We decided to try Zundo Ramen & Donburi prior to a show at Memorial Hall. We arrived at 6 pm on a Friday. All seats at the bar were open, but we hoped to sit at a regular (not high-top) table. As it turned out there were a few options in the back. That said, it wasn't long before the place was packed. Our server Tyra was fantastic. Down to earth and helpful with recommendations. She made us feel welcome and comfortable. We started with Jumbo Ebi Shumai. Tyra asked if we wanted a fourth (the dish comes with three) so we wouldn't have to rock-paper-scissors for the third dumpling. I thought they were delicious. I loved the spicy mustard that came with them. I admit they had a slight fishy flavor. I mean it was shrimp and I enjoyed it. Mark is less of a fish fan in general. The dumplings didn't really hit the mark for him. If you like seafood and you like shrimp you should enjoy the Shumai. I opted for Tonkatsu Ramen - Ramen and thick creamy pork broth with roast pork, soft boiled egg, bamboo, wood ear mushroom, ginger and green onion. I added black garlic oil and did not go spicy at all. I thought it was very good and I ate literally every drop. Mark had Spicy Miso Ramen - Ramen and spicy creamy soybean paste pork broth with roast pork, soft boiled egg, bamboo, wood ear mushroom, and green onion. He said it was spicy, which was perfect for him. He also enjoyed his meal and finished every drop. We still had time to kill before the show so we opted for dessert. There were two options - Green Tea or Red Bean Ice Creams. Tyra recommended Red Bean and I'm glad she did. It was sweet with just the slightest crunch from the beans. It was a good size serving, hand dipped by Tyra. The proximity of Zundo to Memorial Hall or Music Hall makes it the perfect pre-show stop for dinner. We will definitely be back. read more

Zundo Ramen & Donburi - Jumbo Ebi Shumai w/ one extra so the two of us could share equally - Ramen Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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My first taste of ramen in Cincinnati, and it was delicious! It was somewhat busy on a Sunday evening - most of the tables were full. I went with the Tonkotsu ramen - delicious! The broth was my favorite part of the dish. Service was a bit slow - server took a while between stages of the meal. Overall, however, I was very happy with my meal and will definitely come back for more ramen. read more

Zundo Ramen & Donburi - Tonkotsu - Ramen Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

We were greeted right away. We ordered chicken buns as our appetizer and the kind waitress informed us that is came 2 per order. I have also wanted to try a bun but never had because most buns contain porn. This hun was everything I had imagined it to be, it was soft and sweet. My ramen was delicious I enjoyed the broth the most. I also order plum wine which was very sweet. They have bar seating at well as a secluded area for large parties. Definitely a must try read more

Zundo Ramen & Donburi - Chicken Katsu Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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Friends brought me here for my first time and it was excellent! Pretty busy on the weekend so we did have to wait around a little bit but we got some bar seating. Great service and they were running around like crazy making sure everyone was taking care of. I went to the food was excellent! I had the tankatsu ramen and it was just what I needed. The ambiance is very chill and relaxed. Definitely looking forward to returning! read more

Zundo Ramen & Donburi - Tonkatsu ramen - Ramen Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

My friends suggested this spot since they like coming here for ramen. It opened in Columbus as well but they have a few locations in town. It was a hot day and I wished the AC had been turned up a bit more as I was still sweating while I sat inside. My friends and I shared peach soju, sake, gyoza, and soft shell crab to start. The gyoza was fantastic! You could tell it was hand made. And the crab was lightly seasoned and had a nice crispiness. For ramen, I got tonkotsu and opted for it to be spicy. One of my friends did the same and my other friend got miso ramen. The ramen wasn't spicy at all. Even added the chili oil they had on the table and it didn't seem to add spice either. The ramen itself was just okay. Not the most flavorful broth. I haven't really had the best ramen in the Midwest. Most options do the job but it's not as good as what you can find in LA or NYC. Staff were nice. The place was clean. And our server checked on us a lot. Even came by to fill our water glasses even though we had a bottle on the table. Parking around here is parallel. I couldn't find parking right by the building. So I parked over by Washington park. read more

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I've been coming almost weekly for years. The room is warm and calm, with quiet Japanese decor and a staff that remembers faces. I mostly stick to ramen (specifically the vegetarian bowl made spicy with black garlic oil). The broth has real depth and clean heat; it's no step down from the tonkotsu, even for meat-lovers. The fried lotus root chips add crunch and a little salt hit. Consistency is the headline here: steady service, balanced bowls, and a space where you can actually hear your company. Reliable, comforting, and worth returning to...often. read more

This place is a delight. Awesome ramen and apps. I had the miso ramen and my wife had veggie and my daughter had the chicken. All wonderful. We also had shrimp dumplings, chicken sausage and some kind of fried potato cakes. It was all excellent. Worth a trip into OTR. read more

Seat for one food was steaming when served not too hot but just right with the Meatball Skewer and the Katsu Don with a sprite, they have Coke products, was under $30. Amazing, and I was just walking around and saw it as a humble. Service was very spot on. I did swing by on a Friday afternoon during work all in all awesome. I sat at the bar where there would be more lighting however the ambiance with the Japanese culture everywhere, dim lights, they serve you chopsticks didn't have to ask for chopsticks that was a first for me so thank you Zundo, I appreciate you hospitality and I learned how to use the fish oil sauce. Learn something new everyday. read more

Zundo Ramen & Donburi - Meat Chicken Meatball Skewer(2) - Ramen Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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Only remembered to take a picture of the ramen bowl, but the spicy chicken katsu curry was delicious as well. The broth for my Spicy Miso was a lot thicker than the usual ramen I get but it didn't make it better or worse. It was just an observation on my end. Tons of flavor and depth in the broth. The pork belly had a great char/crunch around it to give it a bit different texture from the rest of the bowl. The chicken katsu curry was so good. Glad we ordered that to share. The chicken was fried perfectly to blend with the curry. Probably would've been even better had we had not waited to eat it after we finished our ramen. I'm pretty sure the city was a little dead because it was Super Bowl Sunday so they were happy we stopped by I bet. Decor was solid, restrooms were clean and service was very attentive. read more

Zundo Ramen & Donburi - Spicy Miso - Ramen Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Best ramen I've had so far in Cincinnati. We came here with a group of 4 on a Friday night and got a table right away. It's not a huge space though they do have quite a large bar. We got a handful of different appetizers and different ramen. We got the soft shell crab and pork bun appetizers. These were okay, though not sure I would get them again. I got the Shoyu Ramen and added black garlic oil which was excellent. The broth was hot and flavorful and everything in it was delicious. Everyone at the table was quite satisfied with their ramen, including our friend who is vegan and got the vegetarian ramen. All in all, if you're looking for some tasty ramen I would check this place out! read more

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So I had a summer cold and wanted ramen I know have a favorite one This place is delicious It's hiding right next to Queen City radio and you must go I ordered the miso ramen The portions are big and the taste is an explosion in your mouth The service was great and quick perfect for lunch I will be back especially during the cold months read more

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Zundo serves up quality ramen in a trendy atmosphere right in the heart of downtown Cincy. This spot is perfect for a cold day and will heal your soul. The service and the decor are very inviting and the menu is vast. The shrimp dumplings and edamame were pretty good but not a must have. The ramen broth is rich and flavorful and the noodles are high quality. The toppings are also very good and their black chili garlic oil is a must add. Overall, this is one of the better ramen spots in the city and will always hit the spot. That being said, it is too pricey especially with the add ons really racking up the bill higher than expected. read more

Zundo Ramen & Donburi - Vegetarian Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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Ugh, I hate to be that person, but I'm giving Zundo Ramen a 3/5 based on my last few visits. And trust me, I wanted to love it -- the ramen itself is solid. But the service? Let's just say it's been giving "we'll get to you when we get to you." From the moment I sat down, the energy was... uninspired. Servers seemed checked out, and the whole experience felt like I was on pause while the restaurant carried on without me. It took way too long for anyone to come over and ask for my order, and when I was ready to leave, I spent a solid 10 minutes waiting for the check. Ten minutes might not sound like much, but when you're just staring into space, awkwardly making eye contact with the staff, it feels like an eternity. Oh, and this wasn't even during a busy rush -- no excuses there. During this particular visit, our server seemed to forget we existed altogether, opting to clean tables instead of, you know, taking our order. And when the food finally arrived? Wrong. No chili oil, no questions about which tofu I preferred -- just vibes. Like I said, the ramen is good. But great noodles can only carry so much weight when the service is this forgettable. If things don't change, I might have to slurp my noodles elsewhere. read more

Zundo Ramen & Donburi - Vegetarian Ramen w/ Tofu + Black Oil - Ramen Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Decent ramen shop! There was an FCC game nearby so parking situation in the vicinity was very bad, and we had to pay a lot for parking so I'm glad their food was great- it was worth it. Our server didn't mention it but I found a poster listing specials on FCC home game day. We got chicken karaage for $7 instead of $8. I felt like appetizers' prices were a bit high considering the size/ portion. Whenever I see Tantanmen on the menu, I order it. They had it so I got it. The soup was so rich, had a nice amount of kick to it and so flavorful! It would be even more awesome if they had white sesame in it. Karaage was so crispy and juicy. It was very satisfying. Highly recommend it. read more

Zundo Ramen & Donburi - Tatsuta age - Ramen Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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Food and service is amazing every single time. Great value for the amount of food you get.

Overpriced. The food quality has disappointed me. I do find the hosts to be friendly when I tried the takeout twice!

have visited the location in Mason twice now. it's really great. Still the best ramen in town. Plus vegetarian ramen!

Probably the best Ramen I've ever had. Just delicious and fresh. This spot was referred to me by a work colleague and I can't wait to return. I had the veggie ramen which is vegan and after listening to my colleague recommendation to add a few extra ingredients I'm so glad that I did. The flavors just continued to build upon each other. My colleague said the add to it the black garlic oil a and the bok choy. I did both plus stepped it up one more notch by adding in the mushrooms. It was so great that if our show was starting I would have extra servings. Can't wait to return! read more

Zundo Ramen & Donburi - Vegetable ramen - Ramen Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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I love the Ramen and the atmosphere of this place. Great spot for a date. Good service!

The service is outstanding and the Ramen might be the best I've had. I cannot wait to try it again! read more

Zundo Ramen & Donburi - Outside signage. Great to visit on the cooler days before a FC game, or for a business lunch any day! - Ramen Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Waited 45min for a meal that never came. was told by the waitress which was also the manager that my ticket was lost Here's the catch.... We were the only African American family in there and everyone else's(Caucasian/Asian) meals made it to their table just fine.... read more

Amazing service and the food is outstanding! A great place to visit when you're in the downtown area.

Excellent ramen and great drink choices in a trendy designed and friendly restaurant. Have been here twice and their tonkatsu ramen and tantanmen ramen are two of my absolute favorites. Their broth is rich and flavorful and the ramen bowl is a generous portion. Their soft boiled egg, fresh bok choy, and char siu toppings are a must add to your ramen. They also have a great spicy sake that is served cold. I personally love pickleback shots and their version is amazing - a shot of Jameson and a shot of pink ginger juice which is salty and a little spicy. For $7 it's really worth trying. Overall the service is great, food is great, and atmosphere is great :) read more

Zundo Ramen & Donburi - Ramen Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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Though this is a quality ramen spot I would say it is not #1 for me personally. I love being able to customize my ramen and as someone who doesn't eat pork or pork broth ramen, there wasn't much alternatives for me. Though this is a great spot on a cold winter day. read more

Zundo Ramen & Donburi - Ramen Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Great spot for Japanese food! We ordered their Tonkatsu Ramen and Oyako Don and both were delicious. I'm a tonkatsu loyalist and this is one of the better bowls of ramen I've had in Cincinnati. The broth was characteristically creamy with perfectly cooked ramen. The Oyako Don with chicken was also a nice "light" dish with very tender chicken thigh meat. It was pretty quiet on a Sunday night so we walked right in without a reservation. Look forward to coming back! read more

Zundo Ramen & Donburi - Tonkatsu Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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This is our family's go-to spot on Friday nights after a long week of work and school. There is something comforting and serene about good ramen and the atmosphere there. The service is consistently good as well. read more

Yum! I've been wanting to try Zundo for awhile and finally got the chance when we were nearby for a show. We stopped in afterwards and had lunch. We ordered drinks first - Yuzu Lager for my husband. The House Shot for me - which is Jameson and a Pickled Ginger chaser. We ordered two appetizers because we were starving. And because we couldn't decide which appetizer to order. We decided on the Kaki Fry - fried oysters, and the Geso Karaage - fried squid legs. For our entrees my husband ordered the Una Don. I ordered the TanTan Ramen with added wood ear mushrooms and soft boiled egg. I have never had a Jameson shot with a pickled ginger chaser before and I'm not sure if I liked it or not. But it was interesting and I didn't dislike it. The fried oysters were awesome! Perfectly fried and delicious. The fried squid legs were very overcooked, unfortunately. I only ate a couple but my husband finished them anyway. He really liked his Una Don entree. I thought the eel in his dish tasted great. My TanTan Ramen was so good! I enjoyed it quite a bit and would definitely order it again. It was just as good later in the evening when I had the leftovers for dinner. The service was great too! We'll definitely be back and will check out the Mason location soon. read more

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The guy bartending, I believe his name was LJ, was super dope. We chatted a bit and I ordered the Chicken Katsu Ramen that he suggested. I was a bit disappointed by the amount of chicken I got, especially considering it's the most expensive ramen on the menu. I know katsu chicken has to be thin so it will fry correctly, but it still felt a bit short handed. The rest of the ramen was alright, but it lacked the oomph that you would expect from $18 dollars. Everything was clean and pretty laid back, and you could see part of the kitchen from the bar, which is pretty cool. Will probably be back at some point, but I will be getting something else. read more

Not the best ramen I can tell you that. The broth is bland and needs more flavor. The black garlic oil didn't really do much. The takoyaki was decent but the gyoza wasn't as crispy as it should have been. It however had a good char to it. The Sapporo was on par as it should. The sake, you can't go wrong with that. Decent prices, but the quality of the ramen isn't there. The broth wasn't as creamy as it should have been. The miso was off. Chashu was cooked well. The noodles didn't seem like they were made in-house -- kind looked and tasted prepackaged. I'll probably try to get the katsudon and the curry next time. Rating may change after that! Service was great! Great ambiance. Parking is on the street and is pay to park. Overall, I haven't found a good ramen spot around Cincinnati/Ohio yet. Will return and try the katsudon/katsu curry next time, but will stay away from the ramen. read more

Zundo Ramen & Donburi - Spicy ramen with black garlic oil - Ramen Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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A friend and I slipped into Zundo for dinner before seeing a show at the Shakespeare theater and it was delicious! The weather was horrible so there weren't many tables there that early but by the time we were leaving almost all the tables were full and the place was bustling with energy. Our server was attentive and our food came out hot and fast! We both ordered the new menu item, chicken katsu ramen, and both really liked it! I've previously had the tantaman, miso, and tonkatsu ramens and I'll say I do prefer the broths from those but the chicken katsu itself was delicious! Zundo did not disappoint for our pre-theater meal and I'm sure I'll be back soon! read more

Zundo Ramen & Donburi - Chicken katsu ramen - Ramen Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Very tasty, fairly authentic ramen with an excellent vegetarian/vegan ramen option. I stopped in for lunch around 1pm on a Thursday and it was pretty dead. I was seated right away and ordered the vegetarian ramen ($13 plus tax), which is vegan (the noodles are indeed eggless), and added some bok choy ($1). The ramen came in about 10 minutes with a very nice assortment of toppings, including fried lotus root, green onions, pickled ginger, bamboo shoots, and bean sprouts (plus the bok choy). The broth was subtle but fairly complex as you dig into it, and is amplified nicely by the sesame oil and chili powder condiments they have sitting at the table. Friendly service and very comfortable environment, with paid street parking out front. Recommended. read more

Zundo Ramen & Donburi - Vegetarian ramen (vegan), with bok choy added - Ramen Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Wonderful food and wonderful service! I would definitely go back again to visit! It was nice to walk around Washington Park after dinner since it's so close! read more

To say Zundo has the best Ramen in the world is probably an exaggeration. But the best in Cincinnati? It's definitely a contender for the title. Deep, hearty broths. Plenty of options, and a decent price for downtown. The restaurant itself has an atmosphere: when it's not busy it feels comfortably intimate, yet still urbane. When it's busy, it feels bustling. Great for date nights. read more

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Busy place, but only had a short wait. The food was awesome, so flavorful and robust. Our server was aware we had an event to get to and helped us navigate to make it there on time. read more

Zundo is perfect for those cold fall days or just when you need a good pick-me-up. The bao bun is so soft. Honestly, I could've eaten like 10 of those. Service was fast and the vibe is great. Dimmed lighting and Vibey music set the mood. Only con, would've loved an option for a spice level. read more

Zundo Ramen & Donburi - Chicken Katsu ramen - Ramen Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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It's one of the Ramen-centric restaurants in Cinncinati. There's a large-ish seating area inside and bar, but due to the Virus, it was very empty, with only 2 people making food and 1 server. There is a small amount of outdoor seating. I got the tonkotsu ramen. It was pretty good. Tasted good and like how it should be. The standouts were 1. The blackened garlic oil. It was PERFECT. It had a great roasted flavor. Pungent but not overwhelming. 2. The egg! Perfect jammy texture and flavor inside. It's hard to make an egg with the yolk not too salty and with the best consistency. AND keep it at a nice temperature. It was a total success. The other toppings were OK. Red ginger seems like the prepackaged stuff but still good. Menma and green onions were there too. I thought the noodles were good but they didn't stand out. Felt a tad on the soft side vs springy. Again, not bad. One thing I think could be better is that the pork was a bit drier and blander than most. I prefer a buttery and soft consistency in the pork, with a good amount of soy taste. Maybe needs longer time in braise to make it salter. Or cut up the pieces first before marinating it, otherwise the center after you cut it remains bland. My opinion is that using the blowtorch on the pork doesn't really help when the pork isn't salty enough. Toppings came out to $3 for extra pork belly, and $1 for the garlic oil, for a total of $17. They also had an interesting Sasadango dessert which I've never had before. I expected a cold dessert but it was a warm, sticky red bean paste wrapped in a sticky mochi-like green thing. The banana leaves gave it an interesting flavor. read more

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I wanted to try a new ramen place and I heard about this one. It was really good! Not the best ramen I have ever had but definitely good and does the job. I recommend the tonkatsu ramen which has creamy pork broth. The broth was very flavorful. I wish there was a bit more meat and the noodles were average. Overall I would come here again! read more

Zundo Ramen & Donburi - Ramen Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Came five minutes before closing (the worst ) but they were gracious enough to seat us!! We ordered quickly to speed up the process and the food came out fairly quickly! The appetizers were all phenomenal and the katsu I had was so good - saucy but still crispy! Just how we like it The donburi was also delicious but I preferred my katsu. I'm not much of a ramen girl but I would love to come back and try their ramens and other apps as well! read more

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My favorite place for ramen. I love the customer service and the food is amazing. I'm a regular so they know my order by heart. Plus the atmosphere is chilled relaxed. Feels like home. read more

Zundo Ramen & Donburi - TanTan Ramen. - Ramen Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

This place was great! We arrived during happy hour and went straight for the $5 sake bombs which were A1. The gesso kaarage was bomb and so was their in house beer with the owl. We all ordered the tonkotsu ramen and everything was great! No complaints and great add-ons for spice were on the table including a cute container for chili oil. No complaints whatsoever. Service was great, they even stopped the A/C for us when the vent was right over us. Attentive and great food, expected prices and delicious. Would definitely return especially for happy hour! read more

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