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Japanese RestaurantJapanese Restaurant Near MeCaliforniaSanta Clara CountyPalo AltoEvergreen ParkJapanese Restaurant in California AvenueRamen Kowa
Ramen Kowa ico

Ramen Kowa

Ramen restaurant, Asian restaurant ★4.0 (136)·US$20–30

445 California Ave, Palo Alto, CA 94306, USA

4.0
I just had the best ramen of my life at Ramen Kowa. Everything from the depth of the broth to the perfect texture of the noodles was absolutely phenomenal. You can taste the passion and care in every bite. The atmosphere is cozy, the service is warm, and the food speaks for itself. This place is a hidden gem—I can’t recommend it enough. I’ll definitely be coming back! - Kenan Gümüşsoy
Ramen Kowa Overview Intro Menu Detail Photos Location Reviews
US$20–30 per person Reported by 136 peopleUS$10–20US$20–30US$30–50

Ramen Kowa Introduce

Nestled in the vibrant community of Palo Alto, California, Ramen Kowa has quickly established itself as a must-visit destination for authentic and exceptionally crafted Japanese ramen. Located at 445 California Ave, Palo Alto, CA 94306, USA, this restaurant offers a culinary experience that consistently earns high praise for its depth of flavor and comforting appeal. For inquiries or to place an order, Ramen Kowa can be reached by phone at (650) 326-8640 or by mobile at +1 650-326-8640.

Operating within the "Doctor Near Me" platform category, which broadly connects users with local services and goods, Ramen Kowa fits perfectly by providing a specific and highly satisfying culinary service. While the platform name might typically imply medical assistance, its broader application here signifies any local provider catering to community needs. In this context, Ramen Kowa functions as a "comfort food doctor," offering nourishing and delicious meals that can genuinely uplift one's spirits and satisfy deep cravings, akin to how a doctor prescribes a remedy for an ailment. The sentiment "Just what the doctor ordered" directly reflects this synergy, positioning Ramen Kowa as the perfect antidote for hunger or a desire for a truly comforting meal, making it an ideal recommendation for local users seeking a specific culinary "cure" within their immediate vicinity.

Environment and Ambiance

Ramen Kowa is frequently described as having a cozy atmosphere, creating an inviting and comfortable dining space. The interior is designed to be a relaxing haven where patrons can fully immerse themselves in the experience of a warm bowl of ramen. The restaurant's awning with red paper lanterns and wood panel walls contribute to an authentic Japanese aesthetic, transporting diners to the heart of Japan. While it maintains a cozy feel, the kitchen is noted to be "clattering with activity," suggesting a bustling yet well-organized operation. For those who prefer to dine outdoors, Ramen Kowa offers outside seating, which has been particularly appreciated during times when outdoor dining is preferred or mandated. This blend of a warm indoor setting and an available outdoor option caters to various preferences. The overall ambiance is conducive to a relaxed meal, whether you're dining alone, with a partner, or with friends and family. It’s a place where the focus is on the food and the comforting experience it provides.

Services Offered

Ramen Kowa is praised not only for its food but also for its warm service. The staff are attentive and friendly, contributing significantly to the positive dining experience. This commitment to customer care ensures that patrons feel welcomed and valued. The restaurant operates with consistent hours throughout the week: Monday to Tuesday from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM and 5:00 PM to 8:30 PM; Wednesday to Thursday from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM and 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM; Friday from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM and 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM; and Saturday to Sunday from 11:30 AM to 3:00 PM and 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM. This broad availability makes it convenient for both lunch and dinner outings. Beyond dine-in, Ramen Kowa offers robust takeout and delivery services. They partner with major food delivery platforms like Uber Eats and DoorDash, allowing customers to easily order online for pick-up or have their delicious meals delivered directly to their homes. The restaurant also provides catering services, making it a great option for private events, offering a selection of ramen, katsu, Japanese curry, gyoza, salads, and bingsu, alongside a beer selection. This comprehensive range of services ensures that Ramen Kowa can meet diverse customer needs and preferences.

Features of Ramen Kowa

The standout feature of Ramen Kowa is undoubtedly its exceptional ramen, which customers describe as "the best ramen of my life" and "absolutely phenomenal." The secret lies in the depth of the broth, meticulously simmered for hours to extract rich, complex flavors from bones, vegetables, and spices. Reviewers specifically highlight the "perfect texture of the noodles" and the overall passion and care evident in every bite. Key ramen varieties include:

  • Tonkotsu Ramen: A popular choice with a rich, creamy pork-based broth, tender chashu pork, perfectly cooked ajitama (marinated soft-boiled egg), green onions, mushrooms, bamboo shoots, and nori seaweed.
  • Spicy Miso Tonkotsu Ramen: A flavorful and invigorating option with a spicy miso base, minced pork, green onions, bamboo shoots, bean sprouts, and bok choy.
  • Classic Shoyu Ramen: A lighter alternative featuring a clear, savory soy sauce-based chicken broth with pork chashu, menma, horenso, egg, and nori.
  • Sapporo Miso Ramen: A chicken broth with a miso base, topped with chashu, green onions, bamboo shoots, corn, bean sprouts, and fish cake.
  • Creamy Vegetarian Ramen: A plant-based option with a creamy vegetable broth, topped with Brussels sprouts, tofu, green onions, bamboo shoots, mushroom, and pickled red ginger.

Beyond ramen, Ramen Kowa offers a diverse menu of other Japanese delights. Their Takoyaki is highly recommended, praised for its deliciousness and especially its accompanying sauce. Other popular appetizers include Crispy Gyoza (deep-fried pork potstickers), Soy Garlic Karaage (Japanese boneless fried chicken thigh), and Edamame. They also feature a selection of Curry Rice dishes, such as Katsu Curry, Chicken Katsu Curry, and Curry Gyu, as well as various Rice Dishes like Chashu Fried Rice and Small Chashu Rice Bowl. For dessert, they offer refreshing Bingsu / Shaved Ice, including Matcha Bingsu. This broad menu ensures that even those not primarily craving ramen can find satisfying options. The commitment to quality ingredients, such as freshly made noodles and meticulously prepared chashu, further elevates the dining experience, making Ramen Kowa a truly authentic taste of Japan.

Promotional Information and Customer Insights

While specific, ongoing discount promotions are not explicitly detailed in the reviews, Ramen Kowa’s primary "promotional information" stems from its exceptional food quality and the overwhelmingly positive customer experiences. The fervent endorsements, such as "best ramen of my life" and "hidden gem," serve as powerful organic promotion, driving new customers to discover the restaurant. The sentiment "Just what the doctor ordered" encapsulates the satisfying and comforting nature of their food, a strong selling point for anyone seeking a fulfilling meal. The consistent praise for the broth's depth, the noodles' texture, and the overall flavor profile highlights the culinary excellence that Ramen Kowa consistently delivers. The availability of their menu on platforms like Uber Eats and DoorDash, often featuring "most liked" items, indirectly promotes their popular dishes and encourages online ordering. While direct financial promotions are not highlighted, the inherent value derived from the high quality of food and service, coupled with its convenient location and accessibility via delivery platforms, positions Ramen Kowa as a highly desirable dining choice in Palo Alto. The enthusiasm expressed by repeat customers ("I’ll definitely be coming back!" and "Definitely one of our new favorite restaurants!") is the most compelling form of promotion, signaling a restaurant that consistently exceeds expectations and builds strong customer loyalty. For local users on a "Doctor Near Me" platform, Ramen Kowa offers a reliable and highly satisfying "prescription" for authentic and delicious Japanese comfort food.

Ramen Kowa Menu

  • Ramen

  • Sapporo Miso Ramen US$18.50

    Chicken broth with miso base topped with chashu, green onions, bamboo shoots, corn, bean sprouts, fish cake

  • Tonkotsu Ramen US$16.80

    Tonkotsu broth with salt base topped with pork chashu, green onions, mushrooms, bamboo shoots, nori seaweed, a soft marinated egg, and sesame seed

  • Spicy Tonkotsu Ramen US$18.50

    Tonkotsu broth with spicy miso base topped with spicy minced pork, green onions, bamboo shoots, bean sprouts, bok choy

  • Classic Shoyu Ramen US$16.50

    Chicken broth with soy sauce base with pork chashu, green onions, menma, horenso, egg, nori

  • Traditional Shio Ramen US$16.50

    Chicken broth with salt base topped with pork chashu, green onions, bamboo shoots, wakame seaweed, nori seaweed and egg.

  • Creamy Vegetarian Ramen US$18.50

    Creamy vegetable broth topped with brussels sprouts, tofu, green onions, bamboo shoots, mushroom, pickled red ginger

  • Cold Tomato Ramen US$23.00

    Cold tomato base topped with chicken, tomatoes, onions, tofu, eggplants, shishito pepper, seaweed, squash, basil pesto

  • Curry Rice

  • Katsu Curry US$18.00

    Beef based curry with pork cutlet, rice and a small salad

  • Curry Gyu US$18.50

    Beef based curry with simmered beef and onion, rice, and a small Salad

  • Chicken Katsu Curry US$18.00

    Beef based curry with chicken cutlet, rice and a small salad

  • Karaage Curry US$17.50

    Beef based curry with Japanese fried chicken, rice, and a small salad

  • Sausage Curry US$17.50

    Beef based curry with kurobut a (Berkshire pork) sausage, rice, and a small salad

  • Ebi Curry US$20.00

    Beef-based curry with deep-fried shrimp, rice, and a small salad

  • Appetizers

  • Crispy Gyoza US$8.00

    Deep fried pork pot stickers 6 pieces with ponzu sauce

  • Geso Karaage US$12.00

    Deep fried calamari legs

  • Karaage US$11.00

    Japanese boneless fried chicken thigh with Japanese mayonnaise

  • Soy Garlic Karaage US$12.50

    Japanese boneless fried chicken thigh with soy garlic sauce, green onions, sesame seeds

  • Takoyaki US$11.00

    Fried round pancakes with octopus inside topped with Japanese mayonnaise, okonomi sauce, bonito flakes, seaweed, and red ginger

  • French Fries US$8.00

    Served with Japanese mayonnaise and okonomi sauce

  • Edamame US$7.00

    Boiled and salted young soybeans

  • Garlic Edamame US$9.50

    Boiled and salted young soybeans with butter garlic sauce

  • House Salad US$7.80

    Spring mix, cherry tomato, seaweed, tofu, wasabi dressing

  • Spicy Karaage US$12.50

    Japanese boneless spicy fried chicken thigh

  • Agedashi Tofu US$10.00

    Deep Fried tofu with Japanese dashi

  • Ebi Fry US$13.00

    Deep-fried shrimp with tartar sauce

  • Rice Dishes

  • Chashu Fried Rice US$16.00

    Pork chashu, egg, green onions, fish cake, pickled red ginger

  • Small Gyu Don US$9.50

    Rice bowl with simmered beef and onions, pickled red ginger

  • Small Chashu Rice Bowl US$7.50

    Rice bowl with cubed pork chashu, green onions, seaweed, and sesame seeds

  • Rice US$3.00
  • Shrimp Fried Rice US$17.00

    Egg, negi , naruto fishcake, Shrimp

  • Salad

  • Katsu Salad US$13.50

    Romain lettuce ,Spring Mix, Cherry Tomato, corn with pork cutlet

  • Chicken Katsu Salad US$13.50

    Romain lettuce ,Spring Mix, Cherry Tomato, corn with Chicken cutlet

  • Karaage Salad US$11.50

    Romain lettuce ,Spring Mix, Cherry Tomato, corn with Karaage(Fried chicken)

  • Ebi Fri Salad US$13.50

    Romain lettuce ,Spring Mix, Cherry Tomato, corn with Ebi Fry

  • Soft Drinks

  • Coke US$3.50
  • Diet Coke US$3.50
  • Sprite US$3.50
  • Sparkling Water US$4.50
  • Ramune US$5.00
  • BEER

  • ASAHI BOTTLE/ LARGE US$10.00
  • KIRIN BOTTLE LARGE US$10.00
  • SAKE

  • Kubota Manju US$60.00

    300 ml bottle

  • Hakkaisan Honjozo
  • Kikusui Junmai
  • Nihon Sakari US$15.00

    300 ml bottle

  • Kikusui Snow(unfiltered)

    300 ml botle

  • Jelly Sake US$12.00

    Sake Jelly Shot

  • Dessert

  • Bingsu / Shaving Ice US$15.00

    Shaved ice flavored with sweetened condensed milk.

Ramen Kowa Details

  • Service options

  • Outdoor seating
  • Delivery
  • Takeaway
  • Dine-in
  • Highlights

  • Fast service
  • Popular for

  • Lunch
  • Dinner
  • Solo dining
  • Accessibility

  • Wheelchair-accessible car park
  • Wheelchair-accessible seating
  • Wheelchair-accessible toilet
  • Offerings

  • Alcohol
  • Beer
  • Cocktails
  • Comfort food
  • Wine
  • Dining options

  • Lunch
  • Dinner
  • Dessert
  • Seating
  • Table service
  • Amenities

  • Toilet
  • Atmosphere

  • Casual
  • Cosy
  • Trendy
  • Crowd

  • Locals
  • Tourists
  • University students
  • Planning

  • Accepts reservations
  • Payments

  • Credit cards
  • Debit cards
  • NFC mobile payments
  • Children

  • Good for kids
  • Parking

  • Free of charge street parking
  • Free parking lot
  • Parking

Ramen Kowa Photos

Ramen Kowa Picture 1Ramen Kowa Picture 2Ramen Kowa Picture 3Ramen Kowa Picture 4Ramen Kowa Picture 5Ramen Kowa Picture 6Ramen Kowa Picture 7Ramen Kowa Picture 8Ramen Kowa Picture 9Ramen Kowa Picture 10

Ramen Kowa Location

Ramen Kowa

445 California Ave, Palo Alto, CA 94306, USA

Ramen Kowa Reviews

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