Yu-Raku

Decidedly average ramen, miso, tantan. Stick to Santa. Not cheap either.

This place is great. It’s a go to lunch spot for me and my co-​workers. I usually go with ramen and an order of gyoza.

The restaurant is small, very plain, and pretty hole-​in-​the-​wall-​ish. It’s not where most of the restaurants are in San Mateo, but about a minute away in it’s own little spot.
To be honest, my husband and I were very hesitant to eat here. We were hungry, and made a deal to never try new restaurants when we’re SUPER hungry. But, we were already seated and didn’t want to be rude. I’ve got to say, we were very judgmental and pretty much critiqued every little thing at the restaurant.
First things we noticed: no line, plain with traditional décor, lots of empty tables.
On a Friday evening, we assumed this place must not be so great if there are no lines! We knew we wanted ramen, so we went straight to the ramen section and didn’t even bother with anything else.
We both ordered the Tonkotsu and requested for spicy with extra noodles. Seeing that they didn’t serve pork belly was very disappointing for us! The service was good. Not too slow, but not fast either. We decided that was a good thing — at least we know our food is freshly prepared if it takes time.
When we got our ramen, we immediately noticed how the noodles took over the whole bowl. Yes there was soup, but not lots of it. And the noodles were thinner, so we did see how this place could be a Japanese/​Chinese style. My husband didn’t like the thin noodles and said it had a sticky consistency. It wasn’t the best, but it was actually ok to good! I was torn between liking and disliking the noodles being so thin, but as I kept eating, I actually started to really enjoy it. The pork was decent, and was also thicker than the pork I’ve gotten at Momiji in Daly City or Ramen Dojo.
All in all, it was a good experience because we had such low expectations. It wasn’t that bad. I would come back if I really wanted ramen and it was the closest place to me. But I wouldn’t come back if there are other options (such as Ramen Dojo or Parlor).

I have to say, this is one of my favorite ramen places in San Mateo… maybe even in the bay? I’ve done Himawari, Ramen Dojo (a TAD overrated IMO) and Ajisen. I mean those were good, but I felt like this place had the right noodles and broth for my liking.
I came here a few weeks ago for a lunch date and had the Tan Tan Men, a tad spicy as I was sweating a storm but good enough where I could handle it. For some odd reason, I was craving some ramen today with our crazy San Mateo weather where it was hot the last two days, but FREEZING today. I decided to go get some broth-​y ramen on this cold day. I walked on down which is 4 block away from my office which is nice.
I enjoyed the Yu-​Raku today with the extra corn and noodle and again, I was pretty impressed with the taste, flavor and the type of ramen noodles they use. Also, for those who don’t like spicy, this may NOT be the dish for you. I like spicy but I had some sweat coming down my face again from the spice (perhaps my spice tolerance dropped?) But it wasn’t too hot were I couldn’t enjoy it.
Overall, I’d come back to this place again. There are many things I am seeing from you fellow Unilocalers for things I wanna try like the MaPo tofu or JaJiang Mein. Overall, solid 5 stars because the food is excellent so far and the service is fast and friendly as well. Plus they also refill your water (a MUST for me since I drink so much H2O). :)

This is a very under-​rated Ramen spot that I hope will get the respect it deserves.
They have fantastic daily specials and the Yu-​Raku ramen is one of a kind.
The service is absolutely top rate and friendly as well.
I just can’t believe how some people rate other ramen spots higher?
If you haven’t tried this place yet, you have got to go.

One of the very few Chūka ryōri (中華料理) restaurants in the Bay Area, and it is done very well.
Ordered the Mabo Tofu Don (マーボー豆腐丼), Buta kakuni Don (豚角煮丼), and Sapporo Miso Ramen (札幌味噌ラーメン).
Mabo Tofu Don: Pretty much my favorite dish here. It is a very good spinoff of the Chinese dish, but the flavor is much more refined, and the rice texture matches the runny sauce with the grounded pork very well. After eating these 3 dishes, I even spit another bowl of this with a friend, because a whole bowl wasn’t enough. It is that good.
Buta kakuni Don: sauce is very good, pork tastes AND smells good. It is cooked to perfection, with the perfect rice to go with it. It made me realize that nothing here really disappoints.
Sapporo Miso Ramen: I added pork and soft boiled egg to my ramen to enhance the taste. The noodles are very unique, and the vegetables and grilled onions and grounded pork add a punch to the flavor. Some people may not like the grilled onion taste and find it a bit overpowering, but I find them perfect in this Chūka dish. If you don’t like grilled onions, I bet you can ask for no onions, but I personally welcome them in.
Overall, nothing disappoints. Some may say the décor is plain, portions are a bit small and pricy, but I don’t care! I bet you can’t go wrong with anything at this place. I will be back to try other dishes, especially the tantan men (坦々メン).

I love their Ebi-​mayo & Reba-​nira, and their Ramen noodles! Their yuurinchii is also good too. Tbh, I think nothing goes wrong in the appetizer section of this shop!
The place is always clean and the staff are attentive.
But, my reasoning for not 5 star is that they have risen the price since the first time I came to eat…
But they have kept the amount of food they serve the same… A little frown there for students like me who don’t have that much cash to ball out. But would definately go back, not regulary, but occasionally when I crave it!

You know how sometimes you have a gag inducing experience somewhere once, and you just can’t ever bring yourself to go back? Like the time I went to Subway, and the sandwich maker sneezed and continued making my sandwich without skipping a beat, and I’ve never gone to Subway again. Well many years ago when Yu Raku first opened, I was at the counter for lunch, and saw the chef touch raw chicken and then without washing his hands, touch another food item. It was more than 10 years ago, and until now, I’d never been back. But it was a rainy rainy day, and ramen seemed like a good idea.
I waited in a seat up front next to two other women for someone to seat us. The hostess/​server/​owner? seemed to have a system whereby once the kitchen was maxed out, she didn’t seat anyone, even if tables were open. Took a long time to get a seat. I ordered the tonkatsu ramen, but when I tried to order the gyoza as my side, I was informed the fryer wasn’t working that day. This meant, of course that the karaage, was also not available, so only option was salad. I felt a little ripped off on this, like they should have told me before I ordered.
The broth was rich and delicious. In addition to the set ramen I got bean sprouts, which seemed to have been lightly steamed making them just the right texture. It was good/​okay, but I’m debating about when/​if I would return, especially with one of my faves, Hotaru, so close by

There is no secret to Yu Raku’s popularity. They have found a niche in a market where few have ventured. Be unique and excel in it. Yu Raku specializes in «chuka ryori», an area in Japanese cuisine that is Chinese inspired and often downplayed in most restaurants. The embrace of Chinese food, with a Japanese makeover, has become as beloved as traditional Japanese fare. The packed house last night bore testament to this. These entrees are not convoluted concoctions of a gourmet restaurant but simple-​to-​make, time tested home meals.
Yu Raku is small; décor is minimalistic, almost hole-​in-​the-​wallish, with typical Japanese style woodwork. The counter in front of the open kitchen seats 8 with another 20 or so in the dining room. The whole set up is purely functional with little sense of aestheticism.
Oddly enough, the first appetizer looked to me more like a Korean banchan than a Chinese dish. Piri Kara Kyuri ($ 5.50) will for sure get your appetite going. You can’t beat these sweet and spicy cukes. They were refreshing and crunchy to the bite. I know that even though the price of cukes has skyrocketed but to charge $ 5.50 for such a small portion still appears pricey. (⁴⁄₅)
Why order gyoza (Japanese style potstickers, $ 7) from a restaurant if they come frozen from a store? The server read my mind and assured me these were home made and Yu Raku’s version was a must try. I love them best when pan-​fried and they were. There were 6 good-​sized luscious pieces. They have beautiful crispy brown bottoms and tenderly steamed tops. The pork fillings and cabbage were garlickier than their Chinese counterparts and the skins were rounder and thinner. The dipping sauce made up of soy sauce, vinegar and chili oil (rayu) was scrumptious almost enough to swoon me! (⁵⁄₅)
Deep-​fried Squid Legs ($ 7.50) with tentacles only were particularly chewy albeit tasty. Unlike other run-​of-​the-​mill squid, which is batter coated, greasy and needs a dipping sauce, Yu Raku’s squid was lighter and crunchier and required no sauce, just a good work out for your teeth and jaws! (⁴⁄₅)
Tantan Men ($ 13.50) is another Chinese original. This style of ramen was inspired by super spicy Szechuanese style Dan Dan noodles. Yu Raku’s version was not nearly as hot and oily although it still packs a decent punch. The secret to good taste was of course the broth. There was a lot going on in the broth as it was infused with sesame paste, garlic and ginger. In Yu Raku’s bowl, ground pork was the added protein while boiled bok choy was a good veggie accompaniment. So pick up your bowl, inhale the aroma; slurp the noodles while enjoying the hearty and savory broth! (⁴⁄₅)
Mabotofu Don ($ 13.50) is another Chinese inspired donburi (rice bowl) that’s hugely popular in Japan and a well-​known Szechuan classic. Like the original mabotofu, the Japanese version is cooked with tofu and ground pork, but in Yu Raku’s rendition, it was not as spicy and had less chili oil compared to Szechuan’s. The sauce was clean tasting flavored with black bean sauce and devoid of the pungent Szechuan peppercorn. In fact, it is more palatable to the American taste. It was however a tad salty for me being mindful of my sodium intake although it didn’t seem to bother others. (⁴⁄₅)
Yu Raku is a mom and pop operation with the couple working hard on the line. They seemed to be direct transplants from Chinatown Yokohama and were able to crank out the Chinese Japanese dishes with all the subtle differences. For that, I suppose we can justify the higher prices and smaller portions.

Ordered the gyoza as an appetizer to start. Absolutely delicious. Filling was very flavorful, and there were big chunks of cabbage in it (which sounds weird but was actually good). The best part of the gyoza was the skin of the dumpling which I usually don’t notice but the one here has a noticeably good texture
I ordered the Tan Tan Men. The biggest stand out of the dish are the noodles! It’s a huge portion and the noodles have the best texture and are cooked perfectly! You can tell they put care and attention when assembling this bowl of noodles. The minced meat on top was good as well and not as salty or overpowering than I thought. Wish there were move veggies as it is so heavy. The soup is very thick which is my only criticism. By the end I felt like it was too heavy.
Overall, would highly recommend this place! Great quality and unique dishes.

Decent tonkotsu ramen, chewy/​silky noodles in creamy but not overly fatty broth. Soup wasn’t overly salty neither. The meat can be a little more tender.
Their crispy fried noodle looked really good (saw manny eaters ordered)! All the fried noodles appeared crispy evenly (not just bottom and top crispy while center is soggy like most Chinese restaurants). Will have to return for it soon.

A bit disappointed with my experience since it was highly highly recommended by a co-​worker who had great taste in Asian restaurants. Maybe I ordered the wrong stuff.
I ordered the Yu Raku Ramen, which tasted like mongolian pork from a chinese restaurant on top of a bowl of ramen. Probably would have given the place a 2 star review if I just had that.
But I tried a bit of the Tan Tan Ramen, which was a lot better. And the side of kim chi was on point.
Service was great. Atmosphere was great. The prices were a bit on the expensive side.
Ill probably try the spot again and order something else.

Tasty. Seems authentic. Most people are speaking Japanese here.
Gyoza is made in-​house. Crispy, yet thin.
Great Tantan Men and Tonkatsu Ramen. Pork cuts are higher quality than most.

It was Sunday night, around 7:00 pm. Tables were full, but the bar counter had plenty of seats. My friend and I sat down there and looked at our menus. I actually sometimes prefer sitting at the counter as it reminds me of eating in Japan.
It was a very cold day, and my friend spoke highly of the ramen and so that’s what I wanted to try here. I ordered the shoyu ramen, and my friend got the tonkatsu broth ramen but with no add-​ons. Mine was $ 9, and his was $ 10. I thought it was pretty good. Noodles weren’t too soft, broth was alright and not too oily, two pork slices were only a little fatty, and the egg was only a touch over soft-​boiled. A very solid bowl of ramen overall. Some of the more premium bowls of ramen were $ 13 – 16. Adding more toppings could make it an expensive meal.
We also ordered the kaarage chicken which was a had about 6 pieces for about $ 9. It was nice and juicy, and crisp, however I was not a huge fan of the mayo. I’d recommend asking for that on the side. Service was above average speed, and we got our food after a relatively short wait.
I have yet to try the Japanese-​Chinese dishes, such as their mabo tofu, seafood stir-​fry, walnut prawns, or fried rice, but I am definitely curious and will return to give some of those dishes a try at some point.

If you want to avoid the ridiculous lines at Ramen Dojo/​Parlor, and if you’re tired of going to Himawari and miss Ramen Izakaya Kagura (now closed), then come here. Just don’t tell your friends about it because this place is legit and never has a wait.
I still haven’t tried their non-​ramen dishes but my gawking confirms that they look great.
The tonkotsu ramen is really flavorful and rivals the aforementioned places. I really like that the portions are just right and you can finish all your broth without feeling horrible about it.
Gyoza are good and extra garlicky if you like that.

Right before the end of our meal at Yu-​Raku, the guy at the table next to us thanked the chefs for the good meal and told them it had been a long time since he had eaten this kind of food (in Japanese). It’s been a long time for me too, and I’m so happy that Yu-​Raku exists so that I could eat chuka ryori again.
The first time I ever had Mapo Tofu was in Japan, although it isn’t a Japanese dish. The differences between the Japanese and regular versions: the sauce is thicker in Japanese version and it doesn’t use pork, also the spiciness is a gradual hotness that sneaks up on you rather than smacking you in the face. Of course, I prefer the Japanese version since that was my first version of this dish. Yu-​Raku did it just how I remember, and it was perfect. I was thrilled. They also used just the right type of tofu that doesn’t fall apart before it’s served to you. Great care is taken by the chefs here.
I was even more unexpectedly thrilled at the Gomoku Ramen. I find myself continually disappointed at ramen places in the US… until this dish. I was shocked at how wonderful it was and couldn’t help eating the entire damn thing even though I was already full.
They have a specials board that changes fairly often. We got the squid legs which were very tasty. Got an order of gyoza as well which were spot on. The food does take a little while to come out here since it’s basically just mom & dad cooking for you in the kitchen.
The clientele here was almost entirely Japanese or Japanese speakers. I think chuka ryori is a type of food that mostly appeals to people that have had it before and have a little bit of nostalgia attached to it, however, it stands very strong on its own. Yu-​Raku is worth going out of your way and out of your comfort zone to try, if you’ve never had this type of food before.

One of my favorite ramen places in the Bay Area.
I love Yu-​raku ramen, and Rebanira-​itame.
It’s is more like family taste rather than fancy, which I love.
Very filling.

With the popularity of Dojo, Parlor, and Santa, Yuraku often gets overlooked. It may not be the same style of food, but in my opinion, Yuraku’s ramen is better than all three.
Yuraku distinguishes itself by making pretty delicious Japanese Chinese food. The Gomoku Ramen has a cornstarch thickened sauce that’s rich and savory. It tastes like it has a chicken broth base, and the cabbage and chives add a fresh counterpart. There’s a good amount of seafood mixed in, and the quail eggs are the cherry on top. The seafood and eggs tend to get slightly overcooked while sitting in the hot, stir-​fried sauce so don’t let it settle too long. It tastes kinda like HK style chow mein but with ramen noodles instead of crispy fried egg noodles. They also have common Japanese Chinese noodle dishes like Tan Tan Men and Ja Ja Men. The only thing missing is Ma Bo Men.
Overall, I like Yuraku, and I’ll probably keep coming here for lunch since I work nearby. I kinda hope that Dojo and Parlor stay popular, because the last thing I want is for those crowds to move here.

Went back and the wings are still oh so juicy!
This time I got Garlic Tonkatsu Ramen, and it was very rich, so it was a little bit salty. Good flavor though. Soft boiled egg was a little bit over cooked. I wish there was an option to make it a little spicy.
I was def come back again though! This place isn’t bad at all :)

** 2.5 stars **
Well I had higher expectations for this place.
We came in for an early dinner around 5:45pm, no one was there. Thats okay, we had the place to ourselves. The waitress sits us down, hands us our menu, walks to the counter to grab her pad and then asks us if we are ready to order. WAIT, it has only been 15 seconds since you handed me the menu, not quite ready yet.
She brings us two plastic cups of water that taste like oily water, horrible!!! Don’t drink the tap water.
So we finally review the menu and I order pot stickers and salad and my husband orders the ramen. The pot stickers were a bit on the bland side and very pink inside. The salad was okay, it only had two shrimp and like six small scallops the size of a pencil eraser, a bit pricey for the serving size and lack of seafood. The ramen was just okay, it wasn’t as good as the ramen in downtown or near 20^th Ave. It was about $ 27 for all three dishes. Parking can be really difficult here on El Camino, not that many spaces, but at the time we went, we were the only ones parked on the street.