After months, and I mean months of dealing with just about every major problem that an aspiring restauranteur could face, my good buddy’s shabu-shabu dreams have finally come true. Yes, I said “my good buddy” and “shabu-shabu,” not ramen, so I’m going to go out of my way to be biased here. You’ve been warned!…
ramen rating: chibakiya – costa mesa, ca
For a limited time (until tomorow), Chibakiya is at Mitsuwa supermarket again, this time at the Costa Mesa location. On the menu this weekend: their famous shinasoba! The Costa Mesa Mitsuwa gets ridiculously crowded at lunchtime, especially when they have their food fairs. You have to prowl the dining area and be ready to pounce…
another mitsuwa ramen fair
Chibakiya is coming to Costa Mesa with their Shina Soba! 6/4(Thu) – 6/7(Sun) Costa Mesa Store 6/11(Thu) – 6/14(Sun) New Jersey Store Just in time! I’ve been having cravings for hanjuku eggs recently. And if you prefer miso ramen and/or live in Torrance: Ezo Fukuro will be there with their Miso Butter Corn Ramen 6/4(Thu)…
ramen quick review: santouka ltd ed awase aji ramen – costa mesa, ca
Santouka Ramen recently offered a limited edition, and very tasty toromi shoyu ramen, so when I found out they were offering another limited edition ramen…guess where I was this morning? The ramen offered this time is an awase aji ramen (literally combination flavor ramen). As with last time, it’s also limited to 20 bowls a…
ramen alert…ramen alert…ramen alert…
They’re doing it again! A few weeks ago, Santouka Ramen offered a special toromi shoyu ramen, limited to 20 bowls a day. Now they’re back with another special ramen, also limited to 20 bowls a day, and limited only to the Costa Mesa store for their 20th anniversary. This time, the ramen appears to be…
ramen quick review: santouka toromi shoyu – costa mesa, ca
Mitsuwa Japanese supermarket was having an “anniversary festival” so the wife and I went to check it out, not realizing that Santouka ramen (located in the Mitsuwa food court) was also having a special. On 2/26 to 3/1, and also next week 3/5 Thurs to 3/8 Sun, the Santoukas in Mitsuwa Torrance, Costa Mesa, San…
five…five dollar…five dollar—no, it’s $3 ramen!
Hakata Ramen Shin-Sen-Gumi in Fountain Valley is offering their $3 ramen anniversary special again this weekend! Doors open at 11:30am and the special is limited to the first 550 customers. As anyone who’s ever been there knows, there’s usually a long wait even when they’re not having any specials. Get there early, and good eating!…
ramen rating: chuuka soba gomen – stanton, ca
Anyone who knows even a handful of Japanese words probably knows the word “gomen,” as in “sorry.” My first attempt to eat at Gomen a few months ago resulted in one of those “gomen” moments, when, after a 30 minute drive, we discovered an empty parking lot and a “closed” sign on the door. Gomen…
ramen rating: tokyo table – irvine, ca
Tokyo Table is a fine dining restaurant that offers “modern yet authentic Japanese cuisine, complemented by tastes from other Asian and world cultures.” I have a tendency to look down on and avoid “fusion” type restaurants (more on this later) like Tokyo Table, whose signatures dishes include “sushi pizza” and “grilled pesto salmon.” I recently…
ramen rating: ajisen ramen – irvine, ca
Ajisen Ramen started out in the late 1960’s as a ramenya in Kumamoto, Japan, serving “Kumamoto Tonkotsu” ramen, a tonkotsu ramen served with a garlic and onion brown sauce. Since their humble beginnings, they’ve expanded to more than 300 stores worldwide and their Chinese joint venture even trades as a public company on the Hong…
ramen rating: kairakutei ramen – tustin, ca
There are hidden gems, really hidden gems, and then there’s Kairakutei Ramen. Nestled in the corner of a strange two-sided plaza that can be best described as a sandwich cut into two triangles, Kairakutei doesn’t even have a sign that says “Kairakutei,” at least none that I saw. Unless you can read Japanese, the only…
mitsuwa hokkaido fair
In case you missed the previous ramen festival in February, Mitsuwa japanese supermarket is having a Hokkaido Fair, featuring two of the previously featured ramenyas and apparently introducing highly rated Santouka Ramen to the San Jose Store. Shoyu ramen specialist Asameshi Maeda Honpo will be at the Costa Mesa store from Thursday thru Sunday (9/11…