“If you’re looking for the BEST ramen in town, look no further. The food is absolutely amazing and beyond delicious ? the ambiance is super fast paced so if you’re looking for a chill or romantic place for a date and have a private conversation, this is not the right place for you, since the tables are very close together and it’s more like order, eat, and go place. But if you’re going for the food, this is the right placeVegetarian options: Vegetarian ramen is just as good“
“I really can't say enough about how good Kashiwa Ramen is; I love it so much I've eaten here several times in the last two weeks.This has to be one of the best ramen spots in OC currently. It originally started in Japan and came over to the States. In terms of quality, it definitely seems authentic.I've tried several items on the menu, and every time, it's delicious. I highly recommend dining in, but even if you order to go, or through doordash, it always comes piping hot and high quality.Today, I tried the Tsukumen, which is hard to find at other shops because it is a traditional dipping noodle where you dip it in the soup. I would highly recommend trying their tonkatsu ramen, although they also have other great items like smaller portion chashu rice bowls, which I swear the meat is so soft and tender. The chashu pork comes out great every time. The soft boiled egg is perfection. Both the straight and wavy noodles are wonderful. They also have a swirl broth, which is absolutely delicious; it's a mix of their pork and chicken broth together. They also have green tea, which tastes really crisp and fresh. They also have chicken if you don't eat pork.Overall, I really love Kashiwa and plan to continue frequenting it. The only critique I can give is that I wish the waitresses would check in on the tables at least once or twice every so often. Everyone is so kind and polite and the service is very fast. Dining by myself, i am in and out in under 30 minutes or so.Thank you so much for the wonderful meals, I plan to continue coming here in the future, and I hope more people come too.Vegetarian options: They do have tofu as protein for all ramen, miso ramen, sea kelp ramen, and other various side dishes like egg on rice.I would double-check with the waitresses to make sure the broth is 100% vegetarian.Dietary restrictions: If you do not eat pork, they have chicken as a protein topping as well.Parking: Big parking lot in a busy shopping center.Kid-friendliness: There are probably not a ton of options for kids, but if your kids are more adventurous, im sure they would enjoy it. I believe I've seen kids eating pretty plain ramen, just noodles and broth.Wheelchair accessibility: I'm pretty sure it's accessible to get in, but it is a small store and pretty tight. You may be able to fit your wheel chair at the counter if you ask.“
“This has been on my list forever and I decided last minute while i was off my diet to come here. It's a very small place and it got crowded real quick. Definitely come here early cuz you'll have to wait for a table. I did remember that you can't adjust the spiciness to your bowl so be aware if you're sensitive to the heat. I got the Deluxe and it was everything I imagined it to be. They gave a cute mini ball of rice at the end to soak up the leftover yummy sauce. I took the rest home, the bowl is very heavy and I just couldn't finish it but it's okay because I looked forward to eating it the next day.“
“This hidden gem in one of Irvine's strip malls has become a regular spot for my husband, mom, little pup, and me!The food is fantastic, the service is always friendly, and the fact that it's dog-friendly is a huge plus.My absolute favorite is the Hakata Tonkotsu. The broth is so rich and flavorful – I like to add a bit of spice with the mild to medium option.They're very generous with the noodles, so I rarely finish it all, but it's incredibly delicious. I always leave feeling satisfied and happy.I also love the Mentaiko Bowl with its spicy seasoned cod roe, rice, and all those fresh toppings. My only tiny suggestion would be to add more cod roe to perfectly balance the dish.If you're looking for some amazing Ramen and more in Irvine, check this place out! You won't be disappointed.P.S. I've decided that I will only rate restaurants up to a maximum of 4 stars in my reviews because consistency can vary depending on the day. I will always mention the actual rating for the specific visit in the body of my review. Thus far, this place has consistently deserved a 5-star rating!Vegetarian options: I am sure they can accommodate upon request.“
“I love the food and service here. I like the Katsu Curry more than the Shabu Shabu one since it's more savory. The salad with salmon skin is also amazing and it is a good appetizer. I also ordered the Assorted Tempura but I don't really recommend it since it will be a bit too much to eat all the sides and finish your bowl, unless you go as a group because I struggled to finish my bowl after all the tempura filling my stomach and, you know, fried food fill it quick.Overall, probably the best Udon place I ever tried in OC.“
“With its mouth-watering dishes, Koya is a must-visit for any foodie. The restaurant's inviting atmosphere and top-notch customer service improved our delightful experience. Don't miss out on the chance to indulge in their delectable cuisine!“
“Stopping by for a late lunch early dinner with my hubby during their happy hour. What a steal from the happy hour deal for dinning in! Our total came out to be around only $32 before tip with 2 bowls of trio shrimp noodle, extra egg topping, braised tofu appetizer and a hot tea. Take out is still regular price though. The bowl size is a very good portion, actually a bit big for me. I could only finished half of it. I had the tossed noodle and hubby got the broth one. Although the tossed noodle has good flavor, I have to say I prefer the broth one better. I can taste the flavors of the shrimp peels being roasted before shimmered into the broth, so much depth and richness. Now I know which one to get next time. Will definitely come back again to try other dishes and bring my boys along as well.“
“Tasty food! Great portions and stellar service. My new sushi and ramen spot!!! I highly recommend! Their combo ramen and roll combos keeps interesting foods coming to you bit by bit. First, a nice sized side salad, then pan fried gyoza, then the delicious miso ramen... mmm...“
“The food court environment makes this seem like it wouldn't be that good but I love the Ramen here. It's also a big plus that they re-did the seating in the food court area... Used to be almost impossible to get seating on a weekend.“
“Really cute place, very cozy but not cramped. The server was new but very kind and asked their manager when they didn’t know the answer to something, which is always good. My dad and I got vegan ramens and they were delicious but I wish there was a spicy vegan ramen, too. Brother got the Miso ramen and enjoyed it. The vegan sushis (vegetable tempura and vegetable rolls) were pretty good. I have high standards for vegan sushi thanks to vegan sushi restaurants in the Bay area but for Orange County this is a sushi and ramen place with great vegan options.Vegetarian options: Vegan options (Vegan Ramen, Miso Soup, Fried Tofu, Edamame, Vegetable Tempura Roll, Vegetable Roll).Dietary restrictions: Vegan options (Vegan Ramen, Miso Soup, Fried Tofu, Edamame, Vegetable Tempura Roll, Vegetable Roll).“
“If I could eat only one meal for the rest of my life, it would be Tonkotsu ramen from HiroNori. It's perfectly creamy, comforting and delicious. Fair warning - the portion is huge, but I always end up finishing every last drop of it.I went with my 5-year-old to their Sand Canyon location today and ordered a ramen combo with salmon poke, which was the perfect portion for my kiddo. He loved everything and said we should come back here for dinner sometime.A special shout out to the staff - literally everyone is super friendly, attentive and extremely professional. This place has my heart and I'm already planning my next visit.“
“My boyfriend and I came here on a Wednesday afternoon. We walked in and were seated right away.Server was wasn't the friendliest, but was attentive. The restaurant itself is very small and seating is limited.There are a few parking spots right in front of the restaurant and more parking in the lot behind the restaurant. The weekend is very crowded but during the week it's easier to find a spot right in front. Definitely recommend giving this place a try if you're craving ramen and in the area!Food review:Slurpin ramen: (4/5) The broth was so full of flavor. I loved the thickness of the broth. The noodles were cooked perfectly and the egg was just the cherry on top!The regular was a good portion!Salad: (4/5) This was a big portion, really good flavor, and the dressing was delicious. It was super fresh!“
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“This is the second time I've been here(out of state) and BOTH times Hakata has not failed. Our first time was incredibly busy but the staff was able to produce an extremely quality ramen bowl. Their Karaage is delicious as well.The second time was way less busy and they were able to churn out my order within what seemed to be less than 5 minutes. Still, the taste was insane. Choose "light" on the menu if you don't want your ramen to be too salty.Atmosphere is nice but it feels "quick" you can enjoy some socialization here but it may be better to head out somewhere else due to capacity and business. That's not a slight but just an observation. Didn't affect my experience whatsoever!Can't wait to return!“
“I went here because all the other ramen places I enjoy closed down. Was pleasantly surprised by how the food was. The service was good though I can’t say much because they weren’t there that long. The atmosphere was pretty calming and the music was a 7/10 in my opinion. Overall this place has good food, good service, and a good atmosphere.“
“I've been on a mission to try omurice with demiglace sauce and not the lazy ketchup drizzle. While Aoki No Chuuka didn't have Omurice, they did have Curry Omumeshi. It looked interesting and from the pictures, it looked like demiglace sauce. So I ordered it to try.This was very tasty. The curry fried rice is delicious. While the sauce doesn't seem like it is demiglace sauce but something similar to Bulldog Brand Sauce. It still worked. Definitely recommended.“
“Flavor town. I ordered the cubed chashu bowl and it was probably one of the best Japanese rice bowls I’ve ever had. Chashu bits simmered in a sweet and spicy soy base over a bed of Japanese short grain rice was heavenly. Not to mention, the onsen egg (perfectly cooked) added just the right amount of creaminess to the dish “
“Surprisingly good! I got the Chicken Katsu which was the best I have had in a while, it was very crispy and the chicken was not dry. I also got an additional order of a small macaroni salad which was very good. I also found the price to be reasonable for the amount of food you get. I'll be returning and would recommend anyone trying this place.“
“Our server tonight was Aiden. He was very nice! My daughter and I both got the same thing. The Tonkatsu Miso Ramen. Minus the seaweed and the mushrooms. We did add corn though! The broth was delicious as was the chasu. So tasty. We also added a five-piece gyoza. We love this place!“
“It locates at the most popular outlet in Irvine, but the price is still approachable. The service is cordial and quick. I didn't wait long after I ordered the classic ramen and fried chicken. Overall pretty good. I am glad iI went there for my 30 minutes stay at the outlet.“
“This was a pretty decent sushi spot within walking distance from the beach, however it's a little pricey. There's a few tables that you can sit at outside, which unfortunately comes along with having to deal with quite a few flies. The sushi quality was good & the gyoza was my favorite! I'd come back to try the poke.“
“Super super yummy, filling ramen. I got the Miso Ramen and loved it! My friend and I shared the 5 piece gyozas and they tasted like how gyoza should taste when cooked correctly, but they literally gave us a measly sauce container of ponzu sauce, which was disappointing.“
“We walked in and got seated immediately. We enjoyed all our food. The calamari was notably crispy and light and perfectly salted. The Gu Fries was cheesey and had a complimenting soy glaze the complimented the saltiness of our ramens. The service was unhurried and efficient. The vibe of the space was consistent with the theme. I tried their mandarin sorbet and it was disappointing but still a good pallet cleanser. We really enjoyed our dinner there. This continues to be our annual stop in Laguna for a late ramen.“