Marumen

So polite. Friendly girl greeted the 3 of us at door and gave us our menus and explained them and brought us water. A young guy with longer hair (I think his name was Brian) took our orders and was also so friendly and helpful in answering our questions. He checked on us and made the experience even better. We stopped in for dinner today and the service and food were both great. We got 3 different types of ramen and everyone liked theirs. We also got the pork buns and dumplings as appetizers. Will definitely return.

Thought I was ordering tonkotsu ramen but I ended up getting tonkatsu (pork cutlet) instead. The menu could be better/clearer to avoid confusion. Suffice to say I was disappointed all around, the cutlet wasn’t all that tasty and neither were the sides that it came with. Also ordered a lunch special bowl that contained an assortment of things like chicken karage and sashimi and I wasn’t impressed by that either. Service was on point and the best part of my visit.

We went here for an evening meal with friends. Our waiter, Shaun, was really helpful answering all our questions and very accommodating of our requests. The food was great and the service was excellent.

The spicy miso ramen is good but I’d prefer it to be a bit spicier, otherwise the food was delicious. Service was immaculate and the environment was relaxing.

Cool, down to earth spot. Food felt fresh and super refreshing the chicken dumplings were good with a nice crunch. Pork buns came out with a lot more quantity than we expected and was delicious, would definitely recommend. Spicy miso soup was amazing, the meat that comes with it is flavor packed and shreds inside your mouth as you chew into it. For the price and quality this place has it all.

Ramen here is mediocre. Stopped by with some friends and we all agreed. The broth needed a little more flavor. We ordered the braised short rib and seafood. Even the spicy braised short rib needed some more spice. Prices are fair and service was good

The food is quick and very good - not as good as the ones in Tokyo or even San Francisco but is a lot quicker (no plane ride). The interior is fairly interesting. It's box like and at times I feel like a kid at a sleep away camp. It does have that charm. The wait staff are young and at times so are the other patrons (GMU is nearby), but families add to the mix, so at times, this is quite lively. Plenty of parking, even when the restaurant is full.

SO GOOD HOLY CRAP Me and my partner ordered the chicken dumplings, edamame, miso ramen and smoked salmon nagiri and we ate almost all of it. This was the best lunch I’ve had in years. Came at like 2pm, very quick service, kind workers, the food came out in like 10-15 minutes and was hot and gorgeous. Not too busy but a gem!

We ordered delivery awhile ago and while most items were great, the 2 orders of tonkatsu were disappointing. We expected the food might be cold due to travel time, but the pork seemed like a premade katsu that had been reheated. The pork was dry and hard. This is very different from the fresh and crispy tonkatsu I've enjoyed dining in before in this restaurant.

Marumen has been our top pick for ramen in Northern Virginia for a super long time - really yummy food, fast service, great menu. However, I feel like things haven't been as great the past few times we've gone over the last year. Ramen is still really delicious and well worth the price. The past few visits though, they have been out of certain items on the menu. We took some friends to Marumen for their first time recently and it was actually so awkward with how much they weren't serving on their menu. My friend that can't eat pork and didn't want ramen had a hard time finding something to eat. No sushi. No draft beer. Then, finally, we thought - maybe we will order a dessert. They have to have those, right? No. Our waiter was very apologetic but I'm wondering why they were out of so much. I am hoping things turn around soon since this is a favorite spot of ours.

Hidden gem among comercial areas in Fairfax. FOOD: excellent quality, big amount, soups enough for two people. Perfectly cooked at the moment at the right temperature and good presentation. SERVICE: very professional, and with attention to detail. Friendly staff and very corteous and kind. For sure, bringing many friends and family to this place again .

This is my favorite restaurant. I'm here at least once a month (more like once a week lol). I recommend Marumen to anyone that loves ramen. The food, atmosphere, and customer service is always great. Everything on the menu is really good! My personal favorite is the Godzilla Tsukemen and the Karaage.

I'm so glad I came to try this place out because it is delicious! I was in Virginia for a conference and stopped by this place twice. The first time, it was super busy and the second time, it was less. Either way, both times were delicious. If you are in the area and want some yummy Asian food, try this place out!

We visited Marumen for a rainy day dinner and it was worth the drive. The ramen is great here. The service could be just a tiny bit better but the food overcompensated for this. I loved the okonomiyaki with seafood. I struggle with some places not putting enough fish in these but this one did not disappoint. The bao buns with pork were absolutely delicious. I will be returning for sure.

Truly my favorite ramen spot and I keep coming back over the years. Great depth of flavor, portion size, and affordable. Cozy interior with the dark wooden tables for seating. I have been here when there has been some wait time and I have been here when it has not been as busy and regardless the ramen is always the same quality. I have tried various other ramen spots in the area and I keep coming back as there hasn't been a contender that really fits with these standards. My go-to is always the Spicy Miso Ramen and if i'm feeling fancy I like to add the fried shiitake mushrooms as a topping. A must try addition to ramen is the Karaage chicken under "specialty plates". Definitely a spot I always recommend to friends and family.

Another great experience at Marumen. The food was delicious. The pork belly in the spicy miso is always delicious. The army ramen had an interesting mix of ingredients. Unfortunately, my father's beef in the braised short rib was tough but the ramen was still good. The server was very helpful and seemed like he was trying his best which I appreciated.

Good ramen. Didn't have soju and the service was a little slow but it was only two people so I cannot really blame them.

I think this is the best ramen, and that's no small compliment. Their spicy miso ramen isn't extremely spicy and has a good flavor that comes from quality ingredients. Or server was helpful and explained what the items were. A little more ambiance could make it an even more memorable experience.

The food just wasn't good to go. The sushi was alright but really wasn't that fresh. My biggest grievance was with the tsukemen. Broth wasn't overly flavored and wasn't thick enough to cling to the noodles. I took a picture of some of the bean sprouts but this was only half of them. My bowl was 50% bean sprouts opposed to actual food. Meat was way overcooked but egg was good.

I love their spicy miso ramen. Wonder its popular, the broth is rich, the spiciness is just perfect! I also got Kraage, such a perfect combination on a cold weather.

Although our daughter loves this place, we were not very impressed. I would give the food an average grade and the service as poor. Inspite of giving specific directions, the waiter messed up one of our orders and it had to be sent back and we waited for that to come back while the other three dishes got cold. The vegetarian Ramen was pretty good but the one with the braised chicken was not that good as the chicken was very dry and not flavorful at all. The seafood bowl was pretty decent but had a lot more rice than actually seafood in it and lastly, the chicken fried rice was bland. Our waiter was nowhere to be found when we needed him, and twice we had to request a different waiter to get us some water or soy sauce, and finally the check, so not a great experience and I doubt we'll be back.

This was my first time enjoying ramen and this was an awesome experience. Our waiter Nick was super friendly and helpful for our first time and walked us through a lot of the menu items. Ended up deciding on the Braised Short rib ramen and it was phenomenal! Pretty standard looking/feeling restaurant ambiance.

It has been sometime since we stop by here last time. The environment is stilll the same. Clean and neat. We ordered the braised short rib noodles again, one mild and one spicy. I will say, this time it was not as impressive as last time. We loved the mild over the spicy one. It was not very business this time, the service is well.

This is my FAVORITE ramen spot of all time. it never lacks flavor and i just love the broth,pork, and noodles. I've been so so many diff ramen spots here in va and in japan and this place still holds #1 in my heart. Their edamame and pork buns are also special favorites of mine as well.

My friend wanted ramen for dinner and suggested Marumen, so the three of us stopped by last Friday evening. I didn't expect too much because a lot of ramen restaurants in NoVa are just... OK. I wouldn't go back to most. But to my pleasant surprise, I enjoyed my order and would definitely come back. SHIO RAMEN - 14 This is their salt-based pork broth. I always sip a spoonful of broth before eating anything else to see whether or not I'd be disappointed for the whole meal. The broth was delicious and not overly salty or rich. It was creamy and you can taste the pork flavor well, which warmed me up nicely. Each bowl comes with ramen (duh), half a ramen egg, chashu, and topped with beansprouts, scallions and nori. The ramen were a perfect texture that soaked up the broth well. The chashu is actually a strip of pork belly, which was pretty sizable and fatty. It was so, so tender, and the marinade was perfect. The ramen egg is enjoyable, as usual, and the toppings were fresh and plentiful. So good! Definitely one of the best ramen broths and chashu I've had in VA. I would recommend the shio ramen here!

The only saving grace the ramen was above average. Did anyone train the staff?Our waiter greeted us with come over here, no menu and proceeded to tell us the sushi guy quit/he sucked when we asked why there was a sign that they stopped serving sushi until further noticed. She seemed to have no filter or social cues. When our meal arrived, no napkins or chopsticks. Overall, just a so-so experience. Hopefully the staff improves. Wont bother to come back soon.

Marumen is my favorite ramen place ever! I always recommend it to friends and coworkers. The ambiance is nice and cozy and the food/service is consistently great. I always get the spicy miso because of the incredible flavor.

This place is great! The food is delicious, service was wonderful (more on that below), and the restaurant itself had a great vibe. My fiancée and I are big ramen people and this really hit the spot. Service - Our waiter was great. I wish i could remember his name but he was just a stand out for the experience. I navigate a sesame allergy and our waiter went to the back to retrieve a chart with allergy information so i could make the best decision for myself and stay safe. I have had trouble navigating sesame allergy at Asian restaurants because of how prevalent the ingredient is - this is the first time it's worked out so well. So grateful this restaurants cares about keeping people safe.

I love the ramen here! I have eaten in the restaurant before and it is nice, clean, and the service is usually solid. But the most recent time, I ordered for pickup. I ordered the spicy miso ramen, and I like how they serve it with a big pork slab rather than thinly sliced pork chashu. The meat has really nice flavor, but it can sometimes be a little bit on the tough side. I really like the candied egg that comes with the ramen, and the broth has good spice to it. The noodles were also perfectly chewy. We also ordered the pork bun, which is really good, but I wish the sauce had more flavor and I wish there was more of it. The ramen is very fairly priced, and the food is quick to be made and served. I will definitely order from here again in the future!

They played early 2010's music and the staff were all very friendly and a vibe. The food came out quick and was amazing!!! Amazing vibes :)

This restaurant is a little bit on the dark side. They have windows but all the windows are drawing shut. We ordered the spicy miso soup. It was delicious.We would rate this a five. The miso soup itself is very sweet And we were not able to finish it. We also got the fried rice which was just average or slightly below average in flavor. The fried rice has bits of very old hardened rice.

Second time coming to this place because I don't leave close it, otherwise it will become a weekly visit. The food is simply delicious, it is so flavorful !

Food: we ordered shio ramen and okonomiyaki. Ramen came with a pretty thick piece of chashiu, and the broth was perfect. I ordered the seafood okonomiyaki, but was disappointed about the lack of seafood in the pancake. Service: Our server was all right, checked up on us when needed. Ambiance: I love the woody interior and ample space in the store. Great place for a quick bite!

It's been almost 6 years since my last visit, and I'm happy to say this place is still as good as I remember. Ambiance is basically unchanged - very cute woodsy aesthetic with string lights and mason jar cups. Definitely a good spot for date night ;) They have lots of seating available and we were seated right away. We started with edamame, and ordered the spicy miso ramen and shio ramen. Both were delicious and flavorful! I was surprised by the huge chunk of chashu they served with our ramens - I loved it! Usually other ramen places serve very thin slices of chashu, which makes Marumen stand out to me. Definitely recommend both ramens!

What did we do before ramen places like this? Perhaps eat at the Pizza Hut that this used to be but we are all the better for places like this. We came by for a late lunch and it was terrific. The pork buns were just a full of flavor and huge. The pork belly was chunky and also had a sweet flavor to them too. Really good. The ramen was a big hit. I had the shoyu version which is more clear brothy then the shio version. Great noodles. Again great pork belly. I got it with Nori too. Just adore the flavor which wasn't too salty. Just right. Service was wonderful and it's a cute place inside with barely a remembrance of what this used to be Yum!!!

Restaurant week menu options here are the greatest bang for your buck! Coming to Marumen with a party of 3, and ordering the restaurant week special, was an enjoyable experience. The food was delicious, service was great, and overall everything was very nice. Portions were surprising for a restaurant week special--we got to take home a lot in to go boxes! Check out Marumen for some good ramen!

Food was so great- their ramen broth was really good. Portions are generous. Friendly service.

I got the Shio Ramen, and it really hit the spot. We ordered to go- and the noodles were still perfectly al-dente, the broth was full of flavor. The pork was perfectly cooked and flavored, and I appreciate that it was a substantial piece, and was not overcooked, unlike other places where sometimes you get a dr, small sliver of meat. The bean sprouts were fresh and crunchy.

I ordered hot stone pot beef, it tasted like sugar syrup on the beef rice...i had to switch with his chicken fried rice. Would be nice if the server came to check to see if it's ok ...to switch something but he didn't till the end of dinner with the bill.

got my nails done nearby so I had to come check this place out! The portion of the tsukemen is a little small, I finished the whole bowl fairly quickly, but the chashu is the best chashu I have had in the area! It's so tender, flavorful and perfectly charred. The fat literally melts in your mouth! Their menu said the karaage chicken is *not an appetizer* and they are not lying! The plate of karaage is HUGE. I read all the reviews mentioning this, that's why I got the sauce on the side ;) the chicken is very cripsy and juicy. Since I came here by myself, I have more than half to take home :) I'll definitely come back to try their other dishes! Also keep in mind they only have sushi during certain hours!

Came back again. Still great. Got the shio ramen and they started us off with some edamame. Can't remember if they did that the last time I came but it is nice. Menu is via qr code. Our ramen came in a timely fashion and the waiter came by an appropriate amount of times to check in on us. For some reason my shio ramen had less broth than my friend who ordered the braised short rib. Each ramen is now priced at $12 without add-ons. My shio ramen has a nice broth, not too flavorful but not too salty, came with plenty of noodles, good presentation. I added extra chashu and was given two extra pieces, which were all very delicious. Overall good portion size and satisfied. Something I learned today is that you can pay with Apple pay if you ask them.

I haven't been to Marumen in a while, they changed their table tops and painted near the entrances and it looks nice. The food is decent, they don't have sushi on Tuesdays and Wednesdays however. It is good for a fairly cheap price. The service is always good and the people are nice.

What a wonderful ramen shop in Fairfax! Or so I initially thought. During my first visit, we were there for a late lunch around 2pm on a Sunday. The service was friendly and prompt. I liked how little I had to wait for anything without feeling rushed. There were 6 other tables occupied with families, couples, young and old eating. I ordered Godzilla Tsukemen, seafood okonomiyaki, and my friend ordered the spicy miso ramen. I love getting Tsukemen because the noodles and the broth are separate. This helps prevent the noodles from getting soggy quickly. I must admit that I wasn't expecting such a great quality lunch that afternoon. The noodles in my Tsukemen was cooked just right. I loved how much scallions and bean sprouts toppings it had. The pork belly chashu was perfect. I appreciated the texture and the flavoring was outstanding-- not too sweet, not too thin and not too charred. The nitamago was also delicious. I loved how subtle the sake flavor was. And the broth was to die for. The star of the meal was the seafood okonomiyaki. I've not had one as good since I was in Tokyo. The cabbage was tender but not too crunchy. I loved the amount of seafood it contained. There wasn't too much sauce or mayo on top. I hate it when either items ends up making everything too soggy and drowning out the other flavors. Not here. The beni shoga was 100/100. And lastly, the katsuobushi dancing on top because of warm steam made it .......WHOA! The whole thing made my day. I initially gave this place 5 stars initially because of easy ample parking too. However, I spoke too soon and now sad to update my review for Marumen so soon. I went back with my husband very recently and felt incredibly disappointed by the whole dining experience. We ordered the same items and the food was ok but the service was awful. Our table had multiple fruit flies, gnats, flies, and mosquitoes flying. A few dove right into the soup and the okonomiyaki. The table was very sticky and it was malodorous. Our server and the rest of the people working there were too busy having a conversation and paying zero attention to diners. The music choice was inappropriate given how loudly they were playing explicit rap music and singing along with it. My husband had to get up and ask them to give us small plates and extra napkins. One of the heavier set Asian man came and threw the plates and napkins towards us. It was incredibly rude and uncalled for. Not once during our dining experience did any of them take away any empty plates or bowls piled on the our table. And the long wait to just get our check because none of them were paying attention to nonverbal cues. In sum, although the food was delicious on both occasions, the rampant bugs, uncomfortably loud music and lack of customer service made me revise this review from a 5-star to 2-stars quickly. Given the noticeably inconsistent dining experience I've had here and the amount of bugs I had to swat away, I'd hesitate to bring my family or friends here in the future.

Allow me to paint a picture of our dining experience at Marumen, a ramen gem tucked away in Fairfax, Virginia. As we perused the menu, one dish immediately caught our attention - the Army Ramen, a fusion of Korean army stew and ramen. It promised to be both spicy and flavorful, and we couldn't resist giving it a try. The moment our bowls arrived, we could see the tantalizing swirl of colors and aromas that awaited us. The Army Ramen did not disappoint. With each bite, we savored the rich, hearty flavors that danced on our taste buds. The balance of spice and depth of flavor made this dish truly enjoyable, and it was a treat that we relished throughout our meal. However, while the food was a highlight, our experience was somewhat marred by the service. It proved quite challenging to capture the attention of our server when needed. To make matters worse, my dining companion's ramen arrived disappointingly cold. When they kindly requested to have it heated, the server instructed them to pour the broth into a separate bowl for reheating - an unusual and somewhat inconvenient solution. In the end, our visit to Marumen left us with mixed feelings. The Army Ramen was undoubtedly a culinary triumph, but the less-than-ideal service and the minor hiccup with the cold ramen left us wanting more in terms of overall dining satisfaction. While it's a decent spot for ramen lovers, I wouldn't necessarily go out of my way to visit. If you happen to be in the area and are intrigued by the Army Ramen, it's worth a try, but be prepared for a dining experience that's somewhat hit-and-miss.

This restaurant used to have a location in Sterling, VA and we were disappointed that they closed during Covid - it was our favorite ramen spot. We decided to give the Fairfax location a shot after work on a Wednesday and it sadly let us down. When we walked in, it wasn't crowded, but it was a hot day, and the air-conditioning felt like it wasn't on. Water (with no ice) was provided right away, but it was still warm inside the restaurant. To start we had the Okonomiyaki plate which was the best thing we ate! Crispy cabbage with a delicious sauce & pickled ginger on top. We also had the pork buns plate - good but not great. The meat was lacking flavor & was a little tough - almost like it wasn't fresh. The buns at the Sterling location were always delish but this time it just didn't meet our expectations. Also ordered the bimibap - the dish arrived at the perfect temperature & with those mouth-watering crispy edges of the rice with noodle, veg, meat & egg on top. My first time trying bimibap & I would definitely get it again. Not worth a 40 min drive from where we live but if they ever re-open in Loudon we'll be back. Parking was plentiful & getting there wasn't too tricky.

I still enjoy coming here. The ramen has a good chewy texture & the broth is delicious without being salty. I like adding the sesame chili sauce to the Shio ramen. Today we ordered the Onomayiki with seafood- well seasoned and crispy on the outside, full of vegetables and seafood. Always delicious!

Yummy for my tummy. I go here specifically for the pork buns. I cant get enough of these bad boys. #No diddy

This is my family's favorite ramen shop and for a good reason! Walking in, I already really like the lively and nicely decorated environment of the restaurant--which is almost always a good sign for me. Service is both really quick on taking orders and bringing food out as well as very friendly and accommodating. We always get the chicharrones (my family, I personally don't like them as a whole--but if we get them every time, they must be really good, no?) and this recent time, we also had the karaage and hashu chashu which were both DELICIOUS. I would highly recommend any of their appetizers though. :) For ramen, I always get the seafood specialty ramen. Personally, I love the fact that their pricing is almost consistent for all dishes, so I always end up getting a specialty ramen haha. But they are all amazing, whether they're a specialty ramen or not. The portions are also pretty big in my opinion. Not only do they have a good amount of broth and noodles, but they're very generous with their protein. But! If you still have broth after you're done or are still hungry, then the staff is also always more than willing to give you more noodles. Overall, I highly recommend this ramen shop. :)

Food was delicious, we ordered appetizers, rolled sushi, and the entrees. Sushi was decent, appetizers came out hot and excellent, hot noodles soup are good. Though I did not expect my seafood noodle soup to be the korean version known as Jjamboong, I would have preferred the Shoyu or spicy Miso better. Even my picky child had no problem gobbling his food. The service can be improved, the kid is still learning so be prepared to be patient. The restaurant is kept clean and the interior was pleasing to look at.

August 2022 - COVID Review: My friends and I came here for some late night eats since it was one of the places in the area that closed later. Our server was accommodating of our large group and was patient. I got the spicy miso ramen and that wasn't too overly spicy for my taste. I added on some extra toppings as well. I do wish that it came with more cha shu than the one piece but at least it was a thick piece. I think next time I would opt to add on more pork as one of my topping choices.

Overall one of the top asian restaurants in the northern virginia area. Incredible ambience ( studio ghilbi similar ) authentic ethnically asian staff ( critical for context knowledge of food and not the season less response by non asian workers at asian restaurants usually " oh it's good I love it " ) and great content of solid food options that vary from protein to vegan to fish. My favorites are Donkatsu and Karrage, it is cheaper then the full ramen and fills you up with protein and carbs if you are trying to bulk up and are still a skinny guy in 2024. ( find some new friends ) All in all one of the greatest options in dining out that's affordable and luxurious. Want to take that hot but nerdy girl you matched with on a date? Take her here, then go to Alexandria waterfront get some ice cream seal the deal my city boy brother.

Website hours states 11am-11pm Friday and Saturday. My family walked in for dinner at 9:20pm on Friday night. We were told they were only doing takeout and would not seat us. Very disappointing. We have eaten here several times but we will not be returning.

This was a first for MARUMEN for me & I think I've fallen in love. Hidden in the cut but could never be overlooked! The chicken was perfectly marinated yet so tender. I'd be lying if I said that I don't think stopping by every time I'm over in Fairfax. Ramen is one dish that I don't think I'd personally get tired of... as long as we get to switch up the toppings. It's truly happiness and comfort all wrapped up into one. Ambiance was great. Very clean and spacious for larger parties. Would I come back? Oh my, YES!

We stopped by Marumen for dinner and we're pretty excited based on the reviews and the fact that it's been far too long since we've had ramen. While the staff was friendly and the restaurant clean, I have to say, I was pretty disappointed. They start by leaving edamame and a carafe of water on the table (both of which I LOVED). It was a nice touch that I've never experienced in a ramen restaurant. We ordered the spicy boa buns for an app. The bun was tough and not the soft fluffy bun I'm used to. The chicken was also cut into very large pieces. Both of these things combine led to the whole thing f basically just falling apart. We ended up just eating them all separately. I would not order this again. We both chose the shoyu ramen. I ordered an extra egg (which was very over cooked) and my husband ordered extra noodles (which for some reason came on the side). By the time he could fit them in his bowl, they were cold and no longer enjoyable. Additionally, I love me some pork belly but this was MASSIVE. As in too big to pick and eat. I would have much more preferred 3 pieces sliced down rather than the hunk of meat in my bowl. Maybe we were there on a bad night but overall I wasn't impressed. They have a good base, just need better execution.

My family and I were not impressed with the food or service. We were very excited to try their Musubi. We were not able to because they currently do not have a sushi chef. Which if you're going to any sushi at all, it's unavailable. We asked how long sushi would be unavailable and were told "until they hire someone."

It's a super cute shop with a small bar and sushi counter for the worker. They have two TVs going behind the bar with anime. When we went it was Naruto. The edamame plate they give you once seated is interested. Tasted like there was Tajin on it? The spicy Tuna roll with cream cheese was good although the menu didn't mention it was deep fried. The karaage was good and something different that it was covered in Benito flakes. The brisket ramen was decent, the broth was spicy but not much else. The brisket was a bit tough also. The spicy miso was so good and very umami. The chashu melted in your mouth and the noodles were cooked perfectly.

I went here for dinner and the food was fantastic. We got chicken buns and the veggie pancake as an appetizer. I was a little annoyed the pancake came out unsliced. I thought it would be cut like a pizza or something, but it was one piece. Make sure you ask for a knife if you're sharing with a group. I felt like sushi today, so I got the Dynamite Roll, which had spicy tuna, cucumber, tempura flakes topped with spicy tuna, jalapeno, sriracha sauce, and masago. I also got the Marumen roll, which had shrimp tempura, avocado and was topped with crab, spicy mayo, and eel sauce. The dynamite roll was the best iteration of spicy tuna I've had anywhere. Service was so so, but the food was excellent. I plan to go back and try the ramen, which is their forte.