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2nd time braving the line at Ramen Nagi!My first ever visit
2nd time braving the line at Ramen Nagi!My first ever visit to Ramen Nagi was at their Palo Alto location and we didn't have to wait long (only the 15 min prior to opening and we got seated within the first wave. We decided last minute to get ramen while at the mall and there was already a decent line 20 min before opening. We also ended up waiting extra as they were staggering how many people they let in despite having open seating. Not too too bad of a wait though considering we thought we wouldn't make it in the "first wave" although it was more like the second as there was a long break in between seating people.We were a party of two and got seated with others at their communal table which was fine as the tables were lengthy enough that it didn't seem like an intimate dinner with other strangers and each side had their own utensils and seasonings that could be grabbed rather than sharing amongst everyone.We enjoyed their self-serve seasoned bean sprouts at the table while waiting for our ramen! They hand you forms while in line to choose how you want to customize your ramen (soup choice, ramen thickness, spice, garlic and sodium level).No appetizers this time around but their karaage looked good! We tried their black king (squid ink) and green king (basil) which were pretty good! The black king was a bit sweeter than expected but the thick noodles were a great texture and came out piping hot!Not my go-to spot for ramen but if there's ever a chance I won't have to wait too long, then I might be down to go again to try their other broths
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Every time I walk by I saw a line of people outside, then
4/5 by
M R. on 03/24/2023
Every time I walk by I saw a line of people outside, then people told me this is the best around. Recently I noticed on weekdays after 1pm or so, the line is not long, so I gotta go check it out. I was seated within 5 minutes, and I ordered the original with their recommendations. Over all it's a very good bowl of ramen, but imo I like Hironori Craft Ramen better. Maybe I didn't like the garlic added. I'll go back again to try without garlic. But even if I like that, it's still not a place worth me waiting an hour for.
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This review is not for food.
The ramen is still solid.We were seated close to the kitchen today and the guys working inside the kitchen were super foul mouthed. They were working and chatting with each other and continuously cussing in Vietnamese as they spoke. Ver loudly, for the entire time we were eating, which totally ruined our mood. If you decide to have an open kitchen that your customers can see and hear you perhaps refrain from cussing. Urg!
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Worst chicken karage ever.
Super greasy and the seasoning is on the sweeter note. Just not what I have always accustomed to. Ramen itself is cooked well but the broth is overrated; not worth of waiting in line for a long time. Service? There is no service it's a quick meal. I like the condiments including the sprouts.
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Hands down the best ramen in the Bay Area.
We waited 45 minutes in line on a Friday night, however it was totally worth it. Personally think it's better than marufuku. We ordered the pork ramen and original ramen. Both were flavorful, juicy and hot. Will be back soon.
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Flavorful broth, tasteful chicken karage very juicy and not
Flavorful broth, tasteful chicken karage very juicy and not dry. My favorite ramen place in the Bay Area. When you come expect a very long wait because it's that good!
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If you've ever been to Valleyfair, chances are you've
If you've ever been to Valleyfair, chances are you've probably always seen a huge line outside of Ramen Nagi. My boyfriend and I were able to try it for the first time today and (at least for us) the wait was thankfully not too long. We came about 10 minutes until they opened for dinner (5pm) and only waited about 10 minutes once they opened to be seated. The service was very efficient, like a well-oiled machine, and upon waiting for them to open, one of the employees came out to hand everyone a build-your-own menu and took time to explain the process if you were new, which was really helpful.In terms of the ambiance, I will say it's not a place I would frequent if I wanted to have a relaxed and casual pace for my dining experience. However, I do understand and recognize that it is a smaller establishment in the middle of a huge mall, so it's to be expected. Really the most uncomfortable part for me was sitting so close to other guests to the point where either of us can hear the others conversations and/or we were too close that it didn't seem like an environment where we wanted to chat. Because of this, I would say it's definitely a kind of eat and go establishment. I will say though, they do offer a "bar" like seating for guests dining individually which really helps with the aforementioned awkwardness. As for the food, I would say that the ramen at Ramen Nagi is pretty good, but that's also coming from someone who doesn't have a great gauge or knowledge of what makes good ramen. The tonkatsu broth was rich, salty, umami, and creamy almost and, personally, paired beautifully with the thicker noodle. The portion is more than satisfactory and overall we left happy and full!
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Really delicious Ramen and loved the soup.
5/5 by
H C. on 03/16/2023
Got the extra Ramen on the side and great that it's served when you are ready, so it won't be sitting there cold.
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I really don't understand the hype for this place.
Their are better places with shorter waits for the same price in the local area. The ramen was nothing special.
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I got the Red King when I visited, and it was pretty good
I got the Red King when I visited, and it was pretty good overall, with a good amount of spice! The one thing that I absolutely could not stand at the end was how sweet they made the ground pork toppings. The sweetness was so overpowering that all of the other flavors went away as I was finishing up the bowl. If they can fix that aspect, then it would be a 5 star review.
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Except for the long line and wait .
. this place is delicious! They sometimes don't have certain things on that show on the menu so that's a bit disappointing. Food though is on point.
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This is one of the best places for ramen.
It's convenient that it's located in a mall but the line was insanely long.Service: The staff were kind and efficient. My family and I waited almost 2 hours in line and the line never died down! When we were getting closer to the front of the line, the staff handed us the form to fill out what we'd like to order so when we sit down, they can immediately prepare our order.Food: We ordered the Original King and the Black King with the addition of tamago. Everything tasted absolutely delicious! The food was hot in temperature. The broth was creamy and flavorful! The noodles had great texture. The eggs were cooked perfectly! We also got 1 Chashu Rice to share. We loved the taste of the chashu and the sauce over the rice. I highly highly recommend coming here. It is one of the best ramen I've had. The wait can be very long. We came on a weekend. Maybe try coming on a weekday.
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The best ramen I've ever had! I absolutely love the
The best ramen I've ever had! I absolutely love the customization. I love the tonkatsu broth sooo much. The broth is so flavorful and rich, but not too heavy. I usually get light salt, light, oil, regular garlic, spice, level 1 with pork belly and cabbage. I like the thin noodle and I prefer it soft to extra soft. The pork belly is so flavorful and soft. I prefer it over the chasu. 100% worth the wait!
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Had to wait for about 30 minutes or so on a Friday
4/5 by
A V. on 03/12/2023
Had to wait for about 30 minutes or so on a Friday afternoon for lunch. Once we were seated inside the food was bought out pretty quickly. There is exactly one vegetarian option but it was pretty good. This is not the best place to visit with young children since the the tables are very close to each other or you will be sharing a long table with strangers. But if you are good with that, want to try some authentic ramen, and don't mind waiting in line for a while, check it out!
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Ramen was 10/10!This is a Ramen spot in the mall.
I hope they open an outside location soon too with more room.This was recommended by a friend and it did not disappoint!I've can only remember maybe 3 good ramen I've ever tried in my life and this is one of those 3. The thin style ramen noodles was perfectly cooked. J liked how you can customize the saltiness of the ramen as more than one occasion I've had ramen that were way too salty I couldn't finish it.We also ordered the crispy gyoza and it was also very good with the sauce it came with,The line is long and sometimes go around the floor so be early if you must.
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Great food at good prices, but it's worth the wait in long
Great food at good prices, but it's worth the wait in long lines. Luckily, long lines move quickly. We like eating there because the food and service is quick as soon as you place an order.
Food 5/5 - I ordered the original king and it was extremely good. Best ramen in California! Service 5/5 - The service was very good despite it being very busy. Value 5/5 - The food was worth the price. Atmosphere 4/5 - The wait was extremely long but it was still worth it. Overall 4.75/5 - Love this place! Would definitely eat here if in the area.
Amazing veggie ramen. I avoided the mushroom. The hash brown gives it a nice crunchy feel. My brother and family who eat nonveg were a little sad that all those ramens were pork based which they don’t eat. Edamame was amazing also.
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The best ramen I ever had.
The red king is an amazing dish. The rich oil is amazing and makes the overall broth way more flavourful. I chose pork belly (recommended by the waitress). It was soft and melted immediately in my mouth. The thick noodles are nothing less than perfect with amazing mouth feel. I recommend everyone to give a try. When choosing the spice rating, I believe 8 is a good choice if your tolerance is high. It balances the broth well. If you don't have high tolerance, I recommend going with at least a 5-6.
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Love their ramens! Been going here for years and it never
5/5 by
RO A. on 08/03/2022
Love their ramens! Been going here for years and it never disappoints. Although the line is always long, once you're seated service goes pretty fast. It's super efficient. Don't forget to ask if they have anything in their secret menu. They have limited supply of gyoza or chicken karaage and sometimes they'll have seasonal ramens as well. One thing I wish they'd bring back are the tiny portion of appetizers like bean sprouts.
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The big question is -- is the wait here worth it? I've
The big question is -- is the wait here worth it? I've wondered that myself many times, walking by the long line that wraps around the mall. I strategically came on a Monday evening at opening time, so the line had barely started, and I was seated by 5:15. While in line, they'll pass you a paper for you to mark what you want to order. Your ramen bowl is very customizable, which is always fun. I just ended up getting the Black King, since I love blackened garlic. The interior is small but they're efficiently cranking out bowls on bowls of ramen. They ask you if you want Gyoza or Karaage with your order We got the Karaage, which was juicy and super crunchy. As for the ramen, the highlight for me were the noodles. They're chewy and ultra slurpable. The broth also sticks to the noodles, and they hold the flavor well. In terms of flavor, they really do not play with the amount of blackened garlic in there. The color and flavor are quite strong. However, I do think I've had better black ramen in terms of the depth of the broth. So to answer the big question -- it is undoubtedly delicious ramen and a great, quick dining experience (aside from the initial wait lol). But would I wait over 20 minutes for this? Probably not. I think there are other ramen spots that are also wonderful without the wait.
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Visited Nagi again while in CA for my sister's wedding.
It's been a hot minute since I've been, but Nagi never disappoints. Definitely worth the wait. I love the fact that you can customize your noodles, toppings, etc. If you like a good bowl of ramen, you have to go to Nagi. I'm a huge Ramen fan and there are no shortages of ramens in NYC, but there are only a couple that comes close to the perfection of Nagi. Nagi is a must try if you can find one in the area - definitely worth the wait. Staff is super friendly and the few locations I've been have been inside malls so very convenient.
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This place always has a line but for a good reason! The
This place always has a line but for a good reason! The service is really fast and efficient so waiting in the line isn't too bad. When we got a little closer to the restaurant, a server handed us the menu to fill out. I love how customizable the menu is (heavy garlic ALWAYS hehe). I ordered the Red King level 2 spicy and my bf ordered the Black King. When we entered the restaurant the servers were incredibly fast! They got our orders and our food came out in ~10 mins. The ramen was super good and rich!! The spice was at a good level and you have to order it with the egg. The egg is so jammy and marinated. Ramen noodles have such a good bite to them too! My BF really liked his Black King ramen too.This was one of the best ramen experiences I've had! The service was incredibly efficient, the food was delicious, and the price wasn't too bad. Definitely recommend you try this place, don't let the line turn you off!
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Got the standard bowl, one of the partners showed up today
Got the standard bowl, one of the partners showed up today and asked for feedback. Ask and you shall receive.For the past 6 months we have come here, my consistent complaint has been "why am I not full from the bowl?" I am no longer "full" after eating the standard bowl - and that's also after splitting extra noodles with my partner. I get inflation has been rough on everyone, but again, prices are up ... but quantity is cut back ..? I don't really follow.Also, something has changed with the broth. Why is it that at the bottom of the bowl, I feel like it tastes just right in terms of overall umami? Did the tare change .. ? I used all the normal settings, too. Well, I give these 4 stars generously. I can't give five stars for the above reasons.Service was fine, I know the pressure was higher than normal on the staff and they seemed overall attentive.
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I have so much respect for this operation.
First of all, lines form 30 mins before opening, so that's what we always try to do. Once opening time comes, staff promptly goes thru the line, providing menus to fill out and answering any questions. If you're a first-timer, it's fun to hear their story and explanation of the menu too!Once they start seating, the line moves pretty efficiently and there's clearly good teamwork and communication between the staff. When you sit down, you're promptly greeted by the staff who collect your menus and allow you to order appetizers of the day if you'd like - my friend loves the chicken karaage.The ramen doesn't take too long, and it's so good. I got the Original King with Spice Lvl 1 (almost no spice). The Pork Belly was fantastic, I really liked the firm noodles, and the flavor of the ramen was quite good. You gotta come here for the ramen!Staff keeps water pitchers on all tables, then ensures they are refilled as you enjoy your meal. Great service, wonderful food - just make sure to come 30 mins before opening! I can't wait to come back again.
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Love this restaurant and come back again and again.
The ramen is like a warm hug. Do miss the kimchi that used to be on the table though.
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Ramen Nagi is definitely my favorite ramen shop in the Bay
Ramen Nagi is definitely my favorite ramen shop in the Bay Area. The wait is definitely worth it and they work pretty fast to get the line moving!The service here is always 5/5. When you're in line, a worker will come around to pass out the order slip and a marker. They also answer any questions you have and if you're a first timer, they'll tell you more about the start of Ramen Nagi and take you through the menu.The food here is so good. They offer karaage and gyoza as appetizers occasionally! My go to for ramen is the original king with spice level four. My boyfriend gets the original king with spice level two. We always eat everything and this is the only ramen they doesn't get too fatty for me!Highly recommend
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We've been coming here at least once a month since opening
We've been coming here at least once a month since opening (even during the pandemic) and have nothing but good experiences every time. The wait is surely worth the product being served. I go out of my way to try out new ramen shops in the bay area and while traveling, and in my humble opinion, Nagi has the best ramen I've had outside of Japan. The soup is rich and savory, while the noodles are just the right texture and bouncyness. I'd recommend the thin firm option for the best experience. In summary, Ramen Nagi has been our go to for years and will be for many to come
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Summary: This restaurant is built around a singular bowl of
Summary: This restaurant is built around a singular bowl of ramen with slight variations in things like spice level or saltiness. It unfortunately did not appeal to my personal preferences, but it might others; and if it does, you would probably love it. Definitely worth trying once, but don't expect lots of options to come back and try if you don't like it. Good: I love how they've setup the ordering/service process. Efficient and seamless. Generous scallion and garlic in the tonkatsu broth, overall decent-good broth. The karaage is nice with the squeeze of lemonBad: Felt like quality and nuance were lost in the efficiency of the service. The "regular" and "soft" thin noodles were identical to me. The pork was tender but not very flavorful. Spicy 1 is almost non-existent to me, so if you want spice go at least 2. Karaage aioli was not very flavorful one way or another. Ugly: The egg was overcooked :( I wanted that gooey soft boil but received something nearing a hard boil
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Luckily walked by ~2:00 and the line wasn't too long!! They
Luckily walked by ~2:00 and the line wasn't too long!! They start handing out menus in line, which moved quickly, and continue taking people in until 2:30. Wait for the ramen was not long at all, and everything tasted so fresh. We got seated at a communal table, with a few other groups but I barely noticed because the ramen was so good and I scarfed it down. I would love to come back again. The egg was perfect, I got thick firm noodles. We also had an extra side of noodles, which they ask you to raise up the pan when you're ready for it. Very busy place but servers were really kind and patient!
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I liked their ramen and their broth is really good.
Of course if you're prone for food coma, get ready for a good one. I think their karaage is very good when they have it because I believe they have different special appetizer/sides sometimes.
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My absolute favorite ramen place EVER!!! There is always a
My absolute favorite ramen place EVER!!! There is always a wait, but it is always worth it. One of the things I love about Ramen nagi is the ability to customize everything about your ramen from the oil to the salt to the spiciness. The other two things that put ramen nagi at the top of my list are the noodles and the broth.Noodles: the thin noodles are the way to go in my opinion. They complement the rich broth perfectly when it comes to the texture in your mouth. Broth: I usually can't drink/eat most of the brother when it comes to other places as it becomes monotonous almost. The flavor of Nagi's broth (Red King specifically) never disappoints as it's rich while still having the brightness of the spice
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One of the best ramen I've ever had.
The wait is a bit long but its worth the wait! You can also customize your own ramen the way you like it.
Hard to miss, always a long line but worth the wait! You should come through the weekday lunch time if you want a shorter wait!
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Don't let the long line scare you off ! This place is
Don't let the long line scare you off ! This place is definitely worth waiting in line for. The line moves extremely fast as well! Only waited 20-30 mins. Review on the food: My partner and I both got the Red King, it's a bit spicy but nothing crazy if your a spicy fan. From start you can taste all the spices combined tasteful in a boil with ramen noodles, I recommend getting a boiled egg as well. Secondly the chicken wings were so good! Had a teriyaki taste to them ! Customer service review: I like concept of this place, it's a fast sit down place. You eat and go. They take your order very fast since during the wait they hand menus out to the customers to save time, it's very small so you sit next to different people but it's a very nicely themed restaurant where you can get view of the kitchen and noodles being made from a distance! Overall would try again& only paid 48$ for 2 soups, 2 drinks and the appetizer !
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One of d best ramen ive ever tried.
Been going to this forever and never gets oldThis is located inside the mall and lines on weekends are long but they usually are quick so prepare for thatPlace is not small not large. Menu has only ramen and as appetizers u have chasu rice n edmame onlyMenu is customizable right from noodles to spice levelComing to food, My Fav is Black king ramenOriginal ramen is ok and tasted better at other placesSurprisingly veggie king is also goodRed king is amazing as well and on spicy sideGreen king is also good but on less spicy side with better flavor Do not miss it if ur into ramen
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Can't stop coming here! Love it!Despite the huge line, all
Can't stop coming here! Love it!Despite the huge line, all I can say is that it's worth the wait.
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So my good friend had been here before so she knew the
So my good friend had been here before so she knew the scoop to skipping the long lines.."BE THERE BEFORE 10:30" but we got there at 11:00 and waiting for about 30 min and it wasn't bad the Restaurant Manager came up to us and I was able to ask him what is the most popular and what my spicy level is it was great! I loved what I got it was the RED KING w/ egg and skinny noodles 10/10 Highly recommended! Huge portions so go hungry and if your lucky like me ask for there GYOZA I shook them when I asked for it because there rarely make it.. SOO GOOD AND KRISPY!
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Why don't these people do something about this stupid line?
Why don't these people do something about this stupid line? Let people put their phone number down and walk around the shopping mall maybe? Instead they're all just stuck there for 2 hours. A little respect for people's time would be nice.
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Long lines like everyone says.
But the food comes out super fast and the ramen is definitely worth the wait. I'm not a huge ramen person but this ramen blew my mind. The broth is super flavorful and delicious. Also had the chicken karaage and it was super crispy and tasty as well.