The restaurant and service were both exceptional. Just exactly what you'd want/expect from a neighborhood specialty joint. No menu fatigue here (Thank You!): a handful of options in each category plus five or six specials on the board all showcasing a build your own ramen sheet. Welcoming and simple.
Our only disappointment was with the appetizer course. We ordered the chicken karaage and panko breaded oysters. The karaage was lightly breaded and well seasoned but most pieces were over-cooked. They were nearing a deep-fried jerky state on several of the pieces. The more tender ones were very tasty and we'd give this one another try next time. The oysters were another story. While cooked properly, the quality of the mollusks themselves was very poor. They were mealy and tasteless. Neither of the ones we tasted warranted a second bite nor invited trying the third one. A small setback before an exceptional main course.
We each built our own ramen bowl; one with tonkotsu / chashu and one with shoyu / katsu as the base. Both broths were rich, deep, and flavorful and were the perfect canvas for the chosen meats. The braised greens (mustard and spinach, one in each) were well seasoned and added great flavor. The real star, however, was the ramen-style egg. The whites were firm with a little bite but the yolks were juuuuuust starting to gel. Still creamy and luxurious but with enough body not to dissipate quickly into the broth. A rare and decadent surprise! Both soups were outstanding and the bottom of the bowl came way too quickly.
We will definitely be back and I have high confidence this will become a full-blown, five-star review!