831 Yasai Tokyo Ramen Sedona — Restaurant in Four Corners States

TLDR: If you absolutely have to have ramen while in Sedona, this is the place for you. Pricier than their East Valley counterparts, small portion sizes, but good flavor.

Lunched here about three weeks ago. We're all tonkotsu fiends in our family, so we had those, along with gyoza and tuna carpaccio. For dessert, we had matcha cheesecake and green tea.

The location is small, no-frills, a bit dated, but clean. It had a welcoming atmosphere. Think cantina, but make it Japanese. There seemed to be only one server on duty, and even though we came in during post-lunch hours, the place was still busy. Our food took quite a long time to arrive, about 30 minutes. Our server (possibly also the manager) Sakura was polite and helpful.

Having lived in Japan for a number of years, I'd say their tonkotsu isn't as robust as what one would get back there. It seems to have been adapted somewhat to the American palate. However, the flavor was still on point, and the noodles had a good chew. The chashu could have been thicker.

I'm not sure if this is usually the case, but our bowls were missing the typical ramen accoutrements: nori, fishcakes, menma, and the like. Still, it was a tasty bowl of ramen, if on the pricier and smaller side. It cost 3-4 usd more than ramen in the Phoenix metropolitan area.

The tuna carpaccio was delicious, although I felt they could have put more on the plate. Lovely ceramic plates by the way. The matcha cheesecake (not made in-house) while scrimping on size, delivered generously on matcha goodness.

If I may suggest, I hope they can increase their portion sizes. Not excessively so, but just enough so the guest doesn't feel that their host is...

Disappointing Service, Missed Opportunity

As a patron eager to experience what I had heard was good ramen in town, my visit to 86 Yasai was met with a surprisingly unwelcoming atmosphere.

Despite my understanding of the bustling nature of popular eateries, the inflexibility and lack of accommodation displayed by the staff were disheartening.

Upon my arrival, I requested to-go menus for future planning, fully aware of the busy setting. However, not only was this request denied due to the staff’s claim of being “too busy,” but I was also refused a table or the opportunity to place an order for a later time. My attempt to clarify that the menus were for a future visit did not change their stance.

This experience left me perplexed. It’s rare to see a business, especially one in the culinary industry, dismiss potential customers so readily. It suggests an overconfidence that may not always serve well in a customer-centric field. While I can only speculate that their ramen must indeed be good to justify such a dismissal of customer interest, it’s unfortunate that I, along with others who may have faced similar experiences, will not have the opportunity to taste and support their establishment nor nor in the future due to their own choices.

In a competitive market, where customer service is as crucial as the quality of the product 86 Yasai Tokyo Ramen approach to potential patrons is a critical misstep.

It’s a reminder that no matter how renowned a place might be, the basic principles of hospitality and customer engagement should never...

I had high hopes for 831 Yasai Tokyo Ramen in Sedona. It failed. The service was terrible. Although the staff was nice, one of them was not very cooperative. This man who was serving us did not write down anything. We were so excited about our food after a long excruciating ride. We waited for about an hour, we tried calling this man several times, but he was busy talking to a woman. After an eternity, our foods were served. I was so excited until I noticed that our food was wrong. We called the man and he was nice about it, yet he could have written our orders. After waiting for about another 1 hour, our right orders came. Although the food was delicious and was prepared with hard work, the noodles were sticky and a little stiff. I felt like the noodles sat in the soup for hours. I felt a little uneasy, but the meat and soup were flavorful. I love to write positive reviews, but the experience I had in this restaurant was not enjoyable. If I attend again, I hope to see improved service and...