Iza Ramen

"Iza Ramen opened at the very end of October in the Lower Haight and we couldn't be happier that legit ramen is creeping its way north in the city. The vibe is slightly nicer than the average noodle den, the toro chili rice bowl is fantastic, and the ramen is our favorite in the city. We would drink the broth with a straw. Throw in the fact that they have sake on tap and you basically have to drag us out of there." - max child taylor abrams

"Ritsu Tsuchida’s Iza Ramen, founded in 2013 as a pop-up at now-closed Blowfish Sushi, closed for good on Saturday, May 4. The Haight Street ramen shop opened its doors in 2015 bringing powerful noodles and scintillating broth to not only the neighborhood but also the city writ large. According to a tipster email, workers were informed of the closure a week before the final day." - Dianne de Guzman

"Iza Ramen in Lower Haight is one of the most dependable ramen spots around. It’s consistent, easy to walk into, and so low-key that you won’t have to use an outside voice to talk with the person across the table. There are exactly three options on the menu: house ramen with a “special” broth blend of pork, chicken, bonito, and vegetables, dipping ramen, and vegetarian miso—funnel soup into your mouth while you watch a game on one of the TVs. We like this place for last-minute dates and ramen dinners that soothe an existential crisis. " - Julia Chen 1, Lani Conway

"Is Iza Ramen the best ramen in this city? No. But it's the best ramen shop in the neighborhood. Their quick, serviceable bowls of noodles get the job done when you have an unquenchable craving for umami-packed broth. Tender noodles and a mix of plenty of add-ons turn this ramen into a choose-your-own-adventure situation. The inside is dark and casual, and the line here is never absurd (looking at you, Mensho), making it perfect for last-minute dinner plans, like randomly meeting up with that person you met last week in the Trader Joe’s line. " - Ricky Rodriguez, Lani Conway, Julia Chen 1

"Iza Ramen in Lower Haight is one of the most dependable ramen spots around. It’s consistent, easy to walk into, and lowkey enough that you won’t have to use your outside voice to catch up with someone across the table. There are exactly three options on the menu: house ramen with a “special” broth blend of pork, chicken, bonito, and vegetables, dipping ramen, and vegetarian miso. Funnel soup into your mouth while you catch a game on one of the TVs, and know this is the place to be for last-minute date nights, or anytime you're going through an existential crisis." - Julia Chen