Takashi Ramen — Restaurant in Goleta

I think 3 is a fair score for now, given how new the restaurant is. It is clear they do use their own ingredients for a lot of the dishes, which is great. It is clear the restaurant is trying and is as advertised. The broth is great, it is located in a popular venue right next to a boba cafe, and next to a private residential area. The presentation is acceptable, especially for delivery, and the food is well-packaged. But unfortunately, that is where I run out of compliments.

What isn't great is their technique, overall taste of the dish, and the price point they are selling it at. $3 per seasoned egg, even in California, is DIABOLICAL. $12 dollars for 2, tiny slices of frozen solid cheesecake is highway robbery. The 24 hour ramen has 5 pieces of really thick charsiu, but the fat trimming technique needs work, as well as a tutorial on how it is actually prepared. The noodles varied wildly in quality, but was still okay. The broth was the best part. It was divine, but not quite good enough to justify the price point. I understand this is a really difficult time for restaurants, especially in California, but the price points do not justify it.

Cutting some items out of the menu may reduce customers, but with the current pricing and the competition in the area, it can only increase the operation budget to make room for better ingredients and technique. Putting more time in on weekends and holidays to improve technique and recipes can help the restaurant stand out and keep loyal customers. Finally, adjusting the profit margins to the bare minimum will be hard for the restaurant and the employees, but it will build the customer base and keep the cash flow coming. The location is in a college town, not Beverly Hills. They are already barely scraping by, and pricing these things at these prices will severly cut out the majority of customers once the novelty dies down.

I have high hopes for the restaurant. I think there is a lot of room to improve and it would take only a few hours out of their day to really strike true. But they need to move quick. There are other, cheaper alternatives at similar or even better quality, but I do not want that to discourage but to encourage the restaurant to be better than this. Hopefully, this place is still open in a year's time with a much improved menu,...

I really wanted it to be good. Unfortunately, it wasn't because of multiple factors.

We were told to order at the kiosk, which we did, but later found out that we had to order at the counter to get the 10% soft launch discount. Felt a little deceived but wasn't that big of a deal.

Tables and stools were really uncomfortable. Stools were too tall and the table was too low. I'm 5'3" and I had to hunch over to eat, I barely had enough room for my legs. My taller companions (because who isn't taller than me) had to shift their legs completely to the side and put their forearms on the table. It felt almost like hostile interior design -- like at McDonalds where they don't want you to stay long so they choose uncomfortable furniture. There was also soup on the table, which I cleaned myself.

Food took a long time but it was soft launch so that wasn't a big deal. However, all of our ramens were lukewarm (the broth temperature was like it sat out for a while before giving it to us) but the noodle was way underdone. Also, there wasn't really much of a discernible difference between the tonkotsu broth vs 24 hour tonkotsu broth so maybe the price difference was just the meat you get in the bowl? We didn't get soup spoons but white plastic picnic spoons. Just wasn't well executed at all. For me, it was $30 for a ramen plus an egg and tip. I would have been way happier (and my wallet would have hurt less) eating ramen at Nikka Ramen or Sachi Ramen.

I'm hoping that they will iron out the kinks but I'm not going to be back for a while. There's better options...

I stopped by Takashi Ramen in Goleta recently, drawn in by their promise of authentic Japanese ramen and a cozy vibe. It's a convenient spot for anyone craving a warm bowl of noodles. The menu focuses heavily on ramen--think tonkotsu, shoyu, and miso broths--alongside some classic Japanese sides like gyoza and rice bowls. I went for the Tonkotsu Chashu Ramen, and it didn't disappoint. The broth was rich and simmered to that creamy perfection you'd hope for, with tender slices of chashu pork that melted in my mouth. The noodles had a nice bite, too, which is a must for me.

The setup is casual and straightforward--order at the counter or use their self-pay kiosks, which is great if you're in a hurry and don't want to fuss with tipping. Service was quick, and the staff seemed friendly enough, though it's clear they're all about efficiency here. I also tried the gyoza, which were crispy on the outside and juicy inside--solid, though not mind-blowing.

A few minor gripes: the seating can feel a bit cramped when it's busy, and I wish they had more variety in the appetizers. But overall, it's a legit spot for Japanese comfort food in Goleta. Prices are reasonable for the portion sizes, and you can tell they're serious about their ramen game. I'd come back next time I'm in the mood for a hearty bowl--definitely a welcome addition...