Tsuruya

My new favorite ramen spot! The broth was so delicate and delicious, and the egg was bomb. Great service and cute little spot. This will be our new go-to in Berkeley.

This restaurant has the most welcoming atmosphere with a combination of incredibly put together menu. We had the opportunity to try the chicken ramen and the spicy tonkotsu dishes and were completely left satisfied of the delicious flavors and portion filling. Additionally we tried various dessert dishes and were left with some new favorites to come back for. All in all this is a location id recommend to all who visit the Berkeley area for some truly wonderful authentic Japanese cuisine. Especially on a cold winter night where you will leave warm with a full belly. We were grateful to have stopped by, and would recommend to all visiting this side of the bay !

So excited to finally try this ramen shop. The food was delicious, I have never had chicken chashu before I will definitely be ordering it every time. And since some of the other ramen places in the area have slipped in quality this will be our new go to...

Every component in the tonkotsu ramen stood out, from the crunchy wood ear, to the flavorful scallions and onions, to the perfectly chewy noodles. But the broth was the real highlight, it was so rich and a bit foamy on the top. If you come, please get the matcha panna cotta dessert as well! The flavor is so strong and amazing 🍵💚

The vegetarian ramen was delicious!! 10/10 would go again. The broth tasted just right. The fried tofu was yum with the soft boiled egg. Aahhhh, perfect!

Great ramen in a ver nice atmosphere served by very nice and warm service. Totally recommendable. Also tried the fried calamari and they tasted amazing.

Good ramen. The spice level of Spicy tonkatsu was perfect. Also a lot of chicken ramen options. The service was a little slow but otherwise good.

Great new place to get your authentic fix of ramen. Tonkotsu is flavorful, thick, and porky. Tori Paitan is a chicken broth ramen and they are amazingly chickeny showing tons of flavor you can get with Chicken! Noodles are chewy and very clingy to the soup which I like. The atmosphere is cozy and everyone working here are very friendly. Amazing experience and would recommend anyone around to give it a try! There was a bit of wait after ordering, but looking at what I am served with, I can see the details they are coming up to craft this bowl of ramen are well worth it! Coming here during soft opening, they don’t currently have a menu to look. Today they were serving 3 kinds: Tonkotsu, Tori Paitan, Miso Tonkotsu all of which can be made spicy.

First of all, the vibe just reminds me of a typical ramen shop in Japan. Anytime it feels that way right when I walk in, I feel like the ramen is going to be a good experience. The service was super friendly and this place had one vegan option which is good enough for me. The prices were slightly less expensive compared to others in the area which was nice but then that left little for me to give to my bf to supplement his bowl of ramen. The vegan ramen was excellent! The broth was rich and flavorful and the noodles had the perfect amount of bite to them. The bf ordered the tori paitan and completely demolished it. Needless to say, we'll be back for more the next time we're in Berkeley!

This Gourmet Ghetto address has been the home to a revolving door of eateries, the last one being a Thai street food spot called Cousins. In fact, I didn't even notice it turned into a ramen house because the decor change was pretty subtle. The menu is mostly ramen, eight different bowls in all, plus four appetizers (like chicken karaage and edamame) and three desserts. So yes, you can have a three-course meal here if you want. But I'm the standing ramen guy, the type who pretends he's on the platform in Shinjuku station. I ordered the $16.50 Black Garlic Tonkotsu Ramen with the medium thick Sapporo noodles because of the allure of pork belly chashu. It came out a lot milkier than I expected as the film of the pork bone-based broth and black garlic oil bubbled up to the surface (photo: https://yelp.to/3XPswRdFZP). The ingredients were plentiful. Not only the pork belly but also wood ear mushrooms, bamboo shoots, green and red onion, and a soft-boiled ajitama egg. Quite filling though I have to admit tonkotsu is not my favorite broth. I actually prefer miso or shio because I like a less pronounced broth when there are a lot of competitive flavors. I'll come back for a bowl of their paitan ramen sometime. Hopefully the space won't turn into something else. FOOD - 4 stars...pronounced tonkotsu broth with lots of ingredients...wish there were other ramen choices AMBIANCE - 3.5 stars...hey, it looks like Cousins SERVICE - 4 stars...a kind server TOTAL - 4 stars...if you like tonkotsu ramen, here's your place RELATED - Exploring Berkeley? Here's my collection of places I've patronized and reviewed: https://bit.ly/2CbVh8u

Decent place for ramen! Stopped by for weekend dinner and had to join a waitlist, but we didn't end up waiting too long. I ordered the spicy tonkotsu, and the broth was nicely flavored and just mildly spicy. My friend who ordered the jigoku paitan confirmed that to be very spicy (but tasty). Overall, cozy spot to stop by for a casual meal with friends!

Seriously, this is my new favorite ramen spot! Tsuruya felt like I was invited into someone's home and given a nice home cooked meal. The ramen was excellent. The service was excellent. Aya runs this place with her husband, Joe, and she is legit the sweetest thing ever! She came by to serve us and chat with us, telling us the history of her family and the business. We tried out the creamy pork croquettes (delicious!) and the Spicy Tonkatsu as well as the Black Garlic Tonkatsu. Usually the black garlic oil makes the ramen oily, but not here. The flavor was fantastic! I really enjoyed my Spicy Tonkatsu as well. It had the perfect amount of spice! For both our ramens, we got the Sapporo noodles (thicker, wavy noodles), which was such a great choice. Also this place has Sake and Beer! There's no drink menu, but we noticed the bottles on the counter. We got the beer from Aya's home town, Yokohama, in Japan - the Kirin Ichiban. Pretty smooth with a nice amount of hops. The place is small, so I recommend coming early or just be ready to wait outside. I can't wait to bring more friends to this place. My boyfriend and I had a special experience and we want to thank Tsuruya for their great hospitality and delicious food! We'll be back!

Very nice environment and food Definitely choose deluxe ramen Portion is not large but there are delicious toppings and meat. I especially like the chicken broth. The amount noodles can be more, and it'll be perfect

Berkeley often has the perfect weather for ramen, so Tsuruya is definitely in the right spot. I visited Tsuruya with a friend on a weekday evening - they take walk-ins only, and fortunately, we just beat the dinner rush and were seated right away. With four broths and two noodle types to choose from, the menu is short and straightforward. I ordered the spicy tonkotsu with the Hakata (thin) noodles, and my friend and I decided order the pork croquettes to share. Our croquettes came out first - they were served perfectly crispy on the outside, and the pork's smokiness paired well with the sweet dipping sauce. Our ramen followed quickly, and the spicy broth warmed my soul. While I wish there were more toppings given the volume of soup and noodles, everything tasted fresh and high quality. The chashu was tender and not overly-fatty (one of my biggest grievances with ramen), and the noodles were cooked to the optimal texture and chewiness. The broth was well-spiced yet not too hot, and I really liked the touch of citrus that cut through the richness. I have already bookmarked Tsuruya for a return visit, and I plan to try their Sapporo (thick) noodles next time.

Was visiting Berkeley while we were in the area and found this spot on yelp. Came in and was greeted with super friendly staff. Dimly lit interior with warm staff. Cozy ramen spot! We ordered a bunch of appetizers such as the karaage, calamari, and the croquette. All of them were pretty good. I think personally I would order the karaage again, it was juicy with a good portion. The calamari wasn't as crispy as I wished it to be but still good. I think the croquette balls were a hybrid of takoyaki and croquette, but I wished it was just one or the other. Ramen: Jigoku Tonkotsu : This was a spicy tonkotsu (pork bone) ramen. Very good and rich flavor. Even though I ordered it spicy, I can still taste the depth of the rich and velvety pork soup. Really enjoyed it, I was especially craving spicy soup too. If you like the heat, I would definitely give it a try. Tonkotsu : Definitely a good tonkotsu broth, super rich, and without the spiciness you can definitely taste the rich and savory broth. What sets Tsuruya apart from other ramen places is that you can choose their noodle size, and their hakata noodles are thin and the soup basically coats every strand of noodle. I really enjoyed the thinner noodles, would definitely visit again!

The food was amazing! You can tell the quality of the ramen and the broth was very flavorful and tasty. The noodles with thick or thin was great as well, we had the black garlic tori paitan and spicy tori paitan and it was delicious! My new favorite ramen spot! Also the matcha panna cotta was great, it gave me nostalgia of the matcha pudding in japan so I walked out happy! Service was very friendly and attentive! The ambiance was a chill vibe it definitely felt like I was in Japan again!

This cute little spot was such a great dinner date spot. The wait wasn't too long and the staff were all so friendly! We ordered hakata jigoku ramen, black garlic skinny noodle, and a tonkatsu ramen. EVERYONE loved theirs, the spicy one was actually very spicy. So spicy lovers, prepare to meet your match. Otherwise their broth was still very flavorful. I loved my black garlic initially but after it cools down I and sits, I feel like it started to taste a little bitter? Not as noticeable when it's hot. Eat quickly! Chicken karaage is a must have. So crisp, light, juicy, perfectly seasoned. Doesn't feel oily at all-- a must order!

What a cute spot. Love the interior. Lady that runs the front is fantastic. Very sweet and attentive. Legitimately one of the best meals I have had in East bay period. For me the medium wavy noodle has a better chewier texture that's more my speed: I had the thin straight noodles in mine. They were good. But the medium wavy was a step above. The spiciest ramen they have I wouldn't say is especially spicy but does have some heat and great flavor. Best chashu I have ever had. Will be back. Thank you for a wonderful meal.

Very small cute mom and pops restaurant with bar seating and couple tables. Not suitable for large parties. They have 2 types of ramen noodles, thin and thick. Wife prefers the thin while I prefer the thick. 2 sizing as well. Regular and large. We each had regular and were full. Got to try regular: -tonkotsu broth -black garlic - jigoku tonkotsu (which is actually extra spicy as stated on menu Overall, the broth is decent and you can taste that deep pork bone flavors. The black garlic wasn't strong, could use more black garlic magic. It was pretty much a one woman show in the front of the house and 2 workers in the back.

I was really interested in trying this place because of the amazing Yelp reviews. Overall, I am glad I tried it, but I wasn't 100% satisfied with the food. My partner and I ordered the chashu croquettes, a bowl of tonkatsu ramen, and a bowl of spicy tonkatsu ramen. Let me start with the croquettes: they were excellent! Super creamy on the inside, perfectly crispy on the outside, and packed with flavor. We ordered them because we read a Yelp review that said they were amazing. I can now conclude that they were! Do not skip the croquettes. The spicy tonkatsu had a rich and creamy broth with a good amount of spice and a touch of lime. The citrus from the lime cuts the spice a little bit. So good. The non-spicy tonkatsu just felt like it was missing something after trying the spicy version. I really think the non-spicy version could use some lime, like the spicy bowl. It was still good, but needed something extra. Tsuruya is close to the UC Berkeley campus and is accessible by BART. It has a casual feel to it on the inside, and the staff are incredibly sweet. Very smiley and personable. I recommend trying this place, but next time I'll ask for some lime!

One line review: Simple menu, tasty food. I got wildly different responses when I asked friends about the best ramen in Berkeley, but Tsuruya was new on the scene and highly rated, so I thought I'd give it a chance. I'm glad I did. My guest and I each ordered... ramen. Surprise! She had the Tori Paitan (chicken based), and I the Jigoku Tonkatsu (pork belly with extra hot chili paste). Both were quality meals and decent portions. The extra hot chili paste was not all that hot, but that happens. Ingredients were fresh and good; noodles were springy and not mushy (the bane of all noodle dishes). Service was competent but not memorable. I parked a few blocks away for free, but there are meters closer to the restaurant. I believe they shut off at 6pm. The gourmet ghetto is one of the more pleasant neighborhoods in which to walk to a restaurant, IMO. Bottom line: This was a good meal, and I'd be happy to come back when we're jonesing for ramen on a cool evening in Berkeley.

Overall experience was pleasant. We like everything from the service, food (for the most part), pricing, and plating. They have a decent amount of seating and a small bar/counter style area. I ordered their black garlic tonkotsu ramen. The broth was definitely lacking flavor.. there's no obvious sign of the black garlic oil either. Wondering if they had forgot to add it? On the other hand, the tonkotsu ramen broth was flavorful. The only other thing we would complain about is their bathroom being located in the back (accessible throughout the small alley). Not a deal breaker though.

The easiest 5 stars of my life! I am sooo happy I finally found a good ramen spot in Berkeley because everything else is so mid in comparison. Their menu is small but mighty. I got the thick noodles with spicy tonkotsu and my friend got the thin with spicy paitan. The tonkotsu is the creamiest and best broth I've ever had and it it's truly spicy. As a SEA and also a spice lover, this is nothing like the Japanese spicy you get at other restaurants. It's spicy, and it's delicious. My friend's paitan was less creamy and therefore more spicy than the tonkotsu. Even as a thick noodle girlie, I LOVED her thin noodles because they were very springy and bounced with every bite. My dream ramen bowl (which I'm coming back for) is the thin noodle with spicy tonkotsu!!! The service staff here are also very sweet and refill your water quickly (which is perfect for the spicy ramen)

The broth is probably the best I've had in the Bay Area. The egg is perfection. I'd prefer more tender pork and two smaller pieces instead of one. I like the wood vibes. Simple, clean look and feel. Friendly service.

I was craving ramen and found Tsuruya in Berkeley on Yelp. I decided to come with a group of friends on a Monday night and it wasn't too crowded. There were plenty of street parking and we got lucky with a parking spot right out front from the restaurant! we ordered assortment of ramen, from Black Garlic, spicy Tonkatsu, classic Tonkatsu, and the jigaku ramen. All of which had great flavors that stood out on its own, which we all liked. If you like spicy, highly recommend the jigaku. For the ramen, you also have the option of choosing from thin ramen noodles or the standard. All of us had the standard but we'll definitely be back next time for the thin noodles. Overall, it was good and we would definitely return to try the other flavors. Also love a menu that isn't too big which makes it more concentrated and they clearly did well!

Their ramen (real Japanese ramen!) and dessert taste so good, and the price is very reasonable. They are super sweet people. And now they have alcohol! Only request I have is for them to open for lunch on the weekdays. Over all, I love this place. I highly recommend it!

The taste of the tonkotsu ramen, I couldn't figure out which region it was from. They serve both Hakata and Sapporo style noodles, but man that broth was so RICH and FLAVORFUL. The taste is reminiscent of ramen from Japan. Like actually. The taste is authentic and it has personality, unlike most soulless ramen you find here in the states. The Tsuruya spicy paste has a little yuzu that gives the whole dish a light sour zest, and the spicy is ACTUALLY spicy, not Japanese or white spicy. The broth had a tare that made it almost like tonkotsu shoyu from Hiroshima. I loved it, it was so uniquely interesting. The attention to detail in both the presentation of the food and the decor really shows you how much care they put into the restaurant (observe the colors of all the spoons). The service was amazing. The matcha panna cotta was more like a jello texture, and I was very delighted they had a sweet red bean

Wanted to try something different for our friday dinner and found Tsuruya on yelp so we decided to try it out. Parking wasnt it bad but its all street parking so plan accordingly. When we entered the restaurant we found it very cozy and very clean. We were greeted right away and chose our table. We were handed the menu all in a timely manner. Our server is ayako who was very sweet and attentive. So customer service is A+++++++++ Food: Calamari (5/5)- a must try appetizer. Not chewy and just the right amount of breading and seasoning. Really really good so I highly recommend trying their calamari out. Entree: Tori Paitan- this is their chicken version of ramen. This was really good along with their chicken broth. Very tasty and good portion. Black Garlic Tonkotsu- i love black garlic tonkotsu and this one did not disappoint. It had the right amount of garlic and pork. I also enjoyed the egg since it was cooked right and not too gooey. You also get to choose your thin or thick noodle. Drinks: when you get coke they have a glass that has coca cola engrave on it which we found pretty cool. I ordered the yuzu soda which was amazing. And finally our dessert, match panna cotta is a must try and you wont regret it. Amazing restaurant, love the vibe, love the customer service and love the amazing food. Thanks ayako and the team for an amazing dining experience.

Heard great things about this place and so came here on a Wednesday evening! We were seated immediately and the service was super quick. The inside was clean and warmly lit. We loved our waitress as well--she was super friendly and sweet! Extra Spicy Tonkatsu Ramen - this was in fact very spicy and they did warn us haha. my friend loved it and said he wanted to keep eating it because it was so good even though it was definitely heat. Spicy Tonkatsu Ramen - the perfect amount of spice in my opinion. The broth was flavorful and we both got the thick noodles which were perfectly al dente. The meat was tender and the egg was soo good. Great spot and will for sure be taking my Japanese dad here!

The restaurant entrance is tucked away in an alley. The service was amazing and the food came out quickly. We ordered fried calamari for appetizers- they were so light and crispy which paired nicely with the tangy aioli sauce. I had ordered the Spicy Tonkotsu with Hakata Noodles (Thin Noodles). The broth was amazing, it was flavorful and light. The egg was the perfect jam texture and the noodles were chewy. My fiance ordered the Black Garlic Tonkotsu flavor was the perfect amount of black garlic and it paired really well with the Sapporo noodles (Thick Wavy Noodles). The menu was so simple and everything was delicious - definitely will be back to try the Tori Paitan Ramen next time!

Let me start off with the service. AMAZING. The kindest most attentive staff. They worked so hard and took care of everyone. I came with my 1 year old son and they even had a sippy cup for toddlers. She just brought it out. Super sweet. Brought out a clean highchair which every parent knows that's rare so I appreciate the cleanliness. Very cute and clean spot. Loved how everything looked. The wall tiling was cute. Okay now the food. WHAT??? The best ramen I've had in the bay area. That spicy lemon garnish in the middle, chefs kiss. Overall 5 stars. I came from Pleasanton and I will be making the trip back again. This was the Spicy Tonkostsu

The ramen here is pretty good compared to the other popular places with extensive lines in the bay area. We came at a good time as there was a short wait as soon as we got seated. I ordered the black garlic ramen and my friend ordered the spicy ramen. The ingredients felt fresh, the broth was hearty and thick, the small bits of veggies were chewy and the main drawback was the single and very thin slice of char siu. Aside from the meat quantity, this place is very solid. I did want to check out the desserts since those looked bomb as well. The interior is so cozy and homey too~ The verdict? It's easily in the top ramen places for me in the Bay Area !

A cute but small spot tucked into a small alleyway serving up some very good ramen! When I went, we had a large group of friends and we kept increasing our number, but they were super accommodating about it! We eventually got seated with 9 people, the restaurant itself has both bar seating and high tables, but only one table for 6+ parties so expect a wait if you come with more so they can combine tables! My party ordered the croquettes and the karaage, and I ordered the Jigoku ramen. In general, while everything tasted great - I had a little bit of an issue with the portions for the price. For both appetizers you receive 4-5 pieces per, which for the price I would not order again. Same thing with the ramen, which I felt skimped a little on the toppings (half an egg!) My party, mostly graduating students, mentioned still being somewhat hungry when we left. Taste wise, the ramen broth was actually really spicy which I appreciated, and had that oily, umami that's the cornerstone of tonkotsu ramen. The noodles were fresh and had a great mouthfeel - they were cooked well, though I didn't like my friend's thicker noodles as much when I tried them. Overall I would probably go to Tsuruya over other ramen spots in Berkeley, but I would not expect to leave super full!

The ramen here is really delicious! The spicy tonkotsu ramen I got had a super nice and rich broth, and I think the broth is the most outstanding part. The chashu was a bit less outstanding, but still not bad. The restaurant is pretty small so there may be a wait during busier times. The ambiance is pretty nice with the dim lighting when we went for dinner. Overall this is one of the top ramen restaurants I have tried.

We had vegetable broth ramen and it was good but lacked depth and flavor. I don't know whether that's because they only had one vegan option and that it wasn't their specialty, but I was hoping to experience a little more. Also noodles could have been more mochi like, however I will give them another chance to see if they enhanced their vegan/vegetarian options.

Ordered a black garlic tonkatsu with hakata ( thin noodles) The Chashu was melt in your mouth delicious! I do love how they add red onion as a topping. It made each bite more flavorful. The soup was a bit thick and too creamy. Tasty, but it felt like I was drinking a gravy more than a soup. Service was definitely 5 stars. They were packed on a Sunday night at 9 pm.

Checked out the new ramen spot in town a couple of days ago. We were seated at the bar as soon as we arrived, but there was a short line when we left (around 6:40 pm on a Sunday). I ordered the black garlic tori paitan, and my friend ordered the black garlic tonkatsu. Reasonable $15 per bowl. Flavor was very comforting, and there were a variety of toppings. Ramen noodles had the perfect level of chewiness, but the broth was a tad salty, and I only ended up drinking a little bit. I really love the decor and atmosphere--super reminiscent of my time in Japan. The bar is great for parties of one or two, and you get a peek of what's going on in the kitchen. Knocking off a star for slow service--two servers did not seem to be able to efficiently manage the entire restaurant, and we had to wait a while after asking for the check.

So glad I was able to snag a ticket to their sold out soft opening event! We ordered the spicy tonkotsu, tori paitan, hojicha latte, and a matcha panna cotta. The tonkotsu is very creamy and flavorful, the egg cooked to perfection, and noodles perfect firmness. Also loved the tori paitan's light broth with a touch of yuzu... the chicken was also super tender Hojicha latte was delicious with the foam top and the matcha panna cotta was the perfect addition to end the meal. Not too sweet and just the right size. Though they were sold out, I did see that they tried their best to accommodate walk ins. Service was friendly and very good considering this was their soft opening and they were clearly very busy. Can't wait to come back and share with my friends!

I've tried over 100 ramen shops in the US, and so far, Tsuruya Ramen is the closest thing I've found to authentic, Tonkotsu ramen in the US. This is REAL delicious, proper ramen. The few people who gave this place a low rating don't know WTF they're talking about. The tonkotsu soup is thick, viscous, delicious and served piping hot, with a tiny hint of ginger lurking and leaving a thin layer of collagen on my lips. The noodles were über thin, Hakata-style, cooked katame, or slightly firm, with just the right amount of bounce and bite. The finely chopped fresh red onions are sweet and complement the crunch of the wood ear mushrooms and menma. I do wish that the portion was just slightly larger, but since the quality was spot-on, I cannot complain. No other ramen shop in the Bay Area can compare. Not Nagi, nor even the large Japanese chain shop two blocks away. This is my new #1 favorite ramen spot outside of Japan.

We came tonight at 5pm for an early dinner. There weren't many guests yet - total 6 including us two. We ordered a garlic tonkatsu with thick curly noods and a garlic chicken ramen with thin noods. Garlic chicken ramen 5/5 - Broth was thick and flavorful. Probably one of the best chicken flavor ramen I've ever had. The chicken pieces looked dry, but it was so moist and delicious. Someone back there pounded and marinated the chicken with love because it was really yummy! I loved the bamboo shoots and greens, but wasn't a fan of the raw onions. Garlic tonkatsu ramen 4/5 - Broth was slightly lighter than the chicken one. I guess I also wasn't a fan of the thick curly noods, but the broth just didn't measure up to the chicken on. It was still good though. I really hope people take notice of this place!

Amazing food!! The ramen is seriously authentic and perhaps the best we've had in Northern California

A small, clean, simple decorated ramen house in the neighborhood. The service was great! The staff were very friendly and attentive. The ramen was good. We also enjoyed a couple of small bites. The chicken karaage was good but the fried calamari was the fave! It was very lightly batter, crispy, and flavorful! The place gets packed pretty quickly. We were a party of four that got there just a bit after 6PM on a Saturday and were able to get seated right away.

Absolutely delicious ramen that's on par with ramen we've had in Japan. The quality of each component of the ramen was amazing, and the noodles are customizable which is so great for noodle lovers. You can choose the thickness based on your mood. The chicken was juicy and tender, and the egg was perfectly orange and soft boiled. Highly recommend and very memorable ramen. We will be coming back!

It's small and cute vibe Decent ramen. This place gives a solid not to a traditional Japanese ramen shop. Note selection is small.

YUM! Tsuruya is a new ramen restaurant in Berkeley. SERVICE: - We were the first ones to arrive for a weekend lunch. Service was wonderful and punctual. Even as the restaurant was getting busier, everyone was attended to. My glass of water was also never empty (and I drank a lot of water from the spicy ramen). FOOD: - Black garlic tonkotsu ramen: nice black garlic flavour! - Spicy tonkotsu ramen: it's actually spicy! Do you know when you get "'medium spicy" at restaurants and it tastes mild? It's definitely not the case at Tsuruya. It was a very flavourful bowl from start to finish to finish. - Vegetarian ramen is available INSIDE: - There are a ~4 tables for two, 2 tables for larger groups, a few high tables for two, and plenty of seating around the counter PARKING: - There is free street parking available if you can find a spot OVERALL - Tsuruya is a great addition to Berkeley! I would definitely go again.

Delicious and a great experience. Yuzu soda has bits in it, in a good way. The one thing I would like is coat/purse hooks installed under the bar. I had to sit on my jacket, and saw other people looking a bit awkward about it too- one had his jacket on his lap while eating.

If you've never visited Japan and want to experience it, Tsuruya is the closest you'll get. From the ramen, appetizer, and dessert, omg... It took me and my husband back from the endless ramen stalls we ate in Osaka, Kyoto, and Tokyo. The owners are Japanese, so you're in for an authentic experience. The place is small and cozy. The appetizer, ramen, and desserts were a home run. Chicken Karaage 5/5: Crispy from the outside (perfect crunch), juicy on the inside. Ramen 5/5: Sapporo style. It's top-notch. Honestly, order any flavor, and you won't go wrong. From the broth, chewy noodles, and toppings- this is how ramen should taste like Yuzu Sorbet & Matcha panna cotta 5/5: Typical Japanese dessert that is light, not too sweet, yet flavorful. Again, this is how dessert tastes in Japan. It's been years since I left a Yelp review on a restaurant that deserves recognition. As much as I want to gatekeep this spot, It's too good not to share my thoughts with foodies alike. My only wish is for them to serve beer. Hopefully in the future!

We came here on a weekday evening. A few tables were open and we were seated right away. Food came very quickly, about 5 minutes after ordering. Great alternative to Ippudo nearby. Tsuruya is more affordable and exponentially faster than Ippudo (have waited 40min after ordering for ramen there!).

Wow best ramen ever Super simple menu but so very authentic I cannot wait to come back.

Service was really pleasant this time! I enjoyed the chashu pork croquettes; they were really creamy and interesting (I'd not seen this elsewhere). I think definitely worth a try, glad I got this instead of standard karaage (though my friend found them a bit too fatty for her taste). The jidori egg was very creamy, wonderful, and I was glad to have the extra meat (1 to 2 slices). Overall a pleasant experience. I noticed that since the soft opening they added raw onions to the ramen, which I'm personally not a huge fan of. Try corn!

Very good ramen! Good service! A bit busy but thats to be expected when its this good.

New ramen spot in Berkeley! Very sweet staff who were so attentive. Ramen flavor was amazing - not oily at all but doesn't compromise on flavor! Karaage was crispy and not oily. Matcha panna cotta is a must try! Not too sweet but just the perfect hint of sweetness. Will definitely return!

**Rating: 5/5** I casually ordered the Chashu croquette, and it was so delicious that I ended up getting seconds. Even though it was a croquette, it had the perfect texture of chashu, making the balance of ingredients exquisite. I was so impressed that I asked the staff, and they told me it was handmade. For the ramen, I ordered the Jigoku Spicy Tonkotsu. The vibrant spinach and shallots caught my eye, and I ended up eating them before the soup. The Chashu was also handmade, with sear marks added after slicing, giving it an irresistible aroma. The egg was perfectly peeled and matched the soup's flavor well. As for the soup and noodles, the spiciness is at an American spicy level, so you can still taste the tonkotsu flavor. I think those who enjoy spice will finish the broth. The tonkotsu has no unpleasant smell and is moderately rich, making it easy for the noodles to absorb. It's top-tier for tonkotsu in the Bay Area. I recommend the regular Spicy over Jigoku. This time, I chose thick weavy noodles, which are short and easy to slurp! They are delicious whether you slurp them politely or not! I didn't expect even the noodles to be localized, and I was excited the whole time I was eating. The chicken chashu in the paitan overshadowed everything else. There's no other chicken chashu as delicious as that. I think the deluxe paitan with Sapporo(thick weavy) noodles is the best. Moreover, it's reasonably priced for a deluxe one, so I bet those who find here will become fans. I've become addicted, so my treat for myself will be going to Tsuruya for a while. 何気なく頼んだ焼豚コロッケが美味しすぎてお代わりしてしまいました。 コロッケなのにちゃんと焼豚の食感があるので具の塩梅が絶妙なんだと思います。 あまりにも感動してしまってお店の方に聞いてみると手作りなんだそうです。 ラーメンは地獄級の辛い豚骨を頼んだのですが、 ほうれん草やエシャロットが鮮やかさを際立てていて思わずスープより先に食べてしまってました。(笑) 焼豚も手作りとのことですが、スライスしたあとに焼き目を付けてくれてたので香ばしさがたまりませんでした。味玉は丁寧にひとつずつキレイに剥けてあり、味もスープにマッチしていました。 肝心のスープと麺ですが、辛さはアメリカンスパイシーなのでちゃんと豚骨の味も分かるレベルです。好きな方は飲み干してしまうと思います。 豚骨は、くさみがなく程よいこってりだったので麺にも絡みやすくベイエリアの豚骨としてはトップレベルだと思います。Jigokuより普通のSpicyの方がおすすめです。 今回はちぢれ麺を選んだのですが、すすりやすい短さなんです！ すすっても美味しいし、上品にすすらなくても食べやすいんです！スープだけでなく麺にまでローカライズしてると思ってなくて ずっと興奮しながら食べてました。 おかしな話ですが、パイタンの鶏チャーシューで、すべて上書きされちゃいました。 あんな美味い鶏チャーシューないです。 多分この店はちぢれ麺のデラックスパイタンが一番美味しいです。 しかもデラックスで他の店より良心的な値段なので、見つけた方はファンになっていくと思います。 私はハマっちゃったので、当分自分へのご褒美はTsuruyaに行くと思います

Tried it for the first time, got the black garlic tonkatsu and it was sooo delicious! I loved the ambiance and design of the restaurant. However, the service was very slow and it took a long time to get seated and to get our order placed. I would definitely come again for the food!

Simply heart warming delicious ramen in a cozy restaurant off UC Berkeley campus. You may have to wait because this is a small restaurant but they serve up heaping bowls of pork or chicken based ramen quickly. Also recommend their chicken kiragi.

Food: this was hands down one of the best ramens I have had, with ramen scene as crazy as it is in the Bay Area and options such as Ramen Nagi and Mensho, we are always in need for more & better ramen places. Service: The service was really good, both our servers were proper, interacted with us, explained the food, for that. The only thing I want to request and it's a general request to all the ramen places in the Bay Area, start taking reservations. I hate standing in lines for 40-50 mins for

Thank you for serving us past last call today! we appreciate you and love your ramen so much! I came here once with my girlfriend to try it out and was amazed how authentic and high quality the soup and noodles were that we wanted to try again, couldn't make it during dinner rush but came in very last minute to see if we could make it before closing time. very oishi and friendly service, we will come back for sure!