My best noodles experience ever. I am considering moving to Washington DC just to be able to come here at least twice a week. I had the bulgogi buns and the Gojiramen.... Mmmmmmm more please :)) read more

This review is sort of a thank you to the great people at Sakuramen. My boyfriend and I use to live around the corner from this place and went there when it first opened. Until the time we moved out of DC the guy (not sure if he was the owner or what) remembered us and greeted us like we were old friends every time we went there. They get pretty crowed during peak hours but its great food. We always got the pork buns. Make sure you try the pork belly and an egg thrown in for good measure. read more

Spicy miso ramen had just enough spicy to make it absolutely delicious without burning my mouth. A little wait but it's good to come hungry!

Food is so good. But the atmosphere of the restaurant is not so good. Music is played too loud and you have to wait for a long time at busy hours before you can get seated. It is easier to get seated if you're going in small groups though! But ramen is so so so good and gives off real Japan vibe read more

When it comes to ramen, the #1 restaurant for my wife and I is Sakuramen. The bulgogi buns are delicious, but nothing beats their ramen. The place is small, and depending on when you go, you might have a bit of wait, but the food is worth it! read more

YAS YAS YAS! Definitely my favorite ramen spot in all Virginia and DC area. I've been here 3 times and they never disappoint me, either it is in the staff or the food itself. I don't know what else I can say that everyone else underneath me hasn't said. So with that said, RAMEN HERE IS THE BEST - the best hole in the wall ever! AND THE PORK BUNS! read more

Service was unresponsive on December 26 around 6:00 for dinner, when only two other parties were in the entire downstairs of the restaurant. It took the duration of dinner to get the drink I ordered shortly after ordering the meal. When it arrived, the order was wrong--I ordered a bourbon on the rocks, and a rye on the rocks arrived. They took another several minutes to bring the correct drink, which tasted very watered down (8 melty ice cubes is a lot of ice for a bourbon on the rocks in my experience). The sushi was okay--the tuna was good, the spicy tuna was good, but the eel avocado roll left a bone in my husband's teeth and it was tough to chew. I give this place a "C." Don't go here, go somewhere else. Our overt eye-contact and hand waving at servers about the drink didn't yield service or notice. read more

I'm glad to have a ramen place that doesn't require a bus trip to NE (and an accompanying wait) or a drive to the wilds of North Silver Spring. I wandered in here one day after a nearly week-long bout with food poisoning, as I thought a nice bowl of soup would be a perfect way to ease myself back into eating. The place was empty, as it was between the lunch and dinner rushes, so I was seated immediately. The server, whose name I believe was Kenda, was very pleasant and attentive. I started with the mushroom buns...those are savory little bunker busters of umami. I then moved onto a bowl of the gojiramen (shoyu broth), with an egg added in. While it didn't quite blow me away like Ren's shoyu, it was still a very good bowl of soup. It was slightly sweeter than Ren's, but the broth had a lovely flavor. Pleasantly surprised that a place in its first month of business seems to have it moderately together, and I'm looking forward to enjoying more bowls of ramen here. read more

This place is fantastic! I eat gluten free and vegetarian and I easily found the vegetarian bowl. I asked about their gluten free options and they substituted rice instead of the noodles for me. It was sooo good! The staff was super friendly and very on top of anything we needed. Great experience! read more

Delicious noodles. I like the 1-5 system they use to get you to specify how spicy you want it.

So I've had pretty awesome ramen in Tokyo. Hence the 3 stars. This place is pretty decent in terms of ramen in general. However, it's not mind-blowingly kick-ass but it does satisfy the need for a good bowl of noodles. I had the chosun - the korean inspired version with kimchi and bulgogi and my bf had the spicy miso of 4/5 spicy level. My broth was decently rich in flavor and not heavy and the bulgogi was done quite well. What I wish I had more of was kimchi!!! It had alot of umami but not enough acidity to balance the dish out. Neverthless, the noodles were well cooked - great texture and not soggy or undercooked. My bf's spicy miso of 4/5 spicy level was decently spicy (from a white guy's perspective). So if you are not new to spicy food, I would notch that down to a 3/5 spicy level. One more thing, their green tea really does taste like roasted matcha green tea. yum! Conclusion 1. I would definately go back if I'm in the area. 2. I have to try Toki Underground and Taan to see which one reigns in ramen in DC!! read more

They put the Shoki bowl on the menu....dropped the mic, and walked off the stage (then DARED us to say something about it). As if to flinch at us aggressively, and shout "Tokyo-WHAT?!?!" read more

This is our regular ramen place. Delicious ramen and appetizers, slightly on a heavy flavor side. Great service, efficient and friendly. It's a small place, so depends on the days/times it can get crowded or even a long wait. But it does have an izakaya/ramen shop feel. We love this place! read more

It WAS really good. Today I visited Sakuramen with my mum. For some reason, it became really really BAD. I ordered Red Miso. They gave me only half-bowl WITHOUT egg. Also, I ordered spice 5 out of 1-10 spice scale. It was super spicy. And I can definitely tell it was chemical. Trust me or not. You are gonna regret if you go there. I was really upset about that. I was looking forward going there for a long time. It really disappointed me too much. read more

The pork belly was great! I agree with other reviewers that the broth could've been a few degrees hotter, and the thin noodles are a little on the chewy side, but these are just nitpicks. The random korean style bulgogi is a bit weird, it would be nice to see a tonkatsu or torikatsu bowl on the menu too. Overall a great pick at a reasonable price, I'll definitely be going back. read more

This place is my favorite spot in DC for (my version of) comfort food. To start, the staff is awesome! Even though they have a very small spot they make the best of it and regardless of how busy they are they still treat their guests well. It is tough to wait when they get super packed but it's always worth it in the end. As for the food: my fiance is absolutely obsessed with their spicy pork buns. Those are the best way to start your meal in my opinion, although their 'shroom buns are second best if you don't want spicy. I always describe the buns as yummy meat served on bread clouds and my goodness are they delicious! However, the soup is always the star of the meal! I go for the Tonkotsu Red with extra chashu and my honey prefers the Gojiramen. The toughest part of the meal: deciding whether to finish it right then or saving a large enough portion for lunch the next day. Even though, I don't live anywhere close to Adam's Morgan, I try to make it to Sakuramen at least a few times a month. And in a city with as many amazing food options as DC, that says something. I highly recommend this spot to anyone I talk to and I've brought many out of town guests here. They often raise their eyebrows when I tell them I'm taking them to eat Ramen and wonder if I've gone crazy. But Sakuramen is on a different plane of existence than the 10 cent packets of ramen that you can buy at the supermarket and all of them have left Sakuramen as big fans. I hope they keep up the good work and I can't wait for my next bowl. read more

The ramen is great, and the spicy options will definitely make your mouth burn. They blast 90s music, which is a plus for me but might not be so for others. read more

Best ramen place in DC! Had great service from all the employees who work there and even though getting seats there is a bit rough since it is always busy. It is worth the wait for the food! One of the employee who work there named Tony is always helpful every time i go there, being able to give me new suggestions on what to get. Been going there almost every weekend now just for the food and im also coming all the way from Germantown, MD. Which is like a 45 minute drive but worth every minute. read more

Yes, this place pretty bad azz, it will hit the spot especially on a cold night. The broth is tasty, everything in the ramen bowl is good and tasty, I love that this place is small and tight, yet, I wish it was bigger so there would be no wait, but good things come to those who wait. Be aware, their fire ball for the ramen is good, but remember the rule of nature, what goes up must come down and what goes in must come out, nough said. I also like their unfancy Japanese décor, it gives it character. By the way, they have the best music playlist goin on. One day I want to come in here dressed as a Samurai Warrior and sit and eat my ramen. Try their Bulgogi buns too good appetizer while you wait. For ramen, this place got it goin on like Bonita Applebum.. read more

It was my first time here. I just happened to be in the area and crave noodle soup. I ordered sakuramen, which was a vegetarian ramen, it was good. I had level 5, which I think was not spicy at all. I'm giving 3 star because the service was so slow. read more

First night in Washington DC!! It was a bit cold and I was feeling really nasaly. So what do I do??? I look for a good ramen place!! This place was the first thing that came up on my yelp. So I figured I'd give it a shot. The ambience here is awesome!!! They got music playing in the background pretty loudly, and everyone in the restaurant just jams out. The people who work there are also really chill and make you feel super comfortable. You'll have to forgive me because I don't remember the names of what we ordered. I just know it had a ton of meat and an egg lol. They also ask you what level of spicy that you would like. I ordered it level 5, which was perfect for me. The ramen here is fkn amazing. It's so simple, yet so good. They don't try to go over the top with so many ingredients or weird recipes. They just KEEP IT SIMPLE and it works brilliantly. The actual noodles aren't bland like most ramen places, and have a nice saltiness to them. I'm so glad I came here my first time in DC. Solid A+! read more

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I have a love for anything noodle. So when you say ramen, you bet I'm going to eat every ramen place in town and find the best. I have been wanting to try Sakuramen for awhile now and finally i was able to. I came here last Wednesday with my boyfriend. it's a small little places tucked between a few other restuarants in Adams Morgan. The decor was simple but cozy and the staff were very friendly. We ordered spicy pork buns to start and I got the spicy miso ramen. My bf got the meat ramen. We were able to pick how hot we would like it by adding in the fire balls. (Spicy powder balls). The ramen was flavorful and it had plenty of pork belly in it. Really nice texture to the noodles and one of the best spicy miso I've had yet! Our spicy pork buns didnt come out until after we were done eating our ramen, which I didn't like... The buns were ok,I wasn't a fan. I prefer the ones from other ramen places. The pork bun wasnt what I expected, the pork was grounded and saucy. I'd stick to the ramen. Overall I did like the place, its on my list of places to revisit. read more

I really enjoyed my meal here. It's a really small space, so it's a bit hit or miss, whether you'll get seated right away or have a bit of a wait. You're not able to be seated until your entire party arrives, just fyi. But, tables turn over pretty fast, so although there were four (2-person) parties in front of us when we arrived, it was less than a 15 minute wait. I could see it being longer for a larger party, though. The menu is simple, but still feels like you have a whole lot of options. I love that there are different noodle types in different bowls. I ordered the Shoki ramen bowl, which had thin ramen noodles. We also ordered steamed gyoza (pork dumplings) as an appetizer. The gyoza were good, but actually not as good as I had hoped. I did like that the wrappers on them were thin rather than thick and doughy, but I thought the flavor could have been a little better. I saw a few other tables order the bulgogi or pork buns, and I had a bit of appetizer-regret; they looked amazing. The shoki bowl was great- it had plenty of meat in it, a tasty broth, a delicious egg, and perfectly cooked ramen. I added a fireball to mine, which is a ball of red pepper and other spices, but also ordered it a "level 5", which means they add five drops of a pepper sauce to the broth. They say you can order it levels 1-5, but my dining guest (who is a regular here), ordered a 9, which means 9 drops. Not having experienced just how hot that would be, I stuck with my level 5, but after tasting both I'd order it spicier next time. All in all, a great place. I wish I lived closer! I'd definitely frequent this place. read more

Dined here around 11 pm post drunkfest on a rainy Saturday. The wait was only 15 minutes long and the staff were courteous and efficient from beginning to end. We ordered the tonkatsu red, bulgogi buns and chosun; everything was delicious and obviously well made. The bulgogi bun dough was moist and chewy, but the serving was smaller than I expected. However, things are generally more expensive in that area than in nova. The ramen noodles were plentiful and delicious; I appreciated that everything was not overly salted but would have liked more spice in my tonkatsu. Overall a really good late night ramen experience, but not mind blowing. read more

Another ramen spot checked off the list - not number one, but definitely a good one. I had the tonkotsu red which I enjoyed. Yummy broth. The noodles were okay, kind of thin - I'd prefer the thicker ones. Good mushrooms and pork belly, although I wish I had remembered to add an egg and maybe even some other toppings. I tried the Sakuramen (spice level 5) and it was pretty good as well, although I still can't get behind the whole corn in ramen thing. Also tried the green tea mochi for dessert - yummy as always. Nice atmosphere, good music, service got the job done... we got there around 6:45 on a Tuesday night and it was packed with a wait very soon after. read more

My favorite ramen place in the area, but please consider turning some AC on! I had to leave halfway through my meal recently as it was so uncomfortable, and felt the same way when I recently returned to pick up takeout. As far as the food is concerned, the tonkotsu red was quite good, but the buns left a bit to be desired. read more

I had the vegetarian ramen and it was banging. Really tasty and the service there is on point. I would definitlely recommend this place.

Came in on a Saturday night to celebrate a birthday and everyone was very accommodating and we got seated as soon as our full party arrived. Service was prompt and the food was great! read more

Great Veg Ramen. Get the hot spice ball. Great service but odd seating with you facing total strangers across a narrow table.

atmosphere: cozy and intimate service: reliable and friendly food: get the pork buns read more

It took me nearly seven months to find and test out my first legit DC ramen joint, but I finally made it over to Sakuramen last night with the BF. It's easy to miss; hidden among the sea of flashy bars, drunk food stops, and cute cafes that line 18th St in Adams Morgan, but tucked away inside an English basement is the small yet friendly dining room that prides itself on pork buns and seven different types of ramen. After careful deliberation, we decided to split the pork buns and he opted for the Chosun (a korean fusion bowl) while I went with a more traditional Tonkotsu. The pork buns were great: a good amount of meat on the sandwich with a super fluffy bun to boot. Not enjoying the fact that the bottom of the bun was soaked in meat juice and sauce, but overall a really tasty treat. The ramen itself was also pretty good. At a 5/10 for spice, the soup was pretty damn spicy to begin with. The broth was really flavorful, but could have been a little more buttery. The pork and vegetables, however, were spot on. His Chosun was also really nice; the ramen uses bulgogi in place of chashu and also adds in kimchi. I liked it so much, I'm definitely inclined to get a whole bowl for myself the next time I'm here. The price point also seemed to be a little high, but I guess not terrible for DC real estate. Service was exemplary: servers and runners were super nice and friendly, and definitely helpful in guiding us through the menu. Is it the best ramen? Probably not, but Sakuramen is really damn good and super convenient, so I'm happy to live nearby and hope to make more regular visits here when I need a ramen fix. read more

Love this. My favorite ramen in DC. I've tried most of the varieties they serve, and they're all good, in particular the Tonkotsu Red. Cavetas: 1) The appetizers are nothing special, so I'd recommend skipping them and just doubling up on meat in your ramen if extremely hungry. 2) Seating is limited and there can be a wait during peak times, so go early (they open at 11:30am on the weekends) and you should be able to sit down immediately. read more

The best ramen I've had in DC ! It can be a little hard to find the first time you go, as it's on the bottom floor of multi story restaurant building in Adams Morgan. Its comfortable and modern, but the real draw is the ramen. It can be as spicy or as mild as you want. I also found it reasonably priced for the area. If you are a fan of real Japanese ramen, you should definitely check this place out ! read more

Holy moly! I'm totally in love with this place! I had the shroom buns and the tonkotsu red. The mushroom marinade (shroom buns) was ridiculously tasty, and the pork belly in my soup was absolutely perfect. Too bad this place is not closer to Baltimore. :( Bmore truly lacks a good noodle shop. *sigh* read more

Nice ramen. Ordered the tonkotsu red with level 10 spicy. Level 3 supposedly being sriracha spicy. Nice to have a choice of spicy. There's also a fireball - mix of ground chilies added to your ramen for 1 dollar. Felt like the fireball did not contribute much to the overall level of heat. The fatty pork is super tender fall apart in your mouth and the noodles were perfect, firm, and slightly chewy - preferring chewy myself. Service was also good. Someone ninja dropped a couple more napkins when it was obvious one was not enough to contain the level 10 spicy. Nothing said, the server knew what was up. Water was also refilled on a steady basis. Overall a very enjoyable meal and it refueled me for the bike ride back home (slight heart burn included). Came on a Sunday around 445 pm, so not very crowded. read more

Went here on a whim. It was a chilly night and a perfect night for ramen. We got seated quickly in a nice spot by the window overlooking the street We order and the food came out quickly. The ramen was good lots of noodles. I would recommend this place to a friend. read more

I am a huge fan of their miso ramen. although the wait is very long, i believe it's worth it. the pork buns are also very good!

Awesome ramen, nice quite interior.

A little disappointing as far as ramen goes. I'm a bit of a ramen snob, so it didn't quite hit the spot for me. But otherwise, it'a definitely palatable ramen. On the other hand, I thought the pork and beef bun appetizers were very delicious!! If I go back, I'd definitely be going back for the buns. read more

So good! Especially the steamed rolls! Would be 5 stars but they don't serve alcohol which would be nice.