I CAN HAS SETAGAYA RAMEN??

Aya: Hey Tmonkey, boo tmonkey: hey have you recovered from The Banquet? Aya: um I don’t even know what you’re talking about because I’ve had my memories from Friday night removed from my brain. tmonkey: nooo ok the movie was painful but the ramen at Setagaya! Can’t forget that! Aya: hmmm seem to have a faint recollection…. ok jk how could I possibly forget?! SRSLY tmonkey: omg u r such a dork i mean, when we finally find the BEST RAMEN IN NY Aya: WOW bold statement!!!! tmonkey: some cat comes along and reformats ur hard drive Aya: LOLCATS!!!! only eaten cheezbrgrs ok ok — seriously… I have heard that Setagaya is a chain restaurant from California and also from Setagaya in Tokyo (which, incidentally, is where my brother lives) tmonkey: i thought chain meant it would be bad Aya: I know, right? tmonkey: but boy was i wrong! Aya: OK let’s break it down tmonkey: well, it started out kind of disappointing gyoza? NO beer? no liquor license yet Aya: yeah, wtf, how can they be “out” of gyoza?!? tmonkey: after that, i was like (to the waitress): “This ramen better be damn good!” Aya: Yah, i think she was like, whatever, dude tmonkey: i mean, we were all prepared for some serious disappointment Aya: It’s pretty bold for a ramen shop to serve only one kind of soup tmonkey: we = a big table of Japanese (and Taiwanese) ramen freaks what was it? shio? Aya: yes, shio (salt) flavor. kinda risky, considering most pp tend to favor the traditional shoyu flavor tmonkey: isn’t that what i ordered? Aya: no you got the chashu ramen, which basically means you got 2 extra slices of pork the soup was the same: pale yellow color, looks light but full of flavor! tmonkey: i love how there’s a whole different menu listing for ADD EXTRA PORK SLICES anyways the soup! nice saltiness (not too much) but with good depth, and it was clear Aya: yeah the description on the menu in bad engrish was hysterical tmonkey: they put those three oils in it.. Aya: something like “look for the bamboo shooting on the top” bangbang tmonkey: oh yeah, i had some bamboo gunplay going on in mine the noodles were AWESOME imho al dente Aya: u r such a dork imho tmonkey: shaddap what, i like my noodles thin and al dente! Aya: anyway the soup — made from dried shrimp, dried scallop, garlic, onion, chicken — was so full! and they added the scallop oil at the end, very complex tmonkey: it’s amazing how hard it is to get the soup right momofuku you would think would be able to conjure up a good broth (nope) Aya: ugh tmonkey: minca’s is too thick Aya: i don’t know WTF they are doing over there, man tmonkey: and everywhere else just has no DEPTH Aya: minca is way too thick and salty tmonkey: but Setagaya, I gotta admit, EXCELLENT Aya: yes we are in agreement there. tmonkey: that’s half the battle Aya: the menu also talked about there being 3 different thicknesses to their noodles. did you notice that? tmonkey: not sure if i got that Aya: me neither… tmonkey: i was too busy slurping them into my mouth i didn’t have a chance to get my ruler out Aya: but then again, we pretty much inaled that shit hey that’s what i said tmonkey: jinx Aya: stop stealing my thoughts tmonkey: dork anyways the egg, halved and poached to perfection delish no piece of seaweed though no fancy ginger Aya: yeah. plus bamboo shotting — they had shredded seaweed (not nori) shooting tmonkey: what was that orange crumbly stuff on the scallions? Aya: OHHH dried ground shrimp i thnk! tmonkey: gave it some nice color Aya: and packed a flavor punch tmonkey: i liked the restraint and the humble presentation it wasn’t trying to do too much Aya: We should have order extra noodles tmonkey: um, we should have just ordered another bowl Aya: yeah second round! tmonkey: hungry hippo Aya: of course by that time there were like a dozen pp waiting in line to get in tmonkey: yeah, we have to plan to be there at some odd hour to not have to wait in line, but you know it’s totally worth it Aya: yesh — and next time we’ll skip the crepes from next door that gave you the tummyache and the poop poops tmonkey: STOP Aya: LOL lolcats! tmonkey: CAN I HAS SETAGAYA RAMEN? Aya: I CAN HAS! tmonkey: KTHXBAI Aya: 😦 i don’t know why you insist on chatting with me when you’re sitting 5 feet away from me tmonkey: because, sometimes there are things that are better said through chat Aya: like what tmonkey: like i just farted Aya: U NYERD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Sent at 11:05 AM on Sunday

Ramen Setagaya

141 First Avenue
(bet. 8th and 9th Streets)
(212) 529-2740

Links to other Umami Mart ramen-related postings:

• Ramen Haven: ISE?
• Aya and tmonkey hit Rockmeisha