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| - So trendy it hurts. Baldwin Street has been graced with a Japanese-style ramen shop where the staff shout those incomprehensible Japanese phrases that one hears regularly upon entering and leaving trendy Japanese places. That was an awkward sentence.
Let's get down to it, the ramen is pretty darn good and the portions are rather generous. The chicken ramen (which seems to be the perpetual special) is a good entry ramen...it's not as rich. I did enjoy it, but can't help but find the chicken breast slightly slimy...it's not a fault of theirs, just how that turns out in this context. I loved the spicy garlic ramen. CAUTION: When enjoying this, do not plan on kissing anyone for the day, or for that matter speaking closely with anyone you like. It's garlicky! Also very rich and flavorful.
This restaurant is good, but not good enough to justify the waits. It's slightly pricy. Ramen is a pedestrian, everyday food in Japan, eaten for $4-7 a bowl without much fuss. It's cute how trendy it's gotten in North America. Add-ons and drinks are a bit on the pricey side.
Seating is largely communal or counter-based. Not a good spot for a large group unless you get lucky with timing and the big table in the window is open. It's also loud, especially with the shouting of IRASSHAIMASE everytime someone walks in. That being said, I like the ramen, so I'll be back.
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