Kitakata Ramen Ban Nai - Irvine: Authentic Ramen Experience in Irvine, CA

I had just finished work in Irvine and was craving ramen, so I looked up some options. Most of the results were Hakata ramen, but I wasn’t in the mood for something so rich. Among all the choices, the one that caught my eye was this Kitakata ramen. Kitakata ramen originates from Kitakata City in Fukushima Prefecture and is known as one of Japan’s three great ramen styles (Sapporo, Kitakata, and Hakata). The soup is typically soy sauce-based, made with pork bones, dried sardines, and chicken stock, giving it a light yet flavorful taste. The noodles are thick and wavy, with a chewy texture that holds the broth well. In Kitakata, there is a culture of “morning ramen”, where many ramen shops open early in the morning. I believe this contributes to the unique style of Kitakata ramen. Being pregnant and extremely picky about food right now, this ramen was a perfect match for my cravings.The matcha cheesecake for dessert was also delicious. Finding this kind of ramen in the U.S. is rare, and as a Japanese person, I was deeply satisfied. I will definitely be coming back.

Enjoyed the green chili shio ramen with added bamboo shoots and seasoned egg. Just the right amount of spice. The noodles were chewy adding a nice consistency to the meal. We also tried the chicken nanban. It was tender and so tasty! Definitely will try this place again. Felt authentic and the atmosphere was nice.

Surprisingly good and interesting twists on your usual ramen spot. It was tasty, reasonably priced and had large portions. The chicken karaage had this amazing crispy rice flour type of coating that was really good. I loved the green chili shio ramen as well. I would definitely go back.

Super nice place relaxing they dont rush you like the costa mesa location ask for Olivia she is super sweet! Delicious and my go to for Ramen. Only bad thing no cash accepted I really hope they reconsider accepting cash before that I was there monthly.

Enjoyed both the started and the main course! The treatment from the waiter was good and the service once inside was fast. Only issue is that they were full and made us wait for 20 minutes outside under the warm California weather. Also… for that price I would expect more food!

The pros: the textures of the food here is amazing. The cucumber salad has a lovely crunch, the noodles are springy, the chashu is soft, and the karage is soft and juicy. Whoever designed this menu was definitely a texture eater. In addition, the sauces that come with the sides like karage are pretty good. The cons: oh man, where do I start. - the cucumber salad is the worst cucumber salad I have ever had the displeasure of eating. It tastes as if someone sliced up a raw cucumber, sprinkled some chili powder on top of it, poured a bit of sauce over it, and served it up. No marinating, nothing. - the Tonkatsu Ramen broth is extremely, extremely salty. Not very rich, which is nice, but sooooo salty. It was impossible to drink the broth. - You aren't allowed to replace/trade items (e.g. corn, seaweed, egg, green onion, etc) in your Ramen, even if the item you want to replace it with is cheaper than the original item. They only allow you to remove items. If you want something else thats not in the original ramen, you have to add money. No exceptions for allergies or anything. - The karage was incredibly bland. The only way to get any sort of taste was to dipped it in the sauce. The sauce was good, but sometimes, you just want karage on its own, y'know? - While the texture of the ramen was amazing, the fact that the taste was lacking meant I ate a lot slower, which, in turn, meant the noodles got soggy and lost the nice texture. It was a vicious cycle. Overall, this place is great for people that care more about texture than taste, but you gotta eat fast, or you'll lose that too.

This is one of my all-time favorite restaurants in Irvine. The clear broth and chewy noodles are absolutely fantastic. Their summer special, Hiyashi Ramen, is also refreshing and pairs perfectly with all the fresh vegetables. If I ever move back to Korea, I would seriously consider coming back to Irvine just to have this ramen again.

I've tried dozens of ramen places all over the west coast, but I keep coming back to Kitakata. The noodle texture and the consistency are the main reasons. The noodles are firm and just how I prefer. The broth is savory and full of flavor. The service is always on point. The seasonal mapo tofu ramen is delicious as it combines two of my well liked dishes. Not too salty. The large portion is perfect for my large appetite.