Tuesday, December 18, 2012

I Miss RAMEN !


I'm a ramen person, and after backed from my Tokyo trip I even craved for Ramen DAILY ! 
it's not that I don't want to blog, but my blog storage has hit the quota, I need to pay, buy storage in order to blog... 
which I don't think I want... still figuring what's the next path... 

I love the Real Traditional Japanese Ramen, but not the ' localized ' which we can easily order in any random Japanese Restaurant...
those usually can taste the heavy MSG taste and instant noodles instead of daily handmade fresh noodles...
the Pro-Japanese Ramen, soup based is usually cooked long hour with Pork-bones, we called it Tonkotsu (Pork) soup... 
optionally add on Miso / Shoyu / spicy paste etc...
it's rich, nice, tasty with the tender handmade noodles... 
oh no~ what a great combo !

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during my January Sg Trip...
my fren brought us to this Santouka Hokkaido Ramen opposite Somerset...
it has few branches in others places...
it's something consider more economic and with reasonable price in Singapore... 

don't get shocked with menu below, showing $ 19.50 - 20.50...
as it's for the special Pork Cheek Meat set...

there're cheaper range set which come with Ramen + Rice which I think quite worth...


I tried the Pork Cheek Meat, with Spicy Ramen Set...
the meat is more tender and well-flavored compared to the normal Cha Shu of course... 




I always give Extra Marks if the Ramen served with half-boiled Hot Spring Egg ~
tastes Totally Different...
thumbs-up ! 


this is the set comes with a Big Bowl of Ramen and Garlic Fried Rice / Normal Rice...
the traditional eating way, is to finish the noodles quickly, and pour the rice into the still-hot-soup and eat...
I would say the portion is too huge for a lady, thus, can be a sharing of 2... 


and place a side order - Gyoza
and it would just be nice...  :)


it opened outlet in Malaysia too, at Tokyo Street - Pavillion KL... 
I went in July, tasted same, not bad...
but it won't be considered as 'economic / reasonable price' here in Malaysia...
minimal spending, RM 30++ per pax/ bowl after tax... 



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backed in end of 2011, another specialized Japanese Ramen Shop opened in Paragon, Gurney... Goku Raku Ramen
it's a happy news for me !
however, I always claimed that there are Too Many GREAT foods in Penang...
I only managed visit Once so far, keep wanting to re-visit but " No Chance " !

the price range is cheaper than Santouka KL...
around Rm 18.90++ (small bowl) - Rm 25.90++ big bowl...

it tasted not bad but I couldn't recall or describe much about it since it has been so long since I had it...






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my Top Favourite still backed to Ippudo Ramen which having A Lot of branches all around the world... 
most 'reachable' for me would be Singapore, Hong Kong and Japan where it originates from... 

there are 2 outlets in Singapore...
1 in Mandarin Gallery another in UE Square...
daily Long Q during lunch and dinner time !!!!!
that's the crazee part !

I finally tried it during my Singapore Trip in September !!!
the Q was extremely long even we went at 5-6pm - early dinner ! 

but it's wOrth ! 
we ordered 3 different to try... 
the original, spicy and Miso... 
the hot spring egg and cha shu need to add-on separately with additional charges...  but it's a must ! 


when I went to Tokyo, I happened to spot Ippudo Cup (Bowl) noodles from 7 Eleven...
as can see from the packaging...
I supposed it's collaboration between Ippudo and 7 Eleven, as I couldn't find it in Family Mart or Lawson...
it's not cheap though... 
after converted, should be rm 15-20, I can't remember... 


it even comes with pieces of dried Cha Shu... 
haha.. so pro...
but of cuz the soup won't be as tasty as how we tasted in the shop...


I did not try Ippudo Ramen in Tokyo, as too many choices in too short period...
so hate Malaysia / Singapore such a 'commercialized' countries...
when things come here, serving portion must become smaller and lesser...
everything need to extra order, extra charge...
unlike those in Japan, what you eat worth the price you paid !! 

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we touched down Tokyo at 11+ pm Japan Time...
by the time we checked in and settled down, it's 12 midnight d...
luckily there are alot of eating places opened till late night within walking distance from my hotel around Shinjuku...
while we were walking around, struggling where to settle our super Late Dinner,
I saw thie Keika Ramen which recommended to me by my Japanese Counterpart before...
without hesitation, we just hopped in !


most of the restaurants in Japan are very tiny and with limited spaces...
there's vending machines like this outside every Ramen Shop...
self-ordered, paid, and with the little coupon / receipts you pass to the kitchen helper, they will serve your ramen shortly...
very efficient and convenient ! 


people keen to say foods in Japan very expensive...
but to be fair, if we compare Apple to Apple...
a bowl of Delicious ramen like this, costs me 850 yen, which is around Rm 30+...
the portion is huge and tastes AWESOME !
so tell me if it's worth !


again there's Combo Set of Ramen + Garlic Fried Rice + Gyoza... 
costs around 880-900 yen....
which total enough for sharing between two ! 
so so so yum ! 



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here come top fav Ramen for all of us throughout the trip !
we passed by this little corner shop everyday...
decided to give it a try on a random night !

it has different soup-based, which is MISO soup based instead of the Tonkotsu (pork)...


again, we guess the words by the pics and pick our choice ! 


placed order via the vending machine and wait to be seated...


the most precious ingredient in this shop is their Miso Paste...
they put a huge spoonful of miso paste into the bowl, pour in half bowl of soup from a giant pot and stir equally...



they 'grilled' the cha shu a little bit by this little fire thingy...


I considered it as the most expensive ramen among the 3 shops I had during our trip...
this costs us 900 yen, served with only ONE piece of Cha Shu (pork belly)
but never mind, as it's heavenly delicious !!!!!!!!!!
guess the price mainly contributed to their special homemade Miso Paste which I saw a big big packet waiting to be refilled... 


the portion, in term of noodles and soup are biggest among three...
and it served with Hot Spring Egg~ woo hoo~
what so special about this egg...
the yolks is so beautiful orangy colour like a sunset big yolks... 
when u bite on the egg, it's not hard at all but will 'break' and the yolks flow out.. so yum...
the yumminess is not describable...


I share with my aunt, and we both feel just nice...
I finished up All the soup !!!!
my sis and frens had a bowl each, and felt regret after wards...
as way too full !
so super yum !!!!!

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the last night before heading back to Malaysia...
I wanted to have another Ramen dinner !
simply walked into a random shop around Kabukicho...

the soup based and Cha Shu not as yum as the previous two... and it served with normal egg too...
HOWEVER, its noodles are so tender and different from any other ramen shop...
imagine my aunt asked me order another bowl for her, before she even finished the first bowl !
no drama !




the best decision is to have hot hot yummy Soup Ramen during the cold cold weather !
I so so so miss the ramen in Japan...
simply hop into any ramen shop sure serve tasty ramen ! 
I've been craving for it badly !   T_________T 


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