Soooo food! Definitely going back! I'm pretty picky with my food and haven't had a chance to find a really good ramen spot I can continue going back to, but I'm sure I found it here! We all created our own ramen bowl and the price was just right. Chicken was very good, not dry at all. Side note. I also rate places based off their bathroom because I like to be as comfortable as I can without being freaked out. Their entire restaurant was very clean so if I can give extra ratings for that, I would. read more

Sobo Ramen - BYOR - Ramen Near Me - Oakland, California

Neat neighborhood ramen spot. Spacious space with a cute bar. Went around 6p and was seated at a table. Service was fast and attentive. Got the spicy miso and asked to add mushrooms to it (this place serves shitakis). Light tasty broth, meat was more on the fatty side tho. I personally loved the noodle texture. The portion was just right for me. Seaweed salad: not a winner. It's a bunch of lettuce with a scoop of seaweed on top of it. Ambience: cool but I am not a fan of crying babies or out of control kids while I am trying to enjoy a restaurant meal. This place does advertise itself as very family friendly. Luckily our party just finished when a group of 8 adults with two whiny 4-5 year olds who liked running around, arrived. Nothing against kids I just like to eat a peaceful meal. Saki selection: pretty extensive but our server did not know much about them to make a recommendation. The saki in the photo was delish. Overall: will come back read more

Sobo Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Oakland, California

It's just really good I go the chicken katsu ramen and the broth is beautifully seasoned

Lovey and I came here for dinner before our Mexico trip. Lovey ordered the ramen and I ordered the tonkatsu. We also ordered chicken karaage, soft shell crab and pork potstickers. Ramen was just ok. The broth was not deeply flavored. Chicken karaage was not crispy and the batter was half cooked. The potstickers was the best and tonkatsu was okay. I will probably skip this place if you are a ramen snob like us! Service was great though. FYI_ this place is ran by Chinese people.. well it is located in Oakland Chinatown. Should have known that before going in. TRUST!! read more

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This place has really gone downhill since the pandemic. Much smaller menu. They used to give you real chopsticks to dine in. I had miso ramen but was actually just miso soup w noodles. The tofu and egg in my noodles were cold and the broth was a little more than room temperature. Chili oil had no spice. Super disappointed. Noodles were nice & chewy so I'll give them that. read more

Sobo Ramen - Vegetarian Miso (Soy Bean) - Ramen Near Me - Oakland, California

I came here on a Thursday night for dinner and there was no wait. The server quickly sat us and took our orders when we were ready. The customer service was good and fast. The menu had a good amount of options for you to choose from. The karaage was fresh -- nice and crispy on the outside with big chicken pieces. The dip on the side wasn't so great. It was quite sour, like they added vinegar in it or something. The gyoza was pretty average. It wasn't bad but nothing special. I didn't not like the tsukumen. The ramen itself was ok with a decent consistency. The chasu was alright. The broth was the main problem for me. There's tiny meat chunks in the broth, which made the overall meal too meaty for me. The broth was very sour. I'm not sure what ingredients they used but it tasted like a overpowering vinegar broth. I give 2 stars for the food and add a star for the service and the environment. The restaurant was clean and spacious, with a nice dim-lighting ambiance. Overall I doubt I will return unless I just so happen to be around the area. read more

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Came in on a Thursday around 6PM - no wait. I shouldn't have read all of the reviews because the hype set my expectations too high or maybe I just didn't order the right thing. Greeted by friendly staff and sat quickly to a table. First time here and I had to order the best (so I thought). I never had seafood ramen so let's compare. 1 order of the volcano as an appetizer and 1 lobster ramen coming up! The volcano's Presentation, 5 out of 5 stars. Hot plate with fire going on. Definitely got my attention. No instructions on how to eat it once it was delivered but I assumed let the fire die down before digging in. As I'm waiting, the lobster ramen came and I decided to dig into that first since the fire kept on going. First ramen impression was mediocre. Besides the lobster tail, there wasn't much of a wow factor. After the first taste...I asked myself what did I just order...I had to read the description again..."tonkotsu broth with a hint of seafood" - that should have been my hint to run. It wasn't horrible, I still finished my meal but was pretty disappointed. I should have stuck to the basics. Oh and that flaming volcano? Crab meat and mayo...hard pass next time. With so many ramen options it's hard to say I would come back. I first questioned that i picked the wrong ramen, but then again it wasn't good or worth the price. read more

Sobo Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Oakland, California

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Came on a Sunday right when they opened and got seated no problem. The restaurant is actually very spacious and cute. The waiters/waitresses are very attentive (yes they are pretty much watching you) but at least you never have to wait when you need something! For appetizer ordered the karaage and volcano. The karaage was super crispy on the outside and soft chicken on the inside and was perfect. It only comes with a "tangy"'sauce tho that basically taste like lemon juice. I wish they had sesame sauce or sweet chili to go with that. The volcano basically tastes like imitation crab that's on top of sushi. Has a nice presentation since comes out with flame. Only downfall to me is that it had little shells in it which threw me off. Got the spicy miso ramen! Very good! I'd say one of my top 3 ramens I've had so far butttt could've been better. But tonkatsu broth was on hit!!!! Sooooo flavorful and filling and rich. Definitely coming back for that! read more

Sobo Ramen - Spicy Miso with bok choy - Ramen Near Me - Oakland, California

I always get the Spicy Tonkatsu. Very good. Ingredients are fresh and super delicious.

I've heard nothing but good things about Sobo Ramen, and being so close, decided to give it a try for dinner tonight. Ordered the spicy miso ramen. Portion size was decent, I left fairly full afterwards and I'm usually a big eater. The noodles were perfectly cooked, as was the egg. However, everything else left something to be desired. The cha siu was really rough and not as tender as other ramen shops. There was only 1 slice. Also, the broth was SO SALTY! I'm chugging water as we speak. Service was short and to the point. One of the waitresses did come by and refill our waters, which was nice. Prices are steeper than Shiba Ramen, but more affordable than the Ramen Shop. Overall: probably won't be back. read more

Sobo Ramen - Spicy miso - Ramen Near Me - Oakland, California

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I have always wanted to try this place every time I frequented Chinatown but I was always full. However, decided to eat lunch with my daughter so I took that as the perfect opportunity to check them out. My first day thought walking in was, it had a cute decor and then being my first time, I didn't know how it worked until I asked since I saw the additional toppings. However, as it turned out, it comes with a piece of pork, kale, soft boiled egg so I didn't feel a need to add extras since the base alone was $18. Kinda steep. Anyways, my daughter ordered the tonkatau donburi and fried gyoza and I had the Spicy Mayu. Fried Gyoza was good but again pricey. My daughter thought the donburi was ok. They overfilled the bowl with LOTS of rice. So, if you like rice, you will like the donburi. The Spicy Mayu was alright. Nothing great as I imagined. While I was glad I checked them out, I can't say that the taste really qualified for the steep prices. For those 3 items, my bill came out to $40. Yeah, just can't justify so I can't say i will be coming back. No shade, just my opinion. read more

I just want to say last night I went to some other Ramen spot and dropped a hundred bucks and after leaving there I was thinking, man I should only go to sobo ramen because it's so good and does not cost me a bag. My favorite is the vegetarian coconut dish, holy cow it's so good! They put something in there some kind of root that makes it turn pink it's so delicious. normally I don't finish a whole bowl of ramen but every time I go there I finish the whole bowl and I even order a pork cutlet on the side wow heavenly. Can't say enough good stuff about them I will definitely be visiting them again soon. Five stars bihh read more

Can here because of the $6 ramen special. Can't complain too much Noodles nicely cooked Broth flavorful Fast service Fatty pork read more

What a difference in the past couple of years. If I did a review about this place when it first opened then I would've given it 1 or 2 stars. After the first time i went, I said I would never go back again. I kept seeing my friends post, and every time she posted it looked different. So I gave it another shot. Each time I went it's gotten better and better. Parking around this area is always bad, so in the day time I usually park in the garage. It's about $1- $3, depending how long you stay. If it's evening time, take your chances and look for free street parking. Service is okay. It can be better. Sometimes you have to wait long to get what you need... even when they aren't busy. This is a decent size restaurant. I don't think I've ever had to wait longer than 10 mins, but I've also seen them get busy after I'm seated and people have to wait. For starters I've gotten: Baked mussel- pretty good Chicken karaage- not bad, try putting it in the ramen Soft shell crab- not bad Volcano- pretty good, but it does take long though I always get the spicy black tonkatsu ramen. I add a side of tonkatsu (to share), quail eggs, and corn. I'm never able to finish my ramen, so take the rest to go. Good thing these noodles do not expand like other noodles. This is where I get my ramen when I do not want to drive 30-45 minutes away. It's conveniently 10 minutes from my house, and it has improved A LOT!!! read more

Sobo Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Oakland, California

What a great place for lunch and dinner. My favorite is the stir fried with the chicken. I like it that the parking is so easy and accessible. They have a full bar and god knows I love a good afternoon beer read more

This place is a really cute place ramen place. It's definitely a lot cleaner and nicer than most of the restaurants in Chinatown Oakland. The ambience is nice, but the service here is kind of slow.The first time I came here, I thought the ramen was kind of bland. However, I decided to give hem another chance. The second time here I got the Tonkotsu Ramen with Black Mayu. I was much more satisfied the second time around. The soup broth was very flavorful and the noodles were nicely cooked and just the right amount of chewy. I also had the fried tofu, which was really good but kind of expensive. I've heard the wait times here for seating and ramen are sometimes quite long, but it's been smooth sailing for me both times I've been here. read more

Sobo Ramen - Tonkotsu Ramen with Mayu - Ramen Near Me - Oakland, California

Just managed to beat the lunch rush on a busy Monday afternoon, just before noon (seriously, when I say "lunch rush" I mean it, the line winds up going out the door here). I decided to go with the spicy miso chashu ramen and wasn't disappointed. The chashu was the most fall-apart-tender chashu I've ever had. Usually I find myself wishing chashu was more tender and am never really drawn to ordering it in my ramen because I'm never very blown away with it, but Sobo really knows how to make that pork melt in your bowl and your mouth. Delicious. The broth had a good amount of heat and fantastic flavor and there was a decent amount of noodles in the bowl. (I'm kind of a pasta/noodle fiend so I'm rarely satisfied with the amount of ramen in an order, but I walked away from here full.) My only small critique was that the hard boiled egg could've been more soft boiled to let all that yolky goodness into the broth, but the egg was still good and a welcome accompaniment to the ramen. Tasty, satisfying ramen in Downtown Oakland, and the best chashu I've ever had. But again, be mindful of the fact that Sobo fills up fast at lunchtime, so get here before noon, when everyone else is going to show up. Fast, very friendly service despite the crowd. Will return! read more

Sobo Ramen - Spicy miso chashu ramen - Ramen Near Me - Oakland, California

Finally a ramen spot on this side of the bay! Like many others, I was excited to try Sobo! The harsh reviews during its opening weeks were a bit discouraging, but then the reviews picked up. Not really knowing what to expect, my friends and I ventured over for dinner. The restaurant is actually on Franklin Street despite the plaza's address. Pretty spacious. I like that there are many smaller tables and 2 designated areas for bigger parties. The decor is a bit lacking for my taste. Not the biggest fan of the fluorescent light and white wall combo in general. But that has nothing to do with the food here. haha. Also, very friendly service! Volcano (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/sobo-ramen-oakland-2?select=A38fpAWwM8g0Izzmlrocyg#IUKeW3Azlvx_gqtwrD9G5A): A baked crab meat mixture served with a brandy-salt flame. The baked top gave it a nice texture. Wish it was spicy though. Crab Meat Gyoza (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/sobo-ramen-oakland-2?select=A38fpAWwM8g0Izzmlrocyg#4Gyhx7aoBQAgOQa1jAl7uw): Despite pan-frying, the thin wrappers gave the gyozas a light taste. It was enjoyably different and allowed the taste of the filling to come through. Chicken Yakitori (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/sobo-ramen-oakland-2?select=A38fpAWwM8g0Izzmlrocyg#v4CtHuYSpLyc2CIW03yvAQ): The chicken was done very well. Super tender. The sauce was a bit too salty for me. Tonkotsu Tonkatsu Ramen (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/sobo-ramen-oakland-2?select=A38fpAWwM8g0Izzmlrocyg#Jg0IxQmMKCfKLIOLJzoxdQ): Both the ramen and tonkatsu looked so gooood! The ramen broth was definitely not gunky as mentioned in a previous review. Taste-wise, it needed more depth but was smooth and had good flavors. Loved the soft-boiled egg! The tonkatsu was breaded perfectly and crispy. The noodles were chewy, just the way I like them. The portion was also surprisingly generous. Verdict: My experience at Sobo exceeded my expectations. From the early reviews to my dinner, there seems to be a notable difference in a good way. The fact that the restaurant has taken previous reviews as constructive criticism speaks volumes. Granted, the ramen at Sobo still doesn't compare to the popular, long established places. But we have been so spoiled by all the options in SF and the peninsula! I've had my fair share of ramen, both good and bad. And I think Sobo has potential and is a contender. Definitely my East Bay ramen-fix spot. I really do wish people who gave this place such poor reviews would come back and give it another try! read more

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Lobster in a bowl of ramen seems like such a no-brainer that I was wondering why Woodhouse Fish Co. wasn't offering it. However, my blind and fleeting enthusiasm came to a standstill when I got to Sobo. It was like somebody came up and hit me with a rubber flounder, and I hate being hit with anything rubber...unless I have your phone number first. Anyway, the raves about the Lobster Ramen motivated me to come here in the heart of Oakland's Chinatown after my hair trim on a Saturday afternoon. I sat down and saw the price on the menu - $18.99.... ka-ching (photo: http://bit.ly/1Bg6LQ4). OK, OK, I'm here, so I better order it. The place was quite busy with youthful Asians on their smartphones. But I first saw another temptation on the chalkboard, Ankimo for the mysterious "M.P.", which meant they could charge me anything they like for some monkfish liver. It turned out to be $9, hefty for an appetizer but ever since I had it at Ino Sushi in Japantown, I've been hooked. So I ordered that, too. Gee, what am I, made of money or something? Well, here it comes, and it's overdecorated with scallions, celery and roe of some kind with a heavy squeeze of lemon and accompanied by a mini-bowl of seaweed salad (photo: http://bit.ly/1AYriuw). There was just too much set decoration to fully enjoy the fresh ankimo itself. That's all I wanted. I felt like Nancy Kerrigan after my knees were clubbed..."WHYY? WHYYYYY??" Anyway, hope springs eternal as the Lobster Ramen arrived. It looked pretty good in a tonkotsu broth with the half-lobster tail surrounded by organic kale, an egg and green onion and drizzled with lobster oil (photo: http://bit.ly/1AYrdqL). Gee, I didn't even know lobsters oozed oil. My excitement was short-lived as the it turned out to be rubbery and hardly worth presenting to a customer. The broth was rather watery with little of the richness I would have expected. Yet, it was still edible enough for me to finish the whole bowl. But for $18.99, I expected a little more magic. BTW, you definitely know you're in Chinatown when you go to the restroom here - through the kitchen, behind a barrier door, down a long hallway, then another passageway and hope springs eternal again that the the toilet is clean. FOOD - 3 stars...the much-ballyhooed lobster ramen fails to deliver the goods AMBIANCE - 3.5 stars...nice enough spot though tables are not particularly well-organized for small parties SERVICE - 3 stars...very quiet and not that forthcoming TOTAL - 3 stars...thoroughly middle-of-the-pack when it comes to getting your ramen on read more

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Came here for Lunch with a party of 5 and we aLL Left here VERY happy. We ordered: Shio Ramen- Seafood broth topped with Chashu, bLack fungus, fish cake, and soft boiLed egg. Spicy BLack Tonkotsu X2- Tonkotsu broth with bLack garLic oiL + chiLi sauce. This comes with Chashu, soft boiLed egg, and bean sprouts. SaLmon Teriyaki Bento Box X2- served with miso soup, rice, sLaw saLad, and side dish of the day (fried wontons) Broth was deLicious, seasoned very well and very fLavorfuL. The highLight of the meaL was definiteLy the taste and QuaLity of the ramen-soft with the perfect amount of chewiness. Im no ramen snob but Sobo Ramen is Legit!! Don't sLeep on their Spicy BLack Tonkotsu or you'LL be sorry. read more

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Entrance to Sobo is on Franklin St between 9th & 10th so don't be fooled by the 9th St address and walk aimlessly up and down the block like me :( The menu says they specialize in tonkotsu (pork bone) broth, but they also offer Shoyu & Miso (not sure if either are a tonkotsu blend). In addition to ramen they have appetizers like karaage & gyoza and one item bentos. Tonkotsu with Mayu (Black garlic oil, $9.5) competes with Maru Ichi 's Kuro Ramen and is topped by sprouts, negi, seasoned soft-boiled egg, chashu, and sesame seeds (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/sobo-ramen-oakland-2?select=AuU9pujfvH-CiUYZqR9jNA#Qch69hD2Ay6YXtbFie6zhg). I liked the broth and the additional complexity from the garlic oil. I think some MSG is involved as my thirst increased and mouth got a little cotton-y. Noodles are thin and slightly wavy and the egg yolk slightly gelling at the edges (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/sobo-ramen-oakland-2?select=AuU9pujfvH-CiUYZqR9jNA#VRUHd3hRZtbh2SV3NyIccA). The noodles were firm / al-dente, but didn't have a good chew to them. The cha shu looked to be sliced rolls of roasted pork belly with a nice mix of fat and meat and a pronounced sweetness from the marinade. Karaage ($6) was dozen 1-2 bite pieces of dark meat with a lemony (yuzu?) dip (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/sobo-ramen-oakland-2?select=AuU9pujfvH-CiUYZqR9jNA#AuU9pujfvH-CiUYZqR9jNA). Not sure if these were free-range, but the meat was quite chewy. Lightly coated, flavorful, and juicy. The lemon juice dip was different, though these tasted very good by themselves. Mayu Ramen: 3.5 stars Karaage: 4 stars Current Yelp Check-in Offer of Free flavored lemonade or Thai iced tea. read more

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A valuable team member going away party. She couldn't decide where to go until this morning. No problem. A table for 8 at 12:00pm? 10 minute wait. It was Tonkatsu Ramen all the way around with two orders of Fried Wontons. The bowls came out not piping hot, but hot enough. Kinda smallish portions. Charsu and the soft boiled eggs were great. Not much garnish of bean sprouts. Tasty broth. Ok noodles. Truly three stars. The bill included 20% service charge. The service was excellent, better than the food. Doubt I'd come back. read more

I was so hungry while i driving in Oakland, and I found this ramen place for dinner! It's soooo gooddd! read more

Sobo Ramen - I was so hungry while I'm Driving Oakland, and I found this ramen place! It's soo gooddd ! - Ramen Near Me - Oakland, California

Sobo Ramen is a Japanese ramen noodle shop that opened August 2012 at Pacific Renaissance Plaza in Oakland Chinatown. Most, if not all, of Sobo's ingredients are sourced from in-state farms and suppliers. This includes the pork bones used to make the tonkotsu broth, chashu pork, cage-free eggs, and Yamachan-brand ramen noodles from San Jose. The result is a decent bowl of ramen. The restaurant has a no-frills setup with really no ambiance to speak of. Hardly any modifications have been done or decor added to the generic-1990s-looking leased retail/restaurant space. The dining room contains mostly basic wooden tables and chairs along with bar-height seating by some of the windows. I guesstimate total seating capacity is about 50-60 customers. Sobo serves over a dozen different kinds of ramen, mainly falling into one of the four major broth categories: tonkotsu (pork bone), shio (salt), shoyu (soy sauce), and miso. The ramen costs about $9-11 per bowl with each bowl containing an assortment of ingredients. In addition, Sobo offers a few special and unique ramen types such as Tsukemen Ramen (dipping noodles ramen - more on this below), Country Miso Ramen (made from rice koji, barley koji, and fermented soybeans), and Lobster Ramen (made with lobster tail). You can also customize your own bowl of ramen beginning at $6.95 with toppings extra. Aside from ramen, Sobo serves Japanese snacks and appetizers such as edamame (soybeans), gyoza (potstickers), and soft shell crab, donburi (rice bowls), bento boxes (Japanese meal boxes filled with a variety of food - available at lunchtime only), and off-menu specials such as ankimo (monkfish liver). Specials can be found on the black chalkboard behind the hostess stand. I've tried a handful of items at Sobo. Here's the rundown: Appetizers: * Agedashi Tofu - crispy fried tofu served in dashi broth topped with green onion and bonito * Cucumber Seaweed Salad - seaweed, cucumber, spring mix, sesame dressing * Karaage - crispy fried chicken nuggets marinated in soy sauce, garlic, ginger, and sake Ramen: * Spicy Black Tonkotsu - tonkotsu broth, black garlic oil, chili sauce, chashu pork, soft-boiled egg, bean sprouts, green onion, sesame seeds * Spicy Shoyu (with chicken) - chili sauce, chicken & fish broth, soft boiled egg, bamboo shoots, wood ear fungus, green onion, sesame seeds * Tsukemen Ramen - cold ramen noodles topped with green onion and sesame seed "dry" on the side, a bowl of hot pork-based broth, a bowl of cold chicken-based broth, and toppings (chashu pork, wood ear fungus) Generally, the food here isn't bad, but I don't think any particular items are exceptional. Clean, neat presentation all-around. The Agedashi Tofu is a good, light appetizer. The tofu is lightly fried and the dashi broth isn't overbearing. The scallions are fresh and the delicate bonito fish flakes are A-OK. The Cucumber Seaweed Salad is served in large portions. Normally, seaweed salads at Japanese restaurants have much smaller portions. The reason is because Sobo mixes in a lot of leafy greens. One serving is essentially a bowl filled with bagged greens, bright green seaweed, and thick vertical strips of cucumber. Sufficiently fresh. The Karaage is alright. At Sobo, karaage is served in the form of 10 golf-ball-sized chicken nuggets. Moderately heavy breading. Crispy and savory though a little mushy at times. The sake sauce is bland to some extent. The Spicy Black Tonkotsu is good and probably my favorite of the ramens I've tried. It's certainly the most flavorful with a relatively rich and creamy broth. The black garlic oil adds another layer of flavor and richness to the broth, which I enjoy. The slices of chashu pork (marinated braised pork belly) are both meaty and fatty. I think Sobo gives its customers more chashu for their money than most other ramen shops, so it's a win there. I can't say I'm a huge fan of the noodles (from Nippon Trends Food Service in the Bay Area). They're a little too soft and fragile for me. I prefer ramen noodles that have a bit more chew and bite. The Spicy Shoyu with chicken is decent. I like the bamboo shoots and black wood ear fungus in this bowl of ramen. The chicken is grilled and sliced. The quality of the chicken is fine, but I think the meat could definitely use more flavor. Spice level is acceptable (mild). Fans of truly spicy ramen will have to add more chili sauce or spices themselves. If you're looking for a different or more "fun" or interactive dining experience, the Tsukemen Ramen is ideal. It's presentation is somewhat gimmicky. It's like eating ramen, but in soba style. Soba noodles are served cold and "dry" (not in a broth). Soba noodles are dipped into a bowl filled with soba dipping sauce before consumption. Same idea here except it's ramen noodles instead of soba noodles. The warm pork broth has meat in it (shank?). The cool chicken broth is flavorless. Service is great. Paid parking is available at Pacific Renaissance Plaza. read more

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My belly is super happy after trying the WHOLE menu of Sobo Ramen, all thanks to the best Yelp Elite Party ever!! :D Dedicated to my #40 ramen review! 4 appetizers, 4 bowls of ramen, and unlimited soju. I am one lucky girl haha! And a very happy one. I try and write ramen reviews because I love ramen, highlighting my experiences, as well as helping others discover this wonderful dish. And to experience 4 different bowls of it in one night at no cost? It was like my foodie dream come true! Lol jk. Not really :D My favorites: peach soju and sobo special ramen (yum!) SOJU: plain, peach, mango, strawberry, and melon. Peach and mango both have just the right amount of sweet and flavor to it that I liked. Melon was a little bit sour. I always get strawberry soju at korean places so this was nothing new to me, but it is new having soju in a Japanese restaurant in the first place! And didn't try plain. Who wants plain? =P APPETIZERS: 1) HAMACHI SHOOTER - 2.5/5 - this was taken as if it was like an alcoholic shot - 8 people in the table gave that scrunched look on their face! I wish there were pictures. It's because they combined jalapeño, wasabi, and ginger all with the hamachi sashimi! I like hamachi, but not with that crazy combo 2) AGEDASHI TOFU - 4/5 - crispy fried tofu with broth that wasn't too salty, but went really well with it! Great appetizer. 3) BAKED MUSSEL - 3.5/5 - good, baked mussels topped with creamy aioli sauce. 4) KARAAGE - 3/5 - I've tried many different karaage since this is the appetizer of choice before I eat ramen, and I'd say this karaage chicken was great! But, it came witth yuzu dipping sauce rather than the usual mayonnaise. It was different, it works, but I prefer the mayo. RAMEN: 1) SOBO SPECIAL RAMEN - 4.5/5 - Yes! Tonkatsu broth ramen with organic garlic in the East Bay that actually tastes GOOD! I am so happy! All the good tonkatsu ramens are in San Mateo, but this bowl was good and my favorite. The menu says it has a hint of seafood, but I didn't really notice it. I just tasted the yumminess and satisfaction out of all the tonkatsu ramen I've had, and I'm happy there's finally a bowl like this that isn't across the bridge or 40 miles away :) 2) SPICY MISO RAMEN - 3/5 - yes it's spicy, and I was dumb to add more of the japanese spice sauce onto my bowl (it's a habit). It's good if you like spicy and miso, but I prefer traditional flavor. 3) TONKATSU RAMEN WITH MAYU - 3.5/5 - this bowl is kind of a replica to ramen dojo, where it's a tonkatsu broth with black garlic oil (mayu). It was the dish I was most excited about, but unfortunately it didn't live up to par from dojo. It was nonetheless good, second favorite, but the special ramen is truly "special." I loved the soft boiled eggs mmmm 4) SOY COCONUT RAMEN - sorry no rating, because I didn't even try this =X I don't like coconut and couldn't even stand the smell, but of course, personal preference. The yelpers who tried it said it tasted like thai food and that it was just ok. OVERALL: - good food - excellent service - weird pictures on the walls - crazy maze to get to the bathroom - coming back? YES! Thank you Sobo Ramen for the best yelp elite party ever! Check out my pictures that I posted from this awesome restaurant. Cheers! -Ramen Sheriff read more

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Been here twice and the ramen is pretty good! First time we went on a Friday around 6pm and the second time on a Sunday at 1pm. No wait to sit down either time. The living social deal was $15 for 2 bowls of ramen (no restrictions on the menu) and either a half carafe of soju or 2 sapporos. Pretty awesome deal! I opted for the chicken broth base both times and asked for the salt to be light. My babe got the black oil tonkasu ramen and even though I can't digest pork, a few sips of his broth made mine taste like water. My broth was pretty good on it's own, but compared to the broth he had, it was pale in comparison. I would dip my noodles into his broth and eat it. Glad he didn't mind:) Service was quick and our ramen came out within 5 minutes. Yelp checkin gets you free hot genmai tea but the waitress was a little rude and repeatedly poked at my phone to redeem the offer. She could have just asked me to do it instead of touching my phone. Minus 1 star. I wanted to try the vegetarian miso ramen but haven't yet because it's a cheaper ramen and we wanted to get our money's worth with our certificate (haha, damn cheap Asians, that's us). Have I had better ramen? Yes. Still would come back here for a quick, clean and relatively delicious meal tho! read more

Sobo Ramen - Chicken Shoyu Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Oakland, California

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What a satisfying bowl of ramen! The broth was soothing. The noodles were springy, just how I like them. The chashiu was buttery soft. I liked the small touches in the design of the place. Fusion-y but not snooty at all. Had the spicy mison ramen. Very satisfying. My friend had the shoyu ramen. Soothing broth but not as complex as she would've liked. The tempura was good, but the batter was not as light as I generally prefer. The soft-boiled egg was good - wish it was a little softer, but hey, it's hard to get eggs perfect every time. All-in-all a great place to go. I've found my new go-to east bay ramen lunch place. Can't wait to come back and try the Tonkatsu with Mayu! East Bay 100 Photo Challenge:: #1-4/100 read more

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Updating from 2 to 3.5 stars. I decided to give this place another chance and the owner is listening to the feedback for sure. Big improvement on flavor of ramen, variety and pricing. Ordered the tempura ramen and the portions were generous with a bowl of ramen with a side dish of 1 shrimp, variety of vegetable tempura $9.95. I recommend those who came here earlier to try again and update your review. read more

Solid ramen place in Oakland Chinatown with a nice decor and offering both classic Tonkotsu and interesting variants like lobster ramen and coconut broth ramen. Their chicken karaage was crispy and juicy with a nice lemony sauce. Nice change from the usual mayo dip. I got the Tonkotsu Mayu (black garlic) - good broth, chewy noodles, and best of all, spiral-shaped pork pieces with good balance of fat to render it juicy and flavorful. read more

Sobo Ramen - Chicken Karaage with lemony dipping sauce - Ramen Near Me - Oakland, California

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An above average ramen place in oakland. This place comes alive after about 8pm or so, with a line waiting inside and outside. We saw the yelp photos online and decided to try the lobster ramen at the place--it's actually not bad. A little on the expensive side (~$20 for one bowl), and the lobster was a little small, but overall the ramen was pretty good, with a good broth. The egg was cooked well, with a runny yolk. The best thing about the lobster ramen was, ironically, the kale--the dry, crunchy kale was PERFECT for the warm ramen and broth. Dipping the kale into the broth and then eat it as the broth oozed back out was heaven. The overall presentation of the ramen was also done well--the scallions, the oil, the red garnishes and ramen/broth looked fantastic and also mixed well in terms of taste The decor inside is also not bad. The lighting was warm and unpretentious. Each table had a flower, and clean, minimalistic chopsticks. Clean, uncluttered, and welcoming. Overall, a good place to visit and try out once in a while. read more

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Vegetarian miso ramen was to die for. The broth was savory and the ramen was nice and slightly chewy...just the way I like it. The noodles and seaweed were abundant. We also had the soft-shelled crab. It was scrumptious but a tad small in size. Overall, I will come back and order the veggi miso ramen. It's all I could think about the entire weekend! read more

Sobo Ramen - Vegetarian Miso - Ramen Near Me - Oakland, California

Sadly, Sobo has changed. The ramen broth is not as silky or thick. It was also kinda greasy. The chashsu did not melt in my mouth and the bean sprouts were replaced by cabbage. Even the bowl seemed smaller. The broth came out warm, not hot. Not porky or garlicky- just spicy. I guess with so many ramen shops around they are looking for savings. read more

Taste: 5 Value: 4 Service: 5 Solid ramen. The broth was definitely one of the better broths in my opinion. I thought the noodles weren't bad but also weren't anything special. They do make them in house though which I appreciate. We had the Mayu ramen and their Uni ramen. Both were tasty, but I wanted to especially highlight the Uni ramen. Uni by nature has a very strong and salty flavor, but the creamy broth here not only balanced the flavor well, but brought out the uni in a wonderful way. Highly recommended! We went here during the late night pop up for restaurant week. During this time, they serve different more specialized ramen, and sometimes the owner Stella will be there who is very nice and loves socializing with her customers. We got to talk with her for a bit about her love for cooking and theorycrafting recipes. The pop up overall was a great experience and Stella made it better! Will come back! read more

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This review is long overdue, but I've been coming to this spot for years and it is hands down my favorite ramen in the Bay Area. This restaurant sparked a little bit of a ramen obsession, and I've been on a mission to find the best noodle spots in town ever since. My favorite menu item is the Spicy Black Tonkotsu. The broth is so rich and complex, and yet it's not overly heavy. Some ramen spots make me feel like I just need to lie down for the rest of my life after I eat, but I never have that issue here. It's just really, really good. Something about that black garlic oil really takes this broth to the next level. The noodles are also great--they've got the perfect amount of chewiness. The toppings are plentiful, and there are tons of add-ons to customize your bowl however you like. My personal favorite additions are kale (it absorbs the broth so well), bok choi, and the little Quail eggs. Other menu items I've tried include the Country Miso (also super, super tasty) and the Spicy Miso (I personally found this one underwhelming compared to the other fantastic options, but still pretty good). Grab a glass of plum wine to top it off, and you're all set for an amazing meal. read more

Sobo Ramen - Spicy Black Tonkotsu with kale, bok choi and black fungus added. - Ramen Near Me - Oakland, California

Came here on a Saturday afternoon for lunch with my sisters and a friend because we had a LivingSocial deal :) It was my first time going to Sobo Ramen and when I first walked in, I loved the interior design right away. It's a very modernized, low-key atmosphere, which made it seem very welcoming. The waitresses were -very- accommodating, friendly, and polite. In our LivingSocial deal, we got two bowls of ramen (choices between Tonkotsu Ramen With Mayu or Vegan Soy Coconut Ramen), Soju of our choice, and Karaage. We decided on two bowls of the Tonkotsu Ramen with Mayu and Strawberry Soju. The Strawberry Soju tasted nice, and was like a fruit juice. The soju was very light, and it tasted like they used Strawberry Aloe Vera in the mixture. Nonetheless, it was good and the servers came to refill our cups courteously. In addition to the given Karaage appetizer, we also ordered the Crab Gyoza and "Volcano". The Karaage was very good - the batter wasn't dry or overwhelming, and the chicken was well seasoned. The Crab Gyoza was also very good, although I thought it had less flavor compared to the Volcano. The Volcano was DELICIOUS. It had Crab Meat, Tobiko, Enoki Mushroom, all mixed in Aioli sauce. It came out flaming and sizzling. I would definitely recommend giving this a try! Along with the two ramen bowls mentioned earlier, we also ordered the Sobo Special Ramen, and I made my own ramen bowl. I tasted the broth of the Tonkotsu and Sobo Special Ramen, and both were very delicious. My sister also added in Quail Eggs, and they were very good as well! My two sisters and a friend actually said the ramen reminded them of the ramen they had in Japan....yes it was THAT good! For my own bowl, I made it with Miso Soup, Regular Noodles, Chashu, and an addition of Kale. The Miso Soup was delicious! The Chashu had some fatty parts, which I don't usually like, but this tasted a lot leaner and was actually pretty good!. I thought I was missing some veggies so I'm glad I added in some Kale. :) Now finally....the ramen itself --- AMAZING!!!! The noodles were so well made and were al dente - a term I never thought I would use to describe ramen noodles as they're usually soft. The ramen was chewy and never got soggy while sitting in the broth. Probably the best ramen I've had! I would definitely recommend coming here if you're ever in Oakland/Chinatown and want a satisfying lunch. :) read more

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Ever since I moved to Oakland, I've been trying to find a good ramen place. Unfortunately, Sobo Ramen didn't make the cut. I'm actually surprised this place gets relevantly packed. Chashu Slices - 5 Chicken Cutlet - 5 Pork Belly - 5 Soup - 1 Noodles - 2 For about $13 bucks and some change, this place really disappointed me. I went right when it opened with a party of two and woohoo, we got seated within seconds. It took awhile for the staff to come get us, so we just waved them down to take our orders. I ordered the Special Feature Ramen - Tonkotsu Ramen with Mayu. After a few minutes, the soup arrived piping hot -- just the way I like my ramen. It had all the essentials like chashu, half-boiled egg, bean sprouts and green onion. I even ordered pork belly for $2.45 to add to my bowl, which I highly reccomend! It was so tender and flavorful. The chashu pork and pork belly at Sobo Ramen are probably one of the best pieces of meat I've tried at any ramen place. Great job, chef! The chicken cutlet was well-cooked and juicy, so if you're looking for additional items to supplement your meal - add it on! However, I was heavily disappointed with the broth and noodles that left me borderline on whether to give this place a 2 or 3 star restaurant. First of all, the broth had little to no flavor. It was simply underwhelming and tasted watered down. As for the noodles, they felt way too overcooked. You know when you leave noodles sitting too long in a bowl of soup (i.e. instant ramen, pho noodles, etc) and it gets soggy? This was the texture of the ramen at Sobo Ramen. Overall, I wouldn't come back to this place again. For a party of two without alcohol, we spent about $42 bucks with tip for a quick lunch. read more

Sobo Ramen - Chicken Cutlet - Ramen Near Me - Oakland, California

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Came here for lunch on a Monday. It was pretty busy inside, but we were nonetheless seated quickly. The servers were very attentive and friendly! Appetizers: Our group ordered the Agedashi Tofu and Volcano. Didn't try the tofu, but I heard it was good. I would definitely recommend the Volcano--imitation crab, enoki, mushroom, and tobiko mixed together. It was super yummy, and we didn't have to wait too long for it (the menu says approx. 30 mins cook time). Ramen: Ordered the Spicy Miso Ramen and enjoyed it! The broth was just right, flavorful and not too salty. The noodles to broth ratio was a bit off though; I definitely expected there to be more broth. The chashu was tender and juicy. Definitely coming back soon to try more items from the menu! read more

Sobo Ramen - Volcano - Ramen Near Me - Oakland, California

I'm still on my search for a favorite Bay Area ramen shop, but I think Sobo is a great find in Oakland. It's located downtown, about a 5 minute walk from the 12th St BART station. Their crab gyoza are a great start to any meal, but let's face it: if you are coming here, you are on the lookout for ramen. I've tried both their spicy miso and spicy black tonkotsu varieties and found them both tasty (with wonderfully boiled eggs!). While I thought their ramen was solid, I feel like I've had ramen in other locations where the broth had more complexity of flavor. Despite that, I think Sobo is one of my go-to ramen places in the East Bay! read more

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I'm still riding on the high of devouring all the delicious food here from tonight's Yelp Elite Event. Let me highlight the goodies for the public to see! APPETIZERS: {Hamachi Shooters} hamachi sashimi w/ tobiki, ginger, chili pepper, green onion, wasabi, & sake ponzu. If you have a cold or clogged sinues, these babies will clear you right up! I washed these spicy appetizers down with a couple shots of soju. {Adegashi Tofu} fried organic tofu in dashi broth w/ green onions and bonito. Everything was perfect about this dish - from the savory broth to its crispy exterior and silky interior. {Baked Mussels} green mussels w/ aioli sauce, tobiko, and green onion. Mussels were baked perfectly and there was no rubbery consistency. The rich but slightly tangy aioli sauce went well with the mussels. {Karaage} fried chicken marinated in soy sauce, garlic, ginger, and sake w/ yuzu dipping sauce. This reminded me of the popcorn chicken you get at boba shops. The chicken was perfectly seasoned and the citrusy yuzu sauce provided a nice contrast. At this point of our Yelp Elite Event, this was our 4th appetizer and we were already full! DRINKS {Soju} plain, strawberry, peach, mango, melon...had (multiple) shots of each! My favorite one is the melon - reminds me of Hi-Chew candies or Korean melon ice cream pops. RAMEN {Sobo Special} Tonkotsu broth, enhanced with organic garlic and a hint of seafood. Topped with chashu, bean sprout, green onion, kale and sesame seeds. As we only had a sample of this, there wasn't any chashu in my dish (but it was in another ramen bowl we got...see below). I am in love with this broth! It's light, savory, and full of flavor. {Spicy Miso} basically the same toppings as above but different broth. The spiciness of this dish makes it perfect for the cold weather or when you're sick. {Tonkatsu Ramen w/ Mayu} Drizzled with mayu (black garlic oil) giving the broth a fragrant and roasted flavor, topped with chashu, soft boiled egg, bean sprout, green onion and sesame seeds. The mayu definitely gave this dish a very rich flavor. And the chashu was tender, soft, and practically melted in my mouth. The soft boiled egg was a little squishy but not runny - just how I like them. I'm a little sad this came out towards the end of my Elite Event meal...I would've finished it all if I wasn't already stuffed with their other yummy food. {Soy Coconut Ramen} new sampler for us Elite to try out. Am unsure if this will be rolled out into the official menu. It's a vegan in organic soy milk broth, a hint of coconut flavor, and topped w/ red onion and cilantro. It tasted like a weak Thai curry. I would've preferred a stronger coconut flavor and have the red onions be cooked to bring out the sweeter flavor. Good vegan option though. SERVICE - Stella, the owner, cares greatly about what the customers think and is always working to improve the menu. The workers, Mike and Beckie, were attentive and will offer suggestions to soju and ramen choices. Friendly staff definitely made the dining experience more enjoyable. I plan on making a return visit during normal business hours. read more

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I was really conflicted about the stars I'm giving Sobo Ramen... I had the Tonkotsu with Mayu. I've been spoiled by Kirimachi Ramen in SF so I had to try other like ramens. It's a decent portion size as I was able to still take a little bit to go. 2 Big slabs of meat that tasted ok. Egg was soft boiled. The garnish was all uncooked. The overall taste of the ramen was pretty good. However, an hour later, the ramen hit me. Let's just say my stomach didn't like the ramen. So because of that, I'm not coming back to this place. Must've been the black garlic since my mom was fine after eating hers. Service was great though. They were attentive and helpful. Place looked relatively clean. There wasn't a wait at around 1pm Sunday. read more

Sobo Ramen - Tonkotsu w/ Mayu $11.50 - Ramen Near Me - Oakland, California