"4"^^ . "2"^^ . "2013-02-25T00:00:00"^^ . . . "Here's a place to visit. \nTo dispel the hypnotic clouds of Nissin that hang ominously over our great America; \nTo be righteously warmed during these cold desert nights;\nTo understand (again and again) what your food-veteran of an uncle is talking about -- about long lines mid-winter up in northern Japan, you know? -- when the two of you are caught in a suitably similar 40-minute wait in front of a tiny ramen-ya (again and again).\n...etc.\n\nPoint being, Monta is a great introduction into ramen, a trial by fire if you're lucky. \nYes, you will likely have to stand around the door before you get to eat, \nyes, you may have to sit by some suspiciously tipsy dude if you're up at the counter, \nand yes, you might not even be impressed, despite what Yelp and your hipster friend says. \nBut that's all okay, I promise, it is what it is. It really is great ramen. \n\nMonta is definitely worth the visit. It's not the best ramen ever, with the chashu a bit too fatty, the miso a bit too salty upfront sometimes, and the gyoza totally unremarkable. But the broth is hot, delicious, and flavorful, and the noodles are top-notch. It's good, okay? Go."^^ . . "1"^^ . "0"^^ .