Karai Ramen Bistro in Jacksonville - Phone Number, Reservations, Reviews

The music makes the already good food taste good. The Ube desert is made fresh and such a treat. And the staff is so friendly and welcoming. Please ask for Dat, Noon, Maxx. Ask the owner Levi about what inspired him to open this amazing place - a cool story indeed.

I am very picky about Japanese ramen and this place didn’t disappoint me!! I have been going there since they opened. my japanese friends would drive one hour for this ramen shop😆 It’s a small restaurant - but food is amazing! Kid’s ramen ( without any toppings) is also available. Worth the drive! You MUST try !

First time eating here this week and everything was 100%. The restaurant was clean, the waitress was very attentive, super nice, great customer service and the food was exceptionally good! Will absolutely add to my favorite restaurant and recommend!

This is hands down best ramen spot I’ve ever been to. Friendly staff, awesome environment, great music. Food is beyond incredible, from the bowls always on the menu to the specials that are crafted up. Karai shows the true essence of ramen: art.

This was our first time in and we were so impressed with the restaurant and the food. We had the best ramen since being in Japan! This place is amazing! They have wonderful Japanese desserts too! We will definitely return.

Once again Karai slays ramen. Hands down best in jax!

The Karai crew are amazing team that always brings great vibes when you walk in. They are very welcoming. The place looks great and the art work is awesome to look at. You cannot go wrong with any of the choices. Levy and team always put passion in the food and it always comes out great. Thank Karai for the awesome atmosphere and food.

The Katsu ramen was very tasty and my friend had the Tonkotsu ramen which she liked (I wasn’t a fan of the sweetness in it). I liked the atmosphere and the wall art decorations they had. Servers were very attentive and nice.

The food is superb and the service is always amazing!

It gets better everytime I come! The best and real japanese ramen.

Favorite ramen spot in town, blows every other place out of the game entirely. We're here once a week to get our ramen fix cured, but it's only temporary because it's so good you can't help but crave it. The service is always super friendly too which is great. Super consistent, always delicious and hot. My favorite is the chicken shio ramen with karokke (potato pancake) to start off. They used to have a killer ramen called the tonkontsu shoyu but it's only a special from time to time. Bring her back!!! Also just get extra pork belly. Worth. It.

Everyday i come here i am blessed with greatness. The higher beings above created this place to give us a taste of what they would want to eat. A place i do not wish to leave. Karai is Ramen.

Very delicious ramen 😋Friendly staff ⭐️

I have been eating here for years and it never ceases to amaze me how delicious the ramen is and how friendly the staff is. Best shoyu in all of Jax and the waitstaff constantly checking in to make sure you are good.

Delicious Ramen and very friendly staff

Impatient and rude staff. Improper sand boxing for online menu meant that my device kept redirecting... well this obviously means I'm some country rube who can't use tech, right? Pork in ramen dishes is equivalent to boot leather. If you go, make sure and eat your food and get out quick.

It was our first time here and everything was absolutely delicious. We each had the Karai ramen, fried gyoza, and finished off with a homemade vanilla fluffy cake. We were sat immediately and our food arrived within the first 10 minutes of us sitting down. Will be back for sure!

Food is great and the workers were all very nice, friendly, and quick to bring out the food.

Awesome authentic Japanese raman!

I try to come here once a week and the food is always great, and the serviceis always friendly and fast. My personal favorite restaurant in town.

they always have the best service! the food is always amazing. Karai ramen is our fave!!!

Best ramen ever!!! I go to this place at least once a week!! Tonkotsu is my favorite forever

First time here, I ordered the Karai Ramen. The broth is well balanced with saltiness and spice. The noodles had a very nice texture with a good spring, as ramen noodles should be. While it is not a large space, the atmosphere is fantastic. I did order a side of pork chashu; the flavor was on the sweet side, which is in no way a fault. If I had to find a fault, I would say it was slightly dry—and I mean slightly—but the flavor makes up for it. Overall, I recommend this to anyone in the Jacksonville area, and I will be coming back.

The server max was super awesome

I took my parents here for the very first time and they loved it! They’ve never been to a ramen place before and the staff was so helpful in finding them the right meal for them. I think I made them a new favorite customers.

If you want authentic Ramen!!!! This is the best I’ve ever had. Ive been to multiple cities and States. This place is a Jem🔥🔥🔥🔥

Max was amazing! The food was great as always. Max has such a great personality and was attentive to us throughout our visit.

Wonderful Restaurant that really cares about their craft. Food is never far behind from the order and drinks are always full.

Best ramen in the city, hands down. All the servers are kind and courteous

Excellent, Best I have Ever tasted and Staff is So Happy and Friendly !

I come here weekly and it’s never once disappointed me. Best ramen in Jax!

Karai Ramen is the best in town! Their broth is unmatched! Absolutely love this place!

Have to say this is my absolute favorite ramen restaurant to this date. My girlfriend and I had an amazing experience with just about everything. Service was on point, atmosphere was warm, and the food was unreal. We will definitely make this our go to spot every week. Extra thanks to Yumi and the kitchen staff for making this experience 10/10! Be back soon.

This place is amazing! Having been to Japan, this place hits every mark for being authentic Japanese food. The Shoyuo ramen is my favorite and the gyozas as app! They are crispy and hot! Come here if you’re looking for amazing ramen and great atmosphere

Cozy little place. Great service. Peanut brisket tantanmen was amazing. Delicious broth and very tender brisket.

The service was really good the food was really delicious, and fresh I am new to this one and this is the first time I am giving a review to a restaurant.

Wonderful service and amazing people !!!!

Some very delicious ramen here! Definitely worth checking it out. Very hot and worth trying!

Best ramen in jax.. still amazing.

I’m at Karai Ramen Bistro, and it’s the best ramen ever! The rich broth, perfectly cooked noodles, and delicious toppings create an unforgettable experience. Highly recommend!

The worst experience ever I went there with my child to check out the food on the Kiosk. There was no help at all until I got to the table and I was telling them that I want food without pork and without alcohol. The server told me that there is no alcohol and everything and then another server came after we got the Waters and she told us all the Ramen dishes have alcohol in the sauce which is crazy because there’s a lot of Ramen places in Jacksonville they don’t do that at all So there was no other option to choose I had to take my son and leave the restaurant I didn’t eat at all. They’re limited with certain things for certain people. No help from the manager and no cooperation with anybody Poor server, she was clueless about everything I would highly NOT recommend this place👎🏻

Food was soo good and tasteful would definitely come back. One of the server kept checking on us to make sure we where enjoying our food. Great service for sure.

My wife wanted to substitute the brisket in her ramen for a single egg (as she is pescatarian) and they refused to do so without an up-charge… beef has got to be at least 4x the price of an egg, so I can’t see why they would bother up-charging customers for a simple request that would cost the business less. To me this is typical behavior of a greedy business owner who is glad to inconvenience a customer into paying extra, knowing they’re unlikely not to take the time to find an alternative restaurant and risk another wait. I eat meat myself but, based on their handling of our request, I’ll not be returning

Poor customer service and no options for vegetarians. I don’t eat chicken or red meat and asked if I could replace the meat for an egg (yes, I said 1 egg). The server said they don’t sub anything. We kindly asked to speak with the owner, because an egg is so much cheaper than a steak. Believe me or not, she said no. That is not a smart business decision, especially when there is zero options on the ramen menu for pescatarians and/or vegetarians. They just lost what could’ve been regular customers because we love ramen. The couple next to us introduced themselves after hearing our conversation and said that the wife was a vegetarian too and there was no option for her. Just not a smart business with no flexibility or hospitality. We walked right out.

Arguably one of, if not, THE best ramen place in Jax. It's worth to go try it at least once.

Wish they had vegetarian broth, but my 7 y/o LOVES the ramen noodles/flavor.

best ramen in jacksonville, me and my gf love this place. if i could give this place 10 stars i would.

Good, authentic ramen. I usually get the shoyu and it's always delicious!

Absolutely 💯 the best 👌 I travel to japan often and the sando is amazing.

Wonderful prices, Wonderful food, wonderful people. All around, a great Japanese restaurant.

Some of the best ramen in Jax! Food was delicious, service was insanely fast, and staff were very friendly.

Delicious, perfectly cooked food served quickly. Kind staff and gorgeous paintings

Karai is Awesome! We ordered the gyoza for our appetizer. For dinner we enjoyed the tonkotsu and soyu ramen and everything was delicious. For desert the kids had the melon icecream bars. The service was great. We will definitely be back!

If you want true traditional Tonkotsu Ramen, then this is the place to go. If you like spice, then there are 4 levels (0 no spice to 3 unbelievably spicy) to get. Level 1 is pretty spicy, so I can only imagine the other 2 levels. The Ube was amazing as well that I had 2. I can't wait to go back.

The food was very good. Enjoyable. Very filling. I was please with how spicy the Karai ramen was. I would definitely go back to tye other dishes.

Karai is so good, I've been coming here for years. It's always fun to take a newb here who has never dined at Karai before, & turn them into regulars as well. The broth has such a rich flavor no matter which ramen you decide to order, they are all scrumptious. I really like to check out the specials before ordering my go to ramen selections. Every special I've ordered ends up being so tasty. (You can find their specials on their website, and/or their instagram page. I always check both) End of last week I was here, and ordered their Tonkotsu Shoyu ramen. I added a little more protein to it from one of their suggested toppings (Japanese sausage). It was amazing! If you ever want to make your ramen a little spicy, you can always ask for a side of their chili oil and add in as much or as little as you'd like. The staff is always friendly, the food comes out pretty quick, and you always leave as one happy, satisfied customer. Karai also has a decent amount of drink selections too ~ beer, sake, various hot teas. Recently I saw they have started to add more desserts. While visiting last week, I also tried their ube cheesecake. Super light and fluffy, fresh, not too sweet. It was a really good light dessert to add to an entree. I highly recommend trying one of their featured desserts.

My wife introduced me to karai 5 years ago and I love the food! Everything I’ve had on the menu has been excellent! Levi & noon are great people! Love the atmosphere & uniqueness to the restaurant!

Been coming here since it opened! Karai Ramen is my FAVORITE! I add katsu chicken. I crave it! Also love the gyoza of course.

Ordering online is deceptive prices. They charge online order fee and a togo fee and auto tip before giving a total. Food is good.

My husband and I love going here. Always delicious!

Food was fantastic! The place is a little small and the tables fill up fast but we were seated quickly. I had the Shoyu ramen and it was very good! I will definitely be back :)

The best Ramen in Jacksonville!!

The food was super good especially the ramen and Katsu tenders I found very good. Loved the broth 😋 will come back one day.

Best Ramen in Jacksonville. Have you tried Karai? Stop reading and go order ramen and make sure to order the Katsu chicken appetizer with it! Delicious, delicious, delicious!

First time to try since we are exploring our ramen options in Jax. Too salty and too spicy? I think they put the wrong broth in or to go order.

Wow! I am wondering why I have not visited sooner.🤩 Ramen is a great go to hard day comfort food! 🍜 I was not disappointed. In a strip shopping center on Beach Blvd and San Pablo you are hidden deliciousness! Staff is professional and knowledgeable. Can't wait to go back!

Went for my birthday and we really enjoyed the ramen. I had the tonkatsu and the pork was delicious. Great place to eat.

Absolutely phenomenal. Transported us straight back to Japan. Authentic atmosphere, food and staff. Family owned. Reasonable prices. It's was really really great!

Ordered Tonkotsu online & when placing the order for Level 1 spice, we thought it was mild. Turns out level one is Medium spicy but the entire top of the soup is covered in hot chili oil. I cannot eat spicy due to my health. When I called the restaurant to ask them to replace just the broth, they refused. They said I would have to order new soup. The person on the phones name was Alex. What poor quality of service when EVERY OTHER restaurants level 1 is MILD. I wasn’t even asking for a new soup- just the spicy broth switched out. Cheap restaurant with horrible customer service.

Food is 🔥🔥🔥 Service is consistently good 👍 Atmosphere is chill but dining room is small and can get pretty crowded. There are some good Ramen places in Jax but KARAI is our go-to for flavor, quality, and consistency. We love the Gyoza, Akai Katsu Ramen, and Karai Ramen 🍜

wow. this brisket and ramen is just absolutely incredible. very nice staff.

Wonderful atmosphere! I felt very welcomed as soon as I walked in. The owners own the curry & sando next door and brought me my loaf of bread. The food was so good that I didn't even get a picture! I scarfed it down and it was delicious. I will definitely be back and hopefully remember to take pictures this time.

This place is fantastic, ramen so good I licked the bowl! Travel a lot and there’s always so many restaurants I try to change it up as much as I can, I’ve been to this particular one twice in a row

Karai Ramen Bistro is a go-to for me during my trips to America. With 38 years in Thailand, I confidently proclaim Karai as the best Ramen spot globally. The owner is friendly, and the consistently high-quality, tasty dishes, along with generous servings, make it a definite must-try – you won't be let down!

Owner is a good dude. Very young and handsome man with lots of Rizz in every way. Even amazing cooking skills! Always have delicious food.

Excellent food and service in a cozy restaurant

Incredible. Everything was so yummy. Will be regulars for sure! So glad our daughter found you guys and told us to go! Also, my sticker is the cutest and gave me flashbacks to when I was a little girl collecting My Little Twins Stars! 💚

Best Ramen in Jacksonville. I've eaten at all Crane and Domu which are both far second and third. Restaurant is small and fills up fast. But service is very fast.

Loved the good quality food. Their sandwichs are awesome. .

Great food, Great service, entrance will look fantastic once the construction is done.

Hands down, best ramen place in town. Pictured: daily special Gaijin Ramen

Hands down, best ramen in Jax. I’ve had ramen from many places and this place has superior flavor. The tonkatsu is phenomenal. What more can I say? Go eat!

Great food and cozy atmosphere. When we arrived and were seated, we were treated like family. Thank you! 🌞

Best kept Secret that never was a secret. We were Just behind the curve. The Picture is two empty bowels because we Started and Didn’t Stop until the deal was done. Sorry!!! Best noodles since we left West Michigan! Best service, best Vibes. “We’ll be back, again and again!!!” Second visit with updates picture!!!! Delicious! Great service! Can you smell that……….mmmmm

Great atmosphere, quick service and great ramen!

5 stars, every single time!! Always delicious, thank you guys!! 🍜🍜🤤🤤

Karai is super tasty. The staff is always super nice and the environment is good. I love the ramen here. The broth is always flavorful and I love the noodles. Pictured is the Tonkotsu. My partner got the Peanut Tantanmen and I definitely reccomend you try that because the brother is creamy, rich, and savory

First time visitor! Loved the soup that I had!!! Will be back!!

This place is not only one of the best Ramen places it is one of the best restaurants I’ve ever been too. I eat here about every other day!!!AMAZING!!!

Welcome to your new favorite ramen restaurant.

Awesome place to get the best ramen I’ve had in jacksonville!!! If you have a question I’ll be happy to answer them!

Hands down the best ramen in town. The food and service is always great. We love the takoyaki as a starter and the shoyu, kakukara, and tonkatsu ramen.

Hidden gem for savory and delicious ramen! It’s a cute small restaurant with a quick and attentive staff. Good for a quick bite or dinner with a friend. The food is delicious and they have speciality ramens quite often! I would definitely recommend checking this place out!

Great little restaurant, six tables and four seats at the bar. All were filled while we were there and the restaurant was non stop with constant to go orders, the place was hopping. It is hard to hear others at your table due to the music playing. However the food and service were great. We ordered the Karai Ramen, Shoyu Ramen and the chicken tenders, all were yummy!

Popular cozy little place. Been here twice. Food is good.

Good atmosphere and great ramen. Pretty consistent, there was only one time the broth was off. The spice overcame the flavor that time. Karai Ramens my go to. Heard Iso ramen copied the recipe here lol. I will try them next.

Some of the best ramen I've ever had. Definitely the best ramen in Jacksonville. The Aka-Miso and grouper were both fantastic. I will certainly be back any time I'm in the area, and would even consider the 2 1/2 hour drive from Orlando.

Very Good, small hole in the wall type place. They have a decent amount of ramen you can get and one bowl is more than enough to fill you up. They must have upgraded their recipes, because the spicy dishes are way stronger.

I post reviews as honest as experienced and this 5 star overall rating is NOT fake. Food was absolutely amazing and this is my 3rd time going. I got the Katsu chicken appetizer and the Akai Katsu Ramen and WOW. Its like tasting artwork! And the staff is super nice and friendly and the enviroment is perfect! Will ALWAYS be my go to Ramen place!

Always love this place and you should always try their specials when they have them available. Levi is one of the best ramen chefs in Jacksonville and likely helped create the recipe for some of your other favorite spots as well.