Noodle in a Haystack

4601 Geary Blvd, San Francisco

Recent Reviews

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Cassandra Campos

I was able to enjoy the Sake Paring tasting menu and it was phenomenal! The care and detail put into each dish was felt and tasted. Thank you Clint and Yoko for a wonderful evening!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Sake Pairing

Giovanni Fnu

One of the best & true Japanese ramen joint you can find in San Francisco - hands down! I love the details they thought of into the making of every dishes that they served in front for you. Most of the dishes they made are often tied back to a story / reminder of other dishes that takes you back to the joy of home cooked meals. I also love Yoko & Clint - they’re so humble and such lovely duo, it’s always great to catch up with them even if it’s for a short period of time! I know it’s hard to find reservation here but keep trying! Definitely worth the visit!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Ellen Le

Absolutely spectacular. Heart and soul in every bite. So balanced and flavorful. Best meal we’ve had in a very long time. Cannot wait to come back!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Solly Ross

ohmygods this was awesome, such neat flavor combos and use of ingredients. if ur a fan of ramen and a food nerd, would definitely reccomend

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Sarah O

It was such a treat to dine here! Truly a hidden gem in San Francisco, Clint and his wife Yoko offer the most exceptional ramen and a myriad of other tasty bites, all made right in front of you and with the delicacy and precision of brilliant culinary artists. It's amazing to think they aren't trained chefs because it's one of the best meals I've had! We did the mini sake pairing menu and it was so much fun. As a sake lover, it was great to see such a unique and varied selection paired with the courses. I wanted to live in the moment so didn't take any pics. :) I wish Clint and Yoko an abundance of continued success. What they've created is really special and they should feel incredibly proud of how far they've come with this restaurant. Put the time slot to book reservations in your calendar and be sure to go! Highly recommended!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

K Lau

Highly recommend Noodle in Haystack, if you can snag a reservation! The chef duo is personable and passionate about the food that they create, and everything is served with care and attention to detail. All of the dishes were delicious - my favorite was the wagyu in deep fried donut - and the bowl of shoyu ramen at the end was truly delicious. We also really enjoyed all of the sakes that were expertly paired with the dishes - it truly took the experience to a new level.

Additionally, the space is beautiful, especially the Japan-inspired counter, which allows you to watch the chefs at work and also interact (if you want to) with your fellow diners. We will be back!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Wagyu Beef, Coffee Basque Cheesecake

Steph Kwan

Delicious tasting menu! The husband and wife duo are passionate about their menu and it really shows. However, I did wish there were more ramen inspired dishes (not just one ramen dish). Nonetheless I still had a great meal and it was worth the experience. There aren't many seats at the counter, so plan to make those reservations early!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

gabe m

When I dream of restaurants I dream of this.The food is inventive and exciting and wonderful but mostly it’s soulful. It’s like eating with great friends if your friends had a fever dream of Japanese food laced with completely unexpected notes - from Szechuan to something that can only be described as a cronut brioche (hugging seared Wagyu on the worlds best sando).There are places with prettier plating and more precise techniques and luxxier ingredients but - this is all Clint and Yoko and their willingness to cook from the heart instead of a book and it couldn’t be better.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Sake Pairing

Shubhie Panicker

Truly extraordinary and unique dining experience! Blown away by the flavors and the passion the chefs bring to the table.Highly recommend.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Jerry C

It is challenging for me to describe how much passion and effort they put into the quality of their food. When I first arrived outside the restaurant, everyone patiently waited for the door to open on the dot. When the door opens, we are warmly greeted inside and check in promptly. There was a space on the right side to hang our coats and store our umbrellas since the rain was torrential. When I first sat down, I noticed how vast and spacious the restaurant was, with a beautiful large countertop leading to an open kitchen. The first course came, and despite how assuming it looked, that single bite packed such a large amount of flavor that I knew it was going to be a lovely evening. The subsequent dishes that followed were also not what it seemed, but the flavor did not clash for me. I had plenty of sake pairing during the meal that you never thought would work with that dish, but the pairing was pretty on point. I had lots of new sake I had never drunk before, and I had taken plenty of photos of each bottle so I could find it later when I wanted to.The owners are amiable when conversing with everyone and answering questions on the dish in particular or if they have any recommendations on another restaurant they like. It is not an experience I can elaborate on in detail, but rather, you have to experience it to know how different it is from all the restaurants I have experienced in the Bay Area. I will return to try their dishes when they rotate them again for the spring time.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Nick P.

Wonderful Ramen dinner at a top SF restaurant. All the dishes were amazing and tasty. Two different ramen dishes, one cold and one warm. Other dishes between the ramen dishes were excellent as well.Two different dessert items after the final ramen were a wonderful way to end the dinner. Two chefs and kitchen prep were very friendly, always explaining how the dish was prepared and inspired by their Japanese background.The meal is expensive and difficult to get a seat, but worth the price and wait.

Parking: Street parking in surrounding neighborhood

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Pancakes with Cream

Nimesh BkS gamer

Nice lovely

Parking: Free place

Kid-friendliness: Nice

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Financier Caviar

Rick Balwani

Absolutely phenomenal experience. The food was outstanding - I’ll never forget the cold ramen with Wagyu, it was a defining culinary experience for me. I hope to be back soon. Come hungry, it’s a lot of delicious food!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Rosina Su

If you've grown tired of traditional ramen, you must give this understated ramen shop a try. Every dish is crafted with great care. If you opt for the additional sake pairing with your meal, each dish comes with its own sake match. The owner is attentive, providing detailed explanations of each dish's ingredients and preparation process, along with insights into the sake selections and their flavors. The dining experience goes beyond just eating; you gain knowledge about various ingredients while enjoying a delightful meal. The owner is sociable, and with only 12 guests served at a time, the atmosphere is relaxed, akin to dining with friends. It's a feast for both the eyes and taste buds—a culinary delight that ramen enthusiasts shouldn't miss.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Sake Pairing

Chia Jen

It is a fun dining experience for sureThere are only 12 seats and you must make reservations and pay before you can walk in and dineThe food is legit and the chef / owner go over each dish with a storyAll dishes are very delicate, sake pairing is excellent too

Recommended dishes: Sake Pairing

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