4. Restaurants

Boxer Ramen

1025 SW Stark St, Portland, OR, 97205
  • (503) 894-8260
  • Store is closed

Boxer Ramen Menu

  • Ramen
  • Sides
  • Ramen
  • Sides

Healthy Meal suggestions for Boxer Ramen

  • Ramen
  • Sides
  • Ramen
  • Sides

Sorry, We are updating this restaurant blood pressure menu details.

Sorry, We are updating this restaurant cholesterol menu details.

  • Amanda L.

    I tried the vegetable curry soup here. It was tasty in most aspects, yet the mushrooms contained within the soup appeared to be sautéed in balsamic vinegar. Whenever I bit into one of them, the juicy, vinegary taste exploded in my mouth and conflicted with the warm curry spices on my palate. If they could just amend that one thing, I would've liked the dish so much more. Otherwise, Boxer is a cute, little cash-only lunch spot with a lot of charm.

    (3)

  • Gregg M.

    They have a very simple menu, with each ramen priced at $10. What I ordered was very flavorful. Ambiance was very simple, Japanese inspired. I will be back.

    (4)

  • Alex C.

    Two stars for the ambience and decor. I really, really wanted to like this place. The only really good ramen place in the local area has a huge wait, so I was excited walking by Boxer. It looks really good. But when I received my food and putting it in my mouth, I was very underwhelmed. The okonomiyaki tots were good but nothing extraordinary. I would have preferred actual okonomiyaki...and choosing my own toppings. The taste of bonito flakes is quickly overtaken by fried potato. The ramen might have been good but the dang broth was so salty. I'm not sure if my companion and I just go the bottom of the pot soup or something, but it was so salty that we were unable to finish our food. On top of all of this, cash only....is enough to make me not want to go back or try boxer sushi. Can't comment on the dessert, since we were scared to order anything else at our last visit. Perhaps if someone threatens my life and forces me to go to boxer ramen again, I'll order the dessert.

    (2)

  • James S.

    1st time here today, and yeah, I'm a fan! I had the "spicy" miso and although not at all spicy( I chop up Habeneros into my egg scrambles), it WAS delicious. The broth was very velvety and not at all too salty. But it was salty, but it IS ramen. Had a nice big hunk of pork belly and a soft boiled egg floating around in it along with a pile of green onion and crispy pork fat goodies. And of course some noodles! Maybe they've changed the size of the bowls since previous reviews complaining about size, but I had more than enough to satisfy me. I'm a 5'10", 200 Lb, Ironworker and I was full from my meal! Also, they are cash only. I can't really understand all the fuss over having to carry around some cash, I've been doing it since I was 6 and had to buy school lunch from time to time. It's really not that hard, and definitely not worth dinging an establishment some stars. Can't wait to try everything else on their (small) menu!

    (4)

  • Ed W.

    The noodle quality was great, as well as the pork belly. In my opinion, one should probably order the standard shio ramen here. Portions here are not a problem either, especially with those huge cans of beer.

    (3)

  • Ritu K.

    Our second go (what can I say I'm a glutton for Ramen) and I was even more disappointed. The Shiitake vegetarian broth was just awful, the greens salad made of red chard (with stems included as a extra bonus) was equally as terrible. To add insult to injury, the lack of any diet sodas was kind of a bummer. RC cola products- really? When did RC become the PBR of soda and do they still make Diet Rite?? I think we'll be looking for our ramen fix elsewhere.

    (2)

  • Madame M.

    I just have one comment about this new establishment. PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THAT IS GOOD IN THE WORLD, TURN OFF THE MUSIC!!!! I will NEVER understand why restaurants feel the need to play loud booming music. People go to restaurants to eat and enjoy conversations over a nice meal. SItting in this place shouting at my coworker made me feel like I was there to wave glow-sticks and drop Molly and not have a bowl of soup. GET IT TOGETHER BOXER, YOU SERVE RAMEN NOT RAVE KIDS!!!

    (2)

  • Deanna P.

    LOVED the spicy ramen... HATED (I repeat, HATED) the tater tots. If you know what's good for you don't ever order them!!!! But I really did LOVE the ramen! Have I mentioned that the tater tots traumatized me? Oh! Did I also mention the server RECOMMENDED them to us??? Horrible, just horrible. FYI - This place is cash only.

    (3)

  • Leeanne Z.

    Worst Ramen ever. If you have ever eaten the real Ramen in Japan and knows how it should taste like, don't try this restaurant.......

    (1)

  • Paul Y.

    The soul of all ramen is in the soup. And the soup here needs more finesse and more soul...to create the natural savory umami taste of all great noodle soup, regardless of the desired flavor profile or goal of authenticity vs. fusion. The first mouthful on a cold rainy night should make you smile and feel renewed. Think Luc Lac's pho. This is also the smallest portion of ramen noodles I've ever encountered regardless of price or quality. If daily production is limited, simply close when you sell out (e.g. Blue Star Doughnuts). Speaking of which, this sourced ramen noodle is slightly above average, but not the house-made quality expected of a ramen brasserie. Think Grassa's concept on Washington & 12th; they make fresh pasta everyday. And how I've missed Ippudo ( ippudony.com ); it's not fair to make such a comparison, but I secretly hoped for something similar. By the way, where did the chicken karaage go? It was on the tentative menu. Overall still needs refinement, but I am confident that the master chef behind Yakuza, Little Big Burger, Boxer Sushi, and Blue Star Doughnuts will give us a reason to come back in the following months. Everything good takes time. As such, my top 3 ramen list for PDX remains unchanged: 1. Yuzu (authentic) 2. Mirakutei (authentic) 3. Masu (fusion)

    (3)

  • David M.

    I'll start out by saying that I'm NOT a ramen expert. That being said, I rolled in this afternoon for a warm bowl of ramen and was pleasantly surprised by the absolutely delicious the vegetarian ramen was. It was hearty and full of flavor. The level of spice was just right. And the service was incredible - kind and friendly staff. I'll definitely be back!

    (4)

  • Coba C.

    Most unusual looking ramen joint I've been to, nice wood with pink accents. Very simple 4 item ramen menu. We got the tonkotsu ramen, the soup was delicious and rich, the noodle very firm, and the meat reminded me of bacon. Extremely quick service

    (4)

  • Bliss D.

    I ate lunch here today and it was just okay. To be fair, the okonomiyaki tots were great (you can get them vegetarian-style by asking them to leave off the fish flakes). The ramen, however, was meh. I got the vegetarian curry ramen (which is actually vegan). It was too mild, the tofu in it was rubbery, and I didn't realize it was chock full of mushrooms because there are no descriptions anywhere on the menu. My boyfriend got the shitake ramen and he said it was really good but was surprised it had a beef broth. He usually doesn't eat beef...And again...No descriptions on the menu. Maybe it wasn't even beef broth at all. It's tough to say, and our waitress did not look excited about chatting with us, so after one question I stopped asking. I can see people liking this place but with a 30 minute wait for lunch and just mediocre service I doubt I will be back.

    (2)

  • James P.

    There's a wait every day for lunch for a reason. It's the best ramen in town, hands down!

    (5)

  • Amy S.

    I'm not a big fan of Micah Camden's other restaurants as he does a little too much to food than I personally prefer. To me, his food often loses the opportunity to let their inherent goodness shine because he overcomplicates and overdresses them. So I was not expecting to like Boxer Ramen either. To my surprise, I really liked it. I had tonkotsu ramen a few times, and have tasted spicy miso as well. I have to say, the pig shines in the broth. I only give them 3 stars because other things weren't that great. Okonomiyaki tots were a huge let down as they're just regular tater tots with Okonomiyaki sauce. I think I made that in my college dorm room with a microwave. It would have been nice if they were actual bite-size Okonomiyaki balls.

    (3)

  • Patrick W.

    I wish they were a bit accommodating, but their sign says they will decline substitutions. They wouldn't even poach my egg longer. The food is good, not great. Don't bother ordering anything but the ramen, other dishes crazy expensive for what you get. For the price I do wish for a bit more. Overall a good quick in and out joint. Don't expect much service, but again it's a ramen joint. Spicy miso I must say is nice and unique here.

    (3)

  • stephanie k.

    this is my favorite ramen i eat it very often. the vegetarian curry is vegan. wish there was more mushroom sthought cuz they are sooo good!

    (5)

  • Nicky L.

    I've had my fair share of ramen and thought I'd had really good ramen... until I tried Boxer Ramen. I was completely wow'd by how flavorful the broth was, picking up essences of the smokey flavor from the pork, a light peppery layer and an undeniable umami taste. The noodles are not your standard 'Top Ramen' ones. And the egg-oh my egg- it was bordering raw and was the cherry on top. I loved the atmosphere, paintings on the walls and overall level of service. I would recommend this place to anyone!

    (5)

  • Patrick S.

    Simple, delicious. Konkotsu is what I get. It good. Me like. I want to put this place in my back pocket and carry it around with me and have delicious Ramen anywhere anytime. Try it! ~Kampai!

    (4)

  • hannah k.

    I mean i'll probably come back. It wouldn't be my first or second choice for ramen but i'd give it another chance. I started with the okonomiyaki tots which were good. I mean, katsuobushi on tots with tonkatsu sauce. I can't be mad. The pickled veggies were good too. I got the spicy miso ramen and for me, the ramen broth was insanely salty. I know miso is salty but this was a little too much for me. Thank goodness for the pickled veggies. They were very instrumental in cutting through the saltiness of the broth. I think I went through four cups of water in one sitting. The noodles were different in the sense that they weren't dense and super chewy but more like noodles you find in shin ramen or other packages ramen. I didn't mind them though. I would be willing to come back and try the other ramen types like the tonkotsu.

    (3)

  • James B.

    If you hit #Portland, this is one place that you must stop at to eat. Definitely come to this place hungry and ready to eat some great Ramen. They also have Asahi and Old Fashion Root Beer. They also play classic rap music!!! J Dilla, Kendrick Lamar, Kanye West, Madlib, MF Doom, Frank Ocean, etc.

    (5)

  • Kevin Y.

    Poor presentation, it doesn't look tasty coming out of the kitchen weird pork selection... It's almost like they used smoke ham versus slow cooked pork from the broth... The broth is nothing but salty.. No favor what so ever Not pleasant after all... I wouldn't pay $5 for it...

    (1)

  • Kris D.

    We ordered the tots & veggie curry noodles. Both dishes were outstanding, but huge. We could have easily split the noodles - surely making a mess in the process. We were full the whole rest of the day and didn't even finish either plate (and we are big eaters). So satisfying, flavorful, and reasonably priced. Super fast too! Go!

    (5)

  • Mike B.

    Was surprised to see negative criticism on this place, as it's one of the best bowls of ramen I've had outside of Japan. My bowl came with a big old thick slice of pork belly right in the middle. A soft boiled egg, and a fantastic variety of noodles, stock and vegetables. The broth was just the right ratio of fat and salt (umami), the noodles were the perfect consistency for slurping up with chopsticks. Massive portion for the price. Quick service and delivery. Made a great lunch on a cold wet Portland afternoon.

    (5)

  • Becky E.

    Not the best tasting broth for the price and somehow they were able to over cook my soft-boiled egg yolk and yet the white was still not done. I'd like to know how that was accomplished! The "pork belly" tasted just like a smoked ham not like a pork belly ramen should taste. :( Sadly, I was very dissapointed and will not be going back. We also tried the tots, which were mediocre for $6.00.

    (2)

  • Haeyoung K.

    Eh... hit or miss here.. Sometimes it is WAY too salty or sometimes the noodles are not cooked well. The decor of the restaurant is cool but that's pretty much it.

    (2)

  • Latifa S.

    Slurp your noodles!! No matter which bowl you get! Yes, that's their motto. At least that's what you'll see walking into Boxer Ramen. I came here few months ago for my second lunch. I love all things ramen. And seeing this was the talk of the town at the moment, I had to try it even if I've already ate. Walked in to this cute little place and got seated by the window. You have the option of sitting at their little bar or sit by at the small tables. I chose the table with a bunny art right behind me. So fitting :) The menu was Simple. It can't get any simpler than this. Two types of Ramen- choose one with or without sides. Menu: Tonkatsu Ramen (Pork bone and soy) or the "Really Spicy Miso" (with vegetarian option). Sides Japanese pickle salad Okonomikyaki tots Pork belly banh! We got both ramens and pickle salad. My really spicy ramen came with a soft boiled egg. It was so tasty. I love the texture of their noodles. It's smooth, soft and totally slurp worthy. It was so tasty, I ate half of it even though I wasn't planning to. Simply put- it was tasty. You can see the kitchen action from inside or outside the dining room as well. When you go outside, its in this little indoor shopping area with tons of furniture shops, clothing stores and even a candy store. I can still taste that ramen in my mouth. Yummmmm! Service was good. The ambiance and the decor was great. I love that cutesy art decko hipster vibe with really cool chill music in places like this. They were playing a mixture of cool 80's songs. Makes you want to stick around longer than you actually should. Overall , it was tasty , yummy and happiness filled lunch. Thanks Boxer Ramen for keeping it simple. I'll be back again soon!!

    (4)

  • Kay M.

    Portland does a lot of things right. Unfortunately, Boxer Ramen is not one of them. To be fair, the decor of the place is awesome, and I loved the bar seating. It has the vibe of a Japanese ramen restaurant. Decor? 5 stars. Now, the food. I ordered the tonkatsu shio and the okonomiyaki tots. The ramen was subpar: - the broth was almost flavorless - the chasu seemed undercooked - there was soy sauce (or something) drizzled on the top, but it didn't mix with the broth and just turned into little black dots that looked like pepper. It didn't add any noticeable flavor. - the noodles were okay The okonomiyaki tots were just frozen tater tots smothered in bonito flakes. It had a neat presentation, but I was expecting something closer to okonomiyaki-- an amazing comfort Japanese dish that has a ton of flavor. These tots did not. The staff were okay. I sat near the kitchen, so I heard the constant complaints of the wait staff. I get it. I used to work in a restaurant, but try a bit harder to not let your customers hear it. I left a full plate of "okonomiyaki" tots, and 2/3 a bowl of ramen behind. I should've just given it directly to the homeless guys outside.

    (2)

  • Faye F.

    Four different kinds of ramen and my friends and I ordered 3 different ones: shiitake mushroom, tonkotsu, and spicy miso. Each one had a different taste. The shiitake had a hint of sweetness, tonkotsu was really salty, and spicy miso not as salty and only had a light spicy kick. We also ordered the greens salad and the tots. The tots is probably my favorite. SO GOOD! I love takoyaki so the dried flakes on it plus the sauce was an interesting take on the tots. Try it! Cost-wise, prices are decent and very affordable. Downside is the long wait. The space is small and can only accommodate a small amount of folks. If you go during peak eating hours, you be waiting. Put yourself on the waitlist, get some coffee or cookies at little t baker or go shopping at the stores down the alley.

    (3)

  • Irene S.

    This ramen place is okay but not what I expected. I've been craving some good Japanese ramen but this place is a very modern, western take on ramen. The pork tasted more life bacon than anything else. It's a good place to try and some people, like my boyfriend, end up really loving it, and others like myself liked the experience but really wanted some authentic Japanese ramen. Also I believe they are cash only.

    (3)

  • Em W.

    Went for the first time and was not impressed. My initial thought when looking at the menu was "oh, there aren't a lot of plates, but they must do each dish very well.". Unfortunately that's not the case. Had the tonkotsu which had WAY too much fat and my noodles were not prepared right (they were all stuck together). I could only eat half of my bowl because it was so fattening, which seems wasteful since they won't let you take your leftovers to go. Very wasteful and un-Portland of them. We left feeling like our mouthes were covered in pork fat for the rest of the day. It left a bad taste we couldn't get out. Decor is nice, hope this place gets better. It has a lot of potential but there are better ramen places in PDX imo.

    (2)

  • Rob F.

    GO ELSE WHERE!!!! If you like bullshit overpriced ramen and fake pot stickers then you should come here,but if you actually like authentic ramen then go elsewhere. Food & Service suck a big one and especially our waiter that had a little to much attitude. I wanted to smash his skull,but I had to be polite and just leave. If you want authentic ramen then I advise against dinning here.

    (1)

  • Yan L.

    Their noodles are top-notch, with a chewy texture and the perfect thickness. But their broths are lackluster. Their tonkotsu shio has little flavor and while my guess is that it is homemade (it doesn't taste like the mass-produced flavoring you get at other places), it's not made very well. Their shitake shoyu is the same: dull and seasoned with weird powders and sour mushrooms. Ideally, if I could just bring home the ramen and cook it in my own broth, I'd do that. Alas...

    (3)

  • chett f.

    As other reviewers have noted, the music is WAY TOO LOUD. I don't mind music when I dine, but the manager should at least get a decent sound system instead of overdriving a puny amp and forcing customers to listen to distorted speaker cones rattling all over the place. The food was fine although not memorable, but the constant thump thump thump crash crash crash coming from above ruined the whole experience. Not coming back.

    (1)

  • Kay C.

    I was craving ramen and looking forward to eating here. The menu is very small and the ramen dishes are similar. I went with the Tonkatsu Shio ramen. I was disappointed with it. The broth was not hot and too salty for me. The noodle texture seemed like it had been sitting out a while and dropped in the broth, which is probably the case and I reckon not unusual for ramen joints. The pork belly was good and flavorful. That's the only thing I really liked about this dish. For $11 this ramen should have been better.

    (2)

  • Bunn S.

    I had the Spicy Miso and I thought it was good. I also ordered the tots, with sauce on the side per suggestion from another Yelper, but, I think that hurt my first experience with that dish ... Maybe next time I'll have it how it's supposed to be eaten: sauce on top!

    (3)

  • Shauna F.

    Yum. Going back.

    (5)

  • Amber N.

    I found this place on yelp and thought I would be able to get veggie ramen. Turns out they stopped making veggie ramen and only have the vegetarian curry, so we left.

    (2)

  • San T.

    Not a fan. I had the spicy red miso ramen and it was super salty. It didn't taste like it had any spice to it either. The salad was decent, but I will not be going back. The waiter was friendly and tried his best to accommodate us, but it didn't seem like he knew too much of what was going on.

    (1)

  • Rambod B.

    I came here the second week it was open so maybe they were still working out their kinks. I'm fine with it being a cash business, but at the least you should know where the ATM is. When I finally got pointed to one, it ended up being broken. I know it's not their fault, but still annoying. Luckily one of my dining compatriots had extra cash. We ordered the okonomiyaki tots to start and they were definitely good, but really how hard is it to mess up tots with some bonito flakes. The main dish is where I had my issues. I ordered my usual, the tonkatsu. First off $10 is pretty pricey for a bowl of ramen. Daikokuya, which is consistently rated one of the best on the west coast, is only $9 and that's in downtown LA. Boxer is more expensive than Yuzu and Yuzu constantly has a line. It took a while to get to our table which I thought was surprising considering the most important part of the dish, the broth, is prepared in advance. Once it got to us, I was extremely disappointed to see that my broth was lukewarm. It shouldn't be boiling hot, but it shouldn't be tepid either. I would have sent it back, but I had already waited 30 minutes and I needed to get back to work. My only guess is that they made it and forgot about it because on top of it not being hot, the noodles were mushy. I'll give this place one more shot as I liked the atmosphere and it's not too far from work, but needless to say, I was very disappointed.

    (2)

  • Anita H.

    This is my favorite ramen spot so far! I love the Tonkotsu Shio ramen -- it's got a great rich savory pork broth infused with scallions and this black sauce (don't know what it's called, but it's like black magic) topped with a very soft poached egg and a slab of pork belly. Popping that nicely poached egg and letting the egg yolk blend through the broth -- delicious!! An excellent way of filling up your tummy on a rainy day. I also ordered the okonomiyaki tots, which came out in a generous portion on a small cast iron skillet. It's definitely shareable -- the tots are covered with spicy mayo sauce and bonito flakes. An awesome substitute for cajunized tater tots. Yum yum.

    (5)

  • Brandon S.

    Booo. This place was so wack its hard to desscribe. Service was portland-rude, which is sadly to be expected nowadays, but still I like to judge a place by its food. The salad was really yummy, albeit heavy on salt, as an appetizer and I wish it was an entree, because the ramen is terrible. As a group we tried every ramen, and not one of us was happy (and the ones of us who have lived in Tokyo or Los Angeles were even disgusted). i didn't have huge expectations going into it, but they were not even close to being met. My tonktosu's meat was strange and flavorless, the noodles just clumped together in one huge ball that made it impossible to consume unless you want to turn your mouth into a garbage disposal, and the broth was either 1) oily or 2) oily or the worst combo of 3) oily salt that nearly burns your esophagus by its crudeness. I wouldn't go back here. It does have a nice atmosphere, I'll give it that.

    (2)

  • Bradley S.

    First off if you want traditional Japanese Ramen this place is not for you. I look at this place as Portland's take on Ramen. We each got the Tonkotsu-Shio and really liked it. We have been to a lot of ramen places throughout Southern California and this broth stands out to me a lot, it is rich and full of flavor. The trick is the meat, which does not taste like normal pork belly they put in Ramen, but they actually smoke the pork belly and it adds a lot of depth to the broth. The noodles were standard a lil smaller then normal and lil tough. The atmosphere and vibe is great, great urban music, friendly staff and it attracts portland's 20-30's crowd and some families. If you're visiting from out of town and craving a lil different take on ramen I highly recommend it. I asked my fiancé what she thought and all she said was: Yum!

    (5)

  • Lilly S.

    Very comfy spot. Concise menu which makes ordering simple. The Greens & Sesame were Devine. Super duper tasty. Umami all the way. Yummy! I had the mushroom ramen which was also quite good and w/ a cold Sapporo the meal was complete. The 90's hip hop added a lil extra extra to the visit - so I left pleased.

    (4)

  • Alley P.

    I've been here quite a few times, and I love the spicy red miso! Their soft boiled eggs are cooked perfectly every time. The art on the walls is super cute, and the location is great! However, they only have one vegetarian option, and it's not my favorite.. I don't typically take my veg pals here.

    (4)

  • Ian M.

    this place is weeaboo as hell and i love it. walk in and you get assaulted by cute anime-inspired art everywhere you look, from the walls to the menus to the windows food itself is simple. you can either get ramen, or some overpriced not very tasty sides that other places do better plus, the amount of ramen they give you is so phat that you will never finish it anyway so getting a side is just a waste of money i've only ever gotten the hot miso ramen because i think mushrooms are disgusting and i love my ramen spicy, but i've heard the tonkotsu pork is pretty good too. the ramen itself is crazy delicious, you're getting assaulted from all sorts of directions by different flava-flaves. noodles are nice and thickish, none of that stringy shit. comes with a complimentary egg too, none of that pay for extras bullshit that some other ramen situations pull on you. one time i tried fitting the entire egg in my mouth at once, and that didnt end well, so i would not recommend trying that whole meal can last as little as 10 minutes if going solo, waitstaff is super attentive and the turn around time from ordering to stuffing your fat face with ramen is ridiculously fast mochi is kinda good when they fucking have it, which is never.

    (4)

  • Maggie K.

    The atmosphere of this place is awesome, great music and great decor and a modern vibe. The tator tots are amazing and definitely recommended, ramen is hearty and filling but nothing like authentic ramen. This place is Americanized but still great. A little over priced but worth it at least to try once. Although, I think I'll be going back to my normal Japanese restaurant for ramen cravings.

    (3)

  • Ryan S.

    I've heard some hit or miss reviews about this place, but honestly as far as the Portland ramen scene goes this is one of the best. I've tried the ramen at Shigezu, Boke Bowl, Biwa, and have been pretty unimpressed. I know this is not traditional Japanese ramen, but honestly what I've had has been pretty good compared to the other stuff in PDX. I've tried the spicy miso, shoyu, and ton katsu ramen and the spicy miso and shoyu were definitely the better of the three. The spicy miso is packed with flavor and has a lot of umami going on, and the shoyu is a lot more subtle but still very good in my opinion. The okonomi tots are decent and the seaweed salad is actually pretty good. The fact that the ramen costs $10 is a little crazy, but worse is the cash only policy and the fact that the atm across the street is perpetually broken down.

    (4)

  • Joe M.

    Expectations were high and I was hoping for a ramen bowl to truly blow me away. Upon arrival for a group of 5, I put my name on the clipboard. The restaurant is small with only a couple of tables enough for a decent group size. After my party arrived, we managed to get a table within a reasonable waiting time. The server was friendly and quickly pointed out the tots appetizer was sold out. Frowning, we opted for a couple of bowls of the Ohitashi (greens + sesame) ($4). They promptly arrived and we dug right in. The collard greens were plentiful along with the bite size shitake mushrooms and sesames. It was crowd pleaser with the group. Shortly after, the bowls of ramen arrived. We were at first impressed with the bowl size but somewhat disappointed by the aftermath. The "really spicy miso" ramen ($10) is not super spicy. It can be labeled between a mild and medium level. There was plenty of green onion, broth, and reasonable portions of pork with the fat included. What greatly lacked was the ramen itself: noodles! After a few bites, the thin and lifeless noodles were gone. Sure there was plenty of broth but my hunger wasn't satisfied. The place means well with a simple menu at a reasonable price. The food ran out as our group departed. Cash is only accepted for the time being and there can be a wait at various times. If going as a group, keep it no more than 5 maximum. An updated review may happen in the future since this is a grand opening.

    (3)

  • Lawrence C.

    The ramen was very average. Possibly prepackaged noodles. A very sparse amount of meats in the spicy ramen. The presentation for the tater tots was fun but the ramen needs improvement. Less salt, msg and more tender noodles would go a long ways. 10 dollar ramen , 5 dollar pepto bismo.

    (2)

  • Chloe B.

    I love this place! The atmosphere is super cute and the ramen and appetisers are good. Friendly staff and good service.

    (5)

  • Nicole E.

    Living in SF we thought we were spoiled for choice for pretty amazing ramen....that was until we ate at boxer ramen last night! The spicy red miso ramen was simply phenomenal, out of this world delicious. I have never tasted ramen this good. Soft boiled egg, pork belly, a good dose of chilli...the perfect dinner on a blustery 26 deg night in Portland! My one & only complaint is that these guys don't do takeout.

    (5)

  • Bryan I.

    A group of us went to Boxer for their grand opening on 11/1 expecting an experience similar to how M. Camden's made Little Big Burger & Boxer Sushi such great successes: Minimalist menus with each item done perfectly. The menu was just what I expected, 2 types of ramen ("really" spicy miso and tonkatsu, each $10), and ~4-5 side dishes (all $4-5) - we had the pork belly banh and ohitashi salads (definitely try the ohitashi salad; it's light and pairs very well with the ramen). Both ramen broths had pretty good, the half egg & pork were cooked just right, and I kind of liked the bits of pork fat floating on the top (easy to avoid if you don't like it). I liked the spicy miso broth best. It has a nice slow heat that I thought was just right, though I definitely wouldn't call it "really" spicy, and those that love a really hot burn will probably say it's not spicy at all. I didn't see any hot condiments (peppers, hot sauces, etc) to give it more kick but maybe those will be added if requested by customers. My biggest complaint was that compared to all the other japanese shops in town, the quantity of noodles was really undersized. How small was it? Despite each of us having a whole bowl of ramen and side dishes, we ended up going to Sizzle Pie to ALSO get a slice/salad combo just to fill us up (and no, none of us are super-sized with massive appetites). For a $10 bowl of ramen, I kind of expected it to be a full, satisfying meal. - To be fair, they closed the restaurant early right after we left b/c they ran out of food, so MAYBE they cut back our portions to feed everyone that had already been seated? The atmosphere was colorful and cozy, and all of our waiters seemed seemed friendly and competent. Other things to note: * It's ON STARK STREET between the Fish Grotto and Living Room Theater, NOT WASHINGTON St. as claimed by the address on Yelp as of 11/2/13 * It's a SMALL restaurant with space for maybe 25-30 people, and only a few tables able to hold 5-6 people. * Do NOT come here with a group over 5-6 people unless you're willing to be split up. * There are NO reservations; go early and put your name on the list if you don't want to wait too long * There are NO TO-GO BOXES, so eat everything you order. * They are CASH ONLY; no credit cards or checks! Given it was their opening day, I am open to trying them again to see if it improves, but so far from what I've seen there are other places in town with larger portions and similar or better quality and price.

    (2)

  • carolyn M.

    I came to Boxer Ramen looking for a comforting bowl of delicious ramen to warm my belly on this wintry day, but what I got was nothing like what I wanted. Instead of a warm delicious soothing bowl I received nothing short of what could be described as a greasy salt lick. Don't get me wrong, it had all the elements of a good ramen - pork belly, egg, tender noodles, but the broth was disgusting. It was covered in a layer of grease. A good ramen should be fatty, but this did not have the well macerated fat throughout the bowl, merely a layer of poured on oil on top. I don't even want to know what my sodium levels were after that bowl. I downed an entire jug of water by myself and could not even finish the bowl. I graciously accepted the check as soon as the server would bring it and excused myself. I'll not be returning, which is a shame because the restaurant has such a cute kitschy interior and friendly staff!

    (2)

  • Marissa T.

    I'm still hungry. We needed a quick bite. Boxer Ramen provided just that. Excellently located this location is busy busy busy. We were lucky enough to have to wait just a few minutes for a spot to sit. Bright cheery and super clean this place is definitely appealing. Fun art on the wall. Great music blasting. The noodles were noodles. Pretty small portion. Nice hot tasty broth. Service was genuine and quite friendly. I think facial piercings are a pre-requisite for employment here. It's entertaining. Word on the street is the owner has multiple other restaurants. Must be a smart guy. You would think he could afford to take credit cards. Maybe he doesn't like to pay taxes or something. All I know is I didn't have cash. So, I had to pay a $2.50 ATM fee. So my noodles were even more expensive. Not that it effected me, but Substitutions are Politely declined. BOOOOOOO I did learn I can TOTALLY twirl Ramen with chopsticks and my soup spoon. The little spaghetti lover in me LOVES to twirl. LOL Can't say I'll be back. I'm still HUNGRY.

    (2)

  • Chris W.

    I was pretty skeptical of this place when it first opened even though I typically love Japanese food of all shapes and sizes. $10 for a bowl of ramen noodles? To me, that just seemed over the top, and so for many months I resisted the temptation to stop in and try it out. I finally gave in and decided to sample the noodles. I arrived during a busy lunch rush and was seated at the bar . . . and then waited . . . and waited . . . and waited. I was there for at least 10 minutes with no water, no service, no indication whatsoever they even knew I was there. So, I got up and walked out. I can't attest to the food, but if you want to pay too much for a bowl of noodles and get treated like you don't matter, this seems like the perfect place for you.

    (1)

  • Deb F.

    Finally, FINALLY got a chance to try out Boxer Ramen. Since I am such a ramen fan and prefer the more traditional styles, I was pretty convinced I wasn't going to like Boxer. Maybe going in with low expectations helps, but I really liked the ramen! I had the Tonkotsu-Shio, hubby had the Spicy Miso. We also tried the fried potstickers, since I don't like tots at all. The Shio broth had the familiar tonkotsu milky white color, and had a good rich flavor. It *is* very salty, I do have to admit, and yeah, shio ramen is supposed to be salty, but this was really REALLY salty. Like I was retaining water for the next 24 hours salty. But I still enjoyed the taste! The noodles were paler/whiter in color than I've seen, but the texture was just right for me - not too mushy, not undercooked. The pork belly was really more like ham in that it had a definite smoky taste and was more meat and less fat. There were also tiny bits of diced pork floating in the broth. The egg...well, I don't like soft cooked eggs, so I did not eat it. Hubby's spicy miso was very spicy. I tried a spoonful and found it to be too spicy to taste the underlying miso broth. It kind of overwhelmed the whole dish. That's not one I would get, frankly, but if you like spicy hot ramen, go for it. The potstickers were nothing special. Fried, seems like they were packaged like I can get at the Japanese grocers. The sauce was like a tomato-sriacha-soy combo with some green onions on top. Meh. Cash only. Seats for 30 people. Bright, cute paintings on the walls. Service was prompt and friendly but not overly so (at least towards us). The first seat we were at was under the AC vent and it was freezing, so we moved to another spot. I noticed another couple did the same later on. I'd totally go back for the shio broth and noodles!

    (4)

  • Phoenix A.

    In my world of ramen, I hold the Kuro Bowl at Monta Ramen (Las Vegas) up high as the benchmark for fan-fuckin-tastic ramen thanks to my cousin Nick D. Boxer Ramen stands at 'OK'. I mean I did eat there twice in one week, mostly because my co-worker was making crazy eyes at the very mention of ramen AND at the fact that Boxe was located directly across the street from our hotel. Each time I ordered the Shitake Shoyu bowl and she ordered the Spicy Miso bowl with pork and I got to take the pork out of her bowl and dump it into mine since she doesn't eat animal body parts very much. The mushroom flavor was great and I loved having the soft-boiled egg in my soup. My co-worker and I talked about how one would cook an egg such that when you divided it in half the yoke did run all over the place. For some reason it boggled our minds enough to question it and we both like how the yoke "behaved" in our respective bowls. She liked the place more than I did, but I didn't find anything stand-out-ish about my ramen. Would I come here again? Not if I didn't have cash because that's all they take. But I would just to try the tots. They have really cute paintings on the wall. The restaurant is clean and the people that work there are very friendly. They also had interesting flavors of mochi that I would mind trying next time as well.

    (4)

  • Meg P.

    Since it was a cold and rainy day I decided to walk up to Boxer Ramen to try it out for my first time. It looked pretty crowded but since I was dining solo for lunch they seated me at the bar. It looked like for larger parties you could order your food before you sat down so it would be ready when you sat down. It is dumpling week in Portland but I was quickly informed that there were all out until later I overheard someone say they are going to be ready for dinner around 5pm - wish I had known. Anyway, they talked me into ordering the potstickers stating they were similar but instead of being steamed they are fried. I also ordered the spicy red miso ramen but ordered it without the pork belly since that is one type of pork I am not a huge fan of. My food came pretty fast but I wasn't thrilled. The ramen was okay; not the best I have ever had. The broth was good but I felt it was missing another veggie or another layer of flavor. Their ramen options could be a little more exciting as well - almost all of them have pork belly. The potstickers weren't great either - the texture seemed a little off - but the sauce they served with it was pretty good. Unfortunately, nothing to get too excited about. I loved the music they were playing - old school hip hop - but I am not sure if I would go back again. It is in a cute area though in PDX and there are cool shops next door if there happened to be a wait. Overall, I think they could do better.

    (2)

  • Ian W.

    Bomb Shio Ramen, but Orenchi-San Jose has the edge in my book. Lots of hype and high expectations that it had live up to.

    (5)

  • Olivia O.

    I'm frustrated by a few things at Boxer Ramen - they are cash only, the wait during lunch is over an hour, the menu is extremely limited, you can't get food to go, you can't make reservations, the place is too small to deal with the amount of clients. That being said, I finally managed to try Boxer Ramen out last night. The place was almost at peak capacity on a weekday night, thirty minutes to closing. In fact, even after 9pm there was still people eating at just about every table. I wonder if this place ever calms down? We started off with some Japanese-inspired tater-tots. I personally wasn't a fan of the sauce on top but my friends liked it enough to finish off half the plate. I took two bites and then tried to find all the ones that didn't have sauce on the bottom of the pan. We all ordered the ramen bowl and it was an impressive amount of food. Personally, I could not finish my bowl, but I had eaten a few hours earlier. The noodles were amazing but the egg was a little overcooked for my ramen-tastes (the yellow was mostly hard, no gooey or melty center at all). The meat tasted a bit more like bacon than pork belly or whatever is usually in there - to be honest, I'm not sure. The broth was spotted with white fat, something I haven't noticed anywhere else I've eaten ramen. For my money and for the area, I'd rather hit up Masu for their Ramen bowl up on 13th and SW Washington. I would like to give this place another chance and see how they handle their setbacks, if it's possible that the stars align and I get another seat here again. I did actually really like the noodle portion of my meal so I'm tempted to go back just for that alone.

    (3)

  • Connor B.

    Excellent ramen, solid prices, great location and impeccable design. All of the ramen is great, although anything with the pork belly is my favorite. For appetizers, the potstickers are very good, although I wouldn't recommend the tater tots. Solid Japanese beer, along with some other good choices. No substitutions! You get what's on the menu. And they do take cards now.

    (4)

  • Amy L.

    I tried this place once. I was hoping for some of the great reviews they had here for the food. Menu looks promising. Went with my sis and ordered 2 ramens miso and tonkatsu. A salad and okonomiyaki tots. Ramen: Both were too salty for my taste. Miso was especially salty and greasy at the same time. Noodles were regular store bought noodles, the kind for yakisoba I think. Salad: Super delicious, I would come here just for that. Okonomiyaki tots: Way too greasy, missing mayo as one of the regular toppings of okonomiyaki they replaced it with siracha mayo. Which was different from what I traditionally had in Japan. Place is small but decorated in a hipster way. Saw many people in for dates. A great place for date night. Cons: Cash Only: Seriously in downtown portland? I'd understand if it was in chinatown... A bit loud: Not ambient for kids definitely or a chill lunch. Small place: Big groups no, no

    (3)

  • Brian M.

    This was stop 2 on our dumpling crawl. Although I have to say the dumplings themselves were nothing to scream about. They were adequate. I guess I'll get over the nuance of calling gyoza's potstickers as they are different because the staff was pretty friendly and the service was good. Will come back to try some of their other dishes.

    (4)

  • Joe G.

    Meh is right. This place really represents some of the worst aspects of our town's food scene. The trendy design, restrictive menu, too loud music, random stupid rules (no take out of leftovers... seriously, you would rather we throw out your food than eat it later? Get over yourself.) all really takes away from an otherwise solid "-B" ramen bowl. I've eaten here on about 4 occasions so I think I have a good basis for a review of both the food and service. Overall the ramen bowls are good, if a little funky. As many others have said, the pork belly here is... let's just say different. It's basically thick bacon that taste like grilled ham. There is some type of curing going on because it's got the pink ham hue and ham flavor. Personally I would rather have real kakuni or char shu but they just do it different here. The noodles are good. I believe from Sun in LA. I prefer them a little firmer than the make them here but I think they are good just the same. The broth is for sure fatty, but I like it. Not as much as say Kukai or Yuzu in Beaverton, or even Biwa really. But it's good enough. I have had all the sides and I like the salad w/ mushrooms the best. The others are just kinda simplistic and uninspired. tots topped with bonito? Eh... The service here is really what turns me off at this place. They act like you should be lucky they allow you to eat here and be served by them. I feel like saying "I know you are an aspiring app designer or artisanal -fill in the blank- maker but for now you put bowls on a table so let's check the ego a little ok?" I think what really drove this home was a visit a few weeks back. I went for lunch and I believe they are supposed to open at 11.00. I got there at about 11.20 and there was a sign on the door that they would be opening at 12. Ok, ill wait... I go over to Powell's to kill some time. I come back at 12.00 and now the sign says "open today at 12.30." I asked her if they would be opening at 12.30 (yes I had already waited nearly an hour and was willing to wait another half) and she just gives me a shitty look and snarky response. Instead of the Japanese trendy foo foo paintings and all how about a little Japanese style customer service. In Japan, if a business ever opened an hour and a half late, not that it would happen... but if it did the people would be profusely apologetic and full of humility. Not at Boxer! How dare I ask if they are going to keep pushing back the opening time! As if my time was worth any consideration. The bottom line is that the ramen is good, but certainly not the best in town and not worth the drizzle of millennial-entitlement skinny jean thick-rim glasses attitude that accompanies your noodle bowl.

    (2)

  • L M.

    Do not recommend for ramen, if you are a traditionalist. The broth was not great, and the oil slick on top of both the tonkotsu and spicy miso was a total turn off. The pork belly garnish was decent. The tonkotsu broth was not rich and creamy in consistency as it should be, and the spicy miso was just spicy, no miso. Will not be back.

    (2)

  • Justin P.

    The Spicy Miso is amazing.

    (5)

  • Terance L.

    If your looking for authentic ramen, this is not the place. It's a shame to even call it ramen. Though the broth and noodles are ok, everything else is wrong. Pork belly looks like boiled bacon and the egg is just a regular one most likely from the fridge dumped in and soft poached. The tip I wanted to give them doesn't involve money.

    (1)

  • Dex F.

    Utterly disappointing. Maybe it's the time or day that I went and I was just unlucky, but I'm so put off by my experience that I don't think I'll return to test that hypothesis. It was 1PM on a Wednesday. I ordered the Tonkotsu-Shio, because pork is usually my favourite base for ramen. The bowl was brought out to me in record time, which was nice, and the waitstaff was friendly and attentive. Two stars earned and noted. The ramen itself, though, was just an unhappy mess. Noodles so firm they almost crunch, awash in a biteless broth served lukewarm (truthfully, barely above room temperature), and topped off without much fanfare: a poached egg, some green onions, soy sauce, and porkbellies cut half an inch thick. That sounds generous at first, but they were cut far too thick for soup; they were so rubbery, they were almost impossible to bite through, with a squishy and unpleasantly fatty texture that drowned out much of their smoky flavour. There wasn't even any of the typical ramen shop condiments on the bar or tables (white pepper, garlic powder, ra-yu, etc) to help make it more palatable. Just bummed, really.

    (2)

  • Ashley K.

    Mediocre ramen that lacks any depth of flavor. Our table ordered each item on the menu & I can tell you the only thing worth mentioning were the potstickers. Between the noodles being par-cooked and the broth being beyond salty I can not say we would return. If you are a true ramen lover this is not the place for you. I read a previous review that said they were kid friendly which is true unless your child requires a high chair, in that case they do not have any.

    (2)

  • Nikki N.

    Looking for a new dining experience near Powells, I asked trip advisor for Asian and ended up here. Clean space. Music, a cross between techno and alternative - not what I would choose. Service, good, straight forward no complaints. Food, skip the over-priced bland deep fried pot stickers (5 for $5), go straight to the Ramen. I had the tonkotsu-shio. Delicious broth and pork belly. Ramen noodles were okay, a little heavy but not bad. I will return and try different appetizers. They can add pork belly to any Ramen so I'm feeling adventurous.

    (4)

  • Cyril F.

    great looking interior but i'm wondering why the welcome sign says "oyasuminasai" meaning "good night". i had the spicy miso ramen. the chashu (pork) was very tough. i couldn't bite through it. and the broth didn't really taste of miso; just a strange spiciness. the noodles were fair. i also had the greens- which i liked.

    (2)

  • Ben T.

    Sometimes the fine line between what is good and what is great is down to the absolute final details. It's certainly the case here. There's nothing to be faulted of the tonkotsu broth, clearly deep beyond belief. However, the fact is that it's so thick that it might as well be tsukemen broth. The ramen noodles are the thin ones, and for me, a bit undercooked as well. Then the supposed pork belly registers as a piece of ham. I'm not so callous to say they tried to pass off ham as pork belly, but my pork sure tasted a lot like ham. That being said, the larger slice is hard to break apart and for continuity's sake, should just stick with the smaller rough chopped pieces. All in all, a decent bowl of ramen which could've been great with minor tweaks. Also, no togarashi in sight, smuggle in your own if you're a snob.

    (3)

  • Connie C.

    Hip? Yes. Always a wait? Yes. A bit crowded? Yes. A bit overpriced? Yes. Lives up to its name? Yes. So, yes. It is all those things, but it's still worth checking out and it's also the best place I can think of for ramen in town. In the afternoon on a Saturday, the place was full and there was a 30 minute wait for 2 people. We decided to wander the Stark/Burnside hall and missed our name. It ended up being much less than 30 minutes and we were entertained the whole time. They were nice and let us have the next available table. The waitress seemed like she didn't really care, but she ended up being surprisingly attentive, informative, and nice! She kept checking up on us and making sure our water glasses were full. We got the Okonomiyaki Tots, Really Spicy Ramen, Tonkotsu Shoyu Ramen, and Pistachio Mochi.. I 've LOVED okonomiyaki since I had it in Japan and I always order it if it's on the menu, which is rare. I don't know why I was surprised when tator tots came since it was in the name. They were flavored with okonomiyaki sauces, bonito flakes, seaweed, and the like. They were so freaking good! The ramen came and it looked "real" so we were excited. The oil that lots of people talked about in their review was there, but a lot of it was sesame oil to flavor the broth. It wasn't distracting for me. I do agree that more ramen noodles could be had because we ended up with a lot of broth and the fishing for little bits began soon after the ramen's arrival. The bits of pork were delish and the egg was good too (though I kind of like Biwa's seasoned soft boiled egg). The flavor of the broth was unrivaled with others in town. The waitress suggested we dip the remaining tots in the Really Spicy Ramen's broth. It was awesome! We kind of regreted not getting any pickles or greens. it would've been an awesome pairing with the rich ramen. We ended on a Pistachio Mochi note. I was surprised it was mochi ice cream instead of "normal" mochi. The ice cream had little ground up pistachio bits. Yum! The cash only thing threw us for a loop, but they have an ATM on site. The ramen was the perfect thing for the cold winter's day & I know my ramen cravings are soon to hit again & off to Boxer I will go!

    (5)

  • Rob H.

    Fair to poor ramen. Poor atmosphere. We were seated at the "bar," which consists of giant stacks of cheap plastic glasses and some reach-ins. Terrible to look at, as it's simply a large wait station and is treated as such. To boot, the overweight cook who wandered into the area was wearing a tank top, which is just foul. Ramen broth wasn't terrible, but it wasn't good. Made me wonder if the maker had ever truly had good ramen. This solidified when the noodles were cold, making the whole thing lukewarm (like the experience). I didn't see, but suspect, that the noodles were pre-cooked. A crime with ramen noodles. I admit we're spoiled with great ramen in NYC, but this was simply not very good. I see no reason to return.

    (1)

  • David L.

    Have it give it a five star for its vegetarian curry ramen and salad without oyster sauce. Taste great, may not taste like authentic Japanese one but man, I love it!

    (5)

  • JUANING H.

    I have to say , greatest ramen I've ever had. Tonkotsu-shio is my absolute favorite. Bust the perfect yolk on the noodles and slurp slurp slurp. My god, this is the spot for ramen.

    (5)

  • Adam S.

    Put simply, Boxer Ramen is a love letter to food industry workers, by food industry workers. All over the western world and beyond, there are cooks bitching about their cookie cutter corporate jobs as they scrub down stainless steel tables and cook tops at 2 in the morning. They talk at length about starting their dream kitchens. Broths lovingly crafted with deliciously smokey pork bones. Slabs of delicious smoked pork belly floating with perfectly cooked soft boiled eggs and fresh scallions. Bobbing blissfully in the dark smokey oil slick of deep, flavorful, piping hot goodness. They dream of a world where the filthy words Gluten Free are something to be swiftly disregarded. Where people line up outside in the cold , peering into steamy windows, pining to get a taste of something real, unpretentious and damn tasty . Strict policies are religiously upheld and unwavering. Embossed on the walls for all who enter here ( no substitutions ...EVER) Limited menus easily forgiven by the amount of love that is poured into each offering. The noodles, while sort of underwhelming for such a rock star of a broth, are adequate. And don't you dare ask them to throw their lovingly crafted offering into a plastic container for you to ruin in your microwave at your convenience. this is not about convenience . This is art people...come have a seat and enjoy it... Boxer Ramen is the realization of a chef's dream. An unapologetic, unwavering utopia for the people who have had to put up with serving fussy, Portland Granola hipsters. Come alone, Grab one of the limited seats, shut up, tuck in and solemnly savor a concept that not everyone has the capacity to understand.

    (4)

  • Joshua N.

    Disappointing. I was expecting good things, but the service, portions and atmosphere were a let down. The broth was salty, there were a few pieces of meat and the noodles were Ichiban. I wouldn't recommend going here. Date rating is 2 out of 5.

    (2)

  • Karoline G.

    This ramen place was okay. Nothing bad about it! But also nothing really to go back for, other than the delicious swisschard salad that we had as an appetizer. We both ordered the tonkotsu, with an order of salad and the okonomiyaki tots. The ramen was okay, didn't have too much going on with it. It came with a poached egg (instead of a soft boiled or hard boiled egg) which to me is strange, and the broth was not too bad, but just okay. The okonomiyaki tots are tater tots with fish flakes and the sauce, which was a really cool idea, but those were also just okay. However, the Swiss chard salad was amazing, with chewy shiitake mushrooms, oyster sauce dressing, sesame and pickled cabbage. That salad was the bomb and the best thing we ate that night! Ps. My review is based off of a spoiled San Francisco-Bay Area native so I have had a good amount of delicious ramen, so my opinion is slightly biased and skewed!

    (3)

  • Jess E.

    Power Ramen. If huge, non subtle flavor is what you want. Tonkatsu: big flavor Spicy: perfect Veggie Curry: light and wonderful. I'm amazed at comments that the broth is not flavorful. I find that sometimes its TOO much and I need to go across the river for some subtler Ramen. The environment is clean and modern. Trish Grantham art is cute, but I wouldn't go as far as saying you're being assaulted (cry baby) and the Ramen amount is a standard for the genre (cry baby).

    (4)

  • Chris Y.

    Wasn't hungry. Took a bite of my girlfriend's and had to order my own. Highly recommended

    (5)

  • Amber G.

    This place is pretty good. I've ruined the Ramen game for myself by going to NYC. And as a consolation, I'm vegetarian, so if I ate meat, I'd probably like it more. Husband loved his bowl. He'd probably give it 4 stars. 3.5 = 4?

    (4)

  • Emily Y.

    Not cash only any more. VERY helpful waitstaff who let us try the broths to see if we liked them. Can't wait to go back and try more mochi flavors ;) it's super air conditioned so you can even head here on hot hot days and enjoy some soup. Right around the corner from living room theater so makes a great date night!

    (5)

  • Molly M.

    Boxer Ramen is the perfect antidote to the winter blues. Can't wait to return!

    (5)

  • Shannon H.

    Boxer Ramen and I have had a love/hate relationship from the beginning. It stands in what used to be my favorite spot (hate) but when I saw it was going to become a ramen joint my anger and sadness dissipated (love). It took absolutely forever to open (hate) but has so far been proven to be worth the wait (love). Before opening the prices fluctuated and at one point were up to $13 for a bowl of ramen (hate) but by opening had settled at a reasonable $10 (love). I've had yet to try anything but the spicy miso ramen because I am just a creature of habit and I really like it that much. Someday I'll try another type but for now I'm happy with this one. They only have three types to choose from plus a veggie one that isn't always on the board. My friend had that one and I had a bite of it. Good but if I wanted curry soup I wouldn't be going to a ramen place, however he loved it. As far as the spicy ramen goes it's not exactly traditional but I love the flavor, love the texture of the noodles, and adore the egg that has been perfectly cooked every time I've been there. They are cash only, which has been mentioned before and they do have an atm in the restaurant. They do not allow substitutions but I see no need to ask for any. They also started out with a no to-go rule but that seems to have disappeared rather quickly. However, the only container they offer is a standard chinese to-go box, not exactly great for soup so come with your own container or risk major spillage. My only complaint is that they don't have posted hours. More than once I've driven by looking for parking and they're open, then 5-10 minutes later when I walk up they've closed already. I'm assuming their policy is if it's slow enough then close but that doesn't help me on nights when I get off work and rush downtown to get a bowl and find myself very disappointed. So basically if it's past 8 it's worth a call to make sure they'll still be open when you get there. This could also be part of my weird relationship with Boxer Ramen, it might just be playing hard to get. EDIT: They have posted their hours. 9pm, and not a minute later. Be there or be square.

    (4)

  • Dave S.

    The bellman at our hotel, Vintage Plaza, suggested this place. Very good! Simple menu with a few tasty food items. Small and cozy, casual and reasonably priced beer....yum. The salad was awesome and the tater tots were pretty good too. My ramen was good, although a little salty. Definitely not a deal killer though. One of the employees overheard me remarking about it being a little salty for my taste, I didn't say it that loud and I had eaten all but a little broth, so he took mine off the bill. He said he had heard me, gone and tasted it and agreed it was a little heavy on the salt.....Pretty darned impressive! The staff were cool and the prices reasonable. I'd definitely recommend and if I lived in the area, I'd go back. If ramen is your thing, you can't go wrong here.

    (4)

  • Mike D.

    The family and I decided to try this little ramen place for dinner tonight. We each got three different ramens and the gyoza and okonamiyaki tots. The tots and gyoza were both delicious. We also each liked all the ramens but one complaint we had with each of them were that they were all just a tad bit overly salty. Also just a heads up the spicy ramen is quite spicy which I liked but it might be too spicy for some.

    (4)

  • Chris O.

    I have been craving tonkotsu ramen and so we decided to give these guys a shot being they are one of the few in town that has this particular blend of pork, ramen and awesomeness. I'd say overall it wasn't disappointing although it wasn't exactly traditional either. The pork pieces were plentiful and very tasty, it's not just slices here but little chunks in the broth as well. The thing that was missing was the other stuff you usually get in ramen, a little seaweed, mushrooms, fish cake, veg etc etc. but I got over that since we had the very tasty sesame kale salad thing they offer, that was very good and it makes for a nice solid 4 star ramen shop in my book!

    (4)

  • Yvonne D.

    This place is very casual, the service was ok, quick and accurate. The broth for the ramen was a bit salty but the noodles themselves were pretty good.

    (3)

  • Leanna B.

    Every time I go, I ask myself why I don't go more often. Really delicious ramen, and a fun atmosphere and friendly service.

    (5)

  • Erin T.

    Love the food. Although $10 is a little pricey for ramen, I am willing to put up serious cash for delicious food so I decided to give it a try. I had the spicy miso soup with pork belly. It was delicious! Loved it. HOWEVER. I was really irritated when I was handed my check and it had "CASH ONLY PLEASE" written inside. If your business is cash only, please, put a GIANORMOUS sign out front so I see it. It was "convenient" that they had an ATM inside, but of course, it charges fees, so I ended up paying an extra 3 bucks for a $10 meal. Not cool. Won't patronize again.

    (2)

  • Richard S.

    Boxer Ramen does an above average almost amazing job on their food. Having a Korean girlfriend, we eat lots of Korean and Japanese food (and if she approves, thats usually an amazing compliment) We have come here a few times and it's on its way of becoming a regular spot for us. This review will both praise and offer some suggestions. Here's the deal - Anyone complaining about their noodles being "undercooked" is an idiot. Anyone who says the tots are gross is also an idiot. Not sure if it's the bonito that's throwing them off but, get over it. the stuff is tasty regardless how it's made. Their salad is also very very good. both sides offer a great crunch to mix up a usually pretty wet and chewy meal. People complaining about them not accepting credit cards are idiots. Just get some cash and relax. The ramen portions are nearly perfect. I do agree that it is perhaps on the salty side. if they were to tone that down and perhaps add a few more noodles or meat pieces in there it would be downright amazing. and yes, they cook a damn delicious and creamy soft boiled egg. I really really do like this place. the atmosphere, music, and overall vibe is great. I have never had anything but nice wait staff, and the chefs always come out smiling to say hello. One thing that would also be great is if this was open LATE. It's in a decent part of town for that. I moved here from Brooklyn NY earlier this year and there is nothing like 3am ramen. I DO wish they would hire a Japanese chef though. Something weirds me out about white dudes cooking such a die hard Japanese food. there has to be at least ONE Japanese person who can cook ramen in Portland looking for a job..right? I will come back again and again, and am giving it 4 stars. I would give 3.5 because of the super salty factor, but i can't suggest anywhere better to go, so just enjoy your meal. this place is good.

    (4)

  • Don B.

    Mmmmm... ramen. I love ramen. There are so many styles (40 styles from Japan alone) that you can have many many bowls and not even have the same style twice. And there are so many more takes on ramen outside of Japan to leave a soup fanatic like me happy. The spicy tonkatsu ramen here is pretty damn tasty. It has a thick, red-miso base kicked up with a decent amount of heat and it's filled with plenty of noodles, an exceptionally-cooked egg, fatty pork and all sorts of heartwarming goodness. My broth was almost thick enough to pass as a tsukemen-style dish, which made for a rich experience. I can't wait to go back and try other styles. The space here is pretty small and very communal. It's cash only, which is kind of a bummer. I know Micah's other restaurants accept cards. But hey, a lot of the out-of-the-way soup spots I visit don't take cards under a certain amount anyway, so when I go soup-shopping, I bring dolla billz, y'all. The menu here is pretty small - three rotating soup options, a seaweed salad, okinomiyaki tots, and a pickle salad. There are some interesting sodas on offer too. Boxer will definitely find a way in to my regular soup rotation. Yum!

    (4)

  • Ryan C.

    Best bowl of Ramen I've ever had! Certainly avant-garde with the Black Sesame Oil and I think the risk really pays off. The Okonomiyaki Tots were solid. Served super fresh with Bonito Flakes still curling with life, it was perfectly crunchy and a welcome contrast to wet and chewy ramen. I was doubtful about Micah after Son of a Biscuit, but Boxer Ramen shows that he's committed to perfecting his food even if it takes time. That is commendable and I'm happy to have a new regular place in West End.

    (5)

  • Ron T.

    Let me further explain why it's all hype not much substance. It is not at all bad. It's just I've had better, tastier and cheaper ramen. The Okonomiyaki tots is all for the eyes. You'll see the bonito flakes react with the heat of the iron pan like they are alive. Uhm, that's about it. The taste is a bit overwhelming. It packs a punch. The ramen itself is passable. The texture is weird. The price for serving portion is weak. However, the broth is tasty and weird. Is that squid ink or toasted to burnt sesame oil? I liked the pork but I wish there are more than pork, egg, noodles and broth. I liked the overpriced mochi the best. If I can have them for a day, that will be great. It is shipped from Hawaii so, try to be there when they all have their flavors as they run out of them fast. I also wish they would just start taking cards instead of wasting space on an ATM inside. It brings down the nice Japanese aesthetics of the tiny place. The seating lay out is not conducive to talking either. You are way too close to the other patrons on the bar as it is communal seating for at least half of the space. I don't raise a star because it is hip. If it is, make sure that the food is justified. Make sure that the price point meets the quality and serving portion. It doesn't. And I find the dancing bonito flakes entertaining for 2 seconds. Once you take a bite, you'll wish you can see them "dancing" for the entire duration of your stay there.

    (2)

  • Casey B.

    Since I work at a shop a few blocks from this place, I figured i would go check it out. I like to be able to give customers/tourists thoughtful recommendations when asked so I planned to meet a friend there this past Tuesday (11/25). My friend was putting money in the meter and I headed into Boxer a few moments before he caught up. Upon entering I noticed the menu up on a board so I walked towards it to read it. I was greeted by a woman who asked how many were in my party. I stopped reading the menu to let her know there would be 2 of us and then continued to try to read the menu. My body language was pretty clear. She told me that the entire party needs to be there in order to sit down (completely understandable as I've been to various bars/restaurants that share this same policy). I let her know I understood and that I would wait as he would be there in a minute and tried to continue to read the menu board. She then wrote my name on a "list" which wasn't a list since it was a blank piece of paper. It was then that I looked around to see 3 empty tables and 4 empty bar stools. As I continued to look up at the menu, the "host" told me that I needed to wait outside (in the rain). I told her that I would just finish reading the menu and then my friend should be there by then and that I would rather wait inside (where there was plenty of room and not much going on). She then said "I'm sorry, I'm going to have to ask you to wait outside". With that, I told her to take my name off the list because we weren't going to be supporting this establishment. This entire experience felt very rushed and unwelcoming. I felt that the host didn't listen to me or try to understand what I was asking for - time to read the menu. I felt hassled and really uncomfortable. Needless to say, I know what my report to our shop customers and tourists will be - go to Lardo like I did and enjoy their dirty fries (with pork scraps, marinated peppers, fried herbs and parmesan) and the Pork Belly Gyro (with feta, cucumber, tzatziki, tomato, aardvark sauce) - YUM! Cheaper than Boxer and they actually let you read the menu & hang out inside while you are doing so! Customer service - what a concept....

    (1)

  • Curtis C.

    Had to see what all the hype is about, and I was in the area today so I thought I would get some ramen in my belly on this chilly winter day. Short wait, and we were seated, family-style, which meant another couple was seated beside us at our 4-top. I'm fine with that, for the most part, although if they're going to do it family style, I would think one long communal table like they have at Boke Bowl, or Clyde Commons would serve the purpose better... On to the food! We tried the following: Tonkatsu ramen- Broth was rich with porky goodness, although I honestly prefer the broth at Minizo (food cart on Mississippi) MUCH better. The noodles at Boxer are chewy, and bouncy, however for $10, I felt like there should have been a little more char-siu (or pork belly?) than two small pieces. A decent bowl of soup though. Veggie curry ramen- This had a spicy, but not hot, tropical style broth. I was getting a lot of south-east Asian influences. Pretty sure I tasted lemongrass, and coconut milk. It was lacking something though... I should have added an egg, although I don't even know if that's possible. The menu says something about no substitutions. Oh, and they only take cash, but conveniently have an ATM machine inside (with an added fee of course...) They seem a bit heavy on their rules. Okonomiyaki tater tots- The highlight of the meal, in my opinion, and I think that's a bad thing considering that, after all, we're talking about dressed up tater-tots. This dish, however, is an amazing fusion of West meets East. The hashbrowns were fried PERFECTLY, and the residual heat caused the heaping of finely shaved bonito flakes to "dance" around on top of the tots. It made it seem alive. There were also a couple of sauces, one I believe with Japanese brand Kewpie mayo, and some teri-style sauce. Scallions were added at the end as well. So food is good, overall, but nothing to get all excited over. Not a big fan of their seating, cash, or substitution policies, but I guess I understand their reasoning. They should really add some descriptions to the menus though. The only way I knew what each dish encompassed was by overhearing another server tell our dining "companions". Nowhere in the restaurant is there a written description of what each dish is. This can be especially challenging for those with dietary restrictions.

    (3)

  • Violet B.

    they are located in a trendy mini mall across from Powell's. we were hungry and in the mood for something unique, so we tried this ramen restaurant. we had never been to one, so we can't compare it to any other. our first impression was the cool graphics on the walls. our second impression was the loud music. loud as in concert hall loud. now, this is a very small room, so the sound was way too loud for it or for a restaurant environment. but we stayed so we could try their food. the food was okay. nothing to rave about. a few months later we decided to give it another try. we opened the doors, went in and immediately turned around and left. the music was even louder than the previous time. we don't think this decibal is conducive to digestion or our hearing. I hope they realize this and turn the volume way down. then maybe we will return.

    (2)

  • Nicol W.

    My husband and I travel to Portland several times a year but this was our first visit to Boxer Ramen. I had the tonkotsu-shio and my husband ordered the Spicy Red miso. It is seriously the best Ramen we've eaten! We love to try new Ramen restaurants when we travel and this is the best!

    (5)

  • Robert H.

    Boxer is not Tampopo. I do have a few regrets from my visits to Japan, not falling in love with a certain girl and making babies, not visiting hot springs, and not sampling ramen. So feel free to ignore this review for authenticity regrets. The ideal ramen is individualistic home cookin', dream flavors, excellent ingredients, a comfortable atmosphere at a reasonable price. Boxer is A-OK. The good, a comfortable functional atmosphere, location, hand made bowls, artist made walls. I had the pork. The pork was nicely browned and that unami floated in one corner of the bowl, green onions in another and accompanied by a perfectly poached egg, glutinous yolk, not runny-style. Those elements five star. The pork is fatty belly, nicely browned on edges before slicing, so a little different in style than elsewhere. A miso broth with that Japanese red shaker pepper. I appreciated the noodles weren't the crinkly style, too much association with packaged. They weren't handmade and chewy either. The broth is not super complex. As others have mentioned, other ramens have additional varied ingredients. I would notch down slightly in salt, notch up to a pork loin cut and do more research on the flavor dimensions possible at this price point which I think is a good target. But hey, maybe Boxer's recipe is its individualistic style! I would say the service could be a little more attentive as well. Direct staff to focus 80% on customers and 20% on teambuilding, not the reverse. So what is the role of Boxer in the Portland ramen universe? Worth trying to calibrate your ramen taste and style. And hey, go back to them. My observation of this unit is that they improve with customer input. Boxer is the Little Big Burger of ramen. It is a prototype in testing to scale. A-OK Portland cowboy ramen capable of more.

    (3)

  • Lin H.

    I recently ate at two amazing ramen places -- Yuzu in Beaverton and Ramen Dojo in the Bay Area. That did not help my impression of Boxer Ramen. My first impression was that it was trying really hard to be a hipster ramen house. That's fine. The decorations are cute. But that was where the positives ended for me. We got the tots that seemed like a really lazy attempt at takoyaki. I mean, that's fine too, but they were kind of gross and the last layer was swimming in grease. We also got the ramen that was even more gross. There was snow flakes of fat (uh.) clouding my broth and the pork resembled flabby bacon. The egg was overcooked and had been left in the broth for so long that it was tea colored by the time it reached my table. I left most of my ramen untouched. They didn't even ask if I wanted it to go. Perhaps they knew it wasn't worth it either.

    (2)

  • Scott L.

    For food is excellent, service is good, only complaint is it's a little chilly in there during the winter but other than that it's on point.

    (5)

  • Sam N.

    The spicy ramen was delicious. It reminded me of ramen broth from cold days in Japan - simple, perfectly spicy, nothing else added but noodles and pork. I don't know what people are talking about with the small portions if noodles - it seemed appropriate and I left full. My pork was fatty but delicious, as was the egg. The restaurant is cute. I'm sure they will figure out how to accept cards in the future. Definitely give it a try

    (4)

  • Kristen M.

    ***OHITASHI FTW!!!!*** Micah Camden has several successful restaurants in PDX (i.e. Little Big Burger, Blue Star Donuts and Boxer Sushi). Known for his simple menus, Camden's culinary empire continues to grow. He opened up a ramen joint in downtown PDX on 11/01/2013. After reading Portland Monthly and Eater PDX about the much anticipated debut of Camden's ramen hub - my dining friends and I decided to check it out on release night. Unlike Camden's other establishments, this one isn't a box office blowout; but perhaps with some improvements, there could be potential...... [decor] Bright, modern, cozy, and whimsical. Cute artistic paintings on the walls. Simple decor and bamboo walls. Very inviting and clean. [devour] *OHITASHI ($4; ***4 STARS***) - were made of collard greens (and I think kale too) which were marinated in a sesame dressing. There were chopped pieces of shitake mushrooms which were a nice surprise to the salad. The dish is topped off with black and white sesame seeds. Very light and full of flavor, this is great to share or just to consume on your own. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED ( yelp.com/biz_photos/boxe… ) *TONKATSU RAMEN ($10; ***2 STARS***) - was quite disappointing. I know I wasn't expecting traditional ramen, but I felt there could be some improvements. Camden's ramen is a Pacific NW take on the Japanese fare. I liked the fact that they cooked the egg correctly in the ramen, it was a perk. The pork was cooked well - it was very tender..... Unfortunately the dish lacked noodle portion. After 3-4 bites of the ramen noodles, you were pretty much done with your meal, leaving you a bit more hungry. I didn't pay $10 for that. And for all the haters, I grew up in a town full of Japanese restaurants where ramen noodles are much more abundant. AND I've been to Japan and have had ramen there. I've gotten more than 3-4 bites of ramen overseas =X In addition, I know ramen broth isn't exactly healthy - it was decent; BUT I didn't appreciate the fact that protruding goblets of fat were floating upon the broth. It made the dish a bit unappealing to consume. I felt that I could've spent $10 at other ramen joints in PDX and still be satisfied =X ( yelp.com/biz_photos/boxe… ) FYI = -Parking on the street (metered, but free after 7 PM; quite difficult in DTPDX) -CASH ONLY for now (they will be accepting CC's in the future since it's still getting set up) -Beer, wine and sake available -Good for small groups (no larger than 5; but preferable 2-3 people) -Located on Stark in between the Sandbar Fish Grotto and Living Room Theaters; across the street from Kenny & Zuke's Deli -Great service! Overall, I was still hungry after spending $17 for dinner (and that included tip) =X Yelp 2013 200+ Reviews Challenge (going for 250!) - Review #201

    (3)

  • Paul Y.

    I've been on a ramen search in Portland and came across Boxer Ramen. The decor is very modern and I enjoyed the vibe I was getting. I got the donkatsu ramen and it was good...closest thing to the best ramen I've had in Seattle and LA but it's very close. I wish Boxer served soy sauce based ramen because that's my go-to choice. I'll be coming back soon.

    (4)

  • Caitlin M.

    I dropped in here by myself for some Spicy Red Miso and it was amazing. I loved the counter seating, the server was friendly and while it was busy, tables seemed to move at a nice pace.

    (5)

  • Joe S.

    Stopped by the day before they opened to get some free samples they were handing out. Service was excellent, the staff seem courteous and really excited about their product. The soup was just amazing. It isn't traditional ramen, but some kind of creative concoction from the general manager/head chef. I had the 'really spicy' miso ramen and the richness of the flavor in the broth was just spectacular. The cloudy, savory taste of the miso mixed with the hearty base and the spice was just perfect -- spicy enough to taste 'really spicy' and have your entire tongue tingling without lingering too long or too intensely on any part of your mouth to be troublesome, which is a fine line to walk. Might be a little too intense to people that don't like spicy foods. The noodles are fresh and would be delicious just on their own with a little salt, and they're even better in the great broth. There's lots of fresh green onion, sesame seeds, finely chopped veggies, a soy egg, and also a really nice piece of pork belly that just melts in your mouth. The veggie ramen is very spicy, too. Overall looks like a great addition to the area, I've been longing for a good nearby ramen place since Shigezo's cart moved away. And this is better than Shigezo by far.

    (5)

  • Rebecca F.

    We went into Boxer Ramen two days ago and we enjoyed it. It was raining and hailing and eating a nice hot bowl of ramen was such a treat. My daughter had the spicy ramen and she loved it. My other daughter and I had the pork ramen and we loved the salty tasty goodness of the soup. The presentation was lovely and the solid presence of the pork was wonderful. The service was fast and pleasant. We loved Boxer Ramen.

    (4)

  • Heather F.

    This was my first time indulging in real ramen. I never felt the need to pay more than $1 for a bowl of noodles even though I knew non-packaged and decent options are out there. I'm glad I finally caved because this was fantastic! I ordered the spicy red miso, and I probably won't ever order anything else. I like to stick to what I like, which won't be hard since there are only two other options anyway... The only reason for 4 stars instead of 5 is because $10 does seem too much for one bowl. Plus, cash only sucks hard. There is no reason for that! I also didn't receive very good service when I was there (which was midweek, midafternoon, almost completely empty). Regardless, I will definitely be back.

    (4)

  • Mark R.

    Just finished a 10 mile hike on the Wildwood Trail. Now settling into a bowl of steamy porky brothy goodness. Recs include Okonomiyaki Tots and Spicy Red Miso. Vegs can do veggie curry ramen and greens. Yum. Eat real ramen!

    (5)

  • Flavia A.

    The chopped up pieces of pork back fat on top of my ramen: not a fan. I nearly vomited when I learned that I was eating whole pieces of fat with every bite of my ramen. No thank you. Ordered the tater tots, which were good, but not "out of this world" good. I mean, they were tots. They were as good as fried potatoes usually are. The broth was good, and so were the noodles. But the *idea* of eating fat like that was enough for me not to want to go back. More for those who like that sort of thing!

    (3)

  • Caroline N.

    I've been waiting for Boxer Ramen to open for the longest time, so I had to come check it out on opening weekend! Is it authentic Japanese food? No. But it's not trying to be. With Micah Camden running things, you can always expect there to be a nice twist from the traditional version. The ramen definitely has a "Portland" spin on it. The Tonkotsu-shoyu ramen broth was very rich and porky, and the pork belly was a nice thick cut. The floating pieces of pork fat added a good textural component, and the egg was cooked perfectly. The "Really" Spicy miso ramen had a good heat to it, but I wouldn't call it really spicy by any means. The pork was a different cut than pork belly, but I couldn't figure out what it was. I love that the noodles are from Sun Noodle Co. in LA, who also provides the noodles for Daikokuya (one of my favorites!). The portion size was a bit small for the price, however. I could probably eat two bowls! The Okonomiyaki tots are a hit. They are your standard tots, topped with some spicy mayo, teriyaki sauce, nori, and bonito flakes. If you've never seen bonito flakes in action, they are a treat to see. The thin and light flakes react to heat, and they flail about like they're dancing or popping. The tots were a great side that went well with the beer! They have ~5 draft beers on tap, along with a selection of canned beers and sakes. The mochi is definitely overpriced at $3 each, but we figured we'd try it while we were already there. They're shipped in from Bubbies in Hawaii, glad to see they didn't go the usual route with Mikawaya's mochi ice cream that you can find at Trader Joe's. I got the seasonal boysenberry one - the mochi was thin, soft, and chewy, and the ice cream was creamy and a sweet way to end a salty meal. The service here is FABULOUS. My server personally hung up my coat on the coat rack, was super knowledgeable of the menu, and when they brought out a Tonkotsu-shoyu ramen for me instead of the spicy miso ramen that I ordered, he promptly replaced it with the right bowl (lucky me, I got to eat 1.5 bowls of ramen!). Overall, pricing and portion sizes are the main reason I dropped a star, but the food and the service was fantastic. I'll be back!

    (4)

  • Erin H.

    Not impressed - tiny portions, lukewarm broth, and...sesame seeds? The broth was tasty enough, largely due to it being overloaded with garlic bits. Where on earth were the noodles? In total, there were maybe three mouthfuls. And they charge $2.00 for a little extra, should you request it. The pork was good. This place is hip so it will probably get away with the obscene pricing for what you get. I won't be back.

    (2)

  • Pamela M.

    I can't get enough of this food. Service is just ok, but the food completely makes up for it and then some! The Tonkotsu Shio broth is full of extreme flavor, the pork is divine, and the soft boiled egg is perfect... every time. I can't say enough good things! The bowl of ramen is huge, so go hungry. And for desert, the Pistachio Mochi wins for me every time. If you want flavor, you have to eat Boxer Ramen. I just wish they did to-go!

    (5)

  • Yaicha T.

    I was finally able to check this place out today and loved it. The decor is cute and welcoming. I really enjoyed my Tonkotsu ramen. It was a bit too salty for my taste, however and I would have finished the whole bowl of broth had it not been so, but the egg and the pork were perfect. The $10 price was semi-fair. I feel like $7 or $8 would be more fitting though, and $3 for a bottle of RC cola was a little ridiculous. But overall I was very happy with everything - I definitely got a food high. The cash-only thing mystifies me, but I knew in advance and was prepared (and they do have an ATM inside). The staff was very friendly and there was a mix of different people inside on this Sunday early afternoon - families, hipsters, single people, couples. Although I do really appreciate the simplicity of the menu, I would have enjoyed a more detailed menu with the items in each ramen listed. The strawberry and mango mochis were tasty! I look forward to trying the greens and the tots next time!

    (4)

  • Alyssa C.

    I came here when they first opened and were offering free ramen - I waited about 25 minutes in like - not bad at all for free ramen! - and the service was really amazing and friendly for how slammed they were giving away free ramen and all. I'm bummed that the ramen didn't blow me away as much as I thought I would. I did think it was good - and by no means am I a ramen expert - but I definitely wouldn't go back and pay $10 for a bowl. My money will still be at boke bowl or Biwa, both ramens I love (Biwa at the top) - too bad since they are RIGHT next to my office. Perhaps it was just due to the influx of people but nothing to write home about. To clarify, I had the pork ramen.

    (3)

  • TastesLike S.

    This place started to grow on me, until last night. Nothing like unprofessional staff, to put you off from ever coming again. "Does it even really matter?" Yes, it does, when you've been waiting for half an hour and the host seats two walk ins that just showed up just five min ago. What a jerk,,,,

    (1)

  • William J.

    Have been 4 times and it deserves a 3 star usually. I only go because of the paltry ramen options in PDX. I usually get the spicy red miso and it baffles me how inconsistent it is. Too salty, too oily, too this, too that. I've had some of the best ramen in this country and Asia. For reference, my favorite stateside is Totto Ramen in NYC. Last night I encountered, rude service, only 3 bites worth of noodles, greasy-ass broth, and 1.5 pieces of pork that was dry and chewy. That will be the last time I go in there.

    (2)

  • Anna Marie C.

    dear boxer ramen, how i want to love you. but instead, i love your tots. i love your green salad mix. maybe you should have named yourself tots in a box. because ramen really isn't your specialty. the noodles were too thin and slightly overcooked. the broth was decent, but not the flavorful masterpiece i would want in a $10 bowl of ramen. maybe you can expand out your tots selection....

    (2)

  • Kelly R.

    Not impressed. The menu has 4 main dishes. 3 are ramen with pork broth and 1 is a vegetarian curry. What about a vegetarian option for ramen? You can order off menu but be prepared to get a side of attitude with your noodles. $10 for every main dish. Which is think is a little high if you order an option sans meat. Note- Cash only. What year are we living in?? They have an ATM but it will charge you $2 per withdrawl. So not only are they making money on you through the food, but also through the ATM! How handy. The atmosphere is nice though. I liked the art on the walls. And apparently they took the advice of other yelpers and turned down the music because I was able to have a decent conversation. I won't be back.

    (2)

  • Khlöe K.

    I love this place! I had never had a dish like that before, so it was interesting to try. I thought the noodles were great, along with the broth. The tater-tot things we ordered were... interesting. I didn't care for them much, but they are worth a try. I will be returning when I am in the mood for some ramen.

    (5)

  • Val H.

    The spicy red miso is a must! The broth is amazing! The staff is super friendly. The beers are huge, please share it. The noodles need a little more cooking, not quite there yet, but overall good place.

    (4)

  • Marc T.

    I've now had everything on the menu at least twice. Some things of which I wasn't initially a fan have since changed. So don't be wary of trying things a second time to see how you like it, but also don't claim a favorite too quickly as it might be different in the near future. Hopefully they settle into something consistent once they've knocked out their perceived kinks. I'd like to have a go-to favorite that I can count on. The service has always been great, but it can get a little busy at times. So I try to go at off hours.

    (4)

  • Sara S.

    A few weeks ago I had a bad cold and a craving for a hot bowl of ramen. I was thinking about it all day at work and asked around and heard Boxer Ramen was awesome. I planned to pick some up to take home and was hoping it would make me feel warm and cozy. Unfortunately, when I walked in and tried to order I was told (by an extremely rude little 20 something girl) "we don't do to go". That was it. No I'm sorry nothing. I was extremely disappointed by this and decided to go to my favorite pho place down the street Luc Lac where they will happily sell take out. Get your sh*t together, Boxer. Turning business away and snotty staff is no bueno.

    (1)

  • Jiah S.

    It should be a standard at any ramen shop that you have to blow on the ramen it is so hot. I have had luke warm ramen here 3 times. I really hope they read reviews because the flavor is great and the space is great. Try the tots too, they are redeeming.

    (2)

  • Kimberly V.

    LOVE THIS PLACE!!!! I come to Portland quite often, and I never fail to stop by here. The portions are more than plenty and delicious, my sister and I were brought here by some friends a year or so a ago when this place first opened. My sister loves it so much she asked me to bring here some back when I went back in October, the staff was so sweet and I asked them it were possible for me to bring some containers to take for my sister back in California, they gave me broth and uncooked noodles and things that went into the ramen which assured the best flavor upon my arrival, when i came a back a couple weeks ago I wasn't surprised to find the awesome staff and excellent environment still holding up : )

    (5)

  • Nicole S.

    I ordered the Spicy Ramen, which arrived promptly. It was hot and delicious. I had to wait 5 mins to be sat at the bar as they were full but that's no bother. I sat next to a nice gentleman who was very kind and recommended other locations to visit while I'm here on vaation. The shop was small but cozy and the staff were very friendly.

    (4)

  • Brie C.

    Simple menu with delicious ramen and unique appetizers. More expensive than usual with large portions that are not allowed to be taken home. Simple and playful atmosphere with upbeat music.

    (3)

  • Kirsten H.

    This is the best ramen I have had in town! I had the Shiitake Shoyu and if you love mushrooms this is the soup for you. In addition we shared the greens and fried pot stickers which were also extremely delicious. You need to go here, it's small so you will probably have to wait.

    (4)

  • Yesenia L.

    Came in from Cali and our friend recommended this place. I loved it!!! The ramen was very tasty. Very good flavor!! I ordered the Tonkot Su shio, man was it good. Has pork belly in it, scallions and a poached egg. I was nervous at first, wanted to scoop out egg, but my friend said," Just try it first!" I'm glad I did. I had to experience it ALL!!! So delicious!!! Very cute place and BTW they do accept cards for payment.

    (4)

  • Scott U.

    You'll either love Boxer Ramen for what it represents or you'll see it as a set of limitations. The place is owned by the people that run Little Big Burger and Blue Star, so if those places work for you, this is more of the same aesthetic. Great ramen and lots of it. Probably amongst the best ramen I've had. I had the Tonkatsu. The menu is very simple. There are more drinks options than food. I'm just fine with that. My guess is that they'll keep what turns out to be favorites and rotate in other things periodically. I ordered some unfiltered sake and was given a healthy pour in a large juice glass. Very nice. It's a small dining room and we ended up sharing a table with two others. It was still busy even though we were after the lunch rush. Not everyone will enjoy that, but everyone was friendly and it added to the experience for me. I noticed its hours aren't terribly late. Since it's right around the corner from Living Room Theaters it would be a great spot for before or after a movie. Maybe they'll extend the hours in the future. Be aware. It's cash only (for now).

    (5)

  • Katherine P.

    1. The ramen broth was incredibly salty, I mean overwhelmingly so. 2. The response I received from my waitress/hostess when I addressed the salt issue was ignorant, borderline stupid. 3. A perfectly soft Boiled egg doesn't make up for the fact that I could not "slurp my noodles." 4. If anyone from Boxer Ramen reads this, I would work with your wait staff in regards to customer relations, I'm really not a bitch, I still tipped 15% despite the incompetent blathering I got about inconsistencies in YOUR broth from hour to hour, day to day and the kitchens inability to recreate a consistent product, and how as a customer I was just suppose to be ok with that because "ramen is typically a salty food."

    (1)

  • Katherine K.

    HIPSTER VENUS FLY TRAP. What's the point of even opening a ramen restaurant where you don't make your own noodles? The cooks are just white kids who boil things other people made. The service is...iffy. I wanted a bowl with nothing added because noodles are all that really matters, and they tried SO HARD to avoid telling me that there is actually a children's bowl that is just noodles and broth for 3 dollars...not listed on the menu. I had to literally ask for a side of noodles and a side of broth and a bowl before she would admit they sell it. If you want basically the exact same thing with an egg and bacon they claim is pork belly (slice it thicker dudes), they charge you 11 dollars. It's messed up. Don't go here; hopefully they close and an authentic asian place replaces them.

    (2)

  • Chris A.

    Cash only that seems a little crazy in this day and age. There seems to be a long wait for the small joint that is obviously very popular. It has a fairly limited menu with only three Ramen choices on it. I tried the spicy Ramen which I found to be pretty darn good. The pork is deep-fried in a nice way that makes it almost like bacon. This is a family-style restaurant which means you will probably share your table with people you don't know. If you don't like sitting near strangers this place is not for you, but hey we are in Portland, we should all get along right? The price seems a little expensive for what you get but the food is pretty darn tasty I must admit.

    (3)

  • Thuy N.

    The tots are to die for! I love the swiss chard and sesame appetizer. Just enough to start me off before the spicy red miso! Yum! Worth it to try it out. After my long hike at Dog mountain this hit the spot!

    (4)

  • Dan A.

    Very neat little ramen restaurant! Love the vibe, music and artwork inside, it definitely has a unique feel. Great place to go with friends, friendly wait staff, and you definitely get a HUGE amount of food for the money! The food was well cooked, and very flavorful! Will definitely be going back soon! Cons: The only thing that some people may not enjoy is the lack of variety. The menu is pretty small, with only three ramen options, and some other small side options. They do not accept credit cards, but they do have an ATM inside. Slightly frustrating to have to pay the $3 ATM fee for a $10-$15 meal. Overall, a cool little restaurant. I will be going back soon, and would definitely recommend to a friend!

    (4)

  • Luanda G.

    Both times I've been here, my noodles have been undercooked. On my first visit, I tried my partner's noodles to make sure that just wasn't how they cook them. No - his were cooked nicely, while mine were hard. On my second visit, my noodles were undercooked again! I had chalked my first experience up to bad luck, but this definitely seems like a trend. I spoke to the waitress on my first visit who said, "That happens sometimes". On my second visit, she recommended I let the noodles sit for a bit longer. Ummm...what? I generally expect my food to arrive at the table ready to eat. Also, no amount of sitting would have softened those noodles up to the proper texture. I asked if the kitchen could cook the noodles a bit more, which they did. The new noodles were cooked properly and tasted much better. Besides the undercooked noodle thing, the ramen in general needs work. The broth is too salty and has a flavor that makes me feel sick if I drink too much. The service is prompt and friendly. This place is cash only, and there's an ATM inside.

    (2)

  • Dave H.

    I was visiting the Portland area and looked forward to a great bowl of ramen on a rainy day. The Boxer is a small restaurant with approximately 7 tables plus counter space. They make everyone wait out in the cold and then many diners have to share a table which shows a general lack of appreciation for their paying customers. I ordered the Tonkatsu Shio. The menu did state it came with a "soft egg" -- what is that? Out came a poached egg; traditional ramen has a marinated egg in which the egg white is cooked well and the yolk is somewhat soft -- they even have a painting of a correct ramen soup with on their wall but their soup does not resemble it. Needless to say, their poached egg was odd and did not add anything to the dish. The chasu was overlooked and most of the pork was cut into bite sized pieces. The Tankatsu broth was not rich and was bland, overpowered by ginger flavoring. The garlic oil was a nice touch, but overall I left disappointed and in search of a more authentic bowl of ramen. This can't be called ramen if they refuse to make it right, because anything else is just a soup house.

    (2)

  • Matthew N.

    We ate the greens, the spicy red miso and the tonkotsu (pork bone both) ramen. Both came served with scallions a soft boiled egg and pork belly. First off the salad was deeelish, really nutty and (good) sweet/tangy tasting. The bowls come with thin noodles which were cooked well, I found that their thin-ness was very good at soaking up the tasty broth. My miso was great, not too salty but with lots of background complexity. It had the oh-so-familiar oily swirls on the surface, you see that in the ramen places in Japan, ahhhh heaven.

    (4)

  • Doug B.

    I love the fact this this place is different and so good. We enjoyed the greens and okonomiyaki tots for appetizer, and the choice of cold sake. The ramens were excellent - especially my tonkatsu shio ramen. The desert was the topper - mochi ice cream - the best being blueberry. Highly recommended.

    (5)

  • Michelle M.

    ZERO STARS! Total FAIL! WTF are you guys thinking? No vegetarian option? This is Portland!

    (1)

  • Sarah C.

    I'm always excited for new ramen in Portland. Great ramen that's not too salty. Fantastic service. Perfect price. Remember it's cash only.

    (5)

  • Alyssa H.

    The proximity to the office and generally dreary day resulted in a renewed attempt to dine at Boxer Ramen. As the clock got closer to noon, I announced my prediction that we'd have another terrible experience trying to get seated, but so we went. We were shockingly and delightfully seated immediately and placed our order of an appetizer and ramen bowls. Although the appetizer came quickly, it became apparent after about 15 minutes that other parties, seated after we had ordered, were delightfully slurping their noodles. So....where was our food? Luckily, our debate on possible ethical implications of marijuana tax being allocated to school funding led to enough distraction that our missing food was not apparent until our astute waiter stopped by and mentioned it. He went to the kitchen to check on our food, which was then quickly delivered. I'm no ramen connoisseur so I'll reserve judgment on the intricacies of the flavor profile and possibly pre-packaged noodles (oh no!) to those who clearly have passionate opinions and more well developed palates. All I know is that the ramen is pretty darn tasty. The BEST part is that the fantastic waiter removed the appetizer from our bill! Nary a word or stink eye were cast in his direction, he simply felt bad that we had waited a bit longer for our food. It should be noticed that there were a number of parties waiting outside for a table so part of our 4-star experience was pure luck of timing. Also, I noticed in the corner that BR now has a few stools stacked up - presumably to allow some flexibility in the seating arrangements. I'd like to think that the provision of the stools was a direct response to my earlier post, but that would be too awesome. Good on ya, Boxer Ramen, you have a convert.

    (4)

  • May C.

    I had the Tonkatsu Ramen and thought the broth was delicious, flavorful and hearty. Just the way I like it! The noodles were a different story. They were just meh. Heck, I'd pick Maruchan noodles over these ones! If Boxer Ramen can get the noodles right, I'd bump this review up a whole star and be eating here more frequently! Also not a fan of the tator tots. They looked much more delicious than they taste.

    (3)

  • Natalie S.

    We tried the spicy red miso and the shiitake shouo. Loved both of them! Feels like a warm simple meal that you would have on the comfort of your home. The decor is very cool and the service is great. Affordable price for a filling meal.

    (5)

  • Sean W.

    I was excited to have a ramen place DT, however, that was short lived. Once we had arrived, we learned that it was a "cash only" establishment which would have been fine if they would have passed along the credit card savings thru their food prices but that wasn't the case. Our waiter was very nice and extremely efficient; however, the ramen was WAY over priced and the noodle portion was slim to say the least. The taste was decent but I left still feeling hungry. I'll head back if they lower their prices or add more noodles. Boo to PDX EATER for calling this a "hot spot".

    (2)

  • Jesse D.

    This is some good ramen with friendly employees! The atmosphere was pretty hip and very relaxed. The ramen itself was fantastic and the broth had an immense amount of flavor. It was quite salty but for me that just enhanced the taste. The pork belly was cooked perfectly with a bit of charring on the edges which added even more flavor to the broth as a whole. I also loved how instead of just a few slices of pork belly that there was also very small bits of it spread throughout the broth. The scallions tasted fresh and were satisfying even though I don't particularly like scallions. The poached egg that was in it also seemed to be poached almost perfectly. The noodles were not too mushy and soft but weren't too hard either. I really enjoyed this bowl of ramen and intend to try the spicy miso one too eventually. Also the employees were very friendly and even gave us free drinks just for moving seats to accommodate for more customers. I highly recommend this place if you're a fan of ramen.

    (5)

  • Jun U.

    There are six items on the menu, three types of ramen and three sides. So far it's the best ramen I've had in Portland. It's a block south of Powell's and wasn't crowded when I went in on a cold Tuesday evening, about half full of patrons. Started with Greens and Sesame which is collard greens and red cabbage macerated in a slightly sweet vinaigrette with walnuts, black and white sesame, and nori flakes. Delicious but there was too much for a single serving, almost two cups of salad. Good value, though. Only $4. The tonkotsu and shio ramen arrived in a high-sided blue and white ceramic bowl. The ramen noodles were thin and pale, almost somen like in size and appearance. It was not what I was expecting but they turned out to be fine. They started out slightly toothy but softened up a bit as they sat in the hot soup. I would have preferred more noodles in my bowl and noodles with a thicker heft. The soup was unashamedly porky and salty, a little too salty too finish on its own once the noodles were gone. Also in the bowl were a poached egg, two slabs of pork belly, chopped negi and dressed with burnt garlic oil. The pork did not appear to be braised like traditional chashu. It had a smokey flavor, a chewy texture, and distinct red outer layer. A nice touch. The service at Boxer Ramen was very good. The host and my waitress were friendly and attentive. The food came out quickly and I was treated extremely well. There was some hip-hop playing in the background but it wasn't loud or annoying. The ambiance is bright and cheery with wood counters and seats and Asian-themed murals painted on white walls. Overall, I think the recipes need tweaking and portion sizes need to be considered, but it was a good meal with great service.

    (4)

  • Holly P.

    Went here for lunch for the first time today. The service was attentive, the greens were delicious, and the ramen was very good. They only took cash, which was annoying. I would certainly go back, though.

    (4)

  • Stacey D.

    One vegetarian ramen option of the 4 options available. It was a vegetable curry, and it was delicious. A great lunch spot.

    (3)

  • Alyssa F.

    I found the food tasty and filling. I am not sure what people mean by small portion size. I couldn't finish my bowl. I had bites of all three appetizers and both of the ramens for carnivores (pork belly!) and the pistachio mochi. $3 for a single mochi did seem a little steep but they are imported from Hawaii... Service was attentive and polite. Atmosphere was comfy and cute. I will be visiting again.

    (4)

  • Ikky K.

    The noodles are not fresh, but some dried cheap stuff. The broth for the tonkotsu is divine. As were the ingredients. So it's a toss-up. But for $10, I would expect decent noodles. Or at least fresh ones. The $6 okonomiyaki tater tots are also way overpriced, especially since they use off-the-shelf sauces on them that probably have MSG. The service is mediocre. It would probably help them a bit if they posted somewhere what is in their bowls, rather than expecting a clearly rushed staff to take the time to explain it snootily. The decor is fun. The place is clean. Cash only (again, for a $10 bowl, I would expect them to take credit cards). I have lived in Japan and this is nothing like ramen you would get there, but they do a fabulous American adaptation to the broth.

    (3)

  • Rikki W.

    Cute wall paintings, minimal menu, large portions. I had the curry ramen, the one vegetarian option, flavorful and lots of veggie toppings. I think my bf would give Boxer 3 stars, said the pork ramen wasn't as flavorful and one dimensional. But overall, hot ramen on a cold day makes me happy.

    (4)

  • Bianca B.

    My husband and I stopped by Boxer Ramen for lunch on a Saturday and it was WONDERFUL. I was glad to see they added a veggie option. We both got the veggie curry and split orders of the pickle salad and sesame greens. Everything was delicious. The sesame greens were to die for. A big plus for me was that they also have sake! And at a great price. Staff was awesome. Very friendly and helpful. Highly recommended!

    (5)

  • Joe R.

    the food was great. noodles were perfect amount of chewy and tasty. get the greens, sesame and salty and more. get it. but only 3 stars you ask. yah just 3. because it's 2014 and there's no reason to be cash only. I even saw an iPad register, so why inconvenience your hungry customers that don't carry enough cash to cover a meal? but you can throw a ATM machine in your space?! tacky.

    (3)

  • Elin K.

    Went with my teen daughter yesterday. We're heading back again today (her birthday). She has been craving it since yesterday. She is a skinny 6-footer but her bowl filled her up! We liked the tonkotsu-shio the best. Fun, good vibe, small. Love it.

    (5)

  • Michi C.

    Bonito flakes waving with the wind over super yummy tater tots. Ramen is good. It's worth a try, but probably not my go-to ramen place. Make sure to bring cash!

    (3)

  • Tikkatikka m.

    The ramen is amazing! The portions are well worth the price by Portland standards. Really friendly generous service: we got a free order of tots bc they made extra! Will be coming back.

    (4)

  • Reed W.

    Finally tried this place after driving by a few times and not finding parking...(hint). Having recently eaten Tonkotsu Ramen at Mirakutei a few times I was anxious to try Boxer.....when I got there it was packed, I waited a few minutes and got a seat (felt like a smashed sardine) at the counter. I guess it's not the place to read the paper like I usually do because people on either side of me were practically on my lap. This is a getim' in and getim' out type of place I guess. Anyway to the food/ramen.......broth...salty and not that rich, noodles.....no flavor and barely done......didn't like the chopped ham they throw in and the pork belly was not right, too much like bacon (go try Mirakutei and you'll know what I mean)....and the egg wasn't right either, just a watery soft boil....not prepared or cooked right. And ....the cash only thing.....nice little game there.....I can see peeps in the back room counting out the bills and laughing all the way to the bank......I'm sure the taxes are great because they never made any money right? Clever idea......btw, didn't like Little Big Burger either.

    (2)

  • Mio Y.

    Had high hopes for this place, considering it was supposedly the "best ramen in town." After visiting once, we will never return. Very limited menu, and the portions are tiny. 10$ for an appetizer-size bowl of ramen with almost no noodles in it, 1 or 2 tiny slices of meat, and exceedingly salty soup base. Sigh... typical Portland "Japanese" food. Don't waste your time or money.

    (1)

  • Teresa D.

    The ramen choices look delicious, but I skipped on the noodles because I was in more of a snackish mood. So I went with the okonomiyaki tots, which are tater tots with all kinds of saucy, fish-flaky, 7-spicy yumminess. Totally recommend partaking of these with the strong bow cider.

    (4)

  • Quinn L.

    I thought the Spicy Miso Ramen was pretty good, not the best, but a good bowl for $10 and the greens salad was fantastic. So I was feeling ok with the meal until I realized that they only accept cash. I had no cash on me, but thankfully the considerate owners of Boxer Ramen were kind enough to provide a ATM machine for me to use for the low cost of $2 plus the fee my bank charges. It is not about the $4.50, it's that Boxer Ramen pushes this expense onto their customers while pocketing a little extra for themselves. Idea: Charge $10.95 for the ramen and accept credit cards. I would recommend Double Dragon's ramen over Boxer Ramen.

    (3)

  • David M.

    great noodles, broth ok, boring add ins. 3 menu items? just ok.

    (3)

  • Morris T.

    A mediocre imitation of the trendy favor of the naive younger generation, all they know about ramen is nothing but some thread like thin noodles in meager portion drown in a jumbo deep bowl with chicken powder generated taste mixed with clueless sesame seeds, half cooked large AA egg, some imitation processed artificial pancake slices...etc, and this new cousin in town added Virginia ham slices in their salty formulaic boring soups. To give you an authentic Japanese origination, the 99% westerner assembled restauranteurs just added one oriental member to impress you that this joint is typical Japanese authentic flavor but actually it's not. Since they use smoked Virginia ham in their chicken powdered soup base, it inevitably turned out quite salty. In the meantime, other than an oriental Japanese face, they added sesame seeds as well as a half cooked large AA egg cut in half and only allow one-half piece floating on top of the soup to further falsify the Japanese image. The thin noodles they used and the way how they cook it, and how a bowl of the ordered, just cooked noodles would turned out be Luke-warm once put down in front of your sharing table is always a mystery; obviously, the journey of a bowl of the so-called jumbo-mumbo noodle name in Japanese from a westerner operated kitchen is indeed very far at a snail crawling speed? Even the noodles are just tasteless and boring, the portion is still pathetically meager and small to further the usual expensive yet always in small portion or quantity extremely valued Japanese image. Appetizers definitely bought from Costco, readily processed, only need a quick deep fry. Final thoughts when you stepped out this joint venture of 1 oriental faced joint: salty, pathetic small portion in a jumbo ceramic bowl and, your butt is hurting by a cheap stool. Unless you are really hungry and happen to be in this joint neighborhood, and with at least $15 to $20 bucks in cash, otherwise avoid as best as you can.

    (2)

  • Alison S.

    Over priced for a small portion. You only get 3 options to choose from the menu for ramen. And the pork in the ramen tasted like ham. If you want a real Japanese ramen I suggest you not go here. Other than that it's a nice place we'll decorated. And what kind of ramen place doesn't have green tea!

    (2)

  • Heth H.

    mushroom ramen. way too salty. no way near as good as authentic japanese ramen i have had around Toyko. ok for pdx. friendly staff!!! cute place and fun vibe. would return if the broth was less salty. the salad was great and good to share as an app.

    (2)

  • Caitlynn T.

    I was so surprised to see so many reviews that were negative when I decided to come onto yelp to review but I think I half understand it. Certain things about this place have seemed to have changed- the music is a good level and I've never once thought my Ramen was overly salty. So I think that they probably have been doing some changes based on reviews. But my personal experience every time I go (which is whenever I want Ramen at all) is that this place is wonderful! The people and the atmosphere are great, and I love the shiitake Ramen so much sometimes I just crave it. Honestly it isn't a big deal to me that it's cash only, at least they have an atm at all considering that. I've known many places that are cash only and you have to go on some hunt to find an atm if you want to give it a try at all. Anyway I'd just say give this place a try and remember cash if you're miffed about a possible atm fee.

    (5)

  • Sarah B.

    Ramen math: Cash Only + "We Decline Substitutions" + "No To Go Containers" = we don't care about customer service... Those are the first 3 things I read on walking into Boxer. Having to walk 4 blocks to the nearest ATM in 2013, the year of Square and simple non-cash transactions was frustrating and apparently they have no plans to take cards in the future. The female server was apathetic and seemed annoyed by my questions about the menu. This brings us to the food. The ramen was ok. Overly oily, not enough ingredients other than noodles and broth. The greens and sesame had an odd combination of ingredients that didn't work together. Dried mushrooms were really chewy, chard was too bitter and needed something to balance it. I will not be back. Typical trendy "too cool for school" atmosphere establishment that has no interest in pleasing customers and seems to care more about their visual aesthetic than the food itself.

    (2)

  • Nicole G.

    Hm. Been here twice. 2nd time better than the first. I think the spicy miso is better than the tonkotsu. Initially, when I ate here I got very concerned with their take on tonkotsu-style ramen. Considering it's one if my favorite kinds of ramen I was ready for something new. But it was a let down/disappointment. The char siu was meh, sauce was meh, and the garlic oil was burnt. What brought me back actually were the sesame greens. So good! Nonetheless, I tried the spicy miso ramen the second time around and it was better. The soft-boiled egg was delish and perfectly prepped. I was disappointed that the char siu was not fully heated. When there is that much fat on it (it was basically 75% fat) you have to heat it all the way through. Eating cold fat during the snowpocalypse is no bueno. Anyway, overall the ramen is OK. Nothing epic except for the sesame greens. I would consider coming back just for that. No joke.

    (3)

  • John R.

    We wanted something a little different for lunch so we stopped in. We sampled the red miso ramen and it was delicious and spicy. A complex mixture of a spicy broth, egg and ramen noodles. We supplemented lunch with a cherry wine and an RC cola in bottles (little pricey on the sodas). Worth a stop in for something different. Also, love the illustrations around the restaurant.

    (5)

  • CJ J.

    The spirit of Momofuku is strong here, Weedhopper. As devoted acolytes of the great and powerful Chang, the soup at Boxer Ramen is smokey with bacon, with more bacon in your bowl. This is fine if you like your ramen to taste like bbq. Personally, I think it's weird, and self-defeating, as the subtleties of the broth - which was otherwise rich and carefully prepared - are obliterated by the smoke. Also, it just doesn't taste very Japanese anymore, but like trendy American foodie food, which is again fine, if you like that sort of thing. Tastes differ. The noodles were really delicious, with a lovely texture and bite. And the people who work here couldn't have been any nicer or more welcoming.

    (3)

  • Max M.

    I really, really can't believe the idiotic reviews I'm seeing on this page. This is the only proper bowl of ramen I've ever had in America, much less Portland, and people are COMPLAINING ABOUT THE PORTION SIZE?! Let me give some context here. By coincidence, I just got back from a two-week trip to Japan. While I was there, I sampled somewhere between 10 and 15 ramen places, with noodles and broth of all different styles. What this trip really brought into relief was how pathetic most American versions of ramen are. I was already seriously underwhelmed with places like Boke Bowl that struck me as overpriced and gimmicky, but what I learned in Japan is that there was one specific area most American imitations of ramen fell painfully short on: the broth. The broth is the main focus of most ramen restaurants in Japan. Sure, the noodles are obviously important, but the broth is how one hole-in-the-wall ramen counter distinguishes itself from another. The fantastic diversity of broth styles I encountered there made me realize how almost every bowl of ramen I'd had in America had bland, clear, chicken-soup type broth that had almost no flavor or texture to it. Not so at Boxer. When you order a bowl of the Tonkotsu Shoyu, the broth is the star. Sure, the noodles are great (straight and thin in the style of Ichiran, neither al dente firm nor overcooked and mushy), and the fresh green onions are really nice, but it's allllll about the broth. I could reach for adjectives like 'creamy,' 'salty,' 'thick,' or what have you, but you really just have to go and experience the mouth-coating sensation for yourself. The one aspect I was not a fan of was the chashu pork slices, which tasted overly hammy and bacony. Add in the well-lit dining room (with ample seating considering the size of the place) and the friendly staff and I really don't see much to complain about. And considering my stomach felt distended and stretched to the limit when I walked out, I am positively baffled to see complaints about portion size dominating the reviews.

    (5)

  • Stephanie T.

    Stumbled upon this place when a friend was visiting from California and wanted to return a bag she bought at Wills Leather Goods the day before. The minute I walked in, I fell in love. Adorable decor, super friendly waitstaff, and DELICIOUS spicy red miso!!!! Not to mention, their music selection is on point. If it's not the type of ramen you're used to or blablabla, then don't freaking eat here. I love this place and have already been back two more times in the last 2 weeks (making 3 trips altogether, and another one tonight), and will continue to come back for meals where I just need comfort food and a kickass place to enjoy it and be in slurpy noodle bliss. F the haters. This place rocks.

    (5)

  • Corey H.

    Holy hell. They made my babe so happy.

    (5)

  • Kevin L.

    Honestly I'm not usually a ramen fan, but I thought the Tonkatsu Ramen was very delicious. The broth was very tasty. I thought portions were very generous, as we took some home and had leftovers for lunch the next day. The Okonomiyaki Tots were tasty as well. I'm no ramen expert, but if it means anything, I definitely thought Boxer Ramen was more memorable than what I had at Biwa.

    (4)

  • Neven M.

    Boxer Ramen is my new pick for the best ramen in town. The tonkotsu is dark and covered with a layer of diced fat--no melted, mouth-coating goo here, just tender fat, as it should be. The flavor was super strong and fatty, but without any grease. There's a deep backbone of charred vegetables. The noodles are from Sun Noodle, who provide them for a few top-shelf ramen joints in the country. They're thin, even, chewy, and in my bowls, they were cooked and separated perfectly. The pork was smoky, tender, pink with freshness. The egg was a pretty much perfect 6-minute egg, golden in the middle. The spicy miso had a lot of dry, peppercorn heat, the kind that builds up in your throat. While there's no shortage of gelatinous mouthfeel with the broths, this is the flavor-oriented kind of ramen, not the milky, hazy style. The sides were all excellent. The ohitashi is an umami bomb of sesame flavor, perfect beer food. Pickles were fresh, beautiful, and nicely varied. Okonomiyaki tots are a cute kitsch snack; if you like tots, these are the tots you want. When I said Boxer was the best bowl of ramen in town, I'm comparing it to Biwa, Mirakutei, Masu, and Boke Bowl. Wafu's opening-day bowl was perhaps better, but they only served that for a week, and it's gone no anyway. If you like ramen, go to Boxer.

    (5)

  • Drew L.

    I went to Boxer on recommendation of newspaper article. Thought it's not something I usually do, in this case, it has panned out nicely. I have had, as yet, the Tonkatsu-Shio twice, and the Shitake-Shoyu once. If one can call twice "consistent," then the flavor of the Tonkatsu is consistently great. The thick Pork bone-broth is thick with marrow-fat and has that long-cooked flavor I always look for when trying a new ramen. The Shitake is a lovely counterpoint to the Tonkatsu. A somewhat lighter flavor with a sweetness to it that is anything but aggressive. Recommend on one tasting. I will be back to retry these dishes, and try others. It's worth a shot. It may not be the southern Japan styled ramen that I have been seeking for the last 5 years since my return from Japan, but it is DELICIOUS, and well worth the price asked. 7/10

    (4)

  • Irene S.

    Another place in the "oh-so-hip-it-hurts" category, I was definitely excited for this place to open so close to some of my favorite downtown hangout spots (Powell's & Living Room Theaters). I went in around 5 PM on a Saturday before it started filling up with the dinner crowd. My party of 4 got seated quickly and we were starving for Started off with a filling order of okonomiyaki tots ($5) and then I had the shoyu-tonkotsu ramen ($10 for all ramen bowls). My only disappointment was when I had the actual pork. It was immensely fatty. I don't mind a fine piece of fatty pork with actual meat in between the layers of fat, but I had an actual strip of pure fat in my bowl of ramen. I couldn't finish the pork. The ramen and tasty broth warmed me up well enough on that chilly evening though and service was friendly and prompt. I will come back again to try the vegetarian curry ramen...

    (4)

  • Lauren B.

    The ramen is on point. But I like to go there to flirt with the guy named Dillon that works in the kitchen. He's super fly. :)

    (5)

  • Peter S.

    Portion Control Police Please. I liked the Ramen A-Ok. I ordered the Spicy Miso Ramen based soup. My biggest gripe was the portion of noodles. SO SMALL. My dining partner agreed. She generally eats WAY less than me, portion wise, on a regular basis and even she was hungry an hour later. Which begs the larger question. Why do restaurants skimp on the CHEAPEST part of the meal? Rice, noodles, carbs. cost a fraction of the meat & vegetables. The last thing you want someone to remember when you leave a Ramen shop, which by the way is considered Comfort food or "Drunk" comfort food is a lack of substantial portions. In Boxer Ramen's case, a teeny-tiny portion. I supposed I could order two ramens next time...

    (3)

  • Ren W.

    This is the super secret spot I often slip away to during lunch without coworkers (tip: come with a small party or by yourself for immediate seating at the bar). The ramen is as good as it gets. Fresh noodles, delicious broth. My favorite part is the creamy egg. I don't know why others think it tastes salty; this is exactly how I want all my ramen ever (ahem, step it up Cup o' Noodles).

    (5)

  • Anastasia V.

    Apparently after being open for 6 days, Boxer Ramen decided they weren't selling enough of the vegetarian version to keep it on the menu. Maybe the waitress fed me a line because she didn't know the reason, but in any case, I had a delicious pickle salad instead of ramen. But I came for ramen. And I'm annoyed that the change to the menu wasn't announced on Boxer's website or Facebook page (you only have two entrees - if you change 50% of your menu, tell the masses. We love to read). So I'm annoyed and hungry. The friend I lunched with had the spicy ramen and said it was really delicious. If you like non-veggie ramen AND good pickle salads, this place is likely going to be a big hit for you. FYI: this place is CASH ONLY.

    (2)

  • Emily B.

    I would give this place five stars, except there is no carry-out at all. The food is great, but the place only seats about 20 people. So when it's busy, or if you have the flu, too bad.

    (3)

  • Stacey G.

    Had the ramen and It was ok but In Portland you better bring it. There is way to much competition in this town. I would go back for the tots just to try something original. Staff was friendly enough and they have beer.

    (2)

  • Paris O.

    CASH ONLY!! i was extremely excited to try this place after hearing great reviews from a friend (yelp reviews weren't good, but I was down to try a 3 star place recommended by a friend). extremely disappointed in the noodle quantity. simply put, there are 4 bowls on the menu, a hand full of salads and mochi. this ramen just wasn't worth $10 a bowl.

    (2)

  • Sandy C.

    Boxer Ramen has a small, but solid menu. We had the Tonkotsu, Spicy Miso and Shiitake Ramens with the Okinomiyaki and Seaweed and Sesame Salad, The service was excellent and the place was clean. Would definitely return if in the area.

    (4)

  • Mary T.

    Boxer Ramen? More like Suckser Ramen. Let me just say the food was REALLY great but the service was AWFUL. My friends and I stood in the doorway for 5 minutes without being seated. We heard everyone in the back talking but no one came out to seat us. Then the waiter hardly ever came by. Oh! And he insisted that my friend not order tots because we already ordered some for the table but she wanted them for her dang meal! He came by maybe once to check on the table and it took forever to get our check. By the time someone brought the check I was sharpening my chopsticks. The big dingus waiter didn't even bring us our check! Someone else did! It really felt like he was actively ignoring us. Dear waiter: could you be more of a bad Portlandia sketch? I hope someone poops on your shoes. I have never written a bad review before but I was having an awful day and you made it worse. Thanks for making Portland look like a bunch of jerks to my friends who were visiting me from out of town. I hope you feel bad.

    (1)

  • itch y.

    Micah Camden has some great food in Portland. . . His secret. . Normal Price - Small servings. The food is good. A very Pacific Northwest approach , which is important. If you want real ramen go to Tokyo. However the portions are unbelievably small for the price. I'm sure there will be the occasional bowl with sides that will feel like a meal. Unfortunately, after a few bites into my bowl, I realized it was the end and was left wanting more. Opening weekend - of course there are going to be some compromises so they don't run out - but this needs immediate correcting after the surge of first timers. Complements to the chef on a tasty broth but even Japanese portions are bigger than this! Looking for a meal size ramen . . . . .

    (3)

  • Eve K.

    Fast and convenient. The ramen is solid. The service is friendly. The prices are good. And I appreciate the vegetarian options.

    (4)

  • Cheryl F.

    Best ramen in Portland.

    (5)

  • James M.

    I had a similar experience to most previous reviews. I'm writing to perhaps request a response or update from someone at Boxer! We had a few of the sides as well as the tonkatsu ramen. The sesame greens were refreshing and tasty, the pickle salad was exciting! The banh was ok, but was perhaps a little too simple. The sides all seemed a good value. $4 or $5 for a small but appetizing portion. Unfortunately, I came away with the same impression as many reviewers. The portions on the ramen were just painfully small. Having reguarly eaten all the "best" ramens in portland, as well as just having had ramen from the infamous chef Takashi in Chicago (life changing?) I can say this is probably less than half the size of any other ramen I've ever had. I'd love to hear a response from Boxer on this. This place is so close to being fantastic! I think if the portion were doubled, I would gladly pay $12. This seems to be a standard size/price seen at Biwa, Mirakutei, Miho, etc. around town. I think I was especially disappointed since I regularly espouse the brilliance of Little Big Burger, which I think represents an exceptional value for the quality AND quantity of the food served. As it stands now, I could only return if I had eaten a late lunch and I wasn't that hungry... :-( Boxer, your thoughts?

    (3)

  • Aaron S.

    I've had the pleasure of eating at Boxer Ramen 3 times since they opened. The experience continues to evolve and improve (as all restaurants should when they first open). It does appear they are listening to feedback, as some of the complaints from early reviewers have been addressed. My first trip was on opening day. I ended up waiting about 30 minutes to be seated, and my first bowl did seem light on the noodles and broth. I think part of the problem is the size of the bowls they use. When you place a half full bowl in front of someone I think the typical response is going to be "Uh, where's the rest?". That issue has been corrected, and now the portions are ample. I went yesterday and today and both bowls were considerably fuller. I don't know what people expect the portion size to be, but I'm a bug guy who likes to eat and that bowl easily fills me up. The pork they use has a wonderful smokey flavor that really adds to the overall ramen. The noodles are also well prepared and the right size. I think I prefer the Tonkatsu-shoyu, but the spicy ramen has a nice kick to it, and it's a slow burn that comes on over the course of the bowl. It's not too spicy to start, but by the end I was breaking a sweat. It's not melt-your-face hot, and maybe calling it "Really Spicy" is a bit of a stretch, but it's still tasty and satisfying. I liken it to Korean raymun, without the kimchi-ness. The size of the restaurant is a bit of a problem. There are only about 30 seats, and they fill up fast. Hopefully another outpost is in the works that will draw some business. Or maybe card tables on the street? That could work with the hot soup coming through. Here's a pro tip though: if you're going for lunch, make it a late one. The whole place tends to turn over between 12:45 and 1pm, and around that time it's much easier to walk in and be seated within minutes. I just made it there and back in less than an hour, and that includes the 5 block walk to get there. For me, it's definitely more traditional than (now closed) Wafu or Boke Bowl, both of which seem more like interpretations on ramen. I'm a little confused by the uber-sensitive reviews, but not really concerned. Ramen is one of those things that people take very personally. Drive the rating down if you must. All the better for my lunches.

    (4)

  • Sarah N.

    So me and my bf are always looking out for new ramen places in the US. Our favorites are Shin Sen Gumi in California and Monta in Vegas. Boxer was very interesting. We ordered the Tonkotsu-shi ramen, enriched with a smokey pork flavored broth. Very different because of the smokey aspect. They executed that well. The noodles were okay, cooked well but I prefer a thicker noodle. This place takes cash only there's an ATM in the restaurant. The service was accommodating and friendly. The ambience is colorful and filled with spunky art.

    (3)

  • Michelle B.

    So the ramen is good here however the choices are so limited compared to other ramen places I've been. 3menu items, seriously?! I feel like this place is trying to be so hip and Portland they're forgetting ppl go to restaurants for the food. The waitresses are nice and helpful and it's cash only but they have an ATM, so there's that. I sincerely doubt I'd go back here.

    (3)

  • Erin O.

    Pros: delicious. Friendly staff. Good location. Cons: $10 bowl of ramen. No takeout available, which is a super bummer for me as I tend to eat half my lunch and eat the rest for second lunch around 3-4 pm. Overall: recommended, but it will not be my new downtown lunch addiction.

    (4)

  • Jack C.

    Good for what it is, which is Japanese-style soup noodles and sides featuring local ingredients. It's just 11 and it's dead, which is great, as it's usually packed with a big line. Three ramen selections are on the board, which my very kind server read for me so I didn't have to strain my bat eyes. I tried the tonkotsu ramen and a selection of pickles. The pickles were crisp and tasty featuring typical veggies in a sweet/sour brine. Not much like Japanese Takuan or other pickles, more like American sweet pickles, but again, local ingredients and flavors done well. The ramen I'll break down into soup, noodles, and meat or other and, since I sense no pretense of being ultra-authentic here, I'll compare these to others in PDX, not Tokyo ;). The soup was good and salty, nicely thick and creamy once I stirred in the egg. It was, however, lacking in character or depth of flavor that would make you drool. Still, I drained the bowl. It's the right thing for a cold day and good by any measure. The noodles were par for the course, better than cup noodles by far, but not as stretchy or toothsome as I like, but there is really nothing much better in PTown, so let's move along. The pork was yummy, well seared, fatty, tasty, YUM. It's pork, 'nuff said. The scallions and onions were fresh and added good balance to the broth. Overall, at $10, I rate this par to Biwa, one of the better ramens here. Mirakutei's tonkotsu ramen is also similar, but there remains no equal as yet in this town to Mirakutei's Genki Ramen, still #1 in my book. Oishi!

    (4)

  • Sophia T.

    I had a craving for ramen but the catch, needed vegan. Boxer delivered!!! they had a vegan curry ramen that was awesome and abundant. loved every soupy bite. the only thing that made me sad was i had so much leftover and I was biking and needed a carry out container but hey only had stupid boxes and wouldn't give me one of those chinese plastic containers to prevent spillage. I had to waste food which was a tragedy to me.

    (4)

  • Vanessa G.

    A little bit of a wait but it went by relatively fast. Limited menu but I think that's the appeal. Got the spicy miso soup. A little greasy but not too bad! The meat was pretty tasty and the service was quick. This ramen is much better than boke bowl, which I felt was a bowl of grease. Next time I go back I'll try the veggie ramen.

    (4)

  • Tim G.

    A small space but I was seated quickly and at a big, "communal" table; which was fine, got to meet the couple next to me. I ordered the ramen with pork. Amazing. I wanted a hot tea before the ramen. Was told they don't have hot beverages. Just hot, delicious ramen. I did find a peppercorn bomb waiting for me at the bottom of my bowl. So just don't eat those peppercorns, or do it if that's what you like. The waitress was nice and called me 'hon. I'm fine with that.

    (4)

  • Chad A.

    Fun atmosphere and a simple menu packed with tasty dishes.

    (4)

  • Matthew L.

    A friend and I headed here Thursday 11/15/2013 around 3:30pm. They weren't very busy at the time. I work downtown and I have been trying to find a good place to get some ramen. This place definitely hit the spot for me. As others have stated this place is cash only. There is an ATM inside, not sure if this is temporary or permanent. This wasn't a problem for me because I occasionally like to hit the food carts and always carry a little cash with me. They also don't take to go orders. I love how simple the menu is. I'm a big fan of places that keep the menu simple, and excel at what they produce. This place definitely falls into that category. The service was very friendly and courteous. We were greeted with a smile, and taken care of through our entire meal. On to the most important part, the food! We started with the Japanese pickle salad. It was simple and refreshing. Both of us had the Tonkotsu ramen. The broth was heavy, very well seasoned, and had the umami flavor I was looking for. Rich and hearty. It's was definitely the star of the dish, as it should be. The noodles were perfect, loved the texture. The small chunks of pork were smokey and meltingly tender. The pork belly was cooked perfectly, yes it was fatty, but that's pork belly. If you don't like pork fat, more for me! Loved the egg too. Portion size was ample, lots of noodles, and lots of broth. I'm a pretty big guy and I was stuffed by the end of it, and it stayed with me for the rest of the day Overall very good and satisfying, especially on a rainy Portland afternoon. I will definitely be returning!

    (5)

  • Brenda A.

    Excellent little place, great ramen. I had the soy/pork dish, and though there werent too many ramen noodles, the rest of the soup was hearty and filling. Flavor was excellent! It's cash only which is a pain, but a lot of places in Portland are cash only, so I was prepared. Totally a great stop on a cold fall day for lunch.

    (4)

  • Vi S.

    My girlfriends and I decided to grab a quick and cheap lunch. I googled a few ramen noodle shops in downtown Portland so we decided to go with this particular one primary because it was conveniently located to where we were shopping at. However, when we finally tasted the ramen and broth- we honestly were not that thrilled. I was actually disappointed in my bowl of ramen. I ordered the Tonkatsu ramen with the pork based broth. My girlfriends order there spicy ramen. Our orders came out within ten minutes of placing it, which is rare because I'm used to waiting about 30-45min for authentic ramen. The appearance of the noodles were not what I was expecting for an authentic ramen place. It was a lightly yellow colored and thin. I'm used to slurping slightly thick yellow noodles. The broth was very salty. There was not much meat in it and my egg was not soft boiled as mention on the reviews I read. It was runny. The broth was thin and not thick like most ramen I've tasted. In addition the price was slightly high for a small bowl of ramen. Overall, the customer service was quick, the food was so-so. The atmosphere was cute and chill but I would not return to this place for ramen, I would rather go explore other ramen noodle houses.

    (2)

  • Kristie B.

    Totally loved Boxer Ramen. I mean, c'mon, they opened ten days ago so anyone who criticizes is kind of just a jerk. The ramen isn't exactly perfect-not sure about the sesame slick on the tonkotsu broth, while pretty authentic, makes it a tad greasy. And, I would add a bit odd acid-maybe pickled ginger?! I have had ginger before on tonkotsu and loved it. I may also slice the pork a tad thinner. But, I thought it was super tasty anyway! Noodles, great, broth, solid, and good assortment of toppings. Super cute space. Staff completely on top of things..and friendly! Will definitely make a repeat visit. Shnikes...did I mention the okonomiyaki tots? Genius.

    (4)

  • Jopa C.

    The worst in town. Food was mediocre at best. We literally had a few bites and got up, paid, and left. No actions taken for our obvious dissatisfaction. Would never return or recommend.

    (1)

  • Kyla J.

    I can't believe people are giving less stars because this spot it cash only. They don't just surprise you when you get the check, maybe you should pay more attention to your surroundings because there is at least one sign and there is an atm right in the middle of the restaurant so that should let you know right there. The ramen is so yummy, broth is on point, the par boiled egg was perfect and I am personally a huge fan of the super simple small menu. Looking forward to trying everything on the menu! I do however really wish they somehow had outdoor seating :( but kudos for having bar seating

    (5)

  • Miwako T.

    I'm a big ramen fan. I heard about this place and wanted to try it out as soon as possible. We tried on Saturday night but I couldn't find a place to park so we just drove through. The next Sunday, on a rainy afternoon, we decided to walk here from the museum. We loved the Tonkotsu-Shio ramen! It was super.The broth just tasted so good. As to the noodles, though, as another Japanese reviewer may have stated (much) earlier, I too was not very familiar with the type of 'ramen' noodles they use, which reminded me more of 'soba'. We also had 'okonomiyaki tots' and loved that too. It was ok with mine, but, if your little one doesn't like 'spicy' food, you may want to watch out because the sauce may be a little bit spicy. Spicy-miso ramen, on the other side, can be better, and, to me, definitely not worth $10. The broth tasted just like Chinese hot oil you can get in Uwajimaya and I did not taste any miso.

    (4)

  • S S.

    Most authentic ramen in Portland I have had thus far. I dig the vibe too: low key, locals spot, lacking super hype (a good thing). Good broth (this is key!). I had the vegetarian curry ramen which was quite tasty- a little sweet and a little spicy which makes it just right. I long for my favorite Los Angeles ramen spots but alas I have moved up to the PNW and need to find a substitute and this seems to be it for now.

    (4)

  • Kate S.

    Stopped in for lunch during the week and it was pretty disappointing. I got the spicy miso and it was so salty couldn't finish it. We also got the tots which were ok but not great.

    (2)

  • Mandy S.

    The chief sin of a restaurant is to serve boring food and Boxer Ramen is NOT boring. It's ridiculously flavorful and hearty. I have not only tried every ramen there but all of the appetizers as well and I can recommend them all. It saddens me to see so many negative reviews. The only explanation I can muster up is maybe those reviewers are not aware that ramen IS traditionally salty. I'm not going to deny that my ramen has always been salty but it's also supposed to be, and on top of that saltiness is a great colorful blend of flavors that keeps me anything but bored with what I'm eating. The curry is curryful, the shiitake broth taste like shiitake and the tonkatsu is creamy and delicious. I would order that broth in a glass if it was acceptable. Did I forget to mention the pork belly and egg are cooked to perfection and the quantity is just perfect? Because I'm pretty sure I just did. The service is fantastic, to boot. My meal has always come in less than ten minutes, hot and ready to eat. The servers have always appeared exactly when I needed them and never when I didn't. My only complaint? Well, maybe that it's cash only, but then again so are a lot of places. This place eases that inconvenience by providing an ATM literally right next to the bar. This minor inconvenience does not diminish the quality of the food. I recommend Boxer Ramen. Based on other reviews, maybe it's not for everyone. I would argue that if you know what ramen is, then you'll enjoy it. Otherwise, yes, it's salty and delicious. Sorry about that?

    (5)

  • Denali H.

    Adorable and delicious! It's very lively and every time I go there with friends, it's always a great time. The staff is very patient and kind to us, even whe we don't have the cash needed and have to search out more money. The ramen is HEAVEN. The tots are the wings, drinks the hair, and the ramen the magic. It's a little expensive but it's totally worth it.

    (5)

  • yuki t.

    Overall experience was good, what you would expect from the man behind the idea, in one of a kind building, hip decor, and the simple menu! With a restaurant full of customers, the restaurant was quite loud.....but, you know, it's kind of New York that way. When comes to ramen, I don't try a new place with a high expectation. Maybe that's why, when I took the first sip of soup, I felt content. It was rich without being too salty. Although a bit too greasy for my taste, I sucked it up for those delicious pork slices which melted in my mouth. At least a generous amount of green onion helped refresh my taste buds. What was disappointing was the noodles. I am not talking about the volume here like some others. How can I say this.....it was boring. It lacked elasticity and flavor. Maybe it was intended to be that way so that we enjoy more of the broth? I hope it wasn't the case. I give ramen 3.25 star.

    (4)

  • Jason G.

    Well, let me be honest! I heard the buzz around the foodie networks, and succumbed to it. A new ramen joint! Noodles, broth, a good cup of Sake. Boxer is for the inexperienced, younger crowd that won't recognize manufactured noodles. The service attitude is marginal. You got me!

    (2)

  • Taka N.

    This ramen place was good. I ordered the tonkotsu. Reason I didn't yo give 5 stars is that the type of the noodle they use. I was not familiar of the thin noodle. That style may be came from different prefecture or their own original style. I was not crazy about it. But, so far I tested other a Ramen place. This is the good place to go. I want to try the spicy red miso Ramen.

    (4)

  • Adrienne S.

    I was really, really looking forward to this place opening. And I liked a lot of things about it. Turnover is really quick. The staff was awesome, really welcoming, helpful and friendly (a rarity in Portland hot spots). The location is great, and the decor simple, funky and fun. But...holy HELL. The tonkatsu shoyu and the spicy miso were both incredibly salty and overseasoned, and the Japanese pickle salad was drenched in dressing to the point where all the vegetables tasted pretty much the same. The pork in the tonkatsu tasted like it was hacked off a country ham (not a compliment). The poached egg was a horrifying, unappealing wad of boogery-textured goop. I'd really like to come back here but until the food gets a little better, I might be sticking to Biwa for my ramen and pickle needs.

    (3)

  • Michael C.

    Ok I had to try this place. I've been waiting for it to open up for months. So I pop in to get a bowl. It had all the required ingredients. The pork was a bit charred, which I like. I refer to it as american pork. The ramen noodles? I've had better. The soup was warm enough and I like the coziness of the shop. But I'll check back after a few months to see if it gets any better. And no credit cards? Really? Even the ice cream shop nearby used an ipad with Register.

    (2)

  • Melissa P.

    Fairly good ramen. Pricey. Will suit the craving if you are in the area or just feeling totally Portland hipster and need to be part of the crowd.

    (3)

  • Emad A.

    Curry Ramen was Extraordinary. For vegetarian or whose not eating pork I highly recommend it.

    (5)

  • Verna I.

    I was so excited to when i saw that this was coming near by and it might be able to replace my NYC Ippudo Ramen spot back home! Well at first things went well ,the staff was friendly and the food actually was good! But since going recently.. i not only sat there forever before she came to check (mind you it was in the middle of the day and not lunch rush) but the broth keeps changing-perfect -too salty and then oily! Ramen is an art and boxer hasn't gotten it worked out yet! I hoping they figure it out and i would be all means become a weekly regular. For now my Ramen hunt is on!! Happpy slurping

    (3)

  • Cesar d.

    Service was efficient. Quickly seated and welcomed. Instantly felt at home. Ordered Shiitake bowl. Noodles well cooked however soup base a bit salty. Much potential here. Will return but expect they will see room for improvement.

    (2)

  • Kibben M.

    Had the Tonkatsu ramen, really quite good. Is it the most authentic on the planet? No, but they do understand good ramen is about the blend of flavors... that they most definitely get right. Looking forward to trying the spicy. Not sure why the whining about portion size or cash only. There was plenty to the bowl, and if carrying around a Jackson is too much trouble when dining out, please do the world a favor and just stay home. Nice work, Boxer. Looking forward to visiting often

    (4)

  • Itzsa S.

    This is the real address: 1022 W Burnside St, Portland, Oregon 97209 Best place ever! Love this place; it's destined to be a popular place. Reasonably priced with amazing food. Cool atmosphere, though it's a tiny spot. Owner is a great guy.

    (5)

  • MK V.

    I enjoyed the food but mostly felt it was overpriced. The okinomiyaki tots are delicious but was basically just okinomiyaki sauce and bonito flakes. Spicy Miso ramen was delicious.

    (3)

  • Linda T.

    Small and very cute Asian inspired ramen restaurant. Went here for lunch. Had the Tonkotsu-Shio Ramen and it was pretty yummy. The broth was delicious. The ramen noodles were similar to ramen noodle packets and more on the al dente side (I like my ramen noodles kinda soft and to soak up flavor). The pork belly reminded me more of ham, which I'm not used to in ramen, but it did add its own character. My friends had the Spicy Red Miso Ramen and Vegetarian Curry Ramen. They both liked it. The Vegetarian Curry had a lot of goodies in it and looks more beautifully presented. We all shared the Okonomiyaki Tots and Greens & Sesame Salad. They both were delicious. My only gripe, there are no To-Go boxes :/

    (4)

  • Christopher B.

    From first glance, with a good (not amazing) menu and a great aesthetic, as well as a packed house, I thought I was in for a great bowl of ramen. And I was wrong. I had the tonkotsu-shio ramen. Uninspiring and bland broth, took a good amount of sambal and soy sauce to make it worth eating. The pork belly was basically a square slab of salty ham and not at all melt in your mouth, not the typical pork belly I am accustomed to. My friend had the spicy miso ramen. One note spicy and acidic broth that was just not good. Overwhelmingly disappointing. Overall, the food was of good quality, but was just not very good. This was my first ramen foray in Portland. I assume that there are better places. It has been a long time since I have been so disappointed by a restaurant.

    (2)

  • Alyssa B.

    Good! But not great. We came on a Monday evening to a mostly empty restaurant. Our happy go lucky server was with us right away. We were SOOO excited to try the tots, but they were not available. :-( this instantly impacted me in a negative way- as we came almost solely to try the tots. We ended up with the dumplings instead which were tasty, but nothing totally unique or exceptional. We both had the spicy miso ramen and while I found the flavors good, the broth was extremely fatty. I've been totally spoiled with Momofuku and Ippudo in NYC recently, so while this ramen was okay it came nowhere close to these ramen staples. Service was great and prices very reasonable, so for that reason I'd come back (and they better have the tots!! Lol)

    (3)

  • Nick P.

    Boxer Ramen, Boxer Ramen...What to say but that this place is a much needed addition to the noodle scene in Portland. Walking in, I was cheerfully greeted by a few employees and ushered to my seat at the bar amidst the chaos of the Friday night dinner rush. The deco is hip and modern, using light sandalwood and deviant art style chalk board design. A bit cutesy yet not removed from the Japanese integrity you would find on St. Marks Place in NY or a true ramen shop in Tokyo. THey are going for that young, metropolitan feel and accomplish it. I ordered a 25oz Kirin from their small-yet-suitable beer list, then ordered the Okonomiyaki tater tots, served with bonito flakes waving in the heat, and finally ordered the Tonkotsu broth ramen. The tots were very good to start. Their choice of sauces within the dish were superb. Not overbearingly sweet (which teriaki/bbq can be on starch) and not too goopy. I was left with some dry tots and the option to dip, mix etc. The hallmark of any great "nacho-style" appetizer. Served in a hot, cast-iron mini skillet and sprinkled with bonito fish flakes, the tots were both fun to look at and delicious. Personally I would have liked to see MORE on the small plates list. The choices were pretty narrow. Some edamame, maybe a hip-looking sashimi, maybe even a ramen "board" with smaller bowls for sampling. Boxer had some interesting items but I was left feeling like I wasn't getting what I wanted in that respect. THE RAMEN: So anyone who is serious about noodles knows that a good bowl starts with a good broth and the noodles for a $10.00 bowl of ramen should be house pulled. Boxer gets at least one of those right. The tonkotsu bone broth was a true treat but the noodles in my bowl were store bought. Folks, you have a RAMEN SHOP, please do yourselves justice and pull those delicious buckwheat noodles yourself. Even the (much famed)ramen shop in the Minneapolis airport pulls their own noodles. I repeat, the airport pulls their own noodles. Once I got past that though, the soup itself took flight. There aren't many veggies in Boxer's ramen, which is a problem if you consider ramen a "everything but the kitchen sink" dish, which most do. Usually even a Shio Ramen includes SOME Nori (seaweed) and/or some kind of fungus or bamboo. Floating in the bowl is also Boxer's choice of pork. Again, Tonkotsu Ramen usually contains MORE chashu (fired pork) than what I got. Typically the pork is also leaner than the think bacon-like slice I received in my bowl. At first I thought it was a "try our vegetarian options" kind of move, given that the ramen was good, but not as good as some of the absolutely wonderful FULL tonkotsu I have had in the past. It was walking the line of simple and empty. Above all, Boxer Ramen is a fun, light hearted experience. I wouldn't put it on par with many of the more authentic ramen shops I have visited, but I wouldn't be as scathing as some of these other reviewers. They have something good here, but it needs to grow for the food's sake. Boxer is the kind of place I would eat at every day if they had a higher quality soup and a few more options for small plates. At the end of the trip, my bill for two beers, an appetizer, and a bowl of ramen was $28.00 but I still ate later on that evening elsewhere. It didn't quite "do the job" that a big hefty bowl of pork ramen is known for doing. That said, I will be back to see how they improve.

    (3)

  • Christina R.

    I so wanted to like this place. In fact, I almost convinced myself I did. Initially, walking in I loved the "kawaii" decorations and the vibe of the place. It was also listed in a "best ramen" list, so I added it as a "must see" to my Portland trip. But, when the food was delivered, it just seemed a little...off? We started with the Okonomiyaki Tots, which reviews raved about. The flavor was just kind of weird and the tots were super crunchy and needed a pound of dipping sauce to be appetizing. They were kind of good when I dipped them in the ramen broth, but I ended up scraping most of the toppings off; not my favorite. I also was expecting more of an okonomiyaki flavor, maybe some egg or something, but it didn't remind me much of the dish and just tasted like bonito flakes. As for the ramen, I ordered the Spicy Red Miso. The broth is freaking delicious, but the meat is super smokey and just tasted kind of weird with the ramen and broth. I ended up eating them separate from each other. They also added little chunks of fatty pork belly, which was sometimes kind of good but also kind of disgusting when it was just a solid fat chunk. I really didn't like their noodles here. It was much whiter than the traditional egg noodles I'm used to and wasn't as chewy as I like. They don't let you take leftovers home so come hungry.

    (2)

  • Ken I.

    I had the tonkotsu-shio ramen. It was a little lacking. The noodle texture was off. Soup was pretty good. The pork belly was closer to thick cut bacon rather than something I would expect to find in ramen. The okonomiyaki on the other hand were really good. Tater tots were topped with sriracha mayo, okonomiyaki sauce, bonito, and nori. Would defiantly recommend picking up an order of these.

    (3)

  • M J.

    Consistently inconsistent. I work nearby, so come here out of convenience. At least my soup was hot today. Sometimes the soup is really noodley, sometimes not. The first time I had the spicy, it was awesome. The next time, it was crazy spicy. And, they raised their prices. Time to look for a new soup joint.

    (2)

  • Erica M.

    I never take time to write review on yelp. I also never send food back. Apparently tonight was the night for both of those things. On first glance this place looks very promising. The ramen came out quick which was nice. However it was luke warm... Ramen should not be Luke warm. My Bf and I both got the Shiitake-Shoyu Ramen. The Shiitake tasted mainly like soy sauce. The noodles were probably the worst ramen noodles I've ever had, very undercooked. I think that if the noodles were not so undercooked maybe it would have been a better experience. For the price, you might want to have a Ramen experience elsewhere.

    (2)

  • Joni W.

    Delicious ramen joint with perfect broth. Super salty! Service is friendly, decor is on point. Music can be a bit loud. Big portions, fair price.

    (5)

  • Eleyna C.

    After hearing so many people talk about it and it appearing in an article about "best ramen places" we just had to go and give it a try. I was pretty excited when we walked into the tiny restaurant seeing the interesting illustrations on the wall that made it cute. I was a bit disappointed that we couldn't see our ramen being made. Usually at ramen joints you get to see the manic happen. The menu is small so don't expect a wide variety of different kinds of ramen. I was disappointed that they were all pretty similar. Not much variety. I ordered the spicy miso ramen and it was a bit too salty for my liking. The noodles were all in a clump and kind of tough so I had to pull them apart with my chopsticks. On the other hand the okonomiyaki tots were amazing and probably the only reason why I would go back. Still not sure what all the huge hype was about.

    (3)

  • Adriana X.

    If you like salty ramen, then this is the place for you. The meat and noodles were overcooked. If you want decent ramen, check out Noraneko. Their pork belly is crazy good.

    (1)

  • Michael S.

    Ruh-row. I sure hope I find better ramen than this in Portland. After living in Japan for years and gaining a serious addiction to Japanese ramen, I don't think I can live without it ... or have the willingness to go through a 12 step program to try and live without ramen. Boxer Ramen keeps its menu simple offering 4 flavors of ramen ($10 each) and 3 sides ($5 or $6). The flavors are more fusion than Japanese. Tonkotsu-Shio Ramen ($10) is listed as tradtional Pork Broth with Pork Belly, Soft Poached Egg, and Scallions. The broth was a thin soup laced with a strange dose of Black Pepper (instead of Japanese White Pepper) while the Chashu Pork was Ham (seriously, it was chunks of salty ham) and not Japanese-style Braised Pork. Can't say I'm a fan of the Boxer Ramen Tonkotsu-Shio Ramen (2 stars). Okonomiyaki Tots ($6) were an interesting fusion take on traditional Tater Tots topped with Okonomi Sauce and Bonito Flakes, Togarashi Spice, and Nori (Seaweed). I love Okonomiyaki (both Hiroshima and Osaka styles) and love Tater Tots, but I'm not sure I love them together (3 stars). The hostess and server at the counter were nice and friendly ... so, I'm rounding Boxer Ramen up to 3 stars overall out of respect for their efforts.

    (3)

  • Joe M.

    This 'might' be decent ramen for Portland? I don't know. What I do know is that I won't be going back. No doubt there are a number of 20 yr old white dudes that can cook ramen like their master counterparts who have been doing it for decades... But it's not happening here. The decor his cool, if that's your thing.

    (2)

  • Christina H.

    for a party of 4, we ordered the Tarts, Tonkotsu-Shio and Red Spicy Miso Shio to share. What we liked: the broth and pork belly! Both broth are very good. The noodle, a bit too al dente to our taste, so, we gave it a so-so. We were so very looking forward to the tarts, but it's like regular tarts with Sirach-inspired sauce with bonito flakes. Overall, I am not disappointed, but I had better Ramen.

    (3)

  • Nina S.

    Cute ramen joint near Powell books but haven't had best authentic ramen noodles yet in Portland The broth is perfect amount of richness and spice but the noodles and toppings lack Value 3.5/4 Atmosphere 3.5/5 Service 3.5/5 a little slow Quality 3/5 13.5/20

    (3)

  • Kate N.

    I was a little doubtful about this place after some lukewarm reviews when it opened. I have to say, it seems like this place has grown into its own, because I love it! First and foremost, the ramen broth. The spicy miso was a taste bud delight. It is a well-balanced delight of spicy and savory. The pork tonkatsu is rich and creamy like what tonkatsu is supposed to be. Next, the noodles. I am pretty picky with ramen texture. This place is very good, but not one of the best that I've had. It still lacks the chewiness that defines ramen from other noodles. Still it was a very good portion of noodles. If you are a huge eater, you can pay another $2 for an extra portion when your broth runneth extra. We also ordered the tots. Hot bonito flakes are like the flambé of Japanese appetizers! It is so fun to watch them dance over the tots and their spicy sauce. This is comfort food and nothing too fancy. I whole heartedly recommend the Greens + Sesame. It is a bit salty, but the chard, crunchy pickled cabbage, buttery walnuts, sweet sesame, woody mushrooms and salty oyster sauce all hit.

    (5)

  • Robbin A.

    Decent ramen, but something was really weird and off about the kakuni...it wasn't as thick and rich as others I've had. It was more like really, really thick bacon - i.e., thicker than normal bacon, but too tough and nowhere near the thickness of kakuni. The interior is super cute, but I felt kind of awkward being surrounded by Asian-esque stuff, once again being the only actual Asian person in an Asian establishment. But of course, we all know that doesn't affect how the food should taste. The food...was okay. Okonomiyaki tots was what surprised me and made me willing to come here, but it was...just...cute. There seems to be a theme of really nicely decorated foods that just taste okay or even bland. What's up with that? Okonomiyaki isn't supposed to be bland. It's supposed to explode with flavor in your mouth and make you cry because it's basically all the things you like, FRIED. I mean, that's literally what it translates to. The ramen was also okay. The broth was the one thing that I found decent; usually it's what I stay away from in most ramen because it's never quite right. Noodles were pretty good, but again, the kakuni was questionable. I ate there, I had food, my stomach was like, "Cool, thanks for feeding me yo but come back at me when you have real ramen kthx" and I was all, "Sorry, stomach. Now let's get some Blue Star." and all was well. Again...what the hell was I even thinking, looking for Asian restaurants when I've lived in places that are renowned for doing it right? I have since learned my lesson.

    (2)

  • Danna L.

    Nothing to write home about. The food is ok - the broths are not developed enough as far as flavor profiles go and they kinda fall flat. We got everything on the menu - it was all just ok. Plus our food came out luke warm which I'm sorry but it's ramen, it's soup with a barely poached egg that is suppose to finish cooking in your broth. Needless to say that didn't happen

    (3)

  • Shannon T.

    I was more than thrilled to try this place after my friends raved about it. Quite frankly I don't see why people love it so much. I got the Shiitake shoyu and the broth was so salty that it's been 7 hours since the meal and I'm still dying of thirst. I much rather take that money and head over to Shigezo Izakaya. The Mochi was nothing like I had before. I loved the flavors but the Mochi was rather flat and had nothing interesting about it. It wasn't fluffy or had that melt-in-your-mouth affect. Lastly, the meal was over charged. I would only go back for the tots because it's a different experience. Besides that I would never consider going back here.

    (1)

  • Nick E.

    Now that we're well into autumn there are a lot of cold, wet, and windy days where there is nothing better for your soul than slurping down a bowl of hot broth and chewing on some noodles. The menu in this kawaii ramenya may be a little small (as it should be), but the idea is quality over quantity all the way. I've been here a handful of times and the food has been consistently good each visit. My favorite is the spicy miso pork broth. Extremely umami. The tonkatsu broth is a close second, and the shiitake shoyu my third. If you want to split an app i recommend the salad. The okonomi yaki tots are good too but i think the salad is superior. The place is maybe a little pricey if you decide to have a drink and an app with your ramen. But IMO all you need is a bowl of noodles and broth to fill your belly and reinvigorate your soul.

    (4)

  • George I.

    Food was delicious Awkward moments from service "we do not serve children" "We do not want people to take food to go"

    (3)

  • Meana K.

    * 3.5 stars* Boxer Ramen is a great place to come on a cold dreary day for a hot bowl of decent ramen. Not the best I've had, but consistently decent. They serve up a few types here and I've only had the first three: - tonkatsu shio (salty, fatty) - red miso (spicy) - shitaake shoyu (NOTE: not vegetarian, has pork!) - vegetarian curry (no pork!) The noodles here don't wow me in their texture but the broth is pretty tasty. I prefer the shio for its thicker savory broth.

    (3)

  • Brett P.

    I would recommend Boxer Ramen of you're around Stark and craving a steaming bowl of ramen. Having tried both the tonkatsu shio and spicy red miso during 2 different visits, I can say the quality of ramen seems to be consistent. The service was good and meals are prepared quickly (5 minutes or less for both my visits). I also like the ambience of this place - it is contemporary chic (hipster) with rad Japanese decorations. The reason why I am giving 4 stars instead of 5 is that their ramen is a bit too fusion for me. The tonkatsu shio has an incredibly smoky flavor - kinda like spam and the noodles aren't as amazing as you would get in an authentic Japanese joint. That being said, this place is good eats! Enjoy!

    (4)

  • Christina N.

    Not a spot I'd recommend for Ramen, my experience was only aighhhht. Whhhattta shame, I usually love me some ramen AND some pork belly, even more so when they're together! Throw in an egg too and that's prolly my ideal meal on any day. Their pork belly, was cooked so poorly, merely boiled? Not sure what the method was but it just wasn't doing it for me. The fatty part of the pork belly, which is enjoyable most when it has a nice crisp to it, was so soggy, literally just a squishy piece of pork fat, gross... little flavor too. Hard for me to say, cause it's sorta hard to go wrong with egg, but I couldn't appreciate the soft poached egg. Throw it over some english muffins, smother it in an egg yolk and butter concoction but don't put it in ramen... Thin noodles, that part was coo. Plentiful portion, though I didn't finish cause it wasn't very enjoyable. Broth was okay, until I left and tasted the flavor in my mouth for literally the next 4 hours -__-.

    (2)

  • Rachel B.

    So I liked this place a lot for a few reasons. It's quiet. Great location in my opinion. The flavor was awesome. It's not giant, so it wasn't overwhelming. The menu is to the point, I like having a few different options. Enough service. I was here 6pm on a Monday and most of the tables were filled, yet we had two people checking on us throughout the meal. With so few options, I imagine they have everything prepped real well, as we got our food within about 5 minutes. The not so good: I ordered a dish that was not specified as spicy. That was a bummer. It doesn't have a ton of seating so it might be busy on a weekend. The gyoza are 5$ for five. And ling ling pot stickers are better and cheaper. That should not happen at a ramen place. But I'd go back. At least once.

    (4)

  • Brandon T.

    Awe, Boxer Ramen, my kind of favorite cash only ramen place in Portland. Scratch that...formerly cash only, since their ATM is on the fritz they now accept the all mighty plastic! YES! No longer do I have to double check if I have enough dough in my wallet to cover an impromptu snack of Okonomiyaki tots or satisfy my thirst for bubble up on a hot day. But most of all, I won't feel like I'm being charged an extra 10% or so, whenever I forget to pick up cash before coming here for dinner, ATM fees be damned! Boxer Ramen you earn a star just for listening to your customers and adopting the modern convenience of a card swiper. Now, why did I like boxer ramen in the first place? Mostly the soft-boiled egg. It really is my favorite part of the spicy miso ramen dish because it adds a bit of creamy sweetness to an otherwise salty meal. But then again they do put very generous amounts of pork in each bowl and I really appreciate that. You see, a ramen experience can turn from exceptional to disappointing if you run out of meat too soon and at Boxer that will never be an issue. The only thing I could ask is that they include more pork belly instead of just filling the bowl up with tough and chewy bits. As for the broth, it is hit or miss....some days I choke at how unexpectedly spicy it is and other days I literally drink it all down like there is no tomorrow. The broth is always tasty but the spicy element seems to vary so be warned. I mentioned the Okonomiyaki tots earlier but that was mostly for dramatic effect. Truth be told I think they are a little gross, seeing as they're absolutely smothered in kewpie mayo and bonito flakes. I'm only a small fan of Okonomiyaki as it is so I am not the best customer to judge the tater tot adaptation. All in all, I have only had good experiences here and will definitely return in the future.

    (4)

  • Hana N.

    Hank you for playing Mac demarco. Also for all the delicious eats. Truly a beautiful experience, decent price and chill atmosphere. I could have just been with some badass mother fuckers that make my life bliss, but the place could have been a non awesome, slackin of service but it wasn't... Opposite to be exact. Super chill. Get it Get it.

    (5)

  • Anna K.

    Staying at the Ace across the street...and ok, decided to try this joint cause of the cute, slightly creepy drawings of kids on the wall i saw through the window. Plugged in the new Invisibilia episode (cause sorry/not sorry I'm eating alone :P) after ordering a Spicy Red Miso. It took all of five minutes for a hot steamy bowl of noodly goodness to arrive in front of my face, which I took an overly giant spoon of broth to. Super flavorful. My perfect kind of spice, the one where it's enough to give you a light runny nose but not where it sends you drinking water after every bite--you know? Chashu that's super tender with fat that melts in your tongue but tastes like smoky bacon. Oh, and a weirdly perfect poached egg. My egg yolk eating fiancé would kill me for putting it on the side.

    (5)

  • Amber M.

    The Tonkatsu broth had a creamy, savory texture and the noodles were very nice. The pork belly has a unique smoky flavor. I would definitely eat here again.

    (4)

  • Ahran J.

    My three stars means the flavor matches the price . Two stars because a bowl of ramen with barely any toppings was 10. The broth was good, but for that price i want some sprouts or nori or something. Ramen is supposed to be a cheap food. If you want to make it more expensive, add something to it to boost it above avg plz.

    (2)

  • Kelly F.

    Being half Japanese, my brother and I were excited to try out a ramen place in Portland. The restaurant itself is really hip - cool artwork and the interior is nice. But right as we walked in the air conditioning was on blast - which was so unnecessary. It was extremely cold. There's only four choices of ramen - all either $10-11, which is a super high price for below average ramen. The shoyu ramen was too peppery and too oily. My brother had the tonkatsu - this ramen was just insulting to real Japanese ramen. Expensive ramen, below average flavors, cold environment, absent waitress...if you just feel like sitting in a "hip" place and are down to pay $10 for top ramen, this is the place. Otherwise, if you're a true Japanese, this place is simply an American tourist attraction.

    (1)

  • Sarah S.

    We loved the atmosphere, music, friendly staff and of course the food! The traditional pork belly ramen was amazing and the pot stickers are a must try. I like that the menu is smaller, stick with the good stuff. The ramen dishes are reasonably priced for the quality and quantity, I couldn't even finish mine but it was so delicious!

    (5)

  • X O.

    This place is GOOD! I dig the simple menu and open atmosphere. Both the appetizers and entrees were tasty. The fried pot stickers and okonomiyaki tots were awesome, the tonkotsu-shio ramen was really good and the staff were cool. I highly recommend this place; it will not disappoint!

    (5)

  • Chris S.

    I felt the presentation was unique especially with the tater tots and the staff was extremely friendly. The taste of the ramen was quite mediocre though, and very bland. I most likely would not come back to be brutally honest.

    (2)

  • H. M.

    I've been here a several times and I've had all the ramen menus. My favorite is the least authentic one, vegetarian curry ramen. The broth is good. The ratio of soup and noodles is just about right. Noodle itself is just so-so, it's just like the store bought ramen. Today I had spicy miso and this will be my last time I have that as it was way too salty! It was sooo salty that I left most of the soup. There wasn't enough noodles either. For some reason, last time I had spicy miso was the same way. I wonder they put less noodles for spicy miso 'cause it got meat? Who knows?! Okonomiyaki tots are so-so. Okonomiyaki sauce is for Okonomiyaki, yakisoba, takoyaki, etc. NOT for potato tots! I prefer ketchup for tots! For calling themselves as a ramen shop, I expect a lot more. It is also pricey here. Ramen is a street food in Japan and really cheap. Here, you pay more than double. 11 bucks + tip... I don't think I ever paid that much for ramen in Japan, not even in Tokyo.

    (2)

  • Sarah A.

    We got the Vegetarian Curry---full of veggies, spice, noodles and HUGE--as well as the okonomiyaki tots (no bonito) and it was the perfect meal on a rainy grey day in Portland. The ambiance inside is super cool and cozy. I love Trish Grantham's work hanging throughout their space. I also really loved how relaxed and friendly our server was, she had blonde-ish hair, 20's, I think her name was Annette or Audrey or something adorable. Either way, just what I needed to fight the blues away. Thank you guys!

    (4)

  • May N.

    My first impressions when I came here was that it was super cute and I love the atmosphere. I ordered the tonkotsu ramen because I love pork broth but I was really disappointed in what I got. It wasn't authentic or what you would expect from Japanese ramen. Honestly the broth tasted like liquid bacon, super smoky, very salty, too much fat and pork belly bits, and the waiter didn't even know what bean sprouts were (which is ok but what ramen joint doesn't know what bean sprouts are?!). This ramen did not give me that warm feeling and satisfaction when I eat ramen and disappointed me so much that I probably won't come back. One star for that egg!

    (1)

  • Athena L.

    Ew, why do people think this place is good? I miss ramen SO much. It's definitely one of my favorite soups ever! and Boxer ramen does not do ramen justice. The broth is meh. Not very flavorful and somewhat watered down. The noodles tasted like instant noodles and the meat was the worst of all. IT WAS SOOOO CHEWY and THICK! Pork ramen should NOT be cut THAT thick! The pork should melt in your mouth and shouldn't resemble ham. The service was great and the restaurant itself was really cute. But if you want good ramen, go elsewhere. I'm still trying to find a place in Portland that serves decent ramen.

    (2)

  • Asuka S.

    Came here while visting portland, across from ace hotel, nothing special about the food but worth the try.

    (2)

  • Rachael K.

    Meh. It was okay. Could have been worse, could have been better. I ordered the shiitake shoyu. It was pretty to look at. A little salty but to be expected with shoyu. My husband had the tonkatsu shio and scarfed it so fast I didn't get a bite. We also had the tator tots but I wasn't a fan. In the middle of eating we read a sign that basically said they don't do take home boxes. Which is interesting. Luckily for me the portion is so small I finished it and left still hungry. No box needed. There are no high chairs. My 18 month old sat on the window seal/bench spot so it worked out. They aren't kid friendly and that's fine. I get it. The whole non conforming vibe is their thing. Now I know. I don't think I'll be going back. And I don't think they care.

    (2)

  • Terry L.

    This hole in the wall is so very Portland. It's a $10 bowl of ramen and some $5+ sides. The recommended ramen was shoyu and hot spicy miso. The shoyu mushroom was delish. The hot miso was a little too spicy, and this from a heat lover. Go with the shitake shoyu instead. The pot stickers and the totts are excellent. I would get each one. Sake is a very generous pour. I really liked the flavors and the food. My main annoyance was the heavy pounding base in the music. Maybe it's a way to make people eat faster? ! Overall, I would go back for the shitake shoyu and the totts. Food=5 Service=3 Atmosphere=3 Value=3

    (3)

  • Tilla L.

    Love the ambiance, and the ramen. I had the mushroom ramen and the broth was light and flavorful. The noodles were just perfect and the right texture, firm but not too soft. The only complain was that the shiitake mushroom itself was a little too salty for my taste. And there are only four flavor of ramen to choice from and there is no substitution, you get what you order. But other than that everything was delicious. Definitely, a must try if you are downtown!

    (4)

  • Anthony F.

    I think there are quite a few other places in Portland I'd rather go for ramen. Their chasiu is a bit unique that it has quite a bit of a smoky flavor. Not bad, not good either. The ice-cream mochi's are nice, just that not all flavors are available at all times. Only blueberry and root beer are available tonight.

    (3)

  • Missy M.

    Simple menu, right in the heart of the city on Stark and 11th. Loved that it was small. We got there at 1130 for lunch, were seated quickly, and by noon there was a wait. Food was great (colorful, rich, fresh) never felt rushed. I had the Spicy Ramen with Pork. I would order it again. It takes a while to eat a bowl of ramen so give yourself ample time, however the food is quick to arrive once ordered. Cozy, swift service and I felt hip.....I will return. Only reason I'm going 4 stars is there was no hot bevs which I thought would be perfect on blustery pdx days when I want a hot bowl of soup. Some green or black tea would be perfect. I had water.

    (4)

  • Allison P.

    I love this place. I've gone back a few times and was never disappointed. The tots are delicious but I recommend getting the sauce on the side of you can because it is a very overwhelming flavour and there is a lot of it. But the ramen is incredible. Perfect balance of flavours and I never want it to end but am always full at the end of it. It's a small space and there's almost always a long wait, they won't seat you until your whole party is there, so make sure nobody is lagging behind. Staff is friendly, cute decor, not too noisy It's got great for large parties or picky eaters. But if you love ramen and straightforward menu options, go for it.

    (4)

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Map

Opening Hours

  • Mon :11:00 am - 9:00pm

Specialities

  • Takes Reservations : No
    Delivery : No
    Take-out : No
    Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
    Good For : Lunch
    Parking : Street
    Bike Parking : Yes
    Good for Kids : Yes
    Good for Groups : No
    Attire : Casual
    Ambience : Hipster
    Noise Level : Average
    Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only
    Outdoor Seating : No
    Wi-Fi : No
    Has TV : No
    Waiter Service : Yes
    Caters : No

Boxer Ramen

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