Ishita Ramen

I was sooo happy to be here!!! We need a location here Des Moines Iowa. Came here for a family getaway/ vacation and this was soo great for all of us !!! My bubbly tea was sooo good mango flavor 😋. This place is so chile. Children friendly, it's totally a vibe, nice and quiet, small and comforting environment. Small but decent size free parking lot, as well as a couple of spots for street parking too.

If it wasn't for the slow service this place would've gotten a full 5 star review from me. Besides that the ramen was absolutely amazing and flavorful! I'll definitely be returning their and hopefully it'll be even better

We went to Ishita for lunch and enjoyed it very much. The service was excellent. The food was very good. It exceeded my expectations. The food was delivered to the table hot and delicious. It was very eye appealing. Too often we've been disappointed with Japanese restaurants, but this one did not disappoint. My wife had ramen and I had donburi. We also had vegetable egg rolls as an appetizer. We definitely are coming to this restaurant again. Thanks to the very nice server who was very welcoming and efficient.

Always a great experience every time I come here, worth my 2hr drive to go eat. The service is always great, the appetizers were phenomenal as always the chicken Kara age was juicy and well seasoned that sauce was not needed if you didn't want to use it but is great if you did. I usually end up placing a separate order to take home with me.

Absolutely amazing! What more can I say? Oh wait. This place serves up the most delicious ramen I've ever had (perfectly seasoned broth, springy noodles, and tender meat) and its appetizer selection is superb. Ishita deserves more than a 4.4 rating, seriously. Do yourself a favor and come here! Oct 2023: what can I say? Place still slaps and we have visited 2 or 3 times since we last reviewed. Niku Soba ramen will always be a fan favorite of mine and the Happy Hour prices can't be beat! Try the sesame oil togarashi cucumber app - so addictive! Or the crab jalapeno poppers! Yum. Only small gripes I had last encounter was a waitress constantly on our tail asking if we were ready for our check and the interior ambience was slightly smokey.

The food was really good! The Crab Jalapeno is a good starter for an appetizer, can't really get enough of them in my opinion. Pork buns come out fresh and steamy :) Ramen was good, I haven't tried any other ramen places so I'm not sure how to compare and contrast between flavor differences. Our waitresses are always attentive when we dine here.

Beautiful restaurant! Quiet little restaurant with decent food. It had a Dim laid-back atmosphere. I had the seafood ramen and it was decent. Overall a good experience,but I now realize that I would rather have Pho. Next time I come I will try some stir fry ramen or something totally different, the menu looks great

First time we visited this establishment. We will be back! Ramen was plentiful and delicious, and the atmosphere in the the place was great! Having visited Japan five times now, I will say the tonkatsu Niku Soba I ate was outstanding. A bit sweeter tonkatsu broth than I am used to, but very flavorful! Ramen soba was perfectly cooked. It went so well with the Sapporo biru, LOL. Prices were good. Service was outstanding.

i think it's ichiddo's sister? NOMd: - niku soba ramen. the noodles were cooked to perfection, broth wasn't too heavy and the pork belly was super flavorful. i should've added some corn and an egg then it would've been perfect. - kimchi ramen. my mom devoured it so must've been decent. service, etc.: we were the only ones here on a friday night which was honestly perf for the vibe we were on. super quick we were in and out less than an hour. our waitress was nice.

Parking was good! We got there around 7:15, and it wasn't packed! But, it got really crowded around 7:30. Service was fast and vibes are cool! Prices are really good, but the lower cost may have reflected the quality of the food. The vegetarian ramen didn't come with eggs or tofu, so you'd just be eating carbs. The broth is also below mid and would not get it again. My boyfriend got the crispy chicken ramen and he really liked the chicken. But, he thought it was very bland overall. Lots of happy hour items at a favorable price. Overall, it's a decent choice if you are on a budget!

Good experience overall. Had the gyoza and calamari for apps. Calamari sauce was good! Ordered Ramen and I enjoyed it overall. My wife commented the noodles were a bit soft but besides that it had authentic flavor. Server was prompt and polite. We would come back!

Great food, not so great location. My friend and I walked in at 5pm on a Monday night and were the only customers. Our server was very attentive and friendly! The inside is very small with only a handful of tables and chairs. I started with the crab jalapeño and that was yummy! I then had the fried chicken bun which I thought could have had a bigger piece of chicken on it as it was mostly bun. Then for my main course, my friend and I split the stir fried chicken ramen and the shredded char siu donburi. Both were delicious but the ramen didn't come with all the veggies it listed so it lacked a little flavor and texture. If you're in the area, pop-in for a yummy bite otherwise I wouldn't go out of my way to come back.

I thought the food and service are amazing. Appetizers and ramen are next level good.

Best Rahman around town. good staff and always welcoming and will fix any issue you have , vary caring place

I had the Char Sui shredded fried ramen, it was raman-ish, it was good, I like raman. Out of all the many restaurants on this block all right next to each other, this place has by far the best ambiance. But I really like the bahm mi sandwiches at the end of the block. Skip the Cajun and Chinese place.

Good variety & good portions. Was very impressed by the boba menu, very big & lots of options. Ramen was good, but I've had better. Edamame was cooked well. Decor was very authentic and interesting. Overall a good dinner experience

Some of the best ramen I have ever had. The staff is very friendly and quick to get you your food. The happy hour deal is awesome, 3:30-close half priced apps and drinks. Will continue to frequent this place. A cute inside that is perfect for lunch or dinner. Parking lot is easily accessible but may fill up on busier nights. Street parking is also very close.

We have eaten here a few times. Easy to get a table and clean. Good service and a quick in and out before a concert at the Xcel. Good value for the $.

My review is more so for the food than the service. The service was good. The lady that was working was super sweet and proactive. But the food was just alright. It wasn't the worst, but it wasn't one of the best. 5/5 for service, 3/5 for food, 4/5 for interior, and 5/5 for prices. For food I got the char siu bao bun ($2.50 during happy hour) and the dipping ramen ($12.95). The bun was surprisingly delicious. It doesn't look great in photos, but it was great in my belly. As for the ramen, it was just okay. Not super authentic, kinda salty, and the char siu slices were small. Would I choose to go there again? Probably not, but if I had too I wouldn't be opposed. I do have to add though, their happy hour prices are great and they have it everyday after 3:30pm!

We came here for my friend's birthday, and it was so good! The restaurant itself is nicely decorated and pretty clean, and the staff were very nice and accommodating. I shared a tokoyaki with my sister (I've never tried it/anything octopus before), and we both really liked it! It came fresh and hot and tasted like a hush puppy; the octopus also don't have a fishy taste and was kind of like eating a chewy piece of shrimp lol. The crispy chicken ramen was also delicious, as everything was fresh and the broth had a nice umami taste and wasn't too salty (I got a pork-less broth instead of the standard soy sauce broth it comes with). The food was filling but still light enough to not feel too heavy/greasy, and everything came out fast and was so affordable since they have happy hour prices everyday after 3:30PM. Overall, all of us loved the food and would definitely come back again! I also personally really liked this place better than Ichiddo Ramen:)

Ishita Ramen was a pleasant dining experience and the service was excellent. My brother and I both had their Spicy Muso Ramen which apparently in new to the menu. The flavor and spiciness were perfect. Only negative is that the dish was a little light on the pork portion in comparison to ramen noodle restaurants in Southern California

3 stars for in-restaurant taste, 4 stars for increased ramen flavor in the leftovers the next day. The egg rolls and short rib appetizers were just okay. They were each only $5 due to happy hour (which is daily starting at 3:30). The egg rolls were mushy/soggy inside but the flavor was ok. The short ribs were a little tough, pretty fatty, and not a lot of meat. I got the teriyaki ton ramen (pork) which was also just okay. The miso broth was good just not great. The pork was flavorful and generously portioned. I added a half cooked egg which was perfectly cooked. I was underwhelmed with the entire meal due to lack of flavor UNTIL the next day when I had the leftovers and all of the flavor came out. I probably won't be coming back.

Passed this place a couple times and decided to give it a try. The restaurant is quiet small (probably no more than 8 tables). We were the only one there but saw a lot of takeout orders. I believe they have happy hour everyday. The food is pretty mediocre in my opinion. Thai tea with boba - probably one of the worst Thai tea I've ever tasted. I honestly think the one in the glass bottle tastes better. The bobas were extra hard as well. If you really want boba tea- there's cha yes next door and other boba places close by. It was bland and didn't even taste like Thai tea. 1/5 Chicken karaage- it's not the best presentation from what I've had before. It looks dried but when you eat it, actually pretty juicy. I like spicy Mayo better with it than this sweet and sour sauce but that's just me. 3/5 Fried chicken bun (sorry took a bite before photo) - not bad but would not pay $3 for 1 bun. I only got it because HH is $2 for 1 bun and it was recommended. Nothing too special. Soft hot buns with sweet sauce instead. I forgot what it's called. The fried chicken is crispy and honestly for some reasons reminds me of a better version of Wendy's crispy chicken sandwich lol. 3/5 Char siu ramen- the broth is not as salty so a little towards the bland side but I like my food a little more salty to bring out the flavor. But the broth was ok. For people who does not like salty this might be good for you. The noodles is I think medium firm? But overall a decent bowl but not too memorable. 3/5 The waitress didn't really check in on us or refilled our water. We did stay a little longer than they probably anticipated due to catching up but no one said there was a time limit nor was there anyone waiting in line. During the time, I think 2 other parties came in to dine. 2.5/5

The food here is absolutely the best. One of my favorite ramen spots in the twin cities. It never disappoints. The crispy chicken and vegetable ramen is my favorite. I've had every appetizer on the menu and all of them are great, especially the tofu bun. Service is always polite, Definitely recommend anyone to go here!

Small restaurant on university ave. When I came here, if you like and follow them on social media and post a picture of your meal, you get a free bun like a pork belly bun for example. I will say my boyfriend and I came here for dinner after New Year's Eve celebrations and it did take about 1 hour to get our order and about 30-40 minutes or so to eat our meal and get our check. So overall the food does not come out fast but it does come out fresh. If you're in a hurry and cannot spend 2 hours at a restaurant, this place wouldn't be fast casual. It might have been because they looked understaffed that day but our server was great. :) The ramen I ordered was the traditional one most people get.

Service is always quick and welcoming. I've tried basically every ramen on the menu, and really you can't go wrong. The place is still mostly take-out, which means the vibes are chill and not crowded.

Came here with a friend after work during their happy hour. I've had ramen over in Asia, and I will admit, this place isn't as good as it is in the east, but dang it's pretty good. My friend and I ordered the tonkatsu ramen. It was rich but not too heavy. The noodles were cooked but not mushy. The pork had a superficial layer of smoke flavor but was otherwise tender. The egg was creamy and flavorful. And the seaweed and bamboo had a nice crunch to them. I would definitely says it's one of the better ramen places here in MN. As for the happy hour menu. We ordered karaage, takoyaki, sweet potato fries, charsiu buns, and fried jalenopeno & crab poppers. The karaage was a touch dry but flavorful. The takoyaki was gooey, but it didn't have any octopus in there (or any sort of meat for that matter). The charsiu bun was fatty and sweet. And the rest of the foods were just okay. We also ordered mango boba and coconut boba. They tasted of freshly blended fruits instead of sugar concentrates with flavoring, which was surprisingly delightful and refreshing! Overall, I would come back here just for the ramen and charsiu buns. The service was friendly and attentitive, and the food came out as reasonable times.

Super good food!! They have good service. It's quiet place to come and enjoy some great food

DELICOUS! I ordered the Char Sui Prok Bun and the Tonkatsu ramen and it was fantastic! Personally, the sauce for the pork bun was a little bit on the bland side for me but it was still very enjoyable as the bun was soft and delicate. The ramen was perfectly textured and the broth was very savory. Service and layout was very accommodating. Definitely a repeat when I'm in the area!

This ramen shop has been through several name changes, but it's still one of my go-to ramen shops over the years. There's lots of different ramens: both broth based, dry or stir-fry and you can add extra ingredients to the soups for an extra cost. They also have lots of appetizers. They also serve bubble tea, although I have never tried it here. Service is usually okay, not stellar but also not bad but the ramen is delicious and consistent. Definitely one of the better ramen shops in town. Lot and street parking are available as well.

Food Is good, Boba tea 10/10, service 0/10, Young Woman was rude, Very sarcastic when i had questions about the menu, would roll her eyes anytime i had a question about food, Barely any Seafood in the seafood stirfry, still would buy again thoug, Spent over $25 for a rude woman and good food, i got takeout. The male chef was polite, quick and respectful. boba tea was large and had good amounts in it. Personally would only come back for the boba tea.

This ramen joint is nicely decorated and has a lot of options on the menu. I had the niku haraka style soba ramen - broth was good but felt like it was lacking something. The description is a little misleading because it says soba for the ramen, but it isn't soba noodles.. overall for my bowl I would say it's average. My husband got the tsukemen and it wasn't really tsukemen at all. The broth was the same thickness as regular ramen broth which does not really make sense. It was like normal ramen but with the soup and noodles separated from each other. He barely had any meat with his too, just one slice with one egg. Ambience: nicely decorated with clean bathrooms Service: friendly and understanding (sister had some issues with her ramen and they fixed it right away) Food: average ramen for Minnesota, so probably wouldn't go again unless someone I knew really wanted to try

Huge portion sizes and really great prices. We had the Niku Soba and Char Siu ramen and it was much larger than other places.

Their Char Siu Pork bun was really good. Forgot to take a picture of it. That's how good it was. Nothing was bad but the other dishes that I tried wasn't anything memorable. I should've tried the Char Siu ramen because their Char Siu Bun was on point!

This was a big upset. I really wish I had the same experience as all the 4 and 5 star-ers! The atmosphere is fine and the service was decent, but I can't get over the upset with the food. Everything came out luke warm, and there's just nothing worse than warmish ramen. NOTHING! Although, the warm crab jalapeño poppers, deep fried calamari, short ribs and char sit pork were all runners up. Nothing tasted fresh. The crab jalapeño poppers tasted good, but also had that cold deep fry thing going on. And, the worst thing we got was the order of dry, hard and warmish short ribs. I didn't think short ribs could be done wrong. These tasted like they were cooked in the morning then microwaved and dipped in sauce for our order. So disappointing. The actual ramen was okay. There was a nice amount of toppings and it had the making of a good ramen. I just can't get over the temperature. There's definitely room for improvement. Everything would have been fine had it come out nice and hot. Maybe next time? I'm open to giving it another try.

Since it's been getting chill lately, I have been REALLY craving ramen lately. We had so many ramen choices in CA so it's been a bit tough to find a ramen place (on DoorDash since we're staying in as much as possible due to COVID.) I've been reading reviews on Yelp and searching for said place on DD and found Ishita Ramen. I am very pleased with what I had awaiting on my doorstep. The egg and pork belly were SO delicious! This really itched my ramen craving and I look forward to ordering their different flavors in the future.

Cheap, fast, friendly, and reliable. This is our favorite neighborhood spot when we don't know what we want to eat. Portions are delicious and generous and the happy hour (3 - close every day!!) is unbeatable.

Very good ramen! It reminds me a lot of the popular Icchido Ramen. I ordered the seafood ramen and have no complaints. Service was attentive. The only complaint I have about the overall experience is about the seating. It is a small establishment. We were lucky to be seated pretty quickly...except they gave us a table that had been reserved for a large party. When that party showed up, the wait staff had seated too many other people so they had to scramble to find a way to cram the large party in. We even had to move across the restaurant. It was awkward. The worst part was that I could feel the famIly's eyes on us because they wanted our table. It put us in an uncomfortable situation. The parking isn't great either. There's a lot, but it's for basically any nearby business on University, so it was packed. The only other option is street parking. I wish this place was closer to me and had better parking. If so, I would be a regular!

So I tried real Ramen for the first time as a friend told me it was just an awesome experience. Normally I am a PHO guy so this was new to me. Ordering to go was super easy, and it is also fairly priced. I also got a pork bun. The gentleman was able to help me right away as I entered which I really appreciated. The Pork Bun was amazing!! I have never had anything quite like it. The Ramen was bland but also very spicy. The broth definitely had a decent taste to it but the meat was super bland. I think I will stick with my PHO as it is just better in my opinion. They have a few items on the menu which I intend to try but I doubt I will order the Ramen again. It is not very filling, and mine was supposed to have Pork Belly but all it had was super bland ground beef, very thick noodles, and some cucumbers. I gave it a 3 as I intend to go back and try other menu items. The inside of this place is really cool.

WONDERFUL!!! I brought my girlfriend here and I can honestly say it was a great experience!!!

We have driven past this place a few times and joked about stopping by. We finally did stop by to try it out. I was tell you that I was very surprised by the quality of the food. The Char Siu pork bun was actually really good. The bun itself was moist and the char siu complimented it well. I usually get takoyaki from Origami but this one is definitely good too. It's a bit more crunchy on the outside. The jalapeno crab wasn't something I was expecting from but it was good too but I wouldn't order it again. My boyfriend ordered the Dan Dan Ramen. He loves Dan Dan noodles. We were expecting it to be served cold but it was hot but still very good. It didn't last and was gone in no time. The seafood stir fry was very good too but it is a huge portion. Food was very good and the atmosphere was nice too.

It was ok. Usually I am much more descriptive, so that says a lot on its own. I've had better and I've definitely had worse. My dad and I both ordered the Niku Soba ramen. I went for it because I'm a sucker for tonkotsu broth, but my expectations were not met. It was quite traditional -- tastefully oily and rich -- but just flat. And very blonde. All the right flavors were there (nutty, creamy, salty) but so mild. The noodles were soft (maybe this is because i love very firm noodles?) so they saddened the texture a bit. But. The. Pork. Was AMAZING. I could eat a whole bowl of it over rice. It was thinly shaved, juicy, caramelized with onions, crispy edges and packed full of flavor! The service was normal for a sit down restaurant. They tended us well, kept the restaurant nicely cleaned, and gave us space. Overall, a tasty and filling meal, but *besides the pork* not an all-star jaw dropper.

I was in the neighborhood and decided to give this place a try. I ordered the chicken stir fry ramen to bring back to the office. It came out really quick and in no time I was back in the office having lunch. The stir fry ramen had a good flavor and there were plenty of veggies in it, it was a little light on the chicken. The one thing that was a little disappointing was the amount of oil that the noodles were sitting in.

Party of four. We were seated immediately on a Sunday night. Food came out hot and fast. Servers kept our water filled. Checks came in a timely manner. Service is a 5/5. Takoyaki (4/5) Really soft, bold flavor, fishy. Gyoza (3/5) Pan seared nicely. Nothing about it really stands out. Char Siu Ramen (4/5) This broth is the saltiest one of the ones I've tried. I like the variety of toppings that comes on it. The thinly sliced pork was delicious. This is their featured ramen. Good choice if it's your first time having ramen. Kimchi Ramen (2/5) This one sucked. I wouldn't get this. Flavor wasn't good. Beef Ramen (4/5) The variety of toppings made this one interesting to eat. Egg had nice creamy yolk. Everything was good except the bamboo shoots were a bit woody. Niku Soba (4/5) I liked the broth of this one best. I liked the meat in this one. The meat is slightly sweet. I would have liked more textures in this ramen though. Boba tea (3/5) The bubbles weren't fresh. Tasted soggy.

I've eaten here on multiple occasions and often get it "to-go". Never disappoints. Try it!

Yummy ramen, just wish the soft boiled egg and veggies were add ons and were just included. Great service!

Honestly, I was skeptical about this place because I've heard mixed things about their ramen, but it actually surprised me. They have a lot of different broth flavors and among my large family, I was able to try many of them from the menu. We started with the kara-age chicken (didn't try) and the edamame which was pretty standard. Chicken pieces were really tiny though... Edamame portion was standard. My brother was the ton ramen (with no shredded pork and tofu instead). Flavor was really delicious and it came out nice and hot. I was very surprised by the flavor. The noodles were wavy and medium thickness just how I like and the toppings were well portioned out. Just wish mine had an egg as a default item but you can add it. The tofu was fried perfectly, crispy but still light. I could've ate 10 pieces, I swear. My next favorite broth flavors were the niku soba and the tsukemen. Tskumen broth wasn't as thick as my brother in law expected but flavors were still there. Note: portion of meat that came with that ramen was small, only one piece. Overall though, I was surprised and would likely come back if I was craving ramen.

My first proper meal in my new city, and it delivered! The kimchi ramen was excellent, with really flavorful broth (medium spicy) and good ingredient portions. The kimchi fried rice was also quite good, I got it intending on leftovers but I definitely see it having a stand alone appeal. Prices seemed reasonable, but coming from California I might be skewed a bit!

I came here an hour before close on a Saturday night. The service was quick and their happy hour menu had a good selection of the appetizers. I got the short ribs of their HH menu. They were moist with some seasoning on them, although not super flavorful. I think if these short ribs were marinated, there would be better flavor. For ramen, I ordered the Char Sui ramen and my friend ordered the Kimchi ramen. The broth for the Char Sui ramen was rich, savory and very flavorful! The one thing that was disappointing was the char sui. It didn't have much flavor-the only thing I could taste was the smoky scent from how it was prepared and I was not a huge fan of that. There were three slices, which more than most ramen places, but the overwhelming smoky taste was a turn off. The Kimchi ramen broth was very distinct and tasted like kimchi juice in a broth form. It was too acidic, and neither my friend and I enjoyed it. Overall, everything was priced at a good value and service was fantastic! I don't think I would go out of my way to return.

Attentive service and good food with a good vibe in the restaurant. My only complaint is that extra noodles were $5! I've never eaten at a ramen place *anywhere* that charges that much for extra noodles. Would go again, but wouldn't order extra noodles, too expensive!

Verry good Ramen and best service. Even their appetizer are really good. I am very impressed and Will definitely back

I love ramen, and my go-to places weren't open for dine in today so I found this gem. Their Niku Doba ramen broth was deep, rich, and savory. I like spicy so I added a little spicy oil. I thought it was tasty, and this may be my new favorite ramen in town. I also found the service to be relaxed, but friendly and reverent. I will for sure come back, and bring some of my foodie friends.

I love it here. The food is always super good and consistent. I ordered the char siu pork bun, takoyaki, and kimchi ramen. It was delicious! My sister got the char siu ramen. It's our favorite place to get ramen in the Twin Cities! I just wish the lighting was a bit softer hehe.

I'm rounding up - my actual score would be 4.5. This is coming from someone who has said the following things about ramen from restaurants: - Ramen (in life, overall as a food group) is okay - I just don't think I'm a ramen person. And thought the following things: - I don't understand why restaurant ramen is so expensive when it's so blah. I love my Korean Seafood Ramen and that's only $1/pack. Well, color me a changed person. This is the only time I've sipped Ramen broth, it was so rich and flavorful. The broth really is what transforms this from a regular bowl of ramen to something that is worth around $15. This Ramen was a solid 4.0 -- with the detractions being the fact that it is served only mildly warm and the fish cakes. This is fine if you eat all your Ramen immediately. But since I had a long working dinner, my Ramen went cold pretty fast. The fish cakes are probably my own fault. I was imagining the strips of chewy fish cakes from Korea or the thick boxy Chinese fish cakes. $1.00 for two very thinly sliced Japanese fish cakes (pretty but not really tasty) was NOT worth it. I'd recommend they serve 3 slices, just to make people feel a little better about the value for money here. Here's where I give them an extra half star. I asked for hot sauce. They had 3 options! Japanese powder (ugh, that stuff is so weak), Sriracha (sugared spicy ketchup only goes on my bahn mi), and some kind of chili paste. That last option was actually spicy (and a beautiful deep red color) and kicked my ramen up a notch. I've been to half-a-dozen Ramen restaurants around the world and the US (none in Japan though) and eaten probably a dozen bowls of ramen from Zenbox (near my work). I had decided Ramen was not for me. Well, this is the ONLY place that I will go back repeatedly for Ramen and be happy about it. Sorry Zenbox, you're just ok.

The best place for ramen in Saint Paul. Everything on the menu is delicious. The space is kind of tight but has a nice feel and ambiance.

Loved the small yet cozy interior of this restaurant! Great happy hour every day! We ordered two strawberry boba teas, Takoyaki (octopus balls) and beef Ramon. The portion size of the Ramon was great! I wasn't able to finish all of mine. Very pleased with the service and food.

I been here a couple times with my husband and every time, the appetizer always comes out fresh and delicious. We had almost all of them and so far none of them were bad. I haven't tried all their ramen yet so we will probably need to come back to do a re-review of it. For the ramen I did try, I felt that it was not bad. Flavor is okay, noodles are soft, but I feel like it was just slightly missing something. I love this place for their appetizers though. I crave it sometimes.