OKI Bowl DC & Sake

I am a big fan! The service was friendly and prompt; the disco time-​machine bathroom was super fun; the clocks, baskets, letters, cacti, etc. decorations were very cool! The restaurant is a good, casual, fun atmosphere.
My friends and I got the kimchi ramen and the galanga ramen. Both really good! The kimchi ramen was perfectly spicy: not too spicy, and not too little. The tempura tofu was excellent. The ramen noodles were perfectly firm and chewy. The coconut milk broth for the galanga ramen was perfect — creamy, smooth, and rich. The tempura kale was also a great addition.
Oki Bowl just gained a new follower in me!

awesome lil Asian fusion ramen spot. good selection of beer and sake. and the décor and vibe are hippy and hey only played 90s tunes. approved.
never said his before in any review, but you have to try the bathroom.

My friends and I really wanted some ramen after a work-​out. We decided on OKI since the place was open pretty late.
I got the curry bowl. It has fried chicken in it, but my fried chicken was super soggy which destroyed the texture for me. I thought the ramen was okay… I would come back to try the others that they have.
The great part of this place was the inside!!! I LOVE the ambiance and their decorations. It feels like I’m not in DC.
Service was fast. The food came out fairly quickly.
Again, I’d come back if I was hungry late night and try the other ramen that they have on the menu.

Stumbled on this little Dupont gem on a late Friday night after a serious dance session at an Afropolitan event. It was a little after 11PM when we walked in, the place was nearly empty, and the kitchen was scheduled to close in 30 minutes (FYI folks).
We were seated and given 2 large placemat menus, and despite how hungry we both were, we couldn’t help but first admire the décor. Others here have already remarked on this so I won’t spend a lot of time describing it, but it really is beautiful. I felt like I was inside a storybook treehouse; my friend said it reminded him of something out of the «Pirates of the Caribbean».
After the ooh’s and aah’s, we turned to the food. I ordered the Chashu bowl — braised pork belly over white rice with half of a boiled egg and pickled ginger on the side; my friend ordered the beef bowl — sauteed Kalbi beef with caramelized onions, also served over white rice.
My Chashu bowl was excellent — the pork, flavorful and juicy; the rice, perfectly fluffy drenched at the bottom with juices from the braised pork. That with the tanginess and crunchiness from the pickled ginger made for a very yummy meal. He devoured his beef bowl in minutes.
Overall, a great first experience at OKI and a nice addition to the ever growing list of ramen places in DC. Will definitely try the ramen next time.

We went to this restaurant because we happened to be nearby and found it had good reviews on Unilocal!We had miso ramen and curry ramen. I must say the miso ramen was very authentic Japanese style with a large amount of noodles and the curry ramen was ramen in a delicious laksa soup! The décor was also unique and well done, not to mention their spaceship-​like restroom!

If you work in the DuPont area and are looking for a quick lunch, this is a great noodle shop with some of the best Ramen in the area. The portions are extraordinarily large and the service is quick and efficient.
The TomYum was seasoned perfectly with just the right amount of spice. The array of additional toppings pair well with your bowl. I’m a fan of the fried chicken cutlet and the pork belly chashu.
The ambiance isn’t for everyone and the décor is very junk yard dogesque. The place is on the tiny side. Odds are you will be sitting in a community style table. The seats have no backs and the music is pretty upbeat. This restaurant doesn’t want you to lounge, it’s more of sit down, eat quickly, leave, repeat with next customer. I do have to say, it’s done in the nicest way possible.
I’m a fan and I will be back! Next time I’m going to order the hot saki.

I thought it was a genuine Japanese ramen shop, but it turns out to be run by some South Asians (if I hear the music correctly, I think they are Thais). No offense to these people, but I am just frustrated because it didn’t meet my expectation.
Nonetheless, the appetizer we order is good. (Fried octopus legs). Plus, the atmosphere is cool (especially the restroom lol).

It took Momofuku coming to DC from NYC to show the world how good DC ramen is. With Toki Underground, Daikaya, Sakuramen, Chaplin’s and now Oki Bowl, Momofuku can pack their bags back to NYC.
Oki Bowl is just south of Dupont Circle in the bottom floor of a row house. It’s quirky inside and decorations is a nod to the Japanese. The decorations are a smattering of a variety of themes and the bathroom is neon with electronic parts plastered everywhere.
The ramen itself is good. If you like flavor, get the curry chicken ramen. It’s a little more coconut milk heavy then the one at Toki Underground, but it’s still good. The kimchi ramen is not as a spicy but also full of flavor.
Toki Underground and Sakuramen are still my favorites in DC, but Oki Bowl still proves DC knows ramen (Take note Momofuku).

I love Oki Bowl, it’s extremely good but when I saw bluish-​green mold on my ramen I was extremely turned off. I’m posting this because a presumed manager insisted this green color was from the purple cabbage! Ha! Not buying that for a second! Suggestion to restaurants: when you mess up and serve moldy food own up to it and fix the problem don’t deny it and make up ridiculous excuses because that is not going to prevent this from happening to another customer in the future!

So disappointed, the only good thing was that I took the lucky Buddha beer glass home. …the beer itself was just cheap Heineken.

Oki Bowl is a sort of mash-​up of east-​Asian cuisines; while the owners appear to be Thai, the majority of the food takes its cues from Japan, with Korean, Chinese, and Thai influences. Now I’m not one for Pan-​asian places (just pick one and stick to it!), but as someone who spent a long time in Japan, I found the miso ramen spot-​on: the noodles were cooked just right, the chashu was flavorful and thickly cut, and it even contained memma (braised bamboo shoots). My only complaint was that it was served in a huge bowl which made the portion size seem rather small.
The space is tiny, occupying the basement of a Dupont rowhouse, but they’ve made the most of it, and the décor is a sight to see. The walls are chockablock with tchotchkes and they’ve made the supporting pillar in the center of the room appear to be a tree spreading it’s branches to the roof. They’ve even managed to shoe-​horn a small five seat bar into the back. Speaking of the bar, they serve a dozen types of sake, the usual selection of Asian beers, and even chuhais, a Japanese cocktail made with shochu (a grain liquor similar to Korean soju) sparkling water and fruit juice!
Seating is at communal tables which thoughtfully have bottles of tap water prepositioned. But the most incredible sight? The bathroom: it’s like some kind of psychedelic electronics graveyard.

I’m from out of town and spent quite some time researching where to get ramen in the DC area. Chose this place. Posted hours say closing at 10 pm … Got there probably 945 and and promptly turned away by a girl at the door because they were «closed» already.
If you close at 945 and not 10 that should be your posted hours.
I work food service and get people coming in the same manner, close to closing and never, ever turn them away.
Completely rude and bad business practice…

Awesome ramen! The kimchi is the bomb! The curry was a little too hefty but the fried chicken in unbeatable… The miso is also great but would get it with a fireball next time! The tom yum was a little too thin for my taste.
Great low key spot!
Oh! And the décor is simply insane! I’d love to meet the visionary that pulled this place together :)

OKI Bowl is a hidden gem just off of M Street… very, very hidden. Despite Google maps & the signage outside, I have yet to come here without wandering past Sign of the Whale once or twice in search of my ramen.
Inside the restaurant is small and quaint, if not cramped, with an eclectic, modern feel to it.
And while I’m not a ramen connoisseur by any means, I’m consistently impressed with the food whenever I pop in for lunch or dinner. The Galunga Bowl (bonus points for offering a vegetarian option) is flavorful & filling, with just the right level of heat to it. And at $ 11 or $ 12 for a hearty bowl of ramen, I really can’t complain. Solid 3 ½ stars.

Tiny place and solid food. It is not a traditional ramen place, but they have some of the best noodle dishes. I love my chashu and the coconut spicy broth is so good with the fried chicken. The service is prompt and attentive.

Walked in and stood in awe to this small, phunkydelic yet rustic, restaurant before I was seated at the bar and given a place mat/​menu.
The menu was simple, about 4(?) soups, a few appetizers, and a few soup add-​ons.
I ordered the curried soup w/​friend chicken, friend ramen, red cabbage, onions, and added sweet corn. When it came out, I was again in awe to this massive bowl of soup.
I’m Jamaican — and very picky about my curry. Oki gave me everything I expected and more. The soup was rich without being too rich to finish. It had a good balance of chicken to noodle ratio and was filing. I even used chopsticks through the entire meal (a first for me!) since I wasn’t given a fork and was too embarrassed to ask for one. Before I knew it, I looked like everyone else in the room — head down, bowl first, devouring with a bit of slurping glory.
I walked out of Oki feeling like a ramen pro, and trying to figure out when I’d be able to come back, but this time with all my friends.

SUPER crowded at lunch time. As a single diner I was able to nab a seat at the bar, but it took the hostess 10 minutes to notice me among all the other people waiting.
Once seated, I order tako wasa and the Miso Ramen.
Tako wasa was a generous portion so if you like octopus — get it! The Miso Ramen noodles were good (chewy) but the broth was lacking in flavor. If I come here again, I would add a spice bomb to the order to see if that doesn’t help. And oddly, their bamboo shoots were a little tough for my palate… very fibery!
Tough though, because Nagomi is one block away and their broth is much more tasty!
That said, service was friendly and efficient and if you’re craving ramen, a good place to try.

I had heard of OKI bowl in passing, but it wasn’t on my list until the my friends and I were wrapping up at Guarapo’s, and discussing our plans to get ramen next, when our server strongly recommended (okay, insisted, lol) OKI bowl to us. He had been there the week before, and loved his experience, and wanted to share his find.
OKI bowl is not set up like your average restaurant — it’s totally funky, hipster, and industrial chic all at the same time. It’s a dining unlike any other space in the district, and great for exploring while you await your food. The restaurant itself is small but not cramped (I’m looking at you Toki Underground!). Rather, it’s inviting, like being at your favorite local bar where everyone knows your name. The bathroom itself felt like a back to the future invention, and was also another great conversation piece.
The ramen came in *huge* bowls — which made me a fan from the beginning. I got the Tom Yum bowl and substituted the prawn for chashu, and added the spice ball (I have a need for spice, it’s a problem). It was *everythinggggg*. The broth was savory and soothed my soul. The chashu pieces were cut thick and melted in your mouth just like they should. My friends got the Miso bowl, and the Curry bowl, and both bowls were tasty, and ones I would try during my next visit. OKI bowl is totally underrated in DC’s ramen scene, so check it out today, and get in the know. :)

Nothing against their Miso Ramen, but I realized that the reason I never went Ramen crazy is because I’m just not a fan of Miso Soup/​Miso Broth.
Lucky Buddha to start off the festivity.
Ramen came out fairly quickly, but not Daikaya quickly.
Broth — It’s Miso
Chashu/​Pork — fairly unctuous. (did I use that right?)
Seaweed and Bamboo Shoots — they made an appearance. They weren’t so awesome to be memorable in a particular way
The noodles were nice and springy.
The Miso Ramen is cool, but I actually was more intrigued by the other noodle soups they had available. Definite comeback for the other options

I’m so happy I found this place! Amazingly delicious ramen. I got the curry ramen with chicken, and it was delicious and very filling!
All of the ingredients were well prepared — chicken was fried perfectly, and incredibly juicy; vegetables were fresh; noodles cooked perfectly. And the spice level was perfect! Just the right amount of kick, which was very subtle. The only thing I didn’t like was how oily the broth was.
As for the environment, it’s a cute unassuming restaurant located in the basement level of a building. Cool decorations, but VERY loud on a Saturday night thanks to pop music played near top volume. Be prepared to share your table, as they’re all long tables with benches.
Overall, delicious ramen, good price for quantity and quality, and I’ll definitely be back.