Had a fantastic experience at Bad Luck Ramen in Charlottesville! As I walked in, a chef outside (turns out his name is Jason!) recommended the spicy meatballs, and let me tell you, they were incredible. The rich broth and perfectly cooked noodles were delicious, but the meatballs really stole the show. I later told Jason they were "fire" and we got to talking about his passion for using high-quality ingredients and the care he puts into his cooking. As a fellow chef, it was inspiring to hear.The sake was also on point, and the atmosphere is trendy and inviting. Overall, a must-try spot in Charlottesville. I'll definitely be back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Mr Spicy
Kendal Gore
This is my absolute favorite place. The food speaks for itself, it’s wonderful, but I feel like it’s the people that truly make me feel at home. Melissa, Caleb, Robyn, as well as the rest of the staff (whose names i unfortunately can’t recall) always make me feel at home, seen, and cared for as a Charlottesville resident, as a regular, and as a friend. :)
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: 3g Chicken Teriyaki
Hunter Russell
I don't normally write reviews but I was so blown away with how bad my groups experience was today that I feel the need to share.Starting with location, I'm actually amazed we even found it. The GPS will take you on one of the main roads, however you need to drive through a very hilly (and crater filled) driveway around the back of the building to find the door. They have the tiniest signs ever telling you where to go.Atmosphere wasn't bad, booths were reasonably comfortable and the decor was nice.Service was slow, but they were very nice. Restaurant had 2 other tables and it took us about 45 minutes to get our food from the time we walked in the door. Probably the cooks fault tbh.Now onto the food... The pork dumplings were decent; solid appetizer, and the only enjoyable part of our meal. The ramen. Oooohhh the ramen. I have never had worse, I would have been happier eating cup noodles from a 7/11 at 4am. We had a party of 3 and 2 of us ordered the same thing: 2 Nas originals and 1 Mr. Spicy. First of all, the 2 originals came out looking COMPLETELY different despite having the same ingredients. One came out with a standard looking tonkotsu broth that wasnt very good, the other came out super dark and genuinely tasted burnt. THEY BURNT THE BROTH. The only note you could taste in the Mr. Spicy was chilis. No salt, no richness from the pork meatballs, no umami. The Original broth tasted like they threw a couple aromatics into a pot for 30 minutes and called it a day. It wanted to be good, but needed to grow up. The noodles were clearly instant, which I honestly don't care about most of the time but these were soft and firm in ALL the wrong places and had a bizarre sweet undertone that I didn't care for. The Tonkotsu pork was edible but the pork meatballs had to have been 50% panko. They were grainy, flavorless, and didn't have any browning on them whatsoever. The veggies with each bowl were also disappointing. Bok Choi was bitter, mushrooms weren't half bad to me but my table didn't care for them, corn was canned corn. (can't really mess that one up) the only saving grace for any of the bowls was that eggs were perfectly good. Not hard boiled but not runny either, perfect jelly consistency. Still completely flavorless though.It got to the point where me and my friends would keep trying parts of each other's food and laughing after each bite because none of it was good.The drinks were ok. Sake and Sapporo can't miss. Their house saiko sodas were pretty awful though.And to top it all of. My friend and I got sick about 5 hours later. Hope it's a coincidence but I doubt it. This was genuinely the worst restaurant experience I've ever had. I have NEVER felt the need to write a Google review for anything before today but I felt the need to share my thoughts. Take your money elsewhere, not only is this place super overpriced for ramen, it's not even good. Eating here truly is bad luck.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 1
Service: 2
Recommended dishes: Mr Spicy, Nas Original
John Kelle
Amazing ramen!!! Love this place!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
R.I.P. The Dream
Great place to relaxed and unwind. Very down to earth staff and a very artsy environment. They also have great japanese whiskys!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Inari
Spencer Eeten
I believe every self respecting town needs a good ramen place, someplace woth good tonkatsu broth that dosent cost to much, and while this ramen bar is expensive, the broth is just so good. Never before have i had tonkatsu broth with as many layers and notes as a proper glass of red wine. The topping were a little sparce but what was there was very good. The noodles were firm and I cannot understate jist how amazing that broth was. The atmosphere while noisy was also very welcoming and cozy, everybody seemed welcome and happy, it felt like a community, while many other resteraunts and bars i visited don't even get close to its personality and atmosphere. The alcohal is also very good, I'm not much of a drinker but what I got (the jasmine beer) was very nice and floral.In summary, if you want ramen forget the other lousy places that will charge you $16 for a bowl of $6 ramen, and instead come here
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
S
The best place to come for ramen bowls the atmosphere is a vibe . Great place!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Marco Aletto
Love this place. The food is good, the same is great, and the service is top notch. Add in that the atmosphere is cool and unique for Charlottesville, I recommend anyone local support this business and anyone visiting have a great time.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Herbert Shelley
This was my first and last time visiting this establishment. The ramen was awful. We were told it was to die for. The ramen did not measure up at all.
First time in and won’t be the last. We had the pork dumplings, garlic bok choy, momo chicken, and the Japanese cowboy curry. Everything was delicious! The dumplings were crispy on the outside yet juicy inside and the garlic bok choy had a great sesame flavor too. The chicken and curry were fantastic as well. I can’t wait to come back and try the sake.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Nicholas Francis
Delicious Ramen in a fun atmosphere. We got the Mr Spicy and Momo Chicken (with spice bomb) and the mushroom veggie dumplings. All the food was fantastic, servers were super nice and personable, and atmosphere was very fun, especially at night. We tried all of the Sake which was very good as well as some of the local beers.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Roger Cook
You need ramen, we all do, so for a tasty bowl check out Bad Luck Ramen Bar! The Ramen was great, we had the Mr spicy and Smoky and the Veg. Both had great flavor, with the Veg bowl standing out with deliciousness. Great location and vibe inside and out. Outdoor seating is dog friendly!! They brew their own sake there as well! Our server was awesome. The food, delicious. Check them out!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Valerie Hill
Seriously tasty ramen and house made Sake. Great service and friendly staff. We got ramen for takeout as the plan to eat late night after a concert. It was perfectly packaged for our needs and ready to heat up when we got home. I got the extra spice bomb and that was SO flavorful I just tossed the whole thing in there. 10/10. Bonus: Spicy soup=no hangover the next day. The four hour drive back to PA was a breeze, thanks to you. No bad luck here! Will definitely return when we are back in the area next time.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Andy J
Bad Luck Ramen... It's in the name folks.My recent visit to Bad Luck Ramen left me with a sour taste, both literally and metaphorically. With a price tag of $19 (after tax included), I expected a dining experience that justified the cost, but unfortunately, I was sorely disappointed.Let's start with the noodles themselves. The appearance of the noodles immediately raised suspicions; they looked like your run-of-the-mill, cheap store-bought variety. The lack of effort in crafting a unique or authentic noodle experience was disheartening. It appeared that the chef relied heavily on salt alone to carry the flavor profile, which everyone knows is the cheap way out.What added insult to injury was the ambiance. If you're seeking a tranquil and oriental atmosphere for your ramen indulgence, Bad Luck Ramen falls short. Instead of soothing traditional music, the restaurant was blaring loud and annoying club bangers, creating an atmosphere that was far from conducive to a relaxed dining experience you would hope for.Perhaps the only saving grace of this unfortunate culinary adventure was the friendly waiter who efficiently handled our checkout process and was very friendly - at least he's doing his job right.In conclusion, if you're looking for a satisfying ramen experience that justifies the price, Bad Luck Ramen may not be the place for you. The lackluster noodles, overreliance on salt, disruptive ambiance, and a hefty bill make it a regrettable choice for those seeking an authentic and enjoyable ramen outing. Save your money and explore other, more promising options in the area.
Had a fantastic experience at Bad Luck Ramen in Charlottesville! As I walked in, a chef outside (turns out his name is Jason!) recommended the spicy meatballs, and let me tell you, they were incredible. The rich broth and perfectly cooked noodles were delicious, but the meatballs really stole the show. I later told Jason they were "fire" and we got to talking about his passion for using high-quality ingredients and the care he puts into his cooking. As a fellow chef, it was inspiring to hear.The sake was also on point, and the atmosphere is trendy and inviting. Overall, a must-try spot in Charlottesville. I'll definitely be back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Mr Spicy
This is my absolute favorite place. The food speaks for itself, it’s wonderful, but I feel like it’s the people that truly make me feel at home. Melissa, Caleb, Robyn, as well as the rest of the staff (whose names i unfortunately can’t recall) always make me feel at home, seen, and cared for as a Charlottesville resident, as a regular, and as a friend. :)
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: 3g Chicken Teriyaki
I don't normally write reviews but I was so blown away with how bad my groups experience was today that I feel the need to share.Starting with location, I'm actually amazed we even found it. The GPS will take you on one of the main roads, however you need to drive through a very hilly (and crater filled) driveway around the back of the building to find the door. They have the tiniest signs ever telling you where to go.Atmosphere wasn't bad, booths were reasonably comfortable and the decor was nice.Service was slow, but they were very nice. Restaurant had 2 other tables and it took us about 45 minutes to get our food from the time we walked in the door. Probably the cooks fault tbh.Now onto the food... The pork dumplings were decent; solid appetizer, and the only enjoyable part of our meal. The ramen. Oooohhh the ramen. I have never had worse, I would have been happier eating cup noodles from a 7/11 at 4am. We had a party of 3 and 2 of us ordered the same thing: 2 Nas originals and 1 Mr. Spicy. First of all, the 2 originals came out looking COMPLETELY different despite having the same ingredients. One came out with a standard looking tonkotsu broth that wasnt very good, the other came out super dark and genuinely tasted burnt. THEY BURNT THE BROTH. The only note you could taste in the Mr. Spicy was chilis. No salt, no richness from the pork meatballs, no umami. The Original broth tasted like they threw a couple aromatics into a pot for 30 minutes and called it a day. It wanted to be good, but needed to grow up. The noodles were clearly instant, which I honestly don't care about most of the time but these were soft and firm in ALL the wrong places and had a bizarre sweet undertone that I didn't care for. The Tonkotsu pork was edible but the pork meatballs had to have been 50% panko. They were grainy, flavorless, and didn't have any browning on them whatsoever. The veggies with each bowl were also disappointing. Bok Choi was bitter, mushrooms weren't half bad to me but my table didn't care for them, corn was canned corn. (can't really mess that one up) the only saving grace for any of the bowls was that eggs were perfectly good. Not hard boiled but not runny either, perfect jelly consistency. Still completely flavorless though.It got to the point where me and my friends would keep trying parts of each other's food and laughing after each bite because none of it was good.The drinks were ok. Sake and Sapporo can't miss. Their house saiko sodas were pretty awful though.And to top it all of. My friend and I got sick about 5 hours later. Hope it's a coincidence but I doubt it. This was genuinely the worst restaurant experience I've ever had. I have NEVER felt the need to write a Google review for anything before today but I felt the need to share my thoughts. Take your money elsewhere, not only is this place super overpriced for ramen, it's not even good. Eating here truly is bad luck.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 1
Service: 2
Recommended dishes: Mr Spicy, Nas Original
Amazing ramen!!! Love this place!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Great place to relaxed and unwind. Very down to earth staff and a very artsy environment. They also have great japanese whiskys!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Inari
I believe every self respecting town needs a good ramen place, someplace woth good tonkatsu broth that dosent cost to much, and while this ramen bar is expensive, the broth is just so good. Never before have i had tonkatsu broth with as many layers and notes as a proper glass of red wine. The topping were a little sparce but what was there was very good. The noodles were firm and I cannot understate jist how amazing that broth was. The atmosphere while noisy was also very welcoming and cozy, everybody seemed welcome and happy, it felt like a community, while many other resteraunts and bars i visited don't even get close to its personality and atmosphere. The alcohal is also very good, I'm not much of a drinker but what I got (the jasmine beer) was very nice and floral.In summary, if you want ramen forget the other lousy places that will charge you $16 for a bowl of $6 ramen, and instead come here
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
The best place to come for ramen bowls the atmosphere is a vibe . Great place!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Love this place. The food is good, the same is great, and the service is top notch. Add in that the atmosphere is cool and unique for Charlottesville, I recommend anyone local support this business and anyone visiting have a great time.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
This was my first and last time visiting this establishment. The ramen was awful. We were told it was to die for. The ramen did not measure up at all.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 1
Service: 4
Delicious ramen!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
First time in and won’t be the last. We had the pork dumplings, garlic bok choy, momo chicken, and the Japanese cowboy curry. Everything was delicious! The dumplings were crispy on the outside yet juicy inside and the garlic bok choy had a great sesame flavor too. The chicken and curry were fantastic as well. I can’t wait to come back and try the sake.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Delicious Ramen in a fun atmosphere. We got the Mr Spicy and Momo Chicken (with spice bomb) and the mushroom veggie dumplings. All the food was fantastic, servers were super nice and personable, and atmosphere was very fun, especially at night. We tried all of the Sake which was very good as well as some of the local beers.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
You need ramen, we all do, so for a tasty bowl check out Bad Luck Ramen Bar! The Ramen was great, we had the Mr spicy and Smoky and the Veg. Both had great flavor, with the Veg bowl standing out with deliciousness. Great location and vibe inside and out. Outdoor seating is dog friendly!! They brew their own sake there as well! Our server was awesome. The food, delicious. Check them out!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Seriously tasty ramen and house made Sake. Great service and friendly staff. We got ramen for takeout as the plan to eat late night after a concert. It was perfectly packaged for our needs and ready to heat up when we got home. I got the extra spice bomb and that was SO flavorful I just tossed the whole thing in there. 10/10. Bonus: Spicy soup=no hangover the next day. The four hour drive back to PA was a breeze, thanks to you. No bad luck here! Will definitely return when we are back in the area next time.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Bad Luck Ramen... It's in the name folks.My recent visit to Bad Luck Ramen left me with a sour taste, both literally and metaphorically. With a price tag of $19 (after tax included), I expected a dining experience that justified the cost, but unfortunately, I was sorely disappointed.Let's start with the noodles themselves. The appearance of the noodles immediately raised suspicions; they looked like your run-of-the-mill, cheap store-bought variety. The lack of effort in crafting a unique or authentic noodle experience was disheartening. It appeared that the chef relied heavily on salt alone to carry the flavor profile, which everyone knows is the cheap way out.What added insult to injury was the ambiance. If you're seeking a tranquil and oriental atmosphere for your ramen indulgence, Bad Luck Ramen falls short. Instead of soothing traditional music, the restaurant was blaring loud and annoying club bangers, creating an atmosphere that was far from conducive to a relaxed dining experience you would hope for.Perhaps the only saving grace of this unfortunate culinary adventure was the friendly waiter who efficiently handled our checkout process and was very friendly - at least he's doing his job right.In conclusion, if you're looking for a satisfying ramen experience that justifies the price, Bad Luck Ramen may not be the place for you. The lackluster noodles, overreliance on salt, disruptive ambiance, and a hefty bill make it a regrettable choice for those seeking an authentic and enjoyable ramen outing. Save your money and explore other, more promising options in the area.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 4