Ken’s Ramen

We had an early dinner because my husband sooo wanted to try this place before we leave Providence that we came in around 9 pm. I’m still very full so only tried their pork bun. It’s a very small place, very hot inside, and very loud. The pork bun was ok. It’s pricey for a very small ramen bowl. I guess you can mark up really high if there is no other competition around. Not really sure what’s the hype Providence Unilocalers, but Ken’s ramen is very salty. We can’t even ask them to adjust the spiciness level of their spicy miso. So our waitress suggested the rayu on the side but they still gave us the spicy ramen. So we have to wait again for my hubby’s new bowl… Their service is really slow and some snotty waitress, the others were nice. The ramen noodle was great though.

I absolutely love Ken’s Ramen. Came here for the first time a few months ago with my brother after I had just moved back to MA from NYC. We had both been craving ramen and I’d heard good things. I’ve had plenty of ramen in Manhattan but nothing compares to Ken’s. I can only speak for my own taste, and I am a soupless ramen kind of girl. The tan tan mazeman is seriously sick. There are so many flavors, they are so well combined, the noodles are perfectly cooked every single time, and there was a period of time where I was eating this for lunch two to three times a week. It’s really that good.
That said, everything else I’ve had has also always been really good. The spicy tuna don is spicy and delicious, pork buns are great, the other rice bowls are all very good. The dipping ramen is yummy.
All of the complaints that I’ve read about on here mostly relate to the fact that they only accept cash, they don’t really do take out, that the wait can be long, and that they don’t offer a few of their ramen choices for lunch. The cash complaint to me is irrelevant, just bring cash with you or use their ATM. While I understand peoples qualms about being unable to take home leftovers, the take out rules I actually appreciate. Having to wait for a seat is inevitable at any place that is well known and worth waiting for (especially when it’s as small as Ken’s is). And if you want one of the three choices that aren’t available at lunch, there is an easy fix for that: don’t go for lunch, go for dinner.
All in all, the food’s awesome, service is good and fast, atmosphere is cool and relaxed. This is the longest review I’ve ever written purely because I thoroughly enjoy my experience every time I come here, and it’s probably the restaurant I most frequent in this area. 5 stars from me :)

I am SO sad to give Ken’s Ramen only 2 stars. We have been looking forward to going there since they opened; we finally made it happen tonight! Overall their food was good, but their customer service and polices were so disappointing.
Pros:
— Noodles and dirty rice were good
— Seasoned tuna and pork bun were delicious
Cons:
— Upon handing over our large handwritten order (we ordered a ton of food, planning to take home the leftovers to enjoy on the couch later), I asked the server if she could read our writing. Her response was, «Don’t worry, I’ll figure it out.»
— …We got someone else’s order. The manager was apologetic. I offered to keep what I got because I had already taken a bite, but the other person in my party wanted what she originally ordered.
— Once we were full, we asked for boxes. They wouldn’t give us boxes. We were told that taking things out of the restaurant would ruin the integrity of the noodles and that in Japan, we would be told off for even asking for anything to go. I explained we purposely ordered more food than we could eat with the plan of taking what we didn’t eat home. So, «because we didn’t know», we got $ 6 off of our $ 43 bill. We literally had to leave more than half of our food behind to be thrown away because we were full.
Not happy. Those were perfectly good noodles that I paid for and they would not allow me to take them with me?! I’ve been to authentic Japanese ramen spots and have had no issues taking my leftovers with me.
EXTREMELY disappointing. I’m home now and want my damn noodles.

This place is amazing! Portion size is huge. Flavors are right on. It reminds me of totto ramen in nyc. The wait here is formidable but definitely worth it. Excited to go back to this place

Saturday, 9:00 PM.
Quickie:
+ Food quality
— Service
— Slow turnaround
And then???
Their take-​out item was good. Looking forward to dining in next time.
**********
Stuffed my face in:
1. Cold noodles
+ Firm texture.
+ Savory and tangy sauce was a strong complement.
Constructive comments:
*Source ingredients?
*Expand take-​out menu?

The food was good! We had the pork buns and the signature ramen. Both were flavorful, well prepared and came out quick.
The menu is small as is the place itself. We had to share a four top table with two other people, which was fine but since we were on the inside it was a bit tough to get service.
The big downsides for me were that it 20 minutes to get our check, and that they take cash only, and the ramen bowls were too big and they didn’t offer a to go option for leftovers. I would highly recommend they implement a small option. They also charged $ 1.25 for a small container of hot chili sauce.

Since this is the only Ramen noodle joint within 50 miles of Providence, it is hard to give an accurate picture of the place, compared to other ramen joints that you will find in NYC or Boston.
The place is packed and busy, seems to be like that all the time. That in itself is not bad, generally means good endorsement from the general population.
The issue I have is that they never seem to have the signature ramen due to the fact that «it takes 30 hours to prepare the stock». That’s a poor perpetual excuse for a ramen joint! Well, if that’s the issue then get going a day and had before the lunch hour… Never heard of anything like that anywhere else.
Despite this obvious shortcoming, the food is pretty flavorful with a good combination of traditional Japanese seasoning with a twist of creative additions like, lime and avocado.
The chashu (pork roast) that you get on ramen are not the ones that I am used to seeing and eating in Tokyo. Their version is smoked and thin. Not much deep flavor that is a mark of good, properly prepared and aged chashu.
I hope they straighten up the kitchen production system that they can crank out the popular signature ramen faster. The service u find is a bit slow.

Anyone who’s ever watched animé knows how delicious and beautiful ramen can look. Growing up, my friends and I had to make do with the rock-​hard blocks of Maruchan, but when Ken’s hit the scene this was no longer the case! I could finally fulfill my dream of sucking down noodles and guzzling authentic broth filled with various veggies I’ve never imagined would be married in a bowl.
The ground floor of the parking garage on Washington was built into storefronts which now house trendy eateries and clothes stores. Ken’s is a minimalist restaurant with probably about 25 seats; a couple tables and a bar, Chipotle-​esque industrial design, and 1 primary menu item made several ways. Waiting space is sparse (and you very well may wait), with a bench inside and out. This is a CASH ONLY establishment, but has an ATM … which has never worked as long as I’ve been a patron. This place should totally accept Bitcoin.
God forbid you come during rush hour because a quick lunch will turn into an hour-​long to-​do. The staff primarily consists of yuppie hipsters who feign helpfulness, as they are more interested in acting cool although it comes off as rude.
On our second visit, the server completely misplaced our order sheet. I silently watched as people who came in behind us were served their food. Finally, one of my cold stares locked onto the waitress and she must have realized we were waiting well over 45 minutes for our food to even be seen by the cooks!
As far as the food goes: awesome! Just as I always imagined. The veggie vitality was certainly satisfying for a person who doesn’t eat meat! However, looking around, I noticed the veggie bowl didn’t use the same noodles. I asked the girl who took our order if they had anything thicker like udon noodles, pointing to my bowl, admitting it sounded silly. She said she didn’t know what they were and would find out. Then the only Asian there came up to me stone-​faced, snapped «we don’t have udon noodles; that’s not ramen,» and walked off. I didn’t even have time to explain that’s not what I was looking for, and I was just wondering what everyone else was eating. Luckily I don’t take myself too seriously, as I’m one of the whitest kids I know, but that was pretty rude! Enough to earn a lousy tip, that’s for sure.
Don’t expect good service from Ken’s Ramen. You can expect to pay cash for expensive, but delicious, ramen in a downcity cool-​vibes atmosphere.

Yum! This place is awesome. Wait can be pretty long, but I came on a Saturday for lunch and went right in (I came right when it opened, too). They only had the veggie ramen, tsukemen, and tan tan mazeman, but I didn’t mind. Inside is clean and hip, with just a few bar seats and some tables for four. Music was quiet and neutral.
I had the tsukemen, which is the «dipping» ramen. Basically consists of some perfectly cooked thick noodles and a savory thick broth. It was kind of like an umami bomb. The broth was full of fresh, crisp vegetables and the pork was perfectly cooked. These were probably the best noodles I have ever had in my life. The waiter was thorough in how to best enjoy the noodles. He was helpful in all other aspects of ordering, serving, etc.
It really means a lot when you leave a restaurant immediately thinking about the next time you’ll be able to make it back. I can’t recommend it enough!

«That was sooo good!» I must have said that twelve times after I left Ken’s. I went with a friend at lunch time on a Saturday so there was no wait and we were seated at the bar. It’s a very small space with only bar seats and 4 tables of 4. (If the bar is full and you are a party of 2 you will be seated at a table with the caveat that if it gets busy, you’ll be seated with another party of 2.) I started with a veggie bun which had seaweed salad, beets, and dressing. It was really tasty. For my main meal, I ordered the tan– tan mazeman. Our waiter noticed that I hadn’t chosen a meat option and asked if I was vegetarian. I said yes. When he brought mine out, it had all the veggies on it, so I thought maybe he got my order wrong. They basically gave me the vitality bowl with the sesame sauce and the ra-​yu. It was so good. The veggies were fresh and crisp and the sauce was flavorful and spicy — my favorite ramen in RI.

I really wanted to love this place.
Before venturing out, I read all of the reviews and for the most part knew what I was I for as far as lunch selections went. But when I got there it was just overly underwhelming.
To not have a single, proper ramen broth at all is very disappointing. The portion was small and pricey in my opinion.
The pork belly bun was decent — I enjoyed their mayo but the pork itself was one of the fattiest slices I’ve ever had.
I went with the Tsukemen (though on the menu it doesn’t say it’s a seafood broth — it is) and while I respect the cook time of these other broths — there is no reason they can’t be prepared in a way they can be enjoyed all day.
The ramen themselves were good. Buttery and al Dente. The chili paste added some flavor but the broth wasn’t my style.
I intend on trying Ken’s out for dinner and hope to be able to give it more stars.

I really don’t get the hype of this place at all. Maybe an overreaction, but I think I immediately distrust the taste buds of those who tell me this is their favorite restaurant.
Once upon a time my friends and I were avid, passionate fans of Ken’s Ramen. Given the complete absence of ramen in providence, we eagerly awaited the opening of this restaurant for what felt like years. When they announced their pre– soft opening (I still don’t know what this means) we were beyond ourselves with excitement.
When we got there as a party of four, we were told the wait would be more than an hour. We were starving so we actually went to flan y ajo to grab some apps. After literally leaving to go to another restaurant, eating, and coming back, there still wasn’t a table ready for us. After about an hour and a half, we were finally seated. It was obnoxiously loud inside and incredibly hot– there was a broken vent so there was no circulation of air in the restaurant and there was literally hot air (origins unknown) blowing on us for the entire meal. Is this what others mean when they say industrial feel?
At this time, they were serving a set menu. I believe we got an order of the pork buns and the paitan ramen. The pork buns were fine but nothing to rave about — our spirits remained high. (Oh how naïve and patient I was!) When it came down to order the ramen, off of this limited set menu, we were told that they were out of the chashu pork. I’m not really sure how that even happens. In our state of hunger it felt like a cruel joke. We settled for whatever else they had in its place. When we finally got our food, for a naïve moment, we thought it would all be worth it.
It wasn’t. The broth was watery, without much depth or complexity of flavors. It kind of tasted like Campbell’s– salty and flat. Noodles left something to be desired, overcooked. Toppings were flavorless but somehow better than the substance of the dish. Sadly they charged extra for those too, despite the awful experience. They offered us a slight discount on our meal but even that wasn’t enough. Worst dining experience I’ve had in recent memory.
Maybe it’s since gotten better but after the whole ordeal, I have no desire to return. There are plenty of solid restaurants in the area (Westminster street is just a few over) that would be worth your time and money.

Pretty good ramen spot!
A bit on the pricey side for ramen places but the quality is pretty good. There are often long lines but weekend lunches are not a bad time to go. A nice smallish menu and the service is decent.
Cash only! And like all «cash only» places they have a high fee atm to use so hit up your own bank before going.

First time trying Ken’s ramen. We stopped for lunch. Sucks that they have a very limited menu for lunch due to the slow cooked broth for the ramen soup but no complaints.
My party all had the tsukemen with the hard broil egg. Boy it was delicious. Would definitely come back but definitely for dinner.
Environment was great – had a great urban feel to it.
Check it out if you’re a ramen fan around the area. This place is CASH ONLY but they have an ATM on site. $ 2 fee so it want too shabby either.
Street parking as well or parking garages around the area.

Cash only! Great ramen — I love the system where you pick from 6 basic ramen broths/​styles, and then get any toppings you want ala carte. I love tons of toppings, so I approve of this system.
Great friendly service, the broth was delish.

Decent chicken ramen, great for the area, BUT GUYS… WHY ARE YOU ALWAYS CLOSED???
Always check the hours before heading down.

I’ve been to Ken’s a number of times and between sharing with friends, have tried almost every ramen on the menu. I’d say the fare here has improved since they first opened, but it also seems to lack consistency (some days saltier than others, tastes a bit different).
Overall, love the 30-​hour cooked paitan — soothing chicken brothy goodness — and its sassy spicy «hell» paitan sister. Another favorite is the Tsukemen, which is the concentrated broth boiled down for dipping. So savory and delicious!
If food is a solid 4 stars, service is like 3 – 3.5. Points off for having a limited lunch menu, weird takeout policy, cash only (hello it’s called square), and a clueless skaterboy host who has no idea how to provide a baseline of professional service.
Overall, Ken’s adds to the growing dining selection in Providence and I am grateful for their presence!

Something about this place makes me fall to my knees. I don’t know if it is the loud rap music, the tan tan, or the delicious stock but something gets my wheels a’turnin.
Seating in here can be scarce but do not fear. You may sit by a stranger and make a friend… or not. But the food makes up for it. All that slurping goodness! YUM

Ken’s has been getting better and better with every return visit.
Improvements:
1. Ramen — above par since the soft opening, but the broths are richer, less salty and with deeper cleaner flavors than in prior visits. The spicy miso ramen on my last visit was especially tasty, my BF and I slurped it down to the last drop.
2. Aps — everyone talks about the pork bun, which is good, but I’m loving me some inexpensive dirty rice bowls with optional toppings (uni and tuna poke for the win).
3. The line has gotten more efficient and speedy and the service has been more accurate.
4. The music decibel level has been dialed down a few notches to a tolerable level.
Other controversies:
5. I miss the prix fixe option that was available during the soft opening. Can I sign a petition or something to bring that back?
6.Carry out policy — I actually like that there’s no carry out on their soupy ramen choices because if you want to eat mushy ramen, you can just buy a $ 0.99 instant ramen package and overcook it at home. Ken’s is being considerate of your $$ folks, carry out ramen is NASTY!
7. Still cash only, it’d be nice to be able to have other payment options.
8. Parking is struggling, it would be nice to have a bike rack next to that newish bench outside.
To me, it’s worth minor inconveniences for some comfort noodles and tasty apps. The food here is comparable what I’ve had in ramen noodle chains like Ramen Misoya or Ippudo and usually better than most other comparable options within an hour drive.
Keep stabbing my low carb diet intentions via quick tasty chopstick death strike, Ken’s. It’s unnatural anyway.

A place with photo worthy food! I feel like a photography genius, but I think it’s all because of the presentation. Kudos, Ken’s cooks!
Also, kudos on the food itself. It’s top notch. I’ve only been once, but I will certainly go again, and this is why:
The spicy chicken ramen is the closest thing to Mexican food I’ve ever had outside of New Mexico/​Colorado/​Arizona. Therefore, to me, IT IS THE BEST SPICY DISH IN NEW ENGLAND.
Let me be clear and say Asian spices and Mexican spices are completely different, but this had such an amazing flavor, it made my nose run and my eyes water and my throat burn and I COULDN’T STOP EATING IT. That’s the mark of a great New Mexican chile, and it’s the closest thing I’ve been able to relate to my food back home. (Even the best Mexican food restaurants in RI cannot hold a candle to New Mexican Mexican food.) I was so excited to have discovered this. Thank you, Ken’s, for being awesome!
The cons: unless plastic chopsticks are your game, it will be difficult to eat, and even more difficult to look classy while eating. I would not recommend going on a first date unless you bring your own fork.
Other cons: cash only (come prepared) and they’re not open Sunday/​Monday. (I always forget and am very sad when I show up and they’re closed)