Ramen Suzukiya

Fun little ramen spot on the hill. It’s smaller and quiet. Honestly, I thought it was a perfect location to grab lunch by myself. I ended up seeing 4 – 5 other people doing this as well.
The service was great. They’re dog friendly and they were on top of everything. My only gripe was that I ordered the vegetarian ramen and made sure to ask if it was vegan before I ordered it. I received an emphatic yes… it was too good to be true. He brought it out and after my first couple bites he came back and said «I should have told you the ramen soup is vegetarian but the noodles aren’t. They’re made with egg.» It’s not the biggest deal in the world but I’m vegan and I don’t like to eat animal products. What if I had an allergy or something along those lines… I honestly believe it was an honest mistake but food mistakes aren’t the best to make.
Other than that I enjoyed my meal, the service, location and hospitality towards me and my dog! I personally think $ 13 for a bowl of ramen is $ 3 – 4 too expensive but it’s nothing to fuss over.

I’ve been here many MANY times! We absolutely love it.
This is a small place with not many seats but it is worth the wait if there is one. The have a small long «bar» up against the window so you can people watch while you eat, and the people passing by can look as well! You sit side by side here so I tend to sit here if I go alone. There is also a large community table in the middle of the dining room where you sit with other people! Again there are not many seats so be prepared to sit not to someone you may not know.
The owner is great, we’ve talked to him many times! He makes everything by hand and gets everything locally! They even have some local artwork on the wall!
I normally get the miso noodles, as they are my favorite. My husband switches between different dishes and he loves all of them! We have also gotten the beef don and was also amazing.
I went in again today after not being there for several months and they have upgraded some things. First they have NEW bowls, I know this may not seem like a big deal but these are beautiful, and I talked to the owner, they are from Japan! They also now have a couple tables outside for people to sit and enjoy their noodle bowls. The owner again, mentioned that he would put out a big bowl for water for dogs! So my husband, myself, and our pup Cookie will be by!

Excellent Ramen! I can’t compare it to anything else in the area of Portland, but this was super delicious. This was my first Ramen experience here in Maine.
The restaurant itself is very small and can feel a bit cramped. There is one long table to sit where you can mingle with other parties or you can sit at the bar seating by the window.
The Ramen were $ 12 each — I ordered the Hakata — excellent.
I’m definitely going again.

Good food, nice atmosphere, a proper ramen place!

This house of ramen is tucked away up Congress Street toward Munjoy Hill, in what is becoming known as an up and coming area in Portland. Upon entering in, you’ve made a transition into a minimally decorated dining room bathed in the natural light provided by the expansive windows.
The hostess Simone greeted with a pleasant smile and suggested I try the Hakata-​style Ramen — it being my first time there.
I could not have been more happier. The creamy broth absolutely brimming with umami. Fantastically savory. The house made noodles added an intimate touch, owing to the fact that they were homemade right there in the kitchen. You can’t help but feel connected to those who delicately assembled the bowl of savory goodness.
The addition of a poached egg made it all that much better.
Overall, I was extremely pleased with the low-​key atmosphere and appreciated it not being as loud as other ramen establishments nearby.

I wanted to love this place because I work nearby, but I am having trouble with the cost for what you get. My biggest complaint is my pork bowl had one small piece of pork in it. That was it and I ate it in one bite. No more pork! The broth itself lacked flavor and was just ok. I had an Iced tea which came in a can and I paid 16. and change at lunch. Not at all worth it as I could go to a high end lunch place and get so much more for my $$.

Enjoyable ramen!
It was my first try of ramen and i really liked it. I was recommended to get Hakata-​style ramen, yummy!
Very attentive staff, very tasty food, highly recommended!

Perfect spot for a quick, casual dinner. We searched for a «kid friendly» restaurant, because we had our 2-​year old in tow. Not only was this true… but the food was excellent, too. I got the vegetarian ramen and my wife the hakata (they said that was the customer favorite). The owner and staff were extremely friendly. We got there pretty close to closing, and though we were the only ones in the place, we were not hurried.
Will definitely come back. Highly recommend!

Staff are super friendly and appreciative. Everything is very fresh even the noodles. Vegetarian options are light but available. My tofu came with some savory sauce on a bamboo skewer. Nice touch. I’ll be going there on the regular.

Delicious. Something is so great about a simple menu and a place that does one thing and one thing really really well. Friendly staff, cute local art, casual atmosphere, good music selection. Both of us had the pork broth. Not a drop left in the bowl. We will be back for more. Loved seeing their noodle making station close to the tables. Nice touch. More tables would be nicer but I know it’s a small location and they just opened like 8 months ago or so. Maybe seats 14?

While the food here is excellent and the service is prompt and courteous, the atmosphere leaves something to be desired. My wife and I both ate dinner with our winter coats on it was so cold. And the overhead lighting is so bright and harsh you feel like you’re dining at a McDonald’s. The chairs are not comfortable and I’m not a big fan of communal seating. I would probably dine here again if the place was more inviting.

I’ve been here a couple times now and have fully enjoyed both meals. The menu (and space) is much smaller than some other noodle places I’ve been to, so you won’t find much in the way of appetizers etc. The focus here is on the homemade ramen noodles which are delightful. You will find a choice of about 5 different noodle bowls and a couple rice bowl sides with fish or beef. They serve a few options of beer, wine, and sake, as well as non-​alcoholic beverages. If you looking for a simple steaming hot bowl of delicious noodles, this is a good choice. If you’re looking for a full dining experience consider other options. Noodle bowls go for about $ 12, sides for $ 5+.

I had been looking forward to trying this place and I was not disappointed. I can’t remember the dish I ordered but it was so flavorful! My parents were here from Ireland and they’d never had anything like it before. They absolutely loved it. We brought our 2 year old and the community table was perfect for us. There weren’t high chairs but our daughter was able to sit in one of the chairs and she loved the beef and rice dish.
I can’t recommend this place enough. The broth the ramen came in was so so good. I didn’t want the dish to end. I would definitely go back and I highly recommend this place!

So bland and so expensive for what it is. Just go to Pai Men Miyake where you’ll pay the same $ 13 but get the best ramen in town. Seriously.
When I went here recently I got the Hakata bowl. The broth was disappointing and lacked flavor. The egg was a weird mushy texture, as were the noodles. The piece of pork was more overlooked than even my Grandma’s pork chops.
Ramen is my favorite and this was the worst bowl I’ve ever had.
Seating was at a community table.

Was in ME last week for a little vacation and was really craving some Japanese ramen. Our friend who lives there has never tried this place so we gave it a go. Now, for being so spoiled by the amazing ramen in CA, this place was pretty good! Very small hole in the wall shop but we had the pleasure of meeting the owner who is super friendly! Definitely have a chat with him if you get the chance.
We ordered the hakata style ramen and the noodles were so delicious. The broth could be a bit more rich and salty but overall very delicious.
We will be back next time we make it out to the east coast.

I love the homey, low-​key atmosphere of this place. The big communal table almost makes it feel like you’re at a ramen dinner party.
The menu is pretty limited, but that’s not a problem if your goal is to get ramen! The day I went they were offering special spicy noodles (which my husband got but I didn’t), and I think next time I would definitely get them. They added a nice kick to the dish without being overwhelming.

Ramen Suzukiya is the second ramen shop I’ve tried in Portland and I unfortunately have to say that so far, there are no good ramen shops here.
I decided to come here on a Friday night and the place was fairly busy. They have maybe 2 small private tables and then a larger communal one. I think there were seats for about 16 people. I sat comfortably at the communal table and didn’t feel cramped.
I ordered the Miso Ramen, $ 10, and a fish don, $ 5 (a small side order that can only be ordered in conjunction with a noodle dish). The broth was pretty good and the noodles tasted fresh with a nice texture, but the chashu was just so-​so. You only got one small piece of chashu, 3 or 4 pieces of bok choy, a nice soft boiled egg, finely shredded cabbage and a piece of nori. The presentation was nice, but the flavor just okay.
The fish don was highly recommended by the waitress and it looked very pretty on the serving tray, but the flavor was very bland. The fish was a nice piece though, I think it was cod, but it wasn’t seasoned well at all. I probably should’ve got the chicken curry instead.
All in all, the place is not bad, but I will remain on the hunt for a great Portland ramen shop.

So excited to see this restaurant finally open! I’ve been here twice in the three days it’s been open, and I might even call it the best ramen I’ve had outside of Japan. The handmade noodles have a great texture, the cha-​shu pork is juicy and tender, and the vegetables taste so fresh!
The miso ramen I had on opening night had a tasty broth with various vegetable flavors soaking into the miso base. The bamboo shoots and bok choy were delicious, and the hanjuku egg was delightfully soft and runny.
The tonkotsu ramen I tried tonight had the thicker, heartier broth that typifies the genre. Unlike some tonkotsu I’ve had, it wasn’t overpoweringly greasy or salty. The egg was less runny this time, but that didn’t keep it from being an awesome bowl of ramen.
The beverage selection, despite being small, has some great picks. They have the Oi Ocha that’s ubiquitous in Japan and always gives me feelings of nostalgia. They also have various local drinks, from Maine Root soda to Allagash and Bissell Bros beer.
The service was fairly slow and disorganized the first night, but I’m happy to see that it’s shaped up a bit since then. There’s still a constant line to get in, and with only 13 seats, that’ll probably be the case for a while. But once you’re in, prepare for a treat!

If you’ve walked by this place and seen fingerprints and noseprints in the window, those are probably from me. I’ve been eagerly awaiting the opening of this place for like 8 months. 8 MONTHS OF DELAYS! Finally OPENING DAY was Saturday and I needed to be there. I love ramen.
First thoughts. The place is well-​decorated with Japanese characters on the ceiling and a rotating art display on the walls. The obvious centerpiece is a beautiful handmade communal wood table and matching window and wall counters. As others have stated, it’s very small, and seats only about 13 – 15 people. It looks like one of the counters in the back wall could be modified to fit 3 – 5 more people, but I’m initially disappointed with the layout and by how space is economized. Perhaps this will evolve as the restaurant tweaks things? Or perhaps the intent is to keep capacity around 15? I also have a personal disdain for communal seating in general, which seems to be the trend in the smaller Portland restaurants.
The food was amazing. Not a lot of menu items to choose from as dishes are slowly being tested and expanded, but the quality is certainly present. I ordered the miso ramen, and it was the best ramen I’ve had in Portland — slightly edging out Pai Men Miyake. The broth was great! I could have used just a little bit more ramen overall, but there is an option to order more for only an additional $ 2. Good to know for next time. There are also several local beers to choose from, if you are so inclined.
Service was also great. As to be expected, the servers were a bit nervous and wanted to make sure that everything went as smooth as possible on the first night. They checked in frequently, and the owner/​chef came out to chat with us after our meal. What a nice guy — I hope for the best!
5 stars now for the quality of food and the service. I’ll be back soon to see how Suzukiya’s menu evolves and to see how they are adapting to their inevitable popularity given the small space, but I can’t see this dropping below a 4.

It was opening day, but with only 13 seats, we weren’t about to take our chances. My three comrades and I showed up early for the highly anticipated opening of Suzukiya Ramen. By early, we mean 10 – 15 minutes early, and we weren’t the only ones! (Even though I hate lines, I must say this reminds me of the ramen shop lines back home which is kind of awesome)
We took our seats at the communal table and ordered drinks: they serve regular sodas, Maine Root sodas, green tea, and a few local beers. Next up? RAMEN. I’ve been following the opening maybe a bit too closely online, and the menu tonight was missing a few items from the menu posted on
. However… it still had plenty for an opening night! Our options included the shoyu or miso hot ramen, some type of cold noodle (was it the mason jar one?), and three types of donburi (small rice bowls with fish/​meat).
I don’t quite remember what was in each broth, but each base had some combination of chicken, seaweed, and/​or mushroom. Each bowl of ramen came with thin homemade noodles and was topped with a slice of fatty pork, ½ of a soft-​boiled egg, a piece of seaweed, bamboo shoots, baby bok-​choy, and thinly sliced cabbage. My miso broth was tasty, I enjoyed the slight bounce of the thin noodles, and the choy was among the better tasting veggies I’ve had around these parts in quite a while!
Overall, this was a SOLID bowl of ramen – I’d recommend this over any other ramen I’ve tried so far in town in a heartbeat. I got what I came for, and $ 10 is probably what I’d spend on dinner anywhere else in this city. The portions are a tad on the smaller side, so order that rice bowl if you’re extra hungry! For me, the cherry on top is the story behind this place. During our meal, we were asked 3 – 4 times how the food was, and the chef/​noodle-​maker came out to talk to his customers as we were finishing up. Mr. Suzuki is a former Japanese television director who handmakes noodles using local wheat flour & other local ingredients, as inspired by his son Cory who farms! With the small space, I can see this place getting very crowded as the weather cools down later this year, and I can’t wait to see what new exciting things will show up on their menu.