1981 Ramen Bar

The menu appears authentic, but this place is more like Japanese-inspired. Ramen broth is too thin, and we were puzzled why cabbage & arugula is included in a Japanese ramen. It tastes ok altogether, but not what we were looking for. Service was great, and I enjoyed the loud music. It drowned out my stress. This is not a dining spot for quiet conversations.

We visited on a Friday night. Busy! We lucked out and snagged a table. We waited maybe 10 minutes, but any later and it would've been a 45 minute wait. Either make a reservation, or try to beat the dinner rush. They offered a good IPA from Bent Water, local. We ordered a Japanese pancake to start. Honestly I could've been satisfied with this for my whole meal - it's that good. I ordered the veggie ramen, mildly spiced. It was spiced for flavor, any more and it would've been too much heat for me. The hostess and server were incredibly friendly and had a great sense of urgency. We'll be back for more apps.

Incredible, flavorful, memorable ramen that we will be coming back for over and over again. Tonkotsu was just amazing. The pork belly was still crispy, the mushrooms were savory, the noodles had an excellent chew, and the broth was something I wish I could bottle and save forever. The roasted duck bao bun was similarly delicious with a slight sweetness and a slow building heat that kicked things off perfectly. I really can't say enough positive things about 1981. Delicious and worth it.

3 Stars for the food. Ive eaten here a few times and the highlight (ramen) has gone downhill in flavor. It used to have more depth but is lacking as of late. Im sure it has to do with uptick in demand but dont expect out of this world flavor if youre a big fan of ramen and try out other ramen spots. 5 Stars for service. Its always been this way too. The staff is right there to check in and start you off with water and are quick to notice when youre ready to order. Always kind and professional. 3 Stars for atmosphere. This one is 3 because it really boils down to preference. The music has always been loud. It can get pretty packed so people speak loudly to get a word in and its a tighter space in downtown lowell. If you dont plan on having intimate conversations and you enjoy more upbeat vibes then the atmosphere is 5 stars for you. For a date night it can be tricky to bond over the music which may bump it below 3 stars. Your pick.

This place can get busy, the waiter seated us promptly and was cortious. The ramen was good, but nothing out of the ordinary. They offer three different types of spice levels. The soju is delicious, however there other drinks are very strong.The place in its self is on the smaller side and is extremely loud with people having fun. The customer service was great.

Vibrant, authentic, tasty. Came here on a Friday night and it was packed and noisy, but exciting. Ramen is nice (large portion). Wings are spicy and delicious, okinomiyaki tastes like broccoli.

Food was okay but was expecting much better based on the reviews. The bao was okay, fried chicken was very batterie, the pork wasn’t super flavorful (mostly just slice my sauce) and duck was also just okay. The cucumbers App was small and also lacking flavor. The chicken wings were good and so were the dumplings, best appetizers we got. The ramen was also good but nothing stellar. The octopus, brothless ramen was not very flavorful other than fishy.

TBH wouldn’t spend money here again. For a ramen restaurant, the ramen was…not good. The tonkotsu broth was somehow completely flavorless, and even the pork in the ramen had barely any flavor, though it was very tender. It tasted like they dumped a cup of black pepper on the pork and called that the seasoning for the entire bowl of ramen. Also, didn’t have the traditional ramen toppings you’d expect. Arugula??? But pay $3 extra for corn or bamboo shoots…strange. Fried shumai appetizer comes with 5 tiny pieces, for $11. Over $2 per piece is crazy lol but it was tasty at least Service was okay, but super slow. Our server was friendly but not very attentive. There are lots of restaurants in this area where your money would be better spent

Solid ramen spot. We got spicy and regular tonkotsu ramen bowls. The broth was extremely flavorful, noodles cooked perfectly as well. I really appreciate how the eggs are marinated, I find many ramen restaurants will serve ramen and not marinate their eggs, but the eggs definitely elevate the dish as a whole. The pork belly was cooked perfectly, crispy while still melting in your mouth. The only part of the bowl I personally didn't love was the greens, in my own opinion I think it would've been perfect without them. There inside of the restaurant is dim lit and super chill feeling. When we were there there was someone singing as well! There is street parking along the road. Overall it is a great bowl of local ramen.

Funky little place with cool vibe and fantastic, authentic food. Nice bar with classic cocktails, too. I've been 3 times and it is consistently good

Haven't been here in forever & it's still a great spot! Went for some drinks and a few apps. The espresso martinis were great (thank you to our bartender Rakada). We had some edamame and cucumbers to share and they were nice and fresh. Will be back again soon!

Jimmy and his team delivered last night. I had the Tonkotsu Ramen with Chicken and Corn added to it. It hit the spot. Everyone was friendly, and the drinks were amazing. Must try the Lychee Martini. This was my first visit, I'll be back for sure.

Service was attentive and pleasant, quite busy on a Tuesday night, loud. Ordered the cucumber app, it was okay but definitely not worth $9 for 10 small pieces. Spicy miso was good but I've had better, pricey and it only had 2 pieces of chashu. I also asked for extra broth and was charged $2 more and it had the same amount of broth my BF had for just a regular order. Pricey ramen for this area, but if you're in a pinch and have no other choices, this place isn't bad, just expect to pay more.

It was okay, nothing spectacular. Service was mediocre, drinks were not very tasty or strong, pretty crowded inside. The food was decent, one dish was too spicy to enjoy though. I haven't gone back since, take that as you will.

Absolutely terrible table side service, had to go find my server to ask for a refill on water and for them to run our check (after waiting extremely long for both) and I cannot stress enough DO NOT GET SEAFOOD HERE. I had the worst food poisoning of my life after getting the Fried Shumai. I've tried to get in contact with them twice for a refund and have been told multiple times that they don't have a manager present for a few days, which I could've guessed based on how this place is run, and on this most recent call I was simply hung up on after hearing there wouldn't be a manager for a few days. Want to stress, I've worked in food service for years, ranging from dive bars to fine dining, I have a lot of respect for what it takes to be in the service industry, and this was the most appalling experience I've ever had. Do not come here.

So we tried marinated cucumber that not marinated. Its very fresh, and sauce pour on it. We wont try this again. My Tonkotsu Ramen tasted good with a big sliced grilled bacon (pork belly)? I typically need to order more protein but i dont hv to here its hits the spot. The only problem is w my ramen sticks together. I just dont eat it i ate the loose one only. Broth isnt as flavorful as zuru zuru but its pretty good overall

Worst customer service I ever come across these ppl have no greeting skills looks like they just hate to be there. I didn't even try there food I just walk right out bc one of there staff was so rude. Will never step foot there ever again. These ppl definitely need some training .

Small and busy interior with additional seating out by the busy street. The food was nothing to write home about and service was a tad slow when I dined.

Ramen 1981 did not disappoint. The ambiance was on point with mixed of new beats and throw backs. The table service was good but the bar (drinks) was mmm yum! Lychee sake bellini!!! RAMEN! That's why we went there, of course. We had the boa flights for starters, the pork is my fav. Ramen was BOMB! I got the tonkotsu, really hit the spot. Overall great experience. For those of us on the out skirt of Boston, it's a must. We will returned.

The Steamed Baos are amazing! I've tried the Pork Belly Confit and Koji Aged Crispy Chicken ones and they both are packed with so much flavor. The Tonkotsu Ramen was so yummy the only thing I would recommend is removing the cloves from the pork belly. I chewed on a few pieces of cloves which made the for unpleasantly strong taste. Besides that it was so flavorful and the pieces of pork belly were huge!

First time here last night- had cauliflower and dumplings for appetizer, and some ramen. Had never been to this restaurant before waitresses made some good suggestions. Food was great and so was staff. There was a guy that they needed to call police for and she handled it perfectly! Great service and food- i will be back!

Yummy ramen noodles and great service. The tuna tartare is outstanding, it's like ceviche with citrus and mint. Bao buns are delicious, especially the duck. The service is very friendly. I suggest that you get some apps and split a bowl of ramen. I think the miso pork is the best!!

Heard of this place from the "only in Boston" insta account asking people to name their favorite ramen place in boston environs. Saw some mixed reviews on google (grumpy staff/food too spicey) and despite the high rating almost got scared off. I'm writing to add to the positive reviews in case anyone's on the fence about coming. We sat at the bar and Leeanna couldn't have been nicer. She mixed us up delicious takes on margueritas and old fashioned (Japanese whiskey). When I mentioned that some people had said even the mild dishes were too spicy she suggested we get the spice on the side. (Great idea!).Everything we got was delicious: dumplings, duck bao and one of the pork belly ramen plus mochi for dessert. We liked it so much I could see going back. So do give 1981 Ramen Bar a try!

Smoked chicken ramen was amazing. Best part of downtown Lowell experience. Great broth with noodles and corn.

Beautiful amazing food. Friendly and kind staff. Tasty cocktails. Good beers. Cute place. Lowell is looking good and lucky to have this spot! I'll be back.

Really wanted some good ramen and was intrigued by past reviews, but we had a mixed experience. Four pieces of over fried, dried out gyoza for $10? Um, no, I don't think so. It was a real turn-off. The tonkatsu miso ramen, on the other hand, had a nice broth, but really, really fatty strips of pork belly. I know pork belly is supposed to be fatty, but show me a little meat, please! And the soup could have used some more generous fillings. Will probably stick with Chashu Ramen in Worcester, which makes a glorious saimin.

Came here with my girlfriend on a Saturday night - Pretty busy place, but seated quickly and given decent service. Food was overall decent, not anything amazing. Was acceptable. 2/5 wouldn't go out of my way to come back if you're in the area and want ramen.

Good Raman and drinks and amazing music on a Wednesday date night!! Next time will try another item on menu Besides the yummy Ramen ! Lol

Tonkotsu ramen is our favorite!!! I've also tried the chicken and the veggie ramen. Never been disappointed with this place. My favorite ramen place in Lowell.

I was so excited to try this place out. Unfortunately the day I went they were understaffed in the kitchen and didn't have a full menu available otherwise I would've ordered some of their buns to try! This is really good ramen for this area. The noodles were the highlight for me. They cook the noodles al dente exactly how ramen noodles are supposed to be. The broth was decent and most importantly not too salty. It was a good portion and definitely satisfied my ramen craving.

Wow. My friend and I wanted a good bowl of noodles, and we were beyond pleasantly surprised with 1981. I got the veggie ramen with an egg and she got the beef. Our appetizer was the fried shumai - it was pretty spectacular (small but tasty). She remarked how perfectly cooked it was both during dinner and afterward. Pricing is what you'd expect for a nice night out. Atmosphere is as they say on the site - laid back. We will definitely be back!

The food was amazing, honestly I didn't really expect to much for a Ramen place in Lowell MA, especially after coming from Japan, but the food was really good! We had a baby and the staff did everything possible to accommodate and make it easy, our server Chan helped us and made sure we were good and taken care of was super polite and helpful, would definitely recommend!

After coming here from time to time to enjoy some ramen--and to avoid Boston madness, I highly regret to write that the meals and service here have totally tanked. I use to enjoy coming here since the ramen was pretty good. We placed two orders of the koji chicken baos appetizers and it took nearly 30 minutes to receive. Another party that came in 15 minutes after us got their baos before our party...I was very disappointed about that. But whatever. 10 minutes later, our baos came out. But only one order when we placed two. I'm guessing they might not have heard us clearly. But whatever. The chicken breading was so crispy--it felt like chewing on crystal rock candy. Our party ordered ramen (of course that's mostly what they serve) and requested all spicy. Absolutely no spice whatsoever. They rate there spicy from 1-3 and we all ordered 2...since it use to have a good kick. There's instant noodles out there that has way more fire then what we had yesterday. The flavor of the soup was mediocre. It just didn't hit the spot like it use to. The soup wasn't as thick as it use to be and it just tasted bland. Overall, I hope the folks there that night enjoyed their ramen. Unfortunately I left in disappointment and will get a ramen rebuttal else where. Cheers

I was hopeful when reading the reviews, but was sorely disappointed. I love bao, and the bun itself was fine. We got the fried chicken and duck ones. The fried chicken one was a regret -- nothing was happening. It was just the pickle + jalapeno + chicken. There wasn't flavor. The duck one was fine for me, but my friend didn't even get through half. It didn't taste like duck to either of us though. The worst part was the ramen -- the broth was super fatty and thin. When left alone for a few minutes, the top would form a film that you could see. There wasn't much flavor, and the toppings were inaccurate. It didn't feel right that it was called a tonkatsu ramen despite the spin they put on it. The service was good, but I won't be returning.

Really delicious ramen bar in downtown Lowell. I have gotten the pork belly confit baos which are flavorful and soft. The Tonkotsu ramen comes in a big bowl and is a favorite when I am home.

Need to update menu on Yelp. Many changes for items no longer available at restaurant that we were looking forward to. broth needed more flavor. Ramen bowl had plenty of noodles etc and was filling.

Eaten there many times and food is always good. Best Ramen between here and Cambridge Ma.

The atmosphere is everything I want it to be, but it wasn't overall "yay I'm a fan." I sat at the bar since I was on business and not with anyone. I ordered edamame to start and some veggie ramen, my jam. When the bowl came out I though WOAH, YES PLEASE. The bowl is super deep and seems awesome, but it actually made it pretty difficult to eat, a little awkward actually. There wasn't enough broth for the amount of stuff and noodles, more broth more broth! The broth and flavors weren't deep but it was good. Service so slllllooooowwww. The girls seemed more interested in each other and playing April Fool's tricks on their parents than customers. I felt ignored the entire time and they were standing in front of me. I could barely get water without waving my arms in the air. When they did pay attention, it's like I was annoying them. Some people may not appreciate the music either.

Delicious! Great meal! Appetizers were really good (pork and chicken bao). Tonkotsu Ramen was deliciously spicy (spiciness #3). Loved it!!! Service was good too. I'd love to go back, it's really good, but it's a little too expensive. I'm penny pinching. ;) ($14 for a bowl of ramen? Really? $8 for two tiny bao sandwiches?)

Ramen is good came here for a birthday dinner and happy I did, I'd come back for sure

I grew up in Lowell, and have spent a lot of time out of the area in recent years, so I was excited to hear that there was a ramen spot that had opened up downtown on Merrimack. I ordered the tonkatsu level 2 on the spice -- and it was just the right amount. Definitely spicy, but not too much. I thought the chashu was actually some of the most tender I've ever had in ramen (albeit a lil on the fatty side) -- and was very good. And one of my litmus tests in ramen -- the egg. It was really good, and perfectly gooey. :) Overall, I'd be happy to come back, and the service was attentive and welcoming. Glad to see this spot here in downtown Lowell!

Solid ramen bar restaurant in downtown Lowell that had a nice buzz and vibe from the waitress, to the food runners to chef's. Started off with 5 star sticky crunchy wings that had the right ying yang to them so good that I polished them off in minutes of being served. The duck bao buns were a slight disappointment, the duck needed some rendered fat and a crunchy duck skin to really make it sing. I had their signature ramen with grilled pork belly and added crunchy chicken that was spot on. I asked for medium spice and I got zero spice, I was expecting more of a sweaty kick. The ramen broth was good, it could have hotter in temperature, and to me the standard ramen noodles were just boring. Overall I enjoyed the whole dining experience there.

I wouldn't say this place is GREAT but it is not awful. I got the pork belly bao, the flavors were there but it was super watery and was even soaking the bun. The ramen surprised me because it looked like it would have a lot of flavor (I also got level 3 spicy), however the broth was really underwhelming; there's no flavor despite the color of the broth being bright red. The service however was quick, although the place is small and gets busy we still got seated pretty quickly. A good place to try out but I don't think I will be coming again.

Excellent food, great atmosphere and very friendly and professional staff. We got the smoked chicken and Miso pork ramen. The food came in giant bowls, steaming hot and delicious. Very enjoyable, and highly recommended if you're interested in some top notch ramen! Like it even needs to be said, but waaaaaaay better than the dollar ramen you'll get at the grocery store :)

I got the smoked chicken ramen spicy level 3. It is indeed spicy but very tasty. I didn't like how largely cut up the red cabbage was but that's just my preference. And some of the chicken piece were a little hard but overall it was really good. Service was quick. They also have bar seating which is nice for a small restaurant. I deff recommend and will be going back to try the other ramens on the menu.

Stop sleeping on this place! The food is so good and the drink menu is plentiful! I can't wait until the live music comes back because they have an amazing singer who should have a record deal already singing routinely. If you are in the downtown area of Lowell it's a no-brainer to stop in. Also, they are enforcing the Covid rules like they should. I specifically noticed them correct 2 people who were dining tell them in a polite manner to wear a mask to use the restroom.

I have been here once before, and the menu still makes me hesitate to come here more often. I can double up on appetizers or choose from their limited ramen selection. Also, two of their items (an app and ramen dish) were out. I think they should add something to their menu to avoid this. I went with the vegetarian ramen, was banking on the broth being nice and sweet (which it was) and then spicy level 1 to kick it a kick :D This worked very well in my favor!

Atmosphere: pretty busy but our group of 6 was seated quickly and the waitress brought over extra chairs, did not feel cramped at all, lighting was nice and there were places to sit outside Service: Service was excellent, we were given two water pitchers and finished dishes were cleared away quickly. One of my friends had the chicken ramen and it was too spicy and they brought it back and filled it with more regular broth without an issue. Food: This was my first time having ramen like this and it was absolutely delicious, I got extra noodles but wish there was more broth, felt as though I couldn't really drink any of it until the end or else my noodles would literally be sitting in nothing. The pork was really juicy. I got the mild heat and thought it was perfect (I do not like spicy food). My friend got the level 3 spiciness and she enjoyed how hot hers was (she does like spicy stuff). Overall price was pretty good and I would definitely go back, it's a hip little place and great for a date night or for college students to hang out

This ramen bar is an excellent addition to the downtown Lowell restaurant scene. I came here with a few friends on a Wednesday night - when live music was playing. The music was very good, however the venue is a little small and made it impossible to talk without yelling. The service was a little slow, but when I eventually got my drink - things started to improve. When I finally received my food, it was worth waiting every minute. I ordered a vegetarian ramen, added an egg, with got it the second level of spiciness. It was incredible! The entire meal was loaded with flavor. I was practically drinking the broth at the end. This place is absolutely worth a visit, you might just have to wait on slow stuff. I have lived in Lowell for a very long time, and this is a nice change. I definitely miss the mambo grill, but this is a decent replacement.

Delicious ramen!! The staff is very kind and helpful. The atmosphere inside is very relaxed and comfortable

Ramen is the best for the winter. And this restaurant is perfect for the cold and the spice. I finally got into their famous ramen bar. It wasn't a long line since we came early early but after 30 mins of opening the line was packed. The food was delicious. Their spice was to spicy but I got their tonkatsu which was perfect. The chicken ramen was surprisingly better.

Great ambiance and variety! We came for the ramen but fell in love with the Gochujang Bolognese! I love the crispy, but soft on the inside rice cakes. It was smothered with meat sauce and cheese. Perfection! Ramen was good too, but I think it could have been even better with the traditional yellow noodles. This might be a personal preference. We still ate everything because the broth was so creamy and flavorful. As busy as they are on a Friday night, the service was great. Food came out pretty fast and steamy hot. Will def be back!

Went here with my husband and a friend. We got lucky and there was no wait even though it was Saturday; we had a two seater table but they also creatively use the ledge along the street window as seats. We also ordered shumai as a starter ($5), and the sauce on it actually had a kick, which is great. As an entree, I had the tonkatsu ramen with "level 2" spice ($14); I would probably go for a 3 next time. The noodles weren't as thick as I expect from ramen and tasted kinda boring buuut they were fine. I probably enjoyed my egg the most, and the pork was also really good. I was nowhere near close to finishing it and took these leftovers home. While we were there it took kinda long for our food to arrive; something about the printer not working and our orders not getting to the kitchen. Our server was also friendly. We'll probably come here again sometime.

After reading some of reviews in Yelp, I decided to check this place out. Overall, it was not the most spectacular ramen place. I will list some of my findings and analysis. - Decor and atmosphere was not bad, but place was cold inside. We went in there when outside temperature was 10 degree. It was not well heated. - Wait time was bit long to my liking. I have measured 25 minutes from order to my first bite. Anything that takes more than 15 minutes in restaurant is considered as slow in my standard. - Ramen broth was not bad, but they give little. They could use more broth per bowl. Also it was very lukewarm. I like my ramen broth to be scorching hot. - Ramen noodle was very tender and only thing I really liked about this place. - Pork in the ramen has bit of smell. I think they put a lot of effort to suppress that but I could still smell pork. - Price was bit on high side IMO. It was not bad, but it does not stand out in the crowded space of ramen houses. Also, it was bit expensive for my taste.

Food is top notch but my favorite is the bar area. Just a cool a$& place to have a nice craft cocktail or even a light beer after Tonkatsu.

I'm not a vegetarian , but I'm not opposed to vegetarian food. I didn't feel like eating Asian meat and ordered the vegetarian ramen soup; eewww! Will NOT go back, but that's my opinion and others may love it. As for me: no!

So we order one smoke chicken and one pork belly ramen. We wait like 30 mins. They serve us 2 raw pork belly ramen. Both noodle is raw and stuck. The female service with extremely bad attitude at the Beginning. And after she served wrong order She said kitchen is close and she can put some hot water for the noodle. Lol. What a joker.