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    Saiwaii Ramen

    3.8 (1.3k reviews)
    ModerateRamen
    Closed 11:00 am - 2:45 pm, 5:00 PM - 9:30 PM

    Order Saiwaii Ramen Takeout or Delivery

    Saiwaii Ramen Photos

    Business Info

    SAIWAII RAMEN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Classy
    Moderate noise
    Good for kids

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    (Grilled) Salmon Skin Salad
    Paweena L.

    Joaquim requested to have his favorite Tonkotsu ramen after he finished his Thai class. He enjoyed his ramen. I was so impressed that only 2 people working in the kitchen but they could creat all the dishes on the menu. (Grilled) salmon skin salad - this was so unique. I had picture in my mind as it would have been a crispy skin salmon but it was grilled one. The burned skin gave a unique bitter taste which compliment the taste of fresh crunchy salad very well with simple like dressing. I enjoyed it.

    Tina L.

    Cute and Cozy, Clean hidden gem. Was going around the neighborhood hungry looking for something to eat. Haven't had ramen in a while and this restaurant did not disappoint. Service was fast and friendly. Food was fresh and delicious. Loved how much umami flavor there was in the broth. It just warms you up. The noodles were bouncy and springy. If you are ever in the area please do give them a try.

    Tonkotsu Ramen
    Joanna F.

    Ok, all the hype about the tonkotsu broth is real; super interesting flavor I've never had before in a ramen! The veggie broth was chill, let's get some rich veggie broths for my vegetarians out here! Great toppings for the veggie one, I'm a sucker for corn. Bamboo shoots were nice and big and the perfect texture.

    Popular menu on the wall
    Sun L.

    Street parking only, parked two blocks away Outdoor seatings, interior wall is pretty Clean, neat, dim spotlights but tight and small restaurant Service was quick and helpful since it's our first time, picked a few favorites to try Dinner alone I've seen at least 15 takeouts and next to us was a 12 seater family dinner, so pretty popular and busy I got the seafood ramen, full of fish squid shrimp, but the garlic ramen broth was just delicious

    Agedashi Tofu
    Gagan

    Favorite ramen in SF of all time. It's a local neighborhood spot that's an IFYKYK kind of spot. Nice menu with the classics and you won't have a bad dish. Perfect for SF weather. Chicken katsu is better than Pork Katsu here and the spice levels are perfect!

    Takoyaki- great appetizer
    Susie Q.

    We have been going here for many years. The restaurant is comfortable and the televisions are great for watching sports. Service is always friendly and efficient. Of course the food is delicious. We love all the ramens but my favorite is the spicy Mala fried chicken ramen. It is flavorful and just enough spicy for me when I get mild. Definitely a great neighborhood restaurant.

    Da spread

    Been a while since I've been in this hole in the wall restaurant..actually the last I've been was before COVID. Now they've streamlined the menu and have no sushi, but the TVs are still playing sports and the restaurant is still as chill as ever. Got two ramens for me n my friend: - Spicy Mala (regular spicy was nothing, maybe I'll try flaming spicy next time) - Tonkotsu (friend enjoyed everything, especially the generous noodle n chashu portion) And a Karagge don to share - Karagge felt more like popcorn chicken than Karagge. Ik both use potato startch but there was a hint of five spice in there. Big portions, decent pricing (who can find a $14-16 bowl of ramen these days!) One lady up front and she nailed it with all the attentiveness and friendliness (refilling our waters lots and serving our food fast) The broth was so good, with the leftover rice from the don, I made some "risotto". They do soak the bones long enough and don't cover it up with msg. Would return when I'm in the area and craving for a cheap but still flavorful ramen that won't swallow your wallet hole!

    Spicy Mala Ramen
    Talia U.

    We have been coming here with our friends and family for years now, and it is always the best service, and the most delicious and flavorful Ramen we have ever had. We love to order the spicy mala (mild) with a side of Gyoza. The restaurant has a inviting setting.

    Montage of images from Saiwaii Ramen
    Ed U.

    If you type 'Saiwaii Ramen' in Google Translate, it comes out as 'Fortunately Different Ramen'. Glad they didn't go with something like 'Kawaii Ramen' which would translate to 'Cute Ramen'. I actually thought THAT was the name, so I was relieved it wasn't a Little Kitty bowl of wet noodles. It looked to be a locals' place because i had not heard about it like Mensho Tokyo or Marufuku. I was just walking on this stretch of Irving and saw it was open (FYI, they close between 2:45-5PM). So why not? They offer a pretty robust menu and not just ramen - plus they had lunch specials. I went with the $14 Lunch Special A, which allowed me a bowl of ramen and an appetizer. I chose the Shio Ramen which provided a good amount of chashu in the creamy, salty broth (photo: https://bit.ly/3XWI38f). In the mix was the requisite wakame, menma, kikurage mushrooms, bean sprouts, green onion. garlic, and the addition of ground pork. The result was quite satisfying without the richness of tonkotsu, which wasn't necessary for me. For the appetizer, I decided to have a Vegetable Croquette, which was quite huge with a surprisingly light crispness to the panko (photo: https://bit.ly/3rr35PZ). With a rich tonkotsu dipping sauce, it was a true guilty pleasure. Croquettes were big in old Yasujiro Ozu movies where Setsuko Hara would eat them alone late at night to show the isolation she felt from her disapproving family. To offset the carbs, I felt a compulsion to order the $5.75 House Salad, a simple mix of lettuce, cucumbers, and grape tomatoes with a housemade miso dressing (photo: https://bit.ly/3rAb3GE). It was just fine, and so was the server who checked in on me frequently. FOOD - 4 stars...pretty solid shio ramen though it was the croquette that stole the show AMBIANCE - 4 stars...comfortable spot, no frills and no airs SERVICE - 4.5 stars...felt taken care of TOTAL- 4 stars...it was a 'fortunately different' experience RELATED - Exploring the Sunset? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://bit.ly/2EI8eIJ

    Spicy Garlic Tonkotsu Ramen
    Mr P.

    I had the Spicy Garlic Tonkatsu ramen and it was delicious! I had "medium" heat, but next time will go full spice as medium wasn't very spicy at all. Great service, but the restaurant wasn't too tidy as I would expect. Nonetheless I highly recommend going. The broth in my ramen was a meal in itself- so warming and delicious!

    Spicy Garlic Tonkatsu Ramen
    Morgan M.

    This is a small but cute family ramen shop that can cure any ramen craving you may have. Usually, my go to is the spicy tonkatsu ramen (regular) as its has a healthy kick of spice but still delivers a delicious savory pork flavor. Noodles are chewy and bouncy. Chashu is smoky and meaty in all the best ways. Will definitely comeback if I'm ever craving a quick ramen fix and near Irving St. Service is quick and fills your water glass fast (especially when that ramen spice be hitting).

    Takoyaki

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    4 months ago

    INCREDIBLE this food was so good service was incredible just the best!!!! The ambiance is also well

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    Page 1 of 33

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    Marufuku Ramen - San Francisco

    Marufuku Ramen - San Francisco

    4.5
    (6k reviews)
    3.1 mi
    $$
    Happy hour specials
    Kid friendly

    When we found out San Francisco had a Japantown, we knew we had to find a place to eat. Marufuku is…read morein the heart of Japantown and had great Yelp reviews, and it has earned every one of them. We were lucky to be sat immediately because the restaurant was packed. Our server was prompt and gave us excellent recommendations that we took. Our ramen was amazing. The broth is so flavorful and rich. The noodles are probably the best we've ever had before. The fried chicken was tender and the sauce it comes with for dipping g was delicious. I tried a Japanese wheat beer that was every bit as good as American wheat beers like Blue Moon or Shock Top. This place has excellent service and even better food. We highly recommend it.

    This was my first time at Marufuku and I loved the experience! Servers are so friendly and…read moreattentive. This location is inside a food court area and the restaurant itself is small, so expect long wait times when it's busy. I ordered the Hakata Tonkotsu Deluxe, which comes with an extra piece of thick pork belly and more veggies. I got mine with no spice, but next time I would get it mild to add more flavor, since it felt like the Tonkotsu broth fell a bit short of my expectations. However, everything else was really good, from the quality of the noodles to the tender pork.

    Photos
    Marufuku Ramen - San Francisco
    "HAKATA TONKOTSU DX" Hakata Style Ramen with Rich Pork Broth
 Regular toppings (chashu pork (simmered pork belly), seasoned soft boiled eg
    "HAKATA TONKOTSU DX" Hakata Style Ramen with Rich Pork Broth Regular toppings (chashu pork (simmered pork belly), seasoned soft boiled eg
    Marufuku Ramen - San Francisco

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    Taishoken San Francisco

    Taishoken San Francisco

    4.5
    (620 reviews)
    3.3 mi
    $$
    Happy hour specials
    Vegetarian friendly

    Tasty food and great service! All food came out nice and hot. Tonkotsu and Chicken ramen were…read moreperfect portion sizes, with chewy ramen noodle. So good. Chicken karaage is large! We're used to seeing bite-sized karaage, so we were surprised at the size of theirs (see pic). It came with a mayo sauce and a lemon. The TSK fries were crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside. The soft drinks were not too sweet. Our water never went empty! The servers were extremely attentive and friendly. Overall great experience. Plenty of parallel street parking in the surrounding area, even if you have to walk a block or two. Very easy to find a spot. All street parking has parking meter with an option for mobile payment, card, or coins. We love all the surrounding shops to explore before/after eating too.

    I've gone with 3 different friends at this point (with one of them coming twice because how of much…read morewe loved our experience) and tried more of the menu. We've had the cauliflower, the stone mill pie, both the lychee & yuzu wines, and the lemonade. Everything is incredible, but the pie is especially incredible after a great meal. I love this place. I think it'll forever serve as a good to for an affordable, higher end dining experience. The waitstaff are quick and warm. I bet you could try anything on the menu and be pleased. I've had a ton of great dinners here and will continue to support this restaurant!

    Photos
    Noodle
    Noodle
    Fried Cauliflower   Saikyo miso glaze with mala chili sauce.
    Fried Cauliflower Saikyo miso glaze with mala chili sauce.
    Sake Flights

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    Sake Flights
    HINODEYA Ramen Japantown

    HINODEYA Ramen Japantown

    4.2
    (2.3k reviews)
    3.3 mi
    $$

    We are writing to express our strong appreciation for the exceptional Umami Creamy Tan-Tan-Men soup…read moreand to respectfully request its permanent return to the menu. This dish stands out as one of the most memorable and flavorful offerings we have experienced. The rich, creamy broth delivers a perfectly balanced umami depth, harmoniously combined with subtle heat and aromatic spices that create an indulgent yet refined dining experience. Both my partner and I were thoroughly impressed by its complexity and comforting warmth, and we have continued to crave it long after the winter season. The Umami Creamy Tan-Tan-Men soup represents a true highlight of your culinary repertoire. We believe it deserves a lasting place on the regular menu, where it can be enjoyed year-round by loyal patrons and new guests alike. Its removal has left a noticeable gap, and we are confident that reinstating it as a signature item would be met with great enthusiasm. Thank you for creating such an outstanding dish. We eagerly await its return and look forward to ordering it on our next visit.

    o.m.g. the vegan creamy ramen was absolutely one of the top 5 most delicious things i've ever ate…read more sooooooo good!!! 10/10 would recommend trying this ramen! even if you aren't vegan. i'm vegetarian and my bf is a meat eater and he kept eating out of my bowl. the noodles were the most perfect texture ever and the broth is so creamy and delicious. the sweet tofu skin and the little bit of saltiness from the veggies was soooo perfect. i brought home a lot of leftovers. the portions are very generous! the next day i was so excited to eat my ramen that i ate it cold no microwaving needed and it was soo good the restaurant is clean and pretty and the service was great!!

    Photos
    Inside restaurant
    Inside restaurant
    Spicy Miso Ramen
    Spicy Miso Ramen
    Chicken Karaage and Green Gyoza

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    Chicken Karaage and Green Gyoza
    Ushi Taro Ramen

    Ushi Taro Ramen

    4.4
    (146 reviews)
    4.1 mi
    $$
    Locally owned & operated
    LGBTQ friendly

    This place is in our greater neighborhood and we went here on a whim based of proximity and rating…read more Additionally, We just got back from Japan and were craving ramen again. On the outside, it can be easily missed and parking is a bit troublesome. However, it's all worth it once you get in this place. Inside is modern chic and I like they have a focus on beef (ushi) and it's very targted menu. Although it's a small menu, it is a mighty one and we had ramen, curry and a mushroom appetizer and it was all very good and hit the spot. We will definitely come here again and I'll consier as a takeout spot.

    Me and my bf found this spot when we were doing a day trip to SF from LA. It was pretty cold gloomy…read moreday so we decided to have lunch here with something warm and our favorite which is Ramen. It was our first time and we definitely chose the right spot for lunch. The inside is very cozy and warm. We were seated by the corner facing the street which kind of adds to the vibe and seeing the cloudy weather was a perfect day to eat ramen. Their ramen is so good, I believe they put truffles on it, and I love me some truffles. Even my bf who loves ramen and usually has high standards for it loved it. We both rated this spot a 9/10 from our opinion. Oh and their mushroom appetizer was good. I forgot the name but we were picking on that and finished it within minutes.

    Photos
    Ushi Taro Ramen
    Ushi Taro Ramen
    Ushi Taro Ramen

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    Ippudo San Francisco

    Ippudo San Francisco

    3.8
    (1.6k reviews)
    4.5 mi
    $$

    Windy and cold in SF tonight, so we decided on Ippudo ramen before watching Supergirl at the…read moreMetreon. The host asked if we and another party of 4 wouldn't mind sharing a long table, so both parties agreed. The place was extremely busy!! Our orders were taken pretty fast, and the steaming bowls of ramen came out shortly after. The tonkotsu broth brought back memories of Japan where Ippudo ramen shops were everywhere, in the malls or train stations....yes, Ippudo is a very popular chain. And here it tastes as good!! The menu has expanded over the years, but we just wanted a quick dinner before the movie so we all ordered the same thing. Sharing a table must be confusing for the waiters, they kept asking which party had what ....

    Came here after a long day at the Super Bowl experience. We…read moredid a walk-in for four. The wait for a table was 20 mins or we can share a large table with random people and be seated immediately. We were hungry. We went with the large shared table. Pleasantly, there was more than enough room. There were at least 1-2 seats in between the three groups on each side that were there- a solo diner, a small family of 3, and my group of 4. I ordered the Karaka Spicy, my bf ordered Akamaru Modern, his sister ordered Miso, and I don't remember what her friend got- I think it was also Karaka spicy. My bf and I ordered the Treasure plate on the side to share and a side of spicy paste because I know Japanese spicy is barely spicy (from someone who grew up eating SEA spicy). Karaka Spicy had a nicely balance tonkotsu mouth feel and pork flavor. Broth was a little salty. I was correct to assume that it wasn't spicy because I used half of the side of spicy paste and I still didn't think it was spicy enough. Chashu was cooked fine. Notes: - I wished I would've asked if they could swap the thin noodles for the thick ones. I love the chew thicker noodles provide. - Noodles were cooked al dente. Akamaru Modern tasted very similar to Karaka spicy without the spicy. My bf used the other half of the spicy paste as dip for his toppings. He enjoyed it. Miso was a lighter broth (obvi) with a good umami flavor and was not watered down. Solid. She loved it. I have never seen her finish a whole bowl of ramen before. There was a server in training that took our order with the help of the trainer- he did great. Staff was attentive with our waters. Bussers were also quick to notice and remove empty plates and bowls regularly making for an easy clean up after we leave and kept the shared table clutter free. Interior was modern, but casual. They had an expansive menu with vegetarian choices, sushi, buns, karage, etc. and a surprisingly large array of alcohol. I would def like to be back to try some drinks.

    Photos
    Inside. Dining room. Busy on a Sunday early afternoon.
    Inside. Dining room. Busy on a Sunday early afternoon.
    NIRVANA KARAKA (DD)
    NIRVANA KARAKA (DD)
    French fries

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    French fries
    Taniku Izakaya

    Taniku Izakaya

    4.7
    (344 reviews)
    3.7 mi
    $$

    We've been here maybe a handful of times at this point - the food is really good, cute cozy spot…read more However now that there is a soy allergy to account for - I can't easily neccessarily revisit my favorite spots. I've been to plenty of Japanese/Ramen spots and I've been running into the issue where I say I have a soy allegry and there is an assumption that I have a gluten issue (I do not have a gluten issue). I noticed yelp said they have soy-free options and thus called on Friday thinking it might be a bad idea as they're usually busy.. It was defintely hard for the person to hear a bit when they picked up. The staff did relay something about gluten free noodles.. Anyways, they said they could swap out any of the soy soups for salt (but soy can encompass a lot of things so I still wasn't feeling super confident but we're going to give it a go). We go and I asked which 4 of the soups I was eyeballing don't have soy - the staff said they can accomodate and replace any of the soy soups with a salt broth. After we ordered, the staff came back and checked in to make sure that my partner also didn't have an allergy. And my dish came out, they told me there was no egg as its marinated in soy - perfect to me. I'm glad that was caught as not every establishments can account for everything. - Now I have a spot to (more safely) eat ramen! - I advise that if you do have an food allergy, do talk to the staff, and address your concerns such as cross contamination etc. I had a great experience, but I do find that because its not so regulated or understood and there is lack of education amongst the food/resturant industry - you always need to advocate for yourself and there is always a risk. I'm very apperciative of the staff here.

    Came here at around 6 PM on a Tuesday and got seated immediately! It got busier about 10 mins…read moreafter. Super cute & decorated inside, and staff was so nice! Okonomoyaki tater tots - 8.5/10 from a potato lover!! This does have some sort of cheese on it so beware if you don't eat it Hamachi Hand Roll - 9/10 SO GOOD. I think the rice is mixed in with soy sauce. It was super flavorful which I wasn't expecting Scallop Hand Roll - 8/10, the yuzu on top was absolutely delicious & scallop was very soft. Kobe Skewer - 7/10, it was good but nothing extraordinary. It'll hit the spot if you like meat skewers Yuzu Tori Skewer - 7/10, same as the kobe skewer, but the yuzu on top was delicious Niku Ramen - 8/10, good portion & very very flavorful. I'm glad that they gave a lot of meat in this. I shared this & they provided an extra bowl without me asking :) It's also not super spicy. Hokkaido Milk Pudding - 8/10, the pudding itself was so good but the sauce was a little too sweet for me. However, my partner has a sweet tooth and loved it :) Will totally come again, everything was so yummy and so glad to have tried it!

    Photos
    Interior
    Interior
    Scallop corn chowder - FIRE !
    Scallop corn chowder - FIRE !
    Calamari

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    Calamari

    Saiwaii Ramen - ramen - Updated July 2026

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