Maybe it’s fa-fa-freezing out. Maybe you’re feeling under the weather. Maybe your body is just craving a savory bowl of Life Giving Broth (as mine tends to do even on the most sweltering of days). Either way, you really don’t need any excuse to visit Oramen. It’s just bloody delicious.
My friends Sylvie and Douglas tipped me off to this spot and I’m so thankful they did as I think most New Yorkers just blow past it on the reg’. I certainly would have. Frankly, it’s in sort of an odd part of town. Not quite in the thick of the shopping along sixth avenue in the upper teens. Not quite in Chelsea. It’s just sort of there. Unassuming. And that’s a good thing, as one can still get a seat at the bar or a small table with relative ease. No Ippudo or Toro-style waits here, and yet the ramen can go toe-to-toe with those big guns. So, as I’ve said before on this blog, be a peach and only share this find with your worthy friends. All the broth belongs to us.
Beyond about six different ramen styles and broth types, Oramen also has a fairly extensive menu of delicious Japanese snacks — from steamed buns, to rice bowls, to salads, gyoza, karaage, and more. So even if you’re not in a ramen mood, this is still a great place to grab a quick, affordable bite and a glass of beer or sake.
On my most recent visit, it was hovering around 20°F and I was ready to even the score with a hot bowl of salty, spicy broth and noodles. I opted for the Tonkatsu ramen (sans egg – I’m not a fan, don’t sue me) and was “warned” that it was a bit spicy. Bring it on! This is what arrived.
Good lord, you guys. This ramen was fantastic. Silky. Savory. A teensy bit spicy. And with a deep pork flavor. The chashu in this case may have looked “charred” but in fact, it was perfectly cooked, melt-in-your-mouth tender, and bursting with umami.
If Tonkatsu style doesn’t get you jazzed, as I mentioned, Oramen has many other ramen styles like Shoyu, Veggie, Spicy Miso and more. Oh, and they also have lunch combos. So, if you’re really peckish, opt for one of those. The guy next to me chose the gyoza + ramen set and went with the spicy miso blend. It looked delicious and he inhaled it in record time. I’m always impressed by people who can methodically devour a bowl of ramen. It takes me what seems like hours to get through it all…blowing on the noodles to cool them off, trying not to slurp broth everywhere. Alas, practice makes perfect and I’ll definitely be back.
So, the next time you need your ramen or Japanese fix, you’ve now got one deliciously unassuming option to choose from if you’re ever shopping or walking through the area. Happy slurping.