Cute lil spot my friend took me to for a late night bite. Ahh finally found a place that can make delicious baked mussels! The quality they chopped & cleaned & the mayo ratio is chefs kiss. The pork jow skewers were good & my friend likes the ribeye. Definitely a cute date night, family night, or late night bite. Wish they open for lunch but thankfully they open at 5 for takeout. read more

Toukei - Baked mussel Togo - Izakaya Near Me - Houston, Texas

Black garlic ramen 4/5 Deep umami mushroom broth. Noodles not as springy as id like but aolid bowl of ramen never the less. Takoyaki 4/5 Decent size octopus and flavor was muce and chewy exterior. Beefyaki rice 4/5 More on the sweeter side. Nice sweet soysayce flavor. I'd order it again! Many dishes to try from and nice ambiance! Great for outings for friends and dates. read more

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Hanamii martini is the best!! Also tried roppongi hills which was also yummy drink..drink. but after trying hanami Martini can't turn back. Also had spicy edamame Baked mussels Spicy tuna temaki yummy Xo scallop temaki read more

Toukei - Drink menu - Izakaya Near Me - Houston, Texas

I came here becuase I was craving ramen at midnight and I was overjoyed to see that there was somewhere open! Located in Chinatown, Toukei is definitely about to become a go to spot for late night ramen. I came and immediately sat at the bar but considering it was midnight, there was a good amount of people. It was great for a late night vibe considering the dim lighting ANDD the reverse happy hour from 9-12 so I ordered a sake that was delicious (and half off). I ordered the spicy black ramen and it was delicious! It was spicy, it was flavorful, it was filling, AND it was resonantly priced. I try to avoid pork so my biggest con is that they do not have any protein substitutions for their ramen but it was tasty and actually much better than expected. It also doesn't come with ALOT of protein so I recommend adding an egg. Next on my list to try that short rib curry and those skewers for sure!!! read more

Toukei - Spicy black ramen - Izakaya Near Me - Houston, Texas

I went to Toukei on a Saturday night with a friend, and we got lucky and were seated right away. I ordered the tempura prawns and what I believe was their burnt garlic ramen. I think I may have gone wrong with my ramen choice, the broth was a bit bland. The prawns were decent, mostly thanks to the spicy mayo. My friend ordered a few small plates, and those were just okay as well. Service was another downside. Everything took quite a while to come out, and by the time the meat skewers arrived, they were already kind of cold. It was also hard to get our server's attention, and no one ever checked in to see if we needed anything else. Overall, the food was just okay, and between the slow service and lackluster dishes, I don't think I'd come back. read more

Toukei - Izakaya Near Me - Houston, Texas

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Toukei! A izakaya (Japanese tapa bar/ pub/tavern serving small plates and more) restaraunt and one of my favorite spots in town to go to! Favorite dishes here: Spicy Black Ramen Sukiyaki don Baked mussels Pork belly skewer Korokke croquette Gyoza Chicken Karaage Short rib curry Toki high ball And of course, the japanese beer Ill eventually have a picture of each one of these one day in this review. All these dishes are my goto here and are delicious! I would say its my goto for spicy ramen in town. The right amount of spice for me with their house chili bomb and the rest of the toppings just go so well with it! The shortrib curry is a fun changeup from the tonkatsu curry I normally eat. Definitely satisfies my curry craving with their slow braised short rib. I love the atmosphere here and usually catch up with friends here over a drink and a meal. Not too noisy but also not too quiet (well if you catch our group, we'll probably be the loudest) Parking is abundant but if you find the plaza to be too crowded, street parking is plentiful enough. read more

Toukei - Spicy black ramen, toki high ball - Izakaya Near Me - Houston, Texas

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I tried the gyoza, pork jowl, and the shoyu ramen. It all tasted delicious but I was very impressed with pork jowl! For a weekend dinner, it was busy but not overwhelming and the staff were attentive. I really enjoyed the meal and the experience. read more

Toukei - Shoyu Ramen - Izakaya Near Me - Houston, Texas

My experience at Toukei last night was lovely. From the ambience, modern interior deco, good service and delicious food it all wowed me! We started off with some seaweed salad, kimchi, pretty standard. The server recommended we try the Fried Burdock Root which he described as being a more flavorful french fry and apparently they had been out for a few months. The texture was more firm than a french fry and had more chew/flavor. I would definitely recommend/eat it again. I've never had a truffle flavored ramen before but it was so flavorful along with the toppings. The chashu was a thick piece that was flavorful and tender, the fat melted nicely and wasn't overbearing. The soft boiled egg was perfectly cooked and marinated as well. The chirashi bowl had 14 pieces of fish which I thought was quite substantial. The octopus was tender and all the fish was very fresh. I'm coming back to try their drinks next (huge selection of japanese whiskeys) and will update! read more

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The service was quick and efficient. I ordered the Burnt Garlic Ramen and the Chicken Karaage. The ramen tasted pretty much the same as what you'd get at Night Market Noodle (same plaza), but it was a tad bit more expensive here. As for the karaage, I found it a bit too dry for my liking. I prefer the version at Night Market--it's juicier and flavorful enough to enjoy without any sauce. Overall, I'm glad I gave this place a try. I might come back if I'm in the mood for drinks and skewers, since it leans more toward a bar vibe--that's really what the spot is known for. But if I'm just here for dinner, you know where I'll be heading when I'm in this plaza. read more

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This place is good. No need to say anything else. If you are looking for a good Izakaya in Houston, you will not be disappointed with this place. Has great atmosphere and most importantly tasty food. Great place, highly recommend read more

Toukei - Yakitori Don - Izakaya Near Me - Houston, Texas

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Visited here for some warm ramen to combat Houston's cold front. There was about a 20 minute wait on tables so we opted for bar seating. The server was friendly and attentive. I love that among the staff they communicate through headsets which alleviated some noise within the restaurant. The decor and ambiance was nice and the menu was easy to navigate with pictures of most entrees. I selected the DanDan Men Ramen with an added egg and a side of kimchi. I am typically not a fan of ramen but this was so good and flavorful, I would come back for it again! read more

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Excellent service! Excellent tonkotsu ramen! I wouldn't try the sashimi again, too gritty. read more

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Food: Spicy Dandan Ramen add corn-- 10/10 every time! Service: It was a bit slow this day. My favorite spot I found through Yelp & it had been awhile since I had been there but it's still a hit! read more

Toukei - Spicy Dan Dan ramen - Izakaya Near Me - Houston, Texas

Ordered the Moro-kyuri and the spicy black ramen. The Moro-kyuri was just a plain cucumber with soybean paste on the side, it was not worth the $6.75. The spicy black ramen was really good, but it was really spicy for me. The noodles were perfectly cooked and the bowl was packed with flavor. read more

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The best part of Toukei is how well it combines the food quality of a restaurant with the upbeat atmosphere of a bar. So many places end up sacrificing one for the other. Want good food late at night, but everywhere in Chinatown is closed? Or maybe you want the music to give you a club-like experience while you're dining. No problem, you can get that here. Spicy black ramen - BIG fan of this one. The chashu was soft enough to chew without effort but firm enough to still differentiate its texture from the rest of the ramen. The same could be said about the noodles; they were firmer than my usual experience with ramen but I honestly preferred it that way. Egg was standard. Chicken karaage - based off visual appearance, I was a bit skeptical at first since it was light-colored with a lot of white flakes. Didn't seem like a typical fried chicken dish to me. However, looks were indeed deceiving and it tasted amazing. Adding the lemon is a must. It comes with spicy mayo which added a good amount of savoriness to the zest of the lemon. Fujiwhara Cocktail - gets the tipsy job done without tasting too alcohol-heavy. Liked the taste and presentation, although I'm not sure if I'd pay ~$9 for it again. Service was a little slow despite coming in on a late Wednesday night. I'm willing to look the other way this time since I really enjoyed my ramen... It's worth coming here for the Japanese street-themed experience, regardless of whether you're hungry or looking for a night out that's louder than usual for a restaurant. read more

My husband and I came here for dinner. The truffle soup was very light and easy on the stomach. The pork on is very dense and filling the ratio on that bowl was like half meat and half rice . The duck breast was surprisingly really good. The octopus was a little small, but maybe that's just me. The place was a little bit loud and is more of a modern day Japanese bar theme. The food portion was a tad bit small for my liking however, I did come out of the restaurant full. The two drinks we ordered were cocktails, but in my opinion, the flavor was very weak. The service is quick. I believe the wait staff work as a team because we always had a new person every time at the table to help us. Overall, food was great. Services is quick and on point and the room was very clean. Parking is free and out front. read more

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This was my girlfriend's and my first time at this ramen spot, and we were seriously impressed! The service was excellent -- super friendly and very fast. We didn't have to wait long at all for our food, which was a huge plus. The ramen was delicious, and the drinks were a nice surprise -- they serve alcohol here, and the cocktails were not only tasty but also really well-presented. You can tell they put care into both the food and the drinks. Ambience was chill Overall, it was a great experience from start to finish. We'll definitely be coming back soon! read more

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Highlight: Moro-Kyuri ($6.75), Sukiyaki Don ($15.50) The cucumbers were plain with no added flavor. Most of the flavor came from the fermented miso, which had a salty, umami-rich taste. The Sukiyaki Don was really sweet and the rice felt mushy and overcooked. The beef was on the tougher side and they added a lot of sauce, there was a small pool of it at the bottom of my bowl. Hospitality: Seated pretty quickly and there was no check-in during the meal. Honorable Mention: The menu is extensive, good amount of seating, and the interior had a darker bar-like vibe. read more

Toukei - Moro-Kyuri ($6.75) - Izakaya Near Me - Houston, Texas

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I love this place. One of my go to's when I want to have a dinner alone. Their small plates are just enough for a me date. Food is really good, flavorful, and ambiance is as you should expect with the layout. Bar yet dinner with friends and good food. If you're down for rare foods like raw octopus they've got it, but also regular foods like wings. read more

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Toukei is the perfect date spot, especially if you go at night. The ambiance of the place is very intimate, and I was very impressed with how nice the lighting looked. The place had the vibes of a $$$ restaurant at a $$ price. We ordered the unagi don and the hamachi don and I was impressed by both. The eel was a bit salty but when paired with the yellowtail it was a nice balance. I really enjoyed the yellowtail, as it was light and mixed nicely with the other ingredients without an overpowering flavor. Portions were respectable, especially when considering how nice the place looked. The sake flight was a fun extra that we bought on a whim. Overall, would definitely recommend Toukei for a cozy date. 9/10 read more

Toukei - Sake Flight - Izakaya Near Me - Houston, Texas

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Restaurant is nice, but food was mediocre. We had 7 people in our party and tried a bunch of dishes. The whole squid and rib eye skewers were good. The worst was the salmon poke. Poke was regular rice and warm so the salmon was warm. Other dishes were mid. Cake fee is $10 when you bring in a cake. Never had to pay a fee at any restaurants before. Automatic tip of 20 percent was added. read more

I love the ambiance and interior decorations. Great date spot. Lots of skewers to choose from and the rice bowls were yummy! I had the chicken karage - 2.5/5 it's a bit on the oily side and bland. The spicy mayo helped. Pork belly - can't really go wrong with it. It was an itsy bitsy dry but still good Beef bowl - very delicious Salmon bowl - killed it Ribeye cap- steakkkk yummy Pork Jowl- it has a texture like squid. A bit chewy. Not sure how I feel about it. 3.5/5 Takoyaki- delicious The server was attentive and overall had a good experience. read more

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If you're looking for some good late night Asian cravings, then this is the place for you! It's quick service and they have a good amount of food/drink options to choose from. Prices are very fair and I got my food within 10 minutes top. I love their rice bowls here, they add a good amount of meat/rice portion so I was pretty happy about that. Interior is set a a darker tone. It was pretty empty on a Tuesday night, I don't know how it is on weekends though! read more

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Once a quiet, but now bustling spot for food and drinks. The food ranges from sushi, skewers, small dishes, to rice bowls and ramen. Perfect place to snack or grab a full-on hearty meal. My favorite thing to order has to be the Takowasa, wasabi marinated raw octopus. It's not for everyone, but worth a try for the adventurous ones. Drinks are just as amazing. Full bar + emphasis on Japanese Liquors (whiskey, sake, etc). They just recently added a couple cocktails and of course I had to try them all. They're highlighted in red font on the menu and they all are light, fruity, refreshing. The one thing that could elevate the bar is to have big ice blocks for whiskey. Service is good. Servers are friendly and I've never had an issue. Drinks do tend to take a while to come out when it's a full house though. Note: The majority of your party needs to be present to be sat & no outside water bottles allowed. read more

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Cool hip spot in Chinatown that's open late and serves alcohol. This place is popular! I've been here a couple of times. The Japanese inspired dishes are portioned small and great for sharing. It reminded me of tapas. There's quite the variety as well. The fish has always been nice and fresh tasting. I enjoy the fact I can order curry and okomomiyaki here. They also offer a great beverage list, but I have not partaken. The crowd is on the younger side, which is given based on the trendy decor. Overall great place for late night bites. read more

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Was craving for late night here and unfortunately kitchen is already closed 50 mins prior to closing time. Only drinks were available so we left :( read more

Toukei - Unfortunately the kitchen was closed 50 mins to closing time : ( - Izakaya Near Me - Houston, Texas

The ambiance was upbeat and fun & the decoration was cool and vibey with all the art on the walls. The staff were all friendly and helped us navigate the menus (had a menu of small dishes, a full drink menu, and a full meal menu). We tried a few different small plates - pictured are the shrimp, pork belly, calamari, and takoyaki. Not pictured were the ribeye skewers and sashimi. Everything was delicious and very shareable. My personal favorite was the ribeye (I inhaled it before i could even take a picture of it) as it was very flavorful. Eating all of these small plates did get us pretty full but I had to try the short rib curry.. and it did not disappoint! The short rib was very tender, hearty, and was well balanced with the included veggies. I just couldn't put my spoon down and finished the whole plate before I realized it. We had a great time! read more

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Went here with a few friends last night, I had the spicy black ramen and it was really good! I love spicy food and usually most ramen broths aren't spicy enough for me but this one was perfect. The beef sukiyaki don was also very good! Service was good and the atmosphere inside was very nice. This would be a perfect place for a date spot, and we will definitely be back! :) read more

Toukei - Spicy black ramen - Izakaya Near Me - Houston, Texas

I came here on a Friday evening with no reservation. We were expecting 4 people, so they wouldn't seat us until 3 people were present. The only downside is that parking gets really hard to find in this plaza. My friend looped around 4 times until she was able to find a spot, and people who park across the street in the other lot can get towed. We were able to get seated right away with no reservation! The atmosphere inside is great! It is a little dim and is bustling inside. We got a lot of apps and enteees to share so we could try everything! For apps, we got the fried chicken skin, takoyaki, ribeye cap skewers, and okonomiyaki. The friend chicken skin was SUPER crispy and the powder on top was spicy and delicious. The takoyaki and okonomiyaki were pretty similar in taste, so I would probably get the okonomiyaki over the takoyaki because it came with a little more to eat. We got 2 sets of the ribeye cap skeweres and they were DELICIOUS - 10/10 would order again!! Perfectly tasty and a great section of meat! For entrees, we got the salmon don and shortribs curry. The salmon was very fresh, and it was a delicious bowl!! My personal favorite was the shortribs curry. The flavor was so full, unique, and super flavorful. It didn't taste like any curry I have had before - it was way better!! I definitely would get this again as well!! We also tried some of their Friday drinks specials. My friend got a toki old fashion and really enjoyed it! Good prices for the drink specials! Overall, 10/10 would recommend this place!! We definitely plan to come back and try some of the other apps and entrees on the menu as there were a lot of items we weren't able to try yet! read more

Toukei - takoyaki, ribeye cap skewer, fried chicken skin - Izakaya Near Me - Houston, Texas

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Came here with friends when they visited Houston. It's a small izakaya that serves various foods from yakitori to ramen. What we ordered (I can't remember exactly but I'll try) * chicken karage - it was solid * gobo chips - honestly the highlight of the dinner *different kinds of yakitori - they were okay, didn't felt like it was grilled to the point not they were seasoned well, and felt a little overpriced for what was presented * yaki soba - solid * tako yaki - solid, felt a little too doughy * okonomiyaki - solid Vibe 8 /10 price $40 ish per person party of 5 people I give 5/10, I don't see myself returning with the price point, the food could definitely improve, the staff and ambiance is great though. Maybe if we tried the ramen our experience would have been better. Again, this was recommended to us on TikTok and social media and it was rather a disappointment to what we expected. (The staff were very sweet!!) Starting to wonder if this plaza is a little "cursed" 07/13/24 read more

Toukei - Karage Gobo chips - Izakaya Near Me - Houston, Texas

The food was really good! I order a classic tonkotsu ramen and it had the classic taste, however, the noodles on the top had a bit of a dry spegehti texture but as you work your way to the bottom it's a bit more like ramen. The service was some of the best I've ever seen. Very polite and professional waiters and waitresses. They always made sure it was a good experience. The restaurant itself is a very cool design. I can't even describe the vibe in words. It was that good. You have to experience it for yourself! 10/10 recomend read more

Toukei - Soda that I don't remember the name of but was really good - Izakaya Near Me - Houston, Texas

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No wait! Trendy spot for 20s-30 year olds. Beautiful decor. Ribeye skewers were so good. The best thing we ate here. Hamachi don: I wanted something light and fresh. The hamachi don has wasabi so it definitely will open up your sinuses. The fish was good but I have as better in the area. I did feel a little hungry after eating these two items. Serving size is on the smaller side. We also ordered the spicy black ramen. Bone broth, chasyu, bamboo, mushroom, chili. This ramen is a little spicy. Serving size is on the small to medium side. read more

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Came in late due to traveling &' this place did not disappoint! Absolutely amazing food &' the staff were super nice. We will definitely be coming back when we're in Houston again! read more

Toukei - Salmon Don, Gyoza, &' Classic Tonkotsu Ramen - Izakaya Near Me - Houston, Texas

Just came back from a trip to Tokyo and I was craving a good beer and some yakitori. Came to Toukei for a quick light bite on a Saturday night and was lucky enough to be seated right away for a party of 2. The parking lot was full, didn't realize how crowded it got there in that strip. Don't park in the lot across the street - there are signs that advise against it. The ambiance and atmosphere definitely reminded me of the izakayas in Japan. The flavor of the beef yakitori was so well marinated and cooked to perfection. The short rib was really good too. I didn't love the ribeye as much as the others. Tried their ginger beelu (asahi, ginger ale, yuzu, salt rim) and it was refreshing. Service was quick. Would definitely come back here again to try the other yakitori. read more

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This is our go to late night spot. They have great sushi, appetizers and fried rice. It's hard to find decent food spots open until late. This is one of those. read more

After visiting NYC recently and having a truly authentic Japanese underground izakaya experience, I was craving something similar in Houston. I noticed I had bookmarked Toukei Izakaya, so I thought I would give it a try! Where: In the shopping center with Mein, Sweet Memes, Morii - It can be difficult to find and apple maps seems to send you to the incorrect center. Parking: Lot out front - it can get pretty full, fyi. Ambiance: 4/5 It feels like an art-pop, designed for hipster millennials, cool-dank vibes place. It doesn't feel warm or authentically japanese, but it is a thoughtfully curated space for night vibing. I went for an early dinner and it was quiet with only few people, but I would love to see this place loud and packed late at night. The vibes did feel similar to the Tran brother's other concepts in the same complex (Tiger Den, Mein, Night Market). Service: 2.5/5 Pretty slow and inattentive overall, but quick to bring out food. The phone service was impossible. Food: 3.5/5 The menu is japanese-inspired, so it was missing many of my standard izakaya faves. That being said, I honestly liked everything we got and it's a 3.5 in part due to the over-sweetness in a lot of dishes. I felt like so many things had sugar in it that had no need for it and it took away from the experience. Yet, the okonomiyaki was perfect; took me back to being young at my Japanese friend's homes with their mom cooking for us. Also, the miso cod was heavenly. I will be back again and I anticipate/hope that I will be even more impressed by the food, because what I have tried so far makes me excited to explore more of the menu. Bar: If you like Japanese whisky, this place is worth a visit. *** ?? What is an Izakaya ??: I noticed a lot of reviewers using words like "tapas" and "appetizers" to describe the plates here. So, I wanted to add some context about what makes Izakayas unique and the dishes/experience worthy of their own understanding. When I think of an izakaya, I think of a place people come to unwind and drink alcohol over several hours - somewhere small, intimate, affordable, and warm. People usually come to an izakaya with one or more people after a long workday, but birthday celebrations, promotion celebrations, and other are not uncommon. At the end of the day, the food at an izakaya is there to enhance and compliment the drinking! So, the menu isn't "tapas" or "appetizers"; it's snacky drinking food (and it is meant to be shared)! There are no courses for appetizers and entrees like in western cuisine - you start with beer, choose a bottle of sake for the table, then order the plates that sound good...and you can keep ordering and ordering until you are satisfied! TL;DR: Izakayas serve lighter dishes to enjoy with your beer/sake/whisky, at an affordable price point, in a casual environment. *** read more

Toukei - Miso Cod - Izakaya Near Me - Houston, Texas

Came here on a Tuesday evening and the place was pretty empty and we were seated immediately--definitely recommend coming on a weekday if you don't want to wait. The service was quick, friendly, and attentive. The ambiance is super nice, with lots of different seating options for groups of varying sizes. This restaurant is great for any occasion, honestly. The food was also so delicious. Although this is an izakaya place, and known for their small plates and skewers, I ordered a rice bowl (the sukiyaki don) and was in love! The beef was so flavorful and tender. Highly recommend the rice bowls if you're looking to stay on a slightly tighter budget--you get a much better bang for your buck than with the skewers/small plates. My other favorite dish of the night was the okonomiyaki. I highly recommend Toukei! read more

Toukei - Sukiyaki Don - Izakaya Near Me - Houston, Texas

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I love this place! The food is always great and there's a big variety for whatever you're feeling. We really enjoy the ramen here and the skewers are also an easy thing to eat. I also love the drinks here, they are probably some of my favorite in Houston! The theme of the whole place is really cool. It has a very intimate and laid-back energy throughout. The service is also great here. They are very attentive and friendly, and it feels like they are pretty fast in general. read more

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Fantastic restaurant worth visiting in Chinatown. They have a large menu with a bunch of small appetizers that you can get to share family style while still having dedicated entrees. Their ramen was flavorful but the pork wasn't very tender, it was almost kind of crispy like carnitas. I personally don't like a very tender pork belly in my ramen but I thought I'd mention it as I know a lot of people prefer it. Their Gyozas were cooked beautifully and so crispy on the outside. This service was great and the servers came by often to refill our water jug which I appreciated. The lighting in the building was dim but they had individual lights at the tables. The decorations inside looked lovely. This would be a great spot to meet up with some friends or take someone out on a date! read more

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This is the place to go to with your friends to check out that trendy ramen place in Chinatown. The walls have a bunch of Japanese art on them and they keep the lights pretty low. The garlic wings were kind of chewy with a bitter after taste so I didn't really love them, and I think the prices are kind of high for their grilled skewer items. But MAN the ramen broth is sooo delicious. It's probably one of my favorites in terms of flavor for the broth. I don't really like the thin noodles(just personal preference not anything wrong with them) but you can substitute them for the thicker noodles which is cool. The servers are always really chill but if it's busy you kind of have to flag them down versus them ask how you're doing, which is fine if you don't really like to be talked to a lot lol. read more