Ramen Bar Ichi

Drove 30 minutes to this place after hearing all over Reddit that this was the best ramen shop Houston had to offer. Was sadly a bit of a letdown.Showed up right around opening and it was just us there. That was fine. We opted to sit in a booth close to the kitchen. Ambiance looks like a pretty casual ramen shop. Server was friendly.We ordered the Spicy Tonkotsu Ramen, Pollo Loco Ramen, and Takoyaki (I believe it was Osaka style).- Takoyaki: This was pretty standard. Not bad, but also not anything to write home about.- Spicy Tonkotsu Ramen: Pretty disappointed with this one. Although there was some decent spice, I found the broth to be pretty watery. For a tonkotsu ramen, I expected a super hearty/creamy broth, but didn't really get any of that. The char siu and other toppings were fine, but I also found the noodles weren't as bouncy as I was hoping. Maybe a little overcooked? Or just the noodles itself weren't very good.- Pollo Loco Ramen: Don't usually got a chicken-based ramen so this was definitely unique. However, I think this suffered the same issues of the tonkotsu of being a bit too watery when I don't think it should've been. I'm all for lighter broths (i.e. shoyu), but this didn't really connect. The ground meat and noodles also didn't particularly grab onto the broth.One other thing I would like to mention was a little after the takoyaki came we started smelling something weird closer to the kitchen/bathroom. Smelled almost like cleaning solution? We figured maybe it'd eventually pass, but it never really did and we definitely had a bit of a headache by the end. YMMV, but just something I personally experienced.Overall, it was definitely not worth the journey or the hype. If you're closer to this location and want ramen, I can see this working in a pinch, but I have a hard time recommending this one.

I enjoyed some tonkatsu ramen and a lychee soju drink here on a busy Friday evening. The tonkatsu ramen was well cooked, with incredibly flavorful meat and broth in a generous serving, along with strips of flakey black mushroom, seaweed, and bamboo. The lychee soju drink was yummy - a great blend of flavors, moderate intensity, with star jelly to complete the drink. The 1 star deduction is for some minor annoyances - there was an additional charge for the egg, which was (slightly!) overcooked/overboiled, and the seating area is fairly small. Overall, this is a solid ramen place to check out - they stick with the basics, and they do it well. I look forward to returning!

Hands down the best ramen in Houston. The broth is consistently rich, flavorful, and so savory. The Takoyaki balls are good too!I forgot to take a picture of their cucumber salad which has a nice spice kick but tastes very refreshing.

Spicy Tonkatsu Ramen - This was undoubtedly one of the best ramen dishes I've ever had. It struck a perfect balance, not too creamy or heavy, and the broth had a consistently delicious flavor. I usually find Tonkatsu overwhelming, but this one was just right. I opted to have the spice on the side since my tolerance isn't very high, allowing me to customize the heat level to my liking. 9/10Mentai Mayo Chicken Karaage - Another standout dish, the Mentai Mayo Chicken Karaage exceeded my expectations. The sauce drizzled over the karaage was flavorful, complementing the crispy and crunchy texture of the dish. It even came with a side of edamame, which added to the overall appeal. I thoroughly enjoyed this dish. 9/10Service - The staff were friendly, although their attentiveness left a bit to be desired. Overall, a pleasant experience. 8/10

Overall we had just an average experience here. This is a drive out for us to visit and I don't think we will be back. We visited on a Friday evening and had to wait a few minutes for a table. There was only one waitress working and although she was attentive, service was slower due to this. She mentioned that the vegetarian ramen contains shellfish oil, and we were easily able to make it vegan.There was only one vegetarian option on the menu. We made the special trip out here to try this vegetarian ramen due to some positive reviews. For $12.50 it is cheaper than your typical ramen dish. Although it was tasty, I didn't love it. My biggest complaint is lack of tofu/protein, which left me feeling hungry after finishing the end of the dish. Tofu is also not an optional addition you could request on their menu. The lotus root and sweet potato also offered a unique spin on your typical ramen dish. I do wish they put more than one of each of these items. There were additional mixed cubed veggies added that I wish had been seasoned in the dish. The broth and noodles were tasty.

I've been here before COVID pandemic and it's been awhile to get back!I had a bowl of vegan noodle and it was pretty good! I like the fact that vegan people can come and enjoy the delicious ramen noodle made of spinach!The waiter is pretty attentive and supportive for my order! Only cons I could say is that they don't have soy sauce or spicy sauce/oil at the table so when I got an extra bowl of noodles it got lessen saltiness... But I had a good time overall! I can come back when I'm around here again!Try this place out!Cheers

I read the reviews and had to try this place. To have +800 reviews and still have 4.5 stars is quite an accomplishment and I found out why (and you should too), they are really that good.I'm not going to waste your time and repeat all the stuff the other reviews said other than its some of the best ramen I have ever had. Unassuming casual restaurant with BIG RESULTS. My Spicy Tonkotsu Ramen was authentic, fresh, and flavorful. Truly enjoyable. I will be back. Maybe I'll see you there!

I would rate this place a 4/10. The Tonkatsu broth can use more flavor, and not just by MSG. Cha Su in the ramen was not tender enough. The Takoyaki tasted really glutinous. We drove all the way from downtown for this, which was not worth it at all. Our waitress was nice and attentive, given it was only her handling a full house.

For me this is the example of doing all the basics near perfectly. It's a cozy restaurant space that feels kinda like it's in the city, but you're in the 'burbs (so there's parking). Brought a larger group size and we were managed to be sat immediately, almost like they made space out of no where. Service was quick and straightforward, and nobody got an order incorrect. The menu consists of about half a dozen types of soups and a few extra ways to customize your bowl. There's a separate menu for appetizers that has a good selection of takoyaki and karaage; mostly just different ways to top them. Also a pretty good selection of sakes, beers, and cocktails to make it a liquid lunch/dinner. The ramen itself is executed exactly how I'd want. Tons of soups fillings with lots of noodles and probably the biggest serving of pork chashu that I've gotten at any ramen spot. The bamboo was prepared better than I've ever had, with plenty of it served; I didn't know that it could be not rubbery. Soup broth was unctuous but not overly heavy, I cleaned the whole bowl. The portions being this generous and the taste being this good made this a 5 for me.

Great atmosphere. The food was amazing. I got the spicy ramen and added chicken (it comes with pork belly) I'll be coming back for sure the service was speedy which I loved!