Short story: My boyfriend is a huge fan of Anime and upon arrival into the restaurant he immediately notices the art--more specifically, their manga panel wall, great music and even some Anime playing on the TV screen. This place was incredible, and has phenomenal Ramen! We were both highly satisfied with our meals, and the overall experience. Our waitress was very friendly and super helpful at helping us navigate the menu. The lumpia and the bowls of Ramen were full of flavor. We honestly cannot wait to go back. Great place, must try! read more

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Traditional ramen in the states?! Yes please!!! This was such a fun visit, as it is more than just your typical "Asian fusion,".. it's more than that. Here, they take traditional flavors from Japan, Korea, and PI, and combine them with other fun flavors that we know well here in the US (okonomiyaki tater tots anyone?!?!). It literally feels like eating on a Netflix foodie documentary. I had the tonkatsu ramen which was really great, I actually liked the pulled pork in it a lot more than the traditional slice. I felt like it was slightly lacking in maybe seasoning, only based on what I've had in Japan, but it was thiiiiis close to the real thing! And seriously, okonomiyaki tater tots--- whaaaat!! Don't tell Japan, but I kinda liked these better than the traditional style, heh. The katsuo on top was not even too fishy, and the bbq and kewpie mayo was seriously perfect. Everything about it was!! I may come back JUST for that. read more

Alkaline - Okonomiyaki tater tots - Ramen Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

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Came in for lunch - ordered the nachos and octopus shrimp to start. The nachos were a wild card as we have never had pork blood. It is an acquired taste type dish - consistency/flavor like livers. The octopus and shrimp was delicious- wished there were more than 2 shrimps since we had 3 in our group. It was fried nicely and just the right tough of spice. The 3 ramen bowls were delicious- noodles and broth were cooked to perfection. I do wish there was a bit more broth in the bowl as it seemed to have been absorbed by the noodles by the time it reached us. Prices are reasonable for ramen. Service was polite and quick. Will return again. read more

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Ambiance was nice , music was good . I enjoyed my miso Ramen , our waitress was not the best but I give her the benefit of the bout that they were busy. read more

My friend and I went here for lunch and the atmosphere was very nice. Our server and also the bartender was so tentative especially when I was low on water while eating my yummy spicy red curry. The Brussel sprouts were AMAZING. I'd definitely go here aga read more

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We ventured to the restaurant based on the many amazing reviews... it's been awhile but the wait is now over. My husbae and I dined in Saturday night. We arrived shortly after 10pm, as a result, we had to order off the late night menu. Dinner is served weekly 5pm - 10pm and on the weekend after 10pm they work off the late night menu which has a lesser amount of options to choose from. Most restaurants are closed on Sundays, but not the one!! We still worked it out by finding something to our liking from the late night menu. We ordered the nachos and the shoyu ramen. The meals arrived in front of us within 10 mins it seemed... smelling oh so yummy! My babe always opts in for captain and coke when we're out and this Restaurant didn't have it. The bartender, Jonathan gave him some suggestions to try... my babe chose the pineapple flavor rum like drink... paired it with pepsi... he loved it!! I had a dry margarita and it was tasty too!! Our first experience was on point! We're super excited to return. Those at the bar top seemed to be enjoying their meal as well... the Restaurant was pretty steady. I'd say about 15 guests were present. The Restaurant is pretty intimate with low lighting, but just the right vibe for singles, friends, couples... the music played in the Restaurant was nice too! Plenty of parking... other restaurants and shops are within walking distance. I suggest you give this place a visit. Have fun and enjoy life :) read more

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Awesome establishment! My go-to place for Ramen! Environment is soothing and family-friendly. Staff is very welcoming and ramen is ALWAYS on point. I've been going here since they were in their original place and service is always key! I haven't yet (and hopefully never) experienced bad service. If you're in the Hampton Roads area and looking for the best Ramen, do yourself a favor and visit Alkaline! You can thank me later. read more

Alkaline - Shoyu Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

I am SO happy I discovered this gem! My boyfriend and I were first impressed when we tried their takeout. We both loved their ramen and knew we needed to return for the in person experience. Last night, we went out with a couple of friends and we were equally impressed by the vibe and service inside! Alkaline boasts a modern, big city vibe with its neon lit sign and fully stocked bar. They have happy hour every day from 5-6:30 - including half of wine and beer as well as 25% off their apps! Speaking of apps, let me tell ya, don't miss them. We ordered the tator tots, green beans, and brussel sprouts. My personal favorite was the tator tots - coated in BBQ sauce, sprinkled with scallions, and topped with bacon. I also ordered a cocktail - their take on a Tom Collins. It had infused coconut gin, basil, and ginger. Oh so good! For dinner, we all ordered ramen. I got the Tonkotsu. I really appreciate Alkaline because they offer gluten-free rice noodles. I've found a lot of ramen places around here don't extend that option. My ramen didn't disappoint - packed full of great flavors, but keeping the simplicity of a classic comfort food. The rest of my party was thoroughly enjoyed their ramen too! The service was efficient and timely. I never felt like we waited long for anything. I think some of their menu items would be a bit on the high side price wise, but during happy hour, they are very affordable. I also feel like you pay for quality and a cool atmosphere here. Next time you're craving ramen, don't miss Alkaline! read more

I was looking for a restaurant that offered GF items as it's hard to find these days. I found this place on IG and had to try it. They don't open until 5pm and have happy hour 5pm-630p. We unfortunately didn't make it in time as tunnel traffic is the worst. The wait was only about 15 minutes even though we were told an hour. This was great! Our server was so nice and friendly. She even commented on our outfits. The environment drew me in as they were playing 90s/2000s rnb throwbacks and playing anime on TV. I ordered the Korean style sticky wings as starters and "The everything goes" drink which featured Lavender base. The wings were so bomb! I'd honestly would've ordered 3 more plates of it and stopped there. I got the Thai style curry Ramen with rice noodles and chicken. I love love love spice and this had a good kick to it. If you can't handle spicy do not get this one. They allowed my friend to sample the broth to see if she wanted to order it as well which I thought was a nice gesture. It was way too spicy for her. The rice noodles made it so I had plenty of leftovers. I can't wait to come back. read more

Alkaline - Spicy red curry ramen - Ramen Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

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It's my go-to ramen place. Delicious. They never disappoint and customer service is great. Nice ambient with nice music. read more

Alkaline - Shoyu Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

On a family visit and after a day over in Virginia Beach my family decided we needed a good meal and Alkaline was suggested! It is an upscale fusion bar/ dining establishment with an amazing selection! We startred out with appetizers of Sticky Wings (chicken) and Tater Tot Okonomiyaki (Fried potatoes topped with bacon, katsuobushi, kewpie, and BBQ sauce). Both apps were fresh and great starters! I chose Tonkotsu Ramen, which has a rich pork bone broth, shredded pork and scallions. It is more then worth a trip anytime you're in Norfolk! read more

Alkaline - Tonkotsu Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

The place was practically empty but there was a good 5 minute wait regardless. No big deal. I could not tell who was staff and who wasn't until later, when employees wore Alkaline shirts. The menu is minimal and to the point. I ordered 2 appetizers, lumpia and sticky wings, both I thought were over priced. The Asian sticky wings were cooked perfectly but I found the sauce completely both overwhelming and underwhelming in flavor. Overwhelming with mayo and underwhelming with flavor. The crunch on those wings were perfect. The price for the wings were outrageous at $16. The staff was friendly. read more

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OVERPRICED and UNDERWHELMING! Not worth your money AT ALL!!!!!!!! Store bought noodles are better than this establishment; they overcharge for everything and only give you 4 pieces of chicken (if you get the ramen with chicken). Speaking of chicken,if you order the wings, actually, DONT ORDER THE WINGS! They charge you 16.00+ dollars for ONLY SIX WINGS!!!!!!!! Six wings for almost 20 dollars and they're not coated in gold! Lol On the menu they did not list how many wings were being sold for that amount because had I known, I would NOT have paid 16+ dollars for mediocre wings! Overall, the food was NOT worth a damn dollar! Whether you "got it" or don't, it's not worth the price they charge, NEXT!!!!!!!! read more

Alkaline - 16 Dollars for 6 pieces of wings! Not worth your money - Ramen Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

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Amazing My fiancé and I came here after a longgggg day at a wedding rehearsal We are from Florida and this is some of the best ramen and Asian fusion dishes we've had so far. The bathrooms are very clean and unique and the service was impeccable. 10 out of 10 would recommend if you're in the area. read more

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This update can be described as a review of Alkaline Version 4.0. Alkaline first opened in Chesapeake as a pop-up operation inside the Cutting Edge Cafe in November of 2013. The next stage was a move in September of 2014 to Pendulum Fine Meats in the Ghent section of Norfolk as it took over their space during the evening hours. A Kickstarter campaign enabled a move to its own brick-and-mortar location in the former Boon Thai Restaurant in 2018, sharing a lot with what is now the Aldi Supermarket on 21st Street in Ghent. More inside dining space and a dazzling fully stocked bar are now provided. Alkaline was the brainchild of chef-owner Kevin Ordonez, who likes to add his own creative touches to his Asian style cuisine. Ramen was the number one specialty, and Kevin became known as "The Shaman of Ramen." A variety of Asian street foods and Filipino plates were also featured. Due to the pandemic, Alkaline decided to close for dine-in service for several months last year and was available for take-out service only. Kevin has since moved his culinary talents to his sister restaurant, Baby Izakaya, a Japanese style outdoor restaurant located in the ViBe district of Virginia Beach. Alkaline's new executive chef is Mike Johnson, who was formerly at Cracker's. He has kept many of Alkaline's more popular items, including their ramen dishes, and added a few new ones as well. This is their Version 4.0. During several dine-in visits this year, I have ordered the following: SPICY RED CURRY RAMEN: Sous Vide Chicken, Cilantro, Pickled Red Ginger, Sous Vide Egg, Narutomaki, and Nori in a Spicy Thai Style Red Curry Broth. (Very Spicy). The sous-vide egg and chicken define this ramen with a non-traditional style. I usually prefer a more traditional ramen with a soft boiled egg, but I must give credit where it is due. This has become one of my top three favorite ramen dishes in Hampton Roads. The flavors come together with a bang and a delicious lip smacking result. The chicken is tender and flavorful.. Its spice level leaves my hot tooth happy, and the red curry broth holds its flavor and consistency nicely. Its last drop is as good as its first. My Rating: 5 Stars. BEEF NOODLE SOUP: Shredded Beef, Spicy Beef Broth, Cabbage, Scallions, Cilantro, Sous Vide Egg, and Nori Seaweed. (Spicy) This shredded beef and its broth exhibited a deep and robustly beefy flavor to a satisfying result. I added some of their house made chili garlic sauce to raise its heat to the level I enjoy. I can't help but compare this dish to the Taiwanese Beef Oxtail Noodle Soup I used to enjoy at their Pendulum location, which was made with Braised Oxtails, Baby Bok Choy, and Chewy Beef Tendon. For my tastes, the current version doesn't quite reach the heights of the one described above, but it is certainly satisfying enough. My Rating: 4.5 Stars. SHORT RIB KARE-KARE: Short Rib Beef, Bok Choy, and String Beans in a Peanut Sauce. Served with a bowl of rice, this one was ordered from their Small Plates menu. Kare-Kare is a Filipino stew or curry with a peanut sauce that is traditionally made with oxtail meat. The short rib beef was tender, flaky, and worked nicely. The dark peanut sauce exhibited a pleasing appearance, taste, and texture. I added some of their chili garlic sauce for some added heat and flavor. My Rating: 4.5 Stars. SLOPPY JOSEP BAO: With Dinuguan Filling, Chopped Onions, and Cheese. Ordered from their Small Plates menu. Dinuguan, a Filipino pork blood stew, was stuffed inside two bao buns. They were crammed inside a metal taco holder, a presentation that didn't work for me. Prying the soft buns out of the holder and onto my plate was a messy and cumbersome task. I found the dinuguan filling to be overly dry. If I could tweak the recipe, I would add the pickled red chilies that used to be served with their Dinuguan Nachos for greater moisture and a touch of heat. My Rating: 3 Stars. MISO BUTTER CAKE: Warm Decadent Cake with Chocolate Chips, Miso Caramel, and Toasted Pecans. This dessert has been highly praised by many. I found it to be flavorful enough, yet a bit too thick for my tastes. Some of the pecans delivered a burnt scent and taste. I will try it again during a future visit. My Rating: 3.5 Stars. APPLE PIE LECHE FLAN: Egg Custard and Apple Compote in a Pie Crust. I found the egg custard and apple compote combo to be a bit bland. I prefer a flan with a denser texture with a more singularly concentrated flavor. Otherwise, it was satisfactory. My Rating: 3.5 Stars. I miss some of the many special additions that were served at the Pendulum location. My all time favorite was a Whole Steamed Sea Bass with Baby Bok Choy in a Spicy Chili Sauce. I also loved their Asian Street Corn. The current version of Alkaline is still a work in progress. Overall, I am pleased so far, and I feel their best days are yet to come. As long as their Spicy Red Curry Ramen remains on the menu, I shall remain a loyal customer. read more

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Okay, I must admit, Alkaline has redeemed themselves since my first visit. I recently came here for a dim sum cart service style brunch, and it was everything; the food was on point, and the service was friendly and fabulous. The fish cakes with the spicy mayo on top saved my entire life. Like they were so good. Especially with the complimentary white rice. I was also very fond of the chicken wings with XO ranch sauce, and the French toast with ube cream ... ooh girl, and the fried chicken baos were to die for! All in all, their brunch has me mighty impressed and ready to try some more of what they have to offer. read more

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Ramen broth and chashu are on point! the shredded pork needs to tone down on the saltiness but all in all everything is great. read more

Alkaline - tonkotsu Ramen with no shredded pork. chashu on side - Ramen Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

By far the best ramen spot in the area. Everything from the drinks to the dessert are delicious! We had an amazing server who was attentive and kind. I love the plants they have setup as well as the art work on the walls read more

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Ramen spots are fairly scarce on the peninsula so it was high time to make the trek through the tunnel to get some, and Alkaline seemed like a good place to start. We happened to visit during their 1 year birthday weekend so they had some birthday specials to celebrate. The atmosphere here is somehow metropolitan and chill at the same time, which is fairly hard to achieve. I grabbed every other song to add to my playlists so that's already a win. It was packed so we took a space at one of the bars, the tables don't turn quickly by no none seems to mind. We had the Tatertot Okonomiyaki; a delicious way to elevate the simple tot. We then moved on to a bowl of Tonkotsu Ramen with crispy pork belly- sublet flavor and delicious with the pork belly addition. We also tried the Shoyu Ramen with braised pork belly - the broth was more flavor forward which I like more. All in all, while I've had Ramen I like better, the atmosphere here sealed the deal for a likely repeat visit. It's the type of place you could easily grab a few drinks and hang out with friends, with snacks. Also chicken wings, I have to come back to try them! read more

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Alkaline is a fun ramen shop in Norfolk in a trendy neighborhood. The inside space is well designed and always full. Since we visited for a Friday night dinner during the pandemic, we ordered takeout since there isn't outdoor seating. My shoyu ramen came well prepared with some of the best noodles I've had in a ramen. However, the broth was lacking. It wasn't bold or full of flavor. As a result, it was just average ramen. However, their green beans made up for it- very tasty! read more

Alkaline - Ramen Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

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I have been twice now & the vibes and food were on point both times! 2 for 2! The service is quick & they will let you & your friend/partner sit and talk well after your meal is done. They do not rush you out at all. Definitely recommend! read more

Alkaline - Ramen Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

The food is good, definitely a new taste and delicious. The service is pretty good sometimes they are packed so I get it! The ambiance is really nice definitely a vibe my favorite part about the restaurant. Overall 8/10 read more

Friendly staff, great food, lovely atmosphere. Chill vibe for sure. Spicy Red Curry Ramen

Thought i would visit while away from San Diego. I had the tonkotsu, I must say very disappointed, noodles were mediocre at best, packaged dry ramen more like it, flavor was super weak, no corn, garlic, veggies etc. Do not recommend. The kimchi was even terrible. Its a whitewashed ramen place, if you have ever had authentic ramen stay away from this spot. read more

Alkaline - Tonkotsu ramen. - Ramen Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

This place is amazing. I had the curry ramen and sticky wings. I personally did not like the flavor of the wings and there was extremely to much breading. The drinks were made very well and the curry ramen was the best. It did take longer than 30 minutes to receive each item which was a little annoying but overall I had a great time and I will be back read more

Great local spot in Norfolk for delicious ramen. Vibes in the restaurant are cool, hipster, intimate, but overall comforting time if you're craving after-work ramen or a drink. Their menu has Filipino-fusion elements to their menu. Ramen can be slightly too salty (for my taste) depending on option, but portions are perfect. Come here anyway even if you're by yourself, here for a date night, or with a group of friends, it's the perfect go-to place read more

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Alkaline now has a new location in Ghent, but don't be fooled thinking anything has changed with their incredible ramen. I can attest it has not. Their new spot is in the now closed Farm Fresh lot. I found that there is plenty of parking and the area tidy. The front of the business display ls their signage nicely, but I'm sorry it's strip boring. I arrived around ten minutes prior to open and around one minute before the doors opened and I was greeted. The hostess sat me at a window table as I requested and provided menus. The space is more than quadruple what they had before at Pendulum Meats. Large windows provide substantial light. Alkaline has both bar and a counter seating. Their is a combination of seating by table/chairs and booth. Concrete floors run throughout. You can feel the Asian ambiance, but can't help but feel they fell short somehow. This is a fantastic place now for groups. Enjoyed the background music too. My waiter Andrew followed up with me and got a drink order started and discussed menu options. Although there are other options I came for Ramen. We discussed a less spicy bowl. It was nice chit chatting about the restaurant and local scene. Andrew was friendly, but people possibly a bit subdued. I was disappointed to learn owner Kevin does not spend as much time at the business and was not there earlier this week. My order the Shoyu Ramen / chicken dashi broth, seasoned with soy, shredded pork & scallions. Quality bowl and freaking amazing! Paired with a Kirin Ichiban. I was extremely pleased with the quality and feel they have one of the best ramen bowls in the area. Disappointing was no follow up on my bowl until toward the end. The dining room began to fill up and he did have the table beside me. Still it's necessary for a check-in to occur early on. I needed an extra napkin, but did not bother since my meal was so close to conclusion. Drink refills are taken care of by a floating staff. My ramen was 5+ and I would be happy to return and recommend them. Alkaline's decor didn't excite me as much as the food and that's ok. Since they are full service follow up with customers is critical. Owner/manager oversight would help the business on service. read more

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Been here twice and they never disappoint! The service is amazing and their garlic chicken is amazing! The ramen is delicious as well !! The environment is upbeat & just sets the mood ! Definitely will come back with my daughter !! read more

mouthwatering. That's all you need to know about this place, I've held back on going here because clearly, my friend has bad judgment. Anyway, I bit the bullet and visited this place. The aesthetics here are on point, in my opinion, if the music is good, the food usually will follow suite. Got the Tonkotsu Ramen, good the very last drop, wish I could make it a little more spicy but it got the job done but the MVP here were the wings. Boy-oh-boy the crunch! The flavors of soy and garlic, I mean..wow. This is what bonchon down the street is missing. Can't wait to come back and try some other ramen and the octopus appetizer. Oh and the server...despite how busy it was in there, she kept it going and made sure we were happy. Can't wait to come back. read more

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Really enjoyed our beef noodles!! My son absolutely loved his and gave it 4.5. I would have like mine a lot more spicy and know for next time. We will definitely be back! read more

Alkaline - Beef Noodle Soup - Ramen Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

I'm struggling to find ramen as good as Alkaline in my new home... hopeful! Just want to throw some stars their way as the reigning champion of the best ramen I've experienced! The red curry is my jam. Looking forward to my next visit, keep it up Alkaline! read more

Ok Yelpers, here is a little fact for you: I could eat ramen for the rest of my life quite happily. So after having eaten here, it's safe to say I could eat at Alkaline for the rest of my days and say I lived a VERY happy life. We arrived 15 minutes early and eagerly waited outside with a few others. Within 30 minutes, the entire restaurant was packed, patrons waiting for tables were lined up at the front of the restaurant whilst the lucky ones sat on the comfy bench. The food itself was so flavorful. I highly recommend the crispy baby octopus and shrimp. It's a little on the spicy side, but the herbs/spices used to wrap the fried seafood really complimented the dish well - top it off with some lemon and wow, perfection. I had the Shoyu ramen for main and was not disappointed at all. The chicken/dashi broth tasted amazing and wasn't over seasoned with soy. The dish came packed with noodles, pickled ginger, sous vide egg, narutomaki, shredded pork and scallions. A generous portion size I'd say. I was so full but slurped all my broth up, but my hubby is more of a noodles man - half way through dinner he'd already finished all his noodles... but it's ok, Alkaline are ready for the noodle lovers! Just order a refill (kaedama on the ramen extras menu, $2!) Technically still in their soft opening period, I'm already sold and will 100% come back to make my way through the menu. Angeline our server (who was such a babe) also told us about some dim sum being in the pipeline at lunchtimes - excited doesn't even cut it! Stay tuned for more info!!! read more

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Let me start with the positives! Super cute restaurant. Intimate setting with a modern feel. They have anime playing on tv which was unexpected until I saw the paintings and logo for their restaurant. Service was great. Hostess was very friendly and waiter was attentive and quick. The menu was also unexpected with a lot of Filipino (bistek and sisig) or Filipino inspired (diniguan nachos). We went out specifically for ramen so I ordered the beef ramen. My boyfriend orders the bistek. For appetizers we ordered the wings. Now for the negatives: The wings although breaded well didn't have a lot of flavor. The ramen was good but not the best in this area. The portion was plenty though. The bistek was different- a bit more sour than authentic recipes I've been used to. Good portion as well. I wish I had tried the desserts but had forgotten. Lastly, my boyfriend ordered a porter for his first drink. He asked the waiter to suggest another drink and he came back with a rose. Not exactly the best suggestion to transition from a porter. Alcohol knowledge might be needed for the waiters. He was however very friendly. I plan on coming back and given them another try. Next time I will try a different ramen and the diniguan nachos. read more

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I love this place down to the eclectic feel, the music they play, this swaggi-ness (word?!) lol of their team and ultimately the food! I ordered the tonkotsu ramen, always with extra veggies and the wings. The broth is so rich, I think that's my most favorite part of it all. They give you plenty of food, even during the lunch hour. They do tend to get very busy at dinner time, so expect to wait. It is certainly worth it. They also have various sodas from overseas, which was nice to see. read more

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I've traveled to Japan & had the best ramen ever, but this right here is holding on to the #2 spot!! I love how intimate this location is. It can be a bother when it is busy, but the neon lights and simple lighting really adds to the affect. The employees are very laid back & there's bendy straws! There isn't too much on the menu to overwhelm. We usually get the Korean fried chicken, which is amazing, & I get the vegetable ramen with red chili sauce (in the cutest little container) on the side for added spice. I'll admit, I'm just there for the noodles and they have an option to just get noodles for an extra $2, which I think is great. A great recommendation if you're looking for actual ramen noodles with great taste. read more

Alkaline - Ramen Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

After forever, my friends and I finally came here for dinner. We had the tonkotsu ramen, chicken wings and shrimp toast. Chicken wings: the crunch was great!! Flavor was awesome but it desperately needed salt and maybe a little heat. I know it's not supposed to be spicy but a little heat would go a long way Shrimp toast : omg yessss get this. I've never had shrimp toast that wasn't light or oily. But this was not oily at all and light. The sauce was delicious. It could also use a little salt The main event: omg!!! The tonkotsu broth is to die for. Best tonkotsu broth I've ever had and I eat a lot of ramen. I subbed out the shredded pork for the chashu. it was three dollars more. That chashu was also perfect. I tried the shredded pork from my friend and that was delicious as well. Since it would only be three dollars more to add the chashu, I would recommend getting the chashu and shredded pork. I also added mushrooms and kimchi. I would NOT recommend either. The soy mushrooms were wayyyyyyyyyyy too salty and overpowering. The kimchi was extremely sour with almost no heat. It does nothing for the ramen. Just. Don't do it. My friend got the red hot sauce. Warning! It is just pureed habaneros. Be careful. I got the chili oil and it was just perfect for me and enhanced the dish nicely. The service was great but a little slow. We had to ask for water refills. But they were busy so understandable. The space, especially the bar, is gorgeous. I would 1000% go back. In fact I probably will soon! read more

Alkaline - Shrimp toast and chicken wings - Ramen Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

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I really wanted to like Alkaline, because I love ramen (I lived in Japan for 4 years). But alas! It was not to be. My partner and I both ordered ramen. I ordered the tonkatsu ramen, he ordered the shoyu ramen. The first thing you notice is that the pork is shredded, like pulled pork, and not a piece of pork (chasu pork) as is typical in a traditional ramen restaurant. I was OK with that. Alkaline is a American restaurant, things can be different. Unfortunately, while attractively presented, everything about the meal was excessively salty. The broth was salty, the vegetables on the ramen were salty, and the shredded pork was inedible because it was so salty. We were really disappointed. Is no one in the kitchen actually sampling the broth? Neither of us could even finish our bowls of ramen. When the wait staff asked if we wanted to take our leftovers to go, we declined. The service at alkaline is good. The restaurant is clean and attractive. But the food is so salty as to be inedible. Would not recommend. read more

Alkaline - Tonkatsu Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

Went on a Saturday around 2, no wait & restaurant was about half full. Great ambiance & very friendly staff. Sticky wings are SO GOOD, really what keeps me coming back! First time getting the Brussel Sprouts- they were delicious. My friends got the Kimchi Ramen (she loved it) and the Pork Ramen (she liked, but didn't love) -- i tried them both & liked them. Great spot- We will be back soon for the wings again! read more

Alkaline - Crispy Asian Sticky Wings & Brussel Sprouts - Ramen Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

Not authentic, ridiculously overpriced. The broth was wayyyyyy too salty. We added extra veggies which was $3, and it was like some carrots and some yam pieces. Also, there was no chashu, instead they put shredded pork. Not impressed, definitely not coming back. (And what's up with the edamame in ramen these days?) read more

Went to Alkaline recently with a friend. Had a nice happy-go-lucky host by the front and an amazing waiter who knew a lot about the food (Andrew, I believe, was his name) and is superb in handling customers. Very friendly atmosphere and very flavorful ramen. Though I'm going to say that the broth of my Shoyu ramen by itself, can seem very salty towards the end. While I saw mostly Japanese food (ramen being their main staple) I also recognized some Filipino food on the menu. Might come back to try more. read more

Alkaline - Shoyu Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia