The food here was INCREDIBLE and well worth the wait. To be transparent, I did wait almost an hour around dinner time (7pm). The inside is tiny and there isn't even a proper "waiting" area. I've also tried coming here before, and there was also a long wait. I'm glad I decided to stick it out this time. We ordered the Wagyu sushi, Yakitori, Tonkotsu Miso Ramen, and the Tomato Ramen. The Wagyu sushi is torched right in front of you! The Wagyu was incredibly tender and the sauce was delicious. My only *nitpicky* critique is the rice was ever so slightly too moist, but that didn't stop me from inhaling the sushi. Next, the Yakitori was phenomenal. I've never had such tender chicken in my life. There was a nice layer of delicious sauce coating the skewer. Again, just a really nitpicky feedback I have was that I wish the Yakitori had the tiniest bit more char to it, but nevertheless was an incredible bite, and I'd 100% order again in a heartbeat. Onto the ramen - easily hands down one of the best ramen I've had in DFW. The broth is flavorful, and I love the noodles. I'm not sure if they're handmade from scratch, but they had the perfect thickness and chewiness. I also loved generous the portion of cha shu slices. Most other places only give you 1-2 thin slices, but that was not the case here. The pork was tender. The ajitama was solid too, although I prefer more of a soft-boiled egg. While the meat portion is more generous here, the tonkotsu didn't come with many vegetables. A lot of other ramen places I've been to will have corn, fried garlic, etc as default, but those are all additional cost add-ons here. The ramen was delicious without them though but just something to note. We also got the tomato ramen as it's the chef recommendation. The dish is very creative and the execution was great. Personally, I still prefer traditional ramens but it was certainly a nice culinary creation to try. Overall, I would definitely recommend this place and would come here again. Just be aware there may be a wait, and because they're so busy, you do have to proactively flag down staff. However, the staff are still really nice despite all the tasks they're juggling at once. read more

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I'm going to preface this by saying there's a lot of potential here but it's sufficient for the demographic that it serves. We got spicy gyoza to start, black pork tonkatsu w/ small curry rice bowl and a spicy dan dan. Gyoza came smothered in their sweet garlic chilli which defeats the purpose of a crispy gyoza skirt. It might be better to retain the crisp and crunch of the gyoza skin with the chilli sauce on the side? On to the ramen -- if you want to know if you're getting a quality bowl, look no further than the preparation of the egg. No respectable ramen shop would serve you well done boiled eggs which was the case here. The tonkatsu had heavy garlic flavor which is good but was unfortunately overshadowed by the abundance of burnt garlic bits. Not much to say about the Dan Dan. Bathroom clean but had a strong smelled. Would not go out of my way nor return with the amount of noodle options in dfw. read more

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Way over-rated. We ordered different ramen choices as well as the mackerel and buns. The only tasty item is the mackerel. Really salty broth. Dan dan noodles - noodles was way over-cooked as were the ramen. The buns were nothing to write home about. Price point is decent. read more

This was my second time after not liking it the first time and it absolutely blew my mind.The first time I had the black garlic ramen and it was all oil. This time I got the spicy tonkotsu and it was amazing. Pork was tender and buttery. I loved the egg and bamboo shoots. The broth was savory. The outstanding item was the spicy chili crispy oil on top and on the dumplings. Honestly, my second try was some of the best ramen I've had in the states. This place is a bit on the oilier side but it is good if you get the Spicy Tonkotsu. I also like the setup. It is built like a traditional Izakaya with a bar in front of an open kitchen. Seating is limited. read more

Perfect on a cold day. I like the genuine vibes when you walk in. The premium miso is by far the best ramen I've had in years. Food was fast and service was efficient. I can't wait to try the rest of the menu. read more

WAYA Japanese Izakaya - Premium miso +raw garlic - Japanese Near Me - Dallas, Texas

I eat at a lot of Japanese ramen restaurants, and this was by far the most disappointing meal I've had in a long time. We ordered the Chicken Shoyu Ramen, Teriyaki Chicken Curry, Wagyu Sushi (4 pcs), and the Honey Chicken Bowl. Unfortunately, the only decent item was the Wagyu sushi. The Honey Chicken Bowl had soggy chicken, and the sticky rice was overcooked. In addition, the interior is not very spacious and isn't well suited for groups. Overall, the experience did not meet expectations. read more

Order: - spicy 6 piece pork gyoza - tonkotsu shoyu ramen w chicken - kyoto white yuzu ale This place is so great. It's a small, hole in the wall, family feel with great service and even better food! The spicy gyozas were cooked in this super good sauce that had a slight kick with spice but not intolerable. (I want to know what that sauce is! So good!). The sauce leaves a nice crisp on the top too. The ramen is great and the chicken is very tender and seasoned well. Don't let the small wait fool you when you walk in. Bring your patience to wait for a table because it's so worth it! read more

Had a really good bowl of spicy tonkatsu and some gyoza for a late lunch. Broth was perfect and flavorful. Friendly and efficient service. Trendy and clean dining area. I will definitely be returning! read more

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WOW!! I eat ramen often, everywhere I travel. This is hands down the best ramen I've had. I can't critique it, it's that good. The service was excellent and everything I ordered was absolutely top notch. I'm only in Dallas for a couple days but I might be eating here again before I go. The owner is also exceptional-- he gave us a free snack to try, and the waitress seared it at the table with a blow torch. Want to support a worthy small business? Give this one a try! read more

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Tasty ramen but I don't know if it was worth waiting almost an hour for. While we were waiting for food it was difficult to get the host's attention for basic things like water. It ended up being a stressful meal because we were running on a time crunch. I usually don't expect ramen to take so long because all the ingredients are usually prepared ahead of time and the wait is for the assembly. And not getting any updates from the staff was a bit of a let down. The ramen was tasty, though, and I certainly recommend for those who are in the area and want a solid, comforting meal. Just expect to be killing some time. read more

WAYA Japanese Izakaya - Black Tonkotsu Ramen - Japanese Near Me - Dallas, Texas

Wow what a fantastic spot! Waya has an extensive menu that offers lots of izakaya options! A great spot for when you're craving different dishes. The gyozas were pan fried to perfection, with a beautiful crispy bottom. The tonkotsu shoyo ramen portion was massive, especially enjoyed the bamboo shoots. Really enjoyed this spot, will definitely return! read more

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Good and quick service, delicious ramen and gyoza! One of our favorite ramen spots in Dallas! The staff is attentive with quick service. Always a good place for a Japanese beer with some flavorful ramen! We have sat at the bar but there are also plenty of tables for bigger groups. read more

WAYA Japanese Izakaya - Gyoza - Japanese Near Me - Dallas, Texas

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The ramen here was full of flavor! I ordered the spicy tonkatsu, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The interior of this restaurant is smaller so on the weekends, do expect a small wait to get inside. I would definitely come back here, and I recommend this place do all ramen lovers! read more

WAYA Japanese Izakaya - Spicy Tonkotsu Ramen - Japanese Near Me - Dallas, Texas

Love how small and quaint this ramen shop is. The flavor on the tomato ramen and black garlic ramen are both great and noodles were perfectly done. Gyoza were delicious. Ways buns were a little dry and needed some dipping sauce, but generously filled. Enjoyed checking this place out and understand why then made D's best ramen list. read more

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Food was amazing, great vibes, staff was fun and I can't wait to take my whole family here. read more

Wow this place is a hidden gem. Big win for Lakewood: When you enter we had to wait for someone to come up to talk to us just to sit. Very packed small venue but it was worth the wait Ordered the Tonkotsu Shoyu with a Ashahi on tap and it was phenomenal. No notes, just great food that seems to be prepared fresh. Highly recommend as this trumps any ramen place I've been to in the city read more

This is the best ramen I've had so far in Dallas! The broth was actually spicy, and there was a generous amount of char siu pork. I appreciated the variety between bar seating and regular table seating. I came for lunch on a Sunday and there was no wait, whereas for dinner on Friday there was a line out the door read more

WAYA Japanese Izakaya - Spicy Tonkotsu Ramen - Japanese Near Me - Dallas, Texas

My go-to place in Dallas for Ramen! Food is always excellent. It can get packed as it is a small space but love how private it can still feel. Loved their coffee jelly! It is a must-try if you are a coffee lover like me. read more

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The food was great but pricy. The restaurant is very small so if you're claustrophobic, don't go here, you've been warned. The restroom needs some curve appeal. The front door makes it look like it's really dirty inside. You have to go past a dirty curtain to get to the restroom. And then they have storage in front of the restroom. The restroom is dirty. read more

Great food but even better service - cold beer and great ramen. I recommend you try the gyoza too!

Great ramen. Vibes are okay. Maybe need better bartender. Pretty sub par service. RAMEN WAS GREAT!! SPICY! read more

WAYA Japanese Izakaya - Spicy Ramen - Japanese Near Me - Dallas, Texas

Not the Waya I remember, but the food was still good. This is the only place I've ever had spinach in my Ramen, and playing Metallica. I wonder if they switched owners since I was last in read more

Easily would say this is the best ramen spot in Dallas. The food was amazing, flavors were at an 11/10. Chefs were right in front of us and so sweet the whole time! The price for quality/quantity ratio is amazing. The best best best. Wow. Monday night had no wait, but I wouldn't be surprised if other nights has quite a wait with how amazing this place is. We ordered the Spicy Edamame, Premium Spicy Miso (yellow broth picture), and the Spicy Black Tonkotsu. read more

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OMG soooooo good! It's a pretty tiny place but didn't wait long for seating. I love the vibe! Everything we ordered was delicious. I really enjoyed the pork dumplings that had a little kick but not too bad. The spicy edamame was killing me... haha was trying to get the kick to subside but it wasn't working until the ramen came. The ramen was so good, I was impressed!!! Can't wait to come back! read more

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The food was ok, so didn't see the hype. The noodles were the best they had a really great flavor, the buns were oily and not much flavor on the sweet or salty aspect. And the dumplings were just ok, it was cold and I filled up but it's wasn't the best i'm the city. read more

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Food is so delish! Ramen is out of this world. Eveeything I order is really good and worth every penny.

I got here right when it opened for dinner around 5. I rec this since it gets packed fast and with its limited seating- wait times can reach over an hour. The inside was clean and imitates a Japanese ramen shop. The service was fast and helpful with recommendations. I went with their suggestion of the porkrib tonkotsu ramen ($19) that's only available for dinner. The broth was so rich and the meat portion was huge and tender!! I liked it more than I expected to. My friend got the beef gyudon bowl and the chicken shoyu ramen. They said both were good and I don't doubt that. Solid ramen place in the Dallas area so be prepared to either wait or come early! It's very popular and with good reason. read more

WAYA Japanese Izakaya - Pork rib tonkotsu ramen (dinner special) - Japanese Near Me - Dallas, Texas

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I was craving this place all week. Came at 3:00 pm Sunday and they told us they are closed while there was 3 people eating there. It's a restaurant. Why would they close for an hour? I'm hungry and this upset me very much. Not for the service or the food , just because I really been craving this all week , and I seen those people eating and wished it was me. read more

Hmmm...all the ramen, none of the hype. Kind of a hole in the wall in a strip mall. Great reviews are well deserved. This is really good ramen! Spicy tonkotsu is the bomb! Miso is good as well. Get the spicy edamame app. Beer and sake. Great service. Great prices. Great food. No wait!!! I'm all in! read more

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This was my first time visiting this restaurant, and I was really impressed. Many of the items we tried were delicious. The spicy edamame had a nice kick and was very tasty. It was my first time trying yakisoba, and I couldn't believe how flavorful it was. This experience reminded me of how wonderful Japanese food can be. Even though the restaurant was quite busy, the staff was excellent and attentive. read more

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Don't see myself coming back here. Only rating this 3 stars because our waitress was sweet. The restaurant didn't have running AC and it was extremely hot. I was drenched in sweat when I left. I split the salmon onigiri with my boyfriend and it was very disappointing. Save yourself the trouble-it's mostly rice. The only salmon is crumbled on top. The matcha beer was okay. It was a cool experience trying a new beer. The lychee drink was good. The dipping ramen was mediocre at best, definitely not like any dipping ramen I've ever tried. It looked like they just put regular ramen noodles in the bowl and gave me regular broth. I'm used to dipping ramen having thicker noodles and broth. Also the meat was not very good, it was kind of hard to chew. Unfortunately based on our experience here neither my friends or I will be returning. We really wanted to like this place. read more

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Honestly this place is so good. This is my favorite ramen in DFW, I've become a regular! The service is always friendly even if they fall a bit behind when they're busy. It's such a small cute place, I just wish they would open a larger spot. Much love read more

The spicy pork dumplings - incredible but the sauce on top was more sweet than spicy. I didn't mind it at all. Ramen was good, if you think a thicker, creamier broth, then this is a good place.. but it felt a little heavy for me that day. Service was great! read more

WAYA Japanese Izakaya - Spicy Pork Dumplings - Japanese Near Me - Dallas, Texas

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The BEST ramen in Dallas. & the spicy pork gyoza is soooo good too. I am a frequent customer & always get the chili tomato ramen & it never disappoints. The staff is also incredibly kind and will answer any questions even if it's super busy. read more

WAYA Japanese Izakaya - Spicy Pork Gyoza Dumplings - Japanese Near Me - Dallas, Texas

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This is my absolutely favorite ramen spot in Dallas. This location is bomb and very convenient for me! I've taken so many of my friends here and given so many food recommendations to this restaurant!! Wait time can be slow if they are crowded as it is a small place when waiting for a seat or waiting to order. The decor and seating arrangement is very typical to the ramen shops I've been to in NYC. The chicken shoyu ramen is my go-to! It is the most flavorful ramen you will have, and yes you can quote me lol. I've tried others in the area and this one does not compare. Obviously this is a shoyu based ramen so taste and body is different to other restaurants in the area so take note. There is parking all around the strip mall so it isn't tricky. You can park as far or close as you want. The staff are friendly and nice. They work a lot. I witnessed coming a few minutes till close the last time I dined. And although we had to wait and ended up being the last party for the night, they treated us in no rush and the quality of the ramen was still up to par! read more

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Went in on a whim for a late dinner and it was great. Only thing that was annoying was the workers not saying anything to us until some seats were ready. They were acting like we were not standing in the restaurant. It was a bit off putting but the food made up for it haha. read more

WAYA Japanese Izakaya - Japanese Near Me - Dallas, Texas

It was our first time coming. The food was so delicious and the service was great. Will be back again.

All three of the ramen with meat tasted amazing! They all had lots of flavor and the meat was nice and tender. I was hesitant about trying the tomato ramen, but it tasted like spaghetti and I really liked it. Definitely something I'd order again when I go. My brother got the Yakisoba with chicken and he said it tasted pretty good and that the sauce on it gave it a sweet flavor. The Aburi Shimesaba is a lightly seared cured mackerel. They sear it right in front of you and it tasted much better than I expected it to! The pork gyoza was delicious! I loved the sauce that was provided to dip them in. It tasted great by itself, but dipping it in the sauce made it much more flavorful. The lime edamame was great - everyone really enjoyed it. Out of the two different Mochi ice cream flavors we got to try, I would say that I definitely enjoyed the strawberry one more. I also ordered the pineapple green tea (not pictured), and I highly recommend getting it - it's SO good! Overall, this is a great spot to go if you're craving ramen. They have plenty of options you can choose from. Also, the customer service was excellent and that's always a plus in my book. read more

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They DONT use yelp for pick up. Idk why yelp would give me the option to order. Can't figure out how to get my money back. I went there and paid for my food again. At least they didn't charge me for my drink. I'd recommend using a different platform to order from. This is purely yelp's problem, I love Waya and the food there. read more

Delicious Japanese food here and quick service! Reminds me of some of the Japanese restaurants I went to in Tokyo. Bar style seating and cute decor. Great gyoza, ramen with so many options, and the millicrepe cake was a fantastic way to finish the meal! Japanese sodas and drinks are available here as well! read more

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