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    Kiki College Hill

    4.3 (139 reviews)
    ModerateRamen, Gastropubs

    Kiki College Hill Photos

    KIKI COLLEGE HILL ATMOSPHERE

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    Hipster
    Casual
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    Short rib ramen
    Vanessa B.

    We came here on a Sunday night and had a great experience. The scallops and curry pan were definitely the highlight. The scallops melted in our mouths and the curry pan was savory and well balanced. So sad that they are leaving this location, but excited to see what's in store for them next!

    Black cod kushiyaki
    Stephanie W.

    Vibes: hipster, casual izakaya with plenty of bar seating; bring a friend or a few Tasting notes: Black cod kushiyaki: crispy skin and flaky meat with mildly sweet, light miso flavor; crunchy, slightly salty cabbage was a good contrast; solid portion for one person Karaage with oroshi ponzu: perfectly battered thigh meat; loved piling the flavored oroshi on the big pieces of chicken Kinoko bowl: earthy, tender mushrooms made up in portion size by number rather than thickness; sauce is on the sweet side, picked up well by generous portion of rice Seafood wonton ramen: not too spicy, subtly flavored broth, loved the shrimp/scallop wontons that were big bite-sized with fresh meat inside; light on the noodle portion but excellent springiness Matcha gimlet: very sippable and refreshing; just sweet enough with good balance of matcha and lime Matcha oreo gelato: shareable portion; soft with mild matcha flavor; wish there were more Oreo pieces Other thoughts: - friendly, attentive service - the dishes were satisfying for two moderately hungry adults Impression: light bites or a full meal, Kiki hits the spot when I am craving izakaya-style food!

    Curry Pan
    Amy D.

    With all the accolades, nominations, and a visit from Guy Fieri, I expected Kiki to knock our socks off. Well, this was not the case. We ate early on a Sunday and our server Joel was friendly and explained how the menu worked. I ordered a glass of pinot grigio, but they were out of that, so he suggested another white. We ordered the Curry Pan, which looked fun, but tasted bland and dry. The Inari Soba was a dish I've never heard of, so we ordered that. It was also bland and dry, and there was no where near enough dressing on the soba noodles. The "shell" was also mushy. It looks pretty in a picture though! Next was Chicken Karaage. The tempura batter made the pieces super crunchy, but it really lacked seasoning. There is a choice of 5 sauces from which to choose at $1 each. The gyoza was the star of the small plate dishes. The presentation was unique with the apron of batter holding them together. You can taste that the filling is an original recipe of Chef Hideki and Yuko because it is unlike any gyoza we have tasted. The sauce was so citrus forward that, although we didn't enjoy it, must have been a perfect compliment to the gyoza. Lastly, I ordered the Shio Ramen. It was good, the noodles were springy, and the pork belly and egg were cooked perfectly. After returning from Vancouver where there is a great ramen joint on every corner, this one to me was only good, not great. I wish there was more of it, and more toppings. There are also good ramen spots near me in West Chester.

    Tamaki hand roll
    Marygrace A.

    Made a last minute reservation on a Thursday evening and we were seated quickly. We ordered the oysters first which were from Nova Scotia and so petite and delicious. Next we split the tamaki hand roll which was $28. Generous amount of fish and so flavorful. Two people can get several hand rolls each with fish, rice, kimchi. We then ordered two types of ramen, the shio ramen and the kimchi ramen. The kimchi ramen was very good but a little saltier than I prefer but the shio ramen was outstanding. Overall, the service was extremely fast, the food was fresh and delicious and the experience was super positive. I will absolutely be returning to try there branzino with chimichurri.

    Chicken karaage
    Cindy C.

    Can't believe I haven't made the drive out here before, food was really great, not a single miss. The chicken karaage were juicy and large pieces, ponzu sauce and house mayo were great. The ramen was probably the most authentic Japanese ramen I've had in Cincinnati, not a fatty broth, very simple and flavorful - yes it is better than mochiko if you are looking for something more authentic. The fried haddock was delicious, could have been cooked maybe 30s-1min less but it was definitely not overcooked, fresh and flavorful. And the matcha oreo gelato was amazing, yuzu was good too but matcha one was best. Lovely ambiance, will be booking a reservation again soon!

    The Cod Main, can't remember the name lol
    Desmond D.

    Absolutely incredible experience. Kiki offers dishes with absolutely top tier, high-end quality in a setting that feels less stuffy and more copacetic. My favorite restaurants in the city all happen to be of the tapas-style variety and I can confidently state that Kiki has entered the pantheon with Abigails and Mita's but Kiki is even more reasonably priced in many ways. We tried around six things and I could tell immediately that each and every one of them felt expertly crafted and tasted like a final evolution of a concept or idea rather than a rough draft. The Yakiimo, The Karaage, The Cod, The Wagyu and Gyoza were especially exquisite.

    Hours of operation..mostly dinner
    Nathan M.

    I love Japanese food for its honor and focus on creating beautiful looking and tasting food with the freshest ingredients. Kiki nailed it. Every dish had the right combination of texture, unique flavors, fresh ingredients, and artfully created presentation. You should definitely give Kiki a try if you like the Japanese food vibe with a flare of unique food creations. My wife and I visited Kiki on a Sunday night and it was completely full. The restaurant has mostly tables for parties of 2-6, with many places to sit around the bar. The interior gave me a hipster vibe. The menu has mostly smaller sharable option which I liked because my wife and I could try more items. We got the Gyoza, Beet Skewer, Japanese sweet potato, Shio Ramen, and the Poke bowl, tonight with sashimi salmon. For drinks I had the Kiki lager from the neighboring Brinks brewery and my wife had the Yuzu lager from the Kiuchi brewery. Let me give a very brief review of each dish, because they all deserve part of the spotlight. Yakiimo - Japanese sweet potatoes. I want to marry this dish it made me so happy. The sweet potatoes were crispy and had a butter and salt mix on the top. I could eat this all day. Beet Skewer - I love beets and this dish had perfectly grilled beets with hazelnuts, which made them even better. Gyoza - the presentation of this Gyoza is like nothing you've seen AND had a very nice citrusy dipping sauce. My Poke Bowl had a perfect balance of sashimi salmon and precision cut cucumber for crunch. My wife's Shio Ramen was phenomenal. The broth EAS TO DIE FOR. The other stuff was good too, but that broth was heaven My Kiki beer was like a typical lager with hints of tea. My wife's Yuzu lager had a delightful layer of citrus flavor. Both beer were a fantastic step away front the beaten path. This is definitely a place I will recommend my friends and family that truly love food that respects freshness and unique flavors. I will for sure come back many times.

    Fried Green tomatoes
    Ashley C.

    Kiki do love me ? Sorry I couldn't resist, anyway super cute space with metered parking. I for sure suggest a reservation because the space is small but comfortable. I did not love the appetizer (chicken karaage) lacked seasoning but the chicken was crispy and the dipping sauce made it work. The fried green tomatoes stole the show as far as starters. The dinner is what reeled me In. The tuna poke bowl did not miss. It had flavor and seasoned well. You can't go without trying the seafood ramen , the broth was very good. The portions are not big so I suggest getting multiple things. The cocktail list makes the place a solid. Service was great so they delivered. Date night was a success!

    Kimchi
    Melissa L.

    KIKI'S IS THE SPOT!!!! If you want ramen that speaks to your soul this is where you want to be. Heres what to order when you go: The Kakiage with all the dipping sauces (basically a fired vegetable fritter. If you like Outback fried blooming onion you'll enjoy this) The Pork Gyoza The Karrage and all the dipping sauces (basically fried chicken and extra delicious) The Shio Ramen You will thank me later! This is the ultimate winter comfort food. Hot Tip: Dont try to go late in the evening because they tend to be packed. But if you do, there are lots of bars near by to hang out in until your table is ready so dont be discouraged

    Kimchi Ramen
    Linh V.

    Love that they were able to seat us and take our order pretty quickly. The servers were really attentive. Sad to say that the flavor of the food isn't there. Not sure if it due to the demographics being served. Wish the jackfruit karaage had more of a jackfruit taste.

    Arthur L.

    Japanese food in College Hill? Yes, please!! The food is great and the service is just as good need I say more? I will so that you have the same great experience I did. The menu is kept simple but broad enough that it'll please even the pickiest of eaters. The dishes come out pretty quick so you're not left waiting in hunger or feeling forgotten about. The place is set up like a small diner intimate but inviting. The staff are very engaging and can explain the menu in detail so that you know what you're expecting before you get it. The only surprises are how good it all tastes. Tips to make your visit a success: 1) There may be a wait. On a weekend night expect to wait awhile. But the wait is worth it so come prepared and enjoy your time salivating over what you will soon experience. 2) Think tapas. This place will not serve large portions not even the ramen but if you come expecting that then you will order more to offset that. I say think tapas because it is set up for you to order multiple things from the menu. Come check out Kiki and get your taste of Japanese food now!!

    Kimchi Ramen and Kakiage
    Aaron T.

    I came to this place with zero expectations with a few friends, and I was blown away! The food is served tapas style, but they are a pretty good size, so everyone can share. I really recommend the Napa Caesar Salad and the Jackfruit Karaage. Our server, Sam, was beyond helpful with food recommendations and which sake to order. I think with her serving expertise along with the chill vibes of the restaurant, I would highly recommend giving this place a chance, especially if you love Japanese food!

    Kinoko bowl
    Colleen A.

    Kiki College Hill is a GREAT choice for dinner. They have a pretty small menu, but that is because each item was selected carefully and a lot of work went into curating each dish. I found that the smaller menu also helps with decision making. My husband and I split karaage chicken (a MUST!) with a side of tasty dipping sauce. We also got the kinoko bowl. It had good flavor, but we add to add soy to spice it up as it was a little too mild. The gyoza was delicious. Spot on. It also had a pretty unique presentation! The individual dumplings were essentially served all baked into a super thing sheet of dough? Check out the pic. My friends ordered curry pan and liked it so much, they put in a second order! They also got edamame and generously shared with us. It was tasty. My friend ordered a poke bowl and had to ask for soy sauce to spice it up, as it was a bit mild in flavor. He said the soy sauce was the perfect addition! Our server was kind and helpful and walked us through the menu in detail! The restaurant itself has such a chill vibe with simple decor. It is exceptionally clean. The bathrooms have single use cloth towels that get washed between uses. I really appreciated this green practice. Would recommend popping into Kiki for dinner sometime. Actually, make a reservation-- they fill up FAST.

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    Zundo Ramen & Donburi - Shoyu ramen with white peach lychee sake

    Zundo Ramen & Donburi

    4.1(255 reviews)
    6.5 miOver-the-Rhine
    $$

    We decided to try Zundo Ramen & Donburi prior to a show at Memorial Hall. We arrived at 6 pm on a…read moreFriday. All seats at the bar were open, but we hoped to sit at a regular (not high-top) table. As it turned out there were a few options in the back. That said, it wasn't long before the place was packed. Our server Tyra was fantastic. Down to earth and helpful with recommendations. She made us feel welcome and comfortable. We started with Jumbo Ebi Shumai. Tyra asked if we wanted a fourth (the dish comes with three) so we wouldn't have to rock-paper-scissors for the third dumpling. I thought they were delicious. I loved the spicy mustard that came with them. I admit they had a slight fishy flavor. I mean it was shrimp and I enjoyed it. Mark is less of a fish fan in general. The dumplings didn't really hit the mark for him. If you like seafood and you like shrimp you should enjoy the Shumai. I opted for Tonkatsu Ramen - Ramen and thick creamy pork broth with roast pork, soft boiled egg, bamboo, wood ear mushroom, ginger and green onion. I added black garlic oil and did not go spicy at all. I thought it was very good and I ate literally every drop. Mark had Spicy Miso Ramen - Ramen and spicy creamy soybean paste pork broth with roast pork, soft boiled egg, bamboo, wood ear mushroom, and green onion. He said it was spicy, which was perfect for him. He also enjoyed his meal and finished every drop. We still had time to kill before the show so we opted for dessert. There were two options - Green Tea or Red Bean Ice Creams. Tyra recommended Red Bean and I'm glad she did. It was sweet with just the slightest crunch from the beans. It was a good size serving, hand dipped by Tyra. The proximity of Zundo to Memorial Hall or Music Hall makes it the perfect pre-show stop for dinner. We will definitely be back.

    My first taste of ramen in Cincinnati, and it was delicious! It was somewhat busy on a Sunday…read moreevening - most of the tables were full. I went with the Tonkotsu ramen - delicious! The broth was my favorite part of the dish. Service was a bit slow - server took a while between stages of the meal. Overall, however, I was very happy with my meal and will definitely come back for more ramen.

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    Yuzu Lager

    Kiki College Hill - ramen - Updated May 2026

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