Zao Stamina Ramen

After the rebranding, the ramen here is even better than before. I ordered the classic miso ramen and it was absolutely perfect. The noodles were cooked al dente with great texture, and the chicken dashi broth was incredibly flavorful and full of umami. The miso was well balanced and didn’t overpower the broth, which let the depth of the chicken dashi really shine. The chashu was cooked to perfection — tender, flavorful, and beautifully prepared. Every component in the bowl felt thoughtful and balanced. The chicken karaage was also very good — crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside, and a great side to go with the ramen. Overall, everything about this bowl was spot on. Definitely worth coming back for.

Had an amazing bowl of ramen yesterday at the newly rebranded Ramen Menri. I got their truffle special ramen and it had amazing broth, noodles and pork. The broth had complex delicious flavors, the noodles were bouncy and the meat was delicious. Additionally the self service counters were easy to use and all the staff were incredibly kind. Definitely plan on coming back and have already recommended them to my friends

This is an easy, self serviced no non-sense place. It has automated bots that you can use to place an order, and choose if you wanna dine in or take away. The staff comes around and are happy to help with placing order for you if you need help. I dined in -so far- three times in this place, and the taste always stands out. The ramen soup is yum & you can add top-on with additional 1-3$ price. The portions are huge, I struggle to finish the entire bowl on my own. Their chicken dish - Karage is very tasty - soft, moist, crunchy. I also love their Oolong tea - they refill the pot. The seating place reflects a bit of Japanese way of seating. It is not upscale but it is clean, functional.

It’s an order at the screen and the seat yourself type of place. Overall pretty good ramen. Decent amount of broth.

Yesterday we went to this ramen shop in Bethesda and somehow… we were transported straight back to Japan. And honestly? Even compared to the ramen we’ve had in Japan the last 3 times we have gone, this was the best broth I’ve ever tasted. We both ordered the tonkatsu ramen and also got the ice cream. You can tell when something is made with love and tended to with extreme meticulous care. The depth of flavor in the tonkotsu broth was unreal rich, creamy, layered, comforting, but never overwhelming. I’m usually someone who finds ramen too salty and rarely finish the broth because I’m more excited about the toppings. Something I've learned about Vietnamese pho from traveling to vietnam with my vietnamese best friend of 20+ years which strongly applies to ramen as well is the strength of the soup never lies in the topics. It lies in the mastery of the broth. When the pho broth is not good you mess with it by putting plum sauce and Sriracha to balance it to be more suitable to your taste. When the base broth is so amazing ,messing with the flavor is practically a food sin. Same applies for this tonkatsu broth. The ice cream though not the same as cremia soft serve ice creme felt like a limited edition cremia. I could not stop sipping. I finished it. Every drop. Formerly Zao Stamina Ramen, now Ramen Menri in Bethesda and WOW. If you’re craving authentic ramen and that comforting “back in Japan” feeling without booking a flight, Ramen Menri is the cheapest ticket to Japan you’ll find in the DMV.Truly exceptional.

Zao is one of, if not THE best ramen place in the DMV area. I lived in Japan for four years, and I even prefer it to some places I frequented there because not only do the owners of Zao have a true passion and skill for making ramen, but they have a unique creativity that is unlike anywhere else. Their "Gentei" or limited time bowls are always a culinary adventure that keeps me coming back again and again (as seen by my many many point cards...). Pictured are limited flavors I've tried over the years like Pumpkin Spice Miso which I had today in the spirit of Halloween, and previous ones like Spicy Yuzu Tsukemen, Hiyashi Kani (Crab) Corn Ramen, Corn Croquettes, Mapo Tofu Ramen, JIRO Style, etc. Also pictured is my usual go-to on the standard menu, their amazing Tan Tan Men (with extra scallions, or "Kara negi"!). You can see (and taste!) the amount of work that goes into each bowl on Zao's menu. Though a lot of the bowls pictured here aren't available at the moment, the gentei flavor is always updating with new interesting flavors each month, or rotating old favorites back in; Check their Instagram to see what's coming up. Like others have mentioned, their fried chicken is also a must order! The self ordering at the front is simple and straightforward, and if you're a single or duo diner, you can sit and order at the counter! They also make all their noodles in-house every morning -- You won't get a more authentic Japanese ramen experience anywhere else. I also highly recommend trying the fruit beer- the Hokkaido Melon actually tastes like they packed a real melon in there! Really unique flavor if you like sweeter alcohols, but for those who prefer a normal one, nothing beats a pint of Japanese beer with a bowl of ramen. As you can tell, I love this place and am a regular. The staff here truly care about the customer experience, and are a wonderful team who are quick and helpful. Definitely worth stopping by!

Can't believe I passed this place so many times before without realizing it was the same place on my "want to visit" list. Finally stopped in and glad I did. The ordering system is pretty unique: you order up front and take a placard to your table or sit at the bar (which is time limited) and order via QR code. The ramen was very good, though for a spicy option there wasn't as much heat and I'd expected. Otherwise the noodles were springy, the broth excellent, and they don't skimp on toppings either. Definitely one of the better ramen options in Maryland and worth a visit.

We all ordered a different ramen. The Old School Shoyu was the favorite. The broth had incredible depth. Very umami. The noodles were perfectly curly and a little chewy. The melon flavored soda was also a hit. I didnt get any of the gyoza we ordered because my kids ate them all and asked for more, so I can only conclude that they were good. The ambience was a little jumbled. There was a cocktail bar, a separate sushi bar and regular tables. When you walk in, you place your own order at a computer kiosk, then sit where you like. A waiter brings out your food and drinks and busses your table. Will definitely visit again.