Kitakata Ramen Ban Nai - Irvine

Enjoyed both the started and the main course! The treatment from the waiter was good 👍🏻 and the service once inside was fast. Only issue is that they were full and made us wait for 20 minutes outside under the warm California weather. Also… for that price I would expect more food!

This is one of my all-time favorite restaurants in Irvine. The clear broth and chewy noodles are absolutely fantastic. Their summer special, Hiyashi Ramen, is also refreshing and pairs perfectly with all the fresh vegetables. If I ever move back to Korea, I would seriously consider coming back to Irvine just to have this ramen again.👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

Surprisingly good and interesting twists on your usual ramen spot. It was tasty, reasonably priced and had large portions. The chicken karaage had this amazing crispy rice flour type of coating that was really good. I loved the green chili shio ramen as well. I would definitely go back.

Clean and delicious. Was seated quickly, ordered green chili ramen. Broth and noodles were tasty and will be back to sample other items. I like the open kitchen. Recommended ramen spot.

I had just finished work in Irvine and was craving ramen, so I looked up some options. Most of the results were Hakata ramen, but I wasn’t in the mood for something so rich. Among all the choices, the one that caught my eye was this Kitakata ramen. Kitakata ramen originates from Kitakata City in Fukushima Prefecture and is known as one of Japan’s three great ramen styles (Sapporo, Kitakata, and Hakata). The soup is typically soy sauce-based, made with pork bones, dried sardines, and chicken stock, giving it a light yet flavorful taste. The noodles are thick and wavy, with a chewy texture that holds the broth well. In Kitakata, there is a culture of “morning ramen”, where many ramen shops open early in the morning. I believe this contributes to the unique style of Kitakata ramen. Being pregnant and extremely picky about food right now, this ramen was a perfect match for my cravings.The matcha cheesecake for dessert was also delicious. Finding this kind of ramen in the U.S. is rare, and as a Japanese person, I was deeply satisfied. I will definitely be coming back.

Some of the best ramen I've had in Irvine. The service was fast and friendly. We sat at the bar to avoid a wait for tables. Come give this place a try.

The service is terrible, and you still have the nerve to ask for tips. Fifteen dollars for a bowl of noodles that doesn’t even fill you up! Not even an egg! The service is awful — no greeting when you walk in, just two eyes staring at you. They serve the food without giving chopsticks, and the waiter doesn’t even speak a word. This kind of service is absolute garbage. Japanese service is total trash!

I've tried this ramen place years ago and happened to see they had a limited summer menu. I was craving cold ramen so i decided to give it a shot. They are know for having huge portions of toro cha-shu on in their ramen. They had 2 different cold summer ramens to choose from. They had a soy sauce based on and a creamy one. The server recommended the creamy one to me which has a sesame type sauce base with some vinegar to cut the richness. The noodles came with a huge portion of cold cubed toro chashu, bean sprouts, tomatoes, and shredded cucumbers plus their special noodles all served in a creamy sesame/vinegar based cold broth. I loved everything except the meat. The chashu was cold and the fat was not the most pleasant with it being cold. I think i would have preferred tofu instead. The chashu hot is a whole different story because the fat melts in your mouth....cold it's like biting into bacon. Overall i would come again and try something else! Service was quick and fast.

Kitakata definitely stands out among other ramen places! Their ramen noodles are so deliciously chewy. Once you have one bite, you understand why there is always a long wait here. I will definitely crave their ramen again. The broth of my Kitakata ramen was flavorful yet light enough that I finished all of it, which I normally never do. They also have gluten-free noodles for our friend. Instead of kaarage chicken, they have juicy fried chicken on their menu. The pieces are larger than kaarage at other restaurants and it really is so juicy inside yet crunchy outside. It comes with a delicious creamy dipping sauce. I love the kids menu here! It comes with a bowl of their ramen noodles with the pork, corn and green onion on the side. It also comes with edamame, a rice ball, and some fried chicken. A very well-rounded meal and all of which my son loved.

I went there last Saturday night around 9:30pm. The service crew were three new team members I had not seeen before. Perhaps all new. - I liked it when the Korean guy was serving - He was focused, responsive, etc. Nobody got me any water, 3 of them passed my table a few times. I finally asked one of them for some water. She obliged me. The food was off kilter / maybe a diff chef or cook? - I asked for everything to be served at once, the gyoza came out first. It was VERY small portion and lukewarm, not hot. Had a good ginger flavor, but very small not worth the price. There was a long wait for the rest of my food to come out. I was so hungry so I just ate all the gyoza first. - The aburi chasu mini bowl - rice was not hot, lukewarm, and too much sauce on it; not enjoyable - The cucumber appetizer that I normally love, the cucumbers were slightly bitter (perhaps getting old); I am not going to order this again - The sides: spicy scallions, bean sprouts and bamboo were good - A new side was napa cabbage, it was better than the regular cabbage This used to be the best location but it was subpar on Saturday night.

I joined a couple of friends for lunch here last week. It took me longer than I expected to find the place, so I was the last to arrive at the table. The others knew what they wanted to order, but the server hovered over me as I quickly glanced at the menu. I chose the Kitakata Ramen, figuring it was probably the best choice as their namesake ramen. I should have paid attention when my friend asked if I wanted to add anything to my order. I declined and was disappointed that the bowl only contained chashu and a few bamboo shoots (I requested no green onions). Apparently, the Kitakata is more of an a la carte ramen that needed the additional egg or vegetables to complete the dish. If I ever come back, I would order the Tonkotsu Ramen. The others ordered the Hiyashi and the Tsukemen, which both looked better than my ramen. one of the servers was willing to take our group photo. The restaurant is located in a busy shopping center with several eateries, so parking is abundant, but not many open spaces for a weekday lunch. It is also cashless, so be prepared to pay by card.

Even though it's a hot day, I was craving some Ramen. I went with the large Tonkatsu lunch special with the fried chicken. I really liked the chicken, it was perfectly cooked and had a nice flavor. I'll have to get a full order on a future visit. The Ramen was also delicious. I loved the noodles. I might see if they have a spicier version next time. This Ramen wo sure hit the spot on a cold day or if you're not feeling well. The service was excellent, everyone was nice.

I haven't been here in a while, and stopped by recently to grab some ramen. It looks like they have a few seasonal items right now, and have updated their menu. I got the hot and sour deluxe ramen, fried chicken kaarage, and chashu bun. The fried chicken is still absolutely delicious and super crunchy. The chashu bun is soo flavorful and well balanced. The seasonal ramen itself was okay. I probably should've asked for firmer noodles, but even then, the brough, which is resembles hot and sour soup felt and tasted weird with the noodles. The noodles tasted extra soft in that soup. The flavor of the hot and sour soup was good, and I liked that there were also mushrooms in it. It was nice to try something new, but I think I'll probably stick to one of their classic ramens like the green chili or cold tsukemen next time. The servers here were super friendly, and checked up on our table multiple times. This place is cashless, and you pay and tip with their handheld card reader. The restaurant itself is large and spacious, with Japanese decor. There's a lot a decent sized parking lot for the plaza.

I have been to this particular Kitakata Ramen location a few times so far and enjoyed the consistency in food quality. It's too bad there seems to be wide fluctuations in the consistency of customer service quality. My last visit was during a Wednesday evening dinner time. The floor had at least 4 servers running around and the tables were mostly occupied. We were seated at a counter area even though plenty of table booths were available with some having only 2 people sitting in it. It took our server well over 15 minutes to take our order and another 20 minutes for the food to arrive, and additional 30+ minutes of us actually just sitting there and waiting for someone to check us out. At some point, our water ran out, and we needed other items like napkins but not one person stopped by to ask if we needed anything or the food tasted okay or not. By the time I was so fed up waiting for someone to let us just make the payment and leave, a random server who wasn't helping our table finally asked if we needed anything. I told him we have been waiting for someone to take our payment so we could finally pack our food to go and leave. He apologized for nobody helping sooner despite him being one of many who walked right past us several times for 30 minutes and counting. Apparently, our server went on a break and told nobody to check us out or anything. I would give it a 4 for food and 1 for the service. Hence the 2/5 rating. If you have all evening long to sit there and wait for everything, this place is a good one to come eat. The noodles and karaage are made just right and the food is otherwise decent.

Kitakata is a staple in our Irvine rotation! We never go to another ramen place. The noodles are always perfect, the soup is flavorful, and the prices are great! The seasonal mazemen was surprisingly good! Our go to is usually MOGU MOGU, but this was an amazing alternative. Overall, Kitakata is an awesome restaurant. Highly recommend!

Forever my favorite ramen spot. I typically go to the costa mesa location but since i work in Irvine now, i decided to stop by for dinner with my boyfriend on a Saturday. I was genuinely happy my bf loved the ramen. He ordered his extra spicy but it ended up tasting the same as the regular spicy miso, still very scrumptious though. He raves about how much he liked it so we definitely will be back. Also, this location is bigger and doesnt seem to be as busy as the costa mesa location which is a plus for me. Service was great and were served right away.

This was great for a weekday lunch! I came alone and was seated almost immediately at the bar. The service was quick and friendly, and surprisingly comfortable for solo dining. I've been to the Costa Mesa location, and was so happy to find that the quality is just as great! I had the seasonal special spicy boiled gyoza, full body flavor with garlic and chili oil, and I had the green shio ramen woth a seasoned egg. It was overall light and filling, will definitely return.

Was very surprised with how much flavor the creamy vegan ramen had! If you're specifically looking for a vegan ramen with a lot of flavor this is the place to go to. I feel like vegan ramen usually has a light flavor but this one is amazing. It was busy when we went around 8pm but got seated within 5 minutes. The parking lot can be kind of hectic and might be hard to find a spot depending on the time you go. Service was great here and the inside was small but nice. This is my new go to ramen spot.

This shit bomb af, people are very nice, quick service, glad we got seated after a rush.

Saturday dinner, pretty packed inside but no wait. Ordered the regular and a kids meal. Their noodles are thick and wavy with some chew. It was on the softer side. Soup is rich and sumptuous but not oily. Different than tonkotsu and a nice change than what you find at most ramen joints. Kids meal was great value with noodles, toppings, rice, fried chicken, edamame for all under 10 bucks Would recommend on a cold day.

This ramen spot has been a classic since I was a UCI student back in the old days. The flavor of the broth is so rich, and the smoothness of the noodles are unmatched anywhere else. I love their house made noodles! Their portions are huge, and I'm always so stuffed after. Service could be improved as it took awhile for a server to take our order or even get us water. We even tried flagging people down or making eye contact, but they were always not looking or somehow not very observant of the general area. Restaurant is very cozy with cute Japanese decor. It is a lot more spacious than the Costa Mesa location

AMAZING ramen place in irvine. I had the Kitakata Ramen and its soup was very thin and flavorful, the ramen noodle itself had a unique texture i loved, and the meat was amazing! My friend had a seasonal menu item (wonton noodle soup) and she loved it as-well! Food came super quickly and their staff members Kaylynn and Olivia were the sweetest ever!!

The food is surprisingly tasty! I always feel like ramen is all similar but their ramen came in very hot soup, rich and full of taste but not too salty, the noodles were just perfect not too soft not too raw, which all created this perfect bowl of ramen! The chashu bowl was also very tasty with a tiny kick of spice oil and poached egg . The best part is that they also serve small size, and great for a small appetite person! The whole restaurant works extremely efficiently. It's very packed but we sat down and got our food, basically less than 10 mins!

Service was the best! Very attentive staff! We ordered the pork appetizer. One of the best things I've ever had in my mouth. Then the cucumber salad. I think I like Persian cucumbers better but these had good flavor. I would not order it again as it is too big of a portion for me and doesn't stay overnight without getting spongy. Next we ordered pork light broth ramen and a small two piece fried chicken rice bowl. Both were delicious. We ordered curry to go.

One of my go to ramen spots in Irvine! The restaurant is located in the Heritage Plaza (Culver and Walnut). Parking is manageable but it does get crowded during meal times. The Green Chili Shio Ramen is what I typically get here since I feel like it's one of the more uniquely ones but their others options are delicious as well. Gyoza is a must to try since it is hand made and really well cooked! They also offer a kids meal which is always appreciated as a mom! Their meal offers variety (ramen, toppings: such as corn, chashu, green onions, edamame, and a cute rice ball). For the price I think it's worth it for sure! The insides of the restaurant isn't super big but they do have a decent amount of seating. There is also yelp waitlist if they have it on. A must try!

The best, most authentic ramen my native Japanese mom and I have ever tried in the United States!! The noodles are fantastic and homemade, totally Japanese-style, and the soup broths are top-notch and the real deal. The char siu tastes super meticulously prepared and is nothing short of spectacular. The gyoza tastes just like in Japan, especially with the ponzu sauce (shoyu vinegar). The juicy chicken karaage is phenomenally done and I can't imagine a more succulent way of eating chicken. The lemon wedge and creamy sauce that comes with the juicy chicken karaage is an awesome touch reminiscent of the Japanese attention to detail. Coming with a smaller group, like maybe 2 people or less, makes seating way faster as the counter seats factor in with greater probability as well as the table seats. The staff is very efficient, hard working, and friendly, which is greatly appreciated. The pricing is quite reasonable and there are quite a few items on their menu to choose from, and mostly all of them look quite delicious. The vibe inside is clean with relaxing yet inspiring Japanese decor, and the staff move effectively without hurrying customers too much. I'm so glad we live nearby and it's in the same shopping complex as the Irvine Mitsuwa Marketplace so it's a great place to grab some REAL ramen!!

The green chili shio ramen is what I constantly return to Kita Kata for. I'm not the biggest fan of japanese ramen, BUT THIS ONE at kita kata... just hits unlike any other. It's a clear broth so its more refreshing and clean tasting than the typical jap ramen. Its SO. GOOD. And the noodles!???!!!!! Better than menya and silverlake combined imo. Usually the pork is melt in your mouth too but this times was not quite up to par. The tan tan ramen here is mid.. skip the peanut sauce thing. The other classic miso ones here are pretty good though. Can't go wrong with those! I also always get the shishito peppers appetizer too haha. So good.

Twas a cold night and two bellies were growling. I wonder what could fend off such a beast? We looked and quickly identified that ramen was the way to go. Upon walking in, we were happily greeted by the host up front and the dudes in the back. Love Japanese establishments. lol It's been a while since I have had a good bowl of ramen. My collective memory can only serve the little details of this dish. One aspect that I always recollect is the broth. I am looking for something light, with good flavors, and a little kick. On a cold evening, this will warm not only the stomach but the soul. Kitakata delivered on all cylinders. I ordered the Mixed Boil Veggie Ramen while she selected the Kitakata Ramen. We both sampled one another's and love both. The establishment is clean, staff super friendly, and meal was delicious. I head this place can get packed so be mindful of peak hours (lunch/dinner). This location also has plenty of parking which is always a good thing. Will love to visit this place again on a cold night. Its magical.

Good thing we can signup for the waitlist from afar! It wasn't too busy at all for dinner when we came in. We sat by the bar area and service is friendly and quick. My bf enjoys this place a lot and he would talk about their green onion ramen, which I finally got to try. I also added a side of corn and it was great they were pretty generous with the corn. One thing I did notice, or I may have missed it, but they didn't have a tonkatsu ramen broth? I thought that was usually a staple, so I was surprised they didn't have that here. Anyways, first time trying out the green onion ramen, I was surprised by the noodles here! They were extremely soft and chewy, and they were a fun squiggly shape. It didn't feel that heavy at all. The chashu was definitely very soft and melts in your mouth. I wish they offered more pieces since they were kind of small. The ramen also is pretty spicy, it creeps up on you, but it's a nice kick. Overall, the ramen was delicious! Wish it would come with more items in the ramen for a worth price value.

A coworker took me here for lunch since she recommended it for ramen and I haven't really been exploring the ramen scene around the area. I always pass by here being in the plaza for Daiso and Sup so was happy to finally give it a try. She recommended me to try the kitakata ramen and honestly it didn't disappoint! It was a very simple dish just ramen, broth, chashu, and bamboo shoots. The noodles were interesting because they were a lot wavier than ones I'm used to but I liked the texture of it. The soup was nice and light which I really enjoyed. The chashu though!! It was salted enough but also so tender and flavorful I was surprised! I reaaally enjoyed the chashu and would definitely recommend it to a friend to try. My coworker got their tan tan noodle and I got to try her broth. I'm definitely getting that next time. I enjoyed the chili oil flavor it gave as it felt gingery and sweet, and not just a pure hot oil. Overall was pleased with the meal and would love to come back! Service was on, bare minimum I'd say and I went during a not so busy time.

Had been craving ramen for a while and finally gave in! My husband and I usually go to the Costa Mesa location, but we have been to this one only once before, a few years ago when they first opened (with only outside seating and cashless payments). Nonetheless, we were greeted with the friendly traditional, "Irrashaimase" from the kitchen. It was a full house inside, so we joined the waitlist (less than 5 mins, yay!). Went with my "go to", Spicy Miso Ramen and side of karaage (Juicy Fried Chicken). Consistency is key...and their broth needed absolutely no additional side condiments for my taste. My husband had the Umakara Tan Tan Ramen and enjoyed it just as much. When I happened to look up trying to stretch my full belly, I saw cool wall art staring back at me...LOL! Note: Cashless (surprising, but I guess business owners reserve the right). Happy eating till next time...

It's been a minute, Kitakata, and I missed you! Kitakata was one of the first ramen spots I loved when I moved here, and their pork was so good and tender. This time, I got their Kitakata Miso Ramen, which was pretty good. However, I wasn't a massive fan of the texture of their noodles, which were squiggly cut noodles. I added an egg on top, which was great. The pan-fried gyoza was crispy and juicy, how you want your gyoza cooked! The chicken kaarage was my favorite part of the meal and it was crisp to perfection. The house dipping sauce was also excellent which is a mix between chicken broth and mayo according to the server. It's in a popular food center so parking is scarce!

My go-to local place in Irvine for ramen. The limited cold ramen dish "Hiyashi" is FANTASTIC and I wish it was always available. Takoyaki is also one of my favorite items here.

An excellent alternative to the classic tonkotsu ramen broth that is all the rage in other ramen shops. The ship and shoyu ramen are standout and a welcome break from the usual fare. A small restaurant that doesn't have too much space for strollers, but will do their best to accommodate you. We were able to squeeze in our baby's stroller in the corner and have ourselves an enjoyable meal. The chashu is delicious, the ramen is handmade and lighter, flatter, thinner, and a fun texture.

Throughout their multiple locations Kitakata doesn't let me down! I'm a huge fan of the tsukemen ramen which are cold dipping noodles but if I'm wanting a nice comforting hot bowl of ramen the spicy miso is my top pick! The staff at this location is just as friendly and great as the other locations I've been to and the locations' atmosphere are all very similar to one another so over all the food, staff, and feel of the chain are all consistent! One of my favorite places for ramen!

The noodles are unique and have a great texture. I always order firmer since they cook in the broth. The broth is so bold and flavorful, it literally soothes your soul. I always get a side of the grill chili oil. Anything with sesame oil is my jam. We've been going here for about 10 years. Always welcomed at the door from all staff, in addition to all of them saying goodbye on your way out. Really makes you feel special. We're here like 4x month or more

The ramen here is ok but nothing mind blowing. My brother and I saw ramen spot while walking around the plaza and figured it wouldn't hurt to try for lunch, as the restaurant seemed decently busy at the time. I got the Kitakata ramen which has a pork broth/shoyu base, but frankly it seemed a bit bland compared to other ramen spots. I got an egg & bamboo to add on to help but overall just a spot since everywhere else was packed.

I like how this spot keeps interesting by adding new items every now and then. I must say that the portions are too big. The noodles are delightful and taste homemade but it really is too much. We like the gyoza and how they added a kids meal. Our server was also very nice. As far as ambiance goes, its sit down but also quick - so if you want to go in and out you can. Or if you want to hang out a bit and have a drink that works too.

Something has seriously changed here, and not for the better. The food is nowhere near the quality it was a year ago -- bland, off, and disappointing. Even though the service is acceptable, the poor food makes this place not worth your time or money. The green tea cost me $4 and it came as an instant tea bag? Really? A total disappointment.

not gonna lie, i'm not the biggest ramen person -- but kitakata ramen ban nai might've changed my mind a little. the broth here is super clean and not overly oily like a lot of other spots. it feels lighter but still flavorful, and the noodles have a really nice chew to them. definitely a solid spot even if you're not a hardcore ramen fan. it's simple, comforting, and hits the spot without being too heavy. i'd come back!

I had high hopes for Kitakata Ramen but unfortunately, it was a big disappointment. The ramen was incredibly bland, with a broth that lacked depth and flavor. Even the noodles and toppings couldn't save it...they were just as underwhelming. For a place that specializes in ramen, I expected so much more. The food didn't live up to the hype, and I wouldn't recommend it if you're looking for a satisfying, flavorful bowl of ramen. Definitely not worth the visit. FYI the Irvine location was a terrible experience, but not the Fountain Valley location!!! Go to Fountain Valley instead because the ramen is significantly better there.

As always, pretty fast service for a busy restaurant and delicious food. Always enjoy coming here!

Went in on a semi busy Thursday afternoon. Service was ehh probably because it was busy. Asked for the spicy miso paste but it never arrived. It also took a while to get our check. On a positive note, I really enjoyed the creamy vegan ramen! Unfortunately my sister didn't really enjoy her non spicy miso ramen.

Kitakata ramen is simple, fresh, and satisfying. The noodles are thick and chewy/bouncy and pork slices really juicy and flavorful. It is not your typical kotteri (fatty rich) ramen. Love their shoyu and shio ramens and would definitely recommend it to anyone who wants a "lighter" ramen. The service is great, and it accommodates both small to large groups.

Came back here on a warm Sunday evening around 6:30pm. Maybe at half capacity, no wait. Sat down immediately at the bar and was given my water. Ordered right when I sat down. Ordered the Large Chashu Ramen, as per usual. Even with minimal people, it took 15 minutes for my food. Really Slow considering no one was in there. I could see my order on the Screen, it was the ONLY one. No one came to refill my empty water glass. I'm used to Ban Nai style noodles, these felt overly soggy, NO chew. Some of my Chashu was tough. Maybe that's what happened. they forgot my noodles and over cooked them? We'll never find out. I had to flag someone down just to ask for a to-go container and my check. Honestly I'm saddened that something can go from one of my favorite spots, to this. 2 stars because someone did apologize finally for the lag.

Amazing noodles very different from the usual ramen places and the service was great these other 1 star reviews about the food is inaccurate it's very causal for reviewers to post 1 star experience when they don't think about the hardships that these small business have to endure, it's hard to have a small business , this ramen place try's hard and the food is great and taste so good and different

I love Kitakata ramen! I always get the ban nai bun to start and the large spicy miso ramen (comes with extra noodles) for my main course. The spicy miso ramen is my favorite. It has just the right amount of spiciness for me. I love that you can add on whatever you want to your ramen. The service is usually pretty fast. The ambiance is very simplistic here but the delicious food is what I come here for. I especially love coming here for some warm, feel good-ramen on a cold day or when I don't feel good :)

This is one of our go-to spots for Pork Broth Ramen. This Kitakata location is in the always busy Mitsuwa/Daiso Walnut plaza a few doors down from Sup Noodles. Yes parking can be challenging in this plaza since every place is busy. They do have Yelp RSVP so book your spot before coming or the wait could be awhile. They basically have two category of items on the menu here: Noodles and rice bowls. Noodles: you cannot go wrong with the standard Kitikata ramen which is shoyu based served with sliced pork belly and wavy noodles. If you're more adventurous you can go with the Kitikata miso ramen which is basically miso instead of soy sauce based. Rice: The fried chicken bowls are absolutely delicious here! If you've had authentic Japanese Fried Chicken this is exactly what its suppose to taste like. The portion size is HUGE and can be shared. But the star on the show is the dipping sauce that's like a sweet katsu sauce. All of the items go great with a nice ice cold pint of Sapporo too! The service is super fast here with delicious food. Just note there's a long wait especially during peak hours.

I'm a big fan of Kitakata Ramen! I've been supporting this brand since the very first day of their opening, even went to Shibuya, Japan just to visit their chain in the mainland. But trust me, Kitakata in the States tastes way better with more options of ramen than the one in Japan. I tried a lot of ramen but can't find any place that makes spicy miso broth like Kitakata. Their noodles is also a unique texture! Very chewy and curly without being soggy even after being soaked in the broth until I finished the bowl; FYI I'm a slow-eater. This location is a little compact comparing to other locations. They don't have a waiting area so you might end up waiting outside after putting your name down. The service is standard, could be better but I do understand the rush is the main reason. They used to make soft boiled marinated eggs but I just realized they changed into hard boiled which is very sad. They also take out the original yuzu sauce goes with gyoza. Hope after COVID, Kitakata could bring back their goodies and be better!

I went here for lunch and it was absolutely delicious! The noodles taste very homemade and the gyoza was so good that we had to order it twice. The service was great and all the staff were so nice to us. We go here whenever we are in Irvine, and would go even more often if it was near us.

We love coming here. We've been to two locations- Costa Mesa and Irvine- both consistent in taste and service. The fried chicken is perfectly crisp, served hot, and the lemon adds a nice touch of acid to break up the fatty flavors. This location is a little more spacious, pretty dimly lit for a nice calming environment. It's relaxed dining and we enjoy that experience. We also ordered a kitakata ramen and small chashu bowl. We love the addition of the poached onsen egg on the chashu bowl. Overall always a good choice for our family.

This place has opened for a while in my neighborhood. I decided to give it a try last week. For the price of the ramen, I expected the noodle to be of quality. Unfortunately and unexpectedly, what i got in my ramen were clumps of noodles..and my wife's order also had noodle clumps. Looks like they had problem with noodle cooking or noodle preparation. I notified the waiter of the issue and he basically brushed off by saying those clumps still taste the same.. What the heck, I was not expecting that kind of response. Quality noodle should not have clumps in the serving. That was my first visit and will be my last visit to this place. See attached photos

This review mainly concerns the ambiance and service. Their music sounds like boring elevator music, which doesn't help the low-energy servers. The girls who were working talked so quietly and had zero charisma. I'm not expecting much, considering it's just a ramen shop, but it just made the whole experience feel dead and almost awkward to be eating there. I'm also not sure if the payment tablets are automatically set to a 20% tip or if the server clicks it while processing the payment, but either way, that also felt weird and uncomfortable to change. The summer cold ramen tastes great, but maybe I'll order Togo next time!

Kitakata ramen is my favorite ramen in SoCal! It's a ramen chain from Japan (I went to the Tokyo one!) and tastes so authentic. My go to order is the kitakata ramen. The broth is perfectly salty and tasteful, and the noodles are so chewy. This spot usually has a long line, we had to wait 45 mins on a Sunday.

Stopped by for dinner with a friend on a Monday night and got seated right away thanks to the Yelp check-in. They've got a great variety of ramen options, including tsukemen (dipping ramen) and even vegan ramen! I went with the Green Chili Shio ramen after seeing all the great reviews, and my husband tried the tsukemen. You can also customize your bowl with tons of toppings, which is always a plus. Service was solid, and our food came out super fast. The noodles were different from any I've had before--flatter and really chewy, which I loved! Both broths were light, comforting, and flavorful. The chashu was super tender and came in a decent portion too. Overall, we had a great meal, and I'm definitely coming back to try the Spicy Miso ramen next time!

I can confirm that, their ramen is anything but authentic tasting. Very disappointed and feel it was a waste of money.

Full transparency, this was my first ever ramen restaurant, BUT the Kitakata miso ramen was amazing. Simple broth, didn't need any additional oils/seasoning but went well with the soy sauce and chili oil. The noodles were a great texture and the ramen had a good balance of broth to toppings. The ambiance was chill, especially compared to the other Kitakata location. Plenty of parking in that vein too :) great place to come with family or friends. I came on a Friday afternoon and there was zero line. Service was also great, waiter was accommodating with splitting our check and the ramen came out within 7min of ordering. Highly recommend!