When it comes to ramen, Nana and Papa have pretty high standards.
After living in Hawaii for more than 30 years, we’ve enjoyed ramen from countless restaurants ranging from tiny neighborhood shops to well-known favorites. We’ve also spent years trying ramen all across the mainland.
So when we heard people talking about Raijin Ramen in Tucson, Arizona, we knew we had to give it a try.
And now we understand why it consistently receives such high ratings.
Finding Raijin Ramen
Located on Speedway Boulevard in Tucson, Raijin Ramen isn’t a huge restaurant.
In fact, it’s fairly small and cozy, with seating for approximately 15 tables.
That means one thing:
If you arrive during the dinner rush, especially between 5 PM and 8 PM, you may have to wait.
But in our opinion?
It’s worth it.
First Impressions
The restaurant has a welcoming atmosphere and feels authentic from the moment you walk in.
The staff was friendly and attentive, and the restaurant had a steady flow of customers throughout our visit.
Whenever you see locals willing to wait for a table, that’s usually a good sign.
The Food
The star of the show, of course, is the ramen.
One thing we immediately noticed was how incredibly hot the bowls arrived at the table.
And we mean HOT.
Most people will want to let their ramen cool down for a few minutes before digging in.
Nana, however, doesn’t believe in waiting for food to cool down. 😂
She jumped right in while Papa took the safer route and gave his bowl a few minutes.
The broth was rich and flavorful, the noodles had great texture, and everything tasted fresh and carefully prepared.
Our Rating
As ramen lovers, we’re pretty picky.
Raijin Ramen earned a solid:
⭐ 8/10
That’s a very good score coming from two people who have eaten a lot of ramen over the years.
Would we return?
Absolutely.
Final Thoughts
If you’re visiting Tucson and craving a comforting bowl of authentic ramen, Raijin Ramen should definitely be on your list.
It’s not a giant restaurant.
You may have to wait.
But once that steaming bowl arrives at your table, you’ll understand why so many people recommend it.
Sometimes the best restaurants aren’t the biggest ones.
They’re the places that focus on doing one thing exceptionally well.
Raijin Ramen is one of those places.
