Came around 2pm on a Saturday and there was a wait. Joined a little before getting to the restaurant, 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. read more

Taishoken - San Mateo - Spicy tsukemen - Ramen Near Me - San Mateo, California

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So I saw this place on Check Please Bay Area and put it on my list. Finally the hubby and I went at 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. read more

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The hostess was very friendly, we were seated right away as we had a late lunch around 2:30. We ordered their signature ramen, spicy ramen, edamame and takoyaki. I would say the appetizers were OK, definitely not the best takoyaki and edamame was good, nothing special. The spicy ramen was not bad, but it didn't have the usual spicy ramen flavor you might have at other ramen restaurants. Personally, it wasn't my favorite. Our server wasn't friendly at all, until the bill arrived. She seemed annoyed at any small request. Overall, it was good, not great and the service was sub par. I would say that there are other ramen places in the Bay that have a better overall experience. read more

We tried the Milpitas location before and noticed this location had just opened, we decided to give it a try. We ordered the spicy tsukemen, spicy ramen, and Sand Storm calamari. The tsukemen here was definitely an improvement compared to our previous visit. The broth was thicker, richer, and the meat was more tender. The spicy ramen, however, had a broth that was just as thick as the tsukemen. I found myself slurping a lot of the fatty broth, and it felt a little too heavy for my preference. We asked if they could add some hot water to dilute it, and the adjustment made a huge difference -- it went from a 2-star experience to a 4-star one for me. The Sand Storm calamari was delicious, just like at the Milpitas location. Service was courteous and quick, and the restaurant had a nice, clean, and comfortable atmosphere. Overall, a solid experience, and I'd come back again -- especially for the calamari. read more

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My family and I decided to try this ramen place for the first time since my mom was visiting us from Malaysia. When we walked in and saw the menu seeing it being one page, we were nervous. Since we were not sure how it will turn out, and our cousin mentioned the dipping ramen. We ordered some appetizers and the ramen. The waitress who helped us was super understanding and gave us the run down of the menu since we mentioned it was our first time. We loved the appetizers when they first came out. We ordered the cucumber with chili oil, the calamari and the edamame. We loved the calamari a lot, and the cucumber was super delicious too. It made us super excited for the ramen. The ramen came out and it was all good. I like how the dipping ramen was a little chewy even though my husband did not like it. But he loved the Niku spicy ramen that he finished it to the bottom. We had a great first visit here, and would love to come visit again! read more

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I thought my cousin was crazy for wanting to drive all the way from San Jose to San Mateo just to get ramen. But after trying the Tokusei Tsukemen, I completely understood why it's their recommended dish! I had never tried dipping ramen before, so I wasn't sure what to expect. It was honestly like eating regular ramen without having to drink all the soupy broth. I loved how the rich flavor sticks to the noodles without having a liquidy broth that fills you up. The egg was also cooked perfectly jammy! We also ordered the tuna tartare and calamari. The tuna tartare wasn't fishy at all, and I really enjoyed eating it with the crispy fried nori strips. The calamari was also perfectly crisp without being too greasy. Service was quick, but they do have a waitlist that fills up fast. I went before opening just to put my name down, which I would recommend if you're planning to visit during a busy time. The restaurant is on the smaller side, but it doesn't feel cramped at all. After trying it for myself, I can definitely see why my cousin thinks the drive from San Jose to San Mateo is worth it! read more

Taishoken - San Mateo - Ramen Near Me - San Mateo, California

Its very cozy inside here, I love the ambiance. Service was great and quick but we came right when they opened on a Monday. I ordered the tsukemen. I thought it was just good 7/10. The flavors are different and complex. Very citrusy and fishy, then rich and creamy. Im glad I got to try it, but didnt particularly care for it much. Cucumber salad was fresh and tasty. The star of the show was the tokusei ramen. The broth was phenomenal. Perfect mix of chicken and pork and umami. Not heavy or oily like tonkatsu and not bland like chicken ramen is sometimes. The chasu was fantasic too. PERFECT 10/10. My cousin ordered this and it made me want to order one for myself if I wasnt so full. Literally better than ramen I've had in Japan. If youre lucky enough to live near a Taishoken I envy you. Im sure it hits during the winter months! read more

In the mood for dipping ramen as I have not had it in a long time, and my partner suggested going to Taishoken as she felt it was as good or even better than Japan when she went. We were headed toward San Mateo and were able to check in when we were closer, it looked like there were about 7 parties ahead of us so we walked around. About 20 minutes later, we got the message to be seated and walked on back. The place is nice, very intimate, you have the tables right in front of you when you walk and the chefs on the right side behind the counter making the food. No Tv's but I was able to catch FIFA on my phone! We both had the Tsukemen dipping ramen with pork, and damn, was it yummy! Broth was great, the meat was tender, the egg was perfectly cooked, and things mixed extremely well with each bite! I'm also a sucker for Karaage chicken, and the Karaage here did not disappoint, perfectly crisp, tender inside, and the sauce was delightful, washing it down with a cold Sapporo was great after a long day! I'll definitely be coming back to try the other items on their menu, like the duck! read more

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First dipping ramen experience and it was definitely solid! Had the spicy tsukemen and it was packed with flavor. Noodles taste fresh and are delicious. I loved the spice level and it's a good amount of food. The real star for me though was the chashu don. Omg I could have eaten this as my meal. Also had the takoyaki- would probably skip this next time. Personally too much sauce but the flavors were good. read more

Taishoken - San Mateo - Spicy Tsukemen - Ramen Near Me - San Mateo, California

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Taishoken was decent for a hearty meal! The tokusei tsukemen is what they're known for, and it was good, just not your traditional tsukemen taste. The noodles are buckwheat, so it tastes more starchy and healthy than usual, which isn't bad - just unique. The aburasoba was good but a bit too oily for my liking. Our server was nice and I do really like the ambiance. I'm not sure I'd come back just because there's so many options around San Mateo... but it wasn't a bad meal. read more

Taishoken - San Mateo - Tokusei Tsukemen, Tokyo Classic Aburasoba (right to left) - Ramen Near Me - San Mateo, California

By far one of my favorite restaurants in San Mateo, CA. This place doesn't do reservations, so it's on a first come first served basis. Regular broth ramen is the traditional route to go at most places, but Taishoken has a signature Tsukemen soup that's super delicious and popular. Essentially they place the carbs, protein, and other items in the main bowl. They then provide you with a thicker dipping sauce that sort of resembles gravy, but less thick. If you want to try something different outside of regular ramen, I highly recommend Taishoken! The ambience is a good vibe, and it's always busy with customers and conversations. read more

Taishoken - San Mateo - Signature Tsukemen Soup - Ramen Near Me - San Mateo, California

We had dinner at Taishoken for the first time, and I ordered the Niku Ramen--it was a bomb! The noodles were extraordinary, and the soup was thick, rich, and packed with flavor, with just the right spicy kick I was looking for. The best part was the thick-cut pork slices--I got two generous pieces, and they were delicious! Definitely not stingy with the ingredients. I also ordered the fried calamari, which was really good. I loved that they served the spices on the side, so we could add them according to our taste. Even my son enjoyed every bite! Overall, we had a great dinner and will definitely be coming back. read more

*Vegetarian Foodie Review* Our first visit, but we had heard a lot about this place from friends. We were a group of 11 and visited during a long weekend. We requested to be added to the waitlist about 30 mins in advance, during out drive over from Muir Woods. After reaching the location, we still had to wait another 20 mins. They were nice about it especially considering our group size. The one thing we didn't like at all was our server. He was super arrogant and felt like he was just waiting for us to leave. We definitely didn't feel welcomed. We had 5 kids in our group, may be he doesn't like kids. You need to be a little patient with parties that have young children ages 2-5. He also wasn't able to explain the menu or show any interest in recommending dishes based on our needs, even though most of us were ordering vegetarian. He totally spoiled our experience. The ambiance was pretty good, a typical ramen place. It was pretty big and could easily accommodate large groups. Service was fast even though they were busy. As for the food, we ordered: 1) Yuzu Shio Ramen (vegetarian): 3/5 - Pretty good for the kind of clear broth it is. It was light on the stomach and had good flavor. I didn't find it amazing, and I kind of wish I had ordered the Dandanmen instead, but nothing wrong with the taste. I am just not a clear broth person, it doesn't fill me up. 2) Dandanmen (vegetarian): 4/5 - The toppings didn't seem enticing to me at first, but I really should have gone for this one. Some people in my group ordered this and it was pretty good - very flavorful, with a good heavy broth that's actually filling. 3) Edamame and few other items from the sides, for the kids. I will give it another try, but hoping I get a different server next time. read more

Taishoken - San Mateo - Yuzu Shio Ramen (Vegetarian) - Ramen Near Me - San Mateo, California

First time here and this place is so good. Hostess greeted us right away and staff super friendly and got seated in less than a minute. Waiter thanked us numerous for coming. I never felt so appreciated. We ordered the chasu don, karaage don and the niku spicy ramen. Just the right spice level, pork tender, noodles with a nice bite and the broth rich and so much umami! So delicious and on point, mind you our orders came out in less than 10 min. One of the best ramen I've had and we've been to all of them downtown San Mateo. Restaurant is cozy, bathroom is clean and overall efficient, serving great food. Looking for to coming back to try other dishes. read more

I think their calamari, takoyaki, abura soba, and regular ramen are pretty solid go-tos. The fish powder of the mazesoba is a bit strong for me but if I get that in the side, that's a good dish too. While known for their tsukemen, it's not my fave. I had their kama dipping ramen special recently. The duck and bamboo shoots weren't seasoned at all. The dipping broth was a too salty and didn't have much flavor. It was better after they added the dashi at the end, at least it had some smokiness and bonito flavor. So I'd skip that next time. Great service and comfortable seats. Also like the Yelp waitlist option bc they get busy. read more

Taishoken - San Mateo - Kama (duck) sipping broth cold ramen - Ramen Near Me - San Mateo, California

we came in 30 mins before closing and was brought to a table immediately. servers were kind, quick and attentive. apps came out within 10 mins and ramen soon after. i got the niku spicy ramen and it was spicy, a good amount of creamy, and the noodles were still chewy. i tried the tsukemen and that was good too, but i prefer the spicy ramen. we were too hungry to stop for pictures of the sand storm calamari and karage, but both were delicious!! would definitely come back to try more! read more

Taishoken - San Mateo - Niku Spicy Ramen - Ramen Near Me - San Mateo, California

If you're wanting something different from the usual ramen - this location offers Aburasoba and Tsukemen. The Tsukemen comes dry but the difference is you dip the noodles in a thick broth from another bowl. This review is mainly for the Aburasoba since the only thing I remember is that it stands out more in flavor and punch. The Aburasoba is very creamy and thick in flavor. You get a side of vinegar that you can add so you can break through the creaminess. I do recommend mixing everything up first and slowly adding it instead of adding all the vinegar at once. I remember they use to have it with chopped pork but now it's one slice. The hojicha lemonade was good - a nice twist on the usual Arnold Palmer. It's been busy everytime I've gone and they have a check-in at the front door and bench seating. Parking can also be a challenge but there's a parking lot a few blocks away. read more

Taishoken - San Mateo - Hojicha lemonade - Ramen Near Me - San Mateo, California

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As everyone said in their reviews - this place is known for their tsukemen or dipping noodles. We came here because their dipping noodles is one of the family favorites and it was enjoyed. We also ordered a bowl of pork over rice which was shared by everyone in our party of 6 and enjoyed. They have a happy hour where several appetizers are discounted a few bucks so we ordered the gyoza (potsickers 3 for $4). The key to eating here for dinner without waiting is to get there before the crowd which is before 6pm. After that there's most likely a wait outside the restaurant. There are plenty of shops for you to window shop while you wait. Note they do charge 20% automatically with 6 or more in your group. read more

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I've been here a couple of times now and I usually have a positive experience. I usually order the Tokusei Ramen, which comes with a light pork broth that's packed with flavor but not too salty. The noodles have a great chewy texture. I've also tried the tuna tartare once and it was fresh and fun but it doesn't really complement the ramen so I'll skip it next time. read more

Taishoken - San Mateo - Tokusei Ramen - Ramen Near Me - San Mateo, California

had heard a lot of hype about this place, so I came in pretty excited to try it. The concept of cold dipping noodles in a hot broth is definitely unique and something I was looking forward to experiencing. First off, the price is very reasonable, especially considering how popular and packed this place usually is. Expect a wait, but it's not the worst since there are plenty of bakeries and shops nearby to check out while you wait. The tsukemen itself was solid, but not mind blowing. The broth was okay, nothing too rich or memorable. What stood out the most were the noodles. They had that chewy, slightly dense texture, almost like buckwheat or something similar, and honestly reminded me of jajangmyeon noodles, which I liked. One downside was the meat portion. It either lacked variety or just felt too minimal for the bowl. I found myself wanting more protein to balance everything out. The standout was the spicy ramen. Great tasting, good meat portions, super flavorful broth but a bit too thick. Overall, it's a good experience and worth trying at least once for the style alone. read more

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Special thanks to Isabel for accommodating me as a Vegetarian. I was really craving noodle and glad I found this place they even took my order right before closing and late me dine-in. Meal was delicious and everyone was very kind! Vegetarians order the - Tokyo Classic No oil, No Pork Chachu And Vegans + No Egg read more

Taishoken - San Mateo - Tokyo classic No oil, No Pork Chachu. Vegetarian! Vegan without the egg. - Ramen Near Me - San Mateo, California

First timer here, party of 2. Put our names on the list and it was about a 40 min or so wait. I loved that was able to see live update state for our spot on waitlist with Yelp! Got seated after our wait. Ordered the deep fried gyoza & Takoyaki as appetizers. Not a huge fan of the takoyaki. I feel like it had way too much of the sauce: tartar sauce? Would not order again. Gyozas were great. Fried with a good crunch. Nice soy sauce on the side. for dishes we ordered the tokusei tsukemen and tokusei ramen. Both were amazing. Love the dipping noodles broth is yummy. I asked with no pork. egg on the side in the noodles was a great touch. Busy spot and service was great. Friendly staff. read more

Taishoken - San Mateo - Ramen Near Me - San Mateo, California

Been here many many times and each time I've enjoyed the Mazesoba. I've tried the soup ramen and the dipping ramen which are exceptional too, but nothing beats the Mazesoba. Taishoken does this dish so well, even better than other restaurants where Mazesoba is their specialty. This dish really does not get the attention it deserves here. Today in addition to the Mazesoba we also ordered their fried squid, and wow it delivered! Worth ordering everytime in our future visits! They usually are very busy, but they have online waiting list you can set a time you think you'll arrive and they are very good and efficient with seating and waiting times. Can't say the same for a few other ramen places also in San Mateo. The service here is very consistently excellent too. Parking is hit and miss on the street but around the corner are the garages and that is very reliable. This is a great go to when in San Mateo. read more

Taishoken - San Mateo - Mazesoba - Ramen Near Me - San Mateo, California

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Taishoken has been a long time favorite since pre-pandemic. I'm obsessed with the yuzu shio ramen. Veggie ramen oftentimes leaves me wanting, but this one doesn't lack any of the flavor or richness that I enjoy with typical pork based soup. Add egg and chasu and you can't tell the difference. Highly recommended Cucumber with miso chilli topping is refreshing. A nice light starter. Today they offered a special duck tsukemen and it was delicious. A slightly lighter broth than the typical tsukemen, a nice alternative if you're not feeling like having hot broth steaming into your face on a hot day. Service is always friendly, fast and attentive. Inside is lively and casual. read more

Taishoken - San Mateo - Duck Tsukemen - Ramen Near Me - San Mateo, California

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I ordered the Tokusei ramen Tsukemen I really enjoyed the tokusei ramen because the egg was super marinated and jammy and came in a full egg size(preface I see ramen sometimes with only half egg). The pork chasu was alright but the chicken slice was so clean. I loved the mushrooms and there was a good amount of noodles. Broth wasnt heavy and tasted great The tsukemen had my favorite cold buckwheat noodles but the broth was lighter than expected. It wasn't as thick so it feels heavy. Overall I think its alright but i much rather prefer the ramen read more

Taishoken - San Mateo - Tokusei Ramen - Ramen Near Me - San Mateo, California

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Stopped by Taishoken for lunch. We started with the karaage, which came out nice and crispy with super generous portion sizes. I was craving dipping noodles, so we went with their tsukemen which is their most popular dish. The noodles had a great chewy texture, and the broth was very thick, with a lot of flavor and richness. The slice of meat was also well done -- not overly fatty. This was a very satisfying meal! read more

Taishoken - San Mateo - Tokusei Tsukemen - Ramen Near Me - San Mateo, California

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Taishoken has been the trailblazer for tsukemen in the bay area and for good reason. The attention to detail and consistency is always apparent and shines through every order. My go-to here is, of course, the tsukemen. As a self-proclaimed ramen purists - keep the onsen egg and medium rare pork. All I need is a dank broth with some perfectly (maybe slightly tooth) al dente noodles. While the tsukemen here might not be for everyone , it totally hits the spot for me. The unique taste of the dipping broth is one which can only be found here, as well as their noodles which have their own size and consistency. Don't get me wrong, all their other offerings are pretty good too. In particular I like the mazesoba. Recently they also hatched a new limited duck tsukemen. As tough as it was to pry me away from the original or the soupless ramen, I was convinced by staff this would be enjoyable - and it was. Super light but complex. This had a rich and earthy flavor whole also being light and, fragrant with yuzu. Service here is exceptionally friendly but also rigid. Items tend to come as they are with little to no flexibility for adjustments, but they'll let you know very nicely. Overall taishoken makes the short list of bay area ramen spots for me, in particular when craving their rich & hearty tsukemen that'll be sure to satisfy any ramen craving, but even in hot weather. Besides that, taishoken has a particular spirit it carries, one that I recognized even from spotting their original location on Tony Bourdain's earlier "no reservations" episodes. It's a subtle but confident attitude - one that says I understand you like things a certain way, but trust us. For any diners willing to accept those terms, they will be greatly rewarded. read more

Taishoken - San Mateo - Limited offering (no takeout): Kamo Shoyu Tsukemen - Ramen Near Me - San Mateo, California

There was a small wait during lunch on a Sunday. I was able to use the machine outside to add myself on the waitlist. There are a couple of benches outside. Paid parking was not too hard to find- $1 per hour. There are two individual restrooms and one room has a baby changing station. The ramen broth was very thick and not enough broth for the amount of noodles they give. The noodles are thin noodles instead of the nice thick noodles. The soft boiled egg and meat was good as it wasn't all fat. My waiter never checked in and did not refill the water. read more

Taishoken - San Mateo - Ramen Near Me - San Mateo, California

For ramen lovers, this is a great spot. Although we came specifically for their tsukemen, which is an excellent option during the spring and summer months. The broth is thick and packed with flavor and umami. The real star for me, however, was the noodles -- fresh, springy, and the perfect complement to the rich dipping broth. They balance the whole dish beautifully. The chashu and the rest of the toppings were good, though not particularly outstanding. The real surprise, though, was the aburasoba. My wife ordered it and, honestly, it felt like a better version of a carbonara. The same fantastic noodles are mixed with egg yolk, bamboo shoots, green onions, and chashu. Once you mix everything together and add a bit of their vinegar, it turns into a bomb of flavors and textures. Overall, it's a great place if you're craving high-quality noodles and bold flavors -- and the aburasoba alone is worth coming back for. read more

Taishoken - San Mateo - Ramen Near Me - San Mateo, California

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My group came on a rainy day and nothing beats hot soup on a day like that! I ordered the spicy ramen and it was really good. My friends and I noticed that the soup was quite thick and full of collagen, and the portion size was really good too. Good amount of noodles and good amount of toppings and pork as well. The spice level was very manageable. Warning to eat the ramen before it cools down because the soup gets thicker as it does. We also shared the sandstorm calamari as an appetizer and it was honestly the highlight of the meal. It was crispy and the sauce was so delicious, we didn't even need the ranch. Definitely want to come back for the tsukemen! read more

Taishoken - San Mateo - Spicy Ramen - Ramen Near Me - San Mateo, California

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Didn't expect to enjoy this place as much as I did. I really loved that they had vegetarian options that were delicious. And that the egg was perfectly jammy. The appetizer selection is also very nice. Service was excellent and the restaurant was very clean. This is definitely a place I would hit again if I were in the area. read more

Taishoken - San Mateo - SAND STORM CALAMARI - Ramen Near Me - San Mateo, California

I have to update my review because it's so good!!! The takoyaki was delicious, the dipping ramen was amazing and the lychee sherbet was a great way to end the meal! read more

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One of our go-to's! I've been going for years and it's always a comforting hit spot for tsukemen and ramen. The service is always very nice and the restaurant is always bustling and lively (in a good way!). The sandstorm calamari is always a banger. The large pieces paired with the crispy garlic and spicy panko just work so well together. The calamari is always cooked perfectly too. My favorite is the Tokusei Tsukemen. The dipping broth always comes out very hot (in a good way) and is so flavorful and umami that stay sleek on the noodles perfectly. There's bamboo shoots and green onion in the broth are always delicious! I always add the chili/pepper powder in my dipping broth to add a kick. (Would recommend if you love a little bit of spice) They recently released a limited time/seasonal item which is a Kamo Shoyu Tsukemen (duck!). It was actually better than I expected! I expected the fattiness of the duck to be a bit overpowering, but the broth being shoyu and with a little slice of lime paired it perfectly. The dish was light and balanced, and is definitely a re-order for our next visit. A must visit if you haven't been! read more

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Even years after opening, there's still a wait to get a table. On weekends, a table for two has taken 30-40 minutes' wait for me on average. I expect wait would be longer for large groups 5+. You can join the waitlist early on Yelp before you're physically there to cut down on part of that wait. The wait list moves a little faster than expected precisely because there are parties that aren't even present when called and they move on to the next group. On one of my visits we went from 8th in line to table ready because no one else was there. The interior has an urban ramen stand vibe, with low to medium lighting. It's casual and clean. I've seen at least one high chair, so they do accommodate families with small children. Service is quick and courteous, and the ramen bowls come out very fast. This is currently my favorite ramen and tsukemen joint in the Peninsula. I've had the niku spicy ramen and the tokusei ramen. Taishoken easily has the best broth of any ramen place I've tried in the Bay Area--it's rich, creamy, dense and flavorful, that can only come from long hours of simmering a generous amount of quality ingredients. The tokusei ramen was SO good, the flavor was pure perfection. A bowl this good can't be made at home without serious time commitment and ingredients budget. The egg had a perfectly jammy yolk and the sous vide pork went so well with the noodles. The niku spicy ramen is a medium spicy umami flavor bomb, and was a hit with my husband. It packs some heat that'll have you reaching for your drink repeatedly without necessarily burning your mouth. My friend always goes for the tokusei tsukemen when she comes in--and she's usually a picky eater. Everything I've tried here has been mastered to perfection. Definitely look forward to bringing out of town visitors and trying out the other dishes! read more

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This used to be my go-to spot, but unfortunately it's become a no-go spot for me. I was really surprised by how much both the service and food quality have changed. When I got my noodles and broth, I immediately noticed a huge difference from what I remembered. At first, I thought maybe they had changed the recipe, but after trying my boyfriend's broth, it was clear there was a major inconsistency. Mine was so watery that I could barely taste any flavor--it honestly felt like they were running low on broth and tried to stretch it. I asked the server if I could get a new bowl, and he seemed confused by the request, so I had to further explain what I meant and mention that I've eaten here many times before. I hate sending food back or asking for replacements, but at that point it just wasn't enjoyable. When i got the food, it was the same thing but a little flavor and SO MUCH ONION. This is what i mean by inconsistency?! why are there hella onions in this broth but not the previous ones??? What disappointed me even more was the service. After my replacement arrived, none of the servers checked in on me. It felt very much like a quick "here you go" and then they disappeared. I didn't feel welcomed as a customer. I'm not sure what happened because this used to be one of my favorite places, but I left feeling really disappointed. read more

Food was tasty and service was good. Food arrived in a timely manner. Place is clean and has lots of seating available. read more

Taishoken - San Mateo - Spicy Vegetable Ramen - Ramen Near Me - San Mateo, California

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Came on a Saturday night just before 6. Needed to wait about 20 mins before we got seated even though the waitlist on Yelp said it would probably be about 5 mins. After being seated the waitlist staff came to take our order and was pretty efficient as the food came out 5-10 minutes later even though all tables were full. Got the spicy tsukumen and the special ramen soup. Flavors are decent. Not sure about the broth but they use some sort of peppers and maybe a citrus in the dipping sauce. Once you are finished dipping you can ask for some bonito broth to sip the dipping sauce. The noodles for the dipping ramen were pretty thick, tasted good but might be better slightly thinner. Staff was friendly and everything went efficiently. Overall decent spot if it's a short wait. I wouldn't go out of my to come if there was a long wait though. read more

Taishoken - San Mateo - Spicy Tsukemen - Ramen Near Me - San Mateo, California

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We put ourselves on the waitlist on a Sunday (party of 2) for a late lunch around 2:40p. We walked over (about 15 min walk) and were sat immediately when we got there. The staff was amazing! We ordered based on the recommendations from our waitress and it did not disappoint! I ordered the TORI CHINTAN RAMEN which was dine-in only. It was delicious! Rich broth and boneless chicken- it was a comfort meal (still feeling healthy) on a chilly winter day. I WISH I could have the recipe. (The ramen egg was perfect, btw). My wife ordered the TOKUSEI TSUKEMEN dipping noodles. The fishiness was a bit unexpected but pleasant as it came from dried anchovy and bonito flakes. We tried the noodles first (without the broth) and they were tasty! And cold! The hot sake wasn't my favorite and it came with a small Sapporo the way we ordered it. The table seasoning was also very good read more

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Came hungry around 2pm on the way to a short weekend trip. Not typically a fan of takoyaki but wanted to try out as it looked good on the photos. Very soft and flavorful especially with that yellow yorky-mayi sauce, which we loved it. I wish I could have beer with it if I wasn't pregnant. Spicy Tsukemen was their special menu and we had the spicy sauce on the side so we can adjust how much to add. I like that it was not just pork and chicken flavors but also anchovies based umami taste that makes the dish more flavorful and interesting. Yuzu ramen to balance out the heaviness of the other dishes was a good choice. Make sure you put yourself on the waiting list before you head there! read more

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Came here for lunch on a Wednesday. Party of 5. Given a table in the back. Service was good except they didn't give my toddler any water - she did get a bowl and toddle utensils. We all got the same Taishoken Ramen and chicken karrage. The ramen broth was really oily. The chicken was good. Unisex bathroom - spacious and clean read more