Baka Umai

I haven't been the big ramen fan in my family, but that situation may not last. Our family paid a visit, knowing that I would be thrilled with the katsu chicken on their menu. Everyone else at the table had different ramen varieties, and the samples I tried of my wife's choice had me thinking about a return visit to try their signature dishes.Baku Umai is a casual space in a relatively new building, so the ambiance here is laid back, with splashes of local basketball and landmarks as decoration. Patrons order at the counter, and tables are well stocked with all the spoons, chopsticks, napkins, and anything else you're likely to need.

Delicious ramen!I've never had chorizo in ramen before but I really enjoyed it. The broth was quite tasty too.I'd definitely go back!

We ordered delivery, so keep that in mind. First, I needed something with a gluten free option and this place has gluten free noodles available. I made the request for the substitution in our Door Dash order and got what I wanted. Miso ramen for me, with house rayu, which turned out to be chile infused sesame oil. Husband got ramen shoyu. Both were excellent. The broth was rich and savory, it was perfectly balanced, needing no salt or soy sauce added. The broth came on the side and we added it ourselves. The egg was perfect. In the end, I heated the broth on the microwave - but it was delivery and I don't object to it being lukewarm in that case. The best part of my ramen was the mushrooms. I don't like mushrooms and would have had them left out if I thought about it but these were amazing flavor bombs. If you like mushrooms- try this! If not, maybe give them a try anyway. We will have to visit in person after such an auspicious start.

A few tables and bar seating. Order at the counter and they bring it out to you.Blended matcha drink with the coconut was soooo good! Not too sweet and blended like the Starbucks frappacino but better flavor. Super good and I'd come back just for this!Got one of the "current specials" yuzu ramen and it was good but not the best. The bowl is a bit smaller than most ramen places. I wish it came with a bit more broth. The egg was kind of cold and the other toppings which messed with the temperature of the ramen once it got to me. Overall it was a good soup with a delicate flavor. The meat was on the salty side. I'd probably try something else next time or just come for the matcha blended drink. I did like their chopsticks which are fancy disposable ones but felt like real chopsticks.

Of all the ramen in Portland, I think this spot is definitely up there on the list. The service was good and staff was very friendly. I ordered the karage, blistered shishito peppers, and the habanero tonkatsu. One of the staff members saw my indecisiveness on what sauce to choose for the karage and ended up giving us both sauces. I totally forgot to take pictures of the two appetizers, but I inhaled them in about 2 seconds because I was so hungry. The habanero tonkatsu is has a rich broth balanced by the spicy habanero and pickled shitake mushrooms. In my personal opinion, I like when the pork slices in ramen have a little chew. These were tender, but not to the point where it just breaks apart when you try to grab it.I recommend looking at the menu ahead of time because it is pretty big and I've heard that most of their items are super good. So good luck deciding what you want!

We were out on the town and wanted to get something cozy for the chilly night. We found this spot on Hawthorne and we decided to give it a shot. It was a pleasant surprise in that the three dishes that we got were a good variety and were very well done. The start, our absolute favorite was the spicy karaage. It was a fusion of Japanese Karaage and Chinese mala. It was a beautiful combination. The Szechuan peppercorns and paired with the creamy spicy mayo was the duo of the night. It gave us that numbing feeling with a creamy sauce.The Tsukemen was a great dish as well. The noodles latched on to the dipping sauce so well. It was chewy and bouncy, the perfect consistency that we like. The dipping sauce had a really nice bonito flake flavor which paired very well with the pork and the noodles. As for the Mazemen, the brothless ramen, was a wild card for us. It brought a different take on ramen for us, and we were pleasantly surprised. The pulled pork with the house XO sauce were very well made. The combination of those two and the chewy noodles along with the poached egg made for a great dish.Overall it was a nice casual dining experience for some new ramen flavors we hadn't had before!

What a great ramen option in SE Portland! Located on Hawthorne, Baka Umai is a cozy ramen bar serving unique soups that will warm up any cold day. The atmosphere is casual, with counter service and bar and table seating. They are known for their chorizo-men - a tantan pork broth with housemade chorizo, but offer other options such as miso, shio, tonkatsu, vegan, and vegetarian soups! They also have a page dedicated to spicy ramen, from mala to ghost pepper spices, definitely something for everyone! I got their special, a dirty tonkatsu, and it was good! It was a bit too salty for me, but the flavors and spices were unique and unlike other ramen I've had. Portions were generous and worth the price. If you're looking for a quick, unassuming, yet delicious ramen in SE Portland, Baka Umai is the place!

11/26/2023: 4.85 out of 5 - It's been awhile since I've done an update (last one was 2022), and Baka Umai deserves an update.I will keep it short and sweet as it still aligns with my past review.Came here tonight with my wife and some close friends. With everything happening in Portland in the post-pandemic era, unlike many other eateries, Baka Umai has improved across the board!Service, the staff, the cleanliness, AND THE MENU ITEMS...WOW!!!If you have not done so, try it once and decide for yourself, but it's definitely one of my must try recommendation.Enjoy!

Food is good, but not terribly exciting. Service was friendly, helpful but not in our faces. We were able to linger and chat over our meal without feeling crowded or rushed because the vibe was chill.

As a spice lover, I am very fond of Baka Umai. Here's what you should order:Chicken karaage and blistered shishito peppers for your appetizer snackies.For your ramen, go with the habanero tonkotsu ramen. This one has the perfect blend of spice and flavor. If you're a real daredevil, get the reaper ramen, but have 911 on standby. I come here at least once a month. Service is friendly, ambiance is medium-loud, but not obnoxious.