An interesting spot on Franklin which can be a little hard to find, Pirate Captain has some good poke and ramen options. The service left something to be desired, but as a whole, it was a decent place to grab some food before a Carolina basketball game. The demographic was mostly students, which makes sense given the affordability of the food, so expect it to be on the louder side. I don't mind the energy, but if you're planning to go for a date or conversation, make sure you can talk a little louder than usual! read more

This place has my favorite poke bowl ever. I don't live anywhere near here but anytime I'm in town I beg to get this poke bowl again. The ingredients take so fresh and it's presented beautifully. The workers here are very kind and accommodating and the place has a cozy vibe. read more

Pirate Captain - BYO Regular Poke Bowl - Poke Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

These folks make a decently solid bowl of ramen. If you're in the area and need a ramen fix...you won't be disappointed. The quality was good and their broth was pleasantly tasty and porky enough. There were no complaints from anyone at our table on any of the food. The service was good. What may set this apart from many ramen shops is that their prices are very good. For a nice bowl at a good price...this is the spot if you're in Chapel Hill. Do bear in mind that parking is a mess in this area. read more

See all

A really cool "pirate" theme Ramen shop on Franklin Street. I was actually headed towards Bon Chon but came upon Pirate Captain and decided to support a new business. There were lots of tables throughout the restaurant and the interior was newly renovated. I was hungry so I decided to order the cajun fries as an appetizer. It was so good! The fries were fried to perfection and the seasoning on top was delicious. For my main, I chose the tonkotsu ramen. I enjoyed the broth, the flavor was just enough to compliment the noodles. I felt like there was too much beansprout on the bottom. The pork melted in my mouth. Overall, great customer service! They will do well here on Franklin street! read more

See all

Really delicious and flavorful ramen! I really love the pirate ship theming. It's super cute. And the service was fast. I got the tonkotsu ramen, and I wasn't expecting the broth to be this good. The noodles were cooked perfectly (perfect for slurping) and the pork was super nice and tender! They also give you a good amount of noodles which is nice. I heard their poke bowls are meh however, so I say stick with the ramen if you wanna try it out! read more

Pirate Captain - Poke Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

I grabbed a build your own poke bowl (salmon, spicy ponzu tuna) to go. The staff was super nice while I waited. The bowl was a decent portion for the price, and for the most part, the toppings were all fresh. The exception was the spicy tuna, which was hard to chew with a very chewy/tough texture -- I ended up having to pick the tuna out, so that was a bummer. I'd come back next time I am in the area, it's a fun pirate/beachy vibe! read more

See all

Came back for the poke-bowls, and to be honest I think they are missing out on something great here. The individual ingredients were all great and I liked how they did the spicy tuna and spicy salmon. But if you look at one of the bowls we ordered, it was just missing a lot of protein/toppings. I understand that they can't fill the bowl to the brim, but I would at least like to see it cover the rice underneath. The distribution of toppings was also a little strange, for one of our bowls there was a huge amount of cucumbers and cilantro in it and maybe a sprinkle of cabbage and a lot of the house poke sauce. This place is relatively new so I know that there's room to grow, hopefully they get better at making these with time. read more

Pirate Captain - Regular Poke Bowl - Poke Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

See all

This might be my new go-to ramen place in the Triangle. As much as I love Noodle Blvd, it's kind of far away, and this place is honestly just as good! I ordered the Tonkotsu ramen and my friend had the poke bowl. Both were super delicious, and our server gave us some yummy sauces to go with them. The spicy sauce is SUPER spicy! So you've been warned. Otherwise, bottoms up to these yummy bowls, I'll be ordering from here again. read more

Wow wow wow! This place is incredible. THE BEST poke bowl I've had in a very long time. Very fresh ingredients, tasty combos, all with a great value. Next time I'm in Chapel Hill area, I will drive out of my way to grab one! Great, friendly service. Thank you! read more

Pirate Captain - Poke Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

The best $15 ramen I will probably have in my life. The soup was savory, the noodles chewy, the egg gooey and luscious, the chasu tender and porky, and the toppings generous. Their homemade pepper paste is their secret weapon: the fresh, bright piquancy is just what I need to counterbalance the heavier flavors of the ramen. I've enjoyed it every single time. read more

Pirate Captain - tonkatsu ramen - Poke Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Awesome ramen. Mom and I had the place to ourselves one night, and it was just lovely. The service was great and attentive and the food was to die for. Highly recommend to anyone looking for a good ramen place and/or a delicious soup spot! read more

Every delivery I've gotten (3 so far), have been really good and followed instructions. Their delivery/take out is amazing because they keep the broth separate from the food itself so it doesn't get soggy. It's wonderful!! Would recommend! read more

Pirate Captain - Tonkatsu Ramen was amazing - Poke Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

See all

Appendix to original review of Pirate Captain. Within two days visited the place again with my friend. We have treated ourselves to bowls of ramen - tonkotsu and shrimp tempura. We have tried many Japanese ramen places but so far this one is the best. Meats cooked to perfection, and broth oh broth out of this world! Flavorful, spicy and not at all salty what we find elsewhere. Give it a try today!!! read more

See all

The poke bowls were fresh and filling! We ordered 2 build your own bowls and 1 salmon bowl. I ordered through Grubhub for pickup and it was ready quickly and everything was correct. My favorite toppings were the mango and shrimp. Sometimes with poke, the shrimp are small and wet, but these were large chunks of chopped shrimp. Very good! There were several groups dining inside who were a mix of UNC students and families. We all really enjoyed our bowls! I would definitely visit more often if I lived in the area. read more

Pirate Captain - Poke Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Service was fast, noodles were delicious as always. It's a cozy little spot to slurp up some ramen.

Pros: Nice staffs, reasonable price for the portion, decent broth and egg Cons: Noodles are dense, powdery, gooey, unslurpable Soup was lukewarm Was very excited to try out a good ramen place in chapel hill but was very disappointed. Could be just this one time since I've heard good things - really want to see this place succeed...will give it more time and see how it goes read more

Pirate Captain - Ramen - Poke Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

I came here five days after their first day opening. It's located on Franklin St (popular area w/ limited). The inside gives off pirate ship and beach theme. There are a lot of options to choose from -- ramen, açaí bowls, cajun seafood, poke bowls, small appetizers, and salads. We got the chicken karaage ramen, miso ramen, and a few appetizers. The staff was extremely friendly and attentive. They have button you can press for for the waiter. The ramen was about $13 each which was reasonable for the portion size. The appetizers were great as well! pro: serving size customer service decor/ambiance can get packed pretty quickly! limited parking read more

See all

The poke was really good! I ordered to go and building your own bowl is really easy. The waiter who greeted us was incredibly nice. We did have to wait a little while for our food (maybe 25 minutes) but it wasn't horrible. The poke itself was just ordinary but I could definitely see myself coming here to get it often. Also, the overall pirate theme of this place is cool! read more

Pirate Captain - Build your own Regular Poke Bowl - Poke Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Ordered 2 poke bowls for pick up and went straight home. They looked pretty good but the rice was like regular white rice and not sushi rice, the poke did not feel fresh either. I really wanted this place to work but it didn't for me. read more

Pirate Captain - Large Poke Bowl - Poke Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Don't let the unique name deter you from trying this solid Ramen spot. They cleverly blend the name with a nautical theme in their decor. The lunch specials include a beverage, and the portion sizes are huge. I ordered the Tonkotsu ramen and enjoyed my meal. Check it out for your ramen fix if you're in the area. read more

Small place which didn't have a welcoming or non welcoming vibe. The ambiance was just that.. nothing special. I was extremely hungry and originally just wanted dumplings, but the place was closed so I chose this. The fried Shumai (underwhelming to me).. I prefer steamed. I also got a Poke Bowl, which wasn't anything special aside of a poke bowl read more

See all

Best ramen and takoyaki in the area!! The ramen broth was super rich, though I do wish they would include a whole perfectly jammy egg instead of half. The karaage was a superb addition to ramen. The Takoyaki were super flavorful and topped with generous helpings of bonito flakes. Looking forward to trying out their other dishes. read more

Have only ordered from here online but I love the poke bowl, they have plenty options for add ins and everything else you could think of. The name is a little silly but I think it just adds to the character of this establishment. I will update my review to 5 stars when I get the chance to sit down and experience the ambiance and service. read more

This place is a really charming restaurant that serves delicious ramen in a store that is decorated like a pirate ship. Besides their very fun decor, they serve a really solid tonkotsu ramen! All of the toppings were spot on and the noodles were well-cooked (more of the slightly softer American style) and you are provided with an interesting Habanero yuzu kosho sauce on the side. Overall, very tasty ramen and one of the best authentic Japanese ramen places in the triangle :) read more

Pirate Captain - Tonkotsu ramen - Poke Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Was confused by the restaurant name but was in the mood to for ramen and wanted to try them out. Tonkatsu ramen was ok. Not the worst I've had but not the best either. Staff was attentive but didn't get the sense that quality of the ramen is what drives this place. Good place to hit if you're nearby and need a quick ramen hit. read more

I was pretty excited to see a place open that wasn't another Italian or typical college town, USA fare but unfortunately this place just doesn't do it for me. It's definitely an interesting concept and design but when ramen is your claim to fame it should at least be good. I expect ramen to be salty but this was way over the top that you'd have to dilute it to make it a normal salty level and there was no complexity to the broth. The menu is a bit confusing and definitely hard to find something suitable for vegetarians. read more

A lovingly curated restaurant with offering special to Chapel Hill. The Poké bowl was delicious, fresh tuna and salmon, fresh fruits and vegetables. The organic mixed greens were tasty. Added sesame seeds, shredded nori, crispy onion, and masago. Generous portions compared to national chains. Ramen was also tasty and soul warming. I slurped the noodles multiple times without difficulty. Fast service. Their Poke bowl is now on the list of my regular favorites in the area. read more

Pirate Captain - Large Poke Bowl, green mix, salmon, tuna, edamame, pickled cucumber, seaweed salad, mango, masago with house sauce. - Poke Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

See all

I'll qualify this by saying we visited when the restaurant was brand new, so they could still be working out the kinks. We were walking around Franklin St. looking for a fast-casual place where we could grab a bite before seeing an art installation at Memorial Hall. I had read about them and peeking at the menu confirmed that it was an Asian restaurant featuring ramen, poke, buns and other offerings (not sure what the connection is with pirates and the nautical theme). My wife and I ordered different types of ramen and she ordered hot tea. The waitress was very pleasant but we were a little confused about the call button at the table. We don't know if we were supposed to ring it to get their attention or not. The tea was very lukewarm. My wife wasn't going to say anything but when the waitress returned and felt the pot, she even noticed it was not hot and brought hotter tea. I read in another review that they serve a more Chinese version of ramen. It tasked fine but the temperature of mine was not as piping hot as I would have liked. We'd give them another shot after they've gotten into their groove. read more

Pirate Captain - Tonkatsu ramen - Poke Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

See all

The beef shoyu ramen was really good, tonkotsu was decent. The service and ambiance was just ok, not that good.

Very nice staff. The food though was just OK. Passable, but not special in any way.

I believe this is the Best Poke bowl in Chapel Hill . The quality of the fish is superior to all other restaurants in addition to healthy portions, plenty of topping options. The price are very fair and the service are always top notch. The Tonkotsu ramen are also my favorite! Pork belly are very tender and juicy, Can't beat it - I'd highly recommend. read more

Pirate Captain - Poke Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

See all

I'm from southern CA and only here for the night. I have several good ramen places at home. The spicy pork ramen was very good. I'm used to only having a couple pieces of meat, so I paid for extra. It actually had plenty without paying for extra. They put bok Chou which is different and a nice adder. The flavor of the meat and brother were very good. If this place was at home I would go again. read more

Came in to grab a quick lunch to-go and was not disappointed! My poke bowl was full and flavorful. Veggies were fresh and the proteins were delicious. Staff was friendly and helpful. Only took about 10 minutes to order and get the bowl. I had a great experience and will definitely be back to try the ramen! read more

I ordered the Beef Shoyu Ramen and wasn't disappointed! My to-go order came out quickly and tasted great.

Very good ramen!! Price was beyond reasonable for the amazing food I got, loved the atmosphere the service was amazing everyone was kind!!

this place just opened but i got recommended by a friend to go, so i had high expectations that were exceeded. i got the spicy tonkatsu ramen, which was filled with toppings with a broth full of flavor. there was also a lunch special of a free soft drink and $1 off any ramen! definitely worth the price. even better than the food was the service. the workers were very sweet and kind, checking up in case we needed anything. do eat here if you get the chance! i want to try their other options, like their seafood dishes and boils, when i get the time in the future. read more

Pirate Captain - spicy tonkotsu ramen (mine) & miso ramen (my friend's) - Poke Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

The theme of this restaurant is tacky and odd, but the food is good--- especially the ramen. The poke I had was pretty good, not the best I've had, but kind of a niche for Chapel Hill as I can't find it elsewhere close by. Times visited: 2 or 3 read more

The service was great. Everything after that was not. The takoyaki appeared to be fried nicely, but inside we only found hot doughy mush. We got poke bowls with ginger dressing, which we expected to be light and fresh. I have never had ginger dressing that was mayonnaise-based. There was so much of it on top it was impossible to work around. Not to mention the pickled cucumbers appear to be dill pickles. Could be an order error, but as someone who eats a lot of poke, I was very disappointed by all the weird left turns this meal took. Went home unsatisfied and tummy aching. read more

The ramen was disappointing and the broth lacked umami. Gyoza was good. Service was good. We won't be going back.

I got tonkotsu Ramen and had great flavor! Broth wasn't too salty. They have good size portion and came out pretty fast! Would definitely recommend!! read more