OK, Here we go..... I think it only fair to start with this photo as this trip to Tokyo, and the inspiration of these two guys with me in the photo, really kicked off my interest in exploring food, photographing said eats, and sharing/explaining my impressions of my experiences. So, to you David Chang and Anthony Bourdain, Cheers, and thanks. As I begin I think it only fair to explain a bit of what my purpose with this blog is. As you know, I do not participate in Facebook, and I wont go into why here, but I NEEDED a vehicle to communicate and connect with those in my life, both near and far. As the name implies, this will primarily be a blog about pizza. However, as this is mine, I will feel free to do and say as I damn well please, as it pleases me. So I hope to not offend or tiptoe too far over the line of appropriateness, but if I do, that's just too fucken bad. Enjoy. Pizza, food, life experiences, thoughts, feelings, rants, and more food. This is what you will find here. Please feel free to share and pass along to anyone you think might have an interest, as I hope you will as well. Sincerely yours, DVA

Friday, May 6, 2016

Raki Raki Ramen - Kearny Mesa - USA - GAME CHANGER ALERT!!!!!!!!!




GAME CHANGER ALERT!!!!!!

I present this post to you with a very heavy heart as It pains me greatly to have to say that 
Raki Raki Ramen is the shit.

I have loathed this place for quite some time.  The one and only time I've ever attempted to patronize this establishment HG and I turned away in disgust at the utter mismanagement of the front of the house.  It was virtually impossible to understand the system for either getting a table or putting our names on a list.   There were 5 empty tables and a dozen people standing out front.  Do we sit, do we wait, WTF IS GOING ON HERE?!?!?!?   Are the same blind idiots that flipped our house running this place?!?!?!

So when Dude Bro TK and I were recently out on the town drinking and eating our way around Kearny Mesa, he suggested that we check it out.  Or, at least go check out the owner.  This dude. 

Certainly a bit of a character and someone who is very high on himself as a chef and restaurateur, of which I can certainly appreciate.  His pensive look and wind swept hairdo peaked my interest enough to say "sure, let's go find the dude".  So we walked.  We even saw his car parked out front, some super dirty and very large Porsche 4 door thing.  He must be here somewhere, let's pop inside.


The aromas hit us first, and then the sights and sounds.  It looked cool and smelled awesome.  Now keep in mind that we've had a few beers, and a few cocktails for me, plus fried pig ears, kimchi, spicy 3 meat noodles (hand pulled), and mini soup dumplings across the street at the Dumpling Inn, sofaking good!!!  So our belly's are full, but this is our chance and we're seizing the moment, carpe diem!!!!

We sit

And we order some sake, gotta do it


TK eases gently into a bowl of Ox Tails, smelled great.

At first glance the addition of sauce on the side of a bowl filled with broth didn't seem to fit.  But when the meat is pulled from the bones and dipped in the sauce the clouds parted and everything in the world began to make sense.  I understand that it was good, worth ordering again.


I had the Tonkotsu Ramen, Black Edition, and I added underbelly.  

Black because of the fermented oil that is roasted in charcoal for about 18 hours.

Oh yeah, the dude search?!?!?!   Fuck that guy, we're eating, we have no time for that shit any more.


Now, referencing the previous post from Ouan ramen, this was porky and greasy and deeply flavored, on many levels.  There was a char to it and you could very much taste the pork bone broth, plus all of the other goodies floating in the bowl, from the fried garlic to the sesame seeds, seaweed, cabbage, etc...  And of course the noodles, they were delicious.

This is the best bowl of ramen I've had in quite some time and the best ever in San Diego.  Yeah, it was that good.  Just imagine for a moment if I had actually been hungry, how this experience might have hit me?  No, no, no, let's not go there, please. 


A great egg.  It was firm and flavorful and the right temperature.  Not ice cold as though it just came out of the fridge thus cooling off my soup, dumb.

Some might say it's overdone, I'd say one and done!


Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

I loved it, truly.  It was great and it took me back to a time in Japan eating the real stuff.  Deep, rich broth, a light layer of pork fat glistening on the top, flavorful noodles.  And again, keep in mind that this was on a full stomach, and I hurt for the rest of the night for sure, but man o man was it worth it? 

YES!

33rd Street Crew (Felton Heights Team) pack your bags and get ready cause we're a-comin' back soon!

Dear Raki Raki,  I want your noodles in my mouth, now, please

DVA 



No comments:

Post a Comment

Followers