Wara Wara is a Hope St. Favorite of ours. Recently, we had a lovely dinner of pork gyoza, a chicken ramen and a tan tan men ramen main, and a dessert of green tea matcha lava cake. All three courses were fantastic. We've come for ramen many times, and it's consistently great. Of particular note was the green tea matcha lava cake. It was a special, and it truly was special. So much flavor, the core was totally molten the surrounding was perfectly textured cake. The indoor ambiance is fun. A little dark with a lot of decor. There are also generally a few outdoor tables when the weather is good. One thing that sets Wara Wara apart is the baby changing table in the bathroom. I don't see that at restaurants often, but it seems extremely considerate. read more

Nice small place on Hope Street in Providence. Bao bums, yakitori and ribs are great appetizers. The Ramen is outstanding, with the Duck and Lobster Ramen something different but real good. Service is great. read more

Delicious! my first time and definitely not my last! veggie buns to start, and man they were so flavorful and so soft. lobster ramen, the special for me and my friend got the miso ramen. staff was very friendly and everything came out fast. for 3pm on a Saturday it was very busy! always a good sushi read more

Wara Wara - Veggie Bun - Japanese Near Me - Providence, Rhode Island

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My road trip pit stops, and let's just say a great place to stretch your legs and grab snacks and pick up a few trinkets to say you stopped at the WaraWara! I say when you get a moment on your road travels, stop by read more

Stopped in for a quick lunch on a late fall Friday afternoon. Easy enough street parking. Was greeted by friendly staff. Had the special gyoza- very tasty! Salad came with bento box was fresh and delicious. Beef bento box was very good and had complex flavors and not a bad price for 14$. A little cold in the restaurant but Overall a good experience . read more

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I reluctantly gave this place another try after eating here for years and then getting take out maybe 7 months ago only to arrive and have the host disappear for about 15 minutes only to come back and say they gave my pickup order to someone else AND that they were closing in about a half hour and wouldn't remake the food. Terrible customer service and I swore I would never go back. BUT Providence Vegan Restaurant Week was happening and their pre-fixe menu sounded interesting. The cocktails have good intentions-decent ingredients, but not well mixed/balanced. This has been my experience since they opened. Not the worst, but not the best. We ordered two apps and the vegan ramen. Smallish portions, but filling. Soup is sometimes oily, but was fine this evening. They definitely have many more options for carnivores, but you can modify the veggie options to make vegan in most cases. read more

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Wow wow for Wara Wara. Seriously, one of the BEST meals I've had in a long time. Decent size establishment on the corner of Hope and Burlington, on-street parking. Bar area with table service as well. The food here is simply amazing! Tapas, ramen, oysters, and a variety of Japanese-inspired drinks. Our group ordered a whole variety of delectable treats to enjoy on a recent Saturday night. --Crispy Kale Salad: This mix of greens and crispy kale tossed with a spicy palm sugar dressing was packed with so. much. flavor. Could definitely plow through one of these all by myself. --Crispy Brussel Sprouts: The citrus soy sauce really made this dish; other spices and fish sauce - a melt-in-your-mouth combination. --Crispy Chicken Skin: Honestly only realizing now how many items I tasted that were crispy. But really... this was so so good. Like crispy turkey skin on Thanksgiving but on steroids. YUM. --Pork Dumplings: This was a special for the evening. Had a nice spice dusted on top, would order again if available. There are so many other menu items I am interested in... I will definitely be back. Waitress was super nice. Had a great visit overall - top notch first impression! read more

I've been expanding my horizons a bit and getting into Asian cuisine. I must admit, I prefer Pho more than the Miso-based Ramen from a taste standpoint. This spot is Japanese-inspired so you will get Ramen noodles in a miso-based broth here. They also seem to have some other Japanese-fusion types of foods. Everything seemed fresh and tasty ... our favorite thing was the sesame salad dressing. If you come at lunch, they have lunch specials which save you a bunch vs. dinner prices. The best deal is a bowl of Ramen and a side salad for $13. The salad comes with cucumbers and lettuce and a downright amazing homemade salad dressing. The drinks here are pricey and you'll pay dearly for a buzz to the tune of $8-$10 draft beer. The selection is small but well curated and they have fancy mixed drinks for an average of around $15 each. The ramen bowl was good. The noodles were fine ... cooked well. Not sure if they are handmade in house ... that's a hard to find thing. The crispy pork belly in my bowl was mostly on the fatty side and felt like it was sitting for a while. The egg was just under hard boiled with an orange runny yolk and a hard exterior. The spinach was on point but they were chintzy with the chopped mushroom and the meat. (Maybe because its a lunch portion.) Unlike some Vietnamese broth bowls which are so spicy they could be used to strip wallpaper, the miso broth here was tame. Even after mixing in some chile oil and Sriracha, it wasn't at all spicy. If you are coming for heat, you won't find it in the bowls. They also have a fantastic looking menu with some unique Japanese-fusion stuff such as a burger with egg served between steamed rice buns. The atmosphere is warm and inviting, the centerpiece being the bar with tons of cubby holes. There are modern-esque Japanese funky lamps which mix well with the bar's vintage-industrial feel. The staff isn't overly friendly but efficient and attentive. It's not as cheap as what you'll find on college hill but it's decidedly fresher. Great option for the East Side dwellers who tire of the other options. We came on Saturday and it was about half full. The only issue we had was anytime someone opened the door to come in or go out, a blast of cold air douses everyone at the bar for a few seconds. read more

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Vegetarian soup has almost no vegetables, just lots of noodles. Broth was too spicy: Room was very cold. Disappointed.

Ramen has changed over the years~ it's a good comfort food place~ big fan of the popcorn chicken~ clean and cool aesthetic of the place~ the ramen could be better read more

My first time having ramen and this was delicious. The service was good. Ambiance was perfect

Great time here. Came here with a friend and her 2-year-old for dinner one night during the week. Reservations don't seem to be needed during the week, however this was during the summer so I'm not sure how busy they get during colder months. The do have kids menus, which is helpful. Entree - Vegetable Miso Ramen - delicious!! It wasn't the miso that just tastes salty or anything, this ramen was packed with flavor and had great toppings and lots and lots of noodles! Thoroughly enjoyed the ramen and this restaurant, will be going back. Highly recommend! read more

Wara Wara - Vegetable Miso Ramen - Japanese Near Me - Providence, Rhode Island

I would give wara wara a 3.9/5 We ordered the eggplant to start, and the duck thigh and vegetable ramens. The eggplant was really well cooked and flavorful but it was a little too salty for my taste. both ramens were good but nothing crazy, and my main complaint was that the soup and duck was cold. we asked them to heat it up some more, but it was barely warm when we received them again. I would say a solid ramen place but I don't think I would actively search it out! read more

Wara Wara - Duck Thigh Ramen, Hakka Eggplant, Vegetable Ramen - Japanese Near Me - Providence, Rhode Island

THE place to see and be seen if you're an umami-craving hipster. Interesting and unique small plates which are actually reasonably sized, all tasted fine (if not a bit repetitive) and very healthy. We shared 4 among 4 people and that was about the right amount. The ramen was "meh" and only served to dredge up fond memories of Ken's (the gold standard for ramen in RI if you ask me). What the heck happened to them anyway? But I digress... They were kind enough to split 2 ramens 4 ways which was perfect portion-wise. Dessert tasted like a best shot at replacing actual deliciousness with predictably off-tasting vegan alternatives. The girls liked the matcha lava cake though. To me it was like eating bean candy; honestly... isn't it always a tiny bit disappointing? Ambiance and service looked perfect for the crowd that was there. I guess my attempt at coming off as an aging hipster didn't sell, as the hostess and manager both looked at us like we were strangers entering a saloon in a spaghetti western movie, and somehow could neither could figure out that the other half of our party was just seated moments earlier so we were left waiting at the door for several minutes till we figured it out on our own. Prices were reasonable. Picky eaters and the inadequately hip... think twice. I'd go back if I had millennial guests to entertain. read more

Our favorite spot for ramen in the city! Cool decor, fun vibe, great food. Service can be a little slow.

I was so excited to try real ramen for the first time! It was amazing! We went with friends who have tried ramen at several places and insisted this was the best, I have only had this one but probably will not bother to try others. The broth was fresh and delicious and felt healing like a fabulous soup broth should. The place is so cute inside, our waitress, Lian, was the sweetest with her beautiful smile and attentive and informative nature. I have already told so many people about this experience and will continue spreading the word, can't wait to go back! Ramen for the win! read more

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Food was fresh and delicious! We sat and the bar and enjoyed chatting with the bartender! She was helpful in choosing an appetizer and meal. We drove about a half an hour to get to the restaurant but it was well worth it! We'll be back for sure! read more

I love Wara Waras Ramen and pork buns! Their food is consistently good with great service. read more

Great food as always, HORRIBLE service. My partner and I always come here and never had an issue except today! We always sit at the bar every time we go. Whoever the girl was that was bartending, was awful. Very inattentive. We sat, ordered drinks and apps. She then disappeared for about 10 mins, was talking with a server. We then put in entrees when she decided to come back. Our food took a little longer than usual, but I figured it was due to the other tables having ordered before us. While waiting a half hour for our ramen, the "bartender" never once ever asked us if we wanted more drinks... The tall server comes to drop off our food, and we let her know that we were done with the empty app plates that have been sitting there for over 20 mins. She gave us a look simply because we asked if the plates could be removed. My partner later asked for a to-go container, and I was asked if I needed one as well. "Bartender" came back with containers and our check that we never asked for. How about if we wanted dessert?! She never asked us if we wanted more drinks the entire time either! We asked for a bag that took another 5 mins of waiting. One of the other girls that was wearing a white sweater took our bill and the cash we left and looked back at us as if they were expecting more of a tip after the service they gave us! read more

The atmosphere was so inviting and comfortable, the service was on point and beyond friendly! The food fantastic! Our first time here we had the pork buns, fried cauliflower, flank steak to start. We then ordered the main entree, I had the 30 hour ramen, and my girlfriend had miso ramen with pork belly, and ended our night trying each of their desserts... green tea lava cake is a must try! Oh and their toasted almond saki absolutely delicious! We'll be back again! Awesome we loved it and can't wait to go back. I would highly recommend this place to anyone and everyone! read more

This used to be one of my favorite restaurants. My absolute favorite menu item was the haricot vert. They were delicious, piled high in a light crispy breading with delicious sauce lightly drizzled. I used to hate green beans, and this menu item made me love them until now. Now, the same item comes about a quarter of the size, not at all crispy or light, and sadly drenched in grease with what little crispy breading it used to have fragmented on the plate. I'm bummed. read more

Excellent 30 hour ramen. A regular spot for me. Bartenders are attentive, I'd suggest the Mexican Samurai cocktail.

I got takeout from Wara Wara for the first time and I was very impressed! Our food was ready quickly (impressive for a Friday night) and I love that you can order right from their website and see pictures of all the options. I got the pork gyoza and garlic chili edamame and my friend got the veggie buns and the original japanese mushroom tapas. The gyoza were 10/10 - absolutely perfect flavor and crunch, and held up well for takeout. We recommend every dish except the original Japanese mushroom, which my friend felt was too salty and too small a portion for the price. Overall I will definitely be returning to try the rest of the menu! read more

Second visit here. Outstanding--the food is exquisite. Hamachi Kama--the neck collar of a yellowtail--steamed and then grilled. Hard to find and when you do--has to be right. This was extraordinary. Would have been perfect grilled a tad more for char! Loved it. Seaweed salad--best I've ever had. Gyozas, Shumai, Yakatori--yes we ate everything--outstanding. My wife had the salmon teriyaki---she said TDF! Recurring issue--with all that food, wanted a large bottle of sake. They have them but they are unsure of their price! Not listed (no wine list) and they really didn't know. Frustration drinking sake from a SMALL serving flask. Spoke to assistant manager---she said she would bring this up to owner. (A decent bottle of table sake (750ml) should run between $25-28.) With tax and tip we spent $125. read more

Tried wara wara for the first time. The food was very good and offered a number of vegetarian option which is alway a plus for us! We tried both the Brussels sprouts and cauliflower appetizers. The cauliflower was a bit better. They were Both very good the sprouts were almost overly flavored though and sat in a bed of some type of sauce/oil? I have the lobster ramen noodle bowl which was the highlight of the visit it was SO good and tasty. We also ordered a seared salmon bento box that was pretty good too. Four stars for some flaws described above with the food and also bc I ordered a blooming tea that came out in a plastic cup. That's right, hit tea in a plastic cup. Thought it might be bc we were outside but the other glasses were glass :-/ overall good experience with delicious food at fair prices! read more

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I've been a loyal customer here for years but I WILL NOT BE GOING HERE ANYMORE. After dining in, the server that I've never met beforehand, aggressively stalked me on Facebook about the tip. Complete misunderstanding but nevertheless, absolutely UNPROFESSIONAL! I rounded up the bill on my card and left a cash tip. Apparently the server never received it, which is also another concerning issue as a business, so she found me on Facebook and sent me a lengthy "F*** you" message and if that wasn't enough, she included pictures of a baby's hand sticking up the middle finger. I called the manager after I had some time to process what happened to me, he was shocked, humiliated and "hoped this won't prevent me from returning to their business". He stated he would wait the following week when she is scheduled to return to work, to address my concerns as well as go over everything with the owner. It's been 1 week and I haven't heard from anyone. Their business must be so popular that my customer experience doesn't matter and my money isn't needed there. Just wanted to warn other patrons that you may be stalked and harassed if you cross this server. Feel free to see the following events below. read more

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Superb, highly recommended! Have dined in twice and gotten takeout twice, excellent every time!

A go-to place for Asian fusion cuisine and good drinks in the Hope Street Village neighborhood on Providence's East Side. Pork belly buns and the Bangkok Cataplana are two favorites, along with the Asian spiced pork ribs, Duck Confit Ramen, crispy cauliflower, and braised Brussels sprouts. There are few losers on the menu with only the Ramen Burger something to avoid. Drinks are great. Ambiance is fine but not elegant. Service was great pre-Covid and is slowly improving. While there are "Specials" listed on chalk boards at the back of the restaurant they have not changed in five years and would be better added to the menu since the chalk boards are barely lit and too small to read from any of the tables. read more

This place is amazing. Great menu (also full of VG and GF options) 10/10 would recommend.

My wife and I came to try Wara Wara for the first time. We were sat by a nice hostess, and greeted by our server. After a few minutes of looking at the menu we placed an order of two appetizers and two entrees. As we waited patiently for our food the restaurant began to be filled with new customers. The wait became long, but we were still patient until realizing that customers that sat down after us were already eating their food. We watched appetizers, the same as ours get served to tables that were seated after us and even families almost finish eating before we got our food. The server finally came and expressed that he didn't realize our food was never actually ordered, so we paid for our drinks and left after waiting for about 40 minutes for nothing. Terrible waitstaff. read more

I'll say 5 stars- It's better than 4 for sure. All the foods wicked tasty, and they usually have some wicked good specials. The ramen always hits the spot. It seems like the chefs know what people like. And they have some real tasty cocktails as well. Cool space, and servers are always good. read more

I am so pleasantly surprising by Wara Wara! I haven't been because I wasn't a huge fan of Blaze, the restaurant that was there before, even though I knew the two were not related. It was just a weird vibe thing. But my friend asked me to go, so we went, and I am such a fan! The decor is thoughtful and beautiful, from the paintings to the light fixtures to the tiny origami swans and Godzilla figurines in the partition cubbies. There's an open kitchen, a fully stocked sake and Japanese/Taiwanese whiskey bar, imported beer, and a selection of "normal" wines and cocktails. (I had an Italian red wine that I recommend--it's the only Italian red on the menu--and my friend got a sparkling sake that was kiiiind of badass. It was like Mikes hard lemonade but lighter and with a touch of bubbles. The food options: vegetarian, meat, and seafood tapas, and ramen bowls. I'm not super knowledgeable on Japanese food, but there were several Japanese families there, and the owner (who was in the kitchen most of the night) is also from Japan. I think that speaks to its authenticity. We ordered crispy Brussels sprouts and Lotus fries (poutine + shredded duck and quail eggs) and SWEET BABY JESUS the Brussels sprouts were phenomenal. I also enjoyed the fries, but the sprouts were perfection. We each got ramen bowls, and while I liked my vegetarian bowl, in comparison to her Udon bowl...I may have to get hers next time. (The veggie broth was listed as spicy, but I needed to add extra sriracha and chili oil. I think sensitive people would think it's spicy--I just like it hot.) At the end of the night, the owner came to our table to see if we enjoyed everything, and he was so humble and kind! And our waitress was really great, too. I can easily say I'm am happy to give this place my business :) read more

Delicious Japanese Bento Box lunch with branzino, pineapple, rice, and more. Nicely presented. Attentive service. Loved the decor but the space was quite dark. read more

Always great food at Wara Wara. Love the bronzini and chicken ramen . Great for take out but really nice to sit in. Great decor. read more

We decided to go there spontaneously as we are staying in Providence visiting our daughter and son-in-law. After coming back from Boston, my husband went on Yelp and we remembered we had wonderful meals there in the past. Well, they did it again! We had the crispy Brussels sprouts, crispy cauliflower, popcorn chicken, spicy edamame and crispy kale salad and they were all wonderful. To top it off, we had a fabulous server Tai(na) and she was so pleasant which made our experience even more enjoyable. Desserts were also fabulous- I had a selection of ice cream/sorbet tastings & my husband had a "pancake" with red bean paste that was also delicious. Highly recommended. 5 stars for sure read more

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I can't speak to the service or the ambience because I ordered takeout. However, the garlic edamame was mushy. As though it had been sitting for a long time. The ramen was flavorless, and only had bok choy and tofu in it, even though it is called vegetable ramen. read more

We came here today for Pvd Vegan Restaurant Week after learning that this was one of the restaurants that would be participating and would be offering specials for the week. Neither my husband or I have eaten ramen at a restaurant before. We've only ever eaten cheap ramen packages at home so we didn't really know what to expect. We got ramen bowls and the Japanese elote off their special menu for Vegan week. The elote was very aesthetically pleasing and was pretty good although I didn't care too much for the coconut sauce at the bottom. The ramen was good and very filling, but a little on the greasy side. I'm not sure if that's how ramen is normally served though. Even though we both enjoyed it, we probably won't go back. We prefer pho soup over ramen soup, but it definitely wasn't bad. Service was a bit slow, plates are a bit pricey, and parking can be somewhat tough, but other than that, I'd give the place a solid 4 stars. read more

Wara Wara - Vegan Ramen - Japanese Near Me - Providence, Rhode Island

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I celebrated Father's Day here last week and I have to say, I was very pleased with my choice. Actually, everyone who came with me was just as pleased. Wara Wara has really improved since the last time I had visited. My dad had the steak and eggs for brunch, I had a yellowtail bento box, and my cousin had the 30-hour ramen. I can't complain about any of the dishes. The fish in my entree was so fresh. I don't think I was starving where everything would taste good but wow, even the tamari was awesome! I will definitely return for brunch or lunch on a weekday. read more

So good. Love the steak tapas. It was so good I ordered it twice in a row. Drinks are good too.

Excellent Food, excellent team. Service was polite and attentive. Setting was calm and serene on a Tuesday night. read more

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