Heard good things about Ramen Hajime, so decided to give it a try on a Saturday around 12:45pm. We joined the waitlist on the kiosk - there was about a 30 minute wait, and we got a text when our table was ready. Good amount of vegan options! I got the Kiwami Vegan extra spicy and my friend got the Kiwami Tonkotsu spicy (adding spice costs 50c more) and we received our food after 20 minutes. Kiwami Vegan (5/5): This was delicious! The curry broth and the plant based meat were well seasoned and the yuzu gave the dish a nice citrus kick. I love spicy food and usually feel like ramen is not spicy enough, but this was the perfect level. Noodles were tasty and there was a good noodle to soup ratio. My friend gave the Kiwami Tonkotsu a 4/5 and said it could be a bit more flavorful. She tried some of my Kiwami Vegan and said she would order that next time instead Overall, amazing vegan ramen! Although there isn't a vegetarian option, the vegan option is plenty flavorful on its own and I didn't feel like I was missing anything. Ramen Hajime now joins Marufuku Ramen in my list of favorite ramen shops in the bay. I would definitely return! read more

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My partner and I recently moved here from Oahu, and we have been on the hunt for ramen that tastes genuinely authentic. He is from Japan, so we can be a bit particular about ramen, but we both really enjoyed Ramen Hajime. I got the spicy miso, and he ordered the shoyu ramen. The broth was the standout for both of us, rich, flavorful, and satisfying without tasting overly heavy. We have tried other popular local ramen spots that just were not for us, but this one was definitely better and felt like it had more depth. The one thing we did not love was the noodle texture. They were much wider and flatter than we expected, almost like fettuccine. Next time, I would ask if we could substitute a thinner, curlier, more traditional squiggly noodle instead. Overall, we both walked out feeling like it was a solid 4 out of 5. We would absolutely come back and give it another try, especially for that broth. read more

Ramen Hajime - Kiwami Spicy Miso - Ramen Near Me - Santa Clara, California

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I went here with my friend on a Thursday evening after work to catch up. There was a wait surprisingly, so I was expecting it to be pretty good. I ordered the kiwami spicy miso ramen. I was a bit intimidated seeing it say that it was very spicy, but the waitress reassured me saying that she can make it less spicy. The noodles were soft, and I felt that the food portion was pretty good. I finished it all and felt satisfied. The broth was flavorful and the place was pretty chill and small. It was a bit loud to have conversations with my friend, but we still enjoyed the experience anyways. Since the restaurant was pretty busy, we didn't really have much interaction with the staff aside from the times we had to wave them down. I think it was overall a good experience and a nice place for getting your ramen fix. Perhaps arrive earlier for a shorter wait :) read more

Ramen Hajime - kiwami spicy miso - Ramen Near Me - Santa Clara, California

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Came here for 2 ppl and still had to wait 30 mins at 2pm (just speaks to how popular this place is I guesss!). I got the spicy miso ramen and it was so good! The broth is super flavorful and the noodles are the perfect amount of chewy. Very generous with the meat portions too. Overall really enjoyed this bowl of ramen and would definitely want to come back again! read more

Ramen Hajime - Ramen Near Me - Santa Clara, California

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I ordered a kiwame spicy miso ramen and they weren't lying when they said it was spicy. The warning was posted but I just figured it's for other people. They had duck meat that you can add to your ramen. I really love the duck meat. It was flavorful because of the fat on it. It's a medium sized place. It's handicapped friendly too. You can maneuver in the place. It's enough to fit a medium group if dining. read more

Ramen Hajime - Spicy Tonkotsu - Ramen Near Me - Santa Clara, California

I've genuinely caught myself going here once 3x a week that's how good it is. The staff super welcoming, the food amazing, the pricing somehow tops both. The soup is super delectable and I see why it's ranked so highly amongst ramen spots in cali. Though in my opinion it deserves no 1. This is my go to ramen spot and even 100 degree cali weather cannot stop me from eating here. read more

Ramen Hajime - Ramen Near Me - Santa Clara, California

Waited about 10 minutes for a table for two on Saturday at 5:30pm. My spicy vegan ramen was good for $17. The balanced broth had a heavy curry flavor that was nice with the ramen noodles. I thought there could have been more toppings besides bok choy, a small spoonful of vegan meat, purple cabbage, and green onion though. The edamame was also good and the ito-en bottled green tea was only $3, so I didn't feel super ripped off. Overall, it's up there as far as ramen shops in the South Bay. I'd come back! read more

Ramen Hajime - Spicy Vegan ramen was bomb! - Ramen Near Me - Santa Clara, California

Ramen was tasty- we came here with a group of 4 a bit before opening on a Sunday. You put your party on a waitlist (even before it opens) which you can't do prior to arriving. I got a Kiwami spicy miso and my husband got the Kiwami tonkotsu. I enjoyed the thick egg noodles on my dish and the overall dish. I wouldn't say it's as memorable as some other spots I've been to, but we were there early enough that we didn't have to wait in line too long to get seated and order our meal. It's a bit out of our way but if I was in the area and craving ramen, I would drop by again! read more

Ramen Hajime - Kiwami Tonkotsu - Ramen Near Me - Santa Clara, California

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The ramen here is good. Everything about it is up to par from noodle texture, pork slices, broth, and broth temperature. I would say it's one of the better ramen places in the area. Though it was cheaper before, it's pretty decently priced for what you get in the area. The servers are really nice and attentive if you need anything. Plus the food comes out pretty fast. The only downside is this place is clean but not the biggest which means wait times can be quite long. Even on a weekday. So be ready to wait if you do come but I would say overall, a great place and I would come again. read more

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Another very strong contender when it comes to South Bay ramen (we're really spoiled for great options down here!). Didn't take long to get a table after putting ourselves on the wait-list. Totally packed inside which was a good sign. The tonkotsu broth was very rich and flavorful, with chewy noodles and very thin slices of pork which made them very easy to eat, almost like cooked prosciutto. Also note that the amount of noodles is very generous. I almost never have to get leftover ramen to go but this time I had to, which made for very tasty leftovers. So I definitely feel this is a good value. I'd consider asking for extra broth to go next time. read more

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Food 4/5 The ramen here definitely tastes cleaner compared to other ramen places in the Bay. The tonkatsu had a more milky and creamy flavor, which I think adding spicy would make it taste better. The pork butt meat is soft and I like it better than the pork belly meat. The spicy miso had thick noodles and you can taste the miso and soup with no other additional pork flavors. Overall, very filling and gives a lot of noodles. Service 4/5 Service is the standard service here, they do work quickly to keep things moving. Remember to also select "check waitlist status" box on the kiosk when you put your name down. We forgot to do that and couldn't check the waitlist times. Ambiance 4/5 A simple restaurant with versatile tables and chairs for all party sizes. read more

Ramen Hajime - Kiwami Tonkotsu - Ramen Near Me - Santa Clara, California

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Came 10 min before it opened, already needed to take a number. Ramen is always good and such a soul comfort. The whole restaurant is clean and nice. read more

Ramen Hajime - Ramen Near Me - Santa Clara, California

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First time here. I had the spicy tonkatsu Ramen, the Ramen was amazing! Service was very friendly and attentive. Ambience was casual, I will definitely recommend this place. read more

Ramen Hajime - Spicy tonkatsu - Ramen Near Me - Santa Clara, California

Tried on two other occasions to get in to no avail, but third time's a charm. I was there as doors opened on Thursday morning. The details here make this ramen shop shine. The black garlic oil and the freshly squeezed lime are such luxurious counterpoints to the silky broth, and the noodle texture is divine. The traditional pork over rice accompaniment features corn and green onion, and the karaage is made with juicy thigh meat. All-around excellent experience. read more

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We went on a Sunday after lunch and there was still a bit of a wait. Staff was nice and service was quick. We got kiwami tonkatsu, spicy for an extra $0.50, and the meat meat meat. Thick noodles for both. The meat meat meat was definitely fully loaded. Good way to try all their meat options. Broth was delicious and flavorful without being too salty. Noodles were good and chewy. read more

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Ramen Hajime is now one of my new favorite ramen spots in the Bay Area! You start by adding yourself to the waitlist in person and then you wait for your turn to be seated. I like how you can check the waitlist on your phone so you can shop nearby and come back. Waited about an hour and when we came back we were seated promptly. Service definitely felt rushed but it's understandable since they had so many people waiting. Everything was delicious and piping hot! I really enjoyed how crunchy yet moist their karage was and my tonkotsu was umami and rich. Noodles were coated and retained the flavor of the yummy broth. Noodles itself were silky and thin which isn't the type of ramen noodle I'm use to since it was more like a somen noodle. My mom got the spicy tonkatsu and said it was a bit too spicy but still delicious. She got the thick noodle and said she preferred the thick noodle after trying a bite of my noodle. Overall great spot for ramen and I can't wait to come back to try their limited ramens. read more

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Arrived here on a Sunday right before opening and there was already a line forming outside! After chatting with a few people in line, I learned that you need to join the waitlist using the restaurant's tablet at the entrance. For our party of six, we were 24th in the queue, which ended up being about a 30‑minute wait -- not bad considering the crowd. Once seated, the ordering process was quick and efficient, and the food came out promptly. We ordered ramen, edamame, karaage, and corn rice -- everything was delicious and freshly made. The service was smooth, and the atmosphere felt lively without being chaotic. If you don't mind a short wait, I'd definitely recommend checking this place out -- the food quality and organization make it worth it. Plus, there's plenty of parking in the plaza, which is always a bonus! read more

Ramen Hajime - Kiwami Spicy Miso - Ramen Near Me - Santa Clara, California

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great ramen and I normally don't really like ramen in the states but I go here often like once a week rn I love getting two bowls read more

Ramen Hajime - Kiwami Shoyu - Ramen Near Me - Santa Clara, California

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Be prepared to wait around 1 hour on the weekends. They also close the waitlist early (at 7pm on Saturday night) so definitely plan ahead!

The ramen here is amazing! My favorite in the Bay Area. The chashu is sliced thin. The broth is so savory and delicious. The chicken karaage is also excellent. The meat is plump and juicy. This is definitely my go to for ramen in the South Bay. read more

Gosh, I would give it 10 stars if I could, best ramen in the Bay Area! My go-to order is: Kiwami Tonkotsu, add extra spicy and pork shoulder with the thin noodles OH MY GAWD this is delicious. The meat is cut sooo thinly which actually I prefer over 1 thick piece of chashu like most ramen places. The broth is clean and super umami, you can tell they put their heart and soul into their tonkotsu broth. It's not super rich and heavy, which I feel not as bloated after annihilating my entire bowl of ramen. And make sure to squeeze that lime onto your ramen, it adds that extra acidity that makes this perfect. Chicken Karaage is also super good here, it's super juicy and you can taste the kewpie mayo once you take that bite, which means they marinated pretty well. It's so creamy and also crispy, I love how big these chicken pieces are as well. The line can get long, so make sure to come and put your name down once they open! They use their own waitlist system and it's not through yelp. Also they sometimes have specials, and 1 time I was able to try their scallop ramen, and they sourced the scallops from Hokkaido, which was delicious and sweet, I can't wait to come back and try their specials if they have any in the future read more

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At 7:30pm they no longer allow people to be on the waitlist because they close at 8pm. Go early!

We ordered the Kiwami Vegan (extra spice) with kurikage mushroom & the Spicy Vegan with corn, tofu, mushroom and Japanese vegan meat as add-ons. The vegan broth is curry infused (kinda like Maggi for desis who've had that) so it really felt like having a loaded soupy Maggi to me. The Japanese vegan meat was fantastic & the other toppings were good. We also got their soy meat appetiser which was just OK. The meat was still watery inside & not my favourite. Overall it was very good vegan ramen, just not the best I've had. The place was crowded when we got there around 2pm on a Sunday but we noticed lots of people dropped off the waitlist so they were able to accommodate us just before closing. read more

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We tried the meat meat meat (5 different types of cuts) and the pieces gave a really nice array. I really enjoyed the broth too and how acidic it was. The egg was cooked to perfection and the karaage was also very yummy. I really like how the bowls are topped with a good amount of wood ear mushrooms and green onions. The wait here can be so crazy so be sure to join early, but it is well worth it. Karaage uses dark meat so it's just my style. read more

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So well worth the short wait! On a Friday afternoon, I waited for about 25 minutes. The frequent reviews complaining about the wait almost deterred me, but this is nothing like the wait at some other top Bay Area ramen shops where you wait for up to two hours. The Kiwami tonkotsu was one of the best bowls of ramen I've ever had -- I gave it a solid 8.5/10 score. The broth was flavorful but still felt light. The egg was DELICIOUS and I was grateful to have ordered an extra egg because getting only half an egg was a such a tease! What stood out to be more than anything was the pork; with two kinds of pork, one almost resembling a thin bacon, I was in absolute ramen heaven. The pork was very fatty, so I was grateful for the light broth. I ordered mine spicy; next time I will ask for extra spice as the chili oil was very minimal. MUST VISIT if you love ramen!!! read more

Ramen Hajime - Kiwami Tonkotsu - Ramen Near Me - Santa Clara, California

Stop by on a cold night for a solo dinner. This place was prized for being one of the best ramen places in California. Meat Meat meat (5/5): # This ramen is packed with all the chashu you can think of! It comes with pork belly, pork butt, duck chashu, chicken breast chashu, and beef rib chashu. I really liked the beef rib one. I thì k this is really great if you want a variety to try. I thought the broth was excellent especially with the black oil that packed the ramen with umami. However I thought the actual noodles tasted too much like the instant one. Overall I really enjoyed this ramen read more

Ramen Hajime - Ramen Near Me - Santa Clara, California

This place always has line so go there before they open to get into the first batch. They serve classic tonkotsu ramen and there's even an option to order the simple version without too much topping with slightly lower price so if you care about the essence (noodles and soup) that would be the bowl to order. Service is friendly and efficient and the place is clean. Will go back there to try other noodles if I happen to be around there before opening hour. read more

Ramen Hajime - Ramen Near Me - Santa Clara, California

Amazing classic ramen options between shoyu, tonkotsu, miso, and even special diet friendly options for vegan and gluten free folks! It's the real deal here and it feels like you're home having some legit Japanese ramen. You can sign up for the waitlist when you arrive, kill time at the nearby Harbor Freight or Micro Center, head over when your table is ready, and have an amazing bowl of ramen. You can customize your bowl to your liking, though I've found that their pre-set ramen combos have been great, though I have a soft spot for thick curly noodles so I always sub that in and they do it without issue! Overall, it is fairly no frills inside, you get to your table and it's comfortable for your ramen enjoyment. The staff is great with refilling your waters or getting what you need. I always look forward to coming back - it's been a great experience! read more

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This is definitely the spot to go if you're looking for authentic, comforting ramen in the area, this spot doesn't disappoint. The broth is rich, flavorful, and tastes like it comes straight from Japan. On top of that the service here is wonderful. Super sweet ladies! I will say it does get super busy and the wait time is insane. read more

Ramen Hajime - Ramen Near Me - Santa Clara, California

Free parking Went there as soon as it opens with 20 others waiting, had a cup of coffee during our wait next door, probably a 25 mins before we were called Being a small resturant, they work very fast so the turn over on the tables are quick Clean, organized but tight seatings Small decors everywhere on the table and on the walls, nothing too crazy or decorated but it was nice and simple Good overall was good, the bouncy noodles was the plus for me read more

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I came on a Saturday evening and waited around forty minutes since the space is quite small. You can only sign up for the waitlist onsite so that is something to consider. Started with the chicken karaage which, like others have said, was hot, juicy, crisp and well seasoned! The accompanying dipping sauce tasted like a ranch-mayo blend that was just okay (but honestly the chicken itself was flavorful enough without it). For the entree, I ordered the kiwami shoyu, which had thick, chewy noodles with a light bonito-flavored broth that overall tasted very balanced without being too salty. Also, the thin pork chashu slices were very tender, while the wontons did not really add much to the bowl. Overall, this is a small shop that can have a noticeable wait during peak hours, but the food is well worth it and in league with Ramen Nagi in my opinion! read more

Ramen Hajime - Kiwami Shoyu - Ramen Near Me - Santa Clara, California

This was a super delicious ramen shop! We just signed our name into the tablet and the wait was only about 30ish minutes. We made the mistake of coming here when the Micocenter had their grand opening. So parking was scarce, but I'm sure it's much better now. It's a modest sized restaurant with different Japanese inspired decorations. I got the tonkatsu, which was so delicious! The broth is rich and flavorful. The combination of the noodles, pork slices, and toppings went so well together. We really loved this shop and hope to be back soon! read more

Ramen Hajime - Ramen Near Me - Santa Clara, California

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Love this small little ramen shop - the servers are extremely friendly and I think it's so neat that they give you some wedges of lime to add to your broth when the ramen becomes too rich. I loved how rich the tonkatsu soup was and it's wasn't too salty at all. The noodles have a nice texture to them although I do prefer a more firm bite. The ladies that work here are so so friendly and sweet. read more

Ramen Hajime - Kiwami Tonkotsu - Ramen Near Me - Santa Clara, California

Hands down the best Tonkotsu Ramen in the Bay Area. I always order to-go, so my photos just don't do it justice. It's the broth, rich and authentic. The depth of flavor is undeniable. I am 100% hooked. read more

Ramen Hajime - Ramen Near Me - Santa Clara, California

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Service was good and the food was good! For the price, I don't think you can beat it. I'm vegetarian and normally don't like a lot of ramen shops but this one stood out to me. I wasn't a huge fan of the ramen that I got since it tasted more like curry, but I'll definitely be back and try the other vegan ramen they have! read more

Ramen Hajime - Kiwami Vegan - Ramen Near Me - Santa Clara, California

The food is good...but I wasn't a fan of how hours are posted to be closed at 3 PM to 5 PM. I came 15 minutes before 3 and they closed the door in front of me :/ waste of time and gas sadly read more

My wife and I adored this place so so much! We had high expectations for this place because it was rated top 5 ramen restaurants in California, and we are so happy to say that it upheld that status! The inside is a bit small, but it makes up for it with how wonderful the ramen was. On top of this, the servers and hosts were extremely kind and helpful when it came to recommending what type of broth to get! I felt that the quality of the food tasted like something your family would make for you when you were younger and feeling sick. Definitely a "winter stay at home" kind of ramen and I love that it felt that way! The whole vibe of the restaurant from the food to the service felt like home and that is a huge compliment. My wife built her own ramen with the tonkotsu broth, thin noodle and chasu and I had ordered the spicy miso as recommended by our server! We also had ordered the chicken karage and it did not disappoint. The skin was extremely crispy and had a nice crunch to it :) The spicy miso was pretty spicy in an addicting kind of way, however it does depend on your spice tolerance and mine is definitely up there and at some points I was sweating! I had enjoyed my wife's broth as well, and it was a great mix between creamy and savory, and the meat was so tender and soft. We also had ordered the matcha IPA beer and it also did not disappoint! I personally have been on the hunt to try it and was so glad to have it here! Overall, it was a great experience for my wife and I and we will definitely come back! It does get a bit busy, so try to get there early as we did have to wait around 15-30 minutes to get sat! Will gladly wait for this spot again highly recommend read more

Ramen Hajime - Kiwami Spicy Miso, Chicken Karaage (Legs) and Tonkotsu - Ramen Near Me - Santa Clara, California

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If you plan to come here, prepare to wait. When we arrived, we checked in at the kiosk, and there were 30 groups ahead of us. We decided to wait it out and went to a few of the other neighboring businesses to kill time. We were finally seated after an hour wait. There are only 15 tables inside, so they can't accommodate too many people. Our service was excellent. We were given menus after we were seated. After we decided on what we wanted, our order was taken. I ordered the Kiwami tonkotsu ramen and a Mexican Coke (I was pleasantly surprised that they had this). My husband ordered the Kiwami Shoyu ramen, and we also ordered the chicken karaage. Our chicken came out first, and it was piping hot. It was super crispy and juicy on the inside. Delicious! It came with a dipping sauce, but we didn't care for it. Then our ramens arrived. The food came out fast! My ramen was so good, and it came with a few lime slices to squeeze over the top. It was very tasty. My hubby loved his shoyu ramen. We both enjoyed the thin slices of pork that our ramen came with. They give you a hearty portion of ramen and pork. The noodles were thin in my tonkotsu. The noodles in the shoyu ramen were egg noodles, and they were squiggly. I can see why there is a long wait to get in here. The ramen is top-notch, and the service is excellent. read more

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We came around lunch time; the wait was about 20 minutes long. The staff were incredibly efficient and friendly; we heard a fair amount of friendly chatter in Japanese with other customers. We ordered the kiwami tonkotsu (with added beef rib chashu), kiwami shoyu (with added duck chashu), and the chicken karaage. Oh my goodness. The kiwami tonkotsu was magical. The egg noodles have a nice amount of chew to them, the broth was rich and incredibly flavorful, and all the chashu were so tender and meaty. I typically prefer thicker noodles, but these might convert me. Highly recommend the beef chashu. The kiwami shoyu was similarly a magical experience. The broth strongly tastes of dashi, but it worked well with the noodles and chashu. The thick egg noodles here were delightfully springy. The duck chashu was a great addition; would highly recommend adding some too. Unfortunately, the only miss to this bowl were the pork won tans, which were doughy and overcooked (but maybe that was because we only found them at the end of the meal...). The karaage was delicious. The chicken was juicy, well breaded, and nicely crispy. While there's no lime slices that come with the karaage, the dipping sauce has a hint of lime to it, while having tasty flavor profile of its own. Definitely recommend grabbing some karaage too! Overall... I feel like I've wasted years of my life by having not come here sooner. This is easily our favorite ramen spot in the South Bay! read more

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Came here on a Saturday morning with a friend after someone recommended this place to us. We came a little bit after opening time, but we had to wait for about 30-40 minutes. There were about 8 groups ahead of us. When you enter, there is tablet to add yourself to a waitlist (and I believe a QR code?). I would highly suggest reading through the instructions first, because we rushed through and didn't check the box to receive notifications. That meant that we had to keep pestering the staff for updates. So please take a few seconds to read the instructions! Since the restaurant's located in a plaza, there is a lot of parking and other shops to check out while we waited. They mainly offer ramen and some appetizers, but the nice part is that they also offer vegan options. I ordered the kiwami spicy miso ramen and got chicken karaage to share. The karaage was freshly fried and crunchy, and didn't have too much batter so it didn't feel too heavy. It was a generous portion. The ramen didn't have all the usual toppings, and was very green onion and chives heavy. I usually order tonkotsu ramen, so the miso flavor was on the lighter side. It wasn't very spicy for me personally, but still very delicious! The chashu/pork belly was thinner than other spots, but it melts in your mouth! The restaurants wasn't very decorated, but did have photos of their past specials, and all of them sounded really good. Will definitely come back to try their other dishes. read more

Ramen Hajime - Chicken Karaage (Legs) - Ramen Near Me - Santa Clara, California

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