Aoyama Ramen — Restaurant in Olathe

While I have certainly had a unique experience with the owners and staff I preface the review with the fact that it doesn't color my review in anyway.

Staff: in a few words -- polite, friendly, incredibly attentive. Their staff definitely make sure to check on you throughout your meal in an intrusive manner and are quick to refill your water while also building and maintaining good report. The owners are genuinely nice guys who care about what they put out.

Ambience: While the interior doesn't pop out at you, it is close, quaint, and I appreicate the pop-culture refernce on the wall. The seating is mostly comfortable (I have trouble with the barstools because my legs are kind of short, but the benches and chairs at the table are perfectly serviceable. I will say that I did have an issue with the level of the music but I think when it is slower, it isn't a problem. I think that the general din when their in full dinner service swing is the true cause of some patrons misdirecting their displeasure towards the music.

Pricing: I have lived all over the united states and abroad and I will say for a bowl of Ramen, their prices are par for the course and cheaper than some metropolitan areas. Yes there may be no refill on drinks, but I recommend water with your food anyway.

Food: I have been several times at this point and have had the following:

Gyoza Bang Bang Shrimp Karage Pork Bun Tonkatsu Classic (added chilli paste) Sukiyaki Don Mochi

Personally everything tasted pretty good. Sp much so that I have been back several times as I said before. My favorites so far are the tonkatsu classic with a side of chili paste and gyoza. I also personally love not having to drive to Kansas City for a Japanese staple.

All in all, I have taken three people and recommended to about 10 to date....

I had really wanted to like this place. I truly did, authentic ramen shop, close and convenient? How could I resist? I cannot go further without noting the volume of music playing in the establishment. Rock n' Brews is embarrassed that their blend of Rock and Hair Metal isn't turned up as loud as the wall mounted sound bar in Aoyama. And as it is a sound bar there is no hiding from it in a small Ramen shop. The choice of music was also uninspired and frankly a bizarre mesh with the cuisine. Hits of the 90's?? The music was so loud I had to give my order 4 times to be heard nearly shouting the last time. Drinks are cans or bottles so there are no refills, something to take note of if you are ordering a spicy dish. The seating, at least towards the window is cramped. Including a bench seat that per the table layout has one directly against a column. On the other side chairs but up against each other with regularity. I did find myself locked out of the restroom for most of my visit as well. The food presentation was a mixed bag as well the plating and display of an egg in a dish of ramen was divided and attractive enough in the dish of another person at my table, the egg in my dish appeared to have simply been dropped into my dish whole. The pork was extremely fatty (which comes down to personal preference) but there was no Chicken option at all on the menu that I saw, and only one beef option listed for a rice bowl. Overall an extremely discouraging...

Restaurant offers a good variety of Japanese dishes, and the inside is fun to look at with painted murals, small seating area but no wait when we went in. The spicy ramen actually had a good kick to it which is great. The classic ramen was a bit bland, it really needs more seasoning and salt, also has a funky smell. The other thing we all disliked with our food were the noodles themselves, they seemed similar in texture and taste to instant ramen, would have been much better if noodles where different type and made fresh in house, as the instant ramen vibe makes you feel like you're not quite getting an authentic dish and cheapens the dish altogether. Toppings were not too crazy, their flavor didn't seem noticeable in dish, like I said the broth was good but too mellow and lacked depth and seasoning. I noticed many of the dishes had a peculiar "woodsy" after-taste, it wasn't too bothersome but I wonder if it's due to a common ingredient or their cooking utensils/pots. The Japanese fried chicken was really good and a good value. The takoyaki was my first time trying, the flavor wasn't bad but the breading itself was too "wet" but I'm not sure if that's how they are supposed to be since it being my first time trying the dish. They were also a bit sweet. Service was average, our server never came back after food to check if we needed anything else but other staff came by to refill drinks etc. Small but good assortment of sake,...