What is ramen?

First thing’s first. What is ramen?!

Originating in Japan, Ramen is a soup dish that has captured the hearts and palates of people worldwide. There are lots of variations when it comes to ingredients, but traditionally ramen has 3 main ingredients. Broth, noodles, and toppings.

The broth is usually animal-based, the most common type I’ve seen being pork broth. These broths are usually designed to be very hearty and flavorful!

Traditionally, ramen noodles are made with a special ingredient: Kansui (枧水). Kansui is a mixture of Potassium Carbonate and Sodium Carbonate, used to help determine the firmness and flavor in noodles!

Toppings usually consist of Chashu, which (叉燒) are thinly sliced pieces of pork. Often there will be a boiled egg, with a nice jammy yolk. Menma, fermented bamboo shoots are also very common.

What’s the vibe?

Upon entering, Rakkan Ramen’s ambiance was peaceful with its soft, moody lighting. It’s the perfect place to catch up with a friend you haven’t seen in a long time, or to have a mid-week date night. 

How’s the food?

Of course, what makes or breaks a restaurant is the very thing it was created for: its food! You’ll be pleased to know, Rakken Ramen doesn’t disappoint in this area. 

What makes them unique?

As I mentioned earlier, most ramen styles come with a pork broth and pork meat. This is where Rakken Ramen changes the game. Their broths are plant-based, but they still have the hearty flavor you love!

What did I try?

I started off with the Octopus Takoyaki, Japanese octopus balls. The dish came with seven octopus balls on a stick. They had tiny green onions, and an amazing savory flavor from the soy sauce. Finally, I tried the Amber Ramen with chicken chasu and it was delicious. The vegetable broth was only slightly thinner than a meat based broth, but it was still creamy and hearty! The chicken was tender and juicy. The bamboo shoots were my personal favorite, as they added a nice al dente crunch to the dish. The boiled egg had the perfect tender inside. The noodles were thinner than I’m used to with ramen, and more firm than expected, but the flavor was great and paired perfectly with the chicken chasu and vegetable broth.

Final thoughts?

Overall Rakkan Ramen was an amazing experience. I love that it is accessible for guests who can’t eat pork due to religious or dietary restrictions. They also have many vegetarian options, which is great. Overall, I would definitely eat here again, and would recommend to anyone who typically stays away from ramen due to dietary restrictions. You can try ramen that will not only fit into your diet, but also taste delicious in a cozy environment.

(“Amber Ramen” dish pictured above. “Takoyaki” pictured below)