いらっしゃいませ!

Welcome to my ramen dream... Currently being interpreted in Ramen Burger Land... Looking for a good slurp? Email me ! - Keizo

Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Kat live...

Day 1274:

I got a surprise call from a Tokyo friend today saying that they were now living in Irvine. And that they were performing tonight at open mic night in Newport Beach. Whaaaat? Okay, but first I need to eat.


Jinya is another new shop that has joined in on the recent ramen invasion of Costa Mesa. With a few branches in socal already, it seems as though they are trying to rule the ramen world. Or not.


This is a good bowl, but it somehow tastes too manufactured. I'm not sure what it is but it's a bit disturbing.


Perhaps these bowls just need a little more stink.


Anyway...


Kat McDowell!!!


What a surprise!


Great to see you guys! In Irvine of all places!! haha.

Monday, April 29, 2013

What's up Men?...

Day 1273:

So the name...what's up with that?! What's Up Men is a new shop in Fullerton claiming to be "the best ramen in Orange County!"


Interesting name aside, let's see what's up with their ramen?!


Okay, the Kuro Ramen wasn't bad and it might as well be "the best" tonkotsu in OC but...


But I still feel that ramen in general can be so much better here.


What's up with that? I guess I'll find out soon enough.


Banh Mi!


Yum mi.

Sunday, April 28, 2013

The birthday gem...

Day 1272:

"Uncle, why are you always taking pictures??"


"Take mine, take mine!!"


"It's my birthday!!!"


Lunchtime!


Pastrami and gravy fries...


Party time!


Magic time!


Madness time! haha.


Happy birthday to my little gem. She's growing up way too fast.


A lawyer, a police officer, and an architect begin to barbecue...


Sorry I forgot the punchline but you can probably figure out which one is which. lol.


And saving the best for last...my homemade chashu...grilled.


You'll just have to believe me...it was sooo good.

Saturday, April 27, 2013

Brillance...

Day 1271:

Time to give back and teach mom some of my ramen making skillz...chashu and eggs. And a little secret ramen magic...






Okay, let's finish the rest later. Time to scope out another new joint!


Ken Ramen in Costa Mesa is a new shop on 19th between Games Plus and In-n-out. haha. I think it used to be a Mexican Restaurant when I was growing up.


Anyway, I ordered the Tonkotsu Shoyu Ramen.


hmm...


Laguna Beach!!


Can you see the whale?


Alright, time to check out the newest shop in LA...Tsujita Annex.


Loosely based on the shop Bario in Tokyo (so I've heard), Tsujita Annex does a good job of copying it...at least in this picture they do.


As for the real thing? Um. Yeah.


Just to make one thing clear, this type of ramen is not Jiro-kei, it is Jiro-inspired.


Honestly, TA does a good job of reproducing Bario and representing Jiro-inspired ramen in the states...


But with that said, it was a little disappointing. I guess I was expecting a little more.


Like something brill-i-ant...but all I got was br-ill-ant.


Big ups to Rex and Peter for representin tonight!!


Go Ramen!

Friday, April 26, 2013

Oh see...

Day 1270:

I've dreamt about a breakfast like this for months! See, it's all about hope. haha.


Since I've been gone there seems to have been a slight explosion of ramen shops in socal. In Costa Mesa alone I count 5 new shops. One of them is Ramen Zetton on Baker near Bristol.


Having recently opened at the end of 2012, there are several ramen to choose from but the Tori Shio Ramen seems to be the most popular.


It's a little heavier than I expected with the chicken broth not being so clear, but I was pleasantly surprised by it's depth of unassuming flavor.


The noodles matched fairly with the overly oily soup and once again I was pleasantly surprised.


I may have to revisit this place before I leave.


Another new shop is Ramen Iroha located in the food court of Marukai Supermarket.


If you didn't know, Ramen Iroha is a chain which has successfully marketed the "Toyama Black" in Japan. Having witnessed how this chain has evolved over the years, I must say that I am not as overly shocked as I should be when assessing the poor quality of this bowl.


No offense to Kurihara-san, but I don't see this shop lasting very long.


I can't believe I even finished the bowl...it was definitely a struggle.