Ichran Japanese Ramen
| Address: | 5720 Hoggard Rd F, Norfolk, VA 23502, USA |
| Phone: | +1 757-461-8630 |
| Site: | m.facebook.com |
| Rating: | 4.7 |
| Working: | 11AM–9:30PM 11AM–9:30PM 11AM–9:30PM 11AM–9:30PM 11AM–10PM 12–10PM 1–9PM |
Location
Photos 100
Reviews 7
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V Cadi
Disclaimer: I am only rating the ramen I got from this place. After a 3-year tour in Japan, Id like to say that I have very good familiarity with true ramen. This restaurant severely disappointed me for a few reasons. I got the Spicy Red Miso ramen. I cant remember exactly what it was called nor do I care to recall the name due to my severe disappointment. I now have come to conclude that these 5-star ratings are either lies or that these people do not have a true appreciation for quality and authentic ramen. Reasons why I gave this place a 1 star are listed below. 1. Their "miso" based ramen was nothing compared to real miso. You could tell that their miso flavor was artificial. 2. The vegetables were overflowing from my bowl. Their meat to noodles to vegetables ratio was not well balanced. 3. Id have to say that the most disappointing aspect of it all are the noodles. If you know the different types of noodles (udon, soba, ramen) youd immediately be disappointed with this sorry excuse of Ramen noodles. They literally serve INSTANT MICROWAVABLE NOODLES. The ones similar to the 99-cent cup noodles bought in a convenience store. Whereas in Japan, they make their noodles from scratch and boil it almost always in front of me as the setting in most ramen places I went to in Japan are usually a bar type setting where you sit in front of a bar and the cook is your "bartender" proudly serving you their ramen. I literally saw them toss my bowl in a microwave with the instant noodles in it. When I got my noodles, I immediately regretted coming here and I told myself, "I might as well have just gone to a gas station and bought the 99 cent noodles, put some flavorings and boiled eggs in it and called it spicy miso."
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Christin Story
Im gonna have to give it a 1....so we came as a group. We are all friends that lived together in Japan for 3 years. We love Japanese ramen and other foods of that country. Craving some good ramen we decided to check this place out. The reviews and 5 star rating drew us in like the fresh hot sign at krispy kreme. We are looking through the menu and getting even more excited. We ordered gyoza, chicken fried rice, pork Katsu curry, Katsu Don, and Tonkatsu ramen. The gyoza were horrible and gritty. Cheap store bought chicken ones. The fried rice was ok but Ive had better, the Katsu curry was more spice then flavor. Which Japanese curry is more sweet and savory and not spices like Thai or Indian curry. The Katsu Don was soggy and bland. And the Ramen was just an embarrassment to Japanese ramen. Top ramen tasted better then that. First off its a miso based broth fromy the look of it. Shio ( salt) or shoyu (soy sauce) its more clear and not so cloudy. The broth tasted like dirty water and only tasted of bean sprouts. It came with one piece of meat which normalyou its like two. But I digress. I dont know if these cooks are Japanese but this was a horrible attempt at some of our favorites. Dont waste your money.
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Steffie Torres
If you knew me, you would know that I am a pretty picky eater. Flavor is really important to me. I absolutely love this place. And I understand that everyone is entitled to their opinion but I did want to defend this restaurant against their lowest rating. I dont know how many ramen areas there actually are in the area, but of the ones Ive been to this place has been the best quality and best service. And of my traveling friends, they have told me this place is pretty authentic for them. Yes, Ive had a bad meal from here before, particularly because of new staff starting out. But no, it didnt taste like dirt, it simply tasted off. I thought the one star review was much harsher than it needed to be, that person was just being salty. And also I dont see how you cant tell that they arent Japanese, theyre Chinese, considering you said youve lived in Japan for 3 years. So I guess that in itself shows that your claim to authenticism is false. I definitely recommend coming here to at least try for yourself if youre in the area.
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Raymark Galman
Atmosphere: My friends and I went here for the first time for dinner and its a small cozy venue. The lighting was off putting at first because it was a bunch of red lanterns lit up making the whole room red. It took time to get used to, but it didnt take away from the food experience. Food: This was my first ever authentic ramen Ive had and it was SO good. I know I cant compare it to anything else but the Katsu ramen I ordered was delicious. I would definitely go back and try their other ramens and entrees. 10/10 would recommend. Service: Its an establishment where you can sit yourself anywhere you want. The lady that took our order was so friendly and nice. I definitely felt welcomed as the chefs cooking in the kitchen also greeted people hello as they walked in and with a "have a nice day" as people left after they were done eating. It was definitely always service with a smile.
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Fred Brooks
Ive dined here a few times since last winter and overall this establishment puts out excellent ramen. They may have the best ramen in Norfolk and for me their location is convenient. Like most ramen places Ive been to locally, Ichran isnt a big place. It can fill up quickly but the staff is fast and efficient. During my first visit it was quiet - I was the only one there. So I was able to enjoy top notch service and filled myself up with hot and tasty ramen. What makes Ichran a keeper is that theyre consistent. Ive since dined during busier times and they still took good care of me while I ate their delicious food. They were even nice enough to give me a 10% off coupon which I later learned I could use for any future visit. That guarantees return trips but I would come in regularly even without the coupon. Cheers, Ichran, and thank you for your awesome food and service. JV
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Cedric Johnson
I visited Ichran today for the first time with my sister. Not quite sure what to expect but willing to endeavor and boy are we delighted that we did!! The restaurant had a nice aura and very inviting. The staff were fantastic!! Waitresses made a point to be timely and extremely help if it is your first time. The food was a terrific and we sure got a lot of it. What sealed the deal was when we got up to leave everyone made it a point to speak and tell us good bye.....we felt like they were very pleased with our presence and that is why I definitely will be returning multiple times!!!
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John Burcham
Having spent the first four months this year in Japan, I was excited to find this place when I went looking for some good authentic ramen. The food is excellent and the service is true to what you would expect from Japan. Saying that the staff are very friendly is an understatement. The atmosphere is quite pleasant and true to what you expect of an authentic ramen joint. I will be going back to this place as long as its still around. I highly recommend it to anyone who wants great Japanese food with true Japanese customer service.
