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| - Worth the lineup and the wait, especially for the ramen bowl.
I frequent this restaurant quite often and can say with confidence that everything is very good save for one item which is simply outstanding. Yes, the 48 hour stew, the salmon-tuna bowl, the shrimp burger, the earl grey ice cream, are all tasty, but only get a 3.5/5. It is the RAMEN alone which warrants a 5/5 for this restaurant. Nevermind the lineup or the dingy interior, the RAMEN makes this place an absolute gem.
This may not a place to take a girl out on a first date if you're looking for ambiance (or if she likes to wear heels, because trust me, this you'll have to wait outside in line), but this place resonates with friendly charm. This is a very small and crowded wood-paneled restaurant. Quite dumpy, to be honest, but the cheerful and upbeat staff make the place warm and extremely charming. Even the worn pieces of paper with handwritten menu items are funny and add to the charm of the place. An added bonus is that we can see Kazu, the owner and head chef of the restaurant, cook meals up right in front of our eyes (that is, if you're sitting at the bar).
What's unfortunate about this place is that it takes no reservations and that the ramen, undeniably the best item on the menu, is only served at lunch time. I get cravings for the ramen at all hours of the day, and I would certainly visit this place even MORE often if the ramen were served for dinner (heck, I'd even eat it for breakfast).
Finally, this is a wonderful place to go if you want an absolutely stellar soup or a solid meal. The presentation of the food is wonderful, and the staff are delightful. You'll never leave without a smile because the whole staff will yell "ARIGATO GOZAIMASU" and you'll certainly want to yell it back, as the food is really THAT good.
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