First of all , I am glad we were to tick this off our bucket list…read more The line was huge , we went in there around 6:15 and had to wait Atleast for an hr before we were seated. The restaurant mandates you to have atleast 1 bowl of ramen per person. Coming to the ramen, the vegan GKO and the miso ramen , both of them were very good. My wife and I thoroughly enjoyed it. However the GKO has overload of garlic ( the ingredients already mentions that there are 5 types of garlic). The ambience was nice and the food service was very quick. I would definelty recommend ppl to try this restaurant

Got the GKO and spicy signature with extra pork chasu. First time here and was expecting to be…read morewowed but both ramen were ok. GKO broth was ok, a little salty maybe because of the other elements on it. Spicy signature broth was a little better. Both meat and egg were tender and good. Also got the enoki chips, salty and was ok. Had a similar taste to salty chipotle tortilla chips. Got here by 3:20pm and had two people ahead of us. Line got long super quick. Staff were attentive and quick with the work flow. Place has limited seating. Bathroom was clean.

Earlier today my husband and I came for dinner. About 30 minutes in, while we were enjoying the…read moredelicious food, he had what I thought was a seizure. He was unconscious, shaking, thrashing, sweating and groaning. The staff immediately came to my side (as well as customers) to help me. They called 911 at my request, and once the EMTs arrived they were helpful and truly concerned. Not just trying to get us out of the way. Shaking, I tried to hand over my credit card while the EMTs took my husband on a stretcher. The manager said "No, no.. it's fine, it's fine," with the kindest look in his eye. This would have been our third visit because the food is sooooo good. But now I'm basically going to be their cheerleader to anyone who will listen. I could not be more grateful for their grace and aid while I was in near hysteria. Kindness still exists. And so does genuinely good food. PS: it turned out to be dehydration, but it was scary AF, kids. Drink. Your. Water.

I've tried a different location before (San Mateo) for their well known dipping ramen but this time…read moreI wanted to give their normal ramen a try. The ambiance is extremely loud in there and the tables are very close together. So if you're looking for a quiet, less crammed space, this isn't it. The actual restaurant looks very nice, but not sure why the bar seats face a storage area with clear windows. As for the food, the calamari was delicious, they give you whole pieces of little squid. The ramen broth is very hearty and bold. When I was halfway through, it became a little too much. I do wish you're able to pick the thickness of noodles. I didn't like the thin noodles with the ramen. It actually reminded me of instant ramen. But to each their own with noodle thickness. I just wish there were options. I almost wish there was something else in the ramen to balance out the flavor besides more bold flavors from the pork and egg. It does the job but wasn't a huge wow factor. As for the service, they are pretty attentive. I didn't like how one of the servers kept hovering around the entire time grabbing anything they could off the table. The second we took off the wrappers of the chopsticks, they grabbed it. Usually I like the table cleared out to make space but it was the constant hovering that was awkward.

We are writing to express our strong appreciation for the exceptional Umami Creamy Tan-Tan-Men soup…read moreand to respectfully request its permanent return to the menu. This dish stands out as one of the most memorable and flavorful offerings we have experienced. The rich, creamy broth delivers a perfectly balanced umami depth, harmoniously combined with subtle heat and aromatic spices that create an indulgent yet refined dining experience. Both my partner and I were thoroughly impressed by its complexity and comforting warmth, and we have continued to crave it long after the winter season. The Umami Creamy Tan-Tan-Men soup represents a true highlight of your culinary repertoire. We believe it deserves a lasting place on the regular menu, where it can be enjoyed year-round by loyal patrons and new guests alike. Its removal has left a noticeable gap, and we are confident that reinstating it as a signature item would be met with great enthusiasm. Thank you for creating such an outstanding dish. We eagerly await its return and look forward to ordering it on our next visit.

Truly stellar ramen at Hinodeya!…read more A few friends and I were in San Francisco for the day are were carving ramen after a morning of strolling around. We were recommended a spot in the Japantown Center Mall, but settled on Hinodeya after checking Yelp. It turned out to be a great choice. We were greeted upon entering the restaurant and someone rang what to believe to be a gong?! It was a very fun addition to our experience. We were shown to a table and started browsing the menu. The interior was very clean and neat. There are plenty of options, including some for vegetarians/vegans. My two vegetarian friends ordered both of the vegan/vegetarian ramen options and were raving about them. I ordered the Hinodeya (house) ramen and it was delicious. The broth was so flavorful and the noodles were perfect. The table is set with crispy garlic or onions (can't remember) and a chili blend which were yum on top of the ramen. My friends ordered the spicy miso ramen and was satisfied despite it not being very spicy. We had great service the entire time and the prices were very reasonable. Hinodeya is a gem I will be revising on future trips to San Francisco!

Me and my bf found this spot when we were doing a day trip to SF from LA. It was pretty cold gloomy…read moreday so we decided to have lunch here with something warm and our favorite which is Ramen. It was our first time and we definitely chose the right spot for lunch. The inside is very cozy and warm. We were seated by the corner facing the street which kind of adds to the vibe and seeing the cloudy weather was a perfect day to eat ramen. Their ramen is so good, I believe they put truffles on it, and I love me some truffles. Even my bf who loves ramen and usually has high standards for it loved it. We both rated this spot a 9/10 from our opinion. Oh and their mushroom appetizer was good. I forgot the name but we were picking on that and finished it within minutes.

Came here on a Friday night. It's a small shop with limited seating so as a party of 4 it took some…read moretime to get seated. It's also only one person serving and hostess-ing and we could tell she was trying her best. We were sitting at the outside facing bar seats at first and appreciate the hostess for re-seating us at a table where we could actually talk to each other. It was my first time and I decided to try the hiyashi chuka as ramen is usually a bit too heavy and salty for me. The classic hiyashi chuka sauce is refreshing and sesame based. I thought it would be the classic sauce, but whatever they had tasted basically like soy sauce and water. I was not a fan, and wish they called it something else so I would not have confused it with the classic hiyashi chuka flavor. We also got the mushroom tempura to share. These were super good!! Stick to the classics! Hope to be back to try their better stuff.

Great vibe, great pre-Symphony meal very close to the Civic Center arts institutions.read more

The chicken ramen is really good. Broth is viscous and gelatinous in the best way, without feeling…read moreheavy. Noodles are quite special - they taste so fresh, bouncy with the perfect bite. Salmon hand roll is in taco format - not cheap but very delicious and tender fish, and plenty of ikura.

Crispy mushrooms like no other! They are served piping hot, with a perfectly light crisp batter and…read morejust enough seasoning to make them addictive! Our go to is the traditional paitan ramen with a side of bone marrow plus the black garlic oil. The owner was so nice to give us an extra bone marrow cause he thought the original one they made wasn't big enough. Both were generous portions. Best bone marrow I've had in sooo long! We also had the roasted beef filet starter which was perfectly rare and tender and served with a dipping sauce.

Appreciate this small cozy joint in otherwise super busy Irving and 9th area and their dedication…read moreto a small and focused menu. Ramen is quite subjective though, but here's my thoughts: Noodles: 2/5. Nothing super bad but not my type of noodles. A bit too thick and lack texture Broth: 3/5. A bit less thick than I was expecting based on the look, and a little lighter than I'd prefer given the noodles Meat: 5/5. Nice and tender cuts, easily the best part of the meal when combined with the broth Nice place to swing by if you're in the area and feeling like some beef based ramen, but unfortunately not the top ramen spot in town

I dropped in here for lunch right before I had a flight to catch, and to be honest, I've already…read moredecided I'm coming back. Because I was in a rush, speed was everything, and they absolutely delivered - my ramen was hot and ready on the table within 5 minutes of ordering! The service was incredibly fast, and the staff was amazing throughout. Beyond the efficiency, the food itself tasted wonderful. The restaurant's location is excellent, and the interior is beautifully planned and decorated, giving it a really nice vibe. As a huge plus, they have multiple vegetarian options on the menu. This makes it an ideal spot for groups where some people want vegetarian dishes and others want non-veg options. If you need a delicious, top-tier bowl of ramen - even on a tight schedule - this is the place to go.

Came here about 45 minutes before closing and was seated within 5 minutes. I ordered a beer, the…read moreAkamaru Modern, and a side of corn. The beer was cold and crisp, and the corn was super tasty--I loved the Japanese-style seasoning on it. I don't know if it was just the long day of traveling, but the ramen really slapped. The broth was rich without being too heavy, and the meat was tender and delicious. Some ramen bowls can feel a little too rich for me, but I finished this entire bowl in 10 minutes. Loved this chain, solid location, and I'd definitely come again.

Decided to try the Happy hour at this Japanese place and was blown away…read more Its a small place, maybe 8 tables tops squeezed into this narrow space but it was fantastic. Gretted when we entered, we slid into one the few open tables. The decor was charming, and we were quickly gretted by our server with menus and water. My sister and I split some appetizer items so we could try various items, and every single dish was a taste sensation. The gyoza was crisp on the outside while packed with a savory meat, drizzled with sauce. The Karaage was tender chicken encased in a light fried pankostyle casing, also drizzled with a sauce, and the flavor, each bite was satisfying without being too filling. The Kabocha Kor, were panko fried pumpkin patties with a tonkatsu style sauce that brought the taste buds to a more earthier place . The Tokoyaki, were tender fried octopus balls in a sauce that I would have been happy to hunker down with a large bowl of and just crush, easily my favorite bite, which is saying something as no bute was bad . We closed with an order of Hotate, which was a grilled scallop skewer. Somewhere between sea and bay scallops in size, they were an awesome cap to the dining experience. With a this, I washed it down with a peach-weizen beer which was the perfect accompaniment to the meal. Every dish was fantastic in flavor, sauces, and texture. On top of all this, the service was excellent, and the happy hour prices very much in reason.

Taniku Izakaya might be one of the best Japanese spots I've tried in the US. Full stop. My friend…read morewas in town and had heard about this place so naturally we go check them out. They allegedly have a few limited reservation slots but a majority of their service is first come first serve. You stand in line and wait. I would not recommend coming in large groups. In fact, I'd go as far as to say groups larger than 4 are basically contraindicated. The space inside is quite tight, think narrow, barstool-height seating and tiny tables. When my friend and I were seated after about a 40 min wait, we had spent so much time perusing the menu that we basically knew what we were going to get. Service was really kind and quick. My thoughts on the food below: Kabocha croquet: these were freshly fried and served PIPING hot. The perfectly crisp exterior and soft, non mushy interior were just the perfect textures contrasted against each other. The sweetness of the pumpkin meant that the vinegar heavy house dipping sauce was a requirement not a suggestion. The side salad also provided some freshness with each bite, not that the croquets were too greasy at all! They were well drained so just the crunch remained without the oil. Tori Tsukune: these Japanese chicken meatball skewers were HUGE and DELICIOUS. Perfectly grilled with a charred taste, relentlessly tender inside. Dipped in the accompanying soy sauce and egg yolk mixture it was simply heavenly. The yolk added a mild richness to each bite. Hotate carpaccio: this was the most unique take on scallops I've had in a while. The flavors seem strange at first glance (and first taste, if I'm being totally honest), but it took no more than two chews for me to change my tune. First off, the scallops are plump, crisply sweet, and buttery soft in the way that high quality scallops are. Next, the onion and yuzu provide a sharp yet floral aroma to each bite. The floral taste was initially jarring but became addictive. The drizzle of cream sauce on top tempered the sharpness and gave the dish a smooth finish. Truly a memorable scallop dish!! Midori udon: a scallop and pesto stir fry udon dish. This was unexpected combo when I read the menu, but it was so good! The briny and sweet little scallops were cooked to a perfect tender texture and they paired well with the mild, herbaceous pesto. The udon provided the perfect slurp. While I'm more of a soup noodle girl myself, this was an addictive and unique Japanese-Italian fusion! Niku Ramen: Taniku has a lot of inventive ramen offerings but the niku ramen stood out to me. I've had and enjoyed niku udon before, though I usually find the broth to be too sweet. This dish took all the best parts of niku udon - the mountains of tender, marinated beef, the soft boiled egg, the tender onions - and put them into a richer, heartier broth with thin ramen noodles and the outcome was fantastic. One of the most memorable bowls of ramen I've had in a while. The broth was seriously delicious. I'm such a big soup person so I keep coming back to that. It wasn't too sweet or too salty in the way that a lot of noodle soup broths are, but still managed to impart a ton of flavor. The meaty, fishy flavor was so drinkable. For the quality and quantity of food vs the price you pay, I was incredibly impressed by Taniku Izakaya!!!! Just banger after banger after banger. I saw that they have some good happy hour deals as well so I will definitely be coming back for more of their delightful apps and skewers. I cannot recommend this spot enough, there's a reason people queue for it.