"As we arrived, we noticed a line of enthusiastic ramen lovers waiting outside the restaurant. A friendly young man stood at the front, handing out menus and ordering sheets attached to clipboards, along with pens. We watched as he explained the menu to the guests before leading them inside. When it was our turn, he graciously guided us through the menu and offered his recommendations, knowing it was our first visit.
On the order sheet, we could either select from their ramen bowl set menu or customize our bowls with extras or by omitting certain garnishes. We had to make several selections based on the chef's recommendations, including:
1. **RAMEN FLAVOR (Broth)**: Options included Original King (tonkotsu or pork marrow bone broth), Red King (spicy), Black King (squid ink), Green King (basil), or Veggie King (non-vegan).
2. **SOUP SETTINGS (Flavor Levels)**: We chose the Normal level since it was our first experience and we felt it was just right for our taste.
3. **TOPPINGS**: We could choose from Pork (None, Chashu, or Kakuni) or Vegetables (None, Green Onions, or Cabbage).
4. **SPICE LEVEL**: Level 1 (normal) or Level 2 (extra spicy).
5. **NOODLES**: Options included Thin (Extra Firm, Firm, Normal, Soft, Extra Soft) or Thick (Firm or Normal).
The menu also featured appetizers, extra ramen bowl additions, and beverages. Once seated, a server promptly approached with a pitcher of iced water and collected our order sheets, confirming the details with each of us. We curiously opened the jars on the table to find delicious pickled bean sprouts and spicy chopped cabbage.
Our friendly server then brought out karaage chicken, which wasn't on the order sheet, accompanied by a yellow sauce that tasted reminiscent of egg salad but with a lighter consistency. My brother-in-law playfully slapped my hand as I reached for a piece of Japanese fried chicken, joking that I wouldn't enjoy it as much as he and my husband, who are fried food enthusiasts. However, I did manage to snag a piece and thoroughly enjoyed it before the guys polished off the plate!
We all opted for the Ramen King as per the chef's recommendations. My brother-in-law chose thin noodles, while my husband and I went for thick noodles. The delightful texture of the noodles allowed the collagen-rich broth to cling to each strand, and the tonkotsu broth was incredibly delicious and comforting.
We visited Ramen Nagi on a weekday around opening time and waited no more than 15 minutes in line, despite the restaurant being full. We happily slurped our ramen and broth, spending about 40 minutes there without feeling rushed, thanks to the efficient service that allowed us to enjoy our food at a pleasant pace. We're looking forward to returning to try their Red King, Black King, and Green King ramen bowls!"
