Good place it took me 10,000 attempts to get there but it's
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
YoYo S
Good but a little bit
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Anna Koesel
Itadakimasu! Hearty, authentic ramen and Japanese bites make for one of Bloomington’s best dinner spots. This just may be the Midwest’s best ramen restaurant.Yatagarasu has to be one of my favorite local Indiana restaurants. The Bloomington location is immaculately decorated, with incredible ambiance. The food itself challenges that of ramen joints in most major cities. I want to clarify that I’m not a strong believer in the idea that the best restaurants can only be found in more metropolitan areas. Some of the greatest food I’ve ever eaten has been located in what some would consider a hole in the wall in the middle of nowhere. However, as Bloomington’s options have dwindled thanks to the import of major restaurant chains like Canes and Sweetgreen, among other examples of gentrified dining, I’ve been harder pressed to recommend restaurants I consider local staples.Yatagarasu is a breath of fresh air (unfortunately, depending on your university affiliation, coming from our mortal enemy Lafayette). I proves definitively that we Hoosiers don’t need to commute to Louisville, Chicago, Indianapolis, or St. Louis for quality restaurants. Yatagarasu has a simple, undemanding menu that delivers each time I come here. While the menu may be short the food itself is complex and packed with flavor. You don’t find yourself wishing you could have more options because your regular is always excellent. The pork in the rich garlic ramen melts in your mouth, and the soft boiled eggs are always cooked to perfection. There is little more one could ask for in ramen.What they do at Yatagarasu they do well. This includes the drinks, which are plentiful, and range in price and preparation depending on your personal persuasion. If you do it right you can get a lot of bang for your buck though it’s a not a bar where you’d want to over indulge. It feels more akin to a high brow speakeasy, with its low lighting and secluded booths.If you want to watch a sports game, they almost always have women’s gymnastics on. It’s never so crowded as to be uncomfortable and the service is excellent. I deducted one star from the service score only because my last trip here our waiter seemed to be inexperienced and forgot our napkins, spoons, the towelettes that come with every meal, and the appetizer plates. I don’t usually like to harp on service as I know it’s a super challenging, under appreciated profession. However the experience was so jarringly different I had to mention it. Please, anyone who owns a restaurant, don’t throw your servers in the deep end if they’ve never waited tables before or had comprehensive training. It sucks all around, but especially for the server, because they end up evaluated and criticized for mistakes they probably would never have made had they had enough time and help to properly prepare. Good, slow service is always better than fast, poor service. That being said, all the other times I have been here the hospitality has been a 10/10. If you’re in Bloomington, even if you don’t consider yourself a ramen person, check this place out. You will leave with a full belly, surprised in the best way possible.
An absolute treat of a place. Pop upstairs for cheap sakibomb and then enjoy great ramen in very unique setting.Dietary restrictions: Some good gluten-free options.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Rich Garlic Tonkotsu Ramen
Billy Neal
Cool atmosphere and delicious ramen! My kids ask me to take them monthly because it’s such a cool
There is only one vegetarian Raman which is great. I am also very pleased they have vegetarian pot stickers.The tea is also very good.After a-couple visits we have just accepted the service is very slow and to expect to spend 1-2 hours here for our meal. But when the food does come it comes out fresh and hot. It’s a great place to sit and lounge to have a lot of time to talk to your company. But drinks may be slow.We enjoy a slower paced dining experience so we reserve this for a casual evening where we want to enjoy the company we haveVegetarian options: There is no mistaking vegetarian food. Despite the options being very limited
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 3
Recommended dishes: Spicy Veggie Ramen
Galy Vaca
I've had ramen in Japan, this doesn't compare, but it's still tasty and fun. I loved the kitschy decor... Made me miss Japan.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Spicy Veggie Ramen
Olivia L.
This was only my second time having ramen like this. It was very good but VERY salty. This in your sodium, calorie, and carb intake for your entire day (if not couple of days) it was very yummy and a cool atmosphere, kind of like a club. The service was just good. We walked in and both the waiter and hostess was on their phones and returned to that position whenever they weren't needed. Although all of this, it was a great end to a bar crawl to fill up. Look at how beautiful it was out together too.
Seth Gardner
Bring your own spoon.
Eaten here several times but the past two times we’ve gone they ran out of spoons and told us we had to try to eat the broth with a fork. Okay.
Good food but your appetizers will come out about ten minutes after your main arrives, and you won’t get a spoon.
I’m surprised with the high rating for food. Everything was flavorless and underwhelming. The noodles and broth tasted like they were shoved in a microwave. The ramen and vegetables didn’t taste like they had sat in the broth more than a few minutes. I would have had better tasting ramen at home from a cheap package. I’ve had authentic ramen and this is the lowest quality I’ve ever tasted. I’d take Noodles & Company over this.This review is based only on takeout so I cannot speak for the service or atmosphere.
Omar White
One of the better places I’ve gotten ramen at in town.
Fantastic Japanese cuisine in a building and a esthetic designed to pull you into Japanese culture. All Ramen & Don dishes are well done. For appetizers, whether you choose brussel sprouts, dumplings or octopus meatballs - you won't be disappointed.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Tim Nottingham
Ordered the veggie and the spicy Volcan. Absolutely zero flavor in either Ramen. The noodles seamed like spaghetti noodles. And the Volcan had no spice at all and an overwhelming amount of chili flakes that clung to everything. Will never order again.
Fun place to eat near IU campus.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Veggie Spicy Ramen
Good place it took me 10,000 attempts to get there but it's
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Good but a little bit
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Itadakimasu! Hearty, authentic ramen and Japanese bites make for one of Bloomington’s best dinner spots. This just may be the Midwest’s best ramen restaurant.Yatagarasu has to be one of my favorite local Indiana restaurants. The Bloomington location is immaculately decorated, with incredible ambiance. The food itself challenges that of ramen joints in most major cities. I want to clarify that I’m not a strong believer in the idea that the best restaurants can only be found in more metropolitan areas. Some of the greatest food I’ve ever eaten has been located in what some would consider a hole in the wall in the middle of nowhere. However, as Bloomington’s options have dwindled thanks to the import of major restaurant chains like Canes and Sweetgreen, among other examples of gentrified dining, I’ve been harder pressed to recommend restaurants I consider local staples.Yatagarasu is a breath of fresh air (unfortunately, depending on your university affiliation, coming from our mortal enemy Lafayette). I proves definitively that we Hoosiers don’t need to commute to Louisville, Chicago, Indianapolis, or St. Louis for quality restaurants. Yatagarasu has a simple, undemanding menu that delivers each time I come here. While the menu may be short the food itself is complex and packed with flavor. You don’t find yourself wishing you could have more options because your regular is always excellent. The pork in the rich garlic ramen melts in your mouth, and the soft boiled eggs are always cooked to perfection. There is little more one could ask for in ramen.What they do at Yatagarasu they do well. This includes the drinks, which are plentiful, and range in price and preparation depending on your personal persuasion. If you do it right you can get a lot of bang for your buck though it’s a not a bar where you’d want to over indulge. It feels more akin to a high brow speakeasy, with its low lighting and secluded booths.If you want to watch a sports game, they almost always have women’s gymnastics on. It’s never so crowded as to be uncomfortable and the service is excellent. I deducted one star from the service score only because my last trip here our waiter seemed to be inexperienced and forgot our napkins, spoons, the towelettes that come with every meal, and the appetizer plates. I don’t usually like to harp on service as I know it’s a super challenging, under appreciated profession. However the experience was so jarringly different I had to mention it. Please, anyone who owns a restaurant, don’t throw your servers in the deep end if they’ve never waited tables before or had comprehensive training. It sucks all around, but especially for the server, because they end up evaluated and criticized for mistakes they probably would never have made had they had enough time and help to properly prepare. Good, slow service is always better than fast, poor service. That being said, all the other times I have been here the hospitality has been a 10/10. If you’re in Bloomington, even if you don’t consider yourself a ramen person, check this place out. You will leave with a full belly, surprised in the best way possible.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Takoyaki, Rich Garlic Tonkotsu Ramen, Gyoza
An absolute treat of a place. Pop upstairs for cheap sakibomb and then enjoy great ramen in very unique setting.Dietary restrictions: Some good gluten-free options.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Rich Garlic Tonkotsu Ramen
Cool atmosphere and delicious ramen! My kids ask me to take them monthly because it’s such a cool
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Rich Garlic Tonkotsu Ramen, Tonkotsu Miso Spicy Ramen, Mochi Ice Cream, Spicy Miso Ramen
There is only one vegetarian Raman which is great. I am also very pleased they have vegetarian pot stickers.The tea is also very good.After a-couple visits we have just accepted the service is very slow and to expect to spend 1-2 hours here for our meal. But when the food does come it comes out fresh and hot. It’s a great place to sit and lounge to have a lot of time to talk to your company. But drinks may be slow.We enjoy a slower paced dining experience so we reserve this for a casual evening where we want to enjoy the company we haveVegetarian options: There is no mistaking vegetarian food. Despite the options being very limited
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 3
Recommended dishes: Spicy Veggie Ramen
I've had ramen in Japan, this doesn't compare, but it's still tasty and fun. I loved the kitschy decor... Made me miss Japan.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Spicy Veggie Ramen
This was only my second time having ramen like this. It was very good but VERY salty. This in your sodium, calorie, and carb intake for your entire day (if not couple of days) it was very yummy and a cool atmosphere, kind of like a club. The service was just good. We walked in and both the waiter and hostess was on their phones and returned to that position whenever they weren't needed. Although all of this, it was a great end to a bar crawl to fill up. Look at how beautiful it was out together too.
Bring your own spoon. Eaten here several times but the past two times we’ve gone they ran out of spoons and told us we had to try to eat the broth with a fork. Okay. Good food but your appetizers will come out about ten minutes after your main arrives, and you won’t get a spoon.
Restaurantji Recommends
Genuinely the best Ramen I’ve ever had and the atmosphere is really nice.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Tonkotsu Miso Spicy Ramen, Gyoza
I’m surprised with the high rating for food. Everything was flavorless and underwhelming. The noodles and broth tasted like they were shoved in a microwave. The ramen and vegetables didn’t taste like they had sat in the broth more than a few minutes. I would have had better tasting ramen at home from a cheap package. I’ve had authentic ramen and this is the lowest quality I’ve ever tasted. I’d take Noodles & Company over this.This review is based only on takeout so I cannot speak for the service or atmosphere.
One of the better places I’ve gotten ramen at in town.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 3
Recommended dishes: Chicken Karaage, Rich Garlic Tonkotsu Ramen
Fantastic Japanese cuisine in a building and a esthetic designed to pull you into Japanese culture. All Ramen & Don dishes are well done. For appetizers, whether you choose brussel sprouts, dumplings or octopus meatballs - you won't be disappointed.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Ordered the veggie and the spicy Volcan. Absolutely zero flavor in either Ramen. The noodles seamed like spaghetti noodles. And the Volcan had no spice at all and an overwhelming amount of chili flakes that clung to everything. Will never order again.
Food: 1