Hana Moon Japanese restaurant — Restaurant in Jacksonville

I've tried ramen at five places in Jacksonville. None is authentic (i.e., Japanese-origin chef/owner) and all are following recipes, to some varying degrees of success or creativity. The worst copycat, thus far, is at Hana Moon and has "Made in China" written all over it.

I came into the moderately busy restaurant for a Tuesday lunch. I picked the "pork bone broth + pork cha-chu" (misspelled "chashu"?) ramen combination.

Any ramen shop that puts (canned) corn in their creations automatically loses a point in my book. It's a cheap filler ingredient served only to drive up profit. Yes, many authentic ramen restaurants in the U.S. do, but the practice is largely absent in Japan.

There were other ominous hints that I mistakenly shrugged off. Such as ramen options displayed on the very last menu pages (meaning, not important or a specialty, but simply following the trend and bringing in oblivious reviewers). Faux brick wall panels and highly decorative Japanese-styled interior, while the staff was Chinese. The aforementioned incorrect spelling of "chashu." The presence of Americanized "hibachi" cooking (when they really meant "teppan").

Rightfully, it came down to the ramen bowl itself that proved dismal. The broth, meat, and egg—all were heavily marinated with five spices powder. Every single spoon eaten reminded me of the bleak lies I intentionally placed myself in the middle of. Furthermore, about three days' worth of sodium, in one ramen bowl, plunged me deeper into the abyss. And the overcooked, soggy noddles ruthlessly finished me off.

The (good) problem with applying the "fake it until you make it" method to anything Japan is it's prone to fail spectacularly, for the Japanese are often master craftspeople. Specifically to food quality, any mediocre restaurant over there would easily embarrass a rated "good' establishment across the pond. But it's alright, I suppose, because as long as clueless Instagram-generation consumers who love(!) everything continue to exist, there'll always be entities like this...

I drove here a couple of days ago I want to say it was about a 20 minute drive from where I live I ordered the tuna tar tar and the spicy tuna roll and I also got the hibachi chicken dinner. The food was great but the main reason I'll return is because of their customer service they forgot my fried rice and I called to tell them that I was on my way back to pick it up I was getting agitated because I was on hold and I had to talk to several different people when all I really wanted was to hang up the phone and go get my fried rice before I could even grab my keys I had gotten a phone call back I'm assuming it was the manager she asked me had I left yet and I was getting annoyed because I was trying to figure out why I had to answer all of these questions all I wanted to do was get the rest of my food I told her no I have not left but I was trying to leave out the door she said NO someone was bringing me my fried rice I explained to her, I lived on the other side of the Buckman off of Roosevelt and on the Navy base. She insisted they were bringing my rice within 10 minutes a young lady called me from the gate because of course you have to have an ID to get in with all this being said this business is clearly going to be around for a while even through Covid they recently opened but with this kind of service I predict their success.

With everything going on in the world today people are so fearful over every issue that is presented, it is so refreshing to see that someone cares so much about something that is so simple and little, to most.

The manager also called the next day and left me a message to see how everything was I didn't get a chance to return her call but that is why I'm leaving this five star review their customer service is outstanding and I definitely...

Since I can not reply to the restaurants reply - You have us confused with another customer. Your explanation does not describe myself or my husband. It was a reservation for 2 @ 7:30. No ramen or habachi ordered - as stated in initial review - we only ordered 2 rolls that took over an hour to be served. Best of luck with your business, I hope you find this as constructive criticism only to benefit your business down the road.

Made a reservation here based on the higher rated reviews. Walking in we had to duck under a piece of fabric covering the top of the door. We weren’t asked about the reservation- so if you plan to go, don’t worry about that. We were seated promptly, but that was about the only thing prompt. The decor was nice and staff for the most part friendly. My husband and I ordered two rolls. The table behind us ordered (after our order was placed) the largest boat of sushi I’ve ever seen which led us to wait close to an hour for our food. We watched the chefs prepare the sushi & place them for server pick up. I can’t tell you how many of them looked at the food & left it there to go take another order! Sushi is never supposed to be left sitting for any length of time! We had to ask for them to check on our order, when finally brought out, no apologies for the delay. When the bill was dropped on the table, no gratitude from the staff. Pretty disappointed & don’t...