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Ani Ramen House

United States New Jersey MontclairAni Ramen House

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This Japanese noodle house known for its ramen has modern, stylish decor & a BYOB policy.

Description

This Japanese noodle house known for its ramen has modern, stylish decor & a BYOB policy.

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Please read the whole review as the stars does not do justice to the experience my friend and I had today. For starters parking is a bit tough and the best parking is on the street but good luck finding a spot on a busy street. There is parking in the back but it is paid. Cost is minimal, roughly 2 bucks for 3 hours. Customer service: So one thing about this place is the excellent customer service. My friend and I were seated quickly and after a quick look at the menu our server Shaun came over. We asked a few questions about the menu and the guy couldn't be more helpful. He is a super down to earth guy that answered all of our questions and helped us not only get what we want but helped build an awesome ramen bowl. Food: Now to the part you all want to hear about Bao buns: Every order of Bao comes as two buns so per Shaun's suggestion my friend and I ordered the pork belly and the spicy sausage bao bun. Keep in mind the sausage bao bun was a daily special so it might not be readily available hence why you should always talk with your server. The buns did not dissapoint at all, the sausage was delicious and crisp. While the pork belly was super tender and juicy. The spicy mayo sauce on top of the buns was to die for. 10/10 Chicken Karage: unfortunately the chicken was the weakest dish out of all as the chicken felt a bit dry. By no means was it bad but certainly leaves a lot of room for improvement. If I may suggest, please add more dipping sauce options as that can also greatly enhance the experience. That being said I give it 7/10 Ramen: the main dish 😋, so the ramen bowl was beyond amazing. I suggest you get it with an egg and I myself got the oh so hot miso ramen. The bowl looked beautiful, and the pork used in the Bao buns was used in the ramen bowl which made it delicious. The egg was slightly runny and added a ton of flavor. The only thing they will lose points for was the broth was slightly greasy but flavorful nonetheless. My rating is a 9/10 Overall experience was great and would definitely come again

Shady GhobrialShady Ghobrial

00

I visited this place years ago when it first opened and was quite impressed with the ramen. Now that I am more experienced in various ramens (I've gone to at LEAST 15 different ramen places in NYC), I came back here to give Ani another go. I had always wanted to try a Mazemen styled Ramen. It is a Brothless ramen, seasoned instead with the various oils that the chef adds to their ramen such as (Mayu, blacked garlic oil. Kayu, spicy chili oil. Chicken Oil, Shallot Oil - any kind of oil) and also seasoned with a small bit of Tare (The often salty part of ramen that is added in a small quantity - either shio(salt) shoyu(soy sauce) or miso). I decided I'd give Ani's mazemen a try as my first go and it was perfect! The noodles were perfectly cooked and chewy, just enough oil and I could taste just enough of some Mayu. The meat option I got was the 'new' braised short rib that was PERFECTLY cooked! Didn't matter if you bit with or against the grain, it was perfectly tender with minimal seasoning for the beef flavor to be the star of the show. But the REAL star of the show is the tsukemono served on the side shown in the picture. (tsukemono is a mix of pickled vegetables, literal translation is "pickled things") Japanese dishes are all about balancing flavors and having a mix of all types of food in your meal. With the oily nature of a good mazemen thats very hearty with the shortrib as well, the sweet, tart and BRIGHT flavor from this tsukemono refreshes your mouth after each bite. It adds complexity to the ramen while also clearing your palate for the next bite and giving the impression that you are eating light. Ultimately, I was very impressed with Ani's mazemen ramen! I'd come back in a heartbeat to have it again!

Bob O'PedicBob O'Pedic

00

We have been coming to Ani Ramen for years now and sadly have seen the service of this restaurant decline. TLDR: The food on our last visit was ok, the atmosphere not good, and service horrible. Our night began by being seated immediately however we sat and waited for approximately 15 minutes for a server to approach us. It took so long that we began questioning if we were even noticed! My wife also had to ask two different servers for chopsticks, which STILL never came and I was forced to go to another table to grab the chopsticks sitting there. I also noticed another table who became frustrated about napkins and their requests for them who got up and went to the front of house to get some for their table. This may have been slightly understandable if the restaurant was busy, however it was fairly empty! The servers also seemed to be more interested in socializing than tending to tables. I ordered the seasonal short rib ramen and my wife the brothless ramen. We also ordered a salad and edamame as apps. Firstly the edamame never came out, had to request it twice and when it finally arrived I was half done with my ramen. My ramen was just ok, the noodles were not great very thin and seemed "off" from previous visits. The broth itself was very salty. My wife's brothless ramen was good however noted to me that she has watched the meat portions decline over the times we have been coming and was very dissapointed at what she received tonight. Finally the atmosphere, having been there many times before it was never a problem however tonight the music that was being played was extremely profane with language I'd NEVER expect to hear in a restaurant. I was very taken back. Now I'm not one to listen to "clean" music but I'd never expect to hear this in a restaurant in Montclair.....maybe I'm just getting old. But after many years of frequenting Ani Ramen it may be time to find a new Ramen place to patronize. 2 stars for the memories, honestly it was a 1 star experience.

Francis AndrewFrancis Andrew

00

[WARNING: PEST/ROACH ISSUE] During my recent visit to Ani Ramen House in Montclair, NJ, I unfortunately had an extremely disappointing experience that I feel compelled to share with others. While enjoying my meal, I discovered a roach in my food. This discovery was both shocking and disgusting. I promptly called the restaurant and the manager offered a refund for my meal. Additionally, the manager mentioned that this was not a common issue at the restaurant, but for me, that offered little consolation. Whether it was an isolated incident or not, finding a roach in my food was a distressing event that raised concerns about the restaurant's hygiene practices. The manager also offered a gift card to encourage me to give the restaurant another chance, but given the nature of the incident, I declined. My main priority is to dine in a clean and sanitary environment, and unfortunately, this experience has left a lasting negative impression. I share this review not to exaggerate or criticize the restaurant but to highlight a serious concern. I believe it's essential for restaurants to prioritize food safety and maintain strict cleanliness standards to ensure a positive dining experience for their customers. In conclusion, my encounter at Ani Ramen House was deeply disappointing due to the presence of a roach in my food. Until the restaurant addresses and resolves this issue, I cannot recommend it to others. It's crucial for them to take necessary measures to prevent such incidents from occurring in the future, and I hope this review serves as a constructive reminder for them to do so.

Alexis EmveAlexis Emve

40

We went on a Monday around 8 pm. You walk in and it is extremely loud and tight. There is a DJ playing in the front corner and it is so loud. Tables and chairs are filled with people tightly packed in the small restaurant space. Many employees walking around. We sit basically right away for 5 people. It took forever for someone to take our order. The servers were heading to other tables, but nobody even gave us water. 10 minutes or so have passed and finally someone takes our order. Almost immediately one person gets their Diet Pepsi. It takes about another 10-15 minutes for someone to bring us 2 Yuzu Lemonades. We had to remind the waitress. Then our food comes out in a decent time. Someone who ordered the ramen said it was not good and didn’t finish. This is someone who eats ramen almost every day whether it’s from a package or out at a restaurant. They said packaged was better than Ani Ramen’s ramen. Everything else was just average. I ordered Bao Buns with my Rice Bowl with Chicken because it seemed to have been small for the price, and the buns came out as an appetizer and I never asked for it that way. We ordered everything together. Then someone ordered edamame and they never gave us a bowl for the empty shells. Everyone raves about this place. I’m not sure why. The inside makes you feel like you’re in Manhattan. It is so loud and busy and you feel very rushed like a Manhattan restaurant typically is. If that was their goal- they succeeded. And the food is super super average. It isn’t good nor bad it just isn’t worth the hype.

Jess PochekJess Pochek

00

I drive for a major delivery company (I'm also a decorated Air Force veteran). On Sunday, October 8, 2023, I was physically assaulted by a Black male claiming to be a manager of this location. I was standing near the front window when he went to a table behind me. He hit my back shoulder with his shoulder dislodging my diabetic sensor. After walking past me, he muttered, "You guys should know to move". I responded by saying the appropriate response was "Excuse me". He refused to transfer the order I was assigned to pick up and threw me out of the restaurant. I asked for his name and the owner's name/phone number. He refused and called Montclair police. I also called the police to file a physical assault complaint against him. In addition, my attorneys will initiate lawsuits against him and this restaurant once my doctors examine the area damaged from pushing the sensor into my forearm, drawing blood and scratching my arm with his long finger nails. Staff at this restaurant have a habit of treating delivery drivers like garbage. We help them generate a good chunk of their income. If you value your safety and sanity, avoid this restaurant when this manager is working. He's full of rage and hate against delivery drivers, and should not be responsible for leading or training staff of any kind.

Marvin CabinessMarvin Cabiness

40

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Overview

4.3

(871 reviews)$$

Phone

(973) 337-5299

Call

Website

aniramen.com

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