Birthday Week: Ippudo, Seasonal Menu PREVIEW

As soon as we got back from Boston, I’d been invited to attend the preview of Ippudo’s seasonal ramen menu.  I took HB along with me, and once there, wound up meeting up with StB where we proceeded to try everything on the above menu (except tomato ramen, because no one could get over it), and then some. 

First up was my order of kamo ttsukemen, cold soba with duck and a dipping broth.  I had to laugh; as soon as it landed on my plate, I recalled StB & my experience at Matsugen, where I had asked her, after ordering a similar dish, “If there’s no duck in my duck soba, I’m going to be PISSED…”  As you can see, there wasn’t that much duck in my dish.  The noodles were tasty enough, but coated in oil to prevent sticking, a fact that did not please me, as it meant every bite was filled with oil.  The duck could have been cooked better; I felt it was a bit soft – the skin could have been crispier or more interesting, but it all fell flat.  Sad face.

HB’s order of tori ramen.  She said the pork was really good, but there wasn’t enough of it, and that it was slightly too oily.  Also, her noodles were… well, how else can I put this?  They were mushy.  I tried some and while the broth and overall dish was something I’d enjoy, I wasn’t keen on the noodles being so darn mushy.  I really like my noodles to have a bit more chew to them.  She didn’t even finish this.

StB’s order of the karaka-miso, extra spicy.  She agreed that her noodles were too oily.

StB’s friend1 ordered kogashi ramen, whose description boasted that it was glazed with a layer of oil.  Can you guess the verdict on this one?

StB’s friend2 ordered the tiger tan tan men, which I know he liked… but look at that pool of oil on top!!!

Our next round of ordering mixed in stuff from the regular menu as well.

Having loved it so much last time, I had to order kakuni, pork belly braised in soy sauce… omg, this was just as good as last time.  Maybe better, since I got to eat the entire dish of it, since no one else really wanted more than a bite or two.  I don’t know why… but my good fortune, eh?  😉

StB’s friends also ordered an appetizer sampler, but were disappointed when it arrived and it was merely a sprinkling of mini-appetizers from the menu.  The description had made it sound like it could be anything.  From left to right – more kakuni (which yes, I did wind up eating), kara age (fried chicken with a wasabi mayo on top), shrimp with broccoli, and dashi pickles.  I love those pickles though – I wish I knew how to make them!!!  My refrigerator pickles would so kick butt!!!

Next I decided to try their normal ramen, the red ramen  I liked this a lot better than my previous dish.  It was still oily, but the components were properly configured for tastiness.

HB’s 2nd order was karaka-miso, but mild.  It looked so different from the spicy one StB ordered earlier that night.  Well, HB found this one oily as well; oil seemed to be the thing of the night.  But she thought her noodles were much better than previously.

StB’s friend1 also ordered a ramen from the regular menu, though which one escapes me currently.  Perhaps regular karaka?  This one looks less oily; I don’t recall if he liked it or not, though.

And to finish our meal, we ended with green tea creme brulee.

I thought this was perfectly fine and tasty, though StB assured me that she’d had better at Ippudo before.  Perhaps it was an off night?  Seems like a bad time to have an off night, during their media preview of these dishes.

While I enjoyed much of my food, I did find some of it too oily to order again.  The ramen is still fairly standard, with some exceptions, and the prices still tend to be higher than other ramen places in the area.  However, like I predicted months ago, this place apparently is constantly packed with people even around 9 at night on a weekday…

Yvo says: Some interesting offerings here, and something for everyone – even those who don’t like ramen.  Maybe not so much for the vegetarian, though.  I would say this place remains as a recommended, with some careful ordering, and for people who don’t care about a little extra oil in their noodles. (I know this is actually really late – my post misses the entire month of November and its noodle offerings – I’m still trying to catch up here, sorry!!!)
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