Gonzo Ramen is literally the best restaurant to ever exist. Their atmosphere offers unique decor, not to mention they have the best food, and the employees there are really nice. I always enjoy dining there with my family because they have good food that we can all enjoy together. Every year for my birthday I go to Gonzo! I simply love eating at Gonzo. First of all, I can't get over how scrumptious their food is, it is so tasty and packed with flavor. If you stand in line to order, as soon as you sit down you will have already been served. I don't know how Gonzo prepares their meals so fast, yet so delicious. Also the fact that they cook their food fresh daily is crazy to me. I've been to many ramen restaurants and no one compares to Gonzo's. My go to on the menu is the tonkotsu ramen with gyoza and chicken karaage. Gonzo also offers a very unique atmosphere that makes you feel like you're in Japan. They have waving cats, a big banana neon light, posters and a floating ball on top of the water station. The ball is so cool but I am still puzzled on how it works. Their decor can not be matched. They also have a TV that is always playing Anime. You can also sit inside or outside so if you feel like sitting inside, sit inside but if you want to sit outside, sit outside. Gonzo also does not offer reservations so there is always a place to sit. If there is nowhere to sit just get It to go, truly there is no other ramen stop better than Gonzo. Lastly, the people there are super nice, and always check up on you, they are very polite, and they always say your welcome. While you wait, you can enjoy your appetizers until your main meal arrives. Also if you ask them for a free ticket to their store, they will give you one, each member of the family gets one. You can go next door and trade them in for tokens, these tokens can be used to play claw machines so you can win stuff. But what tops that off is that all of the employees are welcoming and happy. Gonzo Ramen is the best restaurant in the world. They offer good food, an amazing atmosphere and the people there are super nice not to mention the location is very conveniently located near my house. I seriously think about Gonzo all the time. Gonzo is that go to place for me and my family. read more

GONZO! - Ramen Near Me - Carlsbad, California

I wasn't sure if this place would be overhyped, but it was genuinely so good! The ramen was so flavorful, and filling. By the way - the spicy is not too spicy read more

GONZO! - Gonzo Red Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Carlsbad, California

I recently tried Gonzo with my boyfriend, and overall it was a good experience! The restaurant has a fun atmosphere with unique decor, and the staff was friendly and attentive. The food came out quickly, and everything looked fresh and well prepared. I'm a pretty picky eater, so ramen just wasn't really for me, which definitely affected my experience. My boyfriend, on the other hand, absolutely loved his meal and would definitely come back. Even though it wasn't my favorite personally, I could tell the quality was there, and I can understand why so many people enjoy this place. read more

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Liked the look of this place as soon as I came in the decor was like china town feel They to our order right away and made sure we had everything we needed The food was exellent for all of you ramen lovers and the presentation was exemplary I also had a hazy ipa enjoy.... read more

GONZO! - Ramen Near Me - Carlsbad, California

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We have seen this place before and finally got a chance to come. We all got a ramen and gyoza. The Gyoza was half chicken and half pork and it was delicious. My ramen was the spicy tonkotsu and it had great flavor without being too spicey. The vibe here is awesome and the decor is pretty dope. The service was amazing and they even had the entire staff come out to sing happy birthday to me. Seriously, these guys went above and beyond to make our experience special and we cannot wait to come back. read more

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Offering a menu of ramen and rice bowls, GONZO! freshly prepared my pickup order very quickly after I ordered in person. AMBIANCE The indoor space pays homage to Japan with paper lanterns, anime figurines. There's also plenty of covered outdoor seats. FOOD 5/5 Chicken Karaage: freshly fried, crisp, flavorful served w a lemon wedge and mayo read more

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GONZO! is located in one of my favorite little areas of Carlsbad. There was a line to order, but I liked how they get a table ready for you so you have somewhere to sit down after you do order. While we both really enjoyed our ramen from here, it was also, I'm sad to say, not very memorable. The chashu pieces were very good, but the broths were really lacking in flavor (especially the black garlic). I would be happy to come back and eat here again, but it's one of those places that I would forget about if I didn't have pictures, ya know? read more

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Very yummy spot, one of the only ramen spots my partner goes to. The staff is friendly and I love the order at the counter set up. They have live music on certain dates and expanded seating. read more

GONZO! - Deep fried chicken thighs with the spicy upgrade. - Ramen Near Me - Carlsbad, California

Wow I was impressed by the ramen here! The broth was particularly tasty and the noodles tasted super authentic. The location of the restaurant was also a plus because you're close to a lot of cool shops and other things to do in Carlsbad :) I would definitely recommend coming here! read more

GONZO! - Tonkotsu Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Carlsbad, California

I feel so inclined to give this little gem 5 stars! Atmosphere is adorable, I especially love the wood interior with the hanging lanterns, great vibes here. Service is fantastic, the workers are all so friendly and seem to like what they're doing. Brought my daughter for her birthday and asked if they did anything special for the occasion, in which they brought her out some ice cream and all sang happy birthday with us, now that's impressive! Not everyone does that these days. Our ramen was good, but...I ordered the vegetarian and I don't care much for the vegetable broth, I wish I knew before I ordered that they had miso both, that would have been my choice. Love that they have gluten free noodles, would like it if there was a choice to put some broccolini on top, however it was still really good, can't wait to come back and would totally recommend to my friends who are looking for a good ramen house. read more

GONZO! - Ramen Near Me - Carlsbad, California

A fantastic experience. Gonzo kept showing up on my yelp feed when I was searching for some eats after a long day at Legoland. So we made the trip there. It's a lovely decor, massive size and quite busy at 8pm at night on a weekday. It's a great place to hang with friends. I really like how they do seating. You queue up for an order at cashier first and the staff then finds you a suitable place to sit. Lots of art and posters on the wall to look at while waiting for the ramen to come out. The service was quick and efficient. The ramen was legit good. Was skeptical of the name, but he food was good. They also have a full bar/lounge area and al fresco dining on the patio outside. It's a great spot, next time I'm in town, I'll definitely check it out. Really liked the downtown area at night. Seems lively and a good place to hang. The tonkatsu was really yummy, rice broth, I drank the whole bowl. Great char siu, good flavor. read more

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I gotta say the food was amazing , would have given 5 stars just for that. On top of that the guys here were super cool ! They took great care of my family and I. Already planning on stopping by my next we drive though of the area . read more

This is by far my favorite ramen in north county. I was excited when it first opened because the reviews were fantastic. They didn't lie. I've been quite a bit over the years so I'm surprised I haven't reviewed yet. I've actually been craving it for a while now but don't get to down to the village that often. I was visiting a friend last night and knew what I wanted after. The parking last night was awful. They have changed a lot of spots to 20 minutes in the parking lot for the mall. It was more like a summer night down there than March so we had to park a few blocks away. There was no line when we ordered and there was plenty of seating. We sat outside in the covered area. It was a bit breezy due to the Santa Ana's but it was still pleasant. I got the black garlic, one friend got the spicy red and another just got the plain tonkasu. We all enjoyed our ramen. The staff checked regularly to make sure we were enjoying our meal and to see if we needed anything. Will definitely be back the next time I crave ramen read more

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If you're looking for a ramen spot that actually delivers on the "depth of flavor" promise, Gonzo! is it. I went for the Tonkotsu, and the broth was easily some of the best I've ever had--perfectly creamy and rich without being an absolute salt lick. It's loaded with all the essentials: plenty of noodles, tender pork, kikurage mushrooms, and an egg with that perfect jammy yolk. The vibe is chill; you order at the counter and grab a seat wherever. I tucked into a cozy two-seater outside in the corner, which was the ultimate spot for a solo lunch. Pro tip: Even if the bar isn't open, check the fridge! I grabbed a Junmai Ginjo sake that paired beautifully with the ramen. Simple, delicious, and a must-visit. read more

GONZO! - Tonkotsu Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Carlsbad, California

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Found this place after a long day at Legoland. You order first and then you sit down. The line was long but it went by pretty fast and we got seated pretty fast too. Everything we had was good. The karage, dumplings and the ramen was perfect temperature. Noodles were amazing ! Good service. Enjoyed it and will Def return when I'm in the area. read more

Always heard great things about this place and it did not disappoint! Got the Gonzo black ramen and the flavor of the broth was really good. I was impressed by how tender the pork belly meat was- it was definitely the star of the bowl. The noodles were also cooked well. There's plenty of outdoor seating here and some indoor seating. It's located on the second floor of the Carlsbad village plaza. The bowls came out really fast too. The bowl was $21 with tax which I felt was a bit steep for the serving size, but overall still enjoyed my time here!! read more

GONZO! - Ramen Near Me - Carlsbad, California

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Pretty good ramen! Fun ambiance. Husband and I both ordered the black garlic ramen and it was delicious, a *tad* strong of a garlic taste but that could be personal preference. The broth was rich and the noodles were flavorful as well as the other toppings. I love that they have a kids ramen too which my daughter enjoyed. The spicy edamame appetizer was just okay though, it was a bit bland and lacked that chili kick. Fast and friendly service, we had a good time walking around the shopping center afterwards. Be sure to check out their store as well (same shopping center but just a walk over), to get a fun taste of Japanese culture and unique goodies! read more

GONZO! - Kids ramen - Ramen Near Me - Carlsbad, California

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It's really too bad when people become greedy because the quality and service always suffers. Unfortunately, that's what's happening at Gonzo. We used to love coming here but prices are absurd for a bowl of noodles. It's practically $100 just for two people to eat here, which is sad. I realize everything is expensive right now, but ethical business practices like this just push local consumers to other venues. Oh well. C'est la vie. read more

GONZO! is a restaurant tucked away in a mini plaza with plenty of parking spaces nearby. I arrived at the restaurant for a late lunch on a Wednesday around 2pm and nobody else was dining in the restaurant at the time. The restaurant takes orders at the counter register (in addition to selling snacks available on the shelves) and brings your order to your table. The inside of the restaurant features Japanese and punk-inspired décor which is interesting to look at while waiting for your order. I ordered the Gonzo Black with black garlic oil over tonkotsu ramen since I tend to order black garlic ramen whenever I see it on a ramen menu; I did not request to make it spicy and did not make any customizations. The food arrived in less than ten minutes and was very hot. After cooling down for a few minutes, I started off with the broth which I thought was prepared very well. I liked that there were two large pieces of pork chashu, both of which had a good amount of meat (I don't like when chashu has a large amount of fat that dominates over the meat). The thin egg noodles were a bit firm for my liking, though I thought the egg was cooked well with a nice orange yolk. Overall, I enjoyed the Gonzo Black ramen though I felt something was lacking. The décor of the restaurant makes it stand out relative to other ramen restaurants, however it makes me question the authenticity of the menu; the posters and memorabilia make it seem like the restaurant is trying really hard to come off as a Japanese ramen restaurant. Regardless, my meal was enjoyable and filling though I would like to explore other ramen options in the area for comparison. read more

GONZO! - Gonzo Black with black garlic oil over tonkotsu ramen - Ramen Near Me - Carlsbad, California

Great vibe, ok ramen, great karrage chicken, soggy pork belly fries. --- It's busy here, but they help you find seats. They ran out of high chairs, so I had had to hold my kiddo while eating. Fun... F O O D Ramen was subpar. We got the black garlic ramen and I didn't taste any black garlic. Nothing about the broth stood out to me. This feels more like the place you come to hang out and have a good time, but don't pay so much attention to the quality of food. Karrage chicken was good. Crispy, moist chicken dark meat. Adageshi tofu was good, but the amount was so small. $7.50 for what felt like 10 square pieces of tofu stacked on top of one another in ponzu sauce. My kiddo disliked the ponzu sauce. Tofu was rolled in tapioca starch and deep fried. Good I'm concept, but soggy with ponzu. And way too much ponzu sauce. D R I N K S Jarritos for $4.75 is overpriced. read more

Ramen? Yassss ma'am! Popped over to Gonzo ordered a spicy bowl and gyoza Sat outsude to enjoy the day plenty of tables outside for some people watching and enjoying the beautiful day. Food arrived quickly and brought to our table it was sooo good! It was not spicy hot at all but had a good flavor. I would totally give it a try. Parking can get tight but just find a spot n try this place out. read more

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Best ramen we have had in California in a while. Usually it's noodles or meat but I thought both were good here and there was no boar taint which I'm super sensitive to. We ordered drinks from the bar and carried them over to the ramen side. Bartender was legit like my obasan. As a comparison we have been to many, many ramen places in Japan. read more

GONZO! - Ramen Near Me - Carlsbad, California

Ramen is amazingly good and atmosphere is really great as well. One of the best places to go for food in Carlsbad.

Came here with my family to try their ramen. I tried the tonkatsu ramen. The flavor/ broth was delicious. Some places are too salty and you leave feeling dehydrated and needing more water-- this place was totally opposite of that. It hit the spot! They have both indoor and outdoor seating. You stand in line to place your order, and then choose your seats. Water is self served. The employees here are very friendly. My nephew is an extrovert and happily told an employee he finished all his food! The employee gave him knuckles and it made my nephews day (sorry I didn't catch his name). Thank you Gonzo! For a lovely dining experience. read more

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Small menu, big flavor. Service was fast and the ambiance was so fun! They have a tiny little store inside with trinkets and knickknacks. And boy do they serve absolutely delicious ramen. I was floored with the flavor that shone through my vegan bowl, the tofu was soft and delicious, the mushrooms were absolutely stellar, and the noodles were green!! The spicy ramens were so good too, i grabbed a taste. They have various sodas but also a free water machine. The parking is tuff but it's a beach town so youll have that issue anywhere. The lot next to it is 90max until 6pm. read more

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...a Valentine's Day promise... Valentine's Day with a party of 9 is usually a recipe for chaos. I called and spoke with Nick and asked, politely, if they could accommodate a group of nine even though it was Valentine's Day. No hesitation. Nick said yes. Deal. We drove over with hope in our hearts and ramen on our minds. When we pulled up, the parking lot was busy and the main strip was full of happy people. Of course there was a line. No problem. That is the price of a place people actually want to eat at. Parking felt decent too, even with a full-size SUV or truck. While we were waiting in line, there was plenty to look at so it did not feel like dead time. Up front you see Japanese canned drinks, a few candies, merch, and little novelties that make the place feel like more than just a ramen stop. It is also family-friendly, with seating inside and outside, plus a bar area if you want to lean into the night. Waiting outside and then stepping into Gonzo felt like walking into a little pocket of Japan. The decor is playful and immersive, and the music had energy. At one point I caught rock-style tracks cutting through the room, and it matched the vibe: loud, fun, and confident. Here is the part that mattered most: Nick remembered us. He handed us menus, recognized we were the party of 9, and honored his word. We showed up within the 30 minutes we promised, and he had the table ready. That kind of ownership is rare, especially on a holiday. Respect. In my opinion, this is how it works here: you walk up, wait in line, think about what you are going to eat, and you pay first. Then you grab an open table. I could be wrong, but just from observation it looked like payment came before seating. After that, you eat, you are merry, you sip a drink, and then you head out happy. Even though the line looked long when we arrived, by the time we paid we had a table ready and reserved for us. That made the whole experience feel smooth instead of stressful. There are plenty of tables for smaller groups too, especially 2-4 tops, so I can see this being an easy spot for a casual lunch or a quick dinner. Also, the teamwork here is real. From what I could see, different people brought out food and different people bused our table as needed. Nobody acted lost, nobody disappeared, and service stayed fast the whole time. That kind of coordination matters when the place is busy. Now the food. I ordered the Gonzo! Black and it was exactly the kind of bowl that resets your mood. It is black garlic oil over tonkotsu ramen with red ginger, and if you love garlic, this is your lane. The tonkotsu was genuinely melt-in-your-mouth, rich without feeling heavy, and the black garlic came in deep and bold. Fair warning: there is a slight bitterness, but it works. The real magic for me was the black garlic + red ginger together. My palate basically exploded with flavor. It tasted like someone took comfort food and gave it edge. And honestly, for me, this was exactly what I needed. I left feeling refreshed. We also tried the katsu curry karaage, and this is one of those staple signature dishes where you think, how can you mess it up? They did not mess it up here. The curry tasted full of flavor and spices, then boom, a slight burst of spiciness that lingers just right. Crispy, satisfying, and the kind of item you keep stealing bites of "just to taste" until it is suddenly gone. One more thing: I live over 30 miles away (one way), and I would still come back. I would even come back on a truly slammed day, because the service and the food both earned it. If you want a ramen spot that feels lively, treats a big group with respect, and delivers real flavor, put this place on your list. read more

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Omg so cute in here! Loved the red lanterns and outdoor seating- so perfect for Carlsbad weather. We bought quite a bit from here and everything was so delicious and perfectly crafted. I would've liked my ramen with more broth but my husband and mom loved theirs so I guess it was just me. You can order extra broth on the side, which is what I'd do next time. Friendly service, fast and quick to attend your needs. Loved how clean everything looked too. We had a great experience. read more

GONZO! - Gonzo Red ramen - Ramen Near Me - Carlsbad, California

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Decent ramen with a good happy hour deal on drinks! The service is top notch and our orders came out quick Ordered the Gonzo black and was pleasantly surprised by how deep the broth tasted. Unfortunately, the karaage was soggy and not very good. The service and the happy hour deals made up for the karaage and we really enjoyed the interior decor and knick-knacks Cheers, Gonzo! read more

GONZO! - Ramen Near Me - Carlsbad, California

Ate at Gonzo! in Carlsbad and WOW. The Gonzo Red Ramen was insanely flavorful--the broth was rich and comforting, the chashu pork was melt-in-your-mouth tender, the eggs were perfectly soft-boiled, and the noodles had a great chewy bite. The Pork Belly Fries were also a hit: hot, crunchy fries topped with a bold, curry-forward sauce, tender pork belly, and green onions. Everything tasted fresh and cooked to order. On top of the amazing food, the staff was very friendly and helpful, which made the experience even better. Easily one of the best ramen meals I've had--highly recommend! read more

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If I'm coming here, I already know my order. The black garlic ramen. Every time. It's rich, comforting, and hits the spot without me needing to drive out of town. Perfect stay-local ramen! Indoor seating is very limited but they've got more seating outside, which works just fine. Staff is always nice and accommodating. Solid, cute little spot when you want really good ramen without making a whole trip out of it. Would happily keep coming back! read more

GONZO! - Black Garlic Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Carlsbad, California

It's a rainy day...so what comes to mind? Some yummy creamy hot ramen! If you ask me, GONZO! is the perrrfect place to go to and of course not only on rainy days but whenever you're in the mood for Japanese food. I've been to this hot spot a few times and the ramen has been A-M-A-ZING. The flavors are always authentic and poppin'. My go-to is the GONZO! Red. I just looove spice in my life. The atmosphere is laidback...the lanterns add a niiice touch. The service is super quick....the staff is definitely on it. Ya'll gotta go to Gonzo!! read more

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One of the best parts about this restaurant is that they were playing One Piece on the tv...so you know the vibes. They are also SUPER fast with the service, which we appreciated. We got the Gonzo Black and the Gonzo Green (added black garlic sauce). We loved the firmness of the noodles and the black garlic made the broth so good! The veggie gyoza was a unique flavor--tasted like it had curry seasoning inside. The garlic edamame was fine but definitely under seasoned. It could have used more of the sauce for sure. We would come back here! read more

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It was a long day at Legoland and we wanted something comforting and delicious, Gonzo delivered! They had a line out the door but it moved quickly. (staff was very welcoming helping us get tables while we waited in line) The menu looked amazing and we wanted to try everything but obviously couldn't so that's why we came back the next night! Everything we ordered was very flavorful and kid approved. (Our son was the one who actually asked to come back) The appetizers came out quick and it was lovel at first bite. (calamari and Brussel sprouts) We knew we would love whatever was coming after. We had four different types of Ramen and a rice bowl and they were good to the very last drop. This place is booked marked for our next trip to Carlsbad. See you guys soon! read more

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It's located in a nice little shopping center in downtown Carlsbad near the beach. You order at the front and then they will bring you your order. I had the black gonzo ramen. It was so good! The broth alone was yummy, but pork chashu had nice flavor to it. I will definitely visit again if I'm up in the area. read more

GONZO! - Black Gonzo Tonkotsu Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Carlsbad, California

I was looking for a place to eat after Legoland, and had this place bookmarked to try, so decided to give it a try. We got there on a Sunday around 6:30/7. There was a line out the door, and all the tables were full. At first, I was tempted to leave, but glad I waited it out. The line moved quickly, and since people are just eating ramen, the tables free up quickly. You line up, order at the counter, pay, and they seat you at a table, so you actually can't hog a table before ordering. The food came out quickly. I had the black garlic ramen, and ordered kids ramen for my two kids. I also ordered a side of chicken karaage. The ramen was solid, and I love that there was a kid's option. By the time we were done eating, there was no line. I guess we hit a rush. Regardless, don't let the line scare you. It goes fast, and the service there is very efficient. I would definitely recommend this place if you are in the area. read more

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Ok...keep in mind I'm very passionate about my ramen. It's one of my favorite meals so I'm very particular. I don't understand the hype. When I first discovered this place I didn't think it would be very good. I came across their ratings and was enticed to try it since they ranked so high a few years ago. Sweet: We ordered the black garlic tonkotsu. That is my automatic choice at any ramen restaurant. The noodles were good. They were thick and a little chewy which is my preference for ramen noodles. The broth had good flavor if I had just ordered tonkotsu. I liked that they served a variety of Japanese sodas and alcoholic canned beverages. The location of the restaurant is good. Decent steering inside and outside. It's counter service which makes it easy and fast. Sour: I had high hopes with the high rankings. Had I have not known the #2 in California and #20 in the US I may have given a better rating. But I wasn't that impressed overall. The chashu was thick and dry. I wish the egg was marinated. The black garlic tonkotsu did not have any black garlic flavor. It was just tonkotsu. Overall it wasn't bad id go again if it was in the area but it's a top 100 ramen spot on my opinion. read more

GONZO! - Inside - Ramen Near Me - Carlsbad, California

Service was ok, you order before you find yourself a seat at the register. Ambiance was ok. The ramen was pretty tasty. The noodles were on the firmer side which I enjoy. I got the spicy miso but it wasn't spicy at all. I also tried the gyoza, it came out fried and I prefer steamed but it was tasty. read more

GONZO! - Red Miso Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Carlsbad, California

Came in with hungry kids after a long day out and about. Items ordered Tonkatsu ramen x2- Kids really enjoyed this and I love the size and texture of their noodles. Chicken karaage- perfect appetizer and seasoned perfectly Gyoza- inside was still cold so this was not cooked long enough Black garlic ramen- Was just okay. We prefer the tonkatsu Red Ramen- Liked the ingredients and little spice. Cucumber salad- Just ok but good sized appetizer As busy as they get, staff work quickly and are very nice. Now that they have expanded, they have more seating. Restaurant has plenty of outdoor seating. read more

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Food was good. Service excellent. Great patio seating. And I suppose the cost was appropriate for the area but we spent well over $100 for a family of 4 to eat. No restroom at this place but it's in a shopping center that has one, you just need the code to get in. It's decent ramen and a fun vibe but I don't think I'd spend that much again. read more

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Great ramon and super helpful staff. This was our first time at Gonzo. We read the reviews and made a plan to go. I had Red Ramon, my daughter had Black Ramon any my wife had Pork Karrage very tasty entrees, wow. We shared Spicy Edamame. The restaurant had a variety of indoor and outdoor seating options and a cool vibe inside, I.e. great ambiance. We enjoyed lunch, it was a great feast. We will be back!! read more

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