Ren's Ramen

Born and raised in Japan, I’d eaten ramen from all over Japan. This place, is one of the most authentic place you can find in DMV area. Don’t let the appearance fool you - the soup, the noodle are very much like what you would find in mom-pop places in Japan. Of course I wouldn’t say this is the best I ever had, but this place definitely takes me back home through its authentic dishes. They do Hokkaido miso ramen better than some places in Tokyo. This place also has Champon, which is a staple in Nagasaki where I’m originally from. Again, Ren does better job than many of the places where they served Champon in Tokyo. Their Gyoza is legit too. Just like the ones you find in ramen places in Japan. 1000% recommend to those who wants authentic Japanese ramen.

I really enjoyed the ramen.The broth was delicious .The noodles were perfectly chewy and the broth was rich. The amount of protein and veggies was skimpy for the $20+ price. Regretfully, I'm mentioning:the person who took my order was rude. He was probably in a rush on a busy Saturday. I understand that but, this interaction came close to making me hang up and take my business elsewhere!

If you are a black person, do not spend your money here any longer. And if you’re an ally, find another ramen spot. I have always loved this spot for their ramen, I have been going here for years. However, yesterday I had the most mortifying experience. I was screamed at like a child, refused service and discriminated against to which I’m 100% sure was based on race. Not to mention, I do not live close to this establishment and waited all day to eat there because I really loved their ramen and other food choices. I hitched a ride with a friend and because I apparently smelled like smoke, which by the way I don’t smoke. I was ran out of the restaurant by the chef. I assume he is the owner. I left my purse in the restaurant so that I could take a picture of the meter to pay for my friends parking and when I returned not only did it look like the owner was trying to rummage through my purse; I was screamed at and accused of smoking in the restaurant. Both workers in the restaurant clearly had seen that I had not been doing such a thing however, I was being brutally chastised by the chef. Which I assume is the owner. So I left. I will not be returning to this establishment and if you are a black person, I would think twice about dining here. What people do or don’t do in their personal lives has nothing to do with them paying you for a meal. You are a restaurant, not a federal agency nor an employer of the customer. I am highly disgusted and disappointed with the owner of this place.

This is a small, authentic ramen shop owned by Japanese people from Sapporo. All ramen shops I’ve been to in Japan are cozy like this shop. I got the Sapporo ramen. The broth is rich and flavorful. It is a little salty, but I like salt so it’s ok. The egg costs extra but is just the way I like it, soft boiled and marinated in soy/mirin. I thought there could be more pork, there’s only one piece. You can ask for additional pork, but it costs more. Service is quick and friendly. I found parking on the street easily. I wouldn’t drive super far out of my way to come here, but it was good.

Ordered spicy pork Ramon. Very tasty. Also the pork belly fun was great. And mont blanc cake was delicious, fresh and soft. We are definitely coming back.

The noodles were perfect texture and consistency. However, the soup was not good at all. Bakudan Ramen was supposed to be spicy but it was not spicy and very watered down. The stamina ramen was very very salty leaving my mouth dry as a desert. We waited 30+ minutes for our ramen. Limited cramped parking and towing signs everywhere. There was 1 hr street parking if you're lucky to find a spot. The place was pretty small but they did have good service. Overall, cons just outweigh the pros. Would not recommend and would never come again.

I've been eating here since they opened way back in the day but no longer can and I advise everyone else to do the same. I was accused and accosted by, whom I assume is the owner, for smoking weed and bringing the smell into the restaurant and he did this in front of all the other customers dining at the time. Just to clarify, it is perfectly legal to smoke in the State of Maryland, medically and recreationally. To also clarify, I did not smoke prior to going there to eat. So to be accused of doing so then told I'm never allowed to come back really threw me off. So if you don't want to be yelled at in front of a restaurant full of eating patrons of doing something you didn't do(even though it's legal), I'd avoid eating here.

I always have a delicious experience here. The ramen is the best I have found on the east coast so far. The noodles are yummy and the broth is flavorful Ren's is a small mom and pop kinda place and they won't seat you till all your party is present. They have some great specials so check out the special menu on the board, special drinks, toppings and ramen. Can't go wrong with this place!

No frills. Good service. Just amazing Sapporo style ramen, chanpon, tan men, and tsukemen. After many a bowl here my favorites are the hot & sour ramen (a must) and the garlic men. I'll give the curry ramen a shout out as well but the hot & sour ramen rents space inside my head for free.

I've been eating here since they opened way back in the day but no longer can and I advise everyone else to do the same. I was accused and accosted by, whom I assume is the owner, for smoking weed and bringing the smell into the restaurant and he did this in front of all the other customers dining at the time. Just to clarify, it is perfectly legal to smoke in the State of Maryland, medically and recreationally. To also clarify, I did not smoke prior to going there to eat. So to be accused of doing so then told I'm never allowed to come back really threw me off. So if you don't want to be yelled at in front of a restaurant full of eating patrons of doing something you didn't do(even though it's legal), I'd avoid eating here.

Authentic Miso ramen restaurant that blows the doors off your taste buds. The service was great, and the staff was friendly and helpful.

A little gem hole in the wall Sapporo style ramen joint. Lots to love in the food. The broth is so so tasty; had the Stamina Ramen which blends 2 different broths. I added extra tofu and bamboo. Also tried a vinegary bean sprout salad and an alcohol free Amazake, a sweet rice 'sake'. Ramen was amazing. However, I added extra noodles. It does not come with a lot of other ingredients so I feel like you will want to add in stuff to be full. On the downside, parking can be problematic and if the lot is full you have to find street parking. Also the ambience is pretty basic and charmless. But hey, you're here for the ramen. A meal for 2 cost around $50 plus tip.

As several friends recommended this place, I came here with several friends on Saturday for lunch. The place is small, but it wasn't that crowded. Service was pretty efficient and friendly. They specifically feature "Sapporo" style ramen, which is usually made with rich pork bone broth and miso. The portion of the ramen is pretty big, so people with big appetites would be satisfied without adding extra noodles. The noodle was medium thick and a bit wavy with decent chewiness. One thing I soon noticed in my tsuke-men (dipping noodle) was that noodle was pretty short (like 4-5 inches), so it was hard to pick it up, dip, and slurp noodles as a Japanese. The miso dipping soup was warm, flavorful, and tasty. The topping was average as it only came with one slice of pork, some veggie, and no egg. Gyoza was pretty small and decent but extremely hot so be careful. Overall, this place offers very authentic ramen, unlike upscale/growing ramen chain restaurants. Parking lot is pretty small, but plenty of street parking around.

My family has been coming to Ren's Ramen for almost as long as my memories extend -- even since before they were at this location in Wheaton. It's been so long that I've evolved from the light broth of the shoyu ramen all the way to the deeply rich miso ramen. This place is a real gem and it's set my bar for ramen sky-high. The squiggly noodles are imported from Japan and they're so chewy. It's different from the straighter Kyushu noodles and some people might find they like these even more. Their gyoza is also excellent and sometimes they might even have fried rice available! Dunno if it's a "secret menu" item nowadays haha. My whole family spends a year salivating about it (which might actually be even better than their ramen) and then hoping and praying that our near-hourlong trip is not for naught. There's a couple of spots in the lot (don't stray too far to the left to avoid getting towed, though) and plentiful street parking that's free on Sundays and metered otherwise.

I got their Misp Tan Tan (spicy sesame oil is the not-so secret ingredient in this one). I usually can't finish ramen and have to take the rest to-go, but this one was so delicious I really couldn't stop!! I haven't had ramen with such a strong sesame taste before and it was 10/10, I can't recommend it enough. Service was also super friendly and SO FAST!! We super appreciated that. Very casual eatery and great food.

I ordered takeout ramen and it was magnificent!! I crave it regularly and am so happy I live only a mile away! My go-to is the Sapporo style miso and I always get an order of the gyoza, too. Highly recommend!

I stopped by for an easy, breezy lunch, and I thought everything was great. Ren definitely is a place that I more than likely will visit again. While my ramen (I forgot which one I ordered) was absolutely delicious, I thought the amount of broth was a bit on the low side. Although the service was a bit cold, it was efficient. Since this was my first visit to Ren's Ramen, I did not consider that it might be one of those in and out spots. While the food is delicious, the ambiance of the restaurant has a no frills vibe, which is perfectly fine. Fortunately, I did not drive to the restaurant because the parking lot (which is shared by two other Asian restaurants) is really small. However, I am not 100% sure if there is additional parking outside the main parking lot.

Great ramen. I love the vegetarian options. Very small place but the ramen is great. Many creative option.

Still pretty good. Have been coming here for over 20 years and the hell shoyu is still the spiciest ramen you can get. Service can be a bit curt, but efficient. Their menu has expanded and the variations of dishes are good. Becareful with the parking. You can only park on their lot or the street metered parking.

Went on a Sunday evening and it wasn't too busy! I was seated right away and given 2 menus. One was for specials and the other was the main menu. It was easy and straight to the point to order. All of the ramen comes with standard toppings. I ordered meat and egg at an additional cost, but it didn't add much to the total price. I also ordered the dumplings, which were juicy, hot, and freshly made! My ramen came out soon after and was flavorful, delicious, and not too salty. WILL COME BACK AGAIN!

(Place was closed from mid-June to July 14. I revisited yesterday, July 20, and am editing the below review to reflect that.) I usually go for the Bakudan Ramen with the very spicy broth, though they often have an even spicier special available. The lightly soy poached eggs, the pork belly, the bamboo shoots, and everything always makes a deeply flavorful dish. The Stamina Ramen is also excellent, though I often ask for Japanese red pepper flakes (Shichimi Togarashi). Yesterday I tried the Hot and Sour Ramen for the first time (I think it's a relatively new item). Very tasty, very much like a good Chinese hot and sour soup but with ramen noodles, some grilled pork, and a richer broth. The Stamina Ramen is also very good. I still want to try the Chanpon-Men Ramen with all its ingredients. Note that parking is scarce and you'll probably park on the street at a meter. DO NOT PARK IN FRONT OF ANY OF THE ADJOINING BUSINESSES. With the exception of Ruan Thai next door, parking in front of one of the other businesses will get you towed. Yesterday, a Friday at about 2 p.m., I was able to snag the parking space right in front, probably in part because there were no other customers at that time. Bring cash! No cards taken here. And it's small. I go generally for a late weekday lunch, 1-2 p.m. when there's almost always room. Note they close at 3 p.m. and reopen at 5 p.m. If they are full, people must wait outside, which can be dreadful depending on the weather.

Updated review - added the fifth star because: - still the best ramen in the DMV despite a lot of new ramen shops opening - they take credit cards now - they added a few menu items that are great, including spicy gyoza and an amazing strawberry daifuku, as well as natural fruit flavored Japanese sodas - added chilled and dry ramen options and the classic Japanese take on dan dan noodles Note: Tan Tan Mien is a hearty broth with sesame paste and oil. It's *intended* to have a thicker viscosity of broth that's almost creamy. Also, the toppings on Ren's ramen are typical of the amount what we would get in Japan - and there are photos on the menu and the wall. We drive 45-60 minutes to Ren's because if you're craving ramen, why settle?

We got the shoyu style ramen which I really liked. It's light but still bright enough to taste the broth. The hot (and sour?) was much lighter broth but the egg and bok choy was great. I would try again. The noodles tasted fresh.

My husband and I went for dinner at Ren's on a Friday night. There were a good amount of people, but it wasn't really busy so we got seats right away. We got gyoza as an app, Bakudan Miso ramen and Miso Tan-Tan. The ramens don't really come with much, you have to add toppings which all cost extra. The Bakudan was just not good - it tasted like instant ramen, had one piece of pork, and wasn't spicy even though it's advertised as such. The Miso Tan-Tan also tasted like instant noodles and the broth was too thick. We both ended up not finishing our food and picking up something else to eat afterwards - never a good sign.

My "go to" for a good ramen fix. Never had a bad time and have been coming back for years.

Ramen is always great here. I absolutely love the ramen, I get it regularly when I'm in town and dream about it when I'm not. Service has always been great for me, I've never had issues like other reviews mention, but I've also never had an issue at Ren's. Anyone local to the area knows you basically don't even try parking in that tiny parking lot - just park on the street. I think it's a little crazy so many reviews complain about having to pay for parking when it's less than $2 in change, and you'll pay more going basically anywhere for food.

The food is consistently good in this unassuming Wheaton spot that is just nice enough to not qualify as a "hole in the wall". I say 4 stars as the service can be a little... let's say "short" and i know several people that won't eat here because they found the staff rude. I don't think it's that bad, but at least one staff member is very short, not interested in making any sort of accommodation and seems generally slightly stressed/annoyed all the time. Go for the food, not the service.

Without question the best and most authentic ramen restaurant in the DC area. I drive from DC when I'm in the mood for ramen

Had the dumpling's followed by the Stamina Ramen. Everything came out quickly and was very tasty. Glad this place is still in business.

The ramen is the best around but you take what they serve you or Ren will ban you for "complaining." They didn't include the egg I paid for twice in a row and now I am persona non grata.

I stopped in for ramen after seeing that I bookmarked this place a while ago. I ordered the tonshio and the shoyu ramens for takeout. I waited for about 20 minutes and they brought my food out to me. When I first took it off the container, and poured the broth on, I was impressed. The broth had rich flavor and the noodles were chewy. However as I kept eating, the broth got much saltier. It was still tasty but I couldn't quite finish it. This was the same for both ramens I ordered. It also felt like there were not enough toppings. An egg would have been a great addition. If I was in the area again, I'll order from them again.

Super nice small ramen restaurant tucked away in the corner of Wheaton. There were tons of options and specials to choose from which I liked, such as spicy and non spicy options. You could choose from a variety of options to add onto your ramen. I got a ramen that wasn't on the menu but it was a special that was written on their chalk board. It was some sort of garlic and park ramen fish that was very flavorful and delicious. My only complaint was that it was just a tad salty to my liking. Nonetheless, not a bad dish at all and I would love to come back to try other options. Service: 5/5 Food: 4/5 Interior: 4/5

The noodles were perfect texture and consistency. However, the soup was not good at all. Bakudan Ramen was supposed to be spicy but it was not spicy and very watered down. The stamina ramen was very very salty leaving my mouth dry as a desert. We waited 30+ minutes for our ramen. Limited cramped parking and towing signs everywhere. There was 1 hr street parking if you're lucky to find a spot. The place was pretty small but they did have good service. Overall, cons just outweigh the pros. Would not recommend and would never come again.

The best ramen in the area. I've lived in Japan for 3.5 years and ever since i came back I was looking for a decent spot. Look no further! Amazing taste! Great quality! Truly pleased and satisfied with the ramen and service. Miso recommended.

Yo, this is my spot. Their ramen is mad good. So far I've tried the hot and sour, stamina, "the sapporo" style miso, and the miso tan-tan men ramen. While I enjoyed them all, I think my fav so far is "The Sapporo" Style Miso. I almost always start with a pork belly bun and yes. Deliciousness. The bun is nice and soft. The pork belly is flavorful. The cabbage,, carrot and scallion on top add a nice lil crunch. Ya girl likes her food spicy so I spread the spicy mustard on top. Mhmmmmm. It's a cute shop with limited seating. They usually have good music playing. They have different specials so make sure to check them out. The customer service is excellent. All in all, this is a quality spot.

I wasn't expecting much, but as soon as we got there, it went downhill. The parking lot is extremely tight. There are probably only 3 parking spots designated for Ren's ramen and if you park elsewhere in the lot, you risk being towed. People even parked behind other cars illegally. The restaurant itself was pretty small, but luckily we got a table within five minutes. However, we waited for over 30+ minutes for our food which is abnormally long for a ramen place. The food: the ramen was way too salty (and that says a lot because I personally love salty food). I couldn't finish my broth because of the saltiness and oiliness. The presentation also seemed very sloppily put together. I appreciate when ramen shops put a little effort into the presentation, though I would've overlooked this if I had really enjoyed the food. The only thing I truly enjoyed were the noodles themselves. The texture and firmness were perfect. But overall, I would not return. Was not worth the wait and inconvenience.

Ramen is always good, with noodles cooked to just the right consistency. The highlight of every bowl is their broth, which is thick, flavorful, packed with all the umami goodness that one would expect from a great ramen place. Highly recommend!

Not a huge ramen person so the rating is based on the average of the group plus someone who enjoys ramen and I think his rating made me bump up the rating since he is more of a ramen connoisseur than me :) Parking is limited. You can park on the street and I don't think it's that difficult to find parking. Located next to Ruan Thai. I've heard so many good things about this place but never cared to check it out. I am very surprised at the low rating. Sorry a lot of the ramen spelling is prob wrong. I noticed I spelled it wrong in the picture too.. Anyway, Tsukemen is a dipping ramen and I do think the flavor of it is good but I do like my ramen broth hot and it was like warm. Flavors are good and when you add all the extra stuff it makes it a lot pricier but the add ins are usually worth it. My friends added pork belly, corn, and egg Bakudan is supposed to be spicy but it was not spicy. I wanted at least some kind of spice but I felt like there was no kick to it. Anyway, the flavor was good. I added the fatty pork because the waitress said that was better and I did enjoy it. I also added the egg but it was too salty for me. I also prefer just soft boiled egg that's not flavored but most like the egg like this. I got the miso version of this Sapporo salt one was okay. My friend didn't like hers as much and preferred the flavor of mine. She added pork and egg to hers. Service was great but ramen was okay. I do think that if I were to go again I would get the tsukemen even though the broth isn't as hot as I'd like. My friend would give this 5 stars because he loves and knows his ramen more than I do. I prefer korean shin ramyun or something cheaper like that lol :)

Only okay. This hole in the wall advertises their aged, imported noodles-- but as any ramen fanatic knows, ramen is mostly about the broth. And good broth is hard, really hard, a time-consuming labor of love. The broth here was just...bland. No hot sauce on offer to perk it up. The toppings? Okay, but not as plentiful, flavorful, varied (or instagram friendly) as other shops. The chaschu pork wasn't as fatty or delicious as what I usually have, and there was 1/2 to 1/3 as much as I'd expect. Also tried the gyoza. They were pan-fried (kudos) but the filling was bland, and the sauce was non-descript. Echos of Trader Joe's, but not as good. Note: Cash only, limited parking. If you live around the corner, definitely consider stopping in. If you seek out delicious Japanese food? This isn't worth the trip.

This hole in the wall ramen spot is officially my favorite ramen spot in the DMV! I've tried places like Akira, Jinya, and Sakuramen but Ren's Ramen beats them all by far. We ordered the pork buns, tonkatsu ramen, and miso ramen. The buns were very delicious. There was a thick cut of pork, lathered with lots of sauce and a cabbage-carrot slaw. Highly recommend it! As for the ramens, we were very enamoured. The broth is absolutely delicious--hearty but not too heavy. They import their noodles from Japan and they are so chewy. The ramen comes with a slice of pork, bamboo chutes, chopped green onion, bean sprouts, and a bit of ground pork. We added in a seasoned egg and corn. The toppings were all incredible and tasted very fresh. My only wish is that they add more than one slice of pork. Other than that, the food was delicious, service was great, and our total price was very affordable.

Great food reasonable prices not a fancy atmosphere but still well worth the visit! Fast and pleasant service and I believe they now take credit cards also.

Ren's Ramen is our family's go to place for Japanese ramen in the Baltimore/D.C. area. And we had no complaints in the past. However, everything changed for me on 4/21/23. My husband ordered the Stamina ramen in the special menu and it was extremely salty to the point it was not appetizing. Considering my husband has hypertension ( high blood pressure), I asked for some hot water to dilute the broth to reduce the saltiness. We could have asked them to take the dish back but we didn't want to be difficult so I approached the host and just asked for some hot water. What she said was appealing, shocking, and unacceptable. She said she couldn't give us any hot water. No explanation!!! Just they are not supposed to. I explained the situation and she rolled her eyes, huffed and puffed and adamantly said "NO." I asked to speak with the cook and she said I couldn't. The only reason I didn't continue with my outrage was because it was my son's birthday and he felt like I was ruining the mood. I have never encountered a service like this. The only things I could think of is that someone must have sued them bc someone spilled hot water on themselves, but they can't say it to protect themselves. BUT ashy couldn't the restaurant decide to take the dish back and make adjustments, remake it, or offer to give a different ramen. All I can say is, they had no consideration for their paying customers. It's like if someone was having a heart attack in their restaurant, they are going to ignore it. WHY did I give a 2 star rating bc of my kids. Unfortunately, I could not convince them restaurants should not treat patrons this way and my son still likes this place. For my husband and myself, no food is worth it when restaurants cannot accommodate customer's simple wish. We weren't asking for the moon lol- just some warm or hot water bc food was so damn salty!!!!

I'd take a big pass on this place if I were you. I think the 3-star review is deadly accurate because Ren's just falls short on many levels. I'm not sure why anyone would give 5 stars and rave about its authenticity. It's not good, simple as that. People who think it's the best ramen shop obviously haven't been to a warm welcoming restaurant where there's an open kitchen with Japanese phrases being shouted. I'll admit it, I'm a ramen snob and I don't want to delve into all the other ramen joints I've been to--it's a lot, all around the world. I get that Ren's Ramen is in a lower socioeconomic neighborhood so their business practices reflects that, but if the actual product isn't that good, then what's the point? Ren's Ramen is a cash-only, customers-only-restroom, lots of signs for giving tip, small soup eatery. It sort of feels like you're in a strict religious classroom in the 80's with all the signs telling you what you can't do. You can tell they just want to maximize their profit. Also, when my wife was asking the server about the menu, the only thing she kept saying was that the Miso Ramen was the most popular (no depth of knowledge about the actual broth, which should be complex). Again, and most importantly, it's all about the product, and the broth is too salty with noodles that aren't that tasty. So, you're not missing out if you don't come here. Get a respectable bowl at a different spot in D.C.

Ren's is a traditional Japanese Ramen shop. I've been eating here since they moved from Bethesda many years ago. The ramen choices are extensive, and consistently excellent. My favorites include Stamina Ramen, and Tantenmen, but the seasonal dishes are worth exploring, as are the traditional ramen dishes. Parking is extremely limited on site; many metered spots nearby, and rarely you will need to use the nearby MC garage. Ignore the criticisms; this is a legit Japanese ramen shop. If you wan't something else, with low salt options etc go elsewhere. This is the real deal and we are lucky to have it in Wheaton.

I'm surprised to see such average reviews. My friend loves this place, and we finally got to visit together! It was my first time visiting. We started with the pan fried dumplings. They are the best dumplings I have had in a while!! I had the hot and sour ramen. It was soooo good. It was a bit salty, but Ramen always is! I'll the noodles were cooked perfectly, and the broth was amazing. I enjoyed the blend of spicy/salty. I added the egg, which was also excellent. My friend loves all the spicy Ramen. I look forward to trying the other Ramen!

Pretty good ramen, but not the best. The pork belly tasted more like pork loin. The place is small and does get crowded at lunch so go early for a table. There is a sign on the door saying your entire party must be there before they will seat you and that you have to wait outside. Others had warned of rudeness, but the server was friendly and we had no problems.

The Sapporo-ization of Ramen in the DMV Has Got to Stop Came here at the recommendation of a fellow ramen enthusiast who informed me that Ren's got its tare and noodles from the same suppliers for Daikaya, but made its own broth. Got the tsukemen (dipping noodles) instead of the ramen since I was in the mood for (normally) thicker tsukemen noodles. What I was served didn't much resemble tsukemen at all, but rather a ramen where the noodles were separated out. The norm with tsukemen is to have two bowls: one with the noodles and ingredients, and a smaller one with just very concentrated broth. Ren's rendition uses two similarly-sized bowls, with the ingredients all in the broth bowl. In addition, the noodles used in the tsukemen are exactly the same ones it uses in its ramen, rather than thicker ones that are the norm for tsukemen. Many restaurants do this to save on sourcing, but then it makes for a worse tsukemen experience. As for the flavors themselves, they were okay-ish. The miso broth was more concentrated than the ramen norm, but still felt short of the richness that I generally expect out of tsukemen. The standard chashu came with a single slice of pre-roasted, refrigerated pork loin, which tasted unsurprisingly uninspired. There's the option to order pork belly or stewed fatty pork (I assume it's kakuni, 角煮) for $2 or $3.50 more, respectively, but I was not inclined to spend such at a cash-only restaurant. Finally, the ajitama egg I ordered looked as if it had been over-soaked in the shoyu-mirin bath--it's quite obvious from my picture--and tasted as such, which the additive flavors overwhelming the egg. this ramen doesn't taste too far from Daikaya, though to Ren's credit I think the broth is decent (somewhat overly salty) and everything is more artfully plated that what you see at Daikaya and its sister restaurants. The lack of tsukemen qualities in a dish was purportedly "tsukemen" was very disappointing, but I think I might the miso ramen a bit more. It's certainly not a 3-star restaurant. Finally, note that it is cash only, as if we were in Japan. but if that is the case, then I demand to be greeted with a "irrashaimase!"

TERRIBLE TERRIBLE service! The ramen...I've had better tasting instant noodles with meat and veggies added. Visited this place before the Covid-19 pandemic. It was about 5pm; there were tables open (only two tables were taken). They made us (party of 4 including a baby) sit at the back window bar style table with adult high chairs even though we had a baby in a car seat. They are undeserving of a second chance and have not returned.

This place is a hidden gem. Cash-only (in an increasingly digital world) but it's all good. You like it spicy? They have spicy? Add-ons? All of them, if you want. The noodle-to-broth ratio is perfect, and I mean, every-single-time. Good hot slurping soup. Try the specials, if you like adventures ramen-style. It's like my favourite ramen spot, worth the drive out-to Wheaton. I vouch strongly for the Sapporo ramen and extra pork-belly. Rock solid ramen, good for a date or casual gathering with friends. Small-spot, little seating for those COVID-19 risks. No reservations taken, no excuses needed.

Fantastic ramen! Ignore all the bad reviews, they're either fake or people who are ramen snobs who only like their favorite place. I ordered the special pork broth ramen from the yellow sign on the wall and added stewed fatty pork. I would recommend ordering some extras like more pork and an egg since they're not included. Other ramen places include three slices of pork instead on only one and the egg but this place doesn't, probably because of the rent they're paying. So just order it extra. What do you want for $11?

I ordered the sapporo style miso ramen. "All ramen...topped with roast pork....ground pork"-----I saw maybe half an ounce of roast pork (half of it fat) and no ground pork. Called to inquire about this, thinking there must have been a mistake and was rudely told I should know that's all it comes with.

Definitely one of the closest ramen places that I've been in the DMV area where it's as close to the mom and pop ramen spots I've had in Tokyo. It's no frills. Not trendy. But it hits the spot for me! Definitely coming back whenever I need my ramen fix

You're gonna read reviews from people on here who don't like Ren's. Heads up, parking sucks, service isn't great, it's not in a particularly nice location, they're not flexible on service in any way, and up until recently prominently displayed *comfort women propaganda in the corner of the restaurant*. If you can't deal with that (or for example you find yourself here writing a 2-3 star review because "...ramen is salty and I have hypertension.." issues - FFS why are you eating Ramen then, seriously?) go somewhere else and leave an open seat for those of us who go here because it is quite possibly the best fricken ramen in the entire USA. Traveled coast-to-coast and haven't had anything close to this. Should be in the Michelin app because any Michelin eats I've been to for Ramen, east to west coast *pale in comparison to Rens*. In fact, if your palate isn't compatible with Ren's, you need to reconsider whether your palate is reliable enough to be writing a review on this gem of a place. Don't like my attitude? I couldn't care less. Go to Ren's!

The Bakuden ramen was ahhhmazing! So was the pork belly bun, don't hesitate to give Ren's a try. Great service and food!

Ren's Ramen means business. It's a tight space, there's limited parking (whatever you do, do NOT park in front of Alex's Dry Cleaning or Glady's Hair Fashion - you will get towed!), and as other Yelpers have mentioned, they have some strict restaurant policies. Examples include: everyone must be present before being seated (even if the restaurant is completely empty, and the last person is literally right outside the door - no exceptions!); parties larger than four might be seated separately; once seated, you can't ask to move; if you have to wait for a table, wait outside; no strollers. It's also cash only. We arrived around 5pm on a Sunday and the place was empty. Only one other couple was seated - but they wouldn't seat us until all of us were physically inside the restaurant. (The last person in our party was like five steps behind us, walking from their parking lot.) They have a menu board with daily specials, so be sure to check that out to see if anything strikes your fancy. That day they had a hot and sour option, curry ramen (but it was sold out), and another super spicy option. I ordered the tonshio ramen (salt-flavored broth) topped with nori, roast pork, bean sprouts, bamboo shoots, scallions, onion, garlic, and ground pork. They were really skimpy with the toppings, I literally had one piece of the roast pork and one teeny piece of ground pork. In other words, just enough to say that it's there. Like all of the other ramen places, additional toppings cost extra. Service was better than expected - they were good at refilling waters, although they could've refilled my drink one more time. I was with a party of five, and we all ordered a different bowl of ramen. My bowl was the last to come out - though the wait time for my bowl to come out was not unreasonable, it was an above average, noticeable wait. The ramen was a medium thickness, nicely cooked al dente. But the tonshio bowl is average. The salt-flavored broth is nothing special - it is exactly that - salty with no complexity. I think if I ordered the Shoyu ramen (my usual go-to at ramen places, but for some reason I decided to go with salt instead of soy sauce), this would be a different review. I tried the Shoyu broth and it tasted a whole lot better than mine. The whole meal I was eating my tonshio bowl with envy and regret, wishing I ordered the Shoyu instead. Prices here are a little better than DC - Ren's Ramen bowls are $11-$12, while DC prices are $13-$15. If I had to rank Ren's Ramen among the other ramen places I've tried, it doesn't rank. Overall, that tonshio ramen is forgettable.

Daikaya, Menya, Haikan . . . Ren's Ramen beats 'em all. So far--though subject to future consideration--it's the best I've had in the DMV area (Miso). Of course, the best ramen would be an out-of-the-way tiny family owned spot.

In my opinion, you cannot be way too picky when getting Japanese food in DMV, but I was shocked to see a decent serving of ramen in Wheaton. Places like Jinya or Marumen don't come close. Others have said the broth is salty, but that is just preference. Noodles have great texture and I prefer them slightly firm. Roast pork was dry but I got the pork belly cha shu, so that made up for it. As others have said, this place is probably the closest you can get to the real thing and it's really close to the ramen I've had in Japan. Can't wait to go back! I will also give an updated review