HiroNori Craft Ramen

The ramen is consistently delicious but their karaage the best!! Love that you can ask for garlic and spicy sauce on the side. The staff are always friendly and we never have to wait very long. We typically manage to find free street parking but we might have to park on green street or a block or two away and walk over. The seats are a little uncomfortable but we eat quickly so not a big deal

Yet another Hironori location has popped up and I couldn't be more excited for it! I think this is the sixth location I've visited and this place has a beautiful exterior. The quality of the ramen is still just as spectacular and I love that they actually separated the salad dressing for the to go combo bowl I ordered as others do not do that. The only thing I wish this location had was the branded Hironori to go bowls, but that wasn't a major issue. Garlic portion was pretty decent and so was the broth. I also felt that the chicken bowl portion was quite generous! Overall, I will always recommend my favorite ramen shop in CA. :)

I wanted to try this place while I was in the area and ordered take-out. My partner ended up loving it so much - he ate the whole thing! We got the Tonkatsu ramen, and the broth was rich, flavorful, and satisfying. It came with tender pork, fresh veggies, noodles, and half a soft-boiled egg. Definitely worth a try!

I've been living in Pasadena for a bit over two years now and I've visited my fair share of Ramen restaurants. This is one of the ones I regularly come back to. Their combo (ramen + rice bowl + salad) is totally worth the cost. Tonkotsu ramen + salmon rice bowl is always my go-to order. The server was super friendly, polite and courteous. The place is clean, well-lit and overall in a fantastic location. For parking, I just street parked on Cordova and then walked over.

Amazing ramen! You can really taste the tonkatsu broth! Fantastically balanced and the pork is melting in your mouth. Can also recommend the spicy cold noodles (not that spicy but delicious!) very nice service as well. We forgot our phone and the waiters came outside to make sure we got our phone back before we left. Definitely coming back when in the area!

One of the best vegan Ramen I ever had. Some vegan Ramen try too hard to replicate the feeling and textures of meat, some don’t try at all and you just end up with a very light vegetable broth. This one was perfectly balanced. Also, their hot sauce is amazing.

The ramen is well made and not too salty and oily. Next time I'll try the veggie ramen. The fired children are soooooo good.

The hype on social media was extraordinary, so I invited my friends from the local college to grab a bite. And here is how it went. (1.) They have a rule that the whole party has to be there to be seated. (2.) They serve drinks in a to-go cup, so be ready to get up asap. And (3.) Tip is already included: Does not matter what size group you have, two or three, you are still tipping. All in all , I would say don't believe social media but believe the food is still really good. A simple broth with an explosion of flavor. I would suggest getting garlic on the side (freshly grated). And don't get anything else. My friend did not like the flavorless chicken teriyaki bowl.. so stick to what they are known for.

Showed up in the afternoon and had a great experience! Food and service were great! Ordered tonkatsu ramen (garlic sauce and hot sauce make a big difference in flavor) Crispy chicken appetizer: Very yummy and chicken pieces were big! Yay Waiter was very nice and easy going, food came out pretty fast.

HiroNori is famous for its ramen. It was one of the hot days and we were near by the place, so we went there. We ordered light dishes, but not Ramen. When we arrived there was no one sitting at the front desk. We entered our name on the screen and were waiting to be seated. No one came! Then a group of young men came after us. They were waiting,then they went in and chose their table. We followed them. It took a while until we had a waiter at our table to take our order. We got the following; -Cucumber Crab salad 4/5 -Eel tempura bun 5/5 Steamed bun, tempura eel, pickled onions, and cucumbers. The eel bun was flavorful. -Vegan gyoza 3/5 It was crispy but oily. -Large pork rice bowl 5/5 pork chashu slices, rice, spinach, green onion, with poached egg. The amount was generous. It was the highlight of the meal. -Small salmon poke bowl 3/5 Salmon, quinoa, rice & kale. The amount of rice was huge but the bowl had lack of flavor. The service was slow. We didn't see any waiter at our table to fill our cups with water or ask us if we need anything. We had leftover, and I was looking for a waiter to ask for a box. They were busy chatting in the kitchen. The Gratuity service was 17% and it was hiddenly included. Stopping here was a mistake and I don't think I will repeat it.

Not sure what happened to my original review but recently went back for lunch on a Friday. This was only the second time I've dined here. The restaurant was fairly full as it was lunch time. A friend and I both opted for the shoyu ramen which came out fairly quickly. Flavor of the broth was good and the char siu was tender and flavorful. Only complaint was with the noodles which was a bit overcooked in my opinion. Honestly just a personal preference as I like my noodles a bit firmer. The egg was well seasoned and cooked perfectly. Service was good and appreciated the waitress pointing out the fact they include a "health" fee on the bill. Patrons can opt out if they don't agree with the extra charge. I didn't keep the bill but thought I saw 17.5%?

Really good Ramen. If you're a person who enjoys ramen, HiroNori will deliver. The Tonkutso Ramen is well balanced while still having a rich broth. Sometimes the chashu is extra fatty while other times it can be more lean. Never really had any complaints. Their crispy chicken is good too. Has a yuzu dipping sauce and it's not bready like most Karage Chicken dishes. Party of 1 or 2 or 5, gratuity is included so be mindful of that. Restaurant is clean, can accommodate a good sized party and the staff is readily available if you need anything although they can get busy at times. Service is sufficient.

Yet another Hironori location has popped up and I couldn't be more excited for it! I think this is the sixth location I've visited and this place has a beautiful exterior. The quality of the ramen is still just as spectacular and I love that they actually separated the salad dressing for the to go combo bowl I ordered as others do not do that. The only thing I wish this location had was the branded Hironori to go bowls, but that wasn't a major issue. Garlic portion was pretty decent and so was the broth. I also felt that the chicken bowl portion was quite generous! Overall, I will always recommend my favorite ramen shop in CA. :) (20/50--2025)

I'm thinking this Hironori location may be new. Decided to stop in for a quick bite and we weren't disappointed. Cool thing about this chain is that it's pretty consistent. The TONKOTSU was as good as the ones I've had from other locations, would definitely come back and recommend to others! Great service and great vibes.

A solid bowl of ramen! The ramen menu is pretty simple with a tonkotsu, shoyu, vegan, and a dipping ramen. I tried the shoyu ramen and enjoyed it very much! The broth was tasty and the extra charge for the black garlic oil elevated the ramen. It gave it that extra umami flavor! The staff was very friendly and knowledgeable. The space is nice and clean, lots of seating.

Tried this place back in March 2025 and it was a hit! Definitely wish their menu was a bit bigger but I still enjoyed the meal! The atmosphere was nice and mellow, not too loud or quiet. Tables were kinda small so we had to make do with some rearranging of plates. Service was quick and our waters were always refilled! Which is my favorite thing about restaurants. Overall definitely coming back to try new things!!

There are so many ramen spots in SGV & LA that it's hard to hard to pick a favorite. I've been to numerous ramen spots and this one is definitely one of the BEST! Parking can be challenging since they don't have their own parking lot but there is a parking structure across the street and street parking Inside is quite small with not too much seating Tonkatsu Ramen ($17.90) was so yummy! The broth was so creamy and flavorful without being too greasy or overly salty. The noodles were so fresh, chewy, and delicious! The egg was perfectly cooked, so soft and not too runny. The pork Cha shu was decent and a tad too fatty. Wish there was more than just 2 slices of it! This was 9/10 for me Service was mediocre and it could have been better if they were more attentive. Would definitely recommend and return

You know the ramen is gonna HIT when they have such a limited menu. I ordered the Tonkatsu Ramen with thin noodles ($17.90). The egg was just the right consistency. The broth was perfectly creamy, and the char siu was so soft. My only wish is that they had more char siu instead of two slices. I thought of ordering extra noodles, but the regular amount ended up being the perfect portion for me. The server was so sweet and checked in on us twice. Just a heads up, they automatically do a service charge when you dine in.

Such a great comfort meal on a chill sunday night. The restaurant was about 80% full but not overwhelmingly busy. The shoyu was perfectly savory. I felt a comforting warmth run through my body with every sip. My fave was actually the egg - so much so that i also ate my boyfriends egg! It had a slight sweetness to it and the perfect runny consistency.

There's a reason why this spot is on the Michelin Guide. What's crazy is that their appetizers are as good as their ramens which is rare to find but I can't go without ordering their Spicy Tuna Crispy Rice and of course the classic Tonkotsu. Make sure to ask for a side of their garlic oil, it will help elevate the dish to a new level. They have great service and turn tables quite quickly. Definitely will be coming back!

While in the area, my friend and I decided to try this ramen place out. I was very impressed with the quality of the food, the helpful staff members, and the ambiance of the restaurant. We went around 8:30ish on a Friday night and thankfully there wasn't much of a wait. We enjoyed everything we ordered. Would recommend!

My friends have been raving how good this place is and so when we were in the area, we naturally decided to give it a try. You definitely need to make a reservation/join the waitlist ahead of time as there's a looong line of people waiting. Thankfully, we got seated quickly and ordered the Tonkotsu ramen, salad, and their chicken. I shared the Tonkotsu ramen with my friend, which was a good idea as the portions are pretty big. The broth was very rich and flavorful as many have praised. I was also very surprised by how good the salad was and how it complemented with the ramen. Highly recommend this place if you're in the area!

Lovely atmosphere. Small restaurant but the service and food was very good. Walked up and put our names down for a party of 4 as every seat was filled at the time. Then after a short 5 minutes we were sat. Appetizer: Ordered the 2 piece crispy rice with spicy tuna. Gotta do the one bite challenge! I was successful Entree: Got the SHOYU RAMEN. This was perfectly balanced with the broth and soy sauce and all the chashu was cooked to perfection and the egg had the right medium boil. Chefs kiss! Would come back again!

For as long as it's the cold-ish weather, I will always be in the mood for soup and this rlly hit the spot. Typically, I order tonkatsu broth but bc i was interested in the chicken broth with 2-year barrel soy sauce, I thought to try it and it was way better than expected. The tonkatsu was rlly good but this may be the one place where i get shoyu instead. However, I feel like my fave dish was the crispy rice, it was the perfect crisp, seasoning, and the tuna and avocado were so freshh!

Good Ramen! I love the texture of their ramen. They used good cut of pork belly, not much fat. Pretty much you can tell they uses good quality of ingredients. I ordered a combo meal, tonkotsu ramen, mini green salad and mini rice bowl with pork chashu. I also tried crispy rice with spicy tuna. It was delectable. Price is reasonable and they give you generous amount of food. Service was quick and servers are friendly. It's a casual place. If you are just looking for a good ramen, then you are in the right place.

I initially was excited to come here because they have rice bowl on the menu if you don't eat much ramen (like me). For my rice bowl though, it was supposed to come with kale but mine arrived without any. They were busy so I gave up on trying to grab the staff attention to get my kale added. Some of the veggies I did order on the side also looked v wilted. Tbh they need to hire more staff to support the tables..

My partner LOVES this place. She's vegan and it's hard for her to want to eat anywhere that isn't home. Can't drive by HiroNori w/out her wanting to stop by lol

Perfect Little Ramen Spot to grub at! Great atmosphere , good portions , tons of flavor , and fresh ! Customer service and food were amazing . You will leave here will a full tummy and ready for a nice nap after

Our party of 4 came here to HiroNori to have dinner after our weekend trip on November 11, 2024. To our surprise, even though we arrived at 6pm, there was no wait! We were seated immediately and noticed not all the tables were full. The ramen that I ordered was the Tonkotsu Ramen. It was very hearty and flavorful, but not over salty. The pork was perfectly grilled and melted in my mouth. The noodles were springy and cooked to the proper texture. Overall, it's a very solid ramen place that I'd come back to if I were in the Pasadena area. Luckily, they also have other locations spread out across SoCal.

I read a review that the bowl was supposed to come with kale, we also had the same problem, our spicy tuna bowl came without any kale, it just had regular salad. Also, it wasn't very busy, but the two staffed who were serving us were very slow and the food took a long time to come out of the kitchen. The eel buns were the best thing and part of our experience. They were small and a good price for their size.

I love their vegan ramen! My favorite :) always consistent and just right. They have really tasty noodles too. Highly highly recommend. Brother is really flavorful and not overly salty like most places .

The tonkatsu ramen was delicious! For an extra $6, you could add a salad and a rice bowl, but they were not as enticing. The crispy chicken was excellent with a perfectly crunchy exterior and a tender inside. Service was great, and the food arrived quickly. Seating is limited indoors, and street parking is available. They also accept Apple Pay.

I am currently obsessed with their fried chicken and their homemade spicy sauce. The chicken is served with a slice of lime and the tanginess brings up the amazing flavors of the fried chicken. Their rice bowl with pork is also flavorful. I ordered a small size and paired with the fried chicken it was more than enough good for one.

2nd visit and the tonkotsu ramen was as good as the first time, to the last drop. I love the generous amount of broth they give you here, and the melt-in-your-mouth thick cuts of char siu, only wishing the noodle were thinner (I love thin noodles in my noodle soups, but to each his own.) Two appetizers: pork belly bao is incredibly tasty and addictive; the crispy rice tuna with jalapeno is another winning flavor bomb. Great service all around- 20% added service charge but you can opt out. I opted out and gave cash tip instead.

Fantastic ramen, incredibly creamy with enough toppings and the option to add a spicy sauce or garlic (which I did and think you should too). One of the nicest servers, and definitely the best interior design of any ramen shop I've been in--period. Would come again to HiroNori, but this location specifically.

There's always a bit of a line here, but we got seated pretty fast. Ramen was flavorful and filling, I was able to finish all but the broth. They also have a vegan ramen option as well as vegan potstickers.

It is a chain ramenya and have always been curious to check this place out. After trying the ramen and tsukemen, this is an Americanized ramen spot and not a Japan-based ramen shop Very good ramen though noodles were overcooked. Both bowls looked good, just missing essence. Service is prompt. Tip was tagged on without my approval. Not cool. Not happy but not making a point of it. For this random tip add on practice and the inauthenticity of the food here. I will never come back. Sayonara! End of Yelp!

The food quality has improved a lot since my last visit! The chashu was delicious and had a soy flavor and the noodles were thick and bouncy. The broth was good as well, but a lot better with garlic - it's free to add! Staff were friendly, but not the most attentive. There were three tables total in the restaurant while we were there, making 5 customers total. While we did order and get our food quickly, our server sat to eat her own meal while we were there and did not let us know she was going on break. We weren't really sure how to handle asking for dessert or the check and there didn't seem to be another wait staff member available. The seating area is very cute and modern. Unfortunately, the bathroom was filthy. I know it's weird to take a picture of the bathroom which is why I almost never do, but this one was just too gross to ignore.

First timer and I absolutely loved it. I crave this place. The cucumber salad was absolutely a game changer for me - never had it with imitation crab before! The chicken was crispy and can honestly be eaten as a meal itself. Best part: the ramen broth. So well-balanced, not too salty like most other places. The seating inside is a little limited, so it might be tough for a bigger party. Cute date spot for sure. I also found a piece of plastic in my broth (didn't take a picture ) but the general manager was so kind and gave me my meal for free! Wish I can thank him personally, but I left them a good tip for their great hospitality!

Great little spot! Cute interior and nice music. The tonkotsu ramen was delicious! Especially with the adding some chili sauce. The wait wasn't long and the service was great

not bad, I've tried the monterwy park version amd loved it so I payed a visit at the pasadena location! meat quality: - a little disappointed, bc it all fat but still nicely flavored and soft noodles: - cooked well:) sizing: - pretty good portion for the price, was very full after plating was very nice and aesthetically pleasing!

Been wanting to try Hiro and Nori for a while, especially since they are so close. The crispy chicken/karaage was very good, super crispy batter and they used thigh meat, very tender and juicy. Wanted a lighter broth so got the soyu ramen. The pork was tender, slightly smoky, excellent. The noodles had perfect texture and bite. Overall a top tier ramen experience. Will be trying the pork broth next time. 5 stars

3.5 stars really but can't do it so they get 4 stars because the staff was very nice. The eel bun is 2/5. Disappointing because the food there is good so you know they could do much better than that. A bit japanese mayo and eel sauce and this will already at 4/5 easy. Nothing special. Also when i asked the waiter if thats unagi or anago she asked the kitchen and they didnt know.. i think its basic to know what you are eating and def what you are cooking for guests. Ramen was 9/10. Their noodles are seriously one of the best ive had, I had the shoyu ramen and they were a bit thicker and they were perfect. 10/10 for noodles for sure. Broth was great! 9.5/10 very clean yet flavorful but they only thing i wish i had was a bit more toppings like fried onion and garlic that comes with this ramen as a whole. At a price of 18-19 bucks for 2 pieces of meat and some spinach and bamboo shoots you can make the ramen with a bit more flavor and value. Overall 8.5/10 and will def be back and recommend to others

Best ramen in Pasadena! Nice, clean restaurant, friendly quick service & delicious food. We loved everything we ordered. I got the tonkatsu ramen with chicken, it was flavorful, not too salty or heavy, with a good amount of veggies and meat. The cucumber crab salad was also very good, it was light and refreshing. My absolute favorite was the eel tempura buns, I've never had anything like this, it was sweet, light and fluffy. We would definitely return to try more items on the menu. There was a waitlist at 6p on a Sunday night. We waited 40min, I suggest going earlier on the weekends to beat the crowd. The whole party needs to be there to be seated.

people come here for the Ramen, but I come here for the pork rice bowl. I think I have better Ramen at other place but this place really delivers a very delicious pork rice bowl. It's something that I could crave every week. They go very busy almost every day even on the weekdays so since I live five minutes away, I just have to go all the time after my Pilates class. Last time they wait list so you can put your name before coming in, but I'm not sure right now. They only have it on the restaurant so I always feel like a lot of people just waiting outside. The staff are friendly and the place is welcoming with clean minimalist decoration. parking can be challenging, because they only have paid street parking.

Found my new favorite ramen spot. :) I was immediately seated when I got there, there were a good amount of seats inside, and really loved the ambiance. Noise level was good, it wasn't quiet but wasn't super loud either. The restaurant was super clean and service was great! Crispy Chicken - 4/5 Loved the Crispy Chicken, it was super airy and juicy with each bite. Didn't really enjoy the dipping sauce that came with it. Tonkatsu Ramen - 5/5 When it comes to broth, we're both really picky. All I have to say is wow..... the broth was creamy, rich, so flavorful. The pork chashu was super tender and melts in your mouth. Garlic and Spicy Sauce are free. :) Need I say more? One thing to note, always check for an egg that should come with your ramen bowl. My partner and I were both missing it and they brought it out after we reminded them. Another gem of a ramen spot to add to my list as a regular. Enjoy!

I love exploring new ramen spots, and this was my first time trying HiroNori. The ramen was sooo good--rich broth, perfectly cooked noodles, and the toppings were on point. Definitely one of the better bowls I've had in the area. The place itself is super modern, with a clean and sleek vibe that makes it a great spot to hang out. My only gripe is that the menu is pretty limited, so there's not much variety if you're looking for more than just ramen. Still, if you're craving a solid bowl, this place is worth a visit!

**Rating Experience with small child** Craft ramen - not something I was looking for when I wanted a regular bowl of ramen. I was excited to try this neighborhood ramen as I've driven past it multiple times. The interior is quite modern, and they only had stool chairs, which wasn't very comfortable or kid-friendly. Service was friendly and food came out relatively quickly, so I have no complaints there. Something about the taste of the ramen was 'off'. My son and I had just returned from a trip to Japan, and this place was far from regular Japanese ramen. I don't mean anything fancy, but ramen should have that authentic 'ramen' taste, but HiroNori had some sort of fancy flare that I didn't like. For the price of a bowl, I wasn't very pleased. Even my son, who is relatively new to the ramen world, didn't quite like it. If you're looking for authentic ramen, this is NOT the spot.

I work nearby and my friend suggested lunch here. It's a rather small ramen joint so in passing, I could never tell if it'd be worth it to check out this place but I'm so glad I did! I went on a weekday right at opening and service was 10/10. I had to wait a few minutes for my friend to arrive and the waiter constantly checked in on me and brought waters out and everything! While waiting, I read the back of the menu that detailed how HiroNori came to be and I thought it was such a beautiful story of two people who came together to combine their talents and crafts in hopes of making bomb ramen reminiscent of their hometowns. It definitely made me excited to try out their menu. I ordered the tonkotsu ramen and got garlic and spice on the side (for free), which is actually something I really appreciated bc many other ramen places usually charge to make it a spicy broth or don't offer it at all?? I very much enjoyed my ramen - just the right amount to make me full. The pork was soft and tender, the broth was tasty and not too salty, and the egg was boiled perfectly soft. My friend ordered the karaage chicken which was delicious as well! I also really love their spicy tuna rice cake - perfectly crunchy and spicy. Throughout our time, the waiter often came by to check in, even offered to give me more spice and was great with just refilling my water cup! Never felt like I had to wait long to get their attention or anything. 10/10 recommend trying! Great for small parties. There are two tables that can accommodate larger parties but I imagine it's probably busy around dinner time.

Came here looking for vegan food as my cousin has dietary restrictions and I only eat halal, so when I found this spot had vegan ramen, we jumped at the oppo. Parking is a little difficult on the weekend, there is paid parking on the side of the business, but that's limited. There's also a parking garage on the same block, however it's pretty pricey. The place itself is clean and spacious, and it was easy to grab a table. There's a QR code available to scan and view your menu, and plenty of options to choose from. For apps, I'd ordered the vegan fried gyoza. This was delicious and had great flavor, texture, and crunch with every bite. Very satisfying. For my entree, I'd ordered the vegan ramen. I loved it. Presentation was top notch, the broth was comforting and flavorful. All the ingredients blended well together. It wasn't too watery or bland like you might notice with other vegetarian or vegan ramen. I'd come here again!

Came to HiroNori for dinner while I'm still on a quest to find comparable Shoyu Ramen to the one I had in Japan =') Sadly, HiroNori's Shoyu Ramen didn't meet my expectations. It wasn't bad, but wasn't the same flavor profile that I am seeking. I did like that they allow you to get free toppings of Garlic & House Chili Sauce, and did think the chili sauce pairs better with the Shoyu Ramen than the Tonkotsu. My husband had the tonkotsu ramen and thought it was okay. We both actually liked their Cucumber Crab Salad, so simple but delicious. It has imitation crab on top of thinly sliced cucumbers and you add the lemon juice for that perfect bite! I will say that hubby and I did feel super bloated after dinner, so I do believe their ramen noodles and broth contributed to that... They are a credit card only establishment, scan QR code for menu at tables, and they do charge a 16% service fee...though they do say we can remove it or change if you want to & pay gratuity instead. Otherwise, the service fee is in place of gratuity. Two unisex bathrooms located in the back of the restaurant, fairly clean. Parking around Lake Ave. is either trying your luck at finding street parking. Otherwise, if you don't mind walking a little, I recommend parking in the lot behind Veggie Grill/Randy's Donuts/Granville after 6:00pm you don't need to pay since it's typically 90 minutes free and not monitored after 7:00pm.

I ordered the vegan ramen and although the vegetables were fine the broth was oily. Not my favorite.

I am typically not someone who is a big fan of ramen, but HiroNori is the one ramen I always crave! The tonkatsu is so rich and creamy.. it blows any tonkatsu ramen out of the water. You can't go wrong with the shoyu ramen either!! The rich umami flavors got better and better with each sip. The pork chashu is also cooked to perfection-- I don't even eat pork, but it always looks so good! Of course, my favorite part of the meal is always the egg!! The soft boiled egg is always cooked how I like it, and is a good balance after eating something warm. My last visit, I overheard who I believe to be the owner (Asian guy with glasses) talking to one of our servers, was praising her & giving her a raise for her hard work. As someone who works in the food service industry, I can always appreciate seeing good managers who care about their employees. For this reason, I try to visit this specific location whenever I crave HiroNori. Plus it doesn't help that the food and service is consistently good! ;)

I had the shoyu Ramen and the cucumber side. Menu is a QR code. You order and it comes out from the server. Seating is straightforward. What I liked about this ramen, is that everything in the bowl was able to be grabbed with the chopsticks. So, this means the noodles, spinach, and pork were great and nice quality. The garlic and the hot sauce were nice free options. The shoyu was very salty though, so fair warning. The cucumber dish was refreshing, but not that great overall. I'll have to try the tonkatsu next time. Place is clean.

Good ramen for everyone (has vegan option). Service was good and the place is clean and nicely put together. Limited seating so wouldn't go during rush hour unless I'm really craving ramen. Their water is good.

Only ramen was close to authentic but other items are overpriced. Ramen flavor was close to silver lake ramen. My families have been to Japan many times and hard to please :(. Spicy tuna bowl should be side dish size and 7.90 was way outrageous!! An another thing, I don't like the server added 18 % tip just bring water. I noticed many places I go out to eat, the server has been very pushy about the tips:(. Service getting annoying than appreciating! Leave me to be peace while having a conversation with families and friends. Unfortunately I can see US is going to eliminate Tips soon with AI. Tips should be paid by the boss not customers.

I'm never coming here again. On a busy Saturday evening, this was the only place that was sparsely populated so we decided to settle for HiroNori. Service was bad. We walk in and the hostess wanted to seat us (party of 2) right next to another man in such narrow seating when there were plenty of tables around. We asked to sit somewhere else and the hostess seemed reluctant then eventually agreed. When we sat down, we immediately got waters which was nice. Then it took a while for us to flag someone down to take our order. They weren't even busy, I wasn't sure what they were doing. We got our food, ate and we were ready to pay. Once the server came by, he told us the amount of the check was $88. I asked him if it was correct, seemed a bit high for what we ordered. And then he ensured us it was correct. We paid, and he gave us our itemized receipt. Then we looked at it, turns out there's almost a 17% fixed gratuity fee that's "removable" - what the heck? The server should've mentioned this when we were questioning the amount of the bill. We asked for the manager and he voided our payment and we tipped in cash. Absolutely ridiculous. Incompetent staff. Also, I have a stomachache. The chicken karage was weird, don't order it.