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    Hotaru

    4.3 (204 reviews)
    ModerateRamen
    Closed 11:00 am - 2:30 pm, 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM

    Hotaru Photos

    HOTARU ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Quiet
    Casual
    Good for groups
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - Hotaru

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    Reviews With Photos

    Samantha G.

    If you're on the hunt for a reliable Japanese comfort-meal, Hotaru is a standout in Novi. Despite its smaller size, there was a steady flow of customers, which is always a good sign. I was seated quickly and my food arrived quickly. I ordered the Chick-Chick Ramen. It was a huge portion, delicious, and came with a house salad with ginger dressing. The staff were friendly and the service was efficient. I am looking forward to my next visit!

    Bulgogi Don
    Cristin G.

    Consistent, delicious, quick service and generous portion sizes. Next time I will visit for lunch so I can get a katsu bento box

    Shrimp tempura
    Mckenna B.

    Great dinner spot! My girlfriend always raves that this is the best ramen in the area. I got the shrimp tempura and it was amazing. My only complaint is that they don't offer non meat based broths- I am pescatarian and can't participate in this love for the ramen- which looks amazing! The menu offers little else for non meat eaters. But the service was very quick and kind and the restaurant is cozy. The menu is also adorable with the illustrated pictures of the menu options.

    Spicy Seafood Ramen
    Chiara N.

    YUM. Hotaru has the best ramen in Novi. My sister and I came on a Friday evening around 6pm and it was packed! They have a waitlist system where you write your name and number and they call you when your table is ready. We only waited about 10 minutes when our table was ready. The service here is so sweet and efficient, always welcoming you in and saying goodbye when you leave. Ambiance is cozy and intimate. They give you a small salad with your ramen that's delicious and keeps you munching while you wait for your ramen (which came quickly!). The ramen is so delicious, I enjoyed the spicy seafood ramen for the first time and will be ordering it again! Portions are perfect. I love to recommend this place to anyone in the area.

    Children's bowl
    Olivia Y.

    We stopped by for lunch on a Monday after landing at DTW on our way home to GR. The lunch specials here are amazing. Sometimes lunch specials mean portions are smaller than dinner -'it did not feel that way here! So much delicious food included in the bulgogi bento box and my spouse got the ramen combo lunch and did not feel like his ramen was too small. We loved the ginger salad dressing, the fried foods were perfection! Bulgogi was tender and flavorful. The staff were so friendly and kind! They even brought out a children's bowl for my toddler! No changing table in the bathroom but ample space to change a baby or use the little dresser as a makeshift table. We will definitely be back when in the area.

    Chicken curry
    Claire C.

    For sure one of the best ramen places in metro Detroit! Lots of ramen and entree options, solid ginger salad and miso soup. The chicken curry and chicken ramen were amazing. The chicken ramen has a creamier and rich broth usually associated with pork based broths. I was surprised at how good the chicken broth was. We were pleased with the service as well, the food came quick and we were checked on multiple times during the meal. It was busy but there were still a few tables open on a Saturday for dinner. Both servers we had were super nice, one of cooks in the back yelled thank you every time a table left. They seem to genuinely care about the experience.

    Chick-Chick Ramen
    Ranyia T.

    This is small place but very clean. The staff is nice and friendly. We had the gyoza they were good but have had better. The skin was very nice and crisp that was the best part the pork inside was ok it needed something. We also had the Chick-Chick Ramen and Champon Ramen. The Chick-Chick was very good the broth was amazing. The Champon was humongous it was very hot and epic which I really liked the seafood was cooked well. I would have preferred the better scallops than the ones in it were minuscule and I didn't like I had to the tails off the shrimp in the soup. The salad was good the dressing was great.

    Chicken katsu curry and the Chick chick ramen
    Aliya S.

    I just want to update my review based on my recent visit that this time the ramen wasn't as good as it seemed the first time. It was okay, it was lacking flavor. I even got the chili oil to make it spicy and the oil was not really spicy at all either. So I don't recommend adding the oil. Their chicken katsu curry is delicious though! And the service is always very nice.

    shrimp shumai, chicken karaage
    Mara S.

    Every time we go to Hotaru it's a great experience. The lunch menu has bento boxes and mini ramens which is very unique and it's the perfect amount of food for a quick work lunch break. Everything is well prepared and the service is always excellent. We keep coming back every month so that should tell you enough about the quality.

    Tonkotsu Ramen
    Trinity F.

    Best ramen I've had in Michigan so far. I ordered the Tonkotsu Ramen and the broth was rich, flavorful, and buttery. This flavor was something I had not tasted in over 10 years.. it reminded me of a ramen restaurant I loved going to with my grandma in China when I was a kid. I also had a taste of the Asari Ramen, which was also delicious. The clams tasted fresh and the broth wasn't overpowering, it complimented the dish well. The service was also excellent, the waiters were very considerate. The space is decorated well, I find the artwork really cute!

    dinner menu - Mar 2024
    Tiffany S.

    Was in the area and am grateful that Yelp & Yelpers led me to this DELICIOUS spot. From now on, if I'm craving ramen, I will make the drive to Hotaru. It's that legit! We had the: *Agedashi - if you haven't had agedashi tofu before, it's awesome and so simple. Lightly fried soft tofu in a dashi sauce. Theirs was lovely! *Shoyu Ramen (soy sauced-based chicken broth with Chashu pork, vegetables, fish cake, and egg) - Probably the best bowl of ramen I've had in Michigan. The shoyu broth was perfectly balanced. The ramen noodles were cooked to the perfect texture (slightly al dente/QQ). The veggies it came with was corn, bean sprout, which is pretty standard so nothing too different. I asked for extra chashu which was a $3 upcharge - pretty reasonable! *Pork Katsu Curry (deep fried breaded pork with beef curry over rice) - Tasty, but not as special as the shoyu ramen was! Love how quick, efficient the servers were. Also, lots of people were ordering the champong ramen so I'll have to come back to try that!

    Chicken katsu ramen
    Chloe K.

    The food was fresh and delicious. The restaurant was packed with people but didn't have to wait for a table. Definitely will be coming back!

    Christian C.

    Haven't had ramen in ages when I decided to drop in to Hotaru. Servers quickly seated me and brought water and a menu. They were pretty busy but the servers were moving and quickly! The menu offered a wide variety of Ramen choices, appetizers, a drinks. I ended up going either the spicy miso ramen and it was delicious! The ginger salad was tasty as well. I'm always fighting for my life trying to use chopsticks but I'm slowly getting better so it wasn't too much of a struggle with the ramen. Pretty solid spot!

    Spicy pork bento! Try it!

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    3 months ago

    Best tea and curry rice very nice experience and very well an excellent service I will be coming back

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    1 year ago

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    8 months ago

    Terrible I ordered take out they forgot the meat in my ramen and didn't give me my shrimp tempura. I called them over 10 times no answer

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    5 months ago

    I have tried so many ramen places. Every time I come here I leave looking forward to the next time I can come. This place is the BEST.

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    Ask the Community - Hotaru

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    Hotaru - ramen - Updated May 2026

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