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    Za-Ya

    4.5 (58 reviews)
    Open 12:00 pm - 4:00 PM, 5:30 PM - 9:00 PM
    Updated 2 weeks ago

    Order Za-Ya Takeout or Delivery

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    ZA-YA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Trendy
    Good for kids
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Za-Ya

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    Brandon N.

    Had dinner at Za-Ya in Brooklyn and tried the Gyukotsu Miso Ramen ($19), Saba ($12), Saikoro Steak ($14), and the Cucumber starter ($8). The ramen was everything you want in a bowl -- a hearty, beef bone marrow broth with layers of flavor, bouncy chewy noodles, and an egg cooked perfectly. The short rib inside was extremely tender, and the toppings of fried garlic, green onions, and wood ear mushrooms added even more depth. The saba (miso-braised mackerel) was another highlight: extremely tender and moist, probably the best-prepared mackerel I've had, with a miso sauce that complemented it perfectly. The saikoro steak came as chunky, tender bites with a soy-vinegar garlic sauce that tied it all together beautifully. And the cucumber starter was cold, refreshing, and carried a nice spicy kick. Za-Ya nails Japanese comfort food with care and balance. The ramen and saba alone are worth the trip, and the sides round out a very satisfying meal.

    Jennifer N.

    The chicken karaage here is really good! Its big size pieces and so moist and tender. The ramen is also tasty, it was my friend and I first time having beef broth for ramen. We're used to a pork base but it was a nice change. The portions are good too. My friend had a glass of sake and I got a yuzu cocktail which were fine. I just wished there was more toppings like egg or bamboo shoots etc it looked a little naked. Overall a solid spot if you're in the neighborhood

    Tan Tan noodles
    Will N.

    Cute, modern interior with a decent menu selection. As someone who actually prefers dry noodles, I was pleased to find the brothless Tan Tan Noodles. It has a nice al dente finish and surprisingly spicy taste. I usually request additional spices/seasoning but didn't need to hear. I tried my guest's ramen soup, but that lacks in flavor and depth. Knowing a couple of other spots in the area, this may not be my number 1 recommendations.

    Saba
    Macarena O.

    A good Japanese restaurant with a varieties of fishes (heaven for pescatarian people!), ramen and some appetizers. I got the saba fish and the poke bowl to share. The saba fish was delicious - so tender and flavorful. The poke bowl wasn't worth it. It came with too much rice and few pieces of fish. The prices are very reasonable and the staff were nice and attentive.

    Dexter D.

    We were passing by Brooklyn when we discovered this place - Za-Ya Ramen. Small spot but it's packed with regulars. Great food, outstanding service, and cool cozy interior. The chef was friendly and accommodating. We definitely would come back again.

    Chicken  Karaage
    Jia-Lian L.

    I got the chicken karaage and I was pleasantly surprised. The chicken was juicy and succulent. The sauce was tasty too. The crispy was good and it was affordable. It just wasn't as much as I'd prefer but it's fine. My only complaint was the mochi icce cream I got. It was $5 with strawberry but it only had one mochi and 1 strawberry. Definitely not worth it but that wasn't a main dish so it doesn't matter too much.

    Karaage
    Erin Y.

    the best vegetarian ramen i've ever had the mushroom highly recommend. and juicy soft karaage. such nice staff too

    spicy Gyukotsu Miso
    Chantel T.

    This place has taken its spot as my favorite ramen in NYC. I walk past Za-Ya often and always noticed the lovely interior and ambiance inside -- so one day I decided to check it out and was not disappointed. I enjoy dining alone, and this place is so good for that and also for dates or intimate group hangs. The bar is a great place to enjoy your meal and watch the kitchen prep. Love the interior design -- sleek, modern, dim lighting and black matte accents. The service is prompt and friendly as well. The menu itself is the highlight. Great selection of ramen options and there's even oat milk and miso broths for vegan/vegetarian friends. I got the signature Short Rib ramen and was not disappointed -- gorgeous rich broth full of flavor, well cooked noodles. There's also an extensive drink list, and I opted for a delicious strawberry sake. Can't wait to come back and try more! Would 100% make the trek out to Bushwick for Za-Ya.

    Gyukotsu
    Yin Y.

    It's about 3.3. Never have I seen a beef ramen in nyc. The beefy flavor really came through on the broth. The downside was that only one slice of beef or 2 small slices of pork belly and no egg came on both ramen. It didn't really worth the $19 +$3 (egg) price tag. I wasn't full after the ramen. The okonomiyaki was too dense compared to the ones I had before. Everything was a bit on the strong flavor side for me.

    Paige B.

    Hands down best ramen I've ever had in my life.. and I've had a lot of ramen. I got the mushroom one- it's sad how many chefs don't know how to work with mushrooms but here they reallyyy know what they're doing with the broth and those Shiitakes. My mouth is watering thinking about it. Can't wait to go back

    Okonomiyaki
    Julia H.

    Sunday evening dinner at Za-Ya was an unexpectedly great experience! Hadn't heard of this spot before but it has an impressive Yelp rating so had to check it out. It's a small but mighty space-- they've done a great job curating a vibe which I feel like could be great in the winter months when you're craving a bowl of hot ramen. We split an order od karaage which comes with spicy mayo. Pleased to report that it seemed to be kewpie (iykyk) and the breading of the karaage was authentic. Though they seem to be known for ramen, I opted for the bacon okonomiyaki as my entree. To be completely honest I had low expectations as I have yet to have a quality okonomiyaki in the States (that wasn't made by someone in my family) but they did a great job. The cabbage wasn't overly hard or bitter and it had a good amount of bacon which added a great salty punch. Plenty of high quality bonito flakes and aonori was the cherry on top. Sake was solid and I have a feeling this will be a go-to spot for me in the area.

    Ramem with chicken broth
    Anggie B.

    The place is superb, it gives a comfy ambience once you enter. Very good service, and food is really good. Gotta try the tofu appetizer, it is homemade and chili is addictive.

    Outside
    Joy C.

    Fantastic hidden ramen gem in Brooklyn. They opened up this second store spring of 2021. When we first arrived for dinner, there was no one doing inside- I almost had second thoughts for this restaurant but I'm glad I stuck it out. It was amazing and people started pouring in after we were seated and finished ordering. Upon sitting down, the owner explained that the menu, order, and payment will be processed through a website called Toast Tab which is available through QR code on the table. Caveat is that you need to enter your credit card information prior to placing the order. We ordered unagi pie, karaage, gyukotsu miso ramen, and shoyu ramen. To our pleasant surprise we loved everything! Unagi pie was definitely the most unique out of them all- sautéed unagi filling wrapped with puff pastry pie. Karaage was very well done as well. Very hot when it was served- crunchy on the outside but extremely tender on the inside. Both ramens we ordered were impeccable but I highly recommend the gyukotsu miso ramen. Gyukotsu was a delight, it was easy to chew and melted in my mouth. I only wished there were more! Overall this is a ramen shop I would definitely come back. The only caveat is this ramen shop is slightly pricier than other stores I've been to.

    #delicious

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    2 years ago

    Simply fantastic from service to the rich flavorful ramen broths and great noodle texture, to the interesting other menu options. Loved it

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    1 year ago

    Ramen was fantastic. Homemade tofu is THE BEST. Great place to eat before show at Knockdown.

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    2 years ago

    Best ramen I've had! The staff was also kind and fast. I recommend this restaurant to anyone and I'm so happy it's in the neighborhood.

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    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - Za-Ya

    Is it japanese or chinese (fake jap.)?

    I believe it's Real Japanese

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    Ramen Danbo

    4.2
    (621 reviews)
    3.6 mi
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    Outstanding vegan ramen! I also love that for a $1 more you can get another half order of noodles…read moreto add to your leftover broth. For $20 I walked away so stuffed! Highly recommend!

    Surprised I haven't been to this ramen spot earlier since it seems to be a pretty popular…read morerestaurant and staple in the Park Slope neighborhood. It's quite busy but the turnover rate is quick. The restaurant is small but has a good amount of tables and counter seating. But I've got to say I am disappointed by my overall experience based on how popular this spot is. You order from a menu you can write on, which allows you to customize your ramen selections (noodle thickness, broth, add-ons, etc). I ordered the tonkotsu ramen with spicy added. While the broth is pretty good, I think the overall ramen is a bit lacking compared to other ramen spots. I did not realize the ramen did not come with any ingredients besides the chashu meat and some scallions sprinkled on top. So this spot really requires you to customize and add on toppings. Usually other ramen spots already have selection of toppings in each type of bowl. So overall, my ramen was pretty standard and nothing outstanding. I do appreciate that you can add half or full serving of extra noodles for $1-2 if you want more. Also, like others mentioned, Ramen Danbo received a C health code rating. I didn't see this until halfway through my meal, but I probably would not have ate here if I saw it beforehand. Quite appalling for a restaurant that doesn't even have an extensive menu. Overall, the service is okay... I can't say I had any particular issues BUT I just felt like all the servers gave off the vibe that they just hated their jobs or something. It was just the vibe I got but it could just be me.

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    Kyuramen - Park Slope

    Kyuramen - Park Slope

    4.4
    (446 reviews)
    3.7 mi
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    The service was great I love the atmosphere it very cute and the food was amazing . I can see my…read moreself going back with friends. And family

    I'm giving this place 3 stars to split my reviews from 2 different times I went. The first time I'd…read moregive it 4 stars, but the second time I'd give it 2 stars. First: got combo B which was the perfect amount for 2 people since it included an appetizer, 2 ramens, 2 desserts and 2 drinks. Left very filled and happy. Would highly recommend their lemonade and Thai tea! The popcorn chicken is more batter than chicken, so it's good if you like more of a crunch. The tonkotsu and miso ramens were good, but not particularly notable. Kyuramen is a chain after all, so the food quality gives that same vibe as comforting when you're just craving some. Second: Got the yakitori platter, beef ramen (seasonal) and curry ramen and I'd personally pass on all of them. Their meats are over cooked which makes them tough. Both times the service was fine, I appreciate the call button so both don't have to wait for awkward timing issues. I do like the aesthetic of the place, especially with the privacy of the room shades/dividers. p.s. don't forget their slurp and win program! When you drink all the broth, there's a word on the bottom (or not) where you can get a free popcorn chicken/drink/etc for your next visit. I thought the chances would be pretty slim, but I got a drink voucher my second time!

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    Our cute booth
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    Karazishi Botan

    Karazishi Botan

    4.5
    (141 reviews)
    4.2 mi
    $$

    I came here with a friend for dinner on a Sunday night. We made reservations in advance, so we had…read moreno problems getting a table. I had the Paint It Black ramen. The flavor was rich and very savory. It was one of the best bowls of ramen I've had in a long time!

    Ambiance (5/5): We were sat immediately when they opened at 6p on a random Tuesday. There is…read moreanother seating area in the back (did not look) but the front can seat 5 parties. The inside is sleek, cozy, and medium lighting. Service (5/5): No issues with service since the restaurant was still fairly empty. Waitress was patient when we asked a slew of questions and her suggestions. Happy hour drinks were priced at $6 from 5:30p-7p with some tapas also at $5-7. Chicken dumpling (3/5) Red version: It was unique to find kernels of corn in the dumpling! I enjoyed the vinegar/soy sauce and chili oil. Next time, I would have liked to try the brown. Overall, there wasn't anything special about the steamed dumplings. Iron Men (3/5): I was disappointed since reviewers said that the broth would be very rich but it did not have much flavor to me even after using their house chili sauce (+$2). I definitely tasted the Iberian pork undertones but overall, I thought it was watery and didn't have much flavor without the chili. The poached egg was perfect. The rosemary oil was very subtle (cool presentation as it was provided in a dropper!) The noodles were perfect--chewy and bouncy. I thought the 2 slices of pork were thin but tender, also more lean and not fatty (not as ideal so did not melt in your mouth). Expensive for a bowl with little meat ($23). I did not use the miso paste as I did not love the aftertaste, which admittedly could be why the broth lacked flavor to me! Nagoya Miso Katsu-Don (N/A): I tried a little of the dish. I thought the pork was very crunchy and had a great taste. Boyfriend said the dish was nothing special.

    Photos
    Karazishi Botan
    Chicken Karage
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    Front of the restaurant

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    Front of the restaurant
    Chuko

    Chuko

    4.0
    (1.1k reviews)
    3.1 mi
    $$

    Great food and service for the price. Seated right away on a Tuesday evening. Water refills and…read morefood were prompt. Ambiance is casual, clean, and cozy. Kikusui red sake and Kirin lager available, among other japanese alcohol. Sesame garlic ramen with ground pork, extra egg, woodear mushroom, and side of chili oil: 5/5. A great bowl of ramen. Excellent broth with great sides. Among my favorites. Pickled vegetables: 3/5. My friend's choice. They were fine, not memorable. Crispy brussels: 4.5/5. Very tasty. My choice. Liked the peppers (jalapenos or something similar) with them. My friend had the soy ramen and he said it was great. This is one of his top ramen joints in the area. I was visiting from out of town and was thoroughly pleased.

    The place is nice and cozy, and the service is consistently good. The food was good, but I had to…read moretake a star away because of the price. The base price of the Ramen is $20 (protein is not included in the price), then they charge for egg and 1 slice of pork ($5 each), so you could really be paying an upwards of $30-$35...God forbid I want 2 slices of pork!! This is a HUGE turn off for me, especially considering the competition. For example if you go to Tonchin, the pork and egg are included in the price ($23) and the ramen is amazing!!...and it's a Michelin star restaurant on top of that. I prefer more bang for my buck, so I don't think I'd order from here again.

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    Crispy brussels
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    Za-Ya - ramen - Updated July 2026

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