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| - What a hidden gem! While unassuming from the outside, this Ramen restaurant will blow you away once the food is put in front of you.
There are a handful of Ramen restaurants spread throughout the valley, and it's been a relatively tough task to find one that stands out. Some of them are passable or even venture into the 'good' territory, but having tried some of the best Ramen stops in NYC, LA, and SF, it is just tough to compare.
Hot Noodles, Cold Sake really stands out in a number of ways, all contributing to why you need to give it a try. First and most important are the number of from-scratch components used in the Ramen. I'd recommend speaking to the staff, as I did, to learn about the time and labor put into their food. Their knowledge was extensive and I learned a few things about the food and sake. Second is the aroma and flavor. I've had the Goma House specialty (twice!) and tried the Shoyu, the Goma being my absolute favorite. Just the broth alone is incredible! The noodles are absolutely perfect, cooked to the texture a Ramen pro would be looking for. Though the bowl contains a great variety of items, I'd suggest adding an Onsen Egg for an extra dash of savory.
As you're aware, I'm a fan. I'd like to quickly address some of the neutral or negative reviews with regard to price and sitting room. For price, you cannot compare it to the notion of packaged ramen, since this is anything but. A better way to compare is to put it against what you would spend at another Japanese restaurant (e.g. Sushi) and you'll find there is actually a lot of value in the food you get here. Other notable Ramen restaurants charge as much as 50% more for their bowls. For sitting room, this place is great for groups of 2/4, though it does get tough to find a place to sit during the busier hours. I would suggest waiting for a table than taking anything to go, since you want your food as fresh and hot, considering the nature of this food. This is only a small price to pay for the other great features of this place.
Check out Hot Noodles if you haven't already. It's worth a shot for what I now consider the best Ramen in town!
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