Lan Ramen — Restaurant in Princeton

I knew the quality of restaurants around Princeton campus are usually not that good: - taste is plain, price is high, portion is small. I thought after years of changes, and this ramen restaurant seem have decent review on google, maybe it is going to be really good. I was too lazy to drive to Edison NJ, so I decided to give a try to this Lan Ramen. AND I am VERY WRONG, this is just another typical Princeton campus Chinese restaurant. The taste is very so so, the portion of the garlic pork meat is horrifically small----only eight small pieces, and didn't put enough salt. The fried dumplings are nothing but frozen dumplings from the Asian market, and here they sell 5 pieces for $10, and in market, you can get 20 pieces for 7 bucks. The restaurant owner must from south China, so they dare to give such little portion without being challenged by the customers.

The worst part is the beef noodle, which seems not fresh. I thought the noodle should be the best dish in this restaurant, because the title of the restaurant is Ramen, but it turned out to be a COMPLETE FAILURE. The pulled ramen noodles from China usually have very chewy texture, that is why people prefer the pulled noodles than the others. BUT this noodle is so soft, so easy to break, they literally disintegrate like water in the mouth, definitely the WORST pulled noodle I ever had in my life. I suspect the chef of pulling noodles were off from the work, and they stored some frozen Ramen, and unfortunately after frozen, the texture of the noodle changed completely. Otherwise, I can not explain how the noodle taste SO BAD. It is supposed to be my birthday noodle. Feel very very bad luck to come to this restaurant. I still paid 15% tip for a very so so service. I don't think this restaurant can survive in downtown Philadelphia or Edison NJ, only can stand some time around Princeton campus where the students don't have much options than the Princeton campus cafe which is...

If I could give 0 stars I would.

I do not like everything about Lan Ramen. From the $$$ food to the service to the food itself.

Too costly for food made by chefs with no qualifications or passion for food that they make. If they do, it shows. Sure, the chefs make Chinese dishes, but it is just that – Chinese dishes. Any chefs at any Chinese restaurants can do that. I have seen the prices at Lan Ramen hike from what you would call affordable entree to what it is now – price of an entree at a Michelin starred restaurant; except it is not. Sure, you can blame the rent for opening a restaurant in Princeton, but comparison in prices between restaurants in Princeton points to greedy owners who care more about profit and earning more. It's good that the owner care for profit – like every other business owner, but while they are doing that, they totally screw everyone over.

Service. I would be glad to get the type of service for the type of price I pay to dine in here.

Food. Very, very small in portion. Again this brings up my "Michelin starred restaurant" argument. It is not a Michelin starred restaurant, but it is like they are trying to be one. Small in portion – high in prices; except they do not have the high standards that comes from a Michelin starred restaurant.

Looking through the reviews posted by users here, I am sure I will be getting a smart response from the owner Jessica. It is my sympathy that she can accept no criticism and improve upon the cons that the restaurant has. Had she been doing that, she would not enforce a minimum of $30 to pay with cards and many would have chose Lan Ramen as a place to hang or to...

As a wise man once said "Ramen is the key to life---just like how the wild horses of Mongolia always trample over the wild daffodils, Ramen permeates the very membrane of our life." After eating at Lan Ramen, I have realized the utter truth behind this wonderful quote. I went here a few days ago to dine in with a group of around 5 people. Walking in, the restaurant is extremely atmospheric. It's located in a narrow basement/alleyway, but everything was very clean and well-decorated, with ample windows and lighting. The seating was spacious and comfortable, with couches with firmness that was not only good for dining, but also relaxing for a short, meaningful after-meal conversation. I ordered the Beef Ramen, and the food was delectable and well-seasoned, not too salty like other Ramen Restaurants. The bathroom was well-maintained and a comfortable size, and everything was well-stocked. I do have a few complaints, however. There was a peculiar smell emanating throughout the restaurant, which may have been due to the lower elevation of the restaurant, it did cause me a small amount of concern that detracted from the quality of the meal. Additionally, the prices for the restaurant were a bit high, but it is to be expected from a restaurant in the middle of Princeton. Our waiter was very nice, and overall, I would rate the restaurant a 4.4/5. It's quite a shame that Google doesn't allow more precise reviews. I highly recommend this restaurant to anyone who is looking for a casual dinner or lunch. It's the perfect place to enjoy some scrumptious Ramen and chat...