Went here a few weeks ago with about 6 other people, which turned out to be quite a feat. The place is pretty small and seats around 25 tops, I'd say. All of the seating I remember seeing was noodle bar style, so securing the corner at the bar was a must for our larger group. Half of the group was running a little behind, so after a little anxiety about holding onto that many seats for people who weren't there, we ordered them some dumplings to hold over while we snacked and started in on drinks. First off, visiting from Chicago I was concerned that this place was going to feel like a Wicker Park overdone hipster affair. Fortunately, Toki ends up feeling much more like a place that knows what they do well, do it, and give you really good drink options to pair. The Yona Yona beer a few of my friends got was killer - maybe a little steep at $12 a pint, but incredibly delicious and definitely a hard to find Japanese import. Fair enough. After taking a $.50 sip of a friends, I decided I could spend $24 just on beer and have filled up on the wrong thing. Got the house sake instead for $5, which, with a giant bowl of steaming hot xoxoxo ramen love in my face seemed the perfect way to gorge myself. There's something magical about sweating over your food on a hot summer day, drinking a hot beverage, leaning back and feeling a rush of cool and delicious over take you. I just got the classic for my first time, though other people I was with covered just about all the options. I think what's really best about the ramen here is the intense density of the flavor schemes in the broth. A lot of times you'll pick up one or two levels of flavor or complexity, but here the flavor runs deep. You feel like a sucker if you don't drain the bowl because you're just cheating yourself, and the bowl is deep enough that you feel very full by the end. I'll definitely be by in any future trips to D.C. read more

Husband grew up on the Sea of Japan so he loves Korean and Japanese cuisine and also has an affinity for noodles. Unfortunately we must wait 2-4 hours when we feel like Toki Ramen, sometimes to our detriment as last time it was 4 hours before receiving our reservation call and by then, we were WAY too intoxicated to even climb the stairs of the restaurant! Pros - Yum to pork fat noodles and broth with soft boiled egg - They have a better sake list than most other restaurants in the district - Service is always pleasant - Usually decent tunes - Very affordable Cons - Long wait unless you make reservations through City Eats for off peak dining times - Consistency could be improved. Kimchi flavored ramen always ranges widely in intensity on each visit We still like it visit every month or so, even with the wait... read more

Came here right when they opened during the weekends and was first to be seated. Staff is friendly and place is really small. Food was pretty typical for a ramen joint but great for the limited ramen options in dc. Had the stinky tofu which really reminded me of my trip to china a few years back and eating from the street vendors. Solid ramen options. read more

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This is a tiny hole-in-the-wall restaurant, but definitely a hidden gem. I didn't even see a sign outside except for the decal on the front door. Once you get inside there's maybe 20 place settings, so I can definitely understand why you may run into a queue. We were lucky and they were able to seat us immediately. The decor has a very west coast feel and is very new age asian. We ordered the dumplings and traditional ramen. The dumplings were OK, nothing special. The ramen was fantastic, very tasty and very filling. The mixed drinks were unique but small and overpriced. Overall, I would definitely come back but I'll make sure to get there as soon as they open. read more

The food here changed my life, for the better. It will change yours too. :) Seriously, don't even think about skipping out on such amazing food! read more

Toki Underground - Kimchi classic? - Ramen Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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This hidden spot is amazing! I went with a friend and we had trouble finding it because there is no sign; it is right next to the Pug. It's a cute little place and we had to wait over hour an hour but that wasn't too much of a problem because there are a bunch of bars on H Street. If you're in a hurry to sit down, I would recommend making a reservation. The ambiance and decor are really neat and made it worth the wait. Being a picky eater, I had the Vegetarian Ramen and Steamed Vegetable Dumplings. To add some more excitement to dinner, we had the Snow Beauty Nigori Sake which is sweet and goes down smoothly. Everything was absolutely delicious and we had a great time! The server was very attentive and friendly. I highly recommend coming here if you haven't already! read more

Some of my all time favorites for starters -- dumplings, steam buns (pork cheek) and enoki mushrooms -- which were all tastefully-done renditions. Great balance in both texture and flavor, and lovely presentation on each. For entrees we had the red miso and kimchi ramen, which were both fantastic except for the overwhelming presence of both of those ingredients in their respective dishes. True, these are strong flavors on their own, but it somewhat defeats the purpose of a balanced broth that is supposed to require hours to achieve. All in all, though, good to the last bite (though each a touch salty by the end). I do plan on returning very soon, and will probably opt for the Tan Tan Mien or the Tsukemen. Well done, Toki. read more

This place has been on the list for the BF and I for forever and we finally stopped by for a weekend lunch right as they opened - and good thing too! The place filled up fast and there was a line as we were leaving. The boy got the Taipei Curry Chicken ramen and I went with the Abura Tsukemen because I have a problem with tonkotsu cravings. And in this case, I kind of regretted it. The noodles themselves were already too salty and overdressed and the tonkotsu dipping broth was deliciously fatty, but also too salty. I would not order this again. The Taipei Curry Chicken ramen was muuuuch better, in terms of balance of flavor. However, the fried chicken got soggy and the rest of it was honestly not very memorable. We would be willing to go back and try it again but since its so out of the way (and because I got a $50 parking ticket because H Street) we might be happy just crossing it off the list and moving on to the next ramen joint. read more

This is hands down my favorite ramen place in the city! Long waits and little seating but it is SO WORTH IT. Great sake flights and the ramen is delicious!!! read more

After hearing so much about Toki and having several failed attempts at going--the wait can be outlandish at times--we finally made it. I want to say it was worth the sagas but frankly, it wasn't. Sure, the atmosphere is cute and perhaps even authentic in its simplicity and décor, but really, I came for the ramen. But first, the drinks. Toki has a short cocktail list and also offers other beverages as well. The cocktails however, have creative sounding names that sound enticing but the appeal ends there. I wish I could say I remember what cocktail I ordered but it wasn't memorable enough, and my dining companion ordered a Hello Kitty themed cocktail that looked and tasted like pink lemonade. Should have drank elsewhere on H Street while we were waiting for our table, but hindsight is 20/20. Anyway, onto the Ramen. Okay, so it was nicely presented and the broth was flavorful--I had the Curry Chicken. That being said, the noodles were undercooked, so that was certainly a demerit. Overall, it was alright, but I don't share the rave opinions of many reviewers. Still, Toki is worth checking out if only to say you've been... read more

Small place so don't come here in large groups. I got the Taipei Curry Chicken ramen, I love the noodles and the way they cooked the chicken. The broth was average. For appetizers we got stinky tofu and dan dan mian. The stinky tofu was not very good but the dan dan mian is really good , it's basically cold noodles with the curry fried chicken. Delicious!!! I'd come back here but probably just get the dan dan mian. read more

zomg so so good. i love love soup noodle, and there is no good soup noodle in detroit, so i was ecstatic when my friend told me we could get delicious ramen during my visit. this place was awesome. we got the fried chicken in fish sauce for our appetizer and it was perfect. sweet and sticky with the fish sauce pungency. fried perfectly crispy and still juicy. my friend and i each got a ramen - classic and kimchi - and both were amazing,. the broths were super super good, aromatic, full, a bit on the salty side, but nothing dramatic. the noodles were the best part though. they were super super chewy and sticky. i don't know how they did it, but it was delicious. we also had a bar seat by the kitchen, so it was kind of fun watching them make stuff too. the space is really small, so there was a long wait. ours was maybe thirty to forty-five minutes on a wednesday night. it's also a little out of the way - closest subway stop was a mile away. our server was friendly and attentive and not weirded out by waiting on us from behind since we were at the bar haha. prices were good too - eleven or twelve bucks for a giant bowl. definitely worth the trip out past the train stop and made me really really wish for more (or even one) ramen option around here! read more

i wanted to try this place for a while and glad i finally knocked it was it worth the wait? i dont think i would wait to have my dinner at 11pm again ( after a 2.5 hour wait) for this kind of food. its simply not that great. but bf loved the food here so much that he came for lunch 3 days later and in the middle of the week (had no wait at all) and had a great time the place is small and there is not much room to have an intimate conversation. we sat on the stools facing the street. i got a ginger sake.which i didnt like. bf knocked it over and waitress was nice enough to give me another which she didnt charge for. parking is tough is this area so i would recommend metro/lyft/uber(no f uckin g cab) price is high, portions a bit small overall, glad i tried it , im still saying pho read more

OMG! The best ramen I have ever had ever in my life!! Wait time was 40 mins but they put my name on the list and they texted me when it was time to come back. Definitely worth the wait! Toki ramen! read more

It's really hard to find the restaurant. The buns are good. And the red miso is good. But the Toki classic is too salty. Average ramen for me. read more

This is my usual stop when I'm in town! I tried different dishes this time and the flavor was still the same as I've remembered!! I had the Gua Bao with chicken and Curry Chicken Romaine Noodle with braised pork! My co-worker, who never had both dishes, enjoyed and loved it. He wished he could eat more Gua Bao as they were just so delicious! When I like a place, I always like to go back visit to just see if the consistency in the food has changed. It's been about 2 years since I was here, and the taste of the romaine noodle was still the same!!!! For the food snobs, you know that isn't easy to maintain! So I'll continue to give 5 stars review for Toki Underground! LOVE this place! read more

Toki Underground - Ramen Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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By far the best ramen you are going to get in the region. We tried both the classic and the kimchi, both of which delivered exactly to their reputation. The dumplings were so good that after we at the first order (pork fried) we quickly ordered another. They offer a solid selection of beers (the one on tap was great) and while it is not the cheapest meal in the world I feel we left satisfied. We had a great bartender, who was helpful in recommendations and entertaining to talk to. read more

I was extremely disappointed with my experience after weeks of trying to come here. It was a 45 minute wait, but we had $2 beer at the bar connected downstairs. That was probably what I enjoyed most. Our waitress was awkward and made me feel awkward. 3 in our group ordered various ramen dishes, I ordered 2 sets of dumplings. Pan fried beef and pan fried chicken. They were just okay. The dumpling dough was crispy and had a nice presentation, but the filling wasn't the best. It needed more meat and veggies. I thought the price was fair ($5 for 6). I tried some of the ramen and it was disappointing, especially at $10 a bowl. I can't believe they charge extra for their homemade sriracha sauce. The space was pretty cool (although the bathrooms were pretty skeezy). The actual tables and dining area was clean and the music wasn't too loud. All that said, I highly doubt I'll ever come back here. read more

If you are craving a yummy noodle soup, Toki is worth the wait, however, if you are craving Japanese-style ramen, Toki is not going to do it. That being said, as long as you are not expecting Japanese ramen, Toki makes a damn fine bowl of noodles and is definitely worth the trip to H Street. A friend and I went here on a Thursday night in early February. After reading the reviews on yelp, I was a bit concerned about how long we may have to wait, but knew that if it was really long I would be able to keep my friend happy with the beer selection at Granville Moore's. We decided to meet between 6 and 6:30. My friend arrived just before 6 and I made it there around 6:10. We didn't have to wait at all, but the restaurant was beginning to fill up. By 6:20 all the seats were full. My friend loves Pho but had never tried ramen. I've lived in Japan twice and CRAVE ramen. We shared an order of the pan fried beef dumplings and each had a bowl of the Toki Hakata Classic - tonkatsu noodle soup with pork loin chashu, vegetables, soft boiled egg, red pickled ginger, sesame, scallions, and nori (dried seaweed). I ordered mine with extra noodles (kae-dama) because I hadn't had lunch. We also ordered a side of Toki's Endorphin Sauce (homemade Sriracha - didn't really taste like the commercial Sriracha, but it had a lovely level of heat). To accompany our meal my friend ordered a beer and I had the house sake (warm). Half-way through our meal we ordered another tokkuri (ceramic flask) of sake to share. Once we finished dinner, we decided we needed to try the Toki Monster - Bulleit Bourbon, pepper honey liqueur, mist of Peat Monster Scotch and a skewer of kushiyaki porkbelly... on the rocks. The beef dumplings were great. I read some reviews in which people didn't like the dumplings, but it appears that is because they ordered them steamed, pan fried is definitely the way to go. As for the ramen, the noodles were cooked perfectly as were the vegetables. They forgot the egg but brought it out quickly once we brought it to our server's attention and she cracked it for us. The rich creaminess of the yolk was a delightful addition to the soup. The meat was a bit sweet but still delicious. I tried the broth before adding the endorphin sauce and it was quite tasty, but I really enjoyed the heat and flavor the endorphin sauce added to the soup. My friend (who has never had ramen) took one "bite" of his ramen and told me he now understood why I made him meet me on H Street. The Toki Monster was a very interesting drink. I found the drink on its own to be a bit sweet. But, if one takes a bite of the pork belly and then takes a sip of the drink, it is a lovely balance of salt and sweet. I can't say that I would order it again, but I am happy that I gave into my curiosity and tried it. I will definitely be going back to Toki. And will be recommending it to my friends. read more

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My general feelings about Toki, in no particular order: 1) Decor is cute, music is amusing, service is friendly and casual - kind of an "earnest hipster" vibe going on, if such a thing exists. 2) Somewhere between like and love the food. The ramen bowls are enormous, hearty, and delicious (god bless soft egg). The fried dumplings are good, but I'd likely order steamed the next time around. The warm cookies with ice milk come with an amazeballs salted caramel icing-type substance (but I really wanted a full, not a half glass of milk to wash it down). Kimchi isn't at all spicy, if that's important to you, but my personal lack of appreciation for all things cabbage makes me ill-suited to review kimchi in the first place. 3) Very good at what it's doing, as evidenced by abundant crowds and hype - pretty impressive business model even if you're cranky about the wait time (which, frankly, is a dumb thing to mark down a restaurant for - it's not elitist or rude to have a limited number of seats in your restaurant and a large number of patrons, it's just supply and demand economics). 4) You CAN get reservations here a week or so in advance on City Eats if you're willing to dine during off-peak hours, which is what I did. Alternatively, put your name down early in the night and plan to hang out at one of the manifold quality bars and clubs along H Street until a spot opens up, OR just get takeout, which would be my strategy for future Toki visits. read more

As a local told me, this is the best ramen in Washington, DC. I've only been to DC once and this is the only ramen place I went to, so I can't contest that claim. But it's good. My friend and I waited a super long time, but it was okay because it's upstairs from a bar. And that's a totally fine way to pass time. By the time we received the text message saying that we could be seated, we were ravenous. I ordered the Toki Classic, while my friend had the Kimchi ramen. As an appetizer, we split an add-on: the prawn head special. Not for everyone, but I love a chitinous crunch. The prices/quality are ballpark what you'd find at the average good ramen place. The prawn heads were awesome, don't get me wrong. Everything was totally good. But being as how I live in New York and spent 6 years in the Bay Area, it takes a little more than just "good" to have me over the moon. read more

i think this is the best ramen in the DMV area. Broth is super flavorful. the added pork belly is amazing... super crisp on the outside. Noodles were good. The only downside to this is really just the location and the space. I know H street is becoming better but it's just not there yet. And the actual space for the restaurant is just super tiny. The decor is a little strange inside as well. My advice... get in, eat, get out, and run to the metro stop. And if something were to happen to you, at least hope that it happens when you're leaving... so you at least had a good last meal. read more

Yes. The hype is real on this place. We tried to go a couple weeks ago but they were closed without any notice so we ended up going to &pizza just down the street. Today we made sure to call and ensure that they were open. Stopped in at about 12 and the hostest said there was a 15 minute wait so we left our number. Went to the farmers market that was right on the corner and as soon as we got there we got the text that our table was ready (about 4 minutes had passed). We turned around and went back and then waited another couple of minutes so the "server could catch up", which we thought was a little odd. Sat down at the bar and immediately decided on some pork dumplings to start off with. They were good, but nothing that absolutely blew me away honestly. I went with the classic and added pork jowl and belly. It was phenomenal. Perfectly balanced and great flavor. My girlfriend got the kimchi bowl after going back and forth a couple of times. She really liked it, however I thought it was a little too spicy (maybe I'm a wimp). She was unable to finish it all at once, both because it was a little too spicy and it was a lot to eat, however overall she was happy with it. Definitely a great option to geat some solid ramen that is an absolute must try. read more

Expensive for the quality and quantity. They need to put more ginger, seaweed, meat in ramen soup. Noodles need to be softer. Portions are small and we felt hungry after food. read more

Toki Underground - Ramen Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Expectations exceeded. I want to slap myself for taking so long to get here, but I've done it and I will do it again. Pre-dining note: The line at the door is to put your name of the list. Once on the list, you wait some more. Plan on grabbing a beer or a quick two before your table is ready. They'll text you. Drink menu and Colin at the bar were both great. I had the Toki Monster. Not my kind of drink, but I was told to get it and it was very good for "that type of drink" (bourbon and other flavors... we'll call it "savory"). Others in the party enjoyed the Hakushika Jinmai Ginjo sake. It was outstanding. We started the meal with both steamed and fried pork dumplings. Both excellent, but as the old adage goes, everything is better fried. We all pretty much ordered the same thing; Hakata Classic with an egg and pork belly. One of the best dishes I've ever had. If they don't have the pork belly (it was a special/seasonal?), the pork cheek will substitute well. Seriously, this dish was phenomenal in every way. I wouldn't have changed a thing. A M A Z I N G. Another in our group got the kimchi. Not usually a fan, but easily the best I've ever had and something I would consider ordering next time. We finished the meal with their freshly baked cookies (as in made to order) and milk. Delicious, but I could have done without. I'm apprehensive to write such a glowing review since it'll only mean more business for an already overbooked spot, which means a longer wait for me the next time I go, but... You should really experience this place. A top 10 dining experience for me. read more

Ah the last hoorah. The DC bucket list I wrote after deciding to move out of the area was capitalized by a visit to Toki Underground. After countless attempts only to be turned away 20 minutes after opening due to a packed night, I arrived with my wife prior to opening. I had recently rained. After receiving our expected wait time of an hour it would start raining again. Hard. After a respite of water ice at Taylor Charles down the street we returned to Toki, soaking wet, to finally cross the last thing off the list. The seating was cramped. They use an ingenious (and for all I know completely common) spoon for their soups that looks like a small ladle. This prevents you from having to knock elbows with people next to you since your spoon is vertical. Seeing the differences in the many ramen shopped that have popped up in the last 5 years is always interesting. Most places focus on the broth, but its always different. Momofuku, for instance, insists on a level of smokiness unseen in Japan (I assume), which makes for a delicious and unique experience. Toki on the other hand has a richness unparalleled by any ramen broth I have had to date. It was like a thin demi-glace (demi-demi-glace???). Having only gone once, I have only tried the traditional, and which every my wife got (forgot already); however, each bowl they brought to neighboring customers looked and smelled equally wonderful. Toki Underground is a simple place that makes one things and does it to perfection. read more

I'm not sure what I can say that hasn't already been said in other reviews. I knew to expect a long wait, so my friend and I came on a Tuesday around 6:30 in hopes of avoiding a crazy wait. This was perfect - ended up waiting only 15 min, and we just grabbed a drink at the bar downstairs, The Pug. You can bring your drink to Toki if your table is ready before you finish it, so that was great. Sure, the seating is tight but it wasn't unbearable. We ordered the fried chicken buns to start, then decided to split the curry ramen and classic ramen. Everything was fantastic. I guess I should start by saying there's no real reason to actually order this much food - the chicken buns were a meal in themselves. You get 6 delicious buns, nice and soft, filled with small pieces of crispy chicken covered in a spicy sweet sauce. The chicken is to die for, if I had my way, I'd have a giant bucket of those chicken pieces in sauce for every meal. I didn't think anything could top the chicken pieces. Until I had the ramen. The curry ramen was what dreams are made of. The broth rich and not overly curry flavored, and then topped with the same crispy chicken from the buns. I thought this was the best ramen, but then my friend and I kept switching bowls with each other and the classic is also really delicious. I wasn't a *huge* fan of the pork, mostly b/c texturally it was a little soft in the broth but I don't think this would bother most people. I know Toki can be a bit of a pain logistically to get into w/ the wait, and the space is small, but if you're really wanting some tasty ramen, this is just the place you need to go. I can't wait until I have time to venture back to H St again! read more

I absolutely loved everything about this place, the thumping rap music, the decor, the sink outside of the bathroom that's tucked into the wall, the intimacy (be prepared to wait, go to the Pug downstairs and you can bring your drink up) and oh yah, the food, THE FOOOOD. I had their original ramen and it was gone in less than 10 minutes. I can't wait for my next visit. And for the parents out there, my toddler was really entrained by the lighting/noise and the super sweet waiters who were entertaining her. This place was my ideal eatery :) read more

Toki Underground - I took a photo of someone else's chicken buns.... - Ramen Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Good, but not THAT good. Made reservations for 3 at 5PM on a Friday. Was sat within 10 minutes. I got upstairs and couldn't get over how tiny the restaurant was! There are 20, maybe 25 seats, all bar stools. It was a tight squeeze for sure! Service was prompt & friendly. We ordered right away and got the fried chicken buns + Toki Underground Ramen with Pork Belly. The fried chicken buns were SO good! I would solely go back to that restaurant for that dish & highly recommend it. The ramen was just alright. I'm definitely a traditional ramen person so I think that was part of the reason I was not a huge fan of it. While it was good, I kept thinking the entire time of how I would prefer a bowl of ramen from my usual place than this bowl and that this wasn't quite satisfying my ramen craving. I think for a person who is looking for a different twist on ramen, this place would be great for you. All in all - definitely a good experience & one you need to try at least once while you're in D.C. since the restaurant is so unique. I would go back for the fried chicken buns ASAP, but I'll pass on the ramen! read more

Hands down the best ramen in DC, better than Daikaya. The classic ramen was nearly perfect. The only thing I would change is the egg, it was a bit too soft for my taste, it completely dissolved in the broth. Otherwise it was perfect. read more

I had wanted to go to Toki Underground for a while thanks to "Hot on Yelp." Every time I go on-line, it is staring at me and reminding me that I need to try it. My boyfriend also loves ramen. It is a new experience for me so I do not have much to compare it to... After an afternoon of enjoying the warm weather, we decided to head over to H St corridor... my first time in the neighborhood. We got to there around 7:30 and then began the hunt of the actual restaurant. My phone had gone dead and I thought it was between 12th and 13th... half an hour later of wondering around between 11th and 14th and we finally spotted the little door next to The Pug (dive bar) with the blue (Chinese) characters on the door and went upstairs. Definitely not the easiest place to find.... We were greeted by the hipsterish 20-something hostess who said the wait was around 20 minutes. That's it! Awesome for a Saturday evening. She took our name and phone number and said that she would call us when our table was ready... interesting system! Anyway, we went downstairs and a beer at The Pug and played Trivial Pursuit while waiting... a great place for people watching and oh wow... this neighborhood is so cool it makes your teeth hurt minus the place down the street with valet (Smith Commons?)... what the f*$k? Anyway, gentrification can be weird. Around 30 minutes later she called us and we went back upstairs. Thus, I got my first real look around and this place is small. Mostly, just a bar that goes around the entire room. The decor is super hip with the back wall covered by an entire mural that is a mixture of collage and graffiti. There is slats of exposed, unfinished wood on the ceiling above the bar and heading towards the bathrooms. One entire wall is decorated with a display cases with anime toys in them and the railing is made up of cut up skateboards. Pretty awesome if not possibly trying a bit too hard... but DC needs more of that... I will take too hip over the buttoned down atmosphere of GT anytime. We got squeezed in right in front of the bartender and got down to looking at the menu... I was then immediately distracted by the old pinball machines in the counter.... When my attention returned, we ordered some sake based on the bartender (who was also the manager's) recommendation, which was very good. We then decided on an order of pork steamed dumplings as a starter as well as the Toki Hakata Classic and Miso Ramen. We skipped on any add-ons which I honestly dont think it needs unless you like a lot of meat. The dumplings came out first in a nice wooden steamer basket... as they should... and were very yummy with an excellent sauce. We almost ordered more but then the big bowls of hot ramen came out. Mine was a bit subtle with pork and some yummy greens in it. The noodles were nicely cooked and not too soft (al dente) and the soft boiled egg... as others have mentioned... was silky and perfect. The Miso ramen was also very yummy and peppery although very salty for my taste. My boyfriend loved it though. We chatted a bit with the bartender / manager while we ate who was very attentive and helpful. He was giving the people next to us advice about where to go out in the neighborhood. He also mentioned while wait times were three hours two weeks ago... it has been a bit slow lately... maybe because people are afraid of the wait time. If you have been thinking about going to Toki... this might be a good time. The other interesting experience was using bathroom, which is just a toilet in a small room with a door. I left the bathroom and looked around in a rather confused manner for the sink. Then one of the waitresses pointed me towards a nook in the wall. You place your hand under the faucet and the water goes down in a basin full of glowing colored cubes... odd and cool at the same time... Toki definitely won me over to the fact that ramen is an awesome thing and this is a really fun place to go with a friend or on a date. However, you definitely want to skip this one with a group given the bar seating situation unless you do not want to talk to half your friends. I think that I will definitely come back here and check out the rest of the neighborhood. Overall, a really fun evening... read more

This review is just for the food. I finally had the chance to stop in and give it a try. I will say first, that I am a HUGE fan of Japanese Ramen so coming in, I had to give myself the pep talk that this is Taiwanese and not to compare it. Something I love about Japanese Ramen is the noodles, so that was a little hard for me to let go. Since Taiwanese noodles are different. I ordered the Kimchi Ramen, and I had not one complaint. Even the noodles not being my favorite, I thought the bowl was well compiled. First off, the soup was DELICIOUS. It wasn't salty and had the perfect amount of toppings. I loved that they were generous with the Kimchi compared to others I've had before. The best part is that the soup just tasted delicious. I am actually not a huge Pork fan, but I thought the Pork was good. The soup itself wasn't too Spicy - just perfect. The pan-fried dumplings were good, but spicy. I didn't expect them to be, and that dampered my eating partner's experience as she looked forward to them but isn't a huge fan of Spicy. I ended up eating them all - Next time I would like to try another flavor. The homemade Siracha is good and not too spicy. I would like to return and try the Curry Ramen. Looking forward to it! read more

Waiting two hours to eat soup? Something doesn't seem right here. My friend raved about Toki Underground and I am number one fan of ramen, so this sounded like a great place to try. Their funky menu and cool vibe seemed like an interesting combination, but I did have a mini-heart attack when read that some people wait hours to eat here (anyone interested in opening a ramen establishment in DC, take this as a promising statistic). Also, spending 1/6th of your day waiting to eat soup = Get a life. That being said, we hauled it over to H Street on a recent Saturday night to put our names in at Toki and find something else to do in the interim. We were told it would be about a 1h 45m wait (which it was) and that they would call us to let us know when to come back. At least there are lots of bars and places to hang out in the vicinity to pass the time and to build up your appetite. Once we returned, we were seated immediately in the small but not cramped dining area. Service was quick and friendly, and it's clear that they encourage maximum efficiency when eating. I had the chicken curry ramen and my friend had the original ramen, both of which were excellent. The curry ramen had a generous portion of small fried chicken pieces tossed in (almost like popcorn chicken) which went well with the savory, almost creamy broth. I thought their ramen (noodles) were a little soggy, but maybe I'm a tough critic. We also had pork gyoza which were good. They have an interesting drink menu and we enjoyed a special seasonal saison ale beer with our food. Take on draft also has me intrigued for next time. The décor is some kind of play on Taiwanese action figures (I honestly have no idea), but definitely provides visual fodder since you eat facing a wall. Overall, Toki Underground is a good bet, though I must say the only reason the obscene wait concept is tolerable are the workable options in the area to help pass the time. read more

I had high expectations after hearing more than half of my friends rave about Toki, and they were not wrong. This is an unbelievable meal, worth any wait. That said, there is always going to be a wait. Called ahead with a friend for dinner late (around 9pm) on a Thursday and we weren't seated with menus until after 10pm. Grabbed a beer from a bar down the block in the meantime, and conveniently the hostess sat us when we came back to check on the status (aka show your face). Once I had a beautiful bowl of Red Miso ramen with a side of fried chicken in front of me, however, any misgivings I had developed vanished. This. Was. Delicious. Spicy and rich and tender and everything I had heard and wanted and more. I don't know how to describe this meal to do it justice. They also separate the broth and food for your doggy bag so nothing was soggy the next day. Awesome. I can't wait to come back! read more

Hands-down the most authentic Japanese ramen in the DMV. The venue is small and dark, adding to this authenticity factor. When comparing the ingredients offered, shoyu sauce taste, and basic simplicity it's the closest to the bowls of ramen I've had in Japan. Nothing in this country can compare to true Tokyo ramen but this is the closest you'll get. If you're thinking about going to the restaurant that rhymes with fuku instead of Toki Underground, please do not. This is the real-deal ramen, go and slurp to your heart content. read more

Made me fall in love with ramen all over again. If you're Asian, chances are you eat ramen as much as the next white student eats pizza during college. But this ... this place takes ramen to a whole different level, while still make you reminisce your college days. Cannot wait to come back! read more

This Tokis the cake: a top restaurant in DC! First off, the door is unlabeled, you go upstairs into a "Tokyo Pub," and find yourself in a tiny but warm space filled with woods, plastic Japanese toys, and a vibrant energy that just makes you feel like you know the hottest place to be in the DMV. $12 for an unfinishable bowl of Taipei Curry Chicken, constant service, and flavor that will make your mouth water. HIGHLY recommended for winter nights, and definitely one of my favorite restaurants in DC. So why not 5? LONGEST WAIT EVER! It was amazing, but not 11/2 hour wait amazing. So make sure to get a reservation during the week (they don't do weekend reservations). But OMG, I can't wait to go back and I haven't even eaten my leftovers yet. read more

I found this place via the ever so trusty Yelp. I am a ramen fiend, so I knew I had to give this place a try. Let me just say that everything was AMAZING. I ordered the Toki Classic, which is filled with tonkotsu triple stock with chasu pulled pork, seasonal vegetables, soft egg, red pickled ginger, sesame, scallions, and nori. I also ordered a Calpico per recommendation of the very helpful and friendly bartender. Mmmm... Salty goodness! The staff here is extremely knowledgeable, accommodating and friendly! I would highly recommend calling for reservations two weeks in advance because the restaurant is really small and seats go quickly. Also, the location can be confusing because the restaurant itself is located upstairs on top of a bar. Now I hate to be harsh, but in my ramen rankings Toki Underground ranks third in my book. Second runner up would be Ippudo NY in East Village, NY and the ramen of all ramens with the number one gold star would be Ramen Dojo in San Mateo, CA. read more

Best ramen ever. Seriously, thank you Toki Underground for likely saving me from having to scour the entire planet for the standard in ramen excellence (or, more specifically, broth). Also, there's just a small pleasure in finding a "legendary" restaurant legitimately meets expectations. Toki was all that and more. THE PORK DUMPLINGS: Tasty, plump, an excellent precursor to your ramen. Odds are you waited/fasted for hours on end for this reservation, so you're going to need this appetizer to keep you sane while waiting for noodles. *****THE TAIPEI CHICKEN CURRY****** This could revive me on the brink of death and cheer me on the edge of complete and utter despair. I ate this bowl of pure deliciousness with the kind of focus and awe that would stun Olympic curlers. This is the kind of curry you only get from hand-ground spices, a recipe totally from scratch. The broth was unbelievably rich without being viscous and the bites with fried chicken were near perfect, escalating to "actually perfect" when I could sneak in that soft-boiled egg yolk. ATMOSPHERE: Fantastic. Frenetic pop surrealism art all over, jars of spices in every nook and cranny, all bare wood and low lights. Toki did a great job setting up a space that pays homage to Japanese ramen houses and new-school swag. The whole experience was a delight. I'll be back this Friday so visitors from out of town can enjoy as well. read more

Good ramen = a good day. I love ramen. The folks at Toki underground really know their stuff when it comes to this complex, fun food. Yes, it's busy. Yes, seating is scarce. However, some things are just worth the wait. I ordered the Kimchi ramen. IT WAS DELICIOUS. It made me feel incredible, like I could do amazing things. The spice was perfect! The egg was perfect! The temperature was perfect! The service was good. I also ordered pan fried dumplings. The dumplings were good, but nothing to rave about. But let's go back to the ramen. Damn, that ramen was good. I was visiting D.C. for a long weekend. After I had eaten ramen at Toki, nothing else tasted as good. I walked around daydreaming about that Kimchi ramen for my remaining time in D.C. The ramen stands alone at 5 stars, which is what I decided to rate. I live in Knoxville, TN where ramen is hard to find. If you're in D.C. and never had good ramen, GO TO TOKI. read more