Akira Ramen & Izakaya — Restaurant in Bel Air

Eating at the newly opened Akira Ramen & Izakaya was a great experience and set me up for wanting to go back on a regular basis! The place was packed when we arrived and we had a few minute wait to get a table. The staff was very polite taking my number and letting me know their plan, and everything went off just as described. When we sat, the atmosphere was very warm and welcoming; water is self-pour from a glass vessel and was immediately at the table for us. Ordering was quick and accurate and the view of the kitchen showed the hustle and bustle of food prep. It was a reasonable wait for our meal to arrive, especially considering how busy they were. We ordered a mix of sushi dishes and ramen, which was plenty for dinner. The bowl of ramen was excellent - broth was extremely flavorful without feeling salty and the ingredients in the bowl were all of high quality. Charsui was perfectly prepped and had the perfect blend of fat and meat in each bite. The noodles were also perfectly timed and not mushy at all - they were the right size for the dish. It was a great bowl of ramen! The sushi was good quality-average, though to be fair, that's not the spotlight of the menu! It was fresh, flavorful, and a very normal portion size, leaning to large. If you go, definitely make a bowl of ramen the centerpiece of your meal! That is not to say don't get the sushi - or was definitely good.. But it is to say the ramen was that much better! Overall, prices were good, flavors were great, and it timing was relatively quick. It was a great experience and we will definitely...

This location is similar to the branch located in White Marsh and offers the same menu items. I had lunch on a Sunday afternoon during their first week of operation. The physical space is small, and at about 1:30 PM, the wait was approx. 30-40 mins. I ordered the Chicken Kaarage appetizer with a free newspaper coupon and my standard Seafood Ramen bowl with an extra soft-boiled egg. It took several minutes for my hot tea to arrive, and I had to request additional sugar twice. The Kaarage came out, and the Ramen followed it only a few minutes after. The food quality was good, and comparable to that in White Marsh, but my addl. egg was missing. I asked a waitress to confirm that I wouldn't be charged for it. When the check came, both the appetizer and the egg were there. This was probably caused by language issues with some of the staff, and it was resolved when I asked. Also, like WM, there are gender-segregatd single occupancy restrooms, which in this day seems inefficient and unnecessary. However, it was clean. I would recommend waiting until staffing and workflow issues can be worked out and traffic dies down before giving this...

From start to finish, our lunch at Akira Ramen was absolutely exceptional! The atmosphere was cozy yet vibrant — beautifully decorated with Japanese art and a warm, inviting ambiance.

We started with some light appetizers Gyoza, shrimp crystal dumpling and the Maryland Sushi Roll, that were fresh and full of flavor, followed by the main dishes that completely stole the show. The ramen was rich, perfectly seasoned, and layered with the kind of depth that only comes from a well-balanced broth. The toppings — from the tender pork belly to the corn, scallions, and marinated egg — complemented every bite.

Everything was plated beautifully and served promptly, and the service was friendly and attentive without being overbearing.

If you’re in the Bel Air area and craving authentic Japanese comfort food, Akira Ramen & Izakaya is definitely worth the visit. We’ll be back soon — and next time, we’re trying even more...