This was my first time having ramen. I was taken aback by the excellent service provided by Michael (GM) who provided custom and specialized suggestions. Additionally, the restaurant was quick to deliver the food at a high quality. I will be coming back again if Michael is there! read more

I have been to multiple ramen spots but nothing comes close to ramen nagi. The fact you can customize so many options on how you want your ramen from salt levels, garlic flavor, type of noodles is just amazing. I finally found my favorite ramen and continue to come here. On top of the food, the staff is also very professional. I recently had an unfortunate accident while dining and Michael (GM) went above and beyond help me. I legit have nothing bad to say about this place. The food, workers and interior are all amazing. Try to get there before it opens to ensure you get sat first if not you will have to wait a bit before entering. read more

This is one of my favorite ramen places. My friends are a bit more experimental so we ended up having all the different type of soup bases. I still love the original but the black king and pesto stood out to me. Parking: There's a few free parking garages. Service: This place can get BUSY, but they try to be efficient as they can here. read more

Ramen Nagi - Ramen Near Me - Palo Alto, California

See all

This review is specifically for the service we received today around 6:20 PM. To give some context, we visit this location at least once a week, if not every other week, and have generally had good experiences. Unfortunately, our interaction with the hostess, Yanet, was disappointing. We were waiting in line, and Yanet called for the couple in front of us to be seated. I didn't personally see this because I was talking to my boyfriend, but he told me that as she was leading the other couple inside- she briefly held up two fingers toward him and then immediately walked back inside without saying anything. My boyfriend thought she was just counting as other hosts have done that before. To us, there was no clear communication or indication that Yanet was trying to seat us. Typically at our previous visits, the host will ask us directly if we're a party of 2 and say "Okay, follow me please." She did none of that. A short time later, she came back out and called for a party of two. We let her know that we were a party of two, and she responded, "Well, I asked for a table of two earlier." However, she had not clearly done so, and she was about to skip us until I blurted out "What the f***?" I've worked in food service for many years, so I understand the demands of the job. That said, the service we received today was far below the level of professionalism I would expect. read more

The standout was undoubtedly the Red King! My friend and I ordered two different bowls and split them so we can try more: My order: Original King with normal everything, chashu and thick noodles Friend's order: Red King with normal everything, kakuni, cabbage, and thin noodles While I did enjoy the Original King, it honestly felt a bit boring compared to the Red King. I definitely preferred the heavier spice here. I was amazed at how rich and delicious the broth was for both and the perfectly soft noodles. Service was also on top of it and we didn't have to wait very long for our bowls. We definitely hit the jackpot coming here for a random weekday lunch too; there was no wait for us when we arrived but I bet it's a different story for dinner hour. My perfect order for my next visit would have to be the Red King with normal everything, extra spicy, kakuni, cabbage, and thick noodles. 10/10 would slurp here again! read more

Ramen Nagi - Original King with chashu, green onions, and thick noodles - Ramen Near Me - Palo Alto, California

See all

This is my favorite ramen spot. You'll need to get here at least 15-min early in order to get seated in the first wave. It's with it! You fill you a ramen form for them to make your ramen with options for broth, texture of noodles, toppings, etc. service is fast and ramen is delicious! The Karaage here is also very good! After you're done, make sure to pay your bill at the front of the store. They don't take your bill at your table! read more

See all

I came to Ramen Nagi in Palo Alto for ramen on a Sunday night around 8:30, just before closing, and it was still very crowded. We waited about 15 minutes for a table, and while we were in line we had to write our order down on a piece of paper. The Veggie King was very tasty. I got it hot, and the savory broth was really satisfying while the noodles were cooked really well. It also had hash browns in it, which I'd never had in ramen before, but they added a lot and tasted good on their own. They were a little hard to eat with chopsticks at first, but once they got soggy from the broth, they tasted nice. The place has a very nice, traditional-looking vibe. The staff felt rushed. They weren't exactly rude, but it seemed like they really wanted us to eat quickly and get out of there, which I didn't love. read more

Ramen Nagi - Veggie King - Ramen Near Me - Palo Alto, California

Came here with a few people... which is great... because I got to try their food! I ordered squid ink which was delightful. Rich, savory and clean ocean taste... not fishy and not salty. The other broth flavors were equally delicious- basil and cheese was unique for me and tonkatsu was a wonderful rich tasty broth. You simply cant go wrong! Tamago?? Could be better. But a ramen can be eaten without an egg... so still 5 stars!! read more

See all

Haven't been here in a while. Still good, still busy as hell. Came here around 7pm on a Saturday, waited almost an hour before seating. Line somehow got even longer when we left. The staffs were super friendly though. We already knew what we wanted, but they were helping everyone else who were there for the first time. Anyway this location is def less crazy compared to the valley fair one. The inside is pretty roomy too. Got the original king with spice level 3 this time, which I think is the perfect amount of spicy. The free bean sprouts is what I look forward to the most though. Karaage is good but not the typical flavor and coating I like. Too bad the duck special was sold out when we were there. Would've loved to try it read more

See all

Ramen Nagi in Palo Alto is definitely worth the stop for rich, flavorful ramen. There was a line outside for lunch on a Friday afternoon, but the staff was very efficient and kept things moving quickly. The broth was packed with deep flavor. For spice, the normal level was just right, while level three brought some noticeable heat. The pork belly was delicious, and having the noodles cooked to order on the firmer side was spot on. A great bowl of ramen all around. read more

Ramen Nagi never disappoints! I came on a Wednesday evening and waited about 45 minutes, which is pretty standard here. I love that they give you an omotenashi sheet so you can tailor every single element of your bowl to your exact liking. My absolute go-to is the Red King. It's packed with a rich, savory flavor and delivers the perfect spicy kick. The ratio of noodles, veggies, and tender meat in the bowl is always spot on. Definitely add the tamago (Japanese egg) to your bowl because it takes the broth to an entire new level! For an appetizer, I also highly recommend the chicken karaage, which is super crispy and tender. Between the customizable bowls, top-tier flavors, and consistent quality, it remains one of my absolute favorite ramen spots. read more

Ramen Nagi - Ramen customization sheet - Ramen Near Me - Palo Alto, California

See all

Solid ramen spot, be early or wait until line. Order process is seamless with paper order, lots of options for spice. Karage was ehh, wouldn't get again, but ramen on point which my choices. Hack is you can take the rest of your broth home and make a second ramen if you want. (If you order a second portion of noodles, you can pack that too separately) read more

Ramen Nagi - Black King - Ramen Near Me - Palo Alto, California

See all

This review is long overdue. I've been here many times, and it always satisfies my ramen cravings. If you want to minimize the wait, I recommend going on a weekday and getting there early. Even then, the lines can get pretty long, but they are efficient and turn tables over quickly! My go to order is the red king with firm thick noodles and level 5 spice. I usually choose normal or heavy oil/garlic depending on my mood. I usually prefer chashu but I think kakuni (pork belly) is the better choice here as it is more tender and flavorful. It's really nice how they have so many customization options so you can adjust the ramen to your preferences. I enjoy spicier food and think level 5 is a solid medium so you can definitely go higher if you like more spice. I have also tried the black king, which has a more unique umami flavor from the squid ink. The chicken karaage is a popular appetizer, but I think it is just okay. Street parking only but usually not too difficult to find a spot! read more

Ramen Nagi - Black King - Ramen Near Me - Palo Alto, California

See all

Food (5/5): Ordered the red king with mostly normal ingredients. I also got the original to try it out as well. Both were super delicious and I really enjoyed the ramen. It's quite good although not sure about waiting hours for it. Service (4/5): Line gets quite long here. We came at 440pm before opening and it was already quite a long line. During the line you get a menu so you can start picking what you want. One issue they could improve is the men's restroom is single but also mixed for women and families so had to wait a long time for it. Ambiance (5/5): Cool ramen shop vibes with plenty of seating and good efficiency. You fill out a paper to make your order. Gets quite busy. read more

Ramen Nagi - Outside with line - Ramen Near Me - Palo Alto, California

See all

Ok this was my third time at Ramen Nagi. Last time, I saw the potato pancakes and had to try! You have to get vegetarian to get them. Crunchy fried potato, how can that ever not be good the gyoza were tasty and crunchy, perfect! I miss the chicken karage lol. The pesto was good too, but back to the spice next time ;) This was my second time and I was blown away! The spice bowl with #2 spicy sauce was almost too much, but it was soo good. And the chicken karage, pipin' hot and flavorous! We got spoiled, back shortly with visit #3.. read more

See all

I came here on the weekend for lunch and it was pretty busy but wasn't as long of a wait. I came here a few times but I haven't been back in a few years, so I ordered the original king and spicy king. They both were very solid, but I felt that there are less Ramen than before and they were both on the saltier side. The staff here are very nice and the food came out at a good time, however, the place is on the narrower side, so it was hard to walk in and out from the restaurant and people were hitting our chairs when we were sitting. Overall, a really good ramen place in Palo Alto, might come by early cause the wait can be very long. read more

Ramen Nagi - Spicy Red King - Ramen Near Me - Palo Alto, California

See all

Ramen Nagi was great! Although we had to wait in line outside (about 35 minutes), we were really excited to try this Ramen spot. The staff were friendly and provided great service. I would definitely come back with more family. read more

Ramen Nagi - Original King - Ramen Near Me - Palo Alto, California

Great place! Friendly staff and vibe, fairly easy to find parking and YUMMY food. We had Karaage and Red King the differing noodles and veggie options. We'll be back when we're around read more

See all

We came for lunch as a party of 4 on a Saturday around 12 pm and there was a long line looping outside. After waiting a little, some staff gave us the papers to fill out to customize our ramen selecting things from soup base, toppings and flavor amounts. Our ramen came out pretty quickly after seating and we waited around 30 minutes in line. Original King - I chose everything on the paper that was pretty original from the original kind base to all of the chef recommendations besides adding the pork belly. It was pretty sweet from the garlic and I enjoyed the soft pork belly. Besides that, the soup was savory and too salty for me which made everything feel very one note? Nothing stood out to me with the overpoweredness of the saltiness and I couldn't taste much of the tonkotsu soup base. The black king soup base that one of the others got had a good flavor with a balance of sweetness and smokiness that the original one didn't have. Not sure I'd come again but I would choose lower variation amounts next time. read more

Ramen Nagi - Original King - Ramen Near Me - Palo Alto, California

Ramen Nagi is top tier for me. The line most days can be pretty long, and now that they've removed the outdoor dining option, it definitely doesn't move as fast as it used to. We came on a Saturday afternoon around 1:30 and waited well over an hour to be seated. It was a hot day, and there isn't much cover, so plan on standing in the sun. As for the food, it's always fresh and flavorful, and the noodles are cooked exactly how you order them. I prefer thin, firm noodles! Service is fast, and the restaurant can tend to get loud. Overall, a solid option for ramen whether you're nearby or want to make the trek for something that won't disappoint. read more

Ramen Nagi - Original King, level 2 spice with cabbage and thin noodles - Ramen Near Me - Palo Alto, California

I'm not a big ramen fan, but my partner is a huge Japanese ramen enthusiast, and Ramen Nagi is his favorite ramen spot. That's why we end up coming here fairly often. Because the menu doesn't offer many side options, I usually order the chicken, which has always been consistently good and is something I would definitely recommend. As for the ramen, I've given it a few tries. On a previous visit, I ordered the Black King with the highest spice level and oil level set to 1. Surprisingly, I didn't find it spicy at all, and it still felt too oily for my taste. This visit, I decided to try the vegetarian ramen instead. I enjoyed the basil aroma, and the cheese added a nice flavor to the broth. However, even with the oil level set to 1, I still found it much too oily. That said, I know my opinion may be influenced by the fact that I'm generally not a fan of Japanese ramen. While the flavors were enjoyable, the richness and oiliness just aren't for me. I also don't really understand the long wait times, though it's obvious that many people love this place. read more

See all

Fantastic ramen, full of rich flavor. Everything here is custom ordered - the type of noodle, how well cooked, garlic levels, spice levels, everything! The black pepper bean sprouts side dish are a great touch. The chicken karage was crispy and delicious. Be prepared for a long line, but it moves fast. Service is busy but efficient. read more

See all

Came here with friends on a random Tuesday during lunch time. No wait...yay! Love the fact that you can customize certain aspects of your dish. I have found that at times, ramen can be a little too salty for my taste, but the lighter salt option was just right for me. A repeat option for sure for me! read more

See all

Ramen Nagi just never disappoints! If you want to feel full 3-5 business days after you eat, this is your spot. There was a period where we were going almost weekly. We waited in lines that were 10 minutes and we waited in lines that were almost 2 hours. Each time was worth the wait. We took a little hiatus because the line seemed much less appealing with the kids but recently tried it again, and all the feels came back. We've tried every variation, original, black king (squid ink base which adds a richer flavor), green king (so unique but so delicious), veggie king (as a carnivore, this still slaps), and red king (my go to, always). The minced pork on the red king is the winner. It has the perfect heat and all of the flavor. Don't be scared of the line, go try! read more

Ramen Nagi - Red King - Ramen Near Me - Palo Alto, California

Tuesday lunch time Reasonable parking in the area Easily got a table although the ropes outside tells me there's often a wait Customizable & easy to understand ordering sheet All the ramen was great and cooked to order Service was ok- seems like a lot of people learning the ropes The gyoza was a favorite The chicken karage was not read more

See all

I came here on a Saturday around noon time for lunch. The line was a bit long but it moved very quickly. It also helped that they gave us the ordering form while we were in line so we didn't have to spend time figuring it out at the table. Once we were seated, the waiter took our forms and the food came out quickly after that. The noodles were chewy, the broth was deep and flavorful, and the toppings were on point. We were in and out of the restaurant very quickly and the staff made sure that we were well taken care of. Would definitely return to this location but probably when it isn't as busy. read more

Ramen Nagi - Original King - Ramen Near Me - Palo Alto, California

Ramen Nagi is one of my favorite places to go and it's always consistent! Went on the weekend and it had to wait about 40 minutes but we're always happy to do so because we know we're going to eat good ! I usually get the red king with 10/10 spice and ask for a little more chili on the side ! The eggs are always jammy and marinated very well. The gyoza this time was a little burnt compared to other times but we didn't want to wait lol. My favorite is the chicken karagee! Freshly fried and juicy! Highly recommend coming here but prepare to wait unless you come during opening. read more

See all

This place never disappoints! There is always a long line. Though I went in on a week day and the lines were better. I did a take out - love the food! It's worth the wait :) read more

Ramen Nagi - Veggie ramen - Ramen Near Me - Palo Alto, California

It's been way too long since i have been here, but this remains our ramen spot in the bay! It's so good! It's lovely to be able to customize the bowl to your liking. Can't wait to come back! read more

See all

This place never disappoints to be honest. Very nice place to come if you are in town or in need of some good Ramen. It was on a rainy evening on a Sunday and there was atleast 15 people waiting in line but it goes by fast thankfully. The staff were very generous and so nice. One staff member provided me an umbrella which was beyond customer friendly of him when waiting in line. We were sat and was greeted very kindly by another staff member who recommended the Green King. When in doubt always select Chef Recommendation on the selection for your Ramen. You cant go wrong! Definitely will be back again! read more

Ramen Nagi - Fried Chicken - Ramen Near Me - Palo Alto, California

See all

Highkey overrated. The line went super fast and we got our food very quickly. There's plenty of better hole in the wall spots in the bay. Skippable. The flavor was mid. The ground pork was honestly a little nauseating. I usually finish all my broth and clear my entire bowl but I simply couldn't. The eggs were cooked perfectly. I asked the guy at the front how the spicy scale 3-10 worked and he said it is scaled 3-10. I just blank stared at him before continuing to ask what specifically creates the higher levels of spice. It was edible but I won't be back. It was also pricey, 2 bowls with added eggs was a little over $50 with tip. Maybe the black king is better but I don't really have an interest in finding out. read more

Ramen Nagi - Red King - Ramen Near Me - Palo Alto, California

Worth the hype and the wait. I got the spicy red king and it was ze perfect amount of spice for me. broth was mega flavorful and you know how important broth is for ramen. the noodles were bouncy and chewy. do try to get here early tho cuz the line can get long, esp on the weekends -1 star because their chicken was coated in some sweet sauce and so that was slightly off putting. def think it would've been better if it was a savory dish instead read more

See all

Quick take: Order the thick noodles! The line looks intimidating but it actually moves pretty fast. The noise level is probably equivalent to the noise level of a Chinese restaurant (loud). I always order the Original King! Love the firm thick noodles. read more

See all

Came by on a Thursday evening and the place was packed by 6pm. Street parking can be difficult but they do have several parking lots nearby. They have two lines out front so that patrons do not impede the sidewalk foot traffic and an employee provides a menu and marker to make your selections. They also have a menu with photos and they will ask if you need assistance. The line moved pretty fast and my friend and I ate at the bar and I enjoyed watching the kitchen staff work their magic. Once seated, a staff member takes your paper menu with your selections and your food and drinks are brought out fairly quickly. I opted for the red king and the broth was flavorful, egg was perfectly cooked, and the thin noodles were perfection!! I love the ability to select thin noodles, as that is my preference, and adding extra veggies or other sides was so easy. Staff were all friendly and worked quickly. The air conditioning inside kept us nice and cool and the restaurant was clean. Seating was a bit tight and did now allow for much room or personal space at the bar so I took off a star for that. read more

See all

I stopped by with a friend for dinner at 6pm on a Wednesday night. The line was fairly long, but we only waited for about 25 minutes before we were seated inside. The food came out within 5 minutes of sitting down and we were done and out within 45 minutes of dining. I haven't been here before but my friend talked about this place a lot so figured I'd give it a try. While waiting in line, they give you a menu that lets you choose how you want your ramen. Their menu is pretty simple and straight forward. The guy explained the menu a bit and told me which one people tend to get on their first try. He also told us some starter options they had for the night that wasn't written on the paper but that you could let your server know if you wanted to add it on. I opted for the original king ($16.50), light on the salt, normal for oil and garlic. I choose the pork belly option with green onions and normal thin noodles. I added an egg ($2.75 extra) and extra tree mushrooms (extra $2.50) on the side. I didn't know the bowl of ramen came with tree mushrooms already because the paper that gives you to decide what you want to order didn't mention it as it only said green onion or cabbage. However, the laminated photo did show the mushrooms in the bowl. For $2.50 tho, I was pretty satisfied with the big bowl they give you on the side. My friend also ordered extra green onions ($2.25) on the side. The ramen itself was tasty, the broth was VERY rich. I drank a lot of water that night after we had dinner. I should have opted for none or light for the oil because normal ended up being very oily. The normal garlic you couldn't really taste so if you wanted it more pungent, I'd go for heavy. The pork belly was tender and pretty much melted in your mouth as you bite into it. I opted for 4/10 spice and this was very mid. We were told 3-5 was consider " Sriracha" spice level. I could have definitely gone up on the spicy ladder but I wanted to be safe because I actually can't tolerate too much spice. We also ordered the starters, which were Karaage Chicken ($8.50) and Gyoza ($7.50). The karaage was so crispy and they gave us a good about of pieces. They had a good seasoning on top and I'd definitely get this again. As for the gyoza, it was good but not as memorable. They were mini gyozas and it came looking like a fried pancake. PS, they also have bean sprouts on the side where the sauces are if you want. Overall, quick service and good ramen. A small hole in a wall like place. Don't let the line discourage you from trying them out. The line moves quickly and the food comes out even faster. read more

See all

Truth? I've always felt that ramen is really overrated. To me, it has always been nothing more than glorified noodle soup. Noodle soup that doesn't gain merit just because you throw in an egg & some other protein. But then, I started dating a man who is a total ramen head... I got schooled right quick. It's all about 2 things, the broth & the noodles. Consistency, flavor, freshness & tooth. You don't have to be from Italy to understand that your noodles should never be overcooked. I listen, but I take it all in w/ a grain of salt. After all, I've had the noodle soup stance for a heck of a long time. I don't expect it's something I'm going to easily shed the way I do my camel coats when springtime hits. So, of course he tells me about this place. And of course, I don't wait in lines. But...love makes you do crazy things, right? So here we are. To avoid the lines (as much as that's even possible), I thought we should do Sunday lunch. The rationale being that so many folks do brunch on Sundays, so maybe it'll be less busy. I know; it seemed like a good idea at the time. Actually, from getting in line to sitting at a table was only just shy of 40 minutes; I'd read folks have had to wait upwards of 2 hours before so not too bad. Chicken karaage & gyoza to start. I love pesto (speaking of Italy), so the green king that has basil & parmesan was calling my name. Original king for my man. To say that our starters came lickety split would be an understatement. Shazam! They arrived. The chicken was just delicious. It's not true that you can't screw up fried chicken. So not true! Flavorful, not greasy, tender inside, crispy outside. Not overcooked. So finger licking good! I'm pretty picky about gyoza. The exterior has to have that perfect balance of crisp & chewy but never be gummy, & the interior mustn't be mushy. And please...no mystery meat. The gyoza here checked all the boxes. We barely touched them tho so as not to ruin our appetites for the impending ramen. The ramen arrived looking & smelling fantastic. I chose pork for my protein & the thin noodles. I thought because I ordered the thin noodles, they might not be firm enough, but they were absolutely perfect. Then, I did something unprecedented. I ate the whole bowl. I've never done that w/ ramen before. Never. Ok, I did give almost all of the pork to my man, because oddly, I wasn't in a meat mood. But I wanted to try it for the first time w/ the pork. Next time I'll go the vegetarian route. On the way out, the lad who was the cashier asked how everything was. I told him it was the best ramen I've ever had. He smiled from ear to ear. Note: the gyoza was fantastic even reheated the next day. 5 stars read more

Ramen Nagi - Original King w/ pork - Ramen Near Me - Palo Alto, California

See all

I can confidently say this is my current favorite ramen spot in the Bay Area! Shoutout to our host David for being super accommodating, patient, and sharing with us the history of Ramen Nagi. There is decent seating, but when I went there was a line before opening and a bigger line at rush hour lunch. I recommend either going early or going off-hours so you don't have to wait too long! The staff is extremely friendly and helpful, the food is amazing, and the atmosphere of the restaurant feels like you're at a ramen shop and it's super clean. What I really like about this place is that you can custom your ramen, from thin or thick noodles to broth thickness, salt and garlic strength and more. You can also do add-ons as well. One thing I want to add is they definitely don't skimp out on the meat, which a lot of shops do. 1. Original King - Tonkotsu: Super flavorful, perfect thickness, and you can tell it's been cooked for a long time. The thick noodles goes so perfectly with it, and I love how the meat is super fatty. 2. Red King - Spicy: My boyfriend got this and he really enjoyed it! It was spicy and had good flavor. 3. Pan-fried Gyoza: this is a MUST! Apparently it's extremely popular and highly recommended (which I can see why). It's super crispy and the ponzu sauce they made is unique, but works so well with the gyoza. 4. Karaage Chicken: the pieces are definitely bigger than usual and it has a good crunch to it! Definitely not dry and very juicy. Overall, this place is dope and I would recommend giving this place a shot! read more

See all

Honestly, I think the ramen here is a bit overhyped. The broth was a bit too oily and not flavorful enough for my liking, and the noodles were mediocre tasting. I did appreciate the amount of meat and other items that were given, which a lot of other popular ramen shops don't do. The food comes out quite fast but there can be a wait so definitely go early if you can. 4.2/5 read more

Ramen Nagi - Red king - Ramen Near Me - Palo Alto, California

Such a a great place to get some quality ramen! Line gets pretty long so come expecting to wait. Parking can also be a bit tricky since the area gets busy especially during the weekends. Family friendly. Staff is very nice and helpful. You pay at the front at the end of your meal. Love how we can customize our own bowls. Kids enjoyed the veggie king. I tried the red king and while it was still delicious, it was too spicy for me. Def coming back to try their other broth flavors! read more

See all

So many awesome flavor and noodle combos possible - the hour long wait in line was totally worth it. Service is quick and table turnover is efficient. The basil and cheese green king sounds weird but it totally works! Will be back to try more combos soon read more

Ramen Nagi - Ramen Near Me - Palo Alto, California