SATURDAY: RAMEN FEST

UMENOYA RAMEN - TORRANCE

Well, this place is good. It's a solid alternative to our usual spots like Yamadaya Ramen and Asa Ramen (which I can't believe I have talked about on pakajunk before). Umenoya, again, is good but I don't think it's on par with the likes of Asa.

Service was excellent. Japanese waitresses and cooks, in case you were wondering.

Fried rice was not greasy, it was pretty fluffy and tasty. Not so filling by itself but definitely get regular sized when eating it with ramen.

Gyoza's were fried to crunchy goodness too. They had this down to a science and were really good.

Even at 3:30pm on a Sunday, this place was packed.

I went with the Tsukemen, which is a dipping-style ramen. I always go for Tsukemen whenever I see it. Not as common. So all the ingredients are served in a bowl like this, separate from the broth. It came with a grip of raw diced onions which was kinda Onion O.D. Should've taken it easy on the onion.

Lastly, this is the Tsukemen broth. If you're not into Tsukemen right now, you soon will be after you've graduated through beginner Ramen Fundamentals! haha.. Some places have a fish base broth for tsukemen, but this place was more pork tasting. Lots of bits of pork fat in it too, which makes it THAT much more tasty.

Only complaint I may have about Tsukemen is that the broth can get cold quickly. So dip fast and eat! Some places will warm your broth up for you with a little extra if you ask nicely. 

Start ordering TSUKEMEN instead of your standard Miso Ramen and Tonkotsu Ramen. This way, you can get the jump on everybody and say you're O.G with the dipping ramen before it got popularized on SOA.

24222 Crenshaw Blvd
Torrance, CA 90505

(310) 530-3177

DID YOU WONDER

...if I had any left over Heavenly Beef from the other day? I did, and it got sliced up into a bowl of ramen. And threw in some taegu for good luck.

GOMA TEI RAMEN - HONOLULU, HAWAII

Submitted through the kanaka network kanaktion, from Rod Chmolack of Shakas X Alohas:

Goma Tei Ramen in Ala Moana. Awesome Tan Tan Ramen.

I got the Tan Tan Tonkatsu Ramen...

...with a side of Gyoza!

My girl got the Tan Tan Veggie Ramen.

Their broth is ono, taste like get some peanut sauce or something. Perfect rainy weather food!


Goma Tei Ramen
1200 Ala Moana Blvd
Honolulu, HI 96814
(808) 591-9188

RAMEN YAMADAYA - TORRANCE, CA

Along wit Mark aka 9half and CantStayJose, we went on a field trip to Torrance for a lunch time treat. I had eaten here once before but I just had ramen. I kept hearing from some Japanese guys that this place had good tsukemen, which is a dipping ramen.

I was on a mission; all I wanted was their tsukemen. I'd only had it once out of the ramen truck a few months ago but other than that, I hadn't eaten in years.

The place was pretty standard on the inside. Short line outside, we waited like15 minutes but it was around lunch time. No big deal.

We started with the kara-age, which is basically Japanese style fried chicken. Kara-age always tends to be a lighter fried chicken than most Americans are used to. Lighter batter and not as oily. Brawny makes a good kara-age.

Yamadaya's speciality is their tonkotsu ramen. Tonkotsu is a broth based on pork or pork bone. Most shops add their own variation to it. CantStayJose ordered the Kotteri Tonkotsu Ramen, above. Looks like they added some burnt sesame oil to it.

Mark had the Charsiu Tonkotsu Ramen, which he mopped up accordingly.The standard bamboo shoot, seaweed and shoyu egg is in there too.

I had exactly what I came here for. Tsukemen! I ordered the Charsiu Tsukemen. So you take a little something-something out of the bowl, dip it into the warm broth, then you're ready to go.

The broth is extra tasty, more tasty than your standard ramen broth which is why you just need a quick dip. It's excellent. Lots of bits of pork in there, along with pork fat for flavor. I'd go back here for my next craving of tsukemen... in fact, if you eat here, I highly suggest it. Don't be a wuss - try it!

3118 W 182nd St
Torrance, CA 90504

(310) 380-5555

*They also just opened in Culver City with new locations in Costa Mesa and Westwood coming up before the end of the year. 

TONKOTSU RAMEN

...on ChopperDave's leg.

YOKAROU - TOKYO, JAPAN

Submitted by Shin

Riding my shitty scooter almost full throttle to go to YOKAROU. That is Tokyo Tower.

30min park for 100yen ($1.25).

Ok, parked my scooter and ready to go in YOKAROU.

Ordered the "DANDANMEN" which is their standard. it was too early to have dinner so only few people were there. Look at salary man on right, playing games with his cell phone.

I was gonna eat it right away but I remembered to take a photo. In the photo, it seems oily but its not! smell of this DANDANMEN makes me more hungry.

I can't describe exact the taste. It is YUMMY but bit different compared to standard tantanmen. There are many style of Tantanmen but this is something totally different and once you had you will never forget and miss this Dandanmen.

It's lil bit hot/spicy taste, a bit sour and I  think coconuts milk and Japanese citron makes great taste. Other than that, I don't know what in it.Tastes great anyway. Broke a little sweat while eating it! 

Pickled radish on the rice.
You can take as much as you want.
Endless bowls of rice too.

CHAR SIU!

you must know this ramen is not typical one.
juuuust this lil piece of char siu.
You will know if big char siu came with it, it will destroy this soup's flavour and taste.
So THIS IS PERFECT!

Roppongi main street. This place has changed.
I worked in Roppongi for about 5 or 6 years.
Had drink almost every night after work.

Pretty sad, many nice bars, restaurants, and clubs were gone.

Nowadays, Nigerians, Ghana's and others Africans are standing on the side walk for dirty biz.
They pretend to be they are from America.
Hate that shit.

Roppongi is the most memorable place for me.
When I came back to Japan, this place was only the place that I could be myself.

BLACK RAMEN NOT FOR EVERYBODY

Submitted by Stevie!


Melanie had the black ramen combo with gyoza and fried chicken.
I had scallop ramen with scallop dumpling and pork! Off the chain! Loved it; I have been on a seafood kick lately.
Melanie is stoked - black ramen smells good and garlicky!

Melanie is not so stoked. Her refined French pallet is not so rikey ramen noodle. But good news is I get to eat ramen for lunch tomorrow!

THE HATER SAYS

...I have become addicted to crack.
Except it is not crack. It is spicy miso ramen with extra char siu.

STEVIE VISITS SHISEN RAMEN

My haole brother from another mother ship made his way over to Shisen Ramen in Cerritos. Here's what he had to say about it...

Submitted by Stevie:

Ok, so let's start here. I had tickets to see the Black Heart Procession with J. Mascis. Yes, the dude from Dinosaur Jr. And if one more person ask me who that is I will be very upset with my friends' music taste.

Anyway back to ramen. Pepe, Brawny and Jimmy Monk from UK popped my ramen cherry about two weeks ago.

Table next to us said "nothing like ramen after a good night of drinking". I was kinda hungover and Jimmy and Brawny had Montezuma's Revenge so we were in for it. It was great! but NO BLACK RAMEN!! And that is what I was after.



So today I got it. Since I'm a round eye I order Garlic Black Ramen, added pork cutlet (thanks Nelson) Lettuce Wraps and Shisen Bao.

After my first ramen experience this was totally different! From broth, to noodle, to pork - all different and great! The cutlet was a little over cooked but was really good once soaked in amazing black ramen broth.



The bao was pork with a teri sauce with a slight smokiness, almost like BBQ. And the dough was great. Sapporo on tap good too! The only thing I regret was that the daily special was Scallop Ramen and fuck, I love me some scallop! All good I will be back cause they had sooo many options.

Best of luck!

Your Ramen Round Eye,

Stevie

HAPPY CUP RAMEN TRUCK - UPDATE

So after Jahluv's comment about visiting the Happy Cup Ramen truck , I had to go back.

Just so you all know, you can track the location of this truck by clicking here.

You really need to go find this truck.

For one, I honestly think they have the best steamed pork buns "nikuman" in all of Southern California... and I've had many. This "best" rating includes all manapua/charsiu bao I've had around here too.

I added shoyu (soy sauce) to mine and let me tell you, it's fucking delightful. Usually they're like $1.00-$2.00 at other places but this truck has the homemade gourmet shit, so it's $3.50 from them. Soo worth it.
And I had heard and read about this new school ramen. I couldn't get myself to order it the first time. I've seen it on menus when I've been to Japan in the last few years... guess I'm a traditionalist when it comes to ramen... but I went and ordered the GARLIC MISO CHEESE RAMEN.

Holy shit, people. It's pretty different from the usual ramen affair but this happy ass bowl of miso based broth, ground pork, garlic and topped with parmesan cheese was amazing! I couldn't believe it. I even told the cook that I was so wrong for thinking this cheese'd ramen thing was bullshit, "thanks for proving me wrong!"

Yeah, go check it out. Maybe you'll find them somewhere this weekend!

HAPPY CUP RAMEN TRUCK - TORRANCE, CA

2 blocks off the 405 freeway on Western Ave., right in front of a TOYOTA dealership, sits this ramen truck. Looks like any taco truck that's seen very regularly around these parts. But this one has a lantern hanging from it that says "RA-MEN" in Japanese.
I seen this truck once before. CantStayJose and I had just eaten ramen just another block away when we drove by. I naturally spotted this truck like a hawk.
Walking up to any new food truck for the first time and taking in the menu is one of the best parts. Checking out all the sides, snacks, drinks, then I start making my decision as to what I want to start with. Rice ball with salmon? Spam musubi?
The service there is very friendly. If you don't know ramen, the nice lady will be happy to assist with serving you one of their several scalding hot delights. So don't trip, just go with it. Ask questions if you got them. Sasha and I shared a onigiri (riceball) with salmon. Always good, anywhere, any time.

As we're standing there deciding what else to get, I noticed a guy there who had just ordered before us. He had something in his hand that I was instantly drawn to. He must've noticed me staring because before any of us said hey or hi or anything, he pointed at a small hand written sign that was taped to the truck's window: NIKU MANJU, which is what its called in Japan:
In Hawaii, it's more Chinese style and its called Manapua. Oh, the stale haole way of saying it is Steamed Pork Buns, haha! Japanese style is different from the usual Hawaii style manapua though. Manapua has char-siu pork.
Of course we got a niku manju too. Very meaty, moist and hot. Almost soupy in there. They did not skimp out on the ground pork either. You could taste it was homemade, they did NOT buy them frozen from some Chinese food factory somewhere. I think it had bits of bamboo shoot in it too. Highly recommended. Needed a touch of shoyu.

That dude we met, Mark, was pretty cool too. Him and his family own a sushi spot down the street. He also catches and processes sea urchin, which is harvested off of the coast of Santa Barbara and then brought to Long Beach, where he has a shop right around the corner from where West Coast Chopper used to be.
Sasha had the veggie ramen. Broth was good. Not too tasty, not too light. Just right. Completely different both from my tonkotsu ramen.
My tonkotsu was good. Pork broth, a little on the light side. Maybe I was in the mood for miso last night. I'll go back and try the miso. Both ramens were of average portions, not too little or anything. The whole idea of eating out of a ramen truck though is what makes it THAT much more cool. Easy to get overheated eating ramen, so being outside was perfect.
So if you're into it, go check this place out. I guess they're on twitter, so you can find out where they're at but I do not twittles or twitty myself. What I do know is that they are at this location on Western, right in front of the Toyota dealership on Friday nights until about 11pm and on Saturday nights until 2am or 3am!

Don't miss out. This is probably one of those deals where you'll always regret never checking it out. Trust me, dog, just go.

SHISEN RAMEN - CERRITOS, CA

I had no clue there was a ramen spot in Cerritos and I ran into this place by accident one day. Soon as I peered into the place, I knew Japanese people were running it (hand written daily specials written in Japanese) so the ramen had to be at least somewhat decent... and it was, especially the BURNT RAMEN.

Yes, burnt.


Adam Wright was in town, he had some work going on out here with Alpinestars. He gave me a buzz and we all hooked up after work one night, along with Senor Ramen CantStayJose.

I'll do the ordering, just let me take care of it.
Jose had an Asahi and Commander Adama had a classic beverage to get all relaxified.
We started with the Chicken Karaage. Basically its Japanese fried chicken. There's all types of variations to this, like the Americanized sesame fried chicken or the Hawaiian mochiko chicken. Their karaage was done well, not spectacular, but good.
The gyoza was ok, nothing really special. I thought they could've put a little more flavor to the filling... but then here comes the ramen...
This was my first run with "black ramen" or burnt ramen, known in Japan as Kogashi Ramen, which is a style of ramen that's gotten more popular in the last few years.

CantStayJose said "it was very different but good. It's funny cuz you start craving that burnt flavor..." Shisen burns sesame oil for the flavor. It was a trip seeing a black bowl of ramen show up. It also contained green onions, bean sprouts, ground pork and bamboo shoot. I highly recommend trying "black ramen" if you ever get the chance.
Adam had the same.
So did Jose. It took him a moment to figure out exactly if he liked it or not as seen in the above photo.
As you can see, we mopped it up.

All in all, it's a good place to eat at if you're in the area.
Right across the street from Cerritos Mall.

Shisen Ramen

11410 South St
Cerritos, CA 90703

(562) 809-5888