Subjective: I'd been wanting to try Noodlepig for a while after hearing about it and its mission and seeing mouthwatering pictures online. After a cold, rainy day catching up with old friends ramen seemed like the perfect thing to warm us up. Unfortunately, they didn't quite hit the spot. While the topping and noodles were solid enough, the broth was lackluster and fell flat- the heart and soul of ramen! My miso ramen felt like it didn't have enough body to it and the husband's shoyu just tasted salty without any other depth to it. On top of that, it's quite expensive for ramen, especially because it doesn't come with any baseline protein (egg, chasu) so each thing is a separate charge. Their boba fell flat for us as well- boba itself too soft in consistency. Service was quick and straightforward enough, but nothing special. Objective: Date of visit: 4/1/23 Previous visits: none Takes reservations/call aheads? don't think so Parking: street/meter Perceived capacity: medium Perceived atmosphere: casual Wait time to seating: seat yourself What I/we got: miso ramen and shoyu, 2 boba cost: ~$60 Assessment: 3 stars- decent selection with a hip atmosphere, but not quite up to par for a place that specializes in ramen Plan: Going to keep searching for a go-to ramen spot but maybe will give it another try in the future, maybe when they come out with tsukemen? read more

Noodlepig - Sakura boba - Ramen Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

I've been very excited to try this place and we finally made it! This place is within walking distance from my boyfriends place and when we arrived the line was pretty long. It moved along at a good pace though and before we knew it we were able to order. They have digital menu barcodes posted but people in line were handing around menus as well. Even one employee was walking around the line asking if anyone had any questions which was cool I thought. Right away I felt like the vibe of this places was really hip and modern and exciting to be at. Unfortunately didn't feel like there was a lot of seating but by the time we ordered we happily found a table for two. When we arrived to the counter to order, the lady there was extremely helpful. I like to ask alot of questions to make sure I'm getting exactly what I want and she obliged and was super kind the entire time. I ordered the Taro boba and they offer plenty of dairy free milks which is awesome! The taro flavor was delicious and I really liked it but my boba were a bit undercooked. Not a horrible thing but still something to mention. There are three sizes you can get for boba tea as well which is pretty dang exciting! When I looked over their menu for ramen they have 7 signature bowls to choose from and also the option to create your own. Right away the Thai Coconut Curry bowl caught my eye and I was dead set on trying that one. I love curry and I saw this bowl and shrimp tempura (one of my favorites and an egg, yum!). I ordered the Thai Coconut Curry without the chopped peanuts though, only because I'm not a fan of nuts in my warm food. You can order a half size of ramen or the regular size but I went with regular because I wanted the full experience:)! Once you pay for your food they hand you a laminated card with a number on it and then you can wait for them to make your food and call your number/name when the order is ready. My boyfriend ordered the Shoyu ramen and he seemed to enjoy his! My ramen was so beautiful I had to take a pic and enjoyed all the toppings and the broth was so delicious. So rich and nutty but also a tiny bit of heat that was flavorful but not overwhelming at all. The fact that each bowl donates towards a good cause makes you feel really great about eating there. Above the cash register, there's a sign of how many bowls have been sold and how many hungry children have been fed. Very cool! I would like to visit again because I'm always interested in trying new things and they had a lot of their menu that was listed as "Coming Soon!" And I also would like to create my own bowl sometime and see how that goes;) Overall, good experience! read more

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Even though this is downtown, parking for afternoon tea was easy, lots of spaces right in front and a parking lot across the street. The space was very clean and simple. When you walk in there are menus directly in front of the door hung on the partition, you will need to grab one to review before you get in line to order. We didn't quite know what we wanted and the staff were very patient and helpful walking us through all the options. I settled on a matcha Jasmine Latte (note, it looked they only had milk tea) with matcha and taro crystals at 50% sweet and it was very nicely done. I enjoyed the crystals which were a consistency between jelly and tapioca boba. We didn't try any of the food but it smelled great and I will definitely go back another day. read more

Noodlepig - Matcha-Jasmine Latte Boba - Ramen Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

I've been waiting for NoodlePig to open for a few months now, and was super excited to get my husband and I spots for one of the soft open dates. The décor is nice and clean looking, but doesn't feel sterile. I love that the bar style seating along the windows has purse hooks all over the place! There isn't a ton of seating, so it might not be a great place for a larger group, but stopping in for a solo lunch, or a group of 2-4 would be great. They take your orders at the counter, I don't believe there is a plan to have table service, but it was quite quick and the employees are super friendly. The food was DELICIOUS! I had the Thai coconut curry bowl and my husband had the Katsu Kare bowl. I'm not huge into traditional ramen (hubby is), but the coconut curry bowl was amazing! The shrimp was so good; I thought it might be soggy from the broth, but it really wasn't. I also had my doubt about the egg, but it was so good! I just wish they'd had takeaway containers at that point because the bowls are way too much food for me to finish. I'm so glad to hear how happy everyone was with the soft open, and how busy the grand opening was! I need to get back to try the the pork pozole bowl soon! read more

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I've been watching Noodlepig's progress on social media and have been impressed with the owner's transparency and updates. Nate and I checked out one of their soft opening dates and really enjoyed the experience! The line went smoothly and we only had to wait about 15 minutes for our order. We got the tonkotsu ramen, curry ramen, pickled cucumbers, and strawberry cheesecake boba. The employee taking our order was so kind and helpful with recommendations and made sure to ask if we had any food allergies. The atmosphere inside is modern and clean, and the music was the perfect level. There is sort of limited seating and one big communal table, which personally isn't my favorite. We were able to grab two seats on the little bar near the window. I loved the multiple hooks under the counter for purses and jackets. Our food was presented beautifully and everything looked amazing. You know the saying - we eat with our eyes first - and Noodlepig has this part down! So photogenic. Our ramen was delicious. They have a few types of noodles but I preferred the more traditional. The ones that look like soba noodles were chewier. I loved the tonkotsu broth! It was incredibly rich, creamy, and flavorful without being super salty. The curry ramen was an interesting unique spin. I'm happy I tried it but next time I'd build my own bowl. So cool that they have this option. Finally the strawberry cheesecake boba was mind blowing. I've never had anything like it! Super sweet but definitely a great dessert item. Vegetarian options are available. Noodlepig donates food to kids in need with each ramen bowl purchased. I can't wait to go back again soon! read more

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Noodle Pig excellent and authentic Japanese comfort food close to the Grand rapids convention center. read more

Noodlepig - Glad I ordered this J-Dog even if I didn't have room for it - Ramen Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

Last night was our first trip to Noodle Pig and it was great! The ramen was fun and delicious! The four of us had different flavors. The owner/chef was there and we struck up a conversation to our delight. Beverages are in cans and bottles with beer, wine and hard cider offered. The boba drinks looked yummy. A must try are the fries served with several dips. This restaurant is self serve which worked great for us. We'll be back soon! read more

Noodlepig - Miso ramen - Ramen Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

Tried something new on the menue and I didn't care for it. $1 to add veggies, not enough come in the soup and the peppers were fresh, I wasn't a fan of them. Don't like them raw. People friendly not overly busy even during art prize but our drinks still took a long time. Came after the food was ready. Containers to go are $1 extra. Asked for GF but I got ramen noodles... realized he didn't charge them for me. We had gone over which were gf and which were not. Glad it was my second time and not my first time. read more

Noodlepig - Boba chi & Tropical Island - Ramen Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

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This place offers dine in and take out options! You would order first and then seat yourself. You also take care of your food when you're done and I love that there's recycle options. The food was good and you get to choose your own proteins for the ramen. read more

Noodlepig - Japanese pancake and corn dog - Ramen Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

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Great food, great service, staff very friendly. I love to come here on weekends. 10/10

Always a pleasure to go back to Noodlepig. Since we were last in, they've updated their menu with seasonal favorites and more customizable protein options. Brody and Katie were running the register together, and they were very friendly and kind. We love the eccentric and urban vibe of this little place, and it's a great addition to downtown Grand Rapids. We highly recommend the Shoyu Ramen! read more

Noodlepig - The Shoyu Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

No MSG!! I love ramen but I suffer from migraines. My wife is Asian and loves ramen and I usually go with her and then we go somewhere else to get something I can eat. Thanks Noodlepig. Oh yeah, the food was amazing :) read more

Noodlepig - Kare Ramen with pork shoulder - Ramen Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

Cute place and the kids loved it. The food was good and the portions were huge. We had lots of leftovers. Parking is on the street, which is a challenge at times, particularly with the construction happening downtown. read more

We ordered the Miso, Shio 42, & the Zessan Ramen. The Zessan was our favorite! It had the most flavor of the 3. The Shio was our least favorite as it was pretty bland. Edamame was good too. I ordered the butter noodles based off google reviews but was not a fan of them. Some reviews complained of not enough noodles but we had plenty of noodles. The restaurant is cute, self serve with outdoor seating available. The service was great, they are very friendly and welcoming. Parking is a little difficult. That was our only real issue. Overall it was great! We will be back. read more

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Best ramen in Michigan.... For now... but in all seriousness. It was amazing. The shoyu ramen is so flavorful.

I love Noodlepig! The service is super friendly and quick. I like the interior vibes a lot-- I've grabbed a quick lunch with a sister and a longer lunch with a friend and I feel like this is a great casual spot for GREAT food. I love the Thai Coconut Curry Ramen with an egg and shrimp tempura. I've tried the taro boba tea and the brown sugar and both were great. I think the meal is fairly priced. read more

Noodlepig - Thai Coconut Curry Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

I came back to Noodlepig after a few months and a real craving for ramen and I'm really glad that I did! The first time I came, I felt like it lacked a lot of flavor and was fairly salty, but this time, I felt like it was a great experience! Super flavorful, the perfect amount of spicy, and a huge portion that I even had leftovers to enjoy the next day. The only thing I'd say that I don't love is the cost- for my bowl, with the recommended protein, egg and cheese, it was $21 which felt a bit high compared to the last time I went when things were all included in the price. I only asked for the one protein but she recommended the rest and I didn't want to correct her given that's how she recommended the meal. It just ended up being a bit more expensive than I anticipated, especially for a counterservice restaurant. However, that is not going to deter me from coming back when I want ramen! read more

Noodlepig - Zessan with braised pork shoulder, cheese and aji-tama egg (Total: $21... $14 bowl, protein is $3 each and cheese is $1) - Ramen Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

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We were really impressed with noodle pig. The boba tea is solid, and equal to most of the local boba tea places, but the ramen was absolutely fantastic. Incredible flavor, perfectly cooked noodles, and a really good combination of toppings. The chicken karage was also excellent, and the fries were some of the best we have ever had. We were in Grand Rapids for 3 days and we ended up going here twice in that 3 day span. It's a little in the pricey side, but the food is very filling and the serving sizes are generous. We will definitely be back next time we're in GR. read more

Noodlepig - Butter noodles and chicken Karage - Ramen Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

The newest downtown spot when you're craving some noods, Noodlepig serves up comfort ramen with a heart. Each bowl purchased also helps feed an undernourished mouth. They got adult bevvies and boba, too. We tried their classic shoyu ramen bowl. It's got the noodles and fixings you tend to see. I wish the broth had more saltiness from the shoyu, though. It tasted fatty but bland. And almost $18 a bowl felt steep for a low country comfort staple. I can't call it a good value. (Maybe if the bowls were as deep as they were wide?) Still, the Saturday dinner line was out the door, so GR folks are digging their Noodlepig fix. And you gotta dig their mission to feed the hungry. read more

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Ordered their fried pork sandwich, and it was not only very tasty, but presented very well. And the fries were also amazing.

Really enjoyed the Thai Green Curry Ramen! No cloyingly sweet flavors, everything was really well balanced! The soup had a slight tang to it and the broth had a really lovely buttery mouthfeel. The ramen egg and shrimp tempura were tasty add-ons! Pretty good portion too although I was able to finish read more

Noodlepig - Thai green curry ramen - Ramen Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

I went here once with my dad, the service was amazing, I went back on my 17th birthday they were the kindest people here, and for their portion sizes they are pretty cheap! I love authentic Japanese food, this is just a perfect place. I would totally recommend this place it's a very positive atmosphere read more

Was very excited to try ramen in GR - particularly one with a GF noodle option! It was extremely busy even at 5:30pm and the line was to the door. Subsequently, all the tables were full though there was a steady stream of turnover. However, based on how busy and full it is, this isn't really a place to go and sit down and enjoy a meal with a group. There were lots of families present with kids, but this is not a good place to bring a stroller or even a baby car seat. We squeezed into the corner table that we managed to snag. Ended up sharing the table with another family who needed a spot. We waited 25 minutes for our food. When it finally did arrive, the ramen was delicious. Flavorful broth, the egg, pork belly - all amazing. My husband loved the regular ramen noodles and I really enjoyed the gluten free ones. Portions are large. Cost - on par with what any going out to eat meal seems to be these days, but feels high since it's fast casual ambiance. There is a charity aspect of your meal cost too, so that's nice- but just be prepared to spend $20+ on one person and that's not including any bubble tea! Overall, the food is 5 stars. Everything else I feel... less enthusiastic about. I can understand that the cost is higher for the quality food and the charity they support but it felt harder to enjoy my meal with how cramped it was and the crazy atmosphere where you feel some subliminal pressure to finish your food quickly because people are waiting for your seat. Maybe it will be a better experience when things settle down and aren't so busy, though I do wish them a lot of success and plenty of business :) read more

Fast-casual ramen spot. The food came out piping hot and looked very fresh. One thing to note is the protein is not included in the base price of the ramen. Mine turned out to be around $20... the pozole was very spice and hard to eat. read more

Noodlepig - Curry ramen - Ramen Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

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the food wasn't bad, just frozen. I sent my gyozas back because they were still frozen in the inside. when I got the fresh batch it was yet again frozen. I have no problem with reheated food but at least don't serve it cold. boba was really good though!! read more

Honestly.... This place ain't it. Ramen is super salty, in addition to the cost of the bowls not great. I want ya to know I've been to many ramen joints. This is far from Being considerably a top ramen spot on the west side. Interior looks cool but that's about it. The tonkotsu is a salt bomb. I can't even finish it. read more

Noodlepig - Tonkotsu too salty - Ramen Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

Noodlepig has the best food in all of the Grand Rapids area! The food, service and atmosphere is top notch and the employees are extremely helpful if it's your first time ordering. I would highly recommend trying this, but be prepared because you're going to be wanting more. The Thai Coconut Bowl with shredded pork, marinated eggs and chashu is an absolute must! read more

Chef Chris and his team are on an incredible journey of reducing childhood hunger. One bowl of ramen feeds not only the patron, but also one child nationally and one child internationally. The soft opening on 11/6/22 was a lovely lunch experience. The counter service ran extremely smoothly, staff were pleasant and friendly, and the ramen was rich. We tried the Katsu Kare, Thai Coconut Curry, cucumber salad, and Katsu Sando XL. The katsu pork stayed delightfully crispy despite soaking in broth. The spring onion garnish gave that extra punch of fresh flavor. The handmade noodles were tender and provided in excess! Don't pass on the cucumber salad. The bright pickling made for a nice palate cleanser between bites of savory soup. I was too stuffed to try the Katsu Sando on the spot, but that just means I won't need to cook dinner tonight :) review to come! The space is airy with an entire wall of windows letting in the natural downtown light. I can't wait to see "the noodle shop" in action; I imagine it'll be like watching my all-time favorite YouTube video, "The Art of Making Noodles by Hand" by Tasty, but IRL! It's going to be a dream come true. Congratulations on opening and the ventures ahead, Chef and team! We've been eagerly awaiting another ramen option in GR. So glad you finally arrived. read more

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First time there last weekend an was so excited! Well worth the price! Karaage was great too ! Lots of sake and ramune! read more

Noodlepig - Shoyu Ramen, Chicken Karaage, Shrimp Tempura - Ramen Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

Giving a 5 start just for the service! Welcomed upon opening the door,food brought to our table with a smile and was asked twice by two different employees how our food was. The cashier was also very friendly. The food I give a solid 8.5, felt like my broth was missing something but overall very good! The J dog was interesting at a solid 7/10 and the fries were BOMB! The tempura shrimp were also very good. Be sure to add an egg to your ramen you won't regret it! The music and decor were perfection. I'm an early 90s kid and really enjoys the late 2000s edm remix station they had playing . read more

Noodlepig - Ramen Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

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The ramen bowls are pretty good but you have to pay to add on all of the toppings, ( meat, egg, extra veggies) when a bowl is already $18 you pretty much get broth and noodles. It should include one choice of protein. read more

This is a crave-able bowl of ramen! The flavor is so powerful and all the ingredients are fresh. The noodles are made in house daily! I added the chashu pork and half a soft-boiled egg which was extra $, but definitely essential to this bowl of ramen! The staff were friendly and quick. The restaurant was well maintained, no wait for a table just order and take a seat. Will definitely be back when I come back into town! read more

Noodlepig - Shoyu Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

Absolutely loved our stop here. I would give my dishes (gyoza and Thai coconut curry) a 5/5. My partner had shoyu and the cucumber salad and his rating was 4/5. Noodles and broth were well balanced and I didn't honestly find it salty at all. Good portion for the cost for the additional meats. We love Ippudo in NYC and while this isn't to that level it was excellent and perfect for a rainy day. The service was the best, though. Friendly and upbeat, willing to explain the menu and drinks. I came on a Sunday for lunch but I can only imagine it gets super crowded for lunch. We will be back. read more

Noodlepig - Gyoza, cucumber salad, Thai curry ramen with pork belly. - Ramen Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

First time stopping by, the food was great! We loved the ramen and will forsure be back to have it again! I had boba and it was subpar, but it was super busy so I will try it again another time. Overall good experience and fun trying something new! read more

Noodlepig - Ramen Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

Absolutely delicious ramen that has gluten free options. And they have alcoholic boba which I was equally excited about! Fun atmosphere with some traditional and some fusion ramen options that all sound yummy. read more

Noodlepig - Gluten free Zessan Ramen with shredded pork and cabbage added - Ramen Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

Closest thing Ive found to ramen in Japan, I love the miso! You can add lots of extras but it does get pricey. The strawberry sakura boba with popping strawberry is my favorite thing on earth right now. It tastes like strawberry milk. Servers are all super sweet and its always fast and fresh!! Dont open til noon but open late and even have drinks available although I havent tried any yet. They play Japanese music and play a screen of the streets in Japan so thats cool to watch! read more

Everything we ordered was super flavorful, came out hot, and was ready in 10-15 minutes. The fries! Don't miss out on the fries. You get one free sauce, but additional ones can be ordered for a fee. I'm not a big mayo with fries person, but the noodlepig mayo is 100% necessary! The noodlepig ketchup was also good, with a miso kind of undertone. They offer traditional ketchup, but why would you want that?? I found the bell pepper slices awkward to eat, so I bailed on my chop sticks and spoon and ended up using a plastic fork to stab and then bite off pieces. The guys at the table both ordered Ramen bowls that included cheese as an ingredient. When they first started eating, it was a cheese pull comedy with the noodles and cheese strands pulling up from the bowl, but by the end they both ended up with kind of a cheesy glob at the bottom of their bowl. It was a fun, if messy, dinner out with friends. read more

I've been to Noodlepig twice now, once to eat in and the other time for takeout. The space is pretty small and when I ate in, all the tables and bar top seats were taken. The good: They donate food to a local charity so you're helping feed kids around GR. The workers are also all really friendly. The bad: The ramen unfortunately. I did a build your own both times so I could try different meats, broths and veggies. The pork belly was super thin and not very flavorful. The pork had a great crunch but the serving size was so small and the meat was so dry. You also receive almost no veggies. The bok choy is chopped so small and I received almost no mushrooms in my bowl. The noodles were too soft, no spring left in them. For $20 a bowl, I recommend going somewhere else and get a more filling meal. read more

I was very impressed with this spot. We were coming into town and I was on the hunt for RAMEN. This was the second listing to pop up. According to their website, their mission is ending child hunger and they say by purchasing a bowl you are feeding three children - one in Michigan, one nationally, and one internationally. That was enough for me to go and give it a shot! This shop has a fast food feel with the line from the door to the register and the menu is pretty small, but honestly it didn't need to be longer. Our food wait was longer than I expected from the setup of the restaurant, but not unreasonable from a more formal ramen shop. We ordered the miso with the suggested chashu and aji-tama (with an extra one!) and the zessan. They were beautifully bowled. Right off the bat the zessan was the winner. Holy cow was it amazing. The broth - the ingredients - the noods - amazing. The miso was good, but I wasn't excited about it. The flavor felt dull compared to other misos I've had and the ingredients felt very plain and didn't add anything special to it -- the chashu seemed chewy and flavorless -- but like, honestly? This is a great ramen for the friend with plainer tastes - or a child. It has the components of a ramen you could whip up quickly at home with some maruchan and a scoop of miso paste. Their bowls are fully customizable and can accommodate for allergies, intolerances, and more. And though we didn't get it, they also have boba! Would definitely eat here again and try something other than the miso. But would but the zessan in a heartbeat. read more

Noodlepig - Miso with chashu and extra aji-jama - Ramen Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

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Hands down best ramen in town. Pricey, but the quality is worth it. The house made noodles, broths, sauces and ingredients are just delightful. Ive been coming here since they opened and the owner & employees are so friendly and helpful in explaining their dishes and ingredient. You can tell they take pride in their business and they have superb business practices. If you enjoy quality ramen, check it out. You will not be disappointed. I have not even tried their other dishes or drinks yet so I cannot speak in those, but I plan to soon! read more