TLDR: Worth the wait. The noodles are excellent…read more This is a different kind of Japanese Noodle Place. Not soup-based, but noodles barely coated in a simple soy infused oil. SPEEDY SERVICE While daunting in appearance, the long line out in front moves surprisingly quickly - only 12 minutes for us to get seated! Friendly enthusiastic attentive staff. Given the queue, they really move you through here in a friendly sort of way, so it's not a place to sit and linger after consuming your meal. There's tons of dessert places just outside.. =) Inside you'll find airy high ceilings and a busy energetic vibe with music that is almost kinda loud! Tables are pretty close together to accommodate everyone. Understandable given the constant lines outside. We came here on a late afternoon midweek. We ordered the: CHASU RICE Appearing almost immediately after ordering, you get a good sized bowl of your basic bits of pork belly-infused Japanese rice - tender and most throughout. It could use a tiny pinch of salt to dial it in, but it worked well with the Aburasoba. Generous serving - enough for both of us. ORIGINAL ABURASOBA オリジナル油そば Aburasoba basically means "oil noodles". Not "oily" in a bad sense, but supple and smooth and superb! With this you get two pieces of 1/8" thick chashu, bamboo shoots, green onions, and nori (seaweed.) The star of the show here are the noodles - supple, al-dente with every bite and such an delightful texture. Served warm. Suggested for first timers, I split this with my light-eating wife. Between us, and the side of rice it was enough for a light lunch after a big breakfast we had earlier. I definitely look forward to coming back here at the first opportunity. Worth the wait.

If you want amazing brothless ramen for a reasonable price this is your place!!…read more So much flavor, there's always a huge line since this place is Michelin star!! Love Kajiken, everyone I show this place to is OBSESSED with it after trying it once.

Great food and flavor! Thank you to our server Michelle for serving me and my friend!read more

The Tonkotsu ramen was amazing. The noodles were cooked perfectly. Diana provided excellent…read moreservice. She made sure everything was perfect. Great food and great customer service. I'll definitely be 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

Still the #1 ramen spot in the Bay Area!…read more Ramen Dojo continues to be my favorite ramen place. Their garlic pork broth is incredible, super rich and thick, packed with flavor, yet surprisingly not too salty. It's the perfect balance. The noodles are also outstanding, very chewy and cooked just right, which makes every bite satisfying. You absolutely have to try their Stewed Pork Ramen and the Soft Shell Crab Ramen. Both are my personal favorites. The stewed pork is soft and flavorful, and the soft shell crab adds a unique and delicious twist. If you're a ramen lover in the Bay Area, this place is a must-try. I keep coming back, and it never disappoints me.

This place has been viral so I checked it out. I went on a weekday a bit before noon and we got…read moreseated immediately. As noon roams around, the place is packed with people and some people are even waiting outside for a seat. The place is small but very comfortable. I had high expectation because the place was recommended. The ramen, however, was decently mediocre. The noodles are fine, the flavor of the broth is nothing too surprising. The pork was delicious though, it was smoky and tender. The price is quite decent as well.

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.

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.

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!

My boyfriend's family has been coming here for so many years and after trying, I can see why. Recs…read moreare the unatama don (eel and egg omelette over rice, the sauce is seriously amazing) and pork fried rice. I would definitely come back just for the unatama don. I guess they're known for their ramen, but would recommend checking out the other stuff on their menu, too! The space is on the smaller side and homey-feeling, and service was quick and friendly. Surprised the ratings are on the lower side - would definitely return.

Love the easy to navigate and customizable electronic panels at each table. Much easier to get…read moreexactly what I wanted and water refills were a breeze with it. Food is still very good and both portion size and prices are still reasonable enough. For the first time, I tried ordering my ramen with less salt since I usually find most ramen broth way too salty. Well, I got what I asked for and somehow it tasted kind of bland and strange to me. Oh well. As my friend said, it may be not as you had before but your body will probably thank you for your choices later. I'll have to think hard for next time

U P D A T E : On a…read moreweeknight traveling from Foster City towards home, we decided to stop by for dinner. Totoro Ramen is one of our fav spots for black garlic ramen even after visiting Japan a few times. It's clean and brightly lit with cute Totoro decor. We've tried other ramen restaurants, but no where has the same black garlicky broth. And when you take it home, put it in the fridge, the soup solidifies into a gelatin! Now, that's how it should be! You know they put in lots of lovin' into this! It's been awhile since the last time, but as always, their black garlic ramen hit the spot! The broth was flavorful and garlicky, the noodles had a chewy texture, the egg had jammy goodness, the meat wasn't too lean or fatty, and the included toppings were tasty! A solid bowl of ramen. Ahhhh, that was GOOOD! The feeling of a warm tummy, heart, and soul kind of GOOOD. Service by Ryota was excellent as he is personable, friendly, efficient, and accommodating! On top of that, he still remembers us, even though we've only come on occasions! We enjoyed chatting with him throughout our visit about his travels to Japan too! It was the perfect way to end the evening. We'll definitely be back sooner than later!!

Such a cool location. Parking at end of street very close by. Not the biggest of places, but worth…read morethe wait. Quiet, clean, and cool vibes. Service was excellent. All the staff, not just our waitress kept checking in with our table. Gyoza was crispy on its seared side, tender in the other and very juicy. Broth was very flavorful. The pork belly was great, and the chicken was full of flavor. Oh, and Sapporo on draft. Nice!

This is located in the theater area.. The ambience is nice…read more Service was fast. Ordered vegetarian ramen and it was delicious . I'd come back here again .