Samurai Papa image

Samurai Papa

Restaurant Ramen restaurant

Relaxed, standing-room only hangout serving ramen & other creative Japanese bites. People often mention ramen, great, good, time, nice, staff, chicken, noodles,


Address

594 Lafayette Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11216

Website

www.samuraipapabk.com

Contact

(718) 398-8181

Price rating

$$ $$

Rating on Google Maps

4.50 (441 reviews)

Open on Google Maps

Working Hours

  • Thursday: 5 to 9:30 PM
  • Friday: 5 to 9:45 PM
  • Saturday: 12 to 3:30 PM, 5 to 9:45 PM
  • Sunday: (Easter), 12 to 3:30 PM, 5 to 9:20 PM, Hours might differ
  • Monday: 5 to 9:30 PM
  • Tuesday: 5 to 9:30 PM
  • Wednesday: 5 to 9:30 PM

Featured Reviews


Frequently mentioned in reviews: ramen (24) great (11) good (10) time (7) nice (6) staff (6) chicken (6) noodles (6)
Reviews are sorted by relevance, prioritizing the most helpful and insightful feedback at the top for easier reference.
  • 4/5 gina s. 1 year ago on Google • 93 reviews
    It's a pretty small place but there is outdoor seating. It's really cute and a nice vibe. I had the veggie gyozas and they were really tasty, and the sauce they served on the side good as well. I had the gyu Don rice bowl which is made with beef. The beef was really tender and had a sweetness to it that tasted amazing. I would definitely return. They also offer Ramen, Soba, Vegan and Bento food items. The staff was very nice.
    5 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Austin Davenport G. 2 years ago on Google • 444 reviews
    Lovely ambiance, great chicken karaage, phenomenal Dan-dan. The shio ramen was subtle but nice, i wish it was a bit richer but who am I to say? Great pork bun meat but the bao was tough and chewy, which was quite surprising. It'd probably be better next time, seemed like an anomaly because everything else was very well done.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Heidi L. 2 years ago on Google • 392 reviews
    The backyard outdoor seating area is very simple but I enjoyed sitting in natural light (we weren’t in one of the huts). Waitress was very nice and gave good food suggestions. Good prices for high quality Japanese food!
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Daily P. 7 months ago on Google • 35 reviews
    I went for a dinner dine-in experience at a restaurant. The dining area was cozy, and there was also an outdoor dining space in the backyard. For my meal, I ordered shoyu (soy) base with chicken broth ramen, decorated with chicken slices and other toppings. The soup had a good balance and was served with chewy noodles. However, the chicken meat was a bit tough and hard to chew, rather than being tender. Despite that, it was still a good bowl of ramen. I also tried the Pork Gyoza, which had a nice crispy texture and fresh fillings inside. I didn't detect any unpleasant pork scent or flavor; the flavor was very refined. The staff from Japan were very friendly and welcoming!
    4 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Flo E. 7 months ago on Google • 114 reviews
    i ordered their cold ramen (abura ramen) which comes with chashu and a soy based dipping sauce. the only other time i’ve had cold ramen was in japan so my standard for comparison is high. the dish was made to perfection as the noodles had the absolute best texture (elastic and bouncy). the soy based soup/sauce is densely packed with flavor but not overbearing. it is savory but nuanced (quality soy) with hints of tangy/tartness which really opens the appetite and works perfectly with the dish. the dish also has chashu and garlic which worked perfectly with everything else. i highly recommend trying this place out if you happen to be in the area!
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Malte R. 1 year ago on Google • 60 reviews
    Great Food, good service, we could write our phone number down and got a call when they had space. Only the waitress was a bit harsh with us. Nevertheless, i can highly recommend this place for dinner! Good value for money.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 3/5 Elle 1 year ago on Google
    I use to go to Samurai Papa often when they first opened and the ramen was great! I went twice in the past 6 months and the ramen was just okay, I was really disappointed. I ordered pork gyoza and the shoyu ramen. The pork filling in the dumplings were over seasoned and the ramen was very bland.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Shen 4 months ago on Google • 24 reviews
    The first time I went to samurai papa I had just come back from 3 months in Japan. A friend had recommended this place so I popped in for lunch. Felt like I was in Kyoto the second I stepped in. Music was good, food was excellent and the portions were big. Service was well above average. The kraage and fried tofu are really great starter choices. I've had a few of their broths and they're all very good. Can't go wrong at this great little Ramen shop.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 coppuca 1 year ago on Google
    A wonderful little place! Very Japanese, the food is fantastic. The place is small, only had a few seats, staff is very attentive and nice. Would definitely come back!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 1/5 Reliable Expert Reviewer with Standards in N. 8 months ago on Google
    I had a Sake Cocktail. I tasted no alcohol at all, even though the bartender kept insisting that there was a lot of alcohol in it. I never even experienced a buzz from the coctail. Smh My first time there and my absolute last time there. The atmosphere is also not my type of vibe. I mean I love rustic, but that is way over the top for me. It gives an old cellar vibe, complete with the smell.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Daniel H. 1 year ago on Google
    Very friendly staff, quick service and most of all - great Ramen.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Travis B. 1 year ago on Google
    Had the Shio Ramen. Basically salty ramen. Simple and peaceful. Not overbearing on the senses. And I had the pork gyoza. Because gyoza is one of man’s best inventions. The sauce tasted great. It’s flavor overpowered my entire ramen meal. Which was not a bad thing.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Amanda L. 2 years ago on Google
    ALL the food was so SO GOOD. We ordered the shrimp katsu buns (not pictured) — HIGHLY recommend. Also the kakiage soba and shoyu ramen. Both super delicious. I honestly came to dinner feeling very full and was surprised that I could finish my whole bowl because I just couldn't stop eating. We also got the brown rice tea (excellent) and yuzu ginger iced tea (interesting). Such a great find, this place!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Anastasiya Z. 2 years ago on Google
    Samurai Papa understands the vegan ramen assignment. That tomato broth!!! So savory and flavorful. The weirdest part is avocado in ramen…but it was so delicious I decided to erase that from my memory. Salad was refreshing. Yuzu tea is a treat. Coming back all winter long.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Ian B. 2 years ago on Google
    Can't wait to go back! We ate in a heated outdoor dining pod for 2 -- such a great COVID/winter solution. Even though we were the only ones out there the server never forgot about us & we had great service. Everything was great but the shrimp shumai were next level.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Alejandro C. 2 months ago on Google • 38 reviews New
    My favorite thing about this spot is that they filter and purify their water themselves which is an amazing feat to flex! I came in on a Friday afternoon (6:30pm) with a friend. A little stuffy but it's also the vibe of the spot and very Brooklyn lol. We didn't have to wait for a seat so that was golddden. It has the perfect amount of seats because although it gets filled with not too many people you can still carry a conversation comfortably. The food. I got the tonbara miso ramen, it was pretty good. The noodles were on point and I really like the ear mushrooms they used and the corn. The only cons was the one slide of chachu and the half of a soft boiled egg was hard boiled. 4/5!

  • 4/5 Lalit K. 1 month ago on Google • 37 reviews New
    Good place to have remen. The sake sunrise was amazing. Honestly the ramen and was okay, I have had better ramen. But not bad at all. Great service and ambience. We tried the chicken shoyu ramen.

  • 3/5 Alannah F. 6 months ago on Google
    A bit of a hit or miss this place. I’ve been here a few times - once had an incredibly rude waiter scolded us for not consolidating our order ( he wanted us to say 2x chicken ramen instead of individually ordering it for example ). He seemed to be having a bad day though and apologized at the end of our meal. Still it made us uncomfortable and I felt bad because my friends were visiting from out of town and I recommended this place to them. Last time we went they were out of rice, which basically rules out half the menu. But they didn’t tell us until we had been sitting for 15 mins and ready to order (and wanted a rice dish). We also got a totally burnt appetizer which they allowed us to return. The ramen is decent. I had the cold Dan Dan noodles last time i was there and really enjoyed it. For the most part the food here is satisfying and if you want a casual place to eat out for a good price this will do the trick. I think I’ll stick to ramen and takeout for the future.

  • 5/5 Spencer G. 5 months ago on Google
    Authentic Japanese Ramen for sure with some good unique spins. I usually get the Tonbara and it's great. Appetizers are awesome too. Space is a bit small, and I do miss their Bushwick location which was larger. Overall though the space has a very cool feel to it though and I like atmosphere.

  • 5/5 Eden L. 1 year ago on Google
    The tonbara shio ramen was very flavorful! Its the closest menu item to my control group for assessing ramen. I ate all of my broth 😋 Very generous with noodles, I usually finish noodles easily but I ended up having to pack some with me to go. Friendly staff, really happy to have this spot in the neighborhood.

  • 5/5 Jamie Toler, G. 2 months ago on Google • 6 reviews New
    I first visited Samurai Papa the night I moved to NYC. The welcoming staff, wonderful atmosphere and amazing food blew me away. I’ve visited a handful of times and always enjoy myself. I feel at home and welcome here. I will always support this business!


Call (718) 398-8181 Open on Google Maps

Amenities


  • Payments
    • ✓️ Debit cards
    • ✓️ Credit cards
    • ✓️ NFC mobile payments
  • Offerings
    • ✓️ Beer
    • ✓️ Wine
    • ✓️ Alcohol
    • ✓️ Quick bite
    • ✓️ Comfort food
    • ✓️ Small plates
    • ✓️ Vegan options
    • ✓️ Healthy options
    • ✓️ Vegetarian options
  • Popular for
    • ✓️ Lunch
    • ✓️ Dinner
    • ✓️ Solo dining
  • Accessibility
    • ✗ Wheelchair accessible entrance
    • ✗ Wheelchair accessible parking lot
  • Dining options
    • ✓️ Lunch
    • ✓️ Dinner
  • Service options
    • ✓️ Dine-in
    • ✓️ Takeout
    • ✓️ Delivery

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