Overall - 3.0/5.0
Although they have been around for quite some time, this is actually my first time trying their ramen. They are having their soft opening right now and will be officially opening on 1/28.
Quite the contrary to Sansotei, there were no long lineups to get a table. In fact, only a few tables were occupied at the time. The ramen joint is situated right next to Grand Noodle (which is currently no longer in business).
Sansotei being my primary spot for ramen, I will draw my comparisons against it.
- Noodles: I got the thick noodles and the texture was perfect. Pretty much the same as Sansotei.
- Soup Base: I tried the original as well as the miso soup base. The original was clear and clean tasting whereas the miso was too salty and did not have much depth. I prefer Sansotei's pork bone broth with garlic oil.
- Meat: The grilled pork was larger than Sansotei's and offers both a lean and fatty cut. It was more tender and juicer than Sansotei's offering.
- Egg: This was underwhelming as it was overcooked and did not have that runny consistency that I was expecting.
- Environment: Service was attentive and welcoming. However, I did not appreciate the loud music that was blasting in the restaurant. Perhaps it would be more appropriate if it was a bar/izakaya joint but not when I am trying to enjoy my bowl of ramen!
Another thing that could be improved is the timing of the food. I thought it was quite a bit of a wait for the ramen to come (15-20 minutes) given that we were the only ones left to get our order. On top of that, the appetizer came at the same time as the ramen.