Walking into a ramen shop for the first time can feel like a lot to take in — broths, noodle thickness, toppings, spice add-ons. At Bakudan Ramen, the menu is built to be approachable once you know the shape of it. Here's how to order with confidence at any of our three San Antonio locations: Bandera, Stone Oak, or La Cantera.
Start With the Broth
Every bowl on our Ramen menu is built around a broth base, and that's the first real decision you'll make. If you want something rich and savory, Garlic Tonkotsu is our pork broth built on a tonkotsu base with pork chashu, fried garlic chips, and a seasoned egg. If you'd rather start milder, Bakudan Chicken uses a shio (salt) base with chicken chashu and spinach — a good entry point if you're not sure how bold you want to go on your first visit. Prefer something tangy and bright instead of rich? Cilantro Lime Chicken combines a shoyu and shio base with cilantro, lime, and togarashi for a lighter, fresher profile.
If You Want Heat, Say So
Our Spicy Umami Miso and Spicy Shoyu bowls both bring real heat — Spicy Umami Miso layers chili oil and paste into a pork miso base, while Spicy Shoyu builds heat around a chicken shoyu base with chili threads and togarashi. If you already know you like spice, either is a safe bet. If you're unsure, it's completely normal to start with a milder bowl this visit and go bolder next time.
Vegetarian and Kids Options
If you're ordering for someone who doesn't eat meat, our Vegetarian ramen uses an oat milk and garlic oil base with tofu, spinach, cabbage, and garlic chips — no animal broth involved. Bringing kids along? The Kids Ramen is a simplified chicken broth bowl with chicken chashu, corn, and thin noodles, priced for a smaller appetite.
Don't Skip the Starters
Ramen is the main event, but our Starters menu is worth ordering alongside it, not just before it — most tables split a couple while waiting. Gyoza and Chicken Karaage are the two most shareable options if you're new here: gyoza gives you a familiar, easy reference point, while Chicken Karaage (fried chicken tossed in Japanese spices) is a good test of how much you like bolder seasoning before you commit to a spicier broth. If you want something lighter, Edamame — plain or the spicier Bakudan Edamame — works as a low-commitment starter while you're still deciding on a bowl. Takoyaki (six octopus balls) is worth trying if you haven't had it before, but it's a more specific flavor than gyoza or karaage, so it's a better second-visit order than a first one if you're being cautious.
What a Bowl Actually Costs
Most Bakudan ramen bowls run in the same general range — Garlic Tonkotsu, Spicy Umami Miso, Spicy Shoyu, Vegetarian, and Shrimp Tempura are all $15.99, while Bakudan Chicken and Gyoza Chicken sit slightly lower at $14.99. Kids Ramen is priced separately at $8.50 for a simpler bowl sized for a smaller appetite. Starters are mostly in the $6–$9.50 range, so two people splitting a bowl each plus a starter to share is a reasonable way to plan a first visit without over-ordering.
How to Actually Order
Every Bakudan location — Bandera, Stone Oak, and La Cantera — takes orders in person for dine-in, or online through Toast for pickup and delivery. If you're ordering online, head to our order page, pick your nearest location, and you'll be routed to that location's Toast ordering page. Delivery areas, fees, and estimated times are all managed directly by Toast at checkout.
Does It Matter Which Location You Go To?
The ramen and starters menu is the same across all three San Antonio locations — Bandera, Stone Oak, and La Cantera — so you won't get a different bowl depending on where you order. Where the locations differ is the drink program: Stone Oak and La Cantera have a full cocktail and wine list, while Bandera is built around a dedicated saké bar instead. All three keep the same hours (Monday–Thursday 11:00 AM–8:30 PM, Friday–Saturday 11:00 AM–9:00 PM, Sunday 11:00 AM–8:00 PM) and the same daily happy hour window from 3–6 PM, even though what's included in happy hour varies by location. For a first visit, pick whichever location is closest — the food ordering experience will be the same either way.
One Order, No Wrong Choice
There's no single "correct" way to order at Bakudan. If you like rich and savory, start with Garlic Tonkotsu. If you want something lighter, try Cilantro Lime Chicken or the Vegetarian bowl. If you're bringing the whole table, order a mix of broths and split a couple of starters — that's genuinely how most regulars do it.