I love the Tan Tan Men here -- it's so creamy, rich, and full of flavor. If you like spicy food, try the Gekikara Miso Men at the highest spice level, but be careful because it is really spicy! The restaurant uses a self-pay machine at the entrance. You order and pay first, then take your number and choose a seat yourself. It's simple and convenient. The owner, Pason, is incredibly kind and welcoming. He's Japanese, and his wife makes the noodles in-house, which makes the ramen even better. The noodles have a great texture and taste amazing. To finish, I had the crème brûlée and a matcha oat milk drink -- both were so rich and delicious. I will definitely be back again! read more

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Ordering is simple. In the front there are 2 touchscreen iPad-like devices you can place your order on and pay up front. If there issues a staff member will assist. If eating in grab a number and enter it in with your order. Dining room has plenty of tables for eating. Water and cups are at the bar area for self serve. Food cans out quickly. My companion liked his vegan tan tan ramen. I got the classic menri dashi shoyu ramen. Hard to say what the star ingredient was, both the broth and noodles were excellent. The noodles were hand made and had a great texture and chew. The broth was rich with a depth of dashi chicken and kombu. Taste was clean. Tender thinly sliced chashu, seaweed and greens rounded out the bowl. read more

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ZAO Stamina does a lot right without trying too hard. The noodles are made in house and it shows. Good texture, good bite, and they hold up well through the bowl. Easily some of the best noodles in the DMV. The ramen is straightforward and well balanced. The shoyu is clean and flavorful, and the stamina ramen is rich without being over the top. Everything feels intentional and consistent. If you care about noodle quality and solid execution, this place is worth coming back to. Highly recommended. read more

Zao Stamina Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Bethesda, Maryland

I don't know why this Yelp page says that Zao Stamina Ramen is CLOSED? I was just there (APRIL '26), so there's an error here. And what an error, because Zao isn't just open, it's serving up some tasty ramen in downtown Bethesda. The interior is classic Japanese noodle shop motif, but orders are made on a video kiosk, and you take a number and sit down, and the food comes out quickly. We started with the Ouchi Salad (Ouchi means "house" in Japanese) and it was fresh and crisp with a nice sesame dressing. Then the ramen arrived - I got the Tan Tan Vegan ramen - warm and nutty with ground soy and chewy handmade noodles. Washed it down with a bubbly Yuzu soda, and I left the clearly OPEN ramen shop with a fulll belly and a smile on my face. Definitely going back to Zao, and you should too! read more

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I had a great experience trying out Zao. I came on a Saturday afternoon and was able to place an order through the kiosk. I liked that it was self serve and the food came out quickly. I ordered the Tokyo Tonkotsu and the Gekikara Tonkatsu. I enjoyed the Japanese music that was played in the background and the overall vibe of the restaurant. The ramen broth was very rich, along with everything else in it was well cooked. For about $18-20, I will say the portions felt a little bit small. Other than that, I would visit again to try the other menu items. read more

Zao Stamina Ramen - Tokyo Tonkotsu and Gekikara Tonkotsu - Ramen Near Me - Bethesda, Maryland

Absolutely love this place! 10/10 recommend. They recently rebranded to "Ramen Menri". We stumbled upon this ramen shop on Valentine's Day weekend, where they were doing a prix fixe menu "Choco Mole tsukemen". It was incredible. The noodles were so soft, chewy, and light, and they created a masa and cacao noodle too. The dipping sauce was so smoky but very flavorful with a spicy punch. They offered a small amount of crema and miso on the side, and a couple of slices of dry aged beef to dip. Everything paired so nicely together. We also got to try their dessert custard and hojicha tea. It was so rich and delicious and a perfect meal. The owners (husband and wife) came out to chat with customers and they were such a sweet pair, expressing a lot of gratitude to everyone who came out. Definitely will be back to try their other menu! read more

Zao Stamina Ramen - Hojicha custard - Ramen Near Me - Bethesda, Maryland

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The housemade ramen here is the best I've had since having ramen in Tokyo. The housemade broth is everything! The servings are also very generous in my view. Never left hungry or dissatisfied. We are faithfuls now and come every week. (Also the service is top notch and the single stall bathrooms are always very clean.) read more

Zao Stamina Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Bethesda, Maryland

I've had the privilege to dine at Zao twice, 2 years apart - and both times I have come away extraordinarily impressed with the team's attention and devotion to the craft of ramen. It's an unassuming storefront off Bethesda's main thoroughfare, and as soon as you enter there's an aura of calm and peace that greets you. A short queue and a few tablet taps later, you're making yourself comfortable at a table of your choosing, perhaps with your self-serve beverage or a dear friend (or 2), until with great anticipation your chosen noodles and broth arrive almost ceremoniously in front of you. Face to face with the bowl, you understand that not even their gorgeous Instagram photos can do justice to their permanent and special offerings. Breathe, slurp, chew, smile, then repeat. Bring your mom, bring your sibling, bring your boss - it's too good not to share, though I selfishly wish it could be our secret. I'm already wondering how many years it will be until to my next trip to DC (and thus to Zao...) read more

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Still some of the best ramen in the DMV imo. Got the gekikara and yea it's very spicy. Do it at your own risk. I wish they still had the spice bottles to help urself with on the table. Service was fast and friendly. They assisted with setting up a table fast for our large family. Also don't forget to ask for a stamp card, which they will stamp for ur full price bowls. They won't stamp for stamina Mondays. read more

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Employees are nice, but the food was not good. I ordered their mini chasu don and the rice was very watery. The taste of it tasted like soy sauce with rice. read more

A great ramen spot! The place has self service ordering. You order on a kiosk, grab a number and choose your seat. They bring the food out to you. There are plenty of seats inside. The past couple times I've been there was no wait. The Tokyo Tonkotsu ramen was very good. Broth was flavorful and creamy. Pork was tender. Overall portion size was decent. I also got the Karrage. It was crispy and juicy, but nothing to rave about. The mayo sauce they give you adds a nice savoriness to the chicken. The ramen is what stands out here. Give this place a shot if you're in the mood for a quick bowl of ramen! I'll definitely be back. read more

Zao Stamina Ramen - Tori Kara - Age - Ramen Near Me - Bethesda, Maryland

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One unique thing about Zao is that they are one of the only ramen shops in the area that can offer you a wide array of ramen! It's really great for anyone that wants to try something different. And unlike Menya Hosaki, they have more reasonable open times. From their monthly specials calendar, I ordered their Kombusui Tsukemen, which was only being offered for two days. When the food arrived, a staff member explained the process of how to eat everything (salt dip to noodles and then broth), and then was willing to repeat it all when I asked! The whole wheat noodles were cooked to the softness of my liking. The kombu (kelp) broth and the chicken and dashi soup on their own were so good and unlike any ramen broth I've had. It's delicious with the noodles and meat mixed in. In the end, my stomach was full and I was hoping to avoid another food coma but still felt it a little this time. This special was $25 before tip, so remember it's a bit more than the regular bowls of ramen. Can't wait to come back for another special! read more

Zao Stamina Ramen - Special item, Konbusui Tsukemen - Ramen Near Me - Bethesda, Maryland

This place has a lot of the standard ramen shop things going on but I want to highlight it specifically because of what it can offer vegetarians. Usually veggy broth for ramen is... not good. The Vegan ramen here, where meat is absent from the entire process including the broth, is actually pretty good. In a landscape that often treats those options as an afterthought that makes this restaurant worth having on your reference sheet. Complimented by helpful and friendly service and the type of ambiance everyone likes having in a local shop. read more

Zao Stamina Ramen - Vegan Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Bethesda, Maryland

Delicious ramen! Zao is my go to when I am craving authentic ramen in the Bethesda area. It's been my favorite spot since moving back from Japan! read more

I had the traditional shoyu ramen. Overall pretty good. Broth can be a little tastier. I also ordered the chicken karaage an that was really good. read more

Zao Stamina Ramen - Traditional shoyu ramem with ajitama egg. - Ramen Near Me - Bethesda, Maryland

Best ramen in DMV by far. What reviews don't really capture is how close the experience is to an actual place you'd visit in Japan. The way you pay by machine is common in Japan but not here. The weird usage of "stamina" in the name makes sense in Japanese, since ramen has that connotation there. I've heard some reviews saying their menu is non traditional, but in Japan, people expect ramen shops to have a "house style" and unique specials--this is why it's authentic! While they offer an "old school" shoyu ramen for comfort, their main stamina ramen and summer hiyashi chuka are especially good. My only beef is with the karaage--it's well marinated, but the mayo/aioli they use is infused with spice which is a little heavy for my taste. Service is laid back. Owner left Myanmar for Japan and ran ramen shops there for years, and it shows. It's got the aura. read more

Wow! The broth has amazing flavor!! We had the Tan Tan... and didn't want it to end :).

Zao Stamina really has a vibe of its own. Their ramen is not traditional and very unique, but their execution on creating their ramen USES traditional techniques. If they wanted to make traditional ramen; they could easily achieve this because their skills and attention to detail really shines. I loved my ramen. Broth had so many notes and layers to it. Right balanced of light and thick. I drank my whole bowl. Noodles were springy and meat was tender - just knocked it out the park. Zao Stamina is truly a gem in Bethesda, Maryland. read more

Not impressed. Nowhere near authentic Japanese ramen. Order kiosk and open seating. Would not come back. read more

Zao Stamina Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Bethesda, Maryland

Fantastic service, and nice restaurant. However the $25 ramen I got had no flavor to it besides chili flakes. I got the GEKIKARA STAMINA, which is their tourist trap "super spicy" ramen. It had a good amount of spice and I loved that but it felt like the only flavor was chili, oil and water. I tasted no garlic or anything else . It also came with a small bland piece of boiled pork, and a soft boiled egg. The broth was bland, underwhelming and I feel like I just fell for a tourist trap. :( It's a small portion size of noodles as well, however you can pay an extra $4 for more noodles. read more

Monday Stamina spice Ramen was delicious. I got a seasoned egg and side of pork dumplings . It was so delicious

I will offer what might be regarded as an unusual review. I was not humiliated. I was prepared to be. I had stopped into Zao Stamina Ramen while walking to the Bethesda Metro, having returned a rental car, and I was wondering where to grab a casual lunch. When I saw they had a spicy ramen option on the menu, with a warning in caps with exclamation marks about "no refunds," I knew I had to try that. I have been humbled before, which is only just given my hubris, when a dish has a similar note, because it turns out that while my tolerance for the heat of capsaicin is toward the higher end of the spectrum, it ranks within the bottom among the connoisseurs of powerful peppers. My wife always points out, shaking her head, I made the choice. She, like others, wonders why you would want your tongue burned to numbness. In this instance, however, I can report that if you can take the red broth, you also will experience other flavors, of the pork and the onsen egg, and you'll feel the chewy ramen. That is to say I was satisfied, not disappointed. The chef said hello. I said I had the right item for a cold day. Winter had just begun, and I could have used another layer of clothing while out and about. I had the watermelon lager by Hokkaido Brewing. That was sweet. It offset the main course, in particularly the oiliness. I will conclude by saying I have read the research. Spicy foods are like horror movies. They inoculate us. They prepare us for the real challenges in life. When I was a kid, I faced bullying. I would rather not have, and nobody should be subjected to the common cruelties of the playground -- don't get me wrong. But I am resilient as a result, and when people at work wonder how I can withstand withering criticism, I inform them they don't want to know the real reason. If you are good with ramen that bites and stings, you will have an excellent experience at this restaurant. I'd bet others will want to try the more conventional choices. I have found what I will stick with. read more

We really enjoyed both of our ramens! My husband got the Stamina Ramen and I got the soup-less ramen. It was my first time trying a soup-less ramen, and I may enjoy it more than regular ramen! We brought our 1.5-year old on a Friday night, and it was easy to get seated and the service was excellent (they got her a kiddie bowl and fork, which was very considerate). Will come again! read more

Zao Stamina Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Bethesda, Maryland

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Love this spot. Homemade noodles are unbelievable and unique. The tonkatsu is killer. The gekikara spicy is insane, be careful. Try the karaage as well. The tantanmen is a great texture and has a peanut buttery miso flavor. Good service, low frills, excellent in every way. read more

Zao Stamina Ramen - Spicy side of broth and tartanmen - Ramen Near Me - Bethesda, Maryland

Best ramen place in the DMV area, has the most authentic and delicious food! The owners are very passionate, friendly and lovely people! Hospitality was so great, also the restaurant was full right when they opened, so hurry! read more

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Ramen Lovers, this spot is for you! @zaostaminaramen is having their 2nd year anniversary! The ramen is amazing and the kara-age is a must get! Cutest restaurant playing japanese music and the nicest staff! One of my favorite spots in the DMV! read more

Zao Stamina Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Bethesda, Maryland

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Ordered pick up take out on a Sunday evening. Our food was ready fast and was ample, packaged well and we had an easy experience picking it up. There were a good number of people dining in, too; the space was lively but casual. We got a variety of ramen including the kid's ramen, Tokyo tonkotsu and the gekikara tonkotsu (had a warning of its non-refundable spice level). We also got fried chicken and edamame to share. We all enjoyed our choices. I will say the diners who got the gekikara said it was not awfully spicy. I tried it and felt like it had a texture of dried spices, like they just added more powder and it was detectable in mouth feel. read more

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We were looking for a quick meal near our hotel after a long day of walking around DC. Luckily Zao Stamina Ramen was literally right under the hotel. We walked in, ordered at the kiosk (this is probably the closest you can get in the US to the food ticket machines in Japan) and picked a table. The restaurant was pretty empty for dinner. The sole waiter did come up to us to make sure we understood the ordering system and to answer any questions we had. We ordered: Tokyo Tonkotsu ($18) - Good roasted pork bone flavor in the broth. Nice frothiness along the edges. Came with green onion, two large, thick pieces of marinated bamboo shoots, a sheet of nori, half a marinated soft boiled egg (this one had a small amount of the yolk fully set) and thin slice of pork belly. Stamina Ramen ($15) - Japan does not have very much spicy food. Going into this dish, we thought it would be "spicy" to Japanese tastes. We were wrong. This is a legit spicy that burns in the back of your throat, but lets off soon afterwards. I wouldn't say it's overly spicy, just much more spicy than we thought it would be. The dish came with probably 6 or 7 slices of thin pork belly, green onions, garlic, and a perfectly soft poached egg. The ramen noodles in both dishes were served at similar doneness - a little more al dente than we usually prefer, but softens as you eat. This is the only ramen shop I've come out still a little hungry though... probably should have ordered extra noodles or a side. On the table is dumpling sauce, which we didn't test out, and chili paste which is home made. The chili paste has anchovy to give it a richness and appears to be the source of heat in the stamina ramen. They sells bottles of this for $7 a bottle. I wouldn't consider Zao to be a top tier ramen place, but I'd say it's certainly a place that is worth stopping by if you're in the area. The service is efficient and the food comes out fast. read more

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One of the few ramen spots in the dmv that is truly a great bowl. noodles have great spring and texture. Broths are great. other toppings are also top notch - Bokchoy, ajitama, menma. My favorite is the tonkotsu, the tantan is pretty good, as well as the stamina. the karaage is crispy with a nice aioli, the pork rice is gingery and tasty. Order on the screens when you walk in and grab a seat. read more

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This place is our go-to ramen spot in Bethesda. My favorite things to order are the tonkotsu ramen and karaage chicken. The tonkotsu ramen is very rich in pork flavor and creamy. The chicken is crispy and made to order. When you enter the store, you are presented with a self service kiosk where you order and pay for your food. It's very similar to the ramen places I've been to in Japan. If you are dining in, you will grab a number and place it at a table of your choosing. Once seated, someone will bring your beverage and food. The few times I've been, they've had anime projected on the walls. There is a parking garage nearby, and they are also located very close to Bethesda Metro station. read more

Zao Stamina Ramen - Tonkotsu ramen - Ramen Near Me - Bethesda, Maryland

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I ordered the stamina of Ramen and would recommend getting it to go, as the dining ambience isn't particularly invited. The service was fine nothing, exceptional, but efficient enough. The stamina of Ramen had a mild level of spice, was flavorful, and overall quite satisfying. I definitely return for another takeout meal from here. read more

A friend highly recommended ZAO Stamina in Bethesda, and since it's so close to Rockville I had to check it out . Their branding and social media is definitely on point, plus they offer some unique weekend specialty ramen as well ! Zao prides itself with their handmade inhouse ramen noodles, skinny and curly varieties, and their authentic broths with modern spins. For the appetizers /drinks we got: Tori Kara-Age Mini Chashu Don Umeshu Japanese Plum Wine For the ramen we got: Gekikara Tonkotsu Old School Shoyu Mazesoba The Tori Kara-Age was some nice tender bites, and the chashu don rice bowl was savory and sweet ! The Gekikara Tonkotsu was the SECOND most spiciest ramen on the menu, and it was pretty intense , tasty broth but it had a BOLD spicy KICK . The Ramen broth in general is more on the oilier side, which if that's your preferred style, then it works well! My Old School Shoyu was tasty, but I think the broth could've had a bit more flavor/saltiness to it. Besides the basic toppings listed in the description, you can add extra toppings from their menu for additional costs, but this can make your ramen end up being pretty pricey. Definitely want to come back and check out their weekend specials, as well as their skinny ramen noodles. read more

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We placed an online order for the "Savor Bethesda" Restaurant Week. Ordered three sets plus four add-one. Two bags were ready to go in about 40 minutes as promised. The Stamina Ramen with egg and soup base was very good. The Old School Shoyu was delicious. The Mazesoba with egg was very tasty. Pork Gyoza (3pcs) and Tori Kara-age (3pcs) were well made. Wakame Salad was kind of dry. Pork Butt (2pcs) and Pork Belly Chashu (2pc) and Chicken Chashu (3pcs) dipped with sauce were all nice. We enjoyed the meals very much. read more

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3.5 stars for trying. It didn't taste like authentic Japanese ramen- the flavors were too strong/overpowering. My shoyu ramen was way too salty but I can just add hot water next time. It's still a nice option to have near us- there wasn't any ramen places in walking distance, so this is a welcome addition. It is a weird setup though- went you walk in, you are immediately greeted by a kiosk. You're required to order there before sitting so you're tipping before the meal- find for me especially since I could see that there was only one server, so he definitely deserves it! There also was one chef in the back so a very lean staff- probably to cut costs. It's like the drink serving robot at Kura. The interior is clean (well, it's new so I didn't expect otherwise), and is roomy. You pick your own seat but don't forget to take a number for your table, and add it ti the notes of your order. read more

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Came here with a group of 5 on the way back from skiing up in Pennsylvania one Saturday. The store front confused us at first but were able to find it after circling back. The inside had a pretty cool classic ramen shop feel. You order at the stand up front via the machines and take a number to your table. We got a variety of noodles and what helped was a day of skiing and the fact that it was like 28 degrees outside so a bowl of ramen really helped hit the spot. That being said, while the broth was good, I wished there were more things in the ramen and the meat selection was a bit different. The thin slices for some of the bowls did not feel very substantial for the price. Overall it was good in terms of flavor but not somewhere I would go out of my way for. If I lived closer wouldn't be against going when I was craving a bowl but there are better places closer to the downtown DC area that I would choose over this place. read more

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Honestly debating on a three star rating but will be nice and give four. The service even though you order at kiosks was really good. However the ramen itself came out warm at best and the broth while very rich was extremely one note. I had the tonkatsu ramen as did my partner which is a shame cause I don't have anything to go off of then the one ramen. But in all honesty I have no interest in trying anything else. I would say if you are in the area is worth trying but def don't make a special trip like I did. The best thing I had was the fried chicken which came with my lunch special. read more

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The first time I came here was for dinner to grab a quick takeout. I ordered the summer special item, hiyashi chuka. Service was a little slow but I was able to grab my food and leave. I enjoyed my noodles so much that I decided to come back again the next day for another bowl. This time I got the lunch special with the shoyu ramen and fried chicken. The fried chicken was very juicy and crispy - everything I am expecting from Japanese fried chicken. The bowl of ramen was well cooked, not too salty, and had a nice depth in flavor. There were also spices sitting on the tables so you can adjust the spice level to your liking. They also had draft Kirin beer which is a requirement when eating ramen. The beer was a little watery so I wondered if I was getting the bottom of the keg, but I still enjoyed it. read more

Zao Stamina Ramen - Shoyu - Ramen Near Me - Bethesda, Maryland

I was so excited work finally brought me back to back Bethesda, mainly because I remembered coming to Zao in 2022. I rushed here my first night in town, salivating like one of Pavlov's dogs to finally get my hands on another bowl of Tom-Yum ramen. Sadly, when I scrolled the kiosk ordering system it was no where to be found. A member of the staff informed me it hadn't been on the menu for a couple of years, but said if I liked the spice I should order their signature "Stamina Ramen". I took his advice... only to be disappointed. I started with an order of the Gyoza, just I I had previously. They arrived almost immediately which was honestly surprising. After a bite I knew why, they were charred on the outside... yet cold in the middle. Yep... premade and not even reheated. Strike one. My bowl of Stamina Ramen arrived shortly thereafter. It contained exactly ONE thin slice of pork belly, half a marinated egg and basically 3 bites of noddles. I don't know what's happened, but I know it makes me sad. It brraks my heart to write a review of this nature, hopefully they can regain their previous glory. read more

This place is the closest thing you will find to authentic Shoyu ramen in the DMV. The Tonkotsu is great as well but there are better options in the DMV. read more

My husband and I are Japanese American and we have tried every ramen shop in the DMV. Zao Stamina Ramen has the BEST tasting ramen in the area! I had the tan tan ramen and my husband got the stamina ramen. The noodles are made in-house and the broth is deliciously paired. The pork gyozas were amazing! We can't wait to go back and bring our family and friends to try other dishes! Read the owner's story as Payesone M. Hakamata and his wife share their history on how why they perfected their ramen and Japanese dishes! read more