Ramen Dojo recently opened in San Mateo at legendary Santa Ramen’s original location, no doubt hoping to capture some of its good karma. In fact it’s owned by the same people. They focus on spicy ramen, specifically Sutamina Ramen (aka Stamina Ramen) that is served in a couple restaurants.

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Ramen Santouka is a legendary noodle shop located inside the Mitswa supermarket in San Jose just off Highway 280′s Saratoga exit. They have locations in many different cities around the world including Los Angeles. Read the rest of this entry »

Santa Ramen is a very popular Japanese noodle house in San Mateo. It has a legendary cult following and long lines at both dinner and lunch times. Read the rest of this entry »

Himawari is a Japanese Ramen Noodle house in downtown San Mateo. Every block down here has a Japanese restaurant. Their chief rival a couple miles away is the legendary Santa Ramen. They have a broader menu than Santa Ramen, with Rice Bowls, lots of appetizers, and many ramen options. We came on hot day and noted no air conditioning, just ceiling fans cranked up. Read the rest of this entry »

Maruichi is a Japanese Noodle restaurant on Castro street in Mountain View. With so many restaurants nearby, this place stands out. Read the rest of this entry »

Ramen HALU is a popular Japanese noodle house in a strip mall off 280 in San Jose.  There is wait here most times, but not as crazy as well known Santa Ramen in San Mateo.   The main draw is the tasty ramen noodles in four different styles but just one broth.  This is in contrast to Santa Ramen that has one type of noodle, and 3 types of broth.  There is a limited selection of salads and appetizers. If you are not into noodles, avoid this place. Read the rest of this entry »