Literally my favorite meal in awhile. I was so surprised by this little spot in Jack London that I've had in my list for awhile. Decor is stunning first of all. Like tropical, anime, paradise? The service was so quick! I had barely gone to the bathroom after ordering and my food was out. Our server was so kind and attentive too. I love that they're all in power ranger cosplay too. Drinks and menu were unique and fun! I loved my highball which came with a Pokémon card. The gyoza was handmade on my ramen and the broth was so flavorful and comforting. Best of all, they could accommodate my kids! They have a mini kids ramen that was perfect for them. They both ate so much! Needless to say, I will be back. This is a must try if you're in Jack London. read more

NōKA Ramen & Bar - UME highball - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Oakland, California

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Came on an early Saturday evening with a party of four and got seated right away. The first thing that stands out is how friendly the staff is here with their communal greeting as soon as you arrive. You are literally waited on with excellent service, our server today was N and they were phenomenal at what they do. We loved the anime themed "uniforms " and matching decor that instantly transported us back into classic 90s anime nostalgia. The cocktails and food are colorful and delightful to peruse but honestly don't think too hard about it. Everything on here looks great and taste even better. Highlights for us during this trip, where the Pikachu burger and the steak Ramen, which features spicy yet flavorful broth and generous portion sizes for everything. We tried the passionfruit highball that came with an exclusive Pokémon card, which is a great garnish that tickled my inner child. Would not hesitate in coming back and trying more of their offerings. read more

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Oh my goodness, my friends literally kidnapped me for the day and brought me here, and I'm honestly so glad they did Everything about this place was spectacular. The menu was absolutely tantalizing, the drinks were gorgeous and delicious, and I was completely living for the Sailor Moon and Pokémon themed touches. Such a cute, unique vibe. The atmosphere was beautiful, the lights, the vines, the flowers, the decor... everything felt so immersive and aesthetically pleasing. And the food? Oh my goodness. So good. Rich, flavorful, comforting, and absolutely delicious. Everything we had was amazing, and I already know I have to come back. Only thing I'll say, parking is kind of a nightmare and you do have to walk, so do NOT wear heels unless you're ready to suffer for beauty But overall, 100% worth it. Such a fun and beautiful experience. read more

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As an Asian nerd, I don't think I've ever been as positive taken back as I was with the ambiance of NoKA. This place is a dream for even the most casual anime fans. The servers are in cosplay, there's drinks garnished with Pokemon cards, Dragon Ball Z is playing on the big screen, and there's even a Sailor Moon Sake flight. I was just floored. But this is about the food, right? My girlfriend and I stayed the weekend at Oakland because it's not a place we frequent, and this place was definitely the highlight, especially since it's so easy to find at Jack London Square. She had the lobster ramen and the aforementioned Sailor Moon flight. I had the wagyu truffle ramen along with one of lychee Pokemon TCG drinks. The first bite of my ramen was awesome. It might have been the best flavor I've ever had out of a beef ramen. My only issue was that I was still hungry, which usually isn't the case with ramen. It comes in a big flat bowl, but that's the optical illusion. With the bowl being so big, it looks like there's more food than there actually is. The drink was fine. No frills. The card included was a common, for those wondering. My girlfriend's lobster ramen was also good, but the lobster comes whole with you having to do all the work. I'm great with crustaceans, but I had trouble pulling the lobster meat out as it stuck to the inside -- a sign of it being overcooked. So buyer beware here. Again, it's good, but if you're gonna make me peel the lobster, at least make it a little bit easy. The Sailor Moon flight was cool too but as you'd expect, it's mainly for the gram. All this said, the food was good enough and I loved the vibes, so I'll definitely be back. read more

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One of THE best ramen place we've ever been to. And best service & hospitality! I would definitely go back! read more

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It's been awhile since I returned Places still look fresh and the food is still excellent. They added few interesting items. Broth is thick and creamy with a good favor. Need to try them out read more

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Popped in here on a Friday night without a reservation around 7pm and it was not crowded at all. Seated right away. This was a cool 90s/early 2000s throwback ambience. Huge screen showing anime. Decor was tropical feeling. All the servers had costumes like power rangers, but not the cooks :) Cute names for drinks like Pokémon and Dragon Z. Service was great! We had a pink power ranger who was attentive and polite. Tables were well spaced and clean. Very comfortable environment. Had classic ramen. Good broth flavor. Noodles were thinner than other places, but that's a preference thing. Cha siu was long rectangular chunks. I'm used to thinly sliced oval pieces so easier to chew. It's a little pricey for ramen. But overall tasty and filling. read more

I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed this spot, and how excited I am to come back. Coming here was a suuuper last decision to fulfill a group ramen craving despite how picky I am with my ramen (Ichiran changed me, sorry!). We had no idea there was even a theme, but our waiter took our order in green power rangers uniform which I was visibly confused about at first, but enjoyed the fun vibes. There are pokémon scattered around the place and lots of greenery + lights in the evening, it was hard not to be happy in there. Black Garlic Tonkatsu Ramen: so many toppings that automatically come with it. The broth was rich, the egg was jammy, and the chashu (omg) was sooo soft + fatty! I really enjoyed this bowl. I desperately wanna come back to try their drinks in particular. They have quite the experimental menu and some cards come with a surprise pokémon card for an extra $1... This is the perfect spot to kick off your night @ Jack London Square. read more

NōKA Ramen & Bar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Oakland, California

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Super cute Ramen place on Jack London Square. Has a fun drink list, really amazing Ramen, really cute interior, great service, fair prices The drinks are themed, super interesting menu, everybody was having a good time read more

NōKA Ramen & Bar - Black garlic tonkatsu ramen - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Oakland, California

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Noka Ramen is such a cute spot and definitely Instagram worthy. The decor and overall ambiance make it a fun place to dine, whether you're going out with friends or just want a cozy meal. The ramen is really good, full of flavor, and always hits the spot. The service is very quick, and the staff is friendly and welcoming. They serve the food fast without making you feel rushed, which I appreciate. The only downside is having to pay for parking since they don't offer validation. Other than that, it's a great place and I would definitely keep coming back. read more

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Built my own bowl. Black garlic broth was absolutely delicious - really umami. Noodles and veggies were cooked well. Ribs were fine, but could've been better. Not a ton of flavor, and slightly tough to chew, but not a big deal. Dessert - fried ice cream sandwich was amazing, but $14 for 2 sandwiches is a high ask imo. Each goes down within 5-6 bites. Also breaks easily - not structurally sound - but hey, it's an ice cream sandwich, whatever. Honestly didn't like the peach soda. Sorry to say to all the jigglypuff fans. You taste the carbonation more than anything fruity. Sundays are pokemon-themed, it seems. That was a lot of fun. They had season 1 playing on the big screen, and a big pikachu walked out and was interacting with patrons, but only for a few mins. Ambience was like rainforest cafe, but Japanese style. Food came out very quickly. Somewhere between 5-10 minutes. Waiter was attentive. Overall a fun experience, but $80 for 2 people is a lot imo. (Dirty tourist talking) 4.25 stars read more

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Ordered the Classic Tonkotsu Ramen here. Price is definitely on the pricier side, but the ramen was worth the amount. The broth was rich and creamy, noodles had a good chewy firmness, and the chashu had an excellent char to it. Service was attentive, but also all dressed up like characters from Dragon Ball Z. The experience was a little strange, since Halloween was a month ago, and you're sitting in a restaurant/bar with fake trees and vines detailing the ceiling like a rainforest cafe. A projector is playing TV shows and anime onto the floor and walls, though I couldn't really hear the show over the ambience of the restaurant. If for nothing else, the food was good (if pricy) and the atmosphere is interesting enough to make Noka Ramen worth visiting at least once! read more

NōKA Ramen & Bar - Classic Tonkotsu (5) - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Oakland, California

Some places are happy to give you a free dessert if it's your birthday. And then there are some places that charge you a "dessert fee" if you bring your own dessert. I didn't think much about it. I brought my child to celebrate his birthday (day of, on a weekday) following a doggy training session by the waterfront and brought a tiny cake to eat after dinner (there should always be a cake on birthdays!). However, when I asked to borrow a knife they said there was a dessert fee............... We decided to save the singing for home. I wonder if they would still charge this dessert fee had I brought my own knife? I guess I'll never know. What really drew us here was that they had an Anime theme and advertised drinks that came with a Pokémon card. My child is a huge Anime fan and aspiring artist so would've been a perfect spot for a tiny birthday blow out to end a nice day. Honestly it seems like all just a gimmick to get people here. The restaurant was nice enough with cool decorations making it feel like a jungle in there and a large projection on a wall for kids to watch some anime but when we went it was kind of empty. To be fair we were an hour and a half from closing time so that could account for the low attendance. Not sure if we'd come again... the soup was very salty and the drinks are just overpriced sugary beverages laced with artificial flavoring. read more

NōKA Ramen & Bar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Oakland, California

3.75 stars I really wanted to love this place but my palette just couldn't agree. Their cute aesthetics, their playful twist on the current theme: Pokemon, their HUGE portions, how can one not enjoy this place? Pork Baos - these babies are huge. Sometimes, I like big portions. Other times, especially dishes like this, i like to appreciate equal parts meat and bun. The meat was a bit much and overpowered the whole dish. Pikachu Burger - goddang, another massive baby. So big, it definitely was challenging to eat. Had to eat it deconstructed style. The meat again, was a bit much. Ramen - Pretty basic ramen, very minimal to no garlic flavor Noka Rangers - just for kicks. Drink was standard, nothing special Overall, food was ok, wouldn't go out of my way to come back. Service was GREAT. read more

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This place is cute, cozy, IG aesthetic spot. The workers were dressed in Pokémon characters the night we went -- including someone in a huge Pikachu costume that went around each table taking pictures with guests. The staff was very attentive and although they were busy they were good about checking in with us and refilling our waters. For drinks we got the passion fruit highball, the hibiscus lychee highball, and the sailor moon sake flight. The highballs were okay and more on the sparkly side since they are a sparkling water based cocktail. The sake flight was very good. Food was amazing all around! We started with the truffle fries and chicken karaage. The sauce they came with had a perfect touch of spice. They put a flame to the Loco Moco at the table and mixed it for you. The gravy was very flavorful. They also put a flame to the Ikari Steak Ramen. The steak on that dish was so tender and delicious. The tonkotsu ramen's flavor was very good too. I built my own ramen and was very surprised to see Brussel sprouts on the list. Overall, it was a great experience and I will definitely be back to try their bento boxes which are only offered Monday-Friday. read more

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Beautiful atmosphere, great service and SUPER yummy food and drinks! Very calm and quiet which i really loved. I ate here on a weekday for lunch time and it's right across the street from the parking garage in Jack London Square. read more

NōKA Ramen & Bar - Pork bunssss - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Oakland, California

Got their black garlic ramen. It was pretty good but also pretty pricey for ramen. Very aesthetic and vibey looking restaurant though. Would like to come back to try their drink menu read more

NōKA Ramen & Bar - Black garlic ramen - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Oakland, California

I love this place, I always love bringing new friends here. The food is always so good and consistent which is very hard to find. The atmosphere is very welcoming and unique, the staff is always great. I would recommend if you ever are looking for a new ramen place, lots of great options. read more

NōKA Ramen & Bar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Oakland, California

Finally convinced my husband to drive out to Oakland so we can try haya. I wasn't sure if it was just going to be a hype spot with the cool decor but we were pleasantly surprised. The ramen was tasty and were able to accommodate my preference for a lot of spice! They recommended these garlic chips that I was unsure about but ended up loving! My husbands ramen came with a show lol. He did state that he wished there had been a bit more noodles but he loved it. I will say the pricing is a lil high. Our bill for just us 2 for ramen and a drink was 100+. Higher than we've ever paid for some ramen. But I will say it was some pretty good ramen! It was definitely worth the drive and if you are in the area I think it's worth the visit. But to make it a regular spot, probably not big ONLY because the pricing is higher than what we were used to. read more

Definitely a fun place to grab lunch/dinner between the ambiance and the food! Solid ramen and one of the better in the area. There are a multitude of fun alcoholic drinks that will be a next time to try. The restaurant and the staff are bright, friendly, and fun. I will say it is a pricey place depending on what you order, but it is also the only place you could get lobster or steak ramen or a giant burger (the noka burger). Ended up getting the black garlic tonkotsu, and I highly recommend. The pork belly were thick tender cuts. I initially thought that the broth was mild in flavor but by the end I felt like it was a perfect amount of richness. Sometimes with tonkotsu I feel like I can't finish a bowl because of the richness, but I was able to finish everything and felt satisfied and not overwhelmed. Overall, solid ramen, plan on coming back to try some other dishes and appetizers here! read more

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It's been a while since I last visited, Japanese cartoons playing in big screen, fun flamboyant florals still inside. Friday lunch was less busy so we got a table inside. Good amount of seating outdoors, perfect for any pet owners. It's right next to train tracks so Amtrak and freight trains do rumble by. Street parking nearby or the JLS garage. Tried the custom/make your own ramen for $25 starting. Requested for shoyu broth (less salty), pork chashu, bean sprouts, bamboo shoot, spinach, shiitake mushroom. Tasty overall, love that chashu is still nice thick cuts. Perfect ramen egg. The noodles had a slight clump in there. 80% filling so big eaters may want to order appetizers or more noodles. read more

We found Nōka Ramen & Bar on Social Media and were so excited to try it. We arrived at 3:30 PM without realizing they were closed until 5 PM. Luckily the Jack London Square location made the wait enjoyable. At 5 PM bubbles floated from the entrance. Such a fun touch! We were seated right away without a reservation. I ordered the Spicy Miso Ramen, Ikari Steak Ramen, Pikachu burger, and Sailor Moon sake flight. Both Ramen dishes were incredible. The broth was so rich in flavor. However, by far the Ikari Steak Ramen was the best. You can't beat a dramatic presentation. The Ikari Steak Ramen is torched when presented. The Pikachu burger was super tasty. I love that the Pikachu was on the bun. I just had to take pictures to show it off. The Sailor Moon Sake Flight was very cute but strong. The whole vibe was magical. There were flowers everywhere, Pokémon was playing in the background, all the staff were wearing costumes and even a Pikachu mascot for photos. I already plan to come back with friends! read more

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This place is so cute--it feels like I'm in a rainforest! It's adorable how the workers are dressed as Dragon Ball Z characters. The food was okay--definitely cute in presentation, but not amazing in terms of flavor. The waiter kindly offered to switch my entrée since what I ordered was too spicy for me. However, my husband didn't want to be a bother, so we just ended up switching plates. I went from the spicy ramen to the Pikachu burger. The burger kept falling apart on me, which made it hard to eat. Overall, it was a fun experience and worth trying. I'm taking a star off for the food, but the service was great! read more

NōKA Ramen & Bar - Pickachu Burger - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Oakland, California

Pretty little cafe right in Jack London Square. Flowers, Pokemon, and Sailor Moon decorations abound! It was easy to make reservations on Open Table, and we couldn't wait to check out their fun offerings. The food and drink were as cute as advertised. The surprise was that everything was also so delicious! The portions are very generous and the quality is excellent. The prices are a little high, but rent can't be cheap in Jack London Square, and they do not skimp on what you get. Perhaps the crispiest brussels sprouts I have ever eaten, and full of flavor. Really fun special occasion mom-daughter lunch place. read more

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Service was incredibly nice and my black garlic Ramen had hella flavor. Would def come back and I got one of my fave pokemons Togekiss for the spritzer drink which was also nice too. Def recommend to park in garage and walk over. The chasu in ramen was so soft too lawd have mercy read more

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All the vibes, all the fun, and all the yummy food :-P Originally came here just for the Pokémon highball (yes, you get to keep the card) but since they are known for their ramen, we had to get ramen as well, duh! We each got different flavors for the highball. Mine was lychee flavored and it was a perfect mixture of lychee and sparkling water with a hint of yuzu or some citrus mixture. Super good and yummy. Next, the ramen was really good as well! I got the spicy miso ramen and it had just the perfect amount of spice in it. I want to talk about the interior and the service. Everyone greets you when you walk in and they are wearing different Dragon Ball Z costumes. Love that! And the staff and servers are all so friendly and nice. The ambience is kinda like a bar/club and it has a huge screen of DBZ playing in the background. A good photo opportunity if you want that insta background ;) Definitely recommend coming here! I will be back~ read more

NōKA Ramen & Bar - pokémon highball! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Oakland, California

I highly recommend the spicy miso ramen and the chicken karaage. Great service with friendly staff. Clean restaurant with pop culture, high energy vibes. read more

Updating my review after having ordered on DoorDash. Going in person is the way to go for this spot. The decor, lighting and service were all exceptional. Me and my partner had walked in maybe an hour before closing and we were seated right away. I ordered the spicy miso ramen and he had built his own ramen bowl. Both were delicious, filled to the brim with toppings and broth. Will absolutely come again in person read more

NōKA Ramen & Bar - Forgot the name of the drink - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Oakland, California

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Noka Ramen has to be one of the best and definitely one of my favorite ramen places I have been to. I enjoyed the ambiance and interior design of this restaurant. Their black tonkotsu ramen was full of umami flavor. The braised pork belly was very tender and delicious. Every sip and bite was very mesmerizing. The Ikari Steak Ramen was also a star. It had the spice, the umami, the texture - everything. Other items we ordered are chicken karaage, truffle fries, green tea tiramisu and hibiscus lychee highball. All were very solid choices. read more

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Stopped by for a quick dinner before catching my Amtrak train. Super convenient location and it was pretty empty a little after 5pm so I was seated immediately. First- it's super cute inside! Lots of greenery and definitely has a jungle theme Food: I got the bento box for $28. The fries were freshly fried/ with truffle and were pretty good especially with the spicy aioli! The shishito peppers were absolutely perfect- make sure to squirt the lemon over them. The corn was ok- felt it was missing salt and didn't need all the extra butter. The ramen is super good. Super creamy and fatty broth, the egg is seasoned well and has a slightly sweet taste. The pork- so fatty and tender and flavorful on its own. I would definitely return. The location is an added bonus since you can grab some before running for the train. read more

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The couple time I been here before bowling were pretty good, hanging out with friends. Food is decently priced and drinks were good. Service was pretty quick. read more

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Very good! Kids loved the Pikachu themed burger. Portions are large and plentiful. My favorite was the ice cream!! Pikachu came out to take photos too, so that was a fun surprise for the kids! Got the steak Ramen and it was delicious. Biggest bummer was the parking isn't validated at this restaurant. So you have to pay full price for the parking structure. read more

NōKA Ramen & Bar - Pikachu burger - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Oakland, California

Had a great birthday dinner at Noka Ramen. This was my second visit to this restaurant. Parking is very easy at the close by Jack London garage. Make sure you have a reservation, they have a small space and it gets filled fast. Reservations do require credit cards. I loved my short rib ramen - it was a dry ramen so noodles but no broth. Very yummy. Short rib was falling off the bone. My mom and brother got the crab ramen. They enjoyed it but were not expecting to put in as much work as was required to de shell all of the crab. My sister got the tofu ramen which she enjoyed very much. Also had sides of nori seaweed, truffle fries, brussel sprouts and karage. All items were good and tasty. The place is a little pricey but the food, ambiance and decor (floral) make it worthwhile. Will definitely be back! read more

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Maybe it's the cartoons playing on the back wall, or food items like the Pikachu burger and melon cream soda. Maybe it's the oversized menus and the fake plants along the ceiling. Noka is fun. I'd like to see it bustling. Maybe on a Saturday night. I'm not sure that actually happens in Jack London Square, but one can hope. I met a friend for dinner on a Wednesday night. They had a small but steady trickle of folks. The kitchen is fast, and everything comes out looking yummy. I had the Kakuni. The pork belly was succulent. My boiled egg was perfectly cooked. The pickled ginger was refreshing, and my rice portion was just the right size. Yum. My lime mint sparkler was good too. My friend had tonkatsu ramen and the bright green, bubbly sweet melon cream soda. He said the broth was good. He liked the soda, but it was sugar overload. We split the bao, which were also good. The pork is slightly vinegary and plentiful. Service was fine. I got to the restaurant way to early, so I kind of made them ignore me. My options were to take up space or wait in the car. I chose taking up space to peruse the menu. I would go again, and ramen usually isn't my thing. They are a solid 3.5. Recommended. read more

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It's hard to top somewhere that has a sailor moon sake flight! This is such a cute noodle spot with an expansive menu and a huge selection of drinks. We opted for the ramen lunch bento which was amazing and the perfect portion. My tofu was well seasoned and cooked to perfection and the broth was flavorful, I enjoyed the DIY approach to toppings as I got to add as I felt it was needed to add to my dish! A great spot to frequent if you're in the area. read more

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The place was so cute. I love the decor. If you love anime or cutesy things this place was adorable. The staff was dressed as Dragon Ball Z theme. The service was amazing. The food was really good. I don't really like spicy but I wanted to try the spicy miso ramen with my son and damn, it was super spicy, LOL. I felt bad our waiter kept refilling my water because I was downing it hella fast! The pork buns were delicious! My daughter had the rice with pork $12 kids meal and she really enjoyed it. Overall. I think the price was a little expensive, but worth it. There was a parking garage across the street underground and that's where I parked. It felt safe. We came when they first opened on a Sunday morning. And as we were leaving, the gentleman who I think was the owner gave my daughter (and son) a cute little windmill. read more

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Fantastic place. Our new go-to ramen place in Oakland. Service is 10/10. The staff and the owner were extremely attentive and the restaurant was spotless. The ambiance was really fun. Lots of Japanese action figures and cartoons everywhere. We ordered the Spicy miso ramen and a side dish of extra noodles. The owner pointed out that they make their own broth daily using a huge pressure cooker that dominates the open concept kitchen. The broth was very good and the noodles were cooked to perfection. We also ordered the pan fried gyoza and the chicken karage. Both of those were delicious. Please support this great restaurant at JLS!! https://www.nokaramen.com/_files/ugd/b7455e_2e8004104e6143cdbe700a1e0ea07f53.pdf read more

NōKA Ramen & Bar - Spicy miso ramen, pan fried gyoza, and chicken karage. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Oakland, California

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Noka is one of my favorite spots! I've been coming here since 2023? It's only been a few years but the consistency and quality of food has maintained. I tend to order the same few things each time i go. Spicy miso ramen, pan seared gyoza(not pictured), and mint tea. Spicy miso ramen - This is a full body ramen. It's has a deep flavor profile that is delicious! It never ceases to impress me. The noodles are delicious. They're not pack noodles. And the noodles absorb the flavor well. In the past due to the topping being cold it would affect the temperature of the dish but this last time i went everything was hot which i enjoyed! Pan seared gyoza - It's nice and crispy on the bottom and soft on the top. (Hard to explain without looking at a picture) It has a crispy skirt that connects all the gyoza. Very easy to break apart. Pairs well with the sauce that comes with it. Mind tea - fresh mint packed into a strainer. Great to warm up with on a cold day. I ask for honey on the side. It is extra but not necessary if you like the taste of fresh mint! This place doesn't only look nice but the food is impeccable. It's great for bringing kids, anime lovers, or those looking for a hearty ramen. They have many things in the menu worth trying a few which i have tried but the spicy miso ramen is my go to! read more

NōKA Ramen & Bar - Spicy Miso Ramen - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Oakland, California

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Cute and instagrammable ramen place in Jack London Square! We got there early and were able to be seated even though we were a large group! The place has a lot of anime theme decorations and all the wait staff is dressed in the theme as well! I ordered the yuzu highball, which comes with a random pokemon card and tonkatsu ramen. Ramen and drink was pretty standard. read more

NōKA Ramen & Bar - Tonkatsu ramen - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Oakland, California

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Food was great! Everything was so good I love the ambience of the place and the service was great read more

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