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Shin-Sen-Gumi Irvine in Irvine

4.4 (199) 6404 Irvine Blvd, Irvine, CA 92620, United States

Categories

Japanese restaurant
Izakaya restaurant
Ramen restaurant
Restaurant
Udon noodle restaurant

Location on the map

Irvine, Orange County, California, US

Phone: +1 949-596-7036
Site: http://shinsengumigroup.com/

Opening hours

Monday:11 AM–3 PM
Tuesday:11 AM–3 PM
Wednesday:11 AM–3 PM
Thursday:11 AM–3 PM
Friday:11 AM–3 PM
Saturday:11 AM–11 PM
Sunday:11 AM–10 PM

Edit info

Total reviews rating 4.4

199 Reviews for Shin-Sen-Gumi Irvine 2024:

Review №1

2023-12-03 06:44:06

Visited the one after a very long time. It seems they have more Idin options since the last time I visited. We ordered Nabeyaki using, Hamata Ramen with shrimps tempura roll set, seaweed salad, deep fried Gyoza. The ramen is so delicious and its my go to place for Ramen. Definitely to check out this place and enjoy yummy ramen when youre in area.

Review №2

2023-07-08 04:24:43

We went on Sunday and had to wait a little but got seated soon. The Hakata soup base is Tonkotsu pork with think noodles, which is my choice. You can ask for different noodles with extra charge. I really like their pork fried rice, its a must to try next time you go there, delicious 😋

Review №3

2023-11-29 18:41:11

Shin-Sen-Gumi is such a really great place. Im so grateful that Shin-Sen-Gumi can bring an amazing traditional Japanese cuisine to your mouth. Shin-Sen-Gumi was able to introduce this amazing flavorful taste to Orange County. Coming here, Shin-Sen-Gumi can really make amazing broth that is really comforting for the soul.Wait-time. Usually check-in and join the wait list from Yelp. The front desk is very kind and all of the staff is very friendly and kind. There are times its hard to get the attention of the staff like I had to get scissors to cut the noodles, plastic bowl, and plastic utensils so my toddler can eat.What we usually purchasedAppetizers.Soboro Bowl (s) - Share this with my toddler too. There are times he wants rice and some other times he wants rice.Vegetable Gyoza - Perfect. Always order this and its great to share with my family. So good!Deep Fried Chicken Skin - Very good, fresh, and crispy.Jumbo Shrimp Tempura - Also sooo good!!RamenHakata Ramen - Great portions, I usually share this with my toddler. I don’t put ginger and do everything normal so he can enjoy it.Shrimp Cream Sauce Udon - Great Portions. Great Flavor.Overall, Im giving this place 4 stars because of the services. If Im with a toddler who is hungry, why is it hard for me to get utensils for my toddler or to get a refill. There are also times the server didn’t go over our order and we don’t get everything. The server didn’t even apologize.

Review №4

2023-11-15 20:06:03

Tl;Dr: The service here has never been worse last Sunday. Left a bad taste in my mouth that ruined dinner. Avoid getting seated at the window side bar.I come here almost every month but this most recent one was so bad I might not come back to this location (at least for a while).Just as the dinner rush was dying down we got seated by the window bar. This was a mistake and you should definitely avoid this, especially if its busy.As the restaurant emptied out on Sunday, for some reason we were continually forgotten in this corner of the restaurant and service was virtually nonexistent. Even after finally locking eyes with someone and asking for waters or other items, they were still forgotten multiple times or never came. I also noticed other customers along this bar constantly waiting extra long or getting their orders wrong repeatedly. Just an extremely frustrating and disappointing dinner. If I knew I would get service this bad and wait this long I would just have ordered to go.The ramen though, was still great and for 12.50 is always such a great value. I highly recommend getting the noodles firm :)Food: 9/10Service: 1/10Atmosphere: 2/10Value: 5/10

Review №5

2023-06-15 21:08:39

Overall a great experience! The food was amazing and the time between the food was very short! My partner never tried black sesame dish before but absolutely loved the sesame spinach. They also have vegan options for people like me, the vegan poke dish was amazing!

Review №6

2023-09-05 18:33:06

Delicious udon at fair pricing in large bowls. Definitely get the regular size. The large size is just the regular with extra noodles. The udon was chewy in the best possible way, the tempura freshly fried, and a warming soup. Takoyaki was also plump and flavorful. Looking forward to coming again to try the ramen.The service was fast and kind. The ambiance was lively and had a sense of community!

Review №7

2023-04-19 18:54:13

Quality control is pretty bad. Got a barcode sticker in my veggies.They also got my ramen wrong. I ordered hard noodles. When they brought it out, I asked if the one he gave me was hard or if he gave my wife the hard noodles. While he went to ask, I mixed my noodles. He came back with a bowl of hard noodles for me and gave my bowl to the customer behind me. Very unsanitary.

Review №8

2023-12-09 21:46:31

This was a great lunch experience. Theyre also extremely kid friendly. The bathroom has an actual change table, and the kids meal is really good - lots of options and good portions.We got the snow mountain, egg drop udon, and kids udon. Everything was very tasty, fresh, and well done. We will definitely be back.

Review №9

2023-08-23 15:47:55

We got to this place by accident, and we totally dont regret it. The food was delicious, the service was great. Very very happy with this place.

Review №10

2023-12-02 17:46:43

This is one of my favorite places to eat!! I try to make it here at least once a week!! The food is always fresh and delicious! The staff is always friendly. I highly recommend this spot if you like this type of food!!

Review №11

2023-06-30 20:25:13

Came here for lunch. No wait. sat down. Ordered lunch set, udon soup & takoyaki. Food came pretty quick.

Review №12

2023-10-24 18:08:38

Pretty decent choice of ramen and toppings, although a bit on the pricier side compared to what youre getting.

Review №13

2022-05-19 02:04:25

My favorite ramen place of all time. Though they don’t have that many vegetables ramen options, I am glad they at least have one dish I like. The spicy miso udon. I make sure to remind them strictly no meat/pork. It is my favorite. Whenever I go there, I always ask for that dish.

Review №14

2019-11-06 00:19:17

DELICIOUS!! Nice, wide variety of ramen, udons and side dishes. Order with their check in or fill in order form. Awesome lunch special deals. Workers were courteous, helpful and friendly. We got there right when they opened at 11 and by 12 the place was nearly 3/4 filled with customers and Im sure for their lunch specials. My seafood tomatoe udon was BEST and different from what I ever tried. Worth the money

Review №15

2019-10-19 05:28:26

Decent ramen place. Im not sure I like this style of ramen, but they do have many customization options and the udon is good. The kimchi udon and the curry udon were good. For some reason, the ramen portions were normal, but the udon portions were giant.

Review №16

2023-06-07 03:43:17

Great ramen with lots of options and specials. Hakta broth is a great base and the offer tons of customizations. Highly recommend!

Review №17

2022-07-18 00:17:39

One of the best Ramen chains in California. This is due to their very customizable Ramen dish with their base being a traditional Tonkotsu Ramen. Ordering is very simple, they give you a sheet where you can check off what you want to order and any toppings and sides you want to add. Overall, a great Ramen experience.

Review №18

2019-01-27 17:41:58

Make sure to put your name on the wait list early because this place is popular! The ramen I got was excellent in every way. Great noodles, great broth, and spicy enough to burn a hole through me. When its busy, this is sort of a loud environment, but still comfortable. The service was also on point!

Review №19

2021-12-05 22:21:01

I was never a fan of udon but this place just changed my mind about that in the most surprising way. We had the Ultimate Curry Udon, Softself crab, and the sausage and they were pleasantly amazing. Service was top notch too. Definitely will go back. The portion is quite big for us, we ordered the regular size and it could feed two people.

Review №20

2019-04-07 21:06:40

The best noodle place in Irvine!; if you decide to eat here; recommend book your table first - they are very busy but worth the effort.My absolute favorite dish here is the beef curry. The sizes can be confusing since they all come in the same size bowl - but what makes them different are the amount of noodles. So Medium is my choice with a side of white rice.My 3 year old loves the lemonade. I didn’t like the “order your own style” when they switched to it a year ago but have started to like it now since the order is exactly the way I like it.When all the employees say hi when you come in and tank you when you leave - it’s the place to be.

Review №21

2019-02-16 20:04:48

We love the lunch options and pricing here! Everything is well presented and tasted pretty good! One star taken off because we need to be more environmental friendly by not having to scribble down our orders on a piece of paper.

Review №22

2023-08-09 05:12:00

Shin-Sen-Gumi in Irvine has won my heart with its authentic Japanese cuisine and charming ambiance. From the moment I walked in, I was enveloped in a cozy atmosphere that transported me to Japan.The ramen was a revelation—a steaming bowl of comfort that warmed my soul. The broth was rich and flavorful, and the noodles were cooked to perfection. The customization options allowed me to create a bowl that suited my preferences perfectly.The attention to detail extended beyond the food. The friendly staff and efficient service added to the overall positive experience. They ensured that every aspect of my meal was enjoyable.Shin-Sen-Gumi Irvine is a hidden gem that offers a genuine taste of Japan right in the heart of Irvine. If youre seeking a delicious and authentic Japanese dining experience, this restaurant deserves a spot on your must-visit list. Its a star establishment that delivers on taste, ambiance, and hospitality

Review №23

2018-06-08 11:46:59

I’ve been to two other Shin-Sen-Gumi’s and this is by far the best one. It was spacious, clean, and had a over all good look to it. They got our order right and we received our food extremely quick. It does become packed very quickly though, so make sure you get there early. It has free parking and a nice area to wait at. The employees are also nice. They double checked our order before they made it. Best store so far!

Review №24

2022-08-23 20:53:11

We wanna have some ramen and found this place have good reviews. We ordered Hakata Ramen, fried chicken, Udon, and squid legs. Unfortunately, the ramen soup is just ok. The Udon has no flavor at all. Fried chicken is too chewy. And most of the squid legs cooked too long and burnt. They only good point is the space is roomy and they have my kids coloring paper and they like it.

Review №25

2019-07-15 06:20:24

I love the concept and place. Great food.Specially love the add on flavor-bomb pastes. While this one dies not, some places have the curry-bomb which is the best freaking thing in the whole universe.The only -ve or flip point is that the food snd sides are not hot. Apart from this bit, everything from the taste, texture, staff, running, flavor is perfect!Theres a huge parking lot for this square right outside and this place also has easy access.

Review №26

2021-01-28 01:51:43

Love this place. Located inside the woodbury town center with plenty of shops to visit. Outdoor sitting as well as free WiFi available for guests. The customizable Ramens is great. The lunch set is such a bargain and delicious (I opted for additional toppings i.e., soft boiled egg, but there are tons of additional toppings available to choose). The customer service was super as well. Highly recommend this place.

Review №27

2023-10-31 02:14:40

Very enthusiastic staffDelicious udon!

Review №28

2021-12-22 21:41:30

Delicious Ramen! Clean environment, fast service and friend staff. My favorite place to eat at Woodbury Town Centre.

Review №29

2021-08-17 21:10:55

Udon + Ramen place.Serves one type of ramen (basic chashu pork ramen) with a large amount of options for customization (noodle firmness, saltiness, oil level, fat level, + all toppings) so dont expect to choose from other types of ramen broth.Way more variety in udon, and a good selection of sides as well. May seem on the pricier side, but the amount you get is also fairly large. Pictured is ultimate curry udon, shrimp tempura curry udon, and shrimp tempura udon. All regular sizes.Udon noodle was softer than my liking, but still good.

Review №30

2021-05-06 03:58:37

I had the ramen and spicy tuna roll. The sushi was great but the ramen was so so, the noodles werent good and the broth less than good. My wife had the chicken skewers and loved them. Great service!

Review №31

2019-05-12 04:16:26

Ramen is great, but they have a weird set of “rules” at the front. Not exactly a welcoming move on their part. But the staff is actually very friendly and quick. Great place overall.

Review №32

2021-08-02 01:47:22

Our favorite ramen. Hands down. Ive been to this location, Fountain Valley, and one in LA. Theyre all delicious. This one tends to not be too crazy busy which is great. Ramen... Delicious. All the appetizers... Delicious. Literally everything is delicious. I crave this stuff.

Review №33

2019-11-07 00:16:28

Must say first you get transported to japan when you walk in. they acknowledge you like you are in japan. everything i tried was good. i ordered the overload that came with a pork rib. next time ill order it with extra noodle. had the gyoza, potato salad, and spicy chasu bowl everything was awesome. service was great cant say enough!

Review №34

2020-03-01 22:16:48

This Shinsengumi is located at Woodbury Town Center. In this place the Udon is said to be more delicious than ramen, so today I tried udon curry and it was delicious with a delicious beef. Friendly and fast service.

Review №35

2019-03-23 06:12:30

THIS PLACE IS AMAZINGGGGG! The wait is pretty long tbh (45 minutes), I came to eat here on a Friday night so I dont know the average wait time.There is a waitlist you can sign up for, not entirely sure if you can sign in for it before you arrive or not but the wait time was kinda long like I had mentioned. But in my personal opinion, it was definitely worth the wait. This was my first time trying ramen and Im kind of a foodie so if youre looking for a really good ramen place to kick off your ramen V-card, this is definitely the place. Will DEFINITELY be coming back!

Review №36

2019-05-06 02:06:22

Walked in on a Sunday at 4pm and was seated immediately. I sat at the bar and ordered the ramen with a soft boiled egg and the beef/pork wontons. I highly recommend both, they were delicious. Next time Im going to order the noodles soft instead of regular firmness, they were a bit tough for me personally. Overall great ramen.

Review №37

2017-07-19 04:49:55

It started with incredible service from Sally at the door and continued at our table.The food was incredibly flavored and great portions.Incredible. Amazing. Stupendous. Take your pick of descriptive words. Whatever you do, get on down for some curry, Udon, and burdock!

Review №38

2021-05-26 18:45:07

Food is tasty. The service not great though they are in a rush to close the store. I asked to use the bathroom while i was dining there and they told me they have cleaned the bathroom!!!!! The other server let me go and use it but wow never heard that before.

Review №39

2019-07-23 03:08:01

Cool place. Had udon, salad, ice cream & a beer. Very friendly, attentive service even though the place was packed. Creative menu, very authentic but at the same time unique.

Review №40

2018-09-27 02:49:50

Awesome Ramen. Quick service. Spacious bar and seating area. Open kitchen for display. Soft boiled Tamago is excellent, which is the true mark for Japanese food excellence.

Review №41

2018-11-24 19:43:32

Awesome Japanese restaurant! Very friendly staff . Ordering ramen here is a bit different because you can choose the firmness of the Noodles!! Which was a first for me but a great experience.

Review №42

2021-01-26 15:53:43

First experience at a Japanese ramen bar. Staff are friendly and helpful to those that are less experienced (like myself). Always a wait but it’s never too long during busy hours. Worth it.

Review №43

2023-05-16 03:29:00

Definitely was better in the past. It was not busy, but took forever to get our food. There was hardly any beef in my beef rice bowl. We had to remind server twice that we had not received our entire order and they kept bringing us the wrong dishes.

Review №44

2016-10-23 03:05:43

Good ramen but not as good as fountain valley. Price is also a little bit higher and no lunch menu set. The udon was not that good. The tempura batter is too much and shrimp is barely there. It taste soggy after in udon. Udon not chewy enough.

Review №45

2023-11-19 17:58:56

They now have a dedicated vegan and vegetarian meals and they are all delicious!!

Review №46

2017-12-10 23:19:36

Delicious ramen and udon. Made in-house daily. This location also has a number of creamy western udon options.

Review №47

2019-04-28 07:22:58

+ Very clean+ Service is quick, courteous, and responsive+ Food is delicious+ Food experience, for most part, was on part at the other Shin-Sen-Gumi restaurants Ive been to+ This place had add-on sales - Ive never seen that before from another location+ Location is really good and parking is decent+ Very short wait, which is not common at their other locations+ They have more ramen choices compared to some of their other locations* The day I went to this location, the chashu was sub-par, but Ive never experiences this anywhere else* Other franchise locations are a bit less expensive

Review №48

2023-03-18 20:55:59

Absolutely the worst want to be Japanese food I’ve ever tasted. Ramen and fried rice were sour, gyoza were unbelievably bad and the prices were high for such garbage. I will never, ever even consider returning to this horrible non Japanese restaurant and I highly suggest you NEVER COME HERE. I lived in Japan for 5 years and I know Japanese food. This isn’t even close. It’s absolutely the worst Asian restaurant I’ve been to in Irvine. Maybe all of America. STAY AWAY FROM HERE. I’m very sad for any other reviewer who likes this place. You’ve clearly never had real Japanese food and you’re missing out!

Review №49

2019-02-16 06:26:06

Quick service with attentive servers, I would recommend getting their classic Hakata Ramen! You can customize how you want your noodles and broth. Check in on Yelp for estimated wait time.

Review №50

2022-03-08 04:43:28

Curry udon with pork katsu is alright. I dont recommend the ultimate curry tho because the fried shrimp is so bland. Also the spam musubi is wayyyy too salty. Had to drink gallons of water after dining in here.Update:Service is unsatisfactory, food is mediocre. And what the heck is up with this portion size. Six pieces of finger sized gyoza for 5 dollars LOL. My hand aint even that big. Also tastes like the frozen ones that you can get at Asian supermarkets. Smh

Review №51

2019-09-06 16:23:22

Food was delicious and the service was friendly. As others have called out, the price for udon and ramen is above average.

Review №52

2022-12-26 19:03:42

The interesting fact they have Hispanic men as the sushi chiefs, they are clean fast sharp polite greet you when you walk in. They are busy, busy, food going out and food going to the table. Sushi fresh try the eel, and tuna amazing. Always try a new dish and have fun sitting at the bar

Review №53

2023-02-12 03:06:53

Ordered 2 hakata ramen via Checknow and Toast. Checknow only allows ordering of toppings and doesnt allow cancelation. Ordered through Toast and actually got the ramen and soup. Why would there be an app for ordering just the toppings without the noodle or soup? For $15, I got 6 small sauce containers of pickled veggies.Dining area is small but clean. Dinner time is pretty packed.

Review №54

2017-04-23 21:25:20

Affordable, delicious, filling, and fast. If you need a quick bowl of ramen, or want to have a delicious night out with the family that wont break the bank, hit this place up

Review №55

2023-05-14 10:03:43

Soup has unnecessary high fat content. Pickled ginger doesn’t go with ramen. Need more Vege and spice.

Review №56

2023-04-19 18:48:38

I’ve been loving SSG for 20 years. This location is nothing compared to the original Fountain Valley one, from service to their food quality! Such a bummer for SSG reputation.

Review №57

2022-10-05 17:25:18

Ive visited most locations of Shin-Sen-Gumi in orange county and southern LA and this is by far my favorite. Lots of seating so its easy to get a table. Super nice staff. Nice saki flavor offerings. Great location.

Review №58

2023-08-21 23:44:18

Ramen and its soup are delicious but dont forget to try its curry udon. Size of dish is just right for an adult.

Review №59

2023-03-05 18:26:15

Great, great ramen. Loved it. Best Ive had outside of Kyoto, Japan. Will definitely go back when Im in the area next.

Review №60

2019-04-11 05:28:25

Have the udon here first time and not bad at all. The larger is alot food but price bit high side

Review №61

2019-02-04 03:55:53

Better than expected Udon. I no longer eat pork so unfortunately I couldn’t taste their Tonkatsu ramen.

Review №62

2022-03-22 04:47:57

I literally feel like I’m in heaven when I get their spicy miso udon. Damn it’s good.

Review №63

2022-01-04 13:51:32

Yeah, its pretty good, considering the price. Service is quick, but the place is usually crowd so you may have to share a table. Awkward when Im enjoy my Sapporo and and trying not to make eye contact with a father airplaning his 3 yo. Definitely recommend for college students.

Review №64

2022-02-08 00:45:27

Just not my jam, I guess. Had new Vegan food choices. Did not like. People are very nice. Service is very slow. Probably just not my taste. The rest of the menu is supposed to be quite good, but its mainly pork-based and I dont do pork. Ah well. On to the next.

Review №65

2022-10-17 22:03:57

Always a great place to stop by for lunch. My daughter and I usually get the Hakata Raman, which is always very good. My wife gets the vegetarian Raman. The veggie reman takes a great picture, but I prefer the Hakata Ramen. No new update, still great Raman

Review №66

2022-10-21 10:58:05

They have a side for ramen and a side for yakitori

Review №67

2022-04-27 01:50:43

I ordered the large size Curry pork udon, with sides of Kimchee, gyoza,fried pig ear, for desert the chocolate cake and ice-cream also the coffee jelly. All was delicious and the service was perfect. We arrived at 5pm on a Tuesday and got to sit wherever so we chose a booth. First timer here Ill definitely be back, two thumbs way up.

Review №68

2023-09-29 21:34:36

Very nice host and quick takeout.. yummy

Review №69

2022-10-03 23:32:37

Of all Shinsengumi locations, this one is the best. Always quality. You will never wait longer than 30mins to get a table due to its location.Location-wise, if you have to choose between Foutain Valley or Irvine locations, take the extra time to go to Irvine. Youll be glad you did. Fountain Valley is awful and will get you sick.

Review №70

2018-12-10 02:14:52

One of the best Raman noodle places. Recommend to anyone who loves Raman noodles

Review №71

2016-10-16 01:01:54

Very good ramen. Not as good as the Fountain Valley location but still very good

Review №72

2021-07-11 03:53:36

This was the worst ramen ever. I ordered two ramens, two BBQ ribs and deep fry squid tails to go. Nothing was tasty. Ramens tasted like fast food. BBQ ribs had a weird smell. Soup and others was OK. And it is expensive as well. Do not waste your money here.

Review №73

2021-09-25 04:14:57

Excellent selection of Ramen... can even customize your own...

Review №74

2020-02-26 08:37:07

The place is good. Their ramen is ok and so is their udon. Good service though.

Review №75

2021-10-15 21:39:18

One of my favorite ramen chains. Ive stayed in Japan for a few months and Shin-Sen-Gumi definitely comes close. This location also serves udon too! I recommend the appetizers! Aribiki sausages, pork ears and chicken cartridge! Dont knock it till you try it!!

Review №76

2020-11-18 21:47:17

Amazing quality of food great customer service overall an amazing experience highly recommend

Review №77

2021-07-06 22:18:37

I don’t know how they mess it up so badly yesterday. This location’s quality control is a mess. I ordered two ramen with no ginger, and they gave me ginger. Light soup base and it was super salty. I even found a piece of styrofoam in the ramen, and none of the containers had styrofoam.

Review №78

2019-10-12 02:20:14

Kaitlyn was our server and she was very good. Kind, thoughtful and attentive. Daniel is often here and is also another amazing server who is quick to serve and very kind. No service has ever been bad but these two have stood out above an already stellar pack.The food here is delicious and the way you order makes it very flexible and customizable for anyone interested in ramen. The prices are affordable if you just want a simple bowl of ramen and you can add on so many yummy things too. It’s definitely a place meant to turn tables so it is usually really quick service but the place is popular so check in before you are hungry. We have brought several friends here and everyone always adds it to one of the favorites. Must try for anyone wanting to eat some yummy ramen.

Review №79

2019-09-29 00:28:29

This place has the best broth around. They are also very customer-oriented, allowing you to customize of your ramen according to your personal preferences. Their customer service and food quality is always excellent as well as their cleanliness and speed of service. Definitely best bowl of ramen youll have in Orange County.

Review №80

2022-04-19 06:30:25

4/18/2022 Came here for lunch last week because Asian Tapas was closed. My noodle was over cooked.. this should be a sin for a noodle house. Flavor and service was good.

Review №81

2019-09-30 05:15:01

Just happened to be their third anniversary and half price on the ramen. It was good and the broth was full flavor and I can smell the pork. It was very bright inside, more bright than a library. Staff was friendly.

Review №82

2019-04-17 08:21:52

Ordered appetizers and shared a bowl of noodles with duck. The foods tasted great. The service was ok. They seemed kind of fast serving place, but they also serve good selection of sake. Big open place, so their noise level is high.

Review №83

2023-10-16 19:26:41

Delicious food, but very noisy and crowded at peak hours

Review №84

2023-01-08 19:08:38

Just delicious curry, Ramen and food in general!! 🤤 So far my number 1 place in the area to go eat Japanese food.

Review №85

2017-08-05 05:52:38

The ramen and udon soups are so rich and flavorful. These noodle bowls are prepared to your taste. The noodle texture in the ramen is quite delightful. The restaurant has a variety of food here. Generally, the food is really good. Service is fast and friendly. However, the menu here is a bit pricey. Our family come here often. I recommend it.

Review №86

2019-08-18 17:09:51

First Time Review: So some friends and I came to this place late night, about an hour before closing. I ordered the Ultimate Curry Udon (Large), and Ill spare the dramatics: I wolfed the bowl down. It was perfect.The dish included udon noodles in a nicely textured curry, with shrimp tempura, beef, and pork cutlets in the style of katsu. This dish was fantastic.The service is worth mentioning, as the staff was very happy to help us newcomers with suggestions about sides and garnishes. As mentioned before, we went in late-night... and as tough as it is to close a restaurant while hungry patrons come in, they did not deter. The staff... A++5/5 for Shin Sen Gumi, Irvine.

Review №87

2019-03-04 04:47:32

Nice ramen ans udon place, a little expensive.

Review №88

2023-12-02 01:59:01

Always great service and food at this location.

Review №89

2019-01-30 18:17:46

The atmosphere here is really updated and nice, and the service is good - but the food is a little lacking. Compared to the location in Fountain Valley, the broth is bland and the experience seems a lot less authentic feeling. Not necessarily bad, but not what I look for in a ramen restaurant.

Review №90

2016-12-28 18:30:56

The service is great here!! Everyone works as a team and it helps get customers in and out. The ramen can get quiet expensive because everything is à la carte. You want an egg? Thats $1.75 extra. Corn? $1.00 extra, and so on. The ramen is also pretty salty so I always leave feeling sluggish. Its delicious while youre eating, but you definitely notice the salt once youre done.

Review №91

2020-01-19 02:00:09

Our favorite ramen in OC so far. I have a preference for hakata style ramen. The normal ramen you can choose your richness, saltiness and noodle texture. The broth is light yet creamy and the noodles have an excellent consistency. We also had the gyoza which was just ok. The kids menu is great giving them ramen or udon, french fries, sausages, rice ball, lollipop and a balloon. Whole family really liked it and we have a picky 9 year old!

Review №92

2019-08-21 00:54:02

Delicious Japanese udon. The price is a tad high for noodles but the service is pretty friendly and quick. The soup (broth) is very genuine. Definitely worth a try and probably will return.

Review №93

2020-10-24 01:26:38

Since Im not making my weekend trips to L.A. to eat due to COVID I need to eat at different places by me. I need to start doing more reviews. Food courts in a shopping plaza are the perfect place. You can try something different each visit.Today I went to Shin Sen Gumi for some good Chinese food. I got lunch special A which was a bowl of ramen, 1/2 order of fried rice, and 1/2 order of Gyoza. I also got Green Tea. I got my food to go so I could sit by the fountain.This is a good deal for the high rent district this shopping center is in. The ramen was delicious, and the broth was hot. I may ask if I can get it spicy next time. The rice portion was plentiful. To bad the Gyoza are so tiny. It takes three to equal one normal Gyoza. Overall the food is really good and I cant wait to come back.

Review №94

2017-09-24 01:34:44

We had 9 people in our party so we came early, about 6 for dinner. They had a 5$ ramen bowl deal to honor their 1 year anniversary. We were seated within 30 minutes, much earlier than the host predicted. Good ramen, great service.

Review №95

2019-01-08 22:03:58

Its amazing how this is not only the best tasting, but totally affordable ramen around. Its only $1.50 for them to refill the noodles in your bowl! My friends and I frequent this place and none of us live in irvine. Best. Ramen. In Orange County.

Review №96

2019-03-12 20:43:22

Had the combo A. Hakata ramen, gyoza and the fried rice. More than enough for lunch. The ramen can be customized with: hardness of the noodle, amount of oil you want and the strength of the soils richness. The ramen broth is made of pork bones. I got the rich soup, medium oil and hard noodles. Noodles here are not the crinkly kind but thinner and not crinkled. Id say the food was satisfying and service very good. I came on Tuesday around 1:00 PM and the bar section had seats, seated area was full and likely had 10 to 15 minute wait. Not bad for lunch hour.

Review №97

2019-06-01 16:37:42

Hakata style ramen is... different. Love it or hate it, if you like ramen you owe yourself to at least give it a try, and no hard feeling if you end up preferring the other places.This particular location is a little more sanitized than the other locations - bright and open, with an extended udon menu. Other than a slight shift in atmosphere, the flavor definitely holds up to the other locations around LA.

Review №98

2023-01-04 20:09:47

Great. They have sides which come with the main ramen orders. The location is very home-ey.

Review №99

2023-03-24 07:45:03

Something has changed since the last time I went there. At least the size of the ramen has become smaller than I once remembered.

Review №100

2019-01-19 23:37:59

This location has ramen and udon. It is one of the better Japanese restaurants in this part of Orange County, but can have long wait lists. Additionally, they will only seat you if your entire party is present, so you may have other parties seated before you if any of your party takes too long to arrive.

Review №101

2018-12-05 22:36:01

Love this place! Originally started at the Fountain Valley ramen bar but this is closer and just as good. The atmospheres are a little different. This is more of a restaurant style and Fountain Valley is more like a traditional ramen bar. Both places are amazing if youre looking for seriously good ramen!

Review №102

2018-05-31 02:44:15

Legit Ramen and various Udon choices on the menu.For the Ramen you can specify noodle tenderness, oil abundance and base flavor. In addition you can select many sides to enhance your Ramen.The cheesecake is wonderfully silky and topped with generous amounts of whip cream and strawberries.For me, this has become the baseline for Ramen in Irvine.

Review №103

2018-12-28 14:47:03

This chain is my favorite ramen ever!!! Its just as good as the Fountain Valley location but the service is much better. Theres a lot more room so the wait isnt as long!

Review №104

2016-12-02 02:51:16

Great ramen! Broth was delicious.

Review №105

2019-01-17 04:41:38

Curry udon here is absolutely delicious if slightly pricey. The ramen is also good, but there are better places not too far away. Gyoza are quite good too, but on the small side. Cant say too much about the rest of the menu, doubt you could go too wrong though.

Review №106

2016-12-11 17:59:12

Not better than the Fountain Valley location. Food doesnt taste as good. $25 lunch is overpriced for not much food. Everything is an add-on. Want bamboo =$2, want miso flavor = $2, want anything else add $2. Before you know it youre eating a $20 bowl of ramen. They had more than half of the bar open yet didnt seat anyone for at least 10mins. Maybe hire one more staff person? Usually a wait. I waited for 20mins, and in all honestly it wasnt worth the wait and cost. Id rather get all you can eat kbbq for that price. Yes the broth is good, but not even close to the best Ive had.

Review №107

2018-05-26 04:17:56

One of my favorites, but I dont like how the wait can get super long. Like the choice of toppings and side dishes. Service has always been good. Oh and you can customize broth and noodles! Thats a plus

Review №108

2019-02-11 01:05:21

I am use to the service and quality from the one in garden grove, so I was a little disappointed that the service was lacking. Their waiting list procedure is not consistent and weird - getting a random call from a san clemente phone number without any notification or pretense made us miss our table 3 times while we were starving - what happened to sending a text to confirm that the reservation was made and using that same line to notify us that our table was ready? What happened to yelling out to the starving patrons outside waiting to eat? . . The food was great - and they made up for the issue with my meal and i appreciate that

Review №109

2019-07-17 05:41:03

Delicious Hakata ramen. Rich ramen broth. Noodle is thin and chewy.Pickle fried rice is also yummy. Rice grain is medium soft, loosed and coated with sauce.Awesome service. Reasonable price.Never expect to find the outstanding ramen in US.

Review №110

2019-09-28 23:45:10

Food was fantastic. I love how there is an al-la-carte for the different ingredients. Although theres no choice in broth for the ramen, they do offer spicy miso to add to the flavor. Definitely worth a visit.

Review №111

2019-06-04 21:39:15

Chicken curry cream udon had no flavor, but cost $13. $4 for 6 tiny gyoza. Service was really good.Next time I drop $20+ for a meal including tip, it will not be here.

Review №112

2021-02-19 05:31:23

The ramen Broth is a huge disappointment-I couldn’t even sense the pork in the soup. I wouldn’t call the dish Japanese. It’s tasted exactly like those Chinese instant noodle sold in Cisco.

Review №113

2019-07-01 04:38:05

In the food court of Woodbury Town Center. Indoor and outdoor seating. Ramen is their primary offering but there are other Japanese options, too. Pleasant service staff. Fed five adults and two teens for $100.

Review №114

2016-12-04 00:39:27

Food is fantastic, five stars. Fresh ramen and gyoza, my favorite! The pork is oh so good, and the gyoza has perfect flavor. The kids plate is the best for kids because it comes with ramen, rice ball, gyoza, orange, lala drink, and a balloon and lollipop! But the menus are tattered and old even tho this place just opened, and the chopsticks wrappers had some orange splatter on them which made me not feel very clean. That is why 4 stars instead of 5.

Review №115

2018-10-04 02:32:02

Staff is friendly and place is always busy. Its not the best ramen. Ive had, but pretty good and would recommend this place. Ive been here a few times. When Im craving ramen, its the place I go, since so close

Review №116

2016-10-31 16:14:02

The ramen was alright; the noodles were not the kind I would expect in ramen and a large portion were stuck together in a ball in the broth. Added on bamboo and it was very salty. Service was great though. Everyone, especially the guy in training, was friendly and helpful.

Review №117

2017-06-19 05:40:23

Unlike the other Shin Send Gumi this place has a wider variety that includes curry flavor and all sorts of udon styles. Like the other places if you choose ramen then you can customize it i.e how hard is the noodles, how strong the soup base is, how much oil and what extra toppings you like on the side. They say the make the ramen and udon fresh daily. I ordered the cold dipped udon with tempura. It was good.

Review №118

2017-08-09 02:31:24

Fantastic authentic udon!!!! I havent found creamy tomato udon since I left my small town of Iga in southeastern Japan. I was adio excited to find it that I changed my plans from take out to dine in (I learned they dont do ramen or udon to go). I ordered the creamy tomato udon and a side of takoyaki. The takoyaki came out perfectly, super crispy on the outside and blazing hot and soft on the inside. Then came the udon. Very generous in size, the noodles were fully cooked but still had the requisite chewiness. I could taste the tomato and cream evenly, and the seafood was cooked perfectly (a noticeable achievement). This place is a bit out of my way, but I definitely want to come back for more! I really want to try their cold citrus udon while theyre still making it!

Review №119

2021-10-13 20:26:34

Clean, friendly and a lot of Ramenos bowl that you can order. I will take my family here so kids can enjoy different flavors of ramen

Review №120

2018-10-27 06:59:13

The food is excellent, but the service was severely lacking. The last time I was here, my order was brought out after a long wait and wrong, the toppings for my ramen were brought out long after, and the staff was downright negligent and incompetent. Either they are understaffed or they need to seriously train their team better.

Review №121

2017-04-27 19:19:06

Weve been here AT LEAST 6 times and have yet to give my 2 cents on this place! This location was were I had my very first Shin-Sen-Gumi experience and it was convenient since we were living right down the street on Woodbury Lane. From what my lady has told me, this one by far is the biggest location that they have compared to all the other little shacks that they have open; maybe this is why some people arent too big of a fan of this one since the setting isnt as intimate and cozy as you would expect from a Ramen place. Nevertheless, I find the grand size of this establishment to work out well for my tastes for a several reasons: (1) you wont be stuck waiting in line longer than 20 minutes, (2) theyll be more likely to accommodate larger parties (10+) in a reasonable time frame, and (3) you wont have to worry about bumping elbows with a complete stranger while trying to maintain a private conversation with your party.Now, I could go on and on with all the various dishes Ive had here but I think Ill stick with what we shared on our latest visit (for now at least...).Deep Fried Tofu (5/5): Im not too big of a fan of tofu, so thats why when you see me rave about it and giving it 5 stars in my book, you know that its something you should at least consider. The outside of the tofu isnt crunchy or crispy as you would expect when hearing deep fried but this is a good thing in this particular case. Its doused in this dark sauce which youll probably want to end up licking from the very bottom at the end and topped off with some green onions, ginger and bonito flakes (same things you see topped of on Takoyaki); all of which makes for a very flavorful punch to your taste buds. To top it all off, the tofu itself just comes apart right when it reaches your mouth and doesnt require any chewing if youre inclined to just leave those flavors linger in your mouth a bit!Beef Innards Spicy Cream Udon (4/5): We shared an XL and didnt really give it a second thought on how big that would really be. I guess we were used to the fact of ordering something deemed XL and really getting something along the size of a medium. But man am I glad that these guys proved us wrong for once! This order came out to be not only a big bowl, but a big bowl that was filled pretty much to the brim with soup, noodles and fillings. On top of it all, every single slurp and bite was flavorful and delicious till the very last drop. The soup itself wasnt too spicy in my opinion, but then again, different people and backgrounds have different opinions on whats considered spicy. If you can handle Sriracha, you should be able to take this on with no problem. My only gripe with this item which is preventing me to give them the full 5 stars it should deserve is the lack of juicy, chewy, and delicious innards which is clearly stated on the description title!Now, Ive been told and have read that the prices at this location are a tad bit higher than most of the other establishments where you can get your Shin-Sen-Gumi on, but you have to remember that this place did open up in Irvine... and if you know anything about Irvine, is that NOTHING is cheap in this city! So, with that in mind and the fact that we live less than a 5 minute drive away from this place and can be seated with a very minimal wait time, Id have to say that this is definitely a go to place in our books for a Ramen meal that will leave you satisfied without breaking the bank!

Review №122

2019-11-10 17:44:31

Really authentic ramen and awesome lunch specials. We prefer this place (20 min away) to one right around the corner because the food is good without being overly salty.

Review №123

2021-11-13 21:52:22

I live in the inland empire and I drive all the way to Irvine to eat the Ramen. Service is so good and every time I eat Ramen my worries go away. I love it there

Review №124

2021-12-12 18:55:27

Easily the most disgusting ramen and chicken fried rice we’ve ever had. Not sure how this place is still in business, so yourself a favor a run far away from this restaurant.

Review №125

2022-02-02 05:10:11

The food looks good, but the taste is not good at all. The products feels over-processed, greasy and not fresh. Doesnt taste like real Japanese food. Definitely overpriced.

Review №126

2018-05-06 03:34:08

Shin Sen Gumi in Fountain Valley used to be my top ramen destination for many years. I was one of the die hard patrons willing to wait in 1hr long lines twice a week to devour their ramen without regret. However, something changed about 3 years ago. Ive tried their Los Angeles location, and now their newly opened Irvine spot, and Ive concluded that something in their magical soup changed. I also gave their new curry pork cutlet udon a try. Although it was good, the curry sauce doesnt come close to Coco Ichibanyas, my gold standard for Japanese curry.

Review №127

2018-06-18 04:52:46

Completely customizable ramen - and tasty udon choices

Review №128

2018-03-21 20:01:28

Always packed, but the best Hakata ramen in OC. Curry udon is amazing too.This location is a bit bigger, and more expensive than its Fountain Valley counterpart though.

Review №129

2019-03-15 20:12:48

This ramen shop is more on the heavier side of ramen. They only offer one type of ramen, which felt more like a tonkatsu style of ramen than miso and definitely not shoyu. Their udon options is where they have the most variety. If youre a fan of heavier cream type of ramen, youd like SSG. However, substitutes are frowned upon here.

Review №130

2023-11-15 18:21:28

Great service! Good vibe!

Review №131

2021-10-20 09:10:01

ExcellentSame taste in Japan

Review №132

2019-08-03 17:50:48

Best ramen I have ever had. Not only that, but they can refill your bowl with noodles for very cheap if youre still hungry.

Review №133

2018-11-09 01:31:58

Very busy at lunch, go early or late. At noon, youre going to wait.The ramen is awesome, but the curry udon is not to be missed.

Review №134

2019-02-15 05:35:56

Have been before and the food was top notch. The service this time was confused at best. The place is crowded to say the least and waiting customers are less than polite. The reservation system which sends u a txt when it’s time to eat went down and the staff was unconcerned by that making little to no effort to do a waiting list by hand.We were disappointed and went elsewhere. We will be back based on the food but they need to be better organized.

Review №135

2021-08-18 03:32:08

Needle is ok but broth is a failure! It has a wired smell and taste like cheap instant noodles you can buy from store. :(

Review №136

2019-01-22 21:30:47

This became my favorite Ramen place today. You can customize everything for your meal. I recommend adding the Butter Bomb to your Ramen for extra flavor!

Review №137

2021-01-25 01:14:20

Food was awful, gyoza tasted like old plastic, way too much green onion and ginger in the ramen. Both my girlfriend and I were sick after eating here.

Review №138

2021-12-29 04:31:16

Love this place. Service is fast, ramen is tasty. So is the spam musubi and fried squid legs.

Review №139

2018-03-25 03:35:24

VERY LOUD especially on a Sat night. Lots of yelling in Japanese. Try to sit as far away from the kitchen and entry door as possible. For us it was too loud and we startled each time so we wanted to order take out instead. Strange thing but they do not have take out so u have to sit there and order like ur dining in, then when the food comes out in bowls, they then give u to-go boxes to pack ur own food. Another odd thing is they refuse to let u order poached egg if u intend to pack ur food to go. Food was delicious so its a bummer we cant eat there and cant do take out. 5 stars - 1 for being loud - 1 for no take out.

Review №140

2016-10-09 02:59:14

The food and ramen are great, but if you come with just 2 people they will put you at the back of the line and seat every other group in front of you. Come with a big group and youll get special treatment.

Review №141

2018-04-08 18:18:28

Best Ramen place in Irvine hands down. Friendly staff and with short wait times. Theres a reason there is always a line at this place, especially on Fridays. Try the udon!

Review №142

2022-03-06 00:03:08

The original and still delicious Ramen in SoCal. There might be a few better places in LA, but marginally.

Review №143

2017-09-13 02:27:22

Noodles here are soooo good! Everything good here!

Review №144

2018-07-29 21:53:56

Soup & Noodle was great.Price a little bit high.

Review №145

2017-08-27 20:17:36

The food was excellent and service was superb. Highly recommend for a good noodle dish. I got the spicy miso and my friend got ramen.

Review №146

2022-12-01 04:11:29

Good God their Chicken curry udon was just what I needed delicious and savory! Hit the spot!

Review №147

2018-02-09 20:10:05

Whats special about this location is the diverse selection of creative and western udon items. I dont recommend the ramen though, the Fountain Valley location serves it better.

Review №148

2022-03-05 02:18:12

Employees are super nice ☺️ all the udons are super big so if you cannot eat so much consider not ordering a big menu... Everything was delicious!

Review №149

2019-10-28 05:26:35

Awesome ramen joint. So easy to order, nice quick service and super tasty food. I see us becoming regulars.

Review №150

2017-07-29 02:18:25

Veery authentic, me and Will didnt know what to order! Server recommended entrees which were pretty good. Staff was great and welcoming! Had fun!

Review №151

2018-03-20 02:55:59

It is a bit loud here so dont take a first date. Ok with wife though. Both will have face in the bowl slurping. Try something new like a tomato cream seafood udon.

Review №152

2019-11-17 07:58:44

Everything was so good! Service was awesome!

Review №153

2020-02-16 03:03:06

The food is okay, nothing very special though.

Review №154

2018-01-08 04:13:36

Love the place. Variety of different type of Udon. Ramens are not as good as other famous Japanese ramen places in southern California.

Review №155

2021-06-09 06:42:25

Always delicious! Their ramen and extras are always spot on. Good covid arrangement for inside and outside dining

Review №156

2018-10-01 14:39:00

The noodles are good, but the bases are way too salty/ have too much sesame oil I almost threw up I’m gonna stick with bags of ramen insteadnot worth the money but great customer service

Review №157

2019-03-11 13:34:37

Love this place! Recently started eating ramen more and now I go here quite a bit. Great staff with great food!

Review №158

2016-10-11 23:42:34

Decent ramen, but simply not as good (and a little pricier than?) the LA branch. Wait times are still horrendous several weeks after opening and not worth.

Review №159

2022-07-08 18:07:46

Order came out very late.And they cleaning up the store while we were eating, sweeping the broom next to our table.The acr was actually out of brain.

Review №160

2019-05-24 04:15:30

Always a delicious experience.Forgot to take a photo first, and couldnt stop myself.

Review №161

2021-06-23 03:57:43

Great place and amazing staff. All the food was really good and brought fairly quickly. They also play some great music to just relax.

Review №162

2019-08-05 23:34:37

My favorite ramen place! Plenty of parking and seating. Plus no ridiculously long lines like some of the other popular ones.

Review №163

2022-03-08 04:46:18

Service is great, atmosphere is great, and the ramen is even greater. I love Shin-Sen-Gumi.

Review №164

2020-02-26 02:26:57

. . . FANTASTIC ramen - quick, fresh, and made precisely as requested. The staff are also very friendly, responsive, and professional . . . Ill DEFINITELY be back!

Review №165

2017-03-04 03:51:10

Ramen is good, udon is a little thin, but the gyoza is always great. They are tiny and addictive and packed with garlic.

Review №166

2022-05-22 02:56:05

Food dining is okay but pricey. They are way too slow on delivering at the takeout window though.

Review №167

2019-06-04 21:03:04

This place has amazing udon despite the name being ramen. The ramen is good, but there are places that i think are better.

Review №168

2019-01-07 02:53:03

I love almost everything about this place! The only thing I dont love is the volume of the music. But the food is wonderful! And the employees are great! Always a pleasure to come here.

Review №169

2017-01-02 00:08:34

Tries very hard to mimic an authentic ramenya and is commendable for the effort. However, broth quality varies a bit and the torikawa left more to be desired.

Review №170

2019-05-09 21:28:16

I never liked udon till I came to this place. The ultimate curry udon is my favorite with the spicy miso udon a close runner up.

Review №171

2018-12-24 00:20:34

Ramen is one of the best Ive hadBasically no wait times compared to other shin seen gumi locations

Review №172

2016-12-29 05:05:48

Excellent Ramen. Broth is very flavorful but not overly fatty, and noodles are made to your liking.

Review №173

2018-04-12 01:09:28

I have came here for a long time now and the food has been great every time! If you want to skip the wait tho, don’t come during dinner cause it gets really crowded

Review №174

2017-07-05 03:05:05

Very efficient service! We never waited for everything. Super tasty ramen at a decent price. Yummmm

Review №175

2019-07-06 18:08:28

Everything was very average, not sure how else to describe it, nothing was memorable lol.

Review №176

2021-07-27 13:49:54

Dont let the Orange County makeover fool you. This is the same Shin Sen Gumi youre looking for. Parking is abundant and there are no lines.

Review №177

2019-08-11 20:58:11

Excellent ramen. My companions had curry and udon. All were fantastic.

Review №178

2020-10-08 02:10:09

Im a regular. Its not my favorite Ramen, but its still very good, and close-by.

Review №179

2018-12-31 05:03:34

Amazing ramen place. I was pretty fulfilled after eating. I would definitely visit this place again.

Review №180

2021-05-29 23:47:12

Great Ramen, great Udon, great atmosphere, and great service. You will not be disappointed.

Review №181

2019-01-27 06:16:47

Long wait but delicious ramen. Their musubi is super legit tho. One of the better/best musubi Ive had.

Review №182

2021-07-11 08:10:13

One of the best places to get Ramen

Review №183

2019-02-18 19:05:28

Lots of heated outdoor seating in a nice location economical and quick, meets the high standards of chain outside less greetings and goodbyes

Review №184

2019-03-20 02:50:36

Good service and good ramen

Review №185

2023-02-10 06:14:28

Amazing place! I Loved the food and the attention!

Review №186

2021-01-30 20:05:09

Good. Ramen is good but try curry udon. You will love it

Review №187

2022-12-26 22:36:15

Wish there were more of these Japanese kitchen eateries around!

Review №188

2022-05-14 16:04:16

Food is awesome. Service is fast, even when packed.

Review №189

2018-07-12 03:03:23

Friendly fast service, decent Japanese food, modest prices, overall good experience.

Review №190

2021-12-13 20:46:42

The spicy miso udon gave me food poisoning for 3 days straight 🤮

Review №191

2021-01-18 04:48:42

Quality has suffered..Soup is not tasty and noodle too soft for medium.

Review №192

2020-03-15 22:02:31

Delicious, great restaurant with friendly and helpful staff. Will definitely return for more.

Review №193

2021-06-01 07:47:19

Great ramen and other foods! this place is A+

Review №194

2018-10-03 14:08:02

Been here quite a few times. It always has a wait time so expect that. The workers are very helpful and prompt.

Review №195

2021-02-08 03:45:55

Amazing hakata ramen. They have heated outdoor seating.

Review №196

2021-06-30 04:08:25

Delicious food and nice experience

Review №197

2017-06-29 01:59:33

Great place! Love the Alhambra one but this has udon and more!

Review №198

2020-01-05 02:54:26

Ramen noodles here are goods, many more various dishes also good here

Review №199

2023-10-06 17:00:17

Udon is great