IPPUDO SAN FRANCISCO

The veggie ramen was a bit overpriced for the portion, but I really liked the dining area.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 4

Service: 4

Great ramen, fast service, cool place in a cool, sunny alley. Pity they don't have miso soup, but still excellent!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Fantastic ramen.

Food: 5

Service: 5

The ramen size has reduced drastically from last year, and the price has increased from 17$ to 21$ for the same dish! This can't be just inflation.

Atmosphere: 2

Food: 2

Service: 3

The food was good. We ordered the Brooklyn Bridge sushi roll, and the inside was good. However I did not like the mayo they put on it, and the person accompanying me did not like the eggplant. We then ordered the Chicken Kara-Age Rice which was DELICIOUS 😋!! We also ordered the the Nirvana Karaka, which AMAZING 🤩 !! However the people operating the shop were a little unclear on what we had to do. When we first entered, there were some flaps behind a desk. We stood there for a bit, then someone came. Overall, the food was delicious, the atmosphere amazing, but the service could be just a little better.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 4

The Ramen and the Takoyaki were really really good. My girlfriend and I we loved it. We highly recommend it.

Their spicy karkara ramen is the best ramen I’ve had!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Incredible Ramen! I went to Ippudo in New York a while back and it was great, so when I saw this, I was so excited! Very friendly staff, and she helped us pick out a nice sake to go with our meal. All our food was great! Definitely will come back next time I'm in SF.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Ramen was very average

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 3

Service: 3

The waiter was awful, very bad face, eager to finish the shift and very nervous, and he had just started.
The Happy Hour does not exist, it is fake, the beer costs 11 and they charge you 9, and it is a normal beer and not that good.
Also when I was leaving I said goodbye to them and they didn't tell me anything, very bad experience, the food was good but very little, it's very expensive for the little they put!

Atmosphere: 3

Food: 3

Service: 1

Consistently great ramen... Strangely pricey compared with Tokyo counterparts

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Karaka Spicy Ramen, Tonkotsu Ramen, Akamaru Modern, Spicy Gyoza

Ippudo [一風堂]in Japan is like our “Denny’s” and isn't exceptionally expensive despite the fact that it has had to raise prices there also due to the increased cost of raw materials and partly attributed to the ongoing inflation. In fact, its prices are comparable to many other popular ramen joints in Japan and are often cheaper than its international prices. However, “Ippudo Yerba Buena” in San Francisco is located in the alley of Yerba Buena Lane next to Four Seasons Hotel and to sum up: ❶ The Dashi quality of its tonkotsu or miso ramen, which requires a lot of time and effort to prepare if they truly do 😔, is unremarkable and too salty to my taste buds.❷ The ramen noodles “Tokyo-style thick wavy noodles” are average and Chasu is also too salty. ❸ Other ingredients such as “fried onion chips, ginger, seasoned bamboo shoots, spinach, corn, diced red onions” are decent and inclusive as advertised. However, $4 for Tamago (“egg”) which is usually included in the price tag of ramen ($23) in any other Japanese Ramen shops in The City is considered an “extra topping” which leaves bad taste in mouth.
❹ Service is a little slow on average and seating is also typical diner style nothing private enough much less romantic. ❺ Three stars is my generous rating considering food quality and service satisfaction; however, the overcharging price will scale it down to 2 1/2. {$70 some for two Ramens including tips arguably are not typical price for average Joe diner.}
PS The meanings of Ippudo in Kanji “一風堂” are: One “一I” Wind “風ppu” Hall “堂do.”
One “一I” is one stroke simply describing the horizon; Wind “風” describes eight directions of wind in meteorology (N, NE, E, SE, S, SW, W, NW). Hall “堂”in original Kanji pronounces as Tong, simply means “palace or meeting hall,” which sometimes refers to historical Chinese American benevolent societies or associations that were somehow associated with organized crime in Chinatown such as the infamous “Shrimp Boy” described by the media.

Atmosphere: 3

Food: 3

Service: 2

Spicy Tuna Roll…a Dish of Its Own!

The Spicy Tuna Roll is the star here, fresh, balanced, and packed with flavor. It’s one of those rare rolls that feels like its own signature dish rather than just another sushi staple.

The Brussels Sprouts are delightful, perfectly crisp, lightly charred, and seasoned just right. A simple dish elevated by great technique.

And that Akamura Modern Broth? A total blessing in a bowl, rich, comforting, and beautifully layered. It ties the whole meal together like a culinary exclamation point.

An easy five stars.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 5

Service: 4

Probably the best vegetarian ramen I’ve had in my life

Enjoyed the medley buns and karaage. We also got Karaka Spicy Ramen and Tantan ramen

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 4

Service: 4

Recommended dishes: Ippudo Buns