite tender. Regarding the egg, you get just half. Overall this bowl of ramen is creamy, rich, and the right amount of flavor and salt. But still make sure to drink at least a glass of water! CREAMY CHASHU PORK CROQUETTES - $8.50 I have never seen anything like this so I must give it a try! It actually didn't come out piping hot, so I was able to drive in right away! It was definitely creamy (like ramen) and had pieces of the Chau's pork, encased in a crispy and warm batter that was deep fried. It also comes with a katsu sauce and I really enjoyed it. The staff was friendly and didn't make us feel bad for ordering enough of just one, but man I was so full. Had to walk around downtown Berkeley for awhile.

    I really love Tsuruya so writing this review stung a bit. Tsuruya snuck in additional tip amount…read morethe last time we dined here. It was only a couple of dollars more but tip fraud is never acceptable. We rarely deviate from our usual order so the posted transaction felt off to us. We were able to confirm and report to the credit card company. I recommend you guys take pictures of your receipts and verify the transactions. Hope this doesn't happen to y'all!

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    Tsuruya - Interior

    Interior

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    Marufuku Ramen - San Francisco - MARUFUKU RAMEN PROUDLY SERVES THE AUTHENTIC HAKATA-STYLE TONKOTSU RAMEN--A RICH AND MILKY, PREMIUM TONKOTSU BROTH COOKED FOR OVER 20 HOURS.

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    4.5(6.1k reviews)
    8.6 miLower Pacific Heights, Japantown
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    Happy hour specials
    Kid friendly

    Marufuku Ramen was an absolute breath of fresh air. I put my name down on their waitlist and spent…read morethe wait browsing the mall instead of standing outside in the heat, such a simple, thoughtful system that makes the whole experience smoother and more enjoyable. When my table was ready, I walked right in with zero stress. The staff were warm, attentive, and genuinely welcoming from the moment I sat down. The food was amazing. The ramen was rich and flavorful, the toppings were perfect, and everything came out beautifully prepared. The space itself is well put together: clean, stylish, and comfortable, making it a genuinely nice establishment to relax and enjoy a meal. Marufuku gets every detail right, and it shows. Five stars all the way.

    So the day starts wrapped in a soft, silvery fog, locally called Karl, that blankets San Francisco…read moreas the night cools. The air is damp, temperatures are hovering in the 50s, and Karl the Fog clings to the Golden Gate Bridge and waterfront, creating a misty, almost ethereal scene...And that, ladies and gentlemen, is a SIGN FOR RAMEN. Where else? Marufuku Ramen - San Francisco in Japantown for some authentic Hakata-style Tonkotsu ramen. Because when San Francisco decides to turn a summer evening into a refrigerated fog chamber, you don't argue with Mother Nature. You order soup. And not just any soup. RAMEN. We ordered the Hakata Tonkotsu DX, and from the moment that bowl arrived, I knew the evening was going to end well. The broth was rich, deeply simmered, creamy, savory, and incredibly comforting...the kind of broth that seems to have one job in life...Make you forget that you're cold. Mission accomplished. Then came the supporting cast...Seasoned Soft-Boiled Egg, perfectly tender and adding another layer of richness. Green Onions bringing freshness and a little aromatic bite. Kikurage Mushrooms adding that wonderful chewy, slightly crunchy texture. Bean Sprouts providing a crisp counterpoint to all that luxurious broth. And then...Buta Kakuni aka braised thick pork belly. Now we're talking. Tender, succulent, deeply flavored pork belly that practically surrendered to the chopsticks. Rich without being overwhelming, it added that slow-braised goodness that makes you suddenly question why all pork belly isn't served this way. Then came corn for little bursts of sweetness and nori seaweed for that subtle oceanic umami. Everything had a purpose. Everything had a place. And everything somehow ended up in my belly. This wasn't simply ramen...this was soul-soothing culinary therapy. The kind of meal that melts away the evening San Francisco chill one slurp at a time. But apparently ramen wasn't enough...because we also ordered the Chicken Karaage. And OH BOY... That golden-brown, ultra-crispy exterior gives way to tender, juicy, deeply flavored chicken inside, creating that beautiful combination of crunch and tenderness that is both satisfying and dangerously addictive. One piece becomes another. Then another and suddenly you're negotiating with yourself. "I should probably save some for later", however, your hand reaches for another piece. Apparently, self-control was not invited to dinner. The combination was perfect. Hot ramen. Crispy chicken. Rich broth. Tender pork belly. Crunchy vegetables. And Karl the Fog doing his best impression of a giant refrigerator outside. This is where I started thinking about Japanese minimalism. It reflects ideas of discipline, respect, mindfulness, simplicity, and harmony, with a deep connection to nature and tradition. Marufuku Ramen hits on all points. The ingredients are thoughtfully composed. The textures have purpose. The flavors are balanced. Nothing feels unnecessary. Nothing feels like it's trying too hard. It's simply a beautiful bowl of ramen and some seriously good karaage doing exactly what they were meant to do. And perhaps that's the beauty of it. In a city where everything seems to move at 100 miles an hour, you sit down with a bowl of ramen, pick up your chopsticks, take that first sip of broth... And for a few minutes...You slow down. Karl can wait. The Golden Gate Bridge can wait. The rest of San Francisco can wait. Dinner comes first. Overall: 5 stars. The Hakata Tonkotsu DX was rich, savory, comforting, and loaded with wonderful textures. The Buta Kakuni was tender and deeply satisfying, while the seasoned egg, kikurage mushrooms, bean sprouts, green onions, corn, and nori created a beautifully balanced bowl. And the Chicken Karaage? Crispy. Juicy. Flavorful. Basically...fried chicken therapy with a Japanese passport. Come hungry...and Go Big!!!

    Photos
    Marufuku Ramen - San Francisco - "HAKATA TONKOTSU DX" Hakata Style Ramen with Rich Pork Broth
 Regular toppings (chashu pork (simmered pork belly), seasoned soft boiled eg

    "HAKATA TONKOTSU DX" Hakata Style Ramen with Rich Pork Broth Regular toppings (chashu pork (simmered pork belly), seasoned soft boiled eg

    Marufuku Ramen - San Francisco
    Marufuku Ramen - San Francisco - VEGETABLE RAMEN,CHICKEN PAITAN,HAKATA TONKOTSU DX

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    VEGETABLE RAMEN,CHICKEN PAITAN,HAKATA TONKOTSU DX

    NōKA Ramen & Bar - cocktailbars - Updated September 2026

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