Dining Discoveries: Ramen101

699 Lewelling Blvd

Tucked between the GNC and Chase Bank at Washington Square, Ramen101 has been serving heart-warming ramen and refreshing poke since the summer of 2017. Since opening, the restaurant has earned 157 Yelp reviews and an average rating of four stars.

This compact-size eatery offers six staple ramen dishes and five poke bowl options in addition to an eclectic selection of appetizers.  The curated menu selection ensures that the quality is consistently good, and each dish delivers in both flavor and presentation.  The portions are also generous, so diners will not leave hungry.

The black garlic ramen is served with whole, roasted garlic cloves and is packed with flavor.  The presentation is tantalizing with lots of color, and the proportion of ingredients is well-balanced.  The tonkotsu ramen is a customer favorite, with pork that is lean and tender, and eggs that are cooked to a perfect medium-soft. Ramen101 allows diners to choose one of four levels of spiciness, from non-spice to spicy, so you may customize the dining experience to your own taste.

The poke is also flavorful and fresh. Bowls come with the option of salmon, tuna, hamachi (yellowtail), unagi don, and a triple (salmon, tuna, & hamachi). The appetizers consists of mostly Japanese finger foods, such as chicken karaage, kushiyaki, and tempura, as well as gyoza and takoyaki, but also borrows from other Asian cuisines with lumpia, crab rangoon, and kimchi on the starter menu as well.

So even if the menu appears small at first glance, the temptations are plentiful, and with its affordable prices and great personality, Ramen101 is sure to become a favorite lunch or dinner spot for San Leandrans.

About Dining Discoveries: San Leandro’s restaurant scene is full of hidden gems, quirky hole-in-the-walls, and authentic ethnic foods. Dining Discoveries is a recurring feature on San Leandro Next designed to bring increased awareness to businesses that have been flying under the radar…and to help you find a great place to get dinner tonight.

Want to suggest a restaurant for a future post? Email slnext@sanleandro.org and tell us about it.