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U P D A T E : On a weeknight traveling from Foster City towards home, we decided to stop by for dinner. Totoro Ramen is one of our fav spots for black garlic ramen even after visiting Japan a few times. It's clean and brightly lit with cute Totoro decor. We've tried other ramen restaurants, but no where has the same black garlicky broth. And when you take it home, put it in the fridge, the soup solidifies into a gelatin! Now, that's how it should be! You know they put in lots of lovin' into this! It's been awhile since the last time, but as always, their black garlic ramen hit the spot! The broth was flavorful and garlicky, the noodles had a chewy texture, the egg had jammy goodness, the meat wasn't too lean or fatty, and the included toppings were tasty! A solid bowl of ramen. Ahhhh, that was GOOOD! The feeling of a warm tummy, heart, and soul kind of GOOOD. Service by Ryota was excellent as he is personable, friendly, efficient, and accommodating! On top of that, he still remembers us, even though we've only come on occasions! We enjoyed chatting with him throughout our visit about his travels to Japan too! It was the perfect way to end the evening. We'll definitely be back sooner than later!!
5 stars! This is my favorite Ramen, Curry Katsu Ramen. I go here specifically for this soup. Very flavorful. The guys that work in the shop are super nice and service is quick. Clean, bright little joint and comfy inside.
We were back in the Burlingame area and found ourselves craving ramen. A quick Yelp search led us to Totoro Ramen, tucked away in a shopping plaza with plenty of parking, which is always a plus. The restaurant is medium-sized with plenty of seating, though I can see it getting busy during peak hours. We visited on a Thursday night and were able to get seated right away. We ordered the Curry Ramen, Black Garlic Ramen, and an order of takoyaki. The Curry Ramen was wonderful. The curry flavor was rich without being overpowering, allowing the ramen broth to still shine through. The chicken was tender and delicious. After trying it, I think curry ramen might be my new go-to ramen flavor. The Black Garlic Ramen was equally impressive. Fair warning: if you don't like garlic, this probably isn't the ramen for you. The garlic flavor is strong and unapologetic, which we absolutely loved. The broth was rich, flavorful, and incredibly satisfying. We also ordered the takoyaki, which was delicious and a great appetizer to start the meal. Customer service was great, and the food came out quickly. One thing to note is that ordering is done through a tablet at the table. I'm slowly adapting to this style of dining, but I do wish someone had mentioned it when we sat down. Everything, including ordering water, is done through the tablet. Overall, we had a great experience. Delicious food, fast service, easy parking, and excellent ramen. We'll definitely be back the next time we're in the area. Check them out!
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.
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.
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!
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.
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!
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
Black garlic ramen is very tasty , our sever is Nick , he is very very helpful with my toddler and attentive. 5 stars for service 5 stars for the ramen .
On my way home from SFO. Very good ramen with fast, friendly and great service! I'll be back!
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!
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!
I saw a recommendation on Nextdoor about this place and had to go! How had I not heard of this place! They've been here since 2018z it's located just north of San Mateo High School in a small strip mall near Safeway. We didn't have to wait long. Once we sat down we saw there were tablets at the tables to place our order. I loved this way of ordering so I can add and remove items easily. I like that they have a variety of different ramens on the menu. I ordered the Shoyu ramen. We didn't have to wait long for our food. It was delicious! It wasn't too salty, it was just right. The staff were so friendly and helpful the entire time. Can I say the playlist for music was so great. Unexpected! Current music you can jam too :) I will definitely come back! read more
Seems like a family run place. Pretty fast service with iPad. Pros Fast service Pretty good taste and alot of ability to customize the ramen Reasonably priced for taste and quality. Would consider buying even if was 1$ or 2$ more Cons Was crowded even on a late afternoon read more
Love the easy to navigate and customizable electronic panels at each table. Much easier to get exactly what I wanted and water refills were a breeze with it. Food is still very good and both portion size and prices are still reasonable enough. For the first time, I tried ordering my ramen with less salt since I usually find most ramen broth way too salty. Well, I got what I asked for and somehow it tasted kind of bland and strange to me. Oh well. As my friend said, it may be not as you had before but your body will probably thank you for your choices later. I'll have to think hard for next time read more
U P D A T E : On a weeknight traveling from Foster City towards home, we decided to stop by for dinner. Totoro Ramen is one of our fav spots for black garlic ramen even after visiting Japan a few times. It's clean and brightly lit with cute Totoro decor. We've tried other ramen restaurants, but no where has the same black garlicky broth. And when you take it home, put it in the fridge, the soup solidifies into a gelatin! Now, that's how it should be! You know they put in lots of lovin' into this! It's been awhile since the last time, but as always, their black garlic ramen hit the spot! The broth was flavorful and garlicky, the noodles had a chewy texture, the egg had jammy goodness, the meat wasn't too lean or fatty, and the included toppings were tasty! A solid bowl of ramen. Ahhhh, that was GOOOD! The feeling of a warm tummy, heart, and soul kind of GOOOD. Service by Ryota was excellent as he is personable, friendly, efficient, and accommodating! On top of that, he still remembers us, even though we've only come on occasions! We enjoyed chatting with him throughout our visit about his travels to Japan too! It was the perfect way to end the evening. We'll definitely be back sooner than later!! read more
5 stars! This is my favorite Ramen, Curry Katsu Ramen. I go here specifically for this soup. Very flavorful. The guys that work in the shop are super nice and service is quick. Clean, bright little joint and comfy inside. read more
5 months ago
We were back in the Burlingame area and found ourselves craving ramen. A quick Yelp search led us to Totoro Ramen, tucked away in a shopping plaza with plenty of parking, which is always a plus. The restaurant is medium-sized with plenty of seating, though I can see it getting busy during peak hours. We visited on a Thursday night and were able to get seated right away. We ordered the Curry Ramen, Black Garlic Ramen, and an order of takoyaki. The Curry Ramen was wonderful. The curry flavor was rich without being overpowering, allowing the ramen broth to still shine through. The chicken was tender and delicious. After trying it, I think curry ramen might be my new go-to ramen flavor. The Black Garlic Ramen was equally impressive. Fair warning: if you don't like garlic, this probably isn't the ramen for you. The garlic flavor is strong and unapologetic, which we absolutely loved. The broth was rich, flavorful, and incredibly satisfying. We also ordered the takoyaki, which was delicious and a great appetizer to start the meal. Customer service was great, and the food came out quickly. One thing to note is that ordering is done through a tablet at the table. I'm slowly adapting to this style of dining, but I do wish someone had mentioned it when we sat down. Everything, including ordering water, is done through the tablet. Overall, we had a great experience. Delicious food, fast service, easy parking, and excellent ramen. We'll definitely be back the next time we're in the area. Check them out! read more
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
8 months ago
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
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 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
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
7 months ago
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
3 months ago
Black garlic ramen is very tasty , our sever is Nick , he is very very helpful with my toddler and attentive. 5 stars for service 5 stars for the ramen . read more
4 months ago
On my way home from SFO. Very good ramen with fast, friendly and great service! I'll be back! read more
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
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
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
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
1 year ago
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
6 months ago
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
9 months ago
9 months ago
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
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
2 months ago
9 months ago
The food was good and the service was amazing. We come here whenever we want to eat ramen. read more
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
3 months ago
2 years ago
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
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
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
Black Garlic Ramen is usually my go-to order, so offering this dish is one of the first things I search for when looking for a ramen restaurant. I was excited to see that Totoro Ramen offers Black Garlic Ramen with all the works (roasted pork, soft boiled egg, seaweed, green onion, bean sprout, and kikurage mushroom). It was also nice that they offered complimentary hot Japanese Oolong Tea. Another pro is that you can conveniently order at a kiosk from your table. The staff was friendly and we even heard them offer another table physical menus, so that option seems to be available if you prefer to not use a kiosk for ordering. For spice lovers, you can add and customize your spice levels. I didn't add any spice to my ramen but found that the broth was still flavorful. The meat was also soft and tender. Overall, we had a positive and welcoming experience. read more
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
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
3 months ago
2 years ago
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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More info about Totoro Ramen
856 N Delaware St
San Mateo, CA 94401
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(650) 781-3137
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http://www.totororamen.com
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Ask the Community - Totoro Ramen
Can the curry be made vegetarian and without onion or garlic?
How much is extra bowl of broth for take out?
Extra bowl of broth is $4.50. Thank you.
Gluten free options?
I know these three places have gluten-free ramen. Does anybody know of any others? Would love to find a place along the peninsula.…
Is there vegetarian ramen? The menu says that the "veggie ramen" uses a bonito (fish?) broth.
I called and they confirmed that they changed the broth so it no longer contains bonito.
Is there any MSG in the ramen broth?
No! Isn't great? My hubby has a really bad reactions to MSG and He is perfectly fine when we eat at Totoro so we are pretty sure there is not any MSG.
Are any of the ramen options gluten-free?
Not now as of August 1, 2018. The currently-available kale noodles do contain wheat. Totoro Ramen is looking into a gluten-free option for the ramen noodles.
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