Yatai Ramen

This place might be the most solid tonkatsu ramen bowl in az. Ive had so many ramen spots in az but they suck. I was genuinely impressed with the broth and noodles. The egg needs work it was overcooked but very good! Theyre curry katsu bowl was delicious as well zero complaints about it. Will definitely be back!!

An incredible tradionally styled ramen shop! An incredibly friendly atmosphere was present the second I walked through the door. I had the house special tonkotsu ramen with all toppings, and when asked I decided to get medium spiciness (which was definitely within the Japanese standard of spice, which might be lower than you're used to if you have a lot of Mexican food like I do). The noodles were a perfect texture and taste, the broth was the perfect mix of savory with the richness tonkotsu is known for. The toppings like pickled ginger and black fungus added a delightful acidity. I also had a side of a pork katsu bowl, which was absolutely delightful and was an excellent mild compliment to the diverse flavors of the house ramen. This is my new local ramen shop and I couldn't be happier with the quality of food and service.

First time in Arizona and had a taste for Ramon. Glad I came here. Spicy beef Ramon can use some flavor but I very much enjoyed it. 9/10 recommend if you haven’t been here before.

Ramen is very good, very close to what you get in Japan. The ramen bowl in a combo is a little bit smaller than the ramen alone, but the extra plate with the combo is a very good deal. The only problem is that the place is a little bit too tiny and hard to find parking, but at the end the food is what really matters

Wow! I've passed this place a hundred times at least. My lovely bride was hungry and this was a middle point to meet. She loves ramen. The restaurant is small and sparsely decorated. None of that matters because it's the food that matters. I ordered the Champon ramen with half spice in it. It was amazing. Delicious broth, chicken was cooked just right and healthy mix of veggies. Definitely recommend.

I am on travel and I love going to local ramen shops. The spirit of making good food and service shines here. I ordered the beef ramen and curry combo and after flying for 5 hours and avoiding crappy food on the way to Phoenix, I wanted something that would fill me up and be wholesome. The beef ramen was rich, the beef melted when you ate it, and the noodles were cooked perfectly. The only suggestion for improvement I could make is the egg. It was surprisingly plain, close to a typical hard boiled egg. I like when they are soft boiled personally. My overall experience was fantastic and if you're new to Ramen, this is going to set the stage for knowing what good ramen tastes like and why ramen exists.

This is what I have been looking for. I have been looking for a good ramen spot in this town and Yatai delivers. The broth is excellent and the texture on the noodles is absolutely perfect. An unexpected surprise was the chicken and egg rice bowl. It made me completely forget about my ramen and absolutely stole the show. My husband felt the seating was uncomfortable and would have liked a cushion, but I was so entranced by the delicious offerings I did not notice.

I'd been wanting to come here for a long time, and this lovely rainy night was the perfect chance to enjoy some warm broth and a window seat. Super cozy little spot, exactly what I hoped it'd be. The Tokyo shoyu ramen and takoyaki were SO GOOD, best I've ever had and probably the cheapest. The chef asked what I thought and was delighted I'd enjoyed my first visit, total sweetheart. I've never taken photos of my food before and felt weird lol, but I really wanted to share my great experience here. So glad I stopped in! Thanks guys!! ❤️

First time having ramen, I usually get Pho but my friend and I decided to try this spot. We are from the Bay Area and been out here since Friday, celebrating my birthday. This hit the spot, especially after nights of drinking lol. 20/10 definitely recommend. Literally sitting here eating and writing this review. Definitely gotta return, the next time I return to Arizona.

moldy chopsticks, salty broth, very skimped portions i miss the old owner mark, was disappointed at the poor quality and customer service

Noticed this place while visiting a store near by. This is one of those place you would not know exist unless you know it's here. Small cute Japanese food restaurant with good menu. Very friendly staff and small sitting plus some outside sitting. Ordered Yatai ramen extra spicy. For the price I wish portion was little bigger, left not full and wanting more . The broth was pretty good and surprisingly extra spicy was spicy without being drenched in chili. Ramen itself was pretty good, but I was on the edge of like it not like it. It was Al dente but also had the texture of just came out from boiling and semi sticky/soggy if that makes sense... Pork was pretty good, not the melt in your mouth ones from other places. This place was really 3 and half but again, since there is no half and it deserved 4 rather than 3... Over all vibe was good, staff was friendly. If I'm in the area I would definitely come back and try some other dishes.

My favorite ramen in the Phoenix area! Service is fast, food is fresh, and the price is right. My favorite is the special tantanmen ramen. So spicy and flavorful and yummy!!!

This ramen is fantastic!! I had the Charshu Ramen and it was a great choice. The broth is perfectly flavored and the pork just melts in your mouth. The service was quick and the staff was pleasant! It's a pretty small restaurant, so if you go with a group it may be hard to find seating, but if it's nice outside the outside seating is lovely! The prices are so affordable - I'd come here all the time if I lived any closer. One thing to note - the hours are pretty limited, so going on a weekday for lunch or early dinner is the best move and you won't regret it.

Delicious every time! I love this tiny ramen shop. I can't tell you how frequently folks recommend this place when I'm looking for somewhere to grab dinner.

Love hole in the walls like this!! While it's quaint, it's clean and smelled great! The service was prompt and friendly. The food, though was EXCELLENT! I was super impressed with the value of the food for the price. I also appreciated the variety on the menu. Loved this little place, and would definitely go back. I loved the chicken katsu curry, the chicken was excellent. But, the only picture we snapped was the Tantán ramen.

Food was AMAZING. Got the yatai ramen and loved it. The service was amazing, i dropped by chopsticks and didn't even have to say anything before i was brought new ones. I loved how it's a little shop along university, good seating too for how tiny the place is. It was so good i forgot to take a pic of the bowl when it was all pretty

Small unassuming restaurant serving authentic Japanese ramen/food. Good service. We will definitely go back.

So so so worth coming and the prices are amazing. Probably my favorite ramen place. I got the ramen and small pork katsu bowl THAT WAS SO DELICIOUS. Me and my bestie went and honestly I am obsessed. THANK YOU FOR BEING DELICIOUS. Amazing service and insanely close to the ASU campus. I love

So I walked halfway and then took a Lyft. 25 min walk from Mill Ave or 4 min Uber/lyft. Well worth the walk and the ride share request. I was actually impressed with the availability of vegetables and non pork items and meats available to order. As someone who doesn't eat pork, I appreciated the chicken curry, chicken katsu, vegetable ramen, and the Champon ramen that included a lot of veggies, chicken and shrimp. This was the first time I saw bok choy and carrots and broccoli in a ramen but since I love veggies, my stomach was happy with the variety. It originally came with the soy sauce/salt shoyu broth? I forget the name but I asked if they could do a miso instead and they made my Champon (chicken, shrimp, egg, + veggies ) ramen with a miso broth and it was amazing! Super delicious. There are only a few seats inside, a nice size bathroom, Mexican beers, Arizona ice tea, and some Japanese beers to purchase or water with your meal. You can sit countertop where you can see the kitchen cook, sit at the window, or small tables inside. The service was good, the cashier asks the cook/chef if they're able to get an okay with any changes and then you patiently wait for your food. There's soy sauce, Japanese seasoning, and hot sauce at the table. They also have rice bowls and other items for purchase too. I had a very good lunch and will return! Very filling and very delicious. They didn't skim me on the noodles or the veggies and I appreciate that and the broth was delicious.

This was my second time at Yatai, and both times have been wonderful experiences. The service is quick and kind, prices and portions are right, and the ramen is absolutely delicious. We had the spicy tantanmen ramen that was on special and it was incredibly flavorful and spicy, like it's meant to be! I also like that they offer rice noodles for gluten-sensitive folks. This place strikes me as authentic in food and setting, and we're lucky to have a place like this in Tempe. Support this great local biz!

This is by far the best ramen I have had in PHX. I've been here almost a dozen times and I'm always impressed by my food. One time they were closed and we tried a different ramen spot down the street...we won't make that mistake again! There is no comparison. I am not overselling, it's really just that good. The ONLY bad thing I can think of is they're located in Tempe and I'm in Mesa (so far!)! Besides that, it's everything ramen should be. Wish I could give them more stars! Definitely check it out, highly recommend!

Yummy ramen at an affordable price! Small and casual restaurant with limited parking near ASU. Kind service. Ordered the Yatai Ramen and it was pretty good. Not super amazing but for $11 it's hard to beat! Tonkatsu broth was good and not too heavy like I've had at other places. Husband got the combo which comes with ramen and an additional entree for $15. Good value and you'll def be full.

Amazing amazing amazing! This is a small business that looks to be at the end of an apartment building maybe. I saw the reviews on Yelp and saw that they were really good so we decided to try it. When we were there, an older gentleman was the only one working the counter and cooking so it took a while but we didn't mind. He was working hard and we just knew the food was going to be great and IT WAS. So worth the wait. It is a good price and tons of food. We all ended up getting one of the combos and 1 teriyaki chicken bowl. I got the chicken curry combo that came with a ramen bowl and a rice bowl. The curry was so good with both dishes. I literally had two meals. So good and worth the price. Everyone should try this hidden gem. Please be patient when you get there. It may take a while.

I've been wanting to visit Yatai for some time now and glad that I finally did. The food was great and the prices and fabulous for the quality and value. I initially was going to opt for the teriyaki, then switched my mind to ramen to only change it to the katsu curry rice. It was a great decision! The katsu was fried perfectly and was tasty. The curry was also good and sat on a bed of rice so all the flavor soaked up nicely. I was perfectly satisfied at the end of the meal without feeling overly full or stuffed. The establishment is on the smaller side. There's nothing wrong with it but just something to be aware of. Also, they are only opened on the weekdays. I'm looking forward to trying the ramen next time!

Not good at all. Tonkotsu soup is not real. It came from a vendor aka mass production. Real Tonkotsu should be made in the house. Soup was not hot enough. Noodle is not same as the one I ate in Tokyo and other prefectures. His noodle is low-graded quality. It won't last long. I do not call it ramen. Eating a package ramen home is 10 times better!!

I really liked the small interior because it really felt more authentic, it had small touches like prints that were tacked into the walls. You order first (I choose the medium spicy miso and gyoza) then find a seat. They have a few tables outside. The broth was delightful! The pickled radish added a zing to the slightly spicy broth. Next time I will have to try their spicy level. The gyoza was delicious and per the menu it says he makes them daily!! The location was a little tucked away so please drive slowly because it comes up quick lol

A cool hole in the wall with cheap food, but that's where the positives end. Food was mediocre and nothing to write home about. Definitely not worth going out of your way for.

I got the standard Yatai Ramen Broth is excellent - very savory. Pickled ginger and black mushrooms were a very nice touch. Service was very quick and the seating area is small but cozy.

It was awesome Food was amazing it was what we were looking for no frills just great food

Food was great. Prices were fair. Definitely will be coming back. Can't beat it for the price.

Normally I have low expectations for little hole in the wall carry outs. This gentleman exceeded my expectations by a lot. I ordered a seafood and chicken noodle dish that was outstanding. The young lady who took my order and served me was cheerful and she got the order correct. I highly recommend this place. The food was hot and tasty and appeared to be made from high-quality ingredients.

Best authentic ramen and atmosphere I've experienced in phoenix at an affordable price.

The ramen was goood ! I definitely recommend to try this place out! The broth was very good and the spice level was perfect

This small shop in tempe has a 2 small tables and bar seating inside, and 3 tables outside (only 32 seats total). An older shop but the food and service are great. The owner Mr. Kondo cooks everything himself and it is delicious. The Yatai Ramen is a must, the fried rice so good and the gyoza is fantastic1. We love it and come all the time.

Yummy ramen!! I ordered the Yatai Ramen with Katsu and egg bowl combo which was a LOT food for $15. Food didn't take too long to arrive and it was piping hot, perfect for a chilly day. With ramen I believe the key factor is the broth mixture. I had the pork tonkotsu and it was very flavorful and full of umami. I noticed that the ramen bowl wasn't full but then noticed on the menu that double noodle and broth would have been a couple of bucks more. I'll have to try that in the future to see how filling it was. Regardless, in combination with the pork katsu egg rice bowl I left full. Both dishes were great and now I want to go back and try the other flavors since the tonkotsu was very good.

A small ramen shop with a very nice owner. The service is good but can be slow at times. The price is pretty cheap at $10 for ramen and $14 for a combo of ramen + rice bowl. For the ramen, you can choose not spicy, medium, or spicy. The spicy is not very spicy for anyone that enjoys spicy food. The ramen only has one slice of thin meat in it and has very little in the ramen itself other than the noodles. The egg seems like an attempt at the soy marinated egg but was not great. The broth is okay but too salty and not enough richness or umami in the flavor. The noodles are also okay but I wish it had more springiness. The rice bowls have too much rice. The tonkatsu isn't crispy enough because of the egg and needs more flavor. Both the tonkotsu and teriyaki was too dry. The tonkotsu is still better than the teriyaki however. Overall an okay place for cheap food if you want to be full but the quality is not high enough for me to come back.

Been on the road for a while and wanted some traditional Japanese. I was in the mind set I'm in Arizona, so don't expect much. I stopped by this place and out of everywhere in Arizona I stepped into the restaurant of a first generation Japanese that knows how to cook the perfect tonkatsu, crispy and moist full of flavor with the perfect match of curry. I was definitely surprised.

Solid tiny ramen joint. Price point is great. Broth is excellent - particularly the shoyu version. A couple of notes - there is essentially no parking around the small restaurant and the chasu pork is not quite what you would expect for ramen... Basically, it is rolled pork. Also the egg was overcooked (not runny like what should be expected)

During COVID-19: Yatai Ramen is a small Japanese homestyle comfort food restaurant located in Tempe by ASU. The shop can be easily missed as it's located in a residential neighborhood. I would pass it by whenever I was in the area but saw it at the corner of my eye while driving. When I craved for some oyakodon, Door Dash directed my search to Yatai. I wasn't going for ramen but some Japanese rice bowl dishes. Excited that I was supporting this small mom and pop in Tempe, I happily ordered for pickup for an order of oyakodon and their special ramen. The private parking is located behind the restaurant. In front are several outdoor seating and dine in seems to be available at this time with masks inside. The owner was super nice and handed us our order to-go. Food is simple yet amazing. The oyakodon is well prepared with pickled ginger garnished on top. The hubby ordered ramen and commented on the perfectly soft boiled egg. It was like an episode of Food Wars (the anime). The restaurant itself is adorned with pictures of anime characters on the wall. I can imagine Yatai Ramen is an otaku's go-to with the interior decor and selection of food from katsu to ramen to donburi. I would return for more! Accepts cash and card. Take out, delivery, dine in, and patio seating available. Itadakimasu!

My girlfriend and I enjoyed our first experience at Yatai Ramen. We were impressed with: Ambiance: small and quaint restaurant with table and bar seating. Feels like a hole-in-the-wall restaurant. Service: we were greeted by an older gentleman, who happened to be the only employee in the restaurant. He was friendly and kind to us, other customers, and on the phone to those placing take out orders. We received our food within 10-15 minutes of ordering, which we felt was impressive with the amount of multitasking he had to perform for others (eg phone call, taking orders, cooking multiple dishes, etc). The view to the kitchen was open and transparent, and we could tell how hard he worked. Food: the presentations of the ramen and especially the curry and katsu Don were impressive. There were many colorful components with the ginger, egg, daikon, etc. Better than the looks was the taste. The broth for the ramen was perfect: not too light or heavy, not too salty or sweet, but still savory and flavorful. The curry had the softest potatoes that contrasted well with the crispy katsu on top. The pork katsu don was soft and tasty with the egg mixed into the pork. We loved our experience at Yatai Ramen and will definitely return.

Located near the University, authentic Japanese Ramen and several other dishes. This is a hole in the wall restaurant, with only one person working. The chef must be a master, creating such a rich pork broth for their feature item: Yatai Ramen! Served with several thin slices of char siu pork belly, bean sprouts, green onions, red ginger, and a perfectly cooked boiled egg. You can order it spicy or mild. I also ordered the gyoza, which was perfectly pan fried!

It was good! Pricing and food! I wish I had taken the photo but as soon as I was served, I devoured it. 5 our of 5!

Great vibes, Excellent service! I liked the self serve station with the sauces. I enjoyed the whole anime theme of the restaurant

Love their service! The staff were nice. And the food is really good! Saw the reviews here on Yelp and it did not disappoint. Perfect for the chilly weather right now here in AZ.

The owner is an extremely kind man who makes fantastic meals. The ramen is delicious while being very affordable. Very cute interior, looks like someone's dad decorated (which i love). Will be back.

I stopped by here for lunch while I was in town for a conference and really enjoyed it. It is a small place but decent amount of seating inside and out. The food was good and came out in a good time. The staff was friendly and answered all my questions.

This place was lovely! I ordered the Yatai Ramen combo with curry and enjoyed both dishes. You get a generous bowl of Ramen with a delicious broth (not too heavy and not too salty). The curry was also generous with crispy pork katsu. The owner was so kind and welcoming as well! Definitely recommend!

Their ramen is the best in town! I have tried many different places in town, but Yatai is truly the best one. Their Yatai ramen is very tasty and decent. I did togo this go because they close at 7:00 for dining-in. But they are packaging togo very well! They separate the noodle/topping from the broth, so they don't get mushy. Try Yatai ramen if you want to taste a good Japanese ramen in town!

Everything I have ordered here has been good until I tried the fried rice. It wasn't bad, but for$6.50 I expected to get more egg, corn, peas, and chicken, scallion in my order. It was 95% rice! I was hard pressed to find anything but rice after eating the few morsels of egg, corn, peas, and chicken, scallion that were on top. Feeling very disappointed and ripped off! $6.50 for what was mostly a few cents worth of rice. SMH. I'll stick with the ramen & gyoza.

I love this place for ramen, I got the combo and went during lunch. Make sure if choose to go during the lunch rush you have spare time to enjoy your food and get back to work. Gluten free noodles and the curry katsu was cooked with perfection. The customer service was excellent.

I always cannot say no to ramen and rice bowl combo but this time I only got Tokyo Shoyu ramen. Next time is for the rice bowl. I sat at the outdoor table in front of the restaurant. It felt like we were having a street food. The food came out fast. Although it seem like a small bowl but it was full for noodle/broth/other toppings. The pork is juicy and well marinated. The pink pickled ginger made some kicks in each bite. Nice small restaurant but might be a challenge to find the parking if this place is getting more popular.

I loved this place! I got the Tokyo ramen- spicy and my boyfriend got the Yatai ramen. Both broths were very good but I do think the Yatai broth was superior. It was a nice refreshing meal that did not make me feel heavy at all and was freshly made. The owner is very polite and had nice service.

Not sure about the hype that this place gets. Asked for no black fungus in my bowl after I was told I could get the dish without it. The pork in the potstickers were bright pink. Looked like pink slime. Not coming back

This place is the most under rated place I have ever been to. The ramen was hands down was one of the best I have had. The service was great from such a small place too, I loved it!

Service was great but ramen lacks a lot. I've been to a lot of ramen places. You can even say i'm a ramen connoisseur if you will lol. But flavor lacks, pork belly is bland and eggs was slightly over cooked. Sorry but need a revamp bad. If your looking a good spot. Origami ramen bar is legit. It compete with L.A lilt tule Tokyo ramen.

Walking into this shop, I was amazed by how small and cute it is with all the posters on the walls. Besides the cute aesthetic, the shop itself is very clean and neat. Onto the food, I was definitely mind-blown by how good the soup tasted. Everything in the bowl tastes really good and fresh, not to mention, you get a great amount of food for just 8.95 a bowl. This place surely felt warm and authentic compared to other shops in AZ.

Great quick service. Ramen was delicious, very flavorful and served hot. Parking was easy right around the back of the building. I'd recommend.