usa :: new york :: general

[poly800rock]

While it's a bit apples-and-oranges, I still think Japanese ramen sucks in comparison to Vietnamese pho.

you really did need that disclaimer as both are serious business.

[coleslawyum]

Pho and Ramen truly are different. Ramen sometimes can get very heavy, and sometimes not. Pho, I think overall is a bit lighter in comparison. I think that Vietnamnese cooking is lighter in general too. This is only based on what I have eaten though.

[mizanation]

While it's a bit apples-and-oranges, I still think Japanese ramen sucks in comparison to Vietnamese pho.

that was a pretty ignorant comment.

[KING]

^ seriously,what a fucking idiot

and oh yeah whenever you go to a ramen joint and order ramen ask for kotteri

[mizanation]

KING, that's the secret technique. you can get a pretty good bowl of ramen from an average ramen place if you ask for kotteri.

[herpsky]

kotteri is too greasy

you should at least explain what kotteri is, at least

[KING]

ramen is usually made from boiling pork bones, preferably kurobuta pork. they have fat put aside(se-abura).thats why when you get the kotteri ramen there will be bits of fat that are melting.you ask yourself why the fuck would i want extra fat in my soup?it makes the soup richer,fuller flavored.

[prima]

and oh yeah whenever you go to a ramen joint and order ramen ask for kotteri

anybody know if they will do this at orochon ramen in jtown?

[DaBestSpoona]

There are so many varieties of ramen, it's kind of hard to compare it to pho. The pho I've had in the past few years are closer to Sul Loong Tang in terms of flavor.

[mizanation]

there are forms of shio (salt) ramen which are very, very light and subtle.

it is said in japan that as a child you love tonkotsu (thick pork broth). as an adult you love shoyou (soysauce broth), and as an old man, you love shio.

i still can't believe how ignorant that "ramen sucks compared to pho" comment was. you lost major asian points on that one dude. that's like saying japanese women suck compared to vietnamese women.

[DaBestSpoona]

I actually prefer a seafood\chicken based shio broth, but it's hard to come by in nyc.

Another new ramen spot, sort of. Tsukushi is supposed to have pretty good ramen, but it's offered at the end of the course as an extra.

[corporategrunt]

Ise on 49th btwn Lex and 3rd has 'niboshi ramen'...niboshi is small sardines. the soup is pretty good and it's a good change. but as an overall ramen, it needs lot of work.

If any of you are comfortable navigating through a Japanese websites (is that a given considering all the denim purchase from Japan?), check out the link below, it has rankings of ramen shops in different prefs. of Japan. looking at all the pics def made it clear that I am eating crap - must make plans to visit Japan soon...

http://www.walkerplus.com/ramen/sp/

[mizanation]

ise makes an ok ramen. haven't had their niboshi, but their tonkotsu is alright.

for koyui (heavy), koteri (thick) ramen, minca is on par with some places in japan.

[poly800rock]

There are so many varieties of ramen, it's kind of hard to compare it to pho. The pho I've had in the past few years are closer to Sul Loong Tang in terms of flavor.

to play devil's advocate, pho varies in different parts of the country as well. Northen Pho is MUCH different than Southern Pho, which is different that middle of the country. Most American variations of Pho are based on the Southern Pho, which is what I grew up on, so it's what most westerners know based solely on geography of dislplaced immigrants. But Northern Pho is good in it's own right as well. Both ramen and pho are artisan crafts in their own right. That's why I said after tony's comment, it's a good thing you made a disclaimer...because it really is apples and oranges.

that being said, the best place for tonkotsu (thick pork broth) ramen in NYC is?

[KING]

anybody know if they will do this at orochon ramen in jtown?

been to orochon they suck..go to daikokuya on 1st.chabuya in santan monica or santouka that just opened in santa monica

[KING]

there are forms of shio (salt) ramen which are very, very light and subtle.

it is said in japan that as a child you love tonkotsu (thick pork broth). as an adult you love shoyou (soysauce broth), and as an old man, you love shio.

i still can't believe how ignorant that "ramen sucks compared to pho" comment was. you lost major asian points on that one dude. that's like saying japanese women suck compared to vietnamese women.

yes, shio is very light and subtle and the stock is most likely taken from chicken bones.still nothing compares to a bowl from japan

[coleslawyum]

I think Ramen kicks Pho's ass hands down…

[mizanation]

been to orochon they suck..go to daikokuya on 1st.chabuya in santan monica or santouka that just opened in santa monica

SANTOUKA OPENED IN SANTA MONICA????????????????

WHY NOT NEW YORK??????????? WHY?????

[englandmj7]

SANTOUKA OPENED IN SANTA MONICA????????????????

WHY NOT NEW YORK??????????? WHY?????

Cause LA is better (not really........)

I will have to try this out when I am in LA in a few weeks. I have actually been pretty lucky here in the bay; we have some decent ramen places. This place by my house does a fantastic "Kuro" ramen, which to my knowledge, uses browned garlic as its base. Good stuff......

[corporategrunt]

Santouka is being brought into the states by Mitsuwa Mkt (maybe discount on the rent). Mitsuwa does own JasMart apparently - I wouldn't be entirely opposed to them getting rid of the lame cafe on the 1st floor on St.Marks and replacing it with Santouka. All this talk of that spot has really got me thinking about trekking out to NJ soon.

[Morningstar]

Looks like Tony Hige is causing some trouble with that Pho comment, heh.

Anyway, this discussion of these spots have got me interested in getting ramen. I've tried Ramen king once when it first opened up, but wasn't so impressed.

[mizanation]

there IS a $2 bus from port authority to mitsuwa... but just for ramen, it's kind of a trek, no?

it would be awesome if they had santouka in st. marks. i would sacrifice any of the crappy ramen spots, even cafes for santouka.

what would be great is if ippuudo opened up in nyc. but that's wishful thinking.

http://www.ippudo.com/index.html

[poly800rock]

I think Ramen kicks Pho's ass hands down…

while it is rule of thumb that everything japanese rules supreme on this board, you have no basis until you actually eat Pho in vietnam, it's a whole different game. THEY ARE APPLES AND ORANGES. I won't dismiss pho simply because I've recently fallen in love with ramen, as I've had plenty of good pho's that have beaten ramens. It's all personal preference....again, both are serious business.

[Ryan]

while it is rule of thumb that everything japanese rules supreme on this board, you have no basis until you actually eat Pho in vietnam, it's a whole different game. THEY ARE APPLES AND ORANGES. I won't dismiss pho simply because I've recently fallen in love with ramen, as I've had plenty of good pho's that have beaten ramens. It's all personal preference....again, both are serious business.

100% agree...

mizanation seems like your fit to have an aneurysm over this..i think you should go over to chowhound and vent

[mizanation]

i completely agree with poly, too.

cats are getting silly with blanket statements that diss a whole nation's culinary pride.

[DaBestSpoona]

there IS a $2 bus from port authority to mitsuwa... but just for ramen, it's kind of a trek, no?

it would be awesome if they had santouka in st. marks. i would sacrifice any of the crappy ramen spots, even cafes for santouka.

what would be great is if ippuudo opened up in nyc. but that's wishful thinking.

http://www.ippudo.com/index.html

It's only worth trekking up there from the bus when they have like a kyushu, hokkaido, osaka festival going on(check the nj mitsuwa site), when they bring ramen and streetfood vendors from those areas as well as sell fresh frozen food, ramen from famous restaurants. Go on the last day, usually sunday, thats when they mark down those bags of frozen ramen to a buck from 8. Other than that there isnt much to do or see around there, maybe play some golf at the driving range next door..

The bus ride is like an hour, only because it's through the lincoln tunnel, which itself is poorly designed. You have 4 lanes funneling into a 2 lane tunnel. It's actually a lot quicker to go uptown on the FDR to catch the GW bridge.

On my trip to mitsuwa last week, I noticed a lot of zip cars from ny there. I was like damn what's up with all these nissan versas, then I noticed the zip car logo on the window.

[mizanation]

man, i wish i could give you rep, spoona. maybe tomorrow.

[prima]

go to daikokuya on 1st.

ill give it a try this weekend. any recommendations?

[awwwwfuq]

I don't like Rei Rei Ken either.

Go to Momofuku's!!!

i agree. their pork bun and beef neck is incredible. oh yeah and teh momofuku ramen is superb. yummmm!!!!!

[peteyross]

i agree. their pork bun and beef neck is incredible. oh yeah and teh momofuku ramen is superb. yummmm!!!!!

Have you ever eaten real japanese ramen? Momofuku is not even close!