A hot bowl of noodle soup is the winter cure, so it’s definitely time to test out the ramen places, as I said I would. So far, my search has been rather disappointing, with places like Ajisen Ramen, Menchanko-tei, and Men Kui Tei. The only place we actually like is Ippudo but the line is really too long there to ever go during dinner time.
So last night, I checked out Ramen Setagaya Ramen Setagaya with Rachel, Brandon, and Olivia. I tried the Shio Ramen, their salt broth ramen, and it was satisfying. The noodles had a nice bounce, the broth was flavorful, and I enjoyed the tender salt egg and marinated bamboo as well. As much as I like pork belly, this is not the best way to use it. The meat becomes chewy and the fat seems like blobs in the way, but it probably helps to flavor the soup so I would’t want it removed.
Although it’s not perfect, it’s hard to complain when you get the bowl of Shio Ramen, a bowl of minced chicken on rice (with a raw egg yolk), and gyoza for $12.50 (for dinner). I actually didn’t like the chicken on rice or the gyoza, both very boring flavors, so I would skip that combo next time and just go for the ramen.
The bamboo salad is pretty good too, although a few piece are fibrous, possibly not peeled well.
Ramen Setagaya is small so you may have to share a table with people you don’t know, or eat at a counter by the doorway. I felt rushed so it’ s not the best place to catch up with friends as I was trying to. It’s not fancy, and the menu doesn’t have much variety, but still, it’s #2 on my list so far, but I guess that’s not saying much when the others weren’t that good.
posted by jessica at 03:08 PM
Filed under Asian, Restaurants.
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I’m glad you gave it a try. It’s my favorite ramen place but I haven’t gotten a chance to hit up Ippudo yet. I dont like the gyoza either…but I love the texture of the ramen and the egg! -=D
Wonders, can’t wait to here what you think of Ippudo. I was at Ramen Setagaya with 3 people and the 4 of us agreed that Ippudo is the best.
bamboo salad 🙂
i’m sorry you didn’t have a wonderful dinner. i hate when new places are a let down! at least the pictures are lovely! they made me hungry 😀
Noodle soup sounds great right now. It really hits the spot on these cold winter days, plus the price is usually pretty reasonable.
Heather, yea, it’s a bummer.
Asianmommy, noodle soups are definitely made more awesome by being cheap.
I’m so sad that you like Ippudo better than Ramen Setagaya… RS is my favorite ramen place. I really did not like Ippudo that much, the only thing that eased my mind was that it was free. Of course, I realize that it is very dependent upon which broth style you like, and I’m a shio fan. Ah well 🙂
Sorry Yvo, I def like Ippudo more, but if it makes you feel better, they’re too different to really compare.
I went there. It was decent. But it wasn’t my favorite. I still need to try the others.