Ren's Ramen — Restaurant in Maryland

While I think the food is still good, I recently witnessed an exchange that made me soberly realize why this place was rated lower than previously expected.

My boyfriend and I decided to come to Ren's Ramen for lunch on Monday. It was very crowded inside, and there was already a line almost out the door. A table cleared up, and we were second in line. Soon, more people piled in after us.

The servers refused to seat any of us because according to their rule, no seating when the kitchen is "stuck" (aka backed up making food). So, there were 8-10 people in line and two tables open, but none of us could sit down. The couple behind us were getting frustrated, especially the guy. About five minutes later, he asked one of the servers why we couldn't just sit and wait and that way, there would be more room for others to wait. The server repeated the rule again, and so the guy asked to see the manager. Well, the manager stepped out and repeated the rule. By now, the guy was getting really annoyed and kept insisting that patrons be able to sit so there would be more room for others waiting. In the end, the manager snatched away his menu and pointed to the door, essentially barring him from eating. The couple left with raised voices.

While I'm not commending the guy for starting an argument with the staff, I can understand his frustrations. I, too, don't understand why we couldn't sit down. How does having your customers sit down affect your kitchen speed and performance? It would be the same if we sat and waited versus if we stood and waited. Not to mention if we sat, we could drink water, tea, or other drinks. This is clearly the manager's personal sense of self-importance and egotism.

After the couple left, we waited approximately 5 more minutes until one of the servers came back and motioned for two to sit at one table and for two for sit at another table. There was one woman in front of us, and we tried to tell the server that she had been waiting the longest and should be served first. The server didn't even respond, just turned around and left. She didn't even come back until 5-10 minutes later when they had cleared a huge table and divided it into two more tables. Only then did she motion for the woman to sit down.

The whole experience left me bewildered. I've never seen such atrocious attitude from the staff before. It was really disconcerting. My rose-colored lens of Ren's Ramen has now been shattered. In the past, I've defended Ren's Ramen to friends who question whether it was worth making the long trek to Wheaton, and now I can't even say that it is. I rather go to Daikaya, closer and better customer service.

Ren's Ramen: customer service is extremely important. This kind of behavior is completely unprofessional, unethical, and disreputable. You definitely lost a customer in me and in scrolling through the other reviews, I'm not...

DO NOT GO HERE. Not even if there is no food left on the planet. Just don't.

My best friend and I tried going here for dinner Saturday night because we love ramen and want to try all the ramen places within reasonable driving distance.

When we get there, the first thing we see is a line of 7 people waiting outside to get in. We weren't worried; the wait time at Toki Underground regularly reaches 2-3 hours long. I used to live four blocks from Sakuramen, where the wait during dinner rush was usually about 45 minutes at least. Tbh, we get it. Ramen isn't just food. It's an art, and it takes at least 12 hours to prepare the broth and all of the ingredients.

HOWEVER, upon looking inside, we realize there were enough empty tables to seat EVERYONE waiting outside. Apparently, the kitchen was overloaded and running behind from all the take-out orders and management has a strict policy on letting guests wait inside because he doesn't want to give the illusion of a long wait time for food. So, we wait outside in the cold and rain for over 40 minutes as the restaurant empties to the point where only two tables actually have people sitting at them. AND STILL, the servers won't let us inside. Not even when a woman and her two young children come to wait.

Not only that, but the servers were incredibly rude. When one of them (a tall guy with dark hair and an attitude problem) finally motions for us to come in, my friend and I ask, "Why don't you let them in too?" The waiter then started telling us we "everything would be messed up" if the other people came inside to wait. He made it sound like a ramen-fueled apocalypse would occur! The kitchen would be messed up! We wouldn't be able to sit or eat! No food for anyone! He ended with, "So do you want to eat or not?!" Nope, we waited 40 minutes outside in the cold and rain, but that was the last straw. We turned around and drove back to DC for a great dinner at Sakuramen.

TL;DR: This place isn't worth your toenail clippings. Go to Toki Underground, go to Daikaya, go to Sakuramen. All of these places, despite being much smaller in seating capacity and MUCH MORE POPULAR, will provide you with an amazing meal and great,...

I've always had high remarks for this place, but I guess this place got snobby for being the few places that serves authentic Ramen. I've been going to Ren's ramen since they were next to Daruma in Bethesda. I've always loved the food and staff were always friendly. I do admit that they are on the salty side but nothing is not fixable with some water to thin the broth out a little.

I was so excited to take my boyfriend there for a bowl of ramen last Friday night. I expertly parked on the street without even looking for parking which i knew there would be none. As we walked towards the restaurant, a father carrying his child walked briskly towards the same direction. I thought to myself, oh man, he's racing me to get a table at Ren's. He was in fact going there but when we got there, there was not a single person dining at the restaurant. This is around 7pm on a Friday night. They wouldn't seat the father and child because the mother was still walking behind (not all parties have arrived). I rolled my eyes and sat down to order. I asked for a glass of hot water during my order as i usually do. I have to admit it's been a while since I've been there, but i know that their broth is salty and I was going to adjust as needed for my taste. The server politely said that they do not have any hot water. I then responded politely almost begging to see if they can find some hot water.. microwave? hot tap water? I was confused. I asked if the broth could be made less salty and the answer was no. I remember from the past that they at least tried by adding less meat sauce in the broth. The server ended up going to the back and ask if this could be done. A minute later she came out and told me that the chef does not want to make me a bowl of ramen. I looked at her with shock written all over my face and asked if I was being kicked out. She apologized and said yes.

I cannot believe how arrogant the chef at this restaurant is. Ramen shops are popping up left and right in the DMV area. If this is how they treat their customers, I believe they won't stay in...