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Ramen Bar Ichi

4.3 (896 reviews)
ModerateRamen, Izakaya
Closed 11:00 am - 3:00 pm, 4:00 PM - 8:45 PM

Ramen Bar Ichi Photos

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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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Tonkotsu Ramen
Vanessa Z.

Ramen Bar Ichi continues to be our first choice over the years when we're in the area. The noodles, flavor of the broth, and condiment and garnish pairings are all cooked to perfection. The broth is rich but not overpowering. Tonkotsu is our go-to when we try new ramen places because it's a classic that gives us a first impression of the ramen place. I typically like to try out miso too, but the Tonkotsu here is so good that I don't feel like I need to think about other options!

Rafael W.

Ramen Bar Ichi was great! I definitely recommend the Tonkotsu Ramen, it was rich, flavorful, and really satisfying. I'll definitely be coming back to try more from the menu.

Tonkotsu and karage
Yesseth S.

Delicious food everything was good. We ordered the lunch special Ramen combo with karage and tonkatsu. Very nice ambience and great service.

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.

Vegan ramen

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2 months ago

Good food, good service and good ambiance. Highly recommended to everyone who wants to eat ramen.

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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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3 years ago

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1 year ago

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9 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… 

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.

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Izakaya Wa - River Oaks

Izakaya Wa - River Oaks

4.3
(316 reviews)
11.8 mi
$$

- came in around 7pm, it was a bit crowded - bar is…read moreself-seating, attentive and respectful service from the bartenders - warm and relaxed ambience, typical bar restaurants vibe - wait-time wasn't long, i'd say maybe 10 min. tops - curry was great and flavorful - the soft texture of the rice was a plus for me - really enjoyed the smoked salmon, so fresh - melon chuhai was not much to my taste, however i still liked it there is paid parking here, but i paid about $2 for two hours of parking and we finished between 1hr and 1hr30min. i'd say that's decent.

This place has been on my to-go list for a while and it did not disappoint! We started off with age…read moretakoyaki and toro carpaccio, which were both recommended to us by our server. The age takoyaki was creamy and good to share amongst a group. The toro carpaccio was amazing as well and melted in your mouth. We also ordered chicken curry udon, chicken karaage, and tantan noodles. All had really great flavors but my personal favorite was the tantan noodles which came with poached egg, sauce, and garnishes that you got to mix into the noodles. Super creamy and nutty! I really loved the vibe of the restaurant too, it's small but has a homey vibe that would be great for either a small group hangout or a date. There's a lot of bars to visit nearby too. Our server was also so sweet and brought us a baggie of Japanese candies & sweets after our dinner since it was Valentine's Day. Only complaint was parking. Very small lot and very packed! Get there a bit before your reservation to figure out parking.

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Sushi bar
Sushi bar
#YelpElite #Yelp #sushi
#YelpElite #Yelp #sushi
#YelpElite #Yelp #sushi

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#YelpElite #Yelp #sushi
Izakaya Hi

Izakaya Hi

4.4
(552 reviews)
0.8 mi
$$

Came for lunch on a Saturday afternoon. The restaurant was not too busy and service was great. The…read moreserver was super friendly and gave us a lot of good recommendations. The decor was nice and was a great place for a date. We got the calamari, salmon ochizuke, bibimbap, and bulgogi roll. It was definitely way too much food. The calamari was super good, nice and crispy and flavorful and came with a slightly spicy sauce. The salmon sushi was a star. Torched with a great smoky flavor, we were told to probably just eat half the rice. Extremely rich but paired well with the light pickled wasabi. The bibimbap and bulgogi roll could not hold up to the first two, so we opted to take them to go. The bulgogi roll was an odd mix and didn't end up tasting as good as it sounded and the bibimbap was great but we were too full to really enjoy it. Overall, awesome restaurant with a really extensive menu. Will need to be back to try their other options!

Izakaya Hi is a delight! Great atmosphere to enjoy fresh sushi and fun karaoke too! Do you yourself…read morea favor and check out the great food, service and hospitality! Large free parking lot for easy access to the restaurant also! Izakaya Hi is located on Westheimer just west of Dairy Ashford on the south side of the street. I promise you won't regret choosing Izakaya Hi!

Photos
Izakaya Hi
Damn son!!! This one hit like cactus Jack from WWF back in the day!  Pinto box chicken teriyaki my boy!!!
Damn son!!! This one hit like cactus Jack from WWF back in the day! Pinto box chicken teriyaki my boy!!!
Bar area

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Bar area
Zen Japanese Izakaya

Zen Japanese Izakaya

4.2
(334 reviews)
11.7 mi
$$

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.

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Zen Japanese Izakaya
Fish from Japan
Fish from Japan
Zen Japanese Izakaya

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Kokoro Sushi and Yakitori

Kokoro Sushi and Yakitori

4.5
(394 reviews)
14.6 mi
$$
Locally owned & operated
Speaks Spanish

This was my favorite meal of this Houston trip…read more Now yall-- we ordered damn near everything on the menu! And let me tell you this menu has a lot to offer-- from sushi, crudo, yakitori, small dishes, and appetizers you name it The food was tasty, and surprisingly beautifully prepared. This was a very affordable in compared to most sushi places I've been to. Definitely with a try, I've been talking about it since I left and when I return it'll be my first stop! (Get the tuna!)

Used to love this place, my downtown staple for sushi. I can't recommend this place less…read more On their website and on Google it says they close at nine, understanding this and knowing I would have to order and eat fast, I showed up at 8:30 for a quick dinner downtown. Upon arrival, I was told that I could not sit at the sushi bar and eat. If I wanted to order I had to go sit in the common area of this dining hall. After this discussion, I said fine and asked for a menu. They then told me I had to get up and order at the register and view the menu glued to the counter. They took the order of a couple who sat down maybe 2 minutes before me in front of me. I will never come back to this place. They seem to be the last man standing in this dining hall, and with this kind of customer service, they won't last much longer. It's a shame because I love the food and I am a regular at handies and aiko as well. Won't be back to any of them.

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Front stall pic
Front stall pic
Wagyu toast
Wagyu toast
Wagyu Toast

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Wagyu Toast
Koi

Koi

4.6
(287 reviews)
13.2 mi
$$$

Amazing all around! Decor was refined and modern throughout the entire dining floor…read more Fish were all super fresh and delicious! Also had to highlight their house made soy sauce which was extremely umami, very unique and sets this place slightly apart from the many other sushi joints in its range Truffle crab chawanmushi was certainly a top highlight for me as well - rich truffle oil with the perfectly light steamed egg and sweet crab chunks, just an incredible dish and I could have easily eaten several of these The uni was also extremely fresh and buttery and was nice even for someone who doesn't usually like uni In the same class and range as places like Kata Robata and I would say it's a strong rival! Would come back again!

A great spot for sushi in the Montrose area. They have a small parking lot in the front otherwise…read moreyou can find street parking in the neighborhood behind the restaurant. Easy to make resy online. The inside had low lightings, giving an intimate ambience. It wasn't too crowded when we were there on a weekday night. Menu had a variety to your usuals between sashmi, nigiri, maki, or cold tasting items. They also have a chef's feature menu. We ordered a few items to share: - Carbonara udon - Uni pasta - Royal chutoro maki - Wagyu and mushroom tarts - Toyosu sashimi platter - Salmon flight My favorite of the night. I am usually not a huge udon fan but the udon noodles were super soft and melts in your mouth. Probably one of the best udons I have had. We had to try the uni pasta when we saw it on the menu. A good amount of uni and the sauce was perfect with the pasta. For sashmi option, the Toyosu sashimi platter was a great choice that offer a variety of the chef's curated imported fresh Japanese sashimi. We also got the salmon flight which had 6 pieces of the salmon and salmon belly. Service was friendly and quick. Overall, a good spot for sushi in the Montrose area.

Photos
Aburi roll, el Diablo roll
Aburi roll, el Diablo roll
Crispy rice
Crispy rice
Yuzu Mojito

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Yuzu Mojito
Kata Robata

Kata Robata

4.3
(2.3k reviews)
11.2 mi
$$$

First time here for a friend's birthday. They had reservations for a private big table in the back…read morefor 10 people. We had 1 waiter and a few runners. The place was very busy but service was great! Quick and thorough. I had several sake bombs but that didn't cloud my judgement! The food was amazing here. Definitely worth the slightly higher price than your average sushi place. There isn't a bad choice on the menu. We will be back for their lunch specials as they have event better pricing and dishes you can only get then.

FOOD POISONING I…read morehate to give Kata a bad review because I actually enjoy eating here. However, I currently have food poisoning after eating here yesterday. 30 minutes after coming back from lunch break, I had diarrhea. I thought maybe it was just a bad day, but I am still suffering from this. I have to use the toilet many times a day, and I feel so nauseous. If it keeps getting worse, I am might have to consider going to urgent care. My boss ordered a salad that had the same veggies that came with the pan seared duck breast about a week ago, and also had diarrhea. He pieced two and two together. We believe that it's the veggies. I am worried that what I have is the parasite that's going around right now, cyclosporiasis. On another note, I wanted to try their specials. The lamb gyozas were okay. I didn't really like the skin of the gyoza, seemed a bit oily. I was excited to try the pan seared duck breast, but I found it to be a bit overcooked than what I usually have at other restaurants. A bit dry, kinda chewy, but the blueberry sauce was good. The salad that came on the side was good, but I believe that's what gave me diarrhea.

Photos
Back dining space
Back dining space
Lunch nigiri.
Lunch nigiri.
Okinawa Sun - strong AF

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Okinawa Sun - strong AF

Ramen Bar Ichi - ramen - Updated July 2026

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