Ramen Izakaya Yu-Gen

2/24/2025Ramen Izakaya Yu-Gen152 Castro StMountain View, CA 94041I went there for a solo lunch on a Monday around 12:30. There was ample parking in the city free parking structure behind the restaurant. The layout is long and narrow with a contemporary chair and table setup. There is some bar seating at the front, which I chose.I ordered the Pork Cutlet Curry at the spicy level. My food was brought to me shortly and consisted of a gravy boat of curry sauce, a green salad topped with macaroni salad and corn, pickles, rice and the sliced breaded pork (tonkatsu). The curry sauce was not spicy but there was a condiment dish with cayenne pepper which I dumped in the sauce to take it to the level I wanted. The cutlet was thick and uniform in thickness with a golden brown crispy coating. It was moist and a little chewy but okay by me. Flavors were good, service was fast and attentive. A good value and repeatable for the curry.

This was my first time trying ramen, and I loved it! I've been here two times since.- The spicy tan tan ramen is what i get, and its sooo tangy and flavorful. I cant finish it all in one go, but that's just how my appetite is. The chicken leg they had was really good and flavorful, the meat fell off the bone, which earns approval from me who usually hates eating chicken leg. - Chicken chashu in the ramen was nice, good texture, as well as the soft boiled egg. - The crispy chicken appetizer and gyoza is nice and comes with nice dipping sauces. I also like the chili crisp they have on the side at every table. - The lychee soda was good the first time i had it, second time i feel there was way less lychee flavor (it was basically like sparkling water with lychee undertones) but at least it was still a refreshing end to the meal. The third time I had it, there was a strong lychee flavor and it was great.Service:Service was fast as could be with dinner crowds, and staff were helpful.Ambiance:It is a bit of a small restaurant and noisy, but it didn't detract from the food to me so I didn't mind. It was quite clean as well.Definitely going to keep coming back here!

My party of 3 walked in on a Wednesday night around 7pm and were sat immediately, which was wonderful for our growing hunger! We ordered the karaage, gyoza, tonkotsu ramen and tonkatsu curry with cheese. The karaage and gyoza were mid, I wouldn't get the gyoza again. The ramen was good but not the best, I felt like it could've been more rich and oily. The texture of the egg was very nice, but slightly under seasoned. The customer service was very quick and friendly, our water cups were always filled. All in all, it's a good place to go for a craving but it won't be a knock your socks off meal.

A decent ramen spot in downtown Mountain View.The highlights: 1. Location: Perfectly situated among many great places, making it easy to turn your dinner into a full evening. You can grab drinks, enjoy your ramen, and end with dessert--all within a 5-minute walk. 2. Service: We were seated promptly, and our server was friendly and accommodating. 3. Ambiance: Cozy yet classy decor and seating, offering a comfortable dining experience.The downside:The ramen itself was decent but didn't stand out enough for a return visit--at least for me. While some may love it (as reflected in some of the glowing reviews), I found it lacked the richness and depth of flavor I look for in good ramen. We tried the Tonkotsu and Tantan ramen, and while the Tantan was better, neither really delivered on flavor complexity I expect in a good ramen. Overall, I'd describe it as an uneventful but not unpleasant meal, if that makes sense. If you're in the area and want to check out a new ramen spot, it's worth a try, but there are plenty of other great options nearby.

Since coming back from Japan in December I have been craving authentic japanese ramen. Delighted to say that I was well satisfied after finding this spot. My special tonkatsu ramen hit the spot. My bf opted for the chicken broth spicy ramen and it had a good kick to it. There were plenty of tables available at 12:30pm on a Thursday so we only had to wait about 5 mins. Would definitely come back whenever I'm craving ramen

Review for my first visit to Ramen Izakaya Yu-Gen. Apparently, I haven't been to this area in a LONG time, because I didn't realize Castro Street was all closed off. Did this happen during COVID? ha ha! Anyhoo, I called upon my Yelp foodies to find something good for this rainy afternoon. Ramen Izakaya Yu-Gen was a great find, thank you! I met my friend at 11:45 am and there were plenty of seats available. Since I did my research ahead of time, I knew I would order the Tonkotsu Deluxe ramen that comes with cha shu AND pork belly. I've been building up my wimpy nature when it comes to spiciness, so I boldly ordered the Mild instead of Not Spicy option. It was perfect for me! My friend wasn't sure what to order but said she didn't like chicken broth, so I suggested she try the Special Tonkotsu Ramen. She took my advice and also tried the mild spiciness for her broth. Kudos to Yu-Gen, because their broth was stand-out delicious! It was rich, flavorful, and had a luxurious, coat-your-mouth feel. The cha sui and pork belly were tender and the marinated soft-boiled eggs were perfectly jammy. It would've been nice to have bamboo shoots as a garnish, but I didn't want to pay extra for those. Our ramen came out super fast, and it was the perfect lunch for this cold and rainy day. If broth is important to you, and it should be, you should definitely try Ramen Izakaya Yu-Gen. This is a strong 4 star review. I'll need to come back and try other items before granting a 5-star review, but definitely a delicious bowl of ramen.

Chicken Paitan Deluxe Ramen 3 creamy white broth, super salty; soft boiled egg, dry seaweed, green onions; seasoned roasted chicken leg on a sizzling hot plate, bean sprouts underneath, tender, medium juicy, soy flavor, slightly too saltyTakoyaki 4 octopus dumpling balls, octopus chunks inside, chewy, mayo, unagi sauce, flavorful

Uniqueness: Exceptional curry and good ramen broth & noodlesWait Time: [x][x][x][ ][ ] (Can get busy with a waitlist during peak hours)Food Quality: [x][x][x][x][ ]Service: [x][x][x][x][x]Setting: [x][x][x][x][ ]Cost: [x][x][x][x][ ]First visit? Fantastic. Second visit? Still good, but a little off. The ramen here is rich, flavorful, and well-executed, but the spiced chicken had an overpowering cinnamon flavor this time. Most people seem to love it, but for me, the seasoning was too intense and threw off the balance of the dish.That said, their curry is absolutely amazing--aromatic, creamy, and packed with deep, layered flavors. It's easily one of the best things on the menu and something I'd come back for without hesitation.Service is always friendly and efficient, but depending on the time, there can be a wait. If you're patient, though, it's worth it. Next time, I'll be skipping the spiced chicken but will definitely be back for that curry.

Delicious ramen with excellent service! We got the gyoza to share and some sake (both not pictured) and they were excellent. They have a decent sake selection to hit different preferred price points. The gyoza was cooked perfectly and comes with seven pieces.I felt the noise level was perfect for conversation, location is easy with a parking garage nearby, and the service was very quick. We went on a Saturday night with no issues or wait time (it was a few days after Christmas). They also have a live waitlist you can add yourself to on Yelp!

Such a cute little ramen shop!! The ramen tasted so great on a cold night. Was a bit worried because we sat outside, but they have nice heaters that keep you warm. As for service, they were fantastic! Just the perfect balance of attentiveness while also not being overbearing. Thank you, Ramen Izakaya Yu-Gen!