I really enjoyed my experience at Toki Underground! Toke Underground a small bar and restaurant in the H st corridor which seems to be most well known for its ramen offerings. We got there nice and early on a Friday to enjoy the happy hour which is available from 4-6 on weekdays. As a part of happy hour they had several cocktails and small bites for $10 or less. I had the pumpkin spice spritz and an order of the fried chicken bites - both were really really good. I'd order both items again. For awareness, they limit dining in to about an hour and a half - because the restaurant is fairly small, they want folks to make their seats available for other guests pretty quickly. They weren't rude about enforcing this time limit, but they definitely tell you up front and quickly gather your orders/plates to help move you though the meal quickly. This is a nice date spot - it's coziness would make for the perfect ambiance in you're looking to grab a bite with that special someone. Pro tip: Be careful not to walk past it! The signage outside isn't the best, so it's very easy to miss the door completely (as I did). read more

TLDR: would recommend, decent ramen. Appetizers are great and the drinks are well made. Definitely not good for a large party size due to restaurant size. Servers are very attentive and come by very often. Must Try: Shrimp Naruto Atmosphere/Setting: very small place with dim lighting. This isn't the place to have your birthday celebration with a Partiful of 20 people. It's moreso catching up with a friend or having a good meal after a long day alone. Food: it's a ramen spot but honestly I've had better ramen but this one is pretty good. I think the appetizers are moreso the star of the show ! Appetizers : Shrimp Naruto (10/10) , Brussels Okonomiyaki (8/10) , Yuzu Rootbeer Wings (6/10) Shrimp Naruto is phenomenal , literally my favorite. I wanted to like to e wings but they were too soft for my liking. If they were fried harder or had a bit more of a crunch I'd rank them higher because the flavor is there. Drinks: both drinks were great ! read more

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Ooooh okay right of the bat the place is very intimate and small. Hence why reservations are 100% necessary if you want to come here. Seating is about 15 people and it's cramped for sure. Great place for a party of two or one, if more you should probably find a different place. The food however was lovely but I found it to be slightly in cohesive. For example, the Toki Classic Ramen had braised pork randomly that basically tasted like I was at an American barbecue sitting on top of a bowl of noodles. It did not particularly feel "Asian" but for the ambiance was. Maybe I'm a fusion restaurant hater. I only give four stars cause for some reason our server was extremely passive aggressive and made me not want to order :/ besides that he was very knowledgeable about the special of the day and it was very quick service which was awesome and every dish seemed to be made carefully. Prices are reasonable. Maybe next time don't make me feel stupid for not knowing how to pronounce the dishes... I'm Asian btw so cut me some slack brother. read more

Toki Underground - Toki Classic Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Didn't have a reservation and showed up on a Sunday. I was told I had 45min -1hr wait but the time showed up on the text and 1hr and 45 min. Then 15 min later my wait was updated to 1hr. I went back 45 min later to see if we could get seated and practically the whole restaurant was empty. Honestly got the feeling that they didn't want to seat me or at least were indifferent to seating me. Food and service we so so. Broth was warm and not hot. Egg was cold. Overall it was good ramen but I remember it being better. At the end I was presented with a bill that included a tip and also a surcharge to use my credit card. I think both of these are insulting. You charge $20 for ramen, have mediocre service (probably cause they know their tip is included) and then charge 3% to use a credit card? I would think at $20 for ramen you could include any sort of credit card fee. I'm sure there's better options, with better service and better ramen. I hope others read this so you a least know what you are getting into. It is a cool location I just think the bar has dropped and needs to be raised again. read more

Toki Underground - Timestamps for my waitlist add. I don't think I would have ever got a table if I didn't go back. - Ramen Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Amazing place. Been meaning to try it for a while and first time we went we were confused why the downstairs didn't go here and it is upstairs. While upstairs it really resembles a Tokyo underground ramen shop. Seating is tight but we manage to be comfortable enough at the bar.The drink selection is great and prices are reasonable. Both times we had both ramen and bao buns which we loved. The happy hour deals are great too. Our bartender (same guy) has been excellent both times serving both drinks and food. They are on InKind as well and had a coupon to return so we came back the next month with our friend. read more

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My favorite ramen place ever! They're a small little upstairs restaurant with perfect "I just popped in a shop in Tokyo" vibes! They have a small menu, but every single thing is AMAZING Our favorites are the Tokyo curry chicken ramen, but the garlic mala tonkotsu with creamy garlic broth is also a winner We also love their shrimp bao buns with shrimp fried in potato flour, served with kimchi and fresh cucumber We once had a root beer cocktail here that was so good, but they haven't brought it back to their menu since (this is my petition, we ask for it every time we go in hopes it will return!). read more

Toki Underground - Tokyo Curry Chicken Ramen (Chicken Broth) - Ramen Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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What so interesting about this bowl of ramen is the egg...I don't know why but that egg were the most perfectly cooked egg I've ever had. We went during happy hour. The Yuzu Sake was so yummy!! I do prefer traditional sliced meat in Ramen over the shredded they have but everything was so good... read more

Toki Underground - Ramen Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Literally a hidden eclectic spot. Dinner, Drive-ins, and Dives featured this spot a couple of years ago. You can find the episode on YouTube, and I recommend you watch it before coming so you hear the background story. The ramen is so delicious, and thankfully not too salty like other ramen places such as JINYA or Chaplins. Service was great! I came on a Saturday around 12pm, and was able to sit right away, but while I enjoyed my order people filled the restaurant. read more

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When you only have three days in DC during cherry blossom season, every meal has to be a hit--and this spot did not disappoint. Food: 5/5 As a ramen lover, I was eager to see if this place lived up to the hype--and it absolutely did. The second-floor space is trendy and chill, with mostly bar seating. We started with four bao buns--the fried chicken and fried cauliflower were standouts. For ramen, we got the kimchi ramen and the classic, both flavorful and satisfying. Dessert was the Yuzu custard, a refreshing and tangy way to end the meal. My top 3 dishes: 1. Cauliflower Bao 2. Kimchi Ramen 3. Yuzu Custard We also enjoyed Yuzu sake and a plum-based Ume cocktail--clearly, Yuzu was the way to go. The $130 bill included an 18% auto-tip, but we added extra because the service was that good. Service: 5/5 We had an 8:15 PM reservation, but wanted to eat earlier. The staff accommodated us at 7 PM, which was a huge plus. Sitting at the bar, we got menus immediately, drinks came fast, and appetizers were on point. While the space is a bit cramped, the overall experience was smooth and enjoyable. This place has great prices, amazing food, and a lively vibe--perfect for a casual night out with friends. I'd 100% come back! read more

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With so many options in the area , Toki Underground was a little overrated and underwhelming overall in my opinion. I don't think that anything quite stood out as extraordinary to me that would warrant going out of the way to dine here. Fried chicken steamed buns were decent. The sauce that the chicken is tossed in is pretty sour and overwhelmed the other flavors, but it was a good concept. The Toki classic had a nice tonkatsu broth that was rich but wasn't greasy. The curry chicken ramen and kmi chi ramen were also tasty if you want to try something different. Their osen egg was perfectly cooked with the gooey yoke and was nicely marinated. The cookies with miso were initially intriguing until we were presented with regular chocolate chip cookies on top of a smear of miso. I think if somehow the miso was in the actual cookie or if they made a miso icecream it would have been more of a wow. The cookies weren't all that great otherwise in my opinion-- they were too hard and crispy. read more

Toki Underground - Fried chicken steamed buns - Ramen Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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I have been wanting to try Toki Underground for some time now and had the chance to stop in recently. Restaurants is not well marked, so make sure you have the address in hand and make a mental note to head upstairs when you arrive. The ambiance was a little moody but in a fun rebellious way. Restaurant had skateboards, stickers and a display of novelty items as decor. I sat near the bar and was seated promptly but the seating area is very small. Service was good, the waiter was nice and the food came out quickly. However, I observed another staff member speaking to other customers in a not so friendly tone. I had the kimchi ramen. The broth was quite salty. It also did not come out hot but lukewarm at best and is also filled with a thick layer of foam. I wasn't expecting shredded pork for chashu so that was surprising to me. The egg was cooked perfectly though. Due to how salty it was, I didn't feel like it was able to fully enjoy the flavors of all the ingredients. The Brothless Dan Dan noodles had good flavor but I felt like it was lacking something more. It also came out lukewarm. Portion felt a little smaller than expected but the ingredients gave it a nice crunch. The sake flight was good and gradually got better with the exception of the second one which was very strong. The last one is a house yuzu sake which had a nice lemon citrus flavor. Overall, a bit of a let down. read more

Amazing spot with great food and fun atmosphere. Food was delicious we got a special tepei chicken curry and buns with fried chicken. Both were delicious the buns had great flavor with chicken as well as the veggies. Drinks I got the monster cocktail with whiskey and a pork belly garnish. Was really well balanced and tasty. Not too sweet or tart had a nice whiskey flavor. The ramen was perfectly seasoned and the chicken paired well with broth that was not too spicy had a nice flavor. Id recommend some kimchi with it to balance it out if you want more spice. I also got some pork belly. It was a great addition with chicken they played well with each other. Service was extremely friendly and helpful with everyone will definitely be back. read more

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This spot is absolutely amazing!! Hubby and I came here for a date night and it did NOT disappoint! The food was amazing!!!! I mean, really good! The service and drinks were on point! I was skeptical when we arrived, but this is a hidden jewel! read more

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Amazing grungy, Japanese decor. For appetizers you can skip the steamed dumplings but the chicken wings were SOOO DELICIOUS! The kimchi ramen was delicious, not too spicy. Great service. The portions are huge and all very affordable! read more

Toki Underground - Kimchi Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Major bummer. Went here in 2020 (in the middle of COVID for to-go order). Was some of the best ramen I've ever had but then I got it a few weeks ago and it was just OK. Marginal, didn't taste as flavorful and I probably won't be back again. Prices are fine the food just didn't pack a punch this time. read more

Giving it 4 stars instead of 5 because of the interior space. Ramen is delicious and the service was pretty quick considering their limited staffing. If you want a quick bite to eat and you're in the mood for ramen, this is the place! The broth is really flavorful and the noodles are chewy. Their karaage was the best I've had and their cauliflower steam buns were seasoned very well. At first glance they almost look like chicken, faked me out for a second. I also liked the fact that they have take out containers for leftovers out in the open so you can help yourself. Space inside just has tall counters around the room, I wouldn't recommend this space for a large group. I also liked that you could make reservations in advance. The parking across the street is kind of pricey, so try to find street parking. On the weekends, you can park by the curb in the residential areas without a permit. Would definitely come back here again. read more

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I didn't hate it, but I didn't love it. I got the numbing garlic tonkotsu and the shrimp Naruto. I don't know exactly what ingredient gave my Ramen such a heavy bitter aftertaste. But it turned my palette completely off to the point where even drinking my water had a bitter taste associated with it after one bite. I would not re-order and I barely touched it. The bowl was full when they took it away. Service was fast. It was pretty slow when we arrived. But as far as ambience. There is definitely a scent of old aged wood throughout the upstairs area. It's not exactly nice and the roof is very dusty. I didn't really like that dingy feeling about it, but it is decorated nicely. read more

Their warm welcome, their personalized service, and their knowledge of the menu largely contributed to this 3-star rating. On the other hand, the tonkotsu ramen that I ordered deserved only 1 star. The braised pork felt out of place, the use of Kale as a vegetable was unusual and broth was lack luster. It tasted nothing like the authentic tonkotsu I've enjoyed in Japan or Houston, Texas. read more

Very small place, and kinda hard to find. It's nestled into the neighborhood scenery, but it's worth finding. The appearance inside is not breathtaking, but it's very urban rustic and charming. The service is consistently excellent, from the servers to the bartender. The menu is not lengthy, but it's packed with flavor. Seating is very limited, so if you can get a reservation you may need one for dinner. Especially on a Friday or Saturday night. I've been here more than a few times, and it's always good. read more

Some of the best ramen in DC! Very few seats so would recommend a reservation but very unique ramen flavors so worth the wait!

This is my second time visiting Toki Underground, and it's been a mixed experience both times around. The food is so close to being great but always seems a little off: the chicken and pickled veggies in my steamed buns were delicious, but the buns themselves were dry, hard, and unpleasant to eat. The broth for the mala garlic ramen was good enough but not as garlicky or spicy as we were hoping based on the name. The pork belly mazeman on my first visit had a great sauce, but the meat was disappointingly tough and a bit bland. The dessert this time was excellent, though, I have to say - I love the yuzu and matcha flavors together, and it wasn't sweet at all, which was perfect. It was a great summer dessert. I just wish the dishes here had that little extra oomph to push them over the edge - it feels like there's always something off about the dish that pulls it down (dessert excluded!). I'm sure I'll come back here again, but I'm never quite as happy after eating here as I want to be. Portions are generous, the new happy hour menu is really nice, and I love the way it's decorated. Staff are all really nice, but service is a bit slow (it took a while for us to put in a dessert order or get a to-go box). Seating is very scarce. Definitely come early, make a reservation, or be prepared to wait - it's just a tight space. It's a little on the warm side (AC is struggling a bit in this heat, I think!), but I'm perpetually freezing, so it didn't bother me personally. read more

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Everything about this place screams Japanese ramen bar. The ramen is always a 5/5. The rest of the menu is very thoughtful. Not a place for big groups tho....there is a time limit for each table but that's understandable for a small space as such. read more

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Tori Underground has a fun, hipster urban vibe with fantastic food. The ramen here is simply delicious, with a broth that's rich and flavorful, topped off with a perfectly poached egg. The bao buns were a hit too, perfectly fluffy and packed with flavor. Service was fast and efficient. The decor adds to the overall charm, creating a lively atmosphere that's perfect for casual dining or catching up with friends. Definitely worth the walk from Union station if you're taking the metro! read more

Toki Underground - Pork Shrimp bao (4pc) - Ramen Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Toki Underground definitely lives up to the hype as one of the best ramen spots in DC! I came here with a friend, and we were not disappointed. The space is cozy -- feels like there are only about 15 chairs, so definitely make a reservation to ensure you get a spot. The kimchi ramen was absolutely delicious, with just the right amount of spice and flavor. We also tried their Verve's On chicken bao buns, which were essentially General Tso's chicken in a bao bun -- and it was SO tasty! I'd be curious to try their dumplings next time. Portion sizes are pretty generous, so while you could skip an appetizer, why not splurge and try something extra? Also, funny little quirk: it's called Toki Underground, but it's actually upstairs -- made for a fun surprise. Highly recommend this spot if you're craving some top-notch ramen! read more

Toki Underground - To go - Ramen Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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This used to be one of my favorite spots for ramen, and I had been a loyal customer since 2012. Unfortunately, my most recent visit in February was really disappointing. The food wasn't served hot, and the menu no longer offers the variety it once did. I brought my boyfriend with me, and he actually got sick shortly after eating the ramen, which was very concerning. Even the drinks were underwhelming. Overall, it's sad to see how much the quality has declined. read more

I love ramen and I think DC has a great ramen scene, thanks in part to places like Toki Underground. We started with the pork belly steam buns, which were an excellent appetizer. You get to build four of your own buns, each stuffed with pork, kimchi, mustard, and delicately curled green onions. For mains, I got the red miso ramen, which was really tasty. The broth is thick and delicious, the noodles have just the right amount of chew, and the whole affair is topped with a gooey poached egg. I highly recommend this one. Of course, the Toki classic ramen is excellent too. And, if you're looking for something just a little different, the Taipei curry chicken ramen might scratch that itch for you. We were quite full by this point, but our server let us know that they were offering a special strawberry shortcake. Who was I to refuse? And the cake was well worth it. Lastly, I have to mention the decor, which is just fascinating. You'll have to go to experience it yourself! read more

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Hidden gem above a bar on H Street. Learned about it on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. Added it to our list of places to try on a date night. My husband loves Ramen. A very narrow eclectic ambience inside. You must make a reservation. You don't have a lot of time to eat, but you don't really need that much time to eat Ramen , very full with customers ,bartender we had was excellent and made recommendations that were appealing and very approachable and friendly staff. Would definitely return. read more

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After my previous Michelin Star restaurant, I was hesitant to try another one. The other one we went to in Orlando that was considered a cheap eat was actually amazing so we decided maybe we would stick with the cheap eats for our Michelin Star quest this time. Toki looks like a dive bar. It is located upstairs and the seating was wall to wall. If you haven't tried the happy hour menu it's literally your loss. Pre pandemic prices without skimp inflation. We ended up getting the dumplings, taipei curry chicken ramen, kimchi ramen, and yuzu sake. The yuzu sake was so delicious that I ended up getting two carafates. The dumplings had an interestedly fried additive on the top. I am still waiting for someone who works for Toki to tell me what it is. The ramen I got was so good. The kimchi had a mixture of kimchi, tasty noodles that seemed freshly made, hard boiled egg, and pork. The pork was so tender. My boyfriend really didn't enjoy his curry chicken ramen because I think he expected a curry not a soup. He liked the fried chicken. I didn't care much for the nori added to our ramen but it did add an interesting flair to our dish. The fried chicken steam buns we ended the night with are to die for. I really liked how ample amounts of chicken were added to the most succulent buns ever. read more

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A huge fall from grace!!! The ramen was about 2/3 of the amount that I received 2 years ago. The broth and the food contents were minuscule. It was extremely bland. I almost added my own season all salt. The pork was the cheapest type of shredded/pulled pork pieces. It was NOT the pork belly that is listed on the menu!! The pieces of kale were much too large. Huge disappointment. The mighty have definitely fallen. read more

The lounge is closed and there's 0 indication of this anywhere on their website. You don't find out until you get there hoping to get lunch with a friend then you end up standing in the rain in the cold looking for somewhere else to go because it isn't open read more

Food tastes like it's missing salt. The vegan ramen is good. The diversity of vegetables were present but a lil salt and maybe a spice bomb would really help the broth out. The dumplings taste like it's missing seasonings and the pan fried texture wasn't as crispy as I thought it would be. Excellent service! Loved the customer service experience. Cute little spot that can't fit more than 15 ppl at once so I would recommend as a solo date night or go with 1-2 ppl max. read more

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*Update 8/16/25* Upon leaving a 1-star review (written below), the business owner reached out to me personally to try and remedy the situation. Great customer service like this has persuaded me to edit this review and bump the score up from 1-star to 3-stars. Much appreciated! Look elsewhere if you care about value for your money. $122 for 3 bowls of ramen, the smallest sake flight know to mankind, and a ridiculously bogus reservation charge. Overall, very bad value for your money. 1) Bowls of ramen start at $20, and they are just ok. Nothing crazy about them, thus I believe the value for food is poor. 2) Additionally, $21 for a Sake flight where each of the 4 cups of sake is about 100ml is also insanely bad value. 3) The restaurant is also extremely tiny. Absolutely no space to stretch your arms/legs when you're with friends, or even put your coat down. We had to hold everything the whole time, while trying not to hit each other or other guests. 4) And finally, they had the audacity to charge me a $20 fee because 1 of my guest in a party of 4 wasn't able to show up due to unforeseen circumstances. Meanwhile, there were multiple chairs and other seating areas available for guests to use while we were there. read more

I'm so glad I finally got to try Toki, after hearing so much about it! Came for dinner with two friends with an 8pm reservation. The interior has so much personality: it's a small space but stylish, with a casual, punk twist (think skateboards as footrests, funky stickers plastering the walls). I think it's basically all bar seating against the wall, which might be tougher for larger groups but was fine for the three of us. The food and drinks here are more of a "twist" on traditional Japanese dishes (e.g. kimchi ramen, Taipei curry chicken ramen). I ordered the "Baijiu I Think She's Got it" cocktail (always curious to try a baijiu-based cocktail!) and the kimchi ramen, and the three of us shared fried chicken steamed buns. (Pro tip: You can add a bun to your order for just $1.50.) All of the food was fantastic. The fried chicken is super tender, and has just the right amount of glaze without losing its crispiness. The ramen was really flavorful, and I love that it came with a bunch of toppings (poached egg, Chinese broccoli, nori, pickled ginger) at no extra cost. The broth is also the right amount of thick, which is hard to find! The cocktail was great, too. You can taste the baijiu, but the drink is more of a sour, which I really enjoyed. Prices are pretty standard for DC (~$15/cocktail, ~$20/ramen), but the quality of the food here is better than a bunch of other DC ramen places I've been to (Daikaya, Bantam King, Haikan). Can't wait to be back! read more

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Walked in during happy hour. Menu was more limited than during other times so may not have been a full representation of what Toki has to offer. There was one waitress taking care of an entire room of hungry customers. The room had bar-like tables bolted to the wall. Allowed a bar like feeling but with more seating. The dumplings were tasty but basic. The pork belly steam buns were steamy hot but, once cooled down, delicious . Taipei chicken curry was more of a soup than curry. It was tasty but way too light. On the other hand, Kimchi Ramen was more like a curry with its thicker and spicy flavors . Would definitely come back for the Kimchi Ramen. Overall, this restaurant didn't meet my expectations for a Michelin star but was better than an average restaurant. read more

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Loved the energy here! Establishment is upstairs, very casual, urban eclectic deco. They played a lot of urban music to go with the vibe. A ton of peculiar stickers on every surface and kitschy items scattered in random corners. Makes for a fun game to see what is the weirdest item you can find. Servers were super courteous and sat us immediately. It was a medium night, not too busy or empty. I got the Toki classic. Braised pork was a little over cooked but overall a balanced ramen broth and other ingredients! Not too salty. I was not expecting a large metal spoon , but it did the job! Is this authentic ramen?...not exactly but it was definitely super good and service was so spectacular! Would definitely return. read more

Toki Underground - Ramen Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

This is an H street gem. The food is delicious and the service is very efficient. I love the cauliflower buns and the pickle plate.

Small place with only bar type seating. The staff was friendly and kind but I was not impressed by the food unfortunately. Toki classic was a lot lighter tasting than most tonkotsu I've had. I wanted more flavor was sad the eggs in both are not marinated and much more on the raw side 2/5 Red miso - a bit too thick for my taste and not much miso flavor? 2/5 Dumplings - .5/5 taste like dumplings you make at home from frozen but came out like almost cold?? Also not crispy read more

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I had only ever eaten Toki Underground for takeout, but a friend and I came for dine-in recently and had a great time! We didn't have a reservation, but thankfully managed to squeeze in for seating. The seating is tight, so get cozy with your dining partner (and the people around you!) and get ready for ramen! The menu isn't very long, which I almost appreciate (decision fatigue is real), and I picked something new: the Taipei Curry Chicken. I had never had fried chicken in ramen, but it was really good! The chicken stayed crispy for a while and then the coating was thick enough that it still held together, even towards the end of the meal. Nothing was falling apart, and the chicken paired nicely with chewy noodles and a rich Japanese-style curry broth. So flavorful and unique! The soft egg was a teensy bit overcooked, but the rest of the meal was still a winner. The interior is not large, but tastefully decorated, and service was very efficient and friendly. I definitely recommend trying this local spot! read more

Toki Underground - Ramen Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

It is a really cool atmosphere. It has stool seating all around the perimeter of the place, pretty small and you're close to your neighbors. Although it is a tight space, I never felt too squished. I got the mushroom shio ramen with gluten free yam noodles and it was amazing. I'll be thinking of this meal for a while! The gluten free noodles were the best gluten free ramen noodles I've ever had. And the ramen broth itself was unreal. The service is quick and the staff is welcoming and attentive. They only take reservations one week out so you have to be quick to book! Although it's a Michelin Star place, it is very affordable. read more

Toki Underground - Fun vibes! - Ramen Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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We loved our dinner at Toki and had fun sitting at the bar... be sure to make a reservation as the place doesn't have a ton of seats. The spicy vegan ramen is great. Loved the broth and the spice level. I'd recommend getting extra tofu if you're looking for protein. My cocktail was great, and so was our prawn appetizer. He enjoyed his ramen with added pork belly read more

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