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Been a patron for over a decade now. Just the perfect bowl of soup for the kind of weather these days. My usual is the Santa Ramen Garlic Pork, medium spicy. The broth is just an explosion of flavor in your mouth and the noodles are pretty good. The service is friendly and the place can get quite busy in the evenings.
I'd heard good things about this place from friends. I wouldn't say it's a must-try, but it definitely isn't bad either, overall, I'd call it decent. The flavors were solid, and the noodles were cooked perfectly. One funny thing was that this was the first ramen spot I've been to that served a hard-boiled egg, which felt a little unusual, but I guess it's a new twist worth trying. All in all, it's a reliable spot if you're in the mood for ramen.
I love santa ramen so much! I haven't been in a while since we moved farther away from San Mateo. But we used to go all the time and it was our favorite ramen spot. We try to make the trip down often. The gyoza and santa ramen are always my go to on the menu. The gyoza is fried to perfection. The santa ramen with miso broth is my favorite of all time. The broth is so rich and creamy. The staff is always so friendly and attentive! The place itself is definitely a big place with moderate seating.
The Tonkotsu Ramen is rich and flavorful, with a deeply satisfying pork broth that's silky and hearty. The Chicken Karaage is a crispy, golden delight. The outer coating is wonderfully crunchy, while the inside is juicy and tender. The atmosphere at Santa Ramen is cozy and inviting. The restaurant has a modern yet comfortable vibe The staff is friendly, attentive, and knowledgeable about the menu. Santa Ramen is an excellent spot for those craving rich, flavorful ramen and crisp, tender fried dishes. The combination of great food, inviting ambiance, and attentive service makes it a must-visit for ramen lovers.
The ramen here is solid. Probably in the top 5 on the peninsula. The broth is super rich and creamy and packed with umami. The noodles are firm and al dente, just slightly undercooked. The pork belly is meaty and flavorful. Our biggest complaint is that the last couple times we've come here, the kitchen was suuuuper slow. The food took forever to come. In our most recent visit, we waited nearly an hour for our food to arrive. This seems pretty ridiculous. One of the staff is incredible - super warm and attentive. The other staff seem like they'd rather be somewhere else.
-santa ramen garlic pork (mild spicy) we visited on a weekend in the afternoon and the wait time wasn't too busy. the service was pretty fast and efficient. ramen broth was rich and flavorful, but the broth was a bit saltier than the previous times we've had it.
A well earned four stars. Good price, good taste, pretty quick service. This place has been around forever, I'm glad I finally bothered to try it. The egg wasn't very good and the portion could have been slightly better but it's not like it was skimpy. I'll be back to try more menu items. Don't get this "dynamite ramen" option if your stomach is a bit off. It was yummy but I should not have gone with something so spicy with my stomach not in totally prime condition
The OG ramen spot I finally made it to lol. Better late than never? Anywho, showed up at 530 on a Saturday, 20 minutes later every table is filled with a line out the door. We ordered the karaage (4-piece) appetizer. You can choose from 2, 4, or 6 pieces. I love the options. The pieces are huge so def could've gone with the 2 piece... Especially since we ordered two additional appetizers on top of this. It was perfectly cooked though. Great crunch to the skin. Not greasy. The fried oysters were yummy too but the breading was a tad thick for my preference. I don't know why I keep ordering the takoyaki though. It was perfectly cooked, had good flavor, but I just hate how saucy they are and their lack of textures. Anyways, nothing wrong done on their end I just keep ordering it when I don't like it that much. I think I keep hoping I will tho. As for the ramen, both got the garlic soy broth, I got the softshell crab, husband got the pork belly. Perfectly cooked proteins but no spice to either dish. He got mild and I got medium. Nada heat. Sad. Otherwise noodles were perfectly cooked but their egg was hard boiled - which it's advertised as such- but I'm a soft boiled fan.
Came here with the family of four, and wow -- it did not disappoint! It's been a while since our last visit, but the ramen is still as amazing as we remembered. The broth is deep, rich, and full of flavor, and that spice? Total killer (in the best way). Every slurp was pure happiness
Santa Ramen certainly has a lot of competition in San Mateo, but I found their Yokohama-style ramen to be nice and comforting. Their Yokohama broth wasn't overly salty and didn't go insane on the miso flavor. Nice balance! I also appreciated how many toppings they give you; normally, things like spinach and corn tend to be add-ons for extra cost. While egg wasn't boiled to the point where the yolk stayed jammy, I still enjoyed it since the yolk was still fairly soft. And the pork! It practically melted in my mouth. Staff were very nice and gave us our check right a few moments after we finished. I'd definitely come here again. :)
This place was just okay. It's not what it used to be. I remember when this place used to have a line out the door but we were able to get seated quickly on a Friday evening. I ordered the garlic pork broth and it lacked flavor. The karaage was delicious and crispy. The egg is just a regular hard boiled egg. Soft shell crab also lacked flavor.
I love the pork cheek ramen, tonkatsu broth, with medium spice. The portions of meat are generous and the service is always good. I'll remark that the times I've been here right when they opening the broth is much more bland, so now I only come here for dinner but I'm still a happy clam. read more
5 months ago
Been a patron for over a decade now. Just the perfect bowl of soup for the kind of weather these days. My usual is the Santa Ramen Garlic Pork, medium spicy. The broth is just an explosion of flavor in your mouth and the noodles are pretty good. The service is friendly and the place can get quite busy in the evenings. read more
I'd heard good things about this place from friends. I wouldn't say it's a must-try, but it definitely isn't bad either, overall, I'd call it decent. The flavors were solid, and the noodles were cooked perfectly. One funny thing was that this was the first ramen spot I've been to that served a hard-boiled egg, which felt a little unusual, but I guess it's a new twist worth trying. All in all, it's a reliable spot if you're in the mood for ramen. read more
I love santa ramen so much! I haven't been in a while since we moved farther away from San Mateo. But we used to go all the time and it was our favorite ramen spot. We try to make the trip down often. The gyoza and santa ramen are always my go to on the menu. The gyoza is fried to perfection. The santa ramen with miso broth is my favorite of all time. The broth is so rich and creamy. The staff is always so friendly and attentive! The place itself is definitely a big place with moderate seating. read more
2 months ago
The Tonkotsu Ramen is rich and flavorful, with a deeply satisfying pork broth that's silky and hearty. The Chicken Karaage is a crispy, golden delight. The outer coating is wonderfully crunchy, while the inside is juicy and tender. The atmosphere at Santa Ramen is cozy and inviting. The restaurant has a modern yet comfortable vibe The staff is friendly, attentive, and knowledgeable about the menu. Santa Ramen is an excellent spot for those craving rich, flavorful ramen and crisp, tender fried dishes. The combination of great food, inviting ambiance, and attentive service makes it a must-visit for ramen lovers. read more
3 months ago
7 months ago
5 months ago
The ramen here is solid. Probably in the top 5 on the peninsula. The broth is super rich and creamy and packed with umami. The noodles are firm and al dente, just slightly undercooked. The pork belly is meaty and flavorful. Our biggest complaint is that the last couple times we've come here, the kitchen was suuuuper slow. The food took forever to come. In our most recent visit, we waited nearly an hour for our food to arrive. This seems pretty ridiculous. One of the staff is incredible - super warm and attentive. The other staff seem like they'd rather be somewhere else. read more
-santa ramen garlic pork (mild spicy) we visited on a weekend in the afternoon and the wait time wasn't too busy. the service was pretty fast and efficient. ramen broth was rich and flavorful, but the broth was a bit saltier than the previous times we've had it. read more
2 years ago
A well earned four stars. Good price, good taste, pretty quick service. This place has been around forever, I'm glad I finally bothered to try it. The egg wasn't very good and the portion could have been slightly better but it's not like it was skimpy. I'll be back to try more menu items. Don't get this "dynamite ramen" option if your stomach is a bit off. It was yummy but I should not have gone with something so spicy with my stomach not in totally prime condition read more
The OG ramen spot I finally made it to lol. Better late than never? Anywho, showed up at 530 on a Saturday, 20 minutes later every table is filled with a line out the door. We ordered the karaage (4-piece) appetizer. You can choose from 2, 4, or 6 pieces. I love the options. The pieces are huge so def could've gone with the 2 piece... Especially since we ordered two additional appetizers on top of this. It was perfectly cooked though. Great crunch to the skin. Not greasy. The fried oysters were yummy too but the breading was a tad thick for my preference. I don't know why I keep ordering the takoyaki though. It was perfectly cooked, had good flavor, but I just hate how saucy they are and their lack of textures. Anyways, nothing wrong done on their end I just keep ordering it when I don't like it that much. I think I keep hoping I will tho. As for the ramen, both got the garlic soy broth, I got the softshell crab, husband got the pork belly. Perfectly cooked proteins but no spice to either dish. He got mild and I got medium. Nada heat. Sad. Otherwise noodles were perfectly cooked but their egg was hard boiled - which it's advertised as such- but I'm a soft boiled fan. read more
1 year ago
Came here with the family of four, and wow -- it did not disappoint! It's been a while since our last visit, but the ramen is still as amazing as we remembered. The broth is deep, rich, and full of flavor, and that spice? Total killer (in the best way). Every slurp was pure happiness read more
2 years ago
Santa Ramen certainly has a lot of competition in San Mateo, but I found their Yokohama-style ramen to be nice and comforting. Their Yokohama broth wasn't overly salty and didn't go insane on the miso flavor. Nice balance! I also appreciated how many toppings they give you; normally, things like spinach and corn tend to be add-ons for extra cost. While egg wasn't boiled to the point where the yolk stayed jammy, I still enjoyed it since the yolk was still fairly soft. And the pork! It practically melted in my mouth. Staff were very nice and gave us our check right a few moments after we finished. I'd definitely come here again. :) read more
2 years ago
This place was just okay. It's not what it used to be. I remember when this place used to have a line out the door but we were able to get seated quickly on a Friday evening. I ordered the garlic pork broth and it lacked flavor. The karaage was delicious and crispy. The egg is just a regular hard boiled egg. Soft shell crab also lacked flavor. read more
I love Santa Ramen! My boyfriend brought me here as it's his favorite ramen in the Bay Area, and the only one he says is similar to the ones in Japan. His mom is Japanese and grew up in Japan, and has a stamp approval for this restaurant as well. It's very clean and has a warm environment. They're super consistent with their yummy broth and service. The servers always checked to make sure we had water, and service has always been quick. We went around 5 PM and the restaurant was already trickling in people! Straightforward process, no frills and just good ramen. I will say I wish the egg was soft-boiled, but it was still yummy and I didn't miss the usual soft-boiled egg. Highly recommend! read more
I hadn't been to Santa Ramen in years. Partially because it's so far out of the way. Partially because when we've been near, we didn't have time to wait for a table. Today, my mom and I were close, and it was just after opening so we thought we might be able to get in relatively quickly. Well, we got in anyway. The restaurant was full and there were two tables ahead of us. We had to wait about ten minutes and were then seated at a two-top. The menu is small so the ordering process is simple. I placed the order for us. Two bowls of Santa Ramen with Yokohama Soup (blend of Pork & Miso). One order of Deep Fried Oysters. A very simple lunch. Service was very efficient. There only appeared to be two servers working the dining room. Watching them work was like watching a well synchronized dance. No motions were wasted. Every time they delivered an order to a table, on the return, they took something back to the kitchen, whether it be a new order or dishes cleared from a table. Deep Fried Oysters - 5 - The Oysters are small, but they were beautifully battered and fried. They were accompanied by a small salad, a smudge of hot mustard, lemon wedge and dipping sauce. Santa Ramen - 5 - A small, simple bowl of ramen with all the necessary parts. One thick slice of the most delectable pork, 1/2 a boiled egg, oh, just look at the menu. Then go order yourself a bowl and enjoy life! read more
This place is a very cozy place to have fresh ramen on a cold rainy day or any other kind of day. The Dynamite Ramen was so so good. The spices did not over power the flavor of the garlic pork broth that we had at all. The Softshell Crab Ramen was another good one that I would go back for. The service was very attentive and great to see servers that smiles when they are talking to you. Overall very very good read more
2 years ago
I loooove Santa Ramen. I was looking for spicy and hearty, and I had the Dynamite Ramen with Garlic Pork broth. It sure hit the spot!!! The spice was exactly what I looking for -- flavorful, well-integrated, and has a satisfying kick. Sometimes spicy ramen is just a disappointing chili oil weakly dripped on top, but this was super satisfying. I came alone 5 min before opening time on a Saturday Night and I was seated and served within 12 min. The staff is super friendly. It's a comfortable family restaurant vibe with a homey and Japanese inspired aesthetic. The restroom is clean too (which matters to me a lot). Santa Ramen stays in my Top 5 Ramen places of all time for consistent deliciousness! read more
4 months ago
1 year ago
Had lunch here yesterday. In years past I would be booted out from the car to go stand in line when they opened. Sadly, not the case now. I really did pull up ready to foot boot my passenger to stand in line. There wasn't one. I comfortably parked and we walked into an empty restaurant. I'm pretty sure that the influx of Ramen eateries in the vicinity have taken away patrons. I stand firmly in stating that our experience was extraordinary. Our server was friendly and welcoming. Our soup was delicious and still on point!! I personally don't eat noodles for health reasons, but, was completely satisfied with all of my toppings and spooned the soup bowl dry. Thank you! read more
8 months ago
I was in the mood for ramen and saw that Santa Ramen has a spicy ramen called Dynamite. I knew I had to check it out and let me say that I was NOT disappointed. It definitely has a kick. Once you get through the spice, you can taste the savory broth with the perfectly roasted pork and noodz. Not only was the food tasty, the service was great too! Super friendly and quick service. With an abundance of ramen joints to choose from in San Mateo, Santa Ramen is pretty decent and is located outside of the downtown area so you don't have to look for or pay for parking. read more
It's been a really long time we visited Santa Ramen. Went there with hubby last Friday around 1pm. There was a short line waiting for the table. We waited about 10 mins before we were seated. After we placed our order, we have to wait another 30 mins before we got our ramen. It is obvious they prepare their ramen one bowl at a time. We both enjoyed our ramen. But, Ramen Dojo remains my number 1 ramen joint. read more
Santa Ramen was my staple ramen shop growing up. Our family would visit almost every other week when they were in their first location in that tiny corner shop and we'd wait patiently for over 30 minutes every time just to eat their noodles. Over the years, Santa has truly been through a lot of evolution and made major tweaks to their menu. Their base is always the same: soy sauce, garlic, or miso. However, the toppings and taste of the ramen has reached it's highest of highs and also a pretty big low just a few years ago, which is when I stopped coming (in addition to COVID of course). But I finally made my way back after hearing they really upgraded their menu options in recent times. We stopped by about a half hour before closing on a Sunday and were seated immediately. The shop looked the same and there were a few tables still occupied along with a couple seats at the bar. The menu is much more extensive than I remembered and I was excited to see some fun additions. I ended up going for my usual miso base and picked the soft shell crab ramen. We also ordered some kaarage (which you can pick how many pieces you want) for the table along with the cold tofu appetizer. Our food came out within minutes, with the kaarage and ramen piping hot. I will say, this new and improved style of Santa really impressed me. The ramen was delicious and the soft shell crab was definitely the star of the show. It was so crispy and juicy and paired so well with the broth. The ramen noodles itself were chewy yet firm. I only wished the portions were bigger and that they added more of the various toppings. The tofu and kaarage were both really great pairings to the meal and I definitely left more than satisfied after polishing off everything on my plate. I am so happy they found their rhythm again after my last visit several years ago (think ground chicken and a fat wad of boiled spinach as your main toppings in ramen....). This experience was so much better and the food tasted really good. It reminded me of their glory days almost 2 decades ago and I am here for it! read more
9 months ago
This was one of the most disappointing ramen experiences I've had, and I will not be returning. First, when asked about spiciness, the waitress told us that all levels of "spicy" use the same table chili powder, not an in-house chili oil or paste. That alone shows a fundamental lack of understanding of ramen. Spiciness is supposed to be integrated into the soup base, not sprinkled on afterward like fast food seasoning. The ramen eggs were a complete failure. Fully hard-boiled, dry, and flavorless -- totally unacceptable for any ramen shop. This is basic technique, not a preference issue. We ordered three pork belly ramen with tonkotsu base and one soft-shell crab + grilled pork ramen with soy/Tokyo-style base. The menu tries to do too much, and the kitchen clearly cannot execute it properly. The soft-shell crab was undercooked, which is not only poor quality but also concerning from a food safety standpoint. A ramen shop that cannot consistently fry soft-shell crab should not be offering it at all. The noodles tasted like commercial wholesale ramen, with no customization to the soup -- they softened quickly and lacked proper bite and soup adhesion. Overall, this feels like a restaurant using the appearance of ramen while ignoring its fundamentals. Heavy toppings and oil cannot compensate for poor technique and lack of attention to detail. I will not return, and I would not recommend this place to anyone who actually understands or appreciates ramen. Shame on this Ramen restaurant read more
Quick take: Don't order chicken teriyaki bento I was shopping at Nijiya and the kids wanted ramen. I wasn't in the mood for ramen so I veered off course and ordered the teriyaki chicken bento. I recommend sticking with the ramen if you end up here. Kiddos liked the Tonkatsu ramen (no spicy) ramen bowls. They also have a vegetarian option. read more
11 months ago
1 year ago
Came in during the lunch hour and there was steady traffic the entire time. Staff was quick to accommodate and did not ignore any of us clients. 2 people working the dining area and they were both on it! So much so that before finishing, they were already dropping off the checks before we could ask for it. Spacious and clean restaurant, indoor seating only. For my meal, I ordered the Santa Ramen (house option) Yokohama style soup base (pork and miso). The base was creamy, I asked for medium spicy and there wasn't really a kick like other ramen spots typically have. The grilled pork was good, small portion like the rest of the toppings. I wasn't too impressed with my specific dish but I would recommend this place if you're in the area and craving something warm. Menu was small but definitely would be willing to try more plates. 3.5 stars for me for my first visit. read more
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1944 S El Camino Real
San Mateo, CA 94403
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(650) 344-5918
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