I decided to check out this place out for dinner, the night before running a local half marathon. Sure it was kind of weird to eat Japanese food in a Danish town in California, but I gave it a shot. I placed my order at the door and paid for my food before finding an open table outside. That was perfect since the weather was really nice. Once my food was ready, an employee brought it out to me. My order was for the shoyu ramen with pork shoulder and gyoza. It was a surprisingly good bowl of ramen! Even the gyoza wasn't bad. I was definitely glad that I decided to come here! read more

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We were in town on a busy holiday weekend, December 28th. Picked this place for a nice hot bowl of soup to finish off our evening in town and warm our tummies as the weather started getting colder as the sun went down. It was chaotic when we arrived. It was around 5.45pm. We don't know where to line up, how to get our names on their wait list, whether we should just order to go or dine in. Staff working there are giving customers different information. Some would say line up on this side for dine in and take out, then there's another line on the opposite side which looked like a pick up line but I later find out it was the take out line. But I was so confused as I see those people on that side placing their orders, getting a number and instructed where to sit. We finally make it to the front of the line and a gentleman cuts in front of me and asks about getting their name on the list. The lady who helped him takes his name and adds it on the list. I then asked why she did that and didn't ask him to get in line like we all did. We also wanted our name on the waitlist to dine in. And we were told to get in line to get our name on the list. And this gentleman obviously just went in front of the line to "ask a question" and he gets his name on the list right there and there. Not fair, not right. Total chaos as staff are saying and doing different things. She apologized and took my name but that didn't fix anything or made us feel any better. We already stood in line for 30mins. Someone cuts in line and his name gets listed ahead of mine. I questioned what she did but all she could say was "sorry, there's nothing I can do about it now" and proceeds to write my name on "the list". We are a party of 6 so as expected, it would be harder to get seated as they have limited seating and most tables that come up available are the tables for smaller parties. We've already waited half an hour and the whole town is busy. We decided to stay and wait and stick with it. We figured everywhere in town would be busy and a long wait to get seated. An hour and a half of waiting, I go check our place on the queue. There's still a few people ahead of us, including the gentleman who cut in line. As we got closer to being seated, I hear the gentleman taking orders tell a customer they are out of Tonkotsu Ramen and some other items on the menu. Now I am really disappointed... and HANGRY at this point. Long wait and out of items from the menu. But I kept my composure & figured I would wait and see what they could perhaps do to make things right... or I could just write a review to warn people and let the owners know they have an issue that needs to be fixed and improved. I know they read reviews as I saw them print and post a comment on their window from a yelper. We finally get called to be seated (almost 2 hours later), I mention the whole ordeal and express our disappointment as we placed our order. All we got was an apology that didn't sound sincere, it was just the right thing to say I guess. No offers of how to make things right. Or at least show interest in what transpired so they can make improvements. At this time, the crowd has slowed down and they are approaching closing time. I guess that's the advantage we got from the long wait. We didn't feel rushed to get out so that others could be seated. And the food was great so that's also a plus. No complaints about the food and will definitely not mind going back again. I just don't know about the wait. Perhaps next time we will order to go & find a spot to eat at if they are busy. But they can be more organized in handling their busiest time and big crowds if they can't move somewhere with more space in town. And the staff should be trained better to handle these situations and everyone should be telling customers the same information. read more

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Go here all the time and I get the pork belly ramen the food is delicious highly recommended and the service is fast,very authentic Ramen

The only ramen that's on par would be Momofoku's. This is a true hidden gem in Solvang. read more

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Ambience: Fairly busy when we came and there's limited outdoor seating but definitely a cute place to eat and Solvang is easily walkable! Service: Standard, no complaints! Taste: Got the pork belly shoyu ramen, which was quite good! I enjoyed the fresh wakame and bamboo--didn't have the sour canned taste. read more

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Cute little place. I had Tonkotsu ramen and ahi hand roll. Both were good. Everything was fresh and they had pretty good noodles too. Not much seating inside and no ambiance. On a nicer day I would definitely sit outside. read more

Ramen Kotori - Tonkotsu Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Solvang, California

We were visiting for a few days and were expecting to do our usual tour of food that Solvang is known for like Danish bakeries & brats and beer. But heard that this restaurant had some top notch Ramen and other Asian dishes so we gave it a try. It was so delicious! Visiting from LA we are used to high quality when it comes to this type of food and this is right on par. Ramen was really good of course but we tried about 5 different things and they were all amazing! We go to the Central Coast a lot and this is definitely the best Asian food we've had in the area. We also got a chance to meet with the owners (a couple) and they were very nice and you could sense the passion they have for their restaurant and customers. Highly recommend! read more

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It was a little hot for ramen but we had sushi, I got the hand rolls my partner got the poke bowl. Food was a 10/10, delicious. The hostess or the lady taking orders WAY too rude, almost like she was doing us a favor, didn't really enjoyed that. The place is outside so if it's a hot day keep in mind you're gonna sweat! read more

Ramen Kotori - Ramen Near Me - Solvang, California

TLDR: shoyu and bao were good, tan tan was okay. Good service. We decided to come to Solvang on our way out to the coast. We were not sure what we wanted but stumbled upon this small ramen shop during our walk. Being the ramen enthusiasts we are, we had to try it. Service was quick and easy. I ordered the shoyu ramen and bao and my fiancé got the tan tan ramen (although he is a tonkotsu kind of guy, they didn't have it on their menu). They sad us inside at a tiny set up near a window. Very charming and luckily since it was a little cold out we felt great. Bao came out first and I loved it. Great flavor and texture. No complaints. I got the shoyu ramen shortly after and I think it was a solid choice. All components were well done. This might be a personal preference but the mushrooms at a spot in my hometown are made to be a little sweet and tangy. If that was the case here it would've cut the saltiness and been even better. I enjoyed it either way. My fiancé said his was "okay". Nothing more and nothing less. He ate the whole thing but wasn't overly impressed. Overall, a good choice although I'm not sure how many people go to Solvang to have ramen. read more

Ramen Kotori - Shoyu Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Solvang, California

Pretty good ramen. Never had shoyu ramen before, took a little getting used to. Had the noodles with fried chicken. Wasn't sure if I would like it, but I was pleasantly surprised. read more

Delicious food! Very casual outdoor dining. Great ramen bowl with tofu. Great for kids also, small portions for them. read more

Ramen Kotori was recommended to me by Sandy, one of the owners of Valley Brewers. As much as I respected her taste in beer I was a little unsure of the recommendation; it's the only ramen place in town so maybe that's not saying much. However, RK was actually pretty good and I've had some disappointing ramen not that long ago in LA. Maybe it's a lowered expectation but the broth here was rich and the veggies plentiful. I pre-emptively ordered a side of the pork belly thinking there wouldn't be enough ground chicken but there was plenty of both. The karaage was also pretty good-moist with a good crunch on the outside. The only quirk is their ordering-it was this weird mix of counter service and seating is all outside. read more

Ramen Kotori - Spicy Tan-Tan with Pork Belly - Ramen Near Me - Solvang, California

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The only ramen place in Solvang! It was really cold at night so we were all craving ramen. It's average ramen. The broth was on the saltier side. But one thing I did like was the pork belly. It was char grilled so it had good flavor. The kid's ramen is the same portion but without the toppings and it's 50% cheaper so if you just want noodles, I would recommend getting that. It was okay but very pricey. $20 for a bowl of ramen...eh. read more

Ramen Kotori - Kids ramen. Same portion as the regular ramen except no toppings. - Ramen Near Me - Solvang, California

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The food and drinks were good! It's outdoor seating but they had heaters for the cold. They were better than I expected. The wait time was about 30 minutes, but that's because we were there on a holiday weekend. I would come back next time I am in Solvang. The tonkotsu ramen was good and the ginger soju cocktail was very good, it tasted like a Canada Dry soda. read more

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A lover of ramen but also very picky. Wanted to end our day trip in Solvang by eating something hot to match the cool weather so we thought of ramen! We were lucky to come at a right time to grab a table and order right before a line started to form. We all ordered the Spicy Tan Tan which was delicous. The broth was tasty and I loved the addition of bok choy as well. Might be a go to spot whenever we visit Solvang now! read more

Ramen Kotori - Spicy Tan Tan Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Solvang, California

Avoid Solvang on Mondays and Tuesdays unless you want to be ROL (that's "Ramen out of Luck"). Instead, squeeze in a visit to Kotori before or after your wine tastings. Trust me, it's worth it. As an LA local drowning in ramen joints, Kotori still reigns supreme for me. Their ramen is simply irresistible--I'm craving it just thinking about it! Every friend I've dragged along has become a Kotori convert. Can't wait to plan my next trip back, pronto. Mark my words, it's gonna involve wine and Kotori! read more

The food was ok if you are craving the only Asian place in solvang. The people taking my order were nice and it's el Fresca for dining which is nice in California winter. I live in the Mecca of melting pot of the great food in socal. I have had a lot of ramen houses and if I compared it to those places, the ramen was standard but nothing that wowed me. Not bad but not the best I've had. Price is kind of high but I guess that's the world we live in now. read more

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We got ramen with pork belly. It was very flavorful and the meat was perfect! I will definitely come back on my next trip.

First thing to know, seating is outside. We went on December 13th in the evening, it was chilly outside but we were dressed warm plus they have several outdoor heaters so we didn't feel cold at all, so just make sure to dress appropriately and you'll be fine. Next the experience is a hybrid between fast casual and full service sit down. When you arrive you order, pay, and tip at the counter. After that they take everything to you and it feels like a normal restaurant experience. We ordered 2 bowls of ramen and 1 order of gyoza as well as a Thai tea. The ramen bowl had pork belly instead of chashu, but it was such a nice fatty tender delicious (and large) piece of pork belly that I actually preferred it. The broth was not fatty if you like a fatty ramen broth, and it also had a lot of seaweed in it which I would have skipped had I know (my husband would have skipped it as well) Overall tasty, a solid place and just such a lovely ambiance. Beautiful memories made. I would definitely return here read more

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OMG! I am such a food critic and no review comes on yelp unless it's fantastic or horrible to warn people's from a place . This place ramen kotori was DELICIOUS! Very surprising . I really don't expect much from small tourist towns, but boy this little place was worth it . I'm definitely coming back tomorrow for another tasting . I had small portions since I planned for a bigger dinner later so I decided on the pork belly rice bowl, belly bao buns and pork dumplings yummy so good I ate dumplings before I started taking pictures Remember, these are appetizers sizes that me and Husband shared .. good portion size read more

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It's so good, really, really good but know that the wait time is super long. Took almost an hour to get our food after spending a lifetime in line and also know it's really expensive. BUT so tasty. read more

Getting ramen in Solvang just seems wrong, since there are so many good ramen places near where we live. My wife and I decided to give it a try anyway just to see how it would compare against places in LA and OC. We totally expected it to suck, but it actually turned out to be pretty good. Not exactly authentic, but I don't really care about authenticity these days as long as it tastes good. The noodles had nice, firm texture, and was flavorful, and so was the broth. My wife got the Shoyu Ramen and I got Wagyu Ribeye Ramen, but both came with shoyu broth. I generally don't care for shoyu broth, but this one was pretty good. I would still prefer to go with tonkotsu or miso broth if they were offered as an option. I don't know if this place would allow substituting broths. Based on the menu, miso broth is only available for vegetarian ramen, and tonkotsu broth isn't available at all. This place offers other items besides ramen, such as rice bowls and hand rolls. It has a very extensive selection of beers as well. We got a rice bowl with soy braised pork belly for the kids, and it was pretty good. Outdoor seating only by Hamlet Square. Quite pricey for ramen, but kind of expected for this area. Definitely not a place I would go out of way to get ramen, but a nice change of pace if I want something ethnic while staying in the area. read more

Freaking INCREDIBLE meal. The food was just insane delicious. The uni and salmon cwispy rice was to die for, cooked and seasoned so well. Ramen was exactly what you want it to be. The bao bun dough has my mind in a chokehold, I wish I could eat everything with it. I keep telling the chefs about this place at my restaurant and how it was a huge highlight of the trip I just took. The staff was so cool and the seating outside is perfect. read more

Ramen Kotori - Shoyu ramen, pork belly bao, crispy rice bites - Ramen Near Me - Solvang, California

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They have a sign up that states you need to put your name down on the waiting list before getting in line but I watched another customer get told off by the hostess for inquiring just what the sign says. The customer asked if they could place an order to go, the guy told the customer to wait in line, it was a good 30 to 45 minute wait. Minimal seating inside it's all outdoor. When you get to the hostess they ask for how many and take your order right there and then they seat you. We ordered the Spicy tan tan the presentation was appealing but we ended up not eating the full serving something seemed off about the dish and later that evening we all had upset stomachs. I do not recommend. read more

We wanted Asian food walking distance in town. It was a toss up between Pho or ramen. We chose the latter. You order at the front door and sit anywhere outside. No indoor seating. It was a very windy day but they have heaters. We ordered crispy tofu ($8), gyoza ($10), and a bowl of shoyu ramen ($18) to share. I don't think I've ever paid that much for a bowl of soup! The ramen noodles and broth was good. I picked pork belly and it was tender and fattie. Gyoza was average and the crispy tofu was meh. That item could be skipped. It was lightly crisp but no seasoning. The same dipping sauce was given to both, a soy vinaigrette. If they changed their sauce to something sweeter, I think it would bring out more flavors. 5 stars for ramen, 2 for tofu m, 3 for gyoza. Giving this place a 4. read more

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Absolutely delicious food - worth the price and the limited availability for sure! I had the Shoyu Ramen and it was so good! The broth was delicious and comforting, the noodles were fresh and filling, and all the toppings were perfect - especially the mouth-watering soy-marinated egg I can't wait to come back and try something else! read more

Ramen Kotori - Shoyu Ramen with Pork Shoulder - Ramen Near Me - Solvang, California

1/15/2022 Only Ramen spot in town. We came for lunch and noticed staff was present but the signs all stated closed. They posted that they are doing temp hours and only serving dinner from 5-8. The ladies that were present didn't greet us or anything. Should have been a sign when we were at the door reading menus. Fast forward to dinner, we walked up at 6 and this spot was looking pretty busy. We stood in line and was asked to wait 10 minutes for a table for 4. They take your order, payment and ask for tip (starting at 15%) before you are seated and served. I always tip if dining in but debating on how I'm serviced and how the food is will determine if it's 18 %, 20 % or more. We ordered 1 chicken Karaage, 2 spicy tan tan ramens, 1 shoyu ramen and 1 poke bowl, 4 sodas was $130 or so. The chicken Karaage was on the salty side for us. My oldest son said the shoyu ramen had a sweet after taste but overall was good. Both my husband and I thought the spicy tan tan noodles were salty. We squeezed the wedge of lemon from the chicken Karaage appetizer into our bowls. Portions were good but overall we weren't as impressed with the ramen scene. My youngest got the poke rice bowl. For the price I was worried it was a large serving but it came out in a shallow bowl and wasn't very much. You can get a much larger portion from poke house places! My son killed it. We got seated shortly after waiting and ordering. Food came out about 15 mins later. I asked for a cup of ice and extra napkins from 2 different servers and neither came back with any. On the 3rd ask close to the end of our meal, I was finally brought extra napkins and my cup of ice. Dropped from 4 stars to 3. It was nice out, hoped the service was slightly better and the meal wasn't too salty but there isn't much options for ramen in the area. You feel rushed to order with the line standing behind you and the pressure to tip up front before even being served anything. I hope they change some patterns here and hope they stick around. Notice the pho place a couple blocks away was already closed and many other businesses not make it... read more

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Food is pretty good and filling. The wait is a different story, very long . However, the service was quick with the food and the portions are quite good. update: nvm I got food poisoning from the pork. read more

Ramen Kotori - shoyu ramen with pork belly. - Ramen Near Me - Solvang, California

Cute ramen shop right in the heart of Solvang. The quality here is great and my personal favorite is the spicy tan tan ramen, which rivals some of the best ramen shops in LA. Everything else I have tried there is good, but the tan tan is special. read more

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The fact that there is real Japanese ramen in Solvang is such a treat! Sometimes, you just aren't feeling your standard American or Danish foods and need a little warm comfort. There's an order window and you can order the ramen for take out or eat it in the dining area. They have great ramen options along with a variety of appetizers like karaage and sushi bites. read more

What a surprise to have such delicious ramen in Solvang! We enjoyed it so much we visited this restaurant twice! My favorite ramen is the shoyu with pork belly. The broth is clear and delicious. The meat is bomb because the char is crunchy and the inside melts. The egg is perfectly cooked with the white cooked through and the yolk was custardy. As a whole, it was amazing! And we added the chili sauce, it was delicious both ways. read more

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Well, well, well, where do I begin? My brother and sister-in-law own the place and prep, cook, and create remarkable Japanese concoctions with a vibrant Mexican flair. ¡Órale! Fun facts: My brother is Mexican-American, and my sister-in-law is Japanese-American. For all the tourists that come to Solvang for a cultural experience, eat a Danish pastry when you first wake up, visit a winery, and then come to Ramen Kotori for lunch or dinner. There is outdoor seating with umbrellas when it's sunny and heaters when it's chilly. Tourist tip: If there is no seating available, have a picnic at Solvang Park. My favorite things to order at Ramen Kotori: 1. Shoyu ramen, obviously. 2. Poké bowl 3. Bao buns with tofu 5. Spicy tuna handroll 6. Something from their specials 7. Boba read more

Ramen Kotori - THE BEST Spicy tuna handroll - Ramen Near Me - Solvang, California

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A cold, chilly night deserves an awesome warmth. It's a must when you visited Solvang. The service was awesome, portions were decent. Outdoor seating with ample heating, who needs it when the ramen is hot, j/k. We put our name in and ordered while we walk around the neighborhood stores. When they called your names, you get seated as they brought it your orders. Very efficient. We had Tantanmen very flavorful and the shoyu with pork belly. The gyoza was warm and tasty. Will definitely go back if we are in Solvang again. read more

Ramen Kotori - Outside seating with heating - Ramen Near Me - Solvang, California

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I was not expecting to find such good ramen in Solvang! My bowl of shoyu ramen was loaded with noodles, seaweed, bamboo shoots and a perfectly cooked egg, slightly runny in the middle. And the pork belly was FANTASTIC; fatty, tender and flavorful. My only complaint was that my ramen had more fixings than broth! I loooove me some broth and I wish there was more of it in my bowl. We also enjoyed the gyoza- delicious with a nice light crunch and the dipping sauce was perfection. We enjoyed sitting on the patio, the music was bumping and there were heaters to keep warm at night. The waitstaff was very polite and professional. Next time you are in the area, definitely make a stop here! read more

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First off the smell just walking by this restaurant, invites you in. My mouth started watering before I could even order. Great service they helped us understand anything we didn't with the menu. They had a great specials. I want to come and see what they change up every week. One of my favorite parts had to be, that they gave you one whole egg in in the ramen. Every other Ramen place gives you a half an egg, and that is just one of my pet peeves from Ramen restaurants. I always want the whole egg, and yes, it was cooked perfectly. I asked for a chili bomb on the side and the flavor of that alone I could've drank. The dumplings that were on special amazing. I wanted more than four. Whenever I come back to solvang, I will definitely be hitting up this spot even if it's just to get a take out order to come back home with me. read more

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Defiantly worth trying. Excellent food. This is an outdoor seating restaurant so be aware of the weather. Counter service is prompt but be aware that seating is limited. Go for the excellent food but be prepared for seating and weather issues. read more

A few vegan options but not all are listed explicitly. We got the fried tofu appetizer, fried rice made vegan and the miso ramen made vegan. The ramen didn't come with any tofu but was great flavor wise. We also got a hot tea which was great. Would definitely go back! read more

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After a day of pastries and aebleskivers, the Asian in me craved noodles and broth! Was thankful to come across Ramen Kotori to satisfy my craving. Husband had ramen with pork belly, while I opted for the vegan ramen with tofu and bamboo (extra charge). We sat outside by the heating lamps and the hot broth was very flavorful and comforting. It was decent, considering it was a ramen shop in Solvang! Wasn't the best ramen I've ever had or anything, but it made me happy that night :) the wait can get a little long, and they don't have a text/calling system -- but you can walk around and check back in and they will hold your spot even after they called your name. read more

Ramen Kotori - Pork belly (top) and vegan ramen with tofu + bamboo added. - Ramen Near Me - Solvang, California

This is one of our go to restaurant in Solvang. Nice outdoor sitting with a great view of the folks going out and about. The servers are always courteous and professional. The food is flavorful and ones you won't find anywhere else locally. I highly recommend this place., read more

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My boyfriend & I tried this place because of all the hype and it was so bad. We are from LA and even the worse ramen spots in LA were better than this. When we got there the restaurant had a dirty stench, service was mediocre & not very attentive. Ramen came out very oily and with lack of flavor. We left the place after two bites read more

Ramen Kotori - tonkotsu ramen - Ramen Near Me - Solvang, California