Monday, February 23, 2009

hakata ippudo

Last Autumn, we found out that our favorite ramen shop, Momofukutei would close and that Ippudo would take it over.

We went once in December, but I didn't have my camera. We were glad to see that they kept the two types of ramen that were Momofukutei's specialties. Momofukutei's had a point card but with the new management they changed their system, so to "make up" for doing away with the point card, we received a card for one free ramen.

Last month, we went to eat the free ramen, but couldn't get in, so we went back a couple of days later, when Satoshi was off on a weekday.

Satoshi had their Akamarukasaneaji--a huge bowl filled with tonkotsu soup, a little red miso (I think), green onions, kikurage (wood ear) and half of a soft boiled egg.

He also ordered their mentaiko gohan. This comes with a nice serving of mentaiko (salted pollack roe with chili), rice, nori (laver sheets) and tsukemono (pickles).

We shared an order of their hitokuchi gyoza (bite sized pot stickers). Actually, I just ate two pieces and Satoshi ate the rest. This comes with a little dab of chili paste.

I ordered the Ippudo karakamen--this is a tonkotsu soup mixed with a spicy soup. You can choose the level, and I chose the least spicy. It is an addicting flavor which starts off a little sweet then gradually starts burning everything including your lips...

The toppings (char siu and soft boiled egg) come on the side with some spiced rice and nori (laver sheets). The rice is seasoned with chili, but a different type from the broth.

If you weren't perspiring from the soup, you will be after eating the rice.

So, far we've enjoyed what we've tried from here. We'll be back.

Hakata Ippudo
2-10 Masumi-cho
Ikeda, Osaka
Phone: 072.750.3129

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

Everything looks so yummy :) love the variety of noodles and soup bases and that rice looks delish...I am so hungry :O0

thank you for sharing...did you have any leftovers ????

Lynne said...

Mild makes me perspire, LOL. Glad you enjoyed it.

HanamiGallery said...

mmmm the ramen looks soo good. i had the best ramen in chiba during my visit! i wish more places around me served it because im a pretty lousy cook! hehe.

KirkK said...

Hi Kat - That looks really, really good!

K and S said...

sorry no leftovers Shar :(

Thanks Lynne :)

what was the place you tried Hanami?

Thanks Kirkk, if you get a chance to go to NYC, you can try this place too!

Take care everyone.
Kat

Rowena said...

Cool new header image!

Everything looks so great in this post that right at this moment I would love to trade my pizza point card with a ramen one. Haven't had wood ear in a while, and that gyoza again...I better pull out a bunch of buckwheat wrappers right now!

K and S said...

Thanks Rowena :) I did it on "paint". I've been thinking of making bulgogi for some time now, think it may happen this week!

Take care.
Kat

HanamiGallery said...

oh man, I dont even know if it had a name. It was literally like a hole in the wall down a sketchy alley right off the Uchibo line.

K and S said...

no problem Hanami Gallery :)

Take care.
Kat

Deb in Hawaii said...

It all looks so good! Lucky that if you had to "lose" a favorite spot that you like the one that took over.

K and S said...

yup, we were very lucky, Deb :)

Take care.
Kat

Priscilla and Katelyn said...

I've been here!
It was super tasty....
I loved the tea and the little dishes of okazu that they have on the table...if I remember correctly.
Looks good!

P

K and S said...

Thanks P & K! Their ramen is delicious :)

Take care.
Kat