Kyuramen - Brookline — Restaurant in Brookline

We came here before opening (11am) on a Thursday but it took them a while to get ready for opening so the restaurant actually opened closer to 11:10-11:15. During our time in the restaurant, around 20 people came in, so it's quite busy even on a weekday. The restaurant interior looks really nice -- there are 3 seating options (private booths, tables, booths shaped like matcha whisks (?)) and the furniture and decor are very elegant.

We got the yin yang ramen, which was actually quite good. I enjoyed both of the broths -- neither were too rich, but had good savory flavor, and the noodles had a nice chew. I enjoyed the shoyu tonkotsu half more since I liked both the broth and toppings better (shrimp tempura!). It's hard to scoop the soup out of the bowl toward the end since the bottom is narrow, but you can also drink both soups at once... I enjoyed this ramen and would be down to try their other ramen options.

What I really came here for was the omurice. We ordered the omurice with demiglace and pork tonkatsu, but it came with curry sauce instead. They were kind to bring us another whole pitcher of demiglace so we got to try both. While the curry sauce is good, the demiglace is better -- it has stronger flavors, which pairs better with the mildly flavored egg than the mild curry.

The omurice was cool to see. It's not quite as explosive/ooey gooey as the ones in the videos from Kichi Kichi in Kyoto, but it's still pretty impressive. The fried rice underneath has bits of pork in it. This dish didn't quite meet my expectations for omurice after years of watching the videos on Youtube, but it's hard to say whether anything could reach the expectations I had. I felt that the inside felt a bit underdone rather than being smooth and creamy, and that the outisde layer felt a but more firm than I expected.

I would not recommend getting the pork tonkatsu add on -- while it is only $4, it does not look like the picture and seems a bit overcooked both in terms of the meat texture and the color of the coating. Rather than having a flaky coating, it seemed to be a rather dark and hard shell with tough meat and unrendered fat layers inside. It also had no flavor.

Contrary to my expectations, I enjoyed the ramen here more than the omurice. The service is good, and you can see a lot of people busy in the open kitchen. The prices are pretty reasonable and the portion sizes are large. I'm not sure if I would return given the other options in the area, but I'm definitely glad I...

New ramen joint in Brookline that serves special Japanese Omurice but mediocre ramen.

Took a visit for dinner during their opening week and found the line excessively long. Since Kyuramen is a chain, I didn't expect it to be so popular. However, it seemed like most people were excited to experience the very first proper Japanese Omurice in Boston. We signed up for their waitlist, and the wait time exceeded three hours. Their table configurations only accommodate 3-4 people, so many tables ended up with 1-2 empty seats, which further exacerbated the wait time. Unfortunately, we were unable to get in before closing time, so we decided to return for lunch instead.

When we returned for a weekday lunch, we were happy to find no line. We started with the Fried Oysters appetizer and ordered the Yin Yang ramen and Omurice Combos. While the Fried Oysters were solid, the Yin Yang Bowl was disappointing. The ramen was divided into two sections: one with a standard pork broth and seafood toppings, and the other with a chili oil/mala-infused pork broth and Chashu pork. Unfortunately, the broth lacked depth, and the mala-infused side tasted more like a hot pot than ramen, which I found unappealing. The regular pork broth was slightly better but still fell short compared to the average ramen I’ve had in Boston.

Thankfully, the Omurice was better. The Japanese omelet, perched atop chicken fried rice, was as fluffy as advertised. The subtle flavor profile of both the fried rice and the demi-glace sauce allowed the creamy texture and flavors of the egg to shine, and the only disappointing aspect of this dish was the pork cutlet. Despite its thickness, it lacked juiciness and was no better than those found in food courts or college cafeterias.

Overall, our experience at Kyuramen was no better than the ones we’ve had at other average ramen joints in the city. It’s certainly not worth the wait, so if you really want to try their Omurice, I recommend coming for lunch or waiting until the hype dies down. Might return to try their rice burgers, but I definitely won't be ordering their...

I visited Kyuramen in NYC once and had a great experience. I was excited to hear they opened one in Boston, so I had to check it out.

The Omurice was new on the menu. We ordered the curry flavor with pork tonkatsu. The combination of the fluffy omelette and savory fried rice, seasoned with curry sauce, was delicious. The dish also included vegetables and small chicken pieces, enhancing its richness and making each bite satisfying. The pork tonkatsu was good, though it could use some improvement. Before leaving, the staff mentioned they also offer a black pepper flavor for the Omurice. I’ll try that next time since I prefer black pepper.

The popcorn chicken was a delightful snack with a satisfying crunch. The inside remained tender and moist. They provided spicy powder on the table, which I added to the popcorn chicken, making it an addictive treat.

Takoyaki is a beloved street food, and theirs did not disappoint. These round, bite-sized balls were crispy on the outside and soft and creamy on the inside. The batter, made with flour, dashi, and eggs, encased a tender piece of octopus. It was topped with takoyaki sauce, creamy mayonnaise, and bonito flakes. This rich treat had a perfect balance of sweet, salty, and tangy flavors.

I ordered the #2 Katsubushi Pork Ramen. The broth had a deep umami flavor with smoky undertones from the katsubushi (bonito flakes), perfectly complementing the tender slices of pork belly. The ramen noodles were chewy and the toppings—half marinated egg, bamboo shoots, corn, sesame, scallions, and nori—made each spoonful hearty and satisfying.

The Matcha Tiramisu was fantastic! This dessert combines creamy mascarpone with matcha-soaked ladyfingers. The matcha added a unique, slightly bitter flavor that balanced the sweetness perfectly. It was a refreshing twist on the classic tiramisu.

Overall, I give Kyuramen 5 stars for its excellent food and friendly service. The restaurant’s renovation style is very comfortable and clean. They offer private rooms, a sake room, and an open kitchen bar, making the dining experience even...