Kumako Den

Rating: 4/5

"I recently dined at Kumako Den Ramen in San Jose, and it was a fantastic experience that deserves 4.5 stars! The cozy, modern vibe of the place instantly sets a welcoming tone. I ordered the tonkotsu ramen, and the broth was rich, creamy, and packed with umami flavor—clearly simmered for hours. The noodles had the perfect chew, and the chashu pork was melt-in-your-mouth tender. The toppings, like the ajitama egg and fresh green onions, added a nice balance.The service was prompt and friendly, with staff checking in just enough to make sure we were happy. My only minor gripe was that the spice level on my "medium spicy" order was a tad milder than expected, but it didn’t detract from the overall deliciousness. The menu also offers great variety, including vegan options, which is a big plus. Prices are reasonable for the quality, and the portion sizes left me satisfied but not overly stuffed. I’m already looking forward to my next visit to try their miso ramen! Highly recommend Kumako Den for any ramen lover in San Jose."

Rating: 4/5

"We visited Kumako Den on July 4th, and it was bustling with activity when we arrived. After around 20min wait to be seated, our expectations were high due to the glowing reviews we'd seen on Google. Nikki, who we believe is the owner, stood out as an attentive and hardworking host. He made an effort to engage with each customer, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere. We ordered the miso soup ramen and what we expected to be tonkatsu with rice. However, there was a mix-up, and we received a bowl of deep-fried pork chop served in a curry soup base instead. Unfortunately, curry isn't our favorite Japanese flavor, as we find it tends to be on the sweeter side. Given the restaurant's busy environment and the lengthy wait for our food, we decided not to address the order mix-up with Nikki. Additionally, the miso soup ramen was a bit saltier than we anticipated, which may have been influenced by the restaurant's hectic pace that day. Despite these hiccups, we genuinely enjoyed our meal, largely thanks to Nikki's dedication to customer service. One suggestion for improvement would be to serve the tonkatsu pork separately when it's included in a soup base. We found that the pork slices became soggy when left to soak in the soup, which detracted from the overall texture."

Rating: 4/5

"This is a gem tuck at the corner. The ramen is pretty authentic. The tonkutsu ramen is particularly good, fried rice is nice too. Tan Tan ramen is kinda of soupy for my taste. Price is reasonable."

Rating: 5/5

"I was in the area and needed some food to refuel myself. I went to a few nearby restaurants and each one said they are closed for lunch each time, I finally came across this and said to myself hopefully they are open because I was really hungry at the moment. Upon arrival, I asked the staff if they were open and was told yes. It was not too busy or packed at the moment and I was seated immediately with my friends. I did not mind for some ramen even though it was on a hot day, because I was in need of a meal. Their menu is simple and straight forward that consists of appetizers, rice bowls, ramen, signature ramens, rice plates, drinks, etc. Everything is homemade and made from scratch which is a plus and I did not mind the wait since I have high patience. All the things I ordered was great and authentic. Their staffs here were very welcoming, well trained and understanding. Lastly everything was totally worth it and I made the right choice. I highly recommend this place to all ramen enthusiasts, love authentic food or just so happen to be in the area and want something good and laid back. I definitely will be back to tryout the other delicious options they have to offer."

Rating: 4/5

"Came here with a few friends for a double date. We got seated immediately at 12 pm but then it got really busy, so we were lucky! Good: - The staff were really fun, they were trolling us at some point and said the wrong order intentionally to mess with us. Really fun people - The duck ramen was so unique and tasty! The portions were perfect for me after a pilates class, filled me up. - The chicken karaage ramen was also really good and the chicken was still fried and good texture even after sitting out! Bad: - The place is a little more casual and not as nice as others but it's a fast place to get food, it comes out quickly Overall this place had tasty ramen and a good in and out experience."