hawaiian ramen creations

by rameniac | 02 Jun 2009

Hawaii! The 50th state conjures images of leis, luaus, and a thousand other cliches. No, not really. There’s also the Hawai’i of the native peoples and the sovereignty movement, of Matsumoto Shaved Ice and North Shore shrimp trucks, the Hawai’i of Punahou high school and Obama’s youth… yet when this rameniac thinks of the islands, only one thing comes to mind - herds of Japanese tourists and Louis Vuitton products with a cheaper sales tax. Oh yes and ramen, for there’s gotta be some of the squiggly stuff around. After all, we’re halfway to the motherland!

Now let’s run down Honolulu’s best and worst ramen shops. There’s an honest-to-goodness Stateside branch of the famed Japanese noodler Tenka Ippin, a.k.a. Kyoto’s solution to the worldwide chicken surplus. Tan tan men represents by way of Gomaichi, and along the Waikiki drag you’ve got at least a few noodlers. Ezogiku and Nakamura do battle directly across the street from one another, while Kiwami lays low in a basement food court. But nothing can keep a lower profile than Sapporo Rai Rai, which is so far off the sand that it’s locals only from here on out. Who’s got the best bowl in town? There’s only one way to find out, so pack up your shorts and flip flops and start clicking to the tune of tiny bubbles in frothy hot soup!