I've come here twice now and I didn't realize I never left a review the first time I came! So now I feel I have even more to say how you much gotta come to Kajiken! Both times I've come I hadn't had to wait very long and our second time was with a large group including kids. Our server was great in helping us preorder before we could get seated and we only waited 15 minutes. We all ordered the same things: half of us ordered the original aburasoba and the other half ordered the homura aburasoba and the food came out quickly. They kindly gave us little bowls for the kiddos and forks and all the kids loved the noodles and the adults shared a large pitcher of beer. All in all, best aburasoba and one of my favorite spots in San Mateo! read more

Finally had a chance to try this San Mateo hotspot. My two friends ordered the best-seller homura aburasoba (spicy minced pork) and I had the unagi version. We also had the squid and gyoza appetizers. Food was well prepared and tasty, even if the service was harried and uneven. A few servers knocked into my friend and one even spilled on her while clearing dishes from the neighboring table. The staff also hovered as we were finishing our meal and asked several times if we were done/needed anything else and then less subtly if we could vacate the table. Also, we had placed ourselves on the Yelp waitlist instead of standing in the line outside and then were told when we went to check in that they don't use the Yelp waitlist, and that set us back a half hour. The food is great, but the logistics could use some work. read more

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Overall: 4.1/5 [dine in] There was a line on Friday night but it moved fast. The seating inside is pretty tight so your table is basically an inch from the next one, almost like a communal dining experience. Nikumori Aburasoba ($18.50): Spicy pork, pork slices, green onion, and ajitama. The spicy ground pork was delicious and they were generous with the thin pork slices, though those weren't as good as the ground pork. The ajitama was perfectly jammy. The aburasoba flavors were okay but less flavorful than mazesoba, which I now know I prefer. Wagyu Roast Beef Aburasoba ($25.50) + Chashu ($1.75) + Spicy Minced Pork ($3.95) + Ajitama ($2.50): Wagyu roast beef, crispy onions, green onions, butter onion sauce, yogurt sauce, and raw egg yolk. The chashu was average but the wagyu roast beef was thin and incredibly tender. The yogurt sauce and raw egg yolk made this one pretty creamy which I actually liked more than the Nikumori. Ume ($1.50): Did not like this at all. Hard pass. read more

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Found another great ramen spot in downtown San Mateo. I had seen this place several times before and simply assumed it was trendy by all the youngsters lined up out front. This guy likes to let the hype die down before trying the latest "cool place". Kajiken specializes in Arubasoba, which is like a dry ramen. I haven't had it here in the U.S., but tried it in Tokyo and loved it. I was excited to learn that is what Kajiken was all about. I tried their signature dish Homura Aburasoba with two poached eggs. It was absolutely fantastic. I think I might have found a solid challenger to my favorite ramen place in the downtown. This dish was an incredible blend of soba noodles, spicy minced pork, fresh vegatables and egg. Wow. I am a huge fan. Just thinking about it now makes me want to jump in MINI and race down to them Italian Job-style. I also had the ponzu karaage and it too was simple delicious. The ponzu gave the wonderful fried chicken an added zip. Oh, yeah. Service was good and our service kept refilling out water carafe, which as appreciated. I needed it cool down the spiciness of the soba. Okay, time for the iPhone snaps. read more

Kajiken - Japanese Near Me - San Mateo, California

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Was looking for a quick lunch between my son's baseball game. Glad we found this place. Brought us back to being in Japan. I had the Homura Aburasoba. The noodles were thick and had a nice chew to them. Everything just went so well together especially with the menu recommendation of adding vinegar and chili oil to the bowl. I added an extra Ajitama to my order, which was the best seasoned boiled egg I've had. read more

Kajiken - HOMURA ABURASOBA - Japanese Near Me - San Mateo, California

One of my favourite noodle spots! Best dry noodles I've ever had. Line wasn't too long to be seated outside. San Mateo is a nice area in general! read more

Kajiken - Japanese Near Me - San Mateo, California

The food was delicious. Love the different flavors and the chew of the noodles. The service was commandeering and efficient. The ambiance enjoyed the playlist. Definitely coming back. Worth the Caltrain trip. read more

Kajiken - SOBORO ABURASOBA - Japanese Near Me - San Mateo, California

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The food is amazing!! The line is always long and we finally had a chance to eat here. The noodles are delicious and the service was quick. Can't recommend enough! read more

Kajiken - Japanese Near Me - San Mateo, California

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TLDR: Worth the wait. The noodles are excellent. This is a different kind of Japanese Noodle Place. Not soup-based, but noodles barely coated in a simple soy infused oil. SPEEDY SERVICE While daunting in appearance, the long line out in front moves surprisingly quickly - only 12 minutes for us to get seated! Friendly enthusiastic attentive staff. Given the queue, they really move you through here in a friendly sort of way, so it's not a place to sit and linger after consuming your meal. There's tons of dessert places just outside.. =) Inside you'll find airy high ceilings and a busy energetic vibe with music that is almost kinda loud! Tables are pretty close together to accommodate everyone. Understandable given the constant lines outside. We came here on a late afternoon midweek. We ordered the: CHASU RICE Appearing almost immediately after ordering, you get a good sized bowl of your basic bits of pork belly-infused Japanese rice - tender and most throughout. It could use a tiny pinch of salt to dial it in, but it worked well with the Aburasoba. Generous serving - enough for both of us. ORIGINAL ABURASOBA オリジナル油そば Aburasoba basically means "oil noodles". Not "oily" in a bad sense, but supple and smooth and superb! With this you get two pieces of 1/8" thick chashu, bamboo shoots, green onions, and nori (seaweed.) The star of the show here are the noodles - supple, al-dente with every bite and such an delightful texture. Served warm. Suggested for first timers, I split this with my light-eating wife. Between us, and the side of rice it was enough for a light lunch after a big breakfast we had earlier. I definitely look forward to coming back here at the first opportunity. Worth the wait. read more

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Whenever we have a noodle fix we come here. We get there early around 5 to avoid the lines. Service usually fast, appreciate they do payments at the table instead of waiting for cash register Noodles are chewy and flavorful. I like to add a zing with every bite with a dash of vinegar from the bottles of condiments they have at the table Noodles go down well with a cold beer The cold tofu has nice acidity read more

4.5/5! The karaage was nice and tender. The tofu tasted good but wish it was the agedashi type, which I think would elevate the dish! Homura aburasoba was the highlight of the meal. The noodles were nice and bouncy, and the sauce, ground pork, and garnishes were a perfect harmony. read more

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This place was great! I've never had brothless ramen before and wasn't sure what to expect. My girlfriends brought me here and when I realized it was brothless is was a little disappointed but that quickly changed as soon as I tasted my meal. It was amazing, the freshness of the ingredients and the chewiness of the noodles. Everything was so darn good! I could care less about the broth at that point. I basically cleaned my bowl off! The service was quick, efficient and we never had to flag any of the staff down. It gets really busy and it's a smaller place, we had to wait about 20 minutes before getting seated but honestly it was worth the wait! I'm glad my friends surprised me by bringing me here and I can't wait to come back and enjoy another bowl! read more

Kajiken - Japanese Near Me - San Mateo, California

We arrived on a Sunday at 6:20pm and waited 10 minutes for a table. Meanwhile our order was taken so after sitting down our bowls were served within 5 minutes. Besides inside seating they also have counter seating and outdoor seating. They offer 9 different dry ramen variations plus a monthly special. You can add additional toppings for an extra charge. They also serve appetizers and rice bowls. It's a very casual dining experience with Japanese pop music playing in the background. The dry ramen is a very hearty meal with various condiments on the table including garlic, sesame seeds, chili, sesame oil and vinegar to adjust to your taste. The noodles were cooked al dente. I tried both the original and the Homura aburasoba and liked them both. The spicy pork wasn't spicy at all and the char siu was very tender. Had a bit of leftover and took it home. read more

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Located in San Mateo I would rate this place a 3/5 Interior design is nice an beautiful. Service was okay most likely due to the large amount of customers coming in and out. A lot of the workers are busy so you have to flag them down and they rarely come check in on you Homura ABURASOBA 7/10 Chicken Marage 7/10 The food here definitely is packed with flavor but the portion sizing is significantly smaller than Elk Grove location. JD Big Back tip: if you get seated near the door you may be interested in bringing a jacket because it does get very windy and cold. Also if you want a spoon you will have to go to the front to request for one. read more

Kajiken - Karage - Japanese Near Me - San Mateo, California

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I've heard amazing things about Kajiken, and it definitely lived up to the hype! I tried the soboro aburasoba, and it was absolutely delicious - so flavorful! The keema curry arubasoba was also tasty if you like more of a curry taste - just a tad spicy, but nothing too bad. Our waitress was very nice - service is great. There was no line when we went on a Wednesday for lunch, but dinner & weekends usually almost always have one. I would return for the soboro arubasoba! read more

Kajiken - SOBORO ABURASOBA - Japanese Near Me - San Mateo, California

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Forgot to take a photo before mixing, but it did look very aesthetic. Ordered the wagyu roast beef abura soba with raw egg yolk off delivery. I've seen the line in person and it's normally very long. With the yogurt, and other mix ins, it was very flavorful and creamy. The noodles are great texture and they give a big portion. I recommend this and want to try it in person read more

Kajiken - Japanese Near Me - San Mateo, California

One of my favorite restaurants in DTSM! Kaijken specializes in aburasoba, which I had no idea about before I found this place. Aburasoba is brothless ramen that instead uses a mix of oils and sauces to create a savory sauce. I've tried almost everything on the menu and my favorite is the Homura Aburasoba (their #1 seller), which comes with minced pork and a raw egg yolk. The pork and egg yolk create a rich, creamy sauce that pairs with the chewy ramen noodles. If I'm feeling something lighter/less saucy, I get the original aburasoba, which comes with chashu instead of the minced pork. I've also tried all the various karaage, takoyaki, and gyoza. Nothing insanely special, but great to pair with the ramen. It's a small spot and there's usually a wait, but they do also have an outdoor seating area that's open when the weather allows. Plan to wait in line if you're going on a weekend! The servers are very friendly and attentive, I always appreciate never having to ask for a water refill here. read more

Kajiken - Japanese Near Me - San Mateo, California

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Came for dinner with my girlfriends on a Thursday at 7pm-- there will be a line outside but it moves fairly quickly. They ask for your order while you're waiting in line so that when you are seated, the food comes out very quick. The inside of the restaurant was packed but it didn't seem too loud! I got the waygu roast beef aburasoba! This is the first time I tried the brothless ramen & it definitely was super delicious! The egg mixed in makes it super creamy. My bowl was seasoned great! I would definitely come back again to try some appetizers. My friend who ordered the unagi loved her bowl except there were large bones that were hard to pick out. read more

Kajiken - WAGYU ROAST BEEF ABURASOBA - Japanese Near Me - San Mateo, California

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One of my favorite noods places in the bay area! I've never tried dry ramen before Kajiken, but now it's one of my go-tos when I'm craving something saucy and carb-y and delicious! Sometimes the line can get long, especially during weekend rush hour, so I recommend going a little before they open and snagging a table early. They have both indoor and outdoor seating, casual nice. Ive tried their top 3 most popular ones, and they're all delicious! Highly recommend dining in as they have vinegar and spicy sauces and garlic chips you can add to your bowl. Definitely worth a visit, especially if you stop by on a day there's no wait! read more

Kajiken - Homura aburasoba - Japanese Near Me - San Mateo, California

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No wait, got in immediately on a Saturday 1PM. Waited about 10 min until our food came. We sat outside which was nice on a hot day. Good portion, good level of spice, added some vinegar. Tasted deliciousssss and hit the spot. read more

Kajiken - HOMURA ABURASOBA - Japanese Near Me - San Mateo, California

Food good, service was really bad today. Like empty tables buys food came out 30 min after ordering. Dirty cups. Food came out apart and no one checks in on us read more

Kajiken - Japanese Near Me - San Mateo, California

Kajiken hits the spot between comfort and pure gluttony! I typically do not love noodle places, but this is on another level. I have been to Kajiken twice now, and it has been absolutely delicious each time. It is located in downtown San Mateo, so it does not have its own dedicated parking lot. If you come on the weekend, it can be harder to find parking, and the likelihood of a wait is high. When it gets busy, there is a section outside for you to line up. The servers typically come out to the folks closest to the front of the line and hand them menus so they can decide what they want before being seated. When it is not as busy, you can walk in directly and request a table. The shop itself actually has a lot of seating, but there is always an influx of people, so it fills up quickly. The interior gives off a nice modern Japanese chic vibe. :) They also offer outdoor patio seating, which is great if you are trying to enjoy a nice day outside. I have tried both their Wagyu Roast Beef Aburasoba and their Soboro Aburasoba. The roast beef is tender and adds a nice chew against the silky noodles, while the soboro chicken is juicy and coats your mouth with a savory soy flavor. Additionally, I've had their karaage on both occasions I visited, and it was succulent! I love how the juice from the chicken balances with the generous amount of grated ginger and green onion. This place is definitely worth a try! If you can go on a weekday before the dinner rush from people getting off their 9-5 jobs, that would probably be the optimal time frame. I came here on a Wednesday around 6:15 PM, and it was not too bad until around 7 PM when it started getting busy. read more

Kajiken - SOBORO ABURASOBA and HOMURA ABURASOBA - Japanese Near Me - San Mateo, California

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Fast, delicious and filling!! Their original was super umami, and the portion sizes are pretty big. I loved their marinated egg as a replacement for the raw egg yolk. The service is super fast, we got seated right away and our order came out in minutes. They have a lot of seating too. Great place to go to in San Mateo! read more

Kajiken - ORIGINAL ABURASOBA - Japanese Near Me - San Mateo, California

I was in San Mateo, and I was hungry. I checked Yelp and Google, and there were so many places to choose from, I didn't know what to pick. I checked Michelin, and it help me narrow it down to Kajiken. As I walked to Kajiken, I knew I was getting close because it was the only place that had a line-up outside. There were probably 12-14 people waiting, and I wondering if I should find another place because I didn't want to wait. Fortunately, as a single diner, they sat me right away. I ended up ordering the Original Aburasoba and it came in about 5 minutes. It was good. Great texture, good flavours, and a reasonable serving size. Service was fine but minimal. Dining area is typical of modern ramen places. Overall, a nice quick meal. Maybe closer to a 3.5 or 3.75 as it was good, but I was also very hungry. I would consider returning. read more

Kajiken - ORIGINAL ABURASOBA - Japanese Near Me - San Mateo, California

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I've come 4 times now and it still hits every single time. Almost always a line, but it moves extremely quickly. Service is good, interior is well-lit and clean, and the food is just amazing. Make sure you get the hot tea as well! Noodles are so fresh and perfectly cooked. FOOD: Wagyu Roast Beef Aburasoba (9/10) - My personal favorite! The roast beef is extremely tender, and the yogurt sauce pairs perfectly with her. Pro-tip, add a little bit of vinegar - tastes even better Nikumori Aburasoba (9/10) - Slightly spicy with a ton of pork inside. The sauce coats the noodles perfectly - amazing! read more

Kajiken - Japanese Near Me - San Mateo, California

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Nood Awakening Japan-based chain of restaurants that features brothless ramen, known as "Abura soba," which translates to "oil noodles." Basically, instead of a broth, the noodles are coated in a flavorful oil-based sauce and then topped with an almost limitless variety of toppings. Kajiken is probably the foremost purveyor of this type of cuisine, as they now have over 100 restaurants worldwide, with this San Mateo location being one of their best performers--as it's been Michelin recommended three years in a row ('23-'25), as well as being ranked #14 on the Yelp Top-100 Places to Eat in the Bay Area** 2024 & #10 on the 2025 list*** The Good: * Great location in Downtown San Mateo surrounded by tons of other restaurants and shops. * Service was fast, efficient, and friendly. * Excellent pricing, as we both had our own Abura Soba and shared an app for less than $50! This is unheard of in these trying times of exorbitant housing, gas prices, and tariffs. *Housemade soba noodles were just fantastic. They were packed with flavor, great texture, and are my favorite thicccness. *The sauces on the noodles were both really terrific, and I just couldn't get enough. I definitely could've downed another whole bowl of this stuff just because. The Meh: *No outdoor dining *We enjoyed the crispiness and flavor of the Karaage, but didn't really get much of any of the Ponzu flavor. The Ugly: *Downtown equals street parking only, so be prepared to fight for it and have to shell out a few bucks, as well. Even on a random Wed afternoon, we found ourselves having to circle the block a few times before landing a spot. Conclusion: I realize we're a few years behind on discovering this place, but it's always better late than never! Run--don't walk here the next time you get a craving for noodles. Highly, highly recommended. **https://www.yelp.com/collection/VYiUdPIDvoQ9FOLPfGgJMw/Top-100-Places-to-Eat-in-the-Bay-Area ***https://yelp.to/lANpqKw4Ah read more

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This place is solid, but can get really busy at nights so it took us a while to try it! We came on a late Saturday afternoon and sat outside. The outdoor seating is pretty nice and inside is even nicer. Good vibes all around. Service was fantastic and very attentive too. Prices are very fair for the portion sizes and quality!! The aburasoba was good and had a lot of components. I always appreciate an array of condiments on the table too for making the bowl taste exactly how you like! I added a lot of vinegar and it was really yummy! The ponzu karaage was really good! Super tender and the grated daikon mixture on top added great freshness! I'll be back to try some other dishes (as long as the wait isn't long haha)! read more

Kajiken - OROSHI PONZU KARAAGE - Japanese Near Me - San Mateo, California

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This place was soooooo goood. The reviews didn't lie. I tried their homura aburasoba, wagyu rice and original. I was skeptical of the yogurt sauce but I definitely would get it again. The food is definitely hearty, but I love all the fix-ins they give you. The bamboo is definitely my favorite. Would reccomend the aburasoba as the original is a little bit more basic in comparison. read more

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I always love this place. This was the third time I've been by and always astounded by how good their food is. I always love to bring more people to experience their food. read more

Kajiken - Japanese Near Me - San Mateo, California

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Does not take reservations but is also pretty big for seating. Highly recommend the "top 1" Very nice flavours and the vinegar just makes it taste so much more flavourful. It does feel a bit crowded and parking is rough. read more

Kajiken - Japanese Near Me - San Mateo, California

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Second visit: I returned to Kajiken for lunch today. A Wednesday - No line! I walked in and got to sit at a street side tall seat. My order was Soboro Aburasoba noodles with green onions and ground chicken. I substituted the raw for a poached egg. First off, these noodles have no soup. You mix up the egg with the melange of ingredients resulting in a pasta sauce of sorts. My dish was sweet since the ground chicken seems to have been cooked in a teriyaki-type sauce. After a few bites, I added in some sesame seeds and garlic seasoning. After a little more time, I added in some vinegar - this helped balance the flavor more. For me, this dish was disappointing. The noodles were okay. But after half a bowl, the dish was really boring. It's like eating a big bowl of pasta Bolognese. A few bites if the same flavor and I wanted to have something else. The service was so-so. I was not offered the free tea (unlike my neighbors who were both males). I had to ask for it. At the end, I had to flag a server for my bill. The food here at Kajiken is not inexpensive. The line must be due to the dishes being different from traditional ramen with soup. But for me, I will likely stay on the savory ramen-with-soup-fan side rather be a sweet-dry-noodle fan side. read more

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Came here on Sunday around 3:45PM and there was no line. There were plenty of outside and indoor seating. We opted for inside since it was so cold. On the menu, there were so many great options to choose from along with appetizers and toppings to add into the noodles as well. I got the keene curry aburasoba with a seasoned egg and my friend got the homura aburasoba. I added chili oil and garlic to my curry noodles for more flavor. The noodles here are so soft and chewy. I can't wait for them to open a location in south bay :) read more

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I love this place so much! It's easily one of my favorite spots for ramen. The aburasoba (soupless ramen) is amazing, the noodles are always fresh and have the perfect chew The San Mateo location is great because they have outdoor seating, and they even have heaters to keep you warm if it gets too cold. Definitely a must-visit! read more

Kajiken - ORIGINAL ABURASOBA NIKUMORI ABURASOBA - Japanese Near Me - San Mateo, California

We got their top 1 and it was def filling! Adding the vinegar and spice added so much extra flavor to balance out the saltiness from everything else. Wish I ordered the chashu but there's always a next time! read more

Kajiken - HOMURA ABURASOBA - Japanese Near Me - San Mateo, California

Kajiken has been on my to-try list for awhile. Two of us ordered: oroshi ponzu karaage $10 homura aburasoba $17.50 half ajitama + cheese $1.50 homura aburasoba $17.50 raw egg yolk Chicken needed some mayo/sauce of some sort, but fried well. Had high hopes for flavor profile, but a bit mushy. Bonito flake fishiness overpowers the bowl quite a bit. No need to add the cheese as it didn't melt. Came in around 1PM and no wait. Street parking and garage parking available. read more

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Soupless ramen? First time having aburasoba and I'm a fan. The noodles are served dried with sauce and oil. Then you add additional toppings like vinegar, chili oil, chili sauce, sesame seeds. Most of their aburasoba comes with an egg yolk. It makes the noodles thick and creamy like carbonara. read more

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Loved Kajiken every time we've been! There was a line when we went on the weekend, but the wait wasn't too bad. I've tried ordering a different noodle each visit, but I always end up wishing I'd just gotten the Homura Aburasoba again. The combination of fish powder seasoning, raw egg yolk, and savory meat sauce makes the noodles incredibly rich, flavorful, and packed with umami. The other noodle dishes without the fish powder tasted more like Chinese dan dan noodles to me. They're still good, but they don't have the same unique flavor that makes Kajiken stand out. We also ordered the chicken karaage, takoyaki, and agedashi tofu for the kids, and everything was delicious. The menu recommends the Original Aburasoba for first-time visitors, but if you don't mind the fish powder taste, I'd actually recommend the Homura Aburasoba. It's the dish that really offers the best experience! read more

Great food and service . I've always loved BBQing at the table! The restaurant is clean and inviting.

Finally got to try Kajiken, an aburasoba spot in the Bay Area that I've been wanting to visit. Overall I liked it! Just something to keep in mind, the noodles are pretty thick and chewy, so it feels quite heavy and filling. I was definitely full pretty quickly. The flavor was really enjoyable for me, but my husband is a bit sensitive to fishy tastes and he didn't love it as much. So I think it depends on your preference. We also got the karaage on the side, which was okay but nothing super memorable. I'd come back again when I'm specifically craving aburasoba, but just be ready for something on the heavier side. read more

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Ordered takeout here and was surprised to see it was Michelin rated. I got Soboro Aburasoba (soy marinated ground chicken with plenty of green onions and and egg yolk over noodles). It was essentially broth-less ramen with the same amount of umami flavor. Every bite was decadent and packed with toppings and firm thin ramen noodles. The chicken to noodles ratio was perfect (I love chicken, if you don't like a lot of protein this may not be for you). The curry variation looked delicious as well and I plan to try it next time. read more