Ramen

[Mr Vigs]

Anyone know where real ramen can be had in Seattle?  I've got a serious hankering for it in this rainy weather!

I used to go to a place next to Fort St. George in the ID, but it's gone now.  I've heard about a Japan-based chain called Ezogiku on Broadway.   Anyone tried it?

[mamster]

Well, that's odd.  I just came home from lunch at Ezo on Broadway to find a question about...well, you see.

I'm a big fan of Ezo and it compares favorably in my mind to ramen I had in Hawaii in the 80s.  I reviewed it for the Times here.  Other people I know have been less impressed with it than I have, but for ŭ or so, there's no reason not to give it a shot.

I've also heard (from the Weekly) that Hoki's Teriyaki Hut in Ballard has good ramen, but I haven't made it there myself.

[BON]

Mr.Vigs and mamster,

I just noticed you discussed ramen which is my major concern.

About Ezogiku, here is info.

Ezogiku

I have some more ramen shop info at

Seattle Ramen shops

For more in-depth ramen infomation, pls visit my web site.

World Ramen.net  

[mamster]

Thanks, BON!  Your site is a great resource for the ramen-lover.  I'd get some today, but I have a date with some Vietnamese sandwiches....

[BON]

mamster

Why not let me hear review of Ezogiku in Seattle, please!

I'd love to know, as no one has sent me a review of

it.

If you keep on visiting, you may run into Ichiro Suzuki

and Daimajin.

[PerfectCircle]

I'm coming in late to this discussion, but I would love to get feedback on how my favorite ramen place measures up to those already listed. I need to try these other places! But so far, Takohachi in the ID (on Jackson, a couple blocks east of 5th, with the octopus on the sign) has the only ramen that has ever reminded me of the bowls enjoyed in Tampopo.

They also make a fried rice which is an absolute guilty pleasure. If you order "Ramen Hanchan", you get a huge bowl of soup and an accompanying bowl of fried rice; make sure you go in hungry!

Based on BON's very helpful information, Thursday may very well find me at Tsukushinbo.....

[BON]

Hello PerfectCircle,

Have you tried Tsukushimbo?

I'd love to hear your opinin.

By the way, I have found a Japanese restaurant offering

ramen which is Daimajin Sasaki's favorite, though I don't

know whether Ichiro likes it or not.

Check the following link.

 

Kouraku

[mamster]

BON, I'll try Kouraku and let you know what I think.  I make it to the International District pretty often.

[col klink]

Sweet! Yet another place to go before Mariner games.

[PerfectCircle]

Hello Bon! Yes, four of us from work descended upon Tsukushinbo a week ago last Thursday. I'm sorry to say that we were not merely underwhelmed but anti-whelmed.

The broth had no depth; it tasted like canned chicken stock with added soy sauce. One of our party had the broiled mackeral and was very very happy with her meal, however. I'm curious to try their sushi, which I've heard good things about (via the latest Weekly with their 100 fave restaurants, I think).

While I don't believe that a good restaurant is good because every single dish they prepare is superb, I do hope for particular signature dishes (especially if offered as the daily special!) to be lovingly undertaken, because that often reflects well upon the rest of the menu. So I'm not rushing back to this spot when there are so many other places I want to try.

Like Koraku! Thanks for the tip! I found a link to a review in ColorsNW magazine (scroll down the page):

http://www.colorsnw.com/inside/0501tastebuds.htm

[mamster]

Well, now I'm still going to Koraku, but I'm going to have to try the saba first.  Naomi of ColorsNW really made it sound good.

[tsquare]

Found myself on Capitol Hill last night, looking for a quick supper. Tried Ezo. It was cheap - combo of shoyu ramen, gyoza, fried rice, and dessert (mango pudding) for $6.95, but not very exciting. Is it sacreligious to include ramen reviews from places like Saito's and other Japanese Restaurants, or even Noodle Ranch? It has been too long since I've indulged to recall details, but I'd prefer to enjoy the slurping of noodles and tasty bits over just feeling fed.

[mamster]

Sorry you didn't like Ezo, tsquare.  I have to say that of all the places I recommend to people, this is the one where I get the most responses like yours.  About half of my recommendees like it as much as I do, and the other half say, "Well, that was boring."  I guess I did make such a disclaimer near the beginning of the thread.

The best dishes at Ezo are the Ezo ramen, pork gyoza, and fried noodle, if that helps.

[mamster]

Yesterday on the way by I saw a sad-looking notice in Ezo's window. They're shutting down as of August 10. I'll squeeze a few more meals in and then it's all over. This makes me really sad--it had become my favorite place to go on Broadway and my perennial choice for dinner alone (Ezo ramen, gyoza, and a Sapporo) when Laurie is out.

Oddly, the notice says they're moving to Orange County. How does a chain move? I'll try to get the story next time I'm in.

[nightscotsman]

Ezo moving! Noooooooooooo!

I live and work a few blocks from Broadway and Ezo is one of the few reliable, inexpensive places for lunch. Their cold ramen bowl was perfect on hot summer days.

Speaking of Broadway, does anybody actually like the Deluxe since they changed owners and remodeled? I find their burgers practically inedible now.

[mamster]

I didn't think the burgers were that great even before the remodel (although I did have a thing for the pesto burger for a while). One thing worth nothing is that pre-remodel the fries were consistently awful; nowadays they're sometimes good. For a while it seemed like they were trying a new fry recipe weekly.