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| - Ramen-ya Katana doesn't get a lot of love from people passing by, but I enjoyed the food and service here. I was fortunate enough to dine here with family when there was only one person eating. Not only did we get to take our time ordering, but we were able to chat with the staff and the proprietor, Koji--a former sumo wrestler. I grew up in Okinawa and this was the first time I met a sumo wrestler. It was an awesome opportunity to meet and take a few photos with him. The service was great, but let me cover the food:
Yokozuna Ramen $13.50: If you have a large appetite, this is the largest ramen they offer. It has half an egg, kakiage, two pieces of gyoza, two pieces of karaage, and two slices of cha shu pork on a bed of perfectly cooked ramen noodles in a very rich miso broth (we specifically requested miso instead of pork-based). The kakiage and gyoza soaked up the rich broth, as did the karaage--making them all very flavorful and juicy. The cha shu pork was a bit thin to my liking, but still tasty. My only gripe is that the egg was hard boiled and not soft boiled.
The Miso Ramen ($8.88) is in the same miso broth, but with slices of cha shu pork only. A family member ordered this and she thoroughly enjoyed it. As for the portions, Koji and his staff are generous with the broth and noodles. You will be full when you eat here (granted you like and finish your food). Sushi burritos or "sushirritos' are also offered if you're into those. I personally haven't tried them, but they look pretty good. One downside about Ramen-ya Katana is that there are eight very cramped seats on the left side of the restaurant. The stools are small, and the small space can make it a little warm while eating.
Our ramen was served piping hot, which we definitely appreciated. The ramen I've had in New Jersey sucks (most ramen places in NJ aren't authentic), so even in triple digit weather, the food definitely hit the spot and filled a craving. There are more popular ramen places in Vegas, but Ramen-ya Katana is a solid option if you can't make it to Ramen Sora or Monta Ramen.
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