KURO-OBI by IPPUDO — Restaurant in San Mateo

Update 2025/07: we have been back a few times since February, but it's only until today's visit that the kids have finally confirmed the ramen is back to "super good" status. Granted, they did comment on cost, but that's another matter.

Update 2025/02: it's been a roller coaster! The menu changed once again to a more recognizable set of ramen options; tonkotsu, miso, dan dan, etc. The noodles are back to a more standard ramen thickness and the broth is much better. Service is also better, so whatever mess was going on in January seems to have settled down.

I still think it's a bit on the oilier side, but it has regained the kids' seal of approval, so that's something. Kids still think the original menu was superior, but it's now back on The List.

Nit: they need to bring back the extra noodle option.

Update 2025/01: they revamped the menu and the food and it's gone downhill significantly. Noodles are the thicker style, broth is not good, service is not as good, and they seem to put a scoop of...fat(?) as a topping. It's a hot oily mess. I don't know what happened, but it's off the kid's list of approved restaurants now.

White belt ramen is a hit with the kids and I have a sneaking suspicion that nice layer of oily goodness might be a reason. It's a bit on the slower side, but maybe the food court setting is making me biased. Nice break from the pork...

tl;dr: authentic flavor and excellent straight noodles reminiscent of Hakata noodles (but a tad thicker). I'll be back! Glad to see them in the Bay Area!

Sorry to hear that they won't be bringing back the katsu sandwich - hard to find good ones in the area. This is my first visit to a Kuro-Obi shop, but I'm a big fan of Ippudo in Tokyo. I was surprised to see one review complain about the amount of broth - it was more than enough for me. However, I typically don't drink much of my ramen broth no matter how delicious because I am wary of the salt. One review complained about the chicken base rather than pork base - it's definitely different but I don't think it's necessarily inferior.

One person complained about the lack of flavor - I got the shiro obi and I can kind of see why people might find it a little lacking. It wasn't obvious at first but with a mouthful of noodles the broth was a little light. For chicken this is a pretty good version though, and a lighter option when I'm not as hungry. If I sip the broth by itself I find it perfect though.

The ramen names are funny - "I'll have the beginner ramen!" My husband wants to see a purple belt option.

I am probably too slow an eater - my noodles got too soft part way through my meal - the broth is nice and hot!

By the way, the new food court at Hillsdale is really nice and airy with lots of electrical outlets...

Wow, this place has gone sooo downhill, to the point that I will never eat there again. The Kurt-Obi bowl used to be INCREDIBLE, and I would come to the mall just to eat there OR get take out, and even with taking the ramen home to eat, I could happily anticipate what I knew was going to be really good ramen. They killed the menu, took away most of the variety on their menu. Gone are the warm, soft & fresh buns with crispy & tasty chicken tucked in, which we always enjoyed. The Kurosawa-Obi bowl is not even close to what it used to be, there’s no more bamboo, no more spicy yummy splash of red sauce on top, it’s just ramen, a TINY bit of cabbage, a TON of bean sprouts, fatty/cheap meat, and a spoonful of mashed up fat plunked on top, (this is a new thing since menu changed) I suppose in attempts to bring up the flavor profile? They now offer complementary to-go cups of minced garlic, which they never had before. Maybe they’re trying to disguise the fact that the food is terrible. It was a huge greasy disappointment, especially considering the price. Never again! I’ve tried the Kuro-Obi bowl twice since the menu was decimated, and I’m no longer a customer. Really sad because they had such a terrific menu, and we frequented their restaurant...