Obsessed with Ramen - Shoryu Review
Ramen has become incredibly popular with new Japanese restaurants popping up on every other street in London. The only problem is, like when anything becomes popular, most of these places like to charge almost extortionate prices, making it difficult to satisfy those ramen pangs when they come. Thankfully, there are a few great affordable places with great menus like Shoryu!
As soon as we arrived, the staff shouted Irasshaimase (welcome in Japanese), we were shown our table and shown the happy hour menu! The Interior of the restaurant was beautiful, mainly white, black and brown with almost everything at an angleThere were plenty of small Japanese touches like the sake bottles behind some of the tables and the garlic cloves in little pots on the tables so you can crush your own.
We kicked off the meal with some drinks (obviously we had to take advantage of happy hour) and some starters! I had the Chicken karaage and BBQ pork bun which were both incredible. Chicken Karaage is always one of my favourite foods to get when I visit a Japanese restaurant but it was seasoned perfectly and the pork was so tender. The bun itself was so soft, I finally understand those videos of girls smashing their faces into bread. Before going, I remember reading a review where the writer was complaining that the mayonnaise in the chicken bun completely ruined her experience because it’s ‘not a Japanese’ thing but she obviously didn’t have working taste buds because it was delicious. The sauce complimented the chicken so well and I was completely happy having about 6 of those for my meal but then my ramen came.
Ramen is a dish I have always loved, so homey and warm, it’s perfect for cold weather and so filling. I ordered the Original Tonkotsu, it has 12-hour pork broth with char siu barbecue pork belly, egg, mushrooms, spring onion, sesame, ginger and nori seaweed. It was perfection, I couldn’t stop eating! One of my fears with ramen is when the broth is bland, even if the meat tastes good, a bad broth could ruin everything but it was amazing. I added some kimchi and don’t think I took a breath as I demolished it! I thought the pork would be the same as the bun but it tasted completely different! The only negative I had for the ramen was the mushrooms and the ginger but that’s just a personal preference.
I would recommend some starters before getting the ramen, they’re too declicious not the get. The buns were great but they also have gyoza, tempura tiger prawns and salt and pepper chicken wings! Shoryu is perfect for a quick after work dinner or nice evening meal with friends, the atmosphere is so relaxed and the menu is completely affordable!
Shoryu have 8 different locations in London and even a Shoryu Go near Oxford Circus for anyone who just wants a quick takeout!