Monthly Archives

April 2015

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