Ippudo Sydney

Ippudo is a Japanese ramen franchise with multiple locations around the world.  I dined at the one in New York and thought it was pretty good. 

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Ippudo reminds me of the notable southern California Japanese food chain — Shin-Sen-Gumi.  The taste is very similar; however, Ippudo comes at a premium.  It’s similar to Michael Kors and every luxury designer style they decide to copy.  It’s similar but the quality is not the same.

The restaurant is fairly large and service was very fast.  I arrived during off peak hours, which was around 3-4 PM because I needed dessert after dining at Din Tai Fung 30 minutes before.  Now, I know what you’re thinking.  How does one eat again 30 minutes after having a meal?  Easy.  Forcefully.

It was my Aussie cousin’s first time having ramen and I was totally blown away when he told me.  I replied with an Australian ascent, “What the fuck?!  Are you serious, mate? Da fuq have you been doing the last 33 years of your life?!?”   He replied with, “Getting money, Bentleys, Bimmers, and Bitches.”  I was like, “Okay.  Fair enough, playa.”

Now, the food.  The consistency was a bit off from the New York location.

1. Shrimp Bun – This wasn’t offered at the New York location,  The battered-deep-fried shrimp was topped with Ippudo sauce; the shrimp was plump, but it tasted old and fishy.  It wasn’t piping hot like it came fresh out of the fryer dripping in arteries clogging oil.  It was a bit disappointing like learning your girlfriend is preggo even though you practice safe sex by pulling out.

   

2. Spicy Miso Tonkotsu – I always judge a ramen joint on their Spicy Miso because not a lot of ramen places can do it right.  There is only one ramen restaurant that gets it right — Santouka.  Ippudo?  Not so much.  It wasn’t bad but it wasn’t great.  The broth came out lukewarm.  I could have practically picked up the bowl and drank from it like some kind of animal.  However, I didn’t cause I have class.  The texture of the noodles were kind of soggy.  I like my noodles close to a la dente, so I could make the obnoxious slurping sound.  The broth wasn’t flavorful or rich as the Ippudo in New York.  The consistency was off like Donald Trump with this Twitter tirade.

   

I definitely recommend Ippudo for your first ramen experience if you have been living under a rock with your head up your ass.  However, there are better ramen locations in the world.  I’m not from Sydney, so I can’t recommend any other ramen location.  That’s what’s Google is made for.  However, you could always go to Din Tai Fung for some Xiao Long Baos explosions in your mouth.  That wasn’t meant to be dirty, by the way.

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