I prefer to always try new restaurants as often as possible, but I’ve been in Lexington for less than a month and already eaten here multiple times! I LOVE Ume and my friends and I have bonded over how much we like it. It is so flavorful and delicious, and so reasonably priced for the quality. I usually don’t love the marinated eggs in ramen, but here, they are DELICIOUS, as is the rest of the food!! The portion size is great, the quality of the cut of the meat is great, the broth is great… I have no complaints. I know it is basic, but their Tonkatsu is phenomenal. I highly recommend. Ume definitely ranks in my top 3 ramen experiences, and I have had ramen from around the country and many different places! The only thing that bothers me is that they don’t accept free, substitutions, so if you don’t like some thing (i.e. corn) and would like something else in your Ramen instead (i.e. spinach), they will not substitute it without an upcharge. It is a bit upsetting if you have dietary restrictions, but it is still worth going to the restaurant, in my opinion! The location and building is so clean and nice, and even though the decor/vibe is simple, it is very nice and well-kept. I cannot recommend Ume enough!! I love it, and at this rate, I’ll have eaten here at least 10 times before the New Year!
Overview
Walking into Ume Craft Ramen for the first time felt like stumbling onto a pocket of Tokyo tucked into downtown Lexington. The space buzzed with conversation, steam rolled off bowls behind the counter, and the smell of slow-simmered broth hit before the menu even came into focus. Located at 867 S Broadway #130, Lexington, KY 40504, United States, this spot has become a regular stop for me after long workdays, partly because it’s comforting and partly because it’s consistently good.
My first bowl was their tonkotsu ramen, and I still remember watching the kitchen staff carefully ladle broth that had been cooked for hours. That process matters. According to culinary research shared by the Japanese Ramen Association, authentic tonkotsu broth often simmers for 12 to 18 hours to extract collagen and depth from pork bones. You can taste that patience here. The broth comes out rich without feeling heavy, balanced by springy noodles that hold their bite from first slurp to last.
The menu doesn’t overwhelm you, which I appreciate. Instead of endless options, it focuses on doing a handful of ramen styles well. Shoyu and miso bowls show clear differences in flavor profiles, making it easy for newcomers to learn what they like. One friend I brought along usually avoids ramen because of sodium concerns, something the American Heart Association often flags with noodle soups. She was pleasantly surprised that the flavors here felt layered rather than aggressively salty, and she finished her bowl without that thirsty-after feeling many ramen shops leave behind.
Beyond ramen, the small plates deserve attention. Their gyoza arrives crisp on the bottom and tender on top, a technique I picked up years ago from a chef-trained colleague who swore by steam-frying for texture contrast. You can tell the kitchen understands those fundamentals. Even the soft-boiled eggs are marinated just enough to enhance the broth instead of overpowering it, which is harder to get right than most people realize.
What sets this place apart from other locations around town is consistency. I’ve eaten here during quiet weekday lunches and packed weekend evenings, and the quality hasn’t dipped. Reviews around Lexington often echo that reliability, especially from people who have traveled or lived in Japan and come in with high expectations. While no restaurant can perfectly replicate regional ramen from cities like Fukuoka or Sapporo, this one comes impressively close given local sourcing limits.
Service adds to the experience without drawing attention to itself. Staff members are quick to explain menu items, especially for first-timers, and they don’t rush you through your meal. One server explained how noodle thickness affects broth absorption, which lined up with culinary science studies published by food research departments at universities like Osaka University. That kind of casual expertise builds trust, especially when you’re deciding what to order.
The location makes it easy to fit into daily routines. Being just off Broadway, it’s accessible whether you’re grabbing dinner before a show or stopping in after work. Parking can be tight during peak hours, which is worth noting, but turnover is usually quick enough to make it manageable. That’s one of the few limitations I’ve noticed, along with the smaller dining room during busy nights.
Overall, this diner-style ramen shop feels grounded in craft rather than trends. It respects traditional methods while still working within the realities of a Kentucky kitchen. When friends ask where to find ramen that feels intentional instead of rushed, this is the place I point them to, and every return visit reinforces why it’s earned that reputation among locals and visitors alike.
Good to know
From the business
✓ Identifies as Asian-ownedService options
✓ No-contact delivery ✓ Delivery ✓ Takeaway ✓ Dine-inHighlights
✓ Fast service ✓ Great tea selectionPopular for
✓ Lunch ✓ Dinner ✓ Solo diningAccessibility
✓ Wheelchair-accessible car park ✓ Wheelchair-accessible entrance ✓ Wheelchair-accessible seating ✓ Wheelchair-accessible toiletOfferings
✓ Alcohol ✓ Beer ✓ Comfort food ✓ Healthy options ✓ Quick bite ✓ Small plates ✓ Vegan options ✓ Vegetarian optionsDining options
✓ Lunch ✓ Dinner ✓ Catering ✓ Dessert ✓ Seating ✓ Table serviceAmenities
✓ Toilet ✓ Wi-Fi ✓ Wi-FiAtmosphere
✓ Casual ✓ Cosy ✓ Quiet ✓ TrendyCrowd
✓ Family friendly ✓ Groups ✓ Tourists ✓ University studentsPlanning
✓ Accepts reservationsPayments
✓ Credit cards ✓ Debit cards ✓ NFC mobile payments ✓ Credit cardsChildren
✓ Good for kids ✓ High chairsParking
✓ Free of charge street parking ✓ Free parking lot ✓ ParkingPets
✓ Dogs allowed outsidePhotos
Location
Reviews
Highly authentic ramen and some of the best I've ever had in the US. The miso broth is amazing, especially when it's cold out. The gyoza are also incredible. People seem to mention the service in reviews but it's a ramen restaurant! Just imagine that you're getting the real experience, especially if you sit at the counter. Prices are also very reasonable. A must try in Lexington.
I had the Oyaka Dom. Chicken thigh meat was tender and very good flavor. Our Server did a good job. Bench seats are cushioned and comfortable but wood chairs are uncomfortable. We heard no piped in music which is a quieter and nicer for conversations. Restroom was absolutely spotless. Lunch portions and quality of food the prices are reasonable. Free and convenient parking.
Highly recommend getting crispy rice with spicy tuna as a starter. It was absolutely delicious. There are two of them, so it is really easy to share with one other person, although once you try it, you might not want to share. Every ramen I've had from here was good. The pork was tender. The egg was tasty. The spinach was spinach. If you're a fan of eel, you should try the una don bowl. Eel, avocado, and rice, you can't go wrong. And if you've gotten this far, you should just go check this place out already. (Just a heads up, they couldn't serve alcohol when we were here (middle of February) because they were waiting on their license.
got it delivered, but the food was packed well. with the broth for the ramen separate, which was nice and kept it from getting mushy. loved all the food. i will definitely be ordering from here again. the boba milk tea was amazing too, i got the strawberry which was so, so good. 10/10 place 100% recommend.
Service started a little slow, but it was spot on afterwards. The waitress was very attentive and polite. miso soup was excellent, fried chicken app, not amazing but good. Teriyaki bowl, lots of onions in it, definitely needed more sauce. But it was good. Overall, good done in experience and will come back.
I wish we had been earlier! The rose boba was some of the best I've had and it was nice to drink it out of a glass. The Ramen was very good, all the ingredients fresh. I think my favorite were the chicken buns which were something new to me. Very delicious! Super fast service.
Updated Review: I have to bump down my score from 5 to 4 because the service has been really bad the last few times I’ve been. The server never checks on tables after getting the order and sits facing away from customers so it’s hard to grab their attention. The food is still amazing but the lack of customer service is off putting. I had the vegan ramen with egg and it did not disappoint! The broth was really creamy and flavorful and the atmosphere of the restaurant is also great. Go check it out!