Ramen Alley — Restaurant in Columbus

If you would have asked me at any point in my life if I thought southern Indiana would have one of the best ramen shops I've been to I probably wouldn't believe you. That's exactly what Columbus has with Ramen Alley. As far as the Midwest goes I've tried some of the best ramen shops and Ramen Alley stands proudly as one of my favorite with ramen that I could consistently eat without growing bored of it. I'm excited to eat every bowl that I get here. At this point I've tried nearly the whole menu at Ramen Alley. I say that with great difficulty because the tonkotsu ramen is especially difficult to stray from. If you haven't had traditional Japanese ramen before, tonkotsu is a pork based soup base and is particularly approachable for many Americans. Ramen Alley particularly does a great job with overall balance in their bowls. Most tonkotsu ramen that I've had have a tendency to be slightly too heavy with fat or oil, but Ramen Alley has a easily addictive taste with a fantastic mouth feel that is perfectly balanced with the simple traditional ingredients. My wife isn't a fan of many Asian foods, but loves a good tonkotsu and her favorite is Ramen Alley. I've more recently have both the shoyu and miso ramen and they're both respectively fantastic. Ramen Alley's shoyu ramen is very simple and delicious and is a dangerously consumable ramen, while the miso has a richer almost buttery taste that is well balanced with ingredients such as corn and bean sprouts. I have yet to try the spicy miso, but I'm sure it is also incredible. I can't talk about the food here without discussing the gyoza. There are plenty of good gyozas out there at Japanese restaurants, but Ramen Alley has perfected a crispy bottom with a simple and delicious filling. Seriously, the gyoza is incredible and it feels like a crime to get ramen without it here. Lastly, I can't talk about how much I enjoy Ramen Alley without talking about the people behind the counter that make every experience even better. It's a good feeling to know that the people preparing amazing meals are also amazing people themselves. My wife and I feel truly appreciated every time we come in and it makes me very grateful this gem of a ramen shop is here. If you've never tried ramen before, do yourself a favor and...

10/10 would recommend.

I couldn't decribe the food in any way other than quality. The Raman here has the perfect umami flavor that you can taste the care it was made with in every bowl.

The service is fast which is crazy because you can see them delicately place and prepare each bowl as you wait. And I've yet to visit and see the staff without a friendly disposition accompanied with a genuine smile on their face. This food is something to take pride in.

The atmosphere is perfect. This "hidden" gem is a perfect example of what a good AUTHENTIC ramen place should be. Although it's not a secret place, because of its location it sure feels like it! Because of that, this would be a great place for a first date if you'd like to make an affordable but cool first impression. Equally this is a great place to host a lunch business meeting.

Seems to be a steady business and I am sure there are times where you have to wait, but they have many tables and seats at a large counter. I've never had to wait to sit.

I travel for a living and I have eaten at ramen places in Chicago, Tampa, Orlando, Ocala, Buffalo, San Francisco, Anaheim, Indianapolis, Nashville, Knoxville, and Atlanta. There has only been one place in the nation I like better and only because of the unique noodles they make. Even then the difference is very minuscule. However the broth at Ramen Alley is second to none. And if you know ramen, you know that's the star of the dish.

To the restaurant- congratulations on making an epic full package ramen experience.

Oh and they serve...

Ramen Alley is definitely a hidden gem of Columbus. Accidentally stumbled upon this place last night, but had to wait till lunch today to give it a try. I was not disappointed in the least. The staff were friendly from the get go, helping us out when we said it was our first time. We ordered the veggie gyoza for an appetizer and they were excellent. A succulent inside with a crispy bottom from the pan frying made for an excellent texture/taste combo. I got some veggie ramen for my main dish and it was excellent. The ingredients paired together well and gave a range of flavors. A key part of the ramen, the broth, was done well enough that I was indeed able to drink up the last of it. My only issue is I could handle more spice within the dish. So next time I plan on adding in the spice bomb from their menu to kick it up a notch! All told, an excellent restaurant that is worth a visit! P.S. Sorry I didn't get a photo, I was just too excited to eat it as soon as it arrived! But I promise it is aesthetically pleasing and would be great for your...