Totto Ramen - New York, NY

If you recall a few years back I did a little write up for Yakitori Totto. Well this is their sister restaurant that serves up quick hot bowls of Japanese ramen noodles.

The small restaurant is below street level and could easily go unnoticed if it wasn't for the line that is waiting on the tiny New York sidewalk. They don't take reservations, and they don't take anything but cash so come prepared.

As soon as we're seated the guy's at the front door arranging seating is asking us what we want to drink and if we know what we want already. It's fast, it's efficient, it's Japanese ramen.

The two cooks behind the counter have their work cut out for them in this tiny little noodle shop. The noodle guy is warming up fresh egg noodles while he's also charing the pork belly. The other cook is assembling the bowls with the garnish as soon as the noodles come out of the water. I feel like these guys have it down to a science.

I order a bowl of Totto extra spicy ramen with pork and a side of char siu pork and a side of spicy bamboo shoots. You know I had to order more for the sake of variety right? I also ordered a miso ramen and my friend got the extra spicy ramen with chicken. Everything was great, but I'd probably go without the spicy bamboo shoots next time.

--Joe

Bon Chon Chicken - New York, NY

Something tells me this place isn't called Bon Chon any more. In any case it's a chain of Korean chicken wing restaurants in NY and I believe DC as well. This will be a quick post because I just have one thing to say. Go eat there and you will not be sorry. Cash or Amex only.

Yakitori Totto - New York, NY

Yakitori Totto is an Izakaya. I love Izakaya's. I love Izakaya's so much I'm currently having a special grill made so I can cook Izakaya style food. Some of you may be asking what IS an Izakaya? Well in a nut shell, it's a Japanese bar that serves food. And not just nuts and pretzels, we're talking well prepared chicken parts, noodle soups, grilled rice balls, and much much more!

Click to read more ...