slurp, actually

by rameniac | 19 Apr 2010

As one of the world’s greatest cities, London, England can boast its fair share of everything, including an assortment of ramen shops located primarily along the chic streets of Soho north of Piccadilly Circus. Joints like Taro and Ten Ten Tei specialize in no-nonsense noodling, while the incongruously named eat TOKYO and Ramen Seto do their best to hide their not-quite-Japanese state of ownership. Perhaps no ramen shop has ever been more obvious about co-opting another’s gimmick as Osatsuma, which has admittedly got the Wagamama sense of modernist decor down to a science. All told, Ryo may serve the most authentically Japanese bowl of shoyu ramen this side of the North Sea; at least in vibe, the modest izakaya is as ex-pat as they come.

noodling on the wild westside

by rameniac | 27 Oct 2010

A last minute heads up to slurpers in the Los Angeles area: Culver City’s notorious, maid-infested Royal-T Cafe will be screening Juzo Itami’s classic “noodle western” Tampopo tonight alongside a popup ramen menu designed by in-house chef Konbu using seasonal ingredients. One night only? Admission and the film are free, I’m guessing the food is not. The real question, however, is whether I can be bothered to leave the house.

thanks pingu, via L.A. Weekly.

miso hungry

by rameniac | 17 Sep 2010

Yet another September is upon us, which means it’s time once again for Mitsuwa Marketplace’s Hokkaido Fair. A couple of Sapporo miso ramen shops are making the rounds this time; Ramen Shingen has been here before, while Komaoka Ramen will be flipping bowls of spicy miso ramen like burgers on an In N’ Out grill. For all you non-West Coasters who’ve never had In N’ Out, at least you can experience the Hokkaido Fair in Chicago and New Jersey, where there also happens to be Mitsuwa. Mitsuwae? Mitsuwas? Whatever. Go forth, and eat.