Mitsuwa Umaimono Gourmet Fair

The Ramen Fair is back at Mitsuwa!! Well it's actually called the Umaimono Gourmet Fair which will include more than just ramen, but who really cares about the other stuff! Just kidding, the other stuff looks good too so this will be perfect for those with friends that don't care too much for ramen (unfortunately they do exist). For more info click here and if you can't read Japanese, then click here for Mitsuwa's translation.

Here is the rundown:

Chibakiya: Featuring Shark's Fin Ramen.
5/15(Thu) - 5/18(Sun) Torrance
5/22(Thu) - 5/25(Sun) New Jersey

Kujiraken: Featuring Shina Soba.
5/15(Thu) - 5/18(Sun) Costa Mesa
5/22(Thu) - 5/25(Sun) San Jose

Tsukasa: Featuring BBQ Beef Tongue Plate and Beef Tongue Bento Box.
5/15(Thu) - 5/18(Sun) Costa Mesa

Takoya Kukuru: Featuring Takoyaki.
5/15(Thu) - 5/18(Sun) Torrance, Costa Mesa
5/22(Thu) - 5/25(Sun) San Jose, New Jersey

I guess San Diego was left out this time. Sorry guys, but at least you can enjoy Santouka now! Remember to go early because they will run out. See you there!

Tokyo Table - Arcadia, CA

Westfield Santa Anita

400 S. Baldwin Ave.

Arcadia, CA 91007

(626) 445-4000
www.tokyotable.com

Tokyo Table...hmmm. I liked the interior design. I liked the Ume Cucumber. I liked the Beef Tataki. I liked the Sapporo beer. I liked the company I was with. And I even liked my glass of water. Do you want to know what I didn't like? Yup, you guessed it.

Cha-Siu Ramen: Well, I can't blame them since this is not exactly a ramen-ya, but they still could have made it look like the picture in the menu! If you go to their website and download the pdf, you'll know exactly what I'm talking about. I mean...look at the pic below. You can't even see the chashu or the menma or the egg. It almost felt like I got someone else's f'd up order. I've never been more compelled to use the acronym WTF!


The broth wasn't bad. The menu claims it to be a tonkotsu soup, but it tasted more like a rich shoyu. The toppings (an average slightly dry chashu, plain egg, menma, green onions, and fried onions) were also decent. But for the noodles...a complete ramen defamation! They were Sōmen noodles! Don't get me wrong, I love Sōmen, but what are Sōmen noodles doing in ramen!! That's almost as bad as calling a California Roll sushi!


Gyoza: The gyoza was a little soggy but good. They probably could have used more flavor, but I was just happy not to find Sōmen noodles in them.


All in all, it was cool to hang out at Tokyo Table. Just don't order the hot Sōmen!!

中華そば GOMEN - Stanton, CA (revisited)

7147 Katella Ave.
Stanton, CA 90680
(714) 761-8007

All I have to say is GOMEN-なさい! After all the comments and emails that I received from people saying that my last review was harsh and that Gomen deserves better than a 38 ranking, I've decided to give them another chance. But before I begin, let me just briefly explain my last review. Besides eating ramen at Santouka 30 minutes prior to eating at Gomen, there must have been something really wrong with the soup that day because it did indeed taste pretty bad. Also (as we all know) food reviews are very subjective, so I don't mind at all if someone disagrees with me. But I guess some doooooooods out there have a problem with that. Consistency is a key element for not just ramen-ya's but for all restaurants. That so called "one bad day" could ruin even the best of them. With all that off my chest, I really am sorry for ranking Gomen so low. Based on today's visit, this Wakayama Ramen (#17) deserves to be ranked in the top 10 for sure.


Tonkotsu-Shio ramen: Although the genre of Wakayama Ramen is tonkotsu-shoyu, the tonkotsu-shio here is the one to get. Its creamy, garlic-enhanced soup reminded me of フクチャンスープ and I'll even go out on a limb to say that Gomen has the best tonkotsu ramen in the OC. Yes, I said it. The hakata-thin noodles were perfectly cooked today and I was really impressed. The toppings (chashu, egg, negi, and menma) were also working hard to stand out. As of this minute, I would give Gomen the #1 ranking in the OC and a possible top 5 overall just because of this ramen I had today, but I wouldn't set that in concrete just yet.


Tonkotsu-Shoyu ramen: This is what I had ordered in my last review that left a bad taste in my mouth. Today's version was missing that burnt taste (thankfully) and basically tasted like the ramen above on shoyu steroids. Although it was better than before and actually quite delicious, I would prefer the shio version any day.


Gyoza: I liked the gyoza the last time and it was no different today. Four pieces with the combination is perfect.


Chahan: This chahan was also excellent. No complaints here.


Wooden Chopstick: I'm glad these chopsticks say that they're wooden. Otherwise I may have thought they were metal...hahaha.

GO GYOZA! The top 5 ramen sidekicks!

At almost every ramen-ya around the world, there is a dish that understands its supporting role and rarely seeks the spotlight. A potsticker, a dumpling, or a pansticker. You can call it what you want, but nothing goes better with ramen than a plate of moist, juicy, garlic-infused, lightly-crisped gyoza. So before the soup cools, I give you the top 5 ramen-ya gyoza in Southern California:

1. Foo Foo Tei (Hacienda Heights): Don't let its hairiness fool you. This unusual looking gyoza is by far the most flavorful and juicy. And don't mistake this Foo Foo with the Monterey Park location.
   



2. Daikokuya: Overrated or not, this gyoza is still one of the best. Its unique shape and blanket of green onions shall please all Seven Gods of Fortune.
   



3. Shinsengumi: Despite their small size, these 一口 gyoza can knock your taste buds out!
   



4. Chabuya: Gyozahh from Chahbuyahh...enough said.
   



5. Kairakutei: These fat-stickers are clearly homemade and out to kick some butt!
   

So there you have it. Don't forget to mix the shoyu with vinegar and a few drops of rayu. GO GYOZA!

Orochon Special 2 Challenge

For the record, I can eat them but am not a huge fan of spicy foods. Nor am I huge fan of Orochon Ramen. With that said, you won't be seeing me on the Wall of Bravery this month (although I did make the sad attempt). But as a promise to the man sitting next to me who finished the Special 2 Miso with blazing speed, this post is for you Ken!


Here's how it began:


And here's how it ended:


And unlike Orochon, where the polaroids are taken down every month and probably sold to the government in case they need to recruit an army of spicy ramen slurpers, this post will be here for the world to see forever!

If any other brave soul has accomplished this challenge, send in your pics and let me know how it was! I want to hear from ya!

This is how far I got. Not that it's an excuse, but I did eat at Shinsengumi for lunch. And it's not so much the spiciness, but its massive size and scorching heat. Well, at least I gave it a shot.