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    Noodle in a Haystack

    4.8 (95 reviews)
    Ultra High-EndRamen, New American

    Noodle in a Haystack Japanese Restaurant Photos

    Business Info

    NOODLE IN A HAYSTACK ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Good for groups

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    Reviews With Photos

    Yoko's Donut
    Tiffany K.

    For years, I had friends who raved about Clint and Yoko's ramen pop up that was first operated in their home. I heard equally great things about the food and the husband wife duo and honestly, was skeptical because this sounded too good to be true. I had yet to meet chefs that were equally as charming as the food until this very special day. Their technique and meticulous care in curating what is the most memorable bowl of ramen I've ever had (even after visiting Japan), is clearly highlighted throughout all of Clint and Yoko's dishes and their impeccable palate. Their natural talent to orchestrate flavors seamlessly and in tandem with the seasonality of ingredients created an undeniable reputation, with a strong following that manifests with reservations being highly sought after (it took several tries of waiting for the reservations to open up and still not being able to secure them and by the grace of the restaurant gods and my friend's quick reflexes, only got a reservation through the waitlist so have FAITH! You TOO can try their amazingness). I get it. Everything clicked for me. Like how can food taste this good? That was my reaction after every dish. I was floored by each bite. The caviar financier was utterly delightful. You will have a taste of Yoko's gifted baking skills upon the first bite here. I secretly wished I had a financier the size of a bread roll. Their play on the caprese was like an international whirlwind of a trip that took place within a few seconds. The combination of flavors transformed this dish's experience from a place of Chengdu, to Italy and then back to Japan. All within one bite. Wowza. Holy Cow. The Chawanmushi was soooo fun to eat. The mapo complimented the egg so well. But wait! There was also a surprise. It felt like a kinder egg. Nestled in the bottom middle was a scallop surprise. My HEART. The Cauliflower side dish looked unassuming, but the texture and flavors that were carefully integrated into this vegetable made me fall in love with it all over again. The ramen we were served that night happened to be Clint & Yoko's son's favorite ramen. And I understand why it is because it's now my favorite too. Damn. This has to be the tastiest, cleanest bowl of ramen I've ever had. I ate everything down to the last drop of the broth. I was a bit intoxicated by how delicious this was when Clint explained the contents of this bowl, but from what I can recall, the soup was made from a blend of chicken stock with no parts for 10-12 hours along with a medley of different seafood flavorings. Then you have the two protein toppings- Virginia ham + chicken breast. I never was truly fond of ham because honey baked ham during the holidays was always so underwhelming for me (and apologies for even comparing this to your ham C+Y), BUT MY OPINION HAS CHANGED. I only like Noodle in the Haystack ham. Great. The noodles were prepared in small batches so that when you get your bowl, both the broth and noodles were of a nice warm temperature and consistency. I want to cry just thinking about this bowl now. NOW THE DESSERT The yuzu kakigori was chef's kiss. But let me tell you about Yoko's donut. OH MY FREAKING GOODNESS. It was freshly fried and reminded me of a baby donut if beignet and mochi were to procreate. It was rolled in sugar and honestly was so perfect in itself. I believe if Yoko ever pursued a business in a bakery, it would be guaranteed that everything she bakes will be life changing. Because this donut just did that for me. The ambiance was intimate and cozy. I appreciated the minimal, yet personal touches of the decor inside. The bathroom even had a temperature regulated soap dispenser! Will definitely be coming back to what is now officially, my favorite fine dining spot in the city. Thank you Yoko and Clint for truly making this night so memorable and enjoyable.

    Strawberry basque cheesecake
    Ming C.

    Was finally able to snag a reservation after months of trying (and it was thanks to me randomly checking tock, not even a day the reservations opened). Food was delicious, so creative and unique. I've been to a fair amount of fine dining spots and many of them have been excellent but I do believe Noodle in a Haystack gave me some of my most memorable bites. The caviar financier packed a surprising punch. Corn chawamushi is so unique and tasted so fresh and delicious. Mapo ramen while homey, was soooo good, I may have liked it more than the shio chicken which was the main ramen. The shio ramen was great but I think I just prefer more bite to my noodles. Wagyu marsala was absolutely delicious as well, I loved the salt flakes and Clint is genius with how he put it all together. I've had better wagyu but this was my first time trying it in a donut and it definitely left an impact. Basque cheesecake was wow! The strawberriest, cheesiest cake I've ever tasted, the way it melted in your mouth was a delight, would definitely be interested if the team looked into a bakery. It feels a little weird paying so much for "just ramen", but the experience was more than just noodles and many of the standouts to me were not even the noodle dishes. Overall, would highly recommend if you are looking for a unique tasting experience that you can't find anywhere else--just know it will cost a pretty penny. Although we got the sake pairing, I am lightweight so I opted to drinking a non-alcoholic beverage but my partner enjoyed the pairings. The restaurant was cozy and discreet and easy to miss but very clean and I love the open kitchen concept. I appreciated the intimate experience, with 10 seats, it made sense why the reservations are so hard to get!

    Jenny X.

    What a cool experience! Got a reservation here thanks to a friend and we went on a Tuesday night! Good: - The place was so cute! I liked that it was a hole in the wall place - Super nice staff, definitely a labor of love - Liked the mini wine pairing, wasn't too much and it did complement each dish well - Each course was so pretty and made in front of us - my favorites were the Amish chicken and the desert pancake was very tasty. The noodles had good texture! Everything was worth eating, no dish wasn't great. Bad: - Expensive! Overall enjoyed this 3 hour experience and it was worth every moment

    Marlon T.

    The best dining experience in San Francisco right now! Is your internet fast enough to grab a coveted reservation on Tock.com right when it comes out? The food is spectacular, the atmosphere is simple, and the chats with the owners are priceless. Every bite was flavorful. Every sake/wine sip complemented the textures of flavors so well. Clint and Yoko and passionate and good and what they do and it's really the conversations you have with them that make the meal even more special. 1000% recommend!

    Lori R.

    I don't know how I haven't reviewed Noodle in a Haystack yet !! This is my 4th or 5th time dining here and I haven't had a single dish I haven't like. Yoko and Clint have a beautiful restaurant and deliver amazing food that they have put a ton of thought and effort into. For those of you who haven't been dining here is always a preset menu. Usually 5-10 courses depending on which menu you sign up for (they use to have a nonextended dining menu but I think now it's just extended v sake pairing). Reservations are incredibly hard to get. Try to get onto tock a few minutes before 9pm on the second Sunday and if you don't get a spot then just do waitlist and cross your fingers. The menu changes constantly but usually there is always the starting frangipane by yoko, homemade pickled something (this time was daikon and then a kimchi inspired persimmon pickle), some type of wagyu dish - this time featured a wagyu tartar with the most amazing smoked pickles that tasted like bacon. Also there is usually some variation of 2 ramen- this time we had the egg carbonara but it had a shrimp broth oil that elevated this dish to a higher level than it was in the past- and that was already amazing. The broth ramen this time might actually be my favorite so far - it's a take on hainan chicken with a sambal side sauce. The two different noodle dishes featured different noodles that suited the dish perfectly. This is a very intimate dining experience where you get to chat with the owners/chefs/creators and get to eat incredible, thoughtful, innovative, delicious food. I would recommend everyone dine at least once here.

    Pickled vegetables
    Cathy H.

    This omakase was an intimate 10 person experience that was close to 3 hours with the owner explaining each menu item to us before serving it with a wine/sake pairing. Ambiance was cozy and friendly. I really enjoy how small it was and the thought that went into the food. Service was excellent and attentive. Everything was delicious; some standouts for me was the cold ramen with spot prawns and uni sauce; hot hainan chicken ramen noodle soup, and the Crab Chawanmushi. Two of my favorite pairings were the melon sake and world peace sake; both were fragrant and smooth. This exclusive experience is worth the wait, hype and price. Highly recommend trying if you can get a reservation!

    Josie C.

    The menu is absolutely delicious! We had a splendid meal, and it was well worth the money. There aren't many bar seats, so it's best to book ahead!

    yuzu lemon (zested)
    Wing Y.

    This restaurant is the epitome of the idea that constraint breeds creativity. It's a small Japanese restaurant with no stove and no grill and 12 seats available three nights a week that are nearly impossible to get. But after 4 months of setting a calendar invite and signing onto Tock at the right time, my wife was excited to report that she had scored a reservation for last Tuesday evening. This is a complete dining experience. You get to talk to the chefs (a husband and wife team) and their helpers and watch as they carefully prepare and assemble the food before it is served to you. They are so purposeful and efficient in their actions - whether it's placing a single shred of greenery atop a perfect dollop of caviar, mixing a quick cucumber pickle with a deft stirring motion, or lovingly laying ramen into a bowl of broth. Clint and Yoko put their own spin on things, humbly stating that they are just trying to make things that they themselves would like to eat. The flavors and dishes are familiar but combined in interesting and subtle ways - for example the chawanmushi (egg custard) is combined with the flavors of hot and sour soup with the result being an incredibly warm and comforting dish. The Yakiniku Tartare includes pickled daikon and egg yolk, served on a delicate rice cracker, bringing together lots of exciting textures and flavors. Everything is amazing, and the noodles are the star of the show. The first noodle dish was a creamy, umami-packed take on carbonara, and the ramen of the night was a Shio Butter Clam Ramen, featuring two seafood broths and a clam butter along with sous vide pork and charred corn. Loved the desserts as well - a refreshing shaved ice atop "almond tofu" and a lovely, light dorayaki bursting with flavor and texture. Could not recommend this place more. We were here for nearly three hours and the time flew by! We put our regular date nights on pause a few months ago, so this was a lovely way to get some time together on our own.

    Sherry S.

    This is *the* hardest reservation to score in San Francisco. Located in a nondescript building in the Inner Richmond, Noodle in a Haystack is serving up a $195 ramen tasting menu. Husband and wife duo Clint and Yoko were finalists in the World Ramen Grand Prix in Tokyo, which inspired them to start their business in San Francisco, quickly earning its spot as one of the top new restaurants in the country. They insert ingredients from their ramen to each dish of the 8-course tasting menu. We started with a crispy golden financier topped with caviar and smoked shoyu creme fraiche, followed by a chawanmushi, or savory egg custard, with ingredients like Dungeness crab dashi gravy, Hokkaido Uni & Scallop. The chilled A5 wagyu tan tan men was incredibly refreshing from the cold house-made noodles and dashi, yet rich in flavor from the wagyu butter and mala. Next, a tender black cod and Japanese pickles before the climax of the tasting menu- a piping hot bowl of ramen that they rotate out every couple months. This is a hainanese chicken inspired shio ramen, with perfectly chewy housemade noodles in a translucent salt-seasoned broth. We finished strong with a refreshing Yuzu shaved ice, and Shoyu honey mirin Japanese pancake. You absolutely need to go for a special occasion or a nice night out!

    Mark O.

    Dinner review. Japanese (non-traditional) tasting menu. Winter / Early Spring Extended Menu (Highlight) Financier Tsar Nicoulai Golden Reserve Caviar, Smoked shoyu crème fraîche (Highlight) Chawanmushi Dungeness crab dashi gravy, Hokkaido Uni & Scallop, Garlic Brown butter, Shio tare, Mountain Yam, Mitsuba (Best. Awesome.) Chilled A5 Wagyu Tan Tan Men Japanese sesame tare, A5 Wagyu "butter," Ramp Vinegar, Mala, Dashi, A5 Hokkaido Wagyu Striploin Black Cod Steam roasted Black Cod, Japanese Sea Bream dashi, Blood Orange Olive oil, Chives Tsukemono Pickles of the Day (Highlight) Hainan Chicken Shio 8 hr Whole chicken & Pi water broth, 5 fish dashi, Shio Tare, Ginger scallion schmaltz, "Hainan Chicken" Roulade, 3 day cured jidori egg, Tokyo Negi, Aged onion, Micro cilantro Annin Kakigori Yuzu shaved ice, "Almond tofu", Kiwi preserve Dorayaki Shoyu honey mirin pancake, Burnt caramel, Chantilly, Salted brown butter crumble Overall, "as good as it gets."

    Wagyu Abura Soba
    Eric Joseph D.

    I have been in love with Noodle in a Haystack and Clint & Yoko since 2016 and I am so happy I finally got to eat at their new restaurant. To be honest, I was unsure when the restaurant would open, but it was definitely worth the wait! The open faced chef's table-esque kitchen and modern/sleek design is extremely welcoming and the lighting is great for photos. I didn't tell Clint & Yoko this, but this was one of my first meals after recovering from food poisoning so I was unsure if I was going to even enjoy it, but oh boy, was this one of my favorite meals of the year. I can talk about all of the dishes in detail, but here are some of my favorites: +Japanese Avocado Toast - Mashed avocado with smoked trout on top of a deep fried donut hole. Finished with finger limes and a cold pressed African Green Chilli oil. This was magical... +Spanish blue fin toro tar tar tart - Toro on top of a tart? Got to love that ingenuity! Inspired by a sushi roll, they top it off with a regular pickle, smoked pickle, and shishito leaf. +Wagyu Abura Ramen - First of all, can we talk about the noodles they are using? Wagyu, wagyu butter, and those beautiful noodles. Come on! I mean come on! I am drooling just thinking about this. This was the star. I could have eaten a couple bowls of this. Also, Clint & Yoko are some of the nicest people I have ever met and it brings me so much joy to eat their food in such a beautiful space. For $150 a person, you get at least 7-8 courses and an intimate dining experience. They are rotating their menu and experimenting with local and seasonal ingredients so my experience will probably be different from the next person, but it is definitely worth trying out if you can snag a reservation!

    Johnny W.

    Summary: So much more than just fancy ramen Details: For the uninitiated, Noodle in a Haystack has been around for many years now, originally operating as a ramen-focused popup at various venues, with reservations that were largely impossible for most to get. Since those early days, the business has evolved significantly, with Clint and Yoko opening up their own brick and mortar space (after many a bureaucratic roadblock), reservations being marginally easier to get (you have a ~15 minute window now instead of ~30 seconds), and the menu having turned into something more akin to kaiseki (though still built around a star noodle dish, of course). I was lucky to nab a last minute opening during their soft launch month, and got to see and taste the fruits of their labor, as my girlfriend and I were treated to a bevy of courses: some, significantly more stellar than others, but all enjoyable in some form, and each presented with a bit of fanfare and background from the couple themselves. While the main noodle (a wagyu aburasoba the day we went) itself was obviously one of the star dishes, their caviar financier, kakuni karaage, and annin kakigori were also particularly outstanding. Absolutely worth a shot if you can snag a reservation. And while $225 after included tax and tip is certainly a steep price for ramen, it's more palatable if you think of it in terms of a tasting menu at a Michelin star restaurant, with the same expectation of care and quality put into the dishes. Accessibility: The space is a bit smaller and comprised of bar counter seating only, but they specifically designed a wheelchair accessible portion with a lower counter towards the far end!

    Sake
    PJ D.

    Added this restaurant to my bookmark after seeing such high praise from the infatuation. It's definitely a once in a lifetime experience if you're lucky enough to experience because this is the hardest reservation to get in the city right now - but absolutely worth it. We were able to score a sake pairing reservation after 3 months of setting alarms and attempting to catch a reservation as soon as the opened and were so excited for this omakase style ramen tasting menu. The exterior is a little unsuspecting but just get to the address and you'll see other people waiting around for opening and know you're in the right area. The space is minimal and seats only about 12 which is why it's so hard to catch a reservation. The food and sake absolutely amazing but what I loved more than just what we ate is being able to be in an intimate setting with the chefs to directly talk to them and hear about their thoughts behind their creations, their journey and getting to know them personally. It's hard to pick favorites when everything hits but for me the wagyu sandwich and the dessert coffee infused cheesecake were definitely standouts!

    avocado toast

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    Page 1 of 3

    Ask the Community - Noodle in a Haystack

    Is there a no meat option? For broth, seafood, etc. no problem, but actual meat like chicken/pork/beef is what I am referring to. Thanks!

    It depends on the ramen that is on the menu at the time. If we are doing a meat based ramen then we are unable to make adjustments outside of omitting a meat based topping. However, there may also be other meat based courses as well since we are… Read more

    Hi, can you accommodate gluten free?

    Unfortunately, we are unable to due to the nature of the tasting menu being ramen centric.

    What days are you open?

    We currently do not have set days. Primarily doing advanced bookings which can be made on our Tock site:… Read more

    Are you vegetarian or pescatarian friendly?

    No, special dietary preferences are not offered. My recent meal included beef.

    Are the pop ups still happening while the storefront is on hold?

    No more pop-ups, as we are putting all our energy into trying to get the shop open.

    Are there substitutes for Pescatarians? for broth as well. Thanks!

    Not at the moment. It might be something we can do in the future, but currently we just don’t have the resources / space to prepare a full 5+ course pescatarian menu. Thank you!

    How do we make reservations?

    You can visit our website, noodleinhaystack.com for the schedule and link to Tock where you can purchase a ticket. Tickets are released a month in advance, on the 2nd Sunday of the month at 10pm.

    Can't find this place. Where is it exactly?

    We don’t have a permanent space at the moment so we move around a lot. Majority of our current events are hosted in Daly City

    What are the business hours and how long is this pop up staying?

    We don’t have typical business hours because we don’t have a set venue space yet. Our schedule goes up 1 month in advance and tickets are sold to our communal dining events through Tock. You can check our webpage for the dates & links.

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    Mensho Tokyo

    4.1(3.4k reviews)
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    This place was incredible from start to finish. We kicked things off with the A5 Wagyu nigiri,…read morewhich was good and very tender, though it didn't quite have that melt-in-your-mouth texture I typically associate with Wagyu. One of the standout appetizers was the spicy enoki chips. They were packed with flavor while still feeling light and crispy. Fair warning--they definitely bring some heat! I love spicy food, and while the spice didn't linger much on my tongue, it definitely had my nose running a bit. My husband ordered the GKO ramen bowl, and it was absolutely loaded with flavor. The garlic-forward broth was rich, savory, and incredibly satisfying. It does get a little heavy toward the end, and you'll probably leave with garlic breath--but it's 100% worth it. I ordered the Spicy Signature Toripaitan ramen, and we were both glad I did. Despite the name, it's not particularly spicy, which was perfectly fine with me. The broth was creamy, flavorful, and comforting without being as rich as the GKO. The duck chashu was incredibly tender, and the oyster mushrooms added a wonderful chewy texture that balanced the bowl beautifully. Add the enoki chips to the broth, you won't regret it! Service was great. We were checked in on frequently and always had a refill when needed which was definitely needed when we ate the enoki chips. At least for my husband anyway. Overall, we absolutely loved the ramen here. Every dish was flavorful, filling, and thoughtfully prepared. We left happy, full, and already looking forward to our next visit.

    1, dirty plate served 2, soup base is too salty…read more 3, tasture of chashu and noodle is just so-so. This is my first time experience here. Thank you~

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    Taishoken San Francisco

    Taishoken San Francisco

    4.5(610 reviews)
    2.9 miMission
    $$
    Happy hour specials
    Vegetarian friendly

    First experience with tsukemen despite being a big fan of ramen and it was excellent…read more I would not be able to say enough about how good the noodles are here. The texture is perfect and they are so chewy and bouncy. Truly the highlight of the night. For appetizers, we tried the sandstorm calamari and the chicken karaage. Both had an excellent fry and the calamari was excellent with the included garlic mixture that added a nice kick. One note here, the sauce for the chicken was not enough for the amount of pieces. The tsukumen was excellent. The dipping broth was packed with flavor and the consistency allowed it to stick to the noodles perfectly. I will note that I preferred the regular chasu over the sou-vide version. Service was good, attentive and food was out fast. Overall, this place was excellent and I will be back. Overall: 4.9/5

    Really enjoyed Taishoken in the Mission on a chilly SF night. The atmosphere was warm and inviting,…read morethe service was friendly and attentive, and the ramen was exactly what we were craving. We tried the Tonkotsu Ramen and it hit the spot. The broth was rich and flavorful without being overly salty, the thin noodles had a great spring to them, and the chashu pork was incredibly tender and basically melted in your mouth. Also don't sleep on the dessert. Dessert at a ramen spot sounds random, but trust me here. The matcha cream pie was fantastic, and the mochi donut with ice cream was equally good. They also have a great sake selection. Be sure to put yourself on the Yelp waitlist before heading over because this place definitely gets busy.

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    Taishoken San Francisco - Fried Cauliflower   Saikyo miso glaze with mala chili sauce.

    Fried Cauliflower Saikyo miso glaze with mala chili sauce.

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    Ippudo San Francisco - Karaka Spicy Ramen, 9/10! So much flavor and minced tofu on top

    Ippudo San Francisco

    3.8(1.6k reviews)
    3.5 miUnion Square, SoMa, Financial District
    $$

    Came here after a long day at the Super Bowl experience. We…read moredid a walk-in for four. The wait for a table was 20 mins or we can share a large table with random people and be seated immediately. We were hungry. We went with the large shared table. Pleasantly, there was more than enough room. There were at least 1-2 seats in between the three groups on each side that were there- a solo diner, a small family of 3, and my group of 4. I ordered the Karaka Spicy, my bf ordered Akamaru Modern, his sister ordered Miso, and I don't remember what her friend got- I think it was also Karaka spicy. My bf and I ordered the Treasure plate on the side to share and a side of spicy paste because I know Japanese spicy is barely spicy (from someone who grew up eating SEA spicy). Karaka Spicy had a nicely balance tonkotsu mouth feel and pork flavor. Broth was a little salty. I was correct to assume that it wasn't spicy because I used half of the side of spicy paste and I still didn't think it was spicy enough. Chashu was cooked fine. Notes: - I wished I would've asked if they could swap the thin noodles for the thick ones. I love the chew thicker noodles provide. - Noodles were cooked al dente. Akamaru Modern tasted very similar to Karaka spicy without the spicy. My bf used the other half of the spicy paste as dip for his toppings. He enjoyed it. Miso was a lighter broth (obvi) with a good umami flavor and was not watered down. Solid. She loved it. I have never seen her finish a whole bowl of ramen before. There was a server in training that took our order with the help of the trainer- he did great. Staff was attentive with our waters. Bussers were also quick to notice and remove empty plates and bowls regularly making for an easy clean up after we leave and kept the shared table clutter free. Interior was modern, but casual. They had an expansive menu with vegetarian choices, sushi, buns, karage, etc. and a surprisingly large array of alcohol. I would def like to be back to try some drinks.

    We were in the city for the NFL Experience the day before the Super Bowl and were excited to grab a…read moregood bowl of ramen. Unfortunately, IPPUDO didn't live up to expectations. The ramen is served in large bowls, which looks impressive at first, but the actual portion of noodles and toppings felt underwhelming for the price. At that price point, I expected more both in quantity and flavor. We ordered the Dragon Tantan ramen, which the menu describes as spicy. It wasn't spicy at all. We asked our waiter if we could have a little more heat, and he nodded and brought over a tiny dipping-bowl-sized portion of some red paste with no explanation. There was no mention that it would cost extra. After finishing our meal, we were surprised to see a $5 charge on the bill for the "extra spice." We genuinely thought it was complimentary, and if it wasn't, that absolutely should have been communicated before serving it. The lack of transparency was disappointing and unnecessary. Overall: mid food, mid service, and not worth the price -- especially during such an exciting weekend in the city. Unfortunately, we won't be coming back.

    Photos
    Ippudo San Francisco - Inside. Dining room. Busy on a Sunday early afternoon.

    Inside. Dining room. Busy on a Sunday early afternoon.

    Ippudo San Francisco - NIRVANA KARAKA (DD)

    NIRVANA KARAKA (DD)

    Ippudo San Francisco - French fries

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    French fries

    Taniku Izakaya - Spicy beef ramen

    Taniku Izakaya

    4.7(342 reviews)
    2.7 miTenderloin
    $$

    We've been here maybe a handful of times at this point - the food is really good, cute cozy spot…read more However now that there is a soy allergy to account for - I can't easily neccessarily revisit my favorite spots. I've been to plenty of Japanese/Ramen spots and I've been running into the issue where I say I have a soy allegry and there is an assumption that I have a gluten issue (I do not have a gluten issue). I noticed yelp said they have soy-free options and thus called on Friday thinking it might be a bad idea as they're usually busy.. It was defintely hard for the person to hear a bit when they picked up. The staff did relay something about gluten free noodles.. Anyways, they said they could swap out any of the soy soups for salt (but soy can encompass a lot of things so I still wasn't feeling super confident but we're going to give it a go). We go and I asked which 4 of the soups I was eyeballing don't have soy - the staff said they can accomodate and replace any of the soy soups with a salt broth. After we ordered, the staff came back and checked in to make sure that my partner also didn't have an allergy. And my dish came out, they told me there was no egg as its marinated in soy - perfect to me. I'm glad that was caught as not every establishments can account for everything. - Now I have a spot to (more safely) eat ramen! - I advise that if you do have an food allergy, do talk to the staff, and address your concerns such as cross contamination etc. I had a great experience, but I do find that because its not so regulated or understood and there is lack of education amongst the food/resturant industry - you always need to advocate for yourself and there is always a risk. I'm very apperciative of the staff here.

    Came here at around 6 PM on a Tuesday and got seated immediately! It got busier about 10 mins…read moreafter. Super cute & decorated inside, and staff was so nice! Okonomoyaki tater tots - 8.5/10 from a potato lover!! This does have some sort of cheese on it so beware if you don't eat it Hamachi Hand Roll - 9/10 SO GOOD. I think the rice is mixed in with soy sauce. It was super flavorful which I wasn't expecting Scallop Hand Roll - 8/10, the yuzu on top was absolutely delicious & scallop was very soft. Kobe Skewer - 7/10, it was good but nothing extraordinary. It'll hit the spot if you like meat skewers Yuzu Tori Skewer - 7/10, same as the kobe skewer, but the yuzu on top was delicious Niku Ramen - 8/10, good portion & very very flavorful. I'm glad that they gave a lot of meat in this. I shared this & they provided an extra bowl without me asking :) It's also not super spicy. Hokkaido Milk Pudding - 8/10, the pudding itself was so good but the sauce was a little too sweet for me. However, my partner has a sweet tooth and loved it :) Will totally come again, everything was so yummy and so glad to have tried it!

    Photos
    Taniku Izakaya - Interior

    Interior

    Taniku Izakaya - Scallop corn chowder - FIRE !

    Scallop corn chowder - FIRE !

    Taniku Izakaya - Calamari

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    Calamari

    HINODEYA Ramen Union Square - Chicken and silver noodles awaiting the broth

    HINODEYA Ramen Union Square

    4.1(547 reviews)
    3.3 miUnion Square
    $$

    Stumbled upon this place as I was walking in the neighborhood and decided to stop by for lunch. I…read morewas seated right away and was given water and a menu within the minute. I ordered the spicy edamame and the yu-Lin-chi. The edamame definitely has a kick to them and the chicken was great. Nicely coated.

    Ive eaten my fair share of Japanese ramen and know my ramen pretty well. Yelp and Google both had…read moreHinodeya higher rated than Ippudo (I wasn't in the mood to battle whatever mob scene might be happening at Mensho), and this place was literally right across the street from my hotel, so I made a mad dash for this place as it was friggin' cold in SF on a late Spring day. If you try to come here around 6-7pm, there is a long line waiting to get seated, but it moves fast. I kept peeking out of my hotel window and by 7:30pm, line was almost non existent, so that's when I went down to get dinner. When I arrived, I was immediately shown a seat inside. You can sit outside too as lots of tables right on the street but it was way too cold for me. Service was quick and I ordered a Yuzu Zen (vegan) ramen. I wanted to try something different than their signature ramen. This ramen was cooked in the traditional Japanese Buddhist temple way, which was a bonus for me. I am a practicing Buddhist and have meditated at various different temple organizations and I enjoy temple cooking as its usually lighter but still very soul nourishing. The broth is lighter and its a vegan dashi broth and comes with zest of yuzu (its like a Japanese lemon), bamboo shoots, crispy kale and sweet fried tofu. I enjoyed this bowl of noodles with soup and the broth was hot, so it warmed me up. I was not really a fan of the inari (sweet fried tofu) as it was just too sweet for me. Service was a little slow towards the end as I was itching to pay and go for an evening stroll, but otherwise, a good experience. I'd come back again when nearby.

    Photos
    HINODEYA Ramen Union Square - Inside

    Inside

    HINODEYA Ramen Union Square - Crispy Chicken Karaage

    Crispy Chicken Karaage

    HINODEYA Ramen Union Square - Warm or cold sake at Hinodeya

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    Warm or cold sake at Hinodeya

    Noodle in a Haystack - ramen - Updated June 2026

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