Maru Ichi in Mountain View, CA

You like ramen? So do I. You need to check out Maru Ichi, a great Japanese noodle house in downtown Mountain View. The place is cheap, relatively fast, and really good. I always get the Miso Ramen. It's a little less delicate than I'm used to for miso broth, but it's quite tasty. MH didn't love the Tonkatsu, saying the broth wasn't that flavorful.

For value, try the combos. Combo C with a huge bowl of ramen (your choice of broth) and a donburi bowl (stick with the sliced, white tuna rather than the fatty tuna) is a great deal (under $10). Potstickers are so-so.

The TV in the corner blaring crazy Japanese variety shows just adds to the delightfully tacky decor. Get there early for lunch. Dinnertime is usually much less crowded, but they're good with crowds. I went recently with MH, SM, AB, MB, and BP and we got our piping hot food really quickly!