Tabata Noodle

I hear that Tabata Noodle is all the ramen rage right now. Pretty much every single blog that I read has mentioned it in one way or another. So, as a little old sheep, I went along to review it as well. It also helps that it's right in my neighborhood. It makes these reviews slightly more convenient.

On this brisk day when I was nursing a hangover, I needed something warming and solid to help fill the void of my pickled stomach. Ramen is definitely my kind of comfort food. It's something that I grew up on and feels like home. So I ordered the Kyushuu Ramen ($10) which comes with a rich pork and chicken broth, choice of roast pork or chicken, bean sprouts, scallions, and flavored egg. I picked the pork as my meat because I wanted something fatty.

The bowl of ramen came out quickly and piping hot. The noodles were hidden under the opaque broth with charsu (roast pork) on the side, and a heap of sprouts and scallions on top. I carefully mixed the fresh vegetables into the broth to soften it a bit and make it fragrant. I also wanted to loosen up the noodles too. I dug in and it was delicious. The noodles had a nice bite which I enjoyed. Mushy noodles are not a good thing. The charsu was fatty and delicious which the scallions and sprouts freshened and lightened up the dish. The flavored egg was okay. It didn't taste flavored to me but had a hint of soy sauce color on the outside. No matter, I ate it anyway. And that broth. It was certainly good but not raving. I certainly wouldn't call it rich and I've had better.

Mr M&P wasn't feeling soupy noodles, so he ordered a rice dish instead. He had the Satamina Don ($9). He ordered the pork (instead of chicken) with leek, onion, and scallions in a spicy garlic sauce. He enjoyed this and finished the plate up. It was something that he needed for his lack of hangover. I had a bite and it was flavorful but not spicy at all. It had spices but the heat level wasn't apparent.

We had also ordered the gyoza ($5) which came after our main dishes. Weird. We were hoping to eat this as an appetizer. None the less, we munched on and thought these to be terrible. Gummy wrappers and mediocre fillings. It just wasn't any good. Oh well.

Overall, I enjoyed Tabata Noodle. Their ramen was satisfying and the service nice. The price is affordable and there's never a crowd. With all that in consideration along with the proximity of it to my home, I'll be a frequent customer. It certainly isn't mind blowing ramen but it was delicious in its own way.

Tabata Noodle
540 9th Avenue
New York, NY
(212) 290-7691