Toshi’s Ramen
Another photo today that could have been taken in Japan but wasn’t. The place was Toshi’s Ramen in Eugene, Oregon. I may head up I-5 to a Duck’s game soon and will have to stop in for some ramen while I’m there.
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Posts tagged ramen
Ippudo NY
赤丸新味 @ 一風堂ラーメン
The second closest place to our residence in Japan a couple years ago (if we wanted to eat ramen) was Ippudo. We had many red and white bowls during that year.
So when we were in New York a few weeks ago we had to try the American version of this chain. The menu was very different, but they still had the red bowl which tasted very similar.
Miso Kagurazaka Ramen (みそ神楽ラーメン)
Miso Ramen
While wandering around Iidabashi in Tokyo on a cold, February day we stumbled upon みそ神楽ラーメン (address: 東京都新宿区津久戸町3-12). I doubt the place is particularly famous, but this ramen really hit the spot.
Ramen line
Queue for Futomendo Ramen near Takadanobaba
Back when Futomendo was all the rage on Waseda Doori a line like this was inevitable. The poor tsukemen shop just a few doors down, meanwhile, couldn’t fill its seats.
Ramen Jiro (ラーメン二郎)
Takadanobaba's Ramen Jiro
A new grocery store opened up near our apartment while we were in Japan. I noticed this ramen shop in front of the grocery store frequently had a long line in front of it. One day, when the line wasn’t too long and the grocery shopping could wait, I decided to give it a try.
Ramen Jiro (ラーメン二郎)
It turns out that Ramen Jiro is like no other ramen I’ve had before or since. I ordered the regular version–even though you have the option of extra (or less) garlic, pork, pork fat, vegetables (mostly sprouts but also some cabbage), and spiciness. The amount of garlic, pork, and sprouts was incredible for a regular bowl. The taste was really good for the first dozen or so bites/slurps, but I was full less than halfway through. I labored on but still didn’t finish it all and felt rather sick after.
I would certainly go back (now that much time has passed) and hope to get something smaller. I would also go much lighter on the garlic. I love garlic (にんにく) but this amount was ridiculous. You’ll want lots of water in any case.
If you want to give this one a try, the address is 豊島区 高田 3-17-8. As the sign says, Ramen Jiro is only open for 4 hours a day (and closed two days a week), or until they run out of noodles–whichever comes first, so you have a very narrow window of opportunity.
Toshi’s Ramen
You don’t have to go to Japan to find good ramen anymore. Not that you can find five shops per block like you could in my old Nishi-Waseda neck of the woods, but we discovered Toshi’s Ramen in Eugene, Oregon the day after Thanksgiving. There wasn’t any tonkotsu on the menu, but you could choose from shoyu, miso, or shio broths. Possible toppings included pork (much leaner than any I experienced in Japan), corn, garlic, green beans, butter, bean sprouts, green onions, seaweed, and bamboo shoots. The noodles are hand made at Toshi’s. However, they were thinner than most I had in Japan. I like them a little thicker. I didn’t try the gyoza but will next time.
Here is a photo of the bowl I had, miso with corn, garlic, pork, green beans, bamboo shoots, and bean sprouts.