Hanami — Restaurant in San Leandro

This is kind of an out of the way spot which is taking over an old pho restaurant.

I flew in late to Oakland airport, I need something warm and homey. Frankly, I was itching for a good ramen. Having lived in the Bay Area many years, I knew I could find something like that.

This place wasn't too far off of my path, and it was late and they were still open.

Walking in the place is fairly unassuming, yet there is still some customers there. Almost that closing. I asked quickly if it was too late to grab a ramen, the kind gal could be said please have a seat.

Looking around, I saw several tables that were covered with dirty dishes and uneaten food. Well that wasn't necessarily a great first impression, at least they had a good rush.

Sitting down I received a menu, and a glass of cold water.

Looking at the menu there was a variety of ramens to choose from, and so I went to my go-to Tonkotsu. Almost nothing better than a Tonkotsu with Chashu late at night. Done that many times after hours in Tokyo.

Anyway I had to add Gyoza as a side to complete it.

First come out the gyoza, and their fried on all sides. That is not my first choice, and this is very common when prepared by non-Japanese. I bit in, and while decent, they were not great. But the Ramen came out, and I was very excited. It smelled right, the broth was piping hot, and there was several good pieces of Chashu.

First, I sip the broth. It was good and hot. Second, I slurped the noodles, they are firm, warm, and perfect flavor. I grab a little sneak bite of a Chashu, It's warm, nice savory flavor, and a good thick piece. I'm pleased. I dive in. Before I knew it the ramen was gone, Gyoza, pretty much gone, and I was very full. The broth was nice and hardy, with a savory thick flavor, and simply it was a calming experience before hitting the hotel.

For me my final question is always "would I go back?" The answer is a definite yes. Though I probably would not get the gyoza. But if you're looking for a good ramen,...

Always a delight to check out a new restaurant in the neighborhood! Everything was very fresh, pickup was ready in around 15 minutes, and they had the front door open plus all staff were wearing masks for COVID safety. I am super duper picky about takeout these days, but the food here was fresh, tasty, and balanced - I will definitely be back!!

I'll review each of the dishes we tried:

Poke (Salmon and Scallop): I specifically ordered this because old or spent-too-long-in-the-freezer scallops are pretty distinctive. I was pleased to find the fish was very fresh! All the toppings were a delight, and their spicy poke and wasabi ponzu were delicious. They were able to accommodate my ask for the ponzu to be on the side. My only complaint (and just barely) was that the rice was very slightly underseasoned, but that being said it tasted fresh, was not dry, and had a perfect texture. I was able to just add a little soy sauce and everything was good to go.

Tonkatsu ramen: We got this because we frequently make Tonkatsu in bone broth at home, and I wanted to compare the taste. This was a delight! The texture of the pork was crispy/chewy on the outside, tender on the inside. The fat of the pork belly had been treated appropriately and was melt-in-your-mouth instead of gristly. I appreciated that the broth was packaged separately. I think the broth was a bone broth and home made, it had a distinct and familiar rich scent.

Takoyaki: I was immediately met with the strong funk of bonito when I opened the box, I really appreciate that they didn't shy away from the flakes. The balls were freshly fried, a perfect crispy exterior with just the right amount of chew inside. The sauces were super flavorful and the whole experience a delight. This place is dangerously close to me and I sense I am going to be popping by for some of these as a random afternoon snack on a...

Hanami is my favorite Japanese restaurant in the Bay Area. It has a clean dining room, is relatively inexpensive, the staff is very pleasant and efficient, has good portions, and the food comes out quick, beautifully presented and delicious. Though I've come here multiple times, I don't have a standard "go to" order given everything I've tried on the menu has been great. The photos on this review are of my most recent visit: [1] Sashimi Combo B, [2] Sushi Combo C, and [3] Chicken Karaage. I tend to go before the lunch crowd arrives on weekends, so street parking along Bancroft hasn't been difficult to find; I'm not sure if the restaurant has a dedicated parking lot, but I'm assuming it doesn't since it's a relatively small, modest space sandwiched between other residential and...