Waku Waku Ramen Harvard Square — Restaurant in Cambridge

I wanted to try this place after they had a stand at the Harvard Square Chili Cook-Off -- they had the longest line of people waiting to try samples of their ramen. And it was delicious! Definitely my favorite "chili" of the event. I was eager to see what else they had to offer.

The ambience of the restaurant was pretty unexpected for me -- the restaurant was quite dimly lit -- the main lights were turned off and there were only colored lights on, resulting in quite the unique mood. It doesn't seem like there's that much seating and they don't take reservations so it's probably better to come a bit earlier or at an off hour on the weekends. We went for Saturday dinner a bit before 6pm and didn't have to wait.

We tried the kaen ramen ($16) which is a chicken-based broth with spicy black garlic. It had some pieces of chicken chashu and half of a marinated egg and some bamboo. I thought that the broth had a good amount of spice for Japanese food, but the broth itself was a bit lacking in flavor and depth -- it was a bit bland. The toppings were good. Overall, I don't think I would get this ramen again because it was lacking flavor.

We also tried the miso mushroom ramen ($16). The ramen is supposed to be a chicken-based broth with miso but to me it just tasted like miso paste in water, maybe with some dashi -- nothing to write home about. The toppings were various mushrooms -- deep fried tempura enoki, one deep fried shiitake mushroom served on the side, pan-fried button mushrooms, and another pan fried mushroom. The mushrooms were pretty good and plentiful. I just wish the mushrooms had been seasoned more before deep frying -- the tempura mushrooms had no flavor at all.

In both of the ramens, the noodles were thick and wavy, and while they were not overcooked, they were a little more cooked than I like. The broths were not particularly special for either of the ramens we tried. The ramen sample we had at the chili event (which I believe was the specialty ramen) was very tasty, so maybe that's the one to get.

We also got the chicken karaage ($9), which was not very crispy, as other reviewers have noted. So it didn't really feel like it was necessary that it was deep-fried. However, the chicken inside was quite juicy. It was a little underseasoned but I liked that it was tender and juicy.

We got the salmon ikura sushi taco ($8). I thought the presentation was nice and that the different elements really worked well together. I would of course have appreciated a little bit more salmon content in the roll, but overall I would say it was a pretty good dish.

Finally, we got the mango nigori sake ($14) which basically tasted like a thick mango nectar with some alcohol flavor. I like sweet drinks so I liked it and it was a reasonable price for the restaurant.

Overall, I had an interesting experience at Waku Waku and I'm glad I tried it. Still, given that there are three other ramen restaurants in Harvard Square, I would probably rank it as 3rd out of the four. I do think Bosso Ramen is the best ramen in Harvard Square and Santouka has the best karaage. Waku Waku has good toppings but I think the broth is a bit lacking and the appetizers were not amazing. I didn't like the noodle quality in the ramens either. I'm not sure if I'd go again given the other options in the area, but overall I thought the service was good and quick and I enjoyed...

Tonight around 8:00 PM, I visited this restaurant. I originally wanted to sit on the left side, but their staff directed me to the right-hand side instead. As I was about to sit down, I suddenly heard someone say “Wait!”—and to my shock, I saw that the chair was covered in sauce and something disgusting, possibly even vomit. Unfortunately, my dress became soiled as a result. One of their staff members kindly helped me clean up, and I asked her why the seat hadn’t been checked or cleaned before directing a customer to sit there. Her response surprised me even more: she said, “That’s because you didn’t watch the chair carefully. There were two seats—why did you choose to sit on this one?” I interpreted her words as blaming me for something that clearly should have been the restaurant’s responsibility. Given that my dress was dirty and I was already feeling extremely uncomfortable, being blamed instead of receiving a sincere apology made me feel both wronged and angry. Another customer nearby, unaware of the full situation, commented, “You were supposed to wait at the door until someone guides you.” I explained that I was indeed guided by your staff to that exact seat. Otherwise, I would have chosen to sit on the left side, as I had initially intended.

Overall, I felt deeply upset and embarrassed by this experience. I would sincerely appreciate it if the manager could review the surveillance footage from tonight and speak to the staff involved. I believe an apology is in order—not only for the dirty seat, but also for the inappropriate response that followed. I hope this incident will be taken seriously and handled...

At Waku Waku Ramen, their culinary journey is a fusion of the past, the present, and the future. Their commitment to excellence drives them to explore innovative ingredients, seamlessly blending contemporary techniques with tradition. Every dish tells a unique story, and every ingredient is carefully prepared using a variety of cooking methods to create the ultimate flavor experience. Ramen, the heartwarming dish loved worldwide, takes center stage here.

But it's not just about the food; it's about the entire experience. Their cyberpunk-futuristic decor transports you to a 2050 world-class city entertainment district, where pulsing EDM music adds an extra dimension to your dining adventure.

WHAT WE ORDERED: Pork Gyoza: Crispy and savory, these dumplings were irresistible. Seaweed Salad: Refreshing and tangy, the perfect start to the meal. Shumai: Delicate and savory, they practically melted in my mouth. Scallop Shiso: Tender scallops with a refreshing twist from the shiso. Ikura Salmon: A burst of flavor in every bite, thanks to the salmon eggs. Eel Cream Cheese Avocado: Creamy, rich, and utterly delicious. Crawfish: Succulent and seasoned to perfection. Waku Waku Signature Ramen: A showstopper with flavorful broth and artful toppings. Tonkatsu Ramen: Rich, creamy broth with tender pork. Curry Ramen: A spicy kick for a unique twist on ramen. Lobster Tempura Ramen: A grand finale with crispy lobster in a rich broth.

Every dish at Waku Waku was a culinary masterpiece, and I savored every moment of this unforgettable dining experience. FOLLOW @zackaryeats on Instagram/Tiktok for more...