I'm sad this place is closed. I'm not sure if they are closed for good or for reservation, but they had the best vegetarian ramen. They had used tea in the soup base the green soup was really good.Let me know where the chef foes next!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Jessica Chai
The chicken ramen was surprisingly more moist than we expected it to be. The broth is quite thick, so we recommend adding lemon vinegar to it. The tsukemen was also good. Other places occasionally make the dipping sauce a bit too salty, but we thought this was the perfect level. The karaage was our favorite.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
Jessica C.
The chicken ramen was surprisingly more moist than we expected it to be. The broth is quite thick, so we recommend adding lemon vinegar to it. The tsukemen was also good. Other places occasionally make the dipping sauce a bit too salty, but we thought this was the perfect level. The karaage was our favorite.
Vivian P.
The ramen here is just okay, but it's very salty and I tend to lean towards saltier food. However, this was beyond too salty. I noticed some customers weren't getting their order on time. Luckily that wasn't the case for us. We tried the tsukemen, beef soba noodles, fried oyster and the karaage was okay. The restaurant was quite spacious and every was very far apart, which I enjoyed.
Kenneth Nguyen
Thumbs Up Ramen offered an interesting experience for me. Unfortunately, I had to settle for a bowl I wasn't familiar with due to my initial choice being out of stock. While the food was alright and didn't particularly match my taste, my girlfriend thoroughly enjoyed her bowl.On the positive side, the staff was great, and their assistance was appreciated. The environment was clean and inviting, creating a comfortable atmosphere to dine in. Moreover, the ease of parking was certainly a convenience. While my personal experience was mixed, it seems like Thumbs Up Ramen has potential for those who find a dish that aligns better with their preferences.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 5
Wendy H.
Lovely casual ramen spot. We enjoyed the ease and quickness for ordering. The ramen was satisfying -- not extremely memorable, but solid. The kids were a bit disappointed that their "dessert" was a piece of fruit, but I was happy with that! Didn't get to try the tsukemen but would love to try that next time I'm in the neighborhood!
Isabel C.
Thumbs Up was a cute restaurant with a large menu and well presented dishes. But--I was disappointed about some aspects of my first experience here. Namely, that they could not accommodate my partner's dietary restrictions and service was slow. My partner was excited to try their ramen but cannot eat pork due to his religion. While we both totally understand that there are limitations to broth options, our waiter informed us that with the single option he could eat (Miso Broth), we were not allowed to swap the protein in the dish for grilled chicken. Because even though they carried grilled chicken for other dishes, it's not listed as a ramen topping on the menu. Even after explaining that he had dietary restrictions, we would have to order chicken (like an appetizer) separately on the side at a cost. It caught us a bit off guard because he has usually always been able to receive accommodations from other restaurants with no problem. He ended up ordering a rice dish instead.Additionally, though we were the only table seated at the restaurant for a while, the food was slow to come out. Our appetizers ended up arriving about the same time as our entrees. Everything was good! Just nothing particularly noteworthy; I wish the Chicken Katsu came with more sauce, as it was lacking a bit of flavor. They have a host of other menu items, so maybe I'd enjoy something else! All in all, Thumbs Up is worth a try, but just keep these things in mind!
Sandy T.
First time trying this place. The waitress was friendly but slow. We came at lunch time and it seems like there was only one person working the front and two in the kitchen. I got my katsu dish before the appetizers even came out. One appetizer came out when we were almost done with our food. The food was really good and the ramen soup was very flavorful. They just need to work on how the food comes out. I was surprised the katsu arrived even before the ramens.
May L.
First, place is super spacious and very casual. Easy going vibe. Server was polite and the kitchen is open so you can see the chef and staff hustle. Cool. Now the food--Karaage had an nice airy batter, so if you like airy crispy batter on your chicken then this is your Karaage. I personally like a thicker harder crunch and for the chicken to be seasoned as well, not just the batter BUT, it was delicious. NOW...Agedashi tofu, one of the best I've ever had. Comes with fresh wasabi and grated radish I think. Delicioussss. I wish I didn't have to share. Glad I did!--Because the ramen portions are huge. Spicy miso ramen is fantastic, I loved the nice generous pile of spicy sauce nestled ontop. You can control your spice level by mixing it in little by little or just going full spice and mixing it all at once. I used about half. The char siu tonkatsu (hakata style?) was creamy, smokey, and full of depth. There are so many things to try, you really have to come a few times to experience the full menu. Maybe next time the tsukemen or some cozy curry...yommmm.
Dinneen L.
So many different choices and flavors to choose from. I like this spot for ramen. I like the shoyu ramen and gyoza which taste so good. The takoyaki was well-cooked and its so tasty. The gyoza is so good too. Nice restaurant and pleasant ambiance. The staff was friendly.
This is the ramen I've been wishing for in the fort lee/pal park area! I've been working at companies around the neighboring towns for quite some time and without any slander; this is now the best spot.They pass the karaage test with flying colors, so get that for sure. Just a guess but they might be using a bit of tapioca starch which gives it a unique texture. The star of the show is the Hakata ramen; which is why we sat in lunch rush hour traffic just to get here. The thick and rich pork based broth is excellent and something you can't get at other neighboring ramen spots. Noods are similar to Ichiran! The spicy satay like paste/oil they offer is fantastic. Maybe offer it on the side so people can adjust their own bowls instead of throwing it all in there.I'm hoping next time I stop by they can reduce the richness a tiny bit or maybe adopt a system like Ichiran where I can adjust some preferences on a tiny sheet of paper.Don't let the negative reviews prevent you from trying this spot!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Karaage Chicken
Irene C.
This restaurant has quickly become one of my favorite in Fort Lee ( maybe in NJ) as I visit it at least once every week. It looks like they have a new name ( Ton-Chan Tokyo Shokudo). While the sign outside of the restaurant still says " Thumbs Up Ramen ", the menu has updated and shows " Tokyo Shokudo" and it looks like the transition happened in May. I must say I really really like the new menus as they added so many rice items but still keep the ramen items. For someone like me that always wanted to try something differently, this restaurant is really a dream as I get to try different items every trime. And honestly, I haven't had one dish that I don't like, the only thing I don't really enjoy is gyoza, but it is really person preference as I enjoy dumpling to be pain fried, but I know some people like deep fried dumplings. My favorite is #59 Katsu-Ni Curry ( they cooked the deep fried pork cutlet with mixed eggs, and serve with eggs, cabbage and curry), which is super flavorful and satisfying dish! Their karaage ( fried chicken ) is also amazing! I honestly have no idea how it is even possible to make fried chicken so tender and so juicy inside. Though they added a lot of rice items, they still make the killer ramens that my husband is obsessed with. His favorite is miso ramen, as he found the broth is full of umami, noodle is cooked to perfection and the portion is super satisfying. Service is always very polite and pleasant, the restaurant is new and clean. It looks like they are planning to add even more items in summer and I can't wait to try them!
Yujen C.
Honestly i like their tonkatsu combo. It was nice and simple.The spicy miso ramen with egg and corn was soso and the bill was $25.Just feel like if i spend $25 on a bowl I should be wow.Anyways, will come back and try more things.
Reservations Son Cubano
First time trying Thumbs Up Ramen. Incredible curry appetizer, and even more incredible spicy ramen. Looking forward to coming back soon.
I'm sad this place is closed. I'm not sure if they are closed for good or for reservation, but they had the best vegetarian ramen. They had used tea in the soup base the green soup was really good.Let me know where the chef foes next!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The chicken ramen was surprisingly more moist than we expected it to be. The broth is quite thick, so we recommend adding lemon vinegar to it. The tsukemen was also good. Other places occasionally make the dipping sauce a bit too salty, but we thought this was the perfect level. The karaage was our favorite.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
The chicken ramen was surprisingly more moist than we expected it to be. The broth is quite thick, so we recommend adding lemon vinegar to it. The tsukemen was also good. Other places occasionally make the dipping sauce a bit too salty, but we thought this was the perfect level. The karaage was our favorite.
The ramen here is just okay, but it's very salty and I tend to lean towards saltier food. However, this was beyond too salty. I noticed some customers weren't getting their order on time. Luckily that wasn't the case for us. We tried the tsukemen, beef soba noodles, fried oyster and the karaage was okay. The restaurant was quite spacious and every was very far apart, which I enjoyed.
Thumbs Up Ramen offered an interesting experience for me. Unfortunately, I had to settle for a bowl I wasn't familiar with due to my initial choice being out of stock. While the food was alright and didn't particularly match my taste, my girlfriend thoroughly enjoyed her bowl.On the positive side, the staff was great, and their assistance was appreciated. The environment was clean and inviting, creating a comfortable atmosphere to dine in. Moreover, the ease of parking was certainly a convenience. While my personal experience was mixed, it seems like Thumbs Up Ramen has potential for those who find a dish that aligns better with their preferences.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 5
Lovely casual ramen spot. We enjoyed the ease and quickness for ordering. The ramen was satisfying -- not extremely memorable, but solid. The kids were a bit disappointed that their "dessert" was a piece of fruit, but I was happy with that! Didn't get to try the tsukemen but would love to try that next time I'm in the neighborhood!
Thumbs Up was a cute restaurant with a large menu and well presented dishes. But--I was disappointed about some aspects of my first experience here. Namely, that they could not accommodate my partner's dietary restrictions and service was slow. My partner was excited to try their ramen but cannot eat pork due to his religion. While we both totally understand that there are limitations to broth options, our waiter informed us that with the single option he could eat (Miso Broth), we were not allowed to swap the protein in the dish for grilled chicken. Because even though they carried grilled chicken for other dishes, it's not listed as a ramen topping on the menu. Even after explaining that he had dietary restrictions, we would have to order chicken (like an appetizer) separately on the side at a cost. It caught us a bit off guard because he has usually always been able to receive accommodations from other restaurants with no problem. He ended up ordering a rice dish instead.Additionally, though we were the only table seated at the restaurant for a while, the food was slow to come out. Our appetizers ended up arriving about the same time as our entrees. Everything was good! Just nothing particularly noteworthy; I wish the Chicken Katsu came with more sauce, as it was lacking a bit of flavor. They have a host of other menu items, so maybe I'd enjoy something else! All in all, Thumbs Up is worth a try, but just keep these things in mind!
First time trying this place. The waitress was friendly but slow. We came at lunch time and it seems like there was only one person working the front and two in the kitchen. I got my katsu dish before the appetizers even came out. One appetizer came out when we were almost done with our food. The food was really good and the ramen soup was very flavorful. They just need to work on how the food comes out. I was surprised the katsu arrived even before the ramens.
First, place is super spacious and very casual. Easy going vibe. Server was polite and the kitchen is open so you can see the chef and staff hustle. Cool. Now the food--Karaage had an nice airy batter, so if you like airy crispy batter on your chicken then this is your Karaage. I personally like a thicker harder crunch and for the chicken to be seasoned as well, not just the batter BUT, it was delicious. NOW...Agedashi tofu, one of the best I've ever had. Comes with fresh wasabi and grated radish I think. Delicioussss. I wish I didn't have to share. Glad I did!--Because the ramen portions are huge. Spicy miso ramen is fantastic, I loved the nice generous pile of spicy sauce nestled ontop. You can control your spice level by mixing it in little by little or just going full spice and mixing it all at once. I used about half. The char siu tonkatsu (hakata style?) was creamy, smokey, and full of depth. There are so many things to try, you really have to come a few times to experience the full menu. Maybe next time the tsukemen or some cozy curry...yommmm.
So many different choices and flavors to choose from. I like this spot for ramen. I like the shoyu ramen and gyoza which taste so good. The takoyaki was well-cooked and its so tasty. The gyoza is so good too. Nice restaurant and pleasant ambiance. The staff was friendly.
Restaurantji Recommends
This is the ramen I've been wishing for in the fort lee/pal park area! I've been working at companies around the neighboring towns for quite some time and without any slander; this is now the best spot.They pass the karaage test with flying colors, so get that for sure. Just a guess but they might be using a bit of tapioca starch which gives it a unique texture. The star of the show is the Hakata ramen; which is why we sat in lunch rush hour traffic just to get here. The thick and rich pork based broth is excellent and something you can't get at other neighboring ramen spots. Noods are similar to Ichiran! The spicy satay like paste/oil they offer is fantastic. Maybe offer it on the side so people can adjust their own bowls instead of throwing it all in there.I'm hoping next time I stop by they can reduce the richness a tiny bit or maybe adopt a system like Ichiran where I can adjust some preferences on a tiny sheet of paper.Don't let the negative reviews prevent you from trying this spot!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Karaage Chicken
This restaurant has quickly become one of my favorite in Fort Lee ( maybe in NJ) as I visit it at least once every week. It looks like they have a new name ( Ton-Chan Tokyo Shokudo). While the sign outside of the restaurant still says " Thumbs Up Ramen ", the menu has updated and shows " Tokyo Shokudo" and it looks like the transition happened in May. I must say I really really like the new menus as they added so many rice items but still keep the ramen items. For someone like me that always wanted to try something differently, this restaurant is really a dream as I get to try different items every trime. And honestly, I haven't had one dish that I don't like, the only thing I don't really enjoy is gyoza, but it is really person preference as I enjoy dumpling to be pain fried, but I know some people like deep fried dumplings. My favorite is #59 Katsu-Ni Curry ( they cooked the deep fried pork cutlet with mixed eggs, and serve with eggs, cabbage and curry), which is super flavorful and satisfying dish! Their karaage ( fried chicken ) is also amazing! I honestly have no idea how it is even possible to make fried chicken so tender and so juicy inside. Though they added a lot of rice items, they still make the killer ramens that my husband is obsessed with. His favorite is miso ramen, as he found the broth is full of umami, noodle is cooked to perfection and the portion is super satisfying. Service is always very polite and pleasant, the restaurant is new and clean. It looks like they are planning to add even more items in summer and I can't wait to try them!
Honestly i like their tonkatsu combo. It was nice and simple.The spicy miso ramen with egg and corn was soso and the bill was $25.Just feel like if i spend $25 on a bowl I should be wow.Anyways, will come back and try more things.
First time trying Thumbs Up Ramen. Incredible curry appetizer, and even more incredible spicy ramen. Looking forward to coming back soon.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The ramen is so good! Highly recommend!