Gotta drop my review down to 3.5 stars based on my visit last Sunday. In the short time since my first review, this place seems to have changed ownership, given the significant change in ambiance and decor (and good luck "grand opening" plant at the entrance). I don't understand why the owners have put a Guan Yu shrine near the ordering tablets, which is neither Japanese nor has any connection to what was at least once a JR-themed restaurant. The restaurant wasn't playing the station chimes or showing the station stops on the TVs when we were there, but instead it was totally silent inside while the TVs played random Japanese programming. There are new fan art canvases based on various animes hung on the walls, but again, they have nothing to do with the former theme of the restaurant, and everything combined just broke the immersion of what was once an incredibly unique, creative experience. I was really disappointed, especially since I brought my cousin here to try the ramen for the first time, which is at least still as delicious as it used to be. But they got his order wrong, both the food and the drink, which made for a poor impression (and also leaves one wondering how you get help for an issue like that at a place that's totally contactless and devoid of human interaction). It was good while it lasted, and while the ramen is great (went with the black garlic, added spice, and got the thick noodles), I'm not sure I'd make another trip all the way over here when half the allure is now gone. Sorry, Ramen Station, but I think my fascination with your restaurant is over. read more

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Ramen Station is hands down one of the best ramen spots in the Bay Area. What really sets it apart is the fully contactless experience, which is both efficient and fun. Walking in feels like stepping into a Japanese train station--bright colors, bold art on the walls, and TVs playing scenic views from a Japanese train ride. Below the screens are self-ordering kiosks where you customize everything yourself. My go-to order every time: Spicy Tan Tan Ramen -- 10/10. The broth is rich, creamy, and perfectly spicy with a sesame-infused base. It comes with ground pork, seaweed, green scallions, corn, and woodear mushrooms. I usually substitute the woodear mushrooms for shiitake mushrooms, add pickled pink ginger, ask for light salt, and choose skinny noodles. I love that you can customize toppings and noodle thickness exactly how you want. Once you pay, a receipt prints with your number. You wait until your number is called over the radio--when it happens, a train bell rings, and your number flashes above the serving window like you're boarding a train. Such a cool touch. Portions are generous, flavors are always bold, and the ramen is consistently packed and satisfying. If you're taking it to go, they offer solid packaging options so you can reheat everything properly at home. Tip: skip the paper bags--they don't hold up well. Get the box and handle with care. I come here often, and even after trying other ramen spots, nothing compares. Ramen Station is a true 5-star, contactless ramen experience. Highly recommend. read more

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Ambience: 5/5 - very clean area and quick service - nice views Black Garlic Ramen: 3/5 - broth was rich and salty, you can adjust salt level but it was too oily/fatty for me - I opted for thick noodles and they were a bit too well done since I got it to go. Maybe the thin noodles taste better read more

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Came here based on a recommendation of a family member who saw this place on Social Media. Walking in the restaurant, you'll feel as if you are at a train station in Japan. Ordering in done on a kiosk by the entrance, definitely a cashless mode of payment. You can either sit in individual booths, or tables further inside, or behind the store with a beautiful view. Order a few creamy Ramens, including the Black Garlic Ramen and the Charshu (Pork Belly) Rice bowl. All menu items were not expensive at all. One the food was ready, the number is announced by the window where it's picked up. By far, one of the best Ramens I have had, the Charshu Rice Bowl was the BOMB! The pork bell was so tender! If you like ramen and experience the ambiance of ramen being served at a train station like Japan, this is definitely a place you want to check out! read more

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Zero human interaction; perfect for individuals like me who dines solo. But there's also three takeaways: no wifi, contactless payment, and nothing to see inside the secret kitchen. The moment my brother and I stepped in, it felt like we'll be receiving our boarding passes towards our favorable destination. There, we got to see the train passing from one stop very long to the other throughout urban Osaka on a flat screen TV. Outside, we see plenty of boats, including an expensive yacht parked at the shores. This is Ramen Station here at Embarcadero Oakland. While my brother ordered Deluxe Black Garlic Tonkotsu, I chose the Veggie Shoyu. While my brother have chashu and egg, I have sansai mizuni. Anything else were given the same ingredients. I like the thick ramen though, but buckwheat soba would be a healthier option. My brother came to Ramen Station more than once. Perhaps the interior made it look interesting, especially with Manga drawings. Ramen Station won't be my last destination for dining on ramen noodles soup bowl. I'm sure there's plenty of foodie locations that even the Japanese bullet train will head to. read more

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Interesting dining concept - right when I walked in I was a bit confused what was going on. I went around 4pm and there weren't any other people, so it was quiet except the train announcements. I had the spicy tan tan ramen and it was tasty. Super flavorful and the portion size was massive. I think this was probably the biggest ramen serving I've ever had. The lack of free water is really annoying, as you have to pay $3 for a bottle. Also the speaker announcements get a bit annoying after a while, and that's coming from someone who loves trains/transportation :3 Overall this definitely feels more like a place you'd order to go - the ramen is good but the dining experience is lacking. read more

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I didn't know what to expect but my friend said she wanted to try this place so we went right after she picked me up from the airport. I was pleasantly surprised with how good the ramen was, as well as how easy it was to order. I got the tan tan men which was the right level of spice. The ground meat was also cooked to perfection! My friend got their tonkatsu and liked it a lot too. There's a few seats inside but we wanted to go outdoors since it was such a nice day out. There is only one table but this kind fellow customer let us share the table with them. Overall, a great experience and I'd definitely go back. read more

Ramen Station - Ramen Near Me - Oakland, California

Amazing food and fast services! Self-service style is friendly for the I- person avoid contact with others. read more

Ramen Station - Ramen Near Me - Oakland, California

For the days you want a solid solo meal, no human interaction, and some background noise - Ramen Station is a great option for you. There isn't lots of seating inside for the solo booths, but I've also never seen this spot crowded so never had a problem. If you're trying this spot with a group, there are a few outdoor tables available. I got the Deluxe Spicy Tonkatsu Ramen + $3 double deckered spam musubi (combo, it's $4 purchased on its own) while my friend opted for the Original Tonkatsu Ramen. She ended up taking some of the separate spice included with mine. Deluxe Spicy Tonkatsu Ramen (4.5/5): Personally, I prefer thin ramen noodles so this option was a hit for me. The broth was rich, and tasty, the chashu was surprisingly delicious, and I enjoyed my egg. Only knocked off that half star because if given the choice, I would have asked for my noodles extra firm. They definitely get a little soggy a few minutes into your meal. Still enjoyed it when I took my leftovers to-go. Spam Musubi (5/5): For an added $3, I'll take it. It was a generous size and actually tasted really good. Again, unexpected. I do wish there were water cups or options to order it instead of defaulting to the vending machines for a drink. The drinks were a bit more expensive than I thought, so if you enjoy a liquid with your meals, bring a water bottle! Overall would come back again on one of those days. I enjoyed the background noise imitating the train stations in Japan, all the announcements, as they draw attention away from the slurping noises. read more

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Interesting concept - I've been wanting to try this spot for awhile given I enjoy dining alone sometimes and think there needs to be more spot like this around area. I love how its right off the 880 and there's decent amount of parking. Also it's located right next to the water with outdoor seating available. You order at the front via tablet and wait for your order to come out via one of the windows. There are vending machines inside selling drinks or little toys. I was sad they didn't have water dispenser so bring your own water if you can! I got the black garlic tonkotsu with $1.50 extra for spice. Total came out to $21 which is quite steep for a spot with no human serving you. My food came out pretty quickly. The broth was a bit flat - didn't have the rich pork flavor that I usually get from other spots. The broth was very thin and lacked some flavor. I had to add a bunch of the spice to give it more flavor. Also the black mushroom it came with tasted a little funky so I stopped eating it. I finished my noodles as quickly as I could, leaving a bunch of broth behind. Overall I was a bit disappointed in my soup and was sad I spent quite a bit on my bowl of ramen. I do think they need to lower the price a bit - for the same price you can get quality bowl of ramen at a sit down spot. read more

The soup base is so rich and my kids like it! Nice view outside and can relax after eating. read more

Ramen Station - Ramen Near Me - Oakland, California

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Got the deluxe tonkatsu ramen and have no complaints. Transported me back to Japan which was so nice because I've been missing it since my trip in April. Broth is rich and flavorful, chashu was so tender, and the noodles were perfectly bouncy. Portion was also HUGE. Soft boiled egg was also perfectly jammy. No complaints! Love the touches like a little wet napkin and the no tipping policy. Truly felt like I was back in Tokyo. Note: bring your own beverage as beverage prices are a little steep. read more

Ramen Station - Deluxe Tonkotsu Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Oakland, California

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Very good Ramen broth, meat tasty and tender. Noodle selection very good. Well packaged. read more

Ramen Station - Deluxe Tonkotsu Ramen Delish!! - Ramen Near Me - Oakland, California

I recommend trying this place at least once to experience an introverted dining experience where you don't interact with any of the staff. You walk in and order at the kiosk computer. A window opens up with your food. You take it and sit down in a cubby type sitting area. The food had a lot of rice. They have to go containers out for you to grab. Also it means you don't have to ask a human being for anything. The vending machine for drinks ate my friend's money and of course there was nobody we could ask to help. Or maybe there was but we didn't take the time to do so. Food was good. It had a subway train station theme. read more

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Ramen Station is off of 880, along the Embarcadero. Great spot for solo diners. Def not a large group place. Great take out option also Place your order on one of the tablets. The interface is the same as Sizzling Lunch's. Pick the menu items you want, add them to your cart and checkout. You can customize what toppings you'd like, what type of noodle, and salt level. Note- I opted for light salt but still felt it was still salty. Your order will be sent to the kitchen and will be ready in a few minutes. Maybe 7 min. For take out ramen- you can choose to have the broth separate so as not to have soggy noodles. Ample parking. Go during the day. read more

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This place is interesting ambiance. Japanese station..haha! Ramen is good.Self service and maybe Togo is main. Good place. read more

Ramen Station - Ramen Near Me - Oakland, California

Delicious and no tipping is required, since you're doing all the work. The only improvement is the ramen eggs- feel likes it's always overcooked. Great place for solo dining!! Eat and go! read more

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When you walk in, it looks just like Japan! The ambiance has music playing and noises like a Japanese railway station. It's easy to order on the digital kiosk and it took about 15 minutes for us to get our ramen. It was delicious with the noodles, broth and the black garlic oil we ordered too. We added chashu and it was big pieces. It is a great novelty to eat at and fun to experience Japan all over again. read more

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Cute ramen place I've seen many times off the freeway and always meant to check out. Finally came with my 8 year old and it reminded us of our 2 weeks in Japan last summer. The vending machines are cute as is the interior decor. Everything is automated except the humans in the back presumably making the meal and sliding it through the port to where you pick it up when your number is called. lol. Ordered a plain tonkotsu ramen for my son and a deluxe tonkotsu ramen for myself plus two of their spam Musubi to bring back for my daughter and husband. The broth and noodles were good and the pork and egg on mine were also good. Nothing that screamed omg best ever but I liked the novelty concept of this place. We bought a drink from the vending machine and they have some cool snacks like a limited edition Peppermint Pocky. A lot of the drinks were $5 which seems steep but maybe I'm not up to date on vending machine prices for Japanese drinks. My daughter liked the spam Musubi which kept well until the next day after being nuked in the microwave for a few gentle rounds so the rice wasn't hard. Nice option off the freeway for ramen for convenience and the innovative concept that makes you feel like you are in Japan. The maps and signs, decor, and the Japanese being spoken overhead are a different environment to have ramen to be sure. read more

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Love the food and experience, decorations, bright colors and the unique & over all set up.

The absolute best ramen bowl I've ever tasted.. I've been all around the country trying different ramens and this is BY FAR the best!! Not from here but definitely making another vacation to get this spot again read more

Ramen Station - Ramen Near Me - Oakland, California

Ramen was decent and better than I expected, still no ramen compared to Marufuku or Noka Ramen. For a quick bite it's good though, be sure to add the extra spice they give you atleast a little bit. Food took about 20minutes and they call your number. The restaurant itself looks pretty cool, it is good for a single person to eat at their little cubicles but I think they should add atleast a few table outside for people that would like to eat together. I believe only one table was outside where a couple was sitting together. Definitely a one time try, don't see myself going back though. read more

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Ramen Station is a super fun experience, though I don't know if it fits well with where the location is at. The restaurant mimics the japanese experience of quick service with minimal human interaction. The plaza is on the Oakland warerfeknt, however it feels this would be better placed in a heavier foot traffic area. The food was great when we got it. It was fresh as you can expect from anywhere else, and I would recommend getting their Spam Musubi. It was delicious. One thing I would mention is that I ordered spicy chili oil on my ramen, but it didn't come with it. I wasn't sure how to ask for help or ask for extra chili oil since there is no window to talk to the chef. read more

Ramen Station - Ramen Near Me - Oakland, California

This place is so cute! The food is absolutely delicious and fast! They have outdoor seating too! Or individually indoor seating! They have cute vending machines inside the restaurant! They also have a parking lot so don't have to stress about parking. They do not take cash but that's not a problem at all. They also do not take tip so that's a bonus. Just make sure to clean up after yourself. They have a clean restroom too. Overall this place is amazing and can't wait to come back ! The broth was hot and flavorful ! Love love love! read more

Ramen Station - Ramen Near Me - Oakland, California

So good. Fun vibe. Fast, tasty, and FAST! If you want a quick bit that is filling and satisfying, come here!

Cute environment, if you've been to Japan. It's themed after the train system in Tokyo and the vending machines. I love that it plays music from the trains and uses the same voice too! This is self service, you order at the kiosk and pick up your order from the window. I got the garlic ramen. The broth was flavorful! I would order it again. Outdoor seating available with waterfront view. And plenty of seating inside too. Environment is casual, perfect way to chat without worrying about hogging table space for too long read more

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Ramen station transported me back to being in Japan again! I loved the theme of the restaurant and how everything is efficient. Also, no need for any human interaction on ordering/picking up your food! The decor and sounds inside really makes you feel like you're at the train station in Tokyo. I ordered the tonkatsu ramen and added corn. I'd say it was a 4/5, great portion and flavor but nothing that extremely wowed me. If you're looking for a new experience to get ramen in the bay area, make sure you check this spot out! read more

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If you hate people and you love ramen, you're going to love this spot! There is absolutely zero human interaction. You order your food at an iPad, pick up your food at a window in the wall when the computer calls your number, then take it to sit at a singles only booth. The place isn't very big inside, but you can also take your food to the outdoor patio and eat with a view of the water. I got the spicy tonkatsu ramen and it was pretty good. The pork and broth were flavorful. They give a good amount of ingredients as well, so it was pretty filling. My only complaint is that the egg was too well cooked and not the usually runny egg yolk. read more

Ramen Station - Ramen Near Me - Oakland, California

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I love it very simple very good. No contact ordering!! But made simple! The black garlic brother was closest to miso soup ramen that I normally order elsewhere!! I didn't like the musubi but that's cause I really like Hawaiian spam musubi but yea 10/10 recommend!! Plus outside the water & boat scenery is very relaxing to eat. read more

Ramen Station - Art - Ramen Near Me - Oakland, California

Food: 5/5 I got the black garlic tonkatsu ramen and it was perfect. Noodles had a good chew, there was a generous serving of char siu, and the broth was delicious. Service: 5/5 You order and pay at a kiosk at the front of the restaurant. Food comes out promptly! There is a little window that the chefs behind the magic will slide open and your meal appears on a tray as your order number is announced over the speaker. There is no human to human interaction needed, which is the appeal of places like these in Japan where they cater to solo diners just looking for a bite to eat before heading home from work. Ambiance: 4/5 I know this is meant to be a solo dining experience, but a small part of me wishes they had more group tables outside for those eating with friends. There was one table but since my group came for lunch the sun was beating directly down on us. Maybe if they just added an umbrella? read more

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A new unique experience in the east bay! Right along the freeway, lies a small plaza with this new self-serve ramen experience. You simply order at the kiosks in front, get your ticket and pick up your trays at the windows when called. (note: contact less payment only!) The Japanese station decoration gives a new feel and the solo seating gives you a bit of that feeling like you are in Japan! There is plenty of parking and solo seating or tables outside to eat with a bigger group. The pricing was decent, average for Ramen around the Bay Area $12-$15 a bowl. I got the Tonkatsu Ramen Deluxe, which i highly recommend as it was more worth it with the extra slice of chashu pork and egg. (+ personally I love adding in sweet corn) I was pleasantly surprised by the quality as the broth was rich and noodles were cooked perfectly ( and it came with a lot of noodles). Overall it was a solid bowl of ramen 9/10! There were four vending machines on either ends of the restaurant, loaded drinks and snacks. The only down side is that there was no self serve water that was out, so if you must, there is water bottles for purchase. read more

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WHEN: Wed @12:15pm This restaurant was designed with the theme of the JR (Japan Rail), so there are monitors with the maps/schedule, and on the speak you will hear announcements of what trains will, just like how it is in Japan! It wasn't busy when I came here with friends on a rainy day. Since its location in parking lot shared with other businesses, it's free and not difficult to find. Entering you won't find any staff. There are vending machines of drinks, and digital kiosks to place your order, so cash is accepted here. There are vending machines in front and some in the back that takes cash actually. Some drinks include various anime and Japanese video game themes, from sodas, energy drinks, to canned coffee drinks. They will announce your number order, where your tray of your items will come through a window to pick up. They have single booths to ear in like the kind in Japan, and a couple of outside seating. It started to rain so we went inside. Here's what I got: BLACK GARLIC TONKATSU - $16.50 Pretty good! I didn't finish but luckily it already comes in a to-go container so I was able to finish the rest at home. I chose the the OCEAN BOMB soda that has the street fighter RYU on it and it was an apple soda which was fun to have. It was $4 I think. Overall this was a fun experience for me. Food was good, not terribly priced, and those vending machines were fun. And yes you bus yourself and they provide to-go items in case you need them. I'd like to come back for sure. read more

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Interesting and novel place. I like the "no contact" experience myself. Decent option if you're in the neighborhood and have a hankering for fast ramen. Bring cash if you want a drink from one of their vending machines! Only one of the two drink fridges seemed to be working, and the one we were hoping to get drinks from only accepted cash. No Ramune for the kid! read more

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Very photogenic setting. Very mediocre ramen. We definitely went to see if the visuals lived up to the hype, and it is very cute. They really did nail the JR station aesthetic and audio. It's also nice that it's on the water, so if you want to leave your solo ramen cubicle experience for a waterfront patio, you have the option. However, the ramen left a lot to be desired. The broth wasn't bad, but the noodles were soggy, and it was overly salty even for ramen. This was exacerbated by the non-working beverage vending machines. Both were broken, so we couldn't get any relief from the salty broth. Unfortunately, because the experience is designed to be contactless, no one could help us with the broken machines. If you're looking for the visual experience, by all means. But if you're looking for a tasty meal, look elsewhere. I'm glad we went, but it definitely won't be a repeat experience. read more

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I will not come back this place. I just got a bowl of ramen that cost $14.95 with 1 (ONE) slice thin meat, some shredded black mushroom and bamboo shoot. I'd rather have a bowl of instant noodles that much be better than their food. I just wasted my $14.95 plus gas. So disappointed it!!! read more

Ramen Station - Original Tonkotsu Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Oakland, California

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I made time to go to the Ramen Station after playing 3 hours of Pokemon Go in downtown Alameda. I thought Jack London Square was closer but downtown Alameda was. I came by around 5pm Saturday and they weren't busy. I was the first in line. Their menu had a few selections. I went with the typical tonkotsu with thick noodles. Drinks and snacks were in vending machines. After ordering from the kiosk, your printed pick up # is there along with the restroom code. The waiting/dining area are in front of the pick-up windows. At the pick-up window, there is a prompter that shows the pick-up # and the person who calls on the speaker. It's self-service and you don't see the workers at all. The drinks and snacks are in the front and back. They have a good selection of Japanese goodies. The price is high and the ramen was decent. I came for the experience to see if the place resonates a JR station. I used the JR station frequently when I vacationed in Japan in 2018. It gave a feel until I heard an English speaking voice calling out the food pick-up #. I gave the place 4 stars for the design implementation and food. read more

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this was a fun experience, but I wish that the drinks were easier to order. I brought my kids back on the weekend, they really liked it too.

Food: 7/10 Wait time: no wait to order on a Saturday at 2pm; 5 to 10 minute wait after ordering to get our food Portion size: between small and medium Service: N/A no human contact like in Japan! Value: 7/10 Saw this cute restaurant being built from the freeway and wanted to try it out! Hubby and I haven't been back to Japan since 2016 and we miss it and crave ramen pretty frequently. So when this place opened we were excited to try it out! The atmosphere is like the train stations in Japan! And the way you order and pick up your food is like the ramen shops in Japan as well. You order at a kiosk or vending machine and then can eat your ramen in the individual stalls or stand at the tables! So fun how they bring culture and food in one place! There are also 4 different vending machines with Japanese snacks, drinks and trinkets! Oh and be advised there isn't a bathroom inside! But if you buy something at Starbucks next door you can use their bathroom. The ramen itself is okay. Hubby and I ordered the black garlic and spicy tonkatsu ramens. Not the best I've had but decent! Hubby got the thick noodle option and it seemed undercooked. My thin noodles we great though! Broth flavor was good, but it would have been nice to have some spicy condiments added to my black garlic Ramen. The Spicy tonkatsu was good though! We both really enjoyed the flavor and it didn't feel too heavy either. The chashu and toppings were the same in both and the meat was good but could be more tender. Try it out for yourself though! I have high expectations for ramen so you may enjoy it more! I will definitely come back to support snd give it another try! They have Tsukemen ramen which is the dipping kind and that's my favorite! So I'll give that a try next time! read more

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This is a really nice concept. I think it's pretty cool to have a self service ramen joint. They don't accept cash, only card. There's a kiosk you order your food from. Only one kiosk was working but the line wasn't long so it was okay. They have two vending machines one for drinks and one for snacks. They have a good amount of drinks and snacks so plenty of choices there. I ordered the tonkotsu and my cousin ordered the spicy tonkotsu. Both were really good and very tasty. You have a choice of getting it to go or in a bowl. The reason why I gave them 4 stars was because some of their stuff was falling apart. Their tray holder fell apart and their vending machine kept on malfunctioning and getting stuck. Also it wasn't easy to get assistance if you needed help. They also don't have enough sitting. There's only a couple of seats inside the restaurant and there's only about 4 seats outside. I'll definitely go back and try their other ramen. This was a great experience. read more

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Very cute concept. Ramen is average in quality but very affordable in price! I wish the other vending machines had a card reader like the ones beat the entrance. I love the individual private booths inside, but there's seats outside to join the sunshine. Drinks are vending machine quality and a tad pricey but it's part of the theme Overall: very cute! But I wouldn't go out of my way. Thanks :) read more

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