Yatai is part of a large plaza filled with other restaurants, hot pots, grocers, and a Tai Kwondo dojo. We had scouted it out online, looking for a ramen place near where we were staying in Plano. Unassuming on the front, the inside is an amazing atmosphere with a vibe straight from a Shinjuku street stall. The wait staff was polite, and very nice. The chef was working away inside the replica street stall. The food arrived quickly, and was delicious! So much flavor! Everything new was somehow even better than the dish we tried before it. So good, so tasty! If we come back for another visit, Yatai is now on our list of restaurants to eat at again! read more

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I really enjoyed eating at Yatai. Their service was very fast and they didn't have a long wait for a Saturday lunch. I highly recommend their Tonkotsu Ramen which had very delicious broth. Overall, they served us well and they gave us our food within an appropriate wait time. They also played background music which contributed to the relaxing atmosphere! read more

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We were going to somewhere else but since we left late, the other place were about to close. After quick search for something nearby, this place pop up. From the outside it was plain but coming inside it was unique. They don't have tons of options that can be overwhelming sometimes, but enough to almost all of us (4 people) to order different things. My husband and I ordered the spicy tonkatsu ramen, my daughter ordered curry rice (pork katsu) and my son ordered curry ramen. Appetizers we ordered the fried squid tentacles. They are all delicious! No complaints all around. Maybe the tentacles can use be a tad bit salt seasoning but it's so minute. I'd come back again if I happen to be in the area. My daughter would definitely come again. She be in Dallas for 2 years. read more

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We visited on a Monday evening with a party of 6. We called ahead and were told a table would be ready, but when we arrived, the server still had to push tables together for us. The restaurant wasn't busy at the time, so it was no big deal, but worth noting. The service was actually the highlight of the night, and earned this review one additional star simply because of the effort involved. Else it would be a 3 star review. There was only one server running the entire front of house while the restaurant got progressively busier, and only two chefs in the kitchen. Despite being swamped, the server worked her tail off. She didn't mess up a single order for our large group and kept things moving. I greatly appreciated her hard work. Appetizers (5/5): The wait for food was noticeable due to the staffing, but the appetizers were worth it. We ordered the Edamame, Yatai Gyoza, Agedashi Tofu, and Takoyaki, and all of them were delicious. Entrees (3/5): Unfortunately, the main courses were a bit basic compared to the starters. The Tonkotsu Ramen was strictly average; I've definitely had better broth and noodles elsewhere. If you are looking for the top-tier quality izakaya, Mr. Max Izakaya in Irving is hands down better option. However, you have to wait an hour for a table there. read more

Food is always amazing and the waiters are so kind! I can always count on this place to fill me up!

I picked up the Miso Ramen, which is $17 which I really feel is a bit over priced. But it was good and decent ramen. Nothing I haven't before though. Sweet girls working in the restaurant. Although I just picked up the inside was very nice. Not crowded for a Friday night. My To go was packaged well. No spills. read more

Yatai Ramen Izakaya - Miso Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Plano, Texas

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They offer gluten free buckwheat noodles! They were the closest to traditional ramen noodles I have had from anywhere that has gluten free noodle options. Everything was super delicious. Our server was so kind and can back after a bit to see how I was liking the noodles. Ambience was so cozy and relaxed. Will ABSOLUTELY come back when I'm in Dallas. read more

This is a cute place hidden away that's perfect to lock eyes with your date as you slurp away delicious noodles. The broth itself is clear and yet so rich. There's a wonderful flavor burst when you slurp down the deliciously chewy ramen. We ordered quite a few appetizers and all were a hit. The portions are Texan size despite being a Japanese restaurant so be prepared to take home tasty leftovers. The only downside was there was only one server so the poor person was always running like crazy. She was always trying her hardest to bring out food to everyone but it was so busy. read more

Pretty solid place if you're looking for ramen nearby. I got the spicy Tonkatsu ramen this time which I found better than their Shoyu ramen but that might just be a personal preference. The decor is cute inside. I tried to get their yelp check in deal but they said they no longer do that. Overall not bad if you're in the area. read more

Yatai Ramen Izakaya - Spicy Tonkotsu Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Plano, Texas

My son recommended this Japanese restaurant for good Ramen. We arrived on a late afternoon on a Saturday, the place was half full. My son was not too hungry so he said this restaurant sells small bowls called Mini Ramen ($8.95) we added three appetizers, (1) tempura veggies, (2) garlic edamame and (3) salmon onigiri. In addition we ordered a beef short rib plate called LA Galbi ($16.95) to share. Service was good, ambiance and decor was ok, but this was a little overpriced. I have ordered vegetable tempura at many restaurants, and I never got this little food (2 slices of sweet potato, 2 slices of zucchini, and one onion ring) for $6.95. The (grilled or pan fried) beef short rib was basically six actual small pieces of beef, each with one bone attached, on grilled onions, served on a cast iron metal plate (similar to the one they use to serve fajitas). This small plate was not very much for the price, the plate came all alone, nothing on the side. That was disappointing. We drank water. Dinner for two was $60 dollars. read more

Decent ramen, the Tonkotsu was ok. Ramen shops in the US aren't that great. They don't understand that's it not just broth, it's the Tare along with the broth that makes the flavor so good. That being said this was decent. read more

Do not use their website / app to order food! It will make everything harder. it is supposed to be helpful to them, but you have to deal with all of the issues because of it. read more

Stopped by and tried this place we saw in a shopping center. Ordered the food to go. I ordered some ramen and my partner order pork katsu. The ramen wasn't the typical ramen I'm used to. The noodles were much thinner. The broth was ok but not very spicy even with the pepper sauce added. The staff was very friendly and the wait time wasn't bad. The pork katsu my partner said lacked flavor also and they didn't even finish it. I'm not sure if I would return. I wouldn't order the ramen again but the meat in my ramen wasn't bad on flavor so maybe if I return I'll just try rice or something else from them. read more

Yatai Ramen Izakaya - Spicy Tonkotsu Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Plano, Texas

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I ordered de R12 Go! Vegan ramen. No flavor, the only taste I get is from eating the green onion. Noodles are plain and taste/feel cheaper than any instant ramen. As I was eating I came upon something very hard, I checked and there was a sharp piece of plastic I almost swallowed. I also ordered Edamame and asked for salt to be added, they are plain, brownish/old and without salt. read more

Yatai Ramen Izakaya - Sharp plastic in the ramen. - Ramen Near Me - Plano, Texas

Came here on a cold day and it hit the spot. = Tonkatsu broth was tasty, but could have used more noodlesand chasu was probably the thinnest I've ever had + Soft shell crab was good + Okonomiyaki was tasty = Salmon and ume Onigiris we're good Only downside was that it was so busy that they didn't pass my water refill test. read more

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Okonomiyaki and the ramen were splendid, a tad bit overpriced and they take their tip before handing the check. Friendly staff and cozy interior. Unpleasant smell whenever you come in and towards the back. read more

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The ambiance is really nice and cute! The food is also pretty good. I get the dumplings as well as the spicy tonkotsu. It's not the BEST I have ever had, but it is still really good and it's a lot of food. It's also in a strip with a bunch of other asian places to try for desert! read more

Areeba and I walked in here on a Sunday morning on a whim, and it was a pleasant surprise. The vibes are immaculate and the food is pretty decent. It was the perfect tucked into a corner ramen shop vibe. I'd rate it 7 s/10. ------------ Unfortunately they only have one veggie ramen option, but it did taste pretty decent (8/10). We added a soy sauce egg to it along with spicy sauce and it really pulled it together nicely. We also had the shrimp fried dumplings. I've never had these before and they were delicious fried balls of goodness (9/10). The main reason I rated this place down was the lack of several veggie options, but what we had was pretty good. Price: both things total was $27 ish read more

Yatai Ramen Izakaya - Ramen Near Me - Plano, Texas

Delicious food and wonderful service. There were a few other Tables but we got our food pretty quickly. Husband loved the okonomiyaki. Fried chicken was good but paired with tartar sauce was a bit weird. Soft shell crab was perfectly flaky and soft on the inside. We also tried the small tonkotsu ramen. The texture of the noodles were amazing. Chashu and eggg were on point as well read more

Yatai Ramen Izakaya - Tori Karaage; Soft Shell Crab; Okonomiyaki - Ramen Near Me - Plano, Texas

I ordered the vegan ramen, and it was decent although the noodles came undercooked and the broth was basically pure salt and no spice or flavorings. The toppings were very tasty and arranged in picture-worthy condition. Service was excellent, we had a main waitress, but another brought our food while another wished us a good day when we left. read more

Yatai Ramen Izakaya - Go Vegan Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Plano, Texas

This place was so good. My friend and I split the shasito peppers sprinked with parm, a tea pot of green tea and we both got the spicy chicken ramen. I would definitely come back, the ambience was chill - not fancy but not fast casual either. Service was excellent. read more

Yatai Ramen Izakaya - Ramen Near Me - Plano, Texas

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The soup it is ok ... but to expensive for a small piece of meet they give you!! Don't spend your money here, and if you ask for more hot sauce or lemon you have to pay, they don't put anything in the table, like soy sauce or salt read more

Yatai Ramen Izakaya - Kimchi ramen - Ramen Near Me - Plano, Texas

one of the authentic broth Japanese Ramen & Izakaya in the area! Broth made from scratch was very refreshing and flavorful, noodle was cooked just right! And izakaya menus were also very tasty! ( I personally recommend agedashi tofu and whole squid! read more

Yatai Ramen Izakaya - Whole Grilled Squid - Ramen Near Me - Plano, Texas

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Plano makes me feel right at home, with more and more authentic Japanese eats popping up every month. Head here after taking your mom shopping at the Asian grocery next door. We shared a round (or two, three, four?) of gyoza dumplings to start. It's really hard to mess up ramen at a joint like this, and I must say their tonkatsu broth was on point. Split around a dessert mochi to cool you down. read more

This restaurant is located in a nice area near an Asian grocery market and some bakeries. The ambience is nice and it's got a handful of tables for seating. We got ramen and I ordered takoyaki as an appetizer. The spicy ramen was pretty good (the spice makes it so flavorful) and the takoyaki was excellent. Like most ramen places you can add additional toppings to your ramen. They give a good amount of food so definitely come hungry! read more

this place is ok. Came in here on a Saturday with my mom and checked into yelp for free edamame appetizer to start. There was a steady stream of customers during lunchtime, but it wasn't packed. the place is nice and convenient. the servers nice and attentive. However, the ramen is sort of standard and boring. I wasn't really impressed with the broth or noodles. nothing to get excited about. they have a nice selection of sesame, hot oil and pepper flakes at the table, but would have liked some fresh garlic. I wouldn't come here unless i was really desperate for noodle soup and no where else nearby was open. :/ #fattypatty not impressed... read more

Yatai Ramen Izakaya - Ramen Near Me - Plano, Texas

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This used to be my go to ramen place, I always loved everything and anything that I ordered. However this last time I went everything was BLAND and salty and on top of that they've started charging extra for things that used to be free, like making the ramen spicier. I had ordered their new kimchi bacon ramen, Kimchi something that's so full of flavor and spicy tasted so bland. The only thing i enjoyed was the pork, that never fails to disappoint (hence where the 3 stars is coming from), it's so soft and just melts in your mouth. I could eat 30 of them if given the chance! I don't know yet if I'll be back. I'm hoping this experience was just a blip and the staff was having an off day. When I'm back in town I'll give it another go. On a side note, this place does have a GREAT lunch special that's worth the $$$. You get an app, ramen and salad for around 10 dollars and it fills you up! read more

Yatai Ramen Izakaya - Kimchi bacon ramen - Ramen Near Me - Plano, Texas

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This is where I'll go when I crave authentic Japanese food. We tried their tonkotsu, karrage, and galbi, all of which were delicious. Even the ramen was solid! Karrage and galbi were juicy and flavorful and freshly made. We went on a weekend but the weekday lunch menu price seems to be a steal for the quality! There're also many yummy dessert shops in the same strip (Mecca matcha, Meet Fresh). I'd be here all the time if I worked/lived in the area. read more

It's been awhile since I last had a ramen bowl so sure enough I find myself Yelping for a good place to have one. Browsing through the reviews I've seen a few Yelpers mentioned curry ramen and I thought to myself I've never had it before. So, here I am drooling over a picture and can't wait to drive my always hungry self to Yatai Ramen Izakaya. It was 4pm and the place is quite busy. I was seated and told the girl right away what I wanted. As soon as my bowl of ramen is placed on my table, the smell of Japanese curry has hit my senses. It's very aromatic and I just can't wait to dig in. The ramen itself is topped with boiled egg, shrimp tempura, corn, and slices of pork belly. The flavor is so wonderful and I thought to myself how come I never ordered Curry Ramen before. The broth is rich and coats the al dente ramen noodles perfectly. Although I've never been to Japan but this place looks like a small ramen shop taken right out from it. The decor, the greeting when you come in and just the ambience. They serve you efficiently and with a smile. I can't wait to go back when the weather is more fitting for some more ramen. read more

Yatai Ramen Izakaya - Curry Ramen. So rich and so good. - Ramen Near Me - Plano, Texas

Solid izakaya experience close to home! First off, let me say that the okonomiyaki was excellent. I wish I snapped a picture, but my wife and I devoured it on sight. It's not your typical junky cabbage pancake drenched in mayo. Instead it was wonderfully balanced, savory, and lightly dressed with mayo. My only complaint was the size of the cabbage chunks. Not very Japanese. The Tonkotsu Ramen was good, but not out of this world. It's on par with typical izakaya ramen in Japan, but there are a few better spots around town that deliver the premium ramen experience. In general, I think broth was a little too lightly flavored and the ginger pieces were sometimes overpowering. Eggs were a little overcooked and under-marinated for my taste, but I'm an egg guy. Definitely a great vibe, and an easy dinner spot. read more

Yatai Ramen Izakaya - Tonkotsu Ramen w/ extra egg - Ramen Near Me - Plano, Texas

Best/one of the only hakata ramen options I've gotten to visit in the area. 3 stars if I had this in SoCal, but +1 for being in this hakata ramen desert. This by far beats all the garden-variety "trendy modern take on a Japanese staple" fusion ramen options poppin' up in Dallas like rabbit babies. (As if ramen needed to be "modernized" or Americanized in the first place.) From the "いらっしゃいませ" (irasshaimase / welcome) you hear from everyone when you walk in the door to the "ありがとうございました" (arigatou gozaimashita / thank you), the experience is a great tribute to the art of Japanese ramen. Yatai offers both hakata and sapporo styles, with recommended types of noodles for each of the different broths it serves. The four big styles of ramen are shoyu (soy sauce), miso (soybean paste), shio (salt), and tonkatsu (pork). Didn't see shio, but the menu does include many many other options, including tsukemen (noodles that you dip into broth), some experimental stuff like the kimchi bacon one, and lots of non-ramen options, too! There's also a vegan option, so I'll never feel guilty for not being able to invite my vegetarian/vegan friends again. \\ spicy tonkatsu - i don't usually get spicy from a place for my first visit because it distracts me from savoring the broth but it worked out - just the right level of spice for me, but my sister found it too strong - bowl was big enough for the two of us to share - don't drink the soup!! it's salty on purpose to flavor the noodles - bamboo shoots and ginger and seaweed and egg and so many slices of pork! this is so so right up my alley, more so than the hokkaido butter and corn sapporo ramen... - stellar but i might get non-spicy next time \\ shoyu - smoky accents in the fantastic deep shoyu broth - comes with sapporo noodles by default, which seems quite appropriate given the nature of the broth (you need resilient noodles to take on the strong broth) yay - lots of parking - great plaza with dessert options next door for round two and three and four - fantastic service - check in on yelp for free edamame - reasonable price of less than $10 per bowl, pre-tax (unlike other places hoping to cash in on the "trend") I'm fed up with places downtown that are so greasy and "fusioned." Even if this place isn't Japanese-owned, seems like a place I'll be able to trust with my ramen craves. This is it, y'all. read more

Yatai Ramen Izakaya - spicy tonkatsu hakata ramen - Ramen Near Me - Plano, Texas

Had dinner here in a Saturday night. The weather had us craving Ramen. This place delivered on both flavor and service. Will continue to come here. I highly recommend the Kimchi Bacon Ramen and garlic edamame. read more

My favorite thing about this place is the mini ramen size ($8)! I like the Sapporo style noodles but not the Hakata style. My mini ramen came with 1 piece of chashu, but we were disappointed that the regular size ($14) also only came with 1 piece of chashu (but did get an egg that the mini didn't get). Fried squid ($9) ws yummy. It hit the spot, and I would come back again next time I'm already in the area. read more

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I ordered delivery from here for lunch today for my brother and myself. We got the Katsu Curry Rice and Chashu Fried Rice. The Katsu Curry was pretty flavorful and well cooked--no complaints there. However, the Chashu Rice was not really what I expected. I thought it would be pieces of Chashu pork over a bed of fried rice, but the Chashu was actually broken into very small pieces and fried into the rice. It was still good, but there was this smokey flavor that was kind of overpowering for the dish. It wasn't too bad though, and I was still able to enjoy it. If I come back here again, I probably wouldn't get the Chashu Fried Rice again, but just because the flavor was not to my personal preference. I would definitely recommend the Katsu Curry though! read more

Yatai Ramen Izakaya - Katsu Curry Rice (I hadn't poured on the curry yet) - Ramen Near Me - Plano, Texas

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Although I'm not Japanese, ramen is no stranger to me. Every now and then I fix myself some quick ramen at home when hunger strikes late at night. I especially like the small packet of seasoning that instantly transforms the stringy, chewy noodles into a delightful snack. It's good to see a ramen noodle place added to the lineup of Asian cuisines in the area, which is still growing. The restaurant is not too big. But when you walk in, you get a feel of ethnicity: the Japanese lamps, the wooden partitions, the open kitchen/serving area, arrays of bottle rice wine, etc. We ordered the popular spicy ramen. The broth was so rich and flavorful. You may find it on the saltier side. But it was just right for me because I like it strong. The pork slices were yummy also - very tender with a nice smoky flavor. But there were only two thin slices, barely enough for me. I wish there were three or more. The spicy level was a little bit lame. Overall, it was really good. We also ordered some fried chicken nuggets, which were chunky and lightly breaded. Nothing Japanese in particular, but the flavor was good. The portion was more than we expected. We later ordered a bowl of rice to go with it. Delicious! The menu is just an over-sized double-sided sheet, but it's packed with savory items. I'm sure we'll come back to try some other items. read more

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First time I've been to a ramen spot in Plano. Was excited to try it out but disappointed in the Quality and slooow Service. The Food - Shrimp tempura and the Pork Gyoza, was flavorless (0 Flavor, even the dipping sauce didn't help). Servers were avoiding our area like we had a 4 legged monkey sitting on the table. Unless Jesus calls and tells me it taste better now, I probably won't be going back.. read more

I love the decor of the place and they have excellent food as well! I've had their ramen for lunch and it's such a good deal for $12!!! During my last visit I decided to order non-ramen items. I ordered the grilled smelt fish and sardines and found them to be decent - the smelt fish seemed a bit soggy and I wished the sardine skin was a bit crunchier. The fish cake soup (nabe oden) was amazing though! I definitely recommend it! It was super hearty and had a rich, tasty broth! Yum! My girlfriend ordered the chicken karaage and galbi beef ribs and she found them to be pretty good. The galbi was a bit chewy for her though and the fat to meat ratio was a bit high. They have other things on the menu that I would love to try out, so I will definitely come back! read more

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Having late dinner here with Wifey. My first time here. I ordered Tonkatsu Ramen. The Ramen they used is called Sapporo Noodles with two pieces of meat, tasted like pork. Nothing fancy taste just a regular ramen. My wife ordered Shoyu Ramen. Her's taste salty and did not taste like Shoyu Ramen. Small serving for the pricey menu. They should have used a smaller bowl that would easily fit all the ingredients and ramen noodles. They used a large bowl to pretend that their servings are big. Serving staff are courteous and helpful. This ramen place is quiet, but due to their loud piped-in music, it makes this place like a club. Since it was late, maybe the manager left and the staff put up the audio louder than it should be. TIP: Only Water is free. Green tea is $2 per person. Their ramen is over rated. read more

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Pretty good!!! When there's a ton of ramen shops in the area, ya never know which one to choose from but this was worth it. My 4 stars instead of 5 is simply because the tofu is flavorless and SO SOFT. Like basically straight from the block lol. BUT the ramen itself was good. I placed a takeout order and they had it done on time. The payment process when picking up was quick and easy and the guys in there working were friendly. read more

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My husband and I stopped in during happy hour but we weren't too big of a fan of the bento box ideas (though it seemed like a good idea for other people); we sorta wished there was a deal for ramen during happy hour! Because... why not Yatai RAMEN Izakaya?? I suppose it's their way of promoting other dishes on their menu! I loved my ramen bowl that I ordered though - everything about it absolutely hit the nail on the head for me. The whole bowl was filling and it was definitely cooked with lots of love. We also had a side of edamame because we used Yelp's check-in feature - UM that was yummy! Our waitress was also very accommodating and friendly. If we're ever in Texas again, we are sure to stop by! read more