Kumako Ramen
| Address: | 211 Jackson St, San Jose, CA 95112, USA |
| Phone: | +1 408-286-2111 |
| Rating: | 4.1 |
| Working: | 11:30AM–2:30PM 11:30AM–2:30PM 11:30AM–2:30PM 11:30AM–2:30PM 11:30AM–2:30PM 11AM–9PM 11AM–7PM |
Location
Photos 100
Reviews 18
A
A Private User
Only recently did I come to understand that Raman soup didnt mean styrofoam noodles. The owners of this small shop learned their craft in NYC from masters who learned their craft in Japan. Their decades of soupmaking shows in the product. The raman soup has a tasty broth that belies the huge quantities of vegetables and meaty stock that are always simmering in big pans behind the counter. This is a soup that takes days to make, and it shows in the richness of the broth. Also try the mabo tofu, a spicy thick gravy with ground meat and silky smooth tofu. In a city thats known for housing an industry and culture that tries to make a quick buck, its refreshing to wander into a place where the owners still value the long training it takes to make a slow bowl of soup thats quick to serve and eat. Great food. Better price. Good food doesnt have to be expensive. Lunch specials less than $10. Dinner not much more. Great value for a slow cooked fast meal.
JO
Joe G
The ramen was excellent! We arrived late for lunch and Kumako was literally the only restaurant open so we took a chance. They took good care of us with the service and food, even with 30min before closing we were not rushed at all. I ordered the curry crab ramen. It had and excellent broth base and plenty crab for lunch. They give you choice parts of the crab with plenty of meat in them, no short cuts there. We also had an order of deep fried shrimp shumai, which had excellent flavor and sauce on it. The price was very reasonable and the portions were filling. I am definitely going back to Kumako Ramen, it was one of the better ramen shops Ive been to in San Jose. Definitely go to Japantown, walk around and eat here, you will enjoy your day in this safe, clean historic neighborhood.
CH
Chris G
I arrived at 6:55 right as I began to grab a seat the guy behind the counter says I"m sorry but were closed.. I looked at my phone and asked what time do you close ? "his reply was 7:00pm " I looked at my phone again 6:55pm I then stated "but its not 7:00pm yet" He says sorry were closed Now I used to work in the food industry and have been in this position before. Eager to get done with my shift and a customer walks in the last minute , literally 6:59 and I would serve them. This and the fact the place constantly smelled like urine in the three times ive been here is why its gets 2 stars.
AM
Amanda Martino
Really, really good food. Its a small intimate place; Ive been for takeout once and to sit down once (around 5:30 on a Monday), so Ive never really seen it crowded, but it wouldnt take much for the place to be packed and seating to be impossible. The food is amazing; Ive had the crab curry ramen which had terrific flavor and was not too spicy for me and the curry pork rice. The pork was cooked perfectly, had good flavor and was really tender. Its not expensive, either (the curry pork rice was only $5; perfect snack or appetizer size). Great little place to grab a quick bite.
DO
Don Yang
Great noodles in generous proportions. Its especially good for people who likes to enjoy the noodle part of ramen: their noodles have very good texture and not soggy at all, and the noodle-to-meat ratio is higher than some places. Of the ones we tried, curry ramen had the most flavor, shio ramen and shoyu ramen were also good but the soup was slightly weak, and perhaps slightly cold. The restaurant interior is fairly cozy, but not crowded at all. Overall a great experience.
KH
Khai Le
Dust? Check. Fruit flies? Check. Horrible service? Check. Mediocre food? Check. We love it when restaurants have all of these qualities. Please dont come here. If you do and you so happen to be facing the door, look up at the hanging decor over the food that theyre making. Lets hope no dust lands on your food. Surprised inspectors have not closed this place for major cleanings yet.
VA
Vanessa Gordon
I got the stir-fry ramen and gyoza. The ramen was really good and flavor (pork broth). I cooked an egg and added to my ramen. The noodles were a good consistency and not mushy. The gyoza was GARBAGE, so I threw then away. Overcooked and not very flavorful. You can tell they were in the freezer. I would have gsve it a 4 if the gyoza wasnt so bad.
TH
Thomas Wysocki
Not your ordinary ramen shop. Great tasting unique flavors, in addition to the staples make this my favorite place for ramen. The crab ramen is unique and delicious, although if youre afraid of a little spice or getting your hands messy opt instead for the clam ramen. The homemade gyoza are an excellent way to start the meal.
SU
Suzie Oh
Really cute and small ramen spot. Its nice and cozy, and if you eat at the bar you have a nice view of their beer wall and little trinkets! I enjoyed their ramen, but sadly, it wasnt quite as memorable as other ramen spots Ive been to. I will definitely give it another try when Im in Japantown.
TO
Toshinobu Kubota
Love their innovative Ramen options. Of course they have the usual Shio, Shoyu, and Tonkotsu Ramen, but their innovative ramen menu is their specialty. Try their Katsu Curry ramen is popular, but dont stop there; go for their tan tan men and mapo Tofu ramen as well.
KI
Kimberly Ann Graham
Dont let the tiny interior fool you. They make some seriously great ramen here! The Curry Crab Ramen, when in season, is to die for. Perfect amount of spice and a generous amount of crab. Its crab in the shell so roll up your sleeves and get messy!
SI
Simon Shota
Staffs hospitality was good, and they are all nice. I ate Tonkotsu Ramen tasted good. My only complain was that the noodle was boiled too much. That is why noodle was sticky and some noodles attached together, so was not perfect. But taste was good.
JA
Janet Cheung
I want to like this ramen place but its just not that good. The noodle was nothing special. I had the curry crab ramen and it was just way too spicy to be enjoyable. Maruichi or Kahoo Ramen are both better choices for ramen in the bay area.
DA
Darnell Kebo
Im so sad I didnt love this place! Ordered the tonkatsu shoyu ramen. Broth was bland and not very flavorful. Tasted kind of watery. The noodles are perfect but the broth really made it hard to finish. I didnt. Service was prompt and friendly.
QI
Qing Liu
Had crab curry ramen. Curry soup was pretty tasty yet not too salty nor creamy. Crab was delicious. No tools for cracking crab shells though. Be cautious to order this ramen if you dont know how to crack the crab shell with your teeth.
TO
Tobias Diedrich
The clam ramen was certainly a flavor I havent had before, and it was very delicious, though a bit unexpected with its Mediterranean flavor. Nice Fusion cuisine. They also had plenty of traditional options, which I didnt try.
AL
Alfredo Soria
Food was aight, I had a vegan ramen which I understand isnt their specialty but, its no one specialty really, and this one was ok. Other then that everyone I was with liked it alot.
NI
Nick Monroy
Two words "Sara Udon", they will not say what is in the sauce but if it turned out to be unicorn I would not be surprised. best noodle house I have been to in a long time!
