Ganko Ittetsu Ramen

I tried the (now closed) Providence location and wasn't really impressed, so it took me 5 years to try the Brookline location. They have an online waitlist but you have to be present and ready to order when your name is called. It's quite efficient, which makes sense for a small restaurant with a lot of business!The best thing I tried was the original chicken karaage -- it was super crispy and juicy with a wonderful ginger flavor. I also tried the extra crispy karaage, which I thought was not as good as the original because it wasn't as juicy. You can get takeout of just the chicken from their sister shop nearby, which I can definitely envision myself doing in the future.I got the spicy shoyu ramen which was very striking in appearance -- a very bright red-orange. It had a good savory and spicy flavor, but I'm not sure if I'd get it again. It was a bit one note. I tried a bit of the other ramens that we got and my favorite was the Gantetsu shoyu. It had a thicker broth with a deep smoky flavor. I'm not sure if I could finish an entire bowl of that richness, but that was definitely the most interesting one we tried! The other shoyu and shio ramens we got were pretty standard.I'm not ready to say that Ganko Ittetsu is one of my favorite ramen places yet, but it's worth a visit just for the karaage...

This hidden gem is truly hidden. We had a hard time finding it since the signage outside is not great. It's located inside a building with some other shops. Make a reservation ahead of time if you can because they are busy! Also, we were not expecting to place our order at the host stand even though we were dining in. I guess that is how they get people in and out so quickly. We tried two different ramens and both were outstanding. The broth had so much umami and the ramen noodles were the perfect texture. We also got the kaarage which was delicious. Portions were plenty. Highly recommended.

Hidden Gem! This restaurant is inside the Coolidge Corner Arcade building in Brookline. For a non-local - I had no problem finding it! Tip: Pop this location onto your Apple Maps in walk mode and you'll find it easily. The place is small but a must go spot for ramen. They have several high and low tops for seating. There is a parking lot behind the arcade where you can pay to park or do street parking. I never have an issue with parking in this area so that was a plus. It's worth the wait and service is super quick! Steven at the front is always such a sweetheart. He's hospitable, gave a great suggestion for my spicy acquired taste, and always quick to help.I listen to Steven and got the Karai Shoju spicy ramen and it was delicious. The ramen even tasted great after heating it up the next day and I'm very selective with heating up leftovers. I added an extra egg and garlic in mine. Yum! They have the best ramen in this area. Before I knew it....I'm literally back getting a take out order as we speak, writing this review!

Did I expect too much? It was ok ramen with mediocre service (the cashier at front was cold and not attentive). There is a long wait line and I was curious to try this place with my buds. The restaurant itself has a cool vibe and service was quick! We all got spicy ramen which is most popular one in the chain, and a karage. It was not bad but didn't meet up the hype. I will probably stick with Yume Wo Katare in Porter.

When in the area, we know the food here is always consistent for us.We got here for an early dinner, the karage is phenomenal, wish it came with 4 pc haha but it's great we usually go with the Korean chili dipping sauce.The ramen we get i usually go for the tantan with spicy garlic. The noodles always have a nice chew, broth isn't overly thick but rather creamy (how we like it) and the flavor depth has a nice balance between saltiness and creaminess. I usually get crunchy garlic on the side to add on top.Definitely filling, i like the bowls they serve your ramen in, makes it easier to eat and less messy. I prefer to sit on the outside area of the ramen shop, less stuffy to me.Service, they usually take your order before you're seated, so when you sit, you just wait for your food. There is a public restroom, take the ladle on the host counter and go around the left side of the shop into the hallway of the plaza. Will be back around when the craving kicks in

Delicious Ramen and a bit spicy but the pork melts in your mouth. I also tasted the tan tan with sesame...wow..both were delicious. Mid way into my spicy bowl I had to trade my daughter for a bit less fire. The place is nice inside and a steady line of people at the entrance to come in but the service is fast so no long wait. Reasonably priced and nice servers.

Good ramen but not worth the wait imo. If you can there during a weekday without a wait it would be worth it.We went with a group of 5 and waited ~35-45 minutes. We each got a bowl of ramen and two fried chicken extra crispy. I thought the flavor of the ramen was a bit one dimensional. It just tasted like soy sauce but not much else. I think it might be missing some sweetness or richness in the broth. Noodles were good texture, generous portion. The chicken was excellent though, I thought it tasted better than the ramen itself haha.

We've been coming to this spot for years, and it has never disappointed. It remains one of our favorite places for ramen, whether we're dining in or grabbing take-out.Right now, they have a great summer deal where you get 3 gyozas with any ramen order, which is a fantastic value considering the gyoza usually cost almost three times what they're offering. Today, we decided to dine in instead of taking out. They take your order before seating you, so the ramen arrives pretty quickly after you're seated.I usually go for the Gankara Miso, but this time I tried the TanTan style. It was creamy with just the right amount of spice--not too overpowering. The noodles were perfectly soft and chewy, and the additional toppings really enhanced the dish. I also had the gyoza, which came with a ponzu sauce that was slightly sweet but very savory. The prices are typical for a ramen place, and while the add-ons can increase your total, they're definitely worth it. I added extra noodles and crunchy garlic, which helped me finish off most of the remaining broth in my bowl.The only downside to this location is the limited seating. Though they've expanded, even adding some "outdoor" seating, we noticed many people being turned away or facing long waits for a table. I wouldn't recommend coming here with a party larger than four, as you'll likely have to wait quite a while to be seated.

I recently visited Ganko Ittetsu for the first time in many years and they are still as delicious as I remembered. The star of the show for me was the chicken karaage/ fried chicken. It came piping hot, was not dry at all and had great flavor. The pork gyozas were juicy and tasty. The ramen was one of my favorites I had in a while and I tend to try a new ramen spot at least once a week. It is as busy as I remembered it being a few years ago, however, the wait was not too bad. They offer you their menu to look over and you are able to order, so that by the time you are seated, your food is served to you. This is a great spot for yummy ramen and appetizers!

I got in the long line at 12:45 and was done eating by 1:05. When I got to the hostess, I ordered the Karai Shoyu...chef's spicy Shoyu. The tables were clean and the small restaurant, which is the size of a cafe, seems to work well for a noodle place. It came out piping hot and the Ramen was served aldente. The staff are really efficient and look for a fast turn around. I had a glass of water sitting at my seat waiting for me. The Ramen was fantastic with the just the right amount of spice. There wasn't a lot of pork in the bowl, but the flavor of the broth made up for it. The whole bill with tip was $20. Although I gave it a 5 star, I still think things could be improved. For instance, my glass of water was never refreshed, nobody checked in with me to see if I wanted to order anything else (I would have ordered a green tea), and there was nothing on the table to add more spice to the bowl. Great place to go if you are in a rush to get somewhere else.