Ramen Hajime

apparently this is one of the best ramen places in california, so i had to see what’s up. karaage, fresh and crispy and juicy, & good with or without the sauce. kiwami spicy miso, with thick noodles, generous toppings, & a rich flavorful broth that exemplifies a good bowl of miso ramen. the chashu is much thinner than what i’m used to but still tasty. the egg was cooked perfectly with the yolk still runny. the menu says the kiwami ramen is *very spicy* but it wasn’t too bad for a spice lover. they have lots of special limited menu items on their wall and i’d love to come back to try one. the waitlist can be very long so come as early as possible- i arrived before opening time & there were already several groups in front of me.

There is a waitlist system to be seated, you enter the building and use a tablet at the front to add yourself to the list. You can then access a website which shows your status in line, and you will get a text when you are close to the front. Then a staffer will call your name to seat you. I arrived as a solo diner shortly after 5 PM on a Wednesday, and there were 8 people ahead of me. Most of these people were also parties of one, so the line moved fast. It only took about 10 minutes. I would recommend checking the menu online while you wait. The ramen is good, as expected. I got the Kiwami Tonkotsu, and was able to request it without an egg. The broth has good flavor and the noodles have good texture, but the standout was the pork belly topping, which pairs unexpectedly well with the provided lime. I wouldn't consider it mind-blowing, but part of that is California being spoiled for choice of good ramen restaurants. The restaurant itself has a charming atmosphere. There are handmade drawings on the line markers outside, and figurines and stuffed animals as decoration inside. The people seated next to me seem to have been regulars or friends of the chef; they were happy to see each other and had a lively conversation in Japanese. The restaurant does have a bathroom inside, which is single occupant gender neutral. Overall, I would hesitate to recommend this place to people with a large group, or dining at peak hours when there is a long wait, but if you're in the area hoping to drop in for a quick bite on a flexible schedule you should give it a go.

For someone who has a lot of food allergies eating out is an adventure and sometimes hazardous. I love this ramen restaurant. The menu was very clear of the ingredients the restaurant uses. Ordering was so easy; server went to the kitchen to check with the chef if what I wanted to order had sesame. They will accommodate. I was able to enjoyed a basic shoyu ramen with a couple of add ons. Prices are very reasonable. Service, I would give more than five stars!!!

I arrived at 11:05 and waited for about 15 minutes. The waitress was polite and spoke softly. My ramen was prepared in approximately 10 minutes and was cooked to perfection. The restaurant has a simple interior, but the atmosphere is enjoyable. The ramen is authentic and delicious.

High quality ramen, great variety, and super friendly staff, but still surprisingly affordable. The broth is rich, noodles are perfect, and the chashu is legit tender. One of the best value ramen spots in the South Bay.

I am finally a fan of ramen soup. Great texture and good tasting broth. Service is nice and efficient. Also ordered chicken karaage, crispy and tasty. The spicy edamame was fun as well. You need to arrive as they first open or it could be a wait to be seated.

Pretty good ramen overall, I don't think it's better then a lot of places I've been to. Got the triple meat and while it was nice a unique compared to other restaurants, it's just fine. Pricing is quite fair though, probably a few bucks cheaper at least then most other ramen restaurants around town. Would recommend to try.

This is an authic Japanese ramen shop. Owner takes his time with every bowl of noodle so it tastes the same every time. Our typical orders include kiwami tonkstsu and vegan. Tonkatsu soup is complex in flavor with rich pork bone and some kind of seafood stock. Temperature was perfect, when mixed with lime and garlic oil. The flavor is rich with strong umami, beautifully presented. Noodle is cooked perfectly with a good chew. Vegan is curry flavored but not over powering, lots of vegetables and is perfectly balanced. We sometimes order the chicken karage which is juicy and crispy, ketch up mayo is also a good touch. Togo order is also great as it is presented beautifully in the two layered container. Ask for uncooked noodles when ordering togo. Reasonably pricedat $15 a bowl. Highly recommended!