WakuWaku Ramen Harvard Square

This place is small, has a good aesthetic and a cute seating area upstairs, but definitely feels too crowded. I came with my friends around dinner time and there seemed to only be one person on staff to handle seating, orders, and table clean up. The food itself was alright. The takoyaki was delicious, and the ramen itself was good, although I wish the menu had more options for vegetarian and vegan people. Probably wouldn’t come here again, but it was still a decent experience for a casual last-minute dinner.

The food and service was very mediocre. The ramen taste like instant noodle, and we were super thisty all evening after this meal! The server just do the bare minimum to get the bowl to you (I rather a fast-casual place TBH). The biggest red flag was the sticy floor, sticky menu and sticky table!!!! 🚩 Parking was a big headache! After several loops around the block for street parking, we gave up and head to the closest parking garage --$15 per hour!!

We just had our date night here! She got the veggie miso ramen with added spice. I got the pork bao and rice bowl. Everything tasted excellent. We especially love what they've done with the space AND that they haven't changed the internal structure and simply accentuated it to create a really delightful space.

I highly recommend this place! My sister and I were there for lunch recently. We were served very quickly and the waiter did a good job. It's a good place with good food and we didn't spend a lot of money, only $20 per person. I hope we'll be back!🫶🏻

Recommend the Kaen Spicy Ramen. My husband loved it. I just had the vegan gyoza which was pretty okaish. They also have vegan Ramen options which is good and would like to try next time. The service was very slow where no one was coming to take the order. It’s a small restaurant and wasn’t packed but seemed understaffed.

The signature ramen is as good as the best ramens I had in Shibuya, Japan! The noodles is on point, and the soup is delicious! Good choice to leave the fried meat aside to keep it crunchy. Overall 5/5 experience.

The ramen lacked depth of flavor and richness because the base tasted like a bland chicken broth rather than the usual pork/fattier broth. I don’t think the cheese pairs well with the ramen. The pork also tasted a little gamey. Squid inside the takoyaki was cold. Not worth the price for the quality.

WakuWaku is quite an underrated place. It passes rather unnoticed compared to the other restaurants and cafes around it. The food there is fantastic, the food choices are plentiful, and the waiters are fast, respectful and helpful. The food is well made and made quickly, which is definitely helpful next to a university campus where schedules can be relatively tight. I definitely recommend this place both for smaller and larger groups. 8/10.

I went for a visit at Harvard. I stopped there for lunch. I will definitely recommend this place. Took the pork katsu and it was one of the best miso i have taste. Service was absolutely great. We had our waitress Kim. She was super nice and we really enjoyed talking to her. She brought water for our dogs. We liked her even more for that :) Ambiance was nice. The place has chairs outside and there is many things going on haha

I didn't have the highest hopes for this place because of my general experience getting ramen in the Greater Boston Area, but I was pleasantly surprised. I got the miso tonkotsu ramen ($16) which had a rich, creamy broth that was not too salty. The toppings were simple (egg, chashu, menma, scallions, corn) but were cooked well. I was not blown away by the noodles but was glad that they had a nice bite to them. Although I did not get a drink here, I noticed that they have a lot of fruit-flavored sake and soju that is somewhat reasonably priced. This would be a fun spot to come with friends for a drink and some ramen!

Came here for dinner with a group. The service was quick and the food was pretty good but my order was incorrect 2 times. All the food hit the spot for ramen but nothing was very outstanding. Overall a cozy little spot for food and drinks. It has good options for vegetarians as well.

We passed this restaurant when we were walking around the Harvard Main Campus. Ramen was great and tasted almost like what we had in Japan！Should be back again!

The location is awesome; especially staring out on to Harvard Square while slurping some ramen. The sake list is not too exciting, but at least it exists. Service is very friendly. Music is peppy and too loud. We tried the signature ramen and the curry ramen. The signature came with a really nice piece of tonkatsu, but lacked other ingredients. The curry comes standard with nori, seafood, and an egg. The broth felt a little lame, but its not bad.

Great ramen options. Service was great! Lots of seating inside and the prices are reasonable. Really enjoyed the tonkatsu here. I would say this is one of the best ramen places Boston has to offer.

The restaurant is decorating with cherry blossoms which give the dining area a refreshing atmosphere. They have an upstairs dining area to choose from as well. Wakuwaku specializes in ramen. That is basically all the serve. Maybe that explains why they do it so well as It was delicious. The ramen is served in a bowl topped by bean sprouts pork, and a half egg. Initially I selected one from the menu which she warned was hot. I ordered another one but had them put the hot sauce on the side. I would certainly return if I am ever in Harvard Square.

Gyudon - Rice was very sticky. - very little meats on top - Not flavorl overall House special ramen - very small portion - Salty - ramen was cold served - not flavorful Service - service was great Overall, I would not come back or recommended. It was good experience

I visited a friend who goes to school in Cambridge for the weekend, and she recommended this restaurant. Having heard about my friend's positive experiences at this ramen spot and being a fan of Asian cuisine myself, I was eager to give it a try- and I'm so glad I did! The restaurant has a very snug feel, with tables closely nested together. I personally enjoy spaces like this, and there is an upstairs to add to the charm. I opted for their signature ramen with chicken, edamame, and hot sake. I very much enjoyed their ramen and favorable broth. I typically enjoy edamame anywhere, and here was no exception. I enjoyed the the hot sake, but if you prefer it warmer, I'd recommend letting the staff know because it is not as hot as I expected. Highly recommend if you're looking for Ramen in the area!

The miso ramen was so salty it was like a salt lick melted. The noodles tasted old and hard.. the meats weren't good.. they just tasted like boiled lean meats with no flavor... the bamboo was too fibery and hard... the egg was sugary sweet... the best thing about the ramen was the corn I added myself and the fresh green onion & bean sprouts (btw I had takeout)

Five stars! Great food, great vibe, and great indoor air ventilation! They have outdoor seating as of October 2023. Always a nice feature for the Harvard Square area. Nice menu with clear allergy labeling for vegetarian, soy, etc. Service is friendly. The indoor area is great for individual and small group dining. If you have 5+ people, you may want to consider another ramen place nearby. Most of the seats are for 2 or 4 people. Ramen isn't cheap, it starts at around $15 per bowl. Appetizers are around $8 or so. Music is pretty loud, so hard to hold a conversation.

Ramen (in general) is in the process of a slow crawl up my favorite foods list. I am able to tell you it does not break the top three, and it is ahead of pizza. All that's to say, if I am hungry and I see a new Ramen place, I'll likely pop in, even if it is 90° outside. This is what happened with Wakuwaku. I had the opportunity to try the Tonkotsu Ramen, and a Chasu [sic] Bun. ('+' = good | '-' = not good) The Chasu Bun: + The pork was tasty and savory + I loved the use of crisp onions. + The veggies added a nice crunch and freshness as well. + Not sure what they used for sauce, but it worked well - The bun wasn't steamed, and had some firmness that messed with the overall consistency. - While it was borderline well balanced, I would have loved some more protein Tonkotsu Ramen: + The broth was mild and pleasant. It also didn't feel like an onslaught of salt. + The tea egg(?) was absolutely divine and had terrific flavor, even with a hint of sweetness + The veggies were unique and added great flavor + Chashu (same as in Bun), was similarly great - On the same theme, the entire bowl had two thin slices. More protein would have definitely been welcome. - The noodles didn't do it for me. For lack of a better term, they weren't ramen-y enough for my taste. They also all bunched/tangled together rather than remaining easily edible with a utensil of some kind. The service was very good! The food came out fast, water was refilled promptly, and it was appropriately attentive. Finally, the vibe is modern, a little hip, with Japanese influence. The decor is tasteful and doesn't crowd a small-ish space. Thus, The bun and bowl had some great things going for them in the flavor departments. However, the meager quantities of pork, and underwhelming noodles dropped Wakuwaku to a three-star.

Easy seat down and yummy meal if you are craving good ramen! Second time eating hear and me and my cousin love it. Service is fast and attentive. I appreciated the option to split bills. The ambiance is chic and hip, not too loud. A smaller space so expect to hear echoes of conversation around if it's full but not too bad.

I stopped by for lunch on a weekend and got a bar seat without any wait! The interior is nicely decorated, and even though the venue is small you don't feel too closely packed. I got the truffle shoyu ramen (I LOVE truffle) and was pretty satisfied. There was a decent amount of truffle flavoring, and the tamago was yummy. I'm not a ramen broth connoisseur, but this broth seemed more oily than usual (maybe it's because of the truffle oil?). Other than that, this was a great meal :)

The ramen special here is a great deal. We were able to split the ramen and pork katsu between two of us for $18! The upper area was a little hot when we went and the service was a bit slow, but nothing unbearable.

I was really craving ramen and decided that this would be a good spot to have lunch in Harvard square. The service was fantastic my server was friendly and helpful. The ramen was tasty spice level was great but goodness so much noodle and not much broth. I was really craving more broth. The chicken katsu was a very small portion but I enjoyed it as a nice side. The restaurant atmosphere is very modern and attractive. Great location in the Harvard square. I would come here again.

If you're looking for lobster truffle ramen not too far from Boston, you'll find it in Cambridge. There's a location of Wakuwaku in Boston but they don't have the lobster truffle ramen so if you have an urge to find out what this is all about, head on over here. The interior is two floors and each floor isn't that large, especially the walkway on the second floor to the restroom, but sufficient for guests to dine quick enough and leave. Staff are on the younger side but they are attentive enough to your needs and also kind. Come here and absolutely without hesitation order the lobster truffle ramen (with extras of whatever you like) and when your order arrives, you'll get half the lobster submerged in the ramen and the tail served as tempura on a separate plate with a pink dipping sauce. While it's $20 more (or 2 1/3 times) the price of the other ramens, your tastebuds, warm body, and memories will glad you ordered one.

Cool interior and open a little later than other restaurants. Ramen was good -- second time coming. Nice location as well near Harvard campus.

My favorite is the salmon taco! Kinda pricey for one little taco, but you taste the various flavors all at once. It was topped with an edible flower, and the overall taste was just amazing. Service was spectacular. My Kaen Ramen was spicier than I anticipated, and the manager saw that I was struggling; he offered to switch my dish for another at no extra cost. I love the vibe of the restaurant! I think this place is better for a night out rather than a quick bite during lunch, like I did, lol. I'll be coming back to see what the vibe is really like at night.

As soon as you enter, you're transported into a really cool bar. There's minimal seating on the first floor but looked like there were Atleast 5-6 tables upstairs. The service was extremely quick, we were able to order our house sake and ramen within 5 minutes of sitting down. I'm usually not a huge sake person but I loved how this sake didn't burn and you could order it hot or iced. I got the vegetarian mushroom ramen and added the Japanese hot sauce, big fan - it was creamy and earthy and hit the spot on a cool fall day

Finally, an actually good ramen place in Harvard Square! You'd think that with the oddly high density of ramen restaurants in the neighbourhood that there'd have been someplace to get a decent bowl of ramen, but it really took the 4th ramen restaurant in as many blocks to get there. My friend and I came for a weekday lunch this week - the dimly lit interior was pretty empty when we came in, and we got a oddly placed (and quite cramped) bar-style seating facing the outside window. A bit inconvenient, in my opinion, especially considering that almost every other table was empty, but it was nice to look at passers-by. I ordered the signature ramen with fried pork and was really pleased! The portion size was decent, with well-cooked noodles and a flavourful broth (that certainly warmed me up on that snowy day). It's not spicy, though, despite what the menu says. The fried pork cutlet was not bad - a bit lacking in flavour but I liked the complementary crispy and drier texture that it provided. My friend had the tonkotsu ramen, which was also very solid all-around. The soft egg was so delicious, and the slices of pork were very aromatic and tender. Also, very pleased with the price of our meals, too. I think food in general has just gone up in price lately, and understandably so, but for this yummy meal I though the price point was more than acceptable. I am already very eager to come back already (lobster truffle ramen next time ? )

My friends and I came by on a Friday evening, and it was quite packed. There is not much space, so you might end up close to other tables. I ordered the signature ramen, which came with the choice of chicken or pork katsu. I went with pork katsu, but it was very underwhelming. It is very thin and does not have much flavor. I enjoyed the texture of their noodles, but the broth was just alright. I do not think it was the worst I have had, but it tasted standard and did not leave much of an impression on me. I was also unimpressed with the lack of toppings that came with this dish. There was like one strand of veggie, a tamago, and a clump of corn that did not even amount to the size of my palm. The tamago was really random and felt like a cheap alternative to a marinaded ramen egg. For the price you are paying for, the portions and quality do not match up to it. We also ordered a soju bottle to share, and I did appreciate how the server provided us with shot glasses so we could share the bottle. It was a bit disappointing that they had run out of yogurt flavor when it was only 6pm on a Friday night, but we settled with the Peach flavor. Overall, the service was alright, but I would go elsewhere for better ramen.

I wanted to try this place after they had a stand at the Harvard Square Chili Cook-Off -- they had the longest line of people waiting to try samples of their ramen. And it was delicious! Definitely my favorite "chili" of the event. I was eager to see what else they had to offer. The ambience of the restaurant was pretty unexpected for me -- the restaurant was quite dimly lit -- the main lights were turned off and there were only colored lights on, resulting in quite the unique mood. It doesn't seem like there's that much seating and they don't take reservations so it's probably better to come a bit earlier or at an off hour on the weekends. We went for Saturday dinner a bit before 6pm and didn't have to wait. We tried the kaen ramen ($16) which is a chicken-based broth with spicy black garlic. It had some pieces of chicken chashu and half of a marinated egg and some bamboo. I thought that the broth had a good amount of spice for Japanese food, but the broth itself was a bit lacking in flavor and depth -- it was a bit bland. The toppings were good. Overall, I don't think I would get this ramen again because it was lacking flavor. We also tried the miso mushroom ramen ($16). The ramen is supposed to be a chicken-based broth with miso but to me it just tasted like miso paste in water, maybe with some dashi -- nothing to write home about. The toppings were various mushrooms -- deep fried tempura enoki, one deep fried shiitake mushroom served on the side, pan-fried button mushrooms, and another pan fried mushroom. The mushrooms were pretty good and plentiful. I just wish the mushrooms had been seasoned more before deep frying -- the tempura mushrooms had no flavor at all. In both of the ramens, the noodles were thick and wavy, and while they were not overcooked, they were a little more cooked than I like. The broths were not particularly special for either of the ramens we tried. The ramen sample we had at the chili event (which I believe was the specialty ramen) was very tasty, so maybe that's the one to get. We also got the chicken karaage ($9), which was not very crispy, as other reviewers have noted. So it didn't really feel like it was necessary that it was deep-fried. However, the chicken inside was quite juicy. It was a little underseasoned but I liked that it was tender and juicy. We got the salmon ikura sushi taco ($8). I thought the presentation was nice and that the different elements really worked well together. I would of course have appreciated a little bit more salmon content in the roll, but overall I would say it was a pretty good dish. Finally, we got the mango nigori sake ($14) which basically tasted like a thick mango nectar with some alcohol flavor. I like sweet drinks so I liked it and it was a reasonable price for the restaurant. Overall, I had an interesting experience at Waku Waku and I'm glad I tried it. Still, given that there are three other ramen restaurants in Harvard Square, I would probably rank it as 3rd out of the four. I do think Bosso Ramen is the best ramen in Harvard Square and Santouka has the best karaage. Waku Waku has good toppings but I think the broth is a bit lacking and the appetizers were not amazing. I didn't like the noodle quality in the ramens either. I'm not sure if I'd go again given the other options in the area, but overall I thought the service was good and quick and I enjoyed my experience.

The food was good but the service was terrible. The waitress J showed different attitude towards customers. So strange!

Food was amazing and filled me up Such good service and they're super nice too Recommend to everyone

the ramen here is pretty average. my friends and i got the miso tonkotsu ramen, spicy tonkotsu ramen, curry ramen and chashu don. their broth is super thick compared to other restaurants. for the curry ramen, you get a choice of fried pork or chicken. the chashu don looked super good and it's only $11. the other ramens we got were all $16, which is pretty reasonable. waku waku also has sushi tacos that i wish i tried. customer service was great - the waiters are friendly and prompt. the restaurant itself is pretty small (~10 ish tables). overall rating: 8/10

Love the Chinatown location so went to the Harvard square one. The interior is so cute and there's so much room for seating. They have great deals like $18 for a three course meal and they have sushi tacos! Highly recommend, so yummy!!

This was my first time at this location and the food, service, and ambiance was great. The restaurant was on the smaller side in reference to seating but I walked in and sat upstairs kind of like a balcony. It was dark and music was good too. Definitely recommend this spot for friends or date night!! Very affordable Flavorful Many options other than ramen

The people working there were great, but the food was very lack luster. The broth lacked flavor and didn't have the amount of toppings the photo showed. It was the only meal we regretted while in town.

This place never misses for me. It's the perfect comfort food. The service is so friendly and fast. We were seated immediately at an outdoor table which was amazing since it was such a nice night. We both ordered the signature ramen and a Sapporo beer. I honestly consider this such a dependable place to get flavorful, rich ramen for a great price. Highly recommend!

Soup base is good, noodle is chewy. Very fast service. Give it a try if you are in the neighborhood.

Was excited to try a new ramen spot in the area! Came here for lunch on a Sunday around noon, there was no wait. We were seated near the entrance on the first floor, ambiance was ok. I ordered the miso tonkatsu ramen - it was pretty tasty. Definitely order the spice on the side for additional flavor! My boyfriend ordered the signature ramen with the pork katsu. We thought the ramen was ok, quite veggie flavored, maybe overpowered by the broccoli, but still a nice light flavor. The katsu we enjoyed! Overall affordable pricing and worth a try! Maybe would be more fun in the evening for dinner.

Stopped in to grab some Ramen with a friend and it did not disappoint. Ordered the signature Ramen which came with chicken katsu that was nice and crispy. Service was quick, attentive, and friendly! Portions were alright for the price. Space is pretty small but not a problem as it was a nice in between of a fast casual place and a sit down restaraunt.

Amazing place close to the Harvard Station. The gal at the host station was nice. She was patient enough to explain the menu to us. Food arrived quickly. Food was great. Tried Miso Ramen. I loved it. My wife loved their House Salad. All in all a good experience. Parking may be hard to find. Quiet place. Not very pricey either.

Food Ordered: Karaage Don($12) and Grilled Broccolini($6) The karaage was a large portion and could probably be 1.5 meals. Main complaint was that it wasn't super crispy so the coating was a bit gelatinous except for some edges. It was well marinated and had really great flavour. It came with a sriracha mayo sauce which is always good. The broccolini was really tasty and came with a unique sauce that was in between a cream sauce and a dressing. I really liked it and there was enough to use for the chicken. The broccolini was a little greasy for my liking. I will definitely come back here to try the ramen and some of the other donburis. Always exciting to try a new spot in Harvard Square. I got takeout here and tried the grilled broccolini and the karaage don so I'm not sure how the ramen stacks up to the other places in the square(Santouka, Bosso, Menya Jiro). While I didn't eat in the restaurant, it had a nice interior and a loft area up top which looked like had most of the seating. There were curtains right after entering which made a weird standing area. The servers were friendly and the service was pretty quick. Worth a try!

Soooo recommend! Cute little place and excellent ramen - what else could you ask for?

Short wait before being seated and was impressed by their ambience that resembles a Miami lounge with red rope/bouncer. Got mushroom tempura ramen, kaen ramen (spicy) with crab croquettes and fried shrimp along with house sake that came in a cute tiny carafe. Tempura was crisped to perfection, broth was deep & complex and spice hit everywhere - is how is all supposed to be. Service was prompt, friendly and attentive. Would recommend and come back for more. Has more locations in Chinatown (on my list to try next) and Waltham (coming up).

The tonkatsu ramen was delicious, as well as the signature ramen. Good, fast service, ambiance is nice. Sat at the bar, and was able to watch the ramen being prepared.

Great tasting ramen. Was very surprised to find this ramen place which has a good selection of ramen noodles and drinks (sake, soju, beer..,)

Changed the menu to remove everything good. Terrible service. Went as a party of 2, told there's a 25 minute wait with several open tables. Called 2 mins later after changing our minds and asked to be put on the wait and told there is no wait. Went back and were seated at one of the several open tables. Food is not as tasty as any of the other ramen places in the square. Will not be returning.

SO YUMMY! Some vegan / vegetarian ramens can be lacking in flavor, but the miso mushroom ramen was delicious! It was the perfect way to warm up on a rainy day. The service was prompt and friendly, and I got my food very quickly. I can't wait to try the other dishes on their menu in the future :)

Disappointing. We tried the broth on its own -- shocking. Hot water with little flavoring.

A friend recommended this place after hearing about our disappointing experience at another ramen place near Harvard Square. Let me tell you, Wakuwaku was infinitely better than that previous place (not naming names haha). It's not as good as Red White in Newbury St, but given its convenient proximity to Harvard, it will do nicely. The vegan miso ramen had a simple but rich miso broth, with some super mushroom-y mushroom paste to add more of that characteristic pungent mushroom flavor. It came with a tempura fried super stringy mushroom that was amazing with the noodles, along with some tempura fried shiitake that was not seasoned at all on its own (even the tempura batter was flavorless), but when dipped in broth it absorbed flavors well and was still quite yummy. Loved the ramen noodles, not too soft, still maintained some chew when served fresh. The pork tonkotsu was enjoyed by my partner, with compliments to the jammy egg it came with. All in all would definitely return. I dare say this may be the best vegan ramen in this side of the river, but then again the selection isn't huge either. It's small and not much space for parties more than 4, so come early for a table!

Love this fresh lobster Truffle Ramen and fast friendly services highly recommend this place

This is the best Ramen in Harvard. The interior is very nice and the staff were attentive and pleasant. There are quite a few items on the menu with pictures. I will be back!

Food is subpar! Customer service is great and so is the ambiance! I ordered the Kaen Ramen. And it was missing some of the ingredients listed in the description. Very disappointing, it tasted a lot like heavily doused pepper corn. It was not spicy at all just tasted like peppery... the broth was not that great...

incredibly kind and generous team of individuals who work here -- I'm grateful for the food and their care! Loved getting to visit here.

The service and staff were amazing, so high remarks regarding that. But, the food is just honestly subpar. I've been here a few times now and have ordered a variety of dishes: donburi, ramen, and hand rolls. The ramen is very bland, the noodles are way too soggy, and the toppings are sparse. The hand rolls are good, however. I'd also stay away from the donburi as the salmon bowl has very few thin slices of salmon. I'm hopeful they'll work on their flavorings and dish sizes given how much they charge.

Best ramen spot in Harvard. I ordered the crawfish sushi taco which was super unique and tasty.