WHEN: Sat @6pm PARKING: There is metered parking around, and is free after 6pm. It may be a bit tricky especially around meal time, but keep circling and you'll find a spot near by enough. This cute little ramen shop has such perfect lighting coming through thanks to thier skylight. We weren't actually hungry so we shared the following: TONKOTSU - $16.50 (Regular) Pork Belly Chashu, Bamboo Shoots, Red Onion, Wood Ear Mushrooms, Green Onion, Ajitama Egg. You get a choice of noodles to pick: 1.) Hakata - Thin Straight 2.) Sapporo - Medium Thick Wavy Figured since it's my first time here, I choose the most basic version of their bowl of ramen. I chose Sapparo and for some reason expected it to be thicker/wider, but regardless it was still good! The presentation of this bowl is just gorgeous, served on a small wooden platter. The red onion is chopped, and the pork Belly is quite tender. Regarding the egg, you get just half. Overall this bowl of ramen is creamy, rich, and the right amount of flavor and salt. But still make sure to drink at least a glass of water! CREAMY CHASHU PORK CROQUETTES - $8.50 I have never seen anything like this so I must give it a try! It actually didn't come out piping hot, so I was able to drive in right away! It was definitely creamy (like ramen) and had pieces of the Chau's pork, encased in a crispy and warm batter that was deep fried. It also comes with a katsu sauce and I really enjoyed it. The staff was friendly and didn't make us feel bad for ordering enough of just one, but man I was so full. Had to walk around downtown Berkeley for awhile. read more

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I really love Tsuruya so writing this review stung a bit. Tsuruya snuck in additional tip amount the last time we dined here. It was only a couple of dollars more but tip fraud is never acceptable. We rarely deviate from our usual order so the posted transaction felt off to us. We were able to confirm and report to the credit card company. I recommend you guys take pictures of your receipts and verify the transactions. Hope this doesn't happen to y'all! read more

All good things come to an end. I visited regularly many times over the past year, and 3 times in just the past month. I order the same thing and pay the same amount every time. Until my most recent visit, someone decided to help themselves to an extra tip. I reported the fraud to my credit card company and will not be returning. read more

Tsuruya - Ramen Near Me - Berkeley, California

When a ramen restaurant has only two main items (pork and chicken) on the menu you know they are serious. And I gotta say I am pretty impressed. U must go with the black garlic flavor tonkatsu. The charred pork chashu is really flavorful. The chicken is really tender, almost fully cooked but not quite (perfection). Full party need to be present to be seated, otherwise u need to wait outside. read more

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I went here with my friends around 6:30pm for dinner. There was fortunately no wait and we were seated immediately. We were given the option of sitting at a table or at the bar, but we chose to sit at a table. I ordered the Deluxe Spicy Tori Paitan which is their chicken option. They also serve each ramen base with tonkotsu/pork as well. You can choose between having Hakata (thin, straight) or Sapporo (medium thick, wavy) noodles. I chose to get the Sapporo noodles. The spice level was good, however besides the name, there was no other spice indicator for this menu item. The only item that had spice indicators was their spiciest option which had 3 flame symbols next to it. The spice was good and didn't mask the flavor of the ramen. The waitress came around a lot to refill water as needed. The restaurant is small, but the food is really good. I'd love to try their tonkotsu options next time. Parking is a bit difficult to get, especially in downtown Berkeley. You may have to find street parking a block or two down depending on the time you come to eat. read more

Tsuruya - Deluxe Spicy Tori Paitan - Ramen Near Me - Berkeley, California

Delicious ramen! The chopped onions were a really nice, refreshing touch. Portion sizes were just right. The matcha panna cotta was delicious too. We walked over on a weekday night at 5:30 pm and were seated immediately with no wait. Restaurant started getting crowded around 6/6:30. read more

Tsuruya - Black Garlic Tonkotsu - Ramen Near Me - Berkeley, California

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I came here for lunch on a Saturday. This place opens at 12 but a line was formed by 11:40am. The ramen's noodles are thin and chewy. The tonkotsu broth was rich, savory, nutty and slightly sweet. Will definitely return! Also, the lady owner is super sweet! She's excessively attentive and was starting small conversation with her customers. I left with a very satisfied tummy. read more

Tsuruya - Tonkotsu with thin noodles - Ramen Near Me - Berkeley, California

Come early as there is a waitlist. Plenty of seating, but probably not good for big groups. Majority two-seater tables and bar seating. Got the black garlic tonkotsu ramen. You get to choose between two noodle styles (thin straight noodles or medium thick wavy noodles) and to upgrade to the deluxe, which includes addition chashu, a jidori egg, spinach, and nori. I should have upgraded as the portion size was a smaller than I'm used to. The tonkotsu broth is a bit lighter than I'm used to, but still good. We also had the chicken karaage, which was excellent- juicy morsels of lightly breaded chicken with mayo and togarashi sauce on the side. For dessert, we had the hojicha panna cotta, which was also very good - a tad sweet and creamy. Definitely recommend as far as ramen places go. read more

Black garlic tonkas- order the chili paste on the side and adjust rhe spice to yiur liking The calamari was fried in a very good batter it was light and flavorful the Inside is very cozy and gives a traditional Raman house vibe service was prompt No complaints read more

My friends (party of 5) and I wanted to get together and get a quick bite to eat and dessert nearby. This is a first come first serve style restaurant. My friend and I arrived first so we sat at the bar and ordered sake. The waiter was easy to talk to and easy on the eyes. He let us know that once there were 4 people, we could move to a table. We ordered appetizers and our noodles. All were amazing, especially the noodles themselves. It got loud in there quickly as people started lining up to get seated. Street parking nearby. Restroom is located outside of the restaurant and you will need the code to get access. read more

Love this ramen spot! Came here with a friend a few weeks ago since we were in town, and this place did not disappoint. I got their black garlic tonkatsu with thin noodles which turned out to be perfect. I am usually really hesitant to go to ramen spots due to the saltiness but this place made their broth super delicious. Service was quick and the lady serving us was very kind and sweet. Its quite a small restaurant so if it gets busy, you may need to wait about 15-20min. read more

A rainy day called for ramen! My companion found Tsuruya and suggested we go for dinner. It hit the spot. The restaurant is casual and decently sized. Several tables for smaller groups and pairs, plus seating at the bar. They have some Japanese decor and a TV playing J-Pop. The companion and I sat at the bar. The service was good; our waters were refilled, and everything came out relatively quickly. I had the Tonkotsu Ramen. It was comforting. You have the option of choosing your noodle thickness. I went with Hakata, so it was thin. The noodles tasted fresh and were bouncy. The broth was okay, but not as rich or creamy as the tonkotsu broths that I'm used to. All of the toppings were good; I personally wasn't the biggest fan of the onion, though. Companion enjoyed his Black Garlic Tori Paitan. For the price, it was decent for what you get! For those going to Cal or living in the Berkeley area, Tsuruya is a decent nearby spot for your ramen fix. It's a popular spot and was constantly busy with students. They're easy to spot off Shattuck Ave. with street parking nearby. read more

Tsuruya - Tonkotsu - Ramen Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Portions are a bit small but the quality is top notch. So yes I would say it is worth it! The broth was well seasoned so creamy and the egg was spot on. I definitely want to come back here more often as part of my ramen stop rotation. The food just speaks for itself. The hospitality was great. The staff greeted you upon entrance, gave recommendations and answered questions about spice level. read more

It is our first time here at this place. We were dined in on October 26 in the afternoon. We drove from SF to the Thai temple and found this place from Google. With high ratings at 4.8 with 176 reviews, so we decided to check this place out! Here is my experience; We ordered six dishes; Spicy Tonkatsu, Black Garlic Tonkatsu, Jigoku Tonkatsu, Chicken Karaage, and Fried calamari. The food serves in a timely manner which is great. The chicken Karaage was so good. I would give 10 out of 10. It comes in 4 pieces. Really recommended if you love fried chicken. The fried calamari was so good too. I would give 10 out of 10 too! Really recommended as well. A little salty but we love it!! The spicy Tonkatsu was good. I would give 7.5 out of 10. It tastes similar to Tom Yum soup. The best part I like the most is there was red onions in it as well makes it a little fusion. The Jigoku Tonkatsu was spicy. I would give 6.5 out of 10 because there was only spicy taste in it. If you love spicy food, this dish is the real deal for you (3 fireballs on the menu is real) The black garlic tonkatsu was good. I would give 8 out of 10. It tastes smooth. I would love it more with slightly more black garlic in it. The service is not as expected. There were only 2 main servers. There are 10 people waiting outside. We were waiting for almost an hour and there were two people arrived way after us. But they were seated and their orders were taken before us. The seating system needs to be improved. I worked in the high volume restaurant before. First comes should be the first to be served. Two tables had left with 3 empty seats at the bar. But they just didn't seat anyone waiting outside. Points were taken out because of the wait time and the bad experience in terms of seating system. The ambience was okay. It is a little dark inside and not really ventilated inside. Love the skylight inside the restaurant though. It looks like the restaurant was closed from the outside. So, the restaurant would look so much better with the lights on; just some suggestions. Overall is good! If we live in Berkeley, we would come back another time for another experience. But I would suggest to give it a try! You might have a different view and experience from me :)) Go check it out for yourself! read more

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Best ramen place in Berkeley. I've taken every one here. If it's a cold night and you are craving ramen, this is the place to go to. Would recommend the Black Garlic Tonkotsu for a warm savory taste. Service is fast with a well blended ambiance for conversation. For spicy lovers, the Spicy Tonkotsu is tolerable for everyone so if you want to up the ante, there is additional spice on the side. The calamari and karaage are also personal favorites when I am craving sides. read more

Tsuruya - Ramen Near Me - Berkeley, California

They have 4 bases and one can choose between either pork (Tonkotsu) or chicken (Tori Paitan). They also have the option for vegetarian ramen, but this is limited each day. What's unique is that you can have either the regular Hakata, thin noodles, or the Sapporo, medium thick wavy noodles. You can't make reservations, but they have some seating in the clean alleyway where you can wait. Only downside was that it took over 25 minutes for our ramen to be served, but at least the owner came to our table and apologized for the delay. read more

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Public street parking only Easy to find, bright pretty logo sign in front But the door is not facing the front of the street, but in the alleyway Location is small, but well organized, decorated and themed Service was very friendly, helpful and fast. Since it was our first time there, we got a quick run down of how we can customized our bowl. Personal comment: I really look earnestly for a good ramen spot. Lost my favorite location in Fremont and been searching since. You guys are now my go to and I will be coming back very soon. The rich broth, the chewy noodles, the vibe ... it's all there. Bonus points for Japanese music and Anime AMV. Thank you SO very much. read more

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Tsuruya shines in what appears as simplicity--two types of delicious broths and noodles, homemade hot chili paste, perfectly cooked eggs. What struck me was how many items seemed home made: 3 types of desserts, plum wine behind the bar. Everything was executed perfectly and the service is thoughtful and kind. Love that the restaurant itself is small, authentic, clean, and fun--there was anime and music videos playing on the screen. Will continue to support this delicious, authentic, independently owned spot! read more

Exceptional ramen place on Shattuck in Downtown Berkeley! I find Tsuruya to be a place that serves ramen that's different from any other spot I've been to. Their broth is foamy, creamy, yet not too heavy, which I really liked when paired with their bold flavors. Their noodles have a great chewy texture as well, more on the firm side, but I personally really enjoyed it. My personal recommendations are their Black Garlic Tonkatsu or Spicy Tonkatsu ramen w/either type of noodle! The ambiance of the place was cozy and welcoming, with nice interior decor. The service was also very attentive and prompt. Great ramen shop I'd highly recommend anyone in Berkeley to checkout - can't wait to visit this spot again! read more

Tsuruya - Black Garlic Tonkatsu + Spicy Tonkatsu Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Berkeley, California

This is my favorite ramen in the East Bay. Such a special spot: quality, flavor, service, ambiance... it checks all of my boxes! I ordered the chicken kaarage and chashu pork croquettes for my Presentation is so intentional here, the dishes were beautiful. The karaage was piping hot and so crispy (freshly fried!) with juicy chicken inside. The croquettes came with 4 to a plate - so rich and savory, with a creamy chashu pork filling with some chunks of the meat... delicious. For my ramen, I got the Hakata-style tonkotsu ramen. They told me it takes 8 hours to prepare the broth, it's silky and so flavorful without it feeling too overwhelmingly rich. I liked the plethora of toppings - onions, spinach, woodear mushroom, green onion, soft boiled egg... and of course the melt in your mouth chashu. Dessert was a highlight! The matcha panna cotta (the owner's specialty) was INCREDIBLE. Red bean and a bit of cream as toppings balanced out the strength of the matcha flavor. The yuzu sorbet was light and refreshing, the candied yuzu was so flavorful. I got to meet the owners Ayako and Joe, both so kind and welcoming!! Small, cozy space, great service, and thoughtful dishes. read more

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We went to Tsuruya in early March and I have not stopped thinking about it since! Literally cannot wait to go back. Def in my top 2 fave ramen spots in the bay along with Mensho. The karaage and croquettes were great. Love being able to get to of my fave types of appetizers in one place. You def don't see croquettes at ramen spots very often, and I don't think I've ever tried a pork one until Tsuruya, but it was soo good. Karaage is def not all created equal, and it was perfectly crispy and juicy here with a nice mayo sauce. I debated for the longest time between the spicy tonkatsu ramen and the jigoku ramen, and ended up settling on the jigoku. They def are not kidding with the spicy level - it was sooo spicy but still so good. Maybe a bit too spicy for me, and I love spice. I def want to go back and try the spicy tonkatsu next time! read more

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Great new ramen spot in downtown Berkeley! We got the Spicy Tonkotsu, Jigoku Tonkotsu, and Matcha Panna Cotta. All around, great flavors! The Spicy Tonkotsu had an unexpected acidic kick. Personally, I liked the lil kick. The Jigoku Tonkotsu was extra spicy. My tummy felt it quickly. However, it was definitely worth. Lovely ratio of soup, noodles, and toppings. The Panna Cotta was the perfect dessert to close out our yummy meal. It wasn't too sweet and paired well with the red bean and cream. Amazing environment. Cute decoration. Fast service. Kind waiters. It's definitely worth checking out! read more

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Decent amount of noodles, two options of types. The chashu was very thin and not very tender. The garnishes seemed very fresh, but conservative amount. The flavor was decent, but not amazing for the tonkatsu and jigoku tonkatsu. I have a high tolerance for spicy and the jigoku tonkatsu had my eyes tearing up a good bit. A few hours after the meal my stomach wasn't feeling well which I attribute to the level of the spice. The hojicha panna cotta tasted good. read more

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In town visiting and so glad we found this place (especially before the line started). The ramen itself is top-notch tonkotsu broth, perfectly cooked noodles, and delicious/thin chashu. The vibes inside are terrific, nice and cozy. Get some chili paste and black garlic oil on the side to zhuzh up to your heart's content. Also, make sure to get deluxe, regular only comes with one slice of chashu. Only drawback for me was the egg could've been marinated longer. Lastly, the portions aren't small, but definitely not as big as I'm used to, so I'd strongly consider ordering extra soup read more

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This Gourmet Ghetto address has been the home to a revolving door of eateries, the last one being a Thai street food spot called Cousins. In fact, I didn't even notice it turned into a ramen house because the decor change was pretty subtle. The menu is mostly ramen, eight different bowls in all, plus four appetizers (like chicken karaage and edamame) and three desserts. So yes, you can have a three-course meal here if you want. But I'm the standing ramen guy, the type who pretends he's on the platform in Shinjuku station. I ordered the $16.50 Black Garlic Tonkotsu Ramen with the medium thick Sapporo noodles because of the allure of pork belly chashu. It came out a lot milkier than I expected as the film of the pork bone-based broth and black garlic oil bubbled up to the surface (photo: https://yelp.to/3XPswRdFZP). The ingredients were plentiful. Not only the pork belly but also wood ear mushrooms, bamboo shoots, green and red onion, and a soft-boiled ajitama egg. Quite filling though I have to admit tonkotsu is not my favorite broth. I actually prefer miso or shio because I like a less pronounced broth when there are a lot of competitive flavors. I'll come back for a bowl of their paitan ramen sometime. Hopefully the space won't turn into something else. FOOD - 4 stars...pronounced tonkotsu broth with lots of ingredients...wish there were other ramen choices AMBIANCE - 3.5 stars...hey, it looks like Cousins SERVICE - 4 stars...a kind server TOTAL - 4 stars...if you like tonkotsu ramen, here's your place RELATED - Exploring Berkeley? Here's my collection of places I've patronized and reviewed: https://bit.ly/2CbVh8u read more

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This place is really good. The portions are fair but not big by any means. Flavor is really good. From the chasu, to the noodles, to the broth- 9/10 read more

Tsuruya - Tonkatsu Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Berkeley, California

Creamiest and heartiest ramen broth I've ever had! I ordered the spiciest dish on the menu, but next time I would opt for a dish with plain broth. I tried a bit of my friends' dishes and thought the spice overpowered the richness of the broth and clouded the flavors. The place is super cute, reminding me of small ramen booths you can find in Japan. Our server was nice and friendly as well! The place does get busy, so expect a bit of a wait. For parties 5+, they do charge a gratuity fee (if I remember correctly it was either 16 or 18%). read more

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Wow. I had the black garlic tonkotsu ramen with the medium noodles and it pretty much rocked my world. I generallly don't like chasu and tried to swap it for an extra egg, but this place doesn't allow substitutions. At first I laughed at how thin the chasu was but it was kind of amazing at that thickness. It was like a really wide piece of bacon and the flavor was amazing. The wood ear mushroom and diced onions were fresh and delicious. The noodles were thick and chewy. The broth was fantastic and had a slight bacon flavr to it. The half egg was perfectly cooked. Chef's kiss. The restaurant itself is on the medium to small side. We got there right before a cue formed. There are benches outside to wait. Inside they were playing weird Japanese music videos with the sound off. This place is casual, clean, and delicious. read more

The food is so good, and the service is great. It's a small place, but it's very cozy. The staff is so nice. The whole vibe is cute.

Decent place for ramen! Stopped by for weekend dinner and had to join a waitlist, but we didn't end up waiting too long. I ordered the spicy tonkotsu, and the broth was nicely flavored and just mildly spicy. My friend who ordered the jigoku paitan confirmed that to be very spicy (but tasty). Overall, cozy spot to stop by for a casual meal with friends! read more

Tsuruya - Spicy tonkotsu - Ramen Near Me - Berkeley, California

Haven't had ramen in so long and this hit the spot. Got the spicy tonkots with the hakata noodles. The broth coated every strand and was so rich and had the perfect level of spiciness. Loved all the toppings too. read more

Tsuruya - Spicy tonkotsu ramen - Ramen Near Me - Berkeley, California

Cozy and inviting ramen spot in Berkeley. I ordered the black garlic tonkotsu - tojuku ramen with Sapporo thick style noodles and a side of spicy paste. The ramen broth was delicious not heavy. The noodles were cooked perfectly. Service was kind and fast. read more

Tsuruya - Ramen Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Berkeley often has the perfect weather for ramen, so Tsuruya is definitely in the right spot. I visited Tsuruya with a friend on a weekday evening - they take walk-ins only, and fortunately, we just beat the dinner rush and were seated right away. With four broths and two noodle types to choose from, the menu is short and straightforward. I ordered the spicy tonkotsu with the Hakata (thin) noodles, and my friend and I decided order the pork croquettes to share. Our croquettes came out first - they were served perfectly crispy on the outside, and the pork's smokiness paired well with the sweet dipping sauce. Our ramen followed quickly, and the spicy broth warmed my soul. While I wish there were more toppings given the volume of soup and noodles, everything tasted fresh and high quality. The chashu was tender and not overly-fatty (one of my biggest grievances with ramen), and the noodles were cooked to the optimal texture and chewiness. The broth was well-spiced yet not too hot, and I really liked the touch of citrus that cut through the richness. I have already bookmarked Tsuruya for a return visit, and I plan to try their Sapporo (thick) noodles next time. read more

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I think this might have been the best ramen shop ive ever been to. The broth is so incredibly creamy, and with so much depth. If you're just okay with spice, don't get the spiciest broth!! We messed up and underestimated the spiciness, but it was still regardless (just hurt a lot). Would recommend the garlic ramen tho! read more

Tsuruya - spicy chicken ramen, garlic ramen - Ramen Near Me - Berkeley, California

Was visiting Berkeley while we were in the area and found this spot on yelp. Came in and was greeted with super friendly staff. Dimly lit interior with warm staff. Cozy ramen spot! We ordered a bunch of appetizers such as the karaage, calamari, and the croquette. All of them were pretty good. I think personally I would order the karaage again, it was juicy with a good portion. The calamari wasn't as crispy as I wished it to be but still good. I think the croquette balls were a hybrid of takoyaki and croquette, but I wished it was just one or the other. Ramen: Jigoku Tonkotsu : This was a spicy tonkotsu (pork bone) ramen. Very good and rich flavor. Even though I ordered it spicy, I can still taste the depth of the rich and velvety pork soup. Really enjoyed it, I was especially craving spicy soup too. If you like the heat, I would definitely give it a try. Tonkotsu : Definitely a good tonkotsu broth, super rich, and without the spiciness you can definitely taste the rich and savory broth. What sets Tsuruya apart from other ramen places is that you can choose their noodle size, and their hakata noodles are thin and the soup basically coats every strand of noodle. I really enjoyed the thinner noodles, would definitely visit again! read more

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First of all, the vibe just reminds me of a typical ramen shop in Japan. Anytime it feels that way right when I walk in, I feel like the ramen is going to be a good experience. The service was super friendly and this place had one vegan option which is good enough for me. The prices were slightly less expensive compared to others in the area which was nice but then that left little for me to give to my bf to supplement his bowl of ramen. The vegan ramen was excellent! The broth was rich and flavorful and the noodles had the perfect amount of bite to them. The bf ordered the tori paitan and completely demolished it. Needless to say, we'll be back for more the next time we're in Berkeley! read more

Authentic Japanese Ramen that will definitely please your discriminating tongues. One of my all-time favorite ramen bistros in the Bay Area. read more

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This cute little spot was such a great dinner date spot. The wait wasn't too long and the staff were all so friendly! We ordered hakata jigoku ramen, black garlic skinny noodle, and a tonkatsu ramen. EVERYONE loved theirs, the spicy one was actually very spicy. So spicy lovers, prepare to meet your match. Otherwise their broth was still very flavorful. I loved my black garlic initially but after it cools down I and sits, I feel like it started to taste a little bitter? Not as noticeable when it's hot. Eat quickly! Chicken karaage is a must have. So crisp, light, juicy, perfectly seasoned. Doesn't feel oily at all-- a must order! read more

Tsuruya - Black garlic tonkatsu - Ramen Near Me - Berkeley, California

What a cute spot. Love the interior. Lady that runs the front is fantastic. Very sweet and attentive. Legitimately one of the best meals I have had in East bay period. For me the medium wavy noodle has a better chewier texture that's more my speed: I had the thin straight noodles in mine. They were good. But the medium wavy was a step above. The spiciest ramen they have I wouldn't say is especially spicy but does have some heat and great flavor. Best chashu I have ever had. Will be back. Thank you for a wonderful meal. read more

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Very small cute mom and pops restaurant with bar seating and couple tables. Not suitable for large parties. They have 2 types of ramen noodles, thin and thick. Wife prefers the thin while I prefer the thick. 2 sizing as well. Regular and large. We each had regular and were full. Got to try regular: -tonkotsu broth -black garlic - jigoku tonkotsu (which is actually extra spicy as stated on menu Overall, the broth is decent and you can taste that deep pork bone flavors. The black garlic wasn't strong, could use more black garlic magic. It was pretty much a one woman show in the front of the house and 2 workers in the back. read more

Tsuruya - Jigoku (spicy!) - Ramen Near Me - Berkeley, California

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