Ultra House

Consider it a destination… authentic ramen experience in a tiny hideaway in a small cluster of storefronts in charming Langley. Gorgeous, rich broths are the perfect backdrop for whatever you decide on. The pork gyoza are delicately delicious and served with savory, slightly vinegary, spiced dipping sauce. My favorite is the house special Tonkotsu and I love sitting at the counter and watching them cook. It’s the size of a postage stamp so consider going “off hours”—totally worth the drive.

On friday night, we waited ~20min. We walked around the town until we got a text message that our table was ready. After we sat down, we ordered 2 Shoyu, 1 spicy miso, and 1 Shrimp Tan Tan. Tan Tan: The broth for Tan Tan tasted clean and not greasy as it does not contain meat. It had a spicy kick to the broth which I loved. There were 4 shrimps that were perfectly cooked, not dry. Spicy Miso: the broth also had a kick to it. This broth was a bit thicker than Tan Tan's as the ramen contains meat. It wasn't greasy and salty. Shoyu: this broth is the thickest and heaviest. A bit greasy but not too greasy. All ramen weren't salty and were delicious even for non-ramen lover like myself. We will be back!

Love love love all the vegan/veg options and customizations. Super delicious ramen and not too oily, hit the spot after a cold, windy January day on the island :) I got the veggie broth, very flavorful. Staff were friendly!

Who knew Whidbey Island had such a great ramen spot!! The gyoza was sooo yummy and had the best dipping sauce. We tried the tonkatsu and shoyu ramen, both were fantastic and we left extremely full and happy!

Excellent ramen with gluten free options! Small and cozy but can be a bit loud. Definitely worth a visit.

This ramen is absolutely delicious. Such a delicious find. They know what they are doing here!

Cute vibes, delicious ramen, friendly staff right in the heart of Langley. 10/10 recommend! They are very kid-friendly! They brought juice & roasted seaweed snacks out first for the kiddos which I loved. There is also a play kitchen and toys they can play with inside the restaurant! When we were finished and getting ready to leave, the owner herself came over, asked how our food was, and then started clearing the table! Little details like this (and the tasty food) keep us coming back!

I will say they put a lot of things to make that great ramen soup. That shrimps was very fresh. We like it.

We walked into this place while strolling in the streets of Langley. What an amazing find it turned out to be. It is the kind of place that I will totally do a drive and a ferry just for the meal. This was soul food. Not just the adults, but the kids in our group loved the meal too. The kids meals came with seaweed snack and a drink which they loved. The ramen was steaming hot, flavorful and delicious- exactly what we needed at that time. We loved this place!

Order the Spicy miso and can say... It wasn't spicy at all! Having said that the broth had a lot of depth and every sans the slightly undercooked noodles was good. Had the ramen been spicy and the noodles cooked it would have been a solid four stars. I enjoyed the flecks of ginger I could occasionally distinguish and I'm not a ginger fan. Service was good and prompt. I'll definitely give it another go since it is the only actual ramen worth a stop outside of the mainland!

This place was okay... I wouldn't go out of my way for it, but if you're in the area and need for a ramen fix, it'll suffice. I must add I am very picky with ramen so please take that into consideration here... I haven't found anything that I like so far in WA. I definitely think it's an okay ramen but more so a place of convenience to curb a craving since this area is pretty far from anything else. The tonkotsu traditionally has white round noodles, not the curvy yellow noodles and that's a pet peeve for me. I am Japanese and have been to Japan about 10 times so this is why I'm so picky about this. The ramen was quite expensive $20 per. I was surprised they had a natto bowl... so i ordered that I believe it was $14... also pretty expensive. The service was quite slow but they were pretty busy. It is quite a small restaurant so expect to wait if you're visiting during peak hours. I was very impressed with their beer selection.. they were all japanese imports... $12/12oz. the Pilsner was delicious!

Best Ramen I had ever had. Everything about it just tasted delicious, I went with the Spicy miso with a side of spicy chili sauce to give it some extra spice and it did not disappoint. 10/10 recommend!!

Was visiting Langley during July 4th weekend, and Ultra House looked like a pretty enticing place to go enjoy some delicious ramen for dinner. We decided to swing by on a Sunday around 7pm to try and get seating. There was a 20 minute wait time for a walk in, and we were able to get seats after the waiting period. The restaurant itself is located in a plaza where there are several other shops in close proximity. There is plenty of parking in the downtown Langley area in the back of the restaurant and in the town center. The ambiance of the restaurant is nice and cozy! There were seats set up outside the restaurant, bar seating, high chair, and normal table seating. Plenty of Japanese themed decorations and a open view to the kitchen for you to see your food getting prepared. Though we came a holiday time where the restaurant wasn't expecting so many people, so we were unfortunately unable to try the meat protein options that Ultra House has to offer. But the owner was very accommodating and offered us a pork gyoza on the house since we were unable to try the original options we were looking for - which was really nice of them! The pork gyoza had a crispy bottom and a juicy filling. One thing that I found interesting was the small line of yuzu paste beneath the sauce - it had a deep citrus flavor that kinda tasted like pickles + yuzu + the effect of wasabi on your sinuses, I was a fan! I got the Spicy Miso with Vegan toppings which included fried tofu, mushrooms, spinach, corn, bamboo, and some other veggie options. The broth was creamy and had nice miso flavor, and also held onto the noodles which had good chew. The bowl of ramen was pretty hearty and did definitely leave me content. In the end, we spent about $42 for two bowls of ramen, which is an alright price given the quantity and quality of the food received. The service was pretty good and accommodating despite the fact that given we were not able to receive the original flavors of ramen we wanted. I would definitely like to revisit in the future to try the other flavors of ramen that Ultra House has to offer! (4.5 stars)

Cute little spot, kind of hidden. If you live on whidbey island, it's really good ramen. Especially if you don't want to drive all the way ti seattle.

Best bowl of ramen I've had in years! The Spicy Miso ($18) was a flavorful masterpiece! It's on the spendy side for a bowl of ramen but it is truly a work of art and definitely worth every penny. We were greeted right away and our server Dennis was very thoughtful. We had an edamame loving 4 year old with us and he brought out some extra just for her! It's a super cute little spot with an open kitchen and a little area where they sell merchandise from Japan. Pros Possibly the best ramen in Washington Great Japanese beer imports Complementary edamame starter Kids menu Intimate authentic vibe Cons Wouldn't be a good spot for a large party

I had the chicken ramen and it was divine! I wanted to add a few other items like bamboo shoots but didn't want to pay anymore. My granddaughter had the chicken rice bowl and gave it a 10/10. We sat outside and it was lovely. Waitress was very nice and efficient as well . Price wise it is the maximum I would pay for a bowl of soup but I have to say it was truly delicious

When my husband and I moved to WA, we kept trying to find ramen that is comparable to our favorite place back home. We hadn't found one anywhere that is close to being comparable in the year and a half that we have moved here. Until we found this gem. If only it weren't 3 hours away fro us, we would come every month. We very very hesitant when we walked in but the service and staff were very welcoming and friendly. it is a small place but worth the wait if there ever is one. We devoured our ramen before getting pictures it was soooo good. The BEST ramen we have had since moving to Washington hands down!

Simple, tasty Asian noodle bowls: YUM! Inside is communal seating at long tables. I prefer to eat outside at one of several tables. Very polite & professional wait staff. 2 noodle bowls & a small beer with 15% tip $46.75

It's amazing to find this gem at Whidbey Island. The store is full of Japanese snacks and toys. If you squint hard enough you'll think that you're in Tokyo. The service is very personable. The waitress offered to substitute extra toppings because I asked them to omit a few items. I'm sure that they'll remember my name if I lived on Whidbey and visited them daily.

Leaving this review because the staff was absolutely AMAZING. We had a handful of kids and they were so patient with them & with us. We were the last to leave the restaurant, but we weren't pressured to clear out or uncomfortable for lingering. The food was great as always! Just want to say thank you to the staff for taking such good care of us!

It's all good, but Tan Tan shrimp is my favorite! Best kept secret on Whidbey Island!

I did not end up eating here! We left before we ordered for MULTIPLE reasons; They put us at a community? Table... we have a 3 month old baby, they put us closest to the wall and BEHIND the door so we couldn't get out. Often as babies do our little one was fussy and crying and wouldn't stop. My husband had to struggle with the stroller and door to get out, I had to ask the person sitting at our table if I could get out. Which all could have been avoided if they didn't seat walk in people before us who were on the waitlist.. we watched 3 people get seated before us when I was told "you're next on the waitlist".

Sooo happy to discover a solid place for ramen on the island!!! Spicy miso had great depth of flavor, noodles were fresh and al dente, charsiu was tender and a great balance of meat and fatty cut, and all ingredients were fresh and nicely presented. So so good. Also tried the braised pork over rice dish... a lot of the topping ingredients were similar to the ramen but I didn't mind. The rice base came with some kind of chili garlic sauce, which made the dish different enough in flavor profile and textures to enjoy both distinctly. Service was friendly, price point was great, and lots of nostalgic japanese candy and variety of drinks were on hand and for sale as well. Highly recommend and will return!

Excellent ramen and the 2nd best gyoza I've ever had. (Best gyoza I've had is at Ramen Danbo on Capital Hill in Seattle) the gyoza here are a very close second and are so delicious. Get them!! There's limited seating inside, Maybe five tables total and a table or two outside. This was our first time here but from what I'm told they are busy and if you don't time it right you could be waiting. They have a small section of goodies to buy and take home with you. The ramen comes in two sizes a regular size and a kids size. Two out of the four adults in our party got the kids size and they were plenty satisfied. The owner was super friendly. If you're looking for an amazing hot bowl of soup and you haven't ever tried ramen give this place a try. It's one of the best ramen I've had. We will be back.

The ramen here is good but we've eaten a lot of ramen in various places we've traveled including Japan and I can't say it's the best ramen we've tried. The SF Bay Area is full of ramen restaurants and they're pretty good where the Unami from the tonkotsu broth that has begun cooking for over 12 hours leaves you craving for more. I thought the broth lacked that same Unami. We both tried the Tonkotsu and I added corn for an additional $1. The ramens were $16 without additional toppings. Staff was nice and friendly. I really enjoyed the gyoza, 6 per order. The dumpling wrap was nice and thin with a perfectly cooked crispy bottom and tasty dipping sauce with it. I wanted to order another but I couldn't even finish my bowl of ramen and Hubby had to finish it off. There's a bathroom in the back where we sat. Lots of Japanese products you can purchase including bowls. Chop sticks, t shirts, etc. You pay your check at the counter, credit cards accepted. Be mindful that the total of your bill includes tax and the amount you tip on the pad is the total amount including the tax. I think it's wrong of businesses to do that. Make you tip on the tax as well.

Visited during our spring break excursion. The place is tucked into a little brownstone village in Langley. Lovely ramen, super authentic! The shop is packed full of fun items and they offer outside seating. Our server Holten? Holden? was sincere and enthusiastic and fun to converse with. He gave us great ideas for what to do for our afternoon in town. All in all it's a fabulous place to stop and sip noodles.

My favorite restaurant on the island! Not only is the Ramen amazing, but they also have a wonderful gift shop area inside the restaurant with lots of rare Asian snacks, drinks and other goods. The staff was amazing to us when we stopped in and went out of their way to make sure we enjoyed our time. The restaurant was quite busy but the service was still great and quick. I had the Shoyu ramen, my partner had the vegan Ramen, and we shared the vegetarian Gyoza. All fantastic, can't wait to be back.

I was not expecting to get Japanese food in Langley, but my friends and I stumbled upon this spot after our intended dinner spot closed their waitlist. The food is excellent. Do not sleep on the pork gyoza! Each order of gyoza comes with yuzu kosho, something I'd never thought to eat with gyoza, but now that I've tried it, I can't imagine eating gyoza without yuzu kosho now. I ordered the spicy miso ramen and my bf ordered the tonkatsu ramen and both were super tasty. I loved the garlic oil in the tonkatsu broth. Noodles were perfectly al dente and chewy. I added fried onions to my ramen and had no regrets about that.

Boom. A great story brings authentic Japanese ramen to Langley. We sat down for lunch today on their patio and were treated to something pretty extraordinary. First off, the staff was fantastic. Excellent laid-back service. They made us feel welcome and at home right away. We had a little sake, some Japanese beer, Gyoza and two bowls of ramen (pork and shrimp). The shrimp is done in a vegetarian broth so can easily be subbed out for tofu for those so inclined. Everything was great. We left full, feeling like we had just time-traveled to a little ramen house in Tokyo. The owner wanted to bring the experience of Japan back home and I believe he has succeeded.

I had traveled from Texas to Washington to have some fun time with my grandma. We visited Langley on Widbey Island for a day and had the time of our lives! It was time for dinner around 6:00pm and didn't know where to eat. I found this place called Ultra House and thought it would be a good place to eat! Once we entered we were shocked by how amazing the place looked! The staff were EXTREMELY kind!! Once we found our table and looked at the menu, there were so many good options! I am a personal lover of ramen and anything spicy so of course I decided to go with the spicy miso ramen bowl! I 100% recommend it, it was so delicious I have no regrets of ordering it! My grandma had ordered a delicious looking bowl of tori chicken ramen and she most definitely enjoyed it! We were immediately given some fresh water and some edamame in a tiny bowl with another empty bowl for the leftovers. Everything was nicely laid out and looked absolutely stunning! I later on ordered milk tea and I can't explain how delicious it was!! I was given an empty cup with the milk tea so I can pour my desired amount, it was super sweet and delicious! My grandma had gotten some hot tea and she liked it very much! The staff was overall super kind towards us and they seemed to be having an amazing fun time there! They didn't look sad or like they didn't want to be there like most places! Super happy I got to come here during my visit and I hope to come again soon!

An absolute must visit when in Langley--this is some of the better prepared ramen around the entire Puget Sound. It's not just the broth, but the quality of the other elements in the bowl as well. Tender chicken, well seasoned and cooked pork, excellent soft-boiled egg, cooked but crunchy bean sprouts, etc... It seems that each ingredient is treated with the respect it deserves, the way it should be! The fact that this place is unassuming and found in a colorful shopping area in Langley adds to its charm and quality. It's not pretentious ramen, it's not corporate ramen, it's not "cool" ramen--it's just a nice place run by a nice purveyor, that serves great food. What's more, they have a small play area for toddlers and young children, and a great selection of Japanese treats, drinks, and nick knacks that you can purchase (and probably can't find anywhere else on the island, or anywhere nearby). Sure, you can get pretty good ramen all over the PNW, but it's nice to come to a well loved ramen shop with well loved, delicious food. You should stop by!!!

Wow! The Vegetarian Ramen was amazing! I did a Togo order with my dog, the service was fantastic (server took my order outside, texted me when ready and provided a dog treat). These small gestures really make my day, I agree the price is on the high side, otherwise would be a 5 star for me.

After a long wait for the ferry to the island my family and I were looking for a restaurant to stop in as we were hungry. We saw this place and decided to try it out. The food was good but a few things to note: the space is really small so I would not recommend for large parties or more than 6 guests. Also the price is on the higher side for what you are getting so keep that in mind.

Over the moon to have a delicious vegan ramen experience here. As someone with a severe seafood/shellfish allergy and a deep love for Asian cuisine of all sorts, I often run into challenges finding safe spots to explore the cuisine on the road knowing how bonito flakes, fish sauce and oyster sauce are used so heavily and with little thought. Ultra House had a very clear menu that noted vegan/veggie options and the waitress assured me that she would let the chef know for extra precautions. Thank you, a Rachel! I ended up having the vegan ramen broth with vegetarian fillings of noodles, Bok Choy, corn, egg, black garlic oil, sesame, sliced ginger and mushrooms. It was so flavorful! I wish I could have packed ten to go bundles to carry home with me to Indiana for when the next craving hits (it's hard to find vegan broth!). We also had a a can of the milk tea and enjoyed the complimentary mini appetizer of edamame. This was such a delightful meal. Afterward, you can mosey your way through the alleys, shops and beach of charming downtown Langley. Again, can not recommend the vegan broth enough!

I spent the day in Langley but unfortunately there weren't many restaurants open on a Wednesday. We've never had ramen before but this place had good reviews so we thought we'd try it. It's kinda tucked in a back corner, so you need to really look for it. We were very impressed with the service and the food. We ordered the pork Gyoza which was the best I've ever has and then shared a bowl of the house special ramen. It was delicious! The broth was kinda creamy not too salty.

Put my name down and walked around for a while before the table was ready. The ramen was pretty good and the service was nice. Overall the experience was nice and we ate outside. Ramen is $15 per bowl but they also have a kids menu. Spicy miso was not very spicy and the gluten free ramen was decent. Overall a nice place to have ramen on Whidbey Island.

Still yummy! We're vegetarian and love that there are multiple options, including two ramen options, that are veggie. Love the gyoza and edamame. Such a fun place to grab a bite.

Arrived here with a hungry stomach for a Friday lunch and I was sure pleased! Having been to Japan twice, Ultra House was very reminiscent of my travels. We came with a party of four and was luckily seated right away as a table had opened up. As we waited for our food, we couldnt help but gaze upon all the japan made treats and trinkets around us. To others this may have been a little excessive but in Japan it is the norm. We started with the a couple of appetizers, gyoza vegetarian dumplings and flaked salmon onigiri before feasting on our ramen bowls, the Tonkotsu, Creamy Veg (vegan) Ramen, and the Tan Tan Veg Ramen. The vegetarian gyozas were tasty and pan-fried to a crisp served with a side of thai chili soy sauce and yuzu kosho for some acidity. The flaked salmon onigiri was on the dryer side than what I would have preferred. The signature Tonkotsu was very flavorful, hearty and rich just what I was craving. The Creamy Veg lived up to its name - light and creamy with numerous add-ins, fried tofu, spinach corn, bok choy, menma, bean sprouts, and shittake. The Tan Tan Veg was light, mildly spicy and very flavorful in its own sesame and black garlic oil broth. The classic Chijire wavy noodles were cooked to perfection with a slight bounce in every bite. You really can't go wrong with any of the ramen options. One thing to mention was the wait times can be rather long as there are only a handful of restaurants in Langley to accommodate the flocking number of tourists. Overall, I would definitely comeback again on another stay at Whidbey Island.

the food is fire the seaweed was great the onagri was fire and the salmon was great the ramen was great

I just had the best bowl of ramen since I was in Japan. Seriously. Ultra House in Langley is my new go-to spot when I'm craving ramen (which is often). Dennis, I believe, is the proprietor and he spent a good amount of time explaining the menu to us before bringing us a bowl of edamame. The Tonkatsu ramen was perfectly composed and complex - mushrooms delicious, noodles al dente, pork just tender enough. The broth was perfectly porky & creamy. The table was quiet as we ate - it was that good!

Stumbled upon this ramen shop in Whidbey Island and didn't have much expectation. Man, was I wrong! There's so many different choices including ramen (~$15 a bowl) , rice bowls ($10-$12) , appetizers beer etc. they sold cute little Japanese/ Asian snacks, cookware, shirts etc. I mainly appreciated that they had two choices of ramen that was vegetarian option, and can be made into vegan. There were a few small tables outside, larger tables inside and one table that was toward the back of the restaurant but away from the front crowd. This was a great table to be more isolated and away from the crowd during COVID. They even opened the back door for more air to circulate around the restaurant. One down side was that the service was a bit slow, so if you're in a rush you may want to avoid going here or ask if they can expedite your order. For appetizer, we ordered vegetarian gyoza, and flake salmon onigiri. The gyoza came with a tangy yuzu kosho paste in addition to the regular soy sauce. You can mix it into the soy sauce or just smear it on the gyoza. It tasted great both ways. The onigiri was just okay. They made it look a bit fancy by adding an "x" made with seaweed. I'd rather have more salmon in the rice, and flavored rice which is normally what makes onigiri tasty. Our table ordered a vegan dandan ramen, creamy veg ramen, and tonkatsu ramen. All ramens tasted amazing, flavorful, included a lot of toppings, and most importantly of all - the ramen noodles were cooked perfectly with a bite to the noodle. As a since more I personally like fresh corn that has a crunch, but their corn tasted like canned corn with no crunch. However it was not a deal breaker and still slurped the entire bowl into my tummy :). Overall I rate the ramen and appetizer 8/10. The store has a cute ambience and friendly staff. I just wish their service was a bit faster. I will come back when I visit Whidbey again!

Killer ramen with a great broth. Nice owners and atmosphere. Unique ramen dishes. Will come back.

Solid ramen! High quality ingredients and delicious preparation. The broth is thick and hearty and they use nice cuts of meat. My only minor critiques are the egg yolk could be a little more runny and perhaps the bowl could have a little less ginger. This is off the main road, but there is plenty of parking most days. The service was attentive and friendly. We will definitely be back to try other menu items. Solid kids menu. Best ramen I have had on the island and likely all of Washington!

The service was some of the worst services I have ever experienced. Visited all the way from hawaii and was sooo excited to try it. The waiter was nasty from the very beginning. My companion and I were trying not to laugh because the service was so horrible we weren't sure if it was a joke. The older woman who was our waiter acted as if she didn't want us there, even though we were one of two tables dining. I can't even explain how horrible the service was. We waited an hour and a half to dine here and as someone who almost always tips 100% of the meal price if not more (because I believe customer service workers should be paid fairly) I only tipped 10%. The food was delicious but not worth it to have to deal with those nasty, unwelcoming, jaded, horrendous, hate filled, disgruntled people. Spend your money on people who do their job with pride.

Will definitely be back as soon as possible! The potstickers were amazing. The ramen was also soooo good. The broth was so very tasty, and every topping ingredient was super fresh, obviously made with the utmost care and authenticity. Can't wait to try every bowl on the menu!! This time was just the traditional Tonkatsu. Next time I plan on spicy miso. Yumm!! There are not a lot of tables, but it's cute and there are tons of Japanese candies and snacks to buy for later. The drinks case has some really fun options too.

Imagine: You just arrived in Japan and are invited for your first bowl of ramen (that isn't a package from the dollar isle)....you don't know what to expect, but what you look at is colorful, bright, full of ingredients you may or may not like....you take the spoon and taste the first slurp....your eyes open wide, you sit up in your seat a little taller.....it's delightfully delicious and you found your new love . Ultra House is about as close to that as you can get It's a great Ramen spot that is cozy and quaint just like you'd find in Japan, so come in small parties to enjoy it the most. Get in, enjoy your deliciousness, and move on to the wonderful candy shop for some take home dessert You won't be disappointed!

Surprised to have an excellent bowl of ramen. I wish the meat would be a little softer, but it is still an excellent bowl. Owner is quite accommodative for customers who are coming late. In terms of price and quantity, it is a little bit high.

My son and I were visiting the Seattle area for his fall school break and decided to visit Whidbey and Fidalgo islands. We stopped by the quaint little town of Langley. It's a lovely place and was nice to walk around and explore. Eating out for me can sometimes be difficult. I have a gluten intolerance, so have to be careful at most restaurants. I checked Yelp and saw Ultra House listed as being gluten-free friendly. It's also been a while since I've had ramen-style soup, so we decided to check it out. Ultra House is in a small shopping center, tucked into a corner. It's a small shop, but was busy when we arrived. We were seated at the bar almost immediately. While we were figuring out what we wanted, we got to watch the chefs working on putting the bowls together. When our server arrived, I told her about my gluten issue. She informed me that they had an item not listed on the menu, called (if I recall correctly) Brian's/Bryan's bowl. At that point, one of the chefs chimed in and let us know it was named for a patron with celiac disease. He and the server listed off the ingredients (chicken, spinach, rice noodles, hard-boiled egg, miso-based broth, etc.). I ordered that, and my son got a pork tonkatsu bowl. Our dishes arrived after a short wait. They looked fantastic and tasted even better. I thoroughly enjoyed mine and finished it relatively quickly. My son loved his bowl as well. He took longer to finish, and claimed it was because he was savoring every bite. :) All of the staff here were helpful and friendly. If I'm ever back up in the Seattle/Whidbey area, I will DEFINITELY come back here.

Trash food. Waited 1 hour for two bowls of ramen and one beer！70 Dollar！！The ramen is really really salty.

I have an immense backlog of Yelp reviews and can only manage consistent check-ins and photos to share with the Yelp universe. For fellow Yeeps who truly understand, know that I sincerely appreciate your support and signature vision on a daily basis. I had just completed a regular road trip up to the Bow-Edison-Fairhaven area and was heading down I-5 South. On a spontaneous whim detoured and hopped a Mukilteo-Clinton ferry on 10/5/19, a lovely Saturday fall afternoon. An earlier review from another well respected Yelper compelled me to visit Ultra House in Langley. As a seasoned ferry day tripper I expected the crazy lines at the Mukilteo to Clinton route. Packed my patience because despite the late afternoon, I had eyes on the prize. Ramen from Ultra House. What I didn't realize is that they close between lunch and dinner service. **always check Yelp or call business beforehand to avoid surprises and potential disappointment** So after the requisite crowds, slow weekend drivers, praying for parking karma, I ran and not walked to Ultra House. Not because it was that good, it was because I was sliding in within the last hour of service. Managed to snag the last seat at the counter. Interior, vibe, and the packed restaurant had such promise. Service was okay, but I can tell the waitstaff had a hectic day already. The kitchen staff were standoffish and stoic. Whatever. I had studied the menu earlier online, so I knew what I wanted. Time is ticking. Bring it on! The anticipated wait. And wait. Given water. Given edamame.Tight quarters, so I cleared the counter off from diners to the bussing station to help out. Not a smile or a thank you. Still waiting. Other people waiting never seated, eventually left. Finally my order of Shoyu Ramen ($15 + tax/tip + cost of RT ferry fare) was served. All that patience and high expectation, took one spoonful and that culinary plane crashed and burned. Nearly four months later from that visit I can still recall being so greatly disappointed. I held off reviewing because that particular Yelper had shouted its praises. But in light of recent events, I must do my due diligence and tell it like it is. This will be my one and only visit to Ultra House. This underwhelming bowl did not dazzle my palate, spark joy, and if anything is f-ing pissing me off rekindling such a negative food memory. For that cost, such a sad small serving. Size and content was not representative of what was depicted and described on their menu. Items were missing and the integral broth was tepid and bland. But I let this pass because it was a 40 minute wait/15 minutes before closing, patience long ran out, hangry, and figured it was a one off anomaly. The ramen gods didn't bless me with a terrific encounter. Frequent dining out has one of five hazards: food poisoning, contracting norovirus, Hepatitis A, crap service, or meh what a wasted overall effort. This was the latter. I made up for it walking the entire retail core of Langley, soaked in the sun, despite the brisk chill. At least the ferry ride wasn't a complete waste of time and money. No to Ultra House. Two stars, one extra star for the weary waitperson who bothered to even acknowledge my presence. Yes to a future Langley visit instead to Anthes Ferments, the former Kalakala for their memorable ramen. Until I get to travel to Japan, here's my two recommendations for consistent, amazing, restorative ramen: *Ramen Danbo on Capitol Hill in Seattle *Marutama on Bidwell/Robson, West End in Vancouver, BC, Canada. To the Freeland Yelper, I understand. Striking writing, stunning photography and candid DMs. Life is way too short, virtual wave from the rearview mirror. Enough said. Time for ramen elsewhere! (2/11/20)

Interesting find on the Whidbey island. The vegetarian ramen is probably the best veggie ramen I've ever had. Our group also tried the tonkotsu and tori ramen. Tori ramen eater thought it was the best chicken ramen in Washington. I appreciate that the egg is actually hard boiled and not the soft boiled egg that seems to popular here in Denver. Unfortunately, because our tonkotsu eater lives in Japan for years the tonkotsu ramen was not the best he'd had. The wait was pretty long even at 1:30pm. The food took a little long to arrive. If you're on the island it's worth checking out.

Great ramen house in the middle of Whidbey, busy in prime time, def wasn't expecting it to be so good!

Ultra house has awesome service! The servers, chefs, atmosphere: everything is awesome. They have authentic candy and souvenirs. For the price point the quantity of meat is too small. Three shrimp on a $20 bowl of ramen... friends who ordered the other bowls had the same review. Flavor is great, but add more meat! Definitely go for the experience, but will not be frequenting.

Had lunch there never again . Overpriced for what you get. Had a chicken bowl it was cold thought it should be hot. Small bowls very expensive ... not Korean

Cute little ramen shop that was quickly filled up this Saturday within 30 minutes of opening. I really liked the vibe, as they have shelves and counters full of anime memorabilia, stickers, ramen/ Asian dish ware, and little snacks you'd find in Seafood City. I usually get really full with bowls of ramen because the portions sizes I find too large for me, but this size was more suited to my taste. My husband, who usually likes the larger bowls, didn't mind the slightly smaller portion size. They were prompt in their service and we had a fun experience, especially after eating, when we got to sort through the varieties of Kit Kat flavors they had!

3.5 stars for food, 1 star for timeliness. Thus the 2 star overall rating... Ultra house may be the only ramen place on Whidbey island, located in a small shopping center in Langley. Plenty of parking or easily accessible by walking, its a half ramen eatery half kitschy Japanese store. Fairly packed (given Covid) for its size, only takes 2 or 3 tables at a time. We placed an order to go for a bowl of ramen and gyoza. Regular Tonkatsu ramen with extra half an egg and menma. Standard stuff - estimated wait was 1 hour! So ok, wait 1 hour for premade broth, toppings, and chashu, while noodles should be 5 min boil or so. But we played ball. 1 hour later no ramen, had to call at the hour 15 mark and were told another 20 min as other peoples entrees were prioritized over ours. So almost 2 hours later we got our ramen and Gyoza. I've been eating ramen all over the world and seen smaller ramen restaurants churn out a bowl every 3 min. The ren itself was... decent for Whidbey, mediocre overall. Noodle was al dente, broth was ok flavor but lacked some of the compelxity and richness you would expect. Soft boiled egg was more mediim boiled and not marinated which lacks some flavor. And Chashu was not as tender (and a bit small) compared to other places. Gyoza was good though, especially with the Yuzu Kosho

Customer service was bland, entitled, and indifferent. We waited for an hour and tables were sitting empty for 15 minutes as we stood in the rain, eventually giving up frustrated with the lackadaisical attitude of the gen z employees.

So, I moved to Whidbey. I thought, amongst other concerns about my more isolated, rural circumstance, "Guess I can kiss great ramen goodbye...". Wrong. Deliciously, delightedly WRONG. Whidbey Island continues to surprise-there may not be much here, but what IS here is often much better than expected. Ultra House is a perfect example. Ramen at its best is a very personal dish. Different broth choices, proteins, garnishes and seasonings allow you to get just the experience you want, much like a decent espresso or sandwich place. Here at Ultra House, you have basic combinations to choose from, all fine on their own, but you can customize your bowl completely with a comprehensive list of additions, like soy-boiled egg, nori, extra noodle, pork, garlic oil or ginger... I've tried most of the broths at this point, and I'm almost ready to declare a personal go-to, but it's just so much fun trying new combinations, I'm not quite settled...will it be their signature Tonkatsu with an extra slice of pork? Fantastic...but then there's the unctuous Shoyu, delectable with an extra half-egg and nori...but the Spicy Miso with extra egg, ginger, and bamboo shoots is lovely too... The service is prompt and friendly in this eclectic, Japanese-themed little shop. Lots of fun retail offerings line the shelves and counters. There may be a wait, but it's worth it! They turn tables well here; the smart portion sizes and efficient kitchen staff keep things moving along briskly. The beverage selection is also eclectic and fun, with a lot of unusual boozy AND non-alcoholic offerings. Of particular note is an outstanding, rich barley brew made in clay pots in the Japanese mountains, called Swan Lake. It's particularly good with the Shoyu, by the way. Excellent sake selections and a focused wine menu, as well as interesting soft drink offerings mean there is something for nearly everyone. An absolute must if you're in old-town Langley, and a worthy reason to find yourself there, all by itself. But why not cap off a lovely day of exploring Langley's markets and artisan shops, spotting their famous black bunnies, and soaking in the iconic views with a perfect bowl of happy at Ultra House..? Now THAT'S a day well spent! Highest recommendation.