GO RAMEN!

Hachiya Instant Ramen - Reunited At Last!

2008-05-13T23:21:00.000-07:00

I told you I would eat one tonight. Since these all expire in a few days, I think I'm in for a crazy weekend. Remember Hachiya? Remember their instant ramen? Well it's back and it's better than ever. I'll try to keep this short since I've already reviewed it so sit back, relax and imagine the perfect blend of fish and pork overtaking your sense of smell in the truest Asahikawa style.

A pack of noodles and a packet of soup. The noodles smell incredibly fresh!

Oh man...that is some good stuff! Can you taste it?

I need Kaedama!

Dark from afar, but clear from up close. Mmmm...

ご馳走様でした！

Holy Shinachiku!! It's Ramen!

2008-05-13T18:26:00.000-07:00

I got home from work today and noticed a strange package hanging out by my front door. Airmail? From Japan? What could it be?

Holy Shinachiku!! It's Ramen! Direct from the ShinYokohama Raumen Museum in Japan! I don't know what to say. It's like Christmas...in May!

Between the Umaimono Gourmet Fair and all this incredible 生らーめん, it looks like I'll be in for a busy ramenlicious weekend. Mmm...I can taste the Hachiya and the Fukuchan and the Taishoken もりそば. I just might have to begin tonight after I get back from playing basketball. Be on the lookout for the reviews! If you can't wait, then maybe this will help. Hmm...maybe I'll even save one for a lucky reader to try...

Thanks go out to my bro and sis-n-law back in Tokyo for the shipment! Keep them coming!!

Mitsuwa Umaimono Gourmet Fair

2008-05-09T09:14:00.000-07:00

The Ramen Fair is back at Mitsuwa!! Well it's actually called the Umaimono Gourmet Fair which will include more than just ramen, but who really cares about the other stuff! Just kidding, the other stuff looks good too so this will be perfect for those with friends that don't care too much for ramen (unfortunately they do exist). For more info click here and if you can't read Japanese, then click here for Mitsuwa's translation.

Here is the rundown:

Chibakiya: Featuring Shark's Fin Ramen.
5/15(Thu) - 5/18(Sun) Torrance
5/22(Thu) - 5/25(Sun) New Jersey

Kujiraken: Featuring Shina Soba.
5/15(Thu) - 5/18(Sun) Costa Mesa
5/22(Thu) - 5/25(Sun) San Jose

Tsukasa: Featuring BBQ Beef Tongue Plate and Beef Tongue Bento Box.
5/15(Thu) - 5/18(Sun) Costa Mesa

Takoya Kukuru: Featuring Takoyaki.
5/15(Thu) - 5/18(Sun) Torrance, Costa Mesa
5/22(Thu) - 5/25(Sun) San Jose, New Jersey

I guess San Diego was left out this time. Sorry guys, but at least you can enjoy Santouka now! Remember to go early because they will run out. See you there!

Tokyo Table - Arcadia, CA

2008-05-06T19:30:00.000-07:00

Westfield Santa Anita

400 S. Baldwin Ave.

Arcadia, CA 91007

(626) 445-4000
www.tokyotable.com

Tokyo Table...hmmm. I liked the interior design. I liked the Ume Cucumber. I liked the Beef Tataki. I liked the Sapporo beer. I liked the company I was with. And I even liked my glass of water. Do you want to know what I didn't like? Yup, you guessed it.

Cha-Siu Ramen: Well, I can't blame them since this is not exactly a ramen-ya, but they still could have made it look like the picture in the menu! If you go to their website and download the pdf, you'll know exactly what I'm talking about. I mean...look at the pic below. You can't even see the chashu or the menma or the egg. It almost felt like I got someone else's f'd up order. I've never been more compelled to use the acronym WTF!

The broth wasn't bad. The menu claims it to be a tonkotsu soup, but it tasted more like a rich shoyu. The toppings (an average slightly dry chashu, plain egg, menma, green onions, and fried onions) were also decent. But for the noodles...a complete ramen defamation! They were Sōmen noodles! Don't get me wrong, I love Sōmen, but what are Sōmen noodles doing in ramen!! That's almost as bad as calling a California Roll sushi!

Gyoza: The gyoza was a little soggy but good. They probably could have used more flavor, but I was just happy not to find Sōmen noodles in them.

All in all, it was cool to hang out at Tokyo Table. Just don't order the hot Sōmen!!

中華そば GOMEN - Stanton, CA (revisited)

2008-04-26T15:05:00.000-07:00

7147 Katella Ave.
Stanton, CA 90680
(714) 761-8007

All I have to say is GOMEN-なさい! After all the comments and emails that I received from people saying that my last review was harsh and that Gomen deserves better than a 38 ranking, I've decided to give them another chance. But before I begin, let me just briefly explain my last review. Besides eating ramen at Santouka 30 minutes prior to eating at Gomen, there must have been something really wrong with the soup that day because it did indeed taste pretty bad. Also (as we all know) food reviews are very subjective, so I don't mind at all if someone disagrees with me. But I guess some doooooooods out there have a problem with that. Consistency is a key element for not just ramen-ya's but for all restaurants. That so called "one bad day" could ruin even the best of them. With all that off my chest, I really am sorry for ranking Gomen so low. Based on today's visit, this Wakayama Ramen (#17) deserves to be ranked in the top 10 for sure.

Tonkotsu-Shio ramen: Although the genre of Wakayama Ramen is tonkotsu-shoyu, the tonkotsu-shio here is the one to get. Its creamy, garlic-enhanced soup reminded me of フクチャンスープ and I'll even go out on a limb to say that Gomen has the best tonkotsu ramen in the OC. Yes, I said it. The hakata-thin noodles were perfectly cooked today and I was really impressed. The toppings (chashu, egg, negi, and menma) were also working hard to stand out. As of this minute, I would give Gomen the #1 ranking in the OC and a possible top 5 overall just because of this ramen I had today, but I wouldn't set that in concrete just yet.

Tonkotsu-Shoyu ramen: This is what I had ordered in my last review that left a bad taste in my mouth. Today's version was missing that burnt taste (thankfully) and basically tasted like the ramen above on shoyu steroids. Although it was better than before and actually quite delicious, I would prefer the shio version any day.

Gyoza: I liked the gyoza the last time and it was no different today. Four pieces with the combination is perfect.

Chahan: This chahan was also excellent. No complaints here.

Wooden Chopstick: I'm glad these chopsticks say that they're wooden. Otherwise I may have thought they were metal...hahaha.

GO GYOZA! The top 5 ramen sidekicks!

2008-04-21T21:21:00.000-07:00

At almost every ramen-ya around the world, there is a dish that understands its supporting role and rarely seeks the spotlight. A potsticker, a dumpling, or a pansticker. You can call it what you want, but nothing goes better with ramen than a plate of moist, juicy, garlic-infused, lightly-crisped gyoza. So before the soup cools, I give you the top 5 ramen-ya gyoza in Southern California:

Foo Foo Tei (Hacienda Heights): Don't let its hairiness fool you. This unusual looking gyoza is by far the most flavorful and juicy. And don't mistake this Foo Foo with the Monterey Park location.

Daikokuya: Overrated or not, this gyoza is still one of the best. Its unique shape and blanket of green onions shall please all Seven Gods of Fortune.

Shinsengumi: Despite their small size, these 一口 gyoza can knock your taste buds out!

Chabuya: Gyozahh from Chahbuyahh...enough said.

Kairakutei: These fat-stickers are clearly homemade and out to kick some butt!

So there you have it. Don't forget to mix the shoyu with vinegar and a few drops of rayu. GO GYOZA!

Orochon Special 2 Challenge

2008-04-19T09:52:00.000-07:00

For the record, I can eat them but am not a huge fan of spicy foods. Nor am I huge fan of Orochon Ramen. With that said, you won't be seeing me on the Wall of Bravery this month (although I did make the sad attempt). But as a promise to the man sitting next to me who finished the Special 2 Miso with blazing speed, this post is for you Ken!

Here's how it began:

And here's how it ended:

And unlike Orochon, where the polaroids are taken down every month and probably sold to the government in case they need to recruit an army of spicy ramen slurpers, this post will be here for the world to see forever!

If any other brave soul has accomplished this challenge, send in your pics and let me know how it was! I want to hear from ya!

This is how far I got. Not that it's an excuse, but I did eat at Shinsengumi for lunch. And it's not so much the spiciness, but its massive size and scorching heat. Well, at least I gave it a shot.

Tokyo Ramen Dream

2008-04-16T22:28:00.000-07:00

I had a dream last night that I was back in Tokyo just cruising around Shibuya and stopping at every ramen-ya in my path.

First stop was Tsukumo Ramen:

Then it was on to Taizou for their こってりたいぞうらーめん:

And then a quick trip to Santouka (with real spoons...haha):

And who can resist Ippudo:

And of course, Ippudo was open just for me:

Ippudo's Shiromaru Moto-Aji--pure heaven. Please don't wake me!

Beep! Beep! Beep!...

Yup, this was all just a dream. Too good to be true. Thanks to Lori-san (the biggest Go Ramen! fan in Tokyo!) for sending in all the pics!! I truly am jealous. :P~~

Daikokuya - Costa Mesa, CA

2008-04-06T18:23:00.000-07:00

2975 Harbor Blvd., Suite 5
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
(Marukai Food Court)
(714) 436-0151
www.daikoku-ten.com

Okay so it's not Ippudo, but the next best thing (insert wamu sign here) is having the famed Daikokuya expand into the OC. Located inside the food court of the Marukai in Costa Mesa, Daikokuya tries to quietly conquer where Chabuton failed. Will they succeed? Of course they will, right? They're Daikokuya! And they have real spoons!! I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

Daikoku ramen: Mmm...good, but the soup does taste muted. The lush creaminess was like heaven, but it was missing that devilish kick. Oh well, I didn't care. I was too excited to let anyone or anything disappoint. And after a long motorcycle ride on a cool Sunday morning, I was ready for something to soothe my soul. The toppings (chashu, moyashi, menma, negi, egg) were nothing less than top notch. Although the chashu didn't exactly melt, it still hit the spot. And the egg is quite possibly the best egg in a bowl of ramen on this side of the Pacific. The noodles were just noodles. Nothing spectacular, but not disappointing enough to ruin it for the rest. Anyhow, I don't see Daikokuya leaving this food court anytime soon. If anything, Marukai just might have to add more tables somewhere--outside, perhaps.

Gyoza: You can't have Daikoku ramen without an order of gyoza! Eating these are mandatory! So order one...or two...or three! If you don't like green onions, then brush 'em off or order them negi-nashi!

あっちこっち Atch Kotch - Los Angeles, CA

2008-04-05T13:48:00.000-07:00

1253 Vine St. #5
Los Angeles, CA 90038
(323) 467-5537

After traveling here and there for the past 10 months in search of ramen, I've finally made it to Atch Kotch, which literally means there and here. Atch Kotch is a ramen-ya that has somehow migrated up the 101 freeway away from the others in Little Tokyo and situated itself in Hollywood where few, if any, ramen-ya's have ever ventured before. Could this be a hidden gem? Umm...probably not according to the reviews on Yelp, but let's just see for ourselves.

Parko ramen (パーコー　ラーメン): Parko, Paiko, Paako...whatever. I guess there is no standard for fried pork ramen. Anyway, this ramen was very very bland. I thought it was a joke, but April fools day was four days ago. The soup had a burnt taste without any flavor and quite honestly felt like I was licking cardboard. The toppings (fried pork, menma, negi, and caramelized onions) were bland too. This is the first time I've actually eaten a ramen and wished that there was more MSG in it. The noodles were the only good news here. Straight and smooth, they had a nice chewy texture. I probably won't be coming back anytime soon, so me saying I'd like to try the other ramen on the menu would just be a lie.

Gyoza: Whatever you do, do not order the gyoza! A crispy, crunchy outside that was full of mush. I can't even describe how disgusting that mush was. Skip these and you'll be better off.

GO BRUINS!!

Mentatsu (revisited) - Costa Mesa, CA

2008-03-30T20:26:00.000-07:00

So I set out this morning in hopes of trying the new Daikokuya in Costa Mesa after seeing edjusted's post fly through Google Reader yesterday, but just as fast as I could get excited about a new ramen place in OC that excitement came crashing to a halt...hard. It was closed today and according to some workers at Marukai, the grand-opening would be tomorrow. Zannen...

688 Baker Street #7
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
(714) 979-2755

So that was how I reluctantly ended up at Mentatsu (again) to perhaps give their ramen another shot or to send it into ramen oblivion alongside the likes of Mountain, Fuji and Sushi Pia. To my surprise, Mentatsu had a line and a 15-minute wait. Could I be dreaming? I once associated them as being the worst in OC, but would this be their time to step up and impress? With Santouka just being Santouka, Kohryu on the decline, and the new Daikokuya threatening, is Mentatsu no longer scraping the bottom of the OC bowl? Despite my earlier misfortunes, the excitement is back and I've never been more gung ho about trying a ramen for the second time!

Shoyu ramen: The shoyu ramen was not much better than the first time, but one major difference I did notice was the lack of overpowering pepper, which was definitely a plus. Since my copilot had ordered this (I'm not a fan of adding corn to shoyu ramen), the few bites that I did take made me realize that they've indeed improved. I will no longer teeter when friend's ask me to join them at Mentatsu.

Mabo ramen: Okay, for those of you that don't know, other than shoyu my favorite type of ramen is mabo ramen. Whenever I go to a ramen-ya for the first time, I'll try the shoyu ramen. If I go for a second time, I almost certainly order the mabo ramen when it's on the menu. Mabo tofu is another dish with Chinese origins that consists of tofu, ground pork, and some other ingredients mixed in a spicy sauce. Mabo ramen is just this mabo tofu dish resting on top of a bowl of shoyu ramen. Now that we know what it is, Mentatsu's mabo ramen would have to be one of THE best I've had in socal. Its sauce was very thick just how I like it and it held in the heat like an oven. Even with all the beads of sweat forming on my forehead, I couldn't take a break to wipe them because it was so good. Mentatsu has been redeemed.

Gyoza: If I remember correctly, Mentatsu's gyoza was lacking that garlic punch. While today's gyoza was not quite the knockout, it was still a vast improvement from before.

The 26 Types of Ramen (ShinYokohama Raumen Museum)

2008-03-26T22:27:00.000-07:00

During my visit to the ShinYokohama Raumen Museum back in January, I came across a huge wall that listed all the different types of ramen in Japan. And I've been meaning to translate it since I got back, but never had the time to actually do it...until now. Feel free to click on the flags on the map below to see a little rundown of that type of ramen. The most intriguing stat is the total number of ramen-ya's in all of Japan--10,408. Daaam! It looks like I still have a loooong way to GO!

This is a straight translation of the wall in the museum and all credit goes to whoever created it, so please don't sue me for sharing. If you want to see a more informative explanation of these various types, I still suggest that you grab a copy of edjusted's ramen glossary and visit rameniac's ramen styles of japan--a perfect way to school your own noodle!

View Larger Map

I'll eventually get around to adding the pics of the wall to this google map, so stay tuned for any updates!

Cafe Koraku - Jean, NV

2008-03-22T22:38:00.000-07:00

32100 S. Las Vegas Blvd. Suite. 424
Jean, NV 89019
(702) 874-1000

Located within the Fashion Outlets of Las Vegas, Cafe Koraku is your last chance to gamble when driving back to LA. I'm not sure if they're related to the Koraku's we know, but I'm not going to expect much from a ramen-ya in an outlet mall. Could this be where they send all the defective bowls of ramen?

Sandwiched between a Journeys and Perfumania, Cafe Koraku is not your typical sweet-smelling excursion. Surprisingly busy, this ramen-ya only offers bowls of discounted flavor.

Shoyu-ramen: After only 3 hours of sleep and a 4-hour drive looming ahead, this plain shoyu-ramen knew how to hit the spot. It wasn't great or anything close to that, but after a long night in Vegas it became my best friend for about an hour. The toppings (rubbery chashu, menma, egg, spinach, nori, and negi) helped discount the character of this outlet ramen. The noodles were just your average noodle. If you're desperate for some comfort after a long night and on your way home on I15, then feel free to stop and try Cafe Koraku. Otherwise, quit while you're ahead and just wait until you get back to LA.

Gyoza: Disastrous! I've had frozen gyoza that tasted better.

Togoshi Ramen - Las Vegas, NV

2008-03-22T17:32:00.000-07:00

855 E Twain Ave Ste 107
Las Vegas, NV 89109
(702) 737-7003

Prior to what turned out to be a day of intoxicated madness in March, coupled with the highs and lows of letting it ride with friends not named Jack, I was able to enjoy the calm before the storm with a familiar face--ramen. When you think of Las Vegas, ramen is probably the last thing on your mind, but win or lose Togoshi Ramen does a decent job of comforting expected disappointments or celebrating unexpected delights. This Japanese-owned and operated ramen-ya is also a perfect cure for that heavy hangover.

Shoyu-ramen: An old-school shoyu-ramen that does just enough to get the job done. Nothing fancy here. Just a full-bodied deep shoyu flavor that works only in Vegas. The toppings (egg, chashu, menma, moyashi, and negi) simply pleased my craving without all the lights and glamor of the strip. The noodles were nothing special either, but they were perfectly cooked and easy to slurp. The friendly staff also made the ramen taste better than it was. I would definitely go back whenever I'm in Vegas.

Miso-ramen: The miso was shockingly strong! A bit too strong. Delicious nonetheless, it's probably best suited for waking you up from that groggy hangover.

Gyoza: The gyoza had a nice flavor, but probably could have used more crisp. Warning: Do not eat if you plan on drinking a lot of beer, unless you can somehow control your burps.

Sakura - Los Angeles, CA

2008-03-16T21:16:00.000-07:00

333 S. Alameda St.
Los Angeles, CA 90013
(213) 687-6699

If you are low on cash, hungry, and desperate for a ramen under $5, then I recommend buying some nama-ramen from the refrigerated section and cooking it at home yourself. Located inside the Mitsuwa Marketplace, I've always wondered if Sakura served a decent ramen. And now that I've tried it, I can only wonder why it has yet to be replaced by Santouka.

Shoyu-ramen: An old-school ramen with that tangy shoyu taste. A great deal for the huge bowl at $4.50, but hardly a tongue-pleaser. The toppings (chashu, negi, and moyashi) failed to do anything but disappoint. The noodles were のびてる (overcooked)--a cardinal sin of ramen.

The chashu looked like a wood chip, and quite frankly tasted like one.

San Sui Tei - Los Angeles, CA

2008-03-16T19:58:00.000-07:00

313 E. 1st St.
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 613-0100

Located about thirty steps from the renowned Daikokuya, San Sui Tei is just another ramen-ya in the neighborhood successfully failing at stealing its customers. Having been to their original location in Temple City once before, I never really cared to visit this one until today. And that's only because my original destination (Atch Kotch in Hollywood) was closed. *sigh*

When I first took the pic below, I didn't notice what was on the TV. Perhaps this is their artful way of persuading me into writing a good review. Should I be scared?...I don't think so! This San Sui Tei is not only a ramen-ya, but also a sushi-bar. Based on my experience, restaurants that offer both sushi and ramen are usually non-Japanese owned (which is the case here) and never very good at either. But I'm here and I can't just get up and leave, or could I?

Tonkotsu-ramen: On any other street in any other city, this ramen might be popular, but being so close to Daikokuya, this tonkotsu-ramen is light years behind. The soup is a nice creamy blend of pork sprinkled with chips of garlic that should please the average ramen-goer. The toppings (egg, chashu, negi, menma, ginger, nori, corn, and cabbage) were average with the exception of its chashu. The chashu was moist and full of flavor. The noodles were crinkly and flat and just like its Temple City location, they reminded me of cup noodles.

Spicy Tonkotsu-ramen: A spicy version of the ramen above. It tasted exactly like Korean ramyun. It's great for all you Chileheads.

Gyoza: The gyoza was uncommonly sweet and the skin looked like my fingers do after swimming in a pool too long--a common characteristic for gyoza that's been thawed. It was edible, but the pre-mixed sauce needed more shoyu.

Kurume Taiho Instant Ramen - 久留米ラーメン

2008-03-08T17:20:00.000-08:00

So here it is, the last instant ramen from my trip. Could I have coincidentally saved the best for last? According to Rameniac, this is one of his REAL favorites. It looks like I'm in for a treat because we all know that "the rameniac" doesn't joke around when it comes to tonkotsu ramen from Kyushu.

The plain looking box opened in a revealing fashion, unlike any other. And inside was a beauty awaiting anxiously to please my yearning hunger. Under the cover was a detailed description on how the ramen should be prepared. It even included a time line that showed how many seconds to cook the noodles in order to arrive at your preference. 30 seconds for 超かため (super hard), 60 seconds for かため (hard), 90 seconds for ふつう (normal), and 120 seconds for やわめ (soft). I chose normal.

The contents of this 昔ラーメン (old-style ramen) include:

自家製生めん (Home-made noodles)
スープ (Soup)
とんこつ用ごま (Sesame seeds especially for tonkotsu)
紅しょうが (Red ginger)

If you've ever smelled slightly-ground goma (sesame seeds) then the pic below might bring back those memories. That smell is unforgettably delectable and it goes great with this soup. A surprisingly sweet taste combined with the shyoga (red ginger) and goma made for a harmonious balance of flavor. This is without a doubt, a great blend of ingredients.

The noodles were also distinguished in their own right. Graceful and elegant are the only words that can do them justice. I now understand Rameniac's feelings toward this ramen. Hopefully I'll get to try the original someday.

Main Ingredients

Soup (スープ): Animal extract, pork oil, salt, dextrose, soy sauce, gelatin, spice, sugar, sesame, monosodium glutamate, sake, グァーガム...
Noodles (メン): Flour, egg powder, salt, embryo bud, calcium, sake, milk, kansui, gardenia...

Kairyu (Dotonkotsu) Instant Ramen - 久留米ラーメン

2008-03-05T20:12:00.000-08:00

I wonder if there's such a thing as ramenholics anonymous in Japan. If so, I think I need to go. Wait, but that would mean I'd have to give up ramen...F THAT! Only two more instant ramen packs remain and I'm not sure what I'll do without them. I've been eating them in order of expiration date so hopefully the best are towards the end. Although I doubt they can get much better since all of them so far have been top notch. Next up is Kairyu. A ramen-ya from Kurume city and their dotonkotsu ramen. That pic on the box looks so good. It's too bad those slices of chashu aren't included.

This pic below was a card from inside the box. I just thought I'd share it because it looked pretty cool.

The contents include a pack of heavenly blonde noodles and a pouch of Kairyu's famed kotteri soup.

This soup was very garlicky. I mean VERY garlicky. Is garlicky even a word? Wouldn't that be a cool name for a dog? Here garlicky licky... What am I saying? The overwhelming sense of garlic has made me lose it--not that I ever had it in the first place. But seriously, this garlic aura is making my head spin. Aside from that, the soup was very light and became creamier with every sip. It really could have used some toppings. I have to go open the window now to get some fresh air in here.

The noodles were a little thinner than the average hakata-style, but that didn't take anything away from its texture. It was a good noodle that left me looking for a kaedama. I guess we always can't be so lucky.

Main Ingredients

Soup (スープ): Animal extract, pork oil, slat, spice, soy sauce, monosodium glutamate, sake, garlic, caramel color...
Noodles (メン): Flour, vegi-tanpaku, water candy, salt, sake, kansui...

Fuji Ramen - San Gabriel, CA

2008-03-02T18:59:00.000-08:00

537 W. Valley Blvd
San Gabriel, CA 91778

"New ramen place in san gabriel called fuji ramen." That's how the text message read from a friend and fellow ramen fanatic who just happened to drive by it Saturday morning. After seeing the words "new" and "ramen" in the same sentence, I immediately called him back to get the scoop. And that's when we decided to check it out on Sunday. At first I was really excited, but then a ramen place in San Gabriel can only mean one thing--Chinese-owned? I just hope it's not as bad as Mountain.

Red-orange and yellow walls with wood trim. Bright blue and yellow seats. Umm...are you sure this is a ramen place? It's definitely not a ramen-ya! I suppose I can live with the strange color combinations, but c'mon...Teriyaki Chicken Ramen???!!! Are you kidding me?? From the funky decor to the waiters speaking Cantonese to the Young Ho restaurant next door, I braced myself for an interesting experience.

Cha Siu Ramen: So I ordered the cha siu ramen. The soup was lighter than I thought it would be. It had hints of pork, but seemed to be primarily chicken-based and I really couldn't taste any fish. The noodles were clumpy and only slightly better than the noodles from Cup O Noodles. The toppings (cha siu, egg, green onion, and 大根 daikon) were probably the worst I've ever experienced.

First of all, why is there daikon (japanese radish) in this ramen?? I love daikon, but in ramen? That's just so weird! The egg was borderline nauseating...wait I take that back, it indeed crossed that border. I've eaten play-doh that tasted better. The cha siu was on the tastier side, but the texture was tough and far from melt-in-your-mouth. Overall, it wasn't as bad as Mountain, but don't count on seeing me there again. If I ever do go anywhere near Fuji Ramen in the future, it will only be to visit the Peach House two doors down.

~~Gyoza~~ Dumplings: The ~~gyoza~~ dumplings didn't exactly look like gyoza, but at least they weren't fried. The ~~gyoza~~ dumplings didn't exactly taste like gyoza either. They were more like Chinese dumplings. With that said, I liked them. But I wouldn't call them gyoza.

The meat in the dumplings looked like paper wrapped chicken meat. As you can see, it's not your typical gyoza.

Restaurant Kohryu (revisited) - Costa Mesa, CA

2008-02-24T19:37:00.000-08:00

891 Baker St. Suite B-21
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
(714) 556-9212

I had this nightmare once. And it almost came true last year. But luckily they were able to accommodate me. BUT that was last year. And what was the nightmare about, you ask? Well, it was about a waiter at Kohryu saying "Sorry, we can't do that anymore." Those six words relayed in Japanese would leave my heart skipping. But that was a nightmare. It couldn't really happen right?

Wrong! It's now official, Kohryu will NEVER be that same Kohryu I remember from the late 90's. They have refused to make the one and only thing that kept me from ditching Kohryu after their first ownership change--Paiko Ramen R.I.P.

And yes I did say "first" ownership change. Now it appears that they've had their second. After recently hearing that Kohryu had a grand opening (or grand re-opening) in January that had people lining up for 2+ hours (Is that really true?), I thought I'd head down to my old hood and check out the newest version of my once-favorite-ramen-ya. I first blogged about Kohryu last July, and back then they were still similar to how the original one was. Even though the taste had changed, the overall feel had not and they were always eager to make the off-menu Paiko Ramen. But now, the only thing left is the name. The people working are different. The decorations are different. And heck, even the soap in the bathroom is different. I may never recover from this resentment, but I will try my hardest to fairly review the following food I ate.

Kohyru-ramen (shoyu): So I settled on the Kohryu-ramen. A refreshing shoyu ramen with an overwhelming fried onion impression. It tasted like french onion soup with noodles. Not that that's bad, but it was not expected. The noodles were just your average ramen noodle probably made in some factory down south. The toppings (a hanjyuku egg, chashu, menma, raw negi, and charred negi) appropriately kept this ramen afloat. The hanjyuku egg was the most worthy part. Overall, I would say that this was last year's Lakers. With the hanjyuku egg being Kobe and everything else just there to complete the roster. It's definitely lacking some Pau!

Gyoza: This gyoza did not look appetizing at all. It tasted fine with loads of garlic, but they still couldn't compare to how good they used to be.

Age soba: Kohryu was never really a full-fledged ramen-ya, but from this day on I will consider it only as a Chinese Restaurant. This age soba was absolutely delicious. It's like pan-fried noodles. IF I ever go back to Kohryu, I will be ordering this and only this.

博多ラーメン Tonkotsu Instant Ramen

2008-02-19T19:20:00.000-08:00

In looking all over the box to find the shop name, this instant ramen is simply called Hakata Ramen Tonkotsu. Hmmm...it says tonkotsu on one side and ninniku (garlic) on the other. I'm a bit confused on why two boxes are stuck together. Oh wait. It says 替玉付 (kaedama tsuki). Wow, I've never heard of instant ramen including kaedama. Looks like I'm in for a big meal.

The contents include two packs of thin Hakata-style noodles (obviously), fresh ginger, sesame seeds, dried green onions, garlic chips, and a pouch of フクチャンスープ. Fukuchan soup? Okay so that must be the shop that makes this ramen.

What a beautiful-looking instant ramen. It's not only good-looking, it's an instant culinary delight. If this was served at most ramen-ya's in LA, people would never know the difference. This smooth, creamy tonkotsu soup is loaded with flavors that will leave you speechless. The mind-numbing combination of garlic chips and ginger just blows you away. I take pride in my instant ramen cooking, but all the credit goes to the creators for this one. I don't think I could've messed this up if I tried.

The noodles unbelievably took this ramen up another notch. Their thin, light texture left me yearning for more. Wait a minute! Did I hear someone say...

It's Kaedama time!!!

These garlic chips are as good as potato chips. You can't eat just one.

Main Ingredients

Soup (スープ): Animal extract, pork oil, soy sauce, salt, garlic, gelatin, onion, sake, monosodium glutamate, spice, ginger, vinegar, caramel color...
Noodles (メン): Flour, egg white, salt, sake, kansui, shell calcium, くちなし...

Sumire - Mitsuwa Legendary Ramen Fair

2008-02-16T15:10:00.000-08:00

2/15 ~ 2/18 Limited Time Only!

Mitsuwa Marketplace
21515 Western Ave.
Torrance, CA 90501
(310) 782-0335

My last stop on this weekend's ramen fair is Sumire at the Torrance Mitsuwa. If you recall, I just had their instant shoyu ramen last Monday and wasn't very impressed, but I'm sure things will be different this time around. Interestingly, the line at Santouka was still longer.

I must say that there is a lot of MSG in this one. So if you aren't cool with it, consider this a warning. The layer of oil on top also keeps the soup scolding hot, so try not to slurp too fast. The miso flavor was outstanding, much better than the instant shoyu. It also reminded me of Keyaki. They both have that sweet and mildly spicy miso flavor that kills all other miso ramen in the states. The toppings (slightly dry chashu cubes, menma, moyashi, negi, and some onions) were good but minimal. I was even tempted to buy a pack of chashu from the market, but held back. The noodles were excellent and almost perfect. Sumire did not disappoint!

Sumire will also be at the San Diego Mitsuwa from 2/22~ 2/25.

Asameshi Maeda Honten - Mitsuwa Legendary Ramen Fair

2008-02-15T18:48:00.000-08:00

2/15 ~ 2/18 Limited Time Only!

Mitsuwa Marketplace
665 Paularino Ave
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
(714) 557-6699

I didn't plan on going to try this today, but on my way back from San Diego I passed by on the 405 and couldn't resist exiting (sorry ed I'll still meet you there on Sunday). Asahikawa shoyu has got to be one of my favorite types of ramen, mostly because the rich shoyu flavor blended with pork and fish and all the other ingredients guarantees to put a smile on my face. And Asameshi Maeda Honten was no exception!

The very first thing I noticed was...wow a real bowl. Then I realized I had ticket #266 and that means someone has had to wash 265 bowls before mine...and this is only the first day! Man, I feel sorry for that person. Okay, on to the ramen. I almost felt like I was back in Japan traveling from Tokyo to Yokohama to Kawasaki all in one day to eat ramen. It's too bad we don't have a real ramen park over here, but I guess this is close enough. This ramen was incredibly good! If my stomach would have been able to take it, I would have eaten another bowl. Even with a burnt tongue, that soup was delicious (I think my tongue is really burnt now). The noodles could have been better, but they were just like Asahikawa makes them. The toppings (thinly sliced flavorful chashu, menma, egg, and negi) capped off a remarkably tasty ramen. You have to GO!

Asameshi Maeda Honten will also be in Torrance from 2/22 ~ 2/25 and San Diego from 2/29 ~ 3/3 both at their respective Mitsuwa locations. If you miss the one in your town, I recommend traveling to the next closest. Have fun!

Chibakiya - Mitsuwa Legendary Ramen Fair

2008-02-15T17:39:00.000-08:00

2/15 ~ 2/18 Limited Time Only!

Mitsuwa Marketplace
4240 Kearny Mesa Rd # 119
San Diego, CA 92111
(858) 569-6699

It's not every day that a ramen fair hits Southern California. With that said, I gave up up one day's pay to make the hour and a half trip down to San Diego. It was definitely worth it just by the beautiful weather alone. A clear blue sky hovering over a crystal clear ocean with Catalina floating in the distance--a great way to start off this mini ramen trip.

Chibakiya is known for their Shinasoba and claims to be very popular in Japan. After waiting in line for 10 minutes, I was getting a bit impatient. Hopefully it will all be worth it.

There's nothing like a gourmet ramen served in a styrofoam bowl. At least they have proper spoons. This ramen looked delicious. I felt my excitement about to burst as I carried my tray to the table. Just seeing the pork fat floating in the soup was giving me goosebumps. And after the first sip...it was lip numbing good. Not bad, not great, just really good. I think my tastebuds have been used to being spoiled from my Japan trip. Anyway, I still liked it. The soup was hot (which was good) and I think I may have burned my tongue. The toppings (a hanjuku egg, menma, negi, nori, and a yummy piece of chashu) worked well together and left me wishing there was more. The thin, crimpy noodles were a tad overcooked, but there was plenty of them. There was also plenty of MSG which crept up on me during the drive home. Overall, it was good to see Chibakiya in southern cali and I would welcome them back anyday!

By the way, I drove by some of the areas affected by last year's wildfires. It was crazy! I hope everyone affected is able to move on from them and rebuild their lives.

GO RAMEN!

Hachiya Instant Ramen - Reunited At Last!

Holy Shinachiku!! It's Ramen!

Mitsuwa Umaimono Gourmet Fair

Tokyo Table - Arcadia, CA

中華そば GOMEN - Stanton, CA (revisited)

GO GYOZA! The top 5 ramen sidekicks!

Orochon Special 2 Challenge

Tokyo Ramen Dream

Daikokuya - Costa Mesa, CA

あっち こっち Atch Kotch - Los Angeles, CA

Mentatsu (revisited) - Costa Mesa, CA

The 26 Types of Ramen (ShinYokohama Raumen Museum)

Cafe Koraku - Jean, NV

Togoshi Ramen - Las Vegas, NV

Sakura - Los Angeles, CA

San Sui Tei - Los Angeles, CA

Kurume Taiho Instant Ramen - 久留米ラーメン

Kairyu (Dotonkotsu) Instant Ramen - 久留米ラーメン

Fuji Ramen - San Gabriel, CA

Restaurant Kohryu (revisited) - Costa Mesa, CA

博多ラーメン Tonkotsu Instant Ramen

Sumire - Mitsuwa Legendary Ramen Fair

Asameshi Maeda Honten - Mitsuwa Legendary Ramen Fair

Chibakiya - Mitsuwa Legendary Ramen Fair

あっちこっち Atch Kotch - Los Angeles, CA