Kayava

Spent roughly $70 for two people and got: Spicy chicken paitan with egg and extra chashu, regular chicken paitan with egg and side salad, and the spicy negi chashu. We really liked the side salad and negi chashu. The spicy ramen broth is not that spicy. The broth was suuuuper thick and rich (almost a bit too thick for me), the ramen noodles were cooked to a really good doneness where there was a good chewiness to it. The egg was also cooked perfectly. Only complaint I have - but this applies to most ramen places - is that the food was kind of expensive for the macros and it cost money to add more protein. Each ramen dish only came with three very thin slices of pork and we paid for extra protein ($2 for egg, $5 for 5 pieces of chashu). This is kind of standard for ramen I guess but I personally would prefer a better protein to carb ratio. Also, the service was not super welcoming (not mean but not friendly, kinda there to do their job).

Servers were really nice! Spicy fries were tasty but they were not even remotely spicy. I ordered the spicy pork ramen, and it lacked flavor, heat, and depth. Chashu was different, but I enjoyed how tender and thinly sliced it was. I really wanted to like this spot given all of the positive reviews but alas, it did not hit the spot.

This is my favorite ramen I’ve had in Seattle. The broth is clearly made with care. I ordered the truffle ramen with chicken chashu, and you can really taste the depth of flavor. It’s rich but not overwhelming, with a beautiful balance. I highly recommend this spot to any ramen lover. It’s definitely worth supporting. One small suggestion for the restaurant: I truly appreciate the passion you put into making ramen. In a city like Seattle where many people are mindful of fitness and nutrition, it might be helpful to offer a few lighter or high-protein options, such as salads or a chicken chashu rice bowl. This could make it easier for people to bring friends with different dietary preferences.

Authentic, comforting, umami, light, decadent, perfect. Of all the ramen joints in the Seattle area, this spot delivered down to the last drop of broth. We thought about getting seconds. The appetizers were just delectable too! The truffle ramen was soooo good we failed to snag a photo.

3.75? I thought the taste of the spicy chicken paitan ramen broth was quite good. The veggie tempura was also well fried. The place also looks nice and staff was helpful! However, a couple of things: - the mitarashi was served cold and the sauce had an ok texture, I feel this would be much better warm as it was less pleasant to eat - red onions were chopped vs thinly sliced as per other ramen I’ve preferred - broth did have some possible disintegrated pieces that made the texture different towards the end of the bowl - the veggie ramen is a higher price but offers no protein like tofu - the toast tab order is an annoying default (I know staff is there, but physical menus would be great) I think more options for the veggie ramen + more strained broth would turn this place into an almost 5 for me. I’d consider coming back.

Yummiest light ramen. Go for the rich creamy Spicy chicken Paitan Ramen and ask for extra chilli oil on the side. Olive was extra sweet in service and we were served Waffle spiced fries too! (They came in complimentary as they were extra, probably they detected our hungry faces! ) The Truffle Shantan ramen, Spicy pork shoyu Ramen are lighter in flavour than expected.

The food was great — the pork char siu was tastier than the sous-vide chicken breast. The only small downside was that when my wife chose the 18% tip option, the waitress’s face suddenly dropped.

Wow this place exceeded my expectations! Easy to order, super friendly service, food came out fast, lots of seating. This place has a small selection of ramens, chicken and shoyu pork. I got the spicy pork shoyu and it was amazing, not too heavy on the shoyu and almost tasted like a tonkatsu, very umami and kick to it! I highly recommend and would come back!

This is a nice ramen spot! I got the chicken paitan ramen (with added soft boiled egg) and really enjoyed this. The broth was very rich and flavorful - the best part of this ramen! I enjoyed the pork pieces and egg as well. Each table has ramen pepper to use for more seasoning, and I liked this additional flavor! The ramen here has rich and deep flavor, so I'd recommend trying KAYAVA!

I absolutely LOVE chicken paitan ramen. I personally think it's so much more flavorful than shoyu ramen, if done correctly. It's been pretty difficult to find a chicken paitan ramen since I've moved to Seattle so when I heard about KAYAVA, I had to try it. We ordered the spicy chicken paitan ramen, truffle shantan ramen, and the pork shoyu ramen. I thought the chicken paitan ramen was...okay. It's not great compared to other places I've had but it's better than Jinya's. The broth wasn't rich enough and the essence of the chicken barely came through. The spicy oil was also not spicy at all, all it did was added grease into the bowl. I was also very disappointed when I saw the egg. It's a poached egg. Everyone at the table agreed that the truffle shantan ramen was the best out of the 3. The truffle flavor came through but the chicken flavor was very mild. Would I come back? Maybe but probably not.

I wanted to try a new restaurant, saw this place on Yelp and decided to try it out. The place is in the middle of the downtown area of Fremont, right by the bridge, so parking can be a pain. They do have a lot right next door, but it is paid. We were greeted as we walked in and seated right away. The space is open, bright, and feels clean and airy. A very different vibe from the previous establishment which gave more cozy and romantic vibes. I ordered the chicken paitan ramen with a ramen egg. You order via QR code, so the experience was quick and seamless. Our food also came out really quickly. The chicken paiten had a super rich and creamy broth. It had a nice strong flavor which I enjoyed. The chashu is also cut really thin, and the meat is super tender. The ramen egg was also perfection, 100% of the yolk was jam. The noodles were also really good, thin, and just enough bite. I just wish there were a bit more toppings? I counted only about 4/5 pieces of bamboo. My partner got the spicy shoyu ramen and said that the broth was just a tad too oily but otherwise also pretty good. We got the matcha mochi ice cream for dessert which was so good. The mochi was so soft and the ice cream was yummy. Overall, pretty good spot for chicken paiten ramen! The service was really nice and efficient as well which we appreciated. I'll admit there are better ramen places out in Seattle, but I'd still give this place a try!

Clean, no-fuss ramen spot. I usually go for spicy ramen and ordered the spicy chicken paitan ramen (the spicy version of their signature dish). My friend got the regular version and I actually preferred the broth of the regular! Service was quick and efficient. You order food and drinks online and the server brings the check at the end. Simple and solid spot for a satisfying bowl of ramen.

Wanted to like this place more than I did, but it wasn't exactly a bad experience. Service was decent. The interior design was nice and clean. The flavor of the ramen was just not my cup of tea. I did however love the texture. The food made my stomach very upset.

Kayava was great! It's nestled in Fremont and was the perfect stop on a rainy Seattle day! The staff greats you with a rousing welcome greeting- you have to experience it! The wait staff was very accommodating! We had seasoned ramen connoisseurs and people who never tried it before in our group! The waitress, Kiki was able to help us order and we had a blast trying the menu! We started with edamame, and a house special salad ( not on the menu). The salad was fantastic and had chicken and a citrus dressing that was flavorful! The ramen noodles were so fresh and made this dish! I had a spicy chicken broth with a chicken ramen and I was impressed. -actually they brought a pork ramen on accident and they caught their mistake. They were so apologetic and rectified the mistake quickly! I was impressed with how they handled it. Note: you can order via the QR code at the table or with the waitstaff.

I had high hopes for a place touting itself as "artisinal ramen". I LOVE ramen and ate it most of my childhood every summer and winter in Japan. So high standards and I'm lucky that there is good ramen in SoCal. I stopped by on a Wednesday night and it was maybe a 1/3 full. Not a great sign but still had an open mind. I got the spicy shoyu ramen and the spicy negi chashu. The negi chashu was good. Not overly spicy and the brightness of the onion with the thinthinly sliced pork was very good and would've been the perfect side for a beer (sadly it was a school night so no beer that night). The spicy shoyu ramen came shortly after that. Like other reviewers, the broth did lack that complexity that the best ramen places have. Good flavor but there wasn't this satiating feeling when you drank it. Also, I like spicy but it was a little too much spice and overwhelmed the broth. I would ask for it on the side if I were coming again. The egg was undercooked, resembling an "onsen egg" which is a barely poached egg. Not what I want in my ramen. I appreciated the fish cake which is traditional in old school ramen but wanted more than one piece. The chashu was good, tender, but not overly flavorful and a little too tthinly cut. Overall, a 3 star ramen. The service was great but that's just not enough when we're talking ramen. I probably wouldn't come here again sadly.

We came on a weekend for lunch. It wasn't very busy so we got seated right away. Ordered via QR code and the ramen came pretty quickly. We got the chicken paitan and spicy chicken paitan which were both not bad, but at the end of the bowl the broth became very gritty? Not sure what that texture was from. Also both ramen came with chopped raw red onions which I didn't think worked that well. Even as someone that normally enjoys the bite of a raw onion, I think the flavor was a bit overpowering. If I could, I would probably give this place a 3.5 stars, but I thought this place was decent, but not great. There are other ramen shops in Seattle I prefer more, so I probably won't be going out of my way to come back here.

Came here on Friday around 7 PM and we were seated at the bar immediately! The servers were welcoming, but once we sat at the bar, there was minimal communication as we ordered and paid first using the QR code and had to get water ourselves. I don't really mind that though. The place itself was pretty casual and it got packed pretty quickly. I usually get pork ramen, but since they are known for their chicken broth, I ordered the spicy chicken paitan ramen with chicken char siu and added soft boiled egg. The ramen noodles were cooked nicely - chewy and not overcooked - I think I preferred the noodles over some other ramen places. The broth initially had some smell (from the chicken?) that wasn't very pleasant, but the spice helped masking it. The broth was creamy and rich, and I started to enjoy it more as I ate it. The chicken char siu was ok - could have been more tender. The added soft boiled egg was overcooked for my liking - the yolk was pretty hardened - I like my eggs more runny/yolky but that is just my preference. Overall, I think it's worth trying!

My husband and I absolutely love ramen so we knew we had to stop by and try Kayava! The staff is so friendly and welcoming. They are very attentive and eager to answer any questions you have about their menu. I tried the spicy pork shoyu and my husband tried the non-spicy version. He said that this was his most favorite ramen he's tried in Seattle yet. It is so flavorful without being heavy like a lot of ramen can be. We both loved how the ingredients are limited yet they do so much with them. It is located perfectly nearby the Fremont PCC. It's a great area to walk around after a warm bowl of ramen! This will be our go to spot in these cold months that are coming!

3.5 stars. Kayava offers decent ramen and attentive service, but it falls a bit short compared to other ramen spots I've tried. The service was good, and the staff was friendly. Water is a self-serve water system. There are no signs or menu instructions about this. I ordered the Spicy Chicken Paitan Ramen, which was a bit different from the Japanese ramen I'm used to. The broth wasn't as creamy, and the chili oil leaned more toward a mala flavor profile rather than the traditional spice I expected. The spice level isn't adjustable, but I'd describe it as a "good kick" kind of spice. The thin, slightly al dente noodles were a highlight for me, reminiscent of Ramen Danbo's, though Kayava doesn't offer customization for noodle firmness like Danbo does. I also tried the Spicy Negi Chashu appetizer, which was good but had the same mala influenced chili oil. The chicken broth had a faint gamey smell, noticeable if you're sensitive to that, but not enough to ruin the dish. Overall, Kayava could be a good alternative on busy days when other ramen spots, like Ramen Danbo, are packed. However, considering the price and quality, I'd personally choose Ramen Danbo over Kayava if given the option.

I might have named the ramen incorrectly. The broth is so rich in favor and refreshing. The noodle is thin noodle. The broiled egg is perfectly cooked. I love this ramen restaurant for the Fall and Winter weather. Compared with other ramen restaurant, the quality of noodle is comparable with the noodle I tried in Japan. Btw, it just opened yesterday and we got a pair of chopsticks as souvenir.

As an Eastsider, there's one thing I'll drive 45 minutes for if necessary: authentic Japanese ramen. While I missed out on the soft opening day event, I at least wanted to head over and try the spot after seeing it everywhere on my socials. My favorite food in and out of Japan is a good bowl of ramen. This bowl is up there for Seattle, it's honestly full of lots of potential. We got the chicken paitan and the pork shoyu. The broth on both was great, the noodles were perfect, but I just couldn't give it a five stars. The complexity and depth of umami felt ever so slightly lacking; it was a one-profile broth and that prevents this from being a true five for me. Don't get me wrong, it runs circles around Santouka or Kizuki, but it doesn't earn a five for me. If one more layer of complexity could be added to the flavor profile, I think people would quickly line out the door for this spot. It's what separates the good bowls from the great ones. I'd recommend the in house chili paste; the server was kind enough to offer it when I asked for shichimi togarashi and it does bring the bowl to a 4.5. If I come again I'd probably get a spicy ramen, and my gut tells me I should give them a couple months to see if they make that next step would recommend giving a try!

Loved this place! They have amazing vegetarian options, and their spicy is really spicy just the way we like it! The spicy karaage was crunchy and hit the spot too! We are adding this to our ramen top 3 list and you should too! The ambience was very chill and service was awesome as well!

Had lunch here because it was cold and we were looking for some warm comfort food. Got in around noon and sat by the window. We started with the Spicy Negi Chashu (highly recommend) and we also got the Truffle Shantan Ramen and Spicy Pork Shoyu Ramen--both were flavorful and delicious! Will definitely be coming back.

Ramen was goodish, but not great. Service was lackluster and evasive. We were given no menus and told to order on our phones even while sitting at the bar with a waitress. The restraunt has no Wi-fi and no one in our party could get a signal. When we finally got the waitress' attention again she said "oh, ya that happens" and finally helped us place an order (put it in wrong too... we ordered spicy ramen and got regular-- then we were just given chili oil to fix it ourselves). Staff was overall loud and unprofessional. Decor seemed half finished and without thought behind it. We were told to tag them for free ice cream which explains the good reviews. Definitely won't be back again.

The artisan ramen was definitely a different experience than the traditional ramen shop. Their noodles are fresh and the interior design makes me feel very cozy and relaxed. The service are great and they really took care of me from start to finish

Nice ramen and vibe, will recommend this for authentic ramen! The truffle ramen here is special, but I recommend the chicken baitan the best!

If you want simple but delicious ramen this is the place. The ramen is super yummy, the broth is rich and creamy with a perfect little punch of flavor. The noodles are my favorite of all the ramen places I have tried. It's a cute quaint establishment with great service that is pretty speedy. Will return for sure

Friendly service; seated right away at 1115am on their first Saturday. Ordered their chicken paitan ramen. It was a rich broth packed with flavor, and I really liked their addition of diced red onions. The noodles, made in-house, were also cooked nicely (so many other places tend to overcook the noodles). Definitely going back; it's top three for Seattle's ramen options. I lived in Japan for five years and very few places can get the depth of flavor and "doneness" of the noodles right - Kayava is one of those places, and we're lucky to have them in Seattle! Went back a second time with the family, and it solidified my original review.

We love ramen so we were very excited to see a new ramen spot opening up in Fremont. We got the edamame, pork Shoyu ramen, & the chicken paitan ramen. The edamame is served cold & was a little too peppery for our preference. Both ramens, however, were delicious. The serving size was generous, the noodles had a nice chew to them, and the broths were so tasty! We will definitely be back for more ramen. I do wish that they would tell you that you have to get your own waters though.

Hit the spot on a cold rainy evening. The ramen was excellent. Very rich, yet not too salty. The noodles tasted fresh. Could've used a little more meat, but was fine. Will definitely come back if we are ever in the area again.

High quality food and very friendly service. Their soft boiled egg was cooked to perfection. Our server was very friendly and the food came out really fast. Definitely coming back!

I had Spicy Miso Ramen tonight, and it was yummy. I really like the noodles, and I was glad they had Vegge Ramen

Service and staff were great - ambiance was chill and open. Ramen was good too - I would be interested to try others.

I was here for lunch on a cold cloudy Thursday. Right type of weather for a bowl of ramen. The staffs were friendly and attentive. The ramen came out steamy hot. The noodles weren't overcooked. The soup was flavorful. Thin slices of chicken with some hot oil dripped over them makes perfect finish.

Good new ramen spot! We got the Pork Shoyu Ramen and Chicken Paitan Ramen (chicken paitan tasted better). We are curious about trying the spicy versions next time. We went for a lunch on a Saturday. We ordered from our phone and the food arrived super fast. And then we could just leave when we finished eating. Very nice experience overall.

Walked in at 6pm on a Saturday and we were seated right away. Ordered the spicy chicken paitan via QR code that came out pretty immediately. The ramen was tasty but wasn't really spicy. The broth was nice & umami and wasn't too salty or rich. The noodles were a decent firmness at first but got a little too soft as the meal went on. The chashu was lean, not really tender, and did not melt in my mouth. I'll be back to try the shoyu ramen.

Best ramen in Seattle! I've tried most of the vegan ramen options the city has to offer, and Kayava's vegan option is by far the best. The broth is super flavorful, and the noodles are the perfect texture - they make them in house every day, and I could definitely tell. All the different veggies on top also complimented the dish so well. I wouldn't skip out on their house made chili oil if you like spice - it was so delicious! Service was perfect (extremely fast and friendly) and the atmosphere is so nice. Highly HIGHLY recommend!

Chicken paitan ramen is really good- not all ramen places in seattle have menma idk why but this place does. The sesame chicken salad is good too.

The food was really good. My partner and I got the Paitan and the Shannan ramen and it was great. The chicken in the Shantan was really juicy and the pork and broth in the paitan was rich and delicious.

Pretty good, got the truffle chicken shantan but didn't taste that much truffle flavor but the broth was still good.

The food is great and the broth is so rich and yummy. My bf is a vegetarian and he is happy to see at least 2 veg ramen options for him on the menu.

Came here with coworkers. The bad, who doesn't want to adopt technology, but when it works properly. Out of 4 of us, only 1 was able to get the menu to load on the phone to order. If you're going to require ordering like that, have a tablet. Edamame-served cold with salt and pepper, it was a little on the brownish side not hot and steaming with flaky salt, and a very small portion. Hot green tea, served in a can, how you like those burned lips from the hot can. Call me old fashion, I like my hot tea in a ceramic cup, and not a hot burning can. Though it did work well as a hand warmer. Noodles were a bit al dente for my taste and definitely not the authentic ramen noodles. This is not Italian pasta, so not sure why they went that route. Broth was okay, certainly didn't have that bone broth that's been stewing for 24 hours type of deep flavor. Chasu, thinly sliced, reminds me of deli ham and not your fatty flavorful melt in your mouth chasu. The waiter said it was to infused the broth flavor into the meat. Sorry, that's not how chasu works where I come from. Egg, was over easy and not the soft boiled sliced in half where you get the nice texture. No one ever came and asked how the food was. This place is a non-starter for me, and nothing from this experience exudes authenticity.

Bad service. We had a female server and it seems like she was running the whole store with only one server. We asked for water and she gave us the whole jar like she's so busy so we have to pour our water by ourselves. We were talking for like 5mins with friends after eating and the server said "There are people waiting and I'm gonna check you out"? I mean we're not talking for like whole hours, not even 30mins tho. And there is no one waiting too because two tables are empty when we left.

The santan flavor was new to me, but really nice atmosphere! I like artisan ramen. Will come back to try their pork broth.

Authentic classic chuka ramen can be served here with a great ambiance. Quick service and mobile order. Enjoyed the service.

Food and service were both excellent. Pork was soft and broth was not too overpowering. Noodles were good as well.

Very nice service, the food was great and came out pretty fast. Will definitely be coming again:)

Great service! Great ramen! Everything came fast and quick. We also got a helped and a spot right away :)

Team was friendly and attentive. The pork shoyu ramen was delicious and I thought the broth to noodle ratio was perfect. Thank you to the Kayava. team!

Delicious ramen! I ordered the spicy pork bowl and it was cooked to 10/10. Wonderful little spot to hole up in during the Winter.

Yummy Ramen! I was hesitant when I was told their Chicken Broth Ramen is their most popular one( I always get tonkatsu) , but I ordered it and it was really good

We love ramen. So many good options in Fremont and this is equally as good! I usually go for pork broth but the chicken paitan is the way to go. Service is fast and friendly!

Best ramen I've had in a while and service is amazing. We ordered the spicy chicken Paitan ramen and the original chicken paitan ramen. Broth was delicious!

it was very good, I liked the signature chicken ramen and got an egg in it! the egg was cooked perfectly

one of the best ramen places in seattle! had the spicy chicken paitan ramen. very flavourful !