So yummy!! As a vegetarian, it's surprisingly hard to find really good ramen, but Ramen Kowa exceeded all expectations. We ordered the veggie ramen, edamame, French fries, and matcha dessert, and everything was delicious. The veggie ramen was the highlight of the meal. The broth was rich, flavorful, and incredibly comforting. The edamame and fries made great starters, and the matcha dessert was the perfect sweet ending! We were so full by the end but I'm really glad we got dessert! So yummy! If you're vegetarian and craving ramen in the Bay Area, this is the place. We'll definitely be back! read more

Ramen Kowa - Vegetarian Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Palo Alto, California

my friend and i came here for lunch. i got the classic shoyu ramen and they got the vegetarian ramen. the shoyu was solid, hella salty tho veggie ramen was good, the brussel sprouts were undercooked though also $5 for that side of edamame was criminal read more

Ramen Kowa - Ramen Near Me - Palo Alto, California

Located on California Ave, parking is limited and difficult to find. There's a good mix of indoor and outdoor seating which was nice. Spicy miso tonkotsu ramen (2/5): the egg was pretty good. The yolk was really orange which was cool to see. There was lots of meat and noodles but felt the texture was a bit tough. Bamboo and bok choy were lacking heavily. It was also quite expensive but the spice was a good level. Tap to pay is accepted. Overall Ramen Kowa could be a bit better in service and food. read more

Ramen Kowa - Spicy Miso Tonkotsu Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Palo Alto, California

Ramen Kowa exceeded all our expectations! Between the comforting ramen, curry dish, and refreshing bingsoo, the food and vibes here are 10/10. read more

Ramen Kowa - Ramen Near Me - Palo Alto, California

Pretty good ramen, with lots of topping variety and a generous amount of noodles. I got the sapporo miso ramen which had cubed pork, corn, bamboo, and bean sprouts. I liked the chewiness of the noodles and the rich flavor of the broth! The meat was a little salty for my taste but it was super tender. They also have rice bowls and curry on the menu. I would try the sausage curry next time! Service was friendly and pretty quick and efficient. The restaurant was pretty much empty when we went at 5:45 on a Monday but it filled up a lot around 7:30 and got pretty loud inside. read more

Ramen Kowa - Sapporo Miso Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Palo Alto, California

My sister and I decided to come by here mainly because the there's chicken as an option! (Looking at you, Ramen Nagi). So I was happy to see a few options for people who don't eat pork. We got the soy garlic karaage which was very flavorful! I almost wish we got a second plate of it. My sister and I shared both ramens and our favorite was the miso one. It was chicken broth miso which was such a flavorful combination. The service and ambiance were unremarkable. No complaints. I would come back here for my ramen fix! read more

Ramen Kowa - Sapporo Miso Ramen and Traditional Shio Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Palo Alto, California

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Went for lunch around 1pm and just missed the rush crowd. On a rainy day I was craving some of their curry but found out they have soybeans in them which I am sadly allergic to :( They were very nice about changing my order but they had started making the katsu so they gave it to me on the house :') Ramen was delicious! I will come back again to try other things read more

Ramen Kowa - Tonkotsu Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Palo Alto, California

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we come here for ramen, curry, and now their salad the FREE salad that comes with the curry rice is beautifully plated, with tomatoes and tofu. The chef obviously cares about presentation. The curry is delicious with the bright red japanese pickles the place is legit japanese showing Japanese food show during the meal and with japanese customers. though I think the owners are not japanese? tea: roasted. not with loose leaves or bag generous with their protein with "add chicken" to their salad. read more

Got the tonkotsu broth which was super rich and fatty, not too salty, and pretty tasty overall. The chashu was okay, and the portion was also not big for paying almost $20 a bowl. Not a horrible option if you're in the area but not the best value ramen for sure. Service was pretty quick but bare minimum. Place itself is nice and cozy with decent amount of seats. read more

Ramen Kowa - Tonkotsu Ramen ($18) - Ramen Near Me - Palo Alto, California

These are some of the best noodles I have had! I love how thin they are and they give A LOT! I could barely even eat half because they put so much. The broth itself was a great amount of spice. I wish they had spice levels because I could've done a bit spicier but it was still amazing as is. The matcha bingsu was not overwhelming in matcha flavor which was perfect. The condensed milk was a great touch to keep it sweet. read more

Ramen Kowa - Matcha Bingsu with mango and strawberry - Ramen Near Me - Palo Alto, California

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I came here with a friend on a Tuesday at 11am when they just opened. The waiter quickly sat us down and let us browse their menus before taking our orders. I ordered the tonkotsu ramen with a side of karaage (lunch time special). The food came out pretty soon afterwards. The karaage was a lot bigger than expected but very crispy and juicy. The tonkotsu broth was rich ans flavorful and I loved how chewy the noodles were. The chashu was a little on the thinner side but still pretty good. Overall a pretty good place to grab a quick bowl of ramen for lunch with some friends. read more

Ramen Kowa - Tonkotsu Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Palo Alto, California

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Overall: C // 3 stars Didn't have much expectations of this restaurant going in, but it is a new-ish Asian restaurant in the Palo Alto area, so I decided to try it. Everything here is very mid, from the pricing to the food to the presentation to the selection to the service. I wouldn't mind having this place be around for several more years at the current state as an option, but at the same time, I'm not salivating to return any time soon either. (Beef Curry: C) - Mild curry with a subtle sweetness. Beef was tender and liked the accompaniments of the salad and pickles. Unfortunately, the food incredibly lukewarm, which is not a good temperature to eat this dish. Food: E Presentation: E Price: E Atmosphere: E Service: E Menu: E Overall: 3 stars Insta/Yelp/Beli/TikTok: @amei_eats read more

Ramen Kowa - Ramen Near Me - Palo Alto, California

Tashi broth is great here. Spicy Miso Ramen is good. Owners are kind. Drinks good. Highlight for me is Ramen. Tonkotsu broth: Creamy, rich, added crumbled meat. Nice texture with heat from miso. Noodles: Chewy good, Add-ons: Egg , vegetable, chasu Decently priced. Filling. read more

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As a non pork eater, the veggie ramen is top year!! veggie broth often is thin and less flavorful but this was a very yummy broth, plus good veggies. I was apprehensive about the Brussels sprouts but they weren't too big and they were quite tender. Go-to ramen spot for Palo Altans who want veggies (I'm looking at you ramen nagi) read more

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Brief Summary - Indoor and outdoor seating available - Chewy and bouncy noodles - Balanced topping ratios - Some of the staff members can speak Japanese We arrived here in the late afternoon. Our initial plan was to head to the hotel to checkin, but we were growing too hungry to walk further, especially when we started walking on the street where every block had a restaurant. After a short brisk walk around the block to see the choices, on a hot summer day, ramen felt like the right meal to have. Inside the staff gestured us to sit at one of the tables and handed us the menus. On this day, we chose tonkotsu, shōyu, and a vegetable ramen. Since we were extra hungry, we ordered fried rice. This is also an unusual case for us, but it was a hot day, the posters of bingsoo caught my eyes too strongly, so we also ordered one matcha bingsoo for dessert. The fried rice arrived first, and then the 3 ramens arrived at the same time. The fried rice was a small surprise because it came with a large bowl of miso soup. I downed that first and then shared the fried rice with the family. I liked the fried rice flavor, the nice toasty aroma of the toppings. The only small thing I had was that the salt felt a bit harsh? It wasn't salty but I'm lightly assuming it wasn't sea salt; the salt stood out as an aftertaste. The ramen dishes were delicious. My relative wanted to mention that they have tried different vegetarian ramen dishes from different restaurants, and this became one of their favorites. This vegetable ramen has the same richness as the non-vegetarian ones, so it really felt like they were eating a true ramen. I also loved the topping ratio was just right for the ramen dish. As mentioned in other reviews, I am not a fan of ramen dishes, where they focus too hard on the toppings -- particularly the chashu pork, so much so that they become the star of the dish. The chashu here was cut thin and decorated like garnish, and that I give a thumbs up on this. Because the chashu pork is cut thinly, I can cut them with just chopsticks so it doesn't stop my slurping. The bingsoo was fantastic and so good for the hot weather that day. one was enough to share within the family. I was fascinated with the wooden spoon used in the bingsoo; I didn't know wood slows down the ice melting. read more

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We were immediately greeted when we entered the restaurant . They have nice indoor and outdoor seating . The road is blocked which makes it more comfortable as a pedestrian and restaurant guest when sitting outdoors . We ordered the vegetarian ramen ,fries , and shaved ice dessert with mixed fruits and just mango . The vegetarian ramen has silky soft tofu cut into small pieces that make the ramen have a unique flavor . The noodles are delicious and taste fresh . They had a lunch deal of adding a side for $5 per ramen . For the sides they had vegetarian egg rolls and edamame. We enjoyed all the dishes and we have no complaints about any of the dishes . read more

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Stopped by this restaurant on Cal Ave on a Wednesday at 7:30pm and it was ~80% empty! It seemed pretty new with nice indoor and outdoor seating options; we opted for outdoor and the ambiance was great. Food took a bit longer than expected to arrive but the ramen was solid. Both bowls came with a good amount and variety of toppings (eg., bamboo shoots, corn, seaweed). However, the meat and broth in the Sapporo miso ramen were both saltier than I would've liked. The biggest disappointment to us was the soy garlic karaage, which had minimal flavor and was not crispy at all. Would give it closer to a 3.5 all in all. read more

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Definitely spicy! Small chasu bowl was great to share with a little one, not enough for an adult. Fast friendly service Thank you! read more

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The ramen had rich, flavorful broth and perfectly cooked noodles. The pork was tender, the toppings were fresh, and every bite tasted balanced and comforting. Portions were filling and the service was friendly. Great spot for a warm, satisfying meal. read more

Ramen Kowa offers both indoor and outdoor seating options, which is always a plus. We visited for dinner on a weekday and were seated immediately, as the restaurant wasn't very crowded. I tried their classic shoyu ramen, featuring a chicken broth with a soy sauce base, topped with pork chashu, green onions, menma, spinach (horenso), an egg, and nori. While the ramen was decent, the broth lacked a bit of depth and richness. The pork chashu, while flavorful, was a bit dry and not as juicy as we'd hoped. However, the portion size was generous. My friend tried their vegetarian ramen and she liked it a lot. Service was both fast and friendly, which is always appreciated. read more

Ramen Kowa - Ramen Near Me - Palo Alto, California

$20 for a bowl of rice with some curry, no meat. You must be kidding me. Blacklisted this place. Such a scam.

Cute unpretentious place. Been to ramen places in Spain, Belgium, Northeast recently. This is better. The best DK, but the ramen and soup and ingredients were a step above. Nice friendly service. Moderate price compared to other places in the area. read more

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Simply delicious Tonkotsu ramen, Chicken Katsu Curry and Gyoza potstickers, friendly and fast service by Kota and team, offering quiet indoor and lively outdoor dining. Will definitely try other items in the menu when I'm in the Palo Alto old downtown area. read more

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I'm utterly disappointed I can't believe i ordered this spicy miso for 22$??!! I Kidd u not I took this pic after mixing it and 1 bite. It had no egg or chashu pork not even green unions or Naruto lmao I'm actually so mad I wasted my money on this. The flavor wasn't bad just how you'd expect a spicy miso to taste and the atmosphere was nice. Even if I picked the worst bowl in their menu it shouldn't be 20+ for just noodles I could've asked my 10 yr old nephew to make me something more enticing. I don't write reviews but this one really left a bad taste in my mouth since I was craving ramen during work only to be met with disappointment after. read more

Ramen Kowa - Spicy miso ramen - Ramen Near Me - Palo Alto, California

Total commitment to the kraft of making great ramen. The owner actually served us, engaged us in conversation and provided that little extra flair of joy on the quiet night we were there. We had the Vegetarian broth with mushrooms, green onions, ginger and bamboo shoots. I loved the flavor of the broth, veggies were fresh and beautifully placed in the bowl and the egg noodles were perfectly aldente. The night was warm, we sat outside and the whole thing was delightful. Lanterns, twinkly lights, and everything was delightful. read more

Ramen Kowa - What a cool spot! Lively with light and lanterns! - Ramen Near Me - Palo Alto, California

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Ramen Kowa was a great little spot for a simple, quick lunch. Their lunch special came with an egg roll and a beer--solid deal for an easy meal. We sat outside, and the setup still has that relaxed, spaced-out vibe from the COVID days, which actually makes it a nice, low-key experience. Nothing fancy here, just good food, chill service, and a comfortable place to grab a bite and unwind. Perfect for when you want something casual but satisfying. read more

Went for Daily Lunch Special Food - 4/5. Tonkotsu broth had a rich flavor with a lot of aromatic garlic. Visually, it wasn't the usual opaque beige, but a more translucent look with a good amount of the iconic pork broth color. Noodles had a good bite to them and soaked up the flavor of the soup well. Chashu was tender and the egg was a perfect soft-boil. The chashu rice was just alright. While having just boiled chashu is acceptable in a ramen, chashu for rice bowls needs some more love. Rice as a baseline has a soft texture, so the meat having the same exact mouthfeel made it boring. A little crisp or smokiness from having the chashu seared would have made it a lot better. Service - 3/5. The service itself was fine for the casual setting of the restaurant. One thing that irked me was that the chashu rice came way after the ramen. Generally, a small appetizer item like chashu bowl should come before the main event to have a better flow of the dining experience, not near the end when the main event is almost finished. Value - 4/5. Prices are quiet standard for the area with the tonkotsu ramen sitting at $17. During lunch, they allow an appetizer addition for $5, which knocks off a few dollars. Portion sizes were good and the ramen quality was enough to satisfy your cravings. Parking - Municipal Lot (Free) read more

Ramen Kowa - Tonkotsu Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Palo Alto, California

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I came in on a Sunday afternoon with my friend because the lunch special seemed to good to pass up. Summary if you don't want read the rest: Despite there not being anything too special about the ramen, I could appreciate the flavor profile, and everything tasted pretty good. And for those who like curry and ramen, the lunch special that gave you a ramen and a $5 side (I got the curry don) allowed me to get the best of both worlds. So, no choice paralysis for me! This is a decent spot to satisfy cravings for ramen and curry when you can't decide which one to get. Food: 4/5 I got the spicy tonkotsu ramen with a side of curry don and my friend got the spicy miso tonkotsu ramen. While there wasn't anything super amazing about the ramen, both had a decent flavor, noodles were cooked just right, and it wasn't too oily (even with the chili oil). Personally, I think the tonkotsu had a better flavor profile than the miso, but that's pretty typical being that miso is usually a lighter flavor. I also really enjoyed the curry don, and there was a decent ratio of curry to rice even in the small side dish. Even if you're not feeling ramen or curry, there are also other rice dishes. It's overall a great spot for those who can't decide on which to eat. Service/Staff: 5/5 The staff was super nice and was fairly attentive to our table even though we were seated outside. It was also nice that there really wasn't much of a line, so we were seated on the spot. The food also came out super quickly, in less than 15min. Space: 4/5 The restaurant itself was pretty small, with very few tables inside, so the outdoor seating made it seem a little bigger. And it was a really nice day out, so sitting outside was great! It was also nice to walk along the road because there was a farmer's market and not many cars around. There's a few parking lots around the area, so parking wasn't too hard to find. read more

Ramen Kowa - Spicy miso ramen (top) and spicy tonkotsu ramen (bottom) - Ramen Near Me - Palo Alto, California

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Kid was in the hospital and I was staying with him - it was my birthday, so husband picked up dinner from here and brought it in. Despite the travel time, the noodles weren't soggy and the food was still hot thank goodness. I enjoyed the flavor of the broth and my son enjoyed his chicken - we were worried that it would dig up but the restaurant had vented the container to let out steam - and set us yp with enough napkins and utensils for the to go order - brilliant! A very enjoyable meal, especially considering that it had to survive the drive and delay. I would like to go there in person some time - could it get any better? read more

Ramen Kowa - Ramen Near Me - Palo Alto, California

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We were searching for a good meal in the area but other places were packed! We stumbled upon this brightly lit ramen shop and there was no wait. The staff greeted us very quickly and sat us down. The tempura was cooked perfectly, shrimp was tender and the batter was lightly crisp. The ramen noodles had a nice bite and chew. The broth was rich and flavorful, however there was a lot of umami and we were extremely thirsty afterwards! read more

Ramen Kowa - Shrimp tempura - Ramen Near Me - Palo Alto, California

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I picked Ramen Kowa for a lunch with a friend because I wanted something fast and tasty and I definitely got what I came for. The tonkatsu broth was very flavorful and the pork was well cooked. The stuff inside the ramen was fairly standard. I got the lunch special for an extra &5 to get a side. The ramen portion size was maybe on the smaller side, so it's good I got the side of chicken karaage. I went on a nice day and it was nice they had a decent amount of tables outside. The server was pretty attentive and came by a few times to check on us. I would come back here for another lunch. read more

Came here on a Wednesday night and wasn't busy so meant we got seated right away. Waiter was really nice and quick, food was good. Would come back if in the area read more

Overall, this place is just okay, good in a pinch if you're craving ramen and don't want to wait. We started with the karaage, which was unfortunately one of the worst I've had. It was overly greasy, lacked any crispiness, and oddly came with a single French fry on the side. Honestly, I prefer my Costco air-fried chicken tenders. The ramen itself was fine, but pretty salty and nothing memorable. With so many better options out there, I probably wouldn't return. read more

Ramen Kowa - Ramen Near Me - Palo Alto, California

Absolutely loved this place! The ramen had such a deep, authentic flavor, and every bowl felt carefully made. The staff were friendly and attentive, and the atmosphere was cozy. Highly recommend to anyone looking for real comfort read more

Ramen Kowa - Shrimps ,octopus,fried chicken - Ramen Near Me - Palo Alto, California

Ramen Kowa located in the palo alto . They serve amazing Japanese chicken. I had vegetarian ramen. I would rate this ramen as 3.5/5 . I would highly recommend this place if you like spicy japanese chicken They have very fast service and good ambiance. read more

Ramen Kowa - Ramen Near Me - Palo Alto, California

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Honestly nothing too special of a ramen place. I ordered the spicy miso and my husband ordered the tonkatsu. The broth was on the saltier side and didn't have as much flavor as I would expect the spicy miso to have. Also it was not spicy. On the flip side, I really liked the noodles. It was a perfect amount of chewy and thin, just how I like it. The garlic edamame was also delicious. I ended up dipping my ramen in that garlic sauce. Overall it was decent, but nothing to go out of my way for. read more

Ramen Kowa - Garlic Edamame - Ramen Near Me - Palo Alto, California

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Discovered this Japanese restaurant on Yelp, located on California Avenue. We arrived around 7:15 PM on a Tuesday night and, having reserved online, only had to wait for 10 minutes. The restaurant has a limited seating area, but the food tastes great. We got to try some of their appetizers, ramen, and curry rice plates. Point remove due to no parking at restaurant and long wait for ramens. read more

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Honestly a pretty damn good bowl on California Ave. I've eaten at a lot of fancy ramen places and I'm happy that there's a solid tasty bowl that doesnt cost too much and doesn't really have much of a wait. Service is good too. Was invited to have a cup of hot tea at the bar while I waited for my to go order, which was a really pleasant surprise. read more

Pretty solid ramen place that had plenty of seats open on a weekday night. My party was seated right away, and service the whole night was great. I had the karaage - classic, no complaints, and I had the Spicy Miso ramen. The ramen overall was good (finished it all), but the broth was really salty. I tried some of the tonkotsu broth and would order that instead if I were to come here again. Not a bad place to go for a quick bite if you're in the area. read more

Ramen Kowa - Spicy Miso and Karaage - Ramen Near Me - Palo Alto, California

Ordered the shio ramen and it's the best ramen I've had in a while. The broth is perfectly balanced and the chashu is SO tender. Egg was cooked perfectly. Honestly better than my last meals at Udon Mugizo and Ramen Nagi. 5/5 Went on a Thursday after work hours and there was no wait. It's a small place, but the bright red, brightly lit, Japanese inspired decor made the restaurant feel very welcoming. 5/5 Service is decent but nothing special. No complaints. 4/5 Overall 4.5/5, will go here again next time I have a ramen craving for the ramen and the vibes (: read more

Ramen Kowa - Traditional Shio Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Palo Alto, California