Rumplings
2009 Highland Ave, Louisville, KY, 40204
Rumplings Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Louisville for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Louisville for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Louisville for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
2009 Highland Ave
Louisville, KY, 40204 - Phone
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Opening Hours
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Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Late Night
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : No
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Hipster
Noise Level : Loud
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : No
Caters : No
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Jeff B.
Went at 2am on a rainy night. Not many people there so I could a seat easily. Ordered the piggy with a dumpling and some kim chi. Came out really fast (as it should). The ramen isn't the greatest. The broth was ok but there's something missing - the saltiness was ok for me but there was a brightness missing from the flavor. They also don't put enough broth in the bowl. The dumpling was good. But they shouldn't have put it in my ramen since it is fried. Half my dumpling was soggy, half was crispy. The pork was ok. The belly was kind of lean. Wish they had braised it longer because it was chewy versus melt in your mouth (did they even braise it?) Wish the cut was thicker (about 1cm). The kimchi is not right. It tasted like they put vinegar in it. The color is pale. They need to add pear, more garlic, and they need real Korean hot peppers. The noodles ... The noodles are not right. I don't know if they are making them fresh but they are way too mushy and it is unappealing. Actually it shouldn't matter if they are making them fresh. It needs to be chewy. This was probably the worst part. In summary, cool spot to eat at a late hour but the food needs work.
(2)Amber S.
My roommate bought us takeout tonight. We ordered the piggy to split, and it came cold! Not only cold in the additional cost of $1.50 for the plastic to-go container. Cost was $21.50 overall. Wait, wait! The dumplings are FRIED WONTONS. The dumplings are supposed to be little dough balls of flour fried! Will not return.
(1)Alex T.
Louisville's only ramen shop in town delivers a delectable and rich meal but they still have efficiency kinks to hash out. Went here with a buddy of mine Saturday evening around 7 and there was a pretty decent line. The shop is pretty small and consists of only bar seats (total capacity is about 16-20 people) Waited ~20 mins to get seated (bigger groups can expect a longer wait time). From my understanding there are only 5 people running the restaurant: the three owners are cooking and washing dishes, a cashier, and a waiter to seat you and bring you food. So when 40 people come hungry around dinner time (6-8) you can expect a line to exist. Time aside, this place delivers a fantastic ramen noodle soup bathed in a rich broth with an aroma that'll have your mouth salivating before you even order. For those that are wondering, I ordered the piggy (see photo) and my friend ordered the kentucky. Both of the dishes we ordered definitely did not disappoint. Those who have experienced ramen shops (such as I) in areas of larger asian communities may have unreachable expectations for excellent ramen soup. But considering this is Louisville, KY and not little Tokyo, this place does its job of satisfying those ramen withdrawals.
(4)Janet L.
It's an a-okay place. I did not try to dumplings, but I did try the Piggy ramen. The noodles were a-okay. However, the broth was far too salty and I expected more from a pork-based broth. The tea egg that came with the ramen however was perfect (yolk and everything). The staff is nice and it's a quaint little shop on Bardstown. Come by if you're in the area, however, maybe try the vegetable ramen (my company got that one and the broth was a little better).
(3)Phil P.
I think the food is delicious. I've eaten here 3-4 times and can't wait to go back. I get the pork ramen noodle soup. I'm craving some now as a matter of fact and they're closed.
(5)Daniel C.
I ordered the piggy ramen and was not impressed. To me it was just some sub par noodles thrown in a broth. Maybe I am being to harsh because I lived in Japan for a few years. If you want a good bowl of ramen I suggest hiko-a-mon. I still suggest you try the restaurant if you have never ate ramen at a restaurant before and it is always great when your drunk leaving the bars. (Update - Would give 3 and 1/2 stars) I have been back several times and have to say that the food has been hit or miss on the quality. Overall I believe it has improved and I like the attitude of the staff.
(3)Smile I.
I'm not a Japanese so I have no idea about the authentic ramen noodle. Otherwise, this ramen is wayyyy tasty than the real one I had in NY. It is like a good Chinese/Vietnamese noodle. Also, the dumpling was really delicious! If you love a spicy meal, try the Seafood option (Surf n Surf). ** Parking is kinda tricky here. Goodluck!
(4)Troy C.
We've ate here twice and the staff is always awesome.. We showed up with a puppy at 10:00 and the outside tables were taken but the staff invited us in and brought the dog some water and even a pillow! We both like the chicken four play the best and enjoyed our dinner... A great late night option!!
(5)Sarah C.
This was my first time trying Rumplings. I have been wanting to check it out since their opening last year and it has taken me this long to finally get there. I ordered the Banh Mi ramen bowl. It was packed full of fried tofu, mushrooms, carrots, cabbage, celery and fresh tasting ramen. I also added an egg to mine, which was a small up charge. The broth was very mushroomy and delicious and they added some sriracha to spice the dish up. I would love to try the other vegetarian ramen bowl next time...a thai peanut one with tofu. My beau stuck with a simply chicken ramen bowl and thought the broth and chicken were both tasty. The presentation of both of our bowls was nice. The staff was super friendly and helped us with our orders since it was our first time. They make your food right there, fresh to order and they are pretty quick about it. The one other thing that stuck out in my mind was the music that they were playing over the PA. It was a 90's mix of mostly r&b. I LOVED IT! Good pick on tunes, Rumplings. See you again!
(3)Mark M.
I love ramen and seek out ramen in every city I travel too. When I heard a real ramen joint was opening I freaked out. To even call the slop this place is serving ramen is a joke. The unique spin on ramen dumplings is trying to pull off is a failure and usually ends up being disgusting. I ordered the piggy the first time and the seafood ramen special the second time. The noodles were okay but the broth, meat and fixing just lacked flavor. This place would be okay if they focused on traditional ramen like ship and tonkotsu. The bowls are overpriced at 13 to 15 dollars for a moderate portion size. The location is good but small win a decent atmosphere. I want this place to not suck :( Hopefully a real ramen place will come in. Thank god it is closed.
(2)Bernadette A.
This hole in the wall eatery is a bit deceiving as their ramen is pretty pricey, though filling ( and not filling in the way of like 'wow this food is so rich, it's so filling!' It's more of a 'well there's a lot of liquid in this dish because it's soup and so what soup isn't filling?'). What I ordered: - the tonkutso or the "piggy" ramen. The broth was a bit flavorful, but nothing out of this world. It's served with an egg, pork belly, and green onions. I don't like eating meat, so I have my pork belly to my friend, this I can't really comment on how the meat was cooked. In general the dish was not that great- esp. For a $13 meal. A saving grace to this dish was the homemade ramen noodles. Those noodles were great! You could 100% identify that they were made from scratch. If this place was to improve their flavor, this restaurant would be a big hit! Overall, it's Very pricey, not too flavorful, and doesn't offer too many places to sit. Would I come back here? Well, only if they lower the prices and add more flavor!
(2)Tyler N.
I absolutely love Japanese cuisine and was really happy to hear a ramen shop was opening just right around the corner from me. I went late at night so it was not busy. I got the piggy to go. After looking forward to eating it the whole way home, it was down right awful. The noodles were thick and undercooked, the pork belly was boiled and unseasoned, the taste that the greasy broth left in my mouth was unbearable. Needless to say I was highly disappointed. I even tried my hardest to like it. I wanted to like it, but I couldn't take more than three bites and threw $15 in the trash. I hope things change for this restaurant but I will probably never be back!
(1)Angie M.
The worst! I couldn't even finish my food...and I'm a fatty! The broth was salty & bland, the noodles were both stuck together and soggy (how do you manage that?!), the soup was not hot, and it cost about $15 for a tiny portion. I had the "Piggy." I mean, you shouldn't have to drown your food in Sriracha just to be able to choke it down. The soft boiled half an egg was not bad, but it most definitely is not a traditional Japanese marinated egg. I left still hungry, completely dissatisfied, and angry that I paid for my "food." A few months later my friend drags me in because he heard they had a new menu item that he just HAD to try. Well he tried it, didn't like it, and the ramen still was unacceptable. It's a shame, because I really wanted this place to be good.
(1)Mike M.
Easily one of the worst bowls of ramen I've ever had. Maybe I'm just spoiled by the great ramen scene in Chicago, but this just wasn't very good. When I was planning a visit during the Kentucky derby, I was super excited to come across Rumplings: a brand new ramen spot + open till 5 AM + literally a 2 minute walk from my friend's apartment. What more can you ask for? I was ready to hit it up every single night. Unfortunately it didn't live up to the hype in my head. For me, late night eats is one of the highlights of the night, and I was so looking forward to that bowl of ramen to cap off a long night at 4th Street Live. We strolled in around 2AM and it wasn't busy at all. I took a look at the menu and went with the create your own ramen option. This was a cool concept I haven't seen before. You can pick your broth, meat, and toppings. I went with the pork and miso broth with noodles and pork belly. Noodles: The noodles were pretty terrible. I don't know if they were just overcooked or they're just poor quality pre-packaged noodles, but they were way too soft and borderline mushy. Broth: The broth was just absolutely flavorless. It seemed watered down and didn't have any richness or deep flavor that I've come to expect from a bowl of ramen. It definitely could use more saltiness and a stronger pork flavor. Also, the noodles to broth ratio was way off. I pretty much only ate noodles for the first half of the bowl and was still left with just a tiny bit of broth to savor at the end. Toppings: The toppings were the only halfway decent thing about this bowl. It came with half an egg, and the yolk was runny just the way I like it. The pork actually wasn't bad from a flavor standpoint either. It had a good amount of fattiness too. My main problem with it was that some of the pieces were just flat out cold. It's like they just stored the meat in the fridge and tried to re-heat the meat from the temperature of the broth. That just killed it for me. Overall, we were left so unsatisfied and unwilling to end the night on such a sour note that we ended up going to a second place to fulfill our drunk food ambitions. I wouldn't even call what I ate ramen. It was just a waste of space.
(2)Julie G.
After being turned away from this place two times due to the very limited seating, I finally ate here. I say yes. Yes to this place and yes to ramen. Got the Banh Mi because the idea of pickled tofu floored me. However, not so pickled, but still so satisfying. The sub name of this place is Slurp Shop and if you eat here you'll know why. I tried to be proper and not look like a starving artist but I succumbed to the slurp and went ALL in. Face down and centered in the bowl slurping away. It felt downright sexy and you will too if you eat here. #50shadesofslurp
(4)Thao T.
The current menu offers 8 ramen dishes, 4 types of dumplings (steamed or fried) and beverages. We ordered the Kentucky ($14), Banh Mi (~$10), Chicken Fourplay ($12), and the Piggy ($11). None of us had Ramen before so had no preconceived expectations, we only came with empty stomachs and open minds. Our food came out in a pretty tall deep bowl, small at the bottom and wide at the top, making it deceptive large but you don't really get too much. The broth for my Chicken Fourplay was fatty, slightly sweet, and lukewarm. The noodles was nice and soft, made fresh in house. My two chicken legs took in the flavor of the broth and were soggy. After the few bites, I labored through, eager to be done. We all tried each other's broth and found that they all tasted similar except for the toppings. Only one out of my 5 dinner mates truly enjoyed his bowl (Piggy Ramen). My husband, American born and raised with very easy to please taste buds, said that his Banh Mi Ramen lacked flavors and preferred the packaged Ramen from the grocery store. We came home slightly hungry and dissatisfied. The positives? The people are nice, it opens until 5 a.m., and it's in a great location. To be fair, we didn't try everything on the menu, so those other items might be better. I heard the Miso Honey was decent. The final verdict? I didn't like the food not because I had high expectations of what the Ramen should taste like. The combination of the noodles, broth and toppings just didn't taste good to me. Of the 6 Asians (myself included), only 1 of us liked the food. Most Americans seem to enjoy it though. It would not recommend this restaurant now, it might improve later and I'm open to coming back. If you do come, keep it mind that it's not great for large groups or little kids. All the seats are on tall barstools, squished close together. More than likely, you'll be separated from your party if you want a seat.
(2)Nida K.
Not knowing this ramen shop has only been open for 3 days, I found it on yelp and thought I'd stop by. Thankfully, I made it... 3 minutes after opening time and before the line went out the door. The noodle options are eclectic and stray from being traditional. You can find ramen here with all kinds of things in it including a "Kentucky" ramen, which probably has fried chicken and bourbon in it (just kidding, I don't remember what's in it, so it could very well be possible). For a new restaurant, they are still defintiely working out their kinks. First of all, it's a small space and it's not very fun trying to eat with a line of people right next to you. Secondly, they are serving ramen until they run out. Looks like they haven't quite figured out the demand just yet, but as of right now they are only open during dinner hours. Lastly, I really wanted to order the "Piggy," which I assume is their pork based broth, but they didn't have it. I suppose that they didn't start making the broth ahead of time. So I went with option #2, the "Honey Miso." This broth was very flavorful, but I felt it was just a little too milky with an overwhelming amount of shitake mushrooms. My noodles were slightly softer than what I typically prefer however that soft boiled egg was purrrfect! They are definitely still working out the kinks so I don't want to dock them for it because I feel like it has the potential to be a really cool spot. Looks like the next time I'm here (if ever), I'll need to come back around this way.
(3)Lokman G.
They only open for dinner till the morning. The place is super small with only 18 seats. You have to wait in line for the seat. It is not a great idea if the weather is cold. We have a baby with us, so we decided to order to-go. But the weirdness of that place is that you can't even order to-go unless you have a seat! We got there right after they open (around 6:15pm) and all 18 seats were taken already, but everyone was just sitting there waiting for their ramen.We waited for 30 minutes to get 4 seats, so that we can place a to-go order for 4 bowls of noodle! If we didn't have a baby, we could have just stay there for our noodle (that place is definitely not baby friendly!) A recommendation for the restaurant is that they can start making the noodle little before they open to SPEED up the process, rather than having full-house customers waiting for them to make the noodle. The noodle is pricey with the relatively small portion. It's probably not enough for a normal guy's appetite. Their dumpling is $1.5 a piece, but it's just a normal sized dumpling! I could pay $4 to get an order in other restaurants with 5-6 pieces! We tried to order "Dashi" with seafood and "Shorty" with the short ribs, but they don't have either one ready! So, it's really not impressive, with 2 out of 6 that is not ready when you open the store! Then why even put it on the menu?! We ended up ordering the "Piggy" and "Chix" with chicken. They are basically the same thing except the meat in the soup. The noodle is just ok, I had some better noodle in other Japanese restaurants in town, like Masa or Hikoamon. The noodle in this place does not taste like ramen at all, even it's freshly made. Overall, it's not a great experience with the price we paid. The 1 star is for the location and the freshly made noodle. If I need a quick japanese ramen fix in the future, I would rather go somewhere else.
(1)Fallon P.
I was very excited to hear about a new ramen restaurant in the highlands. Little did I know it's not up to the level of traditional ramen. Plus the people working behind the counter were quite snobby and overall layout of the restaurant was very unorganized. I ordered the piggy got way too much pork belly (might I add it was gray) and nearly enough broth that was way too salty. I order a dumpling for a $1.50 extra. The dumpling might have been the tastiest part but not for the price. Sad to say I won't be coming back.
(1)Yong C.
I love ramen. I would go to any length to eat a good bowl of ramen. When I heard about the new ramen shop in louisville, I waited and waited until today to make sure all the kinks are worked out. Finally I went to the shop tonight and ordered the Piggy. After the first bite, I realized this is NOT ramen. Ramen has a characteristic elastic textured noodle made of wheat and mineral water. This noodle is more like thick pho noodle made purely of flour. Hard to describe the broth but I felt incredibly thirsty afterwards. There is a complete lack of any deep flavor which tells me the broth was created quickly. Most ramen shops usually boil various meat and vegetable ingredients for many hours for deep flavor and body. I am still thirsty as I am writing this review hours later. I have to wonder if they used msg for flavoring. I hate writing negative reviews but, as a lover of ramen, it offends me that this place is billed as a ramen shop. This is NOT ramen.
(1)Ngocuyen N.
I start out a bit tough and get nicer at the end. I can be a snob about the Asian food, so I told myself I will be as open minded as I could, knowing that the kitchen isn't filled with Japanese chefs and waiter yelling "irasshaimase." The guys seem really enthusiastic about the food they make, and so are many of the customers, so something has to be good, right? I've had ramen in New York, and California and of course from Kyushuu to Sapporo. I've had fancy ramen, decent ramen and 500yen bowl of ramen sold from a little cart at 4am. This was not ramen. I could tell from the pictures. The tasting confirmed it. Ramen's broth is so salty I usually drink a glass of something along with my meal. The noodles are bigger and more chewy, like most Asian noodles. Everything I have heard reported about the food was true: small portions, meat toppings unimpressive, broth not as hot or flavorful as you would expect an Asian noodle bowl of soup to be. I couldn't argue with any of it. The space was small and the wait was long, even at 2-3 AM, when there were about 5 people in front of us, the wait was still about 25 minutes. BUT I liked it! I like it, not as an Asian dish. I like that it's creative. I like that it's available at those hours of the night. I like that the Japanese translations were correct, as far as my elementary reading I could tell anyway. I like that I now have this option in addition to Denny's and Whitecastle after bar hopping. I like that the noodles were made fresh, and I could taste that it was fresh. I actually like it. Of course seeing the guys hard at working grinding out those noodles and carrying them one or 2 portions at the time added to the authenticity of thing. I loved it like I love fresh pasta, because it WAS fresh noodles. Maybe if they could move the pasta maker closer to the pot it'll be faster? Just like the names of the ramen suggested, it's more of an interpretative take on a very famous Asian noodle that is not quite like it. Yes, my broth wasn't as seasoned as I usually like them, but I could taste the flavors in it. The miso-honey was nice. I like the way the curry turned out in it, but it also wasn't ramen. The egg was my favorite- perfect, seasoned and the right liquid-solid consistency inside. Also, I chose the cheapest option, so I didn't feel that it was overpriced. I probably wouldn't be happy paying $10 for the Fourplay. Another thing I noticed is that the pictures of this dish are different. One customer had a whole piece of seasoned wing, while the my friend's bowl looked like it had steamed or grilled pieces of chicken. The dumpling was closer to authenticity. It tasted like an Asian dumpling. The skin was thinner than I expected, but it was good. I would like it to be cheaper though. So here's the verdict. If you go in expecting a bowl of ramen, you'll be disappointed. If you go in expecting Asian food, you'll probably be disappointed as well. If you expected something different than your usual chicken noodles soup or late night burger, you'll be happier. I was. The space was not comfortable, but it has that feel of a noodle shop. You don't come to be comfortable. You stop in quickly, you slurp your meal and you leave before the broth could get cold. That's another thing. The noodles could benefit from being hotter, tongue-burning hot. I would like to go back and try something else. I'm not ready to give it higher than a 3 until I try more, but it is a place with potential. It is the only shop of its kind in Louisville right now at these hours: mainly dedicated to noodles. I see the staff working hard and they are pleasant folks, even at the wee hours of the dawn. I just wish the broth would please the palate a little more.
(3)Patrick W.
I appreciate what Rumplings is trying to introduce to the Highlands food scene, and had a decent service experience. It is nice that they are using quality ingredients and hand make their noodles, but there are certain missteps that detracted from a recommending review. Ramen is a very simple working class dish which gives it little wiggle room before straying into mediocrity or being a bad experience. Rumpling might just have new comer legs to ramen, so they might be better down the road I hope. The noodles were okey, soup clings well but the chew was not there. Some of the noodles were a bit clumped, but eventually separated while soaking in the broth. Also it is $4 for another serving of noodles which is very steep. The broth while somewhat tasty, left me afterwards needing to rinse my mouth due to saltiness. The broth did have a decent body, but the pork flavor was a bit weak. (Writing this review 2 hours later my mouth still feels a bit dry) The pork belly slices were decent. Not sure if it was suppose to be chasu (Chinese bbq pork)like or not but reminded me of that. The chicken dumpling was more structurally a fried wonton. Tasted good, but certainly was not a dumpling or the more traditional gyoza. Though $1.50 for one might be more justifiable if the dough used was handmade too, not prepacked. Was the meal worth the $15, no. Will I be back? Most likely not. Should you try it out? Maybe, but know there is better ramen in the world so do not feel too discouraged if your first ramen experience is done through Rumplings and you leave wanting. I might be a little bias due to my exposure to Japanese ramen houses in my hometown in the SF Bay Area, Taiwan, and Japan. Good luck Rumplings and hope you get better.
(2)Megan P.
The service and the presentation is nice however the price and food are not. Bland food, this is overpriced. I will not be back
(1)Brian P.
The food was amazing! I just went there last Saturday, June 6th. I'm now hearing it is closed. I'm hoping only temporarily, for like a vacation!! I had the pork ramen with the miso. Delicious!
(5)Kara C.
I literally dream about this place all week waiting for it to open. Super authentic, and they male the noodles right in front of you. Mad props to the cooks at this joint, I know I would crack in a kitchen that fast paced.
(5)Crash K.
Disappointing. Overpriced and bland. Had a ramen and porkbelly. 5 pcs of thick cut pork, broth was flavorless, noodles were best part of dish. 13 bucks! Dumplings were decent, but not able to save my experience.
(1)lauren m.
Yes, yes, and yes. I had the chicken ramen. The noodles were perfect- amazing texture. The broth was pure love. This is going to become a tradition quickly.
(5)Cris B.
Initially I gave them a bad review because that's what they wanted and I agree with the intent. Having said that I want everyone to know that the food is outstanding and exactly what we have been waiting for. The dumplings are fried FOR A REASON, they add texture to the already delicious broth they are served in. The noodles were perfectly cooked and the pork belly had the prefect balance of chew and tenderness. I don't care what the haters say, this place is legit and only can get better, not that it needs to. Sit down, shut up and start slurping!
(5)Jaimelyn C.
I remember telling my husband how much I wish of having an authentic Japanese ramen shop here in Louisville. I go to Hiko-a-Mon for my ramen fix, it's really good and authentic, but they only have pork ramen there. So when I learned about Rumplings, I was dying to go. Unfortunately, I was on my way to Cleveland for work when I learned that it has opened. I would not shut up about it all week, and was just craving to get back to Louisville to get my hands on their ramen. As soon as I got home Friday night, I freshened up and headed straight to Rumplings for dinner. I knew what I was getting into before i went there, as I have read a few reviews on Yelp and on their Facebook page, so I didn't mind the crowd and the long wait. A tip for new customers, you can't save seats. They imitated ramen shops in Japan, where the turnover is really quick; people order, eat, and go. I ordered their Chicken Fourplay Ramen (chicken, egg, fat, and broth) and my husband ordered their Kentucky Ramen (smoked brisket, fried collard greens, chicken demi & bourbon peppercorn glaze), both with added beef dumpling each. Everything looked so promising, until we got our orders. First, my ramen did not have egg in it, like what it said on the menu. Second, the broth, which is the main and the most important component of a ramen was lacking the umami (pleasant savory) taste. Also, the bottom of their big bowl was the only portion filled with the broth. Third, the noodles, which is the second most important component was not in any way special. They make it from scratch, but unfortunately messed it up. My husband's noodles were twisted and bundled in a knot, which made them hard. If you're a ramen shop, you can't ever mess the broth and the noodles up. It takes away the whole ramen experience. They could have just outsourced the noodles and made sure that their broth was amazing. It could make all the difference in the world. It wasn't ALL bad though, I still gave them 2 stars because I can't say anything that I didn't like about their meat. The chicken and the brisket, including the dumpling, were phenomenal. They were flavorful, juicy, and delicious. Since it just opened, and I don't think Japanese people own it, I hope that they do more research to improve and fill in what's missing. If they don't, then I think that this will just be another fad that will eventually die down. If you're not a ramen snob like me, then you might like it, but I suggest trying Hiko-a-Mon's pork ramen as well to have a comparison and see what I am talking about.
(2)Meela L.
My husband and I were pretty excited about this ramen place. We both love ramen & udon noodles. When we got there the line was not too bad. We waited around 15 mins to be seated. We ordered piggy and honey miso. When the food came, we could not wait to try yet we ended up disappointed. Here the reasons: 1. The broth was too salty. 2. My miso honey ramen does not have the taste of miso flavor whatsoever 3. The broth of the piggy ramen was not rich although it was thick. We were expecting rich broth with pork flavor from pork bones and marrow that are boiled for hours. Far from our expectation. 4. It is kinda expensive. The piggy is $13. Although the bowl is big, the ramen itself is in small portion with 2 slices of bland pork belly and no crispy pork as stated in the menu. While the noodle itself is mediocre, I still think the most important part of a bowl of noodles is the broth. Something that I didnt find at Rumplings I think instant Korean ramen/udon noodles taste better than the piggy. MIf you re hungry for good ramen/udon, try Hiko A Mon. They do not have many varieties of noodles but they know how to make good soup.
(2)Allison A.
When I lived in San Francisco, ramen was a regular choice for lunch or dinner to warm the bones on cold, foggy days. I was thrilled to learn about Rumplings - the first ramen shop in Louisville - so my husband and I ventured out for opening night. The space is itty bitty, but we were able to find seats shortly after ordering. Our food, however, did not arrive until almost an hour and a half later. We got stuck at the wrong end of the queue when the ramen water had to be changed out, and watched as party after party who had ordered after us received their food. The shorter of the two chefs behind the counter showed his stress with a tone of slight annoyance when we continued to inquire about our order when nearly an hour had passed. Despite the long delay, and feeling slightly miffed by the lack of updates and response to our belated service, the ramen finally arrived and was delicious. I ordered the miso honey, and my husband opted for the dry brisket (note: dry so no broth), and we were both happy with the food. The brisket was cooked to perfection, and not overly fatty, which you often find in ramen dishes. My miso honey, much to my delight, was spicy and the mushrooms, noodles and onion were in perfect harmony - not too much nor too little of any of the ingredients. Aside from the delicious broth, the real star was the egg. It was cooked perfectly, and didn't have the oddly pickled or overly fermented flavor I've tasted in other ramen. Next time, I'll order extra egg! In addition to the ramen, we ordered three of the dumplings (eyes bigger than stomachs): pork, chicken and vegetarian. We didn't care too much for any of them, especially since they only offered them fried on opening night. (Despite the fact that the menu offered a steamed version, which we would have preferred.) Overall, the ramen is fantastic. The owners need to smooth out the kinks in service and kitchen flow, but the good ramen should sustain them while they sort it out. While the location will undoubtedly serve the shop well, it's a shame the owners didn't open in NuLu, which needs a few more foodie spots to complete the neighborhood, and could have offered a bigger space for seating. For first-timers: a bowl of ramen each and sharing an order of dumplings is more than enough for two.
(4)Trung N.
Worst ramen noodles ever! The soup was blend and the noodles, don't get me started on the noodles! I ordered the 13$ bowl with mussel and shrimp. Both the mussle and shrimp was fine. The noodles however....was mushy, sticky, tasted like uncooked flour that was dip in cold water for 10 seconds. Would rather eat instant ramen 10/10 times than come back to this place. Stay away!
(1)Liz S.
It may have been a bit pricey, but the ramen was fantastic! You could tell it is handmade, and my service was great as well. I'd recommend it for a good late night bit.
(4)Althea W.
Maybe I'm confused or maybe this place is a joke of a ramen shop. Call it spaghetti with lukewarm salt water is more appropriate. The noodles lack elastic texture, the broth is bland and lacks deep flavor(traditional ramen broth is made by boiling meat, bones spices and veggies for hours and hours to get the intense flavor). Be prepared to gauge down a huge glass of water afterwards the sodium content is seriously toxic. Oh, kitchen staff smoking outside in front of customers? Not palatable either.
(1)Deb R.
Finally! This new place is Louisville's first ramen shop. The menu includes about 12-13 ramen choices and 4 types of dumplings ( need to try the dumplings next time). Ramen prices ranged from $6-$14. I ordered the Piggy ( $11) - pork belly, pork broth and crispy pork. I bellied up to the counter ( the only seating option) and quickly dug into my good sized bowl of porky goodness. The broth was rich and deep with a great Unami flavor. Generous ( for ramen) portion of pork belly. And then the noodles- oh, those noodles! I'm a big Asian noodle fan- frequently ordering them when I've travelled in Asia. These housemade ramen noodles were some of the best I've had, perfectly cooked with a great al dente bite. Wonderful comfort food in a bowl! I slurped up every drop. Staff was super friendly and welcoming, particularly enlight of the sell-out crowds they've been dealing with. The place is very small ( 18 seats) - come prepared to wait.
(5)Brittney H.
I really hate to give a bad review, but I did not like anything about this place. I was excited to try it because I am big on japanese food, and I love ramen. This place was extremely pricey and they cannot stay consistent with their menu or the quality of their product. Noodles were extremely thick. I paid $3 for a tiny fried dumpling. Seating was cramped and uncomfortable. Ordering system was weird, awkward, and inefficient. There was japanese on the menu board, but it was incorrect. :( just disappointed all around. Don't call it ramen if it isn't ramen...
(1)Diana L.
Had to get it to go but got a large portion of miso honey and veggie dumplings, so good I could not photo the dumplings, spicy yet tasty and noodles done right.
(4)Kari A.
This place is definitely not authentic ramen and really should do some research on restaurants who know how to do it right (like in Chicago). I had hopes for this place being good but the flavors and consistencies of the noodle just weren't on point. I chose to get a side of the dumplings which actually tasted pretty good but that's about all...our order took forever and I wasn't impressed w the menu. Perhaps they should look into a spicy miso or a ramen that does not have a "smoke" taste to it.
(1)Becky N.
They serve ramen soup with vegetarian, pork, or chicken broth available. I had the Dashi with shrimp and mussels and it was wonderfully seasoned and steaming hot. The guy making the fresh noodles behind the counter was friendly and chatted with us as we ate. I like this place. I will be back for sure.
(5)Brent P.
Had I never had ramen before my experience might be different. I got the tonkotsu and my sister got the chicken Fourplay. The broth was cold, the noddles we're soggy, the meat was cold, and overall it was pretty flavorless. I was excited for Louisville's first ramen shop, but it was quite disappointing.
(2)Deedee D.
FINALLY!!!!!! A mouthful of happiness!!! This is the ramen I've hoped and wished for since you opened! I had nearly given up on you Rumplings. I've eaten four different bowls of ramen and while three were just okay, one of them I outright hated. I don't give second chances, if I don't like the food, I don't come back...period. But ramen is just short of being the love of my life and I desperately wanted to find something amazing, so I kept coming back. Tonight, it finally happened and while it still isn't the best I've ever had (Hiko-a-mon) you guys knocked it out of the park! The Tonkotsu is stellar!!! I love it so much I want to turn around and buy another bowl and seriously, I just might!
(4)Amber S.
This place is amazing!! I've never had ramen before and it was oh so good! I got the bahn mi with a mixed dumpling and it had just enough spice. The portions are very generous and two could easily share as long as you're not too hungry or if you get your own you could take the rest home. Although good luck with that it was so tasty I just ate it all and was a bit stuffed. Another plus is they have a good selection of beer which goes well with this food and they use local resources. It's in a small space but I went with one friend and we got a seat together and it was a fun spot to hang out, eat and have a beer. I also got take out for my husband and they separate the noodles from the broth so you just heat the broth up and pour it over the noodles so they don't get soggy. All around very enjoyable experience!
(5)Kendra G.
I was soooo looking forward to great ramen. Noodles were soggy and overall the dish was just not good. Tried a second time - with the same outcome. Probably great at 0400 - on the way home from the bar - but not great for dinner sober.
(2)Malissa K.
Myself and three friends came here during our lunch break. A few of us were excited to try it amidst the negative reviews of one of our party. By 1:30pm they had run out of chicken broth after only being open since 11am. The chicken thighs had a lot of fat left on them making a greasy soup. The noodles were an interesting (not in a good way) soft texture. Just underwhelming overall...especially for a $13 price tag. While I had the pork & miso broth, everyone else in my party had the mushroom broth, to which they described it as smelling and tasting like "lake water." No one finished his/her meal. It didn't help that it smelled like raw sewage outside (which, by the way, is the only real table optionsat Rumplings - everything else is bar style seating inside). The smell probably wasn't their fault, but it was the unfortunate rotten cherry on top of our experience. I don't think any of us will be back. I'm feeling queasy as I write this.
(1)Tom Food ..
Had a lot of hope for this place but completely disappointed. Portion: I left still very hungry (note: every other ramen bowl I've had in other cities, I wasn't able to finish). Service: I waited at least 30 minutes to get my food and it wasn't even hot when I got it. Quality/Taste: I ordered the Piggy and the broth tasted like bland pot roast gravy and the noodles were more like Italian pasta than ramen. Really wanted this place to be the answer to Louisville's lack of a noodle shop, but it falls flat in every way. Wouldn't recommend to anyone.
(1)Chelsea S.
I don't know if I should be saying this because I may work here, but seriously, this food is terrible. First off. The portion is huge, they know no one needs so much pork belly. I got the miso honey, add pork and fried collards, which bc there are no substitutions, is breaking their own rule. Secondly I just burned my cleavage bc the damn broth is so hot. There music is everywhere ranging from the currently playing Citizen Cope, thanks for reminding me of my ex husband, to fucking Tom Jones. If I hear one more Tom (also my ex husbands name) Jones song again I'm throwing the kitchenaid into the window. I guess it's ok if you want a lot of local food made with love, tears and a little of what chip calls his special ingredient and since he was once the magic mike of Louisville, who knows what that could be. I'm looking for another job.
(5)Amanda P.
Really wanted to like this place as I love ramen, but I was completely disappointed. Tried the piggie ramen with both dumpling options. The dumplings were the only part of the meal with any flavor. The broth was bland and the pork belly was cold and could have used a good sear. All in all no flavor in the ramen bowl. Like many recent posts, I won't be back again.
(2)Rachel A.
Absolutely delicious. The noodles are perfection. The portions are huge. I have never been able to finish my meal. The staff are super friendly (and interesting!) and engaging with their customers. I recommend getting the duck.
(5)Janet L.
SO MUCH SALT. That's the first thing you'll notice about the bowl of ramen. I'd read other reviews about the saltiness of their food and wanted to give Rumplings a chance despite this. But true to form the bowls of soup we got were all just salt licks. The noodles were mushy and clearly overcooked. Also salty. Two people got the tonkatsu ramen and the mushrooms and bean sprouts were non existent. Another person got the dashi ramen which although not great was way better than the tonkatsu. They did proteins fairly well which is why they get two stars and not just the one. The pork belly was tasty (albeit salty), the eggs were good, and the seafood was also cooked well. Sorry rumplings. I wanted a good ramen house in Louisville. You are not it.
(2)Samuel S.
Even though they despise Yelp and want a low score, I must give them a 5 star just because I very much support a push for more international food. They don't offer a completely authentic ramen like the tonkotsu ramen of Hikoamon, but they are trying. I am a huge supporter of ramen and hope they become a truly quality ramen shop.
(5)Vincent D.
The ramen is OVERPRICED for the quality and quantity. I was very excited coming in for the first time but left disappointed.
(1)Starrysnowfalls T.
I had high expectations for this place given all the hype and the interesting concept behind the restaurant. We ordered the Piggy and Miso Honey but somehow our order got lost, so we had to wait about 30 minutes before our food came out. The broth for both our soups were not as flavorful as we expected, and we were disappointed that there wasn't much substance in the dish other than noodles and a few scallions. I think some greens would have been nice. The pork belly slices appeared to be simply boiled and could have benefited from some searing or even frying first. The dumplings were nicely fried and crispy, and the beef dumpling was probably the best thing we ate. That said, the ramen dish should be the focus and star, but it didn't shine. I enjoyed Shoyu's ramen much more. I appreciate that the restaurant makes their own noodles fresh daily, and the staff were all extremely nice. I think this is a cute restaurant with hardworking chefs and wait staff, and I want this place to do well. However, I do think that Rumplings needs to fine-tune their ramen dishes and maximize their flavor potential.
(3)Kenneth A.
Closed.
(3)