Michael Mina Elite Event Series: The Ramen Bar for Linner

If the Unilocal Elite community needs me to duck out of work early on a Tuesday afternoon, don’t worry your pretty little heads… I’ll bite the bullet and do it no questions asked. :)
Hands down, this was my favorite Unilocal event ever. Everything was on point. Abby was there sign us in promptly at 3, the friendly staff happily explained the nuances of the menu, there was already small bites and party favors available throughout the restaurant, and the main course met me at tableside no more than 5 minutes later.
Now imagine not working and sitting outside in the FiDi on a beautiful day, with a large bowl of ramen and royal milk tea by your side… for those couple of hours, dare I say, life was perfect.
Can’t wait for the next event!

I feel so lucky to have been a part of this Elite event it was hands down one of the best I have ever been to! Everyone on both the restaurant and Unilocal side were super friendly and the event was impeccably organized. I loved the small gestures like the complimentary cookie (amazingggg) and gellies that you could take to go, the prestamped loyalty card, «elite card» and the Unilocal towel swag!
I’m glad we had an opportunity to sample things that I wouldn’t ordinarily order because I fell in love with the coffee jelly and won’t stop raving about it until everyone I know has tried it personally too. I also discovered a satisfying but healthy lunch alternative that I for see myself frequenting on the weekdays.
Thanks Unilocal and Michael minna and staff for hosting such an incredible event!

Awesome Elite event with plenty of food to feed us for lunch AND dinner.
The staff and Chef Ken really treated us to some delicious seafood ramen, unlimited mini donburi samplers (salmon was my fav), sweet green tea desserts — the food was flowing! Loved the good bag too! Thanks!!!

I can hardly think of a better way to spend an afternoon. This is how life should be. Really good food, nice weather and a super laid back vibe. Add bunch of people who enjoy eating and Chef Ken Tominaga sharing his vision, then you have one of the best Unilocal events the city has to offer.
Endless samples from all over the menu, donburi, salads and Little bites.
All of the offerings were delicious. The salmon salad and the sesame salmon donburi dishes, the beef short rib donburi, the steamed pork belly buns, the wakame salad and the crispy miso duck wings are all so flavorful and absolutely amazing.
I thought the ramen was a bit on the bland side strait from the kitchen. The spices provided on the table remedied that problem perfectly. The highlight of the ramen is the soy cured egg. It’s so flavorful and so soft.
Like every good Unilocal party, plenty of drink options. The staff at Ramen Bar is super nice and the service is really quick.
Thanks Abby, Ken and all the staff who worked so hard to make this all come together. This is a great location and a wonderful addition to the city.

Another excellent event featuring excellent ramen and some memorable desserts. Thanks Abby and Team!

This was a really neat event, my first in SF. Had a great time and met some neat folks.
As for the event itself; it was very well run and quite the treat.
The food was fantastic; the pork ramen was especially good (with the seaweed) and perfectly cooked eggs/​meat. The broth was rich and flavorful, I give it two thumbs up. I’d definitely return to try the spicy miso ramen for my next visit.
The other dish that stood out was the crispy duck wing. That was phenomenal; I could probably eat a 100 of those for dinner alone.
The pork bun and other small apps weren’t my favorite, but perhaps my expectations were inflated after the ramen and duck. They were fine though.
As for desserts; the green tea mousse was great; unlike some others, I thought the little crunchy-​bread pieces on top were good. Perhaps a mochi or light cream garnish (something softer/​chewy) might please the crowd more, according to the feedback I heard.
One constructive critique: a group of folks were seated outside (~8 people) and weren’t notified when the chef was giving his talk. It would be great to know next time beforehand, so that we could be present to hear the whole thing– we caught just the tail-​end of the speech and felt rude interrupting.
Nonetheless, I had a great time. The food was excellent & the ambiance is cool & chic. I’ll be back soon with some friends to try another bowl of ramen.
A+ to the waitstaff and everyone managing. Thanks!

If this was an episode of Sesame Street, yesterday’s word of the day would be «combination.» I say this because I started the day off with brunch (breakfast + lunch) only to leave room for linner (lunch + dinner).
Other reasons? The combinations of:
+The sweet corn and that miso-​buttered broth? Delicious.
+The coffee jelly and soy-​caramel pudding? Can’t get enough.
+Chefs Ken Tominaga and Michael Mina? Surprisingly brilliant.
–Soy-​curing and that egg? Whoa, salty, mama! Too salty for me.
+The sake roll cake and berries? Yes! I’ll have another!
–Beef tataki and salad? Too drab for me (and others at my table, apparently)
–The steamed pork and a bun? More pork, less bun, please.
+Abby S. and Unilocal SF? Magical.
Other noteworthy items:
+They’ve got caffeinated beverages (including boba drinks, green tea lattes, royal milk, and Lamill coffee)
+Service was incredibly friendly, attentive, and appreciative of our time.

My second Unilocal Elite event ever and without a plus one, which made me step out of my comfort zone to meet others. Thank you Abby for an awesome event! The event was organized compared to the first one I went to and we got free schwag! Only thing that would have made the experience better would be putting speakers outside so we could hear what went on inside when the chef spoke. It was a good experience for me thought. I have eaten here once before and this time around, the ramen portion was more and the Hokkaido was tastier than the chicken one I ordered previously. There were lots of corn and the egg was cooked to perfection :) The soft boiled egg is definitely a dealbreaker for me when it comes to ramen. I also like the matcha pudding a lot! The boba wasn’t amazing, but definitely was a plus to my meal. The appetizers were also tasty, like the fried duck! The service was great and everyone was super friendly! After this experience, I do look forward to attending more events and I won’t mind going alone :)

Rich lush velvety R-​A-​M-​E-​N! So happy to be apart of this event! I LOVED my vegetarian ramen bowl, my iced green tea with boba, and my delicious dessert. Surrounded with other Elites made the «Ramen for Linner» event that much more spectacular!

This was such a well put together Unilocal Event! It was one of the best Elite events I’ve attended, for a variety of reasons. They were really well-​organized in terms of hosting — pre-​printed name tags, plenty of tasty appetizer stations, and great, attentive service. Very different from other Elite events because it definitely felt more intimate and special.
I’d give the the ramen here a ⁹⁄₁₀ (¹⁰⁄₁₀ being Orenchi in South Bay). The broth was flavorful without being too pungent, the noodles were cooked well but not too soggy or too hard, the pork was tender and savory, and the eggs were PERFECT (soft-​boiled perfection, in all seriousness). It came out very well and the portion was huge — I couldn’t finish!
The appetizers were okay, but I don’t think they really lived up to the quality that the ramen showcased, which is fine given that it’s not the focus point of the establishment. I didn’t really care for the matcha green milk tea boba — the boba was too hard and the green milk tea tasted powdery and artificial.
I probably would have given Ramen Bar a ⁴⁄₅ for the food (5 for the ramen and 3 for the boba and appetizers) but the service was so spot on and the event was so well-​executed that I’m doling out the extra star (service makes a big difference in your experience!) I really liked the the manager, Dennis, came around to everyone there to introduce himself and ask for feedback. You don’t see that attention to detail as much nowadays, especially in FiDi.

One of my favorite Elite Events, ever. Congrats to Abby, the Michael Minna team, and Chef Ken for a truly memorable «linner.»
There was truly a ton of food available, but I limited myself to three items: pork bun, a little salmon and rice «boat» and the Shrimp and Crab ramen. No wait, four items: the green tea mousse dessert. The highlight, of course, was Chef Ken’s fantastic Shrimp and Crab ramen. The dumplings were delicious and melted in your mouth. The broth was flavorful, but I have to say that I liked it a little bit better after adding a little bit of a spicy kick to it. The noodles were good though, nice and chewy, not overcooked in the least.
Loved having the little talk from Chef Ken, he gave some nice insights into their Tokyo style ramen, and how they cook the broth.
Most definitely looking forward to coming back to this restaurant with my lady for a night on the town.

Many thanks to the Michael Mina team and especially to Chef Tominaga-​san for having us over at The Ramen Bar. Loved the set-​up of the tasting stations with small bites. Delicious shrimp and crab dumpling ramen, loved the umami-​packed broth and fresh ingredients used!
Thanks much to Abby S. and the Unilocal crew for hosting such a successful Ramen for Linner event!

Abby hosted another amazing elite event! The staff is super friendly. We got to taste a full bowl of ramen for linner (my new favorite meal), drinks, appetizers and other menu items. They have draft beer, teas and other delights. Outdoor dining in the fidi is a plus! Get the mushroom and soy ramen, wakame salad and Hong Kong tea. Add a spoon full of spices and hot sauce.

Thank you Abby S. and Ramen Bar for putting on the perfect elite event. Intimate, great spread, trying ramen directly off the menu, and an opportunity to meet the chef behind the curtains! Not to mention getting to meet some awesome new elite friends as well!
The miso glazed duck leg and desserts were extraordinary. Appetizers, drinks, ramen were all delicious as well.
Will be spreading the word and checking out this new Friday happy hour spot as well!

Another great Elite event!
Different from most others, it was nice to have a unique «linner» afternoon. A ton of great food (flavorful tiny rice «boats», huge savory ramen bowls and rich desserts) and some great service from the staff at The Ramen Bar helped to make this a memorable event. This was a bit smaller and more intimate so it felt great to be at an Elite event, but in a more relaxed setting.
It was so great to actually have the chef speak with us and give us a brief speech on his life as well as his thoughts on being a part of the team that made this restaurant happen.
Thanks for making my Tuesday afternoon just a little more interesting!

Another great Elite event. Big thanks to Abby S and the entire Ramen crew! Lots of delicious food, wine and Boba!!!
Pork ramen was great, the broth was very tasty and the noodles were prefect and tender. Will def go back!
Oh and loved the Ramen bar gift. The cookie and little candies were delish!

You had me at Ramen. There’s no doubt I’m giving 5+ stars, not just because it was a Unilocal Elite event that I was able to partake. It’s because of the phenomenal experience this afternoon at Linner.
Michael Mina and Ken Tominaga have created something special. Ramen Bar is spacious, accommodates a large number of hungry patrons and has outdoor seating! Why have I not hear about this place sooner? Alas, the secret is out and I’m pretty sure the line will be out the door by noon tomorrow. I had a fantastic time here, got to meet Chef Ken, and tried out a variety of delicious bites. It’s not often that I waltz right into a ramen join without waiting a ridiculous amount of time. Although I have gone through great lengths in my search for ramen.
I had the Kurobuta pork ramen with corn. The noodles were al dente, the soft boiled egg was right on the money, and all of the items on the menu were amazing. The steamed buns, the duck leg, braised shortribs, and green tea desert made me return to work with a food coma. Included was a parting gift with some baked goods, a punchcard for future visits, and a thank you note.
It was an excellent opportunity to try out what I believe to be a very successful restaurant. Chef Ken’s dedication to the restaurant will be the driving force.

I’ve been wanting to try this place out ever since it opened; it’s a block away from where I work so I was looking forward to trying out a new lunch spot. However, every time I made my way over there, the line was out the door. Ain’t nobody got time for that. At least i don’t. So when I saw this Unilocal elite event I rsvp’d and prayed really hard that id get in and I did!!! (Yay thank you!!!)
This event was one of the best I’ve been to – it wasn’t crowded at all but there was plenty of food everywhere. Not only did we get to choose our own (HUGE) bowl of ramen, but there were small bites of their other specialties placed around the restaurant and coming around on trays. I wish i could have tried them all but i was getting too full. i knew that leftover pizza i had for breakfast would come back to haunt me. They even served cocktails and pearl drinks. At the end, the chef came out to talk to us. We also received parting gifts of a cookie, homemade fruit desserts, a stamp card, and a special Unilocal elite card which we can show to them when we return. (So they can say hi.)
Insider tip: I found out from one kind employee that around 2:30pm, the lunch rush starts dying down. So if you plan on making this linner thing a habit (like me: D) you’re in luck!
Thanks Abby and The Ramen Bar! Can’t wait to come back!

This was honestly one of my favorite Unilocal events I’ve ever been to.
My highlights:
1. Leaving work to walk into a Unilocal Event paradise.
2. Ordering my seafood ramen off the menu. It was really delicious. Huge portion so I took some of it to eat later. I liked the corn!
3. All of their staff was extremely friendly and helpful. Great folks!
4. Getting to hear Chef Tominaga talk and answer our questions. I loved hearing about the origins of ramen, his culinary background, and his hopes for the future of the restaurant. He seemed to value our feedback and opinions a lot.
5. Green tea and coffee puddings!
6. Chai with boba!
7. Getting to talk to lots of elites I’d never met in a relaxed and fun setting.
8. The little goody bag from the restaurant with cookies and gummies.
9. Unilocal Elite towel for checking in!
Thank you to Abby and the team at The Ramen Bar. I really enjoyed this break from work and office life. What an event! AWESOME!

ELITE SLURPS!!!
Welp, there goes my workout session.
Kudos to Abby and the Unilocal staff for hosting this event (3pm on a weekday). I really felt privileged to be a guest as I am a huge Chef Michael Minna fan. I must say, this event was well worth starving yourself all day until your late lunch hour to attend. It was a very intimate event and really enjoyed my time. I’ve been to several selectd Elite Only events and this one surely stuffed us and has become one of my favorites. I dont think I need to eat for the next couple of days. HA
— ANY CHOICE OF RAMEN
— ANY CHOICE OF BEVERAGE (soda, boba, alcohol, cocktails, tea, water)
— NON-​STOP MINI SAMPLES TO CHOOSE FROM (pork buns, duck wings, kurobuta pork, Jidori chicken, beef shortrib kare, sesame salmon)
— ENDLESS DESSERT (coffee jelly, greentea parfait, sake roll cake)
— SERVICE was pheomenal. We were very well taken care of.
ON TOP OF THAT… ELITE GIFTS!!!
— Unilocal Beach Towel
— The Ramen Bar box with a cookie, candy, punch card, and (my favorite) Unilocal ELITE CARD to present during future visits at The Ramen Bar.
***FEELING SUPER SPECIAL***
Sadly, this event had to come to an end. Earlier for me than many others. I am very happy to have met new elite friends: Julia and Johnny (thanks for the company). Stuff my face with Michael Mina creations. And leave with a bag of goodies. Good thing I work a block away, I’ll definitely will be back.
It’s amazing to be Elite.
Until the next review…