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    Waku Waku Ramen Chinatown

    3.9 (238 reviews)
    ModerateRamen
    Closed 11:30 am - 11:30 pm

    Order Waku Waku Ramen Chinatown Takeout or Delivery

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    WAKU WAKU RAMEN CHINATOWN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Loud
    Casual
    Good for groups
    Dogs allowed

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    Reviews With Photos - Waku Waku Ramen Chinatown

    Signature Ramen
    Steph W.

    This place is rather small so try to get there early if you can. It gets a little noisy when it fills up. The staff was warm and welcoming. We ordered boneless wings for an appetizer. The portion was pretty small for 3 people. I got the signature ramen. It was good, but it wasn't as spicy as I had hoped. My husband got the spicy burnt Miso ramen and it was also not spicy. We prefer Ganko Ittetsu if we have a ramen craving.

    Lauren H.

    Stopped in for a quick lunch. The waitresses were extremely nice and delivered fast service. These ramen bowls are fantastic, full of flavor, and perfect size. Will definitely be back again!

    Samantha P.

    Oh what a delight! Great trendy spot in Chinatown that was the perfect vibes for an evening dinner. It feels like you're not even in Chinatown! The servers were so nice and attentive, and our food was brought out very quickly. It was husslin on a Monday night, and we couldn't have asked for a better time after a long day of walking. I got the Spicy Kimchi Miso Ramen, and the spicy gochujang karaage chicken. The ramen was incredibly flavorful, the pork and egg were cooked just right, and the kimchi was such a nice added ingredient for this. I loved every part of it! Parking is hard around here so recommend taking the train, as its close to South Station. Definitely a top recommendation for me!

    Tracy C.

    Wooowwww We had some cold sake and pork gyozas with apple soy sauce. We stopped for a short break as we were walking around and, excuse the language, but damn. This place wins at life. The apple soy sauce? Amazing. A new level of deliciousness. We wanted to order 2 more orders for each of us but were prudent and got the heck out of there before going into a food coma. We licked it clean. Loved this place.

    Sam D.

    Good food service was awesome and ambience was great, prices were ok, lots of parking available around.

    Magda C.

    This place is really cute with great ambiance. I had a good vegetarian ramen, but the octopus balls were not great. Overall recommend.

    Nick S.

    WakuWaku Ramen in Boston's Chinatown is a fantastic spot for a reliably great and satisfying bowl of ramen. The food is the real star, and our visit confirmed the hype. The ramen broth was rich and flavorful. The noodles had that perfect firm and chewy texture, and the toppings were a great addition. We paired it with the tempura, which was a crispy and excellent side. The service was fast and friendly, with staff that are attentive and helpful. It's a popular place, so the space can feel cozy and lively, which adds to the experience. Whether you're a ramen novice or a connoisseur, WakuWaku delivers a delicious, well-executed meal with big portions that feel worth the price. It's a go-to in the area for a reason.

    Tonkotsu Ramen
    Ariel A.

    I came here for lunch during my trip in Boston. It's very nice inside, the decorations are cool. The space is very small though, and it was busy when we went. We ordered their chicken and gyoza for an appetizer. I personally preferred the fried pork gyoza because of the crunchiness. Both my partner and I got the tonkotsu ramen. It was pretty good, not my favorite but it's definitely up there. The service was very quick and polite.

    truffle shoyu ramen
    Isabella C.

    I've been wanting to try this place! The service was good, and everyone was very friendly. A modern aesthetic, with a decent amount of seating for the space. I thought the ramen was good, but didn't wow me. Still a solid spot to satisfy a craving!

    Delicious ramen it was absolutely great for a cold day. Amazing atmosphere for a good meal.

    Signature Ramen
    Quang T.

    Food: to be honest, not great. It was good the first time I had it, but this time the food felt very normal, plain. Maybe I just got unlucky this time. The ramen tasted like it came from a chain, which I know Waku Waku is, but I felt it was "just" ramen. The real disappointment was the katsu. It was a little dry and flat, but not flat in a good way. The meat felt thin and the breading wasn't very crispy. The katsu was an add-on for their combo, but it wasn't a great addition. The karaage was karaage. Not the best but still pretty good. Service: good service, no complaints. Ambiance: it's a small, somewhat tightly packed room with very low lights level. Very low. How's the feel of you going for a night out, maybe a club or something before or after. Could be a date spot, but again, it's pretty dark in there. I'm not hating on it though, more just surprised. Parking: Good luck, it's Chinatown. You can try parking at the paid lot down the street closer to Windsor Cafe and Tsaocaa.

    Miso Tonkotsu  Ramen Squid Karaage House Sake (Hot and Cold)
    Liv M.

    lack of pescatarian and vegetarian/vegan options. quite expensive for alright food. noodles and broth left me craving for more. Service was quick and the place itself was really ambient.

    Emily Y.

    The wait for a table is about 20 mins on a Saturday night. We got the signature ramen with pork katsu and miso tonkatsu ramen. The pork katsu was crispy and delicious. The miso tonakatsu ramen is incredibly salty. We asked for another bowl of plain broth to dilute it. The gyudon had a good beef to rice ratio and you can swap the poached egg for a smoked egg.

    Curry Miso Ramen

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    Tora Ramen

    Tora Ramen

    4.3
    (302 reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $$

    Tora Ramen is a small ramen shop located in Boston Chinatown that focuses on Japanese-style ramen…read morebowls and casual dining. We walked into a cozy, compact space with a traditional ramen shop feel, the kind of place where the smaller layout gives it a more intimate atmosphere. The interior is warm and functional, with a counter and a few tables that make it a comfortable stop for a warm meal, though seating can be limited during busier times. The energy stays focused and efficient, fitting the style of a neighborhood ramen spot. The ramen is the main reason to visit. The menu offers a variety of broths and styles, including tonkotsu, miso, shoyu, and spicy options. We ordered the spicy miso ramen and found it had a good balance of heat and flavor without being overwhelming, with the broth rich enough to carry the noodles and toppings without becoming too heavy. The noodles had a nice texture, and the bowls felt satisfying, especially on a colder day. The toppings, including pork belly and other additions, helped add more depth to the meal, with the chashu tender and well seasoned and the soft-boiled egg cooked to that perfect jammy consistency. The appetizers are also worth trying. Items like karaage, takoyaki, and gyoza pair well with the ramen and make the meal feel more complete, and we appreciated that the menu has enough variety for a quick ramen stop or a longer meal where you want to try multiple dishes. One thing to keep in mind is that Tora Ramen is cash only, so it is worth planning ahead before visiting. There is an ATM nearby, but it can be inconvenient if you are not expecting it. The restaurant is also fairly small, so there may be a wait during peak hours, though the turnover is usually reasonable and the staff handle the flow efficiently. Tora Ramen is a solid spot for ramen in Chinatown. The cozy atmosphere, flavorful bowls, and casual experience make it a good choice when you are craving a comforting meal. The cash-only setup and limited seating are small drawbacks, but the quality of the ramen makes it worth visiting for a warm, satisfying bowl in a no-fuss setting.

    Stopped in on a chilly day shortly after they opened. The shop is small but filled with various…read morehigh and low seating options. The menu is on a qr code and it's a cash only business. I ordered and received my food quickly. The ramen was delicious and well portioned. The staff were attentive and it was also clearly liked because in the 20 or so minutes I was there the place filled up with a waitlist running. Definitely worth going back again.

    Photos
    Inside
    Inside
    Spicy miso ramen
    Spicy miso ramen
    Black Garlic Tonkotsu

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    Black Garlic Tonkotsu
    Tora Japanese Restaurant

    Tora Japanese Restaurant

    4.4
    (946 reviews)
    0.0 mi
    $$

    Extremely fresh fish with generous portions in a casual, underground space…read more I think this is a reasonably priced establishment for the level of fish (phenomenal) and service (reasonable and attentive, but not like a fancier sit down restaurant) that you get. I am always surprised at how full I am when I leave! I'm stuffed every time. There is complementary miso soup with all of the bowls I've tried, outlined below. I really loved all of the bowls I've tried but my favorites are probably the Sake Aisuru Don and Kuromon Don. I just prefer more salmon to more tuna though, and they're all very good! Food: - Sake Aisuru Don: their classic all-salmon bowl! I loved the larger cuts of salmon, and I was pleasantly surprised that even the more pulverized salmon was flavorful! - Kuromon Don: loved the yellowtail in this! Each fish comes with two pieces (except the mackerel for which there are four), and I liked the sampler style for the salmon, tuna, yellowtail, and izumidai. - Maguro Toro Don: so much tuna! And all such high quality. The otoro was so fatty that it practically melted in my mouth without chewing. - Sake Maguro Hamachi Don: a mix of salmon, blue fin tuna, and yellowtail. I liked the yellowtail in this a lot and found that it stood out the most from the other two fish in this particular bowl!

    Came to Boston for a work trip and really wanted to eat something light and healthier. I loved it…read moreso much I came back twice! I came during lunchtime on a Monday. It was adequately busy but still had seats open. The lunch menu is very affordable! If you can, I'd highly recommend going for lunch instead of dinner. Service was really quick! Received my meal in like 5-7 mins after ordering. Fish was super fresh and I really liked the different textures in the Hoseki Don. I also added in negitoro. They gave me a big clump of it! The second time I went back, I ordered take out so I could eat it at the airport for dinner. I ordered the Sake Maguro Hamachi don, added ikura and negitoro. Again, so impressed with the quality of the fish and the size of it. They didn't skimp out and really enjoyed the thickness of the sashimi despite it only being 3 pieces. It was a very satiating bowl. Cant wait to come back next time again!

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    Inside!
    Inside!
    K11. Sake Maguro Hamachi Don
    K11. Sake Maguro Hamachi Don
    LR2 Lunch menu

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    LR2 Lunch menu
    Somenya - Soba restaurant

    Somenya - Soba restaurant

    4.4
    (199 reviews)
    0.0 mi
    $$

    This charming little restaurant a few steps down from the sidewalk is a lovely addition to the…read morerestaurant choices in the neighborhood. The decor is bright and cheerful and the room (and restrooms) sparkling clean. The service is quick, gracious and calm. And the food is delicious! I don't care to eat meat, so it was wonderful to have several selections of vegan and pescatarian dishes to choose from. My husband and I enjoyed the soups we chose and want to come back to try the cold noodle dishes.

    Nothing beats a place where they have 12-year-old Asian kids from working. The service here can…read morerange from slow to normal considering that the place itself is not very big. The restaurant focuses mostly on soba or udon noodle dishes with a good selection between hot and cold options. It's not going to be the best udon or soba you've ever had. HOWEVER, I tried the cold ikura & uni cold soba and LOVED it. It's seasonal, so I tried that one out and was extremely surprised about how much I enjoyed the bowl. Not too much soup and the uni didn't completely obliterate when I stirred it up. They do use American wasabi though, and I found it superfluous to the dish and wished it was served on the side. But regardless, despite not having some extremely high quality noodles, the flavor and experience of the bowl itself was super pleasant. I ended up coming back the very next day because I wanted to try their clam soba. The clam soba only comes hot, which is a bit unfortunately because I actually think a cold clam soba with some lemon or yuzu would be phenomenol. I've been seeing recipes for it online so I've been wanting to try it, but their clam soba is a lot more standard and hot. They had a very good amount of clams in it, but I generally like their cold soba better. Still good, but didn't give me that feeling of needing to come back the very next day like I did with the ikura-uni combo. Overall, I'd still come back when I'm in downtown!

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    Interior
    Interior
    Spicy snow crab meat hot soba
    Spicy snow crab meat hot soba
    Japanese Takoyaki

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    Japanese Takoyaki
    Santouka Back Bay

    Santouka Back Bay

    4.1
    (846 reviews)
    1.3 mi
    $$

    There is a steady line here even when they open. The space is small and you can be seated with…read moreother people. The waitress was really nice and very knowledgeable. There seems to be a lot of take out so if you're at a nearby hotel, it would be easy to order and take it back. TONKOTSU KARA MISO RAMEN - Very tasty with a little spice, the ramen noodles seem fresh. BARA TORO CHA-SYU - pork cheek - very good and very worth the extra money to add it on. The flavor is fantastic and they put it on the side so it doesn't overcook. NEGI NAMBAN - Our favorite of the two bowls ordered. The menu says to beware of the spice, but it is not bad. I added the chili oil that was on the counter. I was very happy with my order and would order this Ramen again. We got a side of the marinated hard boiled egg, cooked perfectly and it was great. We ordered the regular sized bowl and we were both very full and ready for a walk. There was another ramen bowl that was on a limited time menu, but we didn't see it so maybe next time.

    Vegetarians have one choice but it's a very good choice . You won't be disappointed. We added…read moreedamame, egg, chili paste and jalapeno on the side. Service is fast and super attentive. We sat in the patio outside and the weather was on our side and couldn't be perfect. It was a dinner with my daughter and she hadn't had anything since the morning. And this is one of her favorite places. The ramen was perfect and so were the vegetables. The protein looked too real like meat but it is soy. Totally a great meal to enjoy. Will definitely be back. Service is fast and quick.

    Photos
    Santouka Back Bay
    Shoyu Cha-shu
    Shoyu Cha-shu
    Interior

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    Interior
    Show Malatang

    Show Malatang

    4.4
    (34 reviews)
    0.0 mi

    I'm slightly obsessed…read more Randomly ran into this place in a desperate late night hunt for noodles and since then have been there five times. Every time I'm like "where should I go in downtown" I just get stuck on this place like it's worn a groove in my brain. Like one of RFK's brain worms. It's a little confusing to order but basically you pick a soup, pick a spicy level (burn your face or burn your colon) and then add an absurd amount of toppings. Then they deliver a bowl the size of your head (or my head, I have a big head) and you kind of reconsider your life decisions. I like this over the other hot pot tech because my two greatest weaknesses are cooking and choosing. At least this takes out one of those. High marks to the sour cabbage broth - the slight vinegary tang is actually magic. Brain worm inducing magic. But don't go here. Because it's small and I want to make sure I have a seat.

    I was really disappointed with this restaurant…read more We ordered the $17.99 combo, and while the portion was large, it was mostly cabbage and bean sprouts with very little beef. The beef itself had a strange taste and wasn't enjoyable at all. When I asked for chopped green onions, they told me they had already run out. The food also lacked flavor, so I asked for chili sauce since it is only chili oil with almost no actual chili sauce. When I mentioned it, they said that's just how they make it. It got even more ridiculous. They serve Coke, but when I asked for a cup of ice, they said they didn't have any ice left!!! We also ordered the crispy pork for $8.99, and the portion was surprisingly small for the price. The service wasn't good either. Our bill came to about $44, and I still left a $6 tip even though I wasn't happy with the experience. Instead of thanking us, the server ( a lady) came over and complained that my tip was "just under 15%" and said their restaurant expects a minimum 15% tip and started to give a nasty attitude after! Honestly, after hearing that, I almost wanted to take the tip back. Tips should be earned through good food and good service, not demanded. Overall, this meal was a huge disappointment, and I would not recommend this restaurant.

    Photos
    Show Malatang
    Show Malatang
    Seafood Malatang with beef and rice cakes

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    Seafood Malatang with beef and rice cakes
    REDWHITE - Boston

    REDWHITE - Boston

    4.2
    (576 reviews)
    1.3 mi
    $$
    Casual dining
    Vegan friendly

    Redwhite was the best sushi I have had this year, while it seems like just 4 pieces, they're dense…read moreand heavy! Absolutely delicious though, we paired it with a No 7 Japanese Curry Ramen which was splendid too. It is a self service restaurant that has limited seating so just a heads up that you may have to wait, but trust me it's worth the wait!

    I have been dreading writing this review, because as much as I wanted to love this place - I…read moreprobably had one of the worst eating experiences ever. Swung by this place on a weekday for lunch to avoid the rush - most weekends I pass by this place and the line wraps around the street! My friend and I stepped in and were immediately greeted with a sour attitude. We were confused on the menu whether our ramen included chili oil or not, and the staff did not help explain anything and just quickly dismissed our questions to get us to order quicker. Once we sat down, the food was done relatively quickly. However I was very surprised on what we had gotten. Now I admit - I am not a vegetarian. However, I have enjoyed many vegetarian meals and this was quite upsetting. We both got the garlic miso ramen. The ramen was not temperature hot at all. The chili oil was not flavorful. The "soy meat" was simply just mushed tofu with awful texture, and it soaked into the soup and created a pretty unpleasant texture (I took a picture which makes me sad and unappetized). I was unable to finish my bowl. The food combined with the service made for a pretty negative time for me. I really wanted to love it - a place with a full vegetarian menu is amazing for all my friends who have that restriction! Maybe if they tried pan frying the tofu create a better textural experience? I will not plan to come back, and will highly recommend you go to any other restaurant in Back Bay.

    Photos
    Roasted Miso Avocado Sushi
    Roasted Miso Avocado Sushi
    "S" No 7 Ginger Curry
    "S" No 7 Ginger Curry
    Proud to be named one of The Boston Globe's Best of the Best 2026. Thank you for your support!

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    Proud to be named one of The Boston Globe's Best of the Best 2026. Thank you for your support!

    Waku Waku Ramen Chinatown - ramen - Updated August 2026

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