Katsubō

Excellent lunch spot. Our food came out hot and fresh. The atmosphere was chill and relaxed. I will be back, and this time I'm going spicy with my ramen

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Cold Ramen, undercooked noodles. Service sucked will not return.

Chicken sandwich appetizer was great.

Atmosphere: 3

Food: 2

Service: 1

It's a quaint place with a nice patio and bar area. Service was great, there weren't many people in when we ate here. The food was good. Came out quick and hot. Flavors were alright, I've had better ramen but I wasn't displeased with it! The prices were $2 different when we paid than on the menu.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 4

Service: 5

Best new spot. Mostly because the ramen but don’t skip out on the drinks

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Katsubō delivers an experience that feels both authentic and refreshingly modern. From the moment you sit down, it’s clear that every detail has been considered — from the thoughtful cocktail program to the curated selection of Japanese and locally brewed beers. The cocktails, in particular, struck a perfect balance between creativity and accessibility, offering refined flavor combinations without pretension or inflated prices. (Try the negroni)

The appetizer offerings stay beautifully on brand, capturing the spirit of a true ramen shop while still feeling distinct and without sacrifice to shareability (or eat yourself if you’re hungry!)

The wagyu ramen was nothing short of outstanding — a deeply flavorful broth, tender beef that nearly dissolved on contact, and noodles with just the right spring.

A rare find that combines authenticity, value, and excellence — I’ll absolutely be returning.

As for photos of food, I wasn’t able to get one. That bowl never knew what hit it

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Katsubo is a good neighborhood asian spot in Park Circle. Took the place of the old Jackrabbit Philly, Katsubo presents a laid back, casual, and very K-Pop Gundam culture vibe which is extremely apparent with the Japanese / K-pop music.
Started with Gyoza and spicy cucumbers. Gyoza was pretty par for the course, cucumbers were extremely flavorful and packed a kick! Not too hot, but if you eat the bowl you will feel it. Lots of nice nuttiness and crunch.
The pork ramen was decent, nothing to rave about. The 3 peice chicken in soy was very flavorful and super tender, but not as crunchy as id like. Breading was kinda mushy. Tasty, but again, not raving about it.
All in all, Katsubo is a great neighborhood addition but not something id travel far/wide for. Good value for the money and brings ethnicity to the local cuisine.

Atmosphere: 3

Food: 3

Service: 5

Jess is amazing, please bring back borger

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Only gave atmosphere a 4 out of 5 stars because it’s pretty loud inside but I’m in my 40s so maybe it’s just me. 😂

After living in Japan for 5 years, we are always looking for good Japanese food in America. We had gyoza, spicy red miso ramen and okonomiyaki style waffle fries — everything is fantastic! It was exciting to see more Japanese style ramen (hello, shio!) and even okonomiyaki on the menu! The ramen broth was fantastically spicy and flavorful, noodles are a little large and chewy— somewhat like udon (we like them more on the thin side) but that’s not a complaint just an observation. The okonomiyaki waffle fries are a brilliant and tasty combination. Definitely give them a try. My gyoza loving daughter devoured the gyoza and loved every bite.

The service reminded us of the service in Japan — so attentive and caring. That’s a rare thing in America these days! What a beautiful and rare treat to be served by people that really care.

Thanks for making us feel like we stepped into a ramen shop in Okinawa for a bit today. We will definitely return and recommend everyone give it a try!

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 5

Service: 5

I have been here 15-20 times, and have never been disappointed. The various ramens are first rate, the fried chicken is simply great, and the spicy pickled cucumbers are award winning. But importantly the entire front and back of house are wonderful: attentive, funny, and personable. It’s just a great place.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

So. Much. Flavor. We will be coming back asap! You can’t go wrong with any item on the menu, but two highlights for us were the start and finish - cucumbers and strawberry ice cream sandwich. Unbelievably good.

We also got the dumplings, cabbage salad, edamame, chicken sando, and noodles (special at the time). The drinks were delicious with great range and ingredients.

We highly recommend katsubo!!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

The ramen is so, so good!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Some of the best cocktails in Charleston. Wonderful service

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

This is an amazing Ramen joint! We visited with 5 adults and 2 kids and had an amazing time from getting our drinks orders to getting our starters and mains! The chef is awesome and super friendly- had my son building a 6pc straw for his water 😬 we ordered 3 different starters, 7 different main dishes and it was all delicious and great portions! Will be back soon next time we visit charleston!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Waiter was very slow to give us refills on waters and drinks. The staff spent a lot of time socializing, which normally doesn't matter when being promptly attended to but we felt like it impacted our dining experience, especially when it is out in the open. Additional meat is barely noticeable. They seem to be pinching pennies with certain add-ons. Chicken was fine. I don't think I am into the thickly breaded preparation, but that is a personal preference.
For the money, you are pretty much paying for just the noodles and the broth, and it just doesnt seem to be very fresh. Ramen is everywhere now, so choose wisely.

Atmosphere: 3

Food: 2

Service: 1

The food here was flavorful and hearty. I was impressed by the variety and quality of the vegetarian options. The interior was cute and the service was as-expected. Overall, no complaints at all here. If I lived in the area, I would definitely be back for the veggie ramen.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5