Ramen Kotori — Restaurant in Solvang

Wow, I never would've thought that some of the best ramen I've ever had would be in Solvang, a place known more for its Danish roots and cuisine! I got the Jiro Ramen, which is a special bowl that isn't available all the time. The broth was a rich garlicky and savory miso that was so good, I drank every last drop. The noodles were thicker than usual for this bowl, and they were cooked perfectly, with nice chewiness and springiness. It came with 4 pieces of tender chashu pork that seemed to be seared in a way that gave them an amazing toasty crust. There was also a generous amount of cabbage and bean sprouts. I paired this with a lemon soju drink that was huge -- the size of a tumbler of lemonade. This was also delicious, with a taste reminiscent of an Orange Julius or Creamsicle bar.

My wife got a vegetarian miso ramen, which she also really enjoyed.

The place is pretty small, and I've read that when it gets crowded, wait times can be long (but fortunately we got there a little early and were able to get a table without a problem). Staff are all very friendly and helpful. If you're visiting Solvang, take a break from all the Danish fare and give this place a try, you...

This was so unfortunate. I was given an open/broken container with my order and it leaked through the bottom of the bag on my drive home (10 minutes). It soaked the carpet interior of my car and when I reached to pull it out the bottom of the bag broke and fell all over the inside and outside of my car. Accidents happen, but when I reached out to let them know what happened; Francisco cut me off while I was telling him what happened and asked if I wanted a refund or replacement for only the broth since that’s what was mis-packaged. Even though the photo I included (shown here) showed that all the food had fallen on the floor. I guess he wanted me to use the 5 second rule and eat the rest of the order off the floor? I didn’t even reach out looking for a refund, but to be nickel and dimed over a cup of broth felt so ridiculous. No apology for my car, no solution offered, nothing. It was 20 minutes before they closed and I had to ask for a “full refund” but they ended up keeping their tip and tax lol $51 dollars for a smelly car damn it man 😭

It’d almost be funny if my car didn’t smell like ramen. I didn’t get to try the food, but it looked really good! Just make to order dine-in and...

Overall 4.8 - Food 5; piping hot ramen at night was a treat with the outdoor seating. The food was all tasty and authentic. Spicy Tan Tan had perfect spice and Vegetarian Ramen had unique toppings. Had some unique pickles I haven’t had elsewhere. They also have daily specials on a board so look out for it. Service 4.8; Cashier taking our order was very friendly and helpful. The food came out extremely fast so kudos to the kitchen. The servers were attentive and refilled water without us asking. Some smiles and checking in on the patrons would elevate the service. Ambiance 4.8; All outdoor seating with plenty of heat lamps so we did not feel cold on a November evening. The strung lights added to the holiday feel. Because the ground was uneven the tables wobbled. An easy fix. Don’t get discouraged by a line because most of the evening diners were taking the food to go....