I am perpetually on a search for the best ramen in the city. I was reading about the authenticity and great tasting ramen from Tondou Ryukyu Ramen, which has been open for about a month now. Thankfully for me there wasn't a wait at 4pm on a weeknight. The restaurant appears small and cozy but has an additional section of seating towards the rear of the restaurant.
The wait staff were polite and reasonably attentive. Spicy bean sprouts were offered as complimentary appetizer while I waited for my ramen. The sprouts had a nice sesame flavour and the spiciness was great for whetting the appetite.
I ordered the mini shoyu ramen. The mini size was a perfect snack size for some but large enough as a small main for me. The ramen broth was flavourful and rich as you would expect with hours of boiling pork and chicken bones. It had tons of umami flavour as the collagen clings to your lips. The ramen noodles were chewy and al dente. I appreciated the cabbage and greens for texture and to help cut the richness of the broth. Tender slices of chashu had some fatty layers and allowed it melt in your mouth but it bordered on being a little too fatty for me.
The major downfall for me was the saltiness of the broth but it may be because of the soy sauce used in the broth. I would consider returning to try the other ramen preparations such as the miso or tonkotsu ramen which I am hoping would be less salty.
They also have karaage, takoyaki, and nanban fried chicken for those needing additional protein with their ramen which I hope to try next time. Did I find the best ramen in the city at Tondou? Not yet. But with rich savoury broth and tasty ramen, it has potential. 3.25 stars.