IPPUDO Berkeley

The food favor was bland, salty, and cold. The noodle was warm and all the sides were cold. There was no broth. The price does not match the quality of the food. First and last time at this place. For 4 people we spent $146.00 - 3 bowl of ramen, two sides, sushi (15 minutes wait), side of cucumber, 2 drinks. We ordered a side of broth and it was salty. So disappointed. 😔

SO good. I came here at least 30+ times over the past year and was never disappointed. The ramen is delicious, and they have great veg options as well. (daizu no chikara) miso is a must try, veg or not, really hits the spot. only downside is that it is $25+ everytime, so certainly a bit pricey but worth it imo. (all the pictures are from seperate visits LOL)

Ippudo Berkeley never disappoints! From the moment you walk in, the friendly staff makes you feel welcome and taken care of. The food is just as incredible—the airy steam buns are perfectly soft and filled with flavorful goodness. The crunchy spicy karaage has the ideal balance of crispiness and heat, making it an absolute must-try. And the ramen? Simply outstanding. The sesame oil broth adds a rich depth that makes every bite comforting and satisfying. Whether you're a ramen enthusiast or just looking for an amazing meal, Ippudo Berkeley is the place to go!

I remember when Ippudo first opened in Berkeley a few years back. Everything seems so fresh and new and of course the interior was brand new. The service was excellent at our visit this time … and accommodated our request to re heat our soup since it was not really hot. It’s a busy location in Berkeley, and I left feeling everything was routine and the interior needed a power wash.

This was the second time I've been to this location and the first time was ages ago when it first opened. Service was prompt and the food was good. The standouts were the chicken karaage and Ramen. It was good and they did have a happy hour.

One of my favorite ramen places! If you get a bun, the chicken bun is a must-have. The crispness, crunch, and the sauce are incredible. The noodles were well-cooked and the broth was delicious. My friend and I shared one bowl and it was the perfect portion for us since we had a late lunch and stopped by a dessert shop before an early dinner. We thought we had to wait for 20-30 minutes for a table for 2 at a busy dinner hour but we didn’t wait long! About 15 minutes. Reasonable prices, and friendly staff. When we come back we’re trying the other buns and getting extras of the chicken bun!

Wonderful and delicious bowl of ramen. Unfortunately the soft boiled egg is separate. Spacing was a bit tight but the staff was able to accommodate a table in the back for a stroller so I can eat with my newborn baby. They also have a small table in the gender neutral bathroom that you can sort of use as a changing table!

I had a very disappointing experience at Ippudo Berkeley CA on 08/31/25 around 7:12pm-7:30pm. When the food isn't good I usually don't say anything or post reviews I simply never return but the staff at this restaurant insulted my intelligence which is why I'm posting this review. I had ordered the Bun Medley (1 Shrimp, 2 Chicken) because the menu photo showed the buns covered in a red sauce—similar to the saucy nuggets at Wendy’s which is exactly the reason why I ordered it. When the dish arrived, the meat in the bun had a plain batter, with no sauce at all. I politely asked the server about this, and instead of acknowledging the issue, he told me the photo was “oversaturated”—which felt like an insult to my intelligence, since the picture clearly showed a red sauce. When I pressed further, he went to ask the chef and came back saying the photo was outdated, handing me a black sauce instead saying this was the sauce in the photo. I poured it on, expecting it to appear red, but it remained black. Again, this felt dismissive and dishonest implying I didn't know what I was looking at and was too stupid to notice. If the menu photos are outdated, they should have been updated—otherwise it’s false advertising. I ordered based on the promise of a red sauce, not a bun with a plain battered meat & an overly salty and slightly sweet black sauce on the side. On top of that, the chicken was overcooked with a chewy, burnt-tasting batter. Also, where I was seated smelled unpleasantly like a used bathroom. I chose Ippudo because of its high ratings, but my experience was the opposite. Between the misleading menu photo, the poor food quality, the dismissive service, and the unpleasant environment, it was a very upsetting experience.

Ippudo in Berkeley is fantastic! The takoyaki balls are to die for--airy with just the right amount of octopus, and the dipping sauce is a great bonus. The ramen is perfect, not too salty, and very creamy. Only downside is having to pay extra for a boiled egg--come on, it's ramen, it should come with it! Overall, a great spot for a delicious meal! The place can get pretty busy and crowded, making it loud at times. However, the service is impressively fast, ensuring you get your food promptly. The staff are attentive and friendly, adding to the overall enjoyable experience. Just be prepared for the bustling atmosphere!

I visited Ippudo with some friends on a Saturday for lunch. Promptly got seated right away. We all ordered the Shiromaru Classic. It came out quickly pipping hot. I really enjoyed the taste of the noddles. The broth didn't feel very oily/heavy as other ramen spots. I wish there was a bit more pork and green onion. Great quick spot to grab a bite.

Even better this time around! The char on the eggplant in the nirvana classic is fantastic and the crunch on the veggies in the veggie bun made me want five more.

We had lunch here on a Saturday afternoon. Parking was a bit of a hassle if you want to park around the restaurant. We ended up parking at the Allston Way Parking Garage which is about three blocks from the restaurant. The restaurant was busy when we got there so we waited around 10 minutes for a table. Staff were nice and food was good but pricey. Ramen was $17, chicken Karaage was $13 and 3 pork bun was $16.

Pretty good ramen! A little on the pricier side for what you get, but they do have some interesting menu items. They're usually pretty quick with service. It can get a little crowded, but you get seated quickly. I usually opt for the spicy ramen or the modern ramen. Both are good!

It was a rainy day and my Mom and I were craving ramen. I had only gotten take out from Ippudo but during shelter in place, so I wanted to try dining in. They sat us immediately despite being busy. The service was quick and friendly the food came out within what felt like 5-7 minutes which was really impressive. The restaurant itself has tall ceilings and you can see into the kitchen where the chefs are making the food to order. I ordered the spicy tonkatsu ramen and subbed chicken instead of pork. The broth was so rich and delicious. The ramen noodles were thin, and tender yet sturdy. The chicken was so juicy and the egg was marinated and soft boiled perfectly. My mom ordered the miso ramen and she also subbed chicken. She was impressed with the miso flavor and the texture of her noodles. We also ordered a pork bao bun which was honestly a star of the meal! The pork was cooked perfectly. The bun was so light and fun to eat. It was simple yet elevated. We enjoyed the experience. It is definitely on the pricier side.

Finally had a chance to check out Ippudo. drove to Berkeley on a rainy monday afternoon (president's day weekend), originally supposed to visit Gregoire but decided to look for ramen spot. Thought of Ippudo but honestly wasnt hoping to get seated but when we got there, the restaurant is not busy (and it was free parking bec of the holiday, score!). We were seated right away on the two people table w menu already on the table. I love the little box they have next to the tables to put your personal belongings. After a few mins, our server came by to take our order. We ordered the 3 buns (pork, chicken and shrimp), shishito peppers, negori sake, green tea, veggie akamaru w onsen tamago (for me) and akamaru modern w tamago (for the bf). Experience review: After about 10-15 mins we noticed that the table behind us who got there after us got their ramen first. We started wondering why and maybe server saw our body language or overheard us so they came to our table to let us know they were having a problem w the fryer so they will serve the ramen first. We were fine w it but then a few mins later the buns came and shortly after the shishito peppers did. I wouldve preferred to let us know sooner about the delay but oh well. Besides that, the service overall is great. Food review: The buns were okay - nothing special about them. I had the shrimp and it was just fine and my boyfriend said the pork was just ok. The chicken we had to take to go. Can probably skip this next time. The shishito peppers were delicious. It came w lemon wedge and this dried powder umami seasoning? I cant pinpoint what it is but we sprinkled it on the peppers and it tasted so good! Now the star of the show is the ramen. My ramen was delicious, broth is great, the onsen tamago def nice touch, the noodles are bouncy af and the red seasoning thats on top was bomb!!!! I def wish there's more of it (order extra of this!). My bf said his ramen was also delicious - broth and noodles are amazing. We both finished our ramen and we normally dont when we go to other places. All in all great food and good experience! Would def comeback next time were in the area for their ramen and shishito peppers.

Wonderful service. Really nice atmosphere and attentive staff. Bit short staffed during dinner hours but they make an incredible effort. Bit of a wait to get seated but food comes fast, no reservations. MUST GET: PORK BUNS. All the steamed buns are insanely good. I would make a meal out of them if they weren't as expensive. My picks: - AKAMARU MODERN - KARAKA SPICY Karaka spicy is not really spicy. Both taste really good. Seems like they started charging extra for the egg ($3) but still one of the best bowls of ramen I've had. Very nice soup based, not overwhelmingly heavy or rare.

I don't think anything hits harder after a long flight then a nice spicy bowl of ramen This location is on Berkeley's campus so parking was a little bit difficult during Sunday brunch. We got really lucky and happen to get a spot right in front of the restaurant. The service at this location has always been on point. The wait staff are kind and made sure my modifications were noted and correct. I'm not a huge ramen lover because of the thin noodles, so being able to sub the thin noodles for the thick wavy noodles was a game changer. The restaurant is decorated nicely with lots of tables for all party sizes. As a non-ramen lover, whenever I do crave ramen, I always find myself coming back to Ippudo Berkeley.

This chilly weather calls for comfort ~ Ippudo in Berkeley can help light your flame. Tucking into this cozy spot at 2015 Kala Bagai Way, there's metered street parking around the location (we parked on a side street, with a short walk over). Well worth the steps! The restaurant wasn't too bustling yet when we arrived, which was refreshing to grab a seat for 2 without any wait. The service was also very spot on and attentive, and we ordered a few a la carte items to start while we dried off: the buns medley (chicken, pork and shrimp tempura) and gyoza. The steamed buns themselves were nice, slightly sweet, and provided the perfect pillowy-goodness to sandwich the equally as juicy & flavorful meat/seafood stuffed between. The pork and chicken were lightly dressed with lettuce and a special mayo and bbq sauce, the shrimp tempura with lettuce and a homemade Tartar sauce. I'm a huge gyoza fan and typically order pan fried dumplings like this often. I have to say these were nice and light, perfectly crispy and not oily at all. Definitely recommend. As for the main event, the piping hot bowls of ramen - I chose the Shiromaru Classic with chicken instead of the pork belly chashu. The meat switch is only because I prefer chicken to pork. The broth for this dish is a Tonkotsu pork broth and is so unbelievably creamy and smooth. We also ordered the Karaka Spicy which came in the Tonkotsu pork broth but with the pork belly, a more elevated spice level and garlic oil. The perfect amount of rich and delish! A fun add-on element that is sure to give anyone a smile, is the fact that you can order more noodles if you're running low and still have broth leftover by saying "Kaedama please". We will for sure do this next time we're in! With a nice array of Japanese small plates and loving but valuable portions of ramen, I'm looking forward to coming back to try other broths and check out their sake menu with friends! Also sitting at the bar to watch the magic happen is on the list for next time..nicely done!

Food: 3/5 Service/Wait: 4/5 Price/Value: 4/5 Atmosphere/Uniqueness: 3/5 Visited Ippudo for ramen fix and left a little disappointed. Decent food with good service, average prices. While not a disappointment, it didn't leave a lasting impression. Shiromaru Classic Ramen Rating: 3/5 This ramen was decent but didn't stand out compared to other places offering similar classic ramen. Akamaru Modern Ramen Rating: 3.5/5 The Akamaru Modern Ramen was satisfactory but lacked the depth of flavor expected. Takoyaki Rating: 4/5 The Takoyaki was good, but nothing special. A crisp outside with a soft and fluffy inside.

- vegan veggie akamaru ramen was rich and full of flavor - portions are small - more diverse menu after the pandemic

Got the spicy ramen and it was not bad at all! The portions are perfect and left me satisfied and full but not overly stuffed or still wanting more. The spicy ramen isn't that spicy but was enough to get a little kick. It would be nice if the ramen came with the soft boiled eggs but it is extra to add it on top. We also got the chicken karage which wasn't pretty good, though the portion seemed much smaller than anticipated. The sauces they have are really good though. The takoyaki was also just okay at best. The batter was cooked but still kind of very mushy. TLDR: the food is kind of just mid personally. The service was wonderful! It's very surprising to see only one server and one cook, but they managed well and delivered quickly. The overall restaurant is very clean and well kept. Felt nice to sit in and dine!

I was a bit skeptical coming here, having frequented the one in NY when I worked in east village but the ramen was pretty good! They didn't have the same menu items as the New York location when it came to appetizers/sides but I still enjoyed. I came alone so no wait but it wait a bit busy on a Sunday for people with parties of 2+. Staff was courteous.

Super solid ramen, always pleasant. For the price, I expect this; if it was a bit cheaper I'd go here much more often. It's also a chain, which makes me feel ...interesting.. about the price, but on the whole reasonable. Their broth is flavorful and rich but portion sizes are not huge for the price. Ambience inside is quite nice, and they seem to spend a lot of money on fancy napkins to complete the vibe, that are unreasonably thick. :)

I rarely go out to eat dishes that are soup based, but I will not hesitate to come to Ippudo lol. I wasn't really a fan of ramen, because I don't like eating soup-based dishes like hot pot etc, but the first time my friend brought me here, it changed everything! Whenever I'm craving something warm and it's cold out, I immediately think of Ippudo. I like the Karaka Spicy with tamago. The broth is flavorful and the noodles are fresh. I took some friends here, who came back to visit the bay, and they loved it! For me, no other ramen place can beat Ippudo.

A little over $50, not including tips, for two people. Not the ideal price for Ramen, specially when the broths were either too salty or tasteless and the $12 buns were done in two bites. Berkeley is more expensive compared to their other locations. Earned a star because at least the server was nice and patient. I wouldn't go out of my way to go there again unless they're the only ones open and I'm very hungry.

Ippudo seemed like a popular ramen place in Berkeley, so I wanted to try it out. We came around 8:30pm and luckily got seated right away. We ordered a pork bun and two Karaka spicy ramen. The pork bun came out quickly and was tasty! It took a while for the ramen to come out. One of the bowls came out first, and it felt like a good 5-7 mins passed by before the 2nd bowl came out and we had to ask our server about it. I was disappointed that my soup was lukewarm. It must have been sitting there for a while before they brought it out. The broth was salty and there was nothing special about the ramen.

Ippudo is a solid ramen choice in an area filled with lots of ramen shops, but it's nothing to write home about. I had a weekday lunch right when Ippudo opened at 11:30a, and there were very few customers there....so very easy to get a table. We each ordered a bowl of ramen - I got the Shiromaru Classic which comes with bamboo shoots and two slices of pork. Egg, etc. are all extra. The broth was rich and salty, the noodles were chewy.

I had the Karaka Spicy ramen that comes with its spicy karaka paste at the core, embraced by aromatic garlic oil and a luscious tonkotsu broth, which made an unforgettable impact. The blend of flavors in the Karaka Spicy ramen was nothing short of captivating. The paste's heat provided a satisfying kick, complemented perfectly by the depth brought in by the garlic oil. The tonkotsu broth, a hallmark of IPPUDO's expertise, added a rich and flavorful dimension to the ensemble.

The food was good. I would tone down the salt in the soup base. The ambience of the store was good. Nothing to be excited about. This is also a chain food store. Service was quick. Scan the barcode for the menu but you cant order on the online have to wait for the waitress to come get your order. The payment system was slow. It took 3 tries to make the connection to pay.

This is my brother & my go-to ramen spot. It's always cozy inside and even though it's always bustling and busy, we thankfully haven't had to wait to get a table or eat at the bar. There are plenty of vegetarian/vegan options here which is perfect for us. But also, I'm told the tonkotsu can't be beat. While I'm more accustomed to Japanese flavors, Ippudo mixes things up with korean and chinese flavors in their noodles which is a fun experience. Brother and I typically order the Karaka and it does not disappoint. The piping hot soup comes with perfectly chewy ramen, marinated tofu, menma (bamboo), some greens and a hearty scoop of their spicy miso "bolognese". It tasted like a blend of korean gochujang, miso, and szechuan numbing spice. If you enjoy your ramen with some kick, this is the one for you. The table-side service is friendly and fast. We were in and out in under an hour. There's also a great selection of add-ons, buns, appetizers and rice bowls.

This place is good but they increased the price last fall which was unfortunate. I loved their karaage and it used to be around $6-7 and now it's $12-13. Their ramen is great but I think the broth lacks a little depth compared to Marafuku. The portions are also kind of small and I wish they gave more noodles. Ever since they changed their menu and increased the prices, they took out a lot of the toppings that had initially been in the Tonkatsu Ramen and still increased the price. However, I do love their thick noodles and how they offer it in more dishes compared to Marafuku. Their karaage is amazing and so juicy probably one of the best that I've had! The cucumber appetizer was also pretty good and very refreshing. Loved this place a lot but probably will be frequenting Marafuku more since the prices are much more reasonable.

It is really sad for me to write this review as a regular (i frequent at least once a month with friends/family on average) but the restaurant has lost its friendly, warm service vibes over time and has become more commercial and business-y. Perhaps it has to do with more locations popping up. Might still recommend to people in the future but probably won't go anymore myself. Had this pretty bad service / experience -- 1. They charge $5 each for hot tea (without telling you, because they just ask if you want tea or iced water) It turns out to be just a maeda-en tea bag, and we did not taste the tea flavor. I am not saying I feel entitled to hot tea on the house at every Asian restaurant but at least (i) let customers know they will be charged and (ii) serve real tea if we are charged for it. 2. Server kept asking if we wanted to order more after we said we are good...? Repeatedly asked if want more appetizers, drinks, sides etc. 3. Served us two akamaru and tried to tell us that was what we ordered, but we specifically said we wanted one Shiromaru and one akamaru XD (i guess it might be because akamaru is +$1, but we just wanted to try both flavors) Was also pretty rude about it, lowkey gaslighting us... don't remember the last time I experienced this...

My first time back here since before the pandemic and the core menu hasn't changed too much. I noticed it doesn't list all the firmness options for the noodles anymore but if you request firmer or softer they can still do it for you. The buchi harmony ramen was super strong with the bonito fish flavor, and the karaka spicy was very chili pepper tasting but not super hot. It was similar in flavor to Fly by Jing sichuan chili sauce. Overall I've had better ramen broths, but Ippudo still holds up because the noodles are really good.

I have a relative in from AZ. My treat to him is to go on a culinary exploration with him. This was our choice for night #2. Night #1 was soup dumplings. We wanted the best ramen in the East Bay. We decided to try Ippudo. What a great Idea that was! 1. Ramen is all about the broth. I had the miso ramen with Treasures (a la carte - a set of several toppings) my partner had the classic and my AZ guest has the spicy one! Classic's broth -tasty but bland. Likely the best for kids and those who don't want spice. Mine was perfect but the broth was too salty for me to drink. The others tastes my broth and said it was fine. (I think it's because I don't use a lot of salt in my cooking due to high BP). Best of all - all the broths were really delicious. 2. Ramen has to have noodles cooked just right. Perfect noodles - slightly Al dente which is perfect. Nobody else does this!!!! 3. The toppings have to be good quality. And they were excellent. Especially the marinated Tamago egg. Mine was jammy inside. Now everyone wants it on their home ramen. I now have homework. 4. Service - excellent!!! 5. Esthetics - I was impressed with the dishes. Real ceramics and tasteful - not cheap. One was chipped but it's hard to tell. Hope they find it and either sand it down or throw it out. Takes away from perfection. Loved the decor on the walls. Recommendations: order the Treasures - it is worth it. Dunk them all (except the nori) into the broth immediately because they are cold. Yes it is expensive ramen, but once you taste it, you will understand. It's a notch above the usual and it is very authentic - native Japanese will be happy.

First time at Ippudo in Berkeley and I'd come again! Noodles were perfectly cooked, broth was very tasty, nice options for toppings. Got the akamaru modern and partner got the yuzu with pork chasu instead of chicken. Next time we'll ask for no additional garlic in the broth. Staff was very accommodating and they were definitely short-staffed. Very different vibe from the NY location. It's a good bowl of ramen with the convenience of just walking in. Recommend!

It's extremely difficult to find good Vegan Ramen and I love both locations of this restaurant. I don't feel like I have to compromise on flavor and if I get the extra noodles, I have a whole second meal.

i've been coming to ippudo since my college days, and they've never missed. however, i was particularly impressed when i came here a couple weekends ago with my friend for dinner. it seemed like they expanded their veggie ramen menu from my college days, so we were excited to try something new off the menu. since it was rainy and cold, we decided to both order the spicy karaka veggie ramen. the food took no time to arrive, and we were met with a big piping hot bowl of spicy ramen. my mouth is watering thinking about how much we enjoyed this ramen as i write this: the creamy soy broth with the vegan bolognese spread evenly for every bite, and the twinge of spiciness when sipping the broth was just the combination we needed to recharge us on a saturday evening. we couldn't stop talking about how much better ippudo got since the last time we came to the location in college, and are looking forward to coming back and paying this establishment another visit. it's always exciting to find a ramen place that offers more than one veggie ramen selection!

I ordered the Karaka Spicy with friends and it was really flavorful! The spice didn't overpower the pork broth. I enjoyed the amount of spice but it might be spicier for those with less spice tolerance. The chasu was also pretty good. The service was average/no complaints. The restaurant has a nice ambience. It's a good date spot for dinner or place to go with family and friends.

Best ramen bowls hands down. The food is authentic, perfectly prepared and reasonably priced. The miso bowl was fantastic.

Akamaru Modern. Added Treasure later. Ikezo sparkling jelly sake is like a jello shot.

I'm definitely a ramen fan but even more so after eating here! Both the veggie Akamaru and miso tonkatsu were DELICIOUS! The broth was so much tastier than most places I've been too, extra garlicky which some might not enjoy but I loved! We also ordered one of each bun, and liked the shrimp and veggie ones the best. The shrimp was especially tasty, very crispy, and the veggie was super flavorful. They are a good size, can definitely share one bun between two people. On top of great food, the interior is very nice and calming, I can't wait to come back to try more!

Ippudo is a very well-known ramen chain that originated in Japan and a competitor to the famous Ichiran. I always prefer Ichiran because of their flavorful broth and al dente ramen. My experience at Ippudo could be summed up as "meh". Nothing special compared to other non branded ramen places and cost more, because there was less ramen and no lava egg. The chicken karrage was decent, but again, $16 for 5 pieces of chicken that were not extraordinary seasoned or juicy seemed to be much for me. Parking was also difficult because it's located in downtown Berkeley.

The one star goes to service, because the staff was nice. Now.. onto the ramen. I think this is the first ramen spot I've ever been to that put "back fat" into their ramen. It was seriously gross. My kids were picking it out because it was disgusting. Imagine clumps of fat, I would have thought it would melt or get smaller with the hot broth, but it remained the size of a grain of rice. I tried the karaka spicy ramen, and the flavor was unappetizing, to say the least. I'm not exactly sure what was in the spice, but it was seriously not good. I remembered waiting in line for 2 hrs in NYC for this chain, and I swear I don't remember them ever serving their ramen with "back fat," but they need to stop.

Don't get their takeout. The portion is minuscule and you pay $4 for a completely raw egg. I could've just eaten one out of my refrigerator. $27 for a bowl of veggie ramen. FML hard pass!

Best Ramen place in Berkeley! This world-wide chain does Ramen really good. Yummmmm!

I fell in love with the Ippudo in San Francisco when I got the vegan ramen, so I took my mom here to the Berkeley location once and we both enjoyed our ramen. However, I just recently came back on my own and was so disappointed. This time I ordered the Yuzu Shoyu ($17) the broth was overly salty and the chicken wasn't tender. The server recommended spice bomb so I said yes, but he didn't tell me it was $3 additional charge. That would have been a good to know. It was $5 for a tea that was just a generic genmai tea bag - for $5, I expect it to be served in a nice tea pot with loose leaf. My total for just one person was $32 including tip - I know things have gotten more expensive but damn! I will have to be much more careful when I order from here or just stick to my usual. Service overall is always quick and efficient.

Added ourselves to the waitlist to be seated. No biggie. When we got offered our seating it was at the "BAR" (really the takeout prep table) we took it thinking it would be the same service as the tables. We got our order placed in a timely manner but the person taking our order was also double maybe triple duty on take out orders and checking on tables because after our order was taken barely saw her again. She also didn't write down our order as if she could remember ours plus the ten other things she was juggling.. well whatever happened it took 45min to get our order and that was after asking about it 30 min in! I mean two bowls of ramen and fries??? People seated after us at tables got their food before us. Don't ever sit at their so called "BAR". The Ramen was fine but the truffle fries were burnt, we didn't pay for them! They also came out halfway through us finishing the Ramen. All in all terrible service, I get if they were understaffed but we're literally facing the food prep~ hostess stand ... hard to miss checking on us.

Oooooh, so good. The portion is small for the price, but the flavor is worth it. The broth is so smooth to sip, not too salty, and so creamy. It's pretty amazing. The entire bowl is easy to eat and there is no discomfort afterwards (like you sometimes get with ramen towards the end of the meal). I had the shiromaru classic with the addition of an egg for $3. I was a little bummed the egg wasn't a bit runny (it was on the hard side) but the flavor was well stewed. The tonkotsu broth was lovely and rich. So flavorful. The chashu was good. The noodles were cooked perfectly and nicely caught all the broth while slurped. It also came with bamboo shoots, green onion, and fish cake. Mmm delicious. It was impressive! Definitely on the list of greats.

Modern ramen place with pork buns and other side dishes. Good food and decor but not great. Food could be hotter. Was so cold inside restaurant since it was December especially with cold metal chairs . Ordered one ramen with extra noodles, takoyaki, 3 buns -- $52 with tax. A very light meal for three persons.

My faaavorote ramen spot. The simple ramen (i forgot the name) + add corn is delicious. Pork buns are also soooo good here! Sometimes they might take a little to serve you, but other than that, place is great.

I got the Karaka spicy and it was overall solid! Though I felt the spice overpowered the other flavors. Great ambiance and dining setting. Service a bit slow during busy hours - had to wait a while for a refill on water. Great buns - especially the chicken!

Met a friend here for lunch and was quite impressed with the food. The soups were delicious and flavorful and the Ramen noodles were out of this world! We started with their shishito peppers appetizer which were flash fried and fun to eat. They were very generous with the amount of peppers! I had their classic Ramen soup and my friend had the Ramen in miso soup. We both thought our meals were delicious and delightful with every slurp. The service here is excellent, and I am definitely coming back. So sorry I didn't get any pictures, the soups were so delicious that we slurped them up before I could remember to take pictures, LOL!!

Despite writing a previous review that was pretty average, I wanted to bump up my rating after a few more visits here. Ippudo is definitely the go-to place for ramen in Berkeley for my boyfriend and me. It kind of became a tradition for us to eat here for a post-midterm or final celebration. We also come here on random days when we crave ramen. Anyway, onto the food -- I've had some ok experiences, but I think overall the food is still great! Previously, I felt a bit iffy about the buns, since it seemed that they were just microwaving the meat before serving it (as seen through the kitchen window at counter seating). My boyfriend still gets them anyway because he likes how the chashu buns taste. I noticed that the buns are consistently super fluffy and have a slightly sweet flavor that contrasts the saltier filling. I often get the veggie croquette and it's very full of flavor, especially with the sauce. If you don't want too much sauce over your bun, you can request it on the side. Honestly the veggie croquette buns are my favorite part of most meals here. Ramen here is very standard and the Shiromaru Classic is what I get each time. I think they've now added a vegetarian option (Veggie Akamaru) to their menu which I'd like to try in the future since I'm not the biggest fan of chashu in general. I usually give mine away to whoever is there with me. Every bowl of ramen leaves me super stuff and feeling like I don't need to eat for days. As a side note, the servers here are super nice and are very patient when we confirm certain ingredients due to a long list of allergies.

The food is a bit pricier for the quality. I think the ramen I got was a bit too salty. I tried the bun appetizers but thought they were okay and also pricy

The service was quick and friendly , we came on a weekday for lunch and the food was delicious , and the vibe was overall very clean and spacious . 10/10 I would come here as a first choice for ramen any day !! My table ordered the gyoza / spicy ramen and it was tasty and the spice was not overpowering

I don't understand the mixed reviews... First - the place is clean, well organized, and customer service is SUPERB! SHOUT OUT TO: Warom! She was so wonderful. Pleasant, helpful, friendly, and attentive. Ippudo owners, please recognize her in some fashion! The ramen was excellent. I could've used more spice, but hey. It was plenty of food, the noodles were fresh, and the ingredients were plentiful. The yuzu beer I ordered was divine (ooowh, dare I say that?). I HAVE to go back (I HAVE been back at this point)....

My friends and I were in Berkeley celebrating one of my friends birthday. We were looking around for places that were highly rated and decided we'd come here since we were all craving ramen. You'd think because we were a party of five there'd be a bit of a longer wait but we were sat down immediately and our food was our pretty fast as well. I got the akamaru modern with a side of pork belly. Overall, the food was very tasty. Staff was friendly and kept checking up on us to make sure we were finding everything alright.