Ippudo San Francisco Reviews

I was very disappointed. Very bland. Few choices. Service was very poor. Stay away - i can get better ramen in a microwave.

really good ramen but portions are very small to be full you need to add extra noodles in order to be full. But the broth is bursting with flavor price per bowl is really high even in SF but it was worth a try

Having eaten at Ippudo in Japan and other cities in Asia I thought it would be the same experience at the SF branch. We arrived at opening so we did not need to wait but it was more than 3/4 full inside. I thought that would bode well for our experience. The inside was a bit more modern that the setting in Japan with a darker color scheme, more booth settings and no shared tables. However it took awhile before we could get our order taken and once our food arrived it took more effort to flag the right person to get more water, order dessert or even get our check. I don’t understand the roles of the various people working in this restaurant if they can’t fulfill these basic tasks. Our chicken karaage was nice and crispy but our agedashi tofu was on the smaller portion side but delicious. We ate the Shiromaru Classic, Akamaru Modern and Karaka Spicy ramen bowls. All came with thin noodles and we opted for medium firmness. The soup was rich but we all agreed the classic pork broth was the best. Dinner was filling but I wish the chashu was more substantial instead of sliced so thin. The green tea ice cream was creamy but the combination with Michu and red bean did not seems to go together very well. Not likely to return as there are better ramen spots out there.

I already visit the NY Ippudo and the one in San Francisco. Both are “regular” in service, The place is cozy and it is more than I could expect from an oriental restaurant and this is not an expensive restaurant. Food: the Ramen is just one of the best in US. Fully recommended

I’m not a huge fan of ramen or waiting in line but this ramen was with the wait. The pork but was also very good.

Visited December 16 2025 After our lunch at In N Out, we were completely exhausted. We had been up since 1 AM and the cold San Francisco weather really caught up with us. Around 1:30 PM we decided to come back to the hotel and take a nap. I woke up around 5 PM, but the rest of my family kept sleeping. I waited patiently until about 8:45 PM, but at that point I was absolutely starving. I went down to the lobby of the Marriott Marquis to see what food options were nearby. The bellman, Ricky, was incredibly helpful, kind, and welcoming. He took the time to suggest several nearby restaurants and recommended Ipudo Ramen. With that suggestion, I decided to walk over on my own. I am not very used to dining alone, so I was feeling a bit uncomfortable walking in by myself. That feeling disappeared almost immediately. The host greeted me warmly and kindly seated me at a table directly in front of the open kitchen. It turned out to be the perfect seat and ended up being such a comforting experience. You can really tell that the staff works as a team here. Every single server was kind, attentive, and respectful. One brought me a cold glass of water right away, while another came to take my order. I told her I was in the mood for something spicy, and she recommended the Karaka spicy ramen. She explained it clearly and made me feel confident in the choice. The ramen came out very quickly, and I truly enjoyed watching the chefs prepare it right in front of me. Seeing the care and focus that went into each bowl made the experience even more special. The ramen itself was absolutely delicious. The broth was rich, flavorful, and deeply satisfying. I personally eat extremely spicy food, so it was not very spicy for me, but it was still incredibly enjoyable and comforting. Throughout my meal, the servers checked on me several times and refilled my water without me ever having to ask. Even though I was dining alone, I never once felt ignored or awkward. Instead, I felt genuinely welcomed and well taken care of. After finishing my meal, I ordered Shiromaru classic ramen for my two little ones and chicken karaage rice for my husband to go. The server packed everything with great care and made sure it was secure and ready for the walk back to the hotel. When I returned, my family was still asleep. After a lot of convincing, they finally woke up and enjoyed the food together. Every single dish was a hit, and they all loved it. It was the perfect end to a long and tiring day. From the kindness of the staff, to the comforting atmosphere, to the delicious food, this was an outstanding experience from start to finish. I am so grateful for the warmth and care shown to me during my visit. Highly recommend Ipudo Ramen, and I would absolutely return again.

The food was generally good, but not excellent as been hyped. Service was inconsistent. The wait was expected but felt frustratingly long as we saw numerous late comers seated before us. The “park bench” style seating confirmed that we were not waiting for a particular table of 3. The food came out for two of us much earlier than the third. Nothing special was being ordered. Overall just a so-so experience.

Visited twice a row for dinner in 2 days. suggest to go before the dinner crowd comes at 6pm.. if not there’s a line.. try the takoyaki/takopachi (octopus balls) n it’s REally good. had the shiroramen (classic) and shoryu ramen.. i’ll recommend the former. the ramen soup tastes more umami compared to the ones in asia.. a little different but nothing to complain about.

This place is really nice. We had to wait around 20-30 min to be sited but it was worthy. When you enter the salon you don't expect the amplitud also all staff welcome you in Japanese. The decoration of the restaurant is really nice and minimal. You even have boxes next to each table, to leave all your staff there. The food is great, we ordered 2 ramens: Shiromaru classic and Akamaru veggie, both with extra toppings (poached egg and corn). Both ramen were delicious, when you order they ask you how firm do you want the noodles. The veggie ramen was super tasty and delicious. Definitely we will repeat again!

It was a great Japanese Restaurant close to Marriott Marquis in San Francisco. The una Q was full of flavor and was tasty. Love the freshness of Goma Hamachi. The soft shell crab and Maru San Shrimp was excellent. The tofu salad fill me up. I concluded my dinner with Soba pudding. I was too full to move. The place is moderately noisy. Contemporarily decorated. You have to share a table with other guests. Nice place to have a Japanese meal. Love to come back.

So the famed ramen restaurant actually came to san francisco. It's right next to marriott marquis where i was staying so it's convenient

Had a great Japanese meal. It’s not your ordinary American Japanese. It’s only focused on noodle soups. The soup was great not too salty or sweet. I usually don’t drink the soup when I eat noodle soup because the soup usually is either too salty or sweet. This one I drank all the soup it was great.

Ate here while visiting SF, liked it so much I went two days in a row. The broth and very rich and hearty, and there's an option to add a second helping of noodles to your broth, which fits me perfectly because I always think there's not enough noodles in ramen. Just ask for the Kae-dama option after you're done with your first set and they will bring you a second helping to add to your broth. They also give you the option to specify how firm you want your noodles (soft, medium, firm), great if you're picky about the consistency of your ramen. We also had appetizers, all of which were great. The only negative surprise was the dessert. We ordered the panna cotta which was delicious, but it was tiny, practically a thumbnail, so order your own, and don't plan to share.

We arrived here for a dinner meal on Sunday at around 7:00 p.m. and there was a line outside the entrance. We were told that from our position (with about 10+ parties before us, that we would be inside no later than half an hour, and they were correct. Once inside, you see a simple dining room with booths on the side and small tables in the middle. There's really no fanfare with the ambiance, but none is needed. Everyone is there for their ramen noodles and they do offer a very good bowel of ramen. You have about 4-5 choices of soup/ingredient make ups but you have to read the fine print to know what is in each. And I do mean FINE print because a magnifying glass would definitely come in handy to read it. Once deciphered, we each order a bowel of ramen plus a side order of Kara-ge chicken rice (side dish). The ramen was very tasty and the Kara-ge chicken was moist and not dry. Like most open, cavernous type restaurants, it tends to get noisy because everyone has to talk louder & louder in order to be heard. A good place for a ramen meal if you want good ramen...

After completing the Alcatraz tour, we went to have dinner at Ippudo, located at 18 Yerba Buena Ln. It was my fifth time eating at Ippudo, twice in Japan : Tokyo and Osaka, then Sydney, Jakarta then and the latest in San Fransisco. Only after the latest one, I felt the need to write this review because it was different experience to the other four. As we entered the room, the bar was on the right and further in, glass kitchen was on the left. The dining room was huge and the interior decoration was very contemporary. The wall which is usually decorated with red and white bowls and spoons (in other locations) was covered with a woven cloth. It was about 10 pm when we arrived with the kitchen stopping to take orders at 10:30 but we still had to wait to get a table because it was busy. The only menu left to choose from was ramen and we ordered classic ramen. The noodle and meat were still very good but this time, unfortunately the broth was a bit plain. However I still consider their dishes are good and anywhere I will find Ippudo, I will sure visit them again.

The ramen is good but not as good as the Ippudo in Japan. Broth seamed a little diluted and lacking substance. Service was great and the environment was very contemporary Japanese. I would go back.

Expect to wait for long queue outside during the lunch time. Come earlier to avoid Long wait. The ramen comes with variety of broth like pork bone base or soyu. Do try the spicy one as I just love it. You can choose to add the toppings like slice pork, tofu, vege or eggs. Nice and hip deco and very centrally located. Not cheap but is tasty and worth a try!

Best ramen ever! Everything was delicious, very nice menu and original beverage list, but the ramen is outstanding. Service very good. Don’t miss this place!

We have been to Ippudo in New York City so we were excited to see one in SOMA. We ordered many of our favorite items and they were as good as ever. Definitely try the shishito peppers appetizer.....DELISH! There will inevitably be a wait but just order a drink at the bar and be zen :)

Came because it was right next to my hotel and was thrilled by the great food and relaxed vibe. Tried a couple of starters (pork bun $6 and cucumber dish $8) and both were flavorful and fresh. The ramen ($23) had great taste with yummy noodles, meat and other toppings. Service was polite and efficient. I would definitely recommend this place

Very good ramen, delicious soup and pork jelly meat. Buns are also very nice. Desserts not worth it, save money or have another starter.

We went twice for dinner because it was near our hotel. This was not the best ramen I’ve ever had, but it was good enough. The two appetizers we had were very good—an assortment of three buns and the fried chicken with a dipping sauce. We shared the ramen, which wasn’t an overly large portion, especially given the price of over $20. You are talking some noodles, broth and bamboo shoots. Anything else you want added is extra. Some seating is communal style; we sat at a table for two both times. Service is fast, but pretty impersonal.

Stopped in for a late dinner, service was very good and the Ramen was very good with alot of choices

I went to a ramen restaurant for the first time on recommendation and it was really worth the visit. If you understand how the menu works and what means what, then you can look forward to an excellent dinner after ordering. I would happily eat it again.

We had recently eaten at an Ippudo restaurant in Tokyo (near Ueno park) and it was delicious. The waiter there mentioned that SF has one too! We came here early evening on Friday, was told that it will be about 25 min wait. We waited at the bar and were told about the Sake flight special (3 glasses of Sake at $22). All of them were delicious and the price couldn't be better. Everyone in this restaurant are very helpful and the service is excellent. We had couple of ramens and more sake and finished with couple of desserts. All of them were excellent! The broth, the noodles, the meat - all were perfect! The Soba Pudding was amazing!!! They have a huge selection of appetizers (the buns) and they looked delicious. Will definitely be coming back soon.

I have eaten Ippudo in many different locations including all over Japan and in New York, but this was not the Ippudo ramen I expected. The store and atmosphere were Ippudo but the soup and noodle were not Ippudo. Was it the chef that day or is Ippudo experimenting something different? The last Ippudo experience in the States was a couple of years ago in New York; then was identical to what I taste in Japan. I had one in Japan last week and still, it was the same as usual. I had a similar experience with Santoka. The Santoka served in Mitsuwa is not the same as what eat in Japan or in Boston. The blend of soup, the temp of the boiling water, all those matters. I am not sure if I have the courage to try it again. It is a pity.

Glad to have this choice for lunch spot Usually a 15-20 min wait - on windy cool days you can wait in the tiny bar area or they may have heat lamps Go to apps: cucumber, karage and fried squash blossom All types of ramen broth - spicy is very spicy Be prepared to choose noodle firmness- 4 grades from soft to firm - not the best ramen I’ve ever had but it’s very good to have this option Surprisingly spacious once inside the dining area Service is attentive

I had wanted to go to Ippudo having heard about its quality ramen offering. We both ordered the simple signature tonkotsu ramen along with kaedama (extra noodles) and it was high quality. What was surprising was how nice the restaurant is. It was genius to get there before midday!

Ippudo SF is located in the central of San Francisco at Four Season Hotel. Upon entry, they were strict about covid 19 protocal. We were seated and ordered the classical Hakata Tonkotsu Ramen. The noodle I had were regular and tasted good. The ambiance of the place were very Japanese. And we thoroughly enjoyed our visit.

Delighted to find the famous Ippudo in SF. The restaurant has been Americanized, most notably by having more menus for alcohol than food! The ramen are good but not as good as in Japan. The wait staff and service were five star. One suggestion: Print the menus in a larger font. I have strong eyesight but could barely read the tiny print.

Great place for a superior bowl of Ramen. The place is a bit hidden away right next to the Jewish museum. Food was excellent and the have a good selection of soups and noodles to choose from. Crowded at lunch time, dinner is a better time to enjoy their hot and delicious soup.

I walked into Ippudo San Francisco with the confidence of someone who had no idea what they were getting into. I had never tried ramen before—something about the idea of noodles swimming in soup always confused me. Are they drowning? Are they thriving? Who knows. But being in SF, I assumed vegan options would be as abundant as overpriced oat milk lattes, so I took the plunge. The Food: GOMA Q – It’s cucumber. But fancy. Drenched in sesame oil and sprinkled with chili flakes, it was like the cucumber had been invited to a VIP spa day. Nothing life-changing, but I do love sesame oil, so no complaints. SPICY VEGE MISO – This bowl arrived, and I swear it winked at me. A steaming, spicy, glorious mess of noodles, tofu, and miso magic. The Tokyo-style thick wavy noodles? Absolute perfection. The spiced Niku-miso bolognese on top? A bold move, but my taste buds applauded. I had no idea what I was doing, but I slurped it like a seasoned pro (read: made a mess but had fun). The Experience: • Service was faster than my ability to Google “how to eat ramen without embarrassing yourself.” • Portions were generous—I left full but still contemplating ordering another bowl for the road. • My lips were slightly on fire, but in a way that made me feel alive. Overall, Ippudo made me question why I spent years avoiding ramen. Turns out, noodles in soup are not just surviving—they’re thriving. And now, so am I.

I had asked the front desk of my hotel where there’s a good place for noodles nearby. They said Ippudo is the spot to go. I was pretty hungry given the 2 hour time difference, sou’westers at 5, which is when they open. People we already beginning to line up which made me thought, must be good. They do not take reservations. I was seated quickly and ordered their special which was noodles with ground beef and pork belly in a spicy broth and a poached egg added. You can order your noodles soft to very firm - I chose slightly firm. Within 10 minutes, I was eating this great dish. Service was spot on and the food was fantastic. As I left, the line was now forming outside. As a suggestion, come early. You’ll enjoy!

Ippudo has excellent Ramen- a wide variety of choices and served promptly by its very gracious staff. The different broths are flavored beautifully and the pork or shrimp are excellent. The noodles are cooked to your choice of texture and are very good. Delicious appetizers and a great value. Highly recommended.

We were on market street on a Saturday and checked to see if we can get a table at around 11:30am. Luckily it was not crowded. Was able to get a table for 2. We ordered the classic and miso ramen. The classic is my favorite . The broth is just amazing. Highly recommend this place.

Like most people, I immediately associate ramen with the 50 cent packages bought in bulk. I was at a convention and a colleague suggested we go to Ippudo. We got there just as it was going to open and there were already people in line outside. I had a rice appetizer with pork belly and the kakara ramen. Once you get done with your noodles, you can order more noodles for $2 to leftover broth. I had iced green tea which was tasty. Service was good but you have to be assertive to get things after initial order. It was so good overall I went back for a second time before leaving to go home.

Both the cucumber salad and tofu salad taste good, and of course the ramen is delicious. I especially like the broth which is not too salty. Good service

I was there once when it first opened. I took my family there last night. The ramen was good as before. But my wife thought it's not as good as Ichiran ramen we had in Tokyo recently. The waiting time was long. One think I will complain is the fonts in their menu are way too small. I can't hardly read the descriptions under each menu item.

We fell in love with Ippudo in Tokyo, and I was delighted when they opened a location in San Francisco. The drawback is that it is crowded and the wait can be very long. Service and food are fantastic.

And the newest outpost for Ippudo, this time next door to the Marriott Marquis right off Market and adjacent to the Jewish Museum. Got lucky and were able to sneak in with just a few minutes wait. Fast and efficient service, helpful in figuring out which dish to choose. Two for lunch - started with the Tofu salad - a tower of shredded vegetables over tofu cubes with a delicious dressing. Maybe should have had two of these and called it a day. But 2 ramens for the main course - large servings plenty of noodles and all the classic ingredients. Served fast and steaming. A nice break in the day for a really good lunch

Arrived here at 730pm for dinner on a Friday night and had to wait 20mins for a table. Service was efficient and food was served fast though. A typical ramen joint for me but nice to have piping hot soup on cold nights!

Our requirements for dinner on this night: an open restaurant within 5 minutes' walking time. You set the bar low, you can't be surprised when the experience is lacking. There were two other groups waiting in the foyer when we walked in, but no hostess or any restaurant employee. We waited for about five minutes before we started searching for alternates in the area. Neither of us had any desire to head back out into the bitterly cold night, but neither did we relish the idea of standing at an empty hostess desk in the hopes that someone would help us. We were narrowing down our choices (wait time was closer to 10 minutes at that point) when a harried lady finally came around the curtain. She gave us a rude "I need your vaccine cards" before asking how many were in our group, biting out the same sentences to the others in the area. I don't know if it was just the late hour or if she was having a bad day, but we were two steps towards the door when she came back to tell us a table was ready. The dining room was much bigger than anticipated, and quite busy. We scanned the QR code for the menu, then placed our order with the marginally-friendlier waitress. I ordered the Akamaru Modern ($17 per their menu), and my husband ordered the Tsukemen, only to be told they were out. His back-up order was the Karaka Spicy ($18 per their menu). I'm not sure I've ever paid that much for a bowl of ramen before, but I had hoped to be blown away by the flavors and the quality. The ramen was decent, and the broth had a nice rich flavor, but it wasn't stellar by any means. Maybe I was already peeved by the lack of service, but I think I did expect a bit more. Side note - I called out the prices "per their menu" because we were charged more for each bowl than was advertised on their site. The Akamaru Modern was $18.70 and the Karaka Spicy was $19.80. It's not a huge jump, but it did feel shady, given their menu said something different.

While chatting with a local San Franciscan, she recommended this restaurant. It was an excellent suggestion. The food was delicious. The steamed buns were the best version of that dish I've ever had. Japanese cucumber was only so-so, but the ramen was great; fresh tasting and flavorful. Setting is attractive, if a little dim. Staff was attentive and friendly without being intrusive. And the price was great for SF: dinner for three with apps and drinks came to $100; considering quality and location, it verges on being a steal. Highly recommend, and regret they don't have an outpost closer to home.

I was really impressed with this place. Firstly - when you're entering the dining area, you're welcomed by all staff! You get amazing food, fresh and tasty, but more importantly - I was impressed with a great service I got from Angel. She was super accommodating and had no issues with me being very picky. A very good experience, worth going back.

While out on the town on a beautiful Sunday we stopped in to see if we could get a nice lunch without reservations. They had a table for us. I had never been here before. From the moment we entered the foyer area of this eatery I felt this was going to be a different experience. And it was. The service was professional. The decor was unusual but understated. The menu limited but rich enough in choices. And the food was wonderful. Highly recommended.

This was my cousins and my first time eating here. To our surprise there was no line waiting for dinner. We had beat the crowds. Vaccinated status was checked at the door. We started with the buns—I had the chicken. It was delicious. And the Ramen was delicious. It was served hot and was quite tasteful. I wanted to add the hard boiled egg but they ran out. Service was great. The staff was quite attentive. The atmosphere was nice. I’d return again.

We came here on a thursday night after watching a move at the AMC. Literally a 5 min walk from the cinema as well as Powell Bart station, makes it ideal for a quick bite when everything else is shut early. This place runs till 11pm and that was the main reason we went there. We were hungry and it was a cold day so it was perfect for some hot ramen bowl :). There was of course a wait (it's SF!!!) but we didn't wait more than 20min and were seated in one of their community tables which we didn't mind at all. 10:30pm being close to wrapping up the night, they were out of appetisers but it was fine by us since we were there for ramen. Hubby and I ordered the Akura Modern $15 and Karaka spicy $16. Both good dishes though I preferred the Akura as it was less spicy and more balanced flavors. Broth was very nice but quite heavy and oily so it was enough for us. Meat seemed bit less and very thinly sliced though. Anyways, it was a good meal for such a late night on a thursday so I didn't mind it. Service was very friendly and quick. Food was good and came very fast. Overall place is neat with spacious clean bathrooms though I didn't see any child friendly changing table which is sad since i will be a mom soon so might keep that in mind next time around I come with a baby ;). I thought prices were reasonable. I don't think it is worth it to wait in line for more than 20min though but I would come back if in the area since it shuts quite late compared to other places.

The area is very well served by restaurant but Ippudo is standing . Very good ramen , nice service , miss one of the five star because sometimes he queue is fake !

Came here for lunch with my gal pals this past Saturday and we met at 11:30 am when they open and got seated once we were all there. I wasn't quite sure where this place at 18 Yerba Buena Lane was located and looked on the google map to find that it is on Market Street, between 3 and 4th Streets. If you get off the Powell Street Station and exit 4th and Market exit, keep walking towards 3rd and when you see the Peets Coffee, Ippudo is right across the Lane from it. Yerba Buena Lane is not marked but you will see it as you walk past Peets. We were seated in a booth and they have a box where you can store your belongings instead of putting it on the seat next to you. We ordered the Classic and the Classic with tamago, and also the spicy and the modern ramen. We also ordered chicken kaarage to share. I had the classic and it was good comfort food and everyone remarked how the pork belly was so yummy and I enjoyed the broth, the firm noodles and fixings in the broth. Prices are a bit high for a bowl of ramen but this place has great atmosphere as well. Everyone greets you when you come in and thanks you when you leave.

Family of three stopped in at 2:30pm on a Saturday afternoon and got seated right away. Great service. We all three ordered different ramen bowls. All were excellent. Will definitely visit again.

I had my ramen during lunch and it tasted wonderful. The soup and noodle are perfectly cooked. Sake is great, also this place offer yummy dessert. Only 10-15 minutes waiting during busy hour. Recommend to try their tonkatsu soup and pork belly, yummy 👍👍👍

Insane vegetarian ramen! They don’t take reservations and all your party must be there to be seated. Note this is not cheap ramen but definitely worth the price of $15 per bowl!

If you’re looking for some comfort food, ask for one of Thailand’s ramen’ options. Very delicious. The restaurant is very nice too.