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    Ramen Dojo

    4.0 (4.1k reviews)
    ModerateRamen
    Open 11:00 am - 2:00 pm, 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM

    Ramen Dojo Photos

    Business Info

    RAMEN DOJO ATMOSPHERE

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

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    Recommended Reviews - Ramen Dojo

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    Garlic Pork Flavor
    Austin K.

    Ambiance: A small ramen shop that reminds you of every shop new shop opening in 2010 Service: one server so it took awhile but overall fast for being one person Food: Solid ramen. It's nothing to write home about. This bowl of ramen had the flavors you look for in a garlic pork ramen, but just lacked depth. The toppings were on the smaller side too. Also the ramen is quite small so if you were looking to be full, i recommend getting more noodles

    Garlic pork ramen with soft shell carb
    Herold D.

    Had a good experience at Ramen Dojo. I ordered the garlic pork ramen, medium spicy, and added extra soft shell crab. Overall, the taste was really good and flavorful. Just a small note -the "medium spicy" level wasn't very spicy, so if you like real heat, you might want to go higher. Also, the soup portion felt a little light. I personally wish they gave a bit more broth. Other than that, solid ramen and worth trying.

    Garlic Pork Flavor
    Alison V.

    A cosy, no-nonsense ramen spot with no wait times and fast service. Their broth, noodles and pork were tasty. The wait staff are very blunt and direct but not rude. I look forward to returning.

    Pov upon entry.
    Verna R.

    Everything went well! While my daughter and I were waiting, we were a few minutes early, we checked out the menu that was posted on the outside. Within those few minutes we decided on what to order. Thankfully, they let us in, because it was cold and windy out! Food was 10/10! Soft shell crab ramen with the garlic pork base; despite the 1 quail egg (I wish there were a few more - 5 is ideal), it was so very good! Chicken karaage ramen with garlic pork base; the chicken pieces were bigger than expected. Tip: The lemon water was really fresh. I'd definitely go back!

    Michelle P.

    Got invited by my kidws and their friend to have ramen at one of their favorite places! Thanks for the invite! We came in and were lucky to grab the last table - I was worried that the wait would be super long because of how busy they wre, but after ordering, my sake came immediately, and our ramen came out in 10-15 minutes! And it was delicious! Everyone ordered extra pork because it is just that good! I was so happy to be included with the big kids, and thoroughly enjoyed the food, the waitstaff, the efficiency, and the company!

    Garlic Pork Miso Ramen
    Vince L.

    This place is small (probably 24 customers max), but turnaround was fairly quick, and the food was very tasty. There's a clipboard hanging on the door for signups. For a first timer like me, it's not very noticeable...I walked right past it. When the food arrived, my first thought was that the portions aren't very big, but it was filling enough for me and my wife. The only negative comment I have is the open doorway between the dining room and the kitchen. I was able to see the chef preparing the food (with his bare hands), then wiping his hands on a rag on his workstation. And I saw him put his hand in his pocket. Also, in order for customers to get to the restroom, they need to walk right through the chef's workstation.

    Tonkotsu Premium
    Jonathan D.

    This is one of the coziest ramen spots I've been to in San Mateo, perfect for a cold winter night. The interior has limited seating, having a mom and pops feel to it. Got the premium tonkotsu with a soft shell crab added. The soup came out piping hot, and the broth was rich without being too heavy. There was only one very friendly lady serving the entire dining room, but she's surprisingly attentive to all and very efficient. Will definitely be back in the near future!

    Garlic Pork Flavor Mild Spicy
    Pearl R.

    I heard so much about this place for a while and got the chance to come here on monday for late lunch. I ordered a stew pork belly ramen -- Mild spicy and (House garlic pork) and the broth and noodles were really good! However I felt that the pork belly flavor didn't really go that well with the broth. Overall, it's a really good ramen spot in San Mateo!

    Joanna H.

    Ramen Dojo- the OG San Mateo ramen spot. Parking is more difficult compared to Ramen Parlor since there's only street parking, but in my opinion, Dojo is the winner. The spicy garlic pork ramen was comforting and delicious. The broth is so flavorful yet not too heavy. I rarely finish a bowl of ramen to myself and I did here, which 1- good portion size for me and 2- it's just that good. One thing to note is that they use quail egg instead of regular egg in their ramen. The lady who runs the place is extremely kind and sweet. The place is pretty small, but luckily we didn't have to wait during prime weekend lunch time. Even though so many ramen spots have opened up in San Mateo, Ramen Dojo will always be up there.

    Soft shell crab ramen, Mild Spicy
    Olivia G.

    Such a wonderful little cozy ramen spot! Although there weren't many tables, my date and I got there early and secured one. The auntie serving us was so sweet. She handled the tables by herself and always had a cheery attitude. We each tried one of the popular ramen bowls. I got the soft shelled crab bowl. Both of us were quiet while eating our bowls so you KNOW the ramen was good. The broth was creamy, flavorful, and just the right amount of spice. The price was decent as well and there's parking right behind the spot. Very nice, I'd love to go back for another bowl!

    Ankita K.

    We went here on Saturday afternoon for dinner we waited for 10 mins to be seated as its a small place and it was full. We ordered both the Ramen from their Special Ramen menu we got a Karaage chicken ramen in premium garlic pork broth and Shrimp wonton Ramen in house garlic pork broth. Both the Ramens were amazing. We enjoyed our food. It's a must visit place.

    garlic pork ramen
    Tiffany L.

    Food - 5/5 I got the Garlic Pork Ramen ($16.99), no spicy. It came with two fairly sized pieces of charsiu, quail egg, spinach, and seaweed. The broth was really flavorful and was the right amount of saltiness. I also loved the noodles! Not sure if they were handmade, but they had the perfect amount of bounciness to them. Service - 5/5 Food came out quick and waiter was nice We came at 11am so there wasn't any line but I've heard that there is often a long line for this place!

    Pork ramen is good
    Joyce L.

    I've tried a few ramen spots all over the Bay Area, and so far my favorite is Ramen Nagi ( Ramen Bario in Honolulu is still my Top 1) I was in the mood for ramen, so I turned to Yelp to find a new spot that I haven't tried, and Ramen Dojo showed up. We arrived around noon on Saturday, and we waited for a little, not too bad since there was only 1 person working in the front. The waitress was super nice. We tried their standard tonkatsu ramen with the marinated egg. Their egg was really good, soup was also not bad. It's at the same level as Marufuku. They have a very simple menu, just ramen, not many other things. Overall, a good lunch and we left satisfied. I'll definitely put this in my rotation of ramen spots from now on.

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    2 months ago

    Quality has gone down. Also there was a mosquito squished to my water cup. Not sanitary.

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    8 months ago

    Best ramen ever. Lots of flavor and great pork. My go to favorite restaurant. I go with my kids. They all love it

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    Ramen Dojo Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Ramen Dojo

    Do you serve vegan ramen?

    I would suggest just giving them a call when they're open. They have miso broth as an option, which in theory should be vegan, but not sure about their prep methods and also the default toppings involve pork.

    Can I make reservations?

    No, you can't make reservations. To-go orders also need to be placed in person.

    Do they use MSG in any foods?

    Have they reopened?

    No - they said they'll reopen in July.

    Do they noodle and soup contain egg or milk?

    They do come with eggs but you can ask to have it taken out. Milk, I'm not sure..I wouldn't think so

    Will the restaurant be closed during the upcoming holidays?

    Open today 12/26

    How's the wait on weekends evenings?

    I haven't been there on weekends/evenings. But lunch is insane. So I would think over an hour wait and I suggest you go 30 mins before it opens and start lining up. It's a tiny place.

    Is it really a 35 out of 100 for heath score?

    Nah.i think ppl try to key it on the DL so less ppl will go there.

    Is it possible to get gluten free ramen here?

    I don't think so. They didn't give an option to change to gluten-free noodles.

    Is this restaurant good for vegetarians?

    Nope. They expressly state on the menu that "ramen is not vegetarian".

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    Taishoken - San Mateo - Tokusei Tsukemen, the house special

    Taishoken - San Mateo

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

    Taishoken has been the trailblazer for tsukemen in the bay area and for good reason. The attention…read moreto detail and consistency is always apparent and shines through every order. My go-to here is, of course, the tsukemen. As a self-proclaimed ramen purists - keep the onsen egg and medium rare pork. All I need is a dank broth with some perfectly (maybe slightly tooth) al dente noodles. While the tsukemen here might not be for everyone , it totally hits the spot for me. The unique taste of the dipping broth is one which can only be found here, as well as their noodles which have their own size and consistency. Don't get me wrong, all their other offerings are pretty good too. In particular I like the mazesoba. Recently they also hatched a new limited duck tsukemen. As tough as it was to pry me away from the original or the soupless ramen, I was convinced by staff this would be enjoyable - and it was. Super light but complex. This had a rich and earthy flavor whole also being light and, fragrant with yuzu. Service here is exceptionally friendly but also rigid. Items tend to come as they are with little to no flexibility for adjustments, but they'll let you know very nicely. Overall taishoken makes the short list of bay area ramen spots for me, in particular when craving their rich & hearty tsukemen that'll be sure to satisfy any ramen craving, but even in hot weather. Besides that, taishoken has a particular spirit it carries, one that I recognized even from spotting their original location on Tony Bourdain's earlier "no reservations" episodes. It's a subtle but confident attitude - one that says I understand you like things a certain way, but trust us. For any diners willing to accept those terms, they will be greatly rewarded.

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

    Photos
    Taishoken - San Mateo - Shichida Daiginjo

    Shichida Daiginjo

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    Kajiken - Homura Aburasoba

    Kajiken

    4.4(1.4k reviews)
    0.4 mi
    $$

    I've come 4 times now and it still hits every single time. Almost always a line, but it moves…read moreextremely quickly. Service is good, interior is well-lit and clean, and the food is just amazing. Make sure you get the hot tea as well! Noodles are so fresh and perfectly cooked. FOOD: Wagyu Roast Beef Aburasoba (9/10) - My personal favorite! The roast beef is extremely tender, and the yogurt sauce pairs perfectly with her. Pro-tip, add a little bit of vinegar - tastes even better Nikumori Aburasoba (9/10) - Slightly spicy with a ton of pork inside. The sauce coats the noodles perfectly - amazing!

    I was in San Mateo, and I was hungry. I checked Yelp and Google, and there were so many places to…read morechoose from, I didn't know what to pick. I checked Michelin, and it help me narrow it down to Kajiken. As I walked to Kajiken, I knew I was getting close because it was the only place that had a line-up outside. There were probably 12-14 people waiting, and I wondering if I should find another place because I didn't want to wait. Fortunately, as a single diner, they sat me right away. I ended up ordering the Original Aburasoba and it came in about 5 minutes. It was good. Great texture, good flavours, and a reasonable serving size. Service was fine but minimal. Dining area is typical of modern ramen places. Overall, a nice quick meal. Maybe closer to a 3.5 or 3.75 as it was good, but I was also very hungry. I would consider returning.

    Photos
    Kajiken - Inside

    Inside

    Kajiken - Oroshi Ponzu Karaage($10)

    Oroshi Ponzu Karaage($10)

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    Ramen Parlor

    Ramen Parlor

    3.8(2.1k reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $$

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

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

    Photos
    Ramen Parlor - Entrance table with drink options and menu

    Entrance table with drink options and menu

    Ramen Parlor - Chicken Karaage

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    Hanabi Ramen & Japanese Curry - jalapeno ramen $16.25

    Hanabi Ramen & Japanese Curry

    4.2(1k reviews)
    2.3 mi
    $$

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

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

    Photos
    Hanabi Ramen & Japanese Curry - Restaurant interior, counter pictured

    Restaurant interior, counter pictured

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    Spicy Short Rib Ramen

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    Rin-Tei - Sizzling Wagyu Loin

    Rin-Tei

    4.7(1.1k reviews)
    0.5 mi
    $$
    Locally owned & operated
    Takes reservations

    Every time I visit this restaurant, the service from the staff is consistently excellent. I always…read moreorder the same Vietnamese beef pho. The noodles are delicious, the broth is rich yet not greasy, and the beef slices are incredibly tender and smooth. It is almost impossible to find any flaws. If I had to point out one area that could be improved, it would probably be the choice of beef chunks. They are still very tender, but the texture feels just a little dry at times. Even so, this small issue does not take away from the overall experience. Overall, I highly recommend this modern pho restaurant. They also offer many other dishes with great value for the price. Strongly recommended to everyone. 每次去拜訪這家餐廳,服務員的服務都非常得好,我始終點一樣的越南牛肉粉,好吃的麵條,濃郁的湯頭也不油膩,加上超滑嫩的牛肉片,無可挑剔。硬要說一個能改進的地方,唯一美中不足的部分應該就是牛肉塊的部位挑選,感覺也是非常嫩,但是口感始終有一點柴。但是瑕不掩瑜,整體來講,我非常推薦這一家好吃的現代河粉店,裡面還有非常多性價比非常不錯的餐點,強力推薦給各位。

    This is such a cute and unique place! Came here on a Friday at 7pm for 4 people and waited like 20…read moreminutes. It's a smaller dining space that's why. The outside has a cute little garden walkway. We got the soy milk pho - such an interesting dish that I was dying to try! It was actually really good since the broth was light. The pho was a little sweet from the soy milk. The original pho broth flavor is subtle. The noodles were cooked perfectly chewy and I lovedddd!!! The wagyu skillet was tender and juicy! My friend and I both thought the meat tasted like al pastor for some reason lol. Not a bad thing.

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    Rin-Tei - Tomorokoshi Tempra (Fried Corn)

    Tomorokoshi Tempra (Fried Corn)

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    Ramen Dojo - ramen - Updated May 2026

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