Reviews for Baka Umai in Portland, OR
We LOVED the baka bento bowl!! We got it with karaage chicken and the flavors were awesome. We also ordered the miso ramen which... didn't taste bad but next to the bento bowl it wasnt really memorable. The baka bites were pretty good but prob won't order thatagain. Def wanna try the other ramen at some point Read more
The customer service is A-1, let's start with that. They didn't have any ponzu sauce available but instead of just telling me... they didn't have any, the chef offered to make his own version of ponzu sauce. Absolutely loved it. I appreciate the smalllittle things when people will go out of their way because it doesn't take much effort and it makes a world of difference. Thelady (she was young but maybe she looks young but we'll give her the respect of a lady) that charged me up was very kind and hada great attitude. I got the habanero ramen and at first I wasn't too fond because I haven't had the type of noodles that theyused for the ramen and I wanted a creamier broth. But oh man, eating more and more of it, I was into it. Pork was cooked verynicely. Love me a good sear. The noodles grew on me. The broth had a weird way of having a taste of flavor to being so damn richtowards the end. Pretty enjoyable experience. I saw in other reviews some other bowls that look creamy as hell so I'm comingback when I have the chance and I'll ask for a recommendation. Let's see if I post another loving review. :) Read more
Fusion styled Ramen! So tasty and combinations were so good. We had the regular miso and Mala miso Ramen. We also had some... chicken bite as and those were fantastic. We were so happy with our meals and the service was spectacular. The owner was verynice and waitstaff friendly and helpful. Also, they were pet friendly which made the decision to try this place easy. No regretsand will return. Read more
My husband and I love ramen noodles especially when it's handmade noodles. We decided to check this place out and it was... delicious. I couldn't finish my bowl (was too full ????) but my husband sure killed his bowl and mine lol my daughter gotchicken katsu and she loved them. Chicken was not dry, it was moist and crispy. My husband and I got the tonkotsu ramen and yuzuramen. Definitely recommend this place, service was great as well. Read more
02/05/2022: 4.5 out of 5 - Came to try Baka Umai as a recommendation from my friend, as it's his favorite ramen place (He must... live close by as he eats at Baka Umai as often as he can). ???? Masks are required which is expected, but this establishmentisn't partaking in any of the Social Discrimination Policies that some restaurant owners/management are choosing to do. Nowmoving on, all orders are done at the counter. Kind of the thing these days. However, do check out the Special Menus that's atthe counter. Some surprising items that caught my interest, which may catch yours. The staff are incredibly nice andaccommodating. They were quick to respond to our requests and make some good suggestions, which just adds to a relaxing andenjoyable meal. The space isn't as big, but it's a comfortable use of the space. Also, the space is quite clean, to includethe vents above, which is always one of pet peeves when eating out. Cleanliness says a lot about the business, theowner/management, and the employees. Now, for the food...we HAD to order A LOT to get a sense of what we're getting into. Allin all, WOW! The flavors in the broth were amazing, along with some side dishes. There were a few side dishes that sort ofthrew me off, but it was because of the combination of flavors that I wasn't prepared for. All in all, at the end of any meal Ioften will ask, "Would you come back?" Of course. There were things on Baka Umai's Special Menu that I would like to try, butmost importantly, it's because of our initial experience that is drawing me to come back for more. And, of course, not beingreference as "others" by a form of discrimination. So, if you ever get a chance and find yourseld in the neighborhood,definitely try Baka Umai once and decide for yourself. Enjoy! Read more
Very friendly and fast service. Beautiful decor. I got the tonkatsu ramen and my husband got the shoyu. The broths were... delicious but could have been hotter (which would have warmed the eggs). The noodles in the shoyu were really good, but the onesin the tonkatsu were a bit thin. Pork belly was delicious. Good experience overall! Read more
Extremely nice staff, very clean restaurant. This place is meant for people who enjoy Asian fusion. I got the midori mazemen.... If you like bbq flavors, you will enjoy this. The ?crispy? meat was dry and its ends were burnt ? intentionally I believe. WhenI eat it and close my eyes, I imagine this flavor being enjoyed by a man who loves BBQ. There were a few pear slices which Ithought was a nice softer flavor compared to the harsher textures of the pulled pork. The menu doesn?t lie ? there is hoisin xosauce in this, which makes this taste like somen stir fry, a more Chinese flavor than Japanese. I am not sure if they rinsed thenoodles after boiling, because there was a starchy texture to the noodles too. My companion got the tantan tsukemen. Usuallybroth that accompanies tsukemen is thicker, this one was like a thin soup, with a layer of red oil on top. And the ground meaton the top, instead of having that traditional nutty taste, was decidedly more TexMex. It tasted like it was fried in tacoseasoning. This looked like a very popular spot amongst young people. Decidedly, this is for people who enjoy pan Asian fare.This place is decent, just don?t come here expecting Ramen Nagi or Taishoken Ramen type of ramen, and you will be happy. Thisplace keeps its menu honest, and has a nice set up. I think this is ok to try out with an open mind. Edit: I missed that thetantan tsukemen my partner got was chorizo flavored. Thank you to the owner very much for correcting me. I had not known thisrestaurant was priding itself on its unique flair (I had expected something traditional), it was my mistake. And when I had themazemen the next day, I enjoyed it cold, I think I actually preferred it more as a cold dish than hot. The starch does make theflavor stick better. I do like that the owner evolves their cooking and is daring to try different combinations. Thanks forbeing adventurous, I?ll try to read the menu more carefully and think of the thought and care and pers Read more
Great place for ramen! Not only was the food good, but the service was great also! Food is flavorful, fresh and well presented.... I would highly recommend and will eat here again. ???????????????? Read more