I first walked in the place was very, very full. I said at the bar area the first lady that served me was not very nice. The second lady was very pleasant and nice and very helpful I got the pork bowl and the pork was very tasty, but the broth was a little lacking in flavor also got the spring roll, which I did not care at all. I don't think I would return. read more

Sooo tasty!! I asked for some chili sauce on the sauce which elevated the dish (because I love spicy food). The server was really helpful when I asked whether or not the dish was vegetarian and told me the sauce contains oyster. It seemed pretty packed there the evening we went but I loved how lively the place seemed. I can't wait to go back again. read more

Uma Uma - Tofu Ichi Rice Bowl No Meat - Ramen Near Me - Ellicott City, Maryland

Now this is delicious! I've had ramen in so many places and I've found a favorite! I had the shoyu ramen with extra pickled ginger and fish cake. I also got a mango calico (so tasty). The broth flavor was amazing! Next time I'll add mushrooms because those had a sweeter flavor and I ended up taking some from my husband's bowl lol. He had tonkutsu ramen (which is our go to) with level 3 spice and melon creamy soda. I tasted his food and drink- all yum! Con: the place could use some sprucing up and brighter lighting. The waiter was easy to speak with and answered all of my questions in an easily understandable way. He was kind. I will definitely be back again and again! read more

Uma Uma - Tonkutsu ramen with extra egg and mushrooms - Ramen Near Me - Ellicott City, Maryland

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This place used to have the best noodle texture I've ever had with my ramen but alas they have really change a lot! The noodles are so at overcooked and it causes the ramen to be mushy and unsatisfying. Ramen noodles should have a chewy consistency! Hoping to see they get back to rare form and start caring again! read more

We started with an order of gyoza. The crispy edges were perfectly crispy, the pork filling was steamy and delicious and the wrapper had the perfect chewiness. I ordered the tonkotsu ramen. It was so delicious! The egg yolk was custard perfection, the broth was fragrant and flavorful and the noodles, once again, were chewy. Or server was attentive and friendly and the restaurant was very clean read more

Service was kind and speedy. I only ordered takoyaki but it was fresh and tasty and the price was reasonable compared to other places. Would like to come back and try the ramen sometime. read more

Uma Uma - Takoyaki - Ramen Near Me - Ellicott City, Maryland

The place is small and dark. The menu is limited to ramen and some rice bowls. There are some appetizers and desserts. There is a drink menu which includes some delicious sodas like the creamy mango drink. Definitely try it if you are not allergic to mango. The service was quick and very cordial. We were greeted very nicely when we walked in. The menus were given to us and the waitress was very nice and patient. We tried the pork gyoza, the chashu buns (omg soooooooo good!!!!) , the hubby and the kids got ramen and I tried the ichi rice bowl with chicken. The food was so fresh and so amazing! We will definitely be back. read more

Food: Although this spot is known for their ramen, and I've only tried it once, I come here at least once a month to enjoy a cold bubbly beverage and/or sake, their charsu bao buns (comes with two - i ask for the sauce on the side), and a bulgogi onigiri. I CRAVE this combo from Uma Uma weekly! read more

The ramen was good, but the other food was just okay. The over all vibe of the restaurant was small and dark, but in a cozy way. The service was pretty speedy, but granted there was only one other party in the restaurant at the time. read more

The place looks very nice, clean, and the service is pretty good too.but the food isn't good. I ordered the shoyu and it didnt taste anything like other places. The pork was very thin, the broth was thin and had an odd smell and it was bland. And the noodles werent the best. The dumplings were ok and left alot to be desired. Overall, the dipping sauce was the most flavorable part. I didn't finish the bowl and didn't take the leftovers because they were terrible. read more

Uma Uma - Shoyu - Ramen Near Me - Ellicott City, Maryland

1.22.22 Miso Ramen was very good. The pork broth and miso paste was flavorful, ramen was softer not al dente which I generally prefer. The portion was fairly small. I only got three slices of chasu. I asked my server if I could substitute the bean sprouts for bok choy. Not a huge deal, but it would have been courteous if she informed me that it was $1 extra for it. I saw on the menu that it cost $1 for extra toppings, but I considered it a substitute for the bean sprouts. I also purchased the Takoyaki, fried octopus pancake balls, as an appetizer. It was my first time trying it and I liked it. The ratio of octopus in each ball was inconsistent with some having more than others. In a few of them, I barely tasted or saw any octopus, unless it was cut really fine whereas in the others they were whole. Aesthetically, they were eyeing catching and beautifully presented. Had I not purchased this, I probably would have left still hungry. Service was good. The food didn't take long to prepare. I was there for a late lunch/early dinner around 4:15-4:30 so it wasn't super busy. The server was playing multiple roles so got to give her props. She welcomed guests, took the orders, served the food, and passed out the tabs. I dined alone, but had there been more than one server, she could have checked in with me, at minimum one time, to see if I needed anything. I enjoyed my bowl of ramen on this cold January day. The restaurant to me is fairly comparable to Akira Ramen in Columbia. When I am in the mood for ramen, I will probably alternate between the two. read more

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Just an ok ramen spot. Really for if you want to just get ramen and are close in the area. There are spots that are leagues ahead of this place if you are willing to drive a little further (Kippo Ramen, Jinya, Akira, etc.). I had their miso ramen which was just alright. The broth, although creamy, was a bit light tasting and was easily covered up with any sort of spice. The noodles were decent, pretty average for a ramen joint. The egg was a little overcooked but still seasoned well. Pork Chashu looked appetizing but was a bit bland after the initial bite. I will say however that the atmosphere is very appealing. Nice seating areas, dimly lit atmosphere, and great decorations. Gives the restaurant a relaxing yet appealing vibe. Overall, a very average ramen spot. Nothing remarkable, and again probably something you would shoot for if you just wanted ramen and were close by. read more

Shoyu Ramen 5/5 - the curvy noodles had a great texture and satisfying bite, exactly what I crave in ramen. Got it with the highest spice level, and its perfect for someone with a higher tolerance, not too spicy to where its not enjoyable. May be too spicy for someone with a low tolerance. Very tasty and good portion. The egg was cold but perfectly cooked with semi liquidity yolk. Tonkotsu Ramen 4.5/5 - Overall was delicious, although wasn't a fan of the thinner straight noodles compared to Shoyu. At first, it also felt as if it had a funky smell but tasted great. Good portion and egg like the shoyu Chasu bun 5/5 - Soft bun, good spice, strong flavors, well filled. Comes with two. Takoyaki 5/5- Was my favorite thing on the menu. Full of flavor, it has a great soft texture, and drizzled with tasty sauce. Enjoyed octopus chops and taste. Came during a non busy time, but service was extremely fast. One appetizer came after another and the ramen was out before they could be finished. Staff was nice and restaurant was clean. read more

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Ramen is always nice on a cold winter night. It was lovely to meet up with friends right before the holidays. You can't go wrong with the tonkotsu. I think it's the cloudy broth that I can't make on my own that makes me gravitate to this dish no matter where I go. I enjoyed all the ingredients except for the pickled ginger. It just felt weird that every now and then I get a bite of ginger, but otherwise, a thoroughly good bowl of soup and noodles. We also got the shoyu ramen which was also quite good. I am not sure why we were all given plastic spoons. Our friends ordered a rice dish and found it incredibly hard to scoop up their meal. We couldn't slurp up our broth with such a small spoon and ultimately had to ask for the traditional ramen soup spoon (think small ladle). We shared the White Peach Sake with everyone at the table and everyone loved it. It is very sweet but the small shot glasses help with moderation. I highly recommend the sake. Nice location and restaurant. Parking was adequate. read more

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First time here on a Sat. Evening. Found out about it by accident on Yelp. Had no idea what to expect. Was greeted by friendly staff, arrived around 5p and next thing you know the place got packed around 6p I ordered the Ichiban rice bowl it was fantastic. The Bao Buns were good but next time I will do non spicy The shrimp dumplings best i had in a long time. Ramen was perfect (3) on the spicy level. Drinks were good, server made great suggestions. Great place for a date nigh. read more

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Love the presentation of the food. They have some pretty friendly waiters, and I feel generally comfortable in the environment. Seriously, the presentation of the food is impressive. I'm personally not that explorative with different taste, so I cannot compare the tastes to other places, but the environment is decent, maybe just needs a bit more lights, but feels cozy. read more

Ordered the pork buns and pork rice bowl. Completely different pork, now it's not shredded but cubed and it has an off taste to it. Will not be returning as nothing sets it apart anymore. read more

Picked up two orders of Shio ramen for carry out. They gave us the wrong broth and the meat was overcooked, We've gone to Uma Uma for years. This is very disappointing. Will start looking elsewhere for ramen. I see my prior review was similar and I must say in between it got better. read more

Literally so delicious, cute little restaurant. That was the best bowl of ramen I ever had! The broth was Smoky, spicy by choice, and the ingredients were fresh and plentiful. Everything came out in less than 10 minutes it seemed and I really enjoyed my dish. 5/5 no notes! Great service and the price was really affordable. I got an appetizer, an entree, and a drink for about 25 bucks! Normalize not breaking the bank for a delicious meal! I will certainly be back a couple of times. read more

Uma Uma - Shoyu Ramen, add mushrooms, Spice level 3 - Ramen Near Me - Ellicott City, Maryland

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Service was friendly and willing to share knowledge of ramen and the best way to take home leftovers. Started with pork buns before Tonkatsu Ramen, level 2 spice. Mine had more ginger than what I'm used to but I found this to be a positive. Only down side was a hit of a lag time in server attention, but the place was quite busy by the time we left. I would definitely revisit. read more

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We have loved the food here for years, and one of the best things here is an appetizer: chashu buns. They are amazing, with shredded pork having a delicious charcoal grilled flavor. We have on many occasions just gotten chashu buns and nothing else, they're that good. It seems the restaurant is under new management, and unfortunately they have made a change to the chashu buns. It's not an improvement. Now they are sliced pork, maybe more traditional or something but my god the original recipe was so astonishingly good that I can't compare it. We won't be doing any more chashu dinners here. read more

A very solid ramen place. Service was very nice, and once they let us in at around 8:50 when closing was at 9. Shoyu Ramen is always out within a few minutes, and I always order an extra egg as that is something uma uma prepares very well. Solid amount of meat and good portions. Enough for one person. Broth could use more flavoring but in general very solid. Can never go wrong with uma uma. read more

Uma Uma - Ramen Near Me - Ellicott City, Maryland

Ordered for first time from this establishment. Ordered via DoorDash. Bokchoy order I received was a farce. Improve by providing reasonable portion size. I promise you I am not a robot or a rabbit. read more

Uma Uma - Bokchoy - Ramen Near Me - Ellicott City, Maryland

Decent ramen spot. Food was good and service was quick and efficient. Honestly would try again to check out the other options.

I thought the ramen at Uma Uma was great! The shio ramen was super tasty and I felt like the veggie broth paired with the marinated cooked beef went very well together. I also heard the tonkotsu ramen was tasty as well. I thought that the ratio of meat to toppings and noodles was good. There were a lot of noodles in both our bowls. I liked how our ramen wasn't too salty as some ramen places that I've gone to can be on the saltier end. read more

Uma Uma - Tonkotsu and Shio Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Ellicott City, Maryland

Solid ramen spot with quick service. We got the shoyu and shio ramen. The curly noodles are thin like regular noodles but slightly chewier. The broth for the shio ramen was light but fragrant. The beef in the ramen tasted like bulgogi and complemented the broth really well. read more

Uma Uma - Shoyu Ramen (top) and Shio Ramen (bottom) - Ramen Near Me - Ellicott City, Maryland

My daughter treated myself and her daughter to lunch here on August 7, 2019. When we arrived, we were seated promptly and served water with our menus. I decided to try a beer from Okinawa (a first for me) and my granddaughter chose to try a blueberry bubble tea. We were quite puzzled on opening the bottle, and our friendly and sweet waitress showed us how to do it. I ordered a single yakitori, because I wasn't extremely hungry and my daughter had said she'd share her bowl with me. DGD had miso ramen, and DD's choice was NI beef bowl. My yakitori came first, because it's actually an appetizer - I waited until the others were served to eat, so it was cold by then, but still tasty. DGD takes the larger bits of food out of the ramen and attacks them on a small plate, while her technique for eating the noodles is a joy to watch. She slurped away and pronounced everything "amazing!" Meanwhile, DD handed me her bowl and I scooped out rice with a few bits of vegetables, to eat with my yakitori. The rice was exceptionally flavorful and rich, and DD said the beef was delectable. I consider around $30 a fair price (that includes gratuity) for the three of us, mostly because when you add in beverages the bill is always more expensive. The decor is fun, the staff attentive and friendly, everything spotlessly maintained, and parking was easy. read more

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Classic Ramen With the usual vegetables. I like the spot because I can sit at the bar or stare out the window as I eat. Super fast with great service. In and out during the lunch rush. read more

Uma Uma - Shoyu Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Ellicott City, Maryland

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Uma Uma is awesome!! My friend and I had spent the entire morning working on a project at his house and appetites were ready for porcine, spicy, deliciousness. We seem to pick perfect days for projects. Last time, it was pouring rain. Today, it was quite cool and drizzly. In any case, something warm and piquant seemed to fit the bill. Uma Uma is a medium sized establishment in a small shopping mall. Walk in, and you will see booths, a set of tables out front, and a cool bar area. Looking as flagged as we must have appeared, we were graciously seated at a comfy booth near the bar. We got shrimp gyozas for an appetizer. The wrappers were expertly crisped, the shrimp interiors were well cooked (not overly chewy), and a delightful sweet sauce was expertly dashed across the gyozas. For mains, we both got the kitsune udon. My friend got no spice. I opted for the top level - 5, on the side. I now wish I had not wussed out. I eat Dave's Insanity Sauce at home on practically everything...so, for whatever reason, I give restaurants the benefit of the doubt when they offer levels of spicy. In this case...I scraped every last bit of the thick spicy concoction into the deeply umami'ed (is that even a word!?) broth. Within my bowl were mini boo choy, seaweed paper, half a soft boiled egg, and two slices of thinly cut pork (presumably the tonkatsu). The flavors all meshed well, the egg was not overly cooked - it melted away into the broth. I genuinely enjoyed my soup! What surprised me was the little lightly alcoholic beverage. Icing White Grape. Don't let the fru-fru name fool you. Our waitress said it was very popular and I can see why. It's crisp and fruit forward flavors really balanced out the deep umami in the udon broth. I think I shall return...and I suggest you treat yourself to a visit as well. Udon well, my friends! read more

Uma Uma - What the WHAT!? This little Korean lightly alcoholic beverage paired really well against the salty umami of the ramen. - Ramen Near Me - Ellicott City, Maryland

I've been here once a while back, and thought "it's ok," and didn't return for awhile. Well, I had a craving for ramen and needed a quick fix - so I went. I honestly don't know if anything really changed, but the ramen was spot on. Like, really good. Enough for me to say to myself, "I should leave a review and support this shop to keep it going because they will improve and do more." Oh, their buns are pretty good too. read more

New to ramen, this is the place to expand the taste buds! Easy parking-right next to Tous Les Jous (woo dessert!)-there is a lot of indoor seating-but I've been told it can get crowded. The menu has so many great options; from their variety of ramen bowls, to rice bowl options, and ample appetizers-it's hard to pick! I settled on splitting a rice beef bowl and miso ramen with the husband. The rice bowl we got at a 3, but I'd go spicier next time. They give a hearty portion, with lots of ingredients, not too much broth. The rice bowl had a pop of flavors. The spicy sauce was amazing, with lots of roe :) The beef is super tender, it was hard not to eat it all and have to share. I'd eat here again-to run through the menu choices. In addition, the staff was on it! Very attentive. read more

Uma Uma - Beef rice bowl - Ramen Near Me - Ellicott City, Maryland

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They're okay, not the best of its kind but will do for a quick serving or when you're craving to eat ramen. I wish they are 1 whole egg instead of half for better presentative and serving? Strict social distancing required inside with a maximum of 4 per table (at least when we went there). Nice friendly people inside though. Btw, they are located within the same complex where a famous bakery is. You don't even need to move your parking. read more

Uma Uma is such a great edition to local eats in Ellicott City! I've been twice with my cousin and she is obsessed with this place! We went today for lunch, my cousin ordered the the pork dumplings which are appetizing and the portion was enough to share for two! She also ordered this mango creamy soda which was sweet but a subtly sweet it wasn't overpowered by sugar or anything like that! On to the crown jewel of Uma Uma is the ramen. We both ordered the Miso Ramen mine's was with extra egg and she got extra bean sprouts in hers. The ramen was hot when it came out that I can feel the third degree burns in my esophagus. The bowls are pretty big and somewhat justifiable for the prices too. There's pricier places in the area so this one is the most reasonable I've also tried the shrimp appetizer my previous visit. It wasn't terrible per se, but tasted really fishy. The only other complaint I have with Uma Uma is the the menu. The ramen selection is rather small compared to other places I've been too. It's not a deal breaker for me but it would be nicer to see more ramen options in the future so I can try something else! read more

Uma Uma - Miso ramen with extra egg! - Ramen Near Me - Ellicott City, Maryland

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Came to Uma Uma for lunch. They have lunch specials-- our waiter said it's pretty much the same amount of noodles, just half of the toppings it normally comes with. It also comes with a bowl of rice which doesn't sound appealing when you're already eating a big bowl of noodles. My sister and I opted to just get the regular bowls. We also got the gyoza and I tried a bulgogi onigiri. I enjoyed the gyoza but the onigiri was just ok. The ramen was very good and the broths were flavorful. My one comment... be careful with the spice levels!! They are 1-5. Our waiter told me level 2 was about siracha level spiciness but I'll just say my sinuses were super clear by the end of the meal!! I would definitely only get 1 next time (maybe I'm a wuss, who knows...) read more

I was given this suggestion from a friend as I had my first ramen experience out (TapAsia in Albany, NY) and was very much disappointed. I instead a do over and a friend said this place was great. This restaurant is in the same Shopper's by Center as the Boston Market, around the corner but facing the street. There is ample parking in the lot. The aesthetics was more contemporary country than Asian, but that's ok. I was impressed by the ramen bowl. Delicious. I ordered the shoyu version, added an extra egg and got garlic sauce & the hot sauce on the side so that I could add it myself. I am used to eating pho out and in comparison, this serving is far smaller. I got hot tea with my meal however the tea was lukewarm at best. Would have been nice to have a piping hot pot at my table and if not one at my table, at least be served HOT tea. Please do better. Cold tea is not my forte. I would have liked a mint with my bill, as Asian restaurants tend to do that. Well, you won't get one here. The menu is limited in my opinion. This was a great option as a do over from my previous experience however, I doubt I'll return given the menu being limited. read more

I love the hot ramen from this place! They also have great appetizers to munch on! I recommend the shoyu ramen and the shrimp dumplings.

This was my third time coming to this restaurant and I've should've listened to my instincts. The only reason I came here was because I was in the area and my friend wanted Ramen. The inside was empty for dinner time on a Friday so that's a big give a way that it isn't the best but like I said, I was in the area. First we ordered the shrimp gyoza and it was ok. Very oily and you can tell they don't make it in-house. For Ramen I ordered the Tonkotsu with extra noodles and spice level 5 which is the highest. Wasn't spicy at all nor was the broth good either. This will be the last time I come here honestly. The food just isn't up to par for Ramen. As for the service. it was on point since we were literally the only customers in the restaurant. read more

Uma Uma - Tonkatsu with spice level 4 and extra noodles - Ramen Near Me - Ellicott City, Maryland

TLDR: Mediocre food, skimpy portions of meat and vegetables, with very attentive staff. This place was, sadly, very underwhelming. I have been eager to have a local ramen place, but never found the time to visit. Meager portions of vegetables, the meat is cut paper thin, so you don't get much. The broths were not very flavorful, and the noodles weren't anything remarkable. The service however was great. Staff was very attentive, and when it was clear that my wife was overwhelmed, a supervisor stepped in, and offered to explain the items on the menu. The most damning criticism that my wife pointed out is that this place has no authenticity, nothing to bring you back, instead trading it for a hipster vibe. read more

Uma Uma - Spicy char siu bao. - Ramen Near Me - Ellicott City, Maryland

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This restaurant is a great and simple place for ramen. Beautiful looking food and pretty tasty. They have 4-5 different staple bowls to choose from with their specific toppings and also a few appetizers. I tried the takoyaki (octopus balls) and pork buns appetizer which came out very fast. The pork buns are topped with green onions and pickled onions and it was delicious!!! I would order this again. You get two buns and can choose the spicy option if that tickles your fancy ! I got the tonkatsu ramen and it was ok. There were only two pieces of chashu that were very thinly sliced. The broth wasn't full bodied as I had hoped but it was still delicious and worth a try. They also have a .50 cent upcharge if you want to get it spicy and their levels go from 1-5. My husband got the shoyu ramen with level 2 spice and it was pretty hot to me so I couldn't eat it. I did try his broth and because it was shoyu, it was a bit more salty than mine and again not full bodied. I enjoyed myself and service was great !! I want to come back and try other things and I'm pretty sure everything will be delicious as it looks. read more

I went there on a weeknight to catch up with a friend over a nice casual dinner and conversation, and we had a nice experience there. We got the pork buns, which had plenty of shredded bbq pork and toppings. Then we both got a bowl of tonkasu ramen. The broth was flavorful and hot, 2 pieces of pork belly in it, the egg was a great tasting soy flavor. I also liked the toppings, which were bok choy, pickled ginger, scallions, seaweed, and a fish cake. The waitstaff is friendly and helpful. The place is a modern, clean decor. I'll definitely come back for my next ramen craving. read more

Uma Uma - Tonkasu ramen with extra egg - Ramen Near Me - Ellicott City, Maryland

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