Such a hearty and delicious spot especially with the weather changing! The staff were all incredibly helpful with recommendations and helped my mother in law decide on what to get. We ordered the edemame, the mayu tonkotsu and the agedashi tofu. Everything was delicious and nothing was left behind. The high point of the meal were the mushrooms in the agedashi tofu. They acted like a sponge and soaked up the sauce it was served in. It was such a flavor bomb and I will be craving it again soon! read more

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Stopped by this ramen spot for dinner since I was in the neighborhood, and it turned out to be a solid choice! The ramen menu offers a good variety of options. While the broth and noodles didn't necessarily stand out compared to some of the many ramen shops I've tried, everything was well prepared and the ingredients tasted fresh. I also ordered the chicken katsu curry, which was enjoyable--the curry sauce had a rich, comforting flavor and paired well with the crispy chicken Service was good overall. The staff checked in a couple of times, and the food came out quickly after ordering. They could have been a bit more attentive throughout the meal, but nothing that took away from the experience The restaurant has a classic ramen bar setup with a clean, inviting atmosphere. I also loved the décor, especially the giant Pikachu statue, which adds a fun touch to the space Overall, it's a great neighborhood spot to satisfy a ramen craving. If you're nearby and looking for a casual, reliable dinner, this place is definitely worth a visit! read more

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I came back and tried the spicy tan tan , what a joke this place is. The broth had no flavor and chashu was rubbery and was undercooked , the broth didn't have much in it and it was just noodles and one piece of bok choy , no ramen eggs etc . I wouldn't mind the tiny bowl for $23 if it tasted good and authentic but it definitely did not taste good and I left half of it untouched. I give up with this place , will try to find another Japanese place elsewhere Service is decent and ambiance is good but food is the most important read more

Issei Noodle Lancaster - Spicy tan tan - Ramen Near Me - Lancaster, Pennsylvania

Was offered a variety of of seats and chose the window so I could people watch while I ate. The vibe is clean and cool. The menu has a lot of options but I selected the Mayu Tonkotsu. The bowl was brought less than 5 minutes later. The broth was very very hot. Flavor was delicious, creamy with a garlic flavor. Noodles were thinning than I'm used to, but cooked well. Quail eggs were listed as part of the dish, though I was expecting a jammy egg, as they're said to be soft boiled on the menu. Unfortunately my eggs were hard boiled. Additionally, the chashu was very fatty. Hilariously, I had a conversation with a colleague earlier in the day about what our last meals would be if we got to pick. When I looked at the magazine opened right next to my seat, I just happened to see that same question! How bizarre. read more

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Very nice. Different from the Carlisle store where we've eaten before. Smaller menu, but everything was still delicious. And they have a liquor license, so I could have a Sapporo with my Ramen! Service was excellent. Very cool. read more

Issei Noodle Lancaster - Sushi bar - Ramen Near Me - Lancaster, Pennsylvania

The food here is soooooo good. My favorite order is the spicy brothless noodles. The service is fast & attentive as well. The vibe inside is chill/casual dinner vibes & has a nice energy. read more

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Been meaning to try this place as I love ramen and have been looking for an actual Japanese style ramen place in Lancaster. The location is nice; right across the parking lot where it's cheap or street parking that's abundant. The restaurant is booked and packed when we got there which was good sign. They waiters were very nice. The food was ok. I've tried many ramen places and this was kinda in the middle of the pack. The broth was descent but the noodles were fair. Portions were a bit smaller for the price as well. I was very sad that they were already out of kaarage chicken... it was a prime time Saturday lunch and they were out. This place is ok. Honestly would come here if I am super on the mood for it read more

Issei Noodle Lancaster - Spicy Tan-Tan Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Lancaster, Pennsylvania

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My favorite noodle joint has expanded and moved to a new, beautiful location on Orange Street -- just across the street from the Prince Street parking garage, still near Central Market. They've really turned the class up a notch with the new space -- even before you enter, the entry is inviting and I love the giant mural on the side of the building. There's lots of light from the wall of windows in front, long family-style tables and bar-height seating options along the windows, as well as counter seating that faces the kitchen. And the food is every bit as delicious as before. I went during their soft open, so the full menu wasn't available, but it was as satisfying as ever! Hubs and I both got the Spicy Tan-tan Ramen and fried pork gyoza. Our server was friendly and fast, keeping up with multiple tables in addition to our window seats. He was familiar with the menu and could speak well to all the options available. Can't wait to come back for the full menu AND to try the Korean BBQ that will be opening soon in the same space! read more

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Ambiance/Atmosphere: The new facility on Orange Street that Issei has moved to is quite nice. You can park in the Prince Street garage and walk out, then immediately it's right there across the street. The change of location was an excellent idea for attracting business. The inside is smaller than the previous place which was longer and dimmer. It felt like there were less tables/seating area. The vibe of the restaurant is semi-loud but brighter, awakening and more modern rather than dark & cozy like the previous location. Facility was clean and open; no complaints here. I believe they are expanding to include Korean BBQ next door or in the back at some point. Service: All the staff that attended to our table were kind and friendly. Really love the owner, she's very easy to talk to! We always had someone come and make sure we were good on our drinks and food. Although it was busy, we had great service. Food: Being that they were only doing a soft opening limited menu there was only so much you could choose from. They are doing this for the entire month of March then I believe they plan to expand their menu. As a group of 6 we wanted to try what we could on our visit. We tried...for appetizers: pork gyoza, agedashi tofu, spicy edamame, katsu pork. For entrees we tried...three orders of Haru Warm Ramen (a brothless ramen dish), House Abura-Soba (also brothless noodle dish) and two orders of Yasai Miso Ramen. The appetizers were delicious, flavorful and nothing to complain about. We most likely would order those all again. As for the entrees, the Haru Warm Ramen was good, the House Abura-Soba was good but the Yasai Miso Ramen...it was just OK. I hate to say that because I do feel like the owners (one is the chef) does put hardwork and love into the food but the noodles reminded me of thick spaghetti noodles and the taste was...a little bland and diluted tasting. The previous Issei menu used to have a lot more options of food which included Don Buri bowls (LOVED those!) and I didn't see many rice dishes (expected since it's a soft opening). But after speaking to the owner, the focus of the food moving forward will be a mixture of Japanese, Filipino and Korean. Just be mindful of that when you decide to come here thats what the type of food will be. Price: the price was OK, nothing that different from what it was in the past. I would like to return here with my family again to try more things and add to my review in the future. read more

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I love the ambience in here!! If you're in Lancaster!! I truly recommend Issei ramen!! I had the Tofu spicy Tantan-Men!! They recommended I add an egg to it and it did not disappoint! They have great drinks and appetizers! As a matter of fact, I'm craving some right now with this cold front upon us!! read more

The service and food was great. I would go back next time in Lancaster. We had several choices for Ramen. We decided per the reviews.

Go to Tuesday night karaoke spot. Great food, great ambiance and such kind staff. Try the Taiyaki with Thai tea ice cream. Hochi mama

Post-bar results celebration with sister and mom. Excellent veg option and they subbed the noodles for rice noodles because mom can't eat egg. I had: - iced coco matcha - kyuri sunomono (pickled cucumber, vegan miso mayo, chili crisp) - melo salad (apples + candied walnuts + sweet miso dressing) - ramen (buttered mushroom miso with eggs) Sister had the tofu tantan-men ramen. read more

Dropped in for lunch on a Friday afternoon. It was busy, but we were seated quickly. Loved the overall decor and liked that it wasn't too dark inside. The menu was fairly extensive with lots of choices. My husband got the winter ramen special. I can't remember what it was called but it was curry broth based. I tried some and it was amazing. I opted for the Oyako Don, which was delicious. I knew the eggs would be sweet from the mirin but didn't realize how sweet, but once my taste buds adjusted we were good! My Diet Coke was flat, but it wasn't a deal breaker. We'll be back to try out the cocktail bar soon! read more

My colleagues have been raving about it for months so I knew I had to try it. Forgot to make reservations in advance on a Friday night. I would recommend this as the seating space is pretty small. For couples you could probably make do with the ramen bar in the back, or even a solo eater but not for my family of 5. We had to wait about 20-40 minutes for a table of five 30 minutes prior to their closing time. I do think they forgot about us seeing as when we were seated there were 3 empty tables, staff kept comin out and asking us if we were waiting for a table. They have a buzzer system but Im not sure if it was working. The ambience is great, modern but old style ramen shop at the same time. There is a bar in the back where the space looks much larger. Definitely a group drink hang out space. Food was delicious! We enjoyed everything from the starters to the ramen! They also have a seasonal menu for those who wanna try something for the season. Also appreciated that they had sake choices as well as other Japanese inspired cocktails. For the desserts they had an adorable little flan/pudding and mochi ice cream. We didn't have any leftovers and devoured everything! Highly recommend this place! If you do plan on coming on a busier night like Friday or the weekend, definitely make reservations. read more

Issei is fantastic! We had a large group of about 13 with children, but didn't have to wait too long. The food was delicious and appetizers had me looking for more! All the dishes came out together, simply amazing. When you're craving some Ramen take a moment and stop by! read more

Great ambiance, cute little spot. So far the service has been nice. It's right across the from the parking garage. read more

Issei Noodle Lancaster - summer 2024 menu - Ramen Near Me - Lancaster, Pennsylvania

Such a great find!!! I was in Lancaster on a work trip and looking for something a little different--Issei absolutely lived up to the glowing reviews. Both my colleague and I loved our meals, our waitress was fantastic, and the overall vibe in the restaurant was upbeat and fun. Highly recommend! read more

I love Issei noodle! I have been to the carlisle location a dozen times but this was my first time at the Lancaster location and it did not disappoint. The food was excellent! It feels very modern and energetic in the space up front. I'm excited to eventually try the hifi Izakaya in the other section of the restaurant. Service was good even if a little bit slow. read more

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Went there with the wife who declared "This is the best Pad Thai I have ever had" and she has sampled Pad Thai all over the country. I had a yummy bowl of Ramen that I was very happy with. Staff was very pleasant and just for the wife alone we will be back :) read more

A decent ramen place in the heart of Lancaster. Price wise , it's a bit pricey around $15/$17 but if you haven't had ramen in a while, it is worth the splurge. I had a lot of ramens so I expect a little bit of a thicker consistency and porky-broth. This will give a more signature taste of ramen broth. However, if you like mild / thinner consistency, maybe this is for you ;) I also want to add that this broth is a little bit too salty for me. But I had a good experience here. There are a lot of sitting area so don't worry for not getting unseated. The service is fairly quick. One thing I like from this place is their noodle texture is perfect Again, this is personal preference :) Side note; if you don't like bamboo shoot, make sure to opt it out! read more

Updated review. New location is updated, clean and inviting. Food is as great as I remember. glad to get a chance to stop by and review it again. Looking forward the the expansion in the back! read more

We visited Issei for lunch during restaurant week in Lancaster and had their featured special. Ramen + Dessert. It was so good. Very authentic flavor. Enjoyed this so much! Highly recommend. read more

Issei Noodle Lancaster - Dessert - Ramen Near Me - Lancaster, Pennsylvania

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2.5 stars This place missed the mark for me in a huge way and for a variety of reasons. Little did my husband I know, that yesterday was Music Friday. This event had an impact on my enjoyment of Issei. A small ensemble, parked themselves close to Issei's entrance. They were quite loud. There was the disco music in the kitchen, additional music in the restaurant itself and the trio, just outside - that, combined with the rising voices within (cause who can hear anything); was maddening and chaotic. I did ask the waitress to lower the kitchen music and that helped, somewhat. Additionally, where to enter and where to exit this restaurant, mystified several. I thought it was just me. The hubby pointed to the stationary sign; oh - I see, the entrance is too the side. While leaving, I bumped into the sign that was at the entrance/exit; I simply don't know. The restaurant's interior was lovely, lots of hardwood flooring, windows, warm lights - a very cool and hip vibe. The chairs were a bit uncomfortable, though; a kinda small seat. Our waitress was extremely knowledgeable. My husband had many questions and she was quite informative and friendly. Now to the food: Chashu Yakisoba was a huge disappointment for me. I was looking forward to those homemade noodles and they were perfectly chewy, but that was the only positive. Assorted fresh veggies, says the menu description - not so. I spotted a few greens, small bits of chashu (I would have preferred it, in its whole form), drowning in an overly sweet, lacking any reminiscence of tang, sauce. To tone down the sweetness, I begged/asked for a spicy sauce. The waitress brought me some chili oil; it only helped a little. I, too, was disappointed that some ramen standards were considered extras and at an extra cost. Granted, the extra cost wasn't a fortune, but with entree prices at around $18.00, the bill could easily escalate and ours did. A chicken ramen, was in my mind, inedible. Too many of this and that, sounding intriguing on a menu, but taste wise - not for me. I've had broths taste so good, that I could actually determine all the different subtle components. This combination of ingredients, were too distracting and the flavor, lost, unidentifiable. read more

My husband and I have been going to Issei for years and have loved it ever since we found it. Issei recently moved to a new location in downtown Lancaster and we decided to give the new location a try. They currently have a soft-opening limited menu so we tried two of the currently available ramens. My husband got the spicy Tantan and I tried the Double OG Shoyu ramen. Unfortunately, we were disappointed in the quality of these new ramen dishes. The ramen noodles do not taste or look like the previous ramen noodles Issei made before the new location. The ramen noodles look like spaghetti noodles and were not very flavorful. The spicy Tantan ramen was decent, however the amount of pork decreased and so did the quality of the pork. My husband also noted the ramen was not as spicy as it used to be. The Double OG Shoyu ramen was one of the most bland and unappetizing ramen I've ever tried. The only reason I finished it was because the service was so slow compared to the service at Issei's previous location and I was starving. None of the ramens on the menu included egg anymore and egg now costs extra to add, which was very disappointing as the egg makes the ramen so much better. Overall, we are sad to see the quality go really downhill at our favorite local ramen restaurant. Unless the quality improves again or they go back to their old ramen recipes that were amazing, we may not be going back for a long time. The only positive I can say about the new Issei location is that the interior design looks really good. We are considering going to Ninja Ramen in Lancaster to get our good quality ramen fix from now on. read more

We've been here several times and have never had a bad experience. I am always looking for Pho and Issei does not disappoint. We originally could not find Issei, as it is in a building with a bead store, a gem store, and a tattoo parlor. It is on the second floor, I believe and we'll worth the struggle of getting there. We've always had great, fast service, with friendly staff members. I always get something vegetarian, without the mushrooms and they are very easy to accommodate this request. My spouse consistently gets something with chicken and has never had a complaint. If you are in Lancaster, this is absolutely worth the stop downtown. read more

This was our first dine-in visit (we had ordered once before via takeout) and we were not disappointed! They were so accommodating when we showed up 15 minutes before closing time and still seated us. My husband and I ordered the Yuzu lemonade, Miso soup, Mabo Tofu Vegetarian (D4V), Okinawa Yakisoba (16). Everything was so delicious! The miso soup tasted better than many I've had. My husband loved his Yakisoba, although it was a little bit on the milder side for me (nothing some chili oil can't fix). The Mabo Tofu was so delicious and the vegetarian Tan Tan "pork" was packed with flavor. Service was great and our server seemed to know what was on the menu and what went into each dish (which is not always the case). Overall your experience was great, although the one thing I would change is the closing time! 8 pm on a Friday night is pretty early but something to plan around. We can't wait to go back and try more dishes! read more

Issei Noodle Lancaster - 16. Okinawa Yakisoba- husband loved it! - Ramen Near Me - Lancaster, Pennsylvania

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Incredible food, service, and vibes all around. There is a plaque on the wall that shows the chef is a certified ramen master from a school in Japan, and it shows. read more

The reason it lost two stars because of the services and the waiter was no where to be found. Cute little ramen shop it was hard to find and hard to find parking as well I was impressed how it was decorated. I like the seating in the restaurant was and the menu was large; different things to choose from. A tad bit pricey from the ramen I had in the DMV area. I had the black garlic ramen, I was disappointed I barely tasted any garlic in the ramen, pork was plain, broth was okay. I was sad I did not get to try the bubble tea because of the time I was limited in Pennsylvania. This will be first and last time here. read more

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I am a HUGE fan of the Carlisle location and was excited to try out the Lancaster location. It's important to note that they have two very different vibes, as the Carlisle location feels a bit more intimate simply due to the size of the space. I got the Haru Ramen, which is my go-to dish at Issei. I thought it was good, but not amazing (like I'm used to). The shrimp were a bit overcooked and the flavors weren't as complex as I was used to. Based off food alone, I'd give it a 4/5, but I have to give it a 3/5 because upon checkout, their settings only let you leave a MINIMUM of 20% tip (no custom button). I even asked the guy, "so I can't customize my tip?" "No." Their service wasn't great and honestly, no, I didn't want to leave a 20% tip but I also didn't want to leave nothing. Plus, my work's policy allows for a maximum 18% tip (which I would have done). Please, for the love of god, allow patrons to choose different tip levels. I'm tired of a MINIMUM 20% tip as the new normal, when a tip is a reward for great service. I know this is minor, but it's not consumer-friendly. read more

Issei is a new family restaurant in the heart of Lancaster, walking distance from Central Market. My husband and I were running errands in the City, and decided to have lunch and check them out. What a fabulous surprise! The food is absolutely delicious, I had a tofu ramen dish, my husband had chicken ramen. We lived in Okinawa and were anticipating a taste of the genuine Okinawa noodles, we were not disappointed! The atmosphere is Japanese, the staff is super friendly; we met Andre, the owner, who graciously shared with us plans for a Korean BBQ on the premises! We met Steven, also sharing wonderful future plans. One more thing, my husband asked about the flavorful tap water, and we learned they have their own system to filter the water, imagine that! They open at 12 noon, it will be nicer if they open a bit earlier. Enjoy! read more

We went to this restaurant on a hot afternoon and were happy that we chose it. We got a Black Garlic Ramen, Pad Thai, Vegetarian Ramen, Don Buri and Spring Rolls. All of them were good, tasty, flavorful and big portions. The service was top notch. We enjoyed our time, had good food and left very happy. Special mention foe the spring roll that was so crispy. read more

Delicious food and wonderful service. Our waitress was really helpful, pleasant & provided prompt service! Loved the Thai Tea w/ Boba - enjoyed it B/c it wasn't overly sweet, creamy flavors & the boba are fun, large tapioca-like jellies. We had wontons (broth was tasty!) & Gyoza for apps which were great & our entrées were: #8 Pork Tan-Tan Noodles & broth - yummy, spicy & delicious! #D10 Red Curry with Avacado--fresh, bright, sweet & spicy! Yum! * We will be back! UPDATE: We keep coming back! Love the steamed Gyoza, Thai bubble tea, and my husband liked the Orion beer they now serve. Plus, this family is SO kind and sincerely friendly...great customer service!Tonight we really enjoyed: #D1 Asian Sesame with Don-Buri with Mongolian Beef and #20 Chow Fun with Spicy Dan-Dan read more

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After we were seated we were ignored for 20 minutes and had to request service. If not for my child liking the food so much we would have just left. read more

I love this place! Constant flow of people. Always prompt and friendly customer service. I've never had a bad experience! We started with the shrimp tempura appetizer. The taste of the shrimp was overpowered by the tempura. It was oilier than I prefer, but still decent. I try something different with each visit and I continue to be impressed. Tonight was no exception - Spicy tofu. The right amount of heat and plenty of tofu and veggies. The size of the noodle bowls are large enough to satisfy any appetite. The udon noodles had a perfect balance of savory and sweet and the sauce was delightful. So delightful that my fiancé was ready to lick the plate! Not really a complaint, but I asked for a side of kimchi and was disappointed when our server said they don't normally carry any (especially since I've had it here before). I was also surprised when I over heard a neighboring diner ask for wasabi and also told they don't carry that. Again, not really a complaint, more of an observation, but would have been a wonderful addition to my noodles. read more

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Always delicious here. I wish there was something similar. The wait staff is always attentive and very friendly. Food comes out pretty fast and the flavor is always consistent. I miss coming here read more

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I would've given this restaurant three stars, had it not been for the fact that the hostess said that our wait time would be 25 minutes and it was actually an hour. The extra 35 minutes definitely takes it down a star. After all that, ramen was just "OK." The staff seem really hip and friendly. I'm sure there are certain dishes that will knock your socks off but I will not be returning. Too bad because it's a cute spot! read more

Tasty local ramen joint. I would recommend eating there over delivery though as the meals tend to get cold.

We enjoyed our dinner at this unpretentious and friendly establishment. When we arrived on Friday night there was a line of people waiting to be served and we were told we'd have about a 10 minute wait which was fine by us. Our server showed us to our tables and we ordered two noodle bowls. I thoroughly enjoyed my noodle bowl with shrimp and my friend enjoyed hers a little less since she had accidentally added too much pepper which kicked up the heat index. The food and the laid-back vibe are appealing. The one area in need of improvement is the service. While the staff are very friendly and accommodating they seemed to be a bit scattered. But a lot of businesses are having to make do with less staffing levels so I didn't want to ding them on that, givien the challenges restaurants are facing these days. read more

Fun experience, excellent food, hidden location. Casual college atmosphere. Pay at the register, clean, fun. Worth the adventure.