4. Restaurants

Yotteko-Ya

1960 Kapiolani Blvd,Ste 214, Honolulu, HI, 96826
  • (808) 946-2900
  • Store is closed

Yotteko-Ya Menu

Sorry, We are updating this restaurant menu details.

Sorry, We are updating this restaurant cholesterol menu details.

  • Mark d.

    After a long 5 hour flight, this was our dinner stop on the way to our hotel from HNL. I'd put the Paitan Ramen from this place up there with the Miso Corn Butter Ramen at the Umaimono Fair at Mitsuwa Marketplace in Torrance, and the ramen from Hakata Shinsengumi! Order it Japanese style with extra noodles and you'll be good to go. Their Chasu was "Oh so tender!" My wife and I went on a Tuesday night toward closing, so it wasn't too crowded. We were seated right away and got our food just as fast. The lot in the front can get crowded so park around the back in the lower parking structure.

    (5)

  • elita n.

    If this place is in the SF Bay Area, the line would be easily over an hour long... and yup, this place beats all the other bay area places hands down! Their broth is simmered for 10 hours with their "choicest pork and chicken"... 10 veggies... yea, it's good stuff. The noodle itself also fantastic. Combined that with yummy pork, and a side of their ridiculously good fried chicken and homemade gyoza... it was the perfect ramen meal.

    (5)

  • Marlyn C.

    SO GOOD- (way better than Alan Wongs - ha ha). We all chose different combos and different broths and all of us were happy. The Paitan broth is delicious and rich. You must must get the chashu - it melts in your mouth and is phenomenal. I love karage and I was not disappointed. The fried rice is also awesome. I wanted to back and just get an order of the rice to take on the plane. And yes, service is slow and sort of sucky, but the wait staff is nice. They're just overworked and ... slow. Show up half an hour before you're hungry so you get seated and maybe have your order taken.

    (5)

  • Stephen B.

    Service was a little slow are others have described but overall probably up there with the best ramen on the island. Generous with the Char sui and a nice broth flavor.

    (4)

  • Emily T.

    THE BEST RAMEN EVER!!! First off, if you want to try the best ramen, you have to order the Kakuni Paitan with Japanese Style noodles. The kakuni are thick chunks of pork that are so tender and so flavorful, and I admit, a little fatty as well, but OMG, the best char siu I've ever had! Also, because the kakuni is so flavorful, it actually adds a little extra flavor to the already flavorful broth (trust me, I've tried it with and without kakuni, and it does make a difference). But if there is no kakuni, which I've sadly encountered in the past due to the limited quantities available daily, they are still my #1 choice for ramen. Here are some other things to note about their ramen: - Their regular char siu is still one of the best I've ever had, of course it can't beat the kakuni, but it is still very flavorful and tender. - The Paitan is a rich and flavorful broth that you could tell was "boiled for 10 hours to maximize the flavor", plus the "collagen rich stock helps prevent aging of the skin and joints", which makes the broth even better, since it's (somewhat) good for me too! For me personally, I prefer this over Tenkaippin's Kotteri ramen, which was too thick and rich for my liking, and Goma Tei's Tan Tan ramen, which has a nice spicy kick, but the sesame broth was again a little too rich for me. Oh, and let me tell you, I am not one to drink up much broth after I've had ramen/noodles, but every time I end up drinking almost all of the broth at Yotteko-Ya. No wrinkles yet, so maybe it's working! - The noodles, which I get Japanese-style, has the perfect 'al dente' texture that complements the broth well. If you are feeling hungry, the sides are also good too: - Pan Fried Gyoza - A must-have with ramen - Yakibuta Chahan is their fried rice made with their char siu. Their char siu is great, so their Chahan is pretty darn good too! - Karaage Chicken - When it comes out fresh and hot, it is so good! Crispy on the outside, moist on the inside, seasoned well, very good stuff! And for me, the service has always been great, very friendly, and very helpful in answering questions or offering recommendations. Oh, and if you pick up their business card next to the register, on the back is a stamp card, buy 10 get 1 free, can't go wrong with that. The downsides.. - Limited amounts of Kakuni (best to go for lunch if you want to try some) - Parking - Situated in McCully Shopping Center, I always park in the basement since it is less crowded than the ground level parking, but parking is still tight and limited. - Limited seating if you are dining in (but dining in is a must to enjoy the ramen at its best). 7 tables of 4, 1 larger table on the side, and some counter space. Sometimes they only have one person working the front (or at most two), so when they are busy, it might seem like service is slow, but food normally doesn't take too long to come out after ordering, and if you stand by the register, they take care of your bill quickly. I love ramen, and I've tried all the other ramen places (Goma Tei, Gomaichi, Tenkaippin, Sanoya, etc.) on my hunt for my favorite ramen, and I am happy to say that I've found my favorite, Yotteko-Ya is the best!

    (5)

  • Island Boy B.

    I was brought here by my friend who just picked me up from the airport. It was a perfect choice after a nine hour flight from Manila. We met another mutual friend there who was seated when we arrived. Pan fried Gyoza was already ordered and on it's way, but we came here for the highly recommended Paitan (sp) ramen. With the exception of the fatty slice of pork, the health soup concoction was a perfect blend of crushed sesame broth with an assortment of vegetables, bean sprouts and fungi. The menu had other ramen and rice dishes as well as some other main courses. But for lunch, the Paitan and Gyoza appetizer was more than enough. I would have to try a few more dishes to get a better idea of the entire menu, but the ramen was original and flavorful and the service was prompt. I highly recommend it.

    (4)

  • Michelle L.

    i want to give this place 5 stars so badly but the service i received was the slowest EVER! i must admit, the ramen here was amazing! the paitan broth was delicious and i drank every last drop as the menu told me to do lol. i would give it 5 stars on the ramen alone, hands down. we waited forever to get a table since there was only one girl working. poor thing since she was the hostess, server, busser, food runner, and cashier all at once. by the time she got to us, she was kind of rude. i don't blame her but still, smile a little, it makes a huge difference! once the other girl came on the floor, things went a lot smoother. 4.5 stars. i'll be back and will update this review since it might have been one of those days.

    (4)

  • Janette F.

    I initially visited this restaurant when it first opened. They had 3 types of ramen soup (shiyo, shoyu and paitan) and the house char siu was complimentary. It was good then, and it is good now. The menu has expanded quite a bit but I still stick with the paitan ramen because that is the best. I am not a fan of their kakuni or char siu because it is just a bit too sweet for my taste but the meat does fall apart it is so soft. Everyone who goes there to try it loves it, so you have to try it at least once. Business has picked up so sometimes it is really busy but it is worth waiting for because it is a quaint little place with great photos of the old Kyoto. And, if you want Kyoto-style noodles in a great broth, it is a must try restaurant.

    (4)

  • LooLicious L.

    OMG !! I LOVE their Paitan Noodles, Japanese style. And their Cha Siu is out of this world melt in your mouth oishi to the max. When you think of Char Siu, don't think of the disgusting red char siu from Chinese restaurants...it's NOT like that at all. But they do lie about 1 thing...They say their broth which is slow cooked for 10 hours makes you look younger...well, I don't think so.

    (5)

  • Honey P.

    Good ramen, the pork was tender and very flavorful, and the broth was good. They had a super waitress there that did EVERYTHING. She was the only one seating people, taking orders, serving food, cashier, bussing tables, AND washing dishes. She was amazingly organized so the wait was reasonable. We got there 2 hours after they opened for the night and they were already out of their special broth. I also overheard some other items that were already sold out. I guess if you want the full menu to be available to you better be there as soon as they open their doors.

    (4)

  • Esteban W.

    On a late night, grub-run, Norm D. and I set out for some simple soup with flavor. The savory temptress that is Ramen called our names like Homer's Sirens in The Odyssey (thank you Derek G). I grew up with this stuff coming out of cups expanded polystyrene foam. All I ever had to do was add water and watch the dehydrated shrimps reanimate. It wasn't until I moved to the Aloha state where I learned that ramen can be a delicacy. The GOOD: I really liked the décor here. The red walls makes me want to murder again... err I mean paint my kitchen a similar tone. I enjoyed the ramen, but I'm not thinking it was the best. The BAD: There was a wait. I mean it's usually a sign of a good meal, but I felt that the wait was a little pretentious. They only carried three beers, and two were made by Anheuser-Busch and both rhymed with "Shitweiser" and "Shitweiser Light." - I guess they don't really rhyme. The ramen I ordered was their 'specialty' Paitan. I guess no one else makes it like they do - or no one else has it period. This ramen promised chashu, but I have had other places like GomaTei provide a lot more meat (and fat) for a comparable price. Norm D. loves this place, overall I'd rather go to GomaTei. Overall I just feel this place was eh... Will I return? Probably not. Sad day. At most its two and a half stars.

    (2)

  • Dustin N.

    They say "the third times a charm" but not with this place, it took me 6 tries with my love to even get through the door. The first five times we went it was either closed or renovating? I must say that I am quite biased to the "goma teis" and the "tenkaippins" ;) BUT this place hits the spot if you finnin' (craving) some paitan ramen! It's a must to order the combo with chicken fried rice, OHNO! Maybe after another 5 tries, "the sixth time is always a charm"! Dee K approved!

    (4)

  • Lily L.

    not sure what the big deal is about. i mean, the paitan is good, but nothing to write home about.

    (3)

  • Kris A.

    I had the Paitan Ramen, as it came recommended on Yelp and on the menu itself. The ramen was fine, but it didn't really thrill me like some other ramen spots do. I also think the prices were a touch too high. A fine place for ramen addicts, but you can find better.

    (3)

  • Yuko K.

    Great ramen place. I had Paitan men and gyoza. Both of them were excellent. Definitely a notch above Ramen Nakamura, or any of the ramen places in Bay Area.

    (4)

  • Finn L.

    I'm just a country boy in country shoes. My idea of good noodles is uncooked Kraft Macaroni eaten from the sad sack of a collapsed clown. So what do I really know about noodles and soup? About as much as I know about the footwear of a large ankled women or about the mechanics of martian sexuality. I know how to point at it and shout, "Avast matey!' I thought the wooden spoon was a Turkish Yamaka and I drank from my bowl like a disoriented Camel and used my fingers to capture runaway noodles--but I ate/drank every last drop. We ordered the Kim Chee Soup in two of the broth styles and had both noodles Japanese style. Very good Ramen. The single waitress was stellar and efficient. And I left her a lucky penny for a tip.

    (5)

  • Devon S.

    Anyone that knows me knows that I am not much of a noodle person. Carbs are evil! Nah, not really, but I do try to avoid them whenever possible, or until I get a craving, as was the case on this day. It was a rainy, kinda chilly evening and I had a tough workout earlier that day. I wanted nothing more than some nice, homey comfort food. Noodle soup was the perfect repose. I know this may sound awfully gaudy, but very few dishes I have tried in life have had such a profound impact on my culinary portfolio as the paitan char sui ramen at Yotteko-ya. I mean, this ramen noodle soup was in all ways flawless. Firstly, the char sui was gelatinously tender. I have no idea how the meat is prepared, but it is unlike any other sliced pork I have ever tried. The broth...the broth..(moment of silence)... Anyway, yes, the paitan broth is a soft, flavorful masterpiece in and of itself. I mean, it's thin and watery like traditional broth, and yet full-bodied and rich like milk or heavy cream. Moreover, there is a certain harmony of flavors such that the broth is full of char sui flavor and the char sui is full of broth flavor. Amazing. Again, I have no idea how it is prepared but it truly is a one-of-a-kind soupy delicacy. Add noodles cooked to your preferred texture and you have home cooking fit for royalty. Put it this way. If my mother were a Japanese queen, this is the type and level of food I suspect she would prepare or have prepared by a great chef for me and the family. The ONLY flaw with the establishment is the service. I think there are 8 to 10 tables in the restaurant, yet only one server was on duty. The place was understandably packed to capacity, so everything was slow to come to the table. Nevertheless, I give Yotteko-Ya 4 solid stars. Maybe I just came on an unusually busy night. With food as delicious as that, though, it would not surprise me if house was full every night. "S"

    (4)

  • Joyze C.

    Oh, Yotteko-ya! Rocketed from Kyoto, you say? Makes me look younger? While I don't know the truth of what you say, your ramen is pretty good. I always get the Paitan Chashu, with maybe a mini Yakibuta Chahan. The sets are really good deals, in my opinion. Actually, everything here is relatively inexpensive. The only negative thing I would comment on is the service. I feel bad for the lone wait slave rushing around, but at the same time, would it hurt her to smile once in a while? Sometimes, it takes a while for your dishes to come out, too... Or maybe that's just me, since I prefer my food sent to my open mouth immediately after I order... Anyways, Yotteko-Ya is a good place with big portions, a nice atmosphere, and cool little spoon-ladles. The end.

    (4)

  • The Next Time O.

    No no no. Our family all agreed after our lunch, none of us enjoyed the broth. No depth and very oily, both negative for any base soup. Here's the deal about ramen or any other noodle dish with soup, if the soup doesn't taste right, it does not work. Ever have tasty burger with extra soggy bun? Tasty BBQ with rock hard rice? Delicious jelly hidden under melting doughnut? I assume you get the picture except with noodle & soup, soup hold even more presence. Just try the Kimchee Noodle bowl you can pick up at most grocery. As my sister stated, she is still the undisputed Ramen cook. The Next Time: there will not be a next time.

    (2)

  • Laura M.

    Just went to Yotteko-Ya (smack-dab in the middle of the nexus of the Korean-restaurant universe) with my parents for a random Tuesday night dinner out. I've been there many times before but this time the ramen was better than I'd ever remembered. In fact, it's ALWAYS been like that at Yotteko-Ya: the first time I went there I wasn't completely sold on their broth. Maybe because it was too creamy and I was used to gorging on gallons of that robust Tan Tan stuff from Goma Ichi. But the flavor of Yotteko-Ya's broth really creeps up on you, and by the third or fourth time, I know Yotteko-Ya's got it goin' on. Their ramen's got subtle layers that are delectable, with chili pepper flakes and toasted sesame seeds floating through it. The Paitan broth (chicken & pork) is the way to go, with the vegetables and kim chee (not too garlicky or fishy---just perfect!). And it's just the right amount too. Get the Japanese-style noodles (more al dente than the soft Local-style ones). So, so delish. It's still sitting in my stomach digesting, and boy do I feel GOOD. The one problem with Yotteko-Ya is that they ALWAYS seem to be understaffed. And when they have more than one waiter running around (which isn't often), they still seem disorganized. Oh well. During the day, the copious amount of windows at this spot make it gorgeous, AND they offer stamp cards for ramen! GENIUS!

    (4)

  • Brad N.

    I had the Paitan Chashu ramen. Paitan means that the broth is has a porky base that is a little creamier than typical ramen broths. Chashu is the pieces of pork. This bowl comes with two pieces of chashu. It was definitely worth the $7.50. I don't think you need to pay the $8.95 for the bowl that comes with 5 pieces of chashu. I might consider paying the $1 for extra noodles though, as I did finish my bowl pretty fast. I recommend the noodles "Japanese style" which is a little firmer than "Hawaiian style." There are absolutely no vegetarian options here. I cannot taste any MSG in the broth.

    (4)

  • Kent I.

    Update time. Well, its been well over a year and I have gone to a variety of places searching for ramen nirvana. Some were very excellent (Kiwami, Tenkaiipin) and some were horrible. Yottekoya is one that I have eaten at about 5 times since my initial review, so it was time for an update. Yottekoya is fairly small, seating is limited and it seems they only have one girl working on most nights. She is very good, but with the amount of work she has to do alone, there can be a considerable wait. I waited 20 min the other night for a seat, when there were 2 tables available, however, the tables needed to be cleaned and with only one extremely busy waitress. The interior is nice and clean. The ramen to get is the Paitan ramen with nihon style noodles. The paitan broth is nice (perfect level of saltiness), and the noodles are pretty good. The charsiu is small and a little dry. We ordered a side order to place in the ramen and the side order came with 6 half dollar sized charsiu. I believe it was $6 for the side, so not cheap either. Overall the Paitan ramen is good, not great. After having some very questionable ramen in my quest, it was nice to have something of some quality, however, there was nothing about the ramen that really is unique. It is forgettable, nothing that I crave, but it'll do if you're in the neighborhood. A note on the side dishes, in general I would avoid them. I found them to be average general taste and expensive. The garlic fried rice could be easily reproduced at home for a third of the price. Overall, the ramen is recommended, avoid the sides and please be patient with the lone overworked waitress. 3.5 stars.

    (3)

  • Janet H.

    Soup that boosts collagen and makes you look younger? Sounds very suspect, but that's their claim to their delicious ramen soup that is boiled for 10 hours with the finest meats and veggies. I CAN attest to the fact that this is probably the best ramen soup I have ever had in my life. I ordered the chashu paitan ramen, spicy, Japanese style per the recommendations of other Yelpers with a side of kimchee fried rice and gyoza. While the kimchee fried rice had a lot of chashu in it, I thought it was really bland and not anything a true Korean would call authentic. However, I do suggest getting a side of kimchee, as it is a refreshing palate cleanser between bites and gulps of greasy ramen and chashu. The ramen base is so thick that it's more of a stew than a broth. I thought the chashu was a little too sweet and I had to fish out bits of pure fat that were floating in my ramen. I'm not going to lie... the first couple of tastes of the pure fat were really good but then it got too heavy by the third try. The gyoza is also very good pan- fried, but I was too full from the ramen to finish it. Per the recommendation of the restaurant menu, I finished every last drop of my soup and even scraped the bottom of the bowl with the wooden ladle to get every last drop of soupy goodness. Another recommendation- get there as soon as it opens. We went 10 mins after the doors opened and we got the last available table.

    (5)

  • Kenny C.

    The ramen here is really good. I usually get the chashu paitan ramen with Japanese noodles. The service can be slow at times but they are friendly and the prices are good. The restaurant is small and is always crowded so you know its good. The McCully Shopping center parking sucks though, but it's not the restaurants fault.

    (4)

  • reen m.

    *Expect to wait a little if you come during dinner* It's pretty much always crowded but that's what you can expect from a small restaurant serving good ramen. *Ramen was ramen* I differ with most people when I say that I really don't feel like the ramen stands out. It's not bad but it's not great and really I always want great. What is good is that they have so many different types of ramen (flavors) that you can keep trying until you finally find one that you love. I got paitan which has a little more flavor and I noticed most people like it the best. *Char siu is oh oh oh so yummy* I'm not a char siu person so listen to me when I say spend the extra few dollars and get char siu in whatever form you can (in the ramen, fried rice or plain char siu and rice. It's so tender and flavorful that you'll feel like coming back simply for the char siu (sorry ramen lovers).

    (3)

  • Mila S.

    MMM, Yotteko-ya is GOOD! I always get their paitan chashu ramen and it is delicious. Recently I tried their fried rice, which was very good. The ladies who work there are super friendly, and service is quick. I have noticed that recently the place is getting more crowded, so come early or late to avoid the lunch rush!

    (5)

  • Inthira M.

    I've been wanting to eat at this ramen place for quite sometime, but every time I go there seems to be a line outside so I just leave. Well last night after waking up from a nap at 9pm (I had a long day) the bf and I decided to try here since we were craving noodles. There were only 3 other couples in the restaurant, I guess the later the better. After reading everyone's reviews I already knew that I was going to have the paitan base with the chashu (5 slices of ramen). My bf had the same thing and then we also ordered deep fried gyoza and ebi in chili sauce to share. The paitan soup base tasted like there was a little sesame seed oil (there are sesame seeds in it as well) in the broth. It looked like a cream broth, but it didn't have that thickness that you would think; I guess it's just the color of the soup. The chashu was very tender but it was a little on the sweet side. I decided it must be marinated in terriyaki sauce. I asked for the noodles to be cooked traditional Japanese style which is a little more al dente than "local style" or softer noodles (you have a choice b/w those 2). I really liked the noodles, though I should've read the menu carefully b/c all the soups come with chashu, but some come with less pieces, some come with veggies and chashu (would've gotten that one. Darn), one can even come with a block of chashu (dine in only). The deep fried gyoza (5 pc) was cooked to perfection, golden brown and great crunch. Taste was great too. The ebi (6 pc) didn't quite go over too well with us. It was deep fried in tempura batter and then this jelly like sauce dumped over it. Texture of the shrimp vs. the sauce was not well thought out and we both stopped eating it. Side dishes aside, I'm going to have to say this is one of the better ramen places to go on Oahu and will be back for the paitan!

    (3)

  • Jeff L.

    This place does not open on time. The ramen is crudely made...the broth was bland and chunks of thick cabbage stems were floating about my bowl. No Love.

    (1)

  • Scott K.

    Paitan Charsu is simply the best. According to the menu, its suppose to help to keep you looking young. This is one of the reasons, ive been going atleast once a week for the past couple of weeks. Garlic rice is also another favorite there. Just make sure you dont have any business meetings after.

    (4)

  • Michael T.

    From the outside or walking in, you can easily mis-look this place or doubt it. However, I do recommend this place if you want decent ramen. I had the specialty Paitan soup. Their blend is just right. Not too salty or too soupy like some other places. If you like your italian pasta al dente, definitely choose the "Japanese style" noodle (firm). The only two downsides I have for this place is 1) understaffed (slow service) with just one person. and 2) small portions (and I don't even have an American appetite) Parking is free in McCully but sometimes parking there can be a B**** Good Luck!

    (4)

  • Kimo S.

    I've been on a Ramen rampage these past few weeks and after visiting five distinct restaurants, I'm relieved to find a place worthy of 5 stars and a number one pick in my book. Ramen is never very filling to me so I always gravitate towards the combo sets, it gives me a chance to sample a variety of dishes and also leaves me satisfied. The best part about the combo sets here is that you can upgrade your ramen to whatever style you wish (for a nominal fee). This is what sealed the deal, because I wanted to try the fried rice (excellent) and gyoza (pan-friend, excellent as well). I upgraded my combo set to the Paitan ramen and was completely happy with my meal. The broth was great, there wasn't too much going on... noodles, delicious char siu, some seaweed and that was it. Not overdone with garnishes like a lot of places, just exactly what you want. On a side note, when you enter you may have to poke around the corner to find a waitress/hostess to seat you. Or at the very least to let them know you are there otherwise you might be standing around for a bit looking silly.

    (5)

  • JoonieJoon K.

    we were on family vacation and I had to try a ramen place. Noticed while going to fook you restaurant on the other side of the corridor. I went at close to 2pm, where all the rush lunch hour storm had already passed by. pros: - friendly staff - cost is decent - good quality cha-shu - has kim chi - good ramen - good gyoja - seems well maintained and clean - japanse style decor cons: - i can see how it could be very tight in terms of spacing during busy hours - place is definitely not big /spacious at all note: this place has underground parking lot. if it is full up on the ground level just go underground. when you order they also ask you how well your noodle to be cooked. i like it not so soft so it came out as expected. no other ramen place has ever asked me this question. orochon in LA has bigger sized chashu. if you like cha shu, order the one bowl that has 5 - it'll be smaller pieces than the orochon LA cha shu pieces so go figure. honestly if people were to say and rank lower than 4 stars for this place just because of "this ramen tastes ok but not better than ___ " ... seems tad unfair. You just can't compare different ramens since they all have their unique taste under each individual restaurant. as far as ramen at yotteko-yaI it is excellent.

    (4)

  • Eric C.

    Ive been to numerous ramen I ordered the kakuni paitan ramen and could tell a distinct difference from tonkotsu broth. It's definitely thinner but still tasty. I agree the fried rice is good. I think they use the pork renderings from the chashu to flavor the rice as it was very good. All in all, I recommend ramen lovers to check it out. And watch out the spicy oil ramen they make is fairly hot by japanese standards (probably just right by korean standards).

    (4)

  • Forest F.

    Tried this spot after all the hype I have been hearing lately. It's true there is only one waitress and she is working her butt off. The ramen was good. I got Japanese style which basically just entails the noodles arent cooked until they are super soft (local style). The Gyoza was ono too. I would ear here again, but it still doesnt beat Goma Tei for me.

    (4)

  • Eric S.

    Returning to my hometown of Honolulu with a new taste for ramen (developed in the SF Bay area), I was determined to hit some of the ramen-ya that has always been here but I hadn't appreciated before. Thus, my visit to Yotteko-ya was sort of like discovering a longtime girlfriend led a previous life as a lion tamer. I was a frequent visitor to Mccully Center in the past, for both the now-defunct Italian joint on the second floor and the awesomely-named Fook Yuen chinese place downstairs, but I'd never even noticed, let alone eaten in, the tiny ramen shop on the `ewa end of the upper deck. Prepped by other yelpers' comments that the place gets busy for lunch, we arrived about 11:30 and were seated immediately. I ordered gyoza, a small chashu bowl for the three-year-old, and the house special "Paitan" style ramen for both adults. The delicious chashu came out immediately -- "rocketed from Kyoto" indeed! -- and our bowls and gyoza appeared not long after. Very nice presentation, good temperature on the broth and my first chomp of the ('japanese style' as they say on the menu) noodles brought my eyes rolling skyward with delight. After ladling out some soup into the cute Hello Kitty bowl the waitress brought (unasked-for! Bonus points) for Gunnar, I got down to the business at hand: devouring the thick, chewy noodles and deep, well-balanced broth in equal measure. I punctuated the slurping with a nibble of the bowl's five chashu slices, which were sweet and delicate but smaller 2" ovals rather than the sandwich-sized slabs I've grown used to from my local haunt, Maru Ichi in Mountain View CA. The bamboo was crisp and cool and made a nice counterpoint to the broth. We made our way down to the bottom of our bowls; Gunnar polished off his chashu and kept asking for more of my soup. The gyoza were decent but not spectacular. I'd really love a bowl with this broth topped with the kakuni pork and more vegetables; perhaps they'd make that if I asked. My ramen-eating time is limited and there are lots of other places to try, but Yotteko-ya was superb; good enough to try to make it back before I have to leave Honolulu again, and its secret ramen history with it.

    (4)

  • Carol L.

    Paitan ramen japanese style! Rich good for you collagen broth! MmMm guud! Such great noodles. Such comfort fuud!! Yeah i like Gomatei is guud but they don't claim its "guud for you" Tenkaippin is bit too rich for my taste almost taste liek your drinking butter.

    (5)

  • Jennie L.

    My favorite ramen place so far by a long shot. You must MUST order ramen with the paitan broth. It's white, creamy, and high.. in.. protein... (That's what she said.) ANYWAY, apparently the collagen is good for your skin and joints but whatever- I just think it's delicious. Their chashu is also really tender and tasty!! The kakuni special was always sold out when I went, but I'm determined to try it one day. If you're really hungry, I recommend the C set which comes with your choice of 2 sides- charsiu rice/fried rice and gyoza/chicken karaage. The fried rice was good- a little heavier on the shoyu and glistening with oil. However the paitan broth seemed to lose some of its flavor on my taste buds in comparison. The gyoza was disappointing.. I thought Ling-Lings from the freezer tasted better. Just remember they close in the hours between lunch and dinner, otherwise you're setting yourself up for total sadness. This happened during my first 3 attempts to eat here.. but so worth it in the end=)

    (5)

  • Mitchell N.

    You decide if Yotteko-Ya's claim that their ramen makes one look younger is true, but their ramen IS unique, rich, and simmered to close perfection! Relax, stay calm - it's worth it! Remember this as you circle the lot for parking, especially after 6pm, even worse on Friday and Saturday evenings. There's basement parking if you dare, but a spot can be found usually within 5 minutes. After parking and hoping your car doesn't get door dinged (bike racks and safety is questionable), you'll find Yotteko-Ya nestled on the Ewa side, second story. Open the door and you'll immediately be welcomed by staff, a terrific ambiance, and likely patrons looking at you. Relax, stay calm again, while it might take a few minutes to sit down and order, the staff is small, they work hard, and are very friendly...local style. Now for the food - the chashu is among the most tender and flavorful chashu on the island, regardless of the price, and rivals those I've had in Japan (albeit, differently). Can you appreciate the subtle difference of Kyoto ramen and others? I don't and it doesn't matter - it's THAT good. The shoyu Japanese style are favorites and are must have's here. For those who like softer noodles, local style is offered for all ramen. Recommended: Yataiaji Ramen, Chashu Ramen, Tonshio Ramen, it's all tasty. For those seeking more substance or gohan-based meals, the yakibuta and garlic chahan won't disappoint. Reading the description, a half-decent cook may think they can rival what's presented...you might find yourself with the rest of us who thought that! If you're from out-of-town or simply like to eat a lot of good food, try a ramen and chashu gohan. The chashu and shiro gohan's come in small bowls but unless you're a hearty eater, food will be left on your plate and you might carry a slight guilt as you leave. For those who want to try a little of everything, 4 "sets" or combos are offered. They all consist of a ramen, side, and gohan. At quick glance it appears to be a good deal, but considering the amount of food and just okay sides, you're better off skipping them all. While the karaage is moist and tender with a crispy outside, there's better restaurants at similar prices scattered throughout the island. The gyoza is standard fare and not a far cry from others. If you aren't a ramen, chashu, gohan type, or simply are looking for something easily recognizable, the sweet and sour chicken is a safe choice. Served off a pineapple stem that hints Hawaiian, it's just that - safe. No worries though, after hearing your company rave about the other meals, you'll be back. One of the few places whose food can ride with the large restaurants, check it out nice time you're in McCully...possibly after getting shaved ice. It's 5 minutes outside the Ewa (West) side of Waikiki. If you someone with an impossible amount of food in front of them, that's me.

    (5)

  • Tony L.

    Quite possibly the best ramen I've ever had, mainly due to the Paitan broth. I literally finished the whole bowl, including the broth. The Chashu pork is also very tender and tasty. The service, although sparse as other reviewers have mentioned, is very friendly and courteous. This is one restaurant that I'll always look forward to whenever I visit Hawaii.

    (5)

  • Rex H.

    This is the best ramen I have eaten in Honolulu (so far). The flavor of the Paitan ramen is so onolicious. The chashu has is really tasty. This place is small and gets crowded quickly. They employ one efficient waitress, but service is good. The broth is tastier than the Kotteri at Tenkaippin. This has moved ahead of Goma Tei as my number one ramen in Honolulu. To put it simply, this is really good stuff.

    (5)

  • Jeffrey R.

    Yotteko-Ya is a pretty decent ramen restaurant with a comfortable, airy space upstairs in a strip-mall on Kapiolani. There are a decent number of tables, but on the day I ate there, there was only one person waiting on the tables and service was a bit slow. The soup broth - pork based - is decent, above average, but where Yotteko-Ya really shines is their char shu. The soup itself is probably worth about three stars but the char shu is absolutely five star. We ordered extra pork and the bowl came with three ENORMOUS bricks of char shu that was as good as any that I have ever tasted in a ramen restaurant. If anything, the portions were TOO large, but the meat was so delicious that I finished it all. We also had some decent gyoza - this seems to be pretty much the norm for ramen places in Honolulu. I never have bad gyoza, but given the high quality of the char shu, I might have expected to get better gyoza filling too, You can't have everything. Plenty of parking. Definitely worth a look if you are looking for ramen and are in the area.

    (4)

  • Sara E.

    The paitan ramen is pure YUM. :) I have eaten here 3 times now and every single time, the ramen is cooked perfectly- Japanese style (but you can choose local style if you like softer noodles). And the soup..what can I say about the soup..only that it's amazing. Add a little bit of chili oil and red pepper flake for that spicy-ness! (I would do it yourself unless you like your ramen suuuper spicy- then you can just have them do it for 1 dollar. haha) I can't comment on the charsiu because I don't eat that but the boyfriend says its pretty darn good. I always tend to go here on off times when its not that crowded..service is super fast even if there is only one waitress. I suggest parking in the underground lot off of Pumehana street if the main parking at ground level is full. yay for paitan ramen. woo!

    (5)

  • T. L.

    It's always a good sign when there is a line of hungry customers waiting for a restaurant to open for lunch. I was number five in line. The table service was prompt and courteous, and the restaurant was clean. I ordered Tabeteko Paitan Ramen and chose the firmer Japanese-style noodles, which I love. I dislike mushy. Let's see if they cook it the way I like it. Here it is, and it was nicely done. It had just the right amount of veggies, Kim Chee, seaweed and pork with a sprinkling of sesame seeds. The pork was uber-delicious with a hint of sweetness and probably the best I've had. The dashi was tasty, but Goma-ichi is better. For me, that is the standard upon which all ramen in Honolulu is compared . . . so far, anyway. I will return if I'm in the area tho.

    (3)

  • Crystal L.

    Hands down, the best best best best BEST (you got that? It's THE BEST) ramen I've ever had. (Note: I like tonkotsu-creamy bone-white broths, so you shoyu broth people might be disappointed.) Whenever I think of my two month visit to Hawaii and the food I ate, this place is one of the most memorable. Maybe if I go to Japan I can find better ramen, but I have not found any that beats Yotekko-Ya in the Bay area where I am living now. Dear Yotekko-Ya in Japan, Please start your franchise on the mainland so I can enjoy it without a $500 plane ticket.

    (5)

  • First Name L.

    Very strange my Yotteko-Ya review mysteriously disappeared. Here's the botton line, this is the best and most authentic ramen in Oahu period. Nobody else comes close. I prefer to get their C set with Kakuni style Char Sui and Paitan Ramen. The ramen is always cooked perfectly, broth is flavorful, never greasy, and it tastes "clean". Char Sui is always sooo soft and flavorful. We've tried most things on the menu and everything has been excellent. Fried rice is exceptionally good. The closest competition to this place is GomaTei but their ramen is not as good and GomaTei is very greasy in comparison. Another popular comparison is Tenkaippin... no comparison Tenkaippin's excuse for a ramen that resembles KFC gravy is nasty shit. Yotteko is it, like they said, Rocketed from Tokyo... this is the real deal.

    (5)

  • A C.

    Very very good ramen. The noodles Japanese-style were perfect. The Japanese char siu was perfect. The broth was very flavorful and delicious. Definitely going back.

    (4)

  • Brendan J.

    4.5 stars I haven't tried the ramen places in Waikiki where I would assume the best ramen may be found, but Yottekoya is the current standard for Japanese style chashu. I wouldn't call Kyoto one of the famous centers of ramen in Japan so I'm not really sure where they're going with the Kyoto ramen thing. In general, Kyoto cuisine is supposed to be lighter and less heavily seasoned than other areas of Japan. The ramen here is strongly flavored, but thankfully not too salty like other ramenya I've been to. If you're looking for something lighter, go for either the shoyu (soy sauce) or Hawaiian salt base soup. Even though you're in Hawaii and this isn't really the place for a steaming, heavy broth, sometimes you just have to have the milky paitan. Dinner sets are pretty reasonable but a whole lot of food. Maybe if you have two people you should get one dinner set and one bowl of ramen. I prefer the chashu gohan (chashu on top of white rice with sauce, pickled ginger, and green onions) over the chaahan (fried rice). The chaahan has a typical Japanese fried rice flavor, but is a bit too greasy. The chashu gohan features the chashu better in my opinion, and the sauce is quite tasty. Gyoza were fine and the karaage (Japanese fried chicken) was done well. Could have used some lemon perhaps. The chashu here is spot on. Slightly sweet with a good soy sauce flavor and the pork fat melts in your mouth for heavenly, porky, unctuous deliciousness. Noodles are medium thickness and can be ordered Japanese style or the softer local style. This would be a great spot for a cold winter day, but as that does not happen very often in Hawaii, it is a little hot and heavy for regular eating. Maybe a cold rainy day.

    (4)

  • Jas A.

    One of my favorite places for japan style ramen. i eat the set C with spicy paitan, pan fried gyoza, and chashu gohan. chahan is good also. the gyoza is ok but i go for the noodles. spicy paitan is perfect cause it's smooth, rich, then a little kick. hopefully it with keep me youthful!

    (5)

  • Ron T.

    Great charsu pork. A must try! The fried rice and paitan ramen is to die for!

    (5)

  • Derek R.

    oh dah gomatei ramen is a winnah!

    (5)

  • Daniel C.

    We went to this place on Sunday night 12/15/13. We walked about 20-30 minutes from Waikiki beach area, passing another Ramen place that has lines out the door until 10pm every night. Arriving at 7:45pm, we were dismayed to see a "closed" sign on the door. I wondered if maybe they were just closed on Sundays, as many businesses are. No, that wasn't the case. They had run out of soup. We were greeted with a "sorry, come back tomorrow." No, I won't be coming back tomorrow, or ever. I would have to think that a place that has been in business for years can figure out how much food to prepare so that they don't run out AT 7:45pm. This is totally unacceptable, and utterly inept. Making enough so that you have a small excess daily might cost you a few extra dollars per day. But running out so that you have to turn away who-knows-how-many customers for over an hour that you advertise being open is far more expensive. I'm sure the food here is good, but there are enough other great places in Honolulu who are clearly more responsive to the needs of their customers.

    (1)

  • Albert S.

    Wow. Hands down the best ramen I've ever had. This is the ramen I was craving when I went to Tokyo and Kyoto. I got the "Set C" combination: - Char siu paitin traditional-style ramen (they were out of the daily kakuni special): the char siu was delicious and tender, and the paitin broth was amazingly flavorful. - Deep-fried gyoza: Deep. Fried. Gyoza. Yum. The gyoza itself was very good and seemed homemade (not the usual mysterious, odd-tasting meat). - Fried rice: Not just a filler! It was very flavorful and worth getting on its own. Be prepared: the service complaints are valid. There is only *one* person handling the serving, busing, and checks. And it's crazy popular. We were one of the first people to show up when they opened at 5:30 PM, and the place was full by 5:45.

    (4)

  • Grace L.

    :o| Over all as a whole, I'm slightly confused about this place. There were some real highlights in the dishes we ordered, yet on the other hand other parts just couldn't compare. My friends shared the D set (Yataiaji ramen, chicken, and fried rice) and Paitan ramen. We collectively decided that we liked the Paitan base better than the Shoyu base. The Paitan base is creamier think more of a miso soup. The Shoyu base is basically a regular clear soup base. As a whole the noodles and soup were pretty mediocre, but their chashu is AMAZING! It's so tender, flavorful, and melts in your mouth! I want a plate of that right now! MMMMmmm!!! Okie okie... back to this review. The fried rice was yummy, nicely done. The chicken was ok, it wasn't terrible nor was it amazing. Overall a good place to a grab a ramen bite, but won't necessarily fulfill a ramen craving.

    (3)

  • Gee Gee M.

    Have been coming here for years and the Ramen is always consistent and you get exactly what you are craving for when you feel like Ramen. I like the Paitan Ramen but also like the Yataiiji Ramen - the Char Siu/Shoyu Pork is sooooo gooood!. That is sufficient when you have that Ramen craving but their sets or sides are good too. Once in a while we will have the Gyoza or Karaage Chicken - the fried rice is good too. Have tried other Ramen places but this is still the best for my taste. The service is always great and consistent too! Parking can be a bit tricky at times since this is such a crowded shopping complex with many restaurants but never a problem and always worth it to fuss a bit with parking but get the great Ramen prize!

    (5)

  • Dan C.

    One word: AWESOME. We had been recommended this place years ago by a friend, however it wasn't until several turns of events and another trip to the island that would finally greet us with the delicious bowl of ramen served here 2 years later. OK, I have to admit, that I'm no rameniac...but damn, that was one good bowl of soup right down to the last drop. Eating here with this bowl of ramen conjured up scenes from the classic Jûzô Itami movie, Tampopo. You know that scene in the movie where an old wizened ramen-eating master is imparting his knowledge to a young man? He goes into this long ritualistic description of how to eat the bowl of ramen....from carefully flipping the chashu pork, but eyeing it longingly so as not to make it feel unwanted....well, that's how I felt eating here - as if I'd died and gone to a ramen eating sanctuary. Eating here rejuvenated my love of ramen and gave me a deep respect for the bowl of noodles served here....it's that good. First off, ambience and location. It's located on the second floor of this shopping center with a Taco Bell and a 7-Eleven and the tasty Curry House down below. Its pretty non-descript as others have said, but don't let that deter you from the goodness served here. One lady works the floor and there's something like 6 or 7 tables. Coming here at the end of the lunch hour (~1:30 pm) we avoided a lot of the crowds as we were 1 of 3 tables there on a Thursday. For us, orders came out fast and we were done eating in a little over 30 minutes. I wished I had read the Yelp reviews beforehand, b/c we didn't order the special of the house - the Kakuni Paitan Ramen. No worries....I went with a Yasai Paitan Ramen with Japanese style (Tradtional) noodles and wasn't disappointed! The noodles were perfectly cooked with that al dente feeling - not too soft (although you can have it that way if you ask), but just a bit squeaky. The soup base was this amazingly rich and creamy broth. This is not for the veggie types out there...I think they use (according to their menu) chicken and pork simmered for hours creating this milky broth of flavour. The Yasai had some bean sprouts and green onions, 1 large piece (for me) of chashu, and some of that uber-delicious marinated bamboo shoots all for about $9 and some change. And not to neglect the chashu...but that piece of pork was super succulent and moist....it literally melted in my mouth. Amazingly good. Enough to turn this previous vegetarian into a newly converted porkaholic. Finally, what I like best about this place and the menu here is that you have choices - from the soup base (Shoyu, Hawaiian Salt and Paitan) to the noodle style (soft vs. traditional) to the additional pieces of accoutrements you want in your bowl. It's kind of like the a control freak's ramen heaven. Want some extra chashu? Sure thing. Extra noodles? Sure. Just be prepared to pay up for it. My only complaint? Parking. It's free...but a pain. If you're lucky to own a small compact car, you can easily use the underground parking garage behind the shops. If not, you can still brave it with the Oldsmobuick....just be careful in those tight spaces! 5 stars. Come here and as the "Master" in Tampopo says [translated], "Appreciate its gestalt. Savor the aromas.....caress the surface...to show your affections."

    (5)

  • Julie M.

    The broth was WAY too salty. Service was OK.

    (2)

  • g s.

    I can't remember the first time I ate here. What I do remember is eating here often. What brought me back here over and over is their Paitan Ramen, which is now the staple of all noodles that will come after for me. The creamy soup base just kept me slurping non stop regardless of how hot (japanese style) it was. I had it with Cha Shu and Kim Chee Paitan Ramen. I must say that it is so tasteful. Yummy! Only one problem my girlfriend and me are lactose intolerant, and have a case of the tooties afterwards. Still, wouldn't pass this up. If you are lactose just go for the not so creamy soup base...but if you do you have no idea what you're missing. SLURP!!

    (4)

  • Darcy M.

    My friend Melissa and I went to Yotteko-ya after I'd been eye-balling this place for quite a while. I tried to go a couple times before with my husband but the wait was too long and when I'm hungry, I'M HUNGRY. Feed me Seymour!! I ordered the Yasai Paitan Ramen thinking I'd be a little healthy (yasai means vegetables) since I was lunching with a vegetarian. What I SHOULD'VE ordered was the Paitan Chashu Ramen like the waitress recommended. Who knew my people can make char siu??! I'm still baffled. It was totally different from Chinese char siu and totally delish!! It was almost like eating a good piece of filet mignon because it had the same melt-in-your-mouth effect. Mmmmm... Service was friendly and attentive, and the restaurant had a nice cozy vibe. I'm looking forward to going again...but next time will be sure to load up on the char siu because one piece just isn't enough. Giving this place 4 stars because Goma Ichi on Keeamoku is still my favorite. Their broth is addicting!

    (4)

  • Jeremy D.

    My friends and I really enjoy eating at Yotteko-Ya. The ramen is very good and I love their fried rice. I usually get the Combo B, Paitan Chashu, with fried rice... SO GOOD!! This combo runs around $13 but you can get a nice bowl of ramen with a couple pieces of chashu for about $7. While the location is a little small, you are not limited to eating at a counter and that can make for good conversation. Tables turn slow because they run with a lean crew, but the ladies are very nice. There are maybe eight tables that can seat 4, a booth for around 8 hungry people, and short counter for 5 more. If you are coming with a group, I'd send an advanced party to secure your position or try calling ahead if they will allow it. If you come after 6:30 and they are full, be prepared for a wait.

    (4)

  • Ny O.

    ordered the "A Set" w/ Paitan Chashu Ramen, gyoza and rice. I'm not a big fan of ramen...but it was ok. Chashu was the best part.

    (3)

  • Bifyu J.

    5-stars for the ramen. My favorite/usual is the paitan, spicy, often with chashu. It's the best broth I've yet to try anywhere. Rich, flavorful and thick (but still well short of Tenkaippin's gravy). Their cha shu is also among the best I've had in ramen. Their gyoza's decent. I'm not too impressed with the shrimp fried rice, but I go there for the ramen anyway. Their ice cream is also weak, but if you want ice cream go to the overrated Cold Stone downstairs, or better yet, hit Bubbies. As a bonus, they have a stamp card, so if you're a frequent patron you get a free or discounted ramen after 10 stamps.

    (5)

  • kelly k.

    after going to MANY lunches with people who eat ramen 95% of the time, i have decided that yotteko-ya is my fave. there's something about that broth...and those "japanese-style" noodles!!! heaven in a ramen bowl. if you ever venture to this almost hole in the wall place, you MUST get the tabeteko paitan. it's like the regular paitan, except it comes with kim chee. being korean, i think kim chee makes EVERYTHING better. another thing that really stands out here is their char siu---moist, a little sweet, and melt in your mouth. seriously the best char siu in ramen i've tasted so far. and if you have enough room to chow down on their chahan (fried rice), do so. it's definitely yummy :) did i mention on their menu it says this ramen will "make you look younger"???

    (5)

  • Justin H.

    Soup base was pretty good, homemade char sui pork was mean, gyoza tasted ok, BUT the soup should've come out STEAMING HOT! Not warm!

    (3)

  • Janice S.

    MMMMmmm...this place is yummy! Too bad it's so far from me :( Just came back form Japan and have been hunting for a ramen that can come close! Mission Possible...:) Just a hint get the spicy on the side. You can add a little, even if you don't like spicy and it just makes this ramen spectacular! Chashu is the best and garlic fried rice was good too!

    (4)

  • Wendy Y.

    This is the best ramen on the island!! Tabetekko pai tan is so yummy :) I usually order shoyu ramen but after tasting this I am hooked!!! Service is great as well. One server but she works hard!!! We are regulars here... love love love this place!

    (5)

  • Pila S.

    The bad: Long waits, spotty service. Hard to get a second beer (yes, some of us drink more than one). Only a few things on the menu stand out. The good: Holy Damn! The paitan ramen is amazing. The chashu is like butter. And the fried rice is the best wet style I have had on Oahu. Given the bad, I would never give this place five stars total but the good is that good.

    (5)

  • David F.

    Decent ramen, not the best, but pretty close to true japanese style. Small restaurant, decor is a little funky and confortable. I has the shoyu chashu ramen, good soup base , very good noodles. Good for lunch or informal dinner. It's located on the second floor of a strip mall.

    (3)

  • Kimo U.

    After some nondescript sushi, veggies, cheese, fruits & wine / drinks at an art exhibition, then dessert @ Little Oven, needed sumpin to tide me over until breakfast. Palace Saimin in Kalihi hasn't opened at night for some time, so I had to find another place. Stopped here around 9:30pm for their paitan ramen. Ordered it (noodles cooked Japanese style), enjoyed eating it, went home to go sleep. With superb noodles, an excellent thick broth and tender chashu, my highest recommendations. I was in and out in less than 25 minutes, just like at Palace Saimin. Parking not that much of a problem later in the evening.

    (5)

  • Rebecca M.

    We showed up early and I'm glad we did -- the waitress was able to spend a few minutes with us to explain our options (we are ramen novices), which she did very well and very patiently. I ordered the C combo with Paitan broth; my partner ordered the C combo with Shoyu broth. Both were excellent -- the Paitan was rich and absolutely delicious, and I had to be talked out of ordering extra chashu. As we were eating, the restaurant filled up and we stuck out like a sore thumb as the tourists we were, making me even more grateful we'd gotten there early so the waitress (who was, indeed, running the whole floor herself!) could point us in the right direction. She really made us feel very welcome. I wish we'd discovered this on our first day in town rather than one of our last; I highly recommend it.

    (5)

  • Al C.

    So a local friend of mine took me to this joint for ramen. I got the paitan ramen. The broth was pretty good and I thought the flavor of the chasu was also good. I got noodles Japanese style (hard). I also got a side of gyoza that was average. While not the best ramen I've ever had , it was pretty good and I would recommend this place. Only caveat is there is only one person working. While we had no problems with service when we left there were 3 tables still waiting for noodles and two people waiting for a table. So obviously when the place gets busy, one waitress is gonna have a hard time giving expeditious service.

    (4)

  • Nolan Y.

    Wow!! Every thing i had was soooo great!! I am having withdrawals just thinking of this place!

    (5)

  • randi i.

    I thought I already wrote a review for here but I guess not. I love Yotteko- Ya! :) Their Paitan Ramen is yummy. Not to mention their chashu gohan! It's a cute little place in the top left corner of McCully Shopping Center. The only thing that's junk is their hours. =\

    (5)

  • Mike x.

    Seriously folks, if you want really good ramen (I think it's Kyoto style), you'll have to give this place a shot. I know it's summer and the last thing you would want is a steaming bowl of hot noodles in soup, but that never stopped all you pho lovers. The broth is carefully made through lots of chicken and pork that has been simmering for eight hours so yes, that's huge for taste factor. Go for the peitan (a thicker broth and it's healthy as they advertise it on their menus). You really do get a burst of flavor from each savory gulp you take. They give a choice for ramen texture--either Japanese (al dente) or Local (softer noodles). They offer combo sets as well which I have tried, but I believe their specialty is their peitan. Their kimchee is not too bad (good heat on it, yet I like mine really sour too). I also ordered their gyoza (it's different from other shops, as I believe theirs is fresh). The fried rice is a bit too oily for my taste as they use bits of pork fat which when served it glistens more than normal. How do I know that? I just do. Try going to a cheap Chinese restaurant and order fried rice and you'll know what I'm talking about. Price wise, it's not all too bad. Most bowls are 8-9 dollars and they give you a free little treat with your bill. This time it was the tiny tootsie rolls in individual wrappers. Ah, I feel the nostalgia.

    (4)

  • Derek N.

    Best. Ramen. Ever. There is absolutely no comparison. I get frustrated by people who have never been here say things like "I like Taiyo" or "I don't know, I've had goma tei". Nobody else comes close. The noodles are good, and you can choose if you want them firm or soft. The char siu really shines; tender, sweet, pure deliciousness. But the broth. The broth is what puts this ramen head and shoulders above all the rest. As a man who drinks up the soup, this ramen makes me really really happy. Some people, think it's a bit pricey when I tell them about it, but it is absolutely worth it. In fact, get the set; it's well worth the price and you can still get whatever kind of ramen you were gonna get otherwise. Unfortunately this place isn't perfect. Sometimes it can be hard to find parking. It is a Japanese-style place in that they close between lunch and dinner. There is usually only one server; it has been the same woman all but one of the times I've been there. If the place is full (which means there might be a wait), this could make service slow. However, the food does come out pretty fast. Speaking of full, this place seems to have gotten popular since it first opened, so show up early or there might be a wait. If you go for lunch, ask if they have kakuni. You will NOT regret it. All of these bad points bring my rating down from six stars to five. Be sure to grab a stamp card, because like Fish and Poi: I know you're gonna like it, and I hope you come back!

    (5)

  • T N.

    The first time we came here, I ordered the spicy paitan ramen and my husband ordered the Shoyu base chashu ramen. While my husband enjoyed his shoyu ramen, I was blown away by my paitan ramen. When he tried some of my soup, my husband agreed it was the best soup flavor he'd ever had. The soup base is wonderfully tasty and the chashu was very flavorful and tender. Get the Japanese style noodles--perfect texture. In fact, we loved this place so much we came back 2 more times the following 3 days! We also tried the gyozas and I really enjoyed those too. I liked the freshness of the ingredients. . .you can tell they are homemade. My newest favorite ramen place.

    (5)

  • Y M.

    I took my parents to try Yotteko-Ya after reading all of the great reviews on Yelp. We tried the Paitan ramen $7.45 (kinda tasted like a tonkotsu style soup) with Japanese style noodles (you get to choose how you want your noodles cooked - Japanese style (traditional) or local style (which is softer). I must say, I think this might be one of my new favorite ramen places now! The chashu (which I usually don't eat) was delicious! The side order of pan fried gyoza ($4.75) had lots of veggies and tasted homemade. My parents (who are usually not so easily impressed) really liked the place too and said they'd come back if they ever wanted ramen again. I've been on a search for a good authentic ramen place, so I'm totally psyched! I will definitely be back to try their Shoyu and Shio ramen too.

    (5)

  • GJ S.

    i am not a ramen person. the first time i came here, i drained the bowl dry. absolutely oishii. the ramen has the right chewy firmness. the charsiu is so tender it MELTS in your mouth (i'm not usually a meat eater, so this is a breakthrough). the broth is flavorful and satisfying. this combination makes this restaurant one of the places i always bring my guests. and what do i get? tabeteko paitan ramen, japanese style kaarage chahan several notes: 1) the service is ridiculously slow. this is because they have only 1 person serving and bussing the whole room. she does her best, and i used to be in the service industry so i cut her some slack. they really need to increase their staff by 1, though. 2) early dinner (530/6) is the best time to go. no line, no wait, parking available. there is still the service issue, but at least it isn't as bad as when it gets too terribly busy. 3) stamp card. 10 bowls = 1 free non-paitan bowl.

    (4)

  • Tom A.

    Fabulous.

    (5)

  • Michael S.

    Hands down the best ramen place i've been to on the island. Everything is good and the prices reasonable. The atmosphere is nice as well. Everyone should try and visit this spot cuz I don't want it shut down(like many other business at mccully shopping center)

    (5)

  • Deandra T.

    Had the house specialty paitan chasu ramen (limited # of orders!): probably my 2nd favorite ramen on the island after Goma Tei's tantanmen-style. Very good hearty porky pork stock. The pork tastes like pork as it should. Maybe a bit of MSG though? MSG or not, tasted very good and I would return.

    (4)

  • Dijon Y.

    I haven't actually eaten the food here. But here's my take. The last 2 times my brother came here, they ran out of chicken, and something else I forgot. The service was slow even though it really wasn't that busy. It took them awhile to clean up the table, then to seat us, then even more before we got the menus. So given the experience the last time, and since we wanted to eat soon, we decided to leave. Its pretty sad for a restaurant to run out of food ingredients, especially if it seems they aren't jam-packed or even close to that. Maybe the food is good, but if you cant order what you want from the menu or it takes way too long to be seated, have order taken, or food come to your table, maybe its not worth it. I may try again one day to see how good the ramen is. This review is based on what I think the ramen would've been like, so I think its a fair balance.

    (3)

  • Charles W.

    Incredible ramen. Got the Yasai paitan ramen with extra pork and it was delicious. Gyoza were good as well.

    (5)

  • Cheyna H.

    The best ramen i've ever eaten. I've tried finding somewhere better, but honestly I can't. I'm particular about my noodles, I don't like them soggy and yotteko ya makes it perfectly! I took my bf here and he loves it. Now he likes to introduce this little shop to his friends and family.

    (5)

  • Jason F.

    I have been all over the island trying to find the best ramen places, believe me the spicy paitan soup wiith Japanese (firm) style noodles is the best there is around. The charshu is tasty and soft. I have to eat here at least once a week.

    (5)

  • Marisa O.

    My absolute FAVORITE place to get ramen. I don't care too much for the Paitan Ramen, but many people do. I actually am sort of a purist and go for the Shoyu base with Chashu. They give you a choice of "local style" softer noodles or the firmer "Japanese Style" noodles. So yummy! Gyoza is pretty good, karaage is excellent, and they make good kimu chee too! : ) They also have fried rice, which is also good. It's all good, including the service and the prices!

    (5)

  • Malia F.

    Strangest little place ( you will understand when you get there), up in the corner of McCully Shopping Center. We went by 3 frickin times, and it was closed. So after Joy of Sake we hit it up, and yes it was open. Paitan ramen rocks! Please transport this restaurant to Seattle. My husband wasn't even hungry but he still ate it all. PS: thank you for not have outrageous prices... your proximity to Waikiki make it uber convenient.

    (5)

  • Allan C.

    AWESOME RAMEN. Get there early so you don't miss out on their kakuni broth ramen! This is another must EAT at whenever in Oahu. Their appetizers are ONO good too!!!

    (5)

  • Dub C.

    Ramen - noodles good, but have had better soup bases, kind of plain. Gyoza nothing to write about. service had one waiter serving a fully packed restaurant. A for effort!

    (3)

  • Porky T.

    Found this place from Yelp and decided to try it. The Patian ramen was tasty. A Little disappointed that they ran out of the special bulky pork when we're the second customer to enter the restaurant. Overall, it is an average ramen place.

    (3)

  • Peter T.

    This was the second stop of my wife and I's ramen adventure. My wife likes ramen a lot and I like it from time to time. I would like to say I was never been more disappointed in my life! First the location was easy enough to find but the restaurant's name was no where on the sign which read Kyoto's ramen. This made me think it went out of business. After opening the sliding door, I found a bunch of people in the entrance way. Then, the waitress yelled at me to close the door. I was kind of taken aback and wondered if they wanted my business at all. If I was alone, I would have left and ate somewhere else. But my wife wanted ramen so I re-entered and waiting in the huddle of people in the crowded entrance. I waited about 20 minutes. There was no waiting list and no one from the staff welcomed us or even acknowledged our existence until we were first in line and then they turned on the fake welcoming attitude. As soon as we sat down, it seemed the waitress wanted our order even before we had a chance to look at the menu. After being hounded my the waitress 3 times we ordered and waited. I had to use the bathroom after all the waiting in line. The bathroom proved to be dumpish. The urinal pissed back at me once I flushed. Back to the table, I ordered a set included tonshio (pork and salt flavored) ramen, 3 gyoza, and fried rice. My wife ordered their daily special which she was talking about from the reviews which was the paiten ramen with fatty soft pork. When I looked at the menu, I thought the prices where pretty high for a ramen place. When the food came, the prices made me believe they were in the business of ripping people off. The bowls of ramen was very small and so was the gyoza and the fried rice. The taste of the fried rice was like eating oil with some rice and pork. The ramen soup base was average if even that. I tried my wife's one and it was nothing to cheer about too. My wife was very disappointed as was I in the lunch. I will never ever eat here again. I would not tip the waitress for her brand of service. She didn't fill up water until my wife asked for more. She was so busy trying to hurry up our order yet still had to time to meet her boyfriend in the store and have a conversation as people waited. Not to mention yelling at customers who were trying to enter and wait in line. I would not recommend this restaurant to anyone who likes ramen, good service, and good value.

    (1)

  • Allie J.

    Good-Ness this place is soooo good. The Boy and I go here at least once a month and always walk away stuffed and satisfied. Next time we go we get to redeem our buy 10 get one free stamp card! Anyway, every part of the steaming bowl of happiness is delectable: Broth: bursting with flavor Noodles: perfectly cooked and slurpable Pork: melt in your mouth, savory goodness I get the shoyu broth, the boy gets the paitan and I inevitably sneak a few spoonfulls of his broth into my bowl (I wonder if I can get half-and-half...I should pursue this...) The option with extra veggies is tasty - usually sprouts, cabbage and broccoli - but I always end up lusting after more pork. The soups are very filling too; one time I got one of the sets and couldn't finish my soup (very sad). The gyoza are really good though, so if you're eating with a few friends, split an order. Oh! I almost forgot about the fried rice! Curry fried rice + savory pork bits = heaven. The service can be slow so beware if you're in a time crunch. However, the two (yes, only two) waitresses who run the joint - and I think help cook - are super nice, so be aware and be patient. The staff here bust their a**es cooking and serving and it shows!

    (5)

  • Oby S.

    So far I've tried goma-tei, yottekoya and kiwami ramen and I have to say, yottekoya is the best in honolulu. I had the combo D with japanese style (noodle is harder) paitan kakuni special ramen. The combo consist of: pork fried rice, fried chicken, paitan ramen + kakuni (thick chunk of fatty pork belly cooked in soy sauce). That was sooo good. The broth is rich but not too thick, the friend chicken is melt in your mouth delish and the fried rice is awesome. The only drawback of this place is they only have 1 server. So the wait time is kinda slow. But it's totally worth it. Note: you can ask for a card that if you get 10 ramen you'll get one for free. Good if you eat with a big party of friends.

    (5)

  • Jeff C.

    thanks to fellow yelpers, i found this place to please my taste buds after a week of boring cruise ship food. Paitan ramen is very tasty, so is the kimchi ramen. The latter has a little zing to it, but not terribly hot. Definitely worth a return visit, if I go back to Hawaii.

    (5)

  • Eliza S.

    Went to Yotteko-Ya Kyoto Ramen finally after having heard a few friends rave about it. I ordered the Yasai Paitan Spicy Japanese Style Ramen. The soup is similar to miso in flavor but way more mild and white colored. Also if you get it spicy which cost extra you will see flecks of chili pepper flake and chili oil floating on the top of the broth. My Yasai Paitan came with an assortment of vegetables that included cabbage, white onion, broccoli, and soy sprouts (the Korean type with the yellow bean on the end, which I liked because I hate bean sprouts!) And one piece Char Sui. The Char Sui is delicious! It's on the sweet side but perfectly cooked, moist, flavorful, and melts in your mouth. The texture and chewyness of the noodles the best part... Similar to Gomaichi or Sun Noodles. I gave it a 3 star rating because I still like Gomaichi tan tan ramen and Tennkaipin Kotteri Ramen better. However I think I could say this is probably third best ramen on Oahu. I will definately be back because it's so different from my other two favorites.

    (3)

  • Andy T.

    I'm tempted to give this 5 stars but I'm hoping there's something else on the island even better. Paitan broth is delicious. Flavorful and rich, I can't get enough of this stuff. I typically order it with extra noodles and order them cooked japanese style (slightly tough) as opposed to local style (really soft). Chasu pork is extremely tender and very fatty. Nothing like Chinese charsiu but still delicious. ~$8 a bowl, +$1 for extra noodles. Ambiance is fine, and service is slow due to there being only one waitress most of the time.

    (4)

  • Greg S.

    I believe this place is also called 'Kyoto Ramen' in case anyone is confused. The paitan broth was a delicious new sensation and the chaisu was probably the most tender that I've had in Honolulu. The only side that we tried was the chicken karaage, which had a tasty and freshly fried coating. Besides ramen and sides there were also an assortment of rice dishes that I'm eager to come back for. Two tips: 1) If there's no parking, use the garage on the side street (Pumehana St. I think) 2) Get a stamp card and go back as often as you can.

    (5)

  • Cassandra L.

    This could easily be one of my favorite ramen places. It's missing one star because of the slow service. We went on a Thursday night and every table was filled except for one. We sat down at the one empty, but uncleared one, and waited. And waited. And waited. The single waitress working made trip after trip into the kitchen one after the other, each time only bringing 1 or 2 items out - maybe it's time to invest in some trays?! She walked past our table so many times to go back into the kitchen, she could've cleared our table 1 item at a time and would still be going back and forth! I wanted to be nice and patient - it was busy and she was by herself, but I was starving, and not once did she even say "I'll be right with you" or "Thank you for waiting" or even give us a menu to look at! But, after we ordered the food came out in lightning speed so I guess it made up for the slow service. The ironic thing was, the additional server showed up right AFTER she served the last table their food. Go figure! Paitan cha shu ramen with Japanese style noodles: The bowl comes out steaming and I can't wait to dig in, burning my tongue in the process because I want to drink the broth already. The texture of the noodles was perfect, springy, not mushy, with the rich flavor of the paitan broth clinging to every strand. The cha shu is the best, hands down. The meat is moist and oh-so tender, with an almost melt in your mouth butter texture.

    (4)

  • Lola C.

    Yummy ramen and gyoza. The soup is thick and I like that! Paitan is so good, but service is slow. Only one girl works there, and it would be a lot better if they hired one more worker.

    (4)

  • Henry T.

    Da ramen good and cheap.

    (4)

  • Tricia K.

    Loved Yotteko-Ya. The best is the Kakuni Paitan ramen. The kakuni is juicy and tender, my 15 month old couldn't get enough of it! The broth is delicious and definately get the noodles Japanese style. You will not be disappointed.

    (5)

  • surprise m.

    love it! we ate there last night for some paitan tabeteko ramen. yummy! it's a hearty ramen that's topped w/kimchee, veggies and their homemade chashu. we also tried their garlic fried rice and karaage. we liked it! they ran out of gyoza so next time we'll have to order it. their chashu was very tender and flavorful, not salty either. i really enjoyed eating here and if you like eating ramen that has a hearty flavorful broth like the paitan, you'll enjoy it here as well. their bathroom was also clean which was a huge plus! mccully plaza is a great place to come and eat because there are some great restaurants to eat at here and the parking is FREE!

    (5)

  • David C.

    Good stuff! Reminds me of Santa Ramen in San Mateo but cheaper and just as good! For some reason its not that busy when we go, but maybe we're there at odd times. Either way its good stuff!

    (4)

  • Priya H.

    Just tried this place tonight with the fam and i love it. I had the veggie paitan ramen with Japanese Style noodles which means that they are just not broiled as long so they are a little more firm. Local style means that they are broiled longer so they would come out more soft. Mine were awesome! The charsu was sooooo good, soft and flavored. I had the paitan broth which wasn't too heavy, i highly recommend this as it is a traditional fav. The ambiance was nice. I tried going for lunch once but the line was out the door, so I called for reservations tonight at 6pm, it was pretty empty when we got there, but by the time we left it was packed... There is plenty of parking, the menu prices are reasonable and the gyoza and kim chee was awesome for sides. The ramen bowls are huge though, so make sure you come hungry! Only down i can think of is that you can't bring your own alcohol, and they only serve three types of beer... maybe once they get more up and running they will let your BYOB with a corkage fee or something. All in all, can't wait to go back!

    (4)

  • Tiff I.

    This is the one and only ramen place I'll go to! That's how good it is! I love their paitan soup base. It's very rich and flavorful. They let you choose if your ramen hard or soft.

    (5)

  • Kim T.

    I love this place. Not only is the broth the best I've ever devoured, but the chashu melts in your mouth. If I was a local, I would come here 3 times a week...but since I live on the mainland, when i come out, I come as many times as I can. Yes the kukuni ramen is AWEsome...but regular chashu ramen is better than any here in sf.

    (5)

  • Tyler B.

    I guess I'll give this place 4 stars since the BF really liked his Paitan Ramen. But I have to warn you...the place looked like it hadn't been cleaned in years. Everything was sticky, the chairs, the tables, the condiment tray had sticky stains ALL over it...honestly I didn't even want to touch anything while I was in there. As far as ramen goes I guess this place is really good. I also ordered the Shrimp mayo thing...omg...avoid at all costs. I don't know what the hell they were thinking. There were halved grape tomatoes, oranges, and tiny pieces of lettuce or something circling the plate. The fried shrimps were soggy and thick with batter and simply tasted GROSS. They were also SOOOO busy that they could not clean up tables so we stood there waiting at least 10 minutes to be seated. No one even acknowledges us so we finally just seated ourselves at the dirty bar area that was surrounded by boxes.

    (4)

  • Sharon W.

    The Paitan ramen is the best! I ordered a Miso Ramen and my husband ordered the Paitan ramen. After a taste of his ramen, both him and I regret that I ordered the Miso Ramen because after a taste, I took over his bowl of ramen. The soup was so meaty and tasty. I usually don't drink too much of the ramen soup because it's too salty and not brothy enough for me. However, I just couldn't stop drinking the soup of the Paitan ramen. The Miso ramen pales in comparison with the Paitan Ramen, and their chashu is really good.

    (5)

  • Ken S.

    Funny, in all the years I lived in Kyoto, most of the ramen shops I went to were Kyushu ramen shops. I guess since I lived in Kyushu first, I am biased toward Kyushu style. That, and I don't remember ever seeing "Kyoto-style ramen" in Kyoto. Anyways, my chef buddy highly recommended this place to me. I decided to check it out and was pretty disappointed. I found the broth to be a bit bland. I forget what broth I ordered, but I'm assuming wifey got shoyu and I got miso or tantan-men. The noodles were also overcooked. Very soft and mushy. I figured that it was just an off day, since it was so highly recommended, so I went back again a month or two later. I had the same experience--so-so soup, overcooked noodles. One of these days I might make an effort to go again, because I have a hard time believing that it can come this highly recommended and be this bad. But, I do like the gyoza here :)

    (2)

  • Suzanne A.

    this place is great! me & my friends wanted to try some place new and we stumbled upon this place. i recommend the paitan ramen. the broth is mouthwatering and the charsiu is very tender. id pick this place over tenkaippin ramen (the one on kapahulu) D:

    (4)

  • Waynele Y.

    love the broth here. different than your standard miso, shio or shoyu --very tasty. i think i drank every last drop of soup. yummy!

    (4)

  • Lisa S.

    One of the best places to eat ramen! NOODLES: Tasty. They give you the option between Japanese and local noodles. I recommend the Japanese noodles because it's firmer. BROTH: One of the best broths I have tasted on the island. According to Yotteko-Ya's menu, their broth is a rich collagen stock that will prevent aging and wrinkles. Awesome. I usually order anything that has paitan -- pork bones that were boiled for hours, creating a creamy, "milky" pork stock. RECOMMENDED DISHES: The tabeteko paitan ramen is the best ramen I have tasted so far! This is paitan ramen topped with kimchee, vegetables, and a piece of homemade chashu. yelp.com/biz_photos/yott… People usually order the cha-shu paitan or the kakuni paitan ramen (pretty much a block of cha-shu but a couple of dollars more). Both are yummy, but I would just stick with the cha-shu. The following link is the cha-shu ramen: yelp.com/user_local_phot… SERVICE: Service could be better. The last time I ate here, they ran out of gyoza and RICE. It just shows how popular this place is. Great for small groups (four people max)! There's only one table in the restaurant that allows a large group of people to eat together. They do not accommodate you if your group is larger than four people, unless people agree to sit at separate tables.

    (5)

  • Addie L.

    Not a bad place for ramen. Their paitan base is the star, very rich, creamy, and savory. They rely on their ingredients for the favors, not heavy use of MSG. They give you a choice of firm or soft noodles, my preference is firm. Expect to pay a tad under $10 for a bowl. Few things you should be aware of, parking is hell at night and the A/C is not working right, wait staff is doing the best they can, juggling multiple duties at the same time, so please be patient.

    (4)

  • Sivilay T.

    I've been here 4 times since we stayed in Honolulu for the whole month of July. We tried a few other ramen places and I was super disappointed that I even bothered giving those other places the benefit of doubt, because I should've just stuck with my gut instinct when we came here the first time and I told my son that we'll definitely be back again and again. Of all four visits, the flavor never disappointed and it actually seems that it just kept getting better. Last week, we came two days in a row because we just loved it that much...to the point the waitress now recognizes our little family. If you happen to find this spot first, do yourself a favor and don't bother trying to do the taste test elsewhere, I'll save you the pain of being disappointed and tell you to just keep coming back to Yotteko-Ya. Now, if I could just find a place near the San Francisco area that comes close to their flavor and I'll be happier about going back home.

    (5)

  • Taryn P.

    OH.MY.GOD. At first, I was a little skeptical. My mother said this place was good and I hate when she's right! But yes, she was right... Mother is always right. In my opinion, it's better than Goma Tei, but that's just me. The broth is amazing. Their chasu is ON POINT. Fatty, meaty, and flavorful. You can tell it's not pre-frozen. The place is run by little old Japanese ladies, and they're so sweet. It's right next to my apartment, so it's perfect when I'm craving a warm soup belly. Two big thumbs up for this place.

    (5)

  • Matt G.

    Ordered the Paitan chashu combo with gyoza & fried rice. Very first thing I noticed was the small portions. Very small. The noodles were good & firm, but not much condiments came in the bowl. I found this unusual for ramen. The broth was good, definitely not salty, which I prefer. The gyoza was good, pretty standard. The rice was good, not salty or drenched in frying oil. Expected more, with all the hype, but it came out pretty normal to me. I still prefer Santouka.

    (3)

  • Kristina D.

    Far off the Waikiki area. From the Courtyard Marriott where I stayed it was about a 15 minute walk. It is located in plaza on the far end of the second floor. There was no line at about 7PM on a Sunday night. Typically priced ramen ~$10-11. I ordered the Cha-Siu ramen with spicy sauce ($1 extra) and extra noodles ($1 extra). The broth was pretty good and satisfied my ramen craving but nothing too different from what you get at other ramen places. There wasn't a whole lot of spiciness to it either so I had to add extra chili oil and powder to give it a kick. The pork was good. It was more of a BBQ style pork flavor than a pork belly that I'm used to in most ramen places but it was a nice change.

    (4)

  • Starla T.

    Visited the shop for the first time on a Friday night at about 7pm and it wasn't very busy. I ordered the paitan ramen (pork/chicken broth) with the local style noodles, which are cooked till they're a tad bit softer. The ramen I ordered only comes with two pieces of charsiu...I really wish they were a little bigger. They tasted really good, as if they were marinated in shoyu and sugar. Yum! Personally, I think the broth could have had a little more flavor and depth. The waitresses were very polite and nice. Yay for Hersey kisses when paying for the tab! I'd totally recommend Yotteko-Ya to my fellow ramen lovers.

    (4)

  • Paul C.

    Yotteko-Ya has been on the second floor EWA-side of McCully Shopping Center for about 10 years now. This has been a place I thought about coming to eat but would pretty much end up at Fook Yuen, which is located on the opposite side of Yotteko-Ya. I came here one late weekday afternoon with a buddy after running errands. Got here shortly after 1pm and this place wasn't that busy. There were only 2 waitstaff shuffling back-and-forth. With the empty tables we still had to wait a bit before the waitress advised us which table for us to sit down. I've been making my rounds of eating RAMEN lately and this place was also on my list. In my 3 years in Japan I lived not too far from Kyoto so I pretty much knew what to expect and this place delivered Kyoto-style food - - lightly seasoned. At first I wanted to have their famous KAKUNI (simmered pork belly) noodles but we were advised SOLD OUT for the day. My buddy has eaten here before and told me we'd have to come shortly after opening to guaranty KAKUNI. I was pleased this place gave you many options when ordering RAMEN - - what type of broth, the noodle texture and veggies. We also ordered GYOZA dumplings and I was floored when asked "Deep-fried or pan-fried?" Summary of what I tried: PAITAN (pork and chicken broth) spicy veggie RAMEN (3/5) My noodles were cooked PERFECTLY, al dente. I hate it when noodles are overcooked and soft. Sadly, that the was ONLY good thing about my bowl of noodles. The PAITAN broth was definitely Kyoto cuisine - - simple to bring out the food's good natural flavors. To me, it was BLAND. I ordered spicy and there was a surcharge to this but it was NOT spicy at all. I ended up adding more chili oil that was on each table to kick it up. The veggies were DISAPPOINTING (cabbage, bean sprouts, broccoli, carrots, KIKURAGE or ear fungus, and round onion). I mean, since when do you find broccoli in Kyoto-style RAMEN??? The CHAR SIU pork was too lean and therefore DRY DRY DRY. It had soaked up the broth but the meat had an undesirable texture for my taste. GYOZA dumplings (5/5) I had the pan-fried and my buddy had the deep-fried so I was able to sample both. Both preparations were SPOT ON. They both came out piping HOT and juicy. The skin texture had a nice crunch and not greasy at all. KIM-CHEE (4/5) This is offered as a side-dish to accompany your meal. It was seasoned very well but perhaps could have used a little more time with fermenting. It didn't have the sour taste that I was looking for. My buddy ordered the PAITAN CHAR SIU RAMEN and he said it was good, but had better. Service was OKAY but could have been better. When paying for my bill, was caught off-guard as we were given some complimentary candy. A nice touch! Was disappointed with my RAMEN but because I've heard so many good things about their KAKUNI, where they only make a limited servings per day, I'll be back to give this place another shot at redemption.

    (4)

  • Tiffany W.

    Pretty damn good ramen. Not sure if it's the best on the island, but there's a certain charm to eating at a one-woman shop (she was cooking, taking orders AND serving). If you're a fan of homestyle cooking, you'll love Yotteko-Ya. The broth was creamy, savory and rich, and the noodles had that perfect amount of pull. Love how they give you the option of having your noodles cooked "firm" or "soft" (I obvi went with "firm"). Was definitely missing my yummy half egg, ubiquitous at other ramen shops, but I'll let that slide.

    (4)

  • Jozlyn H.

    Tis' the season for colder weather, rain and ramen! 5-stars all day baby!!!!! My co-workers and I decided to try this place for lunch. It was our first time here. From the outside the sign says "kyoto ramen" and has this wooden sliding door you walk through. The one and only waitress was busy but acknowledged us as we walked it. She brought us water immediately. Before coming here I read other reviews on yelp and decided to try their Kakuni Paitan Ramen with spice. Their Paitan base is their #1 recommended soup base. Kakuni is a Japanese braised pork dish which literally means "square simmered". I wanted to add-on their spice which is their homemade red pepper and sesame oil mixture. Ohhhhhh man!!!!! This ramen hit the spot! I AM IN LOVE with their ramen! Next time I might try it without the spice because the broth alone was marvelous! Their char siu was tender and cooked to perfection. The noodles were perfect. They normally serve japanese style which is a little bit firm but I like my noodles soft so I requested it to be soft. I wanted spice because I love spicy foods in general. Their spice sauce was perfect, just enough to give it a kick, and not too much where you can't taste the broth....... just PERFECT. I finished everything to the bottom of the bowl.... my coworker lifted the bowl to his face and finished the broth. This place is a must-try. Service was quick and fast Atmosphere quiet, not too busy. It's a small restaurant and when we got there at noon, we took the last table. There was no line...... I'm curious if this place has a line at night?? I don't recommend large groups... tables are about a 4-top. Cost - average, well worth every penny $9.95 - $11.95 Food - just PERFECT Definitely coming back here!

    (5)

  • Laine K.

    Yelp 100 Challenge #7/100 I've been coming to Yotteko-Ya for several years. It is not a big place, so we usually get their early for lunch and don't have a problem finding a seat. I know some have mentioned parking as a challenge, but we usually park below the center and don't have any issues getting parking there during the day, but at night it is a challenge at times. I would recommend getting their early before they sell out of their Kakuni Paitan ramen. The pork is very flavorful and tastes great. I really enjoy the Paitan base ramen which is very rich and creamy. I do like the choice of soft (local style) or firm (Japanese style) noodles. I prefer more of the Japanese style noodles and usually get extra noodles for a $1.00 more. Overall, we've been happy going Yotteko-Ya for ramen and will continue to do so. Thank you Yotteko-Ya for the great Ramen!

    (4)

  • Stina L.

    We are tourists with kids from CA but we lived in Tokyo for years. This place would stand and could compete with the best ramen shops we have been to. We had the paitan ramen and it was delicious! It wasn't too salty and was rich without being too much. We are big fans of tonkotsu ramen and I found out last night that Kyoto ramen is like tonkotsu ramen mixed with chicken bones. It was amazing. We both got Combo C set which included Giza and fried rice . The kids are up the rice and Gyoza and we're happy campers. We are so happy we tried this place. We are staying at the Hawaiian Hilton resort and this place is about a 10 min walk but I'm so happy we ventured out. It's a nice walk and the place put me right back into Japan. Highly recommend!

    (5)

  • Amy L.

    Worst ramen ever. I went in because of high reviews on yelp. Having been to Japan before I know what ramen tastes like and this is not it. Both my friend and I left with half a bowl of ramen left at the table. We ordered the paitan charsiu The noodles weren't anything spectacular it's the same noodle you can get in the refrigerator of the store. Broth: This is where I have to say it's a bit gross. First the broth is kinda thick but lacks pork flavor. It's more a light chicken taste. It's pretty fatty since it's heavy and white, I can't drink the broth. It's cooked for many hours but the seasoning at the end lack umami. Toppings: I've never seen drier chunks of unappetizing pork in my ramen before. Most charsiu I've had was thinly sliced. Maybe it's a kyoto thing or Hawaiian to have it in chunks. The pork wasn't particularly flavorful. Place inside was full of tourists. Decoration was somewhat japanese but the cheap tables and chairs drags down the atmosphere a bit. Make the place seem kinda dirty. I can see why the high reviews and ratings. It's in a popular area with high foot traffic. Also not everyone has tried authentic ramen before so this might be the best stuff in the world. It's not for me. I wouldn't come here again.

    (2)

  • Randy S.

    The Charsu Paitan was to die for! The noodle had a great texture, firm and not too soggy. The broth was filling but not salty or oily. Bless our server, she was incredible. She bussed the tables, took orders, ran her own food, and maintained a smile in a very busy restaurant - all by herself, may I add.

    (5)

  • Lechelle M.

    I love the paitan ramen with a side of kimcheeand the service is super friendly. Would recommend this place to anyone who enjoys yummy ramen

    (5)

  • Johanna M.

    Soooo.....I might be burned at the stake for this, but I thought Yotteko-Ya was just okay. The restaurant is located on the 2nd floor of the McCully Shopping Center and it is very red.....hahaha. They have bright red walls. The staff is super friendly and very attentive. I really like the ladies that work there. They were so nice. They also currently have a termite problem, which was a little distracting. They were flying all over the place and I was afraid one was going to fall into my bowl. Hopefully they get the problem resolved soon because it's kind of gross to have all these little bugs buzzing around you while you're eating. Alrighty....on to the food. I ordered the tonshio ramen and my husband ordered the paitan ramen. I will say that the paitan ramen is much tastier than the tonshio ramen, but it's not the best broth I've ever had. I liked the noodles a lot. They give you the option of ordering them Japanese style (firm) or the soggier option. We always prefer the firm option because soft noodles are for the birds. We also ordered the gyoza and found them to be okay. My husband and I agreed, Yotteko-Ya was good, but there are a few other places we prefer to visit to get our ramen fix. I am not sure if it's because we had just eaten at Hokkaido Ramen Santouka the night before, but Yorreko-Ya was a little underwhelming. I think I might come back to try the shoyu or the paitan ramen. I will update my review then, but for now, I thought it was just okay.

    (3)

  • Kanya G.

    You can never go wrong with the ramen here. Always so flavorful and charsiu is amazing. Service, on the other hand, isn't always up to par. My recent visit was so upsetting. We were a group of 7 and asked the waitress if we could move our tables together. We were literally a foot away! Her response was: "No cannot! This building is 10 years old and if we move the tables it [the floor] will break." Seriously?!?

    (2)

  • Erin T.

    Ambiance: Small/special, secret spot feeling. Food: Good ramen. Not as good as Hokkaido Ramen Santouka or Tenkaiipin, but parking is way easier.

    (4)

  • Shannon H.

    Came here with family friends right when they opened (5:30) and they were not open. A couple that was also waiting called the restaurant and they said they were gonna be opening shortly. Ramen comes in three basic varieties: paitan (tonkotsu flavor), yataiaji (shoyu), and tonshio (shio). In addition, each variety is available with assorted fixins: regular comes with two slices of housemade chashu; "chashu" comes with five slices; "yasai" comes with assorted veggies; "tabeteko" comes with kimchee, veggies, and one slice of chashu; and "kakuni" comes with a block of chashu. I was really curious about the kakuni but decided to play it safe and got the regular style paitan ramen (sans green onion, of course!). Noodles are available soft (which is local style?) or firm (traditional style?) and I think our whole party opted for firm. In addition, we ordered a side of gyoza and the garlic chahan (fried rice, essentially). Both good! They have optional add-ons too. oomori, which is extra noodles, cost $1.50, spicy, a homemade red pepper and sesame oil mixture is $1. Of course I had to try the spicy and OF COURSE I burned my tongue off despite only using about a third of the seasoning they brought over. Shouldn't be surprised at this point. The cover of the menu claims that the broth will make you younger! How could you argue with that logic.. Go go go! Per menu: Our homemade soup is simmered for over 10 hours with the choicest pork, the freshest chickens and 10 different vegetables and spices. This meticulous process produces a uniquely thick collagen rich stock that will actually help prevent aging of skin and joints. So, please enjoy our soup to the last drop and look younger!

    (3)

  • Andrew W.

    The best ramen I've had on the whole island. I even ordered a second bowl right after! They have the best combination of broth, noodles, and (of course) charsiu. My personal favorite restaurant out of all Hawaii. The place reminded me so much of Japan. Like everyone else, I recommend the Kakuni Paitan Ramen -- extra noodles and char siu for those ramen fans.

    (5)

  • Isaac R.

    I ate the paitan char siu and it was savory and delicious. Will definitely be back for more.

    (4)

  • Matthew M.

    Very delicious ramen restaurant hidden away at McCully Shopping Center My girlfriend and I came here in an effort to try a new ramen place. I guess we might have gotten lucky, because unlike the reviews of others, our ramen came pretty fast. Granted, we got there early (around 6p) and we got our food after about 10 or 15 minutes. Although, after trying their paitan ramen, I can see how this place can get super busy at times (even though it was pretty empty when we got there). It is definitely worth the wait if needed. The atmosphere was interesting. You walk in through a Japanese style sliding door and into what looks to be a very Japanese themed restaurant. Although the plastic chairs and tables give it sort of a cheap feel. (Dinging them one star for this) Overall, great quality food for the price (around $10).

    (4)

  • Brandon S.

    This place looks sort of small on outside but it's pretty spacious inside. The ramen I got with the pork was crazy good. The flavored, noodles, and pork was so tender. The fried rice was absolutely perfect as well The best ramen on the island

    (4)

  • Nicole N.

    The shoyu charshu ramen was very delicious we loved it. But the service here is not so good. There were no waitresses to fill up our water or come up to check on us.

    (3)

  • Helen M.

    Holy mother of god, their paitan is amazing. I get their yasai/vegetable paitan ramen every time. Ramen is always consistent - the noodles are how you ordered it, whether it's Japanese style or local style, and the broth is always so rich and delicious. I have a pebble-sized stomach (blargh, curses!!) but I can still finish the whole thing down to the last drop of broth because it. Is. So. So. Delicious. I agree with others saying that it's best to come early, I think I even came here once at 7:30 pm and was still turned down, just horrible luck. They offer the rewards card where if you order 10 ramen, the next one is free!

    (5)

  • Dave Y.

    The best ramen on the island. The charshu there is amazing. Great in the ramen and over rice. The Paitan ramen has delicious broth that you just want to slurp

    (5)

  • Marie I.

    I come here quite frequently, especially given the fact that there are now many more options. The paitan ramen is perfect, the gyoza is probably the best, the ladies (who have been working there since I first found this gem many years ago) are sweet, helpful, and efficient. I especially like the ice cream options for dessert, and if not, they always give you candy.

    (5)

  • melissa m.

    Place to go to get good bowl of Ramen. The noodles are offered as Japanese or local style. Both are very good. The broth is very tasty and thick and rich. The cha shu is really tender and literally falls apart when you eat it it's delicious. You can order more. Also they do offer a child shoe all which looked very good as well. The one thing that I thought was missing was a hard-boiled egg soft-boiled egg The space medium size and the staff is very friendly.

    (3)

  • Brent S.

    After just one visit, Yotteko-Ya immediately became one of my favorite ramen restaurants in Honolulu, and anybody who lives here knows that there are countless to choose from. Like most wonderful soups across the many cuisines of the world, it all starts with the broth as the foundation for whatever else goes inside. Yotteko-Ya's featured "paitan" ramen has a rich, satisfying broth which is both rich and "clean" at the same time... not an easy feat (rich broths are sometimes oily or greasy tasting, and purely clean broths sometimes taste like salty water). To get both aspects in one bowl is a pleasant and uncommon surprise! The other highlight of Yotteko-Ya is their char-siu pork. While the slices may not be as thick and meaty as some ramen places, it surpasses most other places in the sheer flavor. I don't know how long they marinade this meat before preparing it, but it's astounding. This is the type of char-siu that you'll remember and savor in each bite. Another plus side of Yotteko-Ya: they offer two styles of noodles, either "firm" (Japanese style) or "soft". I prefer the former, but others may prefer softer, and Yotteko-Ya is unique in offering diners a choice. In short, Yotteko-Ya is awesome. I can't wait to come back and enjoy more of this delightful ramen.

    (5)

  • Vega S.

    Yotteko-ya has a note on their menu that promises their ramen will make you look younger (along with a really scientific sounding explanation on how it can encourage collagen production). Unfortunately I don't look any younger post-ramen eating. But other then the false advertisement they have some of the best ramen I've ever had. I ordered the paitan broth with pork and vegetables. It was a generous helping and really delicious. The homemade pork is a cherry on top. Definitely recommend this place. Just a note, parking is really tight in this complex so if you can walk here you should do that.

    (5)

  • Alyssa N.

    Great place if you come early! NOODLES The noodles were perfect in consistency (I recommend the firmer Japanese style). BROTH The lighter broth was subtle in flavor, but nonetheless delicious. SERVICE The service was a little bit slow considering we were the first customers in. Also, I arrived a little earlier than 11:30, but they didn't open the restaurant till almost 11:45. I thought it was a little unimpressive to arrive after your customers. DISHES (In the order that they arrived) Kim Chee - It was delicious in the sense that it wasn't overly spicy (which I find unpleasant to eat), and it had a good flavor (great match with the ramen). Pan-Fried Gyoza - Tasty. Good filling, good flavor, and a crispy side. (The Very Popular) Kakuni Ramen - Perfect if you prefer a lighter broth. The cha shu meat was tender, juicy, and flavorful. The vegetables weren't spectacular, but overall a great bowl of ramen. IMPORTANT TIPS - Come early (or else you'll have to wait long and they're likely to run out of the good stuff) - Order the Japanese style noodles - Parking may be a bit of a problem - Unless you plan on waiting extra long or shunning one of your friends the whole time, do not bring more than 3! (It's a small place with only 1 table serving more than 4!)

    (4)

  • Sarah A.

    This has to be the best Ramen and chasu I have ever had! I wish they had one on the mainland! Will be coming back before we leave. Also, every year we come we will be eating here. Didn't eat or try anything but the paitan ramen. But, so delicious.

    (5)

  • Jade P.

    I have eating at this ramen place for the past two years. I have tried a lot of ramen places such as nakamura, Goma tei, Agu, Gomachi on Keeaumoku but this place is my favorite. I went here today with bf and we both got kakuni paitan. Whenever I go here I always get kimchi ramen and bf got other flavor from shoyu to sea salt and paitan, he said paitan is the best. We got here by 11:30 and the place is almost filled. We wanted to try kakuni after seeing reviews. We have attempted to order kakuni in the past and it was always sold out. The service was very slow today, only one woman working. The big table was filled by a big family. We waited abt 20 mins for our ramen. Verdict on kakuni: eh, the meat wasn't soft and half of it was fat jiggling. I would go here again but will resort back to kimchi ramen and pan fried Giza. I always joke to my bf that my perfect ramen bowl is the broth from this place, char siu from Goma Tei, spice level from Agu and soft tender bamboo and bean sprout from Nakamura. That would be heaven. I gave four stars because I feel the place could hire one more person in the front, especially during peak meal time.

    (4)

  • Patrick I.

    How could I live in Waikiki, and not travel down to this gastronomic heaven?! Today, as a recommendation from 2 friends; I cycled on down right around opening time. Not more than 10-15 minutes after I arrived, the place was packed. A good sign of what was to follow. I had a combo set because I also wanted the gyoza and saved a few bucks. My combo came with the Raitan ramen and veggies ($2 upgrade, but oh so worth it), and 3 piece side of gyoza and a small bowl of white rice. I am not sure if I cried when the food arrived, while I was eating every last morsel, or when I paid the bill and left. Crying was invoked by the amazing taste of the rich broth and perfectly cooked noodles (Japanese style, so firm and not soft like the local style). Lots of veggies in my broth which gave the dish lots of good texture contrasts. And the gyoza was sensational; pan fried to perfection, and the filling was a good amount, not scant as you get at other establishments. Even though I did not need a bowl of white rice, I did eat it like an appetizer with my gyoza. All in all, I will not walk back but RUN back for this wonderful gem just outside of Waikiki at the McCully Shopping Center. Patrick :-)

    (5)

  • Sam C.

    The ramen broth was pretty blank compared with Santouka's broth. Even the Paitan broth was weak, and the regular broth was just better than water. The gyoza was the highlight. Plump and juicy and the right amount of crispness. The fried rice and fried chicken were both bland though.

    (2)

  • Pablo P.

    I visited last week with my wife and 3 year old for dinner. We ordered the paitan ramen, yataiji(shoyu based) ramen, and gyoza. The paitan men was just ok, and the yataiji ramen was not good. Gyoza was mediocre also. I think the non-Japanese work staff and shady back portion of the restaurant, that leads to the kitchen isn't very appealing either. For Honolulu, there are far better ramen options. I will not repeat here.

    (2)

  • Maxine R.

    Yes yessss yesssssssss this place! I had the paitan ramen. Hooooooooooo brah. So good. The broth was creamy but...not thick? I forget how long they boil the broth for but I know it's long while. So flavorful, so delicious. Not crazy salty like I've found some ramen to be. I'm no ramen expert, but my taste buds do know what they like and don't like. And my taste buds say HECK YES. I like that there's the option of firm or soft noodles because not everyone likes their noodles like me (undercooked). Just kidding. But I do like a firm noodle...that played out better in my mind. Mind out of the gutter, k thnx. Tiny little place with a cute slide door to enter. I want to come back here over and over again. Service is okay, but their ramen over shadows that.

    (5)

  • Osman J.

    This is the first place in Hawaii that gave me the urge to write a review. Not because it's good, but because how disappointing it was. After yelping ramen places in Honolulu, my gf and I decided to try this place first so we arrived 11:30am, the supposed opening time...and guess what....had to wait until 11:45 because they ain't ready yet....that's ok we can wait for good food...but that's already a bad start... We ordered 2 ramens and some side dishes and none were impressive...average at best...soup was salty and oily and neither the noodle nor the toppings were worth the wait...

    (2)

  • Khan M.

    Great place. From walk in to sit down to eat to enjoy, to leave. All was good and enjoyable. Paitan broth was super good. House spice was fiya. Will come back soon.

    (4)

  • Dave F.

    If you want a delicious bowl of ramen that was made with a lot of dedication and patience, I highly recommend you come here to Yotteko-ya! If you're lucky enough to have an order of their Kakuni Paitan charsiu ramen, which is produced in limited quantities, you'll know what I'm talking about. The broth is a rich, pork based broth that is produced in the Kyoto style. You also have a choice of noodle preparation, being firm or soft. No matter what, my preference will always be firm! But, to each his own. I felt lucky this day, no dreaded "sold out" sign hanging on the door, which I have encountered a couple times! After waiting for what seemed like hours, my coveted bowl of Kakuni Paitan ramen was sitting in front of me with a nice piece of their very tasty charsiu sitting on top of it. I feel that of all the ramen shops I've been to, Yotteko-ya's is the best. Soft and very tasty, not dry and leaving you always wanting more! Order up a serving of their gyoza, which BTW is also very good and you have yourself a delicious meal ! I love my ramen and tend to stick to the tried and true, Yotteko-ya being one of them. Some people say ramen is ramen, but that can't be further from the truth! If you try enough places, you'll find out for yourself. My good friend Brandon S. wrote an article on Nonstop Honolulu reviewing his Top 5 Ramen places to eat and Yotteko-ya made that list! If you have a chance, go read it! I'll always seek out new and interesting ramen shops, but Yotteko-ya will always be one of my favorites. I just don't want to see that dreaded "sold out" sign anymore! Parking can be a problem, as we all know, McCully shopping center is a very popular location for restaurants and it has limited parking. Don't forget though, there is also a bottom level of parking. Just be careful as you drive down there.

    (4)

  • Jesseca H.

    Fantastic!!!!!! The best place ever for real ramen. Very cozy small restaurant that was very child friendly. Nice staff very helpful and friendly as well. Highly recommend!

    (5)

  • Ariana M.

    Decided to eat at Yotteko-Ya (Kyoto) Ramen at Mccully Shopping Center. This restaurant is located on the second floor on the far left side next to Salon Tiffany. Mccully shopping center parking is very tight so park carefully! The décor is very Japanese inside. Although I feel they need to get a stronger A/C system or something, because it was very warm inside. It felt even hotter in there after eating a hot bowl of ramen. This restaurant is not big so that's why I think it is a little annoying on how slow their service is here. Maybe they should consider hiring more wait help. The Grub. GYOZA [[ alright ]] I really didn't feel this gyoza was anything special. It tasted good but it also tasted like any where else. PAITAN CHARSHU [[ bomb ]] I though the broth was very good. I also liked the charshu. Super yummy, and I highly recommend for you to try this ramen. Overall experience here was all right. The food was good and the staff was friendly but slow.

    (3)

  • Helen C.

    They've certainly got the ramen biz down but everything else was very average. The paitan chashu ramen was amazing. I sprang for Combo C but kind of wish I hadn't. For one thing, I was filled up by the ramen alone, but also a bit underwhelmed by the gyoza and fried rice. Service can be quite slow since it's pretty much one girl serving an entire restaurant. The mom serves too, but I mostly saw just the daughter (at least I think they're mom/daughter). Between serving, taking orders, seating, bussing tables, answering questions, etc...it seemed like way too much for one person to handle. I went for lunch and it was pretty full but we didn't have to wait long. It's kind of my go-to ramen shop, so I'll def be back. Just wish they had a little more help!

    (4)

  • Mike D.

    High quality and delicious! Even without the egg, their ramen noodles, broth, and meat are all wonderful.

    (5)

  • Kim N.

    My favorite place for ramen! Every time I've been here, I've gotten the same thing... Paitan ramen! It says it's limited, but there hasn't been a time I've been denied. They offer different ramens, but why fix something that isn't broken. It can also be prepared Japanese style, firm noodles, or local style, softer more like saimin. The service can be slow, but the food is definitely worth the wait. Most times ive been here, there is one cook and one lady out front that seats people, takes orders, delivers orders, and cashed you out. Since it's in mccully shopping center, parking can also be hard to find. But it's great that it's so so sooo close to where I live, I can walk over!

    (5)

  • Taryn L.

    I have been meaning to try this ramen restaurant for YEARS...no joke. I swear every time I came to try it out, I always forgot that they were closed on certain days of the week...it always happened to be the day that I went. Finally...FINALLY the day arrived where my hubby and I were at McCully Shopping Center, parking was not difficult to find, AND Yotteko-Ya was open! SCORE! My ramen dream is coming true. When I first entered the restaurant, it was smaller than I imagined, but felt welcoming. It was decorated with Japanese lanterns, shoji screens, and various (what looked to be) traditional Japanese wall decorations. The walls were also painted red...interesting color choice. It did take a few minutes for the hostess/waitress to seat my husband and I, but I didn't mind. I was very excited for the ramen discovery that was about to take place. When I got the menu, I noticed that the menu cover explained how drinking their ramen broth can make you (look) younger...something about collagen. This place sounds good already! Looking at the inside of the menu, there were three types of broth to choose from, as well as a variety of rice dishes. It all seemed so good to me (did I mention that when I came here, I was FAMISHED? Ok...maybe an over-exaggeration, but I was pretty hungry and I was super excited for good ramen). Then, my hubby said, "Did you see the combos on the back of the menu?" WHAT?!? No I did not...another reason why I love my husband - he knows how much I love fried rice and gyoza with ramen. And there...on the back of the menu...combo set C - ramen with gyoza and fried rice. Did you hear that? That was the sound of ramen heaven welcoming me into their world. What I really liked about this restaurant was that they offered variety in how the food is prepared. You can choose if you want your ramen noodles firm (Japanese-style) or soft (local-style). You can choose if you want your gyoza pan-fried or deep-fried. Even with the combos, you still had a choice of what broth you want and what rice dish you want. I ordered the Combo set C with the firm noodles in a shoyu broth with the spicy oil added to it (additional $1), pan-fried gyoza, and the original fried rice. I figured if I am to compare this ramen to other restaurants, I need to get the basic broth. The ramen was pretty good. The noodles were firm, which I loved - I do not like soggy noodles. The spice was great - it kind of creeps up on you then once you feel it, it stays with you the entire time. However, the shoyu broth was more bland than I thought it would be...once you get past the spicy oil they added, it seemed to lack flavor. Also, as a side note, their shoyu broth is more the creamy/milky color than a clear, light brown broth. I think the next time I come, I will get the Paitan broth. It was garnished with konbu (I think) and char siu. The char siu was about 1/4-inch thick and was more fat than meat. I am not a fan of fatty char siu, but the flavor of the meat was amazing. The meat was reminiscent to shoyu pork - tender and sweet. I liked the meat...if only it came with less fat. The gyoza was great too! Chewy wrapper and filled with a tasty pork and vegetable mixture (the vegetables added a slight crunch to it). The fried rice was a more moist and oily than I am used to, but it was still good. It was fried with their char siu, bell peppers (first time I ever saw bell peppers in fried rice), egg, and green onion. The only bad part about our experience there was that it took awhile for us to get seated and to get the check. Definitely plan on coming back to try the Paitan broth and get me more of that gyoza.

    (4)

  • Tiffany O.

    I love this place so much. Located in McCully Shopping Center, I come here for lunch and dinner! Just have to be careful not to come during the time they close the restaurant for a few hours, because that would suck... I've tried the Yataiji, Paitan, and Kakuni I believe, and I recommend them all!! The gyoza is also good too. They do have sets which I like very much as well. And also they have a stamp card too! The only thing about this restaurant is the service is very very slow. Sometimes it's busy and the restaurant is kind of small, so waiting is not pleasant. Also, it does take a while for the food to come out... other than that I don't mind coming here. One of my favorite ramen places!

    (4)

  • Char Y.

    we came 1/2 hour before opening and waited in line for this little place in the strip mall. we ordered the special, kakuni paitan ramen with the fried rice and sides. paitan ramen - really good soup! fries chicken - good dumplings - good homemade chaisu fried rice - awesome fried rice - awesome crazy amount of food for the money and the food is awesome!

    (4)

  • Brian B.

    Here's my review: I love it I love it I love it I love it I love it I love it I love it. Did I mention that I love it?

    (5)

  • Emil C.

    I went here for lunch right when it opened and it was already very busy. It took a while for the one waitress to get to everybody. But she was definitely moving as fast as she could. I got the Kakuni Paitan Ramen and Ebi Mayonnaise. The ramen was good. The broth was very flavorful. However the kakuni that I got was a bit too lean. I got the noodles firm which what they referred to as Japanese style on their menu. The shrimp was very delicious. It was combined with tomatoes and fruit. Very tasty. I would definitely come back here to try other items on their menu.

    (4)

  • Larlar S.

    Noodles...Excellent Broth ....Excellent Price...Fair Service....Needs Improvement The biggest issue I have with Yotteko-Ya is their service because they take foreverrrr. I do not mean to sound harsh because I like the waitress there, she's an angel! I would suggest, however, hiring new waiters because every time I have been there, it's the same lady scrambling around, doing her best to accommodate everyone. I always see frustrated customers lingering for their check and people waiting for tables to be cleared. Thus, if they could hire more workers, this restaurant would be top-notch! Although seating and receiving the bill are not timely, the food surprisingly is because it arrives in less than ten minutes after being seated!! And regardless, this ramen is worth the wait. So far I have tried the cha shu paitan, vegetable paitan, and paitan topped with kim chee. All of them are splendid, so order away!! What I really love about their ramen, nonetheless, is their BROTH. It is just...superb, AND it supposedly helps your skin!! That's frickin awesome!! COLLAGEN...COLLAGEN!! Hmmm...maybe that's why Asians age so well? Bottom line: I highly recommend this place even though I started my review criticizing their service. I trust you will not be treated poorly, it's just that if you are an impatient individual, you might want to take a chill pill before you enter the restaurant. Also while you may be growing valleys (worry lines) on your forehead from waiting, consuming their delicious Asian youth potion will erase them! DOUZO!

    (4)

  • Kim M.

    Tabeteko Paitan Ramen; McCully Shopping Center; stamp card. That's really all you need to know. So for those of you who don't like lengthy reviews, there you go. Now, for the rest of you detail-loving peeps, proceed: Ramen lovers, rejoice! Yotteko-Ya has the answer to your lunch and dinner ramen needs!! TABETEKO PAITAN RAMEN ($9.95) w/ kim chee and 1 slice of Yotteko-Ya's homemade chashu pork yelp.com/biz_photos/fy6V… Although still good, don't waste your time with the regular paitan ramen. The Tabeteko is where it's at! (Well, I guess if you aren't a fan of kim chee, the Tabeteko wouldn't necessarily be for you.. But, seriously now, who doesn't like kim chee???!!!) To me, the kim chee in the Tabeteko balances out the richness... And the homemade chashu pork is totally legit. It's soft, tender, and ridiculously flavorful. Next time, I plan on ordering extra. PAITAN Paitan is a flavorful, richer type of broth made from boiling both chicken and pork bones for hours. It's creamy whitish in color and quite similar to Tonkotsu. FIRM OR SOFT As for the noodles, you have the option to choose either firm or soft. Firm is the equivalent to "al dente," which is how I like my noodles. Even though I haven't tried it, soft kind of scares me.. I have teeth, so I'm okay with chewing... But for those of you who like soft...great! GYOZA ($4.95) 5 pieces of pork gyoza, pan fried or deep fried Definitely a must. The bf and I have found gyoza to be the perfect accompanying side dish for ramen or noodle soups of the like. Luckily, Yotteko-Ya's gyoza happens to be quite tasty! It tastes pretty fresh, not lacking in flavor or skimpy on the goods either. STAMP CARD Who doesn't like discounts and free shz?! Buy any 10 ramen, get 1 free Yataiaji or Tonshio Ramen. CREDIT CARDS Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express. VERDICT Yotteko-Ya has answered my prayers - I've found a new hangover remedy and it isn't pho or a bloody mary! And I'm absolutely down to eat at Yotteko-Ya any and every day. Morning, noon and night; whenever; wherever. Holler if you need an eating buddy! Bar hopping after?

    (5)

  • nick m.

    Yotteko-Ya is on the second story of the McCully shopping plaza on Kapiolani that has the 7-11, Taco Bell, Hot Pot Heaven and other tasty eateries. Pretty quiet for a Saturday night. They close at 10 but they were already warning us the kitchen was closing for last orders around 9:10! This place is NOT BYOB, but limited drink options are 12 oz domestics or a 12 oz Kirin in a bottle. Table had chicken karaage which pretty good. I was looking forward to the Kakuni Char Siu Ramen which is their specialty, braised fatty pork, but unfortunately they were out, the waitress told us they only make enough for 20 orders a day. Ordered the regular Paitan Char Siu ramen which came with 5 slices of char siu. You can order your noodles 'Japanese Style' which is al dente, or 'local style' which i'm guessing is soft, saimin style. Everyone gave two thumbs up to the broth which was really flavorful and tasty, not too salty either. Noodles were al dente, as advertised. Honolulu has some AMAZING ramen places, and I love ramen. This place is decent, and I would come here again, but there are some better places not too far away.

    (3)

  • Tammy T.

    We went here after a horrible, horrible disappointment from Anime After Dark (art museum thing). It's on the second floor of the McCully Shopping Center in the far corner. The fifth star is given only due to The Chashu (yes, without the "r") is f'n awesome. The side order portion is super small but SOOO worth it. I'm not much of a fan of meat but... *Homer Simpson beer drool* it's so soft and practically falls apart in your mouth.... We got (pictures): Set C - Tonshio Ramen, 3 pc gyoza, and mini yakibuta chahan 11.95 Set D - Tonshio Ramen, 3 pc karaage, and mini yakibuta chahan 12.45 Curry Chahan 6.95 They offer 4 different sets where you can choose from 2 of the ramens, either Yataiaji or Tonshio. (with an extra charge you can get ANY one of their ramens) Also Set C & D offers a choice of either mini yakibuta chahan or Chashu Gohan. There are many ramens and chahans to choose from. Plus, you can request your noodles to be traditional Japanese style or local (softer). Original visit 3/28/08

    (5)

  • Chris A.

    We went here because the weather was perfect for ramen (it was raining and there were chills in the air). It was kinda busy when we went so we had to sit at the counter. No problem! It was pretty funny because our waitress would just peep her head over the counter now and then and asked us if we were okay. For the appetizer, we had the ebi chili sauce ($7.95) and gyoza ($4.75). The price wasn't too bad at all, but we were just hungry. The ebi was smothered in the sauce (the way we like it), but it might be overkill for others. The gyoza had the nice, pan-crusted crust without it being burnt. It had a generous amount of filling too. The paitan chashu ramen ($8.95) was just ridiculously good. It wasn't overly salty either like most bases tend to be. Every time we go to a ramen joint one of us always have to get the paitan base; we just love it. The paitan here didn't disappoint either, probably one of the better paitan we had. Delicious!

    (3)

  • Brian A.

    Chasiu paitan ramen, Japanese style. That's the thing to get here. They have a "Daily Special" but only make enough for twenty bowls. So, if you're lucky, you'll get a bowl of the paitan ramen and a whole chunk of their chasiu. Otherwise you'll have to make due with *only* five pieces of their tender and fatty chasiu. I would describe their paitan soup base as creamy, slightly spicy, and great for a cold day. The chasiu is out of this world. Even though they take credit card, it may be better to pay in cash since it's usually super busy. Parking sucks, it's in McCully Shopping Center ( yelp.com/biz/mccully-sho… ) after all.

    (5)

  • M M.

    Paitan ramen = bomb dot com! i'm definitely a fan of the creamier pork baased ramens, & yotteko-ya delivered during my september oahu trip. i yelped this place up before i set out for the islands, & i'm glad i did. this ramen place had the BEST pieces of pork i've ever had! they were thick, tender, & meltttttt in your mouthhhh. the broth definitely could have been a little richer, but i'm a tough one to please, ramen-wise - i'm comparing this place to shin sen gumi in fountain valley, california - that place still has my ramen-loving heart :) i came for lunch, & there was no wait! so if you're an impatient one, definitely go at lunch! i'll definitely come back soon whenever i'm back on the islands! & if you're planning on visiting us here in CA & in need of a ramen fix, please PLEASE go to shin sen gumi :D

    (4)

  • Wendy I.

    Numero-uno paitan ramen! Get there early, gets busy. Wish they were open from lunch until dinner instead of closing down inbetween. We've gone there a few times too late for lunch, too early for dinner. Parking is scarce at McCully shopping Center.

    (5)

  • Abbey Y.

    I don't know why it's called Yotteko-Ya on Yelp, but the sign on the door says Kyoto :) I was uber excited to try out this place because of all the raving reviews and I was getting tired of going to the same couple places. I came here with my boyfriend last week thursday. I had the paitan ramen and... he had the other one (forgot the name) it was both very delicious. But I do have to recommend the Paitan broth for those that want a little bit more of a tastier broth :) My boyfriend also got the kimchee fried rice which he liked a lot. In general I have to say that the ramen here is definitely delicious and worth a try. Now onto the location and place. It is situated in the McCully shopping center, needless to say parking will be a definite issue during lunch and dinner. The layout of the restaurant is quite unique but not exactly the most ideal as there are only about 10ish tables in the place and a small bar that has 4 seats. It doesn't sit many people and you're going to be left waiting outside their door if you come during busy times. The service we had that day left a bit to be desired. I don't want to write anything negative because the food was soooooooo good but they did lack service while we were there. There was only one waitress on the entire floor, she was responsible for seating guests, taking orders, giving and picking up tabs, cleaning tables, and bringing out food. It was all her, and while I give her props for doing a one-woman show a lot of the tables were left waiting for a long time just to order. All in all it's definitely worth trying :) this is one more ramen place knocked off our list of places to try on the island! Yay!

    (4)

  • C D.

    Cute interior with windows and light, ambience, nice and fast service. The gyoza was a cut above -- tender and tasty. Great, al dente noodles (or not, you can choose a longer cooking). The charsiu is the most tender, succulent roast pork (not the red BBQ'd Chinese style). Paitan broth more flavorful than the basic broth. For dessert, try the azuki bean/green tea/ice cream shave ice downstairs at Coffee or Tea Inc downstairs!!

    (4)

  • Rolly E.

    Service is awesome.. been here before but then I got my food. Food was good till I put the charsu in my mouth it was still frozen. Easy fix put under my boiling soup. Then I was eating my noodles pulled my noddle out and there was a hair in it. Will not come again.

    (1)

  • Brian B.

    I'm in less than three with this place, that's less than 3, or a heart if you were wondering. They seem to run out of things so get there early and get there often. Parking is tight and can be 'fun' aka a pain in the butt, but it's worth it. Don't tell anyone but we cheated and dropped one of our party off to get a table while we drove around and around looking for a parking space. The paitan Japanese style is probably the best ramen I've ever had, no lie, no joke and that isn't a statement to be taken lightly. Add a little spice from the spinning spice and sauce rack on the table and it's perfection.

    (5)

  • Diana Y.

    My bf's a huge fan of ramen so we came here early to get the Kakuni Ramen (they only make 20 orders a day). I'm not a big fan of ramen but this place was a hit for me. We ordered the Chausu Paitan ramen. The Chausu meat was amazing. It comes in a thin slice but it's very flavorful and moist. The Kakuni meat was flavorful as well but a lot more dense and thicker. Personally, I liked the chasu better. The broth for both soups were thick but very flavorful; making the overall meal very satisfying and filling. Service is friendly; prices are decent. Come early if you can since they'll also close early if they run out of ramen (which happened the first time we tried coming here. We came at 8:30 when they closed at 9)

    (4)

  • Hikari D.

    Great patina ramen. Lavors balanced perfectly. Will be back to try more. Thank u Hideki for the suggestion - enjoyed it!!

    (5)

  • Justin Y.

    The Pai tan is awesome! The pork is tasty tender goodness and I love having a choice between firm and soft noodles(firm is awesome!!). The pai tan soup base is perfect. Yotekko-Ya holds the crown for my favorite ramen shop on the island. Beware though, parking at McCully is horrrrribad. Good luck!

    (4)

  • Nori M.

    I'm not a big ramen eater. Though I've always enjoyed ramen shops, I generally lean more towards the curry or fried rice (or a combo of the 2). Mostly, this is because ramen at most ramen-ya aren't that special-- same noodles, same broth, same toppings, etc. Let's eat. PAITAN RAMEN However, when a restaurant takes pride in making their own noodles, broth, etc., I am very interested in having some ramen. Yotteko-Ya's Paitan ramen is their signature dish and it does not disappoint. Again, I'm not a ramen connoisseur so I wasn't walkin' on sunshine or anything after my first bite, but it was good. It's a milky broth and for some reason, while it wasn't noticeably thicker than standard ramen broth, it was "hearty". I finished every last drop of the broth, which is saying a lot coming from a non-ramen eater like me. The only downside I could imagine with their ramen is that they weren't particularly generous with their toppings. Then again, I like meat, so YMMV. Conclusion: Different than standard ramen in a good way. CHASHU (Roast Pork) I needed a bit more meat (see above), so I got a side order of roast pork. Again, for the price, it seemed like a rather small amount of meat. However, the meat was VERY soft and tasted like really good shoyu pork. Conclusion: Definitely not your standard roast pork, give me more (at the same price) DEEP FRIED GYOZA Not every ramen-ya offers deep fried gyoza. In fact, the only other place I know of is Nishi Moncho in Manoa. Honestly, it's not that different from normal pan fried gyoza, but the deep frying does give the gyoza a bit more body and substance. Conclusion: Good

    (4)

  • Julie W.

    Paitan Ramen, Japanese style, spicy in the side. I simply can't eat any other ramen after this. The gyoza is crispy n chewy and the fried rice is da bomb. I also tried a shrimp appetizer which took a bit to cook but was worth the wait. They sell out so go early!

    (5)

  • Avy R.

    I really wanted to like it more... :( I was craving for authentic Japanese Ramen and came to this place mainly based on the high yelp review. I was so excited. My friend and I both ordered the famous one the Paitan one. It turned out to be... alright... I dont know why, I was so hungry too... but it just tasted alright for me. I dont know if it's because I was expecting too much because of the high reviews.... And the vegetables tasted old... Maybe they just had a bad/busy day? Ah... I really want some good ramen... Where should I go now...? :(

    (3)

  • Sean H.

    Kakuni paitan ramen is the ramen of kings! Me, being a hungry person, ordered kakuni paitan ramen with Japanese style noodles. Japanese-style noodles are chewy, whereas the local style noodles are softer. I also ordered fried rice and gyoza to share with my friend (who ordered a regular paitan). When I was here there appeared to be only one worker in the front. She was a small, middle-aged Japanese woman who looked absolutely overworked! The restaurant is pretty busy, so maybe an extra worker would be nice. My friend and I were confused because we were not greeted at the entrance. We thought long and hard as to whether we should wait around to be seated or if we should just sit. The lady noticed us while serving some other customers and told us to sit anywhere (in a very out-of-breath voice!). Although the lady was busy, she came around to take our order very quickly. We ordered exactly what I said we ordered at the top of this review. Just a few fleeting moments later, our gyoza and fried rice came! Both were delicious. Next came the ramen. The kakuni paitan was delicious. The broth was watery yet extremely flavorful. It was salty and brothy with a very subtle nutty note (because of the sesame seeds). The chashu was a nice big block, seasoned to perfection. My friend's piece of chashu looked pretty pathetic compared to mine. It was almost paper thin and 50% fat. But she enjoyed the ramen nonetheless (after stealing some of my delicious chashu). The ramen was very expensive: My friend's ramen was $9.50 or so, and mine was way more (maybe $13.50 or so?). That's okay though, because it was very deliciously eaten. Another thing I like about this place is the location. There are so many after-dinner choices: Bubble tea at Coffee or Tea?, Snow at the Snow Factory, Slurpee from 7-Eleven, etc.

    (5)

  • Seth H.

    Went there on a Friday night with part of the family, my son had been there before and told us what to order, so I tried their paitan broth and he and I shared a large order of pork fried rice. Thought it was interesting you can order your noodles either Japanese Style or Local Style, since it was ramen I went with the Japanese style, think it's more firm, I didn't really think the broth was anything extra but the food came out really fast, what did take long was getting a table initially, the tables were free but they needed to be cleared, they definitely need a bus boy, but when we did get seated the service was very good. I was also impressed with their philosphy that when we run out of the broth, that's it. The don't compromise quality for making more money- that is so refreshing. The fried rice was good, very moist- the pork comes in large chunks and very flavorful, a little on the sweet side for my taste, but still good. Parking sucks but that's not their fault, will be back.

    (4)

  • Dan F.

    My mom always makes me chicken, beef, or fish soup that's been simmered for half a day. The results are spectacular yummy soup that warms the heart and soul. Maybe that's how Asians keep their youths. The Paitan broth is a little similar to that, except it's milkier due to the breakdown of bones and collagen of the chicken they used for the stock. Don't worry, that cloudiness isn't noodle dust. I ordered the Paitan ramen with vegetables, a slice of char siu, and firm noodles. The vegetables are okay, most of it was cabbage and unknowns. The char siu was thick and dry. I don't know if that's a dislike or not because I'm usually offered the really fatty piece. Not a fan of fatty pork except for Kow Yuk. The noodles were good, they weren't chewy like mochi balls just tender. For some reason, I couldn't finish my bowl. I could finish large amounts of pho but I guess ramen noodles are a lot thicker and it fills my stomach up faster. This is the reason why I'm not a fan of ramen. I'll definitely come back to try the cold noodles instead.

    (4)

  • Brian P.

    For the longest time, I thought this place was called Kyoto Ramen. Yotteko-Ya sounds cooler though. I've been to Goma Tei and Tenkaippin, and this place picks 'em up, rips 'em to pieces, and bounces them off the walls. The Japanese style noodles in Paitan broth is really as authentic as it gets. Read my review of Momofuku in NYC and you'll understand why I didn't give that place 5 stars (because of Yotteko-Ya!). You know this place is ramen perfection because although I've been here numerous times, I've never tried out anything else on their menu. I hear their gyoza are pretty good as is their kimchi fried rice. But don't take my word for it, I've never tasted either. I always leave this place drinking all of the broth leaving the bowl clean and dry. I cannot say the same for either Goma Tei or Tenkaippin. Even though I haven't tried all the ramen places on Oahu, I'll go on record to say that Yotteko-Ya makes the best Ramen on the island. Boo-ya.

    (5)

  • Erica N.

    I LOVE THIS PLACE! paitan ramen: to die for. fried rice: SO good! char siu: omg. heaven! (i normally pass on char siu...i'm not really a fan. but here? i love it! in fact, i order extra!!!) i will say that the service is rather slow, especially on a busy night. this sometimes (ok, all the time) bothers the bf, but me? i'm willing to overlook it, as i'm usually sitting there in a paitan ramen bliss....more time to drink up all the broth is what i say!

    (5)

  • Michael S.

    Of all the Asian restaurants we've been to on three Hawaiian islands, this one is probably the best. I'm not usually a fan of Japanese food (wife's idea), but the ramen and the pork were both really good. Parking can be difficult to find at the shopping center, and you have to know to look on the second floor to find this place.

    (5)

  • Timothy P.

    Paitan Ramen, a ramen with broth containing collagen-rich ingredients that make you look more youthful. Is this too good to be true? I'd love to eat something like this everyday and be a more youthful feminine Asian man than I already am. Yotteko-Ya Kyoto Ramen offers this mysterious soup-fountain of youth. Like all mysteries in life, I "googled it." On Google, I found a Paula Begoun article (BTW, I love her books. She reviews EVERY single cosmetic on the market right down to their ingredients.) To quote the article; "When you eat or drink collagen (from meat or in supplements) it is digested and broken down into the individual amino acids it is made up of, as it would be for any animal protein you eat. But the collagen from either source would not be distributed directly to the collagen in your skin." Shoot... now I'll have to judge the food based on flavor instead of its hype. So, how was it? Pretty tasty. I had the Paitan Chashu with Spicy Oil added. It was indeed creamy and rich, the chashu was otherworldly tender, and the spice was bold but not overpowering. But what really stole the show was not their ramen, but their Garlic Fried Rice. This plate of rice has more garlic than the Garlic Rice at Ninniku-ya Garlic Restaurant on Waialae. In case you are skimming through this, let me repeat myself on its own line. The Garlic Fried Rice has MORE GARLIC than the Garlic Restaurant. Amazing. I reeked of garlic so bad after, I chose not to go out after dinner even though it was Mardi Gras. Normally being stuck at home would disappoint me, but I was so content and in a good mood from my meal that I didn't mind at all. Although it has no power to make me young again, it definitely has the power to make you stay home on Mardi Gras and tweet "when are we going to Yotteko-ya again?"

    (4)

  • Lauren K.

    I have always seen this place on the second floor of the McCully Shopping Center but never ventured into it until the other day when a friend of mine had a ramen craving and insisted that I come with. The first thing that caught my eye upon looking at the menu? The paragraph stating that their broth will make you younger. I must say, enjoyable way to start. My friend told me that the chashu is "off da hook good" and had to have some. I chose the Paiten Chashu Ramen (with Japanese noodles) and shared a side of gyoza and kim chee too. Let me just say...The chashu is so tasty! Full of flavor, super tender, and not too fatty. I think I may be more of a fan of the chashu if anything...haha. The gyoza and kim chee were also great side dishes. Overall, I'm definitely coming back to this place again.

    (4)

  • Yvonne M.

    The Chashu Paitan was delicious! The meat melts in your mouth. The broth is just right. Although, next time I will choose the local style noodles. Now I know I prefer the softer noodle. You can choose Japanese (firm-almost undercooked-well to me) and the Local style (soft, the type most hawaii restaurants make) Fried rice and gyoza was okay. Karaage chicken was pretty good. If you like thin soup come here. If you like thick, creamy broth go to Tenkaippin.

    (4)

  • Jeff T.

    The ramen was tasty. Not too heavy or rich. The Japanese style noodles were good and the char Sui was super tender. The only thing I didn't like was the pan fried gyoza. It tasted junk and seemed like it had been frozen. Don't order it! The fried rice was pretty good.

    (3)

  • Traci H.

    I was craving ramen and wanted to try someplace new. After seeing tons of reviews on this place I was set. It was a Thursday night and I must have caught the dinner rush because there was a line. There was only one girl working there. She was bustling, but I don't think she knows how to mulit-task. While we were waiting, there was a table that could have been cleared on her many walks back an forth to the kitchen. I was almost ready to bus the table myself! Waiting gave us a lot of time to decide what to eat. My boyfriend and I both had the paitan. I had mine with kimchee and veggies. He had his paitan with the C set. I have to say that the broth was savory! I love Japanese style noodles, so chewy. I hate mushy noodles. The gyoza was good sized and pretty good. I don't think they were as good as I expected from reviews, but I don't know how they got theirs (pan-fried or deep fried), I had mines pan-fried. My boyfriend had the fried rice which was also pretty good. Overall, ramen was yummy! Noodles were good and chewy. Their charshu was good! I usually don't like charshu too! I'll be back!

    (4)

  • Keith H.

    This is a hot place on Yelp, or so my home page says, so I came in with some expectations in mind. I wish I could say Yotteko-ya met all of them, but I can't. First off, it's not the easiest place to find at McCully Shopping Center. It's located on the second floor, at the Ewa side of the building, so I found myself looking high and low for it, until I found the wooden sliding doors staring at me from across the building. The experience started off OK. I was greeting promptly and offered a seat at the counter. I ordered the char siu ramen, shoyu broth, cooked Japanese style (as opposed to local style, where they cook it a little longer). The noodles came out great - nice and al dente; the char siu was tender and mildly sweet; but the soup...let me put it this way, saimin broth has more flavor. I would have expected a shoyu ramen broth to at least taste a little bit like, well, shoyu. Water was refilled in a timely manner, and I finished the bowl of noodles quickly. Then I waited for the waitress to clear my empty bowl and give me my check. And waited... And waited... Now here's the deal. The place is not very big. Ten tables tops, plus five seats at the counter. Maybe three tables were occupied, plus me at the counter. I can see if the place were packed to the gills with one server. But, really, being kept waiting so long that the thought of skipping out so I could make my 7 o'clock rehearsal crossed my mind? I finally did get my check, and they did get their money, but I can't help thinking the waitress forgot about me. Not good. I mean, yes, the take-out menu says, "Eat Yotteko-ya's ramen and look younger." But if you die of old age waiting for your check, it kinda defeats the purpose, no? Still, I may give them another try. Maybe their paitan ramen may have a bit more flavor to it. And hopefully I get a waitress who actually notices when customers are done eating.

    (2)

  • barry n.

    Been told that the paitan was really good, so my wife and I decided to try it. The paitan broth was really milky looking and it tasted pretty good. I think Ichiben's paitan was more flavorful. We also had gyoza, which was okay, fried rice, which was okay and ebi in chili sauce, which was okay. The shrimp was big, which was good but the sauce tasted just okay and they just slathered it over the shrimp. Not something I would order again. The only reason this place gets four stars is the noodles! They offer it two ways- Kyoto style, which is firm or Local style, which is more soft. Having the noodles firmer is how I like it and it really came out that way. Plus, they offer extra noodles! My kinda place! Don't know if I would go back though because the parking sucks!! There is basement parking, but we still had to wait almost 15 minutes for a stall!

    (4)

  • Yuree N.

    I ordered the spicy Paitan ramen, Japanese-style (more stiff noodles) and it was delicious. It's all about the broth, and I definitely prefer Yotteko-ya's over Gomatei's. BUT, I have tried ramen in Japan, which is the gold standard I compare all my ramen experiences to, and although it comes close it's still not quite there. I tasted my friend's Paitan without spicy, and it just tasted bland so I'm not sure how you can drink that broth without spice in it (then again I am Korean and add hot sauce to almost everything). The price is reasonable and I didn't experience the long wait that some people on here have experienced when I went around 7pm on a weeknight.

    (4)

  • Chantel C.

    Hey I've discovered the secret to prevent skin and joint aging!!!!! Oh emmm gee. My favorite thing about this restaurant is their menu. This is what it says on the front page, "Our homemade soup is simmered for over 10 hours with the choicest pork, the freshest chickens and 10 different vegetables and spices. This meticulous process produces a uniquely thick collagen rich stock that will actually help prevent aging of skin and joints." Oh man, I better come here more often considering the amount of time I spend in the sun - haha. No, but really I laughed as I read the menu, and skeptically thought, Choicest pork, freshest chicken? Oh great what did I get myself into. I was pleased with my Ramen, I ordered the Yasai Paitan ramen, which came with vegetables and one piece of homemade chashu pork. The broth was pretty good, tasted lighter than the other broths I've tried (like at Raraya, and Tenkaippen). Once I tasted that homemade chashu, I melted, and forgave the cheesy menu. It REALLY was the "choicest pork." Tender, and sweet, with not too much fat. Seriously one of the best chashus I've had, and usually I'm not a huge fan of chashu in my ramen. Next time, I'm going for the Kakuni Ramen which is topped with a BLOCK of that homemade chashu. Whoaaa... That's all I can say. *Drool* The other thing that stood out in my mind during my visit was walking into the restaurant. It was not awkward at all... NOT. All tables were occupied, and I could have sworn that almost every single person paused from eating their ramen, and looked up at me. WHAT? Did I forget to wear my clothes, or have a huge, visible from across the room, booger? Then I realized it was probably because there was only one waitress, and a bunch of people were waiting for their food or check (and one of them was my prom date from high school haha). You have got to love those entrances that dump you smack dab in the center of the restaurant... especially on a small island.

    (4)

  • Irene B.

    Oh mah gah. Walking into Yotteko-Ya sans a huge line or waitlist, I had my doubts. But daaang, I shoulda realized momma always said don't judge a book by it's cover. I went with the recommended soup base (Paitan) and ordered myself the D set that comes with chicken karaage and fried rice. The Paitan ramen had quite possibly the most flavorful and tender chasu pieces that my mouth has ever known. The broth was deliciously rich, and the noodles were al dente perfection. The crispy karaage, and fried rice that was just slightly on the sweet side were excellent complements to my ramen. I was seriously satisfied. Man, to get ramen of that caliber and not have to wait in line, I thought I was dreaming. Plus a claim that their collagen rich broth will make you look younger? Why are you not in LA? Ahh, alas Yotteko-Ya you were good to me.

    (5)

  • Paul M.

    My wife and I love to go to Goma Tei for the TanTan ramen, but we wanted to mix it up, so we've been looking for another ramen shop closer to Waikiki. First we tried Gyoza No Osho, which was about on par with cooking packaged ramen at home (at least the miso and shio ramens we tried). Today we decided to try Yotteko-ya for lunch after reading the reviews here on Yelp. Overall is was a very good experience, and now we have another great Ramen shop to hit if we're not feeling like TanTan. Atmosphere The entrance is nice and Japanese, with the big wooden doors and the cloth hanging down to block the wind and bugs. The inside is a nice red on white with paper laterns on the ceiling and Japanese art. There were about 8 tables and a bar (not the alcohol serving kind), which we sat at. Overall, is was very nice inside. Food I ordered the signature Paitan Ramen and my wife got the Tonshio (Hawaiian Salt) ramen. The serving was perfect for lunch, but a bit small for the price. But, given the taste, its well worth it. The Paitan Ramen broth was very nice. I got the noodles "Japanese Style" which is like aldente. They were tastey, cooked just right, and the perfect vessel for that lovely broth - hearty, spiced very well, and not too salty or oily. The green onions and what looked like sauteed bamboo were in short supply and didn't really need to be there though. The Tonshio Ramen was another story. The broth tasted like salty fish sauce... which I guess is good for some people, but I don't like fish sauce. Neither does my wife. So that was just a miss. The noodles were great though, but without a great broth, they can't shine on their own. Both had 2 peices of char shu (can get 3 more peices for $1.50 more), which were shoyu flaovered and very nice. I personally thought there was too much shoyu flavor, but I think that's normally a good thing. If we come back for dinner, we'll try out the gyoza, and one of those mini sundae's! Price and Value The food was good, which always warrants a good value. However, the portions were lunch sized at a dinner price: $7.25 to start. I guess that's a pretty good deal, but I'm use to the huge bowls with generous toppings from Goma Tei. Summary Definitely coming back if we're not in the mood for going to Ward or eating TanTan. Going to keep up my hunt for great ramen though!

    (4)

  • Vera W.

    Amazing. Simply amazing.

    (5)

  • James W.

    After reading the reviews, I was looking forward to eating at this place. I tried the paitan ramen with the special pork chunks. Not much decor inside and food was nothing special. The bay area has better ramen.

    (3)

  • Cynthia A.

    Located on the 2nd floor of McCully Shopping Center, at the end of the hallway. I love the decor - it's cute and everything is really clean. The big thing about this place is that the broth is supposed to be really healthy in that they boil it (with bones?) for about 10 hours, so there's a lot of collagen, etc. in it. The broth is good, but tastes much different than what I'm used to at other ramen shops. It actually kind of grossed me out thinking about the collagen in the soup; I don't know what my issue is... But I managed to put it out of my mind and eat the ramen. I really enjoyed the gyoza here. YUMMM!! Kind of more than what I like to spend on ramen, but a good place to go for a change and fun atmosphere every once in awhile.

    (4)

  • K K.

    Any of the Paiten Ramens and fried rice dishes are all delicious. The pork that they use is the best pork I've ever tasted in a fried rice and ramens!

    (5)

  • Lee M.

    Picture this, it's a Thursday evening and my girl Val and I are heading to Kyoto Ramen Yotteko-Ya. With a ferocious appetite, we both bring our A-game to the table, willing to take our taste-buds to the next level. My only knowledge of this place was what I had read from an email I received earlier in the week. Apparently, the homemade soup is simmered for over 10 hours with the choicest meats, vegetables, and spices. This meticulous process creates a stock that is rich and thick of collagen, which helps prevent the aging of the skin and joints. Say what? I can eat and look younger at the same time? Way to multi-task. That's an A+++ in my book. I'm not sure how legit their claim on finding the fountain of youth is but that's some good marketing on their behalf. After taking a few sips of Kirin and viewing the menu, Val and I were confused. The menu was in both English and Japanese, however, if you didn't know what the English Japanese words meant, good luck. Luckily, our server was the sweetest girl (I wish I got her name) and she kindly explained some of the key terms to us and recommended some popular dishes. After a few more minutes, we were ready to rock steady... Lee's order: D Set / Paitan Ramen (Japanese Style), Chicken Karaage (3 pieces), Mini Chashu Gohan - The Paitan Ramen was super good!!! From what I grasped, Paitan is the soup that is simmered the longest which means it's the soup that has the most collagen. The broth is light colored, almost white. I chose 'Japanese Style' ramen which means the noodles are firm. You can also choose 'Local Style' which means the noodles are soft. Other garnishes that came in the ramen were seaweed and two pieces of pork. The pork was super tender and tasteful. The Chicken Karaage was moist and full of flavor. However, it wasn't anything to rave about. I didn't find anything wrong with the karaage but there was no 'wow' factor. The Chashu Gohan was out of this world. This dish consisted of white rice with pork, carrots, green onions, and sauce drizzled all over. It's like a donburi minus the egg. The sauce was their version of the Chinese char siu sauce. The pork was so tender that it melted in the mouth. The blend of flavors that this dish contained was simply perfect. Val's order: Ebi Mayonnaise and C Set / Paitan Ramen (Japanese Style), Gyoza (3 pieces, Pan Fried), Mini Yakibuta Chahan (Fried Rice) - Ebi Mayonnaise is an appetizer and consists of large sized shrimps drizzled with homemade sweet mayonnaise sauce and almonds. Can I just say, ORGASM in my mouth!!! I can best compare this dish to the Honey Walnut Shrimp dish that you can order from most Chinese restaurants. Refer above description of Paitan Ramen, again, SO good! The gyoza was juicy and full of filling. I loved how one side of the gyoza was extra crispy and the other side soft. That mix of textures was fun in my mouth. The Yakibuta Chahan was fried rice that came with pieces of pork. The rice was full of flavor and the pork, again, was tender. Standard garnishes like eggs, green onions, and carrots were also in the rice. All I can say is that I am definitely a fan of this place and I will be frequenting here more often. Good food and looking younger, priceless baby.

    (5)

  • A S.

    This is still my all time favorite ramen ya in both Hawaii and Mainland after discovering it several years ago. I usually visit Oahu at least twice a year and have some Paitan ramen and homemade gyoza once during each visit. The tonkotsu broth is rich with good depth and flavor unlike other ramen ya. The ramen is not soggy and has a nice texture. My DH and friends love the homemade gyoza as the skin is thin and meat stuffing has good flavors. I have been there during weekdays and weekends and sevice is adequate and food is consistently delicious!!! Like other reviewers have noted, Yotteko Ya does close up early during lunch hour without notice if it runs out of broth or food... so be warned!

    (5)

  • Rita L.

    I think this place has a cool red room! But getting down to the food, it was ok! the chaisu was the best but the soup and noodles were alright! I rather spend my money at tenkaippin! but it was good to try!

    (3)

  • Suzanne R.

    I stumbled upon this place a little while back and have been Addicted (with a capital 'A') to the Paitan Ramen. I'm giving it 4 stars and not 5 only because I haven't had anything other than the ramen. But the paitan base is rich and silky and creamy (without actually having any cream in it, I think) and absolutely delicious. I've gotten it with the standard veggies and also with the char-siu and both have been great. It's a cute little place and can get pretty busy, so leave some wait time if you're going at a busy dining hour. And be prepared to deal with McCully Shopping Center's parking-- not fun!

    (4)

  • cyn z.

    You come here for one thing: Fatty Char Siu. You gotta get the special 'cause they only make a certain amount (20 bowls) a day. You gonna look younger~ broth is collagen-rich! Nuff already, get off your okole and go brah.

    (4)

  • Bev L.

    I went to Yotteko-Ya when I was on vacation, but my last attempt at finding a good ramen joint in Bay Area on the mainland prompted me to finally write this review. San Francisco needs a Yotteko-Ya. The ChaShu is OFF-DA-HOOK!!!! Me and my sister both ordered combos (I think I had the goyza and my sista had the fried rice). We took one bite of the ChaShu and decided to order a plate on the side. It was thattttt gooodddddd! Yummmmm! Melts in your mouth with just the right amount of flavor and fat. The place I went to in the East Bay (I won't mention names....) that was suppose to be da bomb had ChaShu that was very generous in portion but had no flavor what so ever; I think I took a few bites and couldn't justify intaking extra calories for flavorless over-glorified crap! The ChaShu here has a hint of smoky aroma that meshes so well with the broth. When you take a bite of the ramen/ChaShu along with a sip of that yummy broth, I swear I hear a heavenly chorus playing in the back of my head. Just thinking about it right now makes me hungry for some of that yum yum chop! Hummmmm.....

    (5)

  • Jannet L.

    it was good. set menu is too big for a small girl. even though the fried chicken and gyoza was yummy. fried rice is too salty. i got major dia after eating here prolly cuz it was so rich but i am still giving it 4 stars. that's how much i loved it. i still hate the parking at this strip mall but it's redeemed itself with this ramen place.

    (4)

  • Will C.

    finished the gym last night, starved and couldn't decide what to shove in my face. ultimately i decided to rocket myself to kyoto. good choice. thinking they just opened there shouldn't be a crowd. WRONG. arrived at 6:20 and all the tables were taken AND there were people in front of me! good thing i have my work emails to keep me occcupied. grabbed a counter table and thougt to myself "should be early enough, maybe i'll get this elusive KAKUNI!" wrong again, apparently they only make enough to last lunch plus whatever is left for dinner. slightly annoyed but got over it. got a bowl of paitan chasu ramen and chasu gohan. absolutely awesome. the paitan is thicker than shoyu or shio base, perfectly seasoned and creamy, but it's not like youre drinking thanksgiving gravy; like some other place...... love their "kata" men/japanese style noodle. it's got a great tooth to it so you don't feel like you're eating baby food. and then there's the meat. their chasu is bliss. i've read some reviews that said it's too small. i thought that there was too much meat in my bowl and prob would have been ok with 2 pieces. the thing is, theirs is slow cooked in some shoyu based flavor broth fiesta, and they manage to render out ALL THE FAT!!! so what you have left is soft savory pieces of meat that melts in you mouth. that's why i think it's smaller, no fat left! only flavorfull meat bites! they should package it as a snack. and though there was too much meat in my ramen, i am still smiling about the chasu gohan. even their rice is amazing. though for $4 it's a bit manini. the server said some folks order 2 and ask for it to be put into one bowl. GENIUS!! but then i don't know if i could eat a whole bowl of ramen. (i'm sure i could make it happen) speaking of which,, having been going for years now, whether it's lunch or dinner, i have only seen the same server. WTF? i'm beginning to think she's indentured!!!! wow this is my longest review ever; and it's making me want to eat it again. RIDE THE ROCKET!!!!

    (4)

  • kris m.

    PAITAN RAMEN!!! GET IT!!! Oh my god!! The PAITAN on a cold rainy day.... heaven!!! Screw it... the PAITAN on any day is fricking heaven!!!

    (5)

  • Belinda l.

    Had the Yasai Paitan ramen with spicy broth and hard noodles. It was awesome, some of the best ramen I've had in the US.

    (5)

  • eric e.

    Just had dinner here & ordered the Paitan Chashu ramen. Gotta say the soup base was very good, noodles perfect (Japan style), & chashu was awesome! its hard to compare this place to Goma Tei cuz its like comparing apples to oranges. On the other hand, when comparing the Paitan with Ichiben, Yotteko-Ya is da bomb! Still gotta come back and try more on the menu, cant wait...

    (5)

  • Ellen Mae V.

    Paitan Charshu Ramen!!! No, people it's not the square ramen you buy for $0.49 cents. And if that's the only kind of ramen you've tasted then you're depriving yourself. This stuff is unbelievable! I especially love the sesame seeds that are sprinkled on top, it just MAKES the dish! This place is small but good for groups of up to 6 or possibly 8. It's also dangerously close to where I live and I find myself frequenting the place quite often. Overall, magnificent and simple but worth every penny!

    (5)

  • david j.

    Awesome ramen set! I'm not a huge go try them all ramen person but I've grown up here so I know a thing or two. My first time there so I tired the set to get a liitle taste of it all. Wow, everything was amazing. The noodles hard a choice of firmness which was new to me. I left it up to the waitress and she recommended firm! I went with there signature broth which was I could have to the very last drop. Never at a ramen place did I ever desire to finish the broth. I gotta run, but the friend rice with char Sui was excellent and the gyoza with the deep fried option was awesome!

    (5)

  • Sumil T.

    Nice cozy feel with tasty ramen! Paitan ramen soup all the way, house specialty. Also it's nice that they offer your noodles done japanese style (al dente) or local style (cooked soft). Not that great for groups bigger than 4-5, because most of the tables seat 4 and there isn't enough room to push two tables together.

    (4)

  • Nate R.

    Got some take-out from here. Got the Paitan Ramen with extra noodles, spicy, thanks to Yelp. It was delicious. The spicy was right on and added tons of flavor to the already-flavorful ramen. The pork was good, noodles were great. They were out of sides, which was disappointing, but ultimately unnecessary thanks to the plentiful ramen.

    (4)

  • Karen L.

    Reviews were right. You have to get the kakuni pork special. The chasui (did I spell it right?) is really fatty and tender. That's the best kind you can get for ramen! It just melts in your mouth. The portion was perfect for me. It's not too big and not too little. Someone who eats a lot may need 2 or 3 bowls. Service was nice and fast for only 1 waitress when we were there. She was hustling back and forth. I felt bad but she did a great job. A must try for the ramen lovers.

    (5)

  • Lai Y.

    I really really liked this place. I know I did because at the end of the meal, my stomach was asking me what it did to deserve so much pain. I went on a monday night and surprisingly, there was a line at the door! The decor and set up of this little restaurant was very bright and easy flowing - I don't know why but I was so happy to sit in the little nook to the right of the restaurant that provides enough seating for larger parties. Reviewers on yelp suggested and recommended the paitan chashu ramen, and I'm very glad I went with that order! Delicious ramen (japanese style: chewier noodles, boiled for a shorter amount of time; local style: softer noodles, boiled for a longer amount of time) came with those five tender, sweet pieces of chashu, all soaked in the thick, hot paitan broth. I ordered the C Set, which was $12.95. My ramen was accompanied by 3 pieces of deep fried gyoza (yum!) and pork fried rice. The rice was alright, but I much prefer the ramen. Service was a nonissue as the waitress was quick and friendly. I'll be back!

    (5)

  • Aaron M.

    Best ramen place EVER! They make a special ramen called Kakuni Ramen which they only sell 20 bowls a day. The Kakuni cha siu (BBQ meat) is marinated for three days and is so tender that it falls apart at the touch! The broth of the japanese style ramen is so tasty that you're sure to drink it up. There is also a hawaiian style ramen which is not as good. They also serve other ramen restraunt classics like gyoza, chicken karage, and fried rice. The white rice is also something amazing altogether. If you're ever in Hawaii and feel like eating ramen, this is the place to go.

    (5)

  • Arlette D.

    the best paitan ramen!!!!!!! reminded me of the ramen i had with i went to osaka!!!! everything was delicious!!!! this place is a must they have the best ramen i have tasted!!!

    (5)

  • Tyron H.

    This is my definite number one ramen place on the island. Best tasting without a doubt the only problem ive seen it is them closing early because ther actually ran out of stock, good reason to close early and even more the reason to try it out. Try thr special pork broth and you'll know why i endorse it as the best ramen on the island

    (5)

  • K K.

    4 solid stars! Wife and I had lunch here this weekend and the place wasn't that busy so the service was actually good. There was only 1 woman working at first but a 2nd woman joined in shortly thereafter. After having the Paitan ramen from Tenkaippin (didn't like it) I was hesitate to try it here but decided if I don't then I wouldn't be able to compare the two. I had the C set which came with the Paitan ramen, 3 pieces of gyoza and pork fried rice. To my surprise the Paitan ramen here was really good. The broth was rich and creamy but not thick and overpowering like at Tenkaippin. The gyoza was good but I've had better fried rice else where. The homemade chashu was really good. Very tender and had a nice shoyu flavor to it. A bonus is the clean restroom facilities. Yotteko-Ya changed my mind about the Paitan ramen. It can be tasty and enjoyed if you actually have broth and not gravy.

    (4)

  • Ketchum H.

    Usually, I would not get too excited about ramen, however, Jarred H.'s review put us on to this jewel...Incredible ramen, really off the chart...Go for the Japanese style "al dente" noodles...you will need some hammock time after this meal...

    (5)

  • Ivy C.

    Thanks to Yelp I found the most amazing ramen EVER! I have dreamt of it since. Cant wait to go back but fearful to tell too many cause I dont want to have to wait in line.

    (5)

  • Kupo T.

    Got here at about 6:00, they open at 5:30 and had to wait for a seat. That was a good sign for me. Ordered the Paitan Ramen with firm extra noodles and extra char siu. I like Tenkaippin soup better than here, but the char siu and the fried rice was much better than Tenkaippin. Gyoza was alright nothing special. I wouldn't say that this is the greatest ramen i have eaten, but it is definitely one of the better ones.

    (4)

  • An N.

    Everyone knows the proof is in the broth and this place has it! They have the most amazing Paitan broth. It is a rich and creamy delicious broth that goes perfect with the home-made charsu pork they make. I love ordering their basic Paitan Ramen with a side order of sauteed pot stickers. The prices are reasonable, the portions are generous and the ambiance is very casual. I love the decor, which is classic Japanese, particularly the sliding door that you enter the restaurant with. There are tons of places in Honolulu that have 'saimin' and 'ramen' but this place is totally legit. Be ready for a bit of a wait if you come here during lunch's rush hour.

    (5)

  • Mark D.

    Wouldn't have found this place if it weren't for yelp. We have been to McCully shopping center many times and never really ventured upstairs. I would prefer this place over Gomatei as a lot more options to fix-up your ramen (local style, japanese style, udon, etc.).

    (4)

  • Annie H.

    Yum. Shoyu is good, but paitan is REALLY good. That's what I'm getting next time. I kept stealing bites from my boyfriend's...

    (4)

  • Christa W.

    just ate here for the first time yesterday. had the paitan charsu and i already want it again (sorry tenkaippin you're still my number one but this place was just OH MY GOD). minus one star for slow service but hell i'm not judging. the place is killer.

    (4)

  • Katie L.

    Super good ramen! Service is amazing! Try the garlic fried rice - its amazing!

    (4)

  • Shane S.

    The decor and atmosphere is nice. The soup broth here is flavorful and not overpowering at all. The ramen was cooked nicely and not soggy like most places. I would definitely come again to enjoy their other menu selections. Their prices are reasonable as well. A big drawback was the fact that we went during lunch hour so the place was incredibly busy. And for all the business they get there was only 1 lady who served as waitress/buser/cashier. This lead to many delays for anyone who decided to dine there. It was a struggle just to get the check so we could leave.

    (4)

  • Lynn S.

    We meant to eat at another Japanese resturant, but couldn't find it, so we made our way in here. I'm not a big fan of Ramen, but I might be now. The paitan soup was delish to the last drop. I mean, my first reaction to the tatse was this is good! I like it better then Tenkaippin. They gave a lot in the set. I had to give my husband some of my noodles. Amibiance is okay, nothing bad, but they could make it a little more cozy for a better experience. Lucky for them, their noodles more then compensated. I'd go back!

    (4)

  • sky i.

    I was getting tired of eating Pho so dining here was an interesting change of pace. Thanks to an earlier, ravenous lunch crowd, their signature Kakuni Paitan Ramen was out. Therefore I had to resort to ordering Paitan Broth with vegetables. My wife tried the Shoyu based Ramen (Kyoto Style) with Kim Chee and Charsiu. My wife and I didn't care for the Shoyu Ramen broth, but the Charsiu was tender and yummy. The Paitan Ramen, which was richer and creamier, was excellent. Noodles on both dishes were tasty and cooked to perfection. Side order of Gyoza was pan fried just enough to make it crispy on one side and still soft on the other side...just the way I like it. I doubt my wife and I will return because we're not fans of Kyoto style ramen broth and the Paitan broth, while flavorful, was too thick and dense for my personal preference. However, I definitely understand the appeal of this style and why some people gave Kyoto Ramen 5 stars. To each his/her own. Next stop: Jimbo!

    (3)

  • Jasmine l.

    walking distance from my place; what took me so long?!!!!! got the paiten and it's killer. The broth is creamy savory and not too salty; the dish is simple with a couple slices char siu and some aromatics.

    (5)

  • Tim A.

    Okay, so I travel a lot around the world and I'm in the food business. I consider myself to be a self-proclaimed food junkie. I simply love to find great food treats wherever I'm at. I came across Yotteko-Ya after reading about it on Yelp. I must say that the reviews written very accurate. I found the Paitan broth with the Kim Chee Ramen (Japanese style) with the Chashu Pork to be outstanding. I had it with the fried rice, pot stickers, fried chicken pieces (I forget the name of it) and a side order of Chashu Pork (5 pieces). The chashu was as tender as it gets with a slight hint of sweetness on the finish. The fried rice was cooked perfectly and the ramen had the right amount of heat (I was sweating slightly). When I got there, there were about 10 people enjoying their meals. About 5 minutes later the line to get a seat was about 20 people (for lunch on a Sunday). I highly recommend as I will be returning for more.

    (5)

  • Anthony W.

    Thank you Yelp for helping us find this gem of a ramen-ya so close to Waikiki! This was the first time I had tried Paitan ramen and it was bold and delicicious as all get out. They offered Japanese style noodles (firm) and also a softer noodle. I ordered the firm but would love to try the soft version next time. The ramen was excellent, but the crazy surprise was the incredible fried rice and deep fried gyoza!! I swear they are the best I had every experienced, and I've eaten a lot of fried rice in my lifetime. I'm speculating they cook the fried rice in the fat that is skimmed off the huge vat of paitan broth that had been simmering for 18 hours. So make sure you not just get the ramen, but the fried rice and gyoza as well. The lone server lady working there was pleasant and kind, and service was amazingly fast. The place is only slightly off the beaten path, about a 15 minute walk from the Hilton Village, just over the Ala Wai canal. It wasn't crowded at all, and I think that little extra few blocks helps us impatient diners avoid a long line and wait. Nakamura ramen is in the heart of Waikiki, and is plagued by long lines and hungry diners. I think they only take cash, so make sure to hit the ATM just in case.

    (5)

  • Lori L.

    Yotteko-Ya is a small ramen shop on the second floor of the McCully Shopping Center. They have a few different broths but the only one I order is the Paitan, slow cooked chicken bones and pork makes this a rich, collagen filled broth. Of course there are different toppings to choose from, the Yasai Paitan Ramen is good with veggies and char siu or try the Kimchee Paitan Ramen for a bit more spice. I recommend the Japanese-style noodles which are firmer and have a better chew then the Local-style, and for side orders the Chicken Karaage or Gyoza. Here's a tip: If you are hungry, pay extra for more noodles, the bowls will satisfy a medium eater, or get a combo.

    (4)

  • Nandiya A.

    They were out of the Kakuni soup broth when we arrived around 7:30pm on a Friday night. There's only a limited amount, so if you want it, come early so you can get a bowl. We had to wait a little before getting seated, there wasn't a written waiting list, so you just have to remember who arrived before you did. Parking sucks, we were circling around to get a spot for 30 minutes. It was a Friday night, what can you expect? We ended up settling for the Paitan ramen, though that was satisfying enough. It was very flavorful and rich. The noodles were perfectly made, you can actually order the firmness of the noodles which is a huge plus. I like mine firm, which is nice and chewy, not too soft. The noodles weren't hard at firm. You could tell that a broth is flavorful if it's not too garlic-y. Some places like to use a lot of garlic to add flavor that the broth lacks. This place doesn't do that. My only complaint is that they charge extra for adding spice to the broth. I would have come back here again during my trip, but I sadly didn't have enough time. I'm definitely coming back here when I come back to Oahu!

    (4)

  • Madoka P.

    I had a long lunch break so I decided to pop in for some much heard about ramen! Service is kind of slow since there is only one person, but otherwise I was not disappointed! At 11:35 on a Saturday, there were still some tables so I was seated right away. I ordered the combo A which included a choice of ramen (there were a few to choose from; I got the spicy paitan with firm noodles), 3 pieces of gyoza (pan fried) and rice. The gyoza was a little greasy for my taste but still tasted good. The spicy paitan was delicious but could've been spicier ;) The char siu fell apart as I picked it up which seemed like a good thing but it actually was kind of hard when I ate it. I was really grateful that they had the combo because I would've ordered them separately which would be more expensive and way too much food. Overall, it was good and I would come again if anyone wants to go, but I'll probably go to my usual place.

    (4)

  • Sungjin S.

    Not my first time but I haven't written a review yet. Atmosphere: Very cozy restaurant on the 2nd floor of the plaza. Clean and seating available throughout. Parking is hard to find but check the basement floor for parking. Service: There is only one person who does everything from setting and cleaning tables, hostess and cashier. She's very friendly and attentive. Just be ready to order ASAP. Food: The paitan broth is their most popular and my favorite. I always get one of the combos either C or D. The noodles are perfectly chewy and tender and the portion sizes are plenty large. Intangibles: many good ramen places in Honolulu and this is definitely one of them.

    (4)

  • Sarah T.

    Very yummy ramen paitan ;) the service was awesome I went in at 7.45pm on Sunday night and there was no line at all... However I was lucky enough to get the last batch of soup. The group that came after me were turned away :(

    (5)

  • Andy F.

    If you are looking for a broth that is clean, light with great flavor that is not sodium-laden this is the place to be. Looking for the closest thing to firm Japanese style ramen? Look no where else. Want a more healthier bowl of ramen noodles? It is here! Located in the McCully Shopping Center, parking can be a headache on both levels, but I found excellent parking when I came here for lunch. I love the sliding door when you enter the restaurant (remember to close it!). It feels very authentic! It is quite small, but sits very comfortably. I like the decor with the red walls and ceiling with rows of hanging lights, and you get a decent second story level view of Kapiolani Boulevard, a few trees, power lines, and the Century Center. Though, you do see their storage of dried and canned good out in the dining area. There are four types of soup bases to choose from: Paitan, Katsuo (Dashi/Bonito), Shoyu, and Salt. I ordered the specialty: Paitan Ramen. Apparently, the broth is supposed to make you look younger and prevent aging skin and joints too. Well, all right! I got it with the Char Siu and with the more firmer Japanese style Ramen. You can order softer "local style" ramen noodles. The broth was smooth and light, and very, very clean tasting. Most importantly, the broth was pretty close to milky white as how all "paitan" broths should be. The menu indicates that the soup is made a mix of pork and chicken and 10 different vegetables and spices. I tasted more of the chicken in the broth than the pork as the broth was more lighter and a lot less rich. The flavors weren't strong and aromatic, but it was still pleasing and delicious. The ramen was very firm and probably needed one more minute in the boiling broth because it ate a little floury. It wasn't able to fully soak in the flavors from the broth, which was a bit disappointing. The toppings were pretty lacking overall. You receive a scant amount of poorly chopped (and minced is the better method) green onions that didn't add any aroma or flavor to the broth. The pre-sliced wood ear mushrooms lacked any taste. The Chashu was thicker and a lot more lean than what you typically receive from other places. The meat was soft and tender, and tasty. The presentation was a mess, and looked really sad when it arrived at my table. Yes, real gyoza here. We ordered them pan-fried, and you can have them deep fried too if that floats your boat. The filling was good and tasty. However, whoever prepared this put too much water into the pan, and the gyoza severely lacked the crispness and the golden brown color. Also, the wrapper was over done and was on the softer side. Overall, everything was pretty average. It wasn't great. It wasn't bad. It was unemphatically good. :) Sure the broth was good, but there was no depth of flavors and there was nothing that triggered any of my senses. The service was okay. They ladies that were there were friendly and somewhat attentive. The food took a bit longer to come out considering there weren't many people dining at that time. Lastly, after you pay for your meal, you get the most delectable soft, fruity flavored dessert.......one small block of....STARBURST. Ummmmm, yeah. Why? What? Lol, I really have no idea why I'm getting this left over Halloween candy. I'm not 3 years old! That will surely bring customers back.

    (3)

  • Sandra L.

    Yotteko-ya is located in a small strip mall. It's a great ramen joint. We got Ramen -Combo C. Paitan ramen had a nice chewy texture and soup was really good. I drank it up! The dumplings were good too.

    (5)

  • Jim M.

    If you like ramen then don't miss this place - homemade char sui pork is the best! Go with the traditional broth - very flavorful and not too salty.

    (4)

  • Vickie S.

    I stopped by here for my last meal before heading to the airport. I had high expectations based off the yelp reviews, but it didn't live up to my expectations. I ordered the paitan broth with vegetables and one slice of chashu. It was literally a small, extremely thin slice of chashu. I actually had to steal some from my boyfriends bowl because he ordered the option with extra chashu, forgoing any vegetables. We both got the Japanese style ramen which is cooked al dente. I'm not sure I would recommend this spot to any of my friends visiting Hawaii, but I'd come here if I were a local. There are so many ramen options in Oahu, so maybe have this lined as a back-up. The service was slow despite having very few customers.

    (3)

  • Michael C.

    Ya it's good. At the suggestive behest of a friend, I found myself at Yotteko-Ya for lunch on a recent weekend. I'm embarrassed to admit I had not heard much about this ramen restaurant until that day, and I looked forward to trying a new place. PARKING: Very challenging as this business is located within the McCully Shopping Center. Parking lot can get crowded/busy during peak times. Thankfully, we lucked out on a space during lunchtime on a Saturday of all days. SETTING: Located on the second floor opposite end of Fook Yuen Seafood. The restaurant is a decent size, but I imagine there will be a wait time during busy periods at lunch and dinner. FOOD: *Paitan Kakuni Ramen: So good. The broth is only slightly overshadowed by the healthy pieces of kakuni swimming in a sea of noodles. The kakuni was tender, while the broth was rich and flavorful. *Gyoza: Pan fried goodness. Best eaten when served. Delicious. Recommended for sure. SERVICE: Very satisfactory. I give the lone female server much credit for serving the food and drinks to the entire restaurant. Though not all the tables were occupied, she did a terrific job of taking orders, dropping off food and drinks, and checking on the customers. BOTTOM LINE: Ya it's good, and Ya I'll be back.

    (4)

  • Alina S.

    I came to this place many times and they never disappoint me! I ordered the C Set which includes the Paitan ramen, gyoza, and chashu gohan. Since there were usually either one or two waiters working, sometimes I had to wait a while for my food to come. I understand the place can get busy and I can tell they were trying their best to serve everyone. I give them props for handling the whole restaurant!

    (4)

  • Crave I.

    We've been coming here for years and always had a good meal with good service. Be sure to get there early because this place fills up fast and the Paitan/Kakuni ramen sells out.

    (4)

  • Eli C.

    Absolutely delicious. Best ramen we've ever had. Both me and hubs got combos. Unless you are monster eaters like us, most people leave with leftovers The broth is rich and comforting, definitely get the paitan broth for .50 extra. The chasu Gohan is also a great choice for the combo side Be prepared to wait as the dining room is small and short on waitstaff

    (5)

  • Paul A.

    Best paitan chasu ramen i have tried so far since being on the island. The pork is so tender, the broth is on point. My gf and i usually just split the combo D. It consists of ur choice of ramen, then it comes with karaage and then ur choice or rice. So good for only $17 and it fills us both up.

    (5)

  • Katy E.

    The paitan ramen is a MUST ORDER! The noodles are firm and chewy (just the way I like it.) The broth is creamy and not too salty. I regret ordering the fried rice because it tasted like they poured a gallon of seasame oil ontop. Next time I want to try the garlic fried rice and see if that has a little bit more flavor. Downside is that the restaurant closes once they run out of food :(

    (4)

  • Jonathan T.

    Although counter-intuitive, did you know that eating soup in the heat forces your body to cool-down by sweating? No? Well, you can test out this truth at Yotteko-Ya, as you dive into a steaming bowl of ramen in this restaurant that has absolutely no ventilation. But it's worth it! And that's why you'll find this Japanese eatery, located in a strip mall off of Kapiolani Blvd, seems to be always packed. Despite the line, when my girlfriend and I visited towards the tail end of lunch on a weekday, we only had to wait five minutes or so. The ramen menu is beastly, so I looked on Yelp to see what people recommended. Thanks to my fellow Yelpers, both my girlfriend and I opted for the Paitan Ramen that's made with a double broth (both pork and chicken) that you can fill with various vegetables and chashu. Since I didn't want to look extra chubby on Waikiki, I went with only one slice of chashu. (Insert sad emoji-con.) Also, get your noodles done "Japanese style" aka al dente. Wowza. So many things to love: +The broth had a couple different levels of flavor, without being too heavy. +Loved the delicious and fatty slice of chashu. +Perfectly cooked noodles. +Broth soaked vegetables. Yum. Not only was the ramen tasty, but the gyoza was pretty meaty and pan-fried very well. *Note: The outside of the restaurant says Kyoto-Ramen. I know! Kind of confusing...

    (5)

  • Nicholas W.

    Yotteko-Ya is my gold standard for ramen. They specialize in paitan ramen, which is a broth made from pork bones and seafood, which is sublime. It's creamy and satisfies the craving for umami without being overcome by the taste of salt like so many other ramen broths. If not for the havoc the broth's sodium content might wreak on my body, I might just drink a bowl of it. The fun continues beyond the broth. The noodles are nice and chewy, and the chashu pork is tender and flavorful. The paitan chashu ramen is probably one of my favorite dishes on the island. Parking and seating can be a pain (not so fun) since the McCully Center's lot is tiny and the restaurant is small. Regardless of that, it's worth a trip.

    (5)

  • Lisa Y.

    This place has the best ramen! It's like being in Japan! My favorite is their vegetable Paitan Ramen, Japanese style so it's a bit on the firm side, and pan fried gyoza. There's sprouts, woodsear, cabbage, and a small piece of carrot for color. Their super soft char siu makes is more delicious. My favorite is their mini sundae for dessert. Great service, delicious food but you'll need to go early. If they run out...they're closed before their posted closing time. That's how you know their food is fresh! No leftovers!

    (5)

  • Jackie M.

    First I wanted to give them 1 star. Came at 11:29am right before opening time. Rang the door bell. Lady comes out and says we're opening "soon". Waited 20 minutes. I see that as bad business not being open on time. Then I tried the ramen. Probably the best ramen I've ever had. I drank all the broth too. I never drink the broth. Ok the wait was worth it. I'll be back.

    (5)

  • H Q.

    My first time visiting this quaint establishment. First off, so glad my date opened the door to this restaurant. Otherwise, I would have tried to push/pull a sliding door... h-e-l-l-o!?! Came for lunch (only three other tables were seated). It is very clean, air-conditioned and has its own restrooms toward the back... and they have a stamp card and take credit cards! All pros! We ordered the Kakuni-Paitan Ramen (with block chashu), Combo set D (usually comes with plain ramen, fried rice, and 3 pieces of chicken karaage). I paid extra for the recommended Yasai-Paitan Ramen (with vegetables) and ebi mayonnaise. Love that you can choose how you want your noodles cooked. I love chewy noodles that still has some bite - so we both got the Japanese-style noodles which are firmer (vice the local style which is softer) Ebi Mayonnaise: 6 pieces of tempura - style shrimp drenched in sweet kewpie-style mayo. Weirdly Delicious - yes. Addictive - yes. Overpriced - yes. This was $12.45 Paitan with block chashu: Deliciously chewy noodles with a block of chashu in a savory (not salty) broth. It's hard to describe - just try it! Date loved it! The chashu was perfectly seasoned and being in the block form, delivered more well-done parts (which he loved). To me, it was a cross between chashu and jerky... in a good way. Only bad thing - he should have order the extra portion of noodles. Paitan with vegetables: Came with one slice chashu and very few (almost comical) vegetables. Ramen and broth itself were delicious! The vegetables (no exaggeration here): one piece of broccoli top, half a baby carrot, 1/3 cup cabbage... that's it. Don't do it. Don't pay more to give up 1 slice of chashu for the addition of a few vegetables. Fried rice and chicken Karaage that came with the ramen were only ok. Shout out to my mom - who makes better Karaage and pork fried rice. *happy early Mothers Day mom! The fried rice here just seemed too "wet" for me. Did not eat and did not take home. Next time (and I say next time, because we WILL back)... I will stick to the paitan and maybe try the gyoza (deep fried style).

    (4)

  • Pam M.

    Yotteko-Ya is perfect when you need a quick ramen fix IF you can find parking in one of the most congested parking lot in the McCully area. I had the Paitan Chashu Ramen & my bf had the Yasai Paitan Ramen & we shared the kara-age (fried chicken). Ramen is good but didn't WOW me. Fried chicken was pretty good. Friendly wait service. Convenient if you're in the area, and can find parking.

    (3)

  • T L.

    Found this place by accident and was BLOWN AWAY. Paitan ramen was delicious! Finally, a ramen that doesn't have overly salty broth. We each got the paitan ramen with the pork. Pork was whatever but everything was so good, we ended up getting a 3rd bowl (vegetarian kind-no meat). So refreshing and I didn't feel the need to pound water down or have the ramen sweats after. YES!

    (5)

  • Alan L.

    Good ramen, absolute terrible service. The only lady that serves there made us wait 45+min all the while telling us more than 5 times that she would be with us. She also served a party of 4 before we did and we were there before them and even waited outside the door before they opened.

    (2)

  • Rissa K.

    If you are in the mood for Paitan then this is the place!!!! Their Paitan broth is amazing and the best in Hawaii! Not to salty and I love how they make the noodles "Japanese" style which is more on the firm side. Service here is good too! Def will be back when I'm craving Paitan!

    (4)

  • Joseph Joel B.

    The San Francisco Bay Area didn't have a lot of good ramen places near where I lived, so naturally I'm getting my fix now that I'm living back in Oahu again. I've tried a bunch of ramen spots all over the island, and haven't been to Kyoto Ramen Yotteko-Ya yet, but I've read all the good reviews... Until now!! Parking is always a pain in the ass at McCully Shopping Center because of all the good places to eat around here. If there isn't any up front, try the parking garage below. When you first walk in, the place is really small, but not cramped at all. Now, I can see why there's always a line outside of this place whenever I pass by it. Luckily, my friend and I were able to be seated right a way. Interesting thing... They claim that their ramen broth makes you look younger!! This is what it says on their menu... "Our homemade soup is simmered for over 10 hours with the choicest pork, the freshest chickens and 10 different vegetables and spices. This meticulous process produces a uniquely thick collagen rich stock that will actually help prevent aging of skin and joints." Very, very interesting!! Well, I ordered the Spicy Paitan Chasu Ramen, based on a lot of Yelp reviews. The broth was creamy and savory. But what really stood out from this dish, was the Chasu... 5 pieces of tender and delicious pork!! If you like spicy dishes, I recommend not paying the extra $1 to make the dish spicy... Because it wasn't spicy enough for me. You're better off ordering a regular ramen and add the chili oil and flakes yourself with the condiments available on the table. Also, the ramen alone wasn't enough to get me full. Luckily, I also ordered some Gyoza, which was really good. You really can't mess up Gyoza though. LOL I'm not sure if it made me look younger... But overall, Yotteko-Ya is a great place to get tasty ramen, and I'll definitely be coming back!!

    (4)

  • Aimee C.

    Hello, old friend! It'd been a while since my last visit to Yotteko-Ya, but like an old friend, you just connect to exactly where you left off when you last saw each other. My usual C Set with Paitan Ramen, pan fried gyoza, and oh-my-goodness delish fried rice was perfect as usual. I don't know how they do it, but their fried rice (in my book) might be the best fried rice on Earth. #justwow I honestly think I'd visit Yotteko-Ya waaaaay more if it wasn't for the terrible parking situation. How can one shopping plaza have such awesome choices for food and hardly any parking?! I can't even count the eenie-weenie-teenie parking lot downstairs - my Tacoma and I have never visited that poor lot. In any case, I love the occasional stop at Yotteko-Ya even if it takes all the stars to align so that 1) I find a quick parking spot and 2) the line is not super long. I love how the menu says Paitan Ramen is good for my skin. #Ibelieveanything so if the menu says it's good for my skin, I hope it's true! I still hope to someday try the elusive Kakuni Ramen (that sells out at lunchtime). Nonetheless, Yotteko-Ya is a consistent choice for ramen for my soul.

    (5)

  • Angela M.

    Dear Yotteko-ya, Nine years ago, you were my obsession. I'm not sure I even knew I was pregnant when I began to experience an all-consuming urge to eat your noodles every. single. night. I think my son is partially made of your ramen. Sadly, morning sickness hit and suddenly your food evolved into nausea-inducing hideousness. It was a dark day. I couldn't even stand the smell of your restaurant much less put your beautiful noodles into my mouth. It was the most tragic consequence of my pregnancy hormones. Well, the most tragic consequence relating to restaurants. There were a lot of other, erm, things. Anyway. Fast forward nine years later to last night when I, my husband, and my three children showed up at your door and crammed into the little "waiting area" behind the three people already there. Might I suggest that you remove the table on the inside of the sliding door and replace it with a bench? Or perhaps just a thin counter? While the table did support a couple of plastic flower arrangements and two stacks of brochures unrelated to your restaurant, it seemed a touch... absolutely unnecessary. The space it would open up if it were removed! Think about it. The food. In true Angela fashion, we over-ordered and it was glorious. 3 bowls of ramen with different broths, kimchee (your kimchee is exactly how I like it, crisp, fresh, and tasty without a hint of rot), gyoza, karaage chicken and pork fried rice. We had leftovers. My ramen, which was the BEST (never mind what my husband says) was the Paitan chashu and it was DIVINE. Your chashu is perfect. It is salty and slightly sweet and melt-y and succulent and I want to rub it all over my body except that I don't because that's gross. But SO GOOD. So good. I want it right now. And I'm not pregnant, so I could probably eat it everyday indefinitely. Or at least until the wheat intolerance rears its ugly head. All of your food was absolutely delicious. We will be back. I'm glad we are friends again. Love, Angela

    (5)

  • Chunhui Z.

    This is a late review. My wife and I visited this amazing ramen while we were at Honolulu for honeymoon. We ordered two ramen noodles and some pot stickers, and we made 100% there was nothing left in the bowl or on the plate :p Price is also cheap. There was a short line waiting even though there was some vacant tables. I guess that was because they tried to control the number of customers to produce the best-quality noodle :)

    (5)

  • Stephanie A.

    One of my favorite ramen shops ever! The entrance door is so cute and traditional Japanese: imagine a sliding wooden door! Service is always quick. Waters down within a few minutes of being there. The paitan broth is so savory and creamy! Add a little of the chili oil and its freaking heaven. I could literally drink that out of a bottle no problem. Their chasu pork is tender and fatty, just the way I like it ;) Gyoza wrappers are so soft and melts in your mouth! I dip mine in shoyu, chili oil and chili flakes. I usually get set C which comes with your choice of ramen + broth, fried rice or chasu rice, and 3 pieces of gyoza: all only for $15! When the check comes they give you candy! I love being rewarded for eating ramen :) The ONLY reason I'm giving them 4 stars is because there was a huge cockroach in their bathroom! Good thing I went after I ate because that would've ruined my appetite. Not good.

    (4)

  • Dennis R.

    Tried it here for the first time today and it was great. It's a nice small place in the McCully shopping center. We went around 12pm on a Sunday and it was pretty empty so we were seated and served very quickly. The hostess amd waitress were extremely nice and interacted with my 1 year old son so just for that I'd give this place another visit. Then we got the food. I can't remember the name of the ramen dish we got, but wow, the meat on it melts in your mouth! Usually the ramen and broth are the stars of the dish, but this one, the meat was so good. I wasn't even hungry and I only shared what my wife ordered but I ended up mopping up most of it for her lol. I'm surprised this place wasn't busy because the food was good. Maybe we caught it on a slow day. We will definitely be back.

    (5)

  • David L.

    This place is outstanding. You can get your ramen firm "Japan style" or softer "local style". The broth is decadent. No of the watery or over salted stuff that you find in other places. I hadn't been back here for two years and was thrilled to see that the food hadn't slipped even a little. Parking is a pain but it's absolutely worth it.

    (5)

  • Dane S.

    I don't know about the claims that the paitan broth is good for your skin, but it is VERY tasty. Not too salty, nice and rich, with thick and perfectly chewy noodles (I'm not a fan of the thinner ramen). The broth though...I normally tend towards goma broth but theirs was seriously yummy, and ranks right up there with my other favorites. I had the yasai paitan. Service was a bit odd. Nobody in sight except customers for the first few min while I stood and waited to be seated. Perhaps a more visible service area would do them well where they can see and greet customers as they arrive.

    (4)

  • Pualena P.

    I've been wanting to try Yotteko-Ya for quite some time now, and what better excuse to try all of your bookmarked restaurants in 1 week than when friends visit from out of town! The menu is simple enough, yet caused me a fair amount of stress because I wanted to try it all! I settled on the Paitan base with kimchee. BEST DECISION EVER! I love spicy food and if I had it my way, I'd never eat a non-spicy meal ever again! It was delicious. The paitan flavor was rich and really yummy, and the kimchee gave it just the right kick! You are offered the choice for soft or hard noodles. I don't know if I've ever had hard saimin noodles...but I went with soft and it tasted normal. Maybe I'll be more risky next time and try hard noodles! ;) I only got the ramen, but you can also get a set that comes with rice and a side dish of gyoza or chicken karaage...I think there was one more choice but I can't remember. Our guests loved their choices as well & are planning to go back throughout the week since it's a quick 15-minute walk from their hotel in Waikiki! There are 2 things to be aware of: First, the little restaurant is not that well ventilated and/or the AC doesn't work that well. Just know ahead of time that you're going to be eating hot ramen in a warm place, so don't wear too much clothes. Second, on a fairly busy Sunday evening there was only 1 kind and very busy woman working, so just be patient. Once you order, your food will come out quickly. Of course, parking at McCully shopping center can be tough, but it's SO worth it! BONUS: there are a bunch of yummy dessert options right downstairs! :)

    (5)

  • Tony D.

    We came at 5:20pm since they open at 5:30pm... They did not open till 5:45pm what a disappointment... Sat down and fair warning do not come at this time because it's extremely hot! The son burns the restaurant and their AC is not good... Food came out on time... Food was decent but for the price I could've gone to a different place that's 5 dollars cheaper... Combo set is 14.95 ramen, fried rice, gyoza....

    (3)

  • Celina Q.

    LOVE love love this place! The flavors are so consistent, I can rely on the same taste every time I visit. Parking is tricky in the McCully Shopping Center, but if you have a smaller vehicle, theres an underground garage entrance by Snow Factory that may have open stalls. Yotteko-ya is crowded when they first open for Lunch at 11:30 and Dinner at 5:30 but if you give about an hour, there's no wait (or less than 10 minutes). Favorite flavor would be the Paitain Charsiu; extra creamy tonkotsu-like flavor with tougher Japanese style noodle. MMM so goood! I would also recommend ordering a set if dining as a couple or with a good friend. My favorite is the "C Set"- comes with Chahan (fried rice) and a 5 piece gyoza with ramen of your choice. TIP: The charsiu is to die for with any broth you choose. Might be wise to order some on the side

    (5)

  • Lofa L.

    So now I'm currently addicted to two ramen spots and a third hipster spot is cool but I can do without the waits and the higher price, but my friend decides we gotta hunt more ramen. Now I know for a fact there's BUTTLOADS of mediocre ramen on Oahu just like saimin spots too. But I heard Yotteko-Ya had a char siu brick. I love char siu. I was game. I hate the parking here (not their fault) so that always made me not want to come, but this time I had no choice. I found parking only because it was WAY after lunch rush (and they almost were closed but I made the cut off time). Well I was dreaming of this elusive block of char siu for months now, but when I seen the pictures of it on the menu it wasn't as big of a block as I expected. I ended up ordering the char siu paitan with Japanese style noodles. But by chance my friend ordered the wrong item and had a vegetable paitan. I already felt bad that we came in almost near closing and as the waitress was about to take his order back to remake it I told her just bring me extra char siu and I'll eat the veggie paitan. That was the best thing I could have ever done! Not because that's the secret item to order because it isn't (char siu any soup is the order). The noodles was good. The ramen broth was good. Different but good. The big kicker was the said char siu they brought on a separate plate. It's chilled because they add it to the soup and that prevents it from overcooking and the soup softens the char siu. But that cold char siu was some of the tastiest char siu I've had at a ramen spot. It was kinda like eating shoyu chicken a little bit. Now if you can't eat cold leftovers then you gonna suffer and don't follow my advice, but cold char siu was killer! COLD CHAR SIU ON THE SIDE! Don't put it in the soup because you lose the flavor. Keep it separate!!!!! Overall I wish I had ordered the block even though it wasn't as bid as I imagined it, but you bet I'm gonna ask for it on the side cold! Good ramen spot. It didn't beat out my favorite spot, but I'll be back to mix it up.

    (4)

  • Mariko K.

    Definitely way better ramen than typical local greasy spoon joints, but not anywhere close to Agu or Golden Pork--a good middle of the line choice. Although there was no line, we had to wait a while to be seated and served because it was short staffed (only two waitresses/cashiers). Also, I wanted to try the kakuni ramen, but they were out. The waitress said they always run out by the time dinner starts, so I'll need to come back during lunch for kakuni. I liked the char siu and the noodles in my paitan ramen, but the broth wasn't anything special. The service was good, the waitress was friendly and joked with us.

    (3)

  • Susan R.

    By far the most amazing ramen I've had! Including my trip to Japan! The paitan broth is so yummy that I finished every drop and the pork is SO GOOD! I'm usually more interested in the noodles than the meat, but this was the most flavorful pork I've ever tasted! I highly recommend this place!

    (5)

  • Susan F.

    One star for customer service. My mom ordered the shio ramen and she asked the server if it was salty, so she said nooo it's oishii. So my mom took that soup base, but when she tasted it, it was a little salty plus to me it had a weird fishy taste, so she asked the server if she could dump out the soup base and order another soup, but the server gave an ugly face and said you cannot do that, but this time she will change the whole bowl but dont do it again! She made my mom feel really bad and my mom kept apologizing. Then my son went to pay the bill and my mom wanted to pay for the bowl she didn't eat, but the server said again, next time you can't change your order so my mom again said sorry! Wow what customer service! On the other hand I enjoyed my soup base, it was called Paitan a chicken & pork base. It's a recomended one. I'll give that 3 stars.

    (1)

  • Jayson N.

    Paitan Yotteko-Ya Ramen has to be one of my favorites in Hawaii.. This restaurant is tucked away on the second floor of Mccully Shopping Center. It's above snow factory and on the opposite side of Fook Yuen. While its not glamorous in size or decor, the food is fantastic. I come here for the Paitan broth but they have other styles too. The paitan broth is not as thick and gravy like but the flavor is SO BOMB. The char siu or Cha su is fat, partly fatty but melt in your mouth, OMG FOODGASM amazing. I swear you could eat that all day it is so partyinyourmouth awesome. The noodles are cooked well but the real deal is the broth.. My friend Roy Y. says he wishes they just sold the broth and beer cause he could sip on that all day. I've had the gyoza and the fried rice before and they are some of the best i've had in a ramen place. The sets are a good deal since the paitan ramen is already $8-9. The service is okay, if they don't pay attention to you flag them down. When they are busy, they are busy, and they often forget to bring you a beer or bring you more water. The air condition is also hit or miss in the place. The weird part about this place is their hours. Be sure that you know before you go. and they take their last orders 15 minutes before they close. If you have a craving or hankering for ramen, i would definitely try here if they aren't busy and open. Keep in mind that they do run out of things during the night so if you are looking to sample the goodness, then you better go early! Ramen is so good here you have to go. Just don't expect high end service.. :)

    (4)

  • Denise M.

    Yum I found my new ramen place. Spicy Yasai Paitan Ramen. Vegetables and a little piece of pork. The broth was fantastic and was perfectly spicy causing my nasal passages to clear. I like the chewy Japanese noodles. Even on a hot day the broth was amazing and I are every last bit of it

    (4)

  • Kelly M.

    Honolulu magazine names this the best ramen in town. Really? I'll take Lucky Belly as best, followed by Hokkaido Ramen Santouka as second every day of the week. Service was good. Ramen was good, just not Best of Honolulu good.

    (3)

  • Jennifer H.

    SLURRPPP! This is the next best ramen to Daikokuya in LA! I'm not normally a ramen fan because too many times the soup is too fatty or too salty for me to finish half the bowl of ramen. But, the flavor of the soup here is just right that I kept inhaling the noodles and charsiu until there was nothing left. They're also very generous with the charsiu portions here esp if you order the paitan charsiu with 5 pieces of charsiu. It's a little more expensive than the standard ramen with 2 pieces of charsiu, but it's better than being charged $1.50 per extra slice of charsiu at other ramen joints. Now if only they have soft-boiled eggs....that would've topped off the ramen perfectly.

    (4)

  • Tori B.

    This place is quaint, and has a unique ambience. Get there early before they sell out of their Kakuni paitan ramen. Their chashu is spectacularly flavorful, and the serving of pork in their Kakuni ramen is very healthy. If you add a side of rice and gyoza the price starts to get a bit high but it is worth it. Yummy gyoza, amazing fried rice. The service is what it is. Good considering how understaffed they are. There is something charming about a place that makes their own hours, clearly they are not just in it for the money. Although, it would be nice to know for sure it is open on evenings, especially when you drive out of your way to get there. I have gone to Phuket Thai a couple of times, because I was there but Yotteko-Ya was closed, once it had closed like three hours early. Their noodles are a bit thick and bland, and as others have said, they seem store bought. One thing that concerns me. The last time I was there, they got a delivery for their kitchen and the delivery stayed out, near the bar where I was seated for several minutes. I noticed several carton like boxes marked, "Paitan". It makes me doubt the authenticity of their broth, because it seems they are buying it, at least in part, from an outside source rather than making it themselves which they at the very least, lead you to believe they do. This got me to notice how bland their paitan broth really is. Hopefully, I am mistaken as to the authenticity of their broth but I must admit, I was rather shocked by this delivery. Hopefully, I am reading too much into this. The delivery wasn't large enough to be a day's worth of broth, so perhaps it was just seasonings or something. So, bland broth, bland noodles, both may be bought from outside vendors rather than home made, mixed with amazing chashu pork, the best I have ever had. I want to love this place, but I really can't. That said, it is worth a try and some people swear by their paitan broth.

    (3)

  • Gino L.

    One of the best Ramen places on the island. Place is small, but the flavors are there and it is a little bit pricey on the serving size ( I dont eat that much). Give it a shot and see for yourself :)

    (5)

  • Vivian Y.

    Best ramen on the island. The ramen comes with fall apart chashu and the broth is to die for. Paitan ramen with cha Shu comes with five pieces of cha Shu which is the way to go. If you want a good deal get set and substitute the ramen for paitan cha Shu for only two dollars more. Great deal!

    (5)

  • Kris B.

    Located on the 2nd floor of McCully Shopping Center. Recommended dishes: Paitan chashu ramen, garlic fried rice, and maybe their gyoza. Note: the noodles are not melt-in-your-mouth soft, they're al dente so they're still a little firm. If you don't like that, you might not appreciate the ramen. The atmosphere is very chill, intimate, and casual. Tables are generally for 4 people, so I wouldn't suggest going with bigger groups. But the food is delicious and the service is fast, so I'd recommend downsizing your group if you need to just to eat here. I come here pretty often with no more than 2 or 3 other people. We always have a good time and enjoy the food. Some downsides: McCully Shopping Center parking is often frustrating. Seating is limited, so go with a smaller group (but you'll probably still have to wait a bit on some days). Also not sure if they have weird hours or just weird days off, but sometimes they're closed just in time for dinner. Love coming here for a more intimate atmosphere with a small group of friends. Recommend coming here at least once for the paitan chashu ramen!

    (4)

  • Rob G.

    Paitan with extra pork FTW. Don't waste your time with any other dish. This ramen is so good it melts my mouth off. I'd give this place five stars but the beer menu is terrible. Offer a couple of good beers or make it BYOB! That is all.

    (4)

  • Lorna K.

    Im a first timer..eating the kakuni-paitan Japanese style noodles (firmer noodles)..it's da .BOMB

    (5)

  • Riana S.

    Been wanting to try here for awhile now but I never caught them when they were open and finally one weekend we did! For some reason I was thinking that the Paitan would be a similar texture at Tenkaippin's Kotteri broth so I ordered the shoyu based with local style noodles instead. (insert Napoleon Dynamite's "FLIPPIN' IDIOT") I was so sad when I tasted my broth and then completely devastated when I tried my boyfriend's Paitan soup. The shoyu broth lacked flavor (or am I really just addicted to salt?) and the noodles were far from soft as the local style described. The whole time I was staring at my boyfriend's Paitan with this face :( I know I'm an idiot, it's like going to a burger joint and ordering a corn dog (oh wait, I've done that! Lulz) The gyoza was really good, so I was happy about that. Can't wait to come back and order the right thing.

    (3)

  • Kealii C.

    Service was horrible today. Waited 10 min for a water after asking once. Waitress gave everyone else water TWICE and forgot about our table. Food is good as usual. Air conditioning needs to be cooler especially on a hot day like this.

    (2)

  • Rdy S.

    Whenever someone asks me which ramen places I like they inevitably also ask, "what about Yotteko-Ya?". Here is what I tell them. This is a family run business with spotty opening and closing hours. I've come at 11:30 am only to find them not open until well after noon. If they "run out", they will also close early. Service is courteous but you won't get a greeting when you enter or see much smiling. They advertise Kyoto style ramen, which usually means a kotteri shoyu based torikotsu with straight slightly soft noodles. Yotteko's kotteri is called paitan, and is a combination of pork and chicken and comes in a shio and shoyu option. I would recommend the shoyu option. It has a thin layer of fine fat globules that add only a little mouthfeel and umami flavor to the light, predominantly chicken tasting broth. The shoyu base brings a little more sweetness in your mouth than the regular broth. I don't recommend the Kakuni version unless you can appreciate pork belly served in chunks instead of sliced. The texture is similar to the pork in a laulau. The taste has a salty miso flavor. I also recommend staying away from the pan fried gyoza. There is nothing special about the taste. The wrapping too loose and often poorly crisped. I do not dislike Yotteko-Ya. Their Kyoto style is fine. But the meat and dumpling options and service are not a strength. And they are not able to step it up against new competition.

    (3)

  • Jaswant A. S.

    Came here one afternoon wanting some good ramen and based on Yelp reviews this place was a contender. Honolulu has so many ramen joints and there was no way I could try them all in a short period of time so thanks fellow Yelpers for helping me decide on which places to check out. I entered the ramen shop upstairs, Ewa side of the McCully Shopping Center and was seated right next to a window facing the parking lot immediately. I ordered the Kakuni Paitan Ramen as I'm a big fan of kakuni (pork belly). When the server brought the bowl of ramen with a big wooden spoon I immediately set to tasting the broth. Oh man. This was the best broth in a bowl of ramen I've had in a long time so I kept sipping spoonfuls and almost forgot it was ramen and not just a bowl of soup. I can see why this often gets sold out - I guess I was just lucky. Usually when I eat alone at a place like this my mind often wanders while I eat but this time I was living in the present moment - fully aware of every bite of tender and juicy kakuni and every spoonful of the delicious broth. Place is called Yotteko-Ya (よってこや) but the sign you see from the parking lot says Kyoto Ramen. I guess you just gotta know or something. Parking is the usual McCully Shopping Center clusterfarkle - good luck!

    (5)

  • James J.

    I absolutely love their Paitan Chashu ramen. It has such a rich flavor. The place is small, but it gives an authentic feel to it. The only downside is parking is a bit tricky in the McCully Shopping Center.

    (5)

  • Ryan I.

    I went here a little before noon on a Sunday and told the magic words "kakuni paitan ramen was still available." I've tried to get it on numerous occasions in the past, only to be told that it was sold out. I guess it was my lucky day. The pork was out of this world, it melted in your mouth. I've enjoyed their Paitan Ramen in the past, but the Kakuni pork is what made it really special. Get here early if you want to try it for yourself.

    (4)

  • Cassie Y.

    Oh man, I wish I lived in Honolulu so I could come here every day! My husband and I came for lunch around 11:45 on a Friday morning. The service was quick for us: we were seated immediately, ordered within 5 minutes of arriving, and received our food within 15 minutes. I ordered the yasai paitan ramen (which comes with pork and vegetables), and my husband got the kakuni paitan ramen (the special with more pork) - both with Japanese style noodles. Everything was delicious!! This by far is the best broth I've tasted (note: I haven't been to Japan, so I can only compare to U.S. ramen), the meat was well seasoned and moist, the noodles were cooked perfectly, and the vegetables were an added bonus! I would definitely come here more often if I could. Give this place a try (hopefully you'll be lucky like us and not have to wait long), and I'm sure you'll love the ramen too!

    (5)

  • Cammi N.

    Yottekko Ya definitely has the best paitan on the island thus far! The flavor of their broth is just fantastic! I think they give good portions of their japanese style noodles, especially since their broth is also quite filling. I usually get their yasai paitan ramen, which comes with cabbage, soy bean sprouts, mushrooms, broccoli, and carrots. It also comes with a slice of their delicious pork. Although I am not a fan of charsiu at all, I have got to say that they have really good charsiu! Its super moist and soft, which just melts in your mouth! Everytime I am craving ramen, Yotteko-Ya is the place I would go!

    (5)

  • Diana A.

    We ordered special C with paitai reman firm and everything was great, I would highly pick C because you can try out the really good stuff and it's a great way to share if your doing restaurant hopping!

    (4)

  • Jin C.

    I don't care how good the food is. If you stop me as I'm leaving to bring up a supposed $1 minimum tip per person, you're not receiving my business ever again.

    (1)

  • Sarah T.

    Friend convinced me to cheat on Goma Tei, and I obliged. And it was AMAZING. Yotteko-Ya specializes in their paitan ramen which is essentially a more creamy white broth (chicken broth?). The flavor was tasteful and just the right-amount-of richness. What stands out to me the most though is their Char-Siu which is amazingly flavorful. Boyfriend ordered "extra" on his, and I eyed it sadly hoping he'd share. We came at around 1 PM on a weekday - there were no lines and maybe only a couple of occupied tables. They also give candy with the check. Not that that should be your motivation for coming, though. Highly recommend!

    (4)

  • Wendy C.

    One of the better ramen places I've tried on the island. Normally again, if I was rating this against ramen places from L.A., I'd rate this place a three, but for Hawaii, this is not too shabby at all. I ordered their special with the special broth and the soup was nice and flavorful with very well seasoned pieces of chashu. I had ordered my noodles soft, and my family ordered theirs hard, but I really couldnt tell the difference between the two. Service was a little lacking as there was only one lady running the ENTIRE place during dinner service, so it took almost an additional half hour just for us to get the check which really sucked. I can understand she's only one person, but what I don't understand is why they don't have more people working :(

    (4)

  • Craig S.

    Back again maybe 5th or 6th time. My wife says this is one of the best ramen in Hawaii. I like it too. She also loves the gyoza. I like the chicken karaage. We're having both today along with their specialty Paitan ramen. Seems they are always short staffed. We see only one waitress so far.

    (4)

  • Karen S.

    Cannot remember the exact dish but there is a limited amount. Base was paitan and there were three chunks of char siu Went there for lunch. There was a line to get in before they even opened. We kind of snickered at their claim that they were rocketed in. Also laughed at their claim that their paitan base will make you look young. I am not a dashi girl. My blood pressure is non existent but I had to make sure there was a bit of dashi with each noodle bite because it was so good. It was the first time that I actually focused on the broth instead of the noodles, which by the way, was also really good. If this broth will make you look young, they may be asking me for my ID soon because I am going back this week. Char siu had a good balance of sweet and sour. It's not salty and it was really tender. Although they offer other kinds of ramen base and fried rice, I am going to stick with the paitan broth.

    (5)

  • Lisa K.

    WOW I just found my favorite ramen spot on the island!!! This place is located inside the McCully Shopping Center on the second floor. It's off to the far left hand side on the corner so it's kind of easy to miss coming in. I got the vegetable paitan ramen with some gyoza on the side. The ramen came with cabbage, carrots, bean sprouts, broccoli, onions, and one piece of char siu. You can also choose between Japanese and local style noodles. I recommend getting the noodles Japanese style because they are more firm and I think that they go better with this kind of ramen. The paitan broth was unlike any other I've tasted in awhile! I hate the kind of broth that turns into gravy-like consistency after you let it sit for a while. This was far from it, instead It was very flavorful and tasted great throughout my meal. I wish it came with a bigger piece of char siu but the broth made up for it! I wanted to dip everything in the broth... if I had gotten the combo I probably would have discreetly dipped some rice in there as well lol The gyozas were plump and juicy on the inside and crispy on the outside. They were bigger than the average size gyozas too. I also split the strawberry ice cream at the end. It comes with a small scoop of vanilla ice cream with some strawberry sauce topped with whip cream and almonds. It is definitely smaller compared to American places but it's the perfect amount to clean your palette after dinner :) I got the vibe that this is one of those places where the wait staff will respect your privacy and leave you alone until you flag them down so don't be afraid to call them over! The two women working there tonight were really friendly and sweet. I want to come back again and try their Paitan Kakuni Ramen before they run out!

    (5)

  • Sasa G.

    parking was painful during lunch hour (1pm), we drove by a few times before finding our spot. Luckily we didn't have to wait for our seats. Paitan Ramen - good but coma tei was more interesting. Very flavourful broth with thin firm noodles. Cha siu could be softer. There fried rice looked very nice too. Their black pepper was really good/strong. I recommend you try some.

    (4)

  • Ken D.

    Found this place here at yelp. Gave it a try tonight. I have to admit the Paitan charsu pork ramen was full of flavors. The soup was not fatty like the ramen served in the San Francisco Bay Area. It was really really tasty. The ramen prices here are between $9 to $12. Not bad for a restaurant in waikiki area where everything starts around $15. Tip: it's recommended to go earlier because it appears they run out of food fast. We left the place around 8:30pm and the sign at the door says " closed. Sold out"

    (4)

  • Patrick S.

    All I can say is...WOW. I thought I had the best saimin the other day....boy I was wrong. The Paiten here is WAY better then Tenkaipin's Koteri. They aren't even in the same league. The Paiten is WAY more flavorful and has a nice consistency. I don't care for they gravy style thickness of the Koteri. Their fried rice isn't bad. Could use more veggies. But still tasty. Their gyoza is good. Filled plumply and a nice mixture of meat and veggies. They also take credit card unlike Tenkaipin which is cash only. Parking sucks at both places so that's a tie there. Service is good considering there's only one waitress. When it gets busy she does get a little overwhelmed, but you can see she's a hard worker and doesn't slack.

    (5)

  • Jimmy T.

    Good ramen!!! it compares to some of the more authentic ones in LA... Good flavor and I gotta say, I like the hot soup... When I get ramen at other places, the soup is hot but not really hot so I like the really hot soup!!! For a LA guy, I enjoyed the ramen!

    (4)

  • Julianne C.

    I actually wanted to try this place a long time ago, but after seeing the "sold out" sign on their door twice on 2 separate occasions...it got frustrating. Though it did build up the hype and anticipation for me. My friend & I finally got to try this place on a Sunday evening and we were so excited that it was finally open! There were about 4 tables occupied and we were seated immediately. I wanted to try the kakuni paitan but was sold out, so I settled for the original paitan w/Japanese-style noodles. Maybe I let myself built the up the hype too much...Upon first bite, I was not as "wowed" as I hope to be. Don't get me wrong, it was delicious but it wasn't spectacular. Hmmm.. :( However, the chasu was amazing and delicious. Very tender and flavorful, but only go 2 tiny pieces, which was kinda disappointing. The gyoza was was very well made too as I hate it when the skin is too thick. Based from my experience, it was okay with decent ramen and service. Not much stood out as overly good or positive to deserve 4 stars. Perhaps I shall return again and try their other dishes. Yotteko- "blah"

    (3)

  • Ki H.

    Best ramen in Honolulu. Kyoto style ramen broth is amazing. Not sure how they were able to achieve so much lite yet flavorful chicken and pork broth but I'm glad they did. I'll definitely be back.

    (5)

  • Doris D.

    I always forget how good this ramen shop is. Get the paitan ramen which boasts the most flavorful broth on the menu. I got the paitan ramen with vegetables and pork. The pork was excellent as well as the noodles which I ordered "Japanese style" (a little firm) as opposed to "local style" (a little overdone). We also got gyoza for the table and those were not as good as other ramen places. My husband got the combo with shio ramen, fried rice, and fried chicken. He said the paitan broth was a lot more flavorful than his shio broth.

    (4)

  • Connie M.

    If you're coming here for dinner, here's a tip: Yotteko-Ya opens at 5:30, be there by 5! Any later and you may miss out on a bowl of ramen! They only prepare a certain amount of soup broth, so unless you want fried rice- come early! Sadly when I was there, around 6:45-ish, they ran out of gyozas :( + noodles were al dente + collagen broth was hearty, had great depth & will make you look younger + chicken was perfectly fried (golden, brown, & delicious) + warm and sweet ambiance - chasui tasted like shoyu pork - broth a bit salty - not a lot of tables; be prepared to wait before being seated - parking sucks

    (4)

  • Benhur B.

    If you're ever in need of a Ramen fix, this place is hands down a "fixer upper". Not sure what to order? Start simple with the Paitan Ramen w/Japanese noodles. After that satisfies you, you can plan on what you would like to try on your next trip here. Service is more simple than exceptional but the great taste is worth overlooking that. Prices are fair, wait can be hit or miss. Hit if you're lucky but again worth the wait IMO. Parking can suck at times too. Your patience will pay off though. Notice even with some semi negative points in this review how I still give it 5 stars? You'll get the picture.. Do it!!

    (5)

  • Denise K.

    My review is redundant... Yotteko-ya is super yummy and the paitan ramen is delish. I slurped up every last spoonful of broth. YUM!

    (4)

  • Milly C.

    This place doesn't need any more reviews, but I'm going to write one anyway because the ramen here is MIND BLOWING. I actually can't believe I haven't written a review for this place yet because I've been here so many times and have taken so many people here that I've filled out the entire stamp card already... Yes, Yotteko-Ya offers a stamp card and when you fill out ten stamps, you get a bowl of ramen for free! However, you can NOT combine stamp cards, so always remember to bring it! To be honest, the only thing I've ever had here was the paitan chasiu ramen. I really want to try their other items, but I just can't bring myself to miss an opportunity to eat their succulent chasiu and tasty paitan broth. Fortunately, the ramen has always come out piping hot for me (WHICH IS A DEFINITE PLUS). People who know me know that I love food to be so hot that it almost burns my mouth. The noodles are deliciously chewy (Japanese style) and I like to eat them in a 75-25 ratio with the broth on the big spoon that they provide. The chasiu is soooo soft and tender, it almost requires no chewing! Perfect for those of us for like to inhale their food (: The broth is not only really tasty, it's also good for you! You can read all about it when you visit Yotteko-Ya and look at their menu. Just writing this review makes me want a big bowl of the paitan chasiu ramen even though I just ate lunch..... 31 Yelp Reviews Challenge: #16 of 31

    (5)

  • Michael W.

    We chose Yetteko-Ya based on the mostly positive reviews on Yelp. I could sum up our experience in one sentence. "Different strokes for different folks." I mean, everyone has different tastes and likes. We got there about 7:45 PM and there was a short 10 minute wait. I figured there were a lot of fans wanting to get in and dine on some great ramen. So, I viewed this as an encouraging sign. We ordered the Paitan Chashu Ramen, a popular house specialty. It consisted of "Japan Style" thicker and firmer noodles. The texture was wonderfully chewy, but my enjoyment ended there. The broth is a pork and chicken bone based soup simmered for over 10 hours. This produces a milky broth that's full of collagen and fat, which some say is very healthy. However, the lack of natural flavors were boosted up with to much MSG, from which we suffered later. The restaurant was fittingly decorated for a Ramen Shop and the service was both fast and friendly. Overall, I would just say this place was just okay.

    (2)

  • Amy Y.

    I came with a friend on Valentine's Day. Not as busy as I thought it would be since it's a "special day". Anyways, it's a small restaurant but cute. It has a very Japanese style environment. Reminds me soo much of Japan. This place is not only for ramen, there's also rice and such. But we decided to order ramen. There was a choice of Japanese style (firm) or local style (soft) noodles. I wanted to try the Japanese style noodles, so I order the...umm..I think it was the salted soup ramen on the menu. The noodle was firm like how it's said. Not bad. Usually the soup would soften the noodles. Choosing firm noodles was a good choice. I think salted soup is better tasting than the shoyu soup. My friend ordered the kimchee flavored noodles. Even though he didn't say it was really spicy. I can tell by his face....that the spicy-ness has hit him. Haha.

    (4)

  • Po K.

    Amazing ramen. just excellent. Gyoza is just prepared excellently. a must return to each trip to Honolulu.

    (5)

  • Randy M.

    Great spot for Ramen!. I've been twice and the Ramen is wonderful, full of flavor. The gyoza on the other hand has been hit or miss. The first time it was awesome. But on our last visit they were very loose and falling apart on the plate, must have been an off day. I got a paitan charshiu with extra noodles, and my 3 year old loved the noodles and the broth. They have been known to run out of certain items... the chicken.

    (4)

  • Yuzen Y.

    i highly recommend the kakuni paitan ramen. The broth is rich and flavorful and the noodles are firm (japanese style noodles).

    (5)

  • Scott Y.

    Another good Ramen place... Couple old ladies make it even better. I'm gonna recommend the Paitan broth, not too thick and not too light, juuuuust right. The pork fried rice is tasty tasty. I had the charsiu ramen and i had pork belly pieces, so soft and tasty!! I like the "Japanese harder" style noodles they have. Broth could have been hotter, i like it hot hot. But over all i liked it very much.

    (4)

  • Andrew T.

    A friend became obsessed with this restaurant. The place does remind me of a Seinfeld episode. I loved it. My friend moved to the mainland before we got a chance to go together, so I recently went by myself in his honor. The house-made char siu was the star of the meal. Yes it's a little hard to find because it's second floor in the corner and the main sign as you approach just says "Kyoto Ramen" instead of "Yotekko Ya." Yes they open for dinner at 5:30 and there was already a small line by the time they actually opened at 5:35. Myself and another single guy sat at a little counter staring at a wall at the back of the room. We hit it off and had a nice wide-ranging conversation, laughing and so on. I kind of forgot about the dining room behind us, not realizing it had filled up because it was so quiet. My new friend and I just kept talking away as we ate our combo meals. After I paid my bill and got up to leave and turned around.... I saw the room full of all the other diners sitting there in silence, heads all swiveling to stare at me as I left.... and realized since none of them were having their own conversations they all must have been listening word for word to mine. LOL. Hope they enjoyed it. I felt like a comedian leaving the stage and I should have waved to everyone and said "thanks i'll be here all week!" That and the one waitress trotting across the floor with tiny steps kind of made the whole experience feel a bit like a Seinfeld episode. (That was a popular TV show back in the 1990's, kids.) Service was excellent and friendly. Waitress was very sweet and helpful. I felt welcome and comfortable. I ordered a meal combo with house fried rice, bowl of ramen, and gyoza. Paitan broth added $1 to the price. Fried rice was beautifully glistening and had two large pieces of the house-made char siu. OMG! This is NOT the fatty rubbery neon pink char siu I was expecting. It's a normal meat color and just melt-on-your-mouth tender. IT WAS SO GOOD. Paitan ramen with firm noodles was delicious and had more char siu (yay!). The Paitan broth is what most reviewers suggest and in fact Yotekko Ya's own menu says "order this one!" Gyoza were good but I couldn't say they were any better than any other gyoza I've had. A Kirin ($4) brought my total with tax and tip to $21. Yes they accept credit cards. Yes they have a punch card for repeat customers to get a free ramen after 10 purchases. I'll be back.... when I can coordinate it with their schedule. Was it really "as good as it gets" 5 star worthy?? Well there is room for small improvement in a few areas probably but whenever a friend tells me they've become "obsessed" with a restaurant that to me is 5 stars. My dining companion said it was the best ramen he's had in Hawaii but still didn't equal his ramen memories from his time living in Japan. One thing I actually respect is that despite their obvious popularity they haven't jacked up their prices and expanded their hours to take advantage of the increased demand. So yes they apparently sell out of stuff and when they're sold out they're sold out. Apparently they're satisfied with a modest profit and limited hours and I actually respect that in a business, instead of just being absolutely rapacious and charging whatever they can get away with until people stop coming. If they can make what they need to make with their limited hours and all the staff can correspondingly enjoy their lives more then Bravo!

    (5)

  • En I.

    5 tables, 1 takeout order and just one waitress and she did a great job. Had shoyu and paitan ramen both with firm noodles and it was okay. Quality and quantity for the price was fair.

    (3)

  • Susie C.

    This cute Japanese restaurant is not located in the popular strip in Waikiki. We had to walk a little further into the residentials of Waikiki to find this place. My husband and I came here for ramen! I fell in love with ramen, so we kept trying different restaurants out before we go back to Chicago. Anyway, we came relatively early, so we got a seat. Maybe 20 min after we sat down, the restaurant started to get full. That was probably around 7pm. My husband and I ordered their combo so we can get a little of everything. My combo consisted of ramen, fried chicken, and their fried rice. My husband's combo consisted of ramen, gyoza, and fried rice. The only thing is that if you order the combo, you get less ramen. My husband and I didn't like the fried rice, fried chicken, and gyoza too much so we felt like we should';ve just ordered ramen, so we get more noodles. Most of the other customers did not order the combo, so maybe they know why but we wanted to try out a little of everything. Anyway ramen was very good. We got the recommended soup (forgot what it was) with pork. Love it!

    (4)

  • Taylor W.

    This is only the second time being here and it's still the best ever. The paitan ramen with the firm Japanese noodles is really the best white sesame ramen I've tasted yet. And the yakibuta chahan (charsiu fried rice) is literally the best fried rice ever, home made, and using the best quality charsiu. The gyoza tastes fresh too and the service is always nice. I love this place for some ramen and fried rice. And not to mention the location is good too right next to Waikiki and alamoana, parking is a little tough to find at night though.

    (5)

  • Kenson K.

    Kakuni Paitan Ramen..... you must try this! There is only a limited supply of the homemade chashu so make sure you come in early. I heard that they run out sometimes. Glad I was able to taste it. The broth was so rich and flavorful and the chashu was slow cooked and so soft. There were also a lot of Japanese nationals here so it must be a good place! This is one of my favorite eateries now!

    (5)

  • Boki C.

    I had the Paitan ramen. Ramen ALRIGHT. Broth GOOD. Meat GREAT. service was fine, one women took care of all the tables. we went on a sunday night (6pm) and surprisingly it wasn't full and there was no wait! I'm searching for a ramen place where the ramen is close to the ones in japan. this one wasn't quite it. but it'll do for now.

    (4)

  • Jess C.

    The Pai Tan Ramen broth is amazing, it is cooked with extra pork and chicken, and has a subtle and yet complex flavor. The noodles are so amazing cooked "firm", I may add better than the Goma-Tei, who likes soft noodles anyway? To top it all off, they use a really tender chashu, which I like because there isn't too much fat on it and yet it's still really flavorful. If you like something meatier and fattier, get the extra chashu at Gomatei! You MUST get the fried rice if you go, it's one of my favorite things! Fried chicken was pretty good, but my friend Derek K really recommends the Gyoza, so perhaps I will try that next time.

    (5)

  • Little D.

    Located in McCully Shopping Center, 2F on the west end. Only Lunches review: This is my most favorite Ramen in town. Taste is great, and the noodle is nice and firm. Just the way it should be. YELP 365 - 302/365

    (5)

  • Tom S.

    After ending school kind of late, me and my brother decided to give yotteko-ya a try. This authentic ramen shop is located in mccully shopping center where the parking is just HORRIBLE. The spots are quite tight and it's almost always full so it's hard to find parking. The entrance to this place is somewhat interesting, consisting of a Japanese style sliding door. There are only two ladies that man the whole restaurant so the service was a bit slow. When busy, you might have to stand in line. Once inside, the interior is very small and there aren't too many tables so it's not good for groups 5 people or more. There is a variety of selections, much like goma-tei. However here at yotteko-ya they are known for their paitan ramen. Me and my brother both ordered the paitan ramen with chashu (5pcs.). He bought the set with the fried rice and chicken karaage (3pcs). I found the chicken to be very fatty/gelatanious and not really too flavorful. The fried rice was quite tasty although it was a bit salty to me. Now on to the main dish, the paintan chashu ramen. The chashu was truly very good, flavorful and a little hint of smokiness. The broth was very mild tasting and is interesting in that it looks milky. The noodles itself were a bit chewy to me, so next time I'd probably prefer to order it the other style and not "Kyoto" style. I also got the $1 extra noodle option but the lady might have mixed up me and my brother's order as his seemed like it contained more noodles than me. TBH I think ordering the extra noodles (ie. Large) is unnecessary. Side note: they have cheap beer. Also they tend to close early (they only serviced one other person after me and my brother came in at around 8pm...they turned off the lights to their sign and shut the door around 8:30pm). So maybe they ran out of ingredients or met their quota for the day. Either way if you don't want to miss out on some fantastic ramen...GO EARLY! Also i'm not sure if this is normal or not, but when paying the bill the lady gave me and my brother each a tootsie roll? is that like giving candy to children or something??? Comparing this to Goma-Tei, I actually prefer goma-tei as it's cheaper and yea just my personal preference I suppose. However, that's not to say that yotteko-ya's ramen is junk. Both are fine establishments and serve good ramen. I guess it just depends on which one you're in the mood for...and yea if you can't find parking and you're really craving some ramen, just head on over to goma-tei.

    (4)

  • Cassie P.

    Paitan ramen, so tasty! Love it with the Japanese style noodles! Really friendly service. They might open and close whenever whenever, but it's worth a visit for sure! :-)

    (4)

  • Takashi H.

    The next best thing to having ramen in Japan. Love the paitan, chicken karaage and rice. The service is friendly, even when I'm dancing to JLo's new single on the radio. Dance the night away, la da da da da da da da da ...

    (5)

  • Kalio R.

    Literally, every single person turned around and "stared" as my party and I walked in the door. I felt as if I wasn't welcomed there. Anyhow, I know that's not the establishments fault, but the experience was quite uncomfortable. As for the food... We ordered the Kakuni Paitan Special which is supposed to be limited daily. We also ordered a side of gyoza. The ramen was done very well. Char siu was killer but I would have rather had it on a bowl of hot rice. The gyoza was okay. Unlike another noodle house I go to, I wouldn't drive all the way into town for it. And it's not something I would crave. I would return if a friend wanted to try it out, but that's about it.

    (3)

  • Juliann C.

    MY TOP RAMEN PLACE. The Good: *They aren't cheap when it comes to the ingredients. *The fragrance of the broth is just soooo delicious. *They give all kinds of vegetables, if you order the one with vegetables and or kim chee. *Their fried rice is delicious, its not so much "fried" but its VERY tasty nonetheless. They are very famous for both their ramen and fried rice. *The prices is super cherry. Bowl of ramen is around 7-9$ while a combo meal that usually comes with fried rice and gyoza is around 13-15$ I honestly think the price is good for what I'm getting. The Bad: *This place gets crowded at night. There were times when I came here and just couldn't wait that long for a seat. Even the ramen bar was full. Lunch time is usually a go though. *Sometimes they do not open on time, and sometimes they close 45minutes earlier than what the sign says. I highly suggest you go early if you're going for dinner. Even though the sign says they close at 9pm, they actually close at 8:10pm. *service is a bit slow only because at the most there are only two ladies working :( The Weird: *I still find it weird that they close so early. at 8:10pm?! really?! :( :( *sad face* If there are any suggestions to give, I would say stick to the paitan and japanese soup base. Don't do the hawaiian soup base, it wasn't as great as the other two.

    (5)

  • Nat N.

    My two previous visits to Yotteko did not impress me. Both times I ordered the shoyu ramen and gyoza, and both times thought to myself "meh". But after hearing how much my friends love it (my friends and I have very similar taste in ramen), I decided to give it one more chance, and this time, I would order their specialty - the paitan ramen. Whoa. Now I see what the hype was all about. The broth rocks. Not too salty, not to oily. You must ask for the japanese style noodles if you like firm and chewy noodles. The chashu melted in my mouth. The gyoza was good too (you can order it pan-fried or deep fried). You can tell it's homemade. They stuff the filling in the pi to the point where it's practically coming out of its shell. For $2.25, you can cap off your dinner with a mini sundae consisting of a scoop of vanilla ice cream with chocolate sauce, strawberry sauce, or caramel. They will top it off with a little bit of whipped cream for good measure. I tried a couple of spoonfuls of my friend's fried rice with dry curry, and it was delicious too. I liked this place so much that I took my husband there for dinner the very next evening. It was so hard to choose between the paitan ramen and the fried rice. The paitan won. The parking lot at McCully Shopping Center can get crazy, especially after 7pm. But if you're an early bird diner like me, there will be many spaces for you to choose from.

    (5)

  • Florence K.

    This is, hands down, my FAVORITE ramen place...on the island. Well, that I've been to so far, and I think I've been to a decent amount. I always order the Paitan Ramen, and the broth is just perfect, not too salty, not too bland. The noodles are cooked perfectly, and the char siu that comes with it is just soft and sweet. YUM. Plus, it's said that the Paitan broth is good for your skin, so, that's a plus too if it's true! The other things on the menu are delicious as well. They have those sets that you can order, and the fried rice is yummy. The gyoza is pretty good too. Every time I come here, there's usually only one lady manning the whole front of the house, so sometimes, it gets busy, and service is a little slower. But they're always super sweet! Everyone definitely needs to check this place out. They are closed on Wednesdays though, so make sure you come other days!

    (5)

  • Susan F.

    I've been to Yotteko-Ya a couple of times and have never been disappointed. I always order the Paitan ramen with the Japanese style noodles which are more al dente than the local style. The broth is light yet flavorful and extra points for the broth having collagen to reduces aging. I love my noodles and I love Yotteko-Ya! Tip: they sometimes run out of noodles at the end of the night, so don't be surprised if you see the sign outside.

    (4)

  • Zar A.

    Paitan broth is sooooo yummy!! 1 Star for Restaurant Hours This place definitely has weird hours!!!!! Check hours above. 2 Stars for Parking Located in McCully Shopping Center, parking here is terrible. Stalls are slim and this place is always packed. There is also basement parking but I feel that it's even worse than ground level parking! Those stalls are even smaller and compact! 4 Stars for Location Located on the 2nd floor in the corner of McCully shopping center. Easy enough to find... 4 Stars for Service O-K. The waiters/waitress are very polite, courteous and nice. I believe they are all Japanese. 4 1/2 Stars for Food Paitan!!! Overall, delicious Paitan broth. I don't know what else to say, but order Paitan! They also make delicious cold noodles as well. I would say pass on the Shoyu broth as you can get that at any Japanese noodle restaurant. Save your stomach for some good Paitan broth here!

    (4)

  • Richard H.

    If you enjoy an authentic, Japanese ramen in Hawaii, this is the place for you! I passed by this restaurant at least a 100 times, before reading about the yummy broth through my friends on Yelp. In fact, I left my family, who was eating at the Shabu Shabu place down stairs to give this place a try. Don't bother looking through the menu, go straight to the Char Siu paintan or the Paintan Ramen (the Char Siu order has a few more slices). Japanese style Char Siu is completely different from the red, local stuff that you will find in your Wor Won Ton mien. This pork is brown, soft, and tender. It resembles a thinly sliced roast pork, rather than what we locals would describe as "char siu". You have the option of ordering the firm or soft noodles, but the only difference is the length of time to cook/boil the noodles. Firm or Japanese style = less cooking time, soft or local style = longer cooking time. Their Paintan ramen soup base is cooked for over 10 hours, which produces a thick flavorful broth, unlike any other restaurant. I recommend the firm style, extra slices of char siu in their paintan soup.

    (5)

  • Joanne P.

    This place is famous for the paitan broth, which is my favorite. On the menu, they claim that their broth is cooked so long that the collagen from the bones will make your skin as soft as a baby's bottom. I seriously doubt that, but it makes me feel better as I greedily slurp up every last drop of broth in the bowl. They have a few dishes that I can't remember (one is posted on wall) i've never tried because they sell out very quickly so i suggest you go for lunch or an early dinner.

    (4)

  • Sandra M.

    Wow! Luv this little ramen shop! Seating is limited so go early. There were four of us. Both my kids tried the shoyu based ramen with the noodles cooked Japanese style (firm). I ordered combo D with paitan ramen! My husband ordered the paitan ramen as well. We preferred the paitan ramen over shoyu based. The pork fried rice- just one word..."HEAVENLY!" This place is a gem! Will post pics!! Hugs from yours truly, the foodies!

    (5)

  • Virginia R.

    This is, by far, is one of my favorite places to eat! I love noodles, and I love soup... How am I NOT in love with a place where it has both!? ;o) I always end up ordering more than I can finish... "Set D". Their fried rice is so savory, though I don't always eat the chunks of pork. It's a little much some nights, but it's still delicious! Their Paitan soup for the ramen is very interesting... Really light, yet, it's got so much flavor from the pork base. It's a total WIN for me! However, the only thing that's got me from giving a full "five-star" is the low stock of the soup... Clearly, they're supposed to be open until closing time, or until they run out of their "soup". I think I've come across more than one night in a row that they ran out of soup even before 730pm. Real bummer, especially when we wait in line to have it :( Service is wonderful, though, they don't always catch our jokes :o) But it is a very cute and cozy restaurant. Totally recommend to all those whom haven't tried yet!

    (4)

  • Rob D.

    A little off the beaten track, but not too far to walk from Waikiki, Yotteko-Ya is a hidden gem on the upper floor of an McCulley shopping center. The sign with the name is somewhat difficult to see -- look instead for "Kyoto" Ramen. It's the corner unit on the upper floor of the mall, southwest side, so look up! Inside, Yotteko-Ya is spacious, the staff are friendly and you can choose a large table or sit at the back, bar style, which is a little cramped. The speciality is Kyoto style which is shoyu base, but you can also go for a Hawaiian salt base or what I went for, the Paitan base. This is closer to a traditional meat base, with pork and chicken stock. Being largely sustained in my adult life by pig, I was ecstatic to find an option for five, yes five!, slices of chashu to go with it! And the option of hard or soft noodles was the cherry on the cake. To put it all together, I went for five slices of pork, hard noodles and paitan base. The best part were the noodles themselves. Firm but not hard, chewable but not chewy, and served in abundance. The pork was delicious, but the slices were very small which sadly meant that I didn't leave waddling like a pig and smelling like one too. But despite the size it was really really tasty. The overall bowl itself is basic. Noodles and meat. A few sprouts are the only nod towards garnishment or vegetables. But with the broth, meat and noodles this good, who needs distractions.

    (4)

  • T L.

    Still the best ramen I've had. Better than Daikukuya in LA and Ramen Dojo in San Mateo.

    (5)

  • Alison F.

    Best ramen I've had so far. I get the Paitan with chasu...two pieces of pork. It's not your normal ramen, less salty and delicious! I can never go back to a normal ramen place now,

    (4)

  • Keōmai E.

    Ramen should satiate more than your hunger, it should warm your soul and comfort your heart. The Paitain tame does just that. I love me some ramen and can be a tough critic, but the Paitan ramen is killer. The broth thick and tasty with the most tender and delicious char siu I've ever eaten. Had I known, I would've ordered the 5 piece option. Don't skimp on the char siu- it's life changing.

    (5)

  • Janet K.

    This is favorite ramen place. I always get the chashu paitan (yes, I believe that's how they spell it... Not char siu). They're ALWAYS out of the kakuni paitan when I go... Even when I go right when they open for dinner. Go figure, maybe they run out during lunch? Anyway, the paitan broth is so flavorful that I will always slurp it up so there's not a drop left in the bowl. I like to get my noodles "Japanese-Style" because it's more firm and chewy than the "Local-Style" noodles. The pork is so tender that it just breaks apart in your broth. Pair that up with some pan-fried gyoza and you're GTG. I'm not a big fan of tan tan ramen. I guess I don't really care for the taste of sesame. If that's what you're looking for, go to Goma Tei. If you're looking for koteri, go to Tenkaippin. If you're looking for paitan... THIS is where to go!

    (5)

  • Jamie D.

    After one of my coworkers found out that I tried Goma Tei, she recommended this place. The ramen broth here was lighter than Goma Tei's but it was still just as flavorful, which was a plus! Their pork wasn't bland like Goma Tei's, which was another plus. The service was also great.

    (5)

  • Sam C.

    Food is great just like before. But the wait was too long. 20mins and still no water was served. The should have more hands to serve their customers.

    (3)

  • Raych D.

    Knowing that I love sushi and ramen my ex and I visited here once a while back and it wasn't all that great as far as I can remember. It may be due to the fact I wasn't in the mood to be eating because me and an ex was in the middle of an argument when visiting here for the first time. So, lately I've been hearing a lot of good reviews about this place so decided to give it another chance and so being with the same ex the first time I visited. Because I'm a person who loves hot and spicy food my ex recommended the spicy paitan ramen and going in I wasn't at all excited to try it but as soon as it hit my taste buds I must say I was in heaven! I was also so bummed how much times I would've been eating here due to that one bad experience. Only problem with the noodles was that it wasn't soft enough for my liking but the char sui and broth was exce-lan'te! The reason for the 4-stars is that sometimes the spicy ramen is such a high demand that they run out. This totally irks me when I have my mind set to eating a certain food. Yotteko-Ya and Goma Tei is now my two favorite ramen joints on Oahu.

    (4)

  • Yuko A.

    The ramen here is BOMB! The noodles are firm and the paitan soup is highly addicting. I got the vegetable ramen which was topped with cabbage, broccoli, onions, sprouts, and one piece of charsiu. The piece of charsiu was a little smaller than I had remembered but was still tender with a little bit of fat on it. The dumplings were some of the best I've had out in a while. I usually make dumplings at home so I have somewhat of high expectations when I eat out. Yotteko-ya's had a generous amount of meat in it and was cooked with a nice crispy wrapper. The only downside here is that they have too small of a waitstaff, they need at least one more person helping them out. When I walked in at noon on Saturday there was one woman doing everything from waiting, closing checks, busing tables so no one could really sit down. All in all though a great meal. Paitan soup wasn't salty like some other places are and has collagen in it, so its good for your skin :-). Definitely worth trying out! YELP 365: 106/365

    (5)

  • Ginny N.

    Paitan is a solid choice for broth - flavorful and very delicious . One of my favorite ramen places since visiting Hawaii !

    (5)

  • Derrick C.

    After my ritual power nap after work, I ventured to one of my usual ramen stops to eat before going to study. Conveniently located on the second floor of the Mc Cully Shopping center, Yotteko-ya provides a cozy spot for some tastey ramen. They have a bar seating in the back perfect for those bachelors on the go eating solo. The popular dish is the Paitan Ramen, I usually order the Paitan set menu with gyoza and fried rice. Sprinkle some red pepper stuff and hot oil into your bowl and your set for a treat. The services is dependent on the capacity, there are usually 2-3 ladies working and they tend to get backed up when the line gets long. Be aware that they run out of their

    (4)

  • Rupert L.

    I came here once back in 07. I wanted to try their ramen since I was a freak on ramens back then. It was good but I've had better. Their service was ok, they didn't want to really serve us because they were already about to close. I would like to come by again and hopefully I'll give a better review. Only down side for me was that their menu was filled with pork and I'm allergic to it.

    (3)

  • Ngan N.

    Yotteko ramen - this place claimed to have their collagen broth cooked in ~10 hours. It's supposed to close at 10 pm, we got there at 7 pm...and my bowl was the last one they served 'cauz they ran out of broth @@ Love their noodles. They serve it in 2 styles, either Japanese (firm) or local style (soft). We ordered the firm one, and it turned out to be pretty good. Their noodles were al dente...chewy and the perfect texture The collagen broth was creamy, hearty and claimed to help prevent aging which is another plus. The chashu is pretty soft and tender :D

    (5)

  • David C.

    I wanted to love this place, but...did I miss something? The self-professed collagen-rich flavorful broth was fantastic--the first few spoonfuls. Then, it all tasted the same from lack of depth. Sadness. Fantastic firm and chewy Japanese noodles (softer local style available). Char-siu. Um. No. Overlooked pork belly sliced the wrong way and tasting...baby food soft and bland. Another try? Mebbe.

    (3)

  • Brad P.

    What's the difference between the feeling you get from conquering your greatest fear and tasting the paitan ramen at Yotteko-Ya? Nothing. Absolutely nothing. They are the same feeling. This place is awesome. The highest ranked ramen joint on Honolulu Yelp has earned its position by being incredible(and incredibly cheap!). I had the paitan ramen and the pork used in this dish is unmatched when compared to all of the swine I consumed while in Hawaii. It was magnificently tender and full of flavor. They give you plenty of chili oil at the table so you can spice to your liking. I love Yotteko-Ya.

    (5)

  • David L.

    My wife and I came here for dinner around 6 PM on our last night in Honolulu. We're from Texas so are used to it being hot, but we found that Yotteko-Ya was hotter than the outside was and the air inside was stagnant too. This most likely ruined our ramen experience because we both felt the Paitan Ramen was just "ok", and neither of us could come close to finishing the broth because we were sweating most of the time. The gyoza was disappointing -- especially the filling. We would not order this again. We most likely won't be coming back here again as we felt we had more enjoyable overall experiences at other ramen places in Honolulu. Maybe we are just spoiled Texans who always want the A/C blasting so that we can enjoy our food.

    (3)

  • Pomai S.

    Heeding the recommendations of all our fellow Yelpers here, I decided to think "outside the box" and order the Paitan Ramen. Where, normally I gauge great authentic Japanese Ramen by their Shoyu/Chashu Ramen. Yet, if everyone says get the Paitan Ramen -- even further boosting it by opting for the Kakuni Paitan Ramen -- well then, gosh darned it, that's what I'm getting! So this past Saturday I had lunch at Yotteko-Ya Kyoto Ramen, chooshing "Set C", turbo-charged with the Kakuni (braised pork) option. What's nice about this place is that it's kinda' like Burger King, where you can have just about everything "your way". First of all you choose how you want your noodles done: either the traditional Japanese way (firmer), or "local style", which is cooked a little longer, resulting in a softer noodle. Then you choose your broth: either Shoyu, Salt or Paitan. Above that, you can also opt for Kakuni if you're lucky, because this is only available for a limited time. Go early if you want that. More on it in a bit. For the rice on the side, you can choose either Yakibuta Chahan or Chashu Gohan, Finally, for the Gyoza, you can choose either pan-fried or DEEP-FRIED. So I chose "Set C", opting for the Kakuni Paitan with noodles cooked in the traditonal Japanese style, Yakibuta Chahan fried rice and of course, the DEEP-FRIED Gyoza, as that's very different than most Gyoza which are more commonly pan-fried and steamed to brown just one side. This, plus and ice cold glass of Coca Cola totaled my bill at $18.45 including tax, but not tip, which is a considerable chunk of change for a ramen lunch. Ultimate I have to say the Paitan broth isn't my style. It looks "milky" and tastes "milky", while also having a hint of sweetness, which I'm assuming is brought on from the substantial amount of Kakuni (braised pork) loaded in the bowl. As for the Kakuni, THIS is what you come to Yotteko-Ya for, as it's most definitely what they do best. $3 or $4 (the latter tacked on for the combo set) certainly gives you your money's worth, as half the volume of the Kakuni Paitan Ramen I was served consisted of Kakuni. So much, that I had to remove some in order to access the noodles. Flavor-wise, the Kakuni (braised pork) has a deep, marinaded flavor of primarily shoyu and sugar and/or mirin. Texture-wise, it's laced with fat, so it just melts apart and is succulent as can be. Ultimately, it's CRAZY TASTY, where in and of itself, deserves 5 stars. All I can say is go early and opt for the Kakuni braised pork, as this is definitely what they do best. While I didn't get around to asking, by all guesstimates, I'll say Yotteko-Ya's ramen noodles are sourced from Sun Noodle, where most ramen shops here in Honolulu get their noodles from. Which I have no problem with, as Sun Noodle RULES! With that, the noodles were cooked perfectly "tight" (al dente) to the Japanese specifications I asked for. Other toppings besides the Kakuni (braised pork) include bean sprouts (mayoshi), green onion (negi) and Kikurage (Chinese black mushrooms). Yet I was a bit disappointed no Menma (Japanese marinated bamboo shoots) weren't included. Overall, while I'm a stickler for Ginza style Shoyu Chahumen, Yotteko-Ya's Kakuni Paitan Ramen had me walking out very satisfied. As for the Yakibuta Chahan, it essentially tasted like fried rice flavored with either their Kakuni or Chashu, as it had big chunks of it in the mix. There was also a significant shoyu flavor. Overall? Good! Yet I still don't get the logic of serving rice with ramen, as that's too much carbo-loading for me. But whatever. It works. Next to the Kakuni, I'll say the DEEP-FRIED Gyoza (notice I CAP-LOCK DEEP-FRIED) is what you come here for. It's fantastic. I was expecting it to taste like Korean Mandoo, but really, it tasted like none other than deep-fried Japanese Gyoza! And a great one at that. What set it apart from the rest is that instead of plain 'ole ground pork, mixed with the cabbage were tiny chunks of what looked and tasted like either their Chashu or Kakuni. Which you know is gonna' rock the Gyoza world! Easy 4 stars on Yotteko-Ya's deep-fried Gyoza. I dined here about 1pm this past Saturday, and on this visit, service was excellent. Very friendly waitress, and my entire order of Kakuni Paitan Ramen, mini Yakibuta Chahan and deep-fried Gyoza arrived on the table within 10 minutes of being placed. With that, the waitress had already began telling newly arrived customers that the Kakuni was already sold out, which is why I reiterate that you need to come here early to get that. Which I highly recommend you do, as the Kakuni braised pork is what they do best here. That, and the deep-fried Gyoza should make most "rameniacs" very happy with the offerings at Yotteko-Ya. As for the Paitan broth, it's not my personal favorite, yet it may be for you. See photo section for pics of the dishes mentioned above.

    (3)

  • Darren N.

    Parking: The most difficult thing about the place, McCully has a really busy parking setup. Ambiance: Unique Japanese style atmosphere. Clean interior. Service: Polite though they can get overwhelmed with the amount of customers and the number of servers. Food: Opted for the 5 piece char siu in paitan soup base for dinner. Their special ramen with more pork usually sells out by lunch so get there early. They also seem to have non-ramen dishes to choose from but every time I come here it has been a ramen meal. Their ramen is plentiful and made to order (soft or firm) and the pork slices are so tender and flavorful. This is one of the best ramen places on the island I've seen so far. Verdict & Takeaway: 5 stars for the fair price, great food and atmosphere. If anything, maybe they can try adding a new protein to kick it up a notch and further separate themselves from the rest, especially something traditional Japanese.

    (5)

  • Lisa M.

    The Yasai Paitan Ramen with a side order of Sliced Charsiu is the best. So tasty! The charsiu is a little sweet, but really, really delicious! We also had some gyoza that was amazing as well. Parking can be challenging, but the food is worth it!

    (5)

  • Sara T.

    I think I've been here at least twice a month since I first discovered it... I have blown through an entire stamp card (two sets of buy 10 get one free), and the waitresses all recognize me and I think they make a special effort to get my food out fast, especially because I always order the same thing. Small kine embarrassing. But I don't care because I can't get enough of their paitan chasiu ramen, noodles Japanese style! I've been here when it's empty and when it's packed with a line out the door, I've taken out several times, and I've eaten in by myself at the counter many times, and I've never had a bad experience.

    (5)

  • Lisa K.

    The Paitan Ramen is the tastiest ramen that I have ever eaten! Pair it with the homemade gyoza and you could just about die a happy camper. However, it is a rather small restaurant, so on busy nights you need to show up pretty much as soon as it opens to get a seat and gyoza.

    (5)

  • Naomi L.

    Holy ramen HEAVEN. Seriously. I had peaked in here before, but it was crowded and so didn't want to go. After a long clinic day, some friends convinced me to stay and wait for a table. I'm oh so happy they did. *tear of ramen-induced-happiness* The decorations are modest, which helps you to focus on the deliciousness of the food. They serve other things than just ramen, but shoot, just forget the carbs and eat the ramen if you're going to a ramen place! The prices are also modest, ~$8-10 for the most part. The real deal lies in the combos (on the back side of the menu, which run $12-15)! I just started eating meat again after a 5+ year hiatus and this place was more than well worth the extended wait. The homemade char siu was so ono. I can't describe the utter fabulousness of the flavor, melt in your mouth, yumminess accurately enough to give it justice. But, I did have a dream about eating it and will soon be back for round #2. In short - char siu gohan = I want more. I didn't try to paitan ramen (which is what I should have since that's apparently their best) cuz I like yataiaji and wanted to try theirs. Next time, I will eat some paitan. Anyhow, the yataiaji was probably the best I've had on this island and closest to the flavors I've eaten in Nihon. I dunno about their claims to make me look younger, but I had a nice kanak attack after and the best sleep in weeks. Hint: ask for Japanese style, which is cooked more firmly, if you like your noodles with a bit of a bite. Also, they'll take orders just up to last call (15 min before closing for either lunch or dinner service) and are closed on Wednesdays.

    (5)

  • Quinn S.

    A co-worker told me about this place and said that Japanese salarymen come here. I had to try it! Had he not told me, I would have never found this place because I try to avoid McCully shopping center and thier crazy tight parking spots at all costs. (I cringe just thinking about more dents on my precious car!) Yotteko-Ya is a tiny ramen joint tucked away in the far corner on the second floor. Although it's hidden and hardly visable unless you are actually looking for it, the place gets crowded! This had to be another great sign. Luckily we got seated right away, however, that is the only thing that happend right away. We saw a few tables waiting for their food and it looked as if they were waiting pretty long because everyone was quiet and constantly checking their cell phones. The waitresses were scrambling around, but things somehow seemed to move in slow motion. I ordered Combo C with the shoyu based ramen, chashu rice, and gyoza. I also opted to add some extra spice...$1.00 for a squirt of chili oil really didn't do the trick for me. I love spicy food and thought the extra spice would add some flavor, but sadly I was mistaken, it was just red oil floating in my broth. Boo! I sampled the chashu rice and didn't find anything special about it. Yes the meat was soft and tender, but felt it was lacking any great flavor. The gyoza, on the other hand, was so YUM! I usually don't care for gyoza, but I am glad I ordered it. It was filled to the max with pork and veggies and it was pan-fried to perfection - not too much oil like every other gyoza I've tried. I would not necessarily go back, but it wouldn't matter to them because I can see from the other reivews that people love it. And the fact that people were waiting in line to eat there says a lot. I respect any business with loyal customers. Thumbs up to that!

    (3)

  • Curt C.

    I had gone to the McCully shopping center a bunch of times and never knew about this small little restaurant of goodness. It is such a quaint Japanese restaurant with an intimate feel and the noodles, oh the noodles! There are many different broths to choose from, but their specialty is the Paitan broth. I ended up getting combo set C which was the ramen with Paitan broth, gyoza, and fried rice. The broth is very light and had a nice flavor definitely a unique taste. I liked this broth a lot better than Goma Tei. The charsui meat is also one of Yotekko Ya's specialty. It was quite hearty and quite good for "standard" meat that comes with the ramen. I had no idea what "Japanese Style" meant, perhaps I should have re-read some Yelp reviews before going, but just order the noodles this way as well as you won't regret it. I was surprisingly full as it didn't look like a lot of food, but I was stuffed at the end and we didn't even get any drinks (Bud Light was $3 not bad) Next time I'll probably just order the ramen and get extra charsui since I don't need need the additional rice in the combo set...Too many starches!!! I'm glad that I was told about this place as I thought it was better than Goma Tei and Tenkaippin. Now, if I want ramen I will come here and if I want udon I will go to Marakume Udon. Make sure to get here early as once they sell out they close shop. I came on a Friday night around 630 and they turned off the open sign at 8 because they had sold out...Also if you want to get the Kakuni ramen (basically ramen with huge chunks of the charsui) I'm told they sell out by lunch...So I'll be back for lunch!

    (4)

  • John N.

    Yotteko-Ya's ramen is delicious. So delicious, that I put it in the top 3 of ramen places in Hawaii. Like others have mentioned, you get to choose the texture of your noodles: either a little harder via Japanese style, or softer via local style. The char siu is great and the broth is amazing. So why do I give it a 3 star out of 5? It took 35-40 minutes for us to get our food from sitting down. Granted, we got there when they just opened, but this place definitely needs wait help. We were the third group seated, but one of the last groups to get our order in. It's not because we were deciding a while for our food. We knew what we were going to order within 5 minutes of seating. No matter how good the ramen, the overall experience of dining here can easily be ruined if you are hungry. I can definitely see this place being a solid 4, maybe 5 star if they get more wait help. Until then, other ramen places will be satisfying my ramen cravings.

    (3)

  • Reid A.

    Great ramen! Paitan ramen is my favorite. The pork broth is very silky and not at all oily like most places. This ramen might be seen as quite healthy in comparison. I always choose the Japanese style noodles (firm). The char siu is one of the best. I can't think of anything wrong with it. I really recommend the sets. Their fried rice is really good. They have lots of different types to choose from. Their gyoza is also top notch. I recommend the pan fried gyoza. The only thing is the seating. Most of the time there is a wait since all the seats are taken. If they did a bar style, they would fit in more people. McCully Shopping Center has some great places to eat, but the parking can be a pain sometimes. Regardless of the parking and seating, it really still deserves 5 stars, because it's worth the trouble. I recommend this place all the time to people that want great ramen.

    (5)

  • Ellison U.

    Yotteko-Ya Yotteko-Ya is a Japanese Ramen Shop located on the 2nd floor in McCully Shopping Center. Friends and I came here several times and it was close I guess third time's a charm. First time we came was on a Wednesday and they were apparently closed... blew it off, second time came around 830 as soon as we entered we were turned away due to ramen being soldout... I was like WTF!, Now if you know McCully, parking sucks... REALLY SUCKS It took us almost ~45MINUTES to find a space ALL FOR NOTHING and I was craving for some Ramen too. Then I though gee this place must serve really damn good ramen. I was willing to give it another shot because I read soo much great reviews. Third time we made absolutely sure we were gonna get to eat here! (We called and asked ofcourse). Enough with the whining, (cause I ran out of cheese), I ordered one of the sets with which included side fried rice and chicken with the ramen. I got the Paitan Ramen. Oh Ma GAADD the ramen was soo delicious if I could describe it, it was like a celebration was happening in my mouth... YUMM-O. Noodles was good, broth was A-MAZING!. Fried Rice... I doont know, I was expecting it to be good too because everyone raved about it but it was mehh. Oily for my liking. Back to the Ramen, oh my goodness it wassooo good. BUUUUTT big Butt! It's not as good as Goma Ichi. Goma Ichi too me has a better tasting broth. Yotteko-ya, I've heard was the most authentic Ramen you could get outside of Japan, to me the broth was kind of runny, I like mine with a little body. I wanted it to be a little bit thicker. But in all it was delicious, definitely worth the third attempt. My Rating of Ramen Shops from best being Ichi-Ban (#1 -meh) 1. Goma Ichi: Broth is PERFECT 2. Yotteko-ya: Broth a little RUNNY 3. Goma Tei Broth is like Goma Ichi (I think they stole the recipe) How dare they! 4. Tenkaippin: Broth is TOO THICK noodles just floated on the GRAVEY like Broth! Disclaimer: I AM JUST SPEAKING FOR MYSELF!

    (4)

  • Arthur S.

    Been throughout japan tried different types of ramen, and I gotta say yotteko ya is as close as it gets. Ive been to goma tei goma ichi and ramen nakamura but this place takes the soup base. The other ramen places are incomparable. Get the Char-sui, "Cha-su" Pai Tan Ramen. Best ramen on the island. The Chasu is the softest most flavorful slice of meat around. The soup broth was also better than the other ramen laces mentioned above. Usually the broth is either to salty or not flavorful enough, but this place must practice some scientific ramen alchemy because i felt like i was drowning myself a sea of soup base greatness. The service is great, constant refills on water, never felt like i was left in the dust. Gyoza was an excellent addition to the Ramen. Soft and warm, crispy yet chewy. Perfect for type of ramen noodle served. I usually never have any problem with parking, or waiting. Although i know this place must get really popular around diner time, as i have seen lines outside the door. Also the seating capacity isn't very large so if you do end up going on a busy night be prepared to wait. But when your waiting for the best ramen on the island on the island its well worth it.

    (5)

  • Andy N.

    Paitan! This chicken broth is delicious! Cooked and simmered for over eight hours you know they're doing something special. I came here just near when it was about to close, A cool sliding door when you walk into the restaurant. It's a small little spot in a lot with tons of other Asian restaurants. I knew exactly what I wanted to order because the menu even recommended to try the Paitan. The soup was piping hot in a good way. The broth a lighter smokey color due to usage of using chicken broth instead of pork bones. The pieces of pork very tender and the noodles were nice and firm. They even say the food here keeps you from AGING! if you love ramen like I do, then try out Yotteko-Ya Recommendation: Paitan ramen

    (4)

  • Jeremy C.

    Plain and simple - I love Japanese ramen. So, when my girlfriend and I recently vacationed in Hawaii, I searched for the best ramen houses and we ended up at Yotteko-Ya. Situated in the top left corner of a business plaza, you can easily miss this small restaurant. If you do though, you better damn well keep searching because the ramen is great! The paitan ramen is what we ordered, and a comforting bowl of ramen is what we got. The noodles were perfect and not soggy at all, and the broth was done perfectly. It was milky and flavorful. Almost the quality of Ippudo in the East Village in New York City, but much cheaper, and a lot more low key. It was awesome! Although there was only one waitress working, she did her very best at welcoming guests, taking orders, and getting the ramen out in a timely manner. I ever go back to Honolulu, I would definately go back here. Pros: Perfectly cooked ramen, tasty soup broth. You will leave feeling happy! Cons: Location is a bit akward, and they could use another waitress or two. Overall, this place is just great!

    (5)

  • Hollie-Anne T.

    I love Yotteko-ya!!! I usually eat here when I'm at my bf's work place and have nothing to do, but eat. (I'm always hungry) Yotteko-ya is located on the 2nd floor on the west side of the McCully Bldg, so if you're looking directly at McCully Shopping Center it should be on your left hand side on the second floor. There's a sliding door so don't be hesitant to slide open the door and walk on in :] It's a cute little restaurant. Not a lot of space so if you're claustrophobic I wouldn't really recommend this place for you. The ladies that work there are pretty nice except you can tell when they're flustered when it gets busy. Now lets talk about their Paitan Ramen. It's amaze-balls. Theirs a lot of taste to it and they give a generous amount of Charsiu. I mean the slice is pretty big. When I ordered my ramen they gave me a choice of japanese style noodles or regular noodles. The Japanese noodles is yellow-ish and on the hard side, but if you're into trying new types of noodles then i definitely recommend that you try the Japanese Noodles. It's pretty good and it make the ramen that much more authentic :D. Their gyoza they give you a choice of steamed or fried. I always choose fried lol. It reminds me of mandoo and I love mandoo. Now dip your mandoo like dumpling into the shoyu, vinegar, and hot sauce that's provided to you on the table and you got yourself an onolicious lunch/dinner. Its a MUST when it comes to ramen.

    (5)

  • Rod U.

    The best ramen in Hawaii. While the ramen noodles are always perfectly cooked (if ordered Japanese style) and flavorful, they are nothing more than a "filler" for the outstanding soup bases. Like almost all Hawaii ramen shops, Yotteko-Ya is a one stop shop; serving more than one type of soup base from different regions of Japan. The sweet and savory shoyu base pairs harmoniously with the toppings. The simple salt base is, well simple (not my thing) and makes the toppings individually stand out. The paitan base (tonkotsu base with the addition of chicken) is exceptional, enveloping the toppings in flavor rich goodness. Bet you never though ramen could sound sexy huh? Regardless of the soup base, the topping of choice is the chashu. It is well braised, never overcooked and stringy, deeply infused with a sweet shoyu flavor, with good balance of internal melt in your mouth fat. Delicious! That said, the top recommendation for any ramen is the "kakuni". It contains a huge block of chashu. Over indulgence of porky goodness for sure but definitely good eats. Note: quantities are very limited for the kakuni ramen so go early if you want to try it.

    (4)

  • Nate K.

    Absolutely great ramen, best I've had on the island. Definitely worth a try if you have a chance. I'll be back again some time and will be recommending this to my friends.

    (5)

  • Tai M.

    Yotekko-YA! Had about a 10 minute wait - not too bad. This place is unexpectedly cute in the McCully Shopping Center. We had: Yasai Paitan (Veggie Japanese style) Paitan Chashu (Japanese style) Garlic fried rice I never understood the hype over the pork in ramen UNTIL I ATE IT HERE. Most places it's bland and eh. This had TASTE! What a lovely surprise. The garlic fried rice was great. It was moist and had big chunks of pork. Definitely not the typical consistency of fried rice, but still very delicious. This is my #1 ramen place now. YUM!

    (5)

  • Rickey M.

    Boom! MIND BLOWN! Discovered this place while on my visit to the islands, and I have to say the Paiten Ramen here is the best I've had. Oh you like Daikokuya and Santouka in LA? Nah this place is wayyyy better. Ippudo in NY? Not even close. There's something about the perfect blend of sweetness and spices mixed in Paiten broth that no one else can match. + the tastebud blowing pork I guarantee you'll ask for an extra side. House made noodles made to the way you like it, and you'll find yourself winning in life until the bowl is empty. Hawaii, NY, CA, WA , wherever you get Ramen, This place will be #1 I promise you. Get in early before it sells out for the day!

    (5)

  • Mindy D.

    Delicious paitan ramen! They boil it for a ridiculous number of hours, making sure to get every bit of flavor out. You can definitely taste it in the broth. Very casual place and a good value for your money. Beware though, you might be out of luck if you go late or near closing hours because they might run out of ramen!

    (5)

  • Michael C.

    This restaurant's menu makes big claims saying that you'll look younger if you drink up all of the soup due to the high collagen content. While I don't know if this is scientific fact, I can attest to the deliciousness of the soup which would make you want to drink it all up! The "miracle" paitan broth is creamy and very flavorful and comes with your choice of Japanese style noodles or local style noodles. The Japanese style is a bit more firm, which is a good contrast to the typical local fare. It's then topped with a sweet and very soft (no chewing required!) char sui, something I have not experienced in other saimin or ramens. It's quite wonderful. Yotteko-Ya also has a salt based ramen broth which should be bypassed for the paitan. The paitan is that good! The gyoza side is your basic item and not needed to fully enjoy your meal. Maybe add an extra slice of char sui or two instead! Be careful of the parking at McCully Shopping Center. Try to get there during off peak hours or have adequate time to circle the lot a few times.

    (5)

  • Brian L.

    Paitan ramen is good. Service is bad. Go early, or else they run out of broth

    (4)

  • Polly F.

    Went with some of my co-workers for lunch here...we waited 15mins for a table. It was worth the wait. Had the daily special 'Kakuni Ramen - paitan'. Good ramen!! Came with huge slices of chashu pork and the noodle (Japanese style) were cooked just right. Would definitely go back here to try something new.

    (4)

  • Emi N.

    Yotteko-Ya has become a favorite ramen shop for me and my boyfriend. They're known for their Paitan ramen varieties with collagen-infused broth. I always order the Japanese-style Tabeteko-Paitan ramen, which has lots of kimchee and a slice of char siu. The prices are comparable to places like Tenkaippin and Taiyo Ramen, so you're getting great prices with a nice, decorative atmosphere. As far as business hours go, it's a little complicated. They don't open on Wednesdays, they close when ingredients have been sold-out, and they also seem to close throughout certain periods of the day in between the lunch and dinner rush. Still, I highly recommend Yotteko-Ya to all ramen-lovers. They claim that if you eat their Paitan ramen, you'll get beautiful skin--lol. If I wasn't concerned about my weight, I'd actually want to eat there often enough to see if the claim holds true!

    (4)

  • Vy M.

    I wanted to try a ramen house in Hawaii and we happened to be getting Boba in the same plaza so we decided to eat here. The service was awesome. The lady waitress was so nice. $3 Kirin beer at 11am? HELL YES! The ramen and the broth was also sooo good. They also have a side kimchi for $2!! If you are from the Bay Area and have eaten at Orenchi then you will need to know that this place is as good or maybe even BETTER!

    (5)

  • Mina F.

    This is by far, the best ramen shop in honolulu. Gyoza is cooked to perfection as well. What I love about the ramen here is that they give you option how firm you want the noodles. " Japanese style or Local style". Dont let me forget to mention their home made charsiu! Sooo Ono!!!

    (5)

  • Santi T.

    Tonight I came into town to have an early dinner before my much anticipated John Legend's Evolver concert at the Neil Blasdell Center. Unfortunately, Yotteko-Ya earns a 2 star rating while John Legend deserves a 5 star standing ovation. I specifically came here before they opened to guarantee an early dinner service. Being prompt is a weakness here because the waitress strolled in at 5:30 when they should be opening up for business. She begins to get ready in the restaurant and doesn't open the doors until 5:40. The interior of the place was painted in bright red and had a few kanji paintings on the wall. Our waitress was a young, inexperienced girl who wasn't into satisfying the customer and gave lukewarm service without a smile. After reading the reviews and studying the menu, I decided on combo set #C ($12.45) which included: Tabeteko Paitan (additional $2.50) - "Topped with kim-chee and vegetables and 1 slice of our homemade chashu" Gyoza-3 pieces pan fried Mini Yakibuta Chahan-pork fried rice Because I personalized it to a Tabeteko Paitan, they charged an additional $2.50 which made my meal $14.95. It took exactly 20 minutes for my Japanese Style (traditional versus local style - softer) "Tabeteko" Paitan ramen to arrive. Obviously, the waitress needed help because more patrons were arriving and she could barely keep our water glasses filled. As I was eating my ramen, I was desperately searching for the vegetables which was described in the menu. I found only 3 slices of kim chee which was disappointing and one 1" strip of negi (green onions) compared to the other ramen. I politely flagged the waitress and asked about the lack of vegetables in my ramen and showed her the quote from the menu. She said they normally put in cabbage and I told her there was none except for the 3 pieces of kim chee. She walked away and I thought she was going to bring me some additional veggies but I was wrong. She completely ignored my concern and went along her business. Her attitude completely changed my opinion of this establishment and left a sour taste in my mouth. The ramen broth and noodles were very tasty, rich and luxurious and the fried rice had a good flavor. The char-siu was tender with a slight sweetness to it. Do *NOT* order: Tabeteko Ramen/Paitan Ramen-They do not put in the vegetables as listed. Gyoza - It's similar to the frozen kind you see in the market. My suggestion: don't get the combos but rather order your own ramen and split a chahan (fried rice) with your company. As I went up to pay for my meal, I was upset that the waitress showed apathy to my complaint and didn't both to mention it any of the staff. She never apologized for not providing what was listed and I expressed my disappointment and felt cheated by the description of the menu. Again, she was expressionless. Thank goodness John Legend saved the night from her crappy, unprofessional, apathetic attitude.

    (2)

  • Laini K.

    The ramen was worth the wait. casual atmosphere good service

    (5)

  • Tommy C.

    This is a great mom and pop ramen noodle shop located in a strip mall away from all the touristy non-sense on Waikiki. The restaurant is full of locals looking for some authentic ramen. I got the Patain ramen with the traditional Japanese ramen noodles, which is more chewy and just the way I like it. The broth is in a white chicken, pork broth is the best I've had so far in the US. And the prices here are just right! I also tried Goma Tei while I was in Hono. Both are good but Yotteko wins it for authenticity and the noodles and broth were better in my opinion. However the gyoza was definitely better at goma tei.

    (5)

  • Jonathan P.

    Irasshaimase!...mm no irasshaimase? Yup, this Japanese ramen place is busy busy busy. So don't go expecting a welcome. After entering the shoji (Japanese sliding) door I was pretty confused. Do I wait to be seated? Or do I just sit down at an empty table? After standing near the entrance I decided to sit down because the table near the door just kept starring at me... After awhile, the waitress came out and gave us our water and menus. I then discovered what Paitan is yelp.com/user_local_phot… ! I've heard a lot of buzz about this Paitan and I figured I HAD to try it for myself. What makes Paitan so unique is the "secret" ingredient they add....collagen. Yup that's right! Yotteko-Ya claims that their collagen rich stock will prevent aging of the skin and joints. What a plus! I got the Paitan Chashu Ramen yelp.com/user_local_phot… for $9.45 (Oh and I didn't spell it wrong. It's either chashu or charsiu). My Paitan Chashu Ramen was pretty good! I got the Japanese style noodles which are slightly firmer noodles than the soft local style noodles. The chashu was good, but I didn't really care for it. It seemed a little sweet/tangy in my opinion. But what really differentiates Yotteko-Ya from other ramen places is the broth. The broth is very flavorful yet light, unlike the heavy thick broths served at Goma Tei. My Korean friend ordered the Tabeteko Paitan Ramen yelp.com/user_local_phot… for $9.45. The tabeteko ramen is the same as the paitan chashu ramen but with kimchee and few less pieces of chashu. Honestly, my friend didn't like the tabeteko ramen. The main reason was that the kimchee used in the ramen was made wrong (using the wrong parts of the cabbage). I just said, "Well they are Japanese. You can't expect Japanese people to make Korean food perfect." I did try the tabeteko and I have to admit...I liked my chashu paitan better! Overall it was pretty good. But I believe the ramen was a little over-hyped for me. Another aspect I noticed was that my ramen didn't come out hot. It came out just slightly warm. I chatted with my fellow yelp friend Kit W. and she noticed the same thing! I'm not sure if the soup is supposed to be served like that, but I personally like my soup hot! By the time I finished my noodles and got to my soup it was lukewarm/on the verge of room temperature water =( But Yotteko-Ya is probably has the best ramen in the McCully shopping center area. Plus where else can you eat collagen ramen and prevent the aging of your skin and joints?! Just make sure to get a stamp card (their business card) and to get it stamped while paying. For every 10 ramen you buy, you get a free ramen. I can't believe I didn't get the stamp card stamped! Well at least know now.

    (4)

  • Sheryl M.

    What makes Yotteko-ya stand out from other ramen shops? The ramen has much thicker noodles than most ramen shops you visit on Oahu. The soup base derives it's delishousness from chicken and pork stock....and I mean delishousness from the animal and not from powder. Now doesn't that just make your mouth water??? Oh and I can't forget about describing the gyoza...the little dumplings of party in my mouth. I wish my stomach could stretch more so I could eat more!!! You know you want to try, so go for it!!!

    (5)

  • Remy Z.

    When your stock sells out, Next time, please apologize With at least a smile

    (3)

  • Vernelle O.

    Their paitan chashu ramen was delicious! The chashu just melts in your mouth... Yum!

    (5)

  • Ethan Y.

    Hey guys, its actually not bad. I will be generous. They give you a lot of food for the combination meal. I didn't like the fried chicken in particular and they don't really have seafood combinations here. There are the negatives. The soup base was a little too sweet for me. But in general, this is not bad in addition to the good pricing, I think it deserves a good rating. No, it is not mindblowing. That is just ridiculous. No ramen can be mind blowing. The last time I had my mind blown was in Serbia with some yummy Cevapi. I havent had my mind blown for a while. I would like to though.

    (3)

  • Traci H.

    Found this place by accident, thanks to yelp... FOOD: Loved the ramen noodles (Japanese style!)--I hadn't realized that most ramen shops overcook the noodles local style. Got the PAITAN KAKUNI RAMEN and it was quite good. Round and rich flavor, but yet very simple and comforting broth. the huge hunks of pork are good but maybe not my thing. It is a limited daily special so if you can get it, it's worth a try ($11.95). I think next time I'll try the shoyu based ramen with kim chee and a slice of charsiu. I don't know if I look younger from drinking the soup (that's what they say) but it was very enjoyable. The CURRY FRIED RICE was good (I think it was like $7.75) and hearty portions but it was a little one-note compared to the ramen. A good one-note but still yet, not as rounded flavor. There are huge chunks of pork and veggies and some nice orange peppers that add a nice flavor to it. Good to try, but I think next time I'll stick with the ramen! They have combo specials that let you taste a little of everything and that may be the way to go since a lot of reviews said the gyoza is also good. LOCATION: 2nd floor McCully Shopping Center--the farthest spot from McCully Street, tucked in the far corner. PARKING: I don't think I need to say anything further that if you come to McCully Shopping Center at the wrong time, parking is miserable, but at least they have free parking outside and also downstairs in the garage. Good luck with that. OTHER: -Restrooms: they have their own bathroom in the restaurant so you don't have to go get a key and go to the central bathrooms -Stamp card: get it stamped, I think buy 10 get the 11th free -Come early, there are few tables and they seem to get crowded. At lunch we came around 11:45 and had no wait but by 12noon, there was a line. By 12;30 there was good turnover and folks were getting seated. -Table set up: most are for 2 or 4 (maybe 7 square tables?) and there is a counter that seats about 4 and one table that can hold what looks like 6 adults. So if you have a big party, good luck. They won't put the tables together either since it's harder to serve the hot soups so either good luck getting the big table or be ready to split your party. -They take VISA/MC (and maybe others, I'm sorry I forgot what others they take) -It's not an expansive Japanese restaurant menu so if you're looking for chicken teriyaki, katsu or sushi, then you've gotta go elsewhere, but they do serve ramen, fried rice, some appetizers of shrimp, gyoza, and a few other stuff. I'll be back for sure...but you can bet I'll go early because as enjoyable as it was, I'm not sure I'm up to wait an hour for the food...

    (4)

  • Hayden N.

    After running errands in the morning, I decided to stop be Yotteko-Ya for lunch. A friend had recommended that I try their special ramen because the broth is cooked for something crazy like 10 hours. I had the Paiten Charsiu Ramen and it hit the spot! I couldn't stop sipping the soup because it was extremely rich in flavor. I normally do not like dining alone but I was content sitting at the counter and eating my soup, I didn't care to be bothered with socializing.

    (5)

  • Art T.

    Since I am a noodle person, I love to try out all kind of noodles places. This is one of my favorite Japanese ramen joints in town. Food: I definitely recommend people to try out their the Paitan soup base. There are several noodles shops in town that serve paitan soup base, but it is probably the best one in town. I like to have my noodles in Japanese style "al dente". Their fried rice and gyoza are just as good. Atmosphere & Service: It is not a big place, so seating can be limited during the busy time. The service is ok. Not that the ladies are rude, but they are busy serving, cleaning and being a cashier at the same time. Parking: Since there are several restaurants and other businesses in McCully Shopping Center, the parking can be very tough during the busy time, but I do like the covered parking that they have. I normally try to go there early before the rush hour starts so that I can get a parking easily. If you like Japanese ramen, this is definitely a great place to enjoy some comfort food.

    (4)

  • mike y.

    GAME OVER !! This is my favorite ramen in honolulu. AMAZING !! so good that they run out of food and they close early !! WARNING .. they close on WED .. i keep forgetting this. I want to beg the owner to come to boston !! service is great.. parking sucks cuz it's mccully plaza.. be prepared for dings on your car.

    (5)

  • Mari K.

    I'm feeling pretty happy just thinking about this right now...the noodles are so delicious! You can pick Japanese style or Local style-I went with Japanese (chewier) and then the type of broth you want to eat. Listened to my fellow yelpers and got the paitan kakuni ramen. The broth is nice and thick but not overwhelmingly where you feel heavy afterwards. It's seriously just perfect. I've tried many of the ramen shops around town and have been a big fan of Goma Tei but this one beats goma tei for me by far. Just make sure when you go you go early because it gets pretty crowded and from what I understand they serve till they run out!

    (5)

  • Christina C.

    Paitan chashu ramen FTW I was craving some ramen and yelp reviews steered me to Yotteko. The restaurant itself is pretty small. About 7 tables, 1 booth for large groups, and a bar with stools. I walked in and got to choose the table since I got their when it just opened. I ordered the Paitan Ramen charshu (5 pieces), traditional, no green onions, spicy. The order came out with the broth, noodles, chunks of charshu, and Kikurage mushrooms. Mm, the charshu was so tender and tasty. It was like half meat- half fat for each piece. The noodles were traditional and not as tender, but it was good. The paitan broth is really good. I think I like it better than the rest. Not sure if ordering it spicy is worth the extra dollar. I think there is hot oil on the table, just no sesame seeds. Very limited drink menu (bud, bud light, kirin). No sake? Service is very attentive. Thanks yelpers. the ramen really hit the spot.

    (5)

  • Dakota L.

    Interesting interior decor. Food was decent, char siu was tender lean and tasty (more than Goma Tei) sesame broth not as strongly tasting as Goma Tei. Single friendly server for 6 tables -- coulda been a long wait if the place was busier. Would go back.

    (3)

  • Kylie O.

    Being in the mood for some hot pot/ramen, my friend suggested this place in McCully shopping center. At the time, I didn't even know where we were going, he just said to drive. So fine. Now I'm going to argue that the parking is just horrible there, since it took me a couple times to get into the stall. He on the other hand is going to argue that I'm just a awful driver and that I make his blood pressure rise. I think it's the former, don't know what he's talking about. So we finally get to Yotteko-Ya, located on the second floor of McCully shopping center, at the end of the left hand side. Word of advice: It's a sliding door, trust me, I pushed it, it didn't work. Yotteko-Ya isn't too small, but isn't big either, so approximately 5-8 parties can be there at a time. But fortunately it wasn't crowded and we were seated immediately. I decided to get the Tabeteko. Great choice on my end. It comes with a good dose of kim-chee, and a few pieces of chashu. I was surprised at how good it tasted. Although it mostly tasted like a kim-chee broth, it was a great balance of spicy and mild. The noodles I thought were cooked just perfectly, not too chewy, and not too hard either. Now, the chashu, it was amazing. I was truly caught off guard at how good it was, and how it would just melted in your mouth. I swear I saw one more in the broth! And this is how you know the broth is good. I'm the type of person where I just eat the noodles, no broth for me. But this time, I couldn't keep my spoon down! It's only been one day since I've been there and I already want seconds. One serving isn't enough!

    (5)

  • Jim M.

    I have been going here since they opened. Yotteko-Ya (some called Kyoto Ramen) is of the best Japanese noodles in a town with good noodle places! My favorite is the Yasai Paitan Ramen with spicy sauce. A side of kimchee and a side of gyoza makes the meal complete. Good service, nice people, and a clean restaurant make this a great place to eat. If you are there any time after 5:30PM, though, be prepared for the hassle of parking. McCully Shopping Center is notoriously bad for parking.

    (4)

  • Grace N.

    There are so many good reviews so no need to say much, but I don't even like pork broth based ramen but I really do enjoy Yotteko-Ya's paitan ramen. Service sometimes is slow but it's only because they take care in making every bowl delicious :)

    (4)

  • Dale W.

    it's funny because i was in this shopping center a week earlier and bookmarked the place, then ended up there with a group of friends (morning after wedding [partying] meal.) i got the kakuni paitan combo (with karaage chicken & chashu pork bowl.) so much food! so good. the ramen was very rich, which is great because i haaate a thin, flavorless ramen broth.

    (5)

  • Lan N.

    So this is ramen nirvana...and the fact that such perfection came from an unassuming spot in a strip mall makes it all the more delightful. The location was on the far end of the upstairs level at the McCully Shopping Center. I missed it the first time around b/c the sign was not that obvious. There was only one waitress working all the tables, but we were seated immediately (I came around opening time at 11). I quickly ordered the paitan with vegetables japanese style, and it came out steaming hot within 10min. The broth was milky and had the depth of flavor that can only be imparted by hours of cooking. If I compared it with Ippudo's, I'd say the latter has a slight edge in flavor...but would I want to deal with ugly big city attitude and price for that edge...no. There were two other options for broth: shoyu and salt. As for fixings, aside from vegetables, you can also get kim chee or more chashu pork. I was surprised that I actually liked the pork, since I generally eat it only to avoid wasting meat. The restaurant makes good business on the chashu, since they offer up to a slab with their ramen. Next time, I will get the reg paitan with two pieces of chashu. The veggies were good, but I felt they diluted the flavors a little. I also want to try the pork fried rice, since that seems to be much loved by yelpers. For so long, my attempts at finding my holy grail of ramen has turned up empty. Ippudo had me wait 2 hrs in the NYC chill to then deal with their snarky staff. Santouka in LA was respectable, but their broth fell short and the noodles were just slightly past al dente. Then there were the countless forgettable ramen shops around the US and across most of Asia that left me missing my old standby, Neoguri (yes, instant noodles). I thought I would have to go to Japan for a good bowl of ramen...but my first ramen shop in Hawaii, and I hit jackpot! I now can't wait to try all the other ramen shops around the island!

    (5)

  • Larae M.

    Every time the weather gets cold and I'm stuck here in my cubicle all the way in Texas, I end up day dreaming of the first time I ever tasted the paitan ramen from Yotteko-Ya back in 2008. It was life changing. I've had ramen before in Cali, NY, etc but the paitan broth combined with the ridiculously tender char su here is perfection. Since that first time four years ago, I've dragged everyone else (boyfriend, cousins, anyone who would listen) to accompany me here every time I visited Oahu and they've all shared my sentiment...this ramen is untouchable! The ramen of Gods! Worthy of the last meal on earth! It even boasts to give the power of eternal youth and beauty! Sigh. It's days like this that I wish I had the super human ability to fly or at least go into a transporter a la Star Trek so I can have a bowl of ramen here. Until then, I suppose I'll have to settle for Nippon's version.

    (5)

  • Maia C.

    One of my favorite ramen places on the island! That osman's review below is wack. The paitan broth is the best, so flavorful! I get the kimchi one. The pork that comes in it is fall of the bone tender. Try there gyoza too!

    (5)

  • Crystal I.

    Three words, YUM YUM YUM. There are so many ramen places on this island but this has got to be one of the best. A friend showed me this cute hide away yesterday night when we went for dinner. She suggested I get the paitan ramen since it was the house favorite. I must say I am picky about my ramen, ive always been a fan of goma tei but this place is KILLA (: The broth is light yet it has so much flavor and the noodles (i got japanese style [firm], you can opt to get american style [chewy]) are amazing. If you ever ate gomatei the noodles at yotteko ya are a bit thicker. The portion was a good amount and left me feeling just the right amount of full - although for all you heavy eaters you can choose to add extra noodles for $1 more (one portion and a half) and special house spice for $1 too! The family next to us got ramen and fried rice and the fried rice looked really good; i must come back to try more

    (5)

  • Lana N.

    Hawaii beats out California with their beaches and amazing waves, affordable sashimi grade sushi, and yummy shaved ice, but like James W. says.. California still wins when it comes to ramen. Yotteko-Ya Kyoto Ramen makes a nice affordable bowl of ramen. Their Paitan broth is clean yet rich in flavor, and apparently extends your life???; their traditional style noodles were cooked perfectly al dente; and their chashu pork melts in your mouth. However, something is missing to just pull it all together... I can't pin point it, but something just falls short. Regardless, Kyoto serves up very good ramen worthy of a try - each component cooked wonderfully! The Pork Fried Rice and Gyoza are both also good, but nothing remarkable.

    (3)

  • Trina C.

    I've let my friends convince me to try other ramen places...nothing has come close to the taste and quality of your food. I will never eat at another ramen place again! Sometimes it is a little longer to be seated because of the line but the paitan extra spicy and pan fried gyoza is so worth the wait! Lin and Naomi, you guys are awesome!

    (5)

  • Eddie T.

    Location is good but the flavor of the noodle needs to improve. I have yet still to find a delicious ramen in Hawaii and I've tried here once and thought perhaps I could allow up to 3 times to decide my rating. Fried rice was very interesting in ingredient wise Noodle and flavor was nothing special.... its OK.

    (3)

  • C L.

    One star for the following reasons: A couple months ago, we attempted to eat here for a friends birthday lunch and they were closed. It was a Monday, so I realized that I should have checked first. 2nd attempt - we tried to have dinner here. Checked the site and according to the hours posted, they close at 9pm. My friend who hates coming to McCully shopping center agreed to bring me because I really wanted to try it. We arrived at 6:30 pm and they were sold out.... Huh??? Ok.. If I ever get to try this place, I may change my rating. But so far this is my experience with Yotteko-ya.

    (1)

  • Rick L.

    I gotz to get my ramen medicine. Inject me with some ramen please! I love ramen and if I could I would eat it every night! Yotteko-Ya has been one of my all time favorite ramen houses. I love the sliding door when you walk in, the red painted walls and those lights up in the ceiling really makes me happy...I don't know why...I just love this place. The food has always been very tasty, service a bit slow but that's ok. I love to catch up with my loved one and friends before the scrumptious meals arrive. The broth is just perfectly cook. There's also so many variation you can have your noodles cooked and don't forget to look at the back of their menu. Two words, combo meals! Parking is a bit tough, however I've always been able to find a spot. There's also parking underneath the building, but the spaces are extremely tight. Enjoy!

    (4)

  • Sarah T.

    I generally don't favor Ramen. I'll have it and finish it to be a good lunch/dinner companion to my friens who are ramen aficionados, but I've never gone to a ramen restaurant on my own initiative. That being said - *I loved this ramen*. And I've been to: Daikokuya, Maru Ichi (N. CA), Hakata Shin Sen Gumi (LA), Goma Tei (Honolulu). I ordered the basic Paitan that comes with char siu. The broth was creamy (creamier than Goma Tei, which IMO made it more flavorful). Each bite of the char siu was also impeccably full of flavor - not too salty and the texture was smooth. Located in a strip mall. Free Parking is available in the parking lot above and below ground. Underground parking is a bit tight. The atmosphere is a good balance of Japanese (lanterns and other deco) and Hawaiian (red? warm, 80s music, sunny). FYI I think they close in the evenings when they run out of broth. I stopped by last night around 7pm and they were already closed.

    (4)

  • Sandy K.

    Yotteko-ya is our #1 favorite ramen shop in the city. It's a small family-operated shop. I thought about rating it 4-stars only because of their very limited lunch hours, there is often a wait for a table and the parking can be a challenge. But when it comes their food, the Paitan ramen broth is to die for delicious! The ramen is worth the wait ... Thus, 5 stars! We also love to have a side order of their homemade char siu. It is not like the red stuff that you get in Chinatown or at the market ... It's melt in you mouth onolicious! They offer the choice of Japan-style (firm) or Local-style (softer) noodles. I normally eat like a bird but, I love the broth so much that I actually finish the noodles and soup to the last drop. Our daughter's eyes are normally bigger than her stomach but this is the one place where she finishes everything that she orders. Parking in the main parking lot can be a challenge. But we go to the downstairs lot and walk up the stairs. we don't mind. the walk is a great trade off for covered parking especially at lunchtime because the main lot gets so hot! Their garlic fried rice and Gyoza are also good but the Paitan ramen is our first choice!

    (5)

  • Arynn I.

    After hiking Koko Head with my cousin, his girlfriend, and their friend, we (minus the friend) decided to go to Snow Factory at McCully Shopping Center...Then my cousin decided to have lunch first...so we headed upstairs and waited...the longest 10 minutes ever! The restaurant opened at 11:30 so we were kinda early. But you know, after hiking, it's kau kau time. Naturally. My cousin and his girlfriend both recommended the charsiu gohan. For whatever reason, I was under the impression it was fried rice with charsiu...anyways. So we are one of 5 tables seated RIGHT when the restaurant opened and we took our time to look at the menu. Obviously it is a ramen-ya (as the sign above the door stated) but there were other items on the menu that I quickly glanced over. I kinda wanted a combo...but then I thought maybe the ramen and rice would be too much...and I really wanted gyoza. I always want gyoza when ramen is involved. So I opted for just the side dish of charsiu gohan and gyoza. (My cousin ended up getting the combo since it came with gyoza...i ate the gyoza) ANyways... The gyoza was yummy and you can mix your own sauce which is always nice. I ALWAYS will get gyoza pan fried...I mean, it's the only way to eat it. I also tried the paitan ramen and it was good. I could really taste the sesame seeds that was garnished onto the charsiu but the flavor of the soup and the noodles was great! The charsiu gohan was just shoyu pork over rice...the flavor of that was very nice and the portion was just right. I did share some. All in all, price was right, food was yummy, service was VERY good (considering the nice Japanese lady was running around by herself). She did come back 2 times to refill our water and make sure we were ok in between bringing out all the orders for the tables and clearing tables for new people. Because seating is limited, be prepared to wait if you are not anxiously awaiting their restaurant opening time! #Yelp 365 challenge- 006/365

    (4)

  • Jenel O.

    The food at Yotteko-ya seemed much better then. I hardly visit now but I feel like it's gone downhill. I'm not sure what it is, but the broth doesn't seem the same. =( About 5 years ago, I used to live in the area... so getting to McCully Shopping Center was a much quicker drive. Now it's too much of a pain to get there and find parking.

    (3)

  • Teresa W.

    This is my favorite ramen ever anywhere. I am completely addicted. Service is good and quick. They do tend to run out of things later in the evening but that just means they make everything really fresh and in small batches to me. Love it and want some now! Oh and any of the paitan ramens is where it's at, I don't bother with anything else. Almost forgot to add fried rice is really good!

    (5)

  • Stephanie K.

    I love this place! The wonderful ladies always take good care of you! The charsiu is amazing. Soft and falls apart in your mouth. Yum! I always get paitan ramen, Japanese style. Although their hours are short and they close when they sell out, it's worth it. Come early or in a not too busy day.

    (5)

  • Grace O.

    Wow, so glad I came here to get my last ramen fix before my husband and I move back to the mainland! I got the Paitan Kukani ramen, which had luscious chunks of charsui pork that just melted in my mouth. *drool* Their paitan broth was very savory, and i had them make is spicy (oomori), which just made it even better! It was a part of the Set A Combo, which included white rice and 3 pieces of gyoza. I took out some of the charsui and put it on the rice to eat separate and it was delicious! Salty and tangy meat with the rice...yum The gyoza was nothing too special, but they did pan-fry it very well so that their was a beautiful golden crust at the bottom of them.. We came here around 1135 and sat until 1215 (my friend was super late). We went ahead and ordered first, but by the time she came at 1215, the whole place was full and some people were waiting at the door. So get here early! I wish I knew of this place sooner!

    (5)

  • Aimee A.

    Yay! I love yotteko-ya! I always end up ordering the spicy paitan ramel meal number 1, which includes noodles, gyoza and white rice. the broth is flavorful and mildly spicy, the pork meat is tender as well. the wait is long sometimes and they close early than 10pm most times. I've gone twice only to find out they are closed (so annoying) so it might be helpful to save their number in your phone and call them before going.

    (4)

  • Chester A.

    Ramen is freaking delicious here. Came on a weeknight right when it opened at 5 pm. Haven't been back ever since -- cuz it's always closed when I get there. They run out of the ramen goodness so MAKE SURE YOU GO EARLY!!! Totally worth it.

    (4)

  • Kris T.

    I'm not usually a big ramen fan. It's not something I really crave for. But that all changed after my first visit to Yotteko-Ya! The paitan broth hooked me...so flavorful and soothing (and supposedly good for your skin!). Not normally a fan or char siu either, but their char siu is so tender and flavorful! I finally had a chance to try their fried rice. It's just as amazing as the paitan ramen! Big pieces of their char siu mixed in. I seriously can't get enough of this place! Make sure you get there early! They close early if they sell out. And don't forget, they are closed on Wednesdays.

    (5)

  • Mindy T.

    All the great reviews are true. This is my all time favorite ramen place. It beats Goma-tei and Taiyo. The broth is amazing, and the noodles are cooked just the way I like it. I've tried the shrimp mayo appetizer as well, it was quite delicious. I think the price is okay, totally worth my money. I think it's a family business, because it's the same people every time I go. But anyways, I highly recommend this place to all the ramen lovers! It sucks that they close on Wednesdays and 3PM-5ish :(

    (5)

  • Mari S.

    My favorite ramen shop in Honolulu! The Paitan Ramen with chashu is my favorite. Absolutely DELICIOUS!! A must-try if this is your first visit to Yotteko-Ya. The staff here seem to be a bit short staffed at times. There are usually two waitresses working during the dinner hour, but sometimes there is just one. If that is the case, you may have a bit of a wait. You may want to come early, because sometimes they even sell out! Once, I went at 7:30pm and they were already closed because they sold out! Parking in the McCully Shopping Center is a pain, so this is one down side to dining at any restaurant establishment located here. Also, please note that the restaurant is closed on Wednesdays.

    (4)

  • Eddie M.

    best ramen on the planet! we went everyday during our oahu trip!

    (5)

  • Ryan M.

    Came here for lunch, got the ramen with their signature Paitan broth. It's good cause you can choose the firmness of the noodles. I got the firm (Japanese style) noodles, they were GREAT, the consistancy reminded me of perfect aldente spaghetti noodles. The Char Siu were small like stated in other reviews but they were super tender and i think braised, so Quality over quantity. The signature broth was D-lish! pork and chicken are simmerd for 10 hours which renders out the collagen, the menu states "please enjoy our soup to the last drop and look younger!" I finished all the soup, so hopefully i look younger! but then again i've been 30 yeas old for many years now! Service was a bit slow, because there were only 2 people running the floor. So be patient tip: you can get extra noodles for $1 more. The sets are not worth it in my opinion, $4.50 more for 3 peices of Karaage and rice? $3 more for 3 gyoza and rice + $.50 for paitan broth.

    (5)

  • Yen N.

    I absolutely love this place. Paitan Chashu. Spicy. Gosh, the chashu melts in my mouth. If I had a bigger tummy and a bigger appetite, I swear I'd eat all of their chashu for the day. Alllll miiinnneeee.

    (5)

  • Clay Y.

    I had the Paitan Chashu Ramen $ 9.95. Very tasty pork broth, ordered it Japanese style, Firm ramen. We went for lunch, opens at 11:30, when we left there was line to get in.

    (4)

  • Kevin H.

    I had the Paitan ramen.. Very tasty broth (I actually drank it all, which I never do). If you like the Paitan ramen, you should go to Daikokuya in LA, which is even better. The best part was the kakuni pork slices. Damn! Those are some tasty bits!!!! Definitely coming back again.

    (4)

  • wilson q.

    Best gyozas I have ever eaten. Crispy on the outside, crunchy tasty filling inside. Ordered the paitan ramen at 8:30 on a Monday evening. No supply issues and no wait to be seated. I'll be back.

    (5)

  • Teresa L.

    Located on the second floor of the Mccully Shopping Center (right above snow factory). Parking can be found in the front or underneath mccully shopping center. It can be difficult to find parking during the busy hours so I would recommend finding neighborhood parking. Also, stalls may run small if you have a big car. I ordered the paitan ramen and enjoyed it! The broth was not too thick like gravy compared to some other ramen restaurants that I've been too. Not a big fan of their chashu. It has a sweet teriyaki flavor to them and I'm used to more of a salty chashu. I showed up at 1:15PM so I didn't have to worry about waiting for a table or my food. The service was good and the price was average. I would definitely go back to eat here again.

    (4)

  • Chyanne O.

    One of my favorite ramen joints on the island! Paitan ramen is so delicious. It's not too thick but it still has that taste. The ramen noodles are always cooked perfectly- never over cooked or under cooked. The place is small (but what ramen place isn't?) so you might have to wait a bit if you go during lunch time. Also note that some days they are closed.

    (5)

  • Matilda Z.

    Did not disappoint. Great ramen. Great fast and friendly service. Would definitely come again. Quick 15 min walk from Hilton Hawaiian village. Much better food than anything inside the Hilton. Ordered the patsuni ramen. Flavorful, savory and not over powering salty or oily as other ramen places. Pork fried rice was ok. Arrived at the place at 730, they closed at 745 when they sold out.

    (5)

  • Wayne S.

    The Yasai Paitan Ramen was fantastic! The broth was devine, the texture of the noodles was perfect. I order my noodles the Japanese style which is firm or you can have it the Local style which is softer. If you are an early bird, don't go when the restaurant just opens at 530pm because the kitchen is slow due to the influx or all at once orders. Oh, the waitress is really nice.

    (5)

  • G G.

    Awesome.. Read the other reviews of their Paitan ramen.. It's f**kin awesome.. I travel from the mainland once a year and I go out of my way to come here.. Order the firm noodles.. Spicy on the side if you like spicy ramen..

    (5)

  • Jay C.

    Great local place to go eat...I got the yataiaji ramen + gyoza combo set and I must say--the gyoza definitely stole the show. Was not expecting that! Ramen was good, not too salty. It had a clean aftertaste which reflects the long cooking time of the broth. Friendly staff, busy place.

    (4)

  • Li Y.

    Love the food here. Ambience so cute and comfortable. Best noodles I have ever had. And the soup isn't bad either. My personal favorite is the Paitan. You can order the soup noodles with whatever you want, with charsiu, with vegetables, with.... Just make sure you order the gyoza with it! If you like garlic...these gyoza best I've had as well! While parking is usually crowded, with a little bit of patience, it is plentiful...just have to wait until someone goes out. Parking on the street level as well as basement level of the building! Go early; some selection sell out !

    (4)

  • Jodi S.

    There is something about good ramen that just makes you feel...well, good. Yotteko-Ya has awesomely delicious ramen. Period. Get past the terrible McCully Shopping Center parking, the possibility that if you go too late they may run out of noodles, the probable wait to get a table, and the sparse service and it's worth it. Don't let those negatives deter you for perseverance pays off my friend! The tasty Paitan broth and super soft melt in your mouth orgasmic-esk charsiu is soooo worth it. I like to order my noodles Japanese style, a little more firm. But I'm definitely a soup girl. I drink allll that super oiishi broth til my noodles look dry. I can walk in to Yotteko-Ya after a bad day at work and leave feeling like I had somehow salvaged it. That is the power of good ramen.

    (4)

  • I Crush Your Head C.

    Oishii desu! Yeah, the kakuni paitan ramen is really good, but the reason to come here is for the garlic chahan. Sucka is fierce! Best rice dish on the island. That's not me talking, that's science. Get some!

    (5)

  • Daniel B.

    We went to 4 different Ramen restaurants in Oahu, but this is my favorite among all!

    (5)

  • Brandon Y.

    Mmmm my favorite ramen place. I always get the Paitan Tabeteko, It's a little spicy and it comes with kim chee and 1 peice of Charsu. If I'm hungry I get the set with the Charsu Gohan. The Charsu here is awesome, very soft and tasty. You get to pick sofy (local style) or hard (japenese style) noodles. I don't give alot of 5 stars so that should be hint of how good this place is!

    (5)

  • Mika H.

    "I don't normally eat Ramen, but when I do, I go to Yotteko-Ya!" They have the best Paitan Ramen, and their Char Siu is phenomenal! Layers of lean meat and fat, melted right into your mouth when you engulf the soup. I heard the owner did everything himself: he did his business with a goal to share his excellence of his Paitan, he only did 1 batch everyday, and when that batch is gone, he will close for the rest of the day. So, going there at lunch is a better idea.

    (5)

  • Reimi D.

    Good lord..the Paitan w/chasu. So damn good. Takes credit cards. They have their own bathroom. Located at McCully SC. Look for the big Kyoto Ramen sign. If you haven't been here yet, you're missing out. I have no complaints--which is rare for me (hee hee), But everything was fantastic: the service was fast and friendly, the prices were beyond reasonable, the ramen was SO effing good, the gyoza were actual gyoza--like packed with meat filling, unlike other places where they treat the filling like it's a meat spread. Tasted just like my mom's gyoza (she's from Japan). Speaking of gyoza...here's another reason why they get 5 stars from me: I hate, HATE, HATE when I go to a ramen shop and I order a side of gyoza with my ramen and it comes like 15 minutes after the ramen. Why? I get that most places fry them when they're ordered, but why does that justify getting it 15 after the ramen? That just indicates to me that there might be some problems with the kitchen staff, or something. Yottekko-Ya, on the other hand, brought my gyoza out right after the ramen. That's what I'm talkin' about. The server always refilled my water, and even the parking wasn't that big of a deal for us. I mean, it's McCully shopping center. You go to that parking lot expecting madness, that's just the way it is. So yah, in the end, everything was rad. We left feeling very full and satisfied.

    (5)

  • Kelly G.

    When reading the tips for this place, I noticed the Paitan was compared to the Kotteri style ramen at another place. Thick flavorful broth was basically the summary - so why not try it out for comparison! Pros: Basically the Paitan broth was yummy. The shoyu was not bad either. Japanese style noodle (firm) was great! Fried rice had shredded char siu meat which was yummy. Cons: The portions seemed small for what we paid for. The combo C was also a bit of a stretch, for about $6 more you get a meager portion of fried rice and 3 gyoza (I got pan fried). Dining area was pretty small and their waiting area even smaller. The night I went they seemed understaffed and took awhile for them to get us all seated. Parking in the evening is also very hard to come by, but if you exit out away from McCully and take an immediate right and a right, theres underground parking. As yummy as this place is, probably won't be back due lack of bang for buck.

    (2)

  • Spencer L.

    Chashu - Awesome Gyoza - Awesome Broth - Awesome Limited Supply - Not so awesome (get there early). Slurp Factor - Over the top.

    (5)

  • Chad S.

    This ramen shop is a hidden gem in the McCully Shopping Center tucked away on the top level on the oppostie corner of Fook Yuen Seafood. When I eat here I always order a combo set which includes a choice of ramen, rice, and optional side dish (karaage chicken or gyoza). However, I usually get either combo C or D with the Yataaji broth and the mini yakibuta chahan (fried rice). Combo C also comes with gyoza and Combo D also comes with the karaage chicken. The Yataaji ramen with Japanese style noodles (a firmer noodle) is a shoyu based broth that comes with two slices of chashu (thinly sliced shoyu pork belly) and some crunchy vegetables. The homemade chashu makes this dish, it adds a salty sweet taste to each bite. The mini Yakibuta chahan is a fried rice that uses the same chashu and assorted vegetables. This fried rice is one of the best I've ever had. They also serve different Okazu (side order dishes), and it is BYOB so you can save some money on alcohol. The only negative side about coming here is the parking. If you've ever been to McCully Shopping Center, you know what I mean. It is always crowded and the parking spaces are very small. In terms of ranking my top three ramen shops in town, I would say: 1) Goma Tei 2) Yotteko-Ya 3) Tenkaippin

    (4)

  • Jay K.

    We were trying to find a place to eat and happened upon Yotteko-Ya while driving around, lucky us! We used our smartphone and hoped online, Yelpers recommended it and after eating there, we have to agree! Straight and simple, the food was great! You must try the Paitan and fried rice combo. Having a Japanese restaurant in Honolulu, you're held to a high standard with all the tourist from Japan, while meeting the tastes of the locals. As a result, one of the best ramen restaurants I've been to (and I've been to plenty, let me tell you!). I don't give many 5 stars, but this one edges into that spot, as it is the best I've had so far based upon taste. Minor cons, parking is a bit tough, they can run out of food, and just a touch salty. Again, best noodles I've tried, I recommend it. Thumbs up (shaka style).

    (5)

  • Norm D.

    With over 100 Yelp reviews and a 4 star rating, this place better be good. After my Yotteko-Ya experience, there is no sense in preaching to the choir about how amazing this place is; but here is my 2 yen on the experience anyway. Ambiance: * Cute and very red with Japanese décor. * Interesting lighting on the ceiling. Come see for yourself. * Good place to come with friends, family, or even a night out with your date. Service: * Super friendly. Constant smiles all around. * Helpful with questions and recommendations. (Paitan? Yasai? Tabeteko? Who knows?) * It initially took a while to get some water; however, I got my Kirin fast (definitely needed after a long day of work). Food: I ordered the D set (however, got it with Yasai Paitan Ramen) which includes Chicken Karaage and Chashu Gohan. If you don't know what I'm talking about, check this place out and ask the helpful staff. I also had a side order of Gyoza to share. * Yasai Paitan Ramen. Definitely memorable. I think the delicious flavor of the Paitan base broth is ingrained in my taste buds and the Japanese style noodles (not soft) were perfect. * Gyoza - deep fried. Wow. It was like a tasty puffed pastry. * Chicken Karaage. This was just A-Okay, but not everything can be perfect. * Chashu Gohan. I could just eat this for a meal. The Chashu was ono and it somewhat reminded me of pork adobo. I'm Filipino, so of course I'll love this. Wallet damage: $43.82 (excluding tip; however, worth 20%) or roughly $22 per person. * 2 D Set ($13.45 each), one with Yasai Paitan Ramen (+$2.00) and another with Paitan Chashu Ramen (+2.00), side order Gyoza (+$4.75), one Kirin beer and green tea. * Not cheap, but not a disappointment. Overall, I got a mouthful of great tasty food, a tighter waistline, a stronger trust in Yelp, and walked out looking 3-years younger. Compliments to the chef for the tasty age-defying soup, which is definitely worth my 5 star rating.

    (5)

  • Scott H.

    Kakuni Paitan. Worth the price of admission. HUGE chunks of soft braised pork soaking in paitan broth. Come ofter and come early. If you try to order for dinner they will be sold out. With Yotteko-Ya, when they run out of noodles they close shop, which happens quite often. chicken karage/gyoza are mediocre. Fried rice is good. But you are not coming her for the side dishes. The paitan ramen is where it's at. Everyone seems to like the cha-su...it wasn't my "cup-o-tea"...I prefered the plain paitan (when they don't have kakuni, of course).

    (5)

  • Justin H.

    I really like Yotteko-Ya's ramen! If you're hungry, go for one of the Sets on the back of the menu. Their broth and charshu are awesome. Now while some might say the service is slow, please keep in mind how long it takes to make the dish, and that the place has pretty much one waitress. Still totally worth it:)

    (5)

  • Jason R.

    Went there per friends' recommendation. Got there at 11:30 when they are about to open, there was already a line waiting outside of the restaurant. We ordered the recommended ramen, the soup base is very thick and flavorful, but overall the experience is just so so. We've had better ramen elsewhere on the mainland.

    (3)

  • Derek K.

    Instant fan! I've eaten at many ramen places (GomaTei, Gomaichi, Sanoya, Taiyo, etc.) here in Hawaii and so far I think think this tops them all. The food is delicious and the price is right for what you get. I had 'Set C' which consisted of paitan ramen, fried rice and gyoza. I'm going to start by saying that the paitan is better than any of those other 'special' broths out there. The flavor and consistency is just right imo. In addition, the pork (I think it's shoyu pork) that they have in the ramen is *expletive* AWESOME! Secondly, the fried rice was also very flavorful. Other than the flavor the best, thing about the fried rice was that it was still somewhat sticky. I HATE when the fried rice is not sticky, like chinese fried rice. Finally, the gyoza was not like any other ramen place. I believe there is more filling in the gyoza and it seems less oily compared to other ramen shops. Still like the ramen and fried rice, the gyoza was very flavorful. On top of how well the food tastes, Yotteko-Ya is very clean, the decor adds to the dining experience and the service is very friendly. I will definitely go back many, many, many times.

    (5)

  • Ben K.

    This place is great! The best on the island of oahu. Their noodle is great and their paitan flavor is amazing. Definitely a 5 star!

    (5)

  • Kevin W.

    It's hard to say which ramen is better - here or Goma tei's. It's like asking who u like more - Brad Pitt or Johnny Depp. Matter of personal preference. Get the pai tan broth (there are variations on it e.g. with kimchi if u want some spice) since that is their specialty and quite delicious. Reminds me of Totto Ramen in NYC - a perfect chicken bone based soup. Char Sui pieces are delicious. If u don't like the fat on it , well, ur just dumb. Fried rice was decent, a tad salty. Gyoza good.

    (4)

  • Matt S.

    Best ramen I've had outside of Japan. No joke. This place is legit!

    (5)

  • Gloria S.

    Still love the Paitan Ramen with Kim Chee and the service is always friendly!

    (5)

  • Nimai W.

    I went here for the ramen.. and fell in love with the curry fried rice! Plus, they make the most delicious char-siu I've ever had. Oh man, my mouth is watering just thinking about it. I don't even normally like char-siu. Hey, half Chinese and hard to please. It's a cool little place with strange hours that have frustrated me many a times. Despite this, I've heard from friends who would know, that this is the most authentic ramen they've had in Hawaii. It's always a pain deciding whether to get the ramen or fried rice--I usually end up with both. Then of course, rather than tomorrows lunch, the leftovers end up being a late night snack. Yotteko.. ya' killin me.

    (5)

  • Joe W.

    IMO this is the best ramen on the island. The restaurant is pretty small with only a handful of round tables that sit two or three people comfortably, and four if you get cozy. There is one table that sits 7 and a few seats at the counter. The paitan broth is my favorite--it's creamy and flavorful without being too salty and goes great with the tabeteko (kim chee added), chashu pork, or kakuni pork. The kakuni pork is only available at lunch because they run out daily. There are usually only one or two servers but the service is pretty quick and friendly. Based on experience, they seem to be totally unwilling to accommodate large parties, so keep your group to 4 or less or expect some flak.

    (4)

  • Josh S.

    A Kyoto-styled ramen. I recently tried Sapporo ramen nearby Kapahulu St. and liked it so decided to expand my ramen knowledge and tried this place. Maybe I'm not big fan of Kyoto. It was just okay. I know Kyoto is very rich in history and Japanese culture and listed as top 100 places to visit in many travel magazines but their ramen wasn't just as good as others I've tried in Honolulu alone. The place is cute, they did a good job replicating traditional Japanese noodle house I've seen on TV. I actually felt like I was in Japan for first 18 seconds. I ordered one of their combo meal, which included ramen, rice, and few fried chicken. The ramen was great, but the rice and chicken wasn't. If I were to come again, I would probably just go with ramen alone. I must also add that the place was somewhat crowded - meaning this place is actually highly rated among local eaters. I give them some credit because it wasn't bad at all. I just didn't like it as much as other ramen I had nearby.

    (3)

  • Tamra P.

    I'm not really one to crave ramen, as I'm more into the garnish than the actual ramen but Emi H. suggested this spot for a lunch today and threw in something about the collagen in the noodles makes you look younger....SOLD! Okay maybe not a total believer but considering I recently had a birthday it sounded appealing. The shoji style door was a nice authentic touch. We did have a bit of a wait, but that's always a pretty good sign for a restaurant, right? I ordered the yasai paitan ramen, Japanese style. The broth was creamy and delicious! Tasty but not too salty. I also enjoyed the more al-dente Japanese style noodles (you can also order the more well-done "local style"). Wished there would have been a bit more veggies but then again I'm sure ramen purists prefer their garnish to be garnish whereas I'd prefer more garnish than ramen. The chasiu was AMAZING. I've never had such yummy chasiu. And I also liked that it was a normal brown color vs. the weird bright red/pink that charsiu tends to be. Anyway, it was tender, and full of flavor. Could have eaten a plate of that alone. Will have to try a combo the next time.....

    (4)

  • Renold A.

    My first stop after arriving at HNL. I've had many different plates here and none have disappointed. Delicious Ramen. Sometimes there's a wait during peak times as the dining area is small.

    (5)

  • Melissa M.

    I L-O-V-E ramen, and I think this place is my favorite! I can't get enough of their paitan ramen, ordered spicy ($1.00 extra). The hubs and I like to order one ramen and one ramen set (ramen with side gyoza and/or karaage and fried rice). It's the perfect amount of food for us. We both like the ramen with the firmer "japanese style" noodles rather than the softer "local style" noodles. I also crave their fried rice and could eat a whole plate of it! I would love to try some of the other broths offered here (like their special kakuni ramen), but it's so hard for me to resist the spicy paitan! The chicken karaage is also a winner. The only downside for me is parking...Yotteko-Ya is located in McCully Shopping Center, so parking can be a beast. But, that's not enough to keep me away. Deliciousness!

    (5)

  • Clover Dan ..

    that was tasty ramen. easy seating on a friday night. mccully shopping center was crowded and parking was tight but there were a few spots. decent service, a few beers available. a winner!

    (4)

  • Cecilia T.

    I've waited 3 years to return to this place. The most authentic japanese ramen i've ever had for the creamy pork broth. Small clean hole in the wall in an asian plaza recommended by friends who live here and visit here a lot . You get a great bang for your buck too. Each of our group always orders the D Set substitute for Paitan broth instead of the traditional broth that comes with that set. For a cheap price it comes with the ramen, really really good chicken karagge, and we select the chasu pork over fried rice. The Chasu pork is tender and flavorful, although for me, I'm so full from the ramen i usually have to take the pork home. The Paitan broth is simple and delicious - my family members that come back here every year describe the broth as so delicious that they can drink the whole bowl after eating the noodles! If you're looking for something like super salty or spicy, this is not the place for you. Expect simple and natural tasting. Simply authentic. The noodles are very very very good - chewy and the perfect texture. We order the japanese style noodles. Really recommend coming here when you're starving so you can experience just how good this place is.

    (5)

  • Steph K.

    BEST PAITAN EVEERRR! I highly recommend getting the paitan because they specialize in it. I also recommend the C or D set (depending if you like gyoza or karaage better). It's definitely worth your money and you'll leave with a full happy tummy. I got the C set with the yakibuta chahan. It was soooo goooood. The chahan was flavorful and went well with my paitan. The gyoza was nice and crisp also. Be sure to drink all the paitan broth. It's said to have some health and beauty benefits :)

    (5)

  • Gabrielle G.

    I ordered the Paitan chashiu ramen.. REAL GOOD! although I'm not a fan of their chasiu, it tastes too fatty for my liking.. my friends on the other hand adore the char siu because it "melts in their mouth." (as you can tell we all ordered the same thing) The broth is different, not water-type brothy, but milky, SAVORY brothy, just how I like it.. delicious. Only downside to this place is that the overall area of the restaurant is pretty tight, but the service was good and we were seated within 5 minutes.

    (4)

  • Vincent Q.

    I've gone by Yotteko-Ya 'Rocketed from Japan!' many times, but each time, either it's closed or they're out of their ramen already, or it was a Wednesday and they were closed. Very popular, no? This time, I came early, by 1:00pm, on a Friday. The more traditional sliding door set up my hopes and expectations, as I walked in, and peeked in to find a seat to sit in. I found many people staring back, so I wondered if this is a place with many 'regulars'. It was crowded but I was alone, so I got to sit at the loner's bar. So I sat and ordered. Gyoza- 3.5-stars- You get five of these handmade gyozas with each order. Mine were fried, nice and crispy on one side. The insides contain a mixture of ginger, green onion, and pork, and perhaps other ingredients. Overall, it was average and good-tasting. I had no mouth-watering craving for them, but they did look and smell good. Paitan with Chashu- 3.5-stars- This is the ramen everyone says they get, although I also hear people get the other ramen which they like even more. Mind you, there is a choice between Japanese and Local-style noodles. My Japanese-style were thick and chewy, as they are meant to be, but you can get softer noodles for local lovers (as I've read some people don't like the traditional noodles). The aroma of the noodles actually made this dish most appealing--it is definitely the stand-out performer here. The sauce is slightly milky, but not thick, just smooth. The color was different, as a light milky-tan, but nothing struck me as totally amazing or unique. I'm becoming more of a chashu specialist (and realizing the many different ways of spelling this sweet meat--xa xiu, char siu, chashu, etc.). This version was thick, and sweet, yet falls apart easily, almost melting as you bite into it. Atmosphere- Although I read about the traditional-styling and look of the restaurant, don't expect to be blown away. It was nice, and the decorations were sufficient, but I almost expected to be taken away to an entirely different country by some reviews I read. It was quaint and made me feel like I was at home, though. A very comfortable atmosphere, other than wondering how many customers are 'regulars' here. Service- The service was very friendly here. The food was served very quickly, it almost felt like fast-food version of ramen. Of course, everything is prepared well in advance, at least regarding the ramen. So if you're starving, you won't be starving for long once you make your order! Conclusion- This is a good ramen shop, and a good place to visit if you can navigate the McCully shopping center parking, the interesting hours they keep, and can get a seat before the ramen runs out. There is nothing totally outstanding here which is totally amazing, but there is also nothing bad here. Just get here early, and not on a Wednesday, because they're closed!

    (4)

  • Chris D.

    Got the Paitan! AMAZING. Great ramen, don't get me wrong, but the service was terrible. The waitress didn't refill our water while we were seated, nor did she check on us at all. Thankfully the food was great. Even though I only gave it three stars, I would return to eat (and hopefully be hydrated this time). Service/food go hand in hand. I'd give a perfect 5 if the service was better. But it wasn't, I was parched. And with all the salt, most likely dehydrated for the next few days. Check out their Paitan Ramen if you can. Tasty!

    (3)

  • Brett M.

    THE BEST RAMEN I HAVE EVER HAD.... and gyoza... and fried rice.. and yakibuta.. and chashu. and water even? i have had ramen all over the united states, and most importantly, Japan. Yotteko-Ya is by far, the best ramen i have ever had in my life. thank you god for living only 10 minutes away from this heaven of noodle spots. ok, so i go into the place.. it has this cute old-school sliding wood door as the main door.. i sit down, ask auntie what i should order... so says without hesitation 'paitan ramen, or set C if you are really hungry.' this is when things get crazy. once i tasted the soup, i seriously had the biggest smile on my face. this place isn't just good, it literally made me so happy. my entire body felt happy.. and this is a rare occasion with just food. what i'm trying to say is that the ramen is so good that it will make you happy. yea, i understand this review is quickly becoming an emo-blog of some sort, but it is truly that good. the yakibuta fried rice is unreal. we've also ordered the garlic chahan (fried rice), which was again.... delicious. need i even mention that their gyoza too, is the best i've ever had in my life?! this place does not quit. it just keeps making you happier and more thankful that we live in hawaii. imagine if some place in oregon had the worlds best lau lau or something.. yea, they would rub it all in our faces constantly! well, F-U Japan, we have the best ramen ever, and it's at Yotteko-Ya. oh yea, after this place, i will never go to goma tei again.or goma ichi. or ramen nakamura. or obviously ezogiku. but i might still go to sanoya's at 2:30am...

    (5)

  • K K.

    Today I had the Paitan Mini Set with the Gyoza and Char Siu Fried Rice. The Paitan ramen is excellent! The broth is rich and creamy, but not too salty. The noodles I ordered were Japanese style, which is my preference, pretty much the same style as the noodles I eat in Japan. The char siu which comes in the ramen was very tasty and very tender. I really enjoyed the gyoza, it was bigger than most places, and pan fried just right. The fried rice was just okay, maybe a little on the oily side; It could have used a little more char siu. I went to the restaurant when they opened at 1130, there was a line of about 10 people in front of me. I was seated with no problem. The place is pretty small, maybe about 8 tables, and a counter for 4. The service was great, they took my order immediately, and always made sure my water cup was filled. I only waited about 7-8 minutes for my food, maybe because I was one of the first to order. I will definitely continue to dine here, mixing it in with my other favorite ramen places.

    (5)

  • Tracey O.

    My family has been dining at Yotteko-Ya for ages and, we've never been disappointed. I recommend the paitan ramen, Japanese style. The broth has a lot of flavor and the noodles have just the right amount of chew.

    (4)

  • Katy N.

    YUM and best soup stock ever!!!!! This place sells out fast and wished we came here for lunch rather than dinner because the item we wanted to order was their "Kakuni Paitan " - SOLD OUT :( Instead we came here for an EARLY (not) dinner 5:45pm and ended up ordering their "Paitan Chashu Ramen" - topped with 5 slices of our homemade chashu. Still DELISH and drank the entire soup stock....SLURP SLURP SLURP :)

    (5)

  • Emi H.

    Am I the only person who gets hungry when they see a picture of Medusa? Some people see snakes and eyes that can turn you to stone but I get hungry for Ramen! Maybe it's the Japanese side of me who is in desperate need of a weekly ramen fix? Met up with a girlfriend yesterday for lunch and she suggested Yotteko-Ya at the McCully Shopping Center. Could anything really worthwhile live up on the 2nd floor of the McCully Shopping Center? I thought that's where businesses went to die? Or sell some late night "massages"? Well Yotekko-ya does not sell late night massages, at least that I know of, but it does sell some delicious soul cleansing ramen! I knew this was going to be a good place when I saw the sign on the doorway that said " Rocketed from Kyoto". Any business that writes something like that on their door is A-Okay with me! We were seated by their "from Japan" waitress. This is a good sign. The only thing better would have been a "from Japan" Grandma. Lots of Japanese tourists and Japan transplants eating ramen. This looks very promising! Ordered their "most popular" Paitan ramen with kim chee and vegetables for $9.45. They offer two choices in which they can cook your noodles, Japanese style (slightly undercooke) and Local style (softer). I order it Japanese style because I want to real deal and if I wanted them Local style I'd go to Shiro's. Our ramen comes out quicky and lord oh lord were they good! I'd never had kim chee in my ramen so by the time I was half way through the bowl I was sweating up a storm! Not ideal if you're on a first date but totally ideal if you're chowing down on ramen with your girlfriend who is also sweating like a little piggy. You know you're besties when you can sweat up a storm, have kim chee breath and still have fun!

    (5)

  • Bernard V.

    This place almost gets 5 stars. Food is great but service could be a little better. We ate here Saturday night at roughly 6pm. We were surprised that the place was empty since we kept hearing so much rave reviews about the place. There were only three other dining parties besides us when we arrived. We asked for water, waitress said ok. Not soon after more dinner parties started arriving. Waitress brought everyone else their water except ours. We had to ask again for the water. We thought that wasn't right to serve others that were in after us. So that kind of peeved us a bit. We ordered two Paitan ramens, one kim chee ramen, 2 orders of gyoza (5 pieces/order), and fried rice. The food was served to us very shortly after ordering. The fried rice is tasty with its sweet char siu. The gyoza is cooked nicely and taste well like almost any other gyoza (to me they all taste the same, just that some place over burn the bottom). I had a Paitan and it tasted great. I really like the broth; very flavorful. The broth is not like your typical soup base. All in all, we love this place except for that little hiccup in the beginning with our water. I would definitely come here again. Just be warned though, they have been known to run out of food (we found that out the hard way a few weeks before as we arrived at Yotteko-Ya only to find a sign they had run out of noodles).

    (4)

  • Trish P.

    it was damn cold the other night - so what is better than a nice hot bowl of ramen? i ventured into this restaurant with a few friends after passing by multiple times wondering if it was good. we were greeted at the door by a younger waitress who promptly didnt say even a hello - but pointed at a table. she took our order and disappeared, only to re-appear when delivering our food. the restaurant was pretty empty when we got there, so i wasnt sure what to expect - i got the paitan ramen, japanese style, with vegetables and charsu, and added in (for a buck) the "spicy sauce" which they make with sesame seed oil. i also got a side order of pan fried gyoza. the noodles were good and firm, the broth was also good, but i dont think i would have liked it if it did not have the spicy sauce addition. also, their paitan broth is not as thick as places like Tenkaiippin. and the sad tiny piece of charsu that came in my dish was a disappointment. it was the size of a 1/2 dollar coin, and half of it was fat. the flavor itself was good, but it was a little too fatty for my liking. and the charsu is waaay bigger and thicker at Goma Tei. The vegetables were mostly under cooked cabbage with one small broccoli floret and the tiniest carrot i've ever seen. the gyoza was pretty standard, and looking back, i should have gotten them deep fried, b/c anything deep fried is awesome. its too bad i'm probably never going back to try it - read below now back to my dining experience - this waitress was one of the most inattentive waitresses i've ever encountered. after our food was delivered, she really did disappear. more and more people came in to eat - she seated them, helped them, checked on them, re-filled their waters, and brought them their checks. but for us, she did not check on us, did not re-fill our waters until we were about to leave, and only filled the cups half way, and did not bring us our check. we waited for 40 MINUTES before discovering that she was pretty much ignoring our table. i understand if it gets busy, but to blatantly ignore one table out of many? c'mon.... really, i would have given them more stars if it had not been for the service. in fact, i feel like 2 stars might be generous......

    (2)

  • Kelly K.

    The paitan ramen is delicious! Rich and savory broth, not too salty. The Kakuni Paitan Ramen is served with thick, melt in your mouth chunks of pork belly. Mmmmmm... The Paiten Chasiu Ramen comes with a generous number of pork slices and is equally delicious. Will definitely return for more!

    (4)

  • Jensen S.

    Tried the Paitan Ramen. CHAR SIU HERE IS BEAST! They have a block of it available for order with your ramen. I thought they were crazy and who would order it until I tried their Char Siu. Melts in your mouth and just straight up delicious. Hand down best in Oahu so far. As for the other ingredients, noodles were okay, nothing special, and the broth seemed too bland. I felt it needed some spice to give it a good kick. But the Char Siu will keep me coming back O Fa SHo!

    (4)

  • marissa t.

    LOVE the paitan w/ Japanese noodles and the added 'spicy' option. Pros: Lots of options The flavor of the soup is definitely better than GomaTei The pork is nice and tender The noodles are a good consistancy Fast service Cons: Parking at McCully Shopping Center requires a parking genie on your side Sometimes there is a wait to be seated Closed on Wednesdays

    (5)

  • Jenn T.

    This is a bomb ramen place! It's a small little restaurant on the 2nd floor of the McCully Shopping Center. They have 3 different broths of ramen, my fav being the Paitan one. They also have a variety of toppings to put inside your ramen--char shu, tofu, seafood, etc! My favorite part about this ramen restaurant is that they have japanese style noodles & local style noodles...differences being one is more chewy (which I love) or one is more soft. They chewy noodles make it almost like I'm in Japan eating ramen! They also have combination meals, which comes with gyoza and fried rice!! Super great deal! Check this place out, especially if you're looking for an authentic japanese ramen place!

    (5)

  • Ekso T.

    I've been here only once and I must say this is the best ramen I've ever had in Hawaii. I would love to go back more often but I don't feel like standing in line. I prefer nicer place to sit and eat. But, for their ramen, I will push myself to go back one of these days before I leave Oahu for good.

    (5)

  • Rorry N.

    This is the best ramen place I've found on Oahu. I always order the same thing. Paitan ramen with Japanese style noodles. The paitan ramen is the best around. The broth is very rich and delicious. The noodles are always cooked right (not too soft or too hard). You don't have to add anything to the broth unless you prefer yours a little spicier. I've tried the fried rice and it's a little greasy but it's nothing special. The fried mandoo is pretty good. It is a little greasy as well but it's filled inside, unlike other places where the inside is hollow. If you like to make your own sauce, then this is the place for you. If not, you just have to settle for shoyu. The wait can be a little long at times since there are only about 5-6 tables, one booth and a counter area. There is usually one waitress and another one arrives later at night. But service is pretty quick and people tend to finish in a timely manner as well. Make sure you check the hours because they open for lunch, then they close, then re-open for dinner. And I believe on Monday's they're closed as well. The prices are pretty good. I usually get 2 paitan ramen and I just bring a $20 bill because I give the rest as tip. But I think the bill is around $16-18. You definitely have to try this place if you haven't already. You'll be going back every week!

    (5)

  • Chong K.

    Today was my one cheat meal of the week when I get to indulge in carbohydrates. I call it my carb feast meal. Naturally I decided on ramen and fried rice. I had been to Yotteko-ya once before, but it was a long time ago. My wife had never eaten here, so we decided to try it. I had the combo C which included paitan chashu ramen, 3 pieces of gyoza and fried rice. I got the Japanese style noodle (firm). The ramen with chashu was ono. The soup base was creamy and the chashu tasted like shoyu pork. The gyoza was not so good. I had the pan fried version. It had huge chunks of cabbage, which threw off the taste. It tasted like cabbage with won ton wrap! Where's the pork? I will not order the gyoza again. Last, I had the fried rice. It was flavorful with chunks of chashu. But, what's the deal with the red bell pepper? I picked them all out. I will try Yotteko-Ya again. For sure get the paitan chashu ramen! Giving it a 3 star. Would be a 4 star if the gyoza had been better. The price for a combo is a little high here for ramen as well. BTW the parking here is nuts!

    (3)

  • Chris L.

    If there were half star ratings I'd probably give this place 3.5 stars. After reading all of the great reviews of this place, I had to give it a try. I was disappointed. The paitan ramen didn't live up to my expectations, but my impression was that it wasn't so much that the ramen was done poorly as much as it was just a case where the flavor wasn't something that I enjoyed. And it wasn't that the flavor was really all that bad, it was just kind of meh. I guess with all the hype I expected it to go boom-boom-pow when it hit my tongue. Also the flavor was really light, it kind of bordered on bland. I felt like I had to concentrate and focus on tasting the broth in order to realize its flavor :) But maybe that is just the way Kyoto style ramen is supposed to be? I do have to qualify this review by saying that I do tend to prefer bolder flavors from my food and I do get liberal with sauces that I like; but, I can and do appreciate dishes that have delicate or light flavors, the paitan ramen just wasn't one of them. Anyways all that being said, I liked the ramen noodles, I enjoyed the firmness that they were cooked to; and the char siu had a nice sweetness to it that was unexpected but also enjoyable. And on the side I tried an order of their deep fried gyoza which was tasty and I liked the extra crispiness of it.

    (3)

  • Tracy S.

    I am **always** in the mood for **collagen ramen** (say what?!), which on some occasions is bad because Yotteko-Ya is well aware of their greatness, so they can close up shop at odd hours, sometimes unannounced for the day, and still retain a large fan base. Whatever, as a devoted follower, it's totally worth the drive and trouble. Yes, folks, this Kyoto ramen soup has a special ingredient - collagen. Instead of injecting it into your face while eating their ramen, for example, they inject their ramen soup base with this supposed fountain of youth. I'm not sure if this contributes at all to their addictive, not-too-salty paitan soup base, but **keep it coming**! A youthful bowl (~$8) comes in various shapes (i.e. types), but normally one size- pretty large for someone like me. You can get different types of paitan ramens such as the kakuni pork (almost always sold out by the time we get there), tabeteko (kim chee; this one is my favorite!), etc. We usually get the set that includes (paitan) ramen of your choice, fried rice (their chashu gohan is heavenly), and deep- or pan-fried gyoza, which costs us around $13 per set. The sets vary, but you seriously can't go wrong. There is always a wait. If the option were presented to me while waiting in line for a table, I would totally put in my order and eat my ramen sitting Indian-style on the ground.

    (5)

  • Brent S.

    One of my favorite ramen places. The Paitan soup broth is perfectly balanced. Some places are a little thick. Other places are a little weak. Theirs is just right. They have the best charsiu out of all the ramen places in Honolulu. It has a deep flavor and pretty much melts in your mouth. Consistently my "go to" ramen place!

    (4)

  • Ashley N.

    This is one of the best ramen restaurants in Hawaii! The only thing is that I wish it had better parking, since the parking at McCully Shopping Center is ridiculous and is one of the main reasons that I don't go here as much as I would like. I've been to Yotteko-Ya two times with my boyfriend, the first time with his friends as well. The time I went with my boyfriend and his friends, it took a while to find seats since we went around lunchtime, and the tables really only cater for parties up to four. So basically, once one of their tables freed up, we had to cram five people on a small table only meant for four. If you're going here with a large party, beware that you might be split into different tables, since you can't move two tables together. Anyway, onto the food! The first time I went, my boyfriend and I both had the paitan ramen. It was delicious, and I love how you have the option of choosing what kind style you would like the ramen noodles, either Japanese (firm) or local style (soft). Their chashu is amazing as well, being very soft and delicious. I do love their broth as well, since it is full of flavor. The second time I went, my boyfriend got the paitan ramen again while I went with their tonshio ramen. I have heard reviews of their tonshio broth tasting like sea water, but I actually really liked it. I would lean toward the paitan over their tonshio, but it was very good if you are a fan of shio ramen. Yotteko-Ya is super authentic ramen and delicious. If you're planning on going for the first time, go early!! Yotteko-Ya does close early sometimes if they run out of ramen! Also, they're closed on Wednesday. I highly recommend the paitan ramen, since it's very unique and delicious. You won't have any regrets about coming here!

    (5)

  • Jimmy M.

    Yotteko-ya is my favorite ramen-ya in Hawaii ... it's great ... but you have to order right! PAITAN CHA-SHU cooked Japanese style (firm noodles) is so ONO-licious! It's as close as you're going to get to ramen in Japan on this island. Their gyouza is good (just good) and the garlic chahan is great! My favorite non-ramen food item is the ebi-mayo (shrimp with citrus-mayonnaise sauce, served on an orange peel with a green salad). If you're lucky enough to get some, try the KAKUNI RAMEN (paitan broth, of course). They only make a limited amount each day and it sells out fast, but if you are one of the lucky customers who gets it, you'll thank me. :) It's super soft and practically melts in your mouth. That's ONO kine kaukau. Cheeee-hoooooo!!

    (5)

  • Alysha K.

    I think too many people hyped up Yotteko-Ya a little too much for me. I was not impressed with the broth. It was okay, but needed a lot more flavor, even the Paitan one. However, the pork was soooo delicious. Tender, just melts in your mouth. Definitely a must to order more than just 2 slices. The gyoza is really good too. There was a choice of two noodle styles: Japanese & local. I ordered the Japanese style one hoping it would be the really thin noodles which I like. But they were regular size. I'm in search for the best ramen in Hawaii & this is not the one. Sorry.

    (3)

  • Kimo C.

    Definitely not to the standards of being in Japan, but if you want good Japanese homemade noodles, this is a great option here in Hawaii.

    (4)

  • Brian B.

    This is one helluva ramen shop that's hidden & tucked away at McCully Shopping Center! I finally went there tonight with a few friends after many failed attempts previously, and managed to sit & eat some good ramen! They have a decent selection of ramen & typical food items for a place of this nature with reasonable prices. I recommend getting there as close to when they open as possible for lunch or dinner as the place gets full really quick and there can be a pretty long wait. Also, because they're constantly busy, they run out of food long before closing time at least during the dinner time. Well, I wouldn't say they run out super fast, but around 8:30pm-ish they tend to close up because they are out of certain food. Believe me, I tried going twice around that timeframe and kept getting turned away. I tried the paitan chashu ramen set with deep fried gyoza & fried rice which was excellent! The paitan ramen is the perfect blend of a shoyu/miso/pork soup base which isn't overly salty or overpowering. I got Japanese style noodles which were also oishii! =) Next time I go, I'm gonna try their katsu curry dish to see how they compare with other places like Gomatei. Unfortunately I can't give this place 5-stars right now because of the fact that there's only one person that was basically seating/serving/cashing out everyone. I feel sorry for that girl, cuz she was constantly in motion the whole night! Hopefully this was just one of those nights where someone called in sick, cuz having only one person doing all of that makes for a long wait. I give her credit for dealing well with all of the people that came through because it was constantly busy from the time we were there until we left. For some reason too, I don't know why but it seems like I've seen the girl at some other Japanese food place I ate at too... I'd have to admit she was cute too, so hopefully if they have more help the next time I go, they'll have more cute hostesses! In any case, give this place a try if you like ramen places like Gomatei or Go Shi Go! You won't regret it, even if you have a little bit of a wait like me and my friends!

    (4)

  • Sierrah I.

    Y RULE 1. When you order your Ramen make sure you order your noodles "Japanese Style" -If you want to enjoy ramen the best way possible you have to order your noodles "Japanese Style" It's just much more pleasing to the pallet and texturally pleasing to your mouth. NO SOGGY NOODLES HERE! Noodles are the perfect tenderness throughout your whole bowl- that's hard to come by! O RULE 2. If you order gyoza make sure it's "PAN FRIED" -In this case, everything does not taste better deep fried! :P The balance of half steamed/half fried, juicy but crisp wins over deep fried gyoza. It is just soooo much better the traditional way of cooking gyoza. T RULE 3. Don't be afraid to ask for more CHASHU -It's one of the best I've eaten! They even can serve it to you in your ramen in a "slab" vs. "slices" (kakuni) mmmmmm. Once you try, you won't regret. T RULE 4. Don't come around sunset. - They only have a limited amount of tables (around 8) and maybe half of them get direct sunlight gleaming out of mere bamboo woven drape/curtain things. SUN IN YOUR FACE + EATING A HOT RAMEN BOWL = HOT, STEAMING & SWEATING. Blehhhh. E RULE 5. Be patient - It's a great place, but small, and usually only one lady running the whole shebanggg. K RULE 6. Feel like eating more than one thing? Order a COMBO, they are CHEAPER. O RULE 7. If you enjoy SPICY, any ramen can be SPICY for a $1.00 - Paitan Chashu Spicy Ramen was OOOOOOMG yummy, MUST TRY for those who enjoy a spicy kick to their ramen like Tan Tan. YA~!

    (4)

  • Wendell Y.

    Yotekko-ya claims that eating their ramen will make you look younger. I don't know if this is true or not, but consider this: I eat here a lot, and I'm 40 and get carded for alcohol *all the time*. This place is delicious. I love all three soup bases, but tend to lean towards the tonshio over the paitan. Also, get the japanese style noodes - they're firmer, but not undercooked or weird. Everything chashu here rules. It's so soft it just falls apart. If you got a few extra bucks, try the kakuni ramen. It comes with a "block" of chashu and is totally worth the extra cash. They have a limited number of bowls of this per day, however, so it may not always be available. I also go for the chashu gohan over the fried rice. I know, I know - what kind of local boy am I, right? But it's seriously good. The only thing I've ever had an issue with was the shrimp - just a tad too much mayonaise for me, but I'm not letting that affect my star rating. You come here for the ramen, and for me it's the perfect bowl. Small warning: Parking in the evening sucks. It seems to peak at 6:30pm - good luck finding a stall.

    (5)

  • Ash G.

    My friend and I ended up going here one night together to have dinner and discuss an art project we had to collaborate on, however all we ended up discussing was how good everything we got tasted! THE RAMEN IS SO YUMMY HERE! And I love ramen, and i've tried a bunch of them around town, so you know, I like to think I know some good ramen. This place has their own type of ramen a Paitan broth--this is what they are known for and apparently as I noticed, this is broth is special from Kyoto and supposedly makes you 'look younger' (yes! i totally will blindly believe in that). I got the Charsu Paitan ramen with added spice and Japanese type noodles (more chewy) which was very delicious. We also ordered the gyoza which was top-notch. When I was leaving I noticed that they provide one of those cards that you get stamped--so i got one because I was definitely planning on going back again--and I did the next week. The next time I got the Paitan ramen with no spice, which was very good too, but I love me some spice. Tasty tasty-definitely check this place out if you are over by McCully, it is a small restaurant and good luck finding parking in the small lot in front of the shopping center.

    (4)

  • Mark D.

    Best Ramen Place EVER!!! My friend and I use to go this restaurant every time we finished class at KCC. Now that I'm out of school and he's still in school, and I'm working, we hardly go. I usually get the paitan ramen, japanese style. BROKE DA MOUTH!! ^^ and I am not a fan of charsu, but boy, the way they make theirs, it melts in your mouth like cotton candy. I'm getting hungry just by writing this review. And the price is well worth the meal. I suggest this place to any ramen lover. Ok, now I'm going to go eat there now. ^^

    (4)

  • Cindy L.

    The ramen was okay. I thought that the soup was too much soy-yu flavor and the noodles were not cooked well. However, my friends like it.

    (2)

  • Hannah H.

    Loved it! We ordered the fried rice and paichan ramen and ebi mayonnaise. All of the items were flavorful. Can't wait to go back!

    (5)

  • Ha N.

    I like this place. The place is nice and the paitan (their most recommended soup base) is very good. Idk if it's just lately, but the service has been really slow. There is one waitress. But we sucked it up and went in anyways because it's that good :) We went in today for lunch and everything was fine. We were unfortunate enough to fall upon a rock though. Yes it looked like a tiny black rock picked up from a road that was just paved. It was very amusing to see: he said ouch and pulled out the rock, a smaller piece he chomped off, and a white chip. I think that was part of his tooth. We called the lone waitress by and she said it was the black fungus from the soup. And she just walked away. We picked it up and dropped it a few times on the plate only to hear a clatter a ring would make. Or a rock!! Maybe it wasn't a rock. Her repetitive apologies throughout the rest of our stay make me a little suspicious though. :/ my bf is the type to gobble up to the last bite. So maybe that's how he found it. I prob wouldn't have had been able to. But hey maybe it was a tooth chipping fungus devil.

    (4)

  • Jennifer C.

    Char siu paitan ramen - can't wait to meet again in July.

    (5)

  • Akiko T.

    I had the paitan charsiu ramen Japanese-style and it was delicious!. I also snagged a couple of gyozas from my parents and they were the best I ever had - flavorful and perfectly fried. I'm glad we got here before the rush because there was a line when we left. Service was rather slow and our server had to be reminded to bring part of our order and to refill our water glasses.

    (4)

  • Justin R.

    After hearing a great deal about how this place had the best ramen from a friend (i.e. superior to Tenkaippin), I had to give it a try. Twas my birthday and my girlfriend took me here as a surprise. She's more of the ramen connoisseur, and both she and I really want to see what all the fuss was about. The service was great, and at since we came right when dinner time was about the start we were able to get seats real quick. We both got the paitan ramen with extra noodles (with just two pieces cha shu). Here they give you a choice between local (softer) and japanese (firmer/chewier) style noodles--basically how long they cook it for. We both got the japanese style. Our server was so nice and friendly and took our orders very quickly--and BAM! Our food was there in no time (BONUS POINTS)! Here's when the food review comes in... Being hyped up by my friend about this place, I could only imagine how great this ramen tasted (he told us it was better than Tenkaippin--and I LOVE Tenkaippin). In the end, I think he may have overhyped it. The broth was much like other ramen broth, except maybe a slight difference (apparently they let it sit or something for ten hours which assists in its flavor fulness or something). However, the noodles and the cha shu saved this ramen (one provides this nice, chewiness, while the latter is sweet and simply melts in your mouth--SOO GOOD). At first I was going to give this place three stars, but after writing this review overall I've come to find that I did like the place--great service, easy parking (if you're right on time before any real rushes), prompt service, and fairly good ramen (at least in the top 5 because of the choice of noodles and the cha shu). I'll try to come back to give this place another shot, but for now Tenkaippin's thick ramen will remain supreme (despite the broth going a sad and somewhat-watered-down intervention).

    (4)

  • Jarrett H.

    Part 2 of my ramen trio. A five star place has to really wow me, and this place REALLY wows me in terms of their ramen. After a hot and hard day of Kendo training, my friend wanted me to try Yotteko ya because we always talk about ramen. I ordered the Char Siu Paitan. Best way to put it when I took a sip of the broth and a bite of the Char Siu, it was like that scene in "Ratatouille" when the food critic, Ego, ate the Ratatouille and went to a happy place in his first bite. I kind of was like that. My search was over for a good bowl of ramen in Hawaii was over. This is my favorite place for ramen. The pork and the chicken came perfectly together. The two flavors complimented each other and the mushrooms topping added a good finishing touch. I loved it. The creaminess of the broth was very nice, it may be slightly thicker than some other Paitan or Tonkotsu ramens that I had but it was perfect to me. I have tried all of the broths here but honestly the Paitan is the one you MUST try. The other ones are good but not in the same rank as the paitan. Most places I usually don't drink all the soup but this place I'm usually scrapping the bottom of the bowl for the last drop with my wooden spoon. The Char Siu is one of a kind here. No one makes it like YottekoYa. My mother liked it to a great slice of pot roast. It basically melts in your mouth. It has a sweet sauce that is not overwhelming and compliments the Paitan perfectly. Noodles are Sun Noodles but are cooked to your liking, local style or Japanese style. ALWAYS order japanese style. To me its easy to make it local style, just screw it up and over cook it like some of the bad ramen shops. Japanese style takes timing and precision. Side that I have ordered are pretty good. The Yakibuta Fried Rice is very good. Nice strips of marinated pork (like the Char Siu) mixed in the fried rice, topped with takana. I have also had the Karaage Chicken and Shrimp both are good. I can't say its as great as the Paitan Ramen (which trumps everything on the menu) but I recommend trying any of the side orders. Order the combination, it makes the meal even more worth it because of all the food. Ambiance - nice but a bit crowded but what do you expect for a popular place. Nice Japanese decor mixed with the simplicity of a small noodle shop. Service - for only having two waitresses, they do pretty darn good. food comes promptly and the waitresses are nice. Parking - Sucks...McCully Shopping Ctr parking is horrible but don't let it stop you from coming here. Those morons in McCully Shopping Center management should have made more parking across the street rather than having a Storage Space built there. I have brought many people to this place and everyone likes it here. I've even have relatives, that travel around the world leading gourmet groups, love it here. I high recommend this place.

    (5)

  • White K.

    Solid 4.5-stars ramen place in Oahu. We have tried a lot of ramen in Japan and we usually use Japan standard to compare with ramen places in the US. - Broth: 4 stars. (The best 5-star broth usually have 2-3 layers of taste upon drinking it. This one is not bad as it doesn't tastes just like a "salty" soup - Noodle: 4.5 stars--nice and chewy (although you can custom ordered to make it softer, but why???) - Meat: 4 stars. The meat was flavorful but I feel it was a bit dry. Will definitely try again when I am back in the area.

    (4)

  • Austen I.

    I had the Paitan Charshu, Japanese style. I'm going to say I was a little disappointed. I've heard so much about this ramen shop from friends and it got an awesome yelp review, but I think Yotteko-Ya had a little bit too much hype. Their Paitan ramen is their speciality, but I warn new food goers that the broth has a thin, creamy, almost skim milk type taste to it. I personally don't care for that type of broth so I would say go for a shoyu-based broth if you have similar tastes. That being said, I enjoyed the japanese style noodles and their gyoza. I will go back and try something new, probably a shoyu-based ramen, and update my rating.

    (3)

  • Goldie L.

    I was not so impressed by Yotteko-Ya. To be fair, I'm spoiled by many really good ramen places in CA. In Hawaii, this place could be one of the best judging by the reviews. I sampled their raved about "paitan" ramen only to be disappointed. My boyfriend said the same about his order. I had high hopes for this place but sadly it did not meet my expectations..

    (3)

  • Jaynie K.

    Paitan ramen, Japanese style: Firm chewy noodles. Rich, meaty, almost milky broth. Super tender sweet cha shu. Scatters of chopped green onion. So delicious on a rainy night! Ebi Mayonnaise was a treat for the eyes. Fat deep fried shrimp slathered in a semi-sweet mayonnaise sauce. Piled up on an orange slice, topped in slivered almonds and surrounded by slices of cherry tomato and chunks of orange. Pretty good, but a little soft. Cha shu rice was good. Hot white rice topped with chunks of sweet cha siu. Simple and tasty. Service was friendly, water was refilled just on time.

    (4)

  • Crystal L.

    It was only ok for me. I guess I'm not a paitan lover...there really is something for everyone. The portions were also small. I eat at odd hours like 2pm haha so Yotteko-ya closing in the middle of the day frustrates me! I tried multiple times to eat there and when I finally did, nothing was extraordinary. I wanted to like this place.

    (2)

  • Lily B.

    SLOW SERVICE the other night. Only one waitress to do it all. Some waited 15mins to be seated with open tables:( You can choose your noodles Japanese style - chewier - or local style - softer side. This is my favorite part! And the part where you can make it SPICY:) Broth is thicker but only slightly, and its milky.... I got Paitan with veggies and there was ONE piece of broccoli and some bean sprouts.... Made me wish I was at Goma Tei with better gyoza and service:(

    (3)

  • Jennifer L.

    I ordered the paitan soup base ramen and the broth was so flavorful and delicious! I like that the restaurant offers you the option between boiling time of noodles: Japanese (firm) or local (soft). Will be coming back!

    (5)

  • Amy G.

    i just got back from here a few hours ago. it wasn't too busy and it was lunch time, so that was kinda good. i was starving and wanted to just sit. my friends and i all enjoyed the paitan chashu ramen. it was actually pretty good. i wish there was more ramen tho. i think just the regular paitan ramen woulda satisfied my chashu craving. it was good, just a bit fatty which i didn't like and it was a little over sweet. but thats just me. however, it was super soft and melt in your mouth so i loved it. i would recommend this place to anyone who wants good ramen. wasn't too pricey so i was ok with that. i am still hungry tho. wish i got a set but i didn't wanna spend the extra moeny. lol. i am still craving ramen and just might return here within this month. however, parking is a B****. the parking there is super small and at lunch or dinner time, its packed. i had to go around the parking at least 5 times, went downstairs and it was packed and super small, and went around again before i finally got parking. so come early or late just so you odn't have to deal with the parking issue.

    (4)

  • Yoshi G.

    I was really looking forward to this place after reading the reviews. I had the paitan ramen. It was good, but I've had better. And, for the record, I have tried it twice just to make sure. The noodles are very good, though.

    (3)

  • Celise N.

    My 13-year-old squealed, "Alright, ramen two days in a row. My luck is good!" as we walked into Yotteko-Ya in McCully Shopping Center. This is hubby's favorite ramen restaurant. Unfortunately, their specialty is Paitan Ramen. This is ramen with long and slow cooked chicken and pork broth. They claim the collagen from the bones that end up dissolving in the broth will make your skin youthful and keep you healthy. Overall, the Paitan ramen was delicious. The broth was good, but for me, I missed the Tan Tan zing! The one excellent thing was the chashu gohan. O.M.G. it was really good. It was light and moist, with yummy chashu and shoyu flavor. This was the thing I actually liked the most. I have to agree with the other Yelpers though, service was a bit slow at times as we had to wait a long time for our bill. I think they just need one more waitress to help out. I'm sure I'll be back.... especially for that Chashu gohan.

    (4)

  • Justin S.

    Sorry Oahu....you still don't hold a candle to LA for being closest to having authentic ramen from Japan. I didn't want to hype it up too much but I was still let down by the broth and noodles. Tried the special ramen that they only service limited bowls of....the char siu was good but over half of my portion was dry and too thick. Now I love my thick ass meat but for it to be dry in the center, that's a sign it's too thick. Maybe I just had a bad bowl but for what it's worth I'll try here again when I visit home, but I'll be going for the rice dishes. Oh and the decor is only cool from the outside (the sliding door) Not vibing on the tacky red and black interior.

    (2)

  • David T.

    I have to admit, the paitan ramen was awesome. I wasn't impressed. Y the chicken karaage or the fried rice. Next time I will stick only to the ramen without any sides.

    (4)

  • Brandon B.

    The five-star rating that I'm giving is for what we experienced AFTER we were seated. Unfortunately, we almost missed out on the wonderfulness of Yotteko-Ya because of a very long wait at the door, no indication of how long that wait would be, an obviously overloaded solitary waitress, and us and the others in line staring at empty tables wondering if we should stay or go. My wife almost walked on a couple of occasions, and had the wait been much longer we probably would have. All of this could be remedied by either hiring another waiter (I understand that means more $$$, so it's probably out for a small establishment), or just telling people approximately how long the wait will be. I don't mind waiting...I'd just like to know if it's going to be 15minutes or an hour. Ok, I think I've said all that I need about that...and the fact is, even with the difficulties in getting seated, once we were seated, from start to finish, this was a five-star experience! The waitress was incredibly helpful, explaining all questions we had about the menu options. My wife and I both ended up selecting the C Set with Paitan ramen, fried rice and gyoza. I had my paitan ramen made spicy and my wife got hers regular style. We thought we might be in for a bit of a wait after the long delay in seating, but our meals came out quite promptly and drinks were refilled often. The fried rice was very nice and the gyoza might have been some of the best I've had if we had not just eaten at my favorite gyoza shop (Gyoza no Ohsha) just a day earlier. But the spicy paitan ramen...oh my goodness the ramen! I'm a ramen fan. I'll eat any of it, from the 10cent packets of dried, cheap stuff to the real, restaurant style cuisine. And I've had ramen at many different restaurants around the country. But I've never had anything like this! Soooo creamy...soooo spicy (but never crossing that line to scortchingly inedible hotness). The ramen noodles, cooked Japanese style (chewier than the Hawaiian style option) were as perfect as I've ever tasted! I don't usually care all that much for the chashu pork that I've had in other ramen. It tends to be ok, but nothing that stands out. Yotteko-Ya's was so wonderfully seasoned, tender and just incredibly delicious! They have options on the menu for adding additional slices which I thought was kind of odd when I saw it, but then tasted the pork and completely understood...and kind of wish I had! The hostess when we were paying our bill was terribly friendly also, chatting with us about our stay in Hawaii, our meal, origami and everything else. I HIGHLY recommend Yotteko-Ya for anyone visiting Honolulu. Please understand that there will likely be a wait in the beginning and you might not know exactly how long that wait will be. I am so glad that we decided to stay and wait and I hope that others take the time to experience this gem! We will be back on our next trip!

    (5)

  • Thy L.

    I ordered the Paitan ramen that they are famous for. They use a broth made from chicken, pork, vegetables and spices that they stew for 10+ hours. They also boast that eating their ramen will help you look younger because of the collagen in their soup. It sounds a little exaggerated to me. It'd probably make you fat first. Regardless of whether or not the broth actually makes you look younger, it was delicious. It's definitely worth it to pay YottekoYa a visit to try their ramen. They use a somewhat squiggly noodle that I like. The broth is very savory and flavorful.

    (4)

  • Demur E.

    It's not fat, it's collagen...and it's good for my skin. Luminosity. Yup, that's what I tell myself. Here's my Yotteko-Ya vs. Tenkaippin throwdown: Noodles - Yotteko-Ya. Fresh, homemade and boiled to order (local style is boiled a little longer for softer noodles, Japanese style is more al dente). Soup Base - Tie. Tenkaippin has the thicker broth (kotteri), but some may find it too thick and rich for their liking. Yotteko-Ya's paitan base is a little lighter and thinner. Both taste awesome. Chasu - Yotteko-Ya. So tender and tasty. Karaage chicken - Tenkaippin. Juicy without being overly oily and a crisp golden brown and delicious. The Yotteko-Ya version tasted a little strange to me. Flavor was off somehow. Gyoza - Tie. Both were well made, but I think Tenkaippin gives more. Service - Tie. Both places have a few (or only one person) working very hard. Ambiance - Yotteko-Ya is a little cozier in set-up as well as lighting. You don't feel as rushed here (see pics).

    (4)

  • Chelle A.

    I recently got introduced to true ramen a few months ago and we were recommended to try this place out while on vacation.The paitan charsu was great, made me love ramen more. Wish I had went more during my trip, but next time I'm in Honolulu gonna definitely come back!

    (5)

  • S W.

    must.get.extra.chashu. omg heaven pork.

    (5)

  • Anthony N.

    Kyoto ramen, Mmmm.. probably my favorite ramen place in Hawaii! All the broths here are really tasty and it comes out hot! The char siu is really really soft and soo soo good! OMG I love their char siu!!! I don't like places where the char siu is just a piece of fat.. Gross! I also like how you can choose the texture of your noodles, "Japanese style" or Local style". Local style noodles being a lot softer than Japanese style. I usually get the Paitan set that comes with gyoza & fried rice, I personally don't like the pan fried gyoza here so I opt for the deep fried gyoza instead. Its crispy and really good!! :D Im a fan of the fried rice here! lots of char siu, and bell peppers!, something I dont see in other fried rices from other ramen shops. I would say I come here 1-3 times a month and service is above average. However, there are a few days when I came and they ran out of soup at 7pm!!! or 1 night I came and they were out of fried rice and gyoza!!! ROAR!! You gotta come and try!!!

    (5)

  • Kit W.

    Came here with a friend for lunch yesterday and we got a table without waiting--yes! The rest of the restaurant was filled except for a few more seats and it was peak lunch hour on a Saturday, so we felt pretty lucky. The decor was nice and had a genuine Japanese feel. More importantly, the ramen was as good as I hoped it would be--YES! The Japanese style noodles were awesomely firm, the chasu was fatty and tender, and the Paitan soup was straight from foodie heaven. The only thing that would have made the ramen better was if the soup had come out piping hot but that's probably a personal preference xD. I am so excited to have finally found a ramen place on Oahu that's worth telling people about!!!

    (4)

  • Jay B.

    The paitan ramen is just ok. Maybe I'm spoiled after having Tenkaippin (which also has its off days). The broth is not as well rounded & full flavored as I expect. Service is great! The quest for the perfect ramen continues..

    (3)

  • Mune T.

    I was in Tokyo 2 weeks ago and happend to go to a ramen place that has the same name, Yottekoya. It was amazingly good that I thought that I finally found the ramen I've been looking for. So you don't know how happy I was to find out that there was a Yottekoya in Honolulu close to my condo. Bad! No need to go back there again. I don't even think that these two places share anything other than the name. I had the combo menu, "C" Ramen, Gyoza, and Charhan (Chasiu Fried Rice). Good parts: BBQ Pork (Charsiu?) was good and the Gyoza was pretty good. Bad parts: Noodles - bad after taste, they don't go with the soup at all. Soup was ok at the first sip then it gets boring after that. Charhan (Fried Rice) was not even fried. They just mixed the cooked rice, cut up BBQ bork, scrambled eggs, with a sauce. But there were so many people waiting to be seated at lunch time. I don't get it.

    (2)

  • Reuben R.

    We arrived at Mccully shopping center a few minutes before opening. There were people walking up and waiting only to leave because it was still closed. Its too bad for them because if they had been a little bit more patient and waited 3 minutes after the starting time, they would've gotten any seats they wanted. After coming in, we found the place to be pretty small. Four other groups were already seated, and after we ordered, the place was quickly filled in. For both of us, it was our first time here, and we mentioned this place to each other because it piqued our curiosity cause people have always told us that its very good. We love ramen so we went, and this place didn't disappoint. My friend wanted the D combo, but they ran out of karrage, so we both got the C combo since she wanted the rice as well, and she upgraded to the charshu paitan, and I upgraded to the yasai paitan ($2 more). That was a whole lot of food right there! Since we got the same combo, we both got the different options just to change it up pan fried and deep fried gyoza, and then the pork fried rice and chashu rice bowl... I have to say that the deep fried gyoza and chashu rice bowl were the winners. Next time, I'm going for that! I'm glad my friend let me sample, cause she's so nice. The yasai paitan wasn't spectacular for the "yasai part." I think the broth itself will just do the justice, cause the amount of veggies was kinda of sad actually... but the ramen was so delicious. It wasn't overly salty and was rich tasting. There were a bunch of mini desserts that I bet are per person, but I was too full to try them, so I'm going to have to come back for more!

    (4)

  • Ronni S.

    We were vIsiting family in Hawaii and they brought us to Yotteko-Ya. For lunch we had Paitan Chashu Ramen (Japanese style - firmer noodles). It was very tasty, although I would have liked if it came with an egg. Fast service, especially given that one woman provided almost all of the service for the eight tables and three counter seats.

    (4)

  • Philip H.

    Okay, I've been a chashu paitan ramen fiend, but lately I have been ordering the combo to at least give the other items on the menu a try and let me tell you THEY ARE JUST AS GOOD as the ramen! The gyoza are HUGE and pan fried to perfection! The fried rice is also really really good. Lots of times fried rice can be bland and lame especially if its not the star dish at a restaurant, but yottekoya's chashu chahan is soooo delish! Lastly, the karaage chicken...amazeballs U.S.A. I am always a die hard fan of the chasu paitan japanese style ramen SPICY, but now when im especially hungry I order the combos cuz I know the other items are just as great! This place is my new fav! :D

    (5)

  • Missy S.

    I absolutely love this ramen joint. I absolutely fell in love with this place. The soup is fantastic. Me and the family tried this place tonight after all the great reviews we read. I was very happy to come here finally. Unfortunately as the picky rater I am I have to give the place only 3 satisfactory stars because when rating a place, you are not only judging the food, but everything else. From service to menu, to location, etc. I will explain why Yotekko Ya receives only 3 stars from me. We get there at about 6 pm and there was almost no one seated inside so we got to sit right away. On Sundays, this place opens at 5:30 to 9 so we thought, if getting here we will be able to order items that will not run out, like fellow yelpers have mentioned. Me and my dad were really anticipating the kakuni ramen that has such a good reputation here. Unfortunately, when ordering it the waitress says they have run out of kakuni ramen already. So she insisted on the tonshu ramen. We really didn't understand why, if this restaurant opens at 5:30 and we got there at 6:00, that menu items would run out so soon? If they know things will be running out, maybe they should list those items as "specials" and only serve during certain days instead of saying "served daily". The tonshu ramen was delicious though. I could tell my pork was marinated in something. It had a nice sweetness to it. The japanese style noodles I ordered were cooked to perfection. I also loved my soup base. I think what makes ramen especially delicious is if the soup tastes good. My ramen came with mushrooms, greens onions, and sesame seeds. I also sampled my sister's deep fried gyoza. Im not obsessed with gyoza, but Yotekko Ya's gyoza is probably the best I have eaten. I would definitely try to order a combo next time. The service was quite slow as well. Like other yelpers have mentioned, there is only one waitress. She works very hard! How is it possible to run this restaurant if they are so busy? Perhaps one more waitress at least? A lot of people are looking for jobs these days. We saw a long line extend out the door waiting for tables. We even saw some people give up and leave. I would love to come back again. After all the food was excellent. But I would try to come when they first open. Like I said, I don't understand how you run out of items when you have been open for only 30 minutes. Well, its an adventure. I can only hope that they don't run out of kakuni paitan ramen like they (supposedly) did tonight.

    (3)

  • Sherry C.

    Had a great first experience here. Our server Lin is such a hard worker. I saw her take care of a constant full house by herself. It's ridiculous how they expect one person to handle all that work. They should really hire more staff during opening time. Anyway, I had the Paitan Chashu Ramen and loved it. Instead of paying an additional dollar to make it spicy I actually liked it with the Togarashi powder. I didn't get to try the other dishes because it was already a lot of food for me, but I will be back in the future.

    (5)

  • Katrice K.

    After trying other ramen places around the island, I have to up my original review of this place. The paitan ramen is so delicious, and the yasai (vegetable) has generous servings of vegetables with only one slice of cha siu which is ok with me as I'm not a big meat eater. The gyoza I think I could pass but I definitely could not get enough of the ramen. The taste and memory still lingers on my mind and tongue since yesterday leaving me begging for more. I would recommend going somewhat early as they tend to close once they sell out. I was there on a Tuesday with a friend and when we left around 8:30pm there was a sign on the door saying sold out and a large group of people (I'm guessing friends meeting up to try the place) looked extremely disappointed.

    (5)

  • Jonathan C.

    My favorite Japanese ramen shop on Oahu. I recently got the Paitan ramen set, which came with a 3-piece chicken karaage and bowl of fried rice. All three parts to this meal were excellent. Reminded me of Japanese ramen from Hidechan and/or Ippudo in nyc. On Oahu, this is probably the best you can find. But I've only given it 4 stars because places like Hidechan and Ippudo offer a bit more variety in the non-ramen section of the menu.

    (4)

  • Albert F.

    The quest for ramen continues, after reading friends high reviews we decided to try it out.... Probably not best to go when you're getting over a cold but my wife swears it cleared up her sore throat, so not only will it make you younger, it'll fix sore throats too! =) We both had the paitan chashu ramen. I'll have to try it again later, when we're not sick but for now, 3/5.

    (3)

  • Brad R.

    Not much to say about this place except that the paitan ramen is the shiznit. Goma Tei what? Tenkaippin who? For THE BEST ramen in Hawaii, look no further than Yotteko-ya (many people think it's called Kyoto Ramen due to the big sign facing the road that says "Kyoto Ramen"). Doesn't really matter what specific style you order. It's the paitan soup base that is to die for. Personally, I usually opt for the chashu with the noodles Japanese-style (firmer). You can also order the noodles local-style, which is soft. I've tried the other soup bases before, but they're just so-so. It's the paitan that keeps me coming back for more. Paitan FTW! Service is always very friendly and efficient. The price isn't exactly what I'd call cheap, but it's about average for good ramen. As a side note, the entrance to the restaurant is a SLIDING door. I've seen people try to push and pull it, then start walking away in disappointment, thinking that the restaurant is closed.

    (4)

  • LesliAnn K.

    The point is, you DON'T NEED TO CHOOSE. just be a pig and load up on the carbs, order the paitan ramen AND the fried rice. Ramen shops are defined by their broth, and this one is what Goldilocks refers to when she says..."JUST RIGHT." We didn't come late (Rookie mistake! committed by us one week ago), in fact we came right at opening so that they wouldn't run out of noodles. Cheap. but dang, now we gotta come at 11 am to try to get that oh-so-hard to get kakuni pork special.

    (4)

  • T N.

    The food here is better than the average ramen spot in Honolulu. I really enjoyed the ramen and their char sui is very tender and flavorful. For that, they get two stars instead of one. What I didn't like was the service I experienced. I went to eat there with a friend and ordered the paitan ramen with Japanese style noodles. My friend ordered the kakuni ramen with local style (cooked longer and therefore softer) noodles. The waiter brings our bowls and places a kakuni ramen with Japanese noodles in front of me. My friend gets the paitan ramen with local style noodles. I told the waiter that the noodles were right but the ramen type were not. He then switches our bowls of ramen. Now our noodles were correct but the ramen were wrong. I (very politely) explain that they are still wrong. The waiter then goes to the back and comes back with a young woman who asks us what the problem was. I again explain to her that the different noodle styles are in the wrong ramen. She then asks us out loud in front of other customers with an incredulous tone, "so you want us to make you new ramen?!" Umm...yes? Eventually, they got our orders right but there wasn't a single apology and they acted as if they were doing us a favor. I mean, its one thing if we were being difficult and changed our orders after we received them but it was the waiter that got them wrong, not us. And what was with the attitude when we were being nothing but polite about it? Maybe they were having a bad day? Maybe the waiter told her some story like we changed our minds or we were being difficult or something? Either way, customer service was non-existent.

    (2)

  • Katelyn G.

    My favorite place to get ramen! I was hooked the first time I tried their "Paitan Ramen", which is rich, flavorful and not too salty (a common complaint I have about most ramen restaurants). I haven't tried too much of their other offerings. The fried rice, gyoza, and shoyu ramen were all average, but I usually only go if I'm craving the Paitan. Parking is a little difficult during peak meal times and the shop's hours are a little strange. Be warned; they are closed on Wednesdays and you'll have to go elsewhere for your ramen fix (though, if you're craving Paitan, you'll probably end up thoroughly disappointed). The woman who waits the tables is always there and always very friendly!

    (5)

  • Dianne H.

    If this place was a man, I would marry it. Been here about 15 times. Try to order something different each time, but that Paitan Char Shuu Ramen is addicting. Also recommend Ebi Mayonnaise, Fried Rice, Chicken Karaage...I'm starting to believe that everything there is delicious. Big bowl of ramen for about $9. Open for Lunch & Dinner. Small place, seats about 30 people or so. Too bad McCully shopping center parking lot sucks.

    (5)

  • Judy C.

    Ohmigod! Their collagen ramen is everything I was looking for in a soup. It taste so good and it's so perfectly seasoned. I have yet to find something like that in NY with enough meat. It's not acutally collagen ramen. It's basically bone marrow white soup with ramen and meat in it. Yuuuuuuuum! Try it if you're in the area. Unfortunately for me, that bowl will cost me an extra $1500.

    (5)

  • Brian W.

    So on our last trip, we discovered this gem right before our flight out of Hawaii. Boy were we glad we came here! The ramen is better than any LA offering I've tried and the best I've had to date (minus Japan based joints). This time around, I brought my parents who aren't huge ramen fans (last time I brought them to eat Shinsen Gumi, they complained for a full week about how much they didn't like it), so I was a little worried about what rating they'd give it. As usual, I ordered the Paitan Chashu ramen with gyoza appetizers, but we also added the garlic fried rice per the waitress/cashier/bus-girl's (seriously, they better pay her a lot for pretty much soloing the front room) suggestion. Once my parents tasted their first sip of the soup, my worries of their usual degrading comments on new places disappeared. They genuinely liked the ramen and loved the garlic fried rice! Even after a couple days, they're still telling their friends of how good Yotteko-Ya was. What a relief cuz if they didn't like it, I would never have heard the end of it for the rest of the trip...

    (5)

  • Shay F.

    Since I know how the REAL one is suppose to taste like...... The REAL Yotteko-ya in Japan is AWESOME!!! But this one fails to meet the standards.

    (1)

  • Eric T.

    Paitan Kakuni Ramen! Wow talk about a taste buster! Frankly i love this place and dislike it. The dining area fits maybe 20people. And its small and quaint but the problem is the wait is probably going to be long in the evenings. Though this place is awesome at opening on sundays (1130am). Not to much people when i went, and the special was the Kakuni Paitan. The japan style noodles are FREAKIN good! But the kakuni pork stuff is just tasty mind blowingness. Not dry and yet you know it was cooking for hours because the fat melts in your mouth! Yummy yummy! Go there and tellem yelp sent ya!

    (5)

  • Brian L.

    This place is so good that my roomate came here 7 months ago and has been talking about it ever since we knew we'd be back... we were a little pressed for time but we tried to grab a bowl after he picked me up from the airport. We get to the front door only to be greeted by the waitress. She says "sorry, we are closed" as she points to the "closed" sign hanging on the door. My roomate, Jeff, tells her that he's been thinking about it since his last trip 7 months ago and we were trying to get a bowl right before we had to leave for the airport. The waitress paused for a second then told us to wait while she checks with the chef. 2 minutes later, we get the green light. SCORE!!! We tell her that we'll be quick because we already know what we want... the PAITAN ramen with our noodles cooked "Japanese" style (a little firm... basically al dente) with char-siu. This is one of the best bowls of ramen that I have had. The broth was milky, cloudy, rich, and full of flavor. My roomate was in "Hawaiin" mode after hanging out with some friends of friends that are locals and was trying to teach me some slang. It started rubbing off on me really quick... ...the paitan was choke good braddah... it broke da mouth!!!

    (4)

  • Gary H.

    Paitan Ramen Haiku in Four Stanzas Broth like crystalline tears of an Unborn Angel Take the soup home, yes! Broth, mmm collagen! Among the best, just balanced You'll say Tenkaii- what? Chasu gohan ughhh Shut the door, leave me tissues Grease? or glad to see me? wah wah gah crying baby why torment me, OH you ain't got no broth

    (4)

  • Thi L.

    Went with my gf and we each ordered the Paitan Chashu Ramen and a side of gyoza. We both thought the char siu was very very good. It's a little sweet and shoyu-y but that went very well with the broth. The broth itself is ok. And the noodles Japanese style were great. The gyoza meat was a little pink which worried me but my friend assured me it was cooked since the texture was cooked. I decided to believe her so we ate it all. I'm not sick so I guess it was cooked. It was a little unnerving though to see it so pink.

    (4)

  • Kristen T.

    Great ramen place! I found this place on yelp and decided to come here with my family. We order combo D with the ramen in hawaiian style broth, karage, and fried rice.. and my dad ordered the Paitan Ramen. I really enjoyed the karage chicken..it was perfectly crispy and not too oily. The hawaiian style broth was a bit too plain for me. The fried rice was good and very flavorful. I wish I had ordered the Paitan Ramen..the broth was AMAZING!!! Their homemade char siu was also really good. I would def. come back again and order the Paitan ramen..great place!

    (4)

  • Dee L.

    Oh-my-GOODNESS! Call me ramen girl! I found myself coming back for lunch, then dinner, then lunch, then dinner again! Their paitan ramen deserves all the orgasmic raves! Sensational broth with the perfect noodle firmness (mine was firm). Now go get some! A little tip: go early, they get packed during dinner-time.

    (5)

  • Ryan U.

    Pretty good. Paitan ramen was good - but still searching for somewhere with broth as good as Nihon Noodle (which has closed). Staff was very nice, but service can get a bit slow if they are crowded.

    (3)

  • Kathleen G.

    Wayyyyy overdue review of this ramen joint. Ate here for the first time three (?) months back since a friend invited to eat here along with his other friends. Experience was pretty good that first time. I got the paitan ramen with the chewy noodles, which filled me up faster than expected. Broth tasted different from all the other ramen places I've eaten at. Different but in a good way, muy delicioso! We came when it wasn't busy yet, but it was dinner time already. While there was no wait for tables, parking prior to get to the place sucked. It's located on McCully Shopping center, you can imagine how horrible it is to snag parking spaces here during peak hours. Nonetheless, it's a place worth trying!

    (4)

  • Jesse C.

    Three years ago, I had a hankering for some authentic shoyu ramen. I ask a friend he recommends here. I tried it and proclaimed this is not it. The broth was unmemorable. So much so that three years later a friend ask for Ramen I yelp and find this place. (When did Yelp become a verb? Hey! Don't LOL at me.) Completely unbeknownst that I've already been here. I walk to the second floor of McCully Shopping Center. Hey, look Hot Pot Haven! I step up to the door; that damn door. I remember you. That was my clue. I remember getting confused by you the first time. Ever pushed a sliding door? If you need a hint; it doesn't go well. I give the place another chance and order a Kimchee Paitan with extra noodles. I'm such a glutton for punishment. It's not that this place is bad. But when push comes to slide, its just...Meh. I've experienced better. See you again in three years, Yotteko-Ya.

    (2)

  • Emiko T.

    To be... blunt, or not to be? That is the question. I've never had such a conflict and wished for a separate rating system for the restaurant and then for the food! So I'll just rig my own right now and go for it: Food: Maybe a 3.8? Ordered the Yasai (veggie) Ramen in the shoyu broth. Noodles were great. I ordered them Japanese style so a little chewy and tough but delicious. Excellent and flavorful broth. Now the vegetables really could have been more tender and perhaps with a more generous portion. And ONE piece of the chashu pork? C'mon, load it up!! After seeing how one little piece possibly could not satisfy MY craving, I think that I'd recommend ordering at least 5 pieces. But I have to say that the meat was very tender. The serving size I would say is just right, but perhaps a little pricey for the size. Service: Yikes. I hate to be the snitch but someone had to do it: 2 stars. But please take this with a grain of salt because I heard that most other nights the service is much better with much more pleasant waitresses. Tonight was busy (must be all the post-tsunami cold wind) and there was only ONE waitress hustling around the entire restaurant. She was rude, though and maybe stressed out that she was running the whole thing by herself. Still, it took us forever to order and to get the check. And remember, even if it's a bad night for you, the lone server in a restaurant, don't leave your customers feeling resentful for the service you provided. I think I'll venture out and try my luck at other ramen joints first before giving Yotteko-Ya another go.

    (3)

  • Addie L.

    Not a bad place for ramen. Their paitan base is the star, very rich, creamy, and savory. They rely on their ingredients for the favors, not heavy use of MSG. They give you a choice of firm or soft noodles, my preference is firm. Expect to pay a tad under $10 for a bowl. Few things you should be aware of, parking is hell at night and the A/C is not working right, wait staff is doing the best they can, juggling multiple duties at the same time, so please be patient.

    (4)

  • Dave Y.

    The best ramen on the island. The charshu there is amazing. Great in the ramen and over rice. The Paitan ramen has delicious broth that you just want to slurp

    (5)

  • Marie I.

    I come here quite frequently, especially given the fact that there are now many more options. The paitan ramen is perfect, the gyoza is probably the best, the ladies (who have been working there since I first found this gem many years ago) are sweet, helpful, and efficient. I especially like the ice cream options for dessert, and if not, they always give you candy.

    (5)

  • Emil C.

    I went here for lunch right when it opened and it was already very busy. It took a while for the one waitress to get to everybody. But she was definitely moving as fast as she could. I got the Kakuni Paitan Ramen and Ebi Mayonnaise. The ramen was good. The broth was very flavorful. However the kakuni that I got was a bit too lean. I got the noodles firm which what they referred to as Japanese style on their menu. The shrimp was very delicious. It was combined with tomatoes and fruit. Very tasty. I would definitely come back here to try other items on their menu.

    (4)

  • Wendy I.

    Numero-uno paitan ramen! Get there early, gets busy. Wish they were open from lunch until dinner instead of closing down inbetween. We've gone there a few times too late for lunch, too early for dinner. Parking is scarce at McCully shopping Center.

    (5)

  • Pila S.

    The bad: Long waits, spotty service. Hard to get a second beer (yes, some of us drink more than one). Only a few things on the menu stand out. The good: Holy Damn! The paitan ramen is amazing. The chashu is like butter. And the fried rice is the best wet style I have had on Oahu. Given the bad, I would never give this place five stars total but the good is that good.

    (5)

  • Vera W.

    Amazing. Simply amazing.

    (5)

  • James W.

    After reading the reviews, I was looking forward to eating at this place. I tried the paitan ramen with the special pork chunks. Not much decor inside and food was nothing special. The bay area has better ramen.

    (3)

  • Karen L.

    Reviews were right. You have to get the kakuni pork special. The chasui (did I spell it right?) is really fatty and tender. That's the best kind you can get for ramen! It just melts in your mouth. The portion was perfect for me. It's not too big and not too little. Someone who eats a lot may need 2 or 3 bowls. Service was nice and fast for only 1 waitress when we were there. She was hustling back and forth. I felt bad but she did a great job. A must try for the ramen lovers.

    (5)

  • Shane S.

    The decor and atmosphere is nice. The soup broth here is flavorful and not overpowering at all. The ramen was cooked nicely and not soggy like most places. I would definitely come again to enjoy their other menu selections. Their prices are reasonable as well. A big drawback was the fact that we went during lunch hour so the place was incredibly busy. And for all the business they get there was only 1 lady who served as waitress/buser/cashier. This lead to many delays for anyone who decided to dine there. It was a struggle just to get the check so we could leave.

    (4)

  • Jennifer H.

    SLURRPPP! This is the next best ramen to Daikokuya in LA! I'm not normally a ramen fan because too many times the soup is too fatty or too salty for me to finish half the bowl of ramen. But, the flavor of the soup here is just right that I kept inhaling the noodles and charsiu until there was nothing left. They're also very generous with the charsiu portions here esp if you order the paitan charsiu with 5 pieces of charsiu. It's a little more expensive than the standard ramen with 2 pieces of charsiu, but it's better than being charged $1.50 per extra slice of charsiu at other ramen joints. Now if only they have soft-boiled eggs....that would've topped off the ramen perfectly.

    (4)

  • Susan R.

    By far the most amazing ramen I've had! Including my trip to Japan! The paitan broth is so yummy that I finished every drop and the pork is SO GOOD! I'm usually more interested in the noodles than the meat, but this was the most flavorful pork I've ever tasted! I highly recommend this place!

    (5)

  • James J.

    I absolutely love their Paitan Chashu ramen. It has such a rich flavor. The place is small, but it gives an authentic feel to it. The only downside is parking is a bit tricky in the McCully Shopping Center.

    (5)

  • Ryan I.

    I went here a little before noon on a Sunday and told the magic words "kakuni paitan ramen was still available." I've tried to get it on numerous occasions in the past, only to be told that it was sold out. I guess it was my lucky day. The pork was out of this world, it melted in your mouth. I've enjoyed their Paitan Ramen in the past, but the Kakuni pork is what made it really special. Get here early if you want to try it for yourself.

    (4)

  • Kealii C.

    Service was horrible today. Waited 10 min for a water after asking once. Waitress gave everyone else water TWICE and forgot about our table. Food is good as usual. Air conditioning needs to be cooler especially on a hot day like this.

    (2)

  • Randy M.

    Great spot for Ramen!. I've been twice and the Ramen is wonderful, full of flavor. The gyoza on the other hand has been hit or miss. The first time it was awesome. But on our last visit they were very loose and falling apart on the plate, must have been an off day. I got a paitan charshiu with extra noodles, and my 3 year old loved the noodles and the broth. They have been known to run out of certain items... the chicken.

    (4)

  • Susan F.

    I've been to Yotteko-Ya a couple of times and have never been disappointed. I always order the Paitan ramen with the Japanese style noodles which are more al dente than the local style. The broth is light yet flavorful and extra points for the broth having collagen to reduces aging. I love my noodles and I love Yotteko-Ya! Tip: they sometimes run out of noodles at the end of the night, so don't be surprised if you see the sign outside.

    (4)

  • Ethan Y.

    Hey guys, its actually not bad. I will be generous. They give you a lot of food for the combination meal. I didn't like the fried chicken in particular and they don't really have seafood combinations here. There are the negatives. The soup base was a little too sweet for me. But in general, this is not bad in addition to the good pricing, I think it deserves a good rating. No, it is not mindblowing. That is just ridiculous. No ramen can be mind blowing. The last time I had my mind blown was in Serbia with some yummy Cevapi. I havent had my mind blown for a while. I would like to though.

    (3)

  • Dale W.

    it's funny because i was in this shopping center a week earlier and bookmarked the place, then ended up there with a group of friends (morning after wedding [partying] meal.) i got the kakuni paitan combo (with karaage chicken & chashu pork bowl.) so much food! so good. the ramen was very rich, which is great because i haaate a thin, flavorless ramen broth.

    (5)

  • Alysha K.

    I think too many people hyped up Yotteko-Ya a little too much for me. I was not impressed with the broth. It was okay, but needed a lot more flavor, even the Paitan one. However, the pork was soooo delicious. Tender, just melts in your mouth. Definitely a must to order more than just 2 slices. The gyoza is really good too. There was a choice of two noodle styles: Japanese & local. I ordered the Japanese style one hoping it would be the really thin noodles which I like. But they were regular size. I'm in search for the best ramen in Hawaii & this is not the one. Sorry.

    (3)

  • Kimo C.

    Definitely not to the standards of being in Japan, but if you want good Japanese homemade noodles, this is a great option here in Hawaii.

    (4)

  • Justin S.

    Sorry Oahu....you still don't hold a candle to LA for being closest to having authentic ramen from Japan. I didn't want to hype it up too much but I was still let down by the broth and noodles. Tried the special ramen that they only service limited bowls of....the char siu was good but over half of my portion was dry and too thick. Now I love my thick ass meat but for it to be dry in the center, that's a sign it's too thick. Maybe I just had a bad bowl but for what it's worth I'll try here again when I visit home, but I'll be going for the rice dishes. Oh and the decor is only cool from the outside (the sliding door) Not vibing on the tacky red and black interior.

    (2)

  • David T.

    I have to admit, the paitan ramen was awesome. I wasn't impressed. Y the chicken karaage or the fried rice. Next time I will stick only to the ramen without any sides.

    (4)

  • Mark d.

    After a long 5 hour flight, this was our dinner stop on the way to our hotel from HNL. I'd put the Paitan Ramen from this place up there with the Miso Corn Butter Ramen at the Umaimono Fair at Mitsuwa Marketplace in Torrance, and the ramen from Hakata Shinsengumi! Order it Japanese style with extra noodles and you'll be good to go. Their Chasu was "Oh so tender!" My wife and I went on a Tuesday night toward closing, so it wasn't too crowded. We were seated right away and got our food just as fast. The lot in the front can get crowded so park around the back in the lower parking structure.

    (5)

  • elita n.

    If this place is in the SF Bay Area, the line would be easily over an hour long... and yup, this place beats all the other bay area places hands down! Their broth is simmered for 10 hours with their "choicest pork and chicken"... 10 veggies... yea, it's good stuff. The noodle itself also fantastic. Combined that with yummy pork, and a side of their ridiculously good fried chicken and homemade gyoza... it was the perfect ramen meal.

    (5)

  • Brian A.

    Chasiu paitan ramen, Japanese style. That's the thing to get here. They have a "Daily Special" but only make enough for twenty bowls. So, if you're lucky, you'll get a bowl of the paitan ramen and a whole chunk of their chasiu. Otherwise you'll have to make due with *only* five pieces of their tender and fatty chasiu. I would describe their paitan soup base as creamy, slightly spicy, and great for a cold day. The chasiu is out of this world. Even though they take credit card, it may be better to pay in cash since it's usually super busy. Parking sucks, it's in McCully Shopping Center ( yelp.com/biz/mccully-sho… ) after all.

    (5)

  • M M.

    Paitan ramen = bomb dot com! i'm definitely a fan of the creamier pork baased ramens, & yotteko-ya delivered during my september oahu trip. i yelped this place up before i set out for the islands, & i'm glad i did. this ramen place had the BEST pieces of pork i've ever had! they were thick, tender, & meltttttt in your mouthhhh. the broth definitely could have been a little richer, but i'm a tough one to please, ramen-wise - i'm comparing this place to shin sen gumi in fountain valley, california - that place still has my ramen-loving heart :) i came for lunch, & there was no wait! so if you're an impatient one, definitely go at lunch! i'll definitely come back soon whenever i'm back on the islands! & if you're planning on visiting us here in CA & in need of a ramen fix, please PLEASE go to shin sen gumi :D

    (4)

  • Avy R.

    I really wanted to like it more... :( I was craving for authentic Japanese Ramen and came to this place mainly based on the high yelp review. I was so excited. My friend and I both ordered the famous one the Paitan one. It turned out to be... alright... I dont know why, I was so hungry too... but it just tasted alright for me. I dont know if it's because I was expecting too much because of the high reviews.... And the vegetables tasted old... Maybe they just had a bad/busy day? Ah... I really want some good ramen... Where should I go now...? :(

    (3)

  • Lynn S.

    We meant to eat at another Japanese resturant, but couldn't find it, so we made our way in here. I'm not a big fan of Ramen, but I might be now. The paitan soup was delish to the last drop. I mean, my first reaction to the tatse was this is good! I like it better then Tenkaippin. They gave a lot in the set. I had to give my husband some of my noodles. Amibiance is okay, nothing bad, but they could make it a little more cozy for a better experience. Lucky for them, their noodles more then compensated. I'd go back!

    (4)

  • Deandra T.

    Had the house specialty paitan chasu ramen (limited # of orders!): probably my 2nd favorite ramen on the island after Goma Tei's tantanmen-style. Very good hearty porky pork stock. The pork tastes like pork as it should. Maybe a bit of MSG though? MSG or not, tasted very good and I would return.

    (4)

  • Marisa O.

    My absolute FAVORITE place to get ramen. I don't care too much for the Paitan Ramen, but many people do. I actually am sort of a purist and go for the Shoyu base with Chashu. They give you a choice of "local style" softer noodles or the firmer "Japanese Style" noodles. So yummy! Gyoza is pretty good, karaage is excellent, and they make good kimu chee too! : ) They also have fried rice, which is also good. It's all good, including the service and the prices!

    (5)

  • Malia F.

    Strangest little place ( you will understand when you get there), up in the corner of McCully Shopping Center. We went by 3 frickin times, and it was closed. So after Joy of Sake we hit it up, and yes it was open. Paitan ramen rocks! Please transport this restaurant to Seattle. My husband wasn't even hungry but he still ate it all. PS: thank you for not have outrageous prices... your proximity to Waikiki make it uber convenient.

    (5)

  • Nicole N.

    The shoyu charshu ramen was very delicious we loved it. But the service here is not so good. There were no waitresses to fill up our water or come up to check on us.

    (3)

  • Kanya G.

    You can never go wrong with the ramen here. Always so flavorful and charsiu is amazing. Service, on the other hand, isn't always up to par. My recent visit was so upsetting. We were a group of 7 and asked the waitress if we could move our tables together. We were literally a foot away! Her response was: "No cannot! This building is 10 years old and if we move the tables it [the floor] will break." Seriously?!?

    (2)

  • Erin T.

    Ambiance: Small/special, secret spot feeling. Food: Good ramen. Not as good as Hokkaido Ramen Santouka or Tenkaiipin, but parking is way easier.

    (4)

  • melissa m.

    Place to go to get good bowl of Ramen. The noodles are offered as Japanese or local style. Both are very good. The broth is very tasty and thick and rich. The cha shu is really tender and literally falls apart when you eat it it's delicious. You can order more. Also they do offer a child shoe all which looked very good as well. The one thing that I thought was missing was a hard-boiled egg soft-boiled egg The space medium size and the staff is very friendly.

    (3)

  • david j.

    Awesome ramen set! I'm not a huge go try them all ramen person but I've grown up here so I know a thing or two. My first time there so I tired the set to get a liitle taste of it all. Wow, everything was amazing. The noodles hard a choice of firmness which was new to me. I left it up to the waitress and she recommended firm! I went with there signature broth which was I could have to the very last drop. Never at a ramen place did I ever desire to finish the broth. I gotta run, but the friend rice with char Sui was excellent and the gyoza with the deep fried option was awesome!

    (5)

  • kris m.

    PAITAN RAMEN!!! GET IT!!! Oh my god!! The PAITAN on a cold rainy day.... heaven!!! Screw it... the PAITAN on any day is fricking heaven!!!

    (5)

  • Belinda l.

    Had the Yasai Paitan ramen with spicy broth and hard noodles. It was awesome, some of the best ramen I've had in the US.

    (5)

  • eric e.

    Just had dinner here & ordered the Paitan Chashu ramen. Gotta say the soup base was very good, noodles perfect (Japan style), & chashu was awesome! its hard to compare this place to Goma Tei cuz its like comparing apples to oranges. On the other hand, when comparing the Paitan with Ichiben, Yotteko-Ya is da bomb! Still gotta come back and try more on the menu, cant wait...

    (5)

  • Ellen Mae V.

    Paitan Charshu Ramen!!! No, people it's not the square ramen you buy for $0.49 cents. And if that's the only kind of ramen you've tasted then you're depriving yourself. This stuff is unbelievable! I especially love the sesame seeds that are sprinkled on top, it just MAKES the dish! This place is small but good for groups of up to 6 or possibly 8. It's also dangerously close to where I live and I find myself frequenting the place quite often. Overall, magnificent and simple but worth every penny!

    (5)

  • Jesseca H.

    Fantastic!!!!!! The best place ever for real ramen. Very cozy small restaurant that was very child friendly. Nice staff very helpful and friendly as well. Highly recommend!

    (5)

  • Ariana M.

    Decided to eat at Yotteko-Ya (Kyoto) Ramen at Mccully Shopping Center. This restaurant is located on the second floor on the far left side next to Salon Tiffany. Mccully shopping center parking is very tight so park carefully! The décor is very Japanese inside. Although I feel they need to get a stronger A/C system or something, because it was very warm inside. It felt even hotter in there after eating a hot bowl of ramen. This restaurant is not big so that's why I think it is a little annoying on how slow their service is here. Maybe they should consider hiring more wait help. The Grub. GYOZA [[ alright ]] I really didn't feel this gyoza was anything special. It tasted good but it also tasted like any where else. PAITAN CHARSHU [[ bomb ]] I though the broth was very good. I also liked the charshu. Super yummy, and I highly recommend for you to try this ramen. Overall experience here was all right. The food was good and the staff was friendly but slow.

    (3)

  • Thi L.

    Went with my gf and we each ordered the Paitan Chashu Ramen and a side of gyoza. We both thought the char siu was very very good. It's a little sweet and shoyu-y but that went very well with the broth. The broth itself is ok. And the noodles Japanese style were great. The gyoza meat was a little pink which worried me but my friend assured me it was cooked since the texture was cooked. I decided to believe her so we ate it all. I'm not sick so I guess it was cooked. It was a little unnerving though to see it so pink.

    (4)

  • Kristen T.

    Great ramen place! I found this place on yelp and decided to come here with my family. We order combo D with the ramen in hawaiian style broth, karage, and fried rice.. and my dad ordered the Paitan Ramen. I really enjoyed the karage chicken..it was perfectly crispy and not too oily. The hawaiian style broth was a bit too plain for me. The fried rice was good and very flavorful. I wish I had ordered the Paitan Ramen..the broth was AMAZING!!! Their homemade char siu was also really good. I would def. come back again and order the Paitan ramen..great place!

    (4)

  • Eddie T.

    Location is good but the flavor of the noodle needs to improve. I have yet still to find a delicious ramen in Hawaii and I've tried here once and thought perhaps I could allow up to 3 times to decide my rating. Fried rice was very interesting in ingredient wise Noodle and flavor was nothing special.... its OK.

    (3)

  • C L.

    One star for the following reasons: A couple months ago, we attempted to eat here for a friends birthday lunch and they were closed. It was a Monday, so I realized that I should have checked first. 2nd attempt - we tried to have dinner here. Checked the site and according to the hours posted, they close at 9pm. My friend who hates coming to McCully shopping center agreed to bring me because I really wanted to try it. We arrived at 6:30 pm and they were sold out.... Huh??? Ok.. If I ever get to try this place, I may change my rating. But so far this is my experience with Yotteko-ya.

    (1)

  • Jim M.

    I have been going here since they opened. Yotteko-Ya (some called Kyoto Ramen) is of the best Japanese noodles in a town with good noodle places! My favorite is the Yasai Paitan Ramen with spicy sauce. A side of kimchee and a side of gyoza makes the meal complete. Good service, nice people, and a clean restaurant make this a great place to eat. If you are there any time after 5:30PM, though, be prepared for the hassle of parking. McCully Shopping Center is notoriously bad for parking.

    (4)

  • Grace N.

    There are so many good reviews so no need to say much, but I don't even like pork broth based ramen but I really do enjoy Yotteko-Ya's paitan ramen. Service sometimes is slow but it's only because they take care in making every bowl delicious :)

    (4)

  • Ivy C.

    Thanks to Yelp I found the most amazing ramen EVER! I have dreamt of it since. Cant wait to go back but fearful to tell too many cause I dont want to have to wait in line.

    (5)

  • Kupo T.

    Got here at about 6:00, they open at 5:30 and had to wait for a seat. That was a good sign for me. Ordered the Paitan Ramen with firm extra noodles and extra char siu. I like Tenkaippin soup better than here, but the char siu and the fried rice was much better than Tenkaippin. Gyoza was alright nothing special. I wouldn't say that this is the greatest ramen i have eaten, but it is definitely one of the better ones.

    (4)

  • Katy N.

    YUM and best soup stock ever!!!!! This place sells out fast and wished we came here for lunch rather than dinner because the item we wanted to order was their "Kakuni Paitan " - SOLD OUT :( Instead we came here for an EARLY (not) dinner 5:45pm and ended up ordering their "Paitan Chashu Ramen" - topped with 5 slices of our homemade chashu. Still DELISH and drank the entire soup stock....SLURP SLURP SLURP :)

    (5)

  • Austen I.

    I had the Paitan Charshu, Japanese style. I'm going to say I was a little disappointed. I've heard so much about this ramen shop from friends and it got an awesome yelp review, but I think Yotteko-Ya had a little bit too much hype. Their Paitan ramen is their speciality, but I warn new food goers that the broth has a thin, creamy, almost skim milk type taste to it. I personally don't care for that type of broth so I would say go for a shoyu-based broth if you have similar tastes. That being said, I enjoyed the japanese style noodles and their gyoza. I will go back and try something new, probably a shoyu-based ramen, and update my rating.

    (3)

  • An N.

    Everyone knows the proof is in the broth and this place has it! They have the most amazing Paitan broth. It is a rich and creamy delicious broth that goes perfect with the home-made charsu pork they make. I love ordering their basic Paitan Ramen with a side order of sauteed pot stickers. The prices are reasonable, the portions are generous and the ambiance is very casual. I love the decor, which is classic Japanese, particularly the sliding door that you enter the restaurant with. There are tons of places in Honolulu that have 'saimin' and 'ramen' but this place is totally legit. Be ready for a bit of a wait if you come here during lunch's rush hour.

    (5)

  • Craig S.

    Back again maybe 5th or 6th time. My wife says this is one of the best ramen in Hawaii. I like it too. She also loves the gyoza. I like the chicken karaage. We're having both today along with their specialty Paitan ramen. Seems they are always short staffed. We see only one waitress so far.

    (4)

  • Karen S.

    Cannot remember the exact dish but there is a limited amount. Base was paitan and there were three chunks of char siu Went there for lunch. There was a line to get in before they even opened. We kind of snickered at their claim that they were rocketed in. Also laughed at their claim that their paitan base will make you look young. I am not a dashi girl. My blood pressure is non existent but I had to make sure there was a bit of dashi with each noodle bite because it was so good. It was the first time that I actually focused on the broth instead of the noodles, which by the way, was also really good. If this broth will make you look young, they may be asking me for my ID soon because I am going back this week. Char siu had a good balance of sweet and sour. It's not salty and it was really tender. Although they offer other kinds of ramen base and fried rice, I am going to stick with the paitan broth.

    (5)

  • Jimmy T.

    Good ramen!!! it compares to some of the more authentic ones in LA... Good flavor and I gotta say, I like the hot soup... When I get ramen at other places, the soup is hot but not really hot so I like the really hot soup!!! For a LA guy, I enjoyed the ramen!

    (4)

  • Goldie L.

    I was not so impressed by Yotteko-Ya. To be fair, I'm spoiled by many really good ramen places in CA. In Hawaii, this place could be one of the best judging by the reviews. I sampled their raved about "paitan" ramen only to be disappointed. My boyfriend said the same about his order. I had high hopes for this place but sadly it did not meet my expectations..

    (3)

  • Jaynie K.

    Paitan ramen, Japanese style: Firm chewy noodles. Rich, meaty, almost milky broth. Super tender sweet cha shu. Scatters of chopped green onion. So delicious on a rainy night! Ebi Mayonnaise was a treat for the eyes. Fat deep fried shrimp slathered in a semi-sweet mayonnaise sauce. Piled up on an orange slice, topped in slivered almonds and surrounded by slices of cherry tomato and chunks of orange. Pretty good, but a little soft. Cha shu rice was good. Hot white rice topped with chunks of sweet cha siu. Simple and tasty. Service was friendly, water was refilled just on time.

    (4)

  • Crystal L.

    It was only ok for me. I guess I'm not a paitan lover...there really is something for everyone. The portions were also small. I eat at odd hours like 2pm haha so Yotteko-ya closing in the middle of the day frustrates me! I tried multiple times to eat there and when I finally did, nothing was extraordinary. I wanted to like this place.

    (2)

  • Yuzen Y.

    i highly recommend the kakuni paitan ramen. The broth is rich and flavorful and the noodles are firm (japanese style noodles).

    (5)

  • Rob G.

    Paitan with extra pork FTW. Don't waste your time with any other dish. This ramen is so good it melts my mouth off. I'd give this place five stars but the beer menu is terrible. Offer a couple of good beers or make it BYOB! That is all.

    (4)

  • Lorna K.

    Im a first timer..eating the kakuni-paitan Japanese style noodles (firmer noodles)..it's da .BOMB

    (5)

  • Thy L.

    I ordered the Paitan ramen that they are famous for. They use a broth made from chicken, pork, vegetables and spices that they stew for 10+ hours. They also boast that eating their ramen will help you look younger because of the collagen in their soup. It sounds a little exaggerated to me. It'd probably make you fat first. Regardless of whether or not the broth actually makes you look younger, it was delicious. It's definitely worth it to pay YottekoYa a visit to try their ramen. They use a somewhat squiggly noodle that I like. The broth is very savory and flavorful.

    (4)

  • Katy E.

    The paitan ramen is a MUST ORDER! The noodles are firm and chewy (just the way I like it.) The broth is creamy and not too salty. I regret ordering the fried rice because it tasted like they poured a gallon of seasame oil ontop. Next time I want to try the garlic fried rice and see if that has a little bit more flavor. Downside is that the restaurant closes once they run out of food :(

    (4)

  • Scott Y.

    Another good Ramen place... Couple old ladies make it even better. I'm gonna recommend the Paitan broth, not too thick and not too light, juuuuust right. The pork fried rice is tasty tasty. I had the charsiu ramen and i had pork belly pieces, so soft and tasty!! I like the "Japanese harder" style noodles they have. Broth could have been hotter, i like it hot hot. But over all i liked it very much.

    (4)

  • Lauren K.

    I have always seen this place on the second floor of the McCully Shopping Center but never ventured into it until the other day when a friend of mine had a ramen craving and insisted that I come with. The first thing that caught my eye upon looking at the menu? The paragraph stating that their broth will make you younger. I must say, enjoyable way to start. My friend told me that the chashu is "off da hook good" and had to have some. I chose the Paiten Chashu Ramen (with Japanese noodles) and shared a side of gyoza and kim chee too. Let me just say...The chashu is so tasty! Full of flavor, super tender, and not too fatty. I think I may be more of a fan of the chashu if anything...haha. The gyoza and kim chee were also great side dishes. Overall, I'm definitely coming back to this place again.

    (4)

  • Yvonne M.

    The Chashu Paitan was delicious! The meat melts in your mouth. The broth is just right. Although, next time I will choose the local style noodles. Now I know I prefer the softer noodle. You can choose Japanese (firm-almost undercooked-well to me) and the Local style (soft, the type most hawaii restaurants make) Fried rice and gyoza was okay. Karaage chicken was pretty good. If you like thin soup come here. If you like thick, creamy broth go to Tenkaippin.

    (4)

  • Jeff T.

    The ramen was tasty. Not too heavy or rich. The Japanese style noodles were good and the char Sui was super tender. The only thing I didn't like was the pan fried gyoza. It tasted junk and seemed like it had been frozen. Don't order it! The fried rice was pretty good.

    (3)

  • Traci H.

    I was craving ramen and wanted to try someplace new. After seeing tons of reviews on this place I was set. It was a Thursday night and I must have caught the dinner rush because there was a line. There was only one girl working there. She was bustling, but I don't think she knows how to mulit-task. While we were waiting, there was a table that could have been cleared on her many walks back an forth to the kitchen. I was almost ready to bus the table myself! Waiting gave us a lot of time to decide what to eat. My boyfriend and I both had the paitan. I had mine with kimchee and veggies. He had his paitan with the C set. I have to say that the broth was savory! I love Japanese style noodles, so chewy. I hate mushy noodles. The gyoza was good sized and pretty good. I don't think they were as good as I expected from reviews, but I don't know how they got theirs (pan-fried or deep fried), I had mines pan-fried. My boyfriend had the fried rice which was also pretty good. Overall, ramen was yummy! Noodles were good and chewy. Their charshu was good! I usually don't like charshu too! I'll be back!

    (4)

  • Keith H.

    This is a hot place on Yelp, or so my home page says, so I came in with some expectations in mind. I wish I could say Yotteko-ya met all of them, but I can't. First off, it's not the easiest place to find at McCully Shopping Center. It's located on the second floor, at the Ewa side of the building, so I found myself looking high and low for it, until I found the wooden sliding doors staring at me from across the building. The experience started off OK. I was greeting promptly and offered a seat at the counter. I ordered the char siu ramen, shoyu broth, cooked Japanese style (as opposed to local style, where they cook it a little longer). The noodles came out great - nice and al dente; the char siu was tender and mildly sweet; but the soup...let me put it this way, saimin broth has more flavor. I would have expected a shoyu ramen broth to at least taste a little bit like, well, shoyu. Water was refilled in a timely manner, and I finished the bowl of noodles quickly. Then I waited for the waitress to clear my empty bowl and give me my check. And waited... And waited... Now here's the deal. The place is not very big. Ten tables tops, plus five seats at the counter. Maybe three tables were occupied, plus me at the counter. I can see if the place were packed to the gills with one server. But, really, being kept waiting so long that the thought of skipping out so I could make my 7 o'clock rehearsal crossed my mind? I finally did get my check, and they did get their money, but I can't help thinking the waitress forgot about me. Not good. I mean, yes, the take-out menu says, "Eat Yotteko-ya's ramen and look younger." But if you die of old age waiting for your check, it kinda defeats the purpose, no? Still, I may give them another try. Maybe their paitan ramen may have a bit more flavor to it. And hopefully I get a waitress who actually notices when customers are done eating.

    (2)

  • Michael S.

    Of all the Asian restaurants we've been to on three Hawaiian islands, this one is probably the best. I'm not usually a fan of Japanese food (wife's idea), but the ramen and the pork were both really good. Parking can be difficult to find at the shopping center, and you have to know to look on the second floor to find this place.

    (5)

  • barry n.

    Been told that the paitan was really good, so my wife and I decided to try it. The paitan broth was really milky looking and it tasted pretty good. I think Ichiben's paitan was more flavorful. We also had gyoza, which was okay, fried rice, which was okay and ebi in chili sauce, which was okay. The shrimp was big, which was good but the sauce tasted just okay and they just slathered it over the shrimp. Not something I would order again. The only reason this place gets four stars is the noodles! They offer it two ways- Kyoto style, which is firm or Local style, which is more soft. Having the noodles firmer is how I like it and it really came out that way. Plus, they offer extra noodles! My kinda place! Don't know if I would go back though because the parking sucks!! There is basement parking, but we still had to wait almost 15 minutes for a stall!

    (4)

  • Yuree N.

    I ordered the spicy Paitan ramen, Japanese-style (more stiff noodles) and it was delicious. It's all about the broth, and I definitely prefer Yotteko-ya's over Gomatei's. BUT, I have tried ramen in Japan, which is the gold standard I compare all my ramen experiences to, and although it comes close it's still not quite there. I tasted my friend's Paitan without spicy, and it just tasted bland so I'm not sure how you can drink that broth without spice in it (then again I am Korean and add hot sauce to almost everything). The price is reasonable and I didn't experience the long wait that some people on here have experienced when I went around 7pm on a weeknight.

    (4)

  • Chantel C.

    Hey I've discovered the secret to prevent skin and joint aging!!!!! Oh emmm gee. My favorite thing about this restaurant is their menu. This is what it says on the front page, "Our homemade soup is simmered for over 10 hours with the choicest pork, the freshest chickens and 10 different vegetables and spices. This meticulous process produces a uniquely thick collagen rich stock that will actually help prevent aging of skin and joints." Oh man, I better come here more often considering the amount of time I spend in the sun - haha. No, but really I laughed as I read the menu, and skeptically thought, Choicest pork, freshest chicken? Oh great what did I get myself into. I was pleased with my Ramen, I ordered the Yasai Paitan ramen, which came with vegetables and one piece of homemade chashu pork. The broth was pretty good, tasted lighter than the other broths I've tried (like at Raraya, and Tenkaippen). Once I tasted that homemade chashu, I melted, and forgave the cheesy menu. It REALLY was the "choicest pork." Tender, and sweet, with not too much fat. Seriously one of the best chashus I've had, and usually I'm not a huge fan of chashu in my ramen. Next time, I'm going for the Kakuni Ramen which is topped with a BLOCK of that homemade chashu. Whoaaa... That's all I can say. *Drool* The other thing that stood out in my mind during my visit was walking into the restaurant. It was not awkward at all... NOT. All tables were occupied, and I could have sworn that almost every single person paused from eating their ramen, and looked up at me. WHAT? Did I forget to wear my clothes, or have a huge, visible from across the room, booger? Then I realized it was probably because there was only one waitress, and a bunch of people were waiting for their food or check (and one of them was my prom date from high school haha). You have got to love those entrances that dump you smack dab in the center of the restaurant... especially on a small island.

    (4)

  • Irene B.

    Oh mah gah. Walking into Yotteko-Ya sans a huge line or waitlist, I had my doubts. But daaang, I shoulda realized momma always said don't judge a book by it's cover. I went with the recommended soup base (Paitan) and ordered myself the D set that comes with chicken karaage and fried rice. The Paitan ramen had quite possibly the most flavorful and tender chasu pieces that my mouth has ever known. The broth was deliciously rich, and the noodles were al dente perfection. The crispy karaage, and fried rice that was just slightly on the sweet side were excellent complements to my ramen. I was seriously satisfied. Man, to get ramen of that caliber and not have to wait in line, I thought I was dreaming. Plus a claim that their collagen rich broth will make you look younger? Why are you not in LA? Ahh, alas Yotteko-Ya you were good to me.

    (5)

  • Paul M.

    My wife and I love to go to Goma Tei for the TanTan ramen, but we wanted to mix it up, so we've been looking for another ramen shop closer to Waikiki. First we tried Gyoza No Osho, which was about on par with cooking packaged ramen at home (at least the miso and shio ramens we tried). Today we decided to try Yotteko-ya for lunch after reading the reviews here on Yelp. Overall is was a very good experience, and now we have another great Ramen shop to hit if we're not feeling like TanTan. Atmosphere The entrance is nice and Japanese, with the big wooden doors and the cloth hanging down to block the wind and bugs. The inside is a nice red on white with paper laterns on the ceiling and Japanese art. There were about 8 tables and a bar (not the alcohol serving kind), which we sat at. Overall, is was very nice inside. Food I ordered the signature Paitan Ramen and my wife got the Tonshio (Hawaiian Salt) ramen. The serving was perfect for lunch, but a bit small for the price. But, given the taste, its well worth it. The Paitan Ramen broth was very nice. I got the noodles "Japanese Style" which is like aldente. They were tastey, cooked just right, and the perfect vessel for that lovely broth - hearty, spiced very well, and not too salty or oily. The green onions and what looked like sauteed bamboo were in short supply and didn't really need to be there though. The Tonshio Ramen was another story. The broth tasted like salty fish sauce... which I guess is good for some people, but I don't like fish sauce. Neither does my wife. So that was just a miss. The noodles were great though, but without a great broth, they can't shine on their own. Both had 2 peices of char shu (can get 3 more peices for $1.50 more), which were shoyu flaovered and very nice. I personally thought there was too much shoyu flavor, but I think that's normally a good thing. If we come back for dinner, we'll try out the gyoza, and one of those mini sundae's! Price and Value The food was good, which always warrants a good value. However, the portions were lunch sized at a dinner price: $7.25 to start. I guess that's a pretty good deal, but I'm use to the huge bowls with generous toppings from Goma Tei. Summary Definitely coming back if we're not in the mood for going to Ward or eating TanTan. Going to keep up my hunt for great ramen though!

    (4)

  • Rob D.

    A little off the beaten track, but not too far to walk from Waikiki, Yotteko-Ya is a hidden gem on the upper floor of an McCulley shopping center. The sign with the name is somewhat difficult to see -- look instead for "Kyoto" Ramen. It's the corner unit on the upper floor of the mall, southwest side, so look up! Inside, Yotteko-Ya is spacious, the staff are friendly and you can choose a large table or sit at the back, bar style, which is a little cramped. The speciality is Kyoto style which is shoyu base, but you can also go for a Hawaiian salt base or what I went for, the Paitan base. This is closer to a traditional meat base, with pork and chicken stock. Being largely sustained in my adult life by pig, I was ecstatic to find an option for five, yes five!, slices of chashu to go with it! And the option of hard or soft noodles was the cherry on the cake. To put it all together, I went for five slices of pork, hard noodles and paitan base. The best part were the noodles themselves. Firm but not hard, chewable but not chewy, and served in abundance. The pork was delicious, but the slices were very small which sadly meant that I didn't leave waddling like a pig and smelling like one too. But despite the size it was really really tasty. The overall bowl itself is basic. Noodles and meat. A few sprouts are the only nod towards garnishment or vegetables. But with the broth, meat and noodles this good, who needs distractions.

    (4)

  • Jamie D.

    After one of my coworkers found out that I tried Goma Tei, she recommended this place. The ramen broth here was lighter than Goma Tei's but it was still just as flavorful, which was a plus! Their pork wasn't bland like Goma Tei's, which was another plus. The service was also great.

    (5)

  • Raych D.

    Knowing that I love sushi and ramen my ex and I visited here once a while back and it wasn't all that great as far as I can remember. It may be due to the fact I wasn't in the mood to be eating because me and an ex was in the middle of an argument when visiting here for the first time. So, lately I've been hearing a lot of good reviews about this place so decided to give it another chance and so being with the same ex the first time I visited. Because I'm a person who loves hot and spicy food my ex recommended the spicy paitan ramen and going in I wasn't at all excited to try it but as soon as it hit my taste buds I must say I was in heaven! I was also so bummed how much times I would've been eating here due to that one bad experience. Only problem with the noodles was that it wasn't soft enough for my liking but the char sui and broth was exce-lan'te! The reason for the 4-stars is that sometimes the spicy ramen is such a high demand that they run out. This totally irks me when I have my mind set to eating a certain food. Yotteko-Ya and Goma Tei is now my two favorite ramen joints on Oahu.

    (4)

  • Derrick C.

    After my ritual power nap after work, I ventured to one of my usual ramen stops to eat before going to study. Conveniently located on the second floor of the Mc Cully Shopping center, Yotteko-ya provides a cozy spot for some tastey ramen. They have a bar seating in the back perfect for those bachelors on the go eating solo. The popular dish is the Paitan Ramen, I usually order the Paitan set menu with gyoza and fried rice. Sprinkle some red pepper stuff and hot oil into your bowl and your set for a treat. The services is dependent on the capacity, there are usually 2-3 ladies working and they tend to get backed up when the line gets long. Be aware that they run out of their

    (4)

  • Rod U.

    The best ramen in Hawaii. While the ramen noodles are always perfectly cooked (if ordered Japanese style) and flavorful, they are nothing more than a "filler" for the outstanding soup bases. Like almost all Hawaii ramen shops, Yotteko-Ya is a one stop shop; serving more than one type of soup base from different regions of Japan. The sweet and savory shoyu base pairs harmoniously with the toppings. The simple salt base is, well simple (not my thing) and makes the toppings individually stand out. The paitan base (tonkotsu base with the addition of chicken) is exceptional, enveloping the toppings in flavor rich goodness. Bet you never though ramen could sound sexy huh? Regardless of the soup base, the topping of choice is the chashu. It is well braised, never overcooked and stringy, deeply infused with a sweet shoyu flavor, with good balance of internal melt in your mouth fat. Delicious! That said, the top recommendation for any ramen is the "kakuni". It contains a huge block of chashu. Over indulgence of porky goodness for sure but definitely good eats. Note: quantities are very limited for the kakuni ramen so go early if you want to try it.

    (4)

  • Nate K.

    Absolutely great ramen, best I've had on the island. Definitely worth a try if you have a chance. I'll be back again some time and will be recommending this to my friends.

    (5)

  • Tai M.

    Yotekko-YA! Had about a 10 minute wait - not too bad. This place is unexpectedly cute in the McCully Shopping Center. We had: Yasai Paitan (Veggie Japanese style) Paitan Chashu (Japanese style) Garlic fried rice I never understood the hype over the pork in ramen UNTIL I ATE IT HERE. Most places it's bland and eh. This had TASTE! What a lovely surprise. The garlic fried rice was great. It was moist and had big chunks of pork. Definitely not the typical consistency of fried rice, but still very delicious. This is my #1 ramen place now. YUM!

    (5)

  • Rickey M.

    Boom! MIND BLOWN! Discovered this place while on my visit to the islands, and I have to say the Paiten Ramen here is the best I've had. Oh you like Daikokuya and Santouka in LA? Nah this place is wayyyy better. Ippudo in NY? Not even close. There's something about the perfect blend of sweetness and spices mixed in Paiten broth that no one else can match. + the tastebud blowing pork I guarantee you'll ask for an extra side. House made noodles made to the way you like it, and you'll find yourself winning in life until the bowl is empty. Hawaii, NY, CA, WA , wherever you get Ramen, This place will be #1 I promise you. Get in early before it sells out for the day!

    (5)

  • Mindy D.

    Delicious paitan ramen! They boil it for a ridiculous number of hours, making sure to get every bit of flavor out. You can definitely taste it in the broth. Very casual place and a good value for your money. Beware though, you might be out of luck if you go late or near closing hours because they might run out of ramen!

    (5)

  • Michael C.

    This restaurant's menu makes big claims saying that you'll look younger if you drink up all of the soup due to the high collagen content. While I don't know if this is scientific fact, I can attest to the deliciousness of the soup which would make you want to drink it all up! The "miracle" paitan broth is creamy and very flavorful and comes with your choice of Japanese style noodles or local style noodles. The Japanese style is a bit more firm, which is a good contrast to the typical local fare. It's then topped with a sweet and very soft (no chewing required!) char sui, something I have not experienced in other saimin or ramens. It's quite wonderful. Yotteko-Ya also has a salt based ramen broth which should be bypassed for the paitan. The paitan is that good! The gyoza side is your basic item and not needed to fully enjoy your meal. Maybe add an extra slice of char sui or two instead! Be careful of the parking at McCully Shopping Center. Try to get there during off peak hours or have adequate time to circle the lot a few times.

    (5)

  • Brian L.

    Paitan ramen is good. Service is bad. Go early, or else they run out of broth

    (4)

  • Polly F.

    Went with some of my co-workers for lunch here...we waited 15mins for a table. It was worth the wait. Had the daily special 'Kakuni Ramen - paitan'. Good ramen!! Came with huge slices of chashu pork and the noodle (Japanese style) were cooked just right. Would definitely go back here to try something new.

    (4)

  • Emi N.

    Yotteko-Ya has become a favorite ramen shop for me and my boyfriend. They're known for their Paitan ramen varieties with collagen-infused broth. I always order the Japanese-style Tabeteko-Paitan ramen, which has lots of kimchee and a slice of char siu. The prices are comparable to places like Tenkaippin and Taiyo Ramen, so you're getting great prices with a nice, decorative atmosphere. As far as business hours go, it's a little complicated. They don't open on Wednesdays, they close when ingredients have been sold-out, and they also seem to close throughout certain periods of the day in between the lunch and dinner rush. Still, I highly recommend Yotteko-Ya to all ramen-lovers. They claim that if you eat their Paitan ramen, you'll get beautiful skin--lol. If I wasn't concerned about my weight, I'd actually want to eat there often enough to see if the claim holds true!

    (4)

  • Vy M.

    I wanted to try a ramen house in Hawaii and we happened to be getting Boba in the same plaza so we decided to eat here. The service was awesome. The lady waitress was so nice. $3 Kirin beer at 11am? HELL YES! The ramen and the broth was also sooo good. They also have a side kimchi for $2!! If you are from the Bay Area and have eaten at Orenchi then you will need to know that this place is as good or maybe even BETTER!

    (5)

  • Mina F.

    This is by far, the best ramen shop in honolulu. Gyoza is cooked to perfection as well. What I love about the ramen here is that they give you option how firm you want the noodles. " Japanese style or Local style". Dont let me forget to mention their home made charsiu! Sooo Ono!!!

    (5)

  • Santi T.

    Tonight I came into town to have an early dinner before my much anticipated John Legend's Evolver concert at the Neil Blasdell Center. Unfortunately, Yotteko-Ya earns a 2 star rating while John Legend deserves a 5 star standing ovation. I specifically came here before they opened to guarantee an early dinner service. Being prompt is a weakness here because the waitress strolled in at 5:30 when they should be opening up for business. She begins to get ready in the restaurant and doesn't open the doors until 5:40. The interior of the place was painted in bright red and had a few kanji paintings on the wall. Our waitress was a young, inexperienced girl who wasn't into satisfying the customer and gave lukewarm service without a smile. After reading the reviews and studying the menu, I decided on combo set #C ($12.45) which included: Tabeteko Paitan (additional $2.50) - "Topped with kim-chee and vegetables and 1 slice of our homemade chashu" Gyoza-3 pieces pan fried Mini Yakibuta Chahan-pork fried rice Because I personalized it to a Tabeteko Paitan, they charged an additional $2.50 which made my meal $14.95. It took exactly 20 minutes for my Japanese Style (traditional versus local style - softer) "Tabeteko" Paitan ramen to arrive. Obviously, the waitress needed help because more patrons were arriving and she could barely keep our water glasses filled. As I was eating my ramen, I was desperately searching for the vegetables which was described in the menu. I found only 3 slices of kim chee which was disappointing and one 1" strip of negi (green onions) compared to the other ramen. I politely flagged the waitress and asked about the lack of vegetables in my ramen and showed her the quote from the menu. She said they normally put in cabbage and I told her there was none except for the 3 pieces of kim chee. She walked away and I thought she was going to bring me some additional veggies but I was wrong. She completely ignored my concern and went along her business. Her attitude completely changed my opinion of this establishment and left a sour taste in my mouth. The ramen broth and noodles were very tasty, rich and luxurious and the fried rice had a good flavor. The char-siu was tender with a slight sweetness to it. Do *NOT* order: Tabeteko Ramen/Paitan Ramen-They do not put in the vegetables as listed. Gyoza - It's similar to the frozen kind you see in the market. My suggestion: don't get the combos but rather order your own ramen and split a chahan (fried rice) with your company. As I went up to pay for my meal, I was upset that the waitress showed apathy to my complaint and didn't both to mention it any of the staff. She never apologized for not providing what was listed and I expressed my disappointment and felt cheated by the description of the menu. Again, she was expressionless. Thank goodness John Legend saved the night from her crappy, unprofessional, apathetic attitude.

    (2)

  • Laini K.

    The ramen was worth the wait. casual atmosphere good service

    (5)

  • Tommy C.

    This is a great mom and pop ramen noodle shop located in a strip mall away from all the touristy non-sense on Waikiki. The restaurant is full of locals looking for some authentic ramen. I got the Patain ramen with the traditional Japanese ramen noodles, which is more chewy and just the way I like it. The broth is in a white chicken, pork broth is the best I've had so far in the US. And the prices here are just right! I also tried Goma Tei while I was in Hono. Both are good but Yotteko wins it for authenticity and the noodles and broth were better in my opinion. However the gyoza was definitely better at goma tei.

    (5)

  • Jonathan P.

    Irasshaimase!...mm no irasshaimase? Yup, this Japanese ramen place is busy busy busy. So don't go expecting a welcome. After entering the shoji (Japanese sliding) door I was pretty confused. Do I wait to be seated? Or do I just sit down at an empty table? After standing near the entrance I decided to sit down because the table near the door just kept starring at me... After awhile, the waitress came out and gave us our water and menus. I then discovered what Paitan is yelp.com/user_local_phot… ! I've heard a lot of buzz about this Paitan and I figured I HAD to try it for myself. What makes Paitan so unique is the "secret" ingredient they add....collagen. Yup that's right! Yotteko-Ya claims that their collagen rich stock will prevent aging of the skin and joints. What a plus! I got the Paitan Chashu Ramen yelp.com/user_local_phot… for $9.45 (Oh and I didn't spell it wrong. It's either chashu or charsiu). My Paitan Chashu Ramen was pretty good! I got the Japanese style noodles which are slightly firmer noodles than the soft local style noodles. The chashu was good, but I didn't really care for it. It seemed a little sweet/tangy in my opinion. But what really differentiates Yotteko-Ya from other ramen places is the broth. The broth is very flavorful yet light, unlike the heavy thick broths served at Goma Tei. My Korean friend ordered the Tabeteko Paitan Ramen yelp.com/user_local_phot… for $9.45. The tabeteko ramen is the same as the paitan chashu ramen but with kimchee and few less pieces of chashu. Honestly, my friend didn't like the tabeteko ramen. The main reason was that the kimchee used in the ramen was made wrong (using the wrong parts of the cabbage). I just said, "Well they are Japanese. You can't expect Japanese people to make Korean food perfect." I did try the tabeteko and I have to admit...I liked my chashu paitan better! Overall it was pretty good. But I believe the ramen was a little over-hyped for me. Another aspect I noticed was that my ramen didn't come out hot. It came out just slightly warm. I chatted with my fellow yelp friend Kit W. and she noticed the same thing! I'm not sure if the soup is supposed to be served like that, but I personally like my soup hot! By the time I finished my noodles and got to my soup it was lukewarm/on the verge of room temperature water =( But Yotteko-Ya is probably has the best ramen in the McCully shopping center area. Plus where else can you eat collagen ramen and prevent the aging of your skin and joints?! Just make sure to get a stamp card (their business card) and to get it stamped while paying. For every 10 ramen you buy, you get a free ramen. I can't believe I didn't get the stamp card stamped! Well at least know now.

    (4)

  • Sheryl M.

    What makes Yotteko-ya stand out from other ramen shops? The ramen has much thicker noodles than most ramen shops you visit on Oahu. The soup base derives it's delishousness from chicken and pork stock....and I mean delishousness from the animal and not from powder. Now doesn't that just make your mouth water??? Oh and I can't forget about describing the gyoza...the little dumplings of party in my mouth. I wish my stomach could stretch more so I could eat more!!! You know you want to try, so go for it!!!

    (5)

  • Remy Z.

    When your stock sells out, Next time, please apologize With at least a smile

    (3)

  • Vernelle O.

    Their paitan chashu ramen was delicious! The chashu just melts in your mouth... Yum!

    (5)

  • Traci H.

    Found this place by accident, thanks to yelp... FOOD: Loved the ramen noodles (Japanese style!)--I hadn't realized that most ramen shops overcook the noodles local style. Got the PAITAN KAKUNI RAMEN and it was quite good. Round and rich flavor, but yet very simple and comforting broth. the huge hunks of pork are good but maybe not my thing. It is a limited daily special so if you can get it, it's worth a try ($11.95). I think next time I'll try the shoyu based ramen with kim chee and a slice of charsiu. I don't know if I look younger from drinking the soup (that's what they say) but it was very enjoyable. The CURRY FRIED RICE was good (I think it was like $7.75) and hearty portions but it was a little one-note compared to the ramen. A good one-note but still yet, not as rounded flavor. There are huge chunks of pork and veggies and some nice orange peppers that add a nice flavor to it. Good to try, but I think next time I'll stick with the ramen! They have combo specials that let you taste a little of everything and that may be the way to go since a lot of reviews said the gyoza is also good. LOCATION: 2nd floor McCully Shopping Center--the farthest spot from McCully Street, tucked in the far corner. PARKING: I don't think I need to say anything further that if you come to McCully Shopping Center at the wrong time, parking is miserable, but at least they have free parking outside and also downstairs in the garage. Good luck with that. OTHER: -Restrooms: they have their own bathroom in the restaurant so you don't have to go get a key and go to the central bathrooms -Stamp card: get it stamped, I think buy 10 get the 11th free -Come early, there are few tables and they seem to get crowded. At lunch we came around 11:45 and had no wait but by 12noon, there was a line. By 12;30 there was good turnover and folks were getting seated. -Table set up: most are for 2 or 4 (maybe 7 square tables?) and there is a counter that seats about 4 and one table that can hold what looks like 6 adults. So if you have a big party, good luck. They won't put the tables together either since it's harder to serve the hot soups so either good luck getting the big table or be ready to split your party. -They take VISA/MC (and maybe others, I'm sorry I forgot what others they take) -It's not an expansive Japanese restaurant menu so if you're looking for chicken teriyaki, katsu or sushi, then you've gotta go elsewhere, but they do serve ramen, fried rice, some appetizers of shrimp, gyoza, and a few other stuff. I'll be back for sure...but you can bet I'll go early because as enjoyable as it was, I'm not sure I'm up to wait an hour for the food...

    (4)

  • Hayden N.

    After running errands in the morning, I decided to stop be Yotteko-Ya for lunch. A friend had recommended that I try their special ramen because the broth is cooked for something crazy like 10 hours. I had the Paiten Charsiu Ramen and it hit the spot! I couldn't stop sipping the soup because it was extremely rich in flavor. I normally do not like dining alone but I was content sitting at the counter and eating my soup, I didn't care to be bothered with socializing.

    (5)

  • Art T.

    Since I am a noodle person, I love to try out all kind of noodles places. This is one of my favorite Japanese ramen joints in town. Food: I definitely recommend people to try out their the Paitan soup base. There are several noodles shops in town that serve paitan soup base, but it is probably the best one in town. I like to have my noodles in Japanese style "al dente". Their fried rice and gyoza are just as good. Atmosphere & Service: It is not a big place, so seating can be limited during the busy time. The service is ok. Not that the ladies are rude, but they are busy serving, cleaning and being a cashier at the same time. Parking: Since there are several restaurants and other businesses in McCully Shopping Center, the parking can be very tough during the busy time, but I do like the covered parking that they have. I normally try to go there early before the rush hour starts so that I can get a parking easily. If you like Japanese ramen, this is definitely a great place to enjoy some comfort food.

    (4)

  • mike y.

    GAME OVER !! This is my favorite ramen in honolulu. AMAZING !! so good that they run out of food and they close early !! WARNING .. they close on WED .. i keep forgetting this. I want to beg the owner to come to boston !! service is great.. parking sucks cuz it's mccully plaza.. be prepared for dings on your car.

    (5)

  • Mari K.

    I'm feeling pretty happy just thinking about this right now...the noodles are so delicious! You can pick Japanese style or Local style-I went with Japanese (chewier) and then the type of broth you want to eat. Listened to my fellow yelpers and got the paitan kakuni ramen. The broth is nice and thick but not overwhelmingly where you feel heavy afterwards. It's seriously just perfect. I've tried many of the ramen shops around town and have been a big fan of Goma Tei but this one beats goma tei for me by far. Just make sure when you go you go early because it gets pretty crowded and from what I understand they serve till they run out!

    (5)

  • Christina C.

    Paitan chashu ramen FTW I was craving some ramen and yelp reviews steered me to Yotteko. The restaurant itself is pretty small. About 7 tables, 1 booth for large groups, and a bar with stools. I walked in and got to choose the table since I got their when it just opened. I ordered the Paitan Ramen charshu (5 pieces), traditional, no green onions, spicy. The order came out with the broth, noodles, chunks of charshu, and Kikurage mushrooms. Mm, the charshu was so tender and tasty. It was like half meat- half fat for each piece. The noodles were traditional and not as tender, but it was good. The paitan broth is really good. I think I like it better than the rest. Not sure if ordering it spicy is worth the extra dollar. I think there is hot oil on the table, just no sesame seeds. Very limited drink menu (bud, bud light, kirin). No sake? Service is very attentive. Thanks yelpers. the ramen really hit the spot.

    (5)

  • Dakota L.

    Interesting interior decor. Food was decent, char siu was tender lean and tasty (more than Goma Tei) sesame broth not as strongly tasting as Goma Tei. Single friendly server for 6 tables -- coulda been a long wait if the place was busier. Would go back.

    (3)

  • Kylie O.

    Being in the mood for some hot pot/ramen, my friend suggested this place in McCully shopping center. At the time, I didn't even know where we were going, he just said to drive. So fine. Now I'm going to argue that the parking is just horrible there, since it took me a couple times to get into the stall. He on the other hand is going to argue that I'm just a awful driver and that I make his blood pressure rise. I think it's the former, don't know what he's talking about. So we finally get to Yotteko-Ya, located on the second floor of McCully shopping center, at the end of the left hand side. Word of advice: It's a sliding door, trust me, I pushed it, it didn't work. Yotteko-Ya isn't too small, but isn't big either, so approximately 5-8 parties can be there at a time. But fortunately it wasn't crowded and we were seated immediately. I decided to get the Tabeteko. Great choice on my end. It comes with a good dose of kim-chee, and a few pieces of chashu. I was surprised at how good it tasted. Although it mostly tasted like a kim-chee broth, it was a great balance of spicy and mild. The noodles I thought were cooked just perfectly, not too chewy, and not too hard either. Now, the chashu, it was amazing. I was truly caught off guard at how good it was, and how it would just melted in your mouth. I swear I saw one more in the broth! And this is how you know the broth is good. I'm the type of person where I just eat the noodles, no broth for me. But this time, I couldn't keep my spoon down! It's only been one day since I've been there and I already want seconds. One serving isn't enough!

    (5)

  • Lan N.

    So this is ramen nirvana...and the fact that such perfection came from an unassuming spot in a strip mall makes it all the more delightful. The location was on the far end of the upstairs level at the McCully Shopping Center. I missed it the first time around b/c the sign was not that obvious. There was only one waitress working all the tables, but we were seated immediately (I came around opening time at 11). I quickly ordered the paitan with vegetables japanese style, and it came out steaming hot within 10min. The broth was milky and had the depth of flavor that can only be imparted by hours of cooking. If I compared it with Ippudo's, I'd say the latter has a slight edge in flavor...but would I want to deal with ugly big city attitude and price for that edge...no. There were two other options for broth: shoyu and salt. As for fixings, aside from vegetables, you can also get kim chee or more chashu pork. I was surprised that I actually liked the pork, since I generally eat it only to avoid wasting meat. The restaurant makes good business on the chashu, since they offer up to a slab with their ramen. Next time, I will get the reg paitan with two pieces of chashu. The veggies were good, but I felt they diluted the flavors a little. I also want to try the pork fried rice, since that seems to be much loved by yelpers. For so long, my attempts at finding my holy grail of ramen has turned up empty. Ippudo had me wait 2 hrs in the NYC chill to then deal with their snarky staff. Santouka in LA was respectable, but their broth fell short and the noodles were just slightly past al dente. Then there were the countless forgettable ramen shops around the US and across most of Asia that left me missing my old standby, Neoguri (yes, instant noodles). I thought I would have to go to Japan for a good bowl of ramen...but my first ramen shop in Hawaii, and I hit jackpot! I now can't wait to try all the other ramen shops around the island!

    (5)

  • Larae M.

    Every time the weather gets cold and I'm stuck here in my cubicle all the way in Texas, I end up day dreaming of the first time I ever tasted the paitan ramen from Yotteko-Ya back in 2008. It was life changing. I've had ramen before in Cali, NY, etc but the paitan broth combined with the ridiculously tender char su here is perfection. Since that first time four years ago, I've dragged everyone else (boyfriend, cousins, anyone who would listen) to accompany me here every time I visited Oahu and they've all shared my sentiment...this ramen is untouchable! The ramen of Gods! Worthy of the last meal on earth! It even boasts to give the power of eternal youth and beauty! Sigh. It's days like this that I wish I had the super human ability to fly or at least go into a transporter a la Star Trek so I can have a bowl of ramen here. Until then, I suppose I'll have to settle for Nippon's version.

    (5)

  • Maia C.

    One of my favorite ramen places on the island! That osman's review below is wack. The paitan broth is the best, so flavorful! I get the kimchi one. The pork that comes in it is fall of the bone tender. Try there gyoza too!

    (5)

  • Crystal I.

    Three words, YUM YUM YUM. There are so many ramen places on this island but this has got to be one of the best. A friend showed me this cute hide away yesterday night when we went for dinner. She suggested I get the paitan ramen since it was the house favorite. I must say I am picky about my ramen, ive always been a fan of goma tei but this place is KILLA (: The broth is light yet it has so much flavor and the noodles (i got japanese style [firm], you can opt to get american style [chewy]) are amazing. If you ever ate gomatei the noodles at yotteko ya are a bit thicker. The portion was a good amount and left me feeling just the right amount of full - although for all you heavy eaters you can choose to add extra noodles for $1 more (one portion and a half) and special house spice for $1 too! The family next to us got ramen and fried rice and the fried rice looked really good; i must come back to try more

    (5)

  • Lana N.

    Hawaii beats out California with their beaches and amazing waves, affordable sashimi grade sushi, and yummy shaved ice, but like James W. says.. California still wins when it comes to ramen. Yotteko-Ya Kyoto Ramen makes a nice affordable bowl of ramen. Their Paitan broth is clean yet rich in flavor, and apparently extends your life???; their traditional style noodles were cooked perfectly al dente; and their chashu pork melts in your mouth. However, something is missing to just pull it all together... I can't pin point it, but something just falls short. Regardless, Kyoto serves up very good ramen worthy of a try - each component cooked wonderfully! The Pork Fried Rice and Gyoza are both also good, but nothing remarkable.

    (3)

  • Trina C.

    I've let my friends convince me to try other ramen places...nothing has come close to the taste and quality of your food. I will never eat at another ramen place again! Sometimes it is a little longer to be seated because of the line but the paitan extra spicy and pan fried gyoza is so worth the wait! Lin and Naomi, you guys are awesome!

    (5)

  • Rick L.

    I gotz to get my ramen medicine. Inject me with some ramen please! I love ramen and if I could I would eat it every night! Yotteko-Ya has been one of my all time favorite ramen houses. I love the sliding door when you walk in, the red painted walls and those lights up in the ceiling really makes me happy...I don't know why...I just love this place. The food has always been very tasty, service a bit slow but that's ok. I love to catch up with my loved one and friends before the scrumptious meals arrive. The broth is just perfectly cook. There's also so many variation you can have your noodles cooked and don't forget to look at the back of their menu. Two words, combo meals! Parking is a bit tough, however I've always been able to find a spot. There's also parking underneath the building, but the spaces are extremely tight. Enjoy!

    (4)

  • Sarah T.

    I generally don't favor Ramen. I'll have it and finish it to be a good lunch/dinner companion to my friens who are ramen aficionados, but I've never gone to a ramen restaurant on my own initiative. That being said - *I loved this ramen*. And I've been to: Daikokuya, Maru Ichi (N. CA), Hakata Shin Sen Gumi (LA), Goma Tei (Honolulu). I ordered the basic Paitan that comes with char siu. The broth was creamy (creamier than Goma Tei, which IMO made it more flavorful). Each bite of the char siu was also impeccably full of flavor - not too salty and the texture was smooth. Located in a strip mall. Free Parking is available in the parking lot above and below ground. Underground parking is a bit tight. The atmosphere is a good balance of Japanese (lanterns and other deco) and Hawaiian (red? warm, 80s music, sunny). FYI I think they close in the evenings when they run out of broth. I stopped by last night around 7pm and they were already closed.

    (4)

  • Sandy K.

    Yotteko-ya is our #1 favorite ramen shop in the city. It's a small family-operated shop. I thought about rating it 4-stars only because of their very limited lunch hours, there is often a wait for a table and the parking can be a challenge. But when it comes their food, the Paitan ramen broth is to die for delicious! The ramen is worth the wait ... Thus, 5 stars! We also love to have a side order of their homemade char siu. It is not like the red stuff that you get in Chinatown or at the market ... It's melt in you mouth onolicious! They offer the choice of Japan-style (firm) or Local-style (softer) noodles. I normally eat like a bird but, I love the broth so much that I actually finish the noodles and soup to the last drop. Our daughter's eyes are normally bigger than her stomach but this is the one place where she finishes everything that she orders. Parking in the main parking lot can be a challenge. But we go to the downstairs lot and walk up the stairs. we don't mind. the walk is a great trade off for covered parking especially at lunchtime because the main lot gets so hot! Their garlic fried rice and Gyoza are also good but the Paitan ramen is our first choice!

    (5)

  • Arynn I.

    After hiking Koko Head with my cousin, his girlfriend, and their friend, we (minus the friend) decided to go to Snow Factory at McCully Shopping Center...Then my cousin decided to have lunch first...so we headed upstairs and waited...the longest 10 minutes ever! The restaurant opened at 11:30 so we were kinda early. But you know, after hiking, it's kau kau time. Naturally. My cousin and his girlfriend both recommended the charsiu gohan. For whatever reason, I was under the impression it was fried rice with charsiu...anyways. So we are one of 5 tables seated RIGHT when the restaurant opened and we took our time to look at the menu. Obviously it is a ramen-ya (as the sign above the door stated) but there were other items on the menu that I quickly glanced over. I kinda wanted a combo...but then I thought maybe the ramen and rice would be too much...and I really wanted gyoza. I always want gyoza when ramen is involved. So I opted for just the side dish of charsiu gohan and gyoza. (My cousin ended up getting the combo since it came with gyoza...i ate the gyoza) ANyways... The gyoza was yummy and you can mix your own sauce which is always nice. I ALWAYS will get gyoza pan fried...I mean, it's the only way to eat it. I also tried the paitan ramen and it was good. I could really taste the sesame seeds that was garnished onto the charsiu but the flavor of the soup and the noodles was great! The charsiu gohan was just shoyu pork over rice...the flavor of that was very nice and the portion was just right. I did share some. All in all, price was right, food was yummy, service was VERY good (considering the nice Japanese lady was running around by herself). She did come back 2 times to refill our water and make sure we were ok in between bringing out all the orders for the tables and clearing tables for new people. Because seating is limited, be prepared to wait if you are not anxiously awaiting their restaurant opening time! #Yelp 365 challenge- 006/365

    (4)

  • Jenel O.

    The food at Yotteko-ya seemed much better then. I hardly visit now but I feel like it's gone downhill. I'm not sure what it is, but the broth doesn't seem the same. =( About 5 years ago, I used to live in the area... so getting to McCully Shopping Center was a much quicker drive. Now it's too much of a pain to get there and find parking.

    (3)

  • Teresa W.

    This is my favorite ramen ever anywhere. I am completely addicted. Service is good and quick. They do tend to run out of things later in the evening but that just means they make everything really fresh and in small batches to me. Love it and want some now! Oh and any of the paitan ramens is where it's at, I don't bother with anything else. Almost forgot to add fried rice is really good!

    (5)

  • Stephanie K.

    I love this place! The wonderful ladies always take good care of you! The charsiu is amazing. Soft and falls apart in your mouth. Yum! I always get paitan ramen, Japanese style. Although their hours are short and they close when they sell out, it's worth it. Come early or in a not too busy day.

    (5)

  • Grace O.

    Wow, so glad I came here to get my last ramen fix before my husband and I move back to the mainland! I got the Paitan Kukani ramen, which had luscious chunks of charsui pork that just melted in my mouth. *drool* Their paitan broth was very savory, and i had them make is spicy (oomori), which just made it even better! It was a part of the Set A Combo, which included white rice and 3 pieces of gyoza. I took out some of the charsui and put it on the rice to eat separate and it was delicious! Salty and tangy meat with the rice...yum The gyoza was nothing too special, but they did pan-fry it very well so that their was a beautiful golden crust at the bottom of them.. We came here around 1135 and sat until 1215 (my friend was super late). We went ahead and ordered first, but by the time she came at 1215, the whole place was full and some people were waiting at the door. So get here early! I wish I knew of this place sooner!

    (5)

  • Aimee A.

    Yay! I love yotteko-ya! I always end up ordering the spicy paitan ramel meal number 1, which includes noodles, gyoza and white rice. the broth is flavorful and mildly spicy, the pork meat is tender as well. the wait is long sometimes and they close early than 10pm most times. I've gone twice only to find out they are closed (so annoying) so it might be helpful to save their number in your phone and call them before going.

    (4)

  • Chester A.

    Ramen is freaking delicious here. Came on a weeknight right when it opened at 5 pm. Haven't been back ever since -- cuz it's always closed when I get there. They run out of the ramen goodness so MAKE SURE YOU GO EARLY!!! Totally worth it.

    (4)

  • Kris T.

    I'm not usually a big ramen fan. It's not something I really crave for. But that all changed after my first visit to Yotteko-Ya! The paitan broth hooked me...so flavorful and soothing (and supposedly good for your skin!). Not normally a fan or char siu either, but their char siu is so tender and flavorful! I finally had a chance to try their fried rice. It's just as amazing as the paitan ramen! Big pieces of their char siu mixed in. I seriously can't get enough of this place! Make sure you get there early! They close early if they sell out. And don't forget, they are closed on Wednesdays.

    (5)

  • Mindy T.

    All the great reviews are true. This is my all time favorite ramen place. It beats Goma-tei and Taiyo. The broth is amazing, and the noodles are cooked just the way I like it. I've tried the shrimp mayo appetizer as well, it was quite delicious. I think the price is okay, totally worth my money. I think it's a family business, because it's the same people every time I go. But anyways, I highly recommend this place to all the ramen lovers! It sucks that they close on Wednesdays and 3PM-5ish :(

    (5)

  • Mari S.

    My favorite ramen shop in Honolulu! The Paitan Ramen with chashu is my favorite. Absolutely DELICIOUS!! A must-try if this is your first visit to Yotteko-Ya. The staff here seem to be a bit short staffed at times. There are usually two waitresses working during the dinner hour, but sometimes there is just one. If that is the case, you may have a bit of a wait. You may want to come early, because sometimes they even sell out! Once, I went at 7:30pm and they were already closed because they sold out! Parking in the McCully Shopping Center is a pain, so this is one down side to dining at any restaurant establishment located here. Also, please note that the restaurant is closed on Wednesdays.

    (4)

  • Eddie M.

    best ramen on the planet! we went everyday during our oahu trip!

    (5)

  • Ryan M.

    Came here for lunch, got the ramen with their signature Paitan broth. It's good cause you can choose the firmness of the noodles. I got the firm (Japanese style) noodles, they were GREAT, the consistancy reminded me of perfect aldente spaghetti noodles. The Char Siu were small like stated in other reviews but they were super tender and i think braised, so Quality over quantity. The signature broth was D-lish! pork and chicken are simmerd for 10 hours which renders out the collagen, the menu states "please enjoy our soup to the last drop and look younger!" I finished all the soup, so hopefully i look younger! but then again i've been 30 yeas old for many years now! Service was a bit slow, because there were only 2 people running the floor. So be patient tip: you can get extra noodles for $1 more. The sets are not worth it in my opinion, $4.50 more for 3 peices of Karaage and rice? $3 more for 3 gyoza and rice + $.50 for paitan broth.

    (5)

  • Yen N.

    I absolutely love this place. Paitan Chashu. Spicy. Gosh, the chashu melts in my mouth. If I had a bigger tummy and a bigger appetite, I swear I'd eat all of their chashu for the day. Alllll miiinnneeee.

    (5)

  • Clay Y.

    I had the Paitan Chashu Ramen $ 9.95. Very tasty pork broth, ordered it Japanese style, Firm ramen. We went for lunch, opens at 11:30, when we left there was line to get in.

    (4)

  • Kevin H.

    I had the Paitan ramen.. Very tasty broth (I actually drank it all, which I never do). If you like the Paitan ramen, you should go to Daikokuya in LA, which is even better. The best part was the kakuni pork slices. Damn! Those are some tasty bits!!!! Definitely coming back again.

    (4)

  • wilson q.

    Best gyozas I have ever eaten. Crispy on the outside, crunchy tasty filling inside. Ordered the paitan ramen at 8:30 on a Monday evening. No supply issues and no wait to be seated. I'll be back.

    (5)

  • Teresa L.

    Located on the second floor of the Mccully Shopping Center (right above snow factory). Parking can be found in the front or underneath mccully shopping center. It can be difficult to find parking during the busy hours so I would recommend finding neighborhood parking. Also, stalls may run small if you have a big car. I ordered the paitan ramen and enjoyed it! The broth was not too thick like gravy compared to some other ramen restaurants that I've been too. Not a big fan of their chashu. It has a sweet teriyaki flavor to them and I'm used to more of a salty chashu. I showed up at 1:15PM so I didn't have to worry about waiting for a table or my food. The service was good and the price was average. I would definitely go back to eat here again.

    (4)

  • Chyanne O.

    One of my favorite ramen joints on the island! Paitan ramen is so delicious. It's not too thick but it still has that taste. The ramen noodles are always cooked perfectly- never over cooked or under cooked. The place is small (but what ramen place isn't?) so you might have to wait a bit if you go during lunch time. Also note that some days they are closed.

    (5)

  • Matilda Z.

    Did not disappoint. Great ramen. Great fast and friendly service. Would definitely come again. Quick 15 min walk from Hilton Hawaiian village. Much better food than anything inside the Hilton. Ordered the patsuni ramen. Flavorful, savory and not over powering salty or oily as other ramen places. Pork fried rice was ok. Arrived at the place at 730, they closed at 745 when they sold out.

    (5)

  • Wayne S.

    The Yasai Paitan Ramen was fantastic! The broth was devine, the texture of the noodles was perfect. I order my noodles the Japanese style which is firm or you can have it the Local style which is softer. If you are an early bird, don't go when the restaurant just opens at 530pm because the kitchen is slow due to the influx or all at once orders. Oh, the waitress is really nice.

    (5)

  • G G.

    Awesome.. Read the other reviews of their Paitan ramen.. It's f**kin awesome.. I travel from the mainland once a year and I go out of my way to come here.. Order the firm noodles.. Spicy on the side if you like spicy ramen..

    (5)

  • Jay C.

    Great local place to go eat...I got the yataiaji ramen + gyoza combo set and I must say--the gyoza definitely stole the show. Was not expecting that! Ramen was good, not too salty. It had a clean aftertaste which reflects the long cooking time of the broth. Friendly staff, busy place.

    (4)

  • Li Y.

    Love the food here. Ambience so cute and comfortable. Best noodles I have ever had. And the soup isn't bad either. My personal favorite is the Paitan. You can order the soup noodles with whatever you want, with charsiu, with vegetables, with.... Just make sure you order the gyoza with it! If you like garlic...these gyoza best I've had as well! While parking is usually crowded, with a little bit of patience, it is plentiful...just have to wait until someone goes out. Parking on the street level as well as basement level of the building! Go early; some selection sell out !

    (4)

  • Jodi S.

    There is something about good ramen that just makes you feel...well, good. Yotteko-Ya has awesomely delicious ramen. Period. Get past the terrible McCully Shopping Center parking, the possibility that if you go too late they may run out of noodles, the probable wait to get a table, and the sparse service and it's worth it. Don't let those negatives deter you for perseverance pays off my friend! The tasty Paitan broth and super soft melt in your mouth orgasmic-esk charsiu is soooo worth it. I like to order my noodles Japanese style, a little more firm. But I'm definitely a soup girl. I drink allll that super oiishi broth til my noodles look dry. I can walk in to Yotteko-Ya after a bad day at work and leave feeling like I had somehow salvaged it. That is the power of good ramen.

    (4)

  • I Crush Your Head C.

    Oishii desu! Yeah, the kakuni paitan ramen is really good, but the reason to come here is for the garlic chahan. Sucka is fierce! Best rice dish on the island. That's not me talking, that's science. Get some!

    (5)

  • Daniel B.

    We went to 4 different Ramen restaurants in Oahu, but this is my favorite among all!

    (5)

  • Brandon Y.

    Mmmm my favorite ramen place. I always get the Paitan Tabeteko, It's a little spicy and it comes with kim chee and 1 peice of Charsu. If I'm hungry I get the set with the Charsu Gohan. The Charsu here is awesome, very soft and tasty. You get to pick sofy (local style) or hard (japenese style) noodles. I don't give alot of 5 stars so that should be hint of how good this place is!

    (5)

  • Mika H.

    "I don't normally eat Ramen, but when I do, I go to Yotteko-Ya!" They have the best Paitan Ramen, and their Char Siu is phenomenal! Layers of lean meat and fat, melted right into your mouth when you engulf the soup. I heard the owner did everything himself: he did his business with a goal to share his excellence of his Paitan, he only did 1 batch everyday, and when that batch is gone, he will close for the rest of the day. So, going there at lunch is a better idea.

    (5)

  • Reimi D.

    Good lord..the Paitan w/chasu. So damn good. Takes credit cards. They have their own bathroom. Located at McCully SC. Look for the big Kyoto Ramen sign. If you haven't been here yet, you're missing out. I have no complaints--which is rare for me (hee hee), But everything was fantastic: the service was fast and friendly, the prices were beyond reasonable, the ramen was SO effing good, the gyoza were actual gyoza--like packed with meat filling, unlike other places where they treat the filling like it's a meat spread. Tasted just like my mom's gyoza (she's from Japan). Speaking of gyoza...here's another reason why they get 5 stars from me: I hate, HATE, HATE when I go to a ramen shop and I order a side of gyoza with my ramen and it comes like 15 minutes after the ramen. Why? I get that most places fry them when they're ordered, but why does that justify getting it 15 after the ramen? That just indicates to me that there might be some problems with the kitchen staff, or something. Yottekko-Ya, on the other hand, brought my gyoza out right after the ramen. That's what I'm talkin' about. The server always refilled my water, and even the parking wasn't that big of a deal for us. I mean, it's McCully shopping center. You go to that parking lot expecting madness, that's just the way it is. So yah, in the end, everything was rad. We left feeling very full and satisfied.

    (5)

  • Kelly G.

    When reading the tips for this place, I noticed the Paitan was compared to the Kotteri style ramen at another place. Thick flavorful broth was basically the summary - so why not try it out for comparison! Pros: Basically the Paitan broth was yummy. The shoyu was not bad either. Japanese style noodle (firm) was great! Fried rice had shredded char siu meat which was yummy. Cons: The portions seemed small for what we paid for. The combo C was also a bit of a stretch, for about $6 more you get a meager portion of fried rice and 3 gyoza (I got pan fried). Dining area was pretty small and their waiting area even smaller. The night I went they seemed understaffed and took awhile for them to get us all seated. Parking in the evening is also very hard to come by, but if you exit out away from McCully and take an immediate right and a right, theres underground parking. As yummy as this place is, probably won't be back due lack of bang for buck.

    (2)

  • Spencer L.

    Chashu - Awesome Gyoza - Awesome Broth - Awesome Limited Supply - Not so awesome (get there early). Slurp Factor - Over the top.

    (5)

  • Chad S.

    This ramen shop is a hidden gem in the McCully Shopping Center tucked away on the top level on the oppostie corner of Fook Yuen Seafood. When I eat here I always order a combo set which includes a choice of ramen, rice, and optional side dish (karaage chicken or gyoza). However, I usually get either combo C or D with the Yataaji broth and the mini yakibuta chahan (fried rice). Combo C also comes with gyoza and Combo D also comes with the karaage chicken. The Yataaji ramen with Japanese style noodles (a firmer noodle) is a shoyu based broth that comes with two slices of chashu (thinly sliced shoyu pork belly) and some crunchy vegetables. The homemade chashu makes this dish, it adds a salty sweet taste to each bite. The mini Yakibuta chahan is a fried rice that uses the same chashu and assorted vegetables. This fried rice is one of the best I've ever had. They also serve different Okazu (side order dishes), and it is BYOB so you can save some money on alcohol. The only negative side about coming here is the parking. If you've ever been to McCully Shopping Center, you know what I mean. It is always crowded and the parking spaces are very small. In terms of ranking my top three ramen shops in town, I would say: 1) Goma Tei 2) Yotteko-Ya 3) Tenkaippin

    (4)

  • Jay K.

    We were trying to find a place to eat and happened upon Yotteko-Ya while driving around, lucky us! We used our smartphone and hoped online, Yelpers recommended it and after eating there, we have to agree! Straight and simple, the food was great! You must try the Paitan and fried rice combo. Having a Japanese restaurant in Honolulu, you're held to a high standard with all the tourist from Japan, while meeting the tastes of the locals. As a result, one of the best ramen restaurants I've been to (and I've been to plenty, let me tell you!). I don't give many 5 stars, but this one edges into that spot, as it is the best I've had so far based upon taste. Minor cons, parking is a bit tough, they can run out of food, and just a touch salty. Again, best noodles I've tried, I recommend it. Thumbs up (shaka style).

    (5)

  • Norm D.

    With over 100 Yelp reviews and a 4 star rating, this place better be good. After my Yotteko-Ya experience, there is no sense in preaching to the choir about how amazing this place is; but here is my 2 yen on the experience anyway. Ambiance: * Cute and very red with Japanese décor. * Interesting lighting on the ceiling. Come see for yourself. * Good place to come with friends, family, or even a night out with your date. Service: * Super friendly. Constant smiles all around. * Helpful with questions and recommendations. (Paitan? Yasai? Tabeteko? Who knows?) * It initially took a while to get some water; however, I got my Kirin fast (definitely needed after a long day of work). Food: I ordered the D set (however, got it with Yasai Paitan Ramen) which includes Chicken Karaage and Chashu Gohan. If you don't know what I'm talking about, check this place out and ask the helpful staff. I also had a side order of Gyoza to share. * Yasai Paitan Ramen. Definitely memorable. I think the delicious flavor of the Paitan base broth is ingrained in my taste buds and the Japanese style noodles (not soft) were perfect. * Gyoza - deep fried. Wow. It was like a tasty puffed pastry. * Chicken Karaage. This was just A-Okay, but not everything can be perfect. * Chashu Gohan. I could just eat this for a meal. The Chashu was ono and it somewhat reminded me of pork adobo. I'm Filipino, so of course I'll love this. Wallet damage: $43.82 (excluding tip; however, worth 20%) or roughly $22 per person. * 2 D Set ($13.45 each), one with Yasai Paitan Ramen (+$2.00) and another with Paitan Chashu Ramen (+2.00), side order Gyoza (+$4.75), one Kirin beer and green tea. * Not cheap, but not a disappointment. Overall, I got a mouthful of great tasty food, a tighter waistline, a stronger trust in Yelp, and walked out looking 3-years younger. Compliments to the chef for the tasty age-defying soup, which is definitely worth my 5 star rating.

    (5)

  • Scott H.

    Kakuni Paitan. Worth the price of admission. HUGE chunks of soft braised pork soaking in paitan broth. Come ofter and come early. If you try to order for dinner they will be sold out. With Yotteko-Ya, when they run out of noodles they close shop, which happens quite often. chicken karage/gyoza are mediocre. Fried rice is good. But you are not coming her for the side dishes. The paitan ramen is where it's at. Everyone seems to like the cha-su...it wasn't my "cup-o-tea"...I prefered the plain paitan (when they don't have kakuni, of course).

    (5)

  • Justin H.

    I really like Yotteko-Ya's ramen! If you're hungry, go for one of the Sets on the back of the menu. Their broth and charshu are awesome. Now while some might say the service is slow, please keep in mind how long it takes to make the dish, and that the place has pretty much one waitress. Still totally worth it:)

    (5)

  • Chris D.

    Got the Paitan! AMAZING. Great ramen, don't get me wrong, but the service was terrible. The waitress didn't refill our water while we were seated, nor did she check on us at all. Thankfully the food was great. Even though I only gave it three stars, I would return to eat (and hopefully be hydrated this time). Service/food go hand in hand. I'd give a perfect 5 if the service was better. But it wasn't, I was parched. And with all the salt, most likely dehydrated for the next few days. Check out their Paitan Ramen if you can. Tasty!

    (3)

  • Derek K.

    Instant fan! I've eaten at many ramen places (GomaTei, Gomaichi, Sanoya, Taiyo, etc.) here in Hawaii and so far I think think this tops them all. The food is delicious and the price is right for what you get. I had 'Set C' which consisted of paitan ramen, fried rice and gyoza. I'm going to start by saying that the paitan is better than any of those other 'special' broths out there. The flavor and consistency is just right imo. In addition, the pork (I think it's shoyu pork) that they have in the ramen is *expletive* AWESOME! Secondly, the fried rice was also very flavorful. Other than the flavor the best, thing about the fried rice was that it was still somewhat sticky. I HATE when the fried rice is not sticky, like chinese fried rice. Finally, the gyoza was not like any other ramen place. I believe there is more filling in the gyoza and it seems less oily compared to other ramen shops. Still like the ramen and fried rice, the gyoza was very flavorful. On top of how well the food tastes, Yotteko-Ya is very clean, the decor adds to the dining experience and the service is very friendly. I will definitely go back many, many, many times.

    (5)

  • Ben K.

    This place is great! The best on the island of oahu. Their noodle is great and their paitan flavor is amazing. Definitely a 5 star!

    (5)

  • Kevin W.

    It's hard to say which ramen is better - here or Goma tei's. It's like asking who u like more - Brad Pitt or Johnny Depp. Matter of personal preference. Get the pai tan broth (there are variations on it e.g. with kimchi if u want some spice) since that is their specialty and quite delicious. Reminds me of Totto Ramen in NYC - a perfect chicken bone based soup. Char Sui pieces are delicious. If u don't like the fat on it , well, ur just dumb. Fried rice was decent, a tad salty. Gyoza good.

    (4)

  • Matt S.

    Best ramen I've had outside of Japan. No joke. This place is legit!

    (5)

  • Gloria S.

    Still love the Paitan Ramen with Kim Chee and the service is always friendly!

    (5)

  • Nimai W.

    I went here for the ramen.. and fell in love with the curry fried rice! Plus, they make the most delicious char-siu I've ever had. Oh man, my mouth is watering just thinking about it. I don't even normally like char-siu. Hey, half Chinese and hard to please. It's a cool little place with strange hours that have frustrated me many a times. Despite this, I've heard from friends who would know, that this is the most authentic ramen they've had in Hawaii. It's always a pain deciding whether to get the ramen or fried rice--I usually end up with both. Then of course, rather than tomorrows lunch, the leftovers end up being a late night snack. Yotteko.. ya' killin me.

    (5)

  • Joe W.

    IMO this is the best ramen on the island. The restaurant is pretty small with only a handful of round tables that sit two or three people comfortably, and four if you get cozy. There is one table that sits 7 and a few seats at the counter. The paitan broth is my favorite--it's creamy and flavorful without being too salty and goes great with the tabeteko (kim chee added), chashu pork, or kakuni pork. The kakuni pork is only available at lunch because they run out daily. There are usually only one or two servers but the service is pretty quick and friendly. Based on experience, they seem to be totally unwilling to accommodate large parties, so keep your group to 4 or less or expect some flak.

    (4)

  • Josh S.

    A Kyoto-styled ramen. I recently tried Sapporo ramen nearby Kapahulu St. and liked it so decided to expand my ramen knowledge and tried this place. Maybe I'm not big fan of Kyoto. It was just okay. I know Kyoto is very rich in history and Japanese culture and listed as top 100 places to visit in many travel magazines but their ramen wasn't just as good as others I've tried in Honolulu alone. The place is cute, they did a good job replicating traditional Japanese noodle house I've seen on TV. I actually felt like I was in Japan for first 18 seconds. I ordered one of their combo meal, which included ramen, rice, and few fried chicken. The ramen was great, but the rice and chicken wasn't. If I were to come again, I would probably just go with ramen alone. I must also add that the place was somewhat crowded - meaning this place is actually highly rated among local eaters. I give them some credit because it wasn't bad at all. I just didn't like it as much as other ramen I had nearby.

    (3)

  • Tamra P.

    I'm not really one to crave ramen, as I'm more into the garnish than the actual ramen but Emi H. suggested this spot for a lunch today and threw in something about the collagen in the noodles makes you look younger....SOLD! Okay maybe not a total believer but considering I recently had a birthday it sounded appealing. The shoji style door was a nice authentic touch. We did have a bit of a wait, but that's always a pretty good sign for a restaurant, right? I ordered the yasai paitan ramen, Japanese style. The broth was creamy and delicious! Tasty but not too salty. I also enjoyed the more al-dente Japanese style noodles (you can also order the more well-done "local style"). Wished there would have been a bit more veggies but then again I'm sure ramen purists prefer their garnish to be garnish whereas I'd prefer more garnish than ramen. The chasiu was AMAZING. I've never had such yummy chasiu. And I also liked that it was a normal brown color vs. the weird bright red/pink that charsiu tends to be. Anyway, it was tender, and full of flavor. Could have eaten a plate of that alone. Will have to try a combo the next time.....

    (4)

  • Renold A.

    My first stop after arriving at HNL. I've had many different plates here and none have disappointed. Delicious Ramen. Sometimes there's a wait during peak times as the dining area is small.

    (5)

  • Melissa M.

    I L-O-V-E ramen, and I think this place is my favorite! I can't get enough of their paitan ramen, ordered spicy ($1.00 extra). The hubs and I like to order one ramen and one ramen set (ramen with side gyoza and/or karaage and fried rice). It's the perfect amount of food for us. We both like the ramen with the firmer "japanese style" noodles rather than the softer "local style" noodles. I also crave their fried rice and could eat a whole plate of it! I would love to try some of the other broths offered here (like their special kakuni ramen), but it's so hard for me to resist the spicy paitan! The chicken karaage is also a winner. The only downside for me is parking...Yotteko-Ya is located in McCully Shopping Center, so parking can be a beast. But, that's not enough to keep me away. Deliciousness!

    (5)

  • Clover Dan ..

    that was tasty ramen. easy seating on a friday night. mccully shopping center was crowded and parking was tight but there were a few spots. decent service, a few beers available. a winner!

    (4)

  • Cecilia T.

    I've waited 3 years to return to this place. The most authentic japanese ramen i've ever had for the creamy pork broth. Small clean hole in the wall in an asian plaza recommended by friends who live here and visit here a lot . You get a great bang for your buck too. Each of our group always orders the D Set substitute for Paitan broth instead of the traditional broth that comes with that set. For a cheap price it comes with the ramen, really really good chicken karagge, and we select the chasu pork over fried rice. The Chasu pork is tender and flavorful, although for me, I'm so full from the ramen i usually have to take the pork home. The Paitan broth is simple and delicious - my family members that come back here every year describe the broth as so delicious that they can drink the whole bowl after eating the noodles! If you're looking for something like super salty or spicy, this is not the place for you. Expect simple and natural tasting. Simply authentic. The noodles are very very very good - chewy and the perfect texture. We order the japanese style noodles. Really recommend coming here when you're starving so you can experience just how good this place is.

    (5)

  • Lily B.

    SLOW SERVICE the other night. Only one waitress to do it all. Some waited 15mins to be seated with open tables:( You can choose your noodles Japanese style - chewier - or local style - softer side. This is my favorite part! And the part where you can make it SPICY:) Broth is thicker but only slightly, and its milky.... I got Paitan with veggies and there was ONE piece of broccoli and some bean sprouts.... Made me wish I was at Goma Tei with better gyoza and service:(

    (3)

  • Jennifer L.

    I ordered the paitan soup base ramen and the broth was so flavorful and delicious! I like that the restaurant offers you the option between boiling time of noodles: Japanese (firm) or local (soft). Will be coming back!

    (5)

  • Vincent Q.

    I've gone by Yotteko-Ya 'Rocketed from Japan!' many times, but each time, either it's closed or they're out of their ramen already, or it was a Wednesday and they were closed. Very popular, no? This time, I came early, by 1:00pm, on a Friday. The more traditional sliding door set up my hopes and expectations, as I walked in, and peeked in to find a seat to sit in. I found many people staring back, so I wondered if this is a place with many 'regulars'. It was crowded but I was alone, so I got to sit at the loner's bar. So I sat and ordered. Gyoza- 3.5-stars- You get five of these handmade gyozas with each order. Mine were fried, nice and crispy on one side. The insides contain a mixture of ginger, green onion, and pork, and perhaps other ingredients. Overall, it was average and good-tasting. I had no mouth-watering craving for them, but they did look and smell good. Paitan with Chashu- 3.5-stars- This is the ramen everyone says they get, although I also hear people get the other ramen which they like even more. Mind you, there is a choice between Japanese and Local-style noodles. My Japanese-style were thick and chewy, as they are meant to be, but you can get softer noodles for local lovers (as I've read some people don't like the traditional noodles). The aroma of the noodles actually made this dish most appealing--it is definitely the stand-out performer here. The sauce is slightly milky, but not thick, just smooth. The color was different, as a light milky-tan, but nothing struck me as totally amazing or unique. I'm becoming more of a chashu specialist (and realizing the many different ways of spelling this sweet meat--xa xiu, char siu, chashu, etc.). This version was thick, and sweet, yet falls apart easily, almost melting as you bite into it. Atmosphere- Although I read about the traditional-styling and look of the restaurant, don't expect to be blown away. It was nice, and the decorations were sufficient, but I almost expected to be taken away to an entirely different country by some reviews I read. It was quaint and made me feel like I was at home, though. A very comfortable atmosphere, other than wondering how many customers are 'regulars' here. Service- The service was very friendly here. The food was served very quickly, it almost felt like fast-food version of ramen. Of course, everything is prepared well in advance, at least regarding the ramen. So if you're starving, you won't be starving for long once you make your order! Conclusion- This is a good ramen shop, and a good place to visit if you can navigate the McCully shopping center parking, the interesting hours they keep, and can get a seat before the ramen runs out. There is nothing totally outstanding here which is totally amazing, but there is also nothing bad here. Just get here early, and not on a Wednesday, because they're closed!

    (4)

  • Dee L.

    Oh-my-GOODNESS! Call me ramen girl! I found myself coming back for lunch, then dinner, then lunch, then dinner again! Their paitan ramen deserves all the orgasmic raves! Sensational broth with the perfect noodle firmness (mine was firm). Now go get some! A little tip: go early, they get packed during dinner-time.

    (5)

  • Ryan U.

    Pretty good. Paitan ramen was good - but still searching for somewhere with broth as good as Nihon Noodle (which has closed). Staff was very nice, but service can get a bit slow if they are crowded.

    (3)

  • Brett M.

    THE BEST RAMEN I HAVE EVER HAD.... and gyoza... and fried rice.. and yakibuta.. and chashu. and water even? i have had ramen all over the united states, and most importantly, Japan. Yotteko-Ya is by far, the best ramen i have ever had in my life. thank you god for living only 10 minutes away from this heaven of noodle spots. ok, so i go into the place.. it has this cute old-school sliding wood door as the main door.. i sit down, ask auntie what i should order... so says without hesitation 'paitan ramen, or set C if you are really hungry.' this is when things get crazy. once i tasted the soup, i seriously had the biggest smile on my face. this place isn't just good, it literally made me so happy. my entire body felt happy.. and this is a rare occasion with just food. what i'm trying to say is that the ramen is so good that it will make you happy. yea, i understand this review is quickly becoming an emo-blog of some sort, but it is truly that good. the yakibuta fried rice is unreal. we've also ordered the garlic chahan (fried rice), which was again.... delicious. need i even mention that their gyoza too, is the best i've ever had in my life?! this place does not quit. it just keeps making you happier and more thankful that we live in hawaii. imagine if some place in oregon had the worlds best lau lau or something.. yea, they would rub it all in our faces constantly! well, F-U Japan, we have the best ramen ever, and it's at Yotteko-Ya. oh yea, after this place, i will never go to goma tei again.or goma ichi. or ramen nakamura. or obviously ezogiku. but i might still go to sanoya's at 2:30am...

    (5)

  • K K.

    Today I had the Paitan Mini Set with the Gyoza and Char Siu Fried Rice. The Paitan ramen is excellent! The broth is rich and creamy, but not too salty. The noodles I ordered were Japanese style, which is my preference, pretty much the same style as the noodles I eat in Japan. The char siu which comes in the ramen was very tasty and very tender. I really enjoyed the gyoza, it was bigger than most places, and pan fried just right. The fried rice was just okay, maybe a little on the oily side; It could have used a little more char siu. I went to the restaurant when they opened at 1130, there was a line of about 10 people in front of me. I was seated with no problem. The place is pretty small, maybe about 8 tables, and a counter for 4. The service was great, they took my order immediately, and always made sure my water cup was filled. I only waited about 7-8 minutes for my food, maybe because I was one of the first to order. I will definitely continue to dine here, mixing it in with my other favorite ramen places.

    (5)

  • Tracey O.

    My family has been dining at Yotteko-Ya for ages and, we've never been disappointed. I recommend the paitan ramen, Japanese style. The broth has a lot of flavor and the noodles have just the right amount of chew.

    (4)

  • Steph K.

    BEST PAITAN EVEERRR! I highly recommend getting the paitan because they specialize in it. I also recommend the C or D set (depending if you like gyoza or karaage better). It's definitely worth your money and you'll leave with a full happy tummy. I got the C set with the yakibuta chahan. It was soooo goooood. The chahan was flavorful and went well with my paitan. The gyoza was nice and crisp also. Be sure to drink all the paitan broth. It's said to have some health and beauty benefits :)

    (5)

  • Emi H.

    Am I the only person who gets hungry when they see a picture of Medusa? Some people see snakes and eyes that can turn you to stone but I get hungry for Ramen! Maybe it's the Japanese side of me who is in desperate need of a weekly ramen fix? Met up with a girlfriend yesterday for lunch and she suggested Yotteko-Ya at the McCully Shopping Center. Could anything really worthwhile live up on the 2nd floor of the McCully Shopping Center? I thought that's where businesses went to die? Or sell some late night "massages"? Well Yotekko-ya does not sell late night massages, at least that I know of, but it does sell some delicious soul cleansing ramen! I knew this was going to be a good place when I saw the sign on the doorway that said " Rocketed from Kyoto". Any business that writes something like that on their door is A-Okay with me! We were seated by their "from Japan" waitress. This is a good sign. The only thing better would have been a "from Japan" Grandma. Lots of Japanese tourists and Japan transplants eating ramen. This looks very promising! Ordered their "most popular" Paitan ramen with kim chee and vegetables for $9.45. They offer two choices in which they can cook your noodles, Japanese style (slightly undercooke) and Local style (softer). I order it Japanese style because I want to real deal and if I wanted them Local style I'd go to Shiro's. Our ramen comes out quicky and lord oh lord were they good! I'd never had kim chee in my ramen so by the time I was half way through the bowl I was sweating up a storm! Not ideal if you're on a first date but totally ideal if you're chowing down on ramen with your girlfriend who is also sweating like a little piggy. You know you're besties when you can sweat up a storm, have kim chee breath and still have fun!

    (5)

  • Bernard V.

    This place almost gets 5 stars. Food is great but service could be a little better. We ate here Saturday night at roughly 6pm. We were surprised that the place was empty since we kept hearing so much rave reviews about the place. There were only three other dining parties besides us when we arrived. We asked for water, waitress said ok. Not soon after more dinner parties started arriving. Waitress brought everyone else their water except ours. We had to ask again for the water. We thought that wasn't right to serve others that were in after us. So that kind of peeved us a bit. We ordered two Paitan ramens, one kim chee ramen, 2 orders of gyoza (5 pieces/order), and fried rice. The food was served to us very shortly after ordering. The fried rice is tasty with its sweet char siu. The gyoza is cooked nicely and taste well like almost any other gyoza (to me they all taste the same, just that some place over burn the bottom). I had a Paitan and it tasted great. I really like the broth; very flavorful. The broth is not like your typical soup base. All in all, we love this place except for that little hiccup in the beginning with our water. I would definitely come here again. Just be warned though, they have been known to run out of food (we found that out the hard way a few weeks before as we arrived at Yotteko-Ya only to find a sign they had run out of noodles).

    (4)

  • Trish P.

    it was damn cold the other night - so what is better than a nice hot bowl of ramen? i ventured into this restaurant with a few friends after passing by multiple times wondering if it was good. we were greeted at the door by a younger waitress who promptly didnt say even a hello - but pointed at a table. she took our order and disappeared, only to re-appear when delivering our food. the restaurant was pretty empty when we got there, so i wasnt sure what to expect - i got the paitan ramen, japanese style, with vegetables and charsu, and added in (for a buck) the "spicy sauce" which they make with sesame seed oil. i also got a side order of pan fried gyoza. the noodles were good and firm, the broth was also good, but i dont think i would have liked it if it did not have the spicy sauce addition. also, their paitan broth is not as thick as places like Tenkaiippin. and the sad tiny piece of charsu that came in my dish was a disappointment. it was the size of a 1/2 dollar coin, and half of it was fat. the flavor itself was good, but it was a little too fatty for my liking. and the charsu is waaay bigger and thicker at Goma Tei. The vegetables were mostly under cooked cabbage with one small broccoli floret and the tiniest carrot i've ever seen. the gyoza was pretty standard, and looking back, i should have gotten them deep fried, b/c anything deep fried is awesome. its too bad i'm probably never going back to try it - read below now back to my dining experience - this waitress was one of the most inattentive waitresses i've ever encountered. after our food was delivered, she really did disappear. more and more people came in to eat - she seated them, helped them, checked on them, re-filled their waters, and brought them their checks. but for us, she did not check on us, did not re-fill our waters until we were about to leave, and only filled the cups half way, and did not bring us our check. we waited for 40 MINUTES before discovering that she was pretty much ignoring our table. i understand if it gets busy, but to blatantly ignore one table out of many? c'mon.... really, i would have given them more stars if it had not been for the service. in fact, i feel like 2 stars might be generous......

    (2)

  • Kelly K.

    The paitan ramen is delicious! Rich and savory broth, not too salty. The Kakuni Paitan Ramen is served with thick, melt in your mouth chunks of pork belly. Mmmmmm... The Paiten Chasiu Ramen comes with a generous number of pork slices and is equally delicious. Will definitely return for more!

    (4)

  • Jensen S.

    Tried the Paitan Ramen. CHAR SIU HERE IS BEAST! They have a block of it available for order with your ramen. I thought they were crazy and who would order it until I tried their Char Siu. Melts in your mouth and just straight up delicious. Hand down best in Oahu so far. As for the other ingredients, noodles were okay, nothing special, and the broth seemed too bland. I felt it needed some spice to give it a good kick. But the Char Siu will keep me coming back O Fa SHo!

    (4)

  • marissa t.

    LOVE the paitan w/ Japanese noodles and the added 'spicy' option. Pros: Lots of options The flavor of the soup is definitely better than GomaTei The pork is nice and tender The noodles are a good consistancy Fast service Cons: Parking at McCully Shopping Center requires a parking genie on your side Sometimes there is a wait to be seated Closed on Wednesdays

    (5)

  • Jenn T.

    This is a bomb ramen place! It's a small little restaurant on the 2nd floor of the McCully Shopping Center. They have 3 different broths of ramen, my fav being the Paitan one. They also have a variety of toppings to put inside your ramen--char shu, tofu, seafood, etc! My favorite part about this ramen restaurant is that they have japanese style noodles & local style noodles...differences being one is more chewy (which I love) or one is more soft. They chewy noodles make it almost like I'm in Japan eating ramen! They also have combination meals, which comes with gyoza and fried rice!! Super great deal! Check this place out, especially if you're looking for an authentic japanese ramen place!

    (5)

  • Ekso T.

    I've been here only once and I must say this is the best ramen I've ever had in Hawaii. I would love to go back more often but I don't feel like standing in line. I prefer nicer place to sit and eat. But, for their ramen, I will push myself to go back one of these days before I leave Oahu for good.

    (5)

  • Rorry N.

    This is the best ramen place I've found on Oahu. I always order the same thing. Paitan ramen with Japanese style noodles. The paitan ramen is the best around. The broth is very rich and delicious. The noodles are always cooked right (not too soft or too hard). You don't have to add anything to the broth unless you prefer yours a little spicier. I've tried the fried rice and it's a little greasy but it's nothing special. The fried mandoo is pretty good. It is a little greasy as well but it's filled inside, unlike other places where the inside is hollow. If you like to make your own sauce, then this is the place for you. If not, you just have to settle for shoyu. The wait can be a little long at times since there are only about 5-6 tables, one booth and a counter area. There is usually one waitress and another one arrives later at night. But service is pretty quick and people tend to finish in a timely manner as well. Make sure you check the hours because they open for lunch, then they close, then re-open for dinner. And I believe on Monday's they're closed as well. The prices are pretty good. I usually get 2 paitan ramen and I just bring a $20 bill because I give the rest as tip. But I think the bill is around $16-18. You definitely have to try this place if you haven't already. You'll be going back every week!

    (5)

  • Chong K.

    Today was my one cheat meal of the week when I get to indulge in carbohydrates. I call it my carb feast meal. Naturally I decided on ramen and fried rice. I had been to Yotteko-ya once before, but it was a long time ago. My wife had never eaten here, so we decided to try it. I had the combo C which included paitan chashu ramen, 3 pieces of gyoza and fried rice. I got the Japanese style noodle (firm). The ramen with chashu was ono. The soup base was creamy and the chashu tasted like shoyu pork. The gyoza was not so good. I had the pan fried version. It had huge chunks of cabbage, which threw off the taste. It tasted like cabbage with won ton wrap! Where's the pork? I will not order the gyoza again. Last, I had the fried rice. It was flavorful with chunks of chashu. But, what's the deal with the red bell pepper? I picked them all out. I will try Yotteko-Ya again. For sure get the paitan chashu ramen! Giving it a 3 star. Would be a 4 star if the gyoza had been better. The price for a combo is a little high here for ramen as well. BTW the parking here is nuts!

    (3)

  • Chris L.

    If there were half star ratings I'd probably give this place 3.5 stars. After reading all of the great reviews of this place, I had to give it a try. I was disappointed. The paitan ramen didn't live up to my expectations, but my impression was that it wasn't so much that the ramen was done poorly as much as it was just a case where the flavor wasn't something that I enjoyed. And it wasn't that the flavor was really all that bad, it was just kind of meh. I guess with all the hype I expected it to go boom-boom-pow when it hit my tongue. Also the flavor was really light, it kind of bordered on bland. I felt like I had to concentrate and focus on tasting the broth in order to realize its flavor :) But maybe that is just the way Kyoto style ramen is supposed to be? I do have to qualify this review by saying that I do tend to prefer bolder flavors from my food and I do get liberal with sauces that I like; but, I can and do appreciate dishes that have delicate or light flavors, the paitan ramen just wasn't one of them. Anyways all that being said, I liked the ramen noodles, I enjoyed the firmness that they were cooked to; and the char siu had a nice sweetness to it that was unexpected but also enjoyable. And on the side I tried an order of their deep fried gyoza which was tasty and I liked the extra crispiness of it.

    (3)

  • Tracy S.

    I am **always** in the mood for **collagen ramen** (say what?!), which on some occasions is bad because Yotteko-Ya is well aware of their greatness, so they can close up shop at odd hours, sometimes unannounced for the day, and still retain a large fan base. Whatever, as a devoted follower, it's totally worth the drive and trouble. Yes, folks, this Kyoto ramen soup has a special ingredient - collagen. Instead of injecting it into your face while eating their ramen, for example, they inject their ramen soup base with this supposed fountain of youth. I'm not sure if this contributes at all to their addictive, not-too-salty paitan soup base, but **keep it coming**! A youthful bowl (~$8) comes in various shapes (i.e. types), but normally one size- pretty large for someone like me. You can get different types of paitan ramens such as the kakuni pork (almost always sold out by the time we get there), tabeteko (kim chee; this one is my favorite!), etc. We usually get the set that includes (paitan) ramen of your choice, fried rice (their chashu gohan is heavenly), and deep- or pan-fried gyoza, which costs us around $13 per set. The sets vary, but you seriously can't go wrong. There is always a wait. If the option were presented to me while waiting in line for a table, I would totally put in my order and eat my ramen sitting Indian-style on the ground.

    (5)

  • Brent S.

    One of my favorite ramen places. The Paitan soup broth is perfectly balanced. Some places are a little thick. Other places are a little weak. Theirs is just right. They have the best charsiu out of all the ramen places in Honolulu. It has a deep flavor and pretty much melts in your mouth. Consistently my "go to" ramen place!

    (4)

  • Ashley N.

    This is one of the best ramen restaurants in Hawaii! The only thing is that I wish it had better parking, since the parking at McCully Shopping Center is ridiculous and is one of the main reasons that I don't go here as much as I would like. I've been to Yotteko-Ya two times with my boyfriend, the first time with his friends as well. The time I went with my boyfriend and his friends, it took a while to find seats since we went around lunchtime, and the tables really only cater for parties up to four. So basically, once one of their tables freed up, we had to cram five people on a small table only meant for four. If you're going here with a large party, beware that you might be split into different tables, since you can't move two tables together. Anyway, onto the food! The first time I went, my boyfriend and I both had the paitan ramen. It was delicious, and I love how you have the option of choosing what kind style you would like the ramen noodles, either Japanese (firm) or local style (soft). Their chashu is amazing as well, being very soft and delicious. I do love their broth as well, since it is full of flavor. The second time I went, my boyfriend got the paitan ramen again while I went with their tonshio ramen. I have heard reviews of their tonshio broth tasting like sea water, but I actually really liked it. I would lean toward the paitan over their tonshio, but it was very good if you are a fan of shio ramen. Yotteko-Ya is super authentic ramen and delicious. If you're planning on going for the first time, go early!! Yotteko-Ya does close early sometimes if they run out of ramen! Also, they're closed on Wednesday. I highly recommend the paitan ramen, since it's very unique and delicious. You won't have any regrets about coming here!

    (5)

  • Jimmy M.

    Yotteko-ya is my favorite ramen-ya in Hawaii ... it's great ... but you have to order right! PAITAN CHA-SHU cooked Japanese style (firm noodles) is so ONO-licious! It's as close as you're going to get to ramen in Japan on this island. Their gyouza is good (just good) and the garlic chahan is great! My favorite non-ramen food item is the ebi-mayo (shrimp with citrus-mayonnaise sauce, served on an orange peel with a green salad). If you're lucky enough to get some, try the KAKUNI RAMEN (paitan broth, of course). They only make a limited amount each day and it sells out fast, but if you are one of the lucky customers who gets it, you'll thank me. :) It's super soft and practically melts in your mouth. That's ONO kine kaukau. Cheeee-hoooooo!!

    (5)

  • Gabrielle G.

    I ordered the Paitan chashiu ramen.. REAL GOOD! although I'm not a fan of their chasiu, it tastes too fatty for my liking.. my friends on the other hand adore the char siu because it "melts in their mouth." (as you can tell we all ordered the same thing) The broth is different, not water-type brothy, but milky, SAVORY brothy, just how I like it.. delicious. Only downside to this place is that the overall area of the restaurant is pretty tight, but the service was good and we were seated within 5 minutes.

    (4)

  • Jason R.

    Went there per friends' recommendation. Got there at 11:30 when they are about to open, there was already a line waiting outside of the restaurant. We ordered the recommended ramen, the soup base is very thick and flavorful, but overall the experience is just so so. We've had better ramen elsewhere on the mainland.

    (3)

  • Brian B.

    This is one helluva ramen shop that's hidden & tucked away at McCully Shopping Center! I finally went there tonight with a few friends after many failed attempts previously, and managed to sit & eat some good ramen! They have a decent selection of ramen & typical food items for a place of this nature with reasonable prices. I recommend getting there as close to when they open as possible for lunch or dinner as the place gets full really quick and there can be a pretty long wait. Also, because they're constantly busy, they run out of food long before closing time at least during the dinner time. Well, I wouldn't say they run out super fast, but around 8:30pm-ish they tend to close up because they are out of certain food. Believe me, I tried going twice around that timeframe and kept getting turned away. I tried the paitan chashu ramen set with deep fried gyoza & fried rice which was excellent! The paitan ramen is the perfect blend of a shoyu/miso/pork soup base which isn't overly salty or overpowering. I got Japanese style noodles which were also oishii! =) Next time I go, I'm gonna try their katsu curry dish to see how they compare with other places like Gomatei. Unfortunately I can't give this place 5-stars right now because of the fact that there's only one person that was basically seating/serving/cashing out everyone. I feel sorry for that girl, cuz she was constantly in motion the whole night! Hopefully this was just one of those nights where someone called in sick, cuz having only one person doing all of that makes for a long wait. I give her credit for dealing well with all of the people that came through because it was constantly busy from the time we were there until we left. For some reason too, I don't know why but it seems like I've seen the girl at some other Japanese food place I ate at too... I'd have to admit she was cute too, so hopefully if they have more help the next time I go, they'll have more cute hostesses! In any case, give this place a try if you like ramen places like Gomatei or Go Shi Go! You won't regret it, even if you have a little bit of a wait like me and my friends!

    (4)

  • Sierrah I.

    Y RULE 1. When you order your Ramen make sure you order your noodles "Japanese Style" -If you want to enjoy ramen the best way possible you have to order your noodles "Japanese Style" It's just much more pleasing to the pallet and texturally pleasing to your mouth. NO SOGGY NOODLES HERE! Noodles are the perfect tenderness throughout your whole bowl- that's hard to come by! O RULE 2. If you order gyoza make sure it's "PAN FRIED" -In this case, everything does not taste better deep fried! :P The balance of half steamed/half fried, juicy but crisp wins over deep fried gyoza. It is just soooo much better the traditional way of cooking gyoza. T RULE 3. Don't be afraid to ask for more CHASHU -It's one of the best I've eaten! They even can serve it to you in your ramen in a "slab" vs. "slices" (kakuni) mmmmmm. Once you try, you won't regret. T RULE 4. Don't come around sunset. - They only have a limited amount of tables (around 8) and maybe half of them get direct sunlight gleaming out of mere bamboo woven drape/curtain things. SUN IN YOUR FACE + EATING A HOT RAMEN BOWL = HOT, STEAMING & SWEATING. Blehhhh. E RULE 5. Be patient - It's a great place, but small, and usually only one lady running the whole shebanggg. K RULE 6. Feel like eating more than one thing? Order a COMBO, they are CHEAPER. O RULE 7. If you enjoy SPICY, any ramen can be SPICY for a $1.00 - Paitan Chashu Spicy Ramen was OOOOOOMG yummy, MUST TRY for those who enjoy a spicy kick to their ramen like Tan Tan. YA~!

    (4)

  • Wendell Y.

    Yotekko-ya claims that eating their ramen will make you look younger. I don't know if this is true or not, but consider this: I eat here a lot, and I'm 40 and get carded for alcohol *all the time*. This place is delicious. I love all three soup bases, but tend to lean towards the tonshio over the paitan. Also, get the japanese style noodes - they're firmer, but not undercooked or weird. Everything chashu here rules. It's so soft it just falls apart. If you got a few extra bucks, try the kakuni ramen. It comes with a "block" of chashu and is totally worth the extra cash. They have a limited number of bowls of this per day, however, so it may not always be available. I also go for the chashu gohan over the fried rice. I know, I know - what kind of local boy am I, right? But it's seriously good. The only thing I've ever had an issue with was the shrimp - just a tad too much mayonaise for me, but I'm not letting that affect my star rating. You come here for the ramen, and for me it's the perfect bowl. Small warning: Parking in the evening sucks. It seems to peak at 6:30pm - good luck finding a stall.

    (5)

  • Ash G.

    My friend and I ended up going here one night together to have dinner and discuss an art project we had to collaborate on, however all we ended up discussing was how good everything we got tasted! THE RAMEN IS SO YUMMY HERE! And I love ramen, and i've tried a bunch of them around town, so you know, I like to think I know some good ramen. This place has their own type of ramen a Paitan broth--this is what they are known for and apparently as I noticed, this is broth is special from Kyoto and supposedly makes you 'look younger' (yes! i totally will blindly believe in that). I got the Charsu Paitan ramen with added spice and Japanese type noodles (more chewy) which was very delicious. We also ordered the gyoza which was top-notch. When I was leaving I noticed that they provide one of those cards that you get stamped--so i got one because I was definitely planning on going back again--and I did the next week. The next time I got the Paitan ramen with no spice, which was very good too, but I love me some spice. Tasty tasty-definitely check this place out if you are over by McCully, it is a small restaurant and good luck finding parking in the small lot in front of the shopping center.

    (4)

  • Mark D.

    Best Ramen Place EVER!!! My friend and I use to go this restaurant every time we finished class at KCC. Now that I'm out of school and he's still in school, and I'm working, we hardly go. I usually get the paitan ramen, japanese style. BROKE DA MOUTH!! ^^ and I am not a fan of charsu, but boy, the way they make theirs, it melts in your mouth like cotton candy. I'm getting hungry just by writing this review. And the price is well worth the meal. I suggest this place to any ramen lover. Ok, now I'm going to go eat there now. ^^

    (4)

  • Cindy L.

    The ramen was okay. I thought that the soup was too much soy-yu flavor and the noodles were not cooked well. However, my friends like it.

    (2)

  • Hannah H.

    Loved it! We ordered the fried rice and paichan ramen and ebi mayonnaise. All of the items were flavorful. Can't wait to go back!

    (5)

  • Ha N.

    I like this place. The place is nice and the paitan (their most recommended soup base) is very good. Idk if it's just lately, but the service has been really slow. There is one waitress. But we sucked it up and went in anyways because it's that good :) We went in today for lunch and everything was fine. We were unfortunate enough to fall upon a rock though. Yes it looked like a tiny black rock picked up from a road that was just paved. It was very amusing to see: he said ouch and pulled out the rock, a smaller piece he chomped off, and a white chip. I think that was part of his tooth. We called the lone waitress by and she said it was the black fungus from the soup. And she just walked away. We picked it up and dropped it a few times on the plate only to hear a clatter a ring would make. Or a rock!! Maybe it wasn't a rock. Her repetitive apologies throughout the rest of our stay make me a little suspicious though. :/ my bf is the type to gobble up to the last bite. So maybe that's how he found it. I prob wouldn't have had been able to. But hey maybe it was a tooth chipping fungus devil.

    (4)

  • Jennifer C.

    Char siu paitan ramen - can't wait to meet again in July.

    (5)

  • Akiko T.

    I had the paitan charsiu ramen Japanese-style and it was delicious!. I also snagged a couple of gyozas from my parents and they were the best I ever had - flavorful and perfectly fried. I'm glad we got here before the rush because there was a line when we left. Service was rather slow and our server had to be reminded to bring part of our order and to refill our water glasses.

    (4)

  • Justin R.

    After hearing a great deal about how this place had the best ramen from a friend (i.e. superior to Tenkaippin), I had to give it a try. Twas my birthday and my girlfriend took me here as a surprise. She's more of the ramen connoisseur, and both she and I really want to see what all the fuss was about. The service was great, and at since we came right when dinner time was about the start we were able to get seats real quick. We both got the paitan ramen with extra noodles (with just two pieces cha shu). Here they give you a choice between local (softer) and japanese (firmer/chewier) style noodles--basically how long they cook it for. We both got the japanese style. Our server was so nice and friendly and took our orders very quickly--and BAM! Our food was there in no time (BONUS POINTS)! Here's when the food review comes in... Being hyped up by my friend about this place, I could only imagine how great this ramen tasted (he told us it was better than Tenkaippin--and I LOVE Tenkaippin). In the end, I think he may have overhyped it. The broth was much like other ramen broth, except maybe a slight difference (apparently they let it sit or something for ten hours which assists in its flavor fulness or something). However, the noodles and the cha shu saved this ramen (one provides this nice, chewiness, while the latter is sweet and simply melts in your mouth--SOO GOOD). At first I was going to give this place three stars, but after writing this review overall I've come to find that I did like the place--great service, easy parking (if you're right on time before any real rushes), prompt service, and fairly good ramen (at least in the top 5 because of the choice of noodles and the cha shu). I'll try to come back to give this place another shot, but for now Tenkaippin's thick ramen will remain supreme (despite the broth going a sad and somewhat-watered-down intervention).

    (4)

  • Jarrett H.

    Part 2 of my ramen trio. A five star place has to really wow me, and this place REALLY wows me in terms of their ramen. After a hot and hard day of Kendo training, my friend wanted me to try Yotteko ya because we always talk about ramen. I ordered the Char Siu Paitan. Best way to put it when I took a sip of the broth and a bite of the Char Siu, it was like that scene in "Ratatouille" when the food critic, Ego, ate the Ratatouille and went to a happy place in his first bite. I kind of was like that. My search was over for a good bowl of ramen in Hawaii was over. This is my favorite place for ramen. The pork and the chicken came perfectly together. The two flavors complimented each other and the mushrooms topping added a good finishing touch. I loved it. The creaminess of the broth was very nice, it may be slightly thicker than some other Paitan or Tonkotsu ramens that I had but it was perfect to me. I have tried all of the broths here but honestly the Paitan is the one you MUST try. The other ones are good but not in the same rank as the paitan. Most places I usually don't drink all the soup but this place I'm usually scrapping the bottom of the bowl for the last drop with my wooden spoon. The Char Siu is one of a kind here. No one makes it like YottekoYa. My mother liked it to a great slice of pot roast. It basically melts in your mouth. It has a sweet sauce that is not overwhelming and compliments the Paitan perfectly. Noodles are Sun Noodles but are cooked to your liking, local style or Japanese style. ALWAYS order japanese style. To me its easy to make it local style, just screw it up and over cook it like some of the bad ramen shops. Japanese style takes timing and precision. Side that I have ordered are pretty good. The Yakibuta Fried Rice is very good. Nice strips of marinated pork (like the Char Siu) mixed in the fried rice, topped with takana. I have also had the Karaage Chicken and Shrimp both are good. I can't say its as great as the Paitan Ramen (which trumps everything on the menu) but I recommend trying any of the side orders. Order the combination, it makes the meal even more worth it because of all the food. Ambiance - nice but a bit crowded but what do you expect for a popular place. Nice Japanese decor mixed with the simplicity of a small noodle shop. Service - for only having two waitresses, they do pretty darn good. food comes promptly and the waitresses are nice. Parking - Sucks...McCully Shopping Ctr parking is horrible but don't let it stop you from coming here. Those morons in McCully Shopping Center management should have made more parking across the street rather than having a Storage Space built there. I have brought many people to this place and everyone likes it here. I've even have relatives, that travel around the world leading gourmet groups, love it here. I high recommend this place.

    (5)

  • White K.

    Solid 4.5-stars ramen place in Oahu. We have tried a lot of ramen in Japan and we usually use Japan standard to compare with ramen places in the US. - Broth: 4 stars. (The best 5-star broth usually have 2-3 layers of taste upon drinking it. This one is not bad as it doesn't tastes just like a "salty" soup - Noodle: 4.5 stars--nice and chewy (although you can custom ordered to make it softer, but why???) - Meat: 4 stars. The meat was flavorful but I feel it was a bit dry. Will definitely try again when I am back in the area.

    (4)

  • Amy G.

    i just got back from here a few hours ago. it wasn't too busy and it was lunch time, so that was kinda good. i was starving and wanted to just sit. my friends and i all enjoyed the paitan chashu ramen. it was actually pretty good. i wish there was more ramen tho. i think just the regular paitan ramen woulda satisfied my chashu craving. it was good, just a bit fatty which i didn't like and it was a little over sweet. but thats just me. however, it was super soft and melt in your mouth so i loved it. i would recommend this place to anyone who wants good ramen. wasn't too pricey so i was ok with that. i am still hungry tho. wish i got a set but i didn't wanna spend the extra moeny. lol. i am still craving ramen and just might return here within this month. however, parking is a B****. the parking there is super small and at lunch or dinner time, its packed. i had to go around the parking at least 5 times, went downstairs and it was packed and super small, and went around again before i finally got parking. so come early or late just so you odn't have to deal with the parking issue.

    (4)

  • Yoshi G.

    I was really looking forward to this place after reading the reviews. I had the paitan ramen. It was good, but I've had better. And, for the record, I have tried it twice just to make sure. The noodles are very good, though.

    (3)

  • Celise N.

    My 13-year-old squealed, "Alright, ramen two days in a row. My luck is good!" as we walked into Yotteko-Ya in McCully Shopping Center. This is hubby's favorite ramen restaurant. Unfortunately, their specialty is Paitan Ramen. This is ramen with long and slow cooked chicken and pork broth. They claim the collagen from the bones that end up dissolving in the broth will make your skin youthful and keep you healthy. Overall, the Paitan ramen was delicious. The broth was good, but for me, I missed the Tan Tan zing! The one excellent thing was the chashu gohan. O.M.G. it was really good. It was light and moist, with yummy chashu and shoyu flavor. This was the thing I actually liked the most. I have to agree with the other Yelpers though, service was a bit slow at times as we had to wait a long time for our bill. I think they just need one more waitress to help out. I'm sure I'll be back.... especially for that Chashu gohan.

    (4)

  • Justin H.

    Soup base was pretty good, homemade char sui pork was mean, gyoza tasted ok, BUT the soup should've come out STEAMING HOT! Not warm!

    (3)

  • Janice S.

    MMMMmmm...this place is yummy! Too bad it's so far from me :( Just came back form Japan and have been hunting for a ramen that can come close! Mission Possible...:) Just a hint get the spicy on the side. You can add a little, even if you don't like spicy and it just makes this ramen spectacular! Chashu is the best and garlic fried rice was good too!

    (4)

  • Wendy Y.

    This is the best ramen on the island!! Tabetekko pai tan is so yummy :) I usually order shoyu ramen but after tasting this I am hooked!!! Service is great as well. One server but she works hard!!! We are regulars here... love love love this place!

    (5)

  • Brandon B.

    The five-star rating that I'm giving is for what we experienced AFTER we were seated. Unfortunately, we almost missed out on the wonderfulness of Yotteko-Ya because of a very long wait at the door, no indication of how long that wait would be, an obviously overloaded solitary waitress, and us and the others in line staring at empty tables wondering if we should stay or go. My wife almost walked on a couple of occasions, and had the wait been much longer we probably would have. All of this could be remedied by either hiring another waiter (I understand that means more $$$, so it's probably out for a small establishment), or just telling people approximately how long the wait will be. I don't mind waiting...I'd just like to know if it's going to be 15minutes or an hour. Ok, I think I've said all that I need about that...and the fact is, even with the difficulties in getting seated, once we were seated, from start to finish, this was a five-star experience! The waitress was incredibly helpful, explaining all questions we had about the menu options. My wife and I both ended up selecting the C Set with Paitan ramen, fried rice and gyoza. I had my paitan ramen made spicy and my wife got hers regular style. We thought we might be in for a bit of a wait after the long delay in seating, but our meals came out quite promptly and drinks were refilled often. The fried rice was very nice and the gyoza might have been some of the best I've had if we had not just eaten at my favorite gyoza shop (Gyoza no Ohsha) just a day earlier. But the spicy paitan ramen...oh my goodness the ramen! I'm a ramen fan. I'll eat any of it, from the 10cent packets of dried, cheap stuff to the real, restaurant style cuisine. And I've had ramen at many different restaurants around the country. But I've never had anything like this! Soooo creamy...soooo spicy (but never crossing that line to scortchingly inedible hotness). The ramen noodles, cooked Japanese style (chewier than the Hawaiian style option) were as perfect as I've ever tasted! I don't usually care all that much for the chashu pork that I've had in other ramen. It tends to be ok, but nothing that stands out. Yotteko-Ya's was so wonderfully seasoned, tender and just incredibly delicious! They have options on the menu for adding additional slices which I thought was kind of odd when I saw it, but then tasted the pork and completely understood...and kind of wish I had! The hostess when we were paying our bill was terribly friendly also, chatting with us about our stay in Hawaii, our meal, origami and everything else. I HIGHLY recommend Yotteko-Ya for anyone visiting Honolulu. Please understand that there will likely be a wait in the beginning and you might not know exactly how long that wait will be. I am so glad that we decided to stay and wait and I hope that others take the time to experience this gem! We will be back on our next trip!

    (5)

  • Sumil T.

    Nice cozy feel with tasty ramen! Paitan ramen soup all the way, house specialty. Also it's nice that they offer your noodles done japanese style (al dente) or local style (cooked soft). Not that great for groups bigger than 4-5, because most of the tables seat 4 and there isn't enough room to push two tables together.

    (4)

  • Nate R.

    Got some take-out from here. Got the Paitan Ramen with extra noodles, spicy, thanks to Yelp. It was delicious. The spicy was right on and added tons of flavor to the already-flavorful ramen. The pork was good, noodles were great. They were out of sides, which was disappointing, but ultimately unnecessary thanks to the plentiful ramen.

    (4)

  • Demur E.

    It's not fat, it's collagen...and it's good for my skin. Luminosity. Yup, that's what I tell myself. Here's my Yotteko-Ya vs. Tenkaippin throwdown: Noodles - Yotteko-Ya. Fresh, homemade and boiled to order (local style is boiled a little longer for softer noodles, Japanese style is more al dente). Soup Base - Tie. Tenkaippin has the thicker broth (kotteri), but some may find it too thick and rich for their liking. Yotteko-Ya's paitan base is a little lighter and thinner. Both taste awesome. Chasu - Yotteko-Ya. So tender and tasty. Karaage chicken - Tenkaippin. Juicy without being overly oily and a crisp golden brown and delicious. The Yotteko-Ya version tasted a little strange to me. Flavor was off somehow. Gyoza - Tie. Both were well made, but I think Tenkaippin gives more. Service - Tie. Both places have a few (or only one person) working very hard. Ambiance - Yotteko-Ya is a little cozier in set-up as well as lighting. You don't feel as rushed here (see pics).

    (4)

  • Chelle A.

    I recently got introduced to true ramen a few months ago and we were recommended to try this place out while on vacation.The paitan charsu was great, made me love ramen more. Wish I had went more during my trip, but next time I'm in Honolulu gonna definitely come back!

    (5)

  • S W.

    must.get.extra.chashu. omg heaven pork.

    (5)

  • Anthony N.

    Kyoto ramen, Mmmm.. probably my favorite ramen place in Hawaii! All the broths here are really tasty and it comes out hot! The char siu is really really soft and soo soo good! OMG I love their char siu!!! I don't like places where the char siu is just a piece of fat.. Gross! I also like how you can choose the texture of your noodles, "Japanese style" or Local style". Local style noodles being a lot softer than Japanese style. I usually get the Paitan set that comes with gyoza & fried rice, I personally don't like the pan fried gyoza here so I opt for the deep fried gyoza instead. Its crispy and really good!! :D Im a fan of the fried rice here! lots of char siu, and bell peppers!, something I dont see in other fried rices from other ramen shops. I would say I come here 1-3 times a month and service is above average. However, there are a few days when I came and they ran out of soup at 7pm!!! or 1 night I came and they were out of fried rice and gyoza!!! ROAR!! You gotta come and try!!!

    (5)

  • Kit W.

    Came here with a friend for lunch yesterday and we got a table without waiting--yes! The rest of the restaurant was filled except for a few more seats and it was peak lunch hour on a Saturday, so we felt pretty lucky. The decor was nice and had a genuine Japanese feel. More importantly, the ramen was as good as I hoped it would be--YES! The Japanese style noodles were awesomely firm, the chasu was fatty and tender, and the Paitan soup was straight from foodie heaven. The only thing that would have made the ramen better was if the soup had come out piping hot but that's probably a personal preference xD. I am so excited to have finally found a ramen place on Oahu that's worth telling people about!!!

    (4)

  • Jay B.

    The paitan ramen is just ok. Maybe I'm spoiled after having Tenkaippin (which also has its off days). The broth is not as well rounded & full flavored as I expect. Service is great! The quest for the perfect ramen continues..

    (3)

  • Mune T.

    I was in Tokyo 2 weeks ago and happend to go to a ramen place that has the same name, Yottekoya. It was amazingly good that I thought that I finally found the ramen I've been looking for. So you don't know how happy I was to find out that there was a Yottekoya in Honolulu close to my condo. Bad! No need to go back there again. I don't even think that these two places share anything other than the name. I had the combo menu, "C" Ramen, Gyoza, and Charhan (Chasiu Fried Rice). Good parts: BBQ Pork (Charsiu?) was good and the Gyoza was pretty good. Bad parts: Noodles - bad after taste, they don't go with the soup at all. Soup was ok at the first sip then it gets boring after that. Charhan (Fried Rice) was not even fried. They just mixed the cooked rice, cut up BBQ bork, scrambled eggs, with a sauce. But there were so many people waiting to be seated at lunch time. I don't get it.

    (2)

  • Anthony W.

    Thank you Yelp for helping us find this gem of a ramen-ya so close to Waikiki! This was the first time I had tried Paitan ramen and it was bold and delicicious as all get out. They offered Japanese style noodles (firm) and also a softer noodle. I ordered the firm but would love to try the soft version next time. The ramen was excellent, but the crazy surprise was the incredible fried rice and deep fried gyoza!! I swear they are the best I had every experienced, and I've eaten a lot of fried rice in my lifetime. I'm speculating they cook the fried rice in the fat that is skimmed off the huge vat of paitan broth that had been simmering for 18 hours. So make sure you not just get the ramen, but the fried rice and gyoza as well. The lone server lady working there was pleasant and kind, and service was amazingly fast. The place is only slightly off the beaten path, about a 15 minute walk from the Hilton Village, just over the Ala Wai canal. It wasn't crowded at all, and I think that little extra few blocks helps us impatient diners avoid a long line and wait. Nakamura ramen is in the heart of Waikiki, and is plagued by long lines and hungry diners. I think they only take cash, so make sure to hit the ATM just in case.

    (5)

  • Sarah T.

    Very yummy ramen paitan ;) the service was awesome I went in at 7.45pm on Sunday night and there was no line at all... However I was lucky enough to get the last batch of soup. The group that came after me were turned away :(

    (5)

  • Lori L.

    Yotteko-Ya is a small ramen shop on the second floor of the McCully Shopping Center. They have a few different broths but the only one I order is the Paitan, slow cooked chicken bones and pork makes this a rich, collagen filled broth. Of course there are different toppings to choose from, the Yasai Paitan Ramen is good with veggies and char siu or try the Kimchee Paitan Ramen for a bit more spice. I recommend the Japanese-style noodles which are firmer and have a better chew then the Local-style, and for side orders the Chicken Karaage or Gyoza. Here's a tip: If you are hungry, pay extra for more noodles, the bowls will satisfy a medium eater, or get a combo.

    (4)

  • Nandiya A.

    They were out of the Kakuni soup broth when we arrived around 7:30pm on a Friday night. There's only a limited amount, so if you want it, come early so you can get a bowl. We had to wait a little before getting seated, there wasn't a written waiting list, so you just have to remember who arrived before you did. Parking sucks, we were circling around to get a spot for 30 minutes. It was a Friday night, what can you expect? We ended up settling for the Paitan ramen, though that was satisfying enough. It was very flavorful and rich. The noodles were perfectly made, you can actually order the firmness of the noodles which is a huge plus. I like mine firm, which is nice and chewy, not too soft. The noodles weren't hard at firm. You could tell that a broth is flavorful if it's not too garlic-y. Some places like to use a lot of garlic to add flavor that the broth lacks. This place doesn't do that. My only complaint is that they charge extra for adding spice to the broth. I would have come back here again during my trip, but I sadly didn't have enough time. I'm definitely coming back here when I come back to Oahu!

    (4)

  • Madoka P.

    I had a long lunch break so I decided to pop in for some much heard about ramen! Service is kind of slow since there is only one person, but otherwise I was not disappointed! At 11:35 on a Saturday, there were still some tables so I was seated right away. I ordered the combo A which included a choice of ramen (there were a few to choose from; I got the spicy paitan with firm noodles), 3 pieces of gyoza (pan fried) and rice. The gyoza was a little greasy for my taste but still tasted good. The spicy paitan was delicious but could've been spicier ;) The char siu fell apart as I picked it up which seemed like a good thing but it actually was kind of hard when I ate it. I was really grateful that they had the combo because I would've ordered them separately which would be more expensive and way too much food. Overall, it was good and I would come again if anyone wants to go, but I'll probably go to my usual place.

    (4)

  • Sungjin S.

    Not my first time but I haven't written a review yet. Atmosphere: Very cozy restaurant on the 2nd floor of the plaza. Clean and seating available throughout. Parking is hard to find but check the basement floor for parking. Service: There is only one person who does everything from setting and cleaning tables, hostess and cashier. She's very friendly and attentive. Just be ready to order ASAP. Food: The paitan broth is their most popular and my favorite. I always get one of the combos either C or D. The noodles are perfectly chewy and tender and the portion sizes are plenty large. Intangibles: many good ramen places in Honolulu and this is definitely one of them.

    (4)

  • Tony D.

    We came at 5:20pm since they open at 5:30pm... They did not open till 5:45pm what a disappointment... Sat down and fair warning do not come at this time because it's extremely hot! The son burns the restaurant and their AC is not good... Food came out on time... Food was decent but for the price I could've gone to a different place that's 5 dollars cheaper... Combo set is 14.95 ramen, fried rice, gyoza....

    (3)

  • Andy F.

    If you are looking for a broth that is clean, light with great flavor that is not sodium-laden this is the place to be. Looking for the closest thing to firm Japanese style ramen? Look no where else. Want a more healthier bowl of ramen noodles? It is here! Located in the McCully Shopping Center, parking can be a headache on both levels, but I found excellent parking when I came here for lunch. I love the sliding door when you enter the restaurant (remember to close it!). It feels very authentic! It is quite small, but sits very comfortably. I like the decor with the red walls and ceiling with rows of hanging lights, and you get a decent second story level view of Kapiolani Boulevard, a few trees, power lines, and the Century Center. Though, you do see their storage of dried and canned good out in the dining area. There are four types of soup bases to choose from: Paitan, Katsuo (Dashi/Bonito), Shoyu, and Salt. I ordered the specialty: Paitan Ramen. Apparently, the broth is supposed to make you look younger and prevent aging skin and joints too. Well, all right! I got it with the Char Siu and with the more firmer Japanese style Ramen. You can order softer "local style" ramen noodles. The broth was smooth and light, and very, very clean tasting. Most importantly, the broth was pretty close to milky white as how all "paitan" broths should be. The menu indicates that the soup is made a mix of pork and chicken and 10 different vegetables and spices. I tasted more of the chicken in the broth than the pork as the broth was more lighter and a lot less rich. The flavors weren't strong and aromatic, but it was still pleasing and delicious. The ramen was very firm and probably needed one more minute in the boiling broth because it ate a little floury. It wasn't able to fully soak in the flavors from the broth, which was a bit disappointing. The toppings were pretty lacking overall. You receive a scant amount of poorly chopped (and minced is the better method) green onions that didn't add any aroma or flavor to the broth. The pre-sliced wood ear mushrooms lacked any taste. The Chashu was thicker and a lot more lean than what you typically receive from other places. The meat was soft and tender, and tasty. The presentation was a mess, and looked really sad when it arrived at my table. Yes, real gyoza here. We ordered them pan-fried, and you can have them deep fried too if that floats your boat. The filling was good and tasty. However, whoever prepared this put too much water into the pan, and the gyoza severely lacked the crispness and the golden brown color. Also, the wrapper was over done and was on the softer side. Overall, everything was pretty average. It wasn't great. It wasn't bad. It was unemphatically good. :) Sure the broth was good, but there was no depth of flavors and there was nothing that triggered any of my senses. The service was okay. They ladies that were there were friendly and somewhat attentive. The food took a bit longer to come out considering there weren't many people dining at that time. Lastly, after you pay for your meal, you get the most delectable soft, fruity flavored dessert.......one small block of....STARBURST. Ummmmm, yeah. Why? What? Lol, I really have no idea why I'm getting this left over Halloween candy. I'm not 3 years old! That will surely bring customers back.

    (3)

  • Sandra L.

    Yotteko-ya is located in a small strip mall. It's a great ramen joint. We got Ramen -Combo C. Paitan ramen had a nice chewy texture and soup was really good. I drank it up! The dumplings were good too.

    (5)

  • Jim M.

    If you like ramen then don't miss this place - homemade char sui pork is the best! Go with the traditional broth - very flavorful and not too salty.

    (4)

  • Vickie S.

    I stopped by here for my last meal before heading to the airport. I had high expectations based off the yelp reviews, but it didn't live up to my expectations. I ordered the paitan broth with vegetables and one slice of chashu. It was literally a small, extremely thin slice of chashu. I actually had to steal some from my boyfriends bowl because he ordered the option with extra chashu, forgoing any vegetables. We both got the Japanese style ramen which is cooked al dente. I'm not sure I would recommend this spot to any of my friends visiting Hawaii, but I'd come here if I were a local. There are so many ramen options in Oahu, so maybe have this lined as a back-up. The service was slow despite having very few customers.

    (3)

  • Michael C.

    Ya it's good. At the suggestive behest of a friend, I found myself at Yotteko-Ya for lunch on a recent weekend. I'm embarrassed to admit I had not heard much about this ramen restaurant until that day, and I looked forward to trying a new place. PARKING: Very challenging as this business is located within the McCully Shopping Center. Parking lot can get crowded/busy during peak times. Thankfully, we lucked out on a space during lunchtime on a Saturday of all days. SETTING: Located on the second floor opposite end of Fook Yuen Seafood. The restaurant is a decent size, but I imagine there will be a wait time during busy periods at lunch and dinner. FOOD: *Paitan Kakuni Ramen: So good. The broth is only slightly overshadowed by the healthy pieces of kakuni swimming in a sea of noodles. The kakuni was tender, while the broth was rich and flavorful. *Gyoza: Pan fried goodness. Best eaten when served. Delicious. Recommended for sure. SERVICE: Very satisfactory. I give the lone female server much credit for serving the food and drinks to the entire restaurant. Though not all the tables were occupied, she did a terrific job of taking orders, dropping off food and drinks, and checking on the customers. BOTTOM LINE: Ya it's good, and Ya I'll be back.

    (4)

  • Alina S.

    I came to this place many times and they never disappoint me! I ordered the C Set which includes the Paitan ramen, gyoza, and chashu gohan. Since there were usually either one or two waiters working, sometimes I had to wait a while for my food to come. I understand the place can get busy and I can tell they were trying their best to serve everyone. I give them props for handling the whole restaurant!

    (4)

  • Crave I.

    We've been coming here for years and always had a good meal with good service. Be sure to get there early because this place fills up fast and the Paitan/Kakuni ramen sells out.

    (4)

  • Eli C.

    Absolutely delicious. Best ramen we've ever had. Both me and hubs got combos. Unless you are monster eaters like us, most people leave with leftovers The broth is rich and comforting, definitely get the paitan broth for .50 extra. The chasu Gohan is also a great choice for the combo side Be prepared to wait as the dining room is small and short on waitstaff

    (5)

  • Paul A.

    Best paitan chasu ramen i have tried so far since being on the island. The pork is so tender, the broth is on point. My gf and i usually just split the combo D. It consists of ur choice of ramen, then it comes with karaage and then ur choice or rice. So good for only $17 and it fills us both up.

    (5)

  • Jonathan T.

    Although counter-intuitive, did you know that eating soup in the heat forces your body to cool-down by sweating? No? Well, you can test out this truth at Yotteko-Ya, as you dive into a steaming bowl of ramen in this restaurant that has absolutely no ventilation. But it's worth it! And that's why you'll find this Japanese eatery, located in a strip mall off of Kapiolani Blvd, seems to be always packed. Despite the line, when my girlfriend and I visited towards the tail end of lunch on a weekday, we only had to wait five minutes or so. The ramen menu is beastly, so I looked on Yelp to see what people recommended. Thanks to my fellow Yelpers, both my girlfriend and I opted for the Paitan Ramen that's made with a double broth (both pork and chicken) that you can fill with various vegetables and chashu. Since I didn't want to look extra chubby on Waikiki, I went with only one slice of chashu. (Insert sad emoji-con.) Also, get your noodles done "Japanese style" aka al dente. Wowza. So many things to love: +The broth had a couple different levels of flavor, without being too heavy. +Loved the delicious and fatty slice of chashu. +Perfectly cooked noodles. +Broth soaked vegetables. Yum. Not only was the ramen tasty, but the gyoza was pretty meaty and pan-fried very well. *Note: The outside of the restaurant says Kyoto-Ramen. I know! Kind of confusing...

    (5)

  • Nicholas W.

    Yotteko-Ya is my gold standard for ramen. They specialize in paitan ramen, which is a broth made from pork bones and seafood, which is sublime. It's creamy and satisfies the craving for umami without being overcome by the taste of salt like so many other ramen broths. If not for the havoc the broth's sodium content might wreak on my body, I might just drink a bowl of it. The fun continues beyond the broth. The noodles are nice and chewy, and the chashu pork is tender and flavorful. The paitan chashu ramen is probably one of my favorite dishes on the island. Parking and seating can be a pain (not so fun) since the McCully Center's lot is tiny and the restaurant is small. Regardless of that, it's worth a trip.

    (5)

  • Lisa Y.

    This place has the best ramen! It's like being in Japan! My favorite is their vegetable Paitan Ramen, Japanese style so it's a bit on the firm side, and pan fried gyoza. There's sprouts, woodsear, cabbage, and a small piece of carrot for color. Their super soft char siu makes is more delicious. My favorite is their mini sundae for dessert. Great service, delicious food but you'll need to go early. If they run out...they're closed before their posted closing time. That's how you know their food is fresh! No leftovers!

    (5)

  • Jackie M.

    First I wanted to give them 1 star. Came at 11:29am right before opening time. Rang the door bell. Lady comes out and says we're opening "soon". Waited 20 minutes. I see that as bad business not being open on time. Then I tried the ramen. Probably the best ramen I've ever had. I drank all the broth too. I never drink the broth. Ok the wait was worth it. I'll be back.

    (5)

  • H Q.

    My first time visiting this quaint establishment. First off, so glad my date opened the door to this restaurant. Otherwise, I would have tried to push/pull a sliding door... h-e-l-l-o!?! Came for lunch (only three other tables were seated). It is very clean, air-conditioned and has its own restrooms toward the back... and they have a stamp card and take credit cards! All pros! We ordered the Kakuni-Paitan Ramen (with block chashu), Combo set D (usually comes with plain ramen, fried rice, and 3 pieces of chicken karaage). I paid extra for the recommended Yasai-Paitan Ramen (with vegetables) and ebi mayonnaise. Love that you can choose how you want your noodles cooked. I love chewy noodles that still has some bite - so we both got the Japanese-style noodles which are firmer (vice the local style which is softer) Ebi Mayonnaise: 6 pieces of tempura - style shrimp drenched in sweet kewpie-style mayo. Weirdly Delicious - yes. Addictive - yes. Overpriced - yes. This was $12.45 Paitan with block chashu: Deliciously chewy noodles with a block of chashu in a savory (not salty) broth. It's hard to describe - just try it! Date loved it! The chashu was perfectly seasoned and being in the block form, delivered more well-done parts (which he loved). To me, it was a cross between chashu and jerky... in a good way. Only bad thing - he should have order the extra portion of noodles. Paitan with vegetables: Came with one slice chashu and very few (almost comical) vegetables. Ramen and broth itself were delicious! The vegetables (no exaggeration here): one piece of broccoli top, half a baby carrot, 1/3 cup cabbage... that's it. Don't do it. Don't pay more to give up 1 slice of chashu for the addition of a few vegetables. Fried rice and chicken Karaage that came with the ramen were only ok. Shout out to my mom - who makes better Karaage and pork fried rice. *happy early Mothers Day mom! The fried rice here just seemed too "wet" for me. Did not eat and did not take home. Next time (and I say next time, because we WILL back)... I will stick to the paitan and maybe try the gyoza (deep fried style).

    (4)

  • Pam M.

    Yotteko-Ya is perfect when you need a quick ramen fix IF you can find parking in one of the most congested parking lot in the McCully area. I had the Paitan Chashu Ramen & my bf had the Yasai Paitan Ramen & we shared the kara-age (fried chicken). Ramen is good but didn't WOW me. Fried chicken was pretty good. Friendly wait service. Convenient if you're in the area, and can find parking.

    (3)

  • T L.

    Found this place by accident and was BLOWN AWAY. Paitan ramen was delicious! Finally, a ramen that doesn't have overly salty broth. We each got the paitan ramen with the pork. Pork was whatever but everything was so good, we ended up getting a 3rd bowl (vegetarian kind-no meat). So refreshing and I didn't feel the need to pound water down or have the ramen sweats after. YES!

    (5)

  • Alan L.

    Good ramen, absolute terrible service. The only lady that serves there made us wait 45+min all the while telling us more than 5 times that she would be with us. She also served a party of 4 before we did and we were there before them and even waited outside the door before they opened.

    (2)

  • Rissa K.

    If you are in the mood for Paitan then this is the place!!!! Their Paitan broth is amazing and the best in Hawaii! Not to salty and I love how they make the noodles "Japanese" style which is more on the firm side. Service here is good too! Def will be back when I'm craving Paitan!

    (4)

  • Joseph Joel B.

    The San Francisco Bay Area didn't have a lot of good ramen places near where I lived, so naturally I'm getting my fix now that I'm living back in Oahu again. I've tried a bunch of ramen spots all over the island, and haven't been to Kyoto Ramen Yotteko-Ya yet, but I've read all the good reviews... Until now!! Parking is always a pain in the ass at McCully Shopping Center because of all the good places to eat around here. If there isn't any up front, try the parking garage below. When you first walk in, the place is really small, but not cramped at all. Now, I can see why there's always a line outside of this place whenever I pass by it. Luckily, my friend and I were able to be seated right a way. Interesting thing... They claim that their ramen broth makes you look younger!! This is what it says on their menu... "Our homemade soup is simmered for over 10 hours with the choicest pork, the freshest chickens and 10 different vegetables and spices. This meticulous process produces a uniquely thick collagen rich stock that will actually help prevent aging of skin and joints." Very, very interesting!! Well, I ordered the Spicy Paitan Chasu Ramen, based on a lot of Yelp reviews. The broth was creamy and savory. But what really stood out from this dish, was the Chasu... 5 pieces of tender and delicious pork!! If you like spicy dishes, I recommend not paying the extra $1 to make the dish spicy... Because it wasn't spicy enough for me. You're better off ordering a regular ramen and add the chili oil and flakes yourself with the condiments available on the table. Also, the ramen alone wasn't enough to get me full. Luckily, I also ordered some Gyoza, which was really good. You really can't mess up Gyoza though. LOL I'm not sure if it made me look younger... But overall, Yotteko-Ya is a great place to get tasty ramen, and I'll definitely be coming back!!

    (4)

  • Aimee C.

    Hello, old friend! It'd been a while since my last visit to Yotteko-Ya, but like an old friend, you just connect to exactly where you left off when you last saw each other. My usual C Set with Paitan Ramen, pan fried gyoza, and oh-my-goodness delish fried rice was perfect as usual. I don't know how they do it, but their fried rice (in my book) might be the best fried rice on Earth. #justwow I honestly think I'd visit Yotteko-Ya waaaaay more if it wasn't for the terrible parking situation. How can one shopping plaza have such awesome choices for food and hardly any parking?! I can't even count the eenie-weenie-teenie parking lot downstairs - my Tacoma and I have never visited that poor lot. In any case, I love the occasional stop at Yotteko-Ya even if it takes all the stars to align so that 1) I find a quick parking spot and 2) the line is not super long. I love how the menu says Paitan Ramen is good for my skin. #Ibelieveanything so if the menu says it's good for my skin, I hope it's true! I still hope to someday try the elusive Kakuni Ramen (that sells out at lunchtime). Nonetheless, Yotteko-Ya is a consistent choice for ramen for my soul.

    (5)

  • Angela M.

    Dear Yotteko-ya, Nine years ago, you were my obsession. I'm not sure I even knew I was pregnant when I began to experience an all-consuming urge to eat your noodles every. single. night. I think my son is partially made of your ramen. Sadly, morning sickness hit and suddenly your food evolved into nausea-inducing hideousness. It was a dark day. I couldn't even stand the smell of your restaurant much less put your beautiful noodles into my mouth. It was the most tragic consequence of my pregnancy hormones. Well, the most tragic consequence relating to restaurants. There were a lot of other, erm, things. Anyway. Fast forward nine years later to last night when I, my husband, and my three children showed up at your door and crammed into the little "waiting area" behind the three people already there. Might I suggest that you remove the table on the inside of the sliding door and replace it with a bench? Or perhaps just a thin counter? While the table did support a couple of plastic flower arrangements and two stacks of brochures unrelated to your restaurant, it seemed a touch... absolutely unnecessary. The space it would open up if it were removed! Think about it. The food. In true Angela fashion, we over-ordered and it was glorious. 3 bowls of ramen with different broths, kimchee (your kimchee is exactly how I like it, crisp, fresh, and tasty without a hint of rot), gyoza, karaage chicken and pork fried rice. We had leftovers. My ramen, which was the BEST (never mind what my husband says) was the Paitan chashu and it was DIVINE. Your chashu is perfect. It is salty and slightly sweet and melt-y and succulent and I want to rub it all over my body except that I don't because that's gross. But SO GOOD. So good. I want it right now. And I'm not pregnant, so I could probably eat it everyday indefinitely. Or at least until the wheat intolerance rears its ugly head. All of your food was absolutely delicious. We will be back. I'm glad we are friends again. Love, Angela

    (5)

  • Chunhui Z.

    This is a late review. My wife and I visited this amazing ramen while we were at Honolulu for honeymoon. We ordered two ramen noodles and some pot stickers, and we made 100% there was nothing left in the bowl or on the plate :p Price is also cheap. There was a short line waiting even though there was some vacant tables. I guess that was because they tried to control the number of customers to produce the best-quality noodle :)

    (5)

  • Stephanie A.

    One of my favorite ramen shops ever! The entrance door is so cute and traditional Japanese: imagine a sliding wooden door! Service is always quick. Waters down within a few minutes of being there. The paitan broth is so savory and creamy! Add a little of the chili oil and its freaking heaven. I could literally drink that out of a bottle no problem. Their chasu pork is tender and fatty, just the way I like it ;) Gyoza wrappers are so soft and melts in your mouth! I dip mine in shoyu, chili oil and chili flakes. I usually get set C which comes with your choice of ramen + broth, fried rice or chasu rice, and 3 pieces of gyoza: all only for $15! When the check comes they give you candy! I love being rewarded for eating ramen :) The ONLY reason I'm giving them 4 stars is because there was a huge cockroach in their bathroom! Good thing I went after I ate because that would've ruined my appetite. Not good.

    (4)

  • Dennis R.

    Tried it here for the first time today and it was great. It's a nice small place in the McCully shopping center. We went around 12pm on a Sunday and it was pretty empty so we were seated and served very quickly. The hostess amd waitress were extremely nice and interacted with my 1 year old son so just for that I'd give this place another visit. Then we got the food. I can't remember the name of the ramen dish we got, but wow, the meat on it melts in your mouth! Usually the ramen and broth are the stars of the dish, but this one, the meat was so good. I wasn't even hungry and I only shared what my wife ordered but I ended up mopping up most of it for her lol. I'm surprised this place wasn't busy because the food was good. Maybe we caught it on a slow day. We will definitely be back.

    (5)

  • David L.

    This place is outstanding. You can get your ramen firm "Japan style" or softer "local style". The broth is decadent. No of the watery or over salted stuff that you find in other places. I hadn't been back here for two years and was thrilled to see that the food hadn't slipped even a little. Parking is a pain but it's absolutely worth it.

    (5)

  • Dane S.

    I don't know about the claims that the paitan broth is good for your skin, but it is VERY tasty. Not too salty, nice and rich, with thick and perfectly chewy noodles (I'm not a fan of the thinner ramen). The broth though...I normally tend towards goma broth but theirs was seriously yummy, and ranks right up there with my other favorites. I had the yasai paitan. Service was a bit odd. Nobody in sight except customers for the first few min while I stood and waited to be seated. Perhaps a more visible service area would do them well where they can see and greet customers as they arrive.

    (4)

  • Pualena P.

    I've been wanting to try Yotteko-Ya for quite some time now, and what better excuse to try all of your bookmarked restaurants in 1 week than when friends visit from out of town! The menu is simple enough, yet caused me a fair amount of stress because I wanted to try it all! I settled on the Paitan base with kimchee. BEST DECISION EVER! I love spicy food and if I had it my way, I'd never eat a non-spicy meal ever again! It was delicious. The paitan flavor was rich and really yummy, and the kimchee gave it just the right kick! You are offered the choice for soft or hard noodles. I don't know if I've ever had hard saimin noodles...but I went with soft and it tasted normal. Maybe I'll be more risky next time and try hard noodles! ;) I only got the ramen, but you can also get a set that comes with rice and a side dish of gyoza or chicken karaage...I think there was one more choice but I can't remember. Our guests loved their choices as well & are planning to go back throughout the week since it's a quick 15-minute walk from their hotel in Waikiki! There are 2 things to be aware of: First, the little restaurant is not that well ventilated and/or the AC doesn't work that well. Just know ahead of time that you're going to be eating hot ramen in a warm place, so don't wear too much clothes. Second, on a fairly busy Sunday evening there was only 1 kind and very busy woman working, so just be patient. Once you order, your food will come out quickly. Of course, parking at McCully shopping center can be tough, but it's SO worth it! BONUS: there are a bunch of yummy dessert options right downstairs! :)

    (5)

  • Celina Q.

    LOVE love love this place! The flavors are so consistent, I can rely on the same taste every time I visit. Parking is tricky in the McCully Shopping Center, but if you have a smaller vehicle, theres an underground garage entrance by Snow Factory that may have open stalls. Yotteko-ya is crowded when they first open for Lunch at 11:30 and Dinner at 5:30 but if you give about an hour, there's no wait (or less than 10 minutes). Favorite flavor would be the Paitain Charsiu; extra creamy tonkotsu-like flavor with tougher Japanese style noodle. MMM so goood! I would also recommend ordering a set if dining as a couple or with a good friend. My favorite is the "C Set"- comes with Chahan (fried rice) and a 5 piece gyoza with ramen of your choice. TIP: The charsiu is to die for with any broth you choose. Might be wise to order some on the side

    (5)

  • Lofa L.

    So now I'm currently addicted to two ramen spots and a third hipster spot is cool but I can do without the waits and the higher price, but my friend decides we gotta hunt more ramen. Now I know for a fact there's BUTTLOADS of mediocre ramen on Oahu just like saimin spots too. But I heard Yotteko-Ya had a char siu brick. I love char siu. I was game. I hate the parking here (not their fault) so that always made me not want to come, but this time I had no choice. I found parking only because it was WAY after lunch rush (and they almost were closed but I made the cut off time). Well I was dreaming of this elusive block of char siu for months now, but when I seen the pictures of it on the menu it wasn't as big of a block as I expected. I ended up ordering the char siu paitan with Japanese style noodles. But by chance my friend ordered the wrong item and had a vegetable paitan. I already felt bad that we came in almost near closing and as the waitress was about to take his order back to remake it I told her just bring me extra char siu and I'll eat the veggie paitan. That was the best thing I could have ever done! Not because that's the secret item to order because it isn't (char siu any soup is the order). The noodles was good. The ramen broth was good. Different but good. The big kicker was the said char siu they brought on a separate plate. It's chilled because they add it to the soup and that prevents it from overcooking and the soup softens the char siu. But that cold char siu was some of the tastiest char siu I've had at a ramen spot. It was kinda like eating shoyu chicken a little bit. Now if you can't eat cold leftovers then you gonna suffer and don't follow my advice, but cold char siu was killer! COLD CHAR SIU ON THE SIDE! Don't put it in the soup because you lose the flavor. Keep it separate!!!!! Overall I wish I had ordered the block even though it wasn't as bid as I imagined it, but you bet I'm gonna ask for it on the side cold! Good ramen spot. It didn't beat out my favorite spot, but I'll be back to mix it up.

    (4)

  • Mariko K.

    Definitely way better ramen than typical local greasy spoon joints, but not anywhere close to Agu or Golden Pork--a good middle of the line choice. Although there was no line, we had to wait a while to be seated and served because it was short staffed (only two waitresses/cashiers). Also, I wanted to try the kakuni ramen, but they were out. The waitress said they always run out by the time dinner starts, so I'll need to come back during lunch for kakuni. I liked the char siu and the noodles in my paitan ramen, but the broth wasn't anything special. The service was good, the waitress was friendly and joked with us.

    (3)

  • Susan F.

    One star for customer service. My mom ordered the shio ramen and she asked the server if it was salty, so she said nooo it's oishii. So my mom took that soup base, but when she tasted it, it was a little salty plus to me it had a weird fishy taste, so she asked the server if she could dump out the soup base and order another soup, but the server gave an ugly face and said you cannot do that, but this time she will change the whole bowl but dont do it again! She made my mom feel really bad and my mom kept apologizing. Then my son went to pay the bill and my mom wanted to pay for the bowl she didn't eat, but the server said again, next time you can't change your order so my mom again said sorry! Wow what customer service! On the other hand I enjoyed my soup base, it was called Paitan a chicken & pork base. It's a recomended one. I'll give that 3 stars.

    (1)

  • Jayson N.

    Paitan Yotteko-Ya Ramen has to be one of my favorites in Hawaii.. This restaurant is tucked away on the second floor of Mccully Shopping Center. It's above snow factory and on the opposite side of Fook Yuen. While its not glamorous in size or decor, the food is fantastic. I come here for the Paitan broth but they have other styles too. The paitan broth is not as thick and gravy like but the flavor is SO BOMB. The char siu or Cha su is fat, partly fatty but melt in your mouth, OMG FOODGASM amazing. I swear you could eat that all day it is so partyinyourmouth awesome. The noodles are cooked well but the real deal is the broth.. My friend Roy Y. says he wishes they just sold the broth and beer cause he could sip on that all day. I've had the gyoza and the fried rice before and they are some of the best i've had in a ramen place. The sets are a good deal since the paitan ramen is already $8-9. The service is okay, if they don't pay attention to you flag them down. When they are busy, they are busy, and they often forget to bring you a beer or bring you more water. The air condition is also hit or miss in the place. The weird part about this place is their hours. Be sure that you know before you go. and they take their last orders 15 minutes before they close. If you have a craving or hankering for ramen, i would definitely try here if they aren't busy and open. Keep in mind that they do run out of things during the night so if you are looking to sample the goodness, then you better go early! Ramen is so good here you have to go. Just don't expect high end service.. :)

    (4)

  • Denise M.

    Yum I found my new ramen place. Spicy Yasai Paitan Ramen. Vegetables and a little piece of pork. The broth was fantastic and was perfectly spicy causing my nasal passages to clear. I like the chewy Japanese noodles. Even on a hot day the broth was amazing and I are every last bit of it

    (4)

  • Kelly M.

    Honolulu magazine names this the best ramen in town. Really? I'll take Lucky Belly as best, followed by Hokkaido Ramen Santouka as second every day of the week. Service was good. Ramen was good, just not Best of Honolulu good.

    (3)

  • Tori B.

    This place is quaint, and has a unique ambience. Get there early before they sell out of their Kakuni paitan ramen. Their chashu is spectacularly flavorful, and the serving of pork in their Kakuni ramen is very healthy. If you add a side of rice and gyoza the price starts to get a bit high but it is worth it. Yummy gyoza, amazing fried rice. The service is what it is. Good considering how understaffed they are. There is something charming about a place that makes their own hours, clearly they are not just in it for the money. Although, it would be nice to know for sure it is open on evenings, especially when you drive out of your way to get there. I have gone to Phuket Thai a couple of times, because I was there but Yotteko-Ya was closed, once it had closed like three hours early. Their noodles are a bit thick and bland, and as others have said, they seem store bought. One thing that concerns me. The last time I was there, they got a delivery for their kitchen and the delivery stayed out, near the bar where I was seated for several minutes. I noticed several carton like boxes marked, "Paitan". It makes me doubt the authenticity of their broth, because it seems they are buying it, at least in part, from an outside source rather than making it themselves which they at the very least, lead you to believe they do. This got me to notice how bland their paitan broth really is. Hopefully, I am mistaken as to the authenticity of their broth but I must admit, I was rather shocked by this delivery. Hopefully, I am reading too much into this. The delivery wasn't large enough to be a day's worth of broth, so perhaps it was just seasonings or something. So, bland broth, bland noodles, both may be bought from outside vendors rather than home made, mixed with amazing chashu pork, the best I have ever had. I want to love this place, but I really can't. That said, it is worth a try and some people swear by their paitan broth.

    (3)

  • Gino L.

    One of the best Ramen places on the island. Place is small, but the flavors are there and it is a little bit pricey on the serving size ( I dont eat that much). Give it a shot and see for yourself :)

    (5)

  • Vivian Y.

    Best ramen on the island. The ramen comes with fall apart chashu and the broth is to die for. Paitan ramen with cha Shu comes with five pieces of cha Shu which is the way to go. If you want a good deal get set and substitute the ramen for paitan cha Shu for only two dollars more. Great deal!

    (5)

  • Kris B.

    Located on the 2nd floor of McCully Shopping Center. Recommended dishes: Paitan chashu ramen, garlic fried rice, and maybe their gyoza. Note: the noodles are not melt-in-your-mouth soft, they're al dente so they're still a little firm. If you don't like that, you might not appreciate the ramen. The atmosphere is very chill, intimate, and casual. Tables are generally for 4 people, so I wouldn't suggest going with bigger groups. But the food is delicious and the service is fast, so I'd recommend downsizing your group if you need to just to eat here. I come here pretty often with no more than 2 or 3 other people. We always have a good time and enjoy the food. Some downsides: McCully Shopping Center parking is often frustrating. Seating is limited, so go with a smaller group (but you'll probably still have to wait a bit on some days). Also not sure if they have weird hours or just weird days off, but sometimes they're closed just in time for dinner. Love coming here for a more intimate atmosphere with a small group of friends. Recommend coming here at least once for the paitan chashu ramen!

    (4)

  • Riana S.

    Been wanting to try here for awhile now but I never caught them when they were open and finally one weekend we did! For some reason I was thinking that the Paitan would be a similar texture at Tenkaippin's Kotteri broth so I ordered the shoyu based with local style noodles instead. (insert Napoleon Dynamite's "FLIPPIN' IDIOT") I was so sad when I tasted my broth and then completely devastated when I tried my boyfriend's Paitan soup. The shoyu broth lacked flavor (or am I really just addicted to salt?) and the noodles were far from soft as the local style described. The whole time I was staring at my boyfriend's Paitan with this face :( I know I'm an idiot, it's like going to a burger joint and ordering a corn dog (oh wait, I've done that! Lulz) The gyoza was really good, so I was happy about that. Can't wait to come back and order the right thing.

    (3)

  • Rdy S.

    Whenever someone asks me which ramen places I like they inevitably also ask, "what about Yotteko-Ya?". Here is what I tell them. This is a family run business with spotty opening and closing hours. I've come at 11:30 am only to find them not open until well after noon. If they "run out", they will also close early. Service is courteous but you won't get a greeting when you enter or see much smiling. They advertise Kyoto style ramen, which usually means a kotteri shoyu based torikotsu with straight slightly soft noodles. Yotteko's kotteri is called paitan, and is a combination of pork and chicken and comes in a shio and shoyu option. I would recommend the shoyu option. It has a thin layer of fine fat globules that add only a little mouthfeel and umami flavor to the light, predominantly chicken tasting broth. The shoyu base brings a little more sweetness in your mouth than the regular broth. I don't recommend the Kakuni version unless you can appreciate pork belly served in chunks instead of sliced. The texture is similar to the pork in a laulau. The taste has a salty miso flavor. I also recommend staying away from the pan fried gyoza. There is nothing special about the taste. The wrapping too loose and often poorly crisped. I do not dislike Yotteko-Ya. Their Kyoto style is fine. But the meat and dumpling options and service are not a strength. And they are not able to step it up against new competition.

    (3)

  • Jaswant A. S.

    Came here one afternoon wanting some good ramen and based on Yelp reviews this place was a contender. Honolulu has so many ramen joints and there was no way I could try them all in a short period of time so thanks fellow Yelpers for helping me decide on which places to check out. I entered the ramen shop upstairs, Ewa side of the McCully Shopping Center and was seated right next to a window facing the parking lot immediately. I ordered the Kakuni Paitan Ramen as I'm a big fan of kakuni (pork belly). When the server brought the bowl of ramen with a big wooden spoon I immediately set to tasting the broth. Oh man. This was the best broth in a bowl of ramen I've had in a long time so I kept sipping spoonfuls and almost forgot it was ramen and not just a bowl of soup. I can see why this often gets sold out - I guess I was just lucky. Usually when I eat alone at a place like this my mind often wanders while I eat but this time I was living in the present moment - fully aware of every bite of tender and juicy kakuni and every spoonful of the delicious broth. Place is called Yotteko-Ya (よってこや) but the sign you see from the parking lot says Kyoto Ramen. I guess you just gotta know or something. Parking is the usual McCully Shopping Center clusterfarkle - good luck!

    (5)

  • Cassie Y.

    Oh man, I wish I lived in Honolulu so I could come here every day! My husband and I came for lunch around 11:45 on a Friday morning. The service was quick for us: we were seated immediately, ordered within 5 minutes of arriving, and received our food within 15 minutes. I ordered the yasai paitan ramen (which comes with pork and vegetables), and my husband got the kakuni paitan ramen (the special with more pork) - both with Japanese style noodles. Everything was delicious!! This by far is the best broth I've tasted (note: I haven't been to Japan, so I can only compare to U.S. ramen), the meat was well seasoned and moist, the noodles were cooked perfectly, and the vegetables were an added bonus! I would definitely come here more often if I could. Give this place a try (hopefully you'll be lucky like us and not have to wait long), and I'm sure you'll love the ramen too!

    (5)

  • Cammi N.

    Yottekko Ya definitely has the best paitan on the island thus far! The flavor of their broth is just fantastic! I think they give good portions of their japanese style noodles, especially since their broth is also quite filling. I usually get their yasai paitan ramen, which comes with cabbage, soy bean sprouts, mushrooms, broccoli, and carrots. It also comes with a slice of their delicious pork. Although I am not a fan of charsiu at all, I have got to say that they have really good charsiu! Its super moist and soft, which just melts in your mouth! Everytime I am craving ramen, Yotteko-Ya is the place I would go!

    (5)

  • Diana A.

    We ordered special C with paitai reman firm and everything was great, I would highly pick C because you can try out the really good stuff and it's a great way to share if your doing restaurant hopping!

    (4)

  • Jin C.

    I don't care how good the food is. If you stop me as I'm leaving to bring up a supposed $1 minimum tip per person, you're not receiving my business ever again.

    (1)

  • Sarah T.

    Friend convinced me to cheat on Goma Tei, and I obliged. And it was AMAZING. Yotteko-Ya specializes in their paitan ramen which is essentially a more creamy white broth (chicken broth?). The flavor was tasteful and just the right-amount-of richness. What stands out to me the most though is their Char-Siu which is amazingly flavorful. Boyfriend ordered "extra" on his, and I eyed it sadly hoping he'd share. We came at around 1 PM on a weekday - there were no lines and maybe only a couple of occupied tables. They also give candy with the check. Not that that should be your motivation for coming, though. Highly recommend!

    (4)

  • Wendy C.

    One of the better ramen places I've tried on the island. Normally again, if I was rating this against ramen places from L.A., I'd rate this place a three, but for Hawaii, this is not too shabby at all. I ordered their special with the special broth and the soup was nice and flavorful with very well seasoned pieces of chashu. I had ordered my noodles soft, and my family ordered theirs hard, but I really couldnt tell the difference between the two. Service was a little lacking as there was only one lady running the ENTIRE place during dinner service, so it took almost an additional half hour just for us to get the check which really sucked. I can understand she's only one person, but what I don't understand is why they don't have more people working :(

    (4)

  • Lisa K.

    WOW I just found my favorite ramen spot on the island!!! This place is located inside the McCully Shopping Center on the second floor. It's off to the far left hand side on the corner so it's kind of easy to miss coming in. I got the vegetable paitan ramen with some gyoza on the side. The ramen came with cabbage, carrots, bean sprouts, broccoli, onions, and one piece of char siu. You can also choose between Japanese and local style noodles. I recommend getting the noodles Japanese style because they are more firm and I think that they go better with this kind of ramen. The paitan broth was unlike any other I've tasted in awhile! I hate the kind of broth that turns into gravy-like consistency after you let it sit for a while. This was far from it, instead It was very flavorful and tasted great throughout my meal. I wish it came with a bigger piece of char siu but the broth made up for it! I wanted to dip everything in the broth... if I had gotten the combo I probably would have discreetly dipped some rice in there as well lol The gyozas were plump and juicy on the inside and crispy on the outside. They were bigger than the average size gyozas too. I also split the strawberry ice cream at the end. It comes with a small scoop of vanilla ice cream with some strawberry sauce topped with whip cream and almonds. It is definitely smaller compared to American places but it's the perfect amount to clean your palette after dinner :) I got the vibe that this is one of those places where the wait staff will respect your privacy and leave you alone until you flag them down so don't be afraid to call them over! The two women working there tonight were really friendly and sweet. I want to come back again and try their Paitan Kakuni Ramen before they run out!

    (5)

  • Sasa G.

    parking was painful during lunch hour (1pm), we drove by a few times before finding our spot. Luckily we didn't have to wait for our seats. Paitan Ramen - good but coma tei was more interesting. Very flavourful broth with thin firm noodles. Cha siu could be softer. There fried rice looked very nice too. Their black pepper was really good/strong. I recommend you try some.

    (4)

  • Ken D.

    Found this place here at yelp. Gave it a try tonight. I have to admit the Paitan charsu pork ramen was full of flavors. The soup was not fatty like the ramen served in the San Francisco Bay Area. It was really really tasty. The ramen prices here are between $9 to $12. Not bad for a restaurant in waikiki area where everything starts around $15. Tip: it's recommended to go earlier because it appears they run out of food fast. We left the place around 8:30pm and the sign at the door says " closed. Sold out"

    (4)

  • Patrick S.

    All I can say is...WOW. I thought I had the best saimin the other day....boy I was wrong. The Paiten here is WAY better then Tenkaipin's Koteri. They aren't even in the same league. The Paiten is WAY more flavorful and has a nice consistency. I don't care for they gravy style thickness of the Koteri. Their fried rice isn't bad. Could use more veggies. But still tasty. Their gyoza is good. Filled plumply and a nice mixture of meat and veggies. They also take credit card unlike Tenkaipin which is cash only. Parking sucks at both places so that's a tie there. Service is good considering there's only one waitress. When it gets busy she does get a little overwhelmed, but you can see she's a hard worker and doesn't slack.

    (5)

  • Julianne C.

    I actually wanted to try this place a long time ago, but after seeing the "sold out" sign on their door twice on 2 separate occasions...it got frustrating. Though it did build up the hype and anticipation for me. My friend & I finally got to try this place on a Sunday evening and we were so excited that it was finally open! There were about 4 tables occupied and we were seated immediately. I wanted to try the kakuni paitan but was sold out, so I settled for the original paitan w/Japanese-style noodles. Maybe I let myself built the up the hype too much...Upon first bite, I was not as "wowed" as I hope to be. Don't get me wrong, it was delicious but it wasn't spectacular. Hmmm.. :( However, the chasu was amazing and delicious. Very tender and flavorful, but only go 2 tiny pieces, which was kinda disappointing. The gyoza was was very well made too as I hate it when the skin is too thick. Based from my experience, it was okay with decent ramen and service. Not much stood out as overly good or positive to deserve 4 stars. Perhaps I shall return again and try their other dishes. Yotteko- "blah"

    (3)

  • Ki H.

    Best ramen in Honolulu. Kyoto style ramen broth is amazing. Not sure how they were able to achieve so much lite yet flavorful chicken and pork broth but I'm glad they did. I'll definitely be back.

    (5)

  • Doris D.

    I always forget how good this ramen shop is. Get the paitan ramen which boasts the most flavorful broth on the menu. I got the paitan ramen with vegetables and pork. The pork was excellent as well as the noodles which I ordered "Japanese style" (a little firm) as opposed to "local style" (a little overdone). We also got gyoza for the table and those were not as good as other ramen places. My husband got the combo with shio ramen, fried rice, and fried chicken. He said the paitan broth was a lot more flavorful than his shio broth.

    (4)

  • Connie M.

    If you're coming here for dinner, here's a tip: Yotteko-Ya opens at 5:30, be there by 5! Any later and you may miss out on a bowl of ramen! They only prepare a certain amount of soup broth, so unless you want fried rice- come early! Sadly when I was there, around 6:45-ish, they ran out of gyozas :( + noodles were al dente + collagen broth was hearty, had great depth & will make you look younger + chicken was perfectly fried (golden, brown, & delicious) + warm and sweet ambiance - chasui tasted like shoyu pork - broth a bit salty - not a lot of tables; be prepared to wait before being seated - parking sucks

    (4)

  • Benhur B.

    If you're ever in need of a Ramen fix, this place is hands down a "fixer upper". Not sure what to order? Start simple with the Paitan Ramen w/Japanese noodles. After that satisfies you, you can plan on what you would like to try on your next trip here. Service is more simple than exceptional but the great taste is worth overlooking that. Prices are fair, wait can be hit or miss. Hit if you're lucky but again worth the wait IMO. Parking can suck at times too. Your patience will pay off though. Notice even with some semi negative points in this review how I still give it 5 stars? You'll get the picture.. Do it!!

    (5)

  • Denise K.

    My review is redundant... Yotteko-ya is super yummy and the paitan ramen is delish. I slurped up every last spoonful of broth. YUM!

    (4)

  • Milly C.

    This place doesn't need any more reviews, but I'm going to write one anyway because the ramen here is MIND BLOWING. I actually can't believe I haven't written a review for this place yet because I've been here so many times and have taken so many people here that I've filled out the entire stamp card already... Yes, Yotteko-Ya offers a stamp card and when you fill out ten stamps, you get a bowl of ramen for free! However, you can NOT combine stamp cards, so always remember to bring it! To be honest, the only thing I've ever had here was the paitan chasiu ramen. I really want to try their other items, but I just can't bring myself to miss an opportunity to eat their succulent chasiu and tasty paitan broth. Fortunately, the ramen has always come out piping hot for me (WHICH IS A DEFINITE PLUS). People who know me know that I love food to be so hot that it almost burns my mouth. The noodles are deliciously chewy (Japanese style) and I like to eat them in a 75-25 ratio with the broth on the big spoon that they provide. The chasiu is soooo soft and tender, it almost requires no chewing! Perfect for those of us for like to inhale their food (: The broth is not only really tasty, it's also good for you! You can read all about it when you visit Yotteko-Ya and look at their menu. Just writing this review makes me want a big bowl of the paitan chasiu ramen even though I just ate lunch..... 31 Yelp Reviews Challenge: #16 of 31

    (5)

  • Michael W.

    We chose Yetteko-Ya based on the mostly positive reviews on Yelp. I could sum up our experience in one sentence. "Different strokes for different folks." I mean, everyone has different tastes and likes. We got there about 7:45 PM and there was a short 10 minute wait. I figured there were a lot of fans wanting to get in and dine on some great ramen. So, I viewed this as an encouraging sign. We ordered the Paitan Chashu Ramen, a popular house specialty. It consisted of "Japan Style" thicker and firmer noodles. The texture was wonderfully chewy, but my enjoyment ended there. The broth is a pork and chicken bone based soup simmered for over 10 hours. This produces a milky broth that's full of collagen and fat, which some say is very healthy. However, the lack of natural flavors were boosted up with to much MSG, from which we suffered later. The restaurant was fittingly decorated for a Ramen Shop and the service was both fast and friendly. Overall, I would just say this place was just okay.

    (2)

  • Amy Y.

    I came with a friend on Valentine's Day. Not as busy as I thought it would be since it's a "special day". Anyways, it's a small restaurant but cute. It has a very Japanese style environment. Reminds me soo much of Japan. This place is not only for ramen, there's also rice and such. But we decided to order ramen. There was a choice of Japanese style (firm) or local style (soft) noodles. I wanted to try the Japanese style noodles, so I order the...umm..I think it was the salted soup ramen on the menu. The noodle was firm like how it's said. Not bad. Usually the soup would soften the noodles. Choosing firm noodles was a good choice. I think salted soup is better tasting than the shoyu soup. My friend ordered the kimchee flavored noodles. Even though he didn't say it was really spicy. I can tell by his face....that the spicy-ness has hit him. Haha.

    (4)

  • Po K.

    Amazing ramen. just excellent. Gyoza is just prepared excellently. a must return to each trip to Honolulu.

    (5)

  • Andrew T.

    A friend became obsessed with this restaurant. The place does remind me of a Seinfeld episode. I loved it. My friend moved to the mainland before we got a chance to go together, so I recently went by myself in his honor. The house-made char siu was the star of the meal. Yes it's a little hard to find because it's second floor in the corner and the main sign as you approach just says "Kyoto Ramen" instead of "Yotekko Ya." Yes they open for dinner at 5:30 and there was already a small line by the time they actually opened at 5:35. Myself and another single guy sat at a little counter staring at a wall at the back of the room. We hit it off and had a nice wide-ranging conversation, laughing and so on. I kind of forgot about the dining room behind us, not realizing it had filled up because it was so quiet. My new friend and I just kept talking away as we ate our combo meals. After I paid my bill and got up to leave and turned around.... I saw the room full of all the other diners sitting there in silence, heads all swiveling to stare at me as I left.... and realized since none of them were having their own conversations they all must have been listening word for word to mine. LOL. Hope they enjoyed it. I felt like a comedian leaving the stage and I should have waved to everyone and said "thanks i'll be here all week!" That and the one waitress trotting across the floor with tiny steps kind of made the whole experience feel a bit like a Seinfeld episode. (That was a popular TV show back in the 1990's, kids.) Service was excellent and friendly. Waitress was very sweet and helpful. I felt welcome and comfortable. I ordered a meal combo with house fried rice, bowl of ramen, and gyoza. Paitan broth added $1 to the price. Fried rice was beautifully glistening and had two large pieces of the house-made char siu. OMG! This is NOT the fatty rubbery neon pink char siu I was expecting. It's a normal meat color and just melt-on-your-mouth tender. IT WAS SO GOOD. Paitan ramen with firm noodles was delicious and had more char siu (yay!). The Paitan broth is what most reviewers suggest and in fact Yotekko Ya's own menu says "order this one!" Gyoza were good but I couldn't say they were any better than any other gyoza I've had. A Kirin ($4) brought my total with tax and tip to $21. Yes they accept credit cards. Yes they have a punch card for repeat customers to get a free ramen after 10 purchases. I'll be back.... when I can coordinate it with their schedule. Was it really "as good as it gets" 5 star worthy?? Well there is room for small improvement in a few areas probably but whenever a friend tells me they've become "obsessed" with a restaurant that to me is 5 stars. My dining companion said it was the best ramen he's had in Hawaii but still didn't equal his ramen memories from his time living in Japan. One thing I actually respect is that despite their obvious popularity they haven't jacked up their prices and expanded their hours to take advantage of the increased demand. So yes they apparently sell out of stuff and when they're sold out they're sold out. Apparently they're satisfied with a modest profit and limited hours and I actually respect that in a business, instead of just being absolutely rapacious and charging whatever they can get away with until people stop coming. If they can make what they need to make with their limited hours and all the staff can correspondingly enjoy their lives more then Bravo!

    (5)

  • En I.

    5 tables, 1 takeout order and just one waitress and she did a great job. Had shoyu and paitan ramen both with firm noodles and it was okay. Quality and quantity for the price was fair.

    (3)

  • Susie C.

    This cute Japanese restaurant is not located in the popular strip in Waikiki. We had to walk a little further into the residentials of Waikiki to find this place. My husband and I came here for ramen! I fell in love with ramen, so we kept trying different restaurants out before we go back to Chicago. Anyway, we came relatively early, so we got a seat. Maybe 20 min after we sat down, the restaurant started to get full. That was probably around 7pm. My husband and I ordered their combo so we can get a little of everything. My combo consisted of ramen, fried chicken, and their fried rice. My husband's combo consisted of ramen, gyoza, and fried rice. The only thing is that if you order the combo, you get less ramen. My husband and I didn't like the fried rice, fried chicken, and gyoza too much so we felt like we should';ve just ordered ramen, so we get more noodles. Most of the other customers did not order the combo, so maybe they know why but we wanted to try out a little of everything. Anyway ramen was very good. We got the recommended soup (forgot what it was) with pork. Love it!

    (4)

  • Taylor W.

    This is only the second time being here and it's still the best ever. The paitan ramen with the firm Japanese noodles is really the best white sesame ramen I've tasted yet. And the yakibuta chahan (charsiu fried rice) is literally the best fried rice ever, home made, and using the best quality charsiu. The gyoza tastes fresh too and the service is always nice. I love this place for some ramen and fried rice. And not to mention the location is good too right next to Waikiki and alamoana, parking is a little tough to find at night though.

    (5)

  • Kenson K.

    Kakuni Paitan Ramen..... you must try this! There is only a limited supply of the homemade chashu so make sure you come in early. I heard that they run out sometimes. Glad I was able to taste it. The broth was so rich and flavorful and the chashu was slow cooked and so soft. There were also a lot of Japanese nationals here so it must be a good place! This is one of my favorite eateries now!

    (5)

  • Boki C.

    I had the Paitan ramen. Ramen ALRIGHT. Broth GOOD. Meat GREAT. service was fine, one women took care of all the tables. we went on a sunday night (6pm) and surprisingly it wasn't full and there was no wait! I'm searching for a ramen place where the ramen is close to the ones in japan. this one wasn't quite it. but it'll do for now.

    (4)

  • Jess C.

    The Pai Tan Ramen broth is amazing, it is cooked with extra pork and chicken, and has a subtle and yet complex flavor. The noodles are so amazing cooked "firm", I may add better than the Goma-Tei, who likes soft noodles anyway? To top it all off, they use a really tender chashu, which I like because there isn't too much fat on it and yet it's still really flavorful. If you like something meatier and fattier, get the extra chashu at Gomatei! You MUST get the fried rice if you go, it's one of my favorite things! Fried chicken was pretty good, but my friend Derek K really recommends the Gyoza, so perhaps I will try that next time.

    (5)

  • Little D.

    Located in McCully Shopping Center, 2F on the west end. Only Lunches review: This is my most favorite Ramen in town. Taste is great, and the noodle is nice and firm. Just the way it should be. YELP 365 - 302/365

    (5)

  • Tom S.

    After ending school kind of late, me and my brother decided to give yotteko-ya a try. This authentic ramen shop is located in mccully shopping center where the parking is just HORRIBLE. The spots are quite tight and it's almost always full so it's hard to find parking. The entrance to this place is somewhat interesting, consisting of a Japanese style sliding door. There are only two ladies that man the whole restaurant so the service was a bit slow. When busy, you might have to stand in line. Once inside, the interior is very small and there aren't too many tables so it's not good for groups 5 people or more. There is a variety of selections, much like goma-tei. However here at yotteko-ya they are known for their paitan ramen. Me and my brother both ordered the paitan ramen with chashu (5pcs.). He bought the set with the fried rice and chicken karaage (3pcs). I found the chicken to be very fatty/gelatanious and not really too flavorful. The fried rice was quite tasty although it was a bit salty to me. Now on to the main dish, the paintan chashu ramen. The chashu was truly very good, flavorful and a little hint of smokiness. The broth was very mild tasting and is interesting in that it looks milky. The noodles itself were a bit chewy to me, so next time I'd probably prefer to order it the other style and not "Kyoto" style. I also got the $1 extra noodle option but the lady might have mixed up me and my brother's order as his seemed like it contained more noodles than me. TBH I think ordering the extra noodles (ie. Large) is unnecessary. Side note: they have cheap beer. Also they tend to close early (they only serviced one other person after me and my brother came in at around 8pm...they turned off the lights to their sign and shut the door around 8:30pm). So maybe they ran out of ingredients or met their quota for the day. Either way if you don't want to miss out on some fantastic ramen...GO EARLY! Also i'm not sure if this is normal or not, but when paying the bill the lady gave me and my brother each a tootsie roll? is that like giving candy to children or something??? Comparing this to Goma-Tei, I actually prefer goma-tei as it's cheaper and yea just my personal preference I suppose. However, that's not to say that yotteko-ya's ramen is junk. Both are fine establishments and serve good ramen. I guess it just depends on which one you're in the mood for...and yea if you can't find parking and you're really craving some ramen, just head on over to goma-tei.

    (4)

  • Cassie P.

    Paitan ramen, so tasty! Love it with the Japanese style noodles! Really friendly service. They might open and close whenever whenever, but it's worth a visit for sure! :-)

    (4)

  • Takashi H.

    The next best thing to having ramen in Japan. Love the paitan, chicken karaage and rice. The service is friendly, even when I'm dancing to JLo's new single on the radio. Dance the night away, la da da da da da da da da ...

    (5)

  • Kalio R.

    Literally, every single person turned around and "stared" as my party and I walked in the door. I felt as if I wasn't welcomed there. Anyhow, I know that's not the establishments fault, but the experience was quite uncomfortable. As for the food... We ordered the Kakuni Paitan Special which is supposed to be limited daily. We also ordered a side of gyoza. The ramen was done very well. Char siu was killer but I would have rather had it on a bowl of hot rice. The gyoza was okay. Unlike another noodle house I go to, I wouldn't drive all the way into town for it. And it's not something I would crave. I would return if a friend wanted to try it out, but that's about it.

    (3)

  • Juliann C.

    MY TOP RAMEN PLACE. The Good: *They aren't cheap when it comes to the ingredients. *The fragrance of the broth is just soooo delicious. *They give all kinds of vegetables, if you order the one with vegetables and or kim chee. *Their fried rice is delicious, its not so much "fried" but its VERY tasty nonetheless. They are very famous for both their ramen and fried rice. *The prices is super cherry. Bowl of ramen is around 7-9$ while a combo meal that usually comes with fried rice and gyoza is around 13-15$ I honestly think the price is good for what I'm getting. The Bad: *This place gets crowded at night. There were times when I came here and just couldn't wait that long for a seat. Even the ramen bar was full. Lunch time is usually a go though. *Sometimes they do not open on time, and sometimes they close 45minutes earlier than what the sign says. I highly suggest you go early if you're going for dinner. Even though the sign says they close at 9pm, they actually close at 8:10pm. *service is a bit slow only because at the most there are only two ladies working :( The Weird: *I still find it weird that they close so early. at 8:10pm?! really?! :( :( *sad face* If there are any suggestions to give, I would say stick to the paitan and japanese soup base. Don't do the hawaiian soup base, it wasn't as great as the other two.

    (5)

  • Nat N.

    My two previous visits to Yotteko did not impress me. Both times I ordered the shoyu ramen and gyoza, and both times thought to myself "meh". But after hearing how much my friends love it (my friends and I have very similar taste in ramen), I decided to give it one more chance, and this time, I would order their specialty - the paitan ramen. Whoa. Now I see what the hype was all about. The broth rocks. Not too salty, not to oily. You must ask for the japanese style noodles if you like firm and chewy noodles. The chashu melted in my mouth. The gyoza was good too (you can order it pan-fried or deep fried). You can tell it's homemade. They stuff the filling in the pi to the point where it's practically coming out of its shell. For $2.25, you can cap off your dinner with a mini sundae consisting of a scoop of vanilla ice cream with chocolate sauce, strawberry sauce, or caramel. They will top it off with a little bit of whipped cream for good measure. I tried a couple of spoonfuls of my friend's fried rice with dry curry, and it was delicious too. I liked this place so much that I took my husband there for dinner the very next evening. It was so hard to choose between the paitan ramen and the fried rice. The paitan won. The parking lot at McCully Shopping Center can get crazy, especially after 7pm. But if you're an early bird diner like me, there will be many spaces for you to choose from.

    (5)

  • Florence K.

    This is, hands down, my FAVORITE ramen place...on the island. Well, that I've been to so far, and I think I've been to a decent amount. I always order the Paitan Ramen, and the broth is just perfect, not too salty, not too bland. The noodles are cooked perfectly, and the char siu that comes with it is just soft and sweet. YUM. Plus, it's said that the Paitan broth is good for your skin, so, that's a plus too if it's true! The other things on the menu are delicious as well. They have those sets that you can order, and the fried rice is yummy. The gyoza is pretty good too. Every time I come here, there's usually only one lady manning the whole front of the house, so sometimes, it gets busy, and service is a little slower. But they're always super sweet! Everyone definitely needs to check this place out. They are closed on Wednesdays though, so make sure you come other days!

    (5)

  • Zar A.

    Paitan broth is sooooo yummy!! 1 Star for Restaurant Hours This place definitely has weird hours!!!!! Check hours above. 2 Stars for Parking Located in McCully Shopping Center, parking here is terrible. Stalls are slim and this place is always packed. There is also basement parking but I feel that it's even worse than ground level parking! Those stalls are even smaller and compact! 4 Stars for Location Located on the 2nd floor in the corner of McCully shopping center. Easy enough to find... 4 Stars for Service O-K. The waiters/waitress are very polite, courteous and nice. I believe they are all Japanese. 4 1/2 Stars for Food Paitan!!! Overall, delicious Paitan broth. I don't know what else to say, but order Paitan! They also make delicious cold noodles as well. I would say pass on the Shoyu broth as you can get that at any Japanese noodle restaurant. Save your stomach for some good Paitan broth here!

    (4)

  • Richard H.

    If you enjoy an authentic, Japanese ramen in Hawaii, this is the place for you! I passed by this restaurant at least a 100 times, before reading about the yummy broth through my friends on Yelp. In fact, I left my family, who was eating at the Shabu Shabu place down stairs to give this place a try. Don't bother looking through the menu, go straight to the Char Siu paintan or the Paintan Ramen (the Char Siu order has a few more slices). Japanese style Char Siu is completely different from the red, local stuff that you will find in your Wor Won Ton mien. This pork is brown, soft, and tender. It resembles a thinly sliced roast pork, rather than what we locals would describe as "char siu". You have the option of ordering the firm or soft noodles, but the only difference is the length of time to cook/boil the noodles. Firm or Japanese style = less cooking time, soft or local style = longer cooking time. Their Paintan ramen soup base is cooked for over 10 hours, which produces a thick flavorful broth, unlike any other restaurant. I recommend the firm style, extra slices of char siu in their paintan soup.

    (5)

  • Joanne P.

    This place is famous for the paitan broth, which is my favorite. On the menu, they claim that their broth is cooked so long that the collagen from the bones will make your skin as soft as a baby's bottom. I seriously doubt that, but it makes me feel better as I greedily slurp up every last drop of broth in the bowl. They have a few dishes that I can't remember (one is posted on wall) i've never tried because they sell out very quickly so i suggest you go for lunch or an early dinner.

    (4)

  • Sandra M.

    Wow! Luv this little ramen shop! Seating is limited so go early. There were four of us. Both my kids tried the shoyu based ramen with the noodles cooked Japanese style (firm). I ordered combo D with paitan ramen! My husband ordered the paitan ramen as well. We preferred the paitan ramen over shoyu based. The pork fried rice- just one word..."HEAVENLY!" This place is a gem! Will post pics!! Hugs from yours truly, the foodies!

    (5)

  • Virginia R.

    This is, by far, is one of my favorite places to eat! I love noodles, and I love soup... How am I NOT in love with a place where it has both!? ;o) I always end up ordering more than I can finish... "Set D". Their fried rice is so savory, though I don't always eat the chunks of pork. It's a little much some nights, but it's still delicious! Their Paitan soup for the ramen is very interesting... Really light, yet, it's got so much flavor from the pork base. It's a total WIN for me! However, the only thing that's got me from giving a full "five-star" is the low stock of the soup... Clearly, they're supposed to be open until closing time, or until they run out of their "soup". I think I've come across more than one night in a row that they ran out of soup even before 730pm. Real bummer, especially when we wait in line to have it :( Service is wonderful, though, they don't always catch our jokes :o) But it is a very cute and cozy restaurant. Totally recommend to all those whom haven't tried yet!

    (4)

  • T L.

    Still the best ramen I've had. Better than Daikukuya in LA and Ramen Dojo in San Mateo.

    (5)

  • Alison F.

    Best ramen I've had so far. I get the Paitan with chasu...two pieces of pork. It's not your normal ramen, less salty and delicious! I can never go back to a normal ramen place now,

    (4)

  • Keōmai E.

    Ramen should satiate more than your hunger, it should warm your soul and comfort your heart. The Paitain tame does just that. I love me some ramen and can be a tough critic, but the Paitan ramen is killer. The broth thick and tasty with the most tender and delicious char siu I've ever eaten. Had I known, I would've ordered the 5 piece option. Don't skimp on the char siu- it's life changing.

    (5)

  • Janet K.

    This is favorite ramen place. I always get the chashu paitan (yes, I believe that's how they spell it... Not char siu). They're ALWAYS out of the kakuni paitan when I go... Even when I go right when they open for dinner. Go figure, maybe they run out during lunch? Anyway, the paitan broth is so flavorful that I will always slurp it up so there's not a drop left in the bowl. I like to get my noodles "Japanese-Style" because it's more firm and chewy than the "Local-Style" noodles. The pork is so tender that it just breaks apart in your broth. Pair that up with some pan-fried gyoza and you're GTG. I'm not a big fan of tan tan ramen. I guess I don't really care for the taste of sesame. If that's what you're looking for, go to Goma Tei. If you're looking for koteri, go to Tenkaippin. If you're looking for paitan... THIS is where to go!

    (5)

  • Sam C.

    Food is great just like before. But the wait was too long. 20mins and still no water was served. The should have more hands to serve their customers.

    (3)

  • Yuko A.

    The ramen here is BOMB! The noodles are firm and the paitan soup is highly addicting. I got the vegetable ramen which was topped with cabbage, broccoli, onions, sprouts, and one piece of charsiu. The piece of charsiu was a little smaller than I had remembered but was still tender with a little bit of fat on it. The dumplings were some of the best I've had out in a while. I usually make dumplings at home so I have somewhat of high expectations when I eat out. Yotteko-ya's had a generous amount of meat in it and was cooked with a nice crispy wrapper. The only downside here is that they have too small of a waitstaff, they need at least one more person helping them out. When I walked in at noon on Saturday there was one woman doing everything from waiting, closing checks, busing tables so no one could really sit down. All in all though a great meal. Paitan soup wasn't salty like some other places are and has collagen in it, so its good for your skin :-). Definitely worth trying out! YELP 365: 106/365

    (5)

  • Ginny N.

    Paitan is a solid choice for broth - flavorful and very delicious . One of my favorite ramen places since visiting Hawaii !

    (5)

  • Rupert L.

    I came here once back in 07. I wanted to try their ramen since I was a freak on ramens back then. It was good but I've had better. Their service was ok, they didn't want to really serve us because they were already about to close. I would like to come by again and hopefully I'll give a better review. Only down side for me was that their menu was filled with pork and I'm allergic to it.

    (3)

  • Ngan N.

    Yotteko ramen - this place claimed to have their collagen broth cooked in ~10 hours. It's supposed to close at 10 pm, we got there at 7 pm...and my bowl was the last one they served 'cauz they ran out of broth @@ Love their noodles. They serve it in 2 styles, either Japanese (firm) or local style (soft). We ordered the firm one, and it turned out to be pretty good. Their noodles were al dente...chewy and the perfect texture The collagen broth was creamy, hearty and claimed to help prevent aging which is another plus. The chashu is pretty soft and tender :D

    (5)

  • David C.

    I wanted to love this place, but...did I miss something? The self-professed collagen-rich flavorful broth was fantastic--the first few spoonfuls. Then, it all tasted the same from lack of depth. Sadness. Fantastic firm and chewy Japanese noodles (softer local style available). Char-siu. Um. No. Overlooked pork belly sliced the wrong way and tasting...baby food soft and bland. Another try? Mebbe.

    (3)

  • Brad P.

    What's the difference between the feeling you get from conquering your greatest fear and tasting the paitan ramen at Yotteko-Ya? Nothing. Absolutely nothing. They are the same feeling. This place is awesome. The highest ranked ramen joint on Honolulu Yelp has earned its position by being incredible(and incredibly cheap!). I had the paitan ramen and the pork used in this dish is unmatched when compared to all of the swine I consumed while in Hawaii. It was magnificently tender and full of flavor. They give you plenty of chili oil at the table so you can spice to your liking. I love Yotteko-Ya.

    (5)

  • David L.

    My wife and I came here for dinner around 6 PM on our last night in Honolulu. We're from Texas so are used to it being hot, but we found that Yotteko-Ya was hotter than the outside was and the air inside was stagnant too. This most likely ruined our ramen experience because we both felt the Paitan Ramen was just "ok", and neither of us could come close to finishing the broth because we were sweating most of the time. The gyoza was disappointing -- especially the filling. We would not order this again. We most likely won't be coming back here again as we felt we had more enjoyable overall experiences at other ramen places in Honolulu. Maybe we are just spoiled Texans who always want the A/C blasting so that we can enjoy our food.

    (3)

  • Pomai S.

    Heeding the recommendations of all our fellow Yelpers here, I decided to think "outside the box" and order the Paitan Ramen. Where, normally I gauge great authentic Japanese Ramen by their Shoyu/Chashu Ramen. Yet, if everyone says get the Paitan Ramen -- even further boosting it by opting for the Kakuni Paitan Ramen -- well then, gosh darned it, that's what I'm getting! So this past Saturday I had lunch at Yotteko-Ya Kyoto Ramen, chooshing "Set C", turbo-charged with the Kakuni (braised pork) option. What's nice about this place is that it's kinda' like Burger King, where you can have just about everything "your way". First of all you choose how you want your noodles done: either the traditional Japanese way (firmer), or "local style", which is cooked a little longer, resulting in a softer noodle. Then you choose your broth: either Shoyu, Salt or Paitan. Above that, you can also opt for Kakuni if you're lucky, because this is only available for a limited time. Go early if you want that. More on it in a bit. For the rice on the side, you can choose either Yakibuta Chahan or Chashu Gohan, Finally, for the Gyoza, you can choose either pan-fried or DEEP-FRIED. So I chose "Set C", opting for the Kakuni Paitan with noodles cooked in the traditonal Japanese style, Yakibuta Chahan fried rice and of course, the DEEP-FRIED Gyoza, as that's very different than most Gyoza which are more commonly pan-fried and steamed to brown just one side. This, plus and ice cold glass of Coca Cola totaled my bill at $18.45 including tax, but not tip, which is a considerable chunk of change for a ramen lunch. Ultimate I have to say the Paitan broth isn't my style. It looks "milky" and tastes "milky", while also having a hint of sweetness, which I'm assuming is brought on from the substantial amount of Kakuni (braised pork) loaded in the bowl. As for the Kakuni, THIS is what you come to Yotteko-Ya for, as it's most definitely what they do best. $3 or $4 (the latter tacked on for the combo set) certainly gives you your money's worth, as half the volume of the Kakuni Paitan Ramen I was served consisted of Kakuni. So much, that I had to remove some in order to access the noodles. Flavor-wise, the Kakuni (braised pork) has a deep, marinaded flavor of primarily shoyu and sugar and/or mirin. Texture-wise, it's laced with fat, so it just melts apart and is succulent as can be. Ultimately, it's CRAZY TASTY, where in and of itself, deserves 5 stars. All I can say is go early and opt for the Kakuni braised pork, as this is definitely what they do best. While I didn't get around to asking, by all guesstimates, I'll say Yotteko-Ya's ramen noodles are sourced from Sun Noodle, where most ramen shops here in Honolulu get their noodles from. Which I have no problem with, as Sun Noodle RULES! With that, the noodles were cooked perfectly "tight" (al dente) to the Japanese specifications I asked for. Other toppings besides the Kakuni (braised pork) include bean sprouts (mayoshi), green onion (negi) and Kikurage (Chinese black mushrooms). Yet I was a bit disappointed no Menma (Japanese marinated bamboo shoots) weren't included. Overall, while I'm a stickler for Ginza style Shoyu Chahumen, Yotteko-Ya's Kakuni Paitan Ramen had me walking out very satisfied. As for the Yakibuta Chahan, it essentially tasted like fried rice flavored with either their Kakuni or Chashu, as it had big chunks of it in the mix. There was also a significant shoyu flavor. Overall? Good! Yet I still don't get the logic of serving rice with ramen, as that's too much carbo-loading for me. But whatever. It works. Next to the Kakuni, I'll say the DEEP-FRIED Gyoza (notice I CAP-LOCK DEEP-FRIED) is what you come here for. It's fantastic. I was expecting it to taste like Korean Mandoo, but really, it tasted like none other than deep-fried Japanese Gyoza! And a great one at that. What set it apart from the rest is that instead of plain 'ole ground pork, mixed with the cabbage were tiny chunks of what looked and tasted like either their Chashu or Kakuni. Which you know is gonna' rock the Gyoza world! Easy 4 stars on Yotteko-Ya's deep-fried Gyoza. I dined here about 1pm this past Saturday, and on this visit, service was excellent. Very friendly waitress, and my entire order of Kakuni Paitan Ramen, mini Yakibuta Chahan and deep-fried Gyoza arrived on the table within 10 minutes of being placed. With that, the waitress had already began telling newly arrived customers that the Kakuni was already sold out, which is why I reiterate that you need to come here early to get that. Which I highly recommend you do, as the Kakuni braised pork is what they do best here. That, and the deep-fried Gyoza should make most "rameniacs" very happy with the offerings at Yotteko-Ya. As for the Paitan broth, it's not my personal favorite, yet it may be for you. See photo section for pics of the dishes mentioned above.

    (3)

  • Darren N.

    Parking: The most difficult thing about the place, McCully has a really busy parking setup. Ambiance: Unique Japanese style atmosphere. Clean interior. Service: Polite though they can get overwhelmed with the amount of customers and the number of servers. Food: Opted for the 5 piece char siu in paitan soup base for dinner. Their special ramen with more pork usually sells out by lunch so get there early. They also seem to have non-ramen dishes to choose from but every time I come here it has been a ramen meal. Their ramen is plentiful and made to order (soft or firm) and the pork slices are so tender and flavorful. This is one of the best ramen places on the island I've seen so far. Verdict & Takeaway: 5 stars for the fair price, great food and atmosphere. If anything, maybe they can try adding a new protein to kick it up a notch and further separate themselves from the rest, especially something traditional Japanese.

    (5)

  • Lisa M.

    The Yasai Paitan Ramen with a side order of Sliced Charsiu is the best. So tasty! The charsiu is a little sweet, but really, really delicious! We also had some gyoza that was amazing as well. Parking can be challenging, but the food is worth it!

    (5)

  • Sara T.

    I think I've been here at least twice a month since I first discovered it... I have blown through an entire stamp card (two sets of buy 10 get one free), and the waitresses all recognize me and I think they make a special effort to get my food out fast, especially because I always order the same thing. Small kine embarrassing. But I don't care because I can't get enough of their paitan chasiu ramen, noodles Japanese style! I've been here when it's empty and when it's packed with a line out the door, I've taken out several times, and I've eaten in by myself at the counter many times, and I've never had a bad experience.

    (5)

  • Lisa K.

    The Paitan Ramen is the tastiest ramen that I have ever eaten! Pair it with the homemade gyoza and you could just about die a happy camper. However, it is a rather small restaurant, so on busy nights you need to show up pretty much as soon as it opens to get a seat and gyoza.

    (5)

  • Naomi L.

    Holy ramen HEAVEN. Seriously. I had peaked in here before, but it was crowded and so didn't want to go. After a long clinic day, some friends convinced me to stay and wait for a table. I'm oh so happy they did. *tear of ramen-induced-happiness* The decorations are modest, which helps you to focus on the deliciousness of the food. They serve other things than just ramen, but shoot, just forget the carbs and eat the ramen if you're going to a ramen place! The prices are also modest, ~$8-10 for the most part. The real deal lies in the combos (on the back side of the menu, which run $12-15)! I just started eating meat again after a 5+ year hiatus and this place was more than well worth the extended wait. The homemade char siu was so ono. I can't describe the utter fabulousness of the flavor, melt in your mouth, yumminess accurately enough to give it justice. But, I did have a dream about eating it and will soon be back for round #2. In short - char siu gohan = I want more. I didn't try to paitan ramen (which is what I should have since that's apparently their best) cuz I like yataiaji and wanted to try theirs. Next time, I will eat some paitan. Anyhow, the yataiaji was probably the best I've had on this island and closest to the flavors I've eaten in Nihon. I dunno about their claims to make me look younger, but I had a nice kanak attack after and the best sleep in weeks. Hint: ask for Japanese style, which is cooked more firmly, if you like your noodles with a bit of a bite. Also, they'll take orders just up to last call (15 min before closing for either lunch or dinner service) and are closed on Wednesdays.

    (5)

  • Quinn S.

    A co-worker told me about this place and said that Japanese salarymen come here. I had to try it! Had he not told me, I would have never found this place because I try to avoid McCully shopping center and thier crazy tight parking spots at all costs. (I cringe just thinking about more dents on my precious car!) Yotteko-Ya is a tiny ramen joint tucked away in the far corner on the second floor. Although it's hidden and hardly visable unless you are actually looking for it, the place gets crowded! This had to be another great sign. Luckily we got seated right away, however, that is the only thing that happend right away. We saw a few tables waiting for their food and it looked as if they were waiting pretty long because everyone was quiet and constantly checking their cell phones. The waitresses were scrambling around, but things somehow seemed to move in slow motion. I ordered Combo C with the shoyu based ramen, chashu rice, and gyoza. I also opted to add some extra spice...$1.00 for a squirt of chili oil really didn't do the trick for me. I love spicy food and thought the extra spice would add some flavor, but sadly I was mistaken, it was just red oil floating in my broth. Boo! I sampled the chashu rice and didn't find anything special about it. Yes the meat was soft and tender, but felt it was lacking any great flavor. The gyoza, on the other hand, was so YUM! I usually don't care for gyoza, but I am glad I ordered it. It was filled to the max with pork and veggies and it was pan-fried to perfection - not too much oil like every other gyoza I've tried. I would not necessarily go back, but it wouldn't matter to them because I can see from the other reivews that people love it. And the fact that people were waiting in line to eat there says a lot. I respect any business with loyal customers. Thumbs up to that!

    (3)

  • Curt C.

    I had gone to the McCully shopping center a bunch of times and never knew about this small little restaurant of goodness. It is such a quaint Japanese restaurant with an intimate feel and the noodles, oh the noodles! There are many different broths to choose from, but their specialty is the Paitan broth. I ended up getting combo set C which was the ramen with Paitan broth, gyoza, and fried rice. The broth is very light and had a nice flavor definitely a unique taste. I liked this broth a lot better than Goma Tei. The charsui meat is also one of Yotekko Ya's specialty. It was quite hearty and quite good for "standard" meat that comes with the ramen. I had no idea what "Japanese Style" meant, perhaps I should have re-read some Yelp reviews before going, but just order the noodles this way as well as you won't regret it. I was surprisingly full as it didn't look like a lot of food, but I was stuffed at the end and we didn't even get any drinks (Bud Light was $3 not bad) Next time I'll probably just order the ramen and get extra charsui since I don't need need the additional rice in the combo set...Too many starches!!! I'm glad that I was told about this place as I thought it was better than Goma Tei and Tenkaippin. Now, if I want ramen I will come here and if I want udon I will go to Marakume Udon. Make sure to get here early as once they sell out they close shop. I came on a Friday night around 630 and they turned off the open sign at 8 because they had sold out...Also if you want to get the Kakuni ramen (basically ramen with huge chunks of the charsui) I'm told they sell out by lunch...So I'll be back for lunch!

    (4)

  • John N.

    Yotteko-Ya's ramen is delicious. So delicious, that I put it in the top 3 of ramen places in Hawaii. Like others have mentioned, you get to choose the texture of your noodles: either a little harder via Japanese style, or softer via local style. The char siu is great and the broth is amazing. So why do I give it a 3 star out of 5? It took 35-40 minutes for us to get our food from sitting down. Granted, we got there when they just opened, but this place definitely needs wait help. We were the third group seated, but one of the last groups to get our order in. It's not because we were deciding a while for our food. We knew what we were going to order within 5 minutes of seating. No matter how good the ramen, the overall experience of dining here can easily be ruined if you are hungry. I can definitely see this place being a solid 4, maybe 5 star if they get more wait help. Until then, other ramen places will be satisfying my ramen cravings.

    (3)

  • Reid A.

    Great ramen! Paitan ramen is my favorite. The pork broth is very silky and not at all oily like most places. This ramen might be seen as quite healthy in comparison. I always choose the Japanese style noodles (firm). The char siu is one of the best. I can't think of anything wrong with it. I really recommend the sets. Their fried rice is really good. They have lots of different types to choose from. Their gyoza is also top notch. I recommend the pan fried gyoza. The only thing is the seating. Most of the time there is a wait since all the seats are taken. If they did a bar style, they would fit in more people. McCully Shopping Center has some great places to eat, but the parking can be a pain sometimes. Regardless of the parking and seating, it really still deserves 5 stars, because it's worth the trouble. I recommend this place all the time to people that want great ramen.

    (5)

  • Ellison U.

    Yotteko-Ya Yotteko-Ya is a Japanese Ramen Shop located on the 2nd floor in McCully Shopping Center. Friends and I came here several times and it was close I guess third time's a charm. First time we came was on a Wednesday and they were apparently closed... blew it off, second time came around 830 as soon as we entered we were turned away due to ramen being soldout... I was like WTF!, Now if you know McCully, parking sucks... REALLY SUCKS It took us almost ~45MINUTES to find a space ALL FOR NOTHING and I was craving for some Ramen too. Then I though gee this place must serve really damn good ramen. I was willing to give it another shot because I read soo much great reviews. Third time we made absolutely sure we were gonna get to eat here! (We called and asked ofcourse). Enough with the whining, (cause I ran out of cheese), I ordered one of the sets with which included side fried rice and chicken with the ramen. I got the Paitan Ramen. Oh Ma GAADD the ramen was soo delicious if I could describe it, it was like a celebration was happening in my mouth... YUMM-O. Noodles was good, broth was A-MAZING!. Fried Rice... I doont know, I was expecting it to be good too because everyone raved about it but it was mehh. Oily for my liking. Back to the Ramen, oh my goodness it wassooo good. BUUUUTT big Butt! It's not as good as Goma Ichi. Goma Ichi too me has a better tasting broth. Yotteko-ya, I've heard was the most authentic Ramen you could get outside of Japan, to me the broth was kind of runny, I like mine with a little body. I wanted it to be a little bit thicker. But in all it was delicious, definitely worth the third attempt. My Rating of Ramen Shops from best being Ichi-Ban (#1 -meh) 1. Goma Ichi: Broth is PERFECT 2. Yotteko-ya: Broth a little RUNNY 3. Goma Tei Broth is like Goma Ichi (I think they stole the recipe) How dare they! 4. Tenkaippin: Broth is TOO THICK noodles just floated on the GRAVEY like Broth! Disclaimer: I AM JUST SPEAKING FOR MYSELF!

    (4)

  • Arthur S.

    Been throughout japan tried different types of ramen, and I gotta say yotteko ya is as close as it gets. Ive been to goma tei goma ichi and ramen nakamura but this place takes the soup base. The other ramen places are incomparable. Get the Char-sui, "Cha-su" Pai Tan Ramen. Best ramen on the island. The Chasu is the softest most flavorful slice of meat around. The soup broth was also better than the other ramen laces mentioned above. Usually the broth is either to salty or not flavorful enough, but this place must practice some scientific ramen alchemy because i felt like i was drowning myself a sea of soup base greatness. The service is great, constant refills on water, never felt like i was left in the dust. Gyoza was an excellent addition to the Ramen. Soft and warm, crispy yet chewy. Perfect for type of ramen noodle served. I usually never have any problem with parking, or waiting. Although i know this place must get really popular around diner time, as i have seen lines outside the door. Also the seating capacity isn't very large so if you do end up going on a busy night be prepared to wait. But when your waiting for the best ramen on the island on the island its well worth it.

    (5)

  • Andy N.

    Paitan! This chicken broth is delicious! Cooked and simmered for over eight hours you know they're doing something special. I came here just near when it was about to close, A cool sliding door when you walk into the restaurant. It's a small little spot in a lot with tons of other Asian restaurants. I knew exactly what I wanted to order because the menu even recommended to try the Paitan. The soup was piping hot in a good way. The broth a lighter smokey color due to usage of using chicken broth instead of pork bones. The pieces of pork very tender and the noodles were nice and firm. They even say the food here keeps you from AGING! if you love ramen like I do, then try out Yotteko-Ya Recommendation: Paitan ramen

    (4)

  • Jeremy C.

    Plain and simple - I love Japanese ramen. So, when my girlfriend and I recently vacationed in Hawaii, I searched for the best ramen houses and we ended up at Yotteko-Ya. Situated in the top left corner of a business plaza, you can easily miss this small restaurant. If you do though, you better damn well keep searching because the ramen is great! The paitan ramen is what we ordered, and a comforting bowl of ramen is what we got. The noodles were perfect and not soggy at all, and the broth was done perfectly. It was milky and flavorful. Almost the quality of Ippudo in the East Village in New York City, but much cheaper, and a lot more low key. It was awesome! Although there was only one waitress working, she did her very best at welcoming guests, taking orders, and getting the ramen out in a timely manner. I ever go back to Honolulu, I would definately go back here. Pros: Perfectly cooked ramen, tasty soup broth. You will leave feeling happy! Cons: Location is a bit akward, and they could use another waitress or two. Overall, this place is just great!

    (5)

  • Hollie-Anne T.

    I love Yotteko-ya!!! I usually eat here when I'm at my bf's work place and have nothing to do, but eat. (I'm always hungry) Yotteko-ya is located on the 2nd floor on the west side of the McCully Bldg, so if you're looking directly at McCully Shopping Center it should be on your left hand side on the second floor. There's a sliding door so don't be hesitant to slide open the door and walk on in :] It's a cute little restaurant. Not a lot of space so if you're claustrophobic I wouldn't really recommend this place for you. The ladies that work there are pretty nice except you can tell when they're flustered when it gets busy. Now lets talk about their Paitan Ramen. It's amaze-balls. Theirs a lot of taste to it and they give a generous amount of Charsiu. I mean the slice is pretty big. When I ordered my ramen they gave me a choice of japanese style noodles or regular noodles. The Japanese noodles is yellow-ish and on the hard side, but if you're into trying new types of noodles then i definitely recommend that you try the Japanese Noodles. It's pretty good and it make the ramen that much more authentic :D. Their gyoza they give you a choice of steamed or fried. I always choose fried lol. It reminds me of mandoo and I love mandoo. Now dip your mandoo like dumpling into the shoyu, vinegar, and hot sauce that's provided to you on the table and you got yourself an onolicious lunch/dinner. Its a MUST when it comes to ramen.

    (5)

  • Kimo U.

    After some nondescript sushi, veggies, cheese, fruits & wine / drinks at an art exhibition, then dessert @ Little Oven, needed sumpin to tide me over until breakfast. Palace Saimin in Kalihi hasn't opened at night for some time, so I had to find another place. Stopped here around 9:30pm for their paitan ramen. Ordered it (noodles cooked Japanese style), enjoyed eating it, went home to go sleep. With superb noodles, an excellent thick broth and tender chashu, my highest recommendations. I was in and out in less than 25 minutes, just like at Palace Saimin. Parking not that much of a problem later in the evening.

    (5)

  • Rebecca M.

    We showed up early and I'm glad we did -- the waitress was able to spend a few minutes with us to explain our options (we are ramen novices), which she did very well and very patiently. I ordered the C combo with Paitan broth; my partner ordered the C combo with Shoyu broth. Both were excellent -- the Paitan was rich and absolutely delicious, and I had to be talked out of ordering extra chashu. As we were eating, the restaurant filled up and we stuck out like a sore thumb as the tourists we were, making me even more grateful we'd gotten there early so the waitress (who was, indeed, running the whole floor herself!) could point us in the right direction. She really made us feel very welcome. I wish we'd discovered this on our first day in town rather than one of our last; I highly recommend it.

    (5)

  • Al C.

    So a local friend of mine took me to this joint for ramen. I got the paitan ramen. The broth was pretty good and I thought the flavor of the chasu was also good. I got noodles Japanese style (hard). I also got a side of gyoza that was average. While not the best ramen I've ever had , it was pretty good and I would recommend this place. Only caveat is there is only one person working. While we had no problems with service when we left there were 3 tables still waiting for noodles and two people waiting for a table. So obviously when the place gets busy, one waitress is gonna have a hard time giving expeditious service.

    (4)

  • Nolan Y.

    Wow!! Every thing i had was soooo great!! I am having withdrawals just thinking of this place!

    (5)

  • randi i.

    I thought I already wrote a review for here but I guess not. I love Yotteko- Ya! :) Their Paitan Ramen is yummy. Not to mention their chashu gohan! It's a cute little place in the top left corner of McCully Shopping Center. The only thing that's junk is their hours. =\

    (5)

  • Mike x.

    Seriously folks, if you want really good ramen (I think it's Kyoto style), you'll have to give this place a shot. I know it's summer and the last thing you would want is a steaming bowl of hot noodles in soup, but that never stopped all you pho lovers. The broth is carefully made through lots of chicken and pork that has been simmering for eight hours so yes, that's huge for taste factor. Go for the peitan (a thicker broth and it's healthy as they advertise it on their menus). You really do get a burst of flavor from each savory gulp you take. They give a choice for ramen texture--either Japanese (al dente) or Local (softer noodles). They offer combo sets as well which I have tried, but I believe their specialty is their peitan. Their kimchee is not too bad (good heat on it, yet I like mine really sour too). I also ordered their gyoza (it's different from other shops, as I believe theirs is fresh). The fried rice is a bit too oily for my taste as they use bits of pork fat which when served it glistens more than normal. How do I know that? I just do. Try going to a cheap Chinese restaurant and order fried rice and you'll know what I'm talking about. Price wise, it's not all too bad. Most bowls are 8-9 dollars and they give you a free little treat with your bill. This time it was the tiny tootsie rolls in individual wrappers. Ah, I feel the nostalgia.

    (4)

  • Derek N.

    Best. Ramen. Ever. There is absolutely no comparison. I get frustrated by people who have never been here say things like "I like Taiyo" or "I don't know, I've had goma tei". Nobody else comes close. The noodles are good, and you can choose if you want them firm or soft. The char siu really shines; tender, sweet, pure deliciousness. But the broth. The broth is what puts this ramen head and shoulders above all the rest. As a man who drinks up the soup, this ramen makes me really really happy. Some people, think it's a bit pricey when I tell them about it, but it is absolutely worth it. In fact, get the set; it's well worth the price and you can still get whatever kind of ramen you were gonna get otherwise. Unfortunately this place isn't perfect. Sometimes it can be hard to find parking. It is a Japanese-style place in that they close between lunch and dinner. There is usually only one server; it has been the same woman all but one of the times I've been there. If the place is full (which means there might be a wait), this could make service slow. However, the food does come out pretty fast. Speaking of full, this place seems to have gotten popular since it first opened, so show up early or there might be a wait. If you go for lunch, ask if they have kakuni. You will NOT regret it. All of these bad points bring my rating down from six stars to five. Be sure to grab a stamp card, because like Fish and Poi: I know you're gonna like it, and I hope you come back!

    (5)

  • T N.

    The first time we came here, I ordered the spicy paitan ramen and my husband ordered the Shoyu base chashu ramen. While my husband enjoyed his shoyu ramen, I was blown away by my paitan ramen. When he tried some of my soup, my husband agreed it was the best soup flavor he'd ever had. The soup base is wonderfully tasty and the chashu was very flavorful and tender. Get the Japanese style noodles--perfect texture. In fact, we loved this place so much we came back 2 more times the following 3 days! We also tried the gyozas and I really enjoyed those too. I liked the freshness of the ingredients. . .you can tell they are homemade. My newest favorite ramen place.

    (5)

  • Y M.

    I took my parents to try Yotteko-Ya after reading all of the great reviews on Yelp. We tried the Paitan ramen $7.45 (kinda tasted like a tonkotsu style soup) with Japanese style noodles (you get to choose how you want your noodles cooked - Japanese style (traditional) or local style (which is softer). I must say, I think this might be one of my new favorite ramen places now! The chashu (which I usually don't eat) was delicious! The side order of pan fried gyoza ($4.75) had lots of veggies and tasted homemade. My parents (who are usually not so easily impressed) really liked the place too and said they'd come back if they ever wanted ramen again. I've been on a search for a good authentic ramen place, so I'm totally psyched! I will definitely be back to try their Shoyu and Shio ramen too.

    (5)

  • GJ S.

    i am not a ramen person. the first time i came here, i drained the bowl dry. absolutely oishii. the ramen has the right chewy firmness. the charsiu is so tender it MELTS in your mouth (i'm not usually a meat eater, so this is a breakthrough). the broth is flavorful and satisfying. this combination makes this restaurant one of the places i always bring my guests. and what do i get? tabeteko paitan ramen, japanese style kaarage chahan several notes: 1) the service is ridiculously slow. this is because they have only 1 person serving and bussing the whole room. she does her best, and i used to be in the service industry so i cut her some slack. they really need to increase their staff by 1, though. 2) early dinner (530/6) is the best time to go. no line, no wait, parking available. there is still the service issue, but at least it isn't as bad as when it gets too terribly busy. 3) stamp card. 10 bowls = 1 free non-paitan bowl.

    (4)

  • Tom A.

    Fabulous.

    (5)

  • Michael S.

    Hands down the best ramen place i've been to on the island. Everything is good and the prices reasonable. The atmosphere is nice as well. Everyone should try and visit this spot cuz I don't want it shut down(like many other business at mccully shopping center)

    (5)

  • Dijon Y.

    I haven't actually eaten the food here. But here's my take. The last 2 times my brother came here, they ran out of chicken, and something else I forgot. The service was slow even though it really wasn't that busy. It took them awhile to clean up the table, then to seat us, then even more before we got the menus. So given the experience the last time, and since we wanted to eat soon, we decided to leave. Its pretty sad for a restaurant to run out of food ingredients, especially if it seems they aren't jam-packed or even close to that. Maybe the food is good, but if you cant order what you want from the menu or it takes way too long to be seated, have order taken, or food come to your table, maybe its not worth it. I may try again one day to see how good the ramen is. This review is based on what I think the ramen would've been like, so I think its a fair balance.

    (3)

  • Charles W.

    Incredible ramen. Got the Yasai paitan ramen with extra pork and it was delicious. Gyoza were good as well.

    (5)

  • Cheyna H.

    The best ramen i've ever eaten. I've tried finding somewhere better, but honestly I can't. I'm particular about my noodles, I don't like them soggy and yotteko ya makes it perfectly! I took my bf here and he loves it. Now he likes to introduce this little shop to his friends and family.

    (5)

  • Jason F.

    I have been all over the island trying to find the best ramen places, believe me the spicy paitan soup wiith Japanese (firm) style noodles is the best there is around. The charshu is tasty and soft. I have to eat here at least once a week.

    (5)

  • Peter T.

    This was the second stop of my wife and I's ramen adventure. My wife likes ramen a lot and I like it from time to time. I would like to say I was never been more disappointed in my life! First the location was easy enough to find but the restaurant's name was no where on the sign which read Kyoto's ramen. This made me think it went out of business. After opening the sliding door, I found a bunch of people in the entrance way. Then, the waitress yelled at me to close the door. I was kind of taken aback and wondered if they wanted my business at all. If I was alone, I would have left and ate somewhere else. But my wife wanted ramen so I re-entered and waiting in the huddle of people in the crowded entrance. I waited about 20 minutes. There was no waiting list and no one from the staff welcomed us or even acknowledged our existence until we were first in line and then they turned on the fake welcoming attitude. As soon as we sat down, it seemed the waitress wanted our order even before we had a chance to look at the menu. After being hounded my the waitress 3 times we ordered and waited. I had to use the bathroom after all the waiting in line. The bathroom proved to be dumpish. The urinal pissed back at me once I flushed. Back to the table, I ordered a set included tonshio (pork and salt flavored) ramen, 3 gyoza, and fried rice. My wife ordered their daily special which she was talking about from the reviews which was the paiten ramen with fatty soft pork. When I looked at the menu, I thought the prices where pretty high for a ramen place. When the food came, the prices made me believe they were in the business of ripping people off. The bowls of ramen was very small and so was the gyoza and the fried rice. The taste of the fried rice was like eating oil with some rice and pork. The ramen soup base was average if even that. I tried my wife's one and it was nothing to cheer about too. My wife was very disappointed as was I in the lunch. I will never ever eat here again. I would not tip the waitress for her brand of service. She didn't fill up water until my wife asked for more. She was so busy trying to hurry up our order yet still had to time to meet her boyfriend in the store and have a conversation as people waited. Not to mention yelling at customers who were trying to enter and wait in line. I would not recommend this restaurant to anyone who likes ramen, good service, and good value.

    (1)

  • Allie J.

    Good-Ness this place is soooo good. The Boy and I go here at least once a month and always walk away stuffed and satisfied. Next time we go we get to redeem our buy 10 get one free stamp card! Anyway, every part of the steaming bowl of happiness is delectable: Broth: bursting with flavor Noodles: perfectly cooked and slurpable Pork: melt in your mouth, savory goodness I get the shoyu broth, the boy gets the paitan and I inevitably sneak a few spoonfulls of his broth into my bowl (I wonder if I can get half-and-half...I should pursue this...) The option with extra veggies is tasty - usually sprouts, cabbage and broccoli - but I always end up lusting after more pork. The soups are very filling too; one time I got one of the sets and couldn't finish my soup (very sad). The gyoza are really good though, so if you're eating with a few friends, split an order. Oh! I almost forgot about the fried rice! Curry fried rice + savory pork bits = heaven. The service can be slow so beware if you're in a time crunch. However, the two (yes, only two) waitresses who run the joint - and I think help cook - are super nice, so be aware and be patient. The staff here bust their a**es cooking and serving and it shows!

    (5)

  • Oby S.

    So far I've tried goma-tei, yottekoya and kiwami ramen and I have to say, yottekoya is the best in honolulu. I had the combo D with japanese style (noodle is harder) paitan kakuni special ramen. The combo consist of: pork fried rice, fried chicken, paitan ramen + kakuni (thick chunk of fatty pork belly cooked in soy sauce). That was sooo good. The broth is rich but not too thick, the friend chicken is melt in your mouth delish and the fried rice is awesome. The only drawback of this place is they only have 1 server. So the wait time is kinda slow. But it's totally worth it. Note: you can ask for a card that if you get 10 ramen you'll get one for free. Good if you eat with a big party of friends.

    (5)

  • Jeff C.

    thanks to fellow yelpers, i found this place to please my taste buds after a week of boring cruise ship food. Paitan ramen is very tasty, so is the kimchi ramen. The latter has a little zing to it, but not terribly hot. Definitely worth a return visit, if I go back to Hawaii.

    (5)

  • Eliza S.

    Went to Yotteko-Ya Kyoto Ramen finally after having heard a few friends rave about it. I ordered the Yasai Paitan Spicy Japanese Style Ramen. The soup is similar to miso in flavor but way more mild and white colored. Also if you get it spicy which cost extra you will see flecks of chili pepper flake and chili oil floating on the top of the broth. My Yasai Paitan came with an assortment of vegetables that included cabbage, white onion, broccoli, and soy sprouts (the Korean type with the yellow bean on the end, which I liked because I hate bean sprouts!) And one piece Char Sui. The Char Sui is delicious! It's on the sweet side but perfectly cooked, moist, flavorful, and melts in your mouth. The texture and chewyness of the noodles the best part... Similar to Gomaichi or Sun Noodles. I gave it a 3 star rating because I still like Gomaichi tan tan ramen and Tennkaipin Kotteri Ramen better. However I think I could say this is probably third best ramen on Oahu. I will definately be back because it's so different from my other two favorites.

    (3)

  • Andy T.

    I'm tempted to give this 5 stars but I'm hoping there's something else on the island even better. Paitan broth is delicious. Flavorful and rich, I can't get enough of this stuff. I typically order it with extra noodles and order them cooked japanese style (slightly tough) as opposed to local style (really soft). Chasu pork is extremely tender and very fatty. Nothing like Chinese charsiu but still delicious. ~$8 a bowl, +$1 for extra noodles. Ambiance is fine, and service is slow due to there being only one waitress most of the time.

    (4)

  • Greg S.

    I believe this place is also called 'Kyoto Ramen' in case anyone is confused. The paitan broth was a delicious new sensation and the chaisu was probably the most tender that I've had in Honolulu. The only side that we tried was the chicken karaage, which had a tasty and freshly fried coating. Besides ramen and sides there were also an assortment of rice dishes that I'm eager to come back for. Two tips: 1) If there's no parking, use the garage on the side street (Pumehana St. I think) 2) Get a stamp card and go back as often as you can.

    (5)

  • Cassandra L.

    This could easily be one of my favorite ramen places. It's missing one star because of the slow service. We went on a Thursday night and every table was filled except for one. We sat down at the one empty, but uncleared one, and waited. And waited. And waited. The single waitress working made trip after trip into the kitchen one after the other, each time only bringing 1 or 2 items out - maybe it's time to invest in some trays?! She walked past our table so many times to go back into the kitchen, she could've cleared our table 1 item at a time and would still be going back and forth! I wanted to be nice and patient - it was busy and she was by herself, but I was starving, and not once did she even say "I'll be right with you" or "Thank you for waiting" or even give us a menu to look at! But, after we ordered the food came out in lightning speed so I guess it made up for the slow service. The ironic thing was, the additional server showed up right AFTER she served the last table their food. Go figure! Paitan cha shu ramen with Japanese style noodles: The bowl comes out steaming and I can't wait to dig in, burning my tongue in the process because I want to drink the broth already. The texture of the noodles was perfect, springy, not mushy, with the rich flavor of the paitan broth clinging to every strand. The cha shu is the best, hands down. The meat is moist and oh-so tender, with an almost melt in your mouth butter texture.

    (4)

  • Lola C.

    Yummy ramen and gyoza. The soup is thick and I like that! Paitan is so good, but service is slow. Only one girl works there, and it would be a lot better if they hired one more worker.

    (4)

  • Henry T.

    Da ramen good and cheap.

    (4)

  • Tricia K.

    Loved Yotteko-Ya. The best is the Kakuni Paitan ramen. The kakuni is juicy and tender, my 15 month old couldn't get enough of it! The broth is delicious and definately get the noodles Japanese style. You will not be disappointed.

    (5)

  • surprise m.

    love it! we ate there last night for some paitan tabeteko ramen. yummy! it's a hearty ramen that's topped w/kimchee, veggies and their homemade chashu. we also tried their garlic fried rice and karaage. we liked it! they ran out of gyoza so next time we'll have to order it. their chashu was very tender and flavorful, not salty either. i really enjoyed eating here and if you like eating ramen that has a hearty flavorful broth like the paitan, you'll enjoy it here as well. their bathroom was also clean which was a huge plus! mccully plaza is a great place to come and eat because there are some great restaurants to eat at here and the parking is FREE!

    (5)

  • David C.

    Good stuff! Reminds me of Santa Ramen in San Mateo but cheaper and just as good! For some reason its not that busy when we go, but maybe we're there at odd times. Either way its good stuff!

    (4)

  • Priya H.

    Just tried this place tonight with the fam and i love it. I had the veggie paitan ramen with Japanese Style noodles which means that they are just not broiled as long so they are a little more firm. Local style means that they are broiled longer so they would come out more soft. Mine were awesome! The charsu was sooooo good, soft and flavored. I had the paitan broth which wasn't too heavy, i highly recommend this as it is a traditional fav. The ambiance was nice. I tried going for lunch once but the line was out the door, so I called for reservations tonight at 6pm, it was pretty empty when we got there, but by the time we left it was packed... There is plenty of parking, the menu prices are reasonable and the gyoza and kim chee was awesome for sides. The ramen bowls are huge though, so make sure you come hungry! Only down i can think of is that you can't bring your own alcohol, and they only serve three types of beer... maybe once they get more up and running they will let your BYOB with a corkage fee or something. All in all, can't wait to go back!

    (4)

  • Tiff I.

    This is the one and only ramen place I'll go to! That's how good it is! I love their paitan soup base. It's very rich and flavorful. They let you choose if your ramen hard or soft.

    (5)

  • Kim T.

    I love this place. Not only is the broth the best I've ever devoured, but the chashu melts in your mouth. If I was a local, I would come here 3 times a week...but since I live on the mainland, when i come out, I come as many times as I can. Yes the kukuni ramen is AWEsome...but regular chashu ramen is better than any here in sf.

    (5)

  • Tyler B.

    I guess I'll give this place 4 stars since the BF really liked his Paitan Ramen. But I have to warn you...the place looked like it hadn't been cleaned in years. Everything was sticky, the chairs, the tables, the condiment tray had sticky stains ALL over it...honestly I didn't even want to touch anything while I was in there. As far as ramen goes I guess this place is really good. I also ordered the Shrimp mayo thing...omg...avoid at all costs. I don't know what the hell they were thinking. There were halved grape tomatoes, oranges, and tiny pieces of lettuce or something circling the plate. The fried shrimps were soggy and thick with batter and simply tasted GROSS. They were also SOOOO busy that they could not clean up tables so we stood there waiting at least 10 minutes to be seated. No one even acknowledges us so we finally just seated ourselves at the dirty bar area that was surrounded by boxes.

    (4)

  • Sharon W.

    The Paitan ramen is the best! I ordered a Miso Ramen and my husband ordered the Paitan ramen. After a taste of his ramen, both him and I regret that I ordered the Miso Ramen because after a taste, I took over his bowl of ramen. The soup was so meaty and tasty. I usually don't drink too much of the ramen soup because it's too salty and not brothy enough for me. However, I just couldn't stop drinking the soup of the Paitan ramen. The Miso ramen pales in comparison with the Paitan Ramen, and their chashu is really good.

    (5)

  • Ken S.

    Funny, in all the years I lived in Kyoto, most of the ramen shops I went to were Kyushu ramen shops. I guess since I lived in Kyushu first, I am biased toward Kyushu style. That, and I don't remember ever seeing "Kyoto-style ramen" in Kyoto. Anyways, my chef buddy highly recommended this place to me. I decided to check it out and was pretty disappointed. I found the broth to be a bit bland. I forget what broth I ordered, but I'm assuming wifey got shoyu and I got miso or tantan-men. The noodles were also overcooked. Very soft and mushy. I figured that it was just an off day, since it was so highly recommended, so I went back again a month or two later. I had the same experience--so-so soup, overcooked noodles. One of these days I might make an effort to go again, because I have a hard time believing that it can come this highly recommended and be this bad. But, I do like the gyoza here :)

    (2)

  • Suzanne A.

    this place is great! me & my friends wanted to try some place new and we stumbled upon this place. i recommend the paitan ramen. the broth is mouthwatering and the charsiu is very tender. id pick this place over tenkaippin ramen (the one on kapahulu) D:

    (4)

  • Waynele Y.

    love the broth here. different than your standard miso, shio or shoyu --very tasty. i think i drank every last drop of soup. yummy!

    (4)

  • Lisa S.

    One of the best places to eat ramen! NOODLES: Tasty. They give you the option between Japanese and local noodles. I recommend the Japanese noodles because it's firmer. BROTH: One of the best broths I have tasted on the island. According to Yotteko-Ya's menu, their broth is a rich collagen stock that will prevent aging and wrinkles. Awesome. I usually order anything that has paitan -- pork bones that were boiled for hours, creating a creamy, "milky" pork stock. RECOMMENDED DISHES: The tabeteko paitan ramen is the best ramen I have tasted so far! This is paitan ramen topped with kimchee, vegetables, and a piece of homemade chashu. yelp.com/biz_photos/yott… People usually order the cha-shu paitan or the kakuni paitan ramen (pretty much a block of cha-shu but a couple of dollars more). Both are yummy, but I would just stick with the cha-shu. The following link is the cha-shu ramen: yelp.com/user_local_phot… SERVICE: Service could be better. The last time I ate here, they ran out of gyoza and RICE. It just shows how popular this place is. Great for small groups (four people max)! There's only one table in the restaurant that allows a large group of people to eat together. They do not accommodate you if your group is larger than four people, unless people agree to sit at separate tables.

    (5)

  • Starla T.

    Visited the shop for the first time on a Friday night at about 7pm and it wasn't very busy. I ordered the paitan ramen (pork/chicken broth) with the local style noodles, which are cooked till they're a tad bit softer. The ramen I ordered only comes with two pieces of charsiu...I really wish they were a little bigger. They tasted really good, as if they were marinated in shoyu and sugar. Yum! Personally, I think the broth could have had a little more flavor and depth. The waitresses were very polite and nice. Yay for Hersey kisses when paying for the tab! I'd totally recommend Yotteko-Ya to my fellow ramen lovers.

    (4)

  • Sivilay T.

    I've been here 4 times since we stayed in Honolulu for the whole month of July. We tried a few other ramen places and I was super disappointed that I even bothered giving those other places the benefit of doubt, because I should've just stuck with my gut instinct when we came here the first time and I told my son that we'll definitely be back again and again. Of all four visits, the flavor never disappointed and it actually seems that it just kept getting better. Last week, we came two days in a row because we just loved it that much...to the point the waitress now recognizes our little family. If you happen to find this spot first, do yourself a favor and don't bother trying to do the taste test elsewhere, I'll save you the pain of being disappointed and tell you to just keep coming back to Yotteko-Ya. Now, if I could just find a place near the San Francisco area that comes close to their flavor and I'll be happier about going back home.

    (5)

  • Taryn P.

    OH.MY.GOD. At first, I was a little skeptical. My mother said this place was good and I hate when she's right! But yes, she was right... Mother is always right. In my opinion, it's better than Goma Tei, but that's just me. The broth is amazing. Their chasu is ON POINT. Fatty, meaty, and flavorful. You can tell it's not pre-frozen. The place is run by little old Japanese ladies, and they're so sweet. It's right next to my apartment, so it's perfect when I'm craving a warm soup belly. Two big thumbs up for this place.

    (5)

  • Matt G.

    Ordered the Paitan chashu combo with gyoza & fried rice. Very first thing I noticed was the small portions. Very small. The noodles were good & firm, but not much condiments came in the bowl. I found this unusual for ramen. The broth was good, definitely not salty, which I prefer. The gyoza was good, pretty standard. The rice was good, not salty or drenched in frying oil. Expected more, with all the hype, but it came out pretty normal to me. I still prefer Santouka.

    (3)

  • Kristina D.

    Far off the Waikiki area. From the Courtyard Marriott where I stayed it was about a 15 minute walk. It is located in plaza on the far end of the second floor. There was no line at about 7PM on a Sunday night. Typically priced ramen ~$10-11. I ordered the Cha-Siu ramen with spicy sauce ($1 extra) and extra noodles ($1 extra). The broth was pretty good and satisfied my ramen craving but nothing too different from what you get at other ramen places. There wasn't a whole lot of spiciness to it either so I had to add extra chili oil and powder to give it a kick. The pork was good. It was more of a BBQ style pork flavor than a pork belly that I'm used to in most ramen places but it was a nice change.

    (4)

  • Helen M.

    Holy mother of god, their paitan is amazing. I get their yasai/vegetable paitan ramen every time. Ramen is always consistent - the noodles are how you ordered it, whether it's Japanese style or local style, and the broth is always so rich and delicious. I have a pebble-sized stomach (blargh, curses!!) but I can still finish the whole thing down to the last drop of broth because it. Is. So. So. Delicious. I agree with others saying that it's best to come early, I think I even came here once at 7:30 pm and was still turned down, just horrible luck. They offer the rewards card where if you order 10 ramen, the next one is free!

    (5)

  • Paul C.

    Yotteko-Ya has been on the second floor EWA-side of McCully Shopping Center for about 10 years now. This has been a place I thought about coming to eat but would pretty much end up at Fook Yuen, which is located on the opposite side of Yotteko-Ya. I came here one late weekday afternoon with a buddy after running errands. Got here shortly after 1pm and this place wasn't that busy. There were only 2 waitstaff shuffling back-and-forth. With the empty tables we still had to wait a bit before the waitress advised us which table for us to sit down. I've been making my rounds of eating RAMEN lately and this place was also on my list. In my 3 years in Japan I lived not too far from Kyoto so I pretty much knew what to expect and this place delivered Kyoto-style food - - lightly seasoned. At first I wanted to have their famous KAKUNI (simmered pork belly) noodles but we were advised SOLD OUT for the day. My buddy has eaten here before and told me we'd have to come shortly after opening to guaranty KAKUNI. I was pleased this place gave you many options when ordering RAMEN - - what type of broth, the noodle texture and veggies. We also ordered GYOZA dumplings and I was floored when asked "Deep-fried or pan-fried?" Summary of what I tried: PAITAN (pork and chicken broth) spicy veggie RAMEN (3/5) My noodles were cooked PERFECTLY, al dente. I hate it when noodles are overcooked and soft. Sadly, that the was ONLY good thing about my bowl of noodles. The PAITAN broth was definitely Kyoto cuisine - - simple to bring out the food's good natural flavors. To me, it was BLAND. I ordered spicy and there was a surcharge to this but it was NOT spicy at all. I ended up adding more chili oil that was on each table to kick it up. The veggies were DISAPPOINTING (cabbage, bean sprouts, broccoli, carrots, KIKURAGE or ear fungus, and round onion). I mean, since when do you find broccoli in Kyoto-style RAMEN??? The CHAR SIU pork was too lean and therefore DRY DRY DRY. It had soaked up the broth but the meat had an undesirable texture for my taste. GYOZA dumplings (5/5) I had the pan-fried and my buddy had the deep-fried so I was able to sample both. Both preparations were SPOT ON. They both came out piping HOT and juicy. The skin texture had a nice crunch and not greasy at all. KIM-CHEE (4/5) This is offered as a side-dish to accompany your meal. It was seasoned very well but perhaps could have used a little more time with fermenting. It didn't have the sour taste that I was looking for. My buddy ordered the PAITAN CHAR SIU RAMEN and he said it was good, but had better. Service was OKAY but could have been better. When paying for my bill, was caught off-guard as we were given some complimentary candy. A nice touch! Was disappointed with my RAMEN but because I've heard so many good things about their KAKUNI, where they only make a limited servings per day, I'll be back to give this place another shot at redemption.

    (4)

  • Tiffany W.

    Pretty damn good ramen. Not sure if it's the best on the island, but there's a certain charm to eating at a one-woman shop (she was cooking, taking orders AND serving). If you're a fan of homestyle cooking, you'll love Yotteko-Ya. The broth was creamy, savory and rich, and the noodles had that perfect amount of pull. Love how they give you the option of having your noodles cooked "firm" or "soft" (I obvi went with "firm"). Was definitely missing my yummy half egg, ubiquitous at other ramen shops, but I'll let that slide.

    (4)

  • Jozlyn H.

    Tis' the season for colder weather, rain and ramen! 5-stars all day baby!!!!! My co-workers and I decided to try this place for lunch. It was our first time here. From the outside the sign says "kyoto ramen" and has this wooden sliding door you walk through. The one and only waitress was busy but acknowledged us as we walked it. She brought us water immediately. Before coming here I read other reviews on yelp and decided to try their Kakuni Paitan Ramen with spice. Their Paitan base is their #1 recommended soup base. Kakuni is a Japanese braised pork dish which literally means "square simmered". I wanted to add-on their spice which is their homemade red pepper and sesame oil mixture. Ohhhhhh man!!!!! This ramen hit the spot! I AM IN LOVE with their ramen! Next time I might try it without the spice because the broth alone was marvelous! Their char siu was tender and cooked to perfection. The noodles were perfect. They normally serve japanese style which is a little bit firm but I like my noodles soft so I requested it to be soft. I wanted spice because I love spicy foods in general. Their spice sauce was perfect, just enough to give it a kick, and not too much where you can't taste the broth....... just PERFECT. I finished everything to the bottom of the bowl.... my coworker lifted the bowl to his face and finished the broth. This place is a must-try. Service was quick and fast Atmosphere quiet, not too busy. It's a small restaurant and when we got there at noon, we took the last table. There was no line...... I'm curious if this place has a line at night?? I don't recommend large groups... tables are about a 4-top. Cost - average, well worth every penny $9.95 - $11.95 Food - just PERFECT Definitely coming back here!

    (5)

  • Laine K.

    Yelp 100 Challenge #7/100 I've been coming to Yotteko-Ya for several years. It is not a big place, so we usually get their early for lunch and don't have a problem finding a seat. I know some have mentioned parking as a challenge, but we usually park below the center and don't have any issues getting parking there during the day, but at night it is a challenge at times. I would recommend getting their early before they sell out of their Kakuni Paitan ramen. The pork is very flavorful and tastes great. I really enjoy the Paitan base ramen which is very rich and creamy. I do like the choice of soft (local style) or firm (Japanese style) noodles. I prefer more of the Japanese style noodles and usually get extra noodles for a $1.00 more. Overall, we've been happy going Yotteko-Ya for ramen and will continue to do so. Thank you Yotteko-Ya for the great Ramen!

    (4)

  • Stina L.

    We are tourists with kids from CA but we lived in Tokyo for years. This place would stand and could compete with the best ramen shops we have been to. We had the paitan ramen and it was delicious! It wasn't too salty and was rich without being too much. We are big fans of tonkotsu ramen and I found out last night that Kyoto ramen is like tonkotsu ramen mixed with chicken bones. It was amazing. We both got Combo C set which included Giza and fried rice . The kids are up the rice and Gyoza and we're happy campers. We are so happy we tried this place. We are staying at the Hawaiian Hilton resort and this place is about a 10 min walk but I'm so happy we ventured out. It's a nice walk and the place put me right back into Japan. Highly recommend!

    (5)

  • Amy L.

    Worst ramen ever. I went in because of high reviews on yelp. Having been to Japan before I know what ramen tastes like and this is not it. Both my friend and I left with half a bowl of ramen left at the table. We ordered the paitan charsiu The noodles weren't anything spectacular it's the same noodle you can get in the refrigerator of the store. Broth: This is where I have to say it's a bit gross. First the broth is kinda thick but lacks pork flavor. It's more a light chicken taste. It's pretty fatty since it's heavy and white, I can't drink the broth. It's cooked for many hours but the seasoning at the end lack umami. Toppings: I've never seen drier chunks of unappetizing pork in my ramen before. Most charsiu I've had was thinly sliced. Maybe it's a kyoto thing or Hawaiian to have it in chunks. The pork wasn't particularly flavorful. Place inside was full of tourists. Decoration was somewhat japanese but the cheap tables and chairs drags down the atmosphere a bit. Make the place seem kinda dirty. I can see why the high reviews and ratings. It's in a popular area with high foot traffic. Also not everyone has tried authentic ramen before so this might be the best stuff in the world. It's not for me. I wouldn't come here again.

    (2)

  • Randy S.

    The Charsu Paitan was to die for! The noodle had a great texture, firm and not too soggy. The broth was filling but not salty or oily. Bless our server, she was incredible. She bussed the tables, took orders, ran her own food, and maintained a smile in a very busy restaurant - all by herself, may I add.

    (5)

  • Lechelle M.

    I love the paitan ramen with a side of kimcheeand the service is super friendly. Would recommend this place to anyone who enjoys yummy ramen

    (5)

  • Johanna M.

    Soooo.....I might be burned at the stake for this, but I thought Yotteko-Ya was just okay. The restaurant is located on the 2nd floor of the McCully Shopping Center and it is very red.....hahaha. They have bright red walls. The staff is super friendly and very attentive. I really like the ladies that work there. They were so nice. They also currently have a termite problem, which was a little distracting. They were flying all over the place and I was afraid one was going to fall into my bowl. Hopefully they get the problem resolved soon because it's kind of gross to have all these little bugs buzzing around you while you're eating. Alrighty....on to the food. I ordered the tonshio ramen and my husband ordered the paitan ramen. I will say that the paitan ramen is much tastier than the tonshio ramen, but it's not the best broth I've ever had. I liked the noodles a lot. They give you the option of ordering them Japanese style (firm) or the soggier option. We always prefer the firm option because soft noodles are for the birds. We also ordered the gyoza and found them to be okay. My husband and I agreed, Yotteko-Ya was good, but there are a few other places we prefer to visit to get our ramen fix. I am not sure if it's because we had just eaten at Hokkaido Ramen Santouka the night before, but Yorreko-Ya was a little underwhelming. I think I might come back to try the shoyu or the paitan ramen. I will update my review then, but for now, I thought it was just okay.

    (3)

  • Shannon H.

    Came here with family friends right when they opened (5:30) and they were not open. A couple that was also waiting called the restaurant and they said they were gonna be opening shortly. Ramen comes in three basic varieties: paitan (tonkotsu flavor), yataiaji (shoyu), and tonshio (shio). In addition, each variety is available with assorted fixins: regular comes with two slices of housemade chashu; "chashu" comes with five slices; "yasai" comes with assorted veggies; "tabeteko" comes with kimchee, veggies, and one slice of chashu; and "kakuni" comes with a block of chashu. I was really curious about the kakuni but decided to play it safe and got the regular style paitan ramen (sans green onion, of course!). Noodles are available soft (which is local style?) or firm (traditional style?) and I think our whole party opted for firm. In addition, we ordered a side of gyoza and the garlic chahan (fried rice, essentially). Both good! They have optional add-ons too. oomori, which is extra noodles, cost $1.50, spicy, a homemade red pepper and sesame oil mixture is $1. Of course I had to try the spicy and OF COURSE I burned my tongue off despite only using about a third of the seasoning they brought over. Shouldn't be surprised at this point. The cover of the menu claims that the broth will make you younger! How could you argue with that logic.. Go go go! Per menu: Our homemade soup is simmered for over 10 hours with the choicest pork, the freshest chickens and 10 different vegetables and spices. This meticulous process produces a uniquely thick collagen rich stock that will actually help prevent aging of skin and joints. So, please enjoy our soup to the last drop and look younger!

    (3)

  • Andrew W.

    The best ramen I've had on the whole island. I even ordered a second bowl right after! They have the best combination of broth, noodles, and (of course) charsiu. My personal favorite restaurant out of all Hawaii. The place reminded me so much of Japan. Like everyone else, I recommend the Kakuni Paitan Ramen -- extra noodles and char siu for those ramen fans.

    (5)

  • Isaac R.

    I ate the paitan char siu and it was savory and delicious. Will definitely be back for more.

    (4)

  • Matthew M.

    Very delicious ramen restaurant hidden away at McCully Shopping Center My girlfriend and I came here in an effort to try a new ramen place. I guess we might have gotten lucky, because unlike the reviews of others, our ramen came pretty fast. Granted, we got there early (around 6p) and we got our food after about 10 or 15 minutes. Although, after trying their paitan ramen, I can see how this place can get super busy at times (even though it was pretty empty when we got there). It is definitely worth the wait if needed. The atmosphere was interesting. You walk in through a Japanese style sliding door and into what looks to be a very Japanese themed restaurant. Although the plastic chairs and tables give it sort of a cheap feel. (Dinging them one star for this) Overall, great quality food for the price (around $10).

    (4)

  • Brandon S.

    This place looks sort of small on outside but it's pretty spacious inside. The ramen I got with the pork was crazy good. The flavored, noodles, and pork was so tender. The fried rice was absolutely perfect as well The best ramen on the island

    (4)

  • Brent S.

    After just one visit, Yotteko-Ya immediately became one of my favorite ramen restaurants in Honolulu, and anybody who lives here knows that there are countless to choose from. Like most wonderful soups across the many cuisines of the world, it all starts with the broth as the foundation for whatever else goes inside. Yotteko-Ya's featured "paitan" ramen has a rich, satisfying broth which is both rich and "clean" at the same time... not an easy feat (rich broths are sometimes oily or greasy tasting, and purely clean broths sometimes taste like salty water). To get both aspects in one bowl is a pleasant and uncommon surprise! The other highlight of Yotteko-Ya is their char-siu pork. While the slices may not be as thick and meaty as some ramen places, it surpasses most other places in the sheer flavor. I don't know how long they marinade this meat before preparing it, but it's astounding. This is the type of char-siu that you'll remember and savor in each bite. Another plus side of Yotteko-Ya: they offer two styles of noodles, either "firm" (Japanese style) or "soft". I prefer the former, but others may prefer softer, and Yotteko-Ya is unique in offering diners a choice. In short, Yotteko-Ya is awesome. I can't wait to come back and enjoy more of this delightful ramen.

    (5)

  • Vega S.

    Yotteko-ya has a note on their menu that promises their ramen will make you look younger (along with a really scientific sounding explanation on how it can encourage collagen production). Unfortunately I don't look any younger post-ramen eating. But other then the false advertisement they have some of the best ramen I've ever had. I ordered the paitan broth with pork and vegetables. It was a generous helping and really delicious. The homemade pork is a cherry on top. Definitely recommend this place. Just a note, parking is really tight in this complex so if you can walk here you should do that.

    (5)

  • Alyssa N.

    Great place if you come early! NOODLES The noodles were perfect in consistency (I recommend the firmer Japanese style). BROTH The lighter broth was subtle in flavor, but nonetheless delicious. SERVICE The service was a little bit slow considering we were the first customers in. Also, I arrived a little earlier than 11:30, but they didn't open the restaurant till almost 11:45. I thought it was a little unimpressive to arrive after your customers. DISHES (In the order that they arrived) Kim Chee - It was delicious in the sense that it wasn't overly spicy (which I find unpleasant to eat), and it had a good flavor (great match with the ramen). Pan-Fried Gyoza - Tasty. Good filling, good flavor, and a crispy side. (The Very Popular) Kakuni Ramen - Perfect if you prefer a lighter broth. The cha shu meat was tender, juicy, and flavorful. The vegetables weren't spectacular, but overall a great bowl of ramen. IMPORTANT TIPS - Come early (or else you'll have to wait long and they're likely to run out of the good stuff) - Order the Japanese style noodles - Parking may be a bit of a problem - Unless you plan on waiting extra long or shunning one of your friends the whole time, do not bring more than 3! (It's a small place with only 1 table serving more than 4!)

    (4)

  • Sarah A.

    This has to be the best Ramen and chasu I have ever had! I wish they had one on the mainland! Will be coming back before we leave. Also, every year we come we will be eating here. Didn't eat or try anything but the paitan ramen. But, so delicious.

    (5)

  • Jade P.

    I have eating at this ramen place for the past two years. I have tried a lot of ramen places such as nakamura, Goma tei, Agu, Gomachi on Keeaumoku but this place is my favorite. I went here today with bf and we both got kakuni paitan. Whenever I go here I always get kimchi ramen and bf got other flavor from shoyu to sea salt and paitan, he said paitan is the best. We got here by 11:30 and the place is almost filled. We wanted to try kakuni after seeing reviews. We have attempted to order kakuni in the past and it was always sold out. The service was very slow today, only one woman working. The big table was filled by a big family. We waited abt 20 mins for our ramen. Verdict on kakuni: eh, the meat wasn't soft and half of it was fat jiggling. I would go here again but will resort back to kimchi ramen and pan fried Giza. I always joke to my bf that my perfect ramen bowl is the broth from this place, char siu from Goma Tei, spice level from Agu and soft tender bamboo and bean sprout from Nakamura. That would be heaven. I gave four stars because I feel the place could hire one more person in the front, especially during peak meal time.

    (4)

  • Patrick I.

    How could I live in Waikiki, and not travel down to this gastronomic heaven?! Today, as a recommendation from 2 friends; I cycled on down right around opening time. Not more than 10-15 minutes after I arrived, the place was packed. A good sign of what was to follow. I had a combo set because I also wanted the gyoza and saved a few bucks. My combo came with the Raitan ramen and veggies ($2 upgrade, but oh so worth it), and 3 piece side of gyoza and a small bowl of white rice. I am not sure if I cried when the food arrived, while I was eating every last morsel, or when I paid the bill and left. Crying was invoked by the amazing taste of the rich broth and perfectly cooked noodles (Japanese style, so firm and not soft like the local style). Lots of veggies in my broth which gave the dish lots of good texture contrasts. And the gyoza was sensational; pan fried to perfection, and the filling was a good amount, not scant as you get at other establishments. Even though I did not need a bowl of white rice, I did eat it like an appetizer with my gyoza. All in all, I will not walk back but RUN back for this wonderful gem just outside of Waikiki at the McCully Shopping Center. Patrick :-)

    (5)

  • Sam C.

    The ramen broth was pretty blank compared with Santouka's broth. Even the Paitan broth was weak, and the regular broth was just better than water. The gyoza was the highlight. Plump and juicy and the right amount of crispness. The fried rice and fried chicken were both bland though.

    (2)

  • Pablo P.

    I visited last week with my wife and 3 year old for dinner. We ordered the paitan ramen, yataiji(shoyu based) ramen, and gyoza. The paitan men was just ok, and the yataiji ramen was not good. Gyoza was mediocre also. I think the non-Japanese work staff and shady back portion of the restaurant, that leads to the kitchen isn't very appealing either. For Honolulu, there are far better ramen options. I will not repeat here.

    (2)

  • Maxine R.

    Yes yessss yesssssssss this place! I had the paitan ramen. Hooooooooooo brah. So good. The broth was creamy but...not thick? I forget how long they boil the broth for but I know it's long while. So flavorful, so delicious. Not crazy salty like I've found some ramen to be. I'm no ramen expert, but my taste buds do know what they like and don't like. And my taste buds say HECK YES. I like that there's the option of firm or soft noodles because not everyone likes their noodles like me (undercooked). Just kidding. But I do like a firm noodle...that played out better in my mind. Mind out of the gutter, k thnx. Tiny little place with a cute slide door to enter. I want to come back here over and over again. Service is okay, but their ramen over shadows that.

    (5)

  • Osman J.

    This is the first place in Hawaii that gave me the urge to write a review. Not because it's good, but because how disappointing it was. After yelping ramen places in Honolulu, my gf and I decided to try this place first so we arrived 11:30am, the supposed opening time...and guess what....had to wait until 11:45 because they ain't ready yet....that's ok we can wait for good food...but that's already a bad start... We ordered 2 ramens and some side dishes and none were impressive...average at best...soup was salty and oily and neither the noodle nor the toppings were worth the wait...

    (2)

  • Khan M.

    Great place. From walk in to sit down to eat to enjoy, to leave. All was good and enjoyable. Paitan broth was super good. House spice was fiya. Will come back soon.

    (4)

  • Dave F.

    If you want a delicious bowl of ramen that was made with a lot of dedication and patience, I highly recommend you come here to Yotteko-ya! If you're lucky enough to have an order of their Kakuni Paitan charsiu ramen, which is produced in limited quantities, you'll know what I'm talking about. The broth is a rich, pork based broth that is produced in the Kyoto style. You also have a choice of noodle preparation, being firm or soft. No matter what, my preference will always be firm! But, to each his own. I felt lucky this day, no dreaded "sold out" sign hanging on the door, which I have encountered a couple times! After waiting for what seemed like hours, my coveted bowl of Kakuni Paitan ramen was sitting in front of me with a nice piece of their very tasty charsiu sitting on top of it. I feel that of all the ramen shops I've been to, Yotteko-ya's is the best. Soft and very tasty, not dry and leaving you always wanting more! Order up a serving of their gyoza, which BTW is also very good and you have yourself a delicious meal ! I love my ramen and tend to stick to the tried and true, Yotteko-ya being one of them. Some people say ramen is ramen, but that can't be further from the truth! If you try enough places, you'll find out for yourself. My good friend Brandon S. wrote an article on Nonstop Honolulu reviewing his Top 5 Ramen places to eat and Yotteko-ya made that list! If you have a chance, go read it! I'll always seek out new and interesting ramen shops, but Yotteko-ya will always be one of my favorites. I just don't want to see that dreaded "sold out" sign anymore! Parking can be a problem, as we all know, McCully shopping center is a very popular location for restaurants and it has limited parking. Don't forget though, there is also a bottom level of parking. Just be careful as you drive down there.

    (4)

  • Taryn L.

    I have been meaning to try this ramen restaurant for YEARS...no joke. I swear every time I came to try it out, I always forgot that they were closed on certain days of the week...it always happened to be the day that I went. Finally...FINALLY the day arrived where my hubby and I were at McCully Shopping Center, parking was not difficult to find, AND Yotteko-Ya was open! SCORE! My ramen dream is coming true. When I first entered the restaurant, it was smaller than I imagined, but felt welcoming. It was decorated with Japanese lanterns, shoji screens, and various (what looked to be) traditional Japanese wall decorations. The walls were also painted red...interesting color choice. It did take a few minutes for the hostess/waitress to seat my husband and I, but I didn't mind. I was very excited for the ramen discovery that was about to take place. When I got the menu, I noticed that the menu cover explained how drinking their ramen broth can make you (look) younger...something about collagen. This place sounds good already! Looking at the inside of the menu, there were three types of broth to choose from, as well as a variety of rice dishes. It all seemed so good to me (did I mention that when I came here, I was FAMISHED? Ok...maybe an over-exaggeration, but I was pretty hungry and I was super excited for good ramen). Then, my hubby said, "Did you see the combos on the back of the menu?" WHAT?!? No I did not...another reason why I love my husband - he knows how much I love fried rice and gyoza with ramen. And there...on the back of the menu...combo set C - ramen with gyoza and fried rice. Did you hear that? That was the sound of ramen heaven welcoming me into their world. What I really liked about this restaurant was that they offered variety in how the food is prepared. You can choose if you want your ramen noodles firm (Japanese-style) or soft (local-style). You can choose if you want your gyoza pan-fried or deep-fried. Even with the combos, you still had a choice of what broth you want and what rice dish you want. I ordered the Combo set C with the firm noodles in a shoyu broth with the spicy oil added to it (additional $1), pan-fried gyoza, and the original fried rice. I figured if I am to compare this ramen to other restaurants, I need to get the basic broth. The ramen was pretty good. The noodles were firm, which I loved - I do not like soggy noodles. The spice was great - it kind of creeps up on you then once you feel it, it stays with you the entire time. However, the shoyu broth was more bland than I thought it would be...once you get past the spicy oil they added, it seemed to lack flavor. Also, as a side note, their shoyu broth is more the creamy/milky color than a clear, light brown broth. I think the next time I come, I will get the Paitan broth. It was garnished with konbu (I think) and char siu. The char siu was about 1/4-inch thick and was more fat than meat. I am not a fan of fatty char siu, but the flavor of the meat was amazing. The meat was reminiscent to shoyu pork - tender and sweet. I liked the meat...if only it came with less fat. The gyoza was great too! Chewy wrapper and filled with a tasty pork and vegetable mixture (the vegetables added a slight crunch to it). The fried rice was a more moist and oily than I am used to, but it was still good. It was fried with their char siu, bell peppers (first time I ever saw bell peppers in fried rice), egg, and green onion. The only bad part about our experience there was that it took awhile for us to get seated and to get the check. Definitely plan on coming back to try the Paitan broth and get me more of that gyoza.

    (4)

  • Helen C.

    They've certainly got the ramen biz down but everything else was very average. The paitan chashu ramen was amazing. I sprang for Combo C but kind of wish I hadn't. For one thing, I was filled up by the ramen alone, but also a bit underwhelmed by the gyoza and fried rice. Service can be quite slow since it's pretty much one girl serving an entire restaurant. The mom serves too, but I mostly saw just the daughter (at least I think they're mom/daughter). Between serving, taking orders, seating, bussing tables, answering questions, etc...it seemed like way too much for one person to handle. I went for lunch and it was pretty full but we didn't have to wait long. It's kind of my go-to ramen shop, so I'll def be back. Just wish they had a little more help!

    (4)

  • Mike D.

    High quality and delicious! Even without the egg, their ramen noodles, broth, and meat are all wonderful.

    (5)

  • Kim N.

    My favorite place for ramen! Every time I've been here, I've gotten the same thing... Paitan ramen! It says it's limited, but there hasn't been a time I've been denied. They offer different ramens, but why fix something that isn't broken. It can also be prepared Japanese style, firm noodles, or local style, softer more like saimin. The service can be slow, but the food is definitely worth the wait. Most times ive been here, there is one cook and one lady out front that seats people, takes orders, delivers orders, and cashed you out. Since it's in mccully shopping center, parking can also be hard to find. But it's great that it's so so sooo close to where I live, I can walk over!

    (5)

  • Tiffany O.

    I love this place so much. Located in McCully Shopping Center, I come here for lunch and dinner! Just have to be careful not to come during the time they close the restaurant for a few hours, because that would suck... I've tried the Yataiji, Paitan, and Kakuni I believe, and I recommend them all!! The gyoza is also good too. They do have sets which I like very much as well. And also they have a stamp card too! The only thing about this restaurant is the service is very very slow. Sometimes it's busy and the restaurant is kind of small, so waiting is not pleasant. Also, it does take a while for the food to come out... other than that I don't mind coming here. One of my favorite ramen places!

    (4)

  • Char Y.

    we came 1/2 hour before opening and waited in line for this little place in the strip mall. we ordered the special, kakuni paitan ramen with the fried rice and sides. paitan ramen - really good soup! fries chicken - good dumplings - good homemade chaisu fried rice - awesome fried rice - awesome crazy amount of food for the money and the food is awesome!

    (4)

  • Brian B.

    Here's my review: I love it I love it I love it I love it I love it I love it I love it. Did I mention that I love it?

    (5)

  • Larlar S.

    Noodles...Excellent Broth ....Excellent Price...Fair Service....Needs Improvement The biggest issue I have with Yotteko-Ya is their service because they take foreverrrr. I do not mean to sound harsh because I like the waitress there, she's an angel! I would suggest, however, hiring new waiters because every time I have been there, it's the same lady scrambling around, doing her best to accommodate everyone. I always see frustrated customers lingering for their check and people waiting for tables to be cleared. Thus, if they could hire more workers, this restaurant would be top-notch! Although seating and receiving the bill are not timely, the food surprisingly is because it arrives in less than ten minutes after being seated!! And regardless, this ramen is worth the wait. So far I have tried the cha shu paitan, vegetable paitan, and paitan topped with kim chee. All of them are splendid, so order away!! What I really love about their ramen, nonetheless, is their BROTH. It is just...superb, AND it supposedly helps your skin!! That's frickin awesome!! COLLAGEN...COLLAGEN!! Hmmm...maybe that's why Asians age so well? Bottom line: I highly recommend this place even though I started my review criticizing their service. I trust you will not be treated poorly, it's just that if you are an impatient individual, you might want to take a chill pill before you enter the restaurant. Also while you may be growing valleys (worry lines) on your forehead from waiting, consuming their delicious Asian youth potion will erase them! DOUZO!

    (4)

  • Kim M.

    Tabeteko Paitan Ramen; McCully Shopping Center; stamp card. That's really all you need to know. So for those of you who don't like lengthy reviews, there you go. Now, for the rest of you detail-loving peeps, proceed: Ramen lovers, rejoice! Yotteko-Ya has the answer to your lunch and dinner ramen needs!! TABETEKO PAITAN RAMEN ($9.95) w/ kim chee and 1 slice of Yotteko-Ya's homemade chashu pork yelp.com/biz_photos/fy6V… Although still good, don't waste your time with the regular paitan ramen. The Tabeteko is where it's at! (Well, I guess if you aren't a fan of kim chee, the Tabeteko wouldn't necessarily be for you.. But, seriously now, who doesn't like kim chee???!!!) To me, the kim chee in the Tabeteko balances out the richness... And the homemade chashu pork is totally legit. It's soft, tender, and ridiculously flavorful. Next time, I plan on ordering extra. PAITAN Paitan is a flavorful, richer type of broth made from boiling both chicken and pork bones for hours. It's creamy whitish in color and quite similar to Tonkotsu. FIRM OR SOFT As for the noodles, you have the option to choose either firm or soft. Firm is the equivalent to "al dente," which is how I like my noodles. Even though I haven't tried it, soft kind of scares me.. I have teeth, so I'm okay with chewing... But for those of you who like soft...great! GYOZA ($4.95) 5 pieces of pork gyoza, pan fried or deep fried Definitely a must. The bf and I have found gyoza to be the perfect accompanying side dish for ramen or noodle soups of the like. Luckily, Yotteko-Ya's gyoza happens to be quite tasty! It tastes pretty fresh, not lacking in flavor or skimpy on the goods either. STAMP CARD Who doesn't like discounts and free shz?! Buy any 10 ramen, get 1 free Yataiaji or Tonshio Ramen. CREDIT CARDS Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express. VERDICT Yotteko-Ya has answered my prayers - I've found a new hangover remedy and it isn't pho or a bloody mary! And I'm absolutely down to eat at Yotteko-Ya any and every day. Morning, noon and night; whenever; wherever. Holler if you need an eating buddy! Bar hopping after?

    (5)

  • nick m.

    Yotteko-Ya is on the second story of the McCully shopping plaza on Kapiolani that has the 7-11, Taco Bell, Hot Pot Heaven and other tasty eateries. Pretty quiet for a Saturday night. They close at 10 but they were already warning us the kitchen was closing for last orders around 9:10! This place is NOT BYOB, but limited drink options are 12 oz domestics or a 12 oz Kirin in a bottle. Table had chicken karaage which pretty good. I was looking forward to the Kakuni Char Siu Ramen which is their specialty, braised fatty pork, but unfortunately they were out, the waitress told us they only make enough for 20 orders a day. Ordered the regular Paitan Char Siu ramen which came with 5 slices of char siu. You can order your noodles 'Japanese Style' which is al dente, or 'local style' which i'm guessing is soft, saimin style. Everyone gave two thumbs up to the broth which was really flavorful and tasty, not too salty either. Noodles were al dente, as advertised. Honolulu has some AMAZING ramen places, and I love ramen. This place is decent, and I would come here again, but there are some better places not too far away.

    (3)

  • Tammy T.

    We went here after a horrible, horrible disappointment from Anime After Dark (art museum thing). It's on the second floor of the McCully Shopping Center in the far corner. The fifth star is given only due to The Chashu (yes, without the "r") is f'n awesome. The side order portion is super small but SOOO worth it. I'm not much of a fan of meat but... *Homer Simpson beer drool* it's so soft and practically falls apart in your mouth.... We got (pictures): Set C - Tonshio Ramen, 3 pc gyoza, and mini yakibuta chahan 11.95 Set D - Tonshio Ramen, 3 pc karaage, and mini yakibuta chahan 12.45 Curry Chahan 6.95 They offer 4 different sets where you can choose from 2 of the ramens, either Yataiaji or Tonshio. (with an extra charge you can get ANY one of their ramens) Also Set C & D offers a choice of either mini yakibuta chahan or Chashu Gohan. There are many ramens and chahans to choose from. Plus, you can request your noodles to be traditional Japanese style or local (softer). Original visit 3/28/08

    (5)

  • Chris A.

    We went here because the weather was perfect for ramen (it was raining and there were chills in the air). It was kinda busy when we went so we had to sit at the counter. No problem! It was pretty funny because our waitress would just peep her head over the counter now and then and asked us if we were okay. For the appetizer, we had the ebi chili sauce ($7.95) and gyoza ($4.75). The price wasn't too bad at all, but we were just hungry. The ebi was smothered in the sauce (the way we like it), but it might be overkill for others. The gyoza had the nice, pan-crusted crust without it being burnt. It had a generous amount of filling too. The paitan chashu ramen ($8.95) was just ridiculously good. It wasn't overly salty either like most bases tend to be. Every time we go to a ramen joint one of us always have to get the paitan base; we just love it. The paitan here didn't disappoint either, probably one of the better paitan we had. Delicious!

    (3)

  • Abbey Y.

    I don't know why it's called Yotteko-Ya on Yelp, but the sign on the door says Kyoto :) I was uber excited to try out this place because of all the raving reviews and I was getting tired of going to the same couple places. I came here with my boyfriend last week thursday. I had the paitan ramen and... he had the other one (forgot the name) it was both very delicious. But I do have to recommend the Paitan broth for those that want a little bit more of a tastier broth :) My boyfriend also got the kimchee fried rice which he liked a lot. In general I have to say that the ramen here is definitely delicious and worth a try. Now onto the location and place. It is situated in the McCully shopping center, needless to say parking will be a definite issue during lunch and dinner. The layout of the restaurant is quite unique but not exactly the most ideal as there are only about 10ish tables in the place and a small bar that has 4 seats. It doesn't sit many people and you're going to be left waiting outside their door if you come during busy times. The service we had that day left a bit to be desired. I don't want to write anything negative because the food was soooooooo good but they did lack service while we were there. There was only one waitress on the entire floor, she was responsible for seating guests, taking orders, giving and picking up tabs, cleaning tables, and bringing out food. It was all her, and while I give her props for doing a one-woman show a lot of the tables were left waiting for a long time just to order. All in all it's definitely worth trying :) this is one more ramen place knocked off our list of places to try on the island! Yay!

    (4)

  • C D.

    Cute interior with windows and light, ambience, nice and fast service. The gyoza was a cut above -- tender and tasty. Great, al dente noodles (or not, you can choose a longer cooking). The charsiu is the most tender, succulent roast pork (not the red BBQ'd Chinese style). Paitan broth more flavorful than the basic broth. For dessert, try the azuki bean/green tea/ice cream shave ice downstairs at Coffee or Tea Inc downstairs!!

    (4)

  • Rolly E.

    Service is awesome.. been here before but then I got my food. Food was good till I put the charsu in my mouth it was still frozen. Easy fix put under my boiling soup. Then I was eating my noodles pulled my noddle out and there was a hair in it. Will not come again.

    (1)

  • Brian B.

    I'm in less than three with this place, that's less than 3, or a heart if you were wondering. They seem to run out of things so get there early and get there often. Parking is tight and can be 'fun' aka a pain in the butt, but it's worth it. Don't tell anyone but we cheated and dropped one of our party off to get a table while we drove around and around looking for a parking space. The paitan Japanese style is probably the best ramen I've ever had, no lie, no joke and that isn't a statement to be taken lightly. Add a little spice from the spinning spice and sauce rack on the table and it's perfection.

    (5)

  • Diana Y.

    My bf's a huge fan of ramen so we came here early to get the Kakuni Ramen (they only make 20 orders a day). I'm not a big fan of ramen but this place was a hit for me. We ordered the Chausu Paitan ramen. The Chausu meat was amazing. It comes in a thin slice but it's very flavorful and moist. The Kakuni meat was flavorful as well but a lot more dense and thicker. Personally, I liked the chasu better. The broth for both soups were thick but very flavorful; making the overall meal very satisfying and filling. Service is friendly; prices are decent. Come early if you can since they'll also close early if they run out of ramen (which happened the first time we tried coming here. We came at 8:30 when they closed at 9)

    (4)

  • Hikari D.

    Great patina ramen. Lavors balanced perfectly. Will be back to try more. Thank u Hideki for the suggestion - enjoyed it!!

    (5)

  • Justin Y.

    The Pai tan is awesome! The pork is tasty tender goodness and I love having a choice between firm and soft noodles(firm is awesome!!). The pai tan soup base is perfect. Yotekko-Ya holds the crown for my favorite ramen shop on the island. Beware though, parking at McCully is horrrrribad. Good luck!

    (4)

  • Nori M.

    I'm not a big ramen eater. Though I've always enjoyed ramen shops, I generally lean more towards the curry or fried rice (or a combo of the 2). Mostly, this is because ramen at most ramen-ya aren't that special-- same noodles, same broth, same toppings, etc. Let's eat. PAITAN RAMEN However, when a restaurant takes pride in making their own noodles, broth, etc., I am very interested in having some ramen. Yotteko-Ya's Paitan ramen is their signature dish and it does not disappoint. Again, I'm not a ramen connoisseur so I wasn't walkin' on sunshine or anything after my first bite, but it was good. It's a milky broth and for some reason, while it wasn't noticeably thicker than standard ramen broth, it was "hearty". I finished every last drop of the broth, which is saying a lot coming from a non-ramen eater like me. The only downside I could imagine with their ramen is that they weren't particularly generous with their toppings. Then again, I like meat, so YMMV. Conclusion: Different than standard ramen in a good way. CHASHU (Roast Pork) I needed a bit more meat (see above), so I got a side order of roast pork. Again, for the price, it seemed like a rather small amount of meat. However, the meat was VERY soft and tasted like really good shoyu pork. Conclusion: Definitely not your standard roast pork, give me more (at the same price) DEEP FRIED GYOZA Not every ramen-ya offers deep fried gyoza. In fact, the only other place I know of is Nishi Moncho in Manoa. Honestly, it's not that different from normal pan fried gyoza, but the deep frying does give the gyoza a bit more body and substance. Conclusion: Good

    (4)

  • Julie W.

    Paitan Ramen, Japanese style, spicy in the side. I simply can't eat any other ramen after this. The gyoza is crispy n chewy and the fried rice is da bomb. I also tried a shrimp appetizer which took a bit to cook but was worth the wait. They sell out so go early!

    (5)

  • Sean H.

    Kakuni paitan ramen is the ramen of kings! Me, being a hungry person, ordered kakuni paitan ramen with Japanese style noodles. Japanese-style noodles are chewy, whereas the local style noodles are softer. I also ordered fried rice and gyoza to share with my friend (who ordered a regular paitan). When I was here there appeared to be only one worker in the front. She was a small, middle-aged Japanese woman who looked absolutely overworked! The restaurant is pretty busy, so maybe an extra worker would be nice. My friend and I were confused because we were not greeted at the entrance. We thought long and hard as to whether we should wait around to be seated or if we should just sit. The lady noticed us while serving some other customers and told us to sit anywhere (in a very out-of-breath voice!). Although the lady was busy, she came around to take our order very quickly. We ordered exactly what I said we ordered at the top of this review. Just a few fleeting moments later, our gyoza and fried rice came! Both were delicious. Next came the ramen. The kakuni paitan was delicious. The broth was watery yet extremely flavorful. It was salty and brothy with a very subtle nutty note (because of the sesame seeds). The chashu was a nice big block, seasoned to perfection. My friend's piece of chashu looked pretty pathetic compared to mine. It was almost paper thin and 50% fat. But she enjoyed the ramen nonetheless (after stealing some of my delicious chashu). The ramen was very expensive: My friend's ramen was $9.50 or so, and mine was way more (maybe $13.50 or so?). That's okay though, because it was very deliciously eaten. Another thing I like about this place is the location. There are so many after-dinner choices: Bubble tea at Coffee or Tea?, Snow at the Snow Factory, Slurpee from 7-Eleven, etc.

    (5)

  • Seth H.

    Went there on a Friday night with part of the family, my son had been there before and told us what to order, so I tried their paitan broth and he and I shared a large order of pork fried rice. Thought it was interesting you can order your noodles either Japanese Style or Local Style, since it was ramen I went with the Japanese style, think it's more firm, I didn't really think the broth was anything extra but the food came out really fast, what did take long was getting a table initially, the tables were free but they needed to be cleared, they definitely need a bus boy, but when we did get seated the service was very good. I was also impressed with their philosphy that when we run out of the broth, that's it. The don't compromise quality for making more money- that is so refreshing. The fried rice was good, very moist- the pork comes in large chunks and very flavorful, a little on the sweet side for my taste, but still good. Parking sucks but that's not their fault, will be back.

    (4)

  • Dan F.

    My mom always makes me chicken, beef, or fish soup that's been simmered for half a day. The results are spectacular yummy soup that warms the heart and soul. Maybe that's how Asians keep their youths. The Paitan broth is a little similar to that, except it's milkier due to the breakdown of bones and collagen of the chicken they used for the stock. Don't worry, that cloudiness isn't noodle dust. I ordered the Paitan ramen with vegetables, a slice of char siu, and firm noodles. The vegetables are okay, most of it was cabbage and unknowns. The char siu was thick and dry. I don't know if that's a dislike or not because I'm usually offered the really fatty piece. Not a fan of fatty pork except for Kow Yuk. The noodles were good, they weren't chewy like mochi balls just tender. For some reason, I couldn't finish my bowl. I could finish large amounts of pho but I guess ramen noodles are a lot thicker and it fills my stomach up faster. This is the reason why I'm not a fan of ramen. I'll definitely come back to try the cold noodles instead.

    (4)

  • Brian P.

    For the longest time, I thought this place was called Kyoto Ramen. Yotteko-Ya sounds cooler though. I've been to Goma Tei and Tenkaippin, and this place picks 'em up, rips 'em to pieces, and bounces them off the walls. The Japanese style noodles in Paitan broth is really as authentic as it gets. Read my review of Momofuku in NYC and you'll understand why I didn't give that place 5 stars (because of Yotteko-Ya!). You know this place is ramen perfection because although I've been here numerous times, I've never tried out anything else on their menu. I hear their gyoza are pretty good as is their kimchi fried rice. But don't take my word for it, I've never tasted either. I always leave this place drinking all of the broth leaving the bowl clean and dry. I cannot say the same for either Goma Tei or Tenkaippin. Even though I haven't tried all the ramen places on Oahu, I'll go on record to say that Yotteko-Ya makes the best Ramen on the island. Boo-ya.

    (5)

  • Erica N.

    I LOVE THIS PLACE! paitan ramen: to die for. fried rice: SO good! char siu: omg. heaven! (i normally pass on char siu...i'm not really a fan. but here? i love it! in fact, i order extra!!!) i will say that the service is rather slow, especially on a busy night. this sometimes (ok, all the time) bothers the bf, but me? i'm willing to overlook it, as i'm usually sitting there in a paitan ramen bliss....more time to drink up all the broth is what i say!

    (5)

  • Timothy P.

    Paitan Ramen, a ramen with broth containing collagen-rich ingredients that make you look more youthful. Is this too good to be true? I'd love to eat something like this everyday and be a more youthful feminine Asian man than I already am. Yotteko-Ya Kyoto Ramen offers this mysterious soup-fountain of youth. Like all mysteries in life, I "googled it." On Google, I found a Paula Begoun article (BTW, I love her books. She reviews EVERY single cosmetic on the market right down to their ingredients.) To quote the article; "When you eat or drink collagen (from meat or in supplements) it is digested and broken down into the individual amino acids it is made up of, as it would be for any animal protein you eat. But the collagen from either source would not be distributed directly to the collagen in your skin." Shoot... now I'll have to judge the food based on flavor instead of its hype. So, how was it? Pretty tasty. I had the Paitan Chashu with Spicy Oil added. It was indeed creamy and rich, the chashu was otherworldly tender, and the spice was bold but not overpowering. But what really stole the show was not their ramen, but their Garlic Fried Rice. This plate of rice has more garlic than the Garlic Rice at Ninniku-ya Garlic Restaurant on Waialae. In case you are skimming through this, let me repeat myself on its own line. The Garlic Fried Rice has MORE GARLIC than the Garlic Restaurant. Amazing. I reeked of garlic so bad after, I chose not to go out after dinner even though it was Mardi Gras. Normally being stuck at home would disappoint me, but I was so content and in a good mood from my meal that I didn't mind at all. Although it has no power to make me young again, it definitely has the power to make you stay home on Mardi Gras and tweet "when are we going to Yotteko-ya again?"

    (4)

  • Reuben R.

    We arrived at Mccully shopping center a few minutes before opening. There were people walking up and waiting only to leave because it was still closed. Its too bad for them because if they had been a little bit more patient and waited 3 minutes after the starting time, they would've gotten any seats they wanted. After coming in, we found the place to be pretty small. Four other groups were already seated, and after we ordered, the place was quickly filled in. For both of us, it was our first time here, and we mentioned this place to each other because it piqued our curiosity cause people have always told us that its very good. We love ramen so we went, and this place didn't disappoint. My friend wanted the D combo, but they ran out of karrage, so we both got the C combo since she wanted the rice as well, and she upgraded to the charshu paitan, and I upgraded to the yasai paitan ($2 more). That was a whole lot of food right there! Since we got the same combo, we both got the different options just to change it up pan fried and deep fried gyoza, and then the pork fried rice and chashu rice bowl... I have to say that the deep fried gyoza and chashu rice bowl were the winners. Next time, I'm going for that! I'm glad my friend let me sample, cause she's so nice. The yasai paitan wasn't spectacular for the "yasai part." I think the broth itself will just do the justice, cause the amount of veggies was kinda of sad actually... but the ramen was so delicious. It wasn't overly salty and was rich tasting. There were a bunch of mini desserts that I bet are per person, but I was too full to try them, so I'm going to have to come back for more!

    (4)

  • Ronni S.

    We were vIsiting family in Hawaii and they brought us to Yotteko-Ya. For lunch we had Paitan Chashu Ramen (Japanese style - firmer noodles). It was very tasty, although I would have liked if it came with an egg. Fast service, especially given that one woman provided almost all of the service for the eight tables and three counter seats.

    (4)

  • Philip H.

    Okay, I've been a chashu paitan ramen fiend, but lately I have been ordering the combo to at least give the other items on the menu a try and let me tell you THEY ARE JUST AS GOOD as the ramen! The gyoza are HUGE and pan fried to perfection! The fried rice is also really really good. Lots of times fried rice can be bland and lame especially if its not the star dish at a restaurant, but yottekoya's chashu chahan is soooo delish! Lastly, the karaage chicken...amazeballs U.S.A. I am always a die hard fan of the chasu paitan japanese style ramen SPICY, but now when im especially hungry I order the combos cuz I know the other items are just as great! This place is my new fav! :D

    (5)

  • Missy S.

    I absolutely love this ramen joint. I absolutely fell in love with this place. The soup is fantastic. Me and the family tried this place tonight after all the great reviews we read. I was very happy to come here finally. Unfortunately as the picky rater I am I have to give the place only 3 satisfactory stars because when rating a place, you are not only judging the food, but everything else. From service to menu, to location, etc. I will explain why Yotekko Ya receives only 3 stars from me. We get there at about 6 pm and there was almost no one seated inside so we got to sit right away. On Sundays, this place opens at 5:30 to 9 so we thought, if getting here we will be able to order items that will not run out, like fellow yelpers have mentioned. Me and my dad were really anticipating the kakuni ramen that has such a good reputation here. Unfortunately, when ordering it the waitress says they have run out of kakuni ramen already. So she insisted on the tonshu ramen. We really didn't understand why, if this restaurant opens at 5:30 and we got there at 6:00, that menu items would run out so soon? If they know things will be running out, maybe they should list those items as "specials" and only serve during certain days instead of saying "served daily". The tonshu ramen was delicious though. I could tell my pork was marinated in something. It had a nice sweetness to it. The japanese style noodles I ordered were cooked to perfection. I also loved my soup base. I think what makes ramen especially delicious is if the soup tastes good. My ramen came with mushrooms, greens onions, and sesame seeds. I also sampled my sister's deep fried gyoza. Im not obsessed with gyoza, but Yotekko Ya's gyoza is probably the best I have eaten. I would definitely try to order a combo next time. The service was quite slow as well. Like other yelpers have mentioned, there is only one waitress. She works very hard! How is it possible to run this restaurant if they are so busy? Perhaps one more waitress at least? A lot of people are looking for jobs these days. We saw a long line extend out the door waiting for tables. We even saw some people give up and leave. I would love to come back again. After all the food was excellent. But I would try to come when they first open. Like I said, I don't understand how you run out of items when you have been open for only 30 minutes. Well, its an adventure. I can only hope that they don't run out of kakuni paitan ramen like they (supposedly) did tonight.

    (3)

  • Sherry C.

    Had a great first experience here. Our server Lin is such a hard worker. I saw her take care of a constant full house by herself. It's ridiculous how they expect one person to handle all that work. They should really hire more staff during opening time. Anyway, I had the Paitan Chashu Ramen and loved it. Instead of paying an additional dollar to make it spicy I actually liked it with the Togarashi powder. I didn't get to try the other dishes because it was already a lot of food for me, but I will be back in the future.

    (5)

  • Katrice K.

    After trying other ramen places around the island, I have to up my original review of this place. The paitan ramen is so delicious, and the yasai (vegetable) has generous servings of vegetables with only one slice of cha siu which is ok with me as I'm not a big meat eater. The gyoza I think I could pass but I definitely could not get enough of the ramen. The taste and memory still lingers on my mind and tongue since yesterday leaving me begging for more. I would recommend going somewhat early as they tend to close once they sell out. I was there on a Tuesday with a friend and when we left around 8:30pm there was a sign on the door saying sold out and a large group of people (I'm guessing friends meeting up to try the place) looked extremely disappointed.

    (5)

  • Jonathan C.

    My favorite Japanese ramen shop on Oahu. I recently got the Paitan ramen set, which came with a 3-piece chicken karaage and bowl of fried rice. All three parts to this meal were excellent. Reminded me of Japanese ramen from Hidechan and/or Ippudo in nyc. On Oahu, this is probably the best you can find. But I've only given it 4 stars because places like Hidechan and Ippudo offer a bit more variety in the non-ramen section of the menu.

    (4)

  • Albert F.

    The quest for ramen continues, after reading friends high reviews we decided to try it out.... Probably not best to go when you're getting over a cold but my wife swears it cleared up her sore throat, so not only will it make you younger, it'll fix sore throats too! =) We both had the paitan chashu ramen. I'll have to try it again later, when we're not sick but for now, 3/5.

    (3)

  • Brad R.

    Not much to say about this place except that the paitan ramen is the shiznit. Goma Tei what? Tenkaippin who? For THE BEST ramen in Hawaii, look no further than Yotteko-ya (many people think it's called Kyoto Ramen due to the big sign facing the road that says "Kyoto Ramen"). Doesn't really matter what specific style you order. It's the paitan soup base that is to die for. Personally, I usually opt for the chashu with the noodles Japanese-style (firmer). You can also order the noodles local-style, which is soft. I've tried the other soup bases before, but they're just so-so. It's the paitan that keeps me coming back for more. Paitan FTW! Service is always very friendly and efficient. The price isn't exactly what I'd call cheap, but it's about average for good ramen. As a side note, the entrance to the restaurant is a SLIDING door. I've seen people try to push and pull it, then start walking away in disappointment, thinking that the restaurant is closed.

    (4)

  • LesliAnn K.

    The point is, you DON'T NEED TO CHOOSE. just be a pig and load up on the carbs, order the paitan ramen AND the fried rice. Ramen shops are defined by their broth, and this one is what Goldilocks refers to when she says..."JUST RIGHT." We didn't come late (Rookie mistake! committed by us one week ago), in fact we came right at opening so that they wouldn't run out of noodles. Cheap. but dang, now we gotta come at 11 am to try to get that oh-so-hard to get kakuni pork special.

    (4)

  • T N.

    The food here is better than the average ramen spot in Honolulu. I really enjoyed the ramen and their char sui is very tender and flavorful. For that, they get two stars instead of one. What I didn't like was the service I experienced. I went to eat there with a friend and ordered the paitan ramen with Japanese style noodles. My friend ordered the kakuni ramen with local style (cooked longer and therefore softer) noodles. The waiter brings our bowls and places a kakuni ramen with Japanese noodles in front of me. My friend gets the paitan ramen with local style noodles. I told the waiter that the noodles were right but the ramen type were not. He then switches our bowls of ramen. Now our noodles were correct but the ramen were wrong. I (very politely) explain that they are still wrong. The waiter then goes to the back and comes back with a young woman who asks us what the problem was. I again explain to her that the different noodle styles are in the wrong ramen. She then asks us out loud in front of other customers with an incredulous tone, "so you want us to make you new ramen?!" Umm...yes? Eventually, they got our orders right but there wasn't a single apology and they acted as if they were doing us a favor. I mean, its one thing if we were being difficult and changed our orders after we received them but it was the waiter that got them wrong, not us. And what was with the attitude when we were being nothing but polite about it? Maybe they were having a bad day? Maybe the waiter told her some story like we changed our minds or we were being difficult or something? Either way, customer service was non-existent.

    (2)

  • Katelyn G.

    My favorite place to get ramen! I was hooked the first time I tried their "Paitan Ramen", which is rich, flavorful and not too salty (a common complaint I have about most ramen restaurants). I haven't tried too much of their other offerings. The fried rice, gyoza, and shoyu ramen were all average, but I usually only go if I'm craving the Paitan. Parking is a little difficult during peak meal times and the shop's hours are a little strange. Be warned; they are closed on Wednesdays and you'll have to go elsewhere for your ramen fix (though, if you're craving Paitan, you'll probably end up thoroughly disappointed). The woman who waits the tables is always there and always very friendly!

    (5)

  • Dianne H.

    If this place was a man, I would marry it. Been here about 15 times. Try to order something different each time, but that Paitan Char Shuu Ramen is addicting. Also recommend Ebi Mayonnaise, Fried Rice, Chicken Karaage...I'm starting to believe that everything there is delicious. Big bowl of ramen for about $9. Open for Lunch & Dinner. Small place, seats about 30 people or so. Too bad McCully shopping center parking lot sucks.

    (5)

  • Judy C.

    Ohmigod! Their collagen ramen is everything I was looking for in a soup. It taste so good and it's so perfectly seasoned. I have yet to find something like that in NY with enough meat. It's not acutally collagen ramen. It's basically bone marrow white soup with ramen and meat in it. Yuuuuuuuum! Try it if you're in the area. Unfortunately for me, that bowl will cost me an extra $1500.

    (5)

  • Brian W.

    So on our last trip, we discovered this gem right before our flight out of Hawaii. Boy were we glad we came here! The ramen is better than any LA offering I've tried and the best I've had to date (minus Japan based joints). This time around, I brought my parents who aren't huge ramen fans (last time I brought them to eat Shinsen Gumi, they complained for a full week about how much they didn't like it), so I was a little worried about what rating they'd give it. As usual, I ordered the Paitan Chashu ramen with gyoza appetizers, but we also added the garlic fried rice per the waitress/cashier/bus-girl's (seriously, they better pay her a lot for pretty much soloing the front room) suggestion. Once my parents tasted their first sip of the soup, my worries of their usual degrading comments on new places disappeared. They genuinely liked the ramen and loved the garlic fried rice! Even after a couple days, they're still telling their friends of how good Yotteko-Ya was. What a relief cuz if they didn't like it, I would never have heard the end of it for the rest of the trip...

    (5)

  • Shay F.

    Since I know how the REAL one is suppose to taste like...... The REAL Yotteko-ya in Japan is AWESOME!!! But this one fails to meet the standards.

    (1)

  • Eric T.

    Paitan Kakuni Ramen! Wow talk about a taste buster! Frankly i love this place and dislike it. The dining area fits maybe 20people. And its small and quaint but the problem is the wait is probably going to be long in the evenings. Though this place is awesome at opening on sundays (1130am). Not to much people when i went, and the special was the Kakuni Paitan. The japan style noodles are FREAKIN good! But the kakuni pork stuff is just tasty mind blowingness. Not dry and yet you know it was cooking for hours because the fat melts in your mouth! Yummy yummy! Go there and tellem yelp sent ya!

    (5)

  • Brian L.

    This place is so good that my roomate came here 7 months ago and has been talking about it ever since we knew we'd be back... we were a little pressed for time but we tried to grab a bowl after he picked me up from the airport. We get to the front door only to be greeted by the waitress. She says "sorry, we are closed" as she points to the "closed" sign hanging on the door. My roomate, Jeff, tells her that he's been thinking about it since his last trip 7 months ago and we were trying to get a bowl right before we had to leave for the airport. The waitress paused for a second then told us to wait while she checks with the chef. 2 minutes later, we get the green light. SCORE!!! We tell her that we'll be quick because we already know what we want... the PAITAN ramen with our noodles cooked "Japanese" style (a little firm... basically al dente) with char-siu. This is one of the best bowls of ramen that I have had. The broth was milky, cloudy, rich, and full of flavor. My roomate was in "Hawaiin" mode after hanging out with some friends of friends that are locals and was trying to teach me some slang. It started rubbing off on me really quick... ...the paitan was choke good braddah... it broke da mouth!!!

    (4)

  • Gary H.

    Paitan Ramen Haiku in Four Stanzas Broth like crystalline tears of an Unborn Angel Take the soup home, yes! Broth, mmm collagen! Among the best, just balanced You'll say Tenkaii- what? Chasu gohan ughhh Shut the door, leave me tissues Grease? or glad to see me? wah wah gah crying baby why torment me, OH you ain't got no broth

    (4)

  • Kathleen G.

    Wayyyyy overdue review of this ramen joint. Ate here for the first time three (?) months back since a friend invited to eat here along with his other friends. Experience was pretty good that first time. I got the paitan ramen with the chewy noodles, which filled me up faster than expected. Broth tasted different from all the other ramen places I've eaten at. Different but in a good way, muy delicioso! We came when it wasn't busy yet, but it was dinner time already. While there was no wait for tables, parking prior to get to the place sucked. It's located on McCully Shopping center, you can imagine how horrible it is to snag parking spaces here during peak hours. Nonetheless, it's a place worth trying!

    (4)

  • Jesse C.

    Three years ago, I had a hankering for some authentic shoyu ramen. I ask a friend he recommends here. I tried it and proclaimed this is not it. The broth was unmemorable. So much so that three years later a friend ask for Ramen I yelp and find this place. (When did Yelp become a verb? Hey! Don't LOL at me.) Completely unbeknownst that I've already been here. I walk to the second floor of McCully Shopping Center. Hey, look Hot Pot Haven! I step up to the door; that damn door. I remember you. That was my clue. I remember getting confused by you the first time. Ever pushed a sliding door? If you need a hint; it doesn't go well. I give the place another chance and order a Kimchee Paitan with extra noodles. I'm such a glutton for punishment. It's not that this place is bad. But when push comes to slide, its just...Meh. I've experienced better. See you again in three years, Yotteko-Ya.

    (2)

  • Emiko T.

    To be... blunt, or not to be? That is the question. I've never had such a conflict and wished for a separate rating system for the restaurant and then for the food! So I'll just rig my own right now and go for it: Food: Maybe a 3.8? Ordered the Yasai (veggie) Ramen in the shoyu broth. Noodles were great. I ordered them Japanese style so a little chewy and tough but delicious. Excellent and flavorful broth. Now the vegetables really could have been more tender and perhaps with a more generous portion. And ONE piece of the chashu pork? C'mon, load it up!! After seeing how one little piece possibly could not satisfy MY craving, I think that I'd recommend ordering at least 5 pieces. But I have to say that the meat was very tender. The serving size I would say is just right, but perhaps a little pricey for the size. Service: Yikes. I hate to be the snitch but someone had to do it: 2 stars. But please take this with a grain of salt because I heard that most other nights the service is much better with much more pleasant waitresses. Tonight was busy (must be all the post-tsunami cold wind) and there was only ONE waitress hustling around the entire restaurant. She was rude, though and maybe stressed out that she was running the whole thing by herself. Still, it took us forever to order and to get the check. And remember, even if it's a bad night for you, the lone server in a restaurant, don't leave your customers feeling resentful for the service you provided. I think I'll venture out and try my luck at other ramen joints first before giving Yotteko-Ya another go.

    (3)

  • Emily T.

    THE BEST RAMEN EVER!!! First off, if you want to try the best ramen, you have to order the Kakuni Paitan with Japanese Style noodles. The kakuni are thick chunks of pork that are so tender and so flavorful, and I admit, a little fatty as well, but OMG, the best char siu I've ever had! Also, because the kakuni is so flavorful, it actually adds a little extra flavor to the already flavorful broth (trust me, I've tried it with and without kakuni, and it does make a difference). But if there is no kakuni, which I've sadly encountered in the past due to the limited quantities available daily, they are still my #1 choice for ramen. Here are some other things to note about their ramen: - Their regular char siu is still one of the best I've ever had, of course it can't beat the kakuni, but it is still very flavorful and tender. - The Paitan is a rich and flavorful broth that you could tell was "boiled for 10 hours to maximize the flavor", plus the "collagen rich stock helps prevent aging of the skin and joints", which makes the broth even better, since it's (somewhat) good for me too! For me personally, I prefer this over Tenkaippin's Kotteri ramen, which was too thick and rich for my liking, and Goma Tei's Tan Tan ramen, which has a nice spicy kick, but the sesame broth was again a little too rich for me. Oh, and let me tell you, I am not one to drink up much broth after I've had ramen/noodles, but every time I end up drinking almost all of the broth at Yotteko-Ya. No wrinkles yet, so maybe it's working! - The noodles, which I get Japanese-style, has the perfect 'al dente' texture that complements the broth well. If you are feeling hungry, the sides are also good too: - Pan Fried Gyoza - A must-have with ramen - Yakibuta Chahan is their fried rice made with their char siu. Their char siu is great, so their Chahan is pretty darn good too! - Karaage Chicken - When it comes out fresh and hot, it is so good! Crispy on the outside, moist on the inside, seasoned well, very good stuff! And for me, the service has always been great, very friendly, and very helpful in answering questions or offering recommendations. Oh, and if you pick up their business card next to the register, on the back is a stamp card, buy 10 get 1 free, can't go wrong with that. The downsides.. - Limited amounts of Kakuni (best to go for lunch if you want to try some) - Parking - Situated in McCully Shopping Center, I always park in the basement since it is less crowded than the ground level parking, but parking is still tight and limited. - Limited seating if you are dining in (but dining in is a must to enjoy the ramen at its best). 7 tables of 4, 1 larger table on the side, and some counter space. Sometimes they only have one person working the front (or at most two), so when they are busy, it might seem like service is slow, but food normally doesn't take too long to come out after ordering, and if you stand by the register, they take care of your bill quickly. I love ramen, and I've tried all the other ramen places (Goma Tei, Gomaichi, Tenkaippin, Sanoya, etc.) on my hunt for my favorite ramen, and I am happy to say that I've found my favorite, Yotteko-Ya is the best!

    (5)

  • Island Boy B.

    I was brought here by my friend who just picked me up from the airport. It was a perfect choice after a nine hour flight from Manila. We met another mutual friend there who was seated when we arrived. Pan fried Gyoza was already ordered and on it's way, but we came here for the highly recommended Paitan (sp) ramen. With the exception of the fatty slice of pork, the health soup concoction was a perfect blend of crushed sesame broth with an assortment of vegetables, bean sprouts and fungi. The menu had other ramen and rice dishes as well as some other main courses. But for lunch, the Paitan and Gyoza appetizer was more than enough. I would have to try a few more dishes to get a better idea of the entire menu, but the ramen was original and flavorful and the service was prompt. I highly recommend it.

    (4)

  • Michelle L.

    i want to give this place 5 stars so badly but the service i received was the slowest EVER! i must admit, the ramen here was amazing! the paitan broth was delicious and i drank every last drop as the menu told me to do lol. i would give it 5 stars on the ramen alone, hands down. we waited forever to get a table since there was only one girl working. poor thing since she was the hostess, server, busser, food runner, and cashier all at once. by the time she got to us, she was kind of rude. i don't blame her but still, smile a little, it makes a huge difference! once the other girl came on the floor, things went a lot smoother. 4.5 stars. i'll be back and will update this review since it might have been one of those days.

    (4)

  • Janette F.

    I initially visited this restaurant when it first opened. They had 3 types of ramen soup (shiyo, shoyu and paitan) and the house char siu was complimentary. It was good then, and it is good now. The menu has expanded quite a bit but I still stick with the paitan ramen because that is the best. I am not a fan of their kakuni or char siu because it is just a bit too sweet for my taste but the meat does fall apart it is so soft. Everyone who goes there to try it loves it, so you have to try it at least once. Business has picked up so sometimes it is really busy but it is worth waiting for because it is a quaint little place with great photos of the old Kyoto. And, if you want Kyoto-style noodles in a great broth, it is a must try restaurant.

    (4)

  • Kris A.

    I had the Paitan Ramen, as it came recommended on Yelp and on the menu itself. The ramen was fine, but it didn't really thrill me like some other ramen spots do. I also think the prices were a touch too high. A fine place for ramen addicts, but you can find better.

    (3)

  • Yuko K.

    Great ramen place. I had Paitan men and gyoza. Both of them were excellent. Definitely a notch above Ramen Nakamura, or any of the ramen places in Bay Area.

    (4)

  • Esteban W.

    On a late night, grub-run, Norm D. and I set out for some simple soup with flavor. The savory temptress that is Ramen called our names like Homer's Sirens in The Odyssey (thank you Derek G). I grew up with this stuff coming out of cups expanded polystyrene foam. All I ever had to do was add water and watch the dehydrated shrimps reanimate. It wasn't until I moved to the Aloha state where I learned that ramen can be a delicacy. The GOOD: I really liked the décor here. The red walls makes me want to murder again... err I mean paint my kitchen a similar tone. I enjoyed the ramen, but I'm not thinking it was the best. The BAD: There was a wait. I mean it's usually a sign of a good meal, but I felt that the wait was a little pretentious. They only carried three beers, and two were made by Anheuser-Busch and both rhymed with "Shitweiser" and "Shitweiser Light." - I guess they don't really rhyme. The ramen I ordered was their 'specialty' Paitan. I guess no one else makes it like they do - or no one else has it period. This ramen promised chashu, but I have had other places like GomaTei provide a lot more meat (and fat) for a comparable price. Norm D. loves this place, overall I'd rather go to GomaTei. Overall I just feel this place was eh... Will I return? Probably not. Sad day. At most its two and a half stars.

    (2)

  • Dustin N.

    They say "the third times a charm" but not with this place, it took me 6 tries with my love to even get through the door. The first five times we went it was either closed or renovating? I must say that I am quite biased to the "goma teis" and the "tenkaippins" ;) BUT this place hits the spot if you finnin' (craving) some paitan ramen! It's a must to order the combo with chicken fried rice, OHNO! Maybe after another 5 tries, "the sixth time is always a charm"! Dee K approved!

    (4)

  • Lily L.

    not sure what the big deal is about. i mean, the paitan is good, but nothing to write home about.

    (3)

  • Mark D.

    Wouldn't have found this place if it weren't for yelp. We have been to McCully shopping center many times and never really ventured upstairs. I would prefer this place over Gomatei as a lot more options to fix-up your ramen (local style, japanese style, udon, etc.).

    (4)

  • Annie H.

    Yum. Shoyu is good, but paitan is REALLY good. That's what I'm getting next time. I kept stealing bites from my boyfriend's...

    (4)

  • Christa W.

    just ate here for the first time yesterday. had the paitan charsu and i already want it again (sorry tenkaippin you're still my number one but this place was just OH MY GOD). minus one star for slow service but hell i'm not judging. the place is killer.

    (4)

  • Katie L.

    Super good ramen! Service is amazing! Try the garlic fried rice - its amazing!

    (4)

  • Devon S.

    Anyone that knows me knows that I am not much of a noodle person. Carbs are evil! Nah, not really, but I do try to avoid them whenever possible, or until I get a craving, as was the case on this day. It was a rainy, kinda chilly evening and I had a tough workout earlier that day. I wanted nothing more than some nice, homey comfort food. Noodle soup was the perfect repose. I know this may sound awfully gaudy, but very few dishes I have tried in life have had such a profound impact on my culinary portfolio as the paitan char sui ramen at Yotteko-ya. I mean, this ramen noodle soup was in all ways flawless. Firstly, the char sui was gelatinously tender. I have no idea how the meat is prepared, but it is unlike any other sliced pork I have ever tried. The broth...the broth..(moment of silence)... Anyway, yes, the paitan broth is a soft, flavorful masterpiece in and of itself. I mean, it's thin and watery like traditional broth, and yet full-bodied and rich like milk or heavy cream. Moreover, there is a certain harmony of flavors such that the broth is full of char sui flavor and the char sui is full of broth flavor. Amazing. Again, I have no idea how it is prepared but it truly is a one-of-a-kind soupy delicacy. Add noodles cooked to your preferred texture and you have home cooking fit for royalty. Put it this way. If my mother were a Japanese queen, this is the type and level of food I suspect she would prepare or have prepared by a great chef for me and the family. The ONLY flaw with the establishment is the service. I think there are 8 to 10 tables in the restaurant, yet only one server was on duty. The place was understandably packed to capacity, so everything was slow to come to the table. Nevertheless, I give Yotteko-Ya 4 solid stars. Maybe I just came on an unusually busy night. With food as delicious as that, though, it would not surprise me if house was full every night. "S"

    (4)

  • Joyze C.

    Oh, Yotteko-ya! Rocketed from Kyoto, you say? Makes me look younger? While I don't know the truth of what you say, your ramen is pretty good. I always get the Paitan Chashu, with maybe a mini Yakibuta Chahan. The sets are really good deals, in my opinion. Actually, everything here is relatively inexpensive. The only negative thing I would comment on is the service. I feel bad for the lone wait slave rushing around, but at the same time, would it hurt her to smile once in a while? Sometimes, it takes a while for your dishes to come out, too... Or maybe that's just me, since I prefer my food sent to my open mouth immediately after I order... Anyways, Yotteko-Ya is a good place with big portions, a nice atmosphere, and cool little spoon-ladles. The end.

    (4)

  • The Next Time O.

    No no no. Our family all agreed after our lunch, none of us enjoyed the broth. No depth and very oily, both negative for any base soup. Here's the deal about ramen or any other noodle dish with soup, if the soup doesn't taste right, it does not work. Ever have tasty burger with extra soggy bun? Tasty BBQ with rock hard rice? Delicious jelly hidden under melting doughnut? I assume you get the picture except with noodle & soup, soup hold even more presence. Just try the Kimchee Noodle bowl you can pick up at most grocery. As my sister stated, she is still the undisputed Ramen cook. The Next Time: there will not be a next time.

    (2)

  • Laura M.

    Just went to Yotteko-Ya (smack-dab in the middle of the nexus of the Korean-restaurant universe) with my parents for a random Tuesday night dinner out. I've been there many times before but this time the ramen was better than I'd ever remembered. In fact, it's ALWAYS been like that at Yotteko-Ya: the first time I went there I wasn't completely sold on their broth. Maybe because it was too creamy and I was used to gorging on gallons of that robust Tan Tan stuff from Goma Ichi. But the flavor of Yotteko-Ya's broth really creeps up on you, and by the third or fourth time, I know Yotteko-Ya's got it goin' on. Their ramen's got subtle layers that are delectable, with chili pepper flakes and toasted sesame seeds floating through it. The Paitan broth (chicken & pork) is the way to go, with the vegetables and kim chee (not too garlicky or fishy---just perfect!). And it's just the right amount too. Get the Japanese-style noodles (more al dente than the soft Local-style ones). So, so delish. It's still sitting in my stomach digesting, and boy do I feel GOOD. The one problem with Yotteko-Ya is that they ALWAYS seem to be understaffed. And when they have more than one waiter running around (which isn't often), they still seem disorganized. Oh well. During the day, the copious amount of windows at this spot make it gorgeous, AND they offer stamp cards for ramen! GENIUS!

    (4)

  • Brad N.

    I had the Paitan Chashu ramen. Paitan means that the broth is has a porky base that is a little creamier than typical ramen broths. Chashu is the pieces of pork. This bowl comes with two pieces of chashu. It was definitely worth the $7.50. I don't think you need to pay the $8.95 for the bowl that comes with 5 pieces of chashu. I might consider paying the $1 for extra noodles though, as I did finish my bowl pretty fast. I recommend the noodles "Japanese style" which is a little firmer than "Hawaiian style." There are absolutely no vegetarian options here. I cannot taste any MSG in the broth.

    (4)

  • Kent I.

    Update time. Well, its been well over a year and I have gone to a variety of places searching for ramen nirvana. Some were very excellent (Kiwami, Tenkaiipin) and some were horrible. Yottekoya is one that I have eaten at about 5 times since my initial review, so it was time for an update. Yottekoya is fairly small, seating is limited and it seems they only have one girl working on most nights. She is very good, but with the amount of work she has to do alone, there can be a considerable wait. I waited 20 min the other night for a seat, when there were 2 tables available, however, the tables needed to be cleaned and with only one extremely busy waitress. The interior is nice and clean. The ramen to get is the Paitan ramen with nihon style noodles. The paitan broth is nice (perfect level of saltiness), and the noodles are pretty good. The charsiu is small and a little dry. We ordered a side order to place in the ramen and the side order came with 6 half dollar sized charsiu. I believe it was $6 for the side, so not cheap either. Overall the Paitan ramen is good, not great. After having some very questionable ramen in my quest, it was nice to have something of some quality, however, there was nothing about the ramen that really is unique. It is forgettable, nothing that I crave, but it'll do if you're in the neighborhood. A note on the side dishes, in general I would avoid them. I found them to be average general taste and expensive. The garlic fried rice could be easily reproduced at home for a third of the price. Overall, the ramen is recommended, avoid the sides and please be patient with the lone overworked waitress. 3.5 stars.

    (3)

  • Janet H.

    Soup that boosts collagen and makes you look younger? Sounds very suspect, but that's their claim to their delicious ramen soup that is boiled for 10 hours with the finest meats and veggies. I CAN attest to the fact that this is probably the best ramen soup I have ever had in my life. I ordered the chashu paitan ramen, spicy, Japanese style per the recommendations of other Yelpers with a side of kimchee fried rice and gyoza. While the kimchee fried rice had a lot of chashu in it, I thought it was really bland and not anything a true Korean would call authentic. However, I do suggest getting a side of kimchee, as it is a refreshing palate cleanser between bites and gulps of greasy ramen and chashu. The ramen base is so thick that it's more of a stew than a broth. I thought the chashu was a little too sweet and I had to fish out bits of pure fat that were floating in my ramen. I'm not going to lie... the first couple of tastes of the pure fat were really good but then it got too heavy by the third try. The gyoza is also very good pan- fried, but I was too full from the ramen to finish it. Per the recommendation of the restaurant menu, I finished every last drop of my soup and even scraped the bottom of the bowl with the wooden ladle to get every last drop of soupy goodness. Another recommendation- get there as soon as it opens. We went 10 mins after the doors opened and we got the last available table.

    (5)

  • Kenny C.

    The ramen here is really good. I usually get the chashu paitan ramen with Japanese noodles. The service can be slow at times but they are friendly and the prices are good. The restaurant is small and is always crowded so you know its good. The McCully Shopping center parking sucks though, but it's not the restaurants fault.

    (4)

  • reen m.

    *Expect to wait a little if you come during dinner* It's pretty much always crowded but that's what you can expect from a small restaurant serving good ramen. *Ramen was ramen* I differ with most people when I say that I really don't feel like the ramen stands out. It's not bad but it's not great and really I always want great. What is good is that they have so many different types of ramen (flavors) that you can keep trying until you finally find one that you love. I got paitan which has a little more flavor and I noticed most people like it the best. *Char siu is oh oh oh so yummy* I'm not a char siu person so listen to me when I say spend the extra few dollars and get char siu in whatever form you can (in the ramen, fried rice or plain char siu and rice. It's so tender and flavorful that you'll feel like coming back simply for the char siu (sorry ramen lovers).

    (3)

  • Allan C.

    AWESOME RAMEN. Get there early so you don't miss out on their kakuni broth ramen! This is another must EAT at whenever in Oahu. Their appetizers are ONO good too!!!

    (5)

  • Dub C.

    Ramen - noodles good, but have had better soup bases, kind of plain. Gyoza nothing to write about. service had one waiter serving a fully packed restaurant. A for effort!

    (3)

  • Porky T.

    Found this place from Yelp and decided to try it. The Patian ramen was tasty. A Little disappointed that they ran out of the special bulky pork when we're the second customer to enter the restaurant. Overall, it is an average ramen place.

    (3)

  • Inthira M.

    I've been wanting to eat at this ramen place for quite sometime, but every time I go there seems to be a line outside so I just leave. Well last night after waking up from a nap at 9pm (I had a long day) the bf and I decided to try here since we were craving noodles. There were only 3 other couples in the restaurant, I guess the later the better. After reading everyone's reviews I already knew that I was going to have the paitan base with the chashu (5 slices of ramen). My bf had the same thing and then we also ordered deep fried gyoza and ebi in chili sauce to share. The paitan soup base tasted like there was a little sesame seed oil (there are sesame seeds in it as well) in the broth. It looked like a cream broth, but it didn't have that thickness that you would think; I guess it's just the color of the soup. The chashu was very tender but it was a little on the sweet side. I decided it must be marinated in terriyaki sauce. I asked for the noodles to be cooked traditional Japanese style which is a little more al dente than "local style" or softer noodles (you have a choice b/w those 2). I really liked the noodles, though I should've read the menu carefully b/c all the soups come with chashu, but some come with less pieces, some come with veggies and chashu (would've gotten that one. Darn), one can even come with a block of chashu (dine in only). The deep fried gyoza (5 pc) was cooked to perfection, golden brown and great crunch. Taste was great too. The ebi (6 pc) didn't quite go over too well with us. It was deep fried in tempura batter and then this jelly like sauce dumped over it. Texture of the shrimp vs. the sauce was not well thought out and we both stopped eating it. Side dishes aside, I'm going to have to say this is one of the better ramen places to go on Oahu and will be back for the paitan!

    (3)

  • Jeff L.

    This place does not open on time. The ramen is crudely made...the broth was bland and chunks of thick cabbage stems were floating about my bowl. No Love.

    (1)

  • Scott K.

    Paitan Charsu is simply the best. According to the menu, its suppose to help to keep you looking young. This is one of the reasons, ive been going atleast once a week for the past couple of weeks. Garlic rice is also another favorite there. Just make sure you dont have any business meetings after.

    (4)

  • Michael T.

    From the outside or walking in, you can easily mis-look this place or doubt it. However, I do recommend this place if you want decent ramen. I had the specialty Paitan soup. Their blend is just right. Not too salty or too soupy like some other places. If you like your italian pasta al dente, definitely choose the "Japanese style" noodle (firm). The only two downsides I have for this place is 1) understaffed (slow service) with just one person. and 2) small portions (and I don't even have an American appetite) Parking is free in McCully but sometimes parking there can be a B**** Good Luck!

    (4)

  • Kimo S.

    I've been on a Ramen rampage these past few weeks and after visiting five distinct restaurants, I'm relieved to find a place worthy of 5 stars and a number one pick in my book. Ramen is never very filling to me so I always gravitate towards the combo sets, it gives me a chance to sample a variety of dishes and also leaves me satisfied. The best part about the combo sets here is that you can upgrade your ramen to whatever style you wish (for a nominal fee). This is what sealed the deal, because I wanted to try the fried rice (excellent) and gyoza (pan-friend, excellent as well). I upgraded my combo set to the Paitan ramen and was completely happy with my meal. The broth was great, there wasn't too much going on... noodles, delicious char siu, some seaweed and that was it. Not overdone with garnishes like a lot of places, just exactly what you want. On a side note, when you enter you may have to poke around the corner to find a waitress/hostess to seat you. Or at the very least to let them know you are there otherwise you might be standing around for a bit looking silly.

    (5)

  • JoonieJoon K.

    we were on family vacation and I had to try a ramen place. Noticed while going to fook you restaurant on the other side of the corridor. I went at close to 2pm, where all the rush lunch hour storm had already passed by. pros: - friendly staff - cost is decent - good quality cha-shu - has kim chi - good ramen - good gyoja - seems well maintained and clean - japanse style decor cons: - i can see how it could be very tight in terms of spacing during busy hours - place is definitely not big /spacious at all note: this place has underground parking lot. if it is full up on the ground level just go underground. when you order they also ask you how well your noodle to be cooked. i like it not so soft so it came out as expected. no other ramen place has ever asked me this question. orochon in LA has bigger sized chashu. if you like cha shu, order the one bowl that has 5 - it'll be smaller pieces than the orochon LA cha shu pieces so go figure. honestly if people were to say and rank lower than 4 stars for this place just because of "this ramen tastes ok but not better than ___ " ... seems tad unfair. You just can't compare different ramens since they all have their unique taste under each individual restaurant. as far as ramen at yotteko-yaI it is excellent.

    (4)

  • LooLicious L.

    OMG !! I LOVE their Paitan Noodles, Japanese style. And their Cha Siu is out of this world melt in your mouth oishi to the max. When you think of Char Siu, don't think of the disgusting red char siu from Chinese restaurants...it's NOT like that at all. But they do lie about 1 thing...They say their broth which is slow cooked for 10 hours makes you look younger...well, I don't think so.

    (5)

  • Honey P.

    Good ramen, the pork was tender and very flavorful, and the broth was good. They had a super waitress there that did EVERYTHING. She was the only one seating people, taking orders, serving food, cashier, bussing tables, AND washing dishes. She was amazingly organized so the wait was reasonable. We got there 2 hours after they opened for the night and they were already out of their special broth. I also overheard some other items that were already sold out. I guess if you want the full menu to be available to you better be there as soon as they open their doors.

    (4)

  • Eric S.

    Returning to my hometown of Honolulu with a new taste for ramen (developed in the SF Bay area), I was determined to hit some of the ramen-ya that has always been here but I hadn't appreciated before. Thus, my visit to Yotteko-ya was sort of like discovering a longtime girlfriend led a previous life as a lion tamer. I was a frequent visitor to Mccully Center in the past, for both the now-defunct Italian joint on the second floor and the awesomely-named Fook Yuen chinese place downstairs, but I'd never even noticed, let alone eaten in, the tiny ramen shop on the `ewa end of the upper deck. Prepped by other yelpers' comments that the place gets busy for lunch, we arrived about 11:30 and were seated immediately. I ordered gyoza, a small chashu bowl for the three-year-old, and the house special "Paitan" style ramen for both adults. The delicious chashu came out immediately -- "rocketed from Kyoto" indeed! -- and our bowls and gyoza appeared not long after. Very nice presentation, good temperature on the broth and my first chomp of the ('japanese style' as they say on the menu) noodles brought my eyes rolling skyward with delight. After ladling out some soup into the cute Hello Kitty bowl the waitress brought (unasked-for! Bonus points) for Gunnar, I got down to the business at hand: devouring the thick, chewy noodles and deep, well-balanced broth in equal measure. I punctuated the slurping with a nibble of the bowl's five chashu slices, which were sweet and delicate but smaller 2" ovals rather than the sandwich-sized slabs I've grown used to from my local haunt, Maru Ichi in Mountain View CA. The bamboo was crisp and cool and made a nice counterpoint to the broth. We made our way down to the bottom of our bowls; Gunnar polished off his chashu and kept asking for more of my soup. The gyoza were decent but not spectacular. I'd really love a bowl with this broth topped with the kakuni pork and more vegetables; perhaps they'd make that if I asked. My ramen-eating time is limited and there are lots of other places to try, but Yotteko-ya was superb; good enough to try to make it back before I have to leave Honolulu again, and its secret ramen history with it.

    (4)

  • Carol L.

    Paitan ramen japanese style! Rich good for you collagen broth! MmMm guud! Such great noodles. Such comfort fuud!! Yeah i like Gomatei is guud but they don't claim its "guud for you" Tenkaippin is bit too rich for my taste almost taste liek your drinking butter.

    (5)

  • Jennie L.

    My favorite ramen place so far by a long shot. You must MUST order ramen with the paitan broth. It's white, creamy, and high.. in.. protein... (That's what she said.) ANYWAY, apparently the collagen is good for your skin and joints but whatever- I just think it's delicious. Their chashu is also really tender and tasty!! The kakuni special was always sold out when I went, but I'm determined to try it one day. If you're really hungry, I recommend the C set which comes with your choice of 2 sides- charsiu rice/fried rice and gyoza/chicken karaage. The fried rice was good- a little heavier on the shoyu and glistening with oil. However the paitan broth seemed to lose some of its flavor on my taste buds in comparison. The gyoza was disappointing.. I thought Ling-Lings from the freezer tasted better. Just remember they close in the hours between lunch and dinner, otherwise you're setting yourself up for total sadness. This happened during my first 3 attempts to eat here.. but so worth it in the end=)

    (5)

  • Mitchell N.

    You decide if Yotteko-Ya's claim that their ramen makes one look younger is true, but their ramen IS unique, rich, and simmered to close perfection! Relax, stay calm - it's worth it! Remember this as you circle the lot for parking, especially after 6pm, even worse on Friday and Saturday evenings. There's basement parking if you dare, but a spot can be found usually within 5 minutes. After parking and hoping your car doesn't get door dinged (bike racks and safety is questionable), you'll find Yotteko-Ya nestled on the Ewa side, second story. Open the door and you'll immediately be welcomed by staff, a terrific ambiance, and likely patrons looking at you. Relax, stay calm again, while it might take a few minutes to sit down and order, the staff is small, they work hard, and are very friendly...local style. Now for the food - the chashu is among the most tender and flavorful chashu on the island, regardless of the price, and rivals those I've had in Japan (albeit, differently). Can you appreciate the subtle difference of Kyoto ramen and others? I don't and it doesn't matter - it's THAT good. The shoyu Japanese style are favorites and are must have's here. For those who like softer noodles, local style is offered for all ramen. Recommended: Yataiaji Ramen, Chashu Ramen, Tonshio Ramen, it's all tasty. For those seeking more substance or gohan-based meals, the yakibuta and garlic chahan won't disappoint. Reading the description, a half-decent cook may think they can rival what's presented...you might find yourself with the rest of us who thought that! If you're from out-of-town or simply like to eat a lot of good food, try a ramen and chashu gohan. The chashu and shiro gohan's come in small bowls but unless you're a hearty eater, food will be left on your plate and you might carry a slight guilt as you leave. For those who want to try a little of everything, 4 "sets" or combos are offered. They all consist of a ramen, side, and gohan. At quick glance it appears to be a good deal, but considering the amount of food and just okay sides, you're better off skipping them all. While the karaage is moist and tender with a crispy outside, there's better restaurants at similar prices scattered throughout the island. The gyoza is standard fare and not a far cry from others. If you aren't a ramen, chashu, gohan type, or simply are looking for something easily recognizable, the sweet and sour chicken is a safe choice. Served off a pineapple stem that hints Hawaiian, it's just that - safe. No worries though, after hearing your company rave about the other meals, you'll be back. One of the few places whose food can ride with the large restaurants, check it out nice time you're in McCully...possibly after getting shaved ice. It's 5 minutes outside the Ewa (West) side of Waikiki. If you someone with an impossible amount of food in front of them, that's me.

    (5)

  • Tony L.

    Quite possibly the best ramen I've ever had, mainly due to the Paitan broth. I literally finished the whole bowl, including the broth. The Chashu pork is also very tender and tasty. The service, although sparse as other reviewers have mentioned, is very friendly and courteous. This is one restaurant that I'll always look forward to whenever I visit Hawaii.

    (5)

  • Rex H.

    This is the best ramen I have eaten in Honolulu (so far). The flavor of the Paitan ramen is so onolicious. The chashu has is really tasty. This place is small and gets crowded quickly. They employ one efficient waitress, but service is good. The broth is tastier than the Kotteri at Tenkaippin. This has moved ahead of Goma Tei as my number one ramen in Honolulu. To put it simply, this is really good stuff.

    (5)

  • Jeffrey R.

    Yotteko-Ya is a pretty decent ramen restaurant with a comfortable, airy space upstairs in a strip-mall on Kapiolani. There are a decent number of tables, but on the day I ate there, there was only one person waiting on the tables and service was a bit slow. The soup broth - pork based - is decent, above average, but where Yotteko-Ya really shines is their char shu. The soup itself is probably worth about three stars but the char shu is absolutely five star. We ordered extra pork and the bowl came with three ENORMOUS bricks of char shu that was as good as any that I have ever tasted in a ramen restaurant. If anything, the portions were TOO large, but the meat was so delicious that I finished it all. We also had some decent gyoza - this seems to be pretty much the norm for ramen places in Honolulu. I never have bad gyoza, but given the high quality of the char shu, I might have expected to get better gyoza filling too, You can't have everything. Plenty of parking. Definitely worth a look if you are looking for ramen and are in the area.

    (4)

  • Sara E.

    The paitan ramen is pure YUM. :) I have eaten here 3 times now and every single time, the ramen is cooked perfectly- Japanese style (but you can choose local style if you like softer noodles). And the soup..what can I say about the soup..only that it's amazing. Add a little bit of chili oil and red pepper flake for that spicy-ness! (I would do it yourself unless you like your ramen suuuper spicy- then you can just have them do it for 1 dollar. haha) I can't comment on the charsiu because I don't eat that but the boyfriend says its pretty darn good. I always tend to go here on off times when its not that crowded..service is super fast even if there is only one waitress. I suggest parking in the underground lot off of Pumehana street if the main parking at ground level is full. yay for paitan ramen. woo!

    (5)

  • T. L.

    It's always a good sign when there is a line of hungry customers waiting for a restaurant to open for lunch. I was number five in line. The table service was prompt and courteous, and the restaurant was clean. I ordered Tabeteko Paitan Ramen and chose the firmer Japanese-style noodles, which I love. I dislike mushy. Let's see if they cook it the way I like it. Here it is, and it was nicely done. It had just the right amount of veggies, Kim Chee, seaweed and pork with a sprinkling of sesame seeds. The pork was uber-delicious with a hint of sweetness and probably the best I've had. The dashi was tasty, but Goma-ichi is better. For me, that is the standard upon which all ramen in Honolulu is compared . . . so far, anyway. I will return if I'm in the area tho.

    (3)

  • Crystal L.

    Hands down, the best best best best BEST (you got that? It's THE BEST) ramen I've ever had. (Note: I like tonkotsu-creamy bone-white broths, so you shoyu broth people might be disappointed.) Whenever I think of my two month visit to Hawaii and the food I ate, this place is one of the most memorable. Maybe if I go to Japan I can find better ramen, but I have not found any that beats Yotekko-Ya in the Bay area where I am living now. Dear Yotekko-Ya in Japan, Please start your franchise on the mainland so I can enjoy it without a $500 plane ticket.

    (5)

  • First Name L.

    Very strange my Yotteko-Ya review mysteriously disappeared. Here's the botton line, this is the best and most authentic ramen in Oahu period. Nobody else comes close. I prefer to get their C set with Kakuni style Char Sui and Paitan Ramen. The ramen is always cooked perfectly, broth is flavorful, never greasy, and it tastes "clean". Char Sui is always sooo soft and flavorful. We've tried most things on the menu and everything has been excellent. Fried rice is exceptionally good. The closest competition to this place is GomaTei but their ramen is not as good and GomaTei is very greasy in comparison. Another popular comparison is Tenkaippin... no comparison Tenkaippin's excuse for a ramen that resembles KFC gravy is nasty shit. Yotteko is it, like they said, Rocketed from Tokyo... this is the real deal.

    (5)

  • A C.

    Very very good ramen. The noodles Japanese-style were perfect. The Japanese char siu was perfect. The broth was very flavorful and delicious. Definitely going back.

    (4)

  • Brendan J.

    4.5 stars I haven't tried the ramen places in Waikiki where I would assume the best ramen may be found, but Yottekoya is the current standard for Japanese style chashu. I wouldn't call Kyoto one of the famous centers of ramen in Japan so I'm not really sure where they're going with the Kyoto ramen thing. In general, Kyoto cuisine is supposed to be lighter and less heavily seasoned than other areas of Japan. The ramen here is strongly flavored, but thankfully not too salty like other ramenya I've been to. If you're looking for something lighter, go for either the shoyu (soy sauce) or Hawaiian salt base soup. Even though you're in Hawaii and this isn't really the place for a steaming, heavy broth, sometimes you just have to have the milky paitan. Dinner sets are pretty reasonable but a whole lot of food. Maybe if you have two people you should get one dinner set and one bowl of ramen. I prefer the chashu gohan (chashu on top of white rice with sauce, pickled ginger, and green onions) over the chaahan (fried rice). The chaahan has a typical Japanese fried rice flavor, but is a bit too greasy. The chashu gohan features the chashu better in my opinion, and the sauce is quite tasty. Gyoza were fine and the karaage (Japanese fried chicken) was done well. Could have used some lemon perhaps. The chashu here is spot on. Slightly sweet with a good soy sauce flavor and the pork fat melts in your mouth for heavenly, porky, unctuous deliciousness. Noodles are medium thickness and can be ordered Japanese style or the softer local style. This would be a great spot for a cold winter day, but as that does not happen very often in Hawaii, it is a little hot and heavy for regular eating. Maybe a cold rainy day.

    (4)

  • Jas A.

    One of my favorite places for japan style ramen. i eat the set C with spicy paitan, pan fried gyoza, and chashu gohan. chahan is good also. the gyoza is ok but i go for the noodles. spicy paitan is perfect cause it's smooth, rich, then a little kick. hopefully it with keep me youthful!

    (5)

  • Ron T.

    Great charsu pork. A must try! The fried rice and paitan ramen is to die for!

    (5)

  • Derek R.

    oh dah gomatei ramen is a winnah!

    (5)

  • Finn L.

    I'm just a country boy in country shoes. My idea of good noodles is uncooked Kraft Macaroni eaten from the sad sack of a collapsed clown. So what do I really know about noodles and soup? About as much as I know about the footwear of a large ankled women or about the mechanics of martian sexuality. I know how to point at it and shout, "Avast matey!' I thought the wooden spoon was a Turkish Yamaka and I drank from my bowl like a disoriented Camel and used my fingers to capture runaway noodles--but I ate/drank every last drop. We ordered the Kim Chee Soup in two of the broth styles and had both noodles Japanese style. Very good Ramen. The single waitress was stellar and efficient. And I left her a lucky penny for a tip.

    (5)

  • Eric C.

    Ive been to numerous ramen I ordered the kakuni paitan ramen and could tell a distinct difference from tonkotsu broth. It's definitely thinner but still tasty. I agree the fried rice is good. I think they use the pork renderings from the chashu to flavor the rice as it was very good. All in all, I recommend ramen lovers to check it out. And watch out the spicy oil ramen they make is fairly hot by japanese standards (probably just right by korean standards).

    (4)

  • Daniel C.

    We went to this place on Sunday night 12/15/13. We walked about 20-30 minutes from Waikiki beach area, passing another Ramen place that has lines out the door until 10pm every night. Arriving at 7:45pm, we were dismayed to see a "closed" sign on the door. I wondered if maybe they were just closed on Sundays, as many businesses are. No, that wasn't the case. They had run out of soup. We were greeted with a "sorry, come back tomorrow." No, I won't be coming back tomorrow, or ever. I would have to think that a place that has been in business for years can figure out how much food to prepare so that they don't run out AT 7:45pm. This is totally unacceptable, and utterly inept. Making enough so that you have a small excess daily might cost you a few extra dollars per day. But running out so that you have to turn away who-knows-how-many customers for over an hour that you advertise being open is far more expensive. I'm sure the food here is good, but there are enough other great places in Honolulu who are clearly more responsive to the needs of their customers.

    (1)

  • Forest F.

    Tried this spot after all the hype I have been hearing lately. It's true there is only one waitress and she is working her butt off. The ramen was good. I got Japanese style which basically just entails the noodles arent cooked until they are super soft (local style). The Gyoza was ono too. I would ear here again, but it still doesnt beat Goma Tei for me.

    (4)

  • Albert S.

    Wow. Hands down the best ramen I've ever had. This is the ramen I was craving when I went to Tokyo and Kyoto. I got the "Set C" combination: - Char siu paitin traditional-style ramen (they were out of the daily kakuni special): the char siu was delicious and tender, and the paitin broth was amazingly flavorful. - Deep-fried gyoza: Deep. Fried. Gyoza. Yum. The gyoza itself was very good and seemed homemade (not the usual mysterious, odd-tasting meat). - Fried rice: Not just a filler! It was very flavorful and worth getting on its own. Be prepared: the service complaints are valid. There is only *one* person handling the serving, busing, and checks. And it's crazy popular. We were one of the first people to show up when they opened at 5:30 PM, and the place was full by 5:45.

    (4)

  • Dan C.

    One word: AWESOME. We had been recommended this place years ago by a friend, however it wasn't until several turns of events and another trip to the island that would finally greet us with the delicious bowl of ramen served here 2 years later. OK, I have to admit, that I'm no rameniac...but damn, that was one good bowl of soup right down to the last drop. Eating here with this bowl of ramen conjured up scenes from the classic Jûzô Itami movie, Tampopo. You know that scene in the movie where an old wizened ramen-eating master is imparting his knowledge to a young man? He goes into this long ritualistic description of how to eat the bowl of ramen....from carefully flipping the chashu pork, but eyeing it longingly so as not to make it feel unwanted....well, that's how I felt eating here - as if I'd died and gone to a ramen eating sanctuary. Eating here rejuvenated my love of ramen and gave me a deep respect for the bowl of noodles served here....it's that good. First off, ambience and location. It's located on the second floor of this shopping center with a Taco Bell and a 7-Eleven and the tasty Curry House down below. Its pretty non-descript as others have said, but don't let that deter you from the goodness served here. One lady works the floor and there's something like 6 or 7 tables. Coming here at the end of the lunch hour (~1:30 pm) we avoided a lot of the crowds as we were 1 of 3 tables there on a Thursday. For us, orders came out fast and we were done eating in a little over 30 minutes. I wished I had read the Yelp reviews beforehand, b/c we didn't order the special of the house - the Kakuni Paitan Ramen. No worries....I went with a Yasai Paitan Ramen with Japanese style (Tradtional) noodles and wasn't disappointed! The noodles were perfectly cooked with that al dente feeling - not too soft (although you can have it that way if you ask), but just a bit squeaky. The soup base was this amazingly rich and creamy broth. This is not for the veggie types out there...I think they use (according to their menu) chicken and pork simmered for hours creating this milky broth of flavour. The Yasai had some bean sprouts and green onions, 1 large piece (for me) of chashu, and some of that uber-delicious marinated bamboo shoots all for about $9 and some change. And not to neglect the chashu...but that piece of pork was super succulent and moist....it literally melted in my mouth. Amazingly good. Enough to turn this previous vegetarian into a newly converted porkaholic. Finally, what I like best about this place and the menu here is that you have choices - from the soup base (Shoyu, Hawaiian Salt and Paitan) to the noodle style (soft vs. traditional) to the additional pieces of accoutrements you want in your bowl. It's kind of like the a control freak's ramen heaven. Want some extra chashu? Sure thing. Extra noodles? Sure. Just be prepared to pay up for it. My only complaint? Parking. It's free...but a pain. If you're lucky to own a small compact car, you can easily use the underground parking garage behind the shops. If not, you can still brave it with the Oldsmobuick....just be careful in those tight spaces! 5 stars. Come here and as the "Master" in Tampopo says [translated], "Appreciate its gestalt. Savor the aromas.....caress the surface...to show your affections."

    (5)

  • Julie M.

    The broth was WAY too salty. Service was OK.

    (2)

  • Grace L.

    :o| Over all as a whole, I'm slightly confused about this place. There were some real highlights in the dishes we ordered, yet on the other hand other parts just couldn't compare. My friends shared the D set (Yataiaji ramen, chicken, and fried rice) and Paitan ramen. We collectively decided that we liked the Paitan base better than the Shoyu base. The Paitan base is creamier think more of a miso soup. The Shoyu base is basically a regular clear soup base. As a whole the noodles and soup were pretty mediocre, but their chashu is AMAZING! It's so tender, flavorful, and melts in your mouth! I want a plate of that right now! MMMMmmm!!! Okie okie... back to this review. The fried rice was yummy, nicely done. The chicken was ok, it wasn't terrible nor was it amazing. Overall a good place to a grab a ramen bite, but won't necessarily fulfill a ramen craving.

    (3)

  • Gee Gee M.

    Have been coming here for years and the Ramen is always consistent and you get exactly what you are craving for when you feel like Ramen. I like the Paitan Ramen but also like the Yataiiji Ramen - the Char Siu/Shoyu Pork is sooooo gooood!. That is sufficient when you have that Ramen craving but their sets or sides are good too. Once in a while we will have the Gyoza or Karaage Chicken - the fried rice is good too. Have tried other Ramen places but this is still the best for my taste. The service is always great and consistent too! Parking can be a bit tricky at times since this is such a crowded shopping complex with many restaurants but never a problem and always worth it to fuss a bit with parking but get the great Ramen prize!

    (5)

  • Marlyn C.

    SO GOOD- (way better than Alan Wongs - ha ha). We all chose different combos and different broths and all of us were happy. The Paitan broth is delicious and rich. You must must get the chashu - it melts in your mouth and is phenomenal. I love karage and I was not disappointed. The fried rice is also awesome. I wanted to back and just get an order of the rice to take on the plane. And yes, service is slow and sort of sucky, but the wait staff is nice. They're just overworked and ... slow. Show up half an hour before you're hungry so you get seated and maybe have your order taken.

    (5)

  • Stephen B.

    Service was a little slow are others have described but overall probably up there with the best ramen on the island. Generous with the Char sui and a nice broth flavor.

    (4)

  • Mila S.

    MMM, Yotteko-ya is GOOD! I always get their paitan chashu ramen and it is delicious. Recently I tried their fried rice, which was very good. The ladies who work there are super friendly, and service is quick. I have noticed that recently the place is getting more crowded, so come early or late to avoid the lunch rush!

    (5)

  • g s.

    I can't remember the first time I ate here. What I do remember is eating here often. What brought me back here over and over is their Paitan Ramen, which is now the staple of all noodles that will come after for me. The creamy soup base just kept me slurping non stop regardless of how hot (japanese style) it was. I had it with Cha Shu and Kim Chee Paitan Ramen. I must say that it is so tasteful. Yummy! Only one problem my girlfriend and me are lactose intolerant, and have a case of the tooties afterwards. Still, wouldn't pass this up. If you are lactose just go for the not so creamy soup base...but if you do you have no idea what you're missing. SLURP!!

    (4)

  • Darcy M.

    My friend Melissa and I went to Yotteko-ya after I'd been eye-balling this place for quite a while. I tried to go a couple times before with my husband but the wait was too long and when I'm hungry, I'M HUNGRY. Feed me Seymour!! I ordered the Yasai Paitan Ramen thinking I'd be a little healthy (yasai means vegetables) since I was lunching with a vegetarian. What I SHOULD'VE ordered was the Paitan Chashu Ramen like the waitress recommended. Who knew my people can make char siu??! I'm still baffled. It was totally different from Chinese char siu and totally delish!! It was almost like eating a good piece of filet mignon because it had the same melt-in-your-mouth effect. Mmmmm... Service was friendly and attentive, and the restaurant had a nice cozy vibe. I'm looking forward to going again...but next time will be sure to load up on the char siu because one piece just isn't enough. Giving this place 4 stars because Goma Ichi on Keeamoku is still my favorite. Their broth is addicting!

    (4)

  • Jeremy D.

    My friends and I really enjoy eating at Yotteko-Ya. The ramen is very good and I love their fried rice. I usually get the Combo B, Paitan Chashu, with fried rice... SO GOOD!! This combo runs around $13 but you can get a nice bowl of ramen with a couple pieces of chashu for about $7. While the location is a little small, you are not limited to eating at a counter and that can make for good conversation. Tables turn slow because they run with a lean crew, but the ladies are very nice. There are maybe eight tables that can seat 4, a booth for around 8 hungry people, and short counter for 5 more. If you are coming with a group, I'd send an advanced party to secure your position or try calling ahead if they will allow it. If you come after 6:30 and they are full, be prepared for a wait.

    (4)

  • Ny O.

    ordered the "A Set" w/ Paitan Chashu Ramen, gyoza and rice. I'm not a big fan of ramen...but it was ok. Chashu was the best part.

    (3)

  • Bifyu J.

    5-stars for the ramen. My favorite/usual is the paitan, spicy, often with chashu. It's the best broth I've yet to try anywhere. Rich, flavorful and thick (but still well short of Tenkaippin's gravy). Their cha shu is also among the best I've had in ramen. Their gyoza's decent. I'm not too impressed with the shrimp fried rice, but I go there for the ramen anyway. Their ice cream is also weak, but if you want ice cream go to the overrated Cold Stone downstairs, or better yet, hit Bubbies. As a bonus, they have a stamp card, so if you're a frequent patron you get a free or discounted ramen after 10 stamps.

    (5)

  • kelly k.

    after going to MANY lunches with people who eat ramen 95% of the time, i have decided that yotteko-ya is my fave. there's something about that broth...and those "japanese-style" noodles!!! heaven in a ramen bowl. if you ever venture to this almost hole in the wall place, you MUST get the tabeteko paitan. it's like the regular paitan, except it comes with kim chee. being korean, i think kim chee makes EVERYTHING better. another thing that really stands out here is their char siu---moist, a little sweet, and melt in your mouth. seriously the best char siu in ramen i've tasted so far. and if you have enough room to chow down on their chahan (fried rice), do so. it's definitely yummy :) did i mention on their menu it says this ramen will "make you look younger"???

    (5)

  • Cynthia A.

    Located on the 2nd floor of McCully Shopping Center, at the end of the hallway. I love the decor - it's cute and everything is really clean. The big thing about this place is that the broth is supposed to be really healthy in that they boil it (with bones?) for about 10 hours, so there's a lot of collagen, etc. in it. The broth is good, but tastes much different than what I'm used to at other ramen shops. It actually kind of grossed me out thinking about the collagen in the soup; I don't know what my issue is... But I managed to put it out of my mind and eat the ramen. I really enjoyed the gyoza here. YUMMM!! Kind of more than what I like to spend on ramen, but a good place to go for a change and fun atmosphere every once in awhile.

    (4)

  • K K.

    Any of the Paiten Ramens and fried rice dishes are all delicious. The pork that they use is the best pork I've ever tasted in a fried rice and ramens!

    (5)

  • A S.

    This is still my all time favorite ramen ya in both Hawaii and Mainland after discovering it several years ago. I usually visit Oahu at least twice a year and have some Paitan ramen and homemade gyoza once during each visit. The tonkotsu broth is rich with good depth and flavor unlike other ramen ya. The ramen is not soggy and has a nice texture. My DH and friends love the homemade gyoza as the skin is thin and meat stuffing has good flavors. I have been there during weekdays and weekends and sevice is adequate and food is consistently delicious!!! Like other reviewers have noted, Yotteko Ya does close up early during lunch hour without notice if it runs out of broth or food... so be warned!

    (5)

  • Rita L.

    I think this place has a cool red room! But getting down to the food, it was ok! the chaisu was the best but the soup and noodles were alright! I rather spend my money at tenkaippin! but it was good to try!

    (3)

  • Suzanne R.

    I stumbled upon this place a little while back and have been Addicted (with a capital 'A') to the Paitan Ramen. I'm giving it 4 stars and not 5 only because I haven't had anything other than the ramen. But the paitan base is rich and silky and creamy (without actually having any cream in it, I think) and absolutely delicious. I've gotten it with the standard veggies and also with the char-siu and both have been great. It's a cute little place and can get pretty busy, so leave some wait time if you're going at a busy dining hour. And be prepared to deal with McCully Shopping Center's parking-- not fun!

    (4)

  • cyn z.

    You come here for one thing: Fatty Char Siu. You gotta get the special 'cause they only make a certain amount (20 bowls) a day. You gonna look younger~ broth is collagen-rich! Nuff already, get off your okole and go brah.

    (4)

  • Lee M.

    Picture this, it's a Thursday evening and my girl Val and I are heading to Kyoto Ramen Yotteko-Ya. With a ferocious appetite, we both bring our A-game to the table, willing to take our taste-buds to the next level. My only knowledge of this place was what I had read from an email I received earlier in the week. Apparently, the homemade soup is simmered for over 10 hours with the choicest meats, vegetables, and spices. This meticulous process creates a stock that is rich and thick of collagen, which helps prevent the aging of the skin and joints. Say what? I can eat and look younger at the same time? Way to multi-task. That's an A+++ in my book. I'm not sure how legit their claim on finding the fountain of youth is but that's some good marketing on their behalf. After taking a few sips of Kirin and viewing the menu, Val and I were confused. The menu was in both English and Japanese, however, if you didn't know what the English Japanese words meant, good luck. Luckily, our server was the sweetest girl (I wish I got her name) and she kindly explained some of the key terms to us and recommended some popular dishes. After a few more minutes, we were ready to rock steady... Lee's order: D Set / Paitan Ramen (Japanese Style), Chicken Karaage (3 pieces), Mini Chashu Gohan - The Paitan Ramen was super good!!! From what I grasped, Paitan is the soup that is simmered the longest which means it's the soup that has the most collagen. The broth is light colored, almost white. I chose 'Japanese Style' ramen which means the noodles are firm. You can also choose 'Local Style' which means the noodles are soft. Other garnishes that came in the ramen were seaweed and two pieces of pork. The pork was super tender and tasteful. The Chicken Karaage was moist and full of flavor. However, it wasn't anything to rave about. I didn't find anything wrong with the karaage but there was no 'wow' factor. The Chashu Gohan was out of this world. This dish consisted of white rice with pork, carrots, green onions, and sauce drizzled all over. It's like a donburi minus the egg. The sauce was their version of the Chinese char siu sauce. The pork was so tender that it melted in the mouth. The blend of flavors that this dish contained was simply perfect. Val's order: Ebi Mayonnaise and C Set / Paitan Ramen (Japanese Style), Gyoza (3 pieces, Pan Fried), Mini Yakibuta Chahan (Fried Rice) - Ebi Mayonnaise is an appetizer and consists of large sized shrimps drizzled with homemade sweet mayonnaise sauce and almonds. Can I just say, ORGASM in my mouth!!! I can best compare this dish to the Honey Walnut Shrimp dish that you can order from most Chinese restaurants. Refer above description of Paitan Ramen, again, SO good! The gyoza was juicy and full of filling. I loved how one side of the gyoza was extra crispy and the other side soft. That mix of textures was fun in my mouth. The Yakibuta Chahan was fried rice that came with pieces of pork. The rice was full of flavor and the pork, again, was tender. Standard garnishes like eggs, green onions, and carrots were also in the rice. All I can say is that I am definitely a fan of this place and I will be frequenting here more often. Good food and looking younger, priceless baby.

    (5)

  • Bev L.

    I went to Yotteko-Ya when I was on vacation, but my last attempt at finding a good ramen joint in Bay Area on the mainland prompted me to finally write this review. San Francisco needs a Yotteko-Ya. The ChaShu is OFF-DA-HOOK!!!! Me and my sister both ordered combos (I think I had the goyza and my sista had the fried rice). We took one bite of the ChaShu and decided to order a plate on the side. It was thattttt gooodddddd! Yummmmm! Melts in your mouth with just the right amount of flavor and fat. The place I went to in the East Bay (I won't mention names....) that was suppose to be da bomb had ChaShu that was very generous in portion but had no flavor what so ever; I think I took a few bites and couldn't justify intaking extra calories for flavorless over-glorified crap! The ChaShu here has a hint of smoky aroma that meshes so well with the broth. When you take a bite of the ramen/ChaShu along with a sip of that yummy broth, I swear I hear a heavenly chorus playing in the back of my head. Just thinking about it right now makes me hungry for some of that yum yum chop! Hummmmm.....

    (5)

  • Jannet L.

    it was good. set menu is too big for a small girl. even though the fried chicken and gyoza was yummy. fried rice is too salty. i got major dia after eating here prolly cuz it was so rich but i am still giving it 4 stars. that's how much i loved it. i still hate the parking at this strip mall but it's redeemed itself with this ramen place.

    (4)

  • Will C.

    finished the gym last night, starved and couldn't decide what to shove in my face. ultimately i decided to rocket myself to kyoto. good choice. thinking they just opened there shouldn't be a crowd. WRONG. arrived at 6:20 and all the tables were taken AND there were people in front of me! good thing i have my work emails to keep me occcupied. grabbed a counter table and thougt to myself "should be early enough, maybe i'll get this elusive KAKUNI!" wrong again, apparently they only make enough to last lunch plus whatever is left for dinner. slightly annoyed but got over it. got a bowl of paitan chasu ramen and chasu gohan. absolutely awesome. the paitan is thicker than shoyu or shio base, perfectly seasoned and creamy, but it's not like youre drinking thanksgiving gravy; like some other place...... love their "kata" men/japanese style noodle. it's got a great tooth to it so you don't feel like you're eating baby food. and then there's the meat. their chasu is bliss. i've read some reviews that said it's too small. i thought that there was too much meat in my bowl and prob would have been ok with 2 pieces. the thing is, theirs is slow cooked in some shoyu based flavor broth fiesta, and they manage to render out ALL THE FAT!!! so what you have left is soft savory pieces of meat that melts in you mouth. that's why i think it's smaller, no fat left! only flavorfull meat bites! they should package it as a snack. and though there was too much meat in my ramen, i am still smiling about the chasu gohan. even their rice is amazing. though for $4 it's a bit manini. the server said some folks order 2 and ask for it to be put into one bowl. GENIUS!! but then i don't know if i could eat a whole bowl of ramen. (i'm sure i could make it happen) speaking of which,, having been going for years now, whether it's lunch or dinner, i have only seen the same server. WTF? i'm beginning to think she's indentured!!!! wow this is my longest review ever; and it's making me want to eat it again. RIDE THE ROCKET!!!!

    (4)

  • Lai Y.

    I really really liked this place. I know I did because at the end of the meal, my stomach was asking me what it did to deserve so much pain. I went on a monday night and surprisingly, there was a line at the door! The decor and set up of this little restaurant was very bright and easy flowing - I don't know why but I was so happy to sit in the little nook to the right of the restaurant that provides enough seating for larger parties. Reviewers on yelp suggested and recommended the paitan chashu ramen, and I'm very glad I went with that order! Delicious ramen (japanese style: chewier noodles, boiled for a shorter amount of time; local style: softer noodles, boiled for a longer amount of time) came with those five tender, sweet pieces of chashu, all soaked in the thick, hot paitan broth. I ordered the C Set, which was $12.95. My ramen was accompanied by 3 pieces of deep fried gyoza (yum!) and pork fried rice. The rice was alright, but I much prefer the ramen. Service was a nonissue as the waitress was quick and friendly. I'll be back!

    (5)

  • Aaron M.

    Best ramen place EVER! They make a special ramen called Kakuni Ramen which they only sell 20 bowls a day. The Kakuni cha siu (BBQ meat) is marinated for three days and is so tender that it falls apart at the touch! The broth of the japanese style ramen is so tasty that you're sure to drink it up. There is also a hawaiian style ramen which is not as good. They also serve other ramen restraunt classics like gyoza, chicken karage, and fried rice. The white rice is also something amazing altogether. If you're ever in Hawaii and feel like eating ramen, this is the place to go.

    (5)

  • Arlette D.

    the best paitan ramen!!!!!!! reminded me of the ramen i had with i went to osaka!!!! everything was delicious!!!! this place is a must they have the best ramen i have tasted!!!

    (5)

  • Tyron H.

    This is my definite number one ramen place on the island. Best tasting without a doubt the only problem ive seen it is them closing early because ther actually ran out of stock, good reason to close early and even more the reason to try it out. Try thr special pork broth and you'll know why i endorse it as the best ramen on the island

    (5)

  • K K.

    4 solid stars! Wife and I had lunch here this weekend and the place wasn't that busy so the service was actually good. There was only 1 woman working at first but a 2nd woman joined in shortly thereafter. After having the Paitan ramen from Tenkaippin (didn't like it) I was hesitate to try it here but decided if I don't then I wouldn't be able to compare the two. I had the C set which came with the Paitan ramen, 3 pieces of gyoza and pork fried rice. To my surprise the Paitan ramen here was really good. The broth was rich and creamy but not thick and overpowering like at Tenkaippin. The gyoza was good but I've had better fried rice else where. The homemade chashu was really good. Very tender and had a nice shoyu flavor to it. A bonus is the clean restroom facilities. Yotteko-Ya changed my mind about the Paitan ramen. It can be tasty and enjoyed if you actually have broth and not gravy.

    (4)

  • Ketchum H.

    Usually, I would not get too excited about ramen, however, Jarred H.'s review put us on to this jewel...Incredible ramen, really off the chart...Go for the Japanese style "al dente" noodles...you will need some hammock time after this meal...

    (5)

  • sky i.

    I was getting tired of eating Pho so dining here was an interesting change of pace. Thanks to an earlier, ravenous lunch crowd, their signature Kakuni Paitan Ramen was out. Therefore I had to resort to ordering Paitan Broth with vegetables. My wife tried the Shoyu based Ramen (Kyoto Style) with Kim Chee and Charsiu. My wife and I didn't care for the Shoyu Ramen broth, but the Charsiu was tender and yummy. The Paitan Ramen, which was richer and creamier, was excellent. Noodles on both dishes were tasty and cooked to perfection. Side order of Gyoza was pan fried just enough to make it crispy on one side and still soft on the other side...just the way I like it. I doubt my wife and I will return because we're not fans of Kyoto style ramen broth and the Paitan broth, while flavorful, was too thick and dense for my personal preference. However, I definitely understand the appeal of this style and why some people gave Kyoto Ramen 5 stars. To each his/her own. Next stop: Jimbo!

    (3)

  • Jasmine l.

    walking distance from my place; what took me so long?!!!!! got the paiten and it's killer. The broth is creamy savory and not too salty; the dish is simple with a couple slices char siu and some aromatics.

    (5)

  • Tim A.

    Okay, so I travel a lot around the world and I'm in the food business. I consider myself to be a self-proclaimed food junkie. I simply love to find great food treats wherever I'm at. I came across Yotteko-Ya after reading about it on Yelp. I must say that the reviews written very accurate. I found the Paitan broth with the Kim Chee Ramen (Japanese style) with the Chashu Pork to be outstanding. I had it with the fried rice, pot stickers, fried chicken pieces (I forget the name of it) and a side order of Chashu Pork (5 pieces). The chashu was as tender as it gets with a slight hint of sweetness on the finish. The fried rice was cooked perfectly and the ramen had the right amount of heat (I was sweating slightly). When I got there, there were about 10 people enjoying their meals. About 5 minutes later the line to get a seat was about 20 people (for lunch on a Sunday). I highly recommend as I will be returning for more.

    (5)

  • David F.

    Decent ramen, not the best, but pretty close to true japanese style. Small restaurant, decor is a little funky and confortable. I has the shoyu chashu ramen, good soup base , very good noodles. Good for lunch or informal dinner. It's located on the second floor of a strip mall.

    (3)

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Map

Opening Hours

  • Mon :11:30 am - 2:00pm

Specialities

  • Takes Reservations : No
    Delivery : No
    Take-out : Yes
    Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
    Good For : Lunch
    Parking : Garage, Private Lot
    Bike Parking : Yes
    Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
    Good for Kids : Yes
    Good for Groups : Yes
    Attire : Casual
    Ambience : Casual
    Noise Level : Average
    Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only
    Outdoor Seating : No
    Wi-Fi : No
    Has TV : No
    Waiter Service : Yes
    Caters : No

Yotteko-Ya

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