Definitely worth planning an entire trip for.
Since the decision to go on this Hongkong trip as part of my dad's birthday celebration was a very spur of the moment thing, my sister and I really had minimal time to layout our game plan.
But when it came to food, I knew I had to get in touch with my friend Paolo since I he has a very refined taste for food and with Hongkong being like his second home as seen from his pictures on his instagram page. One of his suggestions for us was to definitely try Ippudo!
Ippudo at Tsim Sha Tsui
Ippudo Karaka
A blend of tonkotsu broth infused with miso and various spices which gives the ramen a nice spicy kick and vivid orange color. The broth isn't actually as spicy as expected which is good, it was more of the minced beef added on top of the ramen which contains the unexpected spice which make this a particularly unique ramen.
Akamaru Shinaji
(my apologies for the blured photo)
Considered as Ippudo's signature ramen dish, this particular ramen focuses on highlighting the slow cooking process of pork bone to be able to get the a tonkotsu base which has the perfect balance of oil and liquid. Infused with a little bit of miso and garlic oil, this ramen did indeed have a bolder pork flavor which was balance well by the subtle zing given by the spring onion. I also really liked the addition of the soybean sprouts because it gave this very traditionalist dish an unexpected crunch.
My sister opted to have her ramen with Hot Spring Egg which is basically a poached egg, allowing the yolk to meld more beautifully into the broth to give it a creamier consistency.
Ippudo Kasane
Ippudo takes ramen to another level by creating their very own "Kasane" broth which made through the slow cooking of both chicken and pork. Imagine the tonkotsu broth being infused with chicken essence, blending beautifully with the very rich pork flavors creating a new depth of flavor. the change is very subtle yet you know that there is something very unique to this broth as you continue to eat your ramen. I actually found the chicken essence actually helps in cutting through the richness of the pork flavors which at times could be overpowering, giving a rather refreshing layer of flavor to the broth.
Ox Tongue Miso Stew served in a stone pot.
In case you're not in the mood for ramen like my mom was, the Ox Tongue Miso Stew is a must try. The rich miso broth was a perfect pairing to the soft, velvety texture of the ox tongue.
Gyoza
Really liked the extra crunchy exterior of the gyoza and the addition of crushed ginger on top. They were however your typical gyoza, nothing too spectacular, but still good as a side dish or as a dipper to your rich ramen broth.
For all ramen lovers and enthusiasts, Ippudo is definitely a place worth planning an entire trip for! They're traditionalist style with just the right touch a modern flare truly makes their ramen stand out above the rest. I also really liked how all their ramen can be customized to your liking starting from how aldente you like your noodle, if you want to add a spicy kick to your broth, additional meat toppers, and even as to how you like your egg cook just so that you can enjoy a ramen that is perfect for you.
Just like what my friend Paolo said,
"Everyone loves ramen!"
Miks
Ippudo
Shop 210
Silvercord Tower
30 Canton Road
Tsim Sha Tsui
Hongkong