Maybe we went on a day that they were off their game, but I could not identify what I ate a being ramen. I lived in Japan for 31 years, and have never been upset after eating ramen, until I ate here. First, the noodles are pretty good, however I can not say the same for the broth. My wife ordered Tonkotsu, which was very watered down. It was like 1 part Tonkotsu and 9 parts water. You could identify the tonkotsu flavor if you focused, but you shouldn't have to do that. Tonkotsu should be thicker and leave a gritty taste in your mouth afterwards. It had little to no garlic in it, and true Tonkotsu needs a garlic flavor.
I ordered Shoyu ramen, but there was no shoyu in it. That was the most confusing thing to me. I didn't say anything about it because I was so confused by my wife's and my ramen. It tasted more like a chicken vegetable stew with noodles in it. I ended up adding soy sauce from the table. There was no raiyu either. The thing that upsets me most is that this establishment is owned by a Japanese person, who should know what ramen is supposed to taste like...that and I could have gone to any Safeway or Frys, picked up a $0.68 instant ramen, and it would have tasted better than what I had. It at the very least would have had shoyu flavoring. That is why I am upset.
The toppings and condiments were good. However, I am still upset, disappointed, and feel that it is an insult to the ramen world to call what we ate "ramen". I want to take the cooks to Ajisen or take them back to Japan and show them what ramen should taste like.
Perhaps they are trying to make ramen healthy...?...but ramen is not meant to be healthy. I am so confused by the experience. The only reasonable rational excuse I can come up with is maybe they were having a bad day, or made a very watered down broth....but shoyu ramen without shoyu is inexcusable. I am confused and debating never giving them another chance to prove this review wrong.
I might give them another chance and edit this review, but until then, this is the experience I had. I wanted the ramen to be good! I wanted to write a raving review, but I can't. It was not a good experience. I was very disappointed and felt let down.