The hardest part of picking a restaurant for a group isn't finding somewhere good — it's finding somewhere that works for everyone's different preferences at once. Here's how a table with a vegetarian, a spice lover, someone who wants mild, and a kid can all actually order what they want at Bakudan.
For the Vegetarian at the Table
The Vegetarian bowl (oat milk and garlic oil base, tofu, spinach, cabbage) is the direct option. Bakudan Salad and Edamame both work as sides or backups if they want more than one thing.
For the Person Who Wants Heat
Spicy Umami Miso or Spicy Shoyu are both genuinely spicy on their own, and a Spice Bomb ($0.75) can push any bowl further if that's still not enough.
For the Person Who Wants Mild
Bakudan Chicken is the mildest bowl on the menu — a shio base with chicken chashu and spinach, no chili anywhere in the description.
For the Kid at the Table
Kids Ramen ($8.50) is sized and priced for a smaller appetite, with a simple chicken broth, chicken chashu, corn, and thin noodles.
What to Order for the Whole Table to Share
Gyoza and Edamame are both safe, broadly-liked starters that don't conflict with any of the above — vegetarian-friendly (edamame), mild, and easy to split regardless of what everyone else ordered.
The Actual Takeaway
Nobody at a mixed-preference table needs to compromise here — the menu has a genuine answer for vegetarian, spicy, mild, and kids in the same order, without anyone settling for something they didn't actually want.