Ken Japanese Bistro -- Richardson, TX

The teriyaki bento box was quite nice.  The ramen looked good.  You're going to want to brush up on your Japanese though, as they greet you in it.  Also, no forks.  Definitely go back here.

Newdle Bar -- Kent, OH

Kent is nice, the ramen's okay, the chopsticks flimsy.  That's okay.

Ramen Tatsu-ya -- Austin, TX

Nice place.  Get the old school with extra noodles.  And Pocky!

SpringHill Suites, San Jose Airport -- San Jose, CA

Of all the mid-range places I've stayed in the valley, this one works better than most.

In the pro column: the hotel's grass bar is decent, and even has beers on tap.  You can get instant ramen in the lobby, and your room has a microwave.  There's a swimming pool that's not full of rug rats.  It's right by the freeway.  If you don't mind a couple blocks' stumble, there are restaurants and a dive bar a few blocks south by south-east.

In the con column: the in-room coffee makers are old (though there's coffee in the lobby).  The on-site laundry will do a number on your clothes -- like, the "warm" dryer setting is super hot.  And they charge $15 per night for parking.

I say go for it, as long as it doesn't make your commute too bad.  You can split lanes, after all.

Hilton Garden Inn -- Greenbelt, MD

Note to self:  Yep.  Nice chill place, with laundry and everything.

Honestly, I like any place with instant Ramen.  It was summer in Maryland, so the Lobby was so air-conditioned-cold I thought it was going to snow.  Ramen is a nice way to take the edge off that.

This review is identical to the last one, because this hotel is virtually identical to the one in Fredericksburg, VA. Honestly, it was totally spooky to check-in, because it's exactly the same layout, with only a couple of differences, like the color of the chairs' upholstery. I'm not even kidding when I tell you that I checked my calendar to make sure I hadn't somehow unwittingly booked the same hotel twice.

Hilton Garden Inn -- Fredericksburg, VA

Note to self:  Yep.  Nice chill place, with laundry and everything.

Honestly, I like any place with instant Ramen.  It was summer in Virginia, so the Lobby was so air-conditioned-cold I thought it was going to snow.  Ramen is a nice way to take the edge off that.