Ramen Restaurants near Berkeley, CA

“As a first timer came from out of town almost about to walk inside the restaurant there was a couple group of people that were already waiting outside. I walked in and it was fully packed with very small space capacity. A minute after an asian lady who might be the owner said it'll be a wait just give it a little wait outside for a few minutes. So I waited outside for about 5-10 minutes she then comes outside the restaurant and brought everyone who was outside towards to the inside at the same time. First off atmosphere inside is amazing and very welcoming, the only downside I would say is for the space inside just being very small and felt compact knowing it can't fit alot of people. I had to sit at the bar area for just myself but the space wasn't too bad. I originally wanted to order the tori paitan but ended up getting the spicy version which I didn't mind since I can handle a little spice and it also wasn't too spicy anyway. For how quite busy it was on a Saturday night the ramen came out pretty fast. The workers there has great customer service and the cooks back there know what they are doing. The server recommended me what noodles I should get for the ramen I chose and I gotten the medium thick wavy noodles. When they brought the ramen out the presentation of the ramen felt like I was in an anime movie. As I tried my first sip of spicy tori paitan broth I must say it was AMAZING. The broth was not very hot, more like warm almost to luke warm but flavor wise was top notch! I had to get a second sip after the first one. That's how good it was! Overall it was some really good ramen, I ended up clearing the whole bowl. Not too much broth but just enough. Noodle amount was a generous amount. toppings such as green onion, bamboo shoots, wood ear mushroom, red onion, 2 pieces of chasu chicken, and half an egg could be better if the portion size quantity was a little more. Other than that I would not mind coming back here again if I make my way out of town heading towards the bay area. 10/10! Definitely will recommend some of my friends here that are also ramen lovers.“

“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.“

“We came for their event dinner, and we definitely got the bang for our buck. For less than $25 after tip and tax, I was able to get (1) a welcome shot, (2) chicken meatballs + fried baby octopus as appetizer, (3) a cocktail, (4) ramen as the entree, and (5) strawberry panna cotta as dessert. The quality for the price range was superb, especially the ramen. The noodles had a nice springy/chewy texture, the broth wasn't too salty, and the chashu was tender. I also appreciated the friendly staff and the easygoing atmosphere/interior. The only downside was how slow service was and how long it took for our food to come out. Other than that, I'm definitely looking forward to coming back the next time they have event dinners like these.“

“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!“

“This is one of our favorite places, though the quality/taste of the food is variable. In other words, you need to know what to order because they do some things better than others, which isn't too surprising given the many choices in their menu. My recommendation is to get the mentaiko carbonara, IMHO the best thing they serve.“

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

“I'm a different person now (positive). There were probably ~65 people in front of us waiting in line to get in and we waited for about 50 minutes. Respectfully? Incredibly worth the wait. My group got a few different bowls and honestly couldn't pick a fave - they were all so so so complex and delicious. TRULY chefs kiss 🤌. Also, the vegan tantanmen absolutely rocked our worlds. As meat eaters, we were so pleasantly surprised by the richness of flavors omg?!“

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

“We got a couple of things here and they were all amazing. All their ramen the best version of that ramen we’ve had so far.

We got the Wagyu beef, one and another one that also had duck and pork. Sublime.

Even the soft boiled egg was incredibly jammy and tasted like it came from a foreign land.

Incredibly balanced broth that I can drink all day

We got a chicken karrage one other thing that I forget, which was also delicious. I think it was some sort of sushi roll.

Only gripe is that the seating is a little bit cramped.

There is a waitlist, but they text you when your number is up so you have time to explore the area a little bit. Go on a weekday during non-rush-hour.

Loved it and will come back soon to try their other dishes“

“Amazing 🤩 Great service and tasty food“

“Right at the edge of China town. Tried a lotus vegetable with mayo it was not good a bit too raw for me, also the squid legs which was good but a bit greasy. However we tried two different Ramen and they were delicious. Broth was very flavorful and heavy. Half egg 🥚 a nice touch usually you pay extra for the egg so it was nice to have it come in the dish. Service was nice and fast. Overall we had a great meal. There is allot of seating areas. I say check it out.“

“We ordered Salted Boiled Edamame as an appetizer, Unagi Rice Bowl, Tonkatsu Ramen, Miso Tonkatsu Ramen and a bottle of local Nigori Sake. The Tonkatsu soup is very umami delicious paired with seaweed, bamboo shoots, thinly sliced ear mushrooms, half boiled egg and two cuts of boiled pork Chashu. The Unagi Rice Bowl has two skewers of Unagi, which lacks more roasting, it needs to be burned or toasted more. It has a combination of fresh seaweeds, fresh salad and plain rice. There were three of us and we paid a little over $80. We will definitely come back for more Ramen and Yakitori. This place is highly recommended!“

“The ramen tastes very good, the soup base is rich and the noodles taste great“

“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.“

“Went here for lunch right as they opened. Absolutely amazing for counter serve ramen. It comes in a plastic bowl and you have to eat it with a tiny plastic spoon, but it's like 90-95% as tasty as the full Mensho restaurants in SF and Oakland.

If you want lamb in your ramen like me, I recommend getting one of the lamb varieties, rather than adding lamb to the regular ramen as I did (my mistake, can't fault the store for this). It kind of overpowers the other flavors, but was still amazing.

I wish you could get beer or sake here, but for lunch ramen, this place can't be beaten.“

“Bebelin was such a wonderful server. It was my first time eating at this establishment, and she gave our party the service experience of a lifetime. She was bubbly, kind, and made sure that we were taken care of throughout the duration of our stay. The food was delicious and offered in a beautiful ceramic bowl that highlighted their special attention to detail. The presentation, food quality, and waitstaff make me excited to dine here again.“

“My fiancé and I visited Rural Ramen on New Year’s Day while spending a couple of days in San Francisco, and it was a highlight of our trip. The ramen was absolutely delicious—while we’re no experts, this was hands down the best tonkotsu ramen we’ve ever had. The ambience was warm and pleasant, and the service was excellent from start to finish. We also tried the flavored nigiri in strawberry and pineapple, which were a fun and tasty surprise, along with the shrimp tempura, which was perfectly cooked. We’d definitely come back and highly recommend this spot! 🍜“

“Visited Hinodeya Ramen solo and thought it was a great spot for dining alone. The food was delicious—I ordered the chicken ramen and chicken karaage, and both were fresh, flavorful, and satisfying. The service was friendly and attentive, which made the experience even better. Overall, a great ramen spot that I’d definitely recommend, whether you’re dining solo or with friends.“

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

“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!!!“

“This place strives for customer satisfaction. The place is clean and no sticky tables, everything is in its place nice and neat. The food presentation is on point, and most important of all is the THE FOOD IS ON POINT. Delicious and you get what you ask for.
I’ve been to other Kyoto Ramen chains and though this one is on the smaller side. They pack a punch 🤜🏽 in Quality.“

“One of a small handful of state-side ramen experiences that’s equaled some of the ramen bowls I’ve enjoyed in Japan. The yuzu ramen is the stand-out.

I brought my discerning professional chef friend here and when he tasted the yuzu broth, he immediately ordered a bowl from Hiroshi, then boxed up the meal he already had in front of him from another stall.

But maybe the clearest indication of Hiroshi Ramen’s visit-worthiness is the fact that it has unseated Super Duper Birger as my 11yr old son’s gold standard go-to restaurant.

The 1-3 star reviews here have me thinking there really should be a qualifications exam before you’re aloud to rate a restaurant on these platforms.

Just go.“

“Inside was clean, I got the beef mini meal and replaced the macaroni salad with rice, the food cane with rice, bbq beef, and vegetables (cabbage and broccoli) the food was so good that I picked out the broccoli and ate it on its own, and I hate broccoli, so that shows how good it was“

“I read the reviews, trusted that they were authentic enough, and tried the rumen for myself (Tonkotsu deluxe). It did not disappoint. I'm extremely happy that I tied it. Now it will be the go to place in Oakland for me. The price is just for current economy, which is a bit pricey for me ($18.75 after tax), but totally worth it! The portion size is really good for a grown hungry man. The wait was very short, just like other reviews stated.“

“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!“

“I finally tried this place out after some years. I’ve wanted to for some time but they close early at 5:30. I usually eat ramen at night, too bad they don’t stay open for dinner.
I was pleasantly surprised that the Karamiso Ramen was tasty and satisfying. I’ll definitely go back again.“

“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 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.“

“Enjoyed clean and fresh tasting sashimi with delicious sides. Had to try the vegetarian okonomiyaki with bonito flakes mayo and unagi sauce. Salmon and avocado sushi roll was yummy. Definitely would come back to visit this quaint and tasty Japanese restaurant in my neighborhood!“

“Really interesting take on Ramen broth. The beef broth is rich yet not too thick. I prefer a richer Paitan but this is also good. Black garlic oil also adds more depth to the soup.

The noodle is bouncy and chewy with a strong smell of egg noodle.

Crispy mushroom is good but can be a little too salty to finish by a single person. A touch of something citrusy would help cut through the greasiness after half a dish.“

“I highly recommend Ramen Shop for your ramen fix! This place just gets more creative each time that I can here with friends. I don't know how they do the egg yolk, but it is simply the best. Wonderful and friendly staff. I also love the interior decor of the restaurant.“

“Sushi Chef is my favorite sushi spot and the only place I order from regularly. The fish is always incredibly fresh, the quality is consistently excellent, and I’ve never been disappointed.

They’re also fantastic about accommodating my gluten allergy, which gives me a lot of confidence ordering from them. It’s my go-to recommendation whenever friends or family are visiting from out of town, and I’m just as happy dining there solo.

A true local favorite that never misses.“

“Relatively healthy food, not greasy, very flavorful, good portions and prices. Fresh food. I eat here from doordash very often.

One criticism is the boba teas are very expensive for their size, but this problem only exist for the teas.“

“I've been a regular customer for 20 years. I've been going to Katana-ya with my parents since I was little, and even now, after getting married, I bring my wife back. Tokyo Feng is still as delicious as ever. Their sushi has been infused with innovative elements, and the flavor and texture have improved. The portions are generous, and the prices are affordable! Tokyo Feng, we hope you continue to do better and continue to do well for another 20 years!“

“Cool sushi spot, atmosphere was very chill. I was pretty much the only one eating at the time. Sashimi was good, the 49er roll wasn't as good as I thought it was going to be but this pace was still great. Staff was very courteous and the food came really fast. They also give you large portions. You'll get full fast at this spot.“

“If you’re looking for a great spot to grab Chinese food in Richmond, V8 Kitchen on Macdonald Ave is definitely worth checking out. My wife and I found this place on Google Maps while looking for something new to try—and we’re glad we did! The photos and menu looked promising, and we were in the mood for a good lunch date.

As soon as we walked in, the lady who took our order greeted us with a warm welcome and helped us feel right at home. She was quick, polite, and made the whole experience feel personal. The place had a peaceful and quiet atmosphere, perfect for a casual and relaxing couple’s lunch.

The food? Excellent. Everything we ordered was fresh, flavorful, and cooked just right. You can tell they put care into their dishes, and it shows in the taste. The prices were also really fair for the quality and portion size.

All around, this was a great little food adventure for us. If you're local or just passing through Richmond and want good Chinese food with kind service and a calm vibe, V8 Kitchen is a nice choice.“