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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.
Very cute place with good customer service in Berkeley. The amount of noodles and toppings are generous. Kid friendly which is always a plus - the server gave us Halloween stickers for our kids. Thicker noodles were good but it's nice that you have a choice of thick or thin noodles. The jidori eggs were really good. Done perfectly. Will ask for no red onions next time but everything was fresh and good.
A cozy but a bit noisy inside. I had the TaKaRa-Chu low alcohol beverage. It was okay but I wouldn't order it again. Opened with chicken Kara-age for an appetizer. It came with a dipping sauce which was good. I had the "Tokujo" Tonkatsu ramen with extra noodles on the side. There was a choice of straight or wavy noodles. I opted for straight originally and had the wavy ones as a side dish later on after I had consumed a fair portion of my entree. You don't get a massive amount of food but I was happy with the taste. The cha-su wasn't warm but after submerging it in the broth it was fine. The ramen was better than average. I'm always looking for a superior dish!! Service was good. Japanese hospitality is nice.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
I got the black garlic tonkotsu tokujo ramen. I thought it was really delicious. The broth was really rich, meaty, and flavorful. I liked the toppings because the bamboo shoots were nicely marinated, and the egg was savory and soft. I loved how the chashu was tender and soft without being too fatty. We also got the creamy chashu pork croquettes, which had a nice balance of savory meat flavor and creaminess while being crispy. The restaurant also has a nice and cozy ambiance. The food was served in several minutes, and the staff seemed friendly.
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!
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.
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.
I love the tonkotsu flavor!!! I also really like the service here. I think I'll be back soon to try the paitan soup!
2 years ago
Delicious and a great experience. Yuzu soda has bits in it, in a good way. The one thing I would like is coat/purse hooks installed under the bar. I had to sit on my jacket, and saw other people looking a bit awkward about it too- one had his jacket on his lap while eating. read more
2 years ago
The restaurant entrance is tucked away in an alley. The service was amazing and the food came out quickly. We ordered fried calamari for appetizers- they were so light and crispy which paired nicely with the tangy aioli sauce. I had ordered the Spicy Tonkotsu with Hakata Noodles (Thin Noodles). The broth was amazing, it was flavorful and light. The egg was the perfect jam texture and the noodles were chewy. My fiance ordered the Black Garlic Tonkotsu flavor was the perfect amount of black garlic and it paired really well with the Sapporo noodles (Thick Wavy Noodles). The menu was so simple and everything was delicious - definitely will be back to try the Tori Paitan Ramen next time! read more
7 months ago
2 years ago
If you've never visited Japan and want to experience it, Tsuruya is the closest you'll get. From the ramen, appetizer, and dessert, omg... It took me and my husband back from the endless ramen stalls we ate in Osaka, Kyoto, and Tokyo. The owners are Japanese, so you're in for an authentic experience. The place is small and cozy. The appetizer, ramen, and desserts were a home run. Chicken Karaage 5/5: Crispy from the outside (perfect crunch), juicy on the inside. Ramen 5/5: Sapporo style. It's top-notch. Honestly, order any flavor, and you won't go wrong. From the broth, chewy noodles, and toppings- this is how ramen should taste like Yuzu Sorbet & Matcha panna cotta 5/5: Typical Japanese dessert that is light, not too sweet, yet flavorful. Again, this is how dessert tastes in Japan. It's been years since I left a Yelp review on a restaurant that deserves recognition. As much as I want to gatekeep this spot, It's too good not to share my thoughts with foodies alike. My only wish is for them to serve beer. Hopefully in the future! read more
1 year ago
3 years ago
New ramen spot in Berkeley! Very sweet staff who were so attentive. Ramen flavor was amazing - not oily at all but doesn't compromise on flavor! Karaage was crispy and not oily. Matcha panna cotta is a must try! Not too sweet but just the perfect hint of sweetness. Will definitely return! read more
1 year ago
2 years ago
The food was amazing! You can tell the quality of the ramen and the broth was very flavorful and tasty. The noodles with thick or thin was great as well, we had the black garlic tori paitan and spicy tori paitan and it was delicious! My new favorite ramen spot! Also the matcha panna cotta was great, it gave me nostalgia of the matcha pudding in japan so I walked out happy! Service was very friendly and attentive! The ambiance was a chill vibe it definitely felt like I was in Japan again! read more
7 months ago
2 years ago
Their ramen (real Japanese ramen!) and dessert taste so good, and the price is very reasonable. They are super sweet people. And now they have alcohol! Only request I have is for them to open for lunch on the weekdays. Over all, I love this place. I highly recommend it! read more
1 year ago
3 years ago
Came here during Tsuruya's soft-launch opening event with my friend for lunch! The service was great! Our server was really nice, taught us about the different types of ramen noodles and where they come from, and gave us plenty of recommendations on what to order. She also mentioned that they will be offering other menu options in the future after their soft-launch event. The atmosphere inside was quiet, clean, and modern. The food and drinks were great! We loved the richness of the matcha, which was also served hot. They were given to us for free because we came in during lunch time during their soft-launch event, and we are very thankful! We especially loved the Hakata style ramen with wavy and thin noodles, which were recommended to us by the chef who came all the way from Yokohama, Japan! We will definitely be coming back here, and I recommend trying this place out read more
2 years ago
**Rating: 5/5** I casually ordered the Chashu croquette, and it was so delicious that I ended up getting seconds. Even though it was a croquette, it had the perfect texture of chashu, making the balance of ingredients exquisite. I was so impressed that I asked the staff, and they told me it was handmade. For the ramen, I ordered the Jigoku Spicy Tonkotsu. The vibrant spinach and shallots caught my eye, and I ended up eating them before the soup. The Chashu was also handmade, with sear marks added after slicing, giving it an irresistible aroma. The egg was perfectly peeled and matched the soup's flavor well. As for the soup and noodles, the spiciness is at an American spicy level, so you can still taste the tonkotsu flavor. I think those who enjoy spice will finish the broth. The tonkotsu has no unpleasant smell and is moderately rich, making it easy for the noodles to absorb. It's top-tier for tonkotsu in the Bay Area. I recommend the regular Spicy over Jigoku. This time, I chose thick weavy noodles, which are short and easy to slurp! They are delicious whether you slurp them politely or not! I didn't expect even the noodles to be localized, and I was excited the whole time I was eating. The chicken chashu in the paitan overshadowed everything else. There's no other chicken chashu as delicious as that. I think the deluxe paitan with Sapporo(thick weavy) noodles is the best. Moreover, it's reasonably priced for a deluxe one, so I bet those who find here will become fans. I've become addicted, so my treat for myself will be going to Tsuruya for a while. 何気なく頼んだ焼豚コロッケが美味しすぎてお代わりしてしまいました。 コロッケなのにちゃんと焼豚の食感があるので具の塩梅が絶妙なんだと思います。 あまりにも感動してしまってお店の方に聞いてみると手作りなんだそうです。 ラーメンは地獄級の辛い豚骨を頼んだのですが、 ほうれん草やエシャロットが鮮やかさを際立てていて思わずスープより先に食べてしまってました。(笑) 焼豚も手作りとのことですが、スライスしたあとに焼き目を付けてくれてたので香ばしさがたまりませんでした。味玉は丁寧にひとつずつキレイに剥けてあり、味もスープにマッチしていました。 肝心のスープと麺ですが、辛さはアメリカンスパイシーなのでちゃんと豚骨の味も分かるレベルです。好きな方は飲み干してしまうと思います。 豚骨は、くさみがなく程よいこってりだったので麺にも絡みやすくベイエリアの豚骨としてはトップレベルだと思います。Jigokuより普通のSpicyの方がおすすめです。 今回はちぢれ麺を選んだのですが、すすりやすい短さなんです！ すすっても美味しいし、上品にすすらなくても食べやすいんです！スープだけでなく麺にまでローカライズしてると思ってなくて ずっと興奮しながら食べてました。 おかしな話ですが、パイタンの鶏チャーシューで、すべて上書きされちゃいました。 あんな美味い鶏チャーシューないです。 多分この店はちぢれ麺のデラックスパイタンが一番美味しいです。 しかもデラックスで他の店より良心的な値段なので、見つけた方はファンになっていくと思います。 私はハマっちゃったので、当分自分へのご褒美はTsuruyaに行くと思います read more
2 years ago
Oishi!!! Loved the tonkatsu ramen. A beautiful rich nourishing bowl of pure yumminess. I've had many bowls of ramen on my life and this place stands out. And the (owner?) was so kind and welcoming. Gotta bring my son next time! read more
2 years ago
Food: this was hands down one of the best ramens I have had, with ramen scene as crazy as it is in the Bay Area and options such as Ramen Nagi and Mensho, we are always in need for more & better ramen places. Service: The service was really good, both our servers were proper, interacted with us, explained the food, for that. The only thing I want to request and it's a general request to all the ramen places in the Bay Area, start taking reservations. I hate standing in lines for 40-50 mins for read more
2 years ago
Very nice environment and food Definitely choose deluxe ramen Portion is not large but there are delicious toppings and meat. I especially like the chicken broth. The amount noodles can be more, and it'll be perfect read more
11 months ago
2 years ago
1 year ago
2 years ago
1 year ago
Good vibes and delicious food! I loved the croquettes and I also got the "Jigoku" ramen. I personally am a big spice person and it certainly will fulfill your needs!! I was huffing and puffing afterwards. Service is good, one lady runs the front by herself but the food came out quickly and she was very sweet about explaining everything. I got the regular thickness level noodles but my partner loved the thin noodles too! Gives ramen places in Japan a run for their money. read more
1 year ago
2 years ago
Let me start off with the service. AMAZING. The kindest most attentive staff. They worked so hard and took care of everyone. I came with my 1 year old son and they even had a sippy cup for toddlers. She just brought it out. Super sweet. Brought out a clean highchair which every parent knows that's rare so I appreciate the cleanliness. Very cute and clean spot. Loved how everything looked. The wall tiling was cute. Okay now the food. WHAT??? The best ramen I've had in the bay area. That spicy lemon garnish in the middle, chefs kiss. Overall 5 stars. I came from Pleasanton and I will be making the trip back again. This was the Spicy Tonkostsu read more
2 years ago
Very full restaurant already so it doesn't need help. But I want to say that this is the REAL DEAL for ramen. Very lucky to have this in Berkeley. Friendly staff no matter how busy. read more
2 years ago
Simply heart warming delicious ramen in a cozy restaurant off UC Berkeley campus. You may have to wait because this is a small restaurant but they serve up heaping bowls of pork or chicken based ramen quickly. Also recommend their chicken kiragi. read more
1 year ago
1 year ago
We got the black garlic and spicy tonkostu ramen. This was still a soft opening. We came on a Sunday 1 hour before they closed. Seating was quick ands service was good. Attentive to our empty water glass and took our order in 5 min. Menu is very small took and took 15 min to get our food 2 ramen dishes which is kind of long for a very small ramen menu. Restaurant was clean and only 1 other customer besides my partner and I. Both broth were thick but milky thick, not dense thick for ramen. Spice level is very low, I'd ask for more spices sauce on the side if you like hot and spice, this is not it. I love garlic and the garlic broth doesn't have enough garlic for my preference. The noodles were house made, cooked form which I love but too thin like angel hair thin for my preference. I would prefer more condiments in the broth like the green onions, etc. for $15 it's a decent amount of food. The egg yolk was still creamy and the chashu was cut not too thin and also not too thick, seasoned well. Overall, 3.5 stars. Still a soft opening, I'd come back after a month or so. read more
Came back to try their regular tonkotsu with thick ramen noodles and THIS IS IT! It was the PERFECT bowl of tonkotsu ramen for me. Super happy they dialed down the salt level just slightly because the broth I had had the perfect saltiness, it was balanced, savory from the pork bone, and perfectly smooth and creamy. I even finished the broth for the first time, it was just THAT good. So fortunate to have Tsuruya in the neighborhood to serve us authentic Japanese ramen, no need to go to Japan now (jk!). read more
2 years ago
It is surprisingly pretty hard to find a good bowl of ramen in the Bay Area. This place lives up to the hype, a very good bowl of ramen at a (for here) decent price. The spice level of the Jigoku spice was the perfect level and the Tonkatsu base has a terrific consistency. The service was run by one person, but it was timely and I never felt like I had to wait. The ambiance was a nice well lit spot and it wasn't all that busy when I went. I would recommend this spot to anyone looking for a good bowl of ramen in the East Bay! read more
2 years ago
3 years ago
Affordable authentic ramen with rich broth. The space is airy and clean. Friendly service from a nice Japanese family. read more
2 years ago
2 years ago
Thank you for serving us past last call today! we appreciate you and love your ramen so much! I came here once with my girlfriend to try it out and was amazed how authentic and high quality the soup and noodles were that we wanted to try again, couldn't make it during dinner rush but came in very last minute to see if we could make it before closing time. very oishi and friendly service, we will come back for sure! read more
1 year ago
2 years ago
Great service and amazing atmosphere. Ramen noodles were the perfect amount of chewy, but the black garlic tonkotsu broth lacked a bit in flavor. Next time I visit, I will be getting the normal tonkotsu broth. Also worth mentioning that they have a really clean bathroom! Overall, I recommend trying Tsuruya. read more
7 months ago
1 year ago
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