Rai Rai Ken is one of my favored places to go for a bowl of simple ramen.
I first time went there in the cold spring of 2006. That spring was colder than ever since I had a broken heart. I was in a twilight zone, in a battle of avoiding the reality. I went there with my already broken up boyfriend. I guess I was trying my best to have wonderful time with him no matter we were together or not, just simply because I believe I loved him even he lied to me and cheated on me. He didn't know I knew already by that time. I was just a 25 years old simple, pure, stupid and weak young woman. I choose to runaway.
I remember I had a huge cry the night before I went there and the whole day I was in a deep blue mood. I didn't have to go, but I wanted to. I was looking forward to go there. No broken heart or cold weather could stop me try to enjoy life.
Rai Rai Ken was a very small noddle restaurant. An open kitchen with bar seats around. The whole place only could have no more than 10 customers at one time. When the ramen came, I almost cried out. I was keep thinking this should be a happy moment. A delicious food should match with a happy mood. A moment of dream come true should be happy. But, real world has no "should".
I first time went there in the cold spring of 2006. That spring was colder than ever since I had a broken heart. I was in a twilight zone, in a battle of avoiding the reality. I went there with my already broken up boyfriend. I guess I was trying my best to have wonderful time with him no matter we were together or not, just simply because I believe I loved him even he lied to me and cheated on me. He didn't know I knew already by that time. I was just a 25 years old simple, pure, stupid and weak young woman. I choose to runaway.
I remember I had a huge cry the night before I went there and the whole day I was in a deep blue mood. I didn't have to go, but I wanted to. I was looking forward to go there. No broken heart or cold weather could stop me try to enjoy life.
Rai Rai Ken was a very small noddle restaurant. An open kitchen with bar seats around. The whole place only could have no more than 10 customers at one time. When the ramen came, I almost cried out. I was keep thinking this should be a happy moment. A delicious food should match with a happy mood. A moment of dream come true should be happy. But, real world has no "should".
I went back to Rai Rai Ken few more times since 2006. Bad mood will pass, bad romance will end, but good food will always be there.
Maybe it was last year, I went there again and noticed they expended the restaurant. Now it not only have the original bar seats, but about 6 more small tables. I was happy to see the difference. It means the business is good.
And, I went there last month and noticed new items added on the menu. And one of them is pork bun. What is pork bun? It looked good in the picture. And it's only $4 for 2. So I ordered it.
That was a great choice.
Maybe it was last year, I went there again and noticed they expended the restaurant. Now it not only have the original bar seats, but about 6 more small tables. I was happy to see the difference. It means the business is good.
And, I went there last month and noticed new items added on the menu. And one of them is pork bun. What is pork bun? It looked good in the picture. And it's only $4 for 2. So I ordered it.
That was a great choice.
I never had anything like the pork bun before. It was amazing! The bun is steamed, very soft with a little bit sweet flavor. Inside of the bun is roast pork, Chinese lettuce, cucumber with Chinese duck sauce (not the orange color one that you get from American Chinese restaurant, but it was a dark red color). On the side is a oil chili sauce (not that spicy).
The whole pork bun is soft and tasty with or without the oil chili sauce. I highly recommend to everyone.
However, no matter how good the pork bun is, most people go to Rai Rai Ken for its ramen. After all, that is the main dish.
The whole pork bun is soft and tasty with or without the oil chili sauce. I highly recommend to everyone.
However, no matter how good the pork bun is, most people go to Rai Rai Ken for its ramen. After all, that is the main dish.
I never had the real ramen in Japan, so I think I don't have the right judgment to say if those were the best ramen in NYC. But, I did have a lot of noddles in my life, and I like Rai Rai Ken 's ramen. No matter it is miso ramen (miso soup), shoyu ramen (soy sauce), shio ramen (salt) or curry ramen. The soup is rich, and noddle is tender. Depends on what ramen you order, it comes with pork, vegetable, egg or fish cake.
Summer time might not be the best time to eat ramen, but it is the best choice for winter. Who doesn't want a bowl of wonderful warm soup in a cold winter day.
I went there with my husband last weekend, and he told me out of all the nice Japanese restaurants in NYC, I never took him to Rai Rai Ken. I was surprised by that 'cause I thought I did, 'cause I went there with all my ex-boyfriends.
Rai Rai Ken might started with a sad beginning, but growing into a happy journey and the journey will keep going, as long as Rai Rai Ken is there.
Summer time might not be the best time to eat ramen, but it is the best choice for winter. Who doesn't want a bowl of wonderful warm soup in a cold winter day.
I went there with my husband last weekend, and he told me out of all the nice Japanese restaurants in NYC, I never took him to Rai Rai Ken. I was surprised by that 'cause I thought I did, 'cause I went there with all my ex-boyfriends.
Rai Rai Ken might started with a sad beginning, but growing into a happy journey and the journey will keep going, as long as Rai Rai Ken is there.