Quaint little place, great service, the owner/chef is a nice guy who checked to make sure things were good with us. Delicious food.

Tried this as take out, the place itself is small, just a few cramped inside tables, and a few outdoor ones too. The ramen was good 6.5/10. Also tried the pork belly bowl, 5/10. Maybe I was just expecting something different, I was just not impressed. Overall, not a bad option for a lunch. read more

House ramen was delicious but the short ribs stole the show!! Service was efficient and as ordered, extra noodles, extra greens and no egg (yes, we were that table :-)...) Small but mighty little nook for delish ramen and other goodies. read more

Best place ever!! I get the same thing every time, a Terriyaki Chicken Belly Bowl and I never get sick of it! It's too good! Service and always fast and kind, and the restaurant is nicely decorated and a great place for pictures. read more

Ramen Belly - Ramen Near Me - Iowa City, Iowa

Took a drive from Clinton, Iowa over here after hearing that Iowa City has some pretty tasty ramen places. This was the first one that popped up on yelp so we took the drive. Oh My gosh!!! I would make this drive every weekend for the food here. Everything was so fresh; so flavorful. The option to sit inside or outside was an added bonus. We chose to sit inside and it was so quaint and relaxing. We got our waters as soon as we sat down and had our main food within 20-30 minutes. The Potstickers which i didn't get a picture of because i demolished them were sooo tasty. Everything was just so good; Will absolutely be back for more!!! read more

Ramen Belly - Salmon Yuzu-Viche (raw) - Ramen Near Me - Iowa City, Iowa

See all

Great little gem in Iowa City. I appreciate the ramen comes with pork belly that isn't just all fat and still melts in your mouth. The salmon tartare was my favorite part of the meal. The service was great and I'd recommend anyone looking for something besides a burger while visiting to check it out. read more

See all

Food is fresh, fast and delightful. Service is attentive & friendly. Smaller inside for seating, but there are tables outside. The place was hopping for an out of the way eatery, so that tells me it is a destination. Will definately go back. read more

We had a great first visit to Ramen Belly. We came on a Monday night, finding the place was packed. The server and head host were able to accommodate us so we weren't waiting in the cold, kindly offering to move us to a larger table when it became available. We all opted to try the ramen, each of us trying a different base. Food arrive quickly and hot, and was at the caliber of quality of Ramen restaurants I've been to on the West Coast. The servers were attentive, but didn't hover. My kids enjoyed watching the sumo match and commented they liked the decor. Highly recommend this gem of a ramen restaurant. read more

This place was so cozy. We received our food quickly and the waitress was nice. It was busy for a Thursday night, so I figured it must be good. The food delivered. Our pork belly was so tender as well as the brisket. The broth itself was delicious. This is the best ramen place in the area. We will be returning. read more

See all

A very small restaurant with big style and flavor. Make sure you get there early or call ahead because seating is extremely limited. This cute spot is nestled in a neighborhood, but has big city flavor. My best recommendation is to take a look at their website and see what the chef recommends. There are so many options that it really is best to see what they enjoy most. We used to love the Korean short ribs, but it seems like they've changed up their recipe and they tasted more like a normal bbq or teriyaki recently, so we probably won't continue ordering those. Overall, this spot is generally a pleaser. read more

Whenever I see a restaurant with a five star rating and a lot of reviews, I make it a priority to go there! I have never been disappointed, and I am definitely not disappointed right now! We started off with a salmon sashimi appetizer, that had a good amount of fish at a reasonable price. The fish was fresh and lovingly presented as two delicious roses. After we had devoured our appetizer, our main dishes arrived promptly! My husband got a belly bowl with pork belly and it was delicious. The rice was not plain white rice, it was cooked in broth and tasted fantastic! I got the house ramen base with brisket and chili oil on the side and it was probably one of the best bowls of soup I've ever had. The broth had a delightful depth of flavor and was silky and delicious. The noodles were perfectly cooked and the brisket melted in my mouth. The soft-boiled egg was delightful and soaked in soy sauce that tasted delicious! The chili oil is homemade and adds a spicy bit of umami to it all! Best thing, the service was prompt, even though the restaurant had someone sitting at almost every table. It's a little bit out of the way, but this is definitely one of Iowa City's little secrets that I will definitely be returning to. read more

Ramen Belly - Salmon sashimi appetizer - Ramen Near Me - Iowa City, Iowa

Really awesome place in Iowa City for some delicious ramen. As a ramen enthusiast, their ramen is amazing given in Iowa city. I have to say I'm pretty picky though because I've had ramen from everywhere. Their tonkotsu is solid. Also of course would recommend their gyoza :) A solid choice for a cold day, which happens frequently in Iowa City :-) There aren't many options if you can't have beef broth which is typical of most ramen - so for my vegetarian friends it might not be the best place to go. Service is straightforward and good. Ambiance is cute- a little small so can be hard sometimes to get a spot inside but nice and cozy if you get a spot! Parking can be hit or miss so you may want to get there earlier to secure it. Love supporting my small businesses! read more

Craving ramen belly in Iowa City means a trip to Ramen Belly. We got tonkatsu ramen with pork belly and house ramen with short rib⁣.This pork belly is no joke melts in your mouth because it's sooooo tender. We loved both broths and the soft boiled egg is my favorite touch! Ask for some hot chili oil if ya want it spicy. The service was quick at the table but can also order up front for speed. It's a small place so not a ton of room but super cute for an early dinner. read more

Ramen Belly - Pork belly in tonkatsu broth - Ramen Near Me - Iowa City, Iowa

See all

Food was fantastic, it's nice small place. But service was great. I'll be back next time I'm in town

Great food, a beautiful setting, and I like the range of TV shows and the restaurant's artwork and design. However, our waitress was a pain in the ass and claimed that our "modifications," which were simple requests like not having bean sprouts or bamboo shoots, were the reason our dinner was delayed. Although there were only eight patrons in the restaurant, the owner is a wonderful man and appreciates it. The restaurant would have received a five-star rating, but our server was rude because of "what we ordered." read more

Yummy!!!! I had the regular ramen with pork belly. Delish!!!! Two friends had Abura ramen and loved it. Hubs had belly bowl chicken teriyaki with extra chili oil. We will definitely return! Servers were warm and friendly. The venue is small but adorable. It was the perfect post-soccer watching meal. read more

Food: order the Tonkotsu Ramen with pork belly and the mama Ramen with pork belly. The broth of the Tonkotsu left me wanting for more but the pork belly was very tender and tasted amazing. I felt like the tonkatsu Ramen need a more spices. The beef base broth of the mama Ramen was slightly more flavorful. The short ribs though were amazing and I would 100% come back just for this. They also have Mexican Coke if you're interested Ambience: very cute. Little restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating. The Decour is amazing and very calming. Service: kind waiter, and chef came out to clarify a gluten-free order for one of my friends. Very kind and accommodating. read more

We want to meet some friends. It was very tasty. We loved the ramen with pork. There are many drink options also. The only improvements I recommend is moving away from QR code ordering (with a group you will need multiple codes). Also, it's very small, so I'd keep your group to 6 or less. read more

Ramen Belly - Ramen with miso broth and pork - Ramen Near Me - Iowa City, Iowa

I was in town for work and randomly googled restaurant places near me to find this hole-in-the-wall gem. Initially confused because I was driving into a local suburb, I soon discovered that the charm of this place is the fact that it's tucked away in an inconspicuous corner for the unsuspecting passerby to discover. I ordered the salmon sashimi appetizer and ramen with the Mama soup base as well as a side of tonkatsu. All was delicious but of course, the namesake ramen was the standout. The "Mama" soup base likened to Vietnamese beef stew was flavorful and unique. The ramen was cooked just al dente enough, making this the perfect noodle bowl. Highly recommend checking this place out if you ever find yourself in Iowa City, IA! read more

See all

Im from California and was spoiled by delicious ramen places out there. Since moving to Iowa I havemt found a decent Ramen place until now. A friend told me to check out Iowa city for ramen and this place looked pretty good and it didn't disappoint. Drove an hour and a half to get here but it was well worth the drive. I recommend to get the potstickers to start, they are delicious. The rest is up to you. read more

Super friendly service, amazing ramen. Rich flavor and a broth that isn't too salty. Just fresh and hot, toothy noodles, jammy egg, bamboo shoots, greens--everything you want from good ramen. Went for the short rib Tonkotsu ramen and the spring salad w/ sesame dressing (a generous size for $6!) read more

We was passing by this town and saw I good reviews and it did not disappointing. We ordered Ramen with tonkatsu broth and add pork belly for $5 more and also ordered pork belly bowl. Both dishes are delicious and came with thick cut and tender pork belly. I could not finish my ramen. The owner and staff were very nice and friendly. I wish the restaurant is closer to our home so we can visit more often. read more

See all

I recommend. I had Tonkatsu ramen with pork belly added, served hot, noodles with some bite, egg with custardy yolk, all elements what I had hoped for. Looking forward to trying other things from the menu on my next visit. They offer a nice variety of sakes in different styles, from the most basic up to highly crafted premiums, but not everything listed was available. The server had to do some legwork to find out what they had to serve, but there should have been an 86 list. They didn't have my 1st choice, though I was very pleased with my 2nd. My server was very pleasant and helpful. I dined after peak business, so I got plenty of attention. If you're in search of good, authentic done the right way, support this restaurant. read more

JUST AMAZING!!!! Seriously my new favorite go-to Asian fusion evening dinner spot! It's also has a quaint atmosphere and very easy ordering system. The perfect location, with both indoor and outdoor seating, with great views to the park. The RAMEN is sooo good! The ramen is so full of flavors and cooked to perfection! Such a gem in the Midwest! Yes, it is not "authentic" ramen, but the blend of cultures complements the flavors and is a party in your mouth! I absolutely love this place and always leave with a big ramen belly! read more

See all

10/10. Everything about this place is a must! I have to start my review with the front of house operations. When you arrive you seat yourself and are given a menu, there is a QR code on each table. This isn't just a link to the menu but a kiosk for ordering and paying. You place your drink, appetizer and entree order, all at once or as you wish to. Your items are delivered to your table with PROMPT service. And you checkout before you leave. This is awesome, errors are either on your or the kitchen (we had no errors) but it cuts out the middle man, and eliminates the issue of being short staffed. There was two "servers" which I would call runners tonight, which was plenty! The owner was present and delivering and filling waters too! Now onto the food. We started with potstickers....uh yeah. 20/10. These were the real deal, not just filled with cabbage and ground meat, the pork belly inside was TO. DIE. FOR. Also got the tuna tartar tower, uh amazing! Pictures are following I promise. Ive seen reviews on here and google about how the protein is an add on. Well it saves menu space, proteins are listed with broth base, rather than having 45 combinations, you customize as you wish. I got mama (beef) base, with brisket, not spicy. FANTASTIC, and my SO got pork and miso base with pork belly. Wow, just so good. I cannot praise this place enough. We will be back! read more

See all

I really liked going to Ramen Belly for a get together with friends. We all were able to share/taste their delicious appetizers as well as picking out some great food to eat. I ordered the Chicken Ramen with Beef Base and it was very tasty. The staff working was all very kind and friendly. I also loved that they had a great selection of craft beers either on tap or in cans/bottles. Additionally, their interior decor was very nice and I liked their variety of seating options. Their location was kind of hidden but in the middle of a growing neighborhood in Iowa City. Overall, great experience!! read more

See all

Update to my original review is that this place is still the bomb dot com. Ordered takeout tonight since Covid numbers have begin to rise and I'm not down with Delta. It was still soooo delicious. They were smart and packaged the broth separate from the noodles/egg/porkbelly and it kept well, on the 18 minute drive home. I do have a recommendation for management -- similar to Ippudo in NYC, add an option for extra noodles for an additional price. I would get those in a heartbeat. read more

See all

I was so excited to try Ramen Belly tonight and to have a restaurant back in the peninsula neighborhood! The atmosphere was warm and inviting, and so was the food. I had the house ramen (a combination of miso and shoyu) with pork belly. It was creamy, salty, and so filling that I had to take some home with me. The egg was perfectly cooked! I'm looking forward to coming back and trying some of the more unique items on the menu. The staff was friendly and welcoming and the process was very COVID friendly, with options to dine in or take away, screens where you place your order, and a mask policy in place. Overall, a great experience. read more

See all

The ramen here was fantastic, as was the braised pork korokke (Japanese style potato croquette) we had as an appetizer and the Strawberry/Oreo Vietnamese coffee cheesecake dessert. This place is so out of the way that you'd never find it without seeing a review or getting it recommended by a friend. It's smack dab in the middle of a residential neighborhood a couple miles deep into a peninsula surrounded by the Iowa river. It's worth the trip to come out here if you're into ramen. I could tell they take pride in the broth, and put the significant amount of effort into making it properly. The broth makes the ramen, and they nail it. read more

Very glad to see ramen in the area! Being vegetarian, I got the dry ramen (without the broth). It was good, but it would be awesome and really love to see a vegetarian broth option as well. I really enjoyed the egg and got an extra egg because only half of an egg comes with the ramen order. It's usually a full egg so was slightly bummed to see 1/2 of an egg. The egg is delicious and would highly recommend it. read more

A great Asian story by a great story teller. The owner, The staff working were all very kind and friendly. Great food selection and insanely flavorful. I tried quite a few dishes, insanely fresh. The aroma was like eat it now. Their poke bowl are to be die for. The egg was done semi hard with perfectly done. Tried quite a few times after that by my own but truly unsuccessful. Their beer selection is quite impressive. Big grove's couple of those are always fun to eat with asian food. So the part of the town this is in I had never been before, so it was quite a surprise. They do have patio seating and with covid they are taking all good care with frequent cleaning, QR menu etc. Will definitely visit again to get their poke bowls with creamy garlic sauce. read more

Ramen Belly - a person taking a picture of a plate of food - Ramen Near Me - Iowa City, Iowa

Best spot in IC. They've perfect the bowl of ramen and offer a range of equally delectable proteins (pork belly is my fav). Service is always fast and simple, the only online ordering that isn't a pain in the neck. Cute little place with nice decor in an adorable part of town! Get in before the crowd as there's only so much seating!! read more

Chill atmosphere and perfect menu. I'm the type who hate too many options, especially for a ramen joint. Love the options to order on your phone or through the kiosk. Just make sure to pay the tab immediately or the food doesn't come out right away. Light staff tonight, but they covered the dinner shift nicely and I got my food promptly. Great quantity, quality, and over all service. I got the house (miso) ramen with brisket. I thought it was gonna be an odd combo, but my heave that brisket was freaking amazing with that soup combo. Noodles were cooked perfect for me and plenty of veggies. Def 10/10 will recommend. read more

The place is small. The location is hidden in a residential area. There is limited parking. The service is limited / fast food like. The food is great. Authentic Japanese style Ramen bowels. You must have the 6 minute egg. It is soaked in Soy sauce prior to cooking and maintains the flavor. read more

Service: 5/5, they checked on us couple time to make sure we're doing okay. Super friendly and fast service. Best part: you have 3 different ways to order your food. Scan the QR code at your table, use their tablets or just do a traditional way of letting them know what you want. Pretty relax vibe. They turned on the tv but keep the volume down so you can still have a conversation with your friends. Food: 5/5, we ordered Tartare (MUST TRY), 2 Abura Ramen with pork belly and beef brisket. They were all amazing. Definitely come back to try more things soon. read more

Ramen is excellent here! I especially enjoy the short ribs appetizer. Service is fantastic. This restaurant is worth the short drive into The Peninsula. read more

Was really looking forward to eating here but so very disappointed in the food. First we had their potstickers and the meat inside was gooey and had a sharp nasty flavor. Then the basic noodle dish had little flavor and what flavor it did offer was not what I was expecting. The noodles themselves were ok just the broth surrounding them was off somehow. And I just couldn't get myself to eat the brown colored hard boiled egg floating around. Both of us barely ate anything and left hungry and disillusioned. read more

We came here on a beautiful night, sat outside, and enjoyed a delicious meal. We used the QR code at the table to order which was super easy and food came in a timely manner. Overall we had a really great experience and will be back soon! read more

Ramen Belly - Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Iowa City, Iowa

I heard mixed reviews about Ramen Belly so I went to try it out myself. We ordered the short rib appetizer which was pretty expensive but the flavor was amazing. It was tied for the best short rib I've had. Their house ramen was a little underwhelming as the soup and noodles were missing a body or wholeness to it. Missing that umami flavor that you crave with ramen. If you like a light ramen, it would be ideal for you. Lastly, we had the ramen in a blanket which was very fun to eat. I loved the garlic noodles and the Katsu was perfect! I can't definitely recommend this place for its ramen specifically but I definitely think you should try it out! read more

Phenomenal food. The entire staff is super friendly. It's a small place but the atmosphere is great. Be prepared to wait, but it's worth it.