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    Ramen Bar Ichi

    4.3 (894 reviews)
    ModerateRamen, Izakaya
    Open 11:00 am - 3:00 pm, 4:00 PM - 8:00 PM

    Ramen Bar Ichi Photos

    Business Info

    RAMEN BAR ICHI ATMOSPHERE

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

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    Recommended Reviews - Ramen Bar Ichi

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    Jarek M.

    Good menu, okay food. Service and atmosphere: The restaurant is nicely decorated inside. They offer good number seating options. Service was friendly and timely. Could have been more attentive. Food and drinks: I liked that the menu had few options which usually suggest that the kitchen concentrates on what they know best. The many had typical dishes expected at ramen spot. The flavours lucked a bit comparing to other ramen restaurants we visited. My ramen salad (no broth option) was nicely presented. The noodle was on a firm side. Other ramen soups needed more flavours. You can order alcoholic beverages here. Pricing: $$ definitely affordable and not overpriced for what was served.

    Tonkatsu ramen, kaarage, calamari
    Irene C.

    Came here on a Saturday afternoon for lunch by myself. Service was quick. I was sat at the bar. Plenty of tables and some booth seating. It was relatively busy. Got the tonkatsu ramen. Broth was creamy- wasn't as salty as i expected. Noodles were chewy and tasty. Didn't transport me back to the ramen I had in Japan though but I enjoyed it. Calamari with ponzu sauce was good- crispy. Kaarage was just ok. Overall experience was pretty decent for what it is and where it is. Next time I'll try the rice bowls.

    Seating
    David P.

    Nut allergy friendly: I've never had issues with anything here. One of the best ramen spots in Houston, though I feel like their broth got more oily over the years. They have lovely takoyaki options. Service is always quick and efficient with food coming out in minutes. I'm partial to their Tonkatsu or spicy tonkatsu.

    Menu
    Caroline N.

    I am not usually picky about food quality if it's a food I like, meaning I've never met a ramen I didn't like until trying this restaurant. The Tonkatsu broth was watery and relatively tasteless, contrasting the rich flavor I'm used to. It felt like I was eating ramen that was run through a dishwasher. The gyoza was also spongey and questionable. I'm deeply disappointed with the food here, especially since I saw an Instagram reel touting that it's one of the best ramen spots in Houston. Giving 2 stars opposed to 1 because the waitress/management was kind enough to not make us pay for the ramen we barely ate.

    Spicy tonkotsu and tonkotsu ramen
    Mimi P.

    There's plenty of parking in the plaza though it can get filled up during busy hours. I came right when it opened on a weekend and it wasn't busy until later. There were plenty of tables inside and the ambiance was nice. Service was quick as the food came out fast! We got the Spicy Tonkotsu ramen and Tonkotsu ramen . The spicy tonkotsu ramen was spicy but it's the type of spice that gradually grows while eating. The broth for both was rich and the noodles were tasty as they were thin noodles. As for the egg, it was gooey and had a sweet taste to it! Overall, the ramen was good!

    John N.

    So.... I've been here a couple of times. Food is pretty decent. They had this crunchy cabbage dish in the past but it wasn't there today. Service is OKAY too. For some reason my family of 4 got styrofoam cups verses everyone else standard thick plastic cups. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ idk.... Ramen was ok. My little girl enjoyed it. Wife got the Mentai Takana bowl which was the same size as the mini bowls but cost more. I got the pork chashu bowl (which is a mini bowl) and the unagi bowl (which isn't a mini bowl but came in a mini bowl). The karage was over cooked and a little tough. The wife also got the takoyami but I didn't hear any complaints from her about it (not my thing). Dishes came out pretty but ultimately.... It was ok. Most likely won't be coming back here for a while. It's a cute little date spot if you want to flex to uninformed. Honestly, I find myself spending more money at Seiwa Market next door. Once their kitchen gets back to what they were in the past, I would find myself hard pressed coming back to Ramen Bar Chi. 2.5 stars if I could give it. Didn't hate it but I didn't love it. Kinda feel a little ripped off about bowls. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ it is what it is.

    Fried calamari
    Juliana C.

    My friends and I decided to stop by here for an early dinner based on the high reviews. The restaurant is small and the decors is nice. We ordered 2 bowls of spicy tonkatsu with egg, a regular bowl of tonkatsu, takoyaki, and 2 orders of calamari. Ramen - the ramen noodle was cooked perfectly not mushy or hard. The spice on the spicy tonkatsu was strong and you cannot taste the tonkatsu broth compared to the tonkatsu without spice. Eggs do not come with the bowl of ramen so it is an additional add on but the egg was cooked and seasoned perfectly. The chashu was a little chewy and doesn't melt in your mouth, my friend thought his chashu smelt and tasted strongly of pork (almost like not clean pork). Calamari - they give you a large portion and I enjoyed the little salad that's included with the item. It comes with an "Asian sauce" which I am not a huge fan of. I wished it came with a creamy sauce like spicy mayo. The restaurant is located in a shopping plaza so there was plenty of parking.

    Spicy Tonkotsu Ramen
    Jacob D.

    For me this is the example of doing all the basics near perfectly. It's a cozy restaurant space that feels kinda like it's in the city, but you're in the 'burbs (so there's parking). Brought a larger group size and we were managed to be sat immediately, almost like they made space out of no where. Service was quick and straightforward, and nobody got an order incorrect. The menu consists of about half a dozen types of soups and a few extra ways to customize your bowl. There's a separate menu for appetizers that has a good selection of takoyaki and karaage; mostly just different ways to top them. Also a pretty good selection of sakes, beers, and cocktails to make it a liquid lunch/dinner. The ramen itself is executed exactly how I'd want. Tons of soups fillings with lots of noodles and probably the biggest serving of pork chashu that I've gotten at any ramen spot. The bamboo was prepared better than I've ever had, with plenty of it served; I didn't know that it could be not rubbery. Soup broth was unctuous but not overly heavy, I cleaned the whole bowl. The portions being this generous and the taste being this good made this a 5 for me.

    Takoyaki
    Tony G.

    Drove 30 minutes to this place after hearing all over Reddit that this was the best ramen shop Houston had to offer. Was sadly a bit of a letdown. Showed up right around opening and it was just us there. That was fine. We opted to sit in a booth close to the kitchen. Ambiance looks like a pretty casual ramen shop. Server was friendly. We ordered the Spicy Tonkotsu Ramen, Pollo Loco Ramen, and Takoyaki (I believe it was Osaka style). - Takoyaki: This was pretty standard. Not bad, but also not anything to write home about. - Spicy Tonkotsu Ramen: Pretty disappointed with this one. Although there was some decent spice, I found the broth to be pretty watery. For a tonkotsu ramen, I expected a super hearty/creamy broth, but didn't really get any of that. The char siu and other toppings were fine, but I also found the noodles weren't as bouncy as I was hoping. Maybe a little overcooked? Or just the noodles itself weren't very good. - Pollo Loco Ramen: Don't usually got a chicken-based ramen so this was definitely unique. However, I think this suffered the same issues of the tonkotsu of being a bit too watery when I don't think it should've been. I'm all for lighter broths (i.e. shoyu), but this didn't really connect. The ground meat and noodles also didn't particularly grab onto the broth. One other thing I would like to mention was a little after the takoyaki came we started smelling something weird closer to the kitchen/bathroom. Smelled almost like cleaning solution? We figured maybe it'd eventually pass, but it never really did and we definitely had a bit of a headache by the end. YMMV, but just something I personally experienced. Overall, it was definitely not worth the journey or the hype. If you're closer to this location and want ramen, I can see this working in a pinch, but I have a hard time recommending this one.

    Takoyaki
    Nicol N.

    Hands down the best ramen in Houston. The broth is consistently rich, flavorful, and so savory. The Takoyaki balls are good too! I forgot to take a picture of their cucumber salad which has a nice spice kick but tastes very refreshing.

    Tsukumen
    Sandra K.

    Noodles were perfect. Dipping broth was delicious. Only the pork was sad. Other than that still fast delicious service.

    Vegan ramen
    Sunny B.

    Overall we had just an average experience here. This is a drive out for us to visit and I don't think we will be back. We visited on a Friday evening and had to wait a few minutes for a table. There was only one waitress working and although she was attentive, service was slower due to this. She mentioned that the vegetarian ramen contains shellfish oil, and we were easily able to make it vegan. There was only one vegetarian option on the menu. We made the special trip out here to try this vegetarian ramen due to some positive reviews. For $12.50 it is cheaper than your typical ramen dish. Although it was tasty, I didn't love it. My biggest complaint is lack of tofu/protein, which left me feeling hungry after finishing the end of the dish. Tofu is also not an optional addition you could request on their menu. The lotus root and sweet potato also offered a unique spin on your typical ramen dish. I do wish they put more than one of each of these items. There were additional mixed cubed veggies added that I wish had been seasoned in the dish. The broth and noodles were tasty.

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    1 year ago

    Totally worth it - cool little ramen bar. Had a beer cocktail which was interesting. Next to Japanese grocery store.

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    7 months ago

    It was my favorite place for ramen, not anymore. It looks sad, very average ramen now.

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    Ramen Bar Ichi Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Ramen Bar Ichi

    Are they closed on Thanksgiving?

    Thank you for contact us. Yes, We are closed Thanksgiving.

    Do they serve sake here?

    They do serve sake

    Do they make their own ramen?

    Yes! Everything is made from scratch. The ramen here is literally the best in town. It's unbelievable

    Do they use MSG (Monosodium Glutamate)?

    I actually do not know the answer. MSG is commonly used in Japanese cooking. MSG has a bad reputation here in USA but that is not the case in Asian countries. The common complaints of allergy and bloating, not feeling well are not heard as… Read more

    Hey guys, does this place offer a ramen with a chicken broth option?

    They only have pork or veggie broth

    Do they give option on the broth, like chicken only instead of pork and chicken?

    no. because they make the broth ahead of time.

    View All 8 Questions

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    Izakaya Wa - River Oaks - #YelpElite #Yelp #sushi

    Izakaya Wa - River Oaks

    4.3(312 reviews)
    11.8 miRiver Oaks, Montrose
    $$

    Went for dinner since we were in the area. For a Thursday night, it was still pretty busy. All the…read moretables were full but we ended up being seated pretty quickly at bar seating. Opted for the salmon trio sashimi, tontoro skewers, and one of their new appetizers, the yuzu ageimoono (?). The taro potato balls were delicious, smooth with a nice light crispy shell covered in a salty, light yuzu dressing. The tontoro was delicious, well roasted, not too fatty, and tender. The salmon trio was also great, coming with king salmon, regular salmon, and smoked salmon. To be honest, I could tell there was a difference between the king and regular salmon, but I couldn't really tell which one was which. I also had a bite of my friend's tantanmen, which was basically like the Japanese version of dandan noodles and it was delicious, great nutty flavor with a touch of spice. It has a pretty nice menu. While it is a touch higher in price point, it is pretty reasonable for Houston. The quality is pretty equivalent to what I had in Japan, although as expected, more expensive. Will definitely need to be back to try their other items!

    Yummy, quick, and decently priced…read more You can make several of the rolls into hand rolls if you ask the waiter Waiters are friendly and knowledgeable I like that they have real wasabi Vibes are pretty casual, I'd come here during the day or if you wanna grab a quick bite with someone after hanging out in river oaks

    Photos
    Izakaya Wa - River Oaks - Sushi bar

    Sushi bar

    Izakaya Wa - River Oaks - #YelpElite #Yelp #sushi

    #YelpElite #Yelp #sushi

    Izakaya Wa - River Oaks - #YelpElite #Yelp #sushi

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    #YelpElite #Yelp #sushi

    Izakaya Wa - Memorial - Spicy chopped scallops roll

    Izakaya Wa - Memorial

    4.3(1.1k reviews)
    3.1 miMemorial
    $$

    Izakaya Wa is my favorite Japanese restaurant in Houston! I usually go to the River Oaks location…read morebut decided to try the Memorial one this time. I came for lunch on a Saturday and it was super busy so the service was a bit slow. It took a while for our water and for our server to come and take our order. I ordered the Lunch Special Nigiri Sushi and Noodle Set and got 6 pieces of salmon nigiri with udon noodle soup. The salmon nigiri was fresh and buttery and so delicious! The serving size of the udon was a lot bigger than I anticipated so I feel like I got my money's worth. I definitely recommend coming for the lunch specials since they're good value.

    This restaurant used to be our go-to sushi spot, but after today's experience, it will be our last…read morevisit. We initially came to dine in, but upon arrival our young daughter fell asleep. After being seated, I informed the waiter that I would place a to-go order instead. About 20 minutes later, our food was ready. At that point, our daughter woke up, so we hoped to continue dining in as originally planned. I politely asked the waiter if we could finish our meal there. We didn't expect him to continue serving us--we simply wanted to sit and eat the food we had ordered. I had already tipped him on the to-go order. His response was blunt and shocking: "No, you have to leave. The table was given to someone else for a 7:30 reservation." There was no attempt to find a solution or offer an alternative--just a direct order to leave. This was a Thursday night, the restaurant was not busy, and there were outdoor tables and other seating available. We felt incredibly insulted by the attitude. When we spoke to the manager, he simply repeated that the table was reserved and backed up the waiter, without suggesting another table or even asking us to wait for the next available one, until we brought up the point that he could have asked if we have an option to wait for the next table?? Then the manager went ok do you want to have another table just because we asked. What stood out most wasn't the reservation issue, but the complete lack of hospitality, flexibility, or basic courtesy. This experience spoke volumes about the customer service here, and unfortunately, it's the reason we won't be returning.

    Photos
    Izakaya Wa - Memorial
    Izakaya Wa - Memorial - Lunch sushi combo

    Lunch sushi combo

    Izakaya Wa - Memorial - Sweet shrimp

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    Sweet shrimp

    Zen Japanese Izakaya - Bluefin Tuna Special Bowl

    Zen Japanese Izakaya

    4.2(334 reviews)
    11.7 miMontrose
    $$

    This restaurant is a cozy, authentic gem for Japanese small plates. The space is intimate with a…read moresmall dining area. Reservations are highly recommended. There aren't many tables, and it fills up quickly. Service was incredibly friendly and attentive. This is what we ordered: 1. pepper tuna tataki 2. hamachili 3. hijiki 4. karaage 5. agedashi tofu 6. Rock N Roll roll 7. Zen Mega Dragon roll 8. hamachi sashimi 9. hamachi roll 10. Extra Picante roll 11. Yakisoba noodles 12. Brussel sprouts Almost everything was absolutely delicious. The pepper tuna tataki and hamachili were fresh and flavorful. The karaage was crispy, tender and juicy, and the agedashi tofu had that perfect texture in a savory broth. All were sooo good. The Zen Mega Dragon roll, hamachi hamachi roll, and Extra Picante roll were all fresh and excellent. The only two dishes that didn't quite wow us were the hijiki and the Rock N Roll roll. Both were a bit basic compared to everything else on the table. The yakisoba noodles did take a little while to come out, but wow... they were soooo worth the wait. Savory, hot, and incredibly satisfying. Prices are very reasonable for the quality and portion sizes, which makes it even better. There is free parking, but the lot is small. When it's busy, finding a spot can be a little tricky. We will definitely be back to explore more of the menu.

    this was a very tasty spot. the flavors of the sushi were so good i ended up not needing any soy…read moresauce at all. the service was very friendly and attentive which was nice. the ambiance was dark but welcoming. it was nice having dessert on the menu that was more unique than usual and i had to try one of their options you just don't see on others menus. it was nice getting something more earthy and authentic. presentation was very pretty as well. overall it was a great experience that made me want to go back.

    Photos
    Zen Japanese Izakaya
    Zen Japanese Izakaya - Fish from Japan

    Fish from Japan

    Zen Japanese Izakaya

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    Kata Robata - Texas Wagyu Katsu Sando

    Kata Robata

    4.3(2.3k reviews)
    11.2 miUpper Kirby
    $$$

    Nut allergy friendly - The lunch ramen is still safe! As is most of the menu I believe…read more Parking: Actually quite difficult in the small strip mall lot. Gets very busy during lunch and you might have to wait for someone to come out. Yep, they're all here for Kata. Time to Entree: 7 Minutes We arrived at 1PM on a Friday afternoon without a reservation and got quoted a 20 minute wait for 2 people. That ended up being around 9 minutes wait. Service for the lunch tonkatsu ramen was quick and efficient. The ramen is just as great as I remember. The pork tonkatsu is flame seared and has an excellent charred flavor, very different than normal tonkatsu pork but still melts in your mouth. The broth is flavorful and ginger-forward, but not too salty to where it's overpowering. Great portions of noodles that makes for a satisfying lunch. Kata's ramen still bats for the top 5 in Houston in my book. Always happy to make it back for their lunch when I've got the time.

    The food tasted good but nothing was new or exciting. The service was terrible... our waitress…read more(Karen?) was really slow.. also my friend waited almost 45 minutes for a glass of wine. She clearly forgot to ring it in and then brought us the check. We then asked for the glass of wine and she brought it with a revised check. We also never saw a manager during our visit. At the end, we were charged 20% gratuity for a group of 7... seemed strange. Not saying we wouldn't have tipped that but it didn't sit well knowing the service was so bad.

    Photos
    Kata Robata
    Kata Robata - Lunch nigiri.

    Lunch nigiri.

    Kata Robata - Okinawa Sun - strong AF

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    Okinawa Sun - strong AF

    Aji Izakaya

    Aji Izakaya

    4.5(183 reviews)
    16.8 mi

    Now why is there not a location in Houston proper??? This place is sooo good! To that point when we…read morearrived there was a wait and we had to get a buzzer which took about 10-15 mins to be seated. It was worth it! This restaurant is really cute. Its on the smaller side which also explains the wait. The service is quick and efficient! I I ordered spicy edamame which was interesting it tasted like tomato paste with spices essentially but still good. And kimchi for gut health! The belle of the ball is of course the sushi! They have an array of different sushi and rolls to pick from! I couldn't decided so I ordered 2 different rolls. Interestingly enough they both were served hot. I ordered the Louisiana roll 10/10. And a Mt. Fuji roll they're soo good and a good starter. This place is excellent! If I ever happen to across the world in Rosenberg I will definitely be back!

    Very calm and inviting restaurant in a small dining center. Parking is limited in the front for all…read moreof the other businesses but there is also parking in the back. Was greeted and seated as soon as I walked in. Soy sauce, ginger and spices are already on the table for your dining experience. I ordered one yellowtail sushi roll and a shaggydog. I also wanted to try the tempura bun. Everything came out fast but fresh. The hot saki was very good. The tempura bun was soft and had a sweet after bite to it. The shaggydog and yellowtail were both delish. was very pleased. I ordered a to-go plate of kimchi fries. Today I found out I do not like kimchi. Im glad I tried it. Different strokes for different folks.

    Photos
    Aji Izakaya - Paper lanterns

    Paper lanterns

    Aji Izakaya - Beef skewers (2)

    Beef skewers (2)

    Aji Izakaya - Sushi bar

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    Sushi bar

    Ramen Bar Ichi - ramen - Updated May 2026

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