Nanban
Asian restaurant · Central Lawrenceville ·

Nanban

Asian restaurant · Central Lawrenceville ·

BYOB serving fried chicken, ramen, globally inspired sides

ramen
fried chicken
bao buns
gochujang chicken and biscuits
chicken nuggets
empanadas
spicy chicken sandwich
cauliflower nuggets
Nanban by null
Nanban by null
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Nanban by null
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Nanban by null
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Nanban by null
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Nanban by null
Nanban by null
Nanban by null
Nanban by null
Nanban by null
Nanban by null
Nanban by null
Nanban by null
Nanban by null
Nanban by null
Nanban by null
Nanban by null
Nanban by null
Nanban by null
Nanban by null
Nanban by null
Nanban by null
Nanban by null
Nanban by null
Nanban by null
Nanban by null
Nanban by null
Nanban by null
Nanban by null
Nanban by null
Nanban by null
Nanban by null
Nanban by null
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Nanban by null

Information

4407 Butler St, Pittsburgh, PA 15201 Get directions

$10–20

Order delivery
See Menu
Restroom
Accepts reservations
Popular for lunch
Popular for dinner
Cozy

Information

Static Map

4407 Butler St, Pittsburgh, PA 15201 Get directions

+1 412 224 2518
nanbanpgh.com
@nanbanpgh

$10–20 · Menu

Features

•Restroom
•Accepts reservations
•Popular for lunch
•Popular for dinner
•Cozy
•Trendy
•Family friendly
•Good for groups

Last updated

Jan 10, 2026

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Brixton’s New Nanban Express Is Devoted to the Voguish Katsu Sandwich | Eater London

"Launched by MasterChef winner Tim Anderson as a permanent quick-service takeaway hatch in Brixton, this counter focuses on the of-the-moment katsu sandwich trend and opened recently at 21 Electric Lane. It currently operates Tuesday–Saturday from 12pm–3pm and offers a compact menu of three katsu sandwiches (pork, chicken, and miso aubergine), three salads (tomato, sesame chicken, and ponzu aubergine), and a short drinks list of cold green or oolong tea, lemonade, and ginger beer, with plans to possibly extend hours and offerings in the future." - Adam Coghlan

https://london.eater.com/2018/7/11/17559378/nanban-express-brixton-katsu-sandwich-tim-anderson
Nanban

Anh Ngoc N.

Google
The food was great. We ordered Spicy Miso Ramen and Fried chicken. Everything was nicely seasoned. I didn't expect the cucumber to be spicy pickled, but it was a nice surprise. The chicken and almost all the toppings were very crunchy. Very nice texture.l

Bill H.

Google
Nanban is an amazing restaurant that combines ramen and fried chicken. The chicken nuggets were my favorite chicken and you can also get it inside the ramen. You can get takeout or eat inside the cozy dining room.

Haley H.

Google
What a gem in Lawrenceville, I love a good fusion restaurant. Asian soul food? Now that’s unique. I didn’t know where to start but Ryan pointed me in the right direction (so sweet! pls give him a raise!). Y’all the sweet tea with lemongrass is inssaannee. Highly recommend the cauliflower nuggets and any of the sandwiches. Give it a shot ⚡️

Wren K.

Google
Nanban is super unique and incredibly delicious! Even a few weeks after going I'm still thinking about it. I came late in the evening and it was still quick service while busy. Absolutely delicious food, super out of the box fusion food. A wide range of options for if you're starving or if you just want a cheap bite to eat. Highly recommend checking this place out! // Finally came back and got a full meal, and it was great! Their chicken nuggets are just perfection. Their garlic miso sandwich was pretty good, the chicken was tender, juicy, the breading stayed with the chicken, but there was almost no spice level or flavor to the breading. I'd recommend this for people who can't tolerate spice very well, or recommend getting a sauce with the sandwich to balance it out. I really love Nanban and I will be coming back in the colder months to warm myself up!

Dan O.

Google
Really excellent food. Ordering is done at the counter, which is a little less convenient than having staff come and take the order. I got the gochujang chicken and biscuits with tonkatsu sauceand a Brazilian limeade and was impressed with both. My girlfriend got the shoyu ramen and she said it was very good as well. Parking is a little tricky, I found street parking after 6PM and figured there would not be meter enforcement after that time, don't do that lol. $25 ticket. Worth it. There was a projector on the wall showing some type of streaming TV, but the lights in the restaurant are too bright for the dim projector. Otherwise cool vibe.

Melissa C.

Google
This Asian Soul Food restaurant is a must try! They're a BYOB place but serve soft drinks, tea and water. First come first serve seating - if you want to get in without a wait go when they first open because the inside of the restaurant itself is small. There are a couple of outside tables as well. We had the inferno ramen, chicken nuggets with the coconut sauce and the cucumbers. Everything was delicious!

Maryum S.

Google
Okay, so I’ve wanted to try this place for years and I finally did. The food was delicious. The chicken was extremely moist. I’m glad they had bao buns with chicken cause I can’t eat pork and I rarely ever see that option. The staff were really nice. The French fries were super crispy. I’ll have to stop by again.

Michael F.

Google
This place is a true treasure! While closed on Sundays, that's quite fine since they are open Mondays when most others are closed! The seating options are modest but weather allowing sitting outside at one of the covered tables is a fantastic.
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Shivani G.

Yelp
Spots are limited, and the interior can seem a little dinky. This place is definitely meant for more of a takeout vibe, but you can sit in, which is what my friend and I did. Prices are not bad. The service is slow because there's one person working at all times. I got the gochujang fried chicken with biscuits and absolutely loved it. The chicken was not dry. The outside was very crispy. The sauce was tangy and had a slight kick to it, and the biscuits were warm and soft. served with the delicious Sapporo miso butter. I also got the Brazilian limeade and liked how it was not too sweet. My friend got to get garlic chili noodles and devoured it! Highly recommend those two dishes.
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Liz G.

Yelp
Stopped in here with my husband for lunch. It's a casual spot for comfort food. We ordered a big selection to try a few things and here's what we had: cauliflower nugs (excellent), corn empanada (good, but missing a wow flavor inside), tofu bao (freshly made and a nice contrast of textures), garlic chicken sandwich (my husband said it was very salty), and I had the spicy miso ramen (excellent). We'd go back to get the ramen and he said he'd probably skip the chicken with the excess salt.
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William S.

Yelp
Totally serviceable tasty ramen, with a friendly staff, and a comfortable inside. Not really much else to say, I would go back! Yummy broth.
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Vicki K.

Yelp
I was really hyped to try nanban but it fell a little flat. I feel like the ramen had too much going on between the fried chicken and toppings. It's a really heavy dish and super filling, but sort of lacked the delicate balance that ramen has. That said the staff was nice. I think next time I'd maybe stick to just the fried chicken or a simpler ramen.
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Madi N.

Yelp
Chicken MADE the ramen!!! So worth the visit and hype! Brother got the fried chicken and also loved it. Definitely a spot to stop by.
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Karen H.

Yelp
I haven't been to Nanban in a while so we decided to stop by and grab dinner there yesterday night and it was a hit! You order at the counter and take a seat and they'll bring your food out to you. There's only a handful of small tables inside and two tables that seat four each outside under tents so probably not the best place for a big group but it was perfect for our group of four. Nanban has a great selection of Asian soul food offerings with fried chicken, ramen and noodles, and bao buns, and more. We got a variety of items and were super stuffed by the end. Everything was flavorful and my favorite might have been the crispy beer battered cauliflower nugs (which was a huge surprise to me as a meat lover). My friend who was just in Japan said that the shio udon was really good!
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Marcus M.

Yelp
If you're looking for a spicy chicken sandwich to knock your socks off this is it. Chikn and this place are my favorite two chicken sandwiches in Pittsburgh. Their service is always on point and your food comes out pretty quickly after you order it. The place is always packed but with food like there's it would be crazy not to be packed

Carina S.

Yelp
All of the food was amazing!!! Got the fried chicken, beef empanadas, and shiu udon and it was all fantastic. Shared with my boyfriend and we both agreed it was the best meal we've had in a while. 10/10 recommend and will be returning!!!
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Nirmal R.

Yelp
Found this hole in a wall randomly on Yelp and we decided to give it a shot. First time we had gotten to go and this time we decided to dine in. We got the ramen and it was nice. The bao bun was a fun lil treat. And the place is small so definitely make sure you come during non rush hours. You seat yourselves. The table we picked wasn't cleaned and no one comes and checks or cleans the table I guess? They only have a few staff so it gets backed up at the counter. It's a nice spot otherwise.
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Christine L.

Yelp
The empanadas here caught my eye, but after noticing that I couldn't order them online I should've gone with another plan. The dining area was empty when I stopped by at dinner time on a Wednesday, and the wall menu had all empanadas besides beef wiped off. I asked about it and ended up ordering the two flavors available: beef and corn/peppers. It took a while to heat up and they were okay with the green sauce that came with it. I also ordered a Brazilian limeade that was fun to try once. The menu has decent variety, but the interior is super casual and feels a bit like a generic chain restaurant. I'd try other spots on this street before coming back again.
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Julia B.

Yelp
Nanban is a Lawrenceville hole in the wall specializing in an interesting mix of various cultures' comfort foods. We specifically went to try the fried chicken, but they also serve ramen & empanadas. To start, we got the cucumbers & cauliflower appetizers. The cucumbers were pickled with a yummy spicy seasoning, and the cauliflower was fried (basically into nuggets) with a delicious coconut sambal sauce (I actually wish there was more sauce on the dish!). Both were quite large, so definitely share apps if you plan to visit. For my entree, I got the gochujang chicken & biscuits. The combination of gochujang glaze & inferno honey sauce on the chicken was super flavorful (tangy & spicy), and the biscuits were fluffy without being too heavy. While the tonkatsu gravy was super flavorful, I actually felt that it was a little too heavy/rich for the rest of the dish. My boyfriend got the fried chicken with Sapporo BBQ sauce, and the chicken was super lightly fried so it was crispy but still juicy without being too breaded. For drinks, we got the lemongrass sweet tea (a good combo with the spicy sauces) & the cucumber fresca (super green tasting). The restaurant is BYOB if you want to go that route. Service was not great (despite the workers being super friendly), in that after bringing our dishes we were never checked in on again. I could have used a knife to cut up my chicken thigh & a drink refill, but we never saw our server again to ask for either thing. Regarding ambiance, as I wrote earlier it definitely is a hole in the wall & there are only about 5 or so tables total - so go early if you want to dine in! Food: B+ Drinks: A Service: C- Ambiance: C+
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Cassandra L.

Yelp
I've been to Nanban about five times, and Every time I've had their fries they were way too salty, same with the cauliflower nuggs. As for the sandos, the bread was dry but the chicken was okay. Their chili garlic noodles were fine, but nothing special. Lastly, I ordered their pork belly bun, and for $5 it only comes with one bun and the pork was dry.
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Gerald H.

Yelp
Found this place and made a point to get here for dinner. SERIOUS TIP! If at all possible - get dropped off or take an Uber. We spent maybe 15-20 minutes trying to find parking. Side streets, main streets are usually packed during high traffic areas. Order at the counter, then it's brought to you. We went with bao buns and ramen. For the buns we went with the pork belly bao, and for me a miso ramen. I substituted pork belly for the tofu, and held the mushrooms- also adding an egg. The bao was very good - succulent pork belly and the soft hug of the bun - a little kick to the sauce but very good. The chicken one also was a nice zing to it as well. As for the ramen - really solid, noodles were a touch overcooked, but the pork belly was perfect. Crispy edges but totally melted in your mouth. Very very good. Highly recommended.
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Sungani D.

Yelp
Nanban is an extraordinary culinary experience. The restaurant's commitment to showcasing the essence of Asian cuisine shines through every meticulously crafted dish. The ambiance is very casual and it's more of a "order and sit" type of service. Nanban is undoubtedly a gem in Pittsburgh's culinary scene. I highly recommend going if you haven't been before
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Essie K.

Yelp
Nanban was a great surprise. The noodles were delicious with good flavor. The highlight was their biscuits. They had just made a fresh batch when my friend and I were dining. The biscuits were one of the best ones I've tried. Flaky, buttery, and all the goodness!
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Maggie Z.

Yelp
Great place for takeout or a quick 2-person dinner while you're walking through Lawrenceville. We ordered online and all the food was hot and well packaged when we arrived. The inside is casual and cute, with a small seating section. The person working the front was nice and helpful. Lots of vegetarian options from ramen to bao to empanadas. The tofu bao will have me coming back soon. There's furikake/nori sprinkled on the fries and some appetizers, so be mindful if you don't like the flavor (it meant that I got to eat my friends' fries, so I didn't mind).
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Paul J.

Yelp
First time visited and loved it! The fried cauliflower stole the show, you must get that. Cucumbers are good. Chicken nuggets were OK. The beef empanada was outstanding. Definitely recommend this place. Plus you can get 10% off alcohol and Beers & Cheers almost next-door. Don't be put off by the very simple exterior, it's definitely worth it!
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Jubel P.

Yelp
We ordered DoorDash from this restaurant. I ordered the chicken and biscuits, someone else ordered the chicken sandwich, and we also ordered the chili garlic oil ramen. Our food was delivered quickly and arrived hot and fresh. As for flavors, we all were salivating over the meals. Everything tasted delicious! The portion sizes were great for the price (I imagine it's cheaper at the restaurant vs DoorDash). The chicken and biscuits were slightly spicy and every bite packed a punch. I can't wait to try more from here!
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Gabrielle P.

Yelp
I visited Nanban for the first time recently with some friends and had a great experience! The restaurant was small, but cozy, and even with a group of 5 we lucked out and were able to find seating. The service was amazing! The employee that helped us was able to answer all our questions and checked in with us throughout the meal. Everyone in our group had ramen. I tried the Shoyu Ramen and it was delish. My only complaint would be that the chicken nuggets were quite large and a bit hard to bite through or break apart into smaller sections. I would absolutely come back though to try the empanadas and bao buns!
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Meghan C.

Yelp
I had been craving Asian food for a few days, but didn't want our typical, go to Asian food, like Chinese, etc. As much as my husband & I are foodies, we had never actually had Korean Fried Chicken (referred from here on in this post as KFC, not to be confused with the fast food chain!) We had often heard of how KFC takes fried chicken to another level (Look it up. Different process & flavors). So, when my husband had an unexpected day off, we decided to find some place to get some KFC, knowing that there would be other offerings that would also satisfy my craving for that umami, sweet, & spicy profile that I was looking for. When I stumbled across a place that said it offered Asian Soul Food, I perked up! It also made me happy that our adventure would take us to Lawrenceville, which offers a plethora of sights, sounds, smells, & snacks! It's a great foodie neighborhood and lends to walking, window shopping, & people watching, which I love to do! I digress. What we discovered at Nanban Asian Soul Food was a cozy space with absolutely incredible food. Seating is limited, but we arrived at opening time & that helped. The menu options vary from KFC (Including a wide range of dipping sauces!), Sandwiches (they call them Sandos), Ramen, Empanadas, & Bao Buns. (They are not specifically Korean or one particular cuisine. That's the beauty!) We chose KFC nuggets with 2 dipping sauces (Ginger Soy & Coconut Sambal) and Gochujang Chicken & Biscuits. The KFC was super juicy inside & crackly, crispy perfection on the outside. They are made from Thigh meat. (In my opinion it is the tastiest part of a Chicken!). I'm a "saucy girl" and I need my meal to have a good sauce. The sauces were both extremely flavorful. I found the Coconut Sambal to be sweet, yet refreshing. It had a nice brightness to it, as opposed to the richer, earthy Ginger Soy. Both were delicious. But, the absolute star of the show was the Gochujang Chicken and Biscuits. I am not exaggerating when I say that this dish ranks amongst the top I've ever had! Their menu describes it as such: "Thigh & Drumstick coated in Gochujang glaze with biscuit, scallion, Tonkatsu Gravy, and Inferno Honey." For the cost of an entry at a typical fast casual restaurant, we indulged in sheer gourmet cuisine. The chicken had the light, crispy coating found on the nuggets, but had that extra flavor that bone-in meat provides. Cooked perfectly. The Gochujang delivered the beautiful balance of sweet and savory. It hit my palette with a great tangy flavor as well. The biscuits felt like they came from a Southern scratch-made kitchen. Prepared, again, perfectly! Crumbly, yet not dry, balanced with soft & buttery. It offered the perfect texture. The gravy was smooth and had deep pork flavor that cut the Gochujang perfectly. My only complaint? I wanted a gallon of it! Mixing in the scallions and inferno honey added herbaciousness, heat, & a kiss of sweetness to finish off a perfect balance of flavors. We can't wait to go back & continue to explore the menu, but, it will always be an order that includes the Gochujang Chicken & Biscuits! Bonus? We loved the ambiance, including enjoying spicy food with some Rock! The soundtrack was a playlist you could likely find on WDVE! Nothing like some Collective Soul in your ears as you've got "soul food" inspired by Seoul on your taste buds.
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Melissa P.

Yelp
Pretty good! An interesting concept. If you poke around online for info about Nanban, it seems like it's more or less billed as an Asian fusion restaurant. But it seems to be Asian comfort food dishes fused with... empanadas and fried chicken? We were looking for noodles so we stuck with the Spicy Garlic Chili Noodles and some ramen. Both were tasty. Be warned that the chili noodles pack a punch. The bao was okay -- I tried the BBQ. All I could really taste was the pork belly though. Real star of the show was the lemongrass tea. Very sweet, so if you're looking for something sugary and refreshing this summer, give it a try. They also seemed to have a walk up window on the sidewalk, which was neat :)
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Joseph N.

Yelp
LOVE Nanban. We were fans of Ki Ramen and were happy to see it had migrated down the street. Great ramen. Best in the city in my opinion. And fantastic empanadas! Be sure to stop!
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Jason J.

Yelp
Went in to get a 2 piece to go...was the only one in there to order then the place filled up... watched other people whom ordered from of after me get their food before I got my 2 piece to go..,I just left it and had to leave I only had a 30 minute lunch even tho my food was paid for. it was only a two piece chicken. How long does it freaking take?
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Jess N.

Yelp
I've wanted to try Nanban for a LONG time now & the only thing I can say is I'm so mad at myself for waiting so long! It was fantastic and it was a beautiful day so I got to enjoy outside. Staff was awesome, and I already am ready to go back. Dare I say best ramen in Pittsburgh? Thank you for making some amazing food!
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Gloria W.

Yelp
I came in for a late lunch here and seating was seat yourself. The workers were super nice and let us have samples of their drinks which was so sweet. The restaurant is incredibly cozy, and I thought it was overall adorable. The yerba mate we got was really tasty and probably our favorite part of the meal. My ramen was flavorful, and I had leftovers to take home. My friend however didn't love the biscuits in her meal, but the chicken was good. Overall, nice experience though!
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Jessica M.

Yelp
Service was great! Place was busy but my partner and I were well taken care of. Got the garlic miso chicken sandwich and the fries combo. It was amazing! Definitely recommend. Food was so good I forgot to take a picture until the end.
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Kelsey R.

Yelp
Been wanting to try nanban for a while and one of my friends went recently and loved it so I had to make the extra effort to get here. I got takeout tried each of the bao buns - tofu, pork, and chicken, and the spicy carmelized onion empanada. Prices are pretty average for Lawrenceville. There are a few tables inside and there were two high top tables outside. I lucked out and got a parking spot right across the street, but it's street parking on Butler, so if you go during peak times expect a walk. The pork and chicken bao were INCREDIBLE. After I ate them I wished I had got another one of each of them. They were amazing; meat was tender and flavorful and paired perfectly with the veggies and soft bao. I would skip the tofu next time for sure, it was just really bland in comparison to the pork and chicken ones. The empanada was ok but was so spicy I couldn't even finish it without my lips feeling they were about to burn off and I like spicy stuff! Will def be coming back for more bao and to try the noodles!
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Armin S.

Yelp
So many great vegan options, but I can't bring myself to get anything other than the spicy ramen without egg. It's so good.
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Eryn P.

Yelp
Finally got to try nanban on a cold rainy evening after a hard day at work. The ramen is so good. Flavor is complex and the soup is just a hug in a bowl. We tried the fried chicken sandwich too, and it was spicy and crispy. The service was great and their little eating area was perfect for us. We loved it and can't wait to go back. Happy Eating!

Denise G.

Yelp
Food was great for a quick bite and super friendly service! Outdoor and indoor seating was available.

Emily W.

Yelp
I feel torn about this review/experience because the concept of an Asian soul food spot sounds amazing and definitely fits in the Pittsburgh food scene. However, the service was just eh. You order up at the counter, pick a table, and then they bring the food to you. It seemed like our food took a century to arrive at our table and the staff did not seem very friendly. You also have to pay extra for sauce.. what. As for the food, it was just alright. Miso ramen was tasty and the noodles were great! But the fried tofu that tops the bowl gets incredible soggy by the time they bring it out to you. The fried miso chicken sando was good but it was served to me incredibly greasy/filled with oil and very hot (almost like it came directly out of the fryer and was served). However, the nori waffle fries were awesome!
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Ken L.

Yelp
Did not know walking in that Ki Ramen moved here until I was ready to leave. If anyone notices, Nanban is actually a hybrid front comprised of Ki Pollo and Ki Ramen, pollo meaning chicken and ramen meaning noodle. Chicken came out extremely hot, too hot to handle. Interesting preparation: skin was extremely crunchy but the "in-between" fat membrane is actually missing. The chicken meat is juicy and hot but had very little flavor. The dip we ordered was a Ginger Asian Glaze that did not penetrate and blend in well resulting still a bland flavor. After a piece of chicken, I was pretty much chickened out. The highlight and savior was the ramen. It has been a while I had a noodle of ramen with the right proportion of toppings, broth and noodles. The broth was rich, the pork bellies were filling and noodles cooked to perfection. Would come back for the ramen noodle bowl and forego the pollo.
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DJ J.

Yelp
We stopped in for a quick lunch. There are a few tables and one tall table in the back. The counter service was really nice. We ordered Pork belly Bao Bun, Mayo Hot Chicken Bao bun and Garlic Miso butter chicken Sando. Everything was tasty especially the Pork Belly Bao Bun. The time it took to get out meal was a little on the long side, about 30 minutes.
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Brian H.

Yelp
Second time that I've eaten here. The first time my chicken was a little overcooked but I came back to give them a second shot. I tried the pork and chicken Bao. The pork was crunchy and flavorful. The chicken was not chewy and gushing with flavor. I had a chorizo empanada that didn't blow me away but I wasn't unhappy I bought it. My friend ordered an entree of gochujang chicken and biscuits and that blew me away. After trying that I texted two friends and told them they needed to try it. Will be back to get my own entree of the gochujang. For the building itself, outside seating is available, as well 4-5 tables and some bar seating. Staff was also friendly.
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Mike M.

Yelp
Enjoyed the menu offerings. Counter service. Ordered the hot chicken sando which was cooked perfectly but the chili oil that it was dipped in didn't really bring any heat. Also ordered the shio udon. The broth was tasty and egg was perfect. Pork belly wasn't super memorable. I'd go back but it's tough competition in the area with pusadee and noodlehead within a few minutes.
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Jayme B.

Yelp
I stopped in here for lunch on a Saturday afternoon. There was a group of 6 of us. The guy working ( I wish I would have gotten his name) was extremely helpful and patiently answered all of our questions about menu items. I ordered the fried chicken bao bun sandwich and a side of cucumbers. I also ordered a cucumber lime drink (I think! Whatever it was, it was so delicious and refreshing). My food was so good and everyone else really enjoyed their food as well. This is a neat little spot in Lawrenceville, I'll definitely be back!
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Shawn K.

Yelp
Food had great portions, enough for us to share. Ramen is good, and especially a hit with our kids that feel more comfortable with when there is a chicken nuggets around. The chicken nuggets were honestly the star here (which is weird with ramen too), dark meat nuggets with a good amount of flavor. Beats a McNugget any day. Seating is limited, but they do carry out.
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Samantha R.

Yelp
The ramen at Nanban was exactly what you want from ramen. The broth was flavorful and not very heavy, the ingredients were fresh (I especially liked the spinach), and the pork belly was crispy on the outside but still had the tenderness on the inside that you expect. My partner ordered the Shoyu ramen with regular ramen noodles and our friend ordered it with the rice noodles. Both were delicious and satisfying. The spicy chicken sandwich, however, is why I am giving this review a 4 instead of a 5. The toasted sesame slaw was great and the presentation was beautiful. The chicken unfortunately was not spicy and as you can see from the pictures, the inside of the sandwich was rubbery and hard to eat. While the outside of the sandwich was crispy and flavorful, the chicken wasn't cooked well or wasn't good enough quality as it should have been juicy and tender and instead I felt like I was eating rubber. I could have said something to the staff (they were super nice) but I had hoped that it was only a small part of my sandwich that was not good but it was almost the entire thing. Maybe it was a bad day and if I tried it again in the future it would be better. I do think this is highly possible because this place is pretty great overall and is worth returning to.
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Alexandra A.

Yelp
visited PA and my friends took me to this place, and loved it!! the ambience was super chill and a great place to hang out with friends. the late night, neon, colorful vibe made it feel like i was rlly living it up in the city during my 5 day stay. the food was super good and portions were satisfying. I didn't expect the chicken to be pretty big, but you get your money's worth! they don't add the sauces onto the chicken; they come in dry and have the sauces on the side for you to pour or dip the chicken in which was pretty interesting. they were packed w flavor so I feel like having the chicken already glazed with the sauce would be even better. would def come back here when I come to PA!
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Erin H.

Yelp
Checked this little place out last night and, wow, it was terrific! Service was excellent and the Inferno ramen and Miso ramen was exactly what we were looking for! Spicy hot broth plus added chicken nugs were tasty. Looking forward to returning to try some other dishes.

Mike Z.

Yelp
Food was excellent. I had the chili oil garlic noodles. Not as spicy as they look but very good. Bao bun was also delicious. Will definitely be back when I'm in Lawrenceville
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Neil S.

Yelp
A group of friends and I chose Nanban for a quick, Friday dinner based on its appealing menu of ramen and Asian inspired fried chicken. Our meal tasted overall fine, but this small Lawrenceville eatery is not somewhere I'd heartily recommend for a meal. The set up here involves ordering and paying at the front counter and then food being brought to your table. While we experienced no wait time, this place seems popular and the restaurant is small so peak hours may pose a challenge for larger groups. Despite the fast casual service model, it took a while to receive our food (particularly the fried items). I ordered the special hot chicken sandwich and a pork belly bao. The steamed bun represented a poor value at one piece for $5, but tasted decent enough with a well cooked slice of pork belly and flavorful char siu sauce. My chicken sandwich offered a massive piece of shatteringly crispy chicken that overhung the edges of the bun. The flavors on that dish tasted great and balanced, with a zippy, citrusy aioli completing the slightly spicy, chili oil-inflected chicken and the richness of the dish cut smartly with pickles. While the taste left a positive impression, an overly toasted, desiccated bun and stringy, slightly dry meat betrayed those solid flavors and made the sandwich overall so-so. Diners who ordered ramen seem to enjoy their bowls well enough, but were dismayed that a small container of chili oil to add spice cost $2. Overall, we had an okay meal here. If you are craving Asian fusion flavors in the neighborhood and don't have time for a sit down meal, Nanban may fit the bill. A lack of value and forgettable food categorize it as strictly 3 stars for me.
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Viv L.

Yelp
I was really impressed with the flavor here. I'm not a huge fan of chicken sandwiches but somehow pulled off something pretty impressive here. The chicken is incredibly crispy while also being plenty juicy. With the miso chicken sandwich, the butter and seasoning coating the fried chicken brought me a lot of joy. It's worth checking out if you're in the area, since the combination of japanese food and empanadas is just a really fun concept.
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Jeffrey W.

Yelp
horrible customer service. my wife and I went here for my birthday. asked to be seated and it was busy so understandably we had to wait. we asked the host if there was a call list which he said there wasn't and then when a table became a my wife and I sat ourselves. only to find the service only got worse. the wait staff stood around for a few minutes. never attended us and walked past us a good 5x and not once offered us as little as some water. so we decided to leave. probably was a great decision because I found that this place is actually a merger of Ki ramen and another place. I actually got sick from Ki ramen 2 years ago and was willing to give them another shot in hopes the partnership corrected their past poor quality.
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Olivia P.

Yelp
Service was fine, and the food was mid. The miso broth was pretty good, but the noodles tasted like pasta noodles and cauliflower got soggy really quickly. Also, the bathroom is inside the kitchen...
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Kaylee L.

Yelp
So so good I forgot to snap enough photos! I have been wanting to try Nanban for a a while now and finally got some takeout the other night. We ordered online which was really easy through their website and really couldn't decide. I ended up with this bao and the spicy drumsticks with a biscuit. The chicken was so juicy and the breading so crispy. I always love a spicy sweet sauce but this was fire!! I cannot wait to go back soon and order alllll the other things I wanted to try in the menu!
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Dante M.

Yelp
This was my first time I've been here, and I've been wanting to come ever since I heard they are serving some delicious Asian Soul Food! This restaurant is a merger between Kiin Ramen and Kiin Chicken, so we had to try out both their chicken and ramen! The ramen had such a nice flavor to their broth, and my friend said that he could've just eaten a full bowl of broth and chicken! The bao buns were good, the pork belly one was definitely better than the tofu one, but we were glad to have tried them both! The shroom empanada was a hit amongst our group! And my gochujang chicken and biscuits was the star of the show (recommended by the gentleman who served us)! We absolutely loved this place, and highly recommend it!

Gemma P.

Yelp
Went here upon the recommendation of a friend's friend. (Could be my first mistake). Ordered the fried chicken nugget ramen and added chili paste cause I like it hot. The broth was packed with flavor so I added a star for that, but that's as far as it goes. the chicken nuggs were supposed to be thigh meat - in my experience, thigh meat is dark - this was not. The first piece I put in mouth immediately came out in a napkin. It was chewy and gristly - just plain nasty. I pulled the other pieces out of the soup because I knew I wasn't eating them. Not sure whose thighs they were from, but they aren't from a chicken. My friend told me that I would like the broth better if I poked the egg open. That was another mistake. It made me gag and I eventually ended up throwing up near my car. Not the eggs fault, but it was just too undercooked for me. The thought of it writing this review is even making me queasy. My friend did enjoy her pork bao bun and my chorizo empanada was just ok. The Coke tasted fine, too.
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Nai A.

Yelp
We checked this place out for lunch! It's a small place with maybe 7-8tables. You order at the front and then take a seat. They will bring you your food once it's done. The menu isn't large but everyone there was eating some type of Ramen. We opted to try the fried chicken! My husband got the 4 piece chicken with a coconut sambal sauce. I asked the guy working and he stated that the chicken is breaded in potato starch which make it light and airy! And it was! So delicious with that sauce. Didn't feel greasy. I got the Gochujang Chicken and Biscuits! It was spicy but not to spicy! I really enjoyed that kick! The beef empanadas was good. I like my empanadas a little flaky and this wasn't but had a good texture.