Akira Ramen & Izakaya — Restaurant in Maryland

Let me start this off by saying the food was really good. My boyfriend got the volcano ramen and I got the seafood ramen. Both were excellent. The reason why I am giving two stars is because of the service. I'm usually very understanding and linient with my reviews. I understand tonight there were issues that were not the fault of the staff and I understand that. The system was down, and we were warned about it when our orders were taken. We were told the system wasn't working right an our order wouldn't be in immediately but as soon as it was it would be in. Honestly, not sure what that meant, if our food would be late or what. Doesn't matter because we didn't see our waitstaff until our food came out. And we didn't see them after that again. We ordered an appetizer and never received it. We waited for about 40 mins thinking oh, it's a new place and the system is a having issues but we'll get our order and then our entree. Nope. We got out ramen and I tried to get the attention of wait staff to ask about our appetizer and waited about ten to fifteen mins. We started eating and again, the food is very good. My boyfriend needed a fork and we needed napkins as we had only two napkins. Again, tried to get the attention of wait staff. I eventually had to get napkins and a fork on my own, as they are in the front. I felt awkward to do so like I was stepping over a line but we had waited and I needed napkins. The only waitress that came by serviced a table next to us and cleaned up after them. Eventually during the night she would be the one to ask how our meal was, and to give us the check. During our time there the entire system went down or something and they had to go cash only. This would be fine if anyone told us this directly. I heard the table next to us get told this. No one told us. We were never able to ask for a coke or anything, which I wanted to do. They do supply water which is fine. I watched as the rest of the resturaunt was serviced. Their tables were checked on, etc. We basically weren't even looked at. When we finished our food we waited and another waitstaff saw us and asked if she could take our dishes. We then waited more for our check. I noticed staff talking to each other about our table and/or check. I'm not sure why. No one mentioned our missing appetizer to us but I think they did notice and changed it. Or something. But even then, and after our original waitstaff member came back into the restaurant, we waited for our check. Eventually the waitress I mentioned before asked if we would like the check. We got it and put out cash on the thing. Thankfully we did not have the deal with the appetizer on the check. We waited and waited. I did not want to leave and I wanted change so I could make a more appropriate tip. Eventually I had to yell "hello?" to get anyone's attention. I feel horrible for this but it was a weird situation. Eventually we got our change and left. No one talked to us or apologized. No one had asked us how things were or if we wanted anything, etc. We left and went to chatime because we were still hungry and chatime is the best. I understand the issue tonight with the system but we never had any attention to our table or explication or anything. I get being new but this was just, it didn't seem like just being new issues? I don't really know. I've gone to new places working out kinks and never experienced close to this. I knew we weren't not the only ones experiencing issues in the restaurant. It was really disappointing. Especially since I went there as a birthday treat. The food was very good. I suggest waiting a few months. Which is sad. And not really plausible. I'll try again in...

They are racist and Prejudice in there. I'm a black woman and this restaurant is full of discrimination. I do not recommend you going here.

May 4, 2024 I decided to go to Akira Ramen Restaurant. I normally order on doordash, the food was always delicious. So I decided to sit in the restaurant to eat while I take a conference call for my medical business that I own.

I go inside. The Asian lady at the door greets me, smiling asks me was I hear to pick up for doordash. I looked around and noticed I was the only black person in there. I told her No. I'm hear to place an order. She gives me a menu so I can look through it. So then I tell her no I'm here to be seated and place an order. And I would like to get a booth. I can see booths are empty. So the Asian lady looks around and tell me those booths are for people who are a family of 3 or more. I looked confused, she then suggested I sit in the front near the window and the small table to order. I told her i did not want to sit at a table I wanted to sit at a booth. Then she suggested I sit at their small bar to eat. I tell her again I want a booth not a table. She tells me it's the weekend and it gets busy in there so the booths are for family of 3 or more.

So I felt offended, I said I never had this poblem before at a restaurant . She then says fine and takes me all the way to the back to the last booth.

When I get to the last booth, I see a white woman sitting in front of me at a booth, sitting alone. I asked the Asian woman I said, i thought you said the booths are for a family of 3 or more? Why didn't she get a hassle of getting seated? Then the Asian woman lies and says she waiting for someone. I Said no she is not, that white woman is sitting alone but u gave me a hassle to be seated at a both I feel discriminated against.

The Asian lady said okay, so sorry. Then she sends over a waiter . The young Asian girl asked me what did I want to order, I told her what I was ordering As I was ordering the ramen noodles the young Asian girl told me in a smart way I hope you know just because your removing ingredients from your noodles the price won't change. I felt offended again. I said I never said I'm trying to get my price to change. I asked her could I see her manager.

Now my conference call came in. They sent over the manager, which is the owner Hannah is the one who greeted me at the door and discriminated me from sitting at a booth. She lied, but let the white woman sit at a booth alone.

I asked Hannah I wanted to speak to someone above her she said she's the owner. Then she tells me I know ur not on the phone recording me. I said huh, I'm on a call they just called in.

Make a long story short, I stayed because I really enjoyed the food I order on doordash. But I will never visit this location again. I even left them a tip for them to have a better day.

I was so disgusted with how I was treated there. then for Hanna the owner to tell me to come on a weekday she could give me a booth. but didn't give the white woman in front of...

Date of visit 8/21/25I've gone to this restaurant almost twenty times sometimes with my friends a few times with my family a couple by myself. Last night was not a good night customer service wise. Here's the full explanation. We sit down.Take a while to order our food. Around 8minutes at the most. We finally ordered and the waiter took our menus pretty aggressively. A few minutes later my friend by mistake forgot to tell the waiter no pork broth and attempted to have it changed last second. So then my food got mixed up instead. They thought my friends food was mine but it wasn't. My friend wanted seafood ramen with chicken broth. When I finally got my food mine came out last. So I assumed that mine was messed up already or had to get made again because they were confused. My food was messed up.I got chicken broth in my beef ramen. I was okay, with this mess up and told the staff I was okay with it.She asked me if I wanted to speak to the chef.I said no because my friend was partly responsible for their confusion and ate my meal. We never raised any kind of fuss. My mood was still okay at this point , but I noticed that we kept getting traded waiters. They were hovering around us while we were eating while 3 other tables were still in the restaurant.It was around nine p m they closed at nine thirty p m. They gave our table a LOT of attention compared to the others. I was almost done eating.My friends were nearly done eating and suddenly one of the waiters came over and asked if we'd like to pay and started collecting our plates. I didn't want to rush the food into my mouth.I was a little over two thirds done, my friends about done the same amount. Usually they always wait until we are done eating, But I assumed they were just trying to clean up so they could go home. Yet I saw the other tables were not being rushed the way we were being rushed and hovered over. I later guessed they assumed that I would complain about the meal and not want to pay. that was never the case. I find it very offensive the way your staff made me and my friends feel tonight when we came here to celebrate my friend's birthday and we tipped over 15 altogether. Maybe because we are black and young you felt threatened by us and assumed the worst? I've never been made to feel like this at any restaurant before and i'm surprised this was the one where this happened.

All this to say, love the chef but the...