Tampopo Menu

  • Sushi Menu
  • Special Roll
  • Roll Samplers $11
  • Roll For Two $19.50
  • New Sushi Menus
  • Sushi Party Platter
  • Donburi Rice Bowl
  • Bento Box
  • Noodles
  • Fresh Salad Bowl
  • Dumpling Bar
  • Side Dishes

Healthy Meal suggestions for Tampopo

  • Sushi Menu
  • Special Roll
  • Roll Samplers $11
  • Roll For Two $19.50
  • New Sushi Menus
  • Sushi Party Platter
  • Donburi Rice Bowl
  • Bento Box
  • Noodles
  • Fresh Salad Bowl
  • Dumpling Bar
  • Side Dishes

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  • Ellie W.

    When I lived in the neighborhood, I used to order delivery from here a lot. My favorite was their spicy chicken rice bowl, with brown rice and extra broccoli. Their kimchee and tofu bowl was good too. In general, their rice-bowls are good deals and seem very healthy, but I do recommend having soy sauce and siracha around for flavor. (I always ended up grabbing the soy sauce from my fridge to add more sauce to the rice and broccoli, but the chicken was always tender and well flavored.) The meal was very healthy for a last minute fast-food order. The chicken Yakitori is good too, and their udon soup is yummy (if you dine in). I almost always ordered their house salad or seaweed salad as a side. I stopped ordering sushi early on, because it was disappointing. Get the rice bowls, noodle bowls, and soup. I liked them!

    (4)
  • Lynda L.

    The Hot Stone Bulgogi is AMAZING!!! I've been to Tampopo maybe 5 times and every single time I had the hot stone bulgogi because I don't want to regret ordering something else when I could've had the hot stone bulgogi! Heard the Ramen noodles are pretty good too. The only reason I don't give it a 5-star is the price (I'd probably give it a 4.5) - even though not super expensive, maybe it's a bit more than other places ($~13 including tax). It tastes much better than what it looks like in the picture. The place itself is ok, nothing special. Service is friendly. If it were closer to my house, I would probably go to Tampopo more often!

    (4)
  • Secret V.

    Best place for inari in Philly, but I'd hoped that a hip little joint like this would make their dashi sans fish broth, but no dice.--all soups are fishy. Still plenty of veg options.

    (3)
  • Cristina P.

    Their dishes are very flavorful, specifically their beef bowl which is simply comprised of thinly sliced and well seasoned beef atop of a mound of rice. I also absolutely love their egg cake. These two dishes are my go to dishes. The bento box is also a sound choice giving you a nice arrangement of egg cake, salad, rice, your choice of meet and edamame. In terms of ambiance, nothing special. The seating can sometimes feel cramped especially when a group of friends are having a BYO. Speaking of BYO, I think it is a great choice to pick considering the fact that the food is good and reasonably priced. In terms of the service, they are neutral in the sense that they get you what you need, but there's not that much interaction. In other words, the host is not as personable as that of other places and I don't particularly like the fact that I have to serve myself my own water and throw out my own trash once I'm done. If I wanted to clean and serve myself water, I could have stayed at home....but that's just me. Otherwise, I enjoy Tampopo and recommend it.

    (4)
  • Aaron S.

    Tampopo is my go to place for take out. As someone who is trying to eat healthier, their offerings are more flavorful and healthier than a lot other Asian take out restaurants. I'm very fond of the Spicy Chicken rice bowl, the bi bim bap, and the bento boxes. If you want to make this a cute little date night, they are a BYO establishment. Notes: they are closed on Mondays and their sushi is a tad expensive for the serving size.

    (4)
  • Christine M.

    It was ok. Nothing spectacular. I had he rainbow roll and there was nothing wrong with it. It was huge, and the fish was ok. The rice was super good sweet sushi rice. We also had the gyoza. Again, nothing special. I've had those same gyoza at other restaurants. Overall it was ok. I wish the sushi menu was larger.

    (3)
  • Ceasar B.

    Food is okay. BYO. Pricey. Decor is tacky and unattractive. Convenient location.

    (3)
  • Chris T.

    First visit to Tampopo yesterday even though I lived in the area for years. I have been missing out. Great food, friendly relaxed atmosphere and a hit for vegetarians. Sushi rolls were delicious and the tofu bibimbob was amazing. Good portion sizes as well.

    (4)
  • Julia C.

    I still like this place and was really hungry for the dumplings and wanted to try the fresh salmon bibimbap. I went for a reasonably early dinner at 5:30 pm on a Wednesday and had a very peaceful, enjoyable meal. I LOVE the dumplings, always good. And the fresh salmon bibimbap was excellent. This bibimbap has interesting ingedients - healthy and delicious. I love avocado and root vegetables. I think this is really good bibimbap.

    (5)
  • Carole P.

    I've never been disappointed here. Although their food isn't amazing, it's good, and the service is always fast and pleasant. I like that it's not full of people with laptops. These customers are enjoying their food and conversations. I usually have non-sushi Japanese options (bento box, veggie rice bowl, great salad w/ginger dressing), but plan to try the bibimbop next time. I like their music too.

    (4)
  • Andrea S.

    Their Bibimbop and other bowl food is really good. Don't waste your time with the sushi, though, it's not the best.

    (4)
  • Carol H.

    Hrmm. Not sure if this place is just japanese/asian inspired, but it didn't hit the mark. I got the chicken katsu-don, and it was essentially just 5 pieces of breaded chicken on a bed of rice. Not really worth $7.50. Maybe more like $4.50. The rice was mushy and very bland. I only ate half and doused the leftovers with soy sauce when I got home. The prices seem a little high for me considering the food is quite sub-par (Ramen is $8.50!? Udon is $7.50? No thanks).

    (2)
  • Jon Z.

    I have been on the hunt for an authentic Japanese ramen place in philly and there aren't many if any. Tampopo is NOT the place for authentic Japanese ramen. The broth is spicy, true, but is lacking in flavor. It also packs too much of a salty tast for ramen fans. The noodles they use seem to be the kind you get from a Chinese supermarket (dried, filled with preservaties, make in 2006 but good til 2012 style). Japanese ramen should not have a big handful of bean spouts to overwhelm the other ingredients. To top it off, my ramen was missing the pork and I had to go back to the counter to request it. Can't comment on their other items but I may come back for some of their korean dishes.

    (2)
  • Lenny Z.

    After coming back from the zoo, our friend's raved about Tampopo, so we decided to give it a go. My wife I and I both got bento boxes. They were okay. I had the Pork Katsu. The pork was friend well. With it was a potato croquette, or something of the sort. It tasted pretty good. I got the egg cake on the side, which was alright as well. And, all the bento boxes come with edamame. I'm not sure how anyone can mess that up, and they did not go where no man has gone before. My wife got the spicy chicken with brocolli. She liked it. The chicken wasn't really that spicy. This might have worked for most people, since they often don't really want it spicy even when they ask for it. But my wife loves her food real spicy, so she hardly noticed its so called spiciness. We also got some shrimp shumai to share. This was pretty much perfect. I could have eaten this for my whole meal it was so good. My biggest disappointment is their lack of a decent sushi menu. They have limited options and no sushi deal, like a Sushi regular or Sushi deluxe deal that comes with a number of different pieces of sushi. I might go back, but certainly not if I am in the mood for sushi.

    (3)
  • Dave H.

    Met friends at this Tampopo for a late lunch (to which I was late for). Unsurprisingly, the place was empty save for two tables. Much like their state of affairs, the interior is simple, naturally-lit, with austere wooden stools. At the counter, I wished for (and paid $8.50 for) a bowl of Tampopo ramen and received a buzzer. When it lit up and made noise, I ran to the counter for my ramen. Tampopo's ramen was a welcome afternoon snack. The noodles were okay, yielding, with a little heft. There was a good amount of meat, sweet and tangy, and an egg added flavor. Not sure if you can set the broth's heat level - I didn't specify - but it was slightly spicy. (Most normal people will cough after their first sip.) When we were done, we cleared our table, placing plates and silverware in handily-labeled rubbish bins. Those new to ramen will enjoy Tampopo's interpretation of ramen, but all others should leave high expectations at home. For sure, my meal didn't suppress my noodle-y ramen cravings, but their menu is intriguing enough to warrant future visits.

    (3)
  • Shilpa B.

    The spicy chicken rice bowl and the bibimbap with egg and beef are yummy. Nothing extraordinary, but a good, satisfying, quick meal at a decent price. I like that you can substitute brown rice in your dish. The place was full of Penn students when we went to eat, at around 7:30 on a Friday night.

    (4)
  • Jeff B.

    Nonetheless, this Philadelphia restaurant, Tampopo "Tampono," is sort of far from the UPenn campus, but I argue that the walk is worth it. You can take a taxi/cab if you are lazy as fuck. I have the phone numbers to several taxi companies in Philadelphia. Let me know through a personal message if you need one of their numbers. I used to be a club promoter in Philadelphia so I know my way around. We each got the Donburi Rice Bowl, which comes out screaming hot. The egg inside is like half-raw but then you mix that jaunt into the rest of the bowl and then the egg becomes cooked. Magic. This place also has sushi. Don't get sushi though. Pay attention to me and get the Donburi rice bowl.

    (3)
  • Vivian H.

    I got the bibimbap and it is pretty darn good, but I found the sauce that came with it to be way too salty (thank god it was on the side). They can serve it in a stone bowl too if you're feeling extra fancy and want to spent an extra few dollars. Their curry tastes like it came from those Japanese curry bars from the Asian market, but I don't know how you'd make curry otherwise so I guess this is okay... my boyfriend liked it a lot more than I did. Their service is fast, the staff is friendly, but the place seems kind of cold.. maybe because it's kind of empty and quiet and clean. That may sound great to you though. Also, they have brown rice, yay!. Prices are lower than at Koreana (and you also don't have to tip). It's a little out of the way for university city, so the customers are mostly locals, whereas Koreana is mostly students.

    (3)
  • Joanne T.

    My second go round here was due to my bibimbob craving. Thank goodness my dinner was delicious. Only negative was i forgot to ask if i was able to get my order on the hot plate. I ordered the special for the day, salmon bibimbob with a side of inari. It was kinda like a california bowl because it included avocados. I've never had inari before and i really enjoyed it. I guess because i love anything with vinegar. There's much to say about coming here for my bibimbob and not even stoping by the lil pop shop. Dinner was delicious.

    (3)
  • Stacy B.

    I love Tampopo. I come here primarily for the Spicy Tofu Bento box (awesome!) though I have had one of the noodle bowls (just eh) before, and an order of Inari (ok). The Bento Box at only $8 for the Tofu/Spicy Tofu includea a choice of brown or white rice, edamame, a choice of vegetable and an amazing salad with the most delicious miso dressing. It always leaves me feeling quite satisfied and euphoric even. I am interested in ordering some of their sushi but I just love the bento box so much that it's been hard to convince myself to stray from it. The counter-style ordering makes this a great lunch spot, but you have to be careful because they are closed in between lunch and dinner and also on Mondays. There have been multiple times that I've been excited to go there only to realize (as I'm at their doorstep) that it's closed. Pros: Price, menu variety, convenience, taste, friendly service, atmosphere, nice bathrooms, self serve water dispenser Cons: some of the food may be hit or miss, there's a $10 minimum to use a credit/debit card, closed Mondays and in between lunch/dinner.

    (4)
  • Ruchi G.

    First of all, how amazing is this location? Considering what it's surrounded by, pretty amazing. You can go to Tampopo for a nice dinner, then Lil Pop Shop for dessert, then Local 44 for a beer. Perfection. On many a summer night, this is exactly what I do. I visit Tampopo for a Chicken Bi-Bim-Bap, with a fried egg and brown rice. Never ever ever have I been disappointed by the food quality of this dish--succulent rice, deliciously runny egg, steaming veggies, tender chicken, and spicy tangy sauce. SO good. The price at 8.00 is only justified by how filling and yummy the food is, especially considering Koreana's same dish wasn't so delicious in my opinion. The sushi is meh, sad to say. I wasn't overly impressed by it when I visited. And the egg cake was also sort of tepid, not so good. But getting my faves is awesome.

    (4)
  • Danny L.

    After reading all of the less than enthusiastic reviews for this place, my initial excitement from discovering how close this place is to me dwindled. At first glance Tampopo3 isn't anything impressive, its kinda located in the middle of nowhere on a random street in West Philly. The decor is plain and simple. If people are expecting great service and elaborate/intricate decor then they are going to be disappointed. This place is about a step up from a food vending machine. You order, pay, eat, and leave. Since I was craving Japanese and all of the other Japanese places in West Philly suck, I decided to make the trip. I ordered the Curry Katsu and it was surprisingly good. The curry tasted a bit generic, but not exactly bad, the katsu was fresh and crunchy and seasoned a lot better than other places I have been to. It was kind of expensive at 8 dollars a bowl, but it is a nice change of pace from the usual fare offered in that area.

    (4)
  • Kimberly H.

    I stopped in tonight for sushi. For 3 sushi rolls and the pork kimchi it was $42, a price I thought was a little high but all in all it was ok.

    (3)
  • Michelle C.

    A haiku. Bibimbap, j'adore. I love your mixed eggy-ness. Oh, my God. Yes, please.

    (4)
  • Danan R.

    Okay ramen and not very good sushi. Come here only if you are not very picky about your ramen. Skip the rolls and fish.

    (2)
  • Kristan O.

    Take out order of Hot spicy beef bowl, Bi bim bob w/chicken & egg, brown rice, pork gyoza, and veggie spring roll. Order was ready in 10 mins. HOT HOT, even after my 10 min walk home in the colder windy weather. The Bi Bim bob had a spicy delicious sauce (my companion HAD to clean the container it was so good.) Had some good veggies: carrots, cucumber, sea weed. Hot spicy beef bowl tasted spicier when it was very warm, as it cooled it was not as spicy though still had a good flavor. Devouring the spring rolls and gyoza was inevitable. I was famished and their wonderful flavor hit the spot! Spring rolls were still crispy after my walk. Overall the food was flavorful, filling and relatively healthy. Credit Card accepted with minimum purchase.

    (4)
  • Wesley C.

    I think Tampopo tries to create a mix of asian bento box, noodle soup house, with asian fusion flare. We've been here a couple times - have tried the udon, the tampopo house special spicy noodle soup, sushi, and a few other things. Overall, the udon was probably the best out of everything we've tried. The noodles are chewy, the broth is tasty, and you can get it with shrimp tempura which comes out decently crispy (as long as you don't let it soak in the soup too long). T he tampopo house special noodle soup packs some kick, but the broth doesn't seem to be nearly as flavorful as the udon broth. We tried one of their "special" fried chicken sweet-n-sour looking thing - was unfortunately a little let down - just kinda tasted like faux-chinese orange/sweet-n-sour chicken. It's not too far away from where we live in University City, and it's not a bad option, if you're in the mood for some quick/accessible chinese/korean/japanese food - but if you're really looking for some GOOD chinese food - just make the trek to chinatown.

    (3)
  • Alan A.

    Didn't live up to the hype. I decided to grab one of their rice bowls per the recommendations of reviewers and one of my friends. Suffice to say, I was sorely disappointed. The meat was great - seasoned, marinated, grilled very well. The rest - not so much. My bowl was served to me with a simple scoop of brown rice and two pieces of plain, cold broccoli. While the portion was plentiful, the quality was subpar. If I'm shelling out $7.50 for a dish, I expect for there to be something far better than I could have done at home. I will not be returning here again.

    (1)
  • Gib B.

    I love Eel don there and Rolls also delicious. Ytd, I tried Yakisoba.... it was so good :)

    (4)
  • Anne K.

    This place has a really similar premise to Koreana (you order and pay first, wait for your food, eat, and then bus your own table). I was super excited to see Japanese ramen on their menu - the real kind with pork or miso broth and a half-boiled egg, not the instant noodle kind - because there aren't many (if any) ramen-ya restaurants in Philly. Tampopo's ramen tries hard but it's not a winner. I had the spicy ramen and the broth was more peppery if anything, but somehow lacked flavor at the same time. The noodles looked like instant ramen noodles (sigh) and kind of tasted like them too. They piled a ton of bean sprouts and green onion on top of the ramen (which I would normally love), but somehow it was still quite bland. One thing that I was happy with was my half-boiled egg, but my friend's egg was overcooked. I think I'll come back to try their rice bowls, but my search for good ramen in Philly continues.

    (2)
  • Lauren C.

    Maybe they spell it "bi-bim-bob" because it's not bibimbap. It's a pile of raw vegetables (mostly cabbage) with some warm rice and sauce. Call me crazy, but aren't the vegetables in bibimbap supposed to be sauteed? My meal tasted (quite literally) like a bag of premade salad with a spicy dressing. The other food I've tried (sushi, bento boxes, dumplings) have all been average at best. The ambiance is depressing (which effectively negates the perk of their being BYO) and the prices are high. To be fair, there are redeeming factors. The staff is friendly, brown rice is available for no extra charge, they deliver, and they're one of the few places in the neighborhood for truly healthy take-out. I just wish the food was better.

    (2)
  • Ernest S.

    Had the ramen here today. It wasn't horrible, but it definitely fell below average. Sadly, there are so few options for ramen in the city, that I might come back if I was in the area. But that's highly unlikely.

    (2)
  • Butch S.

    I have had the spicy tofu bento box with brown rice and broccoli here about 100x and it is always delicious and perfectly prepared.

    (5)
  • Schuyler L.

    Tampopo has unique dishes, but they're so unique I have trouble ordering. It's never taken me longer to order than when I look at the Tampopo menu. The following words (found on the menu) do not even conjure an inkling of a known word in my vocabulary: katsu, gyu, unagi, bibimbob, yakisoba, japchae, and donburi. More pictures on the menu would help draw more customers who are anxious about trying new food and ordering new dishes. I know it's been a barrier for me in the past. Menu aside, Tampopo has some of the healthiest freshest food in West Philly. It always leaves me feeling refreshed and ready to do stuff instead of tiring me out and making me feel like a blob. I had the sushi a while ago and remember it being very good. Fresh fish, not too much rice, and so on. Today I had the Curry Chicken Katsu. It had curry potatoes and carrots with onions over breaded fried chicken over a lot of rice. At Tampopo you always have a choice of white or brown rice. It was only slightly spicy and a little unhealthy, but overall very satisfying. And overall a place that leads me to think that women enjoy it more than men.

    (4)
  • Zoe P.

    Not spectacular, not terrible. Pretty average but I live super close so it's convenient.

    (3)
  • Alexis J.

    I go tot this place whenever I'm craving sushi. Their sushi is fresh and decent-tasting. Its sushi is definitely cheaper than a lot of sushi places, but definitely still not cheap (approx. $6 for a 6-piece California or tuna roll all the way to $15 for a fancy, tastier roll). I swear they used to be cheaper when the first opened a couple years ago, so it is kind of disappointing. Their miso soup is delicious and their $9 bento box will stuff you full. Also, keep in mind that you have to clear your own table and get your own water from the cooler, so its not a super fancy place. Good for a craving, but it won't impress people.

    (3)
  • Elizabeth P.

    Would have given 4 stars If I were a non-korean; 3 stars given because I am korean. haha. To explain, the food here is decently priced & there really isn't anything wrong with the dish -- in fact, I think it's pretty darn tasty for what it is -- so I would have given this place four stars... BUT! here's the catch. Because I know how real Korean food tastes like, the slight alteration (perhaps an american fusion twist of sort?) which may include an addition of an ingredient or two, makes it taste kinda... cheesy (no not literally cheesy but weird, eh, it's alright but odd kinda cheesy lol). For example, they have a dish called Tuna (or Salmon) bibimbap. Koreans wouldn't normally add mayo as part of the sauce but I think they do here. Another example, their Kimchi Tofu dish is like a stir fry of a lot of red pepper paste and sugar or something. I don't know. It's definitely a fusion of... something. I would know because I tend to do the same when I'm trying to cook korean food at home and have nonkorean ingredients in my fridge. Anyway, that's why I give this place 3 stars. It may be an unfair rating for some, but considering where I come from... I can't help but give it 3 stars... Also, please note that I haven't mentioned anything about their sushi because I haven't tried them. The 3 stars is really just for their korean part of their menu!

    (3)
  • Yiwen S.

    i live two blocks from this tampopo location so this is my go-to destination for some yummy asian food. for a west philly asian restaurant, this place is relatively good. it's not the cheapest, but for the quality of the food, i'll willingly pay a couple extra bucks. i love getting the unagi bowl here (eel). it's one of those things i can't cook for myself so i always get it when i see it on the menu. and the unagi is fantastic here. i've also tried the bento with salmon teriyaki and the udon. both are consistently good, but nothing special, and the portions are a tad on the small side for what it costs. i like that its mostly self-serve, so you get your own water and you clear your own dishes at the end of the meal. it means i don't have to pay extra for tip and saving money is always a top priority. i will say one thing though. i had sushi from this place last week and it was terrible. there isn't a single restaurant in west philly that serves good sushi, i swear. and no, california roll is not real sushi. at least serve nigiri if you're going to serve sushi, not just some crappy maki rolls.

    (3)
  • Katie P.

    After a successful thriftin' expedition , I decided it was time to try bibimbap ( hot stone ) some where other than Giwa. I have only eaten at Tampopo 3 one other time - to try their ramen noodle soup with pork ( tasty). My second time for bibimbap was good, not great. I like the way they presented my bibimbag with a raw egg on top that cooked as the bowl steamed and sputtered. The sauce on the side which I mixed in was good but Giwa 's sauce is better. When I got to the climax of my dish ( the crispy rice on the bottom), it just wasn't as good as Giwa ( maybe they use a different oil in the bowl. It was decent bibimbap but it wasn't orgasmic like Giwa. Service is also kind of lacking here. The people seemed very happy at Giwa and made me feel comfortable there. Also because this is University City, parking is tough. I had to park 3 blocks away.

    (3)
  • Abby I.

    Ahahaha...the ramen. But then again I'm comparing it to Ippudo (NY) and Kintaro (Vancouver). Yep...hahahaha... But the people working there are very welcoming and nice!!

    (3)
  • Bill M.

    When a place that's known for it's sushi moves into a location that has been desperately in need of a good sushi place like West Philly, you'd think that sushi would be the first thing that they would push on their menu. But the fact that it took close to three months for them to offer it is just astoundingly foolish. And overall it's choices like that which make it hard for me to rally behind Tampopo to the fullest. Josh F. is right on about the cafeteria style mentality being pretty awful. And that's why I usually stick with takeout and either waiting outside, or in Local 44 over a quick brew. Upon first trying the sushi (Philly roll and spicy tuna) I found it to just be slightly better than grocery store quality, and not exactly worth the price tag. The hot and spicy beef don that I picked up was just decent, and the shrimp shumai was pretty bland. When it comes down to it the West Philly version needs a bit of work. But considering the reviews for the flagship store, it looks like it could get that way with age.

    (3)
  • Julie H.

    Tampopo was very clean and the service was attentive and friendly. I ordered the spicy beef bowl, which was delicious although it could've had a little less rice in exchange for a little more meat. No one in my party ordered the sushi so I have no comment on that area, but all the hot dishes that we ordered were great, especially for the price. The green tea ice cream was probably my only downside to my otherwise fabulous meal - it was a little steep on the price and not very sweet...should've saved room for Sprinkles' froyo instead. I would highly recommend this place for anyone that is looking for a nice, casual meal that doesn't blow away a week's paycheck!

    (4)
  • David G.

    I decided to come here for lunch one lazy Saturday. The waitress at the counter was very friendly and helpful, and the restaurant conveniently has two lists of their most popular entrees and sushi rolls. I ordered the second most popular entree (since I don't care for bibimbap) and the most popular roll, and then sat down to eat. APPETIZER: The sushi roll, the west side roll, was okay. There was an oddly ketchup-esque taste to it, which was strange because I don't think ketchup is an ingredient (and I wouldn't have ordered it if it was). It's supposed to be a spicy tuna roll with avocado, crunch, and sauces, but there was little heat to it, and there wasn't much crunch either. There was a sweetness to the tuna that I liked, and the rice was cooked fine, but I don't feel I got what the menu promised. It was inoffensive, but not great. ENTREE: The spicy chicken breast rice bowl was really good. The chicken was sweet and spicy with just the right amount of heat, and the rice was cooked perfectly. Nicely done. The sushi was a low 3-star dish, and the entree was a mid 4-star. On average, a high 3-star. i'll probably come again -- good service, good chicken and rice, and a friendly-feeling restaurant -- but I'll likely try a different sushi roll next time.

    (3)
  • Priya J.

    As a long-term resident of West Philly, I cheered Tampopo's opening on what was then a pretty uninteresting block. To everybody's delight, the block is now wonderful with Honest Tom's, the L'il Pop Shop, and Local 44. Tampopo, once cheered, is a real anomaly, and we're aghast that the owners do not get it. The food is over salted and lackluster. We often go there under duress (Tom's is closed, Mizu is too far to walk). The ramen is mediocre; the bento boxes seem to be leftovers. And above all, the ladies who take orders are ATROCIOUS. They're surly, downright rude (remember, I've been going there since it opened, and the service is predictably HORRENDOUS), and the staff seem actively to despise their customers. That these counter personnel are in their 20s and native speakers makes one wonder what their gripe is. This is a friendly 'hood that supports its restaurants. So, Tampopo: do try harder to be NICE (friendly, helpful, welcoming). Work on the food (fresher, tastier, less salt and MSG, maybe). It's good for the soul. It's good for business. And do visit a few of the neighborhood restaurants to see how to do it better.

    (1)
  • Rob S.

    No it's not the best sushi/Japanese food I've ever had, but I do like their no frills inexpensive approach to serving this cuisine. You order at a counter and can seat yourself, plus it's BYOB! Service was friendly. My girlfriend and I shared the "diamond roll" ($11) - 6 pieces each of spicy tuna and avocado sushi - and the vegetable and fried egg bi-bim-bob ($7.50). The rolls were small, perhaps not worth the expense, but tasty. The "BBB" was affordable and aesthetically presented. It comes with your choice of white or brown rice (though they were out of brown at the late hour we went), bok choy, carrots, zucchini, etc. and the fried egg. It is served with a sweet/hot sauce that went well with it. Overall, though I thought the sushi was a little expensive for what you get, I would return to try other items.

    (4)
  • Jake B.

    Tampopo is Japanese for "dandelion," which actually makes perfect sense since compared to any other respectable noodle joint in the city, this place is a gaudy weed. The menu is incredibly bland, unadventureous, and uninteresting. I ordered the boldest thing on the menu I could find, which was the Tampopo spicy ramen. It was overcooked, overspiced, and definitely overpriced. You would think that the only dish named after the establishment would be a crowd pleaser. I mean, they put their name on it! I hope you like white rice, because that's exactly the type of bland gaijin customers and staff you'll find here. Eating sushi does not make you an honorary Asian. The very least you could do is to learn how to use chopsticks instead of acting so indignant when you don't immediately receive a knife and fork with your meal. I can understand the appeal though. It's a safe choice to eat if you're a smug west philly yuppie looking for some trendy Asian fusion cuisine. Just don't ever call it an authentic cultural experience... especially when it's barely edible.

    (1)
  • Robyn H.

    Are you effing KIDDING ME? $10.00 for a dry ass piece of salmon, a sprinkling of rice and 2 pieces of broccoli???? I feel like I've been HAD. Seriously!!! Worse than that, they charged me almost $3.00 for a bottle of tea that should have cost me no more than $1.50. Wish I had read the reviews before I wasted my hard-earned money!!! To top it off, I am STILL HUNGRY!!!! I should have gone to Pei Wei. On my way to McDonald's right now. SMDH. Stay away from this place.

    (1)
  • Larissa M.

    Actual conversation between my boyfriend and I, upon our first visit to Tampopo. Dashing young man: "This place could use some...character." Hilarious young lass: "So could the food." This place is very ... beige. The staff are nice, the walls are sparse, it was affordable, but the food was just 'eh'. I found the miso soup to be terribly bland, like it came from a cardboard container, or was made of one. The pan fried pork dumplings were by far the best thing we ordered. The rolls were assembled nicely but one was overly salty (and I love salt) the other two tasted not unlike the cardboard soup. At one point I contemplated putting two rolls in mouth at once to see if I could split the salty difference. I did not. While the self-serve layout certainly helps keep the cost low, the design of the tray return/water jug/recycling bin/whatever else I may have missed was a little convoluted. I might like to try the bibimbap if I ever go back to see if their Korean dishes are any better than the Japanese ones but beyond that I can't see ever CRAVING this place. It might be a 'one and done' experience. However, to their credit it is a vast improvement on the block and if other people like it I do hope it sticks around.

    (3)
  • Emily A.

    Love the egg cake, and veggie steamed dumplings. Seating can be cramped at times. Staff is friendly.

    (4)
  • Christine L.

    I live right next to this place, so I'll preface by admitting that I'm a little biased-- I always end up ordering out from Tampopo to cheer up a bad day. Spicy chicken bowl is amazing, hands down the best thing on their menu. Don't ever get the normal chicken bowl-- it's basically chicken breast strips with rice and one broccoli. I love udon and I order it every time, even though Tampopo definitely doesn't have the best udon I've ever had. Boyfriend really likes the yakisoba with a little bit of sriracha. Rolls are fresh; the simple rolls are adequate and we rarely get the special rolls as they're definitely overpriced. Everyone should try the West Side roll at least once though, melts in your mouth.

    (4)
  • Melissa W.

    The food here is extremely mediocre. What's worse-than-mediocre are the high prices for small portions of this mediocre food. This would be expected at a fancy establishment, but this is far from a gourmet restaurant: the setup here is more like an Asian fast food place. Also, if you order something like chicken teriyaki, they throw in a single bonus piece of broccoli. Is it garnish? Am I supposed to eat it? Why isn't there more? What a tease. We like to call this place Tam-poop-o.

    (2)
  • Kyle Z.

    I love the salmon bento box in here, it is one of the most delicious food I have eaten in my life so far. However, I think the price in this restaurant is tooooo high, so it cannot be accepted by most publics. Inari is also good with some hot sauces.

    (4)
  • Maya Y.

    I find this to be one of the few food establishments in West Philadelphia that offers a variety of edible dishes at reasonable prices (albeit this is no McDonald's). I am a first-generation Japanese American and I've lived in Japan, so I think I am a credible source when it comes to recommending Japanese restaurants. True, as some other reviewers have said, this place isn't authentically Japanese or Korean. It doesn't claim to be authentic - it's a "fusion" of Japanese and Korean foods. Moyashi, or bean sprouts, are a commonly used item in ramen, so I don't find it unusual that it "overwhelmed" the ramen; the only problem I could foresee is using too much (since this would cheapen the dish and make it seem like the store is trying to cheat you out of meat) or overcooking it, since overcooked bean sprouts are a culinary faux-pas. I've ordered the spicy ramen, and though lacking in flavor, I found it to be passable. The spiciness gives a strange after taste, but the broth would be bland otherwise. The pork slice was pretty good and the sliced egg and greens that accompanied it weren't overcooked, so that's a plus. The soba salad with ginger dressing is a nice light dish I often order, especially since it is summer now. I also like the spicy tuna roll and salmon roll on the sushi menu. I don't like Californian rolls very much because I'm not a huge fan of raw avocado (somehow I only like it as a paste in guacamole), which is why I opt for the two rolls I mentioned above, which come with just cucumber. The rice isn't too mushy (this is the problem that most sushi houses have) and is adequately firm. The fried gyoza and grilled gyoza are also acceptable and they come in three kinds: shrimp, pork, or veggie. I recommend pork. The place is self-serve for the most part, except a waitress usually brings your food to the table on a tray if you eat in - during busier hours you get a buzzer for your food. The bibimbap is not too tasty but I didn't get the hot clay pot kind, which may be better. The bento boxes are also acceptable but are overwhelmed with "filler" items such as edamame pieces which were probably frozen and cost next to nothing to prepare. I also find it somewhat insulting that one of the items in the box was a softened piece of carrot - be a little more creative and put a little more effort in, please! The bottled teas are authentically Japanese (they are presumably manufactured in a Japanese food factory in L.A. and shipped over here) though on the pricey end. The water in the self-serve tub is lukewarm and not cold, but it's complimentary. I haven't had the dessert here, but they only offer one item: green tea ice cream. Would I go back? Yes, since I find very few (read: no) other good Japanese restaurants in West Philly. Again, I emphasize the operative word here: EDIBLE. Service: B Taste: B Tata!

    (3)
  • Shardule S.

    GOOD: *Good food quality (I am a vegan and my friend eats anything :-D...we both agreed) *Price is reasonable *Location is right next to my house NOT-SO-GOOD: *A casual style setting with a restaurant-style length wait for food *$15 credit card minimum = boo Summary: Great place to grab a bite. Can't comment on 'authenticity' but everything was definitely 'nice'; portions, service, etc.

    (4)
  • Vsssh P.

    First thing I had to use the men's room and it was clean and well kept I couldn't decide what to get So got a donburi rice bowl spicy chicken and bento box with spicy chicken Never had either before but watch too many Japanese cartoons and manga so wanted to get it You seat yourself and order at counter Friendly and helpful front desk person They Use plastic reusable cups for water from water fountain apparatus which is what I like so don't have to keep waiting for someone to refill your cup Food came out relatively fast And looked amazing and it was really good tasting the portions were huge and you get all these veggies with your food so it was very filling Best part: They serve brown rice which i love with my meat overall good experience and worth the price The food came out pretty fast and honestly i hate waiting for food If you bring your own bowl you get 50 cents off on the donburi - something about being green or something dunno I will definitely go back to this place and recommend it to people

    (4)
  • Megan Y.

    First off, I had never had Japanese food before coming here. When my friends and I moved to West Philly, we decided to try it, since we could walk there. So good! They also deliver, which is awesome. It's a $20 minimum, but my husband and I will each get a bento box and maybe some green tea ice cream or extra rice and that does the trick. It's generally very quiet there as well, so if you need a study spot, it's perfect.

    (5)
  • Devon L.

    oooh i love the sushi here! I haven't tried anything else here so I can't comment on their "Korean" side... but the sushi was great! I've tried a good number of rolls and enjoyed every single one of them. i will be back for more so stay tuned...

    (4)
  • JJ S.

    I hate to be giving Tampopo a two star review as I'm a long time customer at the one on 21st st., BUT... I just had the "Salmon Don" rice bowl from the 44th St location and it was like eating airplane food! The whole thing had obviously been stuck in a microwave - that was the mode of cooking! The salmon, which had absolutely no sauce or flavor of any kind on it, was dry as an old boot, there were a few pieces of mushy microwaved broccoli, one baby carrot, and an extremely hot microwaved lemon wedge. All this over white rice - with no sauce to be seen. AWFUL! If I hadn't gotten it to go, I definitely wouldn't have paid for it. I still love the spicy tofu, so maybe I'll just stick to that. I really loved that this location opened up here but I don't think that the watchful eye of the (very nice) owner has been here enough. I'm pretty sad about the whole thing. Hopefully he will be able to step in and make this what it should be - not microwave cuisine!!

    (2)
  • D.R. S.

    God bless this Place for having Ramen on the menu! After returning from a trip to Japan where I had REAL Japanese ramen I was desperate to find somewhere that I could get a hearty bowl of deliciousness. This place is the ONLY place in the entire city I could find it on the menu. Not only that,, but the other 2 Tampopo restaurants in the city do not offer it! I'm not talking about fifteen cents a pack/ get yourself through college Ramen, I'm talking about fresh noodles, and hearty pork bone stock Ramen. Think Pho, but with more flavor, and texture. Regardless, the trip was worth is, and it was almost as good as its Japanese counterpart. BTW. If anyone knows of another Ramen place...hook a brother up.

    (5)
  • E B.

    This is more me expressing my slight disappointment than a negative review. I still love their food. Since Tampopo delivers, I thought they would allow me to take out my order of noodles. I would have gone for ramen, soba, or udon. Sadly, they do not allow take out for them because the "noodles are too delicate". "But I don't care, I'm on the run and I just want to eat it and know how good it is in-person," I said. They still declined. I give them credit for maintaining the integrity of their reputation, but really disappointed. Their website also claims you can ask for the noodle-soups mild, but they also declined and said that the broth is already made and they don't make mild. I wouldn't have asked if I hadn't seen it on the website!

    (3)
  • Samantha L.

    As a student in the area, Tampopo is by far one of my favorite restaurants in West Philly. I am a huge fan of the ramen bowl, as well as all their bibimbaps. I've had a lot of bibimbaps at actual Korean restaurants and none of them measure up to the ones at Tampopo. I highly recommend the chicken, fresh tofu, or fresh salmon/tuna. Their udon and soba noodle soups are also delicious - both are based in a great fish broth. Whenever I order for delivery, they're always prompt. Definitely give Tampopo a try!

    (5)
  • Claire O.

    This place is not bad for the price. The location is pretty convenient for all the college students around, and there's a ton of free parking, so that's one less thing to worry about. I ordered the grilled salmon bento with white rice and broccoli. Each bento comes with your choice of entree and side, plus rice, salad, edamame, a curry dumpling (like a weird samosa?), and a small dessert. At least, I think that's what's standard in the box. My piece of grilled salmon was tiny. My friend ordered the same and hers was noticeably larger. The owner came and apologized to both of us for the size and gave us free bowls of miso soup, which was a thoughtful effort. The food itself was okay. The (tiny) salmon was a little overcooked but full of flavor, the broccoli was simply steamed so I rolled it around in the sauce the salmon was cooked in. The curry dumpling was good but random, and the dessert was mysteriously tasty. It's really good value and I'm hoping the other menu items prove more promising.

    (3)
  • Ally N.

    I've been here a couple of times- once during the week in the evening and once on the weekend during the day. Both times there was enough seating, the staff were lovely, and the wait for food relatively short. I am in love with the fact that brown rice is available for their rice bowls... oh, and what rice it is. You know how most places either cook their rice until it is a gelatinous mess or undercook it to the point where you wonder if your teeth are breaking apart? Oh, not Tampopo. They get it spot on- chewy, hearty, nutty, and deliciously satisfying. The portions are well worth the $7-11 you'll spend.

    (4)
  • Grace T.

    Don't po po on my parade. Food isn't too shabby. It comes out quickly and is made hot and fresh. I got the spicy chicken with rice and three sad pieces of steamed broccoli.. was tempted to ask for a little more.. I mean can a sista get some veggies up in this piece? I was full from my meal. I took several bites from my sister's chicken katsu don, which was really good and helped cool off my burning tongue (have the weakest tolerance for spicy food... I should not even be called Korean American). The girl that rang us up was having some technical and human functional issues. I mean with the recession and all you'd think they would hire someone that knows how to ring up two orders without errors and not get frazzled. For a quick Korean/Japanese bite in University City, it's alright.

    (3)
  • Alexandra W.

    I echo the sentiment of others that this place is just plain okay. There really isn't anything special about it, though it may be slightly pricey. The sushi is fine, though a little too large. You're supposed to be able to eat a piece in one bite, right? Not here. The rice bowls are fine, though I can get way better Korean at Koreana. It's just really convenient, being located around the corner from my apartment.

    (3)
  • Hannah G.

    Tampopo is OK. Prices aren't bad and location is convenient for me, so I wasn't too disappointed. We had two sushi rolls -- the spider and the volcano. The spider roll was much more bland than spider rolls I've had at other restaurants. We had a side of the shrimp tempura, which was tasty, and an order of veggie dumplings. The dumplings were definitely the best part of the meal, and I would consider having them again.

    (3)
  • J P.

    The sushi was good. Not bad, not great, maybe a little bit better than okay. The style of this restaurant however, is NOT my cup of tea. I came with my wife and I guess was expecting waiter service. They don't really do that here. You look at a paper menu and then order at the counter. 15-20 minutes later your sushi comes and this thing they give you lights up. You go to the counter to collect your sushi. How did we order $40 worth of sushi? Anyway, it was good. But... It felt like I was in my college cafeteria. I had to bus my own table, there was no soy sauce dispenser, only foil packs of it. Meeeeh.... The Gyouza and the Edamame was was okay too. I can't get down with a college cafeteria style sushi restaurant. Its just not my cup of tea...

    (2)
  • Brittany J.

    a block away from me..good University City spot for inexpensive sushi or Japanese. Wish the menu was bigger...love the spicy (not too spicy) chicken bowl(not alot of veggies)..great staff..food is made quick!

    (3)
  • Judy T.

    Ok for what it is - Japanese/Korean fast food. Service is not stellar...they really need a better system especially for larger parties. Food was on par to something I could get at the KOP mall food court. Chicken katsu was good, but chicken was a little dry. Overall, nothing really worth writing home about. If you're in the mood for Asian food, I'd say make the drive to HMart in Upper Darby.

    (3)
  • Heather B.

    Meh. I was pretty excited to try this place, since it's only a couple of blocks away, and I crave Asian food more than anything else. I was actually in the mood for some nice, spicy noodle soup, but the online menu for the West Philly location only listed sushi (without prices). I was really unimpressed with the restaurant itself. I don't recall the temperature, but it felt... cold. Impersonal. Non-restauranty. Oh, and I also tripped walking in - there's a slight step up that I failed to notice. I found the buzzers that waiting customers receive really odd. It's so small that they could just whisper a name or a number when the order was ready, and there's certainly not much in the neighborhood to warrant a stroll while you wait (except maybe going for a beer next door at Local 44). Anyway, all of this could be forgiven should the sushi be good, since I'd likely only get takeout anyway. My three rolls cost just under $22, which I found expensive. They were plumper than I'm used to from other sushi joints, and the crunch roll had lots of extra crunch on it, which made me happy. But the California roll with fish egg and the spicy tuna roll were just fair - as others have said, maybe just above grocery store quality. The tuna roll had a few slivers of cucumber in it and was tartare style but relatively flavorless besides the kick. Also, the $15 minimum charge is a big thumbs-down. (Actually, isn't that illegal? Or something?) Of course, if you're ordering sushi, you won't be able to spend less than that anyway, but still. My quest to find solid sushi in Philly continues.

    (3)
  • Robin C.

    I just moved to West Philly and was in search of comfort food when I had a cold. Sushi usually does it for me. I ordered the seaweed salad, a salmon roll and an eel roll. The seaweed salad was great (difficult to mess up, honestly...), but I was a little disappointed by the sushi. It wasn't bad, but I have had better. I'd give it a shoulder shrug. I still plan on going back (as it's only a block from my apt) to try their noodles :)

    (3)
  • robyn k.

    great price, friendly staff, and environmentally conscious business. the food is quite basic, but it is consistently delicious. i usually order the spicy beef bento box. best part (for me) is that they deliver to the mantua area, which for some reason, so many university city businesses refuse to do. i am ordering in tonight!

    (5)
  • Josh L.

    This place is more Korean than Japanese. A lit too spicy/strong in flavor for what i ordered. Well priced though.

    (3)
  • Tatiana C.

    How good tampopo is, really depends on what category you put it in. If you think of it as east asian-y fast food joint, its actually GOOD. If you think of it as a restaurant...I'd give it 1.5 stars. Because everything is too salty and too sweet. I got the bibimbap the other day...and I saw them put the *finished* bowl in the microwave. Which means...that yes. They microwaved THE EGG! WTF? They don't do it all the time...but I've had microwaved egg twice. Seems to happen when they're not very busy. I understand that the modern food service kitchen uses microwaves...but a fried egg? Really? The sushi isn't bad. Its not good like, "sushi restaurant good." But good as in, a few steps up from grocery store sushi. So, if you want an alternative to take-out chinese, give it try. If you're looking for good food, go someplace else. And if you happen to live around the corner and need to eat here sometimes because you're lazy....stick with the sushi.

    (3)
  • Thomas D.

    Note: I would give this place a 2.5 if I could. It was hard to put it at a two, but I justify my decision below. I finally went to Tampopo for lunch today, after deciding that I missed Japanese-style ramen enough to give this place a try. I called ahead to see if the place was open, because from the other reviews here I could tell that the place was not doing particularly well. When I called to inquire about lunch specials, I was flatly told "No." In my experience, it's better to divert attention to potential options on the menu rather than "No." While that was offputting, I decided to check out the restaurant anyway because I missed those noodles. Note: I have had Japanese-style ramen both in South Korea and in Japan. I tried to see Tampopo's fare from both American-Japanese standards and Asian-Japanese standards. Hence, the 2.5 if I could. If I was going solely with American-Japanese standards than I would have given the place a 3. I dined in and had a hot green tea while waiting for my noodles. I did not think that the interior was as "cold" as others have mentioned. There was a cute chopstick sculpture at the cashier's table. The noodles were reasonably fast to arrive and I sat near the window which provided a nice view of the street. All of the ingredients were there, but something about their mixture did not taste quite right. I was disappointed that there was only 1 of many items (one-half of an egg, one piece of beef, one piece of seaweed, one piece of fish cake). The price was just over $10, so that is reasonable given the high prices at some places for Japanese fare. In summary, why I chose 2/5 instead of 3/5: Expectations from having this dish in Korea and Japan. I ordered the Tampopo ramen. I expect a namesake to be better. Only 1 of many items. If I choose to go back sometime then I will try something else and perhaps re-review! I hope this review is helpful.

    (2)
  • Marc M.

    It took three tries for us to actually make it to this place. They were closed the first time. The second time, we phoned ahead to confirm they were open, only to walk over and have the owner tell us they were closed. He promised that on our return, he'd foot half the bill. That never happened. The food - the sushi is mediocre. I'd agree that it's a notch up from a grocery store but that's about it. The be-bim-bop was decent and that's probably what I'd come back for, if we do. The seating style leaves a bit to be desired - it's also confusing as we were given a buzzer for when the food was ready yet they brought it out. Odd.

    (2)
  • Shanell P.

    Was excited when i heard bout this place coming to my neighborhood (im only a block away!) It was my first time having Japanese/Korean and with that said I had no idea what to order. So I had to rely on the descriptions on the menu and the very informative girl who took our order over the phone. We opted for delivery. The restaurant itself just doesn't appeal to me. (Plain black benches and tables..thats it) Food: I got the chicken with egg BiBimBob. Yum! Came with grilled strips of chicken over jasmine rice (which im addicted too) and lots of veggies topped with a sunny side up egg..He got the salmon Bento Box and loved it. Also got the steamed shrimp dumplings. So soft and tasty. Delish! We will definitely be back!

    (4)
  • Mike M.

    I awaited the opening of West Philly's very own Tampopo with an unprecedented level of anticipation, perhaps only rivaled by the recently opened Chipotle. Finally, after several false alarms, I just shoveled down my first Tampopo dinner without crossing the Schuylkill. The food was the usual Tampopo quality: delicious, filling, well cooked, not greasy, and priced to move. I'll be adding it to my weekly rotation immediately. For first timers, I'd recommend a rice bowl and a side, perhaps Gyoza or some other manner of dumplings. The bento boxes are also good, but not as large or diverse as what some other Japanese places may offer (they are, however, generally cheaper). The new space is very nice. Tables are off to the left and there is ample waiting room and even benches in case you want to show up and order takeout without calling ahead. It's bare bones inside, but it's clean and well thought out. It's also a BYOB and due to its extreme casual nature, probably not a bad place to do some serious drinking. But don't worry, their delicious rice will soak up all that alcohol in your stomach. I also forgot to mention, if it's like the other Tampopo, you probably have to spend more than $15 to use a credit card and more than $20 for delivery. Also, there's a real cute blond girl working the counter. Maybe one day I will have the courage to tell her how much I love her dumplings.

    (4)
  • Jing G.

    According to the boyfriend, "The most disgusting ramen ever".. Seriously, if it was from the fridged packs you can buy at any Japanese supermarket, it would have been 10x better. I think the Tokyo ramen is supposed to be miso-pork based, but it was a watery miso with what tasted like pork fat in it to make it creamy - which it was, but lacking in all depth and favor of real ramen broth. And the noodles while from nama-ramen was smelly. $9.00 for something he took a bite out of and threw away.

    (1)
  • Cree H.

    I give their food five stars, customer service i would give a circle, The girl that works at this location is extremely rude. I went to order food and I had a question. She kept cutting me off and basically ignored me, Her attitude was so bad. I ended up leaving. i wanted nothing to do with the place that day. The food is so good though, i may brave it out today for lunch!

    (5)
  • Sandy C.

    The beef rice bowl was pretty good along with the udon noodle with chicken

    (4)
  • David L.

    a good, reasonably priced eatery. it's close to my church, so we'll go there after church sometimes. everything i've tried has been good to very good, nothing spectacular.

    (4)
  • Jonathan P.

    I love tampopo. You know what you are getting when you order from them and they never disappoint. The japchae and spring rolls are amazing.

    (5)
  • D M.

    Craving Korean food in West Philly leaves you with limited options, and while Tampopo is definitely not the bulgolgi or pandan I really want, it's a good fix. They do deliver fast throughout West Philadelphia (not just University City) and their food is reliable. Typically, I get the bibimbap (of course with egg and beef) and kimchi. Both are good versions of the originals- but if you're truly craving the real deal, make a trip to the real deal. I think they are a bit overpriced for what they serve but it's a nice change from heavier food options in the neighborhood.

    (4)
  • Carla C.

    This is where I go when I don't feel like cooking or ordering pizzas. Their curry udon is amazing. Bibimbap is good too. Note that they take Visa and Master cards only. I once walked in with a Discover card only and had to go back to grad another card.

    (4)
  • Vidushi B.

    Tampopo serves average, does-the-job, Asian (mostly Korean and Japanese) food. I go to Tampopo relatively often given its proximity to Penn's campus, but if I didn't live so close, I probably wouldn't go. I usually get the bibimbap with chicken. It's pretty good, but I feel like it's missing something. Maybe it's not quite spicy enough? I'm not sure. I also usually get their dumplings, which are pretty good. I've also tried their soba noodle salad, which was surprisingly large, and also tasty. There isn't waiter service here, instead, you order ahead, and then take the photo to a table and serve yourself water. This is fine, but the people at the counter are usually pretty rude/cold. They respond aggressively to questions and in general aren't very warm. Ambiance as a whole is really just nothing to comment on. If you're in the vicinity, you should maybe come here. But there are better food options in the area!

    (3)
  • Arthur C.

    For the kinds of restaurants that occupy 44th Street, Tampopo is painfully average. The place does not offer anything that you can't find at Koreana or Chattime closer to campus, and at lower prices. I ordered a spicy beef bowl here, and was pleasantly surprised by the portions. Unfortunately, the positives ended there. The dish was both too salty and too spicy, and I take spice just fine. Just the mixture of the sodium and spice compounded to pummel my mouth, which was not a pleasant feeling. It didn't help that there was all of three florets of broccoli, not nearly enough vegetables to balance out the beef and rice. I rarely venture out to 44th Street as is for food. Now, outside of Honest Tom's or Lil Pop Shop next door, I may not be back anytime soon.

    (2)
  • Elise M.

    I seriously do not understand why my friends always rave about Tampopo. I grew up on Japanese food. And let me tell you, this is not Japanese food. I would give it 2.5 stars. I have a had a number of dishes at Tampopo because I somehow get dragged there by others. They are all sub-par. The ramen is probably the worst ramen I have gotten at a restaurant. The curry bowl and chicken katsu bowl are also not that great (they are not terrible though). People seem to love the bibimbap, but I really didn't care for it. The main appeal for me of Tampopo is that it is affordable and offers good value. Also, it is right next to Little Pop Shop, so you can pop in there for a nice little dessert.

    (3)
  • Katie L.

    Okay, let's get a few things straight about Tampopo: you order & pay at the counter. You serve yourself water in a 70s-style cafeteria cup. You sit on a wooden bench. Your food comes to you on a brown plastic tray. Whoever said this was a "cute date place" has far different expectations than I do... BYOB? No wine glasses. Plastic cups? Abundant. I would say less BYOB and more "if you wanna drink a beer at your bench, no one is gonna stop you..." That being said, my dolsot bibimbap was really nice. Super hot and hit the spot. There was a nice variety of veggies, and the meat was also of pretty good quality and flavorful. The boyfriend's spice beef bowl, however, came with rice, beef, and two pieces of raw broccoli. [Don't worry, I made him a salad when we got home. ;)] Tampopo feels like a good college eats place, if that's what you're in the market for, and maybe a good college date place? [Overheard: "So, what do you do when you're not doing homework?"]

    (3)
  • james l.

    Simple menu. Sugary n spicy Korean rice bowls and noodles. Not great but very convenient. I have eaten here many times but last time I was here I spotted a few roaches. One came out of register area and one out of the water cooler. I let the cook(or owner) know and his lack of concern was enough to deter me from eating there again. I hope he fixes the problem for future patrons.

    (2)
  • Jeremy S.

    Good food Fresh sushi Order at counter grab a table quickly because it is crowded wirh Penn kids Reasonably priced Lots of choices

    (4)
  • Vichet O.

    They're a BYO. They have katsudon - that's a fried cutlets of your choice of meat over a bowl of rice and warm broth - which to me is like quintessential Asian comfort food for when you're sick, or even when you're not. They're also cheap. All the same, I can't think of a single dish here that I really makes me think "Man, I gotta go to Tampopo and get me some ______." I've tried their sushi, their katsudon, their ramen. It's alright, but it lacks a certain flair that I need in my Asian food to keep me coming back. Especially in this town, where we have a respectable Chinatown, Viet town, Cambodia town, and two - yes, two - Korea towns. Anyway, Tampopo's alright. If you need some quick food and would like to bring a few bottles of beer to go with it, you can't really go wrong.

    (3)
  • Connie X.

    Awesome soba salad here! My friend ordered the chicken bento box, and I was tempted to eat her meal as well. I'll definitely be coming here often to try the rest of their menu!

    (4)
  • Tiffany T.

    My bf's go to is his spicy chicken bowl with brown rice $7.00 . This is A-OK. They give a lot of chicken, and the meat to rice ratio is amazing. They give you 2 pieces of broccoli . Overall it's delicious, but for the value.. meh. You can make this at home for less than $2.00, less than a dollar probably. Seafood Udon soup $7.50 I got this because I was still in pain from my wisdom tooth extraction. This was broth with udon noodles, 1 piece of broccoli and 1 slice of fish cake. Where do you think this is going...? Yup, not worth the value. It tastes the same as any instant noodle udon I've gotten from Hmart before (for 1.50). There are no toppings in it to warrent the $7.50 price tag. To add 2 pieces of shrimp tempura = $11.00 noodle so up. Umm.. I can get 2 bowls of pho stacked with meat for that. Imo, the 2 piece shrimp tempura udon should be $7.50. That would make them a 4 star for the value...

    (3)
  • Kate W.

    It's just... not very good and hideously expensive given the quality and the fact that it's counter-service. I've lived around the corner for almost 2 years, so every so often I decide to give it another try (...and another, and another, and another...). But the sushi is a step below the stuff you can get at the Fresh Grocer (really), the ramen is way inferior to Ramen Bar's, I'd rather ride out to Upper Darby for Korean food, and the bento boxes are so mediocre it hurts. If the food were stepped up, it would be a great addition to the neighborhood. No reason to go. Save your money.

    (1)
  • Amanda B.

    This was my first time here. I got the spider roll, The crunch roll and the west side roll. The sushi was very good. The spider roll and crunch roll were fantastic. There was an entire soft shell crab tempura serve with the spider roll which was absolutely divine. West side was presented beautifully, but as far as flavor goes, it was a little underwhelming. Over all, the sushi was fresh, tasty and filling. And the extra crab was a nice surprise! Service was decent. The man who brought our sushi to us was very kind. He seemed to really enjoy his job. I would have loved to try the bento box and ramen because everyone around me looked like they were enjoying theirs. I will most likely be back for that spider roll!

    (4)
  • Rick B.

    1st time visiting, not a bad spot. Ordered the most popular dish and sushi roll: Bibimbop and West Side Roll. Bibimbop was definitely good and would recommend that to anyone, but the West Side roll was a little pricey for the small amount provided. 8 tiny pieces, that should actually be 4 regular sized pieces. The roll was very good though, I'm glad I have it a try.

    (3)
  • Joanna J.

    The food here is okay...I wouldn't call it "authentic" but it can be a nice place to hang out with your friends. What made me decide to rate this establishment ONE star is because of the indifferent and hostile service at the counter. Mind you, I had two experiences that convinced me to rate this one star. I believe that the first experience might be me over-thinking it, but the second experience really disappointed me. For the first experience, I came here to eat dinner with a close friend of mine. Not knowing what to order, I asked the cashier for his recommendations. I asked "Is the beef bulgogi good?" He gave me a look and shrugged, "I actually don't know, because I'm a vegetarian (or vegan, I don't really remember)." I was a little taken aback by that comment because it was not really relevant to my question and his body gestures made it obvious that he was too lazy and unenthusiastic to help a client. Besides, shouldn't a cashier know what dish is considered popular? Even if he did not work there long enough, he could have said it nicely. I was a little miffed but then, like I said, I was probably over-thinking it. However, my second experience really pissed me off. My friends and I came to this restaurant because of my friend's birthday. We were really happy and after dinner, we planned on eating a cake that we bought to the restaurant. Since we forgot to bring a knife, a friend went to the cashier to ask to borrow a knife. When she came back, she told us that the cashier said that they "do not use knives both in the restaurant and in the kitchen, so they cannot give us a knife to cut the cake". I thought it was ridiculous so I went up to the cashier and asked for a knife to cut my friend's birthday cake. The cashier gave me a very annoyed look. "I'm sorry," she said. "We don't have knives." "You don't have knives? In the kitchen? You don't have anything that you can cut things up with? Like a birthday cake?" "Yeah. I'm sorry. We don't have knives." She replied, looking away as if the conversation ended. REALLY???!! Later on (I guess they felt sort of bad), another person who worked in the restaurant came to us and said that they would cut the cake for us in the kitchen. Then they apologized and said that "their restaurant does not cut cakes". I kind of laughed it off, but I just believe that their attitude could have been better. It's not like we were going to use the knife to "kill" anyone!! We just needed the knife to cut my friend's birthday cake!! Long story short, avoid this restaurant at all costs. Or just be there for the food and get out before their poor customer service rears its ugly head.

    (1)
  • Cameron C.

    I have eaten here three times now and never been disappointed!! Short wait times and amazing food!!

    (5)
  • Samantha R.

    Really bad service. Food was good, but the workers were so awful. They had bad attitudes and were rude to my table. One of the servers also handed me a fork by touching the part you eat with and then giving it to me. That's literally disgusting and once she did that, I was done. Would give zero stars if I could just because of the service.

    (1)
  • Richard H.

    Having lived in northern Japan for a year, I believe I have experienced the pure Nirvana of ramen. Rich soy and pork stocks bubbling away behind the cooks, soups prepared right in front of you while you sit at the bar of what I like to refer as a "slurp house". Well, my search is not over unfortunately upon trying this place out. It was OK but what really bothered me was the aftertaste in my mouth as I departed. Tried it, not going back. Zero atmosphere, small, uncomfortable benches to sit on, not good.

    (3)
  • Rachel W.

    I was excited to learn that a new restaurant had opened beside Local 44. When I heard it was a BYOB I was even more thrilled. Though I enjoyed my food, Tampopo seems to be suffering from a serious identity crisis. The space is stark and the lighting is offensive. The huge, uncovered windows made me feel as though I were on display to everyone who passed by. Yes, it's a BYO but I drank my wine out of a green plastic cup and carried my food to the table on a tray. A tray! What is this place, any way? It is reminiscent of an elementary school cafeteria. They have a lot of potential with that space and with pretty good food but the ambiance was NON EXISTENT. We were in and out of there pretty quickly, there was no reason to take it slow and enjoy our meal. My date liked his food, he had spicy noodle something. I had the shrimp katsu bento box which I thought was good. In the future I will get food from Tampopo but definitely to go. I will also stare through the big windows at the people sitting uncomfortably in the dining area as I pass by.

    (3)
  • Matt C.

    was going to do 4 stars but after seeing the totally undeserved 3 stars overall I'm going with 5 stars to try to give them a boost. Yes the food here is very basic. Sorry to all you 22 year olds that think good food has to be a combination of 93 flavors that don't belong together like you see on the TV while growing up. But sometimes food that's just good and simple has it's place. Everything I've had is really really good. My only gripe about the food has been the Tuna bibimbob isn't the best - the flavors are AWESOME but the tuna tastes frozen and imo shouldn't be served raw. BUT the beef bibimbob is awesome, the ramen is great, the beef bowl is simple and fantastic, etc. Great comfort food. Probably my most gone-to restaurant in Philly due to it's proximity to where I live, reasonable cost (though it could/should be a touch cheaper), and freshness of it's simply prepared comfort dishes.

    (5)
  • Leonard N.

    Sign me up for the pork and kimchi ricebowl, the thinly sliced beef bento box or anyone of their other dishes. Finish it off with some great green tea ice crea.

    (4)
  • Yolanda Y.

    The food here is fine. What I had was just unremarkable. The soup is good too, but again just ordinary. I did not expect much on a weekday afternoon, especially as cold as it was outside, but I would have given another star had it not been for the prices. You know when you're feeling like you're getting a good deal? Well this place was the opposite. Dropped like $25 on what should have cost $15 at most. The music was annoying, so that didn't help. I must say the service is good here. I asked for extra ginger and the woman came around from behind the counter to give it to me. I was impressed by that.

    (3)
  • Lisa Q.

    Not the best sushi I've ever had, but very good considering the cheap prices. They don't allow you to take-out the noodles for some reason, so if you want ramen, you have to dine-in. The service is quick. I read that they do deliveries now if you order over $20, there's I believe a $2 delivery fee too.

    (3)
  • Anna K.

    For a pretty inexpensive, casual restaurant, this place is not bad. I like the dishes I've tried, from the thicker noodle soup (I think it was Yaki Soba) to some of the veggie tofu dishes. They're flavorful and fresh, and not too much money. However, the atmosphere is not anything special-- just a bunch of plastic tables and chairs, and the portion sizes are on the small side...so I always feel hungry, even after finishing a main dish. So, I'll probably come here if I want to save money, but still want to eat out... but nothing I'm incredibly excited about.

    (3)
  • Lisa U.

    Just moved in two blocks away so I was pretty excited to see a Japanese/Korean restaurant closeby. You walk in, order, get a buzzer device, then wait for your food. You bus your own tray afterwards. Ordered the hot plate beef bibimbop. It's not the usual clay pot that makes your rice at the bottom crispy--they used a plastic bowl so it didn't really have that effect of making your rice crispy. I should have gotten regular beef bibimbop which was a little bit cheaper. But overall the food was decent and filling..I'd definitely come back.

    (3)
  • Jamie M.

    When you don't see asians working in an asian restaurant...walk away. Went for the ramen but was very dissapointed. First off, the ramen is $8.50 and the bowl is tiny to traditional ramen standards. The broth was anemic...lacking density and that eggy thickness. The ramen acutrements were bok choy, an egg, a tiny bit of pork, and some sea weed wrapper. The pork was decent, but they were cheap with it. The rest was underwhelming and the spicey broth that is mandatory just appeared as a smoke screen to distract from the lackluster broth. Honestly, I could make this at home with some white pepper, a raw egg, and a 25 cent packet of ramen. Back to north Jersey for what is real ramen.

    (2)
  • Mark J.

    Call their number, get a fax machine. This has happened to me on five or six separate nights. They say they deliver, apparently they don't.

    (1)
  • Gregory H.

    I'd have to say it's all good for what it is... don't expect too much and you'll be ready to visit... the food is quite nice.. and as far as being an addition to the neighborhood it is.. as West Philly could use some more restaurants...

    (3)
  • Arwin T.

    This place is super tasty. As a warning, though, the rice bowls are literally a bunch of rice and a bunch of meat. Not that there's anything wrong with that, but just don't order them if you're expecting vegetables.

    (4)
  • Won S.

    I have a general rule of thumb when I go to Korean/Japanese restaurants. If I look in, and I don't see people that look like me, I don't go in. It has worked through my life in NY and Philly. I will never break that cardinal rule ever again. I saw this place close to home, and in desperation of wanting to have a Korean place closer to home that was decent, I went in. I should have stayed out. If you have never had authentic Korean, and by authentic, I mean a Korean friend of yours took you there and said this is the best place ever, then, this place is ok. the food was fresh and not bad. the servings were very small for what you would normally get at a korean restaurant for the same price, the flavor was OK. just not Korean. I got bi bim bop, which is a fried rice sort of thing, and was given chopsticks to eat it on a nice brown plastic tray. just so you folks know, Koreans don't eat Rice with chopsticks, its considered bad manners. we have spoons contrary to popular belief. It seems like white people think it's cool to eat rice with chopsticks. My wife tries to eat rice with a chopstick but i think it's for the challenge or she is adverse to eating at a normal pace; but that's an aside. the food is not bad, if you are looking for a fair place to eat that is a bit different from what you are used to. Its a self service type of place, kind of like Koreana on chestnut. but Koreana is at least a bit more authentic. The guy selling the stuff speaks Korean. If you have had authentic Korean food, then, this place will be a disappointment because it lacks the different flavors of authentic korean food, like the different spices that go in the food. Or the side dishes you get with the food for the same price you pay at Tampopo. Bi-bim-bop goes for 7-8 bucks at other Korean restaurants, but you get table service and side dishes. At Tampopo for 8, you get a plastic tray and a chopstick to eat your rice. Walk two more blocks to the El, get off at 69th street, walk another 3 blocks, and you have good authentic Korean food.

    (2)
  • Chris C.

    This place is excellent. It's quick, the people are nice, and the food is good. Self-serve water is available so you don't even need to buy a drink if you're cash strapped. I come here all the time.

    (5)

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Map

Opening Hours

  • Tue

Specialities

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

Tampopo

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