Ramen Restaurants near Berkeley, CA

“Good selection of vegetarian, vegan, and standard ramen dishes. I enjoyed the Timmy Tan Tan ramen - a little bit of spice, fresh crisp from the greens, and nice depth in the broth! I usually only have half a bowl and save the rest for leftovers but I was still a bit hungry halfway through and ended up eating the entire thing.

Service is very quick with orders and refills. Very relaxed, casual atmosphere good for catching up with friends.

Unfortunately they are now very low/out of eggs due to the current egg stock issues. It does leave the ramen feeling a little naked.

Dietary restrictions: Vegan options available“

“I was craving something warm to eat close to midnight and I found this place. I was with my Japanese roommate, and he himself said this place did give off an Izakaya vibe. Most of the food items offered here I've tried elsewhere, so I ended up getting the sukiyaki, which was to my liking.

We did feel a little out of place, as the servers seemed primarily focused on a larger group, who they appeared to be friends with. So we felt a little forgotten throughout most of our time there, also considering that it was not that busy as we did leave a little before they closed.“

“I recently visited Tsuruya in Berkeley, CA, and the experience was nothing short of life-changing. Nestled in a cozy mom-and-pop shop atmosphere, the warmth and friendliness of the staff immediately made me feel welcome.

The star of the show was undoubtedly the tonkotsu ramen. The broth was rich and full of depth, clearly simmered to perfection, and the noodles were the ideal balance of chewy texture. Each ingredient from the tender pork to the perfectly cooked egg complemented each other flawlessly—the egg was particularly outstanding, with a creamy yolk that enriched the broth beautifully.

Tsuruya may be small in size, but the flavors and customer service are immense. This place captures the essence of traditional ramen with exceptional skill and care. It’s a must-visit for anyone seeking a transformative dining experience.“

“Bansho is a very special place. The extraordinary combination of delicate mindfulness in service and decor, and meticulous attention to the balance and quality of ingredients creates magic. You will leave feeling better than when you arrived. Highly recommend.“

“First timer and definitely coming back for more!“

“The food was pretty good, though from what I've seen the prices are pretty high. GBO gave us an item included, but otherwise, even though the food tastes good and has great portions, it's very expensive.

Also, for any GBOers who see this, the spicy rice cakes (Tteokbokki) is not portioned for a full meal!

Otherwise the dine out area is quite nice!

Vegetarian options: There is the miso tofu ramen and maybe one other option, so vegetarians won't be left out!“

“SO GOOD!!! Everything was of very high quality—I got the deluxe red tonkotsu ramen and every part of it was great. It was actually pretty spicy, good noodles and broth, and the toppings were delicious (especially the braised pork wow!!) I also really enjoyed the jasmine green milk tea I got. This place is a bit pricey, yes, but I promise you it’s worth it!“

“Excellent foods, friendly staffs! We really love to have dinner here~ Absolutely, I will visit again when I come back to Berkeley!“

“Very good Kale vegan ramen. Very good service. A bit pricey ($15 for a bowl of ramen). Seating in was at narrow counters but the staff's service was good enough to more than compensate for the limited space. All in all a very good experience. Recommended.“

“Mensho Tokyo SF truly lives up to its reputation and Michelin Star status. While we waited in line, it was interesting to see that most patrons were first-timers, creating a sense of shared anticipation.

One standout feature was their selection of unique Japanese beers, which offered a refreshing change from the usual options. The ramen itself was exceptional; the noodles had the perfect firmness, while the broth struck an ideal balance—not too overpowering but incredibly flavorful. Each bite was a delightful experience, showcasing a harmonious blend of tastes and textures.

I wholeheartedly recommend Mensho Tokyo SF to anyone seeking an unforgettable dining experience. I can’t wait to share this gem with my friends in the future!“

“This place is so delicious. They have multiple options and all are interesting and tasty. With vegan appetizers and an interesting sake list this place is tops for me. I’m super into restaurants where everyone can eat. It’s a bit spendy but this ramen won’t disappoint! Updated from previous review on 2024-11-05“

“This is a must visit for anyone in Jack London Square“

“Some say this is the only “authentic” ramen shop in the East Bay. We had fried shrimp buns (seasonal, yummy) and shared a bowl of 5Chicken Ramen with Rich White “Paitan” Broth. toppings w/ chashu chicken breast. this is a small chain with locations in CA, TX, NYC and Vegas.“

“Amazing 🤩 Great service and tasty food“

“Besides the great Ramen Tan tan, make sure you get the fried chicken, Karage, only in japan i had it so good, the best in SF, a real japanese restaurant!!!“

“Service was good (not great), and our server was very friendly. I have zero complaints. The food, though, was almost universally... not hot. Flavors were good, maybe even great, but seemed like they either needed a few more minutes of heating or should have been fried at a slightly higher temperature. Another thing that was weird was the kitchen was oddly loud. Like the chef in there was making it a point to make sure people knew activity was going on in there.“

“Good ramen is easy to find. Great ramen is harder. And finding excellent ramen at reasonable prices in downtown San Francisco is a rarity.

This is the ideal spot for lunch or dinner and a hot bowl of noodles. The pork was deliciously juicy, the egg was cooked to perfection, and the Tonkotsu broth was very flavorful.

Service was quite good and attentive in both the upper and lower levels. Can recommend.“

“New recipes with the most amazing, home-made, wide noodles made our first inside visit in over a year a culinary celebration. And, as always, the staff is top-notch. Highly recommended!“

“I was today years old when i found out that tofu was a dessert. I added tofu to my order of spicy miso ramen and guess what? That thing did not look like the normal tofu i know and then it was as sweet as candy. Common, i know this can’t be normal, please give us the food we ask for in traditional way. If i go to a japanese restaurant i want to eat it japanese food not american. Everything else was great. Thank you“

“Twice in one week in a business trip to SF - happened upon ilppudo and came back a few days later. Friendly staff, great Raman and nice interior.“

“My reason for no dinner tonight; I had a late lunch To Go, today 2:45 pm, Torraku-Ramen on De Haro, Chicken Katsu Don, Tempura and Edamame- All So Yummy!“

“I've wanted to come in ever since seeing the original "JR Rail" sign years ago on the freeway! We finally had the chance on the way to grocery shopping. I wasn't disappointed!The owners do a good job of making this a unique experience. The shop is clean and streamlined, as you can expect from one themed on Japanese transportation! They play sounds of the JR Rail stop announcements overhead, and also steam NHK TV (a Japanese cultural channel) in the back. As others have also mentioned, there are also a few vending machines throughout the store which offer Japanese snacks and drinks (but are quite pricey at like $5 per ramune bottle). Orders come out of the wall with your receipt number displayed above the counter and loudly announced on the intercom. It's a fully contactless experience! (Btw, the code for the restroom is on your receipt!)There are only a handful of seats throughout the store, but they're single stalls à la Ichiran (IYKYK!). There's also a few standing spots open in the back (high table only). Other communal seating can be found outside, with a view of the moored ships in the estuary.We got the deluxe tonkatsu ramen with all the pre-recommended standard components. I found the ramen itself simple and not too heavy nor salty. The flavor wasn't anything to write home about, but the textures of everything were all on point. The noodles had the perfect chew, and the chashu and egg were perfect. Additionally, the portion size of the meat and noodles was quite sizeable and there was no way I could've finished off all my broth at the end without exploding. For $15, this wasn't a bad value. I also like that they include a wet wipe so you can have clean hands before/after your meal.Unfortunately, the iPad on the left (one of only 2) for taking orders was malfunctioning at this time, but you wouldn't know it until you got to the checkout screen and was ready to pay. There isn't any sign or anything, so either they don't know it's broken or it only broke recently. Hopefully this review compels them to fix it!“

“The food is fabulous, the staff is fabulous. It was a wonderful experience. If I lived here I would go back.“

“Didn't know they have an Alameda location! Ramen Hiroshi has some of the best chicken karaage. We tried their fried squid as well. Can't go wrong with their tonkotsu ramen. I'd say the overall experience at San Francisco was better but I'm happy to see this here at Alameda.“

“I’ve ordered Tonkutsu Ramen (mild), its good but too spicy for me. I asked for hot water to reduce d saltiness n spiciness. Flavor still great!“

“This location is a stand in the back of a supermarket. The ramen is super salty and oily, a bit too much for my liking but the taste was good.

There was just one guy running the whole show when I went. Order on the kiosk.“

“This is a HIDDEN GEM!!Delicious!!! vegetable ramen- fresh steamed veggies, piping hot broth, huge portion! Pork dumplings- steaming, fresh! Strawberry milk tea- not overly sweet, I am a harsh critic of bobas!Attentive, quiet service! Price point in reasonable.“

“This little ramen gem is a must-visit! Despite its modest size, the place is packed with character and charm. The broth is rich and flavorful, and the noodles are perfectly chewy—ideal for a comforting bowl on a chilly day. They offer an incredible vegetarian ramen, bursting with fresh veggies, tofu, and a savory broth that rivals any traditional pork-based option. The staff is friendly and attentive, making the whole experience feel welcoming. It can get a bit crowded during peak times, but it’s worth the wait. If you're a ramen lover (vegetarian or not), you won’t be disappointed!“

“I ordered the Beef Okonomiyaki, some people call it Japanese Pizza, a delicious pancake made with a special batter with tempura flakes, small pieces of sliced beef, leeks and cabbage mixed and topped with very thin dry sliced beef, Japanese mayonnaise and a sweet umami sauce similar to Tonkatsu sauce. This restaurant opens early and serves American breakfast among other things.“

“When specifically ask for chicken to be cut up into small pieces for a five year old to eat & you get back huge cuts of chicken a grown adult would have trouble biting it really annoying. However the food is excellent & conveniently located with decent size portions so that’s what keeps me coming back.“

“This palce is a certain of community and history on Bernal Heights. Old friends come in to greetings of hugs and kisses from the staff. New patrons are welcomed in almost equal fashion! The food and vibe is hearty and made with love. No Reservations. Come over, put you name down, but you can enjoy wine or beer from a freat ludt inside or outsides as you wait. Shhh!!! Don't tell anyone else.“

“This place is amazing. The ramen quality is very consistent here. But the curry rice plate is okay. This is a true gem amongst the many mediocre ramen shops in the bay area. This is a place I'm willing to drive to just for ramen even if it is in the city.“

“We had the tonkatsu ramen with the spicy garlic pork broth and chicken karaage. Service was fast and tasty. The broth was flavorful and the ramen eggs were perfect. The restaurant had a great ambiance and cute decorations all around. Would definitely go back to try some of their other menu items!“

“After lunch, I was surprised that they didn't have more people eating in this establishment. This is a great place for a date or to come alone. The food is amazing 10/10. We had the omakase nigiri. 10 pieces of pure magic. The ramen just was amazing the best i had in san Francisco. The staff was amazing too. Definitely give them a visit. 10/10“

“Ordered a family meal from here for the first time. The amount of food that came in was actually quite large, enough to feed at least a 6 member family. Our family meal deal included BBQ Beef, Chicken Katsu, Chicken Curry, Rice and Macaroni Salad. My favorite was the BBQ Beef, the beef was thin but yet had a lot of grilled flavor and a lot of sauce. The Chicken Katsu was good too with it's crispy crunchy coating. The only thing that I didn't like was that it didn't come with enough dipping sauce. I think I would have also preferred to have Tonkatsu sauce. The Curry Chicken was really nothing to write home about. It was just fan fried or grilled pieces of chicken with just a tiny amount of curry sauce over it... I think the chicken would have been so much better if they really slathered the curry sauce over it like how they do with curry fish balls at the Asian cafes.

The family meal also came with a Macaroni salad side which was okay.. I think it tasted like it came from a food distributor rather than home made. They did however try to make it more house made by adding I think little pieces of tuna(?). There was some good helping of veggies too under all that protein. The broccoli and stir fried cabbage were nice and fresh and had the added benefit of some of the sauces dripping on them to make them taste less bland.

Overall, not a bad meal. I would probably choose another dish next time to try out. The food is tasty and served in generous proportions (to some extent).“

“Very friendly quick service. And the food was delicious!“

“Solid inexpensive family run Chinese food in a hole in the wall diner atmosphere. Generous amounts of homemade wontons and tender chicken in the wonton soup. Popcorn chicken was tender with light batter and not greasy (would be even better with a sprinkle of furikake or fried basil). The bbq pork chasu fried rice was good (could have used a little more egg, will ask them to add more next time). All fresh and cooked to order. This will be on our regular rotation of quick inexpensive meal options.“

“the atmosphere is great and I love their 49 rolls! I usually go in a group because the food is very filling!“

“I cannot recommend this sushi bar enough! From the moment you step inside, the welcoming staff immediately sets the tone for a wonderful dining experience. They provide excellent recommendations, ensuring you get the freshest and most flavorful sushi possible. Every dish, from the nigiri to the specialty rolls, was crafted to perfection with top-quality ingredients. The ambiance is calm and inviting, with a touch of modern sophistication. The lighting is just right, and the seating is comfortable. It's the perfect place for sushi enthusiasts who appreciate both great food and a relaxing atmosphere.“

“I'm not a big ramen gal but went because my daughter loved the place. I love it now!
The ramen was super yummy!
We got fried rice and my daughter said she'd get that again, too. Never had rice so flavorful and hearty!
Pricey, but worth it.“

“I can’t believe I never wrote a review for this place. Walked in you just feel like you went back to Japan. The decoration inside is so cute. The service was very fast attentive. The food came really fast too, and you can tell that they are fried chicken were freshly fried. We also got a cup of drink and it was also pretty good. They have a good selection of Japanese wine too. The sesame dessert we got at the end was so cool and we really loved it. It truly feels like you went back in Japan and go to Izakaya. I would definitely recommend here.“

“Bento boxes were great, so many options to chose from. Would definitely go back.“