My BF and I really want to love Muku given its proximity to us and that it's a family-run business, but we've gone twice and have been disappointed with the flavors. The karaage was awesome, but our ramen broths both times have felt lacking, compared to other ramen spots. The flavors are not deep and sometimes the broth feels bland. The noodles also have the texture of linguine, rather than true ramen noodles. This place isn't bad, but we probably won't be back for a ramen fix, given the other options around. read more

Muku Ramen - Spicy shoyu - Ramen Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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Muku is a go-to spot for casual but delicious ramen. It is a small shop in the heart of Central Square with a homey vibe. Service is always efficient and friendly. My go-to is the veggie miso ramen. As far as veggie ramens go (and I've had many as a vegetarian), the broth is richer and creamier than most. I love the way it complements the fresh, bouncy noodles. My fiancé loves the extra crispy karaage and the kaedama (extra noodles). read more

Muku Ramen - Interior - Ramen Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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Great dumplings and great Ramen. The fried chicken bites were perfectly cooked. The pork in the ramen was great and the broth had great flavor. read more

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We avoid this place if you. They give you very small portions and the taste is off. The meat is touch and the egg is overcooked. Would absolutely skip! Karage is the only thing that was decent. read more

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Great service! Good ramen too! My son loved his order. He asks to take him back next week!

Good vegetable miso soup. We tried the regular and the spicy. Nice cozy place. Very simple decor and setup. Ambiance conveys not the cleanest place. Maybe because it was evening ,a bit dark and near closing hour. Service efficient. Be aware of the after party garlic taste and scent. Felt like miso and garlic soup. But was tasty and comforting. Worth a try indeed. read more

The most authentic ramen that I've had in a long time. Extremely flavorful broth and tender pork. Great portion size and price. read more

Muku Ramen - Spicy miso ramen - Ramen Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

I wanted to like Muku a lot more than I actually did :( It certainly wasn't bad, but it also wasn't particularly delicious. Perhaps I've been spoiled by other ramen places, but I just didn't find theirs to be very flavorful. The chashu was oddly thin and felt overcooked - definitely not the melt-in-your-mouth consistency I think of when I hear chashu. The egg was cooked perfectly, but I don't love it when they're served cold. And the service was very friendly, but quite slow. I have to imagine it was an off night? Now for some positives: I loved the corn fritter! That was unique and very tasty. I also appreciated the $2 seaweed salad add on. read more

Muku Ramen - Signature miso - Ramen Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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went to muku ramen after their closure for a bit, the gyoza isn't served the same way that i remember, and isn't as good.. the broth of the tonkotsu ramen was very oily and a little overpowering. i wouldn't come here again, the old muku was so much better! their service is alright, nothing much to talk about, very basic. read more

A super solid ramen joint! Came here on a Saturday night and there was a short (~15 min) wait to get seats - the inside of the restaurant is a little small so seating can be limited. For appetizers, we got the seaweed salad and chicken karage, which were both super yummy! I really liked the "wonton crunch" pieces on the seaweed salad (have never seen that done before). For the ramen, I tried the signature miso ramen, which had a tonkotsu broth with ground pork, chashu, bean sprouts, egg, and corn fritter. The broth was very flavorful, though I was expecting the miso flavor to be stronger given the name. The toppings all played nicely, though I think the toppings to noodles ratio could be higher. The egg was the perfect texture (just slightly gooey), and the corn fritter was a creative addition. All in all, a satisfying meal. read more

Muku Ramen - Signature miso - Ramen Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Been here a few times for takeout and dine in. Parking can be challenging so be prepare to find some meter parking. The host/waiter guy seems aggy and unfriendly the 2 times we have been here. Can't quite put my finger on it but I just sense unfriendly vibes. 3/5 Customer service aside, the Ramen is excellent. I had the the Black Shio Ramen and it was deliciouso 5/5. Don't think I have ever had black broth before so it was an interesting experience. Pork was tender and flavorful. Crispy lotus was a nice touch as well. Eggs were cooked right. Someone people may say portion is small but I think it is about the same with most Ramen places. I'll probably stop by again if I'm in the area. read more

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I ordered the Signature Miso ramen, with its spicy rich broth, combo of ground and sliced pork, crispy corn fritter (nice touch), bean sprouts, sliced scallions, half soft boiled egg, cabbage, and noodles. I enjoyed the dish, though the ramen noodles were thicker and chewier than I prefer. Thick noodles tend to dilute the flavors of the soup. Atmosphere was very basic, little decoration, some Asian calligraphy painted on the walls, institutional furniture. I'd come back if I were in the neighborhood (which I was, having gone to the cvs in central square for a vaccine), but wouldn't otherwise. read more

Muku Ramen - Extra thick noodles, not my favorite. - Ramen Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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It's nice that they have plexiglass dividers between the tables. The ramen is alright with some unique toppings, albeit over-priced for the portion size. I don't think the exotic toppings add much to the overall experience, but they were pleasant to eat. Not many places (or any AFAIK), offer Carolina reaper powder in their regular menu, so of course, the "red devil" ramen must-try. Personally, as someone who regularly subjects himself to masocist-levels of spiciness, I can't say this was too hot for me to handle; but to the average eater, this is a delicious challenge! read more

Muku Ramen - Red Devil - Ramen Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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TLDR: OH MYYYY GOOOOSSSHH. can i give 10 stars? we came to this place not knowing what to expect. I actually just want Japanese food and Muku delivered so well!! I mean wtf? Im not even hungry but I finished a bowl of rice and salad!! Salad: Cucumber Salad and Shitake Mushroom salad. OMYGOSH IT's actually a bunch of mushrooms but I super super love the mushroom salad. I love the kick of spice (is that saffron?) whatever it is! We ate everything on both plate Shiyo Spicy; okay im not really good in super spicy food but this one is a bit different. It doesnt burn as much and there are still other flavours you can taste. Thats pretty much hard to achieve if one spice is overpowering. The noodles were chewy and this is how my partner described it: "chewy, like how good noodles should be!" Duuuude this is superb pork - (don something) sorry i forgot the name but I would never forget how it tastes. Duddddeee the rice!!!! The sushi rice!! It's perfectly cooked!! I RARELY eat pork btw. Like as much as possible NO PORK on my food but Oh My God this pork is tender and sweet-salty which suits my palette!!!!! read more

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Nice new ramen place near Central square! There are several options of ramens you can choose from and they are pretty good. Veggie matcha one was definitely interesting choice of ingredients but I think they did well to make it edible lol I like that they have thicker broth than other shops in the area, as I prefer heavier broth for my noodles. Wish they had solid donkocheu ramen tho, that would make this rating 5. read more

Muku Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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I was pleasantly surprised by my experience here! We got the signature miso ($15) ramen and the red devil ($17) ramen. Since we were here on a weekday we tried the ramen combos (+$2 each) and added a tsukune bun and 2 pieces of chicken karaage. The tsukune bun was delicious! The chicken meatball was so juicy and the bun came with a zesty horseradish/wasabi sauce. The karaage was also quite crispy and tasty, although I wish it came with the same sauce that the tsukune bun had. The ramen was delicious. Although their chashu was lean, it was so tender that it melted in my mouth. The ground pork was also surprisingly delicious! I often find that the ground pork at other ramen spots is forgettable, but the ground pork here was rich, perfectly seasoned, and not too dry. I'm a sucker for soft-boiled eggs and the egg here made my day (I might even order extra egg next time!). I was actually not a fan of the corn fritter. It had a fun texture but I would have preferred loose corn in my ramen. However, a lot of other reviewers seem to love it. The ramen noodles were nicely al dente and both broths I tried were very rich. The red devil is no joke! To me it was more spicy than the classic buldak spicy chicken ramen. While the red devil broth was very spicy, I could still taste the nuttiness from the miso. I look forward to trying their other ramen and dishes. read more

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Decent prices for a meal, and perhaps the best spot to get ramen in Central. Personally I prefer noodles that have more bounce, instead of their thicker, chewy texture. The spicy shio broth is more creamy/bland compared to the signature and spicy misos. read more

Muku Ramen - Spicy Red Shio, Signature Miso, Spicy Miso - Ramen Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Fantastic ramen for a fantastic price! And, as another Yelper mentioned, their takeout packaging is really convenient, so you can order to go without worrying about soggy or cold ramen. The solids are all separated from the broth - all you need to do when you're ready to eat is flip the top compartment over into the broth below, and stir. It's like those old school YoCrunch containers, except for ramen! The meal itself was great. Flavorful, spicy broth, with plenty of good noodles, plus the usual accoutrements. Worth every penny. read more

Muku Ramen - Spicy Miso - Ramen Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Very COVID-safe, perfectly chewy ramen noodles with delicious broths and toppings, and lovely setting... all for very affordable prices! Of all the restaurants we've eaten at during the pandemic, Muku takes COVID precautions most seriously. They take your forehead temperature and ask you to fill out an online COVID questionnaire. Not only are the tables spaced 6 feet apa read more

Muku Ramen - Signature Spicy (not that spicy) Miso w/ perfectly chewy ramen, a delightful corn fritter, pork belly, and amazing soft boiled egg - Ramen Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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Highly recommend checking this place out! Was nervous when I saw a couple of reviews saying that portions are small but that's really not true for us. We were so full because the noodles are thick and the bowls were packed with toppings. As an avid matcha drinker, I was also pleasantly surprised by how refreshing their iced matcha is. Shoyu ramen: 5/5, great broth, amazing chashu, thick chewy noodles, egg was just average Black miso: 3/5, broth is not as flavorful as the standard spicy miso we are used to, loved the corn fritter and cha shu though. The shoyu ramen reminds me of the tonkotsu ramen from tonchin nyc but more reasonable in price. read more

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Came by for a new lunch spot. Nice service. QR Code Menu. Ordered the Spicy Miso Ramen: The corn fritter was something new I haven't had in any other ramen. I think I am more used to seeing sweet corn or roasted corn but this was actually very good. Maybe slightly too many beansprouts in my bowl as I almost had more beansprouts than noodles. Bill came out to be around $20 with everything included. Solid bowl of ramen. https://www.mukuramen.com/menu read more

Muku Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

The ramen here is so good! I always order the black garlic miso ramen. The ramen is accompanied by a nice corn fritter, bean sprouts, minced pork, braised pork and of course an egg. The broth is very deep and creamy. On some days you can combine the ramen with an appetizer for a couple extra dollars which I would recommend! The crispy chicken bites are delicious read more

Muku Ramen - Black Miso Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Yummy ramen and beverages! We were craving ramen and decided to give Muku a try. I'm so glad we did! I don't like ordering ramen for takeout or delivery as I feel like it's never as good as dining in. Muku Ramen has COVID precautions in place when you visit. You have to fill out a questionnaire, they take your temperature, and the tables are spaced apart with plastic barriers. I got the spicy miso and my boyfriend got the black shio with a side of spicy paste. We tried each other's and loved them both. They both had lots of great flavor. I really liked the charcoal flavor from the charcoal infused garlic oil in his. The corn fritter was also amazing - it made this Midwestern girl happy! My boyfriend also got one of their lemonades. It was super fresh and refreshing, not too sweet. We also received great, quick service. Our server wasn't overbearing, but stayed on top of refilling our water dishes. We definitely appreciated that as the ramen was spicy! read more

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The ramen here is alright, but nothing special especially at this price ($15+). We got the Signature Miso and the Black Shio. I liked the flavor of the Black Shio and that the broth wasn't too salty! But for both soups, I expected more of the rich Tonkotsu pork flavor. The egg was good and the noodles were alright. The corn fritter wasn't my favorite -- kind of a hard/stale texture. The slice (slices? idk I think I only found 1? 2?) of meat wasn't bad but wasn't great either, and for the price, there just wasn't that much. Overall, decent ramen place if you're in the area and craving ramen, but probably not worth the trip if you're not. read more

I've tried them all, and this is it: the best ramen restaurant in Cambridge. The worst thing about this place is the fact that I have to stop eating after I'm finished. It's so good that my first thought was to gatekeep. I never get sick of the flavor no matter how many times I go. Also, the people working there are really sweet and remembered me even back when it was my second time coming in. I spend far too much of my money here and I don't regret a thing. read more

A must try new ramen spot in Central!! I always used to go to the H-Mart nearby to satisfy my ramen cravings. But Muku is so much better (although pricier...IMO it's worth it for the better quality). Their ramen offerings were unlike anything I had seen before - in particular, I had never seen a corn fritter in ramen or a "black" ramen bowl with charcoal in the soup. I got the black miso ramen and added extra karamiso spicy paste. It was delicious! The black charcoal seemed to be in the oil of the soup and I could see little black droplets in brown miso soup as I mixed the bowl. I couldn't taste the difference between the black miso and normal miso, but aesthetically the black miso looked so much cooler. Worth it for the gram!! read more

Muku Ramen - Black miso ramen - Ramen Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Have tried Muku twice: once for takeout when they first opened, and once for dine-in recently. I really appreciate that Muku has consistently taken adequate COVID precautions such as taking customers' temperatures and having plastic screens between tables! I have tried the Spicy Red Shio and Black Miso ramens, and both were decent options. The Red Shio was not really that spicy in my opinion, but still a pleasant kick. It came with the roast pork and pork belly chashu, egg, scallions, mushrooms, and a fried slice of lotus root. The broth was rich and yummy, but it just tasted like it was lacking something. For takeout, they package the noodles + toppings separately from the broth, which kept things from getting soggy. The Black Miso had no spiciness that I could taste (they list on the menu that it is slightly spicy) so if you wanted it spicy you might want to get the Karamiso paste or some chili oil on the side. It came with roast pork chashu, ground pork, egg, scallions, beansprouts, cabbage, and a corn fritter. They could have been more generous with the quantity of toppings, and the corn fritter didn't appeal to me as much as some other reviewers; I think I expected it to be crunchy, but it was instead much more chewy and hard. The charcoal-infused miso broth was also very rich and flavorful, and I felt it was better than the shio. The pork was good but not as juicy and tender as I wanted it to be, and the pieces were small. Overall, Muku serves smaller portions that don't quite hit the spot the way that my other favorite ramen places do, yet is at the same/higher price point. But the service is friendly and attentive, the food is good, and the Central Square location is convenient. I would probably come back with friends when we are craving ramen but don't want to make the trip into Boston! read more

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I paid ~$18 for a bowl of ramen here, and left hungry. The portion size was small, simple. I got the Black Shio which includes a unique "charcoal-infused garlic oil" and a few veggies (like mushrooms, fried lotus chip) as basic garnishes. I noticed that the Black oil was grainy from the charcoal powder and it honestly didn't have any garlic flavor underlying. It was quite oily (basically served in a pool to cover half the bowl) and the shio broth was salty so I couldn't finish the broth. I was never really a big fan of Japanese ramen, but thought the noodles could've been store bought and boiled, similar to the kind sold at Hmart food court. A bit disappointing. There was a wait when I arrived so they also make you go on Yelp to reserve a spot on the waiting list. read more

Muku Ramen - Black Shio - Ramen Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Wicked good ramen for a very fair price. We went during a lull, and the staff was attentive but not overbearing. Definitely a must-try in the area. Highly recommend the Spicy Tonkatsu. read more

Best ramen in Boston! I've been here twice and have tried the spicy miso ramen ($15) and the black shio ramen ($14). Both were better than any ramen I've had in Boston so far and very reasonably priced. The spicy miso has the perfect amount of spice (I don't like things tooo spicy), so unless you're really sensitive to heat I wouldn't worry about it being too spicy. I'd recommend both ramens but think the black shio is worth trying first! The meat in both has a nice slightly smoky flavor, and the noodles have the perfect amount of bite. There are complex and rich flavors you don't often get. 12/10!! Service is excellent and they are taking all covid precautions. Upon arrival, they take your temperature and ask one person in your party to fill out a form. There are plastic curtains between most/all tables and distance between tables. Definitely come check out Muku -- it's fire! I highly recommend coming here, then stopping next door at the ice cream shop, New City Microcreamery, for dessert. A tru 5 star meal! read more

Muku Ramen - Black shio ramen - Ramen Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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I ordered the Red Devil on a whim and my to-go order was ready within ten minutes. I rushed back home because it smelled glorious and I didn't want to risk anything overcooking in the packaging. It was a brutal walk home trying to prevent myself from eating the ramen immediately. True to the name, my Red Devil bowl was bright red. The packaging is so convenient and adorable - you have your noodles and toppings in their own bowl atop the bowl of broth. All you have to do is scoop everything into the soup and you can dig right in. The ramen was quite good. The noodles had a good chew to them and I was a big fan of the corn fritter and ground pork. The part that is the most important to me is the broth and that lived up to expectations. The red liquid was spicy and certainly not for the weakhearted. I wished it was even spicier, but I'm crazy about spicy food in general and compensated by grabbing a side order of their karamiso (spicy paste). I highly recommend this sauce. I love their small menu options as someone who can't eat a lot. Being able to get a side of ground pork, one bun, two pieces of shrimp, three wings, etc. is awesome. Can't wait to try more and eventually dine in! read more

Muku Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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Black miso ramen: all the ingredients are very well done and tasty but the portion is quite small, I can easily eat 2 bowls. Atmosphere is nice and restaurant is pretty quiet. Service is fast and cordial. read more

Muku Ramen - Black miso ramen - Ramen Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

OMG!As a "must-try" ramen fan, I would vote for Muku Ramen as one of the top authentic japanese ramen places in Boston! The spicy miso ramen is excellent in regard to its flavor and I will take another try on other flavors next time! The appetizer we ordered are also impressive. The whole cozy restaurant pays attention to sanitation 100%. As a customer to dine in, I feel comfortable that I am asked to take the temperature, leave the tracing info and use the hand sanitizer first before sitting. The restaurant's owner is really thoughtful and attentive on preventing and protecting.DumplingsSpicy Miso Ramen read more

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This place was SPOT ON!! Highly recommend. For appetizers we got the pork gyoza which was bathed in sizzling tonkatsu broth. The dumplings were crisped to perfection and the inside was so juicy and meaty. For the ramen we got the black miso charcoal infused ramen and wow. First of all, the corn fritter added such a unique taste to the ramen- it was so crispy and flavorful, especially as it was soaked a bit in the broth. The broth itself had a hint of a unique flavor and was so so smooth and light in flavor, making it very easy to finish all the broth. The noodles though... SO CHEWY and tasty and soaked up the smoothness of the broth so well. Definitely one of the best ramen places around and would definitely come here again. read more

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This is the best ramen I've ever had!!!! I loved the black miso ramen and spicy shio ramen and the pork and rice was delicious. The spicy cucumbers is absolutely delicious read more

Muku Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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We tried out this place for lunch! We got the pork gyoza, black miso and red devil ramen. I love how they served the pork gyoza on a sizzling place so it gets crispy on the spot! Both of the ramens were flavorful! If you can handle spicy you should definitely try the red devil! You can still taste the flavor and not just the spice. It's unique that they include a corn fritter with your ramen! It definitely adds a touch to it. I do think it is a little pricey considering the portion is a little smaller than what we expected but it was delicious! Definitely give this ramen place a try! We also tried their signature lemonade and iced matcha! They were both so refreshing! You can tell the lemonade was made fresh because it was more sour compared to others. The iced matcha had a clean taste and very refreshing on a hot day! read more

Muku Ramen - Black miso, red devil, lemonade, and iced matcha - Ramen Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Great little ramen place! We ordered takeout and sat at the picnic tables they have in the square right outside the restaurant. I tried the veggie tan tan-men and my friends tried the shoyu ramen (+ tsukune) and the black shio ramen. The shoyu and shio ramen had a strong pork flavor in the broth, and the veggie tan tan-men had a good tomato flavor and nice spicy kick. Packaging for take out was nice as well - kept broth separated and easy to pour into the bowl. read more

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I wish the plate was a tiny bit large so that I could have more of their delicious soup. Good food, a little proxy for the size and what it is.. read more

This was our first time and we went on a rainy Friday night at 8pm. We joined the online waitlist which said 3-13 minutes so we assumed it'd be quick. when we arrived, we found that the restaurant was quite small and filled already. We checked in with the frontdesk and was told we would get a text when our table was ready. We ended up waiting for 35-40 minutes outside and it was kinda cold. Also it was too rainy to walk back to our car. The fried Oysters were delicious, juicy inside, crunchy outside. The gyoza was interesting with the way it was presented, taste wise was ok. My boyfriend and I got the Black Shio and Black Miso. The broth was rich/flavorful. The chashu wasn't too fat and felt healthy at the same time. The texture of the noodles was what won us over, it was al dente. 9/10 for the ramen. 4.5 stars for the food, 4 overall for the not so accurate wait time. Covid precautions in place included covid tracing, temperature checks, hand sanitizer, and plastic shields between tables. Staffs were friendly. I will definitely come back again when it's warmer so I won't mind the wait as much. read more

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This place is AMAZING! We loved everything we ordered. So flavorful and delicious. Excellent service and a very clean atmosphere. We will definitely be back :) read more

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