Red Light Ramen by Ardent
1751 N Farwell Ave, Milwaukee, WI, 53202
Red Light Ramen by Ardent Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Milwaukee for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
1751 N Farwell Ave
Milwaukee, WI, 53202 - Phone (414) 897-7022
- Website https://www.ardentmke.com/info/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
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Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : No
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Late Night
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : No
Attire : Casual
Noise Level : Loud
Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only
Outdoor Seating : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
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George T.
I get the concept of trendy pho, food trucks, ramen varieties. and rotating pop ups with guest chefs. Warehouse cocktail parties. Asian fusion. This is NOT Red Light Ramen. Inside Ardent you will find a cozy small bar and a few tables that are dimly lit, your eyes will adjust. Red light Ramen is available only on Friday and Saturday night. Otherwise.... NO SOUP FOR YOU! You will not get a cheeseburger ramen or Hawaiian pizza here. What you will get is the best basic ramen made with broth that has multiple flavor layers to bring you to comfort food satisfaction. Chef Justin choose to focus on doing one thing and perfecting it. You can fine tune your ramen to your own liking with chili infused oil and Togarashi powder, a blend of 7 types of seasonings I'm not exactly sure what is in it other than a variety of ground pepper, chili pods, two types of sesame seeds ginger, and seaweed. Food 5 Ambiance 5 Service 5 Location lower east side 4 Value 5 46/ 2014
(5)Elissa B.
The entire experience, from finding Red Light Ramen to wolfing down your delicious bowl, makes me love the weird secretiveness that MKE can hold. Having heard about RLR for months, missing Rick R.'s UYE, and never really knowing where it was kept me from here. And that is sad. But when Rick R. and a pile of us Yelpers happened to be together in the evening, I excitedly followed here. The place is teensy, crowded both times I've been. But tables turn around fast because your fellow patrons understand your burning desire for ramen. They have 2 boozy slushies or PBR to sip while you wait - the slushies are always good and always strong. They will give you a menu. It means nothing. Order your ramen with everything. If you don't, just leave because I don't know if we can be friends. Harsh? That's how much this ramen has come to mean to my crabby little heart. You will try to savor this delicious meal when it arrives, but you will be unable to. I inhale it in record speed, then pour the broth down my gullet. Then I'm sad that it's gone, but I"m full and happy because this is fecking delicious Look, I know I should break down the ramen taste and experience for you. But half the delight in your first time at RLR is not knowing what you're eating (and I say that as a timid eater). The good-looking staff will take great care of you, if you sass off too loudly the kitchen staff will point a lamp at you spotlight-style and sass right back. I love RLR.
(5)Jessica O.
I don't feel like I can say anything that hasn't already been said, only to add that I am so glad that I FINALLY stayed up late enough for RLR! See, I know some of these other reviewers. They're cool people. Cool people who stay out late and frequent amazing cocktail lounges and go to concerts and things. And then there's me. My bedtime is early. I am an embarrassment to twenty-somethings. So when I was sipping wine and sampling chocolates at Indulge and realized that I was having such a good time that I was actually awake - and out - for RLR, it had to happen. The gods smiled on me. It was Halloween night, and I quickly realized that parking near Brady street was going to be a NIGHTMARE. But after a few rounds, we actually managed to find a spot directly across the street. I was briefly fooled by the dimmed lights and burlap over the windows - because oh my goodness oh my goodness, what if the ONE night I was up this late, they were closed? But no worries, it was open. We were a little late - it was 11:45 and I've heard that the wait can be terrible - but there was a table open - and we snagged it. The vibe is fantastic - dim lights, throwback music, and a very underground atmosphere. I am not a ramen officianado, but what I can tell you is that this bowl of broth and happiness was EXACTLY what I wanted to cap off my night. We both ordered our ramen with everything, and got PBRs to go with it. The broth was the most comforting, rich, complex broth that I've ever sampled - and the soy egg was a perfect complement. Other Yelpers have done a far better job at describing everything this ramen entails. I just know that it made me super happy :) So overall - if you're an old lady like me - put this on your to do list AT LEAST once. Take a nap during the day...chug a Red Bull...whatever it takes. You must do this.
(5)Sarah S.
I don't get it. I had such high hopes for this place, and it was one of the harshest disappointments I've ever experienced. I've had ramen in Chicago, New York, and Japan, and this is NOT worth it. Ambiance: Dark, lights too low. It's small, not uncomfortable, but it's terrible for groups, and you can't see anything they put in front of you. Music is far too loud, selection was a mess of 90's hip hop, most of it terrible, some songs I remember liking. The wait was about 45 minutes for five of us. If you sit at the bar, may be a better experience. Food: In a word, lame. I did not sample the alcohol because $10 for frozen booze is ridiculous, and I hate PBR. The broth was the best part, the noodles tasted like they came right out of a plastic pouch, the pork was so-so, and very limited despite being a double order. I paid for extras; I think I got four pieces of bamboo. Egg was fine, I thought I ordered mushrooms? I don't actually remember. I think you need the PBR to make this mess tolerable. Service/Staff: Probably the only redeeming quality; the one host was really nice and kept track of us. They cleaned our table right away, scooted chairs over to fit us, etc. I asked if they could turn the music down, which happened for maybe two songs. It would have been nice to hear the people sitting next to me. I was little embarrassed by the chef wearing his headband upside-down. [If you're going to borrow from another culture, at least have the courtesy to turn it the other way when you're informed of the mistake. I study Japanese language & culture, I can tell when something is written upside-down.] Overall: Skip it. The ramen is mediocre at best, nothing you can't make at home without a quick trip to an Asian grocer. tl;dr - You can get the entire RLR experience at home for a fraction of the cost. Buy a cup ramen, turn all your lights off, light a single candle, blast a playlist of hip hop top 40 from 1993, and crack open a PBR.
(1)Renee G.
Worth the line! Free bottled water, best ramen you've ever had, and adult slushies. No to go containers are given but you won't need any once you get a taste.
(5)Elijah H.
A sort of diamond in the rough (and trust me its rough to get here), Redlight Ramen by day goes by another name, I believe Ardent, a fancy restaurant where supposedly it is mandatory that I take my gf to. For me it was difficult because I never knew when it was opened, but now I know(or i think I do) that its open Friday and Saturday nights at 11:30pm, a sort of midnight snack type of thing. When we got there the line was long so It mustve been worth it. It felt like standing in line for the last Harry Potter movie, such a thrill! Inside it is sort of like a bar, dark and whatnot. The seating was limited (which is a bummer) but the cooks output Ramen so fast it didnt matter. The staff was pretty outgoing and accomdating. The ramen itself was pretty good and full of flavor. I would go again for sure.
(4)Keaunis G.
So this was my first time dining at this restaurant and I must say that I really liked it a lot. I liked it a lot for many reasons: the ambiance, the food/drinks, the Master chef, and the servers. The ambiance is like no other. I can't even describe it because what I expected was far from the reality of this place. It's small with low lights, and lots of people waiting in line to eat Ramen. And the music, it is actually hip hop/pop from the 90s. Can you believe it so far? I know that I instantly fell in love the moment that I walked in the door. The food is pretty dog gone delicious. The first time that I ever tried Ramen was actually in Kyoto, Japan and it was Black Ramen and I LOVED it! I have even tried another restaurant that serves Ramen and it was delicious. So, with this only being my third time trying Ramen (second time in the US), I believe that I have had some unique experiences. Now I am determined to try as much Ramen as I can so that I can have something to compare to when I go back to Japan! By the way, the chef's specialty is Tonkatsu Ramen. Now, I have to talk about the OLD Fashioned Slushy.... Now, when I first heard of this slushy, I thought it was a regular slushy and that I probably would not like it. BOY was I wrong!!!! The taste was phenomenal and the mixture was well balanced, not too much or too little of anything. It was perfect! Now that I know what an Old Fashioned Slushy really is, I will definitely be ordering this drink every time that I come to this restaurant. I do not want to spoil it for you by telling you exactly what it is if you don't already know because it may ruin the surprise. However, I will tell you that you will NOT be disappointed. Now, why do I say the Master Chef? Because it is not often (if hardly ever) that you get the opportunity to chat it up with the chef himself. Well, he actually cares about what you think about his Ramen and establishment. He is a perfectionist so he wants to get it right the first time. The servers were very nice and courteous and also cared about their customers. It's sad to say that good customer service is hard to come by these days so when you experience good customer service, you want to acknowledge it right away. I thought that I was finished with this review, but I just thought about the guest chef that came to visit and serve his Miso based Ramen. I have to mention this because it was the best Ramen ever! I do not have any other Miso based Ramen to compare it to, but the flavors in this Ramen went well together and had the perfect balance. So to sum up my experience with this restaurant is that you never know what to expect, but you know that you will have an awesome time as well as enjoy some delicious Ramen.
(5)Justin S.
It's good. The ramen's broth, noodles, side- it's yummy! There aren't many places you can get ramen in the downtown area that actually tastes like Japanese ramen. However, it's more of a novelty thing. You definitely have to go to check it out and eat the ramen- and it's a great place to bring out of towners after a night of drinking on Brady... But you probably won't find yourself going there too many more times after.
(4)Benjamin F.
I'll start by saying that I would be doing this place a massive disservice by describing the ramen as simply "great," "wonderful, "good," or some other frequently abused adjective. Instead, I believe it would be best to point out the fact that a line composed of hungry and excited ramen fanatics starts forming outside of this restaurant as early as an hour before they open EVERY WEEKEND. This alone is at least partially indicative of what kind of work Justin Carlisle (owner/head chef) and company do here. The food menu, though it is exhausted by a single dish- the notorious bowl of Tonkotsu Ramen, honestly needs nothing else to satisfy. In the bowl you'll find 2-3 pieces of succulent, melt-in-your-mouth, roasted pork belly, shiitake mushrooms, scallion, bamboo shoots, pickled wasabi greens, nori, narutomaki, a marinated soft-boiled egg, bouncy, and perfectly-chewy ramen noodles, and a broth that is so velvety and rich with pork flavor that you may need to take a moment after your first gulp to say "wow" to yourself and everyone else in your company. Perhaps the most important thing I can say about the ramen here comes down to a term that my friends and I use to describe all mind-blowingly-exceptional things in life; and that term is Next-Level. To briefly reiterate: Red Light Ramen is Next-Level.
(5)Matthew S.
Simply delicious ramen. There was already a line before it opened up at 11:30p and worth the wait! Thick flavorful broth, great noodles, and delicious toppings (especially that egg). A great ramen gem in MKE.
(5)Carrie G.
This may be an underground venture, but it's no longer a secret. The only "official" trace of Red Light Ramen is a twitter handle, but Milwaukee has gotten wise to the fantastic experience. It begins with a rich and flavorful broth that is crafted at the beginning of each week. There are many stages of preparation and the culmination is a fabulous ramen base that's served every Friday and Saturday beginning at 11:30pm and lasting until the kettle is empty. But before the ramen is served, the space is transformed. In the home of Ardent, one of the more heralded restaurant in the city, burlap curtains are hung, low lights are lowered and retro red tea light holders are placed on the tables. One the stage is set, you must prepare your mind for the experience.This is not your college ramen. This is Tonkatsu, authentic Japanese Ramen. If you are fortunate enough to have experienced it before, it was most likely not in Milwaukee. After the aforementioned broth is prepared, it is ladled over the most revered of ramen from Sun Noodle. The partnering broth base hosts thin slices of tender pork , fresh green onions and earthy shiitake. And optional toppings are a soy infused "pickled" egg, pork belly, nori sheets, bamboo shoots and vibrant wasabi greens. Pair your bowl with a cold can of Pabst, or try the newest addition to the menu; boozy slushies. Yes, slushies, for adults, with lots o' booze! The house flavor is Brandy Old Fashioned and it's right on the mark. The smooth, velvety brandy dances on the front of your palate and notes of bright citrus and cherry finish each sip. Each week will feature a second slushy flavor and we were lucky enough to be there for the Mint Julep. Service at Red Light is as spot on and efficient as the top notch standard at Ardent. And staff is a bit more relaxed creating a fun and laid back atmosphere. And if you're lucky Chef Carlisle will deliver your steamy bowls himself and chat up elements of the dish. Giving a big green light for the ramen at Red Light! And green means go, go now! Make plans for the very next Friday or Saturday night that you are free. And get there by 11:15pm. Underground ramen is where it's at!
(5)Rick R.
I stop in for ramen at least once a month. It's still the best Tonkotsu Ramen in the city, and I've had at least 4 others. Yes, there are that many other places making ramen now. I still have a few others to try, but I doubt they will be better than this.
(5)Van T.
My husband and I were at the restaurant last night waiting in line for an hour to try the Ramen. We were pretty excited to be seated finally, and we were ready to try hot bowl of Ramen soup. What came next was so disappointed... - The ramen broth is the soul of the whole deal, but it was sooooooo soooooo salty!!!! - The pork belly was not the traditional melt-in-your-mouth pieces of meat. - The ramen itself was like from a package - not freshly made as I had expected - The flavor was a strong mix of everything: pork, seafood, and salt. We could not order properly as the host/waiter was pushing us to order quickly - The kitchen was soooo crowded with people who had nothing to do with cooking. I can't tell who's the chef, who are the waiters, who are their friends, who's the customer. They all were standing around talking, drinking, and letting others to squeeze in to take pictures. Cool atmosphere (like your best friends' kitchen???) but if the cook cannot focus to make a good bowl of ramen and to serve the folks waiting in line - then what's the point of cooking at all???? - Red Light Ramen is like Milwaukee's tourist trap. There apparently have been a lot of marketing effort and campaign (did they pay for Yelp Reviews too?) and no real ramen chef! Will never come back.
(1)Beyauna B.
If you are looking for a cool place to impress your friends when they are in town, than this is the experience for you. If you are looking for ramen, drive to Chicago, cause this ain't it. My sister and I waited outside in the cold with a group of guys and their bikes on Farwell. They were excited to return, and we felt like we were cool and in the know. The line continued to grow, over the hour that we waited. After being ushered in and seated we placed a drink order, and waited for our bowls. There's one thing on the menu, ramen, and we were here for it. The ramen broth was clearly boiled for hours, but it tasted like honey baked ham, instead of traditional pork. I couldn't get over it. I kept repeating it to my sister, "This tastes like thanksgiving. " The broth also incredibly salty. Swell your lips, and tongue salty. The noodles had a nice chew, but that's where the good part ends. As a ramen-head, I definitely wouldn't return. I would suggest a ride over to the Western Suburbs of Chicago to try the real thing at Mitsuwa.
(2)Alien T.
This place serves real Japanese ramen! It was worth for waiting. The soup was thick. Noodles were finely cooked. And eggs...a bit salty but so good. The owner is really into ramen.
(5)Erin M.
Flavor explosion in the mouth. We waited in line for over an hour to grab a bite here, and it was worth it. Only one type of ramen, but it's done right. It's essential to get all the fixings here, folks. A man next to me ordered no egg and I want to clarify the egg is an important character in the dish! It's nice seeing the chef of Ardent, Justin Carlisle, behind the counter here. It shows how dedicated he is to the entire process. That's what this place is all about. Slushie drinks are slightly overrated. Good, yes, but we got charged $10 for a single drink. I thought that was crazy as I had ordered a PBR for $3. My fiancé both decided PBR here is definitely the way to go.
(5)Danielle B.
What a joke! 1-Star for experience and ambiance 1- Star for trying From the moment you walk in you notice inauthentic Ramen Tonkutsu smell. Being a native of California, where ramen festivals exist, this already was an indicator that this experience was going to be short met. Ramen pros- it had all the right parts - noodles, pork belly, seaweed and some greens Ramen cons Ramen is all about the broth. But the broth was salty and failed to be closed to the milky porky ramen broth that ramen is infamous for. Noodles were not fresh and tasted like package noodles The pork belly was skimpy and tasted like a pulled pork sandwich. Bbq and then thrown into the soup. Not okay! I want my pork to melt in your melt and give me a little more love of meaty taste. The egg was cooked just right but was disgustingly salty I literally just wanted to throw it away Vegetables? C'mon traditional ramen does not even that! Substitute that with corn and bean sprouts. That's more traditional. I understand Ardent may stem away from traditional but at least brand it that way! At least Tochi showcases themselves as an up to date fushion of ramen with their names. Don't say you serve Tonkutsu ramen when you don't! I will not come back to this place unless the cook makes some real changes. So message me if that happens cause Milwaukee needs it. But to the host, thanks for being chill. You made it fun. And also if the shop makes one thing only, I don't understand why it takes to long. Get a clue, people are there for one thing and there should be like an assembly line similar to the traditional ones in Asia. You know why ramen is popular? Cause it's quick and easy.
(2)Allison F.
Move out of the way, Taco Bell: I found a better place to eat my 4th meal. Just like in any fairy tale, big changes occur at Ardent when the clock strikes twelve (actually I lied: it's 11:30). The windows are covered in burlap and the dinner menu and wine list are put away in order to create a new restaurant. A restaurant where one finds frozen cocktail slushies churning and pork bone broth simmering, a broth that takes over 30 hours to prepare. With the flick of the single red light, Ardent transforms into Red Light Ramen. Pull up a chair at the bar or stand in the kitchen and watch Ardent's cooks prepare you a heaping bowl of their labor of love, tonkotsu ramen. Although you're most likely going to wait outside for some time (there's usually about 50 people in line by 11:30, seeing that Red Light Ramen is in service until 1 AM on only Friday and Saturday nights), your ramen comes to you fairly quickly once you've ordered. Take my advice and order everything on your ramen--pork, noodles, bamboo shoots, seaweed, egg, and narutomaki. You need all of the components to create the most authentic, mind-blowing taste possible. I can't tell you which I loved most: the intense, fatty broth, the fresh, bouncy noodles, or the melt-on-your-tongue tender chunks of pork. Each brought me equal amounts of ear-to-ear smiles from start to finish, which only made me question if I was dreaming, because from everyone's packaged experiences ramen can't possibly taste this lovely...but when it's prepared by a ramen-making veteran like Justin Carlisle, I'm a firmer believer in that my noodle-slurping dreams can become a reality. In short, make it to Red Light Ramen before the noodle bowl turns back into a dinner plate.
(5)Mike M.
A favorite that I wish was still a secret. Sometimes, you just need a big bowl of soup and a beer. This is what you get here. Best ramen in the city, and the best people working in the kitchen.
(5)Kristy K.
Okay, let's add one more rave review to the stack. I love Red Light Ramen! I will stand for 45 minutes in the freezing cold just to be one of the first in the door. There is something about walking down those stairs into the transformed darkened restaurant and snagging a stool at the bar that I just can't get enough of. I can still remember the first time I walked in and was overwhelmed by the aroma of porky goodness. Since then, we've been back.....a lot. I now have dreams of ramen and have become totally obsessed to the point that I have spent two days trying to make my own version (which was good, but not quite at the pro-level yet). The atmosphere is fun and it's great to meet other ramen and food enthusiasts. Every time we go, we end up talking to someone new either while waiting in line or in between slurps. The ramen is awesome. It's creamy and over the top flavorful. They have all the usual toppings - soy eggs, negi (green onions), mushrooms, greens, menma (bamboo shoots), nori (they actually use Korean seaweed which is seasoned and my personal favorite). I believe they use fresh Sun Noodles, which are the best available in the US. It comes out fast, and I always order it with the works - sometimes with an extra soy egg. They offer a few condiments for your use - Nanami Togarash (a red pepper seasoning), chili oil and soy sauce. I do have a couple of other condiment suggestions for Chef Justin if your listening - Lao Gan Ma Chili Crisp Sauce is totally addictive in ramen even if it's Chinese or some chopped garlic would be a nice touch. Others have complained that the bowl is small for the price, but I feel that the size is just perfect for a late night bite. Our last visit this past Saturday was the most fun yet. We had a couple of the "purple drank" slushies and two bowls with the works. We can't wait to go back again and again and again and again.
(5)Shamoon K.
Go Milwaukee! It's hard to find a great ramen place in the city but have no fear, Ardent is here! err...sorry for that First of all I just wanted to tell you how welcoming the staff made us feel. We got there at 12:50 am, ten minutes before they stopped making ramen. We walk in and our server was happy to see us, patted us on the arm and directed us to our table. And on top of that, we asked for a chicken broth instead of a pork broth. He said no problem and gave us our drinks, 2 sodas and 2 waters. No charge. When our food came out it was delivered by the chef to whom I said thank you and he put his hand on my shoulder and said "of course!" I cannot tell you how nice they were. And you really felt like they cared about the food. The egg in all of our ramens were perfectly velvety and umami. So so good. The noodles had a great bite to them and the nori was a great touch. It was actually quite authentic. All at $10 a piece. Don't even get me started on the music! They played the best stuff, from 90's hip hop to Rage Against the Machine to pop. Just fantastic. So I solute you, Ardent. Every place should have your philosophy on the guest and the food. Well done. We will be back. With friends. Lots of friends. (matrix reference if you're cool)
(5)Jess S.
Best ramen I've had in the MKE area. I love that this place goes from upscale dining to $10 ramen bar. Their ramen has a pork base, but if you call ahead of time they can usually set aside chicken broth for you. Seriously, these guys are great! Fun atmosphere and delicious food! Check it out! Only open Friday and Saturday nights 11:30pm - 1:00am. Line starts to form around 11pm.
(5)Suzanne O.
If you can't take the heat, get out of the kitchen! We got here just before 11:30 and hopped in the line that had already formed out the door. Doors opened promptly at 11:30 and we were unfortunately the first people without seats. Our names were put on a list, but then about 5 minutes later the guy came back up to us and asked if we wanted to wait for a seat or just eat in the kitchen. Unsure of what eating in the kitchen meant, we skeptically agreed to do that. Well, eating in the kitchen meant standing in the sweltering kitchen, throwing my coat and purse on the floor under the sink and setting my bowl of ramen on a plywood board that covered the sinks. Not exactly what I had envisioned for a late night dining experience, but at least I got my ramen quick! The ramen itself was delicious and came with all the fixings. At $10 you get a decent sized bowl of ramen topped with green onions, mushrooms, seaweed, some other veggies, soft boiled egg and pork belly. At most places, all these toppings are an extra cost and will put you over $10, so I thought this was a pretty good deal. The broth is super flavorful, but I just wish there was a spicy option. By the end of this meal, I was literally sweating. Between the hot food and the steaming kitchen, I needed to get out! I'll be back, but next time I'm waiting for a table!
(4)Batilly H.
"Damn that broth is the shit" was my initial thought. I love how hearty the broth is--simmered for 17 hours according to my friend. And that ramen, perfectly al dente and authentic. I love the little Japanese notes of pickled wasabi greens, fantastic pork belly and the egg (although it was too runny for my taste). It is a good portion for $10. $1 for any additional items. My friend ordered their Old Fashion slushy which looked delicious. However, if you're not careful, it's strong! I would recommend coming early, people started lining up at 11pm. We got there at 11:10pm and by 10:30 there were about 40 people in line. The place seats like 10. Do the math. I would definitely come here again. I do wish they had authentic soy sauce eggs and not that weird runny thing. Egg yolks in their unnatural state scare me. Other than that, it was perfect. Service was on point. It is dark as hell, but it adds to the enigma that is Red Light Ramen!
(4)Shannon C.
I love Ardent and have been looking forward to checking out Red Light Ramen for some time. Last night, we made the block-long trek a bit early, and got there at 11:15 -- there were already four people in line ahead of us, and more people kept showing up. Definitely glad we made it there early, though, because we were able to get in and snag prime spots at the bar. We ordered two of their slushy old fashioneds, which were fantastic. Super strong, very delicious. In hindsight, we should have gotten one of their special slushies of the day -- which was made with coke, kahlua, and vodka -- so that we could have sampled both kinds (next time we will). I got the tontaksu ramen and the husb got the special ramen, which was basically a ramen chili. I loved my ramen. Other Yelpers are much better at articulating good descriptions of food, but let me just say that the broth is what made it for me -- it was unbelievably good. The husb also really enjoyed his ramen as well -- he loves ramen, he loves chili, therefore he couldn't be happier. Other reviewers have been put off by how dark it is, and how busy it is, and how the people waiting for tables are constantly eyeing you up, hoping that you'll leave. But seriously -- the atmosphere at RLR is fun, chill, and very laid back. Were people eyeing up our bar spots? Yes. Did that bother me? No -- if you read the reviews, you'll know Ardent is a small venue and that you usually have to wait for a table. I actually thought it was cool that people were standing up by tables, hanging out with their friends. RLR has a really chill vibe, and that's one of the things I liked most about it (aside from the food, of course). Additionally, Justin Carlisle himself actually served us at the bar, which was awesome. Ardent had such good service, and it was great to see it in action at RLR. Their host also seemed like a cool guy and handled the crowd of people very well. To sum it up - RLR is fantastic in pretty much every way. If I can force myself to stay up until 11:00 or so, we'll definitely be back.
(5)Mark P.
Had a great time hangin' with chef Justin last night. The place was a buzz with happy customers & a camera crew from Milwaukee Foodie filming the action of the kitchen. The Ardent staff put on an awesome performance in the intimate setting. Can't wait to see the program on PBS Who was that hottie photo bombing the film crew in the kitchen?? Looked like she was having a blast too! The ramen was spot on last night, a culinary rendezvous. I really dug the pickled egg & the overall presentation was masterful. Every bite of this delicious fare should be savored & cherished. The discreet & isolated Ardent is the place to be on Friday & Saturday nights. Ardent & chef Justin were James Beard nominees for best new restaurant in 2014.
(5)Marian Q.
Amazing. Seriously. The broth is flavorful- I had to stop myself from slurping it straight out of the bowl- yes, it's that dang good. Everything this bowl of ramen comes with (mushrooms, pork, soft boiled egg, scallions, nori- I think there's more...) pairs beautifully with the noodles and broth. It's a hearty bowl that will fill you up. People rave about the slushies, but I have yet to try one. Honestly though I would save all the room you have for the noodles and broth- you'll want to eat it all! I want to come back and try the other ramen bowls people have been reviewing! Sure, the place is dark and you will definitely need to shine your phone light to see the menu. Yes, it gets pretty crowded and if you wait by the door you backside might get smacked, but it's most definitely worth the wait.
(5)Dan L.
Pretty good ramen...I have nothing to compare it to though except for the 10 cent packets from the grocery store as this was my first REAL ramen experience. I got there like right at 11:30...waited in line for 10 seconds and they opened the door. Unfortunately I missed a seat by 1 party. However, after 11:30, the crowds started to pile in, so I would definitely get here before opening time (at least in the winter). It gets really crowded, and be prepared to wait if you are one of the late stragglers. Do not opt to eat in the kitchen if they ask you...unless you just feel like standing around and eating your ramen. It's super hot, and not really any space to enjoy your meal. They do have spotted cow on top of pbr...in case you're in the mood for better beer.
(4)Pamela M.
These no place that I'd rather be at 1130 pm on a Friday or Saturday. It's dark, it's small, it's hip, it makes me feel cool. The ramen is crazy affordable and crazy good, under $10. The slushies are pricier at $10 a pop but there also cans of Pabst! The toughest thing is eating in a way so that you're ready for a snack at around midnight. But it's a great nightcap!! Made with a slurry of good flavors, the broth just might cure illnesses. It's a laid back and relaxed atmosphere - I mean they open just before midnight! It's chill. It won't take too long for a table and I think keeping it dark helps with that. Eat yer ramen, enjoy the goodness and go peoples ;) Thank the Chefs on your way out, too! (Chefs like that) See you there!
(5)Melissa L.
Went there a few months back. Did not understand the 'hype' about this place. Pros: The broth was good, Price was ok. Cons: The LOUD HEAVY METAL Music just makes you want to swallow your noodles as fast as you can, so I had no idea what I was eating. The place was too small that people had to line up (i guess that was why people think it was really good because there was a long line), and you know how people are, they stare at you while you eat, hoping they could get that table once you leave. Besides, it was really dark, and once again, I couldn't really see what I was eating. I remembered that the wait was rather long too. We were standing outside the cold 20 minutes before opening. I honestly don't get it, why can't they just let the customers be seated first? I mean, I don't have to order first since the kitchen isn't ready. But, when we knocked 5 minutes before opening, I remembered a lady coming outside telling me we can't enter yet. Eating ramen wasn't suppose to be that sad. So, aside from the broth being good, and having eaten ramen in so many different countries.....this is not the best ramen shop in milwaukee.
(3)Dani J.
This place kicks butt!! And Milwaukee definitely needs a sister location in Bay View. Underground. Raging vibe. PBR & slushed while waiting. Outstanding Ramen. Yes, take me there more, please. Slurrrrp!
(5)Kelly R.
The experience of this place cannot be described by words. Come here for a genuine experience of goodness. Mic drop.
(5)Kelly R.
What an amazing experience here at RLR! The ambience, the staff, the music, the food. Love that you have to wait outside for it to open and scurry to find a seat. Love that it's dark, and secretive, and hidden. Makes you feel like you're discovering something mysterious - and you really are! I've never tasted a broth like this in my life - so rich, so comforting, that I was SO disappointed I couldn't finish the last few slurps. They spend HOURS on this broth and it shows. I sampled the ramen with everything for my first time, and every flavor, from the broth to the nori to the delicious, soft soy egg...just perfect. Sampled sips of the Old Fashioned and Sangria slushies from friends and they were a great, cold compliment to the hot soup. You can grab your bowl with PBR, as well, or an icy cold water. I told Chef Carlisle that this was one of my most favorite and uniue dining experiences to date - and it's true! Hard to explain, you just gotta try it for yourself. Make sure to arrive a bit early to guarantee your seat indoors. It's cozy! PS You know it's a good sign when other industry folks are hanging here and enjoying it, too. PPS They were playing the Juvenile pandora station. I enjoyed my Ramen while dancing to Big Tymers. SO GOOD.
(5)David P.
When I think of Ramen, I think if the 25 cent store bought ramen you eat all through college. This is the farthest you could possibly get to those freeze dried pucks of noodles. Although the wait time can be lengthy in a cramped small restaurant the actual ramen is the best I have ever had. No doubt one of the best hidden restaurants in MKE.
(5)Sara W.
I've enjoyed dining at Ardent's after hours Red Light Ramen restaurant two nights in a row. So, it goes without saying that I appreciate the food here. But, I'm not the only repeat customer. While waiting in line this evening I recognized others who were dining here last night! I can't imagine many restaurants can boast customers returning two nights in a row for exactly the same dish! But Ardent/Red Light Ramen corners the market on quality ramen in this town and people wait in line to prove it. This is NOT the stuff in a plastic package you remember from your college years. (Though it is nearly as affordable at $7 per heaping bowl). Chef Carlisle adds a dash of his soul to this traditional tonkotsu broth and it tastes amazing. The depth of flavor and the richness of the broth have no match in Milwaukee. The noodles are toothsome and have just the right resistance with each and every bite. Order yours with extra pork and thank me later. The nondescript building, lack of signage, low lighting and seating just below street level add to the insider vibe. One might assume a business where people line up before the doors open would be pretentious. Not the case here. Service is consistently swift and with a smile. If you need to be schooled in real ramen, come to 1751 N. Farwell Ave. on Friday and/or Saturday. Class starts at 11:30PM.
(5)Amanda H.
This was my first time dabbling in any sort of ramen outside of the 69 cent variety--but let me tell you--this was a revelation in a bowl. Everything about the experience--from the dim lit atmosphere and cosy dining space filled with 90s beats, to the thrill of standing in line as curious people passing by looked on with confusion as seemingly random people joined a line to get into some dark and mysterious basement club they hadn't been invited to--was amazing. PBR and ramen for 12 bucks? Where can you go wrong? I suggest getting there at least by 11:10 to ensure a good spot in line. Great, filling food and an amazing time!
(5)Lisa A.
1 star ... crazy looking egg 2 star ... beasties boys playing 3 star ... Can of pbr included with ramen 4 star ... nori 5 star ... notorious b.i.g. playing Noodles! Get there at 11:30 pm
(5)Trish P.
Prior to my visit, I heard phenomenal things about Red Light from trustworthy foodies. The buzz is not unfounded, and my first ramen experience was amazing! The quality of the broth shines and the noodles were perfection! In addition to the exquisite attention to detail, Chef Justin and his staff create a palpable vibe that makes you want to eat ramen daily. It's familial, cool & a little quirky, which evokes a level of familiarity even on one's first visit. To me, a place with old school hip-hop & rap in the background serves as a fun juxtaposition to high quality culinary treats! This demonstrated this highly talented team does not take themselves too seriously & is confident in the caliber of their food. While this visit was a result of an unexpected invite, I was so happy I pushed through my tired, end of the week fatigue to experience this place. Can't wait for the next visit!
(5)Yan H.
Pardon me for being bothersome. Before I begin I want to mention that in Japanese "Kotsu" = Bone and "Katsu" = Cutlet. Therefore Tonk-A-tsu is the deep fried breaded pork cutlet, and Tonk-O-tsu is a pork bone style broth for ramen. I used to confuse the two and I want clear up confusion. Sorry, now for my review. The afterhours Pop-up nature of Red Light Ramen I feel very much reflects the status of ramen as a food in MKE. Beloved by some, a curiosity for others, but still very much a minor trend that like the building is underground. Chef Carlisle is the man to attempt this. After taking his ramen class this year out of curiosity, I can see why he is one of the first to make this bold attempt. Ramen for him is an obvious passion, accompanied by a strong devotion to authenticity and tradition of ramen. The problem is that the tradition formed by one culture, is not easily accepted , sometimes even rejected by another... just ask the japanese what they think of our root beer. With regards to ramen, in MKE being the traditionalist means you're also the radical. All this on Friday and Saturday night... takes the form of a delicious bowl of Tonkotsu broth ramen. The broth is the product of more than 14 hours of work, and pork a result of sous-vide pork shoulder or belly cured with a 11 ingredient herb/spice blend.... definitely no corners cut. This tastes wonderful, so rich and with a deep satisfying finish. I've tried tochi's tonkotsu ramen and this is the clear winner. I highly recommend Red Light Ramen. An afterhours pop-up ramen shop is a lot of extra work for a Chef with another restaurant to run (Ardent), it is passion-fueled benevolence that I hope continues to spread love of ramen around our city.
(5)Jelly R.
We hustled over here shortly before doors opened to do the late night red light ramen thing here, and a crowd was already gathered outside. It all seemed a bit surreal: underground (literally), semi-upscale restaurant closes for the night and switches gears and reopens at 11 p.m. under a different name to serve bargoers ramen and PBR. I felt like there should have been a secret password or something. I ordered my ramen with everything in it. If you go, consider omitting the egg: By all appearances, it looked like a hard boiled egg, but something about the yolk was all wrong (and bright red, and tasted disgusting). Aside from that, a pretty interesting experience. Also, as long as we're on the topic of ramen, I recently watched a movie called "The Ramen Girl," in which Brittany Murphy played the star role. Don't ever watch it. It doesn't matter how bored you are, or if you're a fan of Brittany Murphy. . . it's nearly two hours of your life that you can never get back.
(4)John Y.
Maybe this place was overhyped by friends but I was thoroughly disappointed in the quality of the ramen. Now I have had ramen in New York, Tokyo, LA, and Seattle so I apologize if I sound snobby. My palate is just accustomed to certain necessities when it comes to ramen and RLR didn't deliver. I don't know if I went on an off night but my ramen didn't look like the one in the photo gallery (then again it was so dark in there that I had to use the flashlight app on my phone to see what I was eating). The broth had only a hint of miso and tasted of mostly shoyu. The egg was the only saving grace. Menma is prepackaged and not pickled in-house and the ramen noodles had the mushy consistency of twice-boiled noodles. The pork I had was not chashu but dry tenderloin. The little sheet of nori is from those little packaged salted seaweed packs in Asian grocery stores. The wasabi greens were also lacking any wow factor. All in all, better than Tochi but did not come anywhere near expectations. The portion is tiny for the price. This place serves the hipster crowd well. Late night ramen for bar hoppers who think a $7 bowl of mini ramen and $0.50 extra per topping is a good deal. The staff was super friendly though.
(2)Sam T.
Went last night and it was GODDAMN DELICIOUS. Not to mention a super fun experience, run by some super great people. I'm not even into ramen in general, but this rocked my socks off. If you are given the option to eat in the kitchen, I'd make sure that the value of getting to watch the ramen being prepared literally 6 inches in front of you and getting to chat it up with all the staff is higher than your personal comfort (standing to eat, sweating like the dickens). It was for me, no question. I'd like to see a more diverse crowd enjoying this spot; if you think it is too cool or hipster for you, you are wrong, and should absolutely eat this delicious meal and have fun doing it. GO!!
(5)Emma G.
I agree with all of the reviews EXCEPT for one thing.. First of, this place is definitely a gem! The atmosphere, music, staff and food are why I keep on coming back for more. The content within the ramen & the broth surpass my expectations and standards, especially for a Milwaukee origin. But what keep the customers (aka. me) engaged & interested, are the facts that they open at 11:30pm and only serve a limited amount of ramen. This business strategy or better yet, secretive & mysterious concept, creates a sense of exclusivity. Lastly, the cost of everything in the end is a part of what motivates one to come back waiting in the cold, counting down the minutes 'til that magic red light turns on. That being said, I have noticed one terribly negative aspect about this growing popular business. If anyone has been to this place, you would agree that they need more space. It's a bit cramped, but then again, it offers for a more intimate ambiance. Last night was my first BAD experience, why you ask?? Well, we stood outside in the cold, probably for 15 mins waiting for that red light to turn on. Finally, the door swings open, we excitingly walk in ONLY to find that there are already TWO semi-big groups of people ALREADY sitting inside.....Where the eff did they come from??!! They didn't go through the same process of standing in line outside like the rest of us commoners...and what pissed me off was that it seems like the people within those groups personally knew one of the chefs / staffs that work there. One of the groups (consisted of 6 people) sat at the bar. After they finished their meals, they continued to order more drinks even though they could clearly see that there were 3-4 groups of people standing like sardines behind them, anxiously waiting to be sat. From my perspective, they obviously took advantage of the special treatment that they got, and had no common courtesy to leave and go to an actual bar where all they serve are drinks. While we stood there, waiting again for another 30 mins, more people who knew the chefs / staffs came in AFTER us, and they all got the special pass to stand in the kitchen, where they continued to drink & eat their ramen while the rest of us commoners stood and angrily stared around like, "what the eff is this bullsh*t?!" Not only is that UNSANITARY, but it delivers the message of "we don't give a sh*t about our normal paying customers, we'd rather keep our families & friends happy instead". The totality of the night consisted of 2-3 people working & taking orders, while there were 8-9 people standing in the kitchen, with half of them being friends / co-workers just eating away. We finally got seated, and the meals & service were again exceptional and satisfying as always! Here's the thing folks, I NEVER do this...write reviews or complain for that matter, but I wholeheartedly believe and love this business notion and I do promote this place by word-of-mouth. I brought a friend there and we were both SO frustrated about our experience last night that I truly hope the owners read this and do something about it!!!
(4)