Ramen: Noodles burnt. Chashu was tough, not cooked evenly, cold, and hot between bites. Egg was stone cold in the center. Despite the cheese, oil, and butter, the broth was bland.The portion sizes for the Hawaiian dishes are large. Good for any hungry, non picky Berkeley students.
Thet A
Beef curry is the best! I am slowly going through their menu items. LoL their loco moco is very good too, better than the one I had in Hawaii. It's becoming my regular take out place!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Lolo Loco Moco, Masa Special
David Hom
Fantastic ramen shop with Hawaiian menu options. The ramen here is so ono… A+.Lots of Hawaiian comfort food. The best spam musubi in the Bay Area.So glad to have found this place. Will definitely be back!Mahalo! ?
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Tonkotsu Ramen, Spam Musubi with Egg
Winston L.
Masa Ramen BistroStopped off at Masa Ramen Bistro for an early Saturday dinner. Street parking, but it wasn't an issue. Only a handful of people in the restaurant.These are the dishes we ordered in descending order of my preference.Diamond Head - this ramen bowl is legit. Soup is rich and creamy. Noodles have a good chew to them. The flavor is great and you get a nice whole soft boiled egg.Broke the Mouth - we ordered a 3 out of 5 which was spicy but not knock me over spicy. It was kind of interesting with a mountain of shredded parmesan in there. Despite it being tasty, I think my preference would be a straight black garlic version (Kuni).POG - pretty sweet and tropicalDa Kine Chicken - the chicken was well fried and marinated. I don't think there was much seasoning on the breading though. Also thought the pairing with the ponzu sauce was a bit odd.Bruddah Brussels - these were brussel sprout halves, coated with panko and parmesan and fried. Hot and tender in the middle. Just wasn't working for our family and it largely went uneaten. Normally when we're getting fried brussel sprouts, they're crispy, greasy, well-seasoned, and gone faster than the Flash.All in all, I'm always ecstatic when I find a good bowl of ramen in the East Bay. They are just so few and far between. Definitely will come back for that and maybe try out some of the other appetizers.
Natalie C.
I came to Masa on a Wednesday night to catch up with friends and there was no wait. Masa is located down University ave next to a dessert shop. School was also out for UC Berkeley so there was less of a crowd.The food was pretty good overall, but the soup base could have definitely been more flavorful for all the ramens that we got. For a tonkotsu ramen or a pork based broth, I normally like the soup to be thicker with more collagen and salt. However it was not bad at all - if you like your soup bases more clear or light then these ramens will be up your alley. The noodles were nice and chewy though, and cooked perfectly. The meat was delicious. The egg that came with the ramen was also cooked perfectly. Overall pretty solid ramen if you want something nearby.
Vivian B.
It was my first time here with my friends and colleagues from my Ilokano class! Our teacher treated us. I love ramen, mainly because of the broth. and I always never know where to go, so I was really excited to try ramen here. The ambiance is really relaxing on a Wednesday evening. In terms of the menu, there's a lot to choose from. I settled on the Kuni! I can't tell you how yummy the broth is. My teacher was telling me how long it takes them to create the batch of broth before the add on the other , including the noodles and pork belly. It was so hard for me to hold a conversation because I was so busy eating. I would definitely come back here again!
Shannon C.
My partner and I came based on great reviews so I was really excited to try the food. We both ordered the oxtail ramen since the loco moco was sold out. I did appreciate they donated part of the proceeds to the Maui fire victims but unfortunately the food was not good. The broth was extremely bland and the noodles tasted weird. At $25 a bowl i expected a rich, flavorful broth with quality noodles. That was not what I got. It also didn't help that the table next to us complained that there was a hair in their food. To be fair he finished his entire plate before complaining so idk if he was lying or not but it definitely made the experience less appealing. Our waiter was nice but everything was overpriced for the quality. Would not recommend and would not go back. Especially since there are so many other great restaurants in the area.
Efren Gutierrez
The Broke Da Mouth ramen bowl is so incredible! The richness of the broth paired with the spicy kick leaves you coming back for more. Beware the spice levels because they do get pretty spicy. I would also pair it with the Spam & Egg Musubi. I make a visit every time I find myself in Berkeley from SoCal. Portions are great and it has a great atmosphere!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Alfred J.
Thank you Mass Ramen Bistro for my Diamond Head Ramen. Not only was the Ramen flavorful, but it had the right chili spice to it that I really enjoyed. The atmosphere was clean and the customer service was top-notch. This place is a must try. Thanks again Masa Ramen Bistro.
The Broke Da Mouth is one of the tastiest Ramen I tried in Berkeley. If you love cheese in your ramen, you will love this one. If you’re not sure, just ask them to separate the cheese and try to add a bit first.I also love the spam and egg musubi, it’s really good and I find it a must try too!Parking: Parking spot at the front of the restaurant is limited but you can park in the one behind Charles Schwab, there are plenty of spots usually
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Spam Musubi with Egg, Broke Da Mouth - Masa Special
Joyce L.
*disclaimer: my brother is vegetarian and I'm vegan so this review is for the meat-free items on the menuIt was awesome to see more than one meat-free option on the menu so that was great! It was NOT cool that this place charges extra to add spiciness. While we have both had more decadent ramen from other places, this place was decent for veg. I'm honestly just excited there was greater than 1 veg option available.The decor and service were great. Our server was super friendly and answered any questions we had.Our visit to Masa was a nice one, but this wouldn't be a veggie person's first pick everyone in the party didn't eat meat BUT this is a great option for a mixed group.
Wesley L.
Ramen is usually a meal I'm hesitant to go out for (we have ramen at home), but Masa offers a worthwhile Hawaiian twist. Alongside the usual ramen dishes, they have more adventurous options like the Broke Da Mouth (plenty of spice if that's what you're looking for and Parmesan cheese on top)I'm also a huge fan of their garlic shrimp rice plate. They're big for what you pay for and tons of flavor. They also offer a discount for students and military.Service is always consistent and quick for a medium sized restaurant. Also great vibes for family meals or smaller groups.
Scott Wong
We celebrated my son’s birthday. Food was excellent. Ramen, katsu, short ribs, Matsubi, fried chicken, brussel sprouts all very good. Portions are large. Service was great! There isn’t that much space for large parties. And no dessert on menu.Kid-friendliness: Yes
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Char Siu, Chicken Curry or Katsu
Mendi Gunadi
Good ramen broth is very thick and yummy, atmosphere is very Hawaiian which is good.Will be back.
Delicious ? food and wonderful service
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Ramen: Noodles burnt. Chashu was tough, not cooked evenly, cold, and hot between bites. Egg was stone cold in the center. Despite the cheese, oil, and butter, the broth was bland.The portion sizes for the Hawaiian dishes are large. Good for any hungry, non picky Berkeley students.
Beef curry is the best! I am slowly going through their menu items. LoL their loco moco is very good too, better than the one I had in Hawaii. It's becoming my regular take out place!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Lolo Loco Moco, Masa Special
Fantastic ramen shop with Hawaiian menu options. The ramen here is so ono… A+.Lots of Hawaiian comfort food. The best spam musubi in the Bay Area.So glad to have found this place. Will definitely be back!Mahalo! ?
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Tonkotsu Ramen, Spam Musubi with Egg
Masa Ramen BistroStopped off at Masa Ramen Bistro for an early Saturday dinner. Street parking, but it wasn't an issue. Only a handful of people in the restaurant.These are the dishes we ordered in descending order of my preference.Diamond Head - this ramen bowl is legit. Soup is rich and creamy. Noodles have a good chew to them. The flavor is great and you get a nice whole soft boiled egg.Broke the Mouth - we ordered a 3 out of 5 which was spicy but not knock me over spicy. It was kind of interesting with a mountain of shredded parmesan in there. Despite it being tasty, I think my preference would be a straight black garlic version (Kuni).POG - pretty sweet and tropicalDa Kine Chicken - the chicken was well fried and marinated. I don't think there was much seasoning on the breading though. Also thought the pairing with the ponzu sauce was a bit odd.Bruddah Brussels - these were brussel sprout halves, coated with panko and parmesan and fried. Hot and tender in the middle. Just wasn't working for our family and it largely went uneaten. Normally when we're getting fried brussel sprouts, they're crispy, greasy, well-seasoned, and gone faster than the Flash.All in all, I'm always ecstatic when I find a good bowl of ramen in the East Bay. They are just so few and far between. Definitely will come back for that and maybe try out some of the other appetizers.
I came to Masa on a Wednesday night to catch up with friends and there was no wait. Masa is located down University ave next to a dessert shop. School was also out for UC Berkeley so there was less of a crowd.The food was pretty good overall, but the soup base could have definitely been more flavorful for all the ramens that we got. For a tonkotsu ramen or a pork based broth, I normally like the soup to be thicker with more collagen and salt. However it was not bad at all - if you like your soup bases more clear or light then these ramens will be up your alley. The noodles were nice and chewy though, and cooked perfectly. The meat was delicious. The egg that came with the ramen was also cooked perfectly. Overall pretty solid ramen if you want something nearby.
It was my first time here with my friends and colleagues from my Ilokano class! Our teacher treated us. I love ramen, mainly because of the broth. and I always never know where to go, so I was really excited to try ramen here. The ambiance is really relaxing on a Wednesday evening. In terms of the menu, there's a lot to choose from. I settled on the Kuni! I can't tell you how yummy the broth is. My teacher was telling me how long it takes them to create the batch of broth before the add on the other , including the noodles and pork belly. It was so hard for me to hold a conversation because I was so busy eating. I would definitely come back here again!
My partner and I came based on great reviews so I was really excited to try the food. We both ordered the oxtail ramen since the loco moco was sold out. I did appreciate they donated part of the proceeds to the Maui fire victims but unfortunately the food was not good. The broth was extremely bland and the noodles tasted weird. At $25 a bowl i expected a rich, flavorful broth with quality noodles. That was not what I got. It also didn't help that the table next to us complained that there was a hair in their food. To be fair he finished his entire plate before complaining so idk if he was lying or not but it definitely made the experience less appealing. Our waiter was nice but everything was overpriced for the quality. Would not recommend and would not go back. Especially since there are so many other great restaurants in the area.
The Broke Da Mouth ramen bowl is so incredible! The richness of the broth paired with the spicy kick leaves you coming back for more. Beware the spice levels because they do get pretty spicy. I would also pair it with the Spam & Egg Musubi. I make a visit every time I find myself in Berkeley from SoCal. Portions are great and it has a great atmosphere!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Thank you Mass Ramen Bistro for my Diamond Head Ramen. Not only was the Ramen flavorful, but it had the right chili spice to it that I really enjoyed. The atmosphere was clean and the customer service was top-notch. This place is a must try. Thanks again Masa Ramen Bistro.
Restaurantji Recommends
The Broke Da Mouth is one of the tastiest Ramen I tried in Berkeley. If you love cheese in your ramen, you will love this one. If you’re not sure, just ask them to separate the cheese and try to add a bit first.I also love the spam and egg musubi, it’s really good and I find it a must try too!Parking: Parking spot at the front of the restaurant is limited but you can park in the one behind Charles Schwab, there are plenty of spots usually
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Spam Musubi with Egg, Broke Da Mouth - Masa Special
*disclaimer: my brother is vegetarian and I'm vegan so this review is for the meat-free items on the menuIt was awesome to see more than one meat-free option on the menu so that was great! It was NOT cool that this place charges extra to add spiciness. While we have both had more decadent ramen from other places, this place was decent for veg. I'm honestly just excited there was greater than 1 veg option available.The decor and service were great. Our server was super friendly and answered any questions we had.Our visit to Masa was a nice one, but this wouldn't be a veggie person's first pick everyone in the party didn't eat meat BUT this is a great option for a mixed group.
Ramen is usually a meal I'm hesitant to go out for (we have ramen at home), but Masa offers a worthwhile Hawaiian twist. Alongside the usual ramen dishes, they have more adventurous options like the Broke Da Mouth (plenty of spice if that's what you're looking for and Parmesan cheese on top)I'm also a huge fan of their garlic shrimp rice plate. They're big for what you pay for and tons of flavor. They also offer a discount for students and military.Service is always consistent and quick for a medium sized restaurant. Also great vibes for family meals or smaller groups.
We celebrated my son’s birthday. Food was excellent. Ramen, katsu, short ribs, Matsubi, fried chicken, brussel sprouts all very good. Portions are large. Service was great! There isn’t that much space for large parties. And no dessert on menu.Kid-friendliness: Yes
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Char Siu, Chicken Curry or Katsu
Good ramen broth is very thick and yummy, atmosphere is very Hawaiian which is good.Will be back.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5