Ramen Ichiban

Enjoy a tasty bowl of Milk Ramen here today. Never had it before but recommend it. Good service too.

PRO: Good Ramen, accepts credit cards, applepay and EBT. I like the new credit card machine they have. Looks like a handheld Clover gun.
CON: Small restaurant, Service was slow, Long wait times.
I would give a 5 star but from time of order to food presented is kind of slow. Hope the chef in back gets quicker. The ramen in my opinion is the best in Fresno. They also have another store west of Shaw Avenue. At this time the places doesn’t have a sushi bar, although there is one in the front with boxes and stuff sitting on top of the bar counter.

Horrible! The manager advised the waitress that they don’t serve a party of more than six. Ridiculous. The place definitely has enough room but not sufficient for our party I guess.

Such a fan of the food, but the service is awful. Love the miso ramen, but I called ahead to order three dishes and was told 15 mins. Total wait for take out was 45 mins. Yes 3 times longer. At lunch time. And they weren’t busy. A party of 2 in the resterant got their food first. I have also been told that they don’t add in extra veggies which seems like poor service to me. Too bad they are the only place in town with decent ramen. So sad.

I’m very disappointed on my last visit here yesterday… Everything seem brand new again, why is that?
Okay so we came in about 12 noon to have lunch. Sat down on a table and got situated, then waitress came back and ask us what we wanted to drink… She never realized that we haven’t even got a menu in front of us, so I told her can we get menu first. She was really nice so I hate to bring that part up but this is a Unilocal review.
So after she took our drink orders, everything seem to pick up to normal operation, I was so wrong. The hot tea me and my mother in law ordered was good, wife had water so no problem should arise there, but my fountain Coke was straight up flat. I didn’t find this out until the end of my meal since I was eating my tonkatsu ramen and sipping on the hot tea…
Now as for my mother in law, she’s vegetarian, so we ask if the agedashi has any meat product and the waitress said only fish flake. I appreciate the fact that she knew the dishes at least, so we ask for no fish flake… When she came out with it to our table, she immediately apologize and told us that she told the chef no fish flake but he accidentally put it on anyway. So I ask if she can have him redo it, she said ok but came back out within seconds and told us he refused to redo it. WOW! Really accommodating SMH. So we told her to take it off the bill, which she did at least. And us being the only table, the ramen took about 20 min no lie.
I’ve never been to a restaurant where a chef refuses to correct their own mistake… But this is really piss poor business ethics. Good luck Masa San, u gonna need it in the future I believe, unless u downsize ur ego/​pride or whatever the fuck it is.

I was a little disappointed by my ramen order. I asked for less salt, but my ramen still tasted pretty salty. I was really disappointed by the response of the owner when I let the waitress know there was a hair in my ramen. He offered only 15% off my ramen, which calculates to $ 1.18. Really? Very poor customer service.
Our waitress was very pleasant and friendly. I liked her.

Honestly… it’s not that bad for a ramen place in Fresno. It doesn’t compare to ramen shops at places like San Diego or Los Angeles, but I’m not gonna judge it for that. The reason I gave it a 1 star is mainly due to customer service. There were only a total of 4 customers there, not including me and my gf. The other guys had already gotten their meals when we arrived. The service started out nice. because they were polite, but then that’s already a typical thing you’d expect. The bad part is the wait time. I ordered a tonkatsu ramen bowl. Now I was told that it was the best and favorite dish there. I must say that for the wait time, it was definitely not worth. Friends was playing on the tv while I waited. It took almost the whole episode to receive my food. Now why didn’t I have? Because I had already waited long and wanted to know what the fuss was all about. So I was polite and waited. The ramen came out and it looked nice. Fresh and hot. It better be hot and fresh for that wait time and price of $ 9.50! I noticed that a huge portion was bean sprouts. You get like 4 pieces of pork and they are literally tiny pieces. The corn was okay. It didn’t do much for the ramen. Overall, the ramen was fairly okay though. I don’t know what the issue was with the wait time and I don’t think I will ever find out, because I don’t think I’ll be going back. First impressions do matter. This was my first and last time there. I’m sorry but that’s how it works. You always gotta be at your best if you want to retain customers.

Not the first time here but I must say the broth has improved from when it first opened! The broth for the milky and the shoyu ramen were on point today. Both were tasty and didn’t need extra spices. The only thing I’d suggest is to have the egg a little less hard boiled in the ramen. Overall it’s a good ramen place to have in Fresno, especially if you can’t make a drive to LA or SF :)

Tried this place for the first time. It was my first time trying ramen so I had a few questions when ordering and the waitress seemed a bit confused as if I should already know what to order. Couldn’t explain what was in certain dishes.
Went with the tonkatsu, which was good. The noodles were a bit hard (not sure if that’s how they’re supposed to be). Nonetheless, still a good dish.
It’s a small restaurant and when we got there my friend and I were asked to sit at the tiny bar area then asked to move to another table where we had to share with a random couple that had just gotten there.
3 stars for the setup of the restaurant and the service.

My husband an I really enjoyed this restaurant. We really enjoy going out for phở and udon, so we thought that we’d venture out further into the noodle world.
We were not disappointed! I got the soy ramen, and it tasted so fresh and not too salty. The pork was cooked so perfectly and was very flavorful. My only complaint would be that the egg was hard boiled and what the menu showed and what I had hoped for was a running yolk.
Since going to this restaurant, we have tried ramen elsewhere, but both my husband and I agree that this place has the best ramen.
I hope to return again soon and try the milky ramen with some extra toppings.

I came here last night with my cousins and I thought it was okay. Broth flavor was decent, but not flavorful enough. I prefer my ramen egg to not be fully cooked (I like the runny yolk) but this wasn’t the case for our ramen order. The meat pieces were not very tasty or large at all and ended up making me feel like they skimped on the meat. The ramen was okay overall and I left the place feeling a bit underwhelmed. I’ve had better ramen places than this. The chicken was pretty good but either of these dishes really made me want to come back for more :(so bummed!
The only good thing about this place is that they had really good service. The lady was incredibly welcoming and came to check up on my table a few times for extra water/​etc. without being too much.

I was feeling under the weather and I wanted some soup and I wanted to know how Ramen Ichiban will fare.
The place is small and cozy. I like the simple décor. There is a sushi bar to the side but it didn’t seem like it was in use, which is a shame. They had a nice assortment of Japanese sodas but I didn’t try any.
I got the hot tea, potstickers and the Yakiniku bowl. The potsrickers were hot and freshly made, however they were nothing special. The bowl was served piping hot. The broth was very savory and the noodles were cooked perfectly. I wish I had more meat in my bowl but what I got was really good. I ordered extra noodles as well to finish my broth off. Afterwards I was stuffed!
The food is freshly made and the portion sizes are generous. I felt that they had room to impove upon in regards to the meat & condiments served wih the ramen. I was also confused about the sushi bar.
Overall the food is very hot and fresh and I would return soon! :)

We were craving ramen & it was a bit cold out so we thought why not go try Ramen Ichiban. There was four of us, my boyfriend, our 2 friends, & myself. I believe we went in at around 7.
Prior to getting there, I already knew the place was small so I was hoping there wouldn’t be too many people there & luckily there wasn’t. There were only 2 or 3 tables & they had already gotten their food so the waitress told us it wouldn’t be a long wait.
We got 2 orders of the gyozas to get started while we waited for our ramen. I got the milky ramen, my boyfriend & friend #1 got the tonkotsu ramen, & friend #2 got the golden curry ramen (spicy).
We got our gyozas a few minutes after ordering & got our ramen within 10 – 15 minutes. I was afraid we would’ve had to wait an hour like a lot of people did but since the other tables already had their food, it was fast.
The gyozas were great, we all enjoyed them. I really liked my ramen, I thought the broth was great. I give it a ⁴⁄₅. I didn’t get to try the tonkotsu before my boyfriend made it crazy spicy but he said it was good & so did friend #1 but they give it a 3.5÷5. Friend #2 said the curry was a bit too thick to enjoy so he ended up just eating the noodles.
The waitresses were also great, we didn’t have a problem with them & they were really nice at answering our questions & filling our glasses so that’s much appreciated.
The only complaint I have is the type of chopsticks they use because these ones are terrible. I have a love/​hate relationship with disposable chopsticks & if I have to use them, I’d rather use the kind that they use at most phở shops & dim sum places but these are the crappy kind that don’t even split in the middle when you separate them.
Overview: pretty good for our first ramen place, good prices, good service, hate the chopsticks, & it’s a small place so I don’t recommend taking large parties.

Unlike some dingleberries who will complain that they leave the door open, I am here to tell you that this place makes some legit good ramen.
I have been here a few times and each time the ramen has been delicious each and every time, along with friendly service and quick delivery of food from the time of ordering. I have sampled a few different ramen styles and determined that the shoyu (If I remember correctly) is my favorite ramen.
I am just glad that Fresno has a dedicated ramen shop, its something we have definitely been lacking so its nice that we finally have one.

It takes more than good food to receive high ratings.
I have been following Masa around for a couple of years.
I see that he raised his prices a little and my Milky Ramen is now $ 9.50, used to be $ 8.95 several months ago at S21. The most expensive at his restaurant being $ 14.95
The low score is do to the following:
Door left open… Fresno County Health Department violation. .Flies inside!!!
Too warm inside
Small glasses for water
Good quantity of soup in bowl that is a plus.

This place is pretty small so I wouldn’t recommend coming here with a big party. I went during the summer and the air condition is used very frugally. I was sweating! Most def not having ramen here until it’s winter.
On the other here I’m here to eat. I had his ramen elsewhere before, so I know how it taste. It is still very good ramen and pretty authentic. It’s a good size bowl, so you will be full after you finish it.
Staff was nice and checked up on us regularly and the ramen came out 10 – 15 min.

Okay, I have been here a total of 3 times because I wanted to try a variety of flavors before I gave my review.
Strictly about the ramen:
Tonkotsu Ramen: One of the more popular flavors and there is a reason why. If this is your first time here I would highly recommend you order this one. You will not be disappointed. The broth is packed full of flavor and the noodles are nice and chewy (not overcooked). The Cha Shu pork is a hit and miss because sometimes it’s «melt in your mouth gotta have more» delicious! But sometimes it’s tough to chew. The broth is the main attraction though, it’s Pork Paitan flavor so you know that pork broth has been simmering on low for a long time until it turned creamy and delicious.
Curry Ramen: Not my favorite and wouldn’t really recommend this one. It doesn’t have much flavor and isn’t outstanding. I mean if you want to order it, go ahead and do so but don’t be jealous if you are there with someone and they are slurping down their delicious Tonkotsu and you’re over there going damn. Shoulda listened to that review. Lol. I’m only joking. But not really.
Shoyu Ramen: This is a soy sauce based broth and I have to say I really did enjoy this one. If you’re not into that creamy rich broth and want something lighter for the palate this is the one for you! But don’t be fooled it still is packed full of flavor.
Milky Ramen: This one is very rich and creamy and the exact opposite of the Shoyu. Even though it was rich and creamy I didn’t find it to be too flavorful. But if you have tried the others and want something new, this is the one for you!
Shio Ramen: This is a sea salt based broth, I found this one to be quite plain and disappointing compared to the others. That’s all I have to say about that one.
About the atmosphere:
This place is tiny and is always packed full of people. Sometimes it’s hard to get a seat. There is no AC but there is a fan.
The wait can be long and you may find yourself curling up into a ball with your stomach slowly devouring your soul. All I have to say to that is:
The Wait Is Worth It.
P.S: Stay hungry.
–Hungercame

I really like this place because it has what seems like the best ramen in town
The ramen I got was yummy and flavorful.
The service is pretty darn slow because there’s only one chef & its a small place, so not so great for large groups to be honest.
There’s so many different ramen choices it came be overwhelming. So I suggest this is your first time try the ones on the front. Lol
I hope they start to get quicker over time.

This place has one of the best tasting ramen I have ever tasted in California and that includes LA and SF (in terms of broth being flavorful and fresh), however there are a few glitches that needs to be addressed.
The good
1. This place is a really nice place to eat, very clean and has a very nice décor for a ramen place in fresno.
2. The taste of the ramen is so authentic, the noodles are really perfectly cooked and has a good springy taste to it. The broth is phenomenal, the best I’ve tasted in California, not salty, not overrated and very flavorful. I order the milky ramen broth and my sister the Tonkatsu Ramen, both being good.
3. Server was nice and genuine.
4. Pork tasted good
5. Not over salted.
The bad
1. The are new so I understand that their menu selection maybe limited, however I would appreciate an early warning of what can be ordered from the menu and what is not available upon menu distribution. This is important, I don’t want to make a selection and be disappointed after.
2. The space for the restaurant doesn’t allow for many patrons and gets too crowded and uncomfortable, possibly management or owner could have more efficient tables, especially in the middle to allow smooth transitions and also allow more guest.
3. The menu also needs to have items for additional add in — like if I wanted extra toppings
4. Their egg was disappointing, i have never had ramen with a boiled egg like that, ramen is suppose to be served with ajitsuke tamago, or an egg with its yolk slightly oozing, this to me needs to be improved.
I overall love this place and will come back again, however I hope management would address the situation of the bad side, because I see huge potential for this place since the owner actually makes fantastic ramen, what this place really need is a restaurant manager who is efficient and will guide everything else.

In the past 3 years, this strip mall space has been a revolving door of businesses, from pizza to a couple of Mexican restaurants in which the stays were never long enough to even get a permanent sign up on the building exterior.
With Ramen Ichiban, I hope this all changes. Masa San has paid his dues in other local spots serving up ramen for some time, and now he’s got his own place. Friendly and knowledgeable about his craft, he always takes the time to stop by the table to say hi and let you know he’s happy to serve you. This especially works in this small space which still retains the black and red paint theme originally painted by a pizza place in the same spot years ago.
The ramen selection is outstanding, with about 20 different options from my count. The 5 most popular are prominently displayed on the menu cover, complete with picture. If you are new to this facility and are not vegetarian, go straight for the tonkatsu ramen, as it’s really the signature dish here.
There’s some minor kinks that are being worked out, such as no seafood availability yet, and getting the service dialed in, but are all very minor. Once the order is placed, the food arrives quickly, and is worth whatever wait you may encounter.
I hope Ramen Ichiban sticks around for a long time, and can finally beat the curse placed on this location.