8670 W Sunset Rd Suite, Las Vegas, NV 89148

Everyday from 11 a.m.- 10 p.m.

Accepts cash, credit card, Apple Pay

Grade: B

Marufuku Ramen is a small cozy spot off of Sunset. Originating from a line of chain restaurants in California, this particular location opened its doors to Las Vegas on February 6, 2025. With a welcoming, family-friendly atmosphere and modern vibe, the restaurant offers Japanese cuisine in a relaxed setting. Not being directly surrounded by other businesses, nearby shops add to the area’s appeal which helps draw in locals and visitors in the community. 

As I stepped into Marufuku Ramen, I was immediately greeted with a warm welcome from the staff, helping set the tone for the experience. Displayed on the walls and ceiling were Japanese woodwork with modern touches, lantern-style lamps, and sake displays with a Western-style bar. The front of the restaurant featured a bold sign and wooden panels surrounding the main doors that seemed to be inspired by Japanese architecture. The seating is split between a bar in the front and casual dining in the back. The front is divided with the bar on the left side and on the right side was an open view of the kitchen. After viewing the restaurant from the outside, I finally walked in to take my order.

I was sat by the servers and they gave me a list of their most popular items as they explained the menu. While it was mostly quiet, the sound of flames and metal from the kitchen often emanated from the main entrance. The servers were incredibly quiet and it was difficult to understand what they were saying as it felt like they were mumbling under their breath, alongside the ambient restaurant sounds of clinging and background music. It was difficult to understand what items they were discussing and what they were asking. I ordered the Hakata Tonkotsu and Chicken Paitan; alongside takoyaki and gyoza. 

After what felt like only a five-minute wait, our food was delivered quickly starting with our appetizer: The Gyoza ($8.50). We were met with a neatly arranged row of seven pieces of gyoza, with the crispy seared side of the dumplings facing us, alongside a dark soy-like sauce. Upon biting, I was immediately hit with the overwhelming juices and hot steaming gyoza that was freshly made; the fillings consisted of lettuce and pork, and the skin was extremely crispy. I immediately went for another in the dipping sauces. The sauce cooled the outer shell of the gyoza down, which made it easier to chew. The sauce turned out to be a refreshing combo with soy sauce, and together with the fatty and juicy gyoza, it was perfect. However, I do feel like the stuffing fell into the categories I don’t like; the overwhelming lettuce flavor just overtook the entire taste of the meat and gave the juices a subtle, bitter flavor.

The second appetizer, Takoyaki ($8.50), was given to me right after the gyoza. It featured five pieces of takoyaki in the arrangement of a square with the fifth piece being placed in the middle. The takoyaki was topped with seaweed powder and a drizzle of Japanese mayo and okonomi sauce. With my first bite I could taste how much sweeter the okonomi sauce was from the rest of the takoyaki itself. The large amounts of different sauces and toppings made it difficult to differentiate between the takoyaki and the seasonings. The outside of the takoyaki was crisp while the inside of the takoyaki presented a creamy, jammy center that tasted rich with umami. The octopus inside was tender and the fried dough around it added a subtle chewiness that helped to enhance the flavor of the dish as a whole. The dough itself was light and almost went unnoticed as I chewed, helping carry the flavors of the okonomi sauce and Japanese mayo. Although the Takoyaki was initially sweet, the more I ate the more it transformed into a savory dish.

Both of the main dishes came at the same time after we had finished the appetizers. I first started with the Chicken Paitan ramen ($17) which featured three slices of white-pepper seasoned chicken, wood ear mushrooms, a soft-boiled egg, hays of beanstalk, and a mountain load of scallions. It is all served over an umami-filled chicken broth that has a similar taste to chicken bouillon, if not better. The noodles presented were traditional Japanese ramen noodles, that bounce back when chewed—cooked to order. Next is another foundational pillar of ramen: The broth. It had a deep flavor rich bursting with chicken that went down well with the noodles alongside the toppings. However, this bowl of ramen, when the spotlight shifted, revealed itself to be more of a disappointment rather than a delight. Of course, I enjoyed the first layer of the ramen when I had all the toppings, but when all of the toppings were finished, the soup and the noodles were just simply too fat and oily to finish the entire bowl. Another issue was the cut of spring onions—They were oddly uneven and huge and seemed like someone had just rough-chopped them without care. The cut was present in both bowls I had ordered.

The second main, Hakata Tonkotsu Ramen ($17), presented a rich pork broth with chashu pork and simmered pork belly, alongside a seasoned soft-boiled egg with green onions, kikurage mushrooms, bean sprouts, pickled ginger, and sesame seeds. The broth by itself was a little bland, however as I ate the noodles and other toppings, the broth’s deep taste became more noticeable. The noodles were thin which made it easy to eat and the firmness of the noodles felt cooked to al dente. Overall, the whole dish had a rich and savory flavor, although if I could change one thing it’d be the amount of noodles because it felt fairly little, and after I finished the noodles I was left with the broth by itself with some unfinished toppings.

Ultimately, my visit to Marufuku Ramen was pleasant. But most importantly, we know that their stock is good, as they offer takeout for unfinished food. When you take that stock to the fridge, you’ll find tomorrow that it’s been jellified, this is a great sign for great and delicious stocks. All in all, Marufuku Ramen is definitely worth a visit and I’m looking forward to another comforting bowl.