The ramen here is very good, flavorful & spicy levels were good for me. The pork buns are delicious, especially liked the spicy pork buns. Drinks are good, lots of sake choices - but they are sweeter than I prefer so I opted for beer & cider. It was good to have the choices. Was in a party of 9 on a Thursday night, bust but they accommodated us & the waitress was attentive & fast. Everyone was very satisfied! read more

Decided to come back after not visiting in probably the last 8-10 years as I was really craving a big bowl of ramen. Service was very blah. Upon entering, the girl behind the counter just stared at us. No greeting. No direction on where to sit. No smile. We assumed it was self seating so we found a booth. She came over, poured our waters, still said nothing. We had about 45 mins until the restaurant closed so I'm unsure of what the cold attitude was for, as there were still 4-5 other patrons there eating as well. My friend is a vegetarian and ordered the veggie dumplings, and I had the same but with meat. Once the plates arrived, the one set in front of me was green, and his not. I figured I would double check to make sure we had the correct ones - I didn't want him to end up eating the meat ones if it could be avoided. Sure enough, the plates were mixed up. Honestly seemed to be done purposefully because it's very clear they are 2 different orders. The texture was chewy/foamy and they also tasted like old grease. Disappointing but we still had soups to look forward to. Our ramen finally arrived and I was hoping it would be the redemption moment of the evening but it wasn't. It really lacked any depth of flavor. Again the meat was chewy instead of tender. More distracting was how we awkwardly felt rushed as the server was shutting off lights and music...again...with at least 15 mins until the kitchen closing time. She seemed annoyed we asked for to go containers. At no point did she check in with us, refill waters, or even crack any resemblance of a smile. I used to love this little spot when I was in college. It was cozy, delicious, inviting. Couldn't have had more of the opposite experience this time around! And for this reason I would not return. I will travel to Colonie for Kuma Ani for better food and MUCH better service. TLDR; this place is extremely overrated read more

Overall this is a very cute spot with a lot of charm. Scan the walls and check out all of the custom art made on $1 bills - I'm pretty sure you can donate one of your own to their collection! This seems to be a converted old-school diner cart, though my friend told me this place has been in this building for quite some time. The menu is small, reflective of the size of the establishment, but you can see they are serious about doing fewer items but doing them right. The portion sizes are generous and the prices are good. I ordered a Tonkatsu Ramen and added some corn. Everything was flavorful and there were plenty of noodles, but I have to subtract a star for the fact that my ramen had only two slices of Cha-siu pork, whereas my friend who ordered the chicken curry ramen had his bowl overflowing with pulled chicken. Also have to take one star away for the uncomfortable booth - straight back wood and too close to the table, felt as if I was hunched over my bowl the entire time. I will say though, that there is a long two-sided counter option for sit-in dining and that seems like the right place to sit so next time I will definitely sit there and try one of their teppanyaki dishes. One star gets tacked back on for the friendly and sweet server with blonde hair - I did not catch her name, but she was quick, knowledgeable, personable, and with just the right amount of interaction to make you feel like you're the most important guest in the room, so kudos to her for working hard and working fast. read more

Honestly, I was expecting really good ramen because people keep hyping up this place. While yes I was served "ramen" it wasn't in the traditional Japanese style I was expecting. The broth was very heavy and oily like beef bone broth. I did finish my entire bowl because it resembled something my family would make. I just found it surprising that it wasn't tonkotsu. I do wish this place wasn't close by the warehouse area and more accessible. I can imagine that this would be a good place for hangover ramen right after the bar ‍ read more

Tanpopo Ramen and Sake Cafe - Tanpopo Spicy Ramen - Salad Near Me - Albany, New York

I took a trip to Albany with my family to visit the Capitol, and we were on the hunt for a good place to eat. A quick Google search for ramen led us to Tanpopo Ramen. Pulling up, I'll admit--I was a bit confused. From the outside, it looked more like an old-school diner than a ramen spot. But at that point, we were committed (and not about to turn back toward NYC), so we decided to give it a shot. I'm really glad we did. The interior is no-frills and a bit tight for a family of five, but the staff made it work and got us settled comfortably. We started with edamame, which was perfectly seasoned, and shrimp and vegetable gyoza that the kids absolutely devoured. I also grabbed a Sapporo to wash it all down--solid start. Then came the main event. We ordered a mix: chicken ramen, beef stew ramen, two tonkotsu with double chashu, and a red curry ramen. The only dish that didn't quite stand out was the chicken ramen--it wasn't bad, just not as flavorful as the others. The tonkotsu ramen? Total hit. Both of my kids demolished their bowls--nothing left behind. My wife went all in on the beef stew ramen and loved it so much it sparked a debate at the table about how it stacks up against some Manhattan spots. And then there was my dish--the red curry ramen. Shoutout to our waitress for the recommendation. It had the perfect balance of salt, savory depth, and heat. The broth was this vibrant, bright red that just looked incredible--and tasted even better. Easily one of the top three ramen bowls I've ever had. I had my doubts walking in, but don't make that mistake. This place is a hidden gem. My only knock on the place is the table size for a family of five. Service was great. Now I need more excuses to come up to Albany just to visit this place! read more

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Excellent!!! Highly recommend a must try spot in Albany!!!! Super deep rich broth and unique flavor for each different ramen soup order on its list. read more

Tanpopo Ramen and Sake Cafe - Tonkutsu - Salad Near Me - Albany, New York

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My husband has been on a major ramen whirlwind. So after a day of errands in the Albany area, this was a great little adventure! Tanpopo definitely has that "diner-with-a-twist" vibe. It's fun how the retro diner car bones are still here- but with a warm and cozy feel. While hubs is a meat eater, he's been enjoying a veggie based broth and veg toppings instead of meat. Could my Vegetarian lifestyle be rubbing off on him? Maybe a little? Our hot Sake kept us toasty on a frigid, Spring Sunday and soon after, hubs indulged on pork gyozas. Unlike an authentic spot in Kingston where the owner uses a veggie-based broth WITH coconut milk to mimic a tonkotsu broth, Tanpopo takes a different approach. Their vegetable broth is clear- lighter, yet still satisfying. We savored a delicious, expertly crafted (not that we're pros) bowl of noodles with flavorful broth and well-balanced toppings. Since it's about an hour from home, Tanpopo may be a go-to spot whenever we're in the area. Service was wonderful from beginning to end. Every detail was handled with care and professionalism from our server. Totally recommend! read more

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Super cute and delicious ramen spot in Albany. Their pork belly buns are amazing! It's roasted off to finish so it's tender and crispy, I could order 5 plates of these and just be happy. I had the Tanpopo spicy ramen which I enjoyed, my friend's favorite is the lemongrass ramen which is not on the menu but you can ask for availability. It's very rich broth and not overwhelmingly lemongrassy. They have the wavy ramen noodles which I love the texture of. Delicious food and great service. We came around two a clock on Saturday and were seated right away, it did get pretty busy after but it came in waves. read more

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Tanpopo has been one of my go-to spots for ramen and bao buns--especially on cold days. I stopped in right at lunch opening and was pleasantly surprised to find it empty (which is rare!). The old train car setup gives it a unique and cozy vibe. I ordered the edamame, hot tea, and tonkotsu ramen. The tea was a little strong but not bitter, and the edamame was served hot and lightly salted--just right. Unfortunately, the ramen didn't hit the mark this time. The broth was a bit bland, and the pork had broken apart and sunk under the broth. Not what I've come to expect from them. That said, I'll definitely be back--just sticking to the curry ramen, which has always been excellent. read more

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I went here with my family for my birthday and had an awful dining experience. I ordered my ramen without a specific ingredient I'm allergic to. They served it to me with it covered in the ingredient which is an honest mistake so I sent it back to be remade. It came back out 20 minutes later and the kitchen staff had just picked out what they could see on top and sent it back out. It was still loaded with it. I asked that it be remade and I could hear the kitchen refuse and my waitress had to try her best to make it herself. I think they thought I just didn't like the flavor but I couldn't eat it. I had to wait for my family to finish and order takeout from a ramen place down the road. I'm sure they have a really tough job making ramen noodles all night but it was disappointing. My waitress was great and I'd give her 5 stars all day. Would never go back. read more

Excellent food and wonderful service. Truly enjoyed my time here. This is an iconic place that Jack Nicholson and Meryl Streep filmed a scene at for the movie Ironweed read more

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Tanpopo is such a vibe for ramen! The restaurant is out of an old train car with bills that customers can tape around and sign and it's a really cool spot to check out. They have a couple of ramen options to order from. The broth and noodles are pretty good overall. Their gyoza are also yummy. The sake options are also pretty good, I recommend the Hana Awaka if you're looking for something sweet and dessert-like! It's a bit more pricier than some other ramen places I've been to and doesn't top the ramen with as much however. The waitresses are also really nice. Overall it's a fun experience in a good area. read more

Tanpopo Ramen and Sake Cafe - Tonkotsu Ramen - Salad Near Me - Albany, New York

Kinda disappointed. The interior is neat and the service was nice, but the Ramen was a huge letdown. The broth was good, but the pork belly was really tough to the point where I couldn't even finish it. The noodles were also a little stiff, as if they weren't cooked all the way through. I feel bad because I really wanted to like it. I might give it another chance in the future, but for now, the go-to is Kuma Ani read more

Great food, love the spot. Ramen joint in an old rail car. Tiny spot, but I went on a Wednesday evening. I can imagine this place gets really crowded on the weekends. Now the food: got the best shumei I think I've ever had. Great texture and simple but flavorful. I got the spicy pork belly ramen. Lives up to its name but not too spicy. I may be up for something spicier next time. read more

Tanpopo Ramen and Sake Cafe - Spicy ramen - Salad Near Me - Albany, New York

What a cool place, food is great, employees are the very best. You'll enjoy your unique delicious meal. Thanks guys we'll be back with our friends. read more

Went For lunch today - they served us burnt crab ragoon - we took Our ramen home and realized that my boyfriends red curry ramen had NO chicken Sloppy --- I used to love this place but it's gotten do dirty - too bad cause the ramen is great (Time to clean and renovate those nasty bathrooms) read more

I love ramen! And that gross stuff in the package won't do! If I'm not making ramen homemade at home, I am surely at Tanpopo! I haven eaten here many many times, I lose track . Anywho, all the different ramen flavors are great! My personal favorite is the seafood ramen and I always recommend getting the spicy mix to add to your ramen on the side. I love that kick of heat! The duck buns and the pork belly buns are absolutely ridiculous!!! Tis the season for great soup guys! If you have never been, I highly recommend that you go try it. I'm excited to try the new Schenectady location! read more

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Tiny with an eclectic vibe, just the kind of spot you'd want to hit after a concert. The menu is limited, but that's the point: you're here for the ramen and the sake. The tonkotsu (pork bone) broth was rich and flavorful, and the ingredients were on par with what you'd find in NYC. The pork belly buns were no-frills, but the pork was so good no one minded. Same goes for the chashu in the ramen, tender and packed with flavor. Bonus points for letting you choose your noodle type. Highly recommend if you're craving ramen near Albany. read more

Absolutely amazing ramen in a very cool spot. They were packed on a rainy night and while we didn't wait for a table we did wait about an hour for food. This ramen was worth the wait!! Huuuuuge gigantic portions, packed with flavor and plenty of customizable options. I had the curry ramen which was not overly spicy but had a nice kick. My partner had the seafood ramen which was fresh and salty. Noodles perfectly cooked. It's loud inside, but small and cozy so I'd say perfect for a casual meal in a small group or date night! Definitely recommend Tanpopo for the best ramen I've had outside of nyc read more

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Best Ramen in Albany. Looking for ramen? LOOK NO FURTHER. They know how to KISS: Keep It Simple & Sensational! The only food you can order is either apps or ramen, and they both extremely well. Full-bodied broth, and high quality meats and veggies, and an orchestra of of smell and taste to leave you speechless. Quite literally, it is fairly quiet in the restaurant because of how fully immersed people are with the dishes. And the staff is great happy bunch, eager to help you get cozy and make the right choices. It is a small spot so be prepared to wait if you want a booth, and don't park in the back lot! But there's free parking across the street after 6 pm. read more

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This restaurant is truly unique housed inside of a retired train car. The interior has a vintage look with customer one dollar bills adorning the walls. The day we stopped for lunch was high winds and February temps so bundle up. The freezing breeze will chill the side of your body should you choose to sit in a booth next to window. The service during lunch started strong then delayed as the server appeared to be solo and ending the meal was drawn out. None the less she was friendly and our food was prompt. I tried a green tea which was not steaming hot when served. My friend ordered a Sapporo draft beer and was served a Sloop Juice Bomb in error which the server quickly remedied. My favorite food item was the fried dumpling. Four plump savory port dumplings served with green onion and a soy. The noodle soups were not thrilling for me or my date. My tonkatsu broth did not present any notable flavors but the Tanpopo Spicy delivered. My noodles had a more chalky flavor and I had an abundance of scallions, where my date hardly had any in his bowl. I have eaten ramen at many capital district spots so I cannot claim I would hunt for parking and make the special trip to Tanpopo Albany. But I did get to enjoy a warm meal on a freezing winter day, experience friendly service and eat local. read more

Tanpopo Ramen and Sake Cafe - Ramen - Salad Near Me - Albany, New York

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I came here back in March because I was in town for a conference. This place was recommended by everyone so I came over. I ordered the dumplings and the pork ramen. Now the dumplings were not good; they were greasy and mushy. I was worried when I ate those dumplings but I was pleasantly surprised when it came to the ramen. I ordered the pork ramen and it was good. So I did not like that pork was ground pork; I like and prefer sliced pork on my soup. The broth was very delicious, rich and tasty. The noodles were also a good texture. I would say do not order the dumplings. I would get the ramen again and ask them to make it hot because for me the soup was not hot enough. This it is a solid place for ramen. I saw a lot of people order the lemongrass ramen so I would order that next time. read more

Tanpopo Ramen and Sake Cafe - Pork Dumplings - Salad Near Me - Albany, New York

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Great spot and never had a problem. Delicious. Cozy spot for lunch and they are pleasant about separate billing.

Another fantastic meal! This time I tried the spicy pork buns for appetizer - which were excellent, a good amount of heat, but excellent! And I couldn't help myself but have the spicy ramen bowl again; and again it was fantastic!! What more can I say - this place has the most awesome ramen I've ever had! read more

Tanpopo Ramen and Sake Cafe - Tanpopo spicy ramen (OMG delicious, but not too spicy) - Salad Near Me - Albany, New York

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A small but very fun ramen spot. When we entered the restaurant I felt like I was in a separate world, like in a movie or something. The restaurant has just a few booths to sit in and the remainder of the seating is at a bar or a long shared table. We ordered some sake and the pork belly buns to start. The buns were *fantastic* and I wish more than two came in the order. I got the teppanyaki chicken with fried rice. The chicken and veggies it came with were very delicious, but I paid $7 extra to upgrade the rice from white to fried, and it was not worth it. The fried rice tasted very...buttery? And it was plain fried rice- no added vegetables. Seemed like a big rip off to me. My friend ordered the chicken ramen bowl and it was okay. The broth was not as good as I've had from other ramen spots, and the chicken in the ramen itself was kind of dry, which is odd because it's in a soup. Overall, I think it's a very cool spot, and is a great place to go after visiting the local breweries nearby. The food is generally pretty good if you know what to order. The food also comes out very quickly if you're in a time crunch. Definitely get the pork belly buns if you stop in! read more

Tanpopo Ramen and Sake Cafe - Teppanyaki Chicken - Salad Near Me - Albany, New York

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Food is amazing. The pork in the ramen is very flavorful and the pork dumplings are stuffed and seem homemade. The menu is no nonsense, no fluff. You get a classic ramen with great toppings without having to make too many decisions. This place is very cozy and in an old diner car. The tables are small which adds to the cozy feel. It seems super popular since it was almost full by the time I left, about an hour after opening. The vibes are relaxed. I felt the food could have come out a little faster since it's soup. But it was not an outrageously long wait, and well worth it! read more

Service is always kind and quick! The ramen is my favorite!! Never overly salty. I brought my boyfriend here who used to claim to "hate ramen" cause he tried it once at a bad restaurant. He tried it here and now his view on ramen is completely turned! Definitely a must go in Albany! read more

Tanpopo Ramen and Sake Cafe - Beef Stew Ramen, Edamame, and chicken ramen - Salad Near Me - Albany, New York

Tanpopo Ramen is a blink-and-you'll-miss-it hole in the wall, but as soon as you step in, life as you know it is gone forever. My work-wife and I went for lunch one warm spring day. I was excited to see gyozas on the menu and quickly placed an order. Work-wife ordered the little shrimp puffs and let me try one in exchange for a shoutout on this Yelp review (love youuuuu). Both appetizers were delicious and didn't last long. I ordered the seafood ramen while she ordered the spicy ramen. I guess I was expecting something similar to the 50-cent cup of noodles I get from the grocery store but I couldn't have been more wrong. Our portions were insanely huge with amazing, huge add-ons. The broths were warm and not all overly salty like that 50 cent stuff. (Basically, I can never have cup of noodles again). Service was great and the tiny restaurant is adorably decorated. Honestly, the only issue I had was the weather. Tanpopo is not going to do you any favors when it's 70 and sunny, but I think come winter, I'll be begging Tanpopo to soothe my soul and warm my bones. read more

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Tanpopo more like Tanpoopoo. The broth tastes like toilet water and the fried rice was cooked in someone's ass. Noodles looked like strains from a wig and tasted like it too. Who are they torturing in the back to make this god awful food. read more

Best ramen in Albany! There is so much meat in every dish, you get a great meal for an affordable price. The seafood ramen is my favorite I crave it all the time read more

Came here on a Tuesday night when in town for a work conference. This place was close to my hotel and with the colder temperatures we were in the mood for ramen. The place is kind of a hole in the wall, looks like an old diner turned into a sake and ramen bar. It is very small, not many seats and everything feels closed in. They were all sold out of the roasted duck ramen which was what both of us wanted. Settled for a traditional pork. It had a strange taste, specially the broth, and I couldn't put my finger on what it was until my husband said the broth tasted burnt. Eggs cost extra. The waitress was friendly but not very attentive, had to wait quite a while for drink refills. Overall a but of an underwhelming experience, when in town again I think I might seek out the ramen places that we're a but farther from the hotel. read more

Tanpopo Ramen and Sake Cafe - Pork ramen with added egg - Salad Near Me - Albany, New York

The food was great. The service was great even though it was packed and our server was there alone. The food came quickly too. Don't be put off by the exterior of the building. Its delicious. read more

Server was very attentive and friendly. Food was great, Atmosphere was sketchy, would not have tried if not meeting friends. Definitely would go again. read more

Amazing food! First time we have ever had Ramen and it was a wonderful experience, that we had gotten take out a week later!! The restaurant was cute and cozy! Service from the blonde young lady was amazing! (Sorry forgot her name) We will be back weekly! read more

3.5 Stars Stopped by on a road trip for a quick bite. Decently good ramen with good broth. I tried the tonkatsu ramen which had green onions, some thick chunks of pork, and lots of slivers of woodear mushroom. I had the wavy noodles with it. I also tried the spicy tonkatsu ramen which had just an extra kick to the soup from the spice. The broths were not too salty. However, both bowls lacked an extra depth of flavor that would make the soup really stand out. Tanpopo is in an old diner car. There is street parking available in the area. read more

Cute little diner style ramen place, We ordered 2 ramen dishes , vegetable dumplings and shrimp shumai. Great food and great service! read more

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Usually very reliable meals. This time: the "spring rolls" were 1 1/2 inch deep fried egg rolls. Nothing spring roll about it. The Miso ramen broth was not very tasty. Very bland with a lack of umami and miso. Service was efficient but busy. read more

3.5-4 stars Food was overall really good but the ramen itself it alittle one note I'm usually sensitive to spicy food and I barley felt it. My partner ate the beef ramen and while again it was good It tasted very similar to my spicy pork. That being said the place itself is cute and simple and price is fair, the service was fast. read more

Tanpopo Ramen and Sake Cafe - Salad Near Me - Albany, New York

Eat authentic ramen like a local inside a repurposed streetcar amid a dicey warehouse neighborhood. read more

Tanpopo Ramen and Sake Cafe - Salad Near Me - Albany, New York

Great ramen ! Generous portion ! Interesting ambience - old dinner lots of character -