When Ramen Shop in Oakland landed 1-2 years ago, I was like, "whaaaaat?? Ramen in oaktown?" Have to stop thinking Oakland as in Internaltional street Oakland.
The shop is in Rockridge neighborhood, very close to Berkeley. The whole street has a napa downtown feel, of nice and cozy. Besides the big Trader Joe, most the shop is artisan small restaurant and boutique shops. We were thinking about taking Bart to Rockridge but since never been to the neighborhood, driving might be a better option.
We arrived around 6pm but the line is already very long!! Totally did not expected. Different than most ramen places, Ramen shop offers full bar services with all kind of liquor and spirits. If Raman+alcohol is your thing, this is the place.
After an hour or so, we got seated in bar overlooking the open kitchen. I have to say, I was quite impressed.
Not to be racist, but most of the chef are non Asian! The dashi is heated right in front of us and the chef would take a small sampler bowl to sample the soup if it is up to par. Same with the noodle.
Yuzu Shio is more of a pork bone with chicken stock based plus the Yuzu (citric orange taste). It does come with chashu, shiitake mushroom, and egg. Yuzu smell is noticeable once the bowl is served. Chashu is thin sliced where it maintain the main flavor of pork.
Miso soup based bowl is also a good slurp. Quite heavy miso paste of look to be red miso and heavy on the sodium. Both noodle is round yellow thin noodle on more of the chewy side.
Afterwards we grab ice cream at smittens! It is my first time trying Nitro freezing but the Salted Caramel tasted as smooth as silk!
Besides looking at the price, this place is pretty awesome. I would definitely come back and try the other flavors they offer next time. The other side of freeway also features artisan shops which is very nice to check it out!
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Ramen Shop
5812 College Ave.,
Oakland, CA 94618
