We came to Honolulu and saw the line outside Ramen Nakamura, so we figured it had to be worth…read moretrying. Overall, the ramen was very good, but I want to share an important tip about their waiting system so others don't get caught off guard. When your name gets close to the top of the list, do NOT wander away. They will call your name three times, and if you're not standing there, they'll cross your name off immediately. What surprised me was that they start calling names before the current customers have even finished eating or paid their bill. I had made eye contact with the host, pointed to my name and party size, and he acknowledged me. There were still people sitting at the counter eating, and it looked like it would be another 10-15 minutes before seats opened up. I stepped away briefly and came back, only to find my name had already been crossed off the list. The party that was supposedly leaving hadn't even paid yet and was still sitting in their seats. When I explained the situation, the host simply said, "Sorry, your time passed already. I called your name three times." Their sign says they will wait 3 minutes, but in our case it felt more like they called the name three times in quick succession and then removed it. Thankfully, after some discussion, he agreed to seat us anyway. So my advice: once your name is within a couple spots of being called, stay close and pay attention. As for the food, we ordered the Oxtail Ramen (spicy) and the Cashew Pork Ramen. The ramen itself was excellent. The oxtail was tender, although it didn't have a lot of flavor on its own in the soup. They provide a separate bowl with ginger and what appeared to be a ponzu-based sauce, and the intended way to eat it is to remove the oxtail from the soup and dip it into the sauce. That definitely enhanced the flavor. The restaurant is set up with bar-style seating in a half-oval arrangement. Your party will be seated shoulder-to-shoulder, and guests will be sitting directly across from you on the other side of the counter. I'd estimate there are about 25 seats total. Service is efficient, food comes out quickly, and most customers finish and leave fairly fast. For reference, we arrived at 8:38 PM on a Tuesday with 17 people ahead of us. We were seated around 9:15 PM, our food arrived by about 9:30 PM, and we left around 10:00 PM. Overall, this would have been a 5-star experience if not for the confusion with the waiting list. The ramen is absolutely worth trying, but understanding how their queue system works will save you from a potentially frustrating experience.

Passed through Ramen Nakamura at least twice a day but the lines were always very long and out of…read morethe day on the street. Skipped it then because of the long wait times, long one hour wait times. But finally got to try it for lunch, shorter wait times, about 10 minutes. The staff here are very friendly and very nice! The ramen is good and the broth here is flavorful. No leftovers, enjoy this very meal the much! Glad I was able to finally try this, would definitely recommend! As it's very hot and humid, would recommend going during when they open to avoid the long lines.

It's a rare treat when I fall in love with a place and rave about it so much that I have to have it…read moreagain. Not only that, but I have to bring my significant other along to share in the deliciousness! I don't know how I'm just now talking about Marugame Udon. When I first came here, my friend and I decided to give it a try because we saw the longest line and wanted to see what all the hype was about. There was a couple in front of us who said they come here every time they visit Hawaiʻi and that it's a must-do stop on every trip. When you walk in, it's a small place. You can watch a team member washing the noodles and portioning them into bowls right in front of you. Then you choose your bowl size, small or large, and select your broth. After that, you get to choose from a variety of fried items and other à la carte options displayed on a warmer. Seating can be limited because of how busy this place gets. You line up to get your food, pay for it, grab your condiments, utensils, and a cup of water, then find a seat and enjoy. I've already been here twice, and after writing about my experience, I need to make a third visit happen very soon! There are not enough days off in a week to enjoy all of the amazing food on this island, but I'm going to do my best to experience as many places as I can. This place is totally worth the 45-minute commute from Wahiawa.

marugame be winning the game because WOW the number of reviews is crazy. they are wildly successful…read moreyay! i think they are pretty good and consistent for the price so it's one of the viral places that sorta deserves the hype. not many tables, LONG lines, nice workers. come during like non lunch/dinner times so it's not as busy. it is famously self service - you have udon and fried stuff like tempura. the best ones are nikutama, creamy, and beef. everything runs salty here so drink lots of water and pray! noodles are always cooked well though and the meat is yum. they crack eggs into the nikutama, some people mix it. others (me) rawdog it and slurp it up like a protein-craved bodybuilder. tempura is also solid! better without sauce, i like dipping it in the broth as the tempura is not very flavorful arigato or something!

Junpuu is a Japanese style ramen restaurant on S King St, across from Neal Blaisdell concert hall…read more I've heard about this place and always wanted to go, so decided to treat myself to their ramen for dinner after a long work day. Their tantan men was fantastic (4.5/5) with rich, semi-thick, savory broth thats almost like a tonkotsu base. What really impressed me was the chicken karaage (5/5), as it really had a strong garlic flavor that melded well with the crispy batter and Himalayan salt topping. Overall, this place is a very authentic Japanrse ramen experience and I was very impressed with their food. Would 10/10 recommend and can't wait to go again soon.

Recent update. I think the eggs, pork, broth isn't as good anymore. The egg seems less marinated…read moreand not perfectly cooked. Egg was more runny rather than jammy and the white part seems slightly undercooked. It's like they just put the egg in the marinade within the last hour and took it out. It was mostly white and just the outer part has the marinade compared to last time where it really seeped in. It was inconsistent during my last 2 visit during the last 2 months. My last 5 star review was based on my multiple visits during the 1-2 years ago. The egg seems inconsistent, the broth isn't as flavorful/creamy anymore, and same with the pork. Noodles are sun noodles but it would be more tolerable if the toppings and broth can be done right. Also, there were flies/insect flying around which was bothersome. It's ok/decent ramen now or just maybe it was just today. I don't know what happened. It def dropped out of the top 3 ramen spot now unfortunately...

This has been one of our favorite places to grab a pre-movie night bite at Ward for years. I was so…read moresad to hear that the classic mall where this cozy joint is located at was being demolished in the name of progress, knowing that this place would be gone. Anticipating that they would be closing in a couple of weeks, we made sure to stop by this weekend to get our fix in. I was so eager to dig into my bowl that I ended up forgetting to snap a picture until after I'd already whacked away at it. Luckily, our server tonight told us that there's a good chance that they will be re-opening nearby in the old Scratch Kitchen location, so hopefully we can continue to enjoy this place in a different setting. My go to has always been their Beefy Wild Ramen. If I'm really hungry I'll opt for their Beefy Wild Beast when I want a pile of their awesome cha siu. My girlfriend likes both the Yuzu and Seabura. We both really enjoy their regular and spicy gyoza. There's always a short wait to get into this place, but it's worth it. Service is quick and efficient, and the food is excellent. I hope to see this place again soon, in a new location.

Kamitoku Ramen will be closing soon this month on 6/21/26 because the Ward Centre will be…read moredemolished to make way for more condos. I thought it would be just Ward Warehouse but now Ward Centre. Now I'm wondering about the Ward Theatre area. Some have found new locations but I'm not too sure about Kamitoku Ramen. I remembered they were selling from their food truck and one time offered their ramen for $5? When they opened their restaurant at Ward Centre, a bunch of us got in for the $8 ramen with a can of soda. They are always busy so I did order take out one time. I was more interested in the appetizers! Crispy beef gyoza, taro tempura and even garlic tempura. They have tofu prepared in different ways. I still haven't tried their Beefy King ramen with all the items on top! I did try their beefy seabura. I want to try here again especially the appetizers before they close this month.

Lucky Belly has an amazing ambiance with warm wood, brick, bar seating, and a stylish but…read morecomfortable dining room. The service was phenomenal from start to finish, which made the whole experience even better. I ordered the Beast Bowl, and it was rich, hearty, and packed with flavor. The bowl comes with brisket, short ribs, and oxtail won tons, along with bean sprouts, wakame, sesame seeds, green onion, ginger, and a soft egg. The broth was savory and comforting, the meat was tender, and the toppings added a nice balance of texture and freshness. Definitely a satisfying bowl if you want something bold, warm, and filling. Great spot for ramen, drinks, and a relaxed meal downtown.

I'll give this place a solid 4. We came early to have a light dinner before a show at the Hawaii…read moreTheater. I would have said 4.5 had I not noticed the large dead b52 on the floor near my seat when we were seated. Aside from that, the place looked clean. I mean.. we are in Chinatown. So.. We had the shrimp gyoza, lobster shumai, crispy duck tacos, smoked octopus, and wagyu steak cubes. Appy dishes come with 3 pieces each. The crispy duck tacos were my fave. Very flavorful. Loved the textures in that one. Lobster shumai and shrimp gyoza were good. The octopus was tender and flavorful. My Samurai X drink was yummy. My brother had the Midorikawa that was refreshing. I would come again.

This ramen spot is just a classic place. It has gotten a little more Chinese over the years, but…read moreyou don't hear me complaining. Won tons in my ramen? Oh yeahhh!! The Good: * One of my favorite dishes is the cold chicken noodles with dipping sauce. It comes on a bed of freshly cut cucumbers & noodles if you wish. Literally is such a clean delicious dish. No one else makes this kind of dish. I highly suggest if you don't wanna eat ramen that day, but you want a good stack of noodles and protein. * The tan tan ramen is the basic good stuff that never gets old. * I have also tried the sour/spicy clear brother ramen and that was real interesting and good, but I gotta be in the mood for that one The Bad: * sometimes it's so busy! gotta wait for a table The Weird: * the menu is getting larrrrrrrrrge, screaming that the restaurant is run by Chinese really lol

Was craving spicy ramen since I was feeling under the weather. Got seated really quick which was…read moregreat but did take a while to get someone to take our order or acknowledge that we've been sitting there ready. Food came out fairly quick. Food was decent and Portion was reasonable. What I didn't like was how they kept coming up to our table and trying to take away our plate and bowl as if we were finish. Not once but 3x. Seriously, I still had ramen and char sui in my bowl. Let me finish!!!. It felt like they they were trying to rush us and mind you it wasn't busy at all. To add to it, when did they start automatically adding 15% gratitude for a party of 2. I get if its a big party but for 2 or even if by yourself is unbelievable. Save yourself the trouble and eat at another ramen spot. There is a few good ones around ala moana area or in the food court as well.

We had a great experience at Momosan! From the moment we walked in, the service was outstanding…read more Guy took great care of us. he was friendly, attentive, and made us feel genuinely welcome. The food was delicious. We ordered the edamame, California roll, and the tonkotsu ramen, and everything was fresh, flavorful, and came out quickly. The ramen had a rich, comforting broth, and the California roll was well made. Overall, this was exactly the kind of meal we were hoping for. Great food, excellent service, and a welcoming atmosphere. We'd definitely come back the next time we're in Honolulu. Mahalo, Guy, for making our visit such a pleasant one!

Food - so delicious. Some of the best ramen I've had. The REAL star though are their sticky ribs…read more You gotta get them. Perfectly seasoned and fall off the bone. My bf and I both got the $35 meal sets. I also ordered a frozen beer and I thought the whole thing would be a slushie but it's only the top. Anyway it was fun and delicious. Service - no complaints. Workers were nice and things went smoothly Ambiance - lots of outdoor seating. It was casual and we had no wait.

Service: friendly floor team, easy to communicate, able to accommodate our requests, short…read morewait-time Ambiance: clean, modern, groovy Food: variety of options without being overly complicated on the menu, quality is stable and good Price: very reasonable, $$$ for 2ppl

A modern Japanese-style noodle house meets European-style brasserie? Consider me a fan of…read moreTsuruTonTan Udon Noodle Brasserie, especially with the affordable dinner set meals that are offered on a daily basis. With this much food, your entire party could share a full meal and still be satisfied with the diverse menu options that are offered. Located on the second floor of the Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center, along the busy corridor of Kalakaua Avenue, this is the second stateside location of TsuruTonTan Udon Noodle Brasserie after successfully opening in the heart of New York City. Originally founded in Osaka, Japan, TsuruTonTan specializes in authentic handmade udon, where the noodles themselves take center stage. Their goal is to have each bowl thoughtfully crafted and topped with a wide variety of ingredients, from aromatic bonito flakes and savory kombu kelp to locally sourced vegetables and meats, all carefully selected to complement the restaurant's high-quality noodles. The name TsuruTonTan draws inspiration from the sounds associated with the art of udon making. In Japanese, "Tsuru" represents the sound of slurping noodles, "Ton" evokes the kneading and shaping of the dough, and "Tan" signifies the cutting of the noodles. Together, these three sounds embody the spirit of TsuruTonTan and its dedication to the craft of handmade udon. What drew me into this location, with plenty of options surrounding them was TsuruTonTan's Special Dinner Set, which for a reasonable $38 diners would received no fewer than six menu items starting with their house salad which was fresh arugula lettuce, cherry tomatoes, and a vinaigrette and a small sampling of their Edamame. You also get a choice of Appetizer between chicken, tofu and shrimp tempura, of which I selected their Chicken Karaage. Then for your entrée, diners have the choice between six udons to select from, from your traditional soup based udons to one that particularly stood out to me, their Truffle Cream Udon, so I knew that I was going to order this menu item. As if that wasn't enough food, diners get to order one sushi roll that they handcraft here at TsuruTonTan and I selected their Sunfire Roll, which had a shrimp tempura mixed with cucumber, avocado and topped with spicy tuna. And then, for your final course, diners get to enjoy a scoop of ice cream, of which on this day our only option was rainbow sherbet. The first four courses to be presented to my table were the salad, edamame, Chicken Karaage, and my four slices of the Sunfire Roll. These four entrées probably would have been enough food and I would have been satisfied with my meal overall. The Chicken Karaage were five deep-fried nugget pieces served with lemon and piping hot upon served and the Sunfire Roll was a nice combination of sushi roll flavors. Then came my Truffle Cream Udon, which was topped with balls of crab meat, sliced truffle mushrooms, and shaved parmesan cheese. Creamy and cheesy goodness, this entrée was a hearty and heavy dish that combined the flavors of both Japan and Italy thanks to the heartiness of the udon noodles. The ice cream scoop was a nice touch to end what was already a filling meal. I really enjoyed my meal at TsuruTonTan Udon Noodle Brasserie with so many menu items to choose from it seems overwhelming. Thankfully they have a number of popular and recommended menu items that any visitor looking for a good meal can choose from. The $38 dinner set created specifically for Hawaii diners, which includes a spicy udon soup and a garlic shrimp rice dish, has already piqued my interest and given me a reason to return. And return I will, as long as the service, prices, and food remain as consistently strong as they are at TsuruTonTan Udon Noodle Brasserie. Offering elevated comfort food that seamlessly bridges cultures and culinary traditions, it stands out as a unique dining destination well worth revisiting.