Tag: tonkotsu ramen

Review: Ippudo Westside, New York

~ Frank Cioffi
In the lower level of a West Side brownstone, Ippudo Westside is a welcoming location.

A bowl hitting all the right notes at this lively, comfortable restaurant.

Reading my reviews lately you’ll know many of my recent ramen experiences have found one element of the bowl lacking. That’s why my return visit last week to Ippudo’s Westside New York restaurant was such a pleasure.

Open counter seating and cozy bar area in addition to seated tables.

This is a restaurant suitable for date night. You enter into a separate cozy bar area. The restaurant seating is split into a U-shaped counter facing the open kitchen, with comfortable padded-with-back stools, and a separate table area. It was a lively scene, with the place filled on a early Wednesday night.

Main ramen dishes. Other menu items too many to show here!

There’s a broad menu of appetizers, side dishes, drinks and sake. This had me concerned that the ramen might get compromised. Not the case. I ordered the Akamaru, a version of their basic tonkotsu ramen that adds garlic oil and their umami paste. I had to order the egg separately.

Akamaru Shinaji ramen.

The bowl presentation wasn’t as elegant as the menu photo, but any concerns disappeared after my first taste. The broth was wonderful, perhaps a lighter version of their creamy tonkotsu, filled with flavor and a lovely lingering aftertaste. As the garlic oil and umami paste slowly blended with the broth, it had a light spice kick and added a deep richness. The noodles were wonderful, thin and cooked perfectly al dente with a subtle but distinct flavor.

The two very thin slices of chashu had good pork flavor and nice fat content. The egg was perfect. The menma, crunchy. This is the bowl of ramen I was hoping for, each of the elements executed well. It solidified the Ippudo chain as a high standard of ramen well above the oft-compared Ichiran.

QR code menu cube, but orders and payment taken by your waitperson.

The menu is provided via QR code on a creative wooden cube. Thankfully your order and the final check are handled by a waitperson. Service was friendly and professional.

Ippudo is a major, well-regarded chain in Japan and worldwide. I’ve been to Ippudo in Osaka and in Berkeley several times. Aside from one mediocre Berkeley experience, I’ve always been impressed. I had eaten at this NYC Ippudo seven years ago and remember being similarly impressed with the ramen and attention to details.

This trip to New York was short and I visited Ippudo on my last day. I wish I had gone sooner as I would’ve returned to try another bowl. Clearly, this is a very successful spot for Ippudo. On my next New York trip I’ll be back.

Ippudo also has NYC locations in the East Village, 5th Avenue and Brooklyn.

https://www.ippudous.com

Ramen Club 5-Star Rating System:

Food:                                   4.00 stars    

Service:                               4.00 stars

Atmosphere/Comfort:        4.00 stars

RATINGS LEGEND:     1 star: weak     *    2 stars: just ok     *     3 stars: good     *     4 stars: very good     *     5 stars: superb or special      *

Review: HiroNori Craft Ramen – Santa Clara, CA

~ Michael Tarnoff

A mixed bowl of expectations at this popular local ramen spot.

Tucked away in a small Santa Clara strip mall off Great American Parkway, alongside nine other eateries and – oddly – a dentist’s office, sits HiroNori Craft Ramen, a California chain with 15 locations and a Bib Gourmand recommendation. This location has a 4.4 Google review ranking and a 4.3 from Yelp. I visited on a Wednesday for an early lunch, finding the restaurant already half-full by 11:30am.

Interior: spartan yet comfortable.

The interior is minimalist and functional: simple gray painted walls and a paneled ceiling create a utilitarian backdrop. The wooden tables are paired with plastic stools typically found in small Asian eateries. As a yoga enthusiast, I found them surprisingly comfortable. The space accommodates about 40 diners.

I ordered the tonkotsu ramen with the “original” thick noodles (thin options are available) and added pork buns to round out the meal. The service was prompt, and the presentation was promising. The ramen arrived with an aesthetically pleasing arrangement: a milky-white broth cradling two seared pork slices, green onions, spinach, half an egg, and a piece of nori.

The basic tonkotsu ramen. The egg was overcooked and too sweet.

The execution, however, fell short of expectations. The broth, while adequately prepared, leaned toward the salty side without the complexity that usually justifies such seasoning. I found myself searching for depth and nuance that never materialized. The noodles needed more character – both in texture and flavor – lacking the satisfying chewiness that makes ramen so enjoyable.

While the spinach and onions played their supporting roles well enough, the egg was a misstep – slightly overcooked with an unexpectedly sweet yolk that felt out of place. The pork slices, despite their attractive preparation and generous thickness, lacked the distinctive flavor that elevates a good bowl of ramen.

The pork buns followed a similar pattern. The bun itself achieved an impressive softness and chewiness but needed more flavor to shine. The filling, while decent, could have benefited from a different cut of meat and more adventurous seasoning. The pickled onions, though sparingly applied, provided a welcome contrast.

Pork bun could have used better seasoning.

The story of HiroNori Ramen is interesting. They claim to take great care in sourcing their ingredients, getting their noodle wheat from Canada. Today they delivered a serviceable bowl of tonkotsu ramen that can satisfy a basic craving. The food is consistently prepared and entirely edible – I finished every last drop – but it failed to excite or surprise.

While nothing (except perhaps the egg) was explicitly poor, nothing stood out as exceptional either. For diners seeking a simple, straightforward ramen experience, it’s a perfectly acceptable choice. However, those hunting for bold flavors, perfectly chewy noodles and that elusive umami experience might want to look elsewhere.

https://hironori.com/santa-clara-bay-area-ramen

Ramen Club 5-Star Rating System:

Food:                                  2.75 stars   (a 3, if they removed the egg!)

Service:                              4.00 stars 

Atmosphere/Comfort:        3.0 stars

          *     RATINGS LEGEND:     1 star: weak     *    2 stars: just ok     *     3 stars: good     *     4 stars: very good     *     5 stars: superb or special      *