Super good Ramen and Sushi!! Servers were so sweet and the ambiance was a good place to wind down and get something fast. read more

Bansho Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Berkeley, California

Skip to the end for my verdict. I've tried all the ramen places in the neighborhood and it has become clear to me that Bansho is quite definitively the best there is for ramen. The noodles are thick, chewy, and high quality. The broth is deep in flavor and rich. The meat (e.g. chashu) is thick-cut and tender. The setting is comfortable. The owners are also super sweet. I always end up being very satisfied and full at the end. With other places, the noodles are thin, the broth is too salty, the meat is inexcusably thin, and the setting is too crammed or too sterile. Bansho, a wonderful mom and pop shop on the corner of Telegraph and Dwight, just exceeds in every aspect. I wholeheartedly recommend Bansho as I have been going there ever since they opened, perhaps two years ago by now. If you want to remember how Bansho compares to the others nearby, here's the verdict: Sojo Ramen is, well, so-so. Alley Kitchen? Just isn't up my alley. But Bansho? Fo sho! read more

Bansho Ramen - Spicy Mayu Ramen (top left) and Spicy Onion Tonkotsu Ramen (bottom left) with fried cutlet - Ramen Near Me - Berkeley, California

Decided to check out Bansho Ramen while on a hunt for lunch with Joey. Since we had a strict lunch hour, we arrived at Bansho around 12:15 and was seated immediately. I decided to order the Tonkotsu Ramen since it's the standard I use at all ramen places. We received our hot bowls of ramen fairly quickly. The charsu was fall apart and delicious. The egg was runny and made me happy. There was a fair amount of noodles. The broth was a little light for my taste but it was still good. The ramen didn't really stand out but would be worth going to again if I'm close by. Clean and friendly employees. Our check was brought without our asking as we finished our ramen and we were able to make it back to work exactly at 1 pm! read more

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March 2021: I remember going here when they first opened up (see previous review) and I'm happy to say that are doing so well! Now that indoor dining is slowly happening again, give this ramen spot a try! I'm very picky when it comes to chicken karaage and takoyaki, but Bansho Ramen makes my list of Ramen Appetizers Deliciousness! read more

Bansho Ramen - His: Miso | Mine: Chicken Shoyu - Ramen Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Wanted to check out a different ramen shop in the area and came across Bansho. Service was good the food was okay. The tonkatsu broth was very oily and heavy with not a lot of flavor in it. The meat was very tender and smoky in the Bansho ramen which was great. I love spicy food, so I requested to add some spice to my ramen. Rather than add it in the broth, they gave me a side of chili oil. I should have tasted the chili oil before dumping it in my ramen. When I poured the chili oil in, it completely changed the flavor of my ramen. It had a Szechuan peppercorn flavor to it where it made my mouth slightly numb. I'm not a huge fan of the szechuan peppercorn flavor and the chili oil itself wasn't spicy. I was a little disappointed with the ramen. The soft shell crab was good though! It was nice and crispy and I enjoyed the dipping sauce that came with it. The chicken karaage was also nice and crispy! read more

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If you know me then you know I love finding new ramen places in the bay area especially because when I live there isn't many so I usually have to drive further out like Berkeley. The service was nice and prompt and the ramen was pretty tasty along with the chicken. Plenty of seating and really clean so that's always a plus. I would come back when I'm back in the area for sure read more

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I think Bansho is pretty good, but definitely not the best ramen spot here in Berkeley. I came around 6:30 on a Thursday, and there was no one else in the restaurant which was pretty surprising. It is in a bit of a unique location, though. I ordered the original tonkotsu ramen which came with chashu, an egg, and the standard veggies. I really liked the chashu, and the egg was seasoned nicely too. The portion doesn't seem big at first glance, but it really is a lot of noodles. Prices are a bit higher than the other ramen spots around here. I think it came out to around $20 per person after tax and tips. read more

Bansho Ramen - Tonkotsu Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Berkeley, California

We came for ramen, so we ordered the Bansho Ultimate Ramen $17 and Onion Tonkatsu $14 with an extra egg ($1.75). The Bansho Ultimate broth was a combination of pork broth and miso (broth needs more flavor), with fried burdock, thick pork belly (so good!), woodear, ground pork and half of a soft-boiled egg. Overall 3.8/5 stars. Onion Tonkotsu came with sliced fried pork cutlet (I recommend getting it on the side of you don't like soggy skin), onion and butter corn. I think the same pork broth was used (needs more depth of flavor). But overall this broth was lighter and less salty, and the onion and corn gave the broth a different flavor profile which I enjoyed. Service was good. They accidentally charged us the wrong amount, but fixed it before we left. A decent place for ramen and donburi in Berkeley. read more

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The tonkotsu ramen was really good-- meat was super tender, broth was yummy, all for $16! Definitely would recommend for a quick bite and will be coming again! read more

A decent ramen place for Berkeley and it's a nice short walk from the UC Berkeley campus. It's a great spot when you need your ramen fix! When we walked in, the smell of freshly fried karaage filled the room, so we unanimously decided to order a plate of karaage to share. We all ordered the Bansho Ultimate Ramen, which I surprisingly really enjoyed! A generous portion of ramen with a thick slice of charred pork belly (my favorite part). They even added minced pork and chopped kale, which was the first time I've had that with ramen. The Ultimate Ramen was $17, so for that price I'd expect to enjoy it. This place exceeded my expectations and if I'm in the area again, I would come back! read more

Bansho Ramen - Bansho Ultimate Ramen, $17 - Ramen Near Me - Berkeley, California

***3.5 Stars*** Most certainly not the best ramen that I've ever had, but a solid option considering the area. I pass through this area often and was excited to see a new ramen spot in this part of town. The setup is actually really nice! It's neat and organized with very elegant lighting and decor, and there's a beautiful bouquet that's set near a bright red sofa near the entrance. The staff is extremely welcoming and tended to me as soon as I walked through the door. The service is A+ plus! They were super attentive and spot on the entire time that I was there, even as the tables began to fill up. I came during their grand opening week and they were offering a $7 Tonkastu ramen special. I love a good deal, so you know I had to jump on that real quick! I complimented my ramen with their edamame appetizer. The edamame was nice and warm and not overly salty for my taste, but they did use quite a bit of salt to season. Portion size was fair for the price. The ramen however, was a bit too salty for my taste. The broth had a good flavor but nothing out of the ordinary. Not sure what kind of noodles they were using, but the consistency was unusual. Not the noodles that you'd normally find in ramen. These noodles were thicker and also too firm like they hadn't been cooked enough. I found the pork belly to be too firm as well and not that melt in your mouth consistency that you'd expect. This ramen was just a special and obviously their most basic, so I'm not sure if their other ramen bowls are of higher quality. Taste wise, it was good but pretty average. For the price I paid, the portion was great. However, I wouldn't drop $13-$15 on this. Again, I'm just referring to their bare bones tonkatsu ramen. Their other ramen bowls could potentially be better, so I'll have to come back to try something else. Pretty solid but there are better options out there. However, it will still satisfy your craving if you're in need. The service is really the standout here, and that will be the main reason why I'll be giving them another try. read more

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Tasty ramen shop in a blighted area of Berkeley serving up ramen and sushi with a smile. Try the ultimate ramen and lion roll. They have Sapporo and wine. Parking is an adventure. Unfortunately they were playing jesus music the day we visited but other than that it was a good time. read more

Bansho Ramen - Ultimate ramen - Ramen Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Decent portion size. Located a good distance from the campus. Workers were kind and attentive to your needs. Ramen was flavorful and filling. Pretty large restaurant with cute decor as well! read more

Bansho Ramen - Tonkotsu Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Berkeley, California

TLDR: unique and worth. Modern take on ramen. Large portions Bansho Ultimate Ramen $17: think tonkotsu ramen but with a slightly different soup base and giant steak-looking meat. It's a very large bowl so I'd say worth your money. It's kind of a modern take on ramen Design of the restaurant is generally cozy and is walking distance dessert and coffee places which is a plus read more

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This was our first time going to Bansho Ramen in Berkeley. We walked into a very beautiful, welcoming space with high ceilings. My partner placed our order while I immediately started taking pictures of this non-cookie cutter restaurant. I love the way that they had placed unique pieces of furniture and art work throughout the restaurant. First we shared their Dragon Roll. It was a feast for our eyes with some type of brown thick sauce drizzled on the rectangular serving plate with the pieces of the roll cut in bite size pieces. The wasabi was made into a small leaf next to red pickled ginger. There was avocado and sesame seeds on top, and a shrimp at each end of the roll.  My mouth immediately started watering, and it met my high expectations. Next came the Bansho Ultimate Ramen, which I highly recommend. It too was beautifully presented, another masterpiece with half of a soft boiled egg, red pickled ginger. gobo, and pork belly. The broth smelled so rich that I wanted to drink it directly from the bowl, but I held myself back. It was a taste bomb in my mouth. The rich pork broth that had cooked all night, warmed my belly and made me smile. I asked Zoe if they had made the noodles, and she said that their friend makes them. Want to go out tonight? This is a great place to go in Berkeley. You may want to call for reservations first. Of course you can have it delivered or pick it up yourself. But why not get out of the house and go into a beautiful space and be served some amazingly wonderful food? read more

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I craved ramen so I came here for the first time. The meat on the side was a little cold and they do not offer substitutions in the ramen. Overall, I am satisfied and happy. Kind staff and nice service and they bring out the food very quickly. Calming atmosphere, perfect for lunch or dinner. I liked this place!! read more

Bansho Ramen - I ordered the Onion Tonkotsu and Thai Tea. - Ramen Near Me - Berkeley, California

I'm so glad a good ramen restaurant opened in the south side of Berkeley. Whenever I wanted to eat ramen, I would have to walk to the north side of campus, so this place is pretty convenient for people who live in the south side. It's also a bit cheaper than the north side ramen restaurants. I got the Bansho Ultimate Ramen and it was delicious. The core of any good ramen is the broth and the noodles. The tonkotsu broth was very rich and had a nice meaty flavor. It also had a slightly garlic flavor which added more depth. The noodles had a nice firmness which I really liked and complemented the broth and toppings very well. The toppings of the Bansho Ultimate Ramen weren't very traditional, but they were still very good. There was a grilled piece of pork belly that was delicious. The meat was tender and flavorful and the fat melted in my mouth. The ground pork with miso was also very good. The kale and green onions added a freshness to the ramen, and the egg was cooked perfectly. This is a great ramen restaurant and I highly recommend trying it out. The food is delicious and it's not that far to get to if you're near the south side of campus. read more

Food was alright, not the best ramen that I've had in Berkeley but pretty okay. I was a little disappointed because I was hoping to try their chicken, and so I requested that the pork in the Shoyu ramen be swapped out for chicken, but they said they don't do swaps, but then made a vegetarian one for me, which is the same ramen with veggie broth and tofu instead of the pork broth. I was super confused but the ramen wasn't bad. The vibe of the place is super chill and ambient, but if I go next time, I'd probably try the build your own and maybe call the staff ahead of time to see if the swaps are allowed. read more

Bansho Ramen - Shoyu - Vegetarian - Ramen Near Me - Berkeley, California

I enjoy Bansho a lot. Even my flat mates always mentions that if we should go because one, it is so tasty and they do have a ramen with chicken. The shoyu is very light and tasty. The priciest one has red meat I believe with a mixture of barrow and fat, not too sure. Their gyozas are really good and sometimes for the wait, we are given a nice little sweet drink. Oh and two, because Bansho is nearly in front of where I live so it's a tasty option I have. Thanks Bansho read more

We ordered the bansho ultimate ramen and it was quite an ultimate meal! They have got the takeout logistics down really well -- the broth came in a separate container, and all the dry ingredients were arranged neatly inside a plastic bowl. There was one thick slice of fatty grilled pork belly, a handful of noodles, serving of ground pork, seaweed, pickled ginger, half egg, some kale. The whole order was $18 which is definitely overpriced, but otherwise the meal was hearty and very tasty. Some highlights: the rich pork bone broth was almost creamy, and incredibly savory; the pork belly was done very well because the fat was melt-in-your-mouth tenderness. Personally one thick piece is enough, but for the price, it seems that two pieces should be given. If not for the price, we would love to come back to try more. Keep it up Bansho! read more

Best ramen i have had in a very long time. Clearly a lot of thought put into recipe for the broth. Got 49er roll too, fabulous, fresh rice, nice portion. Feels like a family business. Looking forward to coming back read more

Nice clean established with a friendly atmosphere. The server was was good. The decor fit the food as it was light and woody. I had the pork belly ramen and it was really savory. Fairly inexpensive considering the location, under$30 for two of us and we enjoyed the large size sake. read more

Ramen was amazing, not salty at all. The sushi was (Salmon) was amazing! Super fresh!!!! Edamame was good as well. Everything came out fast. read more

Bansho Ramen - Ramen and 49er Roll - Ramen Near Me - Berkeley, California

So happy Bansho is open for takeout during shelter in place! We ordered mayu ramen, karaage, lion king roll, and gyoza for ~$40. I'm so thrilled to call Bansho our go-to ramen place. I can't wait until we can dine-in so we can appreciate the food nice and hot, without the 15min ride back home. During COVID-19, I've been craving ramen and have even made some from scratch, but it never hit the spot. Thank goodness for Bansho! The couple that runs the restaurant are so sweet. They offered me a Thai iced tea on the house, just as a small thank you for my patronage. I really hope folks continue to support Bansho. We'll be back soon. read more

Bansho Ramen - lion king roll, chicken karaage, gyoza, and mayu ramen (soup and noodles separate for takeout)...yum yum - Ramen Near Me - Berkeley, California

Food was delicious. Service was perfect. Can't find a better ramen place. Cute little spot for a nice lunch

This is some of the best Ramen I tried in the Bay. Now that I work in the neighborhood, I end up coming here 1-2 times a week because I live it so much. The ramen has that perfect chewy texture, the broth is flavorful and savory, and the tonkatsu falls apart and has the perfect meat to fat ratio. The ramen already includes an egg, bamboo, and other veggies and I love that I don't have to pay more to add those things. The staff is always friendly, especially the matriarch, whenever I come to pick up. Definitely give this place a try. read more

This particular location has seen a lot of changes through the years, from hot pot to boba. And now, it's a ramen shop! A very standard layout, kept constant despite the different hands that have owned the lease. My party of five was seated immediately; they squished two tables together to fit us. There's also counter seats but they're against a wall, and I can't imagine that eating there would be very nice. My group ordered edamame, two rice bowls, and a bowl of ramen. I ordered the Onion Tonkotsu with the tonkotsu on the side and added bamboo, which is what I'll be reviewing. Offering tonkotsu to be served on the side is a stroke of genius: you get to keep the crispiness of the fried pork but also get the savory soup of ramen. I don't generally enjoy eating ramen because I feel that it is very salty and the broth is not tasty, but I am happy to say that the Onion Tonkotsu broth was on the lighter side and very flavorful. The added bamboo was also very tasty. Overall, a much better deal (and faster service) than Ippudo in Downtown Berkeley. If you're ever craving ramen, I'd recommend this place for sure. read more

Bansho Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Berkeley, California

Had their mayu ramen and the soft shell crab. This place is great all around. The food is delicious, service is great, and the wait was not long at all. My only suggestion is to marinate the pork bones in the broth for double to triple the 20 hours for that extra richness. Either or this is my go to spot in Berkeley read more

Bansho Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Was pretty happy with this place and was glad to have come. Here are my reasons why! Staff/Service: A Service and staff were solid. Because it was take-out only so I'm not really able to speak on service, but they were kind and quick to get our order prepared and ready for us to walk-out the door in less than two minutes. And they gave us some complimentary cold house-drinks in a cup to-go for the road due to the heat. Food Quality: B+/A- We got the miso ramen and fried chicken. The fried chicken was solid, but somehow felt like it was a bit too fried. Although the chicken inside, after crunching through the breading was solid. The ramen itself was definitely good. Glad like other noodle establishments they kept the noodles separate from broth. And all the meat was well cooked. The noodles themselves were chewy and delicious. Parking: C+ Because this store is on corner, good luck finding solid parking in the immediate vicinity. The whole curb is a red zone so it's pretty difficult to even stop for a few seconds for take-out. There are some spots on some surrounding streets, but nothing really on the same block. Overall: B+/A- This place was solid and a good first spot for us having never been to a ramen place in the Bay area and glad this was our first place. Will havw to try other items on their menu next time! read more

Bansho Ramen - Miso Ramen plus Fried Chicken - Ramen Near Me - Berkeley, California

Good spot, one of the best Ramen places in town. The service was quick and efficient. Ramen prices for portions was ok but it wasn't a problem for me. I would recommend this spot to family and friends. I just got the Ramen seemed to have some good appetizers at this spot maybe i will try it next time. read more

Surprisingly good new place around Berkeley! Also surprisingly, I personally liked the donburi way more than the ramen. The donburi is moderately priced, delicious. The ramen I'm not so sure is anything special. I got the chashu don which was particularly delicious at a low price point of 10 bucks. I would definitely come again to get another rice bowl. On the other hand the ramen which is priced between 13-17 dollars I'm not so sure lives up to the price. I'd come here for the rice bowls personally, but to each their own! read more

Bansho Ramen - Tonkotsu ramen - Ramen Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Came here on a Saturday night. There was no wait and service was quick. I ordered a build your own ramen with pork broth, bamboo, and an egg. It came with noodles, green onions, and sesame seeds as the default. I got it spicy and it was decently spicy and delicious. My only complaint was that the eggs were slightly over cooked and starting to look hard boiled around the edges. I also thought the build your own ramen was very cost effective in addition to being customizable. Overall, I enjoyed it and would return. read more

Bansho Ramen - Bansho Ultimate Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Berkeley, California

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The ramen noodles were quite sturdy when my friends and I had gone. The broth was lackluster. I had gotten the spicy mayu, and all I could taste was garlic, and a bit of the pork. I had also requested it to be spicy, but it wasn't. I had to add the red flakes on the table. The wait for our ramen was quite long, but it seemed as though they were short staffed. It wasn't too crowded when we went on a Tuesday afternoon. The most notable service experience was when the employee had refilled our waters, over-poured, and water had gotten on our table. The employee said "oops", and walked away. We cleaned it up ourselves. read more

Mayu Ramen - lacked flavor and meat was overly chewy, almost hard. Bamboo shoots were clearly old Bansho Ramen - pork was too fatty, the broth was incredibly salty, and overall the broth was heavy Service was quick and fast and ambience was nice as well. read more

Excellent Ramen and Sushi, customer service was great The plum wine is the bomb ! Will definitely return to try other menu items.

I've been coming to Berkeley off and on for a graduate program at UCB for the past few months, and I try and make it a point to try different restaurants every time. I tend to skew towards Japanese restaurants when I'm here because my options in the Midwest are, at best, mediocre (that includes Chicago). After a 13 hour day of air travel, I was looking for a place where I could sit in the back, drink an Asahi Super Dry, watch the NFL playoffs, and eat some ramen and small plates. I thumbed through all of the ramen restaurants in the city, and settled on Bansho because it was close, had generally good reviews, and didn't look too stuffy. The Sunday night crowd was light, so I was able to walk right up and grab a seat in the back. My waitress was very efficient, polite, and attentive. I got the takoyaki and my prized Asahi Super Dry (22oz bottle for 6 bucks!) for starters. The takoyaki was real damn solid - I wouldn't say it's the best I've ever had, but it was really well done and inexpensive. For the main dish, I got the tonkatsu ramen. Similar to the takoyaki - it was just really well executed classic ramen. The broth had some real depth to it, and the chashu was very tasty. Solid 8/10. The best part - the whole thing was less than $30! I'm definitely coming back again. read more

Bansho Ramen - Tonkatsu ramen - Ramen Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Good Ramen, cutlet is not salty enough, batter is not crunchy... like other cutlet I tasted elsewhere. Sushi rice is too mushy... I didn't enjoy my 49 roll as much. Great service!! I would definitely go back there for Ramen read more

Service is friendly and excellent. It's a wonderful spot to have a quiet lunch. The ramen was rich and flavorful. I'll definitely be returning soon. read more

I ordered a spicy bansho ultimate ramen. The order came in within 5 minutes. The broth was good, it wasn't salty so that's good. Noodle were fine. The service was excellent with the waiter asking me if I need additional water or assistance. Overall I had a good time here, food was good, service was good, I definitely returning. read more

Bansho Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Pretty decent Ramen, especially for a restaurant near Berkeley campus. I got the Tonkatsu Ramen. The noodles are great. The broth is flavorful but kind of oily. The meat was fall apart, but a bit too fall apart for my liking and ended up getting lost in the soup. I was definitely eyeing the sushi roll that was on the table next to me though. read more