ESO Ramen Workshop

Just the absolute best ramen you can get in Philly, hands down. Probably the entire East Coast too. Sadly they’re closing down to open a ramen shop in Tokyo, which is insanely cool.

The experience, food, service, level of attention to detail, and passion reflects the experience of being back in Japan. Ramen nerd heaven and a blessing to even have available in Philly. Not your typical dining experience, and worth every penny. What a rare and valuable small business to have access to while they’re training to one day open a shop in Japan, this is an opportunity to experience ramen that most people will never be able to experience— especially at this level. Recommend to just sit back, don’t overthink it and just enjoy an amazing meal.

This place is doing 'a couple' final pop up before moving to Japan (check their ig for more info). The pop up place is super tiny with only 6 seats, so you can expect there would be a line. We arrived about 15m or so after they opened and there was already a decent line that we had to wait 30-45m to be seated. I would say the ramen is good overall. I like their meat the most - it is super tender. The broth is well-seasoned but doesn't stand out much too me. The noodle has that good chewy texture. We also ordered ajihen (not pictured), a small sauce cup of spicy ground meat, and the flavor is very good. But they gave us toward the end when we were already pretty full and have finished almost everything in our bowl. I would come back if I don't have to wait.

I admire the dedication and passionate the chef has on the ramen, it is the best ramen in Philly but you can find a lot more better ramen in LA. I feel that the owners can be more flexible on services, I also ordered the ajihen, it came quite late, by the time it came, I almost finished all the noodle, the lady told me no, so I had to eat the salty beef without noodle. Overall, it was very good experience, but need to think twice whether to go back again.

My wife and I visited Japan in April of 2024 and were lucky to experience a wide variety of ramen bowls. Some fishy in silent environments, others centered around pork in lively environments. What ESO has accomplished in a small unassuming 6-seat shop off South Street is remarkable. Chef is constantly tweaking the recipe, never veering too far from the flavorful, filling, immaculate bowl you will enjoy when you visit. The best noodles made in house are the glue and among the best I’ve ever tried. The spicy ajihen you can choose to add mid-way through your meal changes the entire flavor profile in an incredibly unique way. This is the best bowl of soup in the city and ramen lovers and people who have never tried ramen alike should make it a point to visit the shop before it’s too late.

BEST ramen in the city! I am transported back to Tokyo every time I come to ESO. From the perfectly cooked noodles, to the delicious broth, and tasty pork, every ingredient comes together to make the perfect bowl at the cozy counter. This is an extra special restaurant with extra special attention to detail and we are so lucky to have in Philly! Truly an authentic ramen shop experience - chef Jesse and Lindsey are amazing!

I feel obligated to leave this review even though ESO ramen is leaving soon. It will be a sad day for Philly food scene as I know there is no other ramen spot that comes even close to this gem. Coming here every Saturday with my brother has been a ritual and something we both look forward to during the week. We both enjoy ramen but ESO ramen is next level. I honestly would suggest any ramen chef to please come have their ramen so they can up their game. The bowl is an absolute masterpiece, and it will truly be missed once they are gone.

Delicious ramen and very fast service (when I went it was only me and another customer). Each bowl is made on the spot so if it’s crowded I’d expect service to slow down but it’s like that for pretty much any place. You pay upfront so tables are turned pretty quickly. Broth was a great mix of fishy and pork flavors. Definitely get the egg and the curried beef add-ons.

Finally was able to check it out & happy to try before it's gone! It's completely different offering than neighborhood. Broth is more heavy and meaty to me. Overall experience is definitely more personal and intimate where the chef isn't hidden away in the back :) Recommend cash & Thurs reservations

Inside reminded me of the local food stops in Japan but with more space lol. That said, there are only 6 seats total inside. There is usually a line even before the place opens, so best to be early! But there is a time limit (30min per person) so you won't be waiting too long if you do end up in line. All aspects of the ramen were great. There's pepper to add if you want it more spicy. There is another addition you can add (costs extra) that the chef gives you halfway through the meal that will change the flavor of the broth which was nice too! Most authentic Japanese ramen experience in philly that's I've tried so far, but be aware it's not the cheapest either. They aren't open everyday and also have special menus that require reservations sometimes so best sure to check their instagram @esoramenworkshop before you head over!

This place is doing 'a couple' final pop up before moving to Japan (check their ig for more info). The pop up place is super tiny with only 6 seats, so you can expect there would be a line. We arrived about 15m or so after they opened and there was already a decent line that we had to wait 30-45m to be seated. I would say the ramen is good overall. I like their meat the most - it is super tender. The broth is well-seasoned but doesn't stand out much too me. The noodle has that good chewy texture. We also ordered ajihen (not pictured), a small sauce cup of spicy ground meat, and the flavor is very good. But they gave us toward the end when we were already pretty full and have finished almost everything in our bowl. I would come back if I don't have to wait.

After hearing a tip about this ESO Ramen Workshop, I knew I had to try it out. What's there not to love about a place that runs its operation as a practice service to straighten out the kinks in preparation of the real shop that's yet to be open in Tokyo? ESO (short for esoteric) Ramen is the vestige of its former business, Neighborhood Ramen, which recently closed down as its owners, Jesse and Lindsey, are getting ready to begin their next chapter in the land of the rising sun. I haven't tried Neighborhood Ramen before, but I'm glad someone told me about ESO Ramen's unique reservation system: It doesn't exist. If you didn't get your hangry ass in line when the shop opens at 6PM, you'll have to take the consolatory seat right behind the 6 diners who beat you to the queue. Depending on how long the diners decide to savor their meal, this might translate to waiting up to an hour while staring desperately at the back of the other diners' heads while they're happily nomming away. Another thing to know about ESO Ramen is that there is no menu here. When you get in, the only choices you'll be making are on the type of beverage you'll be having with your dinner and whether you want eggs/ bamboo shoots/ meat/ Ajihen with your ramen (hint: the answer is yes if you're not restricting your diet). I, of course, opted for all of the above. For a bowl of ramen that's wholly made from scratch, I must say that everything was solid from the noodles to the tonkatsu broth. Food portion here is leaning more on the sampler size in comparison with the ones you typically see at the other ramen shops, but each bite was packed with flavor. Following Jesse's advice, I finished the noodles before mixing the broth with ajihen (ground meat mixed seasoning paste). To my delightful surprise, the soup was even tastier with the added salt and heat. While I'm glad I got to try their signature ramen tonight, I'm sad I didn't get to fully explore their other menu offerings when they were Neighborhood Ramen. I did hear that they offer tsukemen on Thursday nights, so I'll be looking out for an opportunity to try it out soon.

Best ramen in Philly. Not even close. Still hoping they do a Shio special before they split to Japan!