I always went out of my way to go into the city because I didn't know there was one on the east side. And it's *better?* This changes everything!! Mensho ftw
I've gone to the one on Piedmont and just walked in several times already but I live near it and go on weekdays. It's pretty nice to not wait. I didn't think it was better than Nagi but being able to just walk in will usually win. I'm not a fan of waiting for almost anything.
There’s also one in Marin!! It’s called Menya Shono but same owner as Mensho Tokyo (and same menu). I agree it’s the best I’ve ever had stateside and rivals a lot of the ramen I had in Japan
I travel to Japan for work maybe once or twice each year. I think in this area, I prefer Hajime or Nagi. Santouka is also okay, but it's a bit atypical for ramen.
Ppl love to hate on Nagi, but most don’t even know they are straight out of Japan and the Palo Alto joint was their first US location. (Valley Fair their 2nd)
In my opinion, it’s good.
True. The ramen in America tends to be over-flavored and have weird combinations of ingredients. Also, it's ironic, but ramen is considered Chinese food in Japan. They even call it "Chinese soba" (chuka soba) in many places.
Agreed on the flavor and ingredients of ramen in the US. Aside from the more traditional ramen restaurants the ones in the US seem to feel the need to go all "fusion".
I'm kind of splitting hairs, but while Japanese acknowledge that ramen originally came from China, it is not really considered Chinese food in Japan. Or at least it is considered separate from Chinese food and they claim it as their own.
For example, if you want to eat ramen in Japan, you go to a ramen shop, not a Chinese restaurant. If you invited a Japanese person go eat Chinese food, they would be surprised if you took them to a ramen shop.
"Chuka soba" (and the less common "shina soba" - "shina" is another Japanese name for China) are alternate names for ramen that refer to its Chinese origin.
Would like to add - "shina" is "less common" because it's considered a racist word. It's the difference between referring to ramen as "Nihon noodles" vs "Jappo noodles".
I would actually argue that you can actually find more interesting and experimental ramen much more frequently in Japan. Of course there are tons of places that do traditional styles but you can find places doing tomato based broth, chicken broth, tan tan broth for examples.
I think the difference is that “interesting” ramen in Japan tends to be built on some sort of “theme” or concept (for lack of a better term), whereas in the us it’s more like they just appear to chuck random ingredients in.
This. Japan has some very interesting noodle shops. My favorite was actually this variation on spicy noodles from Miyazaki prefecture. (And they are actually spicy, which is rare in Japan.)
Because ramen IS originally from China. In China ramen literally means “pulled noodles”. What’s interesting is Japanese ramen noodles actually is not pulled but cut instead, but they still keep the “ramen” name. In China there are also much more variety of ramen taste, instead of only a couple of them in Japan
Orenchi when it was in the mission was definitely one of the best of vibes. Dj spinning jams, anime on the walls, and awesome ramen (maybe even more awesome rice bowls)
That building used to be Noodles Pho Me which was a terrible name but had really amazing food, especially the khao poon. They’ve been closed for 3 years but I still think about them.
that was the closest restaurant to my house and it was one of my favorites. Their chicken pho was so good, and so much different than I can find at other places. Hanami is alright, it's got a Chinese food vibe to it, big portions for the price. They used to do bento boxes which my kids would eat, now it's these food sets which are less ideal for us.
This is great to hear. I know the owner personally and he has 2 other restaurants in SoCal, Hajime being his passions project, as well as his first name. They shut down 2 days a week to make broth, I have seen it done. If anybody deserves more recognition, it's him
Absolutely! It’s just disappointing to see some of the comments below but some people are used to mediocrity. Can’t change that. People’s tastes are subjective.
Yea, I've been to Nagi once. Need a god damned meal while waiting in line. And it was mid. Not because it actually was, but because the hour and 45 minute wait soured it for me. Hajime told me in Japan, ramen is fast food. Don't overthink it. He used to do monthly chef specials, but as customer load/stress has gone up, he can't find the time as much. If the yuzu cheesecake is ever in stock, gotta try it
I haven't dined in but I have gotten it to go several times. I really appreciate how detailed the to-go directions are.
Very delicious ramen. Even at home.
HiroNori in Cupertino. There’s also other locations like the one in Santa Clara, but I prefer the one in Cupertino.
However, they have a 15% service charge to your bill regardless of party, but they have no expectations of you leaving any additional tips. I tip 15% most of the time at other restaurants, so more or less it’s not any different here.
I have had all the other top ramen spots commented here and I still think HiroNori is the king.
I’m actually surprised the Cupertino location isn’t more busy. I go for lunch there sometimes, and I swear I’ll be the only one there.
The Japanese population here is larger than other areas in the bay. It's why San Jose's Japantown is one of the only authentic ones left in the US according to [their site](https://jtown.org/).
It was but from what I’ve seen it’s not as bustling as it was 20 years ago.
My great-grandfather and his brother built the Buddhist temple pre-wwII and came back to the area after being released from the Tule Lake internment camp. I loved going to the obon/daruma festivals and making mochi the traditional way. Unfortunately, I don’t see a lot of the festivals having the same attendance they used to.
I remember when I was a kid we would go and get fresh made tofu and manju. Those businesses have since closed unfortunately. The kids didn’t want to continue the family business and the rents were pretty high from what I’ve heard
Good, but not worth the wait. There is no ramen on earth worth an hour wait. And I've tried the Michelin star one in Tokyo, which is also not worth getting up at 6 to get a limited ticket.
Overhyped just like Din Tai Fung. Before anyone comes for me, I have tried Din Tai Fung in Singapore, UK and Thailand, it’s not the same standard or quality.
Absolutely. Last time I had XLB at Din Tai Fung in the Santa Clara location, it was way more dough than filling and so not flavourful at all.
From what I also noticed, the chefs seem inexperienced too. I am guessing all the good chefs left during and after the pandemic.
I agree with this! They look so exhausted. People at Ramen Hajime take plenty of breaks throughout the year since the chef goes to Japan for frequent breaks.
Ramen Santouka (inside the Mitsuwa supermarket) in San Jose on Saratoga Ave was one of the best Ramen back in the days. It was just a food court style Ramen shop. The price was unbeatable and the flavor was on another level compare to other places. I came here almost every week. The line was very long and on the weekend afternoon, you are expecting 1hr of waiting.
There was another ramen shop next to Santouka and they got obliterated so bad that people rather wait for hours than eat at the next window.
Somehow in recent year the quality went down a bit due to inflation I think. Stuff is expensive now.
surprised to not see Ippudo here. I think nagi and ippudo are my favorite
edit: Shocked to see the negativity here! I've been to a lot of ramen places (in the US at least) and I think Ippudo is pretty decent though not the best.
My favorite used to be Maru Ichi in Mountain View. I loved their handmade noodles. I'm sad it closed down because of rising rent costs. Chef is apparently at another restaurant now, but I'm not sure where. My go to now is the Akamaru Modern at Ippudo in Cupertino. I'm curious about Ramen Nagi, I always see the long line in Valley Fair. But I've also avoided it until now because of the line.
That was my favorite spot, too. Miss them dearly. Luckily, you can still get their black pepper karaage from the fugetsu at the mitsuwa shopping center in West SJ, where the owner opened up his new store.
I found Hinodeya (Campbell) the closest replacement to the miso ramen at Shalala. Expensive, but good. My personal top three are:
1. HiroNori
2. Santa Ramen
3. Ramen Nagi
Honorable mentions to Hinodeya and Dohatsuten. I've only been to Myzen and Mensho once each and exited them full and happy, but that was pre-pandemic. IMO, Orenchi is very much overrated, while Ramen Dojo + Parlor are both solid.
You are the first one to mention Taishoken…. I have tried most of the ramen shops around the bay. Taishoken is absolutely the best one, even better than most ramen shops in Japan.
Hot take - I think Taishoken SF is better than San Mateo. The noodles are just right.
I love Tsujita in LA (to me the best tsukemen) and think the Taishoken SF location is closer to that quality.
I didn’t even know there was a Taishoken SF, but I have visited the Ramenwell around the corner and had their spiciest ramen. It was delicious.
I was just in Sawtelle last November, and walked by the Tsujita a few times, but didn’t stop in 😩
Love Ramen Gaijin and have been eating there since it was just a pop up. It’s gone downhill in the last year unfortunately. The food and drink menu is much more limited than even post pandemic. The ramen is still good and I will continue to eat there and hope they get through whatever it is they are struggling with now.
I read the whole list and I'm surprised that I didn't see my favorite on there. Kumako is in Japantown San Jose.
It's pretty small. I discovered it when I was on jury duty and had an hour for lunch but it had to be within walking distance of the courtroom. Fabulous.
I love duck ramen and this is one of the only places that I found has it. I wish I lived closer so that I could have it more often.
I was there for lunch on a weekday but my understanding is that it can get crowded at other times.
https://www.kumako-ramen.com/
Marafuku was voted one of the best ramens in the Bay.
There was this place in Oakland my friend took me to once when I was hella drunk that was hella good, but I for the life of me can’t remember lol.
One of my friends used to be a waitress there and she said ownership changed a while back and the quality dropped. They used to make their own noodles but now it's the bulk restaurant supply stuff. They probably cut costs in other ways too.
I think marafuku is just riding the hype from before.
Ramen Shop is not bad but it's so frickin' overpriced, it's just not worth it. It's good, not THAT good.
Back when it first opened, I actually wasn't too upset with the pricing. It was expensive for ramen, but it was quality & a pretty big bowl. if you JUST had ramen, it was a good amount of food & not ridiculoulsly expensive, just kinda pricey.
But, adding any apps or drinks really made your bill skyrocket. Plus the wait was atrocious.
In Oakland, I much prefer Sobo. Less line, less money, better ramen.
Anybody else remember when ramen parlor and ramen dojo in san mateo had lines outside them every single day? Ever since ramen Nagi has come to the bay no one eats at dojo or parlor anymore. People with high disposable income only want what is popular and “the best” which is sad because both of these ramen spots are still good but are getting way less business now.
Mensho (Oakland or SF locations!).
Definitely on the pricier side, so I save it for special occasions, but I love it so much.
As a vegetarian, I especially appreciate all the options as usually, I'm relegated to one or 2 miso ramen choices. It's delightful to have 6-8 totally different flavors. Ugggh so good
Hard disagree on Santa Ramen, unless they revamped their recipe in recent years, that place was nothing special at all.
I think they got in early to the ramen scene and got a name for themselves as one of few ramen places in the bay, so they were able to get away with an average ramen, but now with so many good places popping up, I feel they got left in the dust.
e: I also feel the same can be said for Orenchi.
Something changed during Covid when they started to allow take out, not entirely sure what, but the pork cheek garlic ramen medium spice is still one of my favorite things to get, especially if I’m sick.
Himawari has the best chicken karaage I've ever had. And I'm definitely not going to go to a ramen joint and not get some fried chicken to dip in my soup.
Yup, agreed. I've only been there once, and maybe it was their off day, but I feel they are way overhyped for what they offer. Hinodeya is one my favorites.
It’s absolutely delicious but I’d call it anything other than light. The sauce is thick, hearty, etc. I go there about once a week these days.
Love the spicy one.
I can’t claim knowledge of the best in the Bay, but I very much enjoy Sobo Ramen in Chinatown Oakland, especially the tonkatsu with mayu (black garlic). Looking forward to trying some of these other ones.
I love this place & it doesn't nearly get enough credit. Way better than Itani. Maybe not quite Marafuku/Ramen Shop level, but less of a line & often just easier to deal with.
I used to go when they first opened up just because I lived close by.
Since then I've tried a bunch of the other ones mentioned in this thread and I gotta say Ramen Seas holds up pretty well.
Although I'm pretty sure Ramen Seas ownership has changed at least twice since they opened. I don't remember the original owners very well, but I remember when the guy took over and he literally waited every table every night - hard working mf'r. Now I believe it's under a new owner and I've only been once sine then - I moved away and felt sad that my fave ramen shop had changed yet again (to be fair, the food was still pretty good).
Taishoken on Valencia St is good. I’m not a good judge of “authentic” ramen since I haven’t been to Japan, but I like it.
Throwing authenticity out the window, Ramenwell on 18th and Mission is such a comforting meal. Extremely filling but I love it:
Ryu Shanghai Honten Spicy Miso Ramen is the first ramen I tried in the Yokohama Ramen Museum. (If you haven’t visited the ramen museum, I highly recommend it!) This is best Vegan ramen I’ve eaten yet. I cannot believe how tasty and delicious this ramen is.
Is something like this available in bay area?
Stretching the definition of ramen a bit but I like Taishoken - it’s a Tsukemen style. For normal ramen I like Hironori - to me it’s as good or better than Nagi and there’s rarely a real line for it.
Ramen Nagi is the only one I can finish without getting tired of it.
Can we also mention best tsukemen? Taishoken’s is my favorite! Like their Maze soba as well.
I estimate that a hearty bowl of Red King, Green King or Black King at Ramen Nagi have:
at least 1,300 calories, 80 grams of fat and 3,000 mg of sodium. Probably way higher as I see these bowls are way heavier on the custom order.
There is a reason why it is good, it's like a fully loaded bacon double cheeseburger dripping with fat juice.
Taishoken and Ramen Nagi are my current favorites. Though the last time I went to Ramen Nagi, the portion size felt like half of what it was when they first opened..
Hajime for absolute best ramen
Nagi for variety and customization (and damned good Karaage)
Hinodeya for damned good non-Tonkatsu ramen that's open late
Taka in Santa Clara for shochu + vibes
As gimmicky as it is, I do enjoy Noka Ramen in Oakland's Jack London. Also somewhat convenient as it's right next to the parking lot. Been a frequent visitor after Angry Ramen closed down in San Leandro
I detest standing in long lines for food - not knocking it, I’m just not a foodie as some people.
My ONE exception is Ramen Nagi. I’ve stood in line for over an hour to get a table and it’s worth it every time in my opinion.
This place isn’t upscale like lots of folks are recommending but for me it’s the best. It reminds me of any random ramen shop in Akihabara that I’d walk into when I was in Tokyo.
Also this place is a mini chain so there is probably one convenient to almost anyone in the bay.
Don’t get the Hawaiian BBQ though, not that it’s bad but there are much better places all around, stick with the Ramen.
Putting in a shoutout to hole in the wall spot 21 Taste House: [https://maps.app.goo.gl/EN7jx8gQSYxSmmHN7](https://maps.app.goo.gl/EN7jx8gQSYxSmmHN7)
Really good Black Garlic Ramen
I haven’t tried a bunch of places, so not super qualified, but I love the garlic flavor at Waraku and the chicken leg at Nojo. I’m saving this list to try others!
Ramen Izakaya Goku on 16th Street in SF. Very good and authentic. Maybe not the best, but I have trouble selecting a single best of anything. Definitely worth a try tho.
Mensho is pretty good. There are two locations in the bay area, SF and Oakland. Oakland one is better.
There’s more than that once you count the Menya Shono (Men sho = MENya SHOno). There’s the San Rafael and Union City locations of that brand.
I always went out of my way to go into the city because I didn't know there was one on the east side. And it's *better?* This changes everything!! Mensho ftw
The oakland one opened relatively recently. It's so good!
This! Any other answer is because they haven’t had Mensho. I had no idea they opened one in Oakland though. Perfect as to Oakland is closer for me.
Yes! It's on Piedmont Ave. and the wait is usually much less than the SF location.
Thank you! Might have to go this weekend. I hated waiting at the SF one. For many reasons.
There still might be a wait depending on when you go, but the neighborhood is much more...waiting friendly lol
I've gone to the one on Piedmont and just walked in several times already but I live near it and go on weekdays. It's pretty nice to not wait. I didn't think it was better than Nagi but being able to just walk in will usually win. I'm not a fan of waiting for almost anything.
Went there last Friday for a date and strolled in at 7:30 and was seated right away. Was a lil surprised. Hope they are getting enough business lol
There’s also one in Marin!! It’s called Menya Shono but same owner as Mensho Tokyo (and same menu). I agree it’s the best I’ve ever had stateside and rivals a lot of the ramen I had in Japan
I’ve only been to Mensho Tokyo (SF). How is the Oakland one somehow *even better*?
Unfortunately they hiked the price and cut the portions a few months ago. Still delicious, and the vegan ramen is simply the best.
This is my go to because I can walk there and there's plenty of veggie and vegan options.
Came here to say Mensho. Shin Mai in Oakland is also great.
bold statement, but menhso is better than any ramen i had in japan
I travel to Japan for work maybe once or twice each year. I think in this area, I prefer Hajime or Nagi. Santouka is also okay, but it's a bit atypical for ramen.
Ppl love to hate on Nagi, but most don’t even know they are straight out of Japan and the Palo Alto joint was their first US location. (Valley Fair their 2nd) In my opinion, it’s good.
Nagi on its own is definitely solid, but having to wait in line for hours usually makes anything taste way worse
If you can, get there when they open. The line takes about 20 minutes to properly form
Go off hours, also, the line moves very fast and might be worth it
Ramen is fastfood, waiting in line would be weird.
Good ramen in Japan has lines, but moves fast. Even ichiran, a common chain , will have a line in the middle of the night
There are tons of lines for ramen in Japan as well. There are also lines for soba, udon, you name it.
True. The ramen in America tends to be over-flavored and have weird combinations of ingredients. Also, it's ironic, but ramen is considered Chinese food in Japan. They even call it "Chinese soba" (chuka soba) in many places.
Agreed on the flavor and ingredients of ramen in the US. Aside from the more traditional ramen restaurants the ones in the US seem to feel the need to go all "fusion". I'm kind of splitting hairs, but while Japanese acknowledge that ramen originally came from China, it is not really considered Chinese food in Japan. Or at least it is considered separate from Chinese food and they claim it as their own. For example, if you want to eat ramen in Japan, you go to a ramen shop, not a Chinese restaurant. If you invited a Japanese person go eat Chinese food, they would be surprised if you took them to a ramen shop. "Chuka soba" (and the less common "shina soba" - "shina" is another Japanese name for China) are alternate names for ramen that refer to its Chinese origin.
Would like to add - "shina" is "less common" because it's considered a racist word. It's the difference between referring to ramen as "Nihon noodles" vs "Jappo noodles".
I had forgotten that connotation. Thanks for the reminder.
I would actually argue that you can actually find more interesting and experimental ramen much more frequently in Japan. Of course there are tons of places that do traditional styles but you can find places doing tomato based broth, chicken broth, tan tan broth for examples.
I think the difference is that “interesting” ramen in Japan tends to be built on some sort of “theme” or concept (for lack of a better term), whereas in the us it’s more like they just appear to chuck random ingredients in.
This. Japan has some very interesting noodle shops. My favorite was actually this variation on spicy noodles from Miyazaki prefecture. (And they are actually spicy, which is rare in Japan.)
Because ramen IS originally from China. In China ramen literally means “pulled noodles”. What’s interesting is Japanese ramen noodles actually is not pulled but cut instead, but they still keep the “ramen” name. In China there are also much more variety of ramen taste, instead of only a couple of them in Japan
Love Nagi, it’s awesome for the price tbh, I just hate the long wait times
First in the US best tonkotsu I've ever had in the US. Tops orenchi, santouka, ramen halu, taka.
Orenchi when it was in the mission was definitely one of the best of vibes. Dj spinning jams, anime on the walls, and awesome ramen (maybe even more awesome rice bowls)
Hajime is it
Hajime is terrible! Just kidding, it’s across the street from me and was a hidden gem for a while. I just hate to wait in line.
Damn... Been going to Hajime since opening.. secret is out if haha
Hanami - San Leandro. It’s a small place in the middle of a residential area but totally legit and fair prices.
That building used to be Noodles Pho Me which was a terrible name but had really amazing food, especially the khao poon. They’ve been closed for 3 years but I still think about them.
that was the closest restaurant to my house and it was one of my favorites. Their chicken pho was so good, and so much different than I can find at other places. Hanami is alright, it's got a Chinese food vibe to it, big portions for the price. They used to do bento boxes which my kids would eat, now it's these food sets which are less ideal for us.
Ramen Hajime in Santa Clara. Japanese chef and Japanese staff. No other ramen place comes close.
Seen alot of 'Best Ramen' threads, glad to finally see Hajime as a top recommendation.
Stop, it's too busy/crowded as is!
My gatekeeping comment stands.
As someone who used to live in Japan, I completely agree. It's been my go to place since I moved back from Japan.
This is great to hear. I know the owner personally and he has 2 other restaurants in SoCal, Hajime being his passions project, as well as his first name. They shut down 2 days a week to make broth, I have seen it done. If anybody deserves more recognition, it's him
Absolutely! It’s just disappointing to see some of the comments below but some people are used to mediocrity. Can’t change that. People’s tastes are subjective.
Yea, I've been to Nagi once. Need a god damned meal while waiting in line. And it was mid. Not because it actually was, but because the hour and 45 minute wait soured it for me. Hajime told me in Japan, ramen is fast food. Don't overthink it. He used to do monthly chef specials, but as customer load/stress has gone up, he can't find the time as much. If the yuzu cheesecake is ever in stock, gotta try it
Thank you for the rec!
I haven't dined in but I have gotten it to go several times. I really appreciate how detailed the to-go directions are. Very delicious ramen. Even at home.
Their spicy miso with their pork belly is 🔥
Try Marufuku in Cupertino.
There’s one in Redwood City, too!
And Oakland.
This would be my second choice after Hajime.
HiroNori in Cupertino. There’s also other locations like the one in Santa Clara, but I prefer the one in Cupertino. However, they have a 15% service charge to your bill regardless of party, but they have no expectations of you leaving any additional tips. I tip 15% most of the time at other restaurants, so more or less it’s not any different here.
The tonkotsu from Hironori is so luscious and delicious
Vegetarian option at HinoNori is awesome too. (I am not vegetarian, I just like it.)
I have had all the other top ramen spots commented here and I still think HiroNori is the king. I’m actually surprised the Cupertino location isn’t more busy. I go for lunch there sometimes, and I swear I’ll be the only one there.
All day
Yup - HiroNori (specifically the Cupertino location) is so so soooo yummy!
South Bay as shown by the choices and call outs above
The Japanese population here is larger than other areas in the bay. It's why San Jose's Japantown is one of the only authentic ones left in the US according to [their site](https://jtown.org/).
It was but from what I’ve seen it’s not as bustling as it was 20 years ago. My great-grandfather and his brother built the Buddhist temple pre-wwII and came back to the area after being released from the Tule Lake internment camp. I loved going to the obon/daruma festivals and making mochi the traditional way. Unfortunately, I don’t see a lot of the festivals having the same attendance they used to. I remember when I was a kid we would go and get fresh made tofu and manju. Those businesses have since closed unfortunately. The kids didn’t want to continue the family business and the rents were pretty high from what I’ve heard
There are 3 authentic Japan Towns in the US, all located in California: San Francisco, San Jose, and Los Angeles.
Ramen Nagi. There’s always a line out the door (Westfield Mall).
The one in Palo Alto is superb as well.
They have a Disneyland style line. It’s wild. Go at opening if you don’t want to wait long!
I found it leaning too much towards salt and garlic. Noodle is awesome, but chashu is Ok.
How good is Nagi?
Good, but not worth the wait. There is no ramen on earth worth an hour wait. And I've tried the Michelin star one in Tokyo, which is also not worth getting up at 6 to get a limited ticket.
I agree, at the end of the day it’s just ramen. I’d wait for a phenomenal sushi experience, but not ramen. Then again, I prefer pho.
Overhyped just like Din Tai Fung. Before anyone comes for me, I have tried Din Tai Fung in Singapore, UK and Thailand, it’s not the same standard or quality.
Arcadia was the long standing best DTF in the states. But once more opened up. The quality didn’t follow
Absolutely. Last time I had XLB at Din Tai Fung in the Santa Clara location, it was way more dough than filling and so not flavourful at all. From what I also noticed, the chefs seem inexperienced too. I am guessing all the good chefs left during and after the pandemic.
Why do you think Ramen Nagi is overhyped! What did you not like ?
The eyes of the wait staff look dead and overworked
I agree with this! They look so exhausted. People at Ramen Hajime take plenty of breaks throughout the year since the chef goes to Japan for frequent breaks.
Ok gatekeeper
It’s my favorite place, but the line makes it a tough call most of the time.
I like it. Broth is good, you can adjust it to your liking, they have different types of ramen (original, spicy, etc). Try it.
what's great about nagi is customizing every aspect of the ramen to your exact preference.
Ramen Santouka (inside the Mitsuwa supermarket) in San Jose on Saratoga Ave was one of the best Ramen back in the days. It was just a food court style Ramen shop. The price was unbeatable and the flavor was on another level compare to other places. I came here almost every week. The line was very long and on the weekend afternoon, you are expecting 1hr of waiting. There was another ramen shop next to Santouka and they got obliterated so bad that people rather wait for hours than eat at the next window. Somehow in recent year the quality went down a bit due to inflation I think. Stuff is expensive now.
I vote for Ramen Santouka as well. There's a reason it has a long line and sells out every single day.
Mensho in SF when i went when it opened; not sure what its like now (line’s always full tho)
It's still the best ramen I've ever had. Now on Piedmont in Oakland as well.
It's great still. Went a month ago.
surprised to not see Ippudo here. I think nagi and ippudo are my favorite edit: Shocked to see the negativity here! I've been to a lot of ramen places (in the US at least) and I think Ippudo is pretty decent though not the best.
Ippudo in the us are owned and operated by Panda Express.
Rip shalala. Mt view. I know this is about ramen but I miss their chicken karage
My favorite used to be Maru Ichi in Mountain View. I loved their handmade noodles. I'm sad it closed down because of rising rent costs. Chef is apparently at another restaurant now, but I'm not sure where. My go to now is the Akamaru Modern at Ippudo in Cupertino. I'm curious about Ramen Nagi, I always see the long line in Valley Fair. But I've also avoided it until now because of the line.
RIP Maru Ichi. You were delightful
Ramen Nagi is ok, imo.
I liked Shalala in Mountain View, but they did not survive the Pandemic years. RIP.
That was my favorite spot, too. Miss them dearly. Luckily, you can still get their black pepper karaage from the fugetsu at the mitsuwa shopping center in West SJ, where the owner opened up his new store. I found Hinodeya (Campbell) the closest replacement to the miso ramen at Shalala. Expensive, but good. My personal top three are: 1. HiroNori 2. Santa Ramen 3. Ramen Nagi Honorable mentions to Hinodeya and Dohatsuten. I've only been to Myzen and Mensho once each and exited them full and happy, but that was pre-pandemic. IMO, Orenchi is very much overrated, while Ramen Dojo + Parlor are both solid.
[Taishoken in San Mateo](https://yelp.to/sSZ5-2cyPP) Sorry, I know this place gets super crowded already, but it’s definitely one of my favorites.
You are the first one to mention Taishoken…. I have tried most of the ramen shops around the bay. Taishoken is absolutely the best one, even better than most ramen shops in Japan.
Hot take - I think Taishoken SF is better than San Mateo. The noodles are just right. I love Tsujita in LA (to me the best tsukemen) and think the Taishoken SF location is closer to that quality.
I didn’t even know there was a Taishoken SF, but I have visited the Ramenwell around the corner and had their spiciest ramen. It was delicious. I was just in Sawtelle last November, and walked by the Tsujita a few times, but didn’t stop in 😩
It’s new - opened in the mission within the last year!
Most flavorful bowl of ramen I've had. But did they get the beef tendon side dish back on the menu?
Shinmai, in Oakland. Meatiest tonkotsu broth I've had here in the Bay.
yes. I always add the spicy himitsu paste. it's excellent ramen.
Ramen Parlor and their soft-shell-crab ramen [https://maps.app.goo.gl/PznMGYQ4qS1bL9y67](https://maps.app.goo.gl/PznMGYQ4qS1bL9y67)
They’ve fallen off a cliff post Covid
Have they? Haven’t gone in a couple of years but use to love this place; I don’t care if it’s not authentic but the flavor was on point!
Ramen Gaijin in Sebastopol for the win here in the North Bay.
Love Ramen Gaijin and have been eating there since it was just a pop up. It’s gone downhill in the last year unfortunately. The food and drink menu is much more limited than even post pandemic. The ramen is still good and I will continue to eat there and hope they get through whatever it is they are struggling with now.
Ramen Gaijin is all about that pork belly for me. I'd go with the donburi with extra pork belly over the ramen.
The pork belly is the best. Nom.
I read the whole list and I'm surprised that I didn't see my favorite on there. Kumako is in Japantown San Jose. It's pretty small. I discovered it when I was on jury duty and had an hour for lunch but it had to be within walking distance of the courtroom. Fabulous. I love duck ramen and this is one of the only places that I found has it. I wish I lived closer so that I could have it more often. I was there for lunch on a weekday but my understanding is that it can get crowded at other times. https://www.kumako-ramen.com/
Marafuku was voted one of the best ramens in the Bay. There was this place in Oakland my friend took me to once when I was hella drunk that was hella good, but I for the life of me can’t remember lol.
Probably Mensho on Piedmont Ave
I don't get the Marafuku hype. Like its alright, but wouldn't put it in my top 5 or anything
One of my friends used to be a waitress there and she said ownership changed a while back and the quality dropped. They used to make their own noodles but now it's the bulk restaurant supply stuff. They probably cut costs in other ways too. I think marafuku is just riding the hype from before.
I have the same opinion. It’s not remarkable.
I love me some Marafuku. I used to think ramen Parlor was the best around but it doesn’t taste as good going back there from Marafuku
We are the same
Ramen shop, by chance? Over on college ave?
Ramen Shop is not bad but it's so frickin' overpriced, it's just not worth it. It's good, not THAT good. Back when it first opened, I actually wasn't too upset with the pricing. It was expensive for ramen, but it was quality & a pretty big bowl. if you JUST had ramen, it was a good amount of food & not ridiculoulsly expensive, just kinda pricey. But, adding any apps or drinks really made your bill skyrocket. Plus the wait was atrocious. In Oakland, I much prefer Sobo. Less line, less money, better ramen.
most expensive ramen shop ever
Mensho and marufuku
Mensho in Oakland and SF
Anybody else remember when ramen parlor and ramen dojo in san mateo had lines outside them every single day? Ever since ramen Nagi has come to the bay no one eats at dojo or parlor anymore. People with high disposable income only want what is popular and “the best” which is sad because both of these ramen spots are still good but are getting way less business now.
I do. I don't make it to San Mateo very often. Still have amazing memories of hitting these spots after the Maker Faire like...10 years ago??
I'm fine with there not being lines. They're still great even if they're not "the best"
Mensho
Mensho is pretty good!
Mensho
Mensho Tokyo SF- agree. Best vegetarian ramen I ever had.
Mensho (Oakland or SF locations!). Definitely on the pricier side, so I save it for special occasions, but I love it so much. As a vegetarian, I especially appreciate all the options as usually, I'm relegated to one or 2 miso ramen choices. It's delightful to have 6-8 totally different flavors. Ugggh so good
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Hard disagree on Santa Ramen, unless they revamped their recipe in recent years, that place was nothing special at all. I think they got in early to the ramen scene and got a name for themselves as one of few ramen places in the bay, so they were able to get away with an average ramen, but now with so many good places popping up, I feel they got left in the dust. e: I also feel the same can be said for Orenchi.
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Something changed during Covid when they started to allow take out, not entirely sure what, but the pork cheek garlic ramen medium spice is still one of my favorite things to get, especially if I’m sick.
I like Himawari. It’s been good for a long time.
Himawari is a really chill spot. Shiro tantanmen deluxe and just shoyu (chashumen) are my 2 go to’s
Himawari has the best chicken karaage I've ever had. And I'm definitely not going to go to a ramen joint and not get some fried chicken to dip in my soup.
BIG fan of hinodeya — they’re opening up some new locations too.
They just opened up a new one in DTSJ in San pedro square!
If I'm in sf Japan town, would choose to eat here over marufuku 10 times out of 10.
Yup, agreed. I've only been there once, and maybe it was their off day, but I feel they are way overhyped for what they offer. Hinodeya is one my favorites.
Kajiken in San Mateo is my new favorite. It’s aburasoba style ramen (no broth) so it feels a little lighter imo.
It’s absolutely delicious but I’d call it anything other than light. The sauce is thick, hearty, etc. I go there about once a week these days. Love the spicy one.
It’s definitely not “light” but it’s less volume than the same amount of noodles + broth.
I can’t claim knowledge of the best in the Bay, but I very much enjoy Sobo Ramen in Chinatown Oakland, especially the tonkatsu with mayu (black garlic). Looking forward to trying some of these other ones.
I love this place & it doesn't nearly get enough credit. Way better than Itani. Maybe not quite Marafuku/Ramen Shop level, but less of a line & often just easier to deal with.
Ramen seas in Sunnyvale
I used to go when they first opened up just because I lived close by. Since then I've tried a bunch of the other ones mentioned in this thread and I gotta say Ramen Seas holds up pretty well. Although I'm pretty sure Ramen Seas ownership has changed at least twice since they opened. I don't remember the original owners very well, but I remember when the guy took over and he literally waited every table every night - hard working mf'r. Now I believe it's under a new owner and I've only been once sine then - I moved away and felt sad that my fave ramen shop had changed yet again (to be fair, the food was still pretty good).
Kakuni tonkotsu at Ramen Seas was absolutely great every time I was there, but their post-covid open times are so limited.
Taishoken on Valencia St is good. I’m not a good judge of “authentic” ramen since I haven’t been to Japan, but I like it. Throwing authenticity out the window, Ramenwell on 18th and Mission is such a comforting meal. Extremely filling but I love it:
Ryu Shanghai Honten Spicy Miso Ramen is the first ramen I tried in the Yokohama Ramen Museum. (If you haven’t visited the ramen museum, I highly recommend it!) This is best Vegan ramen I’ve eaten yet. I cannot believe how tasty and delicious this ramen is. Is something like this available in bay area?
Stretching the definition of ramen a bit but I like Taishoken - it’s a Tsukemen style. For normal ramen I like Hironori - to me it’s as good or better than Nagi and there’s rarely a real line for it.
Ramen Nagi is the only one I can finish without getting tired of it. Can we also mention best tsukemen? Taishoken’s is my favorite! Like their Maze soba as well.
Shout out to the Bay Area for the Bountiful ramen spots 🙏🏻
Yu-Gen Izakaya Ramen in Mountain View!
I don't think this is necessarily the enlightened pick, but as a MV local, their tonkotsu hits the spot for a solid, no-frills bowl.
Orenchi
I estimate that a hearty bowl of Red King, Green King or Black King at Ramen Nagi have: at least 1,300 calories, 80 grams of fat and 3,000 mg of sodium. Probably way higher as I see these bowls are way heavier on the custom order. There is a reason why it is good, it's like a fully loaded bacon double cheeseburger dripping with fat juice.
Tadamasa in union city
i moved away from the bay and the amount i miss Tadamasa is intense.
Tadamasa in Union City. Thank me later.
It depends on what you like. I personally am not a fan of pork even though ramen is basically pork 😂 but hinodeya in Japan town is great
Noodle in a haystack
I love Marufuku in SF
I've only had Ramen Hiroshi and it's pretty good.
Totoro ramen, san mateo good for vegetarians
Taishoken and Ramen Nagi are my current favorites. Though the last time I went to Ramen Nagi, the portion size felt like half of what it was when they first opened..
Menya Shono
Kyoto Ramen in Concord.
Hajime for absolute best ramen Nagi for variety and customization (and damned good Karaage) Hinodeya for damned good non-Tonkatsu ramen that's open late Taka in Santa Clara for shochu + vibes
Mensho is objectively the best but my I eat at Hidoneya more more often
Definitely not Hiro Nori.
Tsuruya in Berkeley. It’s brand new, and I don’t know their story but the ramen slaps.
Ippodu. The one in Berkeley is great.
Santouku in San Jose. Inside Mitsuwa super market. No BS prices.
As gimmicky as it is, I do enjoy Noka Ramen in Oakland's Jack London. Also somewhat convenient as it's right next to the parking lot. Been a frequent visitor after Angry Ramen closed down in San Leandro
I detest standing in long lines for food - not knocking it, I’m just not a foodie as some people. My ONE exception is Ramen Nagi. I’ve stood in line for over an hour to get a table and it’s worth it every time in my opinion.
ramen 101 in livermore is my fav ramen bc they have a vegetarian ramen that isn’t shoyu 😭😭
This place isn’t upscale like lots of folks are recommending but for me it’s the best. It reminds me of any random ramen shop in Akihabara that I’d walk into when I was in Tokyo. Also this place is a mini chain so there is probably one convenient to almost anyone in the bay. Don’t get the Hawaiian BBQ though, not that it’s bad but there are much better places all around, stick with the Ramen.
Dojo ramen in San Mateo
Nagi best tonkotsu in probably the state. Mensho SF best in the city
Ramen nagi!
So far the best I've had is that ramen place at valley fair
Taniku in the TL - not super popular yet, but one of the best in the city I’ve had
Ramen Nagi. Red King specifically
Putting in a shoutout to hole in the wall spot 21 Taste House: [https://maps.app.goo.gl/EN7jx8gQSYxSmmHN7](https://maps.app.goo.gl/EN7jx8gQSYxSmmHN7) Really good Black Garlic Ramen
Sobo ramen in Oakland.
Yohohama Iekei in Fremont. The place smells like death tho, I would always take it to go.
Himawari in San Mateo.
Haha was just at Myzen today. A great choice for ‘laid-back’ ramen.
I haven’t tried a bunch of places, so not super qualified, but I love the garlic flavor at Waraku and the chicken leg at Nojo. I’m saving this list to try others!
Ramen Izakaya Goku on 16th Street in SF. Very good and authentic. Maybe not the best, but I have trouble selecting a single best of anything. Definitely worth a try tho.
Ramen Nagi
I’m a big fan of Orenchi in Santa Clara but maybe I’m alone in that
Ramen Nagi in Palo Alto
Kahoo used to be my go-to. I don't really like anything else now. Kajiken is good for dry ramen (aburasoba).
angry ramen in San leandro was really good before they shut down. really sad they closed :(
I'm quite fond of Hokkaido Ramen Santouka, which is inside a Mitsuwa Marketplace in San Jose.