(650) 344-9728
Parking: small parking lot, street parking
Hours: Tues-Sun 11:30am - 2pm, 5:30pm - 9pm
Last Visited: August 25, 2013
Food: 3 stars
Atmosphere: 3 stars
Service: 3 stars
Price: $ to $$
We arrived about ten minutes before Ramen Parlor opened for dinner and found ourselves in the line that had already formed. The restaurant is owned by the same folks as Ramen Dojo on the next block and often gets spillover from them as well. Ramen Parlor is more spacious than its sister restaurant and by opening time, there were plenty more folks behind us. We managed to secure a table, but service could have been better.
While we were waiting in line, the folks in front of us had already started having their orders taken, and by the time the server was about to approach us, the restaurant had already opened. After being seated, everyone waited about five minutes before glasses of water were provided to all of the tables. Even after that, we were still waiting for the menu, and when the server saw me looking at him as he was ready to take the order for the table next to us, he commented that he would be right with us and didn't seem to notice that we had still not received menus until I said something. Upon receiving the menu, he came by again within just a couple of minutes to take the order - definitely room for improvement in terms of how to improve timing of service.
All ramen is available non-spicy, mild spicy, regular spicy, and extra spicy. It probably took fifteen minutes for the ramen to arrive.
- Parlor Ramen - Lobster Pork Flavor with kikurage mushrooms. The menu describes it as lobster enhanced broth with fried soft shell crab (half), roasted pork (2 pieces), mizuna (aka Japanese mustard/California peppergrass), and roasted seaweed (2 pieces). I ordered the broth mild spicy, and though it wasn't too spicy at all, I couldn't taste much of the lobster flavor. The noodles were good and the ingredients tasted fresh. The soft shell crab was very good - crispy and light - and I wouldn't mind paying a little more for a whole one. Good. $9.75My dining companion had the garlic lobster pork flavor ramen. The broth comes out black, but I heard multiple people at the tables surrounding us also commenting that the garlic lobster pork broth was delicious. If I came back, I would probably try this instead.
The ramen is good (but for me, it wasn't wow) and the menu has a lot of variety - classic ramen with an egg, specialties like curry ramen, Japanese curry over rice, and a number of appetizers like skewers.
The atmosphere is very casual and the windows bring in a lot of natural light. One thing they do well is separate those whom are waiting from those whom are eating. However, the tables are a little too close - you can easily get to know your neighbor if you wish, and it's super easy to get bumped or to bump someone getting in and out of your seat. It's a family friendly place - there were lots of little kids dining there this evening. And while service is pleasant, their timing could be improved. Ramen Parlor offers a solid ramen, but the lobster enhancement could be enhanced more.
