Love this place! We visited this local favorite on a trip to Hilo. We went for an early weekday lunch, so it wasn't busy. There was parking in the shared lot, but spaces are tiny. Booth seating was perfect for us. The wait staff were super nice and patient with us. Their menu is huge and has a lot of options for customizing. Fortunately, there are diagrams on the wall to help you decide. I got a Miso Standard ramen ($20 with an Ajitama (seasoned soft boiled egg), hard texture, fried garlic, extra noodles. It was fabulous! Really hit the spot. Loved the chewier noodles and the rich, flavorful broth. DH got THE Garlic ramen ($26.50) also with an Ajitama, pork belly, and extra noodles, regular firmness. The kids wanted extra Naruto (fish cakes), 75 cents for 2 small pieces. One of our kids is under age 5, so we got a Miso mini ramen ($9.50 value) for free! Wow! Little one said he did not like the flavor of the seasoned egg. Noodles were very soft, but stayed together, and soaked up a ton of broth so they were flavorful. He said the Miso Mini comes with corn instead of fish cake. We loved all of the toppings. The pork belly was excellent! Portion sizes are great. We had some leftovers to take back. Overall, a fantastic place to satisfy those ramen cravings! read more

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Everything about this place is awesome! Our server was so attentive and friendly. We came on a Tuesday night and only waited a few minutes, but I can tell this place gets busy. The food seems like authentic Japanese cuisine and everything was super delicious. My dad loved his tantan ramen - nutty but not heavy. I really liked the chicken katsudon, which was on the saltier side but still so filling and hearty! This was an awesome find and I'm so glad we stopped here for dinner :-) read more

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One of the few places open until 9pm on a Sunday night in Hilo. The last time we visited the big island, we wanted to try it, but never had time. Because of our recent rainy weather, we decided to have dinner here. As we arrived, there were a few people waiting in line. We signed in on the wait list and looked over the menu. Wait time was only about 5 minutes before we were seated. The place has a feel of a Japanese ramen bar with many of the menu items and specials all around the restaurant. They do have some different ramen offerings rather than your same old tonkotsu ones. We decided on one of the specials, hakata ramen, with a really flavorful pork marrow soup base. We also ordered one of their recommended egg drop ramen which has a really light taste with the egg drop soup texture. Both dishes we ordered were prepared nicely with perfectly cooked noodles. Wait staff were very friendly and helpful, and food came out in a timely manner. It was a perfect meal for the gloomy weather. read more

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We came by about an hour before closing and there was a pretty long list of names before us, but we were down to wait. We waited about 30 min and they were kindly still letting people in even though it was close to closing. Seating is a bit tight but it's a cool vibe inside, very Japanese, bar type seating for most of the restaurant, so pretty good if you're by yourself or for groups of 2. The prices are standard for ramen, maybe slightly high ($15-19 a bowl). The staff was very apologetic about things taking a little longer, but it was very understandable with how busy they were. The garlic ramen had a great flavor, the broth was really rich. The chasiu was a little dry and thin though, so that wasn't the highlight. We added an egg (ajitama) to the shoyu ramen for $2.50 but it was not very flavorful and the yolk was a bit over cooked, so wouldn't necessarily recommend adding that. The Yaki Imo Creme Brûlée (Japanese sweet potato) though was SO good. Great flavor, not too sweet, perfect brulee. Would recommend getting it for dessert! Ramen was not bad overall, the broth was the highlight for that, but overall 5 stars for the excellent service and excellent dessert! read more

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Went here the other night with my family. Service was awesome even tho the waitress was having a rough night (customers bumping into her spilling food, etc.) she still delivered awesome service. Chefs in the kitchen were yelling but I think it was more like "I'm cooking good food, yessaaahhh!" In lol read more

This place has a cozy atmosphere, perfect for a relaxed dinner with friends. I tried their Kakuni Ramen, and it has deep, savory flavor with rich seafood-base but still, I wanted a bit more spice. The noodles were just right--firm but not tough. Service was somewhat slow during busy times, but the staff stayed polite and helpful. Overall, a good experience that I would recommend to others. read more

The ramen was actually quite good, as good as the ones you may find in LA. The best meal I've had in the big island so far. The wait was longer than I thought but the ramen was worth the wait. read more

Tetsumen Ramen - Egg drop ramen - Ramen Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

I saw some reviews and decided to make it a stop while in Hilo area. I was not disappointed at all. The menu is very much authentic Japanese dishes since this is a branch of a restaurant that is in Japan. Staff was very nice to explain us any questions on any of the dishes we had. I ended up ordering garlic noodles and we also had chicken cutlets with rice. Both came out perfectly the way we wanted. They also got more garlic for me in case I wanted that. The pork broth was soooo good and flavorful. While in Hilo, this is a must try. read more

Tetsumen Ramen - Garlic noodles - Ramen Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

Awesome spot in Hilo. The restaurant itself has a cozy, authentic ramen house vibe that reminded me of Japan. The staff were super friendly, and while there was a short wait (it's one of the few spots that was open later in Hilo), it was not bad. Got the takoyaki as an app which was alright and nothing special. The noodles are where this place really shines. We ordered the Kakuni Tonkotsu Miso Ramen and the Abura Soba, and both were fantastic. The pork belly in the Kakuni was tender, flavorful, and the miso tonkotsu broth had great authentic flavor. The noodles had the perfect firmness, just as I ordered. I don't often see Abura Soba on menus, so I was really happy to find it here and it did not disappoint. If you are in Hilo late and looking for food or want pretty good Japanese Ramen, definitely stop by. read more

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Such a nice restaurant with delicious food! Service is fairly fast, we came in a big group pop and a couple items were missed but the waitress got the food to us eventually that we took to go! This restaurant is just like the restaurants you would find in Japan- such a nice experience! read more

Tetsumen Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

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7/25/25 Tetsumen Ramen 697 Manono St Ste 103 Hilo, HI 96720 We went for an early dinner on a Friday. It's in the Manono Street Marketplace across the street from Big Island Candies. Parking was plentiful with most of the other businesses closed. We were seated promptly at the counter. Most of space consists of counter seating with two large booths and a table. Serve was a little slow but attentive, they were quite busy. We had the Plenty Vegetable Ramen and Taiwan Ramen. The Taiwan Ramen had an egg and not so much pork, was on the small side and not that spicy. My vegetable ramen was excellent with a tasty miso broth, a large piece of tasty pork medallion and plenty of vegetables; mostly cabbage, corn and mushroom. It was satisfying and filling. There is an extensive menu of ramen, additions, appetizers and even sushi. Definite repeat, especially for the Plenty Vegetable Ramen. read more

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We were going to go across the lot but ended up here instead. It's a very cozy space but a fair bit of seating. They definitely have ac issues so I might avoid on a hot day. There was a sign that said "sushi chef away in Japan." True or not I think it gave some street cred. I like that there is a list of options for doneness of ramen. Normally I do al dente at home but I panicked and said medium. I don't remember what it was but I think it has the same name as the place. It was good. The noodles were flat and not curly. Not sure how I feel about that. I think I prefer curly. My mom got the mackerel katsu. I've never had mackerel before. I tried for the first time. It was truly disgusting but my mom assures me that is what it should taste like. So she was a big fan. Our cucumber appetizer was kind of lame. It was oddly cut and didn't really taste like much. Overall solid authentic ramen with lots of choices!!! read more

Tetsumen Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

I have never eaten more garlic in my life in one sitting lol. I love garlic and ramen but THE garlic ramen was a bit too much garlic. It was still super good but I'd probably get something else if I come back. The broth was made with cooked garlic then it was topped with raw and fried garlic. Their cold noodle was great but the portion was smaller. The atmosphere is super cute and reminds me of Japan. Mostly bar seating inside. Great service! read more

Tetsumen Ramen - THE Garlic Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

Expectations were looooow after seeing a review that the ramen is not super authentic. With that said, I was at the point of our trip that I just NEED some Asian food and soupy noods in my life. The restaurant is cute and the whole experience felt very authentically Japanese - the menu, all the laminated specials on the walls, diagrams and drawings about customizing noodle firmness etc. Ajitama tonkotsu miso ramen: Decent, noodles were a good texture, egg was good. Big hearty piece of chasiu with nice balance of fat and lean. Appreciate how you can customize the noodle firmness, amount of pork fat, and garlic flakes or oil. Chicken katsu curry: Average curry, chicken katsu was pretty good. Curry also had pieces of shredded pork inside. Big portion (2 scoops of rice). Mini fried rice: This was a $5 add-on with the purchase of a ramen. This was not good and not up our alley... There is a flavor inside that just tasted off. Maybe salted fish? It's a really strong flavor but we couldn't put our finger on it. The friend rice doesn't say what it contains or any special flavors so were just expecting plain egg fried rice. Service was warm and welcoming. The staff was also very helpful and offered us a few free refills of soda. Not our favorite meal in Hilo but a decent option for sure! read more

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This is such a great spot for ramen (and more!) in Hilo. Parking is easy since it's part of a strip mall type area where there was lots of parking right in front. It looked like mostly walk ins and they surprisingly had a good amount of tables but almost all were taken when we were there! Also noticed a bunch of take out so that's always another option. The kids loved their mini ramen, which was the perfect size for them, and hiyayakko (cold tofu)! The highlight for me was their chicken wings. The skin was perfectly crisped and super flavorful with a shoyu/garlic sauce. YUM! Of course their ramen was also great- highly recommend the garlic tonkotsu but you gotta love garlic because there was a LOT!! Friendly service. Yummy food! Highly recommended! read more

We got there at around 5pm on Thursday and got a table immediately. Food was prepared very quickly. Service was great. These are the biggest Karaage I've ever eaten read more

Tetsumen Ramen - Karaage - Ramen Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

No matter what and when, me and my husband will end up at a Japanese restaurant. I really enjoyed this restaurant in Hilo. We were beach and waterfall hopping and this was such a great stop for us for a meal. I got the mini ramen, love that they have this option btw with chicken katsu to share and my husband got the ramen and takoyaki. Chicken katsu was great with the sauce, it was tasty along with the mac salad. The ramen was also pretty decent! They have a good amount of choices to choose from the menu but really can't go wrong with the katsu and ramen! Service was really great too, servers were very kind. Food came out quick. Highly recommend eating here if you're craving some Japanese food. read more

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We waited more than an hour for Friday lunch. We had 6 groups ahead of us and 10 after us. The food itself was very good. They had sushi, ramen, curry, and many appetizers. Make sure to book ahead of time to avoid waiting that long. Our server was also kind! read more

Tetsumen Ramen - Tantanmen - Ramen Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

We LOVED this spot. We ended up here on a whim but were so glad we did. Super cool, unique atmosphere that felt really authentic. The chef announcing the food in the window was great. Service was quick and friendly, not to mention this was some of our favorite ramen! The broth was so rich and flavorful and they have tons of options. We loved that they offered a creme brulee sweet potato too, so we got to try something new for dessert! read more

Amazing ramen spot in Hilo! I would highly recommend coming here if you are craving a delicious bowl of ramen! It totally reminded me of different places in Japan and in LA. Broth is super flavorful and rich and they allow you customize the noodles, spice level, etc. There are so many items to choose from on their menu which makes it difficult to choose since you would want to try everything! Great establishment with cool decor that reminds you of being in a ramen shop in Japan. Friendly and helpful staff that are attentive! read more

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We got there shortly after 8, just less than an hour before closing. If you know Hilo, there aren't a lot of places open past 8 so this place was busy. Wait was less than 5 mins. Our party of 4 got seated at the counter and were provided full menus (in addition to the ones on the wall) & waters. We ordered & wait for our food was about 10 mins or less. That was amazing considering it was already busy! I'm not really a takoyaki kinda gal but I got a big chunk of octopus! Flavor was good & overall was nice & crispy. I got the garlic ramen and had no idea what I was getting into. This baby had fresh chopped garlic, fried garlic chips and garlic chili oil. Sounds nuts but she was sooo good! Broth & noodles were made perfectly as well. The long gyoza was surprisingly delicious! Minimal veggies, a lot meat & big in size! Char was perfect on both sides. Chicken namban also surprisingly delicious! The topping was mostly egg (not like how other places cheat and make it mostly mayo) and the tuna corn mac salad also yum! We originally wanted to try dessert but completely underestimated how full we'd be and ended up needing to pass on dessert. Overall 10/10 will definitely go again read more

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First Impression Tucked into the marketplace, Tetsumen has quietly built a loyal following--and after one slurp of their ramen, I totally get why. Cozy, focused, and effortlessly satisfying, this spot feels like a local secret worth sharing. What I Ordered I went bold with the Tonkotsu and the ramen, and wow--crispy fried pork's and noodles hugged by rich, creamy pork broth? It's ramen fun with serious soul. The Shoyu Ramen delivered all the comforting umami--the soft-boiled egg was a perfect yield, and I couldn't stop savoring that silky broth. Service & Atmosphere The place runs like a well-oiled machine--efficient, friendly, and clean. It's simple, warm, and welcoming--ramen without the attitude, but with all the flavor. Standout Details What sets Tetsumen apart? Their menu creativity--think abura soba (soup-less oil noodles), vegan tonkotsu options, and bold specialties like Saba Katsu and spicy ebi ramen. Ramen this good needs a wide personality, and they deliver every time. Wrap-Up If ramen runs in your veins--or even if it doesn't--Tetsumen in Hilo is a must-stop. Creative, comforting, and just the kind of no-frills paradise ramen spot that leaves you planning your next visit immediately. I'll be back--maybe next time I'll brave the fried version twice. read more

Very disappointing experience We went to Tetsumen Ramen last night for dinner with my husband and our 2-year-old granddaughter. We were seated at the very first table by the walkway, so every staff member walked past us multiple times and could clearly see us. We placed our order and waited 35 minutes, but our food never came. During that entire time, no one checked on us, no updates, no explanation -- nothing. Eventually we had to flag down our waiter ourselves, and when we told him we never received our food, he simply shrugged it off like it wasn't a big deal. Our order was completely forgotten. Because it was late and our granddaughter was still hungry, we had no choice but to stand up and leave. This was incredibly frustrating and disappointing, especially dining with a small child. Mistakes happen, but the lack of awareness, follow-up, and concern from the staff made this experience unacceptable. Unfortunately, we won't be returning. read more

Excellent food Excellent service What a gem for Hilo town Mahalo for the amazing ramen and fried chicken that was phenomenal in flavor read more

What a nice find! Enjoyed the huugggeee menu- highlights included the bomb cucumber (really fresh and snappy crunchy!), the ramen noodles (direct from Japan), the tofu sub in the vegan ramen (they have vegan ramen! Vegan spam! Rare find since I'm vegetarian) with garlic fried chips on top) and my kids loved the huge portion of chicken katsu with two huge scoops of fresh rice. Reasonably priced as well. Highlight meal of our trip. Waited 40 min for a table for 4 at 11:45 on a Monday, using a text waiting notification system so we could walk around. Really hospitable service. read more

Parking was in a large lot, had no issues. Place itself is decorated cute. Service was fast & friendly. I got the garlic ramen and it was tasty! The garlic flavor was strong & savory. Decent price too. Was craving ramen after a long travel day & it did the job. read more

Tetsumen Ramen - THE Garlic Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

One of our favorite stops in Hilo. They offer a variety of excellent Japanese food. On our latest trip we had tonkotsu ramen, kappa maki, edamame and the croquette. The ramen was delicious, everything you'd expect from a great bowl of ramen. Really enjoyed the broth. The kids ate the kappa maki and edamame along with a small ramen. My wife had the croquette and she really enjoyed it. But in a previous visit, maybe 3 years back the croquette was the size of her face and they gave you two of those. It was way too much to eat back then, their portion size is about right now. The staff was attentive and left us a pitcher as we were all thirsty. But if you need their attention, they have a bell you can ring. Sorry, my son pressed it a little too much and we had to move it off table. The food was excellent and reasonably priced. We will keep going back here. read more

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Great ramen and skewered meat! Would recommend getting the tantanmen. Might need to wait

Amazing menu of authentic Japanese ramen. The food was so good, I scoffed it all down before I realized that I forgot to take pictures. Highlight: stick gyoza is really good as is the dipping sauce. Kakuni ramen, misi broth was so tasty but not salty. read more

I only have good things to say about this place! If I could give more stars I would!! Everything we ate was delicious. The ratio of rice on their sushi is perfection, both broth I tasted were unbelievably flavorful. If you're missing Japan this is definitely the place to go! We will be back!! read more

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If you love ramen and are in or near Hilo, you have to go here. You can customize your ramen down to the softness and firmness of the noodles with lots of add ons. We got the ramen, stick gyoza, and chicken karage. It was THE best we've ever had. The ambiance is great too with Japanese decorations and the service was so great! They were all very friendly and super attentive. I very highly recommend this restaurant!!! Bonus points for the Toto toilet in the ladies bathroom too! read more

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Absolutely authentic japanese experience. You can choose to sit in a booth or on a serial table. If you choose the later, you get a blocked front view with wooden wall pinned with pics of menu item making it easy to choose and place order. Dishes were tasty. Service was fast and the crew never got tired of us asking for bowls and chopsticks etc multiple times. read more

This place hit the spot! After a long day of hiking this place was delicious. Their Taiwan ramen is super spicy just a heads up. Comes with minced meat. Their tonkotsu was also very flavorful. They also offer free kids bowl with adult entrees for small kids. We also enjoyed their curry. We added a cutlet and it made for a ton of food. The staff was very friendly. read more

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Tried the tantanmen and the shoyu ajitama with a side of yakitori. Yakitori disappointed because the chicken was not crispy and meat was soggy. Tantanmen's meat was way overcooked. The shoyu was the only thing that came out okay. Service is typical island style. In my opinion, to rate this place Hawaii's best ramen for the past four years is a bit of stretch. Just me though. read more

Tetsumen Ramen - Good selection of ramen - Ramen Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

Beautiful place! Design like a Little Japan Ramen Bar! The team was very hospitable and inviting in taking care of each other customers. The food was excellent and will be back when we ar in Hilo, HI. read more

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My daughters really enjoyed the Ramen here. They give really big portions of chicken karaage here! This place is conveniently located within an outdoor mall that's connected to a Whole Foods and Longs Drugs. read more

The vegan curry was delicious! The service was quick and personable. Love the ambience here, great for families, couples, or singles. read more

Tetsumen Ramen - Vegan tonkotsu style curry ramen - Ramen Near Me - Hilo, Hawaii

One of the better places to eat in Hilo for Japanese food especially ramen. Usually as you enter you will hear "Irasshaimase" which means welcome. They even ask how do you want your ramen noodles soft, regular, or firm. To me regular is firm enough, so I would never get firm, but to each their own. You can also just how much oil is put as well. With all the different ramen broths they have, you should find one you like. I usually go with the regular tonkotsu broth, but have tried and liked others. Waits are long at times, so that would be my only issue. Place made it up for it though last night by giving my boys mochi ice cream. read more

If you find yourself in Hilo, Hawaii, come check this place out for some good ramen! They have many selections of ramen, so you can't go wrong. All of the ramen we had were delicious! We tried the Curry Tonkotsu, Ajitama, and Egg drop ramens. The broths were all very rich and tasty. The ramens were of good size. The waiters were very attentive and fast. The restaurant has about 3 large booths that can accommodate 8 people. They have a bar where you can eat and drink as well. Overall, the menu was extensive, so we can't wait to try different ramen combinations. Let's eat! Happy Nom Nom! read more

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My family and I stopped in to get some Japanese food before a flight. I gladly recommend their light deep-fried Tofu. Their croquettes were also quite delicious! I also enjoyed their ramen (the broth was actually quite good!) Me being the oddball, I ended up ordering their Karaage Chicken plate, which was delicious if a bit overcooked. However, while my food was underwhelming, I did enjoy the service and the ambience, and would recommend it to anyone interested in a decent meal of Japanese food in the Hilo area. read more