Back to DC scouting for good eat again! Bantam King did not disappoint. In fact, it is really tasty that I will definitely be back! Ordered spicy miso ramen. The spiciness was just the right. The soup base is a little thicker than normal ramen, very rich and flavorful. The noodles are on the thinner side with a good chew which I love. There are shredded chicken in the ramen too. They are tender and not tough/dry. The thinly sliced onion added a good texture which brought the dish to the next level! Service was great too. A side note is that they do automatically add 20% service charge onto your bill regardless of the number of people in your party. This charge was clearly listed on the menu as well. read more

Bantam King - Spicy miso ramen - Ramen Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I thought, "Pfft... chicken ramen? That's basically chicken soup." Boy was I wrong! Bantam King warms your soul like chicken soup, but the layers of flavor in the broth is so much more than simplistic chicken noodle soup. I was truly blown away by their ramen and that's coming from a tonkotsu pork broth kind of guy. Not only that, I tried their Snow Onion Japanese Curry fried chicken and very much appreciated all the variety of flavors in that dish (also CRISPY). Chicken ramen. Don't underestimate it! read more

Bantam King - Curry Snow Fried Chicken Plate - Ramen Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Review from 2019. Came here after museum hopping. This restaurant specializes in chicken. Their ramen broth is from chicken. There was maybe a 15min wait before our party of two could get a table. It was really bustling at the time (Sat evening). The decor was really colorful (see pics). Tables were pretty crammed together, typical of a DC restaurant. When I went I got the spicey ramen and gyoza. OMG best ramen and gyoza I have ever had. I didn't think I would find a chicken based ramen better than a pork one. See pic for the amount of toppings included. Filled me up nicely. The gyoza were on the pricey size, but man totally worth it. I had yet to be blown away by gyoza from a restaurant prior to this. Normally, I don't order gyoza at a restaurant because it would taste no better than the frozen potstickers/gyoza that you can buy from the grocery store. But these gyoza were very flavorful and fragrant. The waitress was very courteous in explaining the menu to us. Though it was definitely a bit hard to flag her down again later. Would definitely come back if I am ever in the area again! read more

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My favorite part was the rice with runny egg. Moving on. Cute little place, definitely hole in the wall vibes with great quality food. Service is average I would say, not bad not the best. Seating was close quarters, and the chairs are attached to the tables unless you're sitting at the community/long table (i think). Our food came out quickly and I will say there was a great menu with some good looking goods other than ramen but I went with the ramen. Serving sizes are generous, even seeing other meals coming out, they all looked pretty big. 10/10 would come back. read more

Bantam King - Ramen Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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For a quick bite near Capital One Arena, Bantam King is a great choice. My party and I had the Shoyu, Miso, and special creamy ramen (pictured). I really liked the creamy ramen, the broth of which tasted similar to an American-style chicken and dumplings soup. I think I was a little disappointed by the fact that eggs are an extra $2 when they're nearly always standard at other ramen spots. Other topping surcharges surprised me, but the eggs were the most expensive. The noodles themselves were also so-so and didn't taste the freshest, but portion sizes were substantial and service was great. read more

Bantam King - Ramen Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Stopped by while I was around the city with a big group. Despite being a small place, they were able to seat a group of 10 outside. Food came within 15 minutes and drinks were consistently refilled. Everyone in my group loved their food from the Snow Curry Chicken, Ramen, and Gyoza. Portions are consistent with the price and food comes out fresh. Highly recommend Sapporo Lager Draft as well! If you're ever near Capital One Arena this is a great place to grab food and go! read more

Bantam King - Gyoza - Ramen Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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I'm a big fan of Daikaya Ramen and Restaurant, and I've wanted to try Bantam King ever since it opened in 2016. I was in National Mall yesterday and finally had the opportunity to do so. I liked the interior design, a retro classroom with Japanese accents. Unfortunately however, the food didn't deliver to me. I got both the ramen and the fried chicken. Having come from Nashville a couple of weeks ago, I was Hashville hot chickened out, so I got the curry snow onion. I thought the flavors were just meh. The battery was crispy but wasn't very flavorful. The curry snow onion sauce helped, but I just didn't feel it matched well. Choong Man Chicken's curry snow onion chicken is definitely superior, at a much lower cost. The ramen was an even bigger letdown. The broth just tasted so basic to me, didn't have a deep complex flavor. Granted, I usually prefer the Tonkatsu-based broths, but this broth was overly salty, to the point where you couldn't taste anything but salt. I know ramen is salty generally, but this was just straight salt and didn't have much flavor. I didn't care for the toppings either, the fresh spinach, fresh onions, corn, pulled chicken, it just felt like thing I would prepare at home when I would throw all my leftovers into a bowl of ramen. Tasted like a kitchen sink kind of meal. The one thing that was good was their noodles, which are imported from Sapporo Japan. I would still go to Daikaya for sure, and I know this is their chicken-based ramen, but I left disappointed. I would give it more 2.5 stars, I would give the taste 3 stars, but overall I guess b/c I expected more out of here that the disappointment brought it down to 2 stars. read more

Bantam King - Spicy Miso - Ramen Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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We heard so much about Bantam King on IG and just had to experience it for ourselves! I love the setup and their concept. Stopped by on a Sunday afternoon, while exploring Chinatown. We had to wait in line for about 10 minutes before being seated, but it was worth the wait. The food, oh the food. We went for the Chicken Gyoza, Spicy Miso Ramen and the Chicken Noodle Soup. Threw in some Hot Sake while we waited for our food. Between the decor and the food I was quite the happy camper. I even up ended up ordering food to go for Monday's lunch. If you're looking for a semi-intimate and tasty ramen experience, look no further! read more

Bantam King - Spicy Miso - Ramen Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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The food here is delicious! I ordered the nashville hot chicken, deviled eggs, the chocolate chip cookie, and a bit of my partner's snow curry chicken NOT ONE of those dishes disappointed. 10s across the board!! I would return to have another delicious meal in this cozy little spot :) read more

Bantam King has a clean, welcoming ambiance with a minimalist yet cozy interior. Shoyu Paitan is flavorful, with rich, aromatic broth and perfectly cooked noodles. The menu is halal-friendly, offering diverse options that cater to various dietary needs. Service is impressively fast and efficient. This spot guarantees a satisfying meal in a tidy, well-maintained environment. read more

Bantam King - Spicy Miso - Ramen Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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I always fit in a visit to Bantam King when I'm in the Gallery Place/Chinatown area, usually to see a Capitals game. My husband always orders the spicy miso ramen, says it's the best in the city, and loves being able to order extra greens or noodles. I've been ordering my usual Nashville fried chicken plate with an extra onsen egg for the rice with chicken drippings, but yesterday I tried the curry snow fried chicken with Vidalia onions. Now I'm going to have trouble deciding between the two on future visits; a good problem to have! The space is small with communal tables and gets crowded quickly, especially during game nights. But service is very quick, and the food is overall reasonably priced and filling. read more

Bantam King - Curry Snow Fried Chicken Plate - Ramen Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

The food used to be good here, then who knows what happened. The quality went downhill the veggie ramen that used to be already spicy was for some reason made at least 3 degrees spicier and was basically uneatable!!! Same with the chicken were in party of 8 and none of us was able to eat. Whoever made that decision to change the food was barely mediocre to uneatable needs to learn that in a restaurant business the consistency and persistence is important because the food should taste the same every time not to whatever the cook is feeling that. To me this place is over i am not coming back here and not gonna recommend it to anyone because we don't know what the food might taste like tomorrow! read more

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Came here for a lunch date after viewing the cherry blossoms for a bit and walking almost 10,000 steps, but it was well worth it even though I was dying inside. It's not super big inside, and we had to wait about 10 mins to get seated, which isn't bad, but if you try to come here when it's packed then you'll most likely have to wait for a while so it would probably be better to come early I would say. We ordered the spicy miso ramen and Nashville fried chicken plate. I've never been a fan of chicken ramen because whenever I've tried it somewhere, it's always been lacking in flavor for me compared to a pork-based ramen broth. One sip of the broth though and I was immediately proven wrong. The ramen here had SUCH a great depth of flavor to it that I didn't think it was possible to even do that with chicken. Noodles had a great texture as well and are imported from Japan so that would explain why the quality was up there. However, the star for my partner and I would definitely be the Nashville fried chicken plate. Everything about the chicken was just SPOT ON from the crispy and well-seasoned skin down to the juiciness and flavor of the meat. Paired with the rice that's given on the side also makes for an excellent combo as the rice contains delicious chicken drippings on top with a small piece of butter and a dash of soy sauce in it. Honestly, this was probably some of the best fried chicken I've ever had. I generally don't like going out to DC because of how crowded it can get, but coming here was well worth the trip and I would gladly go again. read more

Bantam King - Nashville Fried Chicken Plate - Ramen Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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This is our 2nd time here and we've only lived in the DMV a couple of months! That's how good it is. We tried the snow flake chicken it's white onions over fried chicken and the Memphis which is just a spicy fried chicken. Both come with a small side of rice with butter yum yum good. We also each had ramen and added the egg, worth it! We waited a little while for a table but when I tell you we would/will do it again, believe me! The service is always awesome, very friendly and helpful even though their obviously busy and they are doing their best! The ambiance is very cute! We learned the owners also have a pork ramen spot around the block and this is the chicken ramen version which we love! read more

Bantam King - Inside is so cute and I've never waited longer than 20 minutes for a table. Plus the staff is really personable and attentive. - Ramen Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

When your son shames you into eating the dried red pepper and you regret it while burning/ waiting for Sapporo on draft, oh boy, life is good. What a Joi ful place! The ramen was delicious, deeply flavorful. The miso ramen was full of nutty soupy goodness. The chicken is hard to imagine...is this Nashville, after all? It has to be enjoyed! We also tried the gyoza, which was simply divine. Not like most gyoza, not crispy, but with a sauce that screamed to be ordered again! The service, heavenly! read more

Solid ramen and fried chicken. Ordered the spicy miso ramen and nashville fried chcicken. The ramen was pretty good. They use chicken meat instead of the chashu pork , which is a different and unique touch. The broth was flavorful and the portion size was decent. The chicken was moist and the breading on the skin was tasty. There was also a good level of spice in it, but it was not too spicey. Overall I had a good experience. read more

We visited here for a business trip, my coworker wanted fried chicken and I wanted ramen-we both got what we wanted (and then some). The ambience is fun, service attentive, and food delicious! I wish we stayed long enough to go again. DCs ramen spots are like no other-and this one is a must visit if you are in the area. read more

Ramen joint - awesome! Actually good - amazing? Halal, in addition to the aforementioned? Mind-blowing!!! We walked in this joint and it was automatically just such a fun, cool, laid back environment - I absolutely loved it! I ordered the spicy miso ramen and hubby ordered the chicken ramen. Both loved our ramen, and enjoyed the broth immensely. My only complaint was that I ordered the green tea which was just hot water and a tea bag. But, honestly, I was so involved with that ramen that I could not care!!! I was so enamored with their spicy miso, that the next day (we were on vacation) I went ahead and had them deliver another spicy miso ramen and their fried chicken with the rice that has the chicken drippings. Let me say, that chicken was THE BOMB DOT COM!!! Sooooo good...and a lot of people may not appreciate the simplicity of white rice, butter and chicken drippings, but it's an explosion of flavorful savory goodness - I highly recommend it!!!! read more

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Of course I love dining in, but I ordered Bantam King for delivery and it was just as delicious! I got the shoyu ramen with nitamago, extra pulled chicken, spice bomb, extra soup, extra noodles, no scallions. The soup came aside from everything else, and the package came with instructions on how to heat up the ramen. I followed the instructions and the ramen came out good! I'm not exactly sure where the spice bomb was because I didn't see it, but I'm hoping it was already mixed into the broth. The broth was super salty (almost like if it was concentrated) which was good since I'm feeling under the weather, but something to keep in mind in case you easily bloat from salt. I also ordered the white chocolate butter mochi cake and it's so delicious - just gotta make sure to heat it up!! I had to refrain from ordering more than I can eat, but I'm already looking forward to ordering the Honey Lovin' Chicken Sandwich. read more

Bantam King - Everything but the soup - Ramen Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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The food was good, especially the fried chicken but the ramen was very salty. Also the messed up our order a bit, granted we were asking questions but should have confirmed the order read more

Located in Chinatown, it was decorated with colorful lanterns. It offers a simple menu of ramen noodles and fried chicken. A 20% service fee was automatically added to the bill; I tried the spicy miso ramen. The soup was mildly spicy and tasty. The ramen was al dente, but a bit too firm, served with chicken, corn, turnip and spinach. It was a decent ramen soup, but was it really worth $20+ for a bowl of ramen? Not the best value but not the restaurant's fault with rising inflation. I'll come back to try other dishes, but not in a hurry. read more

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I've eaten here more than a few times and been completely satisfied with the food and service. But today, was a completely different story. I asked for two Curry fried chicken meals priced at $33.00. I took it to go and when I got home and open it... I don't mind crunchy chicken but it was dry (was not freshly fried) absolutely flavorless with curry powder sprinkled on top of the chicken. Straight up unacceptable! I've ordered this before and the curry powder was infused with the flour... and to boot I left a $7 tip, never again! I'll make mine at home from now on thanks for nothing! read more

The decor is cute and pleasant and the service was quick and polite. We enjoyed sitting down after some tourism in the area. But we were disappointed by the food. The "ramen" has noodles and chicken and corn and such, and is in a ramen bowl, but really doesn't taste anything like a ramen broth. Actually kind of flavorless overall. I've had no-pork ramen before- it's never as good as proper pork broth, but this was just disappointing. The noodles were good. The curry fried chicken had no curry flavor. The 2 cups of mayo marinated onions on top is I guess the style the wanted, but not for me. Too much fresh raw onions in the soup, also- overpowering the weak flavor. Sorry, we wanted to like it, but won't be back. read more

Did the underground tour of doughnuts in DC and this place was one of our stops and these doughnuts are served fresh as you order. The dough is soft and chewy and not so sweet I read more

Bantam King - Dessert doughnut - Ramen Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

This is by far one of the better spots for authentic ramen in DC. It's chicken based so it's a bit lighter. But still has a good mouth feel when slurping up noodles. The shio one reminds me of Campbell's chicken noodle soup. And it's definitely my favorite of the bunch. The gyoza here is also a bit different. It reminds me of the spicy wontons from a Chinese Szechuan restaurant. But very good. Come early and put your name down. The spot is fairly small. But the big community table in the middle is good for groups. read more

Bantam King - Shio with a side of chicken leg. - Ramen Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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I got my meal delivered. Got the Nashville fried chicken and the spice bomb. The chicken was so heavily breaded that I couldn't even taste the chicken. The thigh itself was either not breaded or not fried well. Wouldn't return. read more

Bantam King: a deliciously inclusive ramen shop, Meats and ramen made halal for all to slurp, Every bowl filled with warmth to make your tastebuds pop With all kinds of fried chicken on the menu; chirp chirp That chicken paitan stock, so thick, rich and creamy, Noodles the perfect chewy and tenderness, All in combination with corn, nori and pulled chicken, A melody in my mouth made so effortless Creamy chicken ramen (special) 5/5: like a warm savory milk. Slurped up in record time Nashville hot chicken 4.5/5: huge portion of chicken breast. Definitely worth the bang for your buck Curry snow chicken 5/5: tangy onion sauce was on point read more

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I cant speak for the ramen because I only tried the fried chicken, but both of the fried chicken flavors (Nashville and curry) were superb. Comes with a side of rice and a bun. Service was quick and friendly. In the heart of Chinatown and easily accessible by the metro stop. Great casual option for a quick dinner! read more

Been here a bunch specifically for the amazing curry white chicken. Tried the shoyu ramen today and was underwhelmed w the noodles. Clean broth which was improved w a spice bomb. Also tried the donut. Super fresh and tasty. Get the chicken, you won't be disappointed. read more

Bantam King - Shoyu Paitan - Ramen Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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My review is for the fried chicken which in all honesty is in my opinion the best fried chicken I have had in DC. Ramen is solid, but personally I prefer pork ramen to chicken simply for the more full flavor and would recommend one of their sister restaurants Daikaya in the area of ramen. If you want some great fried chicken though this place is where it's at!! Their rice with chicken. Drippings is also a fav for me as well!! read more

Bantam King - Cocktail menu - Ramen Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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10/10! Cute interior! Even though the restaurant was busy , we waited no more than a couple minutes to get seated. The fried chicken was juicy and crunchy. The butter rice was chef's kiss! The sauces on the side really enriched the taste. I would definitely recommend this! It also seemed like a lot of people got ramen. So next time I go I will be trying the ramen as well! read more

Bantam King - Nashville Fried Chicken Plate - Ramen Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

First time here, and wow, the Ramen was great mochis were delicious and the best sugar donuts I've ever had so spongy. read more

Bantam King - Ramen Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Bantam King was great! I ordered the Spicy Miso ramen and the Kirin Ichiban beer. All of the ramen comes with chicken. I thought it was super tasty and just the right amount of spiciness. My friends ordered the Curry Snow Fried Chicken Plate, which they said was delicious as well. I tried some of their rice with the chicken drippings and was pretty impressed. The vibe inside is very cool, with lockers and lunchroom-style tables. Our food came very quickly and the waiter was pretty nice. Will definitely be coming back! read more

Bantam King - Spicy Miso Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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This is my fourth review update for Bantam King but after dining here for the 50 millionth time, it totally deserves the props! This little shop has seen me through life's changes (single city girl, pregnant hangry monster, parent taking her child to enjoy the museums, office worker, and more!). It has seen me through sick days, happy days, and blah rainy days... What can I say? I love Bantam King! Walking in, I am always put in an immediate good mood. The servers are chill, I never have to wait more than five minutes, and like other Daikaya-led restaurants, their playlist is banging! I'm not too much of a ramen fan but I love their deeply aromatic chicken noodle soup here. It's a lot lighter than pork based options. Special tip, if you are dining with a kid you can get an off-menu bowl for $5 featuring noodles, a clear broth and pulled chicken. My daughter loves it! However my absolute favorite thing on the menu is their Nashville Hot Chicken served with a side of chicken dripping drenched rice and butter. I'm sure I am going to die an early death because of my love affair with this dish but it is so worth it (I like to cut the generous pat of butter in half to make me feel better about myself when dining here). Chicken chili dumplings are also a nice treat if you are really hungry. If you're ever looking for a mid-day pick me up, their summer dessert window is always super innovative and fun. Bantam King, you will always have a special place in my heart! read more

Fast spot to grab a decent ramen. They have veggie and chicken ramens which are great for non traditional ramen eaters. Bowls are generously filled lots of noodles. There's multiple choices that can be added to your ramen to make it even more satisfying. It was decent. Servers were helpful and there are limited numbers of tables which are first come first served. The food is delivered fast. We tried the Nashville chicken which was crispy and must've been prepared a little in advance for the rush. It was super crispy and on the bone which 1/2 of my table was not a fan of....the flavor was ok. Not something I'd order again. The spicy bread and butter pickles offset the greasiness a little bit. It's also served with rice butter and soy sauce which brought back fond memories of my childhood. They leave you a full pitcher of cold water on the table which great so you can fill your little glasses as needed. It's loud in there.maybe to encourage people to eat fast and get out. The speed that they feed you is great if you're in a rush to grab something to fill your belly before heading to a show. The tables are on the smaller side but the theme of a school lunch cafeteria added to the charm of this place. It was to have somewhere to eat that wasn't the typical stadium faire. Would I flock down here for ramen in general? No. However if I want something to fill up on before heading to Capital One arena. Then yes. read more

Bantam King - Reusable paper-ish plates - Ramen Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Bantam King is a one stop shop for all things chicken, set in a 90s hip diner. I've been trying all the ramen joints around the NoVA area, and the noodles here were probably one of the best I've had yet. It's a warm piping bowl of gourmet Japanese chicken noodle soup. I have never ordered my ramen/noodles with chicken and honestly felt slightly apprehensive, but Bantam King will not steer you wrong. The saltiness of the chicken pairs perfectly with the chicken broth that is extremely light but flavorful - good enough to tip the whole bowl back. All of the ramen is also Halal which I thought was great. As a side dish, we ordered the rice with chicken drippings. The service here was incredibly quick, and despite a busy Thursday evening, we were seated within 10 minutes and were in and out of BK in around 45 minutes, as we had an event to catch at Capital One. I'm definitely still savoring the chicken noodle soup, and will definitely be back here to try their other foods - specifically their fried chicken as everyone around me seemed to be enjoying it. read more

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Food - YUM! I ordered the Fried Chicken 2.0 (can't remember the name of this "special"), which was fried chicken drizzled with coconut-adobo sauce with a side of rice. This was soooo good. Sweet & sour on the crispy fried chicken (You can choose between dark or white meat; I chose dark.) The rest of my table ordered the Nashville Fried Chicken, which was also reaaaally good! Service - I would give them 10 stars for service. I really wish I could remember our server's name because she was on point. Personable, hilarious, genuine, and she really took care of us. Thank you!!! Ambience - Cute corner restaurant feels; nothing fancy, but to the point. Highly recommend this spot! read more

Bantam King - Fried Chicken 2.0 w/coconut-adobo drizzle - Ramen Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I love the Halal Ramen! It's such a good novelty. Be careful about coming here when there is an event at the arena or if it's a weekend night. It can get super busy! I come during the day and get a nice experience. Prices are a bit high when you get extra toppings like egg. I wish it just came with the Ramen. I also tried their Snow Fried Chicken and was a fan! It's pretty good and has a fun flavor profile of sweet and savory. All their Ramen is very good. I recommend getting a marinated egg and a spice bomb with your dish. If you want it Halal ask for it without the wine spray. Staff is very helpful and friendly. I do admit I eat here sometimes alone just because I like it so much. Came for Ramadan once and they were so sweet as they gave us a free peach drink. I want to give it 4 stars but I feel like it would be dishonest given how much I enjoy it and eat here. It's not a place that wows you with the first bite, but genuinely grows on you. read more

Bantam King - Spicy Miso with Nitamago Egg - Ramen Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Good chicken based halal ramen Great service Great fast casual ambience I would recommend to anyone wanting non pork based ramen at a reasonable cost and fun atmosphere. read more

I've ordered the fried chicken as take out before, but I finally stopped in the other night. I love the curry snow fried chicken and would highly recommend it! Super flavorful (I always order the dark meat) and it comes with the rice and chicken dripping. This little dish is $4 on its own and it's so good! It's tough to justify buying on its own, even though I did it and no regrets! So the fact it comes with the fried chicken is definitely a perk! This time around, I ordered the special truffle ramen and it was delish! It came with an egg and was very good! It was a special and the waitress said it had been on the menu for a few months so hopefully you can get it before it's taken off. Lastly, finished off the night with the $5 chocolate chip cookie. It was bigger than I was expecting, but thin. The cookie was crispy and soft on the inside, but alas ate it too quickly to snag a photo. This place is great, the service was attentive and friendly. I highly recommend you stop in, it's perfect for smaller parties, might be a little crapped with anything larger than 6-8 people. read more

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