Ramen Shop
A few steps from Porta Venezia stop there is a delightful and welcoming place that bears the name of Ramen Shop. Managed by really nice Chinese guys, this small restaurant has few seats and does not accept reservations: I therefore recommend that you show up a little before dinner time if you don't want to wait standing at the entrance, the line is always very long!
Ramen is the protagonist, ça va sans dire, but before going into the description of the exquisite soup I underline the discreet choice of Japanese dishes that you can opt for: numerous "rice specialties" (such as unagi don, oyakodon or katsudon) and the very tasty "small appetizers" (which in reality, in my opinion, are quite abundant), including takoyaki (good and burning, as per tradition), tori no karaage and above all the mythical bao (the Chinese version and original of nikuman, a soft steamed bun filled with meat). The latter is giant and delicious - you will truly take a trip to China with your senses!
The main dish is, instead, ramen, here declined in Japanese recipes very faithful to authentic recipes (tonkotsu, miso, shoyu, hiyashi chuka) and also some imaginative variations, such as sakana (based on fish), vegan (with vegetables , tofu and miso broth) and gyunku (with roast beef).
Among those on the menu I enjoyed vegan, very tasty and surprisingly rich, and shoyu, very savory. Both ramen are not fat at all but on the contrary, the broths are well balanced and easy to digest and therefore perfect for a rich dinner but without having to weigh yourself down. I also recommend you to add nitamago (which is not included with the soup), which completes the dish.
What is striking about this place and that really makes the difference compared to many others is the open counter where the noodles are pulled by hand at the moment in front of your eyes: no pre-cooked or packaged noodles, here it is made by hand as per tradition Chinese (ramen is in fact of Chinese origin and not Japanese). You will be enchanted by the skill of the cook and, once you have tasted the noodles, you will really feel the difference, both in taste and in texture. So great!
To complete the offer, some desserts (mochi, fried cassava or matcha tiramisu), Japanese or Chinese beers, saké and even soju.
My Ramen Shop experience was very positive. I absolutely recommend this place, even during the week for a quick meal, much more because the final price is negligible.
📍 Via Alessandro Tadino 13, Milan
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