Santa Ramen

1944 S El Camino Real, San Mateo, CA 94403, United States
+1 650-344-5918
$$$ Ramen restaurant
(678 Reviews)
Price Range $10–20

If you're searching for a culinary experience that truly embodies the heart of Japan right in the Bay Area, look no further than Santa Ramen. Located at 1944 S El Camino Real, San Mateo, CA, this ramen restaurant has garnered a loyal following for its authentic flavors and warm, inviting atmosphere.

Santa Ramen serves up an array of delectable options that will tantalize your taste buds. Their menu features an impressive selection of ramen bowls, allowing you to choose from various soup flavors and spice levels. Indulge in their Pork Tonkotsu, a rich and creamy broth that envelops perfectly cooked noodles, or for something with a kick, try the Garlic Pork Tonkotsu. If you crave a unique taste, the Yokohama Style adds a delicious twist that blends miso with the hearty tonkotsu base.

The attention to quality is evident, with each bowl thoughtfully prepared to showcase robust flavors. Personalized customer experiences shine through reviews; for example, Paul Tran recommends pairing your ramen with a refreshing Kirin beer and savoring the chicken karaage, perfectly fried and bursting with flavor. It's this level of care that makes every meal at Santa Ramen a memorable one.

Speaking of chicken, don't miss their Japanese Style Deep Fried Chicken (Karaage), which has surprised many with its generous portion size and crispy perfection—it’s a crowd favorite! While some diners have mentioned the occasional wait time due to the restaurant's popularity, they find the delicious food is well worth it. The passionate staff are always eager to accommodate, ensuring a friendly dining experience that feels tailored just for you.

It's important to note that Santa Ramen can get crowded, especially during peak hours, which speaks to the quality of what you’ll find on your plate. As several reviews indicate, this is a place that blends tradition with a warm community vibe, making it a must-visit for both ramen lovers and first-timers alike.

Whether you're stopping by after shopping at the nearby Nijiya supermarket or planning a dedicated ramen run, be sure to check out Santa Ramen. With its tempting menu, rich broths, and a friendly atmosphere, your taste buds will thank you for this delightful culinary adventure!

Accessibility
Has wheelchair-accessible car park
Has wheelchair-accessible entrance
Has wheelchair-accessible seating
Has wheelchair-accessible toilet
Service options
Offers delivery
Offers takeaway
Serves dine-in
Highlights
Has fast service
Popular for
Popular for lunch
Popular for dinner
Good for solo dining
Offerings
Serves alcohol
Serves beer
Serves comfort food
Serves happy-hour drinks
Serves wine
Dining options
Serves lunch
Serves dinner
Serves dessert
Has seating
Amenities
Has toilet
Has Wi-Fi
Free Wi-Fi
Atmosphere
Casual
Cosy
Trendy
Crowd
Family friendly
Good for groups
LGBTQ+ friendly
Popular with tourists
Popular with university students
Planning
Usually has a wait
Doesn't accept reservations
Payments
Accepts credit cards
Accepts debit cards
Accepts NFC mobile payments
Credit cards
Children
Good for kids
High chairs available
Parking
Free of charge street parking
Free parking lot
Plenty of parking
Openings Hours

Monday

11:00 AM - 2:00 PM

,

5:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Tuesday

Closed

Wednesday

11:00 AM - 2:00 PM

,

5:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Thursday

11:00 AM - 2:00 PM

,

5:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Friday

11:00 AM - 2:00 PM

,

5:00 PM - 8:30 PM

Saturday

11:00 AM - 2:00 PM

,

5:00 PM - 8:30 PM

Sunday

11:00 AM - 2:00 PM

,

5:00 PM - 8:00 PM

678 Reviews
Paul Tran

13 Sep 2025

Order Kirin beer, kim chi, chicken karaage, and pork belly with garlic pork flavor.

Kimberly Iwamoto

26 Aug 2025

I haven't eaten ramen here for a long time. Today I stopped by to eat while shopping at nijiya supermarket. The noodles were cooked to the right texture and the soup was rich, but the pork was too soft and greasy. Service is friendly

Kevin Michalski

13 Aug 2025

I got the pork cheek ramen with extra noodles. I thought the taste was good. It's a smidge pricey ($18 base + $2 noodles) but all the tables were filled when I went, so maybe this is market rate. I had an issue with the clover payment system- the QR code was a dead link on my Android phone. Not sure what was going on, and I consider myself relatively techy.

M H

26 Jul 2025

Wonderful ramen in the most flavorful broth. Note that they close on Tuesdays and has limited hours. Very busy for great reasons

Christina Jain

23 Jul 2025

Portions are huge! The tonkatsu is pretty rich and the Yokohama (tonkatsu + miso) is even more filling, so you won't go home hungry. The chicken karaage was way bigger than I expected too, in a pleasant way, as we got a full-size dinner plate full of chicken. The staff was accommodating of our kiddos, bringing extra bowls for sharing and a high chair. And there was no wait on Sunday evening at 6pm!

Erick Tseng

19 Jun 2025

The ramen here is solid. Probably in the top 5 on the peninsula. The broth is super rich and creamy and packed with umami. The noodles are firm and al dente, just slightly undercooked. The pork belly is meaty and flavorful. Our biggest complaint is that the last couple times we've come here, the kitchen was suuuuper slow. The food took forever to come. In our most recent visit, we waited nearly an hour for our food to arrive. This seems pretty ridiculous. One of the staff is incredible - super warm and attentive. The other staff seem like they'd rather be somewhere else.

Wei-Ai Tai

18 May 2025

One of the more established ramen restaurants in the Bay Area, Santa Ramen started serving their authentic ramen soup well before it became trendy. Their garlic pork ramen has been consistently good for the past two decades, and the service has always been friendly and efficient. Parking lot is shared with several other shops and restaurants in the strip mall, so it can get crowded especially during peak meal hours.

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