This place has a spartan dining area and takes (or took) orders online only. However, the tofu I ordered was top notch. An unconventional interpretation of ma po tofu, it nonetheless delivered classic flavor, with small fried local tofu chunks taking on a mix of spicy and numbing flavors, delivered with a hefty dose of aromatic scallions and an aromatic rice below. I experienced no difficulty getting my order. Online messaging made it unclear to me whether this place might be continuing operations in the future, and I can only say I hope they figure out a way to do so. read more

Cottage St Ramen - Ma po tofu - Ramen Near Me - Bar Harbor, Maine

I needed to post a review of Cottage Street Ramen. No, it's not the cottage of St. Ramen, patron saint of noodle soup lovers. Or is it?!? So we're in a tiny, touristy (both negative predictors of good food) town of Bar Harbor, (pop. 5089), so I had low expectations of getting decent ramen, much less good vegetarian ramen. Very low. But LOW and behold... (get it? Low expectations, lo and behold? No? No one? OK. Let's move on). Holy cow... so to speak. Cottage Street Ramen has amazing vegetarian and vegan ramen. In Bar Harbor, Maine, of all places. We ordered Spicy Mushroom Miso Ramen, XO Ramen, and Rich Shoyu Ramen. And all of them were so amazing. To start, the presentation is beautiful, a treat for the eyes, topped with grilled and fresh ingredients and fried tofu, and the Rich Shoyu has generous amounts of sliced grilled garlic which is sweet and mellow. I highly recommend adding boo choy and scallions when you order. Iit adds a few cents to the cost, but so much flavor; they grill the bok choy and it's super yummy. All three broths are all so flavorful, rich and full of umami. And while the whole wheat ramen noodle isn't quite as glutinous (chewy) as white ramen noodles, but it's really good, and a sight more wholesome! We're here a few more days, so before we leave, we may just have to go back another time.... or two! There is no sit down service, and you have to bus your own table when you're done, but for this level of goodness in this place, it's totally worth it. Also they have no hot sauce, only house-made chili oil, so if you like it spicy like I do, bring your own hot sauce. read more

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Didn't expect much since there wasn't anyone else here, but it's amazing - including comparisons to non-vegetarian/vegan options. Got the shio, miso, and spicy shoyu ramen and everything hit. read more

Stopped in for ramen after a hike and really enjoyed this spot. Generous portions, great flavor, quick and friendly service.

This place is low key and run by community kitchen volunteers (Open Table MDI is the non-profit) and whatever you choose to tip goes to the kitchen staff and the profits of the meal go directly to the Open Table MDI non-profit. After reading more about them, this ramen place is one of the handful of the programs they're doing. You seat yourself, scan a QR code for the menu, and pick it up from the counter when it's ready. You also don't NEED to tip 18% like one of these comments was alluding. You can choose your tip amount just like any other restaurant. But reminder, the money you're spending here IS for a good cause. As far as the food, I've lived near Philly and NYC for years and this is some of the best vegetarian ramen I've ever had (also definitely worth trying if you eat meat). We got the Spicy Mushroom and the XO ramen. Both fantastic and the broth was incredibly flavorful. The charred bok choy add-on was also well worth it. We added chili oil and bean sprouts, too. Honestly, was hesitant initially and not expecting much of anything in Bar Harbor to have this much flavor but this was a great surprise! Amazing meal!!! Check them out!!! read more

Cottage St Ramen - XO ramen (bottom) and Spicy Mushroom (top) - Ramen Near Me - Bar Harbor, Maine

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The first thing you notice is the place looks abandoned. There are signs for you to sit and scan a QR code to order. No human contact. No one to ask about the Japanese menu items. No one to greet you or ask if you like your order. And you get to clean and bus your own table. It's like a McDonalds but less friendly. I almost forgot the best part: when you order on your phone you are asked for an 18% TIP without knowing if the food is good and without any service. Next time you pay $18 for your quarter pounder, ask yourself if you should give an 18% TIP as well. I didn't go into the food itself because the ramen was average and the portions small. It's no wonder there were no other customers. This is not a place that anyone will want to return to. read more

Vegetarian/vegan ramen is usually a miss for me but this place was a total hit. Broth was flavorful and the "meat" had great texture.

Low key but delicious ramen place that appears to be related to a local nonprofit. All vegetarian menu. I had the spicy mushroom ramen and it was delicious - those chili maple portabellos were amazing. The fried tofu add on was excellent. We also appreciated the "kids ramen" option with just broth, noodles, and add-ons of your choice. read more

Flavorful ramen. Home made noodles. Excellent fried tofu and fried garlic in the noodles. Convenient and the food comes out quick. We also had the blistered shishito peppers which were terrific. read more

Loved the vegan ramen bowls. One of the best things we ate on MDI. Entire menu is at least vegetarian. Also love that all profits go to a nonprofit! read more

Walking into Cottage St. Ramen, you might think you're in the wrong location if you don't know what to expect. The room looks like it's meant for hosting a casual private party or craft event of some kind. It's deceptively simple--prepare to be blown away. This place is unreal in the best way possible. First off, proceeds go to charity, which is awesome. Second, the staff is super friendly and kind. Keep in mind that it's a self-serve restaurant, because staff is limited, but that's completely okay considering that the ramen is DELICIOUS. More on the food: I come from a place with lots of excellent ramen restaurants, and this is by far some of the best I've ever tried. Despite being fully vegetarian/vegan, the dishes are rich, flavorful, and comforting. We came here after a chilly, rainy walk along the shore, and the food here warmed us to our souls. I had the spicy mushroom miso ramen with tofu, which I highly recommend. I also tried my friend's vegetable broth ramen, which was shockingly rich in flavor. No one in my party of five was disappointed with their appetizer or entree. Dessert was a little underwhelming, unfortunately, but I can't recommend the savory dishes enough. Also, the bathroom is very clean and fully stocked with personal care items if guests need them, which is so thoughtful. That's really just one of the many ways that you know Cottage St. Ramen was created with love. Long story short, this is a must-visit if you're in Bar Harbor. I'll be forever dreaming about that miso broth. read more

Didn't realize it was vegetarian and vegan only, but don't let that scare you off. Great flavors and some of the best shishito peppers I've ever had. The only thing a little off is the fact that there is no waiter or counter to order from, you seat yourself, order from a QR code and bus the tables yourself, but even with that, I recommend it. Will be back again while I'm in Bar Harbor. read more

Really nice fresh ingredients used to create delicious Food. Rich complex flavors and very satisfying on a winter's day. Fair pricing for the complexity of the dishes. We will definitely be back. read more