Gaijin Ramen Shop
| Address: | 3800 Lee Hwy, Arlington, VA 22207, USA |
| Phone: | +1 703-566-9236 |
| Site: | gaijinramenshop.com |
| Rating: | 4.3 |
| Working: | Closed Closed Closed 11:30AM–9PM 11:30AM–9PM 11:30AM–9PM 11:30AM–8PM |
Location
Photos 100
Reviews 18
SC
Scotty ST
Came into day and had the best ramen. The spicy tonkotsu was amazing. The staff as always is professional and extremely friendly. Finally a ramen shop in Arlington. I came in last night to try out the place. As I was walking into the restaurant, I was greeted by friendly staff. There is plenty of seating here, Indoor and outdoor. The ramen was fantastic. I had the miso gaijin ramen with extra chicken and spinach. It was a perfect meal, the portions are large just fyi. Best portion size Ive seen for ramen in the DMV. I also ordered the kimchi, which was made in a Japanese style. It was yummy. And the homemade lemonade was a nice treat. They sell $5 mixed drinks which is a great deal.
MA
Marvin Greenberg
A nice alternative to Phô. On special the night I wandered in was soft shell crab ramen, but since Im always on the lookout for vegetarian options I decided to check out the Spicy Veggie Ramen. Im new to the whole Ramen thing, so I decided to "trick out" my bowl with black garlic oil. It was quite delicious, and the veggie soup stock is actually vegetable stock. In contrast to when you go out for Phô - "vegetarians" are advised not to inquire too closely about the provenance of the stock... A small, comfortable place. Will have to try it again with the family.
PA
Patrick Pho
Gaijin is a solid ramen shop for those looking for a Ramen fix without having to cross the river in The District. Unlike other nearby options which have limited selection, Gaijin boasts a wide variety of soups and fixings- which is always a must have. Theres nothing like tweaking and customizing your bowl just the way you like it! I typically order the Tonkotsu or Spicy Tonkotsu with extra pork and egg. The noodles are on par and the broth hits the spot. If you are looking for an authentic selection of ramen, Gaijin will probably have what you are looking for.
JA
James Breiling
7.29 evening. As expected during the soft opening period, smooth, efficient service is being worked out for the throngs that are filling the available seats inside and outside. But, most important, the enterprising co-owners of boundless energy, Nicole Mazhour and Tuvan Pham, are already grand opening ready with appetizers and ramen that achieves their goal of authenticity with a tasty appeal that will definitely draw us back, again and again, to a most welcome addition to the Arlington restaurant scene.
HA
Hannah Yoh
One of my favorite restaurants in the DC metro area, this new addition to the Cherrydale neighborhood is an alignment in the stars! The broth is made daily, and you can taste the complex layer upon layer of flavors. The noodles are always cooked perfectly and al dente. My favorite is the Spicy Miso with the Japanese-style kimchi, corn, bean sprouts, and the nitimago egg. Dont forget to start off with their Tater Takoyaki and their Avocado smoothie! Yum!!!
JA
Jack Mao
Its alright. Not the best ramen Ive had, but its okay. Got the Spicy Tonkotsu, which essentially was the standard with Gaijin original spicy paste. The ramen wasnt really that spicy even with the added paste. Ramen noodles themselves were acceptable, could have been more tender. Soup was also in the middle, could have used a bit more pork flavor. In general, the dish was right in the middle. Nothing about it screams absolutely dismal or fantastic.
CA
Carlee Delp
Very poor customer service. My bf and I sat there for 15 minutes before anyone even looked at us. We also had to get uo and get our own menus. I was also very disappointed in the ramen, It seemed like overcooked spaghetti...the broth was very oily and not very flavorful. The only thing I actually enjoyed was the curry chicken buns! those were awesome. If I ever go back that will be the only thing I get. I will not be returning for the soup.
WE
Wenhui Sun
Happy hour is 2 bucks off apps. The pork belly buns are good but too sweet. Pork dumplings are decent. The waiter there was a cool guy,really friendly. The ramen noodles are way too hard. Not nice to eat. The broth was thick and the flavor one dimensional. The portion is small and adding toppings like corn was a dollar, sort of pricey. Flavor was better than Jinya in mosaic but not as good as Marumen, Daikaiya or Sakuramen.
DO
Douglas Morgan
I drove an hour with my son and son-in-law to get to Gaijin. It was well-worth the drive. I had the Spicy Tonkotsu, and it was outrageously delicious. The ramen was cooked perfectly, and the other ingredients combined to make the best bowl of soup Ive ever had. My son and son-in-law enjoyed their dishes as much as I did mine. Very reasonably priced. I plan on being a regular customer. You should, too.
H
H H
Best ramen in the DC metro area - their selection of ramen is delicious and contain absolutely no MSG. All natural, super flavorful, and so hearty! Those who are not used to natural pork bone broth and MSG-free food will be unable to comprehend, but Give them a try - your heart and your taste buds will thank you! Sweet staff and delicious food made from the heart!
MA
Margaret Nguyen
Came here Friday night after work with a coworker, this was our first Ramen bar experience. It was pretty good got the tongkatsu bowl with egg and tofu added in. Pomegranate martini was awesome. Our server Michael was very nice and tentative. Atmosphere is very hipster, artwork and decor gave the place a nice touch. Neat place we will definitely be back.
ZO
zooteapia
Very disappointed that the noodles they use is more like a spaghetti pasta rather than ramen noodles. No vegetables except scallions. Youll have to pay for vegetable. Traditional ramen places have a little more than just scallions. I ordered the spicy miso ramen which wasnt spicy at all, but the flavor was good in fairness.
LA
Lauren Privette
Rivals the other DMV ramen shops like toki underground, sakuramen, and daikaiya. Toki had some of the best ramen Ive ever had, and Gaijin is right up there with them. Ill pick the location convenience, always availability seating, and exceptionally friendly service at Gaijin any day over the rest of the DC ramen shops.
AL
Alex Weller
We have been here multiple times since it opened earlier this year. It has always been very expensive ($14-18) but the bowl of soup is quite large. Unfortunately it is clear that in the last few weeks they are cutting costs. The noodles are different and bland with no texture. The steam buns are all wrong.
MI
Michael Fotinatos
This place is the best. Gluten free ramen options thanks to soba and rice noodles! Their pork belly / tofu buns are also gluten free, and are highly recommended. Happy hour specials are varied and inexpensive. My girlfriend and I visit here every week or so, and are always excited to go back.
ST
Steven Earley
This is my new favorite hang out spot to go. This place is pretty chill, friendly and helpful. The food is great and you dont have to wait long for your order the sake selection is wonderful i really cant complain that much except that i have to drive an hour to get there but thats my problem lol
MA
Max Cook
I wasnt impressed. The noodles arent great, the broth isnt great, the pork was tough and chewy, and the ambiance is strange. Its probably an OK restaurant if you live in the neighborhood, but otherwise I wouldnt go out of your way to eat there.
BE
Ben Schmoker
Great ramen has finally come to Arlington For too long have we fought parking in Adams Morgan or drove to Annandale for traditional Japanese noodles Gaijin is hopping on a Friday night even though it just opened - get in early
