Murugan Gunasekaran is a chef with a background in technology who transitioned to the culinary world. His parents are from Chennai, India, and he has experience cooking at Masala y Maiz in CDMX and Bantam in Santa Cruz.
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Stopped by Bantam King for an early dinner and ordered the Spicy Miso Ramen and Shio Ramen. Both bowls came with fish cake, spinach, corn, onions, and pulled chicken breast, and we added a soft-boiled egg to each.
The ramen was enjoyable, and the portion size was satisfying. You can tell the broth has been simmered for a long time, giving it good depth of flavor, although I think there’s still some room for improvement. Compared to ramen in Japan, the bowls felt a little light on toppings, especially since many of the usual additions require paying extra.
We ended up adding the spice bomb to the Shio Ramen, which gave it a nice kick and made it even more enjoyable. Overall, it’s a good ramen spot in DC if you’re craving a comforting bowl, but I do wish it came with a few more standard toppings included.
Parking
Street Parking available...but limited.
Food
The food wasn't extraordinary. The spicy miso, wasnt spicy unfortunately.The portions of pulled chicken in the ramen was also quite small compared to other places. Portion size was fair.
Service.
Service was good. Wait time wasn't too bad, and the staff were fairly helpful.
Atmosphere.
Great atmosphere though. Very cozy, and the music was pretty good. Nice decor , although sitting face to face with other customers may be a lil uncomfortable for some people. The seating is ideal for couples and parties familiar with each other.
5
Bantam King is our go-to halal Asian spot, mostly Japanese, and it never disappoints. Their curry snow fried chicken is hands down the best chicken you can have — crispy, flavorful, and absolutely addictive. The spicy miso ramen is equally amazing, packed with rich, bold flavors that hit perfectly every time. The buttered rice is also a comforting favorite.
It’s a cozy little place tucked in the corner of Chinatown, D.C., and we love coming here every other weekend. The food is always fulfilling, the portions are generous, and the atmosphere is warm and inviting. Bantam King is a must-visit for anyone craving authentic Japanese flavors in a casual, comfortable setting.
4
Bantam King is a must-visit for ramen lovers in DC! We tried the Spicy Miso Chicken Ramen with a soft egg — perfectly balanced with a gentle kick, rich chicken broth, and beautifully cooked egg. The Vegetable Ramen was packed with bold spices and had a satisfying heat that spice lovers will enjoy.
If you're in Chinatown and craving a solid bowl of ramen, Bantam King delivers. Definitely worth a visit!
4
Hearty bowl of ramen, with bouncy noodles, though the broth could do with more flavor.
This is not your traditional bowl. The spicy miso ramen comes with shredded chicken, thinly sliced onion, nori, spinach, corn and chilli threads. The broth packs an umami punch, though isn’t spicy at all and doesn’t have the body a peanut-based broth normally does. My friend’s veggie ramen *was* spicy but the broth tasted mostly of red chilli powder.
All-in-all, a pleasant but not spectacular bowl, welcome after a day of being rained on like lettuce in the produce aisle.
