Lovely little gem in Kingston, some of the best food around; and undoubtedly the best ramen in the area. The ramen is some of the best I've had In my life, which is not surprising given the clear passion of the owner. This is one of the few places in Kingston me and my girlfriend frequent, the great food, service, and ambience always ensures we return.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Colton Cox
Came here with a friend to celebrate his homecoming from a long work trip. What stuck out to us both was the quality of service and attention we received as customers. The bartender was kind and chatty with us while we waited for our food, and when our ramen was served, the chef spent several minutes with us to explain techniques in properly eating ramen—but with good nature and humor, and not any kind of pretension. The food was absolutely terrific, and the ramen was delicious without being too oily or spicy. The gyoza we had as appetizers were also terrific—though they were short on gyoza for the day and so we couldn’t order an additional helping. The atmosphere is nice, though a little cramped. Overall, we had a terrific time and plan to come back as soon as we have the chance. A real gem in Kingston.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Miso Ramen, Steamed Gyoza, Green Tea Ice Cream
Susie SHIM
Miso ramen all the way! Wow. The broth is legit and the ramen was prepared perfectly. We had such a lovely experience even with our two young kids. They provided our kids with chopstick helpers and snacks while they waited. My kids said it was the best ramen they ever ate. I would have to agree!! What a lovely place to eat. So glad we stopped by!Dietary restrictions: I was so impressed that they asked if we had any allergies when I made the reservations on the phone! What a nice touch.
Recommended dishes: Miso Ramen
Marie-Ange Brumelot
Wouldn’t have gone for ramen in the area until we found this gem! Authentic, delicious, high quality food. Highly recommend!
OToT W
The food was good! Pure, quality ingredients as they explained on menu and all that jazz but don’t be expecting crazy flavor pops. After such menu paragraphs I was expecting wow and the broth flavor was eh. For both the main ramen and vegan ramen (which literally just tastes like sweet warm watery coconut milk). However you can apparently pay per ramen topping… on your already $18 bowl….. so maybe that would pep it up⚡️The low rating is due to weird vibes unfortunately. Host/waiter may have been acting weirdly passive aggressive. We call prior to opening to get a rez and they say to come in half and hour after opening, as that’s only when they can fit us in. We go and it’s entirely empty? However we are literally placed shoulder to shoulder with another couple at the bar.. IN and ENTIRELY EMPTY restaurant. This would be totally understandable If the place was packed and busy but it was EMPTY. And this was so uncomfortable and weird. I would have asked to move but I kept expecting the place to get slammed and it never did? Was there for like an hour. Anyway it was weird and would have liked to enjoy the food more if given some personal space. Also beautiful ambience/atmosphere.. great lighting and decor.Also honestly y’all should save the “how to eat ramen” shpeel hahah… it’s entirely unnecessary.. be realI don’t know if I’ll return. Had wanted to check out for a while.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 1
Sean D.
Great ramen, very friendly and attentive staff, looking forward to
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Anton Kinloch
It was one of the single best meals I've had in years!An unsuspecting ramen shop owned and operated by an incredible couple and wonderful team. Youko and her team are so incredibly generous & we had smiled so hard after finishing our ramen. My team & I agreed that we need to go 2x a month to get our fix.The miso & shio vegan ramen are all made with quality ingredients. There is no MSG, added salt, and zero sugar. The bone broth in the miso has a spectrum of flavor I've never experienced anywhere else in the country. The same can be said about the shio ramen.The biggest takeaway here is that good ramen is steeped in tradition & Youko takes the necessary time to put forth the most incredible flavors. I would argue that this shop deserves a Michelin Star for their top-notch performance & dedication to excellence. Be prepared for an educational experience as well on how to properly enjoy ramen like it was intended. Anyone who leaves a review to the contrary simply doesn't understand the level of love and care in every ingredient here.Dietary restrictions: Extra care is taken to identify allergens and potential cross issues.
Tanma Ramen is a bit of a hole in the wall. Although right in the center of Midtown Kingston, it doesn’t have a sign and you can’t see it that well. They say they are quietly open, and will usually only take reservations. Inside, there are stools next to a counter which are supposed to be self serve, you get water from a cooler behind the stools, and you get your own utensils and napkins. If you go further there is a bar and tables which have table service. The food is great! The miso ramen bowls are spectacular. The broth is delicious and the pork and noodles are great as well. I’d also recommend the Gyoza dumplings or some other appetizers because those were very tasty too. Although this restaurant has great food, the service is strange. When we sat down, the owner asked us if we had a reservation, and when we said we did she looked pleased. When some other people came in and she asked them the same question and they said no, she looked very unhappy, and after a while she said no more “walk-ins” and only reservations. Since we could see the kitchen from the counter, it looked very chaotic and not the most efficient. There was a lot of yelling at each other, and they couldn’t hear that well. Once we finally got our soups, the owner came around the counter and stood behind us. She then started instructing us on how to eat the soups. She made us be completely silent, and told us to just have it be “us and the soup”, she then gave us three steps on how to eat the soup, and if we didn’t do it right she would say “No! No!”. Eventually we got to eat our soup in peace. I didn’t find that very annoying, but another person might. It was a good experience going to Tanma Noodles and I’d recommend it.
Julia Muñoz
the food is good but the owner/chef was very pushy. i went with my bf and the second she handed us the food she “taught” us how to eat it and would say things like “no don’t touch it yet” and basically made us listen to that. in a way i appreciate her passion for her food, but we were starving and just wanted to eat. she also did not ask us if we wanted to hear that and i would’ve appreciated her asking us at least
Recommended dishes: Miso Ramen
Nicole Mihelis
My boyfriend and I were coming from out of state to see a show in Kingston and he chose to eat here based on the high rating.While the food may have been decent, I did not feel welcome here at all.Because we’re from out of state, we were not aware that we should have made a reservation or called ahead. When we walked in, a woman immediately asked us what time our reservation was for and when I responded that we didn’t have one and we weren’t aware we would need one, she gave me a disgusted look, laughed, and then turned away without saying anything else.A man (who was very nice) came up about a minute later and was able to seat us at the bar in the back.After we ordered, another couple was seated next to us at the bar. We got our food first and when they got their food, the same woman who had greeted us in the beginning was talking with them kindly and explaining how to eat the ramen. She then pointed at me and my boyfriend in her conversation with them and said “you’re not supposed to eat it like that”. (We were not eating it any differently than the other people around us). I couldn’t finish the rest of my ramen after that. I found her so unwelcoming and rude. If we ever come from out of state for a show in that town again, we’re going someplace else.
Note that reservations are needed. Ramen was good but not great. We found the service very attentive, although our party of four was seated at the bar, which was a little disappointing. The aesthetics of the restaurant were very cool.Vegetarian options: Of the three or four options for ramen, one is vegetarian, and there are a reasonable number of vegetarian appetizers.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Seaweed Salad
Lily J.
I would give 4 stars if there was a different style of giving how to eat ramen instruction.The ramen I ordered (miso) satisfied my pallet. I disliked the how to eat ramen instruction given by the owner which lasted a few minutes after the ramen was delivered. Her passion for teaching what is the correct way to eat ramen does not only make the ramen broth less hot as well as unsanitary by lecturing over my food. It would be better if she demonstrates so called the "proper way" to eat ramen before ramen gets served.
Harry S.
I've been a long time fan of Youku, her restaurants, her food, her desire to share Japanese culture, commitment to prevent nuclear war (that would ruin my day, I don't know about you), and her radiant presence. I had eaten (and performed) multiple times at the place she used to have in New Paltz. I ate so far one time at Tanma, and the food, ambiance and service were great. You should go both for the food, and to meet Youku and Katsu.
Courtney Malsatzki
So delicious! The owners are very friendly and will walk you through their menu and how to eat ramen the right way. They have a great sake collection too.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Mike Adamcek
Excellent experience. Reservations are definitely required, especially on busy nights where UPAC has an event. They are very passionate about ramen and do their best to impart the culture on all who visit.I definitely plan on stopping by again.
Lovely little gem in Kingston, some of the best food around; and undoubtedly the best ramen in the area. The ramen is some of the best I've had In my life, which is not surprising given the clear passion of the owner. This is one of the few places in Kingston me and my girlfriend frequent, the great food, service, and ambience always ensures we return.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Came here with a friend to celebrate his homecoming from a long work trip. What stuck out to us both was the quality of service and attention we received as customers. The bartender was kind and chatty with us while we waited for our food, and when our ramen was served, the chef spent several minutes with us to explain techniques in properly eating ramen—but with good nature and humor, and not any kind of pretension. The food was absolutely terrific, and the ramen was delicious without being too oily or spicy. The gyoza we had as appetizers were also terrific—though they were short on gyoza for the day and so we couldn’t order an additional helping. The atmosphere is nice, though a little cramped. Overall, we had a terrific time and plan to come back as soon as we have the chance. A real gem in Kingston.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Miso Ramen, Steamed Gyoza, Green Tea Ice Cream
Miso ramen all the way! Wow. The broth is legit and the ramen was prepared perfectly. We had such a lovely experience even with our two young kids. They provided our kids with chopstick helpers and snacks while they waited. My kids said it was the best ramen they ever ate. I would have to agree!! What a lovely place to eat. So glad we stopped by!Dietary restrictions: I was so impressed that they asked if we had any allergies when I made the reservations on the phone! What a nice touch.
Recommended dishes: Miso Ramen
Wouldn’t have gone for ramen in the area until we found this gem! Authentic, delicious, high quality food. Highly recommend!
The food was good! Pure, quality ingredients as they explained on menu and all that jazz but don’t be expecting crazy flavor pops. After such menu paragraphs I was expecting wow and the broth flavor was eh. For both the main ramen and vegan ramen (which literally just tastes like sweet warm watery coconut milk). However you can apparently pay per ramen topping… on your already $18 bowl….. so maybe that would pep it up⚡️The low rating is due to weird vibes unfortunately. Host/waiter may have been acting weirdly passive aggressive. We call prior to opening to get a rez and they say to come in half and hour after opening, as that’s only when they can fit us in. We go and it’s entirely empty? However we are literally placed shoulder to shoulder with another couple at the bar.. IN and ENTIRELY EMPTY restaurant. This would be totally understandable If the place was packed and busy but it was EMPTY. And this was so uncomfortable and weird. I would have asked to move but I kept expecting the place to get slammed and it never did? Was there for like an hour. Anyway it was weird and would have liked to enjoy the food more if given some personal space. Also beautiful ambience/atmosphere.. great lighting and decor.Also honestly y’all should save the “how to eat ramen” shpeel hahah… it’s entirely unnecessary.. be realI don’t know if I’ll return. Had wanted to check out for a while.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 1
Great ramen, very friendly and attentive staff, looking forward to
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
It was one of the single best meals I've had in years!An unsuspecting ramen shop owned and operated by an incredible couple and wonderful team. Youko and her team are so incredibly generous & we had smiled so hard after finishing our ramen. My team & I agreed that we need to go 2x a month to get our fix.The miso & shio vegan ramen are all made with quality ingredients. There is no MSG, added salt, and zero sugar. The bone broth in the miso has a spectrum of flavor I've never experienced anywhere else in the country. The same can be said about the shio ramen.The biggest takeaway here is that good ramen is steeped in tradition & Youko takes the necessary time to put forth the most incredible flavors. I would argue that this shop deserves a Michelin Star for their top-notch performance & dedication to excellence. Be prepared for an educational experience as well on how to properly enjoy ramen like it was intended. Anyone who leaves a review to the contrary simply doesn't understand the level of love and care in every ingredient here.Dietary restrictions: Extra care is taken to identify allergens and potential cross issues.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Miso Ramen, Steamed Gyoza, Shio Vegan Ramen
Tanma Ramen is a bit of a hole in the wall. Although right in the center of Midtown Kingston, it doesn’t have a sign and you can’t see it that well. They say they are quietly open, and will usually only take reservations. Inside, there are stools next to a counter which are supposed to be self serve, you get water from a cooler behind the stools, and you get your own utensils and napkins. If you go further there is a bar and tables which have table service. The food is great! The miso ramen bowls are spectacular. The broth is delicious and the pork and noodles are great as well. I’d also recommend the Gyoza dumplings or some other appetizers because those were very tasty too. Although this restaurant has great food, the service is strange. When we sat down, the owner asked us if we had a reservation, and when we said we did she looked pleased. When some other people came in and she asked them the same question and they said no, she looked very unhappy, and after a while she said no more “walk-ins” and only reservations. Since we could see the kitchen from the counter, it looked very chaotic and not the most efficient. There was a lot of yelling at each other, and they couldn’t hear that well. Once we finally got our soups, the owner came around the counter and stood behind us. She then started instructing us on how to eat the soups. She made us be completely silent, and told us to just have it be “us and the soup”, she then gave us three steps on how to eat the soup, and if we didn’t do it right she would say “No! No!”. Eventually we got to eat our soup in peace. I didn’t find that very annoying, but another person might. It was a good experience going to Tanma Noodles and I’d recommend it.
the food is good but the owner/chef was very pushy. i went with my bf and the second she handed us the food she “taught” us how to eat it and would say things like “no don’t touch it yet” and basically made us listen to that. in a way i appreciate her passion for her food, but we were starving and just wanted to eat. she also did not ask us if we wanted to hear that and i would’ve appreciated her asking us at least
Recommended dishes: Miso Ramen
My boyfriend and I were coming from out of state to see a show in Kingston and he chose to eat here based on the high rating.While the food may have been decent, I did not feel welcome here at all.Because we’re from out of state, we were not aware that we should have made a reservation or called ahead. When we walked in, a woman immediately asked us what time our reservation was for and when I responded that we didn’t have one and we weren’t aware we would need one, she gave me a disgusted look, laughed, and then turned away without saying anything else.A man (who was very nice) came up about a minute later and was able to seat us at the bar in the back.After we ordered, another couple was seated next to us at the bar. We got our food first and when they got their food, the same woman who had greeted us in the beginning was talking with them kindly and explaining how to eat the ramen. She then pointed at me and my boyfriend in her conversation with them and said “you’re not supposed to eat it like that”. (We were not eating it any differently than the other people around us). I couldn’t finish the rest of my ramen after that. I found her so unwelcoming and rude. If we ever come from out of state for a show in that town again, we’re going someplace else.
Restaurantji Recommends
Note that reservations are needed. Ramen was good but not great. We found the service very attentive, although our party of four was seated at the bar, which was a little disappointing. The aesthetics of the restaurant were very cool.Vegetarian options: Of the three or four options for ramen, one is vegetarian, and there are a reasonable number of vegetarian appetizers.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Seaweed Salad
I would give 4 stars if there was a different style of giving how to eat ramen instruction.The ramen I ordered (miso) satisfied my pallet. I disliked the how to eat ramen instruction given by the owner which lasted a few minutes after the ramen was delivered. Her passion for teaching what is the correct way to eat ramen does not only make the ramen broth less hot as well as unsanitary by lecturing over my food. It would be better if she demonstrates so called the "proper way" to eat ramen before ramen gets served.
I've been a long time fan of Youku, her restaurants, her food, her desire to share Japanese culture, commitment to prevent nuclear war (that would ruin my day, I don't know about you), and her radiant presence. I had eaten (and performed) multiple times at the place she used to have in New Paltz. I ate so far one time at Tanma, and the food, ambiance and service were great. You should go both for the food, and to meet Youku and Katsu.
So delicious! The owners are very friendly and will walk you through their menu and how to eat ramen the right way. They have a great sake collection too.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Excellent experience. Reservations are definitely required, especially on busy nights where UPAC has an event. They are very passionate about ramen and do their best to impart the culture on all who visit.I definitely plan on stopping by again.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Miso Ramen, Seaweed Salad