Baka Umai Menu
Small Plates & Bowls
Bento Bowl
Choose crispy pulled pork, chashu chicken, karaage, or fried tofu. Topped with green onions, fresh cabbage, pickled veggie medley over a bed of rice. Vegan option uses fried tofu. Make it baka bento for an additional charge to add a soft-boiled egg and katsu & lemon aioli sauce. Make it a spicy bento (spicy karaage) for an additional charge.
US$13.50
Vegan Baka Bites
Deep-fried pork belly chunks covered in a sweet n spicy glaze. Served over a bed of rice. Vegan option uses fried tofu.
US$6.50
Chicken Katsu
Panko fried chicken cutlet served over a bed of rice and cabbage.
US$13.50
Karaage
Bourbon-marinated fried chicken. Choose either cilantro jalapeño aioli or lemon chili aioli. Spicy version is tossed in mala chili oil.
US$11.50
Baka Bites
Deep-fried pork belly chunks covered in a sweet n spicy glaze. Served over a bed of rice. Vegan option uses fried tofu.
US$7.50
Current Specials
Umami Mazemen
Brothless ramen topped with peppered smoked salmon from Tony's fish market. Whole wheat noodles tossed in a house-blended anchovy paste & Thai chili flakes. Topped with fresh chopped romaine hearts, capers, fresh shallots, roasted bell peppers, freshly grated parmesan cheese, and pepper-smoked salmon. Add duck fat fried garlic for an additional charge.
US$22.00
Traditional Shio
Baka Umai's most "Traditional" shio. Ducken & dashi broth blended with shio tare. Topped with green onion, menma, wood ear mushrooms, nori, pork belly, naruto, soft boiled egg.
US$19.00
Reaper Ramen
Fermented Carolina reaper pepper mash blended with tonkotsu broth & shoyu tare. Topped with candied jalapeños, spicy cabbage, pickled shiitake, green onions, crispy pork belly, and a soft-boiled egg.
US$21.00
Ramen
Ghost Pepper Miso Ramen
Spicy. Smoke-dried ghost pepper chili oil blended with miso, pork & ducken (or shiitake mushroom) broth. Topped with spicy pulled pork (or fried tofu), green onions, candied jalapeños, spicy menma, pickled cabbage, and a soft-boiled egg.
US$20.50
Yuzu Miso Ramen
Yuzu juice blended with miso, pork & ducken (or shiitake mushroom) broth. Topped with crispy pulled pork, pickled shiitakes, nori, pickled cabbage, and a soft-boiled egg.
US$19.50
Shoyu
Chicken, duck & shiitake blended broth, Tokyo noodles, chashu chicken (or fried tofu), wood ear mushrooms, nori, naruto, menma, soft boiled egg.
US$19.00
Mala Miso
Spicy. "Hot and numbing" mala chili oil blended with chicken & pork (or shiitake mushroom) broth & miso tare. Tokyo noodles, pork belly (or fried tofu), pickled cabbage, pickled shiitake, green onion, nori.
US$19.50
Silky Red Tonkotsu
House kyu-mi togarashi (9 chili powder) blended into a shoyu tare-based tonkotsu broth. Chili powder is made from a blend of smoke and roast dried chilis. Hakata noodles topped with crispy pork belly, green onions, menma, pickled shiitakes, nori, & soft boiled egg.
US$19.50
Mala Lemon Shio Ramen
Spicy. "Hot and numbing" mala chili oil blended with ducken broth, fresh lemon juice, & shio tare. Topped with spicy pulled pork, salted tomato, cilantro, pickled daikon, fried onions, and a soft-boiled egg.
US$19.50
Miso
Chicken pork blended (or shiitake mushroom) broth, miso tare, Tokyo noodles, pork belly (or fried tofu), pickled cabbage, pickled shiitake, green onion.
US$19.00
Habanero Tonkotsu
Spicy. Rich pork broth blended with a fermented habanero mash. Hakata noodles, pork belly, pickled shiitakes, candied jalapeño, spicy menma, green onions, thinly sliced fresh habanero.
US$20.50
Chorizo-Men
Spicy. Tantan pork broth, Tokyo noodles, housemade chorizo (or soyrizo), spicy cabbage, pickled daikon, cilantro, green onion.
US$20.00
Extra Broth
Choose between Tonkotsu, Shio, Miso, or Shoyu. Please leave a comment to specify and indicate if you need it vegetarian/vegan and/or gluten free.
US$7.00
Tonkotsu
Rich pork broth, hakata noodles, pork belly, pickled shiitakes, menma, nori, green oinons.
US$19.00
Lime Shio
Clean chicken & duck broth, Tokyo noodles, choose crispy pulled pork or charbroiled chicken, tomato, grilled onion, pickled daikon, cilantro.
US$19.00
Yuzu Shio Ramen
Yuzu juice blended with shio tare and duck & chicken broth. Topped with crispy pulled pork, tomato, cilantro, pickled daikon, fried onions, and a soft-boiled egg.
US$19.50
Brothless Noodles
Aka Mazemen
Brothless ramen. Whole wheat noodles tossed in a house sauce & double smoked tomato paste. Topped with crispy pulled pork, green onions, chopped bell pepper, pickled cucumber, pickled shiitake, poached egg. Shellfish alert.
US$19.00
Midori Mazemen
Spicy. Brothless ramen. Whole wheat noodles tossed in house xo sauce & fermented chili paste. Topped with crispy pulled pork, crispy shallots, green onion, poached egg. Shellfish alert.
US$19.00
Cho-Maz
Spicy. Brothless ramen. Whole wheat noodles tossed in a tantan sauce. Topped with green onion, sesame seeds, crushed honey roasted peanuts, sliced apple, house-made chorizo, poached egg.
US$19.00
Vegan Mazemen
Brothless ramen. Whole wheat noodles tossed in double-smoked tomato paste and truffle oil. Topped with fried tofu, chopped bell pepper, pickled cucumber, and cilantro.
US$19.00
Drinks
Canned Soda
Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite.
US$2.00
Ramune
US$4.00
Canned Japanese Drink
Choose between Calpico, Milk Tea, or Strawberry Milk.
US$5.50
Tsukemen
Tantan Tsukemen
Spicy. Tantan style tsukemen (rich & salty not gyokai style). Pork, poultry, broth blended with a tantan blend, green onion, cilantro. Served with a side of cold wheat citrus noodles, chorizo, pickled daikon, soft boiled egg.
US$20.00
Kaiyo Tsukemen
Gyokai style tsukemen (ultra rich & thick). Seafood forward, pork, and poultry, broth served with a side of cold thick whole wheat citrus noodles, pork belly, green onions, nori, and a mini shot of seasoned fruit vinegar.
US$22.00
Sweet Treats
808 Cheesecake
Locally made cheesecake from 808 cheesecake. Call to find current flavors.
US$6.50
If you’re flipping through the Baka Umai Menu, get ready for a lineup that feels both comforting and a little adventurous at the same time. Tucked along SE Hawthorne Blvd in Portland, this spot leans into bold Japanese flavors without overcomplicating things. The ramen alone is worth slowing down for - rich, steamy broths layered with depth, springy noodles, and toppings that actually feel thoughtfully chosen instead of tossed on. Then there’s the sushi selection, which balances classic rolls with creative combinations that don’t try too hard but still surprise you in the best way.
What I like most is how the menu doesn’t overwhelm you. You can keep it simple with a perfectly crisp karaage bowl, or branch out with small plates that are easy to share. Everything reads approachable, yet there’s enough variety to make you pause and debate your order - which, honestly, is part of the fun when you’re here.