Hawaii Ramen Quest – Part II

Part I |  Part II  | Part III | Part IV | Part V

We continue the slurp fest this month with a variety of ramen from Ramen Nakamura, Gomaichi, Goma Tei, Menchanko Tei, and Shokudo. Hungry? We go!

The last time I went to Ramen Nakamura was the day after I got hitched (in 2008). Since we had the hotel room for an additional day, we thought we'd play tourist and walk around to grab a bite to eat.

Ramen Nakamura sign

Ramen Nakamura has been a popular ramen-ya in Waikiki for years. They are known mostly for their Hakata style ramen and their Oxtail Ramen. I got the Oxtail Ramen Combo.

Oxtail Ramen Combo (Shio flavor, small fried rice, 3 pcs gyoza) – $17.20

Not exactly cheap, but what the hey, we were on pseudo vacation. 😉

Wifey got the Hakata Tonkotsu Ramen.

Hakata Tonkotsu Ramen はかたとんこつラーメン – $8.70

Ramen Nakamura ラーメンなかむら
2141 Kalakaua Ave, Suite 1
Honolulu, HI 96815 (map)
(808) 922-7960
Mon-Sun: 11am-11:30pm

For some reason, a lot of people I talk to seem to be crazy about these next two places: Gomaichi and Goma Tei. Don't get me wrong, I think they are both OK, but am not sure if the fanatical nature of their enthusiasm is quite justified IMO.

As the story goes for many of these restaurants with strikingly similar recipes (RE: Boulevard/Dillingham Saimin & Tanaka Saimin, Shige's Saimin & Nakai Saimin, and Genki Ramen & Ramen-Ya), there was a rift between the owners that caused one owner to spin off and create Goma Tei. We'll start with the original: Gomaichi.

One night before heading to the club (yes, it was THAT long ago! 😛 ), we decided that we'd grab a quick bite to eat at Gomaichi (on Keeaumoku). We got the popular Tan Tan Men (of course) as well as the Wakame Tan Tan Men.

Tan Tan Men from Gomaichi たんたんメン – $7.40

Close-up of the Tan Tan Men

Wakame Tan Tan Men (seaweed & half hard boiled egg) わかめたんたんメン – $7.40

Gomaichi Ramen ごまいちラーメン
631 Keeaumoku St
Honolulu, HI 96814 (map)
(808) 951-6666
Mon-Sat: 11am-2pm
Mon-Sat: 5:30pm-9pm

And because I'm such a thorough (and investigative) journalist, I ordered the exact same thing from their Goma Tei counterpart: the Tan Tan and the Wakame. That, or we just always crave the same thing! 😉

Tan Tan Ramen from Goma Tei たんたんラーメン (served with Japanese style char siu and vegetable garnishes) – $8.18

Wakame Tan Tan Ramen わかめたんたんラーメン (served with wakame, shoyu egg and vegetable garnishes) – $8.48

We also picked up their specialty side dish, the Ban Ban Ji Chicken (which you will also find at Gomaichi).

Ban Ban Ji Chicken (Slices of chicken breast, cooked in a sake scallion and ginger broth then chilled in ice. Served on a bed of thinly sliced cucumber, chilled with a slightly spicy and tangy sesame sauce) バンバンジチキン – $7.48

Goma Tei currently has two locations: one in Ward Center (1st floor near the old Borders), and the other at Ala Moana Center (1st floor in between GNC and ABC Store). These photos were taken at the Ward Center location.

Goma Tei Ramen (Ward Center)
1200 Ala Moana Blvd
Honolulu, HI 96814 (map)
(808) 591-9188
Mon-Thu: 11am-9:30pm
Fri-Sat: 11am-10pm
Sun: 11am-9pm

Goma Tei Ramen (Ala Moana Center)
1450 Ala Moana Blvd
Honolulu, HI 96814 (map)
(808) 947-9188
Mon-Thu: 11am-9:30pm
Fri-Sat: 11am-10pm
Sun: 11am-8:30pm

A friend recommended we check out this next place. It had all the makings of an authentic Japanese ramen experience:

• in Waikiki
• menu written in Japanese
• Hakata style ramen

Wifey outside Menchanko-Tei

Unfortunately, Menchanko-Tei in the Waikiki Trade Center did not deliver. I'm hoping that it was just an off night though and am willing to go back for another try. Here's what we had that night.

Hakata Pork Broth Ramen 本場博多とんこつらーめん – $8.95

Seafood Menchanko 海の幸めんちゃんこ – $15.95

Menchanko-Tei
Waikiki Trade Center
2255 Kuhio Ave, Suite S
Honolulu, HI 96815 (map)
(808) 924-8366
Daily 11am-11:30pm

And finally… we end with another Ramen "event" that recently occurred, this time from Shokudo Japanese Restaurant (See my review on Shokudo). Like the "Best of Japan: Ramen & Gyoza Festival" event I featured last month from Shirokiya's Yataimura, Shokudo held a similar event over a four day period, dubbed the "Ultimate Ramen Battle", where only 300 bowls of ramen were made available per day at $10 each. The days and hours were a bit strange (if you blinked, you missed it), but I was able to get to the one I wanted to: Day 2's Ultimate Ramen "Goku" from Japan's Chef Hide Kawahara (on 10/18/11).

The Ultimate Ramen "Goku" from Japan's Chef Hide Kawahara – $10

It was served with a spoonful of sizzling sesame seed oil that made the green onions on top snap, crackle and pop. +1 for style points. LOL! And although the local style noodles didn't match that well, the tonkotsu broth was off the chain! I would go as far as to say that it might even be the best base I've tasted in Hawaii so far. It's a shame they won't be serving it again. 😦

Rick Nakama (@RickNakama) tweeting his bowl

Side Note: Although the original invitation called this the Ultimate Ramen "Goku" from Japan's Chef Hide Kawahara, the voting ballot when we got there said it was the Sizzling Tonkotsu Ramen "Goku" from Japan's Chef Yusuke Kawahara FYI.

Day 1 (10/17/11) featured the Premium "Tsukemen" from Japan's Chef Hiroshi Shigematsu, which social media extraordinaire Melissa Chang (@Melissa808) was able to experience.

Premium "Tsukemen" from Japan's Chef Hiroshi Shigematsu [Photo Credit: Melissa Chang – NonstopHonolulu.com]

Day 3 (10/19/11) was the Okinawa So-Ki Soba from Izakaya Naru's Chef Hiro Akiyama. Here's Brandon Suyeoka's (@WeHeartHawaii) shot from that day.

Okinawa So-Ki Soba from Izakaya Naru's Chef Hiro Akiyama [Photo Credit: Brandon Suyeoka]

Shokudo closed out the battle on Day 4 (10/20/11) with the DaKine Curry Miso Ramen from Shokudo's own Chef Hiro Hosoda. Here's @StarletShay's photo from that day.

DaKine Curry Miso Ramen from Shokudo's own Chef Hiro Hosoda [Photo Credit: @StarletShay]

I didn't see any kind of announcement as to who the winner was, but a quick call in to Shokudo told me that Day 3's Okinawa So-Ki Soba from Izakaya Naru's Chef Hiro Akiyama was the ramen that came out on top. Lucky Brandon!

Incidentally, on normal days, Shokudo serves three different types of ramen for $9.95 each: The Spicy Miso Ramen (Ramen noodles served in spicy miso paste broth topped with seasoned pork and Chinese chives), the Tokyo Shoyu Ramen (Ramen noodles served in shoyu broth topped with charsiu, bamboo shoots, onions , and half a hard boiled egg) and the Ox Tail Ramen (Ox tail and assorted vegetables are braised more than 6 hours in house. Ramen noodles are added in for the ultimate comfort food).

Ox Tail Ramen オックステールラーメン (Ox tail and assorted vegetables are braised more than 6 hours in house. Ramen noodles are added in for the ultimate comfort food) – $9.95

Shokudo Japanese Restaurant & Bar
Ala Moana Pacific Center
1585 Kapiolani Blvd
Honolulu, HI 96814
(808) 941-3701
Mon-Thu & Sun 11:30am-1am
Fri-Sat: 11:30am-2am
Twitter: @Shokudo

Wow, two parts already in the books! This series seems to be flying by too quickly! Don't let it ennnnd! 😛

Nah, no worries, I've still got lots of ramen for y'all from Kanpai Bar & Grill, Mr. Ojisan, Yakitori Yoshi, Aiea Bowl, Chinpei, Taiyo, Sumo, Rai Rai, Ichiben, Genki, Ton Ton, Nishi Mon Cho, Ramen-Ya, Ezogiku and Kiwami Ramen!

If you have any other suggestions, post them in the comment area below or send them using the form on the right. Thanks a bunch!

Part I |  Part II  | Part III | Part IV | Part V

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Where In Hawaii is Edward Sugimoto? – May 6, 2009

A-ight peeps. Returning to tha scenics this week with dis one. As usual, I’m pretty sure it’ll be an easy one for all y’all, but we shall see eh? Last week, k15 came out of lurksville and correctly guessed Shige’s. Mad props also to Syxx and MakiSushi for their investigative work on Google. LOL! Gotta figgah out a way to outsmart ya! Please help me welcome and congratulate k15, and don’t forget to send some love to Syxx and MakiSushi as well!

Hurrrr we gooooo!

Where In Hawaii is Edward Sugimoto? – May 6, 2009

Hint: It’s on the tip of your tongue, I just know it! 8) 

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Da “Where In Hawaii” Winnahz Circle!

• Where In Hawaii Is Edward Sugimoto – April 29, 2009: k15 (Shige’s Saimin Stand, Wahiawa, HI)
• Where In Hawaii Is Edward Sugimoto – April 22, 2009: getITon (Curry House Coco Ichibanya, Honolulu)
• Where In Hawaii Is Edward Sugimoto – April 15, 2009: Kage (Frank C. Judd Park on the corner of Kapiolani Boulevard and McCully Street, Honolulu)
• Where In Hawaii Is Edward Sugimoto – April 8, 2009: NeedaHobby (Honolulu International Airport, Honolulu)
• Where In Hawaii Is Edward Sugimoto – April 1, 2009: miLL-viLLe (Spaghetti Factory, Honolulu)
• Where In Hawaii Is Edward Sugimoto – March 25, 2009: snow (Zippy’s Restaurant, Honolulu)
• Where In Hawaii Is Edward Sugimoto – March 18, 2009: Takeshi (Little Seoul Korean Restaurant, Honolulu)
• Where In Hawaii Is Edward Sugimoto – March 11, 2009: jack (Mai Tai Bar, Honolulu)
• Where In Hawaii Is Edward Sugimoto – March 4, 2009: frankie (Coffee or Tea, Honolulu)
• Where In Hawaii Is Edward Sugimoto – February 25, 2009: skycastles (California Pizza Kitchen, Honolulu)
• Where In Hawaii Is Edward Sugimoto – February 18, 2009: Ynaku (Shokudo Restaurant, Honolulu)
• Where In Hawaii Is Edward Sugimoto – February 11, 2009: Paco (Mililani Restaurant, Mililani)
• Where In Hawaii Vegas Is Edward Sugimoto – February 4, 2009: Takeshi (Garden Court at the Main Street Station Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada)
• Where In Hawaii Is Edward Sugimoto – January 28, 2009: Coconut Willy (Princeville Resort, Princeville, Kauai)
• Where In Hawaii Is Edward Sugimoto – January 21, 2009: Paco (Taiyo Ramen, Honolulu)
• Where In Hawaii Is Edward Sugimoto – January 14, 2009: Paco (Spaghettini, Haleiwa)
• Where In Hawaii Is Edward Sugimoto – January 7, 2009: Coconut Willy (Island Snow, Kailua)
• Where In Hawaii Japan Is Edward Sugimoto – December 17, 2008: Rodney (Kiyomizu Temple in Kyoto)
• Where In Hawaii Is Edward Sugimoto – December 10, 2008: HNL2LAS (International Marketplace)
• Where In Hawaii Is Edward Sugimoto – November 19, 2008: Coconut Willy with credit to che for the hints (Lanikuhonua)
• Where In Hawaii Is Edward Sugimoto – November 12, 2008: snow (Duke Kahanamoku Statue, Waikiki)
• Where In Hawaii Is Edward Sugimoto – November 5, 2008: snow (Big Kahuna’s Marketplace in the Waikiki Shopping Plaza)
• Where In Hawaii Is Edward Sugimoto – October 29, 2008: jr. (Waiola Store)
• Where In Hawaii Is Edward Sugimoto – October 22, 2008: Coconut Willy (Gina’s Bar-B-Q)
• Where In Hawaii Is Edward Sugimoto – October 15, 2008: HNL2LAS (Jurison’s Inn)
• Where In Hawaii Is Edward Sugimoto – October 8, 2008: jr. (Makapu`u Lighthouse Trail)
• Where In Hawaii Is Edward Sugimoto – October 1, 2008: HNL2LAS (Dole Plantation)
• Where In Hawaii Is Edward Sugimoto – September 24, 2008: teej (M Matsumoto Grocery Store or Matsumoto’s Shave Ice Sign)
• Where In Hawaii Is Edward Sugimoto – September 17, 2008: M (Tree Tunnel on Highway 520 (Maluhia Road) in Kauai)
• Where In Hawaii Is Edward Sugimoto – September 10, 2008: snow (Tasaka Guri Guri, Maui)
• Where In Hawaii Is Edward Sugimoto – September 3, 2008: M with props to Rodney (Laie Point State Wayside)
• Where In Hawaii Is Edward Sugimoto – August 27, 2008: nobody!, but dsosa was close (Camp Erdman)
• Where In Hawaii Is Edward Sugimoto – August 20, 2008: BarbieQ! (Old Koloa Town)
• Where In Hawaii Is Edward Sugimoto – August 6, 2008: kako mochi (Kincaid’s)
• Where In Hawaii Is Edward Sugimoto – July 30, 2008: ijiwarui (Dave & Buster’s)
• Where In Hawaii Is Edward Sugimoto – July 23, 2008: MoOgooGuypAN and Coconut Willy’s wifey (La Pietra Hawaii School for Girls)
• Where In Hawaii Is Edward Sugimoto – June 27, 2008: GumbysHorse (White Plains Beach, Barber’s Point)
• Where In Hawaii Is Edward Sugimoto – May 19, 2008: nobody! (the mall fronting Kekaulike Market in Chinatown)
• Where In Hawaii Is Edward Sugimoto – May 7, 2008: nobody!, but 1dble was pretty dang close (Ward area, more specifically, right in front of the Starbucks/Big City Diner area)

Ed’s pick for Catchy-Tune-of-the-moment: Eminem’s “We Made You” (NSFW)

Happy Hump Day Where In Hawaii Wednesday y’all. 🙂 Shooooots!

The Best Local Style Saimin? Shige’s Fo’ Shizzle!

With the rarefied (cold) air we’ve been facing these last few months, I thought now was as good a time as any to feature one of my favorite local style saimin spots to help keep us warm…

All my life, I grew up a townie. Living in the Salt Lake, Pensacola, Punahou, Kahala and Hawaii Kai areas, I was spoiled by the sun and all its glory. With parks and beaches always just minutes away, cold weather was as foreign to me as mouthwash is to a Maltese.

After working in the higher elevations of Central Oahu for almost 10 years now, I’ve come to realize that there actually is this thing others refer to as seasons. Not quite winter snow, spring colors, summer heat and fall leaves, but “hot around June” and “cold around December” is about the extent of it.

Aside from “bundling up,” which in Hawaii means long pants and a long sleeve, the next best thing you can do to battle these “extreme” conditions is to eat or drink something warm. So why not do both with noodles and soup?

Shige’s Saimin Stand is just the place.

Shige’s Saimin Stand Sign

Located in the heart of Wahiawa, Oahu, Shige’s is, to me, the best local style saimin around. Notice how I said “local style” though? There is a distinct difference between local style saimin and Japan kine rahmen and comparing the two is like comparing apples and oranges. But on the real, Shige’s, on either list, is in my top 3.

Note: Apologies to those who love Hamura’s in Kauai or even some of the ones I haven’t been to yet like Sam Sato’s or Hanafuda in Maui or Nori’s in the Big Island… Shige’s rules and everyone else drools. 😛

At Ross and JoAnn Shigeoka’s shop, their trademark flat noodles are actually homemade and made fresh daily. Initially, I was simply in love with the saimin and tasty soup base, but after learning that the noodles were homemade, I grew another layer of appreciation for this island specialty.

Another one of the pleasant delights of Shige’s is their hours. They close at 10PM during the week and stay open ’til MIDNIGHT on Fridays and Saturdays. If you’ve got that late night craving/itch, they’re ready and open for you and if you’ve never tried Shige’s before, you now have no excuse.

Shige’s Saimin Stand Hours

Alas, we’ve come to my favorite part… da grindz!

Shige’s Menu

Shige’s menu is quite simple. For saimin, you’ve got your choice of their regular saimin, wunton mein or vegetable saimin in two sizes: small and large. They’ve got other items including burgers, sandwiches, bbq sticks and select plate lunches, but to me, the saimin is the way to go. Going to Shige’s and not ordering saimin is like going to McDonald’s and buying a salad. Borrrrrrring!

My personal favorite is their large wunton mein. Unlike those other noodle shops around town who seem to dominate their saimin dishes with toppings rather than noodles, Shige’s is quite generous with their noodle portions. I find comfort in knowing that when I leave Shige’s, my hunger will be completely and utterly satisfied.

Shige’s Large Wunton Mein

If I am feeling really daring, I lose the battle of the bulge and splurge on a homemade hamburger as well. Dem buggahs probably raise my cholesterol by 50 points, but the soft, buttery bun and lusciously juicy patty lure me in with their inviting ways.

Shige’s Hamburger

The best part of the entire Shige’s experience is when you receive your bill. All dishes retain their old school prices and fall under $6, and, depending on the size of your party and your appetite, your total usually never exceeds $20!

To recap:

Shige’s Gem #1: Ono grindz fo battle da cold weather
Shige’s Gem #2: Homemade, fresh noodles l’dat
Shige’s Gem #3: Dey stay open late kine
Shige’s Gem #4: Dey geev choke
Shige’s Gem #5: Ho da cheap!

Delicious, keeps you warm, homemade, fresh, convenient, filling AND cheap??? I’ll drink (soup) to that!

Shige’s Saimin Stand
70 Kukui Street
Wahiawa, HI 96786 (map)
(808) 621-3621
Mon-Thu: 10am-10pm
Fri & Sat: 10am-midnight
Closed Sundays