I'm a bit conflicted about the meal I had. First off, service was great, and the speed the food arrived was perfect. So, absolutely no issues there. For an appetizer, I had the gyoza, and it was perfect. Evenly fried and steamed, even if it was just frozen stuff from the bag like at the Japanese restaurant I used to work at, it was at least prepared with skill. My main entree was the garlic miso ramen. And while each component worked on its own, all of them put together made it seem less as a whole. My biggest issues were the chashu pork which came out a little overcooked. I know the reason, and probably shouldn't hold it against them, but it reminded me a bit of the overcooked pork of my childhood. The other issue was the broth. It was sweet on the backend, which really didn't do it for me the more I've thought about it. I'm not sure if it was the pork broth or the tare. My suspicion lies heavier towards the tare than the broth, but I could be wrong. Either way, I felt that such noticeable sweetness was out of place especially since it did too much to counter the garlic flavor. I suspect it was there to do that for those who don't like a heavy garlic flavor, but then again, if you don't like garlic flavor, you shouldn't be ordering something labeled as garlic on the menu. I will say that marinating the egg was a nice touch and gave it a depth of flavor that typically isn't there from other ramen places I've tried. Otherwise, it was good overall, it just felt like it didn't completely come together with the sweetness of the broth and the pork being a tad overcooked. Still, despite perhaps not looking like it, Zen Ramen was a solid little ramen shop on the East Side and I would not oppose going back to try some of their other ramen bowls. It might not blow your mind if you're a regular ramen connoisseur, but is still a solid spot if you want something affordable and unpretentious. read more

The ramen is delicious, and I thought the Gyoza appetizer was the best I've ever had. The server, (Jayai) was wonderful. She was very careful about our allergy concerns and made sure to take care of us (my daughter has a severe fish allergy and needed her ramen free of fish cake & sauce). The Thai boba tea was delicious, too. I discovered that I prefer Thai ice tea better without boba, but I really enjoyed it in this form, as well. I enjoyed the clean and comfortable atmosphere. I was thankful for the interior photograph left by a previous Yelper because the Yelp reviews I read didn't mention that the place had a dine-in an option. The dining space want just accommodating, but lovely, as well. read more

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Food 4/5 Service 4/5 Ambiance 4/5 Zen Ramen is a pretty straightforward place serving up down-to-earth, good Japanese food. It's simple, tasty, and honestly pretty well priced. Nothing to complain about honestly - I've definitely seen more complete/full flavors in Japanese cooking, but this place definitely still scratches the itch for Japanese food. read more

Zen Ramen - Beef Gyudon - Ramen Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

We decided to go to Zen Ramen for dinner, even though I pre-chopped food, for venison Bolognese, in the morning, but we had a more important family mission to take care of. So, we went to Zen Ramen. First off, this establishment is nice and clean. The one staff person there, was extremely gracious and friendly. We were promptly greeted and sat at a table. I ordered the gyoza, for an appetizer. The gyoza was cooked to perfection, with a very subtle very soft crunch on the outside, and very tender ground pork inside. The gyoza plus the sauce were delicious. I ordered the classic tonkotsu ramen, and my husband ordered the seafood ramen, with red pepper chili oil, which they served on the side. He poured the whole amount in! He likes the heat. He loved his dish immensely. We both ordered our dishes with Udon noodles. My tonkotsu ramen, well, I wish it had more substance to it. The pork was overcooked and dry, but did have a nice soy taste to the outside of the pork. The broth was delicious, but it felt like the Udon noodles were a filler, and excessive. The marinated eggs were delicious. I didn't see any sesame seed in my dish. I felt like I ate more noodles than anything else in the dish. Basically, my husband dish had a lot more in it, then I had. It's all about choice. The one staff member serving was very friendly, and we will go back again. Beware, you will be full after eating here. read more

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Tried Zen Ramen and had mixed feelings. The calamari was pretty underwhelming. It was greasy and I didn't care for the breading at all. Definitely wouldn't order that again. The Garlic Ramen with egg based noodles, however, was really good. Very garlic forward, perfectly seasoned, and a generous portion, which I appreciated. Had enough left to have for breakfast this morning I would order the ramen again. read more

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The food and service at this place are exceptional. The ambiance is impeccable, and the management is incredibly friendly. The presentation of the food is always top-notch. read more

I have to say, I don't know why people keep telling me they love this place... I did not. Our server was quite inattentive and I could see dried food on the bowl my ramen came in, that is SO gross! I know it takes a brilliant mind to look at the dishes after they come out of a machine. There was no ambiance whatsoever, but who knows maybe if they sell the place to someone who CARES, it could be really good. Currently though its just as bad as every place like it I've been to in Madison. read more

I stopped by on a Saturday for lunch with high expectations. I got course after course of inedible food. Chicken paitan ramen was the worst of all. To begin with it was cold. I think it was from prior day. It smelled bad as well. Karaage chicken didn't have any flavor. Tokyo chaahan was barely edible. Just that it came cold and tasted like from prior day. Mango latte with pudding was an ok drink. Not sure what happened to this place. read more

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Seated right away, order taken in a nice timely matter, staff VERY nice. I ordered the sea food ramen, you deffinatley get your money's worth here!!! Nice quiet atmosphere relaxing atmosphere. read more

Zen Ramen - Seafood Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Went for lunch on a Sunday. It was decently busy but service was fast. The food was great. I recommend the gyoza, they were fresh and yummy. The ramen was creamy and rich! read more

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Zen Ramen has come to be one of my neighborhood favorites. Serving Ramen (of course!) , rice dishes, and noodles, what is not to love? I am not the biggest Ramen gal, just because I feel like I can never finish it. I usually opt for a rice dish like a curry, or recently they had an omurice (omelette and rice dish) that was amazing. My husband has tried a few of the Ramen dishes, and he has no complaints. Service here is always friendly and fast. Living close by, I love that this is an option. read more

Zen Ramen is a lovely ramen and Japanese curry joint on the east side that offers standard but excellent ramen options, good Japanese curry, solid apps (I could eat their karaage and potato croquettes all day long), and solid ambiance (unexpected for a ramen restaurant, IMO). They are a little on the pricy side but not too far outside of the realm of reason given prices at other ramen shops in Madison. The only downside is that the wait staff can sometimes get bogged down, so service can be a little slow sometimes -- but that can happen anywhere. The last few times I've been here (and by me saying "last few" you can tell they're good enough to go back to) -- they've had dimmer lights and great music choices that have made that wait no big deal. So maybe don't go here if you are in a rush to eat before a movie or something, but if you want a chill place for a date with your partner or a lounge-like feel to have a chatty hang-out session with your chums: Zen Ramen is a great location! read more

Best ramen in Greater Madison in my opinion. Willing to drive 25 minutes every weekend just for it. Decent service & casual ambiance. read more

Zen Ramen - Volcano Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Ramen is always the right choice on a cold day. I'm impressed with the choice of decor. It really wasn't busy but the restaurant is new. That being said, check it out. I got the garlic miso ramen and my boyfriend got the volcano ramen. I have to say I did have entree envy but I still liked my ramen! The portion is huge, the garlic comes through. I did pay extra for the chili oil which a little goes a long way for spice. Pork was nice, I think I would've liked a thicker cut but it's close to having that melt in your mouth consistency. I also ordered the Thai iced tea. Bobas were chewy and sweet. I probably would've opted out of the whipped cream if I knew it came with. A perfect pairing to cut the spiciness. My boyfriend wanted me to include this: he gives it a 5/5. Doesn't want this gem to leave Madison. read more

Zen Ramen - Garlic Miso Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Really kind server and a very calming and welcome space! I got the Ramen duo and it was really good and so was the strawberry matcha latte! only thing was the chicken side of the ramen was plain but otherwise this place is good and will come back read more

Zen Ramen - Ramen duo - Ramen Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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Yes ladies and gentlemen, I've lived long enough to see a ramen place go in within walking distance of my house. I never thought I'd see the day. Zen Ramen is one of several new business that are revitalizing the Rolling Meadows Shopping Center-and it's a welcome one. I ordered the Zen Ramen while spouse ordered the classic. I could have easily split my portion. Excellent with lots of noodles. Service was speedy and the decor is cozy. Sake and beer are available along with hot teas and soda. No more five mile drive for a bowl of ramen. Yay! And after you visit, check out the cool shops next door. read more

Zen Ramen - Menu - Ramen Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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Walked in the store and it reminded me of the Ramenya in Tokyo! The waiter Angga helped to my seat, and was fast in taking my order. The Zen Ramen bowl was really good, reminds me of the Shoyu broth the Ramenya use back in Japan. The tempura was crunchy, though i would loved a tempura sauce rather than the sweet chili sauce offered. For dessert, Angga offered me to try a matcha cheesecake. I usually don't do dessert, but this one did not disappoint! The chocolate, matcha and cheese all blended in a nice light dark chocolate taste. I'll definitely be back to experience another authentic bowl of ramen! read more

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Yum!!! Authentic Ramen and quick service! We came for my nephew's birthday and tried a few appetizers as well. Clean and the bar in particular was decorated beautifully. read more

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Great to have this restaurant in our neighborhood!! Service, food is all great!! Very sensitive to food allergies too read more

Came during restaurant week and I was glad I chose this spot to try! I came on Sunday right after they opened and was seated right away. I'm glad I came early because it did start to fill up while I was there. My girlfriend and I shared the restaurant week lunch special. I'm glad we did because it was a lot of food. The seaweed salad was great, not too salty. The potstickers were hot and crispy. The ramen noodles and broth were delicious as well. The servers were attentive and I overall have no negative feedback about this restaurant. read more

Excellent food and service. Large selection of ramen and appetizers. Portions are plenty and if you can't finish, containers to take home. Prices are very reasonable for the quantity and quality of the food. read more

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Wife and I pass by Zen now and then, and this last weekend with the weather the way it was, we thought it was a perfect opportunity to try them out. We walked in to a fairly busy restaurant, with only a couple of small tables open right by the door, the staff member asked if we minded sitting at the bar, which we had no problem with. We ordered, our meal and drinks, which by the way were on special, a buy one get one beer! So I couldn't pass that up. The ramen was delicious, chicken was crispy, and the broth was tasty! The wait staff was very friendly and helpful! He appeared to be the only one on duty and he was WORKING it!! Bravo to him!!! The casual atmosphere was nice and enjoyable with soft lounge versions of pop songs playing in the background. Make sure you check in if it your first time, you should get a surprise! We will definitely be back! read more

Zen Ramen - Zen Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Service was impeccable, very kindly accommodating a food allergy even with a set restaurant week menu. The shoyu egg excelled and would recommend the $2 add on. The food was so fresh! Only complaint is the food took awhile and came out a little cold but would definitely come again. Truly the service elevated the experience and impressed. Also enjoyed the selection of ramen and variety available. read more

Zen Ramen - Zen Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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I was so excited to see that this place opened up by my place! Overall, the food was quite good (I tried the fried squid and garlic miso ramen). The noodles were definitely the highlight for me, they had that perfect chewy-but-not-too-chewy texture. The decor was also very cute (I loved the pink water glasses)! There seemed to only be one person working, but the service was surprisingly fast. The only thing I would note is that the ramen broth was quite salty! It was still very good, but I'd be interested in trying some of their other options next time. read more

Zen Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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What I ordered: Appetizer: Gyoza (minced pork, mushrooms, and cabbage) (6 pcs) Entree: Zen Ramen (Tonkotsu meets Karaage Chicken, in-house special) Drink: Signature Passion Fruit Lemon Boba Tea (20oz) 2024 began flavorful as my friends and I gathered at Zen Ramen to celebrate. If you're seeking ramen in Madison, look no further than Zen Ramen. Each dish boasted freshness, prepared to order, and delivered a burst of deliciousness. The service? Exceptional--setting a high bar for the new year's hospitality. However, the true star of the evening? The ramen itself. Every slurp was a symphony of flavors, a testament to their mastery of seasoning and ingredient selection. The broth, an elixir of savory richness, stole the spotlight, elevating the entire ensemble of ingredients harmoniously nestled within. Zen Ramen's dedication to excellence not only satisfied our cravings but also set a promising tone for the culinary experiences to come in 2024. An absolute recommendation for anyone seeking a taste of exceptional ramen craftsmanship. read more

Amazing Ramen. Definite candidate for the top spot in Madison. Make a point to check it out. read more

Zen Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

I've never had bad things from here. The environment is very welcoming and the food is to die for. Can only speak good things about this place :) read more

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Three of us visited today for lunch and we were not disappointed. We started with steamed dumplings that were fantastic. Prior to ordered our entrees we asked a zillion questions about ingredients. All were kindly answered. We tried 3 different ramens and all of us substituted tofu for the listed proteins. Service was quick and our ramens huge and tasty. We each left with a meal for home after drinking multiple pots of hot tea after almost three hours of dining and chatting. The friendly staff did not seemed bothered about our lingering and continued to refilled the teapots. If you like ramen, do visit! read more

I'm so full. And so happy. My son and I came up to Madison from chicago burbs for a hockey tournament. Looking for dinner we found this place 15 minutes from the hotel. It looked kinda creepy at first bc the parking lot didn't have any lights on so everything was super dark and sketch. But.. the whole drive here in backroads was kinda similar, so maybe it's just a Madison energy conservation thing or something?! Anyway. People inside were super nice. Super chill atmosphere, nice and clean interior. We got the chicken katsu yakitori and crispy chicken wings appetizers because I have trouble *not* getting wings at new places I got just to see how they are. They're amazing. Definitely crispy, and they covered in some kind of sauce too. I could have done without the sauce and maybe had it as a dipping sauce instead, but even with it it was good. Same for the katsu yakitori, they had some mayo mix drizzled on top. It looked nice, but I got them for my 9year old and so had to wipe it off:) Super crispy and delicious though. Then we got ramen. It was simply the best ramen I've had in years. I've been having legit ramen since before it was popular in the states, and this holds its own against any I've had before. My son got the kids meal, which was oddly priced at $10 even though it had a massive bowl of ramen, 2 delicious spring rolls, and mochi at the end. Feel like it was worth more like $25. Prices were amazing in general. I feel like I should come eat in Wisconsin more if the prices are this much better than chicago burbs. Just need more street lights;) read more

Service was amazing! We came in with our 14 month old and the restaurant was so accommodating. CiCi was our waitress and she provided a high chair, a children's cup, and a phone stand for us. The food was also amazing. We aren't local but would come back in a heartbeat. read more

I had a serious stomach issue and their miso soup was my go-to, deeply flavorful and soothing. After I got better, started picking up take-out for the family - love the ramen but also the other offerings, especially the entire appetizer section of the menu. read more

Really cute ramen spot, ambiance and music is a vibe. Tonkatsu ramen is spot on. Boba tea is 10/10z Adding this to my rotation. Def recommend stopping here for your ramen or boba fix! Staff is also very friendly read more

Zen Ramen lounge is a strip mall restaurant located near Monona, away from the beaten path around campus and the Capitol. Zen Ramen lounge is run by non-Japanese East-Asians, and apparently ownership has changed recently, several months ago. We walked in somewhat early on a Friday night and the place was about half full. We were greated by a server who took us to our table right away. They have a nice selection of Ramen and related dishes like rice bowls and appetizers. We started with the pork Chashu buns. Those are sold three to an order and are nice small appetizer size. The steamed bun comes filled with a nice slice of pork Chashu, some lettuce and some type of mayo based sauce. They were pretty tasty - a nice start. The buns are served in a bowl with a few pieces of broccoli, which was interesting. The lady and one of our other companions ordered a meal that included both the small Japanese starter salad and a bowl of Miso soup. Both the salad and soup were quite good and a nice addition to their dishes, although I actually thought there was a bit too much seaweed in the Miso soup. I ordered the pork Tonkotsu Ramen as my main. I was looking forward to this after seeing Zen Ramen lounge being fairly highly rated for a Madison area Ramen place. The Ramen bowl came out and it was a nice size and it also was evident that there was some nice toppings on the Ramen bowl. The toppings included two soft boiled egg halves, some scallions, some mushrooms, some bamboo shoots, a piece of Nori, some corn and of course the Chashu, which will get to later. The toppings were all quite good and I thought the nice assortment was a good mix and quantity for the bowl. The noodles were also pretty good. They proudly say on their menu that the noodles are homemade and while not the best noodles I've ever had, there was no reason to doubt that they were housemade. The broth was a pork based broth and had some flavor to it. However, the broth did not have the creamy depth and complexity that some Tonkotsu broths have and unfortunately I thought the broth was the weak point of the Ramen bowl. Onto the star of the show - the Chashu! There were two slices of Chashu pork (although the menu says four). The Chashu pork slices were decent sized chunks of pork with only a small bit of fat in the slice. The edges of the slices also appeared to have been slightly braised (I'm not sure about that, but it seemed that way) and had a nice flavor and texture when you bite into them. So, overall a really pretty good bowl of Ramen with very nice Chashu and toppings and decent noodles but unfortunately the broth has a bit of room for improvement. The vibe of Zen Ramen lounge was nice. They played some relaxing light rock music in the background, and there is some nice mood lighting around the lounge which helped make for a nice casual dining scene. They could do a bit more however to bring out the Japanese Ramen shop vibe of the place and that would be welcome. As we dined, the Zen Ramen lounge filled up fairly quickly, and was completely full by the time we left. The wait staff was friendly and helpful throughout, but as the place filled up they became a bit overwhelmed, and service slowed down a little bit. Overall Zen Ramen lounge is off to a great start and I hope they continue to both dish out the very good Ramen and other dishes they're serving as well as make a few improvements in areas like working on the Ramen broth and perhaps working on the Japanese Ramen shop vibe as well as their staffing levels. I'm looking forward to more to come from Zen Ramen lounge! read more

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Yum!! I stumbled across this new restaurant on Eat Street and ordered takeout. The Volcano Ramen is delicious!! Spicy, great flavor, and came packaged so all you had to do was add the broth and spice to the bowl! The restaurant is simple with nice ambiance. Glad to have this restaurant in the neighborhood!! read more

Zen Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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Been here twice for ramen with multiple people so got to try a number of dishes. The ramen soup flavors are good. Yuzu is a favorite, Volcano was very spicy. The most recent time, the noodles were very overcooked which is very disappointing. Hopefully they can get the noodles the right texture more consistently. Now that Morris is closed, this will be where I go for ramen I think. Gyozas and chicken kaarage were good. read more

Great new Ramen shop off of Cottage Grove Road. Cool location and low key for a nice night out. Ramen itself is very tasty, and they have options to spice things up if you're in for the heat, which is always a plus. They always have a ton of noodles, but there is a lack in the amount of bamboo shoots (menma) and shrooms, hence the 4-star. All in all, would recommend if you're looking for Ramen on the south east side! read more

The BEST service! + loved the food! We loved the professional bartender too. We'll be back read more

Beyond any expectation I could ever have hoped for. Authentic, amazing, and beautiful curated space. Service is top notch.

I recently had the pleasure of dining at this new exquisite ramen restaurant. I'm still savoring the delight flavors that dances on my taste buds. They have variety of selection of ramen and appetizers. Their ramen is nothing short of extraordinary. I really like the classical Tonkotsu ramen. Each mouthful was a burst of authentic and rich flavors. The broth was impeccably seasoned, the noodles perfectly cooked and the toppings fresh and flavorful. The restaurant's interior was cozy and charming, and I enjoyed their relaxed atmosphere, quick service and friendly owner. The restaurant is an absolute gem and they have the best ramen in town. You won't be disappointed. read more

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Ordered Chicken Zen Udon with no onions and got onions. Tried using a gift card with $50 on it and my order total was $33.72 the lady at the front desk then told me I couldn't use it unless the total was exactly $50 or over. Like what‍. Will not be coming back to this establishment at all. read more

Zen Ramen - Not what I ordered - Ramen Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin