Ohhh yes to this Ramen spot! My first time here and I can't wait to return. It's located in a shopping plaza tucked in the back. When you enter, it's a cute, quiet setting with a relaxed, laid back atmosphere. The service here immediately made the experience start off strong. Everything was so fresh. The hot sake was delicious and certainly pure. My starters were great portions and filling as you can tell from the photos. I couldn't pick one, I started with three lol And my Tonkotsu Ramen was chef's kiss! This is my new absolute favorite Ramen spot in the area. I've traveled to Okinawa a couple of times and truly enjoy Ramen, and honestly, this location has the best tasting food that makes me feel like I'm right back. read more

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To be fair, it's closer to 3.5 or a little higher. There's nothing really wrong with the food here but there's nothing notable or exceptional. The restaurant is "cute," with neon, sushi cats, and TVs. Quiet when it's empty, loud when there are large tables. Both the tonkatsu and shoyu ramens tasted fine if a little too salty. Salt was, in fact, the primary flavor. The broths had nowhere near the richness and depth of flavor that should have been present. The noodles were appropriately bouncy and were well cooked. The appetizers were also just okay. It's hard to screw up edamame and they didn't. They were served hotter than usual which was actually very nice. The furikake fries are overrated. The fries themselves are good and beautifully crispy but that's due to the light coating of cornstarch or rice flour on the fries. That helps give them that extra boost. The furikake itself doesn't stick to the fries and just falls to the bottom of the dish, adding absolutely nothing to the fries. The restaurant seemed understaffed. The server did his level best but was spread too thin. All in all, decent food but Miso Ramen by the bus station is much better. read more

Gen Ramen - Shoyu Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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We decided to stop in and try a different Ramen place. The restaurant is clean, great ambience with sitting inside and out. The staff was very helpful in making selections and had great recommendations. We ordered a variety of things from the menu and everything came out fresh. The food was very good. We all had different things and kept trying to eat each other's because the variety was incredible. I would highly recommend stopping here. We will definitely be back. read more

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I think I just found my new favorite ramen spot! The vibe here is so good -- cozy, modern, and just the kind of place you actually want to sit and enjoy your food. I started with the CCR which is the crab meat over crispy rice and avocado and the edamame with black salt. It was so delicious that I almost forgot that I was here for ramen. I ordered the creamy chicken ramen bowl and when it came out I hit my happy dance. It was piping hot upon arrival, the broth was super flavorful, the noodles were cooked perfectly, and the chicken was spot on. The staff was really friendly and made sure I had everything I needed without hovering. I left full, happy, and already planning my next visit. read more

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One of my absolute favorite ramen spots in Raleigh! Their Tonkotsu Ramen is my go-to, along with their chicken & pork gyoza. The Creamy Chicken and Lemongrass Ramen are really good too. read more

Gen Ramen - Tonkotsu Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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I was super impressed with my bowl of ramen from this shop! I honestly didn't have high expectations, but they were certainly exceeded. It was the perfect size for a satisfying lunch on a chilly day. The broth had just the right consistency, and the noodles, meat, and vegetables all complemented it beautifully. Excellent customer service rounded out a truly great meal. read more

Been here twice and both times were a hit! Tonkotsu broth is rich, flavorful, and creamy. Spice levels are not as spicy as I expected but still delicious Th gyoza is outstanding - crispy on the bottom and soft on top. Ambiance is cute but a bit cramped in there. Overall great experience read more

Gen Ramen - Tonkotsu Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Our waiter was great and so was our food, the only issue I have is without warning the salad comes with a spicy mayo dressing. Which ended up making me uncomfortable and upsetting my stomach since I have reactions to certain spicy foods... I never thought it would be an issue with Salad. But will return with more advanced knowledge next time read more

Cute ramen spot in the vicinity of Raleigh. The ramen was good, broth had good flavor, noodles had good texture. Staff were very nice and we got our food quickly (when I went it was pretty late and there was only 1 other table occupied). The decor is cute too, there are anime memes on the wall. Not particularly stand out, but I liked this spot. read more

Gen Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Wonderful experience at Gen Ramen last night. Low key restaurant, nice vibe, great prices for high quality food. I had the eel rice bowl and my friend had a veggie bao bun appetizer and the vegan ramen, which looked fantastic and I think non-vegetarians would enjoy it just as much as anyone. My friend said it was great. Good service, relaxed atmosphere, great food and great prices. Just a note - if you've been here before and enjoyed their selection of sushi they are sadly not offering sushi anymore. The focus is on ramen and rice bowls, with a poke bowl offering and a few small sushi appetizers, as well as some tempura apps. Highly recommend this place but unfortunately, no more sushi - just great rice and noodle dishes. read more

Gen Ramen - Delicious rice bowl with broiled eel, seaweed salad, pickled ginger and salad. - Ramen Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

5/31 visit: My daughter and I had the taste for ramen but didn't want to travel too far out. We had been eyeballing this spot since we visited the taco spot a few months back. We decided to give it a try. It's a cute little spot with outdoor dining. We opted to eat inside. It's kid friendly, so no worries for us parents. The staff was awesome and friendly. Very helpful in answering our questions along with making suggestions and substitutions when allowed. Our server was on point with making sure our drinks were filled and our food didn't take long. It was fresh, hot and delicious. We ordered sushi, spring rolls, gyoza and 3 different ramen bowls. Nice size portions all around. Definitely will be back. read more

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The ambiance was definitely top tier, with a modern atmosphere and Japanese anime accents it was a nice tie into culture and modern decoration. Eric, our server, was amazing. Sat us promptly and was very knowledgeable about the menu and he gave us multiple recommendations. The karaage was good but it was a bit overpriced for only being 5 pieces of chicken. We also tried the bao buns one being marinated beef and the other pork belly, they were VERY GOOD and flavor packed. The tonkotsu was good and rich. I wasn't a fan of the noodles. They were a little too thin for what I normally expect ramen to be. My husband got the Miso and he finished the entire bowl. I would have preferred the noodles that were in the miso ramen, over the noodles I had. Overall, it's a good spot for ramen and not too expensive. Walked out with a $56 dollar bill after getting 3 appetizers, and two bowls of ramen. read more

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Now that I've frequented this ramen spot well over a dozen times, I feel even more confident in my 5 star review. Everything we've tried has been consistently excellent: the furikake fries, edamame (we added furikake seasoning), pork katsu bowl, and various types of ramen. The lemongrass vegan remains the standout favorite for me. It is perfectly delicious! The staff here are kind and attentive, and often remember my regular order and/or specific requests I always make (2 spicy mayos with the fries instead of ketchup). Remembering me and my order goes a long way in terms of my perspective on customer service! I drive from Wake Forest almost weekly for this ramen. That speaks volumes because I don't often leave my WF bubble. Haha! Keep up the great work, Gen Ramen chefs and staff!! And please consider opening a location in WF . read more

Gen Ramen - Lemongrass Vegan Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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So I really enjoyed this place. I only came for drink but ended up getting some appetizers as well. Let me first say that they are pretty clean there So that stood out right out the gate. They're decorations are awesome. They have a lot of anime decorations in the restaurant and I can appreciate that. It was super dope! Choya umeshu is sweet plum - This was a sweeter sake if you're into that. It has a very upbeat profile. I probably could not drink a bottle of it, but eating it with some salty food probably set it off. Sayuri nigori - This had more of the sake vibe that you would expect, not any of the sweet fillers. I thought it was good, it came with a bottle so you get plenty of it. Shrimp tempura - I thought that the portions were a little bit small but they were mighty though. I enjoyed the flavor of them. They were fried really well. Soft shell crab tempura - They had a really good texture to them, and they tasted really good. It would not be a go-to thing for me, but I was not upset at all that I got it! If I was in the area I would definitely come back. They actually have some good looking ramen there that I want to try, I didn't do ramen because I had already eaten though unfortunately. But, it is on my list! read more

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The Ramen was delicious, service was excellent, and there were lots of options with the staff being patient to explain each of them. We will definitely come back when in the area again! read more

Delicious ramen and sushi. Service was quick and friendly. Very large screen TVs, especially for the smaller space, so you can catch a game while eating. We like the convenience to Hops Beer Bar. read more

Love the ramen here! Everything is so delicious. Service is also really great. Staff is attentive. read more

Amazing ramen restaurant with great service . The ramen was hot and the flavor was on point. My family and I will definitely be back . read more

Gen Ramen - Tontokso ramen , creamy chicken ramen , spicy lime ramen . - Ramen Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Just fabulous- the soup base has such a full rich flavor, you can taste the hours they took in its creation. Easily the best ramen noodles ever. 6 stars. read more

Gen Ramen is one of the newest Ramen spot in Raleigh. Located off of Wake Forest Rd in Raleigh. Gen Ramen serves some mouth watering ramen. If Ramen is not your jam then they also serve sushi. I got the classic Tonkotsu Ramen. You can't go wrong with that. The broth was perfect and the pork was cooked tender. If you're looking for a Ramen in Raleigh then Gen Ramen is your spot!! read more

Gen Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

First time trying out this ramen spot. I got the vegan ramen and overall it was pretty flavorful. However it was definitely lacking in space/flavor. I also wish they had more vegetarian options. They had plenty of add on options but did feel like some were missing. Atmosphere was good and felt like a casual restaurant. I paid $16 for the ramen which felt like a lot for the quantity. The staff and service was great and they were able to seat us very quickly. Plenty of parking outside as well. Overall, this was a good ramen spot but I think it can still be improved. Looking forward to seeing how they may evolve over the next couple months/years. read more

Gen Ramen - Lemongrass Vegan Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Came back again for another round of that oh so delicious tonkotsu ramen of theirs and I don't know how they improved on it today! This time the soup was so unctuously delectable that I couldn't get enough of it so I did the next best thing. I ordered extra tamago, chasu and soba just so that I can savor the broth longer! Aside from the usual items we ordered we changed up and chose karaage from their izakaya menu. Just as good! You need to visit this place and sample their dishes. It is so good!! read more

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For my husband and I's first time trying a ramen restaurant, this was AMAZING! That creamy chicken broth... Omg! The service was incredible, super friendly staff. Loved the atmosphere, as well. Highly recommend! read more

Gen Ramen - Creamy Chicken Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

I hate writing bad reviews, I don't think it's a nice thing to do to restaurants, but I was brought it with the almost 5-star rating, and would like to weigh in. Chicken Karaage: overbrined dark meat was sort of mushy and slimy underneath a very nice crust. Gross. We didn't eat it. Chicken teriyaki: The chicken was smaller bites of the above, which was also gross. Good rice, good sauce, a bit overly sweet and over-dressed. Tonkotsu Ramen: 2.5-3 stars, mediocre broth. Nice pork, nice egg. Noodles were fine. Lacking depth of flavor and richness. Lastly, the menus are dirty, ragged, and need to be replaced. Sitting down and starting with those dirty napkin menus really set the stage for the rest of the meal. I liked our waiter. This is actually a 2-star review, I just don't want to be that much of a jerk to a place that could have been having an off-day, and I certainly won't be going back to test out that theory. read more

The tonkatsu ramen is what I had and it was 10/10. My wife says it's the best she's had.

Visited Gen Ramen for the first time recently and was wowed by their emphasis on quality ingredients and their ability to capture a delicate taste/texture. While these are both great, Gen also falls a bit short in a few areas, most notably their portion sizing and broth cohesion. Starting with the goods, Gen Ramen has phenomenal toppings. The tonkotsu ramen that I ordered had such a strong top layer. Everything from the pork belly down to the bok choy was great and fit together very nicely. The chashu bowl that we ordered was also fried incredibly delicately and has a great exterior texture while preserving the meaty interior. What I think Gen Ramen could do better is their broth cohesion with spice. When ordering the ramen, you are given the option for a spice level. I ordered a 2, and the chili oil kind of overpowered everything else I was eating. Instead of meshing into the broth, it kind of cloaked over it and prevented me from tasting the original broth flavors. *Personal preference section: I also feel like the portion sizing on the chashu bowl was a bit weird. I felt like there wasn't sufficient rice and salad to go with the pork belly. Also with ramen, I prefer a chewier noodle, and I felt like the noodles here were cooked a little too long for my preference. Pretty solid spot though and I'm excited to revisit in the future and see how this place evolves with time. read more

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We enjoyed our time here. The lemongrass ramen was very refreshing. The tofu was soft. I did think the ginger was kind of overpowering. The service was quick. They have local beer which was good as well! We also got the vegetarian gyoza. It was the best! My fiance really enjoyed his ramen as well. He loved the broth and completed it all! read more

Gen Ramen - Lemongrass Vegan Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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We were seated immediately on a Thursday night. The place is small but wasn't packed. Waiter immediately brought us water. We ordered seaweed salads to start. They were good -- cute presentation. I ordered the eel bowl for my entree and husband ordered the Tonkotsu Ramen. Spice level option for the ramen was 1-4. Waiter described the levels well and husband was pleased with his spice level 3. Eel bowl was tasty but not super exciting-- heavy on the rice, eel, a dab of seaweed salad and lettuce. Service was excellent and fast. Would probably try the sushi next time. read more

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I would say the rating is probably 3.5. There was nothing wrong with the meal per se but it was just a very forgettable meal. We got the chicken curry ramen, the spicy lime beef ramen and the chicken and veggie potstickers. Their potstickers made us think, we could have just made the potstickers at our house from Costco and they would have tasted the same. The spicy lime beef ramen had no personality, and that was our issue with the meal. Had I been blindfolded and given that bowl of ramen I would have said chicken ramen or some other common bowl of ramen. It was an average bowl of ramen with no defining flavors. I didn't try the chicken curry ramen but my fiance said the same abiut her flavors. They also had no dressings on the tables. No Sriracha, no soy sauce, no chili sauce, nothing. When I asked for chili sauce I was given chili oil. Overall for the price I would go to other ramen bats before coming back read more

Gen Ramen - Spicy beef lime ramen with extra pork chashu - Ramen Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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After a few attempts (bad timing on our part; they were closed) we were able to enjoy a dinner here. I ordered a poke bowl (Gen something) and my family had Tontosku, Spicy beef chili and creamy chicken ramen. All were amazing although I was surprised by the creamy chicken ramen...I think it was my favorite but all were good. So was my poke bowl! We ordered TCR as and app and it was also very good. Will be back! So glad we don't have to drive to downtown Raleigh for good Ramen! read more

Love this place ! Great staff recommendations . My favorite are the bao buns. Ramen was fantastic! read more

Gen Ramen - This was our second time here. The bao buns are my absolute favorite, everything is always so good! Great staff recommendations! - Ramen Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Incredible ramen! The tonkatsu broth was rich, creamy, and (upon asking for the grated garlic on top) incredibly garlicy. A person preference of course. The noodles were not what I was used to but still good! The star of the show was the CHASHU crispy, fatty, flavorful. Everything in my bowl was actual perfection, plus it was beautiful. read more

Gen Ramen - Tonkatsu ramen with chashu - Ramen Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Excellent selection menu options. I eat there often and every thing that I''ve eaten is delicious.

Gen Ramen has easily become one of our favorite restaurants in Raleigh. Cute interior, hidden in a strip mall. I think we've tried all the ramens at this point. The grilled steak ramen (RIP), the brisket ramen, the creamy chicken ramen, and the vegan lemongrass ramen. My husband orders it without the noodles and no one has ever made him feel weird about it. Finally got around to trying their nigiri and one of their apps. And 5/5. Each nigiri piece came with its own complimentary glaze or topping - the salmon had a lemony glaze with sesame seeds, which was to die for. The fresh was incredibly fresh and the rice was perfectly cooked and room temperature. The TCR app was incredible. Spicy tuna with some avocado and toppings on the most perfect crispy rice. I could eat it every day. Honestly, I could eat all of it every day! Service is so nice. We really enjoyed sitting at the counter and chatting with the staff. read more

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10/10. This place is perfect and hits every time. We always order the tonkotsu ramen and I get it level 4? 5? Whatever is the most spicy. The spice seems to be more flavorful than spicy. Takoyaki and softshell crab are fantastic as well! Cute and fun art on the walls and friendly and attentive staff! You need to try this place. read more

Gen Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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It's really a 3.5 but anyways I tried the curry ramen with a spice level of 2. It was pretty empty for a Monday evening. Food came out pretty quick and it was alright I've had better ramen. I think the curry sauce made it a little too thick to eat. Spice level was perfect but it was just ok. read more

Gen Ramen - Curry Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Totally hit the spot for our dinner search! Perfectly portioned ramen with good flavor. I'm picky with my ramen eggs and these were cooked perfectly. The Bao was the highlight though- some of the best I've ever had. Our waiter was very friendly and attentive to our table. We had a little bit of a wait for our food, but it came out hot which I can't complain about. There were plenty of seating options as well. The music choices were curious, but that's a minor detail. read more

Gen Ramen - Pork Belly Bao (1pc), Tonkotsu Ramen, Brisket Beef Bao (1pc) - Ramen Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Ramen was DELICIOUS. They allowed us to customize the Lemongrass Vegan Ramen! We wanted the flavor of the lemongrass combined with the pork belly and they were flexible with us. - Service: service was great and they were very attentive. - Ambiance: Vibe of the place was also chill - combination of modern Asian casual. - Parking: Plenty. - Prices: Pretty average read more

Gen Ramen - Lemongrass Vegan Ramen with Pork Belly - Ramen Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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Great food, great service. I love the location & also great ambiance. I recommend this place. read more

Gen Ramen - California Roll Rainbow Roll Tonkotsu Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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This was the BEST ramen I ever had! So flavorful, my first bite exploded on my taste buds 1000/10! The staff were extremely kind, friendly, communicative. They showed good knowledge of the menu as well, open to any questions. The establishment is very clean, smells great, great location overall. I would give more than 5 stars if I could! If you're looking for a great atmosphere and great food, this is the place! read more

Gen Ramen - Chicken curry ramen - Ramen Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina