After the success of the inaugural Dumplings Fest, a bunch of food bloggers/tweeps gathered for the next [Insert Food] fest – this time in honour of ramen.
Sadly, good ramen joints are hard to find in Melbourne (although I’m predicting that they’re the next big dining trend, after izakayas and gastropubs have their time in the sun) and the specimens you encounter here are more often NOT than HOT.
Then someone suggested Ramen Ya and we all said YES! This casual eatery seats its patrons on backless stools and tiny tables that don’t encourage lingering, in authentic ramen stall style. My choice was a bowl of their house specialty, the Charshu Pork Ramen with Tonkotsu soup, which was accompanied by three juicy gyoza and a warming genmaicha (brown rice green tea) for a budget-friendly $14. Ramen Ya specialises in ramen but also has bento boxes for those not noodle-inclined.
Ramen Ya’s servings are huge even for someone who’s been known to eat three bowls of udon in one sitting. There’s such a high degree of splatteridge that they provide you with bibs! The large bowl contained slices of thinly sliced meltingly tender pork, half an egg, some fake fish cake stuff that the Japanese seem to love and a whole lotta toothsome ramen. I found the dish as a whole a little bland but you could tell that the stock was properly made with pork bones and not just powdered soup powder spiked with MSG.
In a cute little touch, while you’re waiting for your ramen (about 2 minutes) you can try your hand at some origami and make yourself an inflatable rabbit.
For more Ramen Ya love, check out Tummyrumbles and Melbourne Eating.
- Ramen Ya, Shop 25G Melbourne’s GPO, 350 Bourke St, Melbourne +61 3 9654 5838
Ah, I’ve often walked by this place curious about it as I often stop in Kenzan for a sushi or two. :]
Have you tried Momotaro Ramen on Bridge Road? Although I don’t eat ramen myself because I’m gluten intolerant, my mother really likes it and it’s quite authentic. :]
Hi Ashley
I’ve never been to Momotaro Ramen, but the other ramen-eaters I was with all pooh-poohed it saying that it wasn’t that great, and that Ramen Ya was better and more authentic. I might give it a go just to compare.
Jetsetting Joyce
I tried the tonkotsu chashu ramen at both places, and Momotaro just doesn’t compare. They may have been having an off night when I went (it WAS 37 degrees out) but the tonkotsu soup didn’t even taste like it was made by lovingly simmering pork bones for six hours (the way real tonkotsu is made, the way Ramen Ya make it) and their chashu lacked the essential fat.
Another recent contender – well, recent in my experience, it’s been around for a while – is Ito Noodle House, on the corner of Bourke St and Market Lane. No tonkotsu there – don’t be fooled by the tonkatsu ramen, another thing entirely – but the noodles themselves out-tooth(some) even Ramen Ya! I’ll have the blog post on that one up soon!
.-= Billy´s last blog ..Maria’s Trattoria =-.
Twitter: cloudcontrol
| February 17, 2010, 9:50 am
Hi Billy
That’s interesting, I went to Ito Noodle House a while ago and didn’t think much of it. I did get my ramen takeaway so maybe the noodles had been getting soggy on the cycle home. Maybe I’ll give it another go.
Jetsetting Joyce
The shoyu soup and the chashu weren’t much to write home about at Ito. But the noodle itself reminded me of Ichiban Boshi in Sydney. Satisfying, after two hours at the gym.
.-= Billy´s last blog ..Maria’s Trattoria =-.
Twitter: cloudcontrol
| February 17, 2010, 3:54 pm
You guys have to invite us to the next food bloggers meet, since we’re new to the game and all.
Love your work Joyce!
Twitter: alexlobov
| February 17, 2010, 3:43 pm
Hi Alex
No problems, will do. I think the next blogger meetup is another dumplings-making bash – if you’re interested tweet @cloudcontrol and @jeroxie to get details (as I won’t be able to go).
Jetsetting Joyce
Wow – the ramen on the 2nd pic looks delicious. we’ve got one of those joints in town too, but definitly doesn’t look as tasty as this
LOL to the classy guy with the bib
Can’t believe no one has mentioned they have happy hour M-F ~14:30-~17:30 hours.
$6.5 for a bowl of tonkotsu chashu ramen [or 3x for under @$20 if you're feeling particularly ambitious
is awesome bang for buck!]
Twitter: mrblack
| February 22, 2010, 2:28 pm
Hi Matt
Thanks for your comment – I had no idea about the happy hour, what a great deal! Maybe one day I’ll try it for a really late lunch or early dinner.
Jetsetting Joyce