Great service, great food, great environment, overall a great place I loved the food. read more

Totoro Ramen - Ramen Near Me - San Mateo, California

What a storybook retreat this was! I went on a magical journey to the Land of Ramen here with so many ramen options yet also including rice plates to suit your needs. They had cute Totoro decorations. The staff was very nice and knew a lot of the regular customers. It got packed really quickly on the weekend. The tea was really good, but watch out for it being very hot. The ramen was really good too, rich, and filling. The spicy pork was a nice choice as it added evenmore meat and spiciness. read more

Totoro Ramen - Spicy pork ramen - Ramen Near Me - San Mateo, California

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Solid ramen with big, bold flavor. The black garlic ramen will keep vampires away for miles! The tonkatsu ramen is my favorite and full of yummy, fatty pork umami. The service is efficient and friendly and the atmosphere is basic and casual. read more

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Totoro Ramen is a cute little ramen spot conveniently located in Woodlake Shopping Center. I've had this spot bookmarked for a while and finally got around to trying it recently. We walked in on a weeknight around 6pm and were seated right away. We placed our order on the tableside iPad - I ordered the Niku Ramen and hubs got the Black Garlic Ramen, we ordered a side of Agedashi Tofu and Chicken Kaarage to share. Food was solid! They have a lot of staples on the menu and a some more niche items you won't always find like Maze Ramen and Curry Croquettes. I love the convenience of this spot, easy parking, easy ordering, good food, and great service. Nice neighborhood ramen spot with a cute theme. read more

Much better experience. For one thing, they got my order correct, and the service was attentive. Their ramen is really solid. Noodles are cooked well, other ingredients add freshness and balance, broth is maybe a bit salter to my palette. The portion size seemed a bit smaller compared to other spots, but maybe it was my imagination. Good location in a small strip mall with a parking lot. Not a ton of tables inside. It can get crowded, and if it is, it feels tight and compact. Expect a wait for a table. read more

Ordered the chicken katsu don for lunch and it did not disappoint! Chicken was well seasoned and not greasy- great portion for the price in my opinion I'll definitely order from here again read more

Totoro Ramen - Chicken Katsu Don - Ramen Near Me - San Mateo, California

Came here on a Tuesday night, and there was only a 5 minute wait before we got seated on a cold, chilly, perfect ramen weather night! First thing I want to mention was how great the staff was here. Super attentive and friendly. Food came out quick and hot, not much more you can you ask for in that department. For the meal, we started off with their spicy edamame, which was one of the better edamame appetizers I've had in awhile. They had a new curry katsu ramen, so I ended up going with that. I wasn't a huge fan of the broth though, thought it could be a little thicker, and not much depth of flavor. The noodles and katsu were really good though. My girlfriend got the tonkotsu ramen, and I thought that was better. We ordered everything from the tablet at the table. Once we sent in our order, the food came out in less than 10 minutes. They bring a physical bill, which I prefer over paying on tablet. This ramen spot is located in a shopping center, so plenty of parking was available. Overall, a solid spot for ramen in the Burlingame area, would come back to try more menu items! read more

Totoro Ramen - Ramen Near Me - San Mateo, California

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Totoro Ramen is very good for San Mateo standards. It is a good attempt from a non-Japanese ownership. I can tell because I've been going to Japan since the 1990's. We had their chicken karaage $10, black garlic ramen $18 and a tonkotsu ramen $18. The chicken karaage was good because of the light batter, crunchiness and with the two aioli sauces, which made it more delicious. We would order this again in a heartbeat. Although they did give us the oldest wedge of lemon ever with no juice inside. The broth for the ramen were rich and creamy with a lot of depth. The broth flavor was very good for the black garlic ramen and not so much for the tonkotsu ramen. The tonkotsu broth seemed weaker and not well balanced. It was the opposite for the black garlic ramen where two cloves of garlic were on top and tasted divine. As for the noodles themselves, this fell short. It was missing that kansui consistency that I love. Service is as expected for a fast pace ramen restaurant. In terms of ambiance, this might not be the best place to have a conversation. It was loud at dinner time. Not the fault of the restaurant, but the tables are right next to one another. These annoying tech older bros were talking very loud about defunct technologies as if they were still relevant. read more

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Would give more stars if I could!! Totoro is our favorite neighborhood spot and serves a fantastic bowl of ramen. We always finish the whole bowl! Please please add more udon dishes (the tonkotsu udon was incredible) and more vegetarian options! I humbly and passionately petition for kitsune ramen/udon on the menu ~ read more

The first time I ever heard about Totoro Ramen, I thought/feared it was a themed ramen restaurant. Potentially a good thing, as My Neighbor Totoro is quite a beloved movie, but potentially a bad thing if it ended up being more of a gimmick than good (if my experiences at theme park dining were any indication). Thankfully, the food ended up being a whole lot closer to the former than the latter! Located in a relatively small shopping complex, Totoro Ramen uses its namesake more as an inspiration and in spirit than an actual theme (save for the plushies that sit on a counter). The vibe is casual and relaxed, with some modern touches (you order on a tableside iPad), and more of a comfort food menu. However, while their offerings may be more straightforward, the food is no less interesting. Along with staples like Edamame, Chicken Karaage, and Miso Ramen, they also have some more unique offerings like Curry Croquettes, Niku Ramen with Spicy Pork, and Maje (soupless) Ramen. Plus, they also have an option to add a mini-donburi to your bowl of ramen for just $3 more! -- TAKOYAKI - Wheat Battered Shaped Balls Filled with Octopus and Topped with Japanese Mayo, Takoyaki Sauce, and Bonito Flakes Not amazing, but not bad either. On the plus side, the takoyaki was crisp with a soft interior. However, the amount of octopus felt light relative to the amount of dough and the sauces felt a little too sweet. -- CHICKEN KARAAGE - Marinated Japanese Fried Chicken made with Sake, Soy Sauce, Ginger, and Garlic Served with Spicy Aioli Probably some of the biggest pieces of Chicken Karaage I've ever had (not that I minded!). More importantly, though, these were pretty tasty - the batter was a touch thick, but it had a nice crunch and the chicken was juicy and flavorful -- NIKU RAMEN - Spicy Chili Miso Ramen with Pork Broth, Spicy Pork, Green Onion, Bean Sprouts, Chashu, Bamboo Shoots, Kikurage Mushrooms, Soft Boiled Egg, and Roasted Seaweed This was pretty good! The spicy pork is like the Korean BBQ version, which I love, and added more kick to the broth, which already had some spice. As for the rest of the bowl, the noodles had a nice bite, the chashu was really tender, and the egg yolk was perfect. -- AGEDASHI TOFU - Fried Silken (Kinugoshi) Firm Tofu Topped with Green Onions and Bonito Flakes Nothing fancy, but this was still great! The batter on the tofu was thin and slightly crispy while the tofu had a silky texture to it. The portion size was pretty generous, too, but I wish the bonito flakes hadn't been shaved down so much. -- KING CHICKEN KATSU CURRY - Chicken Katsu with Japanese Curry on Rice with Cabbage, Corn, and Pickles Easy to see how this earned the "King" in its name - this was a massive plate of food! Both pieces of chicken katsu were huge (albeit flattened really thin) and there was a whole lot of rice, too. That said, this didn't have much curry, by comparison, and it felt light on veggies. Along with how just about everything I've tried has been pretty good, the other thing I like about Totoro Ramen is the staff. From greeting us when we first walked in to checking on us during our meal, all of the workers have been so friendly each time I've been here. One thing to note is that there's typically a line on weekends, so don't be surprised if you see folks standing out front. However, between the food, how steadily they get folks in and out, and how much easier it is to come here (and to park) than over by 3rd Ave, the wait is well worth it! read more

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The newly introduced curry ramen is their best ramen yet. The curry flavours were very fragrant, and it goes very well with the chicken katsu. The portion sizes are very generous, and the toppings varied and colourful. Though the curry broth was on the saltier side when on its own, it goes really well with the katsu. The garlic broth ramen was a bit disappointing on the other hand. There wasn't too much garlic flavour, and we felt that the broth was less rich and more watered down than other ramen restaurants. If you decide to get a bowl, I would also recommend adding on a chashu bowl as well! Not only does the rice contrast the rich ramen broth, the chashu is very well made, fatty, and flavourful! Perfectly complementing the ramen dish. This definitely moved the needle to make this a 5 star experience! read more

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Felt like ramen today. Back to my favorite spot in San Mateo. My go to Black Garlic Ramen never fails. We also ordered the Tonkatsu Ramen and the Chicken Curry with rice. Curry was ok, could be a little stronger. We also got the fried potstickers and the Seaweed salad which were both savory. Totoro is the next best thing to ramen in Japan! read more

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The ramen here is GOOD. Easy to miss because it's in a little strip mall on a small street. Service was great, our server was friendly, and our food came out pretty fast. I got the black garlic tonkotsu ramen, parents got the tonkotsu ramen. Mom is happy she doesn't have to drive all the way to San Jose anymore for good ramen. read more

Totoro is a nice, small ramen spot in a casual plaza in a neighborhood in San Mateo. It was easy to get to, good parking, clean, and had efficient ordering (on iPads at the tables) with friendly, attentive servers. The food was just okay for me. The garlic edamame was well flavored, but the edamame was overcooked which made it hard to eat, and there was more sauce than I'd like. I got the veggie ramen, which had great noodles and toppings, but the "mild" spice was spicier than I anticipated and the broth was fairly bland. I did enjoy it overall, but it wasn't my favorite veggie ramen I have had. Overall it was a good experience for a quick bite in the area. read more

Totoro Ramen - Garlic Edamame - Ramen Near Me - San Mateo, California

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It is located in a shopping center, so you'll be able to find parking easily. It was a bit chilly out so we decided to go with Ramen. Found a spot on yelp and decided to give it a try. It was pretty busy for a Friday night as there was a short line outside. It is a small spot with a few tables. I checked in and there were two other parties ahead of us. We waited in a car for about 15 minutes before we were called up by text. Waters are brought to our table and we were invited to order on the tablet on the table. I love that idea because you're not rushed and you get to see photos with all the menu items. We went with three different types of Ramen soups. Miso, black Garlic and Tokonsu. My favorite was the Tokonsu but all were good! The kid portions were great as well. For appetizers, you must order the garlic, edamame and the chicken Karaage. Both amazing. The service was great. They were prompt. If we needed anything, we would just tap it on the app and they would bring it out right away. Once we're finished, we went to the front and pay. So easy and convenient experience with food that hit the spot. read more

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The black garlic ramen was flavorful and came with many toppings! The ramen noodles were perfectly chewy. The broth was not too salty and had that smoky flavor. I loved that it came with two pork pieces! Most ramen places only give one, and this one was so soft it melted in your mouth. read more

Totoro Ramen - Black Garlic Ramen - Ramen Near Me - San Mateo, California

I absolutely love this neighborhood spot. It's low frills and the delicious food and warm staff are what make it shine. My reliable favorites here are the garlic edamame, vegetable ramen, and chicken katsu. I especially appreciate Ryota who recognizes my family every time we stop in and makes Totoro Ramen feel like home it's hard to find places like this anymore with major chains taking over everywhere so I'm especially grateful for community gems like this. read more

One of the best service. I had a stroller with me and they were kind, respectful and accommodating to make it work. The food quality is also excellent. I love how the agadashi tofu was very crispy and stacked so you get to try both dry and semi soaked in broth. I love when the crispiness is still there instead of soggy tofu. The tonkotsu udon was really good too. Great in flavor, nice char on the pork, good marinated soft boiled egg. Forgot to take a photo of the udon as we were busy digging into the food. Very easy to use iPad like menu where you can see the photos of the menu selection. It was very easy to use and visually attractive. I definitely would come here again! read more

Totoro Ramen - Agedashi Tofu - Ramen Near Me - San Mateo, California

Love their food! I always order their black garlic ramen but love the other dishes we have tried over the years. They do use a table side tablet to place orders, super efficient, but also not impersonal because the servers are so nice and hospitable. It's a cute restaurant with a little bit of Totoro/cat themed decorations. We like this restaurant because there are no peanuts or tree nuts on the menu. read more

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One of the BEST to eat Ramen noodles. In the Peninsula. Ambiance is good. They serve wine and beer too. The service above and beyond. Our server Nick di friendly and accommodating he showed us how to order the best in the menu. Highly recommended. read more

The food was good and the service was amazing. We come here whenever we want to eat ramen. read more

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My husband and I wasted our date night here on mid-tier ramen that tasted like it came from a refrigerated pack. We got the popular Black Garlic Ramen with different spice levels. Temperature was good and stayed hot for most of the meal, but it's likely due to the smaller noodle portion size. Broth is always my first sip for ramen. It was lacking depth and richness, and just fell flat. On top of that, the noodles were dry and not bouncy and didn't pick up any of the broth. They tasted like what you'd get at a market. Chashu was hard and lacked flavor. Roasted garlic was ok. Menma (bamboo) was on the sweeter side but was good. Egg was soft-boiled to the perfect Jasmine's but lacked flavor. Service was pretty good, but I can see why this place was pretty empty on a Friday night. For this price, you're better off going elsewhere. read more

Totoro Ramen - Black Garlic Ramen - Ramen Near Me - San Mateo, California

Came on a weekday afternoon to enjoy some ramen for lunch, and will be back. There were only a few customers, which made it perfect to bring a stroller in. Ordering is on an iPad but food comes out quickly. Tonkatsu ramen 5/5 - I got this not spicy and this had a nice mild, enjoyable and rich flavor without being overwhelming. The meat had a nice char which added to the flavor spectacularly. The noodles were also cooked well. Chicken katsu 5/5 - a great accompaniment to the dish. The only thing was that the ramen came before any of the appetizers we ordered! Other than that, a wonderful experience. read more

Our family's favorite ramen spot bc it's always consistently good. We order the same thing every time: black garlic ramen, lollipop shrimp, gyoza, kids ramen. Staff is super friendly and accommodating for families. We eat here at least once every few months or when we are in the area. read more

Aloha, San Mateo has a lot of Asian cuisine. While heading to the airport felt like noodle soup. Thank you yelpers for guiding me to Totoro (my favorite anime movie too lol). Great system to order. Service great and nice hot bowl of ramen with Kim chee. Enjoy! read more

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Hidden gem amongst the plethora of ramen spots in the Bay. Super consistent delivering flavorful and wholesome appetizers each time I visit or pick-up/delivery. You won't be disappointed! Service - iPad ordering and food comes out super fast and friendly staff Ambiance - Clean, dining area is medium-small, and clean bathroom. Totoro paraphernalia throughout. If you have a party more than 4 you might need to split up. Japanese Fries - 4.5/5 - Big portion and generous with the toppings including mayo, teriyaki sauce, and bonito flakes. The toppings cover every fry. A nice savory flavor with each bite. Chicken Karaage - 5/5 - juicy, crispy, just enough seasonig, solid portion Curry Croquette - 4/5 - crispy outside with a curry mashed potato like texture that's addicting. Wish this portion was bigger! Black Garlic Pork Ramen - 4/5 - Deep umami & salty flavor complimenting the roasted garlic. Noodles are usually medium-thick with some bounce creating a full bite. Since this one is soy sauce based, the garlic flavor resonates through the whole bowl. Curry Ramen - 4/5 - Very generous portion of crispy but light katsu chicken on top of ramen doused in curry. Curry isn't as rich which helped as you can still taste the broth. Tonkatsu Ramen - 5/5 - Milky broth that punches through with a rich pork bone flavor but without the fatty aftertaste you get with some other tonkatsu broths. Chicken Mayo - 5/5 - Super generous portion of chopped up chicken katsu over rice smothered with mayo streaks. Always have leftovers with this one. Side of kimchi - standard and fresh. Steamed edamame - big portion, plump, and served steaming fresh read more

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My bf and I came here for dinner while visiting for a volleyball tournament. We were looking for a place that was decently priced and a good variety on the menu. This place was close to our hotel and outside of the downtown area so we thought it may be less busy. We were wrong about being busy and there was a wait but we took that as a good sign. We did have to wait about 30 minutes but it was definitely worth it. The garlic edamame had such good flavor in the sauce and definitely would go back just for that. My bf ordered the black garlic ramen and I ordered the miso. Both were delicious and the broth had a lot of richness to it. The staff was really nice and you can tell there is a lot love put into their dishes. Definitely will be back when we visit for future tournaments. read more

It's been a few years since I last ate here--the last time I was here was pre-pandemic. Little has changed, definitely more tables and an expanded menu, however you still order from the tablet at your table, that hasn't changed. It wasn't too busy (no waiting) during my weekend lunch visit and we were seated right away. It's easy to order, easier to customize your order from the tablet and then your order is delivered to your table, hot and fresh. We ordered the agedashi tofu, tonokotsu ramen and chicken katsu curry ramen. Everything tasted great, even with the passing of time, it's still delicious. The tofu was lightly fried and served in dipping sauce. The katsu was crisp, not greasy and was excellent with the curry broth. The ramen was well cooked with a nice chew. I didn't get to taste the tonkotsu ramen but it must have been delicious since my friend ate it all. The restaurant is filled with a lot of natural lighting and spacious. The newest addition for me was the Totoro plushies, which were so cute displayed across the counter. I definitely would return again, sooner than later. read more

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The ramen is delicious, ordering is easy through the touch screen, food comes out fast, the service is excellent, and it's great for kids. The only downside is that there is a single bathroom, so you typically have to wait. read more

Sorry I keep forgetting to share my experience about this outstanding strip mall restaurant in San Mateo. I almost forgot again to take a picture or when I remembered the food was almost gone. You order off a tabletop pad which takes away from the experience of a physical menu. I hate learning to use a tablet to order in a restaurant, takes away from the ambiance of talking to waitstaff. I do have to admit the curry katsu is exceptionally good. I would come here more often but being it takes an hour of travel time from San Francisco makes it more difficult. read more

Totoro Ramen - curry pork katsu - Ramen Near Me - San Mateo, California

I'd just come back from a trip to Japan, but my sister wanted Totoro Ramen, so here we went. My family loves going here but personally, I've only been a couple times. However, the couple times I've been here, the staff has been very friendly and willing to help. This time, they forgot one of our extra noodles, but they immediately came out and gave us some after we asked. We came here on a rainy day, and the ambiance is quite comfy. There's stuffed Totoros everywhere (courtesy to their namesake)! You order via an iPad on the table--there's a bunch of different flavors of broth, so there's sure to be something for everyone. The food arrives relatively quickly. We started off with an appetizer order of the popcorn chicken (I'm not entirely sure it's called that but I didn't see the iPad when we ordered). It wasn't as crispy as I'd want it to be, but it was juicy, flavorful, and moist on the inside, which I enjoyed. I ordered the miso ramen with extra egg and noodle (the extra noodle arrives as a bowl on the side). I got less spicy, but this time, it was actually a little more spicy than I anticipated, though I'd say that's unusual because it's usually just the right amount. The broth is rich and flavorful, and the chashu is the right amount of cooked for me. I like firm noodles, and these ones were a good texture and firmness for me, which I think is pretty hard to find. If you like your noodles the soft, dissolve-in-your-mouth type (idk why you would but some people like it like that) then I'd say pass. Since I got extra noodle, I was left with a decent amount of leftovers, enough for lunch the next day. Definitely save the broth! 4.5/5 read more

Totoro Ramen - Miso Ramen with Extra Egg and Noodle - Ramen Near Me - San Mateo, California

I've been here multiple times. It's among my top spots for ramen. The ramen is flavorful and hearty. You can order at your table and they have some rice bowl dishes you can order as well. I love how perfectly cooked the eggs are. The broth is super rich and delicious. Love how fresh it is! read more

Totoro Ramen - Ramen Near Me - San Mateo, California

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This ramen shop is one of our favorites in the San Mateo-Burlingame area. They have an iPad installed at each table so you can conveniently place your order and free amenities including tea, water and extra hot sauce. On top of that, the waiters were super attentive and made sure that our water and tea was always refilled. Tonight I was in the ramen plus curry katsu kind of mood so the Curry Ramen was a perfect fit. I made it into a meal by adding on the mini Chashu Don. The ramen was topped with a generous portion of chicken katsu. I had it in medium spicy and the spice level was perfect for me. The egg had a perfect level of doneness with a slightly runny yolk. The Chashu don was ok as it was a little too sweet for my taste. I also asked for a side of extra spicy sauce for tasting. Be extremely cautious with this! I had a mere drop of the oil on my rice and it burned my throat. I'm so glad that I didn't order the ramen in extra spicy! read more

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Totoro Ramen is a decently sized ramen shop inside a small strip mall in San Mateo that serves a special and unique black garlic ramen bowl. For those people with an aversion to the normal run of the mill types of ramen bowls - tonkotsu, shoyu, miso - you're in for a real treat since the black garlic ramen is very different and super flavorful. The black garlic ramen has a soy sauce broth and comes with the regular ramen trimmings like green onion, pork belly, and an egg, but the strong garlic flavor profile changes both the color and the taste into something very different than a traditional bowl of ramen. There's plenty of parking since the spot is located right next to a Safeway and a Starbucks, and when I arrived at 2pm on a Saturday, there wasn't a huge line or wait and I was able to be seated quite quickly. While it isn't on the same level as Marufuku or Ramen Nagi, this is a solid little ramen spot that is good in a pinch if you're unwilling to wait for the more top tier ramen in the bay area. read more

Totoro Ramen - Black Garlic Ramen - Ramen Near Me - San Mateo, California

Today is the last day I will go to this restaurant. I have been coming here for the last three years. I like the food and the service is great. This evening I was told not to TIP so generously. Keep the TIPS as they are dictated on the receipt. I have always exceeded that amount from day one. It made me feel like I was arrogant or too flamboyant by showing my generosity. Who says something like that, unless they feel forced to go above and beyond their own expectations. I have never asked for more than the standards I have received. Can you believe that? Blown away for sure. Tony read more

The soup was well seasoned. Not salty! The ordering was easily done using ipads. Pricing was reasonable. Great lunch spot. .

Ramen noodles consistently chewy and delicious. We ask for vegetarian broth which is yummy. We also get the fried chicken over rice which is a tasty, well-portioned option. Service is fast and friendly. read more

I came today for the first time and there was a nice tall fellow that took my order. Both the servers were very kind, sweet, and respectful. The food was delicious and the atmosphere was very friendly and clean. Very kind sweet boys. I will be visiting again to try the black garlic ramen ! Highly recommend this restaurant! Good vibes and friendly staff! read more

Tasty veggie ramen. Friendly and attentive service. However it's minimalist service -- use a little iPad to order and interact with server so it felt like a fast food restaurant. Portion size smaller than expected. Ambiance ok. Chilly temperature, especially for winter. Music was an interesting retro 80s, which I liked because it's unique. I'd come back. read more

Love this place! So much we came back twice in a week! Their black garlic ramen is fire!! The kids ramen is pretty decent sized and my 2 kids can share it. The appetizers were all good too! The service is attentive and friendly, and they are accommodating with our large party (both times we're a party of 7 or more). It is a small cozy place and it's mainly small party seating but they will put a bunch of tables together to make it work. My kids like the food so that is always a win. They make really good chicken katsu too, which my youngest is all about. They do get busy so I recommend going early, especially if you have a large group. read more

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