Solid Japanese option in the heart of Chinatown. I've tried out Sobo Ramen when it first opened nearly a decade ago. Since then, I've ordered take out several times to satisfy those oiishi cravings. While wandering what to have for lunch, I neared Sobo and decided to swing by for some Katsu Curry. They had an option with black 'squid ink' curry with Chicken Katsu, which sounds fantastic for $21. Sold. The host, which also took my order, and waited on me, ended up bringing my entree out 10-15 mins after it was placed. It was a sizable portion and surprisingly came with a side of bok choy and picked vegetables. The curry was tasty and had chunks of potatoes, carrots, and onions. Consistency was a bit more wet than I thought, but the flavor more than made up for it. The entire time I was there, there was only one other table. I hope Sobo ramen continues to do well. read more

Sobo Ramen - Curry Chicken Katsu Don - Ramen Near Me - Oakland, California

Looks can be deceiving... wish I liked this place since I'm always in the area. Tucked on the side of the plaza, first floor. It used to be a Chinese HK cafe but they change a couple years back. Idk if ramen 101 is better or this place ... and that's saying a lot. It's so mid and idk what else to say :/ definitely would not come back. Nothing special about the broth itself, ingredients did nothing for it. Service was okay, not bad, not good. Place wasn't busy at all so that was a sign already. read more

Sobo Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Oakland, California

The worst yakitori I have ever had. All round no one liked their ramen as well (6 ppl). I normally reserve one stars for food health hazards but this was terrible. Ordered the chicken thigh, chicken skin, and tofu scallion yakitori. Chicken thigh yakitori- cold meat that was clearly old frozen meat. Biting into this was like biting into a spongy mush slab tasting only strange water excretions and the overwhelming teriyaki sauce drenching it. 0/10 Chicken skin yakitori - expected a fried skin lightly seasoned item. Received regular mushy chicken skin with no flavor or pan searing, baking, frying nothing. Again drowned in teriyaki sauce. 0/10 Tofu scallion yakitori - tough, old, and dry tofu on a stick drenched in teriyaki sauce again. 0/10 I have never received such horrible food. All other ramen orders at the table also mentioned bland broths. read more

See all

if you're craving legit ramen that doesn't break the bank but still feels special, Sabi--er, Sobo Ramen--is one of the best in the East Bay. Easily top-tier. 10/10 would smash again, no cap. Go get that bowl, you won't regret it! Ambience is cozy as hell. It's got that intimate, low-key Japanese ramen shop feel--nothing fancy, but warm lighting, clean setup, and it doesn't feel cramped even when busy. Perfect for solo slurping, a quick date, or grabbing with friends. In the heart of Oakland's Chinatown/Pacific Renaissance spot, it's easy to get to and feels authentic without being stuffy. read more

Sobo Ramen - Glazed Pork Belly Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Oakland, California

See all

Located on the edge of Oakland Chinatown. With it being Valentine's Day and a few days before Chinese New Year, Chinatown was busy to say the least Walked into Sobo and was immediately seated. Suprisingly, there was nobody else in the restaurant I ordered Tonkotsu ramen w Chicken Katsu and karaage was marinated in sake and lightly breaded. Both came out piping hot and was delicious. read more

See all

We stopped by for a quick rainy day lunch and the ramen really hit the spot. We got the spicy black garlic ramen, the spicy miso ramen, chicken karaage, and gyoza. I really liked the flavor of my black garlic ramen and liked that there was an option to make it spicy. I also appreciate that it comes with a variety of fixings (chashu, half an ajitama egg, bamboo shoots, bok choy, wood ear mushroom--though the toppings for the different ramens do vary) because so many places make every topping an add on these days. The spicy miso was also good and came with chashu, egg, shiitake mushrooms, and shimeji mushrooms). They also have some more unique ramen options, like squid ink ramen, which I didn't try but would be curious to if I'm back in the area. The karaage and gyoza were pretty standard fare. Good but nothing super special, though I did like the chili crisp on the gyoza. Their matcha sour was an unexpected sleeper! Quite reasonably priced ($10) and tasty. Service was efficient, the inside was spacious and clean, and parking was easy in the structure for the Chinese plaza the restaurant is located in. read more

Sobo Ramen - Black garlic ramen & matcha sour - Ramen Near Me - Oakland, California

This restaurant was pretty empty, it was just me and my mom with another couple on a Tuesday night. The food was good. I ordered shoyu ramen so we can share since my mom wasn't too hungry. We were celebrating her birthday. I also got the fried tofu and bacon wrap, quail eggs. Edamame. It was nice to try new items I never seen on a menu before. The place was nice and clean. Good decoration and lighting. Service was great. Good location in Chinatown and parking garage available. read more

See all

Sobo. So good! I got one of the signature ramens, Black Garlic Mayu. The combination of pork bone broth with roasted black garlic oil is layered in its complexity and oh so satisfying. The Chashu pork, Ajitama egg, bamboo shoots, bok choy, and garlic cloves are delicious and nutritious! Well worth $19.50. It's a huge bonus that they have my favorite sake, the Demon Slayer. The service is polite, the food comes out quickly and there are plenty of tables. Nothing fancy, but a nice place to have noodles with friends. read more

Sobo Ramen is a cozy spot to have lunch. Somewhat limited menu, but that is OK considering you want to make sure you're in and out in an hour at lunch time. The servings are not the largest, so you won't be over-the-top full, but it'll be good enough to get you through the end of the day and back home for dinner. The noodles are thicker than some other places in Oakland Chinatown, and they're very tasty. The soup has solid flavors in it and it is not overwhelming. I look forward to coming here in the evening after work and having a drink along with my noodles. read more

Sobo Ramen - Chicken Shoyu Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Oakland, California

I went to this ramen place with several friend and the ramen overall was not impressive, but that's not why I'm writing this review. Immediately after leaving the restaurant, the debit card I used to pay for my and my friends' meals began immediately receiving fraudulent charges from all over the country. Within an hour it was 12 charges. Fortunately my bank alerted me immediately and the charges were halted before they cleared. I noticed it was odd when our server who had a handheld card processing machine in hand instead took my card to the back and came back to the table with a receipt in hand to sign. I've never had this happen at a restaurant before and have told all my friends to never go to this place. read more

I remember being bummed about missing the squid ink ramen special during Oakland Restaurant Week. How happy I was today to find that the dish has made its way to the regular menu. While I can't say I noticed much squid ink flavor (which is true of most squid ink dishes), it was still a very solid bowl of ramen. The broth was very savory and the the noodles chewy with a good bite. Sobo has the best ramen chashu imo, incredibly soft and tender. Gotta point out today's incredibly picturesque bok choy too. Nice and speedy service. We left feeling warm and cozy. read more

Sobo Ramen - Squid ink ramen - Ramen Near Me - Oakland, California

I provided a review few years ago (maybe was 2023)and was removed by yelp or someone else. Back then they had different menu. The one I ordered and paid for $20 without meat. I asked the waitress and she said it's at the bottom and true enough there was few pieces of ground pork. Really just few pieces not even a spoon full. I thought I give it a try again in 2025. They have different a new menu now. We had spicy miso and black garlic ramen. Taste like the broth have too much MSG. The Yakitori is terrible!! The chicken skin yakiyori is boiled oily with sauce. Not fried like in Japan. Very difficult to even swallow. read more

Sobo Ramen - Receipt - Ramen Near Me - Oakland, California

I've been here a few times, all with a large group. This last time a friend paid the bill and shortly there after all kind of random charges was placed on his card. Could our server be a thief? We were there July 17, 2026 between 5-6:30pm. I think management should look into it. read more

My wife wanted to try this ramen restaurant, she was concerned that most ramen shops we went would be crowded for Sunday lunch so we went right after they opened at 11AM. It ended up we were the first and only customers! We both ordered the black garlic ramen, and also ordered agedashi tofu and soft shell crab. The food arrived in a reasonable time, all looked like authentic that you expected in a Japanese ramen restaurant, but they were all bland and tasteless. The tofu might be a little bit better comparing with the others. Also, we haven't had such an experience that we were the only customers in a ramen restaurant from arrival to finished our food on a Sunday noon! At the end, there is another catch - they charged $2.50 "non-cash charge" when we paid with credit card for a bill more than $70! Do you want to be their next customers?! read more

Very cozy ambiance, attentive staff and quick food service! We tried the agedashi tofu, gyoza and curry katsu ramen -- loved all of them. The tofu was the perfect balance of crispy and soft with the sauce. Gyozas are all freshly made in house topped with delicious crunchy chili oil. Get your katsu on the side of your ramen - the chicken is super tender and juicy. read more

See all

988 Franklin St, Ste 186 Oakland, CA 94607 Sobo Ramen is a Japanese inspired fusion ramen shop, located in Oakland Chinatown. To be exact, it's on the outside of Pacific Renaissance Plaza, along Franklin Street. The Plaza offers underground parking, but I parked on the street. I was at Sobo Ramen for a great Yelp Elite Event (YEE) back in August 2023. I decided to return while shopping in Chinatown. I honestly didn't know they closed at 3pm on Sunday. I walked in around 2:45pm, and they offered me a table. The friendly server said she remembered me from the Yelp Event. She suggested a number of dishes, I ordered the "Glazed Pork Belly Ramen." I had ordered the same ramen dish at the Yelp Event. When I checked-in on the Yelp App, I was offered a free Soju Cocktail. I decided to save it for my next visit. Instead, I ordered the Original Iced Tea. The dining room was clean and polished. The atmosphere was cozy and comfortable, with smooth jazz playing over the speakers. There's several tables and a bar. During our Elite Event, they placed tables together to handle large groups. My ramen came out quickly, as the staff went on their 3pm break. My server took her lunch in the dining room, and was available if I needed anything. Now the food! My initial impression was the bowl of ramen was nice to look at. It was a display of colors.... of pork belly, red onions, scallions/ green onion, and bok choy. I like noodles, and for $17, I would of liked more ramen. The rich broth was slightly salty, so I would probably order something else next time. The pork belly was deliciously tender and easy to eat. I was served two large pieces of pork belly, and two small pieces were underneath. Overall, a nice bowl of ramen with a balance of veggies and meat. I will return and try other dishes. https://www.soboramen.com/aboutus.html read more

See all

I've worked in downtown Oakland for a long time and have gone here few times now. Great quick service and great food. I recommend this to everyone. read more

Sobo Ramen - Spicy Shoyu Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Oakland, California

I didn't love the food but it could have been because of it being lunch and a slow day. It didn't taste very flavorful and I ate the garlic and the eggs (which I always get extra of) and it was just okay outside of that. Cute place though. read more

See all

So consistently good. We come up from San Leandro to go to this restaurant. Not too far away it at all and worth the drive. I usually go for the spicy ramen, this time I didn't and I decided just to go with the flow and enjoy my ramen the way it came from the kitchen. First time I've had the cocktail also. The beer selection's pretty good they also have beer from a local brewery, I suggest a lemongrass beer! Definitely worth checking out, this place is legit. We usually find street parking. read more

See all

Tucked away in Chinatown outside of the Renaissance plaza is Sobo Ramen. Upon entering you are greeted by the sight of a giant window showing you the ramen being made fresh in the house. Service was quick, but nothing spectacular. I ordered the Mayu ramen which was packed full of flavor. I love the black garlic oil which adds a layer of depth and smokiness to the tonkotsu broth. The meat was tender and flavorful, a melt in your mouth experience. I wish we got more than just one piece for the price of the bowl of ramen. I also got to try a little of the curry chicken katsu ramen, it was nothing spectacular. The chicken katsu was juicy but the broth didn't really have any depth to it. The curry flavor wasn't very strong. If i'm craving ramen and i'm in chinatown I would come again, but i wouldn't go out of my way for it. read more

Sobo Ramen - Curry Chicken Katsu Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Oakland, California

See all

Excellent service, excellent food. Right now they have this limited edition squid ink ramen that I adore. Hope it makes into the permanent menu. They also got a deals going in rn. read more

See all

Solid! Came in and wasn't crowded. Standard selection of ramen nothing fancy and it came out fast. Ramen was great a to of pork in mine and service was delightful. I'd come back. read more

Sobo Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Oakland, California

Great service only one other table full 1130am sunday. The spicy black garlic ramen is amazing, perfect not over done or anything. I'll be back for my next craving of ramen, $21.50 after tax, total for the bowl, definitely not cheap but such is life. read more

Sobo Ramen - Spicy Black garlic ramen!! - Ramen Near Me - Oakland, California

Came by this place on the spur of the moment with my family on a Sunday morning ...no one was in there. Noodles were made fresh. You can even watch through a glass window the owner making the noodles. That deserves a 4! Food was great actually- 4 Service was not bad -3.5 Ambience was authentic- Korean style - 3.5 Overall 4 - the food fit the moment and better than I thought it would be. Authenticity of the ramen noodles ! read more

A blast from the past, I found some time to visit Sobo Ramen again after my first Yelp Elite experience there. They were running a special in October where you can bring a friend for BOGO ramen. Aside from being a good deal, everything was tasty with thoughtful presentation. I got the tan tan numb spicy noodles which they let me sample the first time I visited. As a full menu item now, I can say I'm a huge fan of the heat and flavor combined. We also ordered drinks where my friend got a pretty cocktail while I opted for the kimchi sour beer which sounded interesting to me. They complemented our meals perfectly and gave us a nice buzz. The service was fast and the dining area pretty as usual. Wasn't super busy for lunch but we enjoyed the nice ambience and hope they open another location soon! Shoutout to the owner Stella who I am sure is hard at work making amazing ramen experiences one meal at a time. read more

See all

I've been going to Sobo for around a decade now and I've seen their various evolutions. At the end the day, this is still a place to get a solid bowl of ramen in the East Bay. Over the years I've seen them try to innovate and experiment with different styles of ramen. You can find miso, tonkatsu, and vegan ramen here. In the past I've also had shio and lobster ramen! This time I went with their spicy Miso ramen. The broth was excellent. Super flavorful with the right level of spice. The chashu portion was generous and the toppings were well balanced. I'm glad this spot has survived COVID and hope they can stay open. Check them out the next time you're in the Chinatown/ downtown Oakland area. read more

Sobo Ramen - Spicy Miso Ramen with chashu. - Ramen Near Me - Oakland, California

I came here for dinner with some friends as it's conveniently located in the Pacific Renaissance Plaza, near BART and downtown Oakland. I had a passion fruit lemonade as my drink. The lemonade was fine, it's just a mug but the price is pretty standard for a drink nowadays. They offer other flavors of lemonade as well, although I don't know to what extent you can actually taste the other fruit flavor since the lemon comes out so strongly. I ordered the pesto ramen, which was pretty good. It comes with pork. The pesto is unusual but not bad - I actually like the savory nutty flavor. I didn't taste as much of the cheese that the menu mentioned it contained as I expected though. Also, the kelp (or was it other seaweed?) was a nice addition. Main gripe is that the ramen is rather pricey, but at least this shop has some interesting less common flavors. read more

Sobo Ramen - Passion fruit lemonade - Ramen Near Me - Oakland, California

See all

I had their black garlic pork glaze ramen. It's terrific. The noodles were good, the pork was crazy delicious. I'll definitely be going back. read more

Very solid 4 stars ramen spot and great option in Oakland Chinatown. The shoyu ramen had a clean chicken and fish broth that was very cozy, almost nostalgic for me. The spicy miso ramen had just the right tingle without being overpowering, flavorful broth, and the thin noodles had a nice bite to them. Each ramen comes with a whole ramen egg, which was perfectly jammy, a tad light on marinade flavor, but the ramen is flavorful enough. For apps we got the agedashi tofu and soft shell crab, both were fine. Overall, a solid spot for ramen, missing the oomph that would make it 5 stars but I would be happy to return. It's about $20 for a bowl of ramen without add-ons. A bit steep imo, but i personally prefer to share 1 bowl with someone because I can never finish a bowl myself. Parking is street parking or the underground lot next door which I believe is $1 per 20min. read more

See all

First time here for my ramen rush. I really didn't expect this place to be this elegant. I mean LOOK!!! The interior is just mind blowing and really eye catching gestures all around. Seemed like a nice place for friends and family gatherings. I've got their gyoza and some curry ramen topped with chicken katsu (sorry i forgot the full name of it). Gyoza was yummy and I'd give 5 stars for that and actually eat them again. The ramen broth was rich and delicious but i just couldn't eat the noodles (the noodles seemed more like a pasta noodles). It's a whole bunch and hard to chew. I mean, i know i was expecting the other one; soft and curly, lol. Though, the chicken katsu on top was just so filling and good. I was happy just with the broth and the topping. Service is friendly and accommodating. OVERALL, everything was good and i walked out happily. May return some other day! read more

See all

Food: 7/10 Wait time: no wait on a Saturday Value: 7/10 Portion size: medium Service: 8/10 Hubby and I tried the Spicy Mayu and Spicy Miso Ramen bowls. Spicy Mayu is pork Tonkatsu with black garlic oil broth. It came with kale, whole roasted garlic, black fungus strips and an egg topped with green onions. The broth is a rich and creamy pork flavor and also has a Spicy garlic spin on it! It is quite delicious and we both enjoyed it. I do wish though that you could pick your noodles. We typically like the thicker Ramen noodles so that the creamy broth doesn't get too heavy. This dish is served with only thin noodles so at the end I felt like I needed a different flavor in my mouth to offset the broth. The Spicy Miso was delicious and exactly how it sounds! It comes with bean sprouts, a mushroom, soft seaweed found in miso soups, an egg and topped with green onions. I also wish they had a thick noodles option but this dish was also okay with thin noodles I just prefer thick! This place is super cute and has a lot of cute decor with lanterns. There are plenty of places for indoor dining to spread out to be covid safe. They have a bunch of fun appetizers like a whole soft shell crab, baked mussels, chicken karaage, and more! Next time I will try some! I didn't flip the menu over so I miss it! They also have beer on tap, bottled beer, sake and a fun cocktail. You do have to find street parking but there is an underground parking lot next to it where you have to pay to park. read more

See all

The tonkotsu ramen had a nice rich flavor, and the chicken katsu had a nice breading of panko, would I go to Sobo Ramen again Yes.

Very low tier ramen, I ordered the basic Tonkatsu ramen with the Chicken Katsu and had a very average experience. The broth has no flavor and although the chicken was crispy, the sauce it came with didn't compliment it at all. I mean, just look at the photo...I will not be coming back. read more

Sobo Ramen - Basic Tonkotsu Ramen (with Chicken Katsu) - Ramen Near Me - Oakland, California

Located in chinatown in Oakland, when you enter the restaurant you get this welcome feeling with the beautiful photos on the wall and how clean the restaurant is. A bit on the pricey side for ramen where the cheapest ramen is $17, it definitely tasted good. We ended up getting the spicy miso and the curry katsu. You can tell that whoever the chef is, he knows how to cook. The broth was delicious and flavorful. There are toppings you can add, but it will cost extra. I highly recommend trying this place out for some good ramen even though it is a bit more than other ramen places. read more

This was my second time here but I had their home-brewed Thai iced tea for the first time and it was so good! If you never got it from there, I highly recommend you do. Had the karaage as an appetizer and it was perfectly crisp, and the basic tonkotsu ramen with chicken katsu. Good service and a nice and cozy place to dine in! read more

Sobo Ramen - Karaage, Basic Tonkotsu Ramen (choose one) - Ramen Near Me - Oakland, California

The best ramen I have had. I will definitely be back. The service was enough, she was very respectful and attentive. The vibe is so cool, I couldn't stop looking everywhere, very esthetic place! I'll be back! read more

See all

10 dollar lunch special for a good bowl of Tsukemen ramen (dipping noodles). Nothing beats this. Need to return for dinner and try their soju cocktails. Come help support your local businesses. read more

Sobo Ramen - Tsukemen Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Oakland, California

I've been meaning to try Sobo Ramen for awhile--ended up DoorDashing a few nights ago and did not regret it! I was starving when I ordered, so I placed an order for the Spicy Black Tonkotsu ramen with baby bokchoy and a soft boiled egg. Should've read the description more closely--I ended up with two eggs! The ramen arrived warm and smelled amazing--love it when places separate noodles and the broth, whether it's for ramen, pho, noodle soup, etc. I heated up the broth and dove right in. Everything was delicious! The broth was flavorful, noodles perfectly cooked and eggs were perfect. I could've done without the extra egg and bokchoy--they were great, but I should have been a bit more wise when I ordered. Went immediately into food coma after dinner! read more

Sobo Ramen has a 2 for 1 Happy Hour from 5pm-7pm Mon-Fri. Everybody wins! I just got the email announcing the offer and ate their again last night. I've eaten and ordered take out from Sobo at least 20 times. Since I like it spicy, I get the Black Garlic Tonkatsu which has this little pool of delicious black garlic oil floating on top. Its all so rich and satisfying. This is definitely my favorite Ramen place in the entire bay area. read more

Sobo Ramen - The egg was perfectly cooked. The noodles are made in house and it was all so very perfect. - Ramen Near Me - Oakland, California

See all

Once upon a time I loved this place. Pals and I decided to explore it. I even told my husband about it on our first date. (He did not propose here.) I admit my eyes wandered to a competitor that starts with the letter "I". This was the best ramen within Oakland city limits. Never would I have considered the possibility of a quality dip. As much as I love to read and write reviews I always take them with a grain of salt. Unfortunately all that salt found its way to my ramen! I have never experienced tonkotsu so salty I had to wash my face to get the salt off my lips! I ordered my Tonkotsu with Mayu ($17 befor any add-ons) via Uber Eats. Truthfully I've only ever dined in here and that could be a factor. It was also cold. I couldn't finish more than a third of this. The karaage was dandy. Without it there would have been no lunch today. I am rating as highly as I am to honor the positive memories. Given today's sate they are likely quite busy. I do want small businesses to thrive in Oakland. I really want to enjoy what I buy. read more

Sobo Ramen - Tonkotsu with Mayu - kale & pork belly - Ramen Near Me - Oakland, California