Yugen Ramen

2/24/2025 Ramen Izakaya Yu-Gen 152 Castro St Mountain View, CA 94041 I went there for a solo lunch on a Monday around 12:30. There was ample parking in the city free parking structure behind the restaurant. The layout is long and narrow with a contemporary chair and table setup. There is some bar seating at the front, which I chose. I ordered the Pork Cutlet Curry at the spicy level. My food was brought to me shortly and consisted of a gravy boat of curry sauce, a green salad topped with macaroni salad and corn, pickles, rice and the sliced breaded pork (tonkatsu). The curry sauce was not spicy but there was a condiment dish with cayenne pepper which I dumped in the sauce to take it to the level I wanted. The cutlet was thick and uniform in thickness with a golden brown crispy coating. It was moist and a little chewy but okay by me. Flavors were good, service was fast and attentive. A good value and repeatable for the curry.

Stopped by for lunch. The place looks nice and I like the decoration. It is like ramen shop in Japan. We ordered katsu curry, tan tan ramen, spicy tonkotsu ramen, veggi ramen and gyoza. I can say they highlight is tan tan ramen. The broth is very yummy. The tonkotsu broth is a bit on the light side. The noodle is cooked nicely. Gyoza is good and veggie soup is a bit back. The service is pretty good and the server is friendly. I like the open kitchen concept. For me it is about 3.5 stars.

Nice Ramen place. Gyoza were just ok, no real crispiness to them, needed to be in the pan longer before steaming. Taste was good though. Tonkotsu Deluxe was awesome. Nice chewy noodles, egg and a healthy portion of sliced pork and pork belly. Broth was great, I don't normally finish the bowl but this one I did. Really hit the spot. I do prefer Asahi or Kirin over Sapporo but the beer was nice and cold. As we all know cold beer is good beer. ;) Service was friendly and fast. The overall experience was great, would be 5 stars if not for the gyoza.

Uniqueness: Exceptional curry and well-executed chicken dishes Wait Time: [x][x][x][ ][ ] (Can get busy with a waitlist during peak hours) Food Quality: [x][x][x][x][ ] Service: [x][x][x][x][x] Setting: [x][x][x][x][ ] Cost: [x][x][x][x][ ] First visit? Fantastic. Second visit? Still good, but a little off. The ramen here is rich, flavorful, and well-executed, but the spiced chicken had an overpowering cinnamon flavor this time. Most people seem to love it, but for me, the seasoning was too intense and threw off the balance of the dish. That said, their curry is absolutely amazing—aromatic, creamy, and packed with deep, layered flavors. It’s easily one of the best things on the menu and something I’d come back for without hesitation. Service is always friendly and efficient, but depending on the time, there can be a wait. If you’re patient, though, it’s worth it. Next time, I’ll be skipping the spiced chicken but will definitely be back for that curry.

We recently visited this place, and while overall it was a ok experience, I personally feel they could benefit from adding more fiber-rich ingredients to their ramen. Also, be cautious when choosing the spice level— the medium spice was much spicier than expected! My husband and I both regretted not opting for the mild spice level. The best part, though, was that they offer gluten-free noodles $3 extra…

Last night, my family and I went to Ramen Izakaya Yu-Gen in downtown Mountain View, and it was amazing! As soon as we walked in, I felt like we had stepped into a real Japanese ramen house. The atmosphere was warm and cozy, with wooden decor, lanterns, and Japanese art that made it feel super authentic. For our appetizer, we had the Takoyaki, which are octopus dumpling balls. They were crispy on the outside, soft and gooey on the inside, and topped with a delicious sauce and bonito flakes that danced from the heat, so cool to watch! For the main dish, I ordered the Tonkotsu DX Ramen, and it was hands-down one of the best bowls of ramen I’ve ever had! The broth was rich and creamy, full of deep flavors. The noodles were perfectly chewy, and all the toppings-chashu (braised pork), kakuni (slow-braised pork belly), bean sprouts, green onions, a soft-boiled egg, and dry seaweed made every bite incredible. I also got extra Kikurage mushrooms, which added a nice texture and earthy flavor. The attention to detail in both the food and the decor really made the experience special. You can tell they put a lot of effort into making everything just right. I would definitely come back and recommend this place to anyone who loves real Japanese ramen!

Regardless the meat toppings, it is a beef curry, since they all cook with the beef base sauce. It is a pity. Otherwise the ramen is well prepared. The also well prepared onsen egg harmonizes the relatively heavy ramen soup. Thanks for the meal.

Food was good. Ambience was okay. Went on a weekend, was very busy and loud. If you’re looking for good ramen quick bite eat and get out then it’s a nice place. If you looking to stay there hangout for a bit with frnds the surroundings can be pretty loud. It gets pretty busy, you can get in line on yelp on you phone based on when your reaching. All in all, the food tastes good.

The food was great service was great. My only complaint is there is not enough brother in the Ramen. To order extra broth costs $9.50 with nothing in it. A full bowl of Ramen costs $18.00. Pretty pricey.

This spot delivers big on flavor and atmosphere. The ramen was rich, well-balanced, and clearly made with care -- easily some of the best I've had in a while. The energy in the place was great too: upbeat, lively, and fun without being overwhelming. Service was fast and friendly, and everything ran smoothly. Only downside is that it's not ideal for larger groups. There are only two tables that can fit five, so if you're coming with more than four, expect to wait or split up. For smaller parties though, it's a top-tier experience. Would absolutely recommend -- just know the space is better suited for small groups.

Visited on Juneteenth and had a brief wait since they required our full party to be present before seating us. Parking in downtown Mountain View was a bit of a hassle, especially during the lunch rush. For 5, we ordered: - Takoyaki: 4/5 - geso karaage: 4/5 - special tonkatsu ramen: 3.5/5 - chicken paitan ramen: 3/5 - chicken cutlet curry: 4/5 - pork cutlet curry: 4/5 - beef curry: 3/5 We chose to sit outside since the weather was nice, but the sun eventually beat down on a couple of us who weren't under the umbrella. Food arrived in a reasonable amount of time. Overall, the dishes were good, but nothing particularly memorable.

Solid ramen spot in downtown! There aren't too many good ramen places in Mountain View, but I'd say this one's probably the best in the area. I came here once a couple years ago and sat outside, but on my second visit, we dined inside and I was surprised by how spacious it actually is. There's a good amount of seating, the vibe is chill, and the service was great. I got the Special Tonkotsu Ramen w/ medium spice and it was spot on. Noodles were nice and firm, just how I like them, and the soft boiled egg was cooked perfectly. For drinks, I tried the peach soda with chuhai. It came in a ziplock bag with RGB lights, which was super cool but I barely tasted the alcohol. It was more like a fun soda than a cocktail.

My brothers brought me here claiming this to be the best ramen they've had & they were right because now it has become the best ramen that I have ever had! Our server was Billy, he was very attentive & helpful. We ordered Takoyaki to start, so warm & crispy! Then I ordered the Special Tonkatsu Ramen. The meat was cooked & seasoned so well it melted in my mouth. The broth was flavorful & the noodles were perfectly al dente. We sat outside, it was a bit chilly but our server brought over a heater that kept us warm. Our orders were brought out very quickly after we had ordered which was really nice. Now I will have to bring others here to try this amazing ramen as well!

3.5 stars rounding to 4 Nestled downtown Mountain View with closed off roads to walk down the street of many different restaurants and dessert places. There's nearby street parking, public parking and structured parking lot. There was the option to dine outside with heating lamps set up or inside. We opted to eat inside. I enjoyed the setup with privacy curtains. Our server was friendly and service was quick. I ordered the Special Tonkotsu Ramen. The overall broth flavor was good and not salty. I find most ramen establishments to be on the salty side. The portion was good and I finished the whole bowl. My main complaint was that the meat was dry and chewy.

Service and ambiance were great, but food was a bit lackluster in our opinion. Me and my friend got: Chicken karage - 7.5, good! 2 dx tonkatsu ramen's with bamboo shoots - 7/10, the meat, egg, toppings, basically all the fixings were really good. We just weren't fans of the broth or the noodles. Our broth didn't have much flavor, but pretty salty. Noodles were a bit on the harder side. We went on a Thursday night and it was pretty busy, but the service was very good! The food came out fast, and our waitress was really attentive during our time there.

Showed up for an early dinner. The waiting staff is very attentive and proactive. As a parent of a toddler, they were very quick and professional in setting up the high chair. They kept refilling our water which was helpful on a hot day and our toddler just kept drinking their water instead of the water in his bottle. While we had good service and the place was clean and dynamic enough to keep my toddler's attention, the curry was a far cry from when this place took on Kobe Curry. The salad greens were kinda bitter. The pork cutlet was chewy, stringy, and had this odd aftertaste. The appetizers were just ok, met what I expected, but not what I would come to Yugen for. Unfortunately, I have to give their food a 2 but their service got them to a 3.

Yummy ramen and tasty chicken karaage, can't ask for much more! Do wish they had more toppings on their base ramen, but the broth was rich and filling, with a good amount of noodles.

A cozy spot amid the buzz on Castro Street in downtown Mountain View, Ramen Izakaya Yu-Chen offers a delicious bowl of hearty noodles in the traditional tonkotsu and non-pork broths too. Went here with a friend and enjoyed the spicy chicken tan-tan ramen and the vegetable ramen. All their ramen broths have customizable spice levels which I appreciated. We also got the squid karaage for some crunch with our ramen. This is served with a delicious mayo dipping sauce which I could have eaten by itself! Both the chicken tan-tan and vegetable ramen were flavorful and I appreciated that they checked about the diner being okay with boiled egg being part of the vegetable ramen. They have a few beers on offer and a free refill hot tea, which I got several refills of while I was sitting outside. Service was super quick and we got our food in minutes after ordering, but they didn't rush us as we caught up and chatted away. They was heaters outside which are a just as it gets cooler into the evening. Overall, great place for ramen with solid service!

I got the supreme ramen that had both pork belly and shashu cut of pork. Both meats were very good and fell apart as you bit into it which I love. The noodles were a little too hard for my liking but for the most part enjoyed the broth. Chicken Karaagre was juicy and tender. The mayo they give you on the side was also very tasty. There was about. 20 min wait but it went by really fast and ramen was perfect on a cool night in DT Mountain View.

The servers were attentive and cheerful! The ramen was AMAZING!!!! I enjoyed the outdoor seating. I gave one less star because there is not a place in the bathroom to change a baby's diaper. This is no big deal if you don't have children, but for people like me with an infant in tow , it can be very stressful to not have a place in the restroom to change a diaper. However now that I know that I will be prepared when I go there or just order out!

Great service! Our waiter helped answer our questions and recommend us the house soju. I wish I remembered his name, he was very kind! The pork in the tonkatsu was so flavorful and I really enjoyed my bowl of ramen! A great broth with lots of fresh noodles. We sat indoors and enjoyed the setting we were brought into, very relaxing to enjoy our meal!

2/24/2025 Ramen Izakaya Yu-Gen 152 Castro St Mountain View, CA 94041 I went there for a solo lunch on a Monday around 12:30. There was ample parking in the city free parking structure behind the restaurant. The layout is long and narrow with a contemporary chair and table setup. There is some bar seating at the front, which I chose. I ordered the Pork Cutlet Curry at the spicy level. My food was brought to me shortly and consisted of a gravy boat of curry sauce, a green salad topped with macaroni salad and corn, pickles, rice and the sliced breaded pork (tonkatsu). The curry sauce was not spicy but there was a condiment dish with cayenne pepper which I dumped in the sauce to take it to the level I wanted. The cutlet was thick and uniform in thickness with a golden brown crispy coating. It was moist and a little chewy but okay by me. Flavors were good, service was fast and attentive. A good value and repeatable for the curry.

My party of 3 walked in on a Wednesday night around 7pm and were sat immediately, which was wonderful for our growing hunger! We ordered the karaage, gyoza, tonkotsu ramen and tonkatsu curry with cheese. The karaage and gyoza were mid, I wouldn't get the gyoza again. The ramen was good but not the best, I felt like it could've been more rich and oily. The texture of the egg was very nice, but slightly under seasoned. The customer service was very quick and friendly, our water cups were always filled. All in all, it's a good place to go for a craving but it won't be a knock your socks off meal.

First time visiting this spot and it definitely won't be the last! We stopped by on a Saturday afternoon and were pleasantly surprised by how quickly we were seated, especially for the weekend. The service was prompt and attentive, and our food came out in no time. I ordered the Kakuni Ramen and it was absolutely delicious rich, flavorful broth with tender, melt in your mouth pork. Everything was perfectly balanced and incredibly satisfying. Overall, a great experience from start to finish fast service, cozy atmosphere, and food that truly hits the spot. Highly recommend if you're in the area and craving quality ramen and great vibes.

Had some pretty yummy and flavorful ramen here recently! They weren't too busy during lunchtime on a Saturday so we were seated quickly at a semi-private table (separated partially from the walkway with curtains). I ordered the spicy tantan ramen at a medium spice level. I really enjoyed the broth, and it was definitely spicy but not overwhelming for me! The noodles I thought were just a touch undercooked (a bit chewier than I'd expect), but the rest of the dish was great. The marinated egg was excellent, jammy in the middle, and soooo flavorful. Overall a pleasant experience; I'd come back here if I was craving ramen and in the area, but I don't think it would be my ultimate go-to in the South Bay.

Uniqueness: Exceptional curry and good ramen broth & noodles Wait Time: [x][x][x][ ][ ] (Can get busy with a waitlist during peak hours) Food Quality: [x][x][x][x][ ] Service: [x][x][x][x][x] Setting: [x][x][x][x][ ] Cost: [x][x][x][x][ ] First visit? Fantastic. Second visit? Still good, but a little off. The ramen here is rich, flavorful, and well-executed, but the spiced chicken had an overpowering cinnamon flavor this time. Most people seem to love it, but for me, the seasoning was too intense and threw off the balance of the dish. That said, their curry is absolutely amazing--aromatic, creamy, and packed with deep, layered flavors. It's easily one of the best things on the menu and something I'd come back for without hesitation. Service is always friendly and efficient, but depending on the time, there can be a wait. If you're patient, though, it's worth it. Next time, I'll be skipping the spiced chicken but will definitely be back for that curry.

Stopped by for lunch. The place looks nice and I like the decoration. It is like ramen shop in Japan. We ordered katsu curry, tan tan ramen, spicy tonkotsu ramen, veggi ramen and gyoza. I can say they highlight is tan tan ramen. The broth is very yummy. The tonkotsu broth is a bit on the light side. The noodle is cooked nicely. Gyoza is good and veggie soup is a bit back. The service is pretty good and the server is friendly. I like the open kitchen concept. For me it is about 3.5 stars.

Came for dinner on a fri night & was able to get seated right away inside for us 2. I've been here before & had their ramen (which is great) but I was set on having their curry rice dish. I got the pork cutlet with spicy level curry & it was delicious. The side salad made it a wholesome meal. I shared some pork with my husband & finished the rice with the addicting curry, so good! My husband's tonkatsu ramen was rich & flavorful but he wished he'd order more ramen & pork. Other than that, our dinner experience was great. Staff were attentive & helpful. Would be back for the curry though for sure.

A decent ramen spot in downtown Mountain View. The highlights: 1. Location: Perfectly situated among many great places, making it easy to turn your dinner into a full evening. You can grab drinks, enjoy your ramen, and end with dessert--all within a 5-minute walk. 2. Service: We were seated promptly, and our server was friendly and accommodating. 3. Ambiance: Cozy yet classy decor and seating, offering a comfortable dining experience. The downside: The ramen itself was decent but didn't stand out enough for a return visit--at least for me. While some may love it (as reflected in some of the glowing reviews), I found it lacked the richness and depth of flavor I look for in good ramen. We tried the Tonkotsu and Tantan ramen, and while the Tantan was better, neither really delivered on flavor complexity I expect in a good ramen. Overall, I'd describe it as an uneventful but not unpleasant meal, if that makes sense. If you're in the area and want to check out a new ramen spot, it's worth a try, but there are plenty of other great options nearby.

First time here! Really yummy ! Food: good! The ramen is creamy. Service: we had to wait for some time and the staff are nice . Ambiance: casual. It had those curtains you would see in an authentic Japanese restaurant.

Review for my first visit to Ramen Izakaya Yu-Gen. Apparently, I haven't been to this area in a LONG time, because I didn't realize Castro Street was all closed off. Did this happen during COVID? ha ha! Anyhoo, I called upon my Yelp foodies to find something good for this rainy afternoon. Ramen Izakaya Yu-Gen was a great find, thank you! I met my friend at 11:45 am and there were plenty of seats available. Since I did my research ahead of time, I knew I would order the Tonkotsu Deluxe ramen that comes with cha shu AND pork belly. I've been building up my wimpy nature when it comes to spiciness, so I boldly ordered the Mild instead of Not Spicy option. It was perfect for me! My friend wasn't sure what to order but said she didn't like chicken broth, so I suggested she try the Special Tonkotsu Ramen. She took my advice and also tried the mild spiciness for her broth. Kudos to Yu-Gen, because their broth was stand-out delicious! It was rich, flavorful, and had a luxurious, coat-your-mouth feel. The cha sui and pork belly were tender and the marinated soft-boiled eggs were perfectly jammy. It would've been nice to have bamboo shoots as a garnish, but I didn't want to pay extra for those. Our ramen came out super fast, and it was the perfect lunch for this cold and rainy day. If broth is important to you, and it should be, you should definitely try Ramen Izakaya Yu-Gen. This is a strong 4 star review. I'll need to come back and try other items before granting a 5-star review, but definitely a delicious bowl of ramen.

Delicious ramen, would go again. Spicy ain't too spicy Staff is on point with the service

Ambiance - nice Food - i ordered chicken katsu curry! Yummmmm!! Service - fast :) Highly recommend!! I'll go back for sure!! :)

One of my favourite Ramen places! The food is really tasty, I usually go for Ramen with a miso base and get it extra spicy. The service is usually good, but they do have some off days once in a while. Inside is kinda rustic and cool but I prefer to sit outside if the weather is nice. Inside can feel a bit cramped. Overall great food and good service!

I love the ramens here and every time the taste is spot on. Even their boxes (Pork cutlet Curry) are amazing. I love getting the Kakuni Ramen with corn and extra mushrooms. I usually end up having two portions of the meal because it's so hearty and will take the leftovers home.

Chicken Paitan Deluxe Ramen 3 creamy white broth, super salty; soft boiled egg, dry seaweed, green onions; seasoned roasted chicken leg on a sizzling hot plate, bean sprouts underneath, tender, medium juicy, soy flavor, slightly too salty Takoyaki 4 octopus dumpling balls, octopus chunks inside, chewy, mayo, unagi sauce, flavorful

We ordered tan- tan ramen. Broth tastes good minced meat with Japanese style egg and ramen noodles are excellent. Service is fast & friendly. Ambience is good while entering their decor remind me Japan

Amazing place! Make sure to get a table in advance on Yelp cause tjey are really really busy. Once inside, the plates came out 3 minutes after ordering and everything was delicious! I think this was the best ramen I've had in a very long time. Will be back.

Since coming back from Japan in December I have been craving authentic japanese ramen. Delighted to say that I was well satisfied after finding this spot. My special tonkatsu ramen hit the spot. My bf opted for the chicken broth spicy ramen and it had a good kick to it. There were plenty of tables available at 12:30pm on a Thursday so we only had to wait about 5 mins. Would definitely come back whenever I'm craving ramen

Solid food! Flavor was decent -- definitely have had better but pretty solid! Service was decently quick and we were seated quickly for Sunday lunch. The space is larger than you'd expect from the outside, so seating didn't seem to be too much of a problem Would possibly return! Parking -- free lots or street parking nearby (2 hour limit)

Yummy. Was very tasty and the vibes were really nice. Server was super nice and we were seated quicker than I thought we would be even thought it was super busy.

I was really excited to try this spot and can't believe I haven't been sooner! I don't eat pork belly which can sometimes make it a little tricky finding a good ramen/ramen spot. We came for lunch on a Saturday. I ordered the spicy tan tan ramen while my husband got the tonkotsu deluxe ramen. The spicy tan tan ramen was so good with such a rich broth. I haven't had ramen with ground chicken in it before but really enjoyed it. I also got the lyhee chuhai which was sweet and interesting to try! The service was quick and friendly and the booths were really spacious which was great!

Delicious ramen with excellent service! We got the gyoza to share and some sake (both not pictured) and they were excellent. They have a decent sake selection to hit different preferred price points. The gyoza was cooked perfectly and comes with seven pieces. I felt the noise level was perfect for conversation, location is easy with a parking garage nearby, and the service was very quick. We went on a Saturday night with no issues or wait time (it was a few days after Christmas). They also have a live waitlist you can add yourself to on Yelp!

Yum! The ramen here is great, and so is the ambiance! Situated right in the middle of downtown Mountain View, this location is perfect. There are soo many places to choose from on this one street, and this place is a good pick! They have cute bar seating and not too long of a wait. You can sign up on the Yelp waitlist. The seating with the curtains is sweet and has a view of the bar as well. We got the veggie and the spicy miso. The spicy miso was nice and flavorful and the meat was well cooked. I wish there were slightly more veggies and that really would've put the dish over the top. The veggie ramen however was packed with vegetables, which is always nice. The prices on the menu are also a little different than online, so take note of that. Overall a nice place! One of the better ramens I've had in the Bay.

Such a cute little ramen shop!! The ramen tasted so great on a cold night. Was a bit worried because we sat outside, but they have nice heaters that keep you warm. As for service, they were fantastic! Just the perfect balance of attentiveness while also not being overbearing. Thank you, Ramen Izakaya Yu-Gen!

Came for lunch. The food was delicious. The chicken taste good. All bill comes to $40 for one person for lunch. Take off one star due to an ugly boiled egg.

I love the look and ambiance of this place. It's so cute. The food is good and the service is excellent. We've been coming here for years and it has always been great.

We were immediately seated at 8p on Thursday night. The other two in my party had issues finding parking so I got seated first. I definitely felt a bit rushed, as the server asked me multiple times if I was ready when there were clearly two untouched seats and menu on my table. We got the takoyaki (5 pieces) and chicken karage as appetizers. The takoyakis had big pieces of octopus in them which was yummy. The chicken karage was ok, probably won't order it again. Nothing special, the fried pieces were too thicken for me. I got the pork curry which was great value! I added a dash of chili powder, and it had some heat to it! The pork looked a bit over fried and dry, but to my surprise, it was still tender and yummy. The chicken curry my friend ordered looked a lot more pleasing, as it was just the right amount of golden. The chicken also looked juicier.

I came here for the first time a couple of weeks ago and have not been able to stop thinking about it! I came in unsure of what to order, and my server completely convinced me to try the chicken paitan ramen, and let me tell you it was a HIT! It was like a homemade bowl of chicken noodle soup x 1000. The broth was the perfect balance of creamy and soupy. The slices of chicken were extremely tender and juicy. I couldn't help but take a deep breath with each bite to savor the moment. Lol I also loved that you could select your spice level on a pretty varied scale. The service was quick and everyone was very attentive (servers, busers). The decorations inside are nice and give a quaint yet modern vibe to the restaurant, keeping a cooler atmosphere. Definitely will be coming back asap.

Food was so good!! The tan tan ramen was so filling and yummy! It comes medium spicy which wasn't too spicy for me I felt like it was mild which was perfect for me. The curry pork cutlet was very delicious. The pork was fried so well it had such a nice crisp and the pork was not dry at all. It comes with a salad and everything was very well balanced. The lychee soda I got was not worth the money unfortunately. It tasted like a perfume soda and it was so expensive for something that is 75% ice. The service here is fast and servers are nice. My water cup was never empty. I'll def be back! The restaurant itself is very cozy and I enjoyed the decor. One note is that my bf asked for extra pickles and he was not notified that it was an extra cost. We only realized when we got the receipt but oh well!

The ramen was amazing! The portion size was a bit large for me, but I couldn't stop eating... I asked for a well-done egg, and it was perfectly hard-boiled! Our server was friendly and made sure my request was noted. We came at 3 PM on a Saturday, and there were plenty of open seats. We'll definitely be back to try more dishes!

This place is hidden in the midst of the business of downtown Mountain View but it is a total GEM! We've been here before sans kids but this time with the whole family and it was super noteworthy and inspired me to write this review. If you are in the mood for delicious ramen then this is the place for you!!! Bonus: it is very family friendly! We went there as a family of 5 and it was SUCH a great experience. The service was super friendly and attentive, the ambiance perfect, and the food was just so comforting and oh so delicious. Also fun fact they have actual children's bowls and cutlery!!! This is the first time I've ever seen a restaurant have that. The Japanese know how to accommodate children! My toddler twins and five year old loved this nice touch. As mentioned the food is delicious. The kids meal is pretty awesome - a small bowl of ramen noodles with broth, and comes with a bunch of little sides. My children LOVED it. Probably the best kids meal I've seen served at a restaurant as it was a balance of healthy and delicious. Overall if you are in the area and in the mood for ramen, or looking for a child friendly place this is the place for you! Bonus: at the end of the meal my kids each got a little surprise which was sooo sweet!!! Seriously it is a fabulous place to take kids. Or leave your kids home and go have a date night here!

This was some outstanding ramen soup. I was craving one more dinner, having flown in from the east coast. (I guess the Gordon Biersch cheese burger 5 hours earlier in Atlanta didn't cut it). Although people were in line, I was able to grab a seat at the bar right away, and promptly received service. I asked for the vegetable ramen which was served "mild." It ended up being quite spicy, so I'm glad I chose mild! I can handle spice but wanted the second dinner of the day to be a little more agreeable. No issues, and still enjoyed the rich broth, spinach noodles and brined egg with a couple of piece of tofu but beside bell pepper, there was not that much selection of vegetables in this bowl, which would have benefited from a bit more variety, like mushrooms. The ambiance, was traditional Japanese. A hearty greeting by all staff upon entry.

This is my favorite ramen in the bay. I am warning you, the spicy ramen is very very spicy but Yu-Gen gets the flavors perfect!! I love the big warm bowl. The overall atmosphere in low lighting is inviting and warm. Service was great too. It's on Castro st in Mountain View so lots of dessert nearby as well.

I enjoyed this place a lot. We were a big group and it took time to be seated but not too long. I waited at the bar until the rest of my party arrived. The people, although nice, had to be reminded that I was there. I ordered a couple of drinks at the bar. We sat and ordered some appetizers like edamame and gyoza. We each ordered a different ramen. We ordered the pork, the chicken and a vegetarian for me. The food was enjoyed by all. The broth was delicious, the tofu well done and enough ramen to feel satisfied. The rest of the family also loved it, including the kids! The reason I gave it 4 stars is just because of the service. Nonetheless, worth it!

This place is bomb. We got the tan tan ramen and the katsu curry. I know this place is known for their ramen but damn their katsu and curry sauce is so good. Make sure to get cheese as an add on for the katsu. U will not regret it. Service is great. We were seated quickly but we went at 2pm on a saturday outside of normal lunch hours. Ambience is cute. It is playing on japanese izakayas so its dark and cozy. Love this place and would recommend

Stood there for 5 minutes to get ignored after two staff saw us did nothing. They knew we were there but walked away and looked into their tablet. Not even an acknowledgement to let us know anything. Can't tell you about the food or ambiance since we left after being ignored. They were not busy. Won't be trying to place in the future.