Even though I'm originally from San Francisco, living in Phoenix for the past 15 years has made me a cold weather wimp! Every time the weather drops below 60 degrees, I put on a million layers and go on the hunt for steamy bowls of ramen or pho. We got to Nishikawa at around 7 pm last night and were seated immediately. They have about ten tables and a long countertop; it was definitely busy but the staff were super nice and efficient and turned over tables really quickly. They're planning to close December 20-31 for renovations, so unfortunately a few of the menu items were not available when we visited; this includes soft boiled eggs for the ramen, bummer!
The tonkatsu ramen was delicious! The pork broth was rich and hearty, albeit a little on the salty side. Luckily they do bring out carafes of ice water to your table, because the soup was so good I couldn't stop going back for more. The straight ramen noodles were al dente and definitely a good serving for me, though if you're a big eater you do have the option of ordering extra noodles for $1.50. The pork chashu was tender, though a whole lot fattier than I'd prefer. I'm a huge fan of pork belly, but the chashu here was easily more than 50% fat. I do love that they have pots of chilies on each table, so you can customize your bowl to your spice level. I'll definitely be back to Nishikawa; hopefully the renovations will add some new gems to their menu too!