ZAO Stamina Ramen

Was expecting more from the high reviews from locals and on Google. The noodles had a great texture but were quite salty. Not many other condiments besides ramen and a few pieces of meat in each (the Tonkotsu one didn’t even get a whole egg, just half). Personally did not like the fact that they had a label on the bar counter specifically saying don’t spend more than 30 minutes sitting there. We came at noon and there were maybe 2-4 other customers in the entire dining area, so it felt quite unwelcoming. Interior decorations were quite nice though.

A good ramen option in the DMV. The noodles were fresh and chewy. I liked the ordering system - simple and you can take your time. It wasn’t busy early evening when I visited on a Tuesday.

Can't believe I passed this place so many times before without realizing it was the same place on my "want to visit" list. Finally stopped in and glad I did. The ordering system is pretty unique: you order up front and take a placard to your table or sit at the bar (which is time limited) and order via QR code. The ramen was very good, though for a spicy option there wasn't as much heat and I'd expected. Otherwise the noodles were springy, the broth excellent, and they don't skimp on toppings either. Definitely one of the better ramen options in Maryland and worth a visit.

Very nice flavorful broth and noodles. Easy ordering system and food also came out quick. Nice place for a quick lunch/dinner.

Tan tan ramen was nice and chewy! I really liked the noodles. I thought the meat wasn’t that great and the bok choy was more like one leaf sadly. We also ordered Kaarage and dumplings and those were $8-10 each. I think I ended up spending closer to $35 for the tan tan and the kaarage.

Zao is one of, if not THE best ramen place in the DMV area. I lived in Japan for four years, and I even prefer it to some places I frequented there because not only do the owners of Zao have a true passion and skill for making ramen, but they have a unique creativity that is unlike anywhere else. Their "Gentei" or limited time bowls are always a culinary adventure that keeps me coming back again and again (as seen by my many many point cards...). Pictured are limited flavors I've tried over the years like Pumpkin Spice Miso which I had today in the spirit of Halloween, and previous ones like Spicy Yuzu Tsukemen, Hiyashi Kani (Crab) Corn Ramen, Corn Croquettes, Mapo Tofu Ramen, JIRO Style, etc. Also pictured is my usual go-to on the standard menu, their amazing Tan Tan Men (with extra scallions, or "Kara negi"!). You can see (and taste!) the amount of work that goes into each bowl on Zao's menu. Though a lot of the bowls pictured here aren't available at the moment, the gentei flavor is always updating with new interesting flavors each month, or rotating old favorites back in; Check their Instagram to see what's coming up. Like others have mentioned, their fried chicken is also a must order! The self ordering at the front is simple and straightforward, and if you're a single or duo diner, you can sit and order at the counter! They also make all their noodles in-house every morning -- You won't get a more authentic Japanese ramen experience anywhere else. I also highly recommend trying the fruit beer- the Hokkaido Melon actually tastes like they packed a real melon in there! Really unique flavor if you like sweeter alcohols, but for those who prefer a normal one, nothing beats a pint of Japanese beer with a bowl of ramen. As you can tell, I love this place and am a regular. The staff here truly care about the customer experience, and are a wonderful team who are quick and helpful. Definitely worth stopping by!

Some of the best ramen I've had in the area. Got there with a huge group right at Noon and they were able to easily accommodate us. The Tan Tan Men will now be my go-to ramen order thanks to Zao. The broth was rich and full-bodied and it was loaded up with noodles and chicken. It had just the right amount of spice. The Chicken Kara-age may be the best version of it I've ever had. The Chicken was unbelievably hot and coating was perfectly crisp and very flavorful. I was so so happy with my entire meal here.

The ramen here is really solid. I have tried a few of their bowls and they are all really good. I love the new setup where you order on an iPad and they deliver it to your table. Really great seamless experience. They also have a special Monday night which switches weekly which is fun trying new things. The reputation of this shop is well known in the area and I have been told by many people that it is their favorite.

Best ramen in DMV by far. What reviews don't really capture is how close the experience is to an actual place you'd visit in Japan. The way you pay by machine is common in Japan but not here. The weird usage of "stamina" in the name makes sense in Japanese, since ramen has that connotation there. I've heard some reviews saying their menu is non traditional, but in Japan, people expect ramen shops to have a "house style" and unique specials--this is why it's authentic! While they offer an "old school" shoyu ramen for comfort, their main stamina ramen and summer hiyashi chuka are especially good. My only beef is with the karaage--it's well marinated, but the mayo/aioli they use is infused with spice which is a little heavy for my taste. Service is laid back. Owner left Myanmar for Japan and ran ramen shops there for years, and it shows. It's got the aura.

Fantastic service, and nice restaurant. However the $25 ramen I got had no flavor to it besides chili flakes. I got the GEKIKARA STAMINA, which is their tourist trap "super spicy" ramen. It had a good amount of spice and I loved that but it felt like the only flavor was chili, oil and water. I tasted no garlic or anything else . It also came with a small bland piece of boiled pork, and a soft boiled egg. The broth was bland, underwhelming and I feel like I just fell for a tourist trap. :( It's a small portion size of noodles as well, however you can pay an extra $4 for more noodles.

A great ramen spot! The place has self service ordering. You order on a kiosk, grab a number and choose your seat. They bring the food out to you. There are plenty of seats inside. The past couple times I've been there was no wait. The Tokyo Tonkotsu ramen was very good. Broth was flavorful and creamy. Pork was tender. Overall portion size was decent. I also got the Karrage. It was crispy and juicy, but nothing to rave about. The mayo sauce they give you adds a nice savoriness to the chicken. The ramen is what stands out here. Give this place a shot if you're in the mood for a quick bowl of ramen! I'll definitely be back.

I had the traditional shoyu ramen. Overall pretty good. Broth can be a little tastier. I also ordered the chicken karaage an that was really good.

Took 40 minutes for the food to come out on a weekday lunch, even though there weren't many people inside. They never acknowledged the slow service or apologized once the food came out. The owner's friends came in and their food came out in 5 minutes. If their kitchen was backed up, they should have said something at the front when ordering. This is unforgivable oversight, especially for lunch during a work break.

Still some of the best ramen in the DMV imo. Got the gekikara and yea it's very spicy. Do it at your own risk. I wish they still had the spice bottles to help urself with on the table. Service was fast and friendly. They assisted with setting up a table fast for our large family. Also don't forget to ask for a stamp card, which they will stamp for ur full price bowls. They won't stamp for stamina Mondays.

I ordered the stamina of Ramen and would recommend getting it to go, as the dining ambience isn't particularly invited. The service was fine nothing, exceptional, but efficient enough. The stamina of Ramen had a mild level of spice, was flavorful, and overall quite satisfying. I definitely return for another takeout meal from here.

One unique thing about Zao is that they are one of the only ramen shops in the area that can offer you a wide array of ramen! It's really great for anyone that wants to try something different. And unlike Menya Hosaki, they have more reasonable open times. From their monthly specials calendar, I ordered their Kombusui Tsukemen, which was only being offered for two days. When the food arrived, a staff member explained the process of how to eat everything (salt dip to noodles and then broth), and then was willing to repeat it all when I asked! The whole wheat noodles were cooked to the softness of my liking. The kombu (kelp) broth and the chicken and dashi soup on their own were so good and unlike any ramen broth I've had. It's delicious with the noodles and meat mixed in. In the end, my stomach was full and I was hoping to avoid another food coma but still felt it a little this time. This special was $25 before tip, so remember it's a bit more than the regular bowls of ramen. Can't wait to come back for another special!

This place has a lot of the standard ramen shop things going on but I want to highlight it specifically because of what it can offer vegetarians. Usually veggy broth for ramen is... not good. The Vegan ramen here, where meat is absent from the entire process including the broth, is actually pretty good. In a landscape that often treats those options as an afterthought that makes this restaurant worth having on your reference sheet. Complimented by helpful and friendly service and the type of ambiance everyone likes having in a local shop.

A friend highly recommended ZAO Stamina in Bethesda, and since it's so close to Rockville I had to check it out . Their branding and social media is definitely on point, plus they offer some unique weekend specialty ramen as well ! Zao prides itself with their handmade inhouse ramen noodles, skinny and curly varieties, and their authentic broths with modern spins. For the appetizers /drinks we got: Tori Kara-Age Mini Chashu Don Umeshu Japanese Plum Wine For the ramen we got: Gekikara Tonkotsu Old School Shoyu Mazesoba The Tori Kara-Age was some nice tender bites, and the chashu don rice bowl was savory and sweet ! The Gekikara Tonkotsu was the SECOND most spiciest ramen on the menu, and it was pretty intense , tasty broth but it had a BOLD spicy KICK . The Ramen broth in general is more on the oilier side, which if that's your preferred style, then it works well! My Old School Shoyu was tasty, but I think the broth could've had a bit more flavor/saltiness to it. Besides the basic toppings listed in the description, you can add extra toppings from their menu for additional costs, but this can make your ramen end up being pretty pricey. Definitely want to come back and check out their weekend specials, as well as their skinny ramen noodles.

Came here with a group of 5 on the way back from skiing up in Pennsylvania one Saturday. The store front confused us at first but were able to find it after circling back. The inside had a pretty cool classic ramen shop feel. You order at the stand up front via the machines and take a number to your table. We got a variety of noodles and what helped was a day of skiing and the fact that it was like 28 degrees outside so a bowl of ramen really helped hit the spot. That being said, while the broth was good, I wished there were more things in the ramen and the meat selection was a bit different. The thin slices for some of the bowls did not feel very substantial for the price. Overall it was good in terms of flavor but not somewhere I would go out of my way for. If I lived closer wouldn't be against going when I was craving a bowl but there are better places closer to the downtown DC area that I would choose over this place.

Zao Stamina really has a vibe of its own. Their ramen is not traditional and very unique, but their execution on creating their ramen USES traditional techniques. If they wanted to make traditional ramen; they could easily achieve this because their skills and attention to detail really shines. I loved my ramen. Broth had so many notes and layers to it. Right balanced of light and thick. I drank my whole bowl. Noodles were springy and meat was tender - just knocked it out the park. Zao Stamina is truly a gem in Bethesda, Maryland.

Not impressed. Nowhere near authentic Japanese ramen. Order kiosk and open seating. Would not come back.

Got the stamina ramen with "slow cooked egg" (which I thought would be a soft boiled as typical). Luke warm broth, was not hot enough to cook the raw egg (or at the least, very hastily poached, nothing slow cooked about this egg) that was obviously cracked directly into the bowl. Ramen noodles seemed like they were either packaged or pre made days ago - not good, very blah. The "roast pork" that came with was literally, no joke, a single piece of deli ham sitting on top. Do not waste your money on this place. They don't care about the food the make so why should you?

We really enjoyed both of our ramens! My husband got the Stamina Ramen and I got the soup-less ramen. It was my first time trying a soup-less ramen, and I may enjoy it more than regular ramen! We brought our 1.5-year old on a Friday night, and it was easy to get seated and the service was excellent (they got her a kiddie bowl and fork, which was very considerate). Will come again!

Love this spot. Homemade noodles are unbelievable and unique. The tonkatsu is killer. The gekikara spicy is insane, be careful. Try the karaage as well. The tantanmen is a great texture and has a peanut buttery miso flavor. Good service, low frills, excellent in every way.

Ordered pick up take out on a Sunday evening. Our food was ready fast and was ample, packaged well and we had an easy experience picking it up. There were a good number of people dining in, too; the space was lively but casual. We got a variety of ramen including the kid's ramen, Tokyo tonkotsu and the gekikara tonkotsu (had a warning of its non-refundable spice level). We also got fried chicken and edamame to share. We all enjoyed our choices. I will say the diners who got the gekikara said it was not awfully spicy. I tried it and felt like it had a texture of dried spices, like they just added more powder and it was detectable in mouth feel.

I've traveled to Tokyo and have visited 54 Michelin starred restaurants plus countless other fine dining establishments. The ramen served here is wonderful and the experience very much transported me back to Tokyo. You must ignore the negative reviews here, as they are written by ignorant and inexperienced diners. They simply do not know what they are tasting and are easily impressed by subpar pre-made frozen factory ramen. I can whole heartedly recommend Zao Stamina Ramen and Menya Hosaki as the ONLY options in the DMV area for ramen. Why? They make the noodles on premises. The al dente, dense, and bouncy texture can only be found in noodles that are made in-house. The creamy and rich broth that is served with the tonkotsu ramen at Zao is unbelievable. The milky pork broth has the thick consistency and viscosity that isn't seen in many places. The consistency reminds me heavily of the kotteri broth that is served at Tenkaippin in Japan. The curly ramen becomes perfectly coated with this delectable broth and must be inhaled as quickly as possible. The generous portions of pork belly chashu, menma, scallions, nori sheet, and ajitama complete this tonkotsu masterpiece. On my second visit, I tried the tori shio ramen. The noodles are very different from the tsukemen and tonkotsu bowls; but this doesn't imply a negative connotation with them. The thinner, flatter, and straighter noodle strands compliment the lighter chicken broth in an excellent manner while still providing a gentle al dente bite. I also loved the yuzu tsukemen (also on my first visit), a departure from the very thick dipping broths I've had in the past. Be sure to fully submerge the noodles as they are served cool. On my third visit, I was able to catch the remaining gyokai tonkotsu ramen. This was the thick dipping broth that I am normally accustomed to; the broth coated the tsukemen noodles beautifully. This is a 7-8 bite portion for me, my only complaint! As a test of consistency, on my fourth visit I had the tonkotsu ramen (again) with additional noodles. The portion was enormous and very filling while providing the exact consistency in both the broth and noodle texture that I was expecting. If there is no special tsukemen offered, this will be my default order (with the extra noodles). This ramen shop should be a staple establishment for any ramen connoisseur in the DMV. I look forward to coming here many more times.

My husband and I are Japanese American and we have tried every ramen shop in the DMV. Zao Stamina Ramen has the BEST tasting ramen in the area! I had the tan tan ramen and my husband got the stamina ramen. The noodles are made in-house and the broth is deliciously paired. The pork gyozas were amazing! We can't wait to go back and bring our family and friends to try other dishes! Read the owner's story as Payesone M. Hakamata and his wife share their history on how why they perfected their ramen and Japanese dishes!

I was so excited work finally brought me back to back Bethesda, mainly because I remembered coming to Zao in 2022. I rushed here my first night in town, salivating like one of Pavlov's dogs to finally get my hands on another bowl of Tom-Yum ramen. Sadly, when I scrolled the kiosk ordering system it was no where to be found. A member of the staff informed me it hadn't been on the menu for a couple of years, but said if I liked the spice I should order their signature "Stamina Ramen". I took his advice... only to be disappointed. I started with an order of the Gyoza, just I I had previously. They arrived almost immediately which was honestly surprising. After a bite I knew why, they were charred on the outside... yet cold in the middle. Yep... premade and not even reheated. Strike one. My bowl of Stamina Ramen arrived shortly thereafter. It contained exactly ONE thin slice of pork belly, half a marinated egg and basically 3 bites of noddles. I don't know what's happened, but I know it makes me sad. It brraks my heart to write a review of this nature, hopefully they can regain their previous glory.

This place is the closest thing you will find to authentic Shoyu ramen in the DMV. The Tonkotsu is great as well but there are better options in the DMV.

Zao Stamina Ramen is located in Bethesda, right off of Wisconsin Ave. Upon walking into the restaurant, you must place your order at one of two iPads. Once the order is placed, take a number and find an empty table. Your food will be out shortly. The noodles in the ramen are homemade and delicious. I recommend getting pork, rather than chicken, as the protein in the ramen. The staff is very friendly. There is also a self-serve water station. Give this place a try for lunch, dinner, dine-in, or takeout.

One of the few ramen spots in the dmv that is truly a great bowl. noodles have great spring and texture. Broths are great. other toppings are also top notch - Bokchoy, ajitama, menma. My favorite is the tonkotsu, the tantan is pretty good, as well as the stamina. the karaage is crispy with a nice aioli, the pork rice is gingery and tasty. Order on the screens when you walk in and grab a seat.

We placed an online order for the "Savor Bethesda" Restaurant Week. Ordered three sets plus four add-one. Two bags were ready to go in about 40 minutes as promised. The Stamina Ramen with egg and soup base was very good. The Old School Shoyu was delicious. The Mazesoba with egg was very tasty. Pork Gyoza (3pcs) and Tori Kara-age (3pcs) were well made. Wakame Salad was kind of dry. Pork Butt (2pcs) and Pork Belly Chashu (2pc) and Chicken Chashu (3pcs) dipped with sauce were all nice. We enjoyed the meals very much.

Honestly debating on a three star rating but will be nice and give four. The service even though you order at kiosks was really good. However the ramen itself came out warm at best and the broth while very rich was extremely one note. I had the tonkatsu ramen as did my partner which is a shame cause I don't have anything to go off of then the one ramen. But in all honesty I have no interest in trying anything else. I would say if you are in the area is worth trying but def don't make a special trip like I did. The best thing I had was the fried chicken which came with my lunch special.

Ramen Lovers, this spot is for you! @zaostaminaramen is having their 2nd year anniversary! The ramen is amazing and the kara-age is a must get! Cutest restaurant playing japanese music and the nicest staff! One of my favorite spots in the DMV!

The level of artistry and craftsmanship is astounding and constantly evolving. The special this week would have changed Thanos without a fight, for there has never been a greater balance.

We were looking for a quick meal near our hotel after a long day of walking around DC. Luckily Zao Stamina Ramen was literally right under the hotel. We walked in, ordered at the kiosk (this is probably the closest you can get in the US to the food ticket machines in Japan) and picked a table. The restaurant was pretty empty for dinner. The sole waiter did come up to us to make sure we understood the ordering system and to answer any questions we had. We ordered: Tokyo Tonkotsu ($18) - Good roasted pork bone flavor in the broth. Nice frothiness along the edges. Came with green onion, two large, thick pieces of marinated bamboo shoots, a sheet of nori, half a marinated soft boiled egg (this one had a small amount of the yolk fully set) and thin slice of pork belly. Stamina Ramen ($15) - Japan does not have very much spicy food. Going into this dish, we thought it would be "spicy" to Japanese tastes. We were wrong. This is a legit spicy that burns in the back of your throat, but lets off soon afterwards. I wouldn't say it's overly spicy, just much more spicy than we thought it would be. The dish came with probably 6 or 7 slices of thin pork belly, green onions, garlic, and a perfectly soft poached egg. The ramen noodles in both dishes were served at similar doneness - a little more al dente than we usually prefer, but softens as you eat. This is the only ramen shop I've come out still a little hungry though... probably should have ordered extra noodles or a side. On the table is dumpling sauce, which we didn't test out, and chili paste which is home made. The chili paste has anchovy to give it a richness and appears to be the source of heat in the stamina ramen. They sells bottles of this for $7 a bottle. I wouldn't consider Zao to be a top tier ramen place, but I'd say it's certainly a place that is worth stopping by if you're in the area. The service is efficient and the food comes out fast.

The first time I came here was for dinner to grab a quick takeout. I ordered the summer special item, hiyashi chuka. Service was a little slow but I was able to grab my food and leave. I enjoyed my noodles so much that I decided to come back again the next day for another bowl. This time I got the lunch special with the shoyu ramen and fried chicken. The fried chicken was very juicy and crispy - everything I am expecting from Japanese fried chicken. The bowl of ramen was well cooked, not too salty, and had a nice depth in flavor. There were also spices sitting on the tables so you can adjust the spice level to your liking. They also had draft Kirin beer which is a requirement when eating ramen. The beer was a little watery so I wondered if I was getting the bottom of the keg, but I still enjoyed it.

This place is our go-to ramen spot in Bethesda. My favorite things to order are the tonkotsu ramen and karaage chicken. The tonkotsu ramen is very rich in pork flavor and creamy. The chicken is crispy and made to order. When you enter the store, you are presented with a self service kiosk where you order and pay for your food. It's very similar to the ramen places I've been to in Japan. If you are dining in, you will grab a number and place it at a table of your choosing. Once seated, someone will bring your beverage and food. The few times I've been, they've had anime projected on the walls. There is a parking garage nearby, and they are also located very close to Bethesda Metro station.

3.5 stars for trying. It didn't taste like authentic Japanese ramen- the flavors were too strong/overpowering. My shoyu ramen was way too salty but I can just add hot water next time. It's still a nice option to have near us- there wasn't any ramen places in walking distance, so this is a welcome addition. It is a weird setup though- went you walk in, you are immediately greeted by a kiosk. You're required to order there before sitting so you're tipping before the meal- find for me especially since I could see that there was only one server, so he definitely deserves it! There also was one chef in the back so a very lean staff- probably to cut costs. It's like the drink serving robot at Kura. The interior is clean (well, it's new so I didn't expect otherwise), and is roomy. You pick your own seat but don't forget to take a number for your table, and add it ti the notes of your order.

I love coming here with my team! The food is always really great, service is fast and the food is always consistent. I just wish they were open more days during the week.

I was surprised to only see one staff member at dinnertime, but he did a great job, helping us make our selections, delivering our dishes and providing the check -- all with a friendly smile. If you care, it's near Roundhouse Theater, and a quick way to grab dinner before seeing a play.

I was on a business trip and looking for a quick, easy place to grab a bite. Zao was close to my hotel, open, and looked inviting, so I went inside. At first I was a bit wary because there was a group of older folks huddled around what looked like an ordering kiosk, and while I'm all about self-serve (at the right place), the folks in front of me were hogging both terminals, completely confused about what to do, and bantering with each other, completely oblivious to the fact that there were people behind them waiting in line. (Note: DO NOT BE THESE PEOPLE!) Luckily, I looked past them and realized that I could pick whatever seat I wanted, and could order to my table immediately via a QR code. BONUS! This is my jam! So... I did. And I'm so glad I did! Since it was my first time, I went with the Tokyo Tonkotsu ramen, and it was a total winner. Super tasty broth, all the right ingredients, and great noodles, all in proper proportions. I ate it all. The vibe is inviting, chill, and all about come-as-you-are; totally my kind of place. If you're staying in Bethesda, looking for a bite, and are craving ramen like I was, I solidly recommend Zao Stamina Ramen.

Yummy yummy ramen, fast service, big portions, fresh ingredients, amazing broth. Definitely coming back!

Looking for some good ramen noodle in Bethesda. Saw this on Yelp and decided to try it out. It's not bad at all. Probably not the most authentic Japanese ramen I ever had. But it's definitely a good choice in maryland. I order tan tan noodle and the dry soba noodle. Tan tan is a little on the salty side, but for tan tan noodle, it's acceptable. The dry soba noodle is very very delicious! Not salty, with the right amount of spice, veggie and meat. Mix it up with the soft egg, it's super delicious. We also try the gyoza and chicken karrage. Gyoza is nothing special, would skip it next time. The chicken karrage is hot and crispy. We ordered the lunch special, which you add a few bucks for a side with the noodle, I was shocked to just get 2 gyozas! Look like I am paying a few bucks for a nothing special gyoza!

Very good ramen! It's a kiosk order and sit down/serve yourself place. Would love another vegetarian option or two but the vegetarian ramen we got was great, the soy meat was excellent and that is coming from a vegetarian who does not like fake meat

I was excited that Zao introduced their tsukemen for the week of 5/21/23. I don't know if it will go beyond this week. But wow. This is the best tsukemen I've had in the DMV. Every aspect reminded me of my time in Tokyo. That last ask to dilute the tsukemen broth so I can drink it was reminiscent of Rokurinsha. It was great. The broth was deeply smelled of Katsuobushi powder. Giving it a nice smoked flavor profile. The noodles had a great chew and soaked up the broth with just a few seconds immersed in the concentrated broth. I hope they keep this on the menu forever.

Really great ramen, service setup is a little bit strange but the food quality is the best in this part of MD/

This place was so good. This was the best Asian food I've had ever since moving to the DMV. It's so authentic and it's very no nonsense. The service was actually so good even though you ordered from a kiosk and a lot of it is self-serve, the waiter that was working there, took the time to explain a lot of the menu And everything and checked in to make sure we had a good experience. The ambience is very straightforward. It is not an Instagram restaurant, but I would much rather go to a restaurant like this where the food is actually good than go somewhere where I can just take photos. If you are looking for a good Ramen place, this is the best one in the DMV. I cannot recommend it more. Plus they have vegan options that are so delicious. I will make the trek to Bethesda to come back!

After trying Zao Stamina Ramen, I don't want to waste my time going to other ramen restaurants. Going here for lunch has become a weekly ritual, sometimes even twice a week. I like the idea of being able to order my food how I like it, take a number and then sit where I'd like. If you click on an item on the kiosk, it tells you all the ingredients and you can make changes as you wish. The staff is always very friendly, greeting you and telling you goodbye thanks for coming. The food is always outstanding. Whether it's busy or not I always get my food in a timely manner. I'd recommend this place to anyone.

Tokyo Tonkotsu Ramen is the best in DMV! The bone broth is very thick and flavorful. Must try!

spicey ramen lovely will be returning mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm I got pickup and it was epic

When you enter Zao Stamina Ramen, you place your order at the front first. The server delivers your food to your table. They keep their menu short and easy. GinaBee had the Miso Ramen and I had the Tori Shio. The Miso Ramen tasted like the traditional miso ramen we grew up with I. Hawai'i. I loved the Tori Shio with thin buckwheat noodles. Perfect seating, not salty! Bamboo shoots, scallions, nori oil, chicken chashu and pork chashu.

The noodles are super good. They are clearly handmade 10/10, can't ask for anything better. The broth is super good as well! Only complaint really is that the vibes inside are kinda lacking, but definitely will be coming back here

Came here on a Friday night. I had the miso and an ice cold beer. The noodles were perfectly chewy, broth had a lot flavor, a big piece of pork, 1/2 egg, sliced the mushrooms which were deliciously pickled, julienned scallions and bean sprouts. I would ask for more scallions and bean sprouts next time. Just a personal preference. Service was perfect. Server wore a mask. We sat inside and it was a little too hot inside. Hence the cold beer was needed.

Zao's karaage is legit! And the ramens we ordered (Tonkotsu, Miso, Tan Tan) were all fantastic! 5 stars and joining the meal plan now (I wish!)! An unassuming place in the heart of downtown Bethesda I'd never even noticed until today. Try it early and often! And the staff are super kind!

Stamina Ramen is elite, the namesake is so good have barely tried the other options. The kids ramen is a great bonus, whole family can enjoy

The service was very attentive. There is an automatic ordering system when you walk in. But the human staff is standing by to assist actively with food questions or system quests. It actually sped the process without reducing the service! The food was great. Just what I was looking for on a cold day.