Very flavorful and large portions! Quick and thoughtful service. The interior is nice and overall comfortable ambiance. read more

Ippudo Berkeley - KARAKA SPICY (DD) and AIOLI CHIPS (DD) - Ramen Near Me - Berkeley, California

This is my favorite ramen spot in Berkeley. To me it's better than Marufuku which is also a great ramen spot. The spicy tuna roll is always fresh and the toppings from the mango salsa and spicy tuna on top makes this roll a real treat. The service is amazing. The atmosphere is aesthetically pleasing, clean and provides the perfect setting for a lunch, date night or evening dinner. The ramens broth has a depth of flavor, noodles are perfectly cooked the toppings pair well. I love love Ippudo! read more

See all

This place is good but they increased the price last fall which was unfortunate. I loved their karaage and it used to be around $6-7 and now it's $12-13. Their ramen is great but I think the broth lacks a little depth compared to Marafuku. The portions are also kind of small and I wish they gave more noodles. Ever since they changed their menu and increased the prices, they took out a lot of the toppings that had initially been in the Tonkatsu Ramen and still increased the price. However, I do love their thick noodles and how they offer it in more dishes compared to Marafuku. Their karaage is amazing and so juicy probably one of the best that I've had! The cucumber appetizer was also pretty good and very refreshing. Loved this place a lot but probably will be frequenting Marafuku more since the prices are much more reasonable. read more

See all

Even better this time around! The char on the eggplant in the nirvana classic is fantastic and the crunch on the veggies in the veggie bun made me want five more. read more

See all

Ippudo seemed like a popular ramen place in Berkeley, so I wanted to try it out. We came around 8:30pm and luckily got seated right away. We ordered a pork bun and two Karaka spicy ramen. The pork bun came out quickly and was tasty! It took a while for the ramen to come out. One of the bowls came out first, and it felt like a good 5-7 mins passed by before the 2nd bowl came out and we had to ask our server about it. I was disappointed that my soup was lukewarm. It must have been sitting there for a while before they brought it out. The broth was salty and there was nothing special about the ramen. read more

Ippudo Berkeley - Ramen Near Me - Berkeley, California

See all

It is really sad for me to write this review as a regular (i frequent at least once a month with friends/family on average) but the restaurant has lost its friendly, warm service vibes over time and has become more commercial and business-y. Perhaps it has to do with more locations popping up. Might still recommend to people in the future but probably won't go anymore myself. Had this pretty bad service / experience -- 1. They charge $5 each for hot tea (without telling you, because they just ask if you want tea or iced water) It turns out to be just a maeda-en tea bag, and we did not taste the tea flavor. I am not saying I feel entitled to hot tea on the house at every Asian restaurant but at least (i) let customers know they will be charged and (ii) serve real tea if we are charged for it. 2. Server kept asking if we wanted to order more after we said we are good...? Repeatedly asked if want more appetizers, drinks, sides etc. 3. Served us two akamaru and tried to tell us that was what we ordered, but we specifically said we wanted one Shiromaru and one akamaru XD (i guess it might be because akamaru is +$1, but we just wanted to try both flavors) Was also pretty rude about it, lowkey gaslighting us... don't remember the last time I experienced this... read more

See all

I had the Karaka Spicy ramen that comes with its spicy karaka paste at the core, embraced by aromatic garlic oil and a luscious tonkotsu broth, which made an unforgettable impact. The blend of flavors in the Karaka Spicy ramen was nothing short of captivating. The paste's heat provided a satisfying kick, complemented perfectly by the depth brought in by the garlic oil. The tonkotsu broth, a hallmark of IPPUDO's expertise, added a rich and flavorful dimension to the ensemble. read more

Ippudo Berkeley - Karaka Spicy ramen - Ramen Near Me - Berkeley, California

Came here on Saturday around 1pm and got seated right away. My favorite are the pork buns! They're so flavorful and we get them every time. read more

Ippudo Berkeley - Akamaru modern - Ramen Near Me - Berkeley, California

This once was my favorite ramen spot, and the service is always really great and it's easy to get into. I used to come just for the vegetable bao buns as it's one of the only spots that offers them, but I think they recently change the recipe or something as last time we had it, it was disappointing. read more

I have a relative in from AZ. My treat to him is to go on a culinary exploration with him. This was our choice for night #2. Night #1 was soup dumplings. We wanted the best ramen in the East Bay. We decided to try Ippudo. What a great Idea that was! 1. Ramen is all about the broth. I had the miso ramen with Treasures (a la carte - a set of several toppings) my partner had the classic and my AZ guest has the spicy one! Classic's broth -tasty but bland. Likely the best for kids and those who don't want spice. Mine was perfect but the broth was too salty for me to drink. The others tastes my broth and said it was fine. (I think it's because I don't use a lot of salt in my cooking due to high BP). Best of all - all the broths were really delicious. 2. Ramen has to have noodles cooked just right. Perfect noodles - slightly Al dente which is perfect. Nobody else does this!!!! 3. The toppings have to be good quality. And they were excellent. Especially the marinated Tamago egg. Mine was jammy inside. Now everyone wants it on their home ramen. I now have homework. 4. Service - excellent!!! 5. Esthetics - I was impressed with the dishes. Real ceramics and tasteful - not cheap. One was chipped but it's hard to tell. Hope they find it and either sand it down or throw it out. Takes away from perfection. Loved the decor on the walls. Recommendations: order the Treasures - it is worth it. Dunk them all (except the nori) into the broth immediately because they are cold. Yes it is expensive ramen, but once you taste it, you will understand. It's a notch above the usual and it is very authentic - native Japanese will be happy. read more

See all

I rarely go out to eat dishes that are soup based, but I will not hesitate to come to Ippudo lol. I wasn't really a fan of ramen, because I don't like eating soup-based dishes like hot pot etc, but the first time my friend brought me here, it changed everything! Whenever I'm craving something warm and it's cold out, I immediately think of Ippudo. I like the Karaka Spicy with tamago. The broth is flavorful and the noodles are fresh. I took some friends here, who came back to visit the bay, and they loved it! For me, no other ramen place can beat Ippudo. read more

See all

Ippudo is a solid ramen choice in an area filled with lots of ramen shops, but it's nothing to write home about. I had a weekday lunch right when Ippudo opened at 11:30a, and there were very few customers there....so very easy to get a table. We each ordered a bowl of ramen - I got the Shiromaru Classic which comes with bamboo shoots and two slices of pork. Egg, etc. are all extra. The broth was rich and salty, the noodles were chewy. read more

Very disappointing experience. The staff never informed me that tea would be charged extra, and I only noticed the overcharge after I got home. This lack of transparency and honesty is unacceptable -- I won't be returning. read more

Ippudo Berkeley - green tea need pay - Ramen Near Me - Berkeley, California

Super solid ramen, always pleasant. For the price, I expect this; if it was a bit cheaper I'd go here much more often. It's also a chain, which makes me feel ...interesting.. about the price, but on the whole reasonable. Their broth is flavorful and rich but portion sizes are not huge for the price. Ambience inside is quite nice, and they seem to spend a lot of money on fancy napkins to complete the vibe, that are unreasonably thick. :) read more

Ippudo Berkeley - karaage - Ramen Near Me - Berkeley, California

See all

on the pricier side but solid ramen with great portions. each ramen is at least $20 but i leave satisfied especially on a foggy day. i think the spicy karaka ramen i ordered could use more of a kick, the broth was delicious but i expected it to be spicer. additionally there's lots of seating and the inside is very spacious. read more

Ippudo Berkeley - Spicy KARAKA SPICY (DD) - Ramen Near Me - Berkeley, California

Ippudo is a very well-known ramen chain that originated in Japan and a competitor to the famous Ichiran. I always prefer Ichiran because of their flavorful broth and al dente ramen. My experience at Ippudo could be summed up as "meh". Nothing special compared to other non branded ramen places and cost more, because there was less ramen and no lava egg. The chicken karrage was decent, but again, $16 for 5 pieces of chicken that were not extraordinary seasoned or juicy seemed to be much for me. Parking was also difficult because it's located in downtown Berkeley. read more

See all

Oooooh, so good. The portion is small for the price, but the flavor is worth it. The broth is so smooth to sip, not too salty, and so creamy. It's pretty amazing. The entire bowl is easy to eat and there is no discomfort afterwards (like you sometimes get with ramen towards the end of the meal). I had the shiromaru classic with the addition of an egg for $3. I was a little bummed the egg wasn't a bit runny (it was on the hard side) but the flavor was well stewed. The tonkotsu broth was lovely and rich. So flavorful. The chashu was good. The noodles were cooked perfectly and nicely caught all the broth while slurped. It also came with bamboo shoots, green onion, and fish cake. Mmm delicious. It was impressive! Definitely on the list of greats. read more

Ippudo Berkeley - Shiromaru classic w/ egg - Ramen Near Me - Berkeley, California

I fell in love with the Ippudo in San Francisco when I got the vegan ramen, so I took my mom here to the Berkeley location once and we both enjoyed our ramen. However, I just recently came back on my own and was so disappointed. This time I ordered the Yuzu Shoyu ($17) the broth was overly salty and the chicken wasn't tender. The server recommended spice bomb so I said yes, but he didn't tell me it was $3 additional charge. That would have been a good to know. It was $5 for a tea that was just a generic genmai tea bag - for $5, I expect it to be served in a nice tea pot with loose leaf. My total for just one person was $32 including tip - I know things have gotten more expensive but damn! I will have to be much more careful when I order from here or just stick to my usual. Service overall is always quick and efficient. read more

Ippudo Berkeley - Yuzu ramen and gemai hot tea - Ramen Near Me - Berkeley, California

Despite writing a previous review that was pretty average, I wanted to bump up my rating after a few more visits here. Ippudo is definitely the go-to place for ramen in Berkeley for my boyfriend and me. It kind of became a tradition for us to eat here for a post-midterm or final celebration. We also come here on random days when we crave ramen. Anyway, onto the food -- I've had some ok experiences, but I think overall the food is still great! Previously, I felt a bit iffy about the buns, since it seemed that they were just microwaving the meat before serving it (as seen through the kitchen window at counter seating). My boyfriend still gets them anyway because he likes how the chashu buns taste. I noticed that the buns are consistently super fluffy and have a slightly sweet flavor that contrasts the saltier filling. I often get the veggie croquette and it's very full of flavor, especially with the sauce. If you don't want too much sauce over your bun, you can request it on the side. Honestly the veggie croquette buns are my favorite part of most meals here. Ramen here is very standard and the Shiromaru Classic is what I get each time. I think they've now added a vegetarian option (Veggie Akamaru) to their menu which I'd like to try in the future since I'm not the biggest fan of chashu in general. I usually give mine away to whoever is there with me. Every bowl of ramen leaves me super stuff and feeling like I don't need to eat for days. As a side note, the servers here are super nice and are very patient when we confirm certain ingredients due to a long list of allergies. read more

See all

This is my brother & my go-to ramen spot. It's always cozy inside and even though it's always bustling and busy, we thankfully haven't had to wait to get a table or eat at the bar. There are plenty of vegetarian/vegan options here which is perfect for us. But also, I'm told the tonkotsu can't be beat. While I'm more accustomed to Japanese flavors, Ippudo mixes things up with korean and chinese flavors in their noodles which is a fun experience. Brother and I typically order the Karaka and it does not disappoint. The piping hot soup comes with perfectly chewy ramen, marinated tofu, menma (bamboo), some greens and a hearty scoop of their spicy miso "bolognese". It tasted like a blend of korean gochujang, miso, and szechuan numbing spice. If you enjoy your ramen with some kick, this is the one for you. The table-side service is friendly and fast. We were in and out in under an hour. There's also a great selection of add-ons, buns, appetizers and rice bowls. read more

Came here to have dinner, ordered the Maze Men Raoh and aioli chips. The chips never came and still charged me for it on the bill. The Maze was suppose to be "dry ramen" meaning no broth. It arrived wet and coated in fat renderings. It was not dry and there was liquid. I thought maybe this is meant to be this way...I used all the "fixings" that was offered to create the taste to my liking. The noodles were thick and hearty with a nice chew. Overall, without the condiments, it would have been a blah dish. Because it was coated in this fatty liquid, I felt my arteries started to clog and my liver working overdrive. Let's just say it didn't sit in my stomach well, After I alerted the waiter of my never received aioli chips, it was take off from the check. Ippudo was the rage many moons ago. I went to the one in NYC when it first opened, stood in line for an hour for ramen and their pork buns. This will be my last venture with Ippudo. read more

Pretty good ramen! A little on the pricier side for what you get, but they do have some interesting menu items. They're usually pretty quick with service. It can get a little crowded, but you get seated quickly. I usually opt for the spicy ramen or the modern ramen. Both are good! read more

Ippudo Berkeley - Spicy Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Berkeley, California

My first time back here since before the pandemic and the core menu hasn't changed too much. I noticed it doesn't list all the firmness options for the noodles anymore but if you request firmer or softer they can still do it for you. The buchi harmony ramen was super strong with the bonito fish flavor, and the karaka spicy was very chili pepper tasting but not super hot. It was similar in flavor to Fly by Jing sichuan chili sauce. Overall I've had better ramen broths, but Ippudo still holds up because the noodles are really good. read more

See all

Had high hopes but it was prolly a 7.8/10. As a chef I am saying this without hate please be graceful as I give my opinion and observation. I ordered the bun medley with each of the protein options. takoyaki, kara-age over rice, shiromaru classic ramen fried enoki and a poached egg. The presentation for kara-age over rice was good I didn't know there would be sauce and vegetables underneath. I didn't have the heart to tell them to take it back after I made the discovery so I put sides topping and spice to make it more appealing for me. Flavor was 8/10 the takoyaki was a solid 9/10 dare I say 9.5. The fried enoki didn't look as advertised so no rating. but instead as straggly fried bits like the pik Nike potato chip.womp womp. The poach egg looked lovely and I put it on my rice and kara-age to go. For the bun medley sauce should be on the side as it's too creamy and garlicky I feel like a triple sauce dipper or even half sauce dipper would have been better than the white sauce on the fried options. The lettuce wasn't very fresh and in bulky pieces. When my cousins and I cook for others we make bun medley too and julianing the lettuce always opens room and gives a better pallet feel. Service wasn't bad ambiance is kinda cool. Not much of a dolo establishment. I was sad the enoki wasn't whole pieces. I told bro I was sad please ask them to make it with love I guess they are single here . The ramen tho is hitting. First sip was tantalizing. Hopefully this cures sadness. read more

See all

Food: 3/5 Service/Wait: 4/5 Price/Value: 4/5 Atmosphere/Uniqueness: 3/5 Visited Ippudo for ramen fix and left a little disappointed. Decent food with good service, average prices. While not a disappointment, it didn't leave a lasting impression. Shiromaru Classic Ramen Rating: 3/5 This ramen was decent but didn't stand out compared to other places offering similar classic ramen. Akamaru Modern Ramen Rating: 3.5/5 The Akamaru Modern Ramen was satisfactory but lacked the depth of flavor expected. Takoyaki Rating: 4/5 The Takoyaki was good, but nothing special. A crisp outside with a soft and fluffy inside. read more

I don't think anything hits harder after a long flight then a nice spicy bowl of ramen This location is on Berkeley's campus so parking was a little bit difficult during Sunday brunch. We got really lucky and happen to get a spot right in front of the restaurant. The service at this location has always been on point. The wait staff are kind and made sure my modifications were noted and correct. I'm not a huge ramen lover because of the thin noodles, so being able to sub the thin noodles for the thick wavy noodles was a game changer. The restaurant is decorated nicely with lots of tables for all party sizes. As a non-ramen lover, whenever I do crave ramen, I always find myself coming back to Ippudo Berkeley. read more

Ippudo Berkeley - Karaka Spicy with thick wavy noodles. - Ramen Near Me - Berkeley, California

See all

Great ramen in Downtown Berkeley. I ordered the Karaku Spicy Ramen. They are generous with toppings. The servings are large. I was full pretty quickly and had a lot of leftovers. Great customer service as well! Definitely recommend checking them out if you're in the downtown area! read more

Ippudo Berkeley - Karaku Spicy Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Berkeley, California

I ordered the Karaka Spicy with friends and it was really flavorful! The spice didn't overpower the pork broth. I enjoyed the amount of spice but it might be spicier for those with less spice tolerance. The chasu was also pretty good. The service was average/no complaints. The restaurant has a nice ambience. It's a good date spot for dinner or place to go with family and friends. read more

Ippudo Berkeley - Karaka Spicy - Ramen Near Me - Berkeley, California

Best ramen bowls hands down. The food is authentic, perfectly prepared and reasonably priced. The miso bowl was fantastic. read more

Ippudo Berkeley - Inside - Ramen Near Me - Berkeley, California

See all

Met a friend here for lunch and was quite impressed with the food. The soups were delicious and flavorful and the Ramen noodles were out of this world! We started with their shishito peppers appetizer which were flash fried and fun to eat. They were very generous with the amount of peppers! I had their classic Ramen soup and my friend had the Ramen in miso soup. We both thought our meals were delicious and delightful with every slurp. The service here is excellent, and I am definitely coming back. So sorry I didn't get any pictures, the soups were so delicious that we slurped them up before I could remember to take pictures, LOL!! read more

- vegan veggie akamaru ramen was rich and full of flavor - portions are small - more diverse menu after the pandemic read more

Ippudo Berkeley - -Vegan veggie akamaru ramen was full of flavor. -Broth was rich and noodles were requested firm. -Portions are small - Ramen Near Me - Berkeley, California

Cold weather always calls for some warm and yummy ramen! There are two different types of noodles served here, thin or wavy. I opted for the wavy (common thickness of ramen) in the Akamaru Modern dish. Slightly spicy with a rich broth, the dish was successful in warming and filling me up. And of course, always gotta try a side of takoyaki- flavorful and doughy goodness with a bite of filling! The prices are very high and the bowls to start do not come with many toppings like other places. You have to pay add additional items. On a Saturday morning right at opening, everything was super quick so no problems there. Overall good food but I wouldn't come too often just for the pricing alone. read more

See all

It's not bad. Reviews are harsh because of Ippudo's rep-- and tbf, this location falls short of expectations compared to their main ones-- but it's really not that bad. If you needed a testament to their popularity, just check out the sprawling lines on any average weekday. For COVID safety purposes, staff wear masks and tables are sanitized thoroughly. Prime location downtown-- came by on a Thursday afternoon and barely made it onto the waitlist. Our party of 3 waited around 20 minutes before getting seated at a communal pub table. The Japanese-inspired interior is clean & spacious. KARAKA SPICY (w/ thick noodles): If you're spice-adverse but get adventurous every once in a while, this is great :-) Fresh toppings + thick pork slices on top of their thick noodles are legit. Their spa egg was fine. The broth was a little underwhelming for the hype, but overall decently multi-dimensional with a hint of heat. CHICKEN BUN: Simple is best :') Love traditional chewy buns! Their chicken is fried to perfection, w a great balance of sweet/savory. Servers are SO NICE albeit a little slow, given the endless flow of incoming customers. I'd def check out their ramen out to make a judgement call before judging Ippudo by the low ratings. read more

Ippudo Berkeley - Karaka Spicy - Ramen Near Me - Berkeley, California

See all

Got the spicy ramen and it was not bad at all! The portions are perfect and left me satisfied and full but not overly stuffed or still wanting more. The spicy ramen isn't that spicy but was enough to get a little kick. It would be nice if the ramen came with the soft boiled eggs but it is extra to add it on top. We also got the chicken karage which wasn't pretty good, though the portion seemed much smaller than anticipated. The sauces they have are really good though. The takoyaki was also just okay at best. The batter was cooked but still kind of very mushy. TLDR: the food is kind of just mid personally. The service was wonderful! It's very surprising to see only one server and one cook, but they managed well and delivered quickly. The overall restaurant is very clean and well kept. Felt nice to sit in and dine! read more

Decided to try this pleasant looking noodle restaurant before a show at Berkeley Rep. They have a few items on the menu and is not overwhelming. I ordered the chicken bun and shoyu ramen. The bus was great. Chicken and bun cooked to perfection and the sauce was just the right amount. Would definitely come back just for this. The ramen was okay. The broth was a bit salty, but the noodles and everything else was fine. Presentation was nice. The wait staff was great. They always checked in on us, explained the menu and answered our questions. They even went out of their way to not seat anyone close to us after letting the wait staff know my friends hesitation about being too close. I also liked that the payment machine is able to come tableside. Not sure when I would go back, but definitely a nice place to hang out and have a conversation and nice meal. read more

Ippudo Berkeley - Chicken bun - Ramen Near Me - Berkeley, California

See all

Love the aesthetic Japanese exterior. Once entered, the restaurant is dark, clean decor is very Japanese inspired. The staff was welcoming and we were seated right away. There was no line and therefore no wait. Waters and green hot tea were brought out. We ordered appetizers of edamame and gyoza. Entrees we're Akamaru Modern, Shiromaru Classic, Karaka Spicy with Poached Egg, Akamaru Spicy with Tomago, and an additional topping of Kaedama. Our noodles were cooked "kata". The appetizers were brought out promptly and tasted great. Our ramens were then served. There was a little misunderstanding on two of the soups as they came out without egg when egg was ordered. That was quickly resolved by staff. All the ramens were delicious that we ordered two extra servings of noodles. The broths were made just right. We'll definitely return many times in the future to get our ramen fix here! read more

Ippudo Berkeley - Akamaru Modern ramen. - Ramen Near Me - Berkeley, California

Amazing spicy ramen!!! I love the rich broth and the noodles were cooked perfectly. Workers were really nice. The restaurant interior is very modern, simple and nice. The bathrooms were also clean. The only thing is that the ramen doesn't come with anything else but the protein and a side. The rest of the sides you have to order in addition to! I wish there were more add ons already existing in the ramen rather than having to order cause it adds up! But overall I would come back for the karaka spicy ramen, they make one of my favorite spicy ramens! read more

See all

NIRVANA KARAKA is a must try Ramen for vegetarian people. Everything was a hit! Highly recommended read more

Ippudo Berkeley - NIRVANA KARAKA - Ramen Near Me - Berkeley, California

Look it's definitely not the best ramen spot in the area, but it's also far from the worst. I think Ippudo ramen here (and in the bay area in general) is decent. It's like a starbucks option for ramen, will it blow your mind, no. Will it be a fairly consistent experience with decent, fairly flavorful food? Yes. Also, I do think the SF location is marginally better. read more

Quick food with a high quality taste! The ramen was tasty, but the Baos were amazing. The chicken karage was cooked properly and the edamame was fine. The location is nice and the atmosphere is good but I did feel a little squished in the restaurant - especially with covid stuff still rolling on. The staff was prompt to take our order but a little slow on getting us our drinks. The food came out quickly. Beer choices are minimal but the IPA is a winner. Would certainly come back for a beer and bao lunch or dinner even if I didn't want ramen. read more

See all