All Posts By

ramen mom

Sacramento, CA

Akebono

Posted on January 13, 2016

Feeling a bit out of sorts today thinking lunch and my mom’s company might perk me up. Jamming in the car with my David Bowie playlist and listening to ‘Fame’ off we went to Akebono for some Japanese food. A bowl of champon should do me a whirl of good.

Champon is a regional dish from Nagasaki in Japan and goes back to the Meiji era when the owner of a Chinese restaurant there created a cheap and filling meal for Chinese students who came to Japan to study. It uses ramen noodles but differs that the noodles are boiled directly in the soup made from chicken stock. Akebono’s champon toppings are delicious and plentiful with shrimp, squid, scallops, pork, onion, carrots, kamaboko (fish cake) with lots of cabbage stir fried and placed on top of the noodles and soup. The broth is nicely seasoned and not too salty. A spicy version is offered but I prefer the traditional mild flavor. Akebono’s champon hit the spot.

I asked my 85 year old mom if she knew who David Bowie was and she said, “uta no hito” (person who sings). It’s very likely that ramen boy’s generation wouldn’t be familiar with him. He has heard the story many times about my younger days living in New York and the once in a lifetime opportunity had the stars been aligned. My predecessor where I worked had moved on to a talent/model agency. We had kept in touch and one day she called me asking if I was interested in working as a personal assistant to David Bowie and Iman. Her boss was a close friend of Iman’s and her Maid of Honor at their wedding. Vera thought of me thinking I wouldn’t be starstruck or intimidated since she knew my boss at the time was a tough cookie who reminded us that no fraternizing was allowed with the rich and famous. Yesterday I asked ramen boy, “What if I had taken that job? Would my life be different?” Ramen boy said matter of factly, “No everything would be the same mom. You would have married dad and you would have me. The only difference is that you would have known David Bowie.”

But how wonderful would have that been to know a musical genius. Dream on ramen mom. RIP Ziggy your music will live on forever.

Akebono
Japanese Cuisine & Sushi Bar
4960 Freeport Blvd.
Sacramento, CA 95822
(916) 731-8288
www.akebonojapaneserestaurant.com

Noodle Thoughts

Welcome to my blog

Posted on January 11, 2016

This blog has been a long time coming floating around in my head in 2015. I have slurped countless bowls of ramen in my lifetime, mostly undocumented, but the memories are still rich even more so being mom to ramen boy who will be entering high school this year. I wish I had taken pictures of all the ramen places we frequented over the years when we lived in Japan and Singapore and our overseas travels because there is a story for each one of them and I can remember many. Running into ramen boy’s classmate eating at Ippudo and chatting afterwords (the boy has a lot of siblings) and one of them who was a toddler at the time hopping on a motorcycle while we were talking unnoticed by us but not a bystander who politely asked if the child was ours. Ramen boy’s expandable belly full of noodles. He would order kaedama (extra noodles) more than once to the amazement of the servers. In fact to this day he still orders a large bowl of noodles with extra noodles.

This blog is not so much a review of ramen restaurants but hopefully more about the experience of sharing a bowl of noodles with friends and family. For me ramen is comfort food. It’s about memories that go way back to times I spent with my grandmother and she would make it for me or when I had it as an afternoon school snack with my middle school best friend Erlinda. The ramen bond I have with my son is something I hope we can share for years to come and in the meantime share with you.

Enjoy! I hope I make you hungry.

Sacramento, CA

Raijin Ramen House

Posted on January 10, 2016

Must admit that we frequent Shoki Ramen House so much that we neglect to try any other ramen places in town and ramen boy is a loyal Shoki Ramen customer. He was hankering for some ramen after his soccer game and I did a short run in the morning warranting a bowl of noodles. I suggested trying a new place to avoid the noontime Saturday crowd. I had heard that Raijin Ramen House opened last July across the street from its sister restaurant Ryujin Ramen House and we hadn’t been. The concept is a different type of ramen at each shop with Raijin specializing in a more spicy version fitting with its name in Japanese mythology meaning the god of lightning, thunder and storms.

It was a full house when we arrived but they had space at the bar close to the kitchen. We quickly ordered and I had the kakuni ramen. Ramen boy had the tan tan men and hubby chose the shio tonkotsu ramen. Raijin offers many appetizers too so we decided to try their homemade gyoza. The deal breaker whether we would return or not.

The service was exceptional. Our waiter came to refill ramen boy’s lemonade and was very polite and cheerful that even ramen boy commented about the awesome service. That alone would bring us back.

The gyoza was very good too. Crispy the way we like it filled with cabbage and pork. Our only complaint was that we ate it too quickly and should have ordered more. My kakuni ramen came out steaming hot and nicely presented with red pepper threads that surprisingly look like saffron. Simple toppings of chopped scallions with two large pieces of fatty braised pork that had been slowly simmered. I prefer a more tender pork that is melt in the mouth but these pieces were meaty and still very tasty with a deep shoyu flavor. The tonkotsu broth seemed more shoyu based but still rich without being too heavy. I didn’t order an egg this time as a topping but for sure will return to try it out.

Ramen boy gave this place a thumbs up and hubby who prefers eating ramen in Japan and otherwise a super ramen critic said he will come back here too.

Raijin Ramen House
1901 S. Street
Sacramento, CA 95811
(916) 498-9968
ramenhouseraijin.com

Sacramento, CA

Shoki Ramen House I

Posted on December 28, 2015

This is our go to ramen place close to home. If ramen boy had his way he would eat ramen daily. He doesn’t get tired of it and he’s a huge fan of Shoki’s tan tan men. Good friends and their boys came through town over the Christmas holidays and the kids were eager to have ramen. They had been last year and wanted to go again. A sure sign that Shoki Ramen passed the noodle test. We lived near each other in Tokyo and N was my frequent sushi lunch buddy but S and I go back years even before ramen boy was a glint in my eye. I will never forget flying in to Tokyo on a redeye flight with my mother and before we even had a chance to settle in at the hotel we hopped into his car. It was snowing hard and the streets were empty and a hot bowl of steaming ramen just seemed perfect. So off we went to Marukin Ramen the quintessential hole in the wall noodle joint. Now not so hole in the wall considering it has many outposts in Tokyo and Yokohama and now in Portland, Oregon. That town is seriously a foodie must go destination.

You know the saying “chicken soup is good for the soul?” Well, a  good bowl of noodles is pretty much the same. There is a lot of pride that goes into making good ramen and  Shoki Ramen’s owner Yasushi Ueyama does just that. He caters to his customers with dietary restrictions and food allergies so that everyone has an opportunity to experience “a bowl of dreams.” This is unheard of in Japan since many traditional restaurants do not have an option like this and asking will often get you a blank stare or a very polite “I’m sorry but we cannot accommodate.”

Okay now back to the ramen. Pretty much hits the spot. We stick mostly to the tan tan men and you can request your level of spiciness. It is topped with baby spinach, menma (bamboo shoots), moyashi (bean sprouts) and grass-fed, non-antibiotic 100% Angus minced beef. The broth is full of clean soy flavor with just the right amount of spice. I like to order my noodles cooked firm and Shoki’s noodles are thick and springy.

The place is always busy and there is usually a wait. Eating ramen is one of those meals that is quick and easy so people come and go and seats open up so the wait is not too agonizing. We tend to come right when it opens to avoid the wait. It’s a family run restaurant and the wait staff are always helpful and pleasant. If you are lucky on a weekend or school holiday the owner’s young son will greet and seat you with a big smile. Shoki Ramen House is hands down one of ramen boy’s favorite in California.

Shoki Ramen House
 1201 R St, Sacramento, CA 95811
(916) 441-0011
www.shokiramenhouse.com

Beaverton, OR

Yuzu

Posted on August 26, 2015

Yuzu serves delicious ramen. A true gem in Oregon for a really good bowl of Kyushu style noodles. We were in Portland for a short summer break pretty excited about the food delights that the city has to offer. Ramen was not on the top of our list except for ramen boy of course. Noodles on the mind all the time especially when he is hungry. At the time we were in Beaverton checking out the Nike campus. I did a Yelp search for Japanese ramen and Yuzu popped up and we decided to give it a try. It is in a nondescript shopping strip so easy to miss that we drove twice in the parking lot till we found the storefront sign. There were a few customers inside and the Japanese waitress seated us quickly. Yuzu serves ramen but also small plates/tapas izakaya style. We ordered their house kakuni ramen with a milky tonkotsu broth. It’s a Kyushu style ramen with thin noodles. The pieces of pork inside the broth were meaty but with equal amount of fatty melt in the mouth goodness with chopped scallions and pickled ginger. The soft boiled egg was to die for oozy and just the right consistency. Hubby and ramen boy were in noodle heaven exclaiming it was the best ramen they’ve had in the U.S. Now that is a tall order! I have to agree it is the best that I have had so far too. We were impressed that they offered gyoza which is a common appetizer in Japan to have with your ramen but hard to find in ramen shops in the U.S. Oftentimes the gyoza is frozen and usually mediocre at best. Not here. The gyoza is homemade, small enough to easily pop in your mouth and with the perfect crust. Absolutely the best gyoza we have had in the U.S. Portland and its surroundings blew us away with its culinary delights and we can’t wait to go back to eat our way through the city.

Yuzu
4130 SW 117th Avenue
Beaverton, Oregon 97005
(503) 350-1801

New York City

Totto Ramen

Posted on April 18, 2015

Ramen boy and I took Uber (his new favorite mode of city transportation and must confess rather convenient) to Totto Ramen. We got there a few minutes before the noon opening and there was already a line forming outside the door. So we stood there and waited and waited and waited until 12:30. No one questioned the wait while some of the staff stood outside and smoked cigarettes without a care in the world. Tired of waiting ramen boy suggested we try the ramen shop next door. Given a few more minutes I would have succumbed to try Hide-Chan Ramen which specializes in tonkotsu ramen and under the same management. So of course I logically told him that since so many people were queued up the ramen must be worth the wait. A runner friend of mine recommended trying Totto Ramen since it specialized in a whole chicken and soy sauce based soup and I’d be damned if we didn’t try it. Luckily they opened the doors for business and we were quickly seated. We both ordered the Totto Spicy Ramen with a homemade blend of chili-sesame (rayu) and topped with chashu, bean sprouts, seaweed (nori) and scallions. The noodles were springy and al dente the way I like it and the broth was surprisingly rich but not heavy and full of flavor. The rayu added a nice touch of oiliness to the soup and loved that the scallions were sliced lengthwise instead of chopped. The egg was split in half. Still delicious but I prefer my egg whole so that I can take a bite and let the soft oozy flesh of the yolk mix with the broth and noodles. Ramen boy gave Totto Ramen a thumbs up and said he’d be happy to come back again.

Totto Ramen (Midtown East)
248 E 52nd Street (Between 2nd & 3rd Avenue)
New York, NY 10022
(212) 421-0052
www.tottoramen.com

New York City

Ippudo NY

Posted on April 17, 2015

Blurry eyed from a red eye flight ramen boy and I dropped off our bags, hopped on the subway and made our way to the East Village just in time for Ippudo NY to open. I was in town to run the More Fitness Shape Women’s Half Marathon in Central Park and ramen boy came to cheer me on, see the sights, visit with old friends and most importantly to eat ramen. We were frequent regulars of the Ippudo in Ebisu near our house when we lived in Tokyo but this was our first time to Ippudo in New York’s East Village. The other Ippudo is in Midtown and the only two restaurants in the United States. Now you can find Ippudo worldwide in Hong Kong, Singapore, Sydney, London, Manila, Kuala Lumpur, Indonesia, Seoul, Taiwan and China. It is so internationally available I wondered if the quality would remain true to what we were accustomed to in Japan. The restaurant was already packed with the lunch crowd and buzzing with action. Waiters and waitresses rushing around taking orders and bringing food to the tables. Luckily we didn’t have to wait too long ramen boy was impatiently hungry.

We both ordered the Shiromaru Hakata Classic which is the original tonkotsu (pork broth) noodles topped with pork loin chashu, menma (seasoned bamboo shoots), sesame kikurage mushrooms, red pickled ginger and scallions. Ramen boy had his usual basic which is soup, noodles and extra chashu.

Mine came out and it was a sloppy mess not at all visually appealing. It was as if they quickly slapped it together and plopped it in front of me. The restaurant was busy after all but for a $14 bowl of noodles I expected it to at least look pretty. Looks aside the taste was pretty good and uniformally the same as in Tokyo. I prefer the sliced thin fatty version of chashu that melts in your mouth. This pork loin chashu is definitely a healthier meatier version which ramen boy approved. The noodles came out katame (harder) per request but not steaming hot where it fogs up your glasses as you slurp away.

With a tummy full of noodles ramen boy was pretty content. For the uninitiated Ippudo is definitely a great first time experience. Ramen mom on the other hand just felt Ippudo NY is a bit overrated. Sorry once you have it in Japan it’s just not the same.

Ippudo NY (East Village)
65 Fourth Avenue (Between 9th and 10th Street)
New York, NY 10003
(212) 388-0088
www.ippudony.com

Mountain View, CA

Ramen House Ryowa

Posted on April 3, 2015

Ryowa has a place in my heart. Hubby and I ate here when we lived in Palo Alto and my folks would drive from Sacramento to meet us for lunch. I am convinced ramen boy developed a taste for Ryowa in utero. It is his favorite place in Silicon Valley and he’s tried many in the area. It’s a tiny shop reminiscent of a small ramen-ya you would find in Japan with a U-shaped counter and a few tables that seat two people. The television is always on with a recorded Japanese show similar to the game Wipeout kind of mesmerizes you as you slurp away. Unlimited free kimchi and cold barley tea gives it a thumbs up from me. I always order the house ramen set which is a pork based broth topped with chopped scallions, dried seaweed, 1/2 soft boiled egg and two thin slices of chashu. I like the simplicity of the noodles with their delicious fried rice (it tastes so umami I’m afraid to ask if it has MSG in it) and really good homemade gyoza.

Hubby is no longer a Ryowa fan but my parents remain loyal fans driving 2+ hours each way to go there when they are in the area for their Japanese grocery shopping. Ramen boy’s favorite place too. Longevity in the restaurant biz speaks for itself and so I am comforted that Ryowa is still around.

Ramen House Ryowa
859 Villa St
Mountain View, CA 94041
(650) 965-8829

Tokyo

Doraichi

Posted on February 23, 2015

I was in town to run the Tokyo Marathon and ready for carbo-loading at my favorite restaurants. So many ramen choices in Japan where does one really start. For me this warrants a trip to Doraichi for its famously delicious tan tan men shiru nashi (without soup). Basically spicy noodles minus the broth with a heap of miso flavored ground pork, lots of chopped green onion and raw egg yolk. Mix like crazy and you get a beautiful mess. If the raw egg turns you off try not to think too hard about it. Once mixed in it’s hardly noticeable but nicely coats the noodles just right to give you license to slurp away. I don’t know if safety inspection of Japanese eggs are the reason it’s okay to consume them as is but in my lifetime of eating raw eggs in Japan I never got sick. Knock on wood but tastes so darn good. Ramen boy was not on this trip with me but he would have ordered the tan tan men with soup. Until next time.

Doraichi
2-12-5 Minami Azabu
Minato-ku, Tokyo
www.doraichi.com

doraichi

Packaged Ramen

Ippudo Tonkotsu Ramen

Posted on February 23, 2015

Ramen boy was in for a huge treat when my Japanese girlfriend found this instant packaged ramen in a 7-Eleven convenience store during her trip to Tokyo and brought it back for him. She knew ramen boy is a huge fan of Ippudo Ramen. We moved from Tokyo after the big earthquake in 2011 and he was having Ippudo Ramen withdrawal. I warned him that this might not taste the same but to give it a try. The soup base was liquid and all you needed to add was hot water and the noodles were freeze dried. Very easy to make and surprisingly very good too. He raved about it and only wished that she bought more. I will have to look for it the next time I go to Japan.

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