Ramen One - Étlap

This is a great ramen shop. It is probably the best in the bay area. They don’t have as much selection as some of the other places, but it is the best all around. The broth is slow cooked so it is tasty, but the noodles aren’t quite as good as Maruichi on Castro. It is a only a single store space so there can be a wait, but it is worth it.

This ramen restaurant is one of the most authentic I have visited in the United States. The atmosphere feels like a traditional Japanese eatery, with a small and unassuming interior. The staff, who are mostly young and have bleached blonde hair, rush around speaking Japanese as they serve up bowls of hot ramen. The menu is simple, offering 4 types of ramen with assorted toppings, including both thin and thick noodles. You can watch the noodles being cooked in a giant pot in the back of the restaurant. The food is served quickly, and there are also side dishes and small desserts available. While the prices are not cheap for a ramen place, I still believe it is worth the cost.

I was never much of a ramen fiend until I was introduced to Ramen Halu. People always raved about Ryowa, which I never thought was all that great. I liked the negitoro donburi combo at that other ramen place in Milpitas that I can’t even remember now. And then I found Ramen Halu. The first time I went, I had the Shoyu (soy sauce) ramen. it was good. The cha-shu was memorable though – perfectly fatty and tender and tasty – which is the reason I came back again. On my return trip, I tried the signature Halu Ramen dish, and let me say, I have never stopped eating it. The broth, which has visible tiny chunks of pork fat afloat is so perfectly sweet and tasty. I usually don’t drink my ramen broth...