Zundo Ramen and Donburi — Restaurant in Cincinnati

If you do not have accommodations for guests with children, in the form of highchairs or booster seats, please state it on the front door. Put it on your website. Put it on your ads.

If you do not want to serve guests with children...we will gladly go elsewhere. Don't make us park, take the toddlers out of the car seat, grab the diaper bag and drag the stroller to your restaurant and find out...no, this Asian restaurant doesn't accommodate babies, toddlers, or any children that needs assistance.

Seating: 0 out of 5 stars. Small restaurant. No highchairs or booster seats.

Food: 3 out of 5 stars. Small potions, okay flavors. We ordered the fried calamari, a couple of Ramen soups and one Loco Moco bowl. Everything was presented nicely but the flavors didnt impress. The soups were one flavor...should be layers of flavors.

Service: 4 out of 5. Food came out fast, our server was very nice and attentive.

Prices: 3 out of 5 stars. $14 for a single potion of a loco Moco bowl. The bowls didn't come in different potion sizes. The soups were one size also. They are shooting for the trendy small potions vibe. A little overpriced. Would be perfect at the $8 to $12 range.

Deco: 3 out of 5. Narrow restaurant, a little dark. Trendy and small. Perfect for a date.

Overall: 3 out of 5 stars. I think they just opened, so not perfect, maybe not even what they will become. For now...this place is great for business lunch, dates or someone who wants to try trendy Ramen noodles.

Definitely not for families or anyone with children. The flavor profiles fit the American palette of salty and mild, not too spicy. If you want authentic Ramen and Asian food, go...

Aesthetic Ambiance but Underwhelming Ramen Experience

This restaurant has a beautifully modern aesthetic with a darkened ambiance and low lighting that creates a moody yet functional dining space. The lighting is dim enough to feel intimate but still provides enough visibility to comfortably enjoy your meal. It’s a unique setting that adds to the overall experience.

However, the service left much to be desired. With only one server handling the entire restaurant, our drink orders, food, and refills were noticeably delayed. Given that it was a Friday lunch on Valentine’s Day, I expected better preparation to accommodate the crowd.

We started with the Gyoza dumplings, which were a solid appetizer. They were hot, tender, and had that satisfying melt-in-your-mouth texture. Unfortunately, the portion size was quite small—not just in quantity but also in the size of the dumplings themselves. For the price, I expected a bit more.

The main entrée, the spicy ramen, was where things took a downturn. The broth-to-noodle-to-protein ratio was disappointing—about 75% broth, 20% noodles, and 5% pork. The serving of noodles and protein felt wimpy, and the flavor didn’t live up to what you’d expect from a bold, spicy ramen. Instead of elevating the dish, the lack of depth in the broth made it feel underwhelming.

Overall, the ambiance is impressive, and I might return to try a different dish, but based on flavor alone, I’d be more inclined to explore other ramen spots...

The location is perfect, just a hundred yards from Washington Park, next to Queen City Radio on 12th Street. Very modern with a Japanese feel, the inside is more spacious than it looks and is a great spot for conversation. The back area even has an indoor "pergola" that feels a bit more private for meetings etc.

On to the food- we had heard that the soft shell crab was excellent and we were not disappointed. And yes, you can eat every piece of what is served. This may have been the highlight for us- that good. Perfect blend of sweet and savory.

We then ordered the classic miso ramen. Oh how I wish I could say I loved this. It was decent but not amazing. It seemed like it was missing something. Next time I will go spicy and see if that takes it up a notch. And just know that the pork will come with all the fat, just don't want anyone to be surprised.

On the entree side, we also ordered the Katsu Don. This was delicious. A great blend of flavors, including pickled (carrots??). Not sure but delicious flavoring. Would definitely order this again.

Our server was a bit underwhelming and didn't seem to know much about the menu. That didn't add much to the experience. Overall, I'd say this is a good addition to OTR. It's a new place and still has a few things to work out but...