Shimizu Kitchen – Dine-in COVID-19 edition

November 6, 2020May 4, 2021 Hitting the SauceLeave a comment

After a long day at work, L told me he was craving tonkatsu. He wanted to try Shimizu Kitchen, which is located near our house. I’ve been reading good things about Shimizu’s ramen, so I was in. For this post, let’s listen to “A Hard Day’s Night” by The Beatles.

I recommend making reservations, as the restaurant only has a handful seats. By the time we left, every table was full. Shimizu was also busy with takeout orders. I was informed by our server that on the weekends, there is often a line-up outside the door.

The room is cozy, decorated with homemade signs and pictures of food. The overarching branches of the pink cherry blossom tree cover most of the ceiling. I saw an automated ramen contraption by the door, which is a common display outside restaurants in Tokyo.

L and I both ordered a bottle of Asahi ($6). L ordered the Tonkatsu Curry ($13.99) and I requested the Shimizu Miso Ramen ($12.99).

The deep-fried pork cutlets arrived still sizzling from the fryer. L had to wait a few minutes for the tonkatsu to cool before he could eat it. The pork itself was juicy, with a thin, crunchy batter. The spices in the curry was subtle and not as strongly flavoured as Redhead’s version. I thought the portion was generous for the price.

The broth in my ramen was so rich and heavy, with a nice smoky flavour. The broth was boiling hot, just the way I like it. When I pulled the noodles up with my chopsticks, I could see the broth coating each noodle.

The egg was cooked just right. The creamy yolk had the consistency of the centre of a Cadbury chocolate egg. The thick piece of pork was seared, salty and tender. The noodles were chewy and plentiful. Even the vegetables were stellar. The cabbage and sprouts tasted fresh and were crunchy and sweet. L thought my ramen was fantastic, particularly the complexity of the broth.

We received complementary ice cream for dessert. Despite feeling too full, I couldn’t resist polishing off the entire serving. Some people may find vanilla ice cream boring but I like the simple, milky sweetness.

I was chatting on Instagram with someone who knows the owners at Shimizu. She told me that the owners told her their little wooden spoons have grown legs and disappeared. Now they are trying to replace them but can’t because COVID-19 has changed their ability to buy supplies from Japan. For the love of small businesses, if you know of anyone that has taken these spoons, encourage them to bring it back. Wrap up the spoons and slip them in the mail slot in the morning or late evening. Maybe we can ask Crackmacs to retweet? This is what I would tweet out to Crackmacs, along with a picture of the missing spoons:

RT: MISSING RAMEN SPOONS IN GLENDALE! Help the owners of @shimizukitchen1 find their missing ramen spoons. These beloved spoons have miraculously grown legs and ran away. If you see any of these spoons in your kitchen, please return to Shimizu Kitchen, no questions asked. #yyc #yyceats @crackmacs

I’ll be back. The ramen is delightful and I’m interested to try the other noodle dishes. Our server told me he’s been obsessed with the owner’s newest offering – it was either tsukemen or mazemen. I couldn’t hear him properly through the mask, and he was busy so I didn’t want to ask him to repeat himself. Hitting the Sauce gives Shimizu Kitchen two fat thumbs up.

Cheap Eats · Japanese · New York · Restaurants

New York – Ivan Ramen

April 1, 2019April 1, 2019 Hitting the SauceLeave a comment

I told Beep Beep that for her birthday dinner, she could choose any Michelin star restaurant she fancied. Based on my friend Soup’s recommendation, I suggested Daniel. Beep Beep said she prefers value and wanted to dine at Ivan Orkin’s restaurant instead. We watched his episode on Chef’s Table twice before. For this post, let’s listen to something from Orkin’s music to slurp ramen to.

As we walked along Clinton St., Beep Beep observed the neighbourhood has a real fuck you attitude. I was about to ask her to elaborate when we overheard a guy say to his friend, “And then I was like – fuck you – you can’t do that.” One block later, I saw another indicator that residents don’t beat around the bush.

The restaurant itself was low key, packed with customers clearly happy to eat there. The decor is minimal and clean, with comic book like illustrations on the wall. Service was industrious, polite and attentive. I asked our server what beverage he would recommend with our meal. He said that nothing goes better with ramen than a cold beer. For something easy sipping and light, he suggested Jack’s Abby Post Shift Pilsner ($8).

Beep Beep and I started off with an order of the Curry Flower ($11). The cauliflower was still crisp, tossed in a light, buttery curry sauce. The bite size pieces were topped with bonito flakes, green onions, and crunchy pickled ginger.

I finished my beer and wanted to try a sake. I asked for something that was dry, smooth and fragrant. Our server recommended Miyuzakura Panda Cup (Junmai, $14). Bonus, it’s like getting two drinks for the price of one! Look at the size of the tumbler.

Beep Beep ordered Chicken Paitan with an egg ($22). I ordered the Triple Pork Triple Garlic Mazemen, plus an egg ($18). I wanted to try the mazemen because my brother Narc is a huge fan of Strictly Dumpling, who recommended the brothless ramen. Maybe Strictly Dumpling should stick to critiquing dumplings, because I much preferred Beep Beep’s paitan over the mazemen.

Paitan means white and creamy soup. The generous portion of noodles were chewy and had a great mouth feel to it. The chicken broth was rich tasting but light on the tongue. The flavours were soft and unique but still familiar. The broth reminded me of Thanksgiving, but with more intense, lingering flavours. I’d order this the next time I visit.

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I told Beep Beep to pull the noodles up with her chopsticks so I could take a food shot. She didn’t understand until I showed her by pulling my noodles high above the bowl. I learn this trick from the young kids I hang with at my office.

The pork in my bowl was tender. The noodles were springy and thick, coated in a salty sauce that reminded me of smoked oysters. The egg was so creamy it could pass as a dessert. Tasty, but the chicken paitan was more unique and satisfying to eat. There was something addicting and unexpected in that chicken broth. It’s been a week since I ate there and I’m still thinking about the paitan.

The episodes I enjoyed most on Chef’s Table are the ones that I can afford to eat at. Ivan Ramen was the real deal for me and I had zero guilt when I paid off my credit card last week. Next up, Beep Beep and I ended her birthday festivities at Bar 54 – the tallest rooftop bar in Manhattan.

Happy Hour · Japanese · Restaurants

Ikemen Ramen Bar

December 30, 2018January 4, 2019 Hitting the SauceLeave a comment

L and I finished our grocery shopping when he announced he wanted to go out for lunch. In November, I won a $25 gift certificate to Ikemen Ramen Bar , so I figured we might as well use it. For this post, let’s listen to something groovy and relaxing, similar to Ikemen’s playlist.

The restaurant is bigger than it appears by its storefront. The room is spacious and stylish. I like the large chalkboard wall of specials, the cool stools and the colour scheme.

Unlike some ramen places, at Ikemen you can make reservations via Opentable and book a table for larger groups. Convenient and a plus for those who detest waiting in line.

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I like the addition of kale. Non-traditional but I thought the hearty greens worked well with the salty broth and generous amount of meat. The noodles were chewy and plentiful. The portion was so big I didn’t finish all my ramen. L was shocked. A first for me.

The char siu (pork) was the highlight. The pork was cooked well – succulent and the leaner cuts fell apart easily when you bit into it. There was one piece of meat that was quite fatty and tougher to chew. We like the proportion of meat to noodle, a ratio of about 1 to 4.

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L thought all the ingredients in his miso ramen worked well together. The free range egg was interesting in that the egg white was wobbly and seemed less cooked than the yolk, which was in a semi liquid state. The broth wasn’t as hot as we would like. I think if the broth was served at a higher temperature, the egg would have been easier to pick up with my chopsticks.

When our bill arrived, I told our server that I had won a gift certificate. When I went to the counter to pick up my card, I spoke to the person in charge. I remembered that Asian Persuasion informed me that Ikemen hired the ramen chef from Ichi Rock. I inquired and was told that information was false. Glad I didn’t leak that gossip on Reddit. I learned my lesson the first time with Office Dad.

Ikemen is an ideal restaurant to meet up with old friends over a leisurely meal in the heart of Kensington. Service was excellent during our visit. Our server (guy with blondish hair) was attentive and thoughtful. We didn’t feel rushed out and we enjoyed the relaxing ambience and filling meal of ramen.

Japanese · Restaurants · Tokyo

Tokyo Eats – Ichiran Ramen

June 5, 2018April 8, 2021 Hitting the SauceLeave a comment

I chatted with Bubbles and Ramen Girl about their experience at Ichiran, a well-known ramen chain in Tokyo. Ramen Girl said it was so good, it beats the soba place I recommended to them. I’ve wanted to try Ichiran last year, but I couldn’t figure out where it was located. Bubbles and Ramen Girl allowed me to let tag along for lunch the next day. Lately, I’ve been into angry tunes. For this post, let’s listen to “Fuck You” by Lily Allen.

Bubbles put the address in Google Maps and off we went! Past the seedy part of Ikebukuro and up and over a bridge. It’s a 12 minute walk from our hotel. On the way over to Ichiran, I pointed out my favourite cheap conveyor belt sushi restaurant. They both tried it a couple of days later and loved the food.

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Ichiran is open 24 hours and specializes in private seating. The individual booths are designed for customers to sit and savour the full-bodied tonkatsu broth. In a note posted near my seat, Ichiran states that solitude allows for greater enjoyment. I don’t know if I buy into this theory. I could be sitting in a dumpster next to every single person in the world that has ever offended me I would still enjoy this ramen.

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I ordered my ramen at the vending machine at the entrance. I ordered the regular size tonkatsu ramen (1, 020 Yen) with a boiled egg (130 Yen). If you have a moderate or ‘Western appetite’, I would recommend getting a large size. I gave my ticket to an employee and she led me to a private cubicle with a piece of paper on the table. I checked off my preferences and then pressed the service button for an employee to pick up my order. After a few minutes, a different employee opened up my cubicle window, placed my plate of food in front of me and bowed.

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The broth is made from pig bones. The rich, fragrant smell hit me the moment my bowl arrived. The broth was served boiling hot, which I prefer as the fat doesn’t stick to the ramen as much when you slurp the noodles up into your mouth. The intense velvety flavours were tantalizing.

The red sauce in the center of my bowl is a blend of 30 different spices. Just awesome – the chili sauce had a heat that lingered on my tongue. I requested my freshly made noodles to be cooked to a medium and it was just how I like it – there was still a bite to it but the texture was smooth and silky. I also requested my egg cooked to a medium and I received a soft, gooey yolk. I was so excited my hands shook as I cracked the shell open. I was so eager I tore a bit of the egg white. Ramen Girl raved about the pork slices but I didn’t really think it stood out in comparison to the broth.

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My ramen was so delicious I ordered a small refill (130 Yen) and another egg (130 Yen). I ordered my noodles cooked to firm and it was too hard for me, possibly because my broth had cooled by that time. Ichiran states that it takes 10 minutes to eat ramen and recommends that you order your refill when you’re halfway done your meal. When I return next year, I’ll order a large ramen with two eggs rather than a refill so the noodles and egg are cooked properly in the broth.

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This whole meal set me back about 1, 400 Yen. I only went to Ichiran once on this trip because I have a bottomless stomach and ramen is so high in calories. Hitting the Sauce gives Ichiran two fat thumbs up. I’ll be back in 2019.

Comfort food · Japanese · Restaurants

Ramen Ichinen

February 28, 2018October 11, 2021 Hitting the SauceLeave a comment

I’ve been meaning to try Ramen Ichinen ever sinced it opened in November of 2016. Since L and I were shopping in the hood, we stopped by for lunch. I called beforehand to make sure they weren’t sold out of ramen. The person who answered the phone was cheery and helpful. She warned me if I were to come in the next hour, we would likely have to wait a little for a table. Excellent receptionist service always wants me to visit a restaurant. For this post, let’s listen to Donna Summer’s “Hot Stuff(ed)”.

For an additional two dollars at lunch you can add chicken karaage (fried chicken) or cha shu (BBQ pork) bowl, goma ae (cold spinach salad with peanut dressing) or edaname. For three bucks, you can get a seared bonito (fish) bowl or a large portion noodles no extra charge. We opted for a karrage bowl.

Chicken Karaage

When our bowls hit the table, the aroma of the food wafted up. The chicken was hot and crispy. The taste of the nori (seaweed) was prominent. I could detect mirin and the green onions must have been just sliced, because the flavour was intense. The rice was nice – each grain was firm and separate.

Ramen Bowls

We both ordered the Tonkatsu Red Ramen ($15). I’m glad I didn’t just order the tonkatsu ramen because the spicy red miso gave the broth a much-desired kick. The broth was heavy and rich.

Thick Noodle

I ordered thick noodles while L ordered thin. Both our noodles were al dente. We preferred the thick noodles as it provided a satisfying chew and brought out the flavours of the broth. I know die-hard ramen fans prefer thin noodles.

Thin Noodle

The simmered egg was nicely cooked, still soft and creamy in the middle. The yolk just melted in your mouth.

Egg

The pork had a lovely roasted flavour. The meat was tender and thickly sliced. The portion was very generous. The ratio of meat to noodles was almost 1:3. Next time I’ll order the lean pork because of the large amount provided.

Halfway through the meal I asked for extra noodles ($2.00). Big mistake. By the end of the meal I felt stuffed. On the ride home, the sunlight streaming through the windows warmed my face, making me very sleepy. When I came home I took a two-hour nap. I woke up feeling groggy and disgusting. However, my gluttony is not Ramen Ichinen’s fault. L and I both agree, this is the best ramen we’ve tried in Calgary. Hitting the Sauce gives Ramen Ichinen two fat thumbs up and it makes it on her list of favourite restaurants in Cowtown.

Cheap Eats · Japanese · Restaurants · Vancouver/Richmond

Vancouver – Jinya Ramen

January 6, 2018May 22, 2021 Hitting the SauceLeave a comment

Beep Beep and I made plans for dinner. I picked Guu on Thurlow. After a couple of drinks, her partner Mars said Guu was too far away and it would be difficult to find parking. He said he would prefer to go somewhere closer. He added that he and Beep Beep eat there so often, he would rather go somewhere else. I’m easy going! I don’t care what we eat and I give so little thought into where we eat, I cancelled our reservations. Easy peasy. Instead, I suggested Jinya. Jinya doesn’t take reservations but it’s about five minutes from Beep Beep’s house. For this post let’s listen to Sheryl Crow “If It Makes You Happy”.

We arrived around 5:30 p.m. but the restaurant was full. We ordered beers at Bean Brothers and waited until about 6:00 p.m. When we got our table, the first thing Mars did was order their baby Me Ah a Kid’s Meal ($11.99).

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L ordered the Sprouting Up Ramen ($13) and I ordered the Spicy Tonkatsu with an egg ($14). I don’t remember what Beep Beep or Mars ordered. L’s ramen was better than mine. I preferred the flavor of his chicken and pork broth over my spicy pork broth.

The ramen at this location is far superior to the Calgary location and I don’t understand why, as the food should taste the same. The broth here is served steaming hot. The ingredients seem more generous and flavorful. I liked the thick noodles so much I ordered another serving. I chose the thin noodles to see what it was like compared to the thick version. I prefer the chew and the flavor of the broth that the thicker noodles take on.

The kitchen was bustling away getting all the orders out. Me Ah’s ramen came out at the very end of the meal after Mars had to ask for it (twice). They also forgot her vanilla ice cream. Not a big deal at all.

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The food is affordable and though the wait for some of it was longer than anticipated, what came out was well done. Hitting the Sauce gives Jinya two fat thumbs up.

Comfort food · Japanese

Jinya – Ramen Time

January 23, 2017February 2, 2019 Hitting the SauceLeave a comment

I was pumped when I found out Jinya was opening up in Calgary. To date, the best bowl of ramen I ever ate was at Jinya in Kerrisdale, Vancouver. Asian Persuasion and What’s Up Hamsup and I arrived ten minutes to 11:00 a.m. The restaurant opens at 11:00 a.m., so we had to wait outside until it officially opened.

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I like the interior of the restaurant. It’s a hip space. The prices are reasonable too. I did get the sense that this is not the place to sit and linger. I could feel our server’s urgency for us order and to leave after we finished our meal. If I was a customer waiting in for a table, I would absolutely support Jinya’s efficiency. We ordered a couple of appetizers before Asian Persuasion’s friend arrived.

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The fried chicken ($6.00) was tasty. The batter was light and crackled on your tongue. The sour note of the ponzu sauce and the taste of the pepper seasoning was noticeable. The size of the pieces was more than decent for the price. However, best fried chicken in #yyc still goes to Shokunin.

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We each ordered a Jinya Bun ($4.50). The steam bun was soft like a marshmallow. The slow braised pork was tender and fatty. I liked the addition of Japanese mayo and Jinya’s special sauce.

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When Asian Persuasion’s best friend Son showed up, we ordered our ramen. I noticed his necklace because it was jade and a buddha. My parents also have a penchant for jade.

Son has the same birthday as me and he mentioned to Asian Persuasion that he found the perfect gift for her to buy for him.

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He wanted a diamond encrusted buddha. Damn, that’s some Chinese bling! The only thing that would make that piece even flashier is if there were diamonds in his belly button and grill.

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Back to the food, cuz this ain’t the shopping channel. We all ordered the same thing – the Chef’s special, Tokyo Tonkotsu Ramen ($13.25). I was pleased how relatively quickly our bowls of came out.

Look at all these goodies! I received two fatty pieces of pork, a whole egg, green onions, kikurage and onions. The amount of ingredients in this bowl was generous and filling.

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The thin noodles were firm, just the way I like it. The egg was creamy and poured out into the broth like thick lava. The pork practically melted on your tongue. The broth was thick, rich, and heavy. Too heavy, it was actually greasy. I think because the broth was served lukewarm. If the broth was hotter, the fat in the broth wouldn’t cling onto your tongue. I tried not to drink too much of the broth.

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Jinya would be a fun place to check out late at night. I plan to bring L here for dinner. The prices for booze is downright cheap. $5.00 for beer (Big Rock, Village Wit, Lazy Mutt Alberta Red Ale) and red and white wine (Oyster Bay Merlot/Chardonnay).

Welcome to Calgary Jinya!

Japanese

Umami Noodle Bar

November 10, 2016November 10, 2016 Hitting the Sauce1 Comment

After watching the results of the USA 2016 election, I felt pretty bummed out. I dragged my sorry ass to work, humming R.E.M’s It’s The End of the World. To snap out of my mood, I asked Asian Persuasion, Office Dad and What’s up Hamsup if they wanted to go out for something soul satisfying. I had already brought my lunch, but I have a habit of eating out when I’m having a bad day. Asian Persuasion suggested Umami Noodle Bar because it wouldn’t be too busy and the ramen was good.

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There were only two tables of three customers when we arrived. However, my ramen took 35 minutes to arrive while Office Dad and What’s up Hamsup had to wait 40 + minutes. I was peeved that I came back to work so late. Let’s just say trotting into the office after an extended lunch doesn’t win you any brownie points with my boss.

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Was the food worth the wait? The Tonkotsu Spicy Ramen ($12.50 plus $1.00 for the soy sauce egg) was tasty. I didn’t like the spicy red sauce as it tasted a bit harsh to me, like Korean hot sauce. The noodles were skinny and not overcooked. That soy egg was marvellous. The creamy orange egg yolk had a subtle amount of salty goodness. The pork belly was the best part of the bowl, the fatty edges were beautifully seared, the leaner bits melted on your tongue.

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I ordered the cha shu Don ($3.50), which was worth the calories. The cha shu (BBQ pork) was finely cubed, sprinkled all over the rice, topped with Japanese mayo, a sweet brown sauce, red tobiko, and green onions. Savoury, sweet, and creamy all at once.

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What’s up Hamsup’s ordered the Tan Tanmen ($13). The peanut broth was fragrant and nutty. I preferred his broth over mine. If we return, Asian Persuasion and I would both order the Tan Tanmen ramen.

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Office Dad thought the broth of his Tom Yum broth ($13.50) ramen lacked flavour. He said the seafood was okay. He ordered the pork and beef curry don ($4.00) and he said there was barely any meat. What’s up Hamsup concurred, but Asian Persuasion said she liked taste of the curry, which reminded her of Redheads Cafe.

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My favourite place for ramen is Jinya in Vancouver. In Calgary, I’ve tried Muku, Shokunin, Shikiji Japanese Noodles & Sushi, Redheads (which is the best of the bunch for the price). I’ll have to give Ramen Ichinen, Shiki Menya, Ikemen Ramen Bar, and Gagana Ramen a chance before I give my vote on best ramen in Calgary.

Beer · Japanese · Seafood

Seattle – Late Night at Tsukushinbo

August 31, 2016February 2, 2019 Hitting the SauceLeave a comment

Beep Beep and I arrived at the WorldMark Seattle at the Camlin. Beep Beep’s step-mother has a time share there and she gave us the penthouse for the weekend. We valeted Beep Beep’s car and hopped inside to check-in. That’s when the timeshare salesman pounced on us. After half an hour of hearing him talk nonstop about coupons and an Amex gift card for $150 if we attend a meeting (but don’t tell anyone because I’m just giving YOU a special deal), we finally got away to eat dinner. I picked Tsukushinbo based on the numerous and positive reviews on Yelp.

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The front of the restaurant is nondescript. Blink and you’ll miss it. The restaurant was busy and our server was attentive but she looked exhausted. From what I could see, she was the main server for the entire restaurant.

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The miso soup was thick, cloudy, rich and salty. There was lots of seaweed and slivers of green onions.

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We received a complimentary dish of edamame. These lightly salted, slightly warm pods weren’t the cheap frozen ones you get at T&T. The boiled soy beans were sweet. You know when the free stuff taste this good, the food is going to be fantastic.

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Beep Beep is pregnant and she can’t eat raw fish, oysters, and soft cheeses. She also won’t drink any booze, not even a sip. However, since she was craving sushi, I ordered her an ebi onigiri ($5). For her main, she wanted cold noodles ($12.99). I opted for the chirashi ($25).

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Not the prettiest onigiri I’ve seen, but it is one of the most delicious I’ve tried. The tempura crumbs were crunchy and light, and that soy soaked sauce over the perfect rice was mouth-watering. I didn’t try her cold noodles, but she said it was refreshing and yummy. Our server told us that her dish were one of the most popular items at the restaurant.

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My bowl of chirashi was worth every American dollar. The rice had a strong vinegar taste. The presentation and the cut of the fish wasn’t best, but the freshness was incredible. Each piece of fish tasted better than I can get in Vancouver. The eel and snapper, normally my least favourite, were the best. In the past, I found eel has an almost dirt like taste. At Tsukushinbo, you can taste the charcoal essence, the crispy skin and the sweet glaze. I thought the snapper had great texture. This chirashi was without a doubt one of the best versions I’ve tried.

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I was starving when I got to Tsukushinbo but when I left I was uncomfortably full. We both would have loved to just return here night after night, but we wanted to see what else the city had to offer. Hitting the Sauce gives Tsukushinbo two fat thumbs up.

Japanese

Daruma

July 7, 2016July 8, 2016 Hitting the SauceLeave a comment

Asian Persuasion, Sun, What’s Up Hamsup and I made plans to check out Shokunin for ramen. I made reservations the day prior for lunch. What’s Up Hamsup dropped us off right at the front of the restaurant and then drove off to look for parking. However, when we walked up to the door, we saw that Shokunin was closed to prepare for a function that night.

Asian Persuasion called What’s Up Hamsup to tell him that we had to find an alternative restaurant. He parked his SUV at the end of the street. The three of us ran to his car. Asian Persuasion said that this was likely the first and only time What’s Up Hamsup would have women running to him rather than sprinting away. I told him what Asian Persuasion said and he responded, “That was the most pathetic attempt of ‘running’ I have ever seen. You chicks need to learn how to run.” What’s Up Hamsup does pretty well with the ladies, so jokes about his prowess don’t bug him.

We drove around and around because What’s Up Hamsup was craving ramen. He had eaten at Shokunin the weekend before and said thought it was the best traditional ramen in Calgary. I mentioned Redheads, but instead, What’s Up Hamsup drove over to Shiki Menya. The line-up was too long and at this point, I was feeling the time crunch. We already wasted 30 minutes driving to Shokunin and then to Shiki Menya. In a hurry to get back to work, I suggested Daruma which is a couple of minutes away from Shiki Menya.

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Asian Persuasion and I ordered the miso ramen ($9.50). Sun and What’s Up Hamsup ordered bento boxes ($11.50). The egg in the ramen wasn’t warm. It was pre-cooked and then added to the broth. The noodles were cooked al dente. The broth was tastier the more you drank it. I liked the addition of the sweet corn niblets.

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Sun and What’s Up Hamsup didn’t have much too much to say about the bento boxes. They were both full and didn’t eat all the food. I did notice was that the other customers at the restaurant complimented the chef on the way out.

The next food adventure? I want to take the office family to Pure Contemporary Vietnamese. We have a Stampede event coming up that includes a buffet lunch. I plan to skip the buffet and then head over to Pure for happy hour eats.