Shimuja Ramen — Restaurant in Davie

First time trying Shimuja Ramen and it will also be my last. My group of friends and I (total 7 people) showed up without a reservation and they were able to accommodate us, which I thought was great. However, our experience took a turn for the worst. TLDR: Poor service, poor communication, and average food.

It was really hot in the restaurant when we entered but we thought it was because we just came in and it's Florida ‍. However, sitting there for 10 minutes, we still didn't cool down and noticed that their thermostat said 84 degrees. We decided to give them the benefit of the doubt that maybe it just didn't cool down yet, since none of the staff mentioned anything about it being hot or that the AC was not working. We got our food and continued to sweat through our ramen and onigiri. It became unbearable that we asked them why it was so hot, and was told it was because their "kitchen AC was broken so the heat was going into the dining area." Personally, I think this would have been important to mention, especially because it is 90+ degrees in Florida right now and we're having hot foods and soups. Also, not once did they check up on us during our meal or care to see how we were doing in the heat.

Then after we finished our food, they took away our food and water and just left us sitting there sweating. Then 10-15 minutes after they took away our food and bagged the leftovers (because I could not finish my ramen noodles in the heat), I asked one of the staff members passing by for the check, and she says okay and walks away. Another 10 minutes pass and still no check. I ask another staff member for the check, which she brings, and we are surprised to see a 20% gratuity already included. We always make sure to tip, but we were shocked because nowhere on their menu, nor did they inform us, that a group of X amount of people would have an automatic tip included. It was also such poor service that it definitely did not deserve 20%. Nonetheless, we lay our card down and it takes them another 10 minutes to pick up the check. What should have only been an hour dining experience took almost 2 hours due to the servers ignoring us.

I saw a post for this place on Instagram and thought it was going to be great, but don't let it fool you. It was definitely NOT the "most authentic ramen in South Florida." We got the Kagoshima Special Ramen, Satsuma Tonkotsu Ramen, Takoyaki, and Onigiri (smoked salmon and tuna and mayo). The soup was flavorful enough and the noodles were chewy, but the more you ate, the saltier it was. It was an average Tonkotsu broth and they gave very small and thin pieces of pork belly. The Takoyaki also did not taste like it was made in-house (I could be wrong though). Other than that, the onigiri was okay. So all in all, we will not...

Shimuja Ramen is a fave spot and one of our go to spots for ramen. Been here many times. So how have I never written a review? Man, I'm a slacker. Lol.

First off, if you're looking for legit ramen...look no further than Shimuja. It's SOLID!!! It's a cute little spot in Southwest Ranches in Davie. The vibe is simple. The food is BOMB! The service is just wonderful. But be warned, they do get busy. Worth the wait.

On this chill Sunday, our family was craving ramen for lunch. We arrived around 2:30pm and they were quite busy. Luckily we were able to get a table right away. But the place filled up quickly and there were several groups who came after us and put their names on the waitlist.

My husband and I both ordered the Satsuma Tonkotsu because the couple next to us had it and highly recommended it. He kept his regular and I opted for the $2 upgrade with the habanero spicy miso. Because I love SPICY! Duh. Our kids got the Tokyo Shoyu and Takoyaki.

The food is quite consistent here and sometimes they change it up or add new specials. With that said, everything was great today. The only thing I would mention on the downside is my habanero spicy miso addition really made my ramen way too salty. Like I couldn't eat it level salty. Noodles, pork and everything else was good. But the salty broth was too much. I tried the Tokyo Shoyu and my husband's regular Satsuma Tonkotsu to compare and their broth was balanced. The culprit was the habanero spicy miso. I asked our server for additional broth to tone down the saltiness and she was very accommodating. It helped but a sadly it was still salty. I would suggest for anyone adding the spicy to add it on the side so you can add to taste. Or just add a hint of it. Or not at all. Haha. Honestly, they had me at habanero spicy miso but miso in general is salty before mixing in. Add at your discretion. That is all.

Our server was Roxanna and she was the sweetest. She was very friendly and patient. The staff in general is very attentive and consistently pre-bussed tables.

I will say I noticed Shimuja prices have gone up. Ramen was pricey before but now it ranges from $18-24 before any upgrades or add ons. We were spoiled living in Vegas with tons of ramen options and we could easily get a good bowl of ramen for $10-15! No joke. With that said, we will pay money for good food and Shimuja is solid.

We had a lovely lunch at Shimuja and the ramen hit the spot. Keep offering the special new menu items as I'm always down to try new options.

By the way, they added Happy Hour M-F @ 3-6pm and $12 Lunch Specials for Ramen M-F @ 3-6pm. I'll add to tips for...

It is an industry conclusion that a restaurant that celebrates a one year anniversary is doing something right. Shimuja is in biz more than five years and survived the pandemic quarantine. Not an easy task. But, Ramen is longstanding tradition in Japan. And, being of Japanese descent, the owners, operators, and Chef at Shimuja apply respectful tradition to serving their crave-worthy ramen dishes.

Chef Keiichi takes pride in preparing his steamy bowls of comforting deliciousness. Starting with quality proteins, the broths are made in a stepwise process that extracts all the flavors, simmering and straining until the silky soup is clarified and seasoned to perfection. The noodles are cooked to just the right textural bite - not gummy, not hard. Layered over the foundation broth and noodles, shredded mushrooms, radish, nori, sprouts and scallions. The plating is as precise as the methods for preparing the elements. The various Ramen dishes are beyond food, they are a culinary experience that calls one back for a repeat. When you arrive, use your ears and listen to the happy slurping sounds coming from the diners.

Seating availability is adequate, wait time is nominal if at all.The decor is uncomplicated with references to Japanese culture. Appetizer options include pork belly buns and crispy karaage chicken. The Ramen choices vary the proteins and the broth bases. Personal favs are the classic Tonkatsu (pork) or the exotic chicken with the tart citrus bite of key lime. I suggest talking to the servers to optimize your experience. Beer and sake has equally diverse choices.

Service is good and getting better. Apparently, servers forgot that tips are earned, not guaranteed. My understanding is that management took assertive control of a declining situation, changed up the attitude, and service is back on par with the exceptional fare.

Prices are not only competitive, they are reasonable. A bowl of Ramen is large and satisfying. Excellent quality and quantity to price ratio.

Shimuja is a most highly recommended treat in a sea of barely acceptable, overpriced South Florida competitors. And, among the new Ramen restaurants or ethnic restaurants adding ramen to the menu, Shimuja remains the best of the best. For more than five years, Shimuja has made it worth the drive from Miami to Davie/Southwest Ranches; can I leave a sixth star?

As a last note, takeout works. More accurate, takeout works really well! The restaurant has created packaging that allows the soup, noodles, and garnishes to be recombined at home for an excellent experience that...