Review Ramen Takara Ponsonby - Auckland Central

Went here for Fathers day lunch. Was greetrd by host friednly inviting smile and shown to our table out the back down some internal stairs in what seemed to be an old enclosed deck. Our order was taken fairly quickly and outlr drinks arrived not long after this.

I came here for lunch. And I could get a great service, fresh food and really good ramen! But the pork spring rolls were just okay. might gonna try the vegetable spring rolls next time. Definitely want to come back again.

The service was so great even tho I was a kid coming to eat alone they treat me so well the food was good but it take about 10 minutes it’s kinda too long but I can wait the best ramen restaurant even! Btw after I seat down they serve me cold water! :)

The vegetarian version of Tom Yum ramen is delicious compared to other places in Auckland. The only problem I had was just the Harumaki was too gingery. Unless you are a fan of ginger, I would suggest not choose this dish. And, I hope they will serve Halal version of the chicken broth based ramen!

Ramen are really really good. I'm not a specialist but it's the best I've ever eaten. Ramen Tonkotsu are really good. The egg is well cooked and the soup is tasty.

Really right atmosphere, ramen was good but only let down by the low amounts of meat in the wonton. Affordable and tasty ramen even with double wontons but not enough meat

Had Ramen miso it actually really good, a bit pricy here, Ramen and 1 beer cost me 40 NZD, but overall it good, staffs very friendly here.

I still remember the karaage and jade ramen being really good from two years ago. Should have gone back sooner because the karaage and tantan ramen was amazing.

Gods of good soup! 🍜 This is THE place for an incredible array of authentic, luscious ramen 🫠 Fresh sumptuous seafood, sexy silky tofu, pheNOMinal noodles and fresh vibrant flavours. I had the Tom Yum ramen and it was beautiful - could have been spicier but you can request chillies. The service is also excellent and the outdoor garden area has such a lovely atmosphere (if you can ward off pesky flies). The beer is crisp, the warm sake goes down a treat and the prices are quite reasonable considering the culinarily expertise. ($20 for my Tom Yum ramen featuring about six huge fresh prawns) 🦐

Very yummy ramen and great portions 🍜 The restaurant has a very cool indoor patio.

We enjoyed a delicious dinner here, the portions are very big, super well served. We will definitely be coming back. It's just a little bit sad they close early, but understanding. Thank you 😊

Literally the best Ramen I'm the entire Auckland city. It is a well known icon. Just superb!! 5 stars everytime

I have visited Ramen Takara a few times now, and it is consistently impressed me. The ambiance is inviting with a very cozy atmosphere that makes you feel right at home. However, due to its intimate size, it can get quite loud during busy hours. Every visit is complemented by great service, making the experience all the more pleasant. My personal favorite dish is the cold salmon and avocado salad noodle, which is an absolute treat. For anyone looking for top-notch ramen in a comforting setting, this place is a must-visit 🤩

My favourite place on the planet, we come probably every two weeks and have never been disappointed. When people try and assert any other restaurant has the best ramen I bring them here and without fail they agree that Ramen Takara is the best. Service is great, food always comes out quickly and the vibe and decor is awesome. If you like sours the For Humans sour that is on the menu will be one of the best you have tried too, always a good craft beer selection.

Good and bad parts. Staff were great! Food hit and miss. Spring rolls were yum! The chicken was yum! But the gohan/sticky rice with the chicken was not sticky. Ramen broth was good. One piece of chasue was a bit sad. The noodles were so-so. Don't get the Kaisen agesoba. It's a sloppy bland mess. Don't even understand why it's on the menu. I don't usually leave reviews. But I feel that the restaurant is really close to being good. But just falls short in simple, but important components to do with the food.

We had a Ramen soup for lunch. It was ok ,but I had more tastefull Ramen eat before. The service was very friendly and fast, the ambiente was nice and clean. For a fast lunch you can go there.

The soy sauce used here I think its not japanese. Its extreamly salty. Also it's not japanese mayonnaise. The pork belly in the ramen was dry and tough. The teriyaki chicken was also over cooked and tough and salty. The pork gyoza tastes terrible with only cabbage inside no pork we could not eat any of it. So we won't be going back there ever again. Please don't treat your customers as just kiwis that don't know flavor. Saving money to use cheaper ingredients will only harm the flavor of your food.

Gyoza were amazing, Tom yum was quite tomatoe based and not spicy at all 😔 However that being said the staff are so lovely, and the place is great! Will definitely be back to try some other things on the menu! Very reasonably priced too 😊

Great place. We started with spring rolls which were very flavour full & hot. Next the fried chicken which was so tasty! Yum. Main event was pork belly ramen, the pork was delicious but thought the broth & ramen a bit bland. Service is fast and very courteous. Cheap & total value for money. We shall return!

SUPER FRIENDLY! They go out of their way to accommodate any dietary needs, the ramen are very yummy, they have a baby chair, nice ambiance and smiling service - cannot recommend enough!!! (It gets very busy, so come early;))

It was our first time to eat at this place and we were just over the moon with the food and the superb service to our group by Jake. Highly recommended. Delish food and warm service!!!

We totally enjoyed all our ramen selection thanks. I personally like the tan tan ramen. Karage chicken is beautiful as we expected ... we shall be back no doubt when our taste buds crave for more Ramen �

I had the Tonkotsu Ramen with Wontons and extra garlic chips last night and it did not disappoint. I shall bring more friends! Thank you, [791395800968303:The Urban List Auckland]!

I have been going there for 9 years great service and even better food always busy . Love the ramen great tantan men . Lived in japan for 15 years so would know a good ramen when I see one . The team are fantastic . Keep up the good work guys .

Loved the place, crew, and the food! Authentic Japanese restaurant!

Best ramen I've tried in Auckland! Lots of vegetarian options, so I must come back to taste them all!!

Best Ramen in my life! Loved the atmosphere of the shop too!

Great Ramen selection plus Sake choice! I was on my own for birthday lunch and really enjoyed all of the above plus the service.

Small and expensive I don't know why ... browns bay serve big amount of food and reasonable price why so different..

Friendly staff and best ramen in town! Keep it up guys!

Really bloody delicious! Great vibe. Lovely people. Had the miso ramen. Amazing. ❤️

It Is By Far the nicest food in Auckland and it's Japanese owned which makes it quiet unique.. The pork noodle soup and gyoza is a great combination and has to be tasted

My favourite restaurant in Auckland

Good service - fast and friendly staff. Good location, in the heart of Ponsonby. I love ramen, but I cant say its the best I tasted. I might come back as the staff are friendly, they are organize and has fast service. It’s the service that will make you come back to this place and the vibe as well. I love the PB Harumaki we ordered, its full of flavor and crispy on the outside. I might order a different ramen next time, ordered Kaisen Shio Ramen and it was just ok. All in all price is ok for the service youre getting.

Absolutely delicious! I had the jade ramen, and it was perfect! Spicy and flavourful. Staff were lovely, and gave a good recommendation when I couldn’t decide. The karaage chicken is a must. Definitely recommend. Speedy service as well. Looks like it’s good for big groups as well as dinner dates.

Ramen are okay, doubt about Japanese chef, more like Chinese to me!

Cheap and fast service for really good ramen! I always order the OG's at each ramen place to compare - today we got the shoyu (only $11), tonkotsu, and chicken karaage.<br/><br/>The soup bases were traditional and flavorsome. The shoyu was light and refreshing, while the tonkotsu was creamy and rich. Each ramen comes with half an egg (perfect runniness), one slice of chashu (thought there could have been 1 more slice, and it was a bit too salty), bokchoy, bamboo shoot, spring onions. The tonkotsu soup was only lukewarm when served so it would've tasted better if it was hotter.<br/><br/>Chicken karaage was lightly battered, juicy, and tender. It was well seasoned, and dipped in jap mayo, was a very hearty starter.<br/><br/>The service in house was friendly and helpful, frequently topping up our water and removing empty dishes as needed. However, they never picked up the phone so I couldn't book a table.

I’m a vegetarian, I had their vegan ramen which was actually ok but they need more vegetarian options.

Another ramen eatery, located in Ponsonby.<br/><br/>The Tuna Avo was quite refreshing, with a wasabi soy dressing. The tuna reasonably fresh. <br/><br/>The Tonkotsu Ramen is lightly flavoured, however there was only 2 pieces of meat served. <br/><br/>The Tom Yum Ramen quite interesting. The soup was slightly spicy but well flavored. Tasting different to your typical ramen.<br/><br/>Excellent service. We were well looked after by the staff and water were replenished quite often.<br/><br/>Priced at the medium range.<br/><br/>Food: 8.5/10<br/>Food presentation: 8/10<br/>Service: 10/10<br/>Ambience: 9/10<br/>Value for money: 8/10<br/>Price $20 per person excl alcohol <br/>

The food was good, different kind of rahmen. Nothing special though. What I don‘t understand is why the tables were so extremely sticky. Why the owners do not better take care of cleanliness, it really destroyed the overall good experience

Used to come here religiously at least once a week but recently hasn’t been up to par. The tan tan ramen is delicious, but last couple of times have had so many noodles that once the noodles are eaten have only had a teaspoon of soup to finish. For me the soup is the best part of the dish. Also it is very disappointing that you have to pay extra for vegan options. When ordering a vegan dish you are removing the meat which I would assume is the most expensive part of the dish, to have to pay extra for just vegetables is not on. The quality of this place is gone down hill unfortunately and my regular occupancy will no longer be an occurance

Delicious ramen and donburi! They also have a cute little courtyard out the back. <br/><br/>Food is consistent and always tastes great.

Been here so many times. Quinoa salad is the best dish we never missed. We tries chicken on rice is also really nice either.

Grabbing dinner before going to see the Franklin Road Christmas lights. I got miso ramen with wontons, and my friends got tonkotsu ramen. The wontons were quite small and not much fillings, soup was alright, not too salty. <br/><br/>Got tap beer and sake also, the wonton chips for the alcohol were very salty but sorta went well with alcohol I guess.

My friend and I both we had Tonkotsu Ramen, which was pretty good, not too salty and the pork tasted so yummy. Service was friendly and quick. Will come back again to try other dishes.

There are not many restaurants where your next experience is always better than the previous, and ramen Takara keeps getting better and better. The staff are very friendly and attentive, the service is quick and the food is amazing. By far the best ramen in Auckland!

Everything was really good apart from my wonton ramen broth being a little bit too salty.

The broth is really tasty and the noodles are super slippery. Wait staff and chef didn’t mind changing the order to exclude bamboo shoots.

Best ramen place, hands down. Extra helping of noodles on top makes an unbeatable, satisfying combo. Staff are always polite and friendly, hats off to them.

It was our first time to try the ramen in this place. We ordered tonkotsu and it was delicious; not salty at all. Their kaarage chicken was good. It wasn’t spicy so my friend’s kid liked it. Staff was accomodating and even gave my friend’s kid his own plastic bowl and cutlery. Nice atmosphere and reasonable priced.

Delicious ramen!! I keep coming back for more. Very authentic and the size portions are great. Full of flavour and you are left very full! Great service although the space is quite small, it is well worth it

Fantastic ramen. I had tonkustu and my friend had Kaisen Ramen. Both so tasty! Fresh food and lovely environment. Always a pleasure to come here for a great evening with my friends.

Had the wonton ramen, tan-tan ramen and gyozu dumplings. Really didn’t like the soy soup for the wonton ramen as it was too salty and had an almost murky taste to it. The smell was also quite unpleasant. Loved the taste of the tan-tan ramen but I was expecting more spice from it and a red broth. Surprising that it came out slightly milky. The dumplings were nice and crisp on the outside but the filling didn’t have any flavor. The noodles were also a little tough and dry for my liking. Ambience was good and so was service but the food was a bit of a let down.

A lovely ramen shop in ponsonby, they have outdoor and courtyard spaces which is really cozy. Their tantan ramen consistently good and karage chicken is a must try

Their karaage chicken is a must ! Very good authentic ramen, love the tonkatsu but will be good to have more than 1 slice of pork ....a bit sad! Service is good too. A usual place for lunch

Spicy black tan tan ramen was delicious, especially on a cold winter night. Got to taste the Tom yum ramen which I didn't enjoy - tasted just like baked beans with eggs if I'm brutally honest. Pork belly spring rolls were really delicious when eaten with wasabi. Friendly staff and relatively quick service.

Service was friendly and prompt with the food being absolutely great. The chashu ramen was filling and consists of more than 2 pieces of meat ad a healthy helping of noodles. The pork belly spring rolls was good but too gingery for my taste. All in all would go again to try the other ramen on offer.<br/><br/>Note: i asked for extra egg on the ramen hence having 3 pieces

Always great friendly service. And the ramen is amazing. Love the tonkotsu ramen which is rich without being fatty. And then there is the special ramen which I hope will stay on the menu. The spicy jade ramen is amazing.

Craving for ramen in the last couple weeks and decided to give a try for Ramen Takara which is i can say this one of the best in Auckland.. ordered original ramen and the soup is very tasty.. yummy and warm food to start winter season

Was told that I could find authentic ramen here by a Japanese. Tried their tonkotsu, loved the chewy thick noodles. The soup was creamy and flavourful, however it was too salty (with msg?) to my liking. The soup made me thirsty after drinking though.

Came here on a quest to find an authentic 担々麺, but sadly the taste was not what we expected. We tried both the normal and black tantanmen. Both ramen tasted not bad, but it’s just different than what we normally have in Japan.

beautiful atmosphere in the courtyard! wish i had discovered this place sooner. i had the vegetarian ramen which was sadly quite bland, but the appetisers are bomb. nice staff and reasonable wait time for food on a friday night. will be back to try new dishes!

BEST RAMEN PLACE IN AUCKLAND!<br/>As a complete newbie into the wonderful world of ramen, I first entered Ramen Takara with a lot of apprehension, but I am happy to say I loved the Tom yum ramen that I had there the first time. <br/>Excited about how much I loved the experience, I set out to find more restaurants that served vegetarian ramen, but nothing yet has come close to the rich wonderful flavours you get here! The spicy tan tan ramen is perfect for cold winter nights. <br/>10/10 recommend!

My brother and I went on a Wednesday evening. Seating was readily available and the interior was very nice. <br/><br/>We ordered the Tori Shio ramen and the Tonkotsu ramen as well as the spring rolls. The spring rolls and tori shio were quite good. However, the tonkotsu ramen had way too many bamboo shoots which overpowered the flavour of the broth, and I could not taste much else. Additionally, the wait for the food was quite long (around 20 minutes).<br/><br/>Overall, it was an ok experience and I was a bit disappointed in my ramen.

Always have the nicest meals here and the delightful staff are an absolute credit to the restaurant. I highly recommend the Ban ban chicken and the drinks are also yum and reasonably priced

One of our go to ramen places in Auckland. Clean, tasty and priced at around $16. Prefer the Browns Bay branch one though for some reason, maybe cos its more spacious and near the beach with more outdoor seatings. They do pretty good gyoza and ramen is their speciality. Especially like their spicy tantan mien. Not a fan of black sesame ramen. Tofu and teriyaki donburi are nice but prefer their ramen though. They do mean karaage.

Not usually a massive fan of ramen but the tan tan noodles here were delicious and for the first time ever I finished the whole bowl of noodles!! The broth was soo flavourful and had just the right amount of spice! The noodles were fresh and service was great. Can’t wait to come back!

Very pleasant experience, staff were very friendly and polite. Raman was full of flavour and karaage chicken was nice and crispy but still juicy inside. Would return

Service is friendly enough. Taste is OK overall. A bit pricey but this is Ponsonby. The biggest issue I have with the shop is that I find the amount of food isn't near enough or filling. Of course, parking in Ponsonby generally sucks but I won't blame the shop for this.

Had dinner here not too long ago.  I like the place.  It was pretty spacious, <br/>comfortable and pleasant.  The service was good and friendly.  As for the food <br/>we all enjoyed it.  Prices were reasonable.  As for the tase of the food, it was not <br/>fantastic but still we like the taste.

A little discreet Japanese Ramen place here in Ponsonby, had the Japanese style won hon ramen here, their version of  the won hon here is more flat like a large ravioli than the Chinese version  i am use to, so really not bothered as i've seen so many shapes of this. <br/>Ramen/Broth nice and hearty too with nice indoor/outdoor seating as well.

Rude servers and the pork chasu was cold even if the soup was hot. They charged us for asking some wasabi and mayo for the food that we ordered and when we billed out the server was being rude. Never again will go here. Their ramen is awful.

It’s good, love the texture of the noodles, little bit salty but you can always tell staff to go easy on the salt. It’s good but not great. Price is little steep for what it is but it is Ponsonby afterall... I do like they Browns Bay branch better

Cute and cosy with a tasty and fresh menu. Great atmosphere and good service. Prices are great and the Ramen is authentic and divine. Highly recommend this place.

WORST CUSTOMER SERVICE EVER. <br/>The waiter was shouting at us, and pointing at us with the fingers just because we were having soybean milk (in a small pack) after the meal.<br/><br/>I would not have any kind of drink if you guys had mentioned about no BYO ever even it's non-alcoholic drinks. There was nothing which could let customers know no byo. We even apologised about having byo, breaking the rule but the staff was so offensive that I could not mention about it. The waiter was talking behind our table with a waitress in Japanese. You know what? Not all foreigner doesn't understand Japanse...<br/><br/>I complaint about his behaviour and the waiter was mocking at me and avoid saying sorry. That apology was not an apology. He was giving an excuse for himself rather than saying sorry.<br/>All he needed to do was to apologise. Simple. But he didn't make it. He told us that it's common sense to not bring Byo to any place but I believe that it's common sense to not talk behind about the customer.<br/><br/>Please train your staff and hire someone who exactly understands what CUSTOMER SERVICE is. Your staff is a disgrace to your business.

Omg this place is a gem! 🍜 🌶 I love the Tom Yum ramen, the Nagoya Chicken don and the Salmon Avocado salad and would happily have any one most days. <br/><br/>Portions are great, service is always friendly and they have a good selection and beer and sake. I really appreciate the little touches there, e.g. little chips with a Kirin beer or edamame beans with your sake. <br/><br/>The prices are insane for the quality of the food and the wonderful ambience/service. It can get very busy and they don’t take reservations for groups under 4, however we have never waited long for a table. At times the back area can be cold but other than that we love you! <br/>

Resonable price with nice staff.<br/>Especially I love the noodles condition.<br/>Want to be there at least once a week.<br/>Can't wait to be there again.<br/>Cheers

I came here with great expectations for good Ramen since it has 4 star ratings on Zomato. I had a pretty average experience here. The food here is overpriced like many other places in Ponsonby, the broth taste good, but the portion of ramen and other vegs and pork are in a tiny portion. <br/><br/>I didn't have many talks with waitress so I skip talking about service. The ambiance is average for me as well. So obviously, I won't come back.

This is one of the best quality Japanese restaurants in Auckland and it is conveniently located along Ponsonby Road. We had a chance to visit it twice; one at lunch time and the other at dinner on a rainy Wednesday night. The place was crowded on both occasions, which is a testament to how popular it is. We patiently waited to be seated because we knew there will be good food for us. As expected, the noodle soup was flavoursome and the service was impressive. <br/><br/>Though it can be a bit pricey, you’ll never regret on what you’ve paid for. There’s definitely a third visit from us soon.

This place is pretty yumbo. Been there twice now with friends and always had the best time. Im not even a big ramen noddle soup bowl lady but the tomato based spicy tofu bowl was pretty top, it had perfect level of spice and tasty. The environment is beautiful and has a nice outdoor area at the back. I’m keen to go back for a third session.👍🤙

First time: average<br/>Second time: pretty good<br/>Maybe it’s the consistency or chefs were different?<br/>But I would still recommend this place as it is better than most ramen places in auckland.<br/><br/>Food 4/5<br/>Staff 4/5<br/>Setting 4/5

I came hopeful that this time would be better than my first couple of times at the Ponsonby takara but I had a pretty average experience here. I found the tonkotsu ramen a bit disappointing and poor value for money - the single slice of pork seen in the photo is the only one you get in the entire bowl. The only redeeming factor is that both dinner dishes came out pretty quickly, I guess not surprising if everything was already cooked apart from the noodles and just had to be put together and heated, which is kind of how it tasted. The service from the manager on duty was perfunctory at best. She seemed to have a face set in stone when she served us including giving us a table, taking the orders and pouring water. Telling a woman to smile is some sexist crap but I'm sorry if you work in customer service it kind of comes with the deal.<br/><br/>Food: 3/5<br/>Service: 2/5

One of the best Ramen places in town. Well priced. And very good options. Nice place to sit. The stock used is very well made. Family friend. Staff are great.

My partner and I love this place! Have been to both the browns bay and ponsonby ones for dinner multiple and loved both every time we go! It’s a true treat for us to be able to go out for a nice dinner (being the poor students we are) but this is extremely reasonable, great portion sizes with super tasty food! Our go to is dumplings to share for the starter and we each have tried a few of the different ramen bowls. Yum.

For me personally, it was just okay. We had the tonkotsu and pork kakuni ramen. We both agreed the tonkotsu was much better than the kakuni. Tonkotsu broth was smooth, creamy, and on the light side with well-cooked thin noodles, plus the chashu on this ramen was much more flavourful than the kakuni. Still, lacking punch for my taste. The kakuni pork was rather tough and dry, curly noodles were soggy, and the soy sauce broth was underwhelming. Renkon chips were good and crispy. The lady was very attentive and kind so thumbs up for service. This place is worth a try. However, overall I won't be in a hurry to return.

Ordered the spring rolls and two bowls of ramen. The spring rolls were tasty and well made. The tonkotsu ramen was good, with good pork broth. The tan tan ramen was unusual and tasted like mapo tofu. It was also a thick soup but harder to drink since it was pretty rich. Staff were also friendly and helpful, so overall a pleasing experience 😊

One of our favourites in Ponsonby. Reasonable price, great food, great service. There are also seatings in the garden backyard which is really nice. Would definitely recommend this place.

Underwhelming in my opinion. Lacking the umami, I don’t know what the hype is about. Pretty pricy too for that thin lack lustre broth. Probably will only go there again if I need a place in ponsonby to have a hot bowl of noodle soup for the sick.

Came here 2 weeks ago and once again we have been impressed with the food and the service. They have a vegan option and lots of different choices on the menu.

The well done egg for ramen , what a big lost for the tendency . The pork was slightly cold , noodle was a bit undercooked. We order the avo Tuna was also a joke .<br/>The avo was black the salad was salty as the salt was free? Just 4-5 nail size tuna for the salad ? That’s big chance from previous visit. The browns bay Venue is way bigger portion Than this . I understand the staff who came from holiday still on this holiday mode but that’s not it should have done . Be more professional.

special ramen with not bad pricing. Ordered: pork belly spring rolls, spicy jade ramen and wonton ramen. Spring rolls were very very average. The filling was nothing special and wasn’t particularly tasty or crispy. Favourite was the spicy ramen! The spices on top were NOT too much xD mixed in very nicely to add to the flavour of the spicy soup and noodles ~ it does have a spicy kick! The wonton ramen is good for people who like a sweet ish broth with no spiciness. Wontons however were very average. Small size with no amazing filing inside. The broth and noodles went very well together with each having a subtle but definitely enjoyable taste. Highly recommend!

One of the more decent Ramen restaurants. Has a nice atmosphere and the service staff were very attentive and welcoming :) price are also affordable

I'm usually all for the bento boxes but decided to try ramen instead. Number one, because the place is called Ramen Takara and number 2, because the bento box options didn't seem very Japanese. They had options of sweet and sour pork and mapo tofu.<br/><br/>The ramen bowls were very generous and the soup broth was tasty. The wontons were slippery smooth. Nicely presented and the karaage chicken was crispy and tender.<br/><br/>Affordable Japanese in Ponsonby definitely gets a thumbs up from me.

I love this place, such a gem. Such delicious ramen, and sooo cheap for what you get. Attentive service, the dumplings are delicious and you get so much for $12 I couldn’t even finish it! Great place, definitely recommend.

Just visited for the first time! I had such a great surprise! prices are decent, the place is really cozy and the service is great. I will definitely come back

Great service even on a busy day, went for lunch with a friend, again attentive and not intrusive pleasant meals and heated courtyard. A staple for ponsonby road no doubt.

Great authentic ramen. Broth is a little on the salty side but it is still full of umami flavour. All in all an enjoyable experience. Will be back ☺

I went here the other day with a few girlfriends and oh my god.... It was AMAZING! <br/>We were seated out in the courtyard which was quite beautiful and peaceful, I then ordered the chicken karage don buri, I think, which was delivered within a good time frame. But the food itself was unbelievably good, the chicken was moist and tasted really well with the rice and vegetables it was served with.<br/>All and all I am certainly glad that I tried this restaurant and definitely would (and have) recommend this place to others.

Small and cozy ramen restaurant in the middle of busy Ponsonby. We had the Tan tan ramen (spicy), Tonkotsu ramen and Karaage chicken. Ramen was done and served beautifully. We came on a rainy night when the place is not busy so food came out quite quick. We also noticed that the place is quite small so do expect some waiting if you come during dinner time. In general my first impression with this place was quite good. I would definitely come back for more.

Let me start by saying service was good. Arrived around 9:25pm when they close at 10pm. Waiter was friendly and kind enough to check with the kitchen to see if they were still able to make meals for customers.<br/><br/>I ordered the Tonkotsu Ramen. The broth has a light and clean taste which is good but not what I was looking for. I prefer a tonkotsu with a richer taste. The noodles were chewy but I didn't like that it had the taste of the chemical added to make the noodle chewy (can't remember what it is called, lye water maybe). The tonkotsu came with one slice of char siu which was sliced thickly. It was reasonably tasty but I prefer thinly sliced char siu. The egg is something I need to criticize though. Usually a well cooked ramen egg will have a yolk that runny with a thick viscosity but this one was cooked almost all the way through.<br/><br/>I also ordered the Gyoza which tasted good. It has the traditional Japanese style pork flavour and paper thin skin to it. And it was well caramelized and charred at the bottom to give it a beautiful flavour. The only thing I would say that it needed a bit more filling. As you can see in the photo, the Gyoza was slightly flat and when eating it, I could feel that it needed a bit more filling to balance out the amount of skin being chewed on at the same time.<br/><br/>The yuzu cocktail I ordered was not bad but a bit bitter.<br/><br/>My girlfriend ordered the chicken teriyaki which had a delicious teriyaki sauce coating and topped with japanese style mayo. The amount of meat, veges and rice was well balanced too.

Since winter started and up to this day, I've got a constant ramen craving and have tried few joints and this place is my favourite by far. Not only the price is very affordable, I like that they have pretty wide flavour options available to order.<br/><br/>My favourite is the Tonkatsu Ramen and their Chicken Karaage. Even my boyfriend loves this ramen joint and got hooked as well. Perfect for winter season.<br/><br/>The staff are friendly and even if they tend to get busy, their service is quick. I just hope they take reservations/bookings for tables because as I mentioned earlier, they get busy and we needed to wait once for around 15 minutes for a table.<br/><br/>Overall, would recommend this place if you want a decent taste of Japanese food, especially ramen.<br/><br/>

Four of us dined here last week. Our choice was Karaage Chicken Don, Teriyaki Chicken Don and Wakanui Beef Tataki. The service was ok and food tasted good. However, the beef was practically raw and I ended up with a severe stomach pain, probably because of bacteria in the raw meat. We will not order beef at this restaurant again.

One of the best ramen place in town, rich flavour soup, reasonable price, very cosy definitely will go back for their ramen. <br/>Tonkatsu ramen (4/5) <br/>The soup is very tasty and rich in flavour, I would say is the second best soup after zool zool! But I like Ramen Takara' s egg because is not over cooked. Only criticism is one slice of pork is too little.<br/>Karaage chicken (4/5) <br/>Crispy on the outside and moist on the inside, the mayo sauce that you get to dip has a hint of wasabi which adds extra flavour to the chicken. Only criticism is that it could be more crispy.

Been here a few times. Love this place. Generous potions, fast and delicious food :) service is always awesome. The courtyard outside is super cute aswell. Will definitely be back.

A very busy ramen cafe in Auckland.🍜 So far, this is one of the best ramen in auckland that I had tried. 🍴Excellent customer service too.

Ramen is the best of soup noodle 😋 <br/>Takara serves good Ramen 🍜<br/>I like about the decor, cleanness & friendly service.<br/>They also have comfy & delicious side dishes to enjoy.<br/>The standard of cookings are not stable unfortunately. <br/>Ramen is surprisingly delicate food and tastes are quite different depending on how to cook.

Very good food. Have a variety. Nice vegetarian menu. Price is really good. Service is excellent.<br/>Would definitely visit again. Would recommend to others

Being a big fan of the browns bay outlet we tried the Ponsonby restaurant last week. The ramens were spot on and the service was good. The only thing that let us down a little were the "pork belly spring rolls". They were nice but there was barely any pork in them.

Upon entering it looks like a tiny restaurant joint, but actually there is a coridor that leads to another seating section. Who would have known lol simple interior but cozy feeling with comfy booth seatings too.<br/><br/>Their culinary expertise is serving a variety of ramen noodles in a variety of broth. They also give you the option of the type of noodles, even gluten free. Their selections are the most creative ive seen so far. I had the tomyum ramen and its almost thai but with a Japanese twist to it with their ingredients of seaweed and tofu. The gave a decent amount of prawns. The bowl of huge with alot of ingredients! I hate a bowl of soup noodles and they are stingy with the ingredients. Their steamed chicken gyoza was delicious. Soft and filling was tasty. They also have a nice selection of beer and wines. Their pinot noir by the glass was smooth.<br/><br/>Majority of the staff are Japanese and that also gives this place an authentic touch. Prices are on the higher side taking into account the location too. Def a place to visit and nothing's better then a hearty bowl of soup noodles on a cold day:)

Speaking of Japanese Ramen, Takara is the one that you should not be ignored.<br/>Hidden on buzzing Ponsonby road, this Takara is such a gem. However, you can still see through the ceiling windows telling how lovely and cozy it is.<br/>Walk in around 5pm, people already take up all the seats in the first lounge. Oh, too many people to sit down! Just then, waitress came in with a smile. Two people, follow me...<br/>Follow you to, where?<br/>What a clever thought. They turned out the backside, to be more specific, the conservatory into a second lounge, setting long sharing tables in between and several separated seats. Dressed with a few pots of greens to lighten this area.<br/>wow, more secret in a hidden place.  <br/><br/>In Japan, if sitting in sorts of place like this, you wouldn't let down by the dish, as only the very local restaurants do it this way. So I began to feel confident.<br/>The menu is different to the Takara in Browns Bay, I should say, more expensive for Ponsonby people to consume. Daily special dish is a plus to your greedy appetite. But most people come for Ramen, directly.<br/><br/>Pork Ramen comes up with nothing wrong. Creamy soup, right amount of salt, half poached egg, pork slice with several veggies especially the bamboo shoots. It is up to the name. <br/>However, the fried chicken was a disappointment. It came with a right temperature, good color, crispy skin and tender inside. But, no taste at all. Maybe chef is too busy coping with the dishes and left the salt behind.<br/>Fried tofu tastes smooth with the soy sauce dressing. The outside skin still needs a bit of time to become more crusty for the first bite pleasure.<br/>Some points finally drove me away from here. Too noise by the noise from people sitting next to you, I do not appreciate people making funny sound eating Ramen, and what is more,being lack of space seemed to push people just finish eating and go.<br/><br/>Now, I do miss the coziness of a small Ramen place in Japan. Fewer customers, and you can share some talk with the chef, watching him make you the bowl of noodle.<br/><br/>Yes, the lost of humanity in the crowed society could affect greatly.

Ramen Takara is a family favourite for us and our 3 teen guests we frequently dine here with. We've also done takeout on several occasions.<br/>Personal favourites are pork belly spring rolls, steamed gyoza & karaage chicken as entree's. Two of our teen guests are embarrassingly fussy but hoover all 3 mentioned dishes every time. They don't pick anything out much to our amazement. <br/>  The flavours are exactly as you'd expect. The spring rolls are hands down our favourite, Auckland wide. It's hard to explain foods that have their distinct flavour profile and taste like what they say, but better then what you might imagine. The food here is cooked, as well as it is made. Care is taken and it shows on the plate and in the flavour. The wasabi that comes with the spring rolls is the real McCoy, it will kick you in the mouth but in a very addictive way. 'AK' takes it off everyones plates and stockpiles it to have with everything he eats. He's a wasabi snob and rates this one highly. I have found myself trying it the last time also. I'll admit, I went back 4 times for a little more as its addictive.<br/>  We sometimes get the beef tataki. The meat quality is top notch but we all wish it was sliced thinner and instead of coming with a warm onion style chutney, it came with a sprinkling of fried onion or shallot and a light soy type sauce for dipping. (Think Ebisu or Sake Bar Rikka of old).<br/>  Our teen guests always get the teriyaki chicken don & Karaage chicken don. Predictable, reliable and consistently good. One of our favourite things about the karaage chicken is that it does not have any ridiculous cornflake type batter like other Japanese establishments. The batter here is perfect.<br/>  We always get ramen. We have tried 4 of them and tom yum is our fav. It has a good kick, not good for non spice eaters/tolerators. We love the flavour of the combo of hot, spicy, sour with mushrooms, prawns, noodles, tomato etc. It's literally like a giant tom yum soup but ramen'fied' and with a spicy, but delicious mouth whooping.<br/>  The staff here are courteous, polite and efficient. Always smiling and always helpful if needed.<br/>We personally love the casualness of this place. You don't have to get dolled up to come here unless you want to. Were usually calling in on our way home and pretty casual and its the kind of place that feels okay to do so. <br/>If they are too busy to accomodate you & your happy to wait, the system they run is efficient.

Absolutely my favourite place to go. Outstanding service every time. Tried the avo and tuna this time, and it was amazing! Can't wait to go again.

Walking through Ramen Takara Ponsonby is like jumping through the wardrobe to Narnia, except its Tokyo and it smells heavenly.<br/><br/>The restaurant itself is tucked in the heart of Ponsonby Road and parking is an inconvenience in this location of Auckland but well worth it if you have a hankering for Ramen or if your already in the neighbourhood its the perfect place to drop in and end your errands on a high.<br/><br/>Kakuni Pork Belly Ramen is a bowl of succulent melt in your mouth pork pieces, surrounded by garden fresh sides, soul warming broth and a spectacular velvety, flavour packing egg. Its mind-blowing that Ramen Takara can seamlessly work together such a variety of flavours and textures into one bowl. This is the ramen to end all ramen in Auckland City. <br/><br/>It was surprising how chill the ambience was amid the madness of the lunch hour rush, the staff were totally at ease and waiting tables like masters. They were incredibly perceptive to our needs, the food was delivered promptly and at the perfect temperature, hot but not too hot to eat.<br/>Perfection!

I've been here for lunch constantly for the last month lol, love all ramen but my favorite is number 11 on the menu, crispy noodles with stir fry seafood and vegetables.<br/>Great value, great food, happy staff:)

I've been told by many Japanese they make the best raamen in Auckland. <br/><br/>The noodles are amazing, the texture is fun and enjoyable. The soup made of thick tasty broth. Lots of vegetables to be healthy too. <br/><br/>Service: 4/5<br/>Environment: 4/5<br/>Food Quality: 4.5/5<br/>Food Quantity: 4.5/5<br/>Price $15-$20pp

I have a Japanese tell me this is the best ramen available in AKL, and I have a Taiwanese tell me this is the best ramen with taste of Japan. I like it, I tried only their traditional ramen and I would stick to this menu. Also the beef tataki is great value too.

We had high hopes for this place but hopes were crushed. We have just recently returned from Tokyo. The ramen here is nowhere near the complexity of flavours we get from Tokyo. The flavours are flat and monotone. We didn't get any hit of umami flavours. They put radish pickle in their ramen which I couldn't swallow. It was that bad.<br/>The gyoza were average too and small sized. <br/>For those who gave this a 5 star I recommend you to go to japan or try genzui in atrium. Its much better.

Loved the resto. Provided a great ambience. We had the tonkotsu ramen and the pork belly ramen. They were great and if we lived here, we would definitely be coming back often.

Saw my friend's post and her review about this place.<br/>It was even beyond my expectation!<br/>Tonkotsu ramen - I asked the wait staff to make it spicy, and it was just sublime.<br/>It was not too spicy and the flavor combination of sour and spicy was amazing!<br/>Will definitely come back.<br/><br/><br/>Craving for more!❤❤

Best ramen in town! Many people has told me to try this ramen and actually it's beyond my expectation. <br/>Food: I got myself tonkotsu ramen. The broth is taste just right, it's light but rich in the same time. The noodles also has good texture, just love it! My friend got the dan dan ramen, when I taste the broth it's so refreshing with spicy and sour taste. <br/>Place: It has good price for this taste. Good ambience and friendly staffs. Double thumbs up!

One of the best ramen places in Auckland. Everything I tried was very good, the gyoza, the super crispy fried lotus roots and the tonkotsu ramen (cloudy, flavoursome and with sticky-lipped).<br/><br/>They also have a good variety of sale, also served in a degustation style.

Service was fantastic. The flavours in the wontons were incredible. Would love to come back. The decor was simple and cute. Portion sizes were huge, couldn't have another bite.

Waited nearly an hour just for my Ramen. Flavor not even great. What makes this review a 1.5 is the staff are friendly, and pricing is fair, but there's cheaper and better Ramen out there, other than that would not come back due to the super slow service. Oh and they also forgot to bring my chop sticks and expected me to eat with my hands. I also asked the waitress if it was going to be extra for chili and she said no with confidence, but when I went to pay I was in for a surprise that I was getting charged for it and had to complain my way out as that was very unfair for them to lie and secretly charge their customers.

I'm a Ramen nut. I get especially excited about Tan Tan. Like Crazy for the stuff. <br/><br/>I went to Hawaii last year where there are Tan Tan 'wars' amongst competing Ramen bars and was lucky enough to sample some of the best. My favourite Tan Tan is wildly simple at Bien in Newmarket. The Tan Tan at Takara has a very different broth flavour with a slightly acidic profile (rice wine vinegar?). It is very generous in proportions and not particularly spicy. Don't get me wrong, it's delicious - just different to others I have tried. The setting is pretty casual - a great lunch spot in my opinion. For old school Ramen check out Ramen Do on Symonds St too.

It was Sunday afternoon and me and my daughter felt like ramen so we thought we should try this place. We had tongkatsu ramen and wonton ramen and tuna and avo. Tongkatsu ramen had quite a lot of tongkatsu meat which was great however tuna and avo was quite salty. I found everything quite saltier than usual. It's okay ramen overall nothing really special.

Well this place is good, but so do lots of other Ramen places. Nothing too special about any of their dishes, certainly not stand out within the group. <br/><br/>But good atmosphere, speedy service and good beer list.

Originating from the slopes of Mt Fuji, Ramen Takara joins us in Ponsonby in the building where Clearwater Peak used to be. The restaurant opens up to a sheltered courtyard with a large taupe covering and hanging vintage light bulbs and with heaters lined the walls facing the seating booths, we were already absolutely smitten. <br/><br/>The menu boasts a good variety of beer nibbles and hearty ramen. The noodle broth apparently takes over 3 hours to create – rich, fragrant and packed with umami. Our jaws dropped when the Thai-inspired Tom Yum bowls arrived — ramen with a mountain of stirfried vegetables, shredded leek and prawns heaped on top - these are not for the faint-hearted! Other dishes worthy of mention were the chicken karaage and dumplings, served in dainty bamboo steamers. Bring your mates here next time for a winter date.<br/>To see our individual comments, check out: husk.co.nz/lunches/ramen-takara

We'd heard good things about Ramen Takara, so when the ramen craving hit we made sure to tick this one off our list.<br/><br/>Expecting a massive portion of ramen (as seems to be the trend with ramen restaurants), we ordered a pork belly ramen, agedashi tofu, and pork gyoza to share.<br/><br/>As it turned out we probably needed another dish as the ramen wasn't as generous as we'd expected. The broth was delicious, but the noodles hadn't picked up much flavour from the broth and there wasn't a lot of pork belly. Next time we would definitely add some extras the the ramen to make it go a bit further / make it a bit more exciting. <br/><br/>The stand out dish was the agedashi tofu, which had a nice texture / and sauce. The gyoza were disappointing.<br/><br/>Service was friendly, and the food came out pretty quickly. If you get to choose, ask to dine in the courtyard.<br/><br/>Overall: 3/5 solid but not spectacular

Had such a great lunch wiz my boyfriend in a rainy day. We came here because of friend's recommended. But the dishes didn't let us down. We ordered Dan-Dan noodle, No.4 ramen(couldn't remember the name) and beef Tataki. The ramen soup is delightful. We will come back next time <br/>

Dined here last night for a friends birthday (Friday night.) the place is very small and it's located by Mekong Baby (parking was super easy!) very casual place to dine, we managed to get a large table outside. Service was okay, waiter was prompt but we had to keep asking for chopstick and if you have more than 8 people it was a hassle. Food was great my chicken Karagge don was cooked perfectly and seasoned well. Noodle serving were also decent size (not too big and not too small) and they were pretty good with amount of meat and waiting time wasn't too bad either. Price was great very affordable around $16 a meal. Overall will be back!

After reading lots of good review about the place, it's time for me to try it myself :) <br/><br/>The service was really friendly and warm welcomed. We ordered tan-tan ramen and kakuni pork belly ramen (which was special menu when we were there). Tan-tan ramen was tasty but not spicy if you like spicy food. The broth was tasty and ramen noodle was really nice. Kakuni pork belly was pretty bland with not much taste in the broth. I think if they add more kick from pork belly stock that could make the dish a lot better.

I reckon this is one of the best japanese place in Ponsonby. <br/><br/>The staff were really friendly and very accomodating. The ambience was really modern and cozy. <br/><br/>You should order the pork bun! One of the best pork buns ive tried so far:)<br/><br/>We ordered the ramen and teriyaki chicken and it was affordable and delicious!<br/><br/>They have a lot of space even though it looks small in the outside. Need to come back again to try the rest of their menu :)

We came here as we were recommended that this is the best ramen place in Auckland.<br/><br/>The decor was lovely. Not what you would expect of a traditional Japanese restaurant, but more like a quirky cafe.<br/><br/>The waiter was super friendly. While my family found the food more on the more side, I personally found it did not disappoint. The tan tan noodles had a spicy peanut/sesame base which was absolutely wonderful and exotic. The ramen they use were the best I've had, and the best part was you could choose thick or thin noodles depending on your preference. Love that most broth came with the vegetarian option too, very accommodating.<br/><br/>Overall definitely a place worth checking out if you are ever in the Ponsonby area.

Visited for a Friday dinner after wanting to try the place for a while.<br/><br/>We ordered the pork spring rolls, karaage chicken, and the tonkots ramen.<br/><br/>Everything came out at a good pace. First were the spring rolls. These were disappointing as they were more mushroom than pork. With it saying pork belly spring rolls on the menu, we were left disappointed as there wasn't much meat inside.<br/><br/>We then received the karaage chicken. It was a so so dish, not seasoned enough with an interesting taste of ginger which I did not fancy.<br/><br/>I ordered the tonkotsu ramen with thick and curly noodles. The noodles were good, freshly made with a nice bite. However I didn't like the broth. To me it tasted like it was made using fatty pork instead of a nice hearty stock. <br/><br/>Overall food was okay, however I wouldn't come back.

I had a high expectation for this restaurant but they did not fulfil it. The ramen is okay level but missing wow factors. You will get not enough amount of both noodle and topping compare to other ramen places. They offer you a really lively and cheerful atmosphere reflecting the culture of Ponsonby region, however, if you are looking for a really good ramen place, I wouldn't rush and recommend. Meanwhile, if you are looking for a place where you can hang around with your mates with okay food, this is the place.

I first dropped into Ramen Takara to satisfy my noodle cravings at the suggestion of a friend, and I have not hesitated to recommend Ramen Takara since then.<br/><br/>We started with a Choya plum wine cocktail, which paired deliciously with Tonkotsu Ramen and Karaage Chicken (Which, far surpassed our expectations and has been added to my "Best Fried Chicken Spots" list). <br/><br/>The cocktail was refreshing and delicious, and I was advised they are frequently updating their specials to cater for the different seasons.The Karaage chicken was crispy, fresh, and fragrant. It was definitely a melt in your mouth, fight over the last piece sort of dish. I highly recommend it.<br/><br/>The noodles where freshly made, and you don't need to read it on the menu to know it, they were delicious. The real hero was the broth, which was light, balanced, and seriously addictive, I was battling with the giant portion size and ALMOST regretted ordering a second cocktail as it was all so filling. Don't have a big lunch if you're planning a dinner date here!Top place to bring a date, especially a foodie who will enjoy the variety and authentic flavors.<br/><br/>My only critique was that I found myself wishing there was a little more ambiance, perhaps some warmer light or music to really draw everything together. It felt a little more like a cafe with simple decor than a restaurant... But when the food tastes that good, who can complain?

Went here for dinner here last night. We ordered the tsukemono, chasu ramen, wonton ramen, pork gyzoa and karaage chicken. The tsukemono was fresh, sour and cold, perfect way to start the meal. The pork gyzoa wasn't the best I have tried, I found them a little sour which wasn't wanted. The karaage chicken was amazingly crisp with flavours of ginger through the crumbing. A definite must try! I had the wonton ramen and every component perfectly matched the next. My friend thoroughly enjoyed her chasu ramen. The staff were friendly and very helpful. I will be back to get a ramen fix!

Loved your ramen. So flavoursome and filling! Thank you for being accomodating and having your friendly staff to serve us! And not rush us out the door to leave after closing hours too!

I love ramen! The layout of this place is absolutely awesome!! The decor and the tables are just so modern, with such an awesome flow. I would come and sit here for a beer, loved the atmosphere. <br/><br/>Service was super friendly and welcoming! It was also really quite. <br/><br/>We got two different ramen, the Tan Tan was our favourite with a spicy peanut broth. The Tom Yum I wasn't a huge fan of, but I'm sure others would like it for sure. The gyoza perfect. <br/><br/>Will come back again for sure!

Stopped in for a ramen boost, and tried the sesame chicken special. I guess I didn't read the fine print properly as it turned out to be cold ramen. It was nice enough but the victim of heated expectations. The service was good and atmosphere wise it was ok but missing the usual Japanese charm.

The dishes I had were too salty and lack of real favours. The favours are neither traditional or modern- missing something that make the place stand out. There are much better Ramen places in Auckland in my opinion.

Ramen ramen ramen this one was so tasty. The menu confused me but they kindly explained that items with the vegetarian sign mean that they can take the meat out! They also do a separate vegetarian broth. It makes me so happy that this place does vegetable gyoza as well!

My partner was craving ramen so we decided to give Ramen Takara a go, on a quiet late Sunday afternoon. We asked to sit in the booth but the waitress said we weren't allowed (for some Unknown reason ) but another couple was sitting in a different booth . we had to settle with the table squashed in the corner even though the restaurant was close to empty . <br/><br/>We ordered the pork belly mushroom spring roll, tofu quinoa avo salad, and Tonkatsu ramen. <br/><br/>The salad was light and fresh, good to have on a hot Sunday afternoon . The spring rolls were light and crispy , would have been even better if there were more fillings ! <br/><br/>The ramen was good overall, the cloudy pork soup had nice rich flavours and a smooth body, it did not have any signs of MSG which sometimes is quite common, the noodle was fresh and not out of packet with fresh toppings. As expected the noodle and the soup was the hero of this bowl.<br/><br/> Unfortunately the whole time during lunch we were surrounded by swarm of flies .... <br/><br/><br/><br/><br/>

Our table tried the fried chicken, goyza, tonkotsu ramen, and tan-tan ramen. The noodle here has a good texture but we've had better ramen from places on Dominion Road who are more generous with their toppings, I'd recommend going to Dragon Bowl for your ramen fix. <br/>

Awesome service and prompt with getting food on the table. I tried fried chicken and pork belly spring roll. Fried chicken was nice but pork belly spring roll was disappointing as there wasn't enough meat in there. Next time will try their Ramen as that's what they are popular for.

Every time I try a ramen restaurant, I try my favorite tonkostu ramen first. The famous tonkotsu ramen uses a broth made from pork bones. I can't find any ramen good enough as what I ate in Japan.<br/>Few days ago, I suddenly want to have Japanese ramen and I heard a lot about Ramen Takara Browns bay. But it's weekday lunch, so I chose one near my workplace. That's Ramen taraka Ponsonby. I did' t eat there and my colleague bought take-away for me.<br/>Actually it's one of the top ramen in Auckland which I ever tried. The Tonkostu ramen is with a creamy and thick soup which make me love it. You know, the soup base is the most important thing to judge a tonkustu ramen. The ramen itself is good as well. The pork on the top is tender.<br/>Will definitely go back here and try other ramen.

Conveniently located on Ponsonby Road, this place was buzzing for a weeknight. Although there is seating inside, I'd suggest heading out to the courtyard if you can - the booth seats are perfect for 3+ people. The decor is fresh and modern, prefect for a summer day. <br/><br/>We found the staff attentive and easy going which suited the atmosphere of the restaurant. The menu has a good range of Japanese dishes with lots of options for those that like the share small plates.<br/><br/>We ordered the vegetable gyoza, Miso vegetable ramen and the Tom yum ramen. Large hot soup bowls filled with tasty veggies and noodles. The ramen bowls here are really tasty and full of authentic flavour!

Great spot especially at the sunny backyard, used to be a another cafe in the past and changed ownership several times so good to see a nice change here with yummy Japanese noodles / ramen. We ordered a quick snack the tan tan noodles which had pork mince and curry like flavour which was nice and some gyozas to go with it and hit the right spot indeed. We will be back for more in future with their nice and friendly staff too, highly recommended !

I normally prefer fried noodle to soup noodle but this one...the chicken ramen that I have is just delicious. The portion is just right and the soup is full of flavor.<br/>They have a backyard sitting area which looks very private and very well layout. The ambience is very welcoming and I just love it! You must give it a try n yes they do large group.

My partner and I have been to Ramen Takara a few times now.  The 2nd time we ate here the staff had remembered us from 3-4 weeks prior from our first visit, this impressed us both as it'a busy little place.  The staff are probably the friendliest bunch I've seen in a long time, always smiling, always happy and nothing is too much to ask.<br/><br/>The Spicy Black Tan-Tan Ramen is a taste explosion.  That broth ..... Wow, that broth is amazing.  Very rich and a great depth of flavor.  It comes with a miniature pestle & mortar to grind up roasted sesame seeds to sprinkle over top, this adds a freshness and amazing aroma to the dish.  The portions of Ramen are substantial so ensure you don't spoil your appetite before going :)<br/><br/>If it's a cool wintery evening and you need something to warm you up instantly, I can't recommend Ramen Takara enough.

We had high expectations after reading a really good review in the Herald but sadly, we were disappointed.  Our waitress had forgotten to place our order so we waited nearly an hour for our main courses. No apology was given just a simply, "I forgot". The Tan Tan Ramen dish consisted of a tasty, creamy broth with just the right amount of chilli to give it bite but it was the noodles that let the dish down. They tasted like 99c five minute noodles. Cheap and tasteless. The menu said it contained minced pork but i found one small mouthful. My partner had the Kaisen Agesoba. This consisted of a couple of prawns and one piece of squid. He left feeling unsatisfied. The decor is pleasant and the vibe is chilled but we left feeling hungry. This place should try much harder if it is to survive.

Sunday Lunch, Ramen Takara was packed and bustling! <br/><br/>Excellent decor gave off a relaxing and vibrant atmosphere to dine in. <br/><br/>Our group ordered a variety of ramen and we all enjoyed our meals. We did all notice that maybe more broth next time would be better.<br/><br/>Really visually appealing meal and the atmosphere was fantastic.<br/><br/>Showstopper; Chillaxing vibe<br/><br/>Overall grade: B

Ramen Takara is a nice place to go for a nice relaxed meal. The decor is very cute.<br/>My friend and I were promptly seated at a table and given water as soon as we walked in. <br/>I ordered the Wonton Ramen noodles with a side of fried dumplings. The dumplings were slightly over-done and lacked flavour. The ramen broth was average, not the best I've had but still enjoyed the filling.<br/>Our waitress wasn't the most helpful, think she may have lacked a lot of English. I asked for extra bok Choy but never got any so feel there was a lot of miscommunication with our order.<br/>Great location, Good food, poor service

Came here tonight with friends. The main thing with ramen is the soup. The miso ramen was above average. The soup is certainly not as salty as what it normally is. It has a nice flavour to it. I love the vegetable gyoza, it is homemade with ginger and cabbage inside. My friend said his black tan tan ramen was quite nice. They let you grind the flavours of black sesame seeds out and pour it into the soup. The maccha (green tea) icecream dessert was quite yummy. Overall not a bad place to try. Note that they don't take bookings and the tables are not really designed for you to sit down for too long.

I went here with a group of friends for dinner. The decor of this place is really nice. Fresh and modern with a nice courtyard area. The karage chicken was nice, the gyoza was good. The let down for me was my tom yum ramen... it was very tomato-y but in a tinned tomato sense... It just wasn't very nice. I was expecting a sour soup and it was pretty overpriced for what it was (guess it comes with the Ponsonby territory though). One of my friends ordered the Tan Tan Ramen which was by far the best, it kind of reminded me of a laksa. I don't think I'd be back for ramen when there are for more authentic places around. I've definitely heard mixed reviews about this place and I think it was just a little Ponsonby aka white-washed for my liking :/

Solid ! Ramen noodles hit the spot, the pork Ramen to die for! Can't fault the simplistic nature if Japanese cooking, recommend this place to anyone that cares to listenSarah Forsyth #g7

I d probably rate this place as the makers of the best ramen in town. We tasted ramen number 6 and 7 from the list, and loved both. The service is good, staff are friendly, and positive vibes by everywhere. It's just that backcourt could get a bit chilly somedays. Then again, the ramen is awesome!

My husband and I were craving for ramen so we decided to try this new place in Ponsonby. The interior of the restaurant is definitely better than other ramen places in Auckland. <br/><br/>We ordered karaage chicken for entree and it was good. It was crunchy outside and juicy inside. If they add more flavor to it that chicken would have been perfect.<br/><br/>We then ordered Tan Tan Ramen & Tonkotsu Ramen. The soup of the tan tan ramen was delicious! It was rich and a perfect combination of sour and spicy. The thick & curly noodles were perfectly cooked as well. Will definitely order it again on our next visit! The tonkotsu on the other hand was so-so. We found the soup a bit bland but the thin noodles and egg were really good. The chashu (sliced pork) was not that soft compared to other ramen places so I hope they can improve that.<br/><br/>Overall, it was a good experience. We will definitely be back!

The dinning environment is nicer comparing with other ramen shop around city. But the taste is so so so. Next time I may try the Tonkustu ramen. But shio ramen is really below average.

This place is so cute and the service was so lovely. Unfortunately the food left us feeling unsatisfied. The bean sprout salad was remarkably small and barely seasoned, the ramen was lukewarm and way too salty. Our waitress was so great about it all and we got complimentary edamame with our beer!

Dined @ Ramen Takara last night and it definitely met our expectations. Between the two of us, we shared the tan tan ramen, steamed gyoza, pan fried pork gyoza, pork belly spring rolls and karaage chicken. The tan tan broth was absolutely incredible. Rich, sour and spicy. Would definitely recommend for those who like stronger flavours. We both thought the ramen was slightly under; a tad too firm for my liking. <br/><br/>My favourite was the karaage chicken. Juicy hot and crunchy ahhhhh, salivating thinking about it. Gyoza's were delicious. The pan fried pork ones stood out a little more - would definitely get these again. Spring rolls were a miss - lack of depth in ingredients and flavour. Think typical spring roll you could get anywhere with added shiitake mushrooms. <br/><br/>10 points to ramen takara for making their own wasabi and Mayo!!!! Would definitely come back one day soon!!

I went here on a fairly dismal rainy evening. Being that it was a Saturday the place was fairly busy, but even with the busyness if the place my partner and I received fantastic service and everything we ordered arrived quickly and most importantly everything tastes fantastic. The karaage was crispy and yet juicy on the inside. The steamed dumplings once again cooked well and were a nice light starter. And so... the all important ramen. My partner had the standard shoyu ramen and I had the tonkatsu. Both broths and noodles were great, the portions of pork just right and the overall flavour of everything complemented each other. Everything that was in the bowl was delicious so I really can't complain. My only gripe is that it's going to be hard to order anything else off the menu as the ramen and karaage were superb.

Ramen takara started out in Browns bay on the north shore, and recently started their second branch in ponsonby. It's a little store out front but there's more seating area out the backyard. Menu is exactly the same as in Browns bay. It has always been my favourite ramen place. And I would highly recommend to everyone to at least give it a try.

We visited this place for dinner on a weekend night. We had a very early dinner at about 5pm+ but seems reservation was very essential. We ordered pork bone soup ramen, kid set ramen and fried vege. The pork bone soup ramen was very good but from my experience of eating Japanese ramen for years, I never have bak choy in the ramen before. It was not a good match though. I like the fried vege. Have not had this kind of vege in most of Japanese restaurants in Auckland but it tasted the same as what I had back in Malaysia.

I've been to several ramen places and it was a disappointment. The atmosphere is very hip and the service is friendly and nice but the food is overpriced (most likely because it's in Ponsonby) and the amount of food given isn't as much as other ramen places. My friends who were with me had 1 piece of meat in their ramen. The broth/soup of the Cha Shu ramen just tasted like soy sauce and water - really salty and had no deep taste. It didn't taste anything like the Cha Shu I've had at other locations.

My first experience at this RamenJapanese , I soon discovered its has more than ramen on offer.<br/>Firstly , the welcome ,service,atmosphere and music put me in the right place right away.<br/><br/>Decided to have their fresh yuzu cocktail , Devine and so refreshing.<br/>As I came here for the Ramen, I settled on the Tori Shio Ramen @ $15, this was delicious and just the right serving amount , the nice thing about here is that you can choose the type of noodles you want and add other toppings.<br/>They also have a very good selection of Sakes and whiskes.<br/>I can see myself being a regular here... Luv this place<br/><br/>

This was our first visit to Ramen Takara, and to be honest I didn't even know it had replaced the old Landreth & Co cafe on Ponsonby Road (must get out more). Luckily they have retained the warm and cozy feel of its predecessor and the cheerful staff were more than helpful in squeezing all eight of us into the back courtyard, especially given that we hadn't booked. <br/><br/>The menu is very traditional in flavour and we ordered a varied selection between us, that all looked beautiful when they arrived promptly to our table. I can't speak for everyone else but to start my wife and I ordered the Tempura Cauliflower which was amazing with the green tea salt. We also ordered the Pork Gyoza, which although not being as crispy as I would have liked, were very tasty and a great way to kick things off.<br/><br/>For main we ordered the Chashu Ramen and Salmon Salad Noodles which were very nice. The Ramen was not the best I have ever tasted and lacked some flavour kick, but still very enjoyable on this wintery evening and the egg was beautifully soft boiled. For dessert we ordered the green tea ice cream and coconut ice cream respectively, which were both presented well.<br/><br/>An enjoyable evening, but not as memorable as we would have hoped. My only regret was that I didn't check the drinks menu before ordering a glass of cider. As far as cider goes it tasted fine, but for $16 a glass it wasn't THAT good. <br/><br/>Will know for next time... and there will be a next time.

Had lunch at the back courtyard here.<br/>Ordered the wonton ramen and wasn't very impressed with the quantity I received. <br/>According to the menu: Homemade wontons, chasu pork, egg, bok choy, spring onion and bamboo shoots.<br/><br/>I received way too little bok choy. If you take a look at the picture I've attached, those 2 little pieces was literally all I had. These were also the smallest wontons I ever seen, hardly any meat in them. Regardless if they were homemade or it's some Japanese style wontons, I wasn't impressed at all. Otherwise, the noodles were quite nice and so was the egg, though I would have appreciated a whole egg rather than half an egg.<br/>For $14, I feel I didn't get value in terms of quantity or quality.<br/><br/>The service was also quite mediocre. The waitress didn't offer us any drinks and we didn't receive any serviettes. Since we were at the back, it wasn't obvious were additional utensils were located or that there was a water jug inside where we help ourselves.<br/><br/>The heaters at the back were also way too strong, especially if you were in the line of heat. It should be turned down a few notches.<br/><br/>Overall, rather let down and felt mislead by such little amount of bok choy. It is obvious this place is quite tight with the portions they serve. I don't think I will be coming back here.

Absolutely stunning good and service. Ponsonby you are lucky the folks in Browns Bay are sharing this gem with you... Well done Yuki and the team

Food 4.5<br/>Value 3<br/>Service 3<br/>Atmosphere 4<br/><br/>I ordered the tonkotsu ramen, its very authentic and probably the best ramen I've ever tried in Auckland. The noodles soft and not as chewy, great flavor of the soup. EGG IS THE BEST there are not many Restaurant can make such beautiful soft boiled egg , semi runny yolk with perfect seasoning. Just the chasyu is not that good coz its still have the bad taste of the pork. Would be great if they can cook it with ginger to get rid of the taste.service I would like to have tissue and water for us.