Hachi Ramen — Restaurant in Tempe

Just finished my first experience at Hachi Ramen, and I have to say it was an impressive one. The presentation alone was spectacular. It looked so well-crafted that I didn’t even know where to start.

I ordered the Tonkotsu Ramen, though I was a bit unsure about the tare used. The staff mentioned it was a tonkotsu base but didn’t specify whether it leaned toward shoyu, miso, or another style. Looking at the menu, they do offer different tares, so I wonder if this particular bowl uses a special in-house blend.

The broth was lighter than I expected from a tonkotsu, but not in a bad way. In fact, it felt like a great option for when I’m craving ramen but don’t want something overly heavy, especially on a warm day. The aroma of the restaurant alone suggested that the chef is highly experienced, and the broth delivered. I enjoyed it as it was but found that adding white pepper really enhanced the flavor even further.

The chashu was easily the highlight of the dish. It was one of the best pork belly chashu cuts I’ve had, perfectly tender with a slightly sweet profile and a fantastic smokiness. The seasoned egg was well-cured, though it was just slightly shy of that ideal jammy texture. The menma was absolutely addictive, and I could eat an entire plate of it by itself. The kikurage and green onions were fresh and well-portioned, adding a nice balance to the bowl.

Instead of the standard thin noodles that typically accompany tonkotsu ramen, I opted for the thicker, chewier noodles, and I’m glad I did. They had the perfect bite and paired beautifully with the broth. I appreciate that Hachi Ramen allows for customization in this way.

The chashu was so exceptional that by the end of my meal, I decided to upgrade to the chashu fried rice along with a kikurage ramen combo. This was another absolute win. Each grain of rice was cooked properly, separate and not clumped together, just as great fried rice should be. The pickled ginger was a fantastic touch, balancing the dish perfectly.

Hachi Ramen delivered a fantastic experience with high-quality ingredients and an expertly crafted bowl. The chashu was a clear standout, and the option to switch up noodle styles was a welcome touch. I’ll definitely be back, especially to try their tsukemen, which will be my first time having it. I’m looking forward to seeing how they execute it.

Would I recommend Hachi Ramen? Absolutely. If you’re a ramen lover, especially one who appreciates exceptional chashu, this spot is...

My partner and I came on a Friday night and the restaurant was full (including their bar). We were told a 10-15 minute wait, which ended up being closer to 20, but wasn't a big deal. The waitress was very nice and greeted us as soon as we walked in, and tried to get us orders within a timely manner.

We ended up getting the chicken karaage, Hachi Special with extra cha shu, and the tsukemen.

The karaage was lightly breaded and comes with a slice of lemon and some cabbage. It was freshly fried and came out piping hot, so be careful before you take that first bite! It was definitely good karaage, although for $7.25 I wish I had 1-2 more pieces. If you're craving chicken karaage, I think this will satisfy your itch, but I wouldn't say you're missing out if you don't order it.

The tsukemen came as a thick broth with an ever thicker piece of cha shu in it. The broth is very flavorful, although more fishy than either my partner or I anticipated. It comes with a healthy portion of noodles as well as 1/2 an egg. The cha shu was definitely the best part of this dish, as it was salty, juicy, somewhat sweet, and tied the whole dish together. By the end of the dish, I did feel like it was getting a little to salty for me as a whole though. 3.5-4/5.

The Hachi special was a very healthy portion of noodles and sides. We opted to add corn and extra cha shu. With all that, we ended up not being able to finish it and we took it home and it was still a good enough serving for the next day. The cha shu here was once again the best part of this meal, more thinly cut but just as flavorful. The noodles in both dishes were chewy and cooked well. I personally would have liked it a little more al dente, but my partner liked hers the way it was.

All in all, Hachi is a good ramen spot that has good traditional flavor. If you like a thicker soup with a more intense flavor, this is probably a good place for you. I think it's reasonably priced for the amount of food you get. The 4/5 comes from the food being a little too salty for our taste by the end of the meal. Otherwise, good price and better...

Hachi is a regular visit for myself, and my boyfriend. We got there at least twice a month that they've become familiar with us there. Before here didn't have any experience with Ramen aside from good ol Maruchan.

Let's start with the atmosphere. Very quaint and homey feeling. So if you're not looking for anything flashy then this is the spot for you. When enter you will always be greeted with a traditional Japanese greeting to make you feel welcome. One think you'll notice is there is some anime references around the spot. (Bonus points for me). Also you here some music playing in Japanese from the system. If your a fan of Jpop, BRock etc. You may find yourself singing along, like I have, to familiar tunes. The host are really nice and all smiles when you get there which is wonderful.

Starting with your options of drink. You can get some of the typical sodas like sprite etc. But if you're a weeb like me you got you options of UCC creamy soda in Mango and Melon, Ramune, coffee, and beer. I believe they gmhave sake as well.

Now to the Ramen. You get three options between flavors; Tonkotsu (pork broth), Shoyu (Chicken broth), and Miso. Personally I like Shoyu, but don't let that discourage you from trying then others.

Once you order your flavor your cooks slap your foos together. In a typical bowl you get Noodles, broth of choice, Chasu (sliced pork), Menma (bamboo shot), Soft boiled egg and scallions. You are free to add extra options such as corn, wood ear mushroom and extea portions of things already there. Want bigger portion order the Hachi Special.

You also get some options for side dishes as well. Friend Rice, Takoyaki, Karage, and Gyoza. Highly advise the Takoyaki it's worth it. Also you can get the Gyoza and Karate in a combo which comes with steamed shut rice and pickled veggies.

I'm missing a few things, but I highly recommend this place and find out this other surprises for yourself. I've tried Ramen from two other places so far, and nothing can compare to the flavor this place provides...