OOOOMG I do not know how to describe this kimchi fried rice with spam other than it is loaded with some type of foodcrack. I have ordered this probably 50 times in my time at Cal and SF. Every time I visit the east bay I fiend for it. Fiend. I love me some homecooked Korean fried rice, but this just has a different twist to it. I wish I could pinpoint it more, but you just have to try it. Make sure you get the egg on top too! Tip: call in and order before. There's basically nowhere to sit and this can be enjoyed in the container it comes in (maybe unlike the ramen). Friends have ordered the dumpling ramen and kimchi fried noodle, but honestly, kimchi fried rice beats them all. read more

Instant Ramen + Egg + Green Onion = $7?!?!?!?!?! For a "ramen" place, the quality of ramen sure is subpar. I'm only giving three stars because some of the food here, my friends swear, are good. But if it had to come down to ramen only, I would only give this place 1.5 stars. read more

Go-to place for kimchi fried rice. I always get the one with pork but I've tried the spam a couple of times also. You get plenty of fried rice for the price you pay and it's probably the best kimchi fried rice I've had in the area. I haven't had the chance to try other menu's but I know the kimchi fried noodles are pretty popular also. The place itself is small & doesn't have very many seats so I always get my food to-go. If you don't want to wait while they're cooking your food, you can give them a call and pick up your order in 15 minutes. I wish they weren't cash-only because I always find myself forgetting cash and having to go to the nearest ATM or give up and go elsewhere. Overall, great kimchi fried rice. If you're in Berkeley it's a must-have. read more

Bear's Ramen House is a boonshik (kind of Korean bar food) restaurant known not for their ramen but for their kimchi fried rice. And rightfully so, because it is sooooo good! If you like spam (and you should), GO WITH SPAM. I've also tried the ddukgook (rice cake soup) and the broth was delicious and savory. I tried the labbokki (spicy rice cake) which I had seen before and wanted to try and I would've said it could've been cooked a little longer.. will try it again and see how it is. I haven't tried their noodles yet because I always am tempted by the kimchi fried rice, but I hope to come back more often so that I try more dishes! Some notes: Cash only, they cook to order so it might take a little bit of time, and it's the Asian ghetto so seating is sparse inside. They also have barley tea (comforting and yummy!), but don't expect banchan because this is not that type of Korean place! read more

I like. Very much. Work many hours. Have many hours of school. Many hours of study. Get tired. Must eat. Very good gooksoo. Good ramen. Good kun mandu. Good pajun. Nice lady feed me. It's good. Me happy. Wallet happy. Good. Me come back soon. read more

Working my way through Asian Ghetto, and Bear's Ramen is another stop I'll frequent to when I'm in the area. I have yet to try ramen here, but I have tried: (+) Mushroom fried noodle- made with thick housemade noodles and a sweet sauce and thinly sliced mushrooms. So good. You can add an extra egg and/or extra noodles for a few more cents. (+) Kimchi Fried rice- made with short grain rice that adds that great chew. Comes with a fried egg on top. Better to order to go since this spot is tiny! read more

So basically I was in a sorority in college. Us girls before we got together for our meetings would grab some food and go on campus to discuss in great detail whatever it is that girls these days gossip about. The "ghetto" was our go-to place of choice and for me, Bear's Ramen house is a big reason why. Sure, some days I just gotta have me some Meesha's or a Combo Plate at Vietnam Village. But the kimchee fried rice, mushroom fried rice, or gook soo from Bear's Ramen House always makes me happy and satisfied. Esp in dreary weather, the hot soup and chewy noodles, or the nice fried egg on top of fried rice makes me happy to be alive. There were numerous occasions when my friend who lived on Telegraph and I would just buy it to go then head back and munch away happily and have enough for dinner that night. It's cheap, it's cash only, it's small, and it's good. It's what Berkeley eats is all about. *warning: don't get the ramen. they dont use fresh noodles. they use the top ramen-esque ramen. if u like that kinda stuff go for it but im all about the gook soo, fried rice, and dok buk gi. read more

YUM! I love fried rice. I love spam. I love curry. This place has it all at a good price. Kim chee fried rice w/ spam and curry ramen for grand total of $11 Can't beat that. nothing spectacular, but a very good cheap eats spot. read more

This review is only for their KIMCHI FRIED RICE. THIS PLACE IS CASH ONLY!! (there's a BOA atm 1 minute away) ATMOSPHERE Located in the "Asian Ghetto," it's a tiny place with barely enough seating inside. However, you can always take your food outside to the benches/tables in the courtyard (although I strongly advise against this because the tables are eternally oily and gross. Stay inside if you can). The cashier lady is Korean and speaks very little English, but strangely enough, the cooks are Mexican... FOOD Again, I only come here for the KIMCHI FRIED RICE, which is great 95% of the time. The other 5% it's a little burnt and when it's burnt I just can't eat more than 2 bites of it. This place probably has the best kimchi fried rice in Berkeley and a lot of my Korean friends come here for other dishes as well considering there aren't many good Korean restaurants near campus. The portions are big and you see them cook it right in front of you, so that's a plus. You can get the fried rice with either SPAM, CHICKEN, OR BEEF. I get beef because god knows what's in spam, but my friends always get it with spam. TIP: Come with a KOREAN because you can get extra stuff, like extra sunny side up eggs with your fried rice. read more

If you want fast ramen or rice plates this is the place to go to. My friend and I dropped by here since she was craving ramen and this was one of the closer spots. We decided to try it out. It's a super small place with pretty good options. My friend ordered the seafood ramen and I got the curry over rice. The food was alright overall for both of us. I personally would've liked my curry more saucy. I felt like it became very much like a jelly texture after a while. The ramen was alright for my friend. The service is good! The lady is super nice. read more

I have a feeling business would be a lot better if this place was named "Bear's Kimchi Fried Rice" instead of "Ramen" because everyone I know gets Kimchi fried rice with spam here. They have perfected the dish and you might not be able to find a better one in Berkeley. It is like a Korean mom cooking it for you at your dorm. It starts with great rice, that's chewy but not overly sticky. Add in nicely chopped kimchi, cubes of spam and a sunny-side up egg with a runny yolk mixed in, you got yourself some comforting "Seoul" food. They serve a great cup of complimentary warm tea as well to go with it. read more

Kimchi everything. Kimchi everything baby girl.... Kimchi fried rice Kimchi fried noodle Kimchi Ramen Kimchi Fish Cake. Kimchi everything. #kimchi Unfortunately, it is cash only. Parking can be ridiculous. Lines are a little long. There are VERY limited seating. So do carryout and save the fire hazard. read more

Bear Ramen House is A-OK in my book. Not exactly a standout restaurant, and perhaps a bit unforgettable compared to the ever-popular Thai Basil and Gypsy's. Typically, I ordered the mushroom fried rice. It's my safe alternative to too-spicy Korean dishes and this dish is rather good! The downside is that you have to eat it pretty quickly, because it becomes really unappetizing when it's cold. BUT portions are pretty large and it comes with an egg! My favorite! :D read more

I LOVE THEIR KIMCHI FRIED RICE WITH THE SPAM! I always crave their kimchi fried rice because it is so flavorful and delicious. I became addicted to it after my first bite and it was a staple in my diet in college. The portion is big and they always give you tons of spam pieces. It wouldnt be as good without that unhealthy spam! I love the egg they put on top. It can be a hit or miss on how they make it but when they do it good, I love to break the egg and let the yolk spill all over the rice. It is truly the best. This is definitely the best kimchi fried rice that I have ever had and I miss it sooo much. **TIPS** 1) Cash only! 2) You can never go wrong with kimchi fried rice! 3) Enjoy! read more

Oh Bear Ramen, this is how I know I'm getting old. I haven't been here in over 5 years but had a craving for kimchi fried rice so I knew exactly where to go. Called in my order as I was walking up from the BART. (Yes, I walked - I needed to earn this dinner....) As I arrived and paid for my food (which is promptly ready by the time I showed up, less than 10 min, yay!), whipped out a $5 bill as I was used to paying back in the day ...and then realized that it costs $7.75. DARN YOU INFLATION. Sigh. Guess it's just been that long. I lamely gathered up my remaining dollars and coins to pay for my overpriced meal and went to enjoy my dinner in peace. Didn't even have enough to walk across the alley to get $1.24 boba from Quicklys (what is the world coming to?!?). It was delicious, and I will definitely be back here for my once-in-a-blue-moon craving for kimchi fried rice. read more

This literally is the most overprices place I've ever been, it's literally 11dollars for instant ramen. I get it that rent is expensive and all that but come on charging 11 for instant ramen is borderline dishonest. read more

I can't believe I haven't written a review for Bear's Ramen yet! I LOVE their kim chi spam fried rice with 2 EGGS. Emphasis on the TWO eggs. This dish is comfort food to its best. The portion is massive for to go. I love the spiciness to it. For $8, it is pricey after trying to make it at home. I've tried their ramen before but I prefer ordering the korean dishes here, such as the cold noodles or the cal gooksoo. Next time I should try the kim chi noodles! Service is quick. Perfect for a "to go" place. They got me to love this dish so much that I just started to make it on my own at home this past weekend! read more

This is probably my favorite ramen place ever. I love the bulgogi ramen and of course the kimchi fried rice with spam. The lady who owns the restaurant is really nice, I hope they expand and have more space for people to eat but all in all it was a good place to eat, great menu choices.. read more

Bears Ramen House - Korean Near Me - Berkeley, California

Bear's Ramen House get's 3.5 stars. I used to come here on my lunch breaks and order the kimchi fried rice with SPAM. The place is tiny and cramped with a few chairs at the counter. There is seating outside in the Asian Ghetto, so it shouldn't be too much of an issue. But yes, the item to get is the kimchi fried rice with SPAM. The fried rice comes out in a nice orange-red color with kimchi and chunks of SPAM mixed in. And on top of it all, they placed a delicious fried egg! It's plenty of food for a good price. I'm definitely full after eating an order of this for lunch. I always came to get the fried rice, but I've heard that many people like the kimchi fried noodles as well. I'll have to come back to try their other dishes when I'm in the area. read more

Easily favorite restaurant in Asian Ghetto. It's a REALLY small location and can sometimes get really crowded, but the freshly-made authentic Korean food here is amazing. Go with the kim chi fried rice with spam and share a seafood pancake if you're with a friend. There are other good things (try the kim chi fried noodles sometimes), but those are my favorite dishes and my mouth is watering now even I as I write about it. Irene, the owner, and Angeles, one of the cooks are also really friendly and absolutely charming if you take the time to chat with them. I used to go shortly after the lunch rush to eat and watch Korean dramas with Irene. Love her! read more

This place is awesome! I come here almost every day for their bulgolgi rice cake with ramen and their kimchi fried noodle with spam. The taste is so rich and savory, and the only complaint I would have is that the store is way too small. Honestly they get so full sometimes and at those times it's hard to even get in the store, much less sit down. Oh and also they don't accept card, which can be inconvenient sometimes but so worth going to get cash and coming back. But their food is so amazing and the people working there are so nice and friendly. They remember regulars and usually greet their customers- very homey, friendly atmosphere. I cannot emphasize how good this place is, in terms of both service and food. Also, I would recommend going for the non-ramen items, just because ramen is not actually legit, but their other food is SO much better. Great for grabbing a quick meal, and they also accept call-ins for food! read more

They allowed me to modify my mushroom fried rice to have extra spam. Wish serving was bigger. But it's great food! They accept payment through venmo. read more

Bears Ramen House - Korean Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Asian diner food! Yeah!' Kimchi fried anything is bomb - kimchi fried rice or noodles (fresh made) with spam is legit. Also recommend any of the rice cakes - I love the black bean, and also the bulgogi - yum! On a rainy day the fishcake noods - the green onion - anchovies broth really hits the spot. I think to fully appreciate this place you might need to watch some Korean drama or live in Korea for a bit :) so cheap for the portions, so tasty. The nicest people run this place. I love how it's no-frills, delicious goodness and it's open super late. I hope they're in business forever. read more

Bear ramen! They have a "bear special ramen" that I thought was bear meat for a split second... just kidding For the niche it serves, I think it does a great job. Pros- Many variety of ramens Price difference of the ramens have only small increments (8.33, 8.75) etc. Gets the job done and the taste is good. I asked to have the soup and noodles separated because my drive back home was long. The server said they don't usually do that but they made an exception for me. Cons- Not necessarily a con, but it is a Korean style ramen shop. The ramen they use is not the Japanese frozen type. It is the dried ramen type you find in Korean kimchi stew pots etc. It's in a college town and it serves that niche well. Is it Michelin star cuisine? No. Is it quick, tasty, and cost friend? Definitely. read more

I know the name of the place says "Ramen"... but if I came here I would DEFINITELY get SPAM KIM CHI FRIED RICE. mmMmmMmMmMmMm. I wasn't a fan of the Mushroom Fried Noodle/Rice though a lot of other suggest that. I didn't know there was a Kim Chi Fried Noodle but now I'm really excited to go try that too!!!!!! read more

I like this place. =) The owner is a really nice Korean lady and she's always there whenever I go. Makes you feel like you're getting good home-cooked Korean mom food. Except I don't even know her haha. I've had the rice cake ramen soup, kimchi fried rice w/ spam, kimchi fried udon noodle w/ spam (same as kimchi fried rice, but with udon for another 50 cents or something), and some other dishes here. I haven't tried the bear ramen yet though. I think kimchi fried rice is probably their most popular dish. I like it, but definitely could not eat that too often haha. I like the food here, but my only complaints are: 1. Slow - since she makes each dish as you order, it can be pretty slow getting your order even when it's not busy (I can't imagine what it's like when it IS busy). Sometimes she has an assistant so they can do several dishes at once, but yeah...this is not a place to go if you're really in a hurry. 2. Expensive - well, everything in Asian Ghetto is on the expensive side for the quality/quantity, in my opinion. But then again I might just be a really frugal Asian. At Asian Ghetto, it's almost always either Thai Basil or Bear's Ramen House for me. =) read more

:) Literally a hole in a wall, but the food is great. The owner is super nice too! Personally love the kimchee fried rice and kimchee fried noodles. It is a little bit more on the pricey side, but they serve good portions. read more

Recommend "Kimchi Fried Gook-Soo" ( spelling probably off) Only con - got a maggot in my Kimchi Fried Noodles last time I ate there. I'll never eat there again, but the food was so good previous to this incident that I still give 3 stars. ( was so good while it lasted ) - moved review over from old Yelp account and deleted original review. read more

Small place with an extensive menu. It's like a small noodle bar in the "Asian ghetto" off Durant. I suggest the udon over the ramen. The ramen is the instant kind while the udon is homemade. The broth doesn't blow me away but it's quick and cheap and hits the spot. The veggies in the soup have a nice crispness to it and not overcooked to a mushy texture. read more

I really wasn't even hungry at all. But because we were in Berkeley and because all of my friends have suggested that I try this place out, my boyfriend and I stopped by Bear's Ramen House last Friday night. My boyfriend and I ordered a Spam Kimchi Fried Rice to share ($7.50 after tax). Right after ordering, we saw the man begin to make it. The place is quite small, with a couple of counters and about 10 seats total. The guy working seemed to be friendly and my boyfriend described him as "chill." Within minutes, our order was ready. The rice was very flavorful and the portion size was plenty for the two of us. Spam always goes perfectly in kimchi fried rice; but they also have chicken, beef, tofu, as options. The fried egg on top was picture perfect, until we smashed the yolk with our chopsticks. The yolk adds a nice creaminess and savoriness to the whole dish. In fact, the egg was so good, half way through eating our fried rice, we asked the man for another egg ($0.50). Delicious. This place lived up to the hype. I hope to come back! My boyfriend's parents ordered tofu ramen which they really enjoyed, also. Notes: -Free tea near the door. read more

I highly recommend ordering the kimchi fried noodles. The noodles are delicious! The noodles are thick like udon noodles that are fried in a pan with kimchi and spicy paste. After eating the noodles for the first time I couldn't stop myself from going back twice after my initial trip to eat those noodles again. I also had the ramen which was not as good as the fried noodles in my opinion. The kimchi fried rice is pretty good as well. That's another dish that I would recommend getting if you're not in a noodles mood. read more

Ok, my beloved Bear's Ramen, I'm officially upgrading you. However I found a better bowl of ramen :( I am however a devoted Bear's Ramen junkie. My devotion for Bear's Ramen is it's variety and price. No other place has such a variety of Korean ramen. I love it, and the price is just right! Bear's may not have the best bowl of ramen, but it definitely have a ton of great ramen choices. read more

Their kimchi fried rice and kimchi fried noodles... SO GOOD. I always get them both with tofu and they are delicious. The server/owner is pretty nice too, from what I remember. Tried kimchi fried rice at 2 other places in the bay and it just wasn't the same as it is here. I used to frequent this place back when I was an undergrad at Berkeley, and I can't wait to hit it up again sometime soon! Heads up though, the place only seats like 4-5 people (I may be exaggerating it but its definitely extremely limited seating), so be prepared to take your meal to go or eat outside at the food court! read more

Beware! This restaurant will scam you. They take cash only. You pay cash to one person at the restaurant for take out. As you leave, another employee in the restaurant accuse you of not paying. The person you handed your cash to then says that you never gave them money. They took your cash already and will try to get you to pay up again. Get a receipt before you leave. Anyone out there with a similar experience, post your experience. If this restaurant is defrauding customers on a regular basis, this information needs to get out. read more

Ate here after moving my sister in to her dorm at Berkeley. It's good - cramped seating area inside (two counter booths with stools, and lots of people piling in to order... hope a fire doesn't break out anytime soon or we'd all be screwed). There's lots of seating outside though, so it's fine. I ordered the kim chi ramen which was really delicious. It was just the right amount of spicy and the kim chi was soo good. I only wish the noodles were a little better. They were instant noodle type ramen (she used a block of dried noodles), but the broth made up for it. I should have gotten the udon instead, like my Dad did - those noodles were made fresh and looked par-fait. All in all it was a satisfying meal and there are a lot of flavors to choose from. I think my mom got the fish ball ramen and I love fish balls. Unfortunately, I go to school in Chicago where the closest ramen they have is... still in California, so poor me I'll have to wait 'til winter break. Lucky sister and her endless supply of Asian food... read more

Bow down to the KIMCHI FRIED RICE! It's as good as they all say it is. Order it now and thank me later. :D Bumped down to 4 stars because of limited seating and slightly overpriced items. The ramen is just instant ramen with some veggies. Nothing too fancy. Nice workers and quick service (especially if you're Korean) LOL read more

This ramen house is good for sit-down (for a small group) and take-out. You can also call ahead and pick up your food. To say the least, it's very convenient for a student. The food is cheap and solidly good, and the kimchi fried rice has never failed to pick me up after a long day of classes. :) One con is that their tea tastes a little odd sometimes, so... yeah. Drink at your own risk. Another is that they are cash only. :( read more

love it Spam and kimchi and rice together perfection Curry ramen yummy Homey and folksy one time I went there five drunk korean business men where singing a pop song and eating ramen very cool read more

I love their Kimchi Fried Noodle! It tastes really good. I think this is one of the better Korean food in Berkeley. I tried almost every Korean food in Berkeley, and this is one of the place that I will never get tired of. When I still live in Berkeley, I went to this place at least once a week, forgetting about my diet and everything. Now, when people asked me what did I miss from Berkeley, I will confidently say that I miss Kimchi Fred Noode from this place. read more

I've only tried one item on their menu and I guess it was the wrong one. After seeing a friend eat their curry ramen, I decided to give it a go, since I love ramen and I love curry. I guess my initial thought was that it would be more of a noodle soup than just curry sauce over ramen. When I got my order, the sauce was extremely thick and the noodles were too overcooked and too soft to even pick up with chopsticks. The sauce did not even taste much like curry. I mostly tasted some sort of powder over mushy noodles. I've heard their kimchi fried rice is good but haven't tried it myself. read more