Kitakata Ramen Ban Nai - Rowland Heights

This location opened a mere month ago (Sept. 30th, I think) and i can already see it becoming a favorite. The food was, as always, amazing. I lived a block away from the Costa Mesa location for around 3 years. The Tsukemen (dipping noodles) with shouyu broth was excellent. The service was top-tier. I forgot to get the server's name but she was an Indonesian/South East Asian lady with a pleasant attitude and glad to be helping us. The ambiance is also incredible. It being a corner store gives the whole place great lighting and visibility. 10/10 location.

I’ve been frequenting Kitakata for years. Starting at the Costa Mesa location, and bouncing around the Irvine and Buena Park ones until now Rowland Heights being my closest location. I’ve been twice since opening and it’s been just as good as the other locations. Most recently came to try the mapo tofu special after having 13 bowls in Japan and it was still fantastic. Also tried the chicken nanban which was also great.

Compared with the other locations in Buena Park, the ramen portion is smaller, and the noodles…not sure if it’s over cooked or what but it’s definitely not worth the effort to get here. And the meat tastes different 😞. Service is ok. Inside the restaurant the temperature is higher than outside. With some ladies talking on the phone with speaker on full blast. I will go to the Buena Park one instead.

5/5 Stars: The Real Deal—Unforgettable Ramen and Top-Tier Service This isn't just a meal; it's a genuine Japanese ramen experience. Every detail is meticulously executed. The entire team deserves praise for their incredibly hard-working and attentive service. And the food? It's straight out of Japan. The broth is deep and savory, and the noodles are perfectly cooked—nice and elastic with a satisfying bite. But the chashu is the star: it's impossibly tender and rich, dissolving on your tongue the moment you taste it. If you're looking for authenticity and a flawless dining experience, stop looking. Come in and enjoy!

Wait time for the ramen was about 3 minutes after the appetizers came out. You’re able to customize the richness of your broth and now firm you want your noodles to be. (I think that’s pretty nice) The Karage was very juicy, enjoyed it a bunch. Overall a good experience!! Atmosphere was calm as well