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A Culinary Tour of the Ramen Shops of Torrance: Shisen Ramen, Shin Mama Ramen, CHABUYA, Men-bei, Santouka [Review] w/ Pics!
Gardena Ramen, wow, who would've thunk it?
I have to say that this place was quite a nice surprise.
From the outside it looks like it may have been an old H. Salt Fish and Chips joint that they just converted into this Ramen shop. On the inside, it's equally unimpressive, but honestly - who cares what it looks like.... is the food good?
Well, to answer that question, I offer a resounding yes. Their menu is EXTREMELY limited (he offers only TWO different types of ramen), but that may be a blessing in disguise. The reason being, that they perfected what they have.
They have shoyu ramen and miso ramen. I had the shoyu, while my wife ordered the miso. I have to say, that this was probably the best shoyu ramen I've ever had. I rarely drink all of the soup when I order ramen, but this time I think I did. This is the place to go for shoyu ramen!
Best Pork Belly dish?
As far as Santouka goes, they have one killer shio ramen, that's for sure! I had always been a fan of shoyu ramen but never quite took to shio ramen much for some reason. I now believe that reason could be the fact that I hadn't had Santouka's.
Topped with the most tender and fatty (which is a good thing) pieces of pork, this shio ramen is one delectable dish. The pork literally melts in your mouth along with the other morsels of goodness that bathe in the tasty soup. This place is great!
Chinmaya Tantanmen, what's the word?
This place is downright D E L I C I O U S !!! I'm a sucker for good ramen, and this place definitely has that. Their Tan-Tan Men has a rich and spicy broth that blends well with the firm texture of the noodles. A generous portion of ground pork and beef adds just the right combination of sweetness and saltiness. And finally, the spinach and tokyo onions make it pure bliss.
They also have a delicious mabo tofu dish that is called "Chinma han" or something like that. It is also very flavorful and packs a punch if you order the original version. I have to say they have a number of winners on their menu and my only complaint is that they don't have more! I'm sure as time goes on they'll be adding to their menu, though. In the meantime, I'm just happy they decided to bring Chin-Ma-Ya to the U.S.... It's great!
