Q-GO RAMEN

Edamame (comp).  A lovely way to start a ramen meal!

Takoyaki appetizer.  $3.75 for 4 piecees.  Rating:  5/6

Kimchi sidedish.  $2.00  Rating: 5/6

Shio Ramen (tonkatsu broth) with Chasiu, fungus, bamboo, half a boiled egg, beansprouts.  $7.50    It tasted better than it looks.    The fatty pork could have been heated more thoroughly so that the fat wasn’t so white and drabby looking.   I liked the broth.  Good flavour.  Good al dente ramen noodles too.   Good portion of food for the money.   I always order ramen with a side of boiled marinated egg (for $0.50).  They only give you half an egg though.  Rating:  5/6

My deepest apologies for this fuzzy pic.   Bib was having a huge nosebleed during dinner and I was reaching over to stem the flow of blood while I was taking this pic with my iPhone.

Nonplussed, Bib was tucking into her Mini Chasiu don (rice bowl) ($2.50, what a deal!) that was the perfect size for her tiny 4-year-old tummy.  The pork was tender, the sauce was perfect and it was a good deal.

Mini Chasiu don ( rice bowl).    $2.50      Rating:  6/6

We will definitely be heading to Q-Go Ramen again because the kids loved it and the ramen portions were decent.  It is not exactly like Santouka, but it’s not as crowded, there’s ample parking on the streets (metered) and I liked that the sides were cheap so we could order more variety.  Besides, my good ramen buddy, who just happens to be Japanese and is a ramen connoisseur of sorts, recommended this place and he’s bang on about quality, quantity and price point.   I thought Santouka still rocks for broth, flavour and the tender melt-in-your-mouth pork cheeks, but their menu is more limited and it was really uncomfortable sitting there smashed up against the other neighbouring diners.  The kids didn’t seem to appreciate the lovely nuances of the broth at Santouka.  I did; however, how can you argue with the prices at Q-Go?  Santouka ain’t cheap.  You get two bowls of Q-Go ramen for one bowl of Hokkaido Ramen Santouka's Toroniku shio ramen.

To read my post about Santouka click HERE.

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HOKKAIDO RAMEN SANTOUKA, ROBSON STREET

Toroniku shio ramen. With a side of egg.   $12.95 (gulp!)   Rating:  6/6

OMG.  I have gone to pork cheek heaven.  This particular dish is a special that is offered by Santouka ramen.  If you order early enough, you can get it.  However, it states clearly on the menu that it may be sold out and is subject to availability.  I would be so disappointed if I had a hankering for pork cheek and couldn’t have this.
The shio broth had great depth and was milky thick and savoury.  The vats of steaming broth in the kitchen could be seen in the back.  It tastes as if the broth’s been reducing for hours.  It’s rich and unctuous.  I can’t say enough about the tender pork cheeks.  The side dish egg is my favourite when I go for ramen.  The yolk is golden yellow and runny when you cut into it.  Yum!





Kara Miso Ramen.  $9.45        Rating:  6/6 

Spicy hot in a miso-based broth. 

If perchance, you read Japanese, the link to Santouka’s site is HERE.

I have never paid so much money for a bowl of ramen in my life.  That being said, it was the best bowl of ramen I’ve had in a long time.  My order was about $13.00.  That can buy you a lot of instant noodles!  Wowsa.  I don’t want to diminish the integrity of the ramen here by comparing it with instant noodles…but all I can say is, yikes! I paid $14.00 for a bowl of ramen noodles.  With pork jowl.  Real good, tender as butter pork jowl. 

The noodles were great, the broth was superb and the service was good.  I didn’t like the cramped quarters, but that’s what you get for being a successful ramen joint.

This restaurant is located along the main drag of Robson street.  There’s street parking (metered) along Robson street if you can get it, and there’s ample transit.  Generally, there’s a lineup out the door and like I said, it’s cramped and crowded.  Turnover isn’t as quick as some other ramen places probably because some patrons like to linger and chit-chat, but that’s no fault of the restaurant.   The restaurant is also small and dark.  There aren’t many tables to be had and there is a sort of communal bar where you can sit to eat.  Don’t even think about coming here with a large party of 10. 

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