Came around 2pm on a Saturday and there was a wait. Joined a little before getting to the…read morerestaurant, so timed it well to avoid waiting around there for too long. Definitely join the Yelp waitlist! It was a good meal. Highly recommend the chicken karaage as an appetizer. Nice batter on the outside and juicy on the inside. I've been wanting to try their dipping ramen, so I got the spicy tsukemen. It really didn't taste spicy to me. Good quantity - the noodles felt endless! Decent sized space! I'd come back again if I was craving dipping noodles.

So I saw this place on Check Please Bay Area and put it on my list. Finally the hubby and I went…read moreat opening time on a Sunday morning and loved it. We beat the crowds! It packed up real quick. First, the service was great. Everyone was so friendly and attentive. They had their eyes on the dining room at all times. Ready to help. And I noticed a few guys in the kitchen laughing and smiling while working. It made me feel good to see them enjoying themselves in that moment. And of course, the ramen was great. I got the dipping noodles and my hubby got "traditional" . Both were good but I enjoyed dipping mine into that rich broth. *warning - do not wear a white shirt. The calamari was also really good! Had a beer and sake. Will go back and try cocktails next time.

I've come here twice now and I didn't realize I never left a review the first time I came! So now I…read morefeel I have even more to say how you much gotta come to Kajiken! Both times I've come I hadn't had to wait very long and our second time was with a large group including kids. Our server was great in helping us preorder before we could get seated and we only waited 15 minutes. We all ordered the same things: half of us ordered the original aburasoba and the other half ordered the homura aburasoba and the food came out quickly. They kindly gave us little bowls for the kiddos and forks and all the kids loved the noodles and the adults shared a large pitcher of beer. All in all, best aburasoba and one of my favorite spots in San Mateo!

Overall: 4.1/5 [dine in]…read more There was a line on Friday night but it moved fast. The seating inside is pretty tight so your table is basically an inch from the next one, almost like a communal dining experience. Nikumori Aburasoba ($18.50): Spicy pork, pork slices, green onion, and ajitama. The spicy ground pork was delicious and they were generous with the thin pork slices, though those weren't as good as the ground pork. The ajitama was perfectly jammy. The aburasoba flavors were okay but less flavorful than mazesoba, which I now know I prefer. Wagyu Roast Beef Aburasoba ($25.50) + Chashu ($1.75) + Spicy Minced Pork ($3.95) + Ajitama ($2.50): Wagyu roast beef, crispy onions, green onions, butter onion sauce, yogurt sauce, and raw egg yolk. The chashu was average but the wagyu roast beef was thin and incredibly tender. The yogurt sauce and raw egg yolk made this one pretty creamy which I actually liked more than the Nikumori. Ume ($1.50): Did not like this at all. Hard pass.

I had tried this chain from their Sunnyvale location and came to eat here with my friend at their…read moreSan Mateo location. It didn't disappoint!! We were seated quickly and service was great. Sometimes, it can get busy and server might take a while with getting our check back but I totally understand. Having 1-2 server out in a packed restaurant can be tough. Crispy rice with spicy tuna was great. I really enjoyed my tonkotsu ramen. The broth was super rich and you can tell it's well made for hours+. Noodles were chewy, pork was tender, additional sauces on the side came the dish extravagant. Truly my to go ramen place that I always recommend everyone to go try!

I ordered the chicken bowl and was really disappointed. The chicken was chopped into very tiny…read morepieces, and it seemed like they were using leftover scraps rather than freshly prepared pieces. Many of the pieces were also badly burned, and they were put right on top of the rice. The burnt pieces gave the entire rice a strong ash-like, burnt taste, which made the dish very unpleasant to eat. What made the experience worse was seeing the server sitting at the counter playing on their phone instead of paying attention to the customers or the food. I expected much better from HiroNori. Unfortunately, based on this experience, I will not be coming back.

Rich, flavorful ramen with great variety…read more Had the classic ramen, soft shell crab ramen, and karaage at Ramen Parlor in San Mateo. The classic ramen was comforting and well-balanced, with a rich broth and noodles that had a nice chewy texture. It's a solid, no-frills bowl that delivers on flavor and warmth. The soft shell crab ramen stood out the most. The crab was crispy on the outside and tender inside, adding a unique texture and flavor that paired really well with the broth. It felt more elevated and interesting compared to a standard ramen bowl. The karaage was also crispy, juicy, and well-seasoned, making it a great side to share alongside the ramen. Service was friendly and efficient, and the staff kept things moving even when it got busy. The vibe is casual and lively, with a popular local ramen shop feel. It's the kind of place that's great for a comforting meal without being too formal. Overall, a great spot for ramen lovers, especially if you want both classic and more creative options in one visit. I'd definitely come back to try more of the menu.

Been going to this place for years. Always a solid place for ramen even among the explosion of…read moreother ramen spots in the Bay Area. Staff is the same and always super nice and food was out quickly. Got the lobster garlic pork ramen and the broth was rich and flavorful. Noodles had a nice bounce and chew. Quail eggs are a nice change. Chicken karaage was nice and crunchy but lacked flavor even with the sauce. However, good portion size with six large pieces. Overall: 3.9/5

Classic ramen joint with a lot less wait nowadays…read more I used to come here over 10 years ago, it is very nostalgic coming back for lunch. The ramen tasted a little too salty now, different from what I remember (still good though).

This place used to be so popular and always packed, so I decided to give it a try again. The ramen…read moreitself tasted good, but unfortunately, it's not what it used to be. There was barely any broth, very few ingredients, a huge amount of noodles, and only two super-thin slices of pork. For the price, it just didn't feel worth it. The restaurant was surprisingly almost empty compared to how busy it used to be, and the service wasn't very good either. With so many great ramen options and so much competition around the San Mateo area, they really need to step up their game. Sadly, this place just isn't the same anymore.

We came about an hour before lunch hours ended. It was still quite busy, and folks were still…read morefunneling in! We had a bar seat, which was neat to watch how things were prepared. We ordered a Shugetsu Tsukemen special and a Shugetsu Ramen. They let you add more noodles at no extra charge. We saw the pork slices getting charcoal(?) grilled in the back! For the tsukemen, I opted for hot noodles. They're a bit clingier when hot, but have a great bite to them. The soup is a little on the sour side, but it was delicious. There's little bits of pork and menma in it, and it clung to the noodles well. Definitely recommend the extra egg and pork! The ramen was equally amazing. The broth was light yet hearty. These noodles also had a satisfying chew to them.

Shugetsu is my go-to place for tsukemen - Taishoken is also pretty popular, but Shugetsu is my…read morepreference because I like the texture and taste of their noodles more. I used to get one Shugetsu Tsukemen Special on my own, but it's been harder and harder for me to finish one by myself. Now, I order a Shugetsu Tsukemen Special with the mega size, get side orders of the chashu pork and marinated egg, and split with my boyfriend (since the Special already comes with pork and egg for one person, the a la carte orders are enough for a second). The broth is super flavorful, smoky, and roasty. Keep in mind the broth does err on the more oily side for the more health-conscious folks, and I wouldn't wear white, as the broth might splash back as you eat! The restaurant doesn't have a flashy storefront and is rather more hidden in the marketplace it's in. Be cautious about leaving valuables in your car. The inside itself is also not too big, so that on top of its popularity is why there might be a wait. I would also recommend coming earlier than typical meal times. While the hype has definitely died down ever since they opened during Covid, it's still pretty popular so I would be prepared to wait. I highly recommend trying out Shugetsu, and definitely recommend coming hungry because the portions are huge! They recently opened another location in Fremont, so East Bay folks get to try this one out there too.

I've been going to Himawari for years since my friend first introduced me to the place…read more It's a solid ramen spot and I get the same thing every single time because I know I like it. My boyfriend gets the tan tan men deluxe which is spicy. I get the shiro tan tan men which is supposed to be less spicy, but it still gets my nose sweating. They're very generous with the broth; but don't drink it all or you'll be full before you get to the ramen. The California rolls were loosely put together so it was difficult to lift them with chopsticks. But it's nice to have a refreshing bite in between. The seats and tables are close together so you'll get to know your neighbor if they're friendly. Service is quick, so you'll be in and out fast.

I was looking around San Mateo for food and found Himawari. I was curious since it was a highly…read morerated ramen shop that I haven't been to, so I decided to give it a try. I ordered the Tan Tan Men DX and it was delicious. The spicy broth wasn't too spicy and I enjoyed slurping up the ramen and tasing the broth. The pork belly and cha siu pieces were tasty as well. If you want some ramen in San Mateo, give them a try!

I saw a recommendation on Nextdoor about this place and had to go! How had I not heard of this…read moreplace! They've been here since 2018z it's located just north of San Mateo High School in a small strip mall near Safeway. We didn't have to wait long. Once we sat down we saw there were tablets at the tables to place our order. I loved this way of ordering so I can add and remove items easily. I like that they have a variety of different ramens on the menu. I ordered the Shoyu ramen. We didn't have to wait long for our food. It was delicious! It wasn't too salty, it was just right. The staff were so friendly and helpful the entire time. Can I say the playlist for music was so great. Unexpected! Current music you can jam too :) I will definitely come back!

Seems like a family run place. Pretty fast service with iPad…read more Pros Fast service Pretty good taste and alot of ability to customize the ramen Reasonably priced for taste and quality. Would consider buying even if was 1$ or 2$ more Cons Was crowded even on a late afternoon

Food, in particular their ramen was delicious and hearty. Nice ambiance although tables are a bit…read moretight, I guess to have more available seating. We were there for lunch so we didn't get to try some of their small bites that looked interesting. My wife had the Chicken Paitan DX and I had the Kontoksu. We'd recommend either but the Chicken Paitan is limited and may sell out early. That raman is great if you're hungry. Will definitely need to go back and try their other menu items.

Located in the heart of heart of Redwood City you will find Marafuku Ramen. Offering the ramen that…read morealways hit the spot. I ent around lunch time on the weekend, and the staff was super friendly. I did not have to make a line, although I notice they have a setup for that. Inside the ambience is a very familiar friendly one. My chicken paisan ramen was delicious, and the gyoza was great as well. A solid choice.

The best ramen broth on the peninsula with super generous portions…read more Service is quick and efficient and kind. They have great lunch specials! It's a little out of the way for us but we don't mind bc of how great it is in every other way

service is great attentive refilled water/tea when it was needed no asking…read more got the lunch set karaage, and miso ramen looked like a white miso (I prefer the brown/red one... just personal) ramen good structure not mushy karaage nicely fried not dry just enough rice to finish it off my lady had a bento box salmon teriyaki calif rolls salmon was done nicely not dry on the sweet side for her she had a miso soup to go with it. great value and enuff to fulfill your appetite cozy place lucky there wasn't a wait will go again