Foo-Foo Challenge - Day 14: Komu-Tan Ramen

It's getting close to midnight so I'll try to make this quick without taking anything away from today's Komu-Tan Ramen. Tonight was another basketball night so I had to go when they opened at 5:30. It's not the same when I go early because Murakami-san isn't there and I feel like I don't get the whole experience. I must be getting spoiled. Luckily, I ran into Murakami-san on my way out and I was able to chat with him for a few minutes about today's ramen. I'm glad I did too because he told me something interesting that I'll be sharing a little later.

The Komu-Tan Ramen uses the shio base, but only a quarter of the normal salt is actually used. The rest of the seasoning comes directly from the wakame seaweed, which results in a more potent form of the regular shio. Add some minced garlic, egg, naruto, negi, and sesame along with several pieces of thinly sliced beef brisket and the Komu-Tan Ramen is born. It felt good to have beef for a change, but I still couldn't get my mind off last night's Kokudama. Has anyone tried it yet?


As you enjoy the close up view of the beef below, I'll share with you an interesting fact about today's Komu-Tan Ramen. If you can't finish off the broth, Murakami-san recommends that you take it home and eat it for breakfast the next morning. But wait...there's more to it. He says to add a little water and then mix it with oatmeal. Yup, oatmeal. According to him, "It's goooood!"


The best part of Foo-Foo Tei is Murakami-san's ramen. The second best part of Foo-Foo Tei is that Murakami-san has something for everyone. Even the Chicken Teriyaki (as seen below in its mini form) is really darn good!


Let me just take a second to remind you that the Monterey Park location is not related to the Hacienda Heights location. If you would like to try some or all of the dishes I've been eating over the past 14 days, then you'll need to visit the real Foo-Foo Tei in Hacienda Heights. See you there!

Tomorrow's ramen: Kakiage
All three soup bases will be in play.

Foo-Foo Challenge - Day 13.5: Kokudama Shoyu Ramen (Debut)

Ladies and fellow ramen geeks around socal. I proudly present a brand new creation from Murakami-san, the master himself, that will be available at Foo-Foo Tei starting tomorrow. I have been given the high honor of announcing its debut right here on Go Ramen! so without further ado, I give you Kokudama Shoyu Ramen.

It's idea began as a response to fellow blogger edjusted's recent post calling Murakami-san's regular shoyu "a bit lackluster." So realizing that his shoyu ramen is indeed a bit old-school, Murakami-san spent the day challenging himself to create a new version that would satisfy "the next generation." I was lucky enough to share a bowl with him tonight as we both tried this new ramen for the first time. Amazingly, we both found it to be so darn good that he decided he should start selling it immediately. So let me give you a little description. It begins with the original shoyu...


...and then it is transformed by the kokudama, a lavish spoonful of ground pork mixed with caramelized onions and sauteed garlic with a hint of salt & pepper and other secret ingredients. This kokudama is pure steriods for ramen. It's effect is mind-blowing amazement!


As you mix it into the ramen, the sweet smell of caramelized onion puts you into a trance. And since Murakami-san doesn't use pork for any of his soup bases, this is his version of kotteri shoyu. It's remarkable!


The best part was being able to witness Murakami-san try his own creation for the first time. He literally jumped out of his seat and yelled "UMAI!" He was so impressed with his creation that he immediately brought me a beer so we could make a toast to it--kanpai! He even thanked me for coming to his restaurant everyday and said that my challenge was actually inspiring him to try new ideas. No Murakami-san, YOU are the inspiration!


This ramen obviously won't be on the menu and I'm not sure if the staff will know about it, but definitely mention it the next time you go. If they don't know what you mean, then have them ask Murakami-san directly. It might be on a limited basis for now, so good luck and let me know what you think!

Hey edjusted, he personally invited you to give this new version a try and dared you to call it lackluster...hahaha.

Tomorrow's ramen: Komu-tan

Foo-Foo Challenge - Day 13: Pork & Miso Ramen

I'm back on track after eating the prototype Chawanmushi Ramen yesterday with today's Pork & Miso Ramen. Another massive bowl of ramen with a huge mound of pork and vegetables. Like Murakami-san told me yesterday, this ramen is basically the same as Yasai Ramen with some added pork. The miso by itself is great. And although the added pork gives the miso a bolder taste, I thought it took some zest away from its original flavor. If you're hungry, I say go for the Pork & Miso, but if you're looking for a sensual explosion, go for the Miso & Butter.


The tender pork and vegetables once again tasted extremely fresh. And after digging my way through the huge layer, I almost forgot about the noodles underneath. Luckily, they remained firm in the extremely hot soup.


To stay on the pork theme I ordered the Pork Tsukune, a firm pork meatball mixed with several ingredients and smothered with Murakami-san's original Tare. Yum!


Guess what? There's something special on the way. Stay tuned for my next post...

Foo-Foo Challenge - Day 12: Yasai Prototype Ramen

Today was supposed to be Yasai Ramen, but when I arrived and met Murakami-san near the kitchen this is what he said: "Keizo-san, the shoyu and shio version of Yasai Ramen tastes just like Umani Ramen with only vegetables and the miso version of Yasai Ramen tastes just like Pork & Miso Ramen without Pork, so today I think you should try a prototype." A prototype? I couldn't believe my ears! I wasn't about to argue with the man so I excitedly said "Hai!" And even though Day 12 is still labeled Yasai Ramen, I won't be showing it to you today because of the reasons Murakami-san stated above. He also jokingly called this Day 12.5.

When the waitress arrived to take my order, I told her that Murakami-san was going to make me a special ramen that wasn't on the menu and being not exactly sure what to write on the order slip, she just wrote Keizo Ramen...hahaha. Apparently they had a nice laugh in the kitchen too because nobody knew how to make "Keizo Ramen." But soon thereafter, Murakami-san showed up with this mysterious prototype--an especially colorful ramen that resembled art more than it did food.


Wow! I never knew prototypes tasted so good! Now, why isn't this on the menu yet?! Murakami-san called this his "Chawanmushi Ramen" and it remarkably tasted very similar. It's gravy-like base is made with a mixture of shoyu, shio, and oyster sauce along with plenty of katsuoboshi to bring out the main flavor. An egg is then scrambled like an omelet containing bell peppers, bamboo shoots, shrimp, carrots, naruto, and green onions spread atop the ramen. I felt so honored to be eating what I was eating. When I asked Murakami-san how long he has been working on this prototype, he surprisingly said that the idea came to him while he was taking a nap earlier in his car (btw I woke him up) and that I was the first person to try it. Are you kidding me? This just goes to show what an amazing talent he has. I was shocked...and still am! I really hope this makes it to the menu soon because you have to try it.


Murakami-san wanted to make a special appetizer for us but the restaurant became crazy busy and the overcrowded kitchen didn't give enough room for him to work. So instead he brought us our dessert--nama beer! I also ate a few side dishes tonight, but in keeping the focus on this special prototype, I won't be posting them. There will be more days to try them again.

Tomorrow's ramen: Pork & Miso

Foo-Foo Challenge - Day 11: Ebi Wantan Men

I'm still full from last night, but since I have a dinner engagement tonight down in OC, lunch was the only option (unless of course Murakami-san invites me for drinks after closing...haha). Foo-Foo Tei's lunch hour on the weekend begins at noon, but a line always starts forming from around 11:30. If you want to be one of the first seated then I recommend you arrive no later than 11:40 as I did today on Day 11 of this ramen challenge. I've been looking forward to the Ebi Wantan Men for days now and with my recent encounter of Murakami-san's delicious shrimp appetizers, I was practically growing crazy with anticipation as I patiently stood in line.

This Ebi Wantan Men was exactly how I envisioned it to be: An awe-provoking blend of the signature shio base with a sensual hint of shrimp. It's really amazing how good this tastes. My sister-in-law who loves both shrimp and shio ramen would absolutely love this one.


There's whole shrimp in the soup as well as more shrimp in the wantan. It's truly shrimpalicious! If you don't like shrimp, then you'll never know what you're missing.


The filling for the wantan was similar to the filling for the soft shell crab I ate on Day 6. Murakami-san's gyoza filling will go with just about anything. I even bet if you stuffed it in semi no kara it would taste good.


Today's appetizer was Green Beans Salad, the perfect light snack to start the afternoon. What separates these from just being green beans is the fact that they are lightly sprinkled with the same secret salt used for the shio ramen. They were crispy and delicious!


Today was somewhat like an unplanned blogger gathering. I happened to run into both Exile Kiss from Culinary Journeys Around the World and edjusted from the ramen blog and other goodies! and for five minutes we got to share our thoughts about Foo-Foo Tei.

Hey ed! It's too bad Murakami-san wasn't there. He's been wanting to meet the guy who called him Doraemon...hahaha!

Tomorrow's ramen: Yasai
All three soup bases will be in play.