We are regretting ... it was not good. They look reasonable and look like Ramen but You shouldn't even call that Ramen. Ramen is great and tasty but not this! read more

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Is it an exaggeration to say "No Ramen No Life!"?! Maybe be. But is it an exaggeration to say the world is a better place with Yasaka?! Absolutely! The ramen is out of this world. That thick south, that soft bone ribs that melts in your mouth, that Noodle that is just right, they yoke that's is still runny... man... that was 2 things! Yum! And Calories! Was sooo good I can't help but to come back again! I had to take a star off because the beef was a little too salty that did not complement the noodle well, and it was quite pricey! All in all, you can't go wrong here and I STRONGLY recommend you try the thick soup instead! read more

Yasaka Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Sydney, NSW

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Some cousins decided to get together and meet here for dinner. The place was packed so we had to wait about 15 mins before getting a table. Service was okay, nothing incredible. BLACK GARLIC RAMEN- a mix of squid ink and signature pork bone broth with tonkotsu shio paste (soy sauce paste topped with chashu, scallion, and bamboo shoots) This bowl of ramen was unique because of it's black colored broth. Flavor was good though. The broth was thick and savory and not overly salty. The pork flavor really came through, but it wasn't super meaty. I liked the sweetness of the broth and the garlic flavor was subtle, but you could taste it in the back of your tongue. The meat was fatty and sweet. I really liked the contrasting texture of the mushrooms with the perfectly cooked noodles. SPARE RIB It wasn't my favorite. The flavor was meaty and savory, but it was drying and a bit tough. It's not a side that I would order when I already have a bowl of ramen. Overall service was okay, not as attentive as they should be though. The ramen was pretty good. I would come back to try more. read more

Yasaka Ramen - egg ramen, black garlic ramen, and spare rib - Ramen Near Me - Sydney, NSW

When speaking about ramen in Sydney, people will throw out names like Gumshara, Gogyo, and Yasaka as the top options. The thickness of the soup goes: gumshara, yasaka, gogyo, and I think yasaka is the best! This place is cash only. Cannot stress that enough, but the restaurant can probably cover their walls with cash only signs, so hopefully you're not the one who goes to pay with a card after your meal. The store is cozy, but has two floors. There's always people there but never saw a line outside. I went on a Monday evening and there were plenty of seats. I ordered the signature ramen ($19) and the Softshell crab bao ($8 ish). Nothing notable about the service really, but it is kind! It seems they have the whole thing down to a pretty efficient system. Right after they bring you all your food they immediately chuck the bill at you. The ramen had thick ish noodles and a deep, thick broth - but not so thick that it's like Gumshara jello level. You can choose from three types (soy sauce, salt, miso) and I chose salt - which may sound boring but seemed like it would be the cleanest flavour, and it was quite clean and amazing. The Softshell crab was a proud and beautifully fried whole crab just chilling in a bun. It is a little disturbing how savage it looks, but it's delicious. No idea how parking would work in this busy part of town, but it is a very safe and walkable area so I recommend walking! read more

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First time visit and it was a hit! We had to put our name down as there was a bit of a wait (40 mins). Seeing as this was our first time we were more than happy to wait. We got seated at the bar downstairs so we had a good view of the kitchen. Loved watching the chefs work their magic. Food arrived under 10 minutes! That broth is delightful! In all honesty I forgot which dish I ordered but I would have to say it is definitely in my top 3! I will indeed be back, maybe when the weather is a tad bit cooler and not in the 40s! read more

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Ok. I've only been to a few ramen places in my lifetime. This place serves the best shio chicken ramen ever. I had the "toripaitan" which was a ramen with a "rich soup". Yes, it was 16 bucks for a bowl. Yes, that is bloody expensive, you may say. The broth was perfection. The noodles a little al dente. The chicken. My dear. The chicken. When I chewed into it ever so gently, explosions of mellow yet simultaneously seasoned with smooth precision and flavour greeted my tastebuds and oral cavity like a warm and delicious hug. The other toppings were pretty standard, nothing too unique. Is it worth it? That is the question. Ok. My answer is yes and I would recommend it to people who enjoy chicken pasta with carbonara sauce. If you identify as one of those people you need to try this because it is a replica - made by a Japanese person. You will thank me later. read more

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I came here today after noticing it was open the other day ... Nice looking place with bar seating on ground floor and I would assume standard tables upstairs ? As I was a solo diner, I was put up at the bar which was fine by me as I could watch the chefs and servers in action. The menu proclaimed it was 'temporary menu until Grand Opening'. If this was temporary, I can't wait to see the final result !! I stuck to a tonkotsu ramen with chasu pork and added a soft boiled egg for good measure (and $2). The broth is awesome, thick and silky smooth but not as salty of gelatinous as Gumshara. They do have a light offering on request but that's like ordering a skim coffee at a cafe ! Yakasa use a thinner noodle which is good as it is chewy and almost crunchy. I see this place being quite successful despite prices being a little high (almost Ippudo like), but hey - it's nice looking, clean and ramen is good! read more

Yasaka Ramen - Spicy tonkotsu ramen - only level 2 !! - Ramen Near Me - Sydney, NSW

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Taking the advice of @canalf I decided to try the latest ramen place in Sydney, Yasaka Ramen, rather than my normal Gumshara. The shop itself looks awesome. Lovely fit out, and a nice space. It is also nice to have that Japanese counter seki feel. Also nice to hear all the staff speaking Japanese (though I think that they should switch to "irasshaimase" rather than "hello"). As for the ramen, it was not bad. The "thick soup" wasn't really, and it seemed to have a chicken broth like aftertaste (likely the miso) that took away from the flavour a little. I'd give it a 7/10. The chashu was thick, and fell apart at the slightest pressure. While much better than being too dry, it lacked the shokkan I was kind of hoping for. More importantly the men (noodles), having asked for katamen, were likely a bit overcooked. Would be interesting to see what a regular order would be like. That aside, they tasted great and looked very well made. Are they likely to steal my devotion away from Gumshara? Not likely, but they are a fantastic alternative, and considering how broad their menu is with non-ramen dishes, I can see them becoming quite popular. read more

Yasaka Ramen - Chashumen - Ramen Near Me - Sydney, NSW

*Insert token into arcade machine* A NEW CHALLENGER HAS APPEARED! There aren't too many places that do super thick tonkotsu ramen in Sydney, the most famous is Gumshara. There are other ramen places do tonkotsu, but they're not that rich. Enter Yasaka Ramen which has a billboard that says "No Ramen. No Life." Much like tonkotsu broth, that's kind of heavy. (You can ask for a lighter broth) If you're a single diner or have trouble with stairs, you can seat yourself by the 1st floor bar thanks to an onramp. All others can be seated upstairs through the stairs in the back. I see the vibe they're going for here, a fun and hip vibe without the pretentiousness...kind of like a more casual Ippudo...but not as casual as a food court. The menu is pretty big, they serve donburi's and curries, but for a place called Yasaka Ramen why would you try anything else but the ramen? The ramen comes in the varieties below: Saka Shoyu Ramen - 1 slice of chashu for $12.80 Grilled Chashu Ramen - 3 slices of chashu for $14.80 Kakuni Ramen - Braised pork for $16.80 Double Grilled Chashu Ramen - 6 slices for $16.80 Corn Ramen - 1 slice of chashu for $13.80 Spicy Leek Ramen - 1 slice of chashu for $14.80 All these options don't come with an egg, that's $2 extra...as is every other topping. It's on the pricier side of ramen, but the loophole with this $2 thing is to get the Kakuni for $2 extra. It's a great deal. Naturally, my fat ass got the Double Grilled Chashu Ramen with egg and Kakuni for $20.80. The broth is not nearly as heavy or thick as Gumshara, it's kind of like getting a bowl at Gumshara and asking for it to not be as salty. If that's your thing, you will enjoy the broth. If not, stick to Gumshara. My noodles were very soft to the point that they were like a higher quality packaged ramen noodle. I prefer al dente so the noodles were just OK for me. The chashu was a good size with lots of fat and wasn't overcooked which is a plus in my book. The taste was above average, not bad at all but not outstanding. The Kakuni though...the Kakuni was awesome. It was very tender and fell apart easily, and there was a good sweet/savoury balance going on with it. I'd come here again for the Kakuni and if I wanted another tonkotsu ramen besides Gumshara. I can see them doing well and add them to the ramen contenders list. read more

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The good: Wow, the black garlic spicy ramen was incredible, with almost every ingredient working perfectly together. The pork was freshly prepared and perfectly flavored, and the noodles were perfectly "al dente." Great portion size for lunch, and a post on Facebook, Wechat, or Instagram gets you 20% off coupon for next time you come in. The bad: we ordered one dish with a spice level of "1", and one with a spice level of "2" (the options were 0.5, 1, 2, 3). The former had almost no spice, and the latter was almost impossible to eat, even for someone who loves a little heat. So best to err on the side of caution and add extra spice on your own. Bottom line: among the best ramen around, and could be even better if they learn to modulate their spice a bit better. read more

Yasaka Ramen - Black garlic spicy ramen - Ramen Near Me - Sydney, NSW

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THIS RAMEN WILL CHANGE YOUR WORLD! It really is "no ramen, no life" without this place in your life (the place's motto)! First off, there are more choices of kinds of ramen here than I have EVER encountered! If there is something you're craving, they will definitely have it. Plus, no reservations needed as the place is two floors with plenty of room and space (a rarity in American ramen joints). My friend ordered the Black Garlic and I ordered the Spicy Shoyu - both were incredible! The noodles were cooked perfectly, the toppings were perfectly complimentary and the broth... oh my god the BROTH! It was thick and flavorful... sooooo many flavors I can't even describe! Definitely by far the thickest and most amazing broth I have ever encountered! I will caution you to take it easy on your spice level though! As a seasoned ramen eater and spice lover, I picked a 2 and it totally blew my socks off. I would have been much better off with a 1... but that doesn't mean I didn't finish it (it was that amazing!). GO HERE ASAP! read more

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I hate that I'm writing a review due to a bad experience, especially when I'm never disappointed with the food and its quality. It's delicious. However, my recent experience fell short due to poor service. I can handle a miserable waitress or something to that effect, but I draw the the line at not being allowed to express dissatisfaction - a consumers right. On arrival we asked if wewere ok to use a voucher that would give us 20% off. Supervisor said ok, so we dined. Upon payment she then highlighted it had expired and insisted there was nothing she could do. I asked if I could speak to the manger and she refused to oblige and wouldn't give her name or a means to make a complaint. Eventually I was able to talk to someone, over the phone, who rectified the situation. 20% was taken off. Such a shame when a good restaurant is ruined by poor staffing. read more

Yasaka Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Sydney, NSW

No Ramen No Life. Heck yeah! How could you possible not love ramen... especially on a chilly night. I picked the perfect night to try out this place. We were lucky to get a seat at the bar so got to observe the inner workings of their kitchen as well as check out the ridiculously huge spoon they have to stir all the broth. I must say it's a bit messy inside their kitchen. Their floor must just be drenched in soup from the spillage that occurs before it lands into our bowls. But maybe that's what makes it more authentic. Anyway if definitely took my mind off my grumbling stomach and the fact we had to 30mins for our bowls of ramen. I only realised that when the guy next to me complained when after 30mins he still had not received his ramen. It really was like the life was draining out of him with no bowl of ramen. In terms of the taste yeah it was good. Thick as well. But I think I agree with Robbie M. in saying that it just wasn't quite as good as Gumshara. I was sitting on the fence between 3 or 4/5 for this one but their slogan really pushes them up that extra star. While the ramen is decent with long wait times I'm not too sure this place will be here for the long haul. read more

Yasaka Ramen - The makings of ramen - Ramen Near Me - Sydney, NSW

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Opposite what used to be Pasta Goma (kind of predicted it) is another Japanese place that stuck to a traditional Japanese menu of ramen, curries and bentos instead of a fusion Italiano-Jap menu of their demised neighbour. I was seated at the bar / kitchen seats and it was quite enjoyable. I didn't see their table seating if any it was probably in another room. DOUBLE GRILLED CHASHU RAMEN $17.80 Yes the ramen broth was rich! not as thick as Gumshara but in between the latter and Ippudo. The noodles are handmade and you can watch them being made in the front window and of course they tasted amazing. Doubling the number of pieces of pork for $5 is totally worth it. Unlike other ramen places, the grilled pork has that smokey flavour that goes well with the broth. Very good ramen. LOTUS ROOT CHIPS $3 These chips were crispy, deep fried to a packet of chips consistency. They weren't that enjoyable as they were over-salted. The kitchen might have double seasoned these ones. KARAAGE CURRY RICE $12.80 The curry was a classic Japanese curry with soft meat, tangy curry sauce and bits of pickled peppers? to relieve from the dense curry sauce. The dish is reasonably good. Conclusion Yasaka is a great addition to the Japanese restaurant scene in the Sydney CBD. It's an authentic type restaurant that executes very well. The service is flawless. For my next visit those freshly-made Takoyaki looked delicious and more ramen for next time! @thesydneynoob read more

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"No ramen no life", really? A good bowl of ramen does make life a little bit better. However, Yasaka does mot let me feel this way. Waiting for almost 15 minutes after getting seated is not really worth it. The broth is not bad with good pork flavour and not too thick or salty. The ramen is a bit tough and not enough. But I do not want to pay $2 for extra noodles, just not good enough. read more

Yasaka Ramen - No.1 Yasaka ramen $12.8 - Ramen Near Me - Sydney, NSW

If you like Gumshara then you will like this place. Ordered shoyu tonkotsu egg ramen today and it was ready in a short time. Broth was thick, like the one in Gumshara, noodle was al dente firm, pork was good and the eggs were fantastic. Definitely one of the better ramen joints in Sydney. You can also sit upstairs if you come in a group. I like the ramen but for some reason I did not enjoy it as much as Gumshara. Maybe it was because of the hot weather. Not sure if they use MSG but I feel thirsty after some time so I guess they did. read more

Yasaka Ramen - Shoyu tonkotsu ramen - Ramen Near Me - Sydney, NSW

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Since I heard "Yasaka has one of the best ramen in Sydney" I'm really excited to came to this place and taste one of those traditional Japanese noodles. At the first impression the place is very small with just one counter and about 7 seats. But, if you come in group you'll realize there's a 2nd floor with more tables. I ordered the tasteful Kokumaro Yasaka Special (A$ 17,00), although it was a little bit salty. Despite the pricey menu, in general the experience was very good and I'd like to come back again to taste another dish, especially Karague with Japanese beer that I love it. ***TIP: CASH ONLY read more

Yasaka Ramen - Kokumaro Ramen! - Ramen Near Me - Sydney, NSW

This is a very good Ramen place. They make their own noodles here, and their attention to detail is apparent. I got the vegetarian version and Agedofu. I lived in Japan for many years and while I won't go so far as to say it's equal to what I had there, the flavors are there. read more

I am not even going to try to be funny. The women behind the counter wear hats that are twenty times as funny as I could be. New place, I watched them completely gut it. Right back to dirt. Then they rebuilt it over two months. It opened yesterday but I couldn't persuade Binga to go with me so I went solo today. There are seven people cooking and four people serving. But there are only ten seats. The gear is of course brand new and the kitchen looks like the engine room of the QE II. The stock pots are the size of silos and there are cookers everywhere. The noodle machine hasn't even been unwrapped! The food is just sensational. I have just eaten the best ramen I have ever had. The soft bone pork is the sweetest most unctuous thing I have ever put in my mouth. The stock is thick but not too thick and the flavour is superb. The chashu is smoky and delicious. The boiled egg was...a boiled egg. Cut in half. Yum ! I watched them make octopus balls and didn't even giggle. In fact thats the next thing I'm going to order, tomorrow. Post Script, there are ....ahem....more seats upstairs. Numbskull. read more

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Damn. Been to Ossan and Gumshara (and Ippudo) and this place has shot up you the top of my list. Lip licking tonkotsu base. Amazing slow roasted cartilage. Giant takoyaki. Will be back to try the black garlic ramen and spare ribs. read more

Yasaka Ramen - Kakuni Ramen with tonkotsu miso and tamago - Ramen Near Me - Sydney, NSW

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Service was friendly and attentive. Decor was quite nice and modern. I ordered the tsukemen ramen special which was a bit saltier than preferred but broth was still very delicious. Also had the takoyaki and it was so freshly made and sooo good! Can't wait to come back! read more

Yasaka Ramen - Tsukemen ramen and takoyaki - Ramen Near Me - Sydney, NSW

Homemade noodles and soup are good good! Really Janpanese style, service are good. Around $15.8 for one ramen, but worth to have a try. read more

Yasaka Ramen - Shio grilled chashu - Ramen Near Me - Sydney, NSW

The hottest ramen I've ever had! Spicy ramen level 3. This was so good, it made a 3 year old splinter come out of my hand. I mean, I can't say for sure, but I can say . . .Incredible! This stuff had my hair sweating like crazy. I wish I could go back once a week, but I live 19 hours away by plane. read more

Yasaka Ramen - Awesomely hot Spicy Ramen Level 3. Made my hair sweat like crazy. Fantastic. - Ramen Near Me - Sydney, NSW

I had the buckwheat noodles and the salty broth. Very nice. We will be trying the Gumshaka competitor today so I'll let you know which is best. read more

Yasaka Ramen - Buckwheat Noodles. - Ramen Near Me - Sydney, NSW

First time trying out the ramen at this place and I'm very impressed! I chose the Tonkotsu Chasu (grilled pork + additional boiled eg)g it cost $16.80 so for that price for lunch is pricey. However, if you like tasty thick broth with thick cuts of meat than others they are excellent! 4 star for great quality, tasty & decent size but the only let down is the price. read more

Yasaka Ramen - Tonkotsu Chasu ramen - Ramen Near Me - Sydney, NSW

SHUT THE FRONT DOOR! This place is amazing. I go with friends, I go alone, I just found out they do take away! In the middle of a Ramen craze, there are a lot of ramen spots that just don't provide the depth of flavour that should go with a good ramen, Yasaka does not fall victim to this. Probably the best ramen I've had in Sydney. read more

Yasaka Ramen - The new menu looks fantastic - Ramen Near Me - Sydney, NSW

Cash only! There was no indication about cash only at the entrance . Had to scavenge for ATM for a quite long time read more

A great little Ramen bar with plenty to chose from, including a 'design your own' option. For the non-Ramen eaters (yes, I exist) there are other Japanese and Korean options to chose from. I had the crispy fried chicken which was juicy and covered in a light crunchy coating. The edamame were fresh and perfectly seasoned and the pork gyoza were yumo! We sat at the bar overlooking the kitchen which made for an interesting viewing experience. read more

The ramen from Yasaka Ramen tasted good. They even know to split the soup from the fillings for take away. I didn't care too much for the noodles in my ramen, but the grilled chashu (pork) was nice. I would've liked a bit more veggies in my soup, but maybe I should've ordered the corn ramen then. However, the food upset my stomach...not sure what part of it did, so I probably won't be back. read more

Yasaka Ramen - Grilled chashu shio ramen for take away. They separate out the broth! - Ramen Near Me - Sydney, NSW

Great Ramen. The miso broth was flavorful and the meat was super tender. The bowls are large so come with an appetite.

My last night in Sydney and I wanted to try Yasaka Ramen! What the heck! I would've missed out on exploring something new with eating Japanese Ramen! I asked one of the waitresses what I should try and she suggested something for me! Ramen with egg, pork, green onions, bean sprouts, and a piece of seaweed. Not salty and not to thick! Check them out! read more

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Heart-attack ramen. If you want it heavy, it's the taste to die for. Though that's not the case for me. I prefer good balance in tonkotsu. Their chashu tasted like candied pork belly which didn't help with the super thick, salty soup. Do not try their original tonkotsu on a hot day. But when you are craving super thick tonkotsu on a freezing winter day, this is the place that will thicken your hide. read more

Their takoyaki is some of the best I've had outside of Osaka. Very authentic fast-casual Japanese restaurant in every way from the food to the service and staff. Only suggestion would be to add other types of ramen noodle dishes than pork base read more

They used the same harder thicker ramen typically used for Tsukesen aka dipping ramen for the broth type. The kakuni was too sweet for my taste but some may like it that way. Otherwise just average for me cause the broth had a thickness texture like starch was added so again it's a personal preference read more

Best Paitan I've ever had. Creamy and full of flavor but not greasy. Lotus chips are usually a miss at most places, but I enjoyed theirs. Also, the yasaka caesar salad is definitely worth a try. Another plus is that this place is run by real Japanese people so, great service and top notch on the cleanliness. We were there around 2100, and noticed that they cleaned everything ie. Deep fryer, Takoyaki maker, fridge doors....everything read more

Fast & great service, very clean. Great quality ramen but a little rich for my taste.

First time visiting this place, and we loved the show, sitting at the counter and watching the cooks put together stock, shake baskets of steaming ramen, fire pork with a handheld torch. Warning to those who might want to try the black garlic ramen. You can order half a chilli, or 1, 2, or 3 chillies. I ordered 1 chilli and it was a crazy amount of chilli-- and I can take a fair bit of chilli heat. Whew! I had to order a second beer. Gyoza were also really nice and tasted fresh. Offerings seem to be nearly all tonkotsu base, and a very thick one at that. There was a fish base and a chicken broth, so we might try those next time. Be aware it's cash-only. read more

I loved trying this place out. Small with a few bar seats only I could see. I got lucky and had only a short wait. You choose your Ramen style from about three kinds and then if you want, you can add other things in. I did the double grilled pork called chashu and added a soft boiled egg. There are about four Japanese guys behind the counter whipping around each other ladling broth and noodles into bowls and adding the various goodies with spoons, tongs and their fingers all while loudly greeting the guests arriving and departing. Did I like the Ramen? No not really. The broth was porky but almost greasy collagen sticky and thick enough to almost be gravy. The pork slices were also greasy. But hey I know nothing about Ramen and they seem to be doing it right here considering the crowd. I hit mine with a little of the chili sauce on the bar and it was certainly decent but just not my thing. However this was really a cool experience and I'd suggest anyone curious about real Ramen to try it out. read more

Yasaka Ramen - The double grilled pork ramen with soft boiled egg - Ramen Near Me - Sydney, NSW

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Worst Ramen I have ever tasted. Place is not very clean, and it literally put me off Ramen for months. Not sure how this place has secured so many good reviews. read more