Kotoyama ramen & sushi — Restaurant in Carmel

Was excited to try as I am a big fan of Kizuki ramen 10 minutes away.

The prices were almost identical, but Kotoyama should definitely be cheaper. The experience is more low budget and you will feel it when you arrive and know it after you’ve eaten. Our server was knowledgeable and very friendly, so no issue there.

The ramen - the reason you are there - looks the part. The flavor just was not there. I would normally get spicy ramen (which makes my nose run from the heat) and saw “super spicy” ramen on the menu. Unfortunately it wasn’t hot, so I’d hate to see what “normal” spicy ramen tastes like. It also came with only half an egg- whereas the others had a full egg. I ordered an extra egg, but got 3 egg halves. I had looked forward to breaking my own egg open and mixing it in. Oh well, on par…

My friend had the vegetable ramen, which again was decent and well prepared, just not as good as the competition. The spring rolls were excellent, comparatively.

The rest of the experience was on par with the food. Even getting into the booth was a chore. They chose strange bulky tables with large X shaped legs that don’t allow you to easily enter or exit the booth. Seniors or folks with mobility challenges will struggle there.

The decor was passable, but the materials and finish were cheap. Nowhere near the ambience and quality of the competition. Paper napkins, cheap plastic plates and bowls, and the laminated table surfaces were all lacking. Then came my $2.50 soda in a can. I didn’t even want to try asking about a free refill.

It was at that point I noticed how swift it was. No, I don’t mean fast. I mean Taylor Swift. Whatever service was playing background music was ALL Taylor Swift. Not a station based on her, but ALL. An hour of endless Taylor.

For good measure, I checked out the bathroom and was pleasantly surprised. The fit and finish in there seemed better than the dining area. shrugs check out the photos.

There’s quite a bit that needs to be upgraded to improve the overall experience here if they’re going to charge what the nicer place does. $18 for ramen at both places- but the other gets you the real flavor (including that garlic ramen that sells out everyday), bottomless fountain drinks, cloth napkins, real dishes, elaborate and elevated decor, accessible seating, and music that won’t have you looking at each other in confusion.

Def solve that last one…...

I wanted to add to my review, as I had a chance to go in and eat inside the restaurant and had some different menu items. I ordered the Super Spicy Ramen again as well as the Spicy Girl Roll and Char Siu Bun. The Char Siu Bun was my appetizer, and was very good. I had to look it up, as I'd never heard of it before. It's a Cantonese dish, according to Google. My server, Yanni, who was super friendly and generally wonderful, told me it was a popular appetizer, and I understand why. The Spicy Girl Roll, which Yanni let me order even though I'm not a girl, was also excellent. Yanni was nice enough to offer me plenty of extra spice, most of which I poured into my ramen but saved some to dip my sushi in. If you love spice, it's definitely available here. The ramen was the same level of excellence as in my previous review (below).

Previous:

I hopped on UberEATS earlier this evening and saw this place. Had never heard of it before and was excited to have a new ramen experience. I ordered the Super Spicy Ramen and it was beautiful. It wasn't the spiciest thing I've eaten, but the heat was there and it doesn't sacrifice flavor as some spicy foods do. The 味玉 blew me away. I'd never eaten such a delicious egg, and I was stunned when it hit my tongue. Will definitely be going back to try other...

I was excited to check out the new ramen shop, and was not disappointed. The service was very professional and courteous. Server greeted us and sat my group right away. Ordered a sushi roll to start off, and it was very well made. Nice tight roll, with all the usual garnish. Very tasty. Best part of the meal for sure! I will definitely be coming back for more sushi. The ramen was good as well, but lacked a little bit of that deep authentic broth flavor. It stilled tasted good, but I have had other ramen that just tastes a little bit better. The Beef Ramen was not bad by any means, but for the price I was hoping for a certain flavor that just wasn't quite there yet. Since the shop just opened, I am sure that there will be just more improvements in the future! I will be back for sure!

In Summary, The service was a 10/10, The Sushi 9/10, The Ramen 7/10, Cleanliness 10/10,...