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    Kuro-Obi

    3.1 (255 reviews)
    ModerateRamen
    Closed 11:00 am - 9:00 pm

    Order Kuro-Obi Takeout or Delivery

    Kuro-Obi Photos

    Business Info

    KURO-OBI ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for kids
    Good for groups

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    Tina L.

    Place is well kept and clean. Located right inside the mall. I LOVED how the mall has an area where you get to wash your hands before you eat your meal. Things seemed to have came in to-go containers. I guess making it easier for the workers so that they don't have have to do dishes. The broth for the ramen dishes seem to be hearty and flavorful. Small portions though. Service seemed to be eh regular. Didn't have to wait too long. It was my family and I's first time trying out this spot. I'm not from the area, but if I ever come back I'd try them again if I am craving ramen unless there is other options.

    Steven C.

    The mall and restaurant will need to keep place clean and safe for customers to dine, having a rat (or mouse) running around is not okay

    Only bean sprouts and noodle. Where's the meat and other stuff?

    Ordered two of the Kuro-obi to go and all they gave me was noodles and bean sprouts. I should have checked before I left but why would they just package bean sprouts and noodle.

    Tonkatsu ramen - spicy and non spicy
    Shirley L.

    $3 extra to add an egg??? No thanks. The ramen here is lackluster - quality has gone done (soggy vs bouncy noodles) from what I remember, and the portions are small. No wonder this place doesn't have a line anymore; I found more joy from our Panda Express plate, which by the way does still always have a line. Would not recommend.

    desi H.

    Ordered tantan ramen. My first time with tofu, second time with chicken, disgusting the chicken still raw and hard! The broth is ok but super salty, not much noodle too much green union and other crunchy veggies i don't know what is it! Tantan normally with ground meat, either beef or pork! This is not worth it

    This is the worst bamboo shoots ever, in a sad generic cardboard bowl. $42 wasted. Next time I use yelp to find a ramen spot.

    Wanted to like it. Did not. Lady was nice enough to go over the wonderful 3 types of noodles they have, just to say that we're not allowed to change to them. The broth of the tonkotsu was pretty good. However they serve it in some generic cardboard bowls which means it got cold really quickly. The meat was tough sadly. And at this point we both were thinking u know- this is mid, maybe lower mid. However, we then ate a piece of the bamboo shoot (which I assume is pickled based on taste) and got a HUGE shock as it is like this sour citrusy flavor. Bro- that does NOT belong in ramen. That killed it for me. $42 for this is insane. Rather have my money back.

    Gene D.

    First time visiting this mall and decided to try Kuro-Obi. To be frank, the ramen here isn't really anything special. It just feels like anything else? It's good but nothing more, it feels like the usual generic stuff. I personally feel the price is too high considering the quality of the food, you could get something better knowing that steep price tag

    KURO-OBI

    Cold flavorless piece of pork, noodles are hard, worst ramen I had in my entire life. I would rather be hungry than eat this.

    Jack R.

    Get ready for small portions at regular prices. This is like a kids' bowl. Salty broth, undercooked noodles, slow service, skimpy toppings. No wonder there's no line. They charge an arm and a leg for chicken karagge, like $13 for a couple pieces!?!? I saw a woman order it and complain about the portion size, so we skipped that. The takoyaki we got for $10 for 8 pieces was no better. Chewy weird tasting balls with like no octopus and, again, undercooked. The Shiro-Obi didn't have the rich broth like advertised and again look at how few noodles are in this bowl. I think vending machines give you bigger portions!

    Aka and midori
    Stephanie S.

    There were several red flags but I decided to order because in the past they had pretty decent ramen. I don't know what happened; maybe the owner changed but the recipe changed for sure. First off the menu now just has photos with the name of the dish without any description. I had to ask the cashier which each dish was. It was also very expensive (same pricing as a sit down place) but this is supposed to be mall food. I expected if the price is high it's o-k if the food is at least good. We ordered the Aka and Midori. Both were pretty disgusting. The egg and meat were cold. The soup was very oily. We threw out the food after eating half. Please go back to the old recipes. The noodle quality was better previously too.

    Keita S.

    Location is Hillsdale Shopping Center.Inside of food coart,and Lively atmosphere. I orderd tantan.It's so good taste.Service is normal.

    Kuro-Obi Ramen
    Ana M.

    It was my first time eating ramen. I was a little scared to try something new. I was shocked when I had the first taste of the broth. It was so amazing, the taste was so good! The make the food super fast and it's a cute spot. Overall I will return. I asked the guy who helped me what he recommended and he recommended the best one for sure! The service is great. Thank you

    Kuro-Obi Ramen

    Would not recommend this place to anyone, the food is bad and overpriced and it used to be so much better and cheaper a few years ago. I spent $22 on a low-quality ramen bowl with cheap ingredients. If you're looking for a ramen place that's actually good, I'd recommend Ramen Parlor or Santa Ramen which are both in San Mateo and very high quality (and cheaper).

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    1 year ago

    Bad experience ever. This is not considered ramen. Not even half bowl, i trashed it. Not recommended.

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    Page 1 of 7

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    Taishoken - San Mateo - Tokusei Tsukemen, the house special

    Taishoken - San Mateo

    4.3(2.1k reviews)
    2.1 mi
    $$
    Vegetarian friendly
    Wheelchair accessible

    My go-to spot when I'm craving ramen. I like the niku spicy when I want soup and the Tokyo classic…read moreaburasoba when I want soupless. (I want no soup 95% of the time.) I've tried the tsukemen, and it's not for me. The broth has a fishy flavor that I do not enjoy. For apps, we have consistently ordered the karaage and calamari. On occasion, the calamari can be a bit tough, but it comes with a lot of seasonings/toppings that take it over the top. Really kid friendly - they have boosters for booth seats AND high chairs, plus special utensils for kids and just started serving water also in special plastic cups.

    As everyone said in their reviews - this place is known for their tsukemen or dipping noodles. We…read morecame here because their dipping noodles is one of the family favorites and it was enjoyed. We also ordered a bowl of pork over rice which was shared by everyone in our party of 6 and enjoyed. They have a happy hour where several appetizers are discounted a few bucks so we ordered the gyoza (potsickers 3 for $4). The key to eating here for dinner without waiting is to get there before the crowd which is before 6pm. After that there's most likely a wait outside the restaurant. There are plenty of shops for you to window shop while you wait. Note they do charge 20% automatically with 6 or more in your group.

    Photos
    Taishoken - San Mateo - Shichida Daiginjo

    Shichida Daiginjo

    Taishoken - San Mateo - Niku spicy Ramen

    Niku spicy Ramen

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    Kajiken - Homura Aburasoba

    Kajiken

    4.4(1.4k reviews)
    2.3 mi
    $$

    I've come 4 times now and it still hits every single time. Almost always a line, but it moves…read moreextremely 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!

    I was in San Mateo, and I was hungry. I checked Yelp and Google, and there were so many places to…read morechoose 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.

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    Kajiken - Inside

    Inside

    Kajiken - Oroshi Ponzu Karaage($10)

    Oroshi Ponzu Karaage($10)

    Kajiken - Complimentary Accoutrements ($0) Vinegar, Chili Oil, Dried Garlic, Sesame seeds, & Chili Powder

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    Complimentary Accoutrements ($0) Vinegar, Chili Oil, Dried Garlic, Sesame seeds, & Chili Powder

    Ramen Parlor

    Ramen Parlor

    3.8(2.1k reviews)
    1.8 mi
    $$

    Been going to this place for years. Always a solid place for ramen even among the explosion of…read moreother ramen spots in the Bay Area. Staff is the same and always super nice and food was out quickly. Got the lobster garlic pork ramen and the broth was rich and flavorful. Noodles had a nice bounce and chew. Quail eggs are a nice change. Chicken karaage was nice and crunchy but lacked flavor even with the sauce. However, good portion size with six large pieces. Overall: 3.9/5

    Ramen Parlor's parking lot is a bit limited but there's plenty of street parking. Their service was…read morequick and the staff members were extremely polite and kind. It's a great place for families, date nights or just a hang out! What was ordered: + chicken karaage - fried well as it was very crispy and hot when it arrived at our table. I enjoyed the texture of the chicken but was a little put off by the sauce on the bottom, which made parts of the chicken soggy. + takoyaki - the flavor is perfect for me but I felt it wasn't crispy enough on the outside and had a bit too much sauce on top. I'd still order this again but would probably ask for less sauce next time. + spicy crab miso ramen - highly recommend this dish! You get the option of how spicy you want your broth (I went with mild) and it was perfect for me. It had a kick of spiciness but the broth was rich and creamy with some garlic flavors. The broth stayed hot throughout my meal and the noodles were cooked perfectly.

    Photos
    Ramen Parlor - Entrance table with drink options and menu

    Entrance table with drink options and menu

    Ramen Parlor - Chicken Karaage

    Chicken Karaage

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    Takayaki balls

    Hanabi Ramen & Japanese Curry

    Hanabi Ramen & Japanese Curry

    4.2(1k reviews)
    4.1 mi
    $$

    We've been to Hanabi many times, when they were a fledging ramen place we'd go there because…read moregrowing son (now in mid 20s) just loved the slurp and after baseball was the perfect meal. Fast forward, it's Mom's Day, kids having meals on their own as parents, our celebration is to go somewhere good to have a meal, no lines (didn't make a res), kinda spontaneous. Hanabi fits the bill. Ordered the pork belly ramen ( looked really good at a neighboring table) and the Mayu-ramen, spicy, with kfc chicken (not what you think, means something else), both with a miso base. Wait was reasonable, time to get a table was 30 seconds tops. Other nights it's been jammed but not Mom's Day, just quiet, enjoyable. Both meals were spectacularly reasonable, serving what you'd want, with enough of everything to want to dive in because you were pretty assured you were going to be satisfied. Not fru-fru or bougie, ingredients that make the dish memorable yet feel you are knowledgeable and appreciated. Pork belly was soft, fatty yet lean, cooked well enough to be tender, yet with a little chew (not disintegrating like some bellies), lots of noodles al dente so you appreciate the noodle was not a mushy mass in the bowl like some places. The Mayu came with 3 drumsticks burning hot from the fryer but oh so good because it's served in a separate dish so it doesn't get soggy. The spicy is good enough to keep things interesting with losing its identity (unlike a lot of places). And they give plenty of ramen because it's that good. We keep coming back because they serve no-frills, you-can-bank-on-it ramen that is satisfying, consistent; staff is friendly without being overbearing. It's not a big place, tables and a counter, but they know how to keep diners happy and coming back for more. What more can you ask for? Thanks, Hanabi, will definitely be back!

    The lunch sets are are the bomb! Our family has been here several times and we always leave stuffed…read moreand satisfied. I normally order the lunch set with miso ramen. The miso here is like no other I have had anywhere else, deeply rich and flavorful. Very family friendly as well, with mini dons available for the little ones.

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    Hanabi Ramen & Japanese Curry - Restaurant interior, counter pictured

    Restaurant interior, counter pictured

    Hanabi Ramen & Japanese Curry - Spicy Short Rib Ramen

    Spicy Short Rib Ramen

    Hanabi Ramen & Japanese Curry - Pork miso Ramen

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    Pork miso Ramen

    Kuro-Obi - ramen - Updated May 2026

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