My brother has been wanting to try this place for some time. It's located across from the Johns Hopkins University Bookstore. We walked in and were promptly greeted and seated. The waiter was kind and answered all of the wondering that we had about the levels of spice for the dishes. The gyoza was delicious with a warm savory flavor. The tonotsu was outstanding. The silky spicy broth combined with the slices of fatty pork, bok choy, minced pork and the nori was incredible. My brother had the curry chicken. The breading on the chicken was flavorful the meat underneath was juicy. I thoroughly enjoyed the cook on the noodles and the depth in flavor of the curry sauce. Excited to return to try other dishes. read more

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The Original Aburasoba was amazing! So delicious. Their Soda Floats are a special treat. Plus for dessert they have delicious green tea ice-cream! Enjoy! read more

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I got the original abura soba and this was my first time trying this soupless noodle dish. Overall, I thought it was really good with great flavors. The service was average nothing too crazy, it was nice that they kept our water glass full. The ambiance is pretty casual and has a cute Japanese style. read more

Kajiken - The Original - Ramen Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

Undoubtedly one of the best ramen spots in Baltimore. The flavors are authentic, but what really sets them apart are the noodles -- easily my favorite part. They're known for their soupless ramen, which I haven't tried yet, but I did get the spicy tonkatsu ramen and it was absolutely delicious. The gyozas were also excellent. We also tried the sliced beef don. It was good, though I've had better elsewhere, and the portion was a bit underwhelming -- lots of rice but not much meat. That's really my only complaint. The first time we dined in, it was busy but still enjoyable. The second time we ordered takeout, and it was just as good. Overall, I'd definitely recommend this place for ramen, whether you're dining in or carrying out. read more

Kajiken - Spicy Tonkotsu - Ramen Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

While in the area I saw this Japanese Ramen spot that caught my eye. I yelped it, went inside to see the wait, as it seemed to be folks standing around to dine. I was informed it would be a 20-30 minute wait and to join the waitlist by going to the kiosk and input my information. I decided to dine here. Its not a large spot and seems interesting and very popular. Many of the people dining at this time on a Saturday seemed to be college students from Hopkins near by. Time elapsed to over an hour wait. I saw people come in and get seated. Im not sure if they had joined the waitlist or not. I would not have decided to wait if I was informed the wait would have been as long as this. Seatting finally occurred and the waiter was pretty friendly, attentive, and knowledge. Water was brought to the table while greetings were made. Being as though this was my first visit here, I needed to look over the menu and of course ask questions because I am not familiar with the dishes. Yes, the waiter was patient, knowledged and helpful making the ordering process go smooth. First the beverage was selected, Passion fruit juice and peach black tea. Then the Sukiyaki Don, Tori Shoyu, spicy chili edamame. I was not a fan of the Tori Shoyu as it had no real flavor and something was hard partially (not cooked all the way or maybe overcooked), the noodles seemed not thoroughly cooked (kind of hard), the Sukiyaki Don beef was pretty fatty. The edamame were pretty tasty and good. They pretty much only have bottled beverage and I did not see any spirited drinks on the menu or being served. I was not wowed overall from the service and the food so I would not say I will visit again. read more

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This food is AMAZING! We visited today after a few friends recommended it to us, and the food was just so good. The Karaage chicken was so juicy and crispy. I had the Honmura and the noodles were spicy and delish. The staff was also very friendly and attentive. The inside decor is also cute, very Japanese-themed. Great food, great service and great prices! read more

Kajiken - Ramen Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

Small chain store with four booths, ramen bar seating, and small tables that could be combined in the back. The menu has some appetizers (including takoyaki!! And other small Japanese dishes), ramen, and abura soba which is soupless noodles. As a huge fan of soup and noodles, I wound up trying their abura soba to switch it up. It looked like they were known for it too since one side of the menu is just for that. Overall, the food was amazing, tasty, and so filling. read more

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We were killing time by visiting the Baltimore Museum of Art (also great) and came here for lunch. We sat at the bar and had Octopus balls (I didn't even know they had balls lol) which are octopus meat with other ingredients and then fried. Then we had the chicken curry with soba noodles and a pork bowl with a spicy kinchi. Both were great and sitting at the bar to watch the kitchen was a lot of fun. read more

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Very cute and trendy spot in Charles Village near Johns Hopkins. Walked in right before dinner rush and was quickly seated. Just FYI- if you're a large party (like 7+) the space might feel a bit cramped. The tonkotsu broth was well-balanced--rich but not overly heavy--while the pork dumplings were flavorful and not too heavy. The karaage, however, was a bit too fatty for my taste, and the breading didn't quite hit the mark. Service was a highlight--the waitress was attentive, and the food came out fast. My kids, as always, stuck with vanilla ice cream for dessert and loved it, while I debated trying the matcha. Overall, a satisfying meal with a few minor misses, but I'd definitely return. They do close between lunch and dinner and open back up around 5pm. read more

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The best (and only) dry/soupless ramen I've had! On a weekend evening, there was about a 10-20 min wait. Really efficient service, so people are in and out. Cozy indoor seating, outdoor seating also available. We ordered the Niki Miso (pork) and The Original (tonkatsu) abura sobas (soupless ramen), and both were stellar. The sauce is at the bottom so be sure to mix well! read more

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The food is incredible!!!!! We got gyoza to split, which were delicious and the teriyaki tori was soooooo amazing! The chicken was perfectly crispy and juicy and the noodles were so good! The noodles had such a nice chew on them and the sauce was so yummy! Also, got their kimchi and it was some of the best kimchi! Highly recommend! Service was great, friendly staff and very helpful. Super cute place, but not huge but they are super efficient and fast but friendly with service. 10/10! read more

Kajiken - Teriyaki Tori - Ramen Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

The tonkotsu ramen was pretty good. The broth was flavorful but not too salty and the noodles were good. It also included 1/2 of an egg. I expected slightly larger portions. The service was fast, and the tables and chairs were clean. We came at 1:30pm on a Friday, so the place was fairly busy. read more

Kajiken - Tonkotsu - Ramen Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

I come here with friends pretty frequently as it is often a crowd pleaser. Due to its proximity to the Hopkins campus, it is always quite busy. Expect a wait if you go during peak dinner hours. The first experience I had with Kajiken was through take out, and I was less than impressed. I got the chicken curry and there wasn't nearly enough curry, which made the whole dish quite bland as the chicken isn't seasoned. I was confused why my friends hyped it up. I ended up going in person a few weeks later, and I ordered the chicken curry again (creature of habit, what can I say). This time, it was much better. There was way more curry and the options of chili oil and other seasonings at the table enhanced the flavor nicely. Additionally, eating in made sure the chicken was still crispy. I have been here several times since and it has been consistently good. I am not the biggest fan of ramen due to the broth and thin noodles, and the abura soba here was the perfect alternative as the noodles are thicker and have a really nice, bouncy texture. I also recently tried the taiyaki, which basically just tasted like anything deep fried. The ice cream, however, was very good. The waitstaff are all very nice, but it can get quite loud due to the open-kitchen layout. I prefer to sit in the back room, but with how busy it is you don't get much of a choice. Consider coming during off-peak hours if you don't want to wait. read more

Kajiken - taiyaki - Ramen Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

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This was so much tastier than I expected! I was so glad there was a vegan option and really enjoyed what they had to offer. I do wish there were more vegan/vegetarian options, but this one was pretty good. I did add the soft boiled egg on top. The service was quick. It seems like this place was popular because the place was packed but there were plenty of tables for seating. There was a parking garage nearby which was convenient to park in. read more

Kajiken - Vegan Abura Soba - Ramen Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

Came here for lunch on a week day and people were lined up outside waiting for them to open! Must be a popular spot. Known for their abura soba (dry ramen), so I had to try the niku miso and it didn't disappoint. Noodles were very chewy and everything was flavorful although I did find myself adding more sauce. I'm interested in coming back to try some of their appetizers and other noodles next time. Server was friendly was well. read more

So cool that the first American location of this chain from Japan opened in Baltimore! This is located near the Hopkins undergrad complex and it's super cute from the exterior. The mazesoba (ramen except without the broth) is their specialty, and it's delicious. The staff is SUPER efficient, very Japanese in that way. You do order with a staff member. I've tried several of their mazesoba (mazemen) and they do taste pretty similar and I always add some extra corn or backchoy. The apps are fine (a little pricey for this casual spot). The takeout and delivery also holds up super well. A great addition to ramen to the city and always a good place to stop for a bite pre or post BMA or a walk around Hopkins. read more

Kajiken - Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

It was interesting to try the brothless ramen I got the original which was good but needed to order a side of chili in oil for some spice Keep in mind that they close between lunch and dinner and they will definitely rush you out read more

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A nice ramen spot walking distance from our airbnb. The service is speedy and the food is hot and fresh. The place is a lil cramped but cozy. If we stay here again, we may come back! read more

Kajiken - Tonkotsu ramen - Ramen Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

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Excellent food. Excellent service. Parking is a little challenging on a Friday night.

The three of us sat at the ramen bar. It was perfect as we can converse and see the prep work in action. I had the Tonkotsu and shared a couple of appetizers, gyoza and deep fried chicken wings, all delicious. They did not take reservations for parties with less than four people, however the host gave us an estimate wait time of 25 minutes, which was right on the money. Nice atmosphere. Small intimate place. read more

Kajiken - Tonkotsu - Ramen Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

I ordered take out from here last week and really enjoyed it! I've never had aburasopa (broth-less ramen) before and I can say that now I'm a fan! Only thing I was bit weird about was the poached egg- it was a bit undercooked and the whites were a little runny. I mixed it all in and it was tasty, it was just a little off putting at first. The dumplings were really good too! Nice and crispy and great flavor! I will definitely be back to try more dishes. read more

Kajiken - Pork dumplings - Ramen Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

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Kajiken is great for a lot of reasons. I love the ambiance and vibe of restaurant. Has a busy feel, lots of talking, motion, bustling. Quick service, always friendly servers. You have a significantly better experience if you can score a booth. I've been here probably 5 times, and I didn't have the booth opportunity until the 5th. The seating in the back is open tables and they are very close together, which is part of the experience, but you may find yourself being conscious of moving your elbow too much, your items falling, and you will have overheard conversations. Not a big deal, as long as you know what to expect. Their ramen is good. It's better than Akira for sure. But the abura soba ramen has to be the best thing they have on the menu, the noodle texture is perfect. Amazing flavor that doesn't need anything additional unless you want extra spice. We ordered an egg for our ramen and side of kimchi, which I think was the perfect enhancer. The karaage is alright, it lacks in crunch, has a tendency to be soggy. Not bad by any means, but I've had some seriously perfect karaage that has definitely changed my standard. Overall, great place to grab a bite to eat. The wait time is usually not long. The food comes quickly. You can be in and out within 30 minutes, I'd say, if you know what you want to order. read more

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Spot is decent, had the roast beef udon and it just tasted a little off to me. Added the toppings as instructed and it didnt elevate anything for me. Price is around 16+ a bowl which is decent. Would be willing to give this spot another chance to try the ramen. read more

Food and service were outstanding. I highly recommend this place. We tried the gyoza, ramen and aburasoba and all were oishii!

One of the best ramen spots in the area. Known for their dry ramen! Interior is very new and clean. Decent amount of seating. Service was excellent. Waiter was very attentive and kind. We ordered the dry ramenz plus Karrage, and gyoza for appetizers. The highlight was the dry ramen or Akurasoba as they call it. Noodles were well cooked and had a decent chew to them. The flavor of the sauce was amazing. Very umami, savory, slightly sweet. It compliments the pork toppings very well. If you're a fan of egg, make sure to get the egg yolk if your bowl doesn't come with one! The addition of the egg yolk makes all the difference. Mixed with the sauce and noodles it makes for a very creamy savory sauce. I would highly recommend the original and Niku Miso. Their soup ramen I have also tried before. It is good, but definitely not the star of the show. Other ramen places have better soup based ramen in the area. Will be one of my regular ramen places for sure! read more

Kajiken - The Original Aburasoba - Ramen Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

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This place is a hidden gem! The dry noodles are amazing. The chicken was a perfect combo of crisp and tender. Overall, the dishes are simple but packed with flavor. read more

Kajiken - Chicken Curry - Ramen Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

This place is incredible! I used to go to the ramen place in this location before. I was really excited to try the new place that took over. The vibes are similar and it's such a comfy ramen place! This place is famous for their breathless noodles, so I had to get those. We started with the spicy edamame which well cooked and nicely spiced. I really liked the chillis on them. As a vegetarian, I got the vegan ramen and I added chili, as well as a soft boiled egg. You can also make your own which is good for vegetarians! I really loved the vegan ramen -- the edamame, tofu and chili was delicious! There was also this edamame paste on top that added incredible creaminess! We ended with the matcha crepe cake which was the perfect sweet treat to end the night! read more

Kajiken - Vegan - Ramen Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

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Pleasantly surprised by this spot! I really enjoyed the akura soba - nice runny egg (usually this dish is eaten with egg a little undercooked), flavorful meat sauce, and good variety of toppings. Fast, casual, and a great spot to catch up with a friend. Will be back! read more

Kajiken - Akura soba - Ramen Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

It is very hard to come by a great ramen shop. This was probably close 2nd in my books. Located in Charles Village, it is conveniently located however, if you choose to come here, it is mainly street parking. With that, we did not have too much trouble given we visited on a Saturday afternoon. We arrived right when the place opened up and within 30 minutes of opening, the place was packed. Since the food service was pretty quick the tables did turn pretty fast imo. I think we were there a total of 30-45 minutes from seating to paying. They have a good array of items to choose from to appease any and all palate. This is a good spot for those that want to try a variety of other dishes outside of just ramen. The service was spot on, very quick and again the food came out under 10 minutes after ordering. The prices and portion was reasonable and I would definitely go here again. The restaurant is not big however, so the only downside was that I felt like I was sitting verryyy close to the next customer. read more

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Parking - you should be able to find street parking within a few blocks (get them steps in after crushing a meal here) or there's a parking garage right next door. Seating - it's a small setting with seating for maybe around 30 people or so. We showed up on a Saturday right at 12pm but by 12:30, the place was popping! I opted to go with the Honmura since I've never had a broth less ramen before. The noddles were cooked to a perfect al dente. This may be my new way of eating ramen. Broth is great for those colder months! The karaage was on point and friend to perfection. My only knock is that the gyoza taste store bought and were warm on the inside. I got the feeling like they were just popped in the microwave. Without a doubt I will be heading back to try the other ramens! read more

Kajiken - Honmura - Ramen Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

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Always love seeing the growing food scene in baltimore, came here for lunch during the week so no wait or lines. The service was fast and attentive. got their karaage and their soupless ramen. The karaage was crispy and juicy. The ramen was a new experience but was delicious. It comes with a sauce to mix in with the traditional ramen things. The noodles were chewy and good, pork flavorful, and the veggies crisp and fresh. Will definitely be back to try and other menu items. would totally recommend as a change up to the traditional ramen options read more

Kajiken - Ramen Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

Came here on a Friday night with a friend. Although it was packed, seating at the bar opened up for us within 15-20 minutes so we weren't waiting terribly long. We decided to try the abura soba noodle dishes since it was something new for us. The roast beef abura soba was very delicious and the yogurt sauce and raw egg made it nice and creamy. I would definitely order again. I tried the salted plum sprite which was...interesting. It has a weird after taste which maybe is expected because of the salted plum. Overall the service was great. I felt like our server attended to us very well despite how busy it was. The only con to this area is the parking. It took a while to find parking in the lot with many cars waiting for people to get out, but there is a garage behind the building with a few spots available for retail. I would probably try coming again though during off peak hours. read more

Kajiken - Roast beef abura soba - Ramen Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

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Went last night and SO good! I'm so often disappointed by ramen because the broth is just not up to snuff. At Kajiken, you avoid the broth altogether! Noodles are wonderfully chewy. I came not expecting much because I do love me my ramen, but if you can't get the ramen broth you want, Kajiken gives you the rest. We got there at 6 on a Friday and were seated right away, but the place was definitely busy. Highly recommend! read more

Kajiken - Original and Homura - Ramen Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

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First time trying this place that took over from an older Japanese ramen store. Unlike the previous cashless store, they now take all kinds of payments, including cash. Seating and lighting mimicks typical Japanese ramen store. One issue I had was the decorative portierein in front of the restroom door actually made it hard to find the handle and open the door. Menu was simple but had both ramen and rice dishes. Had three dishes: Karaage (fried chicken), Gyoza (dumpling), and Tonkutsu Shoyo Chashu ramen (pork bone broth, soy sauce, broiled pork). Karaage: frying was spot-on, hot, crispy skin, juicy inside. Seasoning was a bit on the heavier side but not too overwhelming. Went well with the honey mustard, but I wish they had more authentic Japanese sauces. Gyoza: one side of skin was crispy, the other three sides a bit soft. Stuffing was a bit mushy and seasoning was on the bland side. Ramen: soup tasted nice, rich briney flavor but not oily. Noodle tasted standard. Half-boiled egg nicely made, temperature was spot-on. Chashu could use a bit more seasoning. Wish they put in more veggies in the ramen. Overall: 3.5-4 stars. Karaage was nice, gyoza a bit disappointing, ramen is standard. There are things that could use some imporvements, but I am glad to see a decent Asian restaurant open near JHU campus again. read more

Kajiken - Tonkutsu shoyu ramen - Ramen Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

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Came around 1 PM and was mostly empty for the most par The karaage was super juicy and crunchy, coming with a side of spicy mayo, a slice of lemon, and ponzu with radish. Also got the chasu don which was the bowl of rice with chasu pieces, scallions, and seaweed on top. The pork melts in your mouth and had a great flavor, and the seaweed and scallions added a fresh taste to that. Rice was a little cold when it got to my table but it was still good. The two other sobas we got were nice, but were definitely very large. One of them was the niku miso, coming with slices of chasu pork and bamboo shoots. The other one was a little spicy. We ended up taking the spicy one home because all the food was a lot to stomach. Overall nice experience and the staff and service were all very nice and the food was pretty good. Would definitely come again for the rice bowl. read more

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Located in a nice area in the Baltimore region! Parking garage in the building. Been told this place in California always has really long lines, so it was nice to come in around 1pm on a weekend and seated immediately! Original Aburasoba - no soup, mix it together type of thing. First taste was on the saltier side but it got better after a couple bites! Flavors all come together really nicely and the noodles are really tender. The pork was delicious too. Good portion for one meal read more

Kajiken - The Original Aburasoba - Ramen Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

I'm so glad that one of the very few US locations of Kajiken happens to be in Baltimore! Located right on Hopkins Homewood campus, parking is hit or miss right near the restaurant but you won't have to drive too far to find some. There is a cute outdoor patio in front of the but I went on a humid evening so ended up sitting inside. The inside is electric -- there's an open kitchen so you can see, great, and smell everything going on and it got me so excited for the meal! There are some fun non-alcoholic drinks on the menu which you should absolutely try (plum Sprite, anyone?) The menu itself features both dry and classic ramen. Kajiken is known for the dry version, abura soba. If you've never had it before this is an excellent place to try it! Unlike traditional ramen it isn't soupy but still very moist and hearty. The vegetarian options are limited but it's easy to build a bowl to your liking. The servers were helpful with advice as I was trying to create mine! Can't wait to go back and try more off the menu. read more

Kajiken - Homura - Ramen Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

The abura soba here is so good. We tried the original, niku miso, and the sukiyaki and all were delicious. The sauce isn't overpowering like at some other places. You can add ground sesame seeds (at the table). Highly recommend adding a poached egg if it doesn't come with one! Street parking was convenient but there is also a garage. read more

Kajiken - Original, sukiyaki, and niku miso (sauces are at the bottom of the bowl) - Ramen Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

TLDR: Super authentic but has next to none vegetarian/vegan/GF options; loud setting; staff still in a learning curve. OK so hear me out. I realize this is a very popular chain worldwide. Reading their website, it's clear that mazesoba (ramen except without the broth) is their specialty. This is their first location in the United States and still fairly new. I went in with high expectations since the photos look delicious and the reviews have been great so far. Unfortunately, their menu is nowhere to be found on their website and had I been able to check out the menu beforehand, I would've probably avoided visiting. For anyone who is gluten free, vegan, or vegetarian, you'll want to avoid Kajiken. Currently, they have zero gluten free noodle options and almost all of the ramen is in pork broth. I believe I remember seeing one vegetarian option from the mazesoba menu. They do have rice dishes but they are very small and nothing to write home about. When I asked about rice noodle options, the waiter seemed to not know what the noodles they were using were made out of. Being that this is a nationwide brand, they know what they're doing and their menu is extremely authentic. I'm not rating this place low because of authenticity - I realize that not every place is going to be appealing to everyone especially those of us who unfortunately have to work around allergies or dietary restrictions. However, it would've been great to be able to research this beforehand like if their menu was on their website. I do think their staff need to be more knowledgeable about the ingredients in their food too. I will also say that the inside is super loud. Frequent loud beeping coming from the noodle cooking timers and shouting coming from the hostess and kitchen staff anytime someone new walks in or out. I guess it's part of their shtick. If that's your thing, you'll probably love Kajiken! I can't say the same for myself. Maybe if they broaden their menu a bit and provide a "build your own bowl" option their website suggests, I'd return. read more

Kajiken - Ramen Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

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This is a hip new-ish spot in Charles Village. I would say the major cons are your entire party has to be present to be seated and there is no convenient waiting area. Also, it's right in the middle of a college campus so there's a lot of youngsters who frequent the place. That may be a deterrent for some. Otherwise, it's a nice place, though tight. I'd love to say what I ordered but can't recall the names and the Kajiken website doesn't provide a menu. I'd say the food I ate was ok, but would order other things next time. Also, I'd definitely get takeout. read more

Kajiken - Appetizers - Ramen Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

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