Karaage is crazy here 10/10 the dipping sauce is so good. its kind of tangy and ponzu-y. garlic tonkotsu is super solid as well! my favorite neighborhood ramen place read more

My migraine cure! I asked for it so spicy it would make me cry and the lovely staff delivered Truly made with love, I have never felt so grateful for a meal! The best veggie broth I have ever had in the bay! Far better than more expensive places, I will always come back. LOVE! Thank you read more

Favorite ramen in SF of all time. It's a local neighborhood spot that's an IFYKYK kind of spot. Nice menu with the classics and you won't have a bad dish. Perfect for SF weather. Chicken katsu is better than Pork Katsu here and the spice levels are perfect! read more

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Joaquim requested to have his favorite Tonkotsu ramen after he finished his Thai class. He enjoyed his ramen. I was so impressed that only 2 people working in the kitchen but they could creat all the dishes on the menu. (Grilled) salmon skin salad - this was so unique. I had picture in my mind as it would have been a crispy skin salmon but it was grilled one. The burned skin gave a unique bitter taste which compliment the taste of fresh crunchy salad very well with simple like dressing. I enjoyed it. read more

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Ok, all the hype about the tonkotsu broth is real; super interesting flavor I've never had before in a ramen! The veggie broth was chill, let's get some rich veggie broths for my vegetarians out here! Great toppings for the veggie one, I'm a sucker for corn. Bamboo shoots were nice and big and the perfect texture. read more

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Cute and Cozy, Clean hidden gem. Was going around the neighborhood hungry looking for something to eat. Haven't had ramen in a while and this restaurant did not disappoint. Service was fast and friendly. Food was fresh and delicious. Loved how much umami flavor there was in the broth. It just warms you up. The noodles were bouncy and springy. If you are ever in the area please do give them a try. read more

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Street parking only, parked two blocks away Outdoor seatings, interior wall is pretty Clean, neat, dim spotlights but tight and small restaurant Service was quick and helpful since it's our first time, picked a few favorites to try Dinner alone I've seen at least 15 takeouts and next to us was a 12 seater family dinner, so pretty popular and busy I got the seafood ramen, full of fish squid shrimp, but the garlic ramen broth was just delicious read more

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Yelp reviews out here almost murdering me Saw a yelp review saying their "spicy" is truly a medium so what does my ass do? Order "spicy spicy" (a level spicier than what's on the menu) for the mala ramen. Which is a lie. I think this is a Japanese-Chinese restaurant so their spice scale is legit. As someone from Sichuan, the region of China where "mala" originates, I did not enjoy the mala ramen. To me, it has an odd aftertaste. However, I still give this place 4 stars because it does 2 things very well that I extremely value: the temperature of the broth comes piping hot and their noodles have the perfect consistency. The meat in the ramen was average. I would recommend skipping the fried foods on their menu (tempura, chicken karage)- their way of frying comes out very "course" vs fine as is true to genuine Japanese cooking. read more

Saiwaii Ramen is a great neighborhood spot for a comforting bowl of ramen. The food is rich and satisfying, with flavorful broth, springy noodles, and well balanced toppings that come together perfectly. The service is friendly and efficient, and everything comes out quickly. The ambiance is cozy and relaxed, making it an easy place to stop in whether you are dining solo or with friends. A solid go to when you want something warm and filling. read more

We have been going here for many years. The restaurant is comfortable and the televisions are great for watching sports. Service is always friendly and efficient. Of course the food is delicious. We love all the ramens but my favorite is the spicy Mala fried chicken ramen. It is flavorful and just enough spicy for me when I get mild. Definitely a great neighborhood restaurant. read more

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My daughter and I had dinner there last night. It was PERFECT!! The Seafood Ramen (me) and the vegetarian Ramen (daughter) so very fabulous! The service was Impeccable, and the music they played was so sweet! It was special being able to watch the ladies do their magic and chatting with them after. Walking out two gentlemen at a table having a conversation...(me) 'this place is special' We will be back! read more

Really enjoyed the ramen. The broth was rich and flavorful, clearly slow-cooked. The noodles had a great texture and the pork was tender and well seasoned. Portions are generous and the overall quality was great. Definitely a spot I'd come back to for ramen in San Francisco. read more

Been a while since I've been in this hole in the wall restaurant..actually the last I've been was before COVID. Now they've streamlined the menu and have no sushi, but the TVs are still playing sports and the restaurant is still as chill as ever. Got two ramens for me n my friend: - Spicy Mala (regular spicy was nothing, maybe I'll try flaming spicy next time) - Tonkotsu (friend enjoyed everything, especially the generous noodle n chashu portion) And a Karagge don to share - Karagge felt more like popcorn chicken than Karagge. Ik both use potato startch but there was a hint of five spice in there. Big portions, decent pricing (who can find a $14-16 bowl of ramen these days!) One lady up front and she nailed it with all the attentiveness and friendliness (refilling our waters lots and serving our food fast) The broth was so good, with the leftover rice from the don, I made some "risotto". They do soak the bones long enough and don't cover it up with msg. Would return when I'm in the area and craving for a cheap but still flavorful ramen that won't swallow your wallet hole! read more

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Great service and great food! I had the tonkatsu with black garlic oil added and my partner had the spicy garlic tonkatsu. Both were very tasty :) we added an egg after receiving our ramen and the server was very kind and hospitable. It's clean and nice vibes inside as well. read more

We have been coming here with our friends and family for years now, and it is always the best service, and the most delicious and flavorful Ramen we have ever had. We love to order the spicy mala (mild) with a side of Gyoza. The restaurant has a inviting setting. read more

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INCREDIBLE this food was so good service was incredible just the best!!!! The ambiance is also well

If you type 'Saiwaii Ramen' in Google Translate, it comes out as 'Fortunately Different Ramen'. Glad they didn't go with something like 'Kawaii Ramen' which would translate to 'Cute Ramen'. I actually thought THAT was the name, so I was relieved it wasn't a Little Kitty bowl of wet noodles. It looked to be a locals' place because i had not heard about it like Mensho Tokyo or Marufuku. I was just walking on this stretch of Irving and saw it was open (FYI, they close between 2:45-5PM). So why not? They offer a pretty robust menu and not just ramen - plus they had lunch specials. I went with the $14 Lunch Special A, which allowed me a bowl of ramen and an appetizer. I chose the Shio Ramen which provided a good amount of chashu in the creamy, salty broth (photo: https://bit.ly/3XWI38f). In the mix was the requisite wakame, menma, kikurage mushrooms, bean sprouts, green onion. garlic, and the addition of ground pork. The result was quite satisfying without the richness of tonkotsu, which wasn't necessary for me. For the appetizer, I decided to have a Vegetable Croquette, which was quite huge with a surprisingly light crispness to the panko (photo: https://bit.ly/3rr35PZ). With a rich tonkotsu dipping sauce, it was a true guilty pleasure. Croquettes were big in old Yasujiro Ozu movies where Setsuko Hara would eat them alone late at night to show the isolation she felt from her disapproving family. To offset the carbs, I felt a compulsion to order the $5.75 House Salad, a simple mix of lettuce, cucumbers, and grape tomatoes with a housemade miso dressing (photo: https://bit.ly/3rAb3GE). It was just fine, and so was the server who checked in on me frequently. FOOD - 4 stars...pretty solid shio ramen though it was the croquette that stole the show AMBIANCE - 4 stars...comfortable spot, no frills and no airs SERVICE - 4.5 stars...felt taken care of TOTAL- 4 stars...it was a 'fortunately different' experience RELATED - Exploring the Sunset? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://bit.ly/2EI8eIJ read more

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Good!!! Basic indoor but they make up with excellent ramen! We were the only people for like 1 hour then it got really busy around lunch time 1-2 pm pst. Spicy tonkotsu for live. This place slaps. read more

I had the Spicy Garlic Tonkatsu ramen and it was delicious! I had "medium" heat, but next time will go full spice as medium wasn't very spicy at all. Great service, but the restaurant wasn't too tidy as I would expect. Nonetheless I highly recommend going. The broth in my ramen was a meal in itself- so warming and delicious! read more

Saiwaii Ramen - Spicy Garlic Tonkotsu Ramen - Ramen Near Me - San Francisco, California

been coming to this place for 3 years. jennifer is the sweetest owner. her face lights up whenever we come in and she always makes sure to hug and thank us :) i've brought numerous friends in over the years and the quality of the food is amazing. my friends also love to come back! the restaurant is cozy and honestly perfect for a gloomy sf day. best ramen in san francisco and i do not say that lightly. read more

This is a small but cute family ramen shop that can cure any ramen craving you may have. Usually, my go to is the spicy tonkatsu ramen (regular) as its has a healthy kick of spice but still delivers a delicious savory pork flavor. Noodles are chewy and bouncy. Chashu is smoky and meaty in all the best ways. Will definitely comeback if I'm ever craving a quick ramen fix and near Irving St. Service is quick and fills your water glass fast (especially when that ramen spice be hitting). read more

Saiwaii Ramen - Spicy Garlic Tonkatsu Ramen - Ramen Near Me - San Francisco, California

Extremely big portions No wait on an early evening Really friendly staff Has multiple tvs so we were able to watch the warriors game for a bit Really like their teriyaki balls - came out super hot and burned my mouth Their tonkotsu ramen is pretty basic and nothing to rave about but still took the rest of it home to enjoy later because it reminds me of a homey meal read more

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Love love love this place. Their vegetarian ramen is some of the best that I've had. I like to add an egg to it. I also love their potato croquettes. The sauce that comes with them is so tasty! Very lucky to have such a great spot in the neighborhood. read more

Saiwaii Ramen - Vegetarian Spicy Garlic Miso Ramen - Ramen Near Me - San Francisco, California

I got to know this place because a website lists it as one of the top 20 Ramen restaurants in San Francisco. The service is great. But the food is so so. I don't like the Chashu in Chio ramen. They are so tough to eat. The agedashi tofu is also disappointed. The menu says it is deep fried. But it is actually not. Price is on low end. read more

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The service was nice and fast. Chilly night, just wanted quick ramen, it was pretty crowded. Not super impressed, didn't feel like a pork broth and the spicy tonkatsu kind of tasted sharp? Hard to describe. Gyoza was just ok, a bit greasy, the sauce was cold which made it kind of jarring. Clean place though, easy if you need a quick bite. Also kind of bummed the egg is not included in the ramen, that you have to order it as an extra. :/ read more

Saiwaii Ramen - Gyoza Spicy Garlic Tonkotsu Ramen Tonkotsu Ramen - Ramen Near Me - San Francisco, California

Came here for lunch to try out the ramen and during the weekdays, they have a lunch special where you can have ramen with a side of your choice (list given). I ended up choosing the Spicy Garlic Tonkotsu one with a side of chicken karaage! SPICY GARLIC TONKOTSU Between the available spice levels (mild, reg/med, or extra), I went with the reg/med. It has a nice little kick and I can actually taste garlic! I also enjoyed the fried pieces of garlic. This ramen was supposed to come with ground pork too but there weren't any. The broth is definitely heavy and seemed a bit thick; I think it could have used more salt but overall, not terrible and still tasty. The noodles were a tad bit overdone - soft and no longer chewy. Despite all that, I still enjoyed this bowl of ramen. I'm hoping next time the noodles will be on the chewy side though! CHICKEN KARRAGE This side comes with 3 generous pieces! The karaage is served with a dipping sauce (a little sweet, savory, and gingery). By itself, the chicken is flavorless so the sauce definitely helped. There is a nice crunch but because of the way the chicken is cut, there are some bites that are really dry and stringy. Didn't stop me from finishing the chicken though! Overall, this place is a good little spot to stop by for a quick meal or even a snack (appetizers). I definitely want to come back to try the other items on the menu. read more

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This is the Best Ramen spot in the Bay Area! I'm not even joking. Totally under the radar, kinda hole in the wall, but the vibes are immaculate. I've had my share of good ramen, but their spicy ramen gave me the best feeling. Like a pure sense of peace and well-being in the eye of a hurricane. read more

We walked by this place many times during our grocery shopping on Irving Street and decided to try it one day. It's a small ma and pa place with one server and one chef. They had a lunch special of ramen with a side ($14.00) or a rice plate with a side ($13.00). The ramen had a rich tonkotsu flavor and the side or karage chicken was crispy, maybe a little tough. The rice plate with chicken teriyaki with miso soup, rice, and an impressive looking salad. Most Japanese places serve a rather bland salad, while this place was attractive and tasty. The seats were comfortable and the service was excellent. Interior is rather ordinary but still pleasing. We plan to return again. read more

Omg so good My bf got the tonkatsu ramen and i got the spicy garlic tonkatsu ramen. We split the takoyaki. All the food came out hot and the takoyaki was perfectly crisp and not soggy. Lots of noodles in the bowl which is so appreciated compared to other restaurants. The service was very good as well. Wish i lived closer read more

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After a hike, as well as feeling a bit under the weather, we were craving ramen and found this spot on Yelp. The service was excellent- efficient and friendly. The ramen I had was absolutely scrumptious and totally hit the spot. The broth was incredibly flavorful. The portion size was large enough to bring the other half home for dinner. We did the lunch special which was $13 and allowed us a ramen with a side dish- quite reasonable. Definitely will return when in the Sunset next. read more

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Best place ive tried Ramen here in SF!!! We got the spicy garlic tonkotsu extra spicy and the fried gyozas. There was so much flavor in the broth and the spicy level was perfect since i love super spicy foods. The gyoza were perfect. Staff was very nice and go out of thier way for you!! read more

Saiwaii Ramen - Ramen Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Regret not trying this ramen spot sooner! I ate here plenty of times in high school (over 10 years ago) but haven't been back since. We were craving ramen and didn't want to drive too far to South Bay for it so we were scrolling on Yelp and decided to give this restaurant a shot again! We ordered the chicken karaage, spicy garlic miso ramen and spicy garlic tonkatsu ramen. Chicken karaage pieces were huge and came with 8 pieces! The ramens broth was thick and super flavorful. Definitely making this my go to ramen spot now :) read more

Saiwaii Ramen - Spicy Garlic Tonkotsu Ramen - Ramen Near Me - San Francisco, California

Okay wow, how do I call myself a sunset native yet I have never tried Saiwaii Ramen?? How many hundred times have I walked by in the last 10 years and never paid attention to the unimpressive storefront?! Now this is what I call a neighborhood gem!! $12-14 ramen bowls still exist? I'm here for it! Now you might be like me and set your bar low for places like this with no wait for a table, wondering if the cheaper price tag means taste is sacrificed -- prepare to be happy! We ordered: $14 spicy mala ramen $14 spicy garlic tonkatsu ramen $12 tonkatsu ramen $8.95 spicy garlic crab You can customize how spicy you want the heat level to be. What impressed me the most was that even though kiddo got the plain tonkatsu, it was still very flavorful. I ordered regular spice level for the numbing mala, which is the Chinese twist of their well known numbing peppercorn flavor. Heat level was perfect but I probably could have handled the hottest level no problem -- so those of you who like it really spicy, do consider ordering the highest level of spiciest! A side of 3 piece chicken kaarage comes with the spicy mala ramen -- what a bonus. I have had better kaarage but this wasn't bad. Some people might say this isn't authentic Japanese cuisine and they're right, this is Japanese done with Chinese flair so check your judgements at the door. We also enjoyed the spicy garlic soft shelled crab -- wish there was more!! But I loved that it came on a bed of salad -- even lettuce tasted good with those fried garlic seasonings that fell off of the crab!! Lastly the service was absolutely wonderful. Wondering if this is a family run restaurant. The girl was very friendly and attentive. She was good about refilling our tea and checking on our needs. Food came out relatively quickly. The restaurant was pretty steady with customers around 2pm on a Saturday but we never waited long for anything. Metered parking was pretty easy to find. One thing I will note is that if you're looking at the pictures on Yelp for reference like I was before coming here, you might see things they no longer serve here. I think a long time ago preCOVID they used to serve sushi but that is now off the menu. You won't miss it though because your belly will be plenty happy after a warm bowl of ramen! read more

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Been going here for years since it opened, as I live a few blocks away. It's not the best ramen out there, but not the worst either. Obviously, as a ramen place, there isn't much else other than the ramen, though I'd recommend the chicken karaage appetizer. I usually get the spicy tonkotsu ramen, mild. I can take spice, but mild is more than enough for me here. The price is reasonable ($15 per bowl). Parking of course is hit or miss on Irving st, though if you're eating here in the evening, you won't need to pay for meter. And fortunately, this restaurant is located closer to the suburban area of Irving, so it's easier to find street parking. One thing to note is that there's literally no room to wait for a table, and so if it's crowded, you need to put your name down and wait outside in the cold/your car. read more

Came here after a day in the city. Was craving Ramen since it was actually a cold evening after a beautiful day. We ordered the edamame, spicy wings, bacon wrapped scallops, kalbi, chicken skewers, gyoza, chicken katsu don, and tonkatsu ramen. Edamame was nicely salted, spicy wings, kalbi, and chicken skewers had great flavor, could pass on the bacon wrapped scallops next time- it was over cooked. Chicken katsu came with egg on top and veggies and the sauce was not thick but more of sweeter soy sauce poured over the rice. It was delicious. The gyoza was really good too and the sauce it came with had a sesame flavor to it. I have had better ramen- it had lots of tiny pieces of ginger that just overpowered the whole thing. Would come back to eat all the other things but ironically would not get the ramen here again which is the restaurant's namesake. The younger male server who took our order was nice but the older couple seemed like they didn't care for us being there despite the fact we were the biggest group of patrons there who ordered over $100 worth of food while the rest were either solo or a couple sharing a bowl of ramen. Just a note they automatically add gratuity to parties of 5 or more. Deducted a star due to ramen not being good at what should have been a ramen spot. read more

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I ordered the Spicy Garlic Tonkatsu to go. Only got Spicy Garlic. No ground Pork, no slices of pork as described on the menu in my meal. Avoid this place. read more

This shop deserves 5 stars! 2 cooks and 1 waitress holding down a full house AND to go orders is incredible, and they got everyone's food out in a timely manner! Props to you all! Potato Croquette - 5/5 stars - DELICIOUS, perfect ratio to crunchy outside with a soft inside and wasn't oily Sake Kama - 5/5 stars - how they got it so crunchy yet kept the inside juicy is a mystery but they did it Vegetarian Miso Ramen - 5/5 stars - one of the best veggie ramen I've had in a long time, warmed my heart and taste buds, great balance of broth, ramen, and veggies (also added an egg which was perfectly cooked) Overall, great food, will come again! read more

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Mostly metered street parking in this neighborhood. So depending on time of day, it can be tough to find a spot. The good news is if you do find parking, you can take the opportunity to do a bit of shopping in this neighborhood. Lots of Asian markets within walking distance from this ramen place. Place is nice and clean and they do make an effort to close the door as the winds blows in. A couple of tv monitors on all the time to keep you entertained while you wait for your food. Ramen is nice and bouncy and I really like the various toppings that are included. My only gripe is that the Chau Sui is hit or miss. I'm sure that they make it and use the broth from boiling the char Sui as part of the soup base for the ramen. About 1/2 the time, the char Sui tastes like it's been in the refrigerator too long. I'm not expecting it to taste like Chinese char Sui which you can get about 1 block away, but it shouldn't taste like it's leftover meat that's been in the refrigerator too long either. The karaage chicken is delicious and I definitely prefer that. It seems like the char Sui is in all the ramen options unless you get the seafood. Overall I really like the ramen options, but just get the karaage chicken now. I also noted that they are flaming their char Sui the last couple of time I went in, which improves the flavor. If you are expecting an egg with your ramen, that is extra. They also use to have sushi on the menu, but only ramen and donburi is offered now. I wish they had more sides. Service is very attentive. They refill both the water and tea as soon as they see you need a refill. Overall, this is more of a 3.5 rating read more

My go to restaurant when craving for some Japanese food.Tonkatsu ramen and fried calamari are delicious!

I just wanted to update my review after 6 years since I came here yesterday afternoon. **updated Covid - 19 guidelines** -they will check your ID + ask for your vaccination card (physical or digital) -there's only 1 table outside in case your party isn't completely vaccinated. They're still open as normal, but I believe they're not doing sushi anymore. My boyfriend and I came in and we were greeted by the host. She asked to see our vaccination cards + ID just to confirm we're both fully vaccinated. We were seated pretty quickly since there was only one other party available. I remember pre-Covid times, there would be a huge wait :T We both noticed that they didn't do sushi anymore, and they had appetizers, ramen, and donburi's I believe. We ended up ordering the spicy tonkotsu ramen at medium/regular spicy. i got corn and my boyfriend got some eggs. My boyfriend inquired about the extra spicy but the server/host mentioned it had ghost pepper in it, which my bf refused but she ended up giving us some to try out. We also decided to get fried calamari to start off with as well. Pricing: -Spicy Garlic Tonkotsu Ramen: $14.95 each + additional toppings: $1.50 each -Fried Calamari: $8.25 or $8.95 I believe?? Total: we spent around $42 excluding tip. **the prices have gone up since my last review but not as much. Breakdown of each item: -Spicy Garlic Tonkotsu Ramen: this was very reminiscent of how I had it years ago. I think it's roughly been a few years since I've come back, but still tastes the same. I forgot how filling this ramen was. There has been a few changes with this, such as not having the nori anymore and they give lots of seaweed now. This does not come with egg, so you'll have to pay an extra $1.50 to add up to $5.50 I believe for extra meats and stuff. I think the noodle firmness is fine but somehow the soup was a bit lackluster for me tbh. I think it tastes more like miso vs the Tonkotsu. The spice is pretty mild tbh, but the extra sauce we had was good! Its not as spicy as we thought but there is a kick. 3.75-4/5 -Fried Calamari: this was really good! Super crispy and great amount to share. It was lightly battered and you get bigger pieces with the calamari. The spicy Mayo + lemon paired really well with it. 5/5 I would say if I'm on Irving, I'd come here to support. It's quite sad how business has slowed down but hopefully more people come out to support Sawaii either in person or delivery :') read more

Saiwaii Ramen - Spicy Spicy Garlic Tonkotsu Ramen - Ramen Near Me - San Francisco, California

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