food is absolutely delicious. their rice bowls are underrated. the staff is always super nice too!!!

Welp.. We finally had the chance to return to Monterey.. As we were squeezed for time, we chose to come to Toribashi tonight. Parking was only mildly challenging, as a space opened up after only a single lap around the block. Inside here, you'll find a busy place with a few tables and individual bar-style (partitioned!) paired seating along the walls adjacent to the kitchen in the middle part of the restaurant. Order up at the self-serve order kiosks, tap in your table/counter number, and they bring out your order in a couple of minutes. We had six of us in our party, and most of us kept it simple by ordering the default Tonkatsu Ramen with different customizable options. Most all of the ingredients in this order were on point - The Chasu Pork Belly was tender, thick and delicious, ramen noodles nothing special, but generally stil on point, as were the bamboo shoots. However, the co-star/centerpiece of the Tonkatsu Ramen other than the Chasu Pork slab should be the broth, but sadly the broth was far far TOO salty which overpowered the other flavors in the broth. Chasu Pork 4.8/5, Tonkatsu Ramen 3.1/5. Service was good as everyone was hustling hard in the kitchen, along with attentive bussers/waitstaff to quickly turn tables. They take good care in wiping down the tables here. If I return, I'll just get the Paitan Ramen like I did in years past, as that seemed less salty. Then again the Paitan soup base begins with the same chicken+pork soup base as the Tonkatsu Ramen. I hope Toribashi will step back up to their former glory. read more

Ordered ramen to go since our kids were already sleepy so we didn't get to dine in. But the tonkatsu ramen was still very delicious. The flavor or the broth was good and I like the taste of the chopped grilled onions in it. The portion was decent and it wasn't too filling. Next time we'll need to dine in, because there were plenty of seating inside. read more

Toribashi - Ramen Near Me - Monterey, California

Absolutely the worst ramen I've ever had with rude staff. As I'm filling up my water cups for the wife and kids I could hear the workers talk crap about customers behind the counter. Not to mention the lack of flavor on the broth and possibly uncooked pork which gave us all food poisoning / diarrhea all weekend whilst there on vacation. It's amazing that the health inspector hasn't shut this dump down yet read more

Save your money. Lukewarm soup, lukewarm beer, and overcooked green seasoned eggs. My stomach has not been sitting well since my first (half) bowl here last night. I couldn't finish it. I was really hoping I'd like the one and only ramen spot in Monterey, but sadly will no longer be returning -- could honestly make better versions at home. read more

As a ramen lover...Toribashi had friendly service and included self order kiosk. I ordered extra noodles (because I'm from LA and most ramen spots are stingy with their ingredients) big mistake lol. Their serving size are certainly generous, that goes for the protein and extra spice I ordered. My order alone came out to $33 which for the prices I consider it to be a bit overpriced considering the quality of the food (felt a bit bland or not worth the high price). Over all the ambiance is busy but it was cool to visit :) read more

Toribashi - Miso Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Monterey, California

Service great, atmosphere great, ordered and food was delivered within 3 minutes of ordering at the kiosk. No complaints about any of this. But the Ramen... man noodles were way over cooked. Broth has an acidic almost rancid smell to it. Took 1 bite and looked at my husband and said , honestly I would give this 3/10. Then proceed to take another bite and couldn't eat any more. Unfortunately this may be the worst ramen I have ever had ever. I could make instant ramen 1000x better. Paid 50$ for 2 bowls of ramen. It did not come with mushrooms or bokchoy (just 2 of the ingredients I read when ordering at the kiosk.) Egg was over cooked. I was able to enjoy the full Aloe Vera drink I ordered. In my opinion, if you enjoy Japanese style ramen steer clear of this place. This place gives cup of noodles. They need to close down and rebuild this place from ground up. I wouldn't even come back if the cost was 1/2 what they are charging now. read more

Toribashi - Tonkotsu Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Monterey, California

We had a craving for ramen while on vacation in Monterey, and Toribashi came thru for us! This restaurant was located in a downtown area, so there wasn't a dedicated parking lot, but it was fairly easy to find street parking. I ordered the Shoyu Ramen which was flavorful with a rich broth. I also know my kids thoroughly enjoyed themselves because there was nothing left in their bowls :) Thank you, Toribashi! read more

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Still waiting. So, 7 years ago I wrote a review of Toribashi and today I'm bummed to say not much has changed or has been improved on. Seemed like an average flow of people, nothing seemed stressed. Ordered from the kiosk and sat down. Our ramen arrived and I quickly tasted my broth... good. My wife's broth looked clear almost water like. I asked if I could taste it. "It's weak " I said. It went back to the kitchen. They forgot to add the miso, for the miso broth. It was brought back at nearly room temp. Not nearly hot enough but my ate it as I was nearly done with mine. I'm guessing the cook just stirred cold miso into the already warm stock. Lazy and cheap. Those are two terrible missteps. That's not bad timing it's bad management. Last words...yeah I'm done. read more

Toribashi - Easy to say when you're the only game in town. - Ramen Near Me - Monterey, California

This is our go to ramen spot in Monterey. They have a self-serve kiosk for ordering but they are there to assist if needed. It's a cute little spot, plenty of tables. The ramen was really good and came out very fast. My husband had to get more Togo for later. Lol. Kids love the chicken with rice. Definitely recommend. read more

Toribashi - Tonkotsu Spicy Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Monterey, California

Great overall ramen here. You order on screen, but they bring the food. Basic setting, very Japanese. I would go again.

Service is amazing! Jeffrey is very attentive and helped us with any questions we had! The paitan ramen is the most delicious out of the two we got! We actually switched the broths out because I loved it that much. (Strong garlic flavor!!) The chicken karaage is amazing our fave item on the menu! A nice cute spot for a ramen date. read more

Toribashi - Paitan Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Monterey, California

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Order from a kiosk. Food was good. Appeared to be a little dirty looking inside however but maybe because it was end of day. read more

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The noodle is bad quality and when my order can it was stocked together bad service also

It's edible means 2 stars right? I've eaten good Japanese ramen all over the SF Bay Area. This however, is just a sad imitation. What's sadder still is that this is the only ramen joint in Monterey. read more

Worst ramen I've ever had. The Paitan ramen tasted like dirty dishwater. Would not recommend! read more

Toribashi - Paitan ramen - Ramen Near Me - Monterey, California

The food was VERY good. Very tasty BUT feel like they need a better system during the lunch rush. Felt very chaotic when you order separately but sitting with a group. I'm pretty sure it was part of the reason my food was delayed about 15 minutes getting to me since the "waiter/busboy" changed my order number. Felt like it was complicated more than needed. Anyway, went with a group of 6 and we all very much enjoyed our food so that was good. read more

Toribashi - Beef bowl - Ramen Near Me - Monterey, California

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Wanted some ramen on a cold evening, and the spicy pork ramen did not disappoint. Ordering is easy and simple from a kiosk, and there are options for bar-like and table seating. I enjoyed the bar seating, with partitioned booths. The ramen was delivered quickly and so delicious. The broth was so rich in flavor and the pork tasted so good too. Definitely recommend! read more

Toribashi - Spicy Tonkotsu Spicy Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Monterey, California

Worst ramen ever. Do not waste time, it's just instant noodles ingredients poor soup, ingredients not fresh, nothing close to ramen. Very disappointed read more

Very bland ramen. Now, if I had to pick the spicy tonkotsu did better than tonkotsu, however, the tonkotsu broth is just not there. Flavors are bland in the tonkotsu and our friend's orders: chicken noodle bowl and spicy shio ramen, too. It's like they left out salt in all of these. The positives are a large portion size and generous amount of veggies. 2 thin slices of meat is not worth the price of $18. Chicken karaage was also not tender just very tough and not well breaded. Come here if you have a craving for flavorless ramen, otherwise, if you're visiting from out of town then please go elsewhere. read more

Toribashi - Tonkotsu ramen - Ramen Near Me - Monterey, California

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This place does not serve good ramen. First red flag: No Asian people eating here Second red flag: Staff being too nice/helpful (implies their desperation for customers lol) Third red flag: Generic music I got the Shoyu Ramen bowl. Egg was cold, tasted refrigerated, and only got half of it. Only one piece of sliced pork, instant noodle texture, and broth tasted bland. There were however 4 slices of naruto which is not bad. What a waste of $20. Only good thing about this place was the clean space and good service. Don't bring any of your loved ones or friends here, or they'll hate you for eternity. read more

Located in downtown Monterey, this small ramen shop has lots of seating for groups and individuals. There is street parking right outside, 90 min limit. You order via a tablet and they'll bring the food out to you. The staff were very helpful and nice. Pork tonkotsu ramen - 3/5 - nice portion, noodles were bouncy, not too much flavor Gyoza - 3/5 - thin wrapper which makes it crispy Salmon poke - 3/5 - sweeter than I'm used to but love the various vegetables included, very large portion read more

Toribashi - Tonkotsu Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Monterey, California

Love coming here for some comforting ramen. Place gets super busy around 7 like line out of the door, be sure to come when they open for dinner. The edemame is good too! read more

Toribashi - Miso Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Monterey, California

Bad service saying that my order is correct and it's wrong even tho I showed the receipt

Bad service gave us the wrong order and said that this order is correct even tho I looked at the receipt

Tablet ordering went well, order a drink or you can grab a cup of hot or cold water on your way to your seat. We ordered the tonkotsu and curry ramen, both had very little flavor and the broth was barely above room temp. Most of the ingredients were cold and tasted off. Though the noodles were decent. I don't think I'd waste our time coming back, though I thoroughly hope it was just an off day for them. read more

Toribashi - Tonkotsu ramen - Ramen Near Me - Monterey, California

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Food was made really fast, had an amazing flavor and was fresh. Clean spot. They make it easy for you to order with an iPad if you're not big on human interaction. read more

This restaurant has amazing food with many different varieties and very authentic ramen. They have helpful staff, great service and a welcoming atmosphere. The owner is very kind and thoughtful. I would highly recommend this restaurant to anyone in the Monterey area. read more

On a damp chilly day this is a lovely spot for some ramen. (It's probably lovely other times I just gravitate towards soup and noodles when it's dreary). Order at the kiosk, including subs (yes you can get chicken, or tofu or vegan broth). Then grab a seat and wait until the yumminess is ready. Staff were friendly. Portions are large so if you want to save some for later, ask for your takeout bowl up front so you don't waste a dish. read more

Good spot but they forgot my buddy's order, was waiting for for a min. My ramen got cold and everything

It's a good place for convenience. The food is OK.. nothing significant. The establishment has awkward seating arrangements lol a bit tight. The music was weird so it kind of threw me off while eating. Would I come back? Probably not. If anything, it would've been better if we took it to-go. read more

Toribashi - Ramen Near Me - Monterey, California

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The ramen was so amazing here. Last we came to Monterey we wanted to come and try but didn't make it in. We had to come and try and boy it did it not disappoint! The tonkatsu soup is what we ordered and it was so delicious! Also tried the chicken karaage and that was also so good. We will always stop here going forward. Loved it!!! read more

Toribashi - Ramen Near Me - Monterey, California

My daughter and I went to Japan last year and when we saw the interior of Toribashi it immediately reminded us of ramen places we went to in Japan. Simple decor and open window to the street keeps it casual and welcoming. My daughter and I had miso with tofu, tonkotsu with pork and garlic edamame. The edamame is very garlicky. We prefer just salted, but if you like garlic, it's tasty. We both enjoyed the broth. The miso could have more flavor but the tonkotsu was tasty. The chasu pork wasn't too fatty which I appreciated. It was more similar to Japanese chasu than most places I've tried. The shoyu eggs were delicious. One of the better ones I've had. Would have been 5 stars, but as other reviews mentioned the noodles are a bit reminiscent of top ramen. I had a clump in my bowl that was all stuck together. Overall, would highly recommend. Price point is average for the area and Monterey is not cheap in general. read more

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This is my second time here. I got the Paitan Ramen the first time and it was super flavorful and had a medley of toppings which made each spoonful the perfect bite. This time I tried their Shio Ramen. The broth is rich and the veggies added a nice crunch, but the pork was more on the bland side and was tough. I'd come back to try the other menu items as I love their broth but I'd stick to the ground meats for enhanced flavor. The garlic edamame did have a lot of sauce (as some other reviews mention) but I like it when my edamame has a burst of flavor. Ample seating and even has a section for solo dine-in goers (a long table against the wall sectioned off by dividers) which I think is pretty neat! Very quick service (food was delivered to our table within five minutes of ordering)! There are kiosks to order yourself and you don't really interact with the workers there except for when food is brought out. read more

Toribashi - Shio Ramen Garlic Edamame Tonkotsu-Spicy Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Monterey, California

This is my husband's go to spot. Absolutely loves this place. The ramen is good and there is a lot of it! I would pair it with the karage and get one of their unique drinks read more

Toribashi - Mango Cream Soda - Ramen Near Me - Monterey, California

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This is a self serve restaurant. You order your food at the counter and select a table number for them to bring your food. There is a water station you can grab free water from. The ambiance is simple and this is the only ramen in this area. There is street parking and no private parking lot. The reason why I am giving this such a low rating is that the ramen was really bland and lacked flavor. The ramen is about 17-18 dollars and I don't think it was worth the price itself. read more

Toribashi - Tonkatsu Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Monterey, California

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They had Orion beer 5/5!!! Spicy Veggie Ramen: 3/5. Noodles weren't my favorite. Broth was overly salty and bland. I added some hot water to tone it down. Spice was okay. They charge .75 for their spicy sauce. Extra egg on side 4/5, 2.50 extra. That was a flavorful and delicious egg that I added to my ramen. Tan Tan Ramen: 3/5. It was okay, would have tasted better if it was spicer. read more

Toribashi - Vegetarian shio spicy ramen and Tan-Tan Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Monterey, California

Mediocre food, not impressed and will never go back. Two working order stations would have helped wait time. Nice staff though.

It was very easy to order online, it's my first time there and I was very satisfied with the customer service, plus the Tonkotsu Ramen tastes delicious. read more

The ramen was served cold to us. I asked for the ramen to be placed in a microwave just to have hot broth, and they told me they cannot do that. I understood, but did not want to eat cold ramen, and told them the broth was really cold. They just apologized and did not try to remake it, or offer anything else. The ramen itself tasted like instant ramen from a packet. It was very over priced for the quality. I have never went back, it did not give me a reason to. The pot stickers tasted frozen from Costco and thrown into an oil pan. There was no authentic taste from the food. read more